§55Τίμων
μεμψίμοιρος ἀεί, κἂν τὸν πλακοῦντα ὅλον ἢ τὸν σῦν μόνος τῶν ἄλλων λάβῃ, ὅ τι περ λιχνείας καὶ ἀπληστίας ὄφελος, μέθυσος καὶ πάροινος οὐκ ἄχρι ᾠδῆς καὶ ὀρχηστύος μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ λοιδορίας καὶ ὀργῆς.
Timon Always complaining, even if he, alone of all the others, gets the whole cake or the entire pig—whatever is the very essence of gluttony and insatiability. A drunkard and riotous over wine, not only as far as singing and dancing go, but even to abuse and rage.
προσέτι καὶ λόγοι πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ κύλικι, τότε δὴ καὶ μάλιστα, περὶ σωφροσύνης καὶ κοσμιότητος· καὶ ταῦτά φησιν ἤδη ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀκράτου πονήρως ἔχων καὶ ὑποτραυλίζων γελοίως· εἶτα ἔμετος ἐπὶ τούτοις· καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον, ἀράμενοί τινες ἐκφέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ συμποσίου τῆς αὐλητρίδος ἀμφοτέραις ἐπειλημμένον.
Furthermore, there are many speeches over the cup, and especially then, concerning temperance and orderliness; and he says these things when already in a bad way under the influence of unmixed wine and babbling ridiculously; then vomiting follows upon this; and finally, some men lift him up and carry him out of the banquet, clutching the flute-girl with both hands.
πλὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ νήφων οὐδενὶ τῶν πρωτείων παραχωρήσειεν ἂν ψεύσματος ἕνεκα ἢ θρασύτητος ἢ φιλαργυρίας· ἀλλὰ καὶ κολάκων ἐστὶ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐπιορκεῖ προχειρότατα, καὶ ἡ γοητεία προηγεῖται καὶ ἡ ἀναισχυντία παρομαρτεῖ, καὶ ὅλως πάνσοφόν τι χρῆμα καὶ πανταχόθεν ἀκριβὲς καὶ ποικίλως ἐντελές.
Nevertheless, even when sober, he would yield the first place to no one for lying, impudence, or love of money; on the contrary, he is first among flatterers, perjures himself most readily, imposture leads the way and shamelessness follows close behind, and altogether he is a most clever thing, precise in every way, and accomplished in various manners.
οἰμώξεται τοιγαροῦν οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν χρηστὸς ὤν.
Therefore he shall cry before long, being such a "worthy" fellow.
τί τοῦτο;
What is this?
παπαί, χρόνιος ἡμῖν Θρασυκλῆς.
Good heavens, Thrasycles has been a long time coming to us.
§56Θρασυκλῆς
οὐ κατὰ ταὐτά, ὦ Τίμων, τοῖς πολλοῖς τούτοις ἀφῖγμαι, οἵπερ τὸν πλοῦτόν σου τεθηπότες ἀργυρίου καὶ χρυσίου καὶ δείπνων πολυτελῶν ἐλπίδι συνδεδραμήκασι, πολλὴν τὴν κολακείαν ἐπιδειξόμενοι πρὸς ἄνδρα οἷον σὲ ἁπλοϊκὸν καὶ τῶν ὄντων κοινωνικόν·
Thrasycles I have not come for the same reasons as these many, Timon, who, gaping at your wealth, have run together in the hope of silver, gold, and sumptuous dinners, about to display much flattery to a man simple-hearted and ready to share his possessions like you.
οἶσθα γὰρ ὡς μᾶζα μὲν ἐμοὶ δεῖπνον ἱκανόν, ὄψον δὲ ἥδιστον θύμον ἢ κάρδαμον ἢ εἴ ποτε τρυφῴην, ὀλίγον τῶν ἁλῶν· ποτὸν δὲ ἡ ἐννεάκρουνος· ὁ δὲ τρίβων οὗτος ἧς βούλει πορφυρίδος ἀμείνων.
For you know that a barley-loaf is a sufficient dinner for me, and the sweetest relish is thyme or cress, or, if I should ever play the epicure, a little salt; and my drink is the water of the Nine-springs; and this old cloak is better than any purple robe you please.
τὸ χρυσίον μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν τιμιώτερον τῶν ἐν τοῖς αἰγιαλοῖς ψηφίδων μοι δοκεῖ.
For gold seems to me no more precious than the pebbles on the beaches.
σοῦ δὲ αὐτοῦ χάριν ἐστάλην, ὡς μὴ διαφθείρῃ σε τὸ κάκιστον τοῦτο καὶ ἐπιβουλότατον κτῆμα ὁ πλοῦτος, ὁ πολλοῖς πολλάκις αἴτιος ἀνηκέστων συμφορῶν γεγενημένος·
But I set out for your own sake, so that wealth, this worst and most treacherous possession, which has often been the cause of incurable disasters to many, might not corrupt you.
