Chapter IV: Part 4

I.i.107 (279,1) 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,/But to support him after] This thought is better expressed by Dr. Madden in his elegy on archbishop Boulter.

--_He thought it mean
Only to help the poor to beg again._

I.i.129 (280,2) Therefore he will be, Timon] I rather think an emendation necessary, and read,

_Therefore_ well be him, _Timon.
His honesty rewards him in itself._

That is, _If he in honest_, bene fit illi, _I wish him the proper happiness of an honest man, but his honesty gives him no claim to my daughter_.

The first transcriber probably wrote _will be him_, which the next, not understanding, changed to, _he will be_. (1773)

I.i.149 (281,3)

never may
That state, or fortune, fall into my keeping,
Which is not ow'd to you!]

The meaning is, let me never henceforth consider any thing that I possess, but as _owed_ or _due_ to you; held for your service, and at your disposal.

I.i.159 (281,4) pencil'd figures are/Even such as they give out] Pictures have no hypocrisy; they are what they profess to be.

I.i.165 (282,5) unclew me quite] To _unclew_, is to _unwind_ a ball of thread. To _unclew_ a man, is to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes.

I.i.171 (282,5) Are prized by their masters] Are rated according to the, esteem in which their possessor is held.

I.i.178 (282,8)

_Tim._ Good-morrow to thee, gentle Apemantua!
_Apam._ 'Till I be gentle, stay for thy good-morrow.
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest,--]

[Warburton conjectured a line lost and added one of his own making] I think my punctuation may clear the passage without any greater effort.

I.i.180 (283,9) Then thou art Timon's dog] When thou hast gotten a better character, and instead of being Timon, as thou art, shalt be changed to Timon's dog, and become more worth; of kindness and salutation. (1773)

I.i.241 (284,9) That I had no angry wit to be a lord] [W: so hungry a wit] The meaning may be, I should hate myself for _patiently enduring to be a lord_. This is ill enough expressed. Perhaps some happy change may set it right. I have tried, and can do nothing, yet I cannot heartily concur with Dr. Warburton.

I.i.259 (286,2) The strain of man's bred out/Into baboon and monkey] Man is exhausted and degenerated; his _strain_ or lineage is worn down into monkey.

I.ii.12 (288,5)

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them. Faults that are rich, are fair]

[Warburton gave the second line to Apemantus] I cannot see that these lines are more proper in any other mouth than Timon's, to whose character of generosity and condescension they are very suitable. To suppose that by _our betters_ are meant the Gods, is very harsh, because to imitate the Gods has been hitherto reckoned the highest pitch of human virtue. The whole is a trite and obvious thought, uttered by Timon with a kind of affected modesty. If I would make any alteration, it should be only to reform the numbers thus:

_Our betters play that game; we must not dare
T' imitate then; faults that are rich are fair._

I.ii.34 (289,6) thou art an Athenian,/Therefore welcome: I myself would have no power] If this be the true reading, the sense is, _all Athenians are welcome to share my fortune_; I would myself have no _exclusive right or power in this house_. Perhaps we might read, _I myself would have no_ poor. I would have every Athenian consider himself as joint possessor of my fortune.

I.ii.38 (289,7) I scorn thy meat, 'twould choke me, for I should/ Ne'er flatter thee] [W: 'fore/I should e'er] Of this emendation there is little need. The meaning is, I could not swallow thy meat, for I could not pay for it with flattery; and what was given me with an ill will would stick in my throat.

I.ii.41 (290,8) so many dip their meat/In one man's blood] The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit by being gratified with the blood of the animal which they kill, and the wonder is that the animal on which they are feeding _cheers them_ to the chase.

I.ii.52 (290,9) wind-pipe's dangerous notes] The notes of the windpipe seem to be the only indications which shew where the windpipe is. (see 1765, VI, 184, 4)

I.ii.54 (290,1) My lord, in heart] That is, _my lord's health with sincerity_. An emendation hat been proposed thus:

_My_ love _in heart_;--

but it is not necessary.

I.ii.89 (292,2) we should think ourselves for ever perfect] That is, arrived at the perfection of happiness.

I.ii.94 (292,4) did not you chiefly belong to my heart?] I think it should be inverted thus: _did I not chiefly belong to_ your hearts. Lacius wishes that Timon would give him and the rest an opportunity _of expressing some part of their zeals_. Timon answers that, _doubtless the Gods have provided that I should have help from you; how else are you my friends_? why are you stiled my friends, if--what? _if I do not love you_. Such is the present reading; but the consequence is not very clear; the proper close must be, _if you do not love me_, and to this my alteration restores it. But, perhaps, the old reading may stand. [The _Revisal_'s note on this line is quoted.] The meaning is probably this. Why are you distinguished from thousands by that title of endearment, was there not a particular connection and intercourse of tenderness between you and me. (see 1765, VI, 185, 8)

I.ii.97 (293,5) I confirm you] I fix your characters firmly in my own mind.

I.ii.99 (293,7) O joy, e'en made away, ere it can be born!] For this Hanmer writes, _O joy, e'en made a joy ere't can be born_; and is followed by Dr. Warburton. I am always inclinable to think well of that which is approved by so much learning and sagacity, yet cannot receive this alteration. Tears being the effect both of joy and grief, supplied our author with an opportunity of conceit, which he seldom fails to indulge. Timon, weeping with a kind of tender pleasure, cries out, _O joy, e'en made away_, destroyed, turned to tears, before _it can be born_, before it can be fully possessed.

I.ii.110 (293,8) Mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you] In the original edition the words stand thus: _mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you_. Perhaps the true reading is this, _Mine eyes cannot hold out_; they _water. Methinks, to forget their faults, I will drink to you_. Or it may be explained without any change. _Mine eyes cannot hold out water_, that is, cannot keep water from breaking in upon them, (see 1765, VI, 186, 2)

I.ii.113 (294,9) _Apem_. Thou weep'st to make them drink] Hanmer reads,

--_to make then drink_ thee,

and is again followed by Dr. Warburton, I think without sufficient reason. The covert sense of Apemantus is, _what thou losest, they get_.

