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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


ot  CALIFORNIA 

u,ELES 
LIBRARY 


THE 


PLAYS 


O    F 


WILLIAM    SHAKSPEARE. 


VOL.  IX. 


THE 


PLAYS 


WILLIAM    SHAKSPEARE 

VOLUME  the   NINTH. 


CONTAINING 

T  R  O  I  L  U  S   AND   C  R  E  S  S  I  D  A. 

CYMBELINE. 

KING  LEAR. 


LONDON, 

Printed  for  C.  Bathurft,  W.  Strahan,  J.  F.  and  C.  Rivington, 
J.  Hinton,  L.  Davis,  W.Owen,  T.  Carton,  E.  Johnfon,  S.  Crowder, 
B.  White,  T.  Longman,  B.  Law,  E.  and  C.  Dilly,  C.  Corbett, 
T.  Cadell,  H.  L.  Gardner,  J.  Nichols,  J.  Btw,  J.  Beecroft, 
W.  Stuart,  T.  Lowndes,  J.  Robfbn,  T.  Pavne,  T.  Bucket, 
F.  Newbery,  G.  Robinlbn.  R.  Baldwin,  J.  Williams,  J.Ridley, 
T.  Evans,  W.  Davies,  W.  Fox,  and  J.  Murray, 

MDCCLXXVIII. 


30326 


5  .. 


\ 
V,3 

fcrtricte! 
CM 


T     R     O     I     L     U     S 


AND 


CRESSIDA. 


VOL.  IX.  B  fie* 


Preface  to  the  quarto  edition  of  this  play,  1609. 
A  never  writer,  to  an  ever  reader.    Newes. 

Eternall  reader,  you  have  heere  a  new  play,  never  fhl'd  with 
the  ftage,  never  clapper-claw'd  with  the  palmes  of  the  vulger,  and 
yet  palling  full  of  the  palme  comicall ;  for  it  is  a  birth  of  your 
braine,  that  never  under-tooke  any  thing  commicall,  vainely  :  and 
were  but  the  vaine  names  of  commedies  changde  for  the  titles  of 
commodities,  or  of  playes  for  pleas  ;  you  ihould  fee  all  thofe 
grand  cenfors,  that  now  ftile  them  fuch  vanities,  flock  to  them 
for  the  maine  grace  of  their  gravities  :  efpecially  this  authors  com- 
jnediee,  that  are  fo  f  ram'd  to  the  life,  that  they  ferve  tor  the  moft 
ccunmon  commentaries  of  all  the  actions  of  our  lives,  fhewing  fuch 
a  dexteritie  and  power  of  witte,  that  the  moft  difpleafed  with 
playes,  are  pleasd  with  his  commedies.  And  all  fuch  dull  and 
lieavy  witted  worldlings,  as  were  never  capable  of  the  witte  of  a 
commedie,  ccmming  by  report  of  them  to  his  reprefentations, 
liave  found  that  witte  there,  that  they  never  found  in  them-felves, 
and  have  parted  better-wittied  then  they  came  :  feeling  an  edge 
of  witte  fet  upon  them,  more  then  ever  they  dreamd  they  had 
braine  to  grind  it  on.  So  much  and  fuch  favored  fait  of  witte  is 
Sn  his  commedies,  that  they  fceme  (for  their  height  of  plea fu re) 
to  be  borne  in  that  fea  that  brought  forth  Venus.  Amongft  all 
there  is  none  more  witty  than  this  :  and  had  I  time  I  would  com- 
jnent  upon  it,  though  I  know  it  needs  not,  (for  fo  much  as  will 
make  you  think  your  tefterne  well  beftowd)  but  for  fo  much 
•worth,  as  even  poore  I  know  to  be  ituft  in  it.  It  deferves  fuch  a 
labour,  as  well  as  the  beft  commedy  in  Terence  or  Plautus.  And 
beleeve  this,  that  when  hee  is  gone,  and  his  commedies  out  of 
fale,  you  will  fcramble  for  them,  and  fet  up  a  new  Englifb,  in- 
quifition.  Take  this  for  a  warning,  and  at  the  perillof  your  plca- 
fures  lofle,  and  judgements,  refufe  not,  nor  like  this  the  lefle, 
for  not  being  fullied  with  thefmoaky  breath  of  the  multitude;  but 
thanke  fortune  for  the  fcape  it  hath  made  amongft  you.  Since  by 
the  grand  poflcflbrs  wills  1  believe  you  mould  have  prayd  for  them 
rather  then  beene  prayd.  And  fo  I  leave  all  fuch  to  bee  prayd  for 
(for  the  Itates  of  their  wits  healths)  that  will  not  praifc  it. 


PRO 


PROLOGUE. 

TNTroy,  there  lies  the  fcene.     From  ijles  of  Greece 
•*•  The  princes  '  wgillous,  their  high  blood  chafd, 
Have  to  the  port  of  Athens  fent  their  foips 
Fraught  with  the  mini/krs  and  inftrvments 
Of  cruel  war  :  Sixty  and  nine,  that  wore 
Their  crownets  regal,  from  the  Athenian  bay 
Put  forth  tozvard  Phrygia  :  and  their  I-QZV  is  made, 
'To  ratifack  Troy  ;  within  whofe  jirong  immures. 
The  raviftfd  Helot,  Menelaus*  queen, 
With  wanton  Paris  Jlccps  ;  And  that's  the  quarrel. 
To  Tenedos  they  come  ; 

And  the  deep-drawing  barks  do  there  difgorge 
Their  warlike  fraught  age  :  Now  on  Dardan  plains 
The  frejh  and  yet  unbruifed  Greeks  do  pitch 
Their  brave  pavilions  :  *  Priam's  fix-gated  city 
(  Dardan  t  and  Thymbria,  Ilias,  Chetas,  Trojan, 
/Ind  Ant  e  nor  i  das)  with  majjyjlaples, 

And 

1  TJje  princes  orgillous,—  —  ]  Orgillous,  i.  e.  proud,  difdain- 
ful.  Orgueilleux,  Fr.  This  word  is  uied  in  the  ancient  romance 
of  Richard  Cucur  dc  Lyon  : 

"  His  atyre  was  orgulous."    STEEVEKS. 

*  •     Priam's  fix-gated  city  ^ 

{Dardan  and  Timbria,  Helias,  Cbctas,  Troiea, 

.And  Antenonidus)  v:ith  ma 


And  correfponjive  and  fulfilling  bolts, 

Stirre  up  the  fans  of  Troy*  -  ]  This  has  been  a  moft  mifer- 
ably  mangled  paflage  through  all  the  editions  ;  corrupted  at  once 
into  falfe  concord  and  falfe  reafoning.  Yifaak'ijb-gittiedcitjjlirrt 
up  the  fons  of  Troy  ?  —  Here's  a  verbf/ural  governed  of  a  nomi- 
native fingular.  But  that  is  eafily  remedied.  The  next  quefHon 
to  be  afked  is,  Jn  what  ienie  a  citv,  having  fix  ftrong  gates,  and 
thole  well  barred  and  bolted,  can  be  faid  tojlir  up  its  inhabitants  ? 
uulefs  they  may  be  fuppofed  to  derive  fome  ipirit  from  the  itrength 
ot  their  fortifications.  But  this  could  not  be  the  poet's  thought. 
He  muft  mean,  I  t:ike  it,  that-  the  Greeks  had  pitched  their  tents 
upon  the  plains  before  Troy  ;  and  that  the  Trojans  were  Iccurely 
barricaded  within  the  walls  and  gates  of  their  city.  This  feme 
B  2  my 


PROLOGUE 

And  correfponfive  and  fulfilling  bolts  ', 

Sperrs  up  the  fens  of  Troy. 

Now 

my  correction  reftores.     To  fperre,  or /par,  from  the  old  Teuto- 
nic word  Speren,  fignifies   to  Jbut  up,  defend  by  bars,  &c. 

THEOBALD. 
So,  in  Spenfer's  Faery  .^ueen,  b.  5.  c.  10  : 

**  The  other  that  was  entred,  labour'd  faft 
"  To  fperre  the  gate,  &c." 
Again,  in  the  romance  of  the  Squhr  of  Itnve  Degre : 

"  Sperde  with  manie  a  dyvers  pynne." 

And  in  the  Vifions  of  P.  Plowman  it  is  faid  that  a  blind  man 
«*   unj^ "par ryd  his  cine."    " 

Again,  in  Warner's  Albion's  England,  1602,  B.  II.  chap.  12  : 
*'  When  chafed  home  into  his  holdes,  there  fparred  up  in  gates." 
Again,  in  the  2nd  Part  of  Bale's  Attcs  of  Eng.  Votaryes :  "  The 
dore  thereof  oft  tymes  opened  zndjpearcd  agayne."    STEEVENS. 
"  Therto  his  cyte  j  compafled  enuyrowne 
"  Hadde  gates  VI  to.entre  into  the  towne  : 
««  The  firfteof  all  |  and  ftrengefteke  with  all, 
"  Largeft  alfo  |  and  mofte  pryncypall, 
Of  myghty  byldyng  |  alone  perelefs, 
Was  by  the  kinge  called  |  Dardanydes ; 
And  inflorye  |  lykeas  it  is  founde, 
Tymbria  |  was  named  the  feconde ; 
And  the  thyrde  |  called  Helyas, 
The  fourthe  gate  |  hyghte  alfo  Cetheas  ; 
The  fyfthe  Trojana,  |  the  fyxth  Anthonydei, 
Stronge  and  myghty  |  both  in  werre  and  pes." 

Lond.  empr.  by  R.  Pynfon,  1515,  Fol.  b.  ii.  ch.  1 1. 
The  Troyejioke  was  fomewhat  modernized,  and  reduced  into 
regmlar  ftanzas,  about  the  beginning  of  the  laft  century,  under  the 
name  of,  The  Life  and  Death  of  Hefior — ivho  fought  a  Hundred 
mayne  Battailes  in  open  Field  againjl  the  Grecians ;  ivhfrein  there 
wcrefoine  on  both  Sides  Fourteene  Hundred  and  Sixe  Thoufand, 
Fourfcore  and  Sixe  Men. Fol.  no  date.  This  work  Dr.  Ful- 
ler, and  feveral  other  critics,  have  erroneoufly  quoted  as  the  origi- 
nal; andoblerve  in  confequence,  that  "  if  Chaucer's  coin  were  of 
greater  weight  for  deeper  learning^  Lydgate's  were  of  a  more  refined 
Jlandard  tor  purer  language:  fo^  that  one  might  miilake  him  for  a 
modern  writer."  FARMER. 

On  ^ther  occafions,  in  the  courfe  of  this  play,  I  fhall  infcrt 
quotations  from  the  Troye  Bohe  modernized,  as  being  the  mod  in- 
telligible of  the  two.  STEEVENS. 

a fulfilling  bolts,']    Tofutf/t  in  th's  pi.  ce  m:ans  to  fill  till 

there 


PROLOGUE. 

Now  expectation,  tickling  Jkittijhfpirits, 
On  one  and  other  fide,  Trojan  and  Greek, 
Sets  all  on  hazard:  —  And  hither  am  I  come 
4  A  probgue  arm'd,  —  but  not  in  confidence 
Of  author's  pen,  or  acJor's  voice  ;  butfuited 
In  like  conditions  as  our  argument,  - 
To  tell  you,  fair  beholders,  that  our  play 
Leaps  o'er  s  the  vaunt  andfirftlings  of  thofe  broils, 
'Ginning  in  the  middle  ;  ftarting  thence  away 
To  what  may  be  digefted  in  a  play. 
Like,  or  find  fault;  do  asyourpleafures  are  ; 
Now  goody  or  bad,  'tis  but  the  chance  of  war. 

there  be  no  room  for  more.    In  this  fenfe  it  is  now  obfolete.   So, 
in  Govver,  De  Confeffionc  Amantis,  lib.  V.  fol.  114: 
"  A  luftie  maide,  a  fobre,  a  meke, 


Again  : 

"  Fulfilledot  all  unkindfhip."    STEEVENS. 

*  A  prologue  arm'd,  -  ]     I  come  here  to  fpeak  the  prologue, 
and  come  in  armour  ;  not  defying  the  audience,  in  confidence  of 
either  the  author's  or  aftor's  abilities,  but  merely  in  a  character 
fuited  to  the  fubjecl:,  in  a  drefs  of  war,  before  a  warlike  play. 

JOHNSON-. 

•  the  vaunt     •    ]     i.  e.  the  avant,  what  went  before. 

STEEVENS, 


B  3  Perfons 


Perfons  Reprefemed 

Priam, 

Hedor, 

Troilus, 

Paris, 

Dciphobus, 

Helenus,          /   Trojans. 

JEneas, 

Pandarus, 

Calchas 

Antenor, 

Margarelon»  a  baftard  fon  of  Pn 

Agamemnon, 

Achilles, 

Ajax, 

Menelaus, 

Ulyffes,  \   Greeks. 

Ncftor, 

Diomedcs, 

Patroclus, 

Therfites, 

Helen,  wife  to  Menelaus. 
Andromache,  wife  to  Hcftor. 
Cafllindra,  daughter  to  Priam,  a  propbcUj\> 
Creffida,  daughter  to  Calchas. 

Alexander,  Creflida's  firvant. 

Eoy^  page  to  Troilm* 

Servant  to  Diomed. 

Trojan  and  Greek  Soldiers^  'with  other  attendants* 

SCENE,  Troy,  and  the  Grecian  Camp  before  //, 


1 TROILUS  and  CRESSIDA. 


ACT     I.       SCENE    I. 

r  R  o  r. 

Priam  s  palact. 
Enter  Pandarus,  and  Troilus. 

Trot.  Call  here  my  varlet  %  I'll  unarm  again  : 
Why  fhould  I  war  without  the  walls  of  Troy, 

That 

'  The  ftory  was  originally  written  by  Lollius,  an  old  Lombard 
author,  and  fince  by  Chaucer.  POPE. 

Mr.  Pope  (after  Dryden)  informs  us,  that  the  flory  of  Trails* 
andCreJjida  was  originally  the  work  of  one  Lollius,  a  Lombard; 
(of  whom  Gafcoigne  fpeaks  mDan  Bartbohieive  bis  firft  Triumph  ; 

"  S'mce  Lollius  and  Chaucer  both,  make  doubt  upon  that  glofe") 
but  Dryden  goes  yet  further.  He  declares  it  to  have  been  written  in 
Latin  verfe,  and  that  Chaucer  tranflated  it.  Lollius  was  a  hiftorio- 
grapher  of  Urbino  in  Italy.  Shakefpeare  received  the  greateft  part 
of  his  materials  for  the  itrudure  of  this  play  from  the  Troye  Sake  of 
Lydgate.  Lydgate  was  not  much  more  than  a  tranflator  of  Guido 
ofColumpna,  who  was  of  Meffina  in  Sicily,  and  wrote  his  Hifiory 
of  Troy  in  Latin,  after  Didtys  Cretenfis,  and  Dares  Phrygius,  in 
1287.  On  thefe,  as  Mr.  Warton  obferves,  he  engrafted  many- 
new  romantic  inventions,  which  the  taite  of  his  age  di&ated,  and 
which  the  connection  between  Grecian  and  Gothic  fiction  eafily 
admitted  ;  at  the  fame  time  comprehending  in  his  plan  the  The- 
ban  and  Argonautic  itories  from  Ovid,  Statius,  and  Valerius  Flac- 
cus.  Guide's  work  was  publifhed  at  Cologne  in  1477,  again 
in  1480 :  at  Stra{burgh  1486,  and  ibidem  1489.  It  appears 
to  have  been  tranflated  by  Raoul  le  Feure,  at  Cologne,  into 
French,  from  whom  Caxton  rendered  it  into  Engliih  in  1471, 
under  the  title  of  his  Rccuyel,  &c.  fothat  there  nruft  have  been  yet 
feme  eaflier  edition  of  Guide's  performance  than  I  have  hitherto 
feen  or  heard  of,  unlefs  his  firft  tranflator  had  recourfc  to  a  ma- 
nufcript. 

Guido  ofColumpna  is  referred  to  as  an  authority  by  our  own 

chronicler  Grafton,    Chaucer  had  made  the  loves  of  Troilus  and 

B  Creffida 


S         TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA. 

That  find  fuch  cruel  battle  here  within  ? 
Each  Trojan,  that  is  matter  of  his  heart. 

Let 

Creflida  famous,  which  very  probably  might  have  been  Shake- 
Tpeare's  inducement  to  try  their  fortune  on  the  ftage. — Lydgate's 


1602  :  *'  The  booke  of  Troilus  and  Creflida,  as  it  is  acted  by  my 
L,o.  Chamberlain's  men."  The  nrft  of  thefe  entries  is  in  the  name 
of  Edward  White,  the  fecond  in  that  of  M.  Roberts.  Again, 
Jan.  28,  1608,  entered  by  Rich.  Bonian  and  Hen.  Whalley, 
"  A  booke  called  the  hiilory  of  Troilus  and  Creflida." 

STEEVENS. 

Troilus  and  Crejfida.']  Before  this  play  of  Troilus  and  Crefftda, 
printed  in  1 609,  is  a  bookfeller's  preface,  ftiewing  that  firit  im- 
preflion  to  have  been  before  the  play  had  been  acted,  and  that  it 
\vas  publiflied  without  Shakefpeare's  knowledge,  from  a  copy  that 
had  fallen  into  the  bookfeller's  hands.  Mr.  Dryden  thinks  this 
one  of  the  firft  of  our  author's  plays :  but,  on  the  contrary,  it  may 
be  judged  from  the  fore-mentioned  preface,  that  it  was  one  of  hi« 
bft;  and  the  great  number  of  obfervations,  both  moral  and  poli- 
tic, with  which  this  piece  is  crowded  more  than  any  other  of  his, 
fcems  to  confirm  my  opinion.  POPE. 

We  may  rather  learn  from  thrs  preface,  that  the  original  pro- 
prietors of  Shakefpeare's  plays  thought  it  their  interelt  to  keep 
them  unpr'mted.  The  author  of  it  adds,  at  the  conclulion,  theie 
words  :  "  Thank  fortune  tor  the  'fcape  it  hath  made  among  you, 
dice,  by  the  grand  poHeflbrs  wills,  I  believe  you  fhould  rather 
.have  prayed  for  them,  than  have  been  prayed,"  6cc.  By  the 
grand  pojfejjon,  I  fuppofe,  were  meant  .  (.'ondell.  It 

appears  that  the  rival  playhoules  at  that  time  made  frequent  de- 
predations on  one  another's  copies.  In  the  Induction  to  die  Mal-- 
content,  written  by  Webfter,  and  augmented  by  Marfbn,  i6c6, 
is  the  following  pull:.^  : 

"  I  wonder  you  would  play  it,  another  company  having  inte- 
reft  in  it." 

"  Why  not  Malcvole  in  folio  \vith  'mo  in  decimo 

fexto  with  them  ?  They  taught  us  a  name  lor  our  play  ;  we  call 
it  Out  far  another." 

Again,  T.  Heywood,  in  his  preface  to  the  EvgliJI.'  Traveller, 
1653  :  "  Others  of  than  are  dill  retained  in  the  hands  of  lome 
actors,  who  rhii-.k  it  againil  their  pcculkr  profit  to  have  them 
come  in  print."  SrEKvtNb. 

It   appears,  however,  that  frauds  were  praoYifed  by  writers  as 
well  as  Hdtors.     It  lluuds  on  record  u^ainll  Robert  Grccny  the  au- 
thor 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.         9 

Let  him  to  field  ;  Troilus,  alas  !  hath  none. 

Pan.  Will  this  geer  ne'er  be  mended  J  ? 

Troi.  The  Greeks  are  ftrong,  and  fkilful  to  their 

ftrength, 

Fierce  to  their  fkill,  and  to  their  fiercenefs  valiant ; 
But  I  am  weaker  than  a  woman's  tear, 

thor  of  Friar  Bacon  and  Friar  Bungay,  and  Orlando  Furiofo, 
1 594  and  1599,  that  he  fold  the  laft  ot  thefe  pieces  to  two  dif- 
ferent theatres  :  *«  Matter  R.  G.  would  it  not  make  you  blufii, 
&c.  if  you  fold  nor  Orlando  Fur  I  of o  to  the  Queen's  players  for 
twenty  nobles,  and  when  they  were  in  the  country,  fold  the  fame 
play  to  the  Lord  Admiral's  men  for  as  much  more  t  Was  not 
this  plain  Coneycatching  M.  G.  r"  Defence  of  Contycatcbln^ 
1592. 

This  note  was  not  merely  inferred  to  expofe  the  craft  of  author - 
Jhip,  but  to  fhow  the  price  which  was  anciently 'paid  for  the  copy 
of  a  play,  and  to  afcertain  the  name  of  the  writer  of  Orlando  Fu- 
riofo,  which  was  not  hitherto  known.  Greene  appears  to  have  been 
the  firft  poet  in  England  who  fold  the  fame  piece  to  different  peo- 
ple, ydtairc  is  much  belied,  if  he  has  not  followed  his  example. 

COLLINS. 

Notwithftandingj  what  has  been  faid  by  a  late  editor,  I  have  a 
copy  of  theory?  folio,  including  Troilus  and  Crrjjlda.  Indeed,  as 
I  have  juft  now  oblerved,  it  was  at  rii  ft  either  unknown  or  forgot- 
ten. It  does  not  however  appear  in  the  lift  of  the  plays,  and  is 
thruft  in  between  the  bijlorie*  and  the  tragedies  without  any  enume- 
ration of  the  pages  ;  except,  I  think,  on  one  leaf  only.  It  differs 
intirely  from  the  copy  in  the  fecoud  folio.  FARMER. 

I  have  confulted  eleven  copies  of  the  firjl  folio,  and  Troilus  and 
Cr&da  is  not  wanting  in  any  one  of  them.  S.T.EE  VEKS. 

~ my  varlet,]      This  word  anciently  fignified  a  fervant  or 

footman  to  a  knight  or  warrior.     So,  Holinfr.ed,  fpeaking  of  the 
battle  of  Agincourt :  "  — diverfe  were  releeved  by  their  varlets, 
and  conveied  out  of  the  field."     Again,  in  an  ancient  epitaph,  in 
the  churchyard  of  faint  Nicas  at  Arras  : 
"  ty  gift  Hakin  et  fun  varlet, 
"  Tout  di-armi  et  tout  di-prer, 
*'  Avec  fon  efpe  et  falloche,  &c."     STEEVENS. 

3  Klilth'u '•  gccr  ne'er  it  tr.cnded?}  There  is  fomewhat  proverbial 
in  this  queilion,  which  I  likewife  meet  with  in  the  Interlude  o/JC. 
J) arias,  it; 6^  : 

"   \Vyll  not  yet  this  gert  le  amende J^ 

*'  Nor  your  unfui"  acts  corrected  ?"  STEEVENS. 

Tamer 


io        TRO1LUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Tamer  than  flcep,  4  fonder  than  ignorance  ; 
Lefs  valiant  than  the  virgin  in  the  night, 
5  And  fkill-lcfs  as  unprattis'd  infancy. 

Pan.  Well,  I  have  told  you  enough  of  this  :  for 
my  part,  I'll  not  meddle  nor  make  no  further.  He, 
that  will  have  a  cake  out  of  the  wheat,  mufl  tarry 
the  grinding. 

Troi.  Have  I  not  tarry'd  ? 

Pan.  Ay,  the  grinding ;  but  you  muft  tarry  the 
boulting. 

Troi.  Have  I  not  tarry'd  ? 

Pan.  Ay,  the  boulting ;  but  you  muft  tarry  the 
leavening. 

Troi.  Still  have  I  tarry'd. 

Pan.  Ay,  to  the  leavening :  but  here's  yet  in  the 
word — hereafter,  the  kneading,  the  making  of  the 
cake,  the  heating  of  the  oven,  and  the  baking  ;  nay, 
you  muft  ftay  the  cooling  too,  or  you  may  chance  to 
burn  your  lips. 

Trot.  Patience  herfelf,  what  goddefs  e'er  fhc  be, 
Doth  lefler  blench  6  at  fuffe ranee  than  I  do. 
At  Priam's  royal  table  do  I  fit ; 
And  when  fair  Creffid  comes  into  my  thoughts,— 
So,  traitor  ! — when  fhe  comes ! — When  is  Ihe  thence? 

Pan.  Well, Ihe  look'd  ycfter-night  fairer  than  ever  I 
faw  her  look;  or  anv  woman  elfe. 


*  ——fender  than  ignorance  j]     fvtntrr,   for  more  chiltiifli. 

WAR  BURTON. 

5  And Jkill-lefi  &c.]     Mr,  Drydcn,  in  his  alteration  of  this  p'.,v, 
has  taken  this  fpeech  as  it  ftands,  except  that  he  has  changed  fniil- 
lcfc  to  artlefi,  not  for  the  better,  ,becaufe./fo7/-A/}  refers  to_/!f/7/  and 

Jkilful.     JOHNSON. 

6  Doth  lejfir  blench ]     To  llcmh  is  to  fhrink,  fbrt,  or  fly 

off.     So,  in  Han:'.' 

«'  if  he  but  blench, 

"  I  know  my  courfe " 

Again,  in  the  Pilgrim  by  B.  and  Fletcher: 

*« 'men  that  will  not  totter, 

"  Xor  blench  much  at  a  bullet."    STEEVEXS. 

frol. 


TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA.       it 

9Vw.  I  was  about  to  tell  thee, — When  my  heart, 
As  wedged  with  a  figh,  would  rive  in  twain  ; 
Left  Hector  or  my  father  fliould  perceive  me, 
I  have  (as  when  the  fun  doth  light  a  ftorm) 
Bury'd  this  figh  in  wrinkle  of  a  fmile  : 
But  forrow,  that  is  couch'd  in  feeming  gladnefs, 
Is  like  that  mirth  fate  turns  to  fudden  fadnefs. 

Pan.  An  her  hair  were  not  fomewhat  darker  than 
Helen's,  (well,  go  to)  there  were  no  more  comparifon 
between  the  women, — But,  for  my  part,  ihe  is  my 
kinfwoman ;  I  would  not,  as  they  term  it,  praifc 
her, — But  I  would  fomebody  had  heard  her  talk  yef- 
terday,  as  I  did.  I  will  not  difpraife  your  fitter  Caf- 
fandra's  wit :  but 

Trot.  O  Pandarus !   I  tell  thee,  Pandarus,— 
When  I  do  tell  thee,  There  my  hopes  lie  drown'd^ 
Reply  not  in  how  many  fathoms  deep 
They  lie  indrench'd.     I  tell  thee,  I  am  mad' 
In  Creffid's  love :  Thou  anfwer'ft,  She  is  fair; 
Pour'ft  in  the  open  ulcer  of  my  heart 
Her  eyes,  her  hair,  her  cheek,  her  gait ;  her  voice 
Handleft  in  thy  difcourfe  : — — O  that  her  hand  ! 
In  whofe  comparifon  all  whites  are  ink, 
Writing  their  own  reproach  ;  to  whofe  foft  feizurc 
The  cygnet's  down  is  harfh,  7  and  fpirit  of  fenfe 
Hard  as  the  palm  of  ploughman !  This  thou  tell'il  me, 

7  -    '       and  fpirit  of  fenfe 

Hard  as  the  palm  of  ploughman  / ]     In  comparifon  with 

Creffid'j  band,  fays  he,  fbeffir-t  of  fenfe,  the  utmoft  degree,  the 
moft  exquifite  power  of  fenfibility,  which  implies  a  foft  hand, 
fince  the  fenfe  of  touching,  as  Scaliger  fays  in  his  ExerciiatioHS, 
reiides  chiefly  in  the  fingers,  is  hard  as  the  callous  and  infenfible 
palm  of  the  ploughman.  Warburton  reads ; 

»  fpite  of  fenfe  : 

Hanmer, 

to  th'  fpirit  of  fenfe. 

It  is  not  proper  to  make  a  lover  profefs  to  praife  his  miftrefs  in 
fpite  of  fenfe ;  for  though  he  often  does  it  in  fpite  of  the  fenfe  of 
others,  his  own  fenfes  are  fubdued  to  his  defires.  JOHNSON. 

As 


s*        TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA, 

As  true  thou  tell'fl  me,  when  I  fay— I  love  her; 
But,  faying  thus,  inftead  of  oil  and  balm, 
Thou  lay'ft  in  every  galh  that  love  hath  given  me 
The  knife  that  made  it. 

Pan.  I  fpeak  no  more  than  truth. 

Troi.  Thou  doft  not  fpeak  fo  much. 

Pan.  'Faith,  I'll  not  meddle  in't.  Let  her  be  as  flie 
is  :  if  flie  be  fair,  'tis  the  better  for  her ;  an  flic  be 
not,  8  Ihe  has  the  mends  in  her  own  hands. 

fTra.  Good  Pandarus  !  How  now,  Pandarus  ? 

Pan.  I  have  had  my  labour  for  my  travel;  ill- 
thought  on  of  her,  and  ill-thought  on  of  you  :  gone 
between  and  between, but  fmall  thanks  for  my  labour. 

tfroi.  What,  art  thou  angry,  Pandarus  ?  what,  with 
me  ? 

Pan.  Becaufe  Ihe  is  kin  to  me,  therefore  flic's  not 
fo  fair  as  Helen :  an  Ihe  were  not  kin  to  me,  flic 
would  be  as  fair  on  friday,  as  Helen  is  on  funday. 
But  what  care  I  ?  I  care  not,  an  flie  were  a  black-a- 
moor ;  'tis  all  one  to  me. 

Froi.  Say  I,  fhe  is  not  fair  ? 

Pan.  I  do  not  care  whether  you  do  or  no.  She's  a 
fool,  to  flay  behind  her  father ;  let  her  to  the  Greeks  ; 
and  fo  I'll  tell  her,  the  next  time  I  fee  her  :  for  my 
part,  I'll  meddle  nor  make  no  more  in  the  matter. 

Trot.  Pandarus, — 

Pan.  Not  I. 

8  — — Jbe  has  tbc  minds——  ]  She  may  mend  her  complexion 
by  the  affiftanceof  cofmetics.  JOHNSON. 

I  believe  it  rather  means— She  may  make  tie  left  of  a  lad  bar- 
gain* 

So,  in  Woma)i  's  a  Weathercock,   1612  : 

*'  I  (hall  fray  here  and  have  my  head  broke,  and  then  I  have 
the  mends  In  my  <p<vn  LanJs." 

Again,  in  o.  Goflbn's  School  ofAlufc,  1579  .•  ** turne  him 

with  hia   back  full  or  itripes,  and  bis  bands  lodfn  with  his  oivn 
amende" 

Again,  in  the  J-niJ-Gocfe  Cbace,  by  B.  and  Fletcher  : 
"  The  tnendi  are  in  miue  o;vn  bands,  or  the  furgeon's," 

STEEVSNS. 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.         13 

2V0/.  Sweet  Pandarns, — 

Pan.  Pray  you,  fpeak  no  more  to  me ;  I  will  leave 
all  as  I  found  it,  and  there  an  end.       [Exit  Pandarus. 

[Sound  alarum. 

Troi.  Peace,  you  ungracious  clamours !  peace,  rude 

founds ! 

Fools  on  both  fides  !     Helen  muft  needs  be  fair, 
When  with  your  blood  you  daily  paint  her  thus. 
I  cannot  fight  upon  this  argument ; 
It  is  too  ftarv'd  a  fubject  for  my  fword. 
But  Pandarus — O  gods,  how  do  you  plague  me ! 
I  cannot  come  to  Creffid,  but  by  Pandar  ; 
And  he's  as  teachy  to  be  woo'd  to  woo, 
As  fhe  is  flubborn-chafte  againfl  all  fuit. 
Tell  me,  Apollo,  for  thy  Daphne's  love, 
What  Creffid  is,  what  Pandar,  and  what  we  ? 
Her  bed  is  India  ;  there  ihe  lies,  a  pearl : 
Between  our  Ilium,  and  where  me  refides, 
Let  it  be  call'd  the  wild  and  wandering  flood  ; 
Ourfelf,  the  merchant ;  and  this  failing  Pandar, 
Our  doubtful  hope,  our  convoy,  and  our  bark. 

[Alarum.]         Enter  Mneas. 

&ne.  How   now,   prince  Troilus  ?  wherefore  not 
afield  ? 

Trol.  Becaufe  not  there;  This  woman's  anfwer  forts, 
For  womanim  it  is  to  be  from  thence. 
What  news,  jEneas,  from  the  field  to-day  ? 

jEue.  That  Paris  is  returned  home,  and  hurt. 

Troi.  By  whom,  ^Eneas  ? 

J&ne.  Troilus,  by  Menelaus. 

Troi.  Let  Paris  bleed  :  'tis  but  a  fear  to  fcorn  ; 
Paris  is  gor'd  with  Menelaus'  horn.  [Alarum. 

jEnc.  Hark  !  what  good  fport  is  out  of  town  to- 
day ! 

T'roi.  Better  at  home,  if  would  I  migbt,  were  may. — 
But,  to  the  fport  abroad  i— Are  you  bound  thither  ? 


U        TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA, 

JRnc.  In  all  fvvift  hafte. 

$roi.  Come,  go  we  then  together,  [Exeunt: 

SCENE        II. 

AJlreet. 
Enter  Crcffida,  and  Alexander  berfcrvant* 

Cre*  Who  were  thofe  went  by  ? 

Serv.  Queen  Hecuba,  and  Helen. 

Cre.  And  whither  go  they  ? 

Serv.  Up  to  the  eaftcrn  tower, 
Whofe  height  commands  as  fubject  all  the  vale, 
To  fee  the  battle.     9  Hector,  whofc  patience 
Is,  as  a  virtue,  fix'd,  to-day  was  mov'd  : 
He  chid  Andromache,  and  flruck  his  armourer  j 
And,  like  as  there  were  hufbandry  in  war, 
1  Before  the  fun  rofe,  he  was  harnefs'd  light, 

And 

*          Hcflor,  tvbofe  patietice 

Jj,  as  a  virtue,  j£*V, — ]  Patience  fure  was  a  virrue,  nnd 
therefore  cannot,  in  propriety  of  expreffion,  be  faid  to  be  /;£?  one. 
We  fhould  read  : 

Is  as  the  virtue  fix'd,         • 

i.  e.  his  patience  is  as  fixed  as  the  goddefs  Patience  itfelf.     So  we 
find  Troilus  a  little  before  faying  : 

Patienct  berfdf,  what  goddefs  ere  fhe  be, 

Doth  leflfer  blench  at  fufterance  than  I  do. 

It  is  remarkable  that  Dryden,  when  he   altered   this  play,  and 
found  this  falfc  reading,  altered  it  with  judgment  to : 

..     '    whofe  patience 

Is  fix'd  like  that  of  heaven. 

Which  he  would  not  have  done  had  he  feen  the  right  reading  here 
given,  where  his  thought  is  fo  much  better  and  nobler  cxprcfied. 

WARfiURTON. 

I  think  the  prefent  text  may  ftnnd.  Hector's  patience  was  as  a 
virtue,  not  variable  and  accidental,  but  fixed  and  conftant.  If  I 
would  alter  it,  it  fliould  be  thus : 

Hector,  whofe  patience 

Is  all  a  virtue  fix'd, 

,^/7,  in  old  Englifli,  is  the  intcnfwc  or  enforcing  particle. 

JOHNSON. 

1  Btftre  the  fun  rofi,  be  v:as  barncffil  light,]     Doa  the^poet 

mean 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        i$ 

And  to  the  field  goes  he  ;  xvhere  every  flower 
Did,  as  a  prophet,  weep  what  it  forefaw 
Jn  Hector's  wrath. 

Cre.  What  was  his  caufe  of  anger  ? 

Serv.  The  noife  goes,  this :  There  is  among  the 
Greeks 

mean  (fays  Mr.  Theobald)  that  Heflor  had  put  on  light  armour  T 
mean  !  what  elfe  could  be  mean  ?  He  goes  to  fight  on  foot  ;  and 
was  not  that  the  armour  for  his  purpofe  ?  So,  Fairfax,  in  TauVs 
Jerufalem  : 

*'  The  other  princes  put  on  barncfs  light 

"  As  footmen  uie " 

Yet,  as  if  this  had  been  the  higheft  abfurdity,  he  goes  on,  Or 
docs  he  mean  that  Hcclor  ivas  fprigbtly  in  his  arms  even  before  fun- 
rife  f  or  is  a  conundrum  aimed  at,  in  fun  rofe  and  barncfe'd  light  ?  Was 
any  riling  like  it  ?  But  to  get  out  of  this  perplexity,  he  tells  us, 
that  a  veryjligbt  alteration  makes  all  tbefe  conjlruftiofts  unnecejjary^ 
and  fo  changes  it  to  barnefi-Jigbt.  Yet  indeed  the  very  flighteft 
alteration  will  at  any  tjrae  let  the  poet's  fenfe  through  the  critic's 
fingers  :  and  the  Oxford  editor  very  contentedly  takes  up  with 
what  is  left  behind,  and  reads  harnrfs-dight  too,  in  order,  as  Mr. 
Theobald  well  expreffes  it,  to  make  all  cotijiruftion  unneccjjary. 

WARBURTON. 

How  does  it  appear  that  Hector  was  to  fight  on  foot  rather 
to-day,  than  on  any  other  day  ?  It  is  to  be  remembered,  that  the 
ancient  heroes  never  frought  on  horfeback  ;  nor  does  their  manner 
of  fighting  in  chariots  ieem  to  require  lefs  activity  than  on  foot. 

JOHNSON. 

It  is  true  that  the  heroes  of  Homer  never  fought  on  horfeback  ; 
yet  fuch  of  them  as  make  a  fecond  appearance  in  the  &nrij, 
like  their  antagonifts  the  Rutulians,  had  cavalry  among  their 
troops.  Little  can  be  interred  from  the  manner  in  which 
Alcanius  and  the  young  nobility  of  Troy  are  introduced  at  the 
conclufion  of  the  funeral  games,  as  Virgil  very  probably,  at  the 
expence  of  an  anachronifm,  meant  to  pay  a  compliment  to  the 
military  exercifes  inftituted  by  Julius  Cielar,  and  improved  bv 
Auguflus.  It  appears  from  different  pnl'hgcs  in  this  plav,  th.:c 
Hector  fights  on  horfeback  j  and  it  fiiould  be  remembered,  that 
Shakefpeare  was  indebted  tor  moft  of  his  materials  to  a  book 
which  enumerates  Efdras  and  Pythagoras  among  the  bailaru  chil- 
dren ot  king  Priamus.  Shakefpeare  might  have  been  led  into  his 
rr.,irakc  by  the  manner  in  which  Chopnnui  has  tranflated  Icvrral 
parts  of  the  Iliad,  where  the  heroes  mount  their  chariots  or  de- 
icend  from  them.  Thus  B.  6.  fpeaking  of  Glaucus  and  Dicir.cd  : 
"  ——From  borje  then  both  defcend."  STEEVEXS. 

A  lord 


16       TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA; 

A  lord  of  Trojan  blood,  nephew  to  Hector ; 
They  call  him,  Ajax. 

Cre.  Good  ;  And  what  of  him  ? 

Serv.'  They  fay  he  is  a  very  man  *perfe, 
And  ftands  alone. 

Cre.  So  do  all  men  ;  unlefs  they  are  drunk,  fick, 
or  have  no  legs. 

Serv.  This  man,  lady,  hath  robb'd  many  beafts  of 
their  particular  additions ;  he  is  as  valiant  as  the  lion, 
churliih  as  the  bear,  flow  as  the  elephant :  a  man  into 
whom  nature  hath  fo  crowded  humours,  J  that  his 
valour  is  crufhed  into  folly,  his  folly  fauced  with  dif- 
cretion :  there  is  no  man  hath  a  virtue,  that  he  hath  not 
a  glimpfe  of ;  nor  any  man  an  attaint,  but  he  carries 
fome  ftain  of  it  :  he  is  melancholy  without  caufe,  and 
merry  againft  the  hair4- :  He  hath  the  joints  of  every 
thing  ;  but  every  thing  fo  out  of  joint,  that  he  is  a 
gouty  Briareus,many  hands  and  no  ufe ;  orpurblinded 
Argus,  all  eyes  and  no  fight. 

Cre.  But  how  fhould  this  man,  that  makes  me 
fmile,  make  Hector  angry  ? 

Serv.  They  fay,  he  yefterday  cop'd  Hector  in  the 
battle,  and  ftruck  him  down  ;  the  difdain  and  lhame 
whereof  hath  ever  fince  kept  Hector  falling  and 
waking. 

* ferfe, ]     So  in  Chaucer's  Tcftamcnt  ofCreJJ'eide : 

"  Offaire  Crefleide  the  floure  and  a  per  ft 
ic  Of  Troie  and  Greece." 
Again,  in  the  old  comedy  of  Wily  beguiled: 
"  In  faith,  my  fweet  honeycomb,  I'll  love  thee  a  per  feat." 
Again,  in  Blurt  'Mafter  Conftablt,  1602  : 

"  That  is  the  a  per  fe  of  all,  the  creame  of  all." 

STEEVENI. 

3  ~—that  his  valour  is  crufhed  into  folly, — ]  To  be  crujhedinto 
folly,  is  to  be  confufcd  and  mingled  with/^//?,  fo  as  that  they 
make  one  mafs  together.  JOHNSON. 

a againft  the  hair:']  is  a  phrafe  equivalent  to  another  now 

hi  ufe again/I  the  grain.     The  French  fay — a  contrrpoil. 

STEEVENS. 

Ent:r 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        17 

Enter  Pandarus. 

Cre.  Who  comes  here  ? 

Seru.  Madam,  your  uncle  Pandarus. 

Cre.  Heftor's  a  gallant  man. 

Serv.  As  may  be  in  the  world,  lady. 

Pan.  What's  that  ?  what's  that  ? 

Cre.  Good  morrow,  Uncle  Pandarus. 

Pan.  l  Good  morrow,  coufin  Creffid  :  What  do 
you  talk  of? — Good  morrow,  Alexander. — How  do 
you,  coufin  ?  When  were  you  at  *  Ilium  ? 

Cre.  This  morning,  uncle. 

Pan.  What  were  you  talking  of,  when  I  came  ? 
Was  Hedtor  arm'd,  and  gone,  ere  ye  came  to  Ilium  ? 
Helen  was  not  up,  was  Ihe  ? 

Cre.  Hedlor  was  gone ;  but  Helen  was  not  up. 

Pan.  E'en  fo ;  He£tor  was  ftirring  early. 

Cre.  That  were  we  talking  of,  and  of  his  anger. 

Pan.  Was  he  angry  ? 

Cre.  So  he  fays  here. 

*  Good  morro-'cj  coufin,    CreJJld :  Wljat  Jo  you    talk  off — Good 

mnrnoiv,    Alexander. — Hciv  "do  you,  coufin  ? ]      Good  morrow, 

Alexander,  is  added  in  all  the  editions,  fays  Mr.  Pope,  very  ab- 
furdly,  Paris  not  being  on  the  ftage. —  Wonderful  acutenefs ! 
But,  with  fubmiflion,  this  gentleman's  note  is  much  more  ab- 
furd  ;  for  ir  falls  out  very  unluckily  for  his  remark,  that  though 
Paris  is,  for  the  generality,  in  Homer  called  Alexander;  yet, 
in  this  play,  by  any  one  of  the  characters  introduced,  he  is  called 
nothing  but  Paris.  The  truth  of  the  fa  ft  is  th.js  :  Pandarus  is  of 
a  bufy,  impertinent,  infinuating  character  :  and  it  is  natural  for 
him,  fo  foon  as  he  has  given  his  coufin  the  good-morrow,  to  pay 
his  civilities  too  to  her  attendant.  This  is  pure  -  the 

grammarians  call  it ;  and  gives  us  an  admirable  touch  of  Pandarus's 
character.  And  why  might  not  Alexander  be  the  name  or  Cref- 
fid's  man  ?  Paris  had  no  patent,  I  fuppofe,  for  engrailing  it  to 
himielf.  But  the  late  editor,  perhaps,  becaufe  we  have  had 
Alexander  the  Great,  Pope'  Alexander,  and  Alexander  Pope,  would 
not  have  fo  eminent  a  name  "proilituted  to  a  common  varlet. 

TKEO'DALD. 

* Ilium?]     Was  the  palace  of  Troy.   JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  C  Pan. 


j8      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

Pan.  True,  he  was  fo  ;  I  know  the  caufe  too ;  he'H 
lay  about  him  to-day,  I  can  tell  them  that :  and  there's 
Troilus  will  not  come  far  behind  him ;  let  them  take 
heed  of  Troilus  ;  I,  can  tell  them  that  too. 

Cre.  What,  is  he  angry  too  ? 

Pan.  Who,  Troilus  ?  Troilus  is  the  better  man  of 
the  two. 

Cre.  O,  Jupiter  !  there's  no  comparifon. 

Pan.  What,  not  between  Troilus  and  Hector  ?  Do 
you  know  a  man,  if  you  fee  him  ? 

Cre.  Ay  ;  if  I  ever  faw  him  before,  and  knew  him. 

Pan.  Well,  I  fay,  Troilus  is  Troilus. 

Cre.  Then  you  fay  as  I  fay ;  for,  I  am  fure,  he  is 
not  Hector. 

Pan.  No,  nor  Hector  is  not  Troilus,  in  feme  de- 
grees. 

Cre.  'Tis  juft  to  each  of  them  ;  he  is  himfclf. 

Pan.  Himfelf  ?  Alas,  poor  Troilus  !  I  would,  he 
were, 

Ore.  So  he  is. 

Pan.  — 'Condition,  I  had  gone  bare-foot  to  India* 

G-e.  He  is  not  Hector. 

Pan.  Himfelf?  no,  he's  not  himfclf. — 'Would 'a 
were  himfclf!  Well,  the  gods  arc  above ;  Time  muft 
friend,  or  end  :  Well,  Troilus,  well, — I  would,  my 
heart  were  in  her  body  [ — No,  Hector  is  not  a  better 
man  than  Troilus. 

Cre.  Excufe  me. 

Pan.  He  is  elder. 

Cre.  Pardon  me,  pardon  me. 

Pan.  The  other's  not  come  to't ;  you  lhall  tell  me 
another  tale,  when  the  other's  come  to't.  Hector  fliall 
not  have  his  wit  this  year. 

Cre.  He  lhall  not  need  it,  if  he  have  his  own. 

Pan.  ,Nor  his  qualities. 

Cre.  No  matter. 

Pan.  Nor  his  beauty. 

Cre.  'Twould  not  become  him,  his  ou  n's  b 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        19 

Pan.  You  have  no  judgment,  niece  :  Helen  her- 
felf  fwore  the  other  day,  that  Troilus,  for  a  brown 
favour,  (for  fo  'tis,  I  mufl  confefs) — Not  brown 
neither. 

Cre.  No,  but  brown. 

Pan.  'Faith,  to  fay  truth,  brown  and  not  brown. 

Cre.  To  fay  the  truth,  true  and  not  true. 

Pan.  She  prais'd  his  complexion  above  Paris. 

Cre.  Why,  Paris  hath  colour  enough. 

Pan.  So  he  has. 

Cre.  Then,  Troilus  Ihould  have  too  much  :  if  fhe 
prais'd  him  above,  his  complexion  is  higher  than  his ; 
he  having  colour  enough,  and  the  other  higher,  is  too 
flaming  a  praife  for  a  good  complexion.  I  had  as 
licve,  Helen's  golden  tongue  had  commended  Troi- 
lus for  a  copper  nofe. 

Pan.  I  fwear  to  you,  I  think,  Helen  loves  him 
better  than  Paris. 

Cre.  Then  ihe's  a  merry  Greek  ',  indeed. 

Pan.  Nay,  I  am  fure  me  does.  She  came  to  him 
the  other  day  into  the  4compafs'd  window, — and,  you 
know,  he  has  not  paft  three  or  four  hairs  on  his  chin. 

Cre.  Indeed,  a  tapfter's  arithmetic  may  foon  bring 
his  particulars  therein  to  a  total. 

Pan.  Why,  he  is  very  young  :  and  yet  will  he, 
within  three  pound,  lift  as  much  as  his  brother  Heftor. 

Cre.  Is  he  fo  young  a  mari,  and  fo  old  a  lifter s  ? 

Pan. 

3  a  merry  Greet, ]   Grtecarl  among  the  Romans  figni- 

fiecl  to  play  the  reveller.    STEEVENS. 

4 comfaff'divinJovj, — ]    The  compaf?  d  window  is  the  fame 

as  the  bowivinJow.     JOHNSON. 

' Jo  old  a  lifter  ?]     The  word  lifter  is  ufed  for  a  thief  by 

Green,  in  his  Art  of  Coney- catching,  printed  1591  :  on  this  the 
humour  of  the  paflage  may  be  fuppofed  to  turn.  We  Hill  call  a 
perfon  who  plunders  (hops,  ajbop-ltfter.  Jon  ion  ufes  the  expref- 
iion  in  Cynthia's  Revels  : 

«*  One  other  peculiar  virtue  you  pofiefs  is,  lifting." 

C  2  Agaio, 


2.0       TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Pan.  But,  to  prove  to  you  that  Helen  loves  him  ;— • 
fhe  came,  and  puts  me  her  white  hand  to  his  cloven 
chin, 

Cre.  Juno  have  mercy ! — How  came  it  cloven  ? 

Pan.  Why,  you  know,  'tis  dimpled  :  I  think,  his 
fmiling  becomes  him  better  than  any  man  in  ail 
Phrygia. 

Cre.  O,  he  fmiles  valiantly. 

Pan.  Does  he  not  ? 

Cre.  O,  yes ;  an  'twere  a  cloud  in  autumn. 

Pan.  Why,  go  to  then  : But,  to  prove  to  you 

that  Helen  loves  Troilus, 

Cre.  Troilus  will  ftand  to  the  proof,  if  you'll  prove 
it  fo. 

Pan.  Troilus  ?  why,  he  efteems  her  no  more  than 
I  eflcem  an  addle  egg. 

Cre.  If  you  love  an  addle  egg  as  well  as  you  love 
an  idle  head,  you  would  eat  chickens  i*  the  Ihell. 

Piin.  1  cannot  chufe  but  laugh,  to  think  how  fhe 
tickled  his  chin  ; — Indeed,  fhe  has  a  marvellous  white 
hand,  I  mufl  needs  confefs. 

Cre.  Without  the  rack. 

P,i'i.  And  flic  takes  upon  her  to  fpy  a  white  hair 
on  his  chin. 

Cre.  Alas,  poor  chin  !  many  a  wart  is  richer. 

Pan.  But, there  was  fuch  laughing; — Queen  Hecu- 
Ixi  laugh'd,  that  her  eyes-  ran  o'er. 

Cf'e.  With  mill-Hones. 

Pan.  And  Caflandra  laugh'd. 

Cre.  But  there  was  more  temperate  fire  under  the 
pot  of  her  eyes  ; — Did  her  eyes  run  o'er  too  ? 

Pan.  And  Hedtor  laugh'd. 

Cfe.  At  what  was  all  this  laughing  ? 

Again,  in  the  Roaring  Girl,  161 1  : 

"  cheaters,  lifters,  nips,  foifts,  puggards,  courbers." 

Again,  in  Holland's  Leaguer,   1633: 

"  Broker  or  pandar,  cheater  or  lifter.'"  STEEVENS. 

Pan. 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       2i 

Pan.  Marry,  at  the  white  hair  that  Helen  fpied  on 
Troilus*  chin. 

Cre.  A  n't  had  been  a  green  hair,  I  fhould  have 
laugh'd  too. 

Pan.  They  langh'd  not  fo  much,at  the  hair,  as  at 
his  pretty  anfwcr. 

Cre.  What  was  his  anfwcr  ? 

Pan.  Quoth  fhe,  Here's  but  one  and  fifty  hairs  on  your 
chin,  and  one  of  than  is  white. 

Cre.  This  is  her  queltion. 

Pan.  That's  true ;  make  no  queftion  of  that.  6  One 
and  f fly  hairs,  quoth  he,  and  one  white :  That  white  L\ur 
is  my  father,  and  all  the  reft  are  his  fans.  Jupiter  ! 
quoth  fhe,  which  of  thefe  hairs  is  Paris,  my  hujland  ? 
The  forked  one,  quoth  he  ;  pluck  it  out,  and  give  it  him. 
But,  there  was  fuch  laughing  !  and  Helen  Ib  blufh'd, 
and  Paris  fo  chaf'd,  and  all  the  reft  fo  laugh'd,  that 
it  pafs'd. 

Cre.  So  let  it  now  ;  for  it  has  been  a  great  while 
going  by. 

Pan.  Well,  coufin,  I  told  you  a  thing  yefterday ; 
think  on't. 

Cre.  So  I  do. 

Pan.  I'll  be  fworn,  'tis  true ;  he  will  weep  you,  an 
'twere  a  man  born  in  April.  [Sound  a  retreat. 

Cre.  And  I'll  fpring  up  in  his  tears,  an  'twere  a 
nettle  againfl  May. 

Pan.  Hark,  they  are  coming  from  the  field  :  Shall 
we  ftand  up  here,  and  fee  them,  as  they  pats  toward 
Ilium  ?  good  niece,  do  ;  fweet  niece  Creffida. 

Cre.  At  your  pleafure. 

Pan.  Here,  here,  here's  an  excellent  place  ;  here 
we  may  fee  moil  bravely  :  I'll  tell  you  them  all  by 

5  Two  and  fifty  hairs,—  ]  I  have  ventured  to  fubftitute  one 
and  fifty,  I  think  with  fome' certainty.  How  elie  can  the  num- 
ber make  out  friam  and  his  fifty  fons  ?  TUEOBALE. 

C  3  their 


si*       TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

their  names,  as  they  pafs  by  ;  but  mark  Troilus  above 
the  reft. 

J&ieas  pafles  over  fuge. 

Cre.  Speak  not  fo  loud. 

far..  That's  ^ncas  ;  Is  not  that  a  brave  man  ? 
hf\  one  of  the  flowers  of  Troy,  I  can  tell  you  ;  But 
mark  Troilus;  you  mall  lee  anon. 

Cre.  Who's  that  ? 

Antenor  pafles  over. 

Pan.  7  That's  Antenor  ;  he  has  a  ihrewd  wit,  I  can 
tell  you  ;  and  he's  a  man  good  enough  :  he's  one  o'  the 
founded:  judgment  in  Troy,  whofoever  ;  and  a  proper 
man  of  perfon  :  —  When  comes  Troilus?  —  I'll  fhew 
you  Troilus  anon  -,  if  he  fee  me,  you  fhall  fee  him 
nod  at  me. 

Cre.  Will  he  give  you  the  nod.? 

Pan.  You  mail  fee. 

Cre.  If  he  do,  8  the  rich  fliall  have  more. 

"  7'kafs  Antenor  ;   he  has  a  J},re\vd  ctvV, 
Anthenor  was  — 


"  Copious  in  words,  and  one  that  much  time  fpent 
•**  To  jeft,  when  as  he  was  in  companie, 
"  So  dricly,  that  no  man  could  it  efpie  ; 
"  And  therewith  held  his  countenaunce  fo  well, 

*'  That  every  man  received  great  content 
"  To  hearc  him  fpeake,  and  pretty  jefts  to  tell, 
"  When  he  was  pleafant,  and  in  merriment  : 
'*  For  tho'  that  he  moft  commonly  was  fad,  • 
**  Yet  hi  his  fpcech  fome  jeft  he  always  had." 

Lulgate,  p.  105. 

STEEVENS. 

*  ..  '  -ike  rich  JImll  have  more.~\  To  give  one  the  nod,  was  a 
phrafe  fignifying  to  give  one  a  mark  of  folly.  The  reply  turns 
upon  this  fenje,  alluding  to  the  expreffion  give  ,  and  fhould  be  read 
thus  : 

.         —  tbs  m\c\\  fiall  have  more. 

i.  e.  tHiicl.  He  that  has  much  folly  already  fliall  then  have  more. 
This  was  a  proverbial  fpeech,  implying  that  benefits  fall  upon  the 
rich.  The  O.\fr,rd  editor  alters  it  r<>  : 

.    •     "  ••    the  rcll  JJjall  have  none.     WAR  BUR  TON, 

I  wonder 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.*   23 

Heftor  pajjes  over. 

Pan.  That's  He&or,  that,  that,  look  you,  that ; 
There's  a  fellow  ! — Go  thy  way,  He&or; — There's 
a  brave  man,  niece. — O  brave  Hector  ! — Look,  how 
he  looks !  there's  a  countenance  :  Is't  not  a  brave 
man? 
x  Cre.  £>,  a  brave  man  ! 

Pan.  Is  'a  not  ?  It  does  a  man's  heart  good — Look 
you,  what  hacks  arc  on  his  helmet?  look  you  yon- 
der, do  you  ice?  look  you  there  !  There's  nojefling: 
laying  on  ;  takc't  off  who  will,  as  they  fay  :  there  be 
hacks ! 

Cre.  Be  thofe  with  fwords  ? 

Pans  pajfes  over. 

Pan.  Swords  ?  any  thing,  he  cares  not  :  an  the 
devil  come  to  him,  it's  all  one  :  By  god's  lid,  it  does 
one's  heart  good  : — Yonder  comes  Paris,  yonder 
comes  Paris  :  look  ye  yonder,  niece ;  Is't  not  a  gal- 

I  wonder  why  the  commentator  fliould  think  any  emendation 
neceflary,  fince  his  own  fenfe  is  fully  e^cprefled  by  the  prefent 
reading.  Hanmer  appears  not  to  have  undertfood  the  paflage. 
That  to  give  the  nod  fignifies  to  fet  a  mark  of  folly  y  I  do  not 
know  ;  the  allufion  is  to  the  word  noddy.,  which,  as  now,  did,  in 
our  author's  time,  and  long  before,  figniry  a  Jilly  fellow  *  and  may, 
by  its  etymology,  figmfy  likewife  full  of  nods.  Creffid  means, 
rhat  a  noddy  foall  have  more  nods.  Of  i'uch  remarks  as  thefe  is  a 
comment  to  conliit  ?  JPHNSON. 

To  give  the  nod,  was,  I  believe  a  term  in  the  game  at  cards 
called  Noddy.  This  game  is  perpetually  alluded  to  in  the  old 
comedies. 

So,\to  A  Woman  kiirj  with  KinJneft,  1617:  ««  Matter  Frank- 
ford  beft  play  at  Noddy."  Again,  in  the  Infatiate  Countrfs^  1631  : 

" Be  honeft  now  and  not  love's  noddy, 

*'  Turn'd  up  and  play'd  on  whillt  thou  Keep'ft  the  flock." 
Again,  in  Hide-Park,  by  Shirley,   1637: 
"  He  is  upon  the  matter  then  fifteen  j 
**  A  game  at  nojJy."    STEEVENS. 

C  4  lant 


24   •    TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

lant  man  too,  is't  not?  —  Why,  this  is  brave  now.  — 
Who  faid,  he  came  home  hurt  to-day  ?  he's  not  hurt  : 
why,  this  will  do  Helen's  heart  good  now.  Ha  ! 
'would  I  could  fee  Troilus  now  !  —  you  lhall  fee  Troi- 
lus  anon. 

Cre.  Who's  that  ? 

Helenas  pajfes  over* 

\ 

Pan.  That's  Helenus,  —  I  marvel,  where  Troilus 
is:  —  That's  Helenus  ;  —  I  think  he  went  not  forih 
to-day  ;  —  That's  Helenus. 

Cre.  Can  Helenus  fight,  uncle  ? 

Pan.  Helenus  ?  no  ;  —  yes,  he'll  fight  indifferent 
well  :  —  I  marvel,  'where  Troilus  is  !  —  Hark;  do  you 
not  hear  the  people  cry,  Troilus  ?  Helenus  is  a 
pricft. 

Cre.  What  fneaking  fellow  comes  yonder  ? 

Troilus    aes  over. 


Pan.  Where  ?  yonder  ?  that's  Deiphobus  :  'Tis 
Troilus  !  'there's  a  man,  niece!  -  Hem!  —  Brave 
Troilus  !  the  prince  of  chivalry  ! 

Cre.   Peace,  for  lhame,  peace  ! 

Pan.  Mark  him  ;  note  him  ;  —  O  brave  Troilus  !  — 
loolc  well  upon  him,  niece  ;  look  you,  how  his  fword 
is  bloody'd,and  his  helm  more  hack'd  than  Hector's9; 
AnJ  how  he  looks,  and  how  he  goes!  —  O  admirable 
youth  !  he  ne'er  faw  three  and  twenty.  Go  thy  way, 
Troilus,  go  thy  way  ;  had  I  a  filler  were  a  grace,  or 
a  daughter  a  goddefs,  he  fhould  take  his  choice.  O 
admirable  man  !  Paris  ?  —  Paris  is  dirt  to  him  ;  and, 

9  -  bis  helm  more  hacVd  than  Hcflor's  ;  —  ]     So  in  Chaucer's 
and  C>  'effeteic^  b.  iii.  640: 
"  His  hclme  to  bcwin  was  in  twenty  places,  &c." 

STEEVEXS. 

I  war- 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       25 

I  warrant,  Helen,  to  change,  would  give  '  an  eye  to 
boot. 

Enter  foldicrs,  &c. 

Ore.  Here  come  more. 

Pan.  Afles,  fools,  dolts!  chaff  and  bran,  chaff  and 
bran  !  porridge  after  meat !  I  could  live  and  die  'i  the 
eyes  of  Troilus.  Ne'er  look,  ne'er  look  ;  the  eagles 
are  gone ;  crows  and  daws,  crows  and  daws  !  1  had 
rather  be  fuch  a  man  as  Troilus,  than  Agamemnon 
and  all  Greece. 

Cre.  There  is  among  the  Greeks,  Achilles ;  a  bet- 
ter man  than  Troilus. 

Pan.  Achilles  ?  a  dray-man,  a  porter, a  very  camel. 

Cre.  Well,  well. 

Pan.  Well,  well  ? — Why,  have  you  any  difcretion  ? 
have  you  any  eyes  ?  Do  you  know  what  a  man  is  ?  Is 
not  birth,  beauty,  good  lhape,  difcourfe,  manhood, 
learning,  gentlenefs,  virtue,  youth,  liberality,  and 
fuch  like,  the  fpice  and  fait  that  feafon  a  man  ? 

Cre.  Ay,  a  minc'd  man  :  and   then  to  be  bak'd 
with  nod  ate  in  the  pye  % — for  then  the  man's  date  is  ' 
out. 

Pan.  You  are  fuch  a  woman  !  one  knows  not  at 
what  ward  you  lie. 

Cre.  Upon  my  back,  to  defend  my  belly ;  *  upon 

1  an  eye  to  loot.'}     So   the  quarto.     The   folio,  with   lefs 

force,  Give  money  to  boot.     JOHNSON-. 

*  no  date  in  tie  j>ye, ]    To  account  for  the  introduftion 

of  this  quibble,  it  ftsould  be  remembered  that  dates  were  an  ingre- 
dient in  ancient  paltry  of  almoft  every  kind.  So,  in  Romeo  and 
Juliet: 

"  They  call  for  dates  and  quinces  in  the  paftry." 

Again,  in  AlFs  well  that  ends  well >  aft  I. 

"  your  daft  is  better  in  your  pye  and  porridge  than  in  your 

cheek."    STEEVENS. 

3 upon  my  wit,  to  defend  my  wiles  ; ]     So  read  both  the 

copies  :  yet  perhaps  the  author  wrote  : 

Upon  my  wit  to  defend  my  will. 

The  terms  wit  and  will  were,  in  the  language  of  that  time,  put 
often  in  oppofuion.  JOHNSO:;. 

my 


-6      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

my  wit,  to  defend  my  wiles  ;  upon  my  fecrecy,  to 
defend  mine  honefty  ;  my  mafk,  to  defend  my  beau- 
ty ;  and  you,  to  defend  all  thefe  :  and  at  all  thefc 
wards  I  lie,  at  a  thoufand  watches. 

Pan.  Say  one  of  your  watches. 

Cre.  Nay,  I'll  watch  you  for  that;  and  that's  one  of 
the  chiefeft  of  them  too  :  if  I  cannot  ward  what  I 
would  not  have  hit,  I  can  watch  you  for  telling  how 
I  took  the  blow  ;  unlefs  it  fwell  paft  hiding,  and  then 
it  is  paft  watching. 

Pan.  You  are  fuch  another  ! 


Enter  Troilus1  Boy. 

Boy.  Sir,  my  lord  would  inftantly  fpeak  with  you, 

Pan.  Where  ? 

Boy.  4  At  your  own  houfe  ;  there  he  unarms  him. 

Pan.  Good  boy,   tell  him  I  come  [Exit  Boy~]  :    I 
doubt  he  be  hurt.  —  Fare  ye  well,  good  niece. 

Cre.  Adieu,  uncle. 

Pan.  I'll  be  with  you,  niece,  by  and  by. 

Cre.  To  bring,  uncle,  - 

Pan.  Ay,  a  token  from  Troilus. 

Cre.  By  the  fame  token  —  you  area  bawd.  - 

[Exit  Pandarits, 

Words,  vows,  gifts,  tears,  and  love's  full  facrifice, 
He  offers  in  another's  enterprize  : 
But  more  in  Troilus  thoufand  fold  I  fee 
Than  in  the  glafs  of  Pandar's  praife  may  be  ; 
Yet  hold  I  off.     Women  are  angels,  wooing; 
Things  won  are  done,  5  joy's  foul  lies  in  the  doing  i 

*  At  your  own  boufe  ;   there  If  unarms  bim.~\     Thefc  neceflary 
words  are  added  from  the  quarto  edition.     POPE. 

The  words  added  are  only,  there  he  unarms  him.     JOHNSOX. 
5  —  -joy's.  foul  lies  in  the  doing  :~\     So  read  both   the  old  editions, 
for  which  the  later  editions  have  poorly  given  : 

•     the  foul's  joy  lies  in  doing.     JOHNSON. 

That 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.      17 

That  Ihe  belov'd  knows  nought,  that  knows  not  this,— 
Men  prize  the  thing  ungain'd  more  than  it  is  : 

6  That  fhe  was  never  yet,  that  ever  knew 
Love  got  fo  fweet,  as  when  defire  did  fue  : 

Therefore  this  maxim  out  of  love  I  teach, 

Achievement  is,  command  ;  ungain'd,  befcech  : 

7  Then  though  8my  heart's  content  firm  love  doth 

bear, 
Nothing  of  that  fhall  from  mine  eyes  appear.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE      III. 

The  Grecian  camp. 

Trumpets.     Enter  Agamemnon,  Nejlor,  Ulvffes,  Menelaus, 
with  others. 

Agam.  Princes, 

What  grief  hath  fet  the  jaundice  on  your  cheeks  ? 
The  ample  propofition,  that  hope  makes 
Jn  all  defigns  begun  on  earth  below, 
Fails  in  the  promis'd  largenefs  :  checks  and  difaflers 
Grow  in  the  veins  of  actions  higheft  rear'd; 
As  knots,  by  the  conflux  of  meeting  fap, 
Infect  the  found  pine,  and  divert  his  grain 
Tortive  and  errant  from  his  courfe  of  growth. 
Nor,  princes,  is  it  matter  new  to  us, 
That  we  come  fliort  of  our  fuppofe  fo  far, 
That,  after  feven  years'  fiege,  yet  Troy  walls  {land; 
Sith  every  action  that  hath  gone  before, 
Whereof  we  have  record,  trial  did  draw 
Bias  and  thwart,  not  anfwering  the  aim, 
And  that  unbodied  figure  of  the  thought 

6  Tljatfic ]     Means,  that  woman.    JOHNSON. 

7  Then  though ]     The  quarto  reads  then  ;  the  folio  and  the 

jnodern  editions  read  improperly,  that.     JOHNSON. 

*  my  htart\  content ]  Content,  for  capacity,   WARBURTON. 

That 


28       TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

That  gav't  furmifed  fhapc.     Why  thpn,  you  princes, 
Do  you  with  checks  abafh'd  behold  our  works  ; 
And  think  them  lhames,  which  are,  indeed,  nought 

elfe 

But  the  protradtive  trials  of  great  Jove, 
To  find  perfiftive  conftancy  in  men  ? 
The  finenefs  of  which  metal  is  not  found 
In  fortune's  love  :  for  then,  the  bold  and  coward, 
The  wife  and  fool,  the  artiftand  unread, 
The  hard  and  foft,  fe^m  all  affin'd  and  kin  : 
But,  in  the  wind  and  temped  of  her  frown, 
^Diftindtion,  with  a  'broad  and  powerful  fan, 
Puffing  at  all,  winnows  the  light  away  ; 
And  what  hath  mafs,  or  matter,  by  itfelf 
Lies,  rich  in  virtue,  and  unmingled. 

Neft.  '  With  due  obfervance  of  thy  godlike  feat, 
Great  Agamemnon,  1  Neftor  ihall  apply 
Thy  latefl  words.     In  the  reproof  of  chance 
Lies  the  true  proof  of  men  :  The  fea  being  fmooth, 
How  many  mallow  bauble  boats  dare  fail 
Upon  her  5  patient  brealt,  making  their  way 

8  JBroa<f]  So  the  quarto  ;  the  folio  reads  loud.  JOHNSON. 
1  Witbdue  observance  oftby  goodly  feat,]  Goodly  is  an  epithet  that 
carries  no  very  great  compliment  with  it ;  and  Neftor  feems  here 
to  be  paying  deference  to  Agamemnon's  ibte  and  pre-eminence. 
The  old  books  have  it, — to  tby  godly  fiat :  godlike,  as  I  have  re- 
formed the  text,  feems  to  me  the  epithet  deligned  ;  and  is  very 
conformable  to  what  jDncas  afterwards  fays  of  Agamemnon  : 

Which  is  that  god  in  office,  guiding  men  f 
So  godlike  feat  is  here,  (late  fupreme  above  all  other  commanders. 

THEOBALD. 

This  emendation   Theobald  might  have  found  in  the  i^umtu, 
which  has : 

the  godlike  feat.     Jo H  N  s o N .  '•  * 

*  Neftor  Jhall  apply 

Thy   latcjl  words.]     Neftor  applies   the   words  to  another  in- 
frince.     JOHNSON. 

3 patient  breajl,' ]     The  quarto  not  fo  well  : 

• — —ancient  brealt.     JOHNSON. 

With 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       29 

*  With  thofe  of  nobler  bulk  ? 

But  let  the  ruffian  Boreas  once  enrage 

The  gentle  Thetis,  and,  anon,  behold 

The  itrong-ribb'd  bark  through  liquid  mountains  cut, 

Bounding  between  the  two  moid  elements, 

Like  Perfeus'  horfc  :  Where's  then  the  faucy  boat, 

Whofe  weak  untimber'd  fides  but  even  now 

Co-rival'd  greatnefs  ?  either  to  harbour  fled, 

Or  made  a  toaft  for  Neptune.     Even  fo 

Doth  valour's  ihew,  and  valour's  worth,  divide 

In  ftorms  of  fortune  :  For,  in  her  ray  and  brightnefs, 

The  herd  hath  more  annoyance  by  the  brize  s, 

Than  by  the  tyger :  but  when  fplitting  winds 

Make  flexible  the  knees  of  knotted  oaks, 

And  flies  flee  under  ihade,  Why,  then,  6  the  thing  of 

courage, 

As  rowz'd  with  rage,  with  rage  doth  fympathizc, 
And  with  an  accent  tun'd  in  felf-fame  key, 
7  Returns  to  chiding  fortune. 

4  With  tbofe  of  nobler  lulk  ?]     Statins  has  the  fame  thought, 
though  more  diffufedly  exprefs'd  : 

*'  Sic  ubi  magna  novum  Phario  de  littore  puppis 
"  Solvit  iter,  jamque  innumeros  utrinque  rudentes 
*'  Lataque  veliferi  porrexit  brachia  mali, 
"  Invaiitque  vias  ;  it  eodem  angv.ila  phaielus 
"  jEquore,  et  immenfi  partem  fibi  vendicat  auitri." 
Pope  has  imitated  the  paflage.     STEEVENS. 

5  •    •     by  the  brize]     The  brize  is  the  gad  or  borfe-Jty.     So,  in 
Monjieur  Thomas ,   1639  : 

"  Have  ye  got  the  Irize  there  ? 

"  Give  me  the  holy  fprinkle." 

Again,   in  Vittoria  Corombona^  or  the  Hljite  Devil,  1612  : 
"  I  will  put  br'iM  in  his  tail,  fet  him  a  gadding  prelently." 

STEEVEXS. 

6 the  thing  of  cjurage^}     It  is  faid  of  the  tiger,  that  in 

ftorms  and  high  winds  he  rages  an3  roars  moll  furioully. 

HANMER. 

7  Returns  to  chiding  fortune.]  For  returns,  Hanmer  reads  replies^ 
unnecelTarily,  the  ienie  being  the  fame.  The  folio  and  quarto 
have  retires^  corruptly.  JOHNSOX. 


30      TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

Uhff.  Agamemnon, — 

Thou  great  commander,  nerve  and  bone  of  Greece, 
Heart  of  our  numbers,  foul  and  only  fpirit, 
In  whom  the  tempers  and  the  minds  of  all 
Should  be  fhut  up, — hear  what  Ulyffes  fpeaks. 
Befides  the  applaufe  and  approbation 
The  which, — moft  mighty  for  thy  place  andfway,— 

[To  Agamemnon. 

And  thou  moft  reverend  for  thy  ftretcht-out  life, — 

[To  Neftor. 

I  give  to  both  your  8  fpeeches, — which  were  fuch, 

As 

*  fpeeches,  —which  *werefucb9 

As  Agamemnon  and  the  hand  of  Greece 

Should  hold  up  high  in  brafs  ;   and  fuch  again , 

As  venerable  Nc/tor,  hatched  in  Jtlvcrt 

Should knit  all  Greekijh  ears 

To   his  experienced  tongue: ]     Ulyfles  begins  his  oration 

with  praifing  thofe  who  had  fpoken  before  him,  and  marks  the 
chara&eriftic  excellencies  or  their  different  eloquence,  ftrength, 
and  fweetnefs,  which  he  expreffes  by  the  different  metals  on  which 
he  recommends  them  to  be  engraven  tor  the  inflruclion  of  pofte- 
rity.  The  fpeech  of  Agamemnon  is  fuch  that  it  ought  to  be  en- 
graven in  brafs,  and  the  tablet  held  up  by  him  on  the  one  fide, 
and  Greece  on  the  other,  to  fhew  the  union  of  their  opinion. 
And  Neftor  ought  to  be  exhibited  in  lilver,  uniting  all  his  au- 
dience in  one  mind  by  his  loft  and  gentle  elocution.  Brafs  is  the 
common  emblem  of  ftrength,  and  ulver  of  gentlenefs.  We  call 
a  foft  voice  a  fiver  voice,  and  a  perfuafive  tongue  a  fiver 
tongue. — I  once  read  for  hand,  the  band  of  Greece,  but  I  think 
the  text  right.— To  batch  is  a  term  of  art  for  a  particular  method 
of  engraving.  Hacber,  to  cut,  Fr.  JOHNSON. 

In  the  defcription  of  Agamemnon's  fpeech,  there  is  a  plain  al- 
lufion  to  the  old  cuftom  ot  engraving  laws  and  public  records  in 
Irafi,  and  hanging  up  the  tables  in  temples,  and  other  places  01 
general  refort.  Our  author  has  the  fame  alhifion  in  Meafurefor 
Mtafurt)  aft  V.  fc.  i.  The  £)uke,  fpeaking  of  the  merit  of  An- 
gelo  and  Efcalus,  lays,  that 

"  it  deferves  with  chara&ers  oflrafi 

'*  A  forted  relidence,  'gain ft  the  tooth  of  time 

**  And  raxure  of  oblivion." 

So  far  therefore  is  clear.  Why  Neftor  is  faid  to  be  batch* J  in  fil' 
ver,  is  much  more  obfcure.  I  once  thought  that  we  ought  to 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       31 

As  Agamemnon  and  the  hand  of  Greece 
Should  hold  up  high  in  brafs;  and  fuch  again, 

read,— thatch*  d  in  fifoer,  alluding  to  hisjtlver  hair  ;  the  fame  me- 
taphor being  ufed  by  Timon,  aft  IV.  fc.  iv.  to  Phryne  and 
Timandra  : 

**  thatch  your  poor  thin  roofs 

"  With  burthens  of  the  dead ." 

But  I  know  not  whether  the  prefent  reading  may  not  be  under- 
flood  to  convey  the  fame  allufion  ;  as  I  find, .that  the  fpecies  of 
engraving,  called  hatching,  was  particularly  ufed  in  the  bikf  of 
Jkvords.  See  Cotgrave  in  v.  Hache  ;  hacked,  &c.  alfo,  Hatched,  at 
the  hilt  of  afford:  and  in  v.  Hacher ;  to  hacke,  &c.  alfo,  to  hatch 
a  hilt.  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Cuftom  of  the  Country,  vol.  II. 
p.  90: 

"  When  thine  own  bloody  fword  cried  out  againft  thee, 

««  Hatch' Jin  the  life  of  him. " 

As  to  what  follows,  if  the  reader  fhould  have  no  more  concep« 
tion  than  1  have,  of 

a  t>ondof&\r,  Jlrong  as  the  axle-tree 

On  ivhich  the  heavens  ride  ; 

he  will  perhaps  excufe  me  for  hazarding  a  conjecture,  that  the 
true  reading  may  poffibly  be : 

a  bond  of  XfiZ. 

After  all,  the  conitrudion  of  this  paflage  is  very  harfli  and  irre- 
gular ;  but  with  that  I  meddle  not,  believing  it  was  left  fo  by  the 
author.  TYRWHITT. 

Perhaps  no  alteration  is  neceflary  ;  hatclid  in  filver,  may  mean, 
whole  white  hair  and  beard  make  him  look  like  a  figure  engraved 
on  diver. 

The  word  is  metaphorically  ufed  by  Hey  wood  in  the  Iron  Age^ 
1632 : 

" his  face 

"  Is  hatched  with  impudency  three-fold  thick." 
And  again,  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Humorous  Lieutenant : 

**  His  weapon  hatch* J\n.  blood." 
Again,  literally,  in  the  Tivo  Merry  ]\lilkmaiJst   1620: 

"  Double  and  treble  gilt, 

"  Hatched  and  inlaid,  not  to  be  worn  with  time." 
Again,  more  appofitely,  in  Love  in  a  Maze,   1632: 

"  Thy  hair  is  fine  as  gold,  thy  chin  is  hatch* d 

"  Whbfhtr " 

The  voice  of  Neftor,  which  on  all  occafions  enforced  attention, 
might  be,  I  think,  not  unpoetically  called,  a  hand  of  air,  becaufe 
ita  operations  were  vifible,  though  his  voice,  like  the  wind,  was 
unfeen.  STEEVS.N-S. 

As 


32      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

As  venerable  Neftor,  hatch'd  in  filver, 
Should  with  a  bond  of  air  (ftrong  as  the  axle-tree 
On  which  heaven  rides)  knit  all  the  Greekrfh  ears 
To  his  experienc'd  tongue, — yet  let  it  pleafe  both, — 
Thou  great, — and  wife, — to  hear  UlyfTes  fpeak. 

9j4gaw.  Speak  prince  of  Ithaca ;  and  be't  of  left 

expect 

That  matter  needlefs,  of  importlefs  burden, 
Divide  thy  lips  ;  than  we  are  confident, 
When  rank  Therfites  opes  his  maftiff  jaws, 
We  fhall  hear  mufic,  wit,  and  oracle. 

Ulyjf.  Troy,  yet  upon  her  bafis,  had  been  down, 
And  the  great  Hector's  fword  had  lack'd  a  matter, 
But  for  thefe  inftances. 
1  The  fpecialty  of  rule  hath  been  neglected  ; 
And,  look,  how  many  Grecian  tents  do  ftand 
Hollow  upon  this  plain,  fo  many  hollow  factions. 
1  When  that  the  general  is  not  like  the  hive, 
To  whom  the  foragers  fhall  all  repair, 
What  honey  is  expected  ?    Degree  being  vizarded, 
The  unworthieft  Ihews  as  fairly  in  the  mafk. 
3  The  heavens  themlelves,  the  planets,  and  this  center, 

'  Agam.  Speak,  &c.]     This  fpeech  is  not  in  the  quarto. 

JOHNSON. 

1  Tie  fpecialty  of  rule ]     The  particular  rights  of  fupreme 

authority.     JOHNSON. 

1  When  that  the  general  is  not  like  the  hive,]  The  meaning  is, 
When  the  general  is  not  to  the  army  like  the  hive  to  the  bees,  the 
repofitory  of  the  flock  of  every  individual,  that  to  which  each 
particular  reforts  with  whatever  he  has  collected  for  the  good  of 
the  whole,  ivhat  honey  is  exbefted  ?  what  hope  of  advantage  ? 
The  fenfe  is  clear,  the  expreffion  is  con fu led.  JOHNSON. 

3  The  heavens  tbewfelva, ]    This  illuftration  was  probably 

derived  from  a  pafiage  in  Hooker:  "  Ifceleflial  fpheres  fliould 
forget  their  wonted  motion  ;  if  the  prince  of  the  lights  of  heaven 
(hould  begin  to  ftand  ;  if  the  moon  Ihould  wander  from  her  beaten 
way  ;  and  the  feafons  of  the  year  biend  themfelves ;  what  would 
become  of  man  ?" 

The  heavens  themfelves,  the  planet;,  and  this  center,]  i.  e.  the 
center  of  the  earth,  which,  according  to  the  Ptolemaic  fyltem, 
then  in  vogue,  is  the  center  of  the  folar  iyflem.  WARBURTOA. 

Obferve 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       33 

Obferve  degree,  priority,  and  place, 
Infifture,  courfe,  proportion,  feafon,  form, 
Office,  and  cuftom,  in  all  line  of  order  : 
And  therefore  is  the  glorious  planet,  Sol, 
In  noble  eminence  enthron'd  and  fpher'd 
Amidft  the  other ;  whofe  med'cinable  eye 
Corrects  the  ill  afpecls  of  planets  evil, 
And  ports,  like  the  commandment  of  a  king', 
Sans   check,   to  good  and  bad:    4But,   when  the 
planets, 

4  But,  ivben  the  planets i 

In  evil  mixture,  to  diforder  wander,  &c.]  I  believe  the  poer, 
according  to  aftrological  opinions,  means,  when  the  planets  form 
malignant  configurations,  when  their  afpeds  are  evil  towards  one 
another.  This  he  terms  evil  mixture.  JOHNSON. 

The  poet's  meaning  may  be  fomewhat  explained  by  Spenfer,  to 
whom  he  feems  to  be  indebted  for  his  prefent  allufion  : 
For  who  fo  lift  into  the  heavens  looke, 
And  fearch  the  courfes  of  the  rowling  fpheres, 
Shall  find  that  from  the  point  where  they  firft  took* 
Their  fetting  forth,  in  thefe  few  thoufand  yeares 
They  all  are  ivandred much  ;  that  plaine  appeares. 
For  that  fame  golden  fleecy  ram,  which  bore 
Phrixus  and  Helle  from  their  ftepdames  feares, 
Hath  now  forgot  where  he  was  plaft  of  yore, 
And  fhouldred  hath  the  bull  which  fayre  Europa  bore.         > 

And  eke  the  bull  hath  with  his  bow-bent  home 
So  hardly  butted  thofe  two  twinnes  of  Jove, 
That  they  have  crufh'd  the  crab,  and  quite  him  borne 
Into  the  great  Nemaean  lion's  grove. 
So  now  all  range,  and  do  at  random  rove 
Out  of  their  proper  places  far  away, 
And  all  this  world  with  them  amiffe  doe  move, 
And  all  his  creatures  from  their  courfe  ailray, 
11  Till  they  arrive  at  their  laft  ruinous  decay." 

Faery  gueen,  B.  V.   c.  I. 

STEEVENS. 

The  apparent  irregular  motions  of  the  planets  were  fuppoied 
to  portend  fome  diiaiters  to  mankind  ;  indeed  the  planets  them- 
felves  were  not  thought  formerly  to  be  confined  in  any  fixed  orbits 
of  their  own,  but  to  wander  about  ad  libitum,  as  the  etymology  of 
their  names  demonltrate..  ANONYMOUS. 

VOL.  IX.  D  In 


34      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

In  evil  mixture*  to  diforder  wander, 

What  plagues,  and  what  portents  ?  what  mutiny  ? 

What  raging  of  the  fea  ?  fhaking  of  earth  ? 

Commotion  in  the  winds  ?  frights,  changes,  horrors, 

Divert  and  crack,  rend  and  deracinate 

The  unity  and  married  calm  of  Hates  5 

Quite  from  their  fixure  ? 6  O,  when  degree  is  fhak'd, 

Which  is  the  ladder  to  all  high  defigns, 

7  The  enterprize  is  fick  !     How  could  communities, 

Degrees  in  fchools,  and  8  brotherhoods  in  cities, 

Peaceful  commerce  from  dividable  fliores, 

The  primogenitive  and  due  of  birth, 

Prerogative  of  age,  crowns,  fcepters,  laurels, 

But  by  degree,  ftand  in  authentic  place  ? 

Take  but  degree  away,  untune  that  firing, 

And,  hark,  what  difcord  follows  !  each  thing  meets 

In  meer  oppugnancy  :  The  bounded  waters 

Should  lift  their  bofoms  higher  than  the  mores, 

And  make  a  fop  of  all  this  folid  globe  : 

Strength  mould  be  lord  of  imbecility, 

And  the.rude  fon  fhould  ftrike  his  father  dead  : 

Force  Ihould  be  right ;  or,  rather,  right  and  wrong 

(Between  whofe  endlefs  jar  juftice  reiides) 

Should  lofe  their  names,  and  fo  fhould  juftice  tod. 

5  ——married  calm  ofjlates]     The  epithet  married,  which  is 
ufed  to  denote  an  intimate  union,  is  employed  in  the  fame  fenfe 
by  Milton : 

"   Lydian  airs 

"  Married  to  immortal  verfe." 
Again, 

**  voice  and  verfe 

*'  Wed  your  divine  founds." 

Shakefpeare  calls  a  harmony  of  features,  married  lineament^  in 
Romeo  and  Juliet.     S  T  EE  y  E  vs. 

6  . O,  when  degree  is fyaPd,]     I  would  read: 

So  when  degree  ifj)jak\l.     JOJIXSON. 

7  The  enterprize ]     Perhaps  we  fhould  read  : 

Then  enterprize  is  Jlik  ! JOHNSON. 

1     •'-     -brother hoods. in  citia,']    Corporations,  companies,  con" 
fraternities.    JOHNSON. 

Then 


TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA.       35 

Then  every  thing  includes  itfelf  in  power, 

Power  into  will,  will  into  appetite; 

And  appetite,  an  univerfal  wolf, 

So  doubly  feconded  with  will  and  power, 

Muft  make  perforce  an  univerfal  prey, 

And,  laft,  eat  up  himfelf.     Great  Agamemnon, 

This  chaos,  when  degree  is  fuffocate, 

Follows  the  choaking. 

And  this  negleclion  of  degree  it  is, 

9  That  by  a  pace  goes  backward,  l  with  a  purpofc 

It  hath  to  climb  :  The  general's  difdain'd 

By  him  one  (rep  below  ;  he,  by  the  next ; 

That  next,  by  him  beneath  :  fo  every  flep, 

Exampled  by  the  firft  pace  that  is  lick 

Of  his  fuperior^  grows  to  an  envious  fever 

Of  pale  and  *  bloodlefs  emulation  : 

And  'tis  this  fever  that  keeps  Troy  on  foot, 

Not  her  own  finews.     To  end  a  tale  of  length, 

Troy  in  our  weaknefs  ftands,  not  in  her  ftrength. 

Ne/t.  Mofl  wifely  hath  UlyfTes  here  difcover'd 
The  fever  whereof  all  our  power  is  fick* 

Again.  The  nature  of  the  ficknefs  found,  Ulyfles, 
What  is  the  remedy  ? 

Uhf.  The  great  Achilles, — whom  opinion  crowns 
The  finew  and  the  forehand  of  our  hofly— 
Having  his  ear  full  of  his  airy  fame, 
Grows  dainty  of  his  worth,  and  in  his  tent 
Lies  mocking  our  defigns :  With  him,  Patroclus, 
Upon  a  lazy  bed,  the  livelong  day 
Breaks  fcurril  jefts  ; 
And  with  ridiculous  and  aukward  adtiori 

*>  That  ly  a  pace — ]  That  goes  backward^/  ly/cp.    JOHNSON". 

1  — with  a  purpofe 

It  hath  to  climb : ]     With  a  defign  in  each  man  to  ag- 

grnndiae  himfeU",  by  flighting  his  immediate  fuperior.    JOHNSON. 

1  — —  blood!r/">  emulation  :]    -An  emulation  not  vigorous  and  ac- 
tive, but  malignant  and  fluggifh.    JOHNSON. 

D  2  (Which, 


36      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

(Which,  flanderer,  he  imitation  calls) 

He  pageants  us.     Sometime,  great  Agamemnon^ 

3  Thy  toplefs  deputation  he  puts  on  ; 

And,  like  a  flrutting  player,— whofe  conceit 

Lies  in  his  ham-firing,  and  doth  think  it  rich 

To  hear  the  wooden  dialogue  and  found 

'Twixt  his  flretch'd  footing  and  the  fcaffoldage,-— 

Such  to-be-pitied  and  o'cr-refled  feeming 

He  acts  thy  greatnefs  in  :  and  when  he  fpeaks, 

'Tis  like  a  chime  a  mending ;  with  terms  unfquard, 

Which,  from  the  tongue  of  roaring  Typhon  drop'd, 

Would  feem  hyperboles.     At  this  fufly  fluff, 

The  large  Achilles,  on  his  prefs'd  bed  lolling, 

From  his  deep  chefl  laughs  out  a  loud  applaufe  ; 

Cries — Excellent ! — 'tis  Agamemnon  juft. 

Nozv  play  me  Neftor  ; — hem,  andjhoke  thy  beard, 
As  he>  being* dr eft  to fome oration. 

That's  done ; 4  as  near  as  the  extremefl  ends 

Of  parallels ;  as  like  as  Vulcan  and  his  wife  : 

Yet  good  Achilles  flill  cries,  Excellent ! 

'Tis  Neftor  fight !  Nozv  play  him  me,  Patroclus, 

Arming  to  anfivcr  in  a  night  alarm. 

And  then,  forlboth,  the  faint  defects  of  age 

Mufl  be  the  fcenc  of  mirth  ;  to  cough,  and'fpir, 

And  with  a  palfy-fumbling5  on  his  gorget, 

Shake  in  and  out  the  rivet : and  at  this  fporr, 

Sir  Valour  dies ;  cries,  0  / — enough,  Patroclus  ;— 

3  T'by  toplefs  deputation——  ]     Toplefs  is  that  which  has  nothing 
topping  or  overtopping  it ;  fupreme ;  fovereign.     JOHNSON. 
So,  in  Dotfor  Faujlus,   1604  : 

**  Was  thisthtf  face  that  launch'd  a  thoufand  fliips, 
*'  And  burnt  the  toplefs  towers  of  Ilium  ?" 
Again,  in  the  Blln  d  Eeggar  of  Alexandria^   1598: 

44  And  toplcfi  honours  be  beftow'd  on  thce."    STEEVENS. 
*  as  near  AS  tht  extreme/I  enJsy  &c.]     The  parallels  to  which 

the  allufion  feems  to  be  made,  are  the  parallels  on  a  map.     As 
like  as  eaft  to  weft.    JOHNSON. 

palfy  fumbling — ]     This   fliould  be   written — pa\fy- 
i.  e.  paralytic  fumbling.    TYRWHITT. 

Or 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.      37 

Or  give  me  ribs  ofjleel!  IfoaUjplit  all 
Inpleafure  ofmyjpleen.     And  in  this  faftiion, 
6  All  our  abilities,  gifts,  natures,  fhapes, 
Severals  and  generals  of  grace  exact, 
Atchievements,  plots,  orders,  preventions, 
Excitements  to  the  field,  or  fpeech  for  truce, 
Succefs,  or  lofs,  what  is,  or  is  not,  ferves 
As  fluff  for  thefe  two  7  to  make  paradoxes. 

Nefi.  And  in  the  imitation  of  thefe  twain 
(Whom,  as  Ulyfles  fays,  opinion  crowns 
With  an  imperial  voice)  many  are  infect. 
Ajax  is  grown  fclf-will'd  ;  and  8  bears  his  head 
In  fuch  a  rein,  in  full  as  proud  a  place 
As  broad  Achilles  :  keeps  his  tent  like  him  ; 
Makes  factious  feafls  ;  rails  en  our  ftate  of  war, 
Bold  as  an  oracle  :  and  fets  Therfites 
(A  flave,  vvhofe  gall  coins  ilanders  like  a  mint) 
To  match  us  in  comparifons  with  dirt; 
To  weaken  and  difcredit  our  expofure, 
9  How  rank  foever  rounded  in  with  danger. 

Ulyff.  They  tax  our  policy,  and  call  it  cowardice  ; 
Count  wifdom  as  no  member  of  the  war  ; 
Foreftall  pre-fcience,  and  efteem  no  act 
But  that  of  hand  :  the  ftill  and  mental  parts,— 
That  do  contrive  how  many  hands  fhall  flrike, 


6  All  our  abilities,  gifts,  natures, 
Se-verats  and  gene  rah  of  grace  exacl, 

Atchiei'ements,  plots,  &C.J      All  our  good  grace  exafl)  means 
our  excellence  irrepiebenfible.     JOHNSON. 

7  -  to  make  paradoxes.]     Paradoxes   may  have  a  menning> 
but  it  is  not  clear  and  diflincl.     I  wiftj  the  copies  had  given  : 

-  to  make  parodies.     JOHNSON.        , 
*  lean  his  .bead 

Jnfucb  a  rein,  •  •        ]     That  is,  holds  up  his  head  as  haughti- 
ly.    We  ftill  fay  of  a  girl,  Jhe  Iridles.     JOHNSON. 

9  Hinv  rank  foevtr  rounded  in  luith  danger.  J     A  rank  weed  \a 
a  high  weed.     The  modern  editions  lilently  read  : 

JOHNSOX. 

D  3  When 


$3      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

When  fitnefs  calls  them  on ;  "  and  know,  by  meafure 
Of  their  obfervant  toil,  the  enemies'  weight, — 
Why,  this  hath  not  a  finger's  dignity  j 
They  call  this — bed-work, 'mappery,  clofet  war  : 
So  that  the  ram,  that  batters  down  the  wall, 
For  the  "great  fwing  and  rudenefs  of  his  poize, 
They  place  before  his  hand  that  made  the  engine  , 
Or  thofe,  that  with  the  fincnefs  of  their  fouls 
By  reafon  guide  his  execution. 

Neft.  Let  this  be  granted,  and  Achilles'  horfe 
Makes  many  Thetis'  foqs.  [Trumpet  founds, 

Agam.  What  trumpet  ?  look,  Menelaus. 

Men.  From  Troy, 

Enter  sEneas, 

Aga.  What  would  you  'fore  our  tent  ? 

jEae.  Is  this  great  Agamemnon's  tent,  I  pray  you  ? 

Aga.  Even  this. 

ALne.  May  one,  that  is  a  herald,  and  a  prince, 
Do  a  fair  meffage  to  his  *  kingly  ears  ? 

Aga.  With  furety  ftronger  than  ?  Achilles'  arm 
'Fore  all  the  Greekifh  heads,  which  with  one  voice 
Call  Agamemnon  head  and  general. 

JfLne.  Fair  leave,  and  large  fecurity.    How  may 
4  A  flranger  to  thofe  moil  imperial  looks 

Know 

*  and  know,  ly  meafure 

Of  their  obfervant  toil,  the  enemies  weight , — ]     I  think  it  were 
better  to  read : 

and  knovj  the  meafurr, 
By  their  olfervant  toil,  of  tb*  cnetnic s'  weight.  JOHNSON. 

*  kingly  ears  ?]     The  quarto : 

kingly  eyes.    JOHNSON. 

3 Achilles'  arm}      So   the   copies.     Perhaps   the  author 

wrote : 

AlciiU?  arm.     JoHNSOK . 

4  AJlrangtr  to  tbcfc  mojl  imperial  looks\    And  yet  this  was  the  fe- 
venth  year  of  the  war.     Shakelpeare,  who  fo  wonderfully  prcferves 
chara<5er,  ufually  confounds  the  cultoms  of  all  nations,  and  pro- 
bably 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.      39* 

Know  them  from  eyes  of  other  mortals  ? 

Aga.  How  ? 

jEne.  I  afk,  that  I  might  waken  reverence, 
And  5  bid  the  cheek  be  ready  with  a  blufti 
Modeft  as  morning  when  Ihe  coldly  eyes 
The  youthful  Phoebus : 
Which  is  that  god  in  office,  guiding  men  ? 
Which  is  the  high  and  mighty  Agamemnon  ? 

Aga.  This  Trojan  fcorns  us ;  or  the  men  of  Troy 
Are  ceremonious  courtiers. 

JEne.  Courtiers  as  free,  as  debonair,  unarm'd, 
As  bending  angels ;  that's  their  fame  in  peace  : 
But  when  they  would  feem  foldiers,  they  have  galls, 
Good  arms,  ttrong  joints,  true  fwords ;  and,  Jove's 

accord, 

Nothing  Ib  full  of  heart.     But  peace,  JEneas, 
Peace,  Trojan  ;  lay  thy  finger  on  thy  lips  ! 
The  worthinefs  of  praife  diftains  his  worth, 
If  that  the  prais'd  himfelf  bring  the  praife  forth  : 
]But  what  the  repining  enemy  commends, 
That  breath  fame  blows ;    that  praife,   fole  pure, 
tranfcends. 

Aga.  Sir,  you  of  Troy,  call  you  yourfelf  ^Eneas  ? 

jEne.  Ay,  Greek,  that  is  my  name. 

Aga.  What's  your  affair,  I  pray  you  ? 

bably  fuppofed  that  the  ancients  (like  the  heroes  of  chivalry) 
fought  with  beavers  to  their  helmets.  So,  in  the  fourth  ad  of  this 
play,  Nellor  lays  to  HeiStor  : 

'But  this  thy  countenance,  flill  lock'J  injleel^ 

Inevcrfa-iv  till  fio-iv, 

Shakefpeare  might  have  adopted  this  error  from  the  illuminators 
of  manufcripts,  who  never  feem  to  have  entertained  the  leaft 
idea  of  habits,  manners,  or  cuftoms  more  ancient  than  their  own. 
There  are  books  in  the  Britifh  Mufeum  of  the  age  of  king 
Henry  VI ;  and  in  thefe  the  heroes  of  ancient  Greece  are  re- 
prefented  in  the  very  drefles  worn  at  the  time  when  the  books  re- 
ceived their  decorations.  STEEVENS. 

he  check — ]     So  the  folio.    The  quarto  has : 
on  the  cheek JOHNSON, 

D  4 


40       TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA. 

Mne.  Sir,  pardon ;  'tis  for  Agamemnon's  ears. 

Aga.  He  hears  nought  privately,  that  comes  from 
Troy. 

Mne.  Nor  I  from  Troy  come  not  to  whifper  him  : 
I  bring  a  trumpet  to  awake  his  ear; 
To  fet  his  fenfe  on  the  attentive  bent, 
And  then  to  fpeak. 

Aga.  Speak  frankly  as  the  wind ; 
Tt  is  not  Agamemnon's  Sleeping  hour  : 
That  thou  fhalt  know,  Trojan,  he  is  awake, 
He  tells  thee  fo  himfelf. 

Mne.  Trumpet:,  blow  loud, 

Send  thy  brafs  voice  through  all  thefe  lazy  tents ;—- 
And  every  Greek  of  mettle,  let  him  know, 
What  Troy  means  fairly,  lhall  be  fpoke  aloud. 

Crumpets  found. 

We  have,  great  Agamemnon,  here  in  Troy 
A  prince  call'd  Hedor,  Priam  is  his  father, 
Who  in  this  dull  and  6  long-continu'd  truce 
Is  7rufty  grown ;  he  bade  me  take  a  trumpet, 
And  to  this  purpofe  fpeak.     Kings,  princes,  lords ! 
If  there  be  one,  among  the  fair'5  of  Greece, 
That  holds  his  honour  higher  than  his  eafe ; 
That  feeks  his  praife  more  than  he  fears  his  peril ; 
That  knows  his  valour,  'and  knows  not  his  fear; 
That  loves  his  miftrefs  8  more  than  in  confeffion, 
(With  truant  vows  9  to  her  own  lips  he  loves) 
And  dare  avow  her  beauty,  and  her  worth, 
In  other  arms  than  hers, — to  him  this  challenge. 
Hector,  in  view  of  Trojans  and  of  Greeks, 
Shall  make  it  good,  or  do  his  beft  to  do  it, 

* loag-cmtinneS  tntcf\    Of  this  long  truce  there  has  been 

BO  notice  taken  ;  in  this  very  aft  it  is  faid,  that  Ajax  coped  Hcflor 
yrficrday  in  tie  battle.     JOHNSON. 

1  —ru/ty — ]     Quarto,  rcjly.     JOHNSON. 

*  more  than  in  confeffion,]     Confejfwn^  farkrofejfon. 

WAR.BUJt.TOlf* 

9—tobtr<Kvnl:f>shclovei)}  That  is,  confejpon.  made  ivitb  idle 
•9t*ivs  to  the  lij>s  of  her  whom  bt  loves,     JOHNSON. 

He 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        4t 

He  hath  a  lady,  wifer,  fairer,  truer, 

Than  ever  Greek  did  compafs  in  his  arms  ; 

And  will  to-morrow  with  his  trumpet  call, 

Mid-way  between  your  tents  and  walls  of  Troy, 

To  roufe  a  Grecian  that  is  true  in  love  : 

If  any  come,  Hector  lhall  honour  him  ; 

If  none,  he'll  fay  in  Troy,  when  he  retires, 

The  Grecian  dames  are  fun-burn'd,  *  and  not  worth 

The  fplinter  of  a  lance.     Even  fo  much. 

Aga.  This  fhallbe  told  our  lovers,  lord  j3£neas; 
If  none  of  them  have  foul  in  fuch  a  kind, 
We  left  them  all  at  home  :  But  we  are  foldiers  ; 
And  may  that  foldier  a  mere  recreant  prove, 
That  means  nor,  hath  not,  or  is  not  in  love  ! 
If  then  one  is,  or  hath,  or  means  to  be, 
That  one  meets  Hector;  if  none  clfe,  I  am  he. 

Neft.  Tell  him  of  Neftor,  one  that  was  a  man 
When  Hector's  grandfire  fuck'd  :  he  is  old  now  ; 
But,  if  there  be  not  in  our  Grecian  holl 
One  noble  man  that  hath  one  fpark  of  fire, 
To  anfwer  for  his  love,  Tell  him  from  me,-— 
I'll  hide  my  filver  beard  in  a  gold  beaver, 
a  And  in  my  vantbrace  put  this  wither'd  brawn; 
And,  meeting  him,  will  tell  him,  That  my  lady 
"Was  fairer  than  his  grandame,  and  as  chafte 
As  may  be  in  the  world  :  His  youth  in  flood, 
I'll  pawn  this  truth  with  my  three  drops  of  blood. 

Aine.  Now  heavens  forbid  fuch  fcarcity  of  youth  ! 
.  Amen. 


1   .....    and  not  <z  vort/j 

The  fplinter  of  a  lance.  -  ]  This  is  the  language  of  romance. 
Such  a  challenge  would  better  have  iuhed  Palmerin  or  Arnadis, 
than  Hcdtor  or\Ene:is.  STEEVENS. 

~  And  in  my  vantbrace  —  J     An  armour  for  the  arm,  avantbra*. 


Milton  ufes  the  word  in  his  Sampfaa  Agonljlcs^  and  Hey  wood  in 
dge,   1632  : 

«'   --  perufe  his  armour, 
"  The  dint's  Hill  in  the  vaxtlraceS*    S.TEEVENS. 


42,        TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

Aga.  Fair  lord  ^Encas,  let  me  touch  your  hand  ; 
To  our  pavilion  fhall  I  lead  you,  fir. 
Achilles  fliall  have  word  of  this  intent; 
So  Ihall  each  lord  of  Greece,  from  tent  to  tent : 
Yourfelf  fliall  feaft  with  us  before  you  go, 
And  find  the  welcome  of  a  noble  foe.  [Exeunt. 

Manent  Ukffes,  and  Neftor. 

Neftor, 

left.  What  fays  Ulyffes? 

.  I  have  a  young  conception  in  my  brain, 
•3  Be  you  my  time  to  bring  it  to  ibme  fhape. 
Neft.  What  is't  ? 
Ufyff.  This  'tis  : 

Blunt  wedges  rive  hard  knots  :  The  feeded  pride  4 
That  hath  to  its  maturity  blown  up 
In  rank  Achilles,  mull  or  now  be  cropt, 
Or,  Ihedding,  breed  a  5  nurfery  of  like  evil, 
To  over-bulk  us  all. 
Ncft.  Well,  and  how  ? 

Ufa//'.  This  challenge  that  the  gallant  Hodor  fends, 
However  it  is  fpread  in  general  name, 
Relates  in  purpofe  only  to  Achilles. 

NfjL  6The  purpoic  is  pcrfpicuous  even  as  fubftance, 

Whole 

3  fie  you  my  time  &c.]  i.  e.  be  you  to  my  prefent  purpofe  what 
time  is  in  refpe«St  ot  all  other  ichemes,  viz.  a  ripener  and  bringer 
of  them  to  maturity.  STEEVENS. 

* the  feeded  pride,  &c.]    Shakefpeare  might  have  taken  this 

idea  from  Lyie's  Herbal,  1578  and  1579.  The  Oleander  tree  or 
Nerium  *'  hath  fcarce  one  good  prppertie.  It  may  be  compared 
to  a  Pharifee,  who  maketh  a  glorious  and  beautiful  fliou-,  but  in- 
wardly is  of  a  corrupt  and  poilbned  nature." "  It  is  high  time 

&c.  to  fupplant  it  (i.  e.  pharafaifm)  tor  it  hath  already  floured,  ib 
that  I  feare  it  will  fliortlyy?c</<:,  and  fill  this  wholefome  foyle  full 
of  wicked  Nerium."  TOLLET. 

5  — nurfery — ]     Alluding  to  a  plantation  called  a  nurfery, 

JOHNSON-. 

