Introduction
Timon of Athens is play that has always existed on the fringes of the repertory. Written on the very heels of the great tragedies, it’s companion piece would seem to be Coriolanus, another story of a protagonist treated unjustly and tragically withdrawing from society. Timon moves from being a renowned philanthropist to an extreme misanthrope, but only finds torment and death. His tragic flaw is either his excessive goodness or his foolish naiveté . It is a harsh play. In the end, Timon is bitter and revenge minded, entirely consumed by the darkest components of human nature. And then he dies.
Timon is a very wealthy and generous Athenian as the play begins. He joyfully gives everything he has to his friend and acquaintances until he finally goes broke as a result. When he turns to these same friends for help, they outright refuse him. He then invites them all to a banquet and serves hot water in bowls, which he throws at them. Timon chooses to become a hermit in a cave near the sea, away from the society of Athens. Here he digs up a hidden treasure and gives it away to whores, bandits and to his one friend, Alcibaides, who is leading an army against the corrupt senators of Athens. Timon pretty much rejects everyone who comes out to try to reason with him. Alcibiades wins the war against the senate and promises to rule Athens justly. News arrives that Timon died committed to his hatred of humanity.
Timon is a tragic figure who we can feel sorry for but never regard him anywhere near the status of King Lear, who, in the end, is redeemed by his suffering. Timon has no such epiphanies, does nothing but rail and dies a soulless and pathetic man. Few of Shakespeare’s characters embody such a nihilistic vision with the same commitment as Timon. There is a persistent intensity throughout this play, without relief or diversion. There is even very little plot to speak of. Appropriately enough, there is a cynical philosopher in the play, Apemantus, who condemns Timon as well as his false friends. Their sparing exchanges certainly are among the highlights. Flavius is Timon’s steward and is warm and sympathetic to his plight: ‘I bleed inwardly for my lord’. His human kindness is in sharp contrast to nearly everyone else in the play, including the seriously foolish old Athenian Senators.
There is an excessive fury, bordering on madness, that inhabits Timon of Athens. But Shakespeare clearly struggles with this final tragic depiction. In that sense it is a transitional play, positioned between the great tragedies and the emerging romances. There is little inwardness of character development in this play and perhaps Shakespeare realizes that it is time to move on to some new style. There will be no more tragedies. He seems, on occasion, to be at something of a loss here. The focus is so much on Timon that the various supporting characters are never sufficiently developed and coming out of such a period of extraordinary tragic genius, this work can appear tired. The only women are whores and there is no conventional love plot to be found. Hence, the romances, up next, will explode with extensive plots, a multitude of characters, miraculous misadventures, spectacular sets, costumes and dramatic resolution scenes. And yet, Timon of Athens can be staged quite effectively, is thematically relevant to all times and places (can money buy love?) and contains several superbly written scenes. Although widely regarded as better seen than read, nonetheless, we proceed.
Act I (2 scenes)
Scene i
Athens. Timon’s house
Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller and Merchant
Poet: “Good day, sir. How goes the world?”
Painter: “It wears, sir, as it grows.”
Poet: “Ay, that’s well known.”
Jeweller: “I have a jewel here.”
Merchant: “For the Lord Timon, sir? Tis a good form.”
Poet: “What have you there?”
Painter: “A picture, sir.”
Poet: “So it is. This comes off well and excellent. I would say it tutors nature livelier than life.”
Enter certain Senators.
Painter: “How this lord is followed!”
Poet: “You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. You see how all minds and slippery creatures tender down their services to Lord Timon. His large fortune and gracious nature subdues all sorts of hearts, from the glass faced flatterers to Apemantus; even he drops down the knee before him.”
Enter Timon and a visitor.
Timon: “Imprisoned is he, you say?”
Messenger: “Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt; your honourable letter he desires to those who shut him up.”
Timon: “Well, I am not of that feather to shake off my friend when he must need me. I do know him a gentleman who well deserves a help, which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt, and free him. Commend me to him; I will send his ransom. Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after. Fare you well.”
Enter an old Athenian.
Old Athenian: “Lord Timon, hear me speak.”
Timon: “Freely, good father.”
Old Athenian: “Thou has a servant named Lucilius.”
Timon: “I have so; what of him?”
Old Athenian: “Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.”
Timon: “Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!”
Lucilius: “Here, at your lordship’s service.”
Old Athenian: “This fellow here, Timon, this thy creature, by night frequents my house. Only one daughter have I on whom I may confer what I have. The maid is fair, and I have bred her at my dearest cost in qualities of the best. This man of thine attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord, forbid him her resort; myself has spoken in vain.”
Timon: “The man is honest. Does she love him?”
Old Athenian: “She is young and apt.”
Timon: (to Lucilius) “Love you the maid?”
Lucilius: “Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.”
Timon: “This gentleman of mine has served me long; to build his fortune I will strain little. Give him thy daughter.”
Old Athenian: “My noble lord, she is his.”
Lucilius: “Humbly I thank your lordship.”
Exit Lucilius and the Old Athenian
Poet: (presenting his poem) “Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!”
Timon: “I thank you. Go not away. What have you there, my friend?”
Painter: “A piece of painting, which I do beseech your lordship to accept.”
Timon: “Painting is welcome. I like your work, and you shall find I like it. Wait till you hear further from me.”
Painter: “The gods preserve thee.”
Timon: “Sir, your jewel has suffered under praise.”
Jewelle: “Believe it, dear lord, you mend the jewel by wearing it.”
Enter Apemantus
Timon: “Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!”
Apemantus: Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow; when thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.”
Timon: “Why does thou call them knaves? Thou knows them not.”
Apemantus: “Are they not Athenians?”
Timon: Yes.”
Apemantus: “Then I repent not.”
Timon: “Thou art proud, Apemantus.”
Apemantus: “Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.”
Timon: “Wither art thou going?”
Apemantus: “To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.”
Timon: “How like thou this picture, Apemantus? Wrought he not well who painted it?”
Apemantus: “He wrought better who made the painter; and yet he is but a filthy piece of work.”
Painter: “You are a dog.”
Apemantus: “Thy mother; what is she, if I be a dog?”
Timon: “Will thou dine with me, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “No, I eat not lords.”
Timon: “How does thou like this jewel, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “Not so well as plain dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.”
Timon: “What does those think tis worth?”
Apemantus: “Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!”
Poet: “How now, philosopher!”
Apemantus: “Thou lies.”
Poet: “Are thou not one?”
Apemantus: “Yes.”
Poet: “Then I lie not.”
Apemantus: “Art thou not a poet?”
Poet: “Yes.”
Apemantus: “Then thou lies. Look in thy last work”, where thou has feigned him a worthy fellow.”
Poet: “That’s not feigned – he is so.”
Apemantus: “Yes, he is worthy of thee and pays thee for thy labour. He who loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord.”
Timon: “What would thou do then, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “Even as Apemantus does now: hate a lord with my heart.”
Timon: “What, thyself?”
Apemantus: “Ay.”
Timon: “Wherefore?”
Apemantus: “That I had no angry wit to be a lord.”
Enter a messenger
Messenger: “Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horses.”
Enter Alcibiades
Timon: “Right welcome, sir! Ere we depart we’ll share a bounteous time in different pleasures.”
Exit all but Apemantus and two lords.
1 Lord: “What time of day is it, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “Time to be honest.”
2 Lord: “Are thou going to Lord Timon’s feast?”
Apemantus: “Ay, to see meat filled knaves and wine heat fools.”
2 Lord: “Fare thee well, fare thee well.”
Apemantus: “Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.”
2 Lord: “Why, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “You should have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.”
1 Lord: “Hang thyself.”
Apemantus: “No, I will do nothing at thy bidding.”
2 Lord: “Away unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence.”
Apemantus: “I will fly, like a dog.”
Exit Apemantus
1 Lord: “He’s opposite to humanity. Come shall we go in and taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outdoes the very heart of kindness. The noblest mind he carries that ever governed man.”
2 Lord: “Long may he live in fortune!”
Summary and Analysis
The basic premise is laid out clearly in the first scene. Timon is a very wealthy lord who generously bestows whatever is asked of him by his so-called friends. They gather at his home to sell him their poetry, paintings and jewelry. He offers to pay the debt of a man who is being held in prison and provides a considerable sum to his servant so that he can marry a wealthy man’s daughter. Apemantus, the cynical philosopher, arrives and banters with Timon and then insults some of the flatters and lords. He clearly believes that these hanger-oners are taking advantage of Timon’s generosity and he is deliberate in his condemnation of them. Shakespeare so often has such a vocal cynic in his plays, providing acerbic commentary on the goings on as he sees fit. Apemantus is one of the better of these and, as we will see, he is bang on about these flatterers. As long as Timon’s money holds out, everyone is happy. But this is, after all, a tragedy.
