Enter Varro’s ⌜two Men,⌝ meeting ⌜Titus and⌝ others, all
⌜being Men of⌝ Timon’s creditors to wait for his coming
out. Then enter ⌜Lucius’ Man⌝ and Hortensius.VARRO’S ⌜FIRST⌝ MAN Well met. Good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.TITUS The like to you, kind Varro.HORTENSIUS Lucius! What, do we meet together?⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 5 Ay, and I think One business does command us all, For mine is money.TITUS So is theirs and ours.Enter Philotus.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ And, sir, Philotus’ too.PHILOTUS 10 Good day at once.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?PHILOTUS Laboring for nine.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ So much?PHILOTUS 15 Is not my lord seen yet?⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Not yet.PHILOTUS I wonder on ’t. He was wont to shine at seven.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him. You must consider that a prodigal course20 Is like the sun’s, But not, like his, recoverable. I fear ’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse:
89
Timon of Athens
ACT 3. SC. 4
That is, one may reach deep enough and yet Find little.PHILOTUS 25 I am of your fear for that.TITUS I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event. Your lord sends now for money?HORTENSIUS Most true, he does.TITUS And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,30 For which I wait for money.HORTENSIUS It is against my heart.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Mark how strange it shows: Timon in this should pay more than he owes, And e’en as if your lord should wear rich jewels35 And send for money for ’em.HORTENSIUS 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 MAN⌝ Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 40Five thousand mine.⌜VARRO’S FIRST MAN⌝ ’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum Your master’s confidence was above mine, Else surely his had equaled.Enter Flaminius.TITUS One of Lord Timon’s men.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 45Flaminius? 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 are50 too diligent.⌜He exits.⌝Enter ⌜Flavius, the⌝ Steward in a cloak, muffled.
91
Timon of Athens
ACT 3. SC. 4
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 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 MAN By your leave, sir.FLAVIUS 55What do you 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.60 Why then preferred 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 th’ int’rest into their glutt’nous maws. You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.65 Let me pass quietly. Believe ’t, my lord and I have made an end. I have no more to reckon, he to spend.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Ay, but this answer will not serve.FLAVIUS If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,70 For you serve knaves.⌜He exits.⌝VARRO’S FIRST MAN How? What does his cashiered Worship mutter?VARRO’S SECOND MAN No matter what. He’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader75 than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.Enter Servilius.TITUS O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some answer.SERVILIUS If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair80 some other hour, I should derive much from ’t. For take ’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent.
93
Timon of Athens
ACT 3. SC. 4
His comfortable temper has forsook him. He’s much out of health and keeps his chamber.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Many do keep their chambers are not sick;85 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 90Servilius, help! 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,95 Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Put in now, Titus.TITUS My lord, here is my bill.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Here’s mine.⌜HORTENSIUS⌝ And mine, my lord.VARRO’S SECOND MAN 100And ours, my lord.PHILOTUS All our bills.TIMON Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Alas, my lord—TIMON Cut my heart in sums!TITUS 105Mine, fifty talents.TIMON Tell out my blood.⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ Five thousand crowns, my lord.TIMON Five thousand drops pays that.—What yours?—And yours?VARRO’S FIRST MAN 110My lord—VARRO’S SECOND MAN My lord—
95
Timon of Athens
ACT 3. SC. 4
TIMON Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!Timon exits.HORTENSIUS Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may well be115 called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.They exit.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 120My 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.125 I’ll once more feast the rascals.FLAVIUS O my lord, You only speak from your distracted soul. There’s not so much left to furnish out A moderate table.TIMON 130Be 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.They exit.
Timon of Athens
