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)
Luc.
Words
373
Characters
1953
Typicality
0.52 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.29
BritDrama no.
1536
Cluster
Cluster 13 — Attendant courtiers & citizens
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Here at your Lordship's service. I my good Lord, and she accepts of it. Humbly I thank your Lordship, never may That state or Fortune fallen into my keeping, Which is not owed to you. You see my Lord, how ample you are beloved. One of Lord Timon's men? A Gift I warrant. Why this hits right: I dreamt of a Silver Basin & Ewre to night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very re spectiuely welcome sir. Fill me some Wine. And how does that Honourable, Complete, Freehearted Gentle man of Athens, thy very bountiful good Lord and May ster? I am right glad that his health is well sir: and what hast thou there under thy Cloak, pretty Flaminius? La, la, la, la: Nothing doubting says he? Alas good Lord, a Noble Gentleman it's, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I would dined with him, and told him on't, and come again to supper to him of purpose, to have him spend less, and yet he would em brace no counsel, take no warning by my coming, eve ry man has his fault, and honesty is his. I would told him on't, but I could never get him from't. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy endue, and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in thee; get you gone sir rah. Draw nearer honest Flaminius. Thy Lords a boun tifull Gentleman, but thou art wise, and thou knowest well enough (although thou comest to me) that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bore friendship without security. Here's three Solidars for thee, good Boy wink at me, and say thou sawest me not. Fare thee well. Would? Now I see thou art a Fool, and fit for thy Master. Who the Lord Timon ? He is my very good friend and and Honourable Gentleman. Dost thou speak seriously Servilius ? Flaminius ? Sir, a word: Pray is my Lord ready to come forth? Alas, my Lord. Five thousand Crowns, my Lord.
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.