Timon of Athens Part 4

ACT II. SCENE I.

A SENATOR'S house

Enter A SENATOR, with papers in his hand

SENATOR. And late, five thousand. To Varro and to Isidore He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.

If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.

If I would sell my horse and buy twenty more Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon, Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight, And able horses. No porter at his gate, But rather one that smiles and still invites All that pa.s.s by. It cannot hold; no reason Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, ho!

Caphis, I say!

Enter CAPHIS

CAPHIS. Here, sir; what is your pleasure?

SENATOR. Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon; Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd With slight denial, nor then silenc'd when 'Commend me to your master' and the cap Plays in the right hand, thus; but tell him My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn Out of mine own; his days and times are past, And my reliances on his fracted dates Have smit my credit. I love and honour him, But must not break my back to heal his finger.

Immediate are my needs, and my relief Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words, But find supply immediate. Get you gone; Put on a most importunate aspect, A visage of demand; for I do fear, When every feather sticks in his own wing, Lord Timon will be left a naked gull, Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.

CAPHIS. I go, sir.

SENATOR. Take the bonds along with you, And have the dates in compt.

CAPHIS. I will, sir.

SENATOR. Go. Exeunt

SCENE II.

Before TIMON'S house

Enter FLAVIUS, TIMON'S Steward, with many bills in his hand

FLAVIUS. No care, no stop! So senseless of expense That he will neither know how to maintain it Nor cease his flow of riot; takes no account How things go from him, nor resumes no care Of what is to continue. Never mind Was to be so unwise to be so kind.

What shall be done? He will not hear till feel.

I must be round with him. Now he comes from hunting.

Fie, fie, fie, fie!

Enter CAPHIS, and the SERVANTS Of ISIDORE and VARRO

CAPHIS. Good even, Varro. What, you come for money?

VARRO'S SERVANT. Is't not your business too?

CAPHIS. It is. And yours too, Isidore?

ISIDORE'S SERVANT. It is so.

CAPHIS. Would we were all discharg'd!

VARRO'S SERVANT. I fear it.

CAPHIS. Here comes the lord.

Enter TIMON and his train, with ALCIBIADES

TIMON. So soon as dinner's done we'll forth again, My Alcibiades.- With me? What is your will?

CAPHIS. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.

TIMON. Dues! Whence are you?

CAPHIS. Of Athens here, my lord.

TIMON. Go to my steward.

CAPHIS. Please it your lords.h.i.+p, he hath put me off To the succession of new days this month.

My master is awak'd by great occasion To call upon his own, and humbly prays you That with your other n.o.ble parts you'll suit In giving him his right.

TIMON. Mine honest friend, I prithee but repair to me next morning.

CAPHIS. Nay, good my lord- TIMON. Contain thyself, good friend.

VARRO'S SERVANT. One Varro's servant, my good lord- ISIDORE'S SERVANT. From Isidore: he humbly prays your speedy payment- CAPHIS. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants- VARRO'S SERVANT. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.

ISIDORE'S SERVANT. Your steward puts me off, my lord; and I am sent expressly to your lords.h.i.+p.

TIMON. Give me breath.

I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; I'll wait upon you instantly.

Exeunt ALCIBIADES and LORDS [To FLAVIUS] Come hither. Pray you, How goes the world that I am thus encount'red With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds And the detention of long-since-due debts, Against my honour?

FLAVIUS. Please you, gentlemen, The time is unagreeable to this business.

Your importunacy cease till after dinner, That I may make his lords.h.i.+p understand Wherefore you are not paid.

TIMON. Do so, my friends.

See them well entertain'd. Exit FLAVIUS. Pray draw near. Exit

Enter APEMANTUS and FOOL

CAPHIS. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus.

Let's ha' some sport with 'em.

VARRO'S SERVANT. Hang him, he'll abuse us!

ISIDORE'S SERVANT. A plague upon him, dog!

VARRO'S SERVANT. How dost, fool?

APEMANTUS. Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

VARRO'S SERVANT. I speak not to thee.

APEMANTUS. No, 'tis to thyself. [To the FOOL] Come away.

ISIDORE'S SERVANT. [To VARRO'S SERVANT] There's the fool hangs on your back already.

APEMANTUS. No, thou stand'st single; th'art not on him yet.

CAPHIS. Where's the fool now?

APEMANTUS. He last ask'd the question. Poor rogues and usurers'

men! Bawds between gold and want!

ALL SERVANTS. What are we, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS. a.s.ses.

ALL SERVANTS. Why?

APEMANTUS. That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool.

FOOL. How do you, gentlemen?

ALL SERVANTS. Gramercies, good fool. How does your mistress?

FOOL. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!

APEMANTUS. Good! gramercy.

Enter PAGE

FOOL. Look you, here comes my mistress' page.

PAGE. [To the FOOL] Why, how now, Captain? What do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS. Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably!

PAGE. Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters; I know not which is which.

APEMANTUS. Canst not read?

PAGE. No.

APEMANTUS. There will little learning die, then, that day thou art hang'd. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and thou't die a bawd.

PAGE. Thou wast whelp'd a dog, and thou shalt famish dog's death.

Answer not: I am gone. Exit PAGE APEMANTUS. E'en so thou outrun'st grace.

Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon's.