O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth
Rotten humidity, below thy sister’s orb
Infect the air! Twinned brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence and birth
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,
The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune
But by contempt of nature.
Raise me this beggar, and deny’t that lord;
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother’s sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares
In purity of manhood stand upright
And say, “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be,
So are they all, for every grece of fortune
Is smoothed by that below. The learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy.
There’s nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains.
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!
Blessed sun that creates life, draw up the rotten vapors from the earth—poison the air! The sun and moon are brother and sister, born together, but when you give one fortune and deny the other, the fortunate one despises the lesser. This is not nature—nature can't bear great fortune without contempt for the inferior. Raise a beggar to power and strip a lord—the senator will inherit his contempt, the beggar will gain honor. The rich pasture fattens the cattle; hunger makes them lean. Who dares claim with pure integrity that this man is a flatterer? If he is, then so are they all—every level of fortune has been polished smooth by the ones beneath it. The educated bow to the golden fool. Everything is crooked. There's nothing upright in our damned nature but raw villainy. Hate all feasts and society! Even Timon hates his own reflection. May destruction devour mankind! Earth, give me roots!
Sun, pull up that rotten stuff from the ground and poison the air. The sun and moon are twins—when one gets lucky and the other doesn't, the lucky one spits on the unlucky one. That's not how nature works—nature can't handle fortune without contempt. Make a beggar rich and take away a lord's wealth—the senator becomes contemptible, the beggar becomes respectable. Animals get fat from good grazing and starve from nothing. Who honestly stands up and says, 'That guy's a flatterer'? If one person is, they all are. Everyone below you has smoothed the path for everyone above them. Scholars kiss up to rich idiots. Nothing in us is straight except pure evil. All society is disgusting. I hate people, including myself. Let mankind be destroyed. Earth, give me some roots to eat!
poison the air everyone corrupts everyone below them fortune means nothing but contempt we're all flattering our way up everything is evil i hate all humans
What art thou there? Speak.
Who are you? Speak.
Who are you? Talk.
who is this
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart
For showing me again the eyes of man!
A beast like you are. May disease eat your heart for showing me human faces again!
A monster, just like you. I hope you get sick from reminding me that people exist.
you're an animal like me you made me see humans again and i hate you for it
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee
That art thyself a man?
What is your name? How can you hate mankind so deeply when you yourself are human?
What's your name? How do you hate people so much when you're a person too?
you're human but you hate humans how does that work
I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.
I am the man-hater, and I hate mankind. For your part, I wish you were a dog—then I could actually love you.
My name is 'Hatred of People' and I live it. You know what? I wish you were a dog. At least then I could care about you.
i hate all humans especially the human ones you'd be better as a dog then i could love you
I know thee well,
But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.
I know who you are, but I'm bewildered about what's happened to your fortune.
I know who you are, but I have no idea how you ended up like this.
i recognize you but i don't understand how this happened
I know thee too, and more than that I know thee
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum,
With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules.
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel,
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.
I know you too, and know more than I want to know. Go follow your drum and paint the ground red with blood. Religious laws and civil laws are already cruel—what then is war but absolute cruelty? Your whore here destroys more than your sword, for all her angelic face.
I know exactly who you are, and that's more than enough. Go beat your drums and make the earth red with blood. Laws and religion are already cruel, so what's war going to be? This prostitute of yours kills more people than you do with your sword, and she looks like an angel while she does it.
i know you too well go kill for athens spill blood everywhere laws are cruel war is worse and your whore destroys more than you ever could
Thy lips rot off!
May your lips rot and fall off!
I hope your lips rot.
your lips should rot off
I will not kiss thee, then the rot returns
To thine own lips again.
I won't kiss you then, so the rot returns to your own lips.
Good thing I'm not going to kiss you—the rot would just go right back into your mouth.
i won't kiss you so your curse falls back on you
How came the noble Timon to this change?
How did the noble Timon become like this?
What happened to you? You used to be a good man.
what did this to you
As the moon does, by wanting light to give.
But then renew I could not like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.
Like the moon does, by losing its light to give. But I can't renew myself like the moon renews—there were no suns left to borrow light from.
Like the moon running out of light. But I can't come back like the moon does—there's nobody left to borrow hope from.
i'm like the moon running out of light i can't renew myself there's no sun left to borrow from
Noble Timon,
What friendship may I do thee?
Noble Timon, what friendship can I offer you?
Timon, let me help. What do you need as a friend?
let me help you what do you need
None, but to maintain my opinion.
Nothing, except to prove my beliefs about you.
Nothing. Just prove me right about how friends are.
nothing just confirm what i know
What is it, Timon?
What do you mean, Timon?
What are you talking about?
what do you mean
Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt not promise, the
gods plague thee, for thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound
thee, for thou art a man.
Promise me friendship but never keep the promise. If you refuse to promise, the gods will plague you because you're human. If you do promise and keep it, the gods will destroy you for being human.
Swear you'll be my friend but don't actually be one. If you don't promise, the gods will curse you for being human. If you do promise, the gods will curse you for keeping your word—which means you're human too.
promise friendship but break it if you refuse to promise the gods curse you if you keep the promise the gods curse you too there's no winning
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
I've heard something about your troubles.
Yeah, I heard about what happened to you.
i know about your troubles
Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity.
You saw these women when I had wealth.
You knew these women when I was rich.
you knew them when i was wealthy
I see them now; then was a blessed time.
I see them now, but then was a blessed time.
Yeah, I see them, and those were better days.
those were better times
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Just as yours is now, kept by a couple of prostitutes.
Yeah, except now you're stuck with a couple of hookers.
and you're with prostitutes now that's the difference
Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world
Voiced so regardfully?
