Well met, good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Well met, good morning, Titus and Hortensius.
Hey there, Titus and Hortensius. Good morning.
hey titus & hortensius good morning
The like to you, kind Varro.
The same to you, Varro.
Good morning to you.
good morning
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucius! What — we're meeting together?
Lucius! Are we all here now?
all here together
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all;
For mine is money.
Yes, and I think one business brings us all — for me, it's money.
Yeah, and I figure we're all here for the same reason — to collect money.
same business money
So is theirs and ours.
It's theirs and ours too.
Yeah, that's why we're all here.
same for all of us
And, sir, Philotus too!
And Philotus too!
Hey, Philotus is here.
philotus!
Good day at once.
I wish everyone a good day.
Hope you guys are having a good day.
good day y'all
Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Welcome, friend. What time do you think it is?
Good to see you. What time is it?
what's the time
Labouring for nine.
Nearly nine o'clock.
Almost nine.
almost nine
So much?
That late?
That late?
that late?
Is not my lord seen yet?
Has my lord not been seen yet?
Has Timon come out yet?
has timon appeared?
Not yet.
Not yet.
Not yet.
not yet
I wonder on’t, he was wont to shine at seven.
That's odd. He was always awake and active by seven o'clock.
That's strange. He used to be up and around by seven.
he used to be up at seven shining
Ay, but the days are waxed 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. You must understand — a wasteful life follows the sun's pattern, but unlike the sun, it cannot recover. I fear it's deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse. One can reach very deep into a winter purse and still find little.
Yeah, but those days are gone. Look, you know — when you spend money recklessly, it's like the sun going down, except it doesn't come back up. I'm afraid Timon's bank account is in the middle of winter. You reach down deep looking for money and find nothing.
his days are shorter spending is like the sun but doesn't recover it's winter in his purse reach deep and find nothing
I am of your fear for that.
I share your fear about that.
Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing.
i fear the same
I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
I can show you something strange happening. Your lord is asking for money now?
Let me show you something weird. So your master is asking for money?
your master asking for money
Most true, he does.
That's absolutely true, he does send for money.
Yeah, completely true—he's been requesting it.
yep he does
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
And he wears jewels now that Timon gave him, for which I'm collecting money.
And he's wearing jewels Timon gave him right now — and I'm here trying to collect payment for them.
he wears timon's gifts
while i collect the debt
It is against my heart.
It troubles my conscience.
This whole thing bothers me.
it bothers me
Mark how strange it shows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes,
And e’en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
And send for money for ’em.
Notice how strange this looks, Timon ends up paying more than he owes, It's just as if your master should wear expensive jewels and then ask for money back for them.
Look how backwards this is, Timon's actually paying more than he should, It's like your boss is wearing fancy jewels and asking to be paid for them.
look how backwards timon pays more than he owes like paying for gifts
I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness.
I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
I'm tired of this situation, the gods know it. I know my lord has spent Timon's wealth, And now his ingratitude makes it worse than stealing. FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT. Yes, I'm owed three thousand crowns. What about you?
I'm sick of all this, and the gods know it. I know my lord spent Timon's money, And now his lack of gratitude makes it worse than theft. FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT. Yeah, I'm waiting for three thousand crowns. How much are you owed?
i'm exhausted god knows he spent timon's wealth ingratitude worse than theft i'm owed three thousand what about you?
Five thousand mine.
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
Five thousand is my share. FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT: That's a considerable amount, and by the sum, Your master's trust in Timon seems greater than mine, Otherwise his debt would certainly have equaled.
Five thousand is what I'm owed. FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT: That's huge, and it looks like your boss had more faith in Timon than I did—otherwise his loan would've been the same as mine.
i'm owed 5k that's a lot your guy trusted him more than me
One of Lord Timon’s men.
He's one of Lord Timon's servants.
That guy works for Timon.
timon's guy
Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
Flaminius? A word, sir. Is my lord ready to come out?
Flaminius? Wait. Is Timon ready to see us?
is timon coming out?
No, indeed he is not.
No, he really isn't ready to see anyone.
Nope, he's definitely not coming out.
nah he ain't ready
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
We are waiting for his lordship. Please tell him so.