I.ii.118 (294,1) like a babe] That is a _weeping babe_.

I.ii.138 (295,3)

They dance! They are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shews to a little oil and root]

[Warburton conjectured some lines lost after the second verse] When I read this passage, I was at first of the same opinion with this learned man; but, upon longer consideration, I grew less confident, because I think the present reading susceptible of explanation, with no more violence to language than is frequently found in our author. _The glory of this life is very near to madness_, as may be made appear from _this pomp_, exhibited in a place where a philosopher is feeding on _oil and roots_. When we see by example how few are the necessaries of life, we learn what madness there is in so much superfluity.

I.ii.146 (296,5) who dies, that bears/Not one spurn to their graves, of their friends gift?] That is, given them by their friends.(1773)

I.ii.155 (297,6) mine own device] The mask appears to have been design'd by Timon to surprise his guests.

I.ii.157 (297,7) _L Lady_. My lord, you take us even at the best] This answer seems rather to belong to one of the ladies. It was probably only mark'd _L_ in the copy.

I.ii.169 (298,1) 'Tis pity, bounty has not eyes behind] To see the miseries that are following her.

I.ii.170 (298,2) That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind] For nobleness of soul.

I.ii.176 (298,3) to/Advance this jewel] To prefer it; to raise it to honour by wearing it.

I.ii.230 (300,6)

all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitch'd field.
_Alc._ I' defiled land, my lord]

This is the old reading, which apparently depends on a very low quibble. Alcibiades is told, that _his estate lies in a_ pitch'd _field_. Now _pitch_, as Falstaff says, _doth defile_. Alcibiades therefore replies, that his estate lies _in defiled land_. This, as it happened, was not understood, and all the editors published,

_I defy land_,--

I.ii.237 (301,8) Serving of becks] [W: serring] The commentator conceives _beck_ to mean the _mouth_ or the _head_, after the French, _bec_, whereas it means a salutation made with the head. So Milton,

"Nods and _becks_, and wreathed smiles."

To _serve a beck_, is to offer a salutation.

I.ii.238 (301,9) I doubt, whether their legs] He plays upon the word _leg_, as it signifies a _limb_ and a _bow_ or _act of obeisance_.

I.ii.247 (302,1) I fear me, thou/Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly] [W: in proper] Hanmer reads very plausibly,

--_thou
Wilt give away thyself_ in perpetuum.

I.ii.235 (302,2) I'll lock/Thy heaven from thee] The pleasure of being flattered.

II.i.10 (304,5) No porter at his gate;/But rather one that smiles, and still invites] I imagine that a line is lost here, in which the behaviour of a surly porter was described.

II.i.12 (304,6) no reason/Can found his state in safety] The supposed meaning of this [Can sound his state] must be, _No reason_, by _sounding_, fathoming, or trying, _his state_, can find it _safe_. But as the words stand, they imply, that _no reason can_ safely _sound his state_. I read thus,

--_no reason
Can_ found _his state in safety_.--

_Reason_ cannot find his fortune to have any _safe_ or solid _foundation_.

The types of the first printer of this play were so worn and defaced, that _f_ and _s_ are not always to be distinguished.

II.ii.5 (305,9) Never mind/Was to be so unwise, to be so kind] Of this mode of expression conversation affords many examples: "I was always to be blamed, whatever happened." "I am in the lottery, but I was always to draw blanks." (1773)

II.ii.9 (306,1) Good even, Varro] It is observable, that this _good evening_ is before dinner; for Timon tells Alcibiades, that they will _go forth again as soon as dinner's done_, which may prove that by _dinner_ our author meant not the _coena_ of ancient times, but the mid-day's repast. I do not suppose the passage corrupt: such inadvertencies neither author nor editor can escape.

There is another remark to be made. Varro and Isidore sink a few lines afterwards into the servants of Varro and Isidore. Whether servants, in our author's time, took the names of their masters, I know not. Perhaps it is a slip of negligence.

II.ii.47 (308,4) _Enter Apemantus and a Fool_] I suspect some scene to be lost, in which the entrance of the fool, and the page that follows him, was prepared by some introductory dialogue, in which the audience was informed that they were the fool and page of Phrynia, Timandra, or some other courtesan, upon the knowledge of which depends the greater part of the ensuing jocularity.

II.ii.60-66 (309,4) Poor rogues] This is said so abruptly, that I am inclined to think it misplaced, and would regulate the passage thus:

Caph. _Where's the fool now?_
Apem. _He last ask'd the question._
All. _What are we, Apemantus?_
Apem. _Asses._
All. _Why?_
Apem. _That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Poor rogues', and usurers' men! bawds between
gold and want! Speak_, &c.

Thus every word will have its proper place. It is likely that the passage transposed was forgot in the copy, and inserted in the margin, perhaps a little beside the proper place, which the transcriber wanting either skill or care to observe, wrote it where it now stands.

II.ii.71 (309,5) She's e'en setting on water to scald] The old name for the disease got at Corinth was the _brenning_, and a sense of _scalding_ is one of its first symptoms.

II.ii.117 (311,7) with two stones more than's artificial one] Meaning the celebrated philosopher's stone, which was in those times much talked of. Sir Thomas Smith was one of those who lost considerable sums in seeking of it.

II.ii.152 (312,9) Though you hear now, yet now's too late a time] [Warburton objected to this, an emendation by Hanmer] I think Hanmer right, and have received his emendation.

Il.ii.155 (313,1) and at length/How goes our reckoning?] [W: Hold good our] It is common enough, and the commentator knows it is common to propose interrogatively, that of which neither the speaker nor the hearer has any doubt. The present reading may therefore stand.

II.ii.171 (314,2) a wasteful cock] [i.e. a _cockloft_, a garret. And a _wasteful cock_, signifies a garret lying in waste, neglected, put to no use. HANMER.] Hanmer's explanation is received by Dr. Warburton, yet I think them both apparently mistaken. A _wasteful cock_ is a _cock_ or pipe with a turning stopple _running_ to _waste_. In this sense, both the terms have their usual meaning; but I know not that _cock_ is ever used for _cockloft_, or _wasteful_ for _lying in waste_, or that lying in waste is at all a phrase.

