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He has much difgrac'd me in't; I'm angry at him,
That might have known my place. I fee no fense for't,
But his occafions might have wooed me first;
For, in my confcience, I was the first man
That e'er receiv'd gift from him:

And does he think fo backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it laft? No.

So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the reft, and I 'mongft lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the fum,
He had fent to me first, but for my mind's fake;
I had fuch a courage to do him good.

6

But now return:

And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who 'bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
[Exit.
Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly vil-
8 The devil knew not what he did, when he
made men politick; he crofs'd himself by't: and I
cannot think, but in the end the villainies of man

lain.

bis friends, (like phyficians)

Thrive, give him over?

will

which Theobald has mifreprefented. Hanmer reads, try'd, plau-
fibly enough. Instead of three propofed by Mr. Pope, I should
read thrice. But perhaps the old reading is the true. JOHNSON.
Perhaps we should read SHRIV'D. They give him over shriv'd;
that is, prepared for immediate death by fhrift.

Obfervations and Conjectures, &c. printed at Oxford, 1766.
I bad fuch a courage] Such an ardour, fuch an eager defire.
JOHNSON.

7 Excellent, &c.] I fuppofe the former part of this speech to have been originally written in verfe, as well as the latter; though the players having printed it as profe (omitting feveral fyllables neceffary to the metre) it cannot now be restored to metre without fuch additions as no editor is at liberty to infert in the text.

STEEVENS.

3 The devil knew n ́t what he did,] I cannot but think that the negative not has intruded into this paffage, and the reader will think fo too, when he reads Dr. Warburton's explanation of the next words. JOHNSON.

will fet bim clear.] Set him clear does not mean acquit him
before

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will fet him clear. How fairly this lord ftrives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked: like thofe that under hot, ardent zeal, would fet whole realms on fire.

Of fuch a nature is his politick love.

This was my lord's beft hope; now all are fled,
Save only the Gods. Now his friends are dead;
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employed
Now to guard fure their mafter.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

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Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his houfe. [Exit. before heaven; for then the devil must be fuppofed to know what he did but it fignifies puzzle him, outdo him at his own weapons. WARBURTON.

How the devil, or any other being, fhould be fet clear by being puzzled and outdone, the commentator has not explained. When in a crowd we would have an opening made, we fay, Stand clear, that is, out of the way of danger. With fome affinity to this ufe, though not without great harshness, to fit clear, may be to fet afide. But I believe the original corruption is the infertion of the negative, which was obtruded by fome tranfcriber, who fuppofed croffed to mean thwarted, when it meant, exempted from evil. The ufe of croing, by way of protection or purification, was probably not worn out in Shakespeare's time. The fenfe of fet clear is now eafy; he has no longer the guilt of tempting man. To cross himself may mean, in a very familiar fenfe, to clear his fcore, to get out of debt, to quit his reckoning. He knew not what be did, may mean, he knew not how much good he was doing himfelf. There is then no necd of emendation. JOHNSON.

'takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like thofe, &c ] This is a reflection on the puritans of that time. Thefe people were then fet upon a project of new-modelling the ecclefiaßical and civil government according to fcripture rules and examples; which makes him fay, that under zeal for the word of God, they would fit whole realms on fire. So Sempronius pretended to that warm affection and generous jealoufy of friendship, that is affronted, if any other be applied to before it. At beit the fimilitude is an aukward one: but it fitted the audience, though not the Speaker. WARBURTON.

-keep his houfe.] i. e. keep within doors for fear of duns.

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SCENE IV.

Changes to Timon's ball.

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Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, Lucius, and other fervants of Timon's creditors, who wait for his coming out.

Var. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortenfius.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius? What do we meet together?
Luc. And, I think,

One bufinefs does command us all, for mine
Is money.

Tit. So is theirs, and ours.

Enter Philotus.

Luc. And fir Philotus too.

Phi. Good day, at once.

Luc. Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?

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Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to fhine at feven. Luc. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him: You must confider that 4 a prodigal's course

Is like the fun's; but not like his recoverable.
I fear

'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purfe;
That is,

3 Lucius is here again for the servant of Lucius.

That is, like him in blaze and splendour.

JOHNSON,

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Sales occidere et redire poffunt.

One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.
Phi. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll fhew how to obferve a strange event.
Your lord fends now for money.

Hor. Moft true, he does.

Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, For which I wait for money.

Hor. It is against my heart.

Luc. Mark how ftrange it shows,

Timon in this should pay more than he owes :
And e'en as if your lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em.

Hor. I am weary of this charge, the Gods can witnefs.

I know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth. Var. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?

Luc. Five thousand mine.

Var. 'Tis much deep; and it should seem by the fum,

Your mafter's confidence was above mine:

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Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord Ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.

Tit. We attend his lordship; pray, fignify fo much. Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent.

5 I am weary of this charge,] That is, of this commiffion, of this employment.

Elfe, furely, his had equall'd.] Should it not be, eife, jurely, mine bad equall'd.

JOHNSON.

JOHNSON.

Enter

Enter Flavius in a cloak muffled.

Luc. Ha! is not that his fteward muffled fo? He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. Tit. Do you hear, fir―

Var. By your leave, fir.

Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, fir.

Flav. Ay, if money were as certain as your waiting, 'Twere fure enough.

Why then preferr'd you not your fums and bills,
When your falfe mafters eat of my lord's meat?
Then they would fmile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down the intereft in their gluttonous maws;
You do yourselves but wrong to ftir me up,
Let me pafs quietly.

Believ't, my lord and I have made an end;

I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Luc. Ay, but this anfwer will not serve.

Flav. If 'twill not ferve, 'tis not fo bafe as you; For you serve knaves.

[Exit. Var. How! what does his cafhier'd worship mutter? Tit. No matter what: he's poor,

And that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader
Than he that has no houfe to put his head in?
Such may rail 'gainst great buildings.

7 Enter Servilius.

Tit. Oh, here's Servilius; now we shall know Some answer.

Serv. If I might befeech you, gentlemen,

To repair fome other hour, I fhould

Derive much from it: for, take it on my foul,
My lord leans wond'roufly to discontent:

7 Enter Servilius.] It may be obferved that Shakespeare has unfkilfully filled his Greek flory with Roman names,

JOHNSON.

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