| 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] |
Sources for Timon of Athens