Act I
Scene ii
A room in Timon’s house
Loud music playing. A great banquet served.
Enter Timon, Flavius (his servant), many Lords and Apemantus
Ventidius: (whom he retrieved from prison) Most honoured Timon, it has pleased the gods to remember my father’s age, and call him to long peace. He is gone happy and has made me rich then, as in grateful virtue I am bound to your free heart. I do return those talents, doubled with thanks and service, from whose help I derived liberty.”
Timon: “O, by no means, honest Ventidius! You mistake my love: I gave it freely ever; and there’s none can truly say he gives, if he receives.”
Ventidius: “A noble spirit!”
Timon: “Pray, sit: more welcome are you to my fortunes than my fortunes to me. O, Apemantus, you are welcome.”
Apemanus: “No, you shall not make me welcome. I come to have you thrust me out of doors.”
Timon: “Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there, does not become a man. My lords, yonder man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; for he does neither affect company nor is he fit for it indeed.”
Apemantus: “I come to observe; I give thee warning on it.”
Timon: “I take no heed of thee. Thou art an Athenian, therefore welcome. Prithee, let my meat make thee silent.”
Apemantus: “I scorn thy meat; t’would choke me, for I should never flatter thee. O, you gods, what a number of men eat Timon, and he sees them not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one man’s blood; and all the madness is, he cheers them up, too. I wonder men dare trust themselves with men. Methinks they should invite them without knives: good for their meat and safer for their lives. The fellow who sits next to him now, parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him. Great men should drink with a harness on their throats.”
Timon: “My lord, in heart! And let the health go around.”
2 Lord: “Let it flow this way, my good lord.”
Apemantus: “Flow this way! A brave fellow! Those healths will make thee and thy state look ill.”
Apemantus’ grace:
“Immortal gods, I pray for no man but myself. Grant I should never prove so fond to trust a man on his oath or bond, or a harlot for her weeping, or a dog that seems a-sleeping, or my friends, if I should need them. Amen. So fall to it. Rich men sin, and I eat root.”
Timon: “Captain Alcibiades, you heart is in the field now.”
Alcibiades: “My heart is ever at your service, my lord.”
Timon: “You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner of friends.”
Alcibiades: “I could wish my best friends at such a feast.”
Apemantus: “Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that thou might kill them.”
Timon: “My good friends, the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you. I have told more of you to myself than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and this far I confirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends if we should never have need of them? They were the most needless creatures living, should we never have use for them; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits; and what better can we call our own than the riches of our friends? O what a precious comfort it is to have so many like brothers commanding one another’s fortunes! My eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. I drink to you.”
Apemantus: “Thou weeps to make them drink, Timon.”
Enter a servant
Servant: “Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.”
Timon: “Ladies! What are their wills? I pray, let them be admitted.”
Enter Cupid
Cupid: “Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all that of his bounties taste! The five best senses acknowledge thee their patron.”
Timon: “They’re welcome all; let them have kind admittance.”
1 Lord: “You see, my lord, how ample you are beloved.”
Enter a masque of ladies as Amazons, with lutes, dancing and playing.”
Apemantus: “What a sweep of vanity comes this way! They dance? They are mad women, like madness is the glory of this life. We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves. Who lives who is not depraved or depraves? Who dies but spares not one spurn to their graves of their friends’ gift? I should fear those who dance before me now would one day stamp upon me.”
Lords rise from the table and each singles out an Amazon, and all dance.
Timon: “You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies. I am to thank you for it.”
1 Lady: “My lord, you take us even at the best.”
Apemantus: “Faith, for the worst is filthy, and would not hold taking, I doubt me.”
Exit Cupid and the ladies.
Timon: “Flavius!”
Flavius: “My lord?”
Timon: “The little casket, bring me hither.”
Flavius: “Yes, my lord. (aside) More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour, else I should tell him – well in faith, I should – when all is spent, he’d be crossed then.”
Timon: “O my friends, I have one word to say to you. Look you, my good lord, I must entreat you to honour me so much as to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it, my lord.”
1 Lord: “I am so far in your gifts – “
All: “So are we all.”
Enter servant
Servant: “My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate newly alighted who come to visit you.”
Timon: “They are fairly welcome.”
Flavius: “I beseech your honour, vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.”
Timon: “Near! Why then, another time I’ll hear thee. I prithee, lets be provided to show them entertainment.”
2 Servant: “May it please your honour, Lord Lucius, out of his free love, has presented to you three milk white horses, tapped in silver.”
Timon: “I shall accept them fairly.”
3 Servant: “Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow to hunt with him and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.”
Timon: “I’ll hunt with him, and let them be received, not without fair reward.”
Flavius: (aside) “What will this come to? He commands us to provide and give great gifts, and all out of an empty coffer; nor will he know his purse. Here, my lord, or yield me this, to show him what a beggar his heart is, being of no power to make his wishes good. His promises fly so beyond his state that what he speaks is all in debt; he owes for every word. He is so kind that he now pays interest for it; well, would I were gently put out of office before I were forced out! Happier is he who has no friends to feed, than such who have enemies exceed. I bleed inwardly for my lord.”
Timon: “You do yourselves much wrong. Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.”
2 Lord: “With more than common thanks I will receive it.”
Timon: “I weigh my friend’s affection with my own. I take all and your several visitations so kind to heart ’tis not enough to give; methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends and never be weary. Alcibiades, thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich; for all thy living is among the dead, and all the lands thou has lie in a pitched field.”
Alcibiades: “Ay, defiled land, my lord.”
1 Lord: “We are so virtuously bound.”
Timon: “And so am I to you.”
2 Lord: “So infinitely endeared.”
Timon: “All to you.”
1 Lord: “The best of happiness, honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!”
Exit all but Apemantus and Timon
Apemantus: “What a coil is here. Friendships full of dregs: methinks false hearts should never have sound legs. Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies.”
Timon: “Now, Apemantus, If thou were not sullen, I would be good to thee.”
Apemantus: “No, I’ll nothing; for if I should be bribed too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou would sin the faster. Thy gives so long, Timon, I fear me thou will give away thyself shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps and vainglories?”
Timon: “Nay, as you begin to rail on society, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and come with better music.”
Exit Timon
Apemantus: “So. Thou will not hear me now: thou shall not then. O that men’s ears should be to counsel deaf, but not to flattery!”
Summary and Analysis
In this scene we are witness to Timon’s great feast for his friends / flatterers, in which he spares no expense to lavish his guests with his unmitigated generosity and kindness. When Apemantus arrives his presence is unlike anyone else, with his overall biting cynicism and sharp barbs for each person his speaks with. He does not believe for a second that these people care one bit about Timon. They are leaches not to be trusted. He is angry at Timon for not seeing this. Flavius, Timon’s servant, is also concerned for Timon because he keeps the financial records and sees that his reserves are drying up and that he is virtually in debt, even as he continues to spend lavishly on his guests. But this is the end game of his generosity, as act I comes to a close. He will be called to account in act II and from there it only gets worse. Apemantus was right after all: ‘O, you gods. What a number of men eat Timon, and he sees it not.’
Act II
Scene i
A senator’s house.
Enter a senator, with papers
Senator: “And late, five thousand. To Varro and Isidore he owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not. Caphis, ho!”
Caphis: “Here, sir; what is your pleasure?”
Senator: “Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon; importune him for my monies, be not ceased with slight denial, nor be silenced. But tell him my uses cry to me, I must serve my turn out of my own; his days and times are past. I love and honour him, but must not break my back to heal his finger. Immediate are my needs, and my relief must find supply immediate. Get you gone; put on a most importunate aspect, a visage of demand; for I do fear, when every feather sticks in his own wing, Lord Timon will be left a naked gull, which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.”
Caphis: “I go, sir.”
Summary and Analysis
Here comes the fall. This senator has loaned Timon money, as have many others, in order to allow him to finance his extravagances. And now they will demand their money, which he no longer has. This has been a recipe for disaster, whose time has come. Timon’s life is about to change dramatically, along with Timon.
Act II (2 scenes)
Scene ii
Before Timon’s house.
Enter Flavius with many bills in his hands.
