Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given 16. Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack, To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd 18, That I account them blessings; for by these Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants. Serv. My lord, my lord, Tim. I will despatch you severally.—You, to To Lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say, 16 Every reader must rejoice in this circumstance of comfort which presents itself to Timon, who, although beggared through want of prudence, consoles himself with reflection that his ruin was not brought on by the pursuit of guilty pleasures. Steevens. 17 i. e. the contents of them. The argument of a book was a brief sum of the whole matter contained in it.' So in Hamlet the king asks concerning the play: Have you heard the argument? is there no offence in it?' 18 i. e. dignified, adorned, made gracious. And yet no day without a deed to crown it.' VOL. VIII. King Henry VIII. F Toward a supply of money: let the request As have said, my lord. Flav. Lord Lucius, and Lord Lucullus? humph! [Aside. Tim. Go you, sir [To another Serv.], to the senators (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have (Deserv'd this hearing), bid 'em send o'the instant A thousand talents to me. Flav. I have been bold Tim. Is't true? can it be? Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall 20, want treasure, cannot Do what they would; are sorry-you are honour able, But yet they could have wish'd—they know notbut Something hath been amiss-a noble nature May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity And so, intending 21 other serious matters, After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, 19 The most general way,' is the most compendious, to try many at a time. 20 i, e. at an ebb. 21 Johnson, Steevens, and Malone have explained intending here regarding, turning their notice, or attending to, &c.; but it certainly means pretending. See King Richard III. Sc. 5, note 9. Shakspeare uses pretend in many places for intend; and I have shown that he also uses pretend for intend in several instances. With certain half-caps 22, and cold-moving nods, Tim. Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, No blame belongs to thee;-[To Serv.] Ventidius lately Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from me; Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd With those five talents:-that had,-[To FLAV.] give it these fellows To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. Flav. I would, I could not think it; That thought is bounty's foe; Being free 23 itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt. 22 Fractions are broken hints, abrupt remarks. A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. 23 Liberal, not parsimonious. ACT III. SCENE I. Athens. A Room in Lucullus's House. FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you. Flam. I thank you, sir. Enter LUCULLUS. Serv. Here's my lord. Lucul. [Aside.] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively1 welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant.]-And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master? Flam. His health is well, sir. Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir: And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Lucul. La, la, la, la,-nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time 1 i. e. consideratively, regardfully. See vol. iii. p. 97, note 16. and often I have dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less: and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty 2 is his; I have told him on't, but I could never get him from it. Re-enter Servant, with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,-give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason: and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, sirrah.-[To the Servant, who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares 3 for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well. Flam. Is't possible, the world should so much differ; And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness, To him that worships thee. [Throwing the money away. 2 Honesty here means liberality. That nobleness of spirit or honesty that free-born men have.'-Baret. 3 Steevens says, 'I believe this coin is from the mint of the poet.' We are not to look for the name of a Greek coin here; but he probably formed it from solidari, or soldi, a small coin, which Florio makes equal to shillings in value. 4 And we alive now who lived then. As much as to say, in so short a time. |