Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare

Act 2 - Scene 1

A Senator’s house.

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

Caphis : Here, sir; what is your pleasure?

Senator : Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon; [p]Importune him for
my moneys; be not ceased [p]With slight denial, nor then silenced
when-- [p]'Commend me to your master'--and the cap [p]Plays in the
right hand, thus: but tell him, [p]My uses cry to me, I must serve my
turn [p]Out of mine own; his days and times are past [p]And my
reliances on his fracted dates [p]Have smit my credit: I love and
honour him, [p]But must not break my back to heal his
finger; [p]Immediate are my needs, and my relief [p]Must not be toss'd
and turn'd to me in words, [p]But find supply immediate. Get you
gone: [p]Put on a most importunate aspect, [p]A visage of demand; for,
I do fear, [p]When every feather sticks in his own wing, [p]Lord Timon
will be left a naked gull, [p]Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you
gone.

Caphis : I go, sir.

Senator : 'I go, sir!'--Take the bonds along with you, [p]And have the dates in
contempt.

Caphis : I will, sir.

Senator : Go.

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