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Dreamweaver
[Enter two of Varro’s Servants meeting Titus and Hortensius and then]
[Lucius, all Servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out.]
First Varro’S Servant
Well met, good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Titus
The like to you, kind Varro.
Hortensius
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucius
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all;
For mine is money.
Titus
So is theirs and ours.
[Enter Philotus.]
Lucius
And, sir, Philotus too!
Philotus
Good day at once.
Lucius
Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Philotus
Labouring for nine.
Lucius
So much?
Philotus
Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucius
Not yet.
Philotus
I wonder on’t, he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucius
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.
Philotus
I am of your fear for that.
Titus
I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
Hortensius
Most true, he does.
Titus
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
Hortensius
It is against my heart.
Lucius
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.
Hortensius
I’m 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.
First Varro’S Servant
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
Lucius
Five thousand mine.
First Varro’S Servant
’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
[Enter Flaminius.]
Titus
One of Lord Timon’s men.
Lucius
Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
Flaminius
No, indeed he is not.
Titus
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
Flaminius
I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.
[Exit Flaminius.]
[Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.]
Lucius
Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
Titus
Do you hear, sir?
Second Varro’S Servant
By your leave, sir.
Flavius
What do you ask of me, my friend?
Titus
We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flavius
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
’Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred 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.
Lucius
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Flavius
If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,
For you serve knaves.
[Exit.]
First Varro’S Servant
How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?
Second Varro’S Servant
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.]
Titus
O, here’s Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
Servilius
If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should
derive much from’t. For take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to
discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him, he’s much out of
health and keeps his chamber.
Lucius
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.
Servilius
Good gods!
Titus
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flaminius
[_Within_.] Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!
[Enter Timon in a rage.]
Timon
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
Lucius
Put in now, Titus.
Titus
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucius
Here’s mine.
Hortensius
And mine, my lord.
Both Varro’S Servants
And ours, my lord.
Philotus
All our bills.
Timon
Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.
Lucius
Alas, my lord—
Timon
Cut my heart in sums!
Titus
Mine, fifty talents.
Timon
Tell out my blood.
Lucius
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Timon
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours, and yours?
First Varro’S Servant
My lord—
Second Varro’S Servant
My lord—
Timon
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
[Exit.]
Hortensius
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.]
[Enter Timon and Flavius.]
Timon
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? Devils!
Flavius
My dear lord—
Timon
What if it should be so?
Flavius
My lord—
Timon
I’ll have it so.—My steward!
Flavius
Here, my lord.
Timon
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all.
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
Flavius
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
Timon
Be it not in thy care. Go,
I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
[Exeunt.]