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