The Life of Timon of Athens: Act 4, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 3 of The Life of Timon of Athens from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Timon in the woods, with a spade. TIMON O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the Earth Rotten humidity! Below thy sister’s orb Infect the air! Twinned brothers of one womb, Whose procreation, residence, and birth Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes, 5 The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature, To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune But by contempt of nature. Raise me this beggar, and deny ’t that lord; The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary, 10 The beggar native honor. It is the pasture lards the brother’s sides, The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares In purity of manhood stand upright 15 And say “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be, So are they all, for every grise of fortune Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy. There’s nothing level in our cursèd natures 20 But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred All feasts, societies, and throngs of men. His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains. Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots! Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate 25 With thy most operant poison! (Digging, he finds gold.) What is here? Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods, I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will 30 make Black white, foul fair, wrong right, Base noble, old young, coward valiant. Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why, this 35 Will lug your priests and servants from your sides, Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads. This yellow slave Will knit and break religions, bless th’ accursed, Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves 40 And give them title, knee, and approbation With senators on the bench. This is it That makes the wappened widow wed again; She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices 45 To th’ April day again. Come, damnèd earth, Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds Among the rout of nations, I will make thee Do thy right nature. (March afar off.) Ha? A drum? Thou ’rt quick, 50 But yet I’ll bury thee. Thou ’lt go, strong thief, When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand. Nay, stay thou out for earnest. He buries the gold, keeping some out.	Somewhere in the middle of the woods, Timon curses mankind. Timon has nothing left, so he searches for food in the woods. He starts digging and strikes gold. Literally: he finds gold in the ground. But don't think that lucky break is going to put an end to all Timon's curses. He thinks back on the destruction gold can bring and decides to keep it buried. He only keeps a small amount for himself to use for food and supplies.
Enter Alcibiades, with Drum and Fife, in warlike manner, and Phrynia and Timandra. ALCIBIADES What art thou there? Speak. TIMON A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart 55 For showing me again the eyes of man! ALCIBIADES What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee That art thyself a man? TIMON I am Misanthropos and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, 60 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. Follow thy drum. 65 With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules! Religious canons, civil laws are cruel. Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine Hath in her more destruction than thy sword, For all her cherubin look. 70 PHRYNIA Thy lips rot off! TIMON I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns To thine own lips again. ALCIBIADES How came the noble Timon to this change? TIMON As the moon does, by wanting light to give. 75 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? 80 TIMON Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man. ALCIBIADES I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. 85 TIMON Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity. ALCIBIADES I see them now. Then was a blessèd time. TIMON As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. TIMANDRA Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world Voiced so regardfully? 90 TIMON Art thou Timandra? TIMANDRA Yes. TIMON Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee. Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves 95 For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth To the tub-fast and the diet. TIMANDRA Hang thee, monster! ALCIBIADES Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits Are drowned and lost in his calamities.— 100 I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, The want whereof doth daily make revolt In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth, Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states, 105 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 dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? I had rather be alone. 110 ALCIBIADES Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee. TIMON Keep it. I cannot eat it.	Alcibiades enters, accompanied by two courtesans, Phrynia and Timandra, as well as a fife and drum and presumably a few soldiers. Timon recognizes Alcibiades, but he doesn't trust him. He's no better than the rest of the Athenians. Timon utters some offensive things at Alcibiades and curses the courtesans to boot. But when Alcibiades recognizes Timon, he pities him. He says he and his crew only have a small amount of cash, but they're happy to share it with Timon. Timon, still feeling curmudgeonly, tells him to keep it. He has no use for it.
ALCIBIADES When I have laid proud Athens on a heap— TIMON Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens? ALCIBIADES Ay, Timon, and have cause. 115 TIMON The gods confound them all in thy conquest, And thee after, when thou hast conquered! ALCIBIADES Why me, Timon? TIMON That by killing of villains Thou wast born to conquer my country. 120 Put up thy gold. Go on. Here’s gold. Go on. Be as a planetary plague when Jove Will o’er some high-viced city hang his poison In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one. Pity not honored age for his white beard; 125 He is an 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, for those milk paps, That through the window-bars bore at men’s eyes, 130 Are not within the leaf of pity writ, But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; 135 Think it a bastard whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut, And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects; Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes, Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, 140 Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, Shall pierce a jot. (He offers gold.) There’s gold to pay thy soldiers. Make large confusion and, thy fury spent, Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone. 145 ALCIBIADES Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me, Not all thy counsel. TIMON Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven’s curse upon thee! BOTH WOMEN Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more? TIMON Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, 150 And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, Your aprons mountant. (He begins throwing gold into their aprons.) You are not oathable, Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues 155 Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths. I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still. And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up. Let your close fire predominate his smoke, 160 And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs With burdens of the dead—some that were hanged, No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore still. 165 Paint till a horse may mire upon your face. A pox of wrinkles! BOTH WOMEN Well, more gold. What then? Believe ’t that we’ll do anything for gold. TIMON Consumptions sow 170 In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice, That he may never more false title plead Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen, That scolds against the quality of flesh 175 And not believes himself. Down with the nose— Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away— Of him that, his particular to foresee, Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate ruffians bald, 180 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 erection. There’s more gold. Do you damn others, and let this damn you, 185 And ditches grave you all! BOTH WOMEN More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. TIMON More whore, more mischief first! I have given you earnest. ALCIBIADES Strike up the drum towards Athens.—Farewell, 190 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 spok’st well of me. 195 ALCIBIADES Call’st thou that harm? TIMON Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take Thy beagles with thee. ALCIBIADES, to the Women We but offend him.— Strike. 200 The drum sounds; all but Timon exit.	The motley crew is on the way to attack Athens, and they'd love if Timon joined them. Upon hearing this, Timon gives them some gold. Here's a bunch of wealth, Timon says, but it's loaded with a jumble of curses. Timon wants Phrynia and Timandra to keep doing their job (as prostitutes) in Athens. Create more mischief, he commands. Lure men in and give them diseases.
TIMON That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness, Should yet be hungry! (He digs.) Common mother, thou Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle— 205 Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed— Engenders the black toad and adder blue, The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm, With all th’ abhorrèd births below crisp heaven Whereon Hyperion’s quick’ning fire doth shine: 210 Yield him who all thy human sons do hate, From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root! Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb; Let it no more bring out ingrateful man. Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears; 215 Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face Hath to the marbled mansion all above Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks! Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas, Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts 220 And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind, That from it all consideration slips— Enter Apemantus. More man? Plague, plague! APEMANTUS I was directed hither. Men report Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them. 225 TIMON ’Tis, then, because thou dost 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 future. Why this spade? This place? 230 This slavelike habit and these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft, Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods By putting on the cunning of a carper. 235 Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee, And let his very breath whom thou ’lt observe Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain, And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus. 240 Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade welcome, To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just That thou turn rascal. Had’st thou wealth again, Rascals should have ’t. Do not assume my likeness. 245 TIMON Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself. APEMANTUS Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself— A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees, 250 That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook, Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures Whose naked natures live in all the spite 255 Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks, To the conflicting elements exposed, Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee. O, thou shalt find— TIMON A fool of thee. Depart. 260 APEMANTUS I love thee better now than e’er I did. TIMON I hate thee worse. APEMANTUS Why? TIMON Thou flatter’st misery. APEMANTUS I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff. 265 TIMON Why dost thou seek me out? APEMANTUS To vex thee. TIMON Always a villain’s office or a fool’s. Dost please thyself in ’t? APEMANTUS Ay. 270 TIMON What, a knave too? APEMANTUS If thou didst put this sour cold habit on To castigate thy pride, ’twere well, but thou Dost it enforcedly. Thou ’dst courtier be again Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery 275 Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before; The one is filling still, never complete, The other at high wish. Best state, contentless, Hath a distracted and most wretched being, Worse than the worst, content. 280 Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable. TIMON Not by his breath that is more miserable. Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm With favor never clasped but bred a dog. Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded 285 The sweet degrees that this brief world affords To such as may the passive drugs of it Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself In general riot, melted down thy youth 290 In different beds of lust, and never learned The icy precepts of respect, but followed The sugared game before thee. But myself— Who had the world as my confectionary, The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of 295 men At duty, more than I could frame employment, That numberless upon me stuck as leaves Do on the oak, have with one winter’s brush Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare, 300 For every storm that blows—I to bear this, That never knew but better, is some burden. Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time Hath made thee hard in ’t. Why shouldst thou hate men? 305 They never flattered thee. What hast thou given? If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag, Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff To some she-beggar and compounded thee Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone. 310 If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.	After Alcibiades and his crew depart for Athens, Timon reflects on what just happened. He's pretty disgusted with mankind in general. All people care about is money. In walks Apemantus, the grumbler. He's full of his usual glass-half-empty comments, but he's interested in Timon. Isn't it fascinating, Apemantus notes, that Timon was once the belle of the ball, and now he hates everyone? He thinks about how cynical Timon has become and decides he quite likes the man now. After all, they're really similar, right? Timon is outright offended. He's not like Apemantus, he says. Apemantus has never been loved, so he hates everyone. Timon, on the other hand, has been flattered up and down but then betrayed by everyone he knows. Timon insists that his distaste for mankind is warranted, but Apemantus's is not.
APEMANTUS Art thou proud yet? TIMON Ay, that I am not thee. APEMANTUS I, that I was no prodigal. 315 TIMON I, that I am one now. Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this! Thus would I eat it. 320 He gnaws a root. APEMANTUS, offering food Here, I will mend thy feast. TIMON First mend my company. Take away thyself. APEMANTUS So I shall mend mine own by th’ lack of thine. TIMON ’Tis not well mended so; it is but botched. If not, I would it were. 325 APEMANTUS What wouldst thou have to Athens? TIMON Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have. APEMANTUS Here is no use for gold. TIMON The best and truest, 330 For here it sleeps and does no hired harm. APEMANTUS Where liest a-nights, Timon? TIMON Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou a-days, Apemantus? APEMANTUS Where my stomach finds meat, or rather 335 where I eat it. TIMON Would poison were obedient and knew my mind! APEMANTUS Where wouldst thou send it? TIMON To sauce thy dishes. 340 APEMANTUS The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags thou know’st none, but art despised for the contrary. 345 There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it. TIMON On what I hate I feed not. APEMANTUS Dost hate a medlar? TIMON Ay, though it look like thee. APEMANTUS An thou ’dst hated meddlers sooner, thou 350 shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means? TIMON Who, without those means thou talk’st of, didst thou ever know beloved? 355 APEMANTUS Myself. TIMON I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to keep a dog. APEMANTUS What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers? 360 TIMON Women nearest, but men—men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power? APEMANTUS Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. TIMON Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion 365 of men and remain a beast with the beasts? APEMANTUS Ay, Timon. TIMON A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would 370 eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would torment thee, and still thou lived’st but as a breakfast to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness 375 would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse. 380 Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be 385 that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast art thou already that seest not thy loss in transformation! APEMANTUS If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it here. The commonwealth 390 of Athens is become a forest of beasts. TIMON How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art out of the city? APEMANTUS Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to 395 catch it and give way. When I know not what else to do, I’ll see thee again. TIMON When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog than Apemantus. 400 APEMANTUS Thou art the cap of all the fools alive. TIMON Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon! APEMANTUS A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse. TIMON All villains that do stand by thee are pure. APEMANTUS There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st. 405 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. 410 I swoon to see thee. APEMANTUS Would thou wouldst burst! TIMON Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee. Timon throws a stone at Apemantus. APEMANTUS Beast! 415 TIMON Slave! APEMANTUS Toad! TIMON Rogue, rogue, rogue! I am sick of this false world, and will love nought But even the mere necessities upon ’t. 420 Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave. Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph, That death in me at others’ lives may laugh. (To his gold.) O thou sweet king-killer and dear 425 divorce ’Twixt natural son and sire, thou bright defiler Of Hymen’s purest bed, thou valiant Mars, Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer, Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow 430 That lies on Dian’s lap; thou visible god, That sold’rest close impossibilities And mak’st them kiss, that speak’st with every tongue To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts, 435 Think thy slave, man, rebels, and by thy virtue Set them into confounding odds, that beasts May have the world in empire! APEMANTUS Would ’twere so! But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou ’st gold; 440 Thou wilt be thronged to shortly. TIMON Thronged to? APEMANTUS Ay. TIMON Thy back, I prithee. APEMANTUS Live and love thy misery. 445 TIMON Long live so, and so die. I am quit. Enter the Banditti. APEMANTUS More things like men.—Eat, Timon, and abhor them. Apemantus exits.	Timon is being pretty hateful, bu Apemantus doesn't give up so easily. He keeps arguing, saying he thinks Timon would become a rich guy again if he had the choice. He keeps telling Timon they are twinsies and even tries to help him prepare a meal. The curses continue. This time, Timon is firing them away: he asks Apemantus if anyone has ever loved him. Just myself, Apemantus replies. Timon just mocks Apemantus more. When Timon asks Apemantus what should be done with the world, Apemantus says: "Give it to the beasts." Timon thinks that's just about the dumbest idea ever; Athens is already full of beasts, he says. He curses Apemantus some more and then throws stones at him to make him leave. As Apemantus is heading out, some bandits enter. Apemantus says, "Oh look. More men for you to hate," and leaves.
FIRST BANDIT Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his 450 remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from of his friends drove him into this melancholy. SECOND BANDIT It is noised he hath a mass of treasure. THIRD BANDIT Let us make the assay upon him. If he care not for ’t, he will supply us easily. If he covetously 455 reserve it, how shall ’s get it? SECOND BANDIT True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis hid. FIRST BANDIT Is not this he? OTHERS Where? 460 SECOND BANDIT ’Tis his description. THIRD BANDIT He. I know him. ALL Save thee, Timon. TIMON Now, thieves? ALL Soldiers, not thieves. 465 TIMON Both, too, and women’s sons. ALL We are not thieves, but men that much do want. TIMON Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots. Within this mile break forth a hundred springs. 470 The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips. The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want? FIRST BANDIT We cannot live on grass, on berries, water, As beasts and birds and fishes. 475 TIMON Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes; You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con That you are thieves professed, that you work not In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft In limited professions. Rascal thieves, 480 Here’s gold. (He gives them gold.) Go, suck the subtle blood o’ th’ grape Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth, And so ’scape hanging. Trust not the physician; His antidotes are poison, and he slays 485 More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together. Do, villainy, do, since you protest to do ’t, Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery. The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction Robs the vast sea. The moon’s an arrant thief, 490 And 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 composture stol’n From gen’ral excrement. Each thing’s a thief. 495 The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away! Rob one another. There’s more gold. (He gives them gold.) Cut throats. All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go. 500 Break open shops. Nothing can you steal But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you, And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen. THIRD BANDIT Has almost charmed me from my profession by persuading me to it. 505 FIRST BANDIT ’Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our mystery. SECOND BANDIT I’ll believe him as an enemy and give over my trade. 510 FIRST BANDIT Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable but a man may be true. Thieves exit.	The bandits claim to be soldiers in need of supplies, but Timon calls their bluff. He knows they've heard about his pot of gold. Even though he knows they are lying, he gives them some gold anyway. Then he tells them to go rob and pillage, cut throats, basically wreak havoc on Athens. (His grudge is not mellowing with time.) The bandits take the gold. Then, while talking amongst themselves they say that by encouraging them to do such horrible things, Timon has almost caused them to rethink their thieving ways. Almost.
Enter Flavius the Steward, to Timon. FLAVIUS O you gods! Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord? Full of decay and flailing? O, monument 515 And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed! What an alteration of honor has desp’rate want made! What viler thing upon the Earth than friends, Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! 520 How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise, When man was wished to love his enemies! Grant I may ever love, and rather woo Those that would mischief me than those that do! Has caught me in his eye. I will present 525 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 forgot me, sir? TIMON Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men. 530 Then, if thou grant’st thou ’rt a man, I have forgot thee. FLAVIUS An honest poor servant of yours. TIMON Then I know thee not. I never had honest man about me, I. All 535 I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains. FLAVIUS The gods are witness, Ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord than mine eyes for you. He weeps. TIMON What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love 540 thee Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping. Strange times that weep with laughing, not with 545 weeping! FLAVIUS I beg of you to know me, good my lord, T’ accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, To entertain me as your steward still. He offers money. TIMON Had I a steward 550 So true, so just, and now so comfortable? It almost turns my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face. Surely this man Was born of woman. Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, 555 You perpetual-sober gods. I do proclaim One honest man—mistake me not, but one; No more, I pray!—and he’s a steward. How fain would I have hated all mankind, And thou redeem’st thyself. But all, save thee, 560 I fell with curses. Methinks thou art more honest now than wise, For by oppressing and betraying me Thou mightst have sooner got another service; For many so arrive at second masters 565 Upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true— For I must ever doubt, though ne’er so sure— Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts, Expecting in return twenty for one? 570 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. Suspect still comes where an estate is least. 575 That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind, Care of your food and living. And believe it, My most honored lord, For any benefit that points to me, 580 Either in hope or present, 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. (Timon offers gold.) The gods out of my 585 misery Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy, But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men; Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, But let the famished flesh slide from the bone 590 Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em, Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! 595 And so farewell and thrive. FLAVIUS O, let me stay And comfort you, my master. TIMON If thou hat’st curses, Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free. 600 Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee. They exit.	These are some very busy woods, it seems. Flavius shows up, but Timon doesn't seem to recognize him. He tells Flavius he can't remember anyone from Athens. Yeah, right. Flavius pities his master and tells him he was his honest servant. We sense a quip coming, and we're right, because Timon replies that he never had anyone around who was honest. Cue the waterworks. Flavius cries over Timon's state. He begs him to see that his tears are real and even offers his own money to Timon. Well, it works. Timon says Flavius is the only honest man he's ever known. He starts to rethink his whole philosophy that all men are flesh-eating beasts who prey on each other for fun. Okay, nope, Timon's gonna stick with that philosophy, after all. Then Timon gives Flavius a large portion of gold to repay him for his kindness. Here's the catch: Flavius cannot live with mankind; he has to be apart from them. On top of that, he can never, ever, ever give any charity to anyone, ever. Flavius wants to stay and comfort his master, but Timon sends him away.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Timon in the woods, with a spade.

TIMON
O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the Earth
Rotten humidity! Below thy sister’s orb
Infect the air! Twinned brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence, and birth
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes, 5
The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune
But by contempt of nature.
Raise me this beggar, and deny ’t that lord;
The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary, 10
The beggar native honor.
It is the pasture lards the brother’s sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who
dares
In purity of manhood stand upright 15
And say “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be,
So are they all, for every grise of fortune
Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate
Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy.
There’s nothing level in our cursèd natures 20
But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men.
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains.
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate 25
With thy most operant poison! (Digging, he finds
gold.) What is here?
Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold?
No, gods, I am no idle votarist.
Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will 30
make
Black white, foul fair, wrong right,
Base noble, old young, coward valiant.
Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why,
this 35
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads.
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions, bless th’ accursed,
Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves 40
And give them title, knee, and approbation
With senators on the bench. This is it
That makes the wappened widow wed again;
She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices 45
To th’ April day again. Come, damnèd earth,
Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. (March afar off.) Ha? A drum?
Thou ’rt quick, 50
But yet I’ll bury thee. Thou ’lt go, strong thief,
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

He buries the gold, keeping some out.

Somewhere in the middle of the woods, Timon curses mankind.

Timon has nothing left, so he searches for food in the woods. He starts digging and strikes gold. Literally: he finds gold in the ground.

But don't think that lucky break is going to put an end to all Timon's curses. He thinks back on the destruction gold can bring and decides to keep it buried. He only keeps a small amount for himself to use for food and supplies.

Enter Alcibiades, with Drum and Fife, in warlike
manner, and Phrynia and Timandra.

ALCIBIADES
What art thou there? Speak.

TIMON
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart 55
For showing me again the eyes of man!

ALCIBIADES
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee
That art thyself a man?

TIMON
I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, 60
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. Follow thy drum. 65
With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules!
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel.
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look. 70

PHRYNIA
Thy lips rot off!

TIMON
I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns
To thine own lips again.

ALCIBIADES
How came the noble Timon to this change?

TIMON
As the moon does, by wanting light to give. 75
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? 80

TIMON Promise me friendship, but perform none. If
thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for
thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound
thee, for thou art a man.

ALCIBIADES
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. 85

TIMON
Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity.

ALCIBIADES
I see them now. Then was a blessèd time.

TIMON
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.

TIMANDRA
Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world
Voiced so regardfully? 90

TIMON Art thou Timandra?

TIMANDRA Yes.

TIMON
Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee.
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves 95
For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth
To the tub-fast and the diet.

TIMANDRA
Hang thee, monster!

ALCIBIADES
Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drowned and lost in his calamities.— 100
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved
How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states, 105
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 dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone. 110

ALCIBIADES
Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.

TIMON Keep it. I cannot eat it.

Alcibiades enters, accompanied by two courtesans, Phrynia and Timandra, as well as a fife and drum and presumably a few soldiers.

Timon recognizes Alcibiades, but he doesn't trust him. He's no better than the rest of the Athenians. Timon utters some offensive things at Alcibiades and curses the courtesans to boot.

But when Alcibiades recognizes Timon, he pities him. He says he and his crew only have a small amount of cash, but they're happy to share it with Timon.

Timon, still feeling curmudgeonly, tells him to keep it. He has no use for it.

ALCIBIADES
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—

TIMON
Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens?

ALCIBIADES
Ay, Timon, and have cause. 115

TIMON
The gods confound them all in thy conquest,
And thee after, when thou hast conquered!

ALCIBIADES
Why me, Timon?

TIMON
That by killing of villains
Thou wast born to conquer my country. 120
Put up thy gold. Go on. Here’s gold. Go on.
Be as a planetary plague when Jove
Will o’er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.
Pity not honored age for his white beard; 125
He is an 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, for those milk paps,
That through the window-bars bore at men’s eyes, 130
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the
babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their
mercy; 135
Think it a bastard whom the oracle
Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut,
And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects;
Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes,
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, 140
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
Shall pierce a jot. (He offers gold.) There’s gold to
pay thy soldiers.
Make large confusion and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone. 145

ALCIBIADES
Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me,
Not all thy counsel.

TIMON
Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven’s curse upon thee!

BOTH WOMEN
Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more?

TIMON
Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, 150
And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
Your aprons mountant. (He begins throwing gold
into their aprons.) You are not oathable,
Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues 155
Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths.
I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still.
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up.
Let your close fire predominate his smoke, 160
And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months
Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
With burdens of the dead—some that were hanged,
No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore
still. 165
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face.
A pox of wrinkles!

BOTH WOMEN
Well, more gold. What then?
Believe ’t that we’ll do anything for gold.

TIMON
Consumptions sow 170
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,
And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice,
That he may never more false title plead
Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen,
That scolds against the quality of flesh 175
And not believes himself. Down with the nose—
Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away—
Of him that, his particular to foresee,
Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate
ruffians bald, 180
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 erection. There’s more gold.
Do you damn others, and let this damn you, 185
And ditches grave you all!

BOTH WOMEN
More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.

TIMON
More whore, more mischief first! I have given you
earnest.

ALCIBIADES
Strike up the drum towards Athens.—Farewell, 190
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 spok’st well of me. 195

ALCIBIADES Call’st thou that harm?

TIMON
Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take
Thy beagles with thee.

ALCIBIADES, to the Women
We but offend him.—
Strike. 200

The drum sounds; all but Timon exit.

The motley crew is on the way to attack Athens, and they'd love if Timon joined them.

Upon hearing this, Timon gives them some gold. Here's a bunch of wealth, Timon says, but it's loaded with a jumble of curses.

Timon wants Phrynia and Timandra to keep doing their job (as prostitutes) in Athens. Create more mischief, he commands. Lure men in and give them diseases.

TIMON
That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness,
Should yet be hungry! (He digs.) Common mother,
thou
Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle— 205
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed—
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm,
With all th’ abhorrèd births below crisp heaven
Whereon Hyperion’s quick’ning fire doth shine: 210
Yield him who all thy human sons do hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb;
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears; 215
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks!
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas,
Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts 220
And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips—

Enter Apemantus.

More man? Plague, plague!

APEMANTUS
I was directed hither. Men report
Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them. 225

TIMON
’Tis, then, because thou dost 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 future. Why this spade? This place? 230
This slavelike habit and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
By putting on the cunning of a carper. 235
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee,
And let his very breath whom thou ’lt observe
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus. 240
Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade
welcome,
To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just
That thou turn rascal. Had’st thou wealth again,
Rascals should have ’t. Do not assume my likeness. 245

TIMON
Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.

APEMANTUS
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself—
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees, 250
That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels
And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook,
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures
Whose naked natures live in all the spite 255
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks,
To the conflicting elements exposed,
Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee.
O, thou shalt find—

TIMON
A fool of thee. Depart. 260

APEMANTUS
I love thee better now than e’er I did.

TIMON
I hate thee worse.

APEMANTUS
Why?

TIMON
Thou flatter’st misery.

APEMANTUS
I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff. 265

TIMON Why dost thou seek me out?

APEMANTUS
To vex thee.

TIMON
Always a villain’s office or a fool’s.
Dost please thyself in ’t?

APEMANTUS
Ay. 270

TIMON
What, a knave too?

APEMANTUS
If thou didst put this sour cold habit on
To castigate thy pride, ’twere well, but thou
Dost it enforcedly. Thou ’dst courtier be again
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery 275
Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before;
The one is filling still, never complete,
The other at high wish. Best state, contentless,
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse than the worst, content. 280
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

TIMON
Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm
With favor never clasped but bred a dog.
Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded 285
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged
thyself
In general riot, melted down thy youth 290
In different beds of lust, and never learned
The icy precepts of respect, but followed
The sugared game before thee. But myself—
Who had the world as my confectionary,
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of 295
men
At duty, more than I could frame employment,
That numberless upon me stuck as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter’s brush
Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare, 300
For every storm that blows—I to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden.
Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time
Hath made thee hard in ’t. Why shouldst thou hate
men? 305
They never flattered thee. What hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff
To some she-beggar and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone. 310
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.

After Alcibiades and his crew depart for Athens, Timon reflects on what just happened. He's pretty disgusted with mankind in general. All people care about is money.

In walks Apemantus, the grumbler. He's full of his usual glass-half-empty comments, but he's interested in Timon.

Isn't it fascinating, Apemantus notes, that Timon was once the belle of the ball, and now he hates everyone? He thinks about how cynical Timon has become and decides he quite likes the man now. After all, they're really similar, right?

Timon is outright offended. He's not like Apemantus, he says. Apemantus has never been loved, so he hates everyone. Timon, on the other hand, has been flattered up and down but then betrayed by everyone he knows. Timon insists that his distaste for mankind is warranted, but Apemantus's is not.

APEMANTUS
Art thou proud yet?

TIMON
Ay, that I am not thee.

APEMANTUS
I, that I was no prodigal. 315

TIMON
I, that I am one now.
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this!
Thus would I eat it. 320

He gnaws a root.

APEMANTUS, offering food
Here, I will mend thy feast.

TIMON
First mend my company. Take away thyself.

APEMANTUS
So I shall mend mine own by th’ lack of thine.

TIMON
’Tis not well mended so; it is but botched.
If not, I would it were. 325

APEMANTUS What wouldst thou have to Athens?

TIMON
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.

APEMANTUS
Here is no use for gold.

TIMON The best and truest, 330
For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.

APEMANTUS Where liest a-nights, Timon?

TIMON Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou
a-days, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS
Where my stomach finds meat, or rather 335
where I eat it.

TIMON Would poison were obedient and knew my
mind!

APEMANTUS
Where wouldst thou send it?

TIMON To sauce thy dishes. 340

APEMANTUS
The middle of humanity thou never
knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When
thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they
mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags
thou know’st none, but art despised for the contrary. 345
There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it.

TIMON
On what I hate I feed not.

APEMANTUS
Dost hate a medlar?

TIMON Ay, though it look like thee.

APEMANTUS
An thou ’dst hated meddlers sooner, thou 350
shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man
didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved
after his means?

TIMON Who, without those means thou talk’st of, didst
thou ever know beloved? 355

APEMANTUS
Myself.

TIMON
I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to
keep a dog.

APEMANTUS
What things in the world canst thou nearest
compare to thy flatterers? 360

TIMON
Women nearest, but men—men are the things
themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world,
Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

APEMANTUS Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.

TIMON
Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion 365
of men and remain a beast with the beasts?

APEMANTUS
Ay, Timon.

TIMON A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee
t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would
beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would 370
eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect
thee when peradventure thou wert accused by
the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would
torment thee, and still thou lived’st but as a breakfast
to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness 375
would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard
thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn,
pride and wrath would confound thee and
make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert
thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse. 380
Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the
leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane
to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were
jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and
thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be 385
that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast
art thou already that seest not thy loss in
transformation!

APEMANTUS
If thou couldst please me with speaking to
me, thou mightst have hit upon it here. The commonwealth 390
of Athens is become a forest of beasts.

TIMON
How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art
out of the city?

APEMANTUS Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The
plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to 395
catch it and give way. When I know not what else
to do, I’ll see thee again.

TIMON
When there is nothing living but thee, thou
shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog
than Apemantus. 400

APEMANTUS
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

TIMON
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

APEMANTUS
A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.

TIMON
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.

APEMANTUS
There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st. 405

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. 410
I swoon to see thee.

APEMANTUS
Would thou wouldst burst!

TIMON
Away, thou tedious rogue!
I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.

Timon throws a stone at Apemantus.

APEMANTUS
Beast! 415

TIMON Slave!

APEMANTUS
Toad!

TIMON Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon ’t. 420
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave.
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others’ lives may laugh.
(To his gold.) O thou sweet king-killer and dear 425
divorce
’Twixt natural son and sire, thou bright defiler
Of Hymen’s purest bed, thou valiant Mars,
Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow 430
That lies on Dian’s lap; thou visible god,
That sold’rest close impossibilities
And mak’st them kiss, that speak’st with every
tongue
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts, 435
Think thy slave, man, rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!

APEMANTUS Would ’twere so!
But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou ’st gold; 440
Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.

TIMON Thronged to?

APEMANTUS Ay.

TIMON
Thy back, I prithee.

APEMANTUS
Live and love thy misery. 445

TIMON
Long live so, and so die. I am quit.

Enter the Banditti.

APEMANTUS
More things like men.—Eat, Timon, and abhor
them.

Apemantus exits.

Timon is being pretty hateful, bu Apemantus doesn't give up so easily. He keeps arguing, saying he thinks Timon would become a rich guy again if he had the choice. He keeps telling Timon they are twinsies and even tries to help him prepare a meal.

The curses continue. This time, Timon is firing them away: he asks Apemantus if anyone has ever loved him. Just myself, Apemantus replies. Timon just mocks Apemantus more.

When Timon asks Apemantus what should be done with the world, Apemantus says: "Give it to the beasts."

Timon thinks that's just about the dumbest idea ever; Athens is already full of beasts, he says. He curses Apemantus some more and then throws stones at him to make him leave. As Apemantus is heading out, some bandits enter. Apemantus says, "Oh look. More men for you to hate," and leaves.

FIRST BANDIT
Where should he have this gold? It is
some poor fragment, some slender ort of his 450
remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from
of his friends drove him into this melancholy.

SECOND BANDIT
It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.

THIRD BANDIT Let us make the assay upon him. If he
care not for ’t, he will supply us easily. If he covetously 455
reserve it, how shall ’s get it?

SECOND BANDIT
True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis
hid.

FIRST BANDIT
Is not this he?

OTHERS Where? 460

SECOND BANDIT
’Tis his description.

THIRD BANDIT He. I know him.

ALL
Save thee, Timon.

TIMON Now, thieves?

ALL
Soldiers, not thieves. 465

TIMON
Both, too, and women’s sons.

ALL
We are not thieves, but men that much do want.

TIMON
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots.
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs. 470
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips.
The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?

FIRST BANDIT
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes. 475

TIMON
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves, 480
Here’s gold. (He gives them gold.) Go, suck the
subtle blood o’ th’ grape
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so ’scape hanging. Trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays 485
More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together.
Do, villainy, do, since you protest to do ’t,
Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery.
The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea. The moon’s an arrant thief, 490
And 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 composture stol’n
From gen’ral excrement. Each thing’s a thief. 495
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away!
Rob one another. There’s more gold. (He gives them
gold.) Cut throats.
All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go. 500
Break open shops. Nothing can you steal
But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you,
And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen.

THIRD BANDIT Has almost charmed me from my profession
by persuading me to it. 505

FIRST BANDIT
’Tis in the malice of mankind that he
thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our
mystery.

SECOND BANDIT
I’ll believe him as an enemy and give
over my trade. 510

FIRST BANDIT
Let us first see peace in Athens. There is
no time so miserable but a man may be true.

Thieves exit.

The bandits claim to be soldiers in need of supplies, but Timon calls their bluff. He knows they've heard about his pot of gold. Even though he knows they are lying, he gives them some gold anyway.

Then he tells them to go rob and pillage, cut throats, basically wreak havoc on Athens. (His grudge is not mellowing with time.)

The bandits take the gold. Then, while talking amongst themselves they say that by encouraging them to do such horrible things, Timon has almost caused them to rethink their thieving ways. Almost.

Enter Flavius the Steward, to Timon.

FLAVIUS
O you gods!
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and flailing? O, monument 515
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed!
What an alteration of honor has desp’rate want
made!
What viler thing upon the Earth than friends,
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! 520
How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise,
When man was wished to love his enemies!
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me than those that do!
Has caught me in his eye. I will present 525
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 forgot me, sir?

TIMON
Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men. 530
Then, if thou grant’st thou ’rt a man, I have forgot
thee.

FLAVIUS An honest poor servant of yours.

TIMON Then I know thee not.
I never had honest man about me, I. All 535
I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.

FLAVIUS The gods are witness,
Ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.

He weeps.

TIMON
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love 540
thee
Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping.
Strange times that weep with laughing, not with 545
weeping!

FLAVIUS
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
T’ accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts,
To entertain me as your steward still.

He offers money.

TIMON Had I a steward 550
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
Was born of woman.
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, 555
You perpetual-sober gods. I do proclaim
One honest man—mistake me not, but one;
No more, I pray!—and he’s a steward.
How fain would I have hated all mankind,
And thou redeem’st thyself. But all, save thee, 560
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise,
For by oppressing and betraying me
Thou mightst have sooner got another service;
For many so arrive at second masters 565
Upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true—
For I must ever doubt, though ne’er so sure—
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return twenty for one? 570

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.
Suspect still comes where an estate is least. 575
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind,
Care of your food and living. And believe it,
My most honored lord,
For any benefit that points to me, 580
Either in hope or present, 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. (Timon offers gold.) The gods out of my 585
misery
Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
But let the famished flesh slide from the bone 590
Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em,
Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted
woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods! 595
And so farewell and thrive.

FLAVIUS
O, let me stay
And comfort you, my master.

TIMON If thou hat’st curses,
Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free. 600
Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee.

They exit.

These are some very busy woods, it seems. Flavius shows up, but Timon doesn't seem to recognize him. He tells Flavius he can't remember anyone from Athens. Yeah, right.

Flavius pities his master and tells him he was his honest servant. We sense a quip coming, and we're right, because Timon replies that he never had anyone around who was honest.

Cue the waterworks. Flavius cries over Timon's state. He begs him to see that his tears are real and even offers his own money to Timon.

Well, it works. Timon says Flavius is the only honest man he's ever known. He starts to rethink his whole philosophy that all men are flesh-eating beasts who prey on each other for fun.

Okay, nope, Timon's gonna stick with that philosophy, after all.

Then Timon gives Flavius a large portion of gold to repay him for his kindness. Here's the catch: Flavius cannot live with mankind; he has to be apart from them. On top of that, he can never, ever, ever give any charity to anyone, ever.

Flavius wants to stay and comfort his master, but Timon sends him away.

The Life of Timon of Athens: Act 4, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 3 of The Life of Timon of Athens from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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