Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sentLuc. 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? 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 little part, and undo a great deal of honour!-Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say: -I was sending to use lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind:-And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius,[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? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran. Why this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father, Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money 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, The same. SCENE 111. [Exeunt. A Room in SEMPRONIUS' House. Enter SEMPRONIUS and a Servant of TIMON'S. Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! 'Bove all others? He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus ; Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these three Serv. Q my lord, They have all been touch'd, and found base metal; for They have all denied him! Sem. How! have they denied him? Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? And does he send to me? Three? Humph!- Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure upon me? And does he think so backwardly of me now, And I amongst the lords be thought a fool. I had such a courage to do him good. But now 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, And this is all a liberal course allows; Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [Exit. SCENE IV. The same. A Hall in TIMON's House. Enter two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out. Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Tit. The like to you, kind Varro. [Hortensius. C Luc. Serv. Not yet. Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with You must consider, that a prodigal course Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable. "Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse; Phi. I am of your fear for that. [him: Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange event. Your lord sends now for money. Hor. Most true, he does. Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, For which I wait for money. Hor. It is against my heart. Luc. Serv. Mark, how strange it shows, Timon in this should pay more than he owes: Hor. I am weary of this charge, the gods can witness: 1 Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. [What's yours? 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep and it should seem by Your master's confidence was above mine; [the sum, Else, surely, his had equall'd. 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, Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves but Believ't, my lord and I have made an end; I have no more to reckon, he to spend. [wrong, Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve. Flav. If 'twill not, "Tis not so base as you; for you serve knaves. [Exit. 1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd worship mutter? 2 Var. Serv. No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings. Enter SERVILIUS. Tit. O here's Servilius; now we shall know Some answer. |