*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 honourable 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 rumours: 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. *2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long #ago, one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow *fifty 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 honourable man! *there was very little honour show'd in't. For my own part, *I must needs confess, I have received some little 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. *Servil. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have swet *to see his Honour. [To LUCIUS.] My honour'd lord, *Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: 1 The meaning is, " Had Timon, by mistake, applied to me, I should not have denied him, though the favours I have received from him are but few compared to those he has conferred upon Lucullus." *commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very *exquisite friend. *Servil. May it please your Honour, 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, *think'st thou? And what has he sent now? *Servil. 'Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord ; *requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with fifty talents. *Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me; *He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. *Servil. 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? *Servil. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir. *Luc. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might ha' shown myself *honourable! how unluckily it happen'd, that I should purchase the day before, and, for a little part, undo a great deal of honour! 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 of Athens, I had done't 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, say, that I cannot pleasure such an hon*ourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so *far, as to use mine own words to him? *Servil. Yes, sir, I shall. *Luc. I'll 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. *Is the world's soul; and *Is every flatterer's spirit. just of the same piece Who can call him *His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in * *Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money *And yet - O, see the monstrousness of man * *I never tasted Timon in my life, [Exit. For mine own part, *Nor e'er came any of his bounties over me, *Had his necessity made use of me, *I would have put my wealth into donation,3 [Exeunt. 2 In respect of is here equivalent to in comparison with; a frequent usage. The meaning therefore is, that Lucius denies him that which, compared to his own fortune, is as trifling as the alms men give to beggars. 3 Meaning, apparently, "I would have regarded my whole estate as a gift from him, and returned the greater part of it to him." *SCENE III. The Same. A Room in SEMPRONIUS'S House. -- * Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON'S. *Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't,— hum !— 'bove all *others? He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus; and now Ventidius is wealthy too, whom he redeem'd from *prison all these owe their estates unto him. : *Serv. My lord, they have all been touch'd,1 and found base metal; for they have all denied him. *Sem. How! have they denied him? have Ventidius, *Lucius, and Lucullus denied him? and does he send to me? *Three? hum!- It shows but little love or judgment in him : *must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, thrice *give him over : must I take the cure upon me? 'Has much *disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him, that might have known. my place: I see no sense for't, but his occasions might have woo'd me first; 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 I *may prove an argument of laughter to the rest, and 'mongst *lords be thought a fool. I'd rather than the worth of thrice the sum, '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 honour 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 villainies of man will set him clear.? How fairly this 1 That is, tried or tested, as with a touchstone. 2 The meaning seems to be this: In making man crafty, or full of cunning shifts, the Devil overreached or thwarted himself; for man is likely to *lord strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies, to be *wicked; 3 like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set *whole realms on fire of such a nature is his politic love. *This was my lord's last hope; now all are fled, *Save the gods only; now his friends are dead, *Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards 4 *Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd *Now to guard sure their master. *And this is all a liberal course allows; *Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.5 [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 of TIMON'S *Creditors, waiting his coming out. *1 Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hor*tensius. *Tit. The like to you, kind Varro. *Hor. *What, do we meet together? *Luc. Serv. Lucius ! Ay, and I think *One business does command us all; for mine *Is money. *Tit. So is theirs and ours. outdo him so far in wickedness as to pluck his laurels from him, and make him seem but a poor devil after all. 3 Copies for the things copied; that is, patterns or models. And the meaning of the clause is, he sets patterns of virtue before his mind, that he may avoid being like them, or may shape himself to the contrary. 4 Wards is keepers: probably alluding to Timon's having been so unsparing in his hospitality, or his having, as we say, kept open house. 5 Must stay at home, or within doors, and keep a guard about him, to escape duns, and officers coming to arrest him for debt. |