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Were a fufficient briber for his life.

1 Sen. What's that?

Alc. Why, I fay, my Lords, h'as done fair service, And flain in battle many of your enemies; How full of valour did he bear himself

*

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds?
2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em,
'He's a fworn rioter; he has a fin

That often drowns him, and takes valour prifoner.
If there were no foes, That were enough
To overcome him. In that beaftly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions. 'Tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul, and his Drink dangerous.
1 Sen. He dies.

Alc. Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My Lords, if not for any parts in him,

(Though his right arm might purchase his own time,
And be in debt to none ;) yet more to move you,
Take my deferts to his, and join 'em both.
And for I know, your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories,

All my honour to you, on his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore;
For law is ftrict, and war is nothing more.

1 Sen. We are for law, he dies. Urge it no more, On height of our difpleasure. Friend, or brother, He forfeits his own blood, that fpills another.

—with`em,] The folio, with him.

6 He's a SWORN rioter; he has

a fin

That often drowns him, and takes valour prifoner.] What is a Juorn rioter? We should read,

He's a swOLN rioter

that is, given to all exceffes, as

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Alc. Muft it be fo? it must not be.

My Lords, I do befeech you, know me.

2 Sen. How?

Alc. Call me to your remembrances.
3 Sen. What!-

Alc. I cannot think, but your age hath forgot me;
It could not elfe be, I fhould prove fo bafe,
To fue, and be deny'd fuch common grace.
My wounds ake at you.

8

1. Sen. Do you dare our anger?

'Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect;
We banish thee for ever.

Alc. Banifh me!

Banish your Dotage, banifh Ufury,

That make the Senate ugly.

1 Sen. If, after two day's fhine, Athens contains thee, Attend our weightier judgment.

" And, not to swell our fpirit,
He fhall be executed prelently.

[Exeunt. live

Alc. Gods keep you old enough, that you may
Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I'm worse than mad. I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large intereft; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts.-All thofe, for this?
Is this the balfam that the ufuring fenate
Pours into Captains wounds? Banifhment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banisht,
It is a caufe worthy my fpleen and fury,

7-Ifhould
-I fhould prove fo bafe,]
Bofe, for dishonour'd.

WARB.

Do you dare our anger?
'Tis in few words, but fpacious

in effe] This reading
may pafs, but perhaps the au-

thour wrote,

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in efed. 9 And, (not to fwell OUR fi

rit)] What this nonfenfe was intended to mean I don't know; but 'tis plain Shake pear

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1

That I may ftrike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour with most hands to be at odds;
Soldiers as little should brook wrongs, as Gods. [Exit.

1 Sen.

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Changes to TIMON's Houfe.

Enter divers Senators, at feveral doors.

THE

HE good time of the day to you, Sir. 2 Sen. I also wifh it to you. I think, this honourable Lord did but try us this other day.

1 Sen. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountred. I hope it is not fo low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his feveral friends. 2 Sen. It should not be by the perfuafion of his new feafting.

1 In former copies:

And lay for hearts. 'Tis honour with moft LANDS to be at odds;] But furely, even in a foldier's fenfe of honour, there is very little in be ing at odds with all about him: which fhews rather a quarrelfome difpofition than a valiant one. Befides, this was not Alibiades's cafe. He was only fallen out with the Athenians. A phrafe in the foregoing line will direct us to the right reading. I will lay, fays he, for hearts; which is a metaphor taken from cardplay, and fignifies to game deep and boldly. It is plain then the figure was continued in the following line, which fhould be read-thus,

'Tis honour with mft HANDS

VOL. VI.

to be at odds;

i. e. to fight upon odds, or at difadvantage; as he must do againft the united strength of Athens: And this, by foldiers, is accounted honourable. ShakeSpear ufes the fame metaphor, on the fame occafion, in Coriolanus. He lurch'd all favords.

WARBURTON. I think bands is very properly fubftituted for lands. In the foregoing line,, for, lay for hearts, I would read, play for hearts.

2 Upon that were my thoughts tiring.] A hawk, I think, is faid to tive, when fhe amufes herself with pecking a pheafant's wing, or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. To tire upon a thing, is therefore, to be idly employed upon it.

I Sen.

1 Sen. I fhould think fo. He hath fent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occafions did urge me to put off, but he hath conjur'd me beyond them, and I muft needs appear.

2 Sen. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate bufinefs; but he would not hear my excufe. I am forry, when he fent to borrow of me, that my provifion was out.

1 Sen. I am fick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Sen. Every man here's fo. What would he have borrow'd of you?

1 Sen. A thoufand pieces.

2 Sen. A thousand pieces! 1 Sen. What of you?

3 Sen. He fent to me, Sir-Here he comes.

Enter Timon and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, Gentlemen both!-and how fare you?

1 Sen. Ever at the best, hearing well of your Lordfhip.

2 Sen. The Swallow follows not fummer more willingly, than we your Lordship.

Tim. [Afide.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; fuch fummer- birds are men.- Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompenfe this long ftay. Feast your ears with the mufick awhile, if they will fare fo harfhly as on the trumpet's found; we fhall to't presently.

1 Sen. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your Lordship, that I return'd you an empty meffenger. Tim. O Sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Sen. My noble Lord.
Tim. Ah, my good friend,

what cheer?

[The banquet brought in 2 Sen. Most honourable Lord, I'm e'en fick of

fhame,

fhame, that when your Lordship t'other day fent to me, I was fo unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on't, Sir.

2 Sen. If you had fent but two hours beforeTim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. Come, bring in all together.

2 Sen. All cover'd dishes !

1 Sen. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 Sen. Doubt not that, if money and the feafon can yield it.

1 Sen. How do you? what's the news?

3 Sen. Alcibiades is banifh'd. Both. Alcibiades banish'd!

3 Sen. 'Tis fo; be fure of it. 1 Sen. How? how?

2 Sen. I pray you, upon what?

Hear you of it?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near?
Sen. I'll tell ye more anon.

3

toward.

2 Sen. This is the old man still.

3 Sen. Will't hold? will't hold?

Here's a noble feaft

2 Sen. It does, but time will.-And fo 3 Sen. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his ftool, with that fpur as he would to the lip of his Miftrefs. Your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city-feaft of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, fit. The Gods require our thanks.

You great Benefactors, sprinkle our fociety with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves prais'd; but referve fill to give, left your Deities be defpifed. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for were your Godbeads to borrow of men, men would forfake the Gods. Make the meat beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let no affembly of twenty be without a score of villains. If there fit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are-3 The 3 The rest of your FEES.] We fhould read ross.

WARB.

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