Dead, sure; and this his grave. So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character To say, thoul't enter friendly. I'll take with wax. Enter Senators on the walls. Till now you have gone on, and filled the time Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,2 1 Sen. Noble and young, 2 Sen. So did we woo By humble message, and by promis'd means ;3 1 Sen. These walls of ours For private faults in them. 2 Sen. Nor are they living, Who were the motives that you first went out; By decimation, and a tithed death, (If thy revenges hunger for that food, 2 Sen. Throw thy glove; Or any token of thine honour else, Alcib. Both. The Senators descend, and open the gates. Enter a Soldier. Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of 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 These well express in thee thy latter spirits: From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, Prescribe to other, as each other's leech." Which nature loaths,) take thou the destined tenth; Let our drums strike. Let die the spotted. 1 Sen. All have not offended; For those that were, it is not square, to take, 2 Sen. [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. (4) Not regular, not equitable. 2 Cit. One word, good citizens. scienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You must in no way say, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay we prating here? to the Capitol. Cit. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? Enter Menenius Agrippa. 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'Would, all the rest were so! Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? you. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens: the patricians, good: What authority surfeits on, would relieve us; If they would yield us but the super- With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray fluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely; but they think, we are 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we inof our misery, is as an inventory to particularize tend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become shall know, we have strong arms too. rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine for bread, not in thirst for revenge. honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country? 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud. 2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft-con(2) Thin as rakes. (1) Rich. 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Thither where more attends you; and you slander The helms o'the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their store-houses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers: repeal daily and wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you must Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it; 1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :- ments Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? 1 Cit. Your belly's answer: What! The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eve, The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter, With other muniments and pretty helps In this our fabric, if that they Men. What then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd Who is the sink o'the body Men. Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little,) Patience a while, you'll hear the belly's answer. 1. Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friend; And, through the cranks and offices of man, o'the (1) Spread it. (2) Hardship. (3) Whereas. Whereby they live: And though that all at once, me, 1 Cit. Ay, sir; well, well. Men. Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each; Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flower of all, And leave me but the bran. What say you to't? 1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this? Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members: For examine Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly, Touching the weal o'the common; you shall find, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost: Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Deserves your hate: and your affections are With every minute you do change a mind; That in these several places of the city 198 Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain Tit. enough? Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,1 Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Mar. That hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That meat was made for mouths; that, the gods No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, 1 Sen. Your company to the Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. O, true bred! Capitol; where I Lead you on: Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. Mar. [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners :-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray follow.. [Exeunt Senators, Com. Mar. Tit. and Menen. Citizens steal away. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Sic. gods. Sic. Be-mock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant. Sic. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,→ In whom already he is well graced,-cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first; for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits10 rob Cominius. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Auf. Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Com. It is your former promise. Mar, Sir, it is; And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face: What, art thou stiff? stand'st out? (1) Pity, compassion. (2) Heap of dead, (5) For insurgents to debate upon. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this state, That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Had circumvention? 'Tis not four days gone, Since I heard thence; these are the words: I think, I have the letter here; yes, here it is: [Reads. They have press'd a power, but it is not known (8) Shows itself. (9) Sneer. (10) Demerits and merits had anciently the same Whether for east, or west: The dearth is great; enemy, (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,) 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready Nor did you think it folly, Auf It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, If they set down before us, for the remove O, doubt not that; All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. 2 Sen. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. Vol. Indeed, you shall not. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! [Exit Gent. Val. My ladies both, good day to you. Vir. I am glad to see your ladyship. Val. How do you both? you are manifest housekeepers. What, are you sewing here? A fine spot,* in good faith.-How does your little son? Vir. I thank your ladyship; well, good madam. Vol. He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, that look upon his school-master. Farewell. Val. O'my word, the father's son: I'll swear, 'tis Farewell. a very pretty boy. O'my troth, I look'd upon him [Exeunt. o'Wednesday half an hour together: he has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a All. Farewell. SCENE III.—Rome. An apartment in Marcius' gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he let it house. Enter Volumnia, and Virgilia: They go again; and after it again; and over and over sit down on two low stools, and sew. he comes, and up again; catched it again: or Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express your-whether his fall enraged him, or how 'twas, he did self in a more comfortable sort: If my son were so set his teeth, and tear it; O, I warrant, how he my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that ab- mammocked' it! sence wherein he won honour, that in the embrace-j ments of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,-considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seek dan-ger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter,-I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a Vir. No, good madam; I will not out of doors. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience: I will not over the threshold, till my lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreason bly; come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you? Vir. 'Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun, in Ulysses' absence, did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would, your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go wi.h me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. |