University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A publick place in the City.
Enter a Senator.
SENATOR.
And late, five thousand: to Varro, and to Isidore
He owes nine thousand, besides my former sum;
Which makes it five and twenty.—Still in motion
Of raging waste. It cannot hold, it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.
If I would sell my horse, and buy ten more
Better than he; why, give my horse to Timon;
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight
Ten able horses. No porter at his gate;
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason
Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, hoa!
Caphis, I say.

Enter Caphis.
Cap.
Here, Sir, what is your pleasure?

Sen.
Get on your cloke, and haste you to lord Timon,
Importune him for monies, be not ceast
With slight denial; nor then silenc'd with
‘Commend me to your master’—and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus:—but tell him, sirrah,
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliance on his fracted dates
Has 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 tost 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 wilt be left a naked gull,
Who flashes now a Phœnix—get you gone.

Cap.
I go, Sir.

Sen.
I go, Sir?—take the bonds along with you,
And have the dates in compt.

Cap.
I will, Sir.

Sen.
Go.

[Exeunt.