Il.ii.187 (314,4) And try the arguments] [_Arguments_ for natures. _WARB_.] How _arguments_ should stand for natures I do not see. But the licentiousness of our author forces us often upon far fetched expositions. _Arguments_ may mean _contents_, as the _arguments_ of a book; or for _evidences_ and _proofs_.

II.ii.209 (315,5) I knew it the most general way] _General_ is not speedy, but _compendious_, the way to try many at a time.

II.ii.219 (316,6) And so, intending other serious matters] _Intending_ is _regarding, turning their notice_ to other things.

II.ii.220 (316,7) these hard fractions] [Warburton saw an allusion to fractions in mathematics] This is, I think, no conceit in the head of Flavius, who, by _fractions_, means _broken_ hints, _interrupted_ sentences, _abrupt_ remarks.

II.ii.221 (316,8) half-caps] A _half cap_ is a _cap_ slightly moved, not put off.

II.ii.241 (317,3) I would, I could not] The original edition has, _I would, I could not think it, that thought_, &c. It has been changed ['Would], to mend the numbers, without authority.

II.ii.242 (317,4)

That thought is bounty's foe;
Being free itself, it thinks all other so]

_Free_, is _liberal_, not parsimonious.

III.i.57 (319,6) Has friendship such a faint and milky heart, It turns in less than two nights?] Alluding to the _turning_ or acescence of milk.

III.ii.3 (320,3) We know him for no less] That is, _we know him_ by report to be _no less_ than you represent him, though we are strangers to his person.

III.ii.24 (321,5) yet had he mistook him, and sent him to me] [W: mislook'd] I rather read, _yet had he_ not _mistook him, and sent to me_.

III.ii.45 (322,7) If his occasion were not virtuous] [_Virtuous_, for strong, forcible, pressing. _WARBURTON_.] The meaning may more naturally be;--If he did not want it for a good use. (1773)

III.ii.51 (322,9) that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour?] [T: a little dirt] This emendation is received, like all others, by sir T. Hanmer, but neglected by Dr. Warburton. I think Theobald right in suspecting a corruption; nor is his emendation injudicious, though perhaps we may better read, _purchase the day before for a little park_.

III.ii.71 (323,1) And just of the same piece is every flatterer's soul] This is Dr. Warburton's emendation. The other editions read,

_Why this is the world's soul;
Of the same piece is every flatterer's_ sport.

Mr. Upton has not unluckily transposed the two final words, thus,

_Why, this is the world's_ sport:
_Of the same piece is ev'ry flatterer's_ soul.

The passage is not so obscure as to provoke so much enquiry. _This_, says he, _is the soul_ or spirit _of the world: every flatterer_ plays the same game, makes _sport_ with the confidence of his friend. (see 1765, VI, 211, 4)

III.ii.81 (324,2) He does deny him, in respect of his, What charitable men afford to beggars] That is, _in respect of his_ fortune, what Lucius denies to Timon is in proportion to what Lucius possesses, less than the ususal alms given by good men to beggars.

III.ii.90 (324,3) I would have put my wealth into donation, And the best half should ha' return'd to him] Hanmer reads,

_I would have put my wealth into_ partition,
_And the best half should have_ attorn'd _to him_.

Dr. Warbarton receives _attorn'd_. The only difficulty is in the word _return'd_, which, since he had received nothing from him, cannot be used but in a very low and licentious meaning, (see 1765, VI, 212, 6)

III.iii.5 (325,4) They have all been touch'd] That is, _tried_, alluding to the _touchstone_.

III.iii.11 (325,5) His friends, like physicians,/Thrive, give him over?] The original reading is,

--his friends, (_like physicians_)
Thrive, give him over?

which Theobald has misrepresented. Hanmer reads, _try'd_, plausibly enough. Instead of _three_ proposed by Mr. Pope, I should read _thrice_. But perhaps the old reading is the true.

III.iii.24 (326,6) I had such a courage] Such an ardour, such an eager desire.

III.iii.28 (326,8) The devil knew not what he did] I cannot but think that, the negative _not_ has intruded into this passage, and the reader will think so too, when he reads Dr. Warburton's explanation of the next words.

III.iii.28 (326,9) The devil knew not what he did, when he made men politick; he cross'd himself by't: and I cannot think, but in the end the villainies of man will set him clear] [_Set him clear_ does not mean acquit him before heaven; for then _the devil_ must be supposed _to know what_ he did: but it signifies puzzle him, outdo him at his own weapons. WARBURTON.] How the devil, or any other being, should be _set clear_ by being _puzzled_ and _outdone_, the commentator has not explained. When in a crowd we would have an opening made, we say, _Stand clear_, that is, _out of the way of danger_. With some affinity to this use, though not without great harshness, to _set clear_, may be to _set aside_. But I believe the original corruption is the insertion of the negative, which was obtruded by some transcriber, who supposed _crossed_ to mean _thwarted_, when it meant, _exempted from evil_. The use of _crossing_, by way of protection or purification, was probably not worn out in Shakespeare's time. The sense of _set clear_ is now easy; he has no longer the guilt of tempting man. To cross himself may mean, in a very familiar sense, _to clear his score, to get out of debt, to quit his reckoning_. He knew not _what he did_, may mean, he knew not how much good he was doing himself. There is then no need of emendation. (1773)

III.iii.42 (327,2) keep his house] i.e. keep within doors for fear of duns.

III.iv (328,3) _Enter Varro, Titus, Hortense, Lucius_] Lucius is here again for the servant of Lucius.

III.iv.12 (328,4) a prodigal's course/Is like the sun's] That is, like him in blaze and splendour.

_Soles occidere et redire possunt._ Catul.

III.iv.25 (329,5) I am weary of this charge] That is, of this _commission_, of this _employment_.

III.iv.32 (329,6) Else, surely, his had equall'd] Should it not be, _else, surely, mine had equall'd_.

