When he is turn'd to poison?

O may diseases only work upon't:

And when he's fick to death, let not that part
Of nature my lord paid for, be of power

Luc.

WH

SCENE II.

Enter Lucius, with three ftrangers.

[Exeunt.

HO, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman.

I Stran. We know him for no less, tho' 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 eftate fhrinks from him.

Luc. Fye, no, do not believe it: he cannot want for mony.

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that not long ago one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents, nay, urg'd extreamly for't, and fhewed what neceffity belong'd to't, and yet was deny'd.

Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, deny'd, my lord.

Luc. What a ftrange cafe was that? now before the gods I am alham'd on't. Deny'd that honourable man? there was very little honour fhew'd in that. For my own part, I must needs confefs I have received some small kindneffes from him, as mony, plate, jewels, and fuch like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet had he mistook him, and sent him to me, I should ne'er have deny'd his occasion so many talents.

Enter Servilius.

Ser. See, by good hap yonder's my lord, I have sweat to see

9 but

Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, Sir.

[To Lucius. Fare thee well,

commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquifite friend.

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath fent

Luc. Ha! what hath he fent? I am so much endear'd to that lord; he's ever fending: how fhall I thank him, think'st thou? and what has he fent now?

Ser. H'as only fent his prefent occafion 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.

Ser. But in the mean time he wants lefs, my lord. If his occafion were not virtuous,

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Luc. Doft thou speak ferioufly, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my foul 'tis true, Sir.

Luc. What a wicked beaft was I, to disfurnish my self against fuch a good time, when I might ha' fhewn my felf honourable? how unluckily it hapned, that I fhould purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour? Servilius, now before thegods, I am not able to do ---- (the more beast I say)-I was fending to use lord Timon my self, these gentlemen can witnefs; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had don'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, that I cannot pleasure fuch an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use my own words to him?

Ser. Yes, Sir, I shall.

Luc. I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius True as you faid, Timon is fhrunk indeed,

[Exit Servilius.

And

And he that's once deny'd will hardly speed.

1 Stran. Do you obferve this, Hoftilius? 2 Stran. Ay, too well.

1 Stran. Why, this is the world's foul; Of the fame piece, is every flatterer's sport: Who can call him his friend

That dips in the fame dish? for in my knowing,
Timon has been to this lord as a father,

And kept his credit with his bounteous purse:
Supported his eftate; nay, Timon's mony
Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's filver treads upon his lip;
And yet, oh fee the monftrousness of man!
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape,
He does deny him (in respect of his)
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.
I Stran. For mine own part
I never tafted Timon in my life,
Nor any of his bounties came o'er me,
To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
For his right noble mind, illuftrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his neceffity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to difpence,
For policy fits above conscience.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE III.

Enter a third fervant with Sempronius.

Sem. MUST he needs trouble me in't? 'bove all others?---Μ

He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus,

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prison. All these three

Owe their estates unto him.

Ser. Oh my lord,

They've all been touch'd, and all are found base metal,
For they have all deny'd him.

Sem. How? deny'd him?

Ventidius and Lucullus both deny'd him?
And does he fend to me? three! hum----

It fhews but little love or judgment in him.

C

Muft I be his last refuge? his friends like physicians,

Three give him over? muft I take the cure

On me? h'as much difgrac'd me in't; I'm angry.

He might have known my place, I fee no fense for't,
But his occafions might have wooed me first:

For, in my conscience, I was the first man

That e'er received gift from him.

And does he think fo backwardly of me,
That I'll requite it last? no:

So it may prove an argument of laughter

To th' rest, and 'mongst lords I be thought a fool:

I'd rather than the worth of thrice the fum,

H'ad fent to me first, but for my mind's fake:
I'd fuch a courage to have done him good.

But now return,

← thriv'd give him over.

And

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour, fhall not know my coin.

[Exit.

The devil

Ser. Excellent! your lordship's a goodly villain. knew not what he did, when he made man politick; he cross'd himself by't; and I cannot think, but in the end the villanies of man will fet him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked: like those that under hot, ardent zeal, would fet whole realms on fire. Of fuch a nature is his politick love.

This was my lord's beft hope, now all are fled,
Save the gods only. Now his friends are dead,
Doors that were ne'er acquainted with their wards,
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard fure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house.

SCENE IV.

Timon's Hall.

[Exit.

Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, Lucius, and other fervants of Timon's creditors, who wait for his coming out.

Var. WELL

ELL met, good-morrow, Titus and Hortenfius.
Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius, why do we meet together?

Luc. I think one business does command us all,

For mine is mony.

Tit. So is theirs and ours.

1

3

Enter Philotas.

Luc. And Sir Philotas's too.

VOL. V.

F

Phi.