Flavius: “No care, no stop! So senseless of expense that he will neither know how to maintain it nor cease his flow of riot; takes no account how things go from him, nor resumes no care of what is to continue. What shall be done? I must be round with him.”
Enter Caphis and the servants of Isidore and Varro.
Caphis: “Good even, Varro. What, you come for money?”
Varro’s Servant: “Is it not your business too?”
Caphis: “It is. And your business too, Isidore?”
Isidore’s Servant: “It is so.”
Cahpis: “Here comes the lord.”
Enter Timon with Alcibiades
Caphis: “My lord, here is a note of certain dues.”
Timon: “Dues! Whence are you?”
Caphis: “Of Athens here, my lord.”
Timon: “Go to my steward.”
Caphis: “Please it your lordship, he has put me off. My master is awakened by great occasion to call upon his own, and humbly prays you’ll give him his right.”
Timon: “My honest friend, I prithee but repair to me next morning.”
Caphis: “Nay, good my lord -“
Timon: Contain thyself, good friend.”
Varro’s Servant: “One Varro’s servant, my good lord -“
Isidore’s Servant: “From Isidore: he humbly prays your speedy payment -“
Caphis: “If you did know, my lord, my master’s wants -“
Varro’s Servant: “Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.”
Isidore’s Servant: “Your Steward puts me off, my lord; and I am sent expressly to your lordship.”
Timon: “Give me breath. I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; I’ll wait upon you instantly.”
Timon: (to Flavius) “Come hither. Pray you, how goes the world that I am thus encountered with clamorous demands of date-broke bonds and the detention of long since due debts against my honour?”
Flavius: “Please you, gentlemen, the time is unagreeable to this business. Your impotency cease till after dinner, that I may make his lordship understand wherefore you are not paid.”
Timon: “Do so, my friends. See them well entertained.”
Exit Timon and Flavius
Enter Apemantus and a fool
Caphis: “Here comes the fool with Apemantus. Let’s have some sport with them.”
Varro’s Servant: “Hang him, he’ll abuse us!”
Isidore’s Servant: “A plague upon him, dog!”
Varro’s Servant: “How dost, fool?”
Apemantus: “Does thou dialogue with thy shadow?”
Varro’s Servant: “I speak not to thee.”
Apemantus: “No, tis to thyself. Poor rogues and usurer’s men! Bawds between gold and want!”
All Servants: “What are we, Apemantus?”
Apemantus: “Asses.”
All Servants: “Why?”
Apemantus: “That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to them, fool.”
Fool: “How do you, gentlemen?”
All Servants: “Good, fool.”
Fool: “Are you three usurers’ men?”
All Servants: “Ay, fool.”
Fool: “I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant. My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly and go away merry. But they enter my mistress’ house merrily and go away sadly. The reason for this?”
Varro’s Servant: “I could render one.”
Apemantus: “Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave. which notwithstanding, thou shall be no less esteemed.”
Varro’s Servant: “What is a whoremaster, fool?”
Fool: “A fool in good clothes, and sometimes like thee. Tis a spirit. Sometimes it appears like a lord; sometimes like a lawyer; sometimes like a philosopher; he is very often like a knight; and generally, in all shapes of man this spirit walks in.”
Varro’s Servant: “Thou are not altogether a fool.”
Fool: “Nor are thou altogether a wise man. As much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lacks.”
Enter Timon and Flavius
Flavius: “Pray you walk near; I’ll speak with you anon.”
Timon: “You make me marvel wherefore ere this time had you not fully laid my state before me, that I might so have rated my expense as I had leave of means.”
Flavius: “You would not hear me at many leisures I proposed. O, my good lord, at many times I brought in my accounts and laid them before you; you would throw them off. You have bid me return so much, I have shook my head and wept. Against the authority of manners, I prayed you to hold your hand more close. My loved lord, though you hear now, it is too late. The greatest of your having lacks a half to pay your present debts.’
Timon: “Let all my land be sold.”
Flavius: “Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone; and what remains will hardly stop the mouth of present dues. The future comes apace. What shall defend the interim? O, my good lord, the world is but a word; were it all yours to give it in a breath, how quickly were it gone!”
Timon: “You tell me true.”
Flavius: “If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood, call me before the exactest auditors and set me on the proof. So the gods bless me, when all our offices have been oppressed with riotous feeders, I set my eyes at flow.”
Timon: “Prithee, no more.”
Flavius: “‘Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!’ Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise, the breath is gone whereof this praise is made.”
Timon: “Come, sermon me no further. Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given. Why does thou weep? Does thou the conscience lack to think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart: if I would broach the vessels of my love, and try the argument of hearts by borrowing, men and women’s fortunes could I frankly use as I could bid thee speak.”
Flavius: “Assurance bless your thoughts!”
Timon: “And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crowned that I account them blessings; for by these shall I try friends. You shall perceive how you mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends. Within there! Flaminius! Servilius!!
Enter Flaminius and Servilius (more servants to Timon)
Timon: “I will dispatch you severally – you to Lord Lucius; to Lord Lucullus you; you too Sempronius. Commend me to their loves; and I am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to use them toward a supply of money. Let the request be fifty talents.”
Exit the servants
Timon: “Go you, sir, to the senators, of whom I have I have deserved this hearing. Bid them to send on the instant a thousand talents to me.”
Flavius: “I have been bold to them to use your signet and your name; but they do shake their heads, and I am here no richer in return.”
Timon: “Is it true? Can it be?”
Flavius: “They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, that now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot do what they would, are sorry – you are honourable – but something has been amiss – would all were well – tis a pity – and so after distasteful looks they froze me into silence.”
Timon: “You gods, reward them! Prithee, man, look cherry. These old fellows have their ingratitude in them hereditary. Their blood is caked, tis cold, it seldom flows; tis lack of kindly warmth; they are not kind. Go to Ventidius. Prithee not be sad, thou art true and honest; no blame belongs to thee. Ventidius lately buried his father, by whose death he has stepped into a great estate. When he was poor, imprisoned and in scarcity of friends, I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me, bid him suppose from good necessity touches his friend, which craves to be remembered with those five talents. Never speak or think that Timon’s fortunes among his friends can sink.”
Flavius: “I would I could not think it. That thought is bounty’s foe; being free itself, it thinks all others so.”
Summary and Analysis
Flavius, Timon’s servant, is astonished by his master’s spending. Timon refuses to hear a word from Flavius about the ruination of his expenses. In short, he is going broke due to his generosity with his friends. Servants from lords who Timon owes money to have come to collect their due. When Timon asks them to come back another day they inform him that they have been sent away too many times. When Timon questions Flavius about why he was never informed of his perilous financial state, Flavius explains that he tired to tell him many times but that he simply would not listen. Nonetheless Timon is all but certain that he can borrow money from his many friends who he has been so lavish with for so long. He sends three servants to three friends, requesting a loan, but Flavius has already tried this and was denied. They said that they were very busy and quite sorry but they could not advance Timon a loan. BY the end of the scene Timon remains confident that he can get the help he needs from those he has helped prosper for so long. It is early in the play, but this is the downfall. Timon has borrowed lots of money in order to remain so generous and now he is broke and the creditors are at his door. He must hope to borrow money from certain friends to pay back money to others. He ignored Flavius for too long and now the situation is very serious indeed. A fool appears in this scene, and he ridicules the creditor’s servants with all of the typical wit of Shakespearean fools. But the real fool is increasingly Timon. Act III will prove his final attempts to secure the money he needs from the people he trusts. It will prove the true turning point in the play and in his life.
Act III (6 scenes)
Scene i
Lucullus’ house
Flaminius, waiting to speak with Lucullus. Enter a servant.
Servant: “My lord, he is going to you.”
Flaminius: “I thank you, sir.”
Lucullus: (aside) “One of Timon’s men? A gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin. Flaminius, you are very welcome, sir. And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?”
Flaminius: “His health is well, sir.”
Lucullus: “What has thou there under thy 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, has sent me 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 tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I had dined with him and told him to spend less; and yet he would embrace no counsel. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his. I have told him, but could never get him from it. Draw near, honest Flaminius. Thy lord is a bountiful gentleman; but thou art wise, and thou knows well enough, although thou comes to me, that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship without security. Here’s three solidares for thee. Good boy, wink at me, and say thou saw me not. Fair thee well.”
Flaminius: “Is it possible the world should so much differ? Fly, damned baseness, to him that worships thee.” (throws the money back)
Lucullus: “Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.”
Exit Lucullus
Flaminius: “Let molten coin be thy damnation, thou disease of a friend! 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 it! 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!”
