2 Thief. It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure. 3 Thief. Let us make the assay upon him; if he care not for't, he will supply us easily; If he covetously deserve it, how shall's get it? 2 Thief. True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid. 1 Thief. Is not this he? Thieves. Where? 2 Thief. "Tis his description. 3 Thief. He; I know him. Thieves. Save thee, Timon. Tim. Now, thieves? Thieves. Soldiers, not thieves. Tim. Both too; and women's sons. Thieves. We are not thieves, but men that much do want. Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots; Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes; You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con, Here's gold: Go, suck the subtle blood of the grape, 4 ♦ In limited professions.] Regular, orderly, professions. More than you rob take wealth and lives together; 1 Thief. "Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade. 1 Thief. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. [Exeunt Thieves. Enter FLAVIUS. Flav. O you gods! Is yon despis'd and ruinous man my lord? by a composture-] i. e. composition, compost. Desperate want made!" What viler thing upon the earth, than friends, Those that would mischief me, than those that do!" TIMON comes forward from his Cave. Tim. Away! what art thou? Flav. Have you forgot me, sir? Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt man, I have forgot thee. Flav. An honest poor Tim. servant of yours. Then I know thee not: I ne'er had honest man Flav. • What an alteration of honour has The gods are witness, Desperate want made!] An alteration of honour, is an alteration of an honourable state to a state of disgrace. How rarely does it meet-] How curiously; how happily. 8 When man was wish'd-]i. e. recommended. • Grant, I may ever love, and rather woo Those that would mischief me, than those that do!] 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. 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. JOHNSON. Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, To accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, To entertain me as your steward still. Tim. Had I a steward so true, so just, and now So comfortable? It almost turns My dangerous nature wild. Let me behold Thy face.-Surely, this man was born of woman.- One honest man,-mistake me not,-but one; Methinks, thou art more honest now, than wise; Thou might'st have sooner got another service: Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true, If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts, Expecting in return twenty for one? It almost turns My dangerous nature wild.] To turn wild, is to distract. An appearance so unexpected, says Timon, almost turns my savageness to distraction. Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late; You should have fear'd false times, when you did feast: Suspect still comes where an estate is least. That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, Care of your food and living: and, believe it, For any benefit that points to me, For this one wish, That you had power and wealth Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest man, Here, take-the gods out of my misery Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy: What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow them, Debts wither them: Be men like blasted woods, And so, farewell, and thrive. Flav. And comfort you, my master. Tim. O, let me stay, If thou hat'st Curses, stay not; fly, whilst thou'rt bless'd and free: Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. [Exeunt severally. 2 -from men;] Away from human habitations. |