The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens [sic] and Reed, with glossarial notes, his life, and a critique on his genius & writings by N. Rowe

1 Sen. He dies..

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, [you, And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move Take my deserts to his, and join them both: And, for I know, your reverend ages love Security, I'll pawn my victories, all My honour to you, upon his good returns. If by this crime he owes the law his life, Why, let the war receiv't in valiant gore; For law is strict, and war is nothing more. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, [ther, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or broHe forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How?

Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What?

[lords,

Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has

got me;

1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near ocIcasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.

1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you?

1 Lord. A thousand pieces.
2 Lord. A thousand pieces!
1 Lord. What of you?

3 Lord. He sent to me, Sir.-Here he comes.

Enter TIMON, and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both:And how fare you?

1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of for-your lordship.

It could not else be, I should prove so base,*
To sue, and be denied such common grace:
My wounds ache at you.

1 Sen. Do you dare our anger?

"Tis in few words, but spacious in effect; We banish thee for ever.

Alcib. Banish me?

Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the senate ugly.

1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens con-
tain thee,

Attend our weightier judgement. And, not
to swell our spirit,t

He shall be executed presently.
[Exeunt SENATORS.
Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough;
that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I am worse than mad: I have kept back their
foes,

While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts;-All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! banish-

ment?

It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts,t
'Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs, as
gods.
[Exit.

SCENE VI.—A magnificent Room in TIMON'S
House.

Music. Tables set out: SERVANTS attending.
Enter divers LORDS, at several doors.

1 Lord. The good time of day to you, Sir.
2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this
honourable lord did but try us this other day.
1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring,§
when we encountered: I hope, it is not so low
with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his

several friends.

2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

For dishonoured.

+ I. e. Not to put ourselves in any tumour of rage. We should now say-to lay out for hearts, i. e. the affections of the people.

To tire on a thing meant to be idly employed on it.

2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship.

Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently.

1 Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger.

Tim. O, Sir, let it not trouble you.
2 Lord. My noble lord,-

Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

[The banquet brought in.

2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on't, Sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours be fore,

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.*-Come, bring in all together. 2 Lord. All cover'd dishes!

1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money, and the season can yield it.

1 Lord. How do you? What's the news?
3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: Hear you
of it?

1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished!
3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it.

1 Lord. How? how?

2 Lerd. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.

2 Lord. This is the old man still.

3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold?

2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so3 Lord. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a as he would to the lip of his mistress: your city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your

1. e. Your good memory.

And minister in their steads! to general Site'
Convert o'the instant, green virginity! [st
Do't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, bakt
Rather than render back, out with your kaiva.
And cut your trusters' throats! bound servants,
steal!

deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, | Obedience fail in children! slaves, and fools,
that one need not lend to the other: for, were Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the
your godheads to borrow of men, men would for-
bench,
sake the gods. Make the meat be beloved, more
than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of
twenty be without a score of villians: If there sit
twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be
as they are. The rest of your fees, O gods,
the senators of Athens, together with the common
lag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods
make suitable for destruction. For these my pre-
sent friends, as they are to me nothing, so in
nothing bless them, and to nothing they are wel-

come.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The dishes uncovered are full of warm twater. Some speak. What does his lordship mean? Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold, You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and luke

warm water

Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing water in their faces.
Your reeking villany. Live loath'd, and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek
bears,
[liest |
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's
Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-
jacks!!

Of man, and beast, the infinite malady
Crust you quite o'er!--What, dost thou go?
Soft, take thy physic first-thou too,-and

thou;

[Throws the dishes at them, and drives

them out.

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.-
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest. [be
Burn, house; sink, Athens! henceforth hated
Of Timon, man, and all humanity! [Exit.
Re-enter the LORDS, with other LORDS and
SENATORS.

1 Lord. How now, my lords?

2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury?

3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4 Lord. I have lost my gown.

3 Lord. 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 hat:-Did you see my jewel?

4 Lord. Did you see my cap?

3 Lord. Here 'tis.

4 Lord. Here lies my gown.

1 Lord. Let's make no stay.

2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad.

3 Lord. I feel't upon my bones.

4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

Large handed robbers your grave masters an
And pill by law ! maid, to thy master's bed;
Thy mistress is o'the brothel ! son of sixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from the old fimping
sire,
With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood
Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries,
And yet confusion live! ---Plagues, incident
Your potent and infectious fevers heap [m
On Athens, ripe for stroke ! thou cold sciatirt,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may hi
Creep in the minds and marrows of our your
As lamely as their manners! lust and liberty,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may

strive,

And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop
Be general leprosy! breath infect breath;
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee,
But nakedness, thou detestable town!
Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
Take thou that too, with multiplying banns
The unkindest beast more kinder than man

kind.

