Chapter 18 act five

The first woods.Before Timon's cave Enter Poet and Painter. The painter, as I remember the place, was not very far from where he lived. The poet is really a bit unpredictable.People say that he has a lot of gold, is this rumor true? Painter really.So said Alcibiades; Phylonia and Timandra have received gold from him; and poor wandering soldiers have taken a lot.It is said that he paid his steward a large sum. Poet Then his bankruptcy is just a deliberate temptation to his friends. That's the painter; you'll see him again in Athens, at the top of his game.So we should pay him some attention when he pretends to be embarrassed, that will show our kindness, and if the rumors about his wealth are true, then we will come back in vain. .

Poet What do you have to offer him now? Painter I'm only paying a visit now, and I've got nothing; but I'm going to grant him a marvelous work. I also have to contribute something to the poet; I want to tell him what kind of poem I am going to write for him. There is nothing better than a painter.Empty promises are the most common thing these days, and they open one's eyes to hope, and if they are actually carried out, there is nothing surprising about them; only honest and stupid people will take what they say seriously.Promises are the most courteous and fashionable thing, and their execution is like a will, proving that one's reason has been mortally wounded.

Timon came up from the hole. Timon (narrator) Great workman!It is impossible to paint the face of a villain like yourself. The poet I was thinking what I should say I was going to write for him: it must be a poem describing himself; satirizing the vanity of prosperity in the world, pointing out how many sycophants and flattery follow behind the prime of life and wealth . Timon (aside) Must you be a villain in your own work?Are you going to expose your own weaknesses in others?Very well, I have gold for you. Come the poet, let's find him.It would be a great shame to our own luck if we were to miss a lucrative opportunity.

The painter is good. When you don’t need to pay for it in the light of day, you should quickly find what you want. When the night comes, it will be too late.Come. Timon (narrator) I'll meet you around the corner.Gold is such a god, that he would be worshiped even if he lived in a temple meaner than a pigsty!You drive the ships on the sea, you make the hearts of slaves envious; you should be worshiped by people, let your saints always be covered with the plague that only accepts your orders.I can go see them now. (Come forward.) Poet bless, venerable Timon! Painter Our noble old master!

Timon Have I ever seen two honest men? Mr. Poet, I have often basked in your generosity, I have heard that you have retired from the world, that your friends have been neglected one by one, their ungrateful nature--ah, the heartless thing!Even if all the punishments that God puts on them, they can't cover up their crimes!Hey!How could they treat you like this, their whole mind and body being nurtured under the benevolence of your stars!I was so angry that I couldn't think of any huge words to cover up this kind of heartless and unrighteous crime. Don't cover it, Timon, so they can see it better.You are all upright gentlemen, let's make your true colors known to the public.

The two of us, the painter, are often rewarded like rain from you, and we are grateful for the depth of your kindness. Timon Well, you are all gentlemen. Painters, we are here sincerely and want to do our best for you. Timon is a gentleman!Ah, how shall I repay you?Do you also eat tree roots and drink cold water?Not necessarily. painter Poet For your service's sake, we will do whatever we can. Timon, you are gentlemen.You have heard that I have gold; I believe you must have heard such news.Tell the truth, you guys are gentlemen. That's what the painters say, my noble lord; but that's not why my friend and I are here.

Timon is a pair of gentlemen!You drew the best face in all of Athens, and the description is so lifelike. A painter is nothing more than that, nothing more than that, my lord. Timon is nothing more than that, sir.As for your fabled stories, the beautiful and eloquent rhetoric in your poems is really poor.But having said that, my two honest friends, I must say that you have a small defect, but it is not a great one, and I do not expect you to take great pains to correct it. come over. painter Poet, please tell us clearly. Timon, you will be amazed. painter Poet We will be very grateful for your teaching.

Is Timon real? painter Don't doubt the poet, my lord. Timon You all believe in a villain who has deceived you greatly. painter Is the poet really, my lord? Timon Yes, you hear him talk, and see him put on airs, Knowing he's not a good fellow, yet being friendly with him, giving him food and drink, and treating him as a confidant. Painter I don't know such a person, sir. I don't know about poets either. Listen, Timon, I like you very much; I'll give you gold, if you'll get rid of you two bad friends for me: hang them, stab them, throw them in the latrine Drown, or make fun of them in whatever way, and then come to me, and I will give you a lot of gold.

painter Poet Tell me their names, my lord; Let us know who they are. Timon you go that way, you go this way.There are only two of you, but when the two of you are separated, each of you has a wicked traitor with him.If you don't want to have two villains by your side, don't go near him. (to the poet) If you only live with a wicked man, do not associate with him.go, get out!There is gold here.You came for the gold, you two slaves!You have worked for me, and here is your wages; go!You have the skills of alchemy, go and refine these clay clods into gold.Go away, vicious dog! (Beat the two away and return to the cave.)

