Pale Fire: A Magazine in 12 Projects Group Three | Page 20

NABOKOV Yes. Timon is a steals his silvery light from generous man whose down- the sun. The sea is a thief: it fall and tragedy stem from dissolves the moon” (79-80). that kindness. He gives to the Now tell me Nabokov, how point of being in debt, and that could not be plagiarism when all his so-called friends since it was your commenta- turn on him, he then turns on tor who cited that work, not Athens, and lives as a hermit yourself? in a cave. He receives multi- MR. SHADE You’re reaching ple visitors, gives them gold Will; do you have any other he finds, and finally dies evidence? If not, I will take my alone in the wilderness. BARD OF AVON client and [ BARD interrupts ] Hm. You BARD OF AVON know it well. I will know read Ha! Of course I have more than just an excerpt from the com- one meager line. Sit back, get mentary of your book and comfortable. I shall lay it all you tell me how it sounds: out on the table for you now. “One cannot help recalling a [ lights dim ] passage in Timon of Athens … where I live like Timon in his cave”, it goes on to state the lines of reference: “The sun is a thief: she lures the sea and robs it. The moon is a thief: he 20