6  The  purpofe  is  pfrfplcuous  even  asfulftance, 

U">i>fe  groffhcfi  little  cbarafters  fu;n  uj>:]  That  is,  the  purpofe 

is 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        43 

Whofe  groffnefs  little  characters  fum  up  : 

7  And,  in  the  publication,  make  no  ftrain, 

But  that  Achilles,  were  his  brain  as  barren 

As  banks  of  Libya, — though,  Apollo  knows, 

Tis  dry  enough, — will  with  great  fpeed  of  judgment, 

Ay,  with  celerity,  find  Hector's  purpofe 

Pointing  on  him. 

Ufyffl  And  wake  him  to  the  anf'.ver,  think  you? 

ffeft.  Yes,  'tis  molt  meet ;  Whom  may  you  elfe 

oppofe, 

That  can  from  Hector  bring  thofe  honours  off, 
If  not  Achilles  ?  Though't  be  a  fportful  combat, 
Yet  in  this  trial  much  opinion  dwells ; 
For  here  the  Trojans  tafte  our  dear'ft  repute 
With  their  fin'ft  palate  :  And  truft  to  me,  Ulyfles, 
Our  imputation  lhall  be  oddly  pois'd 
In  this  wild  action  :  for  the  fucccfs, 
Although  particular,  ihall  give  a  *  fcantling 
Of  good  or  bad  unto  the  general ; 

is  as  plain  as  body  or  fubftance  ;  and  though  I  have  collected  this 
purpofe  from  many  minute  particulars,  as  a  grofs  body  is  made  up 
of  fmall  infenfible  parts,  yet  the  refult  is  as  clear  and  certain  as  a 
body  thus  made  up  is  palpable  and  vifible.  This  is  the  thought, 
though  a  little  obfcured  in  the  concifenefs  of  the  expreffion. 

WAR  BURTON'. 

Sulftance  is  eftate,  the  value  of  which  is  afcertained  by  the  ufe 
of  fmall  cbaratfcn,  i.  e.  numerals.  So  in  the  prologue  to  AT. 
Henry  V  : 

a  crooked  figure  may 

Atteft,  in  little  place,  a  million. 

The  grofifum  is  a  term  ufed  in  the  Merchant  of  Venice.  Grof*~ 
jiefs  has  the  fame  meaning  in  this  inftance.  STEEVENS. 

7  And,  in  the  publication,  make  no  ftraln^\  Neftor  goes  on  to 
fhv,  make  no  difficulty,  no  doubt,  when  this  duel  comes  to  be 
proclaimed,  but  that  Achilles,  dull  as  he  is,  will  difcover  the 
drift  of  it.  This  is  the  meaning  of  the  line.  So  afterwards,  in 
this  play,  UlyfTes  fays: 

/  do  not  ftrain  at  the  pojltlon. 
i.  e.  I  do  not  hefitate  at,  I  make  no  difficulty  of  it.     THEOBALD. 

s  — — •jtmntUns\  That  is,  a  meafure,  proportion.  The  carpen- 
ter cuts  his  wood  to  a  certain  fcantling.  JOHNSON. 

And 


44       TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA. 

And  in  fuch  indexes,  although  9  fmall  pricks 

To  their  fubfequent  volumes,  there  is  feen 

The  baby  figure  of  the  giant  mafs 

Of  things  to  come  at  large.     It  is  fuppos'd, 

He,  that  meets  Hector,  iffues  from  our  choice  : 

And  choice,  being  mutual  act  of  all  our  fouls, 

Makes  merit  her  election  ;  and  doth  boil, 

As  'twere  from  forth  us  all,  a  man  diftill'd 

Out  of  our  virtues ;  Who  mifcarrying, 

What  heart  receives  from  hence  a  conquering  part, 

To  fleel  a  ftrong  opinion  to  themfelves  ? 

1  Which  entertain'd,  limbs  are  in  his-  inflruments, 

In  no  lefs  working,  than  are  fwords  and  bows 

Directive  by  the  limbs. 

Ulyjf.  Give  pardon  to  my  fpeech  ;— 
Therefore  'tis  meet,  Achilles  meet  not  Hector. 
Let  us,  like  merchants,  fhew  our  fouleft  wares, 
And  think,  perchance,  they'll  fell ;  if  not, 
The  luftre  of  the  better  lhall  exceed, 
By  Ihewing  the  worft  firft.     Do  not  confent, 
That  ever  Hector  and  Achilles  meet ; 
For  both  our  honour  and  our  ihame,  in  this, 
Are  dogg'd  with  t\vo  ftrange  followers. 

Nefl.  I  fee  them  not  with  my  old  eyes ;  What  arc 
they  ? 

Ufyff.  What  glory  our  Achilles  (hares  from  Hector, 
Were  he  not  proud,  we  all  fhould  *  fhare  with  him  : 
But  he  already  is  too  infolcnt ; 
And  we  were  better  parch  in  Africk  fun, 
Than  in  the  priJt,  and  fait  fcorn  of  his  eyes, 
Should  he  'fcape  Hector  iV.ii- :  If  he  were  foil'd, 
Why,  then  we  did  our  main  opinion  crufh 

*  — — -finall  prids}     Small  points  compared  with  the  volumes. 

JOHNSON. 

•  Which  entertain^, — ]     Thefe  two  lines  are  not  in  the  quarto. 

JOHNSON. 
'  — -Jbarc — ]     So  the  quarto.     The  folio,  ivcar.    JOHKSOX. 

In 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.       45 

In  taint  of  our  beft  man.     No,  make  a  lottery ; 

And,  by  device,  let  blockilh  Ajax $  draw 

The  fort 4  to  fight  with  Hedtor  :  Among  ourfelves, 

Give  him  allowance  as  the  better  man, 

For  that  will  phyfick  the  great  Myrmidon, 

Who  broils  in  loud  applaufe  ;  and  make  him  fall 

His  creft,  that  prouder  than  blue  Iris  bends. 

If  the  dull  brainlefs  Ajax  come  fafe  off, 

We'll  drefs  him  up  in  voices  :  If  he  fail, 

Yet  go  we  under  our  opinion  (till, 

That  we  have  better  men.     But,  hit  or  mifs, 

Our  project's  life  this  ihape  of  fenfe  aflumes,— 

Ajax,  employ'd,  plucks  down  Achilles'  plumes. 

Neft.  Ulyffes, 

Now  I  begin  to  relifh  thy  advice ; 
And  I  will  give  a  tafte  of  it  forthwith 
To  Agamemnon  :  go  we  to  him  flraight. 
Two  curs  fliall  tame  each  other ;  Pride  alone 
f  Muft  tarre  the  maftiffs  on,  as  'twere  their  bone. 

[Exeunt. 

3  — —  llodifhAjax ]    Shakefpeare  on  this  occafion  has  de« 

ferted  Lidgate,  who  gives  a  very  different  chara&er  of  Ajax  : 

"  Another  Ajax  (furnamed  Telamon) 
"  There  was,  a  man  that  learning  did  adore,  &c." 
*'  Who  did  fo  much  in  eloquence  abound, 
'*  That  in  his  time  the  like  could  not  be  found." 
Again  : 

"  And  one  that  bated  pride  and  flattery ,  &c." 
Our  author  appears  to  have  drawn  his  portrait  of  the  Grecian 
chief  from  the  invecYives  thrown  out  againfl  him  by  Ulyfles  in  the 
thirteenth  book  of  Ovid's  Metamorphofis ;  Or  from  the  prologue 
to  Harrington's  Metamorpbojis  of  Ajax,  1596,  in  which  he  is  re- 
prefented  as  "  ftrong,  heady,  boifte^rous,  and  a  terrible  fighting 
fellow,  but  neither  wife,  learned,  ftaide,  nor  polliticke." 

STEEVENS, 

4  The  fort ]     i.  e.  the  lot.     STEEVEVS. 

5  Miift  tarre  the  maftiffs  on, ]     Tarre ^  an  old  Englim  word 

fignirying  to  provoke  or  urge  on.     See  King  John,  a&  IV.  fc.  i. 

« like  a  dog 

"  Snatch  at  his  mailer  that  doth  tar  him  on."  POPE. 

ACT 


46        TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA, 


A  C  T     II.       S  C  E  N  E     I. 

The  Grecian  camp. 
Enter  Ajax>  and  Therfaes* 

Ajax.  Therfites, 

Ther,  Agamemnon — how  if  he  had  boils  ?  full, 
all  over,  generally  ? 

Ajax.  Therfites, 

Ther.  And  thofe  boils  did  run  ? Say  fo,     . 

did  not  the  general  run  then  ?  were  not  that  a  botchy 
core  ? 

Ajax.  Dog,— 

Ther.  Then  there  would  come  fome  matter  from 
him ;  I  fee  none  now. 

Ajax.  Thou  bitch-wolPs  fon,  canft  thou  not  hear  ? 
Feel  then.  [Strikes  him. 

Ther.  7The  plague  of  Greece  upon  thee,  thou 
mungrel  beef-witted  lord 8 ! 

Ajax. 9  Speak  then,  thou  unfalted  leaven,  fpeak  :  I 
will  beat  thee  into  handfomenefs. 

Ther. 

6  ACT  II.]     This  play  is  not  divided  into  acts  in  any  of  the 
original  editions.    JOHNSON. 

7  The  plague  of  Greece— ]     Alluding  perhaps  to  the  plague 
fent  by  Apollo  on  the  Grecian  army.     JOHNSON. 

»  —beef-witted  lord!}     So  in  Twelfth-Night : 

"  1  am  a  great  eater  of  beef,  anil  I  believe  that  does  harm 

to  my  wit."    STEEVENS. 

*  Speak  then,  tbou  unfalted  leaven,  fpeak  :]  The  reading  ob- 
truded upon  us  by  Mr.  Pope,  was  unfalted  leaven,  that  has  no 
authority  or  countenance  from  any  of  the  copies  ;  nor  that 
approaches  in  any  degree  to  the  traces  of  the  old  reading,  you 
•ujbinitPJl  leaven.  This,  it  is  true,  is  corrupted  and  unintelligi- 
ble; but  the  emendation,  which  I  have  coined  out  of  it,  gives  us 
a  fenfe  apt  and  confonant  to  what  Ajax  would  fay,  Hitwiiutowfjl 

leaven. 


TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA.        47 

Tber.  I  fhall  fooner  rail  thce  into  wit  and  holincfs  : 
but,  I  think,  thy  horfe  will  fooner  con  an  oration, 
than  thou  learn  a  prayer  without  book.  Thou  canfl 
ftrike,  canft  thou  ?  a  red  murrain  o'  thy  jade's  tricks  ! 

Ajax*  Toads-ftool,  learn  me  the  proclamation. 

Tber.  Doit  thou  think,  I  have  no  fenfe,  thou  ftrik'ft 
me  thus  ? 

Ajax.  The  proclamation, 

Ther.  Thou  art  proclaim'd  a  fool,  I  think. 

Ajax.  Do  not,  porcupine,  do  not ;  my  fingers  itch. 

fker.  I  would,  thou  didfl  itch  from  head  to  foot, 
and  I  had  the  fcratching  of  thee ;  I  would  make  thee 
the  loathfomeft  fcab  '  in  Greece.  When  thou  art 
forth  in  the  incurlions,  thou  ftrikeft  as  flow  as  an- 
other. 

Ajax.  I  fay,  the  proclamation, 

Ther.  Thou  grumbled  and  railed  every  hour  on 
Achilles;  and  thou  art  as  full  of  envy  at  his  greatnefs, 

leaven.*        "  Thou  lump  of  four  dough,  kneaded  up  out  of  a 
flower  unpurged  and  unfitted,  with  all  the  drofs  and  bran  in  it. — " 

THEOBALD. 

Speak  then,  thou  whinid'ft  leaven^  This  is  the  reading  of  the 
old  copies  :  it  fhould  be  ivindyeft,  i.  e.  moft  windy  ;  leaven  being 
made  by  a  great  fermentation.  This  epithet  agrees  well  with 
Therfites'  character.  AVAR  BURTON. 

Hanmer  preferves  wbhiitTJli  the  reading  of  the  folio  ;  but 
does  not  explain  it,  nor  do  I  underftand  it.  If  the  folio  be  fol- 
lowed, I  read,  f/wewV,  that  is  mouldy  leaven.  Thou  competition 
of  mufti nejs  and  fourncfs. Theobald's  aflertion,  however  confi- 
dent, is  falfe.  Uiifalted  leaven  is  in  the  old  quarto.  It  means 
four  withoutyi//,  malignity  without  wit.  Shakefpeare  wrote  firft 
urifalted;  but  recollecYmg~that  want  of  fait  was  no  fault  in  leaven, 
changed  it  to  vinnv'd.  JOHNSON. 

Unfalted  is  the  reading  of  both  the  quartos.  Francis  Beaumont, 
in  his  letter  to  Speght  on  his  edition  of  Chaucer's  works,  1602, 
lays  :  "  Many  of  Chaucer's  words  are  become  as  it  were  vinrvj  d 
and  hoarie  with  over  long  lying."  STEEVENS. 

1  in  Greece.]     The  quarto  adds  thefe  words:  ivben  tbeu 

art  forth  in  the  itu'urfanft  thou  Jlrlkfjl  as  Jlo-:v  as  another. 

JOHNSON-. 

as 


4S        TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA. 

as  Cerberus  is  at  Proferpina's  beauty,  *  ay  that  thou 
bark'ft  at  him. 

Ajax.  Miitrefs  Therfites  ! 

<Ther.  Thou  fhouldft  ftrike  him. 

A] ax.  Cobloaf! 

Tker.  He  would  4  pun  thee  into  Ihivers  with  his 
fift,  as  a  Tailor  breaks  a  bifket. 

Ajax.  You  whorefon  cur  !  [Beating  him. 

Tber.  Do,  do. 

Ajax.  s  Thou  ftool  for  a  witch  ! 

Tber.  Ay,  do,  do ;  thou  fodden-witted  lord  !  thou 
haft  no  more  brain  than  I  have  in  my  elbows  ;  6  an 
afiinego  may  tutor  thee  :  Thou  fcurvy  valiant  afs ! 

thou 

* ay  that  tbou  larlfft  at  him.'}  I  read,  O  that  thou 

lari'JJi  at  him.  JOHNSON. 

The  old  reading  is  7,  which,  if  changed  at  all,  fliould  have 
been  changed  into  ay.  T Y R w  H i T  T . 

3  Cobloaf!~\   A  crufty  uneven  loaf  is  in  fome  counties  called  by 
this  name.     STEEVENS. 

4  pun  thee  intojhivcrs ]  Pun  is  in  the  midland  coun- 
ties the  vulgarand  colloquial  word  tor  pound.   JOHNSON. 

It  is  ufed  by  P.  Holland  in  his  translation  of  Pliny's  Nat.  Hill. 
b.  xxviii.  ch.  12  :  " punned  altogether  and  reduced  into  a  li- 
niment." A^ain,  b.  xxix.  ch.  4.  "  The  gall  of  thcfe  lizards 
punned ^and  diflblved  in  water."  STEEVEKS. 

5  Tbou  Jlool  for  a  witch! — ]    In  one  way  of  trying  a  ivitch  they 
ufed  to  place  her  on  a  chair  or  ftool,  with  her  legs  tied  acrofs,  that 
all  the  weight  of  her  body  might  reft  upon  her  Teat ;  and  by  that 
means,  after  fome  time,  the  circulation  of  the  blood  would  be 
much  flopped,  and  her  fitting  would  be  as  painful  as  the  wooden 
liorfe.     Dr.  GRAY. 

'  an  affinego— —  ]     I  am  not  very  certain  what  the  idea 

conveyed  by  this  word  was  meant  to  be.  Ajinalo  is  Italian,  fayj 
Hanmer,  for  an  aj\-<iriver :  but  in  Mirza,  a  tragedy  by  Rob. 
Baron,  a&  III.  the  following  pallage  occurs,  with  a  note  annexed 
to  it: 

'«  • the  ftout  trufry  blade, 

"  That  at  one  blow  has  cut  ;ui  afincgo 

"  Afundcr  like  a  thread." 

"  This  (fnys  the  author)  is  the  ufual  trial  of  thePerfian  fliam- 
.fliecrs,  or  cemiten.  which  are  crooked  like  a  crelcent,  of  fo  good 

metal, 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      49 

ihou  art  here  put  to  thrafh  Trojans ;  and  thou  art 
bought  and  fold  among  thofe  of  any  wit,  like  a  Bar- 
barian flave.  If  thou  ufe  to  beat  me,  I  will  begin  at 
thy  heel,  and  tell  what  thou  art  by  inches,  thou 
thing  of  no  bowels,  thou  ! 

Ajax.  You  dog ! 

fher.  You  fcurvy  lord ! 

Ajax.  You  cur  !  \Beating  him, 

Ther.  Mars  his  ideot !  do,  rudenefs ;  do,  camel ; 
do,  do. 

Enter  Achilles,  and  Patroclus. 

Achil.  Why,  how  now,  Ajax  ?  wherefore  do  you 

thus? 
How  now,  Therfites  ?.  what's  the  matter,  man  ? 

fiber.  You  fee  him  there,  do  you  ? 

Achil.  Ay ;  What's  the  matter  ? 

fher.  Nay,  look  upon  him. 

Achil.  So  I  do  ;  What's  the  matter  ? 

fher.  Nay,  but  regard  him  well. 

Achil.  Well,  why  I  do  fo. 

fher.  But  yet  you  look  not  well  upon  him  :  for^ 
whofoever  you  take  him  to  be,  he  is  Ajax. 

Achil.  1  know  that,  fool. 

'flier.  Ay,  but  that  fool  knows  not  himfelf. 

Ajax.  Therefore  I  beat  thee, 

metal,  that  they  prefer  them  before  any  other,  and  fo  lharp  as 
any  razor." 

I  hope,  for  the  credit  of  the  prince,  that. the. experiment  was 
rather  made  on  an  */},  than  an  afs-drlver.  From  the  following 
paflage  I  mould  fuppofe  afinego  to  be  merely  a  cant  termfor  a  foolifti 
fellow,  an  ideot :  "  They  apparell'd  me  as  you  fee,  made  a  fool, 
or  an  a/inego  of  me."  See  The  Antiquary ^  a  comedy,  by  S.  Mar- 
mion,  1641.  Again,  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Scornful 
Lady  : 

"  —all  this  would  be  forfworn,  and  I  again  an,  a/imgo^  39 
your  filter  left  me."    STEEVEN-S. 

Afincgo  is  Portuguefe  for  a  little  afi. 

VOL.  IX  £ 


50      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA.    - 

T-her.  Lo,  lo,  lo,  lo,  what  modicums  of  xvit  he 
utters  !  his  evafions  have  ears  thus  long.  I  have 
bobb'd  his  brain,  more  than, he  has  beat  my  bones  : 
I  will  buy  nine  fparrows  for  a  penny,  and  h\s  pia  ma- 
ter is  not  worth  the  ninth  part  of  a  fparrovv.  This 
lord,  Achilks,  Ajax,— who  wears  his  wit  in  his  belly, 

and  his  guts  in  his  head, I'll  tell  you  what  1  lay 

of  him. 

AchiL  What  ? 

Tber    I  fay,  this  Ajax 

AchiL  Nay,  good  Ajax. 

[Ajax  off  en  to  ftrike  him,  Achilles  inter pojes. 

Tber.  Has  not  fo  much  wit 

AchiL  Nay,  I  muft  hold  you. 

Ther.  As  will  Hop  the  eye  of  Helen**  needle,  for 
whom  he  comes  to  fight, 

Acbil.  Peace,  fool ! 

Tber.  I  would  have  peace  and  quietnefs,  but  the 
fool  will  not :  he  there  ;  that  he ;  look  you  there. 

Ajax.  O  thou  damn'd  cur  !  I  mall 

AcbiL  Will  you  fet  your  wit  to  a  fool's  ? 

Tber.  No,  I  warrant  you ;  for  a  fool's  will  fhamc  it. 

Pair.  Good  words,  Thcrfites. 

AchiL  What's  the  quarrel  ? 

Ajax.  I  bade  the  vile  owl,  go  learn  me  the  tenour 
of  the  proclamation,  and  he  rails  upon  me. 

Tber.  I  ferve  thee  not. 

Ajax.  Well,  go  to,  go  to. 

Tber.  I  ferve  here  voluntary. 

AchiL  Your  laft  fervice  was  fufferance,  'twas  not 
voluntary ;  no  man  is  beaten  voluntary  :  Ajax  was 
here  the  voluntary,  and  you  as  under  an  imprefs. 

Tber.  Even  fo  ? — a  great  deal  of  your  wit  too  lies 
in  your  iinews,or  elfe  there  be  liars.  Hector  lhall  have 
a  great  catch,  if  he  knock  out  either  of  your  brains ; 
*a  were  as  good  crack  a  fufty  nut  with  no  kernel. 

AchiL  What,  with  me  too,  Therfites  ? 

Tber. 


TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA. 


There's  Ulyffes  and  old  '  Neftor,  —  whofe  wit 
\vas  mouldy  ere  your  grandfires  had  nails  on  their 
toes,—  yoke  you  like  draft  oxen,  and  make  you  plough 
up  the  war. 

AbiL  What,  what? 

Ther.  Yes,  good  footh  j  To,  Achilles  !  to,  Ajax  ! 
to  ! 

Ajax.  I  mall  cut  out  your  tongue. 

Ther.  'Tis  no  matter  ;  I  mall  fpeak  as  much  as 
thou,  afterwards. 

Patr.  No  more  words,  Therfites  ;  peace. 

Tber.  I  will  hold  my  peace  *  when  Achilles'  brach 
bids  me,  fliall  I  ? 

AcbiL  There's  for  you,  Patroclus. 

Ther.  I  will  fee  you  hang'd,  Jjke  clotpoles,  ere  I 
come  any  more  to  your  tents  ;  I  will  keep  where 
there  is  wit  ftirring,  and  leave  the  faction  of  fools. 

{Spit. 

Patr.  A  good  riddance. 

Acbil.  Marry  this,  fir,  is  proclaimed  through  all 

our  hoft  : 

That  Hector,  by  the  fifth  hour  of  the  fun, 
Will,  with  a  trumpet,  'twixt  our  tents  and  Troy, 

1  •  Neftor  —  ivhofe  ivit  ivas  mouldy  ere  their  grand/ires  bad 
'nails  —  ]  This  is  one  of  thefe  editors'  wife  riddles.  What!  was 
Neftor's  wit  mouldy  before  his  grandfires  toes  had  any  nails  ?  Pre- 
pofterous  nonfenfe  !  and  yet  fo  eafy  a  change,  as  one  poor  pro- 
noun for  another,  lets  all  right  and  clear.  THEOBALD. 

1  -  when  Afbillcs*  brach  lids  me,  -  ]  The  folio  and  quarto 
read,  —  Achilles'  brooch,  Brooch  is  anappendant  ornament.  The 
meaning  may  be,  equivalent  to  one  of  Achilles'  hangers-on. 

JOHNSON. 

Brack  I  believe  to  be  the  true  reading.  He  calls  Patroclus,  in 
contempt,  Achilles'  dog.  STEEVENS. 

Brooch,  which  is  the  reading  of  all  the  old  copies,  had  perhaps 
formerly  feme  meaning  at  prefent  unknown.  Jn  the  following 
paffige  in  Lodge's  Rofalynde  or  Eupbuef  Golden  Legacie,  1592, 
it  feems  to  fignify  fomething  very  different  from  a  pin  or  a  bodkin  : 
*'  His  bonnet  was  green,  whereon  Hood  a  copper  brooch  with  tfie 
picture  of  St,  Denis."  MALONE. 

E  2  To-morrow 


5z       TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

To-morrow  morning  call  fome  knight  to  arms, 
That  hath  a  ftomach  ;  and  fuch  a  one,  that  dare 
Maintain — I  know  not  what ;  'tis  train  :  Farewel. 

jijax.  Farewel.     Who  fhall  anfwer  him  ? 

Achil.  I  know  not,  it  is  put  to  lottery  ;  otherwife, 
He  knew  his  man. 

Ajax.  O,  meaning  you  : — I'll  go  learn  more  of  it. 

[Exeunt* 

SCENE        II. 

r  R  o  r. 

Priam's  palace. 
Enter  Priam,  HeSfor,  'Troilus,  Paris,  and  Helenus. 

Pri.  After  fo  many  hours,  lives,  fpeeches  fpent, 
Thus  once  again  fays  Neftor  from  the  Greeks ; 
Deliver  Helen,  and  all  damage  elfe — 
As  honour,  lofs  of  time,  travel,  expence, 
Wounds,  friends,  and  zvhat  elfe  dear  that  is  confum'd 
In  hot  digejlion  of  this  cormorant  war, — 
Shall  be  Jlruck  of: — Hedor,  what  fay  you  to't  ? 

Heel.  Though  no  man  lefler  fears  the  Greeks  than  I, 
As  far  as  toucheth  my  particular,  yet, 
Dread  Priam, 

There  is  no  lady  of  more  fofter  bowels, 
More  fpungy  to  fuck  in  the  fenfe  of  fear, 
More  ready  to  cry  out — Who  knows  what  follows  ? 
Than  Heeler  is  :  The  wound  of  peace  is  furety, 
Surety  fecure  ;  but  modeft  doubt  is  call'd 
The  beacon  of  the  wife,  the  tent  that  fearches 
To  the  bottom  of  the  word.     Let  Helen  go  : 
Since  the  firftfword  was  drawn  about  this  queftion, 
Every  tithe  foul,  'mongft  J  many  thoufand  difmes, 

Hath 

3  —  many  tboufand  difmes,]     Difmt,  Fr.  is  the   tithe,  the 
tenth.    So,  m  the  prologue  to  Gower's  Confejjlo  Amantli,  1554: 
"  The  difme  goeth  to  the  battailc.'5  " 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        53 

Hath  been  as  dear  as  Helen  ;  I  mean,  of  ours  : 
If  we  have  loft  fo  many  tenths  of  ours, 
To  guard  a  thing  not  ours ;  not  worth  to  us, 
Had  it  our  name,  the  value  of  one  ten  ; 
What  merit's  in  that  reafon,  which  denies 
The  yielding  of  her  up  ? 

Troi.  Fie,  fie,  my  brother  ! 
Weigh  you  the  worth  and  honour  of  a  king, 
So  great  as  our  dread  father,  in  a  fcale 
Of  common  ounces  ?  will  you  with  counters  fum 

4  The  paft-proportion  of  his  infinite  ? 
And  buckle-in  a  waift  moft  fathomlefs, 
With  fpans  and  inches  fo  diminutive 

As  fears  and  reafons  ?  fie,  for  godly  ihame ! 

Hel.  No  marvel,  though  you  bite  fo  fharp  at  reafons, 
You  are  fo  empty  of  them.     Should  not  our  father 
Bear  the  great  fway  of  his  affairs  with  reafons, 
Becaufe  your  fpeech  hath  none,  that  tells  him  fo  ? 
2V0/'.  You  are  for  dreams  and  flumbers,  brother 

prieft, 
You  fur  your  gloves  with  reafon.     Here  are  your 

reafons  : 

You  know,  an  enemy  intends  you  harm  ; 
You  know,  a  fword  employ'd  is  perilous, 
And  reafon  flies  the  object  of  all  harm  : 
Who  marvels  then,  when  Helenus  beholds 
A  Grecian  and  his  fword,  if  he  do  fet 
The  very  wings  of  reafon  to  his  heels  ; 

5  And  fly  like  chidden  Mercury  from  Jove, 

Again,  in  Holinfhed's  Reign  of  Rich.  II : 

"  fo  that  there  was  levied,  what  of  the  <ti/mt>  and  by  the 

devotion  of  the  people,  &c."    STEEVENS. 

*  The  Tpa&~proportion  of  his  infinite  ?]    Thus  read  both  the  co- 
pies.    The  meaning  is,  that  greatnrfs  to  vcbicb  no  tntafure  Itar*  emy 
proportion.     The  modern  editors  filently  give  : 
The  vaft  proportion  JOHNSON. 

5  And  fly  lUecJbiaJn  Mercury  from  Jovey 

Or  like  a  Jlar  dif-orVd? — ]    Thefe  two  lines  arc  mifphced 
in  all  the  folio  editions.    POPE. 

E  Or 


54      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Or  like  a  ftar  dif-orb'd  ? — Nay,  if  we  talk  of  reafon, 
Let's  (hut  our  gates,  and  fleep  :  Manhood  and  honour 
Should  have  hare  hearts,  would  they  but  fat  their 

thoughts 

With  this  cramm'd  reafon  :  reafon  and  refpect: 
Make  livers  pale,  and  luftyhood  deject. 

Heft.  Brother,  Ihe  is  not  worth  whatfhe  doth  coft 
The  holdiiv. 

Froi.  What  is  aught,  but  as  'tis  valu'd  ? 

:?. -But  value  dwells  not  in  particular  will; 
It  holds  his  eftimate  and  dignity 
As  well  wherein  'tis  precious  of  itfelf, 
As  in  the  prizer  :  'tis  mad  idolatry, 
To  make  the  fervice  greater  than  the  god  ; 

6  And  the  will  dotes,  that  is  inclinable 
To  what  infectioufly  itfelf  affects, 

7  Without  fome  image  of  the  affected  merit. 

9roi.  I  take  to-day  a  wife,  and  my  election, 
.  Is  kd  on  in  the  conduct  of  my  will ; 
My  will  enkindled  by  mine  eyes  and  ears, 
Two  traded  pilots  'twixt  the  dangerous  fhores 
Of  will  and  judgment;  How  may  I  avoid, 
Although  my  will  diftafte  what  it  elected, 
The  wife  I  chofe  ?  there  can  be  no  evafion 
To  blench  from  this,  r.nd  to  ftand  firm  by  honour  5 
We  turn  not  back  the  filks  upon  the  merchant, 

6  And  the  will  Jafes,   that  is  inclinable]     Old  edition,  not   fo 
well,  has  it  attri^tivt.     POPE. 

By  the  old  edition  Mr.  Pope  means  the  old  quarto.     The  folio 

has,  as  it  (lands,  inclinable. 1  think  the  firft  reading  better ; 

the  zu/7/  dotes  that  attributes  or  gives  tbe  qualities  ivhicb  it  affefls  j 
that  firft  caufes  excellence,  and  then  admires  it.  JOHNSON. 

7  Without  fome  image  of  the  affected  we  rit.  ]     We  ihould  read: 

the  affe£led's  merit. 

i,  e,  without  fome  mark  of  merit  in  the  thing  affected. 

WARBURTON, 

The  prefent  reading  is  right.  The  will  affefis  an  objeft  ifor 
fjjme  fuppofed  merit,  which  Hedlor  fays  is  cenfurable,  unlefs  the 
&erit  fo  ajfe&ed  be  really  there,  JOHNSON, 

When 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       55 

When  we  have  8  foil'd  them ;    nor  the  remainder 

viands 

We  do  not  throw  In  9  unrefpecYive  fieve, 
Becaufe  we  now  are  full.     It  was  thought  meet, 
Paris  fhould  do  feme  vengeance  on  the  Greeks: 
Your  breath  of  full  confent  belly'd  his  fails  ; 
The  feas  and  winds  (old  wranglers}  took  a  truce, 
And  did  him  fervice  :  he  touch'd  the  ports  defir'd ; 
And,  for  an  old  aunt,  whom  the  Greeks  held  captive, 
He  brought  a  Grecian  queen,  whofe  youth  and  frefh- 

nefs 

Wrinkles  Apollo's,  and  makes  l  pale  the  morning. 
Wrhy  keep  we  her  ?  the  Grecians  keep  our  aunt : 
Is  ihe  worth  keeping  ?  why,  fhe  is  a  pearl, 
Whofe  price  hath  launch'd  above  a  thouiand  fhips, 
And  turn'd  crown'd  kings  to  merchants. 
If  you'll  avouch,  'twas  wifdom  Paris  went, 
(As  you  muft  needs,  for  you  all  cry'd — Go,  go) 
If  you'll  confefs;  he  brought  home  noble  prize, 
(As  you  muft  needs,  for  you  all  clapp'd  your  hands, 
And  cr.y'd — Ineftimable  ! )  why  do  you  now 
The  ifiue  of  your  proper  wifdoms  rate  ; 
*  And  do  a  deed  that  fortune  never  did, 

8  foil'd  tbtm; — ]     So  reads  the  quarto,     The  folio 

fpoil'd  them. JOHNSON. 

9  •-    •  •  unrefpcftinie  iieve,]       That    is,    into   a  common   voider. 
Sieve  is  in  the  quarto.     The  folio  reads, 

nnrcfpeElivc  fame; 

for  which  the  modern  editions  have  {ilently  printed, 

unrefpcSlive  place.     JOHNSON. 

1 pale  the  morning.']  So  the  quarto.  The  folio  and  mo- 
dern editors, 

ftnle  the  morning.     JOHNSON. 

*  And  do  a  deed  that  fortune  never  did,]  If  I  understand  this 
pafiage,  the  meaning  is  :  "  Why  do  you,  by  cenfuring  die  de- 
termination of  your  own  wifdoms,  degrade  Helen,  whom  fortune 
has  not  yet  deprived  of  her  value,  or  againft  whom,  as  the  wit£ 
of  Paris,  fortune  has  not  in  this  war  fo  declared,  as  to  make  us 
yalue  her  lefs  ?"  This  is  very  harih,  and  much  itraineci. 

JOHNSON, 

E  4  Beggar 


56       TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

Beggar  the  eftimation  which  you  priz'd 
Richer  than  fea  and  land  ?     O  theft  moft  bafe  ; 
That  we  have  ftolen  what  we  do  fear  to  keep  ! 
3  But,  thieves,  unworthy  of  a  thing  fo  ftolen, 
That  in  their  country  did  them  that  difgrace, 
We  fear  to  warrant  in  our  native  place  ! 

Caf.  [within]  Cry,  Trojans,  cry  ! 

Pri.  What  noife  ?  what  Ihriek  is  this  ? 

?Vw.  'Tis  our  mad  lifter,  I  do  know  her  voice. 

Caf.  [within]  Cry,  Trojans  ! 

Heft.  It  is  Caffandra. 

Enter  Cajfandra,  raving. 

Caf,  Cry,  Trojans,  cry  !  lend  me  ten  thoufand  eyes, 
And  I  will  fill  them  with  prophetic  tears. 

Heft.  Peace,  lifter,  peace. 

Caf.  Virgins  and  boys,  mid-age  and  wrinkled  elders, 
Soft  infancy,  that  nothing  canft  but  cry, 
Add  to  my  clamours  !  let  us  pay  betimes 
A  moiety  of  that  mafs  of  moan  to  come. 
Cry,  Trojans,  cry  !  pradtife  your  eyes  with  tears  ! 
Troy  muft  not  be,  nor  goodly  Ilion  ftand; 
Our  fire-brand  brother,  Paris,  burns  us  all. 
Cry,  Trojans,  cry  !  a  Helen,  and  a  woe  : 
Cry,  cry  !  Troy  burns,  or  elfe  let  Helen  go.       [Exit. 

Heft.  Now,  youthful  Troilus,  do  not  thefe  high 

Jftrains 

Of  divination  in  our  fifter  work 
Some  touches  of  remorfe  ?  or  is  your  blood 
So  madly  hot,  that  no  difcourfc  of  reafon, 
Nor  fear  of  bad  fuccefs  in  a  bad  caufe, 
Can  qualify  the  fame  ? 

Troi.  Why,  brother  Hector, 
may  not  think  the  juftn'efs  of  each  aft 


8  But  thieve!^——]    Hanmer  reads,  —  Baft  tb^ves,-— 

JOHNSON. 

Such 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.        57 

Such  and  no  other  than  event  doth  form  it ; 
Nor  once  deject  the  courage  of  our  minds, 
Becaufe  Caffandra's  mad  ;  her  brain-fick  raptures 
Cannot  4  diftafte  the  goodnefs  of  a  quarrel, 
Which  hath  our  feveral  honours  all  engag'd 
To  make  it  gracious.     For  my  private  part, 
I  am  no  more  touch 'd  than  all  Priam's  fons  : 
And  Jove  forbid,  there  Ihould  be  done  amongfl  us 
Such  things  as  would  offend  the  weakeft  fpleen 
To  fight  for  and  maintain  ! 

Par.  Elfe  might  the  world  convince  of  levity 
As  well  my  undertakings,  as  your  counfels  : 
But  I  atteft  the  gods,  your  full  confent 
Gave  wings  to  my  propeniion,  and  cut  off 
All  fears  attending  on  fo  dire  a  project. 
For  what,  alas,  can  thefe  my  fingle  arms  ? 
What  propugnation  is  in  one  man's  valour, 
To  fland  the  pufh  and  enmity  of  thofe 
This  quarrel  would  excite  ?     Yet,  I  proteft, 
Were  I  alone  to  pafs  the  difficulties, 
And  had  as  ample  power  as  I  have  will, 
Paris  fhould  ne'er  retract  what  he  hath  done, 
Nor  faint  in  the  purfuit. 

Pri.  Paris,  you  fpeak 
Like  one  befotted  on  your  fweet  delights  : 
You  have  the  honey  flill,  but  thefe  the  gall  ; 
So  to  be  valiant,  is  no  praife  at  all. 

Par.  Sir,  I  propofe  not  merely  to  myfelf 
The  pleafures  fuch  a  beauty  brings  with  it ; 
But  I  would  have  the  foil  of  her  fair  rape 
Wip'd  off,  in  honourable  keeping  her. 
What  treafon  were  it  to  the  ranfack'd  queen, 
Difgrace  to  your  great  worths,  and  ihame  to  me, 
Now  to  deliver  her  poffeffion  up, 
On  terms  of  bafe  compulfion  ?  can  it  be, 
That  fo  degenerate  a  {train  as  this, 

4~-diJlafts—'\  Corrupt  j  change  to  a  worfe  ftate.    JOHNSON. 

Should 


58       TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Should  once  fet  footing  in  your  generous  bofoms  ? 
There's  not  the  meaneft  fpirit  on  our  party, 
Without  a  heart  to  dare,  or  fword  to  draw, 
When  Helen  is  defended ;   nor  none  fo  noble, 
Whole  life  were  ill  beftow'd,  or  death  unfam'd, 
Where  Helen  is  the  fubject  :  then,  I  fay, 
Well  may  we  fight  for  her,  whom,  we  know  well, 
The  world's  large  fpaces  cannot  parallel. 

Heft.   Paris,  and  Troilus,  you  have  both  faid  well ; 
And  on  the  caufe  and  queftion  now  in  hand 
Have  gloz'd,  but  fuperficially  ;  not  much 
Unlike  young  men,  whom  Arillotle5  thought 
Unfit  to  hear  moral  philofophy  : 
The  reafons,  you  alledge,  do  more  conduce 
To  the  hot  paffion  of  diftemper'd  blood, 
Than  to  make  up  a  free  determination 
'Twixt  right  and  wrong  ;   For  pleafure,  and  revenge, 
Have  ears  more  deaf  than  adders  to  the  voice 
Of  any  true  decifion.     Nature  craves, 
All  dues  be  rendered  to  their  owners;  Now 
What  nearer  debt  in  all  humanity, 
Than  wife  is  to  the  hufband  ?  if  this  law 
Of  nature  be  corrupted  through  affection  j 
And  that  great  minds,  of  partial  indulgence 
To  their  *  benummed  wills,  refift  the  fame  ; 
7  There  is  a  law  in  each  wcll-order'd  nation, 
To  curb  thofe  raging  appetites  that  are 
Moft  dilbbedicnt  and  refractory. 
Jf  Helen  then  be  wife  to  Sparta's  king,' 

s Arijloth—]     Let  it  be  rcmember'd  as  dften  as  Shake-, 

fpeare's  anachronifms  occur,  that  errors  in  computing  time  were 
very  frequent  in  thofe  ancient  romances  which  fecra  to  have 
formed  the  greater  part  of  his  library.  STE  EVENS. 

«  —bemimmtd  wills, — ]    That  is,  inflexible,    immoveable,  no. 
longer  obedient  to  fuperior  direction.     JOHNSON. 

1  There  is  a  law ]    What  the  law  does  in  every  nation 

between  individuals,  juftice  ought  to  do  between  nations. 

JOHNSON. 

As 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        59 

As  it  is  known  flie  is, thefe  moral  laws 

Of  nature,  and  of  nations,  fpeak  aloud 

To  have  her  back  return'd  :  Thus  to  perfift 

In  doing  wrong,  extenuates  not  wroni:, 

But  makes  it  much  more  heavy.     Hector's  opinion 

8  Is  this,  in  way  of  truth  :  yet,  ne'erthelefs, 

My  fprightly  brethren,  I  propend  to  you 

In  resolution  to  keep  Helen  ftill ; 

For  'tis  a  cauie  that  hath  no  mean  dependance 

Upon  our  joint  and  feveral  dignities. 

Irol.  Why,thereyou  touch'd  thelifeofour  defign: 
Were  it  not  glory  that  we  more  affected 
Than  9  the  performance  of  our  heaving  fpleens, 
I  would  not  wifh  a  drop  of  Trojan  blood 
Spent  more  in  her  defence.     But,  worthy  Hedtor, 
She  is  a  theme  of  honour  and  renown  ; 
A  fpur  to  valiant  and  magnanimous  deeds  ; 
Whofe  prefent  courage  may  beat  down  our  foes, 
And  fame,  in  time  to  come,  canonize  us  : 
For,  I  prefume,  brave  Hedior  would  not  lofe 
So  rich  advantage  of  a  promis'd  glory, 
As  fmiles  upon  the  forehead  of  this  acltion, 
For  the  wide  world's  revenue. 

Heft,  I  am  yours, 

You  valiant  offspring  of  great  Priarnus.— 
I  have  a  roiiiing  challenge  fent  amongft 
The  dull  and  factious  nobles  of  the  Greeks, 
Will  ftrike  amazement  to  their  drowzy  fpirits  : 
I  was  advertis'd,  their  great  general  flept, 
Whilft  '  emulation  in  the  army  crept ; 
This,  I  prefume,  will  wake  him.  \_Exeunt% 

8  Js  this,  in  tivzy  of  truth: ]  Though  confidering  truth  and 

ffflict  in  this  queftion,  this  is  my  opinion ;  yet  as  a  queftion  of 
honour,  I  think  on  it  as  you.  JOHNSON. 

9 — the  performance  of  our  heaving /pleem,"}  The  execution  of 
fi)iteand  refentment.  JOHNSON. 

--witlaticn—  ]  That  is,  envy,  fadious  contention.     JOHNSON, 

SCENE 


60       TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

SCENE      III. 

The  Grecian.  Camp. 
Achilles'  tent. 

Enter  fherfttes. 

How  now,  Therfites  ?  what,  loft  in  the  labyrinth 
of  thy  fury  ?  Shall  the  -elephant  Ajax  carry  it  thus  ? 
he  beats  me,  and  I  rail  at  him  :  O  worthy  fatisfaction ! 
'would,  it  were  otherwifc,  that  I  could  beat  him, 
whilil  he  rail'd  at  me  :  'Sfoot,  I'll  learn  to  conjure 
and  raife  devils,  but  I'll  fee  fome  iflue  of  my  fpiteful 
execrations.  Then  there's  Achilles, — a  rare  engineer. 
If  Troy  be  not  taken  'till  thefe  two  undermine  it,  the 
walls  will  ftand  'till  they  fall  of  themfelves.  O  thou 
great  thunder-darter  of  Olympus,  forget  that  thou 
art  Jove  the  king  of  gods  ;  and,  Mercury,  lofe  all 
the  ferpentine  craft  of  thy  Caduceus  ;  if  ye  take  not 
that  little  little  lefs-than-little  wit  from  them  that 
they  have  !  which  fhort-arm'd  ignorance  itfelf  knows 
is  fo  abundant  fcarce,  it  will  not  in  circumvention 
deliver  a  fly  from  a  fpider,  *  without  drawing  the 
mafly  iron,  and  cutting  the  web.  After  this,  the 
vengeance  on  the  whole  camp  !  or,  rather,  the  3  bone- 
ache  !  for  that,  methinks,  is  the  curfe  dependant  on 
thofe  that  war  for  a  placket.  I  have  faid  my  prayers; 
and  devil  envy,  fay  Amen,  What,  ho  !  my  lord 
Achilles ! 

Enter  Patroclus. 

Pair.  Who's  there  ?  Therfites  ?  Good  Therfites, 
come  in  and  rail. 

* — without  drawing  the  mafly  iron, — ]  That  is,  without  draw- 
ing their  fvwrils  to  cut  the  web.  They  ufe  no  means  but  thofe  oi 
violence.  JOHNSON. 

3  —  the  bone~acbe  ! — ]  In  the  quarto,  tht  Neapolitan  bone-ache* 

JOHNSON. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       61 

Tver.  If  I  could  have  remember'd  a  gilt  counter- 
feit, thon  wouldft  not  have  flipp'd  out  of  my  contem- 
plation :  but  it  is  no  matter,  Thyfelf  upon  thyfelf ! 
The  common  curfe  of  mankind,  folly  and  ignorance, 
be  thine  in  great  revenue  !  heaven  blefs  thee  from  a 
tutor,  and  diicipline  come  not  near  thee  !  Let  thy 
blood  be  thy  direction  'till  thy  death  !  then  if  flie, 
that  lays  thee  out,  fays — thou  art  a  fair  corfe,  I'll  be 
fworn  and  (worn  upon't,  Ihe  never  fhrowded  any  but 
lazars.  Amen.  Where's  Achilles  ? 

Pair.  What,  art  thou  devout  ?  waft  thou  in  prayer  ? 

fker.  Ay  ;  The  heavens  hear  me ! 

Enter  Achilles. 

AMI  Who's  there  ? 

fair.  Therfites,  my  lord. 

AchlL  Where,  where  ? — Art  thou  come  ?  Why, 
my  cheefe,  my  digeftion,  why  haft  thou  not  ferv'd 
thyfelf  in  to  my  table  fo  many  meals  ?  Come ;  what's 
Agamemnon ! 

Tber.  Thy  commander,  Achilles ; — Then  tell  me, 
Patroclus,  what's  Achilles  ? 

Pair.  Thy  lord,  Therfites ;  Then  tell  me,  I  pray 
thee,  what's  thyfelf  ? 

Ther.  Thy  knower,  Patroclus  ;  Then  tell  me,  Pa- 
troclus, what  art  thou  ? 

Patr.  Thou  may'ft  tell,  that  know'ft. 

Achil.  O,  tell,  tell. 

Ther.  I'll  4 decline  the  whole  queftion.  Agammem- 
non  commands  Achilles ;  Achilles  is  my  lord  ;  I  am 
Patroclus'  knower ;  and  s  Patroclus  is  a  fool. 

Patr.  You  rafcal  1 


*  — decline  the  -whole  qiiejiion. — ]  Deduce  the  queftion  from  the 
firii  cafe*to  the  hit.  JOHNSON. 

5  Patroclus  is  a  fool]  The  four  next  fpeeches  are  not  in  the 

quarto.  JOHNSON. 

fber. 


62      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Jbcr.  Peace,  fool  ;  I  have  not  done. 

Acbil.  He  is  a  privileg'd  man. — Proceed,  Therfites. 

Iker.  Agamemnon  is  a  fool ;  Achilles  is  a  fool ; 
Therfites  is  a  fool;  and,  as  aforefaid,  Patroclus  is  a 
fool. 

Aclxl.  Derive  this  ;   come. 

Iker.  Agamemnon  is  a  fool  to  offer  to  command 
Achilles  ;  Achilles  is  a  fool  to  be  commanded  of 
Agamemnon ;  Therfites  is  a  fool,  to  ferve  fuch  a  fool ; 
and  Parroclus  is  a  fool  pofitive. 

Pair.  Why  am  I  a  fool  ? 

Tber.  Make  that  demand  6  of  the  proven It 

fuffices  me,  thou  art.  '  Look  you,  who  comes 
here  ? 

Enter  Agamemnon,  Ul}fes>  Nejior,  Diomedes,  and  Ajax. 

Acini.  Patroclus,  I'll  fpeak  with  no  body  : — Come 
in  with  me,  Therfites.  \_Exlt. 

Tber.  Here  is  fuch  patchery,  fuch  juggling,  and 
fuch  knavery  !  all  the  argument  is — a  cuckold,  and 
a  whore  ;  A  good  quarrel,  to  draw  emulous  factions, 
and  bleed  to  death  upon.  7  Now  the  dry  ferpigo  on 
the  fubjed: !  and  war, and  lechery,  confound  all !  [Exit, 

Aga.  Where  is  Achilles  ? 

Pair.  Within  his  tent;  but  ill-difpos'd,  my  lord. 

Aga.  Let  it  be  known  to  him,  that  we  are  here. 
J  He  fhent  our  meffengers ;  and  we  lay  by 

Our 

* of  the prover.- ]     So  the  quarto.     JOHNSON. 

The  folio  profanely  reads, — of  thy  creator.     STEEVENS. 

7  Now    the    dry,   &c.]     This  is  added  in  the  folio. 

JOHNSON. 
*  He  fent  our  meffengers ;  —  ]  This  nonfenfe  fhould  be  read  : 

He  ftient  our  meffengers  ; i.  e.  rebuked,  rated. 

WARBURTOX.. 

This  word  is  ufed  in  common  by  all  our  ancient  writers.     So> 
in  Spenfer's  Faery  Queen,  b.  VI.  c.  vi. 

"  Yet 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       63 

Our  appertainments,  vifiting  of  him  : 
Let  him  be  told  fo  ;  left,  perchance,  he  think 
We  dare  not  move  the  queftion  of  our  place, 
Or  know  not  what  we  are, 

Pair.  I  ihall  fo  fay  to  him.  [Exit, 

Uhf.  We  faw  him  at  the  opening  of  his  tent; 
He  is  not  fick. 

Ajax.  Yes,  lion-fick,  fick  of  a  proud  heart  :  you 
may  call  it  melancholy,  if  you  will  favour  the  man  ; 
but,  by  my  head,  'tis  pride  :  But  why,  why  ?  let  him 
ihew  us  a  caufc. — A  word,  my  lord. 

['To  Agamemnon. 

Nefi.  What  moves  Ajax  thus  to  bay  at  him  ? 

L7v/7.  Achilles  hath  inveigled  his  fool  from  him. 

N$.  Who  ?  Theriites  ? 

Ul\f.  He. 

Neft,  Then  will  Ajax  lack  matter,  if  he  have  loft 
his  argument. 

Ulyjf.  No ;  you  fee,  he  is  his  argument,  that  has 
his  argument ;  Achilles. 

Neft.  All  the  better ;  their  fra&ion  is  more  our  wifh, 
than  their  fadtion  :  But  it  was  a  ftrong  9  compofure,  a 
fool  could  difunitc. 

Ul)f.  The  amity,  that  wifdom  knits  not,  folly  may 
eafily  untye.  Here  comes  Patroclus. 

Re-enter  Patroclus, 
Neft.  No  Achilles  with  him. 

"  Yet  for  no  bidding,  not  for  being  Jbentt 
"  Would  he  reftrained  be  from  his  attendement." 
Again,  ibid: 

"  He  for  fuch  bafenefs  fliamefully  him  Jbetit" 

STEEVENS. 

9  — • —  compofure, — ]     So  reads  the  quarto  very  properly ;  but 
the  folio,  which  the  moderns  have  followed,  has, 
counfel.     JOHN  so K, 


64      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Ulyjf.  The  elephant  hath  joints ',    but  none  foi* 

courtefy ; 
His  legs  are  for  neceflity,  not  for  flexure. 

Pair.  Achilles  bids  me  fay — he  is  much  forry, 
If  any  thing  more  than  your  fport  and  pleafure 
Did  move  your  greatnefs,  and  this  *  noble  flate, 
To  call  on  him  ;  he  hopes,  it  is  no  other, 
But,  for  your  health  and  your  digeftion  fake, 
An  after-dinner's  breath. 

Agam.  Hear  you,  Patroclus ; 

We  are  too  well  acquainted  with  thefe  anfwers  : 

But  his  evafion,  wing'd  thus  fwift  with  fcorn, 

Can'.iot  out-fly  our  apprehenfions. 

Much  attribute  he  hath ;  and  much  the  reafon 

Why  we  afcribe  it  to  him  :  yet  all  his  virtues,— - 

Not  virtuoufly  on  his  own  part  beheld, — 

Do,  in  our  eyes,  begin  to  lofe  their  glofs  ; 

Yea,  like  fair  fruit  in  an  unwholefome  difh, 

Are  like  to  rot  untafted.     Go  and  tell  him, 

We  come  to  fpeak  to  him  :  And  you  lhall  not  fin, 

If  you  do  fay — we  think  him  over-proud, 

1  Tie  elephant  bath  joints,  &c.]     So,  in  Alfsloji  by  Luft,  1633  : 

«  Is  (he  pliant? 

"  Stubborn  as  an  elephant's  leg,  no  lending  in  her." 
Again,  in  All  Fools,  1605  : 

44 1  hope  you  are  no  elephant,  you  have  joints" 

STEEVENS. 

* nolle  fiate,]     Perfon  of  high  dignity  ;  fpoken  of  Aga- 

rtemnon.     JOHNSON. 

Noble  JIate  rather  means  thf  ftatcly  train  of  attending  nobles  whom 
you  bring  ivithyou.     STEEYENS. 

In  fupport  of  Dr.  Johnfon's  expofition  of  this  word,  it  may  be 
obferved,  that  JIate  was  formerly  applied  to  a  fingle  perfon.  So, 
in  J'Flts,  Fits,  ana1  Fancies,  1595:  "  --  The  archbifhop  of 
Grenada  faying  to  the  archbithop  of  Toledo  that  he  much  marvell- 
ed, he  being  fo  great  aflafe,  would  vifit  hofpitals  .'* 
Again,  in  Harrington's  tranflation  of  Ariofto  : 

"  The  Greek  demands  her,  whither  flie  was  going, 
"  And  which  of  thefe  two  great  e/tatet  her  keeps." 

MALOKE. 

And 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.      65 

And  utider-honeft  ;  in  felf-affumption  greater, 
Than  in  the  note  of  judgment ;  and  worthier  than 

himfelfi 

Here  tend  the  favage  flrangenefs  he  puts  on  ; 
Difguife  the  holy  itrength  of  their  command, 
And  '  under-write  in  an  obferving  kind 
His  humourous  predominance ;  yea,  watch 
aHis  pettifh  lunes,  his  ebbs,  his  flows,  as  if 
The  paflage  and  whole  carriage  of  this  action 
Rode  on  his  tide.     Go,  tell  him  this  ;  and  add, 
That,  if  he  over-hold  his  price  fo  much, 
We'll  none  of  him ;  but  let  him,  like  an  engine 

Not  portable,  lie  under  this  report 

Bring  aftion  hither,  this  cannot  go  to  war  : 
A  flirring  dwarf  we  do  allowance  give  * 
Before  a  fleeping  giant  :• — Tell  him  fo. 

Patr.  lihall;  and  bring  his  anfwer  prefently.  [Exit. 

Aga.  In  fecond  voice  we'll  not  be  fatisfied, 
We  come  to  fpeak  with  him. — Ulyfles,  enter  you. 

[Exit  Ufyfles. 

Ajax.  What  is  he  more  than  another  ? 

Aga.  No  more  than  what  he  thinks  he  is. 

AjaXk  Is  he  fo   much  ?     Do  you  not  thinkj  he 

thinks  himfelf 
A  better  man  than  I  \ 

Aga.  No  queftion. 

Ajax.  Will  you  fubfcribe  his  thought,  and  fay — 
he  is  ? 

Aga*  No,  noble  Ajax ;  you  are  as  ftrong,  as  valiant, 

,  *  — —  vnder-wriie *\     To  fubfcrile,  in  Shakefpeare,  is  to 

elcy.     JOHNSON. 

1  Hisfettijb  lunes) ]    This  is  Hanmer's  emendation  of  hi» 

pettifh  lines.     The  old  quarto  reads : 

His  courfe  and  time. 

This  fpeech  is  unfaithfully  printed  in  modern  editions.    JOHNSON. 
3 >—  allowance  five}     Allowance  is   approbaiicn.      So,   in 

ff.          y  o          J  4f 

fang  JLear: 

- — ;— ' — —if  your  fweet  fv\'ay 
Allow  obedience,"    STEEVBNS. 

VOL.  IX.  F 


66      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

As  wife,  and  no  lefs  noble,  much  more  gentle, 
And  altogether  more  tractable. 

Ajax.  Why  fhould  a  man  be  proud  ? 
How  doth  pride  grow  ?  I  know  not  what  pride  is-.1 

Aga.  Your  mind's   the  clearer,   Ajax,  and   youf 

virtues 

The  fairer.     He  that's  proud,  eats  up  himfelf : . 
Pride  is  his  own  glafs,  his  own  trumpet,  his 
Own  chronicle ;  and  whatever  praifes  itlelf 
But  in  the  deed,  devours  the  deed  i*  the  praife. 

Ajax.  I  do  hate  a  proud  man,  as  I  hate  the  engen* 
dering  of  toads  *. 

Neft.  [Ajide.]  And  yet  he  loves  himfelf;  Is  it  not 
ilrange  ? 

Re-enter  Utyfles. 

Uhjf.  Achilles  will  not  to  the  field  to-morrow, 

Aga.  What's  his  excufe  ? 

Ulyff.  He  doth  rely  on  none ; 
But  carries  on  the  ftream  of  his  difpofe, 
Without  obfervance  or  refpe<ft  of  any, 
In  will  peculiar  and  in  felf  admiffion. 

Aga.  Why  will  he  not,  upon  our  fair  requefr, 
Untent  his  perfon,  and  fliare  the  air  with  us  ? 

Wjff*  Things  fmall  as  nothing,  for  requefl's  fak£ 

only, 

He  makes  important :  PofTeft  he  is  with  greatnefs  ; 
And  fpeaks  not  to  himfelf,  but  with  a  pride 
That  quarrels  at  felf  breath  :  imagin*d  worth 
Holds  in  his  blood  fuch  fwoln  and  hot  difcourfe, 
That,  'twixt  his  mental  and  his  active  parts, 
Kingdom'd  Achilles  in  commotion  rages, 
And  batters  down  himfelf :  What  Ihould  I  fay  ? 

* the  engendering  of  toads.]  Whoever  wifhes  to  compre- 
hend the  whole  force  of  this  allulion,  may  confult  the  late  Dr. 
Goldfmith's  Hiftory  of  tie  World)  and  animated  Nature ^  vol.  VII. 
p.  p.  92,  93.  STEEVENS. 

He 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      6j 

He  is  fo  plaguy  proud,  that  the  death  tokens  of  it* 
Cry —  Nt>  recovery. 

Aga.  Let  Ajax  go  to  him.—— 
Dear  lord,  go  vou  and  greet  him  in  his  tent : 
*ris  faid,  he  holds  you  well ;  and  will  be  led, 
At  your  requeft,  a  little  from  himfelf. 

IJlyjf.  O  Agamemnon,  let  it  not  be  fo ! 
We'll  confecrate  the  fleps  that  Ajax  makes, 
When  they  go  from  Achilles :  Shall  the  proud  lorda 
That  baftes  his  arrogance  6  with  his  own  feam ; 
And  never  fuffers  matter  of  the  world 
Enter  his  thoughts, — fave  fuch  as  do  revolve 
And  ruminate  himfelf, — fhall  he  be  worfhipp'd 
Of  that  we  hold  an  idol  more  than  he  ? 
No,  this  thrice-worthy  and  right-valiant  lord 
Muft  not  fo  ftale  his  palm,  nobly  acquir'd; 
Nor,  by  my  will,  affubjugate  his  merit, 
As  amply  titled  as  Achilles  is, 
By  going  to  Achilles  : 
That  were  to  enlard  his  fat-already  pride ; 
And  add  more  coals  to  Cancer,  when  he  burns 
With  entertaining  great  Hyperion. 
This  lord  go  to  him  !  Jupiter  forbid ; 
And  fay  in  thunder — Acbiiks,  go  to  him. 

Neft.  O,  this  is  well ;  he  rubs  the  vein  of  him. 

\_Afide. 

Dio.  And  how  his  filence  drinks  up  this  applaufe ! 

[Afide. 

Ajax.  If  I  go  to  him,  with  my  armed  fift 
I'll  pafh  him  o'er  the  face. 

5 /£*  death-tokens  <j/V/]     Alluding  to  trie  ctecifire   Ipotf 

appearing  on  thole  infedled  by  the  plague.    So,  in  Beaumont  and 
Fletcher's  Valentlnlan  ; 

**  Now  like  the  fetrful  tokens  of  the  plague 
"  Are  mere  fore-runners  of  their  endal"    STEEVSNS, 
*  —  with  bit  own  feam ;}    Seam  is  greaft*    STESVENS. 

F  2  Aga\ 


68       TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA, 

Aga.  O,  no,  you  (hall  not  go. 

Ajax.  An  he  be  proud  with  me,  I'll 7  pheeze  hi* 

pride  : — 
Let  me  go  to  him. 

Ulyjf.  8Not  for  the  worth  that  hangs  upon  our 
quarrel. 

Ajax.  A  paltry  infolent  fellow,— 

Nejl.  How  he  defcribcs  himfelf ! 

Ajax.  Can  he  not  be  fociable  ? 

Ulyff.  The  raven  chides  blacknefs.  [A/ide. 

Ajax.  I'll  let  his  humours  blood. 

Aga.  He  will  be  the  phyfician,  that  Ihould  be  the 
patient.  [AJidc. 

Ajax.  An  all  men  were  o'  my  mind, — 

UlyJJ'.  Wit  would  be  out  of  falhion.  [AJidc. 

Ajax.  He  mould  not  bear  it  fo, 
He  mould  eat  fwords  firft  :  Shall  pride  carry  it  ? 

Ncft.  An  'twould,  you'd  carry  half.  \_Afde. 

Uhf.  He  would  have  ten  fliares.  [Afide. 

9 Ajax.  I  will  knead  him,  I'll  make  him  fupple  : — 

Nejl.  He's  not  yet  thorough  warm  :  '  force  him 
with  praifes :  {Afids* 

Pour  in,  pour  in  ;  his  ambition  is  dry. 

Uhff:  My  lord,  you  feed  too  much  on  this  diflike. 

[To  Agamemnon. 

7  ——pheeze  lit  pride  : — ]     Topbeeze  is  to  coml  or  curry. 

JOHNSON. 

8  Not  for  the  worth— —  ]     Not  for  the  value  of  all  for  which 
we  are  fighting.     JOHNSON. 

»Aja.x.  I  will  knead  him,  1  ivM  make  him  /«///<•,  he's  not  yet 

thorough  warm. 

Neft.  Force  him  <witb  praifes,  &c.]  The  latter  part  of  Ajax's 
Speech  is  certainly  got  out  ot  place,  and  ought  to  be  afligned  to 
Neftor,  as  I  have  ventured  to  tranfpofe  it.  Ajax  is  feeding  on  his 
vanity,  and  boafting  what  he  will  do  to  Achilles  ;  he'll  pafh  him, 
o'er  the  face,  he'll  make  him  eat  fwords,  he'll  knend  him,  he'll 
lupple  him,  &c.  Neftor  and  Ulyfles  llily  labour  to  keep  him  up 
in  this  vein;  and  to  this  end  Neftor  craftily  hints,  that  Ajax  i& 
not  warm  yet,  but  muft  be  crammed  with  more  flattery. 

THEOBALD. 
* ;•»— 'font bin*—  ]  i.e.  ftuffhira.  Farcir,  Fr.    Sre EVENS. 

Nejl. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       69 


Our  noble  general,  do  not  do  fo. 

Dio.  You  muft  prepare  to  fight  without  Achilles. 

Ulyjf*  Why,  'tis  this  naming  of  him  does  him  harm* 
Here  is  a  man  -  But  'tis  before  his  face  ; 
I  will  be  filent. 

Neft.  Wherefore  fhould  you  fo  ? 
He  is  not  emulous,  as  Achilles  is. 

Ulyfr.  Know  the  whole  world,  he  is  as  valiant. 

Ajax.  A  whorefon  dog,  that  lhall  palter  thus  with 

us! 
'Would,  he  were  a  Trojan  ! 

Neft.  What  a  vice  were  it  in  Ajax  now  -- 

17/V//I  If  he  were  proud  ? 

Dio.  Or  covetous  of  praife  ? 

Vlyff.  Ay,  or  furly  borne  ? 

Dio.  Or  ftrange,  or  felf-affedted  ? 

UfyJP  Thank  the  heavens,  lord,  thou  art  of  /weet 

compofure  ; 

Praife  him  that  got  thee,  Ihc  that  gave  thee  fuck  : 
Fam'd  be  thy  tutor  ;  and  thy  parts  of  nature 
Thrice-fam'd,  beyond  beyond  all  erudition  : 
But  he  that  difciplin'd  thy  arms  to  fight, 
JLet  Mars  divide  eternity  in  twain, 
.And  give  him  half  :  and,  for  thy  vigor, 
Bull-bearing  Milo  his  addition  yield 
To  finewy  Ajax.     I  will  not  praife  thy  wifdom, 
Which,  like  a  bourn  *,  a  pale,  a  fhore,  confines 
Thy  fpacious  and  dilated  parts  :  Here's  Neftor,  — 
Jnftrutted  by  the  antiquary  times, 
Vie  muft,  he  is,  he  cannot  but  be  wife  ;  — 
But  pardon,  father  Neftor,  were  your  days 
As  green  as  Ajax,  and  your  brain  fo  temper'd, 
You  Ihould-not  have  the  eminence  of  him, 
But  be  as  Ajax. 

*  -  like  a  bourn,  —  ]  A  lourn  is  a  boundary,  and  fometime*' 
g  rivulet  dividing  one  place  .from  another.  So.  in  A',  Lear., 
aft  III.  fc.  vi  : 

Come  o'er  the  lourn,  Befly,  to  me. 
.See  the  note  on  this  paflage.    STEEVENS. 


70      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Ajax.  Shall  I  call  you  father  ? 

s  Neft.  Ay,  my  good  ion. 

jD/0.  Be  rul'd  by  him,  lord  Ajax. 

Ulyff.  There  is  no  tarrying  here ;  the  hart  Achilles 
Keeps  thicket.     Pleafe  it  our  great  general 
To  call  together  all  his  ftate  of  war  ; 
Frefh  kings  are  come  to  Troy  :  To-morrow, 
\Ve  muft  with  all  our  main  of  power  fhnd  fad  : 
And  here's  a  lord,— come  knights  from  eaft  to  weft, 
And  cull  their  flower,  Ajax  lhall  cope  the  beft. 

A^a.  Go  we  to  council.     Let  Achilles  fleep  : 
JLight  boats  fail  fwift,  though  greater  hulks  draw> 
deep.  [Exeunt. 


ACT     III.       SCENE    I. 

r  R  o  r. 

?he  Palace. 
Enter  Panctarus,  and  a  Servant.      [Mufuk  within* 

"Pan.  Friend !  you  !  pray  you,  a  word :  Do  no£ 
you  follow  the  young  lord  Paris  ? 

Serv.  Ay,  fir,  when  he  goes  before  me, 

Pan.  You  do  depend  upon  him,  I  mean  ? 

Sew.  Sir,  I  do  depend  upon  the  lord. 

Pan.  You  do  de.pend  upon  a  noble  gentleman ;  I 
muft  needs  praife  him. 

Serv.  The  lord  be  praifed ! 

Pan.  You  know  me,  do  you  not  ? 

3  Neft.  dy,  my  good  fa*^  In  the  folio  and  in  the  modern  edi- 
tions Ajax  deiires  to  give  -the  title  of  father  to  Ulyfles  ;  in  tho 
quarto,  more  naturally,  toNeilor.  JOHNSON. 

Shall  I  call  you  father  ?~\  Shakefpeare  had  a  cuftom  prevalent 
about  his  own  time,  in  his  thoughts.  Ben  Jonfon  had  many  who 
.called  themfelves  his/^wj,  STBEVBNS. 

Serv. 


TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA;      ?i 

Serv.  'Faith,  fir,  fuperficially. 

Pan.  Friend,  know  me  better  ;  I  am  the  lord  Pan* 
ikrus. 

Serv*  I  hope,  I  fhall  know  your  honour  better. 

Pan.  I  do  defire  it. 

Serv.  You  are  in  the  ftate  of  grace  ? 

Pan.  Grace  !  not  fo,  friend  ;  honour  and  lordfhip 
are  my  titles  :  —  What  muiick  is  this  ? 

Serv.  I  do  but  partly  know,  fir  ;  it  is  mufick  JB 
parts. 

Pan.  Know  you  the  muficians  ? 

Serv.  Wholly,  fir. 

Pan.  Who  play  they  to  ? 

Serv.  To  the  hearers,  fir. 

Pan.  At  whofe  pleafure,  friend  ? 

Serv.  At  mine,  fir,  and  theirs  that  love  rnufick, 

Pan.  Command,  I  mean,  friend. 

Serv.  Who  mall  1  command,  fir  ? 

Pan  Friend,  we  underftand  not  one  another  ;  I  am 
too  courtly,  and  thou  art  too  cunning  :  At  whofe  re- 
queft  do  thefe  men  play  ? 

Serv.  That's  to't,  indeed,  fir  :  Marry,  fir,  at  the 
requefl  of  Paris  my  lord,  who  is  there  in  perfon  ;  with 
him,  the  mortal  Venus,  the  heart-blood  of  beauty, 
glove's  invifible  foul,  - 

Pan.  Who,  my  coufin  Creffida  ? 

Si'rv.  No,  fir,  Helen  ;  Could  you  not  find  out  thaf 
by  her  attributes  ? 

Pan.  It  fliouVi  feem,  fellow,  that  thou  haft  not  feen 
the  lady  Creflkia.  I  come  to  fpeak  with  Paris  from 
the  prince  Troilus  :  I  will  make  a  complimental  af- 
lault  upon  him,  for  my  bufinefs  feeths. 

Serv.  Sodden  bufinefs  !  there's  a  ftew'd  phrafe,  in- 
deed! 


4  -  love's  vifibleyW,—  .]  So  Hanmer.  The  other  editiona 
tttve  invijtik^  which  perhaps  may  be  right,  and  may  mean  thej 
foul  of  love  invifible  every  where  elfe.  JOHNSON. 

F  4  Enter. 


fr*      TROILUJ5   AND   CRESSJDA- 

Enter  Paris,  and  Helen,  attended. 

Pan.  Fair  be  to  yon,  my  lord,  and  to  all  this  fair 
company  !  fair  defires,  in  all  fair  meafure,  fairly  guide 
them  !— efpecially  to  you,  fair  queen  !  fair  thoughts 
be  your  fair  pillow  ! 

Helen.  Dear  lord,  you  are  full  of  fair  words. 

Pan.  You  fpeak  your  fair  pleafure,  fweet  queen. — 
Vair  prince,  here  is  good  broken  mufick. 

Par.  You  have  broke  it,  coufin  :  and,  by  my  life, 
you  ihall  make  it  whole  again  ;  you  lhall  piece  it  out 
with  a  piece  of  your  performance  : — Nell,  he  is  full 
of  harmony. 

Pan.  Truly,  lady,  no. 

Helen.  O,  fir,- — - 

Pan.  Rude,  in  footh  ;  in  good  footh,  very  rude. 

Par.  Well  faid,  my  lord  !  well,  you  fay  fo  *  in  fits. 

Pan.  I  have  bulinefs  to  my  lord,  dear  queen  : — My 
lord,  will  you  vouchfafe  me  a  word  ? 

Helen.  Nay,  this  lhall  not  hedge  us  out;  we'll  hear 
you  ling,  certainly. 

Pan.  Well,  fweet  queen,  you  are  pleafant  with. 

me. — But  (marry)  thus,  my  lord. My  dear  lord^ 

and  moft  eftecmed  friend,  your  brother  Troilus 

Helen.  My  lord  Pandarus  ;  honey-fweet  lord, 

Pan.  Goto,  fweet  queen,  goto  ; — commends him-r 
fclf  rtioft  affectionately  to  you. 

Helen.  You  lhall  not  bob  us  out  of  our  melody ;  If 
you  do,  our  melancholy  upon  your  head  ! 

s  •  'in  fits.]  i.  e.  now  and  then,  by  fits ;  or  perhaps  a 
quibble  is  intended.  A  fit  was  a  part  or  divifion  of  a  fong,  fome- 
times  a  (train  in  mufic,  and  fometimes  a  meafure  in  dancing.  The 
reader  will  find  it  fufficiently  illuftrated  in  the  two  Former  fenfc* 
by  Dr.  Percy,  in  the  firft  volume  of  his  Rcliques  of  ancient  Engli/& 
foetry  :  in  the  third  of  thefe  fignifications  it  occurs  in  All  for 
^foncy,  a  tragedy,  by  T.  Lupton,  1^74: 
*'  Satan.  Vpon  thefc  chearful  words  1  needs  niuft  dance  zfitte." 

STEEVE^S. 

Pan, 


TROILUS    AND  CRESSIDA.       7| 

Pan.  Sweet  queen,  fweet  queen  ;  that's  a  fweet 
<queen,  i'faith. 

Helen.  And  to  make  a  fweet  lady  fad,  is  a  four 
offence. 

Pan.  Nay,  that  fhall  not  ferve  your  turn;  that 
fhall  it  not,  in  truth,  la.  Nay,  I  care  not  for  fuch 
words  ;  no,  no.  —  *  And,  my  lord,  he  defires  you,  that, 
if  the  king  call  for  him  at  fupper,  you  will  make  his 
excufe. 

Helen.  My  lord  Pandarus,  - 

Pan.  What  fays  my  fweet  queen  ;  my  very  very 
fweet  queen  ? 

Pan.  What  exploit's  in  hand  ?  where  fups  he  to- 
night ? 

Helen.  Nay,  but  my  lord,  -- 

Pan.  What  fays  my  fweet  queen  ?  My  coufin  will 
fall  out  with  you. 

Helen.  You  muft  not  know  where  he  fups. 

Par.  I'll  lay  my  life,  7  with  my  difpofer  Creffida. 

Pan.  No,  no,  no  fuch  matter,  you  are  wide  ;  come, 
difpofer  is  fick. 


6  And,  my  lord,  he  defires  you,  -  ]     Here  I  think  the  fpeech 
of  Pandarus  fhould  begin,  and  the  relr.  of  it  fliould  be  added  to 
that  of  Helen,  but  I  have  followed  the  copies.     JOHNSON. 

7  -  ivitb  my    difpofer  Creffida.'}     I  think  difpofer  fhould,  in 
thefe  places,  be   read  dlfpoufer  j  fhe  that  would  feparate  Helen 
from  him.     WAJH>URTON. 

I  do  not  underfiand  the  word  diftofer,  nor  know  what  to  fublU- 
tute  in  its  place.  There  is  no  variation  in  the  copies.  JOHNSON. 

I  fufpe£t  that,  You  muft  not  kno-jj  where  he  fups,  fliould  be 
added  to  the  fpeech  ot  Pandarus  ;  and  that  the  following  one  of 
Paris  fhould  be  given  to  Helen.  That  Creflida  wanted  to  feparate 
Paris  from  Helen,  or  that  tKe  beauty  of  Creflida  had  any  power 
over  Paris,  are  circumltances  not  evident  trom  the  play.  The 
one  is  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Warburton,  the  oilier  a  conjecture 
by  the  'author  of  The  '  Revlfal.  By  giving,  however,  this 
line,  Til  lay  my  life,  ivitb  my  difpofer  Crejfida,  to  Helen,  and  by 
•changing  tne  word  difpofer  into  defofer,  fome  meaning  may  be  ob- 
tained. She  addrefles  herfelf,  I  fuppofe,  to  Pandauis,  and.  by 
her  depofer^  means  —  fhe  who  thinks  her  beauty  (or,  whole  beaucy 
you  fuppofe)  to  be  fuperior  to  mine.  STEEVENS. 

Par. 


74      TROILUS   AND    CRESS1DA, 

Par.  Well,  I'll  make  excufe. 

Pan.  Ay,  good  my  lord.  Why  fhould  you  fay-^ 
Crcffida  ?  no,  your  poor  difpofer's  lick. 

Par.  I  fpy  8. 

Pan.  You  fpy  !  what  do  you  fpy  ?  —  Come,  give  me 
en  inftrument.  —  Now,  fweet  queen. 

Helen.  Why,  this  is  kindly  done. 

Pan.  My  niece  is  horribly  in  love  with  a  thing  you 
have,  fweet  queen. 

Hehi.  She  lhall  have  it,  my  lord,  if  it  be  not  my 
lord  Paris. 

Pan.  He  !  no,  flie'll  none  of  him  ;  they  two  are 
twain. 

Helen.  Falling  in,  after  falling  out9,  may  make 
them  three. 

Pan.  Come,  come,  I'll  hear  no  more  of  this  ;  I'll 
f  ng  you  a  fong  now. 

Helen.  Ay,  ay,  pr'ythee  now.  By  my  troth,  '  fweet 
lord,  thou  haft  a  fine  forehead. 

Pan.  Ay,  you  may,  you  may. 

Helen.  Let  thy  fong  be  love  :  this  love  will  und* 
us  all.  Oh,  Cupid,  Cupid,  Cupid  ! 

Pan.  Love  !  ay,  that  it  mail,  i'fahh. 

Par.  Ay,  good  now,  love,  love,  nothing  but  IOVGJ 

Pan.  In  good  troth,  it  begins  fo  : 


e,  love,  nothing  but  love,  fill  more  ! 

For,  o£,  love's  bow 

Shoots  buck  and  doe  : 
'  Thejhaft  confounds 

Not  that  it  wounds  *t 
But  tickles  Jiill  the  fore. 

*  Par.   I  fpy.~\     This  is  the  ufual  exclamation  at  a 
game  called  Hie^fpy^  hie.    STEFVENS. 

0  Falling  in,  after  jailing  out,  &c.]  i.  e.  The  reconciliation  au(| 
wanton  dalliance  of  two  lovers  after  a  quarrel,  may  produce  a  child^ 
ami  fo  make  three  of  two.  TOLLET. 

»  —  /uvW/0/Y/,—  ]     In  the  quarto  fiwct  lad.    JOHNSON. 

*  —  that  it  v;fl«W/,]    i.  c.  that  which  it  wounds.   MUSGRAVE**, 

ffoft 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       75 

Ybefe  lovers  cry — Oh  !  oh  !  they  die  ! 

3  Yet  that  which  feems  the  wound  to  klll% 
Doth  turn  oh  !  oh  !  to  ba  !  ha  !  he  ! 

So  dying  love  lives  Jiill : 
Ob  !  oh  !  a  while,  but  ha  I  ha  f  ha  ! 
Oh  I  oh  !  groans  out  for  ha !  ha  !  ha  ! 

Hey  ho! 

Helen.  In  love,  i'faith,  to  the  very  tip  of  the  nofe. 

Par.  He  eats  nothing  but  doves,  love ;  and  that 
breeds  hot  blood,  and  hot  blood  begets  hot  thoughts, 
and  hot  thoughts  beget  hot  deeds,  and  hot  deeds  is 
love. 

Pan.  Is  this  the  generation  of  love?  hot  blood,  hot 
thoughts,  and  hot  deeds  ? — Why,  they  are  vipers : 
Is  1<  ve  a  generation  of  vipers?  Sweet  lord,  who's 
a-field  to-day  ? 

Par.  Hector,  Deiphobus,  Helenus,  Antenor,  and 
all  the  gallantry  of  Troy  :  I  would  fain  have  arm'd 
to-day,  but  my  Nell  would  not  have  it  fo.  How 
chance  my  brother  Troilus  went  not  ? 

Helen.  He  hangs  the  lip  at  fomething ; — you  know 
all,  lord  Pandarus. 

Pan.  Not  I,  honey-fweet  queen. — I  long  to  hear 
how  they  fped  to-day. — You'll  remember  your  bro- 
ther's excufe  ? 

Par.  To  a  hair. 

Pan.  Farewel,  fweet  queen. 

Helen.  Commend  me  to  your  niece. 

5  Tet  that  which  feems  the  wound  to  £///,]  To  kill  the  wound  \t 
fto  very  intelligible  expreffion,  nor  is  the  meafure  preferved.  We 
inight  read : 

Yhefe  lovers  cry, 
Ob!  ob!  they  die! 
But  that  which  fccms  to  killt 

Doth  turn,  &c. 
So  dying  love  lives  Jiill. 

Yet  as  the  wound  to  kill  may  mean  the  -wound  tlat  feems  mortal^  ^ 
jilter  no&ing.    JOHNSON. 

Pan. 


%$       TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Pan.  I  will,  fweet  queen,       [Ex1//.    Sound  a  retreat, 

far.  They  are  come  from  field  :  let  us  to  Priam's 

hall, 

To  greet  the  warriors.   Sweet  Helen,  I  mufl  woo  you 
To  help  unarm  our  Hedtor  :  his  ftubborn  buckles, 
With  thefe  your  white  enchanting  fingers  touch'd, 
Shall  more  obey,  than  to  the  edge  of  fleel, 
Or  force  of  Greekifli  finews  ;  you  lhall  do  more 
Than  all  the  ifland  kings,  clifarm  great  Hector. 

Helen.  'Twill  make  us  proud  to  be  his  fervant, 

Paris: 

Yea,  what  he  fhall  receive  of  us  in  duty 
Gives  us  more  palm  in  beauty  than  we  have  ; 
Yea,  over-fhines  ourfelf. 

Par.  Sweet,  above  thought  I  love  thce.    [Exeunt* 


SCENE        II. 

Pandarus*  garden. 
Enter  Pandarus,  and  e£roilu£  man. 

Pan.  How  now  ?  where's  thy  matter  ?  at  my  cou- 
fin  Creffida's  * 

Serv.  No,  fir  ;  he  ftays  for  you  to  conduft  him 
thither. 

Enter  Trollus. 

Pan.  O,  here  he  comes.—  How  now,  how  now  ? 

Tro/.  Sirrah,  walk  off. 

Pan.  Have  you  feen  my  coufin  ? 

Trol.  No,  Pandarus  :  I  ftalk  about  her  door, 
Like  a  ftrange  foul  upon  the  Stygian  banks 
Staying  for  waftage.    O,  be  thou  my  Charon, 
Aud  give  me  fwift  tranfportance  to  thofe  fields, 
Where  I  may  wallow  in  the  lily  beds 
Proposed  for  the  deferver  !  O  gentle  Pandarus. 

From 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA*      77 

From  Cupid's  flioulder  pluck  his  painted  wings, 
And  fly  with  me  to  Creffid  ! 

Pan.  Walk  here  i'the  orchard,  I  will  bring  her 
ftraight.  [Exit  Pandarus* 

.    7r0/.  I  am  giddy ;  expectation  whirls  me  round. 
The  imaginary  relifh  is  fo  fweet 
That  it  enchants  my  fenfe ;  What  will  it  be, 
When  that  the  watry  palate  taftes  indeed 
Love's  thrice-reputed  nectar  ?  death,  I  fear  me  ; 
Swooning  destruction ;  or  fome  joy  too  fine, 
Too  fubtle-potent,  4  tun'd  too  lharp  in  fweetnefs. 
For  the  capacity  of  my  ruder  powers  : 
I  fear  it  much  ;  and  I  do  fear  befides, 
That  I  fliall  lofe  diltindion  in  my  joys  ; 
As  doth  a  battle,  when  they  charge  on  heaps 
The  enemy  flying. 

Re-enter  Pandarus. 

Pan.  She's  making  her  ready,  fhe'll  come  tfraight: 
you  muft  be  witty  now.  She  does  fo  blufh,  and 
fetches  her  wind  fo  fhorr,  as  if  fhe  were  fray'd  with  a 
fprite  :  I'll  fetch  her.  It  is  the  prettiefl  villain  : — Ihe 
fetches  her  breath  as  ftiort  as  a  new-ta'en  fparrow. 

[£.v//  Pandarus.- 

Froi.  Even  fuch  a  paffion  doth  embrace  my  bofom  : 
My  heart  beats  thicker  than  a  feverous  pulfe ; 
And  all  my  powers  do  their  beftowing  lofe, 
Like  vaflalage  at  unawares  encountering 
The  eye  of  majefty  5. 

Enter 

* and  toofyarp  infiueftnefi,~\    So  the  folio  and  all  modern 

editions  ;  but  the  quarto  more  accurately  :. 

tun'd  too  Jbarf  ix/wtttat/s,     JOHNSON. 

s  Like  vajjalage  at  unaivares  encountering 

The  eyt  of  majefty.]     Rdwe  feems  to  have  imitated  this  paf- 
fc^e  in  his  Ambitious  Stepmother ,  a#  I : 

"  Welt 


78      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Enter  Pandarus,  and  Creffida. 

Pan.  Come,  come,  what  need  you  blufli  ?  fliame's 
a  baby.— Here  fhe  is  now  :  fwt-i:r  ;he  oaths  now  to 
her,  that  yon  have  fworn  to  me. — What,  are  you  gone 
again  ?  you  mufl  be  watch'd  ere  you  be  made  tame  % 
muft  you  ?  Come  your  ways,  come  your  ways ;  an  you 
draw  backward,  7  we'll  put  you  i'the  files. — Why  do 
you  notfpeak  to  her  ? — Come,  draw  this  curtain,  and 
Jet's  fee  your  picture.  Alas  the  day,  how  loath  you 
are  to  offend  day-light !  an  'twere  dark,  you'd  clofe 
Iboner.  So,  fo  ;  rub  on,  and  kifs  the  miftrefs.  How 
now,  a  kifs  in  fee-farm  !  build  there,  carpenter ;  the 
air  is  fweet.  Nay,  you  fhall  fight  your  hearts  out, 
ere  I  part  you.  8  The  faulcon  as  the  tercel,  for  all 
the  ducks  i'the  river  :  go  to,  go  to. 

"  Well  may  th'ignoble  herd 
**  Starr,  if  with  heedleis  iteps  they  unawares 
"  Tread  on  the  lion's  walk  :  a  prince's  genius 
**  Awes  with  fuperior  greatneis  all  beneath  him.** 

STEEVENS, 

*  '  "i  you  muft  Ije  watch'd  ere  you  le  made  tame,  —  ]     Alluding 
CO  the  manner  of  taming  hawks.     So,  in  the  faming  of  a  Shrew  ; 

to  watch  her  as  we  watch  thefe  kites.    STEEVENS. 

7 ive'llput  you  ? the  files. ]     Alluding  to  the  cuftom  of 

putting  men  iufpeded  of  cowardice  in  the  middle  places. 

HANMER. 

*  — -TTje  faulcon  as  tie  tercel^  for  all  the  Jucis  ? tl?  river: J 

Pandarus  means,  that  he'll  match  his  niece  againft  her  lover  for 
any  bett.     The  tercel  is  the  male  hawk  ;  by  the  faulcon  we  gene« 
rally  underftand  the  female.    THEOBALD. 

I  think  we  fhould  rather  read  : 

— at  the  tercel,  TYRWHITT. 

In  Chaucer's  Troiius  and  Crcffeide,  1.  iv.  410.  is  the  following 
ftanza,  from  which  Shakefpeare  may  have  caught  a  glimple  of 
meaning,  though  he  has  not  very  clearly  exprefled  it.  Pandarus 
is  the  fpenker : 

"  what  ?  God  forbid,  alway  that  eche  plefaunce 

"  In  o  thing  were,  and  in  non  othir  wight ; 
'*  If  one  can  tinge,  anothir  can  wel  daunce, 
"  If  this  begodely,  flic  is  glad  and  light. 
"  And  this  is  faire,  and  that  can  gode  aright,, 
**  Eche  for  his  venue  holdin  is  full  dere, 
44  Both  bcroner and  faucon for  n<rm.:'ST£EVENS. 

Mm 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       79 

.  You  have  bereft  me  of  all  words,  lady. 

Pan.  Words  pay  no  debts,  give  her  deeds :  but 
ihe'll  bereave  you  of  the  deeds  too,  if  fhe  call  your 
activity  in  queftion.  What,  billing  again  ?  here's — 

In  witnefs  whereof  the  parties  interchangeably Come 

in,  come  in  ;  I'll  go  get  a  fire.  {Exit  Pandarus. 

Cre.  Will  you  walk  in,  my  lord  ? 

Troi.  O  Crefficla,  how  often  have  I  wifh'd  me  thus? 

Ore.  Wifti'd,  my  lord  ? — The  gods  grant ! — O  my 
lord  ! 

Troi.  What  fhould  they  grant  ?  what  makes  this 
pretty  abruption  ?  What  too  curious  dreg  efpies  my 
fweet  lady  in  the  fountain  of  our  love  ? 

Ore.  More  dregs  than  water,  if  my  fears  have  eyes. 

Troi.  Fears  make  devils  of  cherubims ;  they  never 
fee  truly. 

Cre.  Blind  fear,  that  feeing  reafon  leads,  finds  fafer 
footing  than  blind  reafon  tumbling  without  fear :  To 
fear  the  worft,  oft  cures  the  worft. 

Troi.  O,  let  my  lady  apprehend  no  fear :  in  all 
Cupid's  pageant  there  is  prefented  no  monflcr. 

Cre.  Nor  nothing  montfrous  neither  ? 

Troi.  Nothing,  but  our  undertakings ;  when  we 
vow  to  weep  feas,  live  in  fire,  eat  rocks,  tame  tygers  ; 
thinking  it  harder  for  our  miftrefs  to  devife  impofition 
enough, than  for  us  to  undergo  any  difficulty  impofed. 
This  is  th'e  monftruofity  in  love,  lady, — that  the  will 
is  infinite,  and  the  execution  confined  ;  that  the  de- 
fire  is  boundlefs,  and  the  act  a  flave  to  limit. 

Cre.  They  fay,  all  lovers  f\vear  more  performance 
than  they  are  able,  and  yet  referve  an  ability  that 
they  never  perform;  vowing  more  than  the  perfection 
of  ten,  and  difcharging  lefs  than  the  tenth  part  of 
one.  They  that  have  the  voice  of  lions,  and  the  act 
of  hares,  are  they  not  monfters  ? 

Troi.  Are  there  fuch  ?  fuch  are  not  we :  Praife  us 
as  we  are  tailed,  allow  us  as  we  prove ;  our  head  fhall 

g° 


**      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.' 

go  bare,  'till  merit  crown  it9:  no  perfe&ion  in  rever- 
fion  fhall  have  a  praife  in  prefent :  we  will  not  name 
defert,  before  his  birth ;  and,  being  born, '  his  addi- 
tion fhall  be  humble.  Few  words  to  fair  faith  :  Troi- 
lus  lhall  be  fuch  to  Creffid,  as  what  envy  can  fay 
worft,  fhall  be  a  mock  for  his  truth  ;  and  what  truth 
can  fpeak  trueft,  not  truer  than  Troilus* 
Ore.  Will  you  walk  in,  my  lord  ? 

Re-enter  Pandarus. 

Pan.  What,  blufhing  ftill  ?  have  you  not  done 
talking  yet  ? 

Cre.  Well,  uncle,  what  folly  I  commit,  I  dedicate 
to  you. 

Pan.  I  thank  you  for  that ;  if  my  lord  get  a  boy 
of  you,  you'll  give  him  me  :  Be  true  to  my  lord ;  if 
he  flinch,  chide  me  for  it. 

Troi.  You  know  now  your  hoftages ;  your  uncle's 
word,  and  my  firm  faith. 

Pan.  Nay,  I'll  give  my  word  for  her  too;  our 
kindred,  though  they  be  long  ere  they  are  woo'd,  they 
are  conftant,  being  won  :  they  are  burrs,  I  can  tell 
you ;  they'll  flick  where  they  are  thrown  *. 

Cre.  Boldnefs  comes  to  me  now,  and  brings  me 

heart : 

Prince  Troilus,  I  have  lov'd  you  night  and  day, 
For  many  weary  months. 

9  — our  leadjkall  go  bare,  ' 'till  merit  crown  it : — ]  I  cannot  for- 
bear to  obferve,  that  the  quarto  reads  thus  :  Our  bcadjhall go  barct 
'till  merit  louer  part  no  affection,  in  re<verjion,  &c.  Had  there 
been  no  other  copy,  how  could  this  have  been  corrected?  The 
true  reading  is  in  the  folio.  JOHNSON. 

• bisaMitlonJbatt  be  bumble ]     We  will  give  him  no 

high  or  pompous  titles.     JOHNSON. 

* they '//  Jiick  where  they  art  thrown.]     This   allufion  has 

already  occur'd  in  Meafure  for  Meafurr : 

Nay,  friar,    I  am  a  kind  of  turrt  I  (hall  ftick. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      81 

2V«.  Why  was  my  Creffid  then  fo  hard  to  win  ? 

Vre.  Hard  to  feem  won  ;  but  I  was  won,  my  lord, 

With  the  firft  glance  that  ever Pardon  me  ;— 

If  I  confefs  much,  you  will  play  the  tyrant. 
I  love  you  now ;  but  not,  'till  now,  fo  much 

But  I  might  mafler  it : in  faith,  I  lye ; 

My  thoughts  were  like  unbridled  children,  grown 

Too  headftrong  for  their  mother  :  See,  we  fools  ! 

Why  have  I  blabb'd  ?  who  lhall  be  true  to  us, 

When  we  are  fo  unfecret  to  ourfelves  ? 

But,  though  I  lov'd  you  well,  I  xvoo'd  you  not ; 

And  yet,  good  faith,  I  wilh'd  myfelf  a  man  ; 

Or,  that  we  women  had  men's  privilege 

Of  fpeaking  firft.     Sweet,  bid  me  hold  my  tongue  ; 

For,  in  this  rapture,  I  lhall  furely  fpeak 

The  thing  I  lhall  repent.     See,  fee,  your  filence, 

Cunning  in  dumbnefs,  from  my  weaknefs  draws 

My  very  foul  of  counfel :  Stop  my  mouth. 

FroL  And  lhall,  albeit  fweet  mufick  iffues  thence. 

Pan.  Pretty,  i'faith. 

Cre.  My  lord,  I  do  befeech  you,  pardon  me; 
'Tvvas  not  my  purpofe,  thus  to  beg  a  kifs: 
I  am  alham'd ; — O  heavens !  what  have  I  done  ?— - 
For  this  time  will  I  take  my  leave,  my  lord. 

Tf-oi.  Your  leave,  fweet  Creffid  ? 

Pan.  Leave !  an  you  take  leave  'till  to-morrow 
morning, 

Cre.  Pray  you,  content  you. 

Troi.  What  offends  you,  lady  ? 

Cre.  Sir,  mine  own  company. 

Trot.  You  cannot  Ihun  yourfelf. 

Cre.  Let  me  go  and  try  : 
I  have  a  kind  of  felf  refides  with  you ; 
But  an  unkind  felf,   that  itfelf  will  leave, 
To  be  another's  fool.     I  would  be  gone  ; 
Where  is  my  wit  ?    I  fpeak  I  know  not  \vhat. 

Trot.  Well  know  they  what  they  fpeak,  that  fpeak 
fo  wifely. 

VOL/ IX.  G  CK. 


8i      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

Cre.  Perchance,  my  lord,  I  fhew  more  craft  than 

love  ; 

And  fell  fo  roundly  to  a  large  confeflion, 
To  angle  for  your  thoughts  :  '  But  you  are  wife  ; 
Or  elfe  you  love  not;  *  For  to  be  wi£e,  and  love, 
Exceeds  man's  might ;  that  dwells  with  gods  above. 

Troi.  O,  that  I  thought  it  could  be  in  a  woman, 
(As,  if  it  can,  I  will  prefume  in  you) 
To  feed  for  aye  her  lamp  and  flames  of  love ; 
To  keep  her  conflancy  in  plight  and  youth, 
Out-living  beauties  outward,  with  a  mind 
That  doth  renew  fwifter  than  blood  decays  ! 
Or,  that  perfuafion  could  but  thus  convince  me,-— 
That  my  integrity  and  truth  to  you 
3  Might  be  affronted  with  the  match  and  weight 
Of  fuch  a  winnow'd  purity  in  love ; 
How  were  I  then  uplifted  !  but,  alas, 
I  am  as  true  as  truth's  fimplicity, 

1  Sat  you  are  wife, 

Or  clfe  you  lov e  not ;  for  to  be  wife  and  love, 
Exceeds  man's  might,  &c.]     I  read  : 

but  we're  not  wife, 
Or  elfe  we  love  not ;  to  be  wife  and  love, 

Exceeds  man's  might ; 

Creflida,  in  return  to  the  praife  given  by  Troilus  to  her  vvifdorrr, 
replies  :  "  That  lovers  are  never  wile ;  that  it  is  beyond  the 
.power  of  man  to  bring  love  and  wiidom  to  an  union."  JOHNSON. 

* to  be  wife  and  love, 

Exceeds  man's  might; ]     This  is  from  Spenfcr,  Shep- 
herd's Cal.  March : 

««  To  be  wife,  and  eke  to  love, 
«'  Is  granted  fcarcc  to  gods  above."    TYRWHITT. 
"  Amare  et  fapere  <vix  a  Deo  conceditur"     Pub.  Syr. 
Spenfer,  whom  Shakefpeare  followed,  feems  to  have  mifunder- 
ftood  this  proverb.     Marfton,  in  the  Dutch  Courtezan,   1606,  has 
the  fame  thought,  and  the  line  is  printed  as  a  quotation  : 
"  But  raging  Uift  my  fate  all  Itrong  doth  move, 
**  The gojs  themfelves  cannot  Ic  ivife  and  love."    MALONE. 
3  Might  le  affronted  ivitb  the  match ]     I  wifli  "  my  inte- 
grity might  be  met  and  matched  with  fuch  equality  and  force  of 
pure  vmmingled  love.*'    JOHNSON. 

Ami 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        83 

4  And  fimpler  than  the  infancy  of  truth. 

Cre.  In  that  I'll  war  with  you. 
Iroi.  O  virtuous  fight, 
When  right  with  right  wars  who  fhall  be  moft  right ! 

5  True  fwains  in  love  ihall,  in  the  world  come, 
Approve  their  truths  by  Troilus  :  when  their  rhymes, 
Full  of  proteft,  of  oath,  and  big  compare, 

Want  fimilies,  truth  tir'd  with  iteration, — — 
As  true  as  fteel,  as 6  plantage  to  the  moon, 

As 

4  And fimpler  than  the  infancy   of  truth."}     This  is  fine  ;  and 
jneans,  "  tre  truth,  to  defend  itlelf  againft  deceit  in  the  com- 
merce of  the  world,  had,  out  of  neceffity,  learned  worldly  policy." 

WARBUK.TON. 

5  True  fajains  in  lov e  Jhall,  in  the  world  to  come,  ' 
Approve  their  truths  by  Troilus :  when  their  rhymes  t 
Full  ofproteji,  of  oath,  and  big  compare , 

Want  jtmllies :  truth,  tir*d\ewith  iteration,— — —  ]  The  metre, 
as  well  as  the  fenfe,  of  the  laft  verfe  will  be  improved,  I  think,  by 
reading : 

Wantjlmilies  of  truth ,  tir'Jvjitb  iteration* 
So,  a  little  lower  in  the  fame  fpeech  : 

Yet  after  all  comparifons  of  truth.     TYR  WHITT. 
'  plantage  to  the  moon,']    I  formerly  made  a  filly  conjec- 

ture that  the  true  reading  was : 

planets  to  their  moons. 

But  I  did  not  refleft  that  it  was  wrote  before  Galileo  had  difcorer- 
ed  the  Satellites  of  Jupiter  :  fo  that  plantage  to  the  moon  is  right, 
and  alludes  to  the  common  opinion  of  the  influence  the  moon  hai 
over  what  is  planted  or  1'own,  which  was  therefore  done  in  the  in- 
creafe : 

"  Rite  Lntonae  puerum  canentes, 

"  Rite  crefcentem  face  noclilucam, 

**  Proiperam  frugum"  •  ffor,  lib.  iv.  od.  6. 

WARBURTON-. 

Plantage  is  not,  I  believe,  a  general  term,  but  the  herb  which 
we  now  call  plantain,  in  Latin,  flantago,  which  was,  I  fuppofe, 
imagined  to  be  under  the  peculiar  influence  of  the  moon. 

JOHNSON. 

Plantage  is  the  French  word  for  a  plantation,  a  planting,  or 
fetting.  See  Boyer's  and  Cotgrave's  Dictionaries.  In  the  French 
tranilation  of  Dr.  Agricola's  Agriculture,  Plantage  a  relours  is  fre- 
quently ufed  for  planting  reverfc.  TOLLET. 

Shakefpeare  ipeaks  of  plantain  by  its  common  appellation  in 
G  2  Ronuo 


84        TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA. 

As  fnn  to  day,  as  turtle  to  her  mate, 

As  iron  to  adamant,  as  earth  to  the  center^ » 

Yet,  after  all  comparifons  of  truth, 
7  As  truth's  authentic  author  to  be  cited, 
As  true  as  Troilus  ftiall  crown  up  the  verfc, 
And  fanctify  the  numbers. 

Cre.  Prophet  may  you  be  ! 
If  I  be  falfe,  or  fwerve  a  hair  from  truth, 
When  time  is  old  and  hath  forgot  itfelf, 
When  water-drops  have  worn  the  {tones  of  Troy, 
And  blind  oblivion  fwallow'd  cities  up, 
And  mighty  ftates  chara&erlefs  are  grated 
To  dufty  nothing ;  yet  let  memory, 
From  falfe  to  falfe,  among  falfe  maids  in  love, 
Upbraid  my  falfehood !  when  they  have  faid — as  falfe 
As  air,  as  water,  wind,  or  fandy  earth, 
As  fox  to  lamb,  as  wolf  to  heifer's  calf, 
Pard  to  the  hind,  or  Hep-dame  to  her  fon  ; 

Romeo  and  Juliet ;  and  yet  in  Sapho  and  Plcto^  1591,  Mandrake 
is  called  Mandrage: 

"  Sow  next  thy  vines  mandrage" 

From  a  book  entitled  The  profitable  Art  of  Gardening,  &c.  by 
Tho.  Hill,  Londoner,  the  third  edition,  printed  in  1579,  I 
learn,  that  neither  fowing,  planting,  nor  grafting,  were  ever  un- 
dertaken without  a  fcrupulous  attention  to  the.encreafe  or  waning 

of  the  moon. Dryden  does  not  appear  to  have  underftood  the 

paflage,  and  has  therefore  altered  it  thus  : 

Ai  true  as  flowing  tides  are  to  the  moon. 

As  true  asjfeelis  an  ancient  proverbial  fnnile.     I  find  it  in  Lyd- 
gate's  Troy  Book  where  he  fpeaks  of  Troilus,  1.  ii.  ch.  1 6  : 
*'  Thereto  in  love  tre-ive  as  anyflelt"    STEEVENS. 

True  as  plant  age  to  tie  moon.]  This  may  be  fully  illuftrated  by 
a  quotation  from  Scott's  Dlfcwerle  of  Witchcraft :  "  The  poore 
hufbandman  perceiveth  that  the  increafe  of  the  moone  maketh 
plants  frutefull  :  fo  as  in  the  full  moone  they  are  in  the  bell 
flrength  ;  decaieing  in  the  ivane;  and  in  the  conjunction,  do  utter- 
lie  wither  and  vade."  FARMER. 

7  As  truth's  authentic  author  to  le  citedy"]  Troilus  fliall  crow*, 
the  verjet  as  a  man  to  lie  cited  as  the  authentic  author  of  truth ;  as 
one  whofe  protestations  were  true  to  a  proverb.  JOHNSON. 

Yea, 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      85 

Yea,  let  them  fay,  to  flick  the  heart  of  falfhood, 
As  falfc  as  Creflid. 

Pan.  Go  to,  a  bargain  made :  feal  it,  feal  it  ,*  I'll 

be  the  witncfs. Here  I  hold  your  hand  ;  here,  my 

coufin's.  If  ever  you  prove  falfe  to  one  another, 
fince  I  have  taken  fuch  pains  to  bring  you  together, 
let  all  pitiful  goers-between  be  called  to  the  world's 
end  after  my  name,  call  them  all — Pandars ;  let 
all  8  inconftant  men  be  Troilus's,  all  falfe  women 
Creffids,  and  all  brokers-between  Pandars !  fay, 
amen. 

fTro/.  Amen. 

Cre.  Amen. 

Pan.  Amen.  Whereupon  I  will  {hew  you  a  bed- 
chamber ;  which  bed,  becaufe  it  fhall  not  fpeak  of 
your  pretty  encounters,  prefs  it  to  death  :  away. 

And  Cupid  grant  all  tongue-ty'd  maidens  here, 

Bed,  chamber,  Pandar  to  provide  this  geer  ! 

[Exfifftf. 
SCENE      III. 

The  Grecian  Camp. 

Enter  Agamemnon,  Ulvffes,    D'tomed,  Neftor,  Ajaxy  Me- 
nelaits,  and  Calchas* 

CaL  Now,  princes,  for  the  fervice  I  have  done  you, 
The  advantage  of  the  time  prompts  me  aloud 
To  call  for  recompence.    9  Appear  it  to  your  mind, 

Thar, 

8 inconftant  men—]    So  Hanmer.     In  the  copies  it  is  con~ 

Jlant.     JOHNSON. 

Though  Hanmer's  emendation  be  plaufible,  I  believe  Shake- 
fpeare  wrote  conftant.  He  feems  to  have  been  lefs  attentive  to 
make  Pandar  talk  confequentially,  than  to  account  for  the  ideas 
aftually  annexed  to  the  three  names.  Now  it  is  certain,  that,  in 
his  time,  a  Troilus  was  as  clear  an  expreffion  for  a  conftant  /overt 
as  a  Creffida  andtf  Pandar  were  for  a  jilt  and  a  pimp.  TYRWHITT, 

9 Appear  it  to  your  mi»dy 

$ 7  bat,  through  the  fight  I  bear  in  things  to  comf, 
I  have  daufatd  frgyt  ]    This  reafoning  p;rplexei 

G  3  Mr. 


