That thou turn rascal ; hadst thou wealth again.

Rascals should have t. Do not assume my likeness.
Tim. Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself.
Apem. Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thy'
self;

A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st
That the bleak air, thy boist'rous chamberlain.
Will put thyshirt on warm? Will these mossd trees.
Tlmt have outliv d the eagle, page thy heels.
And skip when thou point st out? Will the cold brook.
Candied with ice. caudle thy morning taste,
Tn nure the o er-night's surfeit I call the creatures,—
Whose naked nature lives in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven; whose l>are unhoused trunks,
To the conflicting'elements expos'd,
Answer mere nature, bid them flatter thee;
U, thou shalt find—

Tim. A fool of thee: depart.

A pent, I love thee better now than e'er I did.
Tim. I hate thee worse.
A pern. Why?
Tim Thou flatter'st misery.

Apem. I flatter not; but say thou art a caitiff.
Tim. Why dost thou seek me out?
A/em. To vex thee.

Tim. Always a villain's office, or a fool's.
Dost please thyself in't f
Apem. Ay.
Tim. What I a knave toot

Apem. If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou
Dost it enforcedly; thou'dst courtier be again,
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery
Outlives incertairi pomp, is crown'd before:
The one is filling still, never complete;
The other, at high wish: best state, contentless.
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse than the worst, content. . .

Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

Tim. Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favour never clasp'd; but bred a dog.
Hadst thou, like us, from our first swath, proceeded
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou wouldst have plung'd thyself
In general riot; melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust; and never learn d
The icy precepts of respect, but follow d
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,
Who had ihe world as my confectionary .
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men
At duty, more than I could frame employment;
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare
For every storm that blows,—I, to bear this.
That never knew but better, is some burden;
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time [m.
Hath made thee hard in't. Why shouldst thou hate
They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag.
Must be thy subject; who, in spite, pur stuff
To some she beggar, and compounded thee
I'oor rogue hereditary. Hence 1 be gone 1
If thou hadst not been born I he worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.
Apem. Art thou proud yet?

Tim. Ay, that I am not thee.
Apem. I, that I was

NoprodigaL

Ttm, I, that I am one now:

Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this 1
Thus would I eat it. {Hatinga root.

Apem. Here; I will mend thy feast.

Ttm, First mend my company, take away thyself. Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack

1ST

thin.

Tim 'Tis not well If not, I would it w«r

Apem. What wouldst thou have to Athens?

Tim Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have.

A/em. Here is no use for gold.

Tim. The best, and truest;

For here it sleeps, and does uo hired harm,

. _r that's above me. Where feed'st thou o' days. Apemantus?

Apem. Where my stomach finds meat: or, rather, where 1 eat it.

Tim. Would poison were obedient, and knew my
mind 1

Apem. Where wouldst thou send it?
Tim. To sauce thy dishes.

Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends: when thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity: in thy rags thou k no west none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it.

Tim. On what 1 hate, I feed not

A/em. Dost hate a medlar?

Ttm. Ay, though it look like thee.

Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means?

Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou ever know beloved?

Apem. Myself. [keep a dog.

Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to

Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?

Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the th themselves. What wouldst thou do with the * Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.

Tim. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts?

Apem. Ay. Timon.

Ttm. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to. If thou went the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when, peradventure, thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee; and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, ami the spots of thy kindred were jurors on ihy life: all thy safety were reinotion, and thy defence, absence. What beast couldst thou be. that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation.

Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou might&t have hit upon it here: the commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.

Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou ait out of the city?

Apem. Yonder comes a poet, and a painter: the plague of company light upon thee I I will fear to catch it, and give way: when I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again.

Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Apemantus.

Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

Tim Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon I

Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to curse 1

Tim. All villains, that do stand by thee, axe pure.

Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.

Tim. If I name thee.—
IH beat thee, but I should infect my hands.

Apem. I would iny tongue could rot them off 1

Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog I Choler does kill me, that thou art alive; 1 swoon to see thee.

Apem, Would thou wouldst burst 1

Tim. Away, Thou tedious rogue t I am sorry I shall lose A stone by thee. [ Throw ■- ■'■<••'

Apem. Beast I

Ttm. Slave 1

Apem. Toad I

Tim. Rogue, rogue, rogue I

1 am sick of this false world; and will love rr '■■

But even the mere necessities upon't.
Then, Tiniou, presently prepare thy gi
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily, make thine epkaph.
That death in roe at others' lives may laugh.

f Looking on the gold.
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce
Twixt natural son and sire I thou bright denier
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars 1
Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate wooer.
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap I thou visible god,
That solder"st close impossibilities.
And mak*st them kiss 1 that speak'st with every
tongue.

