P. 417.-328.-216. Ham. And that his soul may be as damn'd, and black This horrid sentiment cannot be too strongly reprobated. There is no passage in our author's writings at which I am so much offended as at this. That blurs the grace and blush of modesty ; I incline to think that Mr. Malone's explanation is the true one. Ham. P. 423.-333.-224. Heaven's face doth glow, Yea, this solidity and compound mass, With tristful visage, as against the doom, I once thought we might read with only the transposition of one line, thus: Heaven's face doth glow With tristful visage, as against the doom; I am not sure, however, that any change is necessary. I prefer tristful to heated. I now think that there should be no transposition. P. 424.-334.-226. Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this; These pictures should certainly be whole lengths hanging in the queen's closet. P. 424.-335.-227. Ham. See, what a grace was seated on this brow : An eye like Mars, to threaten and command; A station like the herald Mercury, New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill. Bishop Newton has remarked that this passage may have suggested Raphael's graceful posture in standing: like Maia's son he stood, And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance fill'd P. L. B. V. 285. In the rank sweat of an enseam❜d bed; Stew'd in corruption; honeying, and making love Over the nasty stye. I prefer the reading of the quarto 1611, incestuous, as Mr. Steevens has done in his edition of 1785. P. 432.-342.-237. Ham. I must be cruel, only to be kind: Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind. The Emperor Septimius Severus having put to death forty-one senators, lamented that to be mild it was necessary that he should first be cruel. Gibbon's Roman History, c. v. Vol. I. (p. 124, 1st. edit.) King. Wherein necessity, of matter beggar'd, This expression I do not understand. Gent. P. 461.-364.-268. The rabble call him, lord; And, as the world were now but to begin, They cry, &c. I think with Mr. Malone that ratifiers and props refer not to the people, but to custom and antiquity. The meaning of word I do not guess. Perhaps it is a corruption. P. 461.-368.-275. There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; P. 463.-369-276. There's rue for you; and here's some for me: So in the Winter's Tale : For Reverend sirs, you there's rosemary and rue; these keep I do not think that Ophelia has so deep a meaning in giving the rue as Mr. Malone sup poses. King. P. 474.-380.-291. So that, with ease, Or with a little shuffling, you may choose I think Dr. Johnson is right. 1 Clo. P. 481.-387.-301. Go, get thee to Yaughan, and fetch me a stoup of liquor. Q. What is the meaning of get thee to Yaughan? P. 492.-397.-316. Ham. Zounds, show me what thou'lt do: Woul't weep? woul't fight? woul't fast? woul't tear thyself? I'll do't. I cannot determine what is the meaning of Eisel or Esil. P.-404.-327. Ham. As England was his faithful tributary; As love between them like the palm might flourish ; And many such like as's of great charge. Mr. Boswell in his Life of Dr. Johnson (Vol. II. p. 72, of the quarto edition) tells us that the Doctor, " talking of his Notes on Shakespeare, "said, I despise those who do not see that I am right in the passage, where as is repeated, and "asses of great charge introduced. "To be or not to be is disputable." I am afraid I am in the predicament of those who incurred Dr. Johnson's contempt. P. 503.-406.-329. Ham. But I am very sorry, good Horatio, For by the image of my cause, I see That on The portraiture of his; I'll count his favours. I think we should read, with Mr. Rowe, court his favour. P. 506.-408.-333. Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. Osc. Sir? Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? This speech I do not understand. The question is, I think, rightly explained by Dr. Johnson; but I know not what to make of you will do't, sir, really. |