Is this the Athenian favorite whom the world spoke of with such regard?
Is this the guy everyone used to talk about with all that respect?
this is the famous respected athenian this is what he became
Art thou Timandra?
Are you Timandra?
You're Timandra?
timandra
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
yes
Be a whore still, they love thee not that use thee;
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves
For tubs and baths, bring down rose-cheeked youth
To the tub-fast and the diet.
Be a prostitute still—those who use you don't love you. Give them diseases, spreading your sickness while they leave theirs with you. Use your corrupt hours. Infect the slaves in their baths, bring down the young men in their prime to bathing and starvation.
Keep being a prostitute—the men who pay you don't care about you. Give them all your diseases while you catch theirs. Use your filthy time wisely. Get the servants sick in the baths, take down all the young, healthy guys with starvation and disease.
stay a prostitute they don't love you give them disease instead of love corrupt everything infect the young
Hang thee, monster!
Hang yourself, you monster!
Go kill yourself, you're a monster!
you're a monster die
Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drowned and lost in his calamities.
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—
Forgive him, Timandra—his mind is drowned and lost in his miseries. Timon, I have little gold lately, and the lack of it makes my poor soldiers rebel daily. I've heard and grieved how cursed Athens, forgetting your worth, ignored you—though neighboring cities only dared stand because of your sword and fortune.
Hold on, Timandra—his brain is broken from everything he's lost. Look, Timon, I'm short on money these days, and my starving soldiers are starting to turn against me. I heard what happened to you, and I hate it—Athens forgot what you did for them, even though other cities wouldn't exist without your help.
forgive him his mind is destroyed i have no money my soldiers are rebelling athens forgot you when they're the ones you saved
I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.
Please, beat your drum and go away.
Just go. Leave me alone.
get away go
I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.
I am your friend and I pity you, dear Timon.
Look, I care about you. What happened to you breaks my heart.
i'm your friend i care about you
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone.
How do you pity the man you're troubling? I'd rather be alone.
You pity me? You're the problem. I just want to be left alone.
your pity is what hurts i want to be alone
Why, fare thee well.
Here is some gold for thee.
Well, farewell then. Here is some gold for you.
Okay, take care. Take this gold.
goodbye take this money
Keep it, I cannot eat it.
Keep it—I cannot eat gold.
No thanks. Gold doesn't feed me.
i can't eat gold
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—
When I have laid proud Athens in ruins—
When I burn Athens to the ground—
when i destroy athens
Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens?
Are you at war with Athens?
Wait, you're fighting Athens?
you're waging war
Ay, Timon, and have cause.
Yes, Timon, and I have cause.
Yeah, and I've got good reason to.
yes and for good reason
The gods confound them all in thy conquest,
And thee after, when thou hast conquered!
May the gods destroy everyone in Athens through your conquest, and then destroy you when you've won!
Go ahead and destroy every last Athenian. And when you're done, I hope the gods destroy you too.
destroy athens wipe them out and then get destroyed yourself
Why me, Timon?
Why curse me, Timon?
What? Why would you curse me?
why me
That by killing of villains
Thou wast born to conquer my country.
Put up thy gold. Go on, here’s gold, go on.
Be as a planetary plague when Jove
Will o’er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.
Pity not honoured age for his white beard;
He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron;
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself’s a bawd. Let not the virgin’s cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk paps
That through the window-bars bore at men’s eyes,
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;
Think it a bastard whom the oracle
Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,
And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects;
Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes,
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
Shall pierce a jot. There’s gold to pay thy soldiers.
Make large confusion and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Because murdering villains is the path you were born to walk. Take the gold and go. Be like a plague that Jupiter sends down on some corrupt city, poisoning the air. Let your sword not skip a single person. Don't pity the elderly for their white beards—they're usurers. Strike the false matrons whose only honesty is their clothes. Don't let the virgin's cheek soften your sword—those breasts they flaunted are not protected by pity, mark them as traitors. Spare no one, not even babes whose dimpled smiles manipulate fools. Think each child is the bastard the oracle said you'd kill. Cut them without mercy. Armor your ears and eyes against every sound of mothers, maids, priests—nothing will pierce you. Here's gold to pay your soldiers. Make chaos and when your fury ends, be destroyed yourself. Speak nothing more and be gone.
You were born to kill villains and destroy Athens. Take the money and go. Be like a plague that poisons a whole city. Don't spare anyone—not the old, not women, not babies. Don't listen to mothers crying or priests praying. Let your ears and eyes be armor. Take the gold, pay your soldiers, burn everything down. When you're done destroying, you'll be destroyed too. Now get out.
you were born to destroy take the gold kill everyone don't spare anyone no mercy when you're done you'll be destroyed too
Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou giv’st me,
Not all thy counsel.
Do you have gold? I'll take the gold you give me, but not all your advice.
Got any gold? I want the money, not your lectures.
just give me the gold keep your advice
Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven’s curse upon thee!
Whether you do or don't, heaven's curse upon you!
Either way, you're cursed by the gods.
take it or refuse you're cursed either way
Give us some gold, good Timon.
Hast thou more?
Give us some gold, good Timon. Do you have more?
Give us money, Timon. You got any more?
give us gold do you have more
Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
Your aprons mountant. You are not oathable,
Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues
Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths,
I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still,
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months,
Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
With burdens of the dead—some that were hanged,
No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore still,
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face.
A pox of wrinkles!