Summary and Analysis
In this scene Timon’s servant, Flaminius, appeals to Lucullus, who has long benefitted from Timon’s generosity. Lucullus praises Timon but also claims to have warned him many times to reduce his spending. Concluding that it is not a good time to lend money to friends, he gives Flaminius some coins as a bribe to lie and say that he never spoke with him. Flaminius throws the coins back at Lucullus, curses him and wishes him prolonged sickness and death.
Act III
Scene ii
A public place
Enter Lucius with 3 strangers
Lucius: “Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend and an honourable gentleman.”
1 Stranger: “We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord: Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.”
Lucius: “Fie, no: do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
2 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 it, yet was denied.”
Lucius: “How? What a strange case was that! Denied that honourable man! For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plates, jewels and such trifles; yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I should never have denied his occasions so many talents.”
Enter Servilius
Lucius: “Servilius? You are kindly met, sir. Commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.”
Servilius: “May it please your honour, my lord has sent -“
Lucius: “Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord; he’s ever sending. How shall I thank him? And what has he sent me now?”
Servilius: “Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord, requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.”
Lucius: “I know his lordship is but merry with me; he cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.”
Servilius: “If his occasion were not virtuous I should not urge it half so faithfully.”
Lucius: “Does thou speak seriously, Servilius?”
Servilius: “Upon my soul, tis true, sir.”
Lucius: “Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do. I was sending to use Lord Timon myself. Commend me bountifully to my good lordship, because I have no power to be kind. And tell him this for me: I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, would you befriend me so far as to use my own words to him?”
Servilius: “Yes, sir, I shall.”
Lucius: “I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.”
Exit Servilius
1 Stranger: “Do you observe this, Hostilius?”
2 Stranger: “Ay, too well.”
1 Stranger: “Why, this is the world’s soul, and just of the same piece is every flatterers spirit. Who can call him his friend who 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. And yet, O see the monstrousness of man when he looks out in an ungrateful shape! He does deny him what charitable men afford to beggars.”
3 Stranger: “Religion groans at it. I perceive that men must learn now with pity to dispense; for policy sits above conscience.”
Summary and Analysis
A second lord, Lucius, who benefited enormously from Timon’s generosity, turns away his servant in this scene. At first these strangers tell him that Lucullus denied Timon a loan. He can’t believe that Timon could want for money and is horrified that Lucullus would not supply him with what he needed. But then comes Servilius, Timon’s servant, who asks the same of Lucius, who suddenly does not have such money available and pleasantly sends Servilius on his way with nothing. The strangers are disgusted, as Timon was like a father to Lucius, maintaining his credit, supporting his estate and even paying the wages of his workers. And now he claims to have nothing available to help Timon in his hour of need. It is becoming clear that none of the people Timon supported will assist him in the least when he needs it the most.
Act III
Scene iii
Sempronius’ house. Enter Sempronius and a servant of Timon’s.
Sempronius: “Must he needs trouble by this? He might have tried Lucius or Lucullus; and now Ventidius is wealthy too, whom he redeemed from prison. All of these owe their estates unto him.”
Servant: “My lord, they have all been touched and found to be base metal, for they have all denied him.”
Sempronius: “They have denied him and he now sends for me? It shows but little love or judgment in him. Must I be his last refuge? Must I take the cure upon me? I am angry at him. His occasions might have wood me first. For, in my conscience, I was the first man to ever receive a gift from him. And does he think so backwardly of me now that I’ll requite it last? No. It may prove an argument of laughter to the rest and I among lords be thought a fool. But now return with this faint reply: who baits my honour shall not know my coin.”
Exit Sempronius
Servant: “Excellent! Your lordship’s a goodly villain. And I cannot think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul! This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled, save only the gods. Now his friends are dead.”
Summary and Analysis
This was Timon’s last hope and Sempronius denies him because he was only asked after Lucius and Lucullus. He is slighted to have been asked last and leaves the room angry. Of course, he needed some excuse and apparently this was the best he could do. Timon has been abandoned by those he lavishly adorned with gifts for years. The great philanthropist is about to turn misanthropic in a hurry.
Act III
Scene iv
A hall in Timon’s house
Enter two of Varro’s men, meeting Lucius’ servant, all being servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out. Enter Titus and Hortensius.
Hortensius: “Lucius! What, do we meet together?”
Lucius’ Servant: “Ay, and I think one business does command us all; for mine is money.”
Titus: “So is theirs and ours.”
Enter Philotus
Philotus: “Is not my lord seen yet?”
Lucius’ Servant: “Not yet.”
Philotus: “I wonder on it; he was wont to shine at seven.”
Lucius’ Servant: “Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him. Tis deepest winter in Timon’s purse. That is, one may reach deep enough and yet find little.”
Philotus: “I am of your fear for that.”
Lucius’ Servant: “Mark how strange it shows Timon in this should pay more than he owes, even as your lord should wear rich jewels.”
Hortensius: “I know my lord has spent Timon’s wealth, and now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.”
1 Varro’s Servant: “Mine is three thousand crowns. What’s yours?”
Lucius’ Servant: “Five thousand mine.”
1 Varro’s Servant: “Tis much deep.”
Enter Flaminius
Titus: “One of Lord Timon’s men.”
Lucius’ 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; he knows you are too diligent.”
Exit Flaminius
Lucius’ Servant: “Ha! Is not that his steward? Call him! Call him!”
Titus: “Do you hear, sir? We wait for certain money here, sir.”
Flavius: “If money were as certain as your waiting, twere sure enough. Why then preferred 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 gluttenous gullets.”
Lucius’ Servant: “Ay, but this answer will not serve.”
Flavius: “If it will not serve, tis not so base as you, for you serve knaves.”
Enter Servilius
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 it; for take of my soul, my lord leans wondrously toward discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him; he’s much out of health and keeps to his chamber.”
Lucius’ Servant: “Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts, and make a clear way to the gods.”
Servillius: “Good gods!”
Enter Timon, in a rage
Titus: “My lord, here is my bill.”
Lucius’ Servant: “Here’s mine.”
Hortensius: “And mine, my lord.”
Both Varro’s Servants: “And ours, my lord.”
Philotus: “All our bills.”
Timon: “Knock me down with them. Cut my heart in sums. Tell out my blood. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!”
Exit Timon
Hortensius: “These debts may be called desperate ones, for a madman owes them.”
Re-enter Timon and Flavius
Timon: “They have even taken my breath from me, the slaves. Creditors? Devils! What if it be so? Go, bid all my friends again. 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.”
Timon: “Go, I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide of knaves once more; my cook and I will provide.”
Summary and Analysis
Timon’s creditors and their servants have assembled out in front of his house and wait for hm to come out. They want their money that he owes them all. The servants comment that it is strange indeed that their masters are wearing spectacular jewelry given to them as gifts from Timon at the same time they are demanding money from him. These servants understand the hypocrisy of their master’s enjoyment of Timon’s gifts to them which made Timon poor. Timon’s servants angrier ask these creditors why they did not present him with their bills while they were enjoying one of his feasts. Timon emerges in a rage and he curses them as they swarm all around him. Timon goes back inside with a plan to host one more feast for these so called friends. It will be a feast they will never forget. Timon was certain his friends would stand up for him in his hour of need. The fact that they did no such thing changes him forever.
Act III
Scene v
The Senate House
Enter three Senators and Alcibiades
1 Senator: “My lord, the fault is bloody. Tis necessary he should die: nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.”
2 Senator: “Most true; the law shall bruise him.”
Alcibiades: “Honour, health and compassion to the Senate! I am a humble suitor to your virtues; for pity is the virtue of the law, and none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood has stepped into the law. He is a man of comely virtues. With a noble fury and a fair spirit, seeing his reputation touched to death, he did oppose his foe.”
1 Senator: “You undergo too strict a paradox, striving to make an ugly deed look fair; your words have taken such pains as if they laboured to bring manslaughter into form and set quarrelling upon the head of valour. You cannot make gross sins look clear.”
Alcibiades: “My lords, then pardon me if I speak like a captain. My lords, as you are great, be pitifully good. Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust; but, in defence, by mercy, tis most just. Weigh but the crime with this.”
2 Senator: “You breathe in vain.”
Alcibiades: “In vain! His service done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium were a sufficient briber for his life. He has done fair service, and slain in fight many of your enemies.”
2 Senator: “He’s a sworn rioter; he has a sin that often drowns him and takes his valour prisoner. In that beastly fury he has been known to commit outrages and cherish factions. Tis inferred to us his days are foul and his drink dangerous.”
