Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 3
A room in Sempronius’ house.
Sempronius : Must he needs trouble me in 't,--hum!--'bove
[p]all others?
[p]He
might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
[p]And now Ventidius is
wealthy too,
[p]Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these
[p]Owe their
estates unto him.
Servant : My lord,
[p]They have all been touch'd and found base metal,
for
[p]They have au denied him.
Sempronius : How! have they denied him?
[p]Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied
him?
[p]And does he send to me? Three? hum!
[p]It shows but little
love or judgment in him:
[p]Must I be his last refuge! His friends,
like
[p]physicians,
[p]Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure
upon me?
[p]Has much disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him,
[p]That
might have known my place: I see no sense for't,
[p]But his occasion
might have woo'd me first;
[p]For, in my conscience, I was the first
man
[p]That e'er received gift from him:
[p]And does he think so
backwardly of me now,
[p]That I'll requite its last? No:
[p]So it may
prove an argument of laughter
[p]To the rest, and 'mongst lords I be
thought a fool.
[p]I'ld rather than the worth of thrice the
sum,
[p]Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;
[p]I'd such a
courage to do him good. But now return,
[p]And with their faint reply
this answer join;
[p]Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
Servant : Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The
[p]devil knew not
what he did when he made man
[p]politic; he crossed himself by 't: and
I cannot
[p]think but, in the end, the villainies of man will
[p]set
him clear. How fairly this lord strives to
[p]appear foul! takes
virtuous copies to be wicked,
[p]like those that under hot ardent zeal
would set
[p]whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his
[p]politic
love.
[p]This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
[p]Save only
the gods: now his friends are dead,
[p]Doors, that were ne'er
acquainted with their wards
[p]Many a bounteous year must be
employ'd
[p]Now to guard sure their master.
[p]And this is all a
liberal course allows;
[p]Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his
house.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 2
Next: Act 3 - Scene 4
