woods, his misanthropical melancholy, and his death. ness, as well as his anchoretical seclusion. This is parThe only thing which may be called an episode, is the ticularly evident in the incomparable scene where the banishment of Alcibiades, and his return by force of cynic Apemantus visits Timon in the wilderness. They arms. However, they are both examples of ingratitude, have a sort of competition with each other in their trade -the one of a state towards its defender, and the other of misanthropy: the cynic reproaches the impoverished of private friends to their benefactor. As the merits of Timon with having been merely driven by necessity to the general towards his fellow-citizens suppose more take to the way of living which he had been long folstrength of character than those of the generous prodi- lowing of his free choice, and Timon cannot bear the gal. their respective behaviours are no less different: thought of being merely an imitator of the cynic. As in Timon frets himself to death; Alcibiades regains his this subject the effect could only be produced by an aclest dignity by violence. If the poet very properly sides cumulation of similar features, in the variety of the with Timon against the common practice of the world, shades an amazing degree of understanding has been he is, on the other hand, by no means disposed to spare displayed by Shakspeare. What a powerfully diversiTimon. Timon was a fool in his generosity; he is a fied concert of flatteries and empty testimonies of demadman in his discontent; he is every where wanting votedness! It is highly amusing to see the suitors, in the wisdom which enables man in all things to ob- whom the ruined circumstances of their patron had disserve the due measure. Although the truth of his ex-persed, immediately flock to him again when they learn travagant feelings is proved by his death, and though that he had been revisited by fortune. In the speeches when he digs up a treasure, he spurns at the wealth of Timon, after he is undeceived, all the hostile figures which seems to solicit him, we yet see distinctly enough of language are exhausted,-it is a dictionary of elothat the vanity of wishing to be singular, in both parts quent imprecations.'† of the plays, had some share in his liberal self-forgetful * It appears to me that Schlegel and Professor Richardson have taken a more unfavourable view of the character of Timon, than our great poet intended to convey. Timon had not only been a benefactor to his private unworthy friends, but he had rendered the state service, which ought not to have been forgotten. He himself expresses his consciousness of this when he sends one of his servants to request a thousand talents at the hands of the senators: Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have Deserved this hearing.' And Alcibiades afterwards confirms this : friends. Shakspeare seems to have entered entirely Jew. I have a jewel here. Mer. O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir? Jew. If he will touch the estimate: But for that Poet. When we for recompense have prais'd the vile, 3 Breath'd is exercised, inured by constant practice, so trained as not to be wearied. To breathe a horse is to exercise him for the course: continuate for continued course. He passes, i. e. exceeds or goes beyond common bounds." 4 Touch the estimate, that is, come up to the price. 5 We must here suppose the Poet busy in reciting part of his own work; and that these three lines are the introduction of the poem addressed to Timon. To the great lord. Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir, "Tis a good piece. grace Poet. Admirable: How this Speaks his own standing! what a mental power This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture One might interpret. Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; Is't good? Poet. I'll say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strife" Lives in these touches, livelier than life. [Enter certain Senators, and pass over.] Pain. How this lord's follow'd! Poet. The Senators of Athens :-Happy men! Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Pain. How shall I understand you? 1 The old copies read: Our poesie is a gorene which uses.' 2 It is not certain whether this word is chufes or chases in the folio. I think the former is the true read ing. The poetaster means that the vein of a poet flows spontaneously, like the current of a river, and flies from each bound that chafes it in its course, as scorning all impediment, and requiring no excitement. In Julius Cæsar we have: The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores.' 3 i. e. as soon as my book has been presented to Timon. 4 This comes off well, apparently means this is cle. verly done, or this piece is well executed. The phrase is used in Measure for Measure ironically. 5 How the graceful attitude of this figure proclaims that it stands firm on its centre, or gives evidence in favour of its own fixture. Grace is introduced as bearing witness to propriety. 6 One might venture to supply words to such intelligible action. Such significant gesture ascertains the sentiments that should accompany it. So in Cymbeline, Act ii. Sc. 4: never saw I pictures So likely to report themselves.' 7 i. e. the contest of alt with nature. This was 2 very common mode of expressing the excellence of a painter. Shakspeare has it again more clearly expressed in his Venus and Adonis :- 'His art with nature's workmanship at strife." 8 Mane salutantum totis vomit ædibus undam.' 9 So in Measure for Measure we have,This under generation;' and in King Richard II. the lower world. I all, Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures, Poet. Nay, sir, but hear me on: All those which were his fellows but of late, Pain. Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants, Pain. "Tis common: A thousand moral paintings I can show, Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the Servant of VENTIDIUS talking with him. Tim. His means most short, his creditors most strait : To those have shut him up; which failing to him, Periods his comfort. 