Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, Lucius, and other Servants of Timon's creditors, who wait for his coming

out.

Var. WELL met, good-morrow, Titus and Hor

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius, why do we meet together?

Luc. I think, one bufinefs does command us all. For mine is money.

Tit. So is theirs, and ours.

Enter Philo.

Luc. And Sir Philo's too.

Phi. Good-day, at once.

Luc. Welcome, good brother. What d'you think

the hour?

Phi. Labouring for nine.

Luc. So much?

Phi. Is not my lord feen yet?

Luc. Not yet.

Phi. I wonder: he was wont to shine at seven.
Luc. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him:

You must confider that a Prodigal's course

Is like the fun's, but not like his recoverable, I fear: 'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse;

That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.

Phi. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll fhew you how t'observe a strange event: Your lord fends now for money.

Hor. True, he does.

Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, For which I wait for money.

Hor. Against my heart.

Luc. How ftrange it shows,

Timon in this fhould pay more than he owes!
And e'en as if your lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em.

Hor. I'm weary of this charge, the Gods can witnefs: I know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth: Ingratitude now makes it worse than ftealth.

Var. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?

Luc. Five thousand,

Var. 'Tis too much deep; and, it shall feem by th' furn,

Your master's confidence was above mine:

Elfe, furely, his had equall'd.

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord Ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is notro

Tit. We attend his lordship; pray, fignify so much. Flam. I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.

Enter Flavius in a cloak muffled.

Luc. Ha! is not that his Steward muffled fo? He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. Tit. Do you hear, Sir

Var. By your leave, Sir.

Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, Sir.

Flav. If money were as certain as your waiting, 'Twere fure enough.

Why then preferr'd you not your fums and bills,
When your
false masters eat of my lord's meat?
Then they would smile and fawn upon his debts,"
And take down th' intereft of their glutt'nous maws ;

You

You do yourselves but wrong to ftir me up,
Let me pafs quietly:

Believe't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Luc. Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Flav. If 'twill not ferve, 'tis not fo base as you;
For you ferve knaves.

[Exit. Var. How! what does his cafhier'd worship mutter? Tit. No matter, what-he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can fpeak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against great Buildings.

Enter Servilius.

Tit. Oh, here's Servilius; now we shall have fome answer.

Ser. If I might befeech you, gentlemen, to repair fome other hour, I fhould derive much from it. For take it of my foul,

My lord leans wondrously to discontent:

His comfortable temper has forfook him,

He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber
Luc. Many do keep their chambers, are not fick:
And if he be fo far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the fooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the Gods.

Ser. Good Gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for an answer.
Flam. [within.] Servilius, help-my lord! my lord.

Tim.

SCENE V.

Enter Timon in a rage.

WHAT, are my doors oppos'd against my

paffage?

Have I been ever free, and muft my house
Be my retentive enemy, my goal?

H 4

The

The place, which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, fhew me an iron-heart?

Luc. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My lord, here's

my

Luc. Here's mine. 1
Var. And mine, my lord.
Cap. And ours, my lord.
Phi. And our bills.

bill.

·Tim. Knock me down with 'em-cleave me to

the girdle.

Lue. Alas! my lord.

Tim. Cut out my heart in fums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Five thousand crowns, my lord. Tim. Five thousand drops pay that. What yours and yours?

--

Var. My lord

Cap. My lord

Tim. Here tear me, take me, and the Gods fall on

you. [Exit. Hor. Faith, I perceive, our Mafters may throw their caps at their money; thefe debts may be well call'd defperate ones, for a mad man owes 'em.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

[Exeunt.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the

Tim. I'll have it foMy steward!

Flav. Here, my lord.

Tim. So fitly!-Go, bid all my friends again,

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius.

I'll once more feaft the rafcals.

Flau. O my lord!

All.

You

You only speak from your distracted soul;
There's not fo much left as to furnish out
A moderate table.

Tim. Be it not thy care:

Go, and invite them all, let in the tide

Of knaves once more: my Cook and I'll provide.

SCENE

VI.

[Exeunt.

1 Sen.

Changes to the Senate-House

Senators and Alcibiades.

MY Y lord, you have my voice to't, the fault's

bloody;

'Tis neceffary he should die :

Nothing emboldens fin fo much as mercy.

2 Sen. Moft true; the law fhall bruife 'em. Alc. Health, Honour, and Compaffion to the fenate! 1 Sen. Now, Captain.

your

Virtues :

Alc. I am an humble fuitor to
For Pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but Tyrants ufe it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath ftept into the law, which is paft depth
To those that without heed do plunge into't.
He is a man, fetting his fault afide,

Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault;
Nor did he foil the fact with cowardife,
But with a noble fury, and fair fpirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:

And with fuch fober and unnoted paffion
He did behave his anger ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

1 Sen You undergo too ftrict a Paradox, Striving to make an ugly Deed look fair:

H 5

Your