Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens (38 page)

The Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant meet outside Timon’s house, praising him and comparing what they have brought for him. The Poet’s contribution is a moral exemplum depicting the goddess Fortune, Timon, and his followers. When she spurns him, they abandon him. Timon enters, and after greeting all his “suitors” he agrees with a Messenger to pay the debt of “five talents” owed by “Noble Ventidius.” He is then approached by an Old Man who complains that one of Timon’s servants, Lucilius, “frequents” his house, attempting to gain his only daughter’s love, but that he is too poor and humble a match for her. Timon offers to give Lucilius enough money to satisfy the Old Man and allow him to marry and set up house with his daughter. The Poet, Painter, and Jeweller all present their offerings to Timon who accepts them, saying he will pay them all shortly. Apemantus enters, mocking and insulting all present. Alcibiades arrives and Timon invites him inside. Apemantus remains outside to insult two more Lords who arrive to the feast. They threaten him and he departs, after which they criticize Apemantus and compare him unfavorably with Timon and his generosity.

Timon gives a “great banquet,” attended by Athenian lords and Senators, Alcibiades, Ventidius, and Apemantus. Ventidius, whose debt Timon repaid, has now inherited his father’s fortune and offers to repay what he owes, but Timon refuses. Timon greets Apemantus who claims he has come only to “observe.” He insults all and rails at the extravagance and all those who flatter Timon. Cupid enters with a masque of Ladies. The Lords dance with them. After Cupid and the Ladies exit, Timon calls Flavius to bring his casket. In an aside Flavius warns against the dangers of his excessive generosity. As the
Lords are about to depart Timon gives them all rich jewels from his casket. Flavius attempts to speak to his master about his precarious financial situation, but Timon puts him off and asks for entertainment to be provided for more nobles who have just arrived bringing gifts of horses and greyhounds and an invitation to go hunting. Timon accepts everything and promises generous remuneration, although in another aside Flavius confesses that Timon’s coffers are empty and he is deeply in debt. Meanwhile Timon continues to give gifts to the Lords. When they have all finally gone, Apemantus confronts Timon with his folly, but he refuses to listen.

A Senator who has loaned Timon money concludes that Timon is living beyond his means and that the situation cannot continue. He tells his servant, Caphis, to go to Timon and explain that he now finds himself in need and requests Timon to repay what he owes.

Lines 1–55:
Flavius is lamenting Timon’s situation and his refusal to listen to him but decides he must make him understand, when Caphis and two more Servants come to demand their masters’ money. Timon enters with his party who have been hunting. Caphis asks Timon for the moneys owed and is referred to Flavius, but he replies that he’s already applied to the steward and been put off. The other Servants complain of the same treatment. Timon sends his friends in while he demands an explanation from Flavius. Flavius suggests the Servants wait till after dinner while he makes Timon understand why they haven’t been paid. He and Timon go inside.

Lines 56–205:
The Servants are about to follow when Apemantus and the Fool arrive; they decide to stay and have “some sport” with them. There is a general exchange of insults. Timon’s Page arrives and joins in. Timon and Flavius reenter and Apemantus and the Fool leave. Flavius asks the Servants to stay nearby and he will speak with them “anon.” Timon then expostulates with Flavius as to why he
hasn’t explained his situation before, and Flavius explains that he has tried on many occasions but Timon always refused to listen. Timon suggests selling his land but Flavius confirms it is mortgaged or already lost. He explains how hard and honestly he has worked and how much sorrow he has felt. Timon, however, is optimistic that he can rely on his friends to assist him now and sends his Servants to Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius to ask for “fifty talents.”

Lines 206–48:
The Servants leave and Flavius confesses that he has previously approached Lord Lucius and Lucullus but they both refused; with their “cold-moving nods” he was frozen into silence. Timon refuses to be downcast and argues that that’s because they’re old, but that if he goes to Ventidius, who is now rich and whose debts Timon repaid when he was poor, he will give him the five talents owed. However, Flavius fears that Timon will be disappointed again.

