"Tis honour with most hands to be at odds: Soldiers as little fhould brook wrongs, as Gods. [Exit. SCENE VI. Timon's boufe. Enter divers Senators at feveral doors. 1 Sen. The good time of the day to you, fir. 2 Sen. I also wish 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 encountered. I hope it is not fo low with him, as he made it feem in the trial of his feveral friends. 2 Sen. It should not be by the perfuafion of his new feafting. I Sen. I fhould think fo. He hath fent me an earneft 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. will lay, fays he, for hearts; which is a metaphor taken from card-play, and fignifies to game deep and boldly. It is plain then the figure was continued in the following line, which should be read thus, 'Tis bonour with most HANDS to be at odds; i. e. to fight upon odds, or at difadvantage; as he muft do against the united strength of Athens: and this, by foldiers, is accounted bonourable. Shakespeare ufes the fame metaphor on the fame occafion, in Coriolanus. He lurch'd all fwords. WARBURTON, I think bands is very properly fubftiftuted for land. In the foregoing line, for, lay for bearts, I would read, play for hearts." a 7 Upon that were my thoughts tiring,] A hawk, to fire, when the amufes herfelf with pecking or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. thing, is therefore, to be idy employed upon it. Z 2 JOHNSON. I am forry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out. 1 Sen. I am fick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Sen. Every man here's fo. What would he have borrow'd of you? 1 Sen. A thoufand pieces. 2 Sen. A thousand pieces! 1 Sen. What of you? 3 Sen. He fent to me, fir,-Here he comes. Enter Timon and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both!-and how fare you? 1 Sen. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Sen. The fwallow follows not fummer more willingly, than we your lordship. Tim. [Afide.] Nor more willingly leaves winter fuch fummer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompenfe this long stay. Feast your ears with the mufick awhile; if they will fare fo harshly as on the trumpets found: we shall to't presently. 1 Sen. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I return'd you an empty meffenger. Tim. O fir, let it not trouble you. 2 Sen. My noble lord. Tim. Ah, my good friend, what cheer? [The banquet brought in. 2 Sen. Moft honourable lord, I am e'en fick of fhame, that when your lordship this other day fent to me, I was fo unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, fir. 2 Sen. If you had fent but two hours before, Tim. 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 money and the feafon can yield it. 1 Sen. How do you do? What's the news? 3 Sen. 'Tis fo; be fure of it, 2 Sen. I pray you, upon what? Hear you of it? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Sen. I'll tell ye more anon. Here's a noble feast toward. 2 Sen. This is the old man ftill. 3 Sen. Will't hold ? will't hold? 2 Sen. It does, but time will-And fo- Tim. Each man to his ftool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet fhall be in all places alike. Make not a city-feaft of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, fit. The Gods require our thanks. You great benefactors, Sprinkle our fociety with thank-. fulness. For your own gifiş make yourselves prais'd: but referve ftill to give, left your Deities be defpifed. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another: for were your Godbeads to borrow of men, men would forfake the Gods. Make the meat beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let no affembly of twenty be without a fcore of villains. If there fit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are- The reft of your foes, O Gods, the fenators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amifs in them, you Gods, make fuitable for deftruction. For thefe my The rest of your FEES.] We fhould read Fors. WARB. prefent friends, as they are to me nothing, fo in nothing blefs them, and to nothing, are they welcome. Uncover,-Dogs, and lap. [The difbes uncovered are full of warm water. 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 lukewarm water ? Is your perfection. This is Timon's laft; Who ftuck and spangled 'you with flatteries, Washes it off, and fprinkles in your faces [Throwing water in their faces. Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, Most smiling, fmooth, detefted parasites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time-flies, Cap and knee flaves, Vapours, and minute-jacks! Of man and beast the infinite malady Cruft you quite o'er!-What, doft thou go ? 9 Is your perfection] Perfection for exact or perfect likeness. WARBURTON. Your perfection, is the highest of your excellence. JOHNSON. —and Spangled YOU WITH flatteries,] We should certainly read, and Spangled WITH YOUR flatteries. The prefent reading is right. Time-flies.] Flies of a feafon. WARB. JOHNSON. JOHNSON. 3-minute-jacks ;] Hanmer thinks it means Jack-a-lantern, which fhines and disappears in an inftant. What it was I know not; but it was fomething of quick motion, mentioned in Richard III. JOHNSON. A minute-jack is what was called formerly a Jack of the clockboufe; an image whofe office was the fame as one of thofe at St. Dunstan's church in Fleet-ftreet. See Mr. Hawkins's ingenious note on the paffage in Richard III. vol. vii. STEEVENS. the infinite malady] Every kind of disease incident to man and beast. JOHNSON. Stay Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none. Re-enter the Senators. 1 Sen. How now, my lords? [Exit. 2 Sen. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury! 3 Sen. Pifh! did you fee my cap? 4 Sen. I've loft my gown. I Sen. 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 fee my jewel? 2 Sen, Did you fee my cap? 4 Sen. Here lies my gown. 4 Sen. One day he gives us diamonds, next day ftones. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I. L Without the walls of Athens. Enter Timon. ET me look back upon thee, O thou wall, That girdleft in those wolves! dive in the earth, And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent; Obedience fail in children! flaves and fools Pluck the grave wrinkled fenate from the bench, Z 4 And |