I Stran. Why, this is the world's sport;
And juft of the fame piece is every flatterer's foul.
Who can call him his friend,

That dips in the fame 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 money
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's filver treads upon his lip;
And yet, (O, fee the monftrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape !)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars 1.

3 Stran. Religion groans at it. I Stran. For mine own part, I never tafted Timon in my life,

Sem. How! have they deny'd him ?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus deny'd him ?
And does he send to me? Three? hum!
It shews but little love or judgement in him.
Must 1 be his last refuge? His friends, like phy.
ficians,
[me?
Thrive, give him over 4; Must I take the cure upon
He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no fente
for't,

But his occafions might have woo'd me firft;
For, in my confcience, I was the first man
That e'er receiv'd gift from him:

And does he think fo backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No:

So it may prove an argument of laughter

To the reft, and I 'mongst lords be thought a fool.
1 had rather than the worth of thrice the fum,
He had fent to me first, but for my mind's fake;
I had fuch a courage 5 to do him good. But now

return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour, shall not know my coin.
[Exit.

I would have put my wealth into donation,

Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politick; he cross'd himself by 't: ad I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man will fet him clear 6. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies 7 to bę wicked; like those, that, under hot ardent zeal, would fet whole realms on fire.

And the best half should have return'd to him 2, Of such a nature is his politic love.

Si. c. 1

1 i. c. In respect of his fortune, what Lucius denies to Timon is, in proportion to what Lucius pof sesses, less than the usual alms given by good men to beggars. 2 That is, I would have treated my wealth as a present originally received from him, and on this occasion have return'd him the haif of that whole for which I fuppofed myself to be indebted to his bounty. 3 i. c. tried, alluding to the touchstone. 4 That is, "His friends, like physicians, thrive by his bounty and fees, and either relinquish, and forfake him, or give his cafe up as defperate." To give over has no reference to the irremediable condition of a patient, but fimply means to leave, to forsake, to quit. had fuch an ardour, fuch an eager defire. 6 Set him clear does not mean, acquit him before heaven; but it fignifics, puzzle him, outdo him at his own weapons. And the meaning of the paf fage is, " If the devil made men politic, he has thwarted his own interest, because the fuperior cunning of man will at last puzzle him, or be above the reach of his temptations." 7 This is a reflection on the puritans of that time. These people were then fet upon a project of new modelling the ecclefiaftical and civil government according to fcripture rules and examples; which makes him fay, that under zeal for the word of God, they would fet whole realms on fire. So Sempronius pretended to that warm affection and generous jealoufy of friendship, that is affronted, if any other be applied to before it. 8 i. e. keep within doors for fear of duns.

Tu

Tit. I'll shew you how to obferve a strange event. Some anfwer.

Your lord fends now for money.

Hor. Moft true, he does.

Serv. If I might befeech you, gentlemen,

To repair fome other hour, I should

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.

Hor. It is against my heart.

Luc. Mark, how strange it shows,

Timon in this should pay more than he owes :
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em.
[witness:

Hor. I am weary of this charge 2, the gods can
I know, my lord has spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than ftealth.
Var. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: What's

your's?

Luc. Five thousand mine.

[the fum,
Var. 'Tis much deep and it should feem by
Your mafter's confidence was above mine;
Elfe, furely, his had equall'd 3.

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! fir, a word: Pray, is my lord Ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.
[much.
Tit. We attend his lordship; pray, fignify fo
Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows you
are too diligent.
[Exit Flaminius.

Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.
Luc. Hal is not that his steward muffled fo?

He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
Tit. Do you hear, fir?

My lord leans wondroufly to difcontent:

His comfortable temper has forfook him;
He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Luc. Many do keep their chambers, are not fick:
And, if he be fo far beyond his health,
Methinks, he should the fooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.

Str. Good gods!

i. e. like him in blaze and splendour. 2 i. e. of this commiffion. 3 His may refer to mine; as if he had faid: 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 carried, and were still used by the watch in Shakspeare's time.

ה

1

Tim. Cut my heart in fums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Five thousand crowns, my lord.

Tim. Five thousand drops pays that.

What yours? and yours?

1 Var. My lord,

2 Var. My lord,

And with fuch fober and unnoted 2 passion
He did behave his anger ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

I Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took fuch pains, as if they labour'd
To bring man-flaughter into form, and fet quarrel

ling

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,

you!
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.

