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 Timon was a nobleman who lived in the city
of Athens. His father left him a great fortune and he soon
became well known for his generosity. He loved to give presents
to the people he knew, and he loved to help those in need. His
house was open to everyone.
Traders and merchants were always coming to his house to sell
him things. They never asked him to pay his bills immediately.
They knew he was so rich that they had nothing to worry about.
Poets and artists came to sell him their verses and their
paintings. If Timon was pleased with their work, he would often
give them gold.
Timon's fellow noblemen also freely enjoyed his generosity. He
was always inviting them to feasts and parties. He often sent
them presents for no reason at all except to make them happy. Timon company, there were some them presents for no reason at
all except to make them happy. They all loved him.
Among those who kept Timon company there were some who loved his
money more than they loved him. Such a person was Vanities an
important man, who had once borrowed a large amount of money
from Timon to pay off a debt. Later he gained a fortune at his
father's death, but he did not bother to pay back what he owed
to Timon. Others were less mean. They gave presents to Timon but
then they knew he would send them even richer gifts in return.
There were also those who were not would ashamed to ask him for
presents by flattering him. They would speak very nicely to him,
but in their hearts they would only be thinking of what he might
give them.
The only person who was unlike Timon's daily companions was a
sour and cynical philosopher called A pemantus. He thought all
people were foolish, and that they only did things for selfish
reasons. He was never tired of speaking rudely and unpleasantly
about people. However no one paid much attention to him. Timon
used to scold him for his rudeness.
 As
time went on Timon's great wealth grew smaller because he spent
his riches so freely on others. His riches so freely on others.
His steward the chief servant so freely on others. His steward
the chief servant in his house warned him again and again.
Riches Timon would reply were meant to make people happy, and he
enjoyed using his wealth to give pleasure to others. The steward
who loved his master sincerely, almost cried as he watched his
mater's property being so quickly wasted by false friends. He
could see a time coming when Timon would have nothing left. Then
he thought Timon would lose all his friends too.
Timon went on spending far more than his wealth allowed and the
day came when some merchants to whom he owed money began to
demand payments immediately. They had found out how little Timon
really had. They wanted to be paid before the rest was spent or
just given away.
Timon did not know why the merchants were so anxious. He just
asked the steward to pay them anyway. But then the day came when
there was no money left at all, his property had been sold or
promised to other people. He did not have enough to pay even
half of the money he owed.
Timon was not worried when at last he understood. He had been
very kind to many people. He supposed that he had friends who
would rush to help him as soon as they heard of his
difficulties. The steward told him that he had appealed to a few
of Timon's friends, but they had firmly refused to give any
help. Timon would not believe it. He thought it was impossible
that people could be so ungrateful. So he made special requests
to those he had helped the most.
Lucullus was among the first to be asked. Timon had been most
generous to him in the past.
When one of Timon's servants, called Flaminius, arrived at the
house of Lucullus, the rich young nobleman welcomed him eagerly.
Lucullus, thought Timon had sent him another present. He could
see Flaminius had something hidden under his cloak, and asked
him what it was.
Just an empty box sir Flaminius answered. My good lord Timon
urgently needs some money to pay his debts, and he is sure you
will help him with a loan.
Lucullus could not believe his ears.
Oh dear. He is sure id he? That's unfortunate. You know your
good lord Timon would be a fine gentleman if he did not lead
such a rich life. I have often mentioned it to him at his
dinners, and I've been back to his house again for supper just
to urge him to dpend less. But he never listens. Everyone has
his faults and Timon's fault is that he is too generous to his
friends.
Lucullus then to Flaminius in secret. Listen, honest Flaminius,
he said Your lord is a good kind gentleman that true; but you
are wise enough to know that this is a bad time to lend money.
Now here's a little money for yourself. Just tell Timon that
when came here, I was out.
Flaminius was shocked. He threw the money in Lucullus's face and
went off full of anger.
Lucius another of Timon's friends, was in the town, talking to
some strangers he had just met. They were telling him that Timon
had no money left, and that Lucullus had refused to help him.
How shameful! cried Lucius. How could Lucullus refuse to help
such a good lord. It is disgraceful.
The strangers agreed.
