Timon of Athens Translation Act 3, Scene 4
Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants of TIMON's creditors, waiting his coming out
Varro's FIRST SERVANT
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
varro's FIRST SERVANT
Right on time. Good day, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS
The like to you kind Varro.
TITUS
And you as well.
HORTENSIUS
Lucius!What, do we meet together?
HORTENSIUS
Oh, a representative of Lucius! Are you here to see Timon as well?
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Ay, and I thinkOne business does command us all; for mine Is money.
LUCIUS'S SERVANT
Yes. We do all have the same goal, and mine is money.
TITUS
So is theirs and ours.
TITUS
And your goal is our goal.
Enter PHILOTUS
TITUS
Lucius' Servant And Sir Philotus too!
TITUS
Not only Lucius's Servant, but Philotus's too!
PHILOTUS
Good day at once.
PHILOTUS
Good day.
Lucius' Servant
Welcome, good brother.What do you think the hour?
Lucius's Servant
Hello. What time is it?
PHILOTUS
Labouring for nine.
PHILOTUS
Close to nine.
Lucius' Servant
So much?
Lucius's Servant
That late?
PHILOTUS
Is not my lord seen yet?
PHILOTUS
Has anyone seen Timon yet?
Lucius' Servant
Not yet.
Lucius's Servant
Not yet.
PHILOTUS
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
PHILOTUS
I wonder why. He usually wakes up at seven.
LuciUS' Servant
Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him: You must consider that a prodigal course Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable. I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse; That is one may reach deep enough, and yet Find little.
LuciUs's Servant
Yeah, but the days have become shorter for him, because you should remember that the path of extravagance descends like the sun in winter, even if it does not regain its height the following year. And I'm afraid that Lord Timon's estate is withering, no matter how hard he tries to recover money.
PHILOTUS
I am of your fear for that.
PHILOTUS
Me too.
TITUS
I'll show you how to observe a strange event.Your lord sends now for money.
TITUS
And I'll tell you something funny.
[To HORTENSIUS] Your lord sent you to get money, right?
HORTENSIUS
Most true, he does.
HORTENSIUS
Yes.
TITUS
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,For which I wait for money.
TITUS
And he now possesses jewels from Timon, which I lent him the money to buy.
HORTENSIUS
It is against my heart.
HORTENSIUS
Unfortunately, yes.
LuciUs' Servant
Mark, how strange it shows, Timon in this should pay more than he owes: And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels, And send for money for 'em.
LuciUs's Servant
It's so weird how Timon must pay out more than he owes, while your lord seems to get the privilege of wearing the jewels and getting to request the money paid for them.
HORTENSIUS
I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
HORTENSIUS
God I'm sick of this job. I know that my lord spent Timon's money and now in his ingratitude is as bad as a thief.
Varro's FIRST SERVANT
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?
varro's FIRST SERVANT
Yeah. My lord is asking for three thousand crowns. What about yours?
Lucius' Servant
Five thousand mine.
Luicius's Servant
Five thousand.
Varro's FIRST SERVANT
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,Your master's confidence was above mine;Else, surely, his had equall'd.
varro's FIRST SERVANT
Way too much. It seems your master is more brazen even than mine, otherwise mine would have asked for as much.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
TITUS
One of Lord Timon's men.
TITUS
One of Timon's servants is coming
LuciUs' Servant
Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready tocome forth?
Lucius's Servant
Flaminius! Can we talk for a second? Is Timon coming?
FLAMINIUS
No, indeed, he is not.
FLAMINIUS
No he's not.
TITUS
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
TITUS
At least tell him we are waiting for him.
FLAMINIUS
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
FLAMINIUS
I don't have to do that. He knows how attentive you are.
Exit
Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled
lucius's servant
Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
lucius's Servant
Ha! Is that his assistant wrapped up like that? Get him, he's trying to sneak away under cover.
TITUS
Do you hear, sir?
TITUS
[Pestering FLAVIUS] Can we talk, please?
varro's SECOND SERVANT
By your leave, sir,—
varro's SECOND SERVANT
[Pestering FLAVIUS] Please, sir—
FLAVIUS
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
FLAVIUS
What do you want?
TITUS
We wait for certain money here, sir.
TITUS
We want the money Timon owes.
FLAVIUS
Ay, If money were as certain as your waiting, 'Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills, When your false masters eat of my lord's meat? Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts And take down the interest into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up; Let me pass quietly: Believe 't, my lord and I have made an end; I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
FLAVIUS
Yes, if only money were as sure a thing as you all asking for it, then you would definitely have it. Why didn't your masters send you to pay the bills for the food they ate off Timon's plate? That way, they could smile and enjoy the debts he incurred and then shovel all the interest he owed into their greedy mouths. You're not doing yourself any favors riling me up like this. Let me go. My lord and I have parted ways. I have no more counsel to give, and he has no more money to spend.
