Timon of Athens
| ACT III SCENE III | A room in Sempronius’ house. | |
| [Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON’s] | ||
| SEMPRONIUS | Must he needs trouble me in ‘t,–hum!–‘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 | |
| Owe their estates unto him. | ||
| 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? | 10 |
| Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? | ||
| And does he send to me? Three? hum! | ||
| It shows but little love or judgment in him: | ||
| Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like | ||
| physicians, | 15 | |
| Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me? | ||
| Has much disgraced me in’t; I’m angry at him, | ||
| That might have known my place: I see no sense for’t, | ||
| But his occasion might have woo’d me first; | ||
| For, in my conscience, I was the first man | 20 | |
| That e’er received gift from him: | ||
| And does he think so backwardly of me now, | ||
| That I’ll requite its last? No: | ||
| So it may prove an argument of laughter | ||
| To the rest, and ‘mongst lords I be thought a fool. | 25 | |
| I’ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum, | ||
| Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake; | ||
| 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. | 30 | |
| [Exit] | ||
| Servant | Excellent! Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The | |
| devil knew not what he did when he made man | ||
| 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 | 35 | |
| 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 his | ||
| politic love. | ||
| This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled, | 40 | |
| 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 | ||
| Now to guard sure their master. | ||
| And this is all a liberal course allows; | 45 | |
| Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house. | ||
| [Exit] | ||
Timon of Athens, Act 3, Scene 4