To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts 1
Think, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire I

Apetn. Would 'twere so I

But not till I am dead. Ill say, thou'st gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

[Exit Apeniantus. 1 am quit.

More things like menf—Eat, Timon, and abhorthem.

Enter Thieves, i Thief. Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of nis remain-; der: the mme want of gold, and the faQing-from of j his friends, drove him into this melancholy.

2 Thief. It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure.

3 Thief Let us make the assay upon him: if he care not for t, he will supply us easily; if he covetously reserve it, how shall s get it?

2 Thief. True ; for he bears it not about him, 'tis i Thief. Is not this he? £hid. Thieves. Where?

a Thief Tis his description.

3 Thief. He; I know htm.
Thieves. Save thee, Timon.
Tim. Now, thieves?
Thieves. Soldiers, not thieves.

Tim. Both too; and women's sons. f want.

Thieves. We are not thieves, but men that much do

Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath coots;' Within this mile break forth a hundred springs; The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips; The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush Lays her full mess before you. Want ? why want?

i Thief. We cannot live on grass, on berries, water. As beasts, and birds, and fishes. [fishes;

Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con, That you are thieves profess'd; that you work not In holier shapes; for there is boundless theft In limited professions. Rascal thieves, Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape, Tilt the high fever seethe your blood to froth, And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician; His antidotes are poison, and he stays More than you rob: take wealth and lives together; Do villainy, do* since you protest to do't. Like workmen. IH example you with thievery* The sun's a thief, and with his great attention Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief. And her uale fire she snatches from the sun: The Sea s a thief, whose liquid surge resolves The moon into salt tears r the earth *s a thief. That feeds and breeds hy a composture stolen From general excrement: each thing's a thief: The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power Have unchecked theft. Love not yourselves; away] Roll one another There's more gold: cut throats; All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go. Break open shops; nothing can you steal. Bui thieves do lose it. Steal not less, for this I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er! Amen.

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 i my trade.

1 Thief Let us first see peace in Athens: there is

no time so miserable, but a man may be true.

[Exeunt Thieves.

Enter Flavius.
Flav. O you gods!
Is yon despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument.
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd ]
What an alteration of honour
Has desperate want made I
What viler thing upon the earth, than friends
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends I
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies 1
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me, than those that do 1
He has caught me in his eye: I will present
My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord.
Still serve him with iny life. My dearest master ]

Timon comes forwardfrom his cave.
Tim. Away J what art thou?

Flaii. Have forgot me, sir!

Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant's! thou 'rt a man, f have forgot

Flav. An honest poor servant of yours. [thee.

Tim. Then 1 know thee not;

I never had an honest man about me, I;
All I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.

Flav. The gods arc 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 love thee, Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flinty mankiud: whose eyes do never give. But thorough lust and laughter. Pity'ssleeping: Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!

Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
To accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts,
To entertain me as your steward stilL

Tim. Had I a steward
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thyface.—Surely, this man
Was born of woman.—

Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods 1 I do proclaim
One honest man,—mistake me not,—but one;
No more, I pray.—and he s a steward.—
How fain would I have hated all mankind 1
And thou redeem'st thyself: but alL save thee,
I fell with curses.

Methinks thou art more honest now than wise;

For. by oppressing and betraying me.

Thou mightst have sooner got another service:

For many so arrive at second masters.

Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true,

(For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure,)

Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous.

If not a usuring kindness; and, as rich men deal gifts.

Expecting in return twenty for one?

Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late: You should have tear d false times, when you did feast:

Suspect still comes when 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.

My most honour'd lord.

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

To requite me, by making rich yourself.

Tim. Look thee, 'tis so 1 Thou singly honest roan.
Here, take: the gods, out of my misery.
Have sent thee treasure. Go. live rich and happy;
But thus crmdition'd : thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all: show charity to none;
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,
Kre thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs
What thou deny'st to men ; let prisons swallow 'em.
Debts wither era to nothing: be men like blasted
woods.

And may diseases lick up their false bloods J
And so, farewell, and thrive.

ACT V.

SCENE L— The Woods. Before Tlmon's Car*. Tnter Poet and Painter, Timon observing them from his cave.

Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far 7here he abides.

Poet. What's to bethought of him? Does, the rumour lold for true, that he is so full of gold t

Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor ""aggling soldiers with (rreat 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 tts not amiss we tender our loves to him, m this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of J 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 towards 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 |>eople. the deed of saying Is finite 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 lie a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery ofthe 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;
Whin the day serves, before black-corner'd night,
Find what thou want's! by free and ofFer'd light.
Come.

Tim. IH meet you at the turn What a god's gold.
That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple
Than where swine feed 1

*Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st the foam.
Settles! adnurea reverence in a slave:
To thee be worship I and thy saints for aye
Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey I
Fit I meet thCm. {.Advancing.
Pott. Hail, worthy Timon!

