Puslapio vaizdai
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P. 188.-8.-511.

Mess. A third man thinks, without expence at all,
By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd.

Mr. Malone carries his dislike to the second folio so far, that he prefers an imperfect verse in the first folio to a perfect one in the second. He prefers a redundant verse in p. 15.

P. 190.-5.-513.

3 Mess. Here had the conquest fully been seal'd
If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward.

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I cannot perceive that Mr. Theobald's notion is refuted.

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P. 193.-13.-519.

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair-brain'd slaves,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager.

I think Mr. Steevens is right.

Ibid.

Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device,
Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do.

Gimmals is a common word at Salisbury for hinges.

P. 194.-13.-520.

Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd;
Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?

Mr. Steevens is right.

P. 199.-18.-527.

Glos. Break up the gates, I'll be

Mr. Whalley is right.

your warrantize.

P. 201.-20.-530.

Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;
Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord;
Thou, that giv'st whores indulgencies to sin:
I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

I think Mr. Steevens's is the right explanation.

P. 206.-24.-537.

Tal. But with a baser man of arms by far,
Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me;
Which I, disdaining, scorn'd: and craved death
Rather than I would be so pil'd esteem'd.

It is indeed difficult to forbear smiling at Mr. Steevens's conjecture. So vile esteem'd is, I think, a probable conjecture.

P. 211.-29.-545.

Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls;
Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves.

I heartily agree with Mr. Steevens.

Ibid.

Char. Divinest creature, bright Astræa's daughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success ?

I heartily agree with Mr. Steevens.

P. 223.-39.-561.

Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.
Et mihi res, non me rebus submittere conor.
Hor. Epist. I. Lib. I. 19.

P. 224.-40.-562.

Plant. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath to speak,
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.

I agree with Mr. Steevens.

P. 226.-41.-565.

Plant. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand,
I scorn thee and thy fashion, peevish boy.

Mr. Malone has convinced me that Theobald's reading faction is the right one. I once inclined to admit Mr. Pope's correction passion.

P. 227.-42.-567.

Som. Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cambridge,
For treason executed in our late king's days?
I think Mr. Steevens is right.

P. 232.-48.-576.

Mor. Henry the fourth, grandfather to this king,
Depos'd his nephew Richard.

I know not that the word nephew is ever used for cousin. Nephews in Othello certainly mean grand-children, nepotes. I should like to read cousin here, if it be authorised by any of the old copies; if it be not, I suspect that the word nephew was used here by the poet in its common acceptation; he supposed (through an inadvertence not very uncommon in Shakespeare) that Henry was Richard's uncle.

P. 236.-56.583.

Win. And am not I a prelate of the church?
Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps,

And useth it to patronage his theft.

Win. Unreverent Gloster!

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Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.

I would read W. Unreverent Gloster. G. Thou art reverend.

P. 255.-69-609.

Tal. I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next,
To tear the garter from thy craven's leg.

Whalley is right.

P. 260.-74-615.

War. My lord of York, I promise you, the king.

Prettily, methought, did play the orator.

York. And so he did; but yet I like it not,

In that he wears the badge of Somerset.

War. Tush! that was but his fancy, blame him not;
I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.
York. And, if I wist, he did,- -But let it rest,
Other affairs must now be managed.

I think Mr. Ritson is right. His explanation appears to me to be confirmed by the beginning of Exeter's speech, Well didst thou, &c.

P. 262.-76.-618.

Tal. But, if you frown upon this proffer'd peace,
You tempt the fury of my three attendants,
Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing fire;
Who, in a moment, even with the earth

Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,
If you forsake the offer of their love.

I think with Mr. Steevens that the reading of Sir Thomas Hanmer should be received.

P. 271.-85.-631.

Tal. If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:

By me they nothing gain, an if I stay,
'Tis but the short'ning of my life one day.

As Mr. Malone insists that this play bears no resemblance to Shakespeare's style and manner of thinking, except in a single instance, I cannot help remarking that this passage reminds me of one in the Winter's Tale :-"Thou old traitor, I'm sorry, that by hanging thee, I can but shorten thy life one week."

Lucy. Herald,

P. 276.-89.-637.

Conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know
Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.

I think for the reason assigned by Sir Thomas Hanmer, and because the metre is perfect without them, that the words to know should be omitted.

I

P. 286.-99.-652.

Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;
To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my·

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Suf. Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount;
Mad, natural graces that extinguish art.

I think the explanation given of mad by Mr. Steevens, and confirmed by Mr. Malone, is extremely harsh. I think with Mr. M. Mason that the passage is corrupt, and for mad would read with the modern editors her, or and with Mr. M. Mason. I incline to prefer the latter reading as nearest the letters of mad.

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