| Timon of Athens |
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A poet, a painter, a jeweller and a merchant talk about their work as they join Senators of Athens seeking attention from the wealthy philanthropist Lord Timon. Timon greets each of them, pays the debts of his friend Ventidius and arbitrates in a suit against his own servant Lucilius who aspires to marry above his station. The misogynist Apemantus warns Timon against his flatterers but Timon ignores his advice and invites all to dine when he entertains the General Alcibiades and his companions at a feast. At the banquet Apemantus criticises Timon once more, but nevertheless joins the guests and all are entertained by a masque of Amazon dancers, who also receive Timon’s hospitality. Timon’s devoted steward, Flavius, tries to warn his master that his assets are dwindling rapidly, and when Flavius has been unable to pay some of the creditors Timon is puzzled and realises the truth that his financial affairs are in ruins. He sends his servants to his former flattering friends to ask for loans but each one is rejected. Instead the creditors clamour to be paid. In response Timon summons all to a further feast, while Apemantus wisely advising the Senators not to condemn Timon for his unpaid debts, only succeeds in receiving banishment himself. At Timon’s house music plays, then Timon harshly criticises his guests before a meal of stones and water is presented which Timon angrily throws in the faces of his bemused erstwhile friends. Timon leaves Athens: cursing and furious against the city and its people. He vows to hate them all, condemning them for ignoring his former kindnesses. The loyal Flavius takes leave of his fellow servants while Timon, on the edge of madness, digs for roots as food near a deserted cave but discovers golden treasure which he hides as Alcibiades, with his soldiers and followers, Phyrenia and Timandra find him and offer friendship. Spurned at first, Alcibiades is offered gold to attack Athens. The women eagerly accept the treasure and depart to campaign with the soldiers. Banished Apemantus visits Timon, criticising him for giving in to hatred of the Athenian ‘turn-coats’. The two men trade harsh words against the world and its love of riches, and a trio of outlaws, seeking to steal Timon’s gold are persuaded to give up banditry and return to the city. Flavius discovers his former master, but is at first unrecognised, then is praised by Timon as the only honest man, and is given gold as a reward for his loyalty. The poet and the painter arrive at Timon’s cave, having heard from the women about the buried gold, but Timon realises their intentions and drives them away. Two Senators, led by Flavius, try to persuade Timon to return to Athens to prevent Alcibiades’s attack but they too are rejected. Soon afterwards a soldier discovers Timon’s gravestone and takes it to the general as he lays siege to the city. Alcibiades parleys with the Senators and promises to spare all but Timon’s enemies, but receiving the news of Timon’s death he enters Athens, proclaiming peace. ©Marian J. Pringle
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