SCENE III. The walls of Athens. Enter two Senators, and a Messenger. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least : 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. Here come our brothers. 1 Sen. 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. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. The woods. Timon's cave, and a tomb-stone seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon. Sol. 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: Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave.— What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character Our captain hath in every figure skill; SCENE V. Before the walls of Athens. [Exit. 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 As slept within the shadow of your power, Have wander'd with our travers'd arms*, and breath'd Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush†, Noble and young, 1 Sen. To wipe out our ingratitude with loves 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 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 For private faults in them. 2 Sen. Nor are they living, Who were the motives that you first went out; Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord, Into our city with thy banners spread : By decimation, and a tithed death, (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth; 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, On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands, Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage: Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin, Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall With those that have offended: like a shepherd, Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth, But kill not all together. What thou wilt, Sen. 1 Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; To say, 2 Sen. thou❜lt enter friendly. Throw thy glove; i. e. By promising him a competent subsistence. Or any token of thine honour else, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Shall make their harbour in our town, till we Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports *; Those enemies of Timon's and mine own, Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof, Fall, and no more :-and,-to atone + your fears With my more noble meaning,-not a man Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream Of regular justice in your city's bounds, But shall be remedied, to your publick laws, At heaviest answer. Both. "Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. The Senators descend, and open the gates. Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft ; Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiff's 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 * Unattacked gates. + Reconcile. i. e. Our tears. From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, Make war breed peace; make peace stint* war; make each Prescribe to other, as each other's leech +. [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 powerful 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. |