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Timon of Athens

Act III, Scene 1

A room in Lucullus' house.
 
[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
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. And how does that honorable, 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 honor 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 have dined with him, and told him on it, 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 have told him on it, but I could nere get him from it.
 
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; get you gone sirrah. Draw nearer honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman, but thou art wise, and thou knowst well enough (although thou comst 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 sawst me not. Fare thee well.
 
FLAMINIUS
        2    ,     ,          ,             ,           x
      Is it pos|sible | the world | should so | much^differ,
           ,      ,           ,      ,            ,
      And we | alive | that lived?| Fly damned^|baseness
          ,          ,          ,
      To him | that worsh|ips thee.  \\
 
[Throwing the money back]
 
LUCULLUS
Ha? Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
 
[Exit]
 
FLAMINIUS
            ,      ,    2       ,         ,          ,
      May these | add to the | number | that may | scald thee:
           ,        ,        ,        ,    ,
      Let mol|ten coin | be thy | damna|tion,
        ,       ,             ,          ,         ,
      Thou di|sease of | a friend,| and not | himself:
             ,          ,        ,           ,      ,
      Has friend|ship such | a faint | and milk|y heart,
           ,          ,          ,       T    T  T       T  ->
      It turns | in less | than two | nights? O you || gods!
      T   T     ,          ,               ,       ,  2       ,    ->
      I feel | master's | passion.| This slave || unto his | honor,
       ,         ,      ,
      Has my | lord's meat / in him:
       ,                 ,           ,        ,      ,
      Why should | it thrive,| and turn | to nut|riment,
            ,         ,         ,
      When he | is turned | to pois|on?  \\
      T  T   .  T      ,      ,        x
      O may diseas|es on|ly work | upon it:
            ,         ,       ,         ,         ,      ,
      And when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature  ????
             ,           ,          ,       ,     ,
      Which^my | lord* paid | for, be | of an|y power
             ,    ,         ,         ,         ,
      To ex/pel sick|ness, but | prolong |his hour.
 
[Exit]

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