Timon of Athens
At Timon's house in Athens, a poet, painter, and jeweler compare
the gifts each plans to give to Lord Timon. He appears and
a messenger informs him Noble Ventidius is in need of money.
Without hesitation, Timon promises it to him. Then, an Old
Athenian appears and complains that Timon's servant Lucilius
is wrongly courting his daughter. Timon convinces the man
to let Lucilius marry his daughter, provided Timon provides
Lucilius with sufficient money to support the marriage. Next,
Apemantus, a "churlish philosopher" enters and all
enjoy trading insults with him. Timon holds a great feast
and all attend and eat much, while Timon, who is simply content
to be surround by "his friends", eats little. After
supper, all dance with women and Timon showers jewels upon
everybody. Timon's steward Flavius complains that Timon is
too generous and already he begins to go into debt. Apemantus
echoes this feeling in private.
At a senator's house, he tells his servant Caphis to go to
Timon and demand he repay his debts to the Senator. We learn
the senator fears Timon will soon be unable to repay his debts,
and so he wants the money now. Caphis arrives at Timon's house
and demands the money; Varro's and Isidore's servants also
arrive demanding their master's money. Timon promises Flavius
will pay them, but Flavius finally convinces Timon that he
is beyond broke and is in fact deep in debt. Timon sends Flaminus
and Servilius to ask for loans from Lucius, Lucullus, and
Sempronius, then asks Flavius to visit the senators. However,
Flavius explains he has already seen the senators, and they
have all denied him money. Timon, although growing fearful
continues to believe that his "friends" will help
him since he has always helped them in the past, particularly
Ventidius.
Flaminus comes to Lucullus asking for 50 talents, but is quickly
denied any money. Lucullus actually (falsely) claims to have
told Timon to behave less lavishly in the past. A servant
of Lucius' relays this event to him, and Lucius vows to help
Timon. But when Servilius appears to Lucius and asks for 5500
talents, Lucius quickly goes back on his word and claims (falsely)
that he himself is nearly broke. Another servant approaches
Sempronius for money. He asks about Lucius', Lucullus', and
Ventidius' gifts and is told all have refused Timon money.
Sempronius refuses also, claiming he is insulted that he is
the last one to be asked for money and was not approached
first. At Timon's house, all of Timon's "friends'"
servants are there to demand Timon repay his debts. Flavius
tries to explain they are beyond being broke, but the servants
will not listen. Timon scares them all off in a fit of rage,
then declares he will hold one last feast for all the "knaves".
At the Senate house, the senators decide Timon should die
for his debts. The captain Alcibiades valiantly plead's for
Timon's life, but is ignored by the senators. Eventually,
they tire of his pleadings and banish him from Athens, effective
two days hence. Alcibiades decides privately to muster his
armies and attack Athens. At Timon's house, he holds his final
banquet. He ends up serving the lords pots of warm water and
throws it in their faces causing them to flee. The lords report
to the senators that Timon has gone mad.
In a mad speech of rage, Timon vows to flee to the woods and
quickly grow to hate mankind. Remaining in his house, Timon's
servants gather and Flavius gives them some money, then departs
in search of Timon. At Timon's cave in the woods, he rails
against mankind then, while searching for food (roots), he
finds buried gold, placed there by the Gods for Timon. Alcibiades,
on his way to Athens, comes across Timon. He, having no need
for gold, gives what he has to Alcibiades, but chides him
still, simply because he is a man. Next, Apemantus appears
and decides he likes Timon now since he hates mankind. Timon
instructs him to tell the nobles of Athens he has new-found
gold. Apemantus leaves and three thieves/bandits appear and
ask for some of his gold. However, seeing Timon in his misery
causes the thieves to let him be and leave. Next, Flavius
appears while searching for Timon and finds Timon as he grows
sicker. Timon soon declares Flavius to be the one honest man
left in the world. Yet, Timon sends Flavius away and retreats
into his cave.
The poet and the painter then appear, having heard rumors
of Timon's gold. Initially Timon leads them on by claiming
they are honest men, then he chases them off in a rage. Lastly,
Flavius appears with two senators from Athens who tell Timon
in return for his money, he may return to Athens forgiven,
and help fight off Alcibiades. Timon pretends to agree, then
shuns them all and tells them he hopes Alcibiades sacks Athens.
Later, a soldier comes across Timon's cave and finds he is
dead, leaving his own epitaph, which he brings to Alcibiades.
At Athens, Alcibiades overtakes the city and the senators
make payment to him to keep him from sacking Athens. He agrees
to only seek reparations from Timon's "friends".
He then reads Timon's epitaph and asks all to remember him.
a Timon of Athens
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