Timon of Athens

Timon of Athens

ACT III SCENE I	A room in Lucullus' house.
	FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a 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
	warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver	5
	basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest
	Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.
	Fill me some wine.
	Exit Servants
	And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted
	gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord	10
	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	15
	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.	20
LUCULLUS	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'
	dined with him, and told him on't, and come again to
	supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less,	25
	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.	30
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	35
	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
	knowest well enough, although thou comest to me,	40
	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 sawest me not. Fare thee well.
FLAMINIUS	Is't possible the world should so much differ,	45
	And we alive that lived? 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 moulten coin be thy damnation,	50
	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 master's passion! this slave,
	Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:	55
	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	60
	To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!
	Exit