III.iv.67 (330,7) _Enter Servilius_] It may be observed that Shakespeare has unskilfully filled his Greek story with Roman names.

III.v.14 (333,6)

He is a man, setting his fate aside,
Of comely virtues:
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise;
(An honour in him which buys out his fault)]

I have printed these lines after the original copy, except that, for _an honour_, it is there, _and honour_. All the latter editions deviate unwarrantably from the original, and give the lines thus:

_He is a man, setting his fault aside,
Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault;
Nor did he soil_, &c.

III.v.22 (333,3)

He did behave, his anger ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument]

The original copy reads not _behave_ but _behoove_. I do not well understand the passage in either reading. Shall we try a daring conjecture?

--_with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behold his adversary shent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument_.

He looked with such calmness on his slain adversary. I do not suppose that this is right, but put it down for want of better. (1773)

III.v.24 (334,4) You undergo too strict a paradox] You undertake a paradox too _hard_.

III.v.32 (334,5) and make his wrongs His outsides: to wear them like an argument, carelessly. We outside wear; hang like his] The present reading is better.

III.v.46 (335,6) What make we/Abroad?] _What do we_, or _what have we to do in the field_.

III.v.46 (335,7)

what make we
Abroad? why then, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;
The ass, more than the lion; and the fellow,
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering]

Here is another arbitrary regulation, the original reads thus,

_what make we
Abroad, why then women are more valiant
That stay at home, if bearing carry it:
And the ass more captain than the lion,
The fellow, loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom_, &c.

I think it may be better adjusted thus:

_what make we
Abroad, why then the women are more valiant
That stay at home;
If bearing carry it, than is the ass
More captain than the lion, and the_ felon
_Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom_, &c.

III.v.54 (336,8) sin's extreamest gust] _Gust_ is here in its common sense; the utmost degree of _appetite_ for sin.

III.v.55 (336,9) by mercy, 'tis most just] [By _mercy_ is meant _equity_. WARBURTON] _Mercy_ is not put for equity. If such explanation be allowed, what can be difficult? The meaning is, _I call_ mercy _herself_ to witness, that defensive violence is just.

III.v.68 (338,2) a sworn rioter] A _sworn rioter_ is a man who practises riot, as if he had by an oath made it his duty.

III.v.80 (337,3) your reverend ages love/Security] He charges them obliquely with being usurers.

III.v.96 (337,5) Do you dare our anger?/'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect] This reading may pass, but perhaps the author wrote,

_our anger_?
_'Tis few in words, but spacious in effect._

III.v.114 (338,7)

I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and play for hearts.
'Tis honour with most hands to be at odds]

[Warburton had substituted "hands" for "lands"] I think _hands_ is very properly substituted for _lands_. In the foregoing line, for, _lay for hearts_, I would read, _play_ for _hearts_.

III.vi.4 (339,7) Upon that were my thoughts tiring] A hawk, I think, is said to _tire_, when she amuses herself with pecking a pheasant'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_.

III.vi.100 (342,9) Is your perfection] Your _perfection_, is _the highest of your excellence_.

III.vi.101 (342,1) and spangled you with flatteries] [W: with your] The present reading is right.

III.vi.106 (342,2) time-flies] Flies of a season.

III.vi. 107 (342,5) minute-jacks!] Hanmer thinks it means _Jack-a-lantern_, which shines and disappears in an instant. What it was I know not; but it was something of quick motion, mentioned in Richard III.

III.vi.108 (342,4) the infinite malady] Every kind of disease incident to man and beast.

IV.i.19 (344,6)

Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries,
And yet confusion live!]

Hanmer reads, _let_ confusion; but the meaning may be, _though by such confusion all things seem to hasten to dissolution_, yet _let not dissolution come, but the miseries of_ confusion _continue._

IV.ii (345,1) Enter Flavius] Nothing contributes more to the exaltation of Timon's character than the zeal and fidelity of his servants. Nothing but real virtue can be honoured by domesticks; nothing but impartial kindness can gain affection from dependants.

IV.ii.10 (345,2) So his familiars from his buried fortunes/Slink all away] The old copies have _to_ instead of _from_. The correction is Hanmer's; but the old reading might stand (see 1765, VI, 231, 2)

IV.ii.38 (346,4) strange unusual blood] Of this passage, I suppose, every reader would wish for a correction; but the word, harsh as it is, stands fortified by the rhyme, to which, perhaps, it owes its introduction. I know not what to propose. Perhaps,

--_strange unusual_ mood,

may, by some, be thought better, and by others worse.

IV.iii.1 (347,5) O blessed, breeding sun] [W: blessing breeding] I do not see that this emendation much strengthens the sense.

IV.iii.2 (347,6) thy sister's orb] That is, the moon's, this _sublunary_ world.

IV.iii.6 (348,7) Not nature,/To whom all sores lay siege] I have preserved this note rather for the sake of the commentator [Warburton] than of the author. How _nature, to whom all sores lay siege_, can so emphatically express _nature in its greatest perfection_, I shall not endeavour to explain. The meaning I take to be this: _Brother, when his fortune is inlarged, will scorn brother_; for this is the general depravity of human nature, which, _besieged as it is by misery_, admonished as it is of want and imperfection, when _elevated by fortune, will despise_ beings of _nature like its own_.

IV.iii.12 (349,9) It is the pastor lards the brother's sides,/The want that makes him leave] [W: weather's sides] This passage is very obscure, nor do I discover any clear sense, even though we should admit the emendation. Let us inspect the text as I have given it from the original edition,

_It is the_ pastour _lards the_ brother's _sides,
The want that makes him_ leave.

Dr. Warburton found the passage already changed thus,

_It is the_ pasture _lards the_ beggar's _sides,
The want that makes him_ lean.

And upon this reading of no authority, raised another equally uncertain.

