Servant to him.
Ser.
I have told my lord of you, he's coming down
to you.
Fla.
I thank you, sir.
Enter Lucullus.
Ser.
Here's my lord.
&clquo;Luc.
&clquo;One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant.
-- 33 --
Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and
ewre to-night.&crquo;—Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are
very respectively welcome, sir.—Fill me some wine.—
[Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, compleat,
free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good
lord and master?
Fla.
His health is well, sir.
Luc.
I am right glad, that his health is well, sir:
And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?
Fla.
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.
Luc.
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.
Ser.
Please your lordship, here is the wine.
Luc.
Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's
to thee.
[drinking, and giving Wine to him.
Fla.
Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
Luc.
I have observ'd 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
-- 34 --
the time use thee well: good parts in thee.—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 &dagger2; solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and
say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.
Fla.
Is't possible, the world should so much differ;
And we alive, that liv'd?14Q1153 Fly, damned baseness,
[throwing back the Money.
To him that worships thee.
Luc.
Ha! Now I see, thou art a fool, and fit for thy
master.
[Exit Lucullus.
Fla.
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 this hour note 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 note,
Which my lord pay'd for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong note his hour!
[Exit.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
