But find fupply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate afpect,

A vifage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull 1,
Which flashes now a phoenix.

Caph. I go, fir.

Get you gone.

Caph. If you did know, my lord, my mafter's

wants,

Var. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord,fix weeks, And past.

Ifid. Your steward puts me off, my lord; and I Am fent exprefsly to your lordship.

Tim. Give me breath :

Sen. I go, fir-take the bonds along with you, I do befeech you, good my lords, keep on; And have the dates in compt.

Caph. I will, fir.

Sen. Go.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Timon's Hall.

Enter Flavius, with many bills in his hand.
Flav. No care, no stop! fo fenfelefs of expence,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor ceafe his flow of riot; Takes no account
How things go from him; nor refumes no care
Of what is to continue; Never mind
Was to be fo unwife, to be fo kind 3.

What shall be done? He will not hear, 'till feel:
1 must be round with him, now he comes from
hunting.

Enter Caphis, with the fervants of Ifidore and Varro,
Fye, fye, fye, fye!

Caph. Good even 4, Varro: What,

You come for money?

Var. Is't not your bufinefs too?

Caph. It is ;-And your's too, Ifidore?
Ifd. It is fo.

Caph. 'Would we were all difcharg'd!
Var. I fear it.

Caph. Here comes the lord.

Enter Timon, Alcibiades, &c.

Tim. So foon as dinner's done, we'll forth again, My Alcibiades. With me? What is your will ? [They prefent their bills.

Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
Tim. Dues? Whence are you?
Caph. Of Athens here, my lord.
Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the fucceffion of new days this month:
My mafter is awak'd by great occafion,
To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,
That with your other noble parts you'll fuit,
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 thyfelf, good friend.

Var. One Varro's fervant, my good lord,-
Ifid. From Ifidore;

He humbly prays your fpeedy payment,

[Exeunt Alcibiades, St.
I'll wait upon you instantly.—Come hither, pray you.
(To Flaviuse
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamorous demands of broken bonds,
And the detention of long-fince-due debts,
Against my honour ?

The time is unagreeable to this business:
Flav. Please you, gentlemen,

Your importuracy ceafe, 'till after dinner;
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim. Do fo, my friends: See them well enter-
tain'd.

Flav. Pray draw near.

[Exit Time. [Exit Flavius

Enter Apemantus, and a Fool.
Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with
Apemantus;

Let's have fome fport with 'em.

Var. Hang him, he'll abufe us.
Ifid. A plague upon him, dog!
Var. How doft, fool ?

Apem. Doft dialogue with thy fhadow ?
Var. I fpeak not to thee.

pem. No, 'tis to thyfelf.-Come away.

[To the Fral

id. [To Var.] There's the fool hangs on your back already.

Apem. No, thou ftand'st single, thou art not on him yet.

Caph. Where's the fool now?

Apem. He lait afk'd the question. Poor rogue,
and ufurers' men! bawds between gold and want!
All. What are we, Apemantus ?
Apem. Affes.

All. Why?

Apem. That you ask me, what you are, and de not know yourselves.-Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen?

All. Gramercies, good fool: How does your miftrefs?

Fool. She's e'en fetting on water to scald fach chickens as you are. 'Would, we could fes yom at Corinth 6.

3 Ware

A gull is a bird as remarkable for the poverty of its feathers, as a phoenix is supposed to be for the richness of its plumage. 2 Which is here ufed for who, and refers to Timon burton fupplies the fenfe of this paffage thus: Never mind was made] to be fo unwife, Laorder] to be fo kind. i. e. Nature, in order to make a profute mind, never before endowed any man with in large a fhare of folly. 4 Good even, or, as it is fometimes lefs accurately written. Good dem, was the ufual falutation from noon, the moment that Good morrow became improper. 5 Theod Wet

for a certain difeafe was the brenning, and a fenfe of folding is one of its firit symptoms. name for a bawdy-houfe, probably from the diffoluteness of that ancient Greek city.

F

Ape. If Timon stay at home.-You three Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you ferve three ufurers?

All. Ay; 'would they ferv'd us!

To hold your hand more clofe: I did endure
Not feldom, nor no flight checks; when I have

Apem. So would I,—as good a trick as ever Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
hangman ferv'd thief.

Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whore-mafter, and a knave; which notwithitanding, thou fhalt be no lefs efteemed.

Var. What is a whore-mafter, fool?

Fool. A fool in good clothes, and fomething like thee. 'Tis a fpirit: fometime, it appears like a lord; fometime, like a lawyer; fometime, like a philofopher, with two stones more than's artificial one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally, in all fhapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourfcore to thirteen, this fpirit walks in.

