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are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours; now Lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Luc. Fye, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man? there was very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.

Enter SERVILIUS.

Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honour.--My honoured lord,[To LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well-Commend me to thy honourable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath

sent

Luc. Ha! what has he sent ? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending: How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?

Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.3

Luc. I know, his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous,4

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour !5 -Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't: the more beast, I say:-I was sending to use Lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship and I hope, his honour will conceive the fairest of because I have no power to be kind: me, And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will

1 So many talents,' a common colloquial phrase for an indefinite number: the stranger apparently did not know the exact sum; and yet some editors have artitrarily substituted fifty talents."

2 Lucius means to insinuate that it would have been a kind of mistake in Timon to apply to him, who had received but few favours from him in comparison to those bestowed on Lucullus.

3 Such is again the reading the old copy supplies; some modern editors have here again substituted fifty talents.' But this was the phraseology of the poet's age. In Julius Cæsar, Lucilius says to his adversary:There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight.' 4 If he did not want it for a good use."

you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall.

Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.-[Exit SERVILIUS. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed; And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. [Exit LUCIUS. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran. Why this

money

Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse;
Supported his estate; nay,
Timon's
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet (0, see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,"
What charitable men afford to beggars.
2 Stran. Religion groans at it.
1 Stran.

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For mine own part,

I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense:
For policy sits above conscience.
SCENE III. The same. A Room in Sempro-
nius's House. Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Ser-
vant of Timon's.

Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't?
'Bove all others?

[Exeunt.

Humph!

He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus ;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these
Owe their estates unto him.

Serv.

O my lord, They have all been touch'd," and found base metal; They have all denied him.

Sem.

for

How! have they denied him?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
It shows but little love or judgment in him.
And does he send to me? Three? humph!1°
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like phy-

sicians,

me?-

Thrive,'' give him over; Must I take the cure upon He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him, nies to Timon is in proportion to his fortune less than the usual alms given by good men to beggars.

8 The commentators have made difficulties about this passage, of which the meaning appears to be Had he applied to me, I would have put my wealth nto the form of a gift, and have sent him the best half of it. The Stranger could not mean that he would have treated his wealth as a present originally received from Timon,' because he expressly declares that he never tasted his bounties

9 Alluding to the trial of metals by the touchstone Thus in King Richard III. :—

O Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if tho be current gold indeed.' 10 This speech appears to be mutilated, and therefore unmetrical; the first part of it may perhaps bear modifying thus:

• Ventidius, and Lucius, and Lucullus,
Have denied him, and does he send to me?
Three? humph!-

It shows,' &c.

I can only point out metrical dilapidations, which I profess myself unable to repair,' says Steevens. 11 Johnson proposes to read :-

7 i. e. in respect of his fortune.' What Lucius de. I but says,

Thrice, give him over :' perhaps the old reading is the true;' which

That might have known my place: I see no sense
for't,

But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er received gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: So it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And I amongst the lords be thought a fool.

I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
He had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;

I had such a courage to do him good. But now
return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour, shall not know my coin.
[Erit.
Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly vil-
lain. The devil knew not what he did, when he
made man politic; he cross'd himself by't: and
I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man
will sot him clear. How fairly this lord strives
to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked:
like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set
whole realms on fire.2

Of such a nature is his politic love.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save the gods only: Now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.3

[Exit.

SCENE IV. The same. A Hall in Timon's House. Enter two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out.

Is like the sun's ; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,

'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little."
Phi.

I am of your fear for that.
Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.

Hor.
Most true, he does.
Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which you wait for money.

Hor. It is against my heart.
Luc. Serv.

Mark, how strange it shows,
Timon in this snould pay more than he owes :
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.

I

Hor. I am weary of this charge," the gods can

witness:

know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth. 1 Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: What's yours?

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.

1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep and it should seem
by the sum,

Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd."

Enter FLAMINIUS.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Serv. Flaminius! sir, a word: Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.

Tit. We attend his lordship; 'pray, signify so

much.

Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent. [Exit FLAMINIUS. Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled. Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?

Var. Serv. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.

Hortensius.

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Luc. Serv.
Not yet.
Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter
with him:

You must consider that a prodigal course

Tit. Do you hear, sir?

1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,-
Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flav.

Ay,

If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd you not
Your sums and bills, when your false masters eat
Of
my lord's meat? Then they could smile, and
fawn

but wrong,

Upon his debts, and take down th' interest
Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves
To stir me up; let me pass quietly:
Believe't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Flav.
If 'twill not serve,

Tis not so base as you; for you serve knaves.

[Exit.

1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd worship mutter?

generous jealousy of friendship, that is affronted it any

Steevens illustrates by the following passage in Web-other be applied to before it.' ster's Dutchess of Malfy:

Physicians thus,

With their hands full of money, use to give o'er
Their patients.'

The passage will then mean, His friends, like phy-
sicians, thrive by his bounty and fees, and either relin-
quish and forsake him, or give up his case as despe-
rate.' It is remarked by Malone that Webster has fre-
quently imitated Shakspeare, and that this passage may
be an imitation of that in the text.

1 I take the sense of this passage to be, The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic, (i. e. crafty, or full of cunning shifts;) he thearted himself by so doing, overreached himself: and I cannot think but in the end the villanies of man will (make the devil appear in comparison innocent) set him clear, and that they will change places; man becoming the tempter, not the tempted.

2 Warburton thinks that this is levelled at the Puritans. Sempronius, like them, takes a virtuous sem. blance to be wicked, pretending that warm affection and

3 i. e. keep within doors for fear of duns. Thus in Measure for Measure, Act iii. Sc. 2-You will turn good husband-now, Pompey, you will keep the house.' 4 i. e. like him in blaze and splendor.

'Soles occidere et redire possunt.'-Catull. 5 Still perhaps alluding to the effects of winter, during which some animals are obliged to seek their scanty provision through a depth of snow.

6 The old copy reads, For which I wait for money.' 7 i. e. this office or employment.

8 The commentators thought this simple passage required a comment; and the reader will be surprised to hear that it bears several constructions. It is obvious that the meaning is, it should seem by the sum your master lent, his confidence in Timon was greater than that of my master, else surely my master's loan had equalled his. If there be any obscurity, it is because the relative pronoun his does not quite clearly refer to its immediate antecedent mine. I should not have thought the passage needed explanation, had it not been the subject of contention.

2 Var. Serv. No matter what; he's poor, and SCENE V. The same. The Senate House. The that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, attended. than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.

Enter SERVILIUS.

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Ser. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from it: for, take it on my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him; he is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Laic. Serv. Many do keep their chambers, are

not sick :

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Good gods!
Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, sir.
Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help!-my lord! my

lord!

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Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the
fault's

Bloody;
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
'tis necessary he should die :
2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him.
Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the
senate!

1 Sen. Now, captain?

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into it.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,3
Of comely virtues:

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice,
(An honour in him which buys out his fault;)
But, with a noble fury, and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did oppose his foe:
He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,'
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains, as if they la-
bour'd

To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer

Tim. Knock me down with 'em :' cleave me to The worst that man can breathe; and make his

the girdle.

Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord,

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.

Tit. Mine fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Tim. Five thousand drops pays that.-

What

yours ?-and yours

1 Var. Serv. My lord,

2 Var. Serv. My lord,

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw
[Exit.
their caps at their money: these debts may well be
called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.
[Exeunt.

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.
Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me,

the slaves:

Creditors!-devils.

Flav. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be so?

Flav. My lord,

Tim. I'll have it so:-My steward!
Flav. Here, my lord.

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:2
I'll once more feast the rascals.

Flav.

O, my lord,

You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.

Tim.

Be't not in thy care; go,
I charge thee; invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.

[Exeunt.