Enough to make a prostitute give up her trade and make prostitutes' pimps. Lift your aprons high, you sluts. You're not bound by oaths, though you'll swear so hard you shake. I trust your conditions instead. Stay prostitutes, and if anyone tries to convert you with his piety, be strong in your whoring and seduce him, burn him up. Let your lust overcome his virtue. Stay false. But may your suffering last six months and reverse itself. Roof your poor hovels with the bodies of hanged criminals. Wear them, betray with them. Stay prostitutes, paint your faces until horses sink in the mud. May you get pox and wrinkles!
Take this—enough to make you quit being prostitutes and enough to make you run other prostitutes. Be shameless. You'll swear you're innocent and you'll be lying through your teeth. Stay sluts, and when some pious guy tries to save you, drag him into your corruption instead. Keep him lust-filled and ruin him. Never change sides. May you suffer and may your faces rot with disease.
gold to keep you corrupt stay prostitutes don't let anyone save you ruin the men who try lust and corruption until you rot
Well, more gold. What then?
Believe’t that we’ll do anything for gold.
More gold then? We'll do anything for gold.
More gold? Sure, we'll do whatever you want for money.
more gold we'll do anything
Consumptions sow
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,
And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice,
That he may never more false title plead
Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen,
That scolds against the quality of flesh
And not believes himself. Down with the nose,
Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,
Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate ruffians bald,
And let the unscarred braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you. Plague all,
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There’s more gold.
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!
May wasting disease eat through men's bones, strike their shins and ruin their running. Crack the lawyer's voice so he can never argue titles again, never speak his tricks sharply. Make the priest who scolds flesh go bald and leprous while still denying his own flesh. Flatten noses, take away the bridge of those who use their noses to smell private gain instead of public good. Make braggarts bald, make soldiers suffer. Plague all, so your corruption defeats every source of life and creation. Here's more gold. Damn yourselves with it and damn all, to be buried in ditches!
Let rot eat through people's bones, ruin their legs so they can't run. Break the lawyer's voice so he can't lie in court. Make priests sick and bald for preaching against the flesh while enjoying it. Destroy people's noses, their pride, their bodies. Corrupt everything, stop all life from happening. Take the gold and use it to curse yourselves into ditches and graves!
disease eats bodies rots everything break lawyers' voices make priests bald delete everything human use this gold to curse yourselves
More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.
More advice with more money, generous Timon.
More wisdom for more money, Timon?
more advice for more money
More whore, more mischief first! I have given you earnest.
Be a whore and make more mischief! I've given you enough already.
Just be prostitutes and cause chaos. That's all the gift you're getting.
be whores spread corruption that's your gift
Strike up the drum towards Athens. Farewell, Timon.
If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.
Beat the drum toward Athens. Farewell, Timon. If I succeed, I'll visit you again.
Let's go to war. Goodbye. If I win, I'll come back.
we're leaving for athens goodbye if i win i'll return
If I hope well, I’ll never see thee more.
If things go well for me, I'll never see you again.
If I have any luck at all, I'll never have to see you.
if i'm lucky i'll never see you again
I never did thee harm.
I never harmed you.
I never did anything to you.
i didn't hurt you
Yes, thou spok’st well of me.
You spoke well of me—that is the harm.
You said good things about me. That's the problem.
you praised me that's what hurt
Call’st thou that harm?
How is praise harmful?
How is that bad?
how is that harm
Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take
Thy beagles with thee.
Men find it harmful every day. Get away, and take your dogs with you.
Men find out every day how harmful praise is. Leave, and take your women with you.
every man learns praise destroys you leave
We but offend him. Strike.
We've offended him. Strike the drums and go.
We're making it worse. Let's go.
we're making it worse let's leave
That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness,
Should yet be hungry! [_He digs_.] Common mother, thou,
Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed,
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm,
With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven
Whereon Hyperion’s quickening fire doth shine:
Yield him who all thy human sons doth hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Never presented. O, a root, dear thanks!
Dry up thy marrows, vines and plough-torn leas,
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish draughts
And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips—
Nature is sick of mankind's ingratitude, yet remains hungry. Common mother earth, whose infinite womb feeds everything, whose very substance makes arrogant man proud—you breed toads, snakes, worms, every abhorred creature below the sky. Yet you starve your human sons. Give me a single root. Stop bearing ungrateful man. Bear tigers, dragons, wolves instead. Create new monsters never shown before. One root, thank you. Wither your abundance, your fields. Ungrateful man uses your food to forget himself and slips away from thought.
Nature keeps feeding us even though we're ungrateful. The earth makes everything and we abuse it all. Stop making humans. Make monsters instead. Give me a root to eat. Just one. Let your fields die. Stop feeding people who'll forget you anyway.
nature feeds us we're ungrateful stop making humans make monsters wither and die stop feeding us
I was directed hither. Men report
Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them.
I was directed here. People say you affect my manners and imitate me.
I heard you're copying the way I act. That's why I came.
you're imitating me that's why i'm here
’Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog
Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!
Because you don't keep a dog, and I'd imitate a dog before I'd imitate you. May you waste away!
I'd rather be like a dog than like you. Drop dead.
i'd imitate a dog before i'd copy you
This is in thee a nature but infected,
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
From change of fortune. Why this spade, this place?
This slave-like habit and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee
And let his very breath whom thou’lt observe
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus;
Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade welcome,
To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just
That thou turn rascal; had’st thou wealth again,
Rascals should have’t. Do not assume my likeness.
This in you is just infected nature, poor unmanly melancholy from changed fortune. Why the spade, this place, these slave clothes and worried face? Your flatterers still wear silk and lie soft at home. They've forgotten Timon ever existed. Don't shame these woods by acting like a cynic. Be a flatterer and profit from it, like you used to. Bend your knee, let his breath blow your cap off, praise his worst nature. You were taught this—you opened your ears like a bartender welcoming thieves. It's right that you become a criminal—if you had wealth again, criminals would own it. Don't copy me.
