The Life of Timon of Athens: Act 3, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 6 of The Life of Timon of Athens from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Music. Enter divers Friends at several doors. FIRST FRIEND The good time of day to you, sir. SECOND FRIEND I also wish it to you. I think this honorable lord did but try us this other day. FIRST FRIEND Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as 5 he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. SECOND FRIEND It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. FIRST FRIEND I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions 10 did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. SECOND FRIEND In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, 15 that my provision was out. FIRST FRIEND I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. SECOND FRIEND Every man here’s so. What would he have borrowed of you? 20 FIRST FRIEND A thousand pieces. SECOND FRIEND A thousand pieces! FIRST FRIEND What of you? SECOND FRIEND He sent to me, sir— Enter Timon and Attendants. Here he comes. 25 TIMON With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how fare you? FIRST FRIEND Ever at the best, hearing well of your Lordship. SECOND FRIEND The swallow follows not summer 30 more willing than we your Lordship. TIMON, aside Nor more willingly leaves winter, such summer birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly 35 o’ th’ trumpets’ sound. We shall to ’t presently. FIRST FRIEND I hope it remains not unkindly with your Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger. TIMON O, sir, let it not trouble you. SECOND FRIEND My noble lord— 40 TIMON Ah, my good friend, what cheer? SECOND FRIEND My most honorable lord, I am e’en sick of shame that when your Lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. TIMON Think not on ’t, sir. 45 SECOND FRIEND If you had sent but two hours before— TIMON Let it not cumber your better remembrance. The banquet brought in. Come, bring in all together.	We hope you brought your Sunday best, because the banquet is about to begin. The whole gang is there: Lucullus, Lucius, Sempronius, Ventidius, and the other lords and Senators show up at Timon's house. The guys are all a little bashful over the whole not lending Timon money thing. But then they get to talking, and they figure Timon was just messing with them. The rumors must be false, they think. Timon can't be out of money, right? He was just testing their friendship by asking them for money. (Guess they bombed that test.) It's all good, they tell one another. Then they all come up with fake reasons why they didn't lend Timon any money. Hopefully that's all forgotten... and it must be, because when Timon enters a moment later, he welcomes them all as if nothing has changed.
SECOND FRIEND All covered dishes! FIRST FRIEND Royal cheer, I warrant you. 50 THIRD FRIEND Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it. FIRST FRIEND How do you? What’s the news? THIRD FRIEND Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it? FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS Alcibiades banished? 55 THIRD FRIEND ’Tis so. Be sure of it. FIRST FRIEND How? How? SECOND FRIEND I pray you, upon what? TIMON My worthy friends, will you draw near? THIRD FRIEND I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble 60 feast toward. SECOND FRIEND This is the old man still. THIRD FRIEND Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold? SECOND FRIEND It does, but time will—and so— THIRD FRIEND I do conceive. 65 TIMON Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, sit. (They sit.) The gods require our thanks: 70 You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for, were your godheads to 75 borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees, 80 O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the common tag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they 85 welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap.	When the men see the table, they're sure everything is cool, because they only see covered dishes. They know what that means: gift time. They figure the dishes must all be covered because they are so lavish that the reveal will be just as exciting as the gifts themselves. Well, these guys are partly right. Timon says grace...but it's not the type we learned in Sunday school. Timon is cynical and indignant. He says he is thankful for his friends who are nothing to him, so he'll bless them with nothing.
The dishes are uncovered. They contain only water and stones. SOME SPEAK What does his Lordship mean? SOME OTHER I know not. TIMON May you a better feast never behold, 90 You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm water Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last, Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries, Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces 95 Your reeking villainy. (He throws water in their faces.) Live loathed and long, Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies, 100 Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks. Of man and beast the infinite malady Crust you quite o’er! (They stand.) What, dost thou go? Soft! Take thy physic first—thou too—and thou.— 105 Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none. He attacks them and forces them out. What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest. Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be Of Timon man and all humanity! 110 He exits. Enter Timon’s Friends, the Senators, with other Lords. FIRST FRIEND How now, my lords? SECOND FRIEND Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s fury? THIRD FRIEND Push! Did you see my cap? FOURTH FRIENDI have lost my gown. 115 FIRST FRIEND He’s but a mad lord, and naught but humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you see my jewel? SECOND FRIEND Did you see my cap? 120 THIRD FRIEND Here ’tis. FOURTH FRIEND Here lies my gown. FIRST FRIEND Let’s make no stay. SECOND FRIEND Lord Timon’s mad. THIRD FRIEND I feel ’t upon my bones. 125 FOURTH FRIEND One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. The Senators and the others exit.	No one really seems to catch on—that is, not until they uncover the dishes in front of them. Underneath the lids are a bunch of stones and warm water. What the heck kind of dinner party is this? The men are really confused. That's when Timon begins to explain himself. He tells them he knows they are villains. He throws the water in their faces, calls them a bunch of moochers, and throws stones at them. Unsurprisingly, they all run away. Timon finishes off his passionate speech by saying he hates Athens. Oh, and all mankind hates it too. Boo-yah. After Timon's gone, the men sneak back in to collect their things. They might be embarrassed, but that's no reason to leave behind a perfectly good gown or jewel. The men also collectively decide that Timon is crazy. That's the only explanation for why he got angry at them, right? Riiiiiight.

Original Text

Translated Text

Music. Enter divers Friends at several doors.

FIRST FRIEND The good time of day to you, sir.

SECOND FRIEND
I also wish it to you. I think this honorable
lord did but try us this other day.

FIRST FRIEND
Upon that were my thoughts tiring when
we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as 5
he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

SECOND FRIEND
It should not be, by the persuasion of
his new feasting.

