The Life Of Timon Of Athens

1 Flaminius waiting to speak with Lucullus from his master.
2 Enter a Servant to him.
3 SERVANT.
4 I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.
5 FLAMINIUS.
6 I thank you, sir.
7 Enter Lucullus.
8 SERVANT.
9 Here’s my lord.
10 LUCULLUS.
11 [_Aside_.] One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I warrant. Why, this hits
12 right. I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer tonight.—Flaminius, honest
13 Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.
14 [_Exit Servant._]
15 And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of
16 Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?
17 FLAMINIUS.
18 His health is well, sir.
19 LUCULLUS.
20 I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there
21 under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?
22 FLAMINIUS.
23 Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which in my lord’s behalf I come
24 to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant
25 occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish
26 him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein.
27 LUCULLUS.
28 La, la, la, la! Nothing doubting, says he? Alas, good lord! A noble
29 gentleman ’tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and
30 often I ha’ dined with him, and told him on’t, and come again to supper
31 to him of purpose to have him spend less, and yet he would embrace no
32 counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and
33 honesty is his. I ha’ told him on’t, but I could ne’er get him from ’t.
34 Enter Servant with wine.
35 SERVANT.
36 Please your lordship, here is the wine.
37 LUCULLUS.
38 Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here’s to thee.
39 FLAMINIUS.
40 Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
41 LUCULLUS.
42 I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy
43 due, and one that knows what belongs to reason, and canst use the time
44 well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in thee. [_To Servant_.]
45 Get you gone, sirrah.—
46 [_Exit Servant._]
47 Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord’s a bountiful gentleman, but
48 thou art wise and thou know’st well enough, although thou com’st to me,
49 that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship
50 without security. Here’s three solidares for thee. Good boy, wink at
51 me, and say thou saw’st me not. Fare thee well.
52 FLAMINIUS.
53 Is’t possible the world should so much differ,
54 And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
55 To him that worships thee.
56 [_Throws the money back._]
57 LUCULLUS.
58 Ha! Now I see thou art a fool and fit for thy master.
59 [_Exit._]
60 FLAMINIUS.
61 May these add to the number that may scald thee!
62 Let molten coin be thy damnation,
63 Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
64 Has friendship such a faint and milky heart
65 It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
66 I feel my master’s passion. This slave
67 Unto his honour has my lord’s meat in him.
68 Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
69 When he is turned to poison?
70 O, may diseases only work upon’t,
71 And when he’s sick to death, let not that part of nature
72 Which my lord paid for be of any power
73 To expel sickness, but prolong his hour.
74 [_Exit._]