To bring man-flaughter into form, fet quarrelling Is valour mis-begot, and came into th' world The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, I Sen. You cannot make grofs fins look clear, Alc. My Lords, then under favour, pardon me, Why do fond men expofe themselves to battel, Who cannot condemn rafhnefs in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. Alc. I fay, my Lords, h'as done fair fervice; 'flain In battle many of your enemies; How full of valour did he bear himself In the laft conflict, and made plenteous wounds? 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he Is a fworn rioter; he has a fin 'Oft" drowns him, and takes valour prifoner. Alc. Hard fate! he might have dy'd in war. (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, My honours to you, on his good returns. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies, urge it no more, My Lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How! Alc. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. 7 'What, Sir! Alc. I cannot think but your age hath forgot me, It could not else be I fhould prove fo base, To fue, and be deny'd fuch common grace. My wounds ake at you. 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? 5 and flain 'Tis 'Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect: We banish thee for ever. Alc. Banifh me! Banish your dotage, banish ufury, That make the fenate ugly. 1 Sen. If, after two days fhine, Athens contains thee; Attend our weightier judgment. 1/2 Sen. And, (not to fwell our fpirit,) he 'fhall then Be executed presently. [Exeunt. Alc. Gods keep you old enough, that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, [Exit. Enter divers Senators at feveral Doors. 1 Sen. THE 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 tryal of his feveral friends. 2 Sen. 8 This fpeech to 1 Sen. in former editions. 9 fhall be 2 Sen. It should not be, by the perfuafion of his new feafting. 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 must 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. I 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 borrowed of you? 1 Sen. A thousand 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 beft, hearing well of your Lordship. 2 Sen. The swallow follows not fummer more willingly, than we your Lordship. Tim. Nor more willingly leaves winter: such summerbirds are men Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompence this long ftay: feast your ears with the mufick a while; 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 Lordfhip, 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. My most honourable Lord, I'm e'en fick of fhame, that when your Lordship t'other day fent to me, I was fo unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Tim. Think not on't, Sir. 2 Sen. If you had fent but two hours before 2 Sen. All cover'd dishes. 1 Sen. Royal cheer, 1 warrant you. 3 Sen. Doubt not that, if mony and the feafon can yield it. 3 Sen. Alcibiades is banish'd: hear you of it? 3 Sen. 'Tis fo, be sure of it. I Sen. How? how? 2 Sen. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? Here's a noble feaft 2 Sen. This is the old man ftill. Tim. Each man to his ftool, with that fpur as he would to the lip of his miftrefs: your diet fhall 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, fprinkle our fociety with thankfulnefs. For your own gifts, make your felves prais'd: but referve ftill to give, left your Deities be defpifed. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another. For were your Godheads 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 The rest of your foes, O Gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amifs in them, you Gods, make suitable for deftruction: For thefe my friends as they are to me nothing, fo in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome. 1 fees, . . . old edit. Warb. emend. 1 Un |