Entreat thee pack to Athens; who have thought 2 Sen. Tim. Their pangs of love, with other incident throes In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them: I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. You witch me in it; Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, And shakes his threat'ning sword Coupled to nature. Against the walls of Athens. 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, 1 Sen. Therefore, Timon,-And strain what other means is left unto us Tim. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; In our dear peril. Thus, If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war, 1 Sen. It requires swift foot. [Exeunt. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd ; are his files Then, let him know,-and tell him Timon speaks it, Besides, his expedition promises In pity of our aged, and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him, that-I care not, But I do prize it at my love, before Present approach. 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, once mine ancient friend;Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, riding The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you And made us speak like friends:-this man was Flav. Stay not, all's in vain. Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph, And last so long enough! 1 Sen. 1 Sen. 2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triumphers From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, Enter Senators from Timon. 1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.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 Timos. Dead, sure; and this his grave.-. So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character To say, thoul't enter friendly. I'll take with wax. SCENE V.-Before the walls of Athens. Trum- Enter Senators on the walls. Till now you have gone on, and filled the time Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,2 1 Sen. 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 For private faults in them. 2 Sen. Nor are they living, Who were the motives that you first went out; (If thy revenges hunger for that food, 2 Sen. Throw thy glove; Or any token of thine honour else, Alcib. Descend, and open your uncharged ports; Both. The Senators descend, and open the gates. Enter a Soldier. Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked cailiff's left! Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not These well express in thee thy latter spirits: which From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, Prescribe to other, as each other's leech." Which nature loaths,) take thou the destined tenth; Let our drums strike. 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, to take, 2 Sen. [Exeunt. The play of Timon is a domestic tragedy, and therefore 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 pow erful warning against that ostentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship. In this tragedy, are many passages perplexed, obscure, and probably corrupt, which I have endeavoured to rectify, or explain with due diligence; but having only one copy, cannot promise myself that my endeavours shall be much applauded. JOHNSON. 2 Cit. One word, good citizens. scienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You must in no way say, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay we prating here? to the Capitol. Cit. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? Enter Menenius Agrippa. 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hatn always loved the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'Would, all the rest were so! Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens: the patricians, good: What authority surfeits on, would relieve us; If they would yield us but the super- With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray fluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, you. they relieved us humanely; but they think, we are 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we inof our misery, is as an inventory to particularize tend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them.-They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become shall know, we have strong arms too. rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country? 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud. 2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft-con(2) Thin as rakes. (1) Rich. honest neighbours, 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Thither where more attends you; and you slander The helms o'the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their store-houses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers: repeal daily and wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it; 1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :— ments Whereby they live: And though that all at once, me, 1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. Men. Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each; Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flower of all, And leave me but the bran. What say you to't? 1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this? Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members: For examine Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly, Touching the weal o'the common; you shall find, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? poorest, Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: instru-But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? 1 Cit. Your belly's answer: What! The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eve, The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter, With other muniments and pretty helps In this our fabric, if that they. Men. What then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd Who is the sink o'the body Men. Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little,) Patience a while, you'll hear the belly's answer." 1 Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friend; And, through the cranks and offices of man, o'the (1) Spread it. (2) Hardship, (3) Whereas. Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 1 Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you, Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is ness, Deserves your hate: and your affections are With every minute you do change a mind; That in these several places of the city Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city; Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time Wi upon power, and throw forth greater themes Fo insurrection's arguing." Men. This is strange. Mess, Where's Caius Marcius? to vent Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. I sin in envying his nobility: And were I any thing but what I am, I would wish me only he. Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion 1 Sen. Sir, it is; And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face: What, art thou stiff? stand'st out? (1) Pity, compassion. (2) Heap of dead. (3) Pitch. (4) Faction. (5) For insurgents to debate upon. Tit. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, 1 Sen. Your company to the Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. O, true bred! Capitol; where I Lead you on: Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Right worthy your priority." Com. Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. Mar. [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners:Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray follow. [Exeunt Senators, Com. Mar. Tit. and Menen. Citizens steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird❞ the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant. Sic. Brit Fame, at the which he aims, In whom already he is well graced,-cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first; for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits10 rob Cominius. Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed, In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, More than in singularity, he goes SCENE II-Corioli. The Senate-house. Enter Tullus Aufidius, and certain Senators. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels, Auf. (8) Shows itself. (9) Sneer. (10) Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning. (6) Right worthy of precedence. (7) Granaries. (11) Pre-occupation. |