Pain. Our late noble master I

Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men?
Poet. Sir,

Having often of your open bounty tasted.
Hearing you were retir'd, your friends falt'n off.
Whose thankless natures—(J abhorred spirits 1
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough:
What, to you.

Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence
To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
With any size of words.

Tim Let it go naked, men may see *t the better:
You, that are honest, by being what you are.
Make them best seen and known.

''<»». He an* myself

: speak truth ; you are lion est men. I, lny nobie lord: but therefore Came not ray friend, nor 1.

Tim. Good honest men 1 Thou draw'st a counterfeit Best in all Athens; thou art, indeed, the best; Thou counterfeit's! most lively. Pain. So, so. my lord.

Tim. E'en so. sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction, [t» the 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,
1 must needs say you have a little fault:
Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I
You take much pains to mend.

Both. Beseech your honour

To make it known to us.

Tim. You'll take it ill

Both. Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim. WUIyou, indeed?

Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord

Tun. There's never a one of you but trusts a knave* That miglitily deceives you.

Both. Do we. my lord?

Tint. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,

Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him.
Keep in your bosom; yet remain as&ur'd*
That he's a made-up villain.
Pain. I know none such, my lord.
Poet. Nor I.

Tim. Look you, I love you well; 111 give you gold.
Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them, or stab the in, drown them in a draught.
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I'll give you gold enough.
Both. Name them, my lord, let*s know them.
Tim. You that way. and you this,—but two in
company:
Each man apart, all single and alone.
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
\To the Pain ] if, where thou art, two villains shall
not be, [reside
Come not near him. [ To the Poet.] If thou would not
But where one villain is. then him abandon.
Hence I pack! there's gold, ye came for gold, ye
slaves: |ment: hence I

To the Pain. I You have done work for me, t here's pay. 7Y> the Poet-1 You are an alchemist, make gold of Out, rascal dogs! [that [Fxit, beating them and driving them out. sinter ]-~lavius.<i'Kf tivo Senators. Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with For he is set so only to himself, [Timon;

That nothing but himself, which looks like man,
Is friendly with him,

i Sen. Bring us to his cave:

It is our part, and promise to the Athenians,
To speak with Timon.

Sen At all times alike

Men are not still the same: 'twas time and grief
That fraut'd him thus: time, with his-fairer hand.
Offering the fortunes of his former days.
The former man may make him. Bring us to him.
And chance it asit may.

Flav. Here is his cave.—

Peace and content be here! Lord Timon I Timon I
Look out, and speak to friends: the Athenians,
By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee:
Speak to them, noble Timon.

Fnter Timon, from his cave. Tim. Thou sun, that comfort's!, burn! Speak,and be hang'd;

For each true word, a blister! and each false
Be as a catn'rizrng to the root o' the tongue.
Consuming it with speaking!
i Sen, Worthy Timon.—

Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon ^ Sen. The senators of Athens grert thee^Tuiioa.

Tim, I thank them, and would send them back the Could I but catch it for them. [plague,

r Sett. O, forget

What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators with one consent ol love,
lintreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lie
l'or thy best use and wearing.

-_> Sen. They confess.

Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:
Winch now the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal
Of its own fall, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us. to make their sorrow'd render,
Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram;
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth.
As shall to thee block out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
liver to read them thine.

Tim. You witch me in it;

Surprise me to the very brink of tears:
Lend me a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes.
And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

i Sen Therefore, so please thee to return with us,
And of our Athens (thine and ours) to take
The captainship, thou slialt be met with thanks,
Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades the approaches wild ,
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.

a Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword

Against the walls of Athens.

i. Sen. Therefore. Timon,—

. Tim. Well, sir. I will; therefore, I will, sir; If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, [thus:—

Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
And take o:irgoodly aged men by the beards,
(living our holy virgins to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain*d war;
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks
In pity of our aged and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him. that I care not.
And let him take't at worst; for their knives care not,
While you have throats to answer: for myself
There's not a whittle in the unruly camp.
But I do prize it at my love, before
The reverend's! throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.

Flav. Stay not, all's in vain.

Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph;
It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend.
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his.
And last so long enough I

i Sen. We speak in vain.

Tim But yet I love my country; and am not
One that rejoices in the common wrack,
As common bruit doth put it.

i Sen. That's well spoke.

Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,—

1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass

through thein.

3 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triutnphers In their applauding gates.

Tim. Commend me to them;

And tell them, that, to case them of their griefs.
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses.
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain [them,—
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do
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 uo further: thus you still shall

Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens,

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Which once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.—
Lips, let sour words go by, and language end i
What is amiss, plague and infection niendl
Graves only be men's works, and death their gain I
Sun, hide thy beams 1 Timon liath done his reign.

lExit Timon.

