Timon of Athens, Act 3 Scene 4 runs 138 lines of dialogue, spoken by 9 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
First Servant ♂
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Titus ♂
The like to you kind Varro.
Hortensius ♂
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucilius' Servant Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
What, do we meet together?
Lucilius' Servant Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
Titus ♂
So is theirs and ours.
Lucilius' Servant And Sir Philotus too!
Lucilius' Servant And Sir Philotus too!
Philotus ♂
Good day at once.
Lucilius' Servant Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Labouring for nine.
Lucilius' Servant So much?
Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucilius' Servant Not yet.
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucilius' 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.
I am of your fear for that.
Lucilius' Servant Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Labouring for nine.
Lucilius' Servant So much?
Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucilius' Servant Not yet.
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucilius' 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.
I am of your fear for that.
Titus ♂
I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
Your lord sends now for money.
Hortensius ♂
Most true, he does.
Titus ♂
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which I wait for money.
For which I wait for money.
Hortensius ♂
It is against my heart.
Lucilius' 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.
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.
Varro's
Lucilius' 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.
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.
Varro's
First Servant ♂
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?
Lucilius' Servant Five thousand mine.
Varro's
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
Lucilius' Servant Five thousand mine.
Varro's
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
Titus ♂
One of Lord Timon's men.
Lucilius' Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to
come forth?
Lucilius' Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to
come forth?
Flaminius ♂
No, indeed, he is not.
Titus ♂
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
Flaminius ♂
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Lucilius' Servant Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
Lucilius' Servant Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
Titus ♂
Do you hear, sir?
Varro's
Varro's
Second Servant ♂
By your leave, sir,–
Flavius ♂
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
Titus ♂
We wait for certain money here, sir.
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.
Lucilius' Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.
If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
Varro's
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.
Lucilius' Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.
If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
Varro's
First Servant ♂
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
Varro's
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.
enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no
house to put his head in? such may rail against
great buildings.
Titus ♂
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
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.
Lucilius' 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.
Good gods!
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.
Lucilius' 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.
Good gods!
Titus ♂
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flaminius ♂
[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
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?
Lucilius' Servant Put in now, Titus.
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?
Lucilius' Servant Put in now, Titus.
Titus ♂
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius' Servant Here's mine.
Lucilius' Servant Here's mine.
Hortensius ♂
And mine, my lord.
Both
Varro's Servants And ours, my lord.
Both
Varro's Servants And ours, my lord.
Philotus ♂
All our bills.
Timon ♂
Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.
Lucilius' Servant Alas, my lord,-
Cut my heart in sums.
Lucilius' Servant Alas, my lord,-
Cut my heart in sums.
Titus ♂
Mine, fifty talents.
Timon ♂
Tell out my blood.
Lucilius' Servant Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?–and yours?
Varro's
Lucilius' Servant Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?–and yours?
Varro's
First Servant ♂
My lord,–
Varro's
Varro's
Second Servant ♂
My lord,–
Timon ♂
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Hortensius ♂
'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps
at their money: these debts may well be called
desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.
at their money: these debts may well be called
desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.
Timon ♂
They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!
Creditors? devils!
Flavius ♂
My dear lord,–
Timon ♂
What if it should be so?
Flavius ♂
My lord,–
Timon ♂
I'll have it so. My steward!
Flavius ♂
Here, my lord.
Timon ♂
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.
Flavius ♂
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.
Timon ♂
Be't not in thy care; go,
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
138 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Timon | 26 | 18.8% |
| Flavius | 24 | 17.4% |
| Hortensius | 20 | 14.5% |
| Titus | 19 | 13.8% |
| Philotus | 16 | 11.6% |
| First Servant | 12 | 8.7% |
| Servilius | 10 | 7.2% |
| Second Servant | 6 | 4.3% |
| Flaminius | 5 | 3.6% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 26 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 15 lines.
Total speakers on stage
9 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 3
This is Scene 4 of 6 in Act 3 of Timon of Athens.
Scene length vs. play average
At 138 lines, this scene is shorter than the Timon of Athens average scene in Timon of Athens (~144 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 3 Scene 3 · Next: Act 3 Scene 5
About Act 3 Scene 4 of Timon of Athens
Who carries Act 3 Scene 4 of Timon of Athens?
Timon, with 26 lines — about 19% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 9 speakers and the lead holding 19% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.