What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel: I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting. Fye, fye, fye, fye! Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of ISIDORE and VARRO. Good even, Varro: What, Is't not your business too? It is so. Caph. It is; and yours too, Isidore? Caph. 'Would we were all discharg'd! Var. Serv. Caph. Here comes the lord. I fear it. Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,1 My Alcibiades. With me? What's your will? Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues. Tim. Dues? whence are you? Caph. Tim. Go to my steward. Of Athens here, my lord. Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off To the succession of new days this month: My master is awak'd by great occasion, To call upon his own: and humbly prays you, But of this mode of expression conversation affords many examples: "I was always to be blamed, whatever happened." "I am in the lottery, but I was always to draw blanks." 9 Good even,] Good even, or, as it is sometimes less accurately written, Good den, was the usual salutation from noon, the moment that good morrow became improper. 1 we'll forth again,] i. e. to hunting, from which diversion, we find by Flavius's speech, he was just returned. It may be here observed, that in our author's time it was the austom to hunt as well after dinner as before. That with your other noble parts you'll suit,2 In giving him his right. Tim. Mine honest friend, I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning. Caph. Nay, good my lord, Tim. Contain thyself, good friend. Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord, — Isid. Serv. He humbly prays your speedy payment, From Isidore; Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants, Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks, And past, Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my lord; And I am sent expressly to your lordship. Tim. Give me breath: I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; [Exeunt ALCIBIADES and Lords. I'll wait upon you instantly. Come hither, pray you, [TO FLAVIUS. Flav. Tim. See them well entertain'd. Flav. Do so, my friends: [Exit TIMON. 2 That with your other noble parts you'll suit,] i. e. that you will behave on this occasion in a manner consistent with your other noble qualities. +"date-broken bonds," - MALONE. Enter APEMANTUS and a Fool.3 Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus; let's have some sport with 'em. Var. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us. Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow? Apem. No; 'tis to thyself. Come away. [To the Fool. Isid. Serv. [to VAR. Serv.] There's the fool hangs on your back already. yet. Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou art not on him Caph. Where's the fool now? Apem. He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All Serv. What are we, Apemantus? Apem. Asses. All Serv. Why? Apam. That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen? All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress? Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. 'Would we could see you at Corinth. Apem. Good! gramercy. Enter Page. Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress' page. 3 Enter Apemantus and a Fool.] I suspect some scene to be lost, in which the entrance of the fool, and the page that follows him, was prepared by some introductory dialogue, in which the audience do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus? Apem. 'Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably. Page. Pr'ythee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters; I know not which is which. Apem. Canst not read? Page. No. Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou❜lt die a bawd. Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. Apem. Even so thou out-run'st grace. go with you to lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there? [Exit Page. Fool, I will Apem. If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers? All Serv. Ay; 'would they served us! Apem. So would I, -as good a trick as ever hangman served thief. Fool. Are you three usurers' men? All Serv. Ay, fool. Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily, and go away sadly: The reason of this? Var. Serv. I could render one. Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster, and a knave; which notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed. was informed that they were the fool and page of Phrynia, Timandra, or some other courtezan, upon the knowledge of which depends the greater part of the ensuing jocularity. JOHNSON. Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool? Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. 'Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears like a lord; sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with two stones more than his artificial one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally, in all shapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in. as much Var. Sero. Thou art not altogether a fool. Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man: foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest. Apem. That answer might have become Apemantus. 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 brother, and woman; sometime, the philosopher. [Exeunt APEMANTUS and Fool. Flav. 'Pray you, walk near; I'll speak with you anon. [Exeunt Servant. Tim. You make me marvel: Wherefore, ere this time, Had Flav. At many leisures I propos'd. Tim. You would not hear me, Go to: Perchance, some single vantages you took, Flav. At many times I brought in my accounts, O my good lord! made your minister,] The construction is: And made that unaptness your minister. |