But yet they could have wish'd — they know not

but

Something hath been amiss — a noble nature
May catch a wrench

pity

- would all were well-'tis

And so, intending' other serious matters,

After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, With certain half-caps', and cold-moving nods, They froze me into silence.

Tim.

You gods, reward them!I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly; These old fellows Have their ingratitude in them hereditary: Their blood is cak'd; 'tis cold, it seldom flows; "Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind; And nature, as it grows again toward earth, Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy.— Go to Ventidius, [To a Serv.] 'Pr'ythee, [To FLAVIUS,] be not sad,

2

Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, No blame belongs to thee:- [To Serv.] Ventidius

lately

Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from

me;

Bid him suppose, some good necessity

Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd With those five talents: that had,-[To FLAV.]

give it these fellows

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. Flav. I would, I could not think it; that thought is bounty's foe;

Being free' itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt.

9 Intending, had anciently the same meaning as attending. A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. 3 Liberal, not parsimonious.

2 For ingenuously.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

A Room in Lucullus's House.

FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Enter LUCULlus.

Serv. Here's my lord.

Lucul. [Aside.] One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, - Fill me some wine. [Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

sir.

Flam. His health is well, sir.

Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there, under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius ?

Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein.

Lucul. La, la, la, la, nothing doubting, says

-

4 For respectfully.

he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I have din'd with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less: and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his; I have told him on't, but I could never get him from it.

Re-enter Servant with Wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise.. Here's to thee.

Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

who

Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason: and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee. Get you gone, sirrah. [To the Servant, goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou sawest me not. Fare thee well.

Flam. Is't possible, the world should so much differ;

And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee.

[Throwing the money away. Lucul. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit [Exit LUCULLus.

for thy master.

Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee!

5 Honesty here means liberality.

Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O, you gods,
I feel my master's passion! This slave
Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon't!

And, when he is sick to death, let not that part of

nature

Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!

[Exit.

SCENE II.

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.

for

Luc. Fye, no, do not believe it; he cannot want money.

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, urged extremely for't, and show'd what necessity belong'd 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 asham❜d on't. Denied that honour

• Suffering.

able man? there was very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small 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.

Ser. See, by good hap, sweat to see his honour.

yonder's my lord; I have My honoured lord.[To LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare Commend me to thy honourable-vir

thee well:

tuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. 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, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?

Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting you lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.

Luc. I know, his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser. But in the meantime 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?
Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable? how unluckily it hap-. pened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and 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

-.