Shakespeare’s, adapted as it is by Sir Thomas North in 1612, may certainly be regarded as a direct version from the Greek, and might reasonably be adduced to prove that he possessed some knowledge of that language. Probably, however, he collected, as he could, the general particulars respecting the veritable and historical Timon, and obtained the help of some man of learning so as to give the very epitaph which in the time of the Peloponnesian war had been placed on the thorn-surrounded sepulchre of the Athenian misanthrope. To conclude this notice we may observe that the breaking of the legs, which Sambucus mentions, is said to have been the actual cause of the real Timon’s death; for that in his hatred of mankind he even hated himself, and would not allow a surgeon to attempt his cure. Envy and Hatred may be considered as nearly allied, the latter too often springing from the former. Alciat, in his 71st Emblem, gives a brief description of Envy,— “SQVALLIDA _vipereas manducans femina carnes, Cuiq. dolent oculi, quæq. suum cor edit, Quam macies & pallor habent, spinosaq. gestat Tela manu: talis pingitur Inuidia._” Thus amplified with considerable force of expression by Whitney (p. 94),[176]— _Inuidiæ deſcriptio._ [Illustration: _Whitney_, 1586.] “WHAT hideous hagge with visage sterne appeares? Whose feeble limmes, can scarce the bodie staie: This, Enuie is: leane, pale, and full of yeares, Who with the blisse of other pines awaie. And what declares, her eating vipers broode? That poysoned thoughtes, bee euermore her foode. What meanes her eies? so bleared, sore, and redd: Her mourninge still, to see an others gaine. And what is mente by snakes vpon her head? The fruite that springes, of such a venomed braine. But whie, her harte shee rentes within her brest? It shewes her selfe, doth worke her owne vnrest. Whie lookes shee wronge? bicause shee woulde not see, An happie wight, which is to her a hell: What other partes within this furie bee? Her harte, with gall: her tonge, with stinges doth swell. And laste of all, her staffe with prickes aboundes: Which showes her wordes, wherewith the good shee woundes.” The dramatist speaks of the horrid creature with equal power. Among his phrases are,— “Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy.” _Merchant of Venice_, act iv. sc. 1, l. 124 “And for we think the eagle-winged pride Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts, With rival-hating envy, set on you To wake our peace.” _Richard II._, act i. sc. 3, l. 129