SCENE IV.

The same. A Hall in Timon's House.

Enter Two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out.

Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hor

Not yet.

Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. Lev. 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.

Phi.

I am of your fear for that.

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

Hor.

money.

Most true, he does.

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

Hor. It is against my heart.

Lauc. Serv.

Mark, how strange it shows,

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 weary of this charge', the gods can wit

ness:

I know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

1 Van. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns:
What's yours?

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.

1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep and it should seem by

the sum,

Your master's confidence was above mine;

Else, surely, his had equall'd.

I am weary of this charge,] That is, of this commission, of this employment.

2 Else, surely, his had equall'd.] The meaning of this passage may be, Your master, it seems, had more confidence in lord Timon than mine, otherwise his (i. e. my master's) debt (i. e. the money due to him from Timon) would certainly have been as great as your master's (i. e. as the money which Timon owes to your master); that is, my master being as rich as yours, could and would have advanced Timon as large a sum as your master has advanced him, if he (my master) had thought it prudent to do so.

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 muffled.

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

Tit. 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, sir.
Flav.

If money were as certain as your waiting,

Ay,

'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 th' 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.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Flav.

If 'twill not, t

[Exit.

'Tis not so base as you; for you serve knaves. 1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd worship mutter?

2 Var. Serv. No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.

Enter SERVILIUS.3

Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know
Some answer.

Ser.
If I might beseech you, gentlemen,
To repair some other hour, I should much
+ Derive from it: for, take it on my soul,
My lord leans wond'rously to discontent.
His comfortable temper has forsook him;

-He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Luc. Serv. 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.

Ser.

Good gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, sir.

Flam. [within.] Servilius, help! - my lord! my

lord!

Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following.

Tim. What are my doors oppos'd 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?
Lac. Serv. Put in now, Titus.
Tit. My lord, here is my bill.

Luc. Serv. Here's mine.

Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord.

Both. Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

› Enter Servilius.] It may be observed that Shakspeare has unskilfully filled his Greek story with Roman names. JOHNSON. MALONE; who prints this speech as prose.

+"Derive much,"

Tit. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the

girdle.

Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord,

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.
Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Tim. Five thousand drops pays that.-

What yours? and yours?

1 Var. Serv. My lord,

2 Var. Serv. My lord,

Tit. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

[Exit.

Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money; these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. [Exeunt.

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves:

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:+
I'll once more feast the rascals.

+ Knock me down with 'em:] Timon quibbles. They present their written bills; he catches at the word, and alludes to the bills or battle-axes, which the ancient soldiery carried, and were still used by the watch in Shakspeare's time.

+"Ullorxa all :". of this strange word.

-

MALONE; who does not explain the meaning