The gods confound (hear me, ye good gods al.)
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may
The Athenians both within and out that wall

grow

To the whole race of mankind, high, and low!
[Erit

Amen.

SCENE II-Athens.-A Room in TIMON'S
House.

Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three SERVANTS.

1 Ser. Hear you, master steward, where's

our master?

Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?
Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
to you?
I am as poor as you.

1 Serv, Such a house broke!

So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not
One friend, to take his fortune by the arm,
And go along with him!

2 Serv. As we do turn our backs
So his familiars to his buried fortunes
From our companion, thrown into his grave;
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses pick'd: and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,

With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,
Walks, like contempt, alone.-More of our fel-
lows.

Enter other SERVANTS.

Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house.

* Common sewers.

+ I. e. Contrarieties, whose nature it is to waste or destroy each other.

f For libertinism.

◊ Accumulated curses.

3 Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's | All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!

livery,

That see I by our faces; we are fellows still, Serving alike in sorrow: Leak'd is our bark; And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck, Hearing the surges threat: we must all part Into this sea of air.

Flav. Good fellows all,

The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you. Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake, Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,

As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, We have seen better days. Let each take some; [Giving them money; Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word

Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor, [Exeunt SERVANTS. O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! [empt, Who would not wish to be from wealth exSince riches point to misery and contempt? Who'd be so mock'd with glory? or to live But in a dream of friendship? [pounds, To have his pomp, and all what state comBut only painted, like his varnish'd friends? Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart;

Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood, When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!

Who then dares to be half so kind again?
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar

Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orbt
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,-
Whose procreation, residence, and birth,
Scarce is dividant,-touch them with several
fortunes;

The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great
But by contempt of nature.

[fortune,

Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; The senator shall bear contempt hereditary, The beggar native honour.

It is the pasture lards the brother's sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares,
who dares,

In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say, This man's a flatterer? if one be,
So are they all; for every grize of fortune
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: All is oblique;
There's nothing level in our cursed natures,
But direct villany. Therefore, be abhorr'd'

Hasty, precipitate. + Propensity, disposition.
Ie. The moon's, this sublunary world.
But by is here used for without.

His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains! Destruction fang* mankind!-Earth, yield me roots! Digging.

Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate With thy most operant poison! What is here? Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods, [vens! I am no idle votarist.+ Roots, you clear hea Thus much of this, will make black white; foul, fair;

Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; coward, valiant.

Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you
gods? Why this
[sides;
Will lug your priests and servants from your
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their
This yellow slave
[heads:
Will knit and break religions; bless the ac-
curs'd;

Make the hoar leprosy ador'd; place thieves,
And give them title, knee, and approbation,
With senators on the bench: this is it,
That makes the wappen'dt widow wed again;
She, whom the spital-house, and ulcerous sores
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and
spices

To the April day again.§ Come, damned earth,

Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds

Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. [March afar off.]—Ha!
a drum?-Thou'rt quick,
But yet I'll bury thee: Thou'lt go, strong thief,
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:-
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

[Keeping some gold.

Alcib. What is it, Timon?

Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: If [for Thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee: Thou art a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee,

For thou'rt a man!

Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.

Tim. Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity.

Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time.

Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.

Timan. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world

Voic'd so regardfully?

Tim. Art thou Timandra?
Timan. Yes.

Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that use thee; [lust. Give them diseases, leaving with thee their Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked To the tub-fast, and the diet.* [youth

Timan. Hang thee, monster!

Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits

Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.-
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
In my penurious band: I have heard and
griev'd,

How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour
states,
[them,-
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon
Tim. I pr'ythee, beat thy drum, and get thee

gone.

Alcib. I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear

Timon.

Tim. How dost thou pity him, whom thou dost trouble?

I had rather be alone.

Alcib. Why, fare thee well:

Here's some gold for thee.

Tim. Keep't, I cannot eat it.

That through the window-bars bore at men's Are not within the leaf of pity writ, [eyes, Set them down horrible traitors: Spare set the babe, [merry; Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their Think it a bastard, whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut, [objects And mince it sans remorse: Swear against Put armour on thine ears, and on thine eyes; Whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, OT babes,

Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers;

Make large confusion: and, thy fury spent, Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone. Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me,

Not all thy counsel.

