Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen, 1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them. Sen. And enter in our ears like great triumphers In their applauding gates. Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them, that to ease them of their griefs, In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them : I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down, And shortly must I fell it; Tell my friends, Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree", From high to low throughout, that whoso please To stop affliction, let him take his haste, Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himself:-I pray you, do my greeting. Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall find him. Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Upon the beached verge of the salt flood; [Exit Timon. 1 Sen. His discontents are unremoveably Coupled to nature. * Methodically, from highest to lowest. + Swollen froth. 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us Enter two Senators, and a Messenger. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends :-this man was riding From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i'the cause against your city, In part for his sake mov'd. 1 Sen. Enter Senators from Timon. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring Doth choke the air with dust: in and prepare; Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare. [Exeunt. * Dreadful. SCENE IV. The woods. Timon's cave, and a tomb-stone seen. [Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon. Sol. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer?What is this? Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span: Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax. Our captain hath in every figure skill; An ag'd interpreter, though young in days: [Exit. SCENE V. Before the walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades, and forces. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. [4 parley sounded. Enter Senators on the walls. Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and breath'd Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush +, 1 Sen. Noble and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, 2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love, By humble message, and by promis'd means; 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom fall 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, Which nature loaths), take thou the destin'd tenth; And by the hazard of the spotted die, Let die the spotted. 1 Sen. All have not offended; + Mature. Arms across. ti. e. By promising him a competent subsistence. For those that were, it is not square, to take, 2 Sen. What thou wilt, Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile, Than hew to't with thy sword. 1 Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; To say, thou'lt euter friendly. 2 Sen. Throw thy glove; Or any token of thine honour else, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. • Not regular, not equitable. + Unattacked gates. Reconcile. VOL. VI. P |