Act III. Scene IV - Page 2

FLAVIUS
What do ye 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 preferr'd 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 the 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.
Lucilius' Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.

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

Exit

Varro's

First Servant
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
Varro's

Second 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.
Lucilius' Servant: 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, FLAMINIUS following

TIMON
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
Lucilius' Servant Put in now, Titus.

TITUS
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius' Servant 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.
Lucilius' Servant Alas, my lord,-

TIMON
Cut my heart in sums.

TITUS
Mine, fifty talents.

TIMON
Tell out my blood.
Lucilius' Servant Five thousand crowns, my lord.

TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?--and yours?
Varro's

First Servant
My lord,--
Varro's

Second Servant
My lord,--

TIMON
Tear me, take me, and the