THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS

Act 3 Scene 3

(Enter Timon's Third Servant, with Sempronius, another of Timon's friends)
l1l	Sempronius	 Must he needs trouble me in ’t? Hmh! ’Bove all others?
l2l		He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus#
l3l		And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
l4l		Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
l5l		Owes their estates unto him.
	Servant	My lord,
l6l		They have all been touched and found base metal,
l7l		For they have all denied him.
	Sempronius	How, have they denied him?
l8l		Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,
l9l		And does he send to me? Three? Hmh!
l10l		It shows but little love or judgement in him.
l11l		Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
l12l		Thrive, give him over# must I take th’ cure upon me?
l13l		He’s much disgraced me in ’t. I’m angry at him,
l14l		That might have known my place. I see no sense for ’t
l15l		But his occasions might have wooed me first,
l16l		For, in my conscience, I was the first man
l17l		That e’er receivèd gift from him.
l18l		And does he think so backwardly of me now
l19l		That I’ll requite it last? No.
l20l		So it may prove an argument of laughter
l21l		To th’ rest, and I ’mongst lords be thought a fool.
l22l		I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum
l23l		He’d sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake.
l24l		I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
l25l		And with their faint reply this answer join:
l26l		Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
		(Exit)
l27l	Servant	 Excellent. Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The
l28l		devil knew not what he did when he made man
l29l		politic—he crossed himself by ’t, and I cannot think but
l30l		in the end the villainies of man will set him clear. How
l31l		fairly this lord strives to appear foul! Takes virtuous
l32l		copies to be wicked, like those that under hot ardent
l33l		zeal would set whole realms on fire# of such a nature
l34l		is his politic love.
l35l		This was my lord’s best hope. Now all are fled
l36l		Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead.
l37l		Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
l38l		Many a bounteous year must be employed
l39l		Now to guard sure their master#
l40l		And this is all a liberal course allows:
l41l		Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
		(Exit)