OBSERVATIONS ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF TIMON OF ATHENS. THE ftory of the Mifanthrope is told in almost every collection of the time, and particularly in two books, with which Shakespeare was intimately acquainted; the Palace of Pleasure, and the English Plutarch. Indeed, from a passage in an old play, called Jack Drum's Entertainment, I conjecture that he had before made his appearance on the ftage. FARMER. The play of Timon is a domeftic tragedy, and therefore ftrongly faftens 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 that oftentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship. In this tragedy, are many paffages perplexed, obfcure, and probably corrupt, which I have endeavoured to rectify, or explain, with due diligence; but ha ving only one copy, cannot promise myself that my endeavours fhall be much applauded. JOHNSON, |