Servant] Get you gone, sirrah. [Exit Servant.]
40
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord’s a bountiful
gentleman: but thou art wise, and thou know’st well
enough, although thou com’st to me, that this is no
time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship,
without security. Here’s three solidares for thee; good
45
boy, wink at me, and say thou saw’st me not. Fare thee
well.
FLAMINIUS
Is’t possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee!
50
[throwing the money back at Lucullus]
LUCULLUS
Ha? Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
Exit.
FLAMINIUS
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let molten coin be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart
55
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods!
I feel my master’s passion. This slave unto his
honour
Has my lord’s meat in him:
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
When he is turn’d to poison?
60
O may diseases only work upon’t,
And when he’s sick to death, let not that part of
nature
Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! Exit.
3.2 Enter LUCIUS, with HOSTILIUS and two other Strangers.
LUCIUS Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good
friend and an honourable gentleman.
1 STRANGER We know him for no less, though we are
but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my
lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now
5
Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and past, and his
estate shrinks from him.
LUCIUS Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for
money.
HOSTILIUS But believe you this, my lord, that not long
10
ago, one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to
borrow so many talents, nay, urg’d extremely for’t, and
showed what necessity belong’d to’t, and yet was
denied.
LUCIUS How?
15
HOSTILIUS I tell you, denied, my lord.
LUCIUS What a strange case was that! Now before the
gods, I am asham’d on’t. Denied that honourable man?
There was very little honour show’d in’t. For my own
part, I must needs confess I have received some small
20
kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such
like trifles – nothing comparing to his; yet had he
mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne’er have
denied his occasion so many talents.
Enter SERVILIUS.
SERVILIUS See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord; I have
25
sweat to see his honour. My honour’d lord!
LUCIUS Servilius? You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee
well; commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord,
my very exquisite friend.
SERVILIUS May it please your honour, my lord hath
30
sent –
LUCIUS Ha? What has he sent? I am so much endeared
to that lord; he’s ever sending. How shall I thank him,
think’st thou? And what has he sent now?
SERVILIUS H’as only sent his present occasion now, my
35
lord: requesting your lordship to supply his instant
use with so many talents.
LUCIUS I know his lordship is but merry with me,
He cannot want fifty – five hundred talents.
SERVILIUS
But in the meantime he wants less, my lord.
40
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
LUCIUS
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
SERVILIUS
Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir.
LUCIUS What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
45
against such a good time, when I might ha’shown
myself honourable! How unluckily it happen’d, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part, and
undo a great deal of honour! Servilius, now before
the gods, I am not able to do (the more beast, I say!)
50
– I was sending to use Lord Timon myself, these
gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the
wealth of Athens, I had done’t now. Commend me
bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his
honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have
55
no power to be kind. And tell him this from me: I
count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I
cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good
Servilius, will you befriend me so far as to use mine
own words to him?
60
SERVILIUS Yes, sir, I shall. Exit.
LUCIUS [calling out after him] I’ll look you out a good
turn, Servilius.
[to the others] True, as you said, Timon is shrunk
indeed;
And he that’s once denied will hardly speed. Exit.
65
1 STRANGER Do you observe this, Hostilius?
HOSTILIUS Ay, too well.
1 STRANGER Why, this is the world’s soul,
And just of the same piece
Is every flatterer’s sport. Who can call him his friend
That dips in the same dish? For in my knowing
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Timon has been this lord’s father,
And kept his credit with his purse;
Supported his estate; nay, Timon’s money
Has paid his men their wages. He ne’er drinks
But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip;
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And yet – O see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape! –
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
2 STRANGER Religion groans at it.
1 STRANGER For mine own part,
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I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,
85
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return’d to him,
So much I love his heart. But I perceive
Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
90
For policy sits above conscience. Exeunt.
3.3 Enter Timon’s third Servant with SEMPRONIUS, another of Timon’s friends.
SEMPRONIUS Must he needs trouble me in’t? Humh!
’Bove all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem’d from prison. All these
5
Owes their estates unto him.
3 SERVANT My lord,
They have all been touch’d and found base metal,
For they have all denied him.
SEMPRONIUS How?
Have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
10
And does he send to me? Three? Humh?
It shows but little love or judgment in him.
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
Thrive, give him over; must I take th’ cure upon me?
H’as much disgrac’d me in’t; I’m angry at him
15
That might have known my place. I see no sense for’t
But his occasions might have wooed me first:
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e’er received gift from him.
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
20
That I’ll requite it last? No:
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To th’ rest, and ’mongst lords I be thought a fool.
I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
H’ad sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
25
I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join:
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
Exit.
3 SERVANT Excellent: your lordship’s a goodly villain.
The devil knew not what he did when he made man
30
politic; he crossed himself by’t: and I cannot think but
in the end the villainies of man will set him clear. How
fairly this lord strives to appear foul! Takes virtuous
copies to be wicked, like those that under hot ardent
zeal would set whole realms on fire: of such a nature is
35
his politic love.
This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled
Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead,
Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ’d
40
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows:
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
Exit.
3.4 Enter VARRO’S two Servants, meeting other servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out. Then enter Lucius’ Servant; then TITUS and HORTENSIUS.
VARRO’S 1 SERVANT
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS The like to you, kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine
Is money.
TITUS So is theirs and ours.
5
Enter PHILOTUS.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT And, sir, Philotus too!
PHILOTUS Good day at once.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS Labouring for nine.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT So much?
PHILOTUS Is not my lord seen yet?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Not yet.
PHILOTUS
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
10
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, but the days are wax’d shorter with him:
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun’s,
But not, like his, recoverable. I fear
’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse;
15
That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.
PHILOTUS I am of your fear, for that.
TITUS
I’ll show you how t’observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
HORTENSIUS Most true, he does.
TITUS And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
20
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS It is against my heart.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Mark how strange it shows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
And e’en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for ’em.
25
HORTENSIUS
I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness;
I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
VARRO’S 1 SERVANT
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns;
What’s yours?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand mine.
30
VARRO’S 1 SERVANT
’Tis much deep: and it should seem by th’ sum,
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 485