10 My design does not stop at any particular character. 11 An allusion to the Roman practice of writing with a style on tablets, covered with wax: a custom which also prevailed in England until about the close of the fourteenth century. 12 i. e. open, explain. 13 i. . subjects and appropriates. 14 One who shows Ly reflection the looks of his patron. The poet was mistaken in the character of Apemantus; but seeing that he paid frequent visits to Timon, he naturally concluded that he was equally courteous with his other guests. 15 i. e. to improve or promote their conditions. 16 i. e. extensively imagined, largely conceived. 17 i. e. in our art, in painting. Condition was used for profession, quality; façon de faire. 13 Whisperings of officious servility, the incense of the worshipping parasite to the patron as a god. Gray has excellently expressed in his Elegy these sacrificial offerings to the great from the poetic tribe :To heap the shrine of luxury and pride With incense kindled at the Muses' flame." 19 To drink the air, like the huustos ætherios of Virgil is merely a poetic phrase for draw the air, or breathe. To drink the free air,' therefore, through mother,' is to breathe freely at his will only, so as to depend on him for the privilege of life not even to breathe freely without his permission. 20 i. e. inferior spectators. 21 To period is perhaps a verb of Shakspeare's coinage. Tim. Attends he here, or no?-Lucilius ! Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. By night frequents my house. I am a man Tim. Well; what further? Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else, On whom I may confer what I have got: The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride, And I have bred her at my dearest cost, In qualities of the best. This man of thine Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord, Join with me to forbid him her resort; Myself have spoke in vain. Tim. The man is honest. Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:4 His honesty rewards him in itself, It must not bear my daughter. Tim. Does she love him? Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid? Tim. How shall she be endow'd, If she be mated with an equal husband? Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in futore, all. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little, For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter: 1 Should we not read When he most needs me? 2 Johnson says this thought is better expressed by Dr. Madden in his Elegy on Archbishop Boulter: More than they ask'd he gave; and deem'd it mean Only to help the poor-to beg again." It is said that Dr. Madden gave Johnson ten guineas for correcting this poem. 3 See note on King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 2. 4 It appears to me that a word is omitted in this line. Perhaps we should read:- Therefore he will be [rewarded,] Timon; It must not bear my daughter. It is true that Shakspeare often uses elliptical phrases, and this has been thought to mean: You say the man is honest; therefore he will continue to be so, and is sure of being sufficiently rewarded by the consciousness of virtue; he does not need the additional blessing of a beautiful and accomplished wife. Bet it must not bear my daughter,' means, His honesty is its own reward, it must not carry my daughter. A similar expression occurs in Othello: • What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe What, my lord? dispraise? Tim. A mere satiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd, It would unclew me quite. Jew. My lord, 'tis rated As those, which sell, would give: But you well know, Things of like value, differing in the owners, Tim. Which all men speak with him. Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid? Enter APEMANTUS. Jew. We will bear, with your lordship. Mer: Duncan: Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs in compt, 6 Pictures have no hypocrisy; they are what they profess to be. 7 To unclew a man is to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes. To unclew being to unwind a ball of thread. S Are rated according to the esteem in which their possessor is held. 9 See this character of a cynic finely drawn by Lu. cian, in his Auction of the Philosophers; and how well Shakspeare has copied it. 10 Stay for thy good morrow till I be gentle, which will happen at the same time when thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest,'—i. e. nevér. Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's she, if I be a dog? Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords: so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? not cost a man a doit. Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Tim. Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? 1 Lord. That time serves still. Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Apem. Should have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none. 1 Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet? thy requests to thy friend. Apem. Thou liest. Poet. Art not one? Apem. Yes. Poet. Then I lie not. Apem. Art not a poet? Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart. Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay. Tim. Wherefore? Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not! Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee. us. 2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Exit. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in, And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant. My father's age, and call him to long peace. Tim. What trumpet's that? He is gone happy, and has left me rich: Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound Some twenty horse, all of companionship.3 To your free heart, I do return those talents, Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose help [Exeunt some Attendants. I deriv'd liberty. You must needs dine with me :-Go not you hence,Till I have thank'd you;-and, when dinner's done, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; O, by no means, Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your sights.