SYNOPSIS By J. ELLIS BURDICK ACT I By his liberality, Timon, a lord of Athens, surrounds himself with countless numbers of dependents and followers. They flatter him and he gives them gifts and shows them other favors, believing in the sincerity of their friendships. He gives one dinner at which the favors are precious stones. Flavius, his steward, is much distressed over this mad bounty of his master. ACT II Timon's creditors begin to suspect his financial condition and dun him for their money. At last Timon is made to realize that his steward's worryings had some foundation, but he comforts himself with the thought that he has only to ask aid from those who have enjoyed his bounty and that all their wealth will be at his disposal. Accordingly he dispatches his servants to them with requests for loans. ACT III His one-time friends all refuse to help him and even send to him demanding that he pay them certain small sums he owes them. Realizing the worthlessness of these men and to show his contempt of them, he invites them to a farewell banquet. When the dishes are uncovered they are seen to contain only warm water. Reproaching them for their ungratefulness he throws the water in their faces and hurls the dishes at them, driving them from the house. ACT IV After this last dinner, Timon leaves Athens and goes to the woods to live "where he shall find the unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.” One day in digging roots for food, he finds some buried gold, but it gives him no pleasure. As he is looking at it, an Athenian named Alcibiades, who had been banished, passes that way to make war on the city. Timon gives him some of the gold to pay his soldiers, not because he loves Alcibiades, but because he desires to see Athens punished. Flavius seeks out his old master, who acknowledges his former servant as the one honest man in the world and bestows on him some of his gold, but tells him never to let him see him again. ACT V As Alcibiades approaches Athens, the senators remember Timon and send a delegation, asking him to return to the city and to take the captaincy of all their forces with absolute power. So they hope to drive back Alcibiades, but Timon answers them that he cares not if Alcibiades sack fair Athens, and that he has no pity either for old age or for youth. Unable to win his aid, the senators return to Athens, which place they are soon forced to surrender to Alcibiades. As the city falls word is brought the conqueror of Timon's death. |