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TIMON OF ATHENS.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS play, which contains many perplexed, obscure, and corrupt passages, was written about the year 1610, and was probably suggested by a passage in Plutarch's Life of Antony, wherein the latter professes to imitate the conduct of Timon, by retiring to the woods, and inveighing against the ingratitude of his friends. The finding of hidden gold, (see Act IV.) was an incident borrowed from a MS. play, apparently transcribed about the year 1600, and at one time in the possession of Mr. Strutt the antiquary. A building yet remains near Athens, called Timon's Tower. Phrynia, one of the courtezans whom Timon reviles so outrageously, was that exquisitely beautiful Phrine, who, when the Athenian Judges were about to condemn her for enormous offences, by the sight of her bosom disarmed the court of its severity, and secured her life from the sentence of the law. Alcibiades, known as a hero who, to the principles of a debauchee added the sagacity of a statesman, the intrepidity of a general, and the humanity of a philosopher, is reduced to comparative insignificance in the present production. Its relative merits, as to action and construction, are succinctly pointed out by Johnson. He describes it as "a domestic tragedy, which strongly fastens on the attention of the reader. In the plan there is not much art; but the incidents are natural, and the characters various and exact. The catastrophe affords a very powerful warning against the ostentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery but not friendship."

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Pain. It wears, Sir, as it grows.
Poet. Ay, that's well known:

But what particular rarity? what strange,
Which manifold record not matches? See,
Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
Hath conjur'd to attend. I know the merchant.
Pain. I know them both; t'other's a jeweller.
Mer. Oh! tis a worthy lord.
Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd.

Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd,
as it were,

To an untirable and continuate goodness:

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Mer. O pray let's see't: For the lord Timon
Sir ?

Jew. If he would touch the estimate: But, for

that-

Poet. When we for recompense have prais'd
the vile,

It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.
Mer. 'Tis a good form.

[Looking at the Jewel. Jew. And rich: here is a water, look you. Pain. You are rapt, Sir, in some work, some dedication

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+ Goes beyond common bounds.

As soon as my book has been presented to limon.
S

Pain. Indifferent.

Poet. Admirable: How this grace 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!
Pain. Look, more!

Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.

I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug

With amplest entertainment: My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, hold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Poet. I'll unbolt to you.

You see how all conditions, how all minds,
(As well of glib and slippery creatures, as
Of grave and austere quality,) tender down
Their services to lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tend-

ance

All sorts of hearts; yea, foom the glass-fac'd

flatterer

To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.

Pain. I saw them speak together.

Poet. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill,

Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: The base o'the mount

Is rauk'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states : amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of lord Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to
her;
[vants
Whose present grace to present slaves and ser-
Translates his rivals.

Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope.
[thinks,
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, me-
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness would be well express'd
In our condition.

Poet. Nay, Sir, but hear me on:

All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value,) on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink ** the free air.

Pain. Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of mood,

[ants, Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependWhich labour'd after him to the mountain's top, Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,

Not one accompanying his declining foot.
Pain. 'Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show

The contest of art with nature.

My poem does not allude to any particular character. t Explain. Shewing, as a glass does by reflection, the looks of his patron. To advance their con ditions of life. Whisperings of officious servility. Inhale.

That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune

More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To show lord Timon, that mean eyes have
The foot above the head
[seen

Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the
SERVANT of VENTIDIUS talking with him.
Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you?

Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt;

His means most short, his creditors most strait : Your honourable letter he desires [him,

To those have shut him up; which failing to Periods his comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well ;

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I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me.
A gentleman that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt, and free
him.

Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him. Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ranson;

And, being enfranchis'd, bid him to come to

me:

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to support him after.-Fare you well. Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! [Exit.

Enter an old ATHENIAN.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim. Freely, good father.

Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lu

cilins.

Tim. I have so: What of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man

before thee.

Tim. Attends he here, or no?—Lucilius !

Enter LUCILIUS.

Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.
Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this

thy creature,

By night frequents muy house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift;
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher

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:
His honesty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim. Does she love him?

Old Ath. She is young, and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.

Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid f Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.

Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be missing,

I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.

Tim. How shall she be endow'd,

If she be mated with an equal husband? Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future, 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 :

Inferior spectators.

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As those, which sell, would give: But you well
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by wearing it.

Tim. Well mock'd.

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid ?

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Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good mor[honest. row; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.

Apem. Are they not Athenians?

Tim. Yes.

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou know'st I do; I call'd thee by thy name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus,

Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not

like Timon.

Tim. Whither art going?

Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.

Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.

Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
Apem. The best, for the innocence.

Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it?
Apem. He wrought better, that made the pain-
ter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.
Pain. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation : What's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.

What they profess to be.

↑ Draw out the whole mass of my fortunes.

131

Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anget ladies.

Apem. Oh! 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, Ape mautus?

Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, will not cost a man a doit.

which

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?
Apem. Not worth my thinking.-how now,

poet?

Poet. How now, philosopher ?
Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?
Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.
Apem. Art not a poet?
Poct. Yes.

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. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.Art not thou a merchant ?

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will

not!

Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Trafic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpets sound. Enter a SERVANT.
Tim. What trumpet's that?
Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and

Some twenty horse, all of companionship.
Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide
to us.- [Exeunt some Attendants.
[done,
You must needs dine with me :-Go not you
hence,
Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's
Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your
sights.-

Enter ALCIEIADES, with his Company.
[They salute.
Most welcome, Sir!

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Tim. Right welcome, Sir:
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.
Enter two Lorcs.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus?
Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.
Apem. The most accursed thou, that still
omit'st it.

2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast.
Apem. Ay; to see ineat fill knaves, and wine
heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Alluding to the proverb: plain-dealing 19 a jewel, but they who use it beggars.

↑ His lineage degenerated into a monkey.

Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice.

2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for 1 mean to give thee none.

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels

ass.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. shall we in,

of the [Exit. Come,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Ti

mon;

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. 1 take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me
for I should

Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not !
It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too. *

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men :
Methinks they should invite them without knives;

2 Lord. He pours it out: Plutus, the god of Good for their meat, and safer for their lives. gold,

Is but his steward: no meed

but he repays

Sevenfold above itself: no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All use of quittance. +

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.-A Room of State in TIMON'S House.

There's much example for't; the fellow that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and
pledges

The breath of him in a divided draught,

Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been
If 1
[prov❜d,
Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at
meals;

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous
notes;

Great men should drink with harness + on their throats.

Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way!

[mon.

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LU-A brave fellow 1-he keeps his tides well. TiCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Those healths will make thee and thy state look Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.

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Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than my fortunes to me.

[They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it.

Apem. Oh, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have
you not?

Tim. O Apemantus !-you are welcome.
Apem. No,

You shall not make me welcome :

I come to have thee thurst me out of doors.

Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got
bumour there

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame :
Thy say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est,‡
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

• No desert. obligations.

a

+ All customary returns for ↑ Anger is a short madness.

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.

APEMANTUS' GRACE.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man, but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond, §
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root.
[Eats and drinks.
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the
field now.

Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat like them: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

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.

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 modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods, think

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