To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument* of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav.

Assurance bless your thoughts!

Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd t,

That I account them blessings; for by these

Shall I try friends: You shall perceive, how you Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends. Within there, ho!-Flaminius! Servilius !

Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.

Serv. My lord, my lord,

Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You, to lord Lucius,

To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his

Honour to-day;-You, to Sempronius;

Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say, That my occasions have found time to use them Toward a supply of money: let the request

Be fifty talents.

Flam.

As you have said, my lord.

Flav. Lord Lucius, and lord Lucullus? humph!

[Aside.

Tim. Go you, sir, [To another Serv.] to the se

nators

(Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have Deserv'd this hearing), bid 'em send o'the instant A thousand talents to me.

Flav.

I have been bold

(For that I knew it the most general way), To them to use your siguet, and your name;

If I would (says Timon), by borrowing, try of what men's hearts are composed, what they have in them, &c.

Dignified, made respectable.

But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

Tim.

Is't true? can it be?

Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall*, want treasure, cannot Do what they would; are sorry-you are honourable,

But yet they could have wish'd-they know notbut

Something hath been amiss-a noble nature

May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis

pity

And so, intending † other serious matters,

After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, With certain half-caps, and cold-moving nods, They froze me into silence.

Tim.

You gods, reward them!— I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly; These old fellows Have their ingratitude in them hereditary: Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows; 'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind; And nature, as it grows again toward earth, Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy.Go to Ventidius,-[To a Serv.] 'Pr'ythee [To Flav.] be not sad,

Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously || I speak, No blame belongs to thee:-[To Serv.] Ventidius

lately

Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,

Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from me; Bid him suppose, some good necessity

i e. At an ebb.

+ Intending, had anciently the same meaning as attending.

Broken hints, abrupt remarks.

A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off.
For ingenuously.

Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd With those five talents :—that had,-[To Flav.] give

it these fellows,

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. Flav. I would, I could not think it; That thought is bounty's foe;

Being free* itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt.

Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming

down to you.

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Enter Lucullus.

Serv. Here's my lord.

Lucul [Aside.] One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively † welcome, sir. -Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

Flam. His health is well, sir.

Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir:

Liberal, not parsimonious. + For respectfully.

And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein.

Lucul. La, la, la, la,—nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I have dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less: and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his; I have told him on't, but I could never get him from it.

Re-enter Servant, with wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure..

Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,-give thee thy due,-and one that knows what belongs to reason: and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well good parts in thee.-Get you gone, sirrah.-[To the Servant, who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.

Honesty here means liberality.

Flam. Is't possible, the world should so much

differ;

And we alive, that liv'd*? Fly, damned baseness, To him that worships thee.

for thy master.

[Throwing the money away.

Lucul. Ha! Now I see, thou art a fool, and fit [Exit Lucullus. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation,

Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master's passiont! This slave

Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon't!

And, when he is sick to death, let not that part of

Which

nature

my lord paid for, be of any power To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!

SCENE II.

[Exit.

The same. A public piace.

Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.

Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman.

1 Stran. We know him for no less, though we

i.e. And we who were alive then, alive now. Suffering; By his bloody cross and passion. Liturgy.

ti. e. His life.

Acknowledge.