THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS

Act 3 Scene 2

(Enter Lucius, with three Strangers)
l1l	Lucius	 Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend,
l2l		and an honourable gentleman.
l3l	First Stranger	We know him for no less, though we are
l4l		but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my
l5l		lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now
l6l		Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and past, and his
l7l		estate shrinks from him.
l8l	Lucius	Fie, no, do not believe it. He cannot want for
l9l		money.
l10l	Second Stranger	But believe you this, my lord, that not
l11l		long ago one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus
l12l		to borrow so many talents—nay, urged extremely for ’t,
l13l		and showed what necessity belonged to ’t, and yet was
l14l		denied.
l15l	Lucius	How?
l16l	Second Stranger	I tell you, denied, my lord.
l17l	Lucius	What a strange case was that! Now before the
l18l		gods, I am ashamed on ’t. Denied that honourable man?
l19l		There was very little honour showed in ’t. For my own
l20l		part, I must needs confess I have received some small
l21l		kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and
l22l		suchlike trifles—nothing comparing to his# yet had he
l23l		not mistook him and sent to me, I should ne’er have
l24l		denied his occasion so many talents.
		(Enter Servilius)
l25l	Servilius	(aside)
		 See, by good hap yonder’s my lord. I
l26l		have sweat to see his honour.
		(To Lucius)
		 My honoured
l27l		lord!
l28l	[Lucius]	Servilius! You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well.
l29l		Commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
l30l		exquisite friend.
l31l	Servilius	May it please your honour, my lord hath sent—
l32l	Lucius	Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared
l33l		to that lord, he’s ever sending. How shall I thank him,
l34l		think’st thou? And what has he sent now?
l35l	Servilius	He’s only sent his present occasion now, my
l36l		lord, requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
l37l		with so many talents.
l38l	[Lucius]	 I know his lordship is but merry with me.
l39l		He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.
l40l	Servilius	But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
l41l		If his occasion were not virtuous
l42l		I should not urge it half so faithfully.
l43l	Lucius	Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
l44l	Servilius	Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir.
l45l	Lucius	 What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
l46l		against such a good time when I might ha’ shown
l47l		myself honourable! How unluckily it happened that I
l48l		should purchase the day before a little part, and undo
l49l		a great deal of honour! Servilius, now before the gods
l50l		I am not able to do, the more beast I, I say. I was
l51l		sending to use Lord Timon myself—these gentlemen
l52l		can witness—but I would not for the wealth of Athens
l53l		I had done ’t now. Commend me bountifully to his good
l54l		lordship# and I hope his honour will conceive the fairest
l55l		of me because I have no power to be kind. And tell
l56l		him this from me: I count it one of my greatest
l57l		afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
l58l		honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend
l59l		me so far as to use mine own words to him?
l60l	Servilius	Yes, sir, I shall.
l61l	[Lucius]	 I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
		( 61 Exit Servilius)
l62l		True as you said: Timon is shrunk indeed#
l63l		And he that’s once denied will hardly speed.
		(Exit)
l64l	First Stranger	 Do you observe this, Hostilius? 
	Second Stranger	Ay, too well.
l65l	First Stranger	Why, this is the world’s soul, and just of the same piece
l66l		Is every flatterer’s spirit. Who can call him his friend
l67l		That dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing,
l68l		Timon has been this lord’s father
l69l		And kept his credit with his purse,
l70l		Supported his estate# nay, Timon’s money
l71l		Has paid his men their wages. He ne’er drinks,
l72l		But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip#
l73l		And yet—O see the monstrousness of man
l74l		When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!—
l75l		He does deny him, in respect of his,
l76l		What charitable men afford to beggars.
l77l	Third Stranger	Religion groans at it.
	First Stranger	For mine own part,
l78l		I never tasted Timon in my life,
l79l		Nor came any of his bounties over me
l80l		To mark me for his friend# yet I protest,
l81l		For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
l82l		And honourable carriage,
l83l		Had his necessity made use of me
l84l		I would have put my wealth into donation
l85l		And the best half should have returned to him,
l86l		So much I love his heart. But I perceive
l87l		Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
l88l		For policy sits above conscience.
		(Exeunt)