86      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Thar,  '  through  the  fight  I  bear  in  things,  to  Jove 
I  have  abandon'd  Troy,  left  my  pofieffions, 

Incurred 

Mr.  Theobald  ;  "  He  forefaw  his  country  was  undone  ;  he  ran 
over  to  the  Greeks ;  and  this  he  makes  a  merit  of  (fays  the  editor). 
I  own  (continues  he)  the  motives  of  his  oratory  feem  to  be  fome- 
what  perverfe  and  unnatural.  Nor  do  J  know  how  to  reconcile  it, 
unlefs  our  poet  purpofely  intended  to  make  Calchas  aft  the  part 
of  a  true prieft,  and  fo  from  motives  of  felf-intereft  infinuate  the 
merit  of  fervice."  The  editor  did  not  know  how  to  reconcile  this. 
Nor  I  neither.  For  I  do  not  know  what  he  means  by  "  the  mo- 
tives of  his  oratory,"  or,  "from  motives  of  felf-intereft  to  infi- 
nuate merit."  But  if  he  would  infinuate,  that  it  was  the  poet's 
defign  to  make  his  prieft  felf-interefted,  and  to  reprefent  to  the 
Greeks  that  what  he  did  for  his  own  prefervation,  was  done  for 
their  fervice,  he  is  miftaken.  Shakefpeare  thought  of  nothing  fo 
filly,  as  it  would  be  to  draw  his  prieft  a  knave^  in  order  to  make 
him  talk  like  a  fool.  Though  that  be  the  fate  which  generally 
attends  their  abufers.  But  Shakefpeare  was  no  fuch  ;  and  confe- 
quently  wanted  not  this  cover  for  dulnefs.  The perverfenefs  is  ajl 
the  editor's  own,  who  interprets, 

< through  the  fight  I  have  in  things  to  come, 

I  have  abandoned  Troy 

to  lignify,  "  by  my  power  of  prefcience  finding  my  country  muft 
be  ruined,  I  have  therefore  abandoned  it  to  feek  refuge  with  you ;" 
whereas  the  true  fenfe  is,  "  Be  it  known  unto  you,  that  on  ac- 
count of  a  gift  or  faculty  I  have  of  feeing  things  to  come,  which 
faculty  I  fuppofe  would  be  efteemed  by  you  as  acceptable  and  ufe- 
ful,  I  have  abandoned  Troy  my  native  country."  That  he  could 
not  mean  what  the  editor  fuppofes,  appears  from  thefe  confidera- 
tions  :  Firft,  if  he  had  reprefented  himfelf  as  running  from  a 
falling  city,  he  could  never  have  faid  : 

I  have expos'd  myfelf, 

From  certain  and  poflefs'd  conveniencies, 

To  doubtful  fortunes  ; 

Secondly,  the  abfolute  knowledge  of  the  fall  of  Troy  was  a  fecret 
hid  from  the  inferior  gods  themfelves  ;  as  appears  from  the  poe- 
tical hiftory  of  that  war.  It  depended  on  many  contingencies, 
whofe  exiftence  they  did  not  forefee.  All  that  they  knew  was, 
that  if  fuch  and  iuch  things  happened,  Troy  would  fall.  And 
this  fecret  they  communicated  to  Caflandra  only,  but  along  with, 
jt,  the  fate  ntH  to  be  believed.  Several  others  knew  each  a  feve- 
jal  part  of  the  fecret ;  one,  that  Troy  could  not  be  taken  unlefs 
Achilles  went  to  the  war  ;  another,  that  it  could  not  fall  while  it 
had  the  palladium  ;  and  fo  on.  But  the  fecret,  that  it  was  abfo- 
to  fall,  was  known  to  none. — ~The  fenfe  here  given  will 

admit 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.        87 

Incurr'd  a  traitor's  name  ;  expos'd  myfelf, 

From  certain  and  pofleft  conveniences, 

To  doubtful  fortunes  ;  fequeftring  from  me  all 

That  time,  acquaintance,  cuftom,  and  condition, 

Made  tame  and  mod  familiar  to  my  nature ; 

And  here,  to  do  you  fervice,  am  become 

As  new  into  the  world,  ftrange,  unacquainted  : 

I  do  befeech  you,  as  in  way  of  tafte, 

To  give  me  now  a  little  benefit, 

Out  of  thofe  many  regiftred  in  proniife, 

Which,  you  fay,  live  to  come  in  my  behalf. 

Aga.  What  wouldft  thou  of  us,  Trojan  ?    make 
demand. 

Cal.  You  have  a  Trojan  prifoner,  call'd  Antenor, 
Yefterday  took ;  Troy  holds  him  very  dear. 
Oft  have  you  (often  have  you  thanks  therefore) 
Defir'd  my  Creffid  in  right  great  exchange, 
Whom  Troy  hath  flill  deny'd  :  But  this  Antenor, 

admit  of  no  difpure  amongft  thofe  who  know  how  acceptable  a 
feer  was  amongft  the  Greeks.  So  that  this  Calchas,  like  a  true 
prieft,  if  it  needs  muft  be  fo,  went  where  he  could  exercife  his 
profeffion  with  moft  advantage.  For  it  being  much  lefs  common 
amongft  the  Greeks  than  the  Afiatics,  there  would  be  a  greater 
demand  for  it.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

I  am  afraid,  that  after  all  the  learned  commentator's  efforts  to 
clear  the  argument  of  Calchas,  it  will  ftill  appear  liable  to  objec- 
tion ;  nor  do  I  difcover  more  to  be  urged  in  his  defence,  than 
that  though  his  fkill  in  divination  determined  him  to  leave  Troy, 
yet  that  heJ9ined  himfelf  to  Agamemnon  and  his  army  by  ur.con- 
itrained  good-will ;  and  though  he  came  as  a  fugitive  efcaping 
from  destruction,  yet  his  fervices  after  his  reception,  being  vo- 
luntary and  important,  deferved  reward.  This  argument  is  not 
regularly  and  diftinctly  deduced,  but  this  is,  I  think,  the  beft  ex- 
plication that  it  will  yet  admit.  JOHNSON, 

1 through  the  fight  I  bear  in  things,  to  Jove]     This  paflage 

in  all  the  modern  editions  is  filently  depraved,  and  printed  thus  : 

through  thejight  I  bear  in  things  to  come. 

The  word  is  fo  printed  that  nothing  but  the  fenfe  can  determine 
whether  it  be  love  or  Jove.  I  believe  that  the  editors  read  it  us 
love,  and  therefore  made  the  alteration  to  obtain  fome  meaning 

JOHN 

—  to  //>cv,  might  mean—  to  the  confequences  of  Paria's  lov« 
for  Helen.  STEEYENS. 

04  I  know, 


88        TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

I  know,  is  fuch  a  wreft  in  their  affairs, 
That  their  negotiations  all  muft  flack, 
Wanting  his  manage  ;  and  they  will  almoft 
Give  us  a  prince  of  blood,  a  fon  of  Priam, 
In  change  of  him  :  let  him  be  fent,  great  princes, 
And  he  mall  buy  my  daughter  ;  and  her  prefence 
Shall  quite  ftrike  off  all  fervice  I  have  done, 
*  In  moft  accepted  pain. 

Aga.  Let  Diomedes  bear  him, 
And  bring  us  Creflid  hither ;  Calchas  fhall  have 
What  he  requefls  of  us. — Good  Diomed, 
Furnilh  you  fairly  for  this  enterchange  : 
Withal,  bring  word — if  Hector  will  to-morrow 
Be  anfwer'd  in  his  challenge ;  Ajax  is  ready. 

Diom.  This  fhall  I  undertake  ;  and  'tis  a  burden 
Which  I  am  proud  to  bear.  [Exit  Diomed,  and  Calchas. 

Enter  Achilles,  and  Patroclus,  before  their  tent. 

Uhff.  Achilles  flands  i'the  entrance  of  his  tent  :— 
Pleafe  it  our  general  to  pafs  ftrangely  by  him, 
As  if  he  were  forgot ; — and,  princes  all, 
Lay  negligent  and  loofe  regard  upon  him  :     -  . 
I  will  come  laft  :  'Tis  like,  he'll  queftion  me, 
Why  fuch  unplaufive  eyes  are  bent,  why  turn'd  on 

him  : 

If  fo,  I  have  J  derifion  mcd'cinable, 
To  ufe  between  your  ftrangenefs  and  his  pride, 

*  In  mojl  accepted pain.]     Sir  T.  Hanmer,  and  Dr.  Warburton 
after  him,  read : 

In  mojl  accepted  pay. 

They  do  not  feem  to  underftand  the  conftru&ion  of  the  paiTage. 
Her  preface,  fays  Calchas,  Jkall  Jlrike  off,  or  recompence  tbtj'cr- 
rvite  I  have  dor.e^  even  in  thefe  labours  which  were  moft  accepted. 

JOHNSON. 

3 derifion  met? finable,]    All  the  modern  editions  have  dcci- 

jion.  The  old  copies  are  apparently  right.  The  folio  in  this 
place  agrees  with  the  quarto,  fo  that  the  corruption  was  at  full 
merely  accidental,  JOHNSON. 

Which 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      89 

Which  his  own  will  mall  have  dcfire  to  drink  ; 
It  may  do  good:  pride  hath  no  other glafs 
To  ftiew  itfelf,  but  pride ;  for  fupple  knees 
Feed  arrogance,  and  are  the  proud  man's  fees. 

Aga.  We'll  execute  your  purpofe,  and  put  on 

A  form  of  ftrangenefs  as  we  pafs  along  ; 

So  do  each  lord  ;  and  either  greet  him  not, 

Or  elfe  difdainfully,  which  Ihall  {hake  him  more 

Than  if  not  look'd  on.     I  will  lead  the  way. 

Achil.  What,  comes  the  general  to  fpeak  with  me  ? 
You  know  my  mind,  I'll  fight  no  more  'gainft  Troy. 

Aga.  What  fays  Achilles?  would  he  aught  with  us  ? 

Nrjt.  Would  you,  my  lord,  aught  with  the  general? 

Achil.  No. 

Neft.  Nothing,  my  lord. 

Aga.  The  better. 

Achil.  Good  day,  good  day. 

Men.  How  do  you  ?  how  do  you  ? 

Achil.  What,  does  the  cuckold  fcorn  me  ? 

Ajax.  How  now,  Patroclus  ? 

AdiL  Good  morrow,  Ajax. 

Ajax.  Ha  ? 

Achil.  Good  morrow. 

Ajax.  Ay,  and  good  next  day  too.  [Exeunt. 

Achil.  What  mean  thefe  fellows  ?  know  they  not 
Achilles  ? 

Patr.  They  pafs  by  ftrangely  :  they  were  us'd  to 

bend, 

To  fend  their  fmiles  before  them  to  Achilles; 
To  come  as  humbly,  as  they  us'd  to  creep 
To  holy  altars. 

Ackil.  What,  am  I  poor  of  late  ? 
'Tis  certain,  Grcatnefs,  once  fallen  out  with  fortune, 
Muft  fall  out  with  men  too  :  What  the  declin'd  is, 
He  fhall  as  foon  read  in  the  eyes  of  others, 
As  feel  in  his  own  fall :  for  men,  like  butterflies, 
Shew  not  their  mealy  wings,  but  to  the  furnmer; 
And  not  a  man,  for  being  limply  man, 

Hath 


9o      TROILUS  *AND    CRESSIDA. 

Hath  any  honour  ;  but's  honoured  for  thofe  honours 
That  are  without  him,  as  place,  riches,  favour, 
Prizes  of  accident  as  oft  as  merit  : 
Which  when  they  fall,  as  being  flippery  ftanders, 
The  love  that  lean'd  on  them  as  flippery  too, 
Doth  one  pluck  down  another,  and  together 
Die  in  the  fall.     But  'tis  not  fo  with  me  : 
Fortune  and  I  are  friends  ;  I  do  enjoy 
At  ample  point  all  that  I  did  poflefs, 
Save  thefe  men's  looks  ;  who  do,  methinks,  find  out 
Something  in  me  not  worth  that  rich  beholding 
As  they  have  often  given.     Here  is  Ulyfles  ; 
Til  interrupt  his  reading.  -  How  now,  Ulyfles  ? 

Ufyf.  Now,  great  Thetis'  fon  ? 

Ach'il.  What  are  you  reading  ? 

Ufyff.  A  ftrange  fellow  here 
Writes  me,  That  man  —  4how  dearly  ever  parted, 
How  much  in  having,  or  without,  or  in,  - 
Cannot  make  boait  to  have  that  which  he  hath, 
Nor  feels  not  what  he  owes,  but  by  reflection  ; 
As.  when  his  virtues  fliining  upon  others 
Heat  them,  and  they  retort  that  heat  again 
To  the  firft  giver. 

Ac.hil.  This  is  not  ftrange,  Ulyfles. 
The  beauty  that  is  borne  here  in  the  face,  ' 
The  bearer  knows  not,  but  commends  itfelf 
5  To  others'  eyes  :  nor  doth  the  eye  itfelf6, 


4  -  I'o-u  dearly  ever  parted,}     i.e.  how  exquifitely  foevrr 
Ills  virtues  be  divided  and  balanced  in  him.     So,  in  Romeo  and 
Juliet:  *'  StufFd,  as  they  fay,  with  honourable  farts,  proportioned 
as  one's  thoughts  would  wifli  a  man."     WAR  EUR  TON. 

I  do  not  think  that  in  the  word  parted  is  included  any  idea  of 
divijion  ;  it  means,  however  excellently  endowed,  with  however  dear 
or  precious  parts  enriched  or  adorned.  JOHNSON. 

5  To  others'  eyes,  &c. 

'.t  mpjl  pure  Jj>lrit  &c.]     Thefe  two  lines  are  totally  omit- 


ted in  all  the  editions  but  the  firftquarto.     POPE. 
6 nor  doth  the  eye  itfelf }]     So,  in  Julius  Crcfar : 


No 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.        91 

(That  moft  pure  fpirit  of  fenfe)  behold  itfelf, 
Not  going  from  itfelf ;  but  eye  to  eye  oppos'd 
Salutes  each  other  with  each  other's  form. 
For  fpeculation  turns  not  to  itfelf, 
'Till  it  hath  travell'd,  and  is  marry'd  there 
"Where  it  may  fee  itfelf  :  this  is  not  ftrange  at  all. 

Ulyff.  I  do  not  flrain  at  the  pofition, 
It  is  familiar  ;  but  at  the  author's  drift : 
Who,  7  in  his  circumftance,  exprefsly  proves  — 
That  no  man  is  the  lord  of  any  thing, 
(Though  in  and  of  him  there  is  much  confifling) 
'Till  he  communicate  his  parts  to  others : 
Nor  doth  he  of  himfelf  know  them  for  aught 
'Till  he  behold  them  form'd  in  the  applaufe 
Where  they  are  extended  ;  which,  like  an  arch,  re- 
verberates 

The  voice  again ;  or  like  a  gate  of  fleel 
Fronting  the  fun,  receives  and  renders  back 
His  figure  and  his  heat.     I  was  much  rapt  in  this  ; 
And  apprehended  here  immediately   . 
8  The  unknown  Ajax. 

Heavens,    what  a  man  is  there !  a  very  horfe ; 
That  has  he  knows  not  what.     Nature,  what  things 

there  are, 

Moft  abject  in  regard,  and  dear  in  ufe  ! 
What  things  again  moft  dear  in  the  efteem, 
And  poor  in  worth  !     Now  ftiall  we  fee  to-morrow 
An  ad:  that  very  chance  doth  throw  upon  him, 
Ajax  renown'd.     O  heavens,  what  fome  men  do, 
While  fome  men  leave  to  do  ! 

NoCaflius ;  for  the  eye  fees  not  itfelf, 
J3ut  by  reflexion,  by  fome  other  things. 

1  STEEVENS. 

7  • in  hii  circumftance,——~\     In  the  detail  or  circumdudtion 

of  his  argument.     JOHNSOX. 

*  The  unknown  Ajax.'}     Ajax,  who  has  abilities  which  were 
never  brought  into  view  or  ufe.    JCHKSON. 

How 


9a        TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

9  How  fome  men  creep  in  ikittifti  fortune's  hall, 
While  others  play  the  ideots  in  her  eyes  ! 
How  one  man  eats  into  another's  pride, 
While  pride  is  '  feafling  in  his  wantonnefs  ! 
To  feethefe  Grecian  lords! — why,  even  already 
They  clap  the  lubber  Ajax  on  the  fhoulder  ; 
As  if  his  foot  were  on  brave  Hector's  bread, 
And  great  Troy  fhrinking. 

Acloil.  I  do  believe  it :  for  they  pafs'd  by  me, 
As  mifers  do  by  beggars  ;  neither  gave  to  me 
Good  word,  nor  look :  What  are  my  deeds  forgot  ? 

Ulyf.  *  Time  hath,  my  lord,  a  wallet  at  his  back, 
Wherein  he  puts  alms  for  oblivion, 
A  great-fiz'd  monfter  of  ingratitudes  : 
Thofe  fcraps  are  good  deeds  pad ;  which  are  devour'd 
As  faft  as  they  are  made,  forgot  as  foon 
As  done  :  Perfeverance,  dedr  my  lord, 
Keeps  honour  bright :  To  have  done,  is  to  hang 
Quite  out  of  fafhion,  like  a  rufty  mail 
In  monumental  mockery.     Take  the  inftant  way  ; 
For  honour  travels  in  a  ftreight  fo  narrow, 
Where  one  but  goes  abreaft  :  keep  then  the  path  : 
For  emulation  hath  a  thoufand  fons, 
That  one  by  one  purfue ;  If  you  give  way, 
Or  hedge  afide  from  the  direct  forthright, 
Like  to  an  entred  tide,  they  all  rufh  by, 
And  leave  you  hindmoft  '; — 

e  Howfomc  men  creep  in  JkittiJJj  fortune's  ball,]  To  creep  is  to 
keep  out  of  fight  from  whatever  motive.  Some  men  keep  out  of  no- 
tice in  the  hall  of  fortune,  while  others,  though  they  but  play  the 
ideot,  are  always  in  her  eye,  in  the  way  of  diftin&ion.  JOHNSON. 

1 ffafting — ]    Folio.     The  quarto  has  fafting.     Either 

word  may  bear  a  good  fenfe.     JOHNSON. 

*  Time  hath,  my  lord,  a  wallet  at  his  lack,]  This  fpeech  is 
printed  in  all  the  modern  editions  with  fuch  deviations  from  the 
old  copy,  as  exceed  the  lawful  power  of  an  editor.  JOHNSON. 

s  ——and  there  you  lie  :]     Thefe  words  are  not  in  the  folio. 

JOHNSON. 

Nor  in  any  other  copy  that  I  have  Teen.  I  have  given  the  paf- 
fage  as  I  found  it  in  the  folio.  STEEVKNS, 

Or 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.       93 

Or  like  a  gallant  horfe  fallen  in  firft  rank, 

Lie  there  for  pavement  4to  the  abjed  rear, 

5  O'er  run  and  trampled  on  :  Then  what  they  do  in 

prefent, 

Though  lefs  than  yours  in  paft,  muft  o'er-top  yours : 
For  time  is  like  a  fafhionable  hoft, 
That  (lightly  ihakes  his  parting  gueft  by  the  hand  ; 
And  with  his  arms  out-ftretch'd,  as  he  would  fly, 
Grafps-in  the  comer  :  Welcome  ever  fmiles, 
And  farewel  goes  out  fighing.     O,  let  not  virtue  feek 
Remuneration  for  the  thing  it  was  ;  6  for  beauty,  wit, 
High  birth,  vigour  of  bone,  defert  in  fervice, 
Love,  friendftiip,  charity,  are  fubjecTis  all 
To  envious  and  calumniating  time. 
One  touch  of  nature  makes  the  whole  world  kin, — — • 
That  all,  with  one  confent,  praife  new-born  gawds, 
Though  they  are  made  and  moulded  of  things  paft  ; 
I  And  fhew  to  duft,  that  is  a  little  gilt, 

More 

4  to  the  aljeft  rear,]     So  Hanmer.    All  the  editors  be- 
fore him  read : 

to  the  aljetf,  near.    JOHNSON-. 

5  O'er  run  &c.]     The  quarto  wholly  omits  the  fimllc  of  the 
horfe,  and  reads  thus  : 

And  leave  you  hindmojl,  then  what  they  do  at  prrfent. 
The  folio  feems  to  have  fome  omiffion,  for  the  fimile  begins, 

Or,  like  a  gallant  horfe     •     •     •   •     JOHNSON. 
" 6  The  modern  editors  read  : 

For  beauty,  wit,  high  birth,  dcfcrt  in  fervice,  &C. 
I  do  not  deny  but  the  changes  produce  a  more  eafy  lapfe  of  num- 
bers, but  they  do  not  exhibit  the  work  of  Shakefpeare.  JOHNSON. 
7  And  go  to  duft,  thai  is  a  little  gilt, 

.  More  laud  than  gilt  o'er-dufied.]  In  this  mangled  condition  do 
we  find  this  truly  fine  obfervation  tranfmitted  in  the  old  folios. 
Mr.  Pope  faw  it  was  corrupt,  and  therefore,  as  I  prefume,  threw 
it  out  of  the  text ;  becaufe  he  would  not  indulge  his  private  fenfe 
in  attempting  to  make  fenfe  of  it.  I  owe  the  foundation  of  the 
amendment,  which  I  have  given  to  the  text,  to  the  fagacity  of 
the  ingenious  Dr.  Thirlby.  I  'read  : 

And  give  to  duft,  that  is  a  little  gilt, 

More  laud  than  they  will  give  to  gold  o'er-aufted. 

THEOBALD. 

Thig 


94        TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

More  laud  than  gilt  o'er-dufted. 

The  prefent  eye  praifes  the  prefent  object : 

Then  marvel  not,  thou  great  and  complete  man, 

That  all  the  Greeks  begin  to  worfhip  Ajax ; 

Since  things  in  motion  fooner  catch  the  eye, 

Than  what  not  ftirs.     The  cry  went  once  on  thee, 

And  ftill  it  might,  and  yet  it  may  again, 

If  thou  wouldft  not  entomb  thyfelf  alive, 

And  cafe  thy  reputation  in  thy  tent ; 

Whofe  glorious  deeds,  but  in  thefe  fields  of  late, 

8  Made  emulous  miffions  'mongft  the  gods  themfelves, 

And  drave  great  Mars  to  faction. 
Achil.  Of  this  my  privacy 

I  have  ftrong  reafons. 

Ulyjf.  But  'gainft  your  privacy 

The  reafons  are  more  potent  and  hcroical : 

'Tis  known,  Achilles,  that  you  are  in  love 

With  one  of  Priam's  daughters 9. 
Achll.  Ha !  known  ? 
Ufyjf.  Is  that  a  wonder  ? 

The  providence  that's  in  a  watchful  flate, 

This  emendation  has  been  adopted  by  the  fucceeding  editors, 
tut  recedes  too  far  from  the  copy.  There  is  no  other  corruption 
than  fuch  as  Shakefpeare's  incorreclnefs  often  refembles.  He 
has  omitted  the  article  to  in  the  fecond  line :  he  mould  have 
written : 

More  laud  than  to  gilt  o'er-diifted.     JOHNSON. 

*  Made  emulous  millions ]     Mijfions  for  divijions^  i.  e.  goings 

out,  on  one  fide  and  the  other.    WARBURTON. 

The  meaning  of  miffion  leems  to  be  difjbatches  of  the  gods  from 
heaven  about  mortal  bufinefs,  fuch  as  often  happened  at  the  ficge 
of  Troy.  JOHNSON. 

It  means  the  defcent  of  deities  to  combat  on  either  fide ;  an 
idea  which  Shakefpeare  very  probably  adopted  from  Chapman's 
tranflation  of  Homer.  In  the  fifth  book  Diomed  wounds  Mars, 
who  on  his  return  to  heaven  is  rated  by  Jupiter  for  having  inter- 
fered in  the  battle.  This  difobedience  is  the  faflion  which  I 
fuppole  Ulyfles  would  defcribe.  STEEVENS. 

v  one  of  Priam's  daughters.]  Polyxena,  in  the  aft  of  mar- 
rying whom,  he  was  afterwards  killed  by  Paris.  STEEVENS. 

Knows 


TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA.        95 

*  Knows  almoft  every  grain  of  Pluto's  gold  ; 

Finds  bottom  in  the  uncomprehenfive  deeps ; 

1  Keeps  place  with  thought;  and  almoft,  like  the  gods, 

Does  thoughts  unveil  in  their  dumb  cradles. 

There  is  a  myftery  ('with  whom  relation 

Durft  never  meddle)  in  the  foul  of  ftate ; 

Which  hath  an  operation  more  divine, 

Than  breath,  or  pen,  can  give  expreffure  to  : 

All  the  commerce  that  you  have  had  with  Troy, 

As  perfectly  is  ours,  as  yours,  my  lord ; 

And  better  would  it  fit  Achilles  much, 

To  throw  down  Hector,  than  Polyxena  : 

But  it  muft  grieve  young  Pyrrhus  now  at  home, 

When  fame  mall  in  our  iflands  found  her  trump  ; 

And  all  the  Greekim  girls  fliall  tripping  fing, — 

Great  Heftor' s  fifter  did  Achilles  win  ; 

But  our  great  Ajax  bravely  beat  down  him. 

Farewell,  my  lord  :  I  as  your  lover  fpeak  ; 

The  fool  Hides  o'er  the  ice  that  you  ftiould  break. 

[Exit. 

Patr.  To  this  effect,  Achilles,  have  I  mov'd  you  ; 
A  woman  impudent  and  mannifh  grown 
Is  not  more  loath'd,  than  an  effeminate  man 
In  time  of  adtion.     I  (land  condemn'd  for  this ; 

1  Knows  almojl&c.']    For  this  elegant  line  the  quarto  has  only, 

Knows  almoft  every  thing.     JOHNSON. 

I  think  we  fhould  read,  of  Flutus'  gold.  So,  Beaumont  and  Flet- 
cher's Pbilafter,  ac~l  IV  : 

"  'Tis  not  the  wealth  of  Pint  us  ^  nor  the  gold 

"  Lock'd  in  the  heart  of  earth" 

Itfliould  be  remember'd  however,  that  mines  of  geld  were  an- 
ciently fuppofed  to  \>z  guarded  ly  daemons.  STEEVENS. 

* Keeps  place  with  thought; ]  i.  e.  there  is  in  the  provi- 
dence of  a  ftate,  as  in  the  providence  of  the  univerie,  a  kind  of 
ubiquity.  The  expreffion  is  exquifitely  fine  :  yet  the  Oxford 
editor  alters  it  to  keeps  pace,  and  fo  deilroys  all  its  beauty. 

WAREURTON. 

1  • ('Jjlth  -ivbom  relation 

Durft  never  meddle) ]     There  is   a  fecret  adminiftra- 

tion  of  affairs,  which  no  bljlory  was  ever  able  to  diicover. 

JOBMftOjf. 

They 


96       TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

They  think,  my  little  ftomach  to  the  war, 
And  your  great  love  to  me,  reftrains  you  thus  : 
Sweet,  route  yourfelf ;  and  the  weak  wanton  Cupid 
Shall  from  your  neck  unloofe  his  amorous  fold, 
And,  like  a  dew-drop  from  the  lion's  mane, 
Be  Ihook  4  to  air. 

Mil  Shall  Ajax  fight  with  Hector  ? 

Patr.  Ay ;  and,  perhaps,  receive  much  honour  by 
him. 

'AchiL  I  fee,  my  reputation  is  at  flake ; 
My  fame  is  fhrewdly  gor'd. 

Patr.  O,  then  beware ; 

Thofe  wounds  heal  ill,  that  men  do  give  themfelves: 
5  Omiflion  to  do  what  is  neceflary 
Seals  a  commiffion  to  a  blank  of  danger  ; 
And  danger,  like  an  ague,  fubtly  taints 
Even  then  when  we  lit  idly  in  the  fun. 

Achil.  Go  call  Therfites  hither,  fweet  Patroclus  : 
I'll  fend  the  fool  to  Ajax,  and  defire  him 
To  invite  the  Trojan  lords  after  the  combat, 
To  fee  us  here  unarm'd  :  I  have  a  woman's  longing, 
An  appetite  that  I  am  lick  withal, 
To  fee  great  Hedtor  in  his  weeds  of  peace  ; 
To  talk  with  him,  and  to  behold  his  vifage, 
Even  to  my  full  of  view.     A  labour  fav'd  ! 

Enter  tterftes. 

<Tber.  A  wonder ! 
Acbil.  What? 

tttr.  Ajax  goes  up  and  down  the  field,  afking  for 
himfelf. 
AcW.  Howfo? 

*  — —  to  air.}     So  the  quarto.    The  folio : 
.  .         to  airy  air.     JOHNSON. 

5  OmiJJlon  to  do  Sec.]  By  ncglefting  our  duty  we  commiflicn  or 
enable  that  danger  of  diflionour,  which  could  not  reach  us  before, 
to  lay  hold  upun  us.  JOHNSON. 


TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA.       97 

Ther.  He  muft  fight  fmgly  to-morrow  with  Hector; 
and  is  fo  prophetically  proud  of  an  heroical  cudgel- 
ling, that  he  raves  in  faying  nothing. 

Achil.  How  can  that  be  ? 

Ther.  Why,  he  ftalks  up  and  down  like  a  peacock, 
a  ftride,  and  a  Hand  :  ruminates,  like  an  hoftefs,  that 
hath  no  arithmetic  but  her  brain  to  fet  down  her 
reckoning  :  bites  his  lip  '  with  a  politic  regard,  as 
wholhould  fay — there  were  wit  in  this  head, an  'twould 
out ;  and  fo  there  is;  but  it  lies  as  coldly  in  him  as 
fire  in  a  flint,  which  will  not  Ihew  without  knocking. 
The  man's  undone  for  ever ;  for  if  Hector  break  not 
his  neck  i'the  combat,  he'll  break  it  himfelf  in  vain- 
glory. He  knows  not  me :  I  faid,  Good-morrow t 
Ajax;  and  he  replies,  Thanks*  Agamemnon.  What 
think  you  of  this  man,  that  takes  me  for  the  general? 
He's  grown  a  very  land-fiih,  languagclefs,  a  monfter. 
A  plague  of  opinion  !  a  man  may  wear  it  on  both 
fides,  like  a  leather  jerkin. 

Achil.  Thou  muft  be  my  embaffador  to  him, 
Therfites. 

Ther,  Who,  I  ?  why,  he'll  anfwer  no  body ;  he 
profeffes  not  anfwering  ;  fpeaking  is  for  beggars  ;  he 
wears  his  tongue  in  his  arms.  I  will  put  on  his  pre- 
fence ;  let  Patroclus  make  demands  to  me,  you  lhall 
fee  the  pageant  of  Ajax. 

Achil.  To  him,  Patroclus:  Tell  him,— I  humbly 
defire  the  valiant  Ajax,  to  invite  the  moft  valorous 
Hector  to  come  unarm'd  to  my  tent ;  and  to  procure 
fafe  conduct  for  his  perfon,  of  the  magnanimous,  and 
moft  illuftrious,  fix-or-feven-times-honour'd  captain- 
general  of  the  Grecian  army,  Agamemnon,  &c.  Do 
this. 

Pair.  Jove  blefs  great  Ajax  ! 
'    Tber.  Hum! 

Pair.  I  come  from  the  worthy  Achilles. 

Tber.  Ha! 

»  _w//£  a  politic  r<gW,— ]  With  a  ffy  look.    JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  H  patr. 


$8      TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA. 

Pair.  Who  molt  humbly  defires  you,  to  invite 
Hector  to  his  tent. 

fher.  Hum! 

Patr.  And  to  procure  fafe  conduct  from  Aga- 
memnon. 

Ther.  Agamemnon  ? 

Patr.  Ay,  my  lord. 

Mer.  Ha  ! 

Patr.  What  fay  you  to't  ? 

Tber.  God  be  wi'you,  with  all  my  heart. 

Patr.  Your  anfwer,  fir. 

Yher.  If  to-morrow  be  a  fair  day,  by  eleven  o'clock 
it  will  go  one  way  or  other ;  howfocver,  he  lhall  pay 
for  me  ere  he  has  me. 

Patr.  Your  anfwer,  fir. 

Ther.  Fare  you  well,  with  all  my  heart. 

Acbil.  Why,  but  he  is  not  in  this  tune,  is  he  ? 

¥her.  No,  but  he's  out  o'tunc  thus.  What  mufick 
will  be  in  him  when  Hector  has  knock'd  out  his 
brains,  I  know  not :  But,  I  am  fure,  none ;  unlefs  the 
fidler  Apollo  get  his  finews  to  make  catlings  on  f. 

jfrhil*  Come,  thou  (halt  bear  a  letter  to  him  ftraight. 

¥ker.  Let  me  bear  another  to  his  horfe ;  for  that's 
the  more  capable  creature. 

Achil.  My  mind  is  troubled,  like  a  fountain  flirr'd; 
And  I  myfeif  fee  not  the  bottom  of  it. 

[Exeunt  Admits,  and  Patrodus. 

Tker.  'Would  the  fountain  of  your  mind  were  clear 
again,  that  I  might  water  an  afs  at  it !  I  had  rather 
be  a  tick  in  a  iheep,  than  fuch  a  valiant  ignorance. 

[£*//. 

*   .  to  make  catlings  on."]  It  lias  been  already  obferved  that 

a  catling  fignifies  a  fmall  Jute-ftring  made  of  catgut.     One  of  the 
muficians  ia  Romeo  and  Juliet  ig  called  Simon  Catling.  STEEVENS. 


ACT; 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       99 
A  C  T     IV.       S  C  E  N  E     L 

A  Jlreet  in  Trey. 

Enter  at  one  door  JEneas,  and  Servant,  with  a  torch  ;  at 
another,  Paris,  Deiphobus,  Antenor,  and  Diomed,  &d 
with  torches. 

Par.  See,  ho  !  who  is  that  there  ? 

Dei.  It  is  the  lord  ^Eneas. 

J&ne.  Is  the  prince  there  in  perfon  ?— 
Had  I  fo  good  occafion  to  lie  long, 
As  you,  prince  Paris,  nought  but  heavenly  bufinefs 
Should  rob  my  bed-mate  of  my  company. 

Dio.  That's  my  mind  too.  -  Good  morrow,  lord 


Par.  A  valiant  Greek,  ^Eneas  ;  take  his  hand  : 
"VVitnefs  the  procefs  of  your  fpeech,  wherein 
You  told  —  how  Diomed,  a  whole  week  by  days, 
Did  haunt  you  in  the  field. 

Mne.  Health  to  you,  valiant  fir, 
*  During  all  queflion  of  the  gentle  truce  : 
But  when  I  meet  you  arm'd,  as  black  defiance, 
As  heart  can  think,  or  courage  execute. 

Dio.  The  one  and  other  Diomed  embraces. 
Our  bloods  are  now  in  calm  ;  and,  fo  long,  health  : 
But  when  contention  and  occafion  meet, 
By  Jove,  1*11  play  the  hunter  for  thy  life, 
With  all  my  force,  purfuit,  and  policy. 

JEne.  *  And  thou  ihalt  hunt  a  lion,  that  will  fly 

With 

*  During  all  queflion  of  the  gentle  truce:  ~\     I   once  thought   to 
read: 

During  all  quiet  of  the  gentle  truct. 

But  I  think  queflion  means  intercourfe,  interchange  of  converfa- 
tion.     JOHNSON. 

3  And  thou  Jkalt  bunt  a  lion,  that  will  fly 

With  hi  f  face  back  in  humane  gtntltnefi.~\     Thus  Mr.  Pope  in 
H  2  hi» 


loo       TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA; 

With  his  face  backward.     In  humane  gentlencfs, 
Welcome  to  Troy  !  now,  by  Anchifes'  life, 
Welcome,  indeed  !     4  By  Venus'  hand  I  fwear, 
No  man  alive  can  love,  in  fuch  a  fort, 
The  thing  he  means  to  kill,  more  excellently. 

Dio.  We  fympathize  : Jove,  let  JLneaslive, 

If  to  my  fword  his  fate  be  not  the  glory, 
A  thoufand  complete  courfes  of  the  fun  ! 
But,  in  mine  emulous  honour,  let  him  die, 
With  every  joint  a  wound  ;  and  that  to-morrow  T 

JEne.  We  know  each  other  well. 

Dio.  We  do ;  and  long  to  know  each  other  \vorfe. 

Par.  This  is  the  moft  defpightful  gentle  greeting, 

The  nobleft  hateful  love,  that  e'er  I  heard  of. 

Whatbufinefs,  lord,  fo  early  ? 

j£ne.  1  was  fent  for  to  the  king ;  but  why,  I  know 
not. 

Par.  5  His  purpofe  meets  you ;  'Twas  to  bring  this 
Greek 

his  great  fagacity  pointed  this  paflage  in  his  firft  edition,  not  de- 
viating from  the  error  of  the  old  copies.  What  conception  he 
had  to  himfelf  of  a  lion  Jlying  in  humane  gentlencfi,  I  will  not  pre- 
tend to  affirm  :  I  fuppofe  he  had  the  idea  of  as  gently  as  a  laml^  or, 
as  what  our  vulgar  call  an  Eflcx  lion,  a  calf.  If  any  other  lion 
fly  with  his  face. turned  backward,  it  is  fighting  all  the  way  as  he 
retreats  :  and  in  this  manner  it  is  ^Eneas  proteges  that  he  lhall  fly 
when  he's  hunted.  But  where  then  are  the  fymptoms  of  humane 
gentlenefs  ?  My  correction  of  the  pointing  reltores  good  lenfc, 
and  a  proper  behaviour  in  tineas.  As  foon  as  ever  he  has  re- 
turned Diomedes'  brave,  he  flops  fhort,  and  corrects  himfelf  for 
e\-prening  fo  much  fury  in  a  time  of  truce;  from  the  fierce  fol- 
dier  becomes  the  courtier  at  once  ;  and,  remembering  his  enemy 
to  be  a  gueft  and  an  ainbafladort  welcomes  him  as  fuch  to  the 
Trojan  camp.  THEOBALD. 

*  • By  Fenus*  hand  I  f:vear,"\  This  oath  was  ufed  to  in- 

finuate  his  refentment  lor  Diomedes'  wounding  his  mother  in  the 
hand.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

I  believe  Sbakefpeare  had  no  fuchallufion  in  his  thoughts.  He 
would  hardly  hare  made  yiineas  civil  and  uncivil  in  the  fame 
breath.  STE  EVENS. 

5  Hi f  purpofe  meets  you ;— —  ]  I  bring  you  his  meaning  and 
his  orders.  JoHi^soii. 

To 


TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA.       X0| 

To  Galenas'  houfe  ;  and  there  to  render  him 
For  the  enfrccd  Antenor,  the  fair  Creffid  : 
Let's  have  your  company;  or,  if  you  pleafe, 
Hafte  there  before  us  :  I  conflantly  do  think, 
(Or,  rather,  call  my 'thought  a  certain  knowledge) 
My  brother  Troilus  lodges  there  to-night ; 
Roufe  him,  and  give  him  note  of  our  approach, 
With  the  whole  quality  wherefore  :  I  fear, 
We  mall  be  much  unwelcome. 

jEae.  That  I  aflure  you  ; 
Troilus  had  rather  Troy  were  borne  to  Greece, 
Than  CreiTid  borne  from  Troy. 

Par.  There  is  no  help  ; 
The  bitter  difpofition  of  the  time 
Will  have  it  fo.     On,  lord ;  we'll  follow  you. 

jEne.  Good  morrow,  all.  [£«/. 

Par.  And  tell  me,  noble  Diomed ;  'faith,  tell  me 

true, 

Even  in  the  foul  of  found  good-fellowfhip,— 
Who,  in  your  thoughts,  merits  fair  Helen  beft, 
Myfelf,  or  Menelaus  ? 

Dio.  Both  alike : 

He  merits  well  to  have  Her,  that  doth  feek  her 
(Not  making  any  fcruple  of  her  foylure) 
With  fuch  a  hell  of  pain,  and  world  of  charge  ; 
And  you  as  well  to  keep  her,  that  defend  her 
(Not  palating  the  tafte  of  her  diihonour) 
With  fuch  a  coftly  lofs  of  wealth  and  friends  : 
He,  like  a  puling  cuckold,  would  drink  up' 
The  lees  and  dregs  of  6  a  flat  tamed  piece ; 
You,  like  a  lecher,  out  of  whorilh  loins 
Are  pleas'd  to  breed  out  your  inheritors  : 
7  Both  merits  pois'd,  each  weighs  nor  lefs  nor  more ; 
But  he  as  he,  the  heavier  for  a  whore. 

Par. 

6  — — a  flat  tamed  piece  f\    i.  e.  a  piece  of  wine  out  of  which 
the  fpirit  is  all  flown.     WAREURTON. 

7  Both  merits  pois'd,  each  weighs  no  lefs  nor  more ; 
Jlut  be  as  be}  which  heavier  for  a  where.]     I  read  : 

H  3  But 


•102       TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA, 

Par.  You  are  too  bitter  to  your  country-woman. 

Dio.  She's  bitter  to  her  country :  Hear  me,  Paris, — * 
For  every  falfe  drop  in  her  bawdy  veins 
A  Grecian's  life  hath  funk  ;  for  every  fcruple 
Of  her  contaminated  carrion  weight, 
A  Trojan  hath  been  flam  :  fince  fhe  could  fpeak, 
She  hath  not  given  fo  many  good  words  breath, 
As  for  her  Greeks  and  Trojans  fuffer'd  death. 

Par.  Fair  Diomed,  you  do  as  chapmen  do, 
Difpraife  the  thing  that  you  defire  to  buy  : 

But  we  in  filence  hold  this  virtue  well, 

8  We'll  not  commend  what  we  intend  to  fell. 

Here  lies  our  way.      .  [Exeunt. 

S    C    E    N    E     II. 

Pandarus*  koufe. 
Enter  Troilus,  and  Crejfida, 
J'rol.  Dear,  trouble  notyourfelf ;  the  morn  is  cold. 

But  he  a?  he,  each  heavier  for  a  whore. 

Heavy  is  taken  both  for  weighty ,  and  for  fad  or  mifcrabh.  The 
quarto  reads  : 

But  he  as  he,  the  heavier  for  a  whore. 

I  know  not  whether  the  thought  is  not  that  of  a  wager.  It  muft 
then  be  rend  thus  : 

But  he  as  he.     Which  heavier  for  a  whore  ? 
That  is;  for  a  ivkore  ftiked  down,  which  is  the  heavier. 

JOHNIOK. 
As  the  quarto  reads, 

»—  the  heavier  for  a  whore. 

I  think  all  new  pointing  or  alteration  unncceflhry.  The  fenfe  ap- 
pears to  be  this  :  the  merits  of  either  are  funk  in  value,  becaufc 
tjie  contefi  bptween  them  is  only  for  a  ftrumpet.  STEEVEN-S. 

*  MVllnot  commend  what  *ve  intend  to/-//.]  I  believe  the  mean- 
ing is  only  this  :  though  you  pradife  the  buyer's  art,  we  will  not 
pra&ifc  tbc  feller's.  We  intend  to  fell  Helen  dear,  yet  will  not 
commend  her.  JOHNSON. 

Dr.  Warburton  would  read,  not  fell.     STEEVENS. 
The  fenfe,  I  think,  requires  we  fhould  read  condemn. 

TYRWHITT. 

Cfi. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      105 

Cre.  Then,  fweet  my  lord,  I'll  call  my  uncle  do;vn ; 
He  fhall  unbolt  the  gates. 

Trot.  Trouble  him  not ; 
To  bed,  to  bed  :  9  Sleep  kill  thofe  pretty  eyes, 
And  give  as  foft  attachment  to  thy  fenfes, 
As  infants'  empty  of  all  thought ! 

Cre.  Good  morrow  then. 

Trot.  I  pr'ythee  now,  to  bed. 

Cre.  Are  you  aweary  of  me  ? 

froi.  O  Creffida  !  but  that  the  bufy  day, 
Wak'd  by  the  lark,  has  rouz'd  the  ribald  crows, 
And  dreaming;  night  will  hide  our  joys  no  longer, 
I  would  not  from  thee. 

Cre.  Night  hath  been  too  brief. 

7ra.  Befhrew  the  witch !  with  venomous  wights 

fhe  ftays, 

1  As  tedioufly  as  hell ;  but  flies  the  grafps  of  love, 
With  wings  more  momentary-fwift  than  thought. 
You  will  catch  cold,  and  curfe  me. 

Cre.  Pr'ythee,  tarry  ; — you  men  will  never  tarry. 

0  foolifh  Creffida  !— I  might  have  ftill  held  off,' 
And  then  you  would  have  tarry'd.      Hark  !   there's 

one  up. 

Pan.  [within]  What's  all  the  doors  open  here  ? 
Troi.  It  is  your  uncle. 

Enter  Pandarus  *. 

Cre.  A  peftilence  on  him !  now  will  he  be  mocking : 

1  lhall  have  fuch  a  life, — — 

Pan* 

9  ——Sleep  kill ]     So  the  old  copies.    The  moderns  have  : 

Sleep  feal JOHNSON. 

1  At  icdioujly ]     The  folio  has  : 

As  hideoutly  as  bell.     JOHNSON. 

2  Enter  Pandarus.]     The  hint  for  the  following  fhort  converfa- 
tion  between  Pandarus  and  Creffida  is  taken  from  Chaucer's  Troi- 
I'tsandCreJJeide,  book  3.  ¥.'1561. 

H  4  "  Pan- 


"104      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA, 

Pan.  How  now,  how  now  ?  how  go  maidenr 
heads  ? — Here,  you  maid  !  where's  my  coufin  Cref- 
fid? 

Cre.  Go  hang  you  rfelf,  you  naughty  mockinguncle ! 
You  bring  me  to  do  J,  and  then  you  flout  me  too. 

Pan.  To  do  what  ?  to  do  what  ? — let  her  fay  what : 
What  have  I  brought  you  to  do  ? 

Cre.  Come,   come;   befhrew  your   heart!   you'll 

ne'er  be  good, 
Nor  fuffer  others. 

Pan.  Ha,  ha  1  Alas,  poor  wretch  !  *  a  poor  capoc- 
chia ! — haft  not  flept  to-night  ?  would  he  not,  a 
naughty  man,  let  it  fleep  ?  a  bugbear  take  him  ! 

[Ons  knocks. 

Cre.  Did  not  I  tell  you  ? — 'would  he  were  knock'd 

o'  the  head!— 
Who's  that  a:  door  ?  good  uncle,  go  and  fee.— - 

"  Pandare,  a  morowe  which  that  commin  was 

"  Unto  his  neci  gan  her  faire  to  gvete, 
"  And  faied  all  this  night  fo  rained  it  alas! 
"  That  all  my  drede  is,  that  ye,  nece  fwetc, 
"  Have  little  leifir  had  to  flepe  and  mete, 

**  All  night  (quod  he)  hath  rain  fo  do  me  \vake? 
"  That  forae  of  us  I  trowe  ther  hcddis  ake. 

5'  Crefleide  anfwerde,  nevir  the  bet  for  you, 
'  *'  Foxe  that  ye  ben,  God  yeve  your  herte  care    * 

*'  God  helpe  me  fo,  ye  caulid  all  this  fare,  &c." 

STEEVEKS. 

3 to  do,—  ]     To  do  is  here  ufcd  in  a  wanton  fenfe.    So, 

5n  the  Taming  of  a  Shrew >  Petruchio  fays.-  "  I  would  fain  be 
</<>/«§•."  Again,  "in  AWs  -iv?//,  &:c.  Lafeu  declares  that  he  is  pail 
doing.  COLLINS. 

*. a   itoor   chipochia ! ]     This  word,  I  am  afraid,  has 

fuSered  Under  the  ignorance  of  the  editors  ;  for  it  is  a  word  in  no 
living  language  that  I  can  find.  Pandarus  fays  it  to  his  niece,  in  a 
jeering  fort  ot  tendernefs.  He  would  fay,  I  think,  in  Englifii— 
Poor  innocent !  Poor  fool !  hajt  notJJept  fo-n:ght  ?  Thefe  appel- 
lations are  very  well  anf'.vercd  by  the  Italian  word  cafoccbio:  tor 
capoccbio  lignifies  the  thick  K&d  of  a  club ;  and  thence  metapho- 
rically, a  head  of  not  much  brain,  a  lot,  dullard,  heavy  gull. 

THEOBALD. 

My 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       105 

My  lord,  come  you  again  into  my  chamber : 

You  fmile,  and  mock  me,  as  if  I  meant  naughtily. 

STVw.  Ha,  ha ! 

Cre.  Come,  you  are  deceivM,  I  think  of  no  fuch 

thing. 

How  earnestly  they  knock  ! pray  you,  come  in; 

[Knock. 
I  would  not  for  half  Troy  have  you  feen  here.[.Exw;tff 

Pan.  Who's  there  ?  what's  the  matter  ?  will  you 
beat  down  the  door  ?  How  now  ?  what's  the  matter  ? 

Enter  JLneas, 

J£ne.  Good  morrow,  lord,  good  morrow. 

Pan.  Who's  there  ?  my  lord  ^Eneas  ?  By  mv  troth, 
I  knew  you  not :  What  news  with  you  fo  early  ? 

jEne.  Is  not  prince  Troilus  here  ? 

Pan.  Here  !  what  fhould  he  do  here  ? 

Mne.  Come,  he  is  here,  my  lord,  do  not  deny  him ; 
Jt  doth  import  him  much,  to  fpeak  with  me. 

Pan.  Is  he  here,  fay  you  ?  'tis  more  than  I  know, 
I'll  be  fworn  : — For  my  own  part,  I  came  in  late  :— 
What  fhould  he  do  here  ? 

sEne.  Who  ! nay,  then  :--^ — 

Come,  come,  you'll  do  him  wrong  ere  you  are  'ware  : 

You'll  be  fo  true  to  him,  to  be  falfe  to  him  : 

Do  not  you  know  of  him,  but  yet  fetch  him  hither ; 

Go. 

As  Pandarus  is  going  out,  enter  Trottus* 

Tiroi,  How  now  ?  what's  the  matter  ? 

JEne.  My  lord,  I  fcarce  have  Icifure  to  falute  you, 
My  5  matter  is  fo  rafli  :  There  is  at  hand 
Paris  your  brother,  and  Deiphobus, 

5  ——matter  is  fo  rafh : ]     My  bufinefs  is  fo  hafiy  and  fo 

abrupt.     JOHNSON. 

Sp,  in  K.  Henry  IV.  p.  II. 

or  ralh  gunpovjdtr.    STEVENS, 

The 


io6      TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

The  Grecian  Diomed,  and  our  Antenor 
*Deliver'd  to  us;  and  for  him  forthwith, 
Ere  thefirft  facrifice,  within  this  hour, 
We  muft  give  up  to  Diomedes'  hand 
The  lady  Crcflkh. 

Tro.  Is  it  concluded  fo  ? 

j&ne.  By  Priam,  and  the  general  flate  of  Troy  : 
They  are  at  hand,  end  ready  to  effect  it. 

Trot.  How  my  achievements  mock  me.!— 
I  will  go  meet  them  :  and,  my  lord  ./Eneas, 
We  met  by  chance;  you  did  not  find  me  here. 

J£ne.  Good,  good,    my    lord  ;    7  the   fecrets    of 

neighbour  Pandar 
Have  not  more  gift  in  taciturnity. 

\_Exeunt  Troilus,  and  Aeneas. 

Pan.  Is't  poffible  ?  no  fooner  got,  but  loft  ?  The 
devil  take  Antenor  !  the  young  prince  will  go  mad. 
A  plague  upon  Antenor!  I  would,  they  had  brake's 
neck! 

Enter  Cre/ida. 

Cre.  How  now  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Who  was 
here  ? 

*  Delivered  fo  us  ;  &c  ]  So  the  folio.     The  quarto  thus : 

Delivered  to  him,  and  forthwith.     JOHNSON. 
7  the  fecrets  ot  nature, 

Have  not  more  gift  in  taciturnity .]  This  is  the  reading  of 
both  the  elder  folios :  but  the  firft  vcrfe  manifeftly  halts,  and  be- 
trays its  being  defective.  Mr.  Pope  fubftitutes  : 

the  fecrfts  of  neighbour  Pandar. 

If  this  be  a  reading  txf.de  codicum  (as  he  profefTesall  his  various 
readings  tube)  it  is  founded  on  the  credit  offuch  copies,  as  h  has 
rot  bccn.my  fortune  to  meet  with.  I  have  ventured  to  make  out 
the  verfe' thus  t 

The  fecret'ft  things  of  nature,  &c. 

i.  r.  the  nrcann  naiur^^  the  myfteries  of  nature,  of  occult  philo- 
fophy,  or  of  religious  ceremonies.  Our  poet  has  allufions  of  this 
fart  in  leveral  other  pailages;  THEOBALD. 

Mr.  I'^pe's  reading  is  iu  the  old  quarto.  So  great  is  theneoefiity 
pf  collation.  Jonr.'io.v. 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       107 

Pan.  Ah,  ah! 

Cre.  Why  figh  you  fo    profoundly  ?  where's  my 

lord  ?  gone  ? 
Tell  me,  fvveet  uncle,  what's  the  matter  ? 

Pan.  'Would  I  were  as  deep  under  the  earth,  as  I 
am  above ! 

Cre.  O  the  gods ! — what's  the  matter  ? 

Pan.  Pr'ythee,  get  thee  in ;  Would  thou  had'ft  ne'er 
been  born  !  I  knew,  thou  wouldft  be  his  death  : — 

0  poor  gentleman  ! — A  plague  upon  Antenor  ! 
Cre.  Good  uncle,  I  befeech  you  on  my  knees, 

1  befeech  you,  what's  the  matter  ? 

Pan.  Thou  muft  be  gone,  wench,  thou  muft  be 
gone ;  thou  art  chang'd  for  Antenor  :  thou  muft  to 
thy  father,  and  be  gone  from  Troilus  ;  'twill  be  his 
death  ;  'twill  be  his  bane  ;  he  cannot  bear  it. 

Cre.  O  you  immortal  gods  !  — I  will  not  go. 

Pan.  Thou  muft. 

Cre.  I  will  not,  uncle  :  I  have  forgot  my  father  ; 
I  know  no  touch  of  confanguinity  ; 
No  kin,  no  love,  no  blood,  no  foul  fo  near  me, 
As  the  fweet  Troilus. — O  you  gods  divine  ! 
Make  Creffid's  name  the  very  crown  of  falfhood, 
If  everfhe  leave  Troilus !  Time,  force,  and  death, 
Do  to  this  body  what  extremes  you  can  ; 
But  the  ftrong  bafe  and  building  of  my  love 
Is  as  the  very  center  of  the  earth, 
Drawing  all  things  to  it. — I'll  go  in,  and  weep, 

Pan.  Do,  do. 

Cre.  Tear  my  bright  hair,  and  fcratch  my  praifed 

cheeks ; 

Crack  my  clear  voice  with  fobs,  and  break  my  heart 
With  founding  Troilus.     I  will  not  go  from  Troy. 

[Exeunt. 


SCENE 


icS     TROILUS   AND   CRESSI0A. 

SCENE        III. 

Before  Pandarus'  koufe 
Enter  Paris,  Trollus,  jEneas,  Diomedes,  csV. 

Par.  It  is  great  morning8;  and  the  hour  prehVd 
Of  her  delivery  to  this  valiant  Greek 
Comes  fail  upon  : — Good  my  brother  Troilus, 
Tell  you  the  lady  what  Ihe  is  to  do, 
And  hafte  her  to  the  purpofc. 

Trot.  Walk  in  to  her  houfe ; 
I'll  bring  her  to  the  Grecian  prefcntly  : 
And  to  his  hand  when  I  deliver  her, 
Think  it  an  altar ;  and  thy  brother  Troilus 
A  prieft,  there  offering  to  it  his  own  heart.  [Exit  Troi. 

Par.  I  know  what  'tis  to  love  ; 
And  'would,  as  I  fliall  pity,  I  could  help  !  — 
Pleafe  you,  walk  in,  my  lords.  [Exeunt, 

SCENE    IV. 

An  apartment  hi  Pandarus9  hottfe* 
Enter  Pandarus,  and  Crejida* 

Pan.  Be  moderate,  be  moderate. 
Ore.  'Why  tell  you  me  of  moderation  ? 
9  The  grief  is  fine,  full,  perfect,  that  I  taftc, 

And 

*— — great  morning  ;  — —  ]     Grand  jour ;  a   Gallicifm. 

STEEVENS, 
.    •  Tit  grief  tec."]     The  folio  reads : 

ne  grief  ii  fine ^  fullperfefl,  that  I  ta/lct 

And  no  lefs  in  aftnfe  a>  Jlrong 

As  that  which  caufcth  it. • 

The  quarto  otherwife : 

7 'be  grief is  fine,  full,  prrfcfl,  that  I  ttiflc^ 

And  violenteth  in  afci/fe  as  Jlrong 

jif  that  ivbiib  caufetb  it.  . 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       109 

And  violenteth  in  a  fenfe  as  flrong 

As  that  which  caufeth  it :  How  can  I  moderate  k  ? 

If  I  could  temporize  with  my  affection, 

Or  brew  it  to  a  weak  and  colder  palate, 

The  like  allayment  could  I  give  my  grief: 

My  love  admits  no  qualifying  drofs ; 

No  more  my  grief,  in  fuch  a  precious  lofs. 

Enter  Troilus. 

Pan.  Here,  here,  here  he  comes. — Ah  fwcet  ducks  ? 
Cre.  O  Troilus !  Troilus ! 

Pan.  What  a  pair  of  fpcctacles  is  here !  Let  me 
embrace  too  :  0  heart, — as  the  goodly  faying  is,—- 

— — — o  heart,  o  heavy  heart) 

IVkyfigUft  thou  without  breaking  ? 
where  he  anfwers  again, 

Becaufe  thou  canft  not  eafe  thy  fmart, 

By  friendjlrip)  nor  by  fpeaking. 

There  never  was  a  truer  rhyme.  Let  us  call  away 
nothing,  for  we  may  live  to  have  need  of  fuch  a  verfe  j 
we  fee  it,  we  fee  it, — How  now,  lambs  ? 

Troi.  Creffid,  I  love  thee  in  fo  '  ftrain'd  a  purity, 
That  the  bleft  gods — as  angry  with  my  fancy, 
More  bright  in  zeal  than  the  devotion  which 
Cold  lips  blow  to  their  deities — take  thee  from  me* 

ytolentetb  is  a  word  with  which  I  am  not  acquainted,  yet  perhaps 
it  may  be  right.  The  reading  of  the  text  is  without  authority. 

JOHNSON. 

I  have  followed  the  quarto.     Violencetb  is  ufed  by  Ben  Jonfon 
in  The  Devil  is  an  Afs : 

"  Nor  nature  violencetb  in  both  thefe." 

and  Mr.  Toilet  has  fince  furnifted  me  with  this  verbasfpelt  in  the- 
play  of  Shakefpeare  :  "  His  former  adverfaries  violtnted ^any  thing 
againft  him."     Fuller's  W^ortbies^  in  Anglefca* 
The  modern  reading  was  : 

And  in  its  fenfe  is  no  lefs  Jlroxg,  than  that 

IVh-cb  caufetb  it. STEEVEKS. 

1  — ftrain'd — ]     So  the  quarto.    The  folio  and  all  the  mo- 
derns have  Jlrange.     JOHNSON. 

Cre. 


no      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA, 

Cre.  Have  the  gods  envy  ? 

Pan.  Ay,  ay,  ay,  ay  ;  'tis  too  plain  a  cafe. 

Cre.  And  is  it  true,  that  I  muft  go  from  Troy  ? 

froi.  A  hateful  truth. 

Cre.  What,  and  from  Troilus  too  ? 

Troi.  From  Troy,  and  Troilus. 

Cre.  Is  it  poffible  ? 

Irol.  And  fu'ddenly ;  where  injury  of  chance 
Puts  back  leave-taking,  juflles  roughly  by 
All  time  of  paufe,  rudely  beguiles  our  lips 
Of  all  rejoindure,  forcibly  prevents 
Our  lock'd  embrafures,  ftrangles  our  dear  vows 
Even  in  the  birth  of  our  own  labouring  breath  : 
We  two,  that  with  fo  many  thoufand  fighs 
Did  buy  each  other,  muft  poorly  fell  ourfelves 
With  the  rude  brevity  and  difcharge  of  one. 
Injurious  time  now,  with  a  robber's  hafte, 
Crams  his  rich  thievery  up,  he  knows  not  how : 
As  many  farewels  as  be  flars  in  heaven, 
With  diftincl:  breath  and  confign'd  kifTes  to  them, 
He  fumbles  up  into  a  loofe  adieu  ; 
And  fcants  us  with  a  fingle  familh'd  kifs, 
Diftafted  with  the  fait  of  broken  tears. 

Aeneas  [within.']  My  lord  !  is  the  lady  ready  ? 

Troi.  Hark  !  you  are  call'd :  Some  fay,  the  Genius  fo 
Cries,  Come  !  to  him  that  inftantly  muft  die. — 
Bid  them  have  patience;  Ihe  lhall  come  anon. 

Pan.  Where  are  my  tears  ?  rain,  to  lay  this  wind, 
Or  my  heart  will  be  blown  up  by  the  root.  [Exit  Pan. 

Cre.  I  muft  then  to  the  Grecians  ? 

fra.  No  remedy. 

Cre.  A  woeful  Creffid  'mongft  the  merry  Greeks* !  — 
When  lhall  we  fee  again  ? 

*  A  woeful  Creffid  'mongji  the  merry  Greeks  !]  So,  in  A  mad 
World  my  Mafters,  1640,  a  man  gives  the  watchmen  fome  money, 
and  when  they  have  received  it  he  fays  :  "  the  mtrry  Greeks  un- 
derftand  me,'*  STEEVEXS, 

Troi. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       m 

Troi.  Hear   me,  my  love  :  Be  thou  but  true  of 
heart, — 

Cr-c.  I  true  !  how  now  ?  what  wicked  deem  is  this  ? 

Troi.-  Nay,  we  muft  ufe  expoftulation  kindly, 

For  it  is  parting  from  us : 

1  fpeak  not,  be  thou  true,  as  fearing  thee ; 
3  For  I  will  throw  my  glove  to  death  himfclf, 
That  there's  no  maculation  in  thy  heart : 
But,  be  thou  true,  fay  I,  to  fafhion  in 
My  fequent  protection  ;  be  thou  true, 
And  I  will  fee  thee. 

Cre.  O,  you  lhall  be  expos'd,  my  lord,  to  danger* 
As  infinite  as  imminent !  but,  I'll  be  true. 

Troi.  And   I'll  grow  friend  with  danger.     Wear 
this  fleeve. 

Cre.  And  you  this  glove.     When  mall  I  fee  you  ? 

Troi.  I  will  corrupt  the  Grecian  centinels, 
To  give  thee  nightly  vifitation. 
But  yet,  be  true. 

Cre.  O  heavens ! — be  true,  again  ? 

Troi.  Hear  why  I  fpeak  it,  love  :    The  Grecian 

youths 

Are  well  compos'd,  with  gifts  of  nature  flowing, 
And  fvveHing  o'er  with  arts  and  exercife ; 
How  novelties  may  move,  and  parts  4  with  perfon, 
Alas,  a  kind  of  godly  jealoufy 
(Which,  I  befeech  you,  call  a  virtuous  fin) 
Makes  me  afeard. 

Cre.  O  heavens  !  you  love  me  not. 

Troi.  Die  I  a  villain  then  ! 
In  this   I  do  not  call  your  faith  in  queftion, 
So  mainly  as  my  merit :  I  cannot  ling, 

3  Far  I  will  throw  my  glove  to  death ]  That  is,  I  wiil 

challenge  death  himfelf  in  defence  of  thy  fidelity.  JOHNSON. 

* with  perfon^]  Thus  the  folio.  The  quarto  reads, 

with  portion,  STKEVENS. 

Nor 


ii2      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Nor  heel  the  high  lavolt 5,  nor  fvveeten  talk, 
Nor  play  at  fubtle  games ;  fair  virtues  all, 
To  which  the  Grecians  are  moft  prompt  and  preg- 
nant : 

But  I  can  tell,  that  in  each  grace  of  thefe 
There  lurks  a  {till  and  dumb-difcourfive  devil, 
That  tempts  moft  cunningly  :  but  be  not  tempted* 

Cre.  Do  you  think,  I  will  ? 

froi.  No. 

But  fomething  may  be  done,  that  we  will  not : 
And  fometimes  we  are  devils  to  ourfelves, 
When  we  will  tempt  the  frailty  of  our  powers, 
Prefummg  on  their  changeful  potency. 

JEneas  [within.']  Nay,  good  my  lord, 

2V0/.  Come,  kifs ;  and  let  us  part. 

Paris  [within.']  Brother  Troilus ! 

froi.  Good  brother,  come  yon  hither  ; 
And  bring  ^Eneas,  and  the  Grecian,  with  you. 

Cre.  My  lord,  will  you  be  true  ? 

I'm.  Who  I  ?  alas,  it  is  my  vice,  my  fault : 
While  others  fifh  with  craft  for  great  opinion, 
I  with  great  truth  6  catch  mere  fimplicity  ; 
Whilft  ibme  with  cunning  gild  their  copper  crownsx 
With  truth  and  plainnefs  I  do  wear  mine  bare. 
Fear  not  my  truth  ;  7  the  moral  of  my  wit 
Is — plain,  and  true, — there's  all  the  reach  of  it. 

Enter 

« the  high  lavolt,]     The  la-jolta  was  a  dance.     It  is  elfe- 

where  mentioned,  where  feveral  examples  are  given.    STEEVENS. 

6  ...  .     catch  mere fmplicity  ;  ]     The  meaning,  I  think,  is,  while 
others,  by  their  art,  gain  high  eftimation,  I,  by  honeity,  obtain 
a  plain  fimple  approbation.     JOHNSON. 

7  the  moral  of  my  wit 

Is— plain,  and  true, ]     That  is,  the  governing  principle  of 

ny  undemanding  ;  but  I  rather  think  we  fhoulJ  read  : 
the  motto  of  my  ivit 

Is,  plain  and  true JOHNSON. 

Surely  moral  in  this  inftance  has  the  fame  meaning  as  in  Much 
Ado  about  Nothing,  aft  III.  fc.  iv. 

"  Bene- 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       113 

Enter  &neas,  Paris,  and  Diomed. 

Welcome,  fir  Diomcd  !  here  is  the  lady* 
Whom  for  Antenor  we  deliver  you  : 
At  the  port ',  lord,  I'll  give  her  to  thy  hand  £ 
And,  by  the  way,  *  poilefs  thee  what  ihe  is. 
Entreat  her  fair ;  and,  by  my  foul,  fair  Greek> 
If  e'er  thou  ftand  at  mercy  of  my  fword, 
Name  Creffid,  and  thy  life  {hall  be  as  fafe 
As  Priam  is  in  Ilion. 

Dio.  Fair  lady  Creffid, 

So  pleafe  you,  fave  the  thanks  this  prince  expects  J 
The  Inflre  in  your  eye,  heaven  in  your  cheek, 
Pleads  your  fair  ufage;  and  to  Diomed 
You  fhall  be  miftrefs,  and  command  him  wholly. 

Srw".  Grecian,  thou  doft  not  ufe  me  eourteoufly, 
3  To  lhame  the  zeal  of  my  petition  to  thee, 
In  praifing  her  :  I  tell  thee,  lord  of  Greece, 
She  is  as  far  high-foaring  o'er  thy  praifes, 
As  thou  unworthy  to  be  call'd  her  fervant. 

"  Benediftus !  why  Benediftus  ?  you  have  fome  moral  in  this 
Benediftus." 

Again,  in  the  Taming  of  a  Shrew,  aft  IV.  fc.  iv. 

"  he  has  left  me  here  behind  to  expound  the  meaning  or 

moral  rf  his  figns  and  tokens."     TOLI.ET. 

1  At  the  port, ]     The  port  is  the  gates.     STEEVENS. 

1 poflefs  tbee  vjbat  fuc  is.}     I  will  make  thee  fully  under- 

Jtand.     This  fenfe  of  the  word  pojjefs  is  frequent  in  our  author. 

JOHNSO.V. 

3  T'ojbame  the  feal  of  my  petition  towards  tbce, 

By  fraijing  her. ]     To  Jhame  the  feal  of  a  petition  13 

nonfenfe.    Shakefpeare  wrote  : 

Tojbame  the  zeal 

and  the  fenfe  is  this:  Grecian,  you  ufe  me  difcourteoufly  ;  you  fee 
I  am  a  pajjionate  lover  by  my  petition  to  you  ;  and  therefore  you 
fhould  not  ftiame  the  zeal  of  it,  by  promising  to  do  what  I  require 
of  you,  for  the  fake  of  her  beauty:  when,  if  you  had  good  man- 
ners, or  a  fenfe  of  a  lover's  deficacy,  you  would  have  promifed 
to  do  it  in  compaffion  to  his  fangs  andfu-fferings.  WAREURTOX. 

VOL.  IX.  I  I  charg* 


ii4     TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

I  charge  thee,  ufe  her  well,  even  for  my  charge; 
For,  by  the  dreadful  Pluto,  if  thou  doft  not, 
Though  the  great  bulk  Achilles  be  thy  guard, 
I'll  cut  thy  throat. 

Dio.  O,  be  not  mov'd,  prince  Troilus  : 
Let  me  be  privileg'd  by  my  place,  and  meffage, 
To  be  a  fpeaker  free ;  when  I  am  hence, 
I'll  anfwer  to  +  my  luft  :  And  know  you,  lord, 
I'll  nothing  do  on  charge  :  to  her  own  worth 
She  lhall  be  priz'd  ;  but  that  you  fay — be't  fo, 
I  fpeak  it  in  my  fpirit  and  honour, — no. 

Trot.  Come,  to  the  port. — I'll  tell  thce,  Diomed, 
This  brave  fhall  oft  make  thee  to  hide  thy  head. — 
Lady,  give  me  your  hand  ;  and,  as  we  walk, 
To  our  own  felves  bend  we  our  needful  talk. 

[Exeunt  Troilus  and  CreJJid.     Sound  trumpet. 

Par.  Hark  !  Hedtor's  trumpet. 

jEne.  How  have  we  fpent  this  morning ! 
The  prince  muft  think  me  tardy  and  remifs, 
That  fwore  to  ride  before  him  to  the  field. 

Par.  'Tis  Troilus'  fault :  Come,  come,  to  field 
with  him. 

5  Dio.  Let  us-make  ready  ftraight. 

Mne.  Yea,  with  a  bridegroom's  frefh  alacrity, 
Let  us  addrefs  to  tend  on  Hector's  heels : 
The  glory  of  our  Troy  doth  this  day  lie 
On  his  fair  worth,  and  fingle  chivalry.          [Exeunt. 

*_ my  lift  :  —  ]  This  I  think  is  right,  though  both  the  old 

copies  read  luft.  JOHNSON. 

What  is  the  difference,  in  our  old  writers,  between  litft  and  lift  ? 

STEEVENS. 

$  Die."]  Thefe  five  lines  are  not  in  the  quarto,  being  pro- 
bably added  at  the  revifion.  JOHNSON. 


SCENE 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.      115 

SCENE        V. 

'The  Grecian  Camp. 

Enter  Ajax  arm'h  Agamemnon,  Achilles,  Patrochs,  Me- 
sy  Ufyffes,  Nejlor,  &c. 


Aga.  Here  art  thou  in  appointment  frefh  an<i  fair, 
Anticipating  time  with  ftarting  courage. 
Give  with  thy  trumpet  a  loud  note  to  Troy, 
Thou  dreadful  Ajax  ;  that  the  appalled  air 
May  pierce  the  head  of  the  great  combatant, 
And  hale  him  hither. 

Ajax.  Thou,  trumpet,  there's  my  purfe. 
Now  crack  thy  lungs,  and  fplit  thy  brazen  pipe  : 
Blow,  villain,  'till  thy  fphered  6  bias  cheek 
Out-fwell  the  cholic  of  pufFd  Aquilon  : 
Come,  ftretch  thy  cheft,  and  let  thy  eyes  fpout  blood  ; 
Thou  blow'ft  for  He&or. 

Ulyjf.  No  trumpet  anfwers. 

AchiL  'Tis  but  early  days. 

Aga.  Is  not  yon  Diomed,  with  Calchas'  daughter  ? 

Ufyfi  'Tis  he,  I  ken  the  manner  of  his  gait; 
He  riles  on  his  toe  ;  that  fpirit  of  his 
In  afpiration  lifts  him  from  the  earth. 

Enter  Diomed,  with  Crejfida* 

Aga.  Is  this  the  lady  Creflida  ? 
Dio.  Even  Ihe. 

Ago*  Moil  dearly  welcome  to  the  Greeks,  fweet 
lady. 

6  ——lias  cheek]     Swelling  out  like  the  bias  of  a  bowl. 

JOHNSON. 
So,  in  Vittoria  Coromlona,  or  the  White  Devil,   1612  : 

**  -  'Faith  his  check 

"  Has  a  moft  excellent  lias"  -    STSEVENS. 

I  2  -Nell. 


n6      TRO1LUS    AND   CRESSIDA. 

Neft.  OUT  general  doth  falute  you  with  a  kifs. 

Ulyfll  Yet  is  the  kindnefs  but  particular ; 
Twere  better,  fhe  were  kifs'd  in  general. 

Nejl.  And  very  courtly  counfel :  Til  begin. 

So  much  for  Neftor. 

AcblL  I'll  take  that  winter  from  your  lips,  fair  lady : 
Achilles  bids  you  welcome. 

Men.  I  had  good  argument  for  kifling  once. 

Patr.  But  that's  no  argument  for  kifling  now  : 
For  thus  popp'd  Paris  in  his  hardiment; 
And  parted  thus  you  and  your  argument. 

Ulvff.  O  deadly  gall,  and  theme  of  all  our  fcorns ! 
For  which  we  lofe  our  heads,  to  gild  his  horns. 

Patr.  The  firlt  was  Menelaus'  kifs ; — this,  mine  : 
Patroclus  kifles  you. 

Men.  O,  this  is  trim  ! 

Patr.  Paris,  and  I,  kifs  evermore  for  him. 

Men.  I'll  have  my  kifs,  fir  : Lady,  by  your 

leave. 

Cre.  In  kifling,  do  you  render,  or  receive  ? 

Patr.  7  Both  take  and  give. 

Cre.  8  I'll  make  my  match  to  live, 
The  kifs  you  take  is  better  than  you  give; 
Therefore  no  kifs. 

Men.  I'll  give  you  boot,  I'll  give  you  three  for  one. 

Cre.  You're  an  odd  man  ;  give  even,  or  give  none. 

Men.  An  odd  man,  lady  ?  every  man  is  odd. 

Cre.  No,  Paris  is  not ;  for,  you  know,  'tis  true, 
That  you  are  odd,  and  he  is  even  with  you. 

Men.  You  fillip  me  o'  the  head. 

Cre.  No,  I'll  be  fworn. 

7  Both  take  antt  give,]  This  fpeech  ftvould  rather  be  given  to 
Menelaus.  TY&WHITT.  v 

*  rilmakt  my  mau-h  to  live."]  I  will  make  fuch  largalns  as  I  may 
lire  by,fucb  at  may  bring  me  profit  ^  therefore  will  not  take  a  worfe 
kifs  than  I  give,  JOHNSON. 

J  believe  this  only  means—/*//  lay  my  life.    TYRWHITT. 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.      117 

Uhf.  It  were  no  match,  your  nail  againft  his  horn. — 
May  I,  fweet  lady,  beg  a  kifs  of  you  ? 

Cre.  You  may. 

Ulyf.  I  do  defire  it. 

Cre.  9  Why,  beg  then. 

Ulvfl*.  Why  then,  for  Venus*  fake,  give  me  a  kifs, 
When 'Helen  is  a  maid  again,  and  his. 

Cre.  I  am  your  debtor,  claim  it  when  'tis  due. 

Ufyjf.  *  Never's  my  day,  and  then  a  kifs  of  you. 

Dio.  Lady,  a  word  j — I'll  bring  you  to  your  father. 
[Diomed  leads  out  Creffida. 

Nefl.  A  woman  of  quick  fenfe. 

Ulyff.  Fie,  fie  upon  her ! 

There's  language  in  her  eye,  her  cheek,  her  lip, 
Nay,  her  foot  fpeaks ;  her  wanton  fpirits  look,  out 
At  every  joint  and  2  motive  of  her  body. 
O,  thefe  encounterers,  fo  glib  of  tongue, 
That  give  J  a  coafting  welcome  ere  it  comes, 
And  wide  unclafp  the  tables  of  their  thoughts 
To  every  ticklifh  reader !  fet  them  down 
For  4  fluttifh  fpoils  of  opportunity, 

9  JlTy,  leg  tben.~\     For  the  fake  of  rhime  we  (hould  read : 

Wljy  beg  two. 

If  you  think  kifles  worth  begging,  beg  more  thnn  one.    JOHXSON-. 
1  Never's  my  day,  and  then  a  klfe  ofyou.~\   I  once  gave  both  thele 
lines  to  Creffida.     She  bids  Ulyfles  beg  a  kits  j  he  aiks  that  he  may 
have  it : 

Wlien  Helen  is  a  maid  again — 

She  teHs  him  that  then  he  fhall  have  it : 
When  Helen  is  a  maid  again  • 

Cre.  I  am  your  debtor,  claim  It  ivben  'tis  due  ; 
Never's  my  day,  andthtn  a  k:fs  for  you. 

But  I  rather  think  that  Ulyfles  means  to  ilight  her,  and  that  the 
prefent  reading  is  right.     JOHNSON. 

* motive  of  her  loJy.]     Motive  for  part  that  contributes  to 

motion.     JOHNSON. 

3  a  coajling — — ]     An  amorous  addrefs  ;  courtfhip. 

JOHNSON. 

4  — — Jluttijb  fpolh  of  opportunity,]  Corrupt  wenches,  of  whofe 
chaftity  every  opportunity  may  make  a  prey.     JOHNSON. 

I  3  And 


ii8      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

And  daughters  of  the  game.  [Trumpet  within. 

AIL  The  Trojans'  trumpet ! 
Aga.  Yonder  comes  the  troop. 

Enter  Heffor,  sEneas,  Troilus,  &c.  with  attendants. 

Mm.  Hail,  all  the  ftateof  Greece  !  What  fliall  be 

done  to  him 

That  victory  commands  ?  Or  do  you  purpofe, 
A  victor  lhall  be  known  ?  will  you,  the  knights 
Shall  to  the  edge  of  all  extremity 
Purfue  each  other  ;  or  (hall  they  be  divided 
By  any  voice  or  order  of  the  field  ? 
Hedtor  bade  afk. 

A%a»  Which  way  would  Hector  have  it  ? 

JEne*  He  cares  not,  he'll  obey  conditions. 

Aga*  s  'Tis  done  like  Hector ;  but  fecurely  done, 

A  little 

5  'Tis  done  like  Hetfor  ;  lut  fecurely  done^\  In  the  fenfe  of  the 
Latin,  fecurus — fecurus  admodum  de  hello,  animi  fccuri  homo.  A 
negligent  fecurity  arifing  from  a  contempt  of  the  object  oppofed. 

WARBURTON. 

Dr.  Warburton  truly  obferves,  that  the  word  fecurely  is  here 
vifed  in  the  Latin  fenfe  :  and  Mr.  Warner,  in  his  ingenious  letter 
to  Mr.  Garrick,  thinks  this  fenfe  peculiar  to  Shakefpeare,  "  for, 
fays  he,  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  it  elfewhere."  This  gentle- 
man has  treated  me  with  fo  much  civility,  that  I  am  bound  in  ho- 
nour to  remove  his  difficulty. 

It  is  to  be  found  in  the  lafl  ait  of  the  Spatujb  Tragedy  : 
"  O  damned  devil !  \\o\v fe^ure  he  is." 

In  my  lord  Bacon's  Effay  on  Tumults,  "  neither  let  any  prince 
or  ftate  be  fccure  concerning  difcontents."  And  befides  thefe,  in 
Drayton,  Fletcher,  and  the  vulgar  tranflation  of  the  Bible. 

Mr.  Warner  had  as  little  fuccefs  in  his  refearches  for  the  word 
religion  in  its  Latin  acceptation.  I  meet  with  it  however  in  Hoby's 
tranflation  of  Cafiilio,  1561  :  "  Some  be  fo  fcrupulous,  as  it  were, 
with  a  religion  of  this  their  Tufcane  tung." 

Ben  Jonfon  more  than  once  ufes  both  thejitl/tarttivt  and  the  ad- 
jeftive  in  this  fenfe. 

As  to  the  word  Cavalero^  with  the  Spanifli  termination,  it  is  to 
be  found  in  Heywood,  Withers,  Davies,  Taylor,  and  many  other 
writers.  FARMER. 

Aga, 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.       119 

A  little  proudly,  and  great  deal  mifprizing 
The  knight  oppos'd. 

Mne.  If  not  Achilles,  fir, 
What  is  your  name  ? 
•    Acbll.  If  not  Achilles,  nothing. 

Mm.  Therefore  Achilles :  But,  whatever,  know 

this ; — 

-  In  the  extremity  of  great  and  little, 
6  Valour  and  pride  excel  themfelves  in  Hector; 
The  one  almoft  as  infinite  as  all, 
The  other  blank  as  nothing.     Weigh  him  well, 
And  that,  which  looks  like  pride,  is  courtefy. 
This  Ajax  is  half  made  of  Hector's  blood  ; 
In  love  whereof,  half  Hector  ftays  at  home  ; 
Half  heart,  half  hand,  half  Hector  comes  to  feek 
This  blended  knight,  half  Trojan,  and  half  Greek. 

AckiL  A  maiden  battle  then  ? — O,  I  perceive  you. 

Re-enter  Diomed. 

Aga.  Here  is  fir  Diomed  : — Go,  gentle  knight, 
Stand  by  our  Ajax  :  as  you  and  lord  jSneas 
Confent  upon  the  order  of  their  fight, 
So  be  it ;  either  to  the  uttcrmoft, 
pr  elfe  a  breath  :  the  combatants  being  kin, 

Aga.  "Tis  dnnc  like  Heflor,  but  fecurely  done, ~\  It  feems  abfurd 
to  me,  that  Agamemnon  ihould  make  a  remark  to  the  difparage- 
jnent  of  Hettor  for  pride,  and  that  jEneas  (hould  immediately 
fay,  If  not  Achilles,  Jtrt  ivbat  is  your  name?  To  Achilles  I  have 
ventured  to  place  it;  and  confulting  Mr.  Dryden's  alteration  of 
this  play,  I  was  not  a  little  pleated  to  find,  that  I  had  but  ','econd- 
ed  the  opinion  of  that  great  man  in  this  po;nt.  THEOBALD. 

As  the  old  copies  agree,  I  have  made  no  change.     JOHNSON. 

7  Valour  and  pride  excel  tbeK/cives  i'i  Hffior ;  ]  Shakefp^ 
thought  is  not  exactly  deduced."  Nicety  of  expreffion  is  not'his 
character.  The  meaning  is- pUyn  :  **  Valour  (fays  JEaeas)  is  in 
Hettor  greater  than  valour  in  other  men,  and  pride  iu  Hector 
is  lei's  than  pride  in  other  men.  So  that  He<5lor  is  diftin- 
guilhed  by  the  excellence  of  having  pride  lefs  than  oth.cr^ride, 
and  valour  more  than  other  valour."  JOHNSON. 

I  4  Half 


120      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

Half  flints  their  ftrife  before  their  ftrokes  begin. 

Uh[[.  They  are  oppos'd  already. 

Aga.  WhatTrojan  is  that  fame  that  looks  fo  heavy  ? 

UJvf.  The  youngeft  fon  of  Priam,  a  true  knight ; 
Not  yet  mature,  yet  matchlefs ;  firm  of  word  ; 
Speaking  in  deeds,  and  deedlefs  in  his  tongue ; 
Not  foon  provok'd,nor,  being  provok'd,  foon  calm'd : 
His  heart  and  hand  both  open,  and  both  free ; 
For  what  he  has,  he  gives,  what  thinks,  he  fhews ; 
Yet  gives  he  not  'till  judgment  guide  his  bounty. 
Nor  dignifies  8  an  impair  thought  with  breath  : 
Manly  as  Hedtor,  but  more  dangerous ; 
For  Hedtor,  in  his  bhzc  of  wrath,  9  fubfcribes 
To  tender  objedts ;  but  he,  in  heat  of  action, 
Is  more  vindicative  than  jealous  love : 
They  call  him  Troilus ;  and  on  him  ercdl 
A  fecond  hope,  as  fairly  built  as  Hedtor. 
Thus  fays  JEneas ;  one  that  knows  the  youth 
Even  to  his  inches,  and,  with  private  foul, 
Pid  in  great  Ilicn  '  thus  translate  him  to  me, 

[Alarum.    Hcttor  and  Ajax  fgkt^ 
.  They  are  in  adtion. 
L  Now,  Ajax,  hold  thine  o\vn  f 
A  Ht£r.or,  thou  fleep'ft,  awake  thce  ! 

Aga.  His  blows  are  well  difpos'd  : — there,  Ajax  ! 

[Trumpets  ceafe. 

*       —an  impair  thought ]      A   thought   unfuitable  to  the 

dignity  of  his  character.  This  word  I  fliould  have  changed  to  /'/»- 
furc,  were  1  not  over-powered  by  the  unanimity  of  the  editors, 
and  concurrence  of  the  old  copies.  JOHNSON. 

So,  in  Chapman's  preface  to  his  tranilation  of  the  Shield  of  Ho- 
mer ^    1598  :  •'  nor  is  it  more  impairs  to  an  honeft  and  abfo- 

Jute  man,  &c.'*    STEEVENS. 

9  Hefior futyl-nbes 

To  tender  otyffls; ]  That  is,  yields ^  gives  way.  JOHNSON. 

Bo,  in  K.  Lear,  fubfiriVd  his  power,  i.  e.  fubmitted. 

STEBVENS. 

|  •         .I.  tbui  tranflatc  him  to  we,]     Thus  explain  his  cbaratfer% 

JOHNSON. 


TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA.      121 

Dio.  You  muft  no  more. 

sEne.  Princes,  enough,  fo  pleafe  you. 

Ajax.  I  am  not  warm  yet,  let  us  fight  again. 

jD/o.  As  He&or  pleafes. 

HeSl.  Why  then,  will  I  no  more  :— — 
Thou  art,  great  lord,  my  father's  filler's  fon, 
A  coufin-german  to  great  Priam's  feed  ; 
The  obligation  of  our  blood  forbids 
A  gory  emulation  'twixt  us  twain  : 
Were  thy  commixtion  Greek  and  Trojan  fb, 
That  thou  could'ft  fay — This  hand  is  Grecian  allt 
And  this  is  'Trojan;  the  fviews  of  this  leg 
All  Greek,  and  this  allTr  \  ;  my  mother' 's  bkod 
Runs  mi  the  dexter  cheek,  and  this  finifter 
Bounds-in  my  father's ;  by  Jove  multipotent, 
Thou  ihouldrt  not  bear  from  me  a  Greekifh  member 
Wherein  my  fword  had  n.  t  impreffure  made 
Of  our  rank  feud  :  But  the  juft  gods  gainfay, 
That  any  drop  thou  borrow'ft  from  thy  mother, 
My  facred  aunt,  Ihould  by  my  mortal  fword 
Be  drain'd  !    Let  me  embrace  thee,  Ajax  : 
By  him  that  thunders,  thou  halt  lufty  arms  ; 
Hector  would  have  them  fall  upon  him.  thus : 
Coufin,  all  honour  to  thee  ! 

Ajax.  I  thank  thee,  Hector  : 
Thou  art  too  gentle,  and  too  free  a  man  : 
I  came  to  kill  thee,  coufin,  and  bear  hence 
A  great  addition  earned  in  thy  death. 

Heft.  *  Not  Neoptolemus  fo  mirable 

(On 

*  Not  Ncoptolemps  fo  mirable 

(On  whofe  bright  creft^  Fame,  ivlth  her  loucPft  O yes, 
Cries,  This  is  he  ;)  could promife  to  bimfclf&ic.'}  That  is  to  fay, 
**  Yoij,  an  old  veteran  warrior,  threaten  to  kill  me,  when  not 
the  young  fon  of  Achilles  (who  is  yet  to  ferve  his  apprentifage  in 
\var,  under  the  Grecian  generals,    and  on  that  account  called 
N«o7rl^e/A©-)  dare  himfelf  entertain  fuch  a  thought."     But  Shake- 
fpcare  meant  another  fort  of  man,  as  is  evident  from, 
On  wbofe  bright  err/?,  &C, 


122      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

(On  whofe  bright  creft  Fame  with  her  loud'ft  O  yes 
Cries,  This  is  he)  could  promife  to  himfelf 

A  thought 

which  charadterifes  one  who  'goes  foremoft  and  alone  ;  and  can 
therefore  fuit  only  one,  which  one  was  Achilles,  as  Shakefpeare 
himfelf  has  drawn  him  : 

The  great  Achilles,  whom  'opinion  crowns 

The  finew  and  the  forehand  of  our  kojl. 
And,  again  : 

IPbefe  glorious  deeds  but  in  thefe  fields  of  late 

Made  emulous  miffions  'mongft  the  gods  tbemfdvcs, 

And  drove  great  Mars  to  faflion. 

And  indeed  the  fenfe  and  fpirit  of  Hector's  fpeech  requires  that 
the  moft  celebrated  of  his  adverfaries  fhould  be  picked  out  to  be 
defied;  and  this  was  Achilles,  with  whom  Hector  had  his  final 
affair.  We  muft  conclude  then  that  Shakefpeare  wrote : 

Not  Neoptolemus's  fire  irafcible, 

On  whofe  bright  creft 

'Jrafcllle  is  an  old  fchool  term,  and  is  an  epithet  fluting  his  cha- 
racter, and  the  circum fiances  he  was  then  in  : 

"  Impiger,  iracundus,  inexorabilis,  acer." 

But  our  editor,  Mr.  Theobald,  by  his  objlure  diligence,  had  found 
out  that  Wynken  de  Worde,  in  the  old  chronicle  of  The  three 
DeJlrucTions  of  Troy,  introduces  one  Neoptolemus  into  the  ten 
years. quarrel,  a  perfon  diftindt  from  the  fon  of  Achilles;  and 
therefore  will  have  it,  that  Shakefpeare  here  means  no  other  than 
the  Neoptolemus  of  this  worthy  chronicler.  He  was  told,  to  no 
purpofe,  that  this  fancy  wr.s  nbfurd.  For  firft,  Wynken's  Neopto- 
lemus is  a  common-rate  warrior,  and  fo  defcribed  as  not  to  fit  the 
character  here  given.  Secondly,  it  is  not  to  be  imagined  that  the 
poet  {hould  on  this  occafion  make  Hector  refer  to  a  character  not 
in  the  play,  and  never  fo  much  as  mentioned  on  any  other  occa- 
fion. Thirdly,  Wynken's  Neoptolemus  is  a  warrior  on  the  Tro- 
jan fide,  and  flain  by  Achilles.  But  Hector  muft  needs  mean  by 
one  "  who  could  promife  a  thought  of  added  honour  torn  from 
him,"  a  warrior  amongft  his  enemies  on  the  Grecian  fide. 

WAR  BURTON. 

After  all  this  contention,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  the  critic 
believes  mirable  to  have  been  changed  to  irafcible  I  fliould  fooner 
read, 

Not  Neoptolemus  th'  admirable  ; 

as  I  know  not  whether  m'tnilk  can  be  found  in  any  other  pbce. 
The  correction  which  the  learned  commentator  gave  to  Hunuier : 

Not  Ncoptolemuf  lire  fo  mirable, 

as  it  was  modeller  than  this,  was  preferable  to  it.  But  nothing 
is  more  remote  from  juftnefs  of  fentiment,  than  for  Hector  to  cha- 

ricterife 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.      123 

A  thought  of  added  honour  torn  from  He6ror. 

Mm.  There  is  expectance  here  from  both  the  fides, 
What  further  you  will  do. 

Heft.  *  We'll  anfwer  it ; 
The  iflue  is  embraccment : — Ajax,  farewel. 

Ajax.  If  I  might  in  entreaties  find  fuccefs, 
(As  feld  I  have  the  chance)  I  would  defire 
My  famous  coufin  to  our  Grecian  tents. 

Dio.  'Tis  Agamemnon's  wilh  ;  and  great  Achilles 
Doth  long  to  fee  unarm'd  the  valiant  Hector. 

Heft.  Jineas,  call  my  brother  Troilus  to  me  : 

ra&erife  Achilles  as  the  father  of  Neoptolemus,  a  youth  that  had 
not  yet  appeared  in  arms,  and  whole  name  was  therefore  much 
lei's  known  than  his  father's.  My  opinion  is.  that  by  Neoptole- 
mus the  author  meant  Achilles  himlelf ;  and  remembering  rhat 
the  fon  was  Pyrrhus  Neoptolemus,  confidered  Neoptolemus  as  the 
nomcn  gentilltium,  and  thought  the  father  was  likewiie  Achilles 
Neoptolemus.  JOHNSON. 

Shakefpeare  might  have  ufed  Neoptolemus  for  Achilles.  Wil- 
fride  Holme,  the  author  of  a  poem  called  The  Fall  and  evil  Sue- 
cfffe  of  Rebellion,  &c.  1537,  had  made  the  fame  miftake  before 
him,  as  the  following  flanza  will  fhew  : 

"  Alib  the  triumphant  Troyans  victorious, 
*'  By  Anthenor  and  j£neas  falle  confcderacie, 

**  Sending  Polidamus  to  Neoptolemus, 
"  Who  was  vanquished  and  fubdued  by  their  confpiracie. 

"  O  dolorous  fortune,   and  fatal  miferie  ! 
*'  For  multitude  of  people  was  there  mortificate 

"  With  condigne  Priamus,  and  all  his  prnaenie, 
"  And  flagrant  Polixene,  that  lady  delicate." 
In  Lidgate,  however,  Achilles,  Neoptolemus,  and  Pyrrhus,  are 
diftincl:  characters.     Neoptolemus  is  enumerated    ;imong  the  Gre- 
cian princes  whofirft  embarked  to  revenge  the  rape  of  Helen  : 
"  The  valiant  Grecian  called  Neoptolemus, 
**  That  had  his  haire  as  bl:  eke  as  any  jet,  &c."  p.  102. 
and  Pyrrhus,  very  properly,  is  not  heard  or  till  after  the  death  of  his 
father : 

"  Sith  that  debates  in  fuch  traiterous  wile 

"  Is  flaine,  that  we  a  meflengrr  ihould  lend 

"  To  fetch  his  fon  yong  Pynhut,  to  the  end 

"  He  may  revenge  his  fathers  death,  &c."  p.  2-7. 

STEEVENS. 
3  We'll  anfvxr  it ;]     That  is,  anfwer  the  exfetfance.   JOHNSON. 

And 


124      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

And  fignify  this  loving  interview- 
To  the  expecters  of  our  Trojan  part ; 
Defire  them  home. — Give  me  thy  hand,  my  coufin  ; 
I  will  go  eat  with  thee,  and  fee  4  your  knights. 

Ajax.  Great  Agamemnon  comes  to  meet  us  here. 

hfft.  The  worthieft    of  them  tell  me  name  by 

name ; 

But  for  Achilles,  my  own  fearching  eyes 
Shall  find  him  by  his  large  and  portly  fize. 

Aga*  s  Worthy  of  arms !  as  welcome  as  to  one 
That  would  be  rid  of  fuch  an  enemy  ; 
But  that's  no  welcome  :  Underftand  more  clear, 
"What's  paft,  and  what's  to  come,  is  flrew'd  with 

huiks 

And  formlefs  ruin  of  oblivion  ; 
But  in  this  extant  moment,  faith  and  troth, 
Strain'd  purely  from  all  hollow  bias-drawing, 
Bids  thee,  with  moft  divine  integrity, 
From  heart  of  very  heart,  great  Hector,  welcome. 

Hc8.  I  thank  thee,  moft  imperious  Agamemnon. 

Aga.  My  well-fam'd  lord  of  Troy,  no  lefs  to  you. 

[70  Troilus. 

Men.  Let  me  confirm  my  princely  brother's  greet- 
ing;— 
You  brace  of  warlike  brothers,  welcome  hither. 

Heft.  Whom  muft  we  anfwer  ? 

Men.  The  noble  Menelaus. 

*  'your  knights.}  The  word  knighty  as  often  as  it  occurs, 
is  fure  to  bring  with  it  the  idea  of  chivalry,  and  revives  the  me- 
mory of  Amadis  and  his  fantaftic  followers,  rather  than  that  of 
the  mighty  confederates  who  fought  on  either  fide  in  the  Trojan 
war.  I  wifh  that  cque s  and  armiger  could  have  been  rendered  by  any 
ether  words  than  knight  and  'fqnire.  Mr.  Pope,  in  his  tranllation 
of  the  Iliad,  is  very  liberal  of  the  latter.  STKEVENS. 

5  Worthy  of  arms  ! ]     Folio.     Worthy  all  arms !    Quarto. 

The  quarto  has  only  the, two  firft,  fecond,  and  the  laft  line  of  this 
jalutation;  the  intermediate  verfes  feem  added  on  a  revilion. 

JOHNSON. 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.      12$ 

He8.  O,  you,  my   lord  ?  by  Mars  his  gauntkt, 

thanks ! 

fi  Mock  not,  that  I  affeft  the  nntraded  oath  ; 
Your  quondam  wife  fwears  ftill  by  Venus' glove  : 
She's  well,  but  bade  me  not  commend  her  to  you. 

Men.  Name  her  not  now,  fir ;  fhe's  a  deadly  theme. 

Heft.  O,  pardon ;  I  offend. 

Neft.  1  have,  thou  gallant  Trojan,  feen  thee  oft, 
Labouring  for  deftiny,  make  cruel  way 
Through  ranks  of  Greckifh  youth  :  and  I  have  feea 

thee, 

As  hot  as  Perfeus,  fpur  thy  Phrygian  fteed, 
7  Defpifing  many  forfeits  and  fubduements, 
When  thou  haft  hung  thy  advanced  fword  i'the  air, 
Not  letting  it  decline  on  the  declin'd  ; 
That  I  have  faid  to  fome  my  ftanders-by, 
Loy  Jupiter  is  yonder ,  dealing  life  ! 
And  I  have  feen  thee  paufe,  and  take  thy  breath, 
When  that  a  ring  of  Greeks  have  hemm'd  thee  in, 
Like  an  Olympian  wreftling  :  This  have  I  feen  ; 
But  this  thy  countenance,  ftill  lock'd  in  fteel, 
I  never  faw  'till  now.     I  knew  thy  grandfire, 
And  once  fought  with  him  :  he  was  a  foldier  good  4 
But,  by  great  Mars,  the  captain  of  us  all, 
Never  like  thee  :  Let  an  old  man  embrace  thee  ; 
And,  worthy  warrior,  welcome  to  our  tents. 

dine.  'Tis  the  old  Neftor. 

He8.  Let  me  embrace  thee,  good  old  chronicle, 
That  haft  fo  long  walk'd  hand  in  hand  with  time  ; — 
Moft  reverend  Neftor,  I  am  glad  to  clafp  thee. 

Ncft.  I  would,  my  arms  could  match  thee  in  con- 
tention, 

•  Mock  not,  &c.]    The  quarto  has  here  a  ftrange  corruption : 
Mock  not  thy  affeft,  the  untraded  e arth.     JOHNSOK. 

7  Deffijing  many  forfeits  and  fubduements,']     Thus  the  quarto* 
The  folio  reads : 

And  feen  thee  fcorningyir/J-///  and fubdtcments*  JOHNSOK. 

As 


i26      TROILUS   AND   CRESStDA. 

*  As  they  contend  with  thee  in  courtefy. 

Heft.  I  would,  they  could. 

Neft.  Ha  !  by  this  white  beard,  I'd  fight  with  thee 

to-morrow. 
Well,  welcome,  welcome  !  I  have  feen  the  time 

Ulyff.  I  wonder  now  how  yonder  city  ftands, 
When  we  have  here  her  bafe  and  pillar  by  us. 

Heft.  I  know  your  favour,  lord  Ulyffes,  well. 
Ah,  fir,  there's  many  a  Greek  and  Trojan  dead, 
Since  firft  I  faw  yourfelf  and  Diomed 
In  Ilion,  on  your  Greekifh  embafTy. 

Ulyjf.  Sir,  I  foretold  you  then  what  would  enfue  : 
My  prophecy  is  but  half  his  journey  yet ; 
For  yonder  walls,  that  pertly  front  your  town, 
Yon  towers,  whofe  wanton  tops  do  bufs  the  clouds, 
Muft  kifs  their  own  feet. 

Heft.  Imuft  not  believe  you: 
There  they  ftand  yet ;  and  modeftly  I  think, 
The  fall  of  every  Phrygian  ftone  will  coft 
A  drop  of  Grecian  blood  :  The  end  crowns  all ; 
And  that  old  common  arbitrator,  time, 
Will  one  day  end  it. 

Ulyjf.  So  to  him  we  leave  it. 
Moft  gentle,  and  moft  valiant  Hector,  welcome  : 
After  the  general,  I  befeech  you  next 
To  feaft  with  me,  and  fee  me  at  my  tent. 

AchiL  9I  ihall  foreftall  thee,  lord  Ulyffes,  thou!— 

Now, 

*  As  they  contend — '• — ]     This  line  is  not  in  the  quarto. 

JOHNSON. 

9  I  Jkall  f or  eft al  thee,  lord  Ulyjfes,  thou! — ]  Should  we  not 
read — though  f  Notwithftanding  you  have  invited  He6tor  to  your 
tent,  I  fhall  draw  him  firft  into  mine.  So,  in  Beaumont  and  Flet- 
cher's Cupids  Revenge,  v.  ix.  p.  460  : 

«(  Q  diffembling  woman, 

"  Whom  I  muft  reverence  though. "    TYRWHITT. 

The  repetition  of  thou  !  was  anciently  ufed  by  one  who  meant 

to  infult  another.     So,  in  Twelfth  Night ;  "  if  thou  thouji 

•  him  fome  thrice,  it  (hall  not  be  amifsi"    Again,  in  the  Tcmpeft : 

"  Thou 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.       127 

1  Now,  Hector,  I  have  fed  mine  eyes  on  thee  ; 
I  have  with  exact  view  perus'dthee,  Hector, 
And  quoted  joint  by  joint z. 

Heft.  Is  this  Achilles  ? 

Achll  I  am  Achilles. 

Heft.  Stand  fair,  I  pray  thee  :  let  me  look  on  thee. 

Acbil.  Behold  thy  fill. 

Heft.  Nay,  I  have  done  already. 

Acini.  Thou  art  too  brief;  I  will  the  fecond  time, 
As  I  would  buy  thee,  view  thee  limb  by  limb. 

Heft.  O,  like  a  book  of  fport  thou'lt  read  me  o'er; 
But  there's  more  in  me,  than  thou  underftand'ft. 
Why  doft  thou  fo  opprefs  me  with  thine  eye  ? 

Ackil.  Tell  me,  you  heavens,  in  which  part  of  his 

body 

Shall  I  deftroy  him  ?  whether  there,  there,  or  there  ? 
That  I  may  give  the  local  wound  a  name  ; 
And  make  diftinct  the  very  breach,  whereout 
Hector's  great  fpirit  flew  :   Anfwer  me,  heavens  ! 

Heft.  It  would  difcredit  the  bleft  gods,  proud  man, 
To  anfwer  fuch  a  queftion  :  Stand  again  : 
Think'ft  thou  to  catch  my  life  fo  pleafantly, 
As  to  prcnominate  in  nice  conjecture, 
Where  thou  wilt  hit  me  dead  ? 

AMI  I  tell  thee,  yea. 

Hett.  Wert  thou  an  oracle  to  tell  me  fo, 
I'd  not  believe  thee.     Henceforth  guard  thee  well ; 
For  I'll  not  kill  thee  there,  nor  there,  nor  there; 

"  Thouly'fl,  thou  jetting  monkey,  tbou!n 
Again,  in  the  firft  fcene  of  the  fifth  aft  of  this  play  of  Troihs  and 

Crejjida  :  "  • thou  taflel  of  a  prodigal's  purfe,  thou  /" 

STEEVEXS. 

1  JVow,  Heflnr,  I  have  fed  mine  eyes  on  tbte;~\  The  hint  for 
this  fcene  of  altercation  between  Achilles  and  Heftor,  is  taken  from 
Lidgate.  See  page  178.  STEEVENS. 

1  And  quoted  joint  by  joint.]  To  quote  is  to  obferre.  So,  in 
Hamlet : 


I'm  forry  that  with  better  heed  and  judgment 
I  had  not  quoted  him.     STEEVENS. 


But, 


US      TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA* 

But,  by  the  forge  that  ftithy'd  Mars  his  helm, 

I'll  kill  thee  every  where,  yea,  o'er  and  o'er. 

You  wifeft  Grecians,  pardon  me  this  brag, 
His  infolence  draws  folly  from  my  lips ; 
But  I'll  endeavour  deeds  to  match  thefe  words, 
Or  may  I  never 

Ajax.  Do  not  chafe  thee,  coufin  ;- 

And  you,  Achilles,  let  thefe  threats  alone, 
'Till  accident,  or  purpofe,  bring  you  to't : 
You  may  have  every  day  enough  of  Hector, 
If  you  have  ftomach ;  the  general  ftate,  I  fear, 
Can  fcarce  entreat  you  to  be  odd  with  him  J. 

Heft.  I  pray  you,  let  us  fee  you  in  the  field ; 
We  have  had  pelting  wars,  fince  you  refus'd 
The  Grecians'  caufe. 

AchlL  Doft  thou  entreat  me,  Hector  ? 
To-morrow  do  I  meet  thee,  fell  as  death ; 
To-night,  all  friends. 

Heft.  Thy  hand  upon  that  match. 

Aga.  Firft,  all  you  peers  of  Greece,  go  to  my  tent ; 
There  in  the  full  convive  we  4  :  afterwards, 
As  Hector's  leifure  and  your  bounties  ihall 
Concur  together,  feverally  intreat  him. — 
$  Beat  loud  the  tabourines,  let  the  trumpets  blow, 

3  the  general  Jlate,  I  fear, 

Can  fcarce  entreat  you  to  be  odd  ivitb  bim.~\  i.  e.  lam  aware 
that  the  Greeks  will  not  wifli  you  to  meet  him  fingly  ;  Jnfinuat- 
ingthatit  would  be  bad  policy  in  them  to  defirethe  man  who  had 
the  greateft  reputation  for  valour,  to  run  fuch  a  hazard  of  being 
foiled.  STEEVENS. 

4  — —  convive ]  To  convive  is  to/™/?.  This  word  is  not  pe- 
culiar to  Shakefpeare.  I  find  it  feveral  times  ufed  in  the  Hijiory  of 
Helyas  Knight  oftbeSwanne,  bl.  1.  no  date.     STEEVENS. 