I expect you have heard, Lucius continued, that I, too, have
received presents from Timon--Not as much as Lucullus of
course--just a little money, a few pieces of silver, some jewels
and small things like that. But if he had come to me for help, I
would never have refused.
Just at that moment, another of Timon's servants came along.
When he saw Lucius he stopped.
Sir my lord Timon has sent...
What? interrupted Lucius quickly. What has he sent? He turned to
the strangers. I am so grateful to lord Timon, he is always
sending me things. How shall I be able to thank him, do you
think? Then he asked the servant again. So what is it that he
has he sent now?
He has sent me to ask if you could lend him some money.
Lucius smiled weakly. He must be playing a game with me. I
cannot believe he wants to borrow money. He has so much.
He owes so much, replied the servant.
Lucius thought carefully for a moment.
How awfully selfish I have been, he said just the other
day I put all my money into some small business I was interested
in. Oh I am so sorry that I cannot lend Timon anything at
present. Please tell him that no one could be sadder than myself
at not being able such an honorable gentleman.
Another of Timon's servants went to the house of another of
Timon's friends called Symphonious.
So he is sorry to trouble me, Sempronius was saying in answer to
the servant's request. Well he could have tried Lucullus or
Lucius--or even Ventidius: he is quite rich now, since Timon
helped him. All three of them owe their wealth to Timon.
They have all been asked, sir and they have all refused.
Resfused? Even Ventidius and Luculls? How ungrateful of them!
And now he comes to me. I am the last.
Sempronius walked about the room, thinking hard Well that shows
how little he loves me doesn't it? Really I am quite angry with
him. I was one of the first to receive I am quite angry with
him. I was one of the first to receive a gift from him, you know
but I am the last he aska for help. The trouble is everyone in
Athens will hear about it. They will know he asked me last, and
they will all laugh at me because of it. People will think I am
a fool if I help him now. If he had sent to me first, I would
have given him three times as much as he needs but now as he has
made me look so foolish I don't think it will be possible for me
to lend him anything.
After that, Timon realized the truth about his friends.
From that day on, Timon's former friends
carefully avoided him. Timon's only visitors were the servants
of the merchants he had bought things from. They now wanted
their bills paid. Those who had lent him money continued to ask
him for payment. Now instead of praise and flattery Timon
received rudeness and instead of praise and flattery, Timon
received rudeness and insults. He could not get in and out of
his house without being troubled by people demanding money.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Timon's fortunes seemed
to change for the better. He invited all his former friends to a
great feast. So Timon was only making fun of us after all, when
he asked us to lend him money, they thought. They thought. They
sat down at the table, talking happly to one another. They
thought about the presents they might receive. and they were
looking forward to all the fine food that Timon would place
before them.
One covered dish after another was brought in.
Clouds of steam came from the dishes, and it looked as if
the feast would be a very good one. Speeches were made to Timon,
expressing regret that no one had been able to help him: it was
unfortunate, they said, that he had asked for a loan just at a
time when they themselves had had no money. Timon replied, Do
not worry my friends. I have completely forgotten all about it.
Pleased to be so easily forgiven, the guests
eagerly waited for the steaming dishes to be uncovered. Timon
offered a prayer to the gods. He asked the gods to give each man
what he deserved, and to give each man what he deserved, and to
give nothing to those who were worth puzzled. Timon soon showed
what he meant. Uncover dogs and drink, he cried as each man
uncovered the dish in front of him. There was nothing in each
dish but hot water!
At about this time Alcibiads, a general Timon
knew knew well, and who had once led the Athenian army against
her enemies, was forced to leave the city too. The reason was
this. One of Alcibiades's friends, an old soldier, had got into
a fight in Athens, and had killed a man who had insulted him.
The Athenian Senate wanted to hang him for this murder, but
Alcibiades tried to save his life. He tried to show the Senate
how much the old soldier had done for the city in times gone by.
As an Athenian, the man had fought in many wars,
received many painful wounds, and lost much blood, all for the
asked of the city. His strength and courage had helped Athens.
Now instead of fighting many of the city's enemies. the man had
fought just one of her citizens, and he had only done that
because the man had insulted him. The Senate had been pleased to
let the man shed his own lifeblood for the city in the past,
Alcibiades said; now that he had made a mistake and was in
trouble, surely the Senate could show just a little mercy.