FIRST FRIEND
I should think so. He hath sent me an
earnest inviting, which many my near occasions 10
did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me
beyond them, and I must needs appear.

SECOND FRIEND
In like manner was I in debt to my
importunate business, but he would not hear my
excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, 15
that my provision was out.

FIRST FRIEND
I am sick of that grief too, as I understand
how all things go.

SECOND FRIEND Every man here’s so. What would he
have borrowed of you? 20

FIRST FRIEND
A thousand pieces.

SECOND FRIEND A thousand pieces!

FIRST FRIEND
What of you?

SECOND FRIEND
He sent to me, sir—

Enter Timon and Attendants.

Here he comes. 25

TIMON
With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how
fare you?

FIRST FRIEND
Ever at the best, hearing well of your
Lordship.

SECOND FRIEND The swallow follows not summer 30
more willing than we your Lordship.

TIMON, aside
Nor more willingly leaves winter, such
summer birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner
will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears
with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly 35
o’ th’ trumpets’ sound. We shall to ’t presently.

FIRST FRIEND
I hope it remains not unkindly with your
Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.

TIMON O, sir, let it not trouble you.

SECOND FRIEND
My noble lord— 40

TIMON
Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

SECOND FRIEND
My most honorable lord, I am e’en
sick of shame that when your Lordship this other
day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

TIMON
Think not on ’t, sir. 45

SECOND FRIEND If you had sent but two hours before—

TIMON
Let it not cumber your better remembrance.

The banquet brought in.

Come, bring in all together.

We hope you brought your Sunday best, because the banquet is about to begin. The whole gang is there: Lucullus, Lucius, Sempronius, Ventidius, and the other lords and Senators show up at Timon's house.

The guys are all a little bashful over the whole not lending Timon money thing. But then they get to talking, and they figure Timon was just messing with them.

The rumors must be false, they think. Timon can't be out of money, right? He was just testing their friendship by asking them for money. (Guess they bombed that test.)

It's all good, they tell one another. Then they all come up with fake reasons why they didn't lend Timon any money.

Hopefully that's all forgotten... and it must be, because when Timon enters a moment later, he welcomes them all as if nothing has changed.

SECOND FRIEND
All covered dishes!

FIRST FRIEND
Royal cheer, I warrant you. 50

THIRD FRIEND Doubt not that, if money and the season
can yield it.

FIRST FRIEND How do you? What’s the news?

THIRD FRIEND
Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?

FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS
Alcibiades banished? 55

THIRD FRIEND
’Tis so. Be sure of it.

FIRST FRIEND How? How?

SECOND FRIEND I pray you, upon what?

TIMON My worthy friends, will you draw near?

THIRD FRIEND
I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble 60
feast toward.

SECOND FRIEND
This is the old man still.

THIRD FRIEND
Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold?

SECOND FRIEND
It does, but time will—and so—

THIRD FRIEND
I do conceive. 65

TIMON
Each man to his stool, with that spur as he
would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall
be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let
the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place.
Sit, sit. (They sit.) The gods require our thanks: 70

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with
thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves
praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be
despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need
not lend to another; for, were your godheads to 75
borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make
the meat be beloved more than the man that gives
it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of
villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a
dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees, 80
O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the
common tag of people, what is amiss in them,
you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these
my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so
in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they 85
welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

When the men see the table, they're sure everything is cool, because they only see covered dishes. They know what that means: gift time. They figure the dishes must all be covered because they are so lavish that the reveal will be just as exciting as the gifts themselves.

Well, these guys are partly right.

Timon says grace...but it's not the type we learned in Sunday school. Timon is cynical and indignant. He says he is thankful for his friends who are nothing to him, so he'll bless them with nothing.

The dishes are uncovered. They contain
only water and stones.

SOME SPEAK
What does his Lordship mean?

SOME OTHER
I know not.

TIMON
May you a better feast never behold, 90
You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm
water
Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last,
Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces 95
Your reeking villainy. (He throws water in their
faces.) Live loathed and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies, 100
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks.
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o’er! (They stand.) What, dost thou
go?
Soft! Take thy physic first—thou too—and thou.— 105
Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none.
He attacks them and forces them out.
What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast
Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest.
Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
Of Timon man and all humanity! 110

He exits.

Enter Timon’s Friends, the Senators, with other Lords.

FIRST FRIEND
How now, my lords?

SECOND FRIEND
Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s
fury?

THIRD FRIEND
Push! Did you see my cap?

FOURTH FRIENDI have lost my gown. 115

FIRST FRIEND
He’s but a mad lord, and naught but
humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other
day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you
see my jewel?

SECOND FRIEND Did you see my cap? 120

THIRD FRIEND
Here ’tis.

FOURTH FRIEND Here lies my gown.

FIRST FRIEND
Let’s make no stay.

SECOND FRIEND
Lord Timon’s mad.

THIRD FRIEND
I feel ’t upon my bones. 125

FOURTH FRIEND
One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

The Senators and the others exit.

No one really seems to catch on—that is, not until they uncover the dishes in front of them.

Underneath the lids are a bunch of stones and warm water. What the heck kind of dinner party is this? The men are really confused.

That's when Timon begins to explain himself. He tells them he knows they are villains. He throws the water in their faces, calls them a bunch of moochers, and throws stones at them. Unsurprisingly, they all run away.

Timon finishes off his passionate speech by saying he hates Athens. Oh, and all mankind hates it too. Boo-yah.

After Timon's gone, the men sneak back in to collect their things. They might be embarrassed, but that's no reason to leave behind a perfectly good gown or jewel.

The men also collectively decide that Timon is crazy. That's the only explanation for why he got angry at them, right? Riiiiiight.

The Life of Timon of Athens: Act 3, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 6 of The Life of Timon of Athens from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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