ACT II. Caph. I go, sir. SCENE I.- Athens. A Room in a Senator's House. Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand. Sen. And late, five thousand (to Varro and to Isidore He owes nine thousand), besides my former sum, Caph. Enter CAPHIS. Here, sir: what is your pleasure? Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord Impórtune him for my monies; be not ceased My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn When every feather sticks in his own wing, Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand. Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense, That he will neither know how to maintain it, Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account How things go from him; no reserve; no care Of what is to continue: never mind Was surely so unwise, to be so kind. What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel: I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting. Fie, fie, fie, fie! Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of ISIDORE and Apem. So would I, as good a trick as ever And that unaptness made your minister 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 whóremaster and a knave; which, notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed. Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool? Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. 'T is 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. 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 brother, and woman; sometime, the philosopher. [Exeunt APEMANTUS and Fool. Flav. 'Pray you, walk near, I'll speak with you anon. [Exeunt Servants. Tim. You make me marvel : wherefore, ere this time, Had you not fully laid my state before me; Flav. You would not hear me, Tim. Thus to excuse yourself. Flav. O, my good lord! The greatest of your having lacks a half Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Were it all yours to give it in a breath, Ah! when the means are gone that buy this praise, Tim. Come, sermon me no further: No villainous bounty yet hath passed my heart; Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience Do what they would; are sorry you are honora not- To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; But yet they could have wished - they know Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine That I account them blessings; for by these Something hath been amissa noble nature And so, intending other serious matters, Tim. You gods, reward them! Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants. 'T is lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind; Serv. My lord, my lord, — And nature, as it grows again towards earth, Tim. I will despatch you severally. You to Go to Ventidius [To a Servant]:- Pr'y thee, be not sad; Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepped I cleared him with five talents: greet him from me; Bid him suppose some good necessity To whom 't is instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, Flav. I would I could not think that thought is bounty's foe; Being free itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. Athens. A Room in LUCULLUS'S House. FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you. Flam. I thank you, sir. Enter LUCULLUS. Serv. Here's my lord. Lucul. [aside]. One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer to-night.- Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.- Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant. And how does that honorable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master? Flam. His health is well, sir. Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honor to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Lucul. La, la, la, la;-"nothing doubting," says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 't is, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I have dined with him, and told him on 't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less: and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his : I have told him on 't, but I could never get him from it. Re-enter Servant with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. - Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,-give thee thy due,— and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee. Get you gone, sirrah.-[To the Servant, who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say thou sawest me not. Fare thee well. Flam. Is't possible the world should so much differ; And we alive, that lived? Fly, damnéd baseness, To him that worships thee! [Throwing the money away. Lucul. Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master. [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, O, may diseases only work upon 't! nature Which my lord paid for, be of any power To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! [Exit |