Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 4
The same. A hall in Timon’s house.
Titus : O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
Servilius : If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some
[p]other hour, I
should derive much from't; for,
[p]take't of my soul, my lord leans
wondrously to
[p]discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook
him;
[p]he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
[p]And, if it
be so far beyond his health,
[p]Methinks he should the sooner pay his
debts,
[p]And make a clear way to the gods.
Servilius : Good gods!
Titus : We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flaminius : [Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
Timon : What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
[p]Have I been ever
free, and must my house
[p]Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
[p]The
place which I have feasted, does it now,
[p]Like all mankind, show me
an iron heart?
Titus : My lord, here is my bill.
Hortensius : And mine, my lord.
Philotus : All our bills.
Timon : Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.
Timon : Cut my heart in sums.
Titus : Mine, fifty talents.
Timon : Tell out my blood.
Timon : Five thousand drops pays that.
[p]What yours?--and yours?
First Servant : My lord,--
Second Servant : My lord,--
Timon : Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Hortensius : 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps
[p]at their money:
these debts may well be called
[p]desperate ones, for a madman owes
'em.
Timon : They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
[p]Creditors?
devils!
Flavius : My dear lord,--
Timon : What if it should be so?
Flavius : My lord,--
Timon : I'll have it so. My steward!
Flavius : Here, my lord.
Timon : So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
[p]Lucius, Lucullus, and
Sempronius:
[p]All, sirrah, all:
[p]I'll once more feast the rascals.
Flavius : O my lord,
[p]You only speak from your distracted soul;
[p]There is
not so much left, to furnish out
[p]A moderate table.
Timon : Be't not in thy care; go,
[p]I charge thee, invite them all: let in
the tide
[p]Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
First Servant : Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Titus : The like to you kind Varro.
Hortensius : Lucius!
[p]What, do we meet together?
[p]One business does command us
all; for mine Is money.
Titus : So is theirs and ours.
Philotus : Good day at once.
[p]What do you think the hour?
Philotus : Labouring for nine.
Philotus : Is not my lord seen yet?
Philotus : I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
[p]You must consider
that a prodigal course
[p]Is like the sun's; but not, like his,
recoverable.
[p]I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's
purse;
[p]That is one may reach deep enough, and yet
[p]Find little.
Philotus : I am of your fear for that.
Titus : I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
[p]Your lord sends now
for money.
Hortensius : Most true, he does.
Titus : And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
[p]For which I wait for
money.
Hortensius : It is against my heart.
[p]Timon in this should pay more than he
owes:
[p]And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
[p]And send
for money for 'em.
Hortensius : I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:
[p]I know my lord hath
spent of Timon's wealth,
[p]And now ingratitude makes it worse than
stealth.
First Servant : Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?
First Servant : 'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
[p]Your master's
confidence was above mine;
[p]Else, surely, his had equall'd.
[p]Enter
Flaminius.
Titus : One of Lord Timon's men.
[p]come forth?
Flaminius : No, indeed, he is not.
Titus : We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
Flaminius : I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Titus : Do you hear, sir?
Second Servant : By your leave, sir,--
Flavius : What do ye ask of me, my friend?
Titus : We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flavius : Ay,
[p]If money were as certain as your waiting,
[p]'Twere sure
enough.
[p]Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,
[p]When
your false masters eat of my lord's meat?
[p]Then they could smile and
fawn upon his debts
[p]And take down the interest into
their
[p]gluttonous maws.
[p]You do yourselves but wrong to stir me
up;
[p]Let me pass quietly:
[p]Believe 't, my lord and I have made an
end;
[p]I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Flavius : If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
[p]For you serve knaves.
First Servant : How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
Second Servant : No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge
[p]enough. Who can speak
broader than he that has no
[p]house to put his head in? such may rail
against
[p]great buildings.
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Next: Act 3 - Scene 5