Re-enter Timen, and Flavius.

[Exit. Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When fects and factions were newly born :
He's truly valiant, that can wifely fuffer
The worit that man can breathe; and make his
[leftys
His outfides; to wear them like his raiment, care-
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.

[Exeunt.

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

the flaves:

Creditors!-devils.

Flav. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be fo?

Flav. My lord,

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

Flav. Here, my lord.

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

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

Flav. O my lord,

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

Tim. 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 Senate-boufe.

V.

Senators, and Alcibiades.

[Excunt.

wrongs

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

I 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 5? why then, women are more valiant,
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 rathnets in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is fin's extremest guft;
But, in defence, by mercy 7, 'tis most just,

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

5 i c. Weat

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 hitherio been obferved. 3 i.e. manage his anger. 4 You undertake a paradox too hard. have we to do in the field? 6 Guji, for aggravation, according to Warburton. Mr. Sterveas thinks that guft here means rafhrefs, and that the allusion may be to a fudden guft of wind. meaning is, Icall mercy herself to witness, that defenfive violence is juit.

7 The

As

Ale. Hard fate! he might have died in war.

My lords, if not for any parts in him,
(Though his right arm might purchafe 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.

1 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 bafe 1,
To fue, and be deny'd fuch common grace:
My wounds ake at you.

1 Sen. Do you dare our anger ?
'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;
We banish 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 his new feafting.

I Sen. I should think fo: He hath fent me an earneft 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 importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am forry, when he fent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out.

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

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

have borrow'd of you?

I Sen. A thousand pieces.

2 Sen. A thousand pieces!

I Sen. What of you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain
Attend our weightier judgment.
And, not to fwell our fpirit 2,

He shall be executed prefently. (Exeunt Senate.
Alk. Now the gods keep you old enough; that
you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I 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 thofe, for this?
Is this the balfam, that the ufuring senate
Pours-into captains' wounds? Ha! banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd:
It is a cause worthy my fpleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts 3.
'Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers as little should brook wrongs, as gods.

■ Bafe, for dishonoured.

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

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

Both. Alcibiades banish'd!

3 Sen. 'Tis fo, 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

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

2 Sen. It does: but time will and fo

into any tumour

4 A hawk is

2 Not to fwell our spirit, may mean, not to put ourselves of rage, take our definitive resolution. 3 i. e. the affections of the people. faid to tire, when the amuses herself with pecking a pheasant's wing, or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. To tire upon a thing, is therefore to be idly employed upon 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 mistress: 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 first place: Sit, fit. The gods require our thanks.

Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, Most smiling, smooth, detested parafites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies 3, Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks 4! Of man, and beast, the infinite malady s You great benefactors, sprinkle our fociety with Crust you quite o'er !-What, dost thou go? thankfulness. For your own gifts, make you felves Soft, take thy phyfic first, -thou too, and thou: prais'd: but referve still to give, left your deities be [Throws the dishes at them. despis'd. Lend to each man enough, that one need not Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.l lend to another: for, were your godbeads to borrow What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast, of men, men would forsake 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 house; fink Athens; henceforth hated be affembly of twenty be without a score of villains: Of Timon, man, and all humanity!

If there fit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of

them be as they are. The rest of your fees, O gods, 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, so 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! did you see my cap?
4 Sen. I have lost my gown.

I Sen. He's but a mad lord, and nought but hu-
mour 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?

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

stones.

[Exeunt.

L

SCENE L

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! slaves, and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,
And minifter 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;

Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,
And pill by law! maid, to thy mafter's bed;
Thy mistress is o' the brothel! fon of fixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping fire,

IV.

With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domeftick awe, night-reft, and neighbourhood,
Inftruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
Degrees, obfervances, customs, 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 stroke! thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our fenators, that their limbs may hait
As lamely as their manners! luft and liberty
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth;
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may ftrive,
And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop
Be general leprofy! breath infect breath;
That their fociety, as their friendship, may
Be meerly poifon! Nothing I'll bear from thee,
But nakednefs, thou deteftable 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 of a feafon. 4 A minute-jack is what was called formerly a Jack of the clock-house; an image whole office was the fame as one of those at St. Dunstan's church in Fleet-street. See note 4, p. 658. Sic. every kind of disease incident to man and beast.

1