now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his honour will conceive the faireft 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 honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

Ser. Yes, fir, I shall.
Luc. I will 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.

[Exit Lucius. I Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius ? 2 Stran. Ay, too well.,

i Stran. Why this
Is the world's foul; and just of the fame piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish ? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse;
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages : He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads

upon
And yet, (0, see the monstrousness 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 tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend ; yet, I proteft,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,

And

his lip;

D 2

And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity 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 dispense ;
For policy fits above conscience.

[Exeunt.

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? Humph! '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 three
Owe their estates unto him.
Serv.

O my lord,
They have all been touch'd, and found base metal; for
They have all deny'd him!
Sem.

How! have they denied him? Has Ventidius and Lucullus deny'd him ? And does he fend to me? Three ? humph ! It shows but little love or judgment in him. Muft I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, Thrive, give him over? Must I take the cure upon me? He has much disgrac'd me in't ; I am angry at him, That might have known my place : I see no sense fort, But his occasions might have woo'd me first; For, in my conscience, I was the first man That e'er receiv'd gift from him :

And

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last ? No: So it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And I amongst the lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the fum,
He had sent to me first, but for my mind's fake;
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 politick; he cross'd himself by't: and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villainies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked ; like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire. Of such a nature is his politick love. This was my lord's best 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 sure their master. And this is all a liberal course allows; Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [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 otber servants to
Timon's Creditors, waiting his coming out.
Var. Serv. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and Hor-
tensius.

Tit.

D 3

Hor.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Lucius?
What, do we meet together?
Luc. Seru,

Ay, and, I think,
One business does command us all; for mine
Is money.

Tit, So is theirs and ours.

Enter PHILOTUS,

Luc, Seru.

And for
Philotus too!

Phi. Good day at once.
Luc. Serv.

Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Phi.

Labouring for nine.
Luc. Serv. So much ?
Phi.

Is not my lord seen yet?
Luc. Sero.

Not yet.
Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at feven.
Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with

him:
You must consider, that a prodigal course
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,
'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse ;
That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little,

Pbị. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for

money.
Hor.

Most true, he does.
Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which I wait for money.

Hor.

Hor. It is against my heart.
Luc. Serv.

Mark, how strange it Ahows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes :
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.

Hor. I am 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. i Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns :

What's yours? Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it hould seem by

the sum, Your master's confidence was above mine i Else, furely, his had equallid.

Enter FLAMINIUS.

Tit. One of lord Timon's men.

Luc. Serv. Flaminius! sir, a word : 'Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.
Tit. We attend his lordship; 'pray, signify so much.

Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent.

[Exit FLAMINIUS.

Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, mufled.

Luc, Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled fo?
He goes away in a cloud : call him, call hin.

Țit. Do you hear, sir?
1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,-
Flav. What do you ask of me, my

friend? Tit. We wait for certain money here, fir.

Flav.

D4