Go not away. What have you there, my friend? 45 fhe, if I be a dog?

Pain. A piece of painting; which I do befeech Your lordship to accept.

* Dr. Warburton explains this paffage thus: "If the man be honest, my lord, for that reafon he will be fo in this; and not endeavour at the injuftice of gaining my daughter without my confent.” 2 or due. 3 To unclew, is to unwind a ball of thread. To unclew a man, is to draw out the whole mafs of his fortunes. 4 This alludes to the proverb: "Plain dealing is a jewel, but they that use it die beggars."

3F3

The meaning may be, I fhould hate myself for patiently enduring to be a lord. 2 or lineage of man's worn down into monkey. 3 i. e. part. + Meed in this place feems to mean defert. customary returns made in discharge of obligations.

Or a keeper with my freedom;

Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men fin, and I eat root.

[Eats and drinks. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus ! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

Alc. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of ene. mies, than a dinner of friends.

Alc. So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like 'em; I could with my best friend at fuch a feast.

Apem. 'Would all thofe flatterers were thing enemies then; that thou might'ft kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lerd. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once ufe our hearts, whereby

Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number 20 we might exprefs fome part of our zeals, we

Of men eat Timon, and he fees them not!

It grieves me, to fee fo many dip their meat
In one man's blood: and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too 2.

I wonder, men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks, they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and fafer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow, that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,

Is the readieft man to kill him: it has been prov'd.
If I were a huge man, I fhould fear to drink at
meals;
[notes:

fhould think ourselves for ever perfect 4.

Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themfelves have provided that I fhall have much help from you: How had you been my 25 friends elfe? why have you that charitable 5 title from thousands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your behalf; and thus far I confirm you 7. O, you gods, think I, 30what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needlefs creatures living, fhould we ne'er have ufe for them: and would moft refemble fweet inftruments hung up in cafes, that keep their founds to themfelves. Why, I have often with'd 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 40fo many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their faults, 1 drink to you.

Left they should fpy my wind-pipe's dangerous
Great men fhould drink with harnefs on their 35

throats.

Tim. My lord, in heart 3; 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,
Thofe healths will make thee, and thy ftate, look ill.
Here's that, which is too weak to be a finner,
Honeft water, which ne'er left man i' the mire :
This, and my food, are equals: there's no odds.
Feafts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
APEMANTUS'S GRACE.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove fo fond,
To truft man on bis oath, or bond;
Or a barlot, for her weeping;

Or a dog, that feems a fleeping;

45

50

Apem. Thou weep'ft to make them drink,

'Timon's meaning feems to be: I myself qvould have no power to make thee filent, but I wish thou would't let my meat make thee filent. Timon, like a polite landlord, difclaims all power over the meanest or most troublesome of his guefts. 2 The allufion, says Dr. Johnson, is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill, and the wonder is, that the animal on which they are feeding cheers them to the chace. 3 That is, my lord's health with fincerity. 4 That is, arrived at the perfection of happiness. 5 i. e. that dear, endearing title. 6 That is, Why are you diftinguished from thoufands by that title of endearment, was there not a particular connection and intercourse of tenderness between you and me? 7 i. e. I fix your characters firmly in my own mind. 8 To look for babies in the eyes of another, is no uncommon expreffion.

I Lord. You fee, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.

Mufick. Re-enter Cupid, with a mafque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their bands, dancing and playing.

Apem. Heyday! what a sweep of vanity comes
this way!

They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,

Tim. The little cafket bring me hither.
Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet!
There is no croffing him in his humour; [Afide.
Elfe I fhould tell him,-Well,-i'faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be crofs'd then, an he could.
10 Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind4;
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind 5.
[Exit, and returns with the caflet.

20

25

I Lord. Where be our men?
Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness..

2 Lord. Our horfes.

Tim. O my friends, I have one word

To fay to you:-Look you, my good lord, I muft
Intreat you, honour me so much, as to [lord.
Advance this jewel; accept, and wear it, kind my
1 Lord. I am fo far already in your gifts,-
All. So are we all.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the Newly alighted, and come to visit you. [fenate Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Flav. I befeech your honour,

Vouchfafe me a word; it does concern you near.

Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear I pr'ythee, let us be provided

30 To fhew them entertainment.
Flav. [Afide.] I scarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

[thee:

2 Serv. May it please your honour, lord Lucius Out of his free love, hath prefented to you 35 Four milk-white horses, trapt in filver.

As this pomp fhews to a little oil, and root'.
We make ourselves fools, to difport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink thofe men,
Upon whofe age we void it up again, [not
With poisonous fpite, and envy. Who lives, that's]
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
Not one fpurn to their graves of their friends' gift?
I fhould fear, thofe that dance before me now,
Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done;
Men fhut their doors against a setting fun.
The Lords rife from table, with much adoring of
Timon; and to fhew their loves, each fingles out
an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; 40
a lofty ftrain or two to the hautboys, and cease.
Tim. You have done our pleatures much grace,
fair ladies,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half fo beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't, and lively luftre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

1451

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best 2. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and 50

would not hold

Taking, I doubt me.

[you. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends

Tim. I fhall accept them fairly: let the prefents Be worthily entertain'd.-How now? what news? Enter a third Servant.

3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him; and has fent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

1

Tim. I'll hunt with him; And let them be re-
Not without fair reward.
[ceiv'd,
Flav. [Afide.] What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer.-

Nor will he know his purfe; or yield me this,
To fhew him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promifes fly so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
For every word; he is fo kind, that he now

The meaning is, according to Dr. Johníon, "The glory of this life is very near to madness, as may be made appear from this pomp, exhibited in a place where a philofopher is feeding on oil and roots. When we fee by example how few are the neceffaries of life, we learn what madness there is in fo much fuperfluity." 2 i. e. you have feen the best we can do. 3 The poet does not mean here, that he would be cross'd in humour, but that he would have his hand cross'd with money, if he could. He is playing on the word, and alluding to our old filver penny, ufed before K. Edward the Firft's time, which had a crofs on the reverse with a creafe, that it might be more easily broke into halves and quarters, half-pence and farthings. From this penny, and other pieces, was our common expreffion derived, I have not a cross about me; i. e. not a piece of money. 4 To fee the miferies that are following her. 5 i. e. for his nobleness of foul.

6 i. e. to prefer it; to raise it to honour by wearing it.

Pays

Can juftly praife, but what he does affect:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
I tell you true. I'll call on you.

All Lords. O, none fo welcome.

Tim. I take all and your several vifitations
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give;
Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
And ne'er be weary.-Alcibiades,

Thou art a foldier, therefore feldom rich,

It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou haft
Lie in a pitch'd field.

Alc. In defiled land, my lord.

15

20

Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.

Apem. What a coil's here!

Serving of becks 2, and jutting out of bums!
I doubt, whether their legs 3 be worth the fums
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
Methinks, falfe hearts fhould never have found legs.
Thus honeft fools lay out their wealth on court'fies.
Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not fullen,
I would be good to thee.

Apem. No, I'll nothing: for,

If I fhould be brib'd too, there would be none left
To rail upon thee; and then thou would'st fin

the fafter.

Thou giv'ft fo long, Timon, I fear me, thou

Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly:

What need thefe feafts, pomps, and vain-glories?

Tim. Nay,

Sen.

AND

Enter a Senator.

ND late, five thousand to Varro; and
to Ifidore,

He owes nine thoufand;-befides my former Yum,
Which makes it five and twenty.-Still in motion
Of raging wafte? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, fteal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would fell my horfe, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Afk nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate 7;
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason

II.

40 Can found his ftate in safety 3.-Caphis, ho!
Caphis, I fay!

145

Enter Capbis.

Caph. Here, fir; What is your pleasure?
Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord

Timon;

[rah,

Importune him for my monies; be not ceas'd
With flight denial; nor then filenc'd, when-
Commend me to your mafter-and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus:-but tell him, fir
50 My ufes cry to me, I must serve my turn

Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliance on his fracted dates
Has fmit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
55 Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Muft not be toft and turn'd to me in words,

4 i. e. be

6 i. e. If I give

i. e. all good wishes, or all happiness to you. 2 To ferve a beck, according to Johnson, is to offer a falutation: Mr. Steevens believes it in this place to mean, to pay a courtly obedience to a nod. 3. Our author plays upon the word leg, as it fignifies a limb and a bow or act of obeisance. ruined by his fecurities entered into. 5 i. e. the pleasure of being flattered. my horfe to Timon, it immediately foals, and not only produces more, but able horses. author here alludes to that fernness which was in his days the general characteristic of a porter. Reafon cannot find his fortune to have any fafe or folid foundation. 9 i. e. stopp'd.

2 Our

8 i. e..

But