and, generally in all shapes, that man goes up
and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this
spirit walks in.

Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool.
Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much
foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest.
Apem. That answer might have become Ape-

mantus.

All Serv. Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

Apem. Come with me, fool, come. Fool. I do not always follow lover, elder bro ther, and woman; sometime, the philosopher. [Exeunt Apemantus and Fool. Flav. 'Pray you, walk near; I'll speak with [Exeunt Servants. Tim. You make me marvel: wherefore, ere this time,

you anon.

Had you not fully laid my state before me :
That I might so have rated my expense,
As I had leave of means?
Flav.

You would not hear me,

At many leisures I propos'd.

Tim.

Go to:

Perchance, some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;
And that unaptness made you minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.

O my good lord!

Flav.
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.
When, for some trifling present, you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head, and
wept;

Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close; I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have
Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd
lord,

Though you hear now (too late!) yet now's a
time,

The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.

Tim.

Let all my land be sold.
Flav. "Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend.
Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word;
Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone?

Tim.

You tell me true.

;

Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or false-
hood,

Call me before the exactest auditors,
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine; when every room
Hath blaz'd with lights, and bray'd with min-
strelsy:

I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,
And set mine eyes at flow.
Tim.

Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!

How many prodigal bits have slaves, and pea-
sants,

This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is
Lord Timon's?

Come, sermon me no further;
Tim.
No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep ? Canst thou the conscience
Jack,

Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon?
Ah! when the means are gone that buy this

praise,

The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd.

To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav.
Assurance bless your thoughts!
Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine
are crown'd,

That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends; You shall perceive, how you
Mistake my fortunes: I am wealthy in my
friends.

Within there, ho!-Flaminius! Servilius!
Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.
Serv. My lord, my lord.-

Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You, to
Lord Lucius,-

To Lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his
Honour to-day ;-You to Sempronius;

Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say

That my occasions have found time to use them
Toward a supply of money: let the request
Be fifty talents.
Flam.

As you have said, my lord.
Flav. Lord Lucius, and Lord Lucullus ?
[Aside.
humph!
Tim. Go you, sir, [To another Serv., to the

That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot Do what they would; are sorry-you are honourable,

But yet they could have wish'd-they know not -but

Something hath been amiss-a noble nature
May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis
pity-

And so, intending other serions matters,
After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps, and cold moving nods,
They froze me into silence.
Tim.

You gods, reward them!-
I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly; These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;
'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy-
Go to Ventidius, [To a Serv.]-'Pr'ythee, [To
Flavius,] be not sad,

Thou art true, and honest; ingenuously I speak,
No blame belongs to thee;-[To Serv.] Venti-
dius lately

Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from

Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! [Exit.
SCENE II. The same. A public place.

Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.
Luc. Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very
good friend, and an honourable gentleman.
1 Stran. We know him for no less, though we
are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one
thing, my lord, and which I hear from common
rumours; now Lord Timon's happy hours are
done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.
Luc. Fie no, do not believe it: he cannot want
for money.

Lucul. [Aside. One of Lord Timon's men? a 2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right: I dreamt not long ago, one of his men was with the Lord of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urgea honest Flaminius; you are very respectively extremely for't, and showed what necessity bewelcome, sir.-Fill me some wine.-[Exit Ser-longed to't, and yet was denied. vant.]-And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good ford and master? Flam. His health is well, sir.

1 Stran. Why, this

Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse:
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet (0, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.
1 Stran.

And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his

house.

SCENE IV.

[Exit

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 Hortensius.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

For mine own part, Hor.

I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his necessity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense:
For policy sits above conscience.

[Exeunt.

What, do we meet together?
Luc. Serv.

Lucius?

Ay, and, I think,
One business does command us all; for mine
Is money.
Tit.

So is theirs and ours.

Enter Philotus.

Luc. Serv.
Philotus too?
Phi.
Luc. Serv.
What do you think the hour?
Phi.

SCENE III.
Luc. Serv. So much?
A Room in Sempronius's House.
Phi.
Luc. Serv.

The same.
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;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these three
Owe their estates unto him.

Serv.

O my lord,

Labouring for nine. Is not my lord seen yet? Not yet Phi. I wonder, on't; he was wont to shine at

seven.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter
with him:

You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,

Phi.

They have all been touch'd, and found base "Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
metal; for
That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.
They have all denied him.
Sem.
How! have they denied him?
I am of your fear for that.
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange
And does he send to me? Three? humph!-
It shows but little love or judgment in him.
Must I be his last refuge ? His friends, like phy.
sicians,
Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure
upon me ?-

He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him,

That might have known my place: I see no
sense for't,

But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er received gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: So it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And amongst the lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
He had sent.to me first, but for my mind's sake;
I had such a courage to do him good. But now
return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
[Exit.
Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly vil-
lain. The devil knew not what he did, when he
made man politick; he crossed 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 politick love.
This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save the gods only: Now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their

wards

Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.

Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flav.

Ay,

If money were as certain as your waiting,
"Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd you not
Your sums and bills, when your false masters eat
Of my lord's meat? Then they could smile and
fawn

Upon his debts, and take down th' interest
Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves
but wrong,

To stir me up; let me pass quietly:
Believe't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
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. Ser. 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.

And, if it be so far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.
Ser.
Good gods!
Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, sir.
Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help 1-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
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?

The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
Luc. Serv. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My lord, here is my bill.

Luc. Serv. Here's mine.

Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord.

Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

I charge thee; invite them all let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
[Exeunt.

SCENE V. The same.

The Senate House. The Senate sitting.
Enter Alcibiades, attended.

1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to❜t; the
fault's

Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die:
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

2 Sen Most true; the law shall bruise him.
Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the

senate !

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
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood,
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into it.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,
Of comely virtues:

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice
(An honour in him, which buys out his fault ;)
But, with a noble fury, and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:

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

1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains, as if they
labour'd

To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer

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,

Tim. Knock me down with 'em; cleave me to To bring it into danger.

the girdle.

Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord,

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.

Tit. Mine fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Tim. Five thousand drops pays that.-

What yours ?-and yours?

1 Var. Serv. My lord,

2 Var. Serv. My lord,

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! [Exit. Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. [Exeunt.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!
Alcib. My lord,-

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,
And not endure all threatenings? sleep upon it
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? but if there be
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:

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood

the slaves:

Creditors!-devils.

Flav. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be so?

Flav My lord,

Tim I'll have it so:-My steward!

To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety;

But who is man, that is not angry ?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.

2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h' as done fair 1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an

Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the senate ugly.

1 Sen. If, after two days shine, Athens contain
thee,

Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit,

He shall be executed presently.

[Exeunt Senators. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts ;-All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;'
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
"Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs, as gods.

Exit.

A magnificent Room in Timon's House. Musick. Tables set out; Servants attending Enter divers Lords, at several doors. 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountered: I hope, it is not so low