Enter a Third Servant of Timon’s with Sempronius,
another of Timon’s friends. SEMPRONIUS
Must he needs trouble me in ’t? Hum! ’Bove all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
Owes their estates unto him. 5 SERVANT
My lord,
They have all been touched and found base metal,
For they have all denied him. SEMPRONIUS
How? Have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him, 10
And does he send to me? Three? Humh!
It shows but little love or judgment in him.
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
Thrive, give him over. Must I take th’ cure upon me?
Has much disgraced me in ’t. I’m angry at him 15
That might have known my place. I see no sense for ’t
But his occasions might have wooed me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e’er received gift from him.
And does he think so backwardly of me now 20
That I’ll requite it last? No.
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To th’ rest, and I ’mongst lords be thought a fool.
I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum
Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake; 25
I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join:
Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin. He exits. SERVANT
Excellent! Your Lordship’s a goodly villain.
The devil knew not what he did when he made 30
man politic. He crossed himself by ’t, and I cannot
think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set
him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear
foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those
that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms 35
on fire.
Of such a nature is his politic love.
This was my lord’s best hope. Now all are fled,
Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead,
Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards 40
Many a bounteous year must be employed
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows:
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house. He exits. | We're now at Sempronius's house, where Timon's servant is asking for money. Hmm… is it just us, or is there a pattern here? Sempronius is surprised that Timon's servant has come to him instead of to Lucius, Lucullus, or even Ventidius. He asks the servant about this. Of course, the servant already tried those men, and they refused. When Sempronius hears this, he does a bit of quick thinking. He complains that since he was first to take any of Timon's gifts, he should be first to give to Timon, too. He's downright offended that Timon would wait to ask him last for money. Because he is insulted (and, um, not because he is cheap), Sempronius says he won't give Timon a dime. Timon's servant is shocked and frankly a little confused by the twisted logic. But hey, it doesn't surprise him: men will go to any lengths not to lend money to a friend, he figures. |