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Timon of Athens - Act 3, scene 3
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Timon of Athens - Act 3, scene 3Act 3, scene 3
⌜Scene 3⌝
Synopsis:
Timon’s servant approaches Timon’s friend Sempronius for money and is refused.
Enter a Third Servant ⌜of Timon’s⌝ with Sempronius,another of Timon’s friends.
SEMPRONIUS
1046 Must he needs trouble me in ’t? Hum! ’Bove all others?
1047 He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
1048 And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
1049 Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
1050 5 Owes their estates unto him.
SERVANT 1051 My lord,
1052 They have all been touched and found base metal,
1053 For they have all denied him.
SEMPRONIUS 1054 How? Have they denied him?
1055 10 Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,
1056 And does he send to me? Three? Humh!
p.
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1057
It shows but little love or judgment in him.1058 Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
1059 Thrive, give him over. Must I take th’ cure upon me?
1060 15 Has much disgraced me in ’t. I’m angry at him
1061 That might have known my place. I see no sense for ’t
1062 But his occasions might have wooed me first;
1063 For, in my conscience, I was the first man
1064 That e’er received gift from him.
1065 20 And does he think so backwardly of me now
1066 That I’ll requite it last? No.
1067 So it may prove an argument of laughter
1068 To th’ rest, and ⌜I⌝ ’mongst lords be thought a fool.
1069 I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum
1070 25 Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
1071 I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
1072 And with their faint reply this answer join:
1073 Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin.
He exits.
SERVANT 1074 Excellent! Your Lordship’s a goodly villain.
1075 30 The devil knew not what he did when he made
1076 man politic. He crossed himself by ’t, and I cannot
1077 think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set
1078 him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear
1079 foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those
1080 35 that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms
1081 on fire.
1082 Of such a nature is his politic love.
1083 This was my lord’s best hope. Now all are fled,
1084 Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead,
1085 40 Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
1086 Many a bounteous year must be employed
1087 Now to guard sure their master.
1088 And this is all a liberal course allows:
1089 Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
He exits.