Original: What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
Modern: What a terrible fool I was to leave myself unprepared

Original: against such a good time, when I might ha’ shown
Modern: at such a perfect opportunity, when I could have shown

Original: myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
Modern: myself to be honorable! How unlucky it was that I

Original: should purchase the day before for a little part,
Modern: spent money the day before on something small,

Original: and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
Modern: and ruined my chance for great honor! Servilius, now,

Original: before the gods, I am not able to do,—the more
Modern: I swear to the gods, I’m unable to help—which makes me more of a

Original: beast, I say:—I was sending to use Lord Timon
Modern: fool, I tell you—I was planning to ask Lord Timon for help

Original: myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would
Modern: myself, these men can confirm it! But I would

Original: not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done’t now.
Modern: not want all the riches of Athens if it meant I had done it now.

Original: Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I
Modern: Give my generous regards to his lordship, and I

Original: hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,
Modern: hope he will think the best of me,

Original: because I have no power to be kind: and tell him
Modern: because I have no money to be generous, and tell him

Original: this from me, I count it one of my greatest
Modern: this from me—I consider it one of my worst

Original: afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
Modern: sorrows that I cannot do a favor for such an

Original: honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
Modern: honorable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you

Original: befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?
Modern: be my friend enough to deliver my exact words to him?

In Act III, Scene 2 of “Timon of Athens,” Lucius learns from a stranger that Timon has been denied loans by both Lucullus and Lucilius. When Lucius hears this news, he expresses shock and indignation at their ingratitude, given how generously Timon had treated them in the past. The stranger cynically observes that men are always ready to criticize others’ lack of charity while failing to practice it themselves. Shortly after this exchange, servants from Timon arrive asking Lucius for a loan of fifty talents on their master’s behalf.

Lucius immediately shifts from his previous expressions of outrage and begins making excuses. He claims that he has already committed his money to other purposes and cannot possibly help Timon at this time, though he protests that he wishes he could. He suggests that Timon should have come to him first before approaching the others, implying he would have helped then. After the servants leave, the stranger remarks on Lucius’s hypocrisy, noting how quickly his sympathetic words gave way to refusal when actually asked to help. The scene exposes the hollow nature of fair-weather friendship when financial assistance is genuinely needed.

Timon of Athens tells the story of a wealthy Athenian nobleman whose excessive generosity leads to his downfall. In the first half of the play, Timon lavishes gifts, throws extravagant banquets, and freely lends money to anyone who asks, despite warnings from his loyal steward Flavius about his dwindling finances. Timon dismisses these concerns, believing his generosity will be repaid by the loyalty of his many friends. However, his creditors eventually come calling, and Timon discovers he has no money left to pay his debts.

When Timon’s financial ruin becomes apparent, he sends servants to ask his former friends and beneficiaries for loans to help him through his crisis. One by one, they all refuse him with various excuses - Lucilius claims his money is tied up in investments, Lucullus pretends not to be home, and Sempronius feels insulted that Timon didn’t ask him first. Faced with this universal rejection, Timon invites all his false friends to one final feast, where he serves them warm water and stones, then curses them and banishes himself from Athens.

Timon retreats to a cave in the wilderness outside Athens, where he becomes a misanthropic hermit, railing against humanity and civilization. While digging for roots to eat, he discovers gold in the earth. Various visitors come to see him in his exile, including the loyal Flavius, the philosopher Apemantus (who had always criticized Timon’s generosity), thieves seeking the gold, and the exiled general Alcibiades who is marching against Athens. Timon gives away the gold freely but refuses all attempts at reconciliation or friendship. The play ends with news of Timon’s death reaching Athens, where Alcibiades has successfully taken the city and promises to restore order and justice.