This isn't philosophy—you're just mentally sick from losing money. Why are you out here digging? Why are you dressed like a slave and looking so miserable? Your old friends are at home in silk and wine, having totally forgotten you. Don't embarrass these woods by pretending to be a cynic. Just go back to flattering people and getting paid. That's what worked before. You're not like me—don't try to be.
you're sick not wise just depressed go back to flattering it worked for you before don't copy me
Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.
If I were like you, I'd kill myself.
If I was like you, I'd be dead.
if i was like you i'd kill myself
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these mossed trees,
That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels
And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook,
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks,
To the conflicting elements exposed,
Answer mere nature, bid them flatter thee.
O, thou shalt find—
You destroyed yourself by being like yourself—a fool so long, now a fool still. Do you think the rough air will warm your shirt? Will these ancient trees serve you and skip at your command? Will the frozen brook be warm as medicine for your hangovers? Call on the wild creatures living in nature, exposed to all weather, and ask them to flatter you. You'll find they won't.
You ruined yourself by being yourself. Think the forest will take care of you? The cold won't warm you. The trees won't serve you. Ask the animals exposed to all weather to flatter you. They won't.
you destroyed yourself the forest won't save you the animals won't comfort you you're alone
A fool of thee. Depart.
You're a fool. Get away.
You're an idiot. Leave.
fool go
I love thee better now than e’er I did.
I love you better now than I ever did.
Actually, I like you more now.
i love you better now
I hate thee worse.
I hate you worse.
I hate you even more.
i hate you worse
Why?
Why?
Why?
why
Thou flatter’st misery.
Because you flatter my misery.
You're pitying me, which makes it worse.
your pity flatters my suffering makes it worse
I flatter not, but say thou art a caitiff.
I'm not flattering—I'm saying you're a coward.
I'm not pitying you. I'm saying you're pathetic.
i'm not flattering you're a coward
Why dost thou seek me out?
Why do you seek me out?
What do you want from me?
why are you here
To vex thee.
To irritate you.
To get on your nerves.
to annoy you
Always a villain’s office or a fool’s.
Dost please thyself in’t?
That's always a villain's work or a fool's. Does it please you?
That's what villains and fools do. You enjoy that?
that's villain or fool work you like it
Ay.
Yes.
Yeah.
yes
What, a knave too?
So you're a knave too?
You're a crook too?
you're a crook
If thou didst put this sour cold habit on
To castigate thy pride, ’twere well; but thou
Dost it enforcedly. Thou’dst courtier be again
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery
Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before;
The one is filling still, never complete,
The other, at high wish. Best state, contentless,
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse than the worst, content.
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.
If you put on this bitter poverty to punish your pride, that would be good. But you're doing it by force. You'd be a courtier again if you weren't a beggar. Chosen misery lasts longer than uncertain wealth—one is always unfulfilled, the other is always reached. The best state without contentment is worse than the worst state with it. You should want to die being this miserable.
If you were punishing yourself for being arrogant, okay. But you're not choosing this—you're trapped. If you could afford it, you'd go back to court tomorrow. The thing is, if you chose poverty, you'd be better off than someone rich and never satisfied. But you're stuck being miserable without choosing it.
if you chose poverty it would be noble but you didn't choose this you're forced rich without contentment is worse than poor with it
Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm
With favour never clasped, but bred a dog.
Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself
In general riot, melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust and never learned
The icy precepts of respect, but followed
The sugared game before thee. But myself—
Who had the world as my confectionary,
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men
At duty, more than I could frame employment,
That numberless upon me stuck as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter’s brush
Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare
For every storm that blows—I to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden.
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in’t. Why shouldst thou hate men?
They never flattered thee. What hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff
To some she-beggar and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone!
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.
Not by his breath who's more miserable than me. You're a slave whom Fortune never favored—bred poor, a dog from birth. If you had my early life, with wealth and power, you'd have drowned in lust and never learned respect, just chased pleasures. I had the world's mouth, tongues, eyes, hearts at my command—more than I could use—and they clung to me like leaves on oak. One winter and they fell, leaving me bare to every storm. That I must bear, never having known better, is a burden. Your nature began in suffering—you're hard in it. Why should you hate men who never flattered you? What have you given? If you'll curse, curse your poor father who conceived you through spite with some prostitute. You're a hereditary pauper. If you hadn't been born lowest, you'd have been a knave and flatterer like everyone else.
Don't talk to me about misery. You were born poor—you're used to it. I had everything—everyone wanted me, loved me, served me. And it all fell away at once. That's the real burden—falling from everything. You never knew better, so you can't miss it. My whole life was worship, and now I'm abandoned. You never had that. You never learned respect because nobody gave you anything. Your dad made you in spite—you're literally born from contempt. So don't lecture me. If you'd ever had power, you'd have used it just like everyone else.
you were born poor i fell from everything that's worse i had the whole world and lost it all you never had that so don't judge me
Art thou proud yet?
Are you still proud?
You still think you're better than everyone?
still proud
Ay, that I am not thee.
Yes—proud that I'm not you.
Yeah. Proud I'm not like you.
yes proud i'm not you
I, that I was no prodigal.
I'm proud I wasn't a spendthrift.
I'm glad I never wasted everything.
i didn't waste my life
I, that I am one now.
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this!
Thus would I eat it.
I'm proud that I am one now. If all the wealth of Athens were in here, I'd let you hang it. Oh, that the whole city's wealth was in this food—then I could eat it.
