some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents. Enter SERVILIUS. Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honor.-My honored lord, - [TO LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:-Commend me to thy honorable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. Ser. May it please your honor, my lord hath sent Luc. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending. How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me. He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.1 Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous,2 I should not urge it half so faithfully. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honorable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honor! 3-Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't: the more beast, I say: -I was sending to use lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth 1 Some modern editors have here substituted "fifty talents." But this was the phraseology of the Poet's age. 2 "If he did not want it for a good use." 3 i. e. "by purchasing what brought me but little profit, I have lost the more honorable opportunity of supplying the wants of my friend." of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his honor 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, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.— True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed; [Exit LUCIUS. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran. Why, this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money 1 Stran. I never tasted Timon in my life, For mine own part, Nor came any of his bounties over me, 1 The old copy reads: "Is every flatterer's sport." The emendation is Theobald's. This speech was, apparently, never intended for verse, though printed as such in the folio. 2 i. e. " in respect of his fortune." Had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation,1 SCENE III. The same. [Exeunt. 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; Whom he redeemed from prison. All these Serv. O my lord, They have all been touched,2 and found base metal; for They have all denied him. Sem. It shows but little love or judgment in him. 1 The meaning appears to be "Had he applied to me, I would have put my wealth into the form of a gift, and have sent him the best half of it." 2 Alluding to the trial of metals by the touchstone. 3 This speech appears to be mutilated, and therefore unmetrical. 4 Johnson proposes to read: "Thrice, give him over;" but says, "perhaps the old reading is the true." The passage may mean "his friends, like physicians, thrive by his bounty and fees, and either relinquish and forsake him, or give up his case as desperate." For, in my conscience, I was the first man And does he think so backwardly of me now, And I amongst the lords be thought a fool. I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum, [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.1 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.2 Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled, And this is all a liberal course allows; Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.3 [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 to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out. Var. Serv. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and Hortensius. 1 In the end, the villanies of man will (make the devil appear, in comparison, innocent) set him clear. 2 Warburton thinks that this is levelled at the puritans. 3 i. e. keep within doors for fear of duns. Not yet. Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. Luc. Serv. 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. 'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet 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, 1 For which you 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; 1 The old copy reads, " For which I wait for money." |