TIMON OF ATHENS. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS play, which contains many perplexed, obscure, and corrupt passages, was written about the year 1610, and was probably suggested by a passage in Plutarch's Life of Antony, wherein the latter professes to imitate the conduct of Timon, by retiring to the woods, and inveighing against the ingratitude of his friends. The finding of hidden gold, (see Act IV.) was an incident borrowed from a MS. play, apparently transcribed about the year 1600, and at one time in the possession of Mr. Strutt the antiquary. A building yet remains near Athens, called Timon's Tower. Phrynia, one of the courtezans whom Timon reviles so outrageously, was that exquisitely beautiful Phrine, who, when the Athenian Judges were about to condemn her for enormous offences, by the sight of her bosom disarmed the court of its severity, and secured her life from the sentence of the law. Alcibiades, known as a hero who, to the principles of a debauchee added the sagacity of a statesman, the intrepidity of a general, and the humanity of a philosopher, is reduced to comparative insignificance in the present production. Its relative merits, as to action and construction, are succinctly pointed out by Johnson. He describes it as "a domestic tragedy, which 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 the ostentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery but not friendship." Pain. It wears, Sir, as it grows. But what particular rarity? what strange, Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd, To an untirable and continuate goodness: Mer. O pray let's see't: For the lord Timon Jew. If he would touch the estimate: But, for that- Poet. When we for recompense have prais'd It stains the glory in that happy verse [Looking at the Jewel. Jew. And rich: here is a water, look you. Pain. You are rapt, Sir, in some work, some dedication + Goes beyond common bounds. As soon as my book has been presented to limon. Pain. Indifferent. Poet. Admirable: How this grace Speaks his own standing! what a mental power This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture One might interpret. Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; Is't good? Poet. I'll say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strife * Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Enter certain SENATORS, and pass over. Poet. The senators of Athens :-Happy men! Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug With amplest entertainment: My free drift Pain. How shall I understand you? You see how all conditions, how all minds, ance All sorts of hearts; yea, foom the glass-fac'd flatterer To Apemantus, that few things loves better Pain. I saw them speak together. Poet. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill, Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: The base o'the mount Is rauk'd with all deserts, all kind of natures, Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope. Poet. Nay, Sir, but hear me on: All those which were his fellows but of late, Pain. Ay, marry, what of these? Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of mood, [ants, Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependWhich labour'd after him to the mountain's top, Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, Not one accompanying his declining foot. A thousand moral paintings I can show The contest of art with nature. My poem does not allude to any particular character. t Explain. Shewing, as a glass does by reflection, the looks of his patron. To advance their con ditions of life. Whisperings of officious servility. Inhale. That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well, Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt; His means most short, his creditors most strait : Your honourable letter he desires [him, To those have shut him up; which failing to Periods his comfort. Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well ; I am not of that feather to shake off Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him. Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ranson; And, being enfranchis'd, bid him to come to me: 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to support him after.-Fare you well. Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! [Exit. Enter an old ATHENIAN. Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak. Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lu cilins. Tim. I have so: What of him? Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before thee. Tim. Attends he here, or no?—Lucilius ! Enter LUCILIUS. Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. thy creature, By night frequents muy house. I am a man Tim. Well; what further? Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else, On whom I may confer what I have got : Tim. The man is honest. Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon: Tim. Does she love him? Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid f Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be missing, I call the gods to witness, I will choose Tim. How shall she be endow'd, If she be mated with an equal husband? Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future, all. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long : To build his fortune, I will strain a little, Inferior spectators. As those, which sell, would give: But you well Tim. Well mock'd. Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue, Which all men speak with him. Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid ? Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good mor[honest. row; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not. Apem. Are they not Athenians? Tim. Yes. Apem. Then I repent not. Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou know'st I do; I call'd thee by thy name. Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus, Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon. Tim. Whither art going? Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for. Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Apem. Thy mother's of my generation : What's she, if I be a dog? Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ? What they profess to be. ↑ Draw out the whole mass of my fortunes. 131 Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anget ladies. Apem. Oh! they eat lords; so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Ape mautus? Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, will not cost a man a doit. which Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? poet? Poet. How now, philosopher ? Poet. Art not one? Poet. Then I lie not. Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o'the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus ? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart. Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay. Tim. Wherefore? Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.Art not thou a merchant ? Mer. Ay, Apemantus. Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Trafic's thy god, and thy god confound thee! Trumpets sound. Enter a SERVANT. Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Enter ALCIEIADES, with his Company. Tim. Right welcome, Sir: 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? 1 Lord. That time serves still. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Alluding to the proverb: plain-dealing 19 a jewel, but they who use it beggars. ↑ His lineage degenerated into a monkey. Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus? Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for 1 mean to give thee none. 1 Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend. 2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels ass. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. shall we in, of the [Exit. Come, And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Ti mon; I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. 1 take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent. Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number I wonder men dare trust themselves with men : 2 Lord. He pours it out: Plutus, the god of Good for their meat, and safer for their lives. gold, Is but his steward: no meed but he repays Sevenfold above itself: no gift to him, 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same.-A Room of State in TIMON'S House. There's much example for't; the fellow that The breath of him in a divided draught, Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous Great men should drink with harness + on their throats. Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round. 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! [mon. Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LU-A brave fellow 1-he keeps his tides well. TiCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Those healths will make thee and thy state look Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly. Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, [They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Oh, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have Tim. O Apemantus !-you are welcome. You shall not make me welcome : I come to have thee thurst me out of doors. Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame : Go, let him have a table by himself; • No desert. obligations. a + All customary returns for ↑ Anger is a short madness. ill. Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, APEMANTUS' GRACE. Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Rich men sin, and I eat root. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat like them: I could wish my best friend at such a feast. Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em. 1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect. Tim. O no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable ¶ title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods, think |