Tim. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance. Let mufick make their welcome. Luc. You fee, my Lord, how amply you're belov'd. (6) They dance? They are mad women. Who lives, that's not depraved, or depraves? from Shakespeare; and, apparently, before it was thus corrupted; where, fpeaking of a banquet, he says, All that may be bad To please the eye, the ear, tafte, touch or fmell, Are carefully provided. (6) They dance, they are mad women. Like madhefs, is the glory of this life WARBURTON. i As this pomp fhews to a little oyl and root. This is Apemantus's reflection on the Mafk of Ladies: apd, for its obfcurity, would become any pagan philofopher. The first line is a compleat fentence the fecond is the beginning of a new reflection; and the third, the conclufion of it by a fimilitude. Hence it appears, that fome lines are dropt out and loft from between the fecond and third verfes. I conjecture the sense of the whole might be this, The glory of human life is like the madness of this Mafk; it is a falfe aim at happiness, which is to be obtained only by fobriety and temperance in a private and retired life. But fuperficial judges will always prefer pomp and glory becaufe in outward appearance it has fo greatly the advantage: as great as this pompous fupper appears to have above my oil and root. This, in my opinion, was the fentiment that connected the fecond and third lines together: which for the future fhould be read with afterisks between them. WARBURTON. When I read this paffage I was at firft of the fame opinion with this learned man; but, upon longer confideration, I grew lefs confident, because I think the prefent reading fufceptible of explanation, with no more violence to language than is frequently found in our authour. The glory of this life, is very near to madness, as may be made appear from this pomp exhibited in a place where a philofopher is.feeding on oil and roots. When we fee by example how few are the neceffaries of life, we learn what madness there is in fo much fuperfluity. Who Who dies, that bears not one fpurn to their graves I fhould fear, thofe, that dance before me now, 23 The Lords rife from table, with much adoring of Timon; each fingling out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; a lofty ftrain or two to the hautboys, and cease. Tim. You have done our pleafures much grace, fair ladies, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, Which was not half fo beautiful and kind Luc. * My Lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. 'Faith, for the worft is filthy, and would not hold taking, I doubt me. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you. Pleafe you to difpofe yourselves. All Lad. Moft thankfully, my Lord. Tim. Flavius, Flav. My Lord. Tim. The little cafket bring me hither. [Exeunt. Flav. Yes, my Lord. More jewels yet? there is no croffing him in's humour, Elfe I fhould tell him-well-faith, fhould, Afide. When all's fpent, (8) he'd be crofs'd then if he could: mine own device.] The mafk appears to have been defigned by Timon to furprife his guests. My Lord,] This anfwer feems rather to belong to one of the Ladies. It was probably only marked L in the copy. I here, that he would be if he could but get does not mean his Hand cross'd with Money, if he conld. He is playing on the Word, and alluding to our old Silver Penny, ufed before K. Edward the firft's Time, which had a Cross on the Reverfe with a Creafe, that it might be more eafily broke into Halves and Quarters, Half pence and Farthings. From this Penny, and other Pieces, was our common Expreffion derived, I have not a Crofs about me; i. e. not a Piece of Money. THEOBALD 'Tis pity, Bounty has not (9) eyes behind ; That man might ne'er be wretched (1) for his mind. Serv. Here, my Lord, in readiness. Tim. O my good friends! I have one word to fay to you; look, my Lord, As (2) to advance this jewel, accept and wear it, Luc. I am fo far already in your gifts All. So are we all. Enter a Servant. Serv. My Lord, there are certain Nobles of the Senate newly alighted, and come to vifit you. Tim. They are fairly welcome. Re-enter Flavius. Flav. I beseech your Honour, vouchsafe me a word it does concern you near. Tim. Near! why then another time I'll hear thee. I pr'ythee, let's be provided to fhew them entertain ment. Flav. [Afide.] I scarce know how. Enter another Servant. 2 Serv. May it pleafe your honour, Lord Lucius, out of his free love, hath prefented to you four milk-white horfes trapt in filver. Tim I fhall accept them fairly. Let the Prefents Be worthily entertain'd. Enter a third Servant. How now? what news? 3 Serv. Please you, my Lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to (9) ing her. eyes behind ] To fee the miferies that are follow (2) for bis mind. For nobleness of foul. to advance this jewel,] To prefer it; to raise it to honour by wearing it. morrow morrow to hunt with him, and has fent your Honour two brace of grey-hounds. Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be received, Not without fair reward. 1 Flav. [Afide.] What will this come to? he commands us to provide, and give great gifts, and all out of an empty coffer. Nor will he know his purfe, or yield me this, To fhew him what a beggar his heart is, That what he fpeaks is all in debt; he owes Pays intereft for't; his land's put to their books. Ere I were forc'd ! Happier is he that has no friend to feed, Than fuch as do e'en enemies exceed. I bleed inwardly for my Lord. [Exit. Tim. You do yourselves much wrong, you 'bate too much of your own merits. Here, my Lord, a trifle. of our love. Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive it. 3 Lord. He has the very foul of bounty. Tim, And now I remember, my Lord, you gave good words the other day of a bay courfer I rode on. 'Tis yours, because you lik'd it. 2 Lord. Oh, I befeech you, pardon me, my Lord, in that. Tim. You may take my word, my Lord. I know no man Can justly praife, but what he does affect; I weigh my friend's affection with my own. (3) I tell you true. I'll call on you. All Lords. O, none so welcome. Tim. I take all, and your feveral vifitations So kind to heart, (4) 'tis not enough to give (3) I tell Methinks, I could deal kingdoms-] Thus the paffage ftood in all editions before Hanmir's, who restored VOL. VIII. my thanks. B My My thanks, I could deal Kingdoms to my friends. Thou art a foldier, therefore feldom rich, Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou haft Alc. I'defiled land, my Lord. 1 Lord. We are fo virtuoudy bound- 2 Lord. So infinitely endear'd Tim. All to you. Lights! more lights, more lights. 3 Lord. The best of happiness, honour and fortunes, Keep with you, Lord Timon Tim. Ready for his friends. SCENE Apem. What a coil's here, [Exeunt Lords. VII. (5) Serving of becks and jutting out of bums! (6) I doubt, whether their legs be worth the fums That are giv'n for 'em, friendship's full of dregs; Methinks, falfe hearts fhould never have found legs. Thus honeft fools lay out their wealth on court'fies. Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not fullen, I would be good to thee. Apem. No, I'll nothing; for if I fhould be brib'd *I defiled land,] This is the old reading, which apparently depends on a very low quibble. Alcibiades is told, that bis eftate lies in a pitch'd field. Now puch, as Falstaff fays, doto defile. Alcibiades therefore replies, That his eftate lies in defiled land. This, as it happened, was not understood, and all the editors published, I defy land. (5) SERVING of becks- -] This nonsense should be read, SERRING of becks from the French, ferrer, to join close together. A metaphor taken from the billing of pigeons. WARBURTON. The commentator conceives beck to mean the mouth or the bead, after the French, bec, whereas it means a falutation made with the head. So Miton, Nods and becks, and wreathed fmiles. To ferve a beck, to offer a falutation. (6) I doubt, kobether their legs, &c.] He plays upon the word leg, as it fignifies a limb and a bow or act of obeisance. 2. too, |