Enter certain Senators. Pain. How this Lord is followed! Poet. The Senators of Athens! happy man! (2) Poet. You fee this confluence, this great flood of vifiters. In a wide fea of wax; no levell'd malice Pain. How that I understand you? You fee, how all conditions, how all minds, Pain. I faw them speak together. Poet. I have upon a high and pleafant hill That labour on the bofom of this sphere Whom Fortune with her iv'ry hand wafts to her, (2) Happy men!] Thus the printed copies: but I cannot think the poet meant, that the fenators were happy in being admitted to Timon; their quality might command that: but that Timon was happy in being follow'd, and carefs'd, by those of their rank and dignity. F 2 Whofe Whose prefent grace to prefent flaves and fervants Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to th' fcope. (3) This throne, this fortune, and this hill, methinks, To climb his happiness, would be well expreft Poet. Nay, but hear me on: All those which were his fellows but of late, Make facred even his stirrop; and through him 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 fhall demonftrate these quick blows of fortune (3) 'Tis conceiv'd, to fcope This throne, this fortune, &c.] Thus all the editors hitherto have nonfenfically writ, and pointed, this paffage. But, fure, the painter would tell the poet, Your conception, Sir, hits the very scope you aim at. This the Greeks would have render'd, ra onoỸ τuxeTM, reƐta ad fcopum tendis: and Cicero has thus exprefs'd on the like occafion, Signum aculis deftinatum feris. This fenfe our author, in his Henry 8th, expreffes; I think, you've hit the mark. And in his Julius Cæfar, at the conclufion of the first a&t ; Trumpets Trumpets found. Enter Timon, addressing himself courteously to every fuitor. Tim. Imprifon'd is he, fay you? [To a Meffenger. To thofe have fhut him up, which failing to him Tim. Noble Ventidius! well. I am not of that feather to shake off Which he fhall have. I'll pay the debt, and free him. Tim. Commend me to him, I will fend his ransom; And, being enfranchiz'd, bid him come to me ; 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to fupport him after. Fare you well. Mef. All happiness to your honour! Enter an old Athenian. 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 Ath. 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 estate deserves an heir more rais'd, Than one which holds a trencher. Tim. Well: what further? Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else, On whom I may confer what I have got: The maid is fair, o' th' youngeft for a bride, F 3 And And I have bred her at my dearest cost, Tim. The man is honeft. Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon. (4) His honefty rewards him in itfelf, It must not bear my daughter. Tim. Does the love him? Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. Love you the maid? Luc. Ay, my good Lord, and she accepts of it. Old Ath. If in her marriage my confent be miffing, I call the gods to witness, I will chufe Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world, Tim. How fhall fhe be endowed, If he 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 ftrain a little, Fortis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter: And make him weigh with her. Old Ath. Moft noble Lord, Pawn me to this your honour, fhe is his. Tim. My hand to thee, mine honour on my promife. Luc. Humbly I thank your Lordship: never may That ftate, or fortune, fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you. [Exe. Luc. and old Athenian. Poet.Vouchfafe my labour, and long live your Lordship! Tim. I thank you, you fhall hear from me anon: (4) Therefore be will be, Timon.] The thought is closely exprefs'd, and obfcure: but this feems the meaning. "If the man be honest, sc my Lord, for that reafon he will be fo in this; and not endeavour 46 at the injuftice of gaining my daughter without my confent." Mr. Warburton. Go 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 : Ev'n fuch as they give out. I like your work Pain. The gods preserve ye! i Tim. Well fare you, gentleman; give me your hand. We must needs dine together: Sir, your jewel Hath fuffer'd under praife. few. What, my Lord? difpraise ? Tim. A mere fatiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd, It would unclew me quite. Jew. My Lord, 'tis rated As thofe, which fell, would give but you well know, Are by their mafters priz'd; believe't, dear Lord, Tim. Well mock'd. Mer. No, my good Lord, he fpeaks the common tongue, Which all men fpeak with him. Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid? Enter Apemantus. Jew. We'll bear it with your Lordship. Mer. He'll fpare none. Tim Good-morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus! Apem. Till I be gentle, ftay for thy good-morrow; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest. Tim. Why doft thou call them knaves, thou know'st Apem. Are they not Athenians? Tim. Yes. [them not Apem. Then I repent not. F4 F 4. Apem. |