Timon of Athens: Act 3, Scene 1

    tragedy

    A room in Lucullus' house.

    Scene Summary

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    Timon's servant Flaminius visits Lucullus, one of the lords Timon has feasted many times, and asks for a loan. Lucullus tries to bribe Flaminius to say he could not find him, then refuses the money outright. Flaminius throws the gold back at him in disgust. The scene is the first of three near-identical refusals that show Timon's friends are all the same.

    FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him
    Servant
    I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.
    FLAMINIUS
    I thank you, sir.
    Enter LUCULLUS
    Servant
    Here's my lord.
    LUCULLUS
    [Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I
    warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver
    basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest
    Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.
    Fill me some wine.
    Exit Servants
    And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted
    gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord
    and master?
    FLAMINIUS
    His health is well sir.
    LUCULLUS
    I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and
    what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?
    FLAMINIUS
    '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.
    LUCULLUS
    La, la, la, la! 'nothing doubting,' says he? Alas,
    good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, 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 warning
    by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty
    is his: I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get
    him from't.
    Re-enter Servant, with wine
    Servant
    Please your lordship, here is the wine.
    LUCULLUS
    Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.
    FLAMINIUS
    Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
    LUCULLUS
    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.
    To Servant
    Get you gone, sirrah.
    Exit Servant
    Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a
    bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou
    knowest well enough, although thou comest 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 sawest me not. Fare thee well.
    FLAMINIUS
    Is't possible the world should so much differ,
    And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
    To him that worships thee!
    Throwing the money back
    LUCULLUS
    Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
    Exit
    FLAMINIUS
    May these add to the number that may scald thee!
    Let moulten 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 master's passion! this slave,
    Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:
    Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,
    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!
    Exit