Act III.
Scene IV.
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.
First Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow,
Titus and Hortensius.
Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.
Hor. Lucius!
What! do we meet together!
Luc. Ser. Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine
Is money.
Tit. So is theirs and ours.
Enter PHILOTUS.
Luc. Serv. And Sir Philotus too!
Phi. Good day at once.
Luc. Serv. Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Phi. Labouring for nine.
Luc. Serv. So much?
Phi. Is not my lord seen yet?
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 him;
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun'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 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:
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.
Hor. I'm weary of this charge, the gods can
witness:
I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than
stealth.
First Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand
crowns; what's yours?
Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.
First Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it
should seem by the sum,
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equalled.
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?
Sec. Var. Serv. By your leave, sir.
Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
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 the 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 serve, 'tis not so base as
you;
For you serve knaves. [Exit.
First Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd
worship mutter?
Sec. 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.
Servil. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to
repair some other hour, I should derive much
from't; for, take't of my soul, my lord leans
wondrously to discontent. His comfortable
temper has forsook him; he's much out of
health, and keeps his chamber.
Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers are
not sick:
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.
Servil. Good gods!
Tit. We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help! my lord!
my lord! So
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. And mine, my lord.
Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.
Phi. All our bills.
Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to
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?
First Var. Serv. My lord,—
Sec. 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 mad-
man owes 'em. [Exeunt.
Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.
Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me,
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!
Flav. Here, my lord.
Tim. So fitly! Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.
Flav. O my lord!
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
Tim. Be't not in thy care: go.
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
[Exeunt.
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