1    Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

2    The like to you kind Varro.

3    Lucius!
4    What, do we meet together?

5    Ay, and I think
6    One business does command us all; for mine Is money.

7    So is theirs and ours.

8    And Sir Philotus too!

9    Good day at once.

10   Welcome, good brother.
11   What do you think the hour?

12   Labouring for nine.

13   So much?

14   Is not my lord seen yet?

15   Not yet.

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

17   Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him:
18   You must consider that a prodigal course
19   Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
20   I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
21   That is one may reach deep enough, and yet
22   Find little.

23   I am of your fear for that.

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

26   Most true, he does.

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

29   It is against my heart.

30   Mark, how strange it shows,
31   Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
32   And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
33   And send for money for 'em.

34   I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:
35   I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
36   And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

37   Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?

38   Five thousand mine.

39   'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
40   Your master's confidence was above mine;
41   Else, surely, his had equall'd.
42   Enter FLAMINIUS.

43   One of Lord Timon's men.

44   Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to
45   come forth?

46   No, indeed, he is not.

47   We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.

48   I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.

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

51   Do you hear, sir?

52   By your leave, sir,--

53   What do ye ask of me, my friend?

54   We wait for certain money here, sir.

55   Ay,
56   If money were as certain as your waiting,
57   'Twere sure enough.
58   Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,
59   When your false masters eat of my lord's meat?
60   Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
61   And take down the interest into their
62   gluttonous maws.
63   You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
64   Let me pass quietly:
65   Believe 't, my lord and I have made an end;
66   I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

67   Ay, but this answer will not serve.

68   If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
69   For you serve knaves.

70   How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?

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

75   O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.

76   If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some
77   other hour, I should derive much from't; for,
78   take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to
79   discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him;
80   he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

81   Many do keep their chambers are not sick:
82   And, if it be so far beyond his health,
83   Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
84   And make a clear way to the gods.

85   Good gods!

86   We cannot take this for answer, sir.

Within
87    Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!

88   What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
89   Have I been ever free, and must my house
90   Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
91   The place which I have feasted, does it now,
92   Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

93   Put in now, Titus.

94   My lord, here is my bill.

95   Here's mine.

96   And mine, my lord.

97   And ours, my lord.

98   All our bills.

99   Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.

100  Alas, my lord,-

101  Cut my heart in sums.

102  Mine, fifty talents.

103  Tell out my blood.

104  Five thousand crowns, my lord.

105  Five thousand drops pays that.
106  What yours?--and yours?

107  My lord,--

108  My lord,--

109  Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

110  'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps
111  at their money: these debts may well be called
112  desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

113  They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
114  Creditors? devils!

115  My dear lord,--

116  What if it should be so?

117  My lord,--

118  I'll have it so. My steward!

119  Here, my lord.

120  So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
121  Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
122  All, sirrah, all:
123  I'll once more feast the rascals.

124  O my lord,
125  You only speak from your distracted soul;
126  There is not so much left, to furnish out
127  A moderate table.

128  Be't not in thy care; go,
129  I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
130  Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.