I.ii.146 (296,5) who dies, that bears/Not one spurn to their graves, of their friends gift?] That is, given them by their friends.(1773)

I.ii.155 (297,6) mine own device] The mask appears to have been design’d by Timon to surprise his guests.

I.ii.157 (297,7) L Lady.  My lord, you take us even at the best] This answer seems rather to belong to one of the ladies.  It was probably only mark’d L in the copy.

I.ii.169 (298,1) ’Tis pity, bounty has not eyes behind] To see the miseries that are following her.

I.ii.170 (298,2) That man might ne’er be wretched for his mind] For nobleness of soul.

I.ii.176 (298,3) to/Advance this jewel] To prefer it; to raise it to honour by wearing it.

I.ii.230 (300,6)

  all the lands thou hast
  Lie in a pitch’d field.
  Alc. I’ defiled land, my lord]

This is the old reading, which apparently depends on a very low quibble.  Alcibiades is told, that his estate lies in a pitch’d field.  Now pitch, as Falstaff says, doth defile.  Alcibiades therefore replies, that his estate lies in defiled land.  This, as it happened, was not understood, and all the editors published,

  I defy land,—­

I.ii.237 (301,8) Serving of becks] [W:  serring] The commentator conceives beck to mean the mouth or the head, after the French, bec, whereas it means a salutation made with the head.  So Milton,

  “Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles.”

To serve a beck, is to offer a salutation.

I.ii.238 (301,9) I doubt, whether their legs] He plays upon the word leg, as it signifies a limb and a bow or act of obeisance.

I.ii.247 (302,1) I fear me, thou/Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly] [W:  in proper] Hanmer reads very plausibly,

  —­thou
  Wilt give away thyself in perpetuum.

I.ii.235 (302,2) I’ll lock/Thy heaven from thee] The pleasure of being flattered.

II.i.10 (304,5) No porter at his gate;/But rather one that smiles, and still invites] I imagine that a line is lost here, in which the behaviour of a surly porter was described.

II.i.12 (304,6) no reason/Can found his state in safety] The supposed meaning of this [Can sound his state] must be, No reason, by sounding, fathoming, or trying, his state, can find it safe.  But as the words stand, they imply, that no reason can safely sound his state.  I read thus,

  —­no reason
  Can found his state in safety.—­

Reason cannot find his fortune to have any safe or solid foundation.

The types of the first printer of this play were so worn and defaced, that f and s are not always to be distinguished.

II.ii.5 (305,9) Never mind/Was to be so unwise, to be so kind] Of this mode of expression conversation affords many examples:  “I was always to be blamed, whatever happened.”  “I am in the lottery, but I was always to draw blanks.” (1773)