1 Senator: “He dies.”
Alcibiades: “Hard fate! He might have died in war. Take my deserts to him, and join them both. I’ll pawn my victories, all my honours to you, upon his good returns.”
1 Senator: “We are for the law: he dies. Urge it no more. He forfeits his own blood that spills another.”
Alcibiades: “Must it be so? It must not be. My lords, I do beseech you to know me and call me to your remembrances. I cannot think but your age has forgotten me. It could not else be I should prove so base to sue, and be denied such common grace. My wounds ache at you.”
1 Senator: “Do you dare our anger? We banish thee forever.”
Alcibiades: “Banish me! Banish your dotage! Banish usury that makes the Senate ugly.”
1 Senator: “If after two days should Athens contain thee, attend our weightier judgment. He shall be executed presently.”
Exit Senators
Alcibiades: “Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live only in bone, that none may look on you. I’m worse than mad. I have kept back their foes and am rich only in large hurts. All those for this? Banishment! I hate not to be banished; it is a cause worthy my spleen and fury, that I might spike at Athens.”
Summary and Analysis
A subplot is developed here. Alcibiades pleads before the Senate to spare his friend, who killed a man in self defence in a state of momentary rage. He makes his case that the man is virtuous and was a great soldier in defence of Athens. The Senate will not relent and sentence the man to die. Alcibiades persists and they banish him. Alcibiades is furious, as a soldier who has many times defended Athens, and accepts his banishment as an opportunity to ‘strike at Athens’. Now both Timon and Alcibiades are outraged against the society they have each served. Their stories will intersect soon enough.
Act III
Scene vi
A banquet hall in Timon’s house
Tabes set. Servants attending. Enter the lord and friends of Timon.
2 Lord: “I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day. I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.”
1 Lord: “He has sent me an earnest invitation.”
2 Lord: “I am sorrow, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.”
1 Lord: “I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.”
2 Lord: “Everyman here is so. What would he have borrowed of you?”
1 Lord: “A thousand pieces.”
2 Lord: “Here he comes.”
Enter Timon
Timon: “With all my heart, gentlemen, how fair you?”
1 Lord: “Ever at best, hearing well of your lordship. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.”
Timon: “O, sir, let it not trouble you.”
2 Lord: “My most honourable lord, I am even sickened of shame that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.”
Timon:”Think not on it, sir.”
2 Lord: “If you had sent but two hours before -“
Timon: “Let it not cumber your better remembrance.”
The banquet is brought in.
2 Lord: “All covered dishes.”
1 Lord: “How do you? What’s the news?”
3 Lord: “Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?”
1 and 2 Lords: “Alcibiades banished!”
3 Lord: “Tis so; be sure of it.”
1 Lord: “How? How?”
Timon: “My worthy friends, will you draw near? Your diet shall be in all places alike. Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised; but reserve still to give. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another. The rest of your foes, O gods, the Senate of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap.”
The dishes are uncovered and seen to be full of warm water.
Some Speak: “What does his lordship mean?”
Some Others: “I know not.”
Timon: “May you a better feast never behold. Smoke and lukewarm water is your perfection. This is Timon’s last; who, stuck with your flatteries, washes it off, and sprinkles it in your faces your reeking villainy. (Timon throws water in their faces.) Live loathed and long, smiling, detested parasites, courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, you fools of fortune, trencher friends, time’s flies, slaves and vapours. What, does thou go? Soft, take thy physic first. (Timon throws the dishes at them and throws them out) What, all in motion? Sink Athens! Henceforth hated be of Timon all of humanity!”
Exit Timon. Re-enter the lords.
2 Lord: “Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s fury?”
1 Lord: “He is but a mad lord. He gave me a jewel the other day and now he has beat it out of me. Did you see my jewel?”
3 Lord: “Did you see my cap?”
4 Lord: “Here lies my gown.”
1 Lord: “Let’s make no stay.”
2 Lord: “Lord Timon’s mad.”
3 Lord: “I feel it upon my bones.”
4 Lord: “On day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.”
Summary and Analysis
The various lords assemble at Timon’s feast, figuring he must have merely been testing them when asking for money. They express regret that they were not able to help him. When Timon arrives they apologize to him for not being able to lend him money. He asks them to be seated and they chat about Alcibiades’ banishment. Then he speaks before the meal and harshly condemns the assembled guests: ‘These my present friends are nothing to me, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing they are welcome. Uncover dogs, and lap.’ Their feast is lukewarm water and stones, which Timon throws in their faces, criticizing and condemning them bitterly, claiming that henceforth he is an enemy to all of humanity. The lords merely think he has gone mad, assuming no responsibility for their behaviour. Timon changes utterly at this point, having treated his friends with kindness and generosity only to be abandoned by them all in his time of need. It is a bitter lesson and Timon deserts Athens and humanity to live alone in the wildness, a misanthrope of utmost proportion. At this point Shakespearean heroes often have revelations which save and redeem them. Not Timon. He becomes the opposite of all that he was and tragically collapses into bitterness and rage.
Act IV (3 scenes)
Scene i
Beyond the walls of Athens.
Enter Timon
Timon: “O Athens, let me look back upon thee. O thou wall that girdles in those wolves. Matrons turn incontinent. Obedience, fail in children! Slaves and fools, pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench and minister in their steads. To general filths convert on the instant. Do it in your parent’s eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast; to with your knives and cut your trustees’ throats. Bound servants, steal. Large handed robbers your grave masters are. Maid, to thy master’s bed. Thy mistress is in the brothel. Pluck the lined crutch from the old limping sire, and with it beat out his brains. Piety and fear, peace, justice, truth, night-rest, instruction, manners, mysteries and trades, degrees observances, customs and laws, decline to your confounding contraries and let confusion live. Plagues incident to men, your potent and infectious fevers heap on Athens, ripe for strokes. Thy cold sciatica, cripple our Senators, that their limbs may halt as lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty, creep into the minds and the marrow of our youth, that against the stream of virtue they may strive and drown themselves in riot. Itches and blotches sow all Athenian bosoms, and their crop be general leprosy! Breathe infected breath, that their society, as their friendship, may be merely poison! Nothing I’ll bear from thee but nakedness, thou detestable town! Timon will to the woods, where he shall find the unkindest beast more kind than mankind. The gods confound the Athenians both within and beyond that wall! And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow to the whole race of mankind, high and low! Amen.”
Summary and Analysis
Timon stands outside the walls of Athens and wishes every evil on the city and all of its inhabitants. This is his scene to rant and what a rant it is. He washes his hands of humanity and proceeds as a hermit to the woods. What a very different Timon than we encountered in Act I. And as this is a tragedy, we can expect no grand reconciliation between he and his former ‘friends’. This journey into misanthropy is a one way trip.
Act IV
Scene ii
Athens. Timon’s house
Enter Flavius and two other servants
1 Servant: “Master steward, where is our master? Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?”
Flavius: “Alack my fellows, what shall I say to you? I am as poor as you.”
1 Servant: “Such a house broke. So noble a master fallen. All gone and not one friend to take his fortune by the arm and go along with him?”
2 Servant: “So his familiars to his buried fortunes slink all away; leave their false vows with him, like empty purses picked; and his poor self, a dedicated beggar to the air, with his disease of shunned poverty, walks, like contempt, alone.”
Enter other servants
Flavius: “All broken implements of a ruined house
2 Servant: “Yet I see by our faces we are still fellows, serving alike in sorrow.”
Flavius: “Good fellows, all. The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you. Let’s each take some. We have seen better days. Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake, let’s yet be fellows. Thus part we rich in sorrows, parting poor.
They each exit their own way
Flavius: “O the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us. Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, since riches point to misery and contempt? Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live but in a dream of friendship? Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, undone by goodness! Strange it is when man’s worst sin is he does too much good! Who then dares to be half so kind again. My dearest lord – blest to be most accurst, rich only to be wretched – thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord! He’s flung in rage from this ungrateful seat of monstrous friends. I’ll follow and enquire him out. I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will; while I have gold, I’ll be his steward still.”
Summary and Analysis
The servants remain behind in Timon’s house, wondering how such a thing could have befallen their household. They are Timon’s loyal friends, after all. They determine to look after one another, in his name. Flavius reflects on how Timon’s one time good fortune brought about his worst suffering. He is going to seek out Timon and ‘be his steward still’. Flavius no doubt learned his generosity of spirit from Timon and shares his bit of money with all of his fellow servants, despite how such generosity has utterly crushed his master. It would seem that giving to poor servants is different than giving to rich lords.
