Timon of Athens
ACT III SCENE II | A public place. | |
[Enter LUCILIUS, with three Strangers] | ||
LUCILIUS | Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and | |
an honourable gentleman. | ||
First 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 Lord Timon’s | 5 | |
happy hours are done and past, and his estate | ||
shrinks from him. | ||
LUCILIUS | Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. | |
Second Stranger | But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, | |
one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow | 10 | |
so many talents, nay, urged extremely for’t and | ||
showed what necessity belonged to’t, and yet was denied. | ||
LUCILIUS | How! | |
Second Stranger | I tell you, denied, my lord. | |
LUCILIUS | What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, | 15 |
I am ashamed on’t. Denied that honourable man! | ||
there was very little honour showed in’t. For my own | ||
part, I must needs confess, I have received some | ||
small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels | ||
and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his; | 20 | |
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 sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,– | ||
[To LUCIUS] | ||
LUCILIUS | Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: | 25 |
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very | ||
exquisite friend. | ||
SERVILIUS | May it please your honour, my lord hath sent– | |
LUCILIUS | Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to | |
that lord; he’s ever sending: how shall I thank | 30 | |
him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now? | ||
SERVILIUS | Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; | |
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use | ||
with so many talents. | ||
LUCILIUS | I know his lordship is but merry with me; | 35 |
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents. | ||
SERVILIUS | But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. | |
If his occasion were not virtuous, | ||
I should not urge it half so faithfully. | ||
LUCILIUS | Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? | 40 |
SERVILIUS | Upon my soul,’tis true, sir. | |
LUCILIUS | What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself | |
against such a good time, when I might ha’ shown | ||
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I | ||
should purchase the day before for a little part, | 45 | |
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now, | ||
before the gods, I am not able to do,–the more | ||
beast, I say:–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. | 50 | |
Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I | ||
hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me, | ||
because I have 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 | 55 | |
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you | ||
befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him? | ||
SERVILIUS | Yes, sir, I shall. | |
LUCILIUS | I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius. | |
[Exit SERVILIUS] | ||
True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed; | 60 | |
And he that’s once denied will hardly speed. | ||
[Exit] | ||
First Stranger | Do you observe this, Hostilius? | |
Second Stranger | Ay, too well. | |
First Stranger | Why, this is the world’s soul; and just of the | |
same piece | 65 | |
Is every flatterer’s spirit. Who can call him | ||
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in | ||
My knowing, Timon has been this lord’s father, | ||
And kept his credit with his purse, | ||
Supported his estate; nay, Timon’s money | 70 | |
Has paid his men their wages: he ne’er drinks, | ||
But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip; | ||
And yet–O, see the monstrousness of man | ||
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!– | ||
He does deny him, in respect of his, | 75 | |
What charitable men afford to beggars. | ||
Third Stranger | Religion groans at it. | |
First Stranger | For mine own part, | |
I never tasted Timon in my life, | ||
Nor came any of his bounties over me, | 80 | |
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, | ||
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue | ||
And honourable carriage, | ||
Had his necessity made use of me, | ||
I would have put my wealth into donation, | 85 | |
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; | ||
For policy sits above conscience. | ||
[Exeunt] |
Timon of Athens, Act 3, Scene 3