ACT III.

SCENE I.-Athens. A Room in Lucullus's House. FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you.

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Serv. Here's

Enter LUCUllus.

my lord.

Lucul. [Aside.] One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively a welcome, sir.-Fill me some wine. [Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

Flam. His health is well, sir.

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

Flam. '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.

Lucul. La, la, la, la,-nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 't is, 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 and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no

a Respectively-respectfully.

warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty a is his; I ha' told him on 't, but I could ne'er get him from 't.

Re-enter Servant, with wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucul. 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.-Get you gone, sirrah.-[To the Servant, who goes out.]-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.

Flam. 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 away. Lucul. Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy

master.

[Exit LUCULLUS.

may scald

Flam. May these add to the number that

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,

a Honesty is here used in the sense of liberality.

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!

SCENE II.-A public Place.

Enter LUCIUS, with Three Strangers.

[Exit.

Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman.

1 Stran. 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.

Luc. Fye no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

2 Stran. 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, urged extremely for 't, and showed what necessity belonged to 't, and yet was denied.

Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. 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, 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.

Ser. See, by good hap, yonder 's my lord; I have

sweat to see his honour.--My honoured lord,

[TO LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:-Commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent Luc. 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?

Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord: requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.

Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous,

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my soul 't is true, sir.

Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable! How unluckily it happened, 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 't, 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? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall.

Luc. 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 LUCIUS.

1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius? 2 Stran.

1 Stran. Why this is the world's soul; And just of the same piece

Ay, too well.

Is every flatterer's sport: 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.
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.
1 Stran.

I never tasted Timon in my life,

For mine own part,

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-A Room in Sempronius's House.

Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of Timon's. Sem. Must he needs trouble me in 't? Humph! 'bove all others?