Timon or The Misanthrope

​Timon But to you, Hermes, and to Zeus, the greatest thanks for your care; but this Plutus here I would not receive. Hermes Why so? Timon Because long ago too this fellow became the cause of ten thousand evils to me, delivering me to flatterers, bringing schemers against me, stirring up hatred, corrupting me with luxury, making me an object of envy, and in the end suddenly leaving me so faithlessly and treacherously; whereas Poverty, the best of companions, having trained me in the most manly labors, and conversing with me with truth and frankness, provided what was necessary to me as I worked, and educated me to despise those many things, hanging the hopes of my life on myself alone, and showing me what my true wealth was, which neither a flatterer by fawning, nor a sycophant by frightening, nor the people by being incited, nor an assembly-man by voting, nor a tyrant by plotting, could take away.

​Timon Strong, therefore, because of my labors, working this field industriously, seeing none of the evils in the city, I have sufficient and adequate barley-meal from my mattock. So go back, Hermes, taking Plutus back to Zeus; as for me, this was enough: to make all men, young and old, weep. Hermes By no means, my good man; for not all are fit for weeping. But leave off these angry and childish ways and accept Plutus. The gifts from Zeus are certainly not to be cast away. Plutus Do you wish, Timon, that I plead my case to you? Or will you be angry with me when I speak? Timon Speak, but not at length, nor with preambles, like those cursed rhetoricians; for I will tolerate you speaking a few things because of this Hermes here.

​Plutus It was perhaps necessary to speak at length against so many things accused by you; nevertheless, see if I have wronged you in any way, as you say—I, who became the cause of all the sweetest things for you: honor, precedence, crowns, and all other luxury; and you were gazed at and sung of because of me, and eagerly sought after. But if you suffered anything hard from the flatterers, I am blameless to you; rather, I myself have been wronged in this by you, because you subjected me so dishonorably to accursed men who praised and bewitched and in every way plotted against me; and finally you said that I betrayed you, whereas on the contrary I myself might accuse you, having been driven away in every manner by you and thrust headlong out of the house. Therefore, instead of a soft cloak, your most esteemed Poverty has wrapped this leather jerkin around you. So this Hermes here is my witness how I begged Zeus never again to come to you, who behaved so hostilely towards me.

​Hermes But now you see, Plutus, what kind of man he has already become? So, take courage and dwell with him; and you, Timon, dig as you are doing; and you, Plutus, bring the treasure under his mattock; for it will obey you when you shout to it. Timon I must obey, Hermes, and grow rich again. For what can one do when the gods compel? Only see into what troubles you are throwing me, ill-fated as I am, who until now living most happily, will suddenly receive so much gold without having done any wrong, and will take on so many cares.

​Hermes Endure it, Timon, for my sake, even if this is hard and unbearable, so that those flatterers may burst with envy; and I shall fly away to heaven over Mount Etna. Plutus He has gone, as it seems; for I judge by the rowing of his wings. You wait here; I will go and send up the Treasure to you; or rather, strike! I tell you, Treasure of gold, obey this Timon here and offer yourself to be dug up. Dig, Timon, striking deep blows. I will stand aside from you both.