SCENE II
The same. A hall in Timon’s house.
[Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand]
FLAVIUS
No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account
How things go from him, nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue: never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.
What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
Fie, fie, fie, fie!
No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account
How things go from him, nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue: never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.
What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
Fie, fie, fie, fie!
[Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of Isidore and Varro]
CAPHIS
Good even, Varro: what,
You come for money?
Good even, Varro: what,
You come for money?
Varro’s Servant
Is’t not your business too?
Is’t not your business too?
CAPHIS
It is: and yours too, Isidore?
It is: and yours too, Isidore?
Isidore’s Servant
It is so.
It is so.
CAPHIS
Would we were all discharged!
Would we were all discharged!
Varro’s Servant
I fear it.
I fear it.
CAPHIS
Here comes the lord.
Here comes the lord.
[Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c]
TIMON
So soon as dinner’s done, we’ll forth again,
My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?
So soon as dinner’s done, we’ll forth again,
My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?
CAPHIS
My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
TIMON
Dues! Whence are you?
Dues! Whence are you?
CAPHIS
Of Athens here, my lord.
Of Athens here, my lord.
TIMON
Go to my steward.
Go to my steward.
CAPHIS
Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awaked by great occasion
To call upon his own, and humbly prays you
That with your other noble parts you’ll suit
In giving him his right.
Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awaked by great occasion
To call upon his own, and humbly prays you
That with your other noble parts you’ll suit
In giving him his right.
TIMON
Mine honest friend,
I prithee, but repair to me next morning.
Mine honest friend,
I prithee, but repair to me next morning.
CAPHIS
Nay, good my lord, –
Nay, good my lord, –
TIMON
Contain thyself, good friend.
Contain thyself, good friend.
Varro’s Servant
One Varro’s servant, my good lord, –
One Varro’s servant, my good lord, –
Isidore’s Servant
From Isidore;
He humbly prays your speedy payment.
From Isidore;
He humbly prays your speedy payment.
CAPHIS
If you did know, my lord, my master’s wants –
If you did know, my lord, my master’s wants –
Varro’s Servant
’Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past.
’Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past.
Isidore’s Servant
And I am sent expressly to your lordship.
| Your steward puts me off, my lord; |
TIMON
Give me breath.
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
I’ll wait upon you instantly.
Give me breath.
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
I’ll wait upon you instantly.
[Exeunt ALCIBIADES and Lords]
[To FLAVIUS]
| Come hither: pray you, |
With clamourous demands of date-broke bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honour?
FLAVIUS
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.
| Please you, gentlemen, |
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.
TIMON
Do so, my friends. See them well entertain’d.
Do so, my friends. See them well entertain’d.
[Exit]
FLAVIUS
Pray, draw near.
Pray, draw near.
[Exit]
[Enter APEMANTUS and Fool]
CAPHIS
Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus: let’s ha’ some sport with ’em.
Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus: let’s ha’ some sport with ’em.
Varro’s Servant
Hang him, he’ll abuse us.
Hang him, he’ll abuse us.
Isidore’s Servant
A plague upon him, dog!
A plague upon him, dog!
Varro’s Servant
How dost, fool?
How dost, fool?
APEMANTUS
Dost dialogue with thy shadow?
Dost dialogue with thy shadow?
Varro’s Servant
I speak not to thee.
I speak not to thee.
APEMANTUS
No,’tis to thyself.
No,’tis to thyself.
[To the Fool]
Come away.
Isidore’s Servant
There’s the fool hangs on your back already.
There’s the fool hangs on your back already.
APEMANTUS
No, thou stand’st single, thou’rt not on him yet.
No, thou stand’st single, thou’rt not on him yet.
CAPHIS
Where’s the fool now?
Where’s the fool now?
APEMANTUS
He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and usurers’ men! bawds between gold and want!
He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and usurers’ men! bawds between gold and want!
All Servants
What are we, Apemantus?
What are we, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
Asses.
Asses.
All Servants
Why?
Why?
APEMANTUS
That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to ’em, fool.
That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to ’em, fool.
Fool
How do you, gentlemen?
How do you, gentlemen?
All Servants
Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress?
Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress?
Fool
She’s e’en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!
She’s e’en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!
APEMANTUS
Good! gramercy.
Good! gramercy.
[Enter Page]
Fool
Look you, here comes my mistress’ page.
Look you, here comes my mistress’ page.
Page
[To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?
[To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably.
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.
Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters: I know not which is which.
APEMANTUS
Canst not read?
Canst not read?
Page
No.