The senators would not change their minds.
Showing mercy they said, would only encourage other people to do
even worse things. When the law was broken, criminals had to be
punished. That was the only way people could be made to respect
the law. The senators would not listen to anything Alcibiades
said.
Alcibiades tried again and again to make them
listen, and everyone got angrier and angrier. In the end, the
senators were so displeased with Alcibiades that they exile.
They made him leave Athens, his own city and said he could never
return.
In the forest far from the city, Timon found
shelter in a cave. He lived on what little food he could find in
the forest. Mostly he lived on the roots of plants, which he dug
out of the ground with his bare hands.
One day, while digging for roots he discovered a
pieco of gold. He dug a little deeper and soon found a large
pile of treasure. There was enough gold there to do anything. If
he he took it, Timon would be richer than bright gold reminded
Timon that money made men greedy, selfish and mean. At first, he
felt the gold should remain there, where it would cause no
trouble, but then another idea came to him. Why not use it to
punish greedy people for their wickedness? He kept a little to
use if he needed it, but put most of it back.
Just as he had done this, he heard the sounds of
military music and soldiers marching. A ban of soldiers arrived,
led by Alcibiades. Alcibiades was now marching in revenge
against the city of Athens. He needed money to pay his soldiers.
At once Timon gave Alcibiades some of the gold he had just
found. He said hat he hoped it would help to bring misery and
ruin to the people of Athens, to rich and poor, men and women,
young and old. Alcibiades asked Timon what he would like in
return for all those people to be punished. So Alcibiades left
with the gold Timon had given him.
When it became known where Timon was living, the cynical
philospher Apemantus came to see him. He thought Timon might
have cecome cynical, like himself, and he wanted to know if they
shared the same views.
Apemantus thought all human beings were evil and
he never had anything good to say about any of them. He took
what he could from them, without being in the least bit
thankful. Timon thought he thought evil of men, did not want
anything to do with them at all. He did not make use of anyone,
either to help him live, or to keep him company. Even thought
Apemantus agreed with Timon's ideas about people, that did not
make Timon like him. Timon thought the philosopher was just as
bad as everyone else.
Apemantus urged Timon to use wicked people for
his own purposes, instead of living such a lonely, uncomfortable
life. That was the right way to treat people, he said. After
all, in the past they had taken everything from Timon and given
nothing back.
But Timon refused to return to the company of
those he hated and scorned. He thought the philosopher was a
coward for pretending to be a friend to those he could not love
or respect. Apemantus felt that Timon was a fool for preferring
to live alone in misery. Timon soon sent him away.
Later on, some thieves came into the forest. They
were thin and hungry looking, and seemed to be very fierce.
Where is all this gold you say Timon keeps here
then?'' one of them asked. I doubt if there will be much--just a
small part of what he used to have. It was the loss of his gold
and his friends that turned him mad with sadness, you remember,
and caused him to come and live out here.
People say he still has plenty left, another
said. Well let's catch him and see what happens. If he hates his
gold he will be happy to give us some. But what will we do if he
refuses to give it to us freely?''
At that point Timon came along, searching the
forest for something to eat. When he saw the thieves, Timon knew
what they were but he was not frightened.
How are you thieves? he said in reply to their
greeting.
We're soldiers, not thieves, they answered.
That's much the same said Timon.
No really. We aren't thieves. We are just poor
men in need.
You certainly look poor. You look as if you need
something to eat. But why should you be hungry? Look around you.
There are plenty of roots and vegetables growing in the ground;
there are a hundred good clean springs to drink from within a
mile of here; there are different kinds of fruit on the
trees, and berries in the bushes. Nature is a generous
housewife. She has all kinds of things for you to eat. Why
should you be in need?''
The thieves thought this was very amusing. We
can't live on grass, and berries and water, like animals and
birds and fishes , one of them said. No and I suppose you think
you can't live on the animals themselves, either, Timon replied.
What you want to feed on are the lives of men! But at least you
do not pretend to be better than you are and I am thankful to
you for that. There are plenty more thieves who appear to belong
to respectable professions.''
Timon took some gold coins from his clothes and threw them to
the thieves. Here you are you naughty thieves. Here's gold for
you. Go and buy wine and drink yourselves to death--that is the
only way you will escape hanging!''
