Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/219

204 What viler thing upon the earth, than friends, Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends: ” Even before this, life-weariness has suggested the intention of suicide; the life weariness of true mental disease, which is

distinct from misanthropy, and has reference only to the individual. Misanthropy of opinion may be robust, egotis tical, resisting, full of life. The misanthropy of melancholia is despairing and suicidal. “I am sick of this false world ; and will love nought But even the mere necessities upon 't.

Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave; Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat Thy grave-stone daily : make thine epitaph, That death in me at others' lives may laugh.

It is, however, not certain whether Timon dies directly by his own hand, or indirectly by the misery which he inflicts upon himself. The exposure described in such noble poetry by Apemantus, out of place as it seems in his churlish mouth, “What, think'st that the bleak air thy boisterous chamber

lain,” &c., is in itself a kind of suicide, which has many a time and oft been resorted to by the insane. Indeed, of all forms of voluntary death, that of starvation is the most frequently attempted by them. Timon, however, does not actually refuse food; he digs for roots and eats them, while he regrets the necessity, “That nature being sick of man's unkindness Should yet be hungry”— Although his exposure to “desperate want,” which hath made him almost unrecognizable to the loving eyes of his faithful steward, may from the first have been adopted for a suicidal purpose, it is more probable that the manner of his death was still more voluntary; for however sensibly he might feel his failing health drawing to a close, it is not likely that on the day when he supported the animated dialogue with the