York. P. 193.-47.-261. Why have they dar'd to march So many miles upon her peaceful bosom; I think this is rightly understood by Dr. Johnson and Mr. M. Mason. Mr. Davies thinks despised here means detested, abhorred P. 193.-47.-262. Boling. My gracious uncle, let me know my fault; I agree with Mr. Malone. P. 200.-53.-270. K. Rich. As a long parted mother with her child I do not think smiles is a substantive here; nor do I see any need to change meeting to weeping. P. 201.-53.-271. K. Rich. This earth shall have a feeling, and these stones Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms. I prefer rebellion's arms, the reading of the first quarto, to rebellious arms, the reading of the folio. your head. Boling. I know it, uncle; and oppose not Myself against their will. But who comes here? Why Mr. Steevens regards myself as an interpolation I do not perceive. M P. 213.-64.-287. K. Rich. Tell Bolingbroke, (for yond', methinks, he is,) But ere the crown he looks for live in peace, I incline to believe Malone was right in supposing that the sacred book (which is often bound in purple leather) is meant, but think the epithet purple was meant to include also a reference to the future effusion of blood. I can hardly persuade myself that testament is here used in its legal sense. It is possible that an allusion to the old practice of divination by opening a book (called the Sortes) may be intended: but of this I much doubt. I think Steevens's is the right explanation of this expression. Queen. P. 223.-71.-298. Thou, old Adam's likeness, Set to dress this garden, how dares Thy harsh-rude tongue sound this unpleasing news? I would read, Set here to dress this garden, say, how dares. P. 228.-75.-304. Per. Aumerle, thou liest: his honour is as true, Over the glittering helmet of my foe! Lord. I take the earth to the like, forsworn Aumerle; is Whether we read take or task, the passage equally unintelligible to me. I cannot suppose task thy heart to be the true reading. Ibid. And spur thee on with full as many lies As may be holla'd in thy treacherous ear I think from sun to sun is the true reading. I understand it as Malone does. P. 240.-86.-320. Queen. Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand; Mr. M. Mason is right. Inn here means a house of entertainment of the superior kind, and is opposed to ale-house, which occurs in the next line but one. P. 251.-95.-334. Boling. O loyal father of a treacherous son! Converts to bad is right. P. 260.-103.—345. K. Rich. Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend, Grooom. So proudly, as if he disdain'd the ground. This reminds us of Mezentius's address to his horse Phœbus: aperit si nulla viam vis, Æn. X. Occumbes pariter; neque enim, fortissime, credo, K. Hen. So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood; I have seldom been more surprised than when, in the edition of 1793, I saw Erinnys advanced into the text in the place where I used to read entrance. I could hardly persuade myself that it was not "the very error of my eyes." This appears to me as bold an emendation as I ever met with, and to be outdone by no achievement of Bentley or Warburton. Mr. Steevens, fully aware that this reading would not be generally acquiesced in, seems desirous of deterring opposition, by hurling defiance in the teeth of all who should dare to object to its reception. I confess myself obnoxious to all the censure which is denounced against those timid critics who cannot approve this gallant effort of Mr. |