"Ellen Schoeters is a member of Actorama + where actors can upload a monologue or scene performance for peer review. What do you think of Ellen Schoeters's performance?"
(0 votes)
| Character | Timon?Flavius??? | |
|---|---|---|
| Scene type / Who are | Persuading somebody, Master/Servant | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Flavius finds Timon in the cave and offers to serve him in the wilderness | |
| Location | ACT IV, Scene 3 | |
Summary
Timon is a generous wealthy man in Athens who enjoys sharing his wealth with his friends without expecting anything in return. In the first scene of the play we are introduced to him when a poet, a painter and a jeweler arrive to his house, hoping to sell their goods and services, knowing of his generous nature. He buys from them and then negotiates to pay for the release of a friend who is in jail because of his debts, Ventidius. After throwing a feast for his friends and giving them several gifts, various people wonder how he can manage not to run out of money.
When three creditors send their servants to collect from Timon, Flavius, Timon's servant, tells his master that he is in debt and has no money left. Timon sends his three servants to ask his friends for a loan but his three friends refuse to lend him any money. Timon's house is soon surrounded by servants of his creditors. Timon decides to hold a last dinner party and invite all his friends. At the party he serves them boiling water and stones, curses them and leaves Athens to live in the wilderness, in a cave. Out in the wilderness, by chance, Timon finds a cache of gold.
In the cave he is visited by several men, among which Alcibiades, another man banished from Athens, and Apemantus, his old grumpy friend. At the end of the scene his servant Flavius arrives. Flavius pities his master and cries. Timon is moved and starts to believe not all of humanity is bad. When Flavius offers to serve him in the wilderness, Timon gives him gold.
When three creditors send their servants to collect from Timon, Flavius, Timon's servant, tells his master that he is in debt and has no money left. Timon sends his three servants to ask his friends for a loan but his three friends refuse to lend him any money. Timon's house is soon surrounded by servants of his creditors. Timon decides to hold a last dinner party and invite all his friends. At the party he serves them boiling water and stones, curses them and leaves Athens to live in the wilderness, in a cave. Out in the wilderness, by chance, Timon finds a cache of gold.
In the cave he is visited by several men, among which Alcibiades, another man banished from Athens, and Apemantus, his old grumpy friend. At the end of the scene his servant Flavius arrives. Flavius pities his master and cries. Timon is moved and starts to believe not all of humanity is bad. When Flavius offers to serve him in the wilderness, Timon gives him gold.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| [Enter FLAVIUS] FLAVIUS O you gods! Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord? Full of decay and failing? O monument And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd! What an alteration of honour Has desperate want made! What viler thing upon the earth than friends Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! How rarely does it meet with this time's guise, When man was wish'd to love his enemies! Grant I may ever love, and rather woo Those that would mischief me than those that do! Has caught me in his eye: I will present My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord, Still serve him with my life. My dearest master! TIMON Away! what art thou? FLAVIUS Have you forgot me, sir? TIMON Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee. FLAVIUS An honest poor servant of yours. TIMON Then I know thee not: I never had honest man about me, I; all I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains. FLAVIUS The gods are witness, Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord than mine eyes for you. TIMON What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee, Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping: Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping! FLAVIUS I beg of you to know me, good my lord, To accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts To entertain me as your steward still. TIMON Had I a steward So true, so just, and now so comfortable? It almost turns my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face. Surely, this man Was born of woman. Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim One honest man--mistake me not--but one; No more, I pray,--and he's a steward. How fain would I have hated all mankind! And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee, I fell with curses. Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; For, by oppressing and betraying me, Thou mightst have sooner got another service: For many so arrive at second masters, Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true-- For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure-- Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, If not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts, Expecting in return twenty for one? FLAVIUS No, my most worthy master; in whose breast Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late: You should have fear'd false times when you did feast: Suspect still comes where an estate is least. That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, Care of your food and living; and, believe it, My most honour'd lord, For any benefit that points to me, Either in hope or present, I'ld exchange For this one wish, that you had power and wealth To requite me, by making rich yourself. TIMON Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man, Here, take: the gods out of my misery Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy; But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men; Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone, Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow 'em, Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so farewell and thrive. FLAVIUS O, let me stay, And comfort you, my master. TIMON If thou hatest curses, Stay not; fly, whilst thou art blest and free: Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. [Exit FLAVIUS. TIMON retires to his cave] |
