The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
[2313] _infinite_] _infectious_ Grant White conj.
_malady_] _maladies_ Hanmer.
[2314] [Throws ... out.] Rowe, after line 99. om. Ff. Pelts them with
stones. S. Walker conj.
and ... out.] om. Delius.
[2315] Re-enter ...] Re-enter the Senators. Pope. Enter the Senators,
with other Lords. Ff. Re-enter Lords &c. Capell. The Guests return.
Grant White. Re-enter the Company. Dyce (ed. 2).
[2316] _Push_] _Psha_ Theobald. _Pish_ Hanmer.
[2317] Fourth Lord.] 4. L. Capell. 4. Ff. 4. Sen. Rowe.
_I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[2318] _He's ... hat._] Printed as four lines of verse by Rann. Three
lines, Capell conj.
[2319] _humour_] F3 F4. _humours_ F1 F2.
[2320] _hat_] _cap_ Pope.
[2321] Third Lord.] 3. L. Capell. 2. Ff. 2. Sen. Rowe. 4 Lord.
Keightley.
[2322] Sec. Lord.] 2. L. Capell. 3. Ff. 3. Sen. Rowe.
[2323] [Exeunt.] Exeunt the Senators. Ff. om. Capell (corrected in MS.).
ACT IV.
SCENE I. _Without the walls of Athens._[2324]
_Enter_ TIMON.
_Tim_. Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,[2325]
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,[2325][2326]
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, 5
And minister in their steads! To general filths[2327]
Convert o' the instant, green virginity![2328]
Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;[2329]
Rather than render back, out with your knives,[2329]
And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! 10
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed!
Thy mistress is o' the brothel. Son of sixteen,[2330]
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,[2331]
With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,[2332] 15
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries, 20
And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,[2333]
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty 25
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,
And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their crop
Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, 30
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee
But nakedness, thou detestable town![2334]
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans![2335]
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find 35
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account