1 Sen. His discontents are unremovably coupled to nature.

3 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril.

1 Sett. It requires swift foot. {Exeunt.

SCENE U.—The Walls ofAthens.
Enter two Senators and a Messenger.

1 Sen. Thou heist painfully discover'd : are bis files As full as they report?

Mess. I have spoke the least:

Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach. [Timon.

3 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not

Mess, I met a courier, one mine ancient friend; Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Vet 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. Here come our brothers.

Enter Senators front Timon.

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.

SCENE III.—The Woods. Timon's Cave, and a
Tombstone seen.
Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.

Sold. By all description this should be the place.
Who's here? speak, ho'—No answer ?—What is this!
"Timon ii 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 111 take with wax:
Our captain hath in every figure skill,
An ag'd interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens lie's set down by this.
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit,

SCENE IV—Before tlte Walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades and forces. Alcib Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. \A parley sounded.

Enter Senators, on the Walls. Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time With all licentious measure, making your wills The scope of justice ; till now, myself, and such As slept within the shadow of you. power, Have wander'd with ourtravers'd arms, and breath'd Our sufferance vainly: now the time is flush. When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong, Cries of itself, " No more :" now breathless wrong Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of case,; And pursy insolence shall break his wind With fear, and horrid flight.

1 Sen. Noble, and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, lire thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear, We sent to thee; to give thy rages balm,

To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.

2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love.

By humble message, and by promis'd means:
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

1 Sen. These walls of ours

Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your griefs; nor are they such,

That theseffreat towers, trwphies, and schools should For private faults in them. [fall

2 Sett. Nor are they living

Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess.
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation, and a tithed death,
(If thy revenges hunger for that food.
Which nature loathes) take thou the destin'd tenth;
And by the hazard of the spotted die,
Let die the spotted.

i Sen. All have not offended j

For those that were, it is not square to take.
On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
firing in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spars thy Athenian cradle, and those km,
W hich, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended : like a .shepherd.
Approach the fold, and cull th" infected forth.
But kill not all together.

a Sen. What thou wilt.

Thou rather shatt enforce it with thy smile,
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Sen. Set hut thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; So thou wilt senn thy gentle heart before,

To say thou 'It enter friendly.

2 Sett. Throw thy glove. Or any token of thine honour else.

That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seai'd thy full desire.

A (rib. Then there's my glove

Descend, and open your uncharged ports:
Those enenues of Timon's, and mine own.

Whom you yourselves shall set out tor reproof.

Fall, and no more: and,—to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning,—not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds.
But shall be render a to your public laws
At heaviest answer.
Both. "Tis most nobly spoken.

Aictb. Descend, and keep your words.

[ The Senators descend, and open the gates. Enter a Soldier. Sold. My noble general, Timonisdead; Entoinb'd upon the very hem o' the sea; And on his grave-stone this insculpture, which With wax I brought away, whose soft impression Interprets for ray poor ignorance. Atcib. [Readi.) "Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: Sect not my name; a plague consume you "Wicked iaings left t

Here he /, Ttmon; who, alive, all living men did hate:

Piiss by. and curse thy Jill; but pass, and stay not

here thy gait." These well express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou ahhorr'dst in us our human griefs, Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit [which Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead Is noble Timon : of whose memory Hereafter more.—Bring me into your city. And i will use the olive with my sword: Make war breed peace, make peace stint war;

make each Prescribe to other, as each other's leech. Let our drums strike, [Exeutd.

Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman. Com1nhistiUS'} GeHerals against the Volscians. Menenius Agnppa. Friend to Coriolanus.

SKStffiS*}

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus.
A Roman Herald

Tullus Aufidius. General of the Volscians.
Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Conspirators with Aufidius.

A Citizen of Antium.

Two Votsctan Guards.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.

Virgilia, IViJe to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Gentlewoman, attending on Virgilia.

Roman and Volsctan Senators. Patricians, trifles.

Lie tors. Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, Servants

to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

ACT I.

SCENE I.—Rome. A Street. Enter a Company of mutinous Citizens, with starts, clubs, and other weapons. xCit. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. All. Speak, speak.

i Cit. You are all resolved rather to die than to All. Resolved, resolved. f famish'

i Ctt. First, you know Cains Marcius is chief enemy Alt. We know t, we know t. [to the people.

1 Cit. Let us kill hint, and well have corn at our

nwn price. Is t a verdict! All No more talking on't, let it be done: away,

2 Cit. One word, good citizens (sway • i Ctt. We are accounted poor citizens; the patri

uaii* good. What authority surleiUi on, would relieve