1

I feel my master's passion! This slave
Unto his honor,2 has my lord's meat in him.
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turned to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon't!

And, when he is sick to death, let not that part of nature Which my lord paid for, be of any power

To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! 3

[Exit.

SCENE II. The same.

A public Place.

Enter LUCIUS, with three Strangers.

Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honorable gentleman.

1 Stran. We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumors; now lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

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

4

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. What a strange case was that! Now, before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that honorable man? there was very little honor showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received

1 i. e. suffering, grief.

2 Some modern editions have changed his honor into this hour. The old reading, which Steevens explains, "This slave (to the honor of his character) has," &c., is not probably what is meant to be expressed. 3 i. e. prolong his hour of suffering.

4" So many talents," a common colloquial phrase for an indefinite

number.

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,

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

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 honor, 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.-
[Exit SERVILIUS.

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

[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
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 estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet (O, see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,3
What charitable men afford to beggars.
2 Stran. Religion groans at it.
1 Stran.

I never tasted Timon in my life,

For mine own part,

Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honorable carriage,

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,'
And the best half should have returned to him,
So much I love his heart. But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.

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;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
Owe their estates unto him.

Serv.

O my lord,

They have all been touched, and found base metal; for They have all denied him.

How! have they denied him?

3

Sem. Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? And does he send to me? Three? humph! It shows but little love or judgment in him. Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, Thrive, give him over. Must I take the cure upon me?— He has much disgraced me in't; I am angry at him, That might have known my place. I see no sense for❜t, But his occasions might have wooed me first;

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
That e'er received gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
'That I'll requite it last? 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 sum,
He had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;

I had such a courage to do him good. But now, return,
And with their faint reply this answer join:
Who bates mine honor, 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.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,
Save the gods only. Now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employed
Now to guard sure their master.

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.