The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 630
LUCULLUS
[Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I
warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver
basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest
Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.
Fill me some wine.
Exit Servants
And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted
gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord
and master?
One of Timon's men? Bringing a gift,
I bet. Why, this all fits; I dreamt of a silver
basin and jug tonight. Flaminius, honest
Flaminius; you are respectfully welcome, sir.
get some wine.
And how is that honourable, open hearted, complete
gentleman of Athens, your generous lord
and master?
FLAMINIUS
His health is well sir.
He's in good health, sir.
LUCULLUS
I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and
what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?
I'm very glad to hear it, sir; and
what are you hiding under your cloak, sweet Flaminius?
FLAMINIUS
'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.
I swear, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, on
behalf of my master, I have come to beg your honour to fill;
he has urgent need of fifty talents at once, and he's
sent me to you to ask for them, having no doubt
that you will help him out.
LUCULLUS
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't.
Tra la la! 'Having no doubt,' he says? Alas,
good lord! He would be a noble gentleman,
if he wasn't so profligate. Many times I have
dined with him, and spoken to him about it, and again
come to supper with him, telling him to spend less,
but he would not take any advice, he wouldn't be warned
by my visits. Every man has his faults, and over-generosity
is his: I warned him about it, but I couldn't ever
dissuade him.
Re-enter Servant, with wine
Servant
Please your lordship, here is the wine.
If you please, your lordship, here is the wine.
LUCULLUS
Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.
Flaminius, I've always respected your wisdom. Here's to you.
FLAMINIUS
Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
Your lordship is kind to say so.
LUCULLUS
I have observed 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 Servant
Get you gone, sirrah.
Exit Servant
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a
bountiful gentleman: 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
solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say
thou sawest me not. Fare thee well.
I have always seen you as a friendly and well disposed chap
- to give you your due-and someone with plenty
of common sense; and you can do well, if
luck favours you; you have good qualities.
[to servant]
Off you go, sir.
Come closer, honest Flaminius. Your lord is a generous
gentleman: but you are wise; and you
know well enough, although you've come to me,
that this is not a good time to be lending money,
without security, just on the basis of friendship. Here are
three shillings for you; look the other way,
and say you didn't see me. Farewell.
FLAMINIUS
Is't possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee!
Is it possible for the world to change so much
in the span of a single lifetime? You filthy stuff,
go back to the one who worships you!
Throwing the money back
LUCULLUS
Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
Ha! I see now that you're a fool, and well suited to your master.
Exit
FLAMINIUS
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let moulten 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 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
May these be added to the collection which burn you!
Let melted coins be your torture in hell,
you disease of friendship, no true friend!
Is friendship so weak and insipid
that it changes in less than two nights? Oh you gods,
I feel the anger my master would! This slave,
who pretends to be so honourable, is full of my lord's food:
why should it nourish him,
when he is so poisonous?
Oh, may it only bring him diseases!
And, when he's sick to death, don't let any part of his body
which grew through my lordship's food help
to cure him, let it prolong his agony!
Enter LUCILIUS, with three Strangers
LUCILIUS
Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and
an honourable gentleman.
Who, Lord Timon? He's a very good friend of mine,
and an honourable gentleman.
First Stranger
We know him for no less, though we are but strangers
to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and
which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's
happy hours are done and past, and his estate
shrinks from him.
That's what we think of him too, although we are unknown
to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, which
everyone is talking about: now Lord Timon's
good times are over, and he's losing his fortune.
LUCILIUS
Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
Nonsense, don't believe it; he can't need money.
Second Stranger
> But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,
one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow
so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and
showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.
But you should know this, my lord, that, not long ago,
one of his men went to the Lord Lucullus to borrow
some talents, indeed he was very pressing and
said the matter was extremely urgent, but he was refused.
LUCILIUS
How!
What!
Second Stranger
I tell you, denied, my lord.
I tell you, he was refused, my lord.
LUCILIUS
What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,
I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!
there was very little honour showed in't. For my own
part, I must needs confess, I have received some
small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels
and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;
yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should
ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.
