Le ris sur son visage est en mauvaise humeur; L'agrément fuit ses traits, ses caresses font peur ; Ses mots les plus flatteurs paroissent des rudesses, Et la vanité brille en toutes ses bassesses.”
Lord Shaftesbury, in the Characteristics, takes a view of misanthropy, which strictly accords with the character of Apemantus. He places it among “those horrid, monstrous, and unnatural affections, to have which, is to be miserable in
the highest degree.”
He writes:
“There is also among these a sort of hatred of mankind
and society; a passion which has been known perfectly reigning among some men, and has had a peculiar name given to it, misanthropy. A large share of this belongs to those who have habitually indulged themselves in a habitual moroseness, or who by force of ill nature and ill breeding,
have contracted such a reverse of affability, and civil manners, that to see or meet a stranger is offensive. The very aspect of mankind is a disturbance to 'em, and they are sure always to hate at first sight.” Timon's contempt of the treasure of gold, which he dis covers in his naked and houseless misery, marks his changed nature less than his entire disregard of the invitation of the senators to rank and power, and to be captain of Athens. Riches, for their own sake, he always placed at the lowest value. He now distributes them as moral poison. To Alcibiades, whom, following Plutarch's hint, he hates less than others, he gives it to whet the sword which threatens his country. To the courtezans he gives it, because they are the infecting curses of man. “There's more gold
So you damn others, and let this damn you, And ditches grave you all !” To Flavius he gives it tempting him to misanthropy; to the contemptible poet and painter, because they are villains; to the thieves, that in the poison of wine it may destroy them.
