The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare [book recommendations based on other books txt] 📗

and in scarcity of friends, I clear’d him with five talents. Greet him from me, Bid him suppose some good necessity

Touches his friend, which craves to be rememb’red With those five talents. That had, give’t these fellows To whom ‘tis instant due. Nev’r speak or think That Timon’s fortunes ‘mong his friends can sink.

FLAVIUS. I would I could not think it.

That thought is bounty’s foe;

Being free itself, it thinks all others so. Exeunt

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ACT III. SCENE I.

LUCULLUS’ house

 

FLAMINIUS waiting to speak with LUCULLUS. Enter SERVANT to him SERVANT. I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.

FLAMINIUS. I thank you, sir.

 

Enter LUCULLUS

 

SERVANT. Here’s my lord.

LUCULLUS. [Aside] One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer tonight-Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine. [Exit SERVANT] And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

FLAMINIUS. His health is well, sir.

LUCULLUS. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

FLAMINIUS. Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which in my lord’s behalf I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein.

LUCULLIUS. La, la, la, la! ‘Nothing doubting’ says he? Alas, good lord! a noble gentleman ‘tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha’ din’d with him and told him on’t; and come again to supper to him of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his. I ha’

told him on’t, but I could ne’er get him from’t.

 

Re-enter SERVANT, with wine SERVANT. Please your lordship, here is the wine.

LUCULLUS. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here’s to thee.

FLAMINIUS. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

LUCULLUS. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason, and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in thee. [To SERVANT] Get you gone, sirrah. [Exit SERVANT] Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord’s a bountiful gentleman; but thou art wise, and thou know’st well enough, although thou com’st to me, that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship without security. Here’s three solidares for thee.

Good boy, wink at me, and say thou saw’st me not. Fare thee well.

FLAMINIUS. Is’t possible the world should so much differ, And we alive that liv’d? Fly, damned baseness, To him that worships thee. [Throwing the money back]

LUCULLUS. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.

Exit

FLAMINIUS. May these add to the number that may scald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation,

Thou disease of a friend and not himself!

Has friendship such a faint and milky heart It turns in less than two nights? O you gods, I feel my master’s passion! This slave Unto his honour has my lord’s meat in him; Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment When he is turn’d to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon’t!

And when he’s sick to death, let not that part of nature Which my lord paid for be of any power To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! Exit

SCENE II.

A public place

 

Enter Lucius, with three STRANGERS

 

LUCIUS. 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 happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

LUCIUS. 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 so many talents; nay, urg’d extremely for’t, and showed what necessity belong’d to’t, and yet was denied.

LUCIUS. How?

SECOND STRANGER. I tell you, denied, my lord.

LUCIUS. What a strange case was that! Now, before the gods, I am asham’d on’t. Denied that honourable man! There was very little honour show’d 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; 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 honour’d lord!

LUCIUS. Servilius? You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well; commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

SERVILIUS. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent-LUCIUS. Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord: he’s ever sending. How shall I thank him, think’st 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.

LUCIUS. I know his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fiftyfive 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.

LUCIUS. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

SERVILIUS. Upon my soul, ‘tis true, sir.

LUCIUS. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might ha’ shown myself honourable! How unluckily it happ’ned that I should purchase the day before for a little part and undo a great deal of honour! 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. 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 honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far as to use mine own words to him?

SERVILIUS. Yes, sir, I shall.

LUCIUS. I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.

Exit SERVILIUS

True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed; 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

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 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,

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

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, 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

SCENE III.

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 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?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?

And does he send to me? Three? Humh!

It shows but little love or judgment in him.

Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, Thrice give him over. Must I take th’ cure upon me?

Has much disgrac’d me in’t; I’m angry at him, That might have known my place. I see no sense for’t, But his occasions might have woo’d me first; For, in my conscience, I was the first man That e’er received gift from him.

And does he think so backwardly of me now That I’ll requite it last? No;

So it may prove an argument of laughter To th’ rest, and I ‘mongst lords be thought a fool.

I’d 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. Exit SERVANT. Excellent! Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic-he cross’d 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 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, 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: Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house. Exit

SCENE IV.

A hall in TIMON’S house

 

Enter two Of VARRO’S MEN, meeting LUCIUS’ SERVANT, and others, all being servants of TIMON’s creditors, to wait for his coming out.

Then enter TITUS and HORTENSIUS

 

FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

TITUS. The like to you, kind Varro.

HORTENSIUS. Lucius! What, do we meet together?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. Ay, and I think one business does command us all; for mine is money.

TITUS. So is theirs and ours.

 

Enter PHILOTUS

 

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. And Sir Philotus too!

PHILOTUS. Good day at once.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. welcome, good brother, what do you think the hour?

PHILOTUS. Labouring for nine.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. So much?

PHILOTUS. Is not my lord seen yet?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. Not yet.

PHILOTUS. I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT. Ay, but the days are wax’d shorter with him; You must consider that a prodigal course Is like the sun’s, but not like his recoverable.

I fear

‘Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; That is, one may reach deep