Alterations are never to be made without necessity. Let us see what sense the genuine reading will afford. Poverty, says the poet, _bears contempt hereditary_, and _wealth native honour_. To illustrate this position, having already mentioned the case of a poor and rich brother, he remarks, that this preference is given to wealth by those whom it least becomes; _it is the_ pastour _that greases or_ flatters _the rich_ brother, and will grease him on till _want makes him leave_. The poet then goes on to ask, _Who dares to say this man_, this pastour, _is a flatterer_; the crime is universal; through all the world _the learned pate_, with allusion to the pastour, _ducks to the golden fool_. If it be objected, as it may justly be, that the mention of pastour is unsuitable, we must remember the mention of _grace_ and _cherubims_ in this play, and many such anachronisms in many others. I would therefore read thus:

_It is the pastour lards the brother's sides_,
'Tis _want that makes him leave_.

The obscurity is still great. Perhaps a line is lost. I have at least given the original reading.

IV.iii.27 (350,2) no idle votarist] No insincere or inconstant supplicant. _Gold_ will not serve me instead of _roots_.

IV.iii.38 (351,5) That makes the wappen'd widow wed again] Of _wappened_ I have found no example, nor know any meaning. To _awhape_ is used by Spenser in his _Hubberd's Tale_, but I think not in either of the senses mentioned. I would read _wained_, for _decayed by time_. So our author in _Richard the Third_, _A beauty_-waining _and distressed widow_.

IV.iii.41 (352,6) To the April day again] That is, _to the wedding day_, called by the poet, satirically, _April day_, or _fool's day_.

IV.iii.44 (352,7) Do thy right nature] Lie in the earth where nature laid thee.

IV.iii.44 (352,8) Thou'rt quick] Thou hast life and motion in thee.

IV.iii.64 (353,9) I will not kiss thee] This alludes to an opinion in former times, generally prevalent, that the venereal infection transmitted to another, left the infecter free. I will not, says Timon, take the rot from thy lips by kissing thee.

IV.iii.72 (353,1)

_Tim._ Promise me friendship, but perform none. If
Thou wilt not promise, the Gods plague thee, for
Thou art a man; if thou dost perform, confound thee,
For thou art a man!]

That is, however thou may'st act, since thou art man, hated man, I wish thee evil.

IV.iii.82 (354,2)

Be a whore still! They love thee not that use thee;
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust:
Make use of thy salt hours]

There is here a slight transposition. I would read,

--_They love thee not that use thee,
Leaving with thee their lust; give them diseases;
Make use of thy salt hours; season the slaves
For tubs and baths_;--

IV.iii.115 (356,6) milk-paps,/That through the window-bars bore at mens' eyes] [W: window-lawn] The reading is more probably,

--_window-bar_,--

The virgin that shews her bosom through the lattice of her chamber.

IV.iii.119 (356,8) exhaust their mercy] For _exhaust_, sir T. Hanmer, and after him Dr. Warburton, read _extort_; but _exhaust_ here signifies literally to _draw forth_.

IV.iii.120 (356,7)

Think it a bastard, whom the oracle
Hath doubtfully prunounc'd thy throat shall cut]

An allusion to the tale of OEdipus.

IV.iii.134 (357,8) And to make whores a bawd] [W: make whole] The old edition reads,

_And to make whores a bawd._

That is, _enough to make a whore leave whoring, and a bawd leave making whores_.

IV.iii.139 (357,9) I'll trust to your conditions] You need not swear to continue whores, I will trust to your inclinations.

IV.iii.140 (358,1) Yet may your pains, six months,/Be quite contrary] The explanation [Warburton's] is ingenious, but I think it very remote, and would willingly bring the author and his readers to meet on easier terms. We may read,

--_Yet may your pains six months
Be quite_ contraried.--

Timon is wishing ill to mankind, but is afraid lest the whores should imagine that he wishes well to them; to obviate which he lets them know, that he imprecates upon them influence enough to plague others, and disappointments enough to plague themselves. He wishes that they may do all possible mischief, and yet take _pains six months_ of the year in vain.

In this sense there is a connection of this line with the next. Finding _your pains contraried_, try new expedients, _thatch your thin roofs_, and _paint_.

To _contrary_ is on old verb. Latymer relates, that when he went to court, he was advised not to _contrary_ the king.

IV.iii.153 (359,3) mens' spurring] Hanmer reads _sparring_, properly enough, if there be any ancient example of the word.

IV.iii.158 (359,5)

take the bridge quite away
Of him, that his particular to foresee
Smells from the general weal]

[W: to forefend] The metaphor is apparently incongruous, but the sense is good. To _foresee his particular_, is _to provide for his private advantage_, for which _he leaves the right scent of publick good_. In hunting, when hares have cross'd one another, it is common for some of the hounds _to smell from the general weal, and foresee their own particular_. Shakespeare, who seems to have been a skilful sportsman, and has alluded often to falconry, perhaps, alludes here to hunting.

To the commentator's emendation it may be objected, that he used _forefend_ in the wrong meaning. To _forefend_, is, I think, never to _provide for_, but to _provide against_. The verbs compounded with _for_ or _fore_ have commonly either an evil or negative sense.

IV.iii.182 (361,8) eyeless venom'd worm] The serpent, which we, from the smallness of his eyes, call the _blind worm_, and the Latins, _caecilia_.

IV.iii.183 (361,9) below crisp heaven] [W: cript] Mr. Upton declares for _crisp_, curled, bent, hollow.

IV.iii.188 (361,1) Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!] [W: out to ungrateful] It is plain that _bring out_ is _bring forth_, with which the following lines correspond so plainly, that the commentator might be suspected of writing his note without reading the whole passage.

IV.iii.193 (362,2) Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough torn leas] I cannot concur to censure Theobald [as Warburton did] as a _critic_ very _unhappy_. He was weak, but he was cautious: finding but little power in his mind, he rarely ventured far under its conduct. This timidity hindered him from daring conjectures, and sometimes hindered him happily.