εἰ γάρ μοι πείθοιο, μάλιστα μὲν ὅλον ἐς τὴν θάλατταν ἐμβαλεῖς αὐτὸν οὐδὲν ἀναγκαῖον ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ ὄντα καὶ τὸν φιλοσοφίας πλοῦτον ὁρᾶν δυναμένῳ· μὴ μέντοι ἐς βάθος, ὦγαθέ, ἀλλʼ ὅσον ἐς βουβῶνας ἐπεμβὰς ὀλίγον πρὸ τῆς κυματωγῆς, ἐμοῦ ὁρῶντος μόνου·
For if you would obey me, it would be best indeed to cast it all into the sea, since it is not at all necessary for a good man who is able to see the wealth of philosophy—not indeed into the deep, my good friend, but wading in up to the groin, a little before the surf, with me alone looking on.
§57Θρασυκλῆς
εἰ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο βούλει, σὺ δὲ ἄλλον τρόπον ἀμείνω κατὰ τάχος ἐκφόρησον αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας μηδʼ ὀβολὸν αὑτῷ ἀνείς, διαδιδοὺς ἅπασι τοῖς δεομένοις, ᾧ μὲν πέντε δραχμάς, ᾧ δὲ μνᾶν, ᾧ δὲ ἡμιτάλαντον· εἰ δέ τις φιλόσοφος εἴη, διμοιρίαν ἢ τριμοιρίαν φέρεσθαι δίκαιος·
Thrasycles But if you do not wish this, then in another and better way carry it out of your house in haste, not leaving even an obol for yourself, distributing it to all who are in need, to one five drachmas, to another a mina, to another a half-talent; and if any be a philosopher, he is justly entitled to receive a double or triple portion.
ἐμοὶ δέ — καίτοι οὐκ ἐμαυτοῦ χάριν αἰτῶ, ἀλλʼ ὅπως μεταδῶ τῶν ἑταίρων τοῖς δεομένοις — ἱκανὸν εἰ ταυτηνὶ τὴν πήραν ἐμπλήσας παράσχοις οὐδὲ ὅλους δύο μεδίμνους χωροῦσαν Αἰγινητικούς.
And for me—though I do not ask for my own sake, but so that I may share it with those of my companions who are in need—it is enough if you would fill this wallet and provide it, which does not hold even two whole Aeginetan medimnoi.
ὀλιγαρκῆ δὲ καὶ μέτριον χρὴ εἶναι τὸν φιλοσοφοῦντα καὶ μηδὲν ὑπὲρ τὴν πήραν φρονεῖν.
For one who practices philosophy must be frugal and moderate, and think of nothing beyond his wallet.
Τίμων
ἐπαινῶ ταῦτά σου, ὦ Θρασύκλεις· πρὸ δʼ οὖν τῆς πήρας, εἰ δοκεῖ, φέρε σοι τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐμπλήσω κονδύλων ἐπιμετρήσας τῇ δικέλλῃ.
Timon I praise these words of yours, Thrasycles; but before the wallet, if you please, let me fill your head with blows, measuring them out with my spade.
Θρασυκλῆς
ὦ δημοκρατία καὶ νόμοι, παιόμεθα ὑπὸ τοῦ καταράτου ἐν ἐλευθέρᾳ τῇ πόλει.
Thrasycles O democracy and laws! We are being beaten by this accursed man in a free city!
Τίμων
τί ἀγανακτεῖς, ὦγαθέ;
Timon Why are you angry, my good friend?
μῶν παρακέκρουσμαί σε;
Have I given you short measure?
καὶ μὴν ἐπεμβαλῶ χοίνικας ὑπὲρ τὸ μέτρον τέτταρας.
Indeed, I will throw in four choenikes above the measure.
§58Τίμων
ἀλλὰ τί τοῦτο;
Timon But what is this?
πολλοὶ συνέρχονται· Βλεψίας ἐκεῖνος καὶ Λάχης καὶ Γνίφων καὶ ὅλον τὸ σύνταγμα τῶν οἰμωξομένων.
Many are coming together—Blepsias over there, and Laches, and Gniphon, and the whole company of those who shall weep.
ὥστε τί οὐκ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν ταύτην ἀνελθὼν τὴν μὲν δίκελλαν ὀλίγον ἀναπαύω πάλαι πεπονηκυῖαν, αὐτὸς δὲ ὅτι πλείστους λίθους συμφορήσας ἐπιχαλαζῶ πόρρωθεν αὐτούς;
So why should I not go up onto this rock, let my spade rest a little, which has been laboring for a long time, and, having gathered as many stones as possible, rain them down upon them from afar?
Βλεψίας
μὴ βάλλε, ὦ Τίμων·
Blepsias Do not throw, Timon!
ἄπιμεν γάρ.
For we are going away.
Τίμων
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀναιμωτί γε ὑμεῖς οὐδὲ ἄνευ τραυμάτων.
Timon But not without blood, nor without wounds, shall you depart.