Act IV
Scene iii
The woods near the sea-shore before Timon’s cave
Enter Timon
Timon: “O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth rotten humidity. Infect the air! There’s nothing level in our cursed natures but direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred all feasts, societies, and throngs of men! Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots. (Timon digs) Who seeks for better, sauce his palate with operant poison. What is here? Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold? Ha, you gods! Why this? This yellow slave will knit and break religious, lesser the accursed, make leprosy adored, place thieves and give them title with senators on the bench. This is it that makes the widow wed again. Come, damed earth, thou common whore of mankind. Yet, I’ll bury thee. (He keeps some of the gold)
Enter Alcibiades in warlike manner with mistresses Phrynia and Yimandra
Alcibiades: “What are thou there? Speak.”
Timon: “A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart for showing me again the eyes of man!”
Alcibiades: “What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee who art thyself a man?”
Timon: “I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou were a dog, that I might love thee something.”
Alcibiades: “I know thee well; but in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.”
Timon: “I know thee too. And more than that I know thee I not desire to know. With man’s blood paint the ground. Religious canons and civil laws are cruel. This fell whore of thine has in her more destruction than thy sword.”
Phrynia: “Thy lips rot off!”
Timon: “I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns to thine own life again.”
Alcibiades: “How came the noble Timon to this change?”
Timon: “As the moon does, by wanting light to give. But then renew I could not, like the moon; there were no suns to borrow of.”
Alcibiades: “Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?”
Timon: “None but to maintain my opinion.”
Alcibiades: “What is it, Timon?”
Timon: “Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou will not promise, the gods plague thee. If thou does perform, confound thee.”
Alcibiades: “I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.”
Timon: “Thou saw them when I had prosperity.”
Alcibiades: “I see them now. Then was a blessed time.”
Timon: “As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.”
Timandra: “Is this the Athenian minion whom the world voiced so regardfully?”
Timon: “Art thou Timandra?”
Timandra: “Yes.”
Timon: “Be a whore still; they love thee not who use thee. Give them disease.”
Timandra: “Hang thee, monster!”
Alcibiades: “Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits are drowned and lost in his calamities. I have little gold of late, brave Timon. I have heard and grieved how cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, forgetting thy great deeds, but for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them.”
Timon: “I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.”
Alcibiades: “I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.”
Timon: “How does thou pity him whom thou does trouble? I had rather be alone.”
Alcibiades: “Why, fare thee well: here is some gold for thee.”
Timon: “Keep it; I cannot eat it.”
Alcibiades: “When I have laid proud Athens on a heap -“
Timon: “War thou against Athens?”
Alcibiades: “Ay, Timon, and have cause.”
Timon: “The gods confound them all in thy conquest; and thee after, when thou has conquered! Go on, here’s gold. Be as a planetary plague. Let not thy sword skip one. Pity not honoured age for his white beard: he is a usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron: it is her habit only that is honest; herself’s a bawd. Let not the virgin’s cheek make soft thy trenchant sword. Spare not the babe. Think it a bastard whom the oracle has doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, and mince it sans remorse. Put armour on thy ears and eyes, whose yells of mothers, maids or babes, nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, shall pierce a jot. There’s gold to pay thy soldiers, make large confusion; and, thy fury spent, confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.”
Alcibiades: “Has thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou gives me, not thy counsel.”
Phrynia and Timandra: “Give us some gold, good Timon. Has thou more?”
Timon: “Enough to make a whore forswear her trade. Hold up, you sluts, you are not oathable, although I know you’ll swear, terribly swear. Spare your oaths. Be whores still; and he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, be strong whores, allure him, burn him up. Be quite contrary! And thatch your poor tin roofs with burdens of the dead. Whore still.”
Phrynia and Timandra: “Well, more gold. Believe it that we’ll do anything for gold.”
Timon: “Consumptions sow in hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins. Crack the lawyer’s voice that he may never more false title plead. Make curled pated ruffians bald and let the unscarred braggarts of the war derive some pain from you. Plague all, that your activity may defeat and quell the source of all erections. There’s more gold. Do you damn others, and let this damn you. And ditches grave you all!”
Phrynia and Timandra: “More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.”
Timon: “More whoring and mischief first.”
Alcibiades: “Strike up the drum toward Athens. Farewell, Timon. If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.”
Timon: “If I hope well, I’ll never see thee more.”
Alcibiades: “I never did thee harm.”
Timon: “Yes, thou spoke well of me.”
Alcibiades: “Calls thou that harm?”
Timon: “Man daily find it. Get thee away, and take thy beagles with thee.”
Alcibiades: “We but offend him.”
Exit Alcibiades and his whores
Timon: “Common mother, thou whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast teams and feeds all, dry up thy fertile and conceptious womb, and let it no more bring out ungrateful man.”
Enter Apemantus
Timon: “More man? Plague, plague!”
Apemantus: “I was directed hither. Men report thou does affect my manners and does use them.”
Timon: “Tis then because thou does not keep a dog, whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!”
Apemantus: “This is in thee a nature but infected, a poor unmanly melancholy sprung from change of fortune. Why this spade? This place? The slave-like habit and these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft, hug their diseased perfumes and have forgotten that ever Timon was. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive by that which has undone thee. Thou gave thine ears to knaves and all approachers. Tis most just that thou turn rascal. Do not assume my likeness.”
Timon: “Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.”
Apemantus: “Thou has cast away thyself, being like thyself; a madman so long and now a fool.”
Timon: “A fool of thee. Depart.”
Apemntus: “I love thee better now then ever I did.”
Timon: “I hate thee worse.”
Apemantus: “Why?”
Timon: “Thy flatters misery.”
Alcibiades: “I flatter not.”
Timon: “Why does thou seek me out?”
Apemantus: “To vex thee.”
Timon: “Always a villain’s office, or a fool’s. Does please thyself in it?”
Apemantus: “Ay.”
Timon: “What, a knave too?”
Apemantus: “If thou did put this sour-cold habit on to castigate thy pride, t’were well; but thou did it enforcedly. Thou should desire to die, being miserable.”
Timon: “Thou art a slave whom fortune’s tender arm with favour never clasped, but bred a dog. Why should thou hate men? They never flattered thee. Hence, be gone. If thou had not been born the worst of men, thou had been a knave and a flatterer.”
Apemantus: “Art thou proud yet?”
Timon: “Ay, that I am not thee. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this (eats a root) thus would I eat it.”
Apemantus: “Here, I will mend thy feast.” (offers Timon food)
Timon: “First mend my company: take away thyself.”
Apemantus: “So I shall mend my own by the lack of thine.”
Timon: “Tis not well mended so; it is but botched. If not, I would it were.”
Apemanus: “The middle of humanity thou never knew, but the extremity of both ends. When thou was in thy gilt and perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity; in thy rags thou art despised for the contrary. What man did thou ever know unthrifty that was beloved after his means?”
Timon: “What would thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?”
Apemantus: “Give it to the beasts, to be rid of the men.”
Timon: “Would thou remain a beast with the beasts?”
Apemantus: “Ay, Timon.”
Timon: “A beastly ambition. If thou were the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou were the lamb, the fox would eat thee; if you were the fox, the lion would suspect thee when thou were accused by the ass; if thou were the ass, thy dullness would torment thee; and still thou lived but as a breakfast for the wolf; if thou were the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee. Were thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee; were thou a bear, thou would be killed by the horse; were thou the horse, thou would be seized by the leopard. What beast could thou be that was not subject to a beast? And what a beast thou art already, thy sees not thy loss in transformation.”
Apemantus: “The commonwealth of Athens has become a forest of beasts.”
Timon: “How has the ass broke the wall, that thou are out of the city?”
Apemantus: “Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The plague of company light upon thee! When I know not what else to do, I’ll see thee again.”
Timon: “When there is nothing living but thee, thou shall be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog than Apemantus.”
Apemantus: “Thou are the cap of all the fools alive.”
Timon: “Would thou were clean enough to spit upon.”
Apemantus: “A plague on thee! Thou are too bad to curse.”
Timon: “All villains that do stand by thee are pure.”
Apemantus: “There is no leprosy but what thou speaks.”
Timon: “If I name thee, I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.”
Apemantus: “I would my tongue could rot them off!”
Timon: “Away thou issue of a mangy dog! Choler does kill me that thou art alive.”
Apemantus: “Would thou would burst!”
Timon: “Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.”