This passage, among many others, may pass without change. The genuine reading is not _marrows, veins_, but _marrows_, vines: the sense is this; _O nature! cease_ to _produce men, ensear thy womb_; but if thou wilt continue to produce them, at least cease to pamper them; _dry up thy marrows_, on which they fatten with _unctuous morsels_, thy _vines_, which give them _liquorish draughts_, and thy _plow-torn leas_. Here are effects corresponding with causes, _liquorish draughts_ with _vines_, and _unctuous morsels_ with _marrows_, and the old reading literally preserved.

IV.iii.209 (363,3) the cunning of a carper] _Cunning_ here seems to signify _counterfeit appearance_.

IV.ii.223 (364,4) moist trees] Hanmer reads very elegantly,

--moss'd _trees_.

IV.iii.37 (364,5)

_Tim._ Always a villain's office, or a fool's.
Dost please thyself in't?

_Apem._ Ay.

_Tim._ What! a knave too?]

Such was Dr. Warburton's first conjecture ["and know't too"], but afterwards he adopted Sir T. Hanmer's conjecture,

_What a knave_ thou!

but there is no need of alteration. Timon had just called Apemantus _fool_, in consequence of what he had known of him by former acquaintance; but when Apemantus tells him, that he comes _to vex him_, Timon determines that to _vex_ is either _the office of a villain or a fool_; that _to vex by design_ is _villainy, to vex without design_ is _folly_. He then properly asks Apemantus whether he takes delight in _vexing_, and when he answers, _yes_, Timon replies, _What! and knave too?_ I before only knew thee to be a _fool_, but I now find thee likewise a _knave_. This seems to be so clear as not to stand in need of a comment.

IV.iii.242 (365,6) Willing misery/Out-lives incertain pomp; is crown'd before] Arrives sooner at _high wish_; that is, at the _completion of its wishes_.

IV.iii.247 (365,7) Worse than the worst, content] Best states contentless have a wretched being, a being worse than that of the worst states that are content. This one would think too plain to have been mistaken. (1773)

IV.iii.249 (365,8) by his breath] It means, I believe, by his _counsel_, by his _direction_.

IV. iii. 252 (366,l) Hadst thou, like us] There is in this speech a sullen haughtiness, and malignant dignity, suitable at once to the lord and the man-hater. The impatience with which he bears to have his luxury reproached by one that never had luxury within his reach, is natural and graceful.

There is in a letter, written by the earl of Essex, just before his execution, to another nobleman, a passage somewhat resembling this, with which, I believe every reader will be pleased, though it is so serious and solemn that it can scarcely be inserted without irreverence.

"God grant your lordship may quickly feel the comfort I now enjoy in my unfettered conversion, but that you may never feel the torments I have suffered for my long delaying it. _I had none but deceivers to call upon me, to whom I said, if my ambition could have entered into their narrow breasts, they would not have been so precise. But your lordship hath one to call upon you, that knoweth what it is you now enjoy; and what the greatest fruit and end is of all contentment that this world can afford._ Think, therefore, dear earl, that I have staked and buoyed all the ways of pleasure unto you, and left them as sea-marks for you to keep the channel of religious virtue. For shut your eyes never so long, they must be open at the last, and then you must say with me, _there is no peace to the ungodly_."

IV.iii.252 (366,2) from our first swath] From infancy. _Swath_ is the dress of a new-born child.

IV.iii.258 (366,3) precepts of respect] Of obedience to laws.

IV.iii.259 (366,4) But myself] The connection here requires some attention. _But_ is here used to denote opposition; but what immediately precedes is not opposed to that which follows. The adversative particle refers to the two first lines.

_Thou art a slave, whom fortune's tender arm
With favour never claspt; but bred a dog.
--But myself,
Who had the world as my confectionary,_ &c.

The intermediate lines are to be considered as a parenthesis of passion.

IV.iii.271 (367,5) If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,/ Must be thy subject] If we read _poor rogue_, it will correspond rather better to what follows.

IV.iii.276 (367,6) Thou hadst been knave and flatterer] Dryden has quoted two verses of Virgil to shew how well he could have written satires. Shakespeare has here given a specimen of the same power by a line bitter beyond all bitterness, in which Timon tells Apemantus, that he had not virtue enough for the vices which he condemns.

Dr. Warburton explains _worst_ by _lowest_, which somewhat weakens the sense, and yet leaves it sufficiently vigorous.

I have heard Mr. Bourke commend the subtilty of discrimination with which Shakespeare distinguishes the present character of Timon from that of Apemantus, whom to vulgar eyes he would now resemble. (see 1763, VI, 249, 6) (rev. 1778, VIII, 424, 4)

IV.iii.308 (369,8) Ay, though it look like thee] Timon here supposes that an objection against hatred, which through the whole tenor of the conversation appears an argument for it. One would have expected him to have answered,

Yes, _for it looks like thee_.

The old edition, which always gives the pronoun instead of the affirmative particle, has it,

_I, though it look like thee_.

Perhaps we should read,

_I_ thought _it_ look'd _like thee_.

IV,iii.363 (371,2) Thou art the cap] i.e. the property, the bubble. WARBURTON.] I rather think, the _top_, the _principal_.

The remaining dialogue has more malignity than wit.

IV.iii.383 (372,4) 'Twixt natural, son and sire!']

[Greek: dia touton ouk adelphoi
dia touton ou toxaeas. ANAC.]

IV.iii.398 (373,6) More things like men?] This line, in the old edition, is given to Aremantus, but it apparently belongs to Timon. Hanmer has transposed the foregoing dialogue according to his own mind, not unskilfully, but with unwarrantable licence.

IV.iii.419 (373,7) you want much of meat] [T: of meet] Such is Mr. Theobald's emendation, in which he is followed by Dr. Warburton. Sir T. Hanmer reads,

--_you want much of_ men.

They have been all busy without necessity. Observe the series of the conversation. The thieves tell him, that they are _men that much do want_. Here is an ambiguity between _much want_ and _want_ of _much_. Timon takes it on the wrong side, and tells them that their _greatest want is_, that, like other men, _they want much of meat_; then telling them where meat may be had, he asks, _Want? why want?_ (see 1765, VI, 254, 5)

IV.iii.420 (374,8) the earth hath roots;/Within this mile break forth an hundred springs]

_Vile plus, et duris haerentia mora rubetis
Pugnantis stomachi composuere famen:
Flumine vicino stultus sitit._

I do not suppose these to be imitations, but only to be similar thoughts on similar occasions.