What a peculiar business that is! I swear to the gods,
it makes me ashamed. Refused that honourable man?
That was a dishonourable act. On my
own part, I must admit I have had some
little presents from him, like money, plate, jewels
and similar trinkets, nothing like his ones;
but, if he had mistakenly sent the request to me, I would
never have refused him a sum of talents in his need.
Enter SERVILIUS
SERVILIUS
See, by good hap, yonder's my lord;
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,--
See, luckily, my lord is over there;
I need to see him urgently. My honoured lord–
LUCILIUS
Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
exquisite friend.
Servilius! It's good to see you, sir. Farewell:
give my regards to your honourable virtuous lord,
my most delightful friend.
SERVILIUS
May it please your honour, my lord hath sent--
If you please your honour, my lord has sent–
LUCILIUS
Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to
that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank
him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?
Ha! What has he sent? I am so grateful to that lord,
he's always sending things: how do you think
I should thank him? What has he sent this time?
SERVILIUS
Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
with so many talents.
All he has sent today is news of his need, my lord;
he asks your lordship to help his immediate wants
by giving him a number of talents.
Lucilius
I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.
I know his Lordship is only having a joke with me;
however big a sum was he could always cover it.
SERVILIUS
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
But at the moment he doesn't want a large sum, my lord.
If his needs hadn't been honestly incurred,
I wouldn't be half as keen to ask.
LUCILIUS
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Are you being serious, Servilius?
SERVILIUS
Upon my soul,'tis true, sir.
I swear, it's true, sir.
LUCILIUS
What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
against such a good time, when I might ha' shown
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part,
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
before the gods, I am not able to do,--the more
beast, I say:--I was sending to use Lord Timon
myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would
not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now.
Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I
hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,
because I have no power to be kind: and tell him
this from me, I count it one of my greatest
afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?
How wrong of me not to have prepared myself properly
for this fortunate occasion, when I could have shown
myself to be honourable! How unfortunate that
just yesterday I invested my money in a little business,
which means I can't do something so honourable! Servilius,
I swear that I can't help you (I'm a real beast, I say!)
–I was about to send to Lord Timon myself to borrow money,
these gentlemen can witness it–I would give the wealth
of Athens not to have done it. Give his good lordship
my warmest regards; and I hope his
honour will think the best of me, because I can't
possibly help him: and tell him
from me, that it is a source of enormous
regret that I can't help such an
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
do me the favour of using my own words to him?
SERVILIUS
Yes, sir, I shall.
Yes, sir, I shall.
LUCILIUS
I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
Exit SERVILIUS
True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
And he that's once denied will hardly speed.
Exit
I'll have to think of something I can do the you, Servilius.
It's just as you said, Timon has come down;
and once you fall you can't get back up.
First Stranger
Do you observe this, Hostilius?
Do you see this, Hostilius?
Second Stranger
Ay, too well.
Yes, all too well.
First Stranger
Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the
same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!--
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
Why, this is the way the world works; and every
flatterer has the same character. Who can call
someone a friend just because he shares a meal?
To my knowledge, Timon has been like a father to this lord,
maintained his credit with his own money,
supported his establishment; why, Timon's money
has paid his servants' wages: he never drinks
without it being from a silver cup of Timon's;
and yet–oh, see how monstrous men are when they
become ungratef
ul!
He is refusing him something which, in proportion,
is just what a kind man would give to a beggar.
Third Stranger
Religion groans at it.
The gods despair at it.
First Stranger
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.
Exeunt
On my part,
I've never had any experience of Timon,
and never have I had any of his largess
to make me his friend; but, I swear,
for his very noble mind, shining virtues
and honourable conduct,
if he had applied to me in his hour of need,
I would have regarded my wealth as his gift,
and would have sent more than half back to him,
that's how much I admire him: but, I see,
men must now learn to be pitiless;
desires triumph over conscience.
Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON's
SEMPRONIUS
Must he needs trouble me in 't,--hum!--'bove
all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;