A thousand talents to me.

Flav.
I have been bold,
(For that I knew it the most general way,)3
To them to use your signet, and your name;
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

Tim.

Is't true? can it be?

4

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 honour

But yet they could have wish'd-they know not

but

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
FLAVIUS,] be not sad,

3 I knew it the most general way,] General is not speedy, but compendious, the way to try many at a time.

4 at fall,] i. e. at an ebb.

intending is regarding, turning their notice to other things. JOHNSON.

and these hard fractions,] Flavius, by fractions, means broken hints, interrupted sentences, abrupt remarks.

7

half caps,] A half-cap is a cap slightly moved.

8

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

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.

ACT III.

The same: A Room in Lucullus's House.

FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you.

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Enter LUCULLUS.

Sero. 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,

8-ingeniously-] Ingenious was anciently used instead of

ingenuous.

9

-free-] is liberal, not parsimonious.

honest Flaminius; you are very respectively' welcome, sir.-Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable complete, freehearted 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: 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

2

very respectively-] i. c. respectfully.

honesty is his;] Honesty here means liberality.

thec.-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.

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

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

[Throwing the Money away. Lucul. Ha! Now I see, thou art a fool, and fit

for thy master.

[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 passion! 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

nature

of

3

three solidares-] I believe this coin is from the mint of the poet. STEEVENS.

And we alive, that liv'd?] i. e. And we who were alive then, alive now. As much as to say, in so short a time.

'It turns in less than two nights?] Alluding to the turning or acescence of milk. JOHNSON.

6 passion!] i. e. suffering.

7 Unto his honour,] The modern editors read-Unto this hour, which seems preferable.

Which

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

SCENE II.

The same. A publick Place.

Enter LUCIUS, with Three Strangers.

[Exit.

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 are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours; now lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Luc. Fye no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that hohourable man? there was very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.

his hour!] i. e. the hour of sickness. His for its. We know him for no less,] To know, in the present, and several other instances, is used by our author for-to acknowledge.