Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises Present approach. 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, 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 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: What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character 8 I cannot read, &c.] There is something elaborately unskilful in the contrivance of sending a soldier, who cannot read, to take I'll take with wax: Our captain hath in every figure skill; [Exit. SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. 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. Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time With all licentious measure, making your wills The scope of justice; till now, myself, and such Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and breath'd 1 Sen. Noble, and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, the epitaph 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. VOL. VI. I i 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; The common stroke of war. 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such That these great towers, trophies, and schools should fall 2 Sen. By decimation, and a tithed death, (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth ; 1 Sen. All have not offended; 2 Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess Hath broke their hearts.] Shame in excess, (i. e. extremity of shame,) that they wanted cunning, (i. e. that they were not wise enough not to banish you,) hath broke their hearts. 3 not square,] Not regular, not equitable. Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth, 2 Sen. What thou wilt, 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, And not as our confusion, all thy powers Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports *; Both. "Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. [The Senators descend, and open the Gates. Enter a Soldier. Sol. My noble general, Timon is dead; † “altogether.”—MALONE. 4 5 6 uncharged ports;] Uncharged means unattacked. to atone your fears 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. Entomb'd upon the very hem o'the sea: And, on his grave-stone, this insculpture; which Alcib. [reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft : Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gait. These well express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, Scorn'dst our brain's flow', and those our droplets which Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye each Prescribe to other, as each other's leech 3. 7 8 war; make our brain's flow,] Our brain's flow, is our tears. [Exeunt'. 9 The play of Timon is a domestick 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 powerful warning against that ostentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship. Johnson. |