Original: That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness,
Modern: That nature, being disgusted by man’s cruelty,

Original: Should yet be hungry! Common mother, thou,
Modern: Should still have an appetite! You, mother of all living things,

Original: Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast,
Modern: Whose womb is beyond measure, and whose endless bosom

Original: Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,
Modern: Produces and nourishes everything; whose very same substance,

Original: Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff’d,
Modern: From which your proud child, arrogant mankind, is made,

Original: Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
Modern: Also creates the black toad and blue snake,

Original: The gilded newt and eyeless venom’d worm,
Modern: The shiny newt and blind poisonous worm,

Original: With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven
Modern: Along with all the disgusting creatures under the clear sky

Original: Whereon Hyperion’s quickening fire doth shine;
Modern: Where the sun’s life-giving fire shines down;

Original: Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,
Modern: Give to me, who hates all your human children,

Original: From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
Modern: From your abundant soil, just one simple root!

Original: Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
Modern: Dry up your fertile and productive womb,

Original: Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!
Modern: Don’t let it produce ungrateful mankind anymore!

Original: Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
Modern: Become pregnant with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears instead;

Original: Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Modern: Produce new monsters, which your surface facing the sky

Original: Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Modern: Has never shown to the marble palace of heaven

Original: Never presented!—O, a root,—dear thanks!—
Modern: Never revealed before!—Oh, a root—thank you so much!—

Original: Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas;
Modern: Dry up your rich soil, grapevines, and plowed fields;

Original: Whereof ungrateful man, with liquorish draughts
Modern: From which ungrateful man, with his greedy drinking

Original: And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,
Modern: And rich, oily food, corrupts his pure mind,

Original: That from it all consideration slips!
Modern: So that all thoughtfulness and conscience slides away from it!

In Act IV, Scene 3, Line 187 and following of “Timon of Athens,” the scene continues with Timon’s encounter outside his cave in the woods near Athens. At this point in the scene, Timon has already discovered gold while digging for roots and has been visited by Alcibiades with his companions Phrynia and Timandra. Timon engages in bitter dialogue, giving them gold while simultaneously cursing them and encouraging destruction. He urges Alcibiades to wage war against Athens without mercy, and he gives gold to the courtesans, instructing them to spread disease and corruption. Throughout these exchanges, Timon’s misanthropy is on full display as he expresses his contempt for all of humanity.

The scene continues as Timon remains alone or receives additional visitors, depending on the specific edition and line numbering. His interactions are characterized by his savage rejection of society and his desire to see Athens destroyed. He distributes the gold he has found not as gifts of generosity but as tools of corruption and ruin, consistently expressing his philosophy that all human relationships are false and that mankind deserves only destruction. Timon’s transformation from the generous host of earlier acts to this vitriolic hermit is complete, as he uses his newfound wealth only to fuel chaos and suffering rather than to help others or restore his former position in society.

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.