Book lover that he is, Ryan Tubridy would know that it was Shakespeare's King Lear who believed he was a man "more sinned against than sinning".
Shorn of his place on the throne, Lear watched as the once steadfast loyalty of most of those in his court quickly evaporated.
It is not a dissimilar story to the one the presenter set out for two Oireachtas committees over almost seven hours today.
Ryan Tubridy remains hopeful though that he has a shot at redemption having endured a "frenzy" and a "mauling" which has made it difficult to "leave the house".
But he concedes that he could be walking out the gate on Friday but would do so with his "head held high".
Ryan Tubridy's words and general demeanour at the Public Accounts Committee pointed to a figure who believes he made just one mistake in all of this.
That was his failure to ask more questions when his earnings were published in January 2021.
Everything else really rests with RTÉ who, both himself and his agent Noel Kelly contend, could have published accurate figures if they had given them more notice.
Instead they got "ten minutes notice that these (figures) were going out".
There was less clarity, however, as to why they did not have those published earnings quickly rectified.
The central line of defence was, in the words of Noel Kelly, that "RTÉ put these figures out, not us".
Ryan Tubridy's voice in the early morning was at times heavy with emotion, his expression one of perpetual sorrow and he seemed at times perplexed as to how matters had reached this point.
RTÉ's highest earner told politicians that he respects the Oireachtas and believes in public service, because he was brought up that way.
There was an insight too into Noel Kelly's upbringing, his parents had taught him to always work hard.
And that's what he did for Ryan Tubridy who trusted him to do his job well.
However, Noel Kelly was adamant to point out he was not an all-powerful figure who always had RTÉ on the back foot.
No, no, insisted Mr Kelly, he never even met the former Director General Dee Forbes for a cup of tea.
His owns a small company with a staff of eight people, which is up against the might of RTÉ, the €350 million operation with 1,800 employees.
"Sure how could you be afraid of me?" he asked.
So when RTÉ called Noel Kelly and requested he submit invoices to a company called Astus (that's the barter account) for "consultancy fees" he then acted "under instructions" and "trusted the process".
Both men agree that the money was not for consultancy work as stated, it was for public events to promote Renault, but they believed the money was coming from Renault not RTÉ.
"I am not a very smart man when it comes to doing these things, that is why I pay a smart man to do it for me," Ryan Tubridy explained.
It was a "coincidence of timing" when Ryan Tubridy's main contract for 2020 to 2025 was under negotiation, that this other agreement worth €75,000 annually came along.
This led to TD Christopher O'Sullivan and others to ask if Ryan Tubridy accepts that he has not taken a 20% pay cut given the two €75,000 payments he received from RTÉ.
"We thought it was.... a total different agreement entirely, an independent contracted agreement that Renault was paying for. That is what I was told. I had to accept that for what it is," he answered.
Noel Kelly was asked if he had benefitted from these payments? He said he was not obliged to answer that question and so he didn't.
There is an offer from Ryan Tubridy to pay back the money if the six outstanding Renault appearances do not take place.
This prompted the question from Senator Malcolm Byrne as to who would be paid back?
Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly looked at each other, the solicitor sitting behind them also got involved.
Ryan Tubridy then unravelled it all and said the money would go to RTÉ now that he knows the "bizarre route" of the payment.
Some TDs hope the Renault gigs do take place, with TD Brendan Griffin predicting a "great turnout".
Before all that, politicians will have to deliver their political judgement on Ryan Tubridy.
Just like his possible return to RTÉ, it is still hanging in the balance.