We're waiting for him. Tell him that.
we're waiting
I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.
I don't need to tell him that—he already knows you're all being very persistent.
I don't need to tell him—he knows you keep showing up.
doesn't need telling he knows u keep coming
Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
Is that not his steward, wrapped up? He goes away in a fog. Call him.
That's his steward all wrapped up. He's trying to slip away. Stop him.
his steward
going away
Do you hear, sir?
SECOND VARRO’S SERVANT.
By your leave, sir.
Can you hear what I'm saying, sir? SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT: With your permission, sir.
Hey, can you hear me? SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT: If you'll excuse me, sir.
yo listen? aight bye
What do you ask of me, my friend?
What do you want from me, my friend?
What do you need from me?
what u want
We wait for certain money here, sir.
We are here waiting for money, sir.
We're waiting for money.
we wait for money
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
’Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
When your false masters eat of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th’ interest into their gluttonous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up,
Let me pass quietly.
Believe’t, my lord and I have made an end,
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Yes, If money were as reliable as your waiting, Then it would be certain enough. Why didn't you present your demands and bills When your dishonest masters were eating my lord's food? Then they could smile and fawn over their debts, And greedily consume the interest. You're doing yourselves wrong by angering me, Let me pass in peace. Believe me, my lord and I are finished, I have nothing left to account for, he has nothing left to spend.
Yeah, if money was as sure as you waiting for it, we'd be fine. Why didn't you ask for payment when your shady masters were eating my lord's food at his table? Then they could smile and act grateful for their debts, and stuff their faces with the interest. You're only hurting yourselves by pushing me, Just let me go. Trust me, my lord and I are done with this, I've got nothing left to track and he's got nothing left to spend.
yeah if money was as sure as you waiting why didn't you ask when your masters ate his food? then they smiled and took interest you're wrong to push me let me go we're done nothing left to spend
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
That answer will not serve.
That's not good enough.
not good enough
If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,
For you serve knaves.
If it will not serve, it is still not as base as you, for you serve knaves.
If my answer isn't good enough, it's still better than you are — you work for criminals.
you serve knaves
How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?
What? What's his dismissed steward muttering about?
What? What's the fired steward going on about?
what's the fired steward muttering
No matter what, he’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak
broader than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail
against great buildings.
No matter what, he's poor, and that's punishment enough. Who can speak more harshly than someone with no house? Such people can criticize great buildings.
It doesn't matter what he says—he's broke, and that's his punishment. Who complains louder than someone with no home? Poor people can trash fancy buildings.
he's poor thats punishment enough who complains more than homeless ppl they hate mansions
O, here’s Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
Oh, here is Servilius. Now we shall have an answer.
Here comes Servilius. Maybe he'll tell us something.
servilius now we'll know
If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should
derive much from’t. For take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to
discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him, he’s much out of
health and keeps his chamber.
If I might ask you gentlemen to return at another time, I would be grateful. On my soul, my lord is deeply depressed. His good temper is gone. He is unwell and keeps to his room.
Could you guys come back later? Please? I'm begging you. My master is really depressed. He's not himself. He's sick and won't leave his room.
come back later please
my lord is depressed unwell keeps his chamber
Many do keep their chambers are not sick.
And if it be so far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
And make a clear way to the gods.
Many people keep to their rooms who are not sick. And if he is so unwell, then he should the sooner pay his debts and clear his way to the gods.
Lots of people stay in their rooms for other reasons. And if he's that sick, he should just pay his debts and get right with God.
many stay in chambers not sick
if unwell pay debts to gods
Good gods!
Good gods!
Oh my god!
good gods!
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
We cannot accept this as a response, sir.
That's not an acceptable answer.
not good enough
[_Within_.] Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!
Servilius, come help! My lord, my lord!
Servilius, I need your help right now! My lord!
servilius SOS my lord needs u NOW
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
What! Are my doors blocking my own passage? Have I been free all my life, only to have my house become my jail? The place where I feasted — does it now, like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
What? My own doors are keeping me from leaving? I've been free my whole life — now my house is my prison? The place where I fed everyone — it's turning cold on me like everyone else?
my doors block me my jail the place i feasted shows iron heart
Put in now, Titus.
