Shakespeare Portal

Act 3, Scene 2

A Public Place.

  1. [Enter Lucius, with three STRANGERS.]
  2. Lucius
  3. 902 Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an
  4. 903 honourable gentleman.
  5. First Stranger
  6. 904 We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But
  7. 905 I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common
  8. 906 rumours: now Lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his
  9. 907 estate shrinks from him.
  10. Lucius
  11. 908 Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
  12. Second Stranger
  13. 909 But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men
  14. 910 was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow so many talents, nay, urged
  15. 911 extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet
  16. 912 was denied.
  17. Lucius
  18. 913 How!
  19. Second Stranger
  20. 914 I tell you, denied, my lord.
  21. Lucius
  22. 915 What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, I am
  23. 916 ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man! there was very little
  24. 917 honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have
  25. 918 received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels,
  26. 919 and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he
  27. 920 mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his
  28. 921 occasion so many talents.
  29. [Enter SERVILIUS.]
  30. Servilius
  31. 922 See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see
  32. 923 his honour.
  33. [To LUCIUS.]
  34. Servilius
  35. 924 My honoured lord!
  36. Lucius
  37. 925 Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: commend
  38. 926 me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.
  39. Servilius
  40. 927 May it please your honour, my lord hath sent—
  41. Lucius
  42. 928 Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord;
  43. 929 he's ever sending: how shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what
  44. 930 has he sent now?
  45. Servilius
  46. 931 Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;
  47. 932 requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many
  48. 933 talents.
  49. Lucius
  50. 934 I know his lordship is but merry with me;
  51. 935 He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.
  52. Servilius
  53. 936 But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
  54. 937 If his occasion were not virtuous,
  55. 938 I should not urge it half so faithfully.
  56. Lucius
  57. 939 Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
  58. Servilius
  59. 940 Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.
  60. Lucius
  61. 941 What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such
  62. 942 a good time, when I might ha' shown myself honourable! how
  63. 943 unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for
  64. 944 a little part, and undo a great deal of honour! Servilius, now,
  65. 945 before the gods, I am not able to do; the more beast, I say; I
  66. 946 was sending to use Lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can
  67. 947 witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it
  68. 948 now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his
  69. 949 honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power
  70. 950 to be kin: and tell him this from me, I count it one of my
  71. 951 greatest afflictions say, that I cannot pleasure such an
  72. 952 honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far
  73. 953 as to use mine own words to him?
  74. Servilius
  75. 954 Yes, sir, I shall.
  76. Lucius
  77. 955 I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
  78. [Exit SERVILIUS.]
  79. Lucius
  80. 956 True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
  81. 957 And he that's once denied will hardly speed.
  82. [Exit.]
  83. First Stranger
  84. 958 Do you observe this, Hostilius?
  85. Second Stranger
  86. 959 Ay, too well.
  87. First Stranger
  88. 960 Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
  89. 961 Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
  90. 962 His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
  91. 963 My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
  92. 964 And kept his credit with his purse,
  93. 965 Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
  94. 966 Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks
  95. 967 But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
  96. 968 And yet, O! see the monstrousness of man,
  97. 969 When he looks out in an ungrateful shape,
  98. 970 He does deny him, in respect of his,
  99. 971 What charitable men afford to beggars.
  100. Third Stranger
  101. 972 Religion groans at it.
  102. First Stranger
  103. 973 For mine own part,
  104. 974 I never tasted Timon in my life,
  105. 975 Nor came any of his bounties over me
  106. 976 To mark me for his friend; yet I protest,
  107. 977 For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
  108. 978 And honourable carriage,
  109. 979 Had his necessity made use of me,
  110. 980 I would have put my wealth into donation,
  111. 981 And the best half should have return'd to him,
  112. 982 So much I love his heart. But, I perceive,
  113. 983 Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
  114. 984 For policy sits above conscience.
  115. [Exeunt.]