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Is noble Timon; of whofe memory
Hereafter more.-Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my fword:

Make war breed peace; make peace flint war;

make each

Prescribe to other, as each other's leech. 3-
Let our drums ftrike.

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[Exeunt.4

Timon's faults, or indeed what fault had he committed ?" The faults that Timon committed, were, 1. that boundless prodigality which his Steward fo forcibly describes and laments; and 2. his becoming a Mifanthrope, and abjuring the fociety of all men for the crimes of a few. Theobald fuppofes that Alcibiades bids the fenate fet forward, affuring them at the fame time that he forgives the wrongs they have done him. On:-Faults forgiven. But how unlikely is it, that he should defert the subject immediately before him, and enter upon another quite different fubje&, in these three words; and then return to Timon again? to fay nothing of the frangeness of the phrafc-faults forgiven, forfanlts are forgiven." MALONE.

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ftint war; i. e. ftop it. So, in Spenter's Faery Queen: - 'gan the cunning thief

Perfuade us die, to fint all further ftrife." STEEVENS. leech. ] i. e. phyfician. So, in Spenfer's Faery Queen : Her words prevail'd, and then the learned leech

His cunning hand 'gan to his wounds to lay -—."

STEEVENS.

4 The play of Timon is a domeftick tragedy, and therefore frongly faftens on the attention of the reader. In the plan there is not much art, but the incidents are natural, and the chara&ers various and exa&. The catastrophe affords a very powerful warning againft that oftentatious liberality, which fcatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship.

In this tragedy, are many paffages perplexed, obfcure, and probably corrupt, which I have endeavoured to redify, or explain with due diligence; but having only one copy, cannot promife myfelf that my endeavours fhall be much applauded. JOHNSON. This play was altered by Shadwell, and brought upon the ftage in 1678. In the modeft title-page he calls it Timon of Athens, or the Man-hater, as it is acted at the Duke's Theatre, made into a Play. STEEVENS.

CORIOLANUS.*

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*CORIOLANUS.] This play I conje&ure to have been written in the year 1609. Sec An Attempt to afcertain the order Shakspeare's plays, Vol. II.

It comprehends a period of about four years, commencing with the feceffion to the Mons Sacer in the year of Rome 262, aud end. ing with the death of Coriolanus, A. U. C. 266. / Malone.

The whole biflory is exadly followed, and many of the principal fpeeches exactly copied from the Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch.

POPE

Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a noble Roman.
Titus Lartius, Generals against the Volscians.
Cominius,

Menenius Agrippa, friend to Coriolanus.

Sicinius Velutus, Tribunes of the People.
Junius Brutus,

Young Marcius, Son to Coriolanus.
A Roman Herald.

Tullus Aufidius, General of the Volfcians.
Lieutenant to Aufidius.
Confpirators with Aufidius.
A Citizen of Antium.

Two Volfcian Guards.

Volumnia, Mother to Coriolanus.
Virgilia, Wife to Coriolanus.

Valeria, Friend to Virgilia.

Gentlewoman, attending Virgilia.

Roman and Volfcian Senators, Patricians, Ædiles, Lictors, Soldiers, Citizens, Meffengers, Servants to Aufidius, and other Attendants.

SCENE, partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians and Antiates.

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