That thou art even natural in thine art. But, for all this, my honest-natur'd friends, I mast needs say, you have a little fault : Offering the fortunes of his former days, Flav. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! By two of their most reverend senate, greet Enter TIMON. Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn!-Speak, For each true word, a blister! and each false 1 Sen. Worthy Timon Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. 2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Ti mon. Tim. I thank them; and would send them Could I but catch it for them. 1 Sen. Oh! forget What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I, The senators, with one consent of love,⚫ You take much pains to mend. Both. Beseech your honour, To make it known to us. Tim. You'll take it ill. Both. Most thankfully, my lord. Tia. Will you, indeed? Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. Tim. There's ne'er a one of you but That mightily deceives you. Both. Do we, my lord? trusts a Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dis- Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, Pain. I know none such, my lord. Port. Nor I. Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you Rid me these villains from your companies: Confound them by some course, and come to me, Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them. Company : Each man apart, all single and alone, [To the Painter. [Exit, beating and driving them out. Enter FLAVIUS, and two SENATORS. 1 Sen. Bring us to his cave: is our part and promise to the Athenians, To speak with Timon. 2 Sen. At all times alike Men are not still the same: 'Twas time, and That fram'd him thus: time, with his fairer hand, • As a portrait was then called. A complete villain. Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought For thy best use and wearing. 2 Sen. They confess, Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross: A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal Together with a recompense more fruitful wealth, As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were And write in thee the figures of their love, Tim. You witch me in it; tors. 1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return And of our Athens (thine, and ours,) to take name Live with authority:-so soon we shall drive back 2 Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword 1 Sen. Therefore, Timon, Tim. Well, Sir, I will; therefore, I will, Sir; [Athens, If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, In pity of our aged, and our youth, I cannot chuse but tell him, that-I care not, While you have throats to answer: for myself, [you • With an united voice of affection. a la a jakes, or house of office. Confession. To the protection of the prosperous gods," Flav. Stay not, all's in vain. Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph, It will be seen to-morrow; My long sickness Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, And last so long enough! 1 Sen. We speak in vain. And made us speak like friends :--this man was riding From Alciabiades to Timon's cave, With letters of entreaty, which imported Enter SENATORS from TIMON. 1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 2 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.[ing, Doth choke the air with dust: in and prepare ; Our's is the fall, I fear; our foes, the snare. Tim. But yet I love my country: and am not The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scour One that rejoices in the common wreck, As common bruit ‡ doth put it. 1 Sen. That's well spoke. Tim. Commend me to my loving country men, 1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them. 2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triúmphers In their applauding gates. Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs, I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down,' Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall find him. Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us 3 Sen. It requires swift foot. [Exeunt. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Woods.-TIMON'S Cave, and a Tomb-stone seen. Enter a SOLDIER, seeking TIMON. Sol. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer -What is this? Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span: Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave.- What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character Our captain hath in every figure skill; [Exit. breath'd, Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush + 1 Sen. Noble and young, 2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love, 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such, Than these great towers, trophies, and schools should fall And by the hazard of the spotted die, 1 Sen. All have not offended; For those that were, it is not square, to take, 2 Sen. What thou wilt, Thon rather shalt enforce it with thy smile. 1 Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope: 2 Sen. Throw thy glove. Or any token of thine honour else, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports ;+ Not regular, not equitable. & Reconcile. Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. The SENATORS descend, and open the Gates. Enter a SOLdier. Sold. 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 luterprets for my poor ignorance. Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiff's 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: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our drop. lets which PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS play, the authorship of which has been much disputed, was probably written about the year 1608. Pope ranks it among" the wretched pieces," which cannot be attributed to Shakspeare; but Malone, who divided it into scenes, considers the internal evidence, (such as the congenial sentiments, the situation of the persons, the colour of the style, and the similitude of its expressions, to passages in his undisputed dramas) suffici eatly decisive as to his having written the last three acts, and occasional portions of the preceding two. Indeed, unless it be considered as the production of some inferior playwright, amended by Shakspeare, an earlier date must be assigned to its production, than acknowledged authorities will warrant ; for no play in the English language is so incorrect as this---the metre is seldom attended to---verse is frequently printed as prose---and the grossest errors appear throughout. With all these faults, however, it is mentioned as a very popular per formance; and may still be read with pleasure; for it abounds with situations of difficulty and danger, is full of bustle and vivacity, the interest never lags, and the results are all gratifying. Some of the dialogues are nevertheless gross and nonsensical---those which take place in the brothel are superlatively disgusting, nor can they be excusedby the moral intended to be drawn from them. Steevens, upon this portion, has judiciously remarked, that Marina, who is designed for a character of juvenile innocence, appears much too knowing in the impurities of a brothel; nor are her expressions more chastised than her ideas. The unities of time and place are equally outraged : the action of the piece is alternately occurring at Antioch in Syria---Tyre in Phoenicia--Tarsus in Cilicia---Mitylene in the island of Lesbos---and Ephesus the capital of Ionis. The story ou which the play is founded, is of great antiquity; but the dramatic hero bears no resemblance to his great Athenian namesake. It is taken from the history of Appolonius, king of Tyre, in the Gesta Romanorum, a very old book; which is also related by Gower, in his Confessio Amantis, a poem. Many incidents of the play may be found in the latter work, and even a few of its particular expressions; and, therefore, as Gower himself is introduced, (like the chorus of old) it is reasonable to suppose that Shakspeare chiefly followed the work of that poct. ACT I. Enter GowER. Before the Palace of Antioch. To sing a song of old was sung, To glad your ear, and please your eyes. When wit's more ripe, accept my raymes, I life would wish and that I might, (I tell you what mine authors say :) Wife, the word signifies a mate or companion. ↑ Accounted. To seek her as a bed-fellow, la marriage pleasures play fellow : Which to prevent, he made a law, (To keep her still, and men in awe,) That whoso ask'd her for his wife, His riddle told not, lost his life: So for her many a wight did die, As you grim looks do testify.⚫ What Ant. Read the conclusion thea; Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the Nor ask advice of any other thought now ensues, to the judgment of But faithfulness, and courage. your eye I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. SCENE I.-Antloch.-A Room in the Palace. Eater ANTIOCHUS, PERICLES, and Attendants. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large receiv'd The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus; and with a soul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard, in this enterprise. [Music. Ant. Bring in our daughter clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of Jove himself; Enter the DAUGHTER of ANTIOCHUS. Per. See where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. That, without covering, save yon' field of stars, Gripe not at earthly joys, as erst they did t To the DAUGHTER of ANTIOCHUS. Painting to the scene of the palace gate at Antioch, on which the hands of these aufortunate wights were L.. That gives, [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, [Takes hold of the hand of the princess. But, being play'd upon before your time, Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir❜d : Either expound now, or receive your sentence. Per. Great king, Few love to hear the sins they love to act: Who has a book of all that monarchs do, Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth their will; And if Jove stray, who dares say, Jove doth ill? All love the womb that their first beings bred, Then give my tongue like leave to love my bead. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head; He has found the meaning:But I will gloze + with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Though by the tenour of our strict edict, We might proceed to cancel of your days; ‡ |