ABSTRACT
The entry of Alcibiades and his concubines (two to suggest his licentious nature) enables Timon to begin his work of corrupting others. He gives Alcibiades gold in hope that he will plague Athens and the world with war, and gold to the two women (who gleefully humour his madness) on condition that they spread vice and venereal disease. He is unmoved when Alcibiades (himself in financial straits) offers him money and promises to come again. Left alone, he curses the earth, except for the root he craves and finds. A second visitor, Apemantus,
arrives and in the wordy contest between them Timon spurns the philosophy nearest to his own misanthropy, and looks forward to death (IV.3.198-393). Next he is visited by two thieves, 'straggling soldiers' (IV·3·395-456), whom he encourages with gold to cut throats and break open shops, till they are greatly shocked. Fourth comes Flavius whose fidelity at last touches even Timon's bitter heart. He gives gold to this 'singly honest man' (IV.3.522) and, before sending him away, wishes him happiness, but that will be only if he lives for himself alone:
thou shalt build from men; Hate all, curse all, show charity to none (IV.3.525-7)
If these visitations have shown the intensity of Timon's revulsion against humanity they have also shown the weakness of his moral generalisations, since Alcibiades and Flavius both wished to help him, and two of the thieves are converted ('I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.') Moreover the loyalty of Flavius makes Timon admit an exception to his condemnation: 'I do proclaim the honest man' ; but this does not alleviate his insane wrath.
