Act 3, Scene 1 — Timon of Athens

Flaminius waiting to speak with Lucullus from his master.

Enter a Servant to him.

SERVANT [polite, helpful — the servant is doing his duty]

I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.

I've told my master about you. He's coming down now.

I told him you're here. He's on his way down.

told my master he's coming down

FLAMINIUS [grateful, formal — Flaminius is respectful to the servant]

I thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thanks.

thanks

Enter Lucullus.

SERVANT [polite announcement]

Here’s my lord.

Here is my master.

Here he is.

here's my master

[_Aside_.] One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I warrant. Why, this hits

LUCULLUS [superficially warm, actually calculating — Lucullus puts on a show of friendship while sizing up Flaminius]

right. I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer tonight.—Flaminius, honest

Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.

Flaminius, my honest friend, you are very warmly welcome here. Come, let me pour you some wine.

Flaminius, my honest friend! You're so welcome. Come on, let me get you some wine.

flaminius you're so welcome let me get you wine

[_Exit Servant._]

And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of

Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

FLAMINIUS [simple, direct answer — Flaminius is still unaware of what's coming]

His health is well, sir.

His health is fine, sir.

He's healthy, sir.

he's healthy

LUCULLUS [false concern, eagerness — Lucullus presses for details about the gift he imagines]

I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there

under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

I'm very glad his health is well, sir. Now, what is that under your cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Good to hear he's doing well. So what's that you've got under your cloak, Flaminius?

what's under your cloak i'm very curious

FLAMINIUS [formal, sincere — Flaminius delivers his master's request with dignity]

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.

Nothing but an empty box, sir. In my lord's behalf, I come to ask your honor to fill it — he has urgent need of fifty talents and has sent me to your lordship to provide them. He doubts not your immediate help.

Nothing but an empty box, sir. I'm here asking for your help — my lord needs fifty talents right now, and he sent me to you because he's sure you'll help him out.

just an empty box my master needs fifty talents soon he's counting on you

LUCULLUS [cold rejection, masked by false sympathy — the moment Lucullus realizes he's being asked for money, he turns cruel]

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.

Oh my, no, no, no! He doubts not, you say? Poor lord! A noble gentleman, truly — if only he wouldn't keep such an expensive household. I've eaten dinner with him many times and told him so, and come back again for supper on purpose to urge him to spend less. Yet he would hear no advice, ignore all my warnings. Every man has his flaw, and his is his generosity — I've told him so, but I could never make him stop.

Oh come on! He has no doubts? That poor guy. Look, he's a great nobleman — if only he didn't spend so much money. I've had dinner with him a bunch of times, told him to lighten up, even came back for supper to tell him again. But would he listen? No. Everyone's got their problem, and his is that he's too generous. I keep telling him, but he never learns.

he spends too much i've told him so many times but he won't listen that's his flaw — his generosity

Enter Servant with wine.

SERVANT [formal, deferential]

Please your lordship, here is the wine.

If it please you, my lord, here is the wine.

Here's your wine, my lord.

your wine, my lord

LUCULLUS [false compliment — Lucullus is buttering up Flaminius before the bribe]

Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here’s to thee.

Flaminius, I have always seen you as a wise man. Here's to you.

Flaminius, you've always struck me as smart. Let me drink to you.

you're wise i'll drink to you

FLAMINIUS [formal, neutral — Flaminius is polite but doesn't know what's about to happen]

Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

You honor me, sir.

That's kind of you.

that's kind

LUCULLUS [continued false flattery — setting up the bribe before dismissing the servant]

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.—

I've always seen you as a promising young man with a sharp mind — someone who knows what makes sense and can use his time well if fortune favors him. You have good qualities. Servant, go away now.

You've always seemed like a smart, capable guy to me — someone who understands what matters and can take advantage of good luck. You've got real potential. Now get out of here, boy.

you're smart you've got potential you understand things come on, servant, beat it

[_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 ≋ verse [horrified, disgusted, betrayed — Flaminius suddenly understands the cruelty of what's happening]

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 that the world has changed so completely, and we're the ones who have to live in it? Away with such baseness — let it go to whoever worships it.

Is this real? How can everything be so different? How can people be so vile? Get out of here, you disgusting offer — go to someone who actually values that garbage.

has the world changed this much? from when we were alive? this is baseness go to whoever worships you

[_Throws the money back._]

LUCULLUS [contemptuous, insulted — Lucullus is angry at being rejected and called out]

Ha! Now I see thou art a fool and fit for thy master.

Look at you now — you're a fool, and you deserve such a foolish master.

There you go. You're an idiot, and you're perfect for an idiot master.

you're a fool just like your master

[_Exit._]

FLAMINIUS ≋ verse [outraged, vengeful, feeling Timon's pain — Flaminius releases his fury against Lucullus, prophesying his doom]

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 turned 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.

May these coins add to your wounds! Let molten gold be what destroys you, you disease that poisons friendship itself and all who befriend you! How can friendship turn so thin and weak in just one night? Oh you gods, I feel my master's pain — this slave has fed his mouth on food my lord bought. Why should that nourishment flourish and support him when my master has turned to poison in his eyes? Oh, may diseases alone work on that food, and when he's dying of sickness, may that part of his body that my lord once paid for have no power to heal him, but only drag out his suffering.

I hope those coins burn you! I hope molten gold becomes what kills you, you corrupt thing that destroys real friendship! How can friendship become so weak and spineless overnight? I can feel how much my master is hurt — this guy has eaten food that Timon paid for. Why should it build him up and keep him alive when my master is now poison to him? I hope disease eats at that food, and when he's sick and dying, I hope the body that my lord spent money on has no power to save him — only draws out his death.

may molten coin destroy you may disease eat your body the body that timon paid for may it not save you may it only prolong your suffering

[_Exit._]

The Reckoning

If this happened today…

Continue to 3.2 →