-I gave it freely ever; and there's none Can truly say, he gives, if he receives: If our betters play at that game, we must not dare To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair. Ven. A noble spirit. Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. [They salute. Most welcome, sir! 1 Alluding to the proverb: Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it die beggars. 2 This line is corrupt undoubtedly, and none of the emendations or substitutions that have been proposed are satisfactory. Perhaps we should read, That I had (now angry) wish'd to be a lord: or, That I had (so angry) will to be a lord.' Malone proposed to point the passage thus, That I had no angry wit. To be a lord and explains it, That I had no weit [or discretion] in my anger, but was absurd enough to wish myself one of that set of men, whom I despise. These are the best helps I can afford the reader towards a solution of this enigmatical passage, and it must be confessed they are feeble. 3 i. e. Alcibiades' companions, or such as he consorts with and sets on a level with himself. Tim. [They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON. 4 Man is degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey. 5 It has been before observed that to depart and to part The more accursed thou.' The more degenerate and base art thou.' 8 i. e. all the customary returns made in discharge of obligations. 9 The faults of rich persons, and which contribute to the increase of riches, wear a plausible appearance, and as the world goes are thought fair; but they are faults notwithstanding.' Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon; I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athe-me to 'em. nian; therefore welcome: I myself would have power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.4 Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number no I wonder, men dare trust themselves with men : Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd. KI notes: throats. Tim. My lord, in heart;10 and let the health go round. 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow!-he keeps his tides well. Timon,11 Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill. Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner, Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire: This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds. Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. 1 There seems to be some allusion to a common proverbial saying of Shakspeare's time, 'Confess and be hanged. See Othello, Act iv. Sc. 1. 2 The old copy reads 'Yond' man's very angry.' 3 Steevens and Malone dismissed apperil from the text, and inserted own peril: but Mr. Gifford has shown that the word occurs several times in Ben Jonson :-'Sir, I will bail you at mine own upperil. Devil is an Ass. 4 I myself would have no power to make thee silent, but I wish thou wouldst let my meat stop your mouth.' 5 For in the sense of cause or because. 6 It grieves me to see so many feed luxuriously, or sauce their meat at the expense of one man, whose very blood (means of living) must at length be exhausted by them; and yet he preposterously encourages them to proceed in his destruction.' 7 It was the custom in old times for every guest to bring his own knife, which he occasionally whetted on a stone that hung behind the door. One of these whetstones was formerly to be seen in Parkinson's Museum. It is scarcely necessary to observe that they were stran gers to the use of forks. 8The windpipe's notes' were the indications in the throat of its situation when in the act of drinking; it should be remembered that our ancestors' throats were uncovered. Perhaps, as Steevens observes, a quibble is intended on windpipe and notes. Ꮓ 1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.13 Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with moconfirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we desty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I have any friends, if we should never have need of should we ne'er have use for them: and would most them? they were the most needless creatures living, keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis to have so many, like brothers, commanding one anobe born!15 Mine eyes cannot hold out water, ther's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can methinks to forget their faults, I drink to you. Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. 3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. Apem. Much!16 [Tucket sounded. Tim. What means that trump ?-How now? 10 My lord's health in sincerity. Knightes Tale : So in Chaucer's 'And was all his in chere, as his in herte." 11 This speech, except the concluding couplet, is printed as prose in the old copy, nor could it be exhibited as verse without transposing the word Timon, which folthat many of the speeches in this play, which are now lows look ill, to its present place. I think with Malone exhibited in a loose and imperfect kind of metre, were intended by Shakspeare for prose, in which form they are exhibited in the old copy. 12 Foolish. 13 i. e. arrived at the perfection of happiness. 14 'Why are you distinguished from thousands by that tion and intercourse of tenderness between you and me?' title of endearment, was there not a particular connecThus Milton : Relations dear, and all the charities 15 O joy! e'en made away [i. e. destroyed, turned to tears] ere it can be born.' So in Romeo and Juliet: These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumphs die.' 16 Much was a common ironical expression of doubt or suspicion. |