Go now, Titus.
Go ahead, Titus.
go ahead
My lord, here is my bill.
My lord, here is my bill for the debt.
My lord, here's what you owe me.
here's ur bill my lord
Here’s mine.
Here is mine.
Here's mine.
mine
And mine, my lord.
BOTH VARRO’S SERVANTS.
And ours, my lord.
And mine, my lord. And ours, my lord.
And mine. And ours.
all bills
All our bills.
All our bills.
All of them.
all
Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.
Beat me down with them! Cut me in half!
Hit me with them! Tear me apart!
beat me with bills
Alas, my lord—
Alas, my lord—
No, my lord—
no
Cut my heart in sums!
Slice my heart into amounts!
Carve up my heart by the numbers!
cut my heart
Mine, fifty talents.
Mine is fifty talents.
I'm owed fifty talents.
fifty talents
Tell out my blood.
Count out my blood.
Drain my blood.
count blood
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
The amount comes to five thousand crowns, my lord.
That's five thousand crowns, sir.
5k crowns
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours, and yours?
FIRST VARRO’S SERVANT.
My lord—
SECOND VARRO’S SERVANT.
My lord—
Five thousand drops of blood pay that. What of yours? My lord— My lord—
Five thousand drops of blood for that. What do you want?
five thousand drops
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Tear me apart, take everything from me, and may the gods strike you all down!
Rip me to pieces, take it all, and may the gods curse you!
tear me apart take everything gods strike u
Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money.
These debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.
By my faith, I think our masters can forget about their money. These debts might well be called desperate — a madman owes them.
Well, our bosses can kiss their money goodbye. You can't collect from a crazy man.
masters lose money madman owes them
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? Devils!
They have stolen my very breath, the slaves. Creditors? Devils!
They've taken the breath right out of me. Creditors? They're demons!
they steal my breath devils not creditors
My dear lord—
My dear lord—
My lord—
my lord
What if it should be so?
What if that's actually the way things are?
What if that's actually what's going on?
what if tho
My lord—
My lord—
My lord—
my lord
I’ll have it so.—My steward!
I shall do it. My steward!
I'm doing it. Steward!
steward!
Here, my lord.
Here, my lord.
Yes, my lord.
here
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all.
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
So readily? Go, invite all my friends again — Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all. I will feast those rascals one more time.
Good. Go invite all my so-called friends back — Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, everyone. I'm going to throw them a feast.
invite them all lucius lucullus sempronius one final feast the rascals
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
Oh my lord, you are speaking from a disturbed mind. There is not enough left to put on even a modest table.
My lord, you're not thinking straight. There's not even enough money for a simple meal.
not enough for a table
Be it not in thy care. Go,
I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
Do not worry about it. Go, I command you, invite them all. Let these knaves back in. My cook and I will provide everything.
Never mind. Just go invite them all. Let them back in. The cook and I will handle the rest.
invite them all let in the knaves my cook and i will provide
The Reckoning
This is the scene where Timon's generosity turns into fury, and the collectors at his door become a kind of siege. The debt collectors are mostly servants carrying out orders, and some of them are uneasy about it. Hortensius says his master's ingratitude is 'worse than stealth', and Titus points out that Lucius's lord wears Timon's jewels while demanding Timon's money. Flavius's anger lands on the absent masters who 'fawned' while they ate at his lord's table. Look at Timon's language when he appears: he talks about his own body as currency ('Tell out my blood'), and the madness is almost bookkeeping. Then comes the sudden calm of 'I'll have it so' and the order for one more feast. It sounds like a relapse, but it is the start of revenge.
If this happened today…
You were the friend who always picked up the tab. Now your card has been declined, and the people whose dinners you paid for have sent collection agents to your apartment. The agents are awkward about it. One of them admits his boss is still wearing the watch you gave him. You try to stay inside, but they wait in the hallway. Finally you throw the door open and scream at them to take whatever they want, your blood included. Then you go quiet, pick up your phone and text everyone: dinner at my place, one more time.