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 of TIMON’s creditors, waiting his coming out]
Varro’s
First Servant
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS
The like to you kind Varro.
The like to you kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucilius’ Servant
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
TITUS
So is theirs and ours.
So is theirs and ours.
[Enter PHILOTUS]
Lucilius’ Servant
And Sir Philotus too!
And Sir Philotus too!
PHILOTUS
Good day at once.
Good day at once.
Lucilius’ Servant
What do you think the hour?
| Welcome, good brother. |
PHILOTUS
Labouring for nine.
Labouring for nine.
Lucilius’ Servant
So much?
So much?
PHILOTUS
Is not my lord seen yet?
Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucilius’ Servant
Not yet.
Not yet.
PHILOTUS
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucilius’ Servant
Ay, but the days are wax’d 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.
Ay, but the days are wax’d 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.
PHILOTUS
I am of your fear for that.
I am of your fear for that.
TITUS
I’ll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
I’ll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
HORTENSIUS
Most true, he does.
Most true, he does.
TITUS
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS
It is against my heart.
It is against my heart.
Lucilius’ Servant
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.
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.
HORTENSIUS
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.
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.
Varro’s
First Servant
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns: what’s yours?
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns: what’s yours?
Lucilius’ Servant
Five thousand mine.
Five thousand mine.
Varro’s
First Servant
’Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master’s confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall’d.
’Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master’s confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall’d.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
TITUS
One of Lord Timon’s men.
One of Lord Timon’s men.
Lucilius’ Servant
Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS
No, indeed, he is not.
No, indeed, he is not.
TITUS
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
FLAMINIUS
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
[Exit]
[Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled]
Lucilius’ Servant
Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
TITUS
Do you hear, sir?
Do you hear, sir?
Varro’s
Second Servant
By your leave, sir, –
By your leave, sir, –
FLAVIUS
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
TITUS
We wait for certain money here, sir.
We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS
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.
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.
Lucilius’ Servant
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS
If ’twill not serve,’tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
If ’twill not serve,’tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
[Exit]
Varro’s
First Servant
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
Varro’s
Second Servant
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.
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]
TITUS
O, here’s Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
O, here’s Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
SERVILIUS
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.
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.
LUCILIUS’ SERVANT
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.
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.
SERVILIUS
Good gods!
Good gods!
TITUS
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS
| [Within] | Servilius, help! My lord! my lord! |
[Enter TIMON, in a rage, FLAMINIUS following]
TIMON
What, are my doors opposed 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?
What, are my doors opposed 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?
Lucilius’ Servant
Put in now, Titus.
Put in now, Titus.
TITUS
My lord, here is my bill.
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius’ Servant
Here’s mine.
Here’s mine.
HORTENSIUS
And mine, my lord.
And mine, my lord.
Both
Varro’s Servants
And ours, my lord.
And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS
All our bills.
All our bills.
TIMON
Knock me down with ’em: cleave me to the girdle.
Knock me down with ’em: cleave me to the girdle.
Lucilius’ Servant
Alas, my lord,-
Alas, my lord,-
TIMON
Cut my heart in sums.
Cut my heart in sums.
TITUS
Mine, fifty talents.
Mine, fifty talents.
TIMON
Tell out my blood.
Tell out my blood.
Lucilius’ Servant
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours? – and yours?
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours? – and yours?
Varro’s
First Servant
My lord, –
My lord, –
Varro’s
Second Servant
My lord, –
My lord, –
TIMON
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
[Exit]
HORTENSIUS
’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.
’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]
TIMON
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!
FLAVIUS
My dear lord, –
My dear lord, –
TIMON
What if it should be so?
What if it should be so?
FLAVIUS
My lord, –
My lord, –
TIMON
I’ll have it so. My steward!
I’ll have it so. My steward!
FLAVIUS
Here, my lord.
Here, my lord.
TIMON
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
FLAVIUS
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.
TIMON
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I’ll provide.
| Be’t not in thy care; go, |
Of knaves once more; my cook and I’ll provide.
[Exeunt]
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