And now I'm proud I'm a spender. If all of Athens's money was in this food, I'd eat it and destroy it all.
i'm a prodigal now and proud if athens was food i'd eat it
Here, I will mend thy feast.
Here, I'll improve your feast.
I'll make your food better.
i'll improve your meal
First mend my company, take away thyself.
First improve my company by removing yourself.
First improve my company by leaving.
get away that's the first improvement
So I shall mend mine own, by th’ lack of thine.
So I'll improve mine by lacking yours.
Then I'll improve mine by not being with you.
i improve mine by leaving you
’Tis not well mended so, it is but botched.
If not, I would it were.
That improvement isn't good—it's just patched. If not, I wish it were.
That's not fixing it. It's just a rough patch. Wish you meant it.
that's not an improvement just a patch not real
What wouldst thou have to Athens?
What do you want for Athens?
What's your wish for Athens?
what do you want athens to have
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.
You there in a whirlwind. If you will, tell them I have gold. Look, here it is.
You spinning through it like a tornado. If you want, tell them I've got gold. See? Gold.
i want you like a whirlwind through athens i have gold for destruction
Here is no use for gold.
Gold has no use here.
Money's pointless in the woods.
gold is useless
The best and truest,
For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.
The best and truest—here it sleeps and does no hired harm.
Gold's best when it's sitting here doing nothing.
gold is best when it sleeps and harms no one
Where liest a-nights, Timon?
Where do you sleep at night, Timon?
Where do you sleep?
where do you sleep
Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou a-days, Apemantus?
Beneath the sky. Where do you eat during the day, Apemantus?
Under the stars. Where do you eat?
under the sky where do you eat
Where my stomach finds meat, or rather where I eat it.
Wherever my stomach finds meat, or where I eat it.
Wherever I find food to eat.
wherever there's food
Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!
I wish poison were obedient and understood my thoughts!
I wish I could command poison to do what I want.
poison should obey me should read my mind
Where wouldst thou send it?
Where would you send it?
Where would you use it?
where would it go
To sauce thy dishes.
To poison your meals.
Into your food.
in your food
The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both
ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for
too much curiosity; in thy rags thou know’st none, but art despised for
the contrary. There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it.
You never knew the middle of humanity, only the extremes of both ends. When you had wealth and perfume, they mocked you for excessive curiosity. In rags, you know no one but are despised for the opposite. Here's a medlar—eat it.
You go from one extreme to the other. Rich, people hated how fussy you were. Poor, people hate that you're not. Either way, you lose. Eat this.
you swing between extremes rich: too curious poor: not curious enough no middle ground no winning
On what I hate I feed not.
I don't feed on what I hate.
I won't eat things I despise.
i don't eat what i hate
Dost hate a medlar?
Do you hate medlars?
You hate this fruit?
hate medlars
Ay, though it look like thee.
Yes, though it looks like you.
Yeah, looks just like you.
yes because it's like you
An thou’dst hated medlars sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself
better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved
after his means?
If you'd hated medlars sooner, you'd love yourself better now. What man did you ever know who was wasteful and still beloved?
If you'd hated yourself sooner, you'd be better off. Did you ever know a spendthrift people actually liked?
if you hated yourself sooner you'd be better spenders are never loved
Who, without those means thou talk’st of, didst thou ever know beloved?
Who without those means you speak of—who without money—did you ever know who was beloved?
Without money—did you ever know anyone poor who people loved?
without money was anyone ever loved
Myself.
Myself.
Myself.
myself
I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to keep a dog.
I understand you. You had just enough means to keep a dog.
Right—you had just enough to feed a dog. That's it.
enough for a dog that's all you had
What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?
What in the world do your flatterers most resemble?
What are your flatterers most like?
what do flatterers resemble
Women nearest; but men—men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou
do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?
Women most closely. But men—men ARE the things themselves. What would you do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in your power?
Women closest. But men? Men are just the real thing. What would you do with the world if you could?
women but really men are flatterers what would you do with the world
Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.
Give it to the beasts to be rid of men.
Give it to animals so I could kill all humans.
give it to animals get rid of humans
Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men and remain a
beast with the beasts?
Would you have yourself fall into the chaos of men and remain a beast with the beasts?
But would you stay a beast yourself and not join the chaos?
would you stay a beast instead of joining men
Ay, Timon.
Yes, Timon.
Yeah.
yes
A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t’ attain to. If thou
wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the
fox would eat thee; if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee
when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass; if thou wert the ass,
thy dulness would torment thee, and still thou lived’st but as a
breakfast to the wolf; if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would
afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner.
Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make
thine own self the conquest of thy fury; wert thou a bear, thou wouldst
be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by
the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane to the lion, and
the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life. All thy safety were
remotion, and thy defence absence. What beast couldst thou be that were
not subject to a beast? And what beast art thou already that seest not
thy loss in transformation!
A beastly ambition—may the gods grant you to achieve it. If you accomplished it and I learned that men had been destroyed while you remained a beast, I'd embrace you.
That's disgusting ambition. I hope you get it. If you destroyed all humans and stayed an animal yourself, I'd actually like you.
beastly ambition may gods grant it if you were alone left as a beast i might like you
If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit
upon it here. The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.
If you could please me by speaking, you might have achieved something. But you won't—you lack the wit.
If you could actually say something smart, you might win. But you can't talk well enough.
you lack the words to win me over no wit
How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?
How did the ass break through the wall that you're out of Athens?
Did the donkey kick through the gates so you could escape?
did a donkey break the walls for you to escape athens
Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The plague of company light upon
thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way. When I know not what else
to do, I’ll see thee again.
Here comes a poet and a painter. May the plague of human company fall on you! I'll protect myself from the contagion and move away. When I have nothing better to do, I'll see you again.