Timon’s servant Flaminius is waiting for Lucullus. When Lucullus arrives and sees Flaminius, he assumes that Timon has another gift for him. When he understands that Flaminius is there to borrow money he refuses, flatters him and gives him “three solidares” to say he hasn’t seen him. Flaminius is disgusted and throws the money back at Lucullus who tells him he’s “a fool and fit for [his] master.” Flaminius curses him and his ingratitude.

Lucius and three Strangers discuss Timon’s affairs. Lucius cannot believe that Timon is really in need and is shocked when he hears that Lucullus refused him money when Timon asked. He claims that he would not behave so if Timon had applied to him. Servilius arrives with a note from Timon asking for five hundred talents. Lucius thinks he must be joking, but when he realizes he’s in earnest, regrets that he’s unable to help because only the day before he spent a sum of money. He sends his good wishes, however, and leaves. The
Strangers discuss Lucius’ ingratitude in the face of Timon’s previous generosity.

Sempronius tells another of Timon’s Servants that he cannot understand why Timon has applied to him for money rather than Lucius, Lucullus, and Ventidius. The Servant explains that they have already refused his requests, and Sempronius then refuses on the grounds that Timon didn’t apply to him first but to these others and leaves. The Servant sees through his excuse, calling him a “goodly villain.”

Timon’s creditors’ Servants are all waiting for him outside his house. Flavius appears and says he has nothing left. Timon enters “in a rage” and is immediately beset by the creditors calling in their debts. He exits cursing them and they believe he’s mad.

Timon enters, still angry. Flavius tries to calm him, but Timon tells him to invite all his “friends” to one more feast. When Flavius objects that there’s hardly any food left, Timon tells him not to worry, just invite them and he and his cook will provide.

Alcibiades pleads with the Senators to excuse a soldier friend for killing another man in anger. The Senators, however, refuse his request, even when he extols his friend’s previous brave deeds in defense of Athens, and insist on the death penalty. Alcibiades then urges his own reputation and their debt to him. In response the Senators banish him and say that he will himself be executed if he doesn’t leave Athens within two days. Alcibiades is furious and curses them for their ingratitude.

The Lords have all gathered at Timon’s for his feast. They presume he was merely testing them when he asked for money and they all make their excuses as to why they were unable to help him. When Timon arrives he dismisses their fears, telling them not to worry. The banquet is brought in covered dishes and the guests expect a pleasant feast. They discuss Alcibiades’ banishment. Timon bids them all draw near and encourages them to sit down. He speaks a lengthy paradoxical grace, concluding that “these my present friends” are “nothing” to him “and to nothing are they welcome.” He concludes bitterly “Uncover, dogs, and lap!” as the covers are removed from the serving dishes to reveal warm water and stones. Disillusioned Timon now rails at and curses his guests, throwing the water and stones at them. The Lords conclude that he has gone mad.

Standing outside the walls of Athens, Timon looks back on the city and curses it and all the inhabitants, desiring misfortune for them and the growth of his own hate “To the whole race of mankind, high and low! Amen.”

Timon’s Servants question Flavius about Timon’s change of fortune, scarcely able to believe the ingratitude shown by his previous friends. They are still loyal to Timon and embrace before parting “rich in sorrow, parting poor.” Flavius says he will seek Timon out and continue to serve him.

Lines 1–186:
Alone in the woods, Timon reflects in disgust on the world and the nature of mankind. While digging for “roots” he finds gold and curses the terrible effects “This yellow slave” has on society. He hears a drum and Alcibiades enters, accompanied by Phrynia
and Timandra. Although Timon calls himself “Misanthropos,” Alcibiades recognizes him but doesn’t know what has happened to him. He offers friendship, but Timon is scornful and bitter. He offers him gold, which Timon refuses, but when he learns that Alcibiades is marching against Athens he offers him the gold he has just found in the earth to destroy the city. Alcibiades takes it and Phrynia and Timandra ask for some. He tells them to lift up their aprons and then he throws it at them, cursing them and instructing them to ruin as many men as they can with venereal disease. The drum strikes up and Timon tells them all to be gone. He doesn’t wish to see even Alcibiades again.