No.
APEMANTUS
There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou’t die a bawd.
There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou’t die a bawd.
Page
Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a dog’s death. Answer not; I am gone.
Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a dog’s death. Answer not; I am gone.
[Exit]
APEMANTUS
E’en so thou outrunnest grace. Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon’s.
E’en so thou outrunnest grace. Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon’s.
Fool
Will you leave me there?
Will you leave me there?
APEMANTUS
If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers?
If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers?
All Servants
Ay; would they served us!
Ay; would they served us!
APEMANTUS
So would I, – as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.
So would I, – as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.
Fool
Are you three usurers’ men?
Are you three usurers’ men?
All Servants
Ay, fool.
Ay, fool.
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?
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?
Varro’s Servant
I could render one.
I could render one.
APEMANTUS
Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave; which not-withstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed.
Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave; which not-withstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed.
Varro’s Servant
What is a whoremaster, fool?
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 artificial 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 walks in.
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 artificial 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 walks in.
Varro’s Servant
Thou art not altogether a fool.
Thou art not altogether a fool.
Fool
Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as
I have, so much wit thou lackest.
Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as
I have, so much wit thou lackest.
APEMANTUS
That answer might have become Apemantus.
That answer might have become Apemantus.
All Servants
Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.
Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.
[Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS]
APEMANTUS
Come with me, fool, come.
Come with me, fool, come.
Fool
I do not always follow lover, elder brother and woman; sometime the philosopher.
I do not always follow lover, elder brother and woman; sometime the philosopher.
[Exeunt APEMANTUS and Fool]
FLAVIUS
Pray you, walk near: I’ll speak with you anon.
Pray you, walk near: I’ll speak with you anon.
[Exeunt Servants]
TIMON
You make me marvel: wherefore ere this time
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
That I might so have rated my expense,
As I had leave of means?
You make me marvel: wherefore ere this time
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
That I might so have rated my expense,
As I had leave of means?
FLAVIUS
You would not hear me,
At many leisures I proposed.
You would not hear me,
At many leisures I proposed.
TIMON
Go to:
Perchance some single vantages you took.
When my indisposition put you back:
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.
Go to:
Perchance some single vantages you took.
When my indisposition put you back:
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.
FLAVIUS
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 cheques, when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
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.
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 cheques, when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
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.
TIMON
Let all my land be sold.
Let all my land be sold.
FLAVIUS
’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?
’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?
TIMON
To Lacedaemon did my land extend.
To Lacedaemon did my land extend.
FLAVIUS
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!
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!
TIMON
You tell me true.
You tell me true.
FLAVIUS
If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,
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.
If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,
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.
TIMON
Prithee, no more.
Prithee, no more.
FLAVIUS
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?
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.
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?
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.
TIMON
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.
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.
FLAVIUS
Assurance bless your thoughts!
Assurance bless your thoughts!
TIMON
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
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius!
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
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius!
[Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants]
Servants
My lord? my lord?
My lord? my lord?
TIMON
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 fifty talents.
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 fifty talents.
FLAMINIUS
As you have said, my lord.
As you have said, my lord.
FLAVIUS
| [Aside] | Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum! |
TIMON
Go you, sir, to the senators –
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.
Go you, sir, to the senators –
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.
FLAVIUS
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.
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.
TIMON
Is’t true? can’t be?
Is’t true? can’t be?
FLAVIUS
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 honourable, –
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; –
And so, intending other serious matters,
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
They froze me into silence.
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 honourable, –
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; –
And so, intending other serious matters,
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
They froze me into silence.
TIMON
You gods, reward them!
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is caked, ’tis cold, it seldom flows;
’Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion’d for the journey, dull and heavy.
You gods, reward them!
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is caked, ’tis cold, it seldom flows;
’Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion’d for the journey, dull and heavy.
[To a Servant]
Go to Ventidius.
[To FLAVIUS]
Prithee, be not sad,
Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak.
No blame belongs to thee.
Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak.
No blame belongs to thee.
[To Servant]
| Ventidius lately |
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison’d and in scarcity of friends,
I clear’d him with five talents: greet him from me;
Bid him suppose some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember’d
With those five talents.
[Exit Servant]
[To FLAVIUS]
| That had, give’t these fellows |
That Timon’s fortunes ’mong his friends can sink.
FLAVIUS
I would I could not think it: that thought is
bounty’s foe;
Being free itself, it thinks all others so.
I would I could not think it: that thought is
bounty’s foe;
Being free itself, it thinks all others so.
[Exeunt]
