I believe the old reading, near-legg'd, is right. The near leg of a horse is the left, and to set off with that leg first is an imperfection. This horse had (as Dryden describes old Jacob Tonson) two left legs, i. e. he was awkward in the use of them, he used his right leg like the left. Mr. Malone's reading and interpretation appear to me very

harsh.

P. 498.-308.-488.

Gru. Fie, fie, on all tired jades! on all mad masters!
and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten ? was ever
man so ray'd?

Tollet is right.

P. 504.-313.-497.

Pet. Where be these knaves? What, no man at door,
To hold my stirrup, nor to take my horse!

Admit that door is a dissyllable here, the verse will then be most discordantly harsh, unless Mr. Malone would accent door on the last syllable.

P. 506.-314.-498.

Pet. Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper

in.

[Exeunt some of the servants.

Where is the life that late I led.

[Sings.

Where are those- -sit down, Kate, and welcome.

Soud, soud, soud, soud!

May not soud be a corruption of chaud? Ignoramus, when heated, exclaims, O chaud, chaud, precor Deum non meltavi meum pingue.

Have at you for a bitter jest or two.

I think with Mr. Malone that bitter is right.

Count. In delivering my son from me, I bury a second
husband.

Ber. And I, in going, madam, weep o'er my father's
death anew: but I must attend his majesty's command,
to whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.

I think Dr. Johnson is right.

Laf.

P. 4.-354.-186.

He that so generally is at all times good, must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted, rather than lack it where there is such abundance.

I think we should read slack with Warburton.

I

Ibid.-187.

Count. This young gentlewoman had a father, (O, that
had! how sad a passage 'tis !) whose skill was almost
as great as his honesty; had it stretch'd so far, would
have made nature immortal, and death should have
play for lack of work.

agree with Dr. Johnson. An it seems wanting in Malone's edition, and in the edition of 1793. It should stand thus: had it stretch'd so far, it would have made, &c. This it is in the edition of 1785.

Count.

P. 6-355.-188.

where an unclean mind carries

virtuous qualities, there commendations go with pity,
they are virtues and traitors too; in her they are the
better for their simpleness.

I think with Dr. Johnson, that the emendation proposed by Warburton is unnecessary.

P. 8.-356.-190.

Laf. Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,
excessive grief the enemy to the living.

Count. If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess
makes it soon mortal.

Dr. Johnson is right.

P. 9.-357.-192.

Laf Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit
of your father.
[Exeunt Bertram and Lafeu.
Hel, O, were that all !I think not on my father;
And these great tears grace his remembrance more,
Than those I shed for him.

I believe M. Mason's and Malone's explanation is the true one.

P. 11.-360.-196.

Par. It is not politick in the commonwealth of nature,
to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational in-
crease; and there was never virgin got, till virginity was
first lost.

I believe rational is right.

P. 12.-Ibid.-197.

Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of self-
love, which is the most inhibited sin in the canon. Keep
it not; you cannot choose but lose by't: Out with't:
within ten years it will make itself ten, which is goodly
increase; and the principal itself not much the worse.

I believe Sir T. Hanmer's emendation is right. I am as ignorant as Mr. Steevens of the wellknown observation of the noble Earl mentioned by Mr. Henley.

P. 15.-363.-200.

Hel. There shall your master have a thousand loves,

A mother, and a mistress, and a friend,

A phoenix, captain, and an enemy,
A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,
A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear.

H

I entirely agree with Mr. Tyrwhitt, and am greatly surprised at the conjectures of the other

commentators.

P. 18.-365-204.

Hel. The mightiest space in fortune nature brings
To join like likes, and kiss like native things.
Impossible be strange attempts, to those

That weigh their pains in sense; and do suppose,
What hath been cannot be.

I believe Mr. Malone has explained this rightly. There seems to me no occasion to read what han't been, for what hath been the meaning is, and suppose even things that have already been cannot be, which not having fallen within their observation, are beyond their conception.

P. 24.-370.-211.

let me not live, quoth he,

After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff

Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses

All but new things disdain; whose judgements are
Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions.

The old reading is right, and is rightly explained by Dr. Johnson.

P. 28.-373.-215.

Clo. I am out of friends, madam; and I hope to have

friends for my wife's sake.

Count. Such friends are thine enemies, knave.

Clo. You are shallow, madam; e'en great friends.

I think Malone is right.

P. 30.-374.-218.

Clo. Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,

Why the Grecians sacked Troy?

Fond done, done fond,

Was this king Priam's joy.

[Singing.

I think Warburton's conjecture very probable.

P. 32.-376.-220.

Count. You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command

you.

Clo. That man should be at woman's command, and
yet no hurt done!-though honesty be no puritan, yet
it will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of humility
over the black gown of a big heart.

I incline to think Mr. Tyrwhitt's conjecture is right.

I

P. 34.-378.-223.

Count. It is the show and seal of nature's truth,
Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:
By our remembrances of days foregone,

Such were our faults;—or then we thought them none.

agree with Malone.

Count.

P. 36.-378.-225.

What, pale again?

My fear hath catch'd your fondness: now I see
The mystery of your loneliness, and find

Your salt tears' head.

I think Theobald's correction is right.

P. 38.-381.-227.

Hel. I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible sieve,

I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still.

I believe Malone is right.

Ibid.

And lack not to lose still.

1

I believe Malone is right.