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  • Title: Timon of Athens (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Timon of Athens (Folio 1, 1623)

    Enter a third seruant with Sempronius, another
    of Timons Friends.
    Semp. Must he needs trouble me in't? Hum.
    'Boue all others?
    1075He might haue tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus,
    And now Ventidgius is wealthy too,
    Whom he redeem'd from prison. All these
    Owes their estates vnto him.
    Ser. My Lord,
    1080They haue all bin touch'd, and found Base-Mettle,
    For they haue all denied him.
    Semp. How? Haue they deny'de him?
    Has Ventidgius and Lucullus deny'de him,
    And does he send to me? Three? Humh?
    1085It shewes but little loue, or iudgement in him.
    Must I be his last Refuge? His Friends (like Physitians)
    Thriue, giue him ouer: Must I take th'Cure vpon me?
    Has much disgrac'd me in't, I'me angry at him,
    That might haue knowne my place. I see no sense for't,
    1090But his Occasions might haue wooed me first:
    For in my conscience, I was the first man
    That ere receiued guift from him.
    And does he thinke so backwardly of me now,
    That Ile requite it last? No:
    1095So it may proue an Argument of Laughter
    To th'rest, and 'mong'st Lords be thought a Foole:
    I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe,
    Had sent to me first, but for my mindes sake:
    I'de such a courage to do him good. But now returne,
    1100And with their faint reply, this answer ioyne;
    Who bates mine Honor, shall not know my Coyne. Exit
    Ser. Excellent: Your Lordships a goodly Villain: the
    diuell knew not what he did, when hee made man Poli-
    ticke; he crossed himselfe by't: and I cannot thinke, but
    1105in the end, the Villanies of man will set him cleere. How
    fairely this Lord striues to appeare foule? Takes Vertu-
    ous Copies to be wicked: like those, that vnder hotte ar-
    dent zeale, would set whole Realmes on fire, of such a na-
    ture is his politike loue.
    1110This was my Lords best hope, now all are fled
    Saue onely the Gods. Now his Friends are dead,
    Doores that were ne're acquainted with their Wards
    Many a bounteous yeere, must be imploy'd
    Now to guard sure their Master:
    1115And this is all a liberall course allowes,
    Who cannot keepe his wealth, must keep his house. Exit.
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