'The disillusioned Timon goes to live as a recluse outside Athens, railing bitterly against mankind. One day, digging for roots to eat, he discovers gold.'

Timon of Athens
Timon, a rich Athenian, is famous for his liberality.

As the play opens a group of people is gathering outside Timon's house, waiting to offer him flattering gifts or beg favours of him. There is much talk of his generosity and open-heartedness, which is immediately borne out when he appears, paying a friend's debts to free him from prison and giving money to a servant to allow him to marry. Only Apemantus has doubts about the sincerity of Timon's friend.

The young general Alcibiades is warmly welcomed by Timon, who invites him and other friends to a banquet, at which there is more lavish distribution of gifts. However, Timon's steward Flavius realises what his master doesn't - that Timon's extravagant lifestyle has emptied his coffers.

Timon's creditors start to ask for payment and one after another he asks his friends for help only to be refused by all. He invites them all to a second banquet. Alcibiades pleads in vain with the Senate for the life of one of his soldiers who has committed a murder; in anger they banish him from Athens.

The disillusioned Timon goes to live as a recluse outside Athens, railing bitterly against mankind. One day, digging for roots to eat, he discovers gold. He gives it away, first to Alcibiades, to pay the army he has raised against Athens, and his two whores, Timandra and Phrynia, then to some bandits and finally offers some to his steward Flavius. Hearing of this, more false friends come out to flatter Timon but he drives them away, and the senators from Athens who come to beg for his help against Alcibiades.

Alcibiades is about to destroy Athens when news reaches him that Timon is dead.