Timon throws a stone at him.
Apemantus: “Beast!
Timon: “Slave!”
Apemantus: “Toad!”
Timon: “Rogue, rogue, rogue! I am sick of this false world, and will live nought but even the mere necessities upon it. Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave. Lie where the foam of the sea may beat thy gravestone daily; make thy epitaph; that death in me at others’ lives may laugh. (looks at the gold) O thou sweet king-killer and dear divorce between natural son and sire! Thou bright defiler of Hymen’s purest bed! Thou valiant Mars! Thou ever fresh, loved and delicate wooer! Thou visible god, who speaks with every tongue to every purpose! Think thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue set them into confounding odds, that beasts may have the world in empire!”
Apemantus: “Would t’were so! But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou has gold. Thou will be thronged to shortly. Live and love thy misery!”
Timon: “Live long so, and so die. I am quit.”
Exit Apemantus
Timon: “More things like men. Eat, Timon, and abhor them.”
Enter bandits
1 Bandit: “Where should he have this gold? The mere want of gold and the falling from of his friends drove him into this melancholy.”
2 Bandit: “It is noised he has a mass of treasure.”
1 Bandit: “He bears it not about him; Tis hid.”
3 Bandit: “Let us make the assay upon him.”
1 Bandit: “Save thee, Timon!”
Timon: “Now, thieves?”
1 Bandit: “Soldiers, not thieves. We are not thieves but men who much do want.”
Timon: “Why should you want? Behold, the earth has roots; within this mile break forth a hundred springs; nature on each bush lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?”
1 Bandit; “We cannot live on grass, berries and water, as beast and birds and fish.”
Timon: “Nor on the beasts themselves; you must eat men. Rascal thieves, here is gold. Take wealth and lives together; do villainy, do. I’ll example you of thievery: the sun’s a thief and robs the vast sea; the moon’s an arrant thief, her pale fire she snatches from the sun; the sea’s a thief, whose liquid surge resolves the moon into salt tears; the earth’s a thief, that feeds and breeds by a composure stolen from general excrement. Each thing’s a thief. Love not yourselves; away, rob one another. There’s more gold. Cut throats. All who you meet are thieves. To Athens go, break open shops; nothing you can steal but thieves do lose it. Steal not less for this I give you; let gold confound you howsoever! Amen.
3 Bandit: “He has almost charmed me from my profession by persuading me to it.”
1 Bandit: “Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us.”
2 Bandit: “I’ll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.”
Exit bandits
Enter Flavius
Flavius: “O you gods! Is yonder despised and ruinous man my lord? Full of dear and failing? O monument and wonder of good deeds evil bestowed! What an alteration of honour has desperate want made! What viler thing upon the earth than friends, who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise, when man was wished to love his enemies! I will present my honest grief unto him, and as my lord still serve him with my life. My dearest master!”
Timon: “Away! What art thou?”
Flavius: “Have you forgotten me, sir?”
Timon: “I have forgotten all men; then if thou grant thou art a man, I have forgotten thee.”
Flacius: An honest poor servant of yours.”
Timon: “Then I know thee not. I never had an honest man about me. All I kept were knaves, to serve meat to villains.”
Flavius: “The gods are witness, never did a poor steward wear a truer grief for his undone lord than mine eyes for you.”
Timon: “What, does thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee because thou art a woman and disclaims flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give but thorough lust and laughter. Pity is sleeping. Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!”
Flavius:”I beg of you to know me, my good lord, to accept my grief and to entertain me as your steward still.”
Timon: “Had I a steward so true, so just? It almost turns my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face. Forgive my general rashness, you perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim one honest man – mistake me not, but one; no more, I pray – and he’s a steward. But all, save thee, I fell with curses. Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; for by oppressing and betraying me thou might have sooner gotten another service. For many so arrive at second masters upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true, is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, expecting in return twenty to one?”
Flavius: “No, my most worthy master, in whose breast doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late! You should have feared false times when you did feast. That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, duty and zeal to your unmatched mind. Any benefit that points to me, I’d exchange for this one wish, that you had power and wealth to requite me by making rich yourself.”
Timon: “Look thee, tis so! Thou singly honest man, here, take. The gods, out of my misery, have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy, but thus conditioned: thou shall hate all, curse all, show charity to none, but let the famished flesh slide from the bone ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs what thou denies men; let prisons swallow them, debts wither them to nothing, and may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so farewell and thrive.”
Flavius: “O, let me stay and comfort you, my master.”
Timon: “If thou hates curses, stay not: fly while thou are blest and free, never see thou man, and let me never see thee.”
Summary and Analysis
Timon emerges from his cave cursing and raging about flatterers and wishing that everything human would come to destruction. ‘There is nothing in our cursed nature but direct villainy.’ While digging for roots he comes upon gold and goes off on a tangent about the terrible qualities of wealth. He has clearly been deeply traumatized in being rejected by his so called friends and he takes it out on the entire species of mankind. Alcibiades arrives with two prostitutes and Timon wants nothing to do with them, only encouraging the prostitutes to continue whoring and to spread diseases. He rejects any help Alcibiades offers and insists he leave. But when Alcibiades mentions that he plans on sacking Athens, Timon is suddenly interested, telling Alcibiades to spare no one, not even ‘the honourably aged’ or ‘the babes’. Timon says he hopes never to see Alcibiades again, but before he leaves his whores ask Timon for gold. He gives them gold and instructs them to spread plagues and consumption through their whoring and ‘quell the source of all erections’. Alcibiades and the prostitutes leave and Apemantus arrives. Timon curses him but Apemantus notes that Titus has been led to this distraction by the flattering lords, who abandoned him just as soon as his wealth evaporated. Timon tells him to leave but Apemantus says he loves Timon more than ever before. Timon rails against Apemantus and the two trade insult after insult until Timon throws a rock at him and he finally leaves. Bandits and thieves arrive next, intent on the gold they have heard that he has. He offers them gold, provided they do villainy and cut throats. He especially urges them to Athens, in order that they wreak havoc and destruction there. ‘To Athens go!’ Finally, Timon is visited by Flavius, his former loyal and dedicated servant. Timon assumes not to know him, as he never knew anyone loyal. Seeing the state Timon is in causes Flavius to weep, which softens Timon. When Flavius offers money for his former master, it causes Timon to admit that there is, in fact, one good person in this entire world. Flavius offers to stay with Titus and look after him out here in the wilderness but Titus gives him gold and tells him to leave. Titus has left Athens in order to be alone, but once out in the wilderness he receives one visitor after another. After finding gold he offers it to anyone who can help bring down Athens. Alcibiades gets some because he plans to attack Athens and the prostitutes and bandits do since they can speed diseases and wreck havoc among the population. When Alcibiades arrived Timon referred to himself as Misanthropos and he certainly has become just that. He went from one extreme to another in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately for him, there will be no turning back.
Act V (4 scenes)
Scene i
The woods before Timon’s cave.
Enter poet and painter
Poet: “What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true that he is so full of gold?”
Painter: “Certain. Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Yinandra had gold from him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.”
Poet: “Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends?”
Painter: “Nothing else. You shall see him in Athens again. Therefore tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his; it will show honesty in us, and is very likely to load our purposes.”
Poet: “What have you now to present to him?”
Painter: “Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I will promise him an excellent piece.”
Poet: “I must serve him so, too, and tell him of an intent that is coming toward him.”
Enter Timon from his cave
Timon: (aside) “Excellent workman! Thou cannot paint a man so bad as is thyself.”
Poet: “Hail, worthy Timon!”
Painter: “Our late noble master!”
Timon: “Have I once lived to see two honest men?”
Poet: “Sir, having often of your open bounty tasted, hearing you were returned, your friends fallen off, I am rapt and cannot cover the monstrous bulk of this ingratitude with any size of words.”
Painter: “He and myself have travailed in the great shower of your gifts.”
Timon: “Ay, you are honest men.”
Painter: “We are hither come to offer you our service.”
Timon: “Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots and drink cold water – No? You have heard that I have gold; I am sure you have. Speak truth; you are honest men.”
Painter: “So it is said, my noble lord, but therefore came not my friend nor I.”
Timon: “Good honest men! But for all of this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault.”
Both: “Beseech your honour to make it known to us.”
Timon: “You’ll take it ill.”
Both: “Most thankfully, my lord.”
Timon: “Will you indeed?”
Both: “Doubt it not, my lord.”
Timon: “There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave that mightily deceives you.”
Both: “Do we, my lord?”
