And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

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
To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,

Is valour misbegot, and came into the world.
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer

The worst that man can breathe"; and make his wrongs
His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly

And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,

To bring it into danger.

If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,

What folly 'tis, to hazard life for ill?

Alcib. My lord,

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,
And not endure all threatnings? sleep upon it,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? but if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we

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.

7 You undergo too strict a paradox,] You undertake a paradox too hard.

8

that man can breathe;] i. e. can utter.

Abroad? why then, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;

And th'ass, more captain than the lion; the felon †,
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,

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 gust1;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just '.
To be in anger, is impiety;

But who is man, that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.
Alcib.

In vain his service done

At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium,
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

1 Sen. What's that?

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? 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he Is a sworn rioter: h'as a sin that often

Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:

If there were no foes, that were enough alone
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions: 'Tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul, and his drink dangerous.
1 Sen. He dies.

Abroad?] What do we, or what have we to do in the field? + "the fellow,"-MALONE.

1 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. I call mercy herself to witness, that defensive violence is just. JOHNSON.

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him,

(Though his right arm might purchase his own time,

And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you,

Take my deserts to his, and join them both:
And, for I know, your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honour to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receiv't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

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 base3,

То

sue, and be denied such common grace:

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.

3

[Exeunt Senators.

I should prove so base,] Base for dishonoured.

4 And, not to swell our spirit,] i. e. not to put ourselves into any

tumour of rage, take our definitive resolution.

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,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts;-All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! banishment †?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs, as gods.

[Exit.

Musick.

SCENE VI.

A magnificent Room in Timon's House.

Tables set out; Servants attending.
divers Lords, at several Doors.

1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir.

Enter

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

+ Mr. Malone omits ha!

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.

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.

I

2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. 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.

Enter TIMON, and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :-And how fare you?

1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship.

Tim. [aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay; feast your ears with the musick awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently.

1 Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger. Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Lord. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

[The Banquet brought in.

2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.