The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [2486]
IV.iii.276 (367,6) Thou hadst been knave and flatterer] Dryden has quoted two verses of Virgil to shew how well he could have written satires. Shakespeare has here given a specimen of the same power by a line bitter beyond all bitterness, in which Timon tells Apemantus, that he had not virtue enough for the vices which he condemns.
Dr. Warburton explains worst by lowest, which somewhat weakens the sense, and yet leaves it sufficiently vigorous.
I have heard Mr. Bourke commend the subtilty of discrimination with which Shakespeare distinguishes the present character of Timon from that of Apemantus, whom to vulgar eyes he would now resemble. (see 1763, VI, 249, 6) (rev. 1778, VIII, 424, 4)
IV.iii.308 (369,8) Ay, though it look like thee] Timon here supposes that an objection against hatred, which through the whole tenor of the conversation appears an argument for it. One would have expected him to have answered,
Yes, for it looks like thee.
The old edition, which always gives the pronoun instead of the affirmative particle, has it,
I, though it look like thee.
Perhaps we should read,
I thought it look'd like thee.
IV,iii.363 (371,2) Thou art the cap] i.e. the property, the bubble. WARBURTON.] I rather think, the top, the principal.
The remaining dialogue has more malignity than wit.
IV.iii.383 (372,4) 'Twixt natural, son and sire!']
[Greek: dia touton ouk adelphoi
dia touton ou toxaeas. ANAC.]
IV.iii.398 (373,6) More things like men?] This line, in the old edition, is given to Aremantus, but it apparently belongs to Timon. Hanmer has transposed the foregoing dialogue according to his own mind, not unskilfully, but with unwarrantable licence.
IV.iii.419 (373,7) you want much of meat] [T: of meet] Such is Mr. Theobald's emendation, in which he is followed by Dr. Warburton. Sir T. Hanmer reads,
—you want much of men.
They have been all busy without necessity. Observe the series of the conversation. The thieves tell him, that they are men that much do want. Here is an ambiguity between much want and want of much. Timon takes it on the wrong side, and tells them that their greatest want is, that, like other men, they want much of meat; then telling them where meat may be had, he asks, Want? why want? (see 1765, VI, 254, 5)
IV.iii.420 (374,8) the earth hath roots;/Within this mile break forth an hundred springs]
Vile plus, et duris haerentia mora rubetis
Pugnantis stomachi composuere famen:
Flumine vicino stultus sitit.
I do not suppose these to be imitations, but only to be similar thoughts on similar occasions.
IV.iii.442 (375,2) The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves/The moon into salt tears] [W: The mounds] I am not willing to receive mounds, which would not be understood but by him that suggested it. The moon is supposed to be humid, and perhaps a source of humidity, but cannot be resolved by the surges of the sea. Yet I think moon is the true reading. Here is a circulation of thievary described: The sun, moon, and sea all rob, and are robbed.
IV.iii.456 (376,3) 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery] [Hanmer: his malice to] Hanmer's emendation, though not necessary, is very probable, and very unjustly charged with nonsense [by Warburton]. The reason of his advice, says the thief, is malice to mankind, not any kindness to us, or desire to have us thrive in our mystery.
IV.iii.468 (378,5) What an alteration of honour has/Desperate want made!] [W: of humour] The original copy has,
What an alteration of honour has desperate want made!
The present reading is certainly better, but it has no authority. To change honour to humour is not necessary. An alteration of honour, is an alteration of an honourable state to a state of disgrace.
IV.iii.474 (378,8)
Grant, I may ever love, and rather woe
Those that would mischief me, than those that do!]
[W: rather too/...that woo] In defiance of this criticism,