5  Beat  loud  the  tabourine J, ]     For  this  the  quarto  and  the 

latter  editions  have, 

To  tajle  your  bounties. 

The  reading  which  I  have  given  from  the  folio  feenas  chofen  at 
the  revifion,  to  avoid  the  repetition  of  the  word  bounties. 

JOHNSON. 

Tabourines  are  fmall    drums.      The  word  occurs  again    in 
Antony  and  Cleopatra.    STEEVENS. 

That 


fROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.     129 

That  this  great  foldier  may  his  welcome  know. 

[Exeunt * 
Manent  Troiltts,  and  Uhffes. 

7m.  My  lord  Ulyffcs,  tell  me,  I  befeech  you, 
In  what  place  of  th-e  field  doth  .Calchas  keep  ? 

UlyjJ-  At  Menelaus'  tent,  moft  princely  Troilus  : 
There  Diomed  doth  feaft  with  him  to-night; 
Who  neither  looks  on  heaven,  nor  on  the  earth, 
But  gives  all  gaze  and  bent  of  amorous  view 
On  the  fair  Creffid. 

T'rci.  Shall  I,  fweet  lord,  be  bound  to  you  fo  much, 
After  we  part  from  Agamemnon's  tent, 
To  bring  me  thither  ? 

Ulyf.    i'ou  lhall  command  me,  fir. 
As  gentle  tell  me,  of  what  honour  was 
This  Creffida  in  Troy  ?  Had  ihe  no  lover  there, 
That  wails  her  abfence  ? 

2V0/.  O,  fir,  to  fuch  as  boafling  ihew  their  fears, 
A  mock  is  due.     Will  you  walk  on,  my  lord  ? 
She  was  belov'd,  fhe  lov'd;  fhe  is,  and  doth  : 
But,  ftill,  fweet  love  is  food  for  fortune's  tooth. 

[Exeunt. 


ACTV.       SCENE     I. 

Aclille?  tent. 
Enter  Achilles,  and  Patrodus. 

AcliL  I'll  heat  his  blood  with  Grcekifh  wine  to- 
night, 

Which  with  my  fcimitar  I'll  cool  to-morrow. 
Patroclus,  let  us  feaft  him  to  the  height. 
Pair.  Here  comes  Therfites. 
VOL.  IX.  K 


ijo       TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA; 

Enter  Therfites. 

AMI.  How  now,  thou  core  of  envy  ? 
'  Thou  crufty  batch  of  nature,  what's  the  news  ? 

fker.  Why,  thou  pidure  of  what  thou  feemeft,  and 
idol  of  ideot-worfhippers,  here's  a  letter  for  thee. 

Achil.  From  whence,  fragment? 

tfher.  Why,  thou  full  difli  of  fool,  from  Troy. 

Patr.  Who  keeps  the  tent  now  ? 

tter.  7  The  furgeon's  box,  or  the  patient's  wound. 
•  Patr.  Well  faid,  adverfity  !  and  what  need  thefe 
tricks  ? 

<Ther.  Pr'ythee  be  filent,  boy  ;  I  profit  not  by  thy 
talk  :  thou  art  thought  to  be  Achilles'  male  varlet. 

Patr.  8  Male  varlet,  you  rogue  ?  what's  that  ? 

6  Thou  crufty  batch  of  nature,-        }  Batch  is   changed  by 
Theobald   to  botch,  and   the   change  is   juftifted  by  a  pompous 
note,    which  difcovers  that  he  did  not  know  the  word  bau/.<. 
What  is  more  ftrange,  Hanmer  has  followed  him.     Batch  is  any 
thing  baked.     JOHNSON. 

Batch  does  not  fignify  any  thing  baked,  bur  all  that  is  baked 
at  one  time,  without  heating  the  oven  airefli.  So,  Ben  Joulbn, 
in  his  Catalluc : 

"  Except  he  were  of  the  fame  meal  and 

Again,  in  Decker's  If  this  be  not  a  good  Play  the  Devil  is  in  if, 
1612 : 

*'  The  beft  is,  there  are  but  two  batches  of  people  moulded  in 
this  world." 
Again,  in  Summer* l  Lajl  Will  and  Tejlamcnt,  1600  : 

44  Haft  thou  made  a  %pv&  batch?  I  pi  ay  th'ee  give  me  a  new 
loaf." 
Again,  in  Every  Man  in  his  Humour1  : 

'"  Is  all  the  reft  of  this  batch?"  Therfites  had  already  been 
called  cobloaf.  STEEVENS. 

7  The f urgent? s  box, — ]  In  this  anfwer  Therfites  only  quibble* 
upon  the  word  tent.     HANMER. 

*»  Male  varh'i -, ]  HANMER  reads  male  harlot,  plauiilly 

enough,  except  that  it  feema  TOO  plain  to  require  the  explanation 
which  Patrockis  demandj.  JOHNSON. 

This  exprcffiun  is  n:ct  with  in  D.-ckcr's  Hosujl  U'kore;  "  This 
a  male  variety  fine,  my  lord  !"  FAR  MI. R. 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      i3t 

Ther.  Why,  his  mafculine  whore.  Now  the  rotten 
difeafes  of  the  fouth,  the  guts-griping,  ruptures, 
catarrhs,  loads  o'gravel  i'  the  back,  lethargies,  9  cold 
palfies,  raw  eyes,  dirt-rotten  livers,  wheezing  lungs, 
bladders  full  of  impoflhume,  fciaticas,  lime-kilns 
i'  the  palm,  incurable  bone-ach,  and  the  rivell'd  fee- 
iimple  of  the  tetter,  take  and  take  again  fuch  pre- 
pofterous  difcoveries ! 

Patr.  Why,  thou  damnable  box  of  envy,  thou, 
what  meaneft  thou  to  curfe  thus  ? 

Vher.  Do  I  curfe  thee  ? 

Patr.  Why,  no,  '  you  ruinous  butt ;  you  whore- 
fon  indiftinguifhable  cur,  no. 

Ther.  No  ?  why  art  thou  then  exafperate,  *  thou 
idle  immaterial  fkein  of  fleive  iilk,  thou  green  farcenet 
flap  for  a  fore  eye,  thou  taflel  of  a  prodigal's  purfe, 
thou  ?  Ah,  how  the  poor  world  is  pefler'd  with  fuch 
water  flies ;  diminutives  of  nature  ! 

Patr.  J  Ou^  gall ! 

»  coldpal/ies ]  This  catalogue  of  loathfome  maladies 

ends  in  the  folio  at  cold  pal/ies.  This  paflage,  as  it  ftands,  is 
in  the  quarto  :  the  retrenchment  was  in  my  opinion  judicious. 
It  may  be  remarked,  though  it  proves  nothing,  that,  of  the 
few  alterations  made  by  Milton  in  the  fecond  edition  of  his 
wonderful  poem,  one  was,  an  enlargement  of  the  enumeration 
of  difeafes.  JOHNSON. 

1  •  *  you  ruinous  &c.]    Patroclus   reproaches   Therfitea 

with  deformity,  with  having  one  part  crowded  into  another. 

'  JOHNSON-. 

The  fame  idea  occurs  in  the  Second  Part  of  King  Henry  If; 

Crowd  us  and  cruJJ)  us  to  this  monjlrous  form.        SrEEVBNSi 

'*  tbou  idle  immaterial  Jkein  of  fleive  Jilky ]     All  the 

terms  ufed  by  Therlites  of  Patroclus,  are  emblematically  ex- 
preffive  of  flexibility,  compliance,  and  mean  officioufnefs. 

JOHNSON. 

3  Oaf,  gall  /]  Hannter  reads  nut-gall,  which  anfwers  well 
enough  to  finch-egg ;  it  has  already  appeared,  that  our  author 
thought  the  nut-gall  the  bitter  gall.  He  is  called  ;;«/,  from 
the  conglobation  of  his  form;  but  both  the  copies  read,  Otttt 
gall!  JOHNSON. 

*      K  2 


i3a     TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

37w.  4  Finch  egg  ! 

Ackil.  My  fwcet  Patroclus,  I  am  thwarted  quite 
From  my  p;reat  purpofe  in  to-morrow*s  battle. 
Here  is  a  letter  from  queen  Hecuba  ; 
5  A  token  from  her  daughter,  my  fair  love ; 
Both  taxing  me,  and  gaging  me  to  keep 
An  oath  that  I  have  fworn.     I  will  not  break  it  : 
Fall,  Greeks;  fail,  fame;  honour,  or  go,  or  flay  ; 
My  major  vow  lies  here,  this  I'll  obey. — 
Come,  come,  Therfites,  help  to  trim  my  tent ; 
This  night  in  banquetting  mult  all  be  fpent. — 
Away,  Patroclus.  [Exeunt. 

Ther.  With  too  much  blood,  and  too  little  brain, 
thefe  two  may  run  mad  ;  but  if  with  too  much  brain, 
and  too  little  blood,  they  do,  1*11  be  a  curer  of  mad- 
men. Here's  Agamemnon, — an  honeft  fellow  enough^ 
and  one  that  loves  quails  ;  but  he  hath  not  fo  much 
brain  as-  ear- wax  : 6  And  the  goodly  transformation  of 

Ju, 

4  Finch-egg  /]     Of  this   reproach  I   do  not  know  the  exacT: 
meaning.     1  fuppofe  he  means  to  call  him  frying  bird,  as  im- 
plying  an  ufelefs    favourite,    and  yet    more,    fomething    more 
\vorthlefs,    a  linging  bird  in    the    egg,    or  generally,    a  llight 
thing  eafily  crufhed.     JOHNSON. 

A  finch's  egg  is  remarkably  gaudy  ;  but  of  fuch  terms  of  re- 
proach it  is  difficult  to  pronounce  the  ttuefignilication.  STEEVENS. 

5  A  token  from  ler  daughter,    &c.]      This  is  a  circumflancfr 
taken  from  the  itory  book  of  the  three  deftrucYions  of  Troy. 

HAKMER. 

6  And  the  gooiJJy  transformation  of  Jupiter  there,   bis  brother,  tbn 
lull', — the  primitive  ftatue,  and  OBLIOJJE  memorial  of  cuckoLh ;"} 
He  calls  Mpfetaus    the    transformation    of  Jupiter,    that    is,     as 
himfelf  explains  it,    the  bull,  on  account  of  his   horns,    which 
he  had  as  a   cuckold.     This  cuckold  he  calls  the  primitive  Jlatue 
of  cuckolds  ;    i.  e,    his  ftory  had  made  him,  fo  famous,  that  he 
ftood  as  the  great  archetype  of  his  chancier.     But  how  was  he 
an  oblique  manorial  of  cuckolds  ?    can  any  thing  be   a  more  dired 
memorial  of  cuckolds,   than  a  cuckold  ?    and  fo  the  foregoing 
character  of  his   being  the  primitive  Jlatue  of  them  plainly  im- 
plies.   To  reconcile  thefe  two  contradictory  epithets  therefore  we 
ihould  read  : 

•  an  OBELISCXUE  memorial  of  cuckolds. 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.      133 

Jupiter  there,  his  brother,  the  bull, — the  primitive 
ftatue,  and  oblique  memorial  of  cuckolds;  a  thrifty 
Ihooing-horn  in  a  chain,  hanging  at  his  brother's  leg, 
•—to  what  form,  but  that  he  is,  flaould  wit  larded  with 
malice,  and  malice  7  forced  with  wit,  turn  him  ?  To 
an  afs,  were  nothing  ;  he  is  both  afs  and  ox  :  to  an 
ox  were  nothing ;  he  is  both  ox  and  afs.  To  be  a  dog, 
a  mule,  a  cat,  a  fitchew,  a  toad,  a  lizard,  an  owl,  a 

He  is  reprefented  as  one  who  would  remain  an  etemal  monu- 
ment of  his  wife's  infidelity.  And  how  could  this  be  better  done 
than  by  calling  him  an  obelifque  memorial?  of  all  human  edifices 
the  molt  durable.  And  the  fentence  rifes  gradually,  and  proper- 
ly from  a  ftatue  to  an  obelifque.  To  this  the  editor  Mr.  Theo- 
bald replies,  that  the  bull  is  called the  primitive  ftatue:  by  which 
he  only  giveth  us  to  underftand,  that  he  knoweth  not  the  diffe- 
rence between  the  Englifh  articles  a  and  the.  But  by  the  bull  is 
meant  Menelaus ;  which  title  Therfites  gives  him  again  after- 
wards  The  cuckold  and  the  cuckold-maker  are  at  It THE  BULL 

has  the  game But  the  Oxford  editor  makes  quicker  work  with 

the  term  oblique,  and  alters  it  to  antique,  and  fo  all  the  difficulty's 
evaded.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

The  author  of  The  Revifal  obferves  (after  having  controverted 
every  part  of  Dr.  Warburton's  note,  and  juftified  Theobald) 
that  "  the  memorial  is  called  oblique,  becaule  it  was  only  indi- 
*'  redly  fuch,  upon  the  common  i'uppofition  that  both  bulls  and 
*'  cuckolds  were  furnifhed  with  horns."  STEEVENS. 

7 forced  ivitbivit, ]    Stuffed  with  wit.     A  "term   of 

cookery.  In  this  fpeech  I  do  not  well  underftand  what  is  meant 

by  loving  quaih.     JOHNSON. 

By  loving  quails  the  poet  may  mean  loving  the  company  of  har- 
lots. A  quail  is  remarkably  falacious.  Mr.  Upton _  fays  that  Xe» 
nophon,  in  his  memoirs  of  Socrates,  has  taken  notice  of  this  qua- 
lity in  the  bird.  A  fimilar  allufion  occurs  in  The  Hollander^  a 
comedy  by  Glapthorne,  1640: 

"  the  hot  defire  of  quails, 

"  To  yours  is  modeft  appetite."  STEEVENS. 

In  old  French  callle  was  fynonimous  \<o  fille  de  jole.  In  the  Ditf. 
Cowique  par  Le  Rcux,  under  the  article  callle  are  thefe  words  : 

"  Chaud  co  in  me  une  caillc 

"  G»/»Y<?  coiffee Sobriquet  qu'on  donne  aux  femmes. 

Signifie  femme  eveille  amoureufe."  So,  in  Rabelais :—  "  Cailles 
coiftees  mignonnent  chantans." — which  Motteux  has  thus  rendered 
(probably  from  the  old  tranflation)  cbatedftt/ft  and  laced  mutton, 
waggiflily  finging.  MA  LONE. 

K  3  put> 


i34      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

puttock,  or  a  herring  without  a  roe,  I  would  not  care  : 
but  to  be  a  Menelaus, — I  would  confpire  againft 
deftiny.  Aik  me  not  what  I  would  be,  if  I  were  not 
Therfites  ;  for  I  care  not  to  be  the  loufe  of  a  lazar, 
fo  I  were  not  Menelaus.  — Hey-day  !  8  fpirits, 
and  fires ! 

Enter  Heffor,    Troilus,    Ajax,    Agamemnon, 
Ne/tor,  and  Diomed,  ivlth  lights. 

'Aga.  We  go  wrong,  we  go  wrong. 
Ajax.  No,  yonder  'tis ; 
There,  where  we  fee  the  light. 
Heft.  I  trouble  you. 
Ajax.  No,  not  a  whit. 
Ulyf.  Here  comes  himfelf  to  guide  you, 

Enter  Achilles. 

'Acini.  Welcome,  brave  Hedor  \  welcome,  princes 
|]1, 

Aga.  So  now,  fair  prince  of  Troy,  I  bid  good  night. 
Ajax  commands  the  guard  to  tend  on  you. 

Heft.  Thanks,    and  good  night,  to  the  Greeks' 
general. 

Men.  Good  night,  my  lord. 

Heft.  Good  night,  fweet  lord  Menelaus. 

Tber.  Sweet  draught :  Sweet,  quoth  a  !  fweet  (ink, 
fweet  fewer. 

AchlL  Good  night,  and  welcome,  both  at  once, 

to  thofe 
That  go,  or  tarry. 

Aga.  Good  night.  [Exeunt  Agam.  and  Mend* 

Acbil.  Old  Neftor  tarries ;  and  you  too,   Diomedj 
Hedtor  company  an  hour  or  two. 

Dlo.  I  cannot,  lord ;  I  have  important  bufinefsa 

»  —Jfririts  and  fins  /]  This  Therfites  freaks  upon  th,e  firfc. 
gght  of  the  difl.mt  lights.    JOHNSON, 

The 


TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA.       135 

The  tide  whereof  is  now.  —  Good  night,  great  Hector. 

HeSt.  Give  me  your  hand. 

Uljff*.  Follow  his  torch,  he  goes  to  Calchas'  tent  ; 
I'll  keep  you  company.  [T0  I'm  IKS. 

Vroi.  Sweet  fir,  you  honour  me. 

He&.  And  fo,  good  night. 

Acbil.  Come,  come,  enter  my  tent.  {Exeunt  fever  ally. 

Ther.  That  lame  Diomed's  a  falfe-hearted  rogue,  a 
moft  unjuft  knave  ;  I  will  no  more  truft  him  when 
he  leers,  than  I  will  a  ferpent  when  he  hifles  :  9  he 
will  fpend  his  mouth,  and  promife,  like  Brabler  the 
hound  ;  but  when  he  performs,  aftronomers  foretel 
it  ;  it  is  prodigious,  there  will  come  fome  change  ; 
the  fun  borrows  of  the  moon,  when  Diomcd  keeps 
his  word.  I  will  rather  leave  to  fee  Hector,  than  not 
to  dog  him  :  '  they  fay,  he  keeps  a  Trojan  drab,  and 
ufcs  the  traitor  Calchas  his  tent  :  I'll  after.—  Nothing 
but  lechery  !  all  incontinent  varlets  !  [Exit. 

SCENE    II. 

Calckas*  tent. 

Enter  Diomed. 

D'w.  What  are  you  up  here,  ho  ?  fpeak. 
Ca!.  Who  calls? 
DJO.  Diomed.  - 

Calchas,  I  think.     Where  is  your  daughter  ? 
CaL  She  comes  to  you. 

Enter  Trollu^  and  Ulyflesfat  a  dtftance  ;  after  them  Therfites. 
Stand  where  the  torch  may  not  difcover  us. 


'  -  He  will  fpcnd  bismouth,  and  promifc,  like  Brabler  the 
bound;  -  J  1^  a  hound  gives  bismoutb,  and  is  not  upon  thefcent 
of  the  game,  he  is  by  fportfmen  called  a  babler  or  b>  abler.  The 
proverb  fays,  Brabling  cws  never  want  fore  ears,  ANON. 

1  -  they  jay  ,  he  keeps  a  T'roj.n  drab,  -  ]  This  character 
of  Diomed  is  likewife  taken  from  Lidgate.  STEEVE^S. 

K  4  Enter 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 


Enter  CreffiJa. 

tfroi.  Creffid  come  forth  to  him  ! 

Dio.  How  now,  my  charge  ? 

Cre.  Now,  my  fweet  guardian  !  —  Hark, 
A  word  with  you. 

frdi.  Yea,  fo  familiar  ! 

Ulyf.  She  will  fing  any  man  at  firft  fight. 

Ther.  And  any  man 
May  fing  her,  if  he  can  take  *  her  cliff;  fhe's  noted. 

Dio.  Will  you  remember  ? 

Cre.  Remember  ?  yes. 

Dlo.  Nay,  but  do  then  ; 
And  let  your  mind  be  coupled  with  your  words. 

7/w.  What  Ihould  Ihe  remember  ? 

Ulvf  Lift! 

Cre.  Sweet  honey  Greek,  tempt  me  no  more  to  folly. 

<Ther.  Roguery  ! 

Dlo.  Nay,  then, 

Cre.  I'll  tell  you  what. 

Dio.  Pho  !  pho  !  come,  tell  a  pin  :  You  are, 
forfworn.  - 

»  _—  her  cliff;]  That  is,  her  key.     Clef,  French.     JOHNSON. 
CT-ff,  \.  e,  'a  mark  in  mufick  at  the  beginning  of  the  lines  of  a 
fong  ;  and  is  the  indication  of  the  pitch,  and  befpeaks  what  kind 
of  voice—as  bafe,  tenour,  or  treble,  it  is  proper  tor. 

Sir  J.  HAWKINS. 

So,  in  T'Jjc  Chances,  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  where  Antonio, 
employing  mufical  terms,  fays, 

"  —  Will  none  but  my  C.  cUJfCervc  your  turn  ?" 
Again,   in  The  Lover's  Melancholy,   1629: 
"  --  that's  a  bird 

"  Whom  art  had  never  taught  cliffy  moods,  or  notes." 
Again,  in  the  Nolle  Soldier,   1654: 

"  No  crotchets  ;  'tis  only  the  r//^~has  made  her  mad." 
Again,  in  Middleton's  More  DiJJcmblcrs  be/ides  Women  : 

"  How  many  cliffs  be  there  ?—  one  cliff  ,  fir.  Do  you  know 
<«  but  one  cliff?  —  No  more  indeed,  fir,  and  at  this  time  I  know 
**  too  much  of  that."  STEEVENS. 

Orel 


TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA.       137 

Cre.  In  faith,   I  cannot  :   What  would  you  have 
me  do  ? 

Ther.  A  jugglfrig  trick,  to  be  —  fecretly  open. 

Dio.  What  did  you  fwear  you  would  beftowon  me  2 

Cre,  I  pr'ythee,  do  not  hold  me  to  mine  oath  ; 
Bid  me  do  any  thing  but  that,  fweet  Greek. 

Dio.  Good  night. 

frol.  Hold,  patience  ! 

Ulyff.  How  ROW,  Trojan  ? 

'Cre.  Diomed,  — 

Dio.  No,  no,  good  night  :   I'll  be  your  fool  no 
more. 

Troi.  Thy  better  muft. 

Cre.  Hark,  one  word  in  your  ear. 

Troi.  O  plague  and  madnefs  ! 

Ulyjf.  You  are  mov'd,  prince  ;    let  us  depart,  I 

pray  you, 

Left  your  difpleafure  fhould  enlarge  itfelf 
To  wrathful  terms  :  this  place  is  dangerous  ; 
The  time  right  deadly  ;  I  befeech  you,  go. 

froi.  Behold,  I  pray  you  ! 

Uhff.  Now,  good  my  lord,  go  off: 
I  You  flow  to  great  diftradtion  :  come,  my  lord, 

Troi.   I  pr'ythee,  ftay. 

Uly/.  You  have  not  patience  ;  come. 

Troi.  I  pray  you,  nay  ;   by  hell,    and  by  hcll*s 

torments, 
I  will  not  fpeak  a  word. 

3  You  flew  to  great  diftraftion  :  -  ]     So  the  moderns.     The 
folio  has  : 

Youjfo-iv  to  great  diftrattion. 
The  quarto  : 

You./?*?™  to  great  deftruflton.  > 
I  read  : 

too  great  diftra&ion.  -    JOHNSON. 


I  would  adhere  to  the  old  reading.  Youflovj  to  great  deftruRion, 
or  dljh-aflion^  means,  the  tide  of  your  imagination  will  hurry  you 
either  to  noble  death  from  the  hand  of  Diomed,  or  to  the  height  of 
from  the  predominance  of  your  own  paffions,  STEEVENS^ 


Dio. 


138     TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

jD/0.  And  fo,  good  night. 

Cre.  Nay,  but  you  part  in  anger. 

Yro/.  Doth  that  grieve  thee  ? 

0  withered  truth  ! 

Ufyff.  Why,   how  now,  lord  ? 

STnw.  By  Jove,  I  will  be  patient. 

Cre.   Guardian  ! — why,  Greek  ! 

jD/0.  Pho,  pho  !  adieu  ;  you  palter. 

Cre.  In  faith,  I  do  not ;  come  hither  once  again. 

Ul}f.  You  fhake,    my  lord,  at  fomething;   will 

you  go  ? 
You  will  break  out. 

I'roi.  She  flrokes  his  cheek ! 

U!}ff.  Come,  come. 

Vroi.  Nay,  flay  ;  by  Jove,  I  will  not  fpeaka  word  : 
There  is  between  my  will  and  all  offences 
A  guard  of  patience  : — (lay  a  little  while. 

Ther.  How  the  devil  luxury,  with  his  fat  rump,  and 

Eotatoe  finger,  tickles  thefe  together !  4  Fry,  lechery, 
•y  ! 

Dio.  But  will  you  then  ? 
Cre.  In  faith,  I  will,  la ;  never  truft  me  elfe. 
JD/0.  Give  me  fome  token  for  the  furety  of  it. 
Cre.  I'll  fetch  you  one. 
Utyff*  You  have  fworn  patience. 
3Y0/.   Fear  me  not,  my  lord  ; 

1  will  not  be  myfelf,  nor  have  cognition 
Of  what  I  feel ;   I  am  all  patience. 

Re-enter  dfjjida. 
Ther.  Now  the  pledge  ;  now,  now,  now  ! 

*  Hciv  tie  devil  luxury  ivifb  his  fat  rump  and  potatoe  fager, 
tickles  tbefe  together!] 

Potatoes  were  anciently  regarded  as  provocatives.  See  Mr.  Col- 
1'ms'snote,  which,  on  account  of  its  length,  is  given  at  the  end 
«f  the  play,  STEEVEMS. 

Cre. 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       139 

Cre.  Here,  Diomed, s  keep  this  fleeve. 
,  Troi.  O  beauty  ! 
Where  is  thy  faith  ? 

UfyJJ.  My  lord, 

'Troi.   I  will  be  patient;  outwardly  I  will. 

Cre.  You  look  upon  that  fleeve  ;  Behold  it  well.-i 
He  lov'd  me — O  falfe  wench  !— Give  't  me  again. 

Dio.  Whofe  was't  ? 

Cre.  It  is  no  matter,  now  I  have't  again. 
I  will  not  meet  with  you  to-morrow  night : 
I  pr'ythee,  Diomed,  vilit  me  no  more. 

Tber.  Now  {he  fliarpens ; — Well  faid,  whetflone^ 

Dio.  I  fliall  have  it. 

Cre.  What,  this? 

Dio.  Ay,  that. 

Cre.  O,  all  you  gods ! — O  pretty  pretty  pledge ! 
Thy  matter  now  lies  thinking  in  his  bed 

5  keep  this  Jleeve."]     The  cuftom,  of  wearing  a  lady't 

Jleeve  for  a  favour,  is  mentioned  in  Hairs  Chronicle ;  fol.  12  ; . 

*'  One  ware  on  his  head-piece  his  hdy'ajleeve,  and  another  bare 
*'  on  his  helme  the  glove  of  his  deareling." 

Again,  in  the  fecond  canto  of  the  Barons'  JVars  by  Drayton: 

44  A  lady's  fleeve  high-fpirited  Haftings  wore." 
Again,  in  the  MORTE  ARTHUR,  p.  3.  ch.  1 19  : 
*4  When  queen  Geneverwiil  that  Sir  Launcelot  beare  the  red 
Jleeve  of  the  taire  maide  of  Aftolat,  (he  was  nigh  out  of  her  rainde 
for  anger."     Holinflied,  p.  844,    lays  K.  Henry  VIII.  "  had 
on  his  head  a  ladiesjlceve  rull  of  diainonds."     The  circumftance, 
however,  was  adopted  by  Shakefpeare  from  Chaucer.     T.  and  C. 
J.  5.  1040:  "  She  made  him  were  a  pencell  of  her  JJeve."     A 
pencell  is  a  {mail  fc  nnon  or  ftreamer.     STEEVENS. 

In  an  old  play  (in  fix  ads)  called  Hiftriomaft'-x,   1610,  this  in- 
cident feems  to  be  burlefqued.     Troyius  and  Crejjiiia.  are  introduced 
by  way  of  interlude  :  and  Crcjjlda  breaks  out  : 
*'  O  Knight,  with  valour  in  thy  face, 
"  Here  take  my  Qcreene,  wear  it  for  grace, 
'*  Within  thy  helmet  put  the  fame, 
"  Therewith  to  make  thine  enemies  lame." 

A  little  old  book,  The  Hundred  Kyftoryei  of  Trcye,  tells  us  "  Bry- 
Jeyde  whom  mailer  Chaucer  calleth  CreffiyJe^  \vas  a  damolell  of  great 
beaute ;  and  yet  was  more  quaynte,  mutable,  and  full  of  vagaunt 
condyiions."  FAP...-.LK.. 

Of 


-140      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Of  thce,  and  roe  ;  and  fighs,  and  takes  my  glove, 
And  gives  memorial  dainty  kifTes  to  it, 
6  As  I  kifs  thee. — Nay,  do  not  match  it  from  me  j 
He,  that  takes  that,    muft  take  my  heart  withal. 

Dio.  I  had  your  heart  before,  this  follows  it. 
»-      Troi.   I  did  fwear  patience. 

L  v.  You  {hall  not  have  it,   Diomed  ;  'faith  vou 

{hall  not ; 
111  give  you  fomething  elfc. 

Z)io.  I  will  have  this;  Whofe  was  it? 
Cre.  It  is  no  matter. 
,    jD/0.  Come,  tell  me  whole  it  was. 

Cre.  'Twas  one's  that  lov'd  me  better  than  you  will. 
But,  now  you  have  it,  take  it. 
Dio.  Whofe  was  it? 

Cre.  7  By  all  Diana's  waiting-women  yonder, 
And  by  herfelf,    I  will  not  tell  you  whole. 

Dio.  To-morrow  will  I  wear  it  on  my  helm; 
And  grieve  his  fpirit,  that  dares  not  challenge  it. 
Troi.  Wer't  thou  the  devil,  and  wor'ft  it  on  thy 

horn, 
It  flioukl  be  challcngM. 

Cre.  Well,  well,   'tis  done,  'tis  pall; — And  yet  it 

is  not; 
I  will  net  keep  my  word. 

Did.  Why  then,  farewel ; 
Thou  never  {halt  mock  Diomed  again. 

Cre.  You  ihall  not  go  : — One  cannot  (peak  a  word, 
But  it  flraight  Harts  you. 

6  A*  I  kifs  thce. —  ]  In  old  editions, 

As  I  kifs  thee 

Dio.  Nay,  do  not  fnatch  it  ironi  me. 

Cre.  He,  that  takes  that,  mult  take  inyhenrt  withal. 
Dr.  Thirlby  thinks  this  (hould  be  all  placed  to  Crelfida.     She  had 
the  fleeve,  and  was  kiflmg  it  rapturouily  :  and  Diomed  fnatchesit 
back  from  her.     THEOBALD. 

7  Jiy  all  Dianas  <v:ailing-<wcmcn  yonder,}    i.e.  the  flars  which 
P.:c  points  to.     WAELUUTOU.     t 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       i4t 

DA).  I  do  not  like  this  fooling. 

T'ber,  Nor  I,  by  Pluto:  but  that  that  likes  not  you, 
Plcafes  me  bcft. 

Die,.  What,  fliall  I  come?   the  hour? 

Cre.  Ay,  come: OJove! 

Do,  come: — I  ihall  be  plagu'd. 

Dlo.   Farevvel  'till  then.  [Exit. 

Cre.  Good  night.     I  pr'ythee,  come. 

8  Troilus,  farewell  one  eye  yet  looks  on  thee ; 

9  Hut  with  my  heart  the  other  eye  doth  fee. — 
Ah  !  poor  our  fex  !  this  fault  in  us  I  find, 
The  error  of  our  eye  directs  our  mind  : 
What  error  leads,  mult  err;  O  then  conclude, 
Minds,  fway'd  by  eyes,  are  full  of  turpitude.  [Exit. 

Ther.  '  A  proof  of  ftrength  Ihe  could  not  publilh 

more, 
Unlefs  me  fay,  My  mind  is  now  turn'd  whore. 

Ulvffl  All's  done,  my  lord, 

Trot.  It  is. 

Uhf.  Why  flay  we  then  ? 

Troi.  To  make  a  recordation  to  my  foul 
Of  every  fy  11  able  that  here  was  fpoke. 

*  Troilus,  farc'vel!]  The  characters  of  Crcffida  and  Pandarus  are 
more  immediately  formed  from  Chaucer  than  from  Lidgate;  for 
though  the  latter  mentions  them  both  chara&eriftically,  he  does 
not  diffidently  dwell  on  either  to  have  furniflied  Shakeipeare  with 
many  circurriitances  to  be  found  in  this  tragedy.  Litigate,  fpeak- 
ing  of  Creffida,  fays  only  : 

"  She  gave  her  heart  and  love  to  Diomede, 
"  To  flieiv  whattruft  there-is  in  woman  kind  ; 

*'  For  (lie  of  her  new  love  no  fooner  fped, 
"  But  Troilus  was  clean  out  of  her  mind, 

*'  As  if  {he  never  had  him  known  or  feen, 
**  Wherein  I  cannot  guefs  \vhat  Ihe  did  mean." 

STEEVEKS. 

9  But  -with  my  heart,  &c.]  I  think  it  fliould  be  read  thus  : 
But  my  heart  with  the  other  eye  doth  fee.     JOHNSON. 
Perhaps,  rather : 

But  with  the  other  eye  my  hsart  doth  fee.     TYRWHITT. 
1  Aproofofftrengtbfye  could  not  publijh  moret~\    She  could  not 
publifh  a  ilrcnger  proof.     JOHNSON. 

But, 


142      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

But,  if  I  tell  how  thefe  two  did  co-acft, 
Shall  I  not  lye  in  publishing  a  truth  ? 
Sith  yet  there  is  a  credence  in  my  heart, 
An  efperance  fo  obftinately  ftrong, 
*  That  doth  invert  the  atteft  of  eyes  and  ears ; 
As  if  thofe  organs  had  deceptious  functions, 
Created  only  to  calumniate. 
Was  Creffid  here  ? 

Ufyff.  J  I  cannot  conjure,  Trojan. 

Jrw.  She  was  not,  fure. 

Ul}f.  Moft  fure,  fhe  was. 

Froi.  Why,  my  negation  hath  no  tafte  of  madnefs. 

Ulyjf.  Nor  mine,  my  lord :  Creffid  was  here  but 
now. 

TVvM.  Let  it  not  be  believ'd  for  womanhood  ! 
Think,  we  had  mothers ;  do  not  give  advantage 
To  flubborn  critics — apt,  without  a  theme, 
For  depravation — to  fquare  the  general  fex 
By  Crcffid's  rule  :  rather  think  this  not  Creffid. 

Ulyff.  What  hath  fhe  done,  prince,  that  can  foil 
our  mothers  ? 

*Troi.  Nothing  at  all,  unlefs  that  this  were  fhe. 

*Tber.  Will  he  fwagger  himfelf  out  on's  own  eyes  ? 

Tra.  This  fhe  ?   no,  this  is  Diomed's  CrefHda  : 
If  beauty  have  a  foul,  this  is  not  Ihe  ; 
If  fouls  guide  vows,  if  vows  be  fanttimony, 
If  fandtimony  be  the  gods'  delight, 

*  That  eJotl  invert  that  teft  of  c;es  a;:J  ears;]  \\~uztteft? 
Troilus  had  been  particularizing  none  in  his  foregoing  words,  to 
.govern  or  require  the  relative  here.  I  rather  think,  the  words 
are  to  be  thus  fplit : 

That  doth  invert  the  att-ft  of  eyes  and  ears. 

i.  e.  That  turns  the  very  tci:iniony  of  feeing  and  hearing  agaiiui 
themfclvcs.     THEOBALD. 

This  is  the  rending  of  the  quarto.     JOHNSON. 

3  I  cannot  conjure,  Trojan.'}  That  is,  I  cannot  raifc  fpirits  lathe 
form  of  Creliida.  JOHNSON. 

*  If 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      143 

*  If  there  be  rule  in  unity  itfelf. 
This  is  not  (he.     O  madnefs  of  difcourfe, 
That  caufe  fets  up  with  and  againft  itfelf ! 
5  Bi-fold  authority  !  6  where  reafon  can  revolt 
Without  perdition,  and  lofs  affume  all  reafon 
Without  revolt ;  this  is,  and  is  not,  Creffid  ! 
Within  my  foul  there  doth  commence  a  fight 
Of  this  ftrange  nature,  that  a  thing  infeparate 
Divides  far  wider  than  the  fky  and  earth  ; 
And  yet  the  fpacious  breadth  of  this  divifion 
Admits  no  orifice  for  a  point,  as  fubtle 
7  As  Arachne's  broken  woof,  to  enter. 

In. 

*  If  there  le  rule  in  unity  itfelf  ,}  I  do  not  well  understand  what 
is  meant  by  rule  in  unity.  By  rule  our  author,  in  this  place  as  in 
others,  intends  virtuous  rejlraint,  regularity  cf  manners,  command 
ofpajjions  and  appetites.  In  Macbeth  : 

He  cannot  buckle  his  diitemper'd  caufe 

Within  the  belt  of  rule. r- 

But  I  know  not  how  to  apply  the  word  in  this  fenfe  to  unity.  I 
read: 

If  there  be  rule  in  purify  itfelf, 
Or,       If  there  be  rule  in  verify  itfelf. 

Such  alterations  would  not  offend  the  reader,  who  faw  the  ftare 
of  the  old  editions,  in  which,  for  inftance,  a  few  lines  lower,  the 
almighty  fun  is  called  the  almighty  fenne. — —Yet  the  words  may  at 
laft  mean,  If  there  be  certainty  in  unity  t  if  it  be  a  ra&that  one  is 
one.  JOHNSON. 

5    "Bi-fold  authority! ]     This  is  the    reading  of  the 

quarto.    The  folio  gives  us  : 

By  foul  authority ! ' 

There  is  -rnadnefs  in  that  difju-jitiott  in  which  a  man  reafons  at 
once  for  and  againft  himfclf  upon  authority  which  he  knows  not  t» 
le  valid.  The  quarto  is  right.  JOHNSON. 

*  . —  where  reafon  can  revolt 

Without  perdition^  and  lofs  ajjunie  all  reafon 

Without  revolt; ]  The  words  l$fs  and  perdition  are  ufed 

in  their  common  fenfe,  but  they  mean  the  loft  or  perdition  of  rea- 
fon. JOHNSON. 

>  is  Ara chne1  s  broken  woof  to  enter. ~\    Thefyllable  wanting  in 


athnu\ 


144      TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA, 

Inftance,  O  inftance  !  ftrong  as  Pluto's  gates  ; 
Crcffid  is  mine,  tied  with  the  bonds  of  heaven  : 
Inftance,  O  inftance  !  ftrong  as  heaven  itfelf  ; 
The  bonds  of  heaven  are  ilipp'd,diflblv'd,  and  loos'd  $ 
And  with  another  8  knot,  five-finger-tied, 
The  fractions  of  her  faith,  orts  of  her  love, 
The  fragments,  fcraps,  the  bits,  and  greafy  reliques 
Of  her  9  o'er-eaten  faith,  are  bound  to  Diomed. 
Ulyjf.  '  May  worthy  Troilus  be  half  attach'd 
With  that  which  here  his  paffion  doth  exprefs  ? 

Ay,  Greek  ;  and  that  lhall  be  divulged  well 


atbna's.  It  is  not  impoffible  that  Shakefpeare  might  have  written 
Ariadne's  broken  woof,  having  confounded  the  two  names  of 
the  ftories,  in  his  imagination  ;  or  alluding  to  the  clue  of  thread, 
by  the  affiftance  of  which  Thefeus  efcaped  from  the  Cretan  laby- 
rinth. I  do  not  remember  that  Ariadne's  loom  is  mentioned  by  any 
of  the  Greek  or  Roman  poets,  though  I  find  an  allulion  to  it  in 
Humour  out  of  Breath,  a  comedy,  1607  : 

"  -  inftead  of  thefe  poor  weeds,  in  robes 

**  Richer  than  that  which  Ariadne  wrought,' 

"  Or  Cytherea's  airy-moving  veft." 
Again  : 

"  -  thy  treffes,  Ariadne's  t-zvwcs, 

*<  Wherewith  my  liberty  thou  halt  furpriz'd." 

Spanijb  Tragfdjt 
Again,  in  MuJeaJJcs  the  Turk,  1610  : 

*'  Leads  the  defpairing  wretch  into  a  maze  ; 

"  But  not  an  Ariadne  in  the  world 

*'  To  lend  a  clew  to  lead  us  out  of  it, 

"  The  very  maze  of  horror." 
Again,  in  Law  Tricks,   1608  : 

tfc  -  come  Ariadne's  c  /rtr,  will  you  unwind  ?" 
Again,  in  John  Florio's  tranflation  of  Montaigne  :  "  He  was  to' 
me  in  this   inextricable  labyrinth  like  Ariadne's  thread." 

STEEVF.XS. 

*  knot,  five-finger-tied,]    A  knot  tied  by    giving   her 

hand  to  Diomed.     JOHNSON. 

'  —  —  o>er~eatenjaitb,  -  ••]  Vows  which  fhe  has  already 
fwallowed  once  over.  We  ftill  fay  of  a  faithlefsman,  that  he  has" 
eaten  his  words.  JOHNSON. 

1  May  worthy  Troilus——  -  ]  Can  Troilus  really  feel  on 
this  occafion  half  of  what  he  utters  ?  A  qucition  fuitable  to  the 
calm  Ulyfles.  JOHNSON, 

In 


-       TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       14* 

In  characters  as  red  as  Mars  his  heart 
Inflam'd  \vith  Venus  :  never  did  young  man  fancy 
With  fo  eternal,  and  fo  fix'd  a  foul. 
Hark,   Greek;  —  As  much  as  I  do  Creffid  love, 
So  much  by  weight  hate  I  her  Diomed  : 
That  fleeve  is  mine,  that  he'll  bear  on  his  helm  ; 
Were  it  a  cafque  composed  by  Vulcan's  {kill, 
•  My  fword  fliould  bite  it  :   not  the  dreadful  fpout, 
Which  {hipmen  do  the  hurricano  call, 
Conftring'd  in  mafs  by  the  almighty  fun, 
Shall  dizzy  with  more  clamour  Neptune's  ear 
In  his  defcent,  than  {hall  my  prompted  fword 
Falling  on  Diomed. 

Ther.  He'll  tickle  it  for  his  concupy. 

Troi.  O  Creffid!  O  falfe  Creffid!  falfe,  falfe,  falfe! 
Let  all  untruths  ftand  by  thy  (lained  name, 
And  they'll  feem  glorious. 

Ulyff.  O,  contain  yourfelf  ; 
Your  paffion  draws  ears  hither. 

Enter  JEneas. 

Mne.  I  have  been  feeking  you  this  hour,  my  lord  : 
Hector,  by  this,  is  arming  him  in  Troy; 
Ajax,  your  guard,  ftays  to  conduct  you  home. 
Troi.  Have  with  you,  prince  :  —  My  courteous  lord, 

adieu  :  — 

Farewel,  revolted  fair  !  —  and,   Diomed, 
Stand  faft,  *  and  wear  a  caflle  on  thy  head  ! 
I'll  bring  you  to  the  gates. 


*  —  —  and  wear  a  caftle  on  thy  bead!]  i.  e-  defend  thy  head 
with  armour  of  more  than  common  fecurity.  It  appears  from  a 
paflage  in  Holinlhed,  already  quoted  in  a  note  on  Titus  Androni- 
cus,  that  by  a  caftle  was  meant  a  clofe  helmet. 

So,  in  The  little  French  Lawyer  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher: 
"  --  but  ufe 
**  That  noble  courage  I  have  feen,  and  we 
"  Shall  fight  as  in  a  cajile"  -     STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  L  Trot. 


r46     TROILUS  AND   CRESSlDAv 

Troi.  Accept  diftra&ed  thanks. 

[Exeunt  Trailus,  Mneas,  and  Utvffes* 

Ther.  'Would,  1  could  meet  that  rogue  Diomed!  1 
would  croak  like  a  raven  ;  I  would  bode,  I  would 
bode.  Patroclus  will  give  me  any  thing  for  the  in- 
telligence of  this  whore:  the  parrot  will  not  do  more- 
for  an  almond,  than  he  for  a  commodious  drab. 
Lechery,  lechery;  flill,  wars  and  lechery;  nothing 
elfe  holds  faihion  :  A  burning  devil  take  them  ! 


SCENE     III. 

The  palace  of  Troy. 
Enter  Heftor,  and  Anfcomache* 

And.  When  was  my  lord  fo  much  ungently  temper'd,. 
To  flop  his  ears  againft  admonishment  ? 
Unarm,  unarm,  and  do  not  fight  to-day. 

Heft.  You  train  me  to  offend  you  ;  get  you  in  : 
By  all  the  everlafling  gods,  I'll  go. 

And.  J  My  dreams  will,  fure,  prove  ominous  to-day- 

Heel.  No  more,  I  fay. 

'Etiter  CajTandra. 

Caf.  Where  is  my  brother  Hector  ? 

And.  Here,  fitter;  arm'd,  and  bloody  in  intent: 

3  My  dreams  will,  fure^  prove  ominous  to-day  *~\  The  hint  for  thia 
dream  of  Andromache,  might  be  taken  either  from  Lydgate,  or 
the  following  paflage  in  Chaucer's  Nounes  Preflei  Tale^  late  edit. 
v.  15147. 

I>o  hire  Andrornacha,  Heclorcs  wif, 

That  day  that  Hector  lluilde  leie  his  lif, 

She  dreined  on  the  lame  night  betoi  ne, 

How  that  the  lit"  or"  Hcftor  ftutld  be  loine, 

If  thilke  day  he  went  into  battaille  : 

She  warned  him,  but  it  might  not  availle; 

He  went  forth  for  to  lighten  natheles, 

And  was  yflain  anon  ot  Achilles."    STEEVENS. 

Confort 


AND  CRESSIDA.     147 

fconfort  with  me  in  loud  and  dear  petition, 
Purfue  we  him  on  knees ;  for  I  have  dreamt 
Of  bloody  turbulence,  and  this  whole  night 
Hath  nothing  been  but  fhapes  arid  forms  of  flaughter. 

Caf.  O,  it  is  true. 

Heft.  Ho !  bid  my  trumpet  found  ! 

Caf.  No  notes  of  fallyj    for  the  heavens,   fweet 
brother. 

Heft.  Begone,  I  fay  :  the  gods  have,  heard  me  fwear. 

Caf.  The  gods  are  deaf  to  hot  and  peevifh  vows  ; 
They  are  polluted  offerings,  more  abhorr'd 
Than  fpotted  livers  in  the  facrifice. 

And.  O  !  be  perfuaded  :  Do  not  count  it  holy 
To  hurt  by  being  jufl :  it  is  as  lawful, 
4  For  us  to  count  we  give  what's  gain'd  by  thefts, 
And  rob  in  the  behalf  of  charity. 

Caf.  s  It  is  the  purpofe,  that  makes  ftrong  the  vow  j 
But  vows,  to  every  purpofe,  muft  not  hold  : 
Unarm,  fweet  Hedtor. 

Heft.  Hold  you  ftill,  I  fay  ; 
Mine  honour  keeps  the  weather  of  my  fate  : 
Life  every  man  holds  dear ;  but  the  6  dear  man 
Holds  honour  far  more  precious-dear  than  life.— 

*  For  us  to  count ]    This  is  fo  oddly  confufed  in  the  folio, 

that  1  tranfcribe  it  as  a  fpecimen  of  incotredtnefs  : 

do  not  count  it  holy, 

To  hurt  by  being  juft;  it  is  as  lawful 

For  ive  would  count  give  much  to  as  violent  thefts^ 

And  rob  in  the  behalf  of  charity.     JOHNSON. 

I  believe  we  fhould  read For  ive  would  give  much,  to  ufe 

•violent  thefts,  i.  e.  to  ufe  violent  thefts,  lecaufe  we  would  give 
much.  The  word  count  had  crept  in  from  the  lafl  line  but  one. 

TYRWHITT. 

'    5  It  is  tie  purpofe ]  The  mad  prophetefs  fpeaks  here  with 

all  the  coolnefs  and  judgment  of  a  ikilful  cafuift.  **  The  eflence 
*'  of  a  lawful  vow,  is  a  lawful  purpofe,  and  the  vow  of  which  the 
"  end  is  wrong  muft  not  be  regarded  as  cogent."  JOHNSON. 

*  — —  dear  man\  Valuable  man.     The  modern  editions  read, 

—  brave  man. 

The  repetition  of  the  word  is  in  our  author's  manner.    JOHNSON. 

L  2  Entef 


148      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA; 


Enter  Tirollus. 

How  now,  young  man  ?  mean'il  thou  to  fight  to- 
day ? 

And.  Caflandra,  call  my  father  to  perfuadc. 

[Exit  Caffandra. 

Heft.  No,  'faith,  young  Troilus ;  doff  thy  harnefs, 

youth ; 

I  am  to-day  i'  the  vein  of  chivalry  : 
Let  grow  thy  finews  'till  their  knots  be  ftrong, 
And  tempt  not  yet  the  brumes  of  the  war. 
Unarm  thee,  go  ;  and  doubt  thou  not,  brave  boy, 
I'll  fland,  to-day,  for  thee,  and  me,  and  Troy. 

Trot.  Brother,  you  have  a  vice  of  mercy  in  you, 
7  Which  better  fits  a  lion,  than  a  man. 

Heel.  What  vice  is  that,  good  Troilus  ?  chide  me 
for  it. 

7V0/.  When  many  times  the  captive  Grecians  fall, 
Even  in  the  fan  and  wind  of  your  fair  fword, 
You  bid  them  rife,  and  live. 

Heft.  O,  'tis  fair  play. 

Troi.  Fool's  play,  by  heaven,  Hector. 

Heft.  How  now  ?  how  now  ? 

fTroi.  For  the  love  of  all  the  gods, 
Let's  leave  the  hermit  pity  with  our  mother  ; 
And  when  we  have  our  armours  buckled  on, 
The  venom'd  vengeance  ride  upon  our  iwords; 
Spur  them  to  ruthful  work,  rein  them  from  ruth. 

Heft.  Fie,  favage,  fie ! 

2V0/.  Hector,  then  'tis  wars. 

Heft.  Troilus,  I  would  not  have  you  fight  to-day. 

1  Which  better  Jits  a  lion, ]  The  traditions  and  {lories  of  the 

darker  ages  abounded  with  examples  of  the  lion's  generolity. 
Upon,  the  fuppofition  that  thefe  acls  of  clemency  were  true,  Trol- 
lu»  reafons  not  improperly,  that  to  fpare  again fr.  reafon,  by  mere 
mitinct  of  pity,  became  rather  a  gencroui  beatt  than  a  wife  man. 

JOHNSON. 


TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA.      149 

5r0/.  Who  fhould  withhold  me  ? 
Not  fate,  obedience,  nor  the  hand  of  Mars 
Beckoning  with  fiery  truncheon  my  retire  ; 
Not  Priamus  and  Hecuba  on  knees, 
Their  eyes  o'er-galled 8  with  recourfe  of  tears  ; 
Nor  you,  my  brother,  with  your  true  Avord  drawn, 
Oppos'd  to  hinder  me,  fhould  flop  my  way, 
But  by  my  ruin. 

Re-enter  CaJJandra,  with  Priam. 

-Caf.  Lay  hold  upon  him,  Priam,  hold  him  faft  : 
He  is  thy  crutch  ;  now  if  thou  lofe  thy  flay, 
Thou  on  him  leaning,  and  all  Troy  on  thee, 
Fall  all  together. 

Priam.  Come,  Hector,  come,  go  Ijack  : 
Thy  wife  hath  dreamt ;  thy  mother  hath  had  viiions  ; 
Caifandra  doth  forefee  ;  and  I  myfelf 
Am  like  a  prophet  fuddenly  enrapt,     .      t*' 
To  tell  thee — that  this  day  is  ominous.: 
Therefore,  come  back. 

Heft.  ^Eneas  is  a-field ; 
And  I  do  ftand  engag'd  to  many  Greeks, 
Even  in  the  faith  of  valour,  to  appear 
This  morning  to  them. 

Priam.  But  thou  malt  not  go. 

'Heft.  I  muft  not  break  my  faith. 
You  know  me  dutiful ;  therefore,  dear  fir, 
Let  me  not  fhame  refpeft ;  but  give  me  leave 
To  take  that  courfe  by  your  content  and  voice, 
Which  you  do  here  forbid  me,  royal  Priam. 

Caf.  O  Priam,  yield  not  to  him. 

And.  Do  not,  dear  father. 

Heft.  Andromache,  I  am  offended  with  you  : 
jLJpon  the  love  you  bear  me,  get  you  in. 

[Exit  Andromache. 

1   — —  with  reccurfe  cf  tears ;]  i.e.  tears  that  continue  to 
courfe  one  another  down  the  face.     WARLVKTON. 
L  3 


150      TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA, 

Tro/.  This  foolifh,  dreaming,  fuperflitious  girl 
Makes  all  thefe  bpdements. 

Caf.  9  O  farcwel,  dear  Hedtor. 
Look,  how  thou  dy'ft  !  look,  how  thy  eye  turns  pale ! 
Look,  how  thy  wounds  do  bleed  at  many  vents  ! 
Hark,  how  Troy  roars  !  how  Hecuba  cries  out ! 
How  poor  Andromache  fhrills  her  dolours  forth  ' ! 
Behold,  diflradtion,  frenzy,  and  amazement, 
Like  witlefs  anticks,  one  another  meet, 
And  all  cry—Hector !  Hedtor's  dead !  O  Hedtor  ! 

Troi.  Away  ! Away  ! 

Caf.  Farewel.     Yet,  fqft  :— Hedtor,   I  take  rhy 

leave  : 
Thou  doft  thyfelf  and  all  our  Troy  deceive.     [Exit. 

HeR.  YOU  are  amaz'd,  my  liege,  at  her  exclaim  ; 
Go  in,  and  cheer  the  town  :  we'll  forth,  and  fight; 
Do  deeds  worth  praife,  and  tell  you  them  at  night. 

Priam.  Farevyel  :  The  gods  with  fafety  ftand 
about  thee  !  \_Rxit  Priam.  Alarums. 

Tro/.'They  are  at  it;  hark !  Proud  Diomed,  believe,, 
I  come  to  lofe  my  arm,  or  win  my  fleeve  2. 

9  Ofarrv:el,  dear  Heftor!]  The  interpofition  and  clamorous 
forrow  of  Caflandra  were  copied  by  our  author  from  Lydgate. 

STEEVENS. 

1  fhriils  her  dolours,  &c.]    So  in  Heywood's  Silver  Age^ 

1613  : 

''"  Through  all  th' abyfs   I  have  Jbriird  thy  daughter's  lofs, 

th  my  concave  trump."    STEEVEXS. 

*  According  to  the  quartos  1609,  this  fcene  is  continued  by  the 
following  dialogue  between  Pandarus  and  Troilus,  which  the  poet 
certainly  mcan.t  to  have  been  inferted  at  the  end  of  the  play,  where 
the  three  concluding  lines  of  it  are  repeated  in  the  copies  already 
mentioned.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  players  fhuffled  the 
the  parts  backward  and  forward,  ad  libitum  ;  tor  the  poet  would 
hardly  have  given  us  ar>  unnecellary  repetition  of  the  lame  words, 
.nor  have  difmifled  Pandarus  twice  in  the  fame  manner.  The  con- 
cluiion  of  the  piece  will  fully  juftify  the  liberty  which  any  future 
commentator  may  take  in  omitting  the  fccne  here  and  placing  i^ 
at  the  end,  where  at  prefent  only  the  few  lines  already  mentioned, 
ire  to  be  found.  STEEVENS. 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA.      151 

Enter  Pandarus. 

Tan.  Do  you  hear,  my  lord  ?  de  you  hear  ? 

'Trol.  What  now  ? 

Pan.  Here's  a  letter  come  from  yon*  poor  girl. 

Yra.  Let  me  read. 

Pan.  A  whorefon  ptifick,  a  whorefon  rafcally 
ptifick  fo  troubles  me,  and  the  foolifli  fortuneof  this 
girl ;  and  what  one  thing,  what  another,  that  I 
ihall  leave  you  oneo'  thefe  days :  And  I  have  a  rheurn 
in  mine  eyes  too  ;  and  fuch  an  ach  in  my  bones,  that, 
unlefs  a  man  were  curft,  I  cannot  tell  what  to  think 
on't. — What  fays  Ihe  there :? 

Troi.  Words,  words,  mere  words,  no  matter  from 
the  heart ;  [Fearing  the  letter. 

The  effect  doth  operate  another  way. — 
<jo,  wind,  to  wind,  there  turn  and  change  together.— 
My  love  with  words  and  errors  flill  Ihe  feeds ; 
But  edifies  another  with  her  deeds. 

Pan  Why,  but  hear  you • 

Troi. J  Hence,  broker  lacquey ! — ignomjr  and  fhame 
jP.urfue  thy  life,  and  live  aye  with  thy  name !  [Exeunt. 

SCENE    IV, 

Bttween  ¥r<y  and  the  camp. 
\_ALarv.m. ~^          Enter  Therfttes. 

<Ther.  Now  they  are  clapper-clawing  one  another; 
I'll  go  look  on.  That  diflembling  abominable  varlet, 
JDiomed,  has  got  that  fame  fcurvy  doting  foolilh 
young  knave's  fleeve  of  Troy,  there,  in  his  helm  :  I 

3  Hence,  brothel,   lacquey  ! ]    For  Irotkel,  the  folio  reads 

Irotber,  erroneoufly  for  broker,  as  it  Hands  at  the  end  of  the  play 
where  the  lines  are  repeated.  Of  brother  the  following  editors 
JOHNSON. 

L  4 


152      TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA. 

would  fain  fee  them  meet  ;  that  that  fame  young 
Trojan  afs,  that  loves  the  whore  there,  might  fend- 
that  Greekifh  whore-mafterly  villain,  with  the  fleeve, 
back  to  the  dhTembling  luxurious  drab,  of  a  lieevelefs 
errand.  4  O'  the  other  fide,  The  policy  of  thofe  crafty 
fwearing  rafcals,  —  that  ftale  old  moufe-eaten  dry 
cheefe,  Neftor;  and  that  fame  dog-fox,  Ulyfles,  —  is 
not  prov'd  worth  a  black-berry  :  —  They  fet  me  up, 
in  policy,  that  mungril  cur,  Ajax,  againft  that  dog 
of  as  bad  a  kind,  Achilles  :  and  now  is  the  cur 
Ajax  prouder  than  the  cur  Achilles,  and  will  not 
aim  to-day  ;  whereupon  the  Grecians  begin  5  to  pro- 
claim barbarifm,  and  policy  grows  into  an  ill  opi- 
nion. Soft  !  here  comes  fieeve,  and  t'other. 

Enter  Diomed,  and  'Trollus. 

Troi.  Fly  not  ;  for,  ihouldfl  thou  take  the  river  Styx7 
I  would  fwim  after. 

Dio.  Thou  doft  mif-call  retire  : 
I  do  not  fly  ;  but  advantageous  care 
Withdrew  me  from  the  odds  of  multitude  : 
Have  at  thee  !  [They  go  off  fighting. 

Ther.  Hold  thy  whore,  Grecian  !  —  now  for  thy 
whore,  Trojan  !  —  now  the  fleeve,  now  the  ileeve  ! 

Enter  Heftor. 

HeR.  What  art  thou,  Greek  ?  art  thou  for  Hector's 
match  ? 

*  O'  tie  ftbtr  Jule^  ike  policy  of  thnfe  crafty  fwearing  rafcals^  &c.J 
But  in  what  fenfe  are  Neilorand  Ulyfles  accufed  of  being  pvjearing 
rafcals?  What,  or  to  whom,  did  they  fwear?  I  am  politive 
itter  ing  is  the  true  reading.  They  had  collogued  with  Ajax, 


and  trimmed  him  up  with  inlmcere  praifes,  only  in  order  to  have 
fHrred  Achilltes'j  emulation.  In  tliis,  they  were  the  true  fneer- 
crs  ;  betraying  the  fufl,  to  gain  their  ends  on  the  latter  by  that  ar- 
tifice. THEOBALD. 

5  -  to  procLilm  larlarlfm,  -  ]  To  fet  up  the  authority  of 
ignorance,  to  declare  that  they  will  be  governed  by  policy  no 
longer.  JOHNSON. 

6  Art 


.TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       153 

6  Art  thou  of  blood,  and  honour  ? 

Tier.  No,  no  : — I  am  a  rafcal ;  a  fcurvy  railing 
Jcnave  ;  a  very  filthy  rogue* 

Heft.  I  do  believe  thee  ; — live.  [Exit. 

Ther.  God-a-mercy,  that  thou  wilt  believe  me ;  But 
a  plague  break  thy  neck,  for  frighting  me!  What's 
become  of  the  wenching  rogues  ?  I.  think,  they  have 
fwallow'd  one  ano'her :  I  would  laugh  at  that  miracle. 
Yet,  in  a  fort,  lechery  eats  itfelf.  I'll  feek  them.  . 

[Ev//. 
SCENE        V. 

The  fame. 
Enter  Dlomed,  and  a  Servant. 

Dlo.  Go,  go,  my  fervant,  take  thou  Troilus'  horfe7; 
Prefent  the  fair  fteed  to  my  lady  Creflid  : 
Fellow,  commend  my  fervice  to  her  beauty; 
Tell  her,  I  have  chaftis'd  the  amorous  Trojan, 
And  am  her  knight  by  proof. 

Serv.  I  go,  my  lord. 

Enter  Agamemnon. 

Aga.  Renew,  renew  !  The  fierce  Polydamas 
Hath  beat  down  Menon  :  8  baftard  Margarelon 

Hath 

6  Art  tbou  of  llood  and  honour  ?]  This  is  an  idea  taken  from  the 
nncient  books  of  romantic  chivalry,  as  is  the  following  one  in  the 
ij>eech  of  Diomed  : 

And  am  her  knight  by  proof.     STEEVENS. 

^  take  tbou  Troi/us*  borfe."]  So  in  Lydgute: 

*'  That  Troilus  by  maine  and  mighty  torce 
*'  At  unawares,  he  caft  down  from  his  horfe. 
**  And  gave  it  to  his  fquire  for  to  beare 
"  'I'o  CreffUtti  &c."     STEEVENS.  . 

8  la/lard  Margarelon}    The  introduction  of  a  baflafd  fon 

of  Priam,  under  the  name  of  Margarelon,  is  one  of  the  circum- 
f&nces  taken  from  the  itory  book  of  The  Tbre*  Definitions  oj'Jroy. 

THEOBALD. 

The 


i£4      TR.OILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 
Hath  Doreus  prifoner  ; 
And  frauds  coloflus-wife,  waving  his  beam, 
Upon  the  paflied  corfes  of  the  kings 
Epiitrophus  and  Cedius  :  Polixcnes  is  flain ; 
Amphimachus,  and  Thoas,  deadly  hurt; 
Patroclus  ta'en,  or  flain  ;  and  Palamedes 
•Sore  hurt  and  bruis'd  :  9  the  dreadful  Sagittary 
Appals  our  numbers  ;  hafte  we,  Diomed, 
To  reinforcement,  or  we  perifh  all. 

Enter  Nejtor. 

Nefl.  Go,  bear  Patroclus' body  to  Achilles; 

And  bid  the  fnail-pac'd  Ajax  arm  for  fhame, 

fhere  is  a  thoufand  He&ors  in  the  field  : 
j^ow  here  he  rights  '  on  Galathe  his  horfe, 

An4 


STEEVE^S. 
•  the  dreadful  Sagittary 

our  numbers: J     **  Beyonde  the  royalme  of 

**  Amafonne  came  an  aunryent  kynge,  wyfe  and  dyfcreete,  named 
"  Epyftrophus,  and  brought  a  M .  knyghtes,  and  a  mervaylloufe 
**  befte  that  was  called  SAGITTAYRE,  that  behynde  the  rayddcs 
"  was  an  horfe,  and  to  fore,  a  man  :  this  befte  was  heery  like  an 
«*  horfe,  and  had  his  eyen  rede  as  a  cole,  and  (hotte  well  with  a 
* ;  bowe :  this  bffte  made  the  Grekes  fore  aferde,  andflnve  many  of 
•*  them  with  his  bow."  The  Three  Deftruflions  of  Troy,  printed  by 
Caxton.  THEOBALD. 

. the  dreadful  Savittary}     A  very  circumftantial  account  of 

this  Sagittary  is  likewise  to  be  found  in  Lydgate,  page  174. 

STEEVENS. 

1  on  Qalathe  hh  horfe, 1    From  The  T/jrcc  Dejirnfiions  of 

Troy  is  taken  this  name  given  to  Heeler's  horfe    THEOBALD. 
"  Cal'd  Gelatin  (the  which  is  faid  to  have  been 
"  The  goodlieft  horfe,"  &c.     Lydgate,  page  142. 
Again,  page  175:  0 

"  And  fought,  by  all  the  means  he  could,  to  take 
"  Galathe,  Hedor's  horfe,"  &c. 

HfywooJ,  in  his  Iron  Age  1632,  has  likevyifc  continued  the  fame 
appellation  to  Hector's  horfe ; 

••  My 


TROILUS   AND  CRESSIDA. 

And  there  lacks  work  ;  anon,  he's  there  afoot, 
And  there  they  fly,  or  die,  like  *  fcaled  fculls 
Before  the  beldiing  whale  ;  then  is  he  yonder, 
And  there J  the  ftrawy  Greeks,  ripe  for  his  edge? 
Fall  down' before  him,  like  the  mower's  fwath  : 
Here,  there,  and  every  where,  he  leaves,  and  takes  j 
Dexterity  fo  obeying  appetite, 
That  what  he  will,  he  does ;  and  does  fo  much, 
That  proof  is  call'd  impoffibility. 

Enter  Ul}fes. 

Ukff".  O}  courage,  courage,  princes  !  great  Achille$ 
Is  arming,  weeping,  curling,  vowing  vengeance : 

*'  My  armour,  and  my  trufty  Galatee." 

jfieyvjoodhns  taken  many  circumilances  in  his  play  from  Lyclgate. 
John  Stevens,  the  author  of  Cinthia's  Revenge,  1613,  (a  play  com- 
mended by  Sen  Jonfon  in  fome  lines  prefixed  to  it)  has  mounted 
Heflor  on  an  elephant.  STEEVENS. 

z  fcaled  fculls]  Sculls  are  great  numbers  offices  fwim- 

rning  together.  The  modern  editors  not  being  acquainted  with 
the  term,  changed  it  \utojkoah.  My  knowledge  of  this  word  is 
derived  from  a  little  book  called  The  Englijh  Expcjitor,  London, 
printed  by  John  Legatt,  1616.  The  word  likewife  occurs  in 
jLylly's  Midas,  IS92  '• 

*'  He  hath,  by  this,  fiarted  a  covey  of  bucks,  or  roufed  n/cutl 
pf  pheafants."  The  humour  of  this  fhort  fpeech  confifts  in  a  mif- 
application  of  the  appropriate  terms  of  one  amufement,  to  another* 
Again,  in  Milton : 

«« each  bay 

"  With  fry  innumerable  fwarms,  nnd  flioals 
"  Of  fifh,  that  with  their  fins  and  fhining  fcales 
'*  Glide  under  the  green  wave,  in  fculls  that  oft 
«*  Bank  the  mid  fea." 
jfVgain,  in  Warner's  Alliorts  England,   1602: 

"  A  knavifli /!//// of  boys  and  girls,  &c." 

Again,Jin  the  2£th  long  of  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  it  is  faid  of  th<9 
cormorant : 

**  — — — — •  from  his  wings  at  full, 
"  As  though  he  fliot  himielf  into  the  thicken'dyZ-a//, 
"  He  under  water  goes,  &c," 
Again,  in  the  z6th  fong : 

"  .My  filver-fcaledyi-a/j about  my  ftreams  do  fweep." 

STEEVEN«. 

3  —  the  ftrawy  Greets, ]   In  the  folio  it  is, 

— — - *  the,/?  eying  Greeks,'  JOHNSOK. 


156      TROILUS    AND    CRESSIDA. 

Patroclus'  wounds  have  rouz'd  his  drowfy  blood, 

Together  with  his  mangled  Myrmidons, 

That  nofelefs,  handlefs,  hack'd  and  chip'd,  come  to 

him, 

Crying  on  Hector.     Ajax  hath  loft  a  friend, 
And  foams  at  mouth,  and  he  is  arm'd?  and  at  it, 
Roaring  for  Troilus ;  who  hath  done  to-day 
Mad  and  fantaftic  execution  ; 
Engaging  and  redeeming  of  hirnfelf, 
With  fuch  a  carelefs  force,  and  forcelefs  care, 
As  if  that  luck,  in  very  fpite  of  cunning, 
Bade  him  win  all. 

JLnter  Ajax. 

Ajax.  Troilus  !  thou  coward  Troilus !  [Exit* 

Dio.  Ay,  there,  there. 

Neft.  So,  fo,  we  draw  together.  [Exeunt. 

Enter  Achilles. 

'Achil.  Where  is  this  Hector  ? 
Come,  come,  thou  boy-queller,  fhew  thy  face ; 
Know  what  it  is  to  meet  Achilles  angry. 
Hector !  where's  Hector  ?  I  will  none  but  Hector. 

[Exit. 

SCENE      VI. 

Mother  part  of  the  field. 

Re-enter  Ajax. 

Ajax.  Troilus,   thou  coward  Troilus,    fhew  thy 
head! 

Enter  Dlomed. 

Dio.  Troilus,  I  fay  !  where's  Troilus  ? 
Ajax.  What  wouldfl  thou  ? 
.Dio.  I  would  correct  him. 
Ajax.  Were  I  the  general,  thou  fhouldft  have  my 

office, 

Ere  that  correction  :— Troilus,  I  fay  !  what,  Troilus ! 

Enter 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       157 


Enter  Troilus. 

Troi.  O  traitor  Diomed  ! — turn   thy  falfe    face, 

thou  traitor, 

And  pay  thy  life  thou  ov/ft  me  for  my  horfe  ! 
Dio.  Ha  !  art  thou  there  ? 

Ajax.  I'll  fight  with  him  alone  ;  ftand,  Diomed. 
Dio.  He  is  my  prize,  I  will  not  look  upon. 
Trot.  Come  both,  4  you  cogging  Greeks  ;  have  at 
you  both.  [Exeunt,  fighting. 

Enter  Hctfor. 

Heft.  Yea,  Troilus  ?  O,  well  fought,  my  youngeft 
brother ! 

Enter  Achilles. 

AchlL  Now  do  I  fee  thee  :  Ha ! — Have  at  thec, 
Hector. 

Heft.  Paufe,  if  thou  wilt.  [Figkt. 

Acbil.  I  do  difdain  thy  courtefy,  proud  Trojan. 
Ee  happy,  that  my  arms  are  out  of  ufe  : 
My  reft  and  negligence  befriend  thee  now, 
But  thou  anon  lhalt  hear  of  me  again  ; 
'Till  when,  go  feek  thy  fortune. 

Heft.   Fare  thee  well  :  — 
I  would  have  been  much  more  a  frefher  man, 
Had  I  expected  thee. — 'How  now,  my  brother? 

+  you  cogging  Greeks, ]  This  epithet  has  no  particu- 
lar propriety  in  this  place,  but  the  author  had  heard  of  Gratia 
Mcmlax.  JOHNSON. 

Surely  the  epithet  had  propriety  in  refpecl  of  Diomed  at  lead, 
who  had  defrauded  him  of  .his  miitrefs.  Troilus  bellows  it  on 
both,  unius  ob  citlpam.  A  fraudulent  man,  as  I  am  told,  is  {till 
called  in  the  North — a  gainful  Greek.  Cicero  bears  witnefs  to 
this  charafter  of  the  ancient  Greeks.  "  Teftimoniorum  religionem  et 
jldfm  nunqiiam  ijlanatio  cotuit"  Again—"  Graecorum  ingenia  ad 
r "allemlum  farttta  font"  STEEVENS. 

Re- 


158      tROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA; 


Re-enter 

TrdL  Ajax  hath  ta'en  ^Eneas;  Shall  it  be  ? 
No,  by  the  flame  of  yonder  glorious  heaven, 
He  fhall  not  carry  him  ;   I'll  be  taken  too, 
Or  bring  him  off: — Fate,  hear  me  what  I  fay  ! 
I  reck  not  though  I  end  my  life  to-day.  [Exifi 

Enter  one  in  armour. 

Heft.  Stand,  (land,  thou  Greek ;  thou  art  a  goodly 

mark  : — 

No  ?  wilt  thou  not  ? — J  I  like  thy  armour  well ; 
*  I'll  frulh  it,  and  unlock  the  rivets  all, 

Butf 

5  — —  /  like  thy  armour  <aW/;]  This  circumftance  is  taken 
from  Lydgate's  poem,  page  196: 

"  — —  Guido  in  his  hiftorie  doth  Ihevv 

"  By  worthy  Hector's  fall,  who  coveting 

'*  To  have  the  fumptuous  armor  of  that  king,  &c. 

**  So  greedy  was  thereof,  that  when  he  had 
"  The  body  up,  and  on  his  horfe  it  bare, 

'*  To  have  the  fpoil  thereof  fuch  hafte  he  made 
"  That  he  did  hang  his  fhield  without  all  care 
*'  Behind  him  at  his  back,  the  eafier 
**  To  pull  the  armour  off  at  his  defire, 
'*  And  by  that  means  his  brcaft  clean  open  lay,"  &rc. 
This  furnifhed  Shakefpeare  with  the  hint  for  the  following  line  : 
I  am  unarm'd  ;  forego  this  vantage,  Greek.     STEEVENS. 

*  I'll  frujb  »/, ]    The  word  frujb  I  never  found  elfe- 

where,    nor    underftand  it.      Hanmcr  explains  it,    to  break  or 
truife.     JOHNSON. 

'Tofrufb  a  chicken,  is  a  term  in  carving  which  I  cannot  ex- 
plain. I  am  indebted  for  this  little  knowledge  of  it  to  E.  Smith's 
Complete  Hufivife,  published  in  1741.  The  term  is  as  ancient  as 
Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Book  of  Kervinge>  1508.  Holinfhed,  de- 
fcribing  the  foldiers  of  Richmond  making  themfelves  ready,  fays, 
*'  they  bent  their  bows,  and  frujbed  their  feathers  ;"  and  (as 
Mr.  Toilet  has  obferved)  employs  it  again  in  his  Defcription  of  Ire- 
land, p.  ZQ  :  "  When  they  are  fore  frufot  with  licknefs,  or  fo 
farre  withered  with  age."  Tofrtt/ht  in  this  firft  iuftance,  fays 

he. 


TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA.       159 

But  111  be  matter  of  it : — Wilt  thou  not,  beail,  abide  > 
Why  then,  fly  on,  I'll  hunt  thee  for  thy  liide.     [Exit, 

SCENE    VII. 

The  fame. 
Enter  AMks,  with  Myrmidons. 

AM.  Come  here  about  me,  you  my  Myrmidons  j 
Mark  what  I  fay, — Attend  me  where  I  wheel : 
Strike  not  a  ftroke,  but  keep  yourfelves  in  breath ; 
And  when  I  have  the  bloody  Hedor  found, 
Empale  him  with  your  weapons  round  about ; 
In  fellefl  manner  execute  your  arms 7. 

he,  fignifies  to  change  the  feathers  from  their  natural  fmooth  and 
Hoping  pofition,  to  a  rough  perpendicular  one,  whereby  the  arrow 


flies  the  fteadier  to  its  mark,  and  whittles  in  the  air.     In  the  fe-i 
cond  inftance,  it  means  to  diforder.     The  word  feems  to  be  fome- 
times  ufed  for  any  adlion  of  violence  by  which  things  arc  feparated, 
dilordered,  ordeitroyed. 
So,   in  Hinde's  Elioflo  Ltiidinofo,  1606  : 

*'  High  cedars  are  frujbed  with  tempelts,  when  lower  flirub*  arc 
not  touched  with  the  wind." 

Again,  in  Hans  Beer-pot's  Invifible  Comedy,  &c.   1618: 
"  And  with  mine  arm  tofrvjh  a  fturdy  lance." 
Again,  in  the  Hijlory  of  Helyas  Knight  of  the  tfnMMt)  bl.  1.  no  date: 

"  —  fmote  him  fo  courageouily  with  his  fworde,  that  \Mfrujbed 
all  his  helm,  wherewith  the  erle  fell  backward,  &c." 
Again,  in  StaiiyhurlVs  translation  of  the  firft  book  of  Virgil's 
jEneid,  1582  : 

'4  All  ihcfrujbe  and  leavings  of  Greeks,  of  wrathful  Achillei  .'* 
Again, 

"  . yf  that  knight  jEntheous  haplye 

*'  \Verc  frujbt,  or  remanent,  &c." 

Again,  in  Sir  John  Mandevile?s  account  of  the  magical  entertain- 
ments exhibited  before  the  Crete  Chan,  p.  285  : 

"  And  then  they  make  knyghtes  tojouften  inarmes  fulle  luftyly? 
"  &c. — and  they  frufchen  togidere  fulle  fiercely."        STEEVENS. 

7  execute  your  arms.]     Thus  all  the  copies;  but  furely 

we  (hould  read — aims.    STBEYENS. 

Fol- 


i6o      TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA. 

Follow  me,  firs,  and  my  proceedings  eye  : — 

It  is  decreed — Hector  the  great  muft  die.       {Exeunt* 

SCENE      VIII. 

'The  fame. 

Enter  Therfites,  Mcnelaus,  and  Pans. 
*Ther.  The  cuckold,  and  the  cuckold-maker  are  at 
it:  Now,  bull !  now,  dog  !  'Loo,  Paris,  'loo  !  now 
my  double-hen'd  fparrow !    'loo,   Paris,  loo!   The 
bull  has  the  game  : — 'ware  horns,   ho  ! 

[Exeunt  Paris  and  Mcnelatis. 

Enter  Margarelon. 

Mar,  Turn,  flave,  and  fight. 

Ther.  What  art  thou  ? 

Mar.  A  baftard  fon  of  Priam's. 

Tber.  I  am  a  baftard  too ;  I  love  baftards  :  I  am  a 
baftard  begot,  baftard  inftructed,  baftard  in  mind, 
baftard  in  valour,  in  every  thing  illegitimate.  One 
bear  will  not  bite  another,  and  wherefore  ihould  one 
baftard  ?  Take  heed,  the  quarrel's  moft  ominous  to 
us  :  if  the  fon  of  a  whore  fight  for  a  whore,  he 
tempts  judgment :  Farcwel,  baftard. 

Mar.  The  devil  take  thee,  coward  !          [Exeunt, 

SCENE     IX. 

Another  part  of  the  f  eld. 

Enter  Heffor. 

HeB.  Moft  putrified  core,  fo  fair  without, 
Thy  goodly  armour  thus  hath  coft  thy  life. 
Now  is  my  day's  work  done ;  I'll  take  good  breath  : 
Reft,  fword ;  thou  haft  thy  fill  of  blood  and  death  ! 

Enter  Achilles,  and  his  Myrmidons. 
Achil.  Look,  Hector,  how  the  fun  begins  to  fet ; 
How  ugly  night  comes  breathing  at  his  heels : 

Even 


TROILUS   AND   CP.ESSIDA.      161 

8  Even  with  the  vail  and  darkening  of  the  fun, 
To  clofe  the  day  up,  Hector's  life  is  done. 

Heft.  9 1  am  unarm'd;  forego  this  vantage,  Greek. 

Achll.  'Strike,  fellows,  ftrike;  this  is  the  man  I  feek. 

\_Hettor  falls. 

So,  Ilion,  fall  thon  next !  no\v,  Troy,  fink  down  ; 
Here  lies  thy  heart,  thy  finews,  and  thy  bone. — 
On,  Myrmidons ;  and  cry  you  all  amain, 
Achilles  hath  the  mighty  Heftorjlain. 
Hark  !  a  retreat  upon  our  Grecian  part. 

Myr.  The  Trojan  trumpets  found  the  like,  my  lord. 

8  Even  ivltb  tie  vail ]    The  vail  is,  I  think,  the  faking 

of  the  fun ;  not  veil  or  cover.     JOHNSON. 

9  /  am  unarmed ;  forego  ibis  vantage,  Greek.  ]  Heftor,  in  Lyd- 
gate's  poem,  falls  by  the  hand  of  Achilles ;  but  it  is  Troilus  who, 
having  been  inclofed  round  by  the  Myrmidons,  is  killed  after  his 
armour,had  been  hewn  from  his  body,  which  was  afterwards  drawn 
through  the  field  at  the  horfe's  tail.     The  Oxford  Editor,  I  be- 
lieve, was  mifinformed ;  for  in  the  old  ftory-book  of  T'he  Three 
Dejlruftions  of  Troyy  I   find  likewife  the  fame  account  given  of 
the  death  of  Troilus.     Heywood,  in  his  Rape  of  Lucrece,   1638, 
feems  to  have  been  indebted  to  fome  fuch  work  as  Hanmer  men- 
tions. 

"  Had  puiflant  Heftorby  Achilles'  hand 
"  Dy'd  in  a  (ingle  monomachie,  Achilles 
"  Had  been  the  worthy  ;  but  being  flain  by  odds, 
*'  The  pooretl  Myrmidon  had  as  much  honour 
"  As  faint  Achilles,  in  the  Trojan's  death." 
It  is  not  unpleafant  to  obferve  with  what  vehemence  Lydgatr, 
who  in  the  grofleft  manner  has  violated  all  the  characters  drawn 
by  Homer,  takes  upon  him  to  reprehend  the  Grecian  poet  as  the 
original  offender.     Thus  in  his  fourth  book : 

"  Oh  thou,  Homer,  for  fhame  be  now  red, 

"  And  thee  amafethat  holdeft  thy  felfe  fo  \vyfe, 

*'  On  Achy  lies  to  fet  fuche  great  a  pryfe 

*'  In  thy  bokes  tor  his  chyvalrye, 

"  Above  echone  that  doft  hym  magnyfye, 

**  That  was  fo  fleyghty  and  fo  full  of  fraude, 

"  Why  geveft  thou  hym  fo  hye  a  prayie  and  laude?" 

STEEVEN-S. 

*  Strike,  fellows,  Jlrtke ; ]  This  particular  of  Achilles  over- 
powering He&or  by  numbers,  and  without  armour,  is  taken  from 
the  old  ftory-book.  HANMER. 

VOL.  IX.  M 


162     TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

dcl/tl.  The  dragon  wing  of  night  o'erfpreads  the 

earth, 

*  And,  ftickler-like,  the  armies  feparates. 
My  half-fupt  f\vord,  that  frankly  would  have  fed, 
Pleas'd  with  this  dainty  bit,  thus  goes  to  bed. — 
Come,  tie  his  body  to  my  horfe's  tail ; 
Along  the  field  I  will  the  Trojan  trail.  [Exeunt. 

Sound  retreat.     Si:ont. 

SCENE    X. 

¥he  fame. 

Enter  Agamemnon,  Ajax,  Menelaus,    Neftor,   Diomedesy 
and  the  reft,  marcbing. 

Aga.  Hark  !  hark  !  what  fhout  is  that  ? 

Neft.  Peace,  drums. 

Sol.   Achilles  !  Achilles!  Hedtor'sflain  !  Achilles  ! 

Din.  The  bruit  is — Heclor's  ilain,  and  by  Achilles. 

.  If  it  be  ib,  yet  braglefs  let  it  be  ; 
Great  Hedtor  was  as  good  a  man  as  he. 

Aga.  March  patiently  along : — Let  one  be  fcnt, 

To  pray  Achilles  fee  us  at  our  tent. 

If  in  his  death  the  gods  have  us  befriended, 
Great  Troy  is  ours,  and  our  faarp  wars  are  ended. 

[Exeunt. 

*  And,  filckler-like, ]    \JHckhr  was  one  who  flood  by  to 

part  the  combatants  when  vi&ory  could  be  determined  without 
bloodihed.  The}-  arc  ot'ten  mentioned  by  Sidney.  "  Anthony 
"  (fays  Sir  Tbo.  'North  in  his  tranflation  of  Plutarch)  was  himielf 
*'  in  perfon  ajficklcr  to  part  the  young  men  when  they  had  fought 
*'  enough."  They  were  called  Jlicklers,  from  carrying  Kicks  or 
{hives  in  their  hands,  with  which  they  interpoied  between  the 
duellilts:  We  now  call  theie  Jlicklers— -fukfrnen.  So  again,  in 
a  comedy  called,  Fortune  ly  L~and  and  Sea,  by  Heywood  and 
Rowley  :  "  'tis  not  fit  that  every  apprentice  fliould  with  hisfliop- 
*'  club  play  between  us  the^/cl'/fr." 
Again,  in  the  tragedy  of  Faire  Marlam,  1613  : 

"  And  was  ihejiickler  *twixt  my  heart  and  him." 
Again,  in  Fuimus  Trees,    1603  : 

44  As  Jlickler*  in  their  nation's  enmity."     STEEVENS. 

SCENE 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.     163 


SCENE      XI. 

Another  part  of  the  fidd. 

Enter  &ncas,  and  Trcjans. 


Mne.  Stand,  ho  !  yet  are  we  matters  of  the  field  : 
1  Never  go  home;  here  ftarve  we  out  the  night. 

Enter  Trollus. 

7ra.  Hedtor  is  flain. 

All.  Hedtor  ?  -  the  gods  forbid  ! 
•     froi.  He's  dead  ;  and  at  the  murderer's  horfe's  tail, 
In  beaftly  fort,  dragg'd  through  the  ihameful  field.  — 
Frown  on,  you  heavens,  effedt  your  rage  with  fpeed  ! 
Sit,  gods,  upon  your  thrones,  and  fmile  at  Troy  4  ! 
I  fay,  at  once  !  let  your  brief  plagues  be  mercy, 
And  linger  not  our  fure  definitions  on  ! 

jEne.  My  lord,  you  do  difcomfort  all  the  hoft. 

3V0/.  You  underftand  me  not,  that  tell  me  fo  : 
I  do  not  fpeak  of  flight,  of  fear,  of  death  ; 
But  dare  all  imminence,  that  gods,  and  men, 
Addrefs  their  dangers  in.     Hedtor  is  gone  ! 
Who  mail  tell  Priam  fo,  or  Hecuba  ? 
Let  him,  that  will  a  fcreech-owl  aye  be  call'd, 
Go  in  to  Troy,  and  fay  there  —  Hector's  dead  : 
There  is  a  word  will  Priam  turn  to  ftone  ; 
Make  wells  and  Niobes  of  the  maids  and  wives, 
Cold  fhtues  of  the  youth  ;  and,  in  a  word, 
Scare  Troy  out  of  itfelf.     But,  march,  away: 
Hedtor  is  dead  ;  there  is  no  more  to  fay. 
Stay  yet  ;  —  You  vile  abominable  tents, 

3  Never  go  home,  &c.]     This  line  is  in  the  quarto  given  to 
Troilus.     JOHNSON. 

4  -  fmile  at  Try!]  Thus  the  ancient  copies  ;  but  it  would 
better  agree  with  the  reft  of  Troilus's  wifh,  were  we  to  read  : 

--  •  —  fmitc  at  Troy, 
I  fay,  at  once  !     STEEVENS. 

M  2  Thus 


1 64       TROILUS  AND   CRESSIDA; 

Thus  proudly  pight  upon  our  Phrygian  plains, 

Let  Titan  rife  as  early  as  he  dare, 

I'll  through  and  through  you  ! — And  thou,  great- 

fiz'd  coward  ! 

No  fpace  of  earth  fhall  funder  our  two  hates  ; 
I'll  haunt  thee,  like  a  wicked  confcience  ftill, 
That  mouldeth  goblins  fwift  as  frenzy  thoughts. — 
Strike  a  free  march  to  Troy  ! — with  comfort  go  ; 
Hope  of  revenge  fhall  hide  our  inward  woe. 

[Exeunt  JEneas,  &c. 

Enter  Pandarus. 

Pan.  Do  you  hear,  my  lord ;  do  you  hear  ? 
Trpi.  5  Hence, broker  lacquey !  ignomy  and  fhame 
Purfue  thy  life,  and  live  aye  with  thy  name  ! 

[Exit  Troilus. 

Pan.  A  goodly  med'cine  for  my  aching  bones  I—- 
Oh world  !  world !  world  !  thus  is  the  poor  agent 

defpis'd ! 

O  traitors  and  bawds,  how  earneftly  are  you  fet  a* 
work,  and  how  ill  requited  !  Why  fhould  our  endea- 
vour be  fo  6  lov'd,  and  the  performance  fo  loath'd  ? 
whatverfeforit?  whatinftance  fork? — Let  me  fee  :— 
Full  merrily  the  humble-bee  doth  fing, 
'Till  he  hath  loft  his  honey,  and  his  fling  : 
But  being  once  fubdu'd  in  armed  tail, 
Sweet  honey  and  fweet  notes  together  fail. — 
Good  traders  in  the  flefli,fet  this  in  your  painted  cloths, 

As  many  as  be  here  of  pander's  hall, 
Your  eyes,  half  out,  weep  out  at  Pandar's  fall  : 
Or,  if  you  cannot  weep,  yet  give  fome  groans, 
Though  not  for  me,  yet  for  your  aching  bones. 
Brethren,  and  fitters,  of  the  hold-door  trade, 
Some  two  months  hence  my  will  fhall  here  be  made  : 

5  Hcnct*  broker  lacquey  /   •  •    ]  So  the  quarto.     The  folio  has 
brother.     Jo  UK  SON. 

*  lov'J, ]  Quarto;  <M/V,  folio.     JOHNSON. 

It 


TROILUS    AND   CRESSIDA.       165 

It  fliould  be  now,  but  that  my  fear  is  this  — 
7  Some  galled  goofe  of  Winchefter  would  hifs  : 
'Till  then,  I'll  fweat,  and  feek  about  for  eafes  ; 
And,  at  that  time,  bequeath  you  my  difeafes.    [£.r/V. 

7  Some  galled  goofe  of  Wincbefter  -  ]     The  public  flews  were 
anciently  under  the  jurifdiction  of  the  bifhop  of  Winchefter. 

POPE. 

Mr.  Pope's  explanation  may  be  fupported  by  the  following  paf- 
fage  in  one  of  the  old  plays  ofwhich  my  negligence  has  loft  the  title  : 
'*  Collier  !  how  came  the  goofe  to  be  put  upon  you  ? 
"  I'll  tell  thee  :  The  term  lying  at  Winchejhr  in  Henry  the 
Third's  day's,  and  many  French  women  coming  out  of  the  lile  of 
Wight  thither,  &c.  there  were  many  punks  in  the  town,  &c." 

A  particular  fymptom  in  the  lues  venerea  was  called  a  Wincbefler 
goofe.     So  in  Chapman's  comedy  of  Monfieur  DtOlivet  l6c6  : 
"  -  the  famous  fchool  of  England  call'd 
"  Winchefter,  famous  I  mean  for  ihs  goofe,"  &c. 
Again,  Ben  Jonfon,  in  his  poem  called,  An  Execration  on  Vulcan  : 
"  -  this  a  fparkle  of  that  fire  let  loofe, 
*'  That  was  lock'd  up  in  the  Wincbeftria*  go°fei 
*'  Bred  on  the  back  in  time  of  popery, 
"  When  Venus  there  maintain'd  a  myftery." 
In  an  ancient  fatire  called  Cocke  Lorelles  Bate,  bl.  1.  printed  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  no  date,  is  the  following  lift  of  the  different 
rcfidences  of  harlots  : 


"  There  came  fuch  a  wynde  fro 
*'  Thatblewe  thefe  women  over  the  ryver, 
"  In  wherye  as  I  wyll  you  tell  : 
**  Some  at  faynt  Kateryns  ftroke  agrounde, 
'  '  And  many  in  Holbome  were  founde, 
"  Some  at  faynt  Gyles  I  trowe  : 
*'  Alfo  in  Avc  Maria  A!y}  and  at  Wcftmcnfter  \ 
"  And  fome  in  SborJycbe  drewe  theder, 
'*  With  grete  lamentacyon  ; 
*'  And  by  caufe  they  have  loft  that  fay  re  place, 
*'  They  wyll  bylde  at  Co/man  hedge  'in  fpace,  &c." 
Hence  tlie  old  proverbial  fimile,  "  As  common  as  Coleman  Hedge:" 
now  Coleman-firtet.     STEEVENS. 

There  are  more  hard,  bombaftical  phrafes  in  the  ferious  part  of 
this  Play,  than,  I  believe,,  can  be  picked  out  of  any  other  fix  Plays 
of  Sbakefpeare.  Take  the  following  fpecimens  :  -  Tortive,— 
ferfifti've^  —  protrafti've,  —  importlefs,  —  Injiftnre,  —  deracinate,  —  di- 
•vulablc.  And  in  the  next  Ml,—paft-}.rc>portion,—unrefpcfti've,  — 
propagation  i—felf-ajfrimptlon^  —fflf-aJmijjIon^  —  ajfuljugate^  —  king- 
&c.  TYKWHITT. 

M  THIS 


166      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

THIS  play  is  more  correctly  written  than  moil  of  Shakefpeare'a 
compofitions,  but  it  is  not  one  of  thofe  in  which  either  the  extent 
of  his  views  or  elevation  of  his  fancy  is  fully  difplayed.  As  the 
ftory  abounded  with  materials,  he  has  exerted  little  invention; 
but  he  has  diverfified  his  characters  with  great  variety,  and  pre- 
ferved  them  with  great  exa&nefs.  His  vicious  characters  fometimes 
difguft,  but  cannot  corrupt,  for  both  Creffida  and  Pandarus  are  de- 
tefted  and  contemned.  The  comic  characters  fecm  to  have  been 
the  favourites  of  the  writer  ;  they  are  of  the  fuperficial  kind,  and 
exhibit  more  of  manners  than  nature  ;  but  they  are  copioufly  fill- 
ed and  powerfully  imprefled.  Shakefpeare  has  in  his  ftory  follow- 
ed, for  the  greater  part,  the  old  book  ofCaxton,  which  was  then 
very  popular;  but  the  civara&er  of  Therfites,  of  which  it  makes 
no  mention,  is  a  proof  that  this  play  was  written  after  Chapman 
had  publiftied  hisverlion  of  Homer.  JOHIVSON. 

The  firil  feven  bocks  of  Chapman's  Homer  were  publifhed  in 
the  year  1596,  and  again  in  159^.  They  were  dedicated  as  fol- 
lows :  To  the  moft  honoured  no-iv  living  inftance  of  the  Achilleian  vir- 
tues eternized  ly  divine  Honicre,  the  Earle  of  Ejfexe,  Earl  Mar- 
Jhall,  fsV;  and  an  anonymous  Interlude,  called  THERSYTES  bis 
Humours  and  Conceits,  had  been  publifhed  in  1598,  STEEVENS. 

How  the  devil  luxury,  with  his  fat  rump  and  potatoe  finger, 
t'u-kles  thefc  together.] 

Luxuria  was  the  appropriate  term  ufed  by  the  fchool  divines, 
to  exprefs  the  fin  of  incontinence,  which  accordingly  is  called 
luxury,  in  all  our  old  Englifli  writers.  In  the  Summa  Theologiat 
Compendium  of  Tho.  Aquinas,  P.  2.  II.  Quail.  CL1V.  is  de  Lux. 
ri<e  Partllus,  which  the  author  diftributes  under  the  heads  of 
Simplex  Fomicatio,  Ada  It  cr  hint,  Inceftus,  Stuprum,  Raptus,  &C. 
and  Chaucer,  in  his  Parfcn's  Tale,  delcanting  on  the  feven  dead* 
ly  fins,  treats  of  this  under  the  title,  De  Luxuria.  Hence  in  K. 
Lear,  our  author  ufes  the  word  in  this  peculiar  fcnfe  : 
"  To't  Luxury  pell-mell,  for  I  want  foldiers." 
And  Middleton,  in  his  Game  of  Chefs,  1625. 

*'  .         in  a  room  fill'd  all  with  Arctine**  pictures, 

*'  (More  than  the  twelve  labours  of  Luxury) 

"  Thou  {halt  not  fo  much  as  the  chafte  pummel  fee 

«»  Of  Lacrecc*  dagger." 

But  why  is  luxury,  or  lafcivioufnefs,'  faid  to  have  a  potatoe 
foger  ?  This  root,  which  was  in  our  author's  timfc  but  newly 
imported  from  America,  was  confidered  as  a  rare  exotic,  and  ef. 
itemed  a  very  firong  provocative.  As  the  plant  is  fo  common 
now,  it  may  entertain  the  reader  to-  fee  uow  it  is  defcribed  by 
Gerard  in  his  H-:rbal,  1597,  p.  780. 

"  This  pbnt  which  is  called  ot  fome  Skyvrits  of  Peru,  is  gene- 
rally of  us  culled  Po'atus,  or  Potatoes There  is  not  any  that 

hath  written  of  this  plant— therefore^  I  refer  the  delVription  there- 
of, 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.      167 

of  unto  thofe  that  (hall  hereafter  have  further  knowledge  of 
the  fame.  Yet  I  have  had  in  my  garden  divers  roots  (that 
I  bought  at  the  Exchange  in  London)  where  they  flourim- 
ed  until  winter,  at  which  time  they  perifhed  and  rotted. 
They  are  ufed  to  be  eaten  roafted  in  the  afties.  Some,  when  they 
be  fo  roafted,  infule  them  and  fop  them  in  wine;  and  others,  to 
give  them  the  greater  grace  in  eating,  do  boil  them  with  prunes. 
Hovvfoever  they  be  drafted,  they  comfort,  nourifh,  and  ftrength- 
en  the  bodie,  procure  bodily  hift,  and  that  with  greeJinefs*" 

Drayton,  in  the   2Oth   long  of  his   Polyolkion,  introduces  the 
fame  idea  concerning  thefiirrct  : 

"  Theflirret,  which,  feme  fay,  in  falletsy?/™  the  Hood" 
Shakelpeare  alludes  to  this  quality  of  potatoes,  in  the  Merry 
Wives  ofWindfor: 

**  Let  the  fky   rain  potatoes,  hail  kifllng  comfits,  and 

fnow  eringoes ;  let  a  tcmpeft  of  provocation  come." 

Ben  Jonibn  mentions  potatoc  pics  in  Every  Man  out  of  bis  Hu- 
mour, among  other  good  unfluous  meats : 

So  J.  Heywood,  in  the  Englijb  Traveller,   1633  : 

"  Caviare,  fturgeon,  anchovies,  pickled  oyfters;  yes 
**  And  a. potato p<e:  befides  all  thefe, 
"  What  thinkeit  rare  and  coftly  r" 
Again,  in  the  Dumb  Knigbt,  16,3  : 

**  —  truly  I  think  a  marrow-bone  pye,  candied  eringoes,  pre- 
ferved  dates,  or  marmalade  of  cantharides,  were  much  better  har- 
bingers j  coi-k-fparro-ius  ftew'd,  dove's  brains,  or  fvvan's  pizzels, 
are  very  provocative ;  ROASTED  POTATOES,  or  boiled  flcerrets,  are 
your  only  lofty  diflies." 
Again,  in  Decker's  Honeft  tt^bore,  1635  : 

**  If  (he  be  a  woman,  marrovy-bone-s  and  potatoe-pies  keep  me, 
&c." 

Again,  in  ACbafte  Maid  of  CbeapjiJe,  by  Middleton,  1620: 
"  You  might  have  fpar'd  this  banquet  of  eringoes, 
"  Artichokes,  potatoes,  and  your  butter'd  crab  ; 
"  They  were  fitter  kept  for  your  own  wedding  dinner." 
Again,  in  Chapman's  May  Day,    161  i  : 

{k  ** a  banquet  of  oyffer-pies,  Ikerret-roots,  potatoes,  eringoes, 

and  divers  other  whetftones  of  venery." 

Again,  in  Decker's  If  this  be  not  a  good  Play  tbe  Devil  is  in  it,  1 6 1  z : 
"  Potatoes  eke,  if  you  fliall  lack, 
"  To  corroborate  the  back." 
Again,  in  Jack's  Drum's  Entertainment,   1601; 

"  — by  Gor  an  me  had  know  dis,  me  woode  have  eat  fom  po- 
tatos,  or  ringoe." 

Again,  in  fir  W.  D'Avenant's  Love  and  Honour,   \  649  ; 
'  You  fliall  find  me  a  kind  of  fparrow,  widow  ; 
"  A  barley-corn  goes  as  far  as  zpotatoe," 

M  4  Again, 


i68      TROILUS   AND    CRESSIDA. 

Again,  \nYbe  Gbofti   1640: 

"  Then,  the  fine  broths  I  daily  had  fent  to  me, 
"  Potatoe  parties,  lufty  marrow-pies,  &c." 
Again,   in  Hiftriomaftix^   or  tbe  Player  ~^bipt^    1610: 

«*  Give  your  play-gull  a  llool,  and  my  lady  her  fool, 

*'  An'd  her  ufazr  potatoes  and  marrow.". 

Nay,  fo  notorious  were  the  virtues  of  this  root,  that  W.  W, 
the  old  tranflator  of  the  Mencecbmi  oiPlautus,  1 595,  has  introduced 
them  into  that  comedy.  When  Menctchmus  goes  to  the  houie 
of  his  miftrefs  Erotium  to  befpeak  a  dinner,  he  adds,  "  Harke  ye, 
fomeoylters,  a  mary-bone  pie  or  two,  fome  artichockes,  and  po- 
tato-roots ;  let  our  other  diflies  be  as  you  pleafe." 

Again,  in  Greene's  Deputation  between  a  Hec  Conycatcber  and 
a  Sbee  Conycatchcr,  1592  :  "  I  pray  you,  how  many  badde  prof- 
fittes  againe  growes  from  whoores.  Bridewell  woulde  have  verie 
fewe  tenants,  the  hofpittall  woulde  wante  patientes,  and  the  fur-? 
gians  much  woorke :  the  apothecaries  woulde  have  furphaling 
water  and  potato-roots  lye  deade  on  their  handes." 
Again,  in  Cynthia  s  Revels,  by  Ben  Jonfpn. 

"  — 'tis  your  only  difii,  above  all  your  potatoes  or  oyfter-pies 
in  the  world." 
Again,  in  the  Elder  Erotber^  by  B.  and  Fletcher : 

*'  A  banquet' — well,  potatoes  and  eringoes, 

**  And  as  I  take  it,  cantharides — Excellent !" 
Again,  in  the  LoyalSiibjcfty  by  the  fame  authors  : 

"  Will  your  lordfhip  pleafe  to  tafte  a  hat  potato? 

"  'Twill  advance  your  wither'd  ftate, 

*'  Fill  your  honour  full  of  noble  itches,  <kc." 
Again,  in  The  Martini  jlf^rzW,  by  B.  and  Fletcher  : 

**  Will  your  ladyfhip  have  a  potatoe-pie?  'tis  a  good  £irrii>£ 
difli  for  an  old  lady  after  a  long  lent." 
Again,  in  the  Sea  t^oyage^  by  the  fame  authors : 

<t  oh,  for  fome  eringoes, 

*'  Potatoes^  or  cantharides !" 
Again, 

*'  See  provoking  diflies,  candied  eringoes 

"  hfr&potatoc •-." 
Again,  in  The  Pifturc,  by  MulTin-cr : 

«t  he  hath  got  a  pye 

"  Of  marrow-bones,  potatoes  and  cringoes." 
Again,  in  Mallinger's  Jfetv  llray  to  pay  old  Debti  : 

*.*  .  'tis  the  quinteflence 

*'  Of  five  cocks  of  the  game,  ten  dozen  o "  fparrjws, 

**  Knuckles  of  veal,  potatit-rooti  and  marrow, 

"  Coral  and  ambergris,  &c. 
Again,  in  the  Guardian^  by  the  iame  author ; 


TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA.       169 


Again, 


Potargo, 


Potatoes,  marrow,  caviare 

n  the  City  Madam,  by  the  fame : 


prefcribes  my  diet,  and  foretells 
My  dreams  when  I  eatpotatoes." 

Taylor ',  the  Water  poet,  likewife,  in   his  character  of 
afcribes  the  fame  qualities  to  this  genial  root. 
Again,  Decker  in  his  GuFs  Hornbook,  1609  : 

*'  Potato-pies  and  cuitards  flood  like  the  finful  fuburbs  of  cook- 
ery, &c." 
Again,  in  Mar/Ion's  Satires,  1599: 

"  camphireand  letticechafte, 

**  Are  now  cafhier'd— now  Sophi  'ringoes  eate, 
"  Candi'd  potatoes  are  Athenians'  meate." 
Again,  in  Holinfhed's  Chronicle,  Defcription  of  England,  p.  167; 

"  Oi  the  potato  and  fuch  venerous  roots,  &c.  I  Ipeake  not." 
Laftly,  in  fir  John  Harrington's  Metamorphojis  of  Ajax,  1596  : 

"  Perhaps  you  have  been  ufed  to  your  dainties  of  potatoes,  of 
caveare,  ermgus,  plums  of  Genowa,  all  which  may  well  encreafc 
your  appetite  tofeverall  evacuations." 

In  the  Good  Hujkvives  Jewell,  a  book  of  cookery  publifned  in 
1 596,  I  find  the  following  receipt  to  make  a  tarte  that  is  a  courage 
to  a  man  or  woman : 

"  Take  two  quinces  and  twoo  or  three  burre  rootes,  and  a  PO- 
TATON  ;  and  pare  your  POTATON  and  fcrapeyour  roots  and 
put  them  into  aquarte  of  wine,  and  let  them  boyle  till  they  bee 
tender  and  put  in  an  ounce  of  dates,  and  when  they  be  boiled  ten- 
der, drawe  them  through  a  ftrainer,  wine  and  all,  and  then  put 
in  the  yolkes  of  eight  egges,  and  the  braynes  of  three  or  four  cocke- 
fparrowes,  and  ftraine  them  into  the  other,  and  a  little  rofe-water, 
and  leeth  them  all  with  fugar,  cinnamon,  and  ginger,  and  cloves 
and  mace  ;  and  put  in  a  little  fvveet  butter,  and  fet  it  upon  a  cha- 
fing-difh  of  coles  between  two  platters,  to  let  it  boyle  till  it  be 
fomething  bigge." 

Gerard  ellewhere  obfcrves  in  his  Herbal,  that  "  potatoes  may 
ferve  as  a  ground  or  foundation  whereon  the  cunning  confe&ioner 
or  fugar-baker  may  worke  and  frame  many  comfortable  conferve$ 
and  >fftorative  fweetmeats." 

The  fame  venerable  botanift  likewife  adds,  that  theftalk  of  dot- 
burre  **  being  eaten  rawe  with  lalt  and  pepper,  or  boiled  in  the 
broth  of  fat  meat,  is  pleafant  to  be  eaten,  andy2/V;v//&  up  venereal 
motions*  It  likewife  flrengtheneth  the  back,  &c." 

