The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (1036 page)

But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;

And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man

When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!--

He does deny him, in respect of his,

What charitable men afford to beggars.

Why, this is the way the world works; and every

flatterer has the same character. Who can call

someone a friend just because he shares a meal?

To my knowledge, Timon has been like a father to this lord,

maintained his credit with his own money,

supported his establishment; why, Timon's money

has paid his servants' wages: he never drinks

without it being from a silver cup of Timon's;

and yet–oh, see how monstrous men are when they

become ungrateful!

He is refusing him something which, in proportion,

is just what a kind man would give to a beggar.

Third Stranger

Religion groans at it.

The gods despair at it.

First Stranger

For mine own part,

I never tasted Timon in my life,

Nor came any of his bounties over me,

To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,

For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue

And honourable carriage,

Had his necessity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,

And the best half should have return'd to him,

So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,

Men must learn now with pity to dispense;

For policy sits above conscience.

Exeunt

On my part,

I've never had any experience of Timon,

and never have I had any of his largess

to make me his friend; but, I swear,

for his very noble mind, shining virtues

and honourable conduct,

if he had applied to me in his hour of need,

I would have regarded my wealth as his gift,

and would have sent more than half back to him,

that's how much I admire him: but, I see,

men must now learn to be pitiless;

desires triumph over conscience.

Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON's

SEMPRONIUS

Must he needs trouble me in 't,--hum!--'bove

all others?

He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these

Owe their estates unto him.

Does he need to bother me about it–hmph!–more

than anyone else?

He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;

and now Ventidius is wealthy too,

and he got him out of prison; all of them

owe their wealth to him.

Servant

My lord,

They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for

They have all denied him.

My lord,

they have all been tried and found to be false,

they have all turned him down.

SEMPRONIUS

How! have they denied him?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?

And does he send to me? Three? hum!

It shows but little love or judgment in him:

Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like

physicians,

Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?

Has much disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him,

That might have known my place: I see no sense for't,

But his occasion might have woo'd me first;

For, in my conscience, I was the first man

That e'er received gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,

That I'll requite its last? No:

So it may prove an argument of laughter

To the rest, and 'mongst lords I be thought a fool.

I'ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,

Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;

I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;

Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.

Exit

What? Have they refused him?

Have Ventidius and Lucullus refused him?

And he's sent to me?  Three of them?  Eh?

This shows he doesn't have much love always done.

Am I to be his last resort? His friends who have done well

on his money give up on him; do I have to sort it all out?

This is a great insult to me; I'm angry with him,

I should have been top of his list. I can't see why

he didn't ask me first when he was in need:

for, to the best of my belief, I was the first man

that ever got a gift from him.

And does he think so little of me now

that I'm the last person he asks? No:

this way all the rest will laugh

at me, and the lords will think I'm a fool.

I would pay three times the sum he mentions

to have him ask me first, just because of my liking for him;

I was so keen to help him. But now send back to him

and add this answer to the unsupportive ones he already has:

if you insult my honour you won't get my money.

Servant

Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The

devil knew not what he did when he made man

politic; he crossed himself by 't: and I cannot

think but, in the end, the villainies of man will

set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to

appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked,

like those that under hot ardent zeal would set

whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his

politic love.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,

Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,

Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards

Many a bounteous year must be employ'd

Now to guard sure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

Exit

Excellent! Your lordship is a proper villain. The

devil didn't know what he was doing when he made men

cunning; he did himself a bad turn: and I can only

think that, in the end, the villainy of mankind will

triumph. What a good job this lord does of looking

innocent when being evil! He imitates a virtuous man

in order to be wicked, like those religious types who are

willing for whole countries to suffer for their faith:

this is what his cunning love is like.

This was my lord's best chance; now everyone but the

gods have given up on him: now he has no friends,

doors that were always open to him before

in the good times will now be used

to keep their master locked away.

This is all that generosity gets you;

you end up hiding in your house from your creditors.

Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants of TIMON's creditors, waiting his coming out

Varro's First Servant

Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

Good day to you, Titus and Hortensius.

TITUS

The like to you kind Varro.

The same to you, kind Varro.

HORTENSIUS

Lucius!

What, do we meet together?

Lucius!

Both here once, are we?

Lucilius' Servant

Ay, and I think

One business does command us all; for mine is money.

Yes, and I think

we're all here on the same business; I'm here for money.

TITUS

So is theirs and ours.

So are we and so are they.

Enter PHILOTUS

Lucilius' Servant

And Sir Philotus too!

And here's Sir Philotus as well!

PHILOTUS

Good day at once.

Good day to you all.

Lucilius' Servant

Welcome, good brother.

What do you think the hour?

Welcome, good brother.

What time is it?

PHILOTUS

Labouring for nine.

It's getting on towards nine.

Lucilius' Servant

So much?

As late as that?

PHILOTUS

Is not my lord seen yet?

Hasn't he been out yet?

Lucilius' Servant

Not yet.

Not yet.

PHILOTUS

I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.

I'm surprised; he used to come out at seven.

Lucilius' Servant

Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him:

You must consider that a prodigal course

Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.

I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;

That is one may reach deep enough, and yet

Find little.

Yes, but his days have grown shorter now:

you must think that the life of the profligate man

is like the orbit of the sun; but unlike the sun

he doesn't return after he has set.

I'm afraid it's deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;

one can reach as deep as one wants, but

you won't find anything.