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Act 2, Scene 1 — Athens. A room in a senator’s house
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Enter a Senator with papers.
SENATOR ≋ verse [counting debts, increasingly furious at Timon's wasteful spending]

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 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,

But rather one that smiles and still invites

All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason

Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, ho!

Caphis, I say!

And another five thousand. Varro and Isidore are owed nine thousand, plus my earlier debt, which makes it twenty-five altogether. Still spending like crazy! It won't hold — it can't. If I steal a beggar's dog and give it to Timon, the dog would coin gold! If I sold my horse and bought twenty better ones with the money, I'd give it all to Timon—ask for nothing, give it freely—and he'd make it breed more horses. There's no gatekeeper at his door, only someone who smiles and invites everyone in. This won't hold. No reasoning can prove his finances are sound. Caphis! Caphis, come here!

Plus five thousand more. Varro and Isidore want nine thousand — that's twenty-five total for me. Still throwing money away like water! Doesn't make sense. It can't keep going. If I stole a dog from a beggar and gave it to Timon, it would become gold. If I sold my horse, bought twenty better ones, and gave them all to him, he'd just turn them into more horses. His gate's always open — anyone can walk in and ask. This is insane. The numbers don't add up. Where's Caphis?

25 thousand owed still spending can't hold dog would coin gold his gate always open insane numbers where's caphis

Enter Caphis.
CAPHIS [servant arriving, ready to serve]

Here, sir, what is your pleasure?

I'm here, sir. What do you want?

Yes, sir? What is it?

yes sir

SENATOR ≋ verse [giving urgent instructions, desperate and angry]

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,

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.

Immediate are my needs, and my relief

Must not be tossed and turned 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.

Go get your cloak and hurry to Lord Timon. Press him for my money — don't accept a weak excuse, and don't be silenced when he says 'give my regards to your master' while touching his hat politely. Tell him my needs cry out to me — I must use my own money. His days of credit are finished, and I can't hold my reputation together on his broken promises anymore. I love and respect him, but I can't break my back to heal his finger. I need money immediately, and I can't have it delayed in words — I need actual help right now. Get going. Look desperate. Show him your need. Because when he loses every supporter, when everyone pulls their money out, Timon will become a naked fool — right now he shines like a phoenix, but that won't last.

Get your coat and go to Timon now. Demand my money. Don't let him blow you off with excuses. When he tries the whole 'tell your master I send regards' routine with that fake hat-tipping, interrupt him. Tell him I'm desperate. I need my money back. His credit's dead. I can't keep saying he'll pay me eventually — it's destroying my credit. I like him, I respect him, but I won't ruin myself to help him. I need cash now, not promises. Go. Make it clear you're serious. Look him in the eye and ask for the money. Because Timon's about to lose everything. When his friends stop lending, when his credit dies, he'll go from phoenix to naked beggar. Go!

get your cloak go to timon demand my money i'm desperate can't wait anymore his days are finished when it ends he'll be naked go

CAPHIS [obedient, leaving quickly]

I go, sir.

I go, sir.

Yes, sir.

going

SENATOR ≋ verse [calling after him, last instructions]

Take the bonds along with you,

And have the dates in. Come.

Take the promissory bonds with you and bring the due dates. Come back with news.

Take the contract with you. And the dates he owes it by. Go.

take bonds dates go

CAPHIS [confirming, hurrying]

I will, sir.

I will, sir.

Yes, sir.

yes

SENATOR [dismissing him, final command]

Go.

Go.

Go.

go

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

If this happened today…

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