Speaking  of  dates,  he  fays,  that  *'  thereof  be  made  divers  ex- 
cellent cordial  comtortable  and  nourilhing  medicines,  and  that  pro- 
cure luft  of  the  body  very  mightily"  He  alfo  mentions  quinces  as 
having  the  fame  virtues. 

We  may  likewife  add,  that  Shakefpeare's  own  authority  for 
$je  efficacy  of  guinea  and  dates  is  not  wanting.  He  has  certainly 


I7o      TROILUS   AND   CRESSIDA. 

ir  troduced  them  both  as  proper  to  be  employed  in  the  wedding 
d:nner  of  Paris  and  Juliet : 

"  They  call  for  dates  and  quinces  in  the  paftry." 

It  appears  from  Dr.  Campbell's  Political  Survey  of  Great Britain, 
that  potatoes  were  brought  into  Ireland  about  the  year  1610,  and 
that  they  came  firft  from  Ireland  into  Lancafhire.  It  was  however 
forty  years  before  they  were  much  cultivated  about  London.  At 
this  time  they  were  diftinguifhed  from  the  Spanifh  by  the  name  of 
Virginia  potatoes,  —  or  lattatas,  which  is  the  Indian  denomination 
of  the  Spanifh  fort.  The  Indians  in  Virginia  called  them  openauk. 
Sir  YvTalter  Raleigh  was  the  firft  who  planted  them  in  Ireland. 
Authors  differ  as  to  the  nature  of  this  vegetable,  as  well  as  in  refpeft 
of  the  country  from  whence  it  originally  came.  Switzer  calls  it 
Sifarum  Peruvianum,  i.  e.  ihejkirret  of  Peru.  Dr.  Hill  fays  it  is 
zfoianamt  and  another  very  rdpeclahle  naturaliii  conceives  it  to 
be  a  native  of -Mexico. 

The  accumulation  of  inftances  in  this  note  is  to  be  regarded  as 
s  proof  how  often  durk  allufions  might  be  cleared  up,  if  coramea- 
tttors  were  diligent  in  their  refcarches.  COLLINS. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E 


Perfons  Reprefented. 


Cymbcline,  king  of  Britain. 
Cloten,  fon  to  the  queen  by  a  former  hujband, 
Leonatus  Pofthumus,  a  gentleman  married  to  theprincefs. 
Belarius,  a  banijhed  lord,    dlfeuifed  under  the  name  of 

Morgan. 

Guiderius,   i  difguifed  under  the  names  of  Poly  dor  e  and 
Arviragusy  j        Cadival,  fuppofedfons  to  Bdarius. 
PhilariOj  an  Italian,  friend  to  Pojlhumus. 
lachimo,  friend  to  Philario. 
Caius  Lucius,  ambaffador  from  Rome. 
Pifanio,  fervant  to  Pofthumus. 
A  French  Gentle  mail. 
Cornelius,  a  Phfician, 
¥wo  Gentlemen. 

Queen,  wife  to  Cymbelme. 

Imogen,  daughter  to  Cymbeline  by  a  former  queen. 

Helen,  woman  to  Imogen. 

Lords,  Ladies,  Roman  Senators,  a  Tribune,  Apparitions, 
a  Soothfayer,  Captains,  Soldiers,  Mffingers,  and  other 
Attendants. 


SCENE,  fometimes  in  Britain  ;  fometimes  in  Italy, 


-C  Y    M   B    E   L   I  N    E. 

ACT     I.       SCENE     I. 

Cymbdine's  palace  in  Britain. 
Enter  two  Gentlemen. 

1  Gent.  z  You  do  not  meet  a  man,  but  frowns : 

our  bloods 

No  more  obey  the  heavens,  than  our  courtiers', 
Still  feem,  as  does  the  king's. 

2  Gent.  But  what's  the  matter  ? 

i  Gent. 

1  Mr.  Pope  fuppofed  the  ftory  of  this  play  to  have  been  borrow'd 
from  a  novel  of  Boccnce ;  but  he  was  miftaken,  as  an  imitation  of 
it  is  found  in  an  old  ftory-book  entitled,  Wcfiwardfor  Smelts. 
This  imitation  differs  in  as  many  particulars  from  the  Italian  no- 
velift,  as  from  Shakefpeare,  though  they  concur  in  the  more  con- 
fiderable  parts  of  the  fable.  It  was  published  in  a  quarto  pamph- 
let 1603.  This  is  the  only  copy  of  it  which  I  have  hitherto  feen. 
There  is  a  late  entry  of  it  in  the  books  of  the  Stationers'  Com- 
pany, Jan.  1619,  where  it  is  faid  to  have  been  written  by  Kittof 
Kingfton.  STEEVENS. 

*  Ton  do  not  meet  a  man,  but  frowns:  our  BLOODS 
No  more  obey  the  heavens,  than  our  courtiers 
S 'till  feem,  as  docs  the  king's.]  The  thought  is  this:  we  are 
not  now  (as  we  were  wont)  influenced  by  the  weather,  but  by  the 
king's  looks.  We  no  more  obey  the  heavens  [the  Iky]  than  our  cour- 
tiers obey  the  heavens  [God] .  By  which  it  appears  that  the  read- 
ing— our  bloods,  is  wrong.  For  though  the  blood  may  be  affe&ed 
with  the  weather,  yet  that  afteftion  is  difcovered  not  by  change 
of  colour,  but  by  change  of  countenance.  And  it  is  the  outward 
not  the  inivard  change  that  is  here  talked  of,  as  appears  from  the 
word  feem.  We  ihould  read  therefore  : 

our  BROWS 

No  more  obey  the  heavens,  &c. 
Which  is  evident  from  the  precedent  words, 
You  do  not  meet  a  man  b\\i  frowns. 

And 


174  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

i  Gent.  His  daughter,  and  the  heir  of  his  kingdom, 
whom 

He 

And  from  the  following, 

But  not  a  courtier, 

Altho'  they  wear  their  faces  to  the  lent 

Of  the  king's  looky  but  hath  a  heart  that  is 

Glad  at  the  thing  theyyr<ni'/ at.— — 
'  The  Oxford  Editor  improves  upon  this  emendation,  and  reads, 

. "•  our  looks 

No  more  obey  the  heart  ev'n  than  our  courtiers. 
But  by  venturing  too  far,  atafecond  emendation,  he  has  ftript  it 
of  all  thought  and  fentiment.     WAREURTO.V. 

This  paffage  is  fo  difficult,  that  commentators  may  differ  con- 
cerning it  without  animofity  or  fliame.  Of  the  two  emendations 
propofed,  Hanmer's  is  the  more  licentious ;  but  he  makes  the 
fenfe  clear,  and  leaves  the  reader  an  eafy  paflage.  Dr.  Warburton 
has  corrected  with  more  caution,  but  lefs  improvement:  his  rea- 
foning  upon  his  own  reading  is  fo  obfcure  and  perplexed,  that  I 

fufped  fome  injury  of  the  prefs. 1  am  now  to  tell  my  opinion, 

which  is,  that  the  lines  fland  as  they  were  originally  written,  and 
thnt  a  paraphrafe,  fuch  as  the  licentious  and  abrupt  expreffions  of 
our  author  too  frequently  require,  will  make  emendation  unnecef- 
fary.  We  do  not  meet  a  man  but  frowns ;  our  bloods — our  coun- 
tenances, which,  in  popular  fpeech,  are  faid  to  be  regulated  by 
the  temper  of  the  blood, — no  more  obey  the  laws  of  heaven, — which 
direct  us  to  appear  what  we  really  are, — than  onr  courtier  s\ — that 
IB,  than  \heMoods  of  our  courtiers;  but  our  bloods,  like  theirs, — 
flillfetm,  as  doth  the  king's.  JOHNSOV. 

.  In  the  Torkjhire  Tragedy  1619,  which  has  been  attributed  to 
Shakefpeare,  blood  appears  to  be  ufed  for  inclination : 

**  For  'tis  our  blood  to  love  what  we  are  forbidden.'* 
Again,  in  K.  Lear,  a£t  IV.  fc.  ii. 

"  Were  it  my  fitnefs 

««  To  let  thefe  hands  obey  my  Hood." 
\*K.  Henry  Fill,  ad  III.  fc.  iv.  is  the  fame  thought : 

44  — fubject  to  your  countenance,  glad,  orforry, 

"  As  I  faw  it  inclined."     STBEVENS. 

I  would  propofe  to  make  this  pafTage  clear  by  a  very  flight  al- 
teration, only  leaving  out  the  laft  letter : 

You  do  not  meet  a  man  but  frowns :  our  bloods 

No  more  obey  the  heavens  than  our  courtiers 

Still  feem,  as  does  the  king. 

That  is,  Still  look  as  tlx  king  does ;  or,  as  he  exprefles  it  a  little 
differently  afterwards : 

•  "Mtar  their  faces  to  the  bent 

Of  the  king's  look.    TYRWHITT. 

The 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  i75 

He  purpos'd  to  his  wife's  fole  fon,  (a  widow, 

That  late  he  married)  hath  referr'd  herfelf 

Unto  a  poor,  but  worthy  gentleman  :  She's  wedded  ; 

Her  hulbund  banifh'd  ;  Ihe  imprifon'd  :  all 

Is  outward  forrow  ;  though,  1  think,  the  king 

Be  touch 'd  at  very  heart. 

2  Gent.  None  but  the  king  ? 

1  Gent.  He,  that  hath  loft  her,  too  :    fo  is  the 

queen, 

That  moft  defir'd  the  match  :  But  not  a  courtier, 
Although  they  wear  their  faces  to  the  bent 
Of  the  king's  looks,  hath  a  heart  that  is  not 
Glad  at  the  thing  they  fcowl  at. 

2  Gent.  And  why  fo  ? 

1  Gent.  He  that  hath  mifsM  the  princefs,  is  a  thing 
Too  bad  for  bad  report :  and  he  that  hath  her, 

(I  mean,  that  marry'd  her, — alack,  good  man  ! — 
And  therefore  banifh'd)  is  a  creature  fuch 
As,  to  feek  through  the  regions  of  the  earth 
For  one  his  like,  there  would  be  fomething  failing 
In  him  that  fliould  compare.     I  do  not  think, 
So  fair  an  outward,  and  fuch  fluff  within, 
Endows  a  man  but  he. 

2  Gent.  You  fpeak  him  far. 

i  Gent.  3  I  do  extend  him,  fir,  within  himfelf; 

Crufli 

The  original  reading  was  probably  this : 

our  bloods 

No  more  obey  the  heavens ;  they  arc  courtiers: 

Still  leem  as  does  the  king's. 

i.  e.  our  countenances  no  longer  depend  on  each  Jkyey  influence, 
by  which  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  things  they  are  regulated ;  they 
are  become  mere  courtiers :  ftill  are  dreft  either  in  (miles  or 
frowns,  according  to  the  bent  of  the  king's  look.  MA  LONE. 

3  /  DO  EXTEND   him,  Jtr^   within  himfelf',']     I   extend   him 
within  himfelf :  my  praife,  however  extinfive,  is  ivithin  his  me- 
rit.    JOHNSON. 

Perhaps  this  paflage  may  be  fomewhat  illuftrated  by  the  fol- 
lowing lines  in  Troi/us  and  CreJJida,  acl  iii  : 

*'  •-  BO  man  is  the  lord  of  anv  thing. 


176  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Crufli  him  together,  rather  than  unfold 
His  mealure  duly. 

2  Gent.  What's  his  name,  and  birth  ? 

i  Gent.  I  cannot  delve  him  to  the  root :  His  father 
"Was  call'd  Sicilius,  who  did  join  his  honour, 
Againft  the  Romans,  \vith  Caffibelan  ; 
But  had  his  titles  by  Tcnantius,  whom 
He  ferv'd  with  glory  and  admir'd  fuccefs ; 
So  gain'd  the  fur-addition,  Leonatus  : 
And  had,  befides  this  gentleman  in  queflion, 
Two  other  fons  ;  who,  in  the  wars  o'the  time, 
Dy'd  with  their  fvvords  in  hand  :  for  which,  their 

father 

(Then  old  and  fond  of  irTue)  took  fuch  forrow, 
That  he  quit  being;  and  his  gentle  lady, 
Big  of  this  gentleman,  our  theme,  deceas'd 
As  he  was  born.     The  king,  he  takes  the  babe 
To  his  protection  ;  calls  him  Pofthumus ; 
Breeds  him,  and  makes  him  of  his  bed-chamber  : 
Puts  to  him  all  the  learning  that  his  time 
Could  make  him  the  receiver  of;  which  he  took,  „ 
As  we  do  air,  fail  as  'twas  minifler'd;  and 
In  his  fpring  became  a  harveft:  4  Liv'd  in  court, 
(Which  rare  it  is  to  do)  moft  prais'd,  moft  lov'd: 
A  fample  to  the  youngcrt;  to  the  more  mature, 
5  A  glafs  that  feated  them ;  and  to  the  graver, 

A  child 

c<  'Till  he  communicate  his  parts  to  others : 
'*  Nor  doth  he  of  hirnfelr  know  them  ror  aught, 
"  'Till  he  behold  them  rorm'd  in  the  applaufe 
**  Where  they  arc  extended"  &c.    STEEVEMS. 
*  i  Irvtlintourt) 

(Jf'Tiu-fj  rare  it  is  to  do)  tn»Jl  fra'.?J,  rngJHorfd:]  This  en- 
comium is  high  and  artful.  To  be  at  once  in  any  great  degree 
loved  and  praifid,  is  truly  rare.  Jo  H  N  s  o  N  . 

5  A  glafs  thai  featur'd  them  ; j     Such  is  the  reading  in  all 

the  modern  editions,  I  know  not  by  whom  firft  iubftituted,  tor 

A  glafs  that  feared  them  ; 

I  have  difplacedyJvz/arV,  though  it  can  plead  long  prefcription, 
becaufe  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  t'cu^d  has  the  better  title. 

Mir- 


C  Y  M  B  .E   L   I  N   E.  177 

A  child  that  guided  dotards  :  to  his  miftrefs, 
For  whom  he  now  is  bamfh'd, — her  own  price 
Proclaims  how  {he  efteem'd  him  and  his  virtue  ; 
By  her  election  may  be  truly  read, 
What  kind  of  man  he  is.    • 

2  Gent.  I  honour  him 

Even  out  of  your  report.     But,  pray  you,  tell  me, 
Is  fhe  fole  child  to  the  king  ? 

i  Gent.  His  only  child. 

He  had  two  fons,  (if  this  be  worth  your  hearing, 
Mark  it)  the  eldeft  of  them  at  three  years  old, 
F  the  fwathing  clothes  the  other,   from  their  nurfery 
Were  flolen  ;  and  to  this  hour,  no  guefs  in  knowledge 
Which  way  they  went. 

Mirrour  was  a  favourite  word  in  that  age  for  an  example,  or  a 
pattern,  by  noting  which  the  manners  were  to  be  formed,  as  drefs 
is  regulated  by  looking  in  a  glais.  When  Don  Bellianis  is  ftiled 
The  Mirrour  of  Knighthood,  the  idea  given  is  not  that  of  a  glafs  in 
which  every  knight  may  behold  his  own  refemblance,  but  an  ex- 
ample to  be  viewed  by  knights  as  often  as  a  glafs  is  looked  upon 
by  girls  ;  to  be  viewed,  that  they  may  know,  not  what  they  are, 
but  what  they  ought  to  be.  Such  a  glafs  may  fear  the  more  mature  , 
as  difplaying  excellencies  which  they  have  arrived  at  maturity 
without  attaining.  To  fear,  is  here,  as  in  other  places,  to  fright. 

If  feated  be  the  right  word,  it  mutt,  I  think,  be  explained 
thus :  a  glafs  that  formed  them  ;  a  model,  by  the  contemplation 
and  infpeclion  of  which  they  formed  their  manners.  JOHN-SON. 

Feated 'is  the  old  reading. 

This  paflage  may  be  \vell  explained  by  another  in  the  firft  part 
of  King  Henry  IV  : 

He  =ivas  Indeed  the  glafs 

Whrrein  the  noble  youths  <//<?  drefs  themfelves* 

Again,  Opnelia  defer  ibes  Hamlet,  as 

The  glafs  offajhion,  and  the  mould  of  form. 
To  drefs  themfelves  therefore  may  be  to  form  themfelves. 

DreJJcr,  in  French',  is  to  form.  To  drrfi  a  Spaniel  is  to  break 
him  in. 

Feat  is  nice,  exafl.     So  in  the  Tempeft : 

—  look,  boi'j  iveil  my  garments  jit  upon  me, 
Much  feater  than  before. 

To  feat  therefore  may  be  a  verb  meaning — to  render  nice,  exaSl: 
by  the  drefs  dt  Polthumus,  even  the  more  mature  courtiers  con- 
dcfcended  to  regulate  their  external  appearance.  STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  N  2  Gent. 


iy8  C   Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

2  Gent.  How  long  is  this  ago  ? 

1  Gent.  Some  twenty  years. 

2  Gent.  That  a  king's  children  Ihould  be  fo  con- 

vey 'd  ! 

So  Hackly  guarded  !   And  the  fearch  fo  flow, 
That  could  not  trace  them  ! 

1  Gent.  Howfoe'er  'tis  flrange, 

Or  that  the  negligence  may  well  be  laugh'd  at, 
Yet  is  it  true,   fir. 

2  Gent.  I  do  well  believe  yon. 

i  Gent.  We  muft  forbear  :  Here  comes  the  gen- 

tleman, 
The  queen,  and  princefs.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE        II. 

Enter  ll:c  Queen,  Pofthumus,  Imogen,  and  attendants. 


No,  be   affur'd,  you   fhall   not  find   me, 
daughter, 

After  the  fhnder  of  moft  ftep-mothers, 
Evil-ey'd  unto  you  :  you  are  my  prilbner,  but 
Your  gaoler  (hall  deliver  you  the  keys 
That  lock  up  yonr  reftraint.     For  you,  Pofthumus, 
So  foon  as  1  can  win  the  offended  king, 
I  will  be  known  your  advocate  :  marry,  yet 
The  fire  of  rage  is  in  him  ;  and  'twere  good, 
You  lean'd  unto  his  fentence,  with  what  patience 
Your  wifdom  may  inform  you. 

Poft.  Plcafe  your  highncls, 
I  will  from  hence  to-day. 

Qiieen.  You  know  the  peril  :  - 
I'll  fetch  a  turn  about  the  garden,  pitying 
The  pangs  of  barv'd  affections  ;  though  the  king 
Hath  chargM  you  fhould  not  fpeak  together.    [Exit. 

Imo.  O  dlflenabling  courtefy  !  How  fine  this  tyrant 
Can  tickle  where  Ihe  wounds  !  —  My  deareft  hufband, 
I  fomething  fear  my  father's  wrath  ;  but  nothing, 

(Always 


CYMBELINE.  179 

('  Always  referv'd  my  holy  duty)  what 
His  rage  can  do  on  me  :  You  muft  be  gone  ; 
And  I  fhall  here  abide  the  hourly  Ihot 
Of  angry  eyes  ;  not  comforted  to  live, 
But  that  there  is  this  jewel  in  the  world, 
That  I  may  fee  again. 

Poft.  My  queen  !  my  miftrefs  ! 
O,  lady,  weep  no  more  ;  left  I  give  caufe 
To  be  fufpeded  of  more  tendernefs 
Than  doth  become  a  man  !  I  will  remain 
The  loyal'ft  hulband  that  did  e'er  plight  troth. 
My  refidence  in  Rome,  at  one  Philario's  ; 
Who  to  my  father  was  a  friend,  to  me 
Known  but  by  letter  :  thither  write,  my  queen, 
And  with  mine  eyes  I'll  drink  the  words  you  fendj 
*  Though  ink  be  made  of  gall. 

Re-enter  §H(een. 

Queen.  Be  brief,  I  pray  you  : 
If  the  king  come,  I  fhall  incur  I  know  not 
How  much  of  his  difpleafure  :  —  Yet  I'll  move  him 


To  walk  this  way  :  I  never  do  him  wrong, 

But  he  does  buy  my  injuries,  to  be  friends  ; 

Pays  dear  for  my  offences.  [Exit* 

Poft.  Should  we  be  taking  leave 
As  long  a  term  as  yet  we  have  to  live, 
The  lothnefs  to  depart  would  grow  :  Adieu  ! 

1  (Akvays  referrf  d  my  holy  duty)—  —  ]  I  fay  I  do  not  fear  rfty 
father,  fo  far  as  I  may  fay  it  without  breach  of  duty.  JOHNSON. 

1  Though  ink  be  made  of  gall.]  Shaketpeare,  even  in  this  poor 
conceit,  has  confounded  the  vegetable  galls  ufed  in  ink,  with  the 
animal  £<?//,  fuppofed  to  be  bitter.  JOHNSON. 

The  poet  might  mean  either  the  vegetable  or  the  animal  galls 
with  equal  propriety,  as  the  'vegetable  gall  is  bitter  ;  and  I  have 
feen  an  ancient  receipt  for  making  ink,  beginning,  "  Take  of  the 
black  juice  or  the  gall  of  oxen  two  ounces,"  &c.  STEEYENS. 

N  2  Imo. 


iSo  C  Y   M  B   E  L   I   N  E. 

Imo.  Nay,  flay  a  little  : 
Were  you  but  riding  forth  to  air  yourfelf, 
Such  parting  were  too  petty.     Look  here,  love  ; 
This  diamond  was  my  mother's  :  take  it,  heart ; 
But  keep  it  'till  you  woo  another  wife, 
When  Imogen  is  dead. 

Pqft.   How  !  how  !  another  ? — 
You  gentle  gods,  give  me  but  this  I  have, 
And  fear  up  ?  my  embracements  from  a  next 
With  bonds  of  death  ! — Remain,  rcm:  in  thou  here 

[Putting  on  tbe  ri/i*. 

*  While  fenfe  can  keep  it  on  !  And  fvveeteft,  faireft, 
As  I  my  poor  felt  did  exchange  for  you, 
To  your  fo  infinite  lofs  ;  fo,  in  our  trifles 
I  ftill  win  of  you  :   For  my  fake,  wear  this ; 
It  is  a  manacle  of  love ;  1*1,1  place  it 

[Putting  a  bracelet  on  l:er  arm. 
Upon  this  faireft  prifoner. 

Imo.  O,  the  gods  ! 

When  fhall  we  fee  again  ? 

Enter  Cymbclinc,  and  Lords. 
Pojt.  Alack,  the  king  ! 

3  dnd  fear  up  my  embraccmcnts  from  a  next 

With  bonds  of  death! ]     Shakefpeare  may  poetically  call 

the  cere-cloths  in  which,  the    dead  are  wrapp'd,  the  bonds  of  death. 
If  fo,  we  fhould  read  cere  inftead  of  fear. 

Why  thy  canonix'd  bor.es  hearfed  in  death 
Have  burft  their  cerements? 

•To  fear  iff,  is  properly  to  dofe  up  by  burning;  but  in  this 
puflage  the  poet  may  have  dropp'd  that  idea,  and  ufeu  the  word 
limply  for  to  ciofc  up.  STEEVENS. 

*  While  fenfe  can  keep  thee  on .' ]  (    The  folio  (the  only  an- 
cient and  authentic  copy  of  this  play)  reads  : 

//  '/>;/>  fenfe  can  keep  it  on  ! 

which  I  believe  to  be  right.     The  expreiTlcn  means,  while  Jcnfe 
can  maintain  its  operations  ;  while  fenfe  continues  to  have  power. 

STEEVENS. 

Cym. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  181 

Cym.  Thou  bafcfl  thing,  avoid !  hence,  from  my 

fight ! 

If,  after  this  command,  thou  fraught  the  court 
With  thy  unworthinefs,  thou  dy'ft  :  Away  ! 
Thou  art  poifon  to  my  blood. 

Pojl.  The  gods  protect  you  ! 
And  blcfs  the  good  remainders  of  the  court ! 
I  am  gone.  [£.r/V. 

Lno.  There  cannot  be  a  pinch  in  death 
More  fharp  than  this  is. 

Cym.  O  difloyal  thing, 

That  ihould'ft  repair  my  youth;  J  thou  heapefl 
A  year's  age  on  me  ! 

Imo.  I  befeech  you,  fir, 
Harm  not  yourlelf  with  your  vexation  ;  I 
Am  fenfelefs  of  your  wrath  ;  6  a  touch  more  rare 

Subdues 

5 tbou  leapfft 

A  year's  age  on  me  /]     Dr.  Warburton  reads : 

A  yare  age  on  we. 

It  feems  to  me,  even  from  Skinner,  whom  he  cites,  ihztyare  is 
ufed  only  as  a  perfonal  quality.  Nor  is  the  authority  of  Skinner 
fufficient,  without  fome  example,  to  juftify  the  alteration.  Han- 
mer's  reading  is  better,  but  rather  too  far  from  the  original  copy  : 

tbtnt  aeafeft  many 

A  year's  age  on  me. 
I  read  : 

' tbou  heap* ft 

Years,  ages,  on  me.     JOHNSON. 

I  would  receive  Dr.  Johnfon's  emendation  :  he  is  however  mif- 
raken  when  he  fays  that  yare  is  ufed  only  as  a  perfonal  quality. 
See  Anton';  a>id  Cleopatra  : 

Their  fliips  are  ya^e,  yours  heavy. 

Tare,  however,  will  by  no  means  apply  to  Dr.  Warburton's  fenfe. 

STEEVENS. 

* a  touch  more  rare 

Subdues  all  pangs,  all  fears,"]  Rare  is  ufed  often  for  eminently 
food;  but  I  do  not  remember  any  paffage  in  which  it  ftands  for 
tminently  bad.  May  we  read  : 

—  a  touch  more  near. 

*'  Cura  dtam  propior  luclufque  dorneflicus  ar.eit,*'  Ovid. 
N  3  Shall 


x8z  CYMBELINE. 

Subdues  all  pangs,  all  fears. 

Cym.  Paft  grace  ?  obedience  ? 

Imo.  Paft  hope,  and  in  defpair ;   that  way,  paft 
grace. 

Cym.  That  might'ft  have  had  the  fole  fon  of  my 
queen  ! 

Imo.  O  bleft,  that  I  might  not !  I  chofe  an  eagle, 
And  did  avoid  a  7  puttock. 

Cym.  Thou  took'ft  a  beggar ;  would'ft  have  made 

my  throne 
A  feat  for  bafenefs. 

Imo.  No  ;  I  rather  added 
A  luilre  to  it. 

Cym.  O  thou  vile  one ! 

Imo.  Sir, 

It  is  your  fault  that  I  have  lov'd  Pofthumus : 
You  bred  him  as  my  play-fellow  ;  and  he  is 

Shall  we  try  again  : 

——a  touch  more  rear. 

Crmlum  inilnus.     But  ot  this  I  know  not  any  example.     There  la 
yet  another  interpretation,  which  perhaps  will  remove  the  diffi- 
culry.     A  touch  more  rare,  may  mean  a  nobler  pajjion.     JOHNSON, 
So,  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  &&.  I.   fc.  ii. 

The  death  of  Fulvia,  with  more  urgent  touches, 
Do  ftrongly  fpeak  to  us. 
Again,  in  the  Tempeft : 

Haft  thou,  which  art  but  air,  a  touch,  a  feeling 
Of  their  afflictions  ?  &c. 

A  touch  is  not  unrrequently  ufed,  by  other  ancient  writers,  in, 
this  fenfe.     So  in  Daniel's  Hymen's  Triumph,  a  maique,   1623  ; 
*«  You  mud  not,  Phillis,  be  fo  fenfible 
"  Or  theie  fmall  touches  which  your  p.irlion  makes." 
««  -Small  touches,  Lydia  !  do  you  count  them  i'mall  r" 

AS3'0  : 

«'  When  pleafure  leaves  a  touch  at  laft 

"  To  fliewthat  it  was  ill," 
Again,  in  Daniel's  Cleopatra,   1599  : 

**  So  deep  we  feel  imprefled  in  our  blood 
"  That  touch  which  nature  with  our  breath  did  give." 
A  touch  more  rare  is  undoubtedly  a  more  e.v^n'-Jite feeling  afupt- 
•fior  fcnfation.     SrEEVENS. 

?  ——afutteck.1    A  kite.    JOHNSON, 

A  man 


C  Y  M  B  E   L   I  N  E.  ,83 

A  man,  worth  any  woman ;  over-buys  me 

Almofl  the  fum  he  pays. 

Cym.  What ! — art  thou  mad  ? 

Imo.  Almoft,  fir  :  Heaven  reflore  me ! — 'Would  I 

were 

A  neat-herd's  daughter  !  and  my  Leonatus 
Our  neighbour  fhepherd's  fon  ! 

Re-enter  Queen. 

Cym.  Thou  foolifh  thing  ! 
They  were  again  together :  you  have  done 

[To  the  queen* 

Not  after  our  command.     Away  with  her, 
And  pen  her  up. 

§)ueen.  Befeech  your  patience  : — Peace, 
Dear  lady  daughter,  peace  ; — Sweet  fovereign, 
Leave  us  to  ourfelves ;  and  make  yourfelf  fome  com- 
fort 
Out  of  your  bell  advice. 

Cym.  Nay,  let  her  languilh 
A  drop  of  blood  a  day  ;  and,  being  aged, 
Die  of  this  folly  !  [Exit. 

Enter  Pifanio. 

Queen.  Fie  ! — you  muft  give  way  : 
Here  is  your  fervant. — How  now,  fir  ?  What  news  ? 

Pif.  My  lord  your  fon  drew  on  my  mailer. 

Queen.  Ha! 
No  harm,  I  truft,  is  done  ? 

Pif.  There  might  have  been, 
But  that  my  mailer  rather  play'd  than  fought, 
And  had  no  help  of  anger  :  they  were  parted 
By  gentlemen  at  hand. 

^ueen.  I  am  very  glad  on't. 

Imo.  Your  fon's  my  father's  friend ;  he  takes  his 
part. 

N  4  Jo 


184  C  Y  M  B   E  L  I  N   E. 

To  draw  upon  an  exile  ! — O  brave  fir  ! 

J  would  they  were  in  Africk  both  together ; 
Myfclf  by  with  a  needle,  that  I  might  prick 
The  goer  back.  Why  came  you  from  your  matter  ? 

Pif.  On  his  command  :  He  would  not  furTer  me 
To  bring  him  to  the  haven  :   left  thefe  notes 
Of  what  commands  I  fhould  be  fubjecl:  to, 
"When  it  pleas'd  you  to  employ  me. 

Queen.  This  hath  been 

Your  faithful  fervant  :  I  dare  lay  mine  honour, 
He  will  remain  fo. 

Pif.   I  humbly  thank  your  highnefs. 

Queen.  Pray,  walk  a  while. 

Imo.  About  fome  half  hour  hence,  pray  you,  fpeak 

with  me : 

You  fliall,  at  leaft,  go  fee  my  lord  aboard  : 
for  this  time,  leave  me.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE     III, 

Enter  Cloten,  and  two  Lords. 

1  Lord.  Sir,  I  would  advife  you  to  ihift  a  fhirt ;  the 
violence  of  action  hath  made  you  reek  as  a  facrifice  : 
Where  air  comes  out,  air  comes  in  :  there's  none 
abroad  fo  wholefome  as  that  you  vent. 

Clot.  If  my  fhirt  were  bloody,  then  to  Ihift  it 

Have  I  hurt  him  ? 

2  Lard.  No,  faith  ;  not  fo  much  as  his  patience. 

\_Afide. 

1  Lord.  Hurt  him  ?  his  body's  a  paflable  carcafs, 
if  he  be  nqt  hurt  :  it  is  a  thorough-fare  for  fleel,  if  it 
be  not  hurt. 

2  Lord.  His  fleel  was  in  debt;  it  went  o'  the  back- 
fide  the  town.  \_Afidc. 

Clot.  The  villain  would  not  Ihnd  me. 

2  Lord. 


C   Y  M  B   E   L  I   N   E.  185 

2  Lord.  No  ;  but  he  fled  forward  {till,  toward 
your  face.  \Afide. 

1  Lord.  Stand  you  !  You  have  land  enough  of  }our 
own  :  but  he  added  to  your  having  ;  gave  you  fome 
ground. 

2  Lord.     As   many   inches  as  you  have  oceans  : 
Puppies !  \_Afide. 

Clot.  I  would,  they  had  not  come  between  us. 

2  Lord.  So  would  I,  'till  you  had  meafur'd  how 
long  a  fool  you  were  upon  the  ground.  [dfide. 

Clot.  And  that  fhe  mould  love  this  fellow,  and 
refufe  me  ! 

2  Lord  If  it  be  a  fin  to  make  a  true  election,  fhe  is 
damn'd.  \_Afide. 

1  Lord.  Sir,  as  I  told  you  always,  8  her  beauty  and 
her  brain  go  not  together  :  9  She's  a  good  fign,  but 
I  have  feen  fmall  reflection  of  her  wit. 

2  Lord.  She  ihines  not  upon  fools,  left  the  reflection 
{hould  hurt  her.  [A/ide. 

8  her  leavty  and  her  brain,  &c.]     I  believe  the  lord  means 

to  fpeak  a  fentence,  '*  Sir,  as  I  told  you  always,  beauty  and  brain 
go  not  together."  JOHNSON. 

9 She's  a  good  f\gn, ]     \ijign  be  the  true  reading, 

the  poet  means  by  it  cancellation^  and  by  rejltflion  is  meant  in- 
fluence. But  I  rather  think,  from  the  anfwer,  that  he  wrote 
Jhine.  So,  in  his  Venus  and  Adonis: 

"  As  if",  from  thence,  they  borrowed  all  their  Jhine" 

WAR  BURTON. 

There  is  acutenefs  enough  in  this  note,  yet  I  believe  the  poet 
meant  nothing  by  Jign,  but  fair  outward  ftiew.  JOHNSON. 

The  fame  allufion  is  common  to  other  writers.  So,  in  B.  and 
Fletcher's  Fair  Maid  of  the  Inn  : 

"  a  common  trull, 

*'  A  tempting  Jign,  and  curiouily  fet  forth 
**  To  draw  in  riotous  guefts." 
Again,  in  the  Elder  Brother^  by  the  fame  authors  : 

"  Stand  {till,  thou^-«  of  man. " 

To  underftand  the  whole  force  of  Shakefpeare's  Idea,  it 
Ihould  be  remember'd  that  anciently  almoft  every  fign  had  a 
fuotto,  or  fome  attempt  at  a  witticifm,  underneath  it.  STEEVENS. 

Clot. 


i86  C  Y  M  B  E   L  I  N  E. 

Clot.  Come,  I'll  to  my  chamber  :  'Would  there 
had  been  tome  hurt  done  ! 

2  Lord.  I  wilh  not  fo  ;  unlefs  it  had  been  the  fall 
of  an  ais,  which  is  no  great  hurt.  \_Afide. 

Clot.   You'll  go  with  us  ? 

1  Lord.  PI  I  attend  your  lordfhip. 
Clot.  Nay,  come,  let's  go  together. 

2  Lord.  Well,   my  lord.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE        IV. 

Imogen's  apartments. 
Enter  Imogen,  and  Pifanio. 

I/no.  I  would  thou  grew'fl  unto  the  ftiores  o'  the 

haven, 

And  queftion'dft  every  fail  :  if  he  fhould  write, 
And  I  not  have  it,  '  'twere  a  paper  loll 
As  offer'd  mercy  is.     What  was  the  laft 
That  he  fpake  to  thee  ? 

Pif.  y  fwas,  His  queen,  his  queen  ! 

i  ,  —  ,  --  'twere  a  paper  loft 

As  offer'd  mercy  is.  <  ••  ]     i.  e.     Should  one  of  his    letters 
roifcarry,  the  lofs  would  be  as  great  as  that  of  offer'd  ruercy. 
But  the  Oxford  Editor  amends  it  thus  : 
-  'twere  a  paper  loir, 
With  offer'd  mercy  in  it.     WAR  BUR  TO  \  . 

I  believe  the  poet's  meaning  is,  that  the  lofs  of  that  paper 
would  prove  as  fatal  to  her,  as  the  lolsor  a  pardon  to  a  condemu'd 
criminal. 

A  thought  refembling  this  occurs  in  Alts  well  that  ends  'well: 

"  Like  a  remorfeful/Wo«  (lowly  carried." 
Dr.  Warburton's  opinion  may,   however,  be  fupported   from 
Milton's  Paradij'e  Loji,  b.  iii.  1.  18?  : 

The  reft  fliall  hear  me  call,  and  oft  be  warn'd 


"  Their  fmrul  ftatc,  and  to  appeaie  betimes 
**  Th*  incenfed  deiry,  while  <>fer  ' 


'd  gract 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  187 

Imo.  Then  wav'd  his  handkerchief? 

PiJ\  And  kifs'd  it,  madam. 

Imo.  Senfelefs  linen  !  happier  therein  than  I ! — 
And  that  was  all  ? 

P/f.  No,  madam  ;  *  for  fo  long 
As  he  could  make  me  with  this  eye,  or  ear, 
Diftinguifh  him  from  others,  he  did  keep 
The  deck,  with  glove,  or  hat,  or  handkerchief, 
Still  waving,  as  the  fits  and  ftirs  of  his  mind 
Could  beft  exprefs  how  flow  his  foul  fail'd  on, 
How  fwift  his  fhip. 

Imo.  Thou  ihouldfl  have  made  him 
As  little  as  a  crow,  or  lefs,  ere  left 
To  after-eye  him. 

Pif.  Madam,  fo  I  did. 

Imo.  I  would  have  broke  mine  eye-ilrings ;  crack'd 

them,  but 

To  look  upon  him  ;  *  'till  the  diminution 
Of  fpace  had  pointed  him  fharp  as  my  needle : 


*  »         "forfo  lon 
As  be  could  make  mcivith  his  eye    or 


ng 
ke 

DiftinguiJJj  him  from  others.  -  ]  But  how  could  Pofthumus 
make  himfelf  diftinguifhed  by  his  ear  to  Pifanio  ?  By  his  tongue 
he  might  to  the  other's  ear  :  and  this  was  certainly  Shakefpeare's 
intention.  We  muft  therefore  read  : 

As  he  could  make  me  with  this  eye  or  ear, 
Diftinguifh  him  from  others.  - 

The  expreffion  is  &UCT»X«J,  as  the  Greeks   term   it  :  the  party 
fpeaking  points  to  that  part  fpoken  of.     WARBURTON. 
Sir  T.  Hanmer  alters  it  thus  : 
•    »     ---  for  Ib  long 
As  he  could  mark  me  with  his  eye,  or  / 
Diftinguifh  -- 

The  reafon  ot  Hanmer's  reading  was,  that  Pifanio  defcribcs  no  ad- 
drefs  made  to  the  ear.     JOHNSON. 
3  --  •  -  '////  the  diminution 

Of  fpace  had  pointed  bimjbarp  as  my  needle  „•]  The  diminution  of 
fpace,  is  the  diminution  of  which  fpace  is  the  caufe.  Trees  are 
killed  by  a  blaft  of  lightning,  that  is,  by  blajlinfr  not  blafted 
Jightning.  JOHNSON. 

Nay,' 


i88  CYMBELINE. 

Nay,  follow'd  him,  'till  he  had  melted  from 
The  fmallnefs  of  a  gnat  to  air  ;  and  then 
Have  turn'd  mine  eye,  and  wept. — But,  good  Pifanio, 
When  mall  we  hear  from  him  ? 

Pif.  Be  afTur'd,  madam, 
With  his  4  next  vantage. 

Imo.  I  did  not  take  my  leave  of  him,  but  had 
Moft  pretty  things  to  fay  :  ere  I  could  tell  him, 
How  I  would  think  on  him,  at  certain  hours. 
Such   thoughts,  and  fuch  ;  or   I   could  make  him 

fwear, 

The  flic's  of  Italy  mould  not  betray 
Mine  intereft,  and  his  honour  ;  or  have  charg'd  him, 
At  the  fixth  hour  of  morn,  at  noon,  at  midnight, 
To  encounter  me  with  orilbns,  for  then 
I  am  in  heaven  for  him  ;  5  or  ere  I  could 
Give  him  that  parting  kifs,  which  I  had  fet 
Betwixt  two  charming  words,  comes  in  my  father, 
And,  like  the  tyrannous  breathing  of  the  north, 
*  Shakes  all  our  buds  from  growing. 

Enter 


-  next  vantage.  ]     Nes  t  opportunity.     Jo  H  N  s  o  N  , 
or  ere  I  could 


Give  him  that  parting  /*//},  which  I  bad  fct 
Bet-wixt  two  charming  words ; ]  Dr.  Warburton  pro- 
nounces as  abfolutely  as  if  he  had  been  preient  at  their  parting, 
that  thefe  two  charming  words  were  adieu  Pojlbumui ;  but  as  Mr. 
Edwards  has  obferved,  ««  fhe  mult  have  underftood  the  language 
of  love  very  little,  if  (he  could  find  no  tenderer  expreffion  of  it, 
than  the  name  by  which  every  one  called  her  hufband." 

STEEVENS. 

6  Shakes  all  our  buds  from  growing."]  A  bud,  without  any  dif- 
tin<Tt  idea,  whether  ot  flower  or  fruit,  is  a  natural  representation  of 
any  thing  incipient  or  immature  ;  and  the  buds  of  flowers,  it 
flowers  are  meant,  grow  to  flowers,  as  the  buds  of  fruits  grow  to 
fruits.  JOHNSON. 

• the  tyrannous  breathing  of  tie  northt 

Shakes  all  our  buds  from  growing. 
A  great  critic  propofes  to  read  : 

Shuts  all  our  buds  from  blowing  ; 

aad 


CYMBELINE.  189 

Enter  a  Lady. 

Lady.  The  queen,  madam, 
Dcfires  your  highnelV  company. 

Imo.  Thofe  things  1  bid  you  do,  get  them  dif- 

patch'd. — 
I  will  attend  the  queen. 

Pif.  Madam,  I  lhall.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE     V. 
R  O  M  E. 

An  apartment  in  Pkilario's  houfe. 

Enter  Pbilario,  lacbimo,  and  a  Frenchman 7, 

lack.  Believe  it,  fir  :  I  have  feen  him  in  Britain  ; 
he  was  then  of  a  crefcent  note  ;  expected  to  prove  fo 
worthy,  as  fince  he  has  been  allowed  the  name  of  : 
but  I  could  then  have  look'd  on  him  without  the  help* 
of  admiration  ;  though  the  catalogue  ofhisendow- 

and  his  emendation  may  in  fome  meafure  be  confirmed  by  thofe 
beautiful  lines  in  the  Tkvo  Noble  Kinfmcn,  which  I  have  no  doubt 
were  written  by  Shakefpeare.     Emilia  is  fpeaking  of  a  rofe  : 
It  is  the  very  emblem  of  a  maid. 
For  when  the  ive/t  wind  courts  her  gentily, 
How  modeftly  fhe  blows,  and  paints  the  fun 
With  her  chafte  bluflies  ? — when  the  north  comes  near 

her 

Rude  and  impatient,  then  like  chanty, 
She  Jhuts  her  beauties  in  her  bud  again, 
And  leaves  him  to  bafe  briars."     FARMER. 
I  think  the  old  reading  may  be  fufficiently  fupported   by  the 
following  pnflage  in  the  iSth  Sonnet  of  our  author  : 

*'  Rough  winds  tojhake  the  darling  buds  of  May." 
Again,  in  the  Taming  of  a  Shrew  : 

"  Confounds  thy  fame,  as  whirlwinds  Jbai-e  fair  lints.'* 

STEEVENS. 

7  ——and  a  Frenchman.']  The  old  copy  reads—  «  Frenchman, 
a.  Dutchman^  and  a  Spaniard.  STEEVENS. 

ments 


190  CYMBELINE. 

ments  had  been  tabled  by  his  fide,  and  I  to  perufe 
him  by  items. 

Phil.  You  fpeak  of  him  when  he  was  lefs  furnifh'd, 
than  now  he  is,  with  that  which  8  makes  him  both 
without  and  within. 

French.  I  have  feen  him  in  France :  we  had  very 
many  there,  could  behold  the  fun  with  as  firm  eyes 
as  he. 

lach.  This  matter  of  marrying  his  king's  daughter, 
(wherein  he  muft  be  weigh'd  rather  by  her  value, 
than  his  own)  9  words  him,  I  doubt  not,  a  great  deal 
from  the  matter. 

French.  And  then  his  banifhment. 

lack.  Ay,  and  the  approbations  of  thofe,  that  weep 
this  lamentable  divorce,  '  under  her  colours,  are 
wonderfully  to  extend  him ;  be  it  but  to  fortify  her 
judgment,  which  elfe  an  eafy  battery  might  lay  flat, 
for  taking  a  beggar  *  without  more  quality.  But 
how  comes  it,  he  is  to  fojourn  with  you  ?  How  creeps 
acquaintance  ? 

Phil.  His  father  and  I  were  foldiers  together  ;  to 
whom  I  have  been  often  bound  for  no  lefs  than  my 
life  :— 

Enter  Pqfthumus. 

Here  comes  the  Briton  :  Let  him  be  fo  entertained 
amongft  you,  as  fuits,  with  gentlemen  of  your  know- 
ing, to  a  ftrangerof  his  quality. — I  befeech  you  all, 

« makes  him — ]     In  the  fenfe  in  which  we  fay,  This  will 

make  or  mar  you.     JOHNSON. 

» words  him         -a  great  deal  from   the  matter.]      Makes  the 

defcription  of  him  very  diftant  from  the  truth.     JOHNSON. 

1 under  her  colours, — ]  Under  her  banner;  by  her  in- 
fluence. JOHNSON. 

*  .         without  more  quality. ]    The  folio  reads  Itfs  quality. 

Mr.  Rowe  firft  made  the  alteration.    STEEVENS. 

be 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  191 

be  better  known  to  this  gentleman  ;  whom  I  com- 
mend to  you,  as  a  noble  friend  of  mine  :  How  worthy- 
he  is,  I  will  leave  to  appear  hereafter,  rather  than 
ftory  him  in  his  own  hearing. 

French.  Sir,  we  have  known  together  in  Orleans. 

Pqft.  Since  when  I  have  been  debtor  to  you  for 
conrtefies,  which  I  will  be  ever  to  pay,  and  yet  pay 
ftill. 

French.  Sir,  you  o'er-rate  my  poor  kindnefs:  I  was 
glad  3  I  did  atone  my  countryman  and  you  ;  it  had 
been  pity,  you  fhould  have  been  put  together  with  fo 
mortal  a  purpofe,  as  then  each  bore,  upon  impor- 
tance of  fo  flight  and  trivial  a  nature. 

Poft.  By  your  pardon,  fir,  I  was  then  a  young  tra- 
veller; 4  rather  Ihunn'd  to  go  even  with  what  I  heard, 
than  in  my  every  action  to  be  guided  by  others'  expe- 
riences: but,  upon  my  mended  judgment,  (if  I  offend 
not  to  fay  it  is  mended)  my  quarrel  was  not  altoge- 
ther flight. 

French.  'Faith,  yes,  to  be  put  to  the  arbitrement  of 
fvvords ;  and  by  fuch  two,  that  would,  by  all  likely- 
hood,  have  confounded  one  the  other,  or  have  fallen 
both. 

lack.  Can  we,  with  manners,  afk  what  was  the 
difference  ? 

French.  Safely,   I  think  :    'twas   a   contention  in 

s  /  did  at  one  i  &c.]  To  atone  fignifies  in  this  place  to  re- 
concile. So  Ben.  Jonfon,  in  The  Silent  Woman: 

"  There  had  been  fomehope  to  atone  you." 
Again,  in  Hey  wood's  Englijh  Traveller,   1633  : 

"  The  conftable  is  call'd  to  atone  the  broil." 
Again, 

u  Yet  for  thy  fake  I  am  atoned  with  all."    STEEVENS. 

*  —^—  rather  Jijunn'd  to  go  even  with  ivbat  I  beard t  &c.]    This 

is  exprefled  with  a  kind  ot  fantaftical  perplexity.     He  means,  I 

was  then  willing  to  take  for  my  direction  the  experience  of  others, 

more  than  fuch  intelligence  as  I  had  gathered  myfelf.     JOHNSON. 

publick, 


I9£  CYMBELINE. 

publick,  'which  may,  without  contradiction,  fuffer 
the  report.  It  was  much  like  an  argument  that  fell 
out  laft  night,  where  each  of  us  fell  in  praife  of  our 
country  miftrefles :  This  gentleman  at  that  time 
vouching,  (and  upon  warrant  of  bloody  affirmation) 
his  to  be  more  fair,  virtuous,  wife,  chafte,  conftant- 
qualified,  and  lefs  attemptible,  than  any  the  rareil 
of  our  ladies  in  France. 

lack.  That  lady  is  not  now  living ;  or  this  gentle- 
man's opinion,  by  this,  worn  out. 

Pqft.  She  holds  her  virtue  ftill,  and  I  my  mind. 

loch.  You  muft  not  fo  far  prefer  her  'fore  ours  of 
Italy. 

Pqft.  Being  fo  far  provok'd  as  I  was  in  France,  I 
\vould  abate  her  nothing  ;  6  though  I  profefs  myfelf 
her  adorer,  not  her  friend. 

loch.  As  fair,  and  as  good,  (a  kind  of  hand-in-hand 
comparifon)had  been  fometh  ing  too  fair,and  too  good, 
for  any  lady  in  Britany.  7  If  (he  went  before  others  I 

have 

5  -    •  -which  may,  without  contradiction, ]     Which,    un- 
doubtedly, may  be  publickly  told.     JOHNSON. 

6  —though  I  profcfs,  &c.]     Though  1  have  not  the  commoa 
obligations  of  a  lover  to  his  miftrefs,  and  regard  her  not  with 
the  fondnefs  of  a  friend,  but  the  reverence  of  an  adorer. 

JOHNSON. 

7  -. .       If  foe  went  before  others  I  have  feen,  as   that  diamond 
ef  yours  out-lujlres    many   I  have   beheld,  I  could  not   believe  Jbe 

excelled  many,    ]  What  ?    if  flie  uid   really  excel  others, 

could  he  not  believe  flie  did  excel  them  ?  Nonfenfe.     We   muft 
ftrike  out  the  negative,  and  the  fenfe  will  be  this,  "  I  can  eafily 
believe  your  miftrefs  excels  many,  tho'  (he  be  not  the  moft  ex- 
cellent ;'juft  as  I  fee  that  diamond  of  yours  is  of  more  value  than 
many  I  have  beheld,  though  I  know  there  are  othei  diamonds  of 
much  greater  value."     WARBURTON. 

The   old  reading,   I  think,  may  very  well  ftand  ;  and  I  have 
therefore  replaced  it.     "  If  (fays   Inchimo)   your  miltrefs  went 
before  fome  others  I  have  feen,  only  in  the  fame  degree  your 
diamond  outluftres   many  I  have  likewife  feen,  I  fliould  not  ad- 
mit 


C  Y  M  B  E   L  I  N  E.  193 

have  feen,  as  that  diamond  of  yours  out-luftres  many 
I  have  beheld,  I  could  not  believe  Ihe  excelled  many : 
but  I  have  not  feen  the  mod  precious  diamond  that 
is,  nor  you  the  lady. 

Pqft.  I  prais'd  her,  as  I  rated  her  :   fo  do  I  my 
ftonc. 

lack.  What  do  you  efteem  it  at  ? 

Pqft.  More  than  the  world  enjoys. 

lack.  Either  your  unparagon'd  miftrefs  is  dead,  or 
fhe's  out-priz'd  by  a  trifle. 

Pqft.  You  are  miftaken  :  the  one  may  be  fold,  or 
given;  if  there  were  wealth  enough  for  the  purchafe, 
or  merit  for  the  gift  :  the  other  is  not  a  thing  for 
fale,  and  only  the  gift  of  the  gods. 

lack.  Which  the  gods  have  given  you  ? 

Pqft.  Which,  by  their  graces,  I  will  keep. 

lacb.  You  may  wear  her  in  title  yours  :  but,  you 
know,  ftrange  fowl  light  upon  neighbouring  ponds. 
Your  ring  may  be  ftolen  too  :  fo,  of  your  brace  of 
unprizeable  eftimations,  the  one  is  but  frail,  and  the 
other  cafual  ;  a  cunning  thief,  or  a  that-way-accom- 
pliih'd  courtier,  would  hazard  the  winning  both  of 
firft  and  laft. 

Pqft.  Your  Italy  contains  none  fo  accomplilh'd  a 

mit  on  that  account  that  fhe  excelled  many :  but  I  ought  not  to 
make  myfelf  the  judge  of  who  is  the  faireft  lady,  or  which  is  the 
brighteft  diamond,  till  I  have  beheld  the  fineft  of  either  kind 
which  nature  has  hitherto  produced."  The  paflage  is  not  non- 
ienfe.  It  was  the  bufinefs  of  lachimo  to  appear  on  this  occa- 
iion  as  an  infidel  to  beauty,  in  order  to  fpint  Pofthumus  to  lay 
the  wager,  and  fherefore  will  not  admit  of  her  excellence  on  any 
comparifon. 

The  author  of  The  Rcvifal  would  read  : 

I  could  but  believe. STEEVENS. 

I  mould  explain  the  fentence  thus  :  "  Though  your  lady  ex- 
celled as  much  as  your  diamond,  /  could  not  believe  Jbe  excelled 
many  ;  that  is,  I  too  could  yet' believe  that  there  are  many  vjbom  (he 
,    did  not  excel."    But  I  yet  think  Dr.  Warburton  right. 

JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  O  courtier. 


i94  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

courtier,  '  to  convince  the  honour  of  my  miftrefs  ;  if, 
in  the  holding  or  lofs  of  that,  you  term  her  frail. 
1  do  nothing  doubt,  you  haveftore  of  thieves  ;  not- 
withftanding,  I  fear  not  my  ring. 

Phil.  Let  us  leave  here,  gentlemen. 

Pqft.  Sir,  with  all  my  heart.  This  worthy  fignior, 
I  thank  him,  makes  no  ftranger  of  me ;  we  are 
familiar  at  firft. 

lach.  With  five  times  fo  much  converfation,  I 
fhould  get  ground  of  your  fair  miftrefs  :  make  her 
go  back,  even  to  the  yielding ;  had  I  admittance, 
and  opportunity  to  friend. 

Poft.  No,  no. 

lach.  I  dare,  thereupon,  pawn  the  moiety  of  my 
eftate  to  your  ring ;  which,  in  my  opinion,  o'er-values 
it  fomething  :  But  I  make  my  wager  rather  againft 
;  your  confidence,  than  her  reputation :  and, to  bar  your 
offence  herein  too,  I  durft  attempt  it  againft  any  lady 
in  the  world. 

Pqft.  You  are  a  great  deal  *  abus'd  in  too  bold  a 
perfuafion;  and  I  doubt  not  you  fuftain  what  you're 
worthy  of,  by  your  attempt. 

lach.  What's  that  ? 

Pqft.  A  repulfe:  Though  your  attempt,  as  you 
call  it,  deferves  more ;  a  punifhment  too. 

Phil  Gentlemen,  enough  of  this  :  it  came  in  too 
fuddenly  ;  let  it  die  as  it  was  born,  and,  I  pray  you, 
be  better  acquainted. 

lach.  'Would  I  had  put  my  eftate,  and  my  neigh- 
bour's, on  the  J  approbation  of  what  I  have  fpoke. 

•  to  convince  the  honour  of  my  miftrefi', ]     Convince  t 

for  overcome.    WAR  BURTON. 

So,  in  Macbeth'. 

"  their  malady  convinces 

•*  The  great  eflay  of  art."    JOHNSON. 

*  _.0£«jV ]     Decew'J.     JOHNSON. 

•>  ^-approbation ]     Proof.    JOHNSON. 

Poft. 


1    C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  195 

Pqft.  What  lady  would  you  chufe  to  aflail  ? 

lad?.  Yours;  who  inconftancy,  you  think,  ftands 
fo  fafe.  I  will  lay  you  ten  thoufand  ducats  to  your 
ring,  that,  commend  me  to  the  court  where  your 
lady  is,  with  no  more  advantage  than  the  opportunity 
of  a  fecond  conference,  and  I  will  bring  from  thence 
that  honour  of  hers,  which  you  imagine  fo  referv'd. 

Pqft.  I  will  wage  againft  your  gold,  gold  to  it : 
my  ring  I  hold  dear  as  my  finger ;  'tis  part  of  it. 

Iad>.  4  You  are  a  friend,  and  therein  the  wifer.  If 
you  buy  ladies' flefh  at  a  million  a  dram,  you  cannot 
preferve  it  from  tainting  :  But,  I  fee,  you  have  fome 
religion  in  you,  that  you  fear. 

Pqft.  'This  is  but  a  cuftom  in  your  tongue  :  you 
bear  a  graver  purpofe,  I  hope. 

loch.  I  am  the  matter  of  my  fpeeches ;  and  would 
undergo  what's  fpoken,  I  fwear. 

Pqft.  Will  you  ?— I  lhall  but  lend  my  diamond 'till 
your  return  : — Let  there  be  covenants  drawn  between 
us  :  My  mittrefs  exceeds  in  goodnefs  the  hugenefs  of 
your  unworthy  thinking  :  I  dare  you  to  this  match  : 
here's  my  ring. 

Phil.  I  will  have  it  no  lay. 

IaJ:.  By  the  gods  it  is  one  : — J  If  I  bring  you  no 

fufficient 

*  Tou  are  a  friend,  and  therein  the  luifer.         ]  I  corre6l  it : 

l"ou  arc  afraid,  and  therein  the  wifer. 

What  lachimo  fays,  in  the  clofe  of  his  fpeech,  determines  this  to 
have  been  our  poet's  reading  : 

But,  I  lee  you  have  fome  religion  in  you,  that  you  fear. 

WARBURTON. 

Tou  arc  a  friend  to  the  lady,  and  therein  the  wrfer,  as  you  will 
not  expofe  her  to  hazard  j  and  that  you  fear,  is  a  proof  of  your 
religious  fidelity.  JOHNSON. 

5  lach.   If  I  bring  you  no  fufficient  teftimony  that  I  have  cn~ 

joy'd  the  dearefl  bodily  part  of  your  miftrefs,  my  ten  thoufand  ducats  are 
yours  ;  fo  is  your  diamond  too :  if  I  come  off",  and  leave  her  in  fuch 
honour  as  you  have  truft  in,  Jhe  your  jewel,  this  jour  jewt^  and  my 
fold  are  yours,  &c. 

VOL.  IX.  O  2  Poft. 


196  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

fufficient  teflimony  that  I  have  enjoy'd  the  deareft 
bodily  part  of  your  miftrefs,  my  ten  thoufand  ducats 
are  yours ;  fo  is  your  diamond  too :  If  I  come  off,  and 
leave  her  in  fuch  honour  as  you  have  truft  in,  Ihe  your 
jewel,  this  your  jewel,  and  my  gold  are  yours  ;— 
provided,  I  have  your  commendation,  for  my  more 
free  entertainment. 

Pqft.  I  embrace  thefe  conditions;  let  us  have  arti- 
cles betwixt  us  : — only,  thus  far  you  fliall  tnfwer. 
If  you  make  your  voyage  upon  her,  and  give  me  di- 
redtly  to  underftand  you  have  prevail'd,  I  am  no 
further  your  enemy,  fhe  is  not  worth  our  debate : 
if  Ihe  remain  unfeduc'd,  (you  not  making  it  appear 
otherwife)  for  your  ill  opinion,  and  the  aflault  you 
have  made  to  her  chaility,  you  lhall  anfwer  me  with 
your  fword. 

lack.  Your  hand;  a  covenant:  We  will  have 
thefe  things  fet  down  by  lawful  counfel,  and  flraight 
away  for  Britain ;  left  the  bargain  Ihould  catch  cold, 

Poft.  I  embrace  thefe  conditions,  &c.]  This  was  a  wager  be- 
tween the  two  fpeakers.  Jachimo  declares  the  conditions  of  it ; 
and  Pofthumus  embraces  them,  as  well  he  might ;  for  lachimo 
mentions  only  that  of  the  two  conditions  which  was  favourable  to 
Pofthumus,  namely,  that  if  his  wife  preferved  her  honour  he 
Ihould  win :  concerning  the  other,  in  cafe  (he  preferved  it  notf 
lachimo,  the  accurate  expounder  of  the  wager,  is  filenr.  To 
make  him  talk  more  in  character,  for  we  find  him  (harp  enough 
in  the  profecution  of  his  bet,  we  fhould  ftrike  out  the  negative, 
and  read  the  reft  thus  :  If  I  Ir  ing  you  fufficient  teftimony  that  I  have 
enjoy'd,  &c.  my  ten  thoufand  ducats  are  mine  ;  fo  i s  your  diamond 
too.  If  I  come  off,  and  leave  her  in  fuch  honour,  &c.  Jhe  your 
jewel,  &c.  and  my  gold  are  yours.  WARBURTON. 

I  once  thought  this  emendation  right,  but  am  now  of  opinion, 
that  Shakefpeare  intended  that  lachimo,  having  gained  his  pur- 
pofe,  ftiould  delignedly  drop  the  invidious  and  oftenfive  part  of 
the  wager,  and  to  flatter  Pofthumus,  dwell  long  upon  the  more 
j>leafing  part  of  the  reprcfentation.  One  condition  of  a  wager 
implies  the  other,  and  there  is  no  need  to  mention  both. 

JOHNSON. 

and 


C  Y  M  B  E   L  I   N   E.  197 

and  ftarve  :  I  will  fetch  my  gold,  and  have  our  t\vd 
wagers  recorded. 

Poji.  Agreed.  [Exeunt  Pojlhumus,  and  lachimo. 

French.  Will  this  hold,  think  you  ? 

Phil.  Signior  lachimo  will  not  from  it.  Pray,  let 
us  follow  'em.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE      VI. 

CymbeUnc's  Palace. 
Enter  Queen,  Ladies,  and  Cornelius. 

Queen.  Whiles  yet  the  dew's  on  ground,  gather 

thofe  flowers ; 
Make  hafte  :  Who  has  the  note  of  them  ? 

i  Lady.  I,  madam. 

Queen.  Difpatch. —  [Exeunt  ladies. 

Now,    matter    doctor;    have    you    brought    thofe 
drugs  ? 

Cor.  Pleafeth  your  highnefs,  ay  :    here  they   are, 

madam  : 

But  I  befeech  your  grace,  (without  offence; 
My  confcience  bids  me  alk)  wherefore  you  have 
Commanded  of  me  thefe  moll  poifonous  compounds, 
Which  are  the  movers  of  a  languifhing  death  ; 
But,  though  flow,  deadly  ? 

Queen.  I  wonder,  doctor, 

Thou  afk'ft  me  fuch  a  queftion  :  Have  I  not  been 
Thy  pupil  long  ?  Haft  thou  not  learn'd  me  how 
To  make  perfumes  ?  diftill  ?  preferve  ?  yea,  ib, 
That  our  great  king  himfelf  doth  woo  me  oft 
For  my  confections  ?  Having  thus  far  proceeded, 
(Unlefs  thou  think'ft  me  devilifh)  is't  not  meet 
That  I  did  amplify  my  judgment  in 
6  Other  conclulions  ?  I  will  try  the  forces 

6  Other  conclusions  f ]     Other  experiments,     I  commend^  (ays 

Wakon,  an  angler  that  tries  conclufions,  and  improres  his  art. 

JOHNSON. 

O  3  Of 


198  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  Ef 

Of  thefe  thy  compounds  on  fuch  creatures  as 
We  count  not  worth  the  hanging,  (but  none  human) 
To  try  the  vigour  of  them,  and  apply 
Allayments  to  their  act ;  and  by  them  gather 
Their  feveral  virtues,  and  effects, 

Cor.  7  Your  highnefs 

Shall  from  this  practice  but  make  hard  your  heart  : 
Befides,  the  feeing  thefe  effects  will  be 
Both  noifome  and  infectious. 

^ueen.  O,  content  thee, 

Enter  Pifanlo. 

Here  comes  a  flattering  rr.fcal ;  upon  him 
Will  I  firft  work  :  he's  for  his  mafler, 
And  enemy  to  my  fon. — How  now,  Pifanio  ?— 
Doctor,  your  fervice  for  this  time  is  ended  ; 
Take  your  own  way, 

Cor.  I  do  fufpect  you,  madam  ; 
But  you  lhall  do  no  harm. 

®uecn.  Hark  thee,  a  word. [To 

Cor.  \_Ajidc.~\  8 1  do  not  like  her.     She  doth  think, 
ihe  has 

Strange 

7  Your  highnefs 

Shall  from  this  praflice  but  make  hard  your  heart :]  There  is 
in  this  paflage  nothing  that  much  requires  a  note,  yet  I  cannot 
forbear  to  pufli  it  forward  into  obfervation.  The  thought  would 
probably  have  been  more  amplified,  had  our  author  lived  to  be 
ihocked  with  fuch  experiments  as  have  been  publiflied  in  later 
times,  by  a  race  of  men  that  have  pra&ifed  tortures  without  pity, 
and  related  them  without  rtiame,  and  are  yet  flittered  to  erect  their 
heads  among  human  beings. 

Cape  faxa  manu,  cape  robora,  paftor.     JOHNSON. 

*  I  Jo  not  like  her. ]     This  foliloquy  is  very  inartificial. 

The  fpeaker  is  under  no  ftrong  preffure  of  thought ;  he  is  nei- 
ther reiblving,  repenting,  fufpefting,  nor  deliberating,  and  yet 
nukes  a  long  fpeech  to  tell  hirafelf  what  himfelf  knows. 

JOHNSON. 


CYMBELINE.  i99 

Strange  lingering  poifons :  I  do  know  her  fpirit, 

And  will  not  truil  one  of  her  malice  with 

A  drug  of  fuch  damn'd  nature  :  Thofe,  ihe  has, 

Will  ftupify  and  dull  the  fenfe  a  while  : 

Which  firft,  perchance,  fhe'll  prove  on  cats,  and 

dogs; 

Then  afterward  up  higher  :  but  there  is 
No  danger  in  what  mew  of  death  it  makes, 
More  than  the  locking  up  the  fpirits  a  time, 
To  be  more  frefh,  reviving.     She  is  fool'd 
With  a  moft  falfe  effect ;  and  I  the  truer, 
So  to  be  falfe  with  her. 

Queen.  No  further  fervice,  doctor, 
Until  I  fend  for  thee. 

Cor.  I  humbly  take  my  leave.  [Exit. 

Queen.  Weeps  Ihe  ftill,    fay'ft  thou  ?  Doft  thou 

think,  in  time 

She  will  not  quench ;  and  let  inftructions  enter 
Where  folly  now  poflefles  ?  Do  thou  work  : 
When  thou  malt  bring  me  word,  me  loves  my  fon, 
I'll  tell  thee,  on  the  inftant,  thou  art  then 
As  great  as  is  thy  mailer  :  greater  ;  for 
His  fortunes  all  lie  fpeechlefs,  and  his  name 
Is  at  laft  gafp  :  Return  he  cannot,  nor 
Continue  where  he  is  :  9  to  fliift  his  being, 
Is  to  exchange  one  mifery  with  another"; 
And  every  day,  that  comes,  comes  to  decay 
A  day's  work  in  him  :  What  malt  thou  expect, 
To  be  depender  on  a  thing  '  .that  leans  ? 

I  do  not  like  her. ]  This  foliloquy,  however  inartificial 

in  refpeit  of  the  fpeaker,  is  yet  neceflary  to  prevent  that  uneafi- 
nefs  which  would  naturally  arife  in  the  mind  of  an  audience  on 
recollection  that  the  queen  had  mifchievous  ingredients  in  her 
}x>fleffion,  unlefs  they  were  undeceiv'd  as  to  the  quality  of 
them  ;  and  it  is  nolefs  ufeful  to  prepare  us  for  the  return  of  Imo- 
gen to  life.  STEEVENS. 

*  tojbift  bis  being,]     To  change  his  abode.     JOHNSON. 

1 that  bans  ?]     That  inclines  towards  its  fall.    JOHNSON". 

O  4  Who 


zoo  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Who  cannot  be  new  built  ;  nor  has  no'friends, 

[The  Queen  drops  a  phial :  Pifan'w  takes  it  up. 
So  much  as  but  to  prop  him  ? — Thou  tak'ft  up 
Thou  know'ft  not  what ;  but  take  it  for  thy  labour  : 
It  is  a  thing  I  make,  which  hath  the  king 
Five  times  redeem'd  from  death  ;  I  do  not  know 
What  is  more  cordial  : — Nay,  I  pry'thee,  take  it; 
It  is  an  earneft  of  a  further  good 
That  I  mean  to  thee.     Tell  thy  miftrefs  how 
The  cafe  ftands  with  her;  do't,  as  from  thyfelf. 
*  Think  \vhat  a  chance  thou  changeft  on  ;  but  think 
Thou  haft  thy  miftrefs  ftill ;  to  boot,  my  fon, 
Who  lhall  take  notice  of  thee  :  I'll  move  the  king 
To  any  lhape  of  thy  preferment,  fuch 
As  thou'lt  defire  ;  and  then  myfelf,  I  chiefly, 
That  fet  thee  on  .to  this  defert,  am  bound 
To  load  thy  merit  richly.     Call  my  women  : 

[Exit  Pifaniot 

Think  on  my  words. — A  fly,  and  conftant  knave  ; 
Not  to  be  ihak'd  :  the  agent  for  his  matter  ; 
And  the  remembrancer  of  her,  to  hold 
The  hand  faft  to  her  lord. — I  have  given  him  that, 
Which,  if  he  take,  lhall  quite  unpeople  her 
3  Of  leigers  for  her  fweet ;  and  which  Ihe,  after, 
Except  {he  bend  her  humour,  lhall  be  aflur'd 

*  Think  what  a  chance  thou  changeft  on  ; ]     Such  is  the 

reading  of  the  old  copy,  which  by  fucceeding  editors  has  been 
altered  into, 

Think  what  a  chance  thou  chanccjl  on  ; • 

and         Think  what  a  change  thou  chance/}  on  ; 

bat  unneceflarily.  The  meaning  is  :  *'  think  with  what  a  fair 
profpeft  of  mending  your  fortunes  you  now  change  your  prcfent 
fervice."  STEEVENS. 

3  Of  leigers  for  her  fweet ; ]     A  leigcr  ambaflador,  is  one 

thatrefides  at  a  foreign  court  to  promote  his  matter's  intereft. 

JOHNSON. 
So,  \nMeafureforMeafure: 

"  - Lord  Angelo 

«'  Intends  you  for  his  fwift  ambaflador  ; 

**  Where  you  fhall  be  an  everlafting  k.;gcr."   STEEVENS, 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  201 

Re-enter  Pifanio,  and  ladies. 

To  tafte  of  too. — So,  fo ; — well  done,  well  done  : 
The  violets,  cowflips,  and  the  primrofes, 
Bear  to  my  clofet  : — Fare  thee  well,  Pifanio  ; 
Think  on  my  words.  [Exeunt  Queen,  and  Ladies* 

Pif.  And  fhall  do  : 

But  when  to  my  good  lord  I  prove  untrue, 
I'll  choke  myfelf :  there's  all  I'll  do  for  you.  [Exit. 

SCENE      VII. 

Imogen's  apartment* 

Enter  Imogen. 

\ 

Imo.  A  father  cruel,  and  a  ftep-dame  falfe  ; 
A  foolifh  fuitor  to  a  wedded  lady, 
Thatirath  herhufband  banifh'd; — O,  that  hufband  ! 
My  fupreme  crown  of  grief  !  and  thofe  repeated 
Vexations  of  it !  Had  I  been  thief-ftolen, 
As  my  two  brothers,  happy  !  4  but  moft  miferable 
Is  the  defire  that's  glorious  :  s  Bleffed  be  thofe, 

How 

4 lut  moft  miferalle 

L   the  defire  that's  glorious ;  ]    Her  hufband,  (he  fays, 

proves  her  fupreme  griet.  She  had  been  happy  had  (he  been 
ftolen  as  her  brothers  were,  but  now  (he  is  miferable,  as  all  thofe 
are  who  have  a  fenfe  of  worth  and  honour  fuperior  to  the  vulgar, 
which  occafions  them  infinite  vexations  from  the  envious  and 
worthlefs  part  of  mankind.  Had  (he  not  fo  refined  a  tafte  as  to  be 
content  only  with  the  fuperior  merit  of  Pofthumus,  but  could 
have  taken  up  with  Cloten,  (he  might  have  efcaped  thefe  perfecu- 
tions.  This  elegance  of  tafte,  which  always  difcovers  an  excel- 
lence and  chufes  it,  (he  calls  with  great  fublimity  of  expreffion, 
The  defire  that's  glorious ;  which  the  Oxford  editor  not  underftand- 
ing,  alters  to,  Tie  degree  that's  glorious.  WAR  BUR  TON. 
5  BleJJedbetbofe> 

HCTM  mean  foe  'er,  that  have  their  bonefi  luitts^ 

f/Tljich  fcafom  comfort,——']    The  laft  words  are  equivocal ; 

but 


ioz  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

How  mean  foe'er,  that  have  their  honeft  wills, 
Which  fcafons  comfort. — Who  may  this  be  ?  Fie ! 

Enter  Pifanio,  and  lachimo. 

Plf.  Madam,  a  noble  gentleman  of  Rome, 
Comes  from  my  lord  with  letters. 

loch.  Change  you,  madam  ? 
The  worthy  Leonatus  is  in  fafety, 
And  greets  your  highnefs  dearly.  [Gives  aletter. 

Imo.  Thanks,  good  fir  ; 
You  are  kindly  welcome. 

lack.  All  of  her,  that  is  out  of  door,  moft  rich  ! 
If  fhe  be  furnifh'd  with  a  mind  fo  rare,  [/ffide. 

She  is  alone  the  Arabian  bird  ;  and  I 
Have  loft  the  wager.     Boldnefs  be  my  friend  ! 
Arm  me,  audacity,  from  head  to  foot  ! 
Or,  like  the  Parthian,  I  fliall  flying  fight ; 
Rather,  diredtly  fly. 

but  the  meaning  is  this :  Who  are  beholden  only  to  the  feafons 
for  their  fupport  and  nourifhment;  fo  that,  if  thofe  be  kindly, 
fuch  have  no  more  to  care  tor  or  defire.  WARIURTON. 

I  am  willing  to  comply  with  any  meaning  that  can  be  extorted 
from  the  preienf  text,  rather  than,  change  it,  yet  will  propofe, 
but  with  great  diffidence,  a  flight  alteration  : 

Bid's 'd  be  thofe, 

How  mean  foe'er,  that  have  their  honeft  wills, 
With  reafons  com  fort.—— 

Who  gratify  their  innocent  wifhes  with  reafonable  enjoyments. 

JOHNSON. 

I  (hall  venture  at  another  explanation,  which,  as  the  laft  words 
are  admitted  to  be  equivocal,  may  bepropofed.  "  To  be  able  to 
refine  on  calamity  (fays  fhe)  is  the  miferable  privilege  of  thofe  who 
are  educated  with  afp\ring  thoughts  and  elegant  defires.  Blefled 
are  they,  however  mean  their  condition,  who  have  the  power  of 
gratifying  their  hone.it:  inclinations,  which  circum fiance  be/lows  an 
additional  relijli  en  comfort  itfelf." 

"  You  lack  the/frt/0»  of  all  natures,  fleep."    Macbeth. 
Again,  in  Albuma'zar,  1615: 

"  the  memory  or  misfortunes  paft 

**  Seafoas  the  welcome."  .  STEEVINS. 

Imogen 


CY-MBELINE.  203 

Imogen  reads, 

_.—  He  is  one  of  the  nobleft  note>  to  whofe  kindnejfes 
1  am  moft  infinitely  tied,  Refleft  upon  him  accordingly, 
as  you  value  your  trujt. 

"LfcONATUS, 

So  far  I  read  aloud  : 

But  even  the  very  middle  of  my  heart 

Is  warm'd  by  the  reft,  and  takes  it  thankfully,-- 

You  are  as  welcome,  worthy  fir,  as  I 

Have  words  to  bid  you ;  and  fhall  find  it  fo, 

In  all  that  I  can  do. 

loch.  Thanks,  faireft  lady.— 

What !  are  men  mad  ?  Hath   nature   given  them 
eyes  [Afide, 

To  fee  this  vaulted  arch,  6  and  the  rich  crop 
Of  fea  and  land,  which  can-  diflinguifh  'twixt 
The  fiery  orbs  above,  7  arid  the  twinn'd  ftones 
Upon  the  numbered  beach  ?  and  can  we  not 
Partition  make  with  fpe&acles  fo  precious 
'Twixt  fair  and  foul  ?  Imo, 

*        •  and  the  rich  crop 

Of  fea  and  land, ]     He  is  here  fpeaking  of  the  covering 

of  fea  and  land.     Shakefpeare  therefore  wrote : 

and  the  rich  cope.    WARBURTON. 

Surely  no  emendation  is  neceffary.  The  vaulted  arch  is  alike 
the  cope  or  covering  offea  and  land.  When  the  poet  had  fpoken 
of  it  once,  could  he  have  thought  this  fecond  introduction  of  it 
neceffary  ?  The  crop  of  fea  and  land  means  only  the  productions 
of  either  element.  STEEVENS. 
7  — — and  the  Kvinn'djlones 

Upon  the  number'd  beach  ?—  — ]  1  have  no  idea  in  what  fenfe 
the  beach,  orfhore,  (hould  be  called  number'd.  I  have  ventured, 
againil  all  the  copies,  to  fubftitute  : 

Upon  ttf  unn umber 'd  beach  ?— — 

i.e.  the  infinite  extenfive  beach,  if  we  are  to  underftand  the  epi- 
thet as  coupled  to  that  word.  But,  I  rather  think,  the  poet  in- 
tended an  hypallage,  like  that  in  the  beginning  of  Ovid's  Meta- 
morphofei : 

"  (In  nova  fert  animus  mutatas  dicere  formas 

"  Corpora.)" —  And 


204  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Imo.  What  makes  your  admiration  ? 
lack.  It  cannot  be  i'  the  eye  ;  for  apes  and  mon- 
keys, 

'Twixt  two  fuch  fhe's,  would  chatter  this  way,  and 
Contemn  with   mows  the  other  :  Nor  i*  the  judg- 
ment; 

For  idiots,  in  this  cafe  of  favour,  would 
Be  wifely  definite :  Nor  i'  the  appetite  ; 
Sluttery,  to  fuch  neat  excellence  oppos'd, 
8  Should  make  defire  vomit  emptinefs, 
Not  fo  allur'd  to  feed. 

Imo. 

And  then  we  are  to  underftand  the  paflage  thus:  and  the  infnitt 
number  of  tvjtnn*  d Jiones  upon  the  beach,     THEOBALD. 

Upon  ttf  unnuinber'd  beach  ?]  Senfe  and  the  antithefis  oblige 
us  to  read  this  nonfenfe  thus  : 

Upon  the  humbled  beach  ? 

i.  e.  becaufe  daily  infulted  with  the  flow  of  the  tide. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

I  know  not  well  how  to  regulate  this  paflage.  Number'^  is 
perhaps  numerous.  Tivinn'd fanes  I  do  not  underltand.  7w/'«»'«/ 
Jhells,  orpalrsoffoelh,  are  very  common.  For  twintfd  we  might 
read  tvrir?d\  that  if,  /  vijled^  convolved:  but  this  fenfe  is  more 
applicable  to  fhells  than  to  ftones.  JOHNSON. 

The  pebbles  on  the  lea  fhore  are  fo  much  of  the  fame  fize  and 
fliape,  that  twinifd  may  mean  as  like  as  twins.  So  in  the  Maid 
of  the  Mill,  by  B  and  Fletcher  : 

"  But  is  it  poffible  that  two  faces 

"  Should  be  fo  twinn'Jin  form,  complexion,  &c. 
Again  in  our  author's  Coriolanus,  ad  IV.  fc.  iv  : 

Are  ftill  together,  who  twin  as  'twere,  in  love. 
The  author  of  The  Revifal  conjectures  the  poet  might  have 
written  fpurrfd  ftones.     He  might  poffibly  have  written  that  or  any 

other  word. In  Coriolanus  a  different  epithet  is  beftowed  on  the 

beach  : 

"  Then  let  the  pebbles  on  the  hungry  beach 

"  Fillop  the  ftars " 

Dr.  Warburron's  conjecture  may  be  countenanced  by  the  follow- 
ing paflnge  in  Spenfer's  Faery  Queen,  b.  vi.  c.  7. 

"  But  as  he  lay  upon  the  humbled  grafs."     STEEVENS. 
I  think  \vemay  read  the  umbcred,  the  Jkaded  beach.     This  word 
iti  met  with  in  other  places.  .  FARMER. 
8  Should  makt  dejtre  vomit  emptincf's^ 

Not  fo  allured  to  fecd.~\  i.  e.  that  appetite,  which  is  not  al- 
lured to  feed  on  fuch  excellence,  can  have  no  ftomach  at  all ;  but, 
though  empty,  mult  naufeate  every  thing.  WARBURTON. 

I  ex* 


C   Y   M  B   E   L  I   N   E.  205 

IMO.  What  is  the  matter,  trow  ? 

hcb.  The  cloyed  will, 
(That  fatiate  yet  unfatisfy'd  defire, 
That  tub  both  fill'd  and  running)  ravening  firft 
The  lamb,  longs  after  for  the  garbage. 

Imo,  What,  dear  fir, 
Thus  raps  you  ?  Are  you  well  ? 

lacb.  Thanks,  madam  ;  well : — 'Befeech  you,  fir, 

[fo  P'fanio* 

Defire  my  man's  abode  where  I  did  leave  him  : 
*  He's  ftrange,  and  peevifh. 

PI/. 

I  explain  this  paflage  in  a  fenfe  almoft  contrary.  lachimo,  in 
this  counterfeited  rapture,  has  (hewn  how  the  eyes  and  the  judg- 
ment would  determine  in  favour  of  Imogen,  comparing  her  with 
the  prefent  miftrefs  of  Pofthumus,  and  proceeds  to  fay,  that  ap- 
petite too  would  give  the  fame  fuffrage.  Defire,  fays  he,  when  it 
approached  Jluttery,  and  conGdered  it  in  comparifon  with  fu>. -b  r.r&t 
excellence,  would  not  only  be  not  fo  allured  to  feed,  but,  feized  with 
a  fit  of  loathing,  viould  vomit  empt'mefs,  would  feel  the  convul- 
fions  of  difguft,  though,  being  unfed,  it  had  nothing  to  ejedt. 

JOHNSON. 

Dr.  Warburton  and  Dr.  Johnfon  have  both  taken  the  pains  to 
give  their  different  fenfes  or  this  paflage  ;  but  I  am  ftill  unable  to 
comprehend  how  defire,  or  any  other  thing,  can  be  made  to  vomit 
empthiffs.     I  rather  believe  the  paflage  fhould  be  read  thus : 
Sluttery,  to  fuch  neat  excellence  oppos'd, 
Should  make  defire  vomit,  emptinels 
Not  fo  allure  to  feed. 

That  is,  Should  not  fo,  [in  fuch  circumftances]  allure  [even] 
tmpthiffi  to  fad.     TYRWHITT. 

This  is  not  ill  conceived  ;  but  I  think  my  own  explanation 
right.  To  vomit  emptimfs  is,  in  the  language  of  poetry,  to  feel 
the  convulfions  of  eructation  without  plenitude  JOHNSON. 

We  might  read — vomit  to  emptinefs.   The  oddity  and  indelicacy 
of  this  pafiage  may  be  kept  in  countenance  by  the  following  cir- 
cumftance  in  the  tragedy  of  All  for  Money^  by  T.  Lupton,  1578  : 
"  Now  will  I  eflay  to  vomit  if  I  can  ; 
*'  Let  him  hold  your  head,  and  I  will  hold  your  flomaeh,  &c.** 

"  Here  money  Jball  make  as  though  he  would  vomit." 
Again  :     « '  Here pleafurcfia II  make  as  though  he  would  vomit." 

STEEVENS. 

»  He's  ftrange,  and  peevfo.]  He  is  a  foreigner,  and  eafify 
fretted.  JOHNSON. 

Strange 


206  CYMBELINE, 

Pif.  I  was  going,  fir, 
To  give  him  welcome. 

Imo.  Continues  well  my  lord  ?  His  health,  'befeech 
you  ? 

lack.  Well,  madam* 

Imo.  Is  he  difpos'd  to  mirth  ?  I  hope,  he  is. 

lach.  Exceeding  pleafant ;  none  a  flranger  there 
So  merry  and  fo  gamefome  :  he  is  call'd 
The  Briton  reveller1. 

Imo.  When  he  was  here, 
He  did  incline  to  fadnefs ;  and  oft-times 
Not  knowing  why. 

lach.  I  never  faw  him  fad. 
There  is  a  Frenchman  his  companion,  one 
An  eminent  monfieur,  that,  it  feems,  much  loves 
A  Gallian  girl  at  home  :  he  furnaces z 
The  thick  fighs  from  him  ;  whiles  the  jolly  Briton 

Strange,  I  believe,  fignifies  Jhy  or  backward.  So  Holinfhed, 
P-  735  :  "  brake  to  him  his  mind  in  this  mifchievous  mat- 
ter, in  which  he  found  him  nothing^raff^r." 

Pcevifl}  anciently  meant  weak,  filly.  So  in  Lylly's  Endymion, 
1591  :  "  Never  was  any  fo  peevifo  to  imagine  the  mbon  either 
capable  of  affection,  or  lhape  of  a  miftrefs."  Again,  in  Lylly's 
Galatea,  when  a  man  has  given  a  conceited  anfwer  to  a  plain 
queftion,  Diana  fays,  "  let  him  alone,  he  is  buipeevijb."  Again, 
in  Love's  Metamorphofis  by  Lylly,  1601  :  **  In  the  heavens  I  faw 
an  orderly  courfe,  in  the  earth  nothing  but  diforderly  love  and 

Ci/bnefs."     Again,  in  Goflbn's  School  of  Alufe,    1579:   "  We 
;  infinite  poets  and  pipers,  and  fuchpcevijb  cattel  among  us  in 
Englande."     Again,  in  the  Comedy  of  Errors : 

**  How  now  !  a  madman  !  why  thou  pecvijh  (heep, 
*'  No  (hip  of  Epidamnom  flays  forme.'*    STEEVENS. 

1  be  is  calfd 

The  Briton  reveller.]     So,  in  Chaucer's  Coke's  Tale,  late  edit. 
v.  4369  : 

"  That  he  was  cleped  Perkin  revelour."    STEEVENS. 
*  -  he  furnaces 

The  thick  Jighs  from  him ;  —  ]     So  in  Chapman's  preface  to 

his  tranilation  of  the  Shield  of  Homer,    1598:  "  furnaceth  the 

univerfall  fighes  and  complaintes  of  this  tranfpofed  world." 

STEEVENS. 

(Your 


C   Y  M  B   E   L  I   N   E.  207 

(Your  lord,    I   mean)    laughs    from's    free  lungs, 

cries,  O  I 

Can  my  fides  bold,  to  think,  that  man, — wJx>  knows 
Bykijlory,  report,  or  bis  own  proof , 
Wb$l  woman  is,  yea,  what  Jhe  cannot  cbufe 
Bui  muft  he, — will  bis  free  hours  languifb 
For  aflur'd  bondage  ? 

Imo.  Will  my  lord  fay  fo  ? 

lacb.  Ay,  madam  ;    with  his  eyes  in  flood  with 

laughter. 

It  is  a  recreation  to  be  by, 
And  hear  him  mock  the  Frenchman :  But,  heavens 

know, 
Some  men  are  much  to  blame. 

Imo.  Not  he,  I  hope. 

lack.  Not  he  :  But  yet  heaven's  bounty  towards 

him  might 

Be  us'd  more  thankfully.     In  himfelf,  'tis  much  ; 
In  you, — which  I  account  his,  beyond  all  talents, — 
Whilft  I  am  bound  to  wonder,  I  am  bound 
To  pity  too. 

Imo.  What  do  you  pity,  fir  ? 

lack.  Two  creatures,  heartily. 

Imo.  Am  I  one,  fir  ? 

You  look  on  me  ;  What  wreck  difcern  you  in  me, 
Deferves  your  pity  ? 

lack.  Lamentable  !  What ! 
To  hide  me  from  the  radiant  fun,  and  folacc 
F  the  dungeon  by  a  fnuff  ? 

Imo.  I  pray  you,  fir, 

Deliver  with  more  opennefs  your  anfwers 
To  my  demands.     Why  do  you  pity  me  ? 

lacb.  That  others  do, 

I  was  about  to  fay,  enjoy  your But 

It  is  an  office  of  the  gods  to  venge  it, 
Not  mine  to  fpeak  on't. 

Imo.  You  do  feem  to  knovv 

Something 


aoS  CYMBELINE. 

Something  of  me,  or  what  concerns  me ;  Pray  yotij 
(Since  doubting  things  go  ill,  often  hurts  more 
Than  to  be  fure  they  do  :  For  certainties 
Either  are  paft  remedies ;  or,  }  timely  knowing, 
The  remedy  then  born)  difcover  to  me 
4  What  both  you  fpur  and  flop. 

lack.  Had  I  this  cheek 

To  bathe  my  lips  upon  ;  this  hand,  whofe  touch 
Whofe  every  touch,  would  force  the  feeler's  foul 
To  the  oath  of  loyalty  ;  this  objedl,  which 
Takes  prifoner  the  wild  motion  of  mine  eye, 
Fixing  it  only  here  :  Ihould  I  (damn'd  then) 
Slaver  with  lips  as  common  as  the  flairs s 
That  mount  the  Capitol ;  6join  gripes  with  hands 
Made  hard  with  hourly  falfhood  (falfhood,  as 
With  labour)  then  lie  peeping  in  an  eye, 

Bafe 

3  .  timely  knowing,]     Rather  timely  k?iown.     JOHNSON. 

*  What  both  you  fpur  and  Jlop]     What  it  is  that  at  once  incites 
you  to  fpeak,  and  retrains  you  from  it.     JOHNSON. 

WTsat  loth  you  fpur  and  flop.]  I  think  Imogen  means  to  en- 
quire what  is  that  news,  that  intelligence,  or  information,  you 
profefs  to  bring,  and  yet  with-hold  :  at  leaft  I  think  Dr.  Johnfon's 
explanation  a  miitaken  one,  for  Imogen's  requeft  fuppoies  lachi- 
mo  an  agent,  not  a  patient.  Sir  J.  HAWKINS. 

I  think  my  explanation  true.     JOHNSON. 

*  --as  common  as  the  flairs 

That  mount  the  Capitol-,——  ]     Shakefpeare  has  beftowed  fome 
ornament  on  the  proverbial  phraie  "  as  common  as  the  high-way." 

STEEVENS. 

*  —»—join  gripes  ivith  bands,  &c.]  The  old  edition  reads 

..     ..      join  gripes  with  hands 

Made  hard  with  hourly  falfhood  ((falfl:ood  as 

With  labour)  then  by  peeping  in  an  eye,  &c. 

I  read, 

then  lye  peeping  . 

The  author  of  the  prefent  regulation  of  the  text  I  do  not  know, 

but   have  fuffered  it   to   ftand,  though  not  right.     Hard  with 
faljbood  is,  hard  by  being  often  griped  with  frequent  change  of 

hands.    JOHNSON. 

-          —  join  gripes  with  hands 
Made  hourly  hard  by  fa{fh»ody  as  by  labour  ; 
Then  glad  nyfelf  with  peeping  in  an  eye^\  Mr.  Rowe  firft 

regu- 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  *o$ 

Bafe  and  unluftrous  as  the  fmoky  light 
That's  fed  with  ftinking  tallow  ;  it  were  fit, 
That  all  the  plagues  of  hell  fhould  a;  one  time 
Encounter  fuch  revolt. 

Imo.  My  lord,  I  fear, 
Has  forgot  Britain. 

lacb.  And  himfelf.     Not  I, 
Inclined  to  this  intelligence,  pronounce 
The  beggary  of  his  change  ;  but  'tis  your  graces 
That,  from  my  muteft  confciencej  to  my  tongue, 
Charms  this  report  out. 

Imo.  Let  me  hear  no  more. 

lack.  O  dearcft  foul !  your  caufe  doth  flrike  my 

heart 

With  pity,  that  doth  make  me  fick.       A  lady 
So  fair,  and  faften'd  to  an  empery  ', 
Would  make  the  greatefl  king  double  !  to  be  part-. 

ner'd 
With  tomboys  %  3  hir'd  with  that  felf-exhibition 

'   Which 

regulated  the  paflage  thus,  as  it  has  been  handed  down  by  fuc- 
ceeding  editors  ;  but  the  repetition  which  they  wiflied  to  avoid,  is 
now  reftored,  for  if  it  be  not  abfolute  nonfenle,  why  fhould  we  re- 
fufe  to  follow  the  old  copy  ?  STEEVENS. 

*   to  an  empery,]     Empery  is  a  word  fignifying  fovereigo 

command  ;  now  obfolete.     Shakefpeare  ufes  it  in  another  play  ; 

**  Your  right  of  birth,  your  empty,  your  own." 

STEEVENS. 

*  With  tomboys,]    We  ftill  call  a  mafculine,  a  forward  girl,  a 
tomboy.     So  in  Middleton's  Game  at  Chefs,   1625: 

"  Made  threefcore  year  a  tomboy  t  a  mere  wanton.1* 
Again,  in  Lylly's  Midas,  1592:  ««  If  thou  (hould'ft  rige  upan.d 
down  in  our  jackets,  thou  wouldft  be  thought  a  very  tomboy." 
Again,  in  Lady  Alimony  : 

"  What  humourous  tomboys  be  thefe  ?— — 
*'  The  only  gallant  Mefialinas  of  our  age." 
It  appears,  from  {everal  of  the  old  plays,  that  the  ladies  of 
pleafure,  in  the  time  of  Shakefpeare,  often  went  abroad  in  the; 
habits  of  young  men.  Verftegan,  however,  gives  the  following  ety-r 
mologyoftheword/o»/%.  "Tumbe.  To  dance.  Tumbod,  danced  j 
heeror'wee  yet  call  a  wench  that  fkippeth  or  leapeth  lyke  a  boy,  a 
tomboy  :  our  name  alfb  of  tumbling  cometh  from  hence.'' 

STEEVENS. 
VOL.  IX.  P 


2io  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I   N  E. 

Which  your  own  coffers  yield!  with  difeas'd  ventures, 

That  play  with  all  ;  for  ;;old 

Whicrv  rottennefs  can  Icudaatare !  iuch  boil'd  fluff*, 

As  well  mip^.t  poHbn  poifon  !  Be  reveng'd; 

Or  fne,  that  bcr:  yot\  \vus  no  queen,   and  you 

Recoil  from  VCK,  g  ...  iiock. 

Imo.  Keveng'd  ! 

How  fhouU  I  be  reveng'd  ?  If  this  be  true, 
(As  I  have  fuch  a  heart,  that  both  mine  ears 
A'uft  not  in  hafte  abufc)  if  it  be  true, 
Ko\v  ihould  I  be  reveng'd  ?    . 

lack.  Should  he  make  me 
Live  like  Diana's  prieft,  betwixt  cold  fheets  ; 
Whiles  he  is  vaulting  variable  ramps, 
In  your  defpight,  upon  your  purfe  ?  Revenge  it. 
I  dedicate  myfelf  to  yourfweet  pleafure  ; 
More  noble  than  that  runagate  to  your  bed 
And  will  continue  fait  to  your  affection, 
Still  clofe,  as  lure. 

Imo.  What  ho,  Pifanio  ! 

lack.  Let  me  my  fervice  tender  on  your  lips  4. 

Imo.  Away  ! — I  do  condemn  mine  ears,  that  have 
So  long  attended  thee. — If  thou  wert  honourable, 
Thou  would'ft  have  told  this  tale  for  virtue,  not 
For  fuch  an  end  thou  feek'ft  ;  as  bafe,  as  ftrange. 
Thou  wrong'it  a  gentleman,  who  is  as  far 
From  thy  report,  as  thou  from  honour  ;  and 
£olicit'ft  here  a  lady,  that  difdains 
Thee  and  the  devil  alike  : — What,  ho,  Pifanio  ! — 

3  — —  hir'diviib  that  felf-exbibition}     Grfifsf.rumpet^   hired 
with  the  very  pcnjion  which  you  allow  your  huikmd.     JOHNSON. 

*  fuch  boil'd  ftuff,  ]    bo  in  the  Old  Law  by  Maffinger  : 

"  \oo\i  parboil' <t, 

*4  As  if  they  came  from  Cupid's  fcalding-houfe." 

STEEVE.VS. 

*  Ltt  me  ny  Service  tender  on  your  fifi.]     Perhaps  this  is  an  allu- 
fion  to  the  ancient  cuftom  of  fwtaring  iervants  into  noble  families. 
So  in  Caltha  Pottarum,  &c.   1599  : 

'* fhc  fkvcan  him  to  his  good  abear'mg, 

•'  Whilil  her  faire  fweet  lips  wer«  the  books  of  fwearing." 

STEEVENS. 

The 


CYMBELIN.E.  211 

The  king  my  father  fhall  be  made  acquainted 
Of  thy  atfault :  if  he  Ihall  think  it  fit, 
A  faucy  ftranger,  in  his  court,  to  mart 
5  As  in  a  Romilh  ftew,  and  to  expound 
His  beaftly  mind  to  us  ;  he  hath  a  court 
He  little  cares  for,  and  a  daughter  whom 
He  not  refpects  at  all. XVhat  ho,  Pifanio  ! 

lack.  O  happy   Leonatus  !  I  may  fay  ; 
The  credit,  that  thy  lady  hath  of  thee, 
Deferves  thy  truft  ;  and  thy  moft  perfect  goodnefs 
Her  affur'd  credit  ! — BlefTed  live  you  long ! 
A  lady  to  the  worthieft  fir,  that  ever 
Country  call'd  his  !  and  you  his  miftrefs,  only 
For  the  moft  worthieft  fit !  Give  me  your  pardon. 
I  have  fpoke  this,  to  knb'.v  if  your  affiance 
Were  deeply  rooted  ;  and  fhall  make  your  lord, 
That  which  he  is,  new  o'er  :   And  he  is  one 
The  trueft  mannerd  ;  fuch  a  holy  witch, 
That  he  enchants  focieties  unto  him  : 
Half  all  men's  hearts  are  his. 

Imo.  You  make  amends. 

lack.  He  fits  'mongft  men,  like  a  dcfcended  god  : 
He  hath  a  kind  of  honour  fets  him  off, 
More  than  a  mortal  feeming.     Be  not  angry, 
Moll  mighty  princefs,  that  I  have  advcntur'd 
To  try  your  taking  of  a  falfe  report  -,  which  hath 

5  As  in  a  Rom'tjh  JTCW, — ]  The  ftews  of  Rome  are  defervedly 
cenfured  by  the  reformed.  This '  is  one  of  many  inftances  in 
which  Shakefpeare  has  mingled  the  manners  of  difbmt  ages  in 
this  play.  JOHN-SOX. 

Romijb  was  in  the  time  of  Shakefpeare  ufed  inflead  of  Rowan* 
There  were  ftews  at  Rome  in  the  time  of  Auguftus.  The  fume 
phrafe  occurs  in  Claudius  Tiberius  Nero,  1607: 

"   my  mother  deem'd  me  chung'd, 

**  Poor  woman !  in  the  loathfome^^OT/,^  ftewes :" 
and  the  author  of  this  piece  appears  to  have   been   a  fcholar. 
Again  in  IPltin  a  ConftaUc,  by  Glapthorne,  1640  : 

"  A  RomiJI}  cirque,  or  Grecian  hippodrome." 
Again  in  Tho.  Drant's  tranllation  of  the  firft  epiitleof  the  fecond 
book  of  Horace,  1567  : 

"  The  Romijhe  people  wife  in  this,  in  this  point  only  juft." 

STEEVEXS. 

P  z  Ho- 


2i±  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E. 

Honoured  with  confirmation  your  great  judgment 
In  the  election  of  a  fir  fo  rare, 
Which  you  know,  cannot  err  :  The  love  I  bear  him 
Made  me  to  fan  you  thus ;  but  the  gods  made  you, 
Unlike  all  others,  chafflefs.     Pray,  your  pardon. 

Imo.  All's  well,  fir  :  Take  my  power  i'  the  court 
for  yours. 

Jack.  My  humble  thanks.     I  had  almoft  forgot 
To  intreat  your  grace  but  in  a  fmall  requeft, 
And  yet  of  moment  too,  for  it  concerns 
Your  lord  ;  myfelf,  and  other  noble  friends, 
Are  partners  in  the  bufinefs. 

Imo.  Pray,  what  is't  ? 

lack.  Some  dozen  Romans  of  us,  and  your  lord, 
(The  beft  feather  of  our  wing)  have  mingled  fums, 
To  buy  a  prefent  for  the  emperor ; 
Which  I,  the  factor  for  the  reft,  have  done 
In  France  :  'Tis  plate,  of  rare  device ;  and  jewels, 
Of  rich  and  exquifite  form  ;  their  values  great ; 
And  I  am  fomething  curious,  6  being  ftrangc, 
To  have  them  in  fafe  ftowage  ;  May  it  plcafe  you 
To  take  them  in  protection  ? 

Imo.  Willingly  ; 

And  pawn  mine  honour  for  their  fafcty  :  fince 
My  lord  hath  intereft  in  them,  I  will  keep  them 
In  my  bed-chamber. 

loch.  They  are  in  a  trunk, 
Attended  by  my  men  :  I  will  make  bold 
To  fend  them  to  you,  only  for  this  night  ; 
I  muft  aboard  to-morrow. 
,     Imo.  O,  no,  no. 

lack.  Yes,  I  befeech  ;  or  I  lhall  ihort  my  word, 
By  lengthening  my  return.     From  Gallia 
I  crofs'd  the  feas  on  purpofe,  and  on  promife 
To  fee  your  grace. 

Imo.  I  thank  you  for  your  pains  ; 
•But  not  away  to-morrow  ? 

lach.  O,  I  muft,  madam : 

*  — fai*g pranged    i.  c.  being  a  firar.ger.    STEETENS. 

There- 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  213 

Therefore  I  fhall  befeech  you,  if  you  pleafe 
To  greet  your  lord  with  writing,  do't  to-night : 
I  have  out-ftood  my  time  ;  which  is  material 
To  the  tender  of  our  prefent. 

Imo.  I  will  write. 

Send  your  trunk  to  me  ;  it  mail  fafe  be  kept, 
And  truly  yielded  you  :  You  are  very  welcome. 

[Exewit. 


A  C  T     II.       S  C  E  N  E     I. 

Cymbelinis  palace. 
Enter  Chten,  and  two  Lords. 

Clot.  Was  there  ever  man  had  fuch  luck  !  when  I 
7  kifs'd  the  jack  upon  an  up-caft,  to  be  hit  away  ! 
I  had  a  hundred  pound  on't  :  And  then  a  whore- 
fon  jackanapes  muft  take  me  up  for  fvvearing  ;  as 
if  I  borrow'd  my  oaths  of  him,  and  might  not  fpend 
them  at  my  pleafure. 

1  Lord.  What  got  he  by  that  ?  You  have  broke 
his  pate  with  your  bowl. 

2  Lord.  If  his  wit  had  been  like  him  that  broke  it, 
it  would  have  run  all  out.  [A/ldc. 

7  •  kifi  V  the  jack  vpon  an  ttp-caft, ]     He  is  defcribing 

his  fate  at  bowls.  The  jack  is  the  fmall  bowl  at  which  the  others 
are  aimed.  He  who  is  neareft  to  it  wins.  To  kifi  the  jack  is  a  ftate 
of  great  advantage.  JOHNSON. 

This  exprefiion  frequently  occurs  in  the  old  comedies.    So,  in 
A  Woman  never  vtx'<i\  by  Rowley,    1632  : 

"  This  ciry  bowler  has  lift 43*  miftrefs  at  the  firft  <•«,£." 

STESVENS. 


Clot. 


C  Y  M   B  E  L  I   N  E. 

Clot.  When  a  gentleman  is  difpos'd  to  fwear,  it  is 
not  for  any  ftanders-by  to  curtail  his  oaths  :  Ha? 

2  Lord.  8  No,  my  lord;  nor  crop  the  ears  of  them. 

[Afide. 

Clot.  Whorefon  dpg  !— <•!  give  him  fatisfaction  ? 
'Would,  he  'had  been  one  of  my  rank  ! 

2  Lord.  To  have  fmclt  like  a  fool.  [A/ide. 

Clot.  I  am  not  vex'd  more  at  any  thing  in  the  earth, 
— A  pox on't !  I  had  rather  not  be  fo  noble  as  I  am; 
they  dare  not  fight  with  me,  becauie  of  the  queen  my 
mother  :  every  jack-Have  hath  his  belly  full  of  fight- 
ing, and  I  muft  go  up  and  down  Jike  a  pock  that  no 
body  can  match. 

2  Lord.  You  are  a  cock  and  a  capon  too ;  and  you 
crow,  cock,  9  with  your  comb  on.  \_Afulc. 

Clot.  Sayeft  thou  ? 

1  Lord.  It  is  not  fit,  your  lordfhip  mould  undertake 
T  every  companion  that  you  give  offence  to. 

!    Clot.  No,  I  know  that :  but  it  is  fit,  I  fliould  com- 
mit offence  to  my  inferiors. 

2  Lord.  Ay,  it  is  fit  for  your  lordfhip  only. 
Clot.  Why,'  fo  I  fay. 

1  Lord.  Did  you  hear  of  a  flrangcr,  that's  come  to 
court  to-night  ? 

'    Clot.   A  ftranger  !  and  I  not  know  on't ! 

2  Lord.  He's  a  flrange  fellow  himfclf,  and  knows 
it  nor.  [Afide, 

i  Lnrd.  There's  an  Italian  come;  and,  'tis  thought, 
one  of  Lconatus*  friends. 

Clot.  Lconatus !  abanifh'd  rafcal ;  and  he's  another, 
whatfoever  he  be,  Who  told  you  of  this  Granger? 

8  No,  my  lord ;  &c.  J     This,  I  believe,  ftiould  ftund  thus  : 

1  LorJ.  No,  roy  lord. 

2  Lord.    Nor  crop  the  ears  of  them.    \_Ajide.     JOHNSON. 
9 ~~vit/j  your  comb  on.~\     The  allulion  is  to  a  tool's  cap, 

V/hich  hath  a  comb  like  a  cock's.    JOHNSON. 

