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]
[Enter FLAMINIUS.]
TITUS One of Lord Timon’s men.
Lucilius’ Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray,
is my lord ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS No, indeed, he is not.
TITUS We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
FLAMINIUS I need not tell him that;
he knows you are too diligent.
[Exit]
[Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled]
Lucilius’ Servant
Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
TITUS Do you hear, sir?
Varro’s
Second Servant By your leave, sir,–
FLAVIUS What do ye ask of me, my friend?
TITUS We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
‘Twere sure enough.
Why then preferr’d you not your sums and bills,
When your false masters eat of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
And take down the interest into their gluttonous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
Let me pass quietly:
Believe ‘t, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Lucilius’ 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.
[Enter SERVILIUS]
TITUS 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.
Lucilius’ 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 We cannot take this for answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS [Within]
Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
[Enter TIMON, in a rage,
FLAMINIUS following]
TIMON
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
Lucilius’ Servant Put in now, Titus.
TITUS My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius’ Servant Here’s mine.
HORTENSIUS And mine, my lord.
Both
Varro’s Servants And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS All our bills.
TIMON Knock me down with ’em:
cleave me to the girdle.
Lucilius’ Servant Alas, my lord,-
TIMON Cut my heart in sums.
TITUS Mine, fifty talents.
TIMON Tell out my blood.
Lucilius’ 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
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, sirrah, 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’t 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.
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