Page. [To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?

Apem. Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably.

Page. Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters: I know not which is which. Apem. Canst not read?

Page. No.

Apem. There will little learning die then, that day
thou art hang'd. This is to Lord Timon; this
to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard,
and thou 'lt die a bawd.
Page. Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt
famish a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone.

Apem. E'en so thou outrun'st grace. Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon's.

Fool. Will you leave me there?

Apem. If Timon stay at home. You three serve three

usurers?

All Serv. Ay; would they served us!

Apem. So would I,—as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.

80

90

[Exit.

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 whore- IIO master 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. 'Tis a spirit: sometime't appears like a
lord; sometime like a lawyer; sometime like a
philosopher, with two stones moe than's arti-
ficial 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 120
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 lack'st.
Apem. That answer might have become Apemantus.
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. 130

[Exeunt Servants.

Tim. You make me marvel; wherefore, ere this time,

Flav.

Had you not fully laid my state before me,
That I might so have rated my expense

As I had leave of means?

You would not hear me,

At many leisures I proposed.

Tim.

Go to:

Flav.

Perchance some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.

O my good lord,

At many times I brought in my accounts,

Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.

When for some trifling present you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom nor no slight checks, when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate

140

And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,
Though you hear now, too late!-yet now's a

time

The greatest of your having lacks a half

To pay your present debts.

Tim.
Let all my land be sold.
Flav. 'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone,

And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace :
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedæmon 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.

150

160

You tell me true.

Flav. If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,

Tim.

Call me before the exactest auditors,

And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd

With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
Hath blazed with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy,
I have retired me to a wasteful cock,

And set mine eyes at flow

Prithee, no more.

Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?

Tim.

Flav.

170

What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord
Timon's?

Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!

Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd.

180

Come, sermon me no further: No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart; Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.

Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience

lack,

To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;

If I would broach the vessels 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 speak.

Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And in some sort these wants of mine are crown'd, That I account them blessings; for by these

Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you 190
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius !

Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.

Servants. My lord? my lord?

Tim. I will dispatch you severally: you to Lord Lucius to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour to-day: you to Sempronius: commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to use 'em toward a supply of money: let the request be 200 fifty talents.

Flam. As you have said, my lord.

Flav. [Aside] Lord Lucius and Lucullus ? hum!

Tim. Go you, sir, to the senators

Flav.

Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
Deserved this hearing-bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to me.

I have been bold,
For that I knew it the most general way,
To them to use your signet and your name,
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

Is 't true? can't be?

210

Tim.
Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,
That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
Do what they would; are sorry-you are honour-

able,

But yet they could have wish'd-they know not-
Something hath been amiss-a noble nature

May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity: