Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is part depth
To thofe that without heed do plunge into't.
He is a man, fetting his fault afide,

Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault;
Nor did he foil the fact with cowardise,
But with a noble fury, and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touched to death,
He did oppofe his foe:

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

Sen. You undergo too ftrict a parador,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:

Your words have took fuch pains, as if they laboured
To bring man-flaughter into form, fet quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which indeed

Is valour mifbegot, and came into the world'
When fects and factions were but newly born.
He's truly valiant that can wifely fuffer

The worst that man can breathe, and make his

wrongs

His outfide, wear them like his raiment, carelessly. And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,

To bring it into danger.

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

1 Sen. You cannot make grofs fins look clear; It is not valour to revenge, but bear.

Alc. My Lords, then under favour, pardon me, If I fpeak like a captain.

Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threatenings, fleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
Without repugnancy? but if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we

Abroad? why then, fure, women are more valiant
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;
The afs more than the lion; and the fellow,
Loaden with irons, wifer than the judge;
If wisdom be in fuffering. Oh my Lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:

Who cannot condemn rafhnefs in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is fin's extremeft gust,
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.~
To be in anger is impiety:

But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.
Alc. In vain? his fervice done. :
At Lacedæmon and Byzantium
Were a fufficient briber for his life.
Sen. What's that?

Alc. I fay, my Lords, h'as done fair fervice, -
And flain in battle. many of your enemies;
How full of valour did he bear himfelf

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds ! 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, He's a fworn rioter; he has a fin

That often drowns him, and takes valour prifoner.
Were there no foes, that were enough alone.
To overcome him. In that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages
And cherish factions. 'Tis inferred to us,
His days are foul, and his drink dangerous. -
1 Sen. He dies...

Alc. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My Lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase 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,

My honours to you, on 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 ftrict, and war is nothing more.

1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more,
On height of our displeasure: friend, or brother,
He forfeits his own blood that spills another.
Ale. Muft it be fo? it must not be:

My Lords, I do befeech you know me.

2 Sen. How?

Alc. Call me to your remembrance.

3 Sen. What !

Ala. I cannot think but your age hath forgot me It could not be elfe I fhould prove fo bafe

To fue, and be denied fuch common grace.

My wounds ake at you.

Sen. Do you dare our anger?

'Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect; We banish thee for ever.

Alc Banif me!

Banith your dotage, banih ufury,

That makes the fenate ugly.

2 Sen. If, after two days fhine, Athens contain

Attend our weightier judgment:

And (not to fwell our spirit,)
He fhall be executed presently..

[thee,

[Exeunt

Ale. Gods keep you old enough, that you may Only in bone, that none may look on you! [live I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, While they have, told their money, and let out Their coin upon large intereft; I myself Rich only in large hurts.-All thofe for this? It this the balfam that the ufuring fenate Pours into captains wounds? ha! banishinent?

It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd,
It is a caufe worthy my fpleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My difcontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour with moft lands to be at odds;
Soldiers as little fhould brook wrongs as gods. [Ex.

SCENE changes to Timon's Houfe.

Enter divers Senaters, at feveral Doors. 1 Sen. The good time of the day to you, Sir. 2 Sen. I also wifh it to you: I think this honourable Lord did but try us this other day.

1 Sen. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountered. I hope it is not fo low with him as he made it feem in the trial of his several friends.

2 Sen. It fhould not be, by the perfuafion of his new feasting.

1 Sen. I fhould think fo: he hath fent me an earneft inviting, which many my near occafions did urge me to put eff: but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

2 Sen. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate bufinefs; but he would not hear my excufe. I am forry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out.

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

2 Sen. Every man here's fo. What would he have borrowed of you?

1 Sen. A thousand pieces.
2 Sen. A thousand pieces!
1 Sen. What of
you?

3 Sen. He fent to me, Sir-here he comes.

Enter TIMON and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both-and how fare you?

1 Sen. Ever at the beft, hearing well of your Lordship.

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

Tim. Nor more willingly leaves winter: fuch fummer-birds are men.----Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompenfe this long ftay; feast your ears with the mufic a-while: if they will fare fo harfhly as on the trumpets found, we fhall to't presently.

1 Sen. I hope it remains not unkindly with your Lordship, that I returned you an empty meffenger. Tim. O Sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Sen. My noble Lord.

Tim. Ah, my good friend, what cheer?>

[The Banquet brought in. 2 Sen. Most honourable Lord, I'm e'en fick of fhame, that when your Lordship t'other day fent. to me, I was fo unfortunate a beggar

Tim. Think not on't, Sir.

2 Sen. If you had fent but two hours before--Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. Come, bring in all together.

2 Sen. All covered difhes!

1 Sen. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3

Sen. Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.

Sen. How do you? what's the news?

3 Sen. Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it? Both. Alcibiades banithed!

3 Sen. 'Tis fo, be sure of it.

1 Sen. How? how?

a Sen. I pray you, upon what?