The Dramatic Works of Shakspeare

As TROILUS is going out, enter from the
other side, PANDARUS.
Pan. But hear you, hear you! [shame
Tro. Hence, broker lackey! ignomy'
* and
Pursue thy life, and live ayer with thy name!
[Exit TROIUS.
Pan. A goodly med'cine for my aching
bones!-O world! world! world! thus is the
poor agent despised! O traitors and bawds,
how earnestly are you set a' work, and how ill
requited! Why should our endeavour be so
loved, and the performance so loathed? what

verse for it? what instance for it ?-Let me

see :

Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing,
Till he hath lost his honey, and his sting:

* Ignominy.

Canvass hangings for rooms, painted with emblems and mottos.

This play is more correctly written than most of Shakspeare's compositions, but it is not one of those in which either the extent of his views or elevation of his fancy is fully displayed. As the story abounded with materials, he has exerted little invention; but he has diversified his characters with great variety, and preserved them with great exactness. His vicious characters disgust, but cannot corrupt, for both Cressida and Pandarus are detested and contemned. The comic characters seem to have been the favourites of the writer; they are of the superficial kind, and exhibit more of manners, than nature; but they are copiously filled and powerfully impressed. Shakspeare has in his story followed, for the greater part, the old book of Caxton, which was then very popular; but the character of Thersites, of which it makes no mention, is a proof that this play was written after Chapman had published his version of Homer.-JOHNSON.

mistresses to Alcibiades.

Other Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Thieves, and Attendants.

CAPHIS, PHILOTUS, TITUS, LUCIUS, HOR. TENSIUS, servants to Timon's Cre-Scene,-- Athens; and the Woods additors.

joining.

Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes [flint From whence 'tis nourished. The fire i'the

Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Shows not, till it be struck; our gentle flame

Others, at several Doors.

Poet. Good day, sir.

Puin. I am glad you are well. Poet. I have not seen you long; how goes Pain. It wears, sir, as it grows. [the world?Poet. Ay, that's well known: But what particular rarity? what strange, Which manifold record not matches? See, Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power Hath conjured to attend. I know the mer[ler. Pain. I know them both; t'other's a jewelMer. O, 'tis a worthy lord! Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd, Mer. A most incomparable man; breathed*, as it were,

chant.

To an untirable and continuate † goodness:
He passes.

Jew. I have a jewel here.
Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord
Timon, sir?
[for that-

Jew. If he will touch the estimate; but, Poet. When we for recompense have praised the vile,

It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.

Mer. 'Tis a good form. [Looking at the Jewel. Jew, And rich here is a water, look you. Puin. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some To the great lord. [dedication

Provokes itself, and, like the current, flies Each bound it chates. What have you there? Pain. A picture, sir.And when comes your book forth?

Poet. Upon the heels of my presentments, Let's see your piece. Pain. Poet. So 'tis: this comes off well and exPain. Indifferent. [cellent. Poet. Admirable: How this grace Speaks his own standing! what a mental power

This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the ges One might interpret.

[ture

Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; is't good?

Poet.

I'll say of it,
It tutor's nature: artificial strife
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

Enter certain Senators, and pass over.
Pain. How this lord's follow'd!
Poet. The senators of Athens :-Happy
Pain. Look more !
(men!

Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.

I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man, Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug

With amplest entertainment: My free drift Halts not particularly¶, but moves itself

• Inured by constant practice. ti. e., Exceeds, goes beyond common bounds. presented to Timon.

+ For continual.

As soon as my book has been

i. e., The contest of art with nature.
My design does not stop at any particular character,

In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold :
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Poet.
I'll unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds
(As well of glib and slippery creatures, as
Of grave and austere quality) tender down
Their services to ford Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tend-
[Hatterer +
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself; even he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.

ance

Pain.
I saw them speak together.
Poet. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant

[mount

hill,
Feign'd Fortune to be throned: The base o'the
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of lord Timon's frame, [her:
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand warts to
Whose present grace to present slaves and
Translates his rivals.
[servants

Pain.
"Tis conceived to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, me-
thinks,

With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well ex-
In our condition.
[press'd

Poet.
Nay, sir, but hear me on:
All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value,) on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tend-
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear, [ance,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through
Drink the free air.
[him
Pain.
Ay, marry, what of these?
Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and
change of mood,
[ants,
Spurns down her late beloved, all his depend-
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top,
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip
down,

Not one accompanying his declining foot.
Pain. 'Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show [tune
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of for-
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To show ford Timon, that mean eyes have
The foot above the head.
[seen
Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended;
the Servant of VENTIDIUS talking with

him.
Tim.
Imprison'd is he, say you?
Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents
is his debt;

Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him.
Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his
ransome;

And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me:
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after.-Fare you well.
Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour!
[Exit.

