QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: Timon of Athens
ACT/SCENE: 3.3
SPEAKER: Servant
CONTEXT:
SERVANT
Excellent! Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The
devil knew not what he did when he made man
politic; he crossed himself by ‘t: and I cannot
think but, in the end, the villainies of man will
set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to
appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked,
like those that under hot ardent zeal would set
whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his
politic love.
This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled,
Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year must be employed
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

DUTCH:
Dit is de vrucht
Van mildheid; wie, hoe rijk, zijn geld niet telt,
Niet huishoudt, houdt het huis eens zonder geld.

MORE:
Politic=Scheming, cunning
Crossed=Frustrated, thwarted
Clear=Pure, innocent
Copies=Imitates
Wards=Bolts
Liberal course=Excess generosity
Compleat:
Politick=Burgerlyk, staatkundig; (cunnning)=Slim, schrander, doorsleepen
To cross=Tegenstreeven, dwars voor de boeg komen, dwarsboomen, wederestreeven, kruisen
Copy=Afschrift, dubbeld, kopy
He is of a liberal temper=Hy is goed geefs

Burgersdijk notes:
Beveil’gen binnenshuis. Naar aloud Engelsch rechtsgebruik werd iemand door zijn huis beschermd en mocht daar niet wegens schulden in hechtenis genomen worden.

Topics: good and bad, manipulation, ruin, friendship