Oh great, a poet and painter. I hope you catch something from being around people. I'm getting out of here before you infect me. Maybe I'll come back and bother you later.
poets and painters coming to you i won't catch the plague of human company i'm leaving
When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had
rather be a beggar’s dog than Apemantus.
Only if there's no one else living—then I'll welcome you. But I'd rather be a beggar's dog than spend time with Apemantus.
Only if you're literally the last human alive. And honestly, I'd rather be a stray dog than deal with you.
only if you're the only one left alive on earth otherwise i'd be a dog
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
You're the king of all fools alive.
You're the biggest idiot I know.
you're the worst fool alive
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!
I wish you were clean enough that I could spit on you.
You're so filthy I wouldn't even spit on you.
you're too dirty even to spit on
A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.
A plague strike you! You're so evil I can't even curse you properly.
Go to hell! You're too horrible to even curse.
a plague on you you're beyond cursing
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
Every criminal who stands beside you becomes pure by comparison.
Villains look innocent standing next to you.
everyone next to you looks pure
There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st.
There's no disease except what you speak.
Your words are the only plague that exists.
you're the only disease your words spread it
If I name thee,
I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.
If I struck you, just saying your name would infect my hands.
If I hit you, I'd catch your disease just from touching you.
if i beat you my hands would get infected from touching you
I would my tongue could rot them off!
I wish my tongue could rot them off for you.
I wish I could make your tongue rot.
i wish your tongue would rot off
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
Choler does kill me that thou art alive.
I swoon to see thee.
Get away, you product of a diseased dog! Your vile nature is killing me—I faint just seeing you.
Get away, you bastard! Your existence is making me sick. I can barely look at you.
get away you're making me faint i can't even look at you
Would thou wouldst burst!
I hope you exploded.
Die already.
die
Away, thou tedious rogue!
I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.
Get away, you tiresome scoundrel! I'm actually glad I'll lose weight—removing your company removes the weight of your presence.
Beat it, you boring jerk! I'm glad to lose whatever you weigh—getting rid of you is good for me.
go away i'm relieved to lose you your absence is gain
Beast!
Animal!
Monster!
beast
Slave!
Servant!
Dog!
servant
Toad!
Toad!
Toad!
toad
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon’t.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave.
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others’ lives may laugh.
Scoundrel, scoundrel, scoundrel! I'm sick of this false world, and I'll love nothing except the bare necessities of life. Now, Timon, prepare your grave. Lie where the sea's foam can pound your tombstone every day. Write your epitaph so that death in you can laugh at the lives of others.
You're a liar, a liar, a liar! I'm done with this fake world. I'm keeping nothing but food. I'm ready to die. Find a place to bury me where the waves will beat on my grave every day. Put on my tombstone that I'm dead because everyone else is alive.
crook crook crook i hate this world let me die bury me where the waves crash on my grave so the sea destroys me like the world did
Would ’twere so!
But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou’st gold;
Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.
I wish it were so! But not until I'm dead. I'll tell people you have gold—then you'll be swarmed with visitors soon.
Wish I could believe that. But I'm not dying yet. Once I spread the word you're rich, everyone will show up.
i'll tell them you have gold they'll come running swarm you vultures
Thronged to?
Swarmed to?
They'll surround me?
surround me
Ay.
Yes.
Yeah.
yes
Thy back, I prithee.
Turn around then—let them swarm you.
Then come closer. Let them swarm all over you.
let them swarm you turn your back to them
Live and love thy misery.
Live long and love your misery.
Stay alive and get used to suffering.
live with your pain forever
Long live so, and so die! I am quit.
May you live and die that way. I'm done with you.
You're right, I hope you live suffering and die suffering. Now get away.
fine stay miserable forever i'm done leave
More things like men. Eat, Timon, and abhor them.
Start acting more like a human. Eat, Timon, and hate them.
Try to be human for once. Eat something and hate everyone while you do.
eat like a human and hate them
Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender
ort of his remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from of his
friends drove him into this melancholy.
Where did he get this gold? It must be just a scrap, a leftover crumb from his broken estate. Losing his wealth and his friends drove him to this lonely despair.
He's got a little gold somewhere. Probably the last piece of what he had. His money ran out and his friends abandoned him, so now he's stuck out here going crazy.
lost his fortune lost his friends that's what destroyed him
It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.
I've heard he has a massive treasure.
Word is he's loaded.
he's got tons of gold
Let us make the assay upon him. If he care not for’t, he will supply us
easily; if he covetously reserve it, how shall’s get it?
Let's test him then. If he doesn't care about the money, he'll give it to us easily. If he's holding it tight, how do we get it?
Let's see what he does. If he doesn't care about gold, he'll hand it over. If he's hoarding it, we'll need a different approach.
test him if he doesn't care he'll give it up if he does care we steal it
True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis hid.
True—he's not carrying it on him. It's buried somewhere.
Right. He's got it stashed somewhere.
he's hiding it not carrying it
Is not this he?
Is that him?
Is that him over there?
is that him
Where?
Where?
Where?
where
’Tis his description.
That matches his description.
That's gotta be him.
that's him matches description
He; I know him.
Yes, him. I know him.
That's the guy. I recognize him.
i know him
Save thee, Timon!
Bless you, Timon!
Hey Timon! Great to see you!
timon hey
Now, thieves?
So—now you're here as thieves?
What—you're robbing me now?
thieves
Soldiers, not thieves.
Soldiers, not thieves.
We're soldiers, not robbers.
soldiers not thieves
Both too, and women’s sons.
You're both—and women bore you both.
Same thing. And you're all bastards like everyone else.
both both types both sons of women
We are not thieves, but men that much do want.
