Enter Lucius, with three Strangers. LUCIUS
Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good
friend and an honorable 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 5
rumors: 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 10
not long ago one of his men was with the Lord
Lucullus to borrow fifty talents, nay, urged
extremely for ’t, and showed what necessity
belonged to ’t, and yet was denied. LUCIUS How? 15 SECOND STRANGER
I tell you, denied, my lord. LUCIUS
What a strange case was that! Now, before the
gods, I am ashamed on ’t. Denied that honorable
man? There was very little honor showed in ’t. For
my own part, I must needs confess I have received 20
some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate,
jewels, and suchlike trifles, nothing comparing to
his; yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I
should ne’er have denied his occasion fifty talents. | |
Enter Servilius. SERVILIUS, aside
See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord. 25
I have sweat to see his Honor. To Lucius. My
honored lord. LUCIUS
Servilius. You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee
well. Commend me to thy honorable virtuous lord,
my very exquisite friend. 30 He turns to exit. SERVILIUS
May it please your Honor, 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? 35 SERVILIUS
Has only sent his present occasion now, my
lord, requesting your Lordship to supply his
instant use with fifty talents. LUCIUS
I know his Lordship is but merry with me.
He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. 40 SERVILIUS
But in the meantime 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. 45 LUCIUS
What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish
myself against such a good time, when I might ha’
shown myself honorable! How unluckily it happened
that I should purchase the day before for a
little part, and undo a great deal of honor! Servilius, 50
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, 55
and I hope his Honor 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 honorable
gentleman. Good Servilius, will you 60
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. Servilius exits. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed, 65
And he that’s once denied will hardly speed. He exits. | Who should enter at that very moment but Servilius, Timon's servant: he's come to find Lucius. Like Lucullus, Lucius misreads the situation: he thinks Timon has sent another gift basket his way. Nope, says Servilius. Timon needs Lucius's help. Aw, shucks. That's too bad, replies Lucius, because he can't actually give any money away at the moment. Once Servilius leaves, Lucius tells the other men that Timon is finished. He's spent (pun intended). |
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 70
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 75
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, 80
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 85
To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honorable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation, 90
And the best half should have returned to him,
So much I love his heart. But I perceive
Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
For policy sits above conscience. They exit. | After Lucius exits, two strangers take a minute to discuss the dramatic turn of events. The strangers are hyper-critical of these men Timon called his friends. They can't believe that all of them are turning him down. One of the strangers points out that for those men, self-interest comes before their consciences. |