Totally Random Daily Shakespeare

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.

Timon 

Timon of Athens     Act III, Scene vi, Line 30

 

Timon is speaking this as an aside, in other words to himself. Let’s give you the whole exchange.

Timon

And how fare you?

Second Lord

The swallow follows not the summer more willing than we your lordship.

Timon (speaking to himself)

Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.

This scene is taking place after Timon realizes that his friends are no friends at all. He’s fallen on tough times and every one of his friends has refused to help him. So he has invited them all to dinner where he’s going to tell them all off whilst serving them a bowl of warm water for dinner. They, of course, don’t know that yet, and Timon is pretending to still be the same old welcoming Timon.

So what does Timon’s comment mean? It’s not too hard.

Second Lord

We follow you like the swallows follow summer.

Timon

You also leave winter quickly, like a summer-bird.

I believe he’s using winter to mean tough times. In other words, you guys are fair-weather friends; not to be counted on in tough times.

I think it’s as simple as that.

And here is the polar opposite of fair weather friends:

Two of my favorite people in the world that I could count on ever and always.