The Life of Timon of Athens

APEMANTUSSo: Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then;I'll lock thy heaven from thee.O! that men's ears should beTo counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

[Exit.]

Act II

Scene I. Athens. A Room in a SENATOR'S House

[Enter A SENATOR, with papers in his hand.]

SENATORAnd late, five thousand: to Varro and to IsidoreHe owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motionOf raging waste! It cannot hold; it will not.If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dogAnd give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold;If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty moreBetter than he, why, give my horse to Timon,Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight,And able horses. No porter at his gate,But rather one that smiles and still invitesAll that pass by. It cannot hold; no reasonCan found his state in safety. Caphis, ho!Caphis, I say!

[Enter CAPHIS.]

CAPHISHere, sir; what is your pleasure?SENATORGet on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'dWith slight denial, nor then silenc'd when —'Commend me to your master' – and the capPlays in the right hand, thus; – but tell him,My uses cry to me; I must serve my turnOut of mine own; his days and times are past,And my reliances on his fracted datesHave smit my credit: I love and honour him,But must not break my back to heal his finger;Immediate are my needs, and my reliefMust 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.CAPHISI go, sir.SENATORTake the bonds along with you,And have the dates in compt.CAPHISI will, sir.SENATORGo.

[Exeunt.]

Scene II. The same. A Hall in TIMON'S House

[Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand.]

FLAVIUSNo care, no stop! So senseless of expense,That he will neither know how to maintain it,Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no accountHow things go from him, nor resumes no careOf what is to continue: never mindWas 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.]

CAPHISGood even, Varro. What! You come for money?VARRO'S SERVANTIs't not your business too?CAPHISIt is: and yours too, Isidore?ISIDORE'S SERVANTIt is so.CAPHISWould we were all discharg'd!VARRO'S SERVANTI fear it.CAPHISHere comes the lord!

[Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, etc.]

TIMONSo soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again.My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?CAPHISMy lord, here is a note of certain dues.TIMONDues! Whence are you?CAPHISOf Athens here, my lord.TIMONGo to my steward.CAPHISPlease it your lordship, he hath put me offTo the succession of new days this month:My master is awak'd by great occasionTo call upon his own; and humbly prays youThat with your other noble parts you'll suitIn giving him his right.TIMONMine honest friend,I prithee, but repair to me next morning.CAPHISNay, good my lord, —TIMONContain thyself, good friend.VARRO'S SERVANTOne Varro's servant, my good lord, —ISIDORE'S SERVANTFrom Isidore; he humbly prays your speedy payment.CAPHISIf you did know, my lord, my master's wants, —VARRO'S SERVANT'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.ISIDORE'S SERVANTYour steward puts me off, my lord; andI am sent expressly to your lordship.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.