1 Timon quibbles. They present their written bills; he catches at the word, and alludes to bills or battleaxes. The word is so played upon in As You Like It. 2 The first folio reads:

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, Ullorza all.' What is meant by this strange corruption it is perhaps now vain to conjecture. Malone retains this strange word; and Steevens banters him pleasantly enough upon his pertinacious adherence to the text of the first folio,

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1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
If I speak like a captain.-.
And not endure all threatnings? sleep upon it,"
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? but if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad?" why then, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;

And th' ass more captain than the lion; the felon,"
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,

If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,

As you are great, be pitifully good:

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;9
But, in defence, by mercy,'
10 tis most just.

To be in anger is impiety;
But who is man, that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.
Alcib.

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"And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behoove his anger ere 'twas spent.'

5 You undertake a paradox too hard.
6 i. e. utter.

7 What do we, or what have we to do in the field?-
made at Johnson's suggestion, perhaps without neces-
8 The old copy reads 'fellow.' The alteration was
sity. Fellow is a common term of contempt.

done in a gust of passion.'
9 Gust here means rashness. We still say, 'it was

10 i. e. call mercy herself to witness."

At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, Were a sufficient briber for his life.

1 Sen. What's that?

Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service,

And slain in fight many of your enemies :
How full of valour did he bear himself

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds?

2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he Is a sworn rioter, h'as a sin that often Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: If there were no foes, that were enough alone To overcome him: in that beastly fury He has been known to commit outrages, And cherish factions: "Tis inferr'd to us, His days are foul, and his drink dangerous. 1 Sen. He dies.

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him

(Though his right arm might purchase his own time,
And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you,
Take my
deserts to his, and join them both :
And, for I know your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all2
My honour to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more,
On height of our displeasure: Friend or brother,
He forfeits his own blood, that spills another.
Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,
I do beseech you, know me.

2 Sen. How?

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SCENE VI.-A magnificent Room in Timon's House. Music. Tables set out: Servants altending. Enter divers Lords, at several door3.

He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senators.
Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that
you may
live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

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2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my exthat my provision was out. cuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me,

I am worse than mad: I have kept back their focs,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts;-All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts."
"Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs, as gods. [Exit.
1 i. e. a man who practises riot as if he had made it an
oath or duty.

2 He charges them obliquely with being usurers. Thus in a subsequent passage

banish usury,

That makes the senate ugly.'

1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you?

1 Lord. A thousand pieces.

2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you?

3 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes.

Enter TIMON, and Attendants.

how fare you? Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :-And

1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship.

Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently.

1 Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty mes

senger.

Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you. 2 Lord. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

[The Banquet brought in. of shame, that, when your lordship this other day 2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. -Come, bring in all together.

2 Lord. All covered dishes!

1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money, and the season can yield it.

3 Remembrances is here used as a word of five sylla-i bles. In the singular Shakspeare uses it as a word of four syllables only:

And lasting in her sad remembrance.
Twelfth Night, Act i. Sc. 1.

4 Base for dishonoured. 5 This, says Steevens, I believe, means not to put ourselves into any tumour of rage, take our definitive resolution.' So in King Henry VIII. Act iii. Sc. 1:"The hearts of princes kiss obedience, So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits, They swell and grow as terrible as storms.'"

2 Lord. How do you? What's the news?

3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: Hear you of it? 1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished!

3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it.

1 Lord. How? how?

2 Lord. I pray you, upon what?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward."

I think we might read with advantage:

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And not to quell our spirit.'

e. not to repress or humble it.

6 To lay for hearts, is to endeavour to win the affections of the people.

7 Upon that were my thoughts feeding or most anxiously employed.'

8 i. e. your good memory. Shakspeare and his contemporaries often use the comparative for the positive or superlative. Thus in King John:

Nay, but make haste the better foot before." 9 i. e. near at hand, or in prospect. So in Romeo and Juliet:-

"We have a foolish trifling banquet towards.'

2 Lord. This is the old man still.
3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold?
2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so-
3 Lord. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places alike.1 Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

[The dishes uncovered are full of warm water. Some speak. What does his lordship mean? Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold,
You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and lukewarm

ACT IV.