The thieves were down on their hands and knees
immediately, looking for the gold coins. Timon kept on talking
to them. At first they did not pay much attention to what he pay
much attention to what he was saying, but after a while they
began to listen. He began to talk about them, and in a very
strange way.
Don't put your trust in doctors,
Timon avised them. Doctors kill more people than take their
money too. You do you thieving like good workmen. You shouldn't
be ashamed of it. Listen, I'll tell you all about thieving.
There are thieves all around us. The sun's a thief. He steals
water from the sea. The moon's thief. She takes her light from
the sun. The sea's a thief. It steals the moon's strength to
make its tides. The earth's a thief. If gets its goodness from
from whatever is dropped onto it.
Everthing's a thief. Nothing can
be done about it. Laws, prison whips, no matter how rough they
might be, cannot stop thievery.
The thieves looked at one another
in complete silence. Never in their lives had they heard anyone
talking this way. Timon took out some more gold and threw it to
them.
So come along you thieves. Start
robbing each other. Here's some more gold for you. Go ahead. Cut
as many throats as you like. Everyone that you meet is a thief,
and no better than you. Go to Athens. Break into the shops. You
can't really steal anything because everything has been stolen
already. The people that lose what you take are all thieves
themselves.
Well, said the leader of the
thieves, when someone like him persuades me to be a thief, I am
almost persuaded not to be one!''
He's only telling us this because
he hates everyone said another. It's a trick. Really he is
trying to make us think we are failures in our own special
profession.
I don't trust him. If he says we
can do it, then I think I'll stop being a thief, said a third.
The thieves picked up the gold coins and left,
thoughtfully.
The steward who had been searching
for his master, came to the forest. Through love and loyalty, he
had come to live with Timon as his servant. When he saw the sad
change in his lord, he cried. Timon formerly so richly dressed
so full of life and laughter was now in rags sad and weary of
life.
At first Timon would not believe
that the steward was as loyal as he seemed. But when the steward
plainly showed his affection and desire to stay and serve him,
Timon at last said he could see that there was still one
honest man left in the world. However as he had no love left in
his heart for anyone, Timon would accept no kindness even from
his servant. He offered the steward some gold.
The steward made a last appeal. Oh
let me stay and comfort you, my master, he cried But Timon would
not agree, and the poor man left in sorrow.
Timon when he was a young man, had
once led the armies of Athens successfully against the city's
enemies. Now they begged him to return. If he took command he
would have full power to govern as he wished. He would be
honoured by all the citizens of Athens and he would recieve
great wealth.
These were the people who had been
ungrateful to Timon when he most needed thier help. Now they
urgently needed his help!
They recieved a cold, heartless
reply. Timon would not help them even in the smallest way. If
Alcibiades kills my countrymen, let Alcibiades know that Timon
does not care.
He pointed to a tree. He said to
the senators that if they wanted to get rid of their troubles,
they could come here and hang themselves The senators left.
Alcibiades captured Athens, but
did not burn the city or kill all the citizens. They told him
that many of the men who forced him to go into exile had already
died.
Most people in the city had done nothing to
harm him. It would be unfair to kill them all.
Alcibiades
promised to punish only the enemies of himself and Timon. He
said none of the citizens of Athens need be afraid of his
soldiers because he would make sure that the soldiers obeyed the
laws of the city.
Shortly before this one of
Alcibiades's soldiers had been walking through the woods where
Timon lived. The soldier was looking for Timon, but instead he
found a grave. It was at the edge of the wood, by the seashore.
The soldier could see Timon's name on the tombstone.
However he could not read any of the other words that were
written there so he made a copy of them.
When Alcibiades had finished
talking the senators, the soldier told him that he thought Timon
was dead, and showed him the copy he had made of the writing on
the tombstone.
The words said Here lie I Timon
who hated everyone . Pass by and curse me if you wish, but do
not stop to cry me.
These must be Timon 's own words
said Alcibiades thoughtfully. This is te way he thought in the
later part of his life. He scorned our sorrow for his
unhappiness. He thought nothing of the few tears we humans cried
for him. Yet how cleverly this has ended! He has had his body
placed by the simple grave. Noble Timon is dead but he shall
never be forgotten.
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