| ACT II SCENE I | A Senator's house. | |
| [Enter Senator, with papers in his hand] |
| 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, | 5 |
| And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold. |
| If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more |
| Better 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, | 10 |
| But rather one that smiles and still invites |
| All that pass by. It cannot hold: no reason |
| Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho! |
| Caphis, I say! |
| [Enter CAPHIS] |
| CAPHIS | Here, sir; what is your pleasure? | 15 |
| Senator | Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon; |
| Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased |
| With slight denial, nor then silenced when-- |
| 'Commend me to your master'--and the cap |
| Plays in the right hand, thus: but tell him, | 20 |
| 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; | 25 |
| 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, | 30 |
| 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 | 'I go, sir!'--Take the bonds along with you, | 35 |
| And have the dates in contempt. |
| CAPHIS | I will, sir. |
| Senator | Go. |
| [Exeunt] |
Sources for Timon of Athens