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SER. Upon my foul, 'tis true, fir.

Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against fuch a good time, when I might have shown myfelf honourable? how unluckily it happen'd, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour?-Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I fay :-I was fending to use lord Timon myself, thefe gentlemen can witnefs; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope, his honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind :—And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions, fay, that I cannot pleasure fuch an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me fo far, as to use mine own words to him?

SER. Yes, fir, I fhall.

Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.-
[Exit SERVILIUS.

True, as you faid, Timon is shrunk, indeed;
And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed.

[Exit LUCIUS,

I STRAN. Do you obferve this, Hoftilius? 2 STRAN. Ay, too well.

I STRAN. Why this

Is the world's foul; and just of the fame piece

Is

every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him

His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse;
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, (O, see the monftroufness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful fhape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 STRAN. Religion groans at it.

I 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 proteft,

For his right noble mind, illuftrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his neceffity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to difpenfe;
For policy fits above confcience.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The fame. A Room in SEMPRONIUS'S House. Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a SERVANT of Timon's. SEM. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! 'Bove all others?

He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prifon : All these three

Owe their eftates unto him.

SERV. O my lord,

They have all been touch'd, and found bafe metal; for They have all deny'd him?

SEM. How! have they deny'd him?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus deny'd him?
And does he fend to me? Three? humph!—
It shows but little love or judgement in him.

Muft I be his last refuge? His friends, like phyficians,
Thrive, give him over; Muft I take the cure upon me?
He has much difgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him,
That might have known my place: I fee no fenfe for't,
But his occafions might have woo'd me first;

For, in my confcience, I was the first man
That e'er receiv'd gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it laft? No: So it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,

And I amongst the 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 to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour, fhall not know my coin.

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

Of fuch a nature is his politick love.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save the gods only: 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 master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house.

[Exit.

SCENE IV. The fame. A Hall in TIMON'S House. Enter two SERVANTS of VARRO, and the SERVANT of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out. VAR. SERV. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and HorTIT. The like to you, kind Varro.

HOR. Lucius?

What, do we meet together?

LUC. SERV. Ay, and, I think,

One bufinefs does command us all; for mine

Is money.

TIT. So is theirs and ours.

Enter PHILOTUS,

LUC. SERV. And fir

Philotus too!

PHI. Good day at once.

LUC. SERV. Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?

PHI. Labouring for nine.

LUC. SERV. So much?

PHI. Is not my lord feen yet?

LUC. SERV. Not yet.

[tenfius.

PHI. I wonder on't; he was wont to fhine at feven.

LUC. SERV. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him:

You must confider, that a prodigal courfe

Is like the fun'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 fends now for money.

HOR. Moft 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 ftrange it shows,

Timon in this should pay more than he owes :
And e'en as if your lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em.

HOR. I am 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 ftealth.

1 VAR. SERV. Yes, mine's three thoufand crowns: What's yours?

LUC. SERV. Five thoufand mine.

[the fum,

1 VAR. SERV. 'Tis much deep and it fhould feem by Your mafter's confidence was above mine;

Elfe, furely, his had equall'd.

Enter FLAMINIUS.

TIT. One of lord Timon's men.

LUC. SERV. Flaminius! fir, a word:

'Pray, is

'Pray, is my lord

ready to come forth?

FLAM. No, indeed, he is not.

Tir. We attend his lordship; 'pray, fignify fo much. FLAM. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are

too diligent.

He

[Exit FLAMINIUS.

Enter FLAVIUs in a cloak, muffled.

LUC. SERV. Ha! is not that his fteward muffled fo?

goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. TIT. Do

you hear, fir?

1 VAR. SERV. By your leave, fir,

FLAV. What do you ask of me, my friend?
TIT. We wait for certain money here, fir.

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