Var. Thou art not altogether a fool.

Fool. Nor thou altogether a wife man: as much
foolery as I have, fo much wit thon lack'st.
Apem. That answer might have become Ape-

mantus.

All. Afide, afide; here comes lord Timon.
Re-enter Timon, and Flavius.

Apem. Come with me, fool, come.

And your great flow of debts. My clear-lov'd lord,
Though you hear now, yet now's too late a time;
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your prefent debts.

Tim. Let all my land be fold.

Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, fome forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of prefent dues: the future comes apace :
What fhall defend the interim and at length
How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedemon did my land extend.
Flav.O my good lord, the world is but a word? ;
Were it all yours, to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone?

Tim. You tell me true.

Fool. I do not always follow lover, elder bro-Great Timon's, noble, worthy, royal Timon's? aher, and woman; fometime, the philosopher. Ah! when the means are gone, that buy this praife,

2 The

1 Meaning the celebrated philofopher's ftone, which was in those times much talked of. meaning is, As the world itfelf may be comprised in a word, you might give it away in a breath. 3 Feeders are fervants, whofe low debaucheries are practifed in the offices of a houfe. It appears, that what we now call ofjues, were anciently called houses of office. 4 A wasteful cock is what we now call a waste pipe; a pipe which is continually running, and thereby prevents the overflow of cifterns and other refervoirs, by carrying off their fuperfluous water. This circumstance served to keep the idea of Timon's unscaling prodigality in the mind of the steward, while is remoteness from the feenes of luxury within the nouic, was favourable to meditation.

The

The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feaft-won, faft-loft; one cloud of winter fhowers,
These flies are couch'd.

Tim. Come, fermon me no further:
No villainous bounty yet hath past my heart;
Unwifely, not ignobly, have I given. [lack,
Why doft thou weep? Can'ft thou the confcience
To think I fhall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the veffels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee fpeak.

Tim. You gods reward them!— pr'ythee, man, look cheerly: Thefe old fellows Have their ingratitude in them hereditary: Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it feldom flows; 'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind; And nature, as it grows again toward earth,

Tim. I wil dispatch you severally,-You, to Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy.—

Flam. His health is well, fir.

Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, fir: And what haft thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Lucul [Afide.] One of lord Timon's men ? a Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, fir; gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your of a filver bafon and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honour to fupply; who, having great and inftant

1 Argument may here be put for contents, as the arguments of a book; or for evidences and proofs. ̧ 2 i. e. compendious way. 3 To intend and to attend had anciently the fame meaning. 4 Fractions here mean broken hints, interrupted fentences, abrupt remarks. 5 A half-cap is a cap flightly moved, not put off. 6 i. e. liberal. 7 i. e. refpectfully.

occafion to use fifty talents, hath fent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your prefent affiftance therein.

Lucul. La, la, la, la,--nothing doubting, fays he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep fo good a houfe. Many a time and often I ha' din'd with him, and told him on't; and come again to fupper to him, of purpose to have him fpend lefs and yet he would embrace no counfel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honefty is his; I ha' told him on't, but I could never get him from 't.

Re-enter Servant, with wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wife. Here's to thee.

Flam. Your lordship fpeaks your pleasure. Lucul. 1 have obferv'd thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,-give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reafon; and canft ufe the time well, if the time ufe thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, firrah. [To the Servant, who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honeft Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wife; and thou know'ft well enough, although thou com'ft to me, that this is no time to lend money; efpecially upon bare friendship, without fecurity. Here's three folidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and fay, thou faw'ft me not. Fare thee well.

Flam. Is 't poffible, the world fhould fo much differ;

thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours, now lord Timon's happy hours are done and paft, and his estate fhrinks from him..

Luc. Fye, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that,' not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow fo many talents; nay, urg'd extremely for 't, and fhew'd what neceflity belong'd to 't, and yet was deny'd. Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, deny'd, my lord.

Luc. What a ftrange cafe was that? now, before the gods, I am afham'd on't. Deny'd that honourable man? there was very little honour fhew'd in 't. For my own part, I muft needs confefs, I have receiv'd fome fmall kindnelles from him, as money, plate, jewels, and fuch like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mittook him, and fent to me, I fhould ne'er have deny'd his occafion fo many talents.

Enter Servilius.

fent

Luc. Ha! what hath he fent? I am fo much endear'd to that lord; he's ever fending; How And we alive, that liv'd 2? Fly, damned baseness, fhall I thank him, think'ft thou? And what has To him that worthips thee. he fent now?