Timon: “Ay, and you hear him, see him, love him, feed him; yet remain assured that he’s a made up villain.”
Pinter: “I know not such, my lord.”
Poet: “Nor I.”
Timon: “Look you, I love you well; I’ll give you gold, rid me these villains from you companies. Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught, confound them by some course, and come to me, I’ll give you gold enough.”
Both: “Name them, my lord; let’s know them.”
Timon: “You that way, and you this. Each man apart. Yet an arch-villain keeps each company. Hence, pack! There’s gold. You came for gold, you slaves. Out, rascal dogs! (beats and drives them out)
Enter Flavius and two senators.
Flacius: “It is vain that you would speak with Timon for he is set only to himself that nothing but himself which looks like man is friendly with him.”
1 Senator: “Bring us to his cave. It is our part and promise to the Athenians to speak with Timon.”
2 Senator: “Bring us to him, and chance it as it may.”
Flavius: “Here is his cave. Lord Timon! Timon! Look out and speak to friends. The Athenians by two of their most reverend Senate greet thee. Speak to them, noble Timon.”
Timon comes out of his cave
Timon: “Thou sun that comfort, burn. Speak and be hanged! For each true word a blister, and each false be as a cauterizing to the roof of the tongue.”
2 Senator: “The Senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.”
Timon: “I thank them, and would send them back the plague, could I but catch it for them.”
1 Senator: “The Senators with one consent of love entreat thee back to Athens. Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth as shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs and write in thee the figures of their love, ever to read them thine.”
Timon: “Lend me a fool’s heart and a woman’s eyes and I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy Senators.”
1 Senator: “Therefore, so please thee to return with us, and of our Athens to take the captainship, allowed with absolute power, and live with authority. So soon we shall drive back Alcibiades into the wilds, who, like a boar too savage, does root up his country’s peace.”
2 Senator: “And shakes his threatening sword against the walls of Athens.”
Timon: “Therefore, sir, if Alcibiades kills my countrymen, let Alcibiades know this of Timon, that Timon cares not. So I leave you to the protection of the prosperous gods, as thieves to keepers.”
Flavius: “Stay not; all’s in vain.”
Timon: “Why, I am writing my epitaph. It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness of health and living now begin to mend Go, be Alcibiades your plague, and you his.”
1 Senator: “We speak in vain.”
Timon: “Commend me to my countrymen and tell them that to see their griefs and pangs of love in life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them.”
1 Senator: “These words become your lips. I like this well.”
Timon: “I have a tree that invites me to cut down, and shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends, tell Athens, to stop affliction, let him take his haste, come hither, ere my tree has felt the axe, and hang himself. I pray you do my greeting. Come not to me again. Let my gravestone be your oracle. What is amiss, let plague and infection mend!”
2 Senator: “Our hope in him is dad. Let us return.”
Summary and Analysis
Timon has had many visitors and aside from Flavius, they all get the same treatment essentially. When the painter and the poet arrived you had to expect what was in store for them. Likewise with the wealthy Senators. He toys with both sets of visitors, but wishes the same plagues and afflictions with the same demand that they not ever return. Its tough being a hermit with all of the traffic Timon receives.
Act V
Scene ii
Before he walls of Athens
Enter two senators with a messenger.
Messenger: “Alcibiades’ expedition promises present approach.”
2 Senator: “We stand much in hazard if they bring not Timon.”
3 Senator: “No talk of Timon, nothing of him is expected. Let’s go in and prepare. Ours is the fall, I fear.”
Summary and Analysis
Athens awaits the onslaught of Alcibiades’ army and their only hope appears to be the intervention of Timon, which is not forthcoming.
Act V
Scene iii
The woods, Timon cave and a rough tomb
Enter a soldier, seeking Timon
Soldier: “By all description, this should be the place. Who’s here? Speak! No answer? What is this? Timon is dead. Here does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave. What’s on this tomb I cannot read; the character I’ll take with wax.”
Summary and Analysis
A soldier comes upon what he believes to be the grave of Timon. He cannot read the epitaph but takes an impression of it to show his superiors. Shakespeare does not afford Timon a final speech before his death, which is highly unusual in his plays. Perhaps he felt he had already said all that there is to say. His death occurs off stage, as well, which, again, is exceptional for the main character of a play.
Act V
Scene iv
Before the walls of Athens
Enter Alcibiades
Alcibiades: “Sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach. Till now you have gone on and filled the time with all licentious measure, making your wills the scope of justice; till now, myself, and such as slept within the shadow of your power, have breathed our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, when crouching marrow cries of itself ‘no more!'”
1 Senator: “Noble and young, when thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, we sent to thee, to give thy rages balm, to wipe out our ingratitude with loves above their quantity.”
2 Senator: “So did we woo transformed Timon to our city’s love by humble message. We were not all unkind, nor all deserve the common stroke of war.”
1 Senator: “All have not offended. On those who have, revenge. Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin, which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall with those who have offended. Like a shepherd approach the fold and cull the infected forth, but kill not altogether.”
2 Senator: “What thou will, thou rather shall enforce it with thy smile then hew to it with thy sword. Throw thy glove, that thou will use the wars as thy redress and not as our confusion.”
Alcibiades: “Then there’s my glove; descend, and open your uncharged ports. Those enemies of Timon’s and mine own, whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof, fall, and no more. And, to atone your fears with my more noble meaning, not a man shall offend the dream of regular justice in your city’s bounds, but shall be rendered to your public laws at heaviest answer.”
The Senators open the gates.
Enter Soldier as messenger.
Soldier: “My noble general, Timon is dead; and on his gravestone this inscription.”
Alcibiades reads the eptitaph: “‘Here lies a wretched corpse, of wretched soul bereft; a plague consume you wicked and despicable cowards left! Here lie I, Timon, who alive all living men did hate. Pass by, but pass by and stay not.’ Dead is noble Timon. Make war breed peace, make peace stint war. Let our drums strike.”
Summary and Analysis
Alcibiades and his forces approach Athens with the intention of wreaking a terrible vengeance- filled havoc . The Senators make their case that not all deserve to be ransacked. He is welcomed into Athens but is asked not to kill everyone, only those deserving of his wrath. It is agreed that the Senators will turn over all of the offenders and that the rest of Athens will be spared. The soldier who had rubbed the impression of Timon’s epitaph arrives with news that Timon is dead. Alcibiades reads the impression and honours the memory of Timon and enters the city of Athens in peace. Timon had encouraged Alcibiades to destroy everything and everyone in Athens but Alcibiades chooses to distinguish between the deserving and the underserving, sparing the innocent and abiding by the laws of Athens. Timon was a man of extremes. His generosity knew no bounds and once abandoned by his so-called friends neither did his rage against humanity. He died a miserable misanthrop.
Final Thoughts
Timon of Athens is about the rise and fall of a man lacking in insight and clarity. When he was extremely wealthy he lavished affection on everyone around him and was seemingly well loved in return. Apemantus saw through this ‘love’ and declared his admirers mere flatterers. And sure enough, once Timon’s money was gone, so were the flatterers and he felt deceived and abused, turning bitter over his own miscalculation that they once truly loved him. His decision was to condemn all of humanity rather than own up to his own errors about how generosity breeds love. Was Timon a good man or merely a naive and foolish one? He demonstrated poor judgement on each extreme of the spectrum, believing he was genuinely loved for his generosity and then condemning all of the human race for the apparent slight when he could not find anyone to help spare him his financial ruin, while they continued to relish his gifts and gold. But good and wise people surrounded him. Apemantus saw it coming all along but Timon would not listen to him. Flavius, his servant, was loyal to the very end and Alcibiades tried to befriend Timon, who, by that time, was far too gone to connect to anyone. He trusted the wrong people and then condemned the entire human race because of his own blindness to these Athenian flatterers. Not good judgement on Timon’s part. If there are any heroes in this play they are perhaps the three aforementioned characters who saw the truth (Apemantus), remained loyal (Flavius) and agreed not to destroy all of Athens due to the offence of a handful of men (Alcibiades). Shakespeare sourced his material for Timon of Athens from two different Greek works: Plutarch’s ‘Lives’ and a satire by Lucian, entitled ‘Timon the Misanthrope’. As far as we can tell Timon was never performed in Shakespeare’s lifetime and the first definitive staging is not until 1851! Even today, this is not a play which is often produced and remains on the fringes of Shakespeare’s works. Per usual, Youtube has several well performed versions available with many clips and some good analysis.
William Shakespeare: Journey Through Genius 