Enter Flavis and the Elders. Flavius ​​It's impossible for you to talk to Timon, because he's so lonely, and he feels that everything is against him except himself, who is only human in appearance. First Senator Take us to his cave; We have promised the Athenians to speak to Timon. Second Senator Men are not always the same; time and sorrow have made him so.If fate had favored him and restored him to his old riches, he might still be what he was.Take us to meet him, take a chance. Flavius ​​This is the cave where he lives.May peace and tranquility befall here!Lord Timon!Timon!Come out and talk to your friends.The Athenians have sent two of their oldest and most virtuous senators to greet you.Speak with them, noble Timon.

Timon came up from the hole. Timon, the sun that soothes all beings, burn up!What do you have to say?Say it quickly, and hang yourself after you say it.May you get a blister when you speak the truth!Telling a lie will make a hole in the base of the tongue! First Senator Lord Timon— Second Senator The senators of Athens greet you, Timon. Timon I thank them; if I could bring them the plague, I would give it to them. First Senator!Forget the things we ourselves regret.The senators are unanimous in their sincerity to ask you to return to Athens; they have considered many special honors for you to go back to receive. Second Senator They admit that they were too cruel to you in the past; now the public in Athens feel that they have lost a great wall to lean on in times of trouble because they did not help Timon, so they broke the law and called us to come Apologize, and offer you their boundless love and untold riches to atone for their past wrongs. I am really flattered by what you said, Timon, and I almost burst into tears of gratitude.Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, and I shall weep at such comforting words, noble senators. First Senator Then go back with us, and in our Athens, your Athens, accept the lord's honor; you will be thanked by the people, and they will give you absolute power, and your good name will be with you. Authoritarianism is present.We shall soon drive back Alcibiades, the savage, who, like a wild boar, destroys the peace of the fatherland. Second Senator swung his menacing sword against the walls of Athens. First Senator So, Timon— Well, sir, very well, Timon; so be it, then: If Alcibiades kills my people, let Alcibiades know, Timon will not mind.If he plunders the good city of Athens, pulls us good old men by their beards, and leaves us holy virgins to be insulted by that mad, bestial war, let him know, tell him ’ Thus said Timon, for pity for our old man and our young man, I cannot but say to him that Timon cares nothing of this, and do as he pleases; Throats, their knives don't take blood.As for myself, then, every butcher's knife in the barracks of the lawless enemy is more in my favor than the most venerable throat of Athens.So I deliver you now to the care of the lucky gods, as I deliver a band of thieves to the keepers. Flavius ​​go, it's all useless. Timon I was writing my epitaph just now; you will see it to-morrow.Health and life have made me sick for a long time, and now my old disease has begun to heal, and out of nothing I have everything.Go, live on; may Alcibiades be your misfortune, and he be at your hand, and let us all perish at last! First Senator Our words are in vain. Timon, I love my country. Although people say that I like to see the country fall, I am actually not that kind of person. First Senator is right. Timon please give my regards to my dear countrymen— The words like Elder A's coming out of your mouth show that you are a man of lofty ideals, after all, you are different. Elder B, they entered our ears, just like the victorious warrior returning to the gate of the country amidst the cheers of the road. Timon salutes them for me; tell them, to ease their cares, relieve their fear of the enemy's sword, relieve their pain, loss, love's troubles, and the frail mortals in life's uncertain voyage For the sake of all other misfortunes befell their bodies, I would like to give them some tribute of kindness, showing them the means of avoiding the wrath of the violent Alcibiades. Second Senator I'm glad he says so; he'll be back again. Timon I have a tree that grows near where I live, for I need it for myself, and I shall soon cut it down, and tell my friends, and all the people of Athens, that they shall be ranked according to their ranks. , whoever wishes to relieve his pain, let him hurry here, and hang himself before my tree is struck by the axe.Please tell them this for me. Flavius ​​don't bother him any more, he's always been like this. Timon come to me no more; say to Athens, Timon has built his eternal city on the sands of the sea, to which the raging waves once a day spout their foam; come thither, let my tombstone herald your fate.Let grievances hang their lips, let words die, and disaster and pestilence will correct all!The grave is the result of a lifetime of hard work; Hide away, sunshine!Rest in peace with Timon. (Down.) First Senator His resentment is deeply rooted in his nature, and cannot be dispelled. Elder Second, our hopes for him are over, let's go back and use our remaining strength to think of other ways to save the crisis. First Senator without further delay, let's go back quickly. (same below.) Before the walls of Athens Enter the two elders and a messenger. Senator C found out such news for you; is his army really as powerful as you said? The actual strength of the messenger is much greater than what I have said; and his march is very fast, and it is likely to come soon. Senator Ding We're in dire peril if they can't coax Timon back. Messenger