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Timon of Athens - Act 4, scene 2
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Timon of Athens - Act 4, scene 2Act 4, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
Flavius shares his remaining money with his fellow servants as they disperse.
Enter Steward ⌜Flavius⌝ with two or three Servants.FIRST SERVANT
1514 Hear you, Master Steward, where’s our master?
1515 Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?
FLAVIUS
1516 Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
1517 Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
1518 5 I am as poor as you.
FIRST SERVANT 1519 Such a house broke?
1520 So noble a master fall’n, all gone, and not
1521 One friend to take his fortune by the arm
1522 And go along with him?
SECOND SERVANT 1523 10 As we do turn our backs
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1524
From our companion thrown into his grave,1525 So his familiars to his buried fortunes
1526 Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,
1527 Like empty purses picked; and his poor self,
1528 15 A dedicated beggar to the air,
1529 With his disease of all-shunned poverty,
1530 Walks, like contempt, alone.
Enter other Servants.
1531 More of our fellows.
FLAVIUS
1532 All broken implements of a ruined house.
THIRD SERVANT
1533 20 Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery.
1534 That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,
1535 Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark,
1536 And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
1537 Hearing the surges threat. We must all part
1538 25 Into this sea of air.
FLAVIUS 1539 Good fellows all,
1540 The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.
1541 Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake
1542 Let’s yet be fellows. Let’s shake our heads and say,
1543 30 As ’twere a knell unto our master’s fortunes,
1544 “We have seen better days.” (⌜He offers them
money.⌝) 1545 Let each take some.
1546 Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more.
1547 Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
⌜The Servants⌝ embrace and part several ways.
1548 35 O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
1549 Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
1550 Since riches point to misery and contempt?
1551 Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live
1552 But in a dream of friendship,
1553 40 To have his pomp and all what state compounds
1554 But only painted, like his varnished friends?
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1555
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,1556 Undone by goodness! Strange unusual blood
1557 When man’s worst sin is he does too much good!
1558 45 Who then dares to be half so kind again?
1559 For bounty, that makes gods, do still mar men.
1560 My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
1561 Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
1562 Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!
1563 50 He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
1564 Of monstrous friends,
1565 Nor has he with him to supply his life,
1566 Or that which can command it.
1567 I’ll follow and inquire him out.
1568 55 I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will.
1569 Whilst I have gold, I’ll be his steward still.
He exits.