And none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy Of comely virtues : 5 Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox," Striving to make an ugly deed look fair: Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; setting his fate aside,] i. e. putting this action of his, which was pre-determined by fate, out of the question. And with such sober and unnoted passion He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent, &c.] The sense of this passage, (however perversely expressed on account of rhyme,) may be this: "He managed his anger with such sober and unnoted passion [i. e. suffering, forbearance,] before it was spent, [i.e. before that disposition to endure the insult he had received, was exhausted,] that it seemed as if he had been only engaged in supporting an argument he had advanced in conversation. You undergo too strict a paradox,] You undertake a paradox too hard. that man can breathe,] i. e. can utter. And ne'er prefer his injuries to the heart, If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, If I speak like a captain.— Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, Such valour in the bearing, what make we And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O'my lords, As you are great, be pitifully good: Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;1 But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just. But who is man, that is not angry P 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. In vain his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, 1 Sen. What's that? what make we Abroad?] What do we, or what have we to do in the field? sin's extremest gust;] Gust means rashness. The allusion may be to a sudden gust of wind. So we say, it was done in a sudden gust of passion. 2 by mercy, 'tis most just.] i. e. witness, that defensive violence is just. I call mercy herself tó Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies: How full of valour did he bear himself In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, My honour to you, upon his good returns. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or brother, He forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What? Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has forgot me; It could not else be, I should prove so base,' and be denied such common grace: To sue, 3 I should prove so base,] Base for dishonoured. My wounds ache at you. 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? "Tis in few words, but spacious in effect; We banish thee for ever. Alcib. Banish me? Banish your dotage; banish usury, That makes the senate ugly. 1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit,* He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senators. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, And not to swell our spirit,] i. e. not to put ourselves into any tumour of rage, take our definitive resolution. SCENE VI. A magnificent Room in Timon's House. Musick. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several Doors. 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring," when we encountered: I hope it is not so low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. 2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. 1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. 2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? 3 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. 5 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. JOHNSON. |