First Sen. Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,[2775] 15
We sent to thee, to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves[2776]
Above their quantity.[2777]
Sec. Sen. So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love
By humble message and by promised means:[2778] 20
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.
First Sen. These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your griefs: nor are they such[2779]
That these great towers, trophies and schools should fall 25
For private faults in them.
Sec. Sen. Nor are they living
Who were the motives that you first went out;[2780]
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,[2781]
Into our city with thy banners spread: 30
By decimation and a tithed death—
If thy revenges hunger for that food
Which nature loathes—take thou the destined tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted die
Let die the spotted.[2782]
First Sen. All have not offended;[2782][2783] 35
For those that were, it is not square to take,[2784]
On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,[2785]
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin 40
Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.[2786]
Sec. Sen. What thou wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile 45
Than hew to 't with thy sword.
First Sen. Set but thy foot
Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say thou'lt enter friendly.[2787]
Sec. Sen. Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honour else, 50
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.
Alcib. Then there's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports:[2788] 55
Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,[2789]
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream 60
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be render'd to your public laws[2790]
At heaviest answer.
Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken.