in Timon of Athens — Shakespeare, William; Middleton, Thomas
Metadata
Play
Timon of Athens
Author
Shakespeare, William; Middleton, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1623
First performance
1607
Decade
1620s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
King's Men
Speech prefix(es)
Lucius. | Luci.
Words
441
Characters
2269
Typicality
0.23 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.29
BritDrama no.
1536
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Fie no, do not believe it: he cannot want for money. How? What a strange case was that? Now before the Gods I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man? There was very little Honour showed in't. For my own partly, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as Money, Plate, Jewels, and such Like Trifles; nothing comparing to his: yet had he mi stook him, and sent to me, I should never have denied his Occasion so many Talents. Would? what ha he sent? I am so much endeared to that Lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank him thinkest thou? And what has he sent now? What a wicked Beast was I to disfurnish my self against such a good time, when I might would shown my self Honourable? How unluckily it happened, that I should Purchase the day before for a little partly, and undo a great deal of Honour? Servilius now before the Gods I am not able to do (the more beast I say) I was sending to use Lord Timon my self, these Gentlemen can witness; but I would not for the wealth of Athens I had done't now. Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship, and I hope his Honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions say, that I cannot pleasure such and Honourable Gentleman. Good Servili us, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him? I, and I think one business do's command us all. For mine is money. And sir Philotus too. Welcome good Brother. What do you think the hour? So much? Not yet. I, but the days are waxed shorter with him: You must consider, that a Prodigal course Is Like the Suns, but not Like his recoverable, I fear: It's deepest Winter in Lord Timon's purse, that is: One may reach deep enough, and yet find little. Mark how strange it shows, Timon in this, should pay more then he owes: And e'ne as if your Lord should wear rich Jewels, And send for money for they. Five thousand mine. Would: is not that his Steward muffled so? He goes away in a Cloud: Call him, call him. I, but this answer will not serve. Many do keep their Chambers, are not sick: And if it be so far beyond his health, Me thinks he should the sooner pay his debts, And make a clear way to the Gods. Put in now Titus. Here's mine.
Plot summary
Plot — Timon of Athens
; Timon gives freely of his riches to his acquaintances: every little gift will trigger disproportionate largesse by way of requital. He intervenes financially to secure Ventidius’ release from a debtors’ prison, and settles money on his servant Lucilius to enable him to marry the girl he loves, a wealthy man’s daughter. He entertains guests at a lavish feast at which a masque of Amazons is performed. But his creditors. are alarmed by his uncontrolled spending, and call in his debts, which amount to more than the value of his entire estate. He imagines that he can still call on the former recipients of his liberality, but they make their excuses and leave him in difficulties; he is failed even by Ventidius, now a rich man after his father’s death. Timon lays on a second feast, and invites his unreliable friends; they think normal service has been resumed, but are discomfited to find that the menu consists of water alone. Timon drives them off with abuse and leaves Athens in misanthropic fury. Alcibiades attempts to save a friend from execution for murder, but the Senate dismisses the appeal; when he persists, they banish him. In the forest, Timon digs for roots to eat, but finds only buried gold. He meets Alcibiades, marching against Athens with his soldiers, and gives him gold to ensure the city’s destruction; he also pays the army’s whores to spread venereal disease. He encourages a band of thieves to prey upon mankind, but his words persuade them to rethink their way of life. His faithful steward seeks him out and offers to share his own savings; Timon rewards him for his honesty but does not change his low opinion of the rest of humanity. News gets round that Timon still has gold, and hangers-on arrive, hoping this means his bankruptcy was only a bluff to test his friends; he drives them violently away. The Senate asks Timon to return to Athens as its tuler, to defend it against Alcibiades, but Timon, who is busy writing his own epitaph, wishes annihilation on them, and recommends suicide as their only means of escape. Alcibiades’ messenger to Timon finds only his tomb. Athens surrenders, and Timon’s epitaph is read.