IV.iii.442 (375,2) The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves/The moon into salt tears] [W: The mounds] I am not willing to receive _mounds_, which would not be understood but by him that suggested it. The _moon_ is supposed to be humid, and perhaps a source of humidity, but cannot be _resolved_ by the _surges_ of the sea. Yet I think _moon_ is the true reading. Here is a circulation of thievary described: The sun, moon, and sea all rob, and are robbed.

IV.iii.456 (376,3) 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery] [Hanmer: his malice to] Hanmer's emendation, though not necessary, is very probable, and very unjustly charged with nonsense [by Warburton]. The reason of his advice, says the thief, is _malice to mankind_, not any kindness to us, or desire _to have us thrive in our mystery_.

IV.iii.468 (378,5) What an alteration of honour has/Desperate want made!] [W: of humour] The original copy has,

_What an alteration of honour has desperate want made!_

The present reading is certainly better, but it has no authority. To change _honour_ to _humour_ is not necessary. _An alteration of honour_, is an _alteration_ of an _honourable state_ to a state of disgrace.

IV.iii.474 (378,8)

Grant, I may ever love, and rather woe
Those that would mischief me, than those that do!]

[W: rather too/...that woo] In defiance of this criticism, I have ventured to replace the former reading, as more suitable to the general spirit of these scenes, and as free from the absurdities charged upon it. It is plain, that in this whole speech _friends_ and _enemies_ are taken only for those who _profess friendship_ and _profess enmity_; for the _friend_ is supposed not to be more kind, but more dangerous than the _enemy_. In the amendation, _those that would mischief_ are placed in opposition to _those that woo_, but in the speaker's intention _those that woo_ are _those that mischief_ most. The sense is, _Let me rather woo or caress those that_ would _mischief, that_ profess to mean me mischief, _than those_ that really _do_ me _mischief under false professions of kindness_. The Spaniards, I think, have this proverb; _Defend me from my friends, and from my enemies I will defend myself_. This proverb is a sufficient comment on the passage.

IV.iii.484 (379,9) all/I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains] _Knave_ is here in the compounded sense of a _servant_ and a _rascal_.

IV.iii.492 (379,1) Pity's sleeping] I do not know that any correction is necessary, but I think we might read,

--_eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter, pity sleeping_.

_Eyes never flow_ (to _give_ is to dissolve as saline bodies in moist weather) _but by lust_ or _laughter_, undisturbed _by_ emotions of _pity_.

IV.iii.499 (380,2) It almost turns my dangerous nature wild] [W: mild] This emendation is specious, but even this may be controverted. To _turn wild_ is _to distract_. An appearance so unexpected, says Timon, _almost turns my savageness_ to distraction. Accordingly he examines with nicety lest his phrenzy, should deceive him,

_Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
Was born of woman_.

And to this suspected disorder of mind he alludes,

_Perpetual, sober, Gods_!--
Ye powers whose intellects are out of the reach of perturbation.

IV.iii.533 (381,3) thou shalt build from men] Away from human habitations.

V.i (382,5) _Enter Poet and Painter_] The poet and the painter were within view when Apemantus parted from Timon, and might then have seen Timon, since Apemantus, standing by him could not see them: But the scenes of the thieves and steward have passed before their arrival, and yet passed, as the drama is now conducted within their view. It might be suspected that some scenes are transposed, for all these difficulties would be removed by introducing the poet and painter first, and the thieves in this place. Yet I am afraid the scenes must keep their present order; for the painter alludes to the thieves when he says, _he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity_. This impropriety is now heightened by placing the thieves in one act, and the poet and painter in another: but it must be remembered, that in the original edition this play is not divided into separate acts, so that the present distribution is arbitrary, and may be changed if any convenience can be gained, or impropriety obviated by alteration.

V.i.47 (384,6) While the day serves, before black-corner'd night] [W: black-cornette] _Black-corner'd night_ is probably corrupt, but _black-cornette_ can hardly be right, for it should be _black-cornetted night_. I cannot propose any thing, but must leave the place in its present state. (1773)

V.i.101 (386,8) a made-up villain] That is a villain that adopts qualities and characters not properly belonging to him; a hypocrite.

V.i.105 (386,9) drown them in a draught] That is, _in the_ jakes.

V.i.109 (388,1)

But two in company--
Each man apart, all single and alone,
Yet an arch villain keeps him company]

This passage is obscure. I think the meaning is this: _but two in company_, that is, stand apart, _let only two be together_; for even when each stands single there are two, he himself and a villain.

V.i.151 (388,3) Of its own fall] [The Oxford editor alters _fall_ to _fault_, not knowing that Shakespeare uses _fall_ to signify dishonour, not destruction. So in _Hamlet_,

_What a_ falling_ off was there_! WARBURTON.]

The truth is, that neither _fall_ means _disgrace_, nor is _fault_ a necessary emendation. _Falling off_ in the quotation is not _disgrace_ but _defection_. The Athenians _had sense_, that is, felt the danger _of their own fall_, by the arms of Alcibiades.

V.i.151 (388,4) restraining aid to Timon] I think it should be _refraining aid_, that is, with-holding aid that should have been given _to_ Timon.

V.i.154 (389,5) Than their offence can weigh down by the dram] This which was in the former editions can scarcely be right, and yet I know not whether my reading will be thought to rectify it. I take the meaning to be, We will give thee a recompence that our offences cannot outweigh, _heaps of wealth down by the dram_, or delivered according to the exactest measure. A little disorder may perhaps have happened in transcribing, which may be reformed by reading,

--_Ay, ev'n such heaps
And sums of love and wealth, down by the dram,
As shall to thee_--

V.i.165 (389,6) Allow'd with absolute power] _Allowed_ is _licensed_, _privileged_, _uncontrolled_. So of a buffoon, in _Love's Labour lost_, it is said, that he is _allowed_, that is, at liberty to say what he will, a privileged scoffer.

