I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly; These old fellows Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously' I speak, Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from me; To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, Being free itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt. ACT III. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. And we alive, that liv'd?5 Fly, damned baseness, [Throwing the money away. Let molten coin be thy damnation, Thou disease of a friend, and not himself! SCENE I-The same. A room in Lucullus's house. Flaminius waiting. to him. O, may diseases only work upon't! Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming And when he is sick to death, let not that part of down to you. Flam. I thank you, sir. Enter Lucullus. Flum. His health is well, sir. Lucu. I am right glad that his health is well, sir; And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir: which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein. nature Which my lord paid for, be of any power [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. A public place. En- friend, and an honourable gentleman. are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one for money. long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucul- Luc. How? 2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord. Lucul. La, la, la, la,-nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would fore the gods, I am asham'd on't. Denied that Luc. What a strange case was that? now, benot keep so good a house. Many a time and often honourable man? there was very little honour I have dined with him, and told him on't; and showed in't. For my own part, I must needs concome again to supper to him, of purpose to have fess, I have received some small kindnesses from him spend less: and yet he would embrace no coun- him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, sel, take no warning by my coming. Every man nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, has his fault and honesty is his: I have told him and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his ocon't, but I could never get him from it. casion so many talents. Re-enter Servant, with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. sweat to see his honour.-My honoured lord,- Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent Luc. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending: How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. Luc. I know, his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous, I should not urge it half so faithfully. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Men must learn now with pity to dispense: Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus; They have all denied him! Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure upon for't, Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him, little part, and undo a great deal of honour!-Ser- That might have known my place: I see no sense vilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say:-I was sending to use lord But his occasions might have woo'd me first; Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I For, in my conscience, I was the first man would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it That e'er receiv'd gift from him: now. Commend me bountifully to his good lord- And does he think so backwardly of me now, ship; and I hope, his honour will conceive the That I'll requite it last? No: so it may prove fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind: An argument of laughter to the rest, And tell him this from me, I count it one of my And I amongst the lords be thought a fool. greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum, an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you He had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake; befriend me so far as to use mine own words to I had such a courage to do him good. But now him? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. And with their faint reply this answer join; Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius,-Who bates mine honour, shall not know my coin. [Exit Servilius. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed; And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. Exit Lucius. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius ? Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece 3 Stran. Religion groans at it. I never tasted Timon in my life, For mine own part, Nor came any of his bounties over me, Had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation,2 (1) If he did not want it for a good use." return, [Exit. Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politic; he cross'd himself by't: and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire. Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled, [Exit. Hor. I am weary of this charge, the gods can witness: I know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sum, Your master's confidence was above mine; Enter Flaminius. Tit. One of lord Timon's men. Luc. Serv. Flaminius! sir, a word: 'Pray, is my lord ready to come forth? Flam. No, indeed, he is not. Tit. We attend his lordship; 'pray, signify so much. Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent. [Exit Flaminius. Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled. Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so? He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. Tit. Do you hear, sir? 1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir, Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend? Ay, If money were as certain as your waiting, Upon his debts, and take down th' interest but wrong, (1) i. e. Like him in blaze and splendour. (2) Commission, employment. Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know And, if it be so far beyond his health, Ser. Good gods! Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, sir. Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help!-my lord! my lord! Enter Timon, in a rage; Flaminius following. Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd against my passage? Have I been ever free, and must my house Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord. Phi. All our bills. Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; For pity is the virtue of the law, And none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,* The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, If I speak like a captain. Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, (1). e. Putting this action of his, which was predetermined by fate, out of the question. (2) i. e. Passion so subdued, that no spectator could note its operation. (3) Manage, govern. (4) You undertake a paradox too hard. (5) What have we to do in the field. Such valour in the bearing, what make we Abroad? why then, women are more valiant, That stay at home, if bearing carry it; And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, As you are great, be pitifully good: Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? In vain? his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you, 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or brother, He forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? 196 TIMON OF ATHENS. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that| Only in bone, that none may look on you! I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, [Exit. SCENE VI-A magnificent room in Timon's 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountered: I hope, it is not so low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. 2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. 1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. Tim. Think not on't, sir. Act III. 2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,brance.-Come, bring in all together. Tim. Let it not cumber your better remem 2 Lord. All covered dishes! 1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money and the season, can yield it. 1 Lord. How do you? What's the news? 3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how? 2 Lord. pray you, upon what? 2 Lord. This is the old man still. Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make You great benefactors, sprinkle our society yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest that one need not lend to another: for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, 2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty importunate business, but he would not hear my be without a score of villains: If there sit twelve the gods. Make the meat be beloved, more than excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? 8 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter Timon, and attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both:-And how fare you? 1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently. 1 Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty mes senger. Tim. O sir, let it not trouble you. 2 Lord. My noble lord, Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer? 2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick [The banquet brought in. of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. (1) We should now say-to lay out for hearts; i. e. the affections of the people. (2) To tire on a thing meant, to be idly employed on it are.-The rest of your fees, gods,-the sena [The dishes uncovered are full of warm water. Tim. May you a better feast never behold, water Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries Your reeking villany. Live loath'd, and long, [Throwing water in their faces. [Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out. (3) i. e. Your good memory. (4) The lowest. (5) Flies of a season. (6) Jacks of the clock; like those at St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet-street. |