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But rather one that smiles and still invites

All that pass 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 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

That with your other noble 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 lordship.

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 lordship 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