Original: O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
Modern: Oh, what terrible misery comes with fame and success!

Original: Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Modern: Who wouldn’t want to be free from having wealth,

Original: Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Modern: Since being rich only leads to unhappiness and being looked down upon?

Original: Who would be so mock’d with glory? or to live
Modern: Who would want to be fooled by fame? Or to live

Original: But in a dream of friendship?
Modern: With only an illusion of friendship?

Original: To have his pomp and all what state compounds
Modern: To have all his splendor and everything that makes up his high position

Original: But only painted, like his varnish’d friends?
Modern: Be nothing but a fake surface, like his phony friends?

Original: Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Modern: Poor honest master, ruined by his own generous nature,

Original: Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,
Modern: Destroyed by being good! What a strange, rare kind of person,

Original: When man’s worst sin is, he does too much good!
Modern: When a man’s greatest fault is that he’s too generous!

Original: Who, then, dares to be half so kind again?
Modern: Who would dare to be even half as kind after seeing this?

Original: For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.
Modern: Because generosity, which makes people godlike, always ruins them.

Original: My dearest lord, bless’d, to be most accursed,
Modern: My dearest master, blessed in a way that has become a curse,

Original: Rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Modern: Wealthy, only to be made miserable, your great riches

Original: Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!
Modern: Have become your biggest problems. Oh no, kind master!

Original: He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
Modern: He’s stormed away in anger from this ungrateful city

Original: Of monstrous friends, nor has he with him to
Modern: Full of horrible friends, and he doesn’t have anything with him to

Original: Supply his life, or that which can command it.
Modern: Sustain his life, or money that could buy what he needs.

Original: I’ll follow and inquire him out:
Modern: I’ll follow him and search until I find him:

Original: I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Modern: I’ll always serve him devotedly with all my heart;

Original: Whilst I have gold, I’ll be his steward still.
Modern: As long as I have money, I’ll continue to be his loyal servant.

In Act IV, Scene 2 of “Timon of Athens,” Timon’s faithful steward Flavius meets with several of Timon’s former servants outside Timon’s now-abandoned house. The servants discuss their master’s fall from fortune and express their sorrow at being dismissed from his service. They reflect on Timon’s generous nature and lament how his false friends abandoned him once his wealth was gone. The servants share their grief at the dissolution of the household and acknowledge that they may never see each other again now that they must seek new employment elsewhere.

Flavius reveals that he has one final sum of money that he had saved, and he generously divides it among the servants to help them in their need. The servants praise Flavius for his integrity and kindness, noting that he exemplifies true loyalty unlike the fair-weather friends who deserted Timon. As they prepare to part ways, Flavius declares his intention to seek out his former master Timon, who has reportedly fled into the woods. Despite Timon’s loss of fortune, Flavius remains devoted to him and resolves to find him and serve him still, demonstrating the steward’s unwavering fidelity even in the face of his master’s ruin.

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.