THRASYCLES 
I have not come with the same intent as all this
crowd, Timon. Dazzled by your riches, they have
gathered at a run in the expectation of silver and
gold and costly dinners, meaning to exercise unlimited flattery upon a man so simple and so free
with his gear. You know, of course, that for me
barley-cake is dinner enough, and the sweetest relish
is thyme or cardamom, or if ever I were to indulge
myself, a trifle of salt. My drink is the water of
Nine-spouts, and this philosopher’s mantle suits me
better than any purple robe. As for gold, I hold it
in no higher worth than yonder pebbles on the shore.
It was on your account that I came, in order that
you might not be corrupted by wealth, that most
iniquitous and insidious of possessions, which, many
a time to many a man, has proved a source of irreparable misfortunes. If you take my advice, you will
by all means throw the whole of it into the sea, for it
is not at all essential to a virtuous man who can discern the riches of philosophy; but don’t throw it into
the deep water, my dear fellow: just wade in as far
as your waist and toss it a short distance outside the
breakers, with none but me to see you.

 

However, if
you are unwilling to do this, then bundle it out of the
house quickly in another and a better way without
leaving as much as a copper for yourself by distributing it to all the needy, five drachmas to this
man, a mina to that one and half a talent to a third.
If a philosopher should apply he ought to get a
double or a triple portion. As for me, I do not ask
for it on my own account but to share with those of
my comrades who are needy, and it will be plenty if

 

you let me have the fill of this wallet, which holds
not quite two bushels Aeginetan. Aeginetan weights were heavier than the Attic, but Aeginetan measures were no larger than any others, One is tempted to write “two bushels Avoirdupois.” A man in
philosophy should be easily satisfied and temperate,
and should limit his aspirations to his wallet.
 TIMON 
Well said, Thrasycles! But instead of filling the
wallet, please allow me to fill your head with lumps,
measured out with my pick.
 THRASYCLES 
Democracy and the Laws! The scoundrel is
beating me, in a free city!
 TIMON 
What are you angry about, my dear fellow? Surely
I haven’t given you short measure? Come, Pll throw
in four pecks over the amount!

 
But what have we here? They are gathering in
swarms; I see Blepsias yonder, Laches, Guipho and
the whole crew of my intended victims. Why not
climb this rock, give my long-wearied pick a little
rest and handle the situation without it, collecting all
the stones I can and raining them down on those
fellows from a distance?
 BLEPSIAS 
Don’t throw at us, Timon; we are going away.

 TIMON 
But not without bloodshed and wounds, I promise
you!

 

contemporaries the life that he found in books. was more
Interesting and_more réal than. that, in°which he lived and
“moved. What his satire Toses in pungency on this account,
it gains in universality of appeal.