We're not thieves, but men who desperately need things.
We're not criminals. We're just hungry.
we're desperate men not thieves
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots,
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs,
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips,
The bounteous housewife Nature on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?
What you want most is food. So why do you want? Look around—the earth has roots within a mile from here, with a hundred springs breaking out. The oak trees drop acorns, the wild bushes have berries. Generous Mother Nature spreads her feast on every branch. Want? Why want?
You want to eat. So why are you starving? The earth is full of roots, springs burst up from the ground. Oak trees drop acorns, berry bushes are everywhere. Nature is feeding you. Why aren't you eating?
the earth feeds you roots springs acorns berries why do you want
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.
We can't live on grass, berries, or water like beasts and birds and fish.
We're not animals. We can't just eat grass.
we're not animals we need real food
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
Here’s gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o’ th’ grape
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so scape hanging. Trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together,
Do villainy, do, since you protest to do’t,
Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery.
The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea; the moon’s an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun;
The sea’s a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears; the earth’s a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stol’n
From general excrement. Each thing’s a thief.
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves; away!
Rob one another. There’s more gold. Cut throats,
All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go,
Break open shops, nothing can you steal
But thieves do lose it. Steal no less for this I give you,
And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen.
But you don't eat the beasts themselves, the birds, or the fish either. You must eat men. Still, I thank you that you're honest thieves—you don't hide behind some pious mask. There's boundless theft among respectable professions. Rascal thieves, here's gold. Go, drink wine until the fever burns your blood to foam and you escape hanging. Don't trust doctors—their cures poison more people than you steal from. Rob lives and wealth together. Do villainy like professionals. I'll show you how. The sun is a thief—it robs the ocean with its gravity. The moon is a thief—she steals her pale light from the sun. The sea is a thief—it steals the moon and dissolves her into salt. The earth is a thief—it feeds itself on stolen waste from everything. Every single thing steals. The laws are supposed to stop theft, but they just legalize it. Don't love yourselves—leave! Rob each other. There's more gold. Cut throats. Everyone you meet is a thief. Go to Athens, break into shops. You can't steal anything that hasn't already been stolen. Steal more if you want—and damn you all however the gods see fit. Amen.
Well, you do eat flesh, right? But not theirs. You eat people. Look, I respect that you're upfront about being thieves. You don't pretend to be good—at least you're honest. Doctors steal way more than you ever will by killing patients. Here's gold. Go drink until you pass out. Keep stealing. Steal everything. The sun steals from the ocean, the moon from the sun, the sea from the moon, the earth from everything. It's all theft. Laws just make it official. Rob each other. Here's more gold. Everything in Athens is already stolen—just grab it. Good luck, and the gods curse you.
you eat men thieves are honest doctors steal more take gold keep stealing everything is stolen the sun the moon the earth all thieves thieves do it better
Has almost charmed me from my profession by persuading me to it.
He's nearly seduced me away from my profession by talking me into it.
He almost made sense. For a second, I almost wanted to be a real thief like him.
he almost convinced me i almost believed him almost became a thief
’Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us, not to have us
thrive in our mystery.
He's speaking with human malice—trying to make sure we never succeed at our trade.
He's just trying to talk us out of stealing so we stay poor.
he wants us to fail he's using words to destroy us
I’ll believe him as an enemy and give over my trade.
I'll take him at his word as if he were my enemy and quit the criminal life.
I'm gonna believe what he said. He convinced me. I'm out.
he convinced me i quit i'm done being a thief
Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable but a
man may be true.
Let's first see if Athens makes peace. There's no time so bad that a man can't still be honest.
Let's at least wait and see if Athens gets peaceful. Things might get better.
peace in athens first then we'll see maybe we can be honest
O you gods!
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed!
What an alteration of honour has desperate want made!
What viler thing upon the earth than friends
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise,
When man was wished to love his enemies!
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me than those that do!
He has caught me in his eye. I will present
My honest grief unto him and as my lord
Still serve him with my life.—My dearest master!
Oh gods! Is that despised, ruined man my lord? Full of decay and breaking apart? Such a wonder—such noble kindness, now wasted on ingrates! What has desperation done to his honor? What's more vile than friends who drag noble hearts down to base deeds? How rare it is in these times—a man who wants to love his enemies! Grant me always to love, and rather befriend those who would harm me than those who actually do. He's seen me. I must give him my honest grief and, as his servant, offer him my life. My dearest master!
Oh no. Is that my lord? He's fallen apart—destroyed. He used to give so much kindness, and now look at him. Nothing's worse than friends who drag good people down to wickedness. In these sick times, wanting to love your enemies should be amazing, but it's not. I'll love people who want to hurt me rather than help them. He sees me. I have to tell him the truth about my sorrow, and I'll serve him with my life.
is this my lord he's destroyed wasted kindness friends betrayed him i'll serve him forever my dearest master
Away! What art thou?
Get away! Who are you?
Back off! Who are you?
away who
Have you forgot me, sir?
Have you forgotten me, sir?
Do you not remember me?
do you remember me
Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men.
Then, if thou grant’st thou’rt a man, I have forgot thee.
Why ask that? I've forgotten all people. If you admit you're human, then I've forgotten you too.
Because I've forgotten everyone. If you're a person, I've forgotten you.
i forgot all humans if you're human i forgot you
An honest poor servant of yours.
I'm an honest, poor servant of yours.
I was your faithful servant.
your honest servant poor and faithful
Then I know thee not.
I never had honest man about me. I; all
I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.
Then I don't know you. I never had an honest man serve me. Everyone I kept was a scoundrel, there just to feed the villains.
