Lad of Athens, faithful be
To Thyself,
And Mystery－
All the rest is Perjury－
To Thyself,
And Mystery－
All the rest is Perjury－
(F.1606/J.1768)
[1] Lad:: an endearingly, sometimes ironically, to a male person of any age (OED lad n.1 2a, 1535, 1886). Lad of Athens:: a hint on Timon in Shakespeare's play The Life of Timon of Athens.
[1-2] faithful be To Thyself:: Timon was a misanthrope.
[3] Mystery:: a doctrine of the faith involving unsolvable difficulties, indicating some of his acts in the play.
[4] All the rest is Perjury:: Timon's view in the play.
Timon will to the Woods, where he shall find
The unkindest Beast, more kinder than Mankind.
The Gods confound (hear me you good Gods all)
The Athenians both within and out that Wall:
And grant as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of Mankind, high and low.
Amen.