Whe Nav ALIBIAGES, with drun ner; PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA. Heih. What art thou there? 1 This alludes to the old, erroneous, prevalent opinion, that infection communicated to another, left the infecter free. Alcib. What is it, Timon? 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! Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Tim. Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity. Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time. Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. Timan. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world Voiced so regardfully? Tim. Timan. Art thou Timandra? Yes. Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that use thee; Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth Timan. Hang thee, monster! Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits Are drowned and lost in his calamities.— I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, I had rather be alone. Alcib. Why, fare thee well; Here's some gold for thee. Tim. Keep't, I cannot eat it. Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap, 1 See Act ii. Sc. 2. The diet was a customary term for the regimen prescribed in these cases. Tim. Warr'st thou against Athens? Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause. Tim. The gods confound them all i'thy conquest; and Thee after, when thou hast conquered! Alcib. Tim. That, Why me, Timon? By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer Put up thy gold. Go on,-here's gold,-go on; Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy: Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, Whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me, Not all thy counsel. 1 Cutting. 2 By window-bars, the Poet, perhaps, means "the partlet, gorget, or kerchief, which women put about their neck." 3 An allusion to the tale of Edipus. 4 i. e. against objects of charity and compassion. |