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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 th' int'rest into their glutt'nous 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.

LUCIUS' SERVANT. Ay, but this answer will not serve.

FLAVIUS.

If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you,

For you serve knaves. Exit

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT. How! What does his cashier'd worship mutter?

SECOND VARRO'S 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.

LUCIUS' 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 oppos'd 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?

LUCIUS' SERVANT. Put in now, Titus.

TITUS.

My lord, here is my bill.

LUCIUS' 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.

LUCIUS' SERVANT. Alas, my lord-

TIMON.

Cut my heart in sums.

TITUS.

Mine, fifty talents.

TIMON.

Tell out my blood.

LUCIUS' SERVANT. Five thousand crowns, my lord.

TIMON.

Five thousand drops pays that. What yours? and yours?

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT. My lord-

SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT. My lord-

TIMON.

Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! Exit

HORTENSIUS. Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at

their money. These debts may well be call'd desperate ones,

for a

madman owes 'em. Exeunt

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS

TIMON.

They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.

Creditors? Devils!

FLAVIUS.

My dear lord-

TIMON.

What if it should be so?

FLAMINIUS.

My lord-

TIMON.

I'll have it so. My steward!

FLAVIUS.

Here, my lord.

TIMON.

So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again:

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius- all.

I'll once more feast the rascals.

FLAVIUS.

O my lord,

You only speak from your distracted soul;

There is not so much left to furnish out

A moderate table.

TIMON.

Be it not in thy care.

Go, I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide

Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide. Exeunt

SCENE V. The Senate House

Enter three SENATORS at one door, ALCIBIADES meeting them, with attendants

FIRST SENATOR.

My lord, you have my voice to't: the fault's bloody.

'Tis necessary he should die:

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

SECOND SENATOR.

Most true; the law shall bruise him.

ALCIBIADES.

Honour, health, and compassion, to the Senate!

FIRST SENATOR.

Now, Captain?

ALCIBIADES.

I am an humble suitor to your virtues;

For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.

It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy

Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood

Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth

To those that without heed do plunge into't.

He is a man, setting his fate aside,

Of comely virtues;

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice-

An honour in him which buys out his fault-

But with a noble fury and fair spirit,

Seeing his reputation