*  •  '•> every  companion  —  ]  The  ufe  of  companion  \vas  the  fame 
gs  titfello-jv  novv.  It  was  a  word  of  contempt.  JOHNSON. 

I  Lord, 


C   Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  215 

i  Lord.  One  of  your  lordfliip's  pages. 
Clot.  Is  it  fit,  I  went  to  look  upon  him  ?  Is  there 
no  derogation  in't  ? 

1  Lord.  You  cannot  derogate,  my  lord. 
Clot.  Not  eafily,  I  think. 

2  Lord.  You  arc  a  fool  granted  ;  therefore  your 
ifl'ues  being  foolifh,  do  not  derogate.  \_Ajide. 

Clot.  Come,  I'll  go  fee  this  Italian  :  What  I  have 
loft  to-day  at  bowls,  I'll  win  to-night  of  him.  Come, 

g°- 

2  Lord.  I'll  attend  your  lordlhip. 

[Exeunt  Cloten,  andfirft  Lord* 
That  fuch  a  crafty  devil  as  his  mother 
Should  yield  the  world  this  afs  !  a  woman,  that 
Bears  all  down  with  her  brain  ;  and  this  her  fon 
Cannot  take  two  from  twenty  for  his  heart, 
And  leave  eighteen.     Alas,  poor  princefs, 
Thou  divine  Imogen,  what  thou  endur'ft  ! 
Betwixt  a  father  by  thy  ftep-damc  govern'd  ; 
A  mother  hourly  coining  plots ;  a  wooer, 
More  hateful  than  the  foul  expulfion  is 
Of  thy  dear  hufband,  than  that  horrid  a<ft 
Of  the  divorce  *  he'd  make  !  The  heavens  hold  firm 
The  walls  of  thy  dear  honour ;  keep  unfhak'd 
That  temple,  thy  fair  mind  ;  that  thou  may'ft  ftand, 
To  enjoy  thybanilh'd  lord,  and  this  great  land  ! 

[.- 
SCENE     II. 

A  Bed-chamber  ;  in  one  part  of  it  a  'Trunk. 
Imogen  reading'  in  her  bed ;  a  lady  attending, 

Imo.  Who's  there?  my  woman  Helen? 
Lady.  Pleafe  you,  madam. 

*  ——he'd  make  ! ]     In  the  old  editions  ; 

hee'ld  make  ! 

Hanmcr, 

hell  made.—— 

Jn  which  he  is  lollowed  by  Dr.  Warburton.    JOHNSON. 


ii6  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Into.  What  hour  is  it  ? 

Lady.  Almoft  midnight,  madam. 

fmo.  I  have  read  three  hours  then  :  mine  eyes  are 

weak  : — 

Fold  down  the  leaf  where  I  have  left :  To  bed  : 
Take  not  away  the  taper,  leave  it  burning  ; 
And  if  thou  canft  awake  by  four  o'the  clock, 
Ipf'ythee,  call  me.     Sleep  hath  feiz'd  me  wholly. 

[Exit  lady. 

To  ybur  prote&ion  I  commend  me,  gods  ! 
$Yom  fairies3,  and  the  tempters  of  the  night, 
Guard  me,  befeech  ye  !  [Sleeps. 

\Iacloimo\  from  the  trunk, 
lack.  The  crickets  fing,  and  man's   o'er-labour'd 

fenfe 

Repairs  itfelf  by  reft  :  *  Our  Tarquin  thus 
*  Did  foftly  prefs  the  rufhes,  ere  he  waken'd 

*  Front  fair.:cs,  &c.]     In  Macbeth  is  a  prayer  like  this  : 
Reftrain  in  me  the  curfed  thoughts  that  nature 
Gives  way  to  in  repofe  !     Sf EEVEXS. 

4  •  our  Tarquin ]     The  fpeaker  is  an  Italian. 

JOHNSON. 

4  Did  foftly  prefs  //^rufhes, ]     It  was  the  cuftom   in   the 

time  of  our  author  to  ftrew  chambers  with  ruflies,  as  \ve  now  cover 
them  with  carpets.  The  practice  is  mentioned  in  Caius  Je  Ephe- 
tnera  Britannica.  JOHNSON. 

So,  \r\Ardinof 'Fever/bam^   1^92: 

"  his  blood  remains. 

"  Why  ftrew  rujhes." 
Again  : 

«*  For  in  his  flip*d  (hoe  I  did  find  fome  rujbcs.* 
Again,  in  BuJTy  D'Amboh^  1641  : 

u   Were  not  the  king  here,  he  (hould  ftrew  the  chamber  like  a 
¥*Jb." 

Shakefpeare  has  the  fame  circumftance  in  his  Rape  of  Lucrecc : 

4c  by  the  light  he  fpies 

"  Lucretia's  glove  wherein  her  needle  fticks  ; 
««  He  takes  it  from  the  rujbcs  where  it  lies,"  &c. 
*f  he  Ancient  Englifh  l>age,  as  appears  from  more  than  one  paflage 
in    Decker's   Gut's  Hornbook,     1609,    was    ftrewn    with    rujhet: 
"   —  Salute  ail  your  gentle  acquaintance  that  are  fpred  either  on 
tVie  i-ujbes  or  on  ftooles  about  you,  and  drawe  what  iroope  you  cau 
from  thej?rrr  alter  you*"    STEEVENS. 

The 


CYMBELINE.  217 

Thechaftity  he  wounded.-— Cytherea, 
How  bravely  thou  becom'ft  thy  bed !  frefh  Hlly  ! 
And  \vhiter  than  the  (heets  !  That  I  might  touch  ! 
But  kifs ;  one  kifs ! — Rubies  unparagon'd, 
How  dearly  they  do't  ! — 'Tis  her  breathing  that 
Perfumes  the  chamber  thus  :  The  flame  o'  the  taper 
Bows  toward  her ;  and  would  under-peep  her  lids, 
To  fee  the  inclofed  lights,  now  canopy'd6 
Under  thefe  windows  :  7  White  and  azure  !  lac'd 
With  blue  of  heaven's  own  tincr.. — But  my  defign  ? 

To  note  the  chamber  : — 1  will  write  all  down  : 

Such,  and  luch  pictures  ; — There  the  window :— - 

Such 

The  adornment  of  her  bed  ; — The  arras,  figures  ? 
Why,  fuch,  and  fuch  :  — And  the  contents   o'  the 

{lory,— 

Ah,  but  fome  natural  notes  about  her  body, 
(Above  ten  rhoufand  meaner  moveables 
Would  teftify)  to  enrich  mine  inventory. 
O  fleep,  thou  ape  of  death,  lie  dull  upon  her  ! 
And  be  her  fenle  but  as  a  monument, 

Thus  in  a  chapel  lying  !— Come  off,  come  off; — 

[Taking  off  her  bracelet. 

As  flippery,  as  the  Gordian  knot  was  hard  ! — 
'Tis  mine ;  and  this  will  witnefs  outwardly, 
As  ftrongly  as  the  confcience  does  within, 
To  the  madding  of  her  lord.     On  her  left  breaft 

* Ho-iv  cantyy*  d\    Shakefpeare  has  the  fame  expreffion  in 

ucrece : 

'*  Her  eyes,  like  marigolds,  had  iheath'd  their  light, 
"  And  canopy1  d  in  darknefs  fweetly  lay, 
"  'Till  they  might  open  to  adorn  the  day."     MALONE. 

7  • -ivbite  and  azure  !  lac'd- 

With  blue  of  heavens  own  tintf. ]      We  fhould  read  : 

white  with  azure  lac'd, 

The  blue  of  heaven's  own  tindt. — ]     i.e.  the  white  ikin 
laced  -.vith  blue  reim.    WAR  BUR  TON. 

A  mole 


2iS  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

A  mole  cinque-fpotted,  8  like  the  crimfon  drops 
I'  the  bottom  of  a  cowflip  :  Here's  a  voucher, 
Stronger  than  ever  law  could  make  :  this  fecret 
Will  force  him  think  I  have  pick'd  the  lock,  and 

ta'en 
The  treafure  of  her  honour.     No  more. — To  what 

end? 

Why  fliould  I  write  this  down,  that's  riveted, 
Screw'd  to  my  memory?  She  hath  been  reading  late, 
The  tale  of  Tereus  ;  here  the  leafs  turn'd  down, 

Where  Philomel  gave  up 1  have  enough  : 

To  the  trunk  again,  and  fhu.t  the  fpring  of  it. 
Swift,    fwift,    9  you  dragons  of  the  night !   '  that 

dawning 

May 

8  •-   '  '  like  the  crimfon  Uropi 

I*  the  bottom  of  a  cowjlip  .-— —  ]  This  fimile  contains  the 
finalleft  out  of  a  thoufand  proofs  that  Shakefpeare  was  a  moll  accu- 
rate obferver  of  nature.  S  T  E  E  v  E  N  s . 

9 -you  dragons  of  the  night ! ]    The  talk  of  drawing  the 

chariot  of  night  was  atfigned  to  dragons,  on  account  of  their  fup- 
pofed  watch fulnefs.  Mikon  mentions  the  dragon  yoke  of  night  in 
//  Pcnfcrofo  ;  and  in  his  Mafquc  at  L.vdlo'W  Caftlc  :  *'  the  dragon 
ivenilf  of Stygian  darknefs."  It  may  be  remarked  that  the  whole 
tribe  of  ferpents  lleep  with  their  eyes  open,  and  therefore  appear 
to  exert  a  conttant  vigilance.  STEEVEKS. 

* that  daivning 

J/ity  bear  the  raven's  eye : ]     Some  copies   read   barry  or 

mctkt  bare ;  others  ope.  But  the  true  reading  Is  tear,  a  term 
taken  from  heraldry,  and  very  fublimely  applied.  The  meaning 
is,  that  morning  may  aflume  the  colour  of  the  raven's  eye,  which 
is  %rcy.  Hence  it  is  fo  commonly  called  the  grey-ey'tl  morning, 
And  Romeo  and  Juliet : 

"  I'll  fay  yon  grey  is  not  the  morning's  rjv." 
Had  Shnkefpeare  weant  to  bare  or  open  the  eye,  that  is,  to  awake, 
he-had  inftanced  rnther  in  the  l.irk  than  raven,  as  the  curlier  riler. 
Befides,  whether  the  morning  bared  or  qtawof  the  raven's  eye  was 
of  no  advantage  to  the  fpcaker,  but  it  was  of  much  advantage  that 
it  fnould  bear  it,  that  is,  become  light.  Yet  the  Oxford  editor 
•  jydiciotifly  alters  it  to  : 

May  bare  its  raven-.eye.— —     WARBURTOK. 

1  have  received  Hanmer's  emendation.     JOHNSON. 


CYMBELINE.  219 

?Vlay  bare  the  raven's  eye  :  I  lodge  in  fear  ; 
Though  this  a  heavenly  angel,  hell  is  here. 

\_Ckck  Jlrikcs. 
One,  two,  three  : — Time,  time  ! 

[Gees  into  the  trunk :  the  fcenc  clofes. 

SCENE        III. 

.Another  room  In  the  palace. 
Enter  Cloten,  and  Lords. 

I  Lord.  Your  lordfhip  is  the  moft  patient  man  in 
lofs,  the  moll  coldeft  that  ever  turn'd  up  ace. 

Clot.  It  would  make  any  man  cold  tolofe. 

I  Lord.  But  not  every  man  patient,  after  the  noble 
temper  of  your  Igrdfhip ;  You  are  moft  hot,  and  fu- 
rious, when  you  win. 

Clot.  Winning  will  put  any  man  into  courage  :  If 
J  could  get  this  fooliih  Imogen,  I  Ihould  have  gold 
enough  :  It's  almoft  morning,  is't  not  ? 

i  Lord.  Day,  my  lord. 

Clot.  I  would  this  mufic  would  come :  I  am  ad- 
.vis'd  to  give  her  mufic  o'  mornings ;  they  fay,  it  will 
penetrate. 

Enter  Mufictans, 

Come  on ;  tune  :  If  you  can  penetrate  her  with  your 
fingering,  fo ;  we'll  try  with  tongue  too  :  if  none  will 
do,  let  her  remain  ;  but  I'll  never  give  o'er.  Firft,  a 
very  excellent  good-conceited  thing;  after,  a  wonder- 
ful fweet  air,  with  admirable  rich  words  to  it, — and 
then  let  her  cpnfider. 

•.    •  that  JffUfltiMg 

May  bare  the  raven's  eye ;— — ]  The  old  reading  is  leare.  The 
colour  of  the  raven's  eye  is  not  grty^  but  totally  black.  This  I 
affirm  on  repeated  infpedion  :  therefore  the  poet  means  no  more 
than  that  the  light  might  wake  the  raven  j  or,  as  it  is  poetically 
exprefied,  bare  his  eye.  STEEVENS. 

SONG. 


no  CYMBELINE. 

SONG. 

-  Hark  !  hark  !  the  lark  at  heaven's  gate 

And  Phoebus  'gifts  arife, 
3  His  Jleeds  to  water  at  thofe  fprings 

On  chalicd  flowers  that  lies  ', 

*  Hark!  hark!  the  lark  at  heaven's  gate  Jiitgs,~\  The  fame  hy- 
perbole occurs  in  Milton's  Paradife  Loft,  book  v  : 

"  ye  birds 

"  That  finging  up  to  heaven's  gate  aicend," 
Again,  in  Shakefpeare's  zgth  Sonnet : 

"  Like  to  the  lark  at  break  of  day  ariiing 

*'  From  fallen  earth,  fags  hymns  at  heaven's  gate" 

STEEVENS. 
3  His  Jit  fa's  to  "^atcr  at  thofe  fprings 

On  chalicd  flowers  that  lies  ;]      i.  e.  the  morning  fun  dries 
'•up  the  dew  which  lies  in  the  cups  of  flowers.  '  WARBURTON. 
Hanmer  reads : 

Each  chaliSd  flower  fupplies  ; 

to  efcape  a  falfe  concord  :  but  corrednefs  muft  not  be  obtained  by 
fuch    licentious   alterations.     It  may   be  noted,  that  the  cup  oV 
a  flower  is  called  calix,  whence  chalice.     JOHNSON. 
•  thofe  firings 

On  chr.lic V  flowers  ^that  lies.]  It  mny  be  obferved,  with  regard 
to  this  apparent  falfe  concord,  that  in  very  old  Englilli,  the  third 
perfon  plural  of  the  prefent  tenie  endeth  in  <•//;,  as  well  as  thefin- 
gular ;  and  often  familiarly  in  r,-,  as  might  be  exemplified  from 
Chaucer,  &c.  Nor  was  this  antiquated  idiom  quite  worn  out  in 
our  author's  time,  as  appears  from  the  following  paflage  in  Rome» 
and  Juliet  : 

And  cakes  the  elf-locks  in  foul  fluttifh  hairs, 
Which  once  untangled,  much  misfortune  bodes  : 
as  well  as  from  many  others  in  the  Rcliquesof  ancient  Engtijb  Poetry. 

PERCY. 

Dr.  Percy  might  have  added,  that  the  third  perfon  plural  of  the 
Jtnglo-Saxon  prefent  tenfe  ended  in  eth^  and  ot  the  Dano-Saxon  in 
rf,  which  feems  to  be  the  original  of  fuch  very  ancient  Englifli 
idioms.  TOLLET. 

Shakefpeare  frequently  offends  in  this  manner  againft  the  rulei 
of  grammar.  So,  in  Venus  and  Jlttoais : 

44  She  lifts  the  coffer  lids  that  clofe  his  eyes, 
"  Where  lo,  tvjo  lamps^  burnt  out,  in  darknefs  lies." 

STEEVENS. 

And 


CYMBELINE.  221 

And  winking  Mary-buds  begin 

70  ope  their  golden  eyes  ; 
IVitb  every  thing  that  ''pretty  bin  : 

My  lady  fweet,  anfe  ; 
anfe. 


So,  get  you  gone  :  If  this  penetrate,  I  will  confidcr  * 
your  mufic  the  better  :  if  it  do  not,  it  is  a  vice  in 
her  ears,  which  horfe-hairs,  and  cats-guts  6,  nor  the 
voice  of  unpaved  eunuch  to  boot,  can  never  amend. 

[Exeunt  Mufidam* 

Enter  Cymbeline,  and  §>ueeti. 

2  Lord.  Here  comes  the  king. 

Clot.  I  am  glad,  I  was  up  fo  late  ;  for  that's  the 
reafon  I  was  up  fo  early  :  He  cannot  choofe  but  take 
this  fervice  I  have  done,  fatherly.  --  Good  morrow 
to  your  majefty,  and  to  my  gracious  mother. 

Cym.  Attend  you  here    the    door  of    our   ftern 

daughter  ? 
Will  ihe  not  forth  ? 

*  --  pretty  bin,]  is  very  properly  reflored  by  Hanmer,  for 
pretty  is  :  but  he  too  grammatically  reads  ; 

With  all  the  things  that  pretty  bin.     JOHNSON. 
So,  in  Spenfer's  Faery  tyeen,  book  i.  c.  i. 
xt  That  which  of  them  to  take,  in  diverfe  doubt  they  been" 
Again,  in  The  Arraignment  of  Par  -is  ,  1584: 
*'  Sir,  you  may  bosft  your  fiockes  and  herdes,  that  bin  both 

frefh  and  fair." 
Again  —  "  As  frefh  as  bin  the  flowers  in  May."    Again, 

"  Oenone,  while  we  bin  clifpofed  to  walk." 
Kirkman  afcribes  this  piece  to  Shakefpeare.     STEEVENS. 

5  --  /  ci'//7  confider  your  mvjic  the  better:  --  ]     i.  e.  I  will 
pay  you  more  amply  for  it.     So,  in  the  Winter's  Tale,  aft  IV  : 

"  --  being  Cometh  ing  gently  conf.der'd,  I'll  bring  you,  &c." 

STEEVENS. 

6  •  —  —cats-guts,  ••  •  ]     The  old  copy  reads—  —  calves-guts. 

STEEVEN-S. 

Cki. 


222  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Clof.  I  have  aflail'd  her  with  mufics,  but  fhe  vouch* 
fafes  no  notice. 

Gym.  The  exile  of  her  minion  is  too  new ; 
She  hath  not  yet  forgot  him  :  fomc  more  time 
Mult  wear  the  print  of  his  remembrance  out, 
And  then  ihe's  yours. 

^ucen.  You 'are  moft  bound  to  the  king; 
Who  lets  go  by  no  vantages,  that  may 
Prefer  you  to  his  daughter  :  Frame  yourfelf 
To  orderly  folicits 7 ;  and  be  friended 
With  aptnefs  of  the  feafon  :  make  denials 
Encreafe  your  fervices  :  fo  feem,  as  if 
You  were  infpir'd  to  do  thofe  duties  which 
You  tender  to  her  ;  that  you  in  all  obey  her, 
Save  when  command  to  your  difmiffion  tends, 
And  therein  you  are  fenfelefs. 

Clot.  Senfelefs  ?  not  fo. 

Enter  a  Meffcngcr. 

Mef.  So  like  you,  fir,  ambafladors  from  Rome  ; 
The  one  is  Caius  Lucius. 

Cym.  A  worthy  fellow, 
Albeit  he  comes  on  angry  purpofe  now  ; 
But  that's  no  fault  of  his :  We  muft  receive  him 
According  to  the  honour  of  his  fender ; 
And  towards  himfelf,  8  his  goodnefs  forefpent  on  us, 
We  muft  extend  our  notice. — Our  dear  fon, 
When  you  have  given  good  morning  to  your  miflrcfs, 
Attend  the  queen,  and  us ;  we  {hall  have  need 
To  employ  you  towards  this  Roman. — Come,  our 
queen.  [Exeunt. 

Clot.  If  fhe  be  up,  I'll  fpeak  with  her  ;  if  not, 

7  To  orderly  folicits ; ]  i.  e.  regular  courtfhip,  courtfliip 

after  the  eftablifhed  fafhion.  STEEVENS. 

8 bis  goodnefs  forefpent  on  «;,]  i.  e.  The  good  offices  done 

by  him  to  us  heretofore.  WARBURTON. 

Let 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I   N  £.  22- 

Let  her  lie  dill,  and  dream. — By  your  leave,  ho  ! — 

[Knocks. 

I  know  her  women  are  about  her  ;  Wljat 
If  I  do  line  one  of  their  hands  ?     'Tis  gold 
Which  buys  admittance  ;  oft  it  doth  ;  yea,  and  make* 
Diana's  rangers  falle  themfelvcs9,  yield  up 
Their  deer  to  the  Hand  o*  the  dealer :  and  'tis  gold 
Which  makes  the  true  man  kill'd,  and  faves  the  thief; 
Nay,  Ibmetime,  hangs  both  thief  and  true  man:  What 
Can  it  not  do,  and  undo  ?     I  will  make 
One  of  her  women  lawyer  to  me  ;  for 
I  yet  not  underftand  the  cafe  myfelf. 
By  your  leave.  [Knocks. 

Enter  a  Lady. 

Lady.  Who's  there,  that  knocks  ? 

Clot.  A  gentleman. 

Lady.  No  more  ? 

Clot.  Yes,  and  a  gentlewoman's  fon. 

Lady.  That's  more 

Than  fome,  whofe  taylors  are  as  dear  as  yours, 
Can  juftly  boaft  of :  What's  your  lordfhip's  pleafure  ? 

Clot.  Your  lady's  perfon  :  Is  file  ready  ? 

Lady.  Ay,  to  keep  her  chamber. 

Clot.  There's  gold  for  you;  fell  me  your  good 
report. 

Lady.  How  !  my  good  name  ?  or  to  report  of  you 
What  I  lhall  think  is  good  ? — The  princefs 

Enter  Imogen. 

Cot.  Good-morrow,    fairefl    fitter :    Your   fweet 
hand. 

9 falfe  t£tn^rfo«rf-*-T>~]    Perhaps,  in  this  inftance,  falfi 

is  not  an  adjctfivc,  but  a  verb  ;  and  as  fuch  I  think  is  ufed  in 
another  of  our  author's  plays.     Spenfcr  often  has  it : 

"  Thou  Jalfed  haft  thy  faith  with  perjury."    STEEVENS. 


£24  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

,    Imo.  Good-morrow,  fir :  You  lay  out  too  much 

pains 

For  purchafing  but  trouble  :  the  thanks  I  give, 
Is  telling  you  that  I  am  poor  of  thanks, 
And  fcarce  can  fpare  them. 

Clot.  Still,  I  fwear,  I  love  you. 

Imo.  If  you  but  faid  fo,  'twere  as  deep  with  me  : 
If  you  fwear  ftill,  your  recompence  is  ftill 
That  I  regard  it  not. 

Clot.  This  is  no  anfwer. 

Imo.  But  that  you  lhall   not   fay  I  yield,  being 

filent, 

I  would  not  fpeak.     I  pray  you,  fpare  me  :  faith, 
I  lhall  unfold  equal  difcourtefy 
To  your  beft  kindnefs :  'one  of  your  great  knowing 
Should  learn,  being  taught,  forbearance. 

Clot.  *  To  leave  you  in  your  madncfs,  'twere  my  fin : 
I  will  not. 

Imn. 

* one  of  your  great  knowing 

Should  learn,  being  taught,  forbearance,]     \.  e.     A   man  ruAtf 
is  taught  forlearance  Jbould  learn  It.     JOHNSON. 
1  To  leave  you  in  year  madnefs,  'twere  viy  Jin. 
I  will  not. 

Imo.  Fools  are  not  mad  folks. 

Clot.  Do  you  call  me  fool? 

Imo.  As  I  am  mad,  I  do:~\  But  does  (he  really  call  him 
fool  ?  The  acuteft  critic  would  be  puzzled  to  find  it  out,  as  the 
text  ftands.  The  reafoning  is  perplexed  by  a  flight  corruption, 
and  we  muft  reftore  it  thus  : 

Fools  cure  not  mad  folks. 

You  are  mad,  lays,  he,  and  it  would  be  a  crime  in  me  to  leave  you 
to  yourfelf.  Nay,  fays  fhe,  why  fhould  you  ftay  ?  A  fool  never 
cured  madnefs.  Do  you  call  me  fool  ?  replies  he,  &c.  All  this 
is  eafy  and  natural.  And  that  cure  was  certainly  the  poet's  word, 
J  think  is  very  evident  from  what  Imogen  immediately  fub- 
joins  : 

If  you'll  be  patient,  I'll  no  more  be  mad  ; 

That  cures  us  both. 

i.  e.  If  you'll  ceafe  to  torture  me  with  your  foolifti  felicitations, 
I'll  ceafe  to  (hew  towards  you  any  thing  like  madnefs;  fo  a  dou- 
ble cure  will  be  effected  of  your  tolly,  ujvi  my  fuppofed  frenzy. 

WAiBURTON. 

Fools 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  ft  E.  2*5 

Imo.  Fools  are  not  mad  folks. 

Clot.  Do  you  call  me  fool  ? 

Imo.  As  I  am  mad,  I  do  : 
If  you'll  be  patient,  I'll  no  more  be  mad; 
That  cures  us  both.     I  am  much  forry,  fir, 
You  put  me  to  forget  a  lady's  manners, 
By  being  '  fo  verbal :  and  learn  now$  for  all, 
That  I,  which  know  my  heart,  do  here  pronounce^ 
By  the  very  truth  of  it,  I  care  not  for  you  ; 
And  am  fo  near  the  lack  of  charity, 
(To  accufe  myfelf)  I  hate  yon  :  which  I  had  rather 
You  felt,  than  make't  my  boafl. 

Clot.  Yon  fin  againft 

Obedience,  which  you  owe  your  father.     For 
2  The  contract  you  pretend  with  that  bafe  wretch, 
(One,  bred  of  alms,  and  fofter'd  with  cold  dimes, 
With  fcraps  o'  the  court)  it  is  no  contract,  none  : 
And  though  it  be  allow'd  in  meaner  parties, 
(Yet  who,  than  he,  more  mean  ?)  to  knit  their  fouls 
(On  whom  there  is  no  more  dependency 
But  brats  and  beggary)  J  in  felf-figur'd  knot; 

Yet 

Fools  are  not  mad  folks.'}  This,  as  Gloten  very  well  under- 
ftands  it,  is  a  covert  mode  of  calling  him  fool.  The  meaning  im- 
plied is  this  :  If  I  am  mad,  as  you  tell  me,  I  am  what  you  can 
never  be,  Fools  are  not  mad  folks.  STEEVENS. 

' fo  verbal:—]     Is,  fo    verbofe,  fo    full    of  talk. 

JOHNSON. 

*  The  contrary  &c.]  Here  Shakefpeare  has  not  preferved, 
with  his  common  nicety,  the  uniformity  of  character.  The 
ipcech  of  Cloten  is  rough  and  harfli,  but  certainly  not  the  talk  of 
one, 

Who  can't  take  two  from  twenty,  for  his  heartj 

And  leave  eighteen. 

His  argument  is  juil  and  well  enforced,  and  its  prevalence  is  al- 
lowed throughout  all  civil  nations  :  as  for  rudenels,  he  feems  not 
to  be  much  undermatched.  JOHNSON. 

3  in  felf-figur'd  knot;]    This  is  nonfenfe.      We  fhould 

read  : 

—  felf-finger'd  knot ; 

VOL.  IX.  Q_  i-  «•  A 


n6  CYMBELINE. 

Yet  you  are  curb'd  from  that  enlargement  by 
The  confequence  o'  the  crown  ;  and  muft  not  foil 
The  precious  note  of  it  with  a  bafe  Have, 
A  hilding  for  a  livery,  a  fquire's  cloth, 
A  pantler,  not  fo  eminent. 

Imo.  Prophane  fellow  ! 
\Vert  thou  the  fon  of  Jupiter,  and  no  more, 
But  what  thou  art,  befides,  thou  wert  too  bafe 
To  be  his  groom  :  thou  wert  dignify'd  enough, 
Even  to  the  point  of  envy,  if  'twere  made 
Comparative  for  your  virtues,  to  be  flil'd 
The  under-hangman  of  his  kingdom ;  and  hated 
For  being  preferr'd  fo  well. 

Clot.  The  fouth-fog  rot  him  ! 

Imo.  He  never  can  meet  more  mifchance,than  come 
To  be  but  nam'd  of  thee.     His  meaneft  garment, 
That  ever  hath  but  clip'd  his  body,  is  dearer, 
In  my  refped,  than  all  the  hairs  above  thee, 
Were  they  all  madefuch  men. — 4  How  now,  Pifanio? 

Enter  Pifanio. 

Clot.  His  garment  ?  Now,  the  devil 

Imo.  To  Dorothy  my  woman  hie  thee  prefently  :— 

Clot.  His  garment  ? 

Imo.  I  am  fprightcd  with  a  fool s ; 

5.  e.    A  knot  folely  of  their  own  tying,  without  any  regard  to  pa- 
rents, or  other  mere  public  considerations.     WAR  BURTON. 

But  why  nonfenfe  ?  A  ftlf-fgurtd  knot  is  a  knot  formed  by 
yourlelf.  JOHNSON-. 

*  Were  they  all  madefuch  men. — HO-VJ  now,  Pifanio  ?]      Sir  T. 
Hanmer  regulates  this  line  thus : 
•  all  made  fufh  nun. 

Clot.  How  now  ? 
Imo.  Pifanio!     JOHNSON. 

5  lam  fprighted  lultb  a  fool;}  i.e.  I  am  haunted  by  a  fool, 
as  by  a  f prigbt.  Ovrr-fprighted  is  a  word  that  occurs  in  Laiu- 
triclkf,  &c.  iOo8.  Again  in  our  author's  Antony  and  Cleopatra  : 

Julius  Cafar, 

Who  at  Phi'.ippi  the  ^ood  Brutus ghofied.    STEEVKXS. 

Frighted, 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  227 

Frighted,  and  anger'd  worfe  : — Go,  bid  my  woman 

Search  for  6a  jewel,  that  too  cafually 

Hath  left  mine  arm  ;  it  was  thy  matter's  :  fhrew  me, 

If  I  would  lofe  it  for  a  revenue 

Of  any  king's  in  Europe.     I  do  think, 

I  faw't  this  morning  :  confident  I  am, 

Laft  night  'twas  on  mine  arm  ;  I  kifTcd  it : 

I  hope,  it  be  not  gone,  to  tell  my  lord 

That  I  kifs  aught  but  him. 

PiJ\  'Twill  not  be  loft. 

Imo.  I  hope  fo  :  go,  and  fearch.          [Exit  Pifamo. 

Clot.  You  have  abus'd  me  : 

His  meaneft  garment  ? 

Imo.  Ay  ;  I  faid  fo,  fir  : 
If  you  will  make't  an  action,  call  witnefs  to't. 

Clot.  I  will  inform  your  father. 

Imo.  Your  mother  too  : 

She's  my  good  lady  ;  and  will  conceive,  I  hope, 
But  the  worft  of  me,     So  I  leave  you,  fir, 
To  the  worft  of  difcontent.  [Exit* 

Clot.  I'll  be  reveng'd  :— 
His  meaneft  garment  ? Well.  [Exit* 

SCENE        IV. 
ROME. 

An  apartment  in  Philarlo's  houfe, 

Enter  Pqjlbumus,  and  Pbilario. 

Poft.  Fear  it  not,  fir :  I  would,  I  were  fo  fure 
To  win  the  king,  as  I  am  bold,  her  honour 
Will  remain  hers. 

Phil.  What  means  do  you  make  to  him  ? 

Poft.  Not  any  ;  but  abide  the  change  of  time ; 

* a  jewel,  that  too  cafually 

Hath  left  mine  arm  ;  — —  ]    i.  e.  Too  many  chances  of  lofing  it 
have  ariien  from  my  careleffnefs.     WARBURTON, 

Quake 


228  CYMBELINE. 

Quake  in  the  prefent  winter's  ftate,  and  wifli 
That  warmer  days  would  come  :  In  thefe  fear'd  hopes, 
I  barely  gratify  your  love  ;  they  failing, 
I  muft  die  much  your  debtor. 

Phil.  Your  very  goodnefs,  and  your  company, 
O'erpays  all  I  can  do.     By  this,  your  king 
Hath  heard  of  great  Auguftus  :  Caius  Lucius 
Will  do  his  commiffion  throughly  :  And,  I  think, 
He'll  grant  the  tribute,  fend  the  arrearages, 
7  Or  look  upon  our  Romans,  whofe  remembrance 
Is  yet  frefh  in  their  grief. 

Pojt:  I  do  believe, 

(Statift  8  though  I  am  none,  nor  like  to  be) 
That  this  will  prove  a.  war  ;  and  you  {hall  hear 
The  legions,  now  in  Gallia,  fooner  landed 
In  our  net-fearing  Britain,  than  have  tidings 
Cf  any  penny  tribute  paid.     Our  countrymen 
Are  men  more  order'd,  than  when  Julius  Casfar 
Smil'd  at  their  lack  of  fkill,  but  found  their  courage 
Worthy  his  frowning  at  :  Their  discipline 
(Now  9mingled  with  their  courages)  will  make  known 
1  To  their  approvers,  they  are  people,  fuch 
That  mend  upon  the  world. 

7  Or  look  -  ]    This  the  modern  editors  had  changed  into 
FSer  look.     Or  is  ufed  for  e'er.     So  Douglas,  in  his  tranllation  of 


"  --  fufferit  he  alfo. 

"  Or  he  his  goddes  brocht  in  Latio."   STEEVENS. 

*  Statijl']     5.  P.  Starefman.     STEEVENS. 

9  -  mingled  with  their  courages  -  ]  The  old  folio  has  this 
odd  reading  : 

--  Their  difciplinc, 

(Now  <wi?!g-led  with  their  courages)  will  make  known. 

JOHNSON. 

•  -  77>eir  difcipline, 

New  wing-led  w.-VA  their  courages]  May  incnn  their  difcipline 
borrowirg  wings  from  their  courage  ;  i.  e.  their  military  know- 
ledge' bring  nr.iir.r.ted  by  their  natural  bravery.  STKKVF.NS. 

'  T«  their  afprvwrr,-  -  ]     i.  e.  To  thoic  wiu>  try  therrL. 

\\  AU  BURTON. 


CYMBELINE.  229 


Enter  lacblmo. 

Phil  See  !  lachimo  ! 

Pqft.  The  fwi'fteft  harts  have  pofted  you  by  land ; 
And  winds  of  all  the  corners  kifs'dyour  fails, 
To  make  your  vcfTel  nimble. 

Phil.  Welcome,  fir. 

Pqft.  I  hope,  the  briefncfs  of  your  anfwer  made 
The  ipeedinefs  of  your  return. 

loch.  Your  lady 
Is  one  of  the  faircft  that  I  have  look'd  upon. 

Pqft.  And,  therewithal,  the  beft ;  or  let  her  beauty 
Look  through  a  cafement  to  allure  falfe  hearts, 
And  be  falfe  with  them. 

lach.  Here  are  letters  for  you. 

Pqft.  Their  tenour  good,  I  truft. 

Jack.  'Tis  very  like. 

*  Pqft.  Was  Caius  Lucius  in  the  Britain  court, 
When  you  were  there  ? 

lack.  He  was  expedted  then, 
But  not  approach'd. 

Pqft.  All  is  well  yet — 
Sparkles  this  ftone  as  it  was  wont  ?  or  is't  not 
Too  dull  for  your  good  wearing  ? 

lack.  If  I  have  loft  it, 
I  ihould  have  loft  the  worth  of  it  in  gold. 
I'll  make  a  journey  twice  as  far,  to  enjoy 
A  fecond  night  of  fuch  fweet  Ihortnefs,  which 
Was  mine  in  Britain ;  for  the  ring  is  won. 

Pqft.  The  ftone's  too  .hard  to  come  by. 

lach.  Not  a  whit, 
Your  lady  being  fo  eafy, 

Pqft.  Make  not,  fir, 

*  Poft.]  I  think  this  fpeech  fhould  be  given  to  Philario.     Pofl- 
humus  was  employed  in  reading  his  letters.    STEEVENS. 

Your 


230  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E, 

Your  lofs  your  fport :  I  hope,  you  know  that  .we 
Mud  not  continue  friends. 

lach.  Good  fir,  we  muft, 
If  you  keep  covenant :  Had  I  not  brought 
The  knowledge  of  your  miftrefs  home,  I  grant 
We  were  to  queftion  further  :  but  I  now 
Prcfefs  myfelf  the  winner  of  her  honour, 
Together  witji  your  ring ;  and  not  the  wronger 
Of  her,  or  you,  having  proceeded  but 
By  both  your  wills. 

Poft.  If  you  can  make  it  apparent 
That  you  have  tailed  her  in  bed,  my  hand, 
And  ring,  is  yours  :  If  not,  the  foul  opinion 
You  had  of  her  pure  honour,  gains,  or  lofes, 
Your  fword,  or  mine  ;  or  mafterlefs  leaves  both 
To  who  mall  find  them. 

lach.  Sir,  my  circumftances, 
Being  fo  near  the  truth,  as  I  will  make  them, 
Muft  firft  induce  you  to  believe  :  whofe  ftrength 
I  will  confirm  with  oath ;  which,  I  doubt  not, 
You'll  give  me  leave  to  fpare,  when  you  fhall  find 
You  need  it  not. 

Poft.  Proceed. 

lach.  Firft,  her  bed-chamber, 
(Where,  I  confefs,  I  flept  not ;  but,  profefs, 
Ha4  that  was  well  worth  watching)  It  was  hang'd 
With  tapeftry  of  filk  and  filver  ;  the  ftory 
Proud  Cleopatra,  when  Ihe  met  her  Roman, 
J  And  Cydnus  fwell'd  above  the  banks,  or  for 
The  prefs  of  boats,  or  pride  :  A  piece  of  work 

So 

5  And  Cyelnui  fwelfd  above  the  banks  >  or  for 

Tbe  prefi  of  bcat^  or  pride. ]   This   is  an  agreeable 

ridicule  on  poetical  exaggeration,  which  gives  human  paflions 
to  inanimate  things  :  and  particularly,  upon  what  he  himfelt 
pyrites  in  the  foregoing  play  on  this  very  fubjedt  : 

"  — : And  made 

"  The  water,  which  they  beat,  to  follow  faftct, 

*  *  As  aworous  of  tkcirjtrcka" 

But 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  231 

So  bravely  done,  fo  rich,  that  it  did  ftrive 

In  workmanlhip,  and  value  ;  which,  I  wonder'd, 

Could  be  fo  rarely  and  exadtly  wrought, 

Since  the  true  life  on't  was > 

Po/t.  This  is  true  ; 

And  this  you  might  have  heard  of  here,  by  me, 
Or  by  fome  other. 

lack.  More  particulars 
Mud  juftify  my  knowledge. 

Poft.  So  they  muft, 
Or  do  your  honour  injury. 

lack.  The  chimney 

Is  fouth  the  chamber  ;  and  the  chimney-piece, 
Chafte  Dian,  bathing  :  never  faw  I  figures 

But  the  fatire  is  not  only  agreeably  turned,  but  very  artfully  em- 
ployed ;  as  it  is  a  plain  indication,  that  the  fpeaker  is  fecrctly 
mocking  the  credulity  of  his  hearer,  while  he  is  endeavouring  to 
perfuade  him  of  his  wife's  falfhood.  The  very  fame  kind  of  fa- 
tire  we  have  again,  on  much  the  fame  occafion,  in  The  Two  Gen- 
tlemen of  Verona,  where  the  falfe  Protheus  fays  to  his  friend,  of  his 
iriend's  miftrefs : 

**  and  flie  hath  offer'd  to  the  doom, 

**  Which  unrevers'd  {lands  in  effe&ual  force, 
*'  A  fea  of  melting  pearl,  which  fome  call  tears." 
A  certain  gaiety  of  heart,  which  the  fpeaker  drives  to  conceal, 
breaking  out  under  a  fatire,  by  which  he  would  infmuate  to  his 
friend  the  trifling  worth  of  woman's  tears.     WAR  BURTON. 

It  is  eafy  to  fit  down  and  give  our  author  meanings  which  he 
never  had.  Shakefpeare  has  no  great  right  to  cenfure  poetical 
exaggeration,  of  which  no  poet  is  more  frequently  guilty.  That 
he  intended  to  ridicule  his  own  lines  is  very  uncertain,  when  there 
are  no  means  of  knowing  which  of  the  two  plays  was  written  firft. 
The  commentator  has  contented  himfelf  to  fuppofe,  that  the  fore- 
going play  in  his  book  was  the  play  of  earlier  compofition.  Nor 
is  the  realbning  better  than  the  ailertion.  If  the  language  of  la- 
chimo  be  fuch  as  (hews  him  to  be  mocking  the  credibility  of  his 
hearer,  his  language  is  very  improper,  when  his  bufinefs  was  to 
deceive.  But  the  truth  is,  that  his  language  is  fuch  as  a  Ikilful 
villain  would  naturally  ufe,  a  mixture  of  airy  triumph  and  ferious 
depofition.  His  gaiety  (hews  his  ferioufnefs  to  be^vithout  anxiety, 
ancj  his  ferioufnefs  proves  his  gaiety  to  be  without  an.  JOHNSON. 

0.4  SO 


»3*  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

4  So  likely  to  report  themfelves  :  the  cutter 

5  Was  as  another  nature,  dumb  ;  out-went  her, 
Morion  and  breath  left  out. 

Pa  ft.  This  is  a  thing, 

Which  you  might  from  relation  likewife  reap  ; 
Being,  as  it  is,  much  fpoke  of. 

lack..  The  roof  o'  the  chamber 
With  golden  cherubims  is  fretted  :  Her  andiror;s 
(I  had  forgot  them)  were  two  winking  Cupids 
Of  filver,  each  on  one  foot  {landing,  nicely 
Depending  on  their  brands6. 

Pojl.  7  This  is  her  honour  !  — 

Let  it  be  granted,  you  have  feen  all  this,  (and  praiic 
Be  given  to  your  remembrance)  the  description 
Of  what  is  in  her  chamber,  nothing  favcs 
The  wager  you  have  laid. 

lack. 

*  *o  likely  to  report  tlemf elves : ]     So  near  to  fpeech.     The 

'  Italians  call  a  portrait,  when  the  likenels  is  remarkable,  zfpeaking 
piflurc.     JOHNSON. 

5  Was  as  another  nature,  dumb; ]    This    nonfenfe    fhould 

without  queftion.be  read  and  pointed  thus  : 

Has  as  another  nature  done ;  out-went  her, 
Motion  and  breath  left  out. 

i.  e.  Has  worked  as  eyquifitely,  nay  has  exceeded  her,  if  you  will 
put  motion  and  breath  out  of  the  queftion.     WAP  I;UKTON. 

This  emendation  I  think  needlels.  The  meaning  is  this  :  The 
fci/lptor  was  as  nature,  but  as  nature  dumb  ;  he  gave  every  thing 
that  nature  gives,  but  breath  and  notion.  In  Ircatb  is  included 
fpeech.  JOHN  so:;. 

Depending  on  their  brands.]  I  am  not  fine  that  I  underfland 
this  ppitfage.  Perhaps  Shakefpeare  meant  that  the  figures  of  the 
Cupids  \vete  n-ctly  poized  on  their  inverted  torches,  one  of  the  legs 
cf  each  being  taken  off  the  ground,  which  might  render  iuch  a 
fupport  nece"fT.irv.  br  ELVENS. 
7  This  is  /!«•  lanrur  ! 

7  i-t  .'/  i:c  :;.'•.:•..•.</  ;.'u  ''•.:•:•;•  f,c;t  all  tb'n,  &c.]  lachimo  impu- 
dently pretends  to  Vuve  carried  his  point ;  and,  in  confirmation, 
is  veiy  minute  in  defcribing  to  the  hufband  all  the  furniture  and 
£  dor  .intents  of  his  wife's  bed-chamber.  But  how  is  fine  furniture 
JU^y  ways  a  princefs's  honour?  It  is  an  afyaratuf  fuiuble  to  her 

dignity^ 


C  Y  Is!  B  E  L  I  N   E.  235 

lack.  Then,  8  if  you  can,    [Putting  out  tie  bracelet. 
Be  pale  ;  I  beg  but  leave  to  air  this  jewel  :  See  !< — 
And  now  'tis  up  again  :  It  mult  be  married 
To  that  your  diamond ;  I'll  keep  them. 

Pofl.  Jove  !— 

Once  more  let  me  behold  it  :  Is  it  that 
Which  I  left  with  her  ? 

lack.  Sir,  (I  thank  her)  that  : 
She  ftripp'd  it  from  her  arm  ;  I  fee  her  yet ; 
Her  pretty  action  did  outfell  her  gift, 
And  yet  enrich'd  it  too  :  flie  gave  it  me, 
And  laid,  ihe  priz'd  it  once. 

Pqft.  May  be,  flie  pluck'd  it  off, 
To  fend  it  me. 

lack    She  writes  fo  to  you  ?  doth  fhe  ? 

Poft.  O,  no,  no,  no ;  'tis  true.     Here,  take  this 
too  ;  [Gives  the  ring. 

It  is  a  bafilifk  unto  mine  eye, 
Kills  me  to  look  on't  : — Let  there  be  no  honour, 
Where  there  is  beauty;   truth,    where   femblance; 
love, 

dignity,  but  certainly  makes  no  part  of  her  character.  It  might 
have  been  called  her  lather's  honour,  that  her  allotments  were 
proportioned  to  her  rank  and  quality.  I  am  perfuaded  the  poet 
intended  Pofthumus  fhould  fay,  "This  particular  defcription, 
which  you  make,  cannot  cpnvince  me  that  I  have  loft  my  wa- 
ger :  your  memory  is  good  ;  and  fome  of  thefe  things  you  may 
have  learned  from  a  third  hand,  or  feen  yourfelf ;  yet  I  expeft 
proofs  more  direct  and  authentic."  I  think  there  is  little  queilioa 
but  we  ought  to  reftore  the  place  as  I  have  done  : 
What's  this  f  her  honour  ?  THEOBALD. 

This  emendation  has  been  followed  by  both  the  fucceeding 
editors,  but  I  think  it  muft  be  rejected.  The  expreffion  is  iro- 
nical, lachimo  relates  many  particulars,  to  which  Pofthumus  an- 
fwers  with  impatience, 

This  is  her  honour  ! 

That  is,  And  the  attainment  of  this  knowledge  is  to  pafs  for 
the  corruption  of  her  honour.     JOHNSON. 

* if  you  cany 

Be  pale  ; ]  If  you  can   forbear  to  $ufh  your  cheel^ 

yyith  rage.    JOHNSON. 

Where 


234  CYMBELINE. 

Where  there's  another  man  :  9  The  vows  of  women 
Of  no  more  bondage  be,  to  where  they  are  made, 
Than  they  are  to  their  virtues  ;  which  is  nothing  :  — 
O,  above  meafure  falfe  ! 

PkiL  Have  patience,  fir, 
And  take  your  ring  again  ;  'tis  not  yet  won  : 
It  may  be  probable,  fhe  loft  it  ;  or, 
Who  knows  if  one  of  her  women,  being  corrupted, 
Hath  ftolen  it  from  her. 

P<>'1.  Very  true  ; 

And  fo,  I  hope,  he  came  by't  :  —  Back  my  ring  ;  — 
Render  to  me  fome  corporal  fign  about  her, 
More  evident  than  this  ;  for  this  was  ftolen. 

lack.  By  Jupiter,  I  had  it  from  her  arm. 

Poft.  Hark  you,  he  fwears  ;  by  Jupiter  he  fwears. 
Tis  true  ;  —  nay,  keep  the  ring  —  'tis  true  :    *  I  am 

fure, 

She  could  not  lofe  it  :  her  attendants  are 
>Ui  ivvorn,  and  honourable  :  —  They  induc'd  to  Heal 
it! 

And 

*  —  The  vows  of  women,  &c.]  The  love  vowed  by  v.'omen  no 
more  abides  with  him  to  whom  it  is  vowed,  than  women  adhere 
to  their  virtue.     JOHNSON. 

*  --  Prnfure 

o'.tld  not  lofe  it  :  her  attendants  are 
d  ho 


honourable.  —  They  indue*  tl  to  Jleal  it, 

And  by  ajlranger!  —  »0,  —  ]  The  abfurd  conclufions  of  jea- 
loufy  are  here  admirably  painted  and  expofed.  Pofthumus,  on 
the  credit  of  a  bracelet,  and  an  oath  of  the  party  concerned, 
judges  agsinlt  all  appearances  from  the  intimate  knowledge  of  his 
wife's  honour,  that  fl)e  was  falfe  to  his  bed  ;  and  grmmds  that 
judgment,  at  laft,  upon  much  lefs  appearances  of  the  honour  of 
her  attendants.  WAR  BUR  r  ON. 

Her  attendants  are  all  worn  and  honourable.]  It  was  anciently 
the  cuftom  for  the  attendants  on  our  nobility  and  other  great  per- 
fonages  (as  it  is  now  for  the  fervants  of  the  king)  to  take  an  oath 
of  fidelity,  on  their  entrance  into  office.  In  the  houfhold  book 
of  the  $th  carl  of  Northumberland  (compiled  A.  D.  1512.)  it  is 
exprefsly  ordered  [page  49]  that  "  what  perfon  foever  he  be  that 
corny  th  to  my  Lorces  fcrvice,  that  incontynent  after  he  be  en- 

**tf*Afi 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I   N  E,  235 

And  by  a  ftranger  ?•— No;  he  hath  enjoy'd  her  : 

?  The  cognizance  of  her  incontinency 

Is  this, — fhe  hath  bought  the  name  of  whore  thus 

dearly. — 

There,  take  thy  hire ;  and  all  the  fiends  of  hell 
Divide  themfelves  between  you  ! 

Phil.  Sir,  be  patient  : 
This  is  not  flrong  enough  to  be  believ'd 
Of  one  perfuaded  well  of 

Poft.  Never  talk  on't : 
She  hath  been  colted  by  him. 

Inch.  If  you  feek 

For  further  fatisfying,  under  her  breaft, 
3  (Worthy  the  preffing)  lies  a  mole,    right  proud 
Of  that  molt  delicate  lodging  :  By  my  life, 
I  kifs'd  it ;  and  it  gave  me  prefent  hunger 
To  feed  again,  though  full.    You  do  remember 
This  (tain  upon  her  ? 

Poft.  Ay,  and  it  doth  confirm 
Another  (tain,  as  big  as  hell  can  hold, 
Were  there  no  more  but  it. 

lack.  Will  you  hear  more  ? 

Poft.  Spare  your  arithmetick :  never  count  the 

turns  ; 
Once,  and  a  million  ! 

tered  in  the  chequyrroull  [check-roll]  that  he  be  fworn  in  the 
countyng  hous  by  a  gentillman-ufher  or  yeman-uflier  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  the  hede  officers ;  and  on  theire  abfence  before  the  clerkc 
of  the  kechynge  either  by  fuch  an  oath  as  is  in  the  Book  ofOthes, 
yff  any  fuch  [oath]  be,  or  ells  by  fuch  an  oth  as  (hall  feyme  beftc 
to  their  difcrccion." 

Even  now  every  furvant  of  the  king's,  at  his  firll  appointment, 
js  fworn  in,  before  a  gentleman  uiher,  at  the  lord  chamberlain's 
office.  PERCY. 

1  The  cognizance— — ]  The  badge  j  the  token  ;  the  vifible 
proof.  JOHNSON. 

3  (Worthy  the  preffing) — ]  Thus  the  modem  editions.  The 
old  folio  reads, 

(Worthy  her  preffing)— -  JOHNSON. 

Jack. 


236  C  Y  M   B  E  L  I  N  E. 

lacfj.  I'll  be  fworn, 

Pcfl.  No  fwearing  : — 

If  you  will  fwear  you  have  not  done't,  you  lye  ; 
•  And  I  will  kill  thee,  if  thou  doft  deny 
Thou  haft  made  me  cuckold. 

lacb.  I  will  deny  nothing. 

Po/f.  O,  that  I    had  her  here,  to  tear  her  limb- 
meal  ! 

I  will  go  there,  and  do't ;  i*  the  court ;  before 
Her  father  : I'll  do  fomething [Exit. 

Phil.  Quite  bciides 

The  government  of  patience  ! — You  have  won  : 
Let's  follow  him,  and  pervert  the  prefent  wrath 
Ke  hath  a  gain  ft  himfelf. 

lacb.  With  all  my  heart.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE        V. 

Another  room  in  Pkilar'ufs  Tooufc. 

Enter  Pojlbumus. 

Poft.  l  Is  there  no  way  for  men  to  be,  but  women 
Muft  be  half-workers  ?  We  are  all  baftards ; 
And  that  moft  venerable  man,  which  I 
Did  call  my  father,  was  I  know  not  where 
When  I  was  ftamp'd ;   fome  coiner  with  his  tools 
Made  me  a  counterfeit :  Yet  my  mother  fcem'd 
The  Dian  of  that  time  :  fo  doth  my  wife 
The  non-pareil  of  this. — Oh  vengeance,  vengeance  ! 

1  Is  there  no  way,  &c.]  Milton  was  very  probably  indebted  to 
this  fpeech  for  one  of  the  femiments  which  he  has  given  to  Adam. 
fara&fe  Loft,  book  x. 

O  why  did  God, 

Creator  wife,  that  peopled  higheft  heaven 

With  fpirits  mafculine,  create  at  laft 

This  novelty  on  earth,  this  fair  deleft 

Of  nature,  imd  not  fill  the  world  at  once 

With  men  as  angels  without  feminine, 

Qrf.ndfome  otoer-tvay  to  generate 

Mankind?'''    STEEVEKS. 

He 


C  Y  M  B  E   L  I  N    K.  -7 

Me  of  my  lawful  plcafure  lhe  reftrain'd, 

And  pray'd  me,  oft,  forbearance  :  did  it  with 

A  pudency  to  roiy,  the  fweet  view  on't 

Might  well  have  warm'd  old  Saturn  ;  that  I  thought 

her 
As  chnfte  as  unfurin'd  fnow  : — O,  all  the  devils ! — 

This  yellow  lachimo,  in  an  hour, was't  not  r — 

Or  ids, — at  firfl  :  Perchance  he  fpoke  not ;  but, 

Like  a  full-acorn'd  boar,  a  German  one, 

Cry'd,  oh  !  and  mounted  :  found  no  oppofition 

But  what  he  look'd  for  Ihould  oppofe,  and  Ihe 

Should  from  encounter  guard.     Could  I  find  out 

The  woman's  part  in  me  !   For  there's  no  motion 

That  tends  to  vice  in  man,  but  I  affirm 

It  is  the  woman's  part  :  Be't  lying,  note  it, 

The  woman's  ;  flattering,  hers  ;    deceiving,  hers  ; 

Luft  and  rank  thoughts,  hers,  hers ;  revenge 

Ambitions,  coverings,  change  of  prides,  di&ain* 

Nice  longings,  flanclers,  mutability  * 

All  faults  that  may  be  nain'd,  nay,  that  hell  knows, 

Why,  hers,  in  parr,  or  all ;  but,  rather,  all : 

For  even  to  vice 

They  are  not  conftant,  but  are  changing  ftill 

One  vice,  but  of  a  minute  old,  for  one 

Not  half  fo  old  as  that.    I'll  write  againft  them, 

Deteft  them,  curfe  them  : — Yet  'tis  greater  fkill 

In  a  true  hate,  to  pray  they  have  their  will  : 

The  very  devils  cannot  plague  them  better.      [£arir. 


ACT 


z38  CYMBELINE.  s 

ACT    III.     SCENE    I. 

Cymbelinfs  Palace. 

Enter •,  inflate,  Cymbeline,  Queen,  Clot  en,  and  Lords,  at 
one  door ;  and  at  another,  Cains  Lucius,  and  Attendants. 

Cym.    Now   fay,    what  would    Auguflus    Csefar 
with  us '  ? 

Luc.  When  Julius  Csefar  (whofe   remembrance 

yet 

Lives  in  men's  eyes  ;  and  will  to  ears,  and  tongues, 
Be  theme,  and  hearing  ever)  was  in  this  Britain, 
And  conquered  it,  Caflibelan,  thine  uncle, 
(Famous  in  Csefar's  praifes,  no  whit  lefs 
Than  in  his  feats  dcferving  it)  for  him, 
And  his  fucceffion,  granted  Rome  a  tribute, 
Yearly  three  thoufand  pounds ;  which  by  thee  lately 
It  left  untender'd. 

Queen.  And,  to  kill  the  marvel, 
Shall  be  fo  ever. 

Clot.  There  be  many  Catfars, 
Ere  fuch  another  Julius.    Britain  is 
A  world  by  itfelf ;  and  we  will  nothing  pay 
For  wearing  our  own  nofes. 

Queen.  That  opportunity, 

Which  then  they  had  to  take  from  us,  to  refume 
We  have  again.— Remember,  iir,  my  liege, 
The  kings  your  anceftors ;  together  with 
The  natural  bravery  of  your  ifle  ;  which  (lands 
As  Neptune's  park,  ribbed  and  paled  in 

1  Now  fay,  what  ivouU  At'gHJlus  Cfffar  with  us?]     So  in  A". 
Job*: 

Xow  fay,  Chatillon,  what  would  France  with  us  ? 

.STEEVENS. 

With 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  239 

~  With  rocks  unfcaleable,  and  roaring  waters  ; 
With  fands,  that  will  not  bear  your  enemies'  boats, 
But  fuck  them  up  to  the  top-maft.     A  kind  of  con- 

queft    . 

Casfar  made  here  ;  but  made  not  here  his  brag 
Of,  came,  and  Jlizv,  and  overcame  :  with  lhame 
(The  firit  that  ever  touch'd  him)  he  was  carried 
From  off  our  coa ft,  twice  beaten ;  and  his  {hipping, 
3  (Poor  ignorant  baubles!)  on  our  terrible  feas, 
Like  egg-{hells  mov'd  upon  their  furges,  crack'd 
As  cafily  'gainft  our  rocks  :  For  joy  whereof, 
The  fam'd  Caflibelan,  who  was  once  at  point: 
(O,  giglet  fortune  !)  to  matter  Casfar's  fword, 
Made  Lud's  town  with  rejoicing  fires  bright, 
And  Britons  ft  rut  with  courage. 

Clot.  Come,  there's  no  more  tribute  to  be  pnul  : 
Our  kingdom  is  ftronger  than  it  was  at  that  time  ; 
and,  as  I  laid,  there  is  no  more  fuch  Csefars  :  othe* 
of  them  may  have  crook'd  ncfes ;  but,  to  own  men 
{trait  arms,  none. 

Cym.  Son,  let  your  mother  end. 

Clot.  We  have  yet  many  among  us  can  gripe  as 
hard  as  Caffibelan  :  I  do  not  fay,  I  am  one  ;  but  I 
have  a  hand. — W^hy  tribute?  why  {liould  we  pay 
tribute?  If  Cse far  can  hide  the  fun  from  us  with  a 
blanket,  or  put  the  moon  in  his  pocket,  we  will  pay 

*  With  rods  itrtfcalealle, ]     This  reading  is  Hanmer's, 

The  old  editions  have  : 

With  oaks  unfcalable,— — — —  JOHNSON. 
*'  The  ftrength  of  onr  land  confifts  of  our  feamen  in  the>r 
\voodenfortsandcaftles;  our  rocks,  flielves,  and  Jirtes,  that  lye 
along  our  coafts  ;  and  our  trayned  bands."  From  chapter  109 
of  Bariffe's  Military  DifcipUne^  1639,  feelingly  from  Tooke's 
Legend  of  Britomart.  ToLLET. 

3  (Poor  ignorant  baubles  !) ]     Ignorant,  for  a^"  no  vfe, 

WAR  BUR  TON, 

Rather,  unac^tahited  with  the  nature  of  our  boifterous  feas. 

JOHNSON*. 

him 


240  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

him  tribute  for  light ;  elfe,  fir,   no  more  tribute^ 
pray  you  now. 

Cym.  You  muft  know, 
'Till  the  injurious  Roman  did  extort 
This  tribute  from  us,  we  were  free :  Csefar's  am- 
bition, 

(Which  fwell'd  ib  much,  that  it  did  almofl  ftretch 
The  fides  o'  the  world)  4  againft  all  colour,  here 
Did  put  the  yoke  upon  us ;  which  to  lhake  off, 
Becomes  a  warlike  people,  whom  we  reckon 
Ourfelves  to  be  ;   we  do.    Say  then  to  Csefar, 
Our  anceitor  was  that  Mulmutius,  which 
Ordain'd  our  laws ;  whofe  ufe  the  fword  of  Casfar 
Hath  too  much  mangled ;   whofe   repair,  and  fran- 

chife, 

Shall,  by  the  power  we  hold,  be  our  good  deed, 
Though  Rome   be  therefore    angry.      Mulmutius 

made  our  laws, 

Who  was  the  firft  of  Britain,  which  did  put 
His  brows  within  a  golden  crown,  and  call'd 
Himfelf  a  king. 

Luc.  I  am  lorry,  Cymbeline, 
That  I  am  to  pronounce  Auguftus  Casfar 
(Cafiir,  that  hath  more  kings  his  fervants,  than 
Thyfelf  domeflic  officers)  thine  enemy  : 

Receive  it  from  me  then  : War,  and  confufioD, 

In  Ca^far's  name  pronounce  I  'gainft  thce  :  look 

For  fury  not  to  be  refilled  : Thus  defy'd, 

I  thank  thce  for  myfelf. 

Cym.  *  Thou  art  welcome,  Caius» 

Thy 

•* agalnji  all  colour, — ]     Without  any  pretence  of  right. 

JOHNSON. 

3  Tljou  art  <wtlcome,  Caius* 
77y  Ctcfar  kitigbtedmt',  my  youth  I/pent 

Much  under  lim : ]     Some  few  hints  for  this  part  of  the 

play  are  taken  from  Holinflied : 

"  Kymbeline,   fays  he,  (as  fome  write)   was  brought  up  at 
Rome,  and  there  was  made  knight  by  Auguftus  Casfar,  undo 

whom 


CYMBELINE.  241 

Thy  Ca^far  knighted  me  ;  my  youth  I  (pent 
Much  under  him  :   of  him  I  gather'd  honour; 
Which  he,  to  feck  of  me  again,  perforce, 
Behoves  me  6  keep  at  utterance.     7 1  am  perfedt, 
That  the  Pannonians  and  Dalmatians,  for 
Their  liberties,  are  now  in  arms  :  a  precedent 
"Which,  not  to  read,  would  fhew  the  Britons  cold  : 
So  C^far  fhall  not  find  them. 

Luc.  Let  proof  fpeak. 

Clot.  His  majefty  bids  you  welcome.  Makepaf- 
time  with  us  a  day,  or  two,  or  longer  :  If  you  feek 
us  afterwards  in  other  terms,  you  fhall  find  us  in  our 
Jalt-water  girdle :  if  you  beat  us  out  of  it,  it  is 
yours  ;  if  you  fall  in  the'  adventure,  our  crows 
lhall  fare  the  better  for  you  ;  and  there's  an  end. 

Luc.  So,  fir. 

Cym.  I  know  your  matter's  pleafure,  and  he  mine: 
All  the  remain  is,  welcome.  [Exeunt* 

whom  he  fervcd  in  the  wars,  r.nd  was  in  fuch  favour  with  him, 
that  he  was  at  liberty  to  pay  his  tribute  or  not." 

" Yet  we  find  in  the  Roman  writers,  that  after  Julius 

Caefar's  death,  when  Auguftus  had  taken  upon  him  the  rule  of  the 
empire,  the  Britains  refined  to  pay  that  tribute." 

'* But  whether  the  controverfy,  which  appeareth  to  fall 

forth  betwixt  the  Britains  and  Auguftus,  was  occafioned  by  Kim- 
beline,  I  have  not  a  vouch." 

"  — —  Kym  be  line  reigned  thirty-five  years,  leaving  behind 
him  two  fons,  Guiderius  and  Arviragus.*'  STEEVENS. 

6 keep  at  utterance.'-* — ]     i.  e.  At  extreme  diftance. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

More  properly,  in  a  flate  of  hoftile  defiance,  and  deadly  oppo- 
iition.  JOHNSON. 

At  utterance  means  to  keep  at  the  extremity  of  defiance.  Com- 
lat  a  entrance  is  a  dciperate  fight,  that  muft  conclude  with  the  life 
of  one  of  the  combatants.  So  in  The  Htfory  of  Hclyas  Knight  of 

the  Swanne,  bl.  1.  no  date:  "  Here  is  my  gage  to  fuitaine 

it  to  tic  utteraunce,  and  befight  it  to  the  death."    STEEVENS. 

7 1  am  perfect ^\     I  am  well  informed.    So,  in  Macbeth: 

"  in  your  ftate  of  honour  lam  perfefl."    JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  R  SCENE 


24i  CYMBELINE. 

SCENE        II. 

Another  room. 
Enter  Pifanlo. 

Tif.  How !  of  adultery  ?    VvTherefore  write  you 

not 

*  What  monfters  her  accufc  ? — Lconatus ! 
O,  matter!'  what  a  ftrange  infection 
Is  fallen  into  thy  ear  ?  9  What  falfe  Italian 
(As  poiibnous  tongu'd,  as  handed)  hath  prevail'^ 
On  thy  too  ready  hearing  ? — Difloyal  ?   No  : 
She's  punifh'd  for  her  truth  ;  and  undergoes, 
More  goddefs-like  than  wife-like,  fuch  afiaults 
As  would  '  take  in  fome  virtue.  — O  my  mafler  ! 
Thy  mind  to  her  is  now  as  low,  as  were 
Thy  fortunes. — How  !  that  I  fhould  murder  her  ? 
Upon  the  love,   and  truth,  and  vows,  which  I 
Have   made    to    thy"  command  ? — I,    her  ? — her 

blood  ? 

If  it  be  fo  to  do  good  fervice,  never 
I  et  me  be  counted  ferviceable.     How  look  I, 
That  I  fhould  feem  to  lack  humanity, 
So  much  as  this  fadt  comes  to  ?  Do't :  The  letter 

[Reading. 

8  HTjat  mongers  her  accufc  f ]     Might  we  not  fafely  read  : 

What  monjler's  her  accufer?—     SrEiiVtNS. 

9 Whatfalfe  Italian, 

(As  pots' 'nous  tongudj  as  handed")  • ]      About  Skakefpenre's 

time  the  practice  of  poifoning  was  very  common  in  Italy,  and  the 
fufpicion  of  Italian  poifuns  yet  more  common.     JOHNSON. 

1 take  \\\fame  virtue.  ]     To  take  in  a  town,  is  to  <:oi.- 

guer'it.     JOHNSON. 

So  in  A, iioiy  antl. Cleopatra  : 

cut  the  Ionian  feas, 

And  takc'in  Totyne  — —     SIEEVLNS. 

'tfai 


C   Y  M  B  E  L   I  N   E.  243 

"That  I  havefent  her,  by  her  own  command, 

Shall  give  thee  opportunity: -O  damn'd  paper  ! 

Black  as  the  ink  that's  on  thee  !'  Scnfelefs  bauble  ! 
Art  thou  a  feodary  for  this  act  %  and  look'ft 
.So  virgin-like  without  ?  Lo,  here  Ihe  comes. 

Enter  Imogen. 

2  I  am  ignorant  in  what  I  am  commanded. 
Lno.  How  now,  Pilanio  ? 
Pif.  Madam,  here  is  a  letter  from  my  lord. 
Imo.  Who  ?  thy  lord?  "i'fi&t  is  my  lord  ?  Leonatus  ? 

4  O,  learn'd  indeed  were  that  aftronomer, 
That  knew  the  ftars,  as  I  his  characters  ; 

He'd  lay  the  future  open. You  good  gods, 

Let  what  is  here  contain'd  relifh  of  love, 

Of  my  lord's  health,  of  his  content, — 'yet  not, 
That  we  two  are  afunder,  let  that  grieve  him  5! 
(Some  griefs  are  medicinable;  that  is  one  of  them, 

5  For  it  doth  phyiic  love) — of  his  content, 

*  Art  tbou  a  feodary  for  this  afl  ?—  ]      A  feodary  is  one  who 
holds  his  efbue  under  the  tenure  of  .iuit  and  fervice  to  a  fuperior 
lord.     HANMER. 

3  /  am  ignorant  in  what  I  am  commanded^     i.  e.  I  srn  unprao 
tifed  in  the  arts  of  murder.     STEEVENS. 

*  O,  learn'd  indeed 'Mere  that  ajlronomer,  &c.]      This  was  a  very 
natural  thought.     She  mull  needs  be  fuppofed,  in  her  circum- 
itances,  to  be  extremely  foiicitoiis  about  the  future;  and  defiroua 
of  coming  to  it  by  the  alliilance  of  that  fuperfiition.  WARBURI  ON. 

5  let  that  grieve  him  /]     I  fhould  vvifh  to  read  : 

Of  my  lord's  health,  of  his  content ; — yet  no; 
That  we  two  are  afunder,  let  that  grieve  him ! 

TYRWHITT. 

*  For  it  dotb  phyfic  /<MV)] That  is,   grief  for  abience, 

keeps  love  in  health  and  vigour.     JOHNSON. 

So  in  ^Lifletb  : 

The  labour  we  delight  in,  pbyjics pain*     STEEVEXS. 

R  i  AU 


244  CYMBELIN  E. 

All  but  in  that  !  —  Good  wax,  thy  leave  :  —  7  Blcft  ber 
You  bees,  that  make  thefe  locks  of  counfel  !  Lovers, 
And  men  in  dangerous  bonds,  pray  not  alike  ; 
Though  forfcitcrs  you  caft  in  prifon,  yet 
You  clafp  youngCupid's  tables.  —  Good  news,  gods! 

[Reading. 

Juflice,  and  your  father's  wrath,  JJmdd  he  take  ?nc  in 
his  dominion  ,  could  not  be  fo  cruel  to  /nd,  as  you,  0  the 
dear  eft  of  creatures,  would  even  renew  me  with  your  eyes. 
Tiike  notice,  that  I  am  i'/^Cambria,  at  ]Milford-Haven  : 
What  your  ffivn  lave  will,  out  of  I  his,  tiih'fe  you,  follow. 
So,  he  wijhcs  yon  all  happinefe,  that  reniains  *  loyal  to  his 
vow,  and  your,  bicreajing  in  love, 

Leonatus  Poflhumus. 
O,  for   a  horfe   with  wings  !  —  Hear'it    thou,   Pi- 

fan  io  ? 

He  is  at  Milford-  Haven  :  R.cad,  and  tell  me 
How  far  'tis  thither.     If  one  of  mean  affairs 
May  plod  it  in  a  week,  why  may  not  I 
Glide  thither  in  a  day  ?  —  Then,  true  Pifanio, 
(Who  long'ft,  like  me,  to  fee  thy  lord;  who  long'ft,—  - 
O,  let  me  'bate,  —  but  not  like  me  :,  —  yet  long'ft,  — 
But  in  a  fainter  kind  :  —  O,  not  like  me  ; 


Tcu  bees,  that  make  thffe  locks  pfcounfel!     Lovers, 
j4,ul  nun  in  dangerous  bonds,  prav  not  alike  ; 
Though  forfe  tters  you  caft  in  prifon,  yet 

J'uu  duty  young  Gtpif*  tiilks.  -  ]  The  meaning  of  this, 
which  had  been  obfcuied  by  printing  forfeitures  for  forfeiters,  i» 
no  more  than  that  the  bees  are  not  bleit  by  the  man  who  forfeiting 
a  bond  is  lent  to  prifon,  as  they  are  by  the  lover  for  whom  they 
perform  the  more  plealing  office  ot'lealmg  letters.  STEEVENS. 
*  -  loyal  to  his  c>tf-zw,  and  your  ncreaji»g  in  love,]  I  read  : 

Loyal  to  his  vow  and  you,  increasing  in  love.    JOHNSON. 
Weflunild  rather,  I  think,  read  thus  :  —  and  your,  increafeng  in 
love,  Leonatus  Poilhumus.  -  To  make  it  plain,  that  your  is  to 
be  joined  in  con  u  ruction  with  Ltonatu*,  and  not  with  increajlng  ; 
iiiiii  thai,  li.;,  latter  is  a  fartififlt  prr/catt  ar.d  not  a  noun. 

TYRWIIITT. 

For 


C   Y   M  B  E  L   I   N   E.  245 

For  mine's  beyond,  beyond,)  fay,  and  fpeak  thick, 
(Love's  counsellor  fhould  fill  the  bores  of  hearing, 
To  the  (mothering  of  the  fenfe)  how  far  it  is 
To  this  fame  bleficd  Milford  :  And,  by  the  way, 
Tell  me  how  Wales  was  made  fo  happy,  as 
To  inherit  fuch  a  haven  :  But,  firft  of  all, 
How  we  may  fleal  from  hence ;  and,  for  the  gap 
That  wefhall  make  in  time,  from  our  hence-going 
'Till  our  return,    to  excufe  : — but  firft,  how   get 

hence  : 

Why  fhould  excufe  be  born  or  e'er  begot  ? 
We'll  talk  of  that  hereafter.     Pry'thee,  fpcak, 
How  many  fcore  of  miles  may  we  well  ride 
'Twixt  hour  and  hour? 

Pif.  One  fcore,  'twixt  fun  and  fun, 
Madam, 's  enough  for  you  ;  and  too  much  too. 

Imo.  Why,  one  that  rode  to  his  execution,  man, 
Could  never  go  fo  flow ;  I  have  heard  of  riding 

wagers, 

Where  horfes  have  been  nimbler  than  the  fands 
9  That  rim  i'  the  clock's  behalf :— But  this  is  fool- 
ery :— 

Go,  bid  my  woman  feign  a  ficknefs ;  fay 
She'll  home  to  her  father:  and  provide  me,  prcfently, 
A  riding  fuit ;  no  coftlier  than  would  fit 
1  A  franklin's  houfcwife. 

Pif.  Madam,  you're  bcft  confider. 

Imo.  *  I  fee  before  me,  man,  nor  here,  nor  here, 

Nor 

9  7lat  run  i   tic  clocks  lelalf: ]     This  fantaftical  exprcf- 

fion  means  no  more  than  fand  in  an  hour-glafs,  ufed  to  meafure 
time.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

1  A  franklin's  bonfe-wife.]     A  franklin  is  literally  a  freeholder^ 
xvith  a  fmall  eitate,  neither  villain  nor  vajfal.     JOHNSON. 
*  I  fee  before  met  man^  nor  heret  nor  bcre^ 
Nor  tubat  cnfues ;  but  have  a  fog  in  tbem^ 

That  I  cannot  look  thro.' ]     Where  is  the  fubftantive  to 

which  this  relative  plural,  tbem,  can  pcffibly  have  any  reference? 

There  is  none  \  and  the  fenfe,  as  well  as  grammar,  is  defective. 

R  3  1  have 


246  C   Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E. 

Nor  what  enfues ;  but  have  a  fog  in  them, 
That  I  cannot  look  through.     Away,  I  pr'ythec  ; 
Do  as  I  bid  thee  :  There's  no  more  to  fay  ; 
Acceffible  is  none  but  Milfprd  way.  [£-«//;/. 

SCENE     III. 

Changes,  to  a  for  eft,  in  Wales,  with  a  cave. 

Enter  Bclarius,  Guiderius,  and  A/  viragus. 

Bel  A  goodly  day  not  to  keep  houfe,  with  fuch 
Whofe  roof's  as  low  as  ours !  x5  Stoop,  boys :  This  gate 

Inftrudts 

I  have  ventured  to  refbre,  againft  the  authority -of  the  printed 
copies  : 

—but  have  a  fcg  in  ken, 

That  I  cannot  look  thro'. 

Imogen  would  lay  :  "  Don't  talk  of  confidering,  man;  I  neither 
fee  prefent  events,  nor  confequences ;  but  am  in  a  mitt  of  for- 
tune, and  refolved  to  proceed  piuhe  project  determined."  ///  fan, 
means  in  profpect,  within  fight,  before  my  eyes,  THEOBALD. 

I  fee  before  we,,  man  ;   nor  here  nor  there, 

.Norivhat  euftics,  but  have  a  fog  intb^m, 

That  I  cannot  look  through. ]     Shakefpeare  fays  (he   crm 

fee  before  her,  yet  on  which  fide  1'oever  fhe  looks  there  is  a 
which  Ihe  cannot  fee  through.  This  nonfenfe  is  occafioned  by 
the  corrupt  reading  of  but  have  a  fog,  for,  that  have  a  fcg ;  an'd 
then  all  is  plain.  "  I  fee  before  me  (fays  me)  for  there  is  no  fog 
on  any  fide  of  me  which  I  cannot  fee  through."  .  Mr.  Theobald 
object's  to  affg  lit  them,  and  alks  for  the  fubjlanti-ve  /<>  vcbich  tic 
relative  plural  (them)  relates.  The  fubirantive  is  places,  implied 
in  the  words  here,  thtre,  and  what  enfues :  for  not  to  know  that 
Shakefpeare  perpetually  takes  thefe  liberties  of  grammar,  i« 
knowing  nothing  or  his  author.  So  that  there  is  no  need  for  his 
flrange  fluff  or  a  fug  In  Ken.  WAR  BUR  'i  o.v. 

This  pafiage  may,  in  my  opinion,  be  very  eafily  underilood, 
\vithout  any  emendution.  The  lady  fays  :  "  I  can  fee  neither 
one  way  nor  other,  before  me  nor  behind  me,  but  all  the  ways 
are  covered  with  an  impenetrable  fog."  There  are  objections  in- 
fuperable  to  ail  that  I  can  propofr,  and  iince  reafon  can  give  m« 
no  counfel,  I  will  reiblveat  once  to  follow  my  inclination. 

JOHNSON. 

3  Stoop  lays: — ]     The  old  copy  reads  \-Jleep,  boys:-— 

from  whence  Hanmelr  conjectured  that  the  poet   wrote— -foop, 

bovs— . 


C   Y   M   B   E  L  I   N   E.  247 

Inftructs  you  how  to  adore  the  heavens ;  and  bows  you 
To  morning's  holy  office  :  The  gates  of  monarchs 
Are  arch'd  ib  high,  that  giants  may  jet  through 
And  keep  4  their  impious  turbands  on,  without 
Good  morrow  to  the  fun. — Hail,  thou  fair  heaven  ! 
We  houfe  i'  the  rock,  yet  life  thee  notfo  hardly 
As  prouder  livers  do. 

Guid.  Hail,  heaven  ! 

ATJ.  Hail,  heaven ! 

Eel.  Now  for  our  mountain  fport :  Up  to  yon  hill, 
Your  legs  are  yovrg  ;  I'll  tread  thefe  flats.     Confider, 
When  you  above  perceive  me  like  a  crow, 
That  it  is  place,. which  leflens,  and  lets  off. 
And  you  may  then  revolve  what  talcs  I  have  told  you, 
Of  courts,  of  princes,  of  the  tricks  in  war  : 
5  This  fervice  is  not  fervice,  fo  being  done, 
But  being  fo  allow'd  :  To  apprehend  thus, 
Draws  us  a  profit  from  all  things  we  fee  : 
And  often,  tp  our  comfort,  ihall  we  find 
• 6  The  lharded  beetle  in  a  fafer  hold 
Than  is  the  full-wing'd  eagle.     O,  this  life 

boys  -  as  that  word  affords  a  good  introduction  to  what  follows. 
Mr.  Rowe  reads  "  Sir  boys— ",  which  (as  ufual)  had  beeafilent- 
ly  copied.  STEEVENS. 

4  tbeir  imp-lews  iurbands  on, ]     The  idea  of  a  giant  was, 

nmong  the  readers  of  romances,  who  weredlmoft  all  the  readers  bt 
thofe  times,  always  confounded  with  that  of  a  Saracen.    JOH  N  .SON. 

5  This  fervice  is  not  ftfuicr,  &c.]     In  war  it  is  not  fufficient  to 
do  duty  well ;  the  advantage  rifes  not  from  the  a6l,  but  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  aft.     JOHNSON. 

6  77>£  fharded  Icctle — —  ]     i.  e.  the  beetle  whofe  winf;s  are  en- 
clofed  within  t;vo  dry  btejks  or  fiards.     So  in  Gower,  De  Confej'- 
jionc  Amantls,  lib.  V.   fol.  103.   b. 

"  That  with  his  fwerd,  and  with  his  fpere, 
*'  He  might  not  the  ferpent  dere  : 
"  He  was  fo  JkcrJc-ii  :\\\  aboute, 
*'  It  held  all  edge  toole  withoute." 
Gower  is  here  fpeaking  of  the  dragon  fubdued  by  Jafon. 

STEIVEXS. 

R  4  Is 


24-B  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Is  nobler,  than  attending  for  a  check7 ; 
Richer,  8  than  doing  nothing  for  a  babe ; 
Prouder,  than  ruftling  in  unpaid^for  filk  : 
Such  gain  the  cap  of  him,  that  makes  them  fine, 
Yet  keeps  his  book  uncrofs'd  :  no  life  to  ours. 

7  •  •  -  attending  for  a  check;]  Check  may  me:;n  in  this  place 
a  reproof ';  but  I  rather  think  it  lignifies  command,  contrcul.  Thus 
in  Troilus  and  Crcfida,  the  reftriftions  of  Ariftotle  are  called 
Ariftotle's  checks.  STEEVENST 

* than  doing  nothing  for  a  bauble  ;]     i.  e.  Vain  titles  of 

honour  gained  by  an  idle  attendance  at  court.  But  the  Oxford 
editor  reads,  for  a  bribe.  WARBURTON. 

The  Oxford  editor  knew  the  reafon  of  this  alteration,  though 
his  ccnfurer  knew  it  not.  The  old  edition  rends  : 

Richer,  than  doing  nothing  for  a  babe. 

Of  bale  fome  corrector  made  bauble ;  and  Hanmer  thought  him- 
filf  equally  authorifed  to  make  bribe.  I  think  babe  can  hardly  he 
right.  It  fhould  be  remembered,  however,  that  bauble  was  an- 
ciently fpelt  ballt-j  fo  that  Dr.  vVarburton  in  reality  has  added 
but  one  letter.  A  bauble  was  part  of  the  irsfignia  of  a  fool.  So 
in  Air 3  well  that  ends  ivell^  aft  IV.  fc.  v.  the  clown  fays  : 

**  I  would  give  his  wife  my  bauble,  fir." 

It  was  a  kind  of  truncheon,  (fays  fir  John  Hawkins)  with  a  head 
cawed  en  it.  To  this  Belarius  may  allude,  and  mean  that  ho- 
nourable poverty  is  more  precious  than  a  Jinecure  at  court,  of 
ivbi^b  the  badge  is  a  truncheon  or  a  IK  and. 

So,  in  Middleton's  Game  at  Clr/s,    1623  : 

"  Art  thou  fo  cruel  for  an  honour's  table  ?" 

As,  however,  it  was  once  the  cuftom  in  England  for  favourite* 
at  court  to  beg  the  wardfliip  of  infants  who  were  born  to  great 
riches,  our  author  may  allude  to  it  on  this  occafion.  Frequent 
complaints  were  made  that  neibi'ig  ivas  dene  towards  thp  education 
of  thefe  unhappy  orphans.  STEE.VENS. 

I  have  always  fufpe&ed  that  the  right  reading  of  this  paflage 
is  what  I  had  nu  in  a  former  edition  the  confidence  to  pro- 
pole  : 

Richer,  than  doing  nothing  for  a  brake. 

Rrabium  is  a  b.udge  of  honour,  or  the  enfign  of  r,n  honoi\r,  or  any 
thing  worn  as  a  mark  ot  dignity.  The  woid  was  llrange  to  the 
editors,  as  it  uill  be  to  the  reader;  they  therefore  changed  it  to 
babe ;  and  I  am  forced  to  propofc  it  without  the  fupport  of  any 
authority.  'J>rabium  is  a  word  found  in  Holyoak's  Dictionary, 
who  terms  it  a  reward.  Cooper,  in  his  Thrfanru^  defines  it  to 
i>cifrizet  or  reward- for  axy  game ,  JOHNSON. 


CYMBELINE.  249 

Guld.    Out  of  your  proof  yoa  fpeak  :  \vc,  poqr 

unfledg'd, 
Have  never  wing'd  from  view  o'  the  neft  ;  nor  know 

not 

What  air's  from  home.     Haply,  this  life  is  beft, 
If  quiet  life  be  beft  ;  fweeter  to  you, 
That  have  a  (harper  known ;  well  correfponding 
With  your  ftiff  age  :  but,  unto  us,  it  is 
A  cell  of  ignorance ;  travelling  abed  ; 
A  priibn  for  a  debtor,  that  not  dares 
9  To  ftride  a  limit. 

A'i'v.  '  What  Ihould  we  fpeak  of, 
When  we  are  as  old  as  you  ?  when  we  fhall  hear 
The  rain  and  wind  beat  dark  December,  how, 
In  this  our  pinching  cave,  Ihall  we  difcourfe 
The  freezing  hours  away  ?     We  have  feen  nothing  ; 
We  are  bealtly  ;  fubtle  as  the  fox,  for  prey  ; 
Like  warlike  as  the  wolf,  for  what  we  eat : 
Our  valour  is,  to  chace  what  flies  ;  our  page 
We  make  a  quire,  as  doth  the  prifon'd  bird, 
And  fing  our  bondage  freely. 

Eel.  l  How  you  fpeak  ! 
Did  you  but  know  the  city's  ufuries, 
And  felt  them  knowingly  :  the  art  o*  the  court, 
As  hard  to  leave,  as  keep  ;  whofe  top  to  climb 
Is  certain  falling,  or  fo  flippery,  that 
The  fear's  as  bad  as  falling  :  the  toil  of  the  war, 
A  pain  that  only  feems  to  feek  out  danger 
I'  the  name  of  fame,  and  honour  ;  which  dies  i'  the 
fearch  j 

*  Tojlride  a  limit. ~\     To  overpafs  his  bound.     JOHNSON. 

1  WhatfioM  we  fpeak  of]  This  dread  of  an  old  age,  unfup- 
plied  with  matter  for  difcourfe  and  meditation,  is  a  fentiment  na- 
tural and  noble.  No  itate  can  be  more  deftitute  than  that  of  him, 
who,  when  the  delights  of  fenfe  forfake  him,  has  no  pleafures  of 
the  mind.  JOHNSON. 

^Hovj  you  fpeak  /]  Otway  feems  to  have  taken  many  hints  for 
the  converfation  that  pafles  between  Acafto  and  his  fons^  from  the 
fcene  before  us.  STEEVENS. 

And 


250  C  Y  M  B  E   L  I   N  E. 

And  hath  as  oft  a  flanderous  epitaph, 
.As  record  of  fair  act ;  nay,  many  times, 
Doth  ill  deferve  by  doing  well ;  what's  worfe, 
Muft  curt'fy  at  the  cenfure  : — O,  boys,  this  ftory 
The"  world  may  read  in  me  :  My  bodx's  mark'd 
With  Roman  {words ;  and  my  report  was  once 
Firft  with  the  beft'Of"  note  :  Cymbeline  lov'd  me  ; 
And  when  a  foldier"  was  the  theme,  my  name 
M^as  not  far  off:  Then  was  I  as  a  tree, 
Whofe  boughs  did  bend  with  fruit :  but,  in  one  night, 
A  florin,  or  robbery,  .call  it  what  you  will, 
Shook  down  my  mellow  hangings,  nay,  my  leaves, 
And  left  me  bare  to  weather  J. 
Guld.  Uncertain  favour  ! 

JBeJ.  My  fault  being  nothing  (as  I  have  told  you  oft) 
"But  that  two  villains,  whofc  falfe  oaths  prevail'd 
Before  my  perfect  honour,  fwore  to  Cymbeline, 
I  was  confederate  with  the  Romans  :  fo, 
Foilow'd  my  bahilhment ;  and,  thefe  twenty  years, 
This  rock,  and  thefe  demefnes,  have  been  my  world  : 
Where  I  have  liv'd  at  honelt  freedom  ;  pay'd 
More  pious  debts  to  heaven,  than  in  all 
The.fore-end  of  my  time. — But,  up  to  the  mountains; 
This  is  not  hunters'  language  :  He,  that  ftrikes 
The  venifon  firft,  ihall  be  the  lord  o'  the  feaft  ; 
To  him  the  other  twofhall  miniitxr  ; 
And  we  will  fear  no  poifon,  which  attends 
In  place  of  greater  irate.     I'll  meet  you  in  the  valleys. 

{  Exeunt  Girid.  and  An\ 

How  hard  it  is,  to  hide  the  fparks  of  nature  ! 
Thefe  boys  know  little,  they  are  fons  to  the  king  ; 
•  Nor  Cymbeline  dreams  that  tin  y  arc  aiive.       > 

3  And  left  me  lare  to  weather."]     So  in  Timon  : 
That  numberlefs  upon  me  ftuck,  as  leaves 
Do  on  the  oak,  have  with  one  winter's  brufli, 
Fallen  from  their  boughs,  and  left  me  open,  barc^ 
for  every  ftorm  that  ll^ws.     STEEVENS. 

They 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  251 

They  think,  they  are  mine  :  and,  though  trained  up 

thus  meanly 

«•  F  the  cave,  wherein  they  bow,  their  thoughts  do  hit 
The  roofs  of  palaces ;  and  nature  prompts  them, 

^  P  tie  cave,  &c.]     Mr.  Pope  reads : 

Here  in  the  cave,  wherein  their  thoughts  do  hit 

The  roof  of  palaces  ; 

but  .the  fentence  breaks  oft"  imperfectly.     The  old  editions  read  : 

I'  the  cave,  whereon  the  bow  their  thoughts  do  hit,  &c. 
Mr.  Rowe  faw  this  likcwife  was  faulty  ;  aiid  therefore  amended  it 
thus : 

I'  the  cave,  where,  on  the  bow,  their  thoughts  do  hit,  &c. 
I  think  it  ihould  be  only  with  the  alteration  of  one  letter,  and  the 
addition. of  another  : 

1'  the  cave,   there,  on  the  brow, 

And  fo  the  grammar  and  fyntax  of  the  fentence  is  complete.     Yfe 
call  the  arching  of  a  cavern,  or  overhanging  ot  a  hill,   metaphori- 
cally, the  brow,  and  in  like  manner  the  Greeks  and  Latins  uicd 
ifyvs,  and  fupcrcilium.     THEOBALD. 
—          tho*  train*  cl  up  thus  meanly, 
V  the  cave,  there  on  the  brow, ]     The  old  editions  read  : 

I'  the  cave  whereon  the  bow  ;  — ; 

which,  though  very  corrupt,  will  direct  us  to  the  true  reading; 
which,  when  rightly  pointed,  is  thus  : 

though  train'd  up  thus  meanly 

I'  the  cave  wherein  they  bow. — . 

I.  e.  Thus  meanly  brought  up.  Yet  in  this  very  cave,  which  is 
fo  low  that  they  muft  bow  or  bend  in  entering  it,  yet  are  their 
thoughts  fo  exalted,  &c.  This  is  the  antitheils.  Belariui  had 
fpoken  before  of  the  lownefs  of  this  cave  : 

A  goodly  day  !  not  to  keep  houfe,  with  fuch 

Whofe  roofs  as  low  as  ours.     See,  boys !  this  gate 

Inftrucls  you  how  to  adore  the  heavens  ;  and  bows  you 

To  morning's  holy  office.     WARBL-RTON. 
Hanmer  reads : 

I'  the  cave,  here  in  this  brow. • 

I  think  the  reading  is  this  : 

P  the  cave,  wherein  the  bow,  Sec. 

That  is,  they  are  trained  up  in  the  cave,  where  their  thoughts  in 
hitting  the  bow,  or  arch  of  their  habitation,  hit  the  roofs  of  pa- 
laces. In  other  words,  though  their  condition  is  low,  their 
thoughts  are  high.  The  fentence  is  at  laft,  as  Theobald  re- 
marks, abrupt,  but  perhaps  no  lefs  fuitable  to  Shakefpeare.  I  know 
pot  whether  Dr.  Warburton's  conjecture  be  not  better  than  mine. 

JOHNSON. 

In 


252  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

In  fimplc  and  low  things,  to  prince  it,  much 

Beyond  the  trick  of  others.     s  This  Polydore, — 

The  heir  of  Cymbeline  and  Britain,  whom 

The  king  his  father  call'd  Guiderius, — Jove  ! 

When  on  my  three-foot  ftool  I  fit,  and  tell 

The  warlike  feats  I  have  done,  his  fpirits  fly  out 

Into  my  ftory  :  fay, —  Thus  mine  enemy  fell; 

And  thus  I  fet  my  foot  on  his  neck  ;   even  then 

The  princely  blood  flows  in  his  cheek,  he  fweats, 

Strains  his  young  nerves,  and  puts  himfcif  in  pofture 

That  ads  my  words.     The  younger  brother,  Cadwal, 

(Once,  Arviragus)  in  as  like  a  figure, 

Strikes  life  into  my  fpeech,  and  (hews  much  more 

His  own  conceiving.     Hark  !  the  game  is  rouz'd  ! — 

O  Cymbeline  !  heaven,  and  my  conference,  knows, 

Thou  didft  unjuftly  banifh  me  :  whereon, 

At  three,  and  two  years  old,  6I  ftole  thefe  babes; 

Thinking  to  bar  thee  of  fucceffion,  as 

Thou  reft' it  me  of  my  lands.     Euriphile, 

Thou  waft  their  nurfe  ;    they  took  thee  for  their 

mother, 

And  every  day  do  honour  to  her  grave  : 
Myfelf,  Belarius,  that  am  Morgan  call'd, 
They  take  for  natural  father.    The  game  is  up.  [Exii. 

5 77'/.<r  Polydorc, ]  The  old  copy  of  the  play  (except 

here,  where  it  may  be  only  a  blunder  of  the  printer)  calls  the 
eldeft  fan  of  Cymbeline  Polidore,  as  often  as  the  name  occurs ; 
•and  yet  there  are  fome  who  may  alk  whether  it  is  not  more  likely 
that 'the  printer  fiiould  have  blundered  in  the  other  places,  than 
that  he  fhould  have  hit  upon  fuch  an  uncommon  name  as 
PaLtiour'm  this  firft  inftance.  STEEVENS. 

6 1  Jtole  tixfe  talcs ;]  Shakefpeare  foems  to  intend  Bcla- 

j-ius  for  a  good  character,  yet  he  makes  him  forget  the  injury 
which  he  has  done  to  the  young  princes,  whom  he  has  robbed  of 

u  kingdom  only  to  rob  their  lathc-r  of  heirs. The  latter  part  of 

this  foiilcquy  is  very  inartificial,  there  being  no  particular  reafon 
•'darius  fhould  now  tell  to  himfeif  what  he 'could  not  know 
t-jticr  !>y  telling  it.  JOHNSON. 


S  C  E  N  E 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  253 

SCENE     IV. 

Near  Milford-Huven. 

Enter  PifjmOj  and  Imogen* 

Imo,  Thou  told'ft  me,  when  we  came  from  horfe, 

the  place 

Was  near  at  hand  : — Ne'er  long'd  my  mother  fo 
To  fee  me  rirft,  as  I  have  now  : — Pifanio  !  Man  ! 
7  Where  is  Poflhumus  ?    What  is  in  thy  mind, 
That  makes  thee  itare  thus  ?     Wherefore  breaks  that 

figh 

From  the  inward  of  thec  ?  One,  but  painted  thus, 
Would  be  interpreted  a  thing  perplex'd 
Beyond  felf-explication  :  Put  thyfeif 
Into  a  havionr  of  lefs  fear s,  ere  wildnefs 
Vanquish  my  Itaider  fenfes.     What's  the  matter  ? 
Why  tender'il:  thou  that  paper  to  me,  with 
A  look  untender  ?     If  it  be  fummer  news, 
Smile  to't  before  :  if  winterly,  thou  need'it 

7  Wlere  is  Poflhumus  ?—— .]  Shakefpeare's  apparent  ignorance 
of  quantity  is  not  the  leaft  among  many  proofs  or  his  want  ot 
learning.  Throughout  this  play  he  calls  Pojlhumus,  Pofthumvs, 
and  Ar-viragus,  Arviragus.  It  may  be  faid  that  quantity  in  the 
age  of  our  author  did  not  appear  to  have  been  much  regarded. 
In  the  tragedy  of  Darius^  by  Alexander  Menftrie  (lord  Steriine) 
1603,  Darius  is  always  called  Darius ,  and  Euphrates,  Eu- 
pbrates : 

"  The  diadem  that  Darius  erft  had  borne—— 

**  The  famous  Euphrates  to  be  your  border " 

Again,  in  the  2 1  It  Song  of  Drayton's  Polyolbion : 

"  That  gliding  go  in  itate  like  {welling  Euphrates" 
Throughout  fir  Arthur  Gorges*  tranflation  of  Lucan,  Euphra- 
tes \3  likewile  given  inftead  of  Euphrates.     STEEVENS. 

s  — haviour ]     This  word,  as  often  as  it  occurs  in  Shake- 

ipcare,  (hould  not  be  printed  as  an  abbreviation  of  behaviour. 
Haviotir  was  a  word  commonly  ufed  in  hi$  time.     See  Spenfer, 

: 
Their  ill  bav-our  garres  men  mi  flay."    STEEVENS. 

But 


254  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

i 

But  keep  that  countenance  {till. — My  hufband's  hand ! 

That  9drug-damn'd  Italy  hath  out-crafted  him, 

And  he's  at  fome  hard  point. Speak,  man ;  thy 

tongue 

May  take  offlbme  extremity,  which  to  read 
Would  be  even  mortal  to  me. 

Pif.  Pleafe  you,  read  ; 

And  you  fhall  find  me,  wretched  man,  a  thing 
The  moft  difdain'd  of  fortune. 

Imogen  reads. 

Thy  mi/lrefs,  Pifdnio,  hath  playd  the  flrumpet  in  my 
bed ;  the  tejlimonies  whereof  He  bleeding  in  me.  I  fpeak 
not  out  of  weak  furmifes  ;  but  from  proof  as  ftrong  as  my 
grief,  and  as  certain  as  I  escpeft  my  revenge.  That  part, 
thou,  Pifanioy  muft  aft  for  me,  if  thy  faith  be  not  tainted 
with  the  breach  of  hers.  Let  thine  own  hands  take  away 
her  life  :  I  ft  all  give  thee  opportunity  at  Milford- Haven  : 
foe  hath  my  letter  for  the-purpofe  :  Where,  if  thou  fear  to 
Jtrike,  and  to  make  me  certain  it  is  done,  thou  art  the  pan- 
dar  to  her  dijhonour,  and  equally  to  me  difloyal. 

Pif.  What  fhall  I  need  to  draw  my  fword  ?  rlic 
paper 

Hath  cut  her  throat  already. No,  'tis  flander; 

Whofe  edge  is  fharper  than  the  fword ;  whofe  tongue 
Out-venoms  *  all  the  worms  of  Nile  ;  whofe  breath 
Rides  on  the  porting  winds,  and  doth  belye 
All  corners  of  the  world  :  kings,  queens,  and  1flates, 
Maids,  matrons,  nay,  the  fecrets  of  the  grave 

o (Iruz-Jamn'J ]  This  is  another  ailufion  to  Italian 

poifons.  JOHNSON. 

1  — \vurmsofNiie; — ]  Serpents  and  dragons  by  the  old 
writers  were  called  worms.  Of  this,  fevcral  inftances  are  given  in 
the  laft  aft  of  Antony  and  Cleopatra.  STEEVENS. 

* Jlates,]     Perfonsof  higheft  rank.     JOHNSON. 

This 


CYMBELINE.  25; 

This  viperous  (lander  enters.— What  cheer,  madam  ? 

Into.   Falfe  to  his  bed  !  What  is  it,  to  be  falfe  ? 
To  lie  in  watch  there,  and  to  think  on  him  ? 
To  weep  'twixt  clock  and  clock  ?  if  ileep   charge 

nature, 

To  break  it  with  a  fearful  dream  of  him, 
And  cry  myfclf  awake  ?  that's  falfe  to  his  bed  ? 
Is  it  ? 

Pif.  Alas,  good  lady  ! 

Into.  I  falfe  ?  Thy  conscience  witnefs  : — lachimo, 
Thou  didft  accufe  him  of  incontinency  ; 
Thou  then  look'dft  like  a  villain ;  now,  mcthinks, 
Thy  favour's  good  enough. — J  Some  jay  of  Jraly, 
'*  Whofe  mother  was  her  painting,  hath  betray'd  him : 
.Poor  I  am  ftale,  a  garment  out  of  fafhion ; 
And,  for  I  am  richer  than  to  hang  by  the  walls, 
I  muft  be  -ript : — to  pieces  with  me  ! — O, 
Men's  vows  are  women's  traitors  !  All  good  feeming, 

3 Some  jay  of  Italy,"]     There  is  a  pretrinefs  in  this  expref- 

fion  ;  putta,  in  Italian,  lignifying  both  a  jay  and  a  whore :  1  lup- 
pofe  from  the  gay  feathers  of  that  bird.  UARBURTON. 

So,  in  the  Merry  Wives,  &c.  "  teach  him  to  know  turtles  from 
jays"  STEEVENS. 

4  Whofe  mother  was  her  painting, ~\     This  puzzles  Mr. 

Theobald  much  :  he  thinks  it  may  fignify,  wlo/'c  mother  CU<M  a. 
lird  of  the  fume  feather  ;  or  that  it  fhould  be  read,  yibofe  mother 
was  her  planting.  What  all  this  means  I  know  not.  In  Mr. 
Howe's  edition,  the  .frfin  mother  happening  to  be  reverled  at  the 
prefs,  it  came  out  Wother.  And  what  was  very  ridiculous,  Gil- 
don  employed  himfelf  (properly  enough  indeed)  in  finding  a 
meaning  for  it.  In  fliort,  the  true  word  is  meether,  a  north  coun- 
try word,  lignifying  beauty.  So  that  the  fenfe  of,  her  meetber  was 
her  fainting,  is,  that  fhe  had  only  an  appearance  of  beauty,  tor 
which  (lie  was  beholden  to  her  paint.  WARBUR.TON. 

Seme  jay  of  Italy,  made  by  art  the  creature,  not  of  nature,  but 
of  painting.  In  this  lenfe  painting  may  be  not  improperly  term- 
ed \\zr.»:otl;er.  JOK.VSC.V.  • 

I  met  with  a  fimilar  exprefficn  in  one  of  the  old  comedies,  but 
forgot  to  note  the  date  or  name  of  the  piece  : 

««  a  parcel  of  conceited  feather-caps,  tvbofe  fathers 

"  were  tbc:r garments."     STEEVENS. 

By 


256  C  Y  M  B  E   L  I   N  E. 

By  thy  revolt,  O,  huiband,  fhall  be  thought 
Put  on  for  villainy  ;  not  born,  where't  grows  ; 
But  worn,  a  bait  for  ladies. 

Pif.  Good  madam,  hear  me. 

Imo.    True  honeft  men   being   heard,  like   falfe 


Were,  in  his  time,  thought  falfe  :  and  Sinon's  weep- 

ing 

Did  fcandal  many  a  holy  tear  ;  took  pity 
From  moft  true  wretchednefs  :    s  So,  thou,    Poft- 

humus, 

Wilt  lay  the  leaven  on  all  proper  men  ; 
Goodly,  and  gallant,  lhall  be  falfe,  and  perjur'd, 
From  thy  great  fail.  —  Come,  fellow,  be  thou  honeft  : 
Do  thou  thy  matter's  bidding  :  When  thou  fee'tt  him, 
A  little  witnefs  my  obedience  :  Look  ! 
I  draw  the  fword  myfelf  :  take  it  ;  and  hit 
The  innocent  manfion  of  my  love,  my  heart  : 
Fear  not  ;  'tis  empty  of  all  things,  but  grief  : 
Thy  matter  is  not  there  ;  who  was,  indeed, 
The  riches  of  it  :  Do  his  bidding  ;  ftrike. 
Thou  may'tt  be  valiant  in  a  better  caufe; 
But  now  thou  feem'tt  a  coward. 

s  tSfl,  tbott,  Pojlhumus, 

Wilt  lay  the  leaven  on  all  proper  men  ;]  When  Pofthumus 
thought  his  wife  falfe,  he  unjuftly  fcandalized  the  whole  iex.  His 
wife  here,  under  the  fame  impreilions  of  his  infidelity,  attended 
with  more  provoking  circumftances,  acquits  his  lex,  and  lays  the 
fault  where  it  was  due.  The  poet  paints  from  nature.  This  is 
life  and  manners.  The  man  thinks  it  a  diflionour  to  the  lupe- 
riority  of  his  underftanding  to  be  jilted,  and  therefore  flatters  his 
vanity  into  a  conceit  that  the  difgracc  was  inevitable  from  the  gene- 
ral infidelity  of  the  fex.  The  woman,  on  the  contrary,  not  imagin- 
ing her  credit  to  be  at  all  aflecled  in  the  matter,  never  leeks  out  for 
fo  extravagant  a  confolation  ;  but  at  once  ealts  her  malice  and  her 
griet,  by  laying  the  crime  and  damage  at  the  door  of  fome  ob- 
noxious coquet.  WARBURTON. 

Hanmer  reads  : 

-     —  lay  the  level 
without  any  neceffity.    JOHNSON. 

p;f. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  257 

P//*.  Hence,  vile  inftrument  ! 
Thou  (halt  not  damn  my  hand. 

Imo.  Why,  I  muft  die  ; 
And  if  I  do  not  by  thy  hand,  thou  art 
No  fervant  of  thy  mailer's  :  Againil  felf-flaughter 
There  is  a  prohibition  fo  divine, 
That  cravens  my  weak  hand.     Come,   here's  my 

heart  ;  - 

1  Something's  afore't  :  —  Soft,  foft;  we'll  no  defence  ; 
Obedient  as  the  fcabbard.  ---  What  is  here  ? 
z  The  fcriptures  of  the  loyal  Leonatus, 
All  turn'd  to  herefy  ?  Away,  away, 
Corrupters  of  my  faith  !  you  fhall  no  more 
Be  ftomachcrs  to  my  heart  !  Thus  may  poor  fools 
Believe  falfe  teachers  :  Though  thofe  that  are  be- 

tray 'd 

Do  feel  the  treafon  fharply,  yet  the  traitor 
Stands  in  worfe  cafe  of  woe. 
And  thou,  Poithumus,  that  diddefl  fet  up 
My  difobedience  'gainft  the  king  my  father, 
And  mad'ft  me  put  into  contempt  the  fuits 
Of  princely  fellows,  lhalt  hereafter  find 
It  is  no  aft  of  common  palTage,  but 
A  ftrain  of  rarenefs  :  and  I  grieve  myfelf, 
To  think,  when  thou  lhalt  be  dif-edg'd  by  her 
3  That  now  thou  tir'ft  on,  how  thy  memory 
Will  then  be  pang'd  by  me.  -  Pr'ythee,  difpatch  ; 
The  lamb  entreats  the  butcher  :  Where's  thy  knife  ? 
Thou  art  too  flow  to  do  thy  mailer's  bidding, 

1  Sftattk  lag's  afore't  -  ]     The  old  copy  reads  : 
Something's  a-foot  --     JOHNSON 


*  The  fcriptures  -  •  —  ]     So  Ben  Jonfon,  in  TbefaJSbt 
"  The  lover  *s  fcriptures,  Heliodore's,  or  Tatius'." 
Shakefpeare,  however,  means  in  this  place,  an  oppofition  between 
fcripturc,  in  its  common  lignification,  and  herefy.     STEEVENS. 

