The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction Amen. But thieves do lose it: Steal not less, for this I give you; and gold confound you howsoever! [TIMON retires to his cave. 3 Thief. He has almost charmed me from my profession, by persuading me to it. 1 Thief. "Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade. 1 Thief. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. [Exe. Thieves. Enter FLAVIUS. Flav. O you gods! Is yon despis'd and ruinous man my lord? Desperate want made !9 What viler thing upon the earth, than friends, Those that would mischief me, than those that do !3 My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord, Still serve him with my life.-My dearest master! [9] An alteration of honour is an alteration of an honourable state to a state of dis grace. JOHNSON. [1] Rarely for fitly; not for seldom. WARBURTON. REED. [2] Wish'd means here recommended. [3] The sense is, Let me rather woo or caress those that would mischief, that projess to mean me mischief, than those that really do me mischief, under false professions of kindness. The Spaniards, I think, have this proverb; " Defend me from my friends, and from my enemies I will defend myself." This proverb is a sufficient comment on the passage. JOHNSON TIMON comes forward from his cave. Tim. Away! what art thou? Flav. Have you forgot me, sir? Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men ; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt man, I have forgot thee. Flav. An honest poor servant of yours. Tim. Then I know thee not: I ne'er had honest man Flav. The gods are witness, Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord, than mine eyes for you. Tim. What, dost thou weep ?-Come nearer ;-then I Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give, [love thee, But thorough lust, and laughter. Pity's sleeping: To accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, Tim. Had I a steward so true, so just, and now So comfortable? It almost turns My dangerous nature wild. Let me behold One honest man,-mistake me not,-but one; How fain would I have hated all mankind, Methinks, thou art more honest now, than wise; Thou might'st have sooner got another service : Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true, If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts, Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast [4] Shakespeare wrote mild. It almost reconciles me to mankind. WARB. VOL. VIII. L 16 Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late : You should have fear'd false times, when you did feast : Suspect still comes where an estate is least. That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, Care of your food and living: and, believe it, For any benefit that points to me, Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange For this one wish, That you had power and wealth Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest man, Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy : What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow them, Flav. O, let me stay, And comfort you, my master. Tim. If thou hat'st Curses, stay not; fly, whilst thou'rt bless'd and free : [Exeunt severally. ACT V. SCENE I.-The same. Before TIMON's Cave. Enter Poet and Painter; TIMON behind, unseen. Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides. Poet. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he is so full of gold? Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends. Pain. Nothing else you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 'tis not amiss, we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his : it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having. Poet. What have you now to present unto him? Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece. Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him. Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' the time it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable : performance is a kind of will, or testament, which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it. Tim. Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself. Poet. I am thinking, what I shall say I have provided for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity: with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency. Tim. Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee. Poet. Nay, let's seek him : Then do we sin against our own estate, When we may profit meet, and come too late. Pain. True; When the day serves, before black-corner'd night, Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, Than where swine feed! 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st the foam; Settlest admired reverence in a slave : To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey! 'Fit I do meet them. [Advancing. [6] This allusion is scriptural, and occurs in Psalm xcii. 11. "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree." STEEV. [7] Personating for representing simply. For the subject of this projected satire was Timon's case, not his person. WARB. Poet. Hail, worthy Timon! Pain. Our late noble master. Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men? Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retir'd, your friends fall'n off, Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence With any size of words. Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the better: Pain. He, and myself, Have travell❜d in the great shower of your gifts, Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service. Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service. have gold; I am sure, you have: speak truth: you are honest men. Tim. Good honest men :-Thou draw'st a counterfeit Best in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best; Thou counterfeit'st most lively. Pain. So, so, my lord. Tim. Even so, sir, as I say:-And, for thy fiction,[To Poet. Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, That thou art even natural in thine art. But, for all this, my honest-natur'd friends, I must needs say, you have a little fault : Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I, Both. Beseech your honour, To make it known to us. Tim. You'll take it ill. Both. Most thankfully, my lord. |