Lucius' Servant
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
LUCIUS' SERVANT
Yes, but that still isn't enough.
FLAVIUS
If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;For you serve knaves.
FLAVIUS
If it's not enough, it's still worth more than all of you, because you serve bad men.
Exit
Varro's FIRST SERVANT
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
varro's FIRST SERVANT
What did the fired man just say?
Varro's sECOND SERVANT
No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.
Varro's SECOND SERVANT
Whatever, he's poor and that's punishment enough for him. After all, who can say whatever he wants more than the man with no home and nothing to lose?
Enter SERVILIUS
TITUS
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
TITUS
Here is Servilius. Now we'll know what is going on.
SERVILIUS
If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from't; for, take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him; he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
SERVILIUS
If I may ask, gentleman, please come back some other time, and it will help me a great deal. I swear, Timon is extremely upset. His cheerful disposition is gone, he is sick, and he keeps to his room.
LuciUS' Servant
Many do keep their chambers are not sick: And, if it be so far beyond his health, Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts, And make a clear way to the gods.
LuciUS' Servant
Lots of people who stay in their rooms aren't sick, and if he's as sick as you say he is, all the more reason for him to pay off his debts before he dies.
SERVILIUS
Good gods!
SERVILIUS
Good lord!
TITUS
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
TITUS
We can't accept this.
FLAMINIUS
[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
FLAMINIUS
[Shouting from inside] Servilius, help! Timon! Timon!
Enter TIMON, in a rage, FLAMINIUS following
TIMON
What, are my doors opposed against my passage? Have I been ever free, and must my house Be my retentive enemy, my gaol? The place which I have feasted, does it now, Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
TIMON
What, are my own doors going to shut themselves to me? Am I not free to leave my own house? Does the home to such great parties turn its back on me, like everyone else?
LuciUs' Servant
Put in now, Titus.
LuciUs's Servant
Calm down Titus.
TITUS
My lord, here is my bill.
TITUS
Here is the receipt for debts you owe me.
LuciUs' Servant
Here's mine.
LuciUs's Servant
Here's mine.
HORTENSIUS
And mine, my lord.
HORTENSIUS
And mine.
Both Varro's Servants
And ours, my lord.
Both Varro's Servants
And ours.
PHILOTUS
All our bills.
PHILOTUS
All our receipts.
TIMON
Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.
TIMON
Go ahead, kill me with them.
Lucius' Servant
Alas, my lord,-
Lucius's Servant
But—
TIMON
Cut my heart in sums.
TIMON
Rip pieces of my heart out.
TITUS
Mine, fifty talents.
TITUS
My receipt is for fifty talents.
TIMON
Tell out my blood.
TIMON
Count my blood drop by drop and take it from me.
Lucius' Servant
Five thousand crowns, my lord.Lucius's Servant
Mine is for five thousand.TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that.What yours?—and yours?
TIMON
Five thousand drops should cover.
[To the other servants] What about all your receipts?
Varro's FIRST SERVANT
My lord,—
varro's FIRST SERVANT
My lord—
Varro's SECOND SERVANT
My lord,—
varro's SECOND SERVANT
My lord—
TIMON
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
TIMON
Tear me apart and take me away, and may the gods take their revenge upon you!
Exit
HORTENSIUS
'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their capsat their money: these debts may well be calleddesperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.
HORTENSIUS
It seems our masters should probably give up on getting their money back. Now that Timon's mad, these debts are junk.
Exeunt
Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS
TIMON
They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.Creditors? devils!
TIMON
[Panting] These men have even taken my breath away. They call themselves creditors? They are devils!
FLAVIUS
My dear lord,—
FLAVIUS
Timon—
TIMON
What if it should be so?
TIMON
[Coming up with an idea] But what if...
FLAVIUS
My lord,—
FLAVIUS
Timon—
TIMON
I'll have it so. My steward!
TIMON
[Realizing something] Yes, that's it! Come here!
FLAVIUS
Here, my lord.
FLAVIUS
I'm here.
TIMON
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius: All, sirrah, all: I'll once more feast the rascals.
TIMON
So soon? Go get all those men for me. Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all of them! I'll throw them one last party!
FLAVIUS
O my lord, You only speak from your distracted soul; There is not so much left, to furnish out A moderate table.
FLAVIUS
But my lord you only speak in a daze. You do not have enough money yet to offer even a small meal.
TIMON
Be't not in thy care; go,I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tideOf knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
TIMON
Don't worry about that. Go, and invite them all. Let in that wave of villains once more. My cook and I will figure it out.
Exeunt
