The same. SCENE IV. 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 Hortensius. Tit. The like to you, kind Varro. Hor. Lucius ? What, do we meet together? Luc. Serv. Ay, and, I think, One business does command us all; for mine Is money. Tit. So is theirs and ours. Luc. Serv. And sir Philotus too! Enter PHILOtus. 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. Serv. Not yet. Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. 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 Phi. 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. It is against my heart. Luc. Serv. Mark, how strange it shows, [6] That is, like him in blaze and splendour. "Soles occidere et redire possunt." Catal. JOHNSON. [7] Still perhaps alluding to the effects of winter, during which some animals are obliged to seek their scanty provision through a depth of snow. STEEVENS. Timon in this should pay more than he owes : 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. 1 Var. 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. 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. Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled. [Erit. Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so? 1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir, Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend? If money were as certain as your waiting, Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd you not Of my lord's meat? Then they could smile, and fawn Into their gluttonous maws; You do yourselves but wrong, 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. 'Tis not so base as you; For you serve knaves. [Exit. 1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd worship mutter? 18] That is, of this commission, of this employment. JOHNSON. 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. Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know Some answer. Serv. 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? Luc. 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. Tim. Knock me down with 'em : cleave me to the gir 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, [dle. (8) Timon catches at the word bills, and alludes to the bills or battle-axes, which the ancient soldiery carried, and were stil! used by the watch in Shakespeare's time. STEEVENS 2 Var. Serv. My lord,Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall on 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 Creditors!-devils. Flav. My dear lord, Tim. What if it should be so ? Flow. My lord, Tim. I'll have it so : Flav. Here, my lord. -My steward! Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, Flav. O my lord, You only speak from your distracted soul; Tim. Be't not in thy care; go, I charge thee; invite them all let in the tide SCENE V. The same. The Senate-House. The Senate sitting. [slaves : [Exeunt. Enter 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die : Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate ! 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; For pity is the virtue of the law, And none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy [1] Putting this action of his, which was pre defermined by fate, out of the ques STEEVENS. tion. Of comely virtues ; Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; 2 And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,3 Striving to make an ugly deed look fair : Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, That stay at home, if bearing carry it; And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, As you are great, be pitifully good : Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust; [2] Unnoted, for common, bounded.---Behave, for curb, manage. WARBURTON. You undertake a paradox too hard. JOHNSON. What do we, or what have we to do in the field? JOHNSON. I believe gust means rashness. The allusion may be to a sudden gust of wind. |