I met a courier on the road, who was an old friend of mine. Although we were not on the same side, our former friendship made us eliminate suspicion and confide the truth to each other like friends.This man was sent by Alcibiades to deliver a letter to Timon's cave, asking him to assist Athens, because part of the reason for this raise was for him. Third Senator Our two colleagues are here. The two elders, A and B, returned from Taimen. First Senator Don't mention Timon's name, don't expect anything from him.The sound of the enemy's drums is already close to the ears, and a cloud of dust covers the sky.Go in, and get ready; I fear we shall be caught in the enemy's net. (same below.) The third woods.Timon Cave, not far away, there is a hastily built tomb Enter a soldier, looking for Timon. From what the soldiers said it looked like, it was probably here.anyone there?Hey, talk!no answer!what is this?Timon is dead, and his time has come; what beast built this grave for him, Here is no place for man to live.Must be dead; this is his grave.There's a few lines on the stone that I don't know; let me wax them off; our lord understands all writing, and many things, though he's young.He must now have pitched his camp before the proud city of Athens; the capture of that city was the object of his will. (Down.) Scene 4 Before the walls of Athens Trumpets sound; enter Alcibiades with troops. Alcibiades blows his trumpet to let this cowardly and obscene city know that our army has arrived. (Blow the negotiation signal.) The elders are waiting to go to the city. Alcibiades, before this day, let your mischief, your iniquity, take your selfishness as justice; before this day, myself and all who sleep under the shadow of your power, everyone will hang their hands, Don't complain if you have a grievance.Now the time of unbearable has come, crouched spines, under heavy pressure, cry "I can't bear it"; Short-breathed arrogance is about to flee in embarrassment. First Elder, honorable young general, when you left in a fit of rage because of a slight misunderstanding, although you were still lacking in fists and courage, we did not need to fear your revenge, but we still called you back, comforted you with kindness, and used more than enough to comfort you. Grace washes away the guilt in our hearts. The second senator is to Timon who has changed his appearance, and we have also begged him to remember our city with humble envoys and generous promises.We are not all ruthless people, nor should we share the slaughter of war indiscriminately. First Senator This wall of ours was not built by those who offended you; nor should these high towers, pillars, and schools be destroyed for private mistakes. Those people who drove you to flee in the first place, because they were ashamed of their lack of ability to deal with the extraordinary, and they felt guilty in their hearts, have died of depression.General, lead your army, fly your banners, and march into our city; if you disregard the goodness of heaven, and your desire for vengeance must be satisfied, kill one out of ten, and let Sacrifice that which has the misfortune to touch your edge. First Senator Not every one sins; It is not just to avenge the present for the wrongs of the former; Sin, like the land, is not hereditary.So, dear brother, bring your team in, but keep your wrath outside.Forgive the cradle of Athens where you grew, and don't kill your relatives and those who offended you in your anger. Like a shepherd, you can go to the sheepfold and pick out the infected animals, But don't kill them all indiscriminately. Elder B, you can get anything you want with a smile, why do you have to use the power of a sword to get it? First Senator You have but to step upon our fortified gates, and they will be opened, and your kindness will introduce you, and announce your good will. Second Senator Throw down your glove, or any token of your honour, to show that your purpose in this siege is only to avenge your injustice, not to destroy our security; all your troops may be stationed in our city Here, until we sign off on all your requirements. Alcibiades Then I drop my gloves.Come down, and open your unassaulted gates; deliver Timon's and my own foes to die, and all the rest.In order to dispel your doubts and show my integrity, I will also order that the soldiers under my command are strictly prohibited from leaving the camp without permission and disrupting the law and order in your city. Anyone who violates the prohibition will be handed over to you for severe punishment according to the law. Elder A Elder B really speaks aboveboard. Come down, Alcibiades, and fulfill your own promises. (The elder waits for the gates of the lower city to open.) Enter a soldier. Soldiers tell the lord, Timon is dead; he was buried on the edge of the sea, and on his stone these lines are engraved, which I have waxed out, because I cannot read them myself. The soul of Alcibiades cannot be summoned, Empty smelly skin; Don't ask who among them: The plague is full of wolves! hate the world, dead sea; leisurely walker, Hurry up and don't get confused! These few lines of verse can well indicate your subsequent mood.Although you look down on our human sorrow and despise the tears that naturally flow from our indifferent nature, your rich imagination makes you make the vast sea weep over your humble grave forever.Noble Timon is dead; his memory shall live forever.Take me to your city; I will hold an olive branch in one hand and a sword in the other, so that war breeds peace, and peace breeds war, so that we can never forget danger and consolidate the foundation of the country.Beat our drums! (Exit.) Notes: Talent, the name of the ancient Greek currency.