Timon of Athens

Timon of Athens

ACT III SCENE II	A public place.
	Enter LUCILIUS, with three Strangers
LUCILIUS	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	5
	which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's
	happy hours are done and past, and his estate
	shrinks from him.
LUCILIUS	Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
Second Stranger	But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,	10
	one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow
	so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and
	showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.
LUCILIUS	How!
Second Stranger	I tell you, denied, my lord.	15
LUCILIUS	What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,
	I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!
	there was very little honour showed in't. For my own
	part, I must needs confess, I have received some
	small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels	20
	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 honoured lord,--	25
	To LUCIUS
LUCILIUS	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--
LUCILIUS	Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to	30
	that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank
	him, thinkest 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.	35
LUCILIUS	I know his lordship is but merry with me;
	He cannot want fifty five 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.	40
LUCILIUS	Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
SERVILIUS	Upon my soul,'tis true, sir.
LUCILIUS	What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
	against such a good time, when I might ha' shown
	myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I	45
	should purchase the day before for a little part,
	and undo a great deal of honoured! 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	50
	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	55
	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.
LUCILIUS	I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.	60
	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	65
	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,	70
	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!--	75
	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,	80
	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,	85
	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.	90
	Exeunt