That I may ftrike at Athens. I'll cheer up My difcontented troops, and lay for hearts. 'Tis honour with moit hands to be at odds; Soldiers as little fhould brook wrongs, as Gods. [Exit. Sen. Changes to TIMON's House. Enter divers Senators, at feveral doors. THE 2 HE good time of the day to you, Sir. 2 Sen. I alfo 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 encountred. I hope it is not fo low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his feveral friends. 2 Sen. It should not be by the perfuafion of his new feafting. In former copies : And lay for hearts. 'Tis honour with most LANDS to be at odds;] But furely, even in a foldier's fenfe of ho. nour, there is very little in being at odds with all about him: which fhews rather a quarrelfome difpofition than a valiant one. Befides, this was not Alcibiades's cafe. He was only fallen out with the Athenians. A phrafe in the foregoing line will direct us to the right reading. I will lay, fays he, for hearts; which is a metaphor taken from cardplay, and fignifies to game deep and boldly. It is plain then the figure was continued in the following line, which fhould be read thus, 'Tis honour with moft HANDS VOL. VI. to be at odds ;] i.. to fight upon odds, or at difadvantage; as he must do againft the united ftrength of 4thens And this, by foldiers, is accounted honourable. ShakeSpeare afes the fame metaphor, on the fame occafion, in Coriolanus. He lurch'd all words. WARBURTON. I think hands is very properly fubftituted for lands. In the foregoing line, for, lay for hearts, I would read, play for hearts. 2 Upon that were my thoughts tiring.] A hawk, I think, is faid to tire, when the amufes herfelf with pecking a pheasant's wing, or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. To tire upon a thing, is therefore, to be idly employed upon it. 1 Sen. 1 Sen. I fhould think fo. He hath fent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occafions did urge me to put off, but he hath conjur❜d me beyond them, and I must needs appear. 2 Sen. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business; but he would not hear my excufe. I am forry, when he fent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out. 1 Sen. I am fick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Sen. Every man here's fo. What would he have borrow'd 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 Lordfhip. 2 Sen. The Swallow follows not fummer more willingly, than we your Lordship. Tim. [fide.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; fuch fummer-birds are men.- -Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompenfe this long ftay. Feaft your ears with the mufick awhile, if they will fare fo harfhly as on the trumpet's found; we fhall to't presently. I Sen. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your Lordship, that I return'd 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. Moft honourable Lord, I'm e'en fick of fhame, 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 cover'd difhes! 1 Sen. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Sen. Doubt not that, if money and the feafon can yield it. 1 Sen. How do you? what's the news? 3 Sen. Alcibiades is banifh'd. Hear you of it? Both. Alcibiades banish'd! 3 Sen. 'Tis fo; be fure of it. 1 Sen. How? how? 2 Sen. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Sen. I'll tell ye more anon. toward. 2 Sen. This is the old man still. Here's a noble feaft 3 Sen. Will't hold? will't hold? 2 Sen. It does, but time will.-And fo Tim. Each man to his ftool, with that fpur as he would to the lip of his Mistress. Your diet fhall be in all places alike. Make not a city-feaft of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, fit. The Gods require our thanks. You great Benefactors, Sprinkle cur fociety with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves prais'd; but referve fill to give, left your Deities be defpised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for were your Godbeads to borrow of men, men would forfake the Gods. Make the meat beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let no fembly of twenty be without a fcore of villains. If there fit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are-3 The 3 The rest of your FEES.] We fhould read Foɛs. Q 2 WARB. reft reft of your foes, O Gods, the fenators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amifs in them, you Gods, m. ke fuitable for destruction. For these my friends- -as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome. Uncover-Dogs, and lap. [The difpes uncovered are full of warm water. Some Speak. What does his Lordship mean? Some other. I know not. Tim. May you a better feaft never behold, You knot of mouth friends. water Smoke, and lukewarm 4 Is your perfection. This is Timon's laft. Who ftuck and fpangled you with flatteries, Wafhes it off, and fprinkles in your faces [Throwing water in their faces. Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, Moft fmiling, finooth, detefted Parafites, Courteous Destroyers, affable Wolves, meek Bears, You Fools of fortune, Trencher-friends, Time-flies, Cap and knee Slaves, Vapors, and 7 Minute-jacks; Of man and beaft the infinite malady 6 Cruft you quite o'er!-What, doft Thou go? [Exit. 6 Time-flies.] Flies of a feafon. 7 minute-jacks;] Hanmer thinks it means Jack a lantern, which fhines and disappears in an inftant. What it was I know not; but it was fomething of quick motion, mentioned in Richard III. -the infinite malady] Every kind of difeafe incident to man and beast. Re-enter the Senators. 1 Sen. How now, my Lords? 2 Sen. Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury! 3 Sen. Pith! did you fee my cap? 4 Sen. I've loft my gown. 1 Sen. He's but a mad Lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my cap. Did you fee my jewel? 2 Sen. Did you fee my cap? 3 Sen. Here 'tis. 4 Sen. Here lies my gown. 1 Sen. Let's make no stay. 2 Sen. Lord Timon's mad. 3 Sen. I feel't upon my bones, 4 Sen. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I. L' Without the Walls of Athens, Enter TIMON. ET me look back upon thee, O thou Wall, That girdleft in thofe wolves! dive in the earth, And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent; Obedience fail in children; flaves and fools Pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench, And minister in their fteads; to general filth Convert o' th' inftant, green Virginity! WARBURTON. Aa IV.] The incidents of are taken from the Timon of Lualmost all the following fcenes cian. Q3 Do't |