Original
Modern English
The good time of day to you, sir.
Good day to you, sir.
I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day.
I wish the same to you. I think this honorable lord Was just testing us the other day.
Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.
That’s what I was thinking when we met: I hope things aren’t as bad with him as he made it seem when he tested his different friends.
It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.
It shouldn’t be, especially with his new lavish feasting.
I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.
I think so: he sent me a serious invitation, which I was really busy with other things, and almost put off; but he insisted and I couldn’t refuse, so I have to show up.
In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.
I was also tied up with pressing work, but he wouldn’t accept my excuse. I regret that when he asked to borrow from me, I didn’t have anything left to give.
I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.
I’m also tired of that problem, now that I understand how everything is going.
Every man here’s so. What would he have borrowed of you?
Everyone here feels the same. What did he want to borrow from you?
A thousand pieces.
A thousand coins.
A thousand pieces!
A thousand coins!
What of you?
And what about you?
He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.
He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.
With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?
I’m happy to see you both, gentlemen. How are you?
Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
Always at my best, hearing good things about your lordship.
The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship.
We are as eager to follow you, my lord, as the swallow is to follow summer.
[Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o’ the trumpet’s sound; we shall to ’t presently.
[Aside] And just as eager to leave when winter comes; men are like those summer birds. Gentlemen, our dinner won’t make up for this long wait: let your ears enjoy the music for a bit, if you can tolerate the harsh sound of the trumpet. We’ll get to the food soon.
I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.
I hope you’re not upset with me, my lord, for sending you a messenger who brought no news.
O, sir, let it not trouble you.
Oh, sir, don’t worry about it.
My noble lord,--
My noble lord,--
Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
Ah, my good friend, how are you?
My most honourable lord, I am e’en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.
My most honorable lord, I’m actually ashamed, that when you sent for me the other day, I was in the unfortunate position of being a beggar.
Think not on ’t, sir.
Don’t think about it, sir.
If you had sent but two hours before,--
If you’d sent just two hours earlier,--
Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
Don’t let that trouble your better memory.
Come, bring in all together.
Bring everything in at once.
All covered dishes!
All covered dishes!
Royal cheer, I warrant you.
Royal food, I assure you.
Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.
Don’t worry, if money and the season can provide for it.
How do you? What’s the news?
How are you? What’s the latest news?
Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?
Alcibiades has been banished: did you hear about it?
Alcibiades banished!
Alcibiades banished!
’Tis so, be sure of it.
It’s true, you can be sure of it.
How! how!
What! what!
I pray you, upon what?
I beg you, for what reason?
My worthy friends, will you draw near?
My good friends, will you come closer?
I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble feast toward.
I’ll tell you more in a moment. Here’s a grand feast coming up.
This is the old man still.
This is still the old man.
Will ’t hold? will ’t hold?
Will it last? Will it last?
It does: but time will--and so--
It will: but time will--and so--
I do conceive.
I understand.
Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be--as they are. The rest of your fees, O gods--the senators of Athens, together with the common lag of people--what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap.
Each man to his seat, with the same eagerness he’d show for his mistress: your meal will be the same everywhere. Don’t make it a city banquet, where the food gets cold before we can agree on where to sit: sit down, sit down. The gods expect our thanks. You great benefactors, fill our society with gratitude. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but still keep giving, so your gods aren’t neglected. Lend each person enough, so that no one needs to borrow from another; for, if your gods had to borrow from men, men would abandon the gods. Let the food be loved more than the man who provides it. Let no gathering of twenty be without a handful of scoundrels: if twelve women sit at the table, let twelve of them be--just as they are. The rest of your offerings, oh gods--the senators of Athens, and the common riff-raff of people--what’s wrong with them, you gods, make fit for destruction. For these present friends of mine, as they are nothing to me, may they be nothing blessed, and may they be welcomed by nothing. Uncover the dishes, dogs, and drink up.
What does his lordship mean?
What does he mean by this?
I know not.
I don’t know.
May you a better feast never behold, You knot of mouth-friends I smoke and lukewarm water Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last; Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries, Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces Your reeking villany.
May you never see a better feast, You bunch of fair-weather friends. I see through you, and lukewarm water is your idea of perfection. This is Timon’s final act; Who, covered in your flattery, washes it off, and splashes your faces with your stinking treachery.
Live loathed and long, Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies, Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks! Of man and beast the infinite malady Crust you quite o’er! What, dost thou go? Soft! take thy physic first--thou too--and thou;-- Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
Live hated and long, Most smiling, smooth, disgusting parasites, Polite destroyers, friendly wolves, humble bears, You fools of fortune, fake friends, time’s pests, Sycophants, and worthless slaves! May the endless disease of mankind and beasts cover you entirely! What, are you leaving? Wait! Take your medicine first--you too--and you;-- Stay, I’ll lend you money, but don’t borrow from me.
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast, Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest. Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be Of Timon man and all humanity!
What, are they all leaving? From now on, no feast shall be held where a villain is a welcome guest. Burn, house! Sink, Athens! From now on, let Timon and all humanity be hated!
How now, my lords!
Hey, what’s going on, my lords!
Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s fury?
Do you understand why Lord Timon is so angry?
Push! did you see my cap?
Ugh! Did you see my hat?
I have lost my gown.
I’ve lost my robe.
He’s but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat: did you see my jewel?
He’s just a crazy lord, and nothing but his moods control him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he’s taken it from me and shoved it into my hat: did you see my jewel?
Did you see my cap?
Did you see my hat?
Here ’tis.
Here it is.
Here lies my gown.
Here’s my robe.
Let’s make no stay.
Let’s not waste time.
Lord Timon’s mad.
Lord Timon’s lost his mind.
I feel ’t upon my bones.
I can feel it in my bones.
One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
One day he gives us diamonds, the next day he gives us rocks.