READ STUDY GUIDE: Act III, Scenes i-iii |
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Act III, Scene i:
Athens. A Room in LUCULLUS' House.
Athens. 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.: |
| [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 SERVANT.] |
| And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted |
| 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. |
| LUCULLIUS.: |
| 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 it. |
| [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 know'st 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 liv'd? Fly, damned baseness, |
| To him that worships thee. |
| [Throwing the money away.] |
| 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 molten 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 my 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.] |
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