Timon was so changed by his bad thoughts and rough life that Alcibiades did not recognize him at first.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"A beast, as you are," was the reply.

Alcibiades knew his voice, and offered him help and money. But Timon would none of it, and began to insult the women. They, however, when they found he had discovered a gold mine, cared not a jot for his opinion of them, but said, "Give us some gold, good Timon. Have you more?"With further insults, Timon filled their aprons with gold ore. "Farewell," said Alcibiades, who deemed that Timon's wits were lost; and then his disciplined soldiers left without profit the mine which could have paid their wages, and marched towards Athens. Timon continued to dig and curse, and affected great delight when he dug up a root and discovered that it was not a grape. Just then Apemantus appeared. "I am told that you imitate me," said Apemantus. "Only," said Timon, "because you haven't a dog which I can imitate." "You are revenging yourself on your friends by punishing yourself," said Apemantus. "That is very silly, for they live just as comfortably as they ever did. I am sorry that a fool should imitate me." "If I were like you," said Timon, "I should throw myself away." "You have done so," sneered Apemantus. "Will the cold brook make you a good morning drink, or an east wind warm your clothes as a valet would?" "Off with you!" said Timon; but Apemantus stayed a while longer and told him he had a passion for extremes, which was true. Apemantus even made a pun, but there was no good laughter to be got out of Timon. Finally, they lost their temper like two schoolboys, and Timon said he was sorry to lose the stone which he flung at Apemantus, who left him with an evil wish. This was almost an "at home" day for Timon, for when Apemantus had departed, he was visited by some robbers. They wanted gold. "You want too much," said Timon. "Here are water, roots and berries." "We are not birds and pigs," said a robber. "No, you are cannibals," said Timon. "Take the gold, then, and may it poison you! Henceforth rob one another." He spoke so frightfully to them that, though they went away with full pockets, they almost repented of their trade. His last visitor on that day of visits was his good steward Flavius. "My dearest master!" cried he. "Away! What are you?" said Timon. "Have you forgotten me, sir?" asked Flavius, mournfully. "I have forgotten all men," was the reply; "and if you'll allow that you are a man, I have forgotten you." "I was your honest servant," said Flavius. "Nonsense! I never had an honest man about me," retorted Timon. Flavius began to cry. "What! 

 Prev. P 63/176 next