SERVANT
I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.
FLAMINIUS
I thank you, sir.
SERVANT
Here’s my lord.
LUCULLUS
One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right. I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer tonight.—Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.
LUCULLUS
And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, 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 there under 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, sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein.
LUCULLUS
La, la, la, la! Nothing doubting, says he? Alas, good lord! A noble gentleman , 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 get him from ’t.
SERVANT
Please your lordship, here is the wine.
LUCULLUS
Flaminius, I have noted always wise. Here’s to .
FLAMINIUS
Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
LUCULLUS
I have observed always for a towardly prompt spirit, give due, and one that knows what belongs to reason, and canst use the time well, if the time use well. Good parts in . Get you gone, .—
LUCULLUS
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. lord’s a bountiful gentleman, but art wise and know’st well enough, although com’st to me, that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship without security. Here’s three solidares for . Good boy, wink at me, and say saw’st me not. Fare well.
FLAMINIUS
Is’t possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships .
LUCULLUS
Ha! Now I see art a fool and fit for master.
FLAMINIUS
May these add to the number that may scald !
Let molten coin be damnation,
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.