8 What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character Our captain hath in every figure skill; SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. [Exit. 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 1 Sen. Noble, and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, * I cannot read, &c.] There is something elaborately unskilful in the contrivance of sending a Soldier, who cannot read, to take the epithet in wax, only that it may close the play by being read with more solemnity in the last scene. JOHNSON. travers'd arms,] Arms across. * -- the time is flush,] A bird is flush when his feathers are grown, and he can leave the nest. Flush is mature. Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear, 2 Sen. By humble message, and by promis'd means; 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such That these great towers, trophies, and schools should fall For private faults in them. 2 Sen. (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth; And by the hazard of the spotted die, Let die the spotted. All have not offended; 3 1 Sen. Shame, that they wanted cunning in excess Hath broke their hearts.] Shame in excess, (i. e. extremity of shame) that they wanted cunning (i. e. that they were not wise enough not to banish you) hath broke their hearts. not square,] Not regular, not equitable. With those that have offended: like a shepherd, What thou wilt, 2 Sen. Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile, Than hew to't with thy sword. 1 Sen. To say, thou'lt enter friendly. 2 Sen. Throw thy glove, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. Both. "Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. The Senators descend, and open the Gates. uncharged ports;] uncharged means unattacked. With my more noble meaning,] i. e. to reconcile them to it. not a man Shall pass his quarter,] Not a soldier shall quit his station, or be let loose upon you; and, if any commits violence, he shall answer it regularly to the law. Enter a Soldier. Sol. My noble general, Timon is dead; Entomb'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 my poor ignorance. Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: Scek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gait. These well express in thee thy latter spirits: From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Make war breed peace; make peace stint war; make each Prescribe to other, as each other's leech." [Exeunt. our brain's flow,] Our brain's flow is our tears. 9 The play of Timon is a domestick tragedy, and therefore strongly fastens on the attention of the reader. In the plan there is not much art, but the incidents are natural, and the characters various and exact. The catastrophe affords a very powerful warning against that ostentatious liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship. JOHNSON. |