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 honor 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 of

nature,

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

[Exit.

SCENE II.

The same. A public place.

Enter LUCIUS, with three STRAngers.

Lucius. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honorable gentleman.

1 Str. 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 rumors: now lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Lucius. Fie, no, do not believe it: he cannot want for money.

2 Str. 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.

Lucius. How?

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

Lucius. What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, I am ashamed on 't. Denied that honorable man? there was very little honor 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.

Enter SERVILIUS.

Ser. See, by good hap, yonder 's my lord; I have sweat to see his honor. My honored lord,

[to Lucius. Lucius. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: commend me to thy honorable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. May it please your honor, my lord hath

sent

Lucius. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord: he's ever sending. How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?

Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now,

my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.

Lucius. I know, his lordship is but merry with

me;

He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my

lord.

If his occasion were not virtuous,1

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Lucius. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

Lucius. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honorable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honor! Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say :-I was sending to use lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope, his honor will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell him this from me; I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

now.

1 i. e. if he did not want it for a good use.

Ser. Yes, sir, I shall.

Lucius. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.

[Exit Servilius.

True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed;
And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed.

[Exit Lucius.
1 Str. Do you observe this, Hostilius?
2 Str. Ay, too well.

1 Str. Why, this

Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse;

Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money

Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon

his lip;
And yet, (O, see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,1
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 Str. Religion groans at it.

1 Str.

For mine own part,

I never tasted Timon in my life,

Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honorable carriage,

In proportion to his possessions.

Had his necessity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,1
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The same. A room in Sempronius's house. Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a SERVANT of Timon's.

Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! 'Bove all others?

He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prison. All these
Owe their estates unto him.

They have all been touch'd, and found base metal;

for

They have all denied him.

Sem.

How! have they denied him?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,

And does he send to me? Three? humph!-
It shows but little love or judgment in him.

1 'I would have supposed my whole fortune to have been

a gift from him.'-Steevens.

2 Tried by the touchstone.