Lines 187–300:
Timon continues to dig after they leave, asking nature to send him a root to eat and is delighted when he finds one. Apemantus enters, having heard that Timon is now behaving in the same way as he does, cursing and railing at society. Timon curses him and Apemantus tells him that his melancholy is merely a response to his misfortune, that such behavior isn’t natural to him. He should now learn to behave like all those flatterers used to do to him and repay them in that way, rather than “assume my likeness.” They argue and continue to insult each other. Apemantus says it’s just Timon’s pride; he’d be “courtier” again if he weren’t a beggar. If his misery were real, he’d wish to die. Timon says that if Apemantus had been rich and fortunate, he’d have wasted and rioted everything away. He has no reason to hate people; his curses should be directed at his father.

Lines 301–416:
Apemantus offers him food, which Timon refuses. He shows Apemantus the gold he’s found but now scorns and tells him he would poison him if he could. Apemantus tells him “The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends.” He tries to reason with Timon, asking who was ever loved when all their money was spent. Timon replies, asking who was ever loved without money, to which Apemantus replies, “Myself.” Timon replies he must have had enough to keep a dog then. When asked what he would do with the world if he had the power, Apemantus replies that he would “Give it to the beasts, to be rid of the men.” But Timon argues that this is an unworthy ambition and details all the hazards of animals’
lives. They continue to argue and insult each other. Timon, though, is “sick of this false world” and wishes only to die and be buried by the shore, “where the light foam of the sea may beat / Thy gravestone daily.” He composes his own epitaph. Apemantus says he will say that Timon has gold and that everyone will want to come and visit him. However, Timon only wants him to go, and Apemantus leaves.

Lines 417–76:
Some bandits enter discussing Timon’s gold and determined to take it from him. He accuses them of being thieves, but they say they need the gold. He says all they need is food, but they say they cannot live like animals. Timon contemptuously gives them gold and tells them to go and destroy themselves with it, claiming that everyone and everything is a thief, including the sun, who “with his great attraction / Robs the vast sea” and the moon, “an arrant thief / And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.” The bandits are so convinced by his argument that they contemplate giving up their “mystery” (craft) or “trade” and leave.

Lines 477–559:
Flavius enters. He is shocked by the sight of Timon and contemplates his misery and ruin with grief and pity. When he makes himself known to his old master, Timon refuses at first to believe he had any “honest man” about him, but seeing the steward’s grief, he accepts that there is indeed “One honest man,” but he is still suspicious and asks Flavius if his kindness is not for some cunning end. Flavius denies it, adding that Timon should have been more suspicious of others’ motives earlier. Flavius says his only wish is for Timon to be restored to his former fortune and position. Timon believes him and gives him gold, telling him to “Go, live rich and happy” but warning him not to give it away to men. Flavius begs to stay and comfort his old master, but Timon tells him to go and never see him again.

Lines 1–121:
The Poet and Painter arrive looking for Timon, having heard that he now has gold again. They assume it has been an act on his part to test his friends in Athens and that he will resume his old lifestyle so that it is worth their while visiting him to “tender our
loves.” They haven’t brought him anything but promise to make him something in the future. Timon overhears their plans, making cynical asides about them and their moral worth. Timon steps forward and greets them, calling them “two honest men.” The Poet says he is shocked by the ingratitude of Timon’s friends. Timon flatters them, claiming that being “honest” as they are is the best demonstration of the ingratitude of the rest. They say they have gratefully received his generosity in the past and have come to offer their service. Timon makes them confess that they have heard he has gold, but they deny that is the reason for their visit and he ambiguously claims that they “draw’st a counterfeit / Best in all Athens.” Nevertheless, he says they have a fault, they trust a “knave / That mightily deceives [them].” He plays with them until finally telling them that they themselves are the cheating rogues and he throws stones at them, challenging them to “make gold of that.” Timon retires to his cave.