[Throwing the money away. Lucul. Ha! Now I fee, thou art a fool, and fit for thy master. [Exit Lucullus. Flam. May thefe add to the number that may fcald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation,

Thou difeafe of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship fuch a faint and milky heart,
It turns 3 in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my mafter's paffion This flave,
Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him :
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poifon?
O, may difeafes only work upon 't !
And, when he's fick to death, let not that
Which may lord paid for, be of any power
To expel fickness, but prolong his hour!

SCENE II.

A publick Street.

Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.

[nature
part of

[Exit.

Ser. He has only fent his prefent occafion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to fupply his inftant ufe with so many talents.

Luc. I know, his lordthip is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser. But in the mean time he wants lefs, my lord.

If his occafion were not virtuous 3,

I should not urge it half fo faithfully 4.
Luc. Doft thou speak feriously, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my foul, 'tis true, fir.

Luc. What a wicked beaft was I, to disfurnish myfelf against fuch a good time, when I might have thewn myfelf honourable? how unluckily it happen'd, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honours -Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do 't; the more beaft, I fay :-I was fending to ufe lord Timon myfelf, thefe gentlemen can witnefs; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordfhip; and, I hope, his honour will

Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good conceive the fairest of me, becaufe I have no power friend, and an honourable gentleman.

I Stan. We know him for no lefs, though we are but itrangers to him. But I can tell you one

milk.

to be kind :-And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions, fay, that I cannot pleature fuch an honourable gentleman. Good

s The

1 Mr. Steevens believes this coin to be from the mint of the poet. 2 i. e. and we who were alive then, alive now. As much as to fay, in fo short a time. 3 Alluding to the turning or acefcence of 3 i. e. If he did not want it for a good ufe. 4 Faithfully, for fervently. meaning is, By purchafing what brought me but little honour, I have loft the more honourable opportunity of fupplying the wants of my friend.

Servilius,

Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to ufe] my own words to him?

1 Stran. Why, this is the world's fport;
And just of the fame piece is every flatterer's foul.
Who can call him his friend,

That dips in the fame difh? for, in my knowing,
Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purfe ;
Supported his eftate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's filver treads upon his lip;
And yet, (0, fee the monftrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars,
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.
Stran. For mine own part,
I never tafted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illuftrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his neceffity made ufe of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,

Sem. How! have they deny'd him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus deny'd him ?
And does he fend to me? Three? hum!-
It fhews but little love or judgement in him.
Muft I be his laft refuge? His friends, like phy、
ficians,

(me? Thrive, give him over 4; Muft I take the cure upon He has much difgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him, That might have known my place: I fee no feme for 't,

But his occafions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my confcience, I was the firft man
That e'er receiv'd gift from him;
And does he think fo backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No:

So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the reft, and I'mongst lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the fum,
He had fent to me first, but for my mind's fake;
I had fuch a courage 5 to do him good. But now

return,

And with their faint reply this answer join ;
Who bates mine honour, fhall not know my coin.

[Ex.

Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly vil lain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politick; he crofs'd himself by 't : and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man will fet him clear. How fairly this lord ftrives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies 7 to be wicked; like those, that, under hot ardent zeal, would fet whole realms on fire.

And the best half should have return'd to him 2, Of fuch a nature is his politic love.

So much I love his heart: But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy fits above conscience.

[Exeunt.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are ded,
Save only the gods; Now his friends are dead,
Doors that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard fure their matter.

And this is all a liberal courfe allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, muft keep his houses, [Exi

1 i. e. In refpect of his fortune, what Lucius denies to Timon is, in proportion to what Lucius poffeffes, lefs than the ufual alins given by good men to beggars. 2 That is, I would have treated my wealth as a prefent originally received from him, and on this occafion have return'd him the half of that whole for which I fuppofed myself to be indebted to his bounty. 3 i. e. tried, alluding to the touchstone. 4 That is, "His friends, like phyficians, thrive by his bounty and fees, and either relinquish, and forfake him, or give his cafe up as defperate." To give over has no reference to the irremediable condition of a patient, but fimply means to leave, to forfake, to quit. si. e. I had fuch an ardour, fuch an eager defire. 6 Set him clear does not mean, acquit him before heaven; but it fignifies, puzzle him, outdo him at his own weapons. And the meaning of the paffage is, "If the devil made men politic, he has thwarted his own intereft, because the fuperior cunning of man will at last puzzle him, or be above the reach of his temptations." 7 This is a refiction on the puritans of that time. Thefe people were then fet upon a project of new modelling the ecclefiaftical and civil government according to fcripture rules and examples; which makes him fay, that wader zeal for the word of God, they would fet whole realms on fire. So Sempronius pretended to that warm affection and generous jealoufy of friendship, that is affronted, if any other be applied to before it. 8. e. keep within doors for fear of duns.