Break open fhops, for nothing can you fteal But thieves do lofe it: steal not lefs for what I give, and gold confound you howsoever! Amen. [Exit. 3 Thief. H'as almost charm'd me from my profeffion, by perfuading me to it. Thief. 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advifes us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. a Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy: and give over my trade. 1 Thief. Let us firft fee peace in Athens; (27) 2 Thief. There is no time fo miferable, but a man may be true. [Exeunt. H, you Gods! FLAVIUS. Is yon defpis'd and ruinous man my Lord ? Thofe that would mifchief me, than those that do! (27) Thief. Let us firft fee Peace in Athens; &c.] This and the concluding little Speech have in all the Editions been placed to one Speaker: But, as Mr. Warburton very juftly obferved to me, 'tis evident, the latter Words ought to be put in the Mouth of the first Thief, who is repenting, and leaving off his Trade. H'as H'as caught me in his eye, I will present Timon comes forward from his Cave, Tim. Away! what art thou? Flav. Have you forgot me, Sir? Tim. Why dost thou afk that? I have forgot all men. Then, if thou granteft that thou art a man, I have forgot thee. Flav. An honeft fervant Tim. Then I know thee not: I ne'er had honeft man about me, all I kept were knaves, to ferve in meat to villains. Ne'er did poor fteward wear a truer grief Flinty mankind; whofe eyes do never give Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my Lord, Tim. Had I a fteward So true, fa juft, and now fo comfortable? Forgive my gen'ral and exceptlefs rafhnefs, Methinks, thou art more honeft now, than wife; H 2 Thou Thou might'ft have fooner got another service: But tell me true, (For I must ever doubt, though ne'er fo fure) A ufuring kindness, as rich men deal gifts, Flav. No, my moft worthy mafter, (in whofe breaft Doubt and fufpect, alas, are plac'd too late,) You should have fear'd falfe times, when you did feaft: Either in hope, or prefent, I'd exchange and wealth Tim. Look thee, 'tis fo; thou fingly honeft man, Have fent thee treafure. Go, live rich and happy : What thou deny'ft to men. Let prifons fwallow 'em, Flav. O, let me ftay, and comfort you, my master. Stay not, but fly, whilft thou art bleft and free; Enter Poet and Painter. [Exeunt feverally. Pain. As I took note of the place, it can't be far where he abides. Poct. What's to be thought of him? does the rumour hold for true, that he's fo full of gold ? Pain. Certain. Alcibiades reports it: Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewife enrich'd poor ftragling foldiers with great quantity. 'Tis faid, he gave his fteward a mighty fum. Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a trial of his friends? Pain. Nothing elfe: you fhall fee him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the higheft. Therefore, 'tis not amiss, we tender our loves to him, in this fuppos'd diftrefs of his: it will fhew honeftly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having. Poet. What have you now to prefent unto him? Pain. Nothing at this time but my vifitation: only I will promife him an excellent piece. Poet. I must ferve him fo too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him. Pain. Good as the beft: promifing is the very air o'th' time; it opens the eyes af expectation. Performance is ever the duller for his act, and, but in the plainer and fimpler kind of people, the decd is quite out of ufe. To promife, is most courtly, and fashionable; performance is a kind of will or teftament, which argues a great ficknefs in his judment that makes it. Re-enter Timon from his Cave, unfeen. Tim. Excellent workman! thou canst not paint a ruan fo bad as thyfelf. Poet. I am thinking, what I fhall fay I have provided for him: it must be a perfonating of himself; a fatire against the foftnefs of profperity, with a difcovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency. Tim. Muft thou needs ftand for a villain in thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? do fo, I have gold for thee. Paet. Nay, let's feek him. Then do we fin against our own eftate, When we may profit meet, and come too late. Pain. True: Poet. While the day ferves, before black-corner'd night, (28) Find what thou want'ft, by free and offer'd light. Tim. I'll meet you at the turn What a God's gold, that he is worshipped In bafer temples, than where fwine do feed! 'Tis thou that rigg'ft the bark,and plow'ft the Wave, (29) Settleft admired rev'rence in a flave; To thee be worship, and thy faints for aye Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey! 'Tis fit I meet them. Poet. Hail! worthy Tim. Pain. Our late noble mafter. Tim. Have I once liv'd to fee two honeft men? Whofe ftar-like nobleness gave life and influence Tim. Let it go naked, men may fee't the better: (30) You (28) While the day ferves, &c.] This Couplet in all the Editions is placed to the Painter, but, as it is, in Rhime, and a Sequel of the Sentiment begun by the Poet, I have made no Scruple to ascribe it to him. (29) 'Tis thou that rigg ft the Bark, and plow'ft the Foam, Settleft admired Red'rence in a Slave;] As both the Couplet preceding, and following this, are in Rhime, I am very apt to fufpect, the Rhime is difmounted here by an accidental Corruption; and therefore have ventur'd to replace Wave in the Room of Foam. (30) Let it go, naked Men may fee't the better;] Thus has this Paffige been ftupidly pointed through all the Editions, as if naked Men could fee better than Men in their Clothes. I think verily, if there were any Room to credit the Experiment, fach Editors ought to go naked for the Improvement of their Eye-fights. But, perhaps, they have as little Faith as Judgement in their own Readings. The Poer, in the preceding Speech haranguing on the Ingratitude of Timon's falfe Friends, fays, he cannot cover the MonBroufnels |