Act III.
Scene I.
Act III. Scene I.—Athens. A Room in
LUCULLUS' House.
FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him.
Serv. I have told my lord of you; he is coming
down to you.
Flam. I thank you, sir.
Enter LUCULLUS.
Serv. Here's my lord.
Lucul. [Aside.] One of Lord Timon's men! a
gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt
of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius,
honest Flaminius, you are very respectively wel-
come, sir. Fill me some wine. [Exit Servant.]
And how does that honourable, complete, free-
hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful
good lord and master?
Flam. His health is well, sir.
Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well,
sir. And what hast thou there under thy cloak,
pretty Flaminius?
Flam. 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.
Lucul. 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.
Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine.
Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always
wise. Here's to thee.
Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
Lucul. I have observ'd 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 the Servant.]—Get you
gone, sirrah.—[Exit Servant.] Draw nearer,
honest Flaminius, Thy lord's a bountiful gentle-
man; 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 soli-
dares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say
thou sawest me not Fare thee well.
Flam. 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.
Lucul. Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit
for thy master. [Exit.
Flam. 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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