Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, Derive much from it for take it on my foul For which I wait for money.

zi. e. of this commiffion. 3 His may refer to mine; as if he had said: Your master's confidence was above my master's; else surely his, i. e. the fum demanded from my master (for that is the last antecedent) had been equal to the fum demanded from yours. 4 Timon quibbles. They present their written bills; he catches at the word, and alludes to the bills, or battle-axes, which the ancient foldiery carded, and were still used by the watch in Shakfpeare's time.

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

Re-enter Timon, and Flavius.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me,

the flaves:

Creditors!-devils.

Flaw. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be fo?

Flav. My lord,

Tim. I'll have it fo:-My steward!

Flaw. Here, my lord.

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all;
I'll once more feaft the rafcals.

Flaw. O my lord,

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

Tom. Be it 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.

SCENE

"The Scrate-boufc.

[Exeunt.

V.

Senators, and Alcibiades.

The worft that man can breathe; and make his

wrongs

His outfides; to wear them like his raiment, care
And ne er prefer his injuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.

If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill?
Ale. My lord,-

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

Alc. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
If I speak like a captain.-

Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? fleep upon it,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? If there be

Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why then, women are more vallart,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;

The afs, more captain than the lion; and the fellow,
Loaden with irons, wifer than the judge,
If wisdom be in fuffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:

Who cannot condemn rafhnels in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is fin's extremest guft;

But, in defence, by mercy 7, 'tis moft jutt.

1 Son. My lord, you have my voice to 't; the To be in anger, is impiety;

i. e. putting this action of his, which was pre-determined by fate, out of the question. noted paffion means, perhaps, an uncommon command of his paffion, fuch a one as has not hitherto been obferved.

3 1. e. manage his auger. 4 You undertake a paradox too hard.

have we to do in the field?

5 1. c. What Gujt, for aggravation, according to Warburton. Mr. Steevens thinks that gut here means voskress, and that the allufion may be to a sudden gust of wind. 7 The meaning is, Icall mercy herself to witness, that defensive violence is juft.

If there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherith factions: 'Tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul, and his drink dangerous.
1 Sen. He dies.

Ale. 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 deferts to his, and join 'em both:
And, for I know, your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honours 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.

I Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more,
On height of our difpleasure: Friend, or brother,
He forfeits his own blood, that spills another.

Alc. Muft it be fo? it must not be. My lords,

I do beseech you, know me.

2 Sen. How?

Alc. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What?

Alc. I cannot think, but your age has forgot me ;

It could not elfe be, I should prove so base,
To fue, and be deny'd such common grace:
My wounds ake at you.

I Sen. Do you dare our anger ?
"Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect;
We banith thee for ever.

Alc. Banish me?

Banish your dotage; banish ufury,
That makes the fenate ugly.

2 Sen. It should not be, by the perfuafion of hit new feafting.

1 Sen. I should think fo: He hath fent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occafions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjur'd me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

2 Sen. In like manner was I in debt to my im portunate business, but he would not hear my excufe. I am forry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out.

1 Sen. 1 am fick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Sen. Every man here's so. What would he

have borrow'd of you?

1 Sen. A thousand pieces.

2 Sen. A thoufand pieces!

1 Sen. What of you?

3 Sen. He sent to me, fir, -Here he comes.
Enter Timon, and Attendants.

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

1 Sen. Ever at the beft, hearing well of your lordship.

2 Sen. The swallow follows not fummer more willingly, than we your lordship.

Tim. [Afide.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; fuch summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our din ner will not recompenfe this long stay: feast your

[thee, ears with the mufick awhile; if they will fare fo harfhly as on the trumpet's found: we shall to 't presently.

1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain
Attend our weightier judgment.
And, not to fwell our fpirit 2,
He shall be executed presently. (Exeunt Senate.
Alc. Now the gods keep you old enough; that
you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!
1 am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
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 balfam, that the ufuring fenate
Pours into captains' wounds? Hal banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd:
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,

That I may ftrike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My difcontented troops, and lay for hearts 3.
'Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers as little should brook wrongs, as gods.

[Exit.

Enter divers Senators, at feveral doors. ■ Sen. The good time of day to you, fir. 2 Sen. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day.

