TIMON OF ATHENS. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS play, which contains many perplexed, obscure, and corrupt passages, was written about the year 1610, und 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 bidden 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 eslled Timen's Tower. Phrynia, one of the courtezaus whom Timon reviles so outrageously, was that ex quisitely beautiful Phrine, who, whee the Athenian Judges were about to condems 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. I's 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." the world? Pain. It wears, Sir, as it grows. Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd,* To an untirable and continuate goodness. He passes. + Jew. I have a jewel here. Mer. O pray let's see't: For the lord. Timon Jew. If he would touch the estimate: But, for 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 To the great lord. Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment Sir. Pain. 'Tis a good piece. Inured. + Goes beyond common bounds. As soon as my book has been presented to limon. S hug With amplest entertainment: My free drift Pain. How shall I understand you? You see how all conditions, how all minds, Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures, Pain. Tis conceiv'd to scope. Poet. Nay, Sir, but hear nie 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. ? Explain. Shewing, as a glass does by reflection, the looks of his patron. To advance their conitions of life. Whisperings of officious servility. lubale. That shall demonstrate these quick blows of for tune 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: Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well; I do know I am not of that feather to shake off him. J'en. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him. Tim. Commend me to him: 1 will send his ransom 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 Lucilins. Tim. I have so: What of him? Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before thee. Tim. Attends be here, or no?-Lucilius ! Enter LUCILIUS. Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature, I am a man By night frequents my house. 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: Old Ath. She is young, and apt : Tim. [To LucILIUS.] Love you the maid? 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 ine long: To build his fortune, I will strain a little luferios spectators. Go not away.-What have you there, my friend? Tim. Painting is welcome. [seech The painting is almost the natural man; And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance Pain. The gods preserve you! Tim. Well fare you, gentlemen: Give me your hand; We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel Hath suffer'd under praise. Jew. What, my lord? dispraise ? Tim. A mere satiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd, Jew. My lord, 'tis rated [know, As those, which sell, would give: But you well Tim. Well mock'd. Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good morrow; [honest. 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? 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 Jike 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? Apem. The best, for the innocence. Tim. Wrought he net well, that painted it? Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. Pain. You are a dog. 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. Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee ! Trumpets sound. Enter a SERVANT. Tim. What trumpet's that? Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.- [Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me:-Go not you hence, [done, Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's Show me this piece.-1 am joyful of your sights. Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, Sir! Apem. So, so; there! [They salute. Aches contract and starve your supple joints !- sweet knaves, Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I Most hungrily on your sight. [feed Tim. Right welcome, Sir: Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus? Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none. 1 Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: inake 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 of the [Exit. Come, ass. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out: Plutus, the god Is but his steward: no meed but he repays 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries That ever govern'd man. Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, T▷ 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. 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. The breath of him in a divided draught, 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 brave fellow !--he keeps his tides well. TiThose healths will make thee and thy state look Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LU-A CIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the My father's age, and call him to long peace. To your free heart, I do return those talents, I deriv'd liberty. Tim. Oh! by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;' I gave it freely ever; and there's none Can truly say he gives, if he receives : If our betters play at that game, we must not To imitate them: Faults that are rich, are fair. [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony Was but devis'd at first, to set a gloss 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. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus ! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. 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 |