Timon of Athens, Act 3 Scene 2 runs 89 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 144 lines. This scene is part of Act 3 of Timon of Athens.
Full Dialogue
Lucilius ♂
Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and
an honourable gentleman.
an honourable gentleman.
First Stranger ♂
We know him for no less, though we are but strangers
to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and
which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's
happy hours are done and past, and his estate
shrinks from him.
to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and
which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's
happy hours are done and past, and his estate
shrinks from him.
Lucilius ♂
Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
Second Stranger ♂
But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,
one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow
so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and
showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.
one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow
so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and
showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.
Lucilius ♂
How!
Second Stranger ♂
I tell you, denied, my lord.
Lucilius ♂
What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,
I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!
there was very little honour showed in't. For my own
part, I must needs confess, I have received some
small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels
and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;
yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should
ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.
I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!
there was very little honour showed in't. For my own
part, I must needs confess, I have received some
small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels
and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;
yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should
ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.
Servilius ♂
See, by good hap, yonder's my lord;
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,–
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,–
Lucilius ♂
Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
exquisite friend.
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
exquisite friend.
Servilius ♂
May it please your honour, my lord hath sent–
Lucilius ♂
Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to
that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank
him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?
that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank
him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?
Servilius ♂
Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
with so many talents.
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
with so many talents.
Lucilius ♂
I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.
Servilius ♂
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
Lucilius ♂
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Servilius ♂
Upon my soul,'tis true, sir.
Lucilius ♂
What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
against such a good time, when I might ha' shown
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part,
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
before the gods, I am not able to do,–the more
beast, I say:–I was sending to use Lord Timon
myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would
not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now.
Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I
hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,
because I have no power to be kind: and tell him
this from me, I count it one of my greatest
afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?
against such a good time, when I might ha' shown
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part,
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
before the gods, I am not able to do,–the more
beast, I say:–I was sending to use Lord Timon
myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would
not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now.
Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I
hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,
because I have no power to be kind: and tell him
this from me, I count it one of my greatest
afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?
Servilius ♂
Yes, sir, I shall.
Lucilius ♂
I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
And he that's once denied will hardly speed.
True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
And he that's once denied will hardly speed.
First Stranger ♂
Do you observe this, Hostilius?
Second Stranger ♂
Ay, too well.
First Stranger ♂
Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the
same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet–O, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!–
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet–O, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!–
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
Third Stranger ♂
Religion groans at it.
First Stranger ♂
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.
89 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lucilius | 40 | 44.9% |
| First Stranger | 31 | 34.8% |
| Servilius | 11 | 12.4% |
| Second Stranger | 6 | 6.7% |
| Third Stranger | 1 | 1.1% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 40 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 18 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 3
This is Scene 2 of 6 in Act 3 of Timon of Athens.
Scene length vs. play average
At 89 lines, this scene is shorter than the Timon of Athens average scene in Timon of Athens (~144 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 3 Scene 1 · Next: Act 3 Scene 3
About Act 3 Scene 2 of Timon of Athens
Who carries Act 3 Scene 2 of Timon of Athens?
Lucilius, with 40 lines — about 45% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 5 speakers and the lead holding 45% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.