I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums Apem. No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too, there would be none left to rail upon thee; and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories? Tim. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music. not then, I'll lock thy heaven from thee. [Exit. Apem. So; (23)-thou wilt not hear me now,-thou shalt O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. A room in a Senator's house. Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand. Sen. And late, five thousand;-to Varro and to Isidore If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog, Can found (25) his state in safety.—Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say! Caph. Enter CAPHIS. Here, sir; what is your pleasure? Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon; A visage of demand; for, I do fear, Caph. I go, sir. Enter FLAVIUS, 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 (28) no care 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. Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of ISIDORE and VARRO. Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner 's done, we'll forth again, My Alcibiades.-With me? what is your will? Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues. Tim. Dues! Whence are you? Caph. Tim. Go to my steward. Of Athens here, my lord. Caph. Please it your lordship, 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, In giving him his right. Tim. Mine honest friend, I prithee, but repair to me next morning. Contain thyself, good friend. Caph. Nay, good my lord,— He humbly prays your speedy payment, From Isidore; Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants,Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past, Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my lord; And I am sent expressly to your lordship. Tim. Give me breath. I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; I'll wait upon you instantly. [Exeunt Alcibiades and Lords. Come hither: pray you, [To Flav. How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd Against my honour? Flav. Tim. See them well entertain'd. Flav. Do so, my friends.— Pray, draw near. [Exit. [Exit. Enter APEMANTUS and Fool. Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus: let's ha' some sport with 'em. Var. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us. Isid. Serv. A plague upon him, dog! Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow? Apem. No, 'tis to thyself.-Come away. [To the Fool. Isid. Serv. [to Var. Serv.] There's the fool hangs on your back already. Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou'rt not on him yet. Caph. Where's the fool now? Apem. He last asked the question.-Poor rogues, and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All Serv. What are we, Apemantus? Apem. Asses. All Serv. Why? Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen? All Serv. 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! Apem. Good! gramercy. Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress'(30) page. Enter Page. Page [to the Fool]. Why, how now, captain! what do you in this wise company?-How dost thou, Apemantus? Apem. 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. Apem. Canst not read? Page. No. Apem. There will little learning die, then, that day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou't die a bawd. Page. Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. Apem. E'en so thou outrunnest grace. [Exit Page.] Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there? Apem. If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers? All Serv. Ay; would they served us! Apem. So would I,-as good a trick as ever hangman served thief. Fool. Are you three usurers' men? All Serv. Ay, fool. Fool. I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant: my mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' (31) house merrily, and go away sadly: the reason of this? Var. Serv. I could render one. Apem. Do it, then, that we may account thee a whore |