V.i.139 (390,7) My long sickness/Of health and living now begins to mend] The disease of life begins to promise me a period.

V.i.211 (391,8) in the sequence of degree] Methodically, from highest to lowest.

V.iii.4 (393,2) Some beast read this; here does not live a man] [W: rear'd] Notwithstanding this remark, I believe the old reading to be the right. _The soldier had only seen the rude heap of earth._ He had evidently seen something that told him _Timon was dead_; and what could tell that but his tomb? The tomb he sees, and the inscription upon it, which not being able to read, and finding none to read it for him, he exclaims peevishly, _some beast read this_, for it must be read, and in this place it cannot be read by man.

There is something elaborately unskilful in the contrivance of sending a soldier, who cannot read, to take the epitaph in wax, only that it may close the play by being read with more solemnity in the last scene.

V.iv.7 (394, 3) traverst arms] Arms across.

V.iv.8 (394,4) the time is flush] A bird is _flush_ when his feathers are grown, and he can leave the nest. _Flush_ is _mature_.

V.iv.18 (395,7)

So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message, and by promis'd means]

[T: promis'd mends] Dr. Warburton agrees with Mr. Theobald, but the old reading may well stand.

V.iv.28 (395,8) Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess/Hath broke their hearts] [Theobald had emended the punctuation] I have no wish to disturb the means of Theobald, yet think some emendation nay be offered that will make the construction less harsh, and the sentence more serious. I read,

_Shape that they wanted, coming in excess,
Hath broke their hearts._

_Shame which they_ had so long _wanted at last_ coming in _its utmost_ excess.

V.iv.36 (396,8) not square] Not regular, not equitable.

V.iv.35 (397,9) uncharged ports] That is, _unguarded gates_.

V.iv.59 (397,1) 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.

V.iv.76 (308.,3) our brain's flow; Hanmer and Dr. Warburton read,

--brine's flow,--

Our brain's flow is our tears; but we any read our brine's flow, our salt tears. Either will serve. (see 1765, VI, 276, 6)

(399) General Observation. The play of _Timon_ is a domestic 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 ostentations liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship.

In this tragedy are many passages perplexed, obscure, and probably corrupt, which I have endeavoured to rectify, or explain, with due diligence; but having only one copy, cannot promise myself that my endeavours shall be much applauded.

TITUS ANDRONICUS

(403,1) It is observable, that this play is printed in the quarto of 1611, with exactness equal to that of the other books of those times. The first edition was probably corrected by the author, so that here is very little room for conjecture or emendation; and accordingly none of the editors have much molested this piece with officious criticism.

I.i.70 (406,2) Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!] [W: my] _Thy_ is as well as _my_. We may suppose the Romans in a grateful ceremony, meeting the dead sons of Andronicus with mourning habits.

I.i.77 (407,3) Thou great defender of this Capitol] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred.

I.i.168 (410,5) And fame's eternal date for virtue's praise!] [W: In] To _live in fame's date_ is, if an allowable, yet a harsh expression. To _outlive_ an _eternal date_, is, though not philosophical, yet poetical sense. He wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame.

I.i.309 (414,6) changing piece] Spoken of Lavinia. _Piece_ was then, as it is now, used personally as a word of contempt.

II.i (421,8) In the quarto, the direction is, _Manet Aaron_, and he is before made to enter with Tamora, though he says nothing. This scene ought to continue the first act.

II.i.9 (421,9) So Tamora--/Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait] [W: her will] I think _wit_, for which she is eminent in the drama, is right.

II.i.116 (425,2) by kind] That is, by _nature_, which is the old signification of _kind_.

II.ii (425,3) _Changes to a Forest_] The division of this play into acts, which was first made by the editors in 1623, is improper. There is here an interval of action, and here the second act ought to have begun.

II.iii.8 (427,6)

And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest,
That have their alms out of the empress' chest]

This is obscure. It seems to mean only, that they who are to come at this gold of the empress are to suffer by it.

II.iii.72 (430,9) swarth Cimmerian] _Swarth_ is _black_. The Moor is called Cimmerien, from the affinity of blackness to darkness.

II.iii.85 (430,1)

_Bas._ The king, my brother, shall have note of this.
_Lav._ Ay, for these slips have made him noted long]

He had yet been married but one night.

II.iii.104 (431,2) Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly] This is said in fabulous physiology, of those that hear the groan of the mandrake torn up.

II.iii.126 (432,3) And with that painted hope she braves your mightiness] [W: cope] _Painted hope_ is only _specious_ hope, or ground of confidence more plausible than solid.

II.iii.227 (435,4) A precious ring, that lightens all the hole] There is supposed to be a gem called a carbuncle, which emits not reflected but native light. Mr. Boyle believes the reality of its existence.

II.iv.13 (438,5) If I do dream, 'would all my wealth would wake me'] If this be a dream, I would give all my possessions to be delivered from it by waking.

III.i.91 (443,8) It was my deer] The play upon _deer_ and _dear_ has been used by Waller, who calls a lady's girdle, _The pale that held my lovely_ deer.

III.i.216 (447,1) And do not break into these deep extremes] [We should read, instead of this nonsense,

--woe-_extremes_.

i.e. extremes caused by excessive sorrow. But Mr. Theobald, on his own authority, alters it to _deep_, without notice given. WARB.] It is _deep_ in the old quarto of 1611, (rev. 1778, VIII, 510, 8)

III.ii (450,2) _An apartment in Titus's house_] This scene, which does not contribute any thing to the action, yet seems to have the same author with the rest, is omitted in the quarto of 1611, but found in the folio of 1623.

III.ii.45 (452,3) by still practice] By _constant_ or _continual_ practice.

IV.i.129 (458,6) Revenge the heavens] It should be,

_Revenge_, ye _Heavens_!--

_Ye_ was by the transcriber taken for _y'e_, the.

IV.ii.85 (461,7) I'll broach the tadpole] A _broach_ is a _spit_. I'll _spit_ the tadpole.