3  That  now  tbou  tir'f:  on,  -  ]     A  hawk  is  laid  to  tire  upon 
that  which  he  pecks  j  from  tirer,  French.    JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  S  When 


258  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

When  I  defire  it  too. 

Pif.  O  gracious  lady  ! 

Since  I  receiv'd  command  to  do  this  bufinefs, 
I  have  not  flept  one-wink. 
Imo.  Do't,  and  to  bed  then. 
Pif.  4  I'll  wake  mine  eye-balls  blind  firft. 
Imo.  Wherefore  then 

Did'ft  undertake  it  ?    Why  haft  thou  abus'd 
So  many  miles,  with  a  pretence  ?  this  place  ? 
Mine  action,  and  thine  own  ?  ourhorfes'  labour  ? 
The  time  inviting  thee  ?  the  perturb'd  court, 
For  my  being  abfent ;  whereunto  I  never 
Purpofe  return  ?  Why  haft  thou  gone  fo  far, 
5  To  be  unbent,  when  thou  haft  ta'en  thy  (land, 
The  elected  deer  before  thee  ? 

Pif.  But  to  win  time 

To  lofe  fo  bad  employment :  in  the  which 
I  have  confider'd  of  a  courfe  ;  Good  lady, 
Hear  me  with  patience. 

Imo.  Talk  thy  tongue  weary  ;  fpcak  : 
I  have  heard,  I  am  a  ftrumpet ;  and  mine  ear, 
Therein  falfe  ftruck,  can  take  no  greater  wound, 
Nor  tent  to  bottom  that.     But  fpeak. 

Pif.  Then,  madam, 
I  thought  you  would  not  back  again. 

Imo.  Moft  like ; 
Bringing  me  here  to  kill  me. 

Pif.  Not  fo,  neither  : 
But  if  I  were  as  wife  as  honeft,  then 
My  purpofe  would  prove  well.     It  cannot  be, 
But  that  my  mafter  is  abus'd  : 

*  ril  wake  mine  cye-laTls  firft. 

Imo.  men-fore  then}  This  is  the  old  reading.  The 
modern  editions  for  wake  read  break,  and  lupply  the  deficient  fyl- 
lable  by  Ab\  wherefore.  I  read : 

I'll  wake  mine  eye-balls  out  firft,  or,  Hind  firft.    JOHNSON. 

5  To  be  unbent^ ]    To  have  thy  bow  unbent,  alluding  to  a 

hunter,    JOHNSON. 

Some 


CYMBELINE.  259 

Some  villain,  ay,  and  fingular  in  his  art, 
Hath  done  you  both  this  curfed  injury. 
Imo.  Some  Roman  courtezan. 
Pif.  No,  on  my  life. 

I'll  give  but  notice  you  are  dead,  and  fend  him 
Some  bloody  fign  of  it ;  for  'tis  commanded 
I  fhould  do  fo  :  You  fhall  be  mifs'd  at  court, 
And  that  will  well  confirm  it. 

Imo.  Why,  good  fellow, 

What  fliall  I  do  the  while  ?  Where  bide  ?  How  liver 
Or  in  my  life  what  comfort,  when  I  am 
Dead  to  my  hufband  ? 

Pif.  If  you'll  back  to  the  court, 

Imo.  No  court,  no  father ;  nor  no  more  ado 
With  that  harm,  noble,  fimple,  nothing ; 
That  Cloten,  whofe  love-fuit  hath  been  to  me 
As  fearful  as  a  fiege.  v 
Pif.  If  not  at. court, 
Then  not  in  Britain  muft  you  bide. 

Imo.  Where  then  ? 

Hath  Britain  all  the  fun  that  fhines  ?  Day,  night, 
Are  they  not  but  in  Britain  ?  I*  the  world's  volume 
Our  Britain  feems  as  of  it,  but  net  in  it ; 
In  a  great  pool,  a  f.van's  neft  :  Fr'ythe,e,  think 
There's  livers  out  of  Britain. 

Pif.  I  am  moft  glad 

You  think  of  other  place.  The  embaflador, 
Lucius  the  Roman,  comes  to  Milford-Haven 
To-morrow  :  6  Now,  if  you  could  wear  a  mind 

Dark 

•  —  Now,  {f you  could  wear  a  mind 

Dark  as  your  fortune  is ; ]     What  had  the  tlarlinrfs  of  her 

wind  to  do  with  the  concealment  of  peiTon,  which  is  here  advis'd  ? 
On  the  contrary,  her  mind  w^s  to  continue  unchang'd,  ia  order 
to  fupport  her  change  of  fortune.  Shakelpeare  wrote : 

Now,  if  you  could  wearawf/*. 

Or,  according  to  the  French  orthography,  from  whence  I  pre- 
lyino  arofe  rhe  corruption: 

« Now,  if  yuu  could  wear  a  mine,    V/ARBVRToy. 

S  a  T» 


*6o  C  Y  M  B  B  L  I  K  E. 

Dark  as  your  fortune  is ;  and  but  difguifc 
That,  which,  to  appear  itfelf,  mud  not  yet  be, 
But  by  felf-danger ;  you  ihould  tread  a  courfe 
Pretty,  and  7  full  of  view  :  yea,  haply,  near 
The  refidence  of  Pofthumus ;  fo  nigh,  at  leaft, 
That  though  his  actions  were  not  vifible,  yet 
Report  ihould  render  him  hourly  to  your  ear, 
As  truly  as  he  moves. 

Imo.  O,  for  fuch  means ! 
*  Though  peril  to  my  modefty,  not  death  on'r5 
I  would  adventure. 

Pif.  Well,  then  here's  the  point : 
You  muft  forget  to  be  a  woman  ;  change 
Command  into  obedience ;  fear,  and  nicenefs, 
(The  handmaids  of  all  women,  or,  more  truly, 
Woman  its  pretty  felf )  into  a  waggifli  courage  ; 
Ready  in  gybes,  quick-anfwer'd,  faucy,  and 
As  quarrellous  as  the  weazel :  9  nay,  you  muft 
Forget  that  rareft  treafure  of  your  cheek, 
Expofing  it  (but,  O,  the  harder  heart ! 
Alack,  no  remedy)  to  the  greedy  touch 

To  wear  a  dark  mind,  is  to  carry  a  mind  impenetable  to  the 
fcarch  of  others.  Detrknefs,  applied  to  the  mind,  is  fecrccy,  ap- 
plied to  the  fortune,  is  ebfcnrity.  The  next  lines  are  obfcure. 
Tots  mitft,  fays  Pifanio,  difguife  that  greatnefs,  which,  to  appear 
hereafter  in  its  proper  form,  cannot  yet  appear  without  great  dan- 
ger to  it/elf.  JOHNSON. 

7 full  of  view  :— —  ]     With  opportunities  of  examining 

your  affairs  with  your  own  eyes.     JOHNSON'. 

*  Though  peril  to  my  modefty, ]     I  read  : 

Tljrough  peril  •     - 

/  ivould  for  fuch  means  adventure  through  peril  of  madefy ;  I  would 
rifque  every  thing  but  real  dishonour.     JOHNSON. 

a  nay^  y°u  muft 

Forget  that  rareft  treafure  of  your  dvel ; 

Expojing  it  (but,  oh,   the  harikr  heart  ! 

Alack,  no  remedy}  I  think  jt  very  natural  to  reflect  In  this  dif- 
trefs  on  the  cruelty  of  Pofthumus.  Dr.  Warburton  propofes  to 
read: 

—the  harder  Lap .'—    JOHNSON. 

Of 


CYMBELINE.  ^j 

Of  common-kiffing  Titan  ;  and  forget 
Your  labourfome  and  dainty  trims,  wherein 
You  made  great  Juno  angry. 

Into.  Nay,  be  brief : 
I  fee  into  thy  end,  and  am  almoft 
A  man  already. 

Pif.  Firft,  make  yourfelf  but  like  one. 
Fore-thinking  this,  I  have  already  fit, 
('Tis  in  my  cloak-bag)  doublet,  hat,  hofe,  all 
That  anfwer  to  them  :  Would  you  in  their  ferving, 
And  with  what  imitation  you  can  borrow 
From  youth  of  fuch  a  feafon,  'fore  noble  Lucius 
Prefent  yourfelf,  defire  his  fervice,  tell  him 
Wherein  you  are  happy,  ('which  you'll  make  him 

know, 

If  that  his  head  have  ear  in  mufic)  doubtlefs, 
With  joy  he  will  embrace  you  ;  for  he's  honourable, 
And,  doubling  that,  moft  holy.    Your  means  abroad 
You  have  me,  rich  ;  and  I  will  never  fail 
Beginning,  nor  fupplyment. 

Imo.  Thou  art  all  the  comfort 
The  gods  will  diet  me  with.     Pr'ythee,  away  : 
There's  more  to  be  confider'd ;  but z  we'll  even 
All  that  good  time  will  give  us  :  J  This  attempt 
I  am  foldier  to,  and  will  abide  it  with 

1 ivbicb  you'll  make  him  know,]     This  is  Hanmer's  read- 
ing.    The  common  books  have  it : 

which  iviff  make  him  know. 

Mr.  Theobald,  in  one  of  his  long  notes,  endeavours  to  prove, 
that  it  Ihould  be  : 

•which  will  make  him  fo. 
He  is  followed  by  Dr.  Warburton.    JOHNSON. 

All  tbat  good  time  will  give  us :  •—     •        ]     We'll  make  our 
work  even  with  our  time ;  we'll  do  what  time  will  allow. 

JOHNSON. 

3  ~ This  attempt 

lam  foldier  to, ]     i.  e.  I  have  inlifted  and  bound  myfelf 

toit.     WARBURTON. 

83  A  prince's 


a<s2  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

A  prince's  courage.     Away,  I  pr'ythee. 

Plf.  Well,  madam,  we  mult  take  a  fliort  farewel ; 
Left,  being  mifs'd,  I  be  fufpected  of 
Your  carriage  from  the  court.     My  noble  miftrefs, 
Here  is  a  box  ;  I  had  it  from  the  queen  ; 
What's  in't  is  precious :  if  you  are  lick  at  fea, 
Or  Itomach-qualm'd  at  land,  a  dram  of  this 

Will  drive  away  diftemper. To  fome  lhade, 

And  fit  you  to  your  manhood  : — May  the  gods 
Direct  you  to  the  bell ! 

Into.  Amen  :  I  thank  thee.  [Exeunt, 

SCENE        V. 

The  -palace  of  Cymbeline. 

Enter  CymbeUne*  Queen,  Ckten,  Lucius,  and  Lords> 

Cym.  Thus  far ;  and  fo  farewel. 
Luc.  Thanks,  royal  fir. 
My  emperor  hath  wrote :  I  muft  from  hence  ; 
And  am  right  forry,  that  I  muft  report  ye 
My  matter's  enemy. 

Cym.  Our  fubjects,  fir, 
Will  not  endure  his  yoke  ;  and  for  ourfelf 
To  ihew  lefs  fovereignty  than  they,  mult  needs 
Appear  unkinglike. 

Luc.  So,  fir,  I  defire  of  you 

A  conduct  over  land,  to  Milford-Haven. 

Madam,  all  joy  befal  your  grace,  and  you  ! 

Cym.  My  lords,  you  are  appointed  for  that  office  j 

The  due  of  honour  in  no  point  omit : 

So,  farewel,  noble  Lucius. 

Luc.  Your  hand,  my  lord. 

Clot.  Receive  it  friendly  :  but  from  this  time  forth 
J  wear  it  as  your  enemy. 

Luc. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  26j 

Luc.  Sir,  the  event 
Is  yet  to  name  the  winner :  Fare  you  well. 

Cym.  Leave  not  the  worthy  Lucius,  good  my  lords, 

'Till  he  have  croft  the  Severn. Happinefs ! 

[Exit.  Lucius,  &c* 

Queen.  He  goes  hence  frowning  :  but  it  honours  us, 
That  we  have  given-  him  cauie. 

Clot.  'Tis  all  the  better; 
Your  valiant  Britons  have  their  wifhes  in  it. 

Cym.  Lucius  hath  wrote  already  ro  the  emperor 
How  it  goes  here.     It  firs  us  theref  >re,  ripely, 
Our  chariots  and  our  horfemen  be  in  readinels  : 
The  powers  that  he  already  hath  in  GaUia. 
Will  foon  be  drawn  to  head,  from  whence  he  moves 
His  war  for  Britain. 

Queen.  'Tis  not  fleepy  bufmefs ; 
But  muft  be  look'd  to  fpeedily,  and  ftrongly. 

Cym.  Our  expectation  that  it  ihould  be  thus, 
Hath  made  us  forward.     But,  my  gentle  queen, 
Where  is  our  daughter  ?     She  hath  not  appear'd 
Before  the  Roman,  nor  to  us  hath  tender'd 
The  duty  of  the  day  :  She  looks  us  like 
A  thing  more  made  of  malice  than  of  duty  ; 
We  have  noted  it. — Call  her  before  us ;  for 
We  have  been  too  light  in  fufferance.  [Exit  afervant. 

Queen.  Royal  fir, 

Since  the  exile  of  Pofthumus,  moft  retir'd 
Hath  her  life  been  ;  the  cure  whereof,  my  lord, 
'Tis  time  muft  do.     'Befeech  your  majefty, 
Forbear  lharp  fpeeches  to  her  :  She's  a  lady 
So  tender  of  rebukes,  that  words  are  ftrokes, 
And  ftrokes  death  to  her. 

Re-enter  tie  Servant. 

Cym.  Where  is  fhe,  fir  ?     How 
Can  her  contempt  be  anfwer'd  ? 
Strv.  Pleafe  you,  fir, 

S  4  Her 


a64  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Her  chambers  are  all  lock'd  ;  and  there's  no  anfvver 
That  will  be  given  to  the  loud  of  noife  we  make. 

Queen.  My  lord,  when  laft  I  went  to  vifit  her, 
She  pray'd  me  to  excufe  her  keeping  clofe; 
Whereto  conftrain'd  by  her  infirmity, 
She  Ihould  that  duty  leave  unpaid  to  you, 
Which  daily  Ihe  was  bound  to  proffer  :  this 
She  wiih'd  me  t'->  make  known  ;  but  our  great  court 
Made  me  to  bla-me  in  memory. 

Cym.  Her  Joors  lock'd? 

Not  feen  of  late  ?  Grant,  heavens,  that,  which  I  fear, 
Prove  falfe !  [Exit. 

Queen.  Son,  I  fay,  follow  the  king. 

Clot.  That  man  of  hers,  Pifanio  her  old  fervant, 
I  have  not  feen  thefe  two  days.  [Exit. 

Queen.  Go,  look  after.— 
Pifanio,  thou  that  ftand'ft  fo  for  Pofthumus  !— 
He  hath  a  drug  of  mine  :  I  pray,  his  abfence 
Proceed  by  (wallowing  that ;  for  he  believes 
It  is  a  thing  moft  precious.     But  for  her, 
Where  is  fhe  gone  ?    Haply,  defpair  hath  feiz'd  her ; 
Or,  wing'd  with  fervour  of  her  love,  (he's  flown 
To  her  defir'd  Pofthumus' :  Gone  Ihe  is 
To  death,  or  to  difhonour  ;  and  my  end 
Can  make  good  ufe  of  either :  She  being  down, 
I  have  the  placing  of  the  Britifh  crown, 

Re-enter  Ckten* 

How  now,  my  fon  ? 

Clot.  Tis  certain,  ihe  is  fled  : 
Go  in,  and  cheer  the  king ;  he  rages,  none 
Dare  come  about  him. 

Qneen.  All  the  better  :  May 
This  night  fore-ftall  him  of  the  coming  day  ! 

[Exit  Quten. 

Clot.    I  love,  and  hate  her :    for  file's  fair  and 
royal; 

And 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  26$ 

4  And  that  ihe  hath  all  courtly  parts  more  exquifite 
Than  lady,  ladies,  woman ;  from  every  one 
The  beft  fhe  hath,  and  Ihe,  of  all  compounded, 
Outfells  them  all :  I  love  her  therefore  ;  But, 
Difdaining  me,  and  throwing  favours  on 
The  low  Pofthumus,  {landers  fo  her  judgment, 
That  what's  elfe  rare,  is  choak'd  ;  and,  in  that  point, 
I  will  conclude  to  hate  her,  nay,  indeed, 
To  be  reveng'd  upon  her.     For,  when  fools 

Enter  Pifanio. 

Shall—Who  is   here  ?     What !   are  you  packing, 

firrah  ? 

Come  hither :  Ah,  you  precious  pandar  !  Villain, 
Where  is  thy  lady  ?    In  a  word  ;  or  elfe 
Thou  art  ftraightway  with  the  fiends. 

Pif.  O,  good  my  lord ! 

Got.  WThere  is  thy  lady  ?  or,  by  Jupiter, 
I  will  not  afk  again.     Clofe  villain, 
I'll  have  this  fecret  from  thy  heart,  or  rip 

*  And  thatjbe  hath  all  courtly  parts  more  cxquifite 
Than  lady  ladles  woman  ;  from  each  one 

The  left  Jbe  bath, ]     The  fecond  line  is  intolerable 

nonfenfe.     It  fhould  be  read  and  pointed  thus  : 

Than  lady  ladies ;  winning  from  each  one. 

The  fenfe  of  the  whole  is  this,  1  love  her  becaufe  flie  has,  in  a 
more  exquilite  degree,  all  thofe  courtly  parts  that  ennoble  \lady\ 
women  of  quality  \ladiei\  winning  from  each  of  them  the  belief 
their  good  qualities,  &c.  Lady  is  a  plural  verb,  and  ladies  a 
noun  governed  of  it ;  a  quaint  expreffion  in  Shakefpeare's  way, 
and  fuiting  the  folly  of  the  charafter.  WAR  BURTON. 

I  cannot  perceive  the  fecond  line  to  be  intolerable,  or  to  be 
nonfenfe.  The  fpeaker  only  rifes  in  his  ideas.  She  has  all  courtly 
farts,  fays  he,  more  exquijitc  than  any  lady,  than  all  ladies,  than 
all  womankind.  Is  this  nonfenfe  ?  JOHNSON. 

There  is  a  fimilar  paflage  in  Al?s  well  that  ends  well,  a&  II. 
fc,  iii.  ««  To  any  count ;  to  all  counts ;  to  what  is  man." 

TOLLET. 

Thy 


266  CYMBELINE. 

Thy  heart  to  find  it.     Is  fhe  with  Pofthumus  ? 
From  whofe  fo  many  weights  of  bafenefs  cannot 
A  dram  of  worth  be  drawn. 

Pif.  Alas,  my  lord, 

How  can  flie  be  with  him  ?    When  was  flie  mifs'd  ? 
He  is  in  Rome. 

Clot  Where  is  flie,  fir  ?     Come  nearer  ; 
No  further  halting  :  fatisfy  me  home, 
What  is  become  of  her  ? 

Pif.  O,  my  all-worthy  lord  ! 

Clot.  All-worthy  villain  ! 
Difcover  where  thy  miftrefs  is,  at  once, 
At  the  next  word,  -  No  more  of  worthy  lord,—  • 
Speak,  or  thy  filence  on  the  inftant  is 
Thy  condemnation  and  thy  death. 

Pif.  Then,  fir, 

This  paper  is  the  hiftory  of  my  knowledge 
Touching  her  flight. 

Clot.  Let's  fee't  :  —  I  will  purfue  her 
Even  to  Auguflus'  throne. 

Pif.  5  Or  this,  or  perifh. 
She's  far  enough  ;  and  what  he  learns  by  thi 


•> 

is,  \ 
J 


May  prove  his  travel,  not  her  danger. 
Clot.  Humh  ! 

Pif.    I'll   write    to    my  lord,    flic's    dead.      O, 
Imogen, 


*  Or  tins,  orperijb.}  Thefe  words,  I  think,  belong  to  Cloten, 
who,  requiring  the  paper,  fays  : 

Let1  if  eft:  I  will  purfue  her 

Even  to  Auguftu?  throne.     Or  this,  or  per  {/b. 
Then  Pifanio  giving  the  paper,  fays  to  himfelf: 

She's  far  enough,  &c.     JOHNSON. 

I  own  I  am  of  a  different  opinion.  Or  this,  or  pcrijh,  properly 
belongs  to  Pifanio,  who  fays  to  himfelf,  as  he  gives  the  paper  into 
the  hands  of  Cloten,  /  »;»/?  either  give  it  him  freely,  or  perijh  in, 
my  attempt  to  keep  it  :  or  elfe  the  words  may  be  conlidcred  as  a  re- 
ply to  Cloten's  boafl  of  following  her  to  the  throne  of  Auguflus, 
and  are  added  flily:  You  will  either  Jo  what  you  fay,  or  ferijht 
which  is  the  mort  prolalle  of  the  t-wo.  STEEVENS. 

Safe 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.'  267 

Safe  may 'ft  thou  wander,  fafe  return  again  ! 
Clot.  Sirrah,  is  this  letter  true  ? 
Pif.  Sir,  as  I  think. 

Clot.  It  is  Pofthumus  hand  ;  I  know't.— -Sirrah,  if 
thou  wouldft  not  be  a  villain,  but  do  me  true  fervice ; 
undergo  thofe  employments,  wherein  I  mould  have 
caufe  to  ufe  thee,  with  a  ferious  induftry, — that  is, 
what  villainy  foe'er  I  bid  thee  do,  to  perform  it,  di- 
rectly and  truly, — I  ivould  think  thee  an  honeft  man  : 
thou  Ihould'ft  neither  want  my  means  for  thy  relief, 
nor  my  voice  for  thy  preferment. 
Pif.  Well,  my  good  lord. 

Clot.  Wilt  thou  ferve  me  ?  For  fince  patiently  and 
constantly  thou  haft  ftuck  to  the  bai'e  fortune  of  that 
beggar  Pofthumus,  thou  can'ft  not  in  the  courfe  of 
gratitude  but  be  a  diligent  follower  of  mine.  Wilt 
thou  ferve  me  ? 
Pif.  Sir,  I  will. 

Clot.  Give  me  thy  hand,  here's  my  purfe.  Haft 
any  of  thy  late  mafter's  garments  in  thy  poffeffion  ? 

Pif.  I  have,  my  lord,  at  my  lodging,  the  fame 
fuit  he  wore  when  he  took  leave  of  my  lady  and 
miftrefs. 

Clot.  The  firft  fervice  thou  doft  me,  fetch  that  fuit 
hither  :  let  it  be  thy  firft  fervice ;  go. 

Pif.  I  fliall,  my  lord.  [Exit. 

Clot.  Meet  thee  at  Mil  ford-Haven  : 1  forgot  to 

aflt  him  one  thing  ;  I'll  remember't  anon  : Even 

there,  thou  villain  Pofthumus,  will  I  kill  thee. — I 
would,  thefe  garments  were  come.  She  laid  upon  a 
time,  (the  bitternefs  of  it  I  now  belch  from  my  heart) 
thatftie  held  the  very  garment  of  Pofthumus  in  more 
refpeft  than  my  noble  and  natural  perfon,  together 
with  the  adornment  of  my  qualities. <  With  that  fuit 
upon  my  back,  will  I  ravifh  her  :  Firft  kill  him,  and 
in  her  eyes ;  there  fliall  fhe  fee  my  valour,  which 
will  then  be  a  torment  to  her  contempt.  'He  on  the 
ground,  my  fpeech  of  infultrnent  ended  on  his  dead 

body, — 


268  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

body,— and  when  my  luft  hath  dined,  (which, as  I  fay, 
to  vex  her,  I  will  execute  in  the  clothes  that  flie  fo 
prais'd)  to  the  court  I'll  knock  her  back,  foot  her 
home  again.  She  hath  defpis'd  me  rejoicingly,  and 
I'll  be  merry  in  my  revenge. 

Re-enter  Pifanio,  with  the  ckaths. 

Be  thofe  the  garments  ? 

Pif.  Ay,  my  noble  lord. 

Clot.  How  long  is't  fince  ihe  went  to  Milford- 
Haven  ? 

Pif.  She  can  fcarce  be  there  yet. 

Clot.  Bring  this  apparel  to  my  chamber ;  that  is 
the  fecond  thing  that  I  have  commanded  thee  :  the 
third  is,  that  thou  wilt  be  a  voluntary  mute  to  my 
defign.  Be  but  duteous,  and  true  preferment  fhall 
tender  itfelf  tothee. — My  revenge  is  now  atMilford ; 
Would  I  had  wings  to  follow  it ! — Come,  and  be  true. 

[Exit. 

Pif.  Thou  bidd'ft  me  to  my  lofs :  for,  true  to  thee, 
Were  to  prove  falfe,  which  I  will  never  be, 
To  him  that  is  mod  true. — To  Milford  go, 
And  find  not  her  whom  thou  purfu'ft.     Flow,  flow, 
You  heavenly  bleffings,  on  her  !     This  fool's  fpeed 
Be  croft  with  flownefs ;  labour  be  his  meed  !     [Exit* 


SCENE      VI. 

The  forejl  and  cave. 

Enter  Imogen,  in  boy's  clothes. 

Imo.  I  fee,  a  man's  life  is  a  tedious  one : 
I  have  tir'd  myfelf ;  and  for  two  nights  together 
Have  made  the  ground  my  bed.     I  (hould  be  fick, 
But  that  my  refolution- helps  me, — Milford, 

When 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  tf  E.  269 

When  from  the  mountain  top  Pifanio  ihewM  thee, 
Thou  waft  within  a  ken  :  O  Jove  !  I  think, 
Foundations  fly  the  wretched  :  fuch,  I  mean, 
Where  they  Ihould  be  reliev'd.  Two  beggars  told  m«, 
I  could  not  mifs  my  way  :  Will  poor  folk  lye, 
That  have  afflictions  on  them  ;  knowing  'tis 
A  punifhment,  or  trial  ?  Yes  :  no  wonder, 
When  rich  ones  fcarce  tell  true  :  To  lapfe  in  fullnefs 
1  Is  forer,  than  to  lye  for  need  ;  and  falfhood 
Is  worfe  in  kings,  than  beggars. — My  dear  lord  ! 
Thou  art  one  o'  the  falfe  ones :  Now  I  think  on  thee,' 
My  hunger's  gone  ;  but  even  before,  I -was 
At  point  to  link  for  food. — But  what  is  this  ? 
Here  is  a  path  to  it :  'Tis  fome  favage  hold  : 
I  were  beft  not  call ;  I  dare  not  call :  yet  famine,' 
Ere  clean  it  o'erthrow  nature,  makes  it  valiant. 
Plenty,  and  peace,  breeds  cowards;  hardnefs  ever 
Of  hardinefs  is  mother. — Ho  !  who's  here  ? 
*  If  any  thing  that's  civil,  fpeak ;  if  favage, 

Take, 

*  Is  forer •, ]     Is  a  greater,  or  heavier  crime.     JOHNSON. 

a  If  any  thing  that's  civil, .  ]     Civil ^  for  human  creature. 

WARBURTON. 
If  any  thing  that* i  civil,  fpeali  ;   if  favage  t 

Take,  or  lend. ]     She  is  in  doubt,  whether  this  cave  be 

the  habitation  of  a  man  or  beaft.  If  it  be  the  former,  flie  bids 
Inmfpeak  ;  if  the  latter,  that  is,  the  den  of  a  favage  bealt,  what 
then  r  Take  or  hnJ—\\re  Ihould  read : 

Take  'or  't  end. . 

i.  e.  Take  my  life  ere  famine  end  it.  Or  was  commonly  ufed  £br 
ere :  this  agrees  to  all  that  went  before.  But  the  Oxford  editor 
cuts  the  knot : 

Take,  or  yield  food, 

fays  he  ;  as  if  it  was  poffible  fo  plain  a  fentence  fhould  ever  have 
been  blundered  into  Take  or  lend.  WARBURTON. 

I  fuppofe  the  emendation  propofed  will  not  eafily  be  received  ; 
it  is  (trained  and  obfcure,  and  the  objefrion  againft  Hanmer's 
reading  is  likevvife  very  flrong.  I  queftion  whether,  after  the 
words,  iffavap,  a  line  be  not  loft.  I  can  offer  nothing  better 
than  to  read  ; 

Ho! 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Take,  or  lend. — Ho ! — No  anfvvcr  ?  then  I'll  entetv 
Belt  draw  my  fvvord ;  and  if  mine  enemy 
But  fear  the  fword  like  me,  he'Jl  fcarcely  lookon't. 
Such  a  foe,  good  heavens  !         [She  goes  into  the  cave. 

Enter  Belarius,  Guiderius,  and  Arviragus. 

BeL  You,  Polydore,  have  prov'd  bed  woodman, 

and 

Are  mafter  of  the  feafl :  Cadwal,  and  I, 
Will  play  the  cook,  and  fervant ;  'tis  our  match  : 
The  fweat  of  induftry  would  dry,  and  die, 
But  for  the  end  it  works  to.     Come  ;  our  ftomachs 
Will  make  what's  homely,  favoury  :  Wearinefs 
Can  fnore  upon  the  flint,  when  refty  floth 
Finds  the  down  pillow  hard. — Now,  peace  be  here, 
Poor  houfe,  that  keep'ft  thyfelf! 

Guld.  I  am  throughly  weary. 

Afi}.  I  am  weak  with  toil,  yet  ftrong  in  appetite. 

Guid.  There  is  cold  meat  i'  the  cave  ;  we'll  brouze 
on  that, 

Ho  !  who's  here  ?- 

If  any  thing  that's  civil,  take  or  lend% 

If  favage,  fpeak. 

If  you  are  civilifed  and  peaceable,  take  a  price  for  what  I  want,  of 
lend  it  for  a  future  recompence  ;  if  you  are  rough  inbofpitalle  in- 
habitants of  the  mountain,  fpeak,  that  I  may  know  my  ilate. 

JOHNSON. 

Dr.  Johnfon's  interpretation  of  thefe  words  is  confirmed  by  what 
Imogen  fays  afterwards—— 

**  I  call'd,  and  thought  to  have  leggd  or  bought"  MALOXE. 

If  any  thing  that's  civil,  fpeak ;  if  favage, 

Take,  or  lend. — Ho  ! ]    It  is  by  no  means  neceflary  to  fup- 

pofe  that  favage-holci  fignifies  the  habitation  of  a  leaft.  It  may 
as  well  be  uled  for  the  cave  of  a  favage,  or  wild  man,  who,  in  the 
romances  of  the  time,  were  reprefented  as  rending  in  the  woods, 
like  the  famous  Orfon,  Bremo  in  the  play  of  MuceJorus,  or  the 
lavage  in  the  feventh  canto  of  the  fourth  book  of  Spenier's  Fatry 
Queen,  a«dthe6thB.  0.4,  STEEVENS. 

Whilft 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  271 

\Vhilftwhat  we  have  kill'd  be  cook'd. 

Bel.  Stay  ;  come  not  in  : —  [Looking  fa% 

But  that  it  eats  our  vi&uals,  I  ihould  think 
Here  were  a  fairy. 

Guid.  What's  the  matter,  fir  ? 

Eel.  By  Jupiter,  an  angel !  or,  if  not, 
An  earthly  paragon  ! — Behold  divinenefs 
No  elder  than  a  boy  ! 

Enter  Imogen* 

Imo.  Good  matters,  harm  me  not : 
Before  I  enter*  d  here,  I  call'd ;  and  thought 
To  have  begg'd,  or  bought,  what  I  have  took  :  Good 

troth, 
I  have  ftolen  nought ;  nor  would  not,  though  I  had 

found 

Gold  ftrew'd  o*  the  floor.  Here's  money  for  my  meat: 
I  would  have  left  it  on  the  board,  ib  foon 
As  I  had  made  my  meal ;  and  parted 
With  prayers  for  the  provider. 
Guid.  Money,  youth  ? 
Arv.  All  gold  and  filver  rather  turn  to  dirt ! 
As  'tis  no  better  reckon'd,  but  of  thofe 
Who  worfhip  dirty  gods. 

Imo.  I  fee,  you  are  angry : 
Know,  if  you  kill  me  for  my  fault,  I  Ihould 
Have  dy'd,  had  I  not  made-  it. 
Bel.  Whither  bound  ? 
Imo.  To  Milford-Haven. 
Bel.  What's  your  name  ? 
Imo.  Fidele,  fir  :  I  have  a  kinfman,  who 
Is  bound  for  Italy  ;  he  embark'd  at  Milford  ; 
To  whom  being  going,  almoft  fpent  with  hunger, 
I  am  fallen  in  this  offence. 

Bel.  Pr'ythee,  fair  youth, 
Think  us  no  churls ;  nor  meafure  our  good  minds 

By 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

By  this  rude  place  we  live  in.     Well  encounter'd  ! 
'Tis  almofl  night :  you  fhall  have  better  cheer 
Ere  you  depart ;  and  thanks,  to  ftay  and  eat  it. — 
Boys,  bid  him  welcome. 

Guld.  Were  you  a  woman,  youth, 
I  fliould  woo  hard,  but  be  your  groom. — In  honefly 
3 1  bid  for  you,  as  I'd  buy. 

Arv.  I'll  make't  my  comfort, 
He  is  a  man  ;  I'll  love  him  as  my  brother : — 
And  fuch  a  welcome  as  I'd  give  to  him, 
After  long  abfence,  fuch  is  yours : — Moft  welcome  ! 
Be  fprightly,  for  you  fall  'mongft  friends. 

Imo.  'Mong'ft  friends  ! 

If  brothers  ? — 'Would  it  had  been  fo,  that  they" 
Had  been  my  father's  fons !   4  then  had  my 

prize 

Been  lefs ;  and  fo  more  equal  ballafting 
To  thee,  Pofthumus. 

Eel.  He  wrings  at  fome  diftrefs. 

Guld.  'Would,  I  could  free't ! 

Arv.  Or  I ;  whate'er  it  be, 
What  pjain  it  coft,  what  danger !     Gods ! 

Bel  Hark,  boys.  {Wlnfperlng. 

3  V&lidforyou)  asTdluy.'}  This  is  Hanmer's  reading.  The 
other  copies, 

I  bid  for  you,  as  I  do  buy.     JOHNSON. 
I  think  this  paflage  might  be  better  read  thus  :— 

I  Jbould  woo  bard,  but  be  your  groom.— Iu  honefty 
Ibid  for y OH)  as  I'd  buy. 

That  is,  I  fliould  woo  hard,  but  I  would  be  your  bride-groom, 
[And  when  I  fay  that  I  would  woo  hard^  be  allured  that]  in  ho- 
uefty  I  bid  for  you,  only  at  the  rate  at  which  I  would  purchafe  you. 

TYRWHITT. 

I  have  adopted  this  pun&uation,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  true 
one.  STEKVENS. 

*  — • » the n  had  my  prize 

Keen  lefs;  and  fo  more  equallallaftlng]  Ilnnmer  rcr.:'s  plau- 
fibly,  but  without  neceflity,  price  for  prize,  and  balancing  for  bal- 
lafting. He  is  followed  by  Dr.  Warburton.  The  meaning  is, — 
Had  I  been  lefs  a  prize,  I  fhould  not  have  been  too  heavy  for  Foft- 
humus.  JOHNSON, 

Imo. 


C  Y  M  B  E   L  I   N  E.  273 

Imo.  Great  men, 

That  had  a  court  no  bigger  than  this  cave, 
That  did  attend  themielves,  and  had  the  virtue 
Which  their  own  confcience  feal'd  them,  (laying  by 
1  That  nothing  gift  of  differing  multitudes) 
Could  not  out-peer  thefe  twain.     Pardon  me,  gods ! 
I'd  change  my  fex  to  be  companion  with  them, 
Since  Ltonatus  falfe 

Bel.  It  mail  be  ib  : 

Boys,  we'll  go  drefs  our  hunt. — Fair  youth,  come  in  : 
Difcourfe  is  heavy,  fafting  ;  when  we  have  iupp'd, 
We'll  mannerly  demand  thee  of  thy  ftory, 
So  far  a?  thou  wilt  fpeak  it. 

Guid.  Pray,  draw  near. 

Arv.  The  night  to  the  owl.,  and  morn  to  the  lark, 
lefs  welcome. 

Imo.  Thanks,  fir. 

Arv.  I  pray,  draw  near.  [Exeunt* 

SCENE     VII. 
ROME. 

Enter  two  Roman  Senators,  and  Tribunes. 

i  Sen.  This  is  the  tenor  of  the  emperor's  writ ; 
*  That  fince  the  common  men  are  now  in  adtion. 

1  That  nothing  gift  of  differing  multitudes)]  The  poet  muft 
mean,  that  court,  that  obfequious  adoration,  which  the  fhifting 
vulgar  pay  to  the  great,  is  a  tribute  of  no  price  or  value.  I  am 
perfuaded  therefore  our  poet  coined  this  participle  from  the  French 
verb,  and  wrote : 

That  nothing  gift  of  acfering  multitudes : 

i.e.  obfequious,  paying  deference. Deferer,  Cedtr  par  refpe£l 

a  quelcun,  obeir,  condefccndre,  &c. Deferent,  civil,  refpefiueux^ 

&c.  Richelet.    THEOBALD. 

He  is  followed  by  fir  T.  Hanmer  and  Dr.  Warburton  ;  but  I 
do  not  fee  why  differing  may  not  be  a  general  epithet,  and  the  ex- 
preffion  equivalent  to  the  many-headed  rabble.  JOHNSON, 

*  Thatfnce  the  common  men  are  no*OJ  in  aflion 
'Gainft  the  Pannonians  and  Dalmatians, 
Jndthat,  Scc.J     Thefe  fafts  are  aiftorical.    STEEVEXS. 

VOL.  IX.  T 


274-  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   £, 

'Gainft  the  Pannonians  and  Dalmatians ; 
And  that  the  legions  now  in  Gallia  are 
Full  weak  to  undertake  our  wars  againft 
The  fallen-off  Britons  ;  that  we  do  incite 
The  gentry  to  this  bufinefs  :  He  creates 
Lucius  pro-conful :  3  and  to  you  the  tribunes, 
For  this  immediate  levy,  he  commands 
•  His  abfolute  commimon.     Long  live  Csfar  ! 

7n.  Is  Lucius  general  of  the  forces  ? 

2  Sen.  Ay. 

Tri.  Remaining  now  in  Gallia  ? 

i  Sen.  With  thole  legions 
Which  I  have  fpoke  of,  whereunto  your  levy 
Muft  be  fupplyant :  The  words  of  your  commifiion 
Will  tie  you  to  the  numbers,  and  the  time 
Of  their  difpatch. 

Tri.  We  will  difcharge  our  duty.  [Exeunt, 


A  C  T     IV.      S  C  E  N  E     I. 

Thefwejl,  near  tfa  cave. 

Enter  Ckten. 

I  am  near  to  the  place  where  they  Ihould  meet,  if 
Pifanio  have  mapp'd  it  truly.     How  fit  his  gar- 

3  •    •'•"  and  to  yon,  the  tribunes  ^ 
For  this  immediate  levy^  he  commands 

His  a'ffalute  commijjion. ]     Commands  bit  commijuon  is 

fuch  a  phrafe  as  Shakefpeare  would  hardly  have  ufed.     1  have 
rfcntured  to  fubftitute : 

— he  commends 

His  abfolute  com  million. 

i.  e.  He  recommends  the  care  of  making  this  levy  to  you ;  ami 
gives  you 'an  abfolute  commiflion  for  fo  doing.     WAR  BUR  TON* 

The  plain  meaning  is,  he  commands  the  commiffion  to  be  given, 
to  you.    So  we  lay,  1  ordtred  the  materials  to  the  workmen. 

JOHNSON. 

ments 


CYMBELINE.  275 

ments  ferve  me  !  Why  fhould  his  miftrefs,  who  was 
made  by  him  that  made  the  taylor,  not  be  fit  too  ? 
the  rather  (laving  reverence  of  the  word)  for, 
'tis  faid,  a  woman's  fitnefs  comes  by  fits.  Therein  I 
muft  play  the  workman.  I  dare  fpeak  it  to  myfelf, 
(for  it  is  not  vain-glory,  for  a  man  and  his  glafs  to 
confer;  in  his  own  chamber,  I  mean)  the  lines  of 
my  body  are  as  well  drawn  as  his ;  no  lefs  young, 
more  flrong,  not  beneath  him  in  fortunes,  beyond 
him  in  the  advantage  of  the  time,  above  him  in 
birth,  alike  converfant  in  general  fgrvices,  and  more 
remarkable  in  fingle  oppositions  :  yet  this  4  imperfe- 
verant  thing  loves  him  in  my  defpight.  What  mor- 
tality is  !  Pofthumus,  thy  head,  which  is  now  grow- 
ing upon  thy  fhoulders,  mall  within  this  hour  be  off; 
thy  miftrefs  enforced ;  thy  garments  cut  to  pieces *  be- 
fore thy  face  :  and  all  this  done,  fpurn  her  home  to 
her  father;  who  may,  haply,  be  a  little  angry  for 
my  fo  rough  ufage  :  but  my  mother,  having  power 
of  his  teftinefs,  fhall  turn  all  into  my  commenda- 
tions. My  horfe  is  ty'dupfafe:  Out,  fword,  and 
to  a  fore  purpofe  !  Fortune,  put  them  into  my  hand! 
This  is  the  very  defcription  of  their  meeting-place ; 
and  the  fellow  dares  not  deceive  me.  [Exit. 

4  ——imperfcverant ]  Thus  the  former  editions.  Hanraer 

reads — ill-ferferverant.  JOHNSON. 

Imperfcvcrant  may  mean  no  more  than  perfeverant,  like  im- 
bofom'd,  /'wpaffion'd,  /Twmafk'd.  STEEVENS. 

5 before  \hy  face : ]  Pofthumus  was  to  have  his  head 

ftruck  oft,  and  then  his  garments  cut  to  pieces  before  his  face  ; 
we  fhould  read, — her  face,  i.  e.  Imogen's,  done  to  defpite  her, 
who  had  faid,  fhe  efteemed  Pofthumus  s  garment  above  the  perfoa 
ot  Clotco,  WARBURTO.V. 


T  2  SCENE 


276  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

SCENE      II. 

The  Cave. 
Enter  Belarbts,  Guiderius,  Arviwgus,  and  Imogen. 

Eel.  You  are  not  xvell :  remain  here  in  the  cave  ; 
We'll  come  to  you  after  hunting. 

Aru.  Brother,  ftay  here  :  [To  Imogen. 

Are  we  not  brothers  ? 

Imo.  So  man  and  man  fhould  be ; 
But  clay  and  clay  differs  in  dignity, 
Whofe  duft  is  both  alike.  I  am  very  Tick. 

Quid.  Go  you  to  hunting,  I'll  abide  with  him. 

Imo.  So  fick  I  am  not ;  yet  I  am  not  well : 
But  not  fo  citizen  a  wanton,  as 
To  feem  to  die,  ere  fick  :  So  pleafe  you,  leave  me ; 

6  Stick  to  your  journal  courfe  :  the  breach  of  cultom 
Is  breach  of  all.     I  am  ill ;  but  your  being  by  me 
Cannot  amend  me  :  Society  is  no  comfort 

To  one  not  fociable  :  I  am  not  very  fick, 
Since  I  can  reaibn  of  it.     Pray  you,  truft  me  here  : 
I'll  rob  none  but  myfelf;  and  let  me  die, 
Stealing  fo  poorly. 

Guid.  I  love  thee ;  I  have  fpoke  it : 

7  How  much  the  quantity,  the  weight  as  much, 
As  I  do  love  my  father. 

Bel.  WJiat?  'how  ?  how  ? 

Arv.  If  it  be  fin  to  fay  fo,  fir,  I  yoke  me 
In  my  good  brother's  fault  :  I  know  not  wh}^ 
I  love  this  youth  ;  and  I  have  heard  you  fay, 

'  Stick  to  your  journal  courfe :  the  breach  of  cuflom 

It  breach  of  all. —  ]  Keep  your  daily  courfe  uninterrupted  ; 
if  the  ftated  plan  of  life  is  once  broken,  nothing  follows  but  con- 
fufion.  JOHNSON. 

7  HO--M  much  the  quantity, ]     I  read  : 

Ai  much  the  quantity.    JOHNSON. 

Love's 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I   N   E.  277 

Love's  reafon's  without  reafon  :  the  bier  at  door, 
And  a  demand  who  is't  mall  die,  Fd  fay, 
My  father,  not  this  youth. 
Bel.  O  noble  drain  ! 

0  worthinefs  of  nature !  breed  of  greatnefs  ! 
Cowards  father  cowards,  and  bafe  things  fire  bafe  : 
Nature  hath  meal,  and  bran  ;  contempt,  and  grace. 

1  am  not  their  father  ;  yet  who  this  ftiould  be, 
Doth  miracle  itfelf,  lov'd  before  me. 

'Tis  the  ninth  hour  o'  the  morn. 

Arv.  Brother,  farewel. 

Imo.  I  wifh  ye  fport. 

Arv.  You  health. So  pleafe  you,  fir  8. 

Imo.  \_Afide.~\  Thefe  are  kind   creatures.      Gods, 

what  lies  I  have  heard  ! 
Our  courtiers  fay,  all's  favage,  but  at  court : 
Experience,  O,    thou  difprov'fl  report  ! 
The  imperious  feas  breed  monfters  ;  for  the  difh, 
Poor  tributary  rivers  as  fweet  fifh. 
I  am  lick  ftill ;  heart-fick  :— Pifanio, 
I'll  now  tafte  of  thy  drug. 

Guid.  9 1  could  not  ftir  him  : 
He  faid,  he  was  'gentle,  but  unfortunate; 
Difhoneftly  afflicted,  but  yet  honeft. 

Arv.  Thus  did  he  anfwer  me  :  yet  faid,  hereafter 
I  might  know  more. 

Bel.  To  the  field,  to  the  field  :— 
We'll  leave  you  for  this  time  ;  go  in,  and  reft. 

Arv.  We'll  not  be  long  away. 

Eel.  Pray,  be  not  fick, 
For  you  muft  be  our  houfewife, 

8  — —  So  pleafe  you,  fir.\      I  cannot  relifti   this  courtly  phrafe 
from  the  mouth  of  Arviragus.     It  fliould  rather,  1  think,  begin 
Imogen's  fpeech.     TYRWHITT. 

9  /  could  notjlir  him  :]     Not  move  him  to  tell  his  llory. 

JOHNSON. 

1 gentle,  lut  unfortunate  ;  ]     Gentle,    is  well  born,  of  birth 

the,  vulgar.    JOHNSON. 

T  3  Jim,' 


278  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Into.  Well,  or  ill, 
I  am  bound  to  you.  [Exit  Imogen. 

Bel.  And  fhalt  be  ever. 

This  youth,  howe'er  diflrefs'd,  appears,  he  hath  had 
Good  anceftors. 

Arv.  How  angel-like  he  fings  ! 

Quid.  But  his  neat  cookery  ! 
He  cut  our  roots  in  characters  ; 
And  fauc'd  our  broths,  as  Juno  had  been  fick, 
And  he  her  dieter. 

Jrv.  Nobly  he  yokes 
A  fmiling  with  a  figh  :  as  if  the  figh 
Was  that  it  was,  for  not  being  fuch  a  fmile  ; 
The  fmile  mocking  the  figh,  "that  it  would  fly 
From  fo  divine  a  temple,  to  commix 
With  winds  that  failors  rail  at. 

Guid.  I  do  note, 

That  grief  and  patience,  rooted  in  him  both, 
*  Mingle  their  fpurs  together. 

Aru.  Grow,  patience  ! 
And  let  the  J  ftinking  elder,  grief,  untwine 
His  perifhing  root,  with  the  increafing  vine  ! 

Bel.  4  It  is  great   morning.      Come  ;  away. 

Who's  there  ? 

Enter  Clot  en. 
Clot.  I  cannot  find  thofe  runagates  ;  that  villain 

*  Mingle  their  fpurs  together."]  Spurs,  an  old  word  for  the  fibres 
of  a  tree.  POPE. 

a  — Jlinking  elder , •]     Shakefpeare  had  only  feen  Englijb 

vines  which  grow  againft  walls,  and  therefore  may  be  fometimes 
entangled  with  the  elder.  Perhaps  we  fhould  read, — untwine  from 
thtvine.  JOHNSON. 

Sir  John  Hawkins  propofes  to.  read  enfw-ve.  He  fays,  "  Let  the 
flinking  elder  [Grief]  entwine  his  root  with  the  vine  [Patience] 
•nd  in  the  end  Patience  muft  outgrow  Grief."  STEEVENS. 

4 //  is  -great  morning. ]     A  Gallicifm.     Grand  four. 

STEEVENS. 

Hath 


C  Y  M   B  E   L  I   N   E.  279 

Hath  mock'd  me  : — I  am  faint. 

Bel.  Thofe  runagates  ! 
Means  he  not  us  ?  I  partly  know  him  ;  'tis 
Cloten,  the  Ton  o'  the  queen.     I  fear  fome  ambuih. 
I  faw  him  not  thefe  many  years,  and  yet 
I  know 'tis  he  : — We  are  held  as  outlaws  : — Hence. 

Guid.  He  is  but  one  ;  You  and  my  brother  fearch 
What  companies  are  near  :  pray  you,  away  ; 
Let  me  alone  with  him. 

{Exeunt  Bdarius,  and  Arviragus. 

Clot.  Soft  !  What  are  you 
That  fly  me  thus  ?  fome  villain  mountaineers  ? 
I  have  heard  of  fuch. — What  Have  art  thou  ? 

Guid.  A  thine; 

More  flavifh  did  I  ne'er,  than  anfwering 
A  flave  without  a  knock. 

Clot.  Thou  art  a  robber, 
A  law-breaker,  a  villain  :  Yield  thee,  thief. 

Guid.  To  who  ?  to  thee  ?  What  art  thou  ?   Have 

not  I 

An  arm  as  big  as  thine  ?  a  heart  as  big  ? 
Thy  words,  I  grant,  are  bigger;  for  I  wear  not 
My  dagger  in  my  mouth.     Say,  what  thou  art ; 
Why  I  ihould  yield  to  thee  ? 

Clot.  Thou  villain  bafe, 
Know'ft  me  not  by  my  clothes  ? 

Guid.  No,  nor  thy  taylor,  rafcal, 
Who  is  thy  grandfather ;  he  made  thofe  clothes, 
Which,  as  it  feems,  make  thee  5. 

Clot.  Thou  precious  -varlet, 
My  taylor  made  them  nor. 

Guid.  Hence  then,  and  thank 

The  man  that  gave  them  thee.    Thou  art  fome  fool ; 
I  am  loth  to  beat  thee, 

5  No,  nor  thy  taylor,  rafcal, 
Who  is  tl.y  grandfather  ;  Lc  made  tl>ofe  clothes. 
Which)  as  it  feems,  make  tbec.~\     See  a  note  on  a  Cmilar  paf- 
fcjgc  in  a  former  Iccne  : 

"  \\  hofc  mother  was  her  painting."     STEEVENS. 

T  4  Clot. 


iSo  C  Y  M  B  E   L  I  N  E. 

Clot.  Thou  injurious  thief, 
Hear  but  my  name,  and  tremble. 

Guid.  What's  thy  name  ? 

Clot.  Cloten,  thou  villain. 

Guid.  Cloten,  thou  double  villain,  be  thy  name, 
I  cannot  tremble  at  it ;  were  it  toad,  adder,  fpider, 
'Twould  move  me  Iboner. 

Clot,  To  thy  further  fear, 
Nay,  to  thy  mere  confuiion,  thou  lhalt  know 
I  am  fon  to  the  queen. 

Guid.  1  am  ferry  for't ;  not  feeming 
So  worthy  as  thy  birth. 

Clot.  Art  not  afeard  ? 

Guid.  Thofe  that  I  reverence,  thofe  I  fear ;    the 

wife  : 
At  fools  I  laugh,  not  fear  them. 

Clot.  Die  the  death  : 

When  I  have  flain  thee  with  my  proper  hand, 
Til  follow  thofe  that  even  now  fled  hence, 
And  on  the  gates  of  Lud's  town  fet  your  heads  : 
*  Yield,  ruftic  mountaineer.  [Fight,  and  exeunt. 

Enter 

*  Yield,  ruftic  mountaineer.."^  I  believe,  upon  examination,  the 
fharafter  of  Cloten  will  not  prove  a  very  confident  one.  Aft  I. 
fceneiv.  the  lords  who  are  converting  with  him  on  the  fubjeft  of 
his  rencontre  with  Pofthumus,  reprefent  the  latter  as  having  nei- 
ther put  forth  his  ftrength  or  courage,  but  ftill  advancing  for- 
wards to  the  prince,  who  retired  before  him  ;  yet  ;it  this  his  lafl 
appearance,  we  fee  hjin  fighting  gallantly,  and  falling  by  the 
hand  of  Arviragus.  The  fame  perfons  afterwards  fpeak  of  him 
as  of  a  mere  afs  or  idiot ;  and  yet,  aft  HI.  fcene  i.  he  returns  one 
of  the  noblcft  and  moft  reafonable  anfvvers  to  the  Roman  envoy: 
and  the  reft  of  his  converfation  on  the  fame  occafion,  though  // 
may  lack  farm  a  little,  by  no  means  refembles  the  language  of  tolly. 
He  behaves  with  proper  dignity  and  civility  at  parting  with  Lu- 
cius, and  yet  is  ridiculous  and  brutal  in  his  treatment  of  Imogen. 
Belarius  delcribes  him  as  not  haying  fcnfe  enough  to  know  what 
fear  is  (which  he  defines  as  being  fometimes  the  effeft  of  judg- 
ment) ;  nnd  yet  he  forms  very  artful  fchcmes  for  gaining  the  af- 
feftion  of  hi£  miftrefs,  by  means  of  her  attendants ;  to  get  her 
perfon  into  his  power  afterwards ;  and  fecms  to  be  no  lefs  ac- 
quainted 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  281 


Enter  Belarius,  and  Arviragus, 

Bel.  No  company's  abroad. 

Arv.  None  in  the  world  :  You  did  miflake  him, 
fure. 

Bel.  I  cannot  tell :  Long  is  it  fince  I  faw  him, 
But  time  hath  nothing  blurr'd  thofe  lines  of  favour 
Which  then  he  wore  ;  7  the  fnatches  in  his  voice, 
And  biirft  of  fpeaking,  were  as  his  :  I  am  abfolute; 
'Twas  very  Cloten. 

Arv.  In  this  place  we  left  them  : 
I  wifti  my  brother  make  good  time  with  him, 
You  fay  he  is  fo  fell. 

Bel.  9  Being  fcarce  made  up, 

I  mean, 

quainted  with  the  chara&er  of  his  father,  and  the  afcendancy  the 
queen  maintained  over  his  uxorious  weaknefs.  We  find  Cloten,  in, 
fhort,  reprefented  at  once  as  brave  and  daftardly,  civil  and  bru- 
tal, fagacious  and  foolifh,  without  that  fubtilty  of  diftinftion,  and 
thofe  fliades  of  gradation  between  fenfe  and  folly,  virtue  and  vice, 
which  conftitute  the  excellence  of  fuch  mixed  characters  as  Polo- 
nius  in  Hamlet,  and  the  Nurfe  in  Romeo  and  Juliet,  STEEVENS. 

7 the  fnatcbes  in  bis  voice, 

Audlurjl  offpealing, ]     This  is  one  of  our  authors 

ftrokes  of  obfervation.  An  abrupt  and  tumultuous  utterance  very 
frequently  accompanies  a  confufed  and  cloudy  understanding. 

JOHNSON. 

8  In  the  old  editions  : 

Being  fcarce  made  up, 

I  mean,  to  man,  he  bad  not  apprehension 

Of  roaring  terrors  :  for  defect  of  judgment 

Is  oft  tbe  caufe  of  fear,- ]     If  I   underftand  this  paflage,  it 

it  is  niock  reafoning  as  it  ftands,  and  the  text  muft  have  been 
flightly  corrupted.  Belarius  is  giving  a  defcription  of  what  Clo- 
ten formerly  was;  and  in  anfwer  to  what  Arviragus  fays  of  his  &e~ 
ing  fo  fell.  **  Ay,  fays  Belarius,  he  was  fo  fell;  and  being  fcarce 
then  at  man's  eftate,  he  had  ho  apprehenfion  of  roaring  terrors, 
i.e.  of  any  thing  that  could  check  him  with  fears."  But  then, 
how  does  the  inference  come  in,  built  upon  this  ?  For  defect  of 
judgment  is  oft  the  caufe  of  fear.  I  think  the  poet  meant  to  have 
faid  the  mere  contrary.  Cloten  was  defective  in  judgment,  and 
therefore  did  not  fear.  Apprehenfions  of  fear  grow  from  a  judg- 
ment in  weighing  dangers.  And  a  very  eafy  change,  from  the 

traces 


£$s  CYMBELINE, 

I  mean,  to  man,  he  had  not  apprehenfion 
Of  roaring  terrors  :  For  the  effed:  of  judgment 
Is  oft  the  caufe  of  fear, — But  fee,  thy  brother. 

Re-enter  Guiderius,  with  Cktetfs  head. 

Guid.  This  Cloten  was  a  fool ;  an  empty  purfc, 
There  was  no  money  in't :  not  Hercules 
Could  have  knock'd  out  his  brains,  for  he  had  none  : 
Yet  I  not  doing  this,  the  fool  had  borne 
My  head,  as  I  do  his. 

Bel  What  haft  thou  done  ? 

Guid.  9 1  am  perfedt,  what :  cut  off  one  Cloten's 

head, 

Son  to  the  queen,  after  his  own  report; 
Who  caird  me  traitor,  mountaineer  ;  and  fwore, 
With  his  own  tingle  hand  he'd  f  take  us  in, 
Difplace  our  heads,  where  thank  the  gods,  they  gro\v, 

traces  of  the  letters,  gives  us  this  fenfe,  and  reconciles  the  reafon- 
ing  of  the  whole  pafiage  : 

for  tb*  effefl  of  judgment 

Is  oft  the  caufe  of  fear. THEOBALD. 

Hanmer  reads,  with  equal  juftnefs  of  feritiment : 
•  for 'defect  of  judgment 

Is  oft  the  cure  of  fear. 

But,  I  think,  the  play  of  effcft  and  caufe  more  rcfembling  the 
manner  of  our  author.     JOHNSON. 

If  fear,  as  in  other  paflages  of  Shakefpeare,  be  underftood  in 
an  active  fignification  for  what  may  caufe  fear,  it  means  that  Clo- 
ten's defect  of  judgment  caufed  him  to  commit  a6tions  to  the 
terror  of  others,  without  due  confideration  of  his  own  danger 
therein.  Thus  in  K.  Henry  IV.  part  2. 

all  thefe  bold  fears, 

Thou  fee'ft  with  peril  I  have  anfwered.    TOLT.ET. 

9  I  am  perfeR,  -what: ]     I  am  well  informed,  what.     So 

In  this  play  : 

Ymperfefl,  the  Pannonians  are  in  arms.     JOHNSON. 

* take  us  /«,]     To   take  in,  was  the  phrale  in  uie  for  to 

tpprckcnd  ya.  out-law,  or  to  make  him  amenable  to  public  juftice. 

JOHNSON. 

To  take  in  means,  fimplyi,  to  conquer,  to  fubdue.  So  in  An- 
tony  and  Cleopatra  : 

cut  the  Ionian  feas, 

And  take  in  Toryne.    STEEVENS. 

And 


CYMBELINE.  2ff3 

And  fet  them  on  Lud's  town. 

Bel.  We  are  all  undone. 

Quid.  Why,  worthy  father,  what  have  we  to  lofe, 
But,  that  he  fwore  to  take,  our  lives  ?  The  law 
Protects  not  us ;  Then  why  Ihould  we  be  tender, 
To  let  an  arrogant  piece  of  flefh  threat  us  ? 
Play  judge,  and  executioner,  all  himfelf  ? 
For  we  do  fear  the  law  4  ?  What  company 
Difcover  you  abroad  ? 

Bel.  Nofinglefoul 

Can  we  fet  eye  on,  but,  in  all  fafe  reafon, 
He  muft  have  fome  attendants.   3  Though  his  honour 
Was  nothing  but  mutation ;  ay,  and  that 
From  one  bad  thing  to  worfe ;  not  frenzy,  not 
Abfolute  madnefs  could  fo  far  have  rav'd, 
To  bring  him  here  alone  :  Although,  perhaps, 
It  may  be  heard  at  court,  that  fuch  as  we 
Cave  here,  hunt  here,  are  out-laws,  and  in  time 

a  For  we  do  fear  the  law? ]     For  is  here  ufed  in  the  fenfc 

of  lecaufe.     So  in  Marlowe's  Jew  of  Malta,   1633  : 
"  See  the  fimplicity  of  thete  bnfe  flaves  ! 
"  Who,  for  the  villains  have  no  faith  themfelves, 
"  Think  me  to  be  a  fenfelefs  lump  of  clay." 
So,  in  Othello  : 

"  And  for  I  know  thou  art  full  of  love  and  honefty.M 

MALONE. 

3 Though  his  honour 

Was  nothing  lut  mutation,  &c.]  What  has  h'i9  honour  to  do 
here,  in  his  being  changeable  in  this  fort  ?  in  his  acting  as  a  mad- 
man, or  not  ?  I  have  ventured  to  fubftitute  humour,  againft  the 
authority  of  the  printed  copies ;  and  the  meaning  feems  plainly 
this :  "  Though  he  was  always  fickle  to  the  laft  degree,  and  go- 
verned by  humour,  not  found  fenfe;  yet  not  madnefs  itfelf  could 
make  him  fo  hardy  to  attempt  an  enterprize  of  this  nature  alone, 
and  unfeconded."  THEOBALD. 

Though  his  honour 

J-Fas  nothing  lut  mutation;— — ]  Mr.  Theobald,  as  ufual,  not 
underftanding  this,  turns  honour  to  humour.  But  the  text  is  right, 
and  means,  that  the  only  notion  he  had  of  honour,  was  the  ta- 
faion,  which  was  perpetually  changing.  A  fine  ftroke  of  fatire, 
well  e.xprefled  ;  yet  the  Oxford  editor  follows  Mr.  Theobald. 

WARfctJRTON. 

May 


284  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E. 

May  make  fomc  ftronger  head;  the  which  he  hearing, 

(As  it  is  like  him)  might  break  our,  and  fwear 

He'd  fetch  us  in  ;  yet  is't  not  probable 

To  come  alone,  either  he  fo  undertaking, 

Or    they    fo  fuffering :  then  on  good  ground  we 

fear, 

If  we  do  fear  this  body  hath  a  tail 
More  perilous  than  the  head. 

Arv.  Let  ordinance 

Come  as  the  gods  forefay  it :  howfoe'er, 
My  brother  hath  done  well. 

BsL  I  had  no  mind 

To  hunt  this  day  :  the  boy  Fidcle's  ficknefs 
4  Did  make  my  way  long  forth. 

Gutd.  With  his  own  fword, 

Which  he  did  wave  againft  my  throat,  I  have  ta'en 
His  head  from  him  :  I'll  throw  it  into  the  creek 
Behind  our  rock ;  and  let  it  to  the  fca, 
And  tell  the  fifties,  he's  the  queen's  fon,  Cloten  : 
That's  all  I  reck,  [Exit. 

Eel.  I  fear,  'twill  be  reveng'd  : 
Would,  Polydore,  thou  had'ft  not  done't !  though 

valour 
Becomes  thee  well  enough. 

Arv.  'Would  I  had  donc'r, 
So  the  revenge  alone  purfu'd  me  ! — Polydore, 
I  love  thce  brotherly  ;  but  envy  much, 
T.houhaftrobb'd  me  of  this  deed :  I  would,  'revenges, 
That  poffible  ftrength  might  meet,  would  feek   us 

through, 
And  put  us  to  our  anfwer. 

BcL  Well,  'tis  done:— 
We'll  hunt  no  more  to-day,  nor  feck  for  danger 

4  Did  make  my  ivay  Iongforth.~\  Fidele's  ficknefs  made  my  it'#/,( 
forth  from  the  cave  tedious.     JOHNSON, 

5 revenges, 

That  pojjible  Jlrtngtb  mlgl't  meet,  ]     Such  purfuit  of  ven- 

geance as  fell  within  any  poflibility  of  oppofition.    JOHNSON. 

Where 


CYMBELINE.  285 

Where  there's  no  profit.     I  pr'ythee,  to  our  rock  ; 
You  and  Fidele  play  the  cooks :  I'll  flay 
'Till  hafly  Polydore  return,  and  bring  him 
To  dinner  prefently, 

Ai'v.  Poor  fick  Fidele  ! 
Fll  willingly  to  him  :  To  gain  his  colour, 
6  I'd  let  a  parifh  of  fuch  Clotcns  blood, 
And  praifcmyfelf  for  charity.  FExit. 

Bel.  O  thou  goddefs, 

Thou  divine  Nature,  thou  thyfelf  thou  blazon'ft 
In  thefe  two  princely  boys  !  They  are  as  gentle 
As  zephyrs,  blowing  below  the  violet, 
Not  wagging  his  fweet  head  ;  and  yet  as  rough, 
Their  royal  blood  enchaf'd,  as  the  rudeft  wind, 
That  by  the  top  doth  take  the  mountain  pine, 
And  make  him  ftoop  to  the  vale.     'Tis  wonderful, 
That  an  invifibte  initinft  fhould  frame  them 
To  royalty  unlearn'd ;  honour  untaught ; 
Civility  not  feen  from  other ;  valour, 
That  wildly  grows  in  them,  but  yields  a  crop 
As  if  it  had  been  fow'd  !     Yet  (till  it's  flrange, 
WhatCloten's  being  here  to  us  portends  j 
Or  what  his  death  will  bring  us. 

6  Pdlet  a  parifh  of  fuel  Clotens  Uood,~\  This  nonfenfe  fhould  be 
corrected  thus : 

I'd  let  a  marijh  of  fuch  Clotens  blood  : 

i.  e.  a  marfii  or  lake.  So  Smith,  in  his  account  of  Virginia, 
**  Yea  Venice,  at  this  time  the  admiration  or  the  earth,  was  at; 
firit  but  a  marftjb)  inhabited  by  poor  fifhermen."  In  the  firit  book 
of  ZjjLCirfot's,  chap.  is.  ver.  24.  the  tranflators  ufe  the  word  in  the 
lame  fcnfe.  WAREURTON. 

The  learned  commentator  has  dealt  the  reproach  of  nonfenfe 
very  liberally  through  this  play.  Why  this  is  nonfenfe,  I  cannot 
difcovcr.  I  would,  lays  the  young  prince,  to  recover  Fidele,  kul 
as  many  Clotens  as  would  fill  a  par'tjb,  JOHNSON. 

"  His  vifage,  fays  Fenner  of  a  catcbpole,  was  almoft  eaten 
through  with  pock-holes,  ic  that  halt  a  parijh  of  children  might 
have  played  at  cherry -pit  in  his  face,"  FARMER. 

Re-enter 


a86  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  ) 

Re-enter  Guiderius. 

Guid.  Where's  my  brother  ? 
I  have  fent  Cloten's  clot-pole  down  the  ftream, 
In  embaffy  to  his  mother ;  his  body's  hoftage 
For  hisreturn.  [ Solemn  mufic* 

Eel.  My  ingenious  inftrument ! 
Hark,  Polydore,  it  founds  !  But  what  occafion 
Hath  Cadwal  now  to  give  it  motion  ?  Hark ! 

Guid.  Is  he  at  home  ? 

Bel.  He  went  hence  even  now. 

Guid.  What  does  he  mean  ?   fmcc  death  of  my 

deareft  mother 

It  did  not  fpeak  before.     All  folemn  things 
Should  anfwer  folemn  accidents.     The  matter  ? 
Triumphs  for  nothing,  and  lamenting  toys, 
Is  jollity  for  apes,  and  grief  for  boys. 
Is  Cadwal  mad  ? 

Re-enter  Arviragus,  with  Imogen  as  dead,  bearing  far 
his  arms. 

Bel  Look,  here  he  comes, 
And  brings  the  dire  occafion  in  his  arms, 
Of  what  we  blame  him  for  ! 

Arv.  The  bird  is  dead, 

That  we  have  made  fo  much  on.     I  ha<jl  rather 
Have  fkipp'd  from  fixteen  years  of  age  to  fixty, 
And  turn'd  my  leaping  time  into  a  crutch, 
Than  have  feen  this. 

Guid.  Oh  fweeteft,  faireft  lilly  ! 
My  brother  wears  thce  not  the  one  half  fo  well, 
As  when  thou  grew'ft  thyielf. 

Bel.  7  O,  melancholy  ! 

Who 

7  O,  melancholy  ! 

Who  ever  yet  could  found  tly  bottom  f  find 
The  ooze,  to  flwj  what  cnajl  tbyjluggffi  crare 

Might  eafiliejl  harbour  in  ? ]      The  folio  reads ; 

thy  fluggifti  care; 

which 


CYMBELINE."  287 

Who  ever  yet  could  found  thy  bottom  ?  find 
The  ooze,  to  Ihew  what  coaft  thy  fluggiih  crare 
Alight  eafilieft  harbour  in  ? — Thou  blefled  thing  ! 
Jove  knows  what  man  thou  might'ft  have  made ; 

but!*, 

Thou  dy'dft,  a  moft  rare  boy,  of  melancholy  !— 
How  found  you  him  ? 
Arv.  Stark,  as  you  fee ; 

which  Dr.  Warburton  allows  to  be  a  plaufible  reading,  but  fub- 
fiitutes  carrack  in  its  room  ;  and  with  this,  Dr.  Johnfon  tacitly  ac- 
quiefces,  and  inferts  it  in  the  text.  Mr.  Sympfon,  in  his  notes 
on  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  vol.  vi.  page  441,  has  retrieved  the 
true  reading,  which  is, 

thy  fluggifh  crare. 

See  The  Captain,  page  10  : 

"  lee  him  venture 

'*  In  fome  decay 'd  crare  of  his  own." 

A  crare,  fays  the  author  of  Tbe  Revlfal,  is  a  fmall  trading  veflel, 
called  in  the  Latin  of  the  middle  ages  crcyera.  The  fame  word, 
though  fomewhat  differently  fpelt,  occurs  in  Harrington's  tranfla- 
tion  of  Aria/to,  book  39,  ftanza  28  : 

"  A  miracle  it  was  to  lee  them  grown 

"  To  (hips,  and  barks,  withgallies,  bulks  and  crayes> 

"  Each  veflel  having  tackling  of  her  own, 

"  With  fails  and  oars  to  help  at  ail  eflkys." 
Again,  in  Hey  wood's  Golden  Age,   161 1  : 

"  Behold  a  form  to  make  your  craers  and  barks." 
Again,  in  Dray  ton's  Mlferies  of  Queen  Margaret; 

**  After  a  long  chafe  took  this  little  cray, 

"  Which  he  luppos'd  him  fafely  fhould  convey." 
Again,  in  the  22d  Song  of  Dray  toil's  Pojyollion: 

" iome  (hell,  or  little  crea, 

*'  Hard  labouring  for  the  land  on  the  high-working  fea." 
Again,  in  Ain'mtasfor  his Pbiilis,  published  in  £ng'aufFs  Hell' 
con,   1614: 

"  Till  thus  my  foule  doth  pafle  in  Charon's  crare." 
Mr.  Toilet  obferves  that  the  word  often  occurs  in  Holinfhed,  as 
twice,  p.  906,  vol.  II.     STEEVENS. 

The  word  is  ufed  in  the  llat.  2  Jac.  I.  c.  3  2.  '*  tie  owner  of  every 
falp,  vrffcl,  or  crayer."     TYRWHITT. 

8 but  /,]     This  is  the  reading  of  the  firft  folio,  which  later 

editors  not  underftanding,  have  changed  into  but  ah  !  The 
meaning  of  the  paffage  I  take  to  be  this  : — Jove  knows,  vdmt  man 
thou  might Ji  have  maiit^  but  /know,  thou  dledjl^  &c.  TYRWHITT. 

Thus 


288  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Thus  fmiling,  as  fome  fly  had  tickled  ilumber, 
Not  as  death's  dart,  being  laugh'd  at :  his   right 

cheek 
Repofing  on  a  cufhion. 

Guld.  Where? 

Arv.  O'  the  floor ; 
His  arms   thus  leagu'd  :  I  thought,  he  flept ;  and 

put 
My  clouted  brogues 9  from  off  my  feet,  whofe  rude- 

nefs 
Anfwer'd  my  fteps  too  loud. 

Guld.  Why,  he  but  fleeps  '  : 
If  he  be  gone,  he'll  make  his  grave  a  bed ; 
With  female  fairies  will  his  tomb  be  haunted, 
And  worms  will  not  come  to  thee. 

Arv.  With  fafreft  flowers, 
Whilft  fummer  lafts * ,  and  I  live  here,  Fidele, 
I'll  fweeten  thy  fad  grave  :   Thou  fhalt  not  lack 
The  flower,  that's  like  thy  face,  pale  primrofe  ;  nor 
The  azur'd  hare-bell,  like  thy  veins  ;  no,  nor 
The  leaf  of  eglantine,  whom  not  to  ilander, 

9  — clouted  Irogves — ]  Are  (hoes  ftrengthened  with  clout  or  bob~ 
nails.  In  fome  parts  of  England,  thin  plates  of  iron  called  clouts 
are  likewile  fixed  to  the  flioes  of  ploughmen  and  other  rufticks. 

STEEVEN». 

1  Wby+bc  lutjleeps:}  I  cannot  forbear  to  introduce  a  paflage  ibme- 
what  like  this,  from  Webfter's  JWji:e  Devi/,  or  fittoria  Corombunay 
on  account  of  its  fingular  beauty. 

«'  Oh,  thou  foft  natural  death  !  that  art  joint  twin, 
*•'  To  fweeteft  flumber  !  no  rough-bearded  comet 
**  Stares  on  thy  mild  departure :  the  dulf  owl 
*'  {feats  not  againrt  thy  cafement :  the  hoarfe  wolf 
44  Scents  not  thy  carrion : — pity  winds  thy  corfe, 
"  While  horror  waits  on  princes !"  STEEVENS, 

*  With  fair -eft flowers 
W%lljt  fummer  lafts,  &c.]     So  in  Pericles  Prince  of  Tyre : 

"  No,  I  will  rob  Telltts  of  her  weede 
"  To  ftrewe  thy  greene  v/ith  flowers ;  the  yellovves,  blues^ 
"  The  purple  violets  and  marygolds, 
*»  Shall  as  a  carpet  hang  upon  thy  grave, 
"  JWjile  fummw  Jayes  data  loft"    SrtEYENS, 

Out- 


C   Y   M  B  E  L  I   N  E.  289 

Out-fwecten'd  not  thy  breath  :  'the  ruddock  vvould^ 
.With  charitable  bill  (O  bill,  fore-fhaming 
Thofe  rich-left  heirs,  that  let  their  fathers  lie 
Without  a  monument !)  bring  thee  all  this ; 
Yea,  and  furr'd  inofs  bcfides,  when  flowers  are  none, 

1  The  ruddock  would, 

With  charitable  bill,  bring  thee  all  this  J 
Yea,   and  furred  moj}  bcjiiles,  ^:hcti  floors  are  none. 
To  winter-ground  thy  corfe. — ]  Here  again,  the  metaphor  is 
flrangely  mangled.     What  fenfe  is  there  in  tinier-grounding  a 
corfe  with  mcfs  ?  A  corfe  might  indeed  be  fiiid  to   be  ivintcr- 
grounded  in  good  thick  clay.     But  the  epithet  /a/rV  to  mof>  dire&S 
us  plainly  to  another  reading, 

To  \vinter-£0-ii'tf  thy  corfe  : 

i.  e.  thy  fummer  habit  fhall  be  a  light  gown  of  Jlmven,  thy  winter 
habit  a  good  warm  furr *d gown  of  mofs.  WAS  BURTON". 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  rejected  word  was  Shakefpeare*s, 
fince  the  protection  of  the  dead,  and  not  their  ornament,  was 
what  he  meant  to  exprefs.  To  winter -ground  a  plant,  is  to  pro- 
tect it  from  the  inclemency  of  the  winter- feafon,  by  ftraw,  dung, 
&c.  laid  over  it.  This  precaution  is  commonly  taken  in  refpect 
of  tender  trees  or  fiWers,  fuch  as  Arviragus,  who  loved  Fidele, 
reprefents  her  to  be. 

The  ruddock  is  the  rcd~breaft,  and  is  fo  called  by  Chaucer  and 
Spenfer: 

"  The  tame  ruddock,  and  the  coward  kite." 
The  office  of  covering  the  dead  is  likewife  afcribed  to  the  rud* 
dock,  by  Dray  ton  in  his  poem  called  The  Owl: 
"  Ccv'rmg  with  inofs  the  dead's  unclofed  eye, 
"  The  little  reilbreajl  teacheth  charitie."     STEEVEXS. 
— —  the  ruddock  tvon/J,  £c.]     Is  this  an  allufion  to  the  bales  of 
the  wood,  or  was  the  notion  of  the  rcdbreaft  covering  dead  bodies, 
general  before  the  writing  that  ballad  ?     PERCY. 

This  paflTage  is  imitated  by  WebUcr  in  his  tragedy  of  The  White 
Devil ;  and  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  confirms  the  old  reading: 
"  The  robin-red-breaft,  and  the  wren, 
**  With  leaves  and  flowers  do  cover  friendlefs  bodies ; 
**  The  ant,  the  field  moufe,  and  the  mole 
"  Shall  raife  him  hillocks  that  fhall  keep  him  warm,  &c." 

FARMER. 

Which  of  thefe  two  plays,  was  firft  written,  cannot  now  be  de- 
termined. Webfter's  play  was  publiflied  in  1612,  that  of  Shake- 
fpcaredid  not  appear  in  print  till  1623.  In  the  preface  to  the  edi- 
tion of  Webfter's  play  in  1631  (for  it  is  wantingin  my  copy  1612) 
he  thus  fpeaks  of  Shakefpeare :  *'  And  laftly  (without  wrong  laft 
to  be  named)  the  right  happy  and  copious  iiidultry  ofM.  Shake- 
fpeare, &C."  SrEEVEN'St 

VOL.  IX.  U  To 


290  C  Y   M  B   E  L   I   N  E, 

To  winter-ground  thy  corfe. 

Gttid.  Pr'ythee,  have  done  ; 
And  do  not  play  in  wench-like  words  with  that 
Which  is  fo  ferious.     Let  us  bury  him, 
And  not  protract  with  admiration  what 
Is  now  due  debt. — To  the  grave. 
Arv.  Say,  where  {hall's  lay  him  ? 
Guid.  By  good  Euriphile,  our  mother. 
Arv.  Be't  fo: 

And  let  us,  Polydore,  though  now  our  voices 
Have  got  the  manniih  crack,  fing  him  to  the  ground, 
As  once  our  mother ;  ufe  like  note,  and  words, 
Save  that  Euriphile  muft  be  Fidclc. 

Guid*  Cadwal, 

I  cannot  fing  :  I'll  weep,  and  word  it  with  thee  : 
For  notes  of  forrow,  out  of  tune,  are  worfe 
Than  priefts  and  fanes  that  lie. 
Arv.  We'll  fpcak  it  then. 
Bel.  Great  griefs,  I   fee,  medicine  the  lefs :  for 

Cloten 

Is  quite  forgot.  He  was  a  queen's  fon,  boys ; 
And,  though  he  came  our  enemy,  remember, 
*  He  was  paid  for  that :  Though  mean  and  mighty, 

rotting 

Together,  have  one  duft  ;  yet '  reverence, 
(That  angel  of  the  world)  doth  make  diftinclion 
Of  place  'twixt  high  and  low.  Our  foe  was  princely; 
And  though  you  took  his  life,  as  being  our  foe, 
Yet  bury  him  as  a  prince. 

Guid.  Pray  you,  fetch  him  hither. 

*  He  was  paid  for  that : ]     Hanmer  reads  : 

He  has  paid  for  thnt : 

rather  plaufibly  than  rightly.  PalJ  is  fotp**(fbtd.  So  Jonfon  : 
*'  Twenty  things  more,  my  friend,  which  you  know  due, 
*'  For  which,  or  pay  me  quickly,  or  I'll  pay  you." 

JOHNSON. 
3  reference, 

(That  angel  of  the  world) ]     Reverence,  or  due  regard  to 

fubordinntion,  is  the  power  that  keeps  peace  and  order  in  the 
world.     JOHNSON. 

Thcr- 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  2gi 

Therfites'  body  is  as  good  as  Ajax, 
When  neither  are  alive. 

Arv.  If  you'll  go  fetch  him, 
We'll  fay  our  fong  the  whilft. — Brother,  begin. 

[Exit  Belarius. 

Guid.  Nay,Cadwal,  wemuftlayhishead  tothee^ft; 
My  father  hath  a  reafon  for't. 

Arv.  "Pis  true. 

Guid.  Come  on  then,  and  remove  him. 

Arv.  So, — Begin. 

SONG. 

Guid.  Fear  no  more  the  Jo  eat  o'  the  fun, 

Nor  the  furious  winter's  rages  ; 
Thou  thy  worldly  tqfk  haft  done, 

Home  art  gone,  and  ta'en  thy  wages  .* 
Both  golden  lads  and  girls  all  muft, 
As  chimney-Jweepers,  come  to  duft. 

Arv.  4  Fear  no  more  the  frown  o'  the  great) 

Thou  art  paft  the  tyrant's  Jlroke  ; 
Care  no  more  to  cloath,  and  eat ; 

To  thee  the  reed  is  as  the  oak : 
5  Thefcepter,  learning,  phyfic,  muft 
All  follow  this,  and  come  to  dvft. 

Guid.  Fear  no  more  the  lightning-flaft, 
Arv.  Nor  the  all-dreaded  thunder-ftone ; 
Guid.  6  Fear  naljlander,  cenfure  raft  '» 
Arv.  Thou  haft  fitiift'd joy  and  moan  : 

*  Fear  no  more,  &c.]  This  is  the  topic  ofconfoUtion  that  na- 
ture dichtes  to  all  men  on  thefe  occafions  The  lame  farewell  we 
have  over  the  dead  body  in  Lucian.  Tmo»  aS^io*  tixsT*  «»\}/^crnv, 
j?*rn  WH»!;«H,  &c.  WARBURTON. 

5  The  fcepter,  learning,  &:c.]  The  poet's  fentiment  feems  to  have 
been  this. — All  human  excellence  is  equally  fubjeit  to  the  tfroke 
ot  death  :  neither  the  potver  of  kings,  nor  the  fcience  of  fcholars, 
r.or  the  art  of  thole  whole  immediate  ftudy  is  the  prolongation  ot 
life,  can  protect  them  from  the  final  deftiny  of  man.    JOHNSON. 

6  Fear  notjlandcr,  &c.]     Perhaps, 

Fear  not  (lander's  cenfure  ralh.     JOHNSON. 

U  2  B.th. 


29i  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Both.  All  lovers  young,  all  lovers  mift 
7  Confign  to  thee,  and  come  to  duft. 

Guid.  No  exorclfer  barm  thee  ! 
Arv.  Nor  no  witchcraft  charm  thee  / 
Guid    Ghoft  unlaid  forbear  thee  ! 
Arv.  Nothing  ill  come  near  thee  ! 
Both.  Quiet  confummation 8  have  i 
And  renowned  be  thy  grave9  .' 

Re-enter  Belarius,  with  the  body  ofCloten. 

Guid.  We  have  done  our  obfequies :  Come,  lay 

him  down. 
Bel.  Here's  a  few  flowers ;   but  about  midnight, 

more : 
The  herbs,  that  have  on   them  cold   dew  o'  the 

night, 

Are  {brewings  fitt'ft  far  graves. — Upon  their  faces  I—- 
You were  as  flowers,  now  xvither'd  :  even  fo 
Thefe  herb'lets  fhall,  which  we  upon  you  flrow. — 
Come  on,  away  :  apart  upon  our  knees. 

7  Confign  to  thee, ]     Perhaps, 

Confign  to  this. 

And  in  the  former  ftanza,  for  all  follow  tbis,  we  might  read,  «ll 
follow  thee.    JOHNSON. 

Confign  to  tbce,  is  right.     So  in  Romeo  arul  Jail, : : 

fcal 

A  datelefs  bargain  to  engroiling  death. 

To  conftgn  to  tbcc,  is  to  fcal  the  fame  cantraft  with  thee,  i.  e.  add 
their  names  to  thine  upon  the  regiiler  of  death.     STEEVENS. 

*  £>uiet  confummation  have ;]  Confumtnation  is  ufed  in  the  fame 
fenfe  in  K.  Edwardlll.  \  599  : 

"  My  foul  will  yield  this  caflle  of  my  flefh, 

"  This  mangled  tribute,  with  all  willingnefs, 

"  To  darknefsj  confirmation^  duft  and  VTOrms." 

STEEVKNS. 

9  — tly  grave.]  For  the  obfequies  of  Fidele,  a  fongwas  written 
by  my  unhappy  friend,  Mr.  William  Collins  of  Chichefter,  a 
man  or  uncommon  learning  and  abilities.  I  fhall  give  it  a  place" 
at  the  end,  in  honour  of  his  memory,  JOHNSON. 

The 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  293 

The  ground,  that  gave  them  firft,  has  them  again  : 
Their  pleafure  here  is  pad,  fo  is  their  pain.   [Exeunf. 

Imogen,  awaking. 

Imo.  Yes,  fir,   to  Milford-Haven ;  Which  is  the 

way  ? 

I  thank  you. By  yon  bufh  ? Pray,  how  far 

thither? 

*  'Ods  pittikins ! can  it  be  fix  miles  yet  ? 

I  have  gone  all  night : — 'Faith,   I'll  lie  down  and 

fleep. 

But,  foft !  no  bedfellow  : — O,  gods  and  goddefies ! 

[Seeing  the  body. 

Thefe  flowers  are  like  the  pleafures  of  the  world  ; 
This  bloody  man,  the  care  on't. — I  hope,  I  dream  ; 
For,  fo,  I  thought  I  was  a  cave-keeper, 
And  cook  to  honeft  creatures ;  But  'tis  not  fo  ; 
'Tvvas  but  a  bolt  of  nothing,  fhot  at  nothing, 
Which  the  brain  makes  of  fumes  :  Our  very  eyes 
Are  fometimes  like  our  judgments,  blind.  Good  faith, 
I  tremble  flill  with  fear  :  But  if  there  be 
Yet  left  in  heaven  as  fmall  a  drop  of  pity 
As  a  wren's  eye,  fear'd  gods,  a  part  of  it ! 
The  dream's  here  flill :  even  when  I  wake,  it  is 
Without  me,  as  within  me;  not  imagin'd,  felt. 

A  headlefs  man  ! The  garments  of  Potthumus  ! 

I  know  the  ihape  of  his  leg  :  this  is  his  hand  ; 
His  foot  Mercurial ;  his  Martial  thigh  ; 

The  brawns  of  Hercules  :  but  *  his  Jovial  face 

Mur- 

1  *Ods  pittikins  !  — —  ]  This  diminutive  adjuration  is  ufed  by 
Decker  and  Webfter  in  }VeJlward  Hoe,  1607  ;  in  the  Shoemaker^ 
Holiday,  or  the  Gf/itle  Craft  ^  1600  :  It  is  derived  from  God's  my 
pity,  which  likewife  occurs  in  Cymlcline.  STEEVENS. 

* his  Jovial  face— -—  ]     Jovial  face  fignifies  in  this  place, 

fuch  a  face  as  belongs  to  Jove.  It  is  frequently  ufed  in  the  fame 
tl-nfe  by  other  old  dramatic  writers.  So  Hcywood,  in  The  Silver 
Ag'i 

U  « AU 


294  C   Y  M  B   E   L   I   N   E. 

Murder  in  heaven  ? — How  ?— Tis  gone. — Pifanio, 
All  curfes  madded  Hecuba  gave  the  Greeks, 
And  mine  to  boot,  be  darted  on  thee  !  Thou, 
3  Confpir'd  with  that  irrcgulous  devil,  Cloten, 
Haft  here  cut  off  my  lord. — To  write,  and  read, 

Be  henceforth  treacherous ! Darnn'd  Pifanio 

Hath  with  his  forged  letters, clamn'd  Pifanio — 

From  this  moft  braveil  veffel  of  the  world 
Struck  the  main-top  ! — O,  Pofthumus !  alas, 
Where  is  thy  head  ?  where!s  that  ?  Ay  me  !  where's 

that  ? 

Pifanio  might  have  kill'd  thee  at  the  heart, 
And  left   this    head   on. — How    ihould   this    be  ? 

Pifanio  ? 

xTis  he,  and  Cloten  :  malice  and  lucre  in  them 
Have  lay'd  this  woe  here.    O,  'tis  pregnant,  preg- 
nant ! 

The  drug  he  gave  me,  which,  he  faid,  was  precious 
And  cordial  to  me,  have  I  not  found  it 
Murd'rous  to  the  fenfes  ?  That  confirms  it  home  : 
This  is  Pifanio's  deed,  and  Cloten's  :    O!  — 
Give  colour  to  my  pale  cheek  with  thy  blood, 
That  we  the  horrider  mny  feem  to  thofe 
Which  chance  to  find  us :  O,  my  lord  !  my  lord  ! 

"  Alcides  Lere  will  {fond, 

'•'  To  plague  you  all  wirh  his  high  jovial  hand." 
Again,  iq  Jiey wood's  Rape  ofLucrcct^    1630: 

"  Thou  Jovial  hand  hold  up  thy  fcepter  high." 
Again,  in  his  Golden  jfgr,   161 1,  fpeaking  of  Jupiter  ; 

" all  that  (land, 

*'  Sink  in  the  weight. of  his  high  jovial  hand." 

STEEVENS. 
3  Confpir><l'witb,  &c.]     The  old  copy  reads  thus : 

— : thou, 

Confpir'd  with  that  irregulous  divel,  Cloten. 
I  fuppofe  it  fhould  be, 

Confpir'd  with  tb*  irreligious  devil,  Cloten.     JOHNSON. 
Jrrcguleus  (if  there  be  fuch  a  \vord)  muft  mean  lawlefs,  licen- 
tious, out  of  rule,  jura  nrvans  fil>i  nata.     In  Reinolds's  God's  Rt-> 
.(»/••//;«•  r.o.ilnft  Adultery ^  p.  I2i,  I  meet  with  " irrigated \v&Sf 

STEEVEN.". 


C   Y  M  B  E   L  I   N   E.  295 

Enter  Lucius,  Captains,  &c.  and  a  Sootlfayer. 

Cap.  To  them,  the  legions  garrifon'd  in  Gallia^ 
After  your  will,  havecrofs'd  the  lea  ;  attending 
You  here  at  Milford-Haven,  with  your  Ihips : 
They  are  in  readinefs. 

Luc.  But  what  from  Rome  ? 
Cap.  The  fenate  hath  ftirr'd  up  the  confiners, 
And  gentlemen  of  Italy  ;   moft  willing  fpirits, 
That  promife  noble  fervice  ;  and  they  come 
Under  the  conduct  of  bold  lachimo, 
Syenna's  brother. 

Luc.  When  expect  you  them  ? 
Cap,.  With  the  next  benefit  o'  the  wind. 
Luc.  This  forward nefs 
Makes  our    hopes   fair.      Command,   our  prefcnt 

numbers 

Be  mufter'd  ;  bid  the  captains  look  to't. — Now,  fir, 
What  have  you  dream'd,  of  late,  of  this  war's  pur- 

pofe  ? 
Sooth.  4  La-ft  night  the  very  gods  fhew'd    me  a 

vifion  : 

(I  faft,  and  pray'd,  for  their  intelligence)   Thus: — 
I  faw  Jove's  bird,  the  Roman  eagle,  wing'd 
From  the  fpungy  fouth  to  this  part  of  the  weft, 
There  vanifh'd  in  the  fun-beams  :   which  portends, 
(Unlefs  my  fins  abufe  my  divination) 
Succefs  to  the  Roman  hoit. 

*  Loft  night  the  very  gods  Jtevfil  me  a  vifion  :]  The  i>ery  gods 
may,  indeed,  fignify  the  gods  themielves  immediately,  and  not 
by  the  intervention  ot  other  agents  or  initruments  ;  yet  I  am  per- 
fuadcd  the  reading  is  corrupt,  and  that  Shakefpeare  wrote, 

Laft  night,  the  "Marry  gods— — 

Warcy  here  iigniiying  animadverting,  forewarning,   ready  to  give 
notice  :  not,  as  in  its  more  ulual  meaning,  cautious,  referveei. 

VV'ARBURTON*. 

Of  this  meaning  I  know  not  any  example,  nor  do  1  fee  any 
need  of  alteration.  It  was  no  common  dream,  but  fent  from  the 
very  £oJj,  or  ihe  gods  themielves.  JOHNSON. 

U  4    '  Luc* 


296  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Luc.  Dream  often  fo, 

And  never  falfe. Soft,  ho  !  what  trunk  is  here, 

Without  his  top  ?  The  ruin  fpeaks,  that  fometime 

It  was  a  worthy  building. — How  !   a  page  ! 

Or  dead,  or  fleeping  on  him  ?  But  dead,  rather  : 
For  nature  doth  abhor  to  make  his  bed 
V/ith  the  defundt,  or  ileep  upon  the  dead. — 
Let's  fee  the  boy's  face. 

Cap.  He  is  alive,  my  lord. 

Luc.  He'll  then  inftrudt  us  of  this  body. — Young 

one, 

Inform  us  of  thy  fortunes ;  for,  it  feems, 
They  crave  to  be  demanded  :  Who  is  this, 
Thou  mak'ft  thy  bloody  pillow  ?  Or  *  who  was  he, 

That, 

5 who  rj:as  be, 

That,  otherwife  than  noble  nature  did, 

Hath  altered  tbat  good  pifture? ]     The  editor,  Mr. 

Theobald,  cavils  at  this  palFage.  He  fays,  it  is  far  from  being 
Jlriiliy  grammatical  \  and, yet,  what  is  itrange,  he  fubjoins  a  pa- 
raphrafe  of  his  own,  which  {hews  it  to  be  Jlrittly  grammatical. 
•*  For,  fays  he,  the  conftruftion  of  thefe  words  is  this  :  who  '  h 
alter'd  that  good  pifture  othenvife  than  nature  alter'd  it  ?"  1  lup- 
pofe  then  this  editor's  meaning  was,  that  the  grammatical  con- 
llruclion  would  not  conform  to  the  fenfe  ;  for  a  bad  writer,  like  a 
bad  man,  generally  fays  one  thing  and  means  another.  He  fub- 
joining,  "  Shakefpeare  deiigned  to  fny  j_if  the  text  be  genuine) 
Who  hath  alter'd  that  good  picture  from  what  noble  nature  at  firft 
made  it  r"  Here  again  he  is  miitaken  ;  Shakefpeare  meant,  like 
a  plain  man,  juft  as  bzfpoke;  and  as  our  editor  firlt  paraphrafed 
him,  Who  hath  altered  that  good  picture  otherwife  than  nature 
altered  it  ?  And  the  folution  of  the  difficulty'  in  this  fentiment, 
which  fo  much  perplexed  him,  is  this  :  the  fpeakcr  fees  a  young 
man  without  a  head,  and  confequently  much  fhortcnd  in  ftature  ; 
on  which  he  breaks  out  into  this  exclamation :  Who  hath  alter  d 
this  good  form,  by  making  it  fhorter  ;  fo  contrary  to  the  practice 
of  nature,  which  by  yearly  accellion  of  growth  alters  it  by  mak- 
ing it  taller  ?  No  occalion  then  for  the  editor  to  change  did  into 
£/«/,  with  an  allufion  to  the  command  againft  murder;  which  theu 
Ihould  have  been  forbid  inftead  of  bid.  WAR  BUR  TON-. 

Here  are  many  words  upon  a  very  flight  debate.     The  fenfe  is 
not  much  cleared  by  either  critic.     The  queftion  is  alked,  not 
about  a  body*  but  zpiflure,  which  is  not  very  apt  to  grow  fhorter 
or  longer.    To  do  a  picture,  and  a  pidure  is  well  done,  are  Hand- 
ing 


CYMBELINE.  297 

That,  otherwife  than  noble  nature  did, 
Hath  alter'd  that  good  pifture  ?  What's  thy  intereft 
In  this  fad  wreck  ?  How  came  it  ?  Who  is  it  ? 
What  art  thou  ? 

Into.   I  am  nothing  :  or  if  not, 
Nothing  to  be  were  better.     This  was  my  matter, 
A  very  valiant  Briton,  and  a  good, 
That  here  by  mountaineers  lies  (lain  :— Alas ! 
There  are  no  more  fuch  mailers :  I  may  wander 
From  eaft  to  Occident,  cry  out  for  fervice, 
Try  many,  all  good,  ferve  truly,  never 
Find  fuch  another  matter. 

Luc.  'Lack,  good  youth ! 

Thou  mov'tt  no  lefs  with  thy  complaining,  than 
Thy  matter  in  bleeding  :  Say  his  name,  good  friend. 

Imo.  6  Richard  du  Champ.  If  I  do  lye,  and  do 
No  harm  by  it,  though  the  gods  hear,  I  hope  \_dfide. 
They'll  pardon  it.  Say  you,  fir  ? 

Lite.  Thy  name  ? 

Imo.  Fidele,  fir. 

Luc.  Thou  doft  approve  thyfelf  the  very  fame  : 
Thy  name  well  firs  thy  faith  ;  thy  faith,  thy  name. 
Wilt  take  thy  chance  wiih  me  ?  I  will  not  fay, 
Thou  fhalt  be  fo  well  mafter'd  ;  but,  be  fure, 

ing  phrafes ;  the  cjueflion  therefore  is,  Who  has  altered  this  pic- 
ture, fo  as  to  make  it  otherwife  than  nature  did  it.  JOHNSON?. 

Olivia  (peaking  of  her  own  beauty  as  of  a  piflnre,  afks  Viola  if 
it  '*  is  not  well  done  ?"  STEEVENS. 

6  Richard  da  Champ. ]  Shakefpeare  was  indebted  for  his 

modern  names  (which  fometimes  are  mixed  with  ancient  ones)  as 
well  as  his  anachronifms,  to  the  fafliionable  novels  of  his  time. 
In  a  collection  of  ftories,  entitled  A  Petite  Palace  of  Pcttie  bis 
Pkafurc^  1576,  I  find  the  following  circumilances  of  ignorance 
and  abfurdity.  In  the  ftory  of  the  Horatii  and  the  Curiatii,  the 
roaring  of  cannons  is  mentioned.  Cephalus  and  Procris  are  faid  to 
be  of  the  court  of  Venice  ;  and  "  that  her  father  wrought  fo  vjith 
the  duke,  that  this  Cephalus  ivasfetit  poft  in  ambaffage  to  the  Turke. 

Eriphile,  after  the  death  of  her  hulband  Amphiaraus,  (the 

Thebau  prophet)  calling  to  mind  the  affei'tion  wherein  Don  Infor- 
titnio  '.vi'j  drowned  towards  her,"  &c.  Stc.  STEEVENS. 

No 


2,$)8  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I   N   E, 

No  lefs  belov'd.     The  Roman  emperor's  letters, 
Sent  by  a  conful  to  me,  Ihould  not  (boner 
'fhan  thine  own  worth  prefer  thee  :  Go  with  me. 

Imo.  I'll  follow,  fir.  But,  firft,  an't  pleafe  the  gods, 
I'll  hide  my  matter  from  the  flics,  as  deep 
As  7  thefe  poor  pick-axes  can  dig  :  and  when 
With  wild  wood-leaves  and  weeds  I  have  ftrew'd  his 

grave, 

And  on  it  faid  a  century  of  prayers, 
Such  as  I  can,  twice  o'er,  I'll  weep,  and  figh  ; 
And,  leaving  fo  his  fervice,  follow  you, 
So  pleafe  you  entertain  me. 

Luc.  Ay,  good  youth  ; 
And  rather  father  thee,  than  matter  thee. — 
My  friends, 

The  boy  hath  taught  us  manly  duties  :  Let  us 
Find  out  the  prettieft  daizy'd  plot  we  can, 
And  make  Kim  with  our  pikes  and  partizans 
A  grave  :  Come,  *  arm  him. — Boy,  he  is  preferr'd 
By  thee  to  us  ;  and  he  fliall  be  interr'd, 
As  foldiers  can.     Be  chearful ;  wipe  thine  eyes  : 
Some  falls  are  means  the  happier  to  arife.     [Exeunt. 

5  C  E  N  E     III. 

9  CymbeUne's  palace. 
Enter  Cytnbeline,  Lords,  and  Pifanio. 

Cym.  Again ;  and  bring  me  word,  how  'tis  with 
her. 

A  fever 

7  —±—tbcfe  poor  pick-axes ]     Meaning  her  fingers. 

JOHNSON. 

*  arm  him. ]     That  is,  Take  him  rip  in  your  arms. 

HAN  ME  R. 

•  Cymlcline's  palace.]     This  fcene  is  omitted  againit  all  autho- 
rity by  fir  T.  Hanmer.     It  is  indeed  of  no  great  ule  m  the  progreis 
of  the  fable,  yet  it  makes  a  regv.lar  preparation  for  the  next  ad. 

JOHNSON. 

The 


C  Y  M  B   E  L   I   N  E.  299 

A  fever  with  the  abfence  of  her  fon  ; 

A  madnefs,    of    which    her   life's    in   danger  : — 

Heavens, 

How  deeply  you  at  once  do  touch  me  !  Imogen, 
The  great  part  of  my  comfort,  gone  :  my  queen 
Upon  a  delperate  bed ;  and  in  a  time 
When  fearful  wars  point  at  me  :  her  fon  gone, 
So  needful  for  this  prefent :  It  ftrikes  me,  paft 
The  hope  of  comfort. — But  for  thce,  fellow, 
Who  needs  mult  know  of  her  departure,  and 
Doft  feem  fo  ignorant,  we'll  enforce  it  from  thec 
By  a  iharp  torture. 

Pif.  Sir,  my  life  is  yours, 

I  humbly  let  it  at  your  will :  But,  for  my  miftrefs, 
I  nothing  know  where  fhe  remains,  why  gone, 
JVTor  when  Ihe  purpofes  return.     ;Befeech  your  high- 

nefs, 
Hold  me  your  loyal  fervant. 

Lord.  Good  my  liege, 
The  day  that  fhe  was  milling,  he  was  here  : 
I  dare  be  bound  he's  true,  and  fhall  perform 
All  parts  of  his  fubjecYion  loyally.     For  Cloten, — 
There  wants  no  diligence  in  feeking  him, 
1  And  will,  no  doubt,  be  found. 

fym.  The  time  is  troublefome  ; 
We'll  flip  you  for  a  fcafon;  but  *  our  jealoufy  [To  Plf. 
Does  yet  depend. 

The  faft  is,  that  fir  Thomns  Hanmer  has  inferred  this  fnppofed 
omiffion  as  the  eighth  fcene  of  aft  III.  The  fcene  which  in  Dr. 
Johufon's  firit  edition  is  the  eighth  of  aft  III.  is  printed  in  a  (mail 
letter  under  it  in  Hanmer's,  on  a  fuppo.fi tion  that  itvvas  fpurious. 
In  this  impreflion  it  is  the 'third  fcene  of'aft  IV.  and  that  which  in 
Johnfon  is  the  eighth  fcene  of  aft  IV.  is  in  this  the  feventh  fcene. 

STEEVENS. 

Anelvi\\\, ]     I  think  it  fhould  be  read  : 

And /r'//, STEr.vENS. 

our  jealo:ijy 

Dees  yet  defend.']-  My  fufpicion  is  yet  undetermined  ;  if  I  do 
condemn  you,  I  likewife  have  not  acquitted  you.  We  now 
the  <au/r  is  depending,  JOHNSON. 

Lord. 


3oo  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Lord.  So  pleafe  your  majefty, 
The  Roman  legions,  all  from  Gallia  drawn, 
Are  landed  on  your  coafl ;  with  a  fupply 
Of  Roman  gentlemen,  by  the  fenate  lent. 

Cym.  Now  for  the  counfel  of  my  fon,  and  queen  !  — 
I  am  amaz'd  with  matter  J. 

Lord.  Good  my  liege, 
5  Your  preparation  can  affront  no  lefs 
Than  what  you  hear  of :  come  more,  for  more  you're 

ready  : 

The  want  is,  but  to  put  thefe  powers  in  motion, 
That  long  to  move. 

Cym.  I  thank  you  :  Let's  withdraw ; 
And  meet  the  time,  as  it  feeks  us.     We  fear  not 
What  can  from  Italy  annoy  us  ;  but 
We  grieve  at  chances  here. Away.  [Exeunt. 

Pif.  s  1  heard  no  letter  from  my  matter,  fince 
I  wrote  him,  Imogen  was  ilain  :  'Tis  ftrange  : 
Nor  hear  I  from  my  miflrefs,  who  did  promife 
To  yield  me  often  tidings  :  Neither  know  I 
What  is  betid  to  Clctcn  ;  but  remain 
Perplex'd  in  all.     The  heavens  ftill  muft  work : 
Wherein  I  am  falfe,  I  am  honeft ;  not  true,  to  be  true. 
Thefe  prefent  wars  fliall  find  I  love  my  country, 
Even  6  to  the  note  o'  the  king,  or  I'll  fall  in  them. 
All  other  doubts,  by  time  let  them  be  clear'd  : 
Fortune  brings  in  fome  boats,  that  are  not  fleer'd. 

[Exit. 

3  lam  amazM  ivitb  matter.']     i.e.  confounded  by  variety  of 
bufinefs.     STEEVENS. 

4  Tour  preparation  &c.]     Your  forces  are  able  to  face  fuch  an 
army  as  we  hear  the  enemy  will  bring  againll  us.    JOHN'SON. 