I Sen. Upon that were my thoughts tiring 4, when we encounter'd: I hope, it is not so low with him, as he made it feem in the trial of his feveral friends.

1 Sen. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I return'd you an empty messenger. Tim. O, fir, let it not trouble you. 2 Sen. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

[The banquet bought in.

2 Sen. My most honourable lord, I am e'en fick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day fent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, fir.

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

2 Sen. All cover'd dishes!

I Sen. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 Sen. Doubt not that, if money, and the season

can yield it.

1 Sen. How do you? What's the news?

3 Sen. Alcibiades is banish'd: Hear you of it?

Both. Alcibiades banish'd!

3 Sen. 'Tis so, be fure of it.

1 Sen. How? how?

2 Sen. I pray you, upon what?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near ?

3 Sen. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble

feaft toward.

2 Sen. This is the old man still.

3 Sen. Will 't hold? will 't hold ?

2 Sen. It does: but time will and fo

4 A hawk is

2 Not to fwell our spirit, may mean, not to put ourselves into any tumour Bafe, for dishonoured. 3 i. e. the affections of the people. of rage, take our definitive resolution. faid to tire, when the amuses herself with pecking a pheafant's wing, or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. To tire upon a thing, is therefore to be idly employed us on it.

Ggg

3 Sen. 3 Sen. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his miftress: your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the firft place: Sit, fit. The gods require our thanks. Of man, and beaft, the infinite malady 5

Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, Most smiling, (mooth, detested parafites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies 3, Cap and knee flaves, vapours, and minute-jackst You great berefactors, Sprinkle our fociety with Cruft you quite o'er!-What, dost thou go? thankfulness. For your own gifts, make you felves Soft, take thy phyfic firft, -thou too, and thou: prais'd: but referve ftill to give, left your deities be [Tbrows the dishes at them. despis'd. Lend to cach man enough, that one need not Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.lend to another: for, were your godbeads to borrow What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feaft, of men, men would forfake the gods. Make the meat Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest. be beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let no Burn houfe; fink Athens; henceforth hated be affembiy of twenty be without a score of villains: Of Timon, man, and all humanity!

If there fit twelve women at the table, let a dozsen f them be as they are. The rest of your fees, Ogods, the fenators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods, make fuitable for deftruction. For these my present friends, -as they are to me nothing, fo in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[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 luke

warm water

Is your perfection 2. This is Timon's last;
Who ftuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing water in their faces.

Re-enter the Senators.

I Sen. How now, my lords?

[Exit

[fury?

2 Sen. Know you the quality of lord Timon's 3 Sen. Pish I did you see my cap ?

4 Sen. I have loft my gown.

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

2 Sen. Did you see my cap ?

3 Sen. Here 'tis.

4 Sen. Here lies my gown.

I Sen. Let's make no stay.

2 Sen. Lord Timon's mad.

3 Sen. I feel't upon my bones.

4 Sen. One day he gives us diamonds, next day frones.

[Exeunt.

L

SCENE

I.

ACT

Without the walls of Athens.

Enter Timon.

ET me look back upon thee, O thou wall,
That girdleft in those wolves! Dive in the
earth,

And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent;
Obedience fail in children! flaves, and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled fenate from the bench,
And minifter in their steads! to general filths
Convert o' the inftant, green virginity!
Do't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fart:

IV.

With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, juttice, truth,
Domestick awe, night-rett, and neighbourhood,
Inftruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
Degrees, obfervances, cuftoms, and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries,
And yet confufion live! Plagues, incident to men,
Your potent and infectious fevers heap

On Athens, ripe for ftroke! thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our fenators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! luft and liberty
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth;
That 'gain't the ftream of virtue they may ftrive,

Rather than render back, out with your knives, And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains,

And cut your trufters' throats! bound fervants,
fteal;
Large-handed robbers your grave mafters are,
And pill by law! maid, to the matter's bed;
Thy miftrefs is o' the brothel! fon of fixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping fire,

Sow all the Athenian botoms; and their crop
Be general leprofy! breath infect breath;
That their fociety, as their friendship, may
De racerly poifon! Nothing I'll bear from thee,
But nakednefs, thou detettable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying banns!