Then I don't know you. I never had an honest servant. Everyone who worked for me was a crook.
i had no honest men only crooks feeding other crooks
The gods are witness,
Ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
The gods are my witness—never did a poor steward mourn his ruined master as much as my eyes mourn you.
God knows I've grieved for you more than any servant ever grieved for a lord.
i grieve for you more than any servant ever grieved
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer then. I love thee
Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping.
Strange times that weep with laughing, not with weeping!
Why do you weep? Come closer then. I love you because you're a woman and you reject hard, flint-like mankind, whose eyes never give except through lust and mockery. Pity sleeps. Strange world—we weep with laughter, not with tears!
You're crying? Come closer. I love you because you're not like other people—you're kind. Normal people only look at others through sex and jokes. Nobody pitches in. It's backwards—we laugh when we should cry.
you weep you're a woman not a hard man lust and laughter not pity i love you
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
T’ accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.
I beg you to know me, my lord. Accept my sorrow, and while this poor money lasts, let me still serve you as your steward.
Please remember me. Let me grieve with you. While I have any money left, let me keep serving you.
know me accept my grief let me serve you with what i have
Had I a steward
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
Was born of woman.
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual sober gods! I do proclaim
One honest man, mistake me not, but one;
No more, I pray, and he’s a steward.
How fain would I have hated all mankind,
And thou redeem’st thyself. But all, save thee,
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise,
For by oppressing and betraying me
Thou mightst have sooner got another service;
For many so arrive at second masters
Upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true—
For I must ever doubt, though ne’er so sure—
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
A usuring kindness and as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return twenty for one?
Could I have found a steward so true, so just, and now so comforting? It almost softens my dangerous nature. Let me see your face. Surely this man was born of a woman—I must forgive my blanket cruelty, you eternal gods! I declare that there is one honest man—mark me—one only. No more, I pray. And he's a steward. How badly I wanted to hate all mankind, but you redeem yourself. Everyone else fell with my curses. You seem more honest than wise, for by cheating and betraying me you could have gotten another master faster—many serve their second lord on their first lord's corpse. But tell me truly, for I can never stop doubting—is your kindness real, or is it a usurer's trick? Are you giving gifts the way rich men do, expecting twenty in return for one?
A steward as loyal as you? So honest and kind? It's almost making me less bitter. Let me look at you. You're a real person—I have to take back my anger at everyone. I declare one man is honest. Just one. And it's you, my steward. I've been trying to hate everyone, but you won't let me. Everyone else got my curses. You're smart, not naive—you could've turned on me like everyone else. But tell me the truth. I have to ask: is this real kindness, or are you just playing me? Are you expecting me to give you back more than you give?
honest steward truly just it softens my rage one honest man just one it's you i cursed everyone else but you
No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late.
You should have feared false times when you did feast,
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,
Care of your food and living. And believe it,
My most honoured lord,
For any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope or present, I’d exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To requite me by making rich yourself.
No, my most worthy master. Doubt and suspicion came too late to your breast—they should have warned you when you were feasting in plenty. Suspicion always arrives when wealth is gone. What I show you is nothing but love, my lord, and my duty and devotion to your incomparable mind, and my care for your food and living. Believe me, my most honored lord, for any benefit that might come to me, whether hoped for or present, I would trade it all for this one wish: that you had the power and wealth to repay me by making yourself rich again.
No, my most worthy master. Doubt and fear came too late to protect you—they should have warned you when you had everything. Suspicion always shows up when the money's gone. What I'm showing you is pure love, sir, and my duty and loyalty to your matchless mind, and my care for your food and your living. Believe me, my most honored lord—for any benefit that might come to me, whether I hope for it or already have it, I'd trade it all for just one thing: that you had the power and the wealth to pay me back by making yourself rich again.
you should have doubted sooner when you still had everything i only show you love my duty is real i'd give everything for you to be rich again
Look thee, ’tis so! Thou singly honest man,
Here, take. The gods out of my misery
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
But let the famished flesh slide from the bone
Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em,
Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
And so farewell and thrive.
You see! You are the only honest man I've found. Here, take this gold. The gods, knowing my misery, have sent this treasure to you. Go, live rich and happy. But on one condition: you must build yourself from the ruins of men. Hate all people, curse all people, show mercy to no one. Let the starving go without food, let their flesh fall from their bones before you help a beggar. Give to dogs what you would deny to men. Let prisons consume people, let debt destroy them to nothing. Make men like blasted forests, and may diseases devour their false blood. Goodbye, and prosper.
Look! You're the only honest man around. Here, take this gold. The gods, because they know I'm suffering, have sent this treasure your way. Go live rich and happy. But here's the catch: you have to build yourself up by destroying other people. Hate everyone, curse everyone, don't show anyone any mercy. Let starving people starve, let their flesh waste away before you help a beggar. Give to dogs what you won't give to men. Let prisons swallow people up, let debt ruin them completely. Make men like dead forests, and let disease eat up their lying blood. Goodbye and good luck.
you're the only honest man the gods gave you this gold build yourself from other people's ruin hate everyone don't help anyone let them starve
O, let me stay
And comfort you, my master.
Please, let me stay and comfort you, my master.
Please, let me stay here and be there for you, my lord.
let me stay let me comfort you please
If thou hat’st curses,
Stay not. Fly whilst thou’rt blest and free.
Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee.
If you hate curses, do not stay. Leave while you are still blessed and free. Never see another human, and let me never see you again.
If you don't want to hear me curse, get out of here. Go while you're still lucky and free. Don't ever look at another person, and don't ever let me see your face again.
if you hate curses leave go while you're still free never see anyone again never see me again