SCENE I. IVithout the Walls of Athens.

Enter TIMON.

Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall,
That girdlest in those wolves! Dive in the earth,
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent;
Obedience fail in children! slaves, and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,
And minister in their steads! to general filths*
Convert o' the instant, green virginity!
Do't in your parents' eyes; bankrupts, hold fast;
Rather than render back, out with your knives,
And cut your trusters' throats! bound servants,
steal!

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another: for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains: And pill by law: maid, to thy master's bed; If there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of Thy mistress is o' the brothel! son of sixteen, them be as they are.-The rest of your lees, O Pluck the lin'd crutch from the old limping sire, gods, the senators of Athens, together with the com- With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear, man lag of people,what is amiss in them, you gods, Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth, make suitable for destruction. For these my present Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood, friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades, bless them, and to nothing they are welcome. Degrees, observances, customs, and laws, Uncover, dogs, and lap. Decline to your confounding contraries, And yet confusion live!-Plagues, incident to men, Your potent and infectious fevers heap On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt As lamely as their manners! lust and liberty!" Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth; That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive, And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains, Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop [Throwing water in their faces. Be general leprosy! breath infect breath; Your reeking villany. Live loath'd, and long, That their society, as their friendship, may Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites, Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, But nakedness, thou detestable town! You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies, Take thou that too, with multiplying bans !!! Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks! Timon will to the woods; where he shall find Of man, and beast, the infinite malady The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. Crust you quite o'er!-What, dost thou go? The gods confound (hear me, you good gods all,) Soft, take thy physic first-thou too,—and thou;-The Athenians both within and out that wall! [Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out. And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.- To the whole race of mankind, high and low!. What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast, Amen. Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest. Burn, house; sink, Athens! henceforth hated be Of Timon, man, and all humanity! [Exit. Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords?

water

Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Exit,

SCENE II. Athens. A Room in Timon's House.
Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants.
1 Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our
master?

2 Lord. Know you the quality of Lord Timon's Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?

fury?

Lord. Pish! did you see my cap?

4 Lord. I have lost my gown.

3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat:-Did you see my jewel?

4 Lord. Did you see my cap?

2 Lord. Here 'tis.

4 Lord. Here lies my gown.

1 Lord. Let's make no stay. 2 Lord, Lord Timon's mad 3 Lord.

I feel't upon my bones. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day [Exeunt.

stones."

1. In all places alike. This alludes to the mode in which guests were formerly placed at table according to

rank.

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2 Warburton and Mason say we should read foes stead of fees, which is the reading of the old copy. have ventured to substitute lees, a more probable word to be misprinted fees, the long fand I being easily mistaken for each other. Timon means to call the senators the lees and dregs of the city, Sordes et fæx urbis, on account of their vile propensities.

3 i. e. the highest of your excellence.

4 i. e. flies of a season. Thus before :one cloud of winter showers,

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These flies are couch'd.

Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
I am as poor as you.

1 Serv.

Such a house broke!
So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not
One friend, to take his fortune by the arm,
And go along with him!
2 Serv.

As we do turn our backs

term was used for time serving busy bodies, who had their oar in every man's boat, or hand in every man's dish.'

6 This and the next speech is spoken by the newly. arrived lords.

7 In the old MS. play of Timon, painted stones are introduced as part of this mock banquet. It seems probable that Shakspeare was acquainted with this ancient drama. Timon has thrown nothing at his guests, but warm water and dishes.

8 Steevens explains this common sewers,' which is quite ludicrous, unless he meant it metaphorically. GeIneral filths means common strumpets: filthiness, and obscenity were synonymous with our ancestors. 9 i. e. contrarieties, whose nature it is to waste or destroy each other. as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base.' King Henry V. 10 Liberty here means licentiousness or libertinism. So in the Comedy of Errors:

5 Minute-jacks, are the same as jacks of the clock house, automaton figures appended to clocks: but the

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And many such like liberties of sin.' 11 i. e. accumulated curses. Multiplying for multiplied, the active participle with a passive signification

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