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim.
Freely, good father.
Old Ath. Thou hast a servant named Luci-
Tim. I have so: What of him?
[lius.
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 service.
Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this
thy creature,

By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclined to thrift;
And my estate deserves a heir more raised,
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' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost,
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.
Tim.
The man is honest.
Old Ath. Therefore he will be, limon:
His honesty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim.

Does she love him?
Old Ath. She is young and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.

Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid?
Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of
it.
[missing,

Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be
I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.
Tim.
How shall she be endowed,
If she be mated with an equal husband?
Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in
future, all.

* Open, explain. + One who shows by reflection the looks of his patron.
Whisperings of officious servility.
¶ i. e., Inferior spectators.

To advance their conditions of life.

Inhale,

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, she is his.
Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on

my promise.
[may
Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: Never
That state or fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not owed to you!

[Exeunt LuCILIUS and old Athenian.
Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live
your lordship!
[anon:
Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me
Go not away.-What have you there, my
friend?
[seech

Pain. A piece of painting, which I do be.
Your lordship to accept.
Tim.

Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;
For since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: These pencill'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.

Pain.
The gods preserve you!
Tim. Well fare yon, gentlemen: Give me
your hand;

We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew.

What, my lord? dispraise?

Tim. A mere satiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclew me quite.

Jew.

My lord, 'tis rated As those which sell would give: But you well

know,

Things of like valne, differing in the owners,
Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear
You mend the jewel by wearing it.
Tim.
Mer. No, my good lord;
cominon tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

[lord, Well mock'd. he speaks the

Pain. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation;
What's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. An thon should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour.

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Apem. Not so well as plain dealing ‡, which will not cost a man a doit.

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?
Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now,

poet?

philosopher?

Poet. How now,
Apem. Thou liest.
Poet. Art not one?
Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.
Apem. Art not a poet?
Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He that loves to be

Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be flatter'd, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, chid?

that I were a lord!

Tim. What wouldst do then, Apemantus? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.

Tim. What, thyself?
Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.-Art not thou a merchant? Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!

Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god con found thee!

Pictures have no hypocrisy; they are what they profess to be.
To unclew a man is, to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes.

Alluding to the proverb: plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it beggars.

Tim. What trumpet's that? Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide [Exeunt some Attendants.

to us.

You must needs dine with me:-Go not you
hence,
[done,
Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your
sights.-

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company.
Most welcome, sir!
[They salute.
Apem.
So, so; there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
That there should be small love 'mongst these
sweet knaves,

attend ng; then enter TIMON, ALCIRI-
ADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS,
and other Athenian Senators, with VEN-
TIDIUS, and Attendants.
Then comes,
dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discon-
tentedly.

Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleased My father's age, and call him to long peace. the gods remember He is gone happy, and has left me rich: Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound To your free heart, I do return those talents, Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose I derived liberty. [help Tim. Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; O, by no means, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred Can truly say he gives if he receives: Tout I gave it freely ever; and there's none Into baboon and monkey *. [dare [feed If our betters play at that game, we must not Alcib. Sir, you have saved my longing, and I To imitate them; Faults that are rich are fair. Most hungrily on your sight. Ven. A noble spirit. Tim. Right welcome, sir; Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON.

Tim. [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Nay, my lords, ceremony
Was but devised at first, to set a gloss
On faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs
[tunes,
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my for-
Than my fortunes to me.
[They sit.

none.

1 Lord. My lord, we always have con-
fess'd it.
[you not?

Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have
Tim. O, Apemantus !—you are welcome.
You shall not make me welcome:
Арет.

No,

1 come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a
humour there

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame:
They say, my lords, that iru juror brevis est §,
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

[Timon;

Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, I come to observe; I give thee warning ou't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke
me, for I should
(ber
Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a Lum
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not!
It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without
knives;

* Man is degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey. + Meed here means desert. i. e., All the customary returns made in discharge of obligations. Anger is a short madness. The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit, by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill; and the wonder is, that the animal, on which they are feeding, cheers them to the chase.

« Zurück Weiter »

Books