Page 3110 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3
P. 3110
I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents [180]
Be worthily entertain’d
[Exit Servant]
Enter a third Servant.
How now? What news?
THIRD SERVANT
Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman Lord Lucullus entreats your
company tomorrow, to hunt with him, and has sent your honour two brace of
greyhounds. [185]
TIMON
I’ll hunt with him; and let them be receiv’d,
Not without fair reward.
STEWARD
[aside] What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer;
Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this, [190]
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes for ev’ry word:
He is so kind that he now pays interest for’t; [195]
His land’s put to their books. Well, would I were
Gently put out of office before I were forc’d out!
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
Than such that do e’en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord. [200]
[Exit]
TIMON
You do yourselves much wrong,
You bate too much of your own merits.
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
SECOND LORD