TIMON OE. ATHENS. 285

Jupiter to " carry Timon a large treasure." In
the play, we observe that the restoration of
Timon to wealth, immediately brings out to him
the sycophants, who in the days of his prosperity
had preyed upon, and in the hour of adversity
deserted him. Thus in Lucian. " But hush !
whence all this noise and hurry^? What crowds
are here, all covered with dust and out of
breath ; somehow or other they have smelt out
the gold. 1*11 get upon this hill, and pelt them
from it with stones.** To this measure he
actually resorts, in order to rid himself of some of
his sordid visitors; others he very unceremo-
niously beats. Shakspeare*s Timon pelts Ape-
mantus, and inflicts corporal chastisement on
the poor poet and painter.
In the powerful contrast and nice discrimina-
tion of characters, Shakspeare is unrivalled. How
few authors would have ventured to produce two
madmen on the scene together, as in Lear, or
two misanthropists, as in the play before us; and
who, besides himself, could, amidst difficulties
so complicated, have arrived at conclusions so
triumphant ?

Timon and Apemantus, at the first view simi-
lar, have nothing in common but their hatred of
mankind. Disgusted with a world, the hoUow-
ness and ingratitude of which Timon in his own



286 TPMON OF ATHENS.
person proved, he . madly rushes to the conclu-
sion, that virtue is a stranger to the human breast;
that love, gratitude, and integrity, are merely
assumed for purposes of imposition ; and that the
sole business of man is one continued endeavour
to overreach and defraud his fellow-creature.
