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Timon of Athens: Act III, Scene 2

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Timon of Athens
Act III, Scene 2

Athens. A public place.

Max Goschen's edition of Timon of Athens

From: Max Goschen's edition of Timon of Athens

Wyndham Lewis, 1912

  1. Enter Lucius with three Strangers.

Lucius

1 - 2
  1. Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend, and an
  2. honorable gentleman.

First Stranger

3 - 6
  1. We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him.
  2. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from
  3. common rumors, now Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and
  4. past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Lucius

7
  1. Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

Second Stranger

8 - 11
  1. But believe you this, my lord, that not long ago one of his
  2. men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow so many talents,
  3. nay, urg’d extremely for’t, and show’d what necessity
  4. belong’d to’t, and yet was denied.

Lucius

12
  1. How?

Second Stranger

13
  1. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Lucius

14 - 20
  1. What a strange case was that! Now before the gods, I am
  2. asham’d on’t. Denied that honorable man? There was very
  3. little honor show’d in’t. For my own part, I must needs
  4. confess, I have receiv’d some small kindnesses from him, as
  5. money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles—nothing
  6. comparing to his—yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I
  7. should ne’er have denied his occasion so many talents.
  1. Enter Servilius.

Servilius

21 - 22
  1. See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord; I have sweat to see his
  2. honor. My honor’d lord—

Lucius

23 - 24
  1. Servilius? You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well, commend
  2. me to thy honorable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Servilius

25
  1. May it please your honor, my lord hath sent—

Lucius

26 - 28
  1. Ha? What has he sent? I am so much endear’d to that lord:
  2. he’s ever sending. How shall I thank him, think’st thou? And
  3. what has he sent now?

Servilius

29 - 31
  1. H’as only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting
  2. your lordship to supply his instant use with so many
  3. talents.

Lucius

32 - 33
  1. I know his lordship is but merry with me;
  2. He cannot want fifty—five hundred talents.

Servilius

34 - 36
  1. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
  2. If his occasion were not virtuous,
  3. I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Lucius

37
  1. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Servilius

38
  1. Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir.

Lucius

39 - 52
  1. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such
  2. a good time, when I might ha’ shown myself honorable! How
  3. unluckily it happ’ned that I should purchase the day before
  4. for a little part, and undo a great deal of honor!
  5. Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do (the
  6. more beast, I say!)—I was sending to use Lord Timon myself,
  7. these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth
  8. of Athens, I had done’t now. Commend me bountifully to his
  9. good lordship, and I hope his honor will conceive the
  10. fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell
  11. him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions,
  12. say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable gentleman.
  13. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far as to use mine
  14. own words to him?

Servilius

53
  1. Yes, sir, I shall.
  1. Exit Servilius.

Lucius

54 - 56
  1. Calling after him.
  2. I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.—
  3. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed,
  4. And he that’s once denied will hardly speed.
  1. Exit.

First Stranger

57
  1. Do you observe this, Hostilius?

Second Stranger

58
  1.                                 Ay, too well.

First Stranger

59 - 70
  1. Why, this is the world’s soul, and just of the same piece
  2. Is every flatterer’s sport. Who can call him
  3. His friend that dips in the same dish? For, in
  4. My knowing, Timon has been this lord’s father,
  5. And kept his credit with his purse;
  6. Supported his estate, nay, Timon’s money
  7. Has paid his men their wages. He ne’er drinks
  8. But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip,
  9. And yet—O, see the monstrousness of man
  10. When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!—
  11. He does deny him (in respect of his)
  12. What charitable men afford to beggars.

Third Stranger

71
  1. Religion groans at it.

First Stranger

72 - 83
  1.                        For mine own part,
  2. I never tasted Timon in my life,
  3. Nor came any of his bounties over me
  4. To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
  5. For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
  6. And honorable carriage,
  7. Had his necessity made use of me,
  8. I would have put my wealth into donation,
  9. And the best half should have return’d to him,
  10. So much I love his heart. But I perceive
  11. Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
  12. For policy sits above conscience.
  1. Exeunt.
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