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_ ACT III SCENE I
LUCULLUS' house
FLAMINIUS waiting to speak with LUCULLUS. Enter SERVANT to him
SERVANT. I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.
FLAMINIUS. I thank you, sir.
Enter LUCULLUS
SERVANT. Here's my lord.
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 SERVANT] And how does that
honourable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy
very
bountiful good lord and master?
FLAMINIUS. His health is well, sir.
LUCULLUS. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And
what
hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty 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.
LUCULLIUS. 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' din'd 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.
Re-enter SERVANT, with wine
SERVANT. Please your lordship, here is the wine.
LUCULLUS. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to
thee.
FLAMINIUS. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
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 know'st well enough, although thou
com'st
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 saw'st me not. Fare thee
well.
FLAMINIUS. 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 back]
LUCULLUS. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy
master.
Exit
FLAMINIUS. 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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