Enter two of Varro’s Servants meeting Titus and Hortensius and then Lucius, all Servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out.
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
Well met, good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS.
The like to you, kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS.
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
LUCIUS.
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all;
For mine is money.
TITUS.
So is theirs and ours.
Enter Philotus.
LUCIUS.
And, sir, Philotus too!
PHILOTUS.
Good day at once.
LUCIUS.
Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS.
Labouring for nine.
LUCIUS.
So much?
PHILOTUS.
Is not my lord seen yet?
LUCIUS.
Not yet.
PHILOTUS.
I wonder on’t, he was wont to shine at seven.
LUCIUS.
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.
PHILOTUS.
I am of your fear for that.
TITUS.
I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
HORTENSIUS.
Most true, he does.
TITUS.
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS.
It is against my heart.
LUCIUS.
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.
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
LUCIUS.
Five thousand mine.
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
Enter Flaminius.
TITUS.
One of Lord Timon’s men.
LUCIUS.
Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS.
No, indeed he is not.
TITUS.
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
FLAMINIUS.
I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.
[Exit Flaminius.]
Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.
LUCIUS.
Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
TITUS.
Do you hear, sir?
SECOND VARRO’S SERVANT.
By your leave, sir.
FLAVIUS.
What do you ask of me, my friend?
TITUS.
We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS.
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
’Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred 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.
LUCIUS.
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS.
If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,
For you serve knaves.
[Exit.]
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?
SECOND VARRO’S 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.
Enter Servilius.
TITUS.
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.
LUCIUS.
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!
TITUS.
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS.
[Within.] Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!
Enter Timon in a rage.
TIMON.
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
LUCIUS.
Put in now, Titus.
TITUS.
My lord, here is my bill.
LUCIUS.
Here’s mine.
HORTENSIUS.
And mine, my lord.
BOTH VARRO’S SERVANTS.
And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS.
All our bills.
TIMON.
Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.
LUCIUS.
Alas, my lord—
TIMON.
Cut my heart in sums!
TITUS.
Mine, fifty talents.
TIMON.
Tell out my blood.
LUCIUS.
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON.
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours, and yours?
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
My lord—
SECOND VARRO’S SERVANT.
My lord—
TIMON.
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.
[Exeunt.]
Enter Timon and Flavius.
TIMON.
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? Devils!
FLAVIUS.
My dear lord—
TIMON.
What if it should be so?
FLAVIUS.
My lord—
TIMON.
I’ll have it so.—My steward!
FLAVIUS.
Here, my lord.
TIMON.
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, 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.
TIMON.
Be it 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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