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I think this is rightly explained by Malone. There is no need of Theobald's correction.

P. 432.-349.-228.

Arm. I say, lead is slow.

Moth.

You are too swift, sir, to say so:

Is that lead slow which is fir'd from a gun?

I think Malone's is the right explanation of You are too swift, sir, to say so.

Prin.

P. 445.-358.-244.

Nay, never paint me now;

Where fair is not, praise cannot mend the brow.
Here, good my glass, take this for telling true.

[giving him money.
Fair payment for foul words is more than due.

Mr. Steevens is certainly right.

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P. 446.-359.-245.

When for fame's sake, for praise, an outward part,
We bend to that the working of the heart.

Upon this couplet is this wonderful note, "which I need not tell you is by Warburton: "THE HARMONY OF THE MEASURE, THE EASINESS

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OF THE EXPRESSION, AND THE GOOD SENSE IN THE THOUGHT, ALL CONCUR TO RECOMMEND 66 THESE TWO LINES TO THE READER'S NOTICE." "The lines will, I doubt not, strike you, and every "man of common sense, as utterly destitute of every quality this Apostolical alchymist recom"mends who in his dream tries to convert the

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66 very dirt of Shakespeare into gold. The preser"vation of such nonsensical comments much arraigns the taste of his variorum editors.'

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HERON'S Letters of Literature, p. 108.

P. 448.-360.-248.

More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer
than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical
va ssal.

The double comparison is not very uncommon in Shakespeare. So in the Tempest, Nor that I am more better.

P. 456.-366.-257.

Hol. The deer was, as you know, in sanguis,-blood. I think Steevens is right.

P. 459.-367.-261.

And such barren plants are set before us, that we
thankful should be

(Which we of taste and feeling are) for those parts that
do fructify in us more than he.

I think Mr. Tyrwhitt is right.

P. 462.-370.-265.

Jaq. God give you good morrow, master person.
Hol. Master person,-quasi pers-on. And if one should
be pierced, which is the one?

I think we should read master parson,-quasi person.

P. 463.-371.-265.

Fauste, precor gelidá quando pecus omne sub umbrá

Ruminat, and so forth.

Some of the editors seem dreadfully alarmed lest the reader should think Shakespeare more learned than they choose he should be.

P. 468.-374.-271.

Hol. I do dine to-day at the father's of a certain pupil
of mine; where if, before repast, it shall please you to
Gratify the table with a grace, &c.

Before repast is intelligible. Being repast I do not at all understand.

P. 472.-377.-276.

Dum. O most divine Kate!

Biron.

O most profane coxcomb! [aside.

Dum. By heaven, the wonder of a mortal eye!

Biron. By earth, she is but corporal; there you lie. [aside.

I incline to think that Theobald's emendation

is right.

P. 476.-380.-280.

What will Biron say, when that he shall hear
A faith infring'd, which such a zeal did swear.

Mr. Malone can have no ear.

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P. 477.-381.-281.

me, with what strict patience have I sat, To see a king transformed to a gnat.

I think gnat is the true reading.

P. 478.-381.—283.

I am betray'd, by keeping company
With moon-like men, of strange inconstancy.

As these words may have the meaning assigned them by Dr. Johnson, no change is necessary: but Mr. Mason's emendation is extremely ingenious, and perhaps is the true reading.

P. 486.-388-293.

A lover's ear will hear the lowest sound,
When the suspicious head of theft is stopp'd.

Warburton is right.

P. 492.-393.-302.

His general behaviour vain, ridiculous, und thrasonical. I agree that Shakespeare's use of the word thrasonical does not prove that he had read Terence.

Hol.

P. 494.-303.

This is abhominable, (which he would

call abominable,) it insinuateth me of insanie.

I rather incline to admit Dr. Farmer's correc

tion.

Arm.

Sed Q.

P. 497.396308.

I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy;-I beseech thee, apparel thy head.

I think the words are clearly addressed to Holofernes. Either way the negative appears to me necessary.

P. 512.-409.-328.

Ros. Well, better wits have worn plain statute-caps.

I think Steevens's is the true explanation.

P. 514.-410.-330.

Boyet. Fair ladies, mask'd, are roses in their bud:
Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown,
Are angels vailing clouds, or roses blown.

I incline to think Dr. Johnson's the best of the interpretations offered.

P. 520.-414.-339.

Taffata phrases, silken terms precise,
Three-pil'd hyperboles, spruce affectation,
Figures pedantical; these summer-flies

Have blown me full of maggot ostentation.

The whole of this verse, and the correspondent rhyme, show that we should read affectation. I pity Mr. Malone's want of ear. He would, in return, pity my ignorance of Shakespeare's versification.

R¥542.—431.—367-8.

Prin. We have receiv'd your letters, full of love;
Your favours, the ambassadors of love;

And, in our maiden council, rated them
At courtship, pleasant jest, and courtesy,
As bombast, and as lining to the time:
But more devout than this, in our respects,
Have we not been.

I think Sir Thomas Hanmer's reading is right.

P. 544.-432.—369.

If frosts, and fasts, hard lodging, and thin weeds,

Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love,

But that it bear this trial, and last love;

I think Malone's conjecture very probable. If the present be the right reading, it is rightly explained by Malone.

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