I'll once more feaft the rafcals. Fla. O my lord! You only speak from your distracted foul; Tim. Be it not thy care: Go, and invite them all, let in the tide Of knaves once more: my Cook and I'll provide. 1 Sen. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to the Senate-house. MY Senators, and Alcibiades. Y lord, you have my voice to't, the fault's bloody; 'Tis neceffary he should die : Nothing emboldens fin fo much as mercy. 2 Sen. Moft true; the law fhall bruife 'em. Alc. Health, Honour, and Compaffion to the fenate! 1 Sen. Now, Captain.. ́Alc. I am an humble fuitor to your Virtues : And none but Tyrants use it cruelly. Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault; And with fuch fober and unnoted paffion i Sen. You undergo too ftrict a Paradox, T. To bring Man-flaughter into form, fet quarrelling The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs His out fides; wear them like his rayment, carelefly; And ne'er prefer his Injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and inforce us kill, Alc. My lord, Sen. You cannot make grofs fins look clear; It is not valour to revenge, but bear. Alc. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, Why do fond men expofe themselves to battle, The afs, more than the lion; and the fellow, Who cannot condemn Rafhnefs in cold blood? But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just. To be in anger is impiety: But who is man, that is not angry ? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, 1 Sen. What's that? Alc. I fay, my lords, h'as done fair service, And flain in battle many of your enemies; How How full of valour did he bear himfelf In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? That often drowns him, and takes valour prifoner. Alc. Hard fate! he might have died in war. (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, My Honours to you, on his good returns. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies, urge it no more, My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? Alc. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What! Alc. I cannot think, but your age hath förgöt me; It could not elfe be, I fhould prove fo base, To fue, and be deny'd fuch common grace. My wounds ake at you. 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? "Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect; We banish thee for ever. 1 Sen. If, after two days' fhine, Athens contains thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, (not to fwell our fpirit,) He shall be executed prefently.. [Exeunt Alc. Gods keep you old enough, that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, While they have told their mony, and let out. Their coin upon large intereft; I my felf, Rich only in large hurts.- -All thofe, for this? Is this the balfam that the ufuring fenate Pours into Captains' wounds? ha! Banishment? It comes not ill: I hate not to be banisht, It is a cause worthy my fpleen and fury, That I may ftrike at Athens. I'll cheer up My difcontented troops, and lay for hearts. 'Tis honour with moît lands to be at odds; Soldiers as little fhould brook wrongs, as Gods. [Exin. SCENE changes to TI MON's House.. 1 Sen. Enter divers Senators, at feveral doors. THE HE good time of the day to you, Sir. 2 Sen. I alfo with it to you: I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Sen. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountred. I hope, it is not fo low with him, as he made it seem in the tryal of his feveral friends. 2 Sen. It should not be, by the perfuafion of his new feafting. I Sen. I fhould think so; he hath fent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occafions did urge me to put off but he hath conjur'd me beyond them, and I muft needs appear. 2 Sen. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business; but he would not hear my excufe. I am forry, when he fent to borrow of me, that my provision was out. G 4 1 Sen. 1 Sen. I am fick of that grief too, as I underftand how all things go. 2 Sen. Every man here's fo. What would he have borrow'd of you? 1 Sen. A thousand pieces. 2 Sen. A thousand pieces! Sen. What of you? 3 Sen. He fent to me, Sir here he comes. and Enter Timon and attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both how fare you? 1 Sen. Ever at the beft, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Sen. The Swallow follows not fummer more wil lingly, than we your lordship. Tim. Nor more willingly leaves winter: such summerbirds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompenfe this long ftay: feaft your ears with the mufick a while; if they will fare fo harfhly as on the trumpet's found: we fhall to't presently. 1 Sen. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I return'd you an empty messenger. Tim. O Sir, let it not trouble you. 2 Sen. My noble lord. Tim. Ah, my good friend, what cheer? 2 Sen. Most honourable lord, [The banquet brought in. I'm e'en fick of shame, that when your lordship t'other day fent to me, I was fo unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, Sir. 2 Sen. If you had fent but two hours beforeTim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.. Come, bring in all together. 2 Sen. All cover'd dishes ! 1 Sen. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Sen. Doubt not that, if mony and the season can yield it. 1 Sen. How do you? what's the news? 3 Sen. Alcibiades is banish'd: hear you of it? Both. Alcibiades banish'd! |