think, but in the end the villainies of man will fet him clear. How fairly this Lord ftrives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked! like those that under hot, ardent zeal would set whole realms on fire. Of fuch a nature is his politic 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 employed Now to guard sure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house.

SCENE changes to Timon's Hall.

[Exit.

Enter VARRO, TITUS, HORTENSIUS, LUCIUS, and other Servants of Timon's Creditors, who wait for his coming out.

Var. Well met, good-morrow, Titus and HorTit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius, why do we meet together?

[tenfius.

Luc. I think one business does command us all,

For mine is money.

Tit. So is theirs and ours.

Enter PHILOTAS.

Luc. And, Sir, Philotas' too.

Phi. Good day, at once.

Luc. Welcome, good brother. What d'you think

the hour?

Phi. Labouring for nine.

Luc. So much?

Phi. Is not my Lord feen yet?

Luc. Not yet.

Phi. I wonder: he was wont to fhine at feven.

4

1

Luc. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him:
You must confider that a prodigal's courfe

Is like the fun'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 fhew you how to obferve a strange event: Your Lord fends now for money.

Hor. True, he does.

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

Hor. Against my heart.

Luc. How ftrange it fhows,

Timon in this fhould pay more than he owes!
And e'en as if your Lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for them.

Hor. I'm weary of this charge, the gods can wit-
I know my Lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, [nefs;
Ingratitude now makes it worse than stealth.

Var. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's
Luc. Five thousand.

[yours? Var. 'Tis too much deep, and it fhould feem by the fum,

Your master's confidence was above mine;
Elfe, furely, his had equalled.

Enter FLAMINIUS.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my Lord Ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.

Tit. We attend his Lordfhip; pray, fignify fo

much.

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

2

Enter FLAVIUS in a Cloak, muffled.

1

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

Tit. Do you hear, Sir

Var. By your leave, Sir.

Fla. What do you ask of me, my

friend?

Tit. We wait for certain money here, Sir. Fla. If money were as certain as your waiting, "Twere fure enough.

Why then preferred you not your fums and bills,
When your false masters ate of my Lord's meat?
Then they would smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th' intereft in their glutt'nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up,
Let me pafs quietly:

Believe't, my Lord and I have made an end,
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Luc. Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Fla. If 'twill not ferve, 'tis not fo bafe as you: For you ferve knaves.

[Exit. Var. How what does his cashiered worship mutter?

Tit. No matter what,- he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can fpeak broader than he that has no houfe to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.

Enter SERVILIUS.

Tit. Oh, here's Servilius; now we fhall have fome anfwer.

Ser. If I might befeech you, gentlemen, to repair fome other hour, I fhould derive much from it. For take it of my foul,

My Lord leans wond'rously to discontent:

His comfortable temper has forfook him,

He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
Luc. Many do keep their chambers, are not fick;
And if he be fo far beyond his health,

Methinks he should the fooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.

Ser. Good gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for an anfwer. Flam. [within.] Servilius, help-my Lord my Lord!

Enter TIMON, in a rage.

Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd against my pafHave I been ever free, and must my houfe [fage? Be my retentive enemy, my goal?

The place which I have feafted, does it now,
Like all mankind, fhew me an iron heart?
Luc. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My Lord, here's my bill.

Luc. Here's mine.

Var. And mine, my Lord.

Cap. And ours, my Lord!

Phi. And our bills.

Tim. Knock me down with 'em---cleave me to

Luc. Alas, my Lord.

Tim. Cut out my heart in fums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my

blood.

[the girdle.

Luc. Five thousand crowns, my Lord.

Tim. Five thousand drops pay that.

What's yours-and yours?

Var. My Lord

Cap. My Lord---

Tim. Here, tear me, take me, and the gods fall on

you.

[Exit.

Hor. Faith, I perceive our mafters may throw

their caps at their money; these debts may be well called defperate ones, for a madman owes them.

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.

[Exeunt.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the flaves. Creditors!-Devils!

Flav. My dear Lord.

Tim. What if it should be so ?------

Flav. My dear Lord.

Tim. I'll have it fo--my steward!

Flav. Here, my Lord.

Tim. So, fitly !----Go, bid all my friends again, Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius. All. I'll once more feast the rafcals.

Flav. O'my Lord!

You only speak from your distracted foul;
There's not fo much left as to furnish out.
A moderate table.

Tim. Be it not thy care:

Go, and invite them all, let in the tide

Of knaves once more: my cook and I'll provide.

[Excunt.

SCENE changes to the Senate-house.

Senators and ALCIBIADES..

Sen. My Lord, you have my voice to't, the

'Tis neceffary he should die:

[fault's bloody;

Nothing emboldens fin fo much as mercy.

2 Sen. Moft true; the law fhall bruife 'em. Alc. Health, honour, and compaffion to the Se

1 Sen. Now, captain.

[nated

Ale. I am an humble fuitor to your virtues:

For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.

It pleases Time and Fortune to ly heavy