5  /  heard  no  letter ]     I  fuppofe  we  fhould  read  with  Hanmer, 

r*ue  had  no  letter. STEEVENS. 

Perhaps,  "  I  heard  no  later."     MUSGRAVE. 

6 to  tie  note  o'  the  king, ]     I  will  fo  diftinguifh  myfelf, 

Ac  king  fliall  remark  my  valour.    JOHNSON. 

SCENE 


CYMBELINE.  -01 

SCENE      IV. 

Before  the  cave. 
Enter  Belarius,  Guiderius,  and  Arviragus. 

Guid.  The  noife  is  round  about  us. 

Bel.  Let  us  from  it. 

Arv.  What  pleafure,  fir,  find  we  in  life,  to  lock  it 
From  adtion  and  adventure  ? 

Guid.  Nay,  what  hope 

Have  we  in  hiding  us  ?  this  way,  the  Romans 
Muft  or  for  Britons  flay  us ;  or  receive  us 
For  barbarous  and  unnatural  revolts 
During  their  ufe,  and  flay  us  after. 

Bel.  Sons, 

We'll  higher  to  the  mountains ;  there  fecure  us. 
To  the  king's  party  there's  no  going  :  newnefs 
Of  Cloten's  death  (we  being  not  known,  nor  mufter'd 
Among  the  bands)  may  drive  us  to  7  a  render 
Where  we  have  liv'd ;  and  fo  extort  from  us  that 
Which  we  have  done,  8  whole  anfvver  would  be  death. 
Drawn  on  with  torture. 

Guid.  This  is,  fir,  a  doubt, 
In  fuch  a  time,  nothing  becoming  you, 
Nor  fatisfying  us. 

Arv.  It  is  not  likely, 

That  when  they  hear  the  Roman  horfes  neigh, 
Behold  9  their  quarter'd  fires,  have  both  their  eyes 

7  .         ——a  render 

Where   ive  have  li'v'd; ]    An  account  of  our  place  of 

abode.     This  dialogue  is  a  juft  reprefentation  of  the  fuperfluota 
caution  of  an  old  man.     JOHNSON. 

Render  is  ufed  in  a  fimilar  fenfe  in  Timox,  ad  V. 

"  And  fends  us  forth  to  make  their  forrow'd  render.9* 

STEEVEVS. 

8 wbofe  anfwer  —  ]     The  retaliation  of  the  death  of  Ciotea 

Would  be  death >  &c.     JOHNSON. 

9 tbtir  quarter '&  fires,  — )    Their  fires  regularly  difpofed, 

JOHNSON. 

And 


CYMBELIET  E. 

And  ears  fo  cloy'd  importantly  as  now, 

That  they  will  wafte  their  time  upon  oiir  note, 

To  know  from  whence  we  are. 

Bel.  O,  I  am  known 
Of  many  in  the  army  :  many  years, 
Though  Cloten  then  but  young,  you  fee,  not  wore 

him 

From  my  remembrance.     And,  befides,  the  king 
JHath  not  defcrv'd  my  fervicc,  nor  your  loves  ; 
Who  find  in  my  exile  the  want  of  breeding, 
The  certainty  of  this  hard  life  ;  aye  hopelefs 
To  have  the  courtefy  your  cradle  promis'd, 
But  to  be  ftill  hot  fummer's  tanlings,  and 
The  fhrinking  Haves  of  winter. 

Guid.  Than  be  fo, 

Better  to  ccafe  to  be.     Pray,  fir,  to  the  army  : 
I  and  my  brother  are  not  known  ;  yourfelf, 
So  out  of  thought,  and  thereto  fo  o'er-grown* 
Cannot  be  queftion'd. 

Arv.  By  this  fun  that  fliinrs, 
I'll  thither  :  What  thing  is  it,  that  I  never 
Did  fee  man  die  ?  fcarce  ever  look'd  on  blood, 
But  that  of  coward  hares,  hot  goats,  and  venifon  ? 
Never  bedrid  a  horfe,  fave  one,  that  had 
A  rider  like  myfelf,  who  ne'er  wore  rowel 
Nor  iron  on  his  heel  ?  I  am  afham'd 
To  look  upon  the  holy  fun,  to  have 
The  benefit  of  his  bleft  beams,  remaining 
So  long  a  poor  unknown. 

Guid.  By  heavens,  I'll  go  : 
If  you  will  blefs  me,  fir,  and  give  me  leave, 
I'll  take  the  better  care  ;  but  if  you  will  not, 
The  hazard  therefore  due  fall  on  me,  by 
The  hands  of  Romans ! 
Arv.  So  fay  I ;   Amen. 
Bel.  No  reafon  I,  fince  of  your  lives  you  fet 
So  flight  a  valuation,  fliould  refervc 
My  crack'd  one  to  more  care.  Have  with  you,  boys  : 

'  If 


GYMBELINE.  3*03 

If  in  your  country  wars  you  chance  to  die, 
That  is  my  bed  too,  lads,  and  there  I'll  lie  : 
Lead,    lead.— The  time   feems  long;   their  blood 
thinks  fcorn,  [Afide. 

'Till  it  fly  out,  and  Ihcvv  them  princes  born. 

[Exeunt. 


A    C    T     V.       S  C  E  N  E     I. 

A  field,  between  tie  Brltifo  and  Roman  camps. 

Enter  Pojlhumus,  with  a  l  bloody  handkerchief* 

Pojl.  2  Yea,   bloody  cloth,  I'll  keep  thee ;   for  I 

wifh'd  ; 

Thou  fhould'fl  be  colour'd  thus.    You  married  ones, 
If  each  of  you  would  take  this  courfe,  how  many 
Mult  murder  wives  much  better  than  themfelves 

1  Moody  handkerchief.]  The  bloody  token  of  Imogen's 

death,  which  PSfanio  in  the  foregoing  a&  determined  to  fend. 

JOHNSON. 

a  Tea,  lloody  cloth,  &c.]  This  is  a  foliloquy  of  nature,  utter- 
ed when  the  etfervefcence  of  a  mind  agitated  and  perturbed  fpon- 
taueouily  and  inadvertently  difcharges  itfelf  in  words.  The 
fpeech,  throughout  all  its  tenor,  if  the  Lift  conceit  be  excepted, 
icems  to  ifTue  warm  from  the  heart.  lie  firft  condemns  his  own 
violence  ;  then  tries  to  disburden  himfelf,  by  imputing  part  of  the 
crime  to  Pifanio  ;  he  next  fooths  his  mind  to  an  artificial  and  mo- 
mentary tranquillity,  by  trying  to  think  that  he  has  been  only  an 
initrument  of  the  gous  for  the  happinefs  of  Imogen.  He  is  now 
grown  reafonable  enough  to  determine,  that  having  done  fo  much 
evil,  he  will  do  no  more  ;  that  he  will  not  fight  againft  the  coun- 
try which  he  has  alieady  injured  ;  but  as  life  is  not  longer  fup- 
portable,  he  will  die  in  a  juft  caufe,  and  die  with  the  oblcurity  of 
a  man  who  does  not  think  hiinfelr  worthy  to  be  remembered. 

JOHNSON. 
•»"  /  wj&V]     The  eld  copy  rvads — I  am  ivijb'tl. 

SftEVEN'S. 

For 


304  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

For  wrying  but  a  little  4  ? — O,  Pifanio  ! 

Every  good  fervant  does  not  all  commands  : 

No  bond,  but  to  do  juft  ones. — Gods  !  if  you 

Should  have  ta'en  vengeance  on  my  faults,  I  nevcf 

Had  liv'd  5  to  put  on  this  :  fo  had  you  faved 

The  noble  Imogen  to  repent ;   and  flruck 

Me,  wretch,  more  worth  your  vengeance.  But,  alack, 

You  fnatch  fome  hence  for  little  faults  ;  that's  love, 

To  have  them  fall  no  more  :  you  fome  permit 

To  fecond  ills  with  ills,  6  each  elder  worfe  ; 

7  And  make  them  dread  it,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 

But 

*  For  wrying  lut  a  little? ]    This  uncommon  verb  is  like- 

wife  ufed  by  Stanyhurft  in  the  third  book  of  his  tranflation  of  Vir- 
gil, 1582: 

"  the  mayfters  ivrye  the  veflels." 

Again,  in  Daniel's  Cleopatra,  1599: 

"  in  her  finking  down,  (he  <wryes 

"  The  diadem. "    STEEVENS. 

s to  put  on ]     Is  to  incite,  to  inftigate.     JOHNSON'. 

So,  in  Macbeth:         "  •  the  powers  above, 

"  Put  on  their  inftruments." 

* each  elder  <xorfc\\     For  this  reading  all  the  later  editors 

have  contentedly  taken, 

each  worfe  than  other ; 

without  enquiries  whence  they  have  received  it.  Yet  they  knew, 
or  might  know,  that  it  has  no  authority.  The  original  copy 
reads, 

each  elder  worfe  ; — 

The  laft  deed  is  certainly  not  the  oldeft,  butShakefpeare  calls  the 
deed  of  an  elder  man  an  tlder  deed.  JOHNSON. 

—each  elder  worfe  ;]  5.  e.  where  corruptions  are,  they  grow  with 
years,  and  the  oldeft  fmner  is  the  greateft.  You,  Gods,  permit 
fome  to  proceed  in  iniquity,  and  the  older  fuch  are,  the  more 
their  crime.  TOLLET. 

7  And  make  them  dread  it,  to  tie  docrt*  thrift.]  The  diviniry- 
fchools  have  not  furnifhed  jufter  obfervauons  on  the  conduct  of 
Providence,  than  Pofthumus  gives  us  here  in  his  private  reflec- 
tions. You  gods,  fays  he,  aft  in  a  different  manner  with  your 
different  creatures  ; 

You  fnatch  fome  hence  for  little  faults ;  that's  love, 

To  have  them  fall  no  more. 

Others,  fays  our  poet,  you  permit  to  live  on,  to  multiply  and  in- 
creafe  in  crimes  ; 

And  make  them  dread '.*'/,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 

Ho 


C   Y  M   B   E   L   I   N   E.  3o5 

But  Imogen  is  your  own  :   '  Do  your  belt  wills. 
And  make  me  bleft  to  obey  ! — I  am  brought  hither 
Among  the  Italian  gentry,  and  to  fight 
Againft  my  lady's  kingdom  :  'Tis  enough 
That,  Britain,  I  have  kill'd  thy  miftrefs ;  peace! 
I'll  give  no  wound  to  chce.    Therefore,  good  heavens, 
Hear  patiently  my  purpoie  :    I'll  difrobe  me 
Of  thefe  Italian  weeds,  and  fuit  myfelf 

Here  is  a  relative  without  an  antecedent  fubflantive;  which  is  a 
breach  of"  grammar.     We  nuift  certainly  read  : 

And  make  them  dreaded,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 
i.  e.  others  you  permit  to  aggravate  one  crime  with  more  ;  which 
enormities  not  only  make  them  revered  and  dreaded,  but  turn  in 
other  kinds  to  their  advantage.  Dignity,  refpeft,  and  proiir,  ac- 
crue to  them  from  crimes  committed  with  impunity.  THEOBALD. 
This  emendation  is  followed  by  Hanmer.  Dr.  Warburton 
reads,  I  know  not  whether  by  the  printer's  negligence, 

And  make  them  dread,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 

There  feems  to  be  no  very  fatisfaclory  fenfe  yet  offered.     I  read, 
but  with  helitation, 

And  make  them  deeded,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 

The  word  deeded  I  know  not  indeed  where  to  find ;  but  Shake- 
fpeare  has,  in  another  fenfe,  undeeJed\n  Macbeth: 

"   „ my  fvvord 

"  I  (heath  again  widetdcd"  — — • 
I  will  try  again,  and  read  thus : 

others  you  permit 

To  feccr.d  ills  with  ills,  t-nch  other  -.vorie, 

And  make  them  trade  it,  to  the  doers'  thrift. 
TraJ:  and  thrift  correfpond.     Our  author  plays  with  trade,  as  it 
fiwniiies  a  lucrative  vocation,  or  a  frequent  practice.    So  Ifabella 
fays : 

"  Thy  fin's,  not  accidental,  but  a  traJc"    JOHNSON. 

However  ungrammatkal,  1  believe  the  old  reading  is  the  true 

one.     To  make  them  dread  It  is  to  make  them  pcrfevere  in  the  com- 

7>;:'"on  of  dreadful  aSllcns.     Dr.  Johnfon  has  obferved  on  a  paiTage 

in  Hamlet,  that  Pope  and  Rows  have  not  refufed  this  mode  of 

IpeSikiflg  : "  Tojinner  it  or/a/;./  //"— ^— and  "  to  coy  //." 

STEE  VEXS. 

1  Do  your  bell  w/7/.f, 

i  >naks  me  biejl  /'  cley  !  — —  ]     So  the  copies.     It  was  more 
in  tlic  manner  of  our  nmlu,r  to  have  written, 

- —  Do  your  blcjl  wills, 

And  make  me  bleft  t'  obev. JOHNSON", 

VOL.  IX.  X  As 


3o6  CYMBELINE. 

As  does  a  Briton  peafant  :  fo  I'll  fight 

AgaLnfl  the  part  1  come  with  ;  fo  I'll  die 

For  thee,  O  Imogen,  even  for  whom  my  life 

Is,  every  breath,  a  death  :  and  thus,  unknown, 

Pity'cl  nor  hated,  to  the  face  of  peril 

Myfelf  I'll  dedicate.     Let  me  make  men  know 

More  valour  in  me  than  my  habits  fhow.  . 

Gods,  put  the  ilrength  o'the  Leonati  in  me  ! 

To  fhame  the  guife  o'the  world,  I  will  begin 

The  faihion,  lefs  without,  and  more  within.     [Erf/. 

SCENE     II. 

Enter  Lucius,  lachimo,  and  the  Roman  army  at  one 
door  ;  and  the  Brltijh  army  at  another  ;  Leonatus 
Pojlhumus  following  it  like  a  poor  foldier.  They 
march  over^  and  go  out.  Then  enter  again  inJkJrtntfb 
lachimo  and  Pqft  humus  :  he  vanquijheth  and  difarmeth 
and  then  leaves  /.'/;/.  . 


lach.  The  heavinefs,  and  guilt,  within  my  boforn 
Takes  off  my  manhood  :  I  have  bely'd  a  lady, 
The  princcfs  of  this  country,  and  the  air  on't 
Revengingly  enfeebles  me;  Or  could  this  carle  ', 
A  very  drudge  of  nature's,  have  fubdu'd  me, 
In  my  profeffion  ?  Knighthoods  and  honours,  borne 
As  I  wear  mine,  are  titles  but  of  fcorn. 
If  that  thy  gentry,  Britain,  go  before 
This  lout,  as  he  exceeds  our,  lords,  the  odds 
Is,  that  we  fcarce  are  men,  and  you  arc  gods.  [Exit. 

*  -    —  tlh  carle,]     Carle  is  ufed  by  our  old  writers  in  oppo- 
lition  to  a  penile  >i:an.     See  the  poem  of  John  tie  Kcc-re. 

PERCY. 

Carlct  is  a  word  of  the  fame  {ignincntion',  and  occurs  in  our  au- 
thor's As  you  like  'it.     Again,  in  an-  nncient  interhuit  or  me,  . 
printed  by  Raficll,  without  title  or  date. 

"  A  carlys  fonne,  brought  up  of  nought." 
The  thought  ftems  to  have  bevn  imitated  in  Pbllajlcr: 

"  The  gods  take  part  cr/ninlt  ine  ;  coukl  this  boor 
*  Have  held  me  thus  die  r"    STLHVK.NS. 


CYMBELINE.  307* 

*?ke  battle  continues ;  the  Britons  fly  ;  Cymbeline  is  taken  : 
then  enter  to  bis  refine,  Belarius,  Guiderius,  and 
Arviragus. 

Bel.  Stand,  ftand !  We  have  the  advantage  of  the 

ground  ; 

The  lane  is  guarded  :  nothing  routs  us,  but 
The  villainy  of  our  fears. 

Guid.  Arv.  Stand,  fland,  and  fight ! 

Enter  Pojlbumus,  and  feconds  the  Britons.     They  refcut 

Cymbeline,  and  Exeunt. 
Then,  enter  Lucius,  lacbimo,  and  Imogen. 

Luc.  Away,  boy,  from  the  troops,  and  fave  thy- 

felf : 

For  friends  kill  friends,  and  the  diforder's  fuch 
As  war  were  hood-wink'd. 

lack.  'Tis  their  frefh  fupplies. 

Lnc.  It  is  a  day  turn'd  ftrangely  :  Or  betimes 
Let's  re-inforce,  or  fly.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE     III. 

Another  part  of  tbe  field. 

Enter  Pojlbumus,  and  a  Briti/li  Lord. 

Lord.  Cam'ft  thou  from  where  they  made  the  (land  ? 

Pojl.  I  did  : 
Though  you,  it  feems,  come  from  the  fliers. 

Lord.  I  did. 

PC/?.  No  blame  be  to  you,  fir  ;  for  all  was  loft, 
But  that  the  heavens  fought :  The  king  himfelf 
Of  his  wings  deftitute,  the  army  broken, 
And  but  the  backs  of  Britons  feen,  all  flying 
Through  a  ftrait  lane ;  the  enemy  full-hearted, 
Lolling  the  tongue  with  flaughterint>-,  having  work 
More  plentiful  than  tools  to  do't,  ftruck  down 

X  2  Some 


3o8  CYMBELINE. 

Some  mortally,  fome  flightly  touch'd,  feme  falling; 
Merely  through  fear  ;  that  the  ftrait  pafs  was  dammed 
With  dead  men,  hurt  behind,  and  cowards  living 
To  die  with  lengthen'd  fhame. 

Lord.  Where  was  this  lane  ? 

Poft.  Clofeby  the  battle,  ditch'd,  and  wall'd  with 

turf; 

Which  gave  advantage  to  an  ancient  foldier,  — 
An  honeft  one,  I  warrant  ;  who  deferv'd 
So  long  a  breeding,  as  his  white  beard  came  to, 
In  doing  this  for  his  country  ;  —  athwart  the  lane, 
He,  with  two  ftriplings,  (lads  more  like  to  run 
4  The  country  bafe,  than  to  commit  fuch  flaughter  ; 
With  faces  fit  for  maiks,  or  rather  fairer 
Than  thofe  s  for  prefer  vaticn  cas'd,  or  fhame) 

Made 

3  Clofe  ly  the  lattk,  S:c.]  The  flopping  of  the  Roman  army  by 
three  perfons,  is  an  alkifion  to  the  lioryof  the  Hays,  as  related  by 
Holinftied  in  his  Hljlory  of  Scotland,  p.  155  :  "  There  was  neere 
to  the  place  of  the  battell,  a  long  lane  fenied  on  the  fides  with 
ditches  and  walles  made  of  turfe,  through  the  which  the  Scots 
which  fled  were  beaten  downe  by  the  enemies  on  heapes. 

"  HereHaie  with  his  fonnes  fuppofing  they  might  beft  ftaie 
the  fight,  placed  themlelves  overthwart  the  lane,  bea^t  them  backc 
whom  they  met  fleeing,  and  fpared  neither  friend  nor  fo  ;  but 
d'y.vne  they  went  all  fuch  as  came  within  their  reach,  wherewith 
divers  hardie  perfonagcs  cried  unto  their  fellcwes  to  returne  backe 
unto  the  buttell,  &c." 

It  appears  from  Peck's  New  Memoirs  &c.  article  88,  that 
Milton  intended  to  have  written  a  play  on  this  fubjeft. 


*  fie  country  Infc^  -  ]     i.  e.   A  rultic  game  called  pr:fon-barst 
vulgarly  prifou-bafe.     So,  in  the  Tragedy  ,\  1632. 

"  -  I'll  run  a  little  courfe 
"  At  bafc  or  barley  -break  -  " 
Again,  in  the  Antipodes,  1638  : 

"  -  my  men  can  run  at  lafe." 
Again,  in  the  ^cth  Song  of  Dray  ton's  Polyolbion  : 

"  At  hood-wink,  barley-brake,  at  tick,  or  prifon-bafe.™ 
Again,  in  Spenfcr's  Fairy  ^urcn^  B.  5.  c.  8. 

**  So  ran  they  all  as  they  had  been  at  lace"     STEEVENS. 
5  --  for  preferi'atioH  caSeJ,  or  fliame).]     Sbctrr.c  for  mu- 
defiy  .     W  A  n  u  u  R  r  o  r:  . 

Sir 


C  Y  M  B  E   L  I  N   E.  <p9 

Made  good  the  paflagc  ;  cry'd  to  thofe  that  fled, 

Our  Britain's  harts  diefylng^  not  our  men  : 

To  darknefs  fleet,  fouls  that  fly  backwards  !  Stand ; 

Or  we  are  Romans,  and  will  give  you  that 

Like  b  softs,  which  you  foun  biaftly ;  and  -may  (live, 

But  to  look  back  in  frown  :  jland,  jhnd. — Thefe  three, 

Three  thoufand  confident,  in  ad:  as  many, 

(For  three  performers  are  the  file,  when  all 

The  reft  do  nothing)  with  this  word,  ftand,  fiand, 

Accommodated  by  the  place,  more  charming 

With  their  own  noblcnefs,  (which  could  have  turn'd 

A  diftaffto  a  lance)  gilded  pale  looks, 

Part,  lhame,  part,  fpirit  renew'd ;  that  fome,  turn'd 

coward 

But  by  example  (O,  a  (in  in  xvar, 
Damn'd  in  the  firft  beginners  !)  'gan  to  look 
The  way  that  they  did,  and  to  grin  like  lions 
Upon  the  pikes  o'  the  hunters.     Then  began 
A  flop  i'the  chafer,  a  retire  ;  anon, 
6  A  rout,  confufion  thick  :   Forthwith,  they  fly 
Chickens,  the  way  which  they  ftoop'd  eagles;  flaves, 
The  ftrides  they  victors  made  :  And  now  our  cowards, 
(Like  fragments  in  hard  voyages,  became 
The  life  o'the  need)  having  found  the  back-door  open 

Sir  T.  Hanmer  reads  the  paflage  thus : 
Than  fome  for  preservation  cas'd. 

ibc.we, 

Make  good  the  fajjagf,  cry'd  to  thofa  that  fled, 
Our  Britain's  harts  die  flying,  &c. 
Theobald's  reading  is  right.     JOHNSON. 

6  A  rout,  confnjion  thick : ]     This  is  read  as  if  it  was  a  thick 

confufion,  and  o'nly  another  term  for  rout:  whereas  conftejion-tblck 
fliouid  be  read  thus,  with  an  hyphen,  and  is  a  very  beautiful 
compound  epithet  to  rout.  But  Shakefpeare's  fine  diction  is  not  a 
little  obicured  throughout  by  thus  disfiguring  his  compound  ad- 
jeftives.  WARBURTOV. 

1  do  not  fee  what  great  addition  is  made  to  fine  J'i8i«M  by  this 
compound.  Is  it  no.t  as  natural  to  enforce  the  principal  event  in 
a  ftory  by  repetition,  as  to  enlarge  the  principal  figure  in  a  pifture  ? 

JOHN'SOK. 

X  3  Of 


3io  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Ot  the  unguarded  hearts,  Heavens,  how  they  wound! 
Some,  fiain  before  ;  fome,  dying ;  fome,  their  friends 
O'cr-borne  i'  the  former  wave  :  ten,  chac'd  by  one, 
Are  now  each  one  the  {laughter-man  of  twenty  : 
Thofe,  that  would  die  or  ere  refill,  are  grown 
The  mortal 7  bugs  o'  the  field. 

Lord.  This  was  flrange  chance  : 
A  narrow  lane  !  an  old  man,,  and  two  boys ! 

Pqft.  8  Nay,  do  not  wonder  at  it :  You  are  made 
Rather  to  wonder  at  the  things  you  hear, 
Than  to  work  any.     Will  you  rhime  upon't, 
And  vent  it  for  a  mockery  ?  Here  is  one  : 
Two  boys,  an  old  man  twice  a  boy,  a  lane-, 
Preferv'd  the  Britons,  was  the  Romans'"  bane. 

Lord.  Nay,  be  not  angry,  fir. 

Pqft.  'Lack,  to  what  end  ? 
Who  dares  not  {land  his  foe,  I'll  be  his  friend  : 
For  if  he'll  do,  as  he  is  made  to  do, 
I  know,  he'll  quickly  fly  my  friendfhip  too. 
You  have  put  me  into  rhime. 

Lord.  Farewel ;  you  are  angry.  [Exit, 

7 lugs ]     Terrors.    JOHNSON. 

So  in  the  The  Spanifi  Tragedy,  1605  : 

"  Where  nought  but  tunes',  lugs,  and  tortures  dwell." 
So  in  the  Battle  of  Alcazar,    i  1^94.  : 
*'  Is  Amurath  Bafla  fuch  a  bug, 
"  That  he  is  mark'd  to  do  this  doughty  deed  ?" 
Again  : 

"  And  (hall  we  be  afraid  of  baffr.s,  and  of  lugs  ?" 
Again,  in  Sclimus  Emperor  of  the  Turks,    1638: 

*"'  He  brings  with  him  that  great  Egyptian  lug, 
"  Strong  Tonombey."    STEEVENS. 

8 Nay,  do  not  wonder  at  it: ]     Sure,  this  is  mock  reafoning 

with  a  vengeance.  What !  becauie  he  was  made  fitter  to  wonder 
at  great  actions,  than  to  perform  any,  he  is  therefore  forbid  to 
xvondcr  ?  Not  and  but  are  perpetually  miftaken  for  one  another  in 
the  old  editions.  THEOBALD. 

There  is  no  need  of  alteration.  Poflhumns  firft  bids  him  not 
Bonder,  then  tells  him  in  another  mode  of  reproach,  that  wonder 
js  all  that  he  was  made  for.  JOHNSON. 

Pojl. 


CYMBELINE.  311 

Poft.    Still   going  ?  —  This    is  a   lord  !    O    noble 

mifery  ! 

To  be  i'  the  field,  and  afk,  what  news,  of  me  ! 
To-day,  how  many  would  have  given  their  honours 
To  have  fav'd  their  carcafles  ?  took  heel  to  do't,    . 
And  yet  died  too  ?  9I,  in  mine  own  woe  charm  'd, 
Could  not  find  death,  where  I  did  hear  him  groan  ; 
Nor  feel  him,   where  he  ftruck  :     Being  an  ugly 

monfter, 

'Tis  ftrange,  he  hides  him  in  frefh  cups,  foft  beds, 
Sweet  words  ;  or  hath  more  minifters  than  we 
That  draw  his  knives  i'  the  war.  —  Well,  I  will  find 

him  : 

For,  being  now  a  l  favourer  to  the  Roman, 
No  more  a  Briton,  I  have  refum'd  again 
The  part  I  came  in  :  Fight  I  will  no  more, 
But  yield  me  to  the  verieft  hind,  that  fhall 
Once  touch  my  Ihoulder.     Great  the  llaughter  is 


9  —  ;  -  /,  in  mlxc-ffiivn  ctw  warm'  (/,]     Alluding  to  the  com- 
mon luperltition  ot  charms  bein£  powerful  enough  to  keep  men 
unhurt  in  battle.     It  was  derived  from  our  Saxon  anceftors,  and 
and  fo  is  common  to  us  with  the  Germans,  who  are  above  all 
other  people  given  to  this  fuperftition  ;  which  made  Erafmus, 
where,  in  his  Moria  Encomium,  he  gives  to  each  nation  its  pro- 
per charaderiftic,  fay,  *'  Germani  corporum  proceritate  &magiae 
cognitione  fibi  placent."     And  Prior,  in  his  Alma: 
"  North  Britons  hence  have  feccnd  light  ; 
"  And  Germans  free  from  gux-Jhct  fjjnt*    WAR  BTTR  TON. 
See   a   note  on  Macbeth^  aft  V.   fc.  ulr.    .  So  in   Drayton's 
ffymphidia  : 

Their  ficonds  minlflcr  an  oath 
Which  ivas  Indifferent  to  them  both, 
That,  on  their  knightly  faith  and  troth^ 

No  mdgic  them  fiippUed', 
And  fought  them  that  they  had  no  charms 
Wherewith  to  work  each  other's  harms  , 
But  c.ime  -ncith  Jimple  open  arms 

To  have  their  cdvfes  tried.     SrEEVENS. 

1  ——favourtr  to  the  Roman,]     The  editions  before  Hanmer's 
for  Roman  read  Briton  j  and  Dr.  Warburton  reads  Briton  ftill. 

JOHNSON'. 


312  C  Y  M  B  E   L   I   N  E. 

Here  made  by  the  Roman  ;  *  great  the  anfwer  be 
Britons  muil  take  :   For  me,  my  ranfom's  death  ; 
On  either  fide  I  come  to  fpend  my  breath  ; 
Which  neither  here  I'll  keep,  nor  bear  again, 
But  end  it  by  ibme  means  for  Imogen. 

Enter  two  BritJjJj  Captains,  and  Soldiers. 

1  Cap.  Great  Jupiter  be  prais'd  !  Lucius  is  taken  : 
'Tis  thought,  the  old  man  and  his  fons  were  angels. 

2  Cap.  There  was  a  fourth  man,  in  a  filly  habit 3, 
f  That  gave  the  affront  with  them. 

i  Cap.  So  'tis  reported  ; 

But  none  of  them  can  be  found. — Stand !  Who's 
there  ? 

Poft.   A  Roman ; 

Who  had  not  now  been  drooping  here,  if  feconds 
Had  anfwer'd  him. 

2.  Cap.  Lay  hands  on  him  ;  A  dog  ! 
A  leg  of  Rome  ihall  not  return  to  tell 
What  crows  have  peck'd  them  here  :  He  brags  his 

fervice 
As  if  he  were  of  note  :  bring  him  to  the  king. 


*  •  "great  the  anfwer  le\     Anfixer^  as  once  in  this  play  be- 
fore, is  retaliation.     JOHNSON. 

3  a  iilly  habit.]     Silly  is  Jtmpk  or  rttftic.     So  in  K.  Lear : 

twenty  Jilly  ducking  obfervants STEEVENS. 

*  That  gave  the  affront  with  them.     That  is,  that  turned  their 
faces  to  the  enemy.     JOHNSON. 

So,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  Alcbymift : 

"  To  day  thou  flialt  have  ingots,  and  to-morrow 
"  Give  lords  the  affront"    STEEVENS. 


Enter 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  313 

Enter  Cymbeline,  Belarius,  Guiderhis,  Arvlragus,  Pifanio, 
and  Roman  captives.  'The  captains  prefent  Pojlhumus 
to  Cymbeline ,  who  delivers  him  over  to  a  gaoler  2 
after  which,  all  go  out. 

SCENE      IV. 

Aprifon. 
Enter  Pojlhv.nms^  and  t-vo  Gaolers. 

1  Gaol.  5  You  fhall  not  now  be  flolen,  you  have 

locks  upon  you ; 
So,  graze,  as  you  find  patfure. 

2  Gaol  Ay,  or  a  ftomach.  [Exeunt  Gaolers. 
Poft.  Moft  welcome,  bondage  !  for  thou  art  a  way, 

I  think,  to  liberty  :  Yet  am  I  better 

Than  one  that's  fide  o'  the  gout ;  fince  he  had  rather 

Groan  fo  in  perpetuity,  than  be  cur'd 

By  the  fure  phyfician,  death  ;  who  is  the  key 

To  unbar  thefe  locks.     My  conference  !    thou  art 

fetter'd 
More  than  my  fhanks,  and  wrifls  :  You  good  gods, 

give  me 

The  penitent  inftrument,  to  pick  that  bolt, 
Then,  free  for  ever  !   Is't  enough,  I  am  forry  ? 
So  children  temporal  fathers  do  appeafe  ; 
Gods  arc  more  full  of  mercy.     Muft  I  repent  ? 
I  cannot  do  it  better  than  in  gyves, 
Defir'd,  more  than  conftrain'd  :  6  to  fatisfy, 

If 

5  Youfoallnot  WK.V  le  Jlokn^ ]     This  wit  of  the  goaler  al- 

lodes  to  the  cuftom  of  putting  a  lock  on  a  horfc's  leg,  when  he  is 
turned  to  pafture.     JOHNSON. 

•   6— tofatisfy, 

If  of  my  freedom  'tis  the  main  party  take 


C   Y  M  B  E   L  I   N   E. 

If  of  my  freedom  'tis  the  main  part,  take 

No  ftriclcr  render  of  me,  than  my  all. 

I  know,  you  are  more  clement  than  vile  men, 

Who  of  their  broken  debtors  take  a  third, 

A  iixth,  a  tenth,  letting  them  thrive  again 

On  their  abatement;  that's  not  my  defirc  : 

For  Imogen's  dear  life,  ta^e  mine  ;  and  though 

'Tis  not  ib  dear,  yet  'tis  a  life ;  you  coin'd  it  : 

'Tvveen  man  and  man,  they  weigh  not  every'ftamp; 

Though  light,  take  pieces  for  the  figure's  fake ; 

You  rather  mine,  being  yours  :  And  ib,  great  powers, 

If  you  will-take  this  audit,  take  this  life, 

And  cancel  thefe  7  cold  bonds.     O  Imogen  ! 

I'll  fpeak  to  thee  in  iilence.  [He  Jlecps. 

"No  Jirltffr  render  of  me,  than  my  all.]  What  we  can  difcover 
from  the  nonfenfe  of  theie  lines  is,  that  the  fpeaker,  in  a  fit  of 
penitency,  compares  his  circumftances  with  a  debtor's,  who  is 
willing  to  furrender  up  all  to  appeafe  his  creditor.  This  being 
the  fenfe  in  general,  I  may  venture  to  fay,  the  true  reading  mult 
have  been  this : 

; to  fatisfy, 

I  d'ojfmy  freedom  ;  'tis  the  main  part ;  take 

No  ftri&er  render  of  me  than  my  all. 

The  verb  dyoff'\s  too  frequently  ufed  by  our  author  to  need  any 
inflances  ;  and  is  here  employed  with  peculiar  elegance,  5.  e.  To 
give  all  the  fatisfadtion  I  am  able  to  your  offended  godheads,  I 
voluntarily  divert  myfelf  of  my  freedom :  'tis  the  only  thing  I 
have  to  atone  with  ; 

. take 

No  ftricter  render  of  me,  than  my  all.  WAR  BUR  TON. 
Pofthumus  queftions  whether  contrition  be  fufficient  atonement 
for  guilt.  Then,  to  fatisfy  the  offended  gods,  he  defires  them  to 
take  no  more  than  his  prefent  all,  that  is,  his  life,  if  it  is  the 
main  part,  the  chief  point,  or  principal  condition  ot  his  freedom, 
i.  e.  of  his  freedom  from  future  ptinifhment.  This  interpretation 
appears  to  be  warranted  by  the  former  part  of  the  fpeech.  The 
Rerifal  is  juilly  levere  on  the  inconfiftency  of  Dr.  VVarburton's 
correction.  STEEVENS. 

7 cMbomh.- — ]     This  equivocal   ufe  of  bonds  is  another 

inftance  of  our  author's  infelicity  in  pathetic  fpeeches.  JOHNSON. 

*  Solemn 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  315 

*  Solemn  mufick.  Enter,  as  In  an  apparition,  Sicilius 
Leonatus,  father  to  Pofthumus,  an  old  man,  attired 
like  a  warrior ;  leading  in  his  hand  an  ancient  matron, 
his  wife,  and  mother  to  Pofthumus,  with  mufick  before 
them.  Then,  after  other  mufick,  follow  the  two  young 
Leonati,  brothers  to  Pofthumus,  with  wounds  as  they 
died  in  the  wars.  They  circle  Poflhumus  round,  as  be 
liesjleeping. 

Sici.  No  more,  thou  thunder-mafter,  fhew 

Thy  fpite  on  mortal  flies  : 
With  Mars  fall  out,  with  Juno  chide, 

That  thy  adulteries 
Rates,   and  revenges. 
Hath  my  poor  boy  done  ought  but  well, 

Whofe  face  I  never  faw  ? 
I  dy'd,  whilft  in  the  womb  he  ftay'd, 
Attending  Nature's  law, 

3  Solemn  mujick,&.c.~\  Here  follow  a  vlfon,  a  msfqiie,  and  a  pro* 
fbcfy,  which  interrupt  the  fable  without  the  leaft  neceffity,  and 
unmeafurably  lengthen  this  aft.  I  think  it  plainly  foiftcd  in. 
afterwards  for  mere  fhow,  and  apparently  not  of  Shakefpeare. 

POPE. 

Every  reader  muft  be  of  the  fame  opinion.  The  fubfequent 
narratives  of  Pofthumus,  which  render  this  rnafque,  &c.  unnecef- 
fary,  (or  perhaps  the  fcenical  directions  fupplieu  by  the  poet  hini- 
felf)  feem  to  have  excited  fome  manager  of  a  theatce  to  difgrace 
the  play  by  the  prefent  metrical  interpolation.  Shakefpeare, 
who  has  conducted  his  fifth  aft  with  fuch  matchlefs  ikill,  could 
never  have  defigned  thevifion  to  be  twice  defcribed  by  Pofthumus, 
had  this  contemptible  nonfenfe  been  previoufly  delivered  on  the 
flage.  The  following  pafikge  from  Dr.  Farmer's  Eftay  will  fliew  that 
it  was  no  unufual  thing  for  the  players  to  indulge  themfelves  iu 

making  additions  equally  unjuilifiable. "  Vv7e  have  a  fufficient 

inftance  of  the  liberties  taken  by  the  adlors,  in  an  old  pamphlet, 
by  Nafh,  called  Lenten  Stuffs,  with  the  frayfc  of  the  red  Herring, 
410.  1599,  where  he  aflures  us,  that  in  a  play  of  his  called  The 
JJle  of  Dogs,  foure  atfs,  without  his  con  fen  t,  or  the  leaft  guefs  of 
|us  drift  or  fcope,  were  fupplicd  by  th,e  players."  STEEVKXS. 

Whofe 


$i6  C  Y   M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Whofe  father  then  (as  men  report, 

Thou  orphan's  father  art) 
Thou  fhould'it  have  been,  and  fhielded  him 

From  this  earth-vexing  fmart. 
Moth.  Lucina  lent  not  me  her  aid, 

But  took  me  in  my  throes  ; 
9  That  from  me  was  Pofthumus  ripr, 
Came  crying  'monglt  his  foes,. 
A  thing  of  pity  ! 
Sid.  Great  nature,  like  his  anceftry, 

Mpulded  the  fluff  fo  fair, 
That  he  deferv'd  the  praife  o'  the  world, 

As  great  SiciHus'  heir, 
i  Bro.  When  once  he  was  mature  for  man, 

In  Britain  where  was  he 
That  could  ftand  up  his  parallel ; 

Or  fruitful  object  be 
JEn  eye  of  Imogen,  that  beft 

Could  deem  his  dignity  ? 
Moth.  With  marriage  wherefore  was  he  mock'd, 

TO  be  e^il'd,  and  thrown 
prom  Leonati'  feat,  and  cafl 

From  her  his  dcarcft  one, 
Sweet  Imogen  ? 
Ski.  Why  did  you  fuffcr  lachimo, 

Slight  thing  of^Italy, 
To  taint  his  nobler  heart  and  brain 

With  needlefs  jealoufy  ; 

And  to  become  the  gcck  and  fcorn 

O'  the  other's  villainy  ? 

9  That  from  me  my  Pojt  humus  ript,  ]      The  old  copy  reads  : 

That  from  me  was  Pollhumus  ript. 
Perhaps  we  fliould  read, 

That  from  my  womb  Pofthumus  ripr, 

Came  crying  'mongft  his  foes.     JOH  Msor*. 
This  circumftance  is  met  with  in  the  Devil's  Charter,   1607. 
The  play  of  Cymldine  did  not  appear  in  print  till  1623  : 
"  What  would 'ft  thou  run  again  into  my  womb  ? 
'*  If  thou  wert  there,  thou  fhould'it  he  Pojlbumu^ 
**  Aud  ript  out  of  my  fides,  &c."    SIEBVENB. 


C  Y  M  B  E   L   I  N  E.  317 

2  Pro.  For  this,  from  fliller  feats  we  came, 

Our  parents,  and  us  twain, 
That,  ftriking  in  our  country's  caufe, 

Fell  bravely,  and  were  ilain  ; 
Our  fealty,  and  Tenantius'  right, 

With  honour  to  maintain. 

1  Bro.  Like  hardiment  Pofthumus  hath 
To  Cymbeline  perform'd  : 

Then,  Jupiter,  thou  king  of  gods, 
Why  halt  thou  thus  adjourn'd 
The  graces  for  his  merits  due  ; 

Being  all  to  dolours  turn'd  ? 
Sici.  Thy  chryftal  window  ope  j  look  out; 

No  longer  exercife, 
Upon  a  valiant  race,  thy  harfh 

And  potent  injuries  : 
Moth.  Since,  Jupiter,  our  fon  is  good, 

Take  off  his  miferies. 
Sid.  Peep  through  thy  marble  manfion  ;  help  ! 

Or  we  poor  ghofls  will  cry 
To  the  ihining  fynod  of  the  reft, 
Againft  thy  deity. 

2  Broth.  Help,  Jupiter  ;  or  we  appeal,  • 

And  from  thy  juftice  fly. 

Jupiter  defcends  l  in  thunder  and  lightning,  Jilting  upon  an 
eagle  :  he  throws  a  thunder -bolt.  The  ghqfts  fall  on 
their  knees. 

1  Jupiter  defcendi ]     It  nppears  from  Acolaftus,  a  comedy 

by  T.  Palfgrave,  chaplain  to  K.  Henry  VIII.  bl.  1.  i  ^29,  that 
the  defcent  of  deities  was  common  to  our  ilage  in  its  earlieft  ftate. 
"  Of  whyche  the  lyke  thyngis  ufed  to  be  fhewed  now  a  days  in 
ftage-plaies,  when  fome  God  or  fome  Saynt  is  made  to  appere 
forth  of  a  cloude,  and  fuccoureth  the  panics  which  iemed  to  be 
towardes  fome  great  danger,  through  the  Soudan's  crueltie." 
The  author,  for  fear  this  clelcription  fliould  not  be  fuppofed  to  ex- 
tend itfelf  to  our  theatres,  adds  in  a  marginal  note,  "  the  lyke 
jnaner  ufed  nowe  at  our  thvs  in  fcage  playes."  S TEEVENS. 


3i8  C   Y   M   B  E   L  I  N  E. 

Jupit.  No  more,  you  petty  fpirits  of  region  low, 

Offend  our  hearing ;  hufh! — How  dare  you  ghofts, 
Accufe  the  thunderer,  whofe  bolt  you  know, 

Sky-planted,  batters  all  rebelling  coafts  ? 
Poor  ihadows  of  Elyfium,  hence  ;  and  reft 

Upon  your  never-withering  banks  of  flowers  : 
Be  not  with  mortal  accidents  oppreft ; 

No  care  of  yours  it  is;  you  know,  'tis  ours. 
Whom  beft  I  love,  I  crofs  ;  to  make  my  gift, 

The  more  delay'd,  delighted.     Be  content ; 
Your  low-laid  ion  our  godhead  will  uplift ; 

His  comforts  thrive,  his  trials  well  are  fpenr. 
Our  Jovial  ftar  reign'cl  at  his  birth,  and  in 

Our  temple  was  he  married. — Rife,  and  fade  ! — • 
He  fhall  be  lord  of  lady  Imogen, 

And  happier  much  by  his  affliction  made. 
This  tablet  lay  upon  his  breaft  ;  wherein 

Our  plealure  his  full  fortune  doch  confine  ; 
And  fo,  away  :  no  farther  with  your  din 

Exprefs  impatience,  left  you  ftir  up  mine.^- 

Mount  eagle,  to  my  palace  chryftalline.  \_Afcends. 

Sid.  He  came  in  thunder;  his  cclcftial  breath 
Was  fulphurons  to  fmell  :  the  holy  eagle 
Sroop'd,  as  to  foot  us :  his  afcenfion  is 
More  fweet  than  our  bleft  fields  :  his  royal  bird 
Prunes  the  immortal  wing  %  and  3  cloys  his  beak, 
As  when  his  god  is  pleas'd. 

All 

"*•  Prunes  the  immortal  ivlng^  — — -  ]  A  birdisfaid  to  prune  him- 
felf  when  he  clears  his  feathers  from  fuperfluities.  So  in  Dray- 
ton's  Polyolbion,  Song  I. 

44  Some,  fitting  on  the  beach  to  prune  their  painted  breafts." 

STEEVENS, 

3 cloys  bis  leak,]     Perhaps  we  fliould  read, 

claws  his  beak.     T Y  R  w  H  i  T  T . 

A  cly  is  the  fame  with  a  daiv  in  old  language.     FARMER. 
So  in  Gower,  De  ConfcJJione  Amantis,  lib.  iv.  fol.  69  : 
"  And  as  a  catte  wold  etc  fiflies 
44  Without  wctynge  of  his  dca" 

Again, 


C   Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  319 

All  Thanks,  Jupiter! 

Sid.  The  marble  pavement  clofes,  he  is  enter'd 
His-  radiant  roof  :  — Away  !  and,  to  be  bleft 
Let  us  with  care  perform  his  great  beheft.     [Vani/h. 

Poft.  [waking.~\  Sleep,  thou  haft  been  a  grandfire, 

and  begot 

A  father  to  me  :  and  then  haft  created 
A  mother,  and  two  brothers  :  But  (O  fcorn  !) 
Gone  !  they  went  hence  fo  foon  as  they  were  born. 

And  fo  I  am  awake. Poor  wretches,  that  depend 

On  greatnefs'  favour,  dream  as  I  have  done ; 

Wake,  and  find  nothing. But,  alas,  I  fwerve  : 

Many  dream  not  to  find,  neither  defervc, 

And  yet  are  fteep'd  in  favours ;  fo  am  1, 

That  have  this  golden  chance,  and  know  not  why. 

What  fairies  haunt  this  ground  ?  A  book  ?   O,  rare 

one! 

Be  not,  as  is  our  fangled  world,  ?.  garment 
Nobler  than  that  it  covers  :  let  thy  effects 
So  follow,  to  be  mod  unlike  our  courtiers, 
As  good  as  pro  mile-. 

[  Reads  ]    . 

li'-.cn  as  a  lionsvjbelpfodl,  to  binfdj' unkiic^;,],  ivltl- 
cut  feeking  find,  and  he  embraced  by  a  piece  of  tender  air  ; 
and  zcbtii  from  a  Jlciel;  ..'/  le  Icpt  branches, 

Zi' frith,    being  i  .ill  after   revive,    be 

jointed  to  the  old  Jlock^  and  fref,.  ly  grozv ;  then  Jhall  Poft- 
bumus  end  his  miferies,  Britain  be  fortunate,  andfaurijk 
in  peace  and  plenty. 

Again,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  Underwoods: 

"  from  the  feize 

"  Of  vulture  death  and  thofe  relentlefs  cleys." 
Barrett,  in  his  Ai-i-earie,  1580,  fpeaks  "  of  a  difeafe  in  cat- 
tell  betwixt  the  dees  of  their  feete."  And  in  the  Eock  of ' Hav:k- 
iftg,  &c.  hi  1.  no  date,  under  the  article  Pounces,  it  is  laid, 
"  The  dels  within  the  ibte  ye  (hall  call  aright  her  pounces."  To 
cl&iv  their  beaks,  is  an  accuitcmed  adion  \\ith  hawks  and  eagles. 

STEEVENS. 

'Tis 


320  C   Y    M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

4  'Tis  ftill  a  dream  ;  or  elfe  fuch  fluff  as  madmen 
Tongue,  and  brain  not:  either  both,  or  nothing: 
Or  fenfelefs  fpeaking,  or  a  fpeaking  fuch 
As  fenfe  cannot  untie.     Be  what  it  is, 
The  action  of  my  life  is  like  it,  which 
I'll  keep  if  but  for  fympathy. 

Re-enter  Gaolers. 

Gaol.  Come,  fir,  are  you  ready  for  death  ? 

Pojl.  Over-roaftcd  rather  :  ready  long  ago. 

Gaol  Hanging  is  the  word,  fir ;  if  you  be  ready 
for  that,  you  are  well  cook'd. 

Pq/L  So,  if  I  prove  a  good  repaft  to  the  fpeclators, 
the  difh  pays  the  ihot. 

Gaol.  A  heavy  reckoning  for  you,  fir  :  But  the 
comfort  is,  you  lhall  be  call'd  to  no  more  payments, 
fear  no  more  tavern  bills  ;  which  arc  often  the  fadnefs 
of  parting,  as  the  procuring  of  mirth  :  you  come  in 
faint  for  want  of  meat,  depart  reeling  with  too  much 
drink  ;  forry  that  you  have  paid  too  much,  s  and  forrv 

that 

4  ""Tisjlill  a  dream  ;   or  elfe  fuch  Jlvjf  as  nuiamcn 
Tongue,  and  brain  not — do  either  both,  or  nothing     >  •• 
Or  fenfelefs  freaking,  or  a  fpcaltiu-s 

j^s  fenfe  cannot  untie. J     The  obfcurity  of  this  paflage 

ar'ifes  from  part  of  it  being  fpoke  0/"the  prophefy,  and  part  to  ir. 
This  writing  on  the  tablet  (lays  he)  is  lull  a  dream,  or  elfe  the 
raving  of  madnefs.  Do  thou,  O  tablet,  cither  both  or  nothing  ; 
either  let  thy  words  and  fenfe  go  together,  or  be  thy  bofom  a  rafo 
tabula.  As'the  words  now  ftandthey  arc  nonfenfe,  or  at  leaft  in- 
volve in  them  a  fenfe  which  I  cannot  develope.  WARBURTON. 

The  meaning,  which  is  too  thin  to  be  ealily  caught,  I  take  to 
be  this  :  7 bis  is  a  dream  or  madnefs,  or  both — or  nothing — but  whe- 
ther it  be  a  fpeech  without  confcioufucj},  as  in  a  ciream,  or  a  fpeech 
unintelligible,  as  in  madnefs,  be  it  as  it  is,  it  is  like  my  courfe  of 
life.  We  might  perhaps  read, 

Whether  both,  or  nothing JOHN-SON. 

The  word— Jo  is  inferted  unneceflarily  by  Dr.  Warburton,  both 
in  his  text  and  his  note.  It  is  not  in  the  old  copy.  STEEVEXS. 

s  . a  ml  forry  that  you  are  paid  too  mvch  ; ]     Tavern  bills, 

fays  the  goaler,  are  the  fadnefs  of  parting,  as  the  procuring  of 
mirth — you  iff  part  reeling  TV.-'/ 6  too  mttck  (!fink ;  forry  that  you  have 
paid  too  Hivcb,  and—  what  ?  forry  that  you  are  paid  too  much. 

Where 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  321 

that  you  are  paid  too  much  ;  purfe  and  brain  both 
empty  :  the  brain  the  heavier,  for  being  too  light ; 
the  purfe  too  light,  being  drawn  '  of  hcavinefs :  O  ! 
of  this  contradiction  you  fhall  now  be  quit.- — O,  the 
charity  of  a  penny  cord  !  it  fums  up  thoufands  in  a 
trice  :  you  have  no  true  *  debitor  and  creditor  but  it ; 
of  what's  paft,  is,  and  to  corne,  the  difcharge  :— 
Your  neck,  fir,  is  pen,  book,  and  counters ;  fo  the 
acquittance  follows. 

Poft.  1  am  merrier  to  die,  than  thou  art  to  live. 

Gaol.  Indeed,  fir,  he  that  fleeps  feels  n9t  the 
tooth-ach  :  But  a  man  that  were  to  fleep  your  fleep, 
and  a  hangman  to  help  him  to  bed,  I  think,  he  would 
change  places  with  his  officer :  for,  look  you,  fir, 
you  know  not  which  way  you  fhall  go. 

Poft.  Yes,  indeed,  do  I,  fellow. 

Gaol.  Your  death  has  eyes  in's  head  then  ;  I  have 
not  feen  him  fo  pictur'd  :  you  muft  either  be  directed 
by  fome  that  take  upon  them  to  know  ;  or  take  upon 
yourfelf  that,  which  I  am  fure  you  do  not  know ; 

Where  is  the  oppofition  ?  I  read,  jfnd  merry  that  you  are  paid  fo 
much.  I  take  the  fecond  paid  to  be  'paid,  for  appaid,  filled,  fa* 
tiated.  JOHNSON. 

——forty  that  you  have  paid  too  much,  andforry  that  you  are  paid 

too  mmh; ]  i.  e.  forry  that  you  have  paid  too  much  out 

of  your  pocket,  and  forry  that  you  are  paid,  orjubdued,  too  much 
by  the  liquor.  So  Falftaff; 

"  feven  of  the  eleven  I  payd." 

The  fume  conceit  is  in  the  and  part  of  Decker's  Htneji  JFJjortj 
1630: 

"  You  are /*/</? 
«  Yes,  fir, 

"  So  fhall  fome  of  us  be  anon,  I  fear." 
Again,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  7jd  Epigram. 

"  For  which  or  pay  me  quickly,  or  Y\\  pay  you." 
Again  in  the  fifth  fcene  of  the  fourth  adt  of  the  Merry  ff^-vts  of 
Windfor.     STEEVENS. 

1  -being  drawn  of  heavinffi ;;]  Drawn  is  embtKueWd,  exen- 
terated. — So  in  common  language  a  fowl  is  laid  to  be  drawn  when 
its  inteftines  are  taken  out.  STEEVENS. 

* debitor  end  creditor—]     For  an  accounting  look. 

JOHNSOK. 

VOL.  IX.  Y  or 


312  CY-MBELINE. 

or  'jump  the  after-cnqviiry  on  your  own  peril:  and 
how  you  (hall  fpeed  in  your  journey's  end,  I  think, 
you'll  never  return  to  tell  one. 

Pojl.  I  tell  thee,  fellow,  there  are  none  want  eyes, 
to  direct  them  the  way  I  am  going,  but  fuch  as  wink., 
and  will  not  ufe  them. 

Gaol.  What  an  infinite  mock  is  this,  that  a  man 
fhould  have  the  beft  ufe  of  eyes,  to  fee  the  way  of 
blindnefs !  I  am  fure,  hanging's  the  way  of  winking, 

Enter  a  Meffenger. 

Mcf.  Knock  off  his  manacles ;  bring  your  prifoncr 
to  the  king. 

Pojl.  Thou  bring'ft  good  news ;  I  am  call'd  to  be 
made  free. 

Gaol.  I'll  be  hang'd  then. 

Pojl.  Thou  flialt  be  then  freer  than  a  gaoler  ;  no 
bolts  for  the  dead.  [Exeunt  Pofthumusy  and  Mcfjenger. 

Gaol.  Unlefs  a  man  would  marry  a  gallows,  and 
beget  young  gibbets,  4  I  never  faw  one  fo  prone. 
Yet,  on  my  conlcience,  there  are  verier  knaves  dciire 
to  live,, for  all  he  be  a  Roman  :  and  there  be  feme  of 
them  too,  that  die  againft  their  wills  \  fo  mould  I,  if 
I  were  one.  I  would  we  were  all  of  one  mind,  and 
one  mind  good  ;  O,  there  were  defolation  of  gaolers, 
and  gallowfes  !  I  fpeak  againit  my  prefent  profit ;  but 
my  wiih  hath  a  preferment  in't.  [Exit. 

3 jump  the  after-enquiry  • ]  That  is,  venture  at  it  with- 
out thought.  So  Macbeth  : 

"  We'd  jump  the  Hfe  to  come."    JOHNSON. 

* 1  never  faiu  one  Jo  prone. ]     i.  e.  forward.     In  this 

fenfe  the  word  is  ufed  iu  Wilfride  Holme's  poem,  entitled  The  Fall 
4nd  evil  Succefs  of  Rebellion^  &e.   1537: 

"  Thus  lay  they  in  Doncafter,  with  curtal  and  ferpentine, 
'*  With  bombard  and  baiilifk,  with  men  prone  and  vigorous." 
Again  in  Sir  A.  Gorges'  tranfiation  of  the  fixth  book  of  Lucan : 

"  Theflalian  fierie  fteeds 

*  *  For  ufe  of  war  to  prone  and  fit."    STEEVENS. 

SCENE 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  £.  323 

SCENE        V». 

Cynibellnes  tent. 

Enter  Cymbetine;  "Belarius,  Guiderius,  drviragus,  Pifanw^ 
and  Lords. 

Cym.  Stand  by  my  fide,  you,  whom  the  gods  have 

made 

Prefervers  of  my  throne.     Woe  is  my  heart, 
That  the  poor  ibldier,  that  ib  richly  fought, 
Whofe  rags  ftiam'd  gilded  arms,  whofe  naked  breaft 
Stept  b'efore  targe  of  proof,  cannot  be  found  : 
He  fhall  be  happy  that  can  find  him,  if 
Our  grace  can  make  him  fo. 

Bel.  I  never  faw 

Such  noble  fury  in  fo  poor  a  thing  ; 
Such  precious  deeds  in  6  one  that  promis'd  nought 

But 

5  Scene  V.]     Let  thofe  who  talk  fo  confidently  about  the  fkill 
of  Shakefpeare's  contemporary,  Jonfon,  point  out  the  conclufioil 
of  any  one  of  his  plays  which  is  wrought  with  more  artifice,  and 
yet  a  lefs  degree  of  dramatic  violence  than  this.     In  the  fcene  be- 
fore, us,  all  the  furviving  characters  are  aifembled  ;  and  at  the  ex- 
pence  of  whatever  incongruity  the  former  events  may  have  been 
produced,  perhaps  little  can  be  difcovered  on  this  occafion  to  of- 
fend the  moft  fcrupulous  advocate  for  regularity  :  and,  I  think, 
as  little  is  found  wanting  to  fatisfy  the  fpectator  by  a  catallrophe 
which  is  intricate  without  confufion,  and  not  more  rich  in  orna- 
ment than  in  nature.     STEEVENS. 

6  „  onc  that  promifd  nought 

But  leggary  and  poor  looks.  But  how  can  it  be  faid,  that  one, 
whofe  poor  looks  promife  beggary,  promifed  poor  looks  too  ?  It  was 
not  the  poor  look  which  was  promifed ;  that  was  vifible.  We  rauft 
read : 

But  beggary  and  poor  luck. 

This  fets  the  matter  right,  and  makes  Belarius  fpeak  fenfe  and  to 
thepurpofe.  For  there  was  the  extraordinary  thing;  he  promifed 
nothing  but  feor  luck:  and  yet  performed  all  thefe  wonders. 

WAKBURTON. 

Y*  To 


324  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

But  beggary  and  poor  looks. 

Gym.  No  tidings  of  him  ? 

Pif.  He  hath  been  fearch'd  among  the  dead  and! 

living, 
But  no  trace  of  him. 

Cym.  To  my  grief,  I  am 
The  heir  of  his  reward  ;  which  I  will  add 
To  you,  the  liver,  heart,  and  brain  of  Britain, 

[To  Belarius,  Gulderius^  and  Arviragus* 
By  whom,  I  grant,  flie  lives  :  'Tis  now  the  time 
To  afk  of  whence  you  are  : — report  it. 

Bel.  Sir, 

In  Cambria  are  we  born,  and  gentlemen  : 
Further  to  boaft,  were  neither  true  nor  modeft, 
Unlefs  I  add,  we  are  honeft. 

Cym.  Bow  your  knees : 
Arife  my  knights  o'  the  battle 7 ;  I  create  you 
Companions  to  our  perfon,  and  will  fit  you 
With  dignities  becoming  your  eftates. 

Enter  Cornelius,  and  Ladies. 

There's  bufmefs  in  thefe  faces  : — Why  fo  fadly 
Greet  you  our  victory  ?  you  look  like  Romans,, 
And  not  o'  the  court  of  Britain.  t 

Cor.  Hail,  great  king  ! 
To  four  your  happinefs,  I  muft  report 
The  queen  is  dead. 

Cym.  Whom  worfe  than  a  phyfician 
Would  this  report  become  ?  But  I  confider, 
By  medicine  life  may  be  prolonged,  yet  death 
Will  feize  the  doctor  too. — How  ended  flie  ? 

To  promife  nothing  but  poor  looks,  may  be,  to  give  no  promife 
of  courageous  behaviour.     JOHNSON. 
So  in  K.  Rub.  II. 

**  To  look  fo  poorly  and  to  fpeak  fo  fair."     STEEVENS. 

7 knights  o*  the  battle;  —  }     Thus  in  Stowe's  Chronicle, 

p.  164,  edit.  1615:  *' Philip  of  France  ir.ade  Arthur  Plantagenec 
knight  of  the  felde."    STEEVENS. 

Cor. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  325 

Cor.  With  horror,  madly  dying,  like  her  life; 
Which,  being  cruel  to  the  world,  concluded 
Moft  cruel  to  herfelf.     What  fhe  confefs'd, 
I  will  report,  fo  pleafe  you  :  Thefe  her  women 
Can  trip  me,  if  I  err  ;  who,  with  wet  cheeks, 
W^ere  prefent  when  fhe  finifh'd. 

Cym.  Pr'ythee,  fay. 

Cor.  Firft,  fhe  confefs'd  fhe  never  lov'd  you  ;  only 
Affected  greatnefs  got  by  you,  not  you  : 
Married  your  royalty,  was  wife  to  your  place ; 
Abhorr'd  your  perfon. 

Cym.  She  alone  knew  this  : 
And,  but  Ihe  fpoke  it  dying,  I  would  not 
Believe  her  lips  in  opening  it.     Proceed. 

Cor.  Your  daughter,  whom  {he  bore  in  hand  to  love 
With  fuch  integrity,  Ihe  did  confefs 
Was  as  a  fcorpion  to  her  fight ;  whofe  life, 
But  that  her  flight  prevented  it,  Ihe  had 
Ta'en  off  by  poifon. 

Cym.  O  mofl  delicate  fiend ! 
Who  is't  can  read  a  woman  ? — Is  there  more  ? 

Cor.  More,  fir,  and  worfe.     She  did  confefs,  fUe 

had 

For  you  a  mortal  mineral ;  which,  being  took. 
Should  by  the  minute  feed  on  life,  and,  ling'ring, 
By  inches  wafte  you  :  In  which  time  Ihe  purpos'd, 
By  watching,  weeping,  tendance,  kiffing,  to 
O'ercome  you  with  her  fhew  :  yes,  and  in  time, 
(When  ihe  had  fitted  you  with  "her  craft)  to  work 
Her  fon  into  the  adoption  of  the  crown. 
But  failing  of  her  end  by  his  flrange  abfence, 
Grew  fhamelefs-defperate  ;  open'd,  in  defpight 
Of  heaven  and  men,  her  purpofes ;  repented 
The  ills  Ihe  hatch'd  were  not  effected  ;  fo, 
Pefpairing,  dy'd. 

Cym.  Heard  you  all  this,  her  women  ? 

Lady.  We  did,  fo  pleafe  your  highnefs. 

Cym.  Mine  eyes 

Y  3  Were 


326  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  Er 

Were  not  in  fault,  for  ihe  was  beautiful ; 

Mine  ears,  that  heard  her  flattery  ;  nor  my  heart, 

That  thought    her  like  her  feeming ;    it  had  been 

vicious, 

To  have  miftruiied  her  :  yet,  O  my  daughter  ! 
That  it  was  folly  in  me,  thou  may'ft  fay, 
And  prove  it  in  thy  feeling.     Heaven  mend  all  ! 

JLnter  Lucius,    lad'tmo,    and  other    Roman  +r  fivers  ; 
Pofthwnus  behind,  and  //.<; 

Thou  com'it  not,  Caius,  now  for  tribute  ;  that 
The  Britons  have  raz'ti  out,  though  with  the  lofs 
Of  many  a  bold  one  ;  whofe  kinfmcn  have  made  fuir, 
That  their  good  fouls  may  be  appeas'd  with  (laughter 
Of  you  their  captives,  which  ourfelf  have  granted  : 
So,  think  of  your  eftate. 

Luc.  Confider,  fir,  the  chance  of  war  :  the  day 
Was  yours  by  accident ;  had  it  gone  with  us, 
We  fhould   not,    when  the  blood  was  cold,  have 

threaten'd 

Our  prifoners  with  the  fvvord.     But  fince  the  gods 
Will  have  it  thus,  that  nothing  but  our  lives 
May  be  call'd  ranfom,  let  it  come  :  fufliccth, 
A  Roman  with  a  Roman's  heart  can  fuffer  : 
Auguftus  lives  to  think  on't :   And  fo  much 
For  my  peculiar  care.     This  one  thing  only 
I  will  entreat ;  My  boy,  a  Briton  born, 
Let  him  be  ranfom'd  :  never  matter  had 
A  page  fo  kind,  fo  duteous,  diligent, 
So  tender  over  his  occafions,  true, 
8  So  feat,  fo  nurfe-like  :  let  his  virtue  join 
With  my  requeft,  which,  I'll  make  bold,  your  high-, 

nets 
Cannot  deny ;  he  hath  done  no  Briton  harm, 

9  Svfcat) 3    ^°  reacty  5  f°  dextrous  in  waiting.    JOHNSON-. 

Though, 


CYMBELINE.  327 

Though  he  have  ferv'd  a  Roman  :  fave  him,  fir, 
And  fpare  no  blood  befide. 

Cym.  I  have  furely  feen  him  ; 
His  9  favour  is  familiar  to  me  : — Boy, 
Thou  haft  look'd  thyfclf  into  my  grace,  and  art 
Mine  own.     I  know  not  why,  wherefore,  I  fay, 
Live,  boy  :  ne'er  thank  thy  mafter  ;  live  : 
And  aik  of  Cymbeline  what  boon  thou  wilt, 
Fitting  my  bounty,  and  thy  ftate,  I'll  give  it; 
Yea,  though  thou  do  demand  a  prifoner, 
The  nobleft  ta'en. 

Imo.  1  humbly  thank  your  highnefs. 

Luc.  I  do  not  bid  thee  beg  my  life,  good  lad ; 
And  yet,  I  know,  thou  wilt. 

Imo.   No,  no  ;  alack, 
There's  other  work  in  hand  ;  I  fee  a  thing 
Bitter  to  me  as  death  :  your  life,  good  matter, 
Muft  ftuiffle  for  itfelf. 

Luc.  The  boy  difdains  me, 
He  leaves  me,  fcorns  me  :  Briefly  die  their  joys, 
That  place  them  on  the  truth  of  girls  and  boys.— 
Why  ftands  he  fo  perplex'd  ? 

Cym.  What  would  ft  thou,  boy  ? 
I  love  thee  more  and  more ;  think  more  and  more 
What's  beft  to  afk.     Know'ft  him  thou  look'fl  on  ? 

fpcak, 
Wilt  have  him  live  ?  Is  he  thy  kin  ?  thy  friend  ? 

Imo.  He  is  a  Romnn  ;  no  more  kin  to  me, 
Than  I  to  your  highnefs  ;  who,    being  born  your 

vaflal, 
Am  fortieth  ing  nearer. 

Cym.  Wherefore  ey'ft  him  fo  ? 

IMO.  I'll  tell  you,  fir,  in  private,  if  you  pleale 
To  give  me  hearing. 

9      '  favour  is  familiar—]     I  am  acquainted  with  his  coun* 
tenance.    JOHNSON. 

Y  4  Cym. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Cym.  Ay,  with  all  my  heart, 
And  lend  my  beft  attention.     What's  thy  name  ? 

Imo.  Fidele,  fir. 

Cym.  Thou  art  my  good  youth,  my  page; 
I'll  be  thy  matter  :  Walk  with  me;  fpeak  freely. 

[Cymbeline  and  Imogen  walk  afide* 

Bel.  Is  not  this  boy  reviv'd  from  death  ? 

Arv*  *  One  fand  another 
Not  more  rcfembles  :   That  fweet  rofy  lad, 
Who  dy'd,  and  was  Fidele — What  think  you  ? 

Gmd.  The  fame  dead  thing  alive. 

"Bel.  Peace,  peace  !  fee  further  ;  he  eyes  us  not ; 

forbear ; 

Creatures  may  be  alike  :  were't  he,  I  am  fure 
He  would  have  fpoke  to  us. 

Guld.  But  we  faw  him  dead. 

Bel.  Be  filent ;  let's  fee  further. 

Pif.  It  is  my  miftrefs  :  [Afide* 

Since  me  is  living,  let  the  time  run  on, 
To  good,  or  bad.         [Cymb.  and  Imogen  come  forward* 

Cym.  Come,  Hand  thou  by  our  fide ; 
Make  thy  demand  aloud. — Sir,  flep  you  forth  ; 

[20  lachimo, 

Give  anfvver  to  this  boy,  and  do  it  freely ; 
Or,  by  our  greatnefs,  and  the  grace  of  it, 
Which  is  our  honour,  bitter  torture  fhall 

Winnow  the  truth  from  falihood. On,  fpeak  to 

him. 

Imo.  My  boon  is,  that  this  gentleman  may  render 
Of  whom  he  had  this  ring. 

Poft.  What's  that  to  him  ?  [Afide. 

*  One  fand  another 

Not  more  refembles  thatyw<v/  rofy  lad,"\  A  flight  corruption 
has  made  nonfenfe  of  this  paflage.  One  grain  might  refemble 
another,  but  none  a  human  form.  We  mould  read  : 

Not  more  refembles,  than  he  t/S  ivveet  r  <fy  lad. 

WAK  BOTTOM* 

There  was  no  great  difficulty  in  the  line,  which,  when  proper- 
ty pointed,  needs  no  alteration.  JOHNSON. 

Cym. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Cym.  That  diamond  upon  your  finger,  fay, 
How  came  it  yours  ? 

loch.  Thou'lt  torture  me  to  leave  unfpoken  that 
Which,  to  be  fpoke,  would  torture  thee. 

Cym.  How  !  me  ? 

loch.  I  am  glad  to  be  conftrain'd  to  utter  that 

which 

Torments  me  to  conceal.  By  villainy 
I  got  this  ring ;  'twas  Leonatus*  jewel, 
Whom  thou  did  ft  banifh ;  and  (which  more  may 

grieve  thee, 

As  it  doth  me)  a  nobler  fir  ne'er  liv'd 
'Twixt  iky  and  ground.    Wilt  thou  hear  more,  my 
lord  ? 

Cym.  All  that  belongs  to  this. 

loch.  That  paragon,  thy  daughter, 

For  whom  my  heart  drops  blood,  and  my  falfe  fpirits 
*  Quail  to  remember, — Give  me  leave ;  I  faint. 

Cym.  My  daughter  !    what  of  her  ?    Renew  thy 

ftrength  : 

J  had  rather  thou  fhouldft  live  while  nature  will, 
Than  die  ere  I  hear  more  :  drive,  man,  and  fpeak. 

lack.  Upon  a  time,  (unhappy  was  the  clock  . 
That  ftruck  the  hour  !)  it  was  in  Rome,  (accurs'd 
The  manfion  where  !)  'twas  at  a  feaft,  (O,  'would 

*  Quail  to  remember,  ]  To  quail  is  to  fink  into  deje&ion. 
The  word  is  common  to  many  authors  ;  among  the  reft,  to  Stany- 
Jmrft,  in  his  tranflation  of  the  fecondbook  of  the  y£««</.- 

"  With  nightly  filence  was  I  quail* dt  and  greatly  with 

horror. " 
Again,    in  David  and  Betbfabe,   1599: 

**  Can  make  us  yield,  or  quail  our  courages." 
Again,  in  Mucedorus: 

"  That  fo  doft  quail  a  woman's  mind." 
Again,  in  the  Countefs  of  Pembroke's  Antonius,  1590  : 
"  One  day  there  will  come  a  day 

"  Which  (hall  quail  thy  fortune's  flowr." 
Again,  in  the  Three  LaJies  of  London,    i  584  : 
^  She  cannot  quail  me  if  Hie  come  in  likenefs  of  the  great  Devil." 

STEEVENS. 

Our 


530  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Our  viands  had  been  poifon'd  !  or,  at  leaft, 

Thofe  which    I    heav'd  to  head  !)  the  good  Pofl> 

humus, 

(What  tfiould  I  lay  ?  he  was  too  good,  to  be 
Where  ill  men  were ;  and  was  the  beft  of  all 
Amongft  the  rar'ft  of  good  ones)  fitting  fadly, 
Hearing  us  praife  our  loves  of  Italy 
For  beauty  that  made  barren  the  iwell'd  boaft 
Of  him  that  beft  could  fpeak  :  3  for  feature,  laming 

The 

» for  feature,  laming]     Feature  for  proportion  of  parts, 

which  Mr.  Theobald  not  undemanding,  would  alter  tojtature. 

for  feature,  laming 

The  fhrine  of  Venus,  or  ftraight-pight  Minerva, 

Pcftures  beyond  britf  nature  ; 

j.  e.  The  ancient  ftatues  of  Venus  and  Minerva,  which  exceeded, 
in  beauty  of  e-nct  proportion,  any  living  bodies,  the  work  of 
^riff  nature;  i.e.  of  hafty,  unelaborate  nature.  He  gives  the 
fame  character  of  the  beauty  of  the  antique  in  Antony  aud  Clco- 
j*tra : 

"  O'er  picturing  that  Venus  where  we  fee 

**  The  fancy  out-work  nature" 

It  appears,  from  a  number  of  fuch  pnflages  as  thefe,  that  our  au- 
thor was  not  ignorant  of  the  fine  arts.  A  paflage  in  DC  Piles' 
Ccvrs  <k  Feint  are  par  Principe*  will  give  great  light  to  the  beauty 

of  the  text. *'  Pen  de  fentimem  ont  etc  partagezfur  la  beaut  e  ife 

i*ant:que.  Les  gens  d'efprit  qui  aiment  fes  beaux  arts  ont  eftime 
Jans  tous  les  terns  ces  merveilleux  ouvrages.  Nous  voyons  dans  /,'s 
enciens  auteun  quantity  de  pajjages  ou  pour  loiier  les  beautez  vi- 
vantC3  on  les  comparoit  aux  itatues."'  Ne  vans  imagines  (c!it 
Maxime  deTyr)  dc  powoirjamais  trouver  uncbcaute  naturelle,  qui 
le  etifpxte  aux  jlatues.  Ovid,  ou  il  fait  la  defcription  de  Cyllart; ,  U 
flits  t>ea»  de  Ccntaures,  dit,  Qu'il  avoit  unc  ii  grande1  vivacite  dans 
le  vifage,  que  le  col,  les  epaules,  les  mains,  &  1'eitomac  en 
ctoient  ii  beaux  qu'on  pouvoit  aflurer  qu'en  tout  cequ'il  avoit  de 
1'homme  c'etoit  la  meme  beauteque  1'on  remarque  dansles  ftatues 

les  plus  pnrfaites." Et  Philoftrate,  parlant  de  la  beautc  de 

Neopfoleme,  &  de  la  refemblance  qu'il  avoit  avec  fon  pere 
Achille,  dit:  "  Qu'en  beaute  fon  pere  avoit  autant  d'avantage 
fur  lui  que  les  flatues  en  ont  fur  les  beaux  hommes.  Les  au- 
teurs  modernes  ont  fuivi  ces  memes  fentimens  fur  la  beaute  de 

T Antique" Je  reporterai  feulment  celui  de  Scaliger.     "  Le 

nloyen  (dit  il)  que  nous  puiffions  rien  voir  qui  approchede  la  per- 
belles  flatus's,  puifquil  efl  permis  i  1'art  de  choifir,  de 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  33I 

The  (hrine  of  Venus,  or  ftraight-pight  Minerva, 
Poflures  beyond  brief  nature ;  for  condition, 
A  fhop  of  all  the  qualities  that  man 
Loves  woman  for  ;  betides,  that  hook  of  wiving, 
Fairnefs,  which  ftrikes  the  eye  : 

Cym.   I  (land  on  fire  : ' 
Come  to  the  matter. 

lack.   All  too  foon  I  fhall, 
Unlcis  thou  wouldft  grieve  quickly. — This    Poft- 

humus, 

(Moft  like  a  noble  lord  in  love,  and  one 
That  had  a  royal  lover)  took  his  hint ; 
And,  not  difpraifing  whom  we  prais'd,  (therein 
He  was  as  calm  as  virtue)  he  began 
His  miftrefs'  picture  ;    which  by  his  tongue  being 

made, 

And  then  a  mind  put  in't,  either  our  brags 
Were  crack'd  of  kitchen  trulls,  or  his  description 
Prov'd  us  unfpecking  lots. 

Cym.  Nay,  nay,  to  the  purpofe. 

retrnncher,  d'ajouter,  dc  diriger,  &  qu'au  contraire,  la  nature 
s'eft  toujours  alteree  depuis  la  creation  du  premier  hommc  en  qui 
Dieu  joignit  la  beaute  de  la  forme  a  ceUe  de  1'innocence."  This 
laft  quotation  from  Scaliger  well  explains  what  Shakefpeare  meant 
by — brief  nature; — i.e.  inelaborate,  hafty,  and  carelefs  as  to  the 
ciccr.nce  of  form,  in  refpe6t  of  an,  which  uies  the  peculiar  ad- 
creis,  above  explained,  to  arrive  at  perfection.  A\?AREURTO>;. 

I  cannot  help  adding,  that  patfages  of  this  kind  are  but  weak 
proofs  that  our  poet  was  converfant  with  what  we  call  at  prelent 
the  fine  arts.  The  pantheons  of  his  own  age  (feveral  of  which  I 
have  feen)  afford  a  moll  minute  and  particular  account  of  the  dif- 
ferent degrees  of  beauty  imputed  to  the  different  deities  ;  and  as 
^hakefpeare  had  at  leaft  an  opportunity  of  reading  Chapman's 
tranflation  of  Homer,  the  firft  part  of  which  was  publifhed  in  i  596, 
with  additions  in  1598,  and  entire  in  1611,  he  might  have 
taken  thefe  ideas  from  thence,  without  being  at  all  indebted  to  his 
o%vn  particular  obfervation,  or  acquaintance  with  flatuary  and 
painting.  It  is  furely  more  for  his  honour  to  remark  how  well 
he  has  employed  the  little  knowledge  he  appears  to  have  had  of 
fculpture  or  mythology,  than  from  his  frequent  allufions  to  them 
(o  fuppofe  he  was  intimately  acquainted  with  either.  STEEVENS.  ± 

loch. 


33*  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

lack.  Your  daughter's  chaftity — there  it  begins. — 
He  fpake  of  her,  as  Dlan  had  hot  dreams, 
And  flie  alone  were  cold  :  Whereat,  I,  wretch  ! 
Made  fcruple  of  his  praife  ;  and  wager'd  with  him 
Pieces  of  gold,  'gainft  this  which  then  he  wore 
Upon  his  honour'd  finger,  to  attain 
In  fuit  the  place  of  his  bed,  and  win  this  ring 
By  hers  and  mine  adultery  :  he,  true  knight, 
No  lefler  of  her  honour  confident 
Than  I  did  truly  find  her,  flakes  this  ring ; 
And  would  fo,  had  it  been  a  carbuncle  4 
Of  Phoebus'  wheel ;  and  might  fo  fafely,  had  it 
Been  all  the  worth  of  his  car.     Away  to  Britain 
Poft  I  in  this  defign  :  Well  may  you,  fir, 
Remember  me  at  court,  where  I  was  taught 
Of  your  chafle  daughter  the  wide  difference 
'Twixt  amorous  and  villainous.  Being  thus  quench'd 
Of  hope,  not  longing,  mine  Italian  brain 
'Gan  in  your  duller  Britain  operate 
Moft  vilely  ;  for  my  vantage,  excellent ; 
And,  to  be  brief,  my  practice  fo  prevail'd, 
That  I  return'd  with  iimular  proof  enough 
To  make  the  noble  Leonatus  mad, 
By  wounding  his  belief  in  her  renown 
With  tokens  thus,  and  thus  ;  s  averring  notes 
Of  chamber-hanging,  pictures,  this  her  bracelet, 
(O,  cunning,   howl  got  it!)  nay,  fome  marks 
Of  fecret  on  her  perion,  that  he  could  not 
But  think  her  bond  of  chaftity  quite  crack'd, 

I  having  ta'en  the  forfeit.   Whereupon, 

Methinks,  I  fee  him  now, 

Poft.  Ay,  fo  thou  do'ft,  [Coming  forward^ 

Italian  fiend  ! — Ah  me,  mod  credulous  fool, 

*  —a  carbuncle ',  &c.~\  So  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra ; 
*'  He  has  deferv'd  it,  were  it  carbuncled 

"  Like />£«&«;  car." STEEVENS. 

5  'averring  notes']     Such  marks  of  the  chamber  and 

pictures,  as  averred  or  confirmed  my  report.    JOHNSON. 

Egrc* 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  333 

Egregious  murderer,  thief,  any  thing 

That's  due  to  all  the  villains  paft,  in  being, 

To  come ! — O,  give  me  cord,  or  knife,  or  poifon, 

Some  upright  juilicer  6 !  Thou,  king,  fend  out 

For  torturers  ingenious  :  it  is  I 

That  all  the  abhorred  things  o'  the  earth  amend, 

By  being  worfe  than  they.     I  am  Pofthumus, 

That  kill'd  thy  daughter  : — villain-like,  I  lie ; 

That  caus'd  a  lefler  villain  than  myfelf, 

A  facrilegious  thief,  to  do't :— the  temple 

Of  virtue  was  fhe  ;  yea,  7  and  Ihe  herfelf. 

Spit,  and  throw  (tones,  caft  mire  upon  me,  fet 

The  dogs  o'  the  ftreet  to  bay  me  :  every  villain 

Be  call'd,  Pofthumus  Leonatus  ;  and 

Be  villainy  lets  than  'twas  !—  O  Imogen  ! 

My  queen,  my  life,  my  wife  !  O  Imogen, 

Imogen,  Imogen! 

Imo.  Peace,  my  lord  ;  hear,  hear 

Poft.  Shall's  have  a  play  of  this  ?  Thou  fcornfui 

Page> 
There  lie  thy  part.  [Striking  her,  foe  falls. 

Pif.  O,  gentlemen,  help 

Mine,  and  your  miilrefs — O,  my  lord  Pofthumus ! 
You  ne'er  kill'd  Imogen  'till  now  : — Help,  help  !— 
Mine  honour'd  lady ! 

Cym.  Does  the  world  go  round  ? 

Poft.  How  come  8  thefe  ftaggers  on  me  ? 

"Some  upright  jufticer  !]     I  meet  with  this  antiquated  word  in 
The  Tragedy  of  Das'.us,   1603  : 

**  this  day, 

*'  Th'  eternal  jufiicer  fees  through  the  liars." 
Again  in  Law  Tricks,  &c.  1608  : 

"  No  :  we  mult  have  an  upright  juftlcer" 
Again,  in  Warner's  Albion's  England,  1602,  book  x.  chap,  54. 
**  Precelling  his  progenitors,  a  jufticer  upright." 

STEEVENS. 

7  ——ancljkc  herfdf.']     That  is,  She  was  not  only  the  temple  of 
•virtue^  but  virtue  herfelf.     JOHNSON. 

8 thefe Jlaggers — ]     This  wild  and  delirious  perturbation. 

Staggers  is  the  horle's  apoplexy".    JOHNSON. 


334  C   Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  £. 

Pif.  Wake,  my  miftrefs ! 

Cym.  If  this  be  fo,  the  gods  do  mean  to  ftrike  m<? 
To  death  with  mortal  joy. 

Pif.  How  fares  my  miftrefs  ? 

Imo.  O,  get  thee  from  my  fight  ; 
Thou  gav'ft  me  poifon  :  dangerous  fellow,  hence  I 
Breathe  not  where  princes  are. 

Cym.  The  tune  of  Imogen  ! 

Pif.  Lady,  the  gods  throw  ftones  of  fulphur  on 

rne,  if 

That  box  I  gave  you  was  not  thought  by  me 
A  precious  thing ;  I  had  it  from  the  queen. 

Cym.  New  matter  ft  ill  ? 

Imo.  It  poifon'd  me. 

Cor.  O  gods ! 

I  left  out  one  thing  which  the  queen  confefs'd, 
Which  muft  approve  thee  honeft  :  If  Pifanio 
Have,  faid  ihe,  given  his  miftrefs  that  confection 
Which  I  gave  him  for  cordial,  fhe  is  ferv'd 
As  I  would  ferve  a  rat. 

Cym.  What's  this,  Cornelius  ? 

Cor.  The  queen,  fir,  very  oft  importun'd  me 
To  temper  poifons  for  her ;  ftill  pretending 
The  fatisfaclion  of  her  knowledge,  only 
In  killing  creatures  vile,  as  cats  and  dogs, 
Of  no  efteem  :  I,  dreading  that  her  purpofe 
Was  of  more  danger,  did  compound  for  her 
A  certain  fluff,  which,  being  ta'en,  would  ceafe 
The  prefent  power  of  life  ;  but,  in  fliort  time, 
All  offices  of  nature  Ihould  again 
Do  their  due  functions. — Have  you  ta'en  of  it  ? 

Imo.  Moft  like  I  did,  for  I  was  dead. 

Bel.  My  boys, 
There  was  our  error.  - 

Guid   This  is  fure  Fidele. 

Imo.  Why  did  you  throw  your  wedded  lady  from- 
you? 

Think, 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N   E.  335 

"» Think,  that  you  are  upon  a  rock ;  and  now 
Throw  me  again. 

Pqft.  Hang  there  like  fruit,  my  foul, 
'Till  the  tree  die  ! 

Cym.  How  now,  my  flefh,  my  child  ? 
What,  mak'ft  thou  me  a  dullard  '  in  rhis  act  ? 
Wilt  thou  not  fpeak  to  me  ? 

I/no.  Your  bleffing,  fir. 

Eel.  Though  you  did  love  this  youth,  I  blame  you 

not ; 
You  had  a  motive  for't.     [To  Guidmus  and  Arviragus. 

Cym.  My  tears,  that  fall, 
Prove  holy  water  on  thee  !     Imogen, 
Thy  mother's  dead. 

lino.  I  am  forry  for't,  my  lord. 

Cym.  O,  flie  was  naught;  and  long  of  her  it  was, 
That  we  meet  here  fo  ftrangely  :  But  herfon 
Is  gone,  we  know  not  how,  nor  where. 

Pif.  My  lord, 

Now  fear  is  from  me,  I'll  fpeak  troth.  Lord  Cloten, 
Upon  my  lady's  miffing,  came  to  me 

*  Think,  thai  you  are  upon  a  rock  ; ]     In  this  fpeech,  or  In 

the  anfwer,  there  is  little  meaning.  I  fuppofe,  fhe  would  fay, 
Confider  fuch  nnother  aft  as  equally  fatal  to  me  with  precipitation 
from  a  rock,  and  now  let  me  fee  whether  you  will  repeat  it. 

JOHNSON. 

Perhaps  only  a  ftage  direction  is  wanting  to  clear  this  paflage 
from  obicurity.  Imogen  firft  upbraids  her  hulband  tor  the  vio- 
lent treatment  Hie  had  juft  experienced  ;  then  confident  of  the  re- 
turn of  paffion  which  fhe  knew  muft  fucceed  to  the  difcovery  of 
her  innocence,  the  poet  might  have  meant  her  to  mfli  into  his 
arms,  and  while  (he  clung  about  him  faft,  to  dare  him  to  throw 
her  oft"  a  fecond  time,  left  that  precipitation  fhould  prove  as  fatal 
to  them  both,  as  if  the  place  where  they  flood  had  been  a  rock. 
To  which  he  replies,  bang  there,  i.  e.  round  my  neck,  till  the 
frame  that  now  iopports  you  fhall  decay.  .  STEEVENS. 

1  — a  dullard—-]  In  this  place  means  a  perfon  frupidly  uncon- 
ccrn'd.  So  in  Hijiriomaftix,  or  the  Player  ivbipt,  1610  : 

"  What  dullard!  would'ft  thou  doat  in  nifty  art  ?" 

Again,  Sunvhurft  in  his  verfion  of  the  firft  book  of  Virgil,  i;8z  : 

'*  We  Moores,  IVke  dullards^  are  not  fo  wytles  abyding." 

STEEVENS. 

With 


356  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

With  his  fword  drawn ;   foam'd  at  the  mouth,  and 

fwore, 

If  I  difcover'd  not  which  way  fhe  was  gone, 
It  was  my  inftant  death  :  By  accident, 
I  had  a  feigned  letter  of  my  mailer's 
Then  in  my  pocket ;  which  direfted  him 
To  feek  her  on  the  mountains  near  to  Milford ; 
Where,  in  a  frenzy,  in  my  matter's  garments, 
Which  he  inforc'd  from  me,  away  he  pofts 
With  unchafte  purpofe,  and  with  oath  to  violate 
My  lady's  honour  j  what  became  of  him, 
I  further  know  not. 

Guid.  Let  me  end  the  (lory  : 
I  flew  him  there. 

Cym.  Marry,  the  gods  forefend  ! 
I  would  not  thy  good  deeds  mould  from  my  lips 
Pluck  a  hard  fentence :  pr'ythee,  valiant  youth, 
Deny't  again. 

Guid.  I  have  fpoke  it,  and  I  did  it. 

Cym.   He  was  a  prince. 

Guid.  A  moft  incivil  one  :  The  wrongs  he  did  me 
Were  nothing  prince-like ;  for  he  did  provoke  me 
With  language  that  would  make  me  fpurn  the  fea, 
If  it  could  fo  roar  to  me  :  I  cut  ofFs  head  ; 
And  am  right  glad,  he  is  not  ftanding  here 
rf  o  tell  this  tale  of  mine. 

Cym.  I  am  forry  for  thee  : 

By  thine  own  tongue  thou  art  condemn'd,  and  muft 
Endure  our  law :  Thou  art  dead. 

Imo.  That  headlefs  man 
I  thought  had  been  my  lord. 

Cym.  Bind  the  offender, 
And  take  him  from  our  prefence. 

Bel  Stay,  fir  king  : 

This  man  is  better  than  the  man  he  flew, 
As  well  descended  as  thyfelf;  and  hath 
More  of  thee  merited,  than  a  band  of  Clotens 

Had 


C  V  to  B  £  t  1  N  £.  337 

Had  ever  fear  for. — —Let  his  arms  alone ; 

[To  the  guard. 
They  were  not  born  for  bondage. 

Cym.  Why,  old  foldier, 
Wilt  thou  undo  the  worth  thou  art  unpaid  fory 

3  By  tafting  of  our  wrath  ?  How  of  defcent, 
As  good  as  we  ? 

Arv.  In  that  he  fpake  too  far. 

Cym.  And  thou  fhalt  die  for't. 

Bel.  We  will  die  all  three  : 
But  I  will  prove,  that  two  of  us  are  as  good 
As  I  have  given  out  him. — My  fons,  I  muft* 
For  my  own  part,  unfold  a  dangerous  fpeech^ 
Though,  haply,  well  for  you. 

dr<v.  Your  danger's  ours. 

Guid.  And  our  good  his. 

Bel  Have  at  it  then. — 

By  leave  ; — Thou  had'ft,  great  king,  a  fubjedr.,  who 
Was  call'd  Belarius. 

Cym.  What  of  him  ?  he  is 
A  banifti'd  traitor. 

Bel  He  it  is,  that  hath 

4  Affum'd  this  age  :  indeed,  a  baniih'd  man ; 

I  know 

3  By  tafting  of  our  wrath  ?  •  ••  ]  But  how  did  Belarius  undo 
or  forfeit  his  merit  by  tafting  or  feeling  the  king's  wrath  ?  We 
fhould  read : 

By  baft  ing  of  our  wrath  ? 

i.  e.  by  haftening,  provoking  ;  and  as  fuch  a  provocation  is  un- 
dutiful,  the  demerit,  confequently,  undoes  or  makes  void  his 
former  worth,  and  all  pretenfions  to  reward.  WARBURTON. 

There  is  no  need  of  change;  the  confequence  is  taken  for  the 
whole  action  ;  ly  tafting  is  by  forcing  us  to  make  thee  tafte. 

JOHNSON*. 

*  AflTum'd  this  age: ]  1  believe  is  the  fame  as  reach* Jot 

attained  this  age.     oTEE  v  £  N  s. 

As  there  is  no  reafon  to  imagine  that  Belarius  had  afTumed  the 
appearance  of  being  older  than  he  really  was,  I  fufpe&  that,  in- 
ftead  of  age,  we  ought  to  read  gage ;  fo  that  he  may  be  under- 
ftood  to  refer  to  the  engagement,  which  he  had  entered  into,  a  fevt 
lines  before,  in  thefc  words : 

VOL.  IX.  2  —We 


338  C  Y   M  B   E  L   I   N  E. 

I  know  not  how,  a  traitor. 
.   Take  him  hence  ; 
The  whole  world  fhall  not  fave  him. 

Bel.  Not  too  hot  : 

JFirft  pay  me  for  the  nurfing  of  thy  fons ; 
And  let  it  be  confifcate  all,  fo  foon 
As  I  have  receiv'd  it. 

Cym.  Nurfing  of  my  fons  ? 

Bel.  I  am  too  blunt,  and  faucy  :  Here's  my  knee  : 
Ere  I  arife,  I  will  prefer  my  fons  ; 
Then,  fpare  not  the  old  father.     Mighty  fir, 
Thefe  two  young  gentlemen,  that  eall  me  father, 
And  think  they  are  my  fons,  are  none  of  mine  ; 
They  are  the  iflue  of  your  loins,  my  liege, 
And  blood  of  your  begetting. 

C.v/n.  How  !   my  iilue  ? 

Bel.  So  fure  as  you  your  father's.     I,  old  Morgan, 
Am  that  Belarius  whom  you  fomctime  banifh'd  : 
J  Your  pleafure  was  my  near  offence,  my  punifliment 
Irfclf,  and  all  my  treafon  ;  that  I  fuftcr'd, 
Was  all  the  harm  I  did.     Thefe  gentle  princes 

"  We  will  die  all  three  : 

"  Hut  I  will  prove  that  two  of  us  are  as  good 
"  As  I  have  given  out  him."     TYRWHITT. 

T cur  pleafure  was  ;isy  near  offence, ]   I  think  this  paflagc 

;rer  be  read  thus  : 

Your  pleafure  was  my  dear  offence,  my  punifliment 
.11  my  treafon;  that  I  luffer'd, 

ail  the  harm  I  did. 

iil-nce  wh'ch  cod  me  fo  dear  \vas  only  your  caprice.     My 
futrcr.n^s  have  been  all  my  crime.     JOHNSON. 

;  of  the  old  copies,  though  corrupt,  is   generally 
•jc  to  the  truth  than  that  of  the  !  •••,  which,  tor  the 

:>:'.rr.  adopt  the  orthngrnpliy  of  their  reipecfive  ages.     An 
:.•.•«•  Oi.vur«;   in  the  piny  of  Cynibelixcy  in  the  lait  fcene.     Be- 

. fence,  ir.y  punifliment 

-i-.ci  ;J1  r.iv  tiealbn. 

I;..    } .)!,!•: -on  would   rc;i'i  i!t\ir  ciicr.cc.     In  the   folio  it  \~,  r.ccrt ; 
which  plainly  points  out  to  us  the  true  rcadi     .  as  the 

;  iht:i  Jpelt.     T*;; \VHITT. 

For 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  339 

(For  fuch,  and  fo  they  are)  thefe  twenty  years 
Have  I  train'd  up  :  thofe  arts  they  have,  as  I 
Could  put  into  them  ;  my  breeding  was,  fir,  as 
Your  highnefs  knows.     Their  nurfe,  Euriphile, 
Whom  for  the  theft  I  wedded,  ftole  thefe  children 
Upon  my  banifhment :  I  mov'd  her  to't ; 
Having  receiv'd  the  puniihment  before, 
For  that  which  I  did  then  :  Beaten  for  loyalty 
Excited  me  to  treafon  :  Their  dear  lofs, 
The  more  of  you  'twas  felt,  the  more  it  map'd 
Unto  my  end  of  flealing  them.     But,  gracious  fir, 
Here  are  your  fons  again  ;  and  I  muft  lofc 

Two  of  the  fweet'ft  companions  in  the  world  : 

The  benediction  of  thefe  covering  heavens 

Fall  on  their  heads  like  dew  !  for  they  are  worthy 

To  inlay  heaven  with  ftars. 

Cym.  6  Thou  weep'ft,  and  fpeak'ft. 
The  fervice,  that  you  three  have  done,  is  more 
Unlike  than  this  thou  teH'ft  :   I  loft  my  children ; 
If  thefe  be  they,  I  know  not  how  to  wifti 
A  pair  of  worthier  fons. 

Bel.  Be  pleas'd  a  while. — 
This  gentleman,  whom  I  call  Polydore, 
Moft  worthy  prince,  as  yours,  is  true  Guiderius  : 
This  gentleman,  my  Cadwal,  Arviragus, 
Your  younger  princely  fon  ;  he,  fir,  was  lap'd 
In  a  moil  curious  mantle,  wrought  by  the  hand 
Of  his  queen  mother,  which,  for  more  probation, 
I  can  with  eafe  produce. 

Cym.  Guiderius  had 
Upon  his  neck  a  mole,  a  fanguine  ftar ; 
It  was  a  mark  of  wonder. 

Bel.  This  is  he  ; 

*  T/JOU  weep* ft  andfpeak^J}.']  "  Thy  tears  give  teftimony  to  the 
Cncerity  ot  thy  relation  ;  and  I  have  the  lefs  reafon  to  be  incre- 
dulous, becaufe  the  aiSHons  which  you  have  done  within  my 
knowledge  are  more  incredible  than  the  ftory  which  you  relate." 
The  king  reafons  very  juftly.  JOHNSOX. 

Z  2  Who 


54o  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

Who  hath  upon  him  Hill  that  natural  flamp  : 
It  was  wile  nature's  end  in  the  donation, 
To  be  his  evidence  now. 

Cym.  O,  what  am  I 

A  mother  to  the  birth  of  three  ?  Ne'er  mother 
Rejoic'd  deliverance  more  : — Bleft  may  you  be  % 
That,  after  this  ftrange  flatting  from  your  orbs, 
You  may  reign  in  them  now  ! — O  Imogen, 
Thou  haft  loft  by  this  a  kingdom. 

Imo.  No,  my  lord  ; 

I  have   got   two   worlds  by't. — O  my  gentle  bro- 
thers, 

Have  we  thus  met  ?  O  never  fay  hereafter, 
Rut  I  am  trueft  fpeaker  :  you  call'd  me  brother, 
When  I  was  but  your  fitter  ;  I  you  brothers, 
*  When  you  were  fo  indeed, 

Cym.  Did  you  e'er  meet  ? 
.•.   Ay,   my  good  lord. 

Quid.  And  at  firft  meeting  lov'd  ; 
Continued  fo,  until  we  thought  he  died. 

Cor.  By  the  queen's  dram  flic  fwallow'd. 

Cym.  O  rare  inftinft  ! 

When  fhall  I  hear  all  through  ?  This  9  fierce  abridg- 
ment 

Math  to  it  circumftantial  branches,  which 
Diftinftion  fhould  be  rich  in. — Where?    how  liv'd 

you  ? 

And  when  came  you  to  ferve  our  Roman  captive  ? 
How  parted  with  your  brothers  ?  how  firft  met  them  ? 

7— . mxy  you  £<•.]  The  old  copy  reads— pray  you  be.  STEEVENI. 
*  Wb:n  you  iverefo,  indeed.]   The  folio  gives  : 

When  lue  were  fo,  indeed. 
If  this  be  right,  we  muft  read  : 
Imo.  I,  you  brothers. 
Arv.  When  we  were  fo,  indeed.     JOHNSON. 

9   -« fierce  abridgment]  Fierce^  is  vehement,  rapid.    JOHNSON. 

Sy,  in  T.-moa  of  Athene : 

Oh,  \\itfierce  wretcheduefs  that  glory  brings !  STEEVEKS. 

Why 


G  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  341 

1  Why  fled  you  from  the  court  ?  and  whither  ?  Thefe, 

And  your  three  motives  to  the  battle,  with 

I  know  not  how  much  more,  ihould  be  demanded  ; 

And  all  the  other  by-dependancies, 

From  chance  to  chance  ;  but  nor  the  time,  nor  place, 

Will  ferve  our  long  *  interrogatories.     See, 

Pofthumus  anchors  upon  Imogen  ; 

And  fhe,  like  harmlefs  lightning,  throws  her  eye 

On  him,  her  brothers,  me,  her  matter ;  hitting 

Each  object  with  a  joy  :  the  counter-change 

Is  feverally  in  all.     Let's  quit  this  ground, 

And  fmoke  the  temple  with  our  facrifices. 

Thou  art  my  brother ;  So  we'll  hold  thee  ever. 

[To  Belarius. 

Imo.  You  are  my  father  too ;  and  did  relieve  me, 
To  fee  this  gracious  feafon. 

Cynu  All  o'er-joy'd, 

Save  thefe  in  bonds  :  let  them  be  joyful  too, 
For  they  fliall  tafte  our  comfort. 

Imo.  My  good  matter, 
I  will  yet  do  you  fervice. 

Luc*  Happy  be  you  ! 

Cym.  The  forlorn  foldier,  that  fo  nobly  fought, 
He  would  have  well  becom'd  this  place,  and  grac'd 
The  thankings  of  a  king. 

Poft.  I  am,  fir, 

The  foldier  that  did  company  thefe  three 
In  poor  befeeming ;  'twas  a  fitment  for 

1  Why  fit 'd you  from  the  court ',  and  whether  thefe  ?~\  It  muft  be 
re&ified  thus : 

Why  fled  you  from  the  court  ?  and  whither  f  Thefe,  &c. 
The  king  is  afking  his  daughter,  how  fhe  has  lived ;  why  (he  fled 
from  the  court,  and  to  what  place :  and  having  enumerated  fo 
many  particulars,  he  flops  ftiort.  THEOBALD. 

*  Will  ferve  our  long—}  So  the  firft  folio.  Later  editors'  have 
omitted  our,  for  the  fake  of  the  metre,  I  fuppofe ;  but  unnecef- 
farily ;  as  interrogatory  is  ufed  by  Shakefpeare  as  a  qvadrijyllable. 
See  the  Merchant  of  Venice  near  the  end,  where  in  the  old  edi- 
tion it  is  written  intergatory,  TYKWHITT. 

Z  3  The 


342  CYMBELINE. 

The  purpofe  I  then  follow'd  : — That  I  was  he, 
Speak,  lachimo ;  I  had  you  down,  and  might 
Have  made  you  fmifh. 

lack.  I  am  down  again  : 

But  now  my  heavy  conference  finks  my  knee,  [Kneels. 
As  then  your  force  did.  Take  that  life,  'befeech  you, 
Which  I  fo  often  owe  :  but,  your  ring  firft  ; 
And  here  the  bracelet  of  the  truefl  princefs, 
That  ever  fwore  her  faith. 

Pojl.  Kneel  not  to  me  : 

The  power  that  I  have  on  you,  is  to  fpare  you ; 
The  malice  towards  you,  to  forgive  you  :  Live, 
And  deal  with  others  better. 

Cymb.  Nob!y  doom'd  : 
We'll  learn  our  freenefs  of  a  fon-in-law; 
Pardon's  the  word  to  all. 

Arv.  You  holp  us,  fir, 
As  you  did  mean  indeed  to  be  our  brother ; 
Joy'd  are  we,  that  you  are. 

Pqft.  Your   fervant,   princes. — Good  my  lord  of 

Rome, 

Call  forth  your  foothfayer  :  As  I  flcpt,  methought, 
Great  Jupiter,  upon  his  eagle  back'd, 
Appear'd  to  me,  with  other  fprightly  mews9 
Of  mine  own  kindred  :  when  I  wak'd,  I  found 
This  label  on  my  bofom  ;  whole  containing 
Is  fo  from  lenic  in  hardnefs,  that  I  can 
Make  no  collection  of  it '  :'  let  him  Ihevv 
His  /kill  in  the  conftruction. 

Luc.  rhilarmonus, 

9  . —  fprightly  Jhews — ]  Are  ghoflly  appearances.     STEEVENS. 
1  Make  no  collection  of  it.]  A  collection  is  a  corollary,  a  con- 
fequence  deduced  from  premifes.     So,  in  Sir  John  Davies's  poem 
on  The  Immortality  of  the  Soul : 

"  Y/hen  (lie,  from  fundry  arts,  one  fkill  doth  draw  ; 

"  Gath'ring  from  divers  fights,  one  adt  of  war  ; 
**  From  many  cafes  like,  one  rule  of  law  : 
'*  Thefe  her  colle£jionst  not  the  fenfes  are."  STEEVENS. 

Sooth. 


C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E.  343 

Sooth.  Here,  my  good  lord. 

Luc.  Read,  and  declare  the  meaning. 

Soothfayer  reads. 

When  as  a  lion's  whelp  JJwtt,  to  himfelf  unknown,  with- 
out feeking  find,  and  be  embracd  by  a  piece  of  tender  air ; 
and  when  from  a  Jtately  cedar  Jhall  be  lopt  branches, 
which,  being  dead  many  years,  Jhall  after  revive,  be  joint- 
ed to  the  old  ftock,  and  frefloly  grow  ;  then  Jhall  Pqft- 
humus  end  his  miferies^  Britain  be  fortunate,  and  flour;J}} 
in  peace  and  plenty. 

Thou,  Eeonatus,  art  the  lion's  whelp  ; 
The  fit  and  apt  conft  ruction  of  thy  name, 
Being  Leo-natus,  doth  import  fo  much. 
The  piece  of  tender  air,  thy  virtuous  daughter, 

[To  Cymbeline. 

Which  we  call  mollis  aer  ;  and  mollis  aer 
We  term  it  mulier :  which  mulier,  I  divine, 
Is  this  mofl  conftant  wife  ;  \Jto  Pojl.~^  who,  even  now, 
Anfwering  the  letter  of  the  oracle, 
Unknown  to  you,  unfought,  were  clip'd  about 
With  this  mod  tender  air. 

Cym.  This  hath  fome  feeming. 

Sooth.  The  lofty  cedar,  royal  Cymbeline, 
Perfonates  thee  :  and  thy  lopt  branches  point 
Thy  two  fons  forth  :  who,  by  Belarius  ftolen, 
For  many  years  thought  dead,  are  now  reviv'd, 
To  the  majeftick  cedar  join'd  ;   whofe  iflue 
Promifes  Britain  peace  and  plenty. 

Cym.  Well, 

1  My  peace  we  will  begin  : — And,  Caius  