Pain. How fhall I understand you?
Poet (6) I'll unbolt to you.

7

You fee, how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of (7) glib and flipp'ry creatures, as
Of grave and auftere quality, tender down
Their Service to Lord Timon; his farge fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All forts of hearts, yea, from the (8) glass-fac'd flat-

terer

To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself; ev'n he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Moft rich in Timon's nod.

Pain. I faw them speak together.

Poet. I have upon a high and pleasant hill Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd.

The Bale o'th' mount

Is (9) rank'd with all deferts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bofom of this sphere

(1) To propagate their states; amongst them all,
Whofe eyes are on this fov'reign lady fixt,

One do I perfonate of Timon's frame,

Whom Fortune with her iv'ry hand wafts to her,
Whofe prefent grace to prefent flaves and servants
Tranflates his rivals.

Pain. 'Tis (2) conceiv'd to fcope.

This Throne, this Fortune, and this Hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the reft below,
Bowing his head against the fteepy mount

To climb his happiness, would be well exprest
(3) In our condition.

(6) I'll unbolt-] I'll open; I'll explain.

(7) — glib and flipp`ry creatures,] Hanmer and Dr. Warburton after him, read, natures. Slippery is fmouth, unrefifting.

(8) - glass faced Batterer-] That shows in his own look, as by reflection, the looks of his patron.

(9) — rank'd with all deferts,] Cover'd with ranks of all kinds of

men.

(1) To propagate their states;] To propagate, for to make.

WARBURTON.

To advance or improve their various conditions of life. (2) conceiv'd te fcope.] Properly imagined, appofitely, to the purpose.

(3) In our condition.] Condition, for art,

A 4

WARBURTON.
Poet.

Poet. Nay, but hear me on:

All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment
Follow his ftrides; his lobbies fill with 'tendance ;
(4) Rain facrificial whifp'rings in his ear;

Make facred even his stirrop; and (5) through him
Drink the free air.

Pain. Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune in her fhift and change of mood Spurns down her late belov'd, all his Dependants, Which labour'd after to the mountain's top Even on their knees and hands, let him flip down, Not one accompanying his declining foot." Pain. 'Tis common.

A thousand moral Paintings I can fhew,

That shall demonftrate thefe quick blows of fortune
More pregnantly than words; yet you do well
To fhew Lord Timon, that mean eyes have feen
The foot above the head.

Trumpets found. Enter Timon, addreffing himself courteously to every fuitor.

Tim. Imprifon'd is he, fay you? [To a Mellenger.
Mef. Ay, my good Lord. Five talents is his debt,
His means most short, his creditors most straight.
Your honourable letter he defires

To thofe have shut him up, which failing periods
His comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well

I am not of that feather to shake off

(4) Rain facrificial whisp'rirgs in bis ear ;] The fenfe is obvious, and means, in general, flattering him. The particular kind of flattery may be collected from the circumftance of its being offered up in whispers: Which fhews it was the calumniating those whom Timon hated or envied, or whofe vices were opposite to his own. This offering up, to the perfon flattered, the murder'd reputation of others, Shakespeare, with the utmost beauty of thought and expreffion, calls facrificial whifp'rings, alluding to the victims offer'd up to Idols. WARBURTON.

(s): through bim

Drink the free air] That is, catch his breath in affected fondness.

My

My friend when he most needs me. I do know him
A gentleman that well deferves a help,

Which he fhall have. Il pay the debt, and free him. Mef Your lordship ever binds him.

Tim. Commend me to him, I will fend his ransom; And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me.

(6) 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up.

But to fupport him alter. Fare you
Mef. All happiness to your honour.

Enter an old Athenian.

well.

Old Ath Lord Timon, hear me speak.

Tim. Freely, good father.

Old Ath. Thou haft a fervant nam'd Lucilius.
Tim. I have fo: what of him?

[Exit..

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 fervice.

Old Atb. This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy

creature

By night frequents my houfe. I am a man

That from my firft have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my eftate deferves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim. Well, what further?

Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin elfe,,
On whom I may confer what I have got;
The maid is fair, o'th' youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest coft,
In qualities of the beft. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I pray thee, noble Lord,,
Join with me to forbid hin her refort;,
Myfelf have spoke in vain..

Tim. The man is honeft.

(6) 'Tis not enough, &c.] This thought is better expreffed by Dr. Madden in his elegy on Archbishop Boulter,

He thought it mean

Only to help the poor to beg again.

Oldi

Old Ath. (7) Therefore he will be, Timon.
His honefty rewards him in itfelf,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim. Does the love him?

Old Ath. She is young and apt.

Our own precedent paffions do inftru&t us,
What levity's in youth.

Tim. [To Lucil.] Love you the maid ?

. Luc. Ay, my good Lord, and the accepts of it.
Old. Ath. If in her marriage my confent be mifling,
I call the Gods to witnefs, I will chufe

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And difpoffefs her all.

Tim. How fhall the be endowed,

If he be mated with an equal husband?

Old Ath. Three talents on the prefent, in future all. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath ferv'd me long; To build his fortune I will ftrain a little,

For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter::
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,

And make him weigh with her.

Old Ath. Most noble Lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, fhe is his.

Tim. My hand to thee, raine honour on my promife. Luc. Humbly I thank your Lordship: (8) Never may That ftate, or fortune, fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you! [Exeunt Lucil, and old Ath. Poet..

(7) Therefore be will be, Timon.] The thought is closely expreffed, and obfcure: but this feems the meaning, If the man be boneft, my Lord, for that reafon be will be fo in this; and not endea vour at the injuflice of gaining my daughter without my confent.. WARBURTON.

I rather think an emendation neceflary, and read,
Therefore well be he, Timon.

His bonefty rewards bim in itself. That is, If be is boneft 1 wish bim the proper happiness of an bonest man, but bis bonesty gives him no claim to my daughter.

The firft tranfcriber probably wrote will be bim, which the next, not understanding, changed to, be will be.

(8) - never may

That flate, or fortune, fall into my keeping,

Which is not ow'D to you !] i. e. may I never have any acceffion

of

Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your Lordship!

Tim. I thank you, you fhall hear from me anon; Go not away. What have you there, my friend? Pain. A piece of Painting, which I do befeech Your Lordship to accept.

Tim. Painting is welcome.

The Painting is almoft the natural man ;
For fince difhonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outfide; (9) pencil'd figures are
Ev'n fuch as they give out.

I like your

Work;

And you fhall find I like it: wait attendance
'Till you hear further from me.
Pain. The Gods preferve you!
Tim. Well fare ye, gentlemen.

Give me your hand,,

We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel

Hath fuffer'd under praise.

Few. What, my Lord, difpraife?

Tim. A meer fatiety of commendations.

If I fhould pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would (1) unclew me quite.

Jew. My Lord, 'tis rated

As thofe, which fell, would give; but you well know, Things of like value, differing in the owners,

(2) Are by their mafters prizd. Believ't, dear Lord, You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Tim. Well mock'd...

of fortune which you are not the authour of. An odd ftrain of com plaifance. We should read,

Which is not owN'D to you:

i. e. which I will not acknowledge you laid the foundation of in this generous act.

The meaning is, let me never henceforth confider any thing that I poffefs, but as owed or due to you; held for your fervice, and att your difpofal.

(9) pencil'd figures are Ev'n fuch as they give out. are what they profefs to be. (1)- unclew me quite.] thread. To unclew a man, is to draw out the whole mafs of his fortunes.

To unclero is to unwind a ball of

(2) Are by their mafters priz'd.] Are rated according to the ef teem in which their poffeffor is held.