HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT
Lucius, what, do we meet together?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, and I think one business does command us all,
For mine is money.
TITUS’ SERVANT So is theirs and ours.
Enter ⌈a Servant of ⌉ Philotus
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
And Sir Philotus too!
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Good day at once.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Labouring for nine.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT So much?
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Is not my lord seen yet?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Not yet.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
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. I fear
’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is,
One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT I am of your fear for that.
TITUS’ SERVANT
I’ll show you how t’observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Most true, he does.
TITUS’ SERVANT
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT It is against my heart.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Mark how strange it shows.
Timon in this should pay more than he owes,
And e‘en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
And send for money for ’em.
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT
I’m 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 stealth.
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT
Yes; mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand, mine.
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT
’is much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
Enter Flaminius
TITUS’ SERVANT One of Lord Timon’s men.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord 36
Ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS No, indeed he is not.
TITUS’ SERVANT We attend his lordship.
Pray signify so much.
FLAMINIUS I need not tell
Him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Enter Flavius, muffled in a cloak
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
TITUS’ SERVANT (to Flavius) Do you hear, sir?
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT (to Flavius) By your leave, sir.
FLAVIUS What do ye ask of me, my friend?
TITUS’ SERVANT
We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
‘Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
When your false masters ate of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th’int’est into their glutt’nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.
Let me pass quietly.
Believe’, my lord and I have made an end.
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS
If ‘twill not serve ’tis not so base as you,
For you serve knaves.
Exit
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT No matter what; he’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.
Enter Servilius
TITUS’ SERVANT O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some answer.
SERVILIUS If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from’t; for, take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him. He’s much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Many do keep their chambers are not sick,
And if it be so far beyond his health
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
And make a clear way to the gods.
SERVILIUS Good gods!
TITUS’ SERVANT
We cannot take this for an answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS (Within)
Servilius, helpl My lord, my lord!
Enter Timon in a rage
TIMON
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Put in now, Titus.
TITUS’ SERVANT My lord, here is my bill.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Here’s mine.
⌈HORTENSUS’ SERVANT⌉ And mine, my lord.
VARRO’S ⌈FIRST and⌉ SECOND SERVANTS And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT All our bills.
TIMON
Knock me down with ’em, cleave me to the girdle.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Alas, my lord.
TIMON Cut my heart in sums. 90
TITUS’ SERVANT Mine fifty talents.
TIMON
Tell out my blood.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours? And yours?
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT My lord—
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT My lord—
TIMON
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you.
Exit
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.
Exeunt
3.5 Enter Timon and Flavius
TIMON
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? Devils!
FLAVIUS My dear lord—
TIMON What if it should be so?
FLAVIUS My lord—
TIMON
I’ll have it so. My steward!
FLAVIUS Here, my lord.
TIMON
So fitly? Go bid all my friends again:
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius—all luxors, all.
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
FLAVIUS O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul.
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
TIMON Be it not in thy care.
Go, I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
Exeunt ⌈severally⌉
3.6 Enter three Senators at one door
FIRST SENATOR
My lords, you have my voice to’t. The fault’s bloody.