Timon, or the Misanthrope (31-35)

HERMES Our friend Timon is digging ina hilly and stony piece of ground close by. Oho, Poverty is with him, and so is Toil; likewise Endurance, Wisdom, Manliness, and the whole host of their fellows that serve under Captain Starvation, a far better sort than your henchmen.

RICHES Then why not beat a retreat as quickly as possible, Hermes? We can’t accomplish anything worth mentioning with a man that is hedged in by such an army.

HERMES Zeus thought differently, so let’s not be cowardly.

POVERTY Where are you going with that person whom you have by the hand, Hermes?

HERMES Zeus sent us to Timon here.

POVERTY Is he sending Riches to Timon now, when I have made a noble and a valuable man of him, after taking him over in a wretched plight that was due to Luxury and putting him in charge of Wisdom and Toil? Then am I, Poverty, so easy to slight, think you, and so easy to wrong that I can be robbed of my

only possession after I have thoroughly perfected him in virtue, in order that Riches, taking him over again and giving him into the hands of Insolence and Pride, may make him soft, unmanly and base as before, and then return him to me reduced to a clout?

HERMES It was the will of Zeus, Poverty.

POVERTY I am going; follow me, Toil and Wisdom and the rest of you. ‘This man will soon find out whom he is deserting in me—a good helpmate and a teacher of all that is best, through whose instruction he kept well in body and sound in mind, leading the life of a real man, relying on himself and holding all this abundance and excess to be nothing to him, as indeed it is.

HERMES They are going ; let us approach him.

TIMON Who are you, plague take you, and what do you want that you come here to bother a man at work and earning his wage? You will go away sorry that you came, vile wretches that you are, every one of you; for I'll very soon throw these clods and stones at you and break every bone in your bodies.

HERMES No, no, Timon! don’t throw at us, for we are not men. I am Hermes and this is Riches. We were sent by Zeus in answer to your prayers. So desist from your labours and accept prosperity, and good luck to you!

TIMON You shall catch it too, even if you are gods, as you say, for I hate all alike, both gods and men, and as for this blind fellow, whoever he may be, I shall certainly break his head with my pick.

RICHES Let’s go, Hermes, in the name of Zeus, in order that I may not come to some harm before going ; for the man is uncommonly crazy, it seems to me.

HERMES Let’s have no roughness, Timon. Lay aside this excessive rudeness and asperity, stretch out your hands and take your good fortune. Be rich once more and a leading man in Athens, and cut the acquaintance of those ingrates of old, keeping your wealth to yourself.

TIMON I don’t want anything of you; don’t bother me. My pick is riches enough for me, and in all other respects I am as happy as can be if only nobody comes near me.

HERMES Such an uncivil answer, friend ?

Will you I carry to Zeus those words so repellent and stubborn ?

Iliad, 15, 202 True enough, it is reasonable for you to hate men after they have treated you so horribly, but not in the least to hate the gods, who take such good care of you.