Dr. Warburton thinks we should read foes. 2 i. e. the highest of your excellence. 3 i. e. flies + A minute-jack is what was called formerly a Jack of the clock-house; an image whose office was the fanic as one of those at St. Dunitan's church in Fleet-ftreet. See note 4, p. 658. si.c. every kind of difease incident to man and bealt.

Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
The unkindeft beaft more kinder than mankind.
The gods confound (hear me, you good gods all)

The Athenians both within and out that wall!

And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high, and low!
Amen.

SCENE II.
Timon's Houfe.

[Exit.

Enter Flavius, with two or three fervants.

I Serv. Hear you, master steward, where is

our mafter?

To have his pomp, and all what state compounds,
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?
Poor honeft lord, brought low by his own heart;
Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood 2,
When man's worst fin is, he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half fo kind again?
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men,
My dearest lord, bleft, to be most accurs'd,
Rich, only to be wretched; -thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord t
He's flung in rage from this ungrateful feat
Of monstrous friends: nor has he with him to
Supply his life, or that which can command it.
I'll follow, and enquire him out s
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;

Are we undone? caft off? nothing remaining ?
Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I fay Whilft I have gold, I'll be his fteward ftill.

to you?

Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,

I am as poor as you.

I Serv. Such a house broke!

So noble a mafter 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
From our companion, thrown into his grave;
So his familiars from his buried fortunes
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses pick'd: and his poor felf,
A dedicated beggar to the air,

With his disease of all-fhunn'd poverty,
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our

fellows.

Enter other Servants.

Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house.
3 Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery,
That fee I by our faces; we are fellows ftill,
Serving alike in forrow: Leak'd is our bark;
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
Hearing the furges threat: we must all part
Into this fea of air.

Flav. Good fellows all,

The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's fake,
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and
fay,
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
We have feen better days.' Let each take fome;
[Giving them money.
Not one word more:
puting poor.

Nay, put out all your hands.
Thus part we rich in forrow,

[Excunt Servants.
0, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to mifery and contempt ?
Who'd be fo mock'd with glory? or to live
But in a dream of friendship?

SCENE

The Woods.
Enter Timon.

[Exit

111.

Tim. O bleffed breeding fun, draw from the
earth

Rotten humidity; below thy fifter's orb 3
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence, and birth,

Scarce is dividant, -touch them with feveral for

tunes:

The greater scorns the leffer: Not nature, [tune,
To whom all fores lay fiege, can bear great for
But by contempt of nature 4.

Raife me this beggar, and denude that lord;
The fenator shall bear contempt hereditary,
The beggar native honour.

It is the paftor lards the brother's fides,

The want that makes him leave 5. Who dares,

who dares,

In purity of manhood stand upright,
And fay, This man's a flatterer ? if one be,
So are they all; for every grize 6 of fortune
Is fmooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: All is oblique;
There's nothing level in our cursed natures,
But direct villainy. Therefore, be abhorr'd
All feafts, focieties, and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon difdains :
Deftruction fang mankind!-Earth, yield me
[Digging the earth.
Who feeks for better of thee, fauce his palate
With thy moft operant poifon! What is here?
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No,
gods,

roots!

I am no idle votarift 8: Roots, you clear heavens 9!
Thus much of this, will make black, white; foul,
fair;
[valiant.
Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; coward,

Fierce is here used for husty, precipitate. 2 Strange, unusual blood may mean, strange unusual difpofition. 3 That is, the moon's, this sublunary world. 4 Dr. Johnfon explains this paffage thus: "Brother, when his fortune is enlarged, will fcorn brother; for this is the general depravity of human nature, which, besieged as it is by mifery, admonished as it is of want and imperfection, when elevated by fortune, will defpife beings of nature like its own." 5 That is, It is the paftour that greafes or flatters the rich brother, and will grease him on till want make him leave. 6 Grize for step or degree. 7 i. e. feize, gripe. 8 1. e. no intincere or inconftant fupplicant. Gold will not ferve me inflead of roots. This may mean either ye cloudiefs fties, or ye deities exempt from guilt. Ha,

Ggga