From high to low throughout, that whoso please Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, Coupled to nature. 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril.' 2 Sen. It requires swift foot. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Walls of Athens. Enter Two Senators, and a Messenger. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files As full as thy report. 6-embossed froth-] Embossed froth, is swollen froth; from bosse, Fr. a tumour. 7 In our dear peril.] Dear, in Shakspeare's language, is dire, dreadful, but may, in the present instance, signify immediate, or imminent. Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend ;Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends:-this man was riding From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i'the cause against your city, 1 Sen. Enter Senators from TIMON. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him ex pect. The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring Doth choke the air with dust: In, and prepare; Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Woods. Timon's Cave, and a Tomb-stone seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking TIMON. Sold. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer?-What is this? Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span: Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character Our captain hath in every figure skill; SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. [Exit. Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES, and Forces. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. [A Parley sounded. Enter Senators on the Walls. 9 Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time 1 Sen. Noble, and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, 8 I cannot read, &c.] There is something elaborately unskilful in the contrivance of sending a Soldier, who cannot read, to take the epithet in wax, only that it may close the play by being read with more solemnity in the last scene. JOHNSON. 9 1 travers'd arms,] Arms across. the time is flush,] A bird is flush when his feathers are grown, and he can leave the nest. Flush is mature. Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear, 2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love, By humble message, and by promis'd means; 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom fall For private faults in them. 2 Sen. Nor are they living, Who were the motives that you first went out; Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord, Into our city with thy banners spread: By decimation, and a tithed death, (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth; And by the hazard of the spotted die, Let die the spotted. 1 Sen. All have not offended; For those that were, it is not square,3 to take, On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands, Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage; extremity of Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess Hath broke their hearts.] Shame in excess (i. e. shame) that they wanted cunning (i. e. that they were not wise enough not to banish you) hath broke their hearts. not square,] Not regular, not equitable. With those that have offended: like a shepherd, What thou wilt, 2 Sen. Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile, Than hew to't with thy sword. 1 Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, To say, thou'lt enter friendly. 2 Sen. Throw thy glove, Or any token of thine honour else, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. 6 Both. The Senators descend, and open the Gates. uncharged ports;] uncharged means unattacked. With my more noble meaning,] i. e. to reconcile them to it. not a man Shall pass his quarter,] Not a soldier shall quit his station, or be let loose upon you; and, if any commits violence, he shall answer it regularly to the law. |