Tim. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee!

Phr. & Timan. Give us some gold, good Tmon: Hast thou more?

Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear ber And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you trade, {sluts, Your aprons mountant: You are not cathaAlthough, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, ble,Into strong shudders, and to heavenly agues, The immortal gods that hear you,-spare your oaths,

I'll trust to your conditions: Be whores still; And he whose pious breath seeks to convert

you,

months,

Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;
And be no turncoats: Yet may your pains, six
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
[roofs
With burdens of the dead;-some that were
Be quite contrary: And thatch your poor thin
No matter: wear them, betray with them:
hang'd,
whore still;

Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles!

Phr. & Timan. Well, more gold;-What
then?-

Believ't, that we'll do any thing for gold.

Tim. Consumptions sow

[shins, In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's

voice,

Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a That he may never more false title plead,

heap,

Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?

Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause.

Nor sound his quillets|| shrilly: hoar the flamen,
That scolds against the quality of flesh,
And not believes himself: down with the nose,

Tim. The gods confound them all i'thy con- Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away

quest; and

Thee after, when thou hast conquer'd'

Alcib. Why me, Timon?

Tim. That,

By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer My country.

[on; Put up thy gold; Go on,-here's gold,-go Be as a planetary plague, when Jove Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison In the sick air: Let not thy sword skip one; Pity not honour'd age for his white beard, He's a usurer: Strike me the counterfeit It is her habit only that is honest, [matron; Herself's a bawd: Let not the virgin's cheek Make soft thy trenchant+ sword; for those

milk-paps,

* Alluding to the cure of the lues venerea then in practice. + Cutting.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle, Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,

Engenders the black toad, and adder blue, The gilded newt, and eyeless venom'd worm,t With all the abhorred births below crispt hea[shine;

ven

Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth
Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and
bears;

Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward
Hath to the marbled mansion all above [face
Never presented !-O, a root,-Dear thanks!
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn
leas;
[draughts,
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish
And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips!

Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keep a dog [thee! Whom I would imitate: Consumption catch Apem. This is in thee a nature but affected; A poor unmanly melancholy, sprung [place? Iom change of fortune. Why this spade? this This slave-like habit? and these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,

Hug their diseas'd perfumes, and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods,
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee: hinge thy
knee,

And let his very breath, whom thou'lt observe, Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,

And call it excellent: Thou wast told thus; Thou gav'st thine ears, like tapsters, that bid welcome,

To knaves, and all approachers: 'Tis most just, That thou turn rascal; had'st thou wealth again, [ness.

Rascals should hav't. Do not assume my like

Boundless surface.

+ The serpent called the blind-worm. + Bent. 1. e. Their discased perfumed mistresses. 1. e. Shame not these woods by finding fault.

trees,

That have outliv'd the eagle, page thy heels, And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brook,

Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste,
To cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? call the crea-
tures,-
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven; whose bare unhoused
To the conflicting elements expos'd, [trunks,
Answer mere nature,-bid them flatter thee;
O! thou shalt find-

Tim. A fool of thee: Depart.

Apem. I love thee better now than e'er I did. Tim. I hate thee worse.

Apem. Why?

Tim. Thou flatter'st misery.

Apem. I flatter not; but say, thou art a caitiff.

Tim. Why dost thou seek me out?
Apem. To vex thee.

Tim. Always a villain's office, or a fool's.
Dost please thyself in't?
Apem. Ay.

Tim. What! a knave too?

Apem. If thou didst put this sour cold habit

To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou Dost it enforcedly; thou'dst courtier be again, Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery Outlives incertain pomp, is crown'd before:* The one is filling still, never complete; [less, The other, at high wish: Best state, contentHath a distracted and most wretched being, Worse than the worst, content.

Thou should'st desire to die, being miserable. Tim. Not by his breath, that is more mise

rable.

Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favour never clasp'd; but bred a dog.
Hadst thou, like us, from our first swath,
proceeded

The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou would'st have plung'd
thyself

In general riot; melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust; and never learn'd
The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,
Who had the world as my confectionary;
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts
of men

At duty, more than I could frame employment;
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare
For every storm that blows ;-I, to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden:
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in't. Why should'st thou
hate men?
[given?

They never flatter'd thee: What hast thou
If thou wilt curse,-thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject; who, in spite, put stuff"
To some she beggar, and compounded thee

* I. e. Arrives sooner at the completion of its wishes. + By his voice, sentence. From infancy. The cold admonitions of cautious prudence.

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The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens ...