I'ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,

Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake ;
I'd such a courage to do him good. But now
return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
[Exit.

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

Of such a nature is his politic love.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
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 sure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

30

40

[Exit.

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.

First Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow,
Titus and Hortensius.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

29. crossed himself, defeated his own purpose.

Phi. I wonder on 't; he was wont to shine at

seven.

Luc. Serv. 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.

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,

ΤΟ

20

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 equall'd.

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.

Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled.

30

[Exit. 40

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 ye ask of me, my friend?

Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flav.

If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough.

Ay,

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 cashiered 60 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.

Ser. 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.

70 f. 'Here, as in Lear and Constance, the poet takes care to mark the concurrence of physical with moral causes of insanity. Mere bodily disease is no subject for dramatic representation; and the fact of its

70

existence is lightly enough indicated; but it is indicated, and that is sufficient to preserve the exact natural verisimilitude of the diseased mind's history' (Dr. Bucknill, The Mad Folk of Shakespeare, p. 247).

Ser.

Good gods!

My lord!

Tit. We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flam. [Within] Servilius, help!

my lord!

Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following.

Tim. 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?
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.

yours? and yours?

First Var. Serv. My lord,

What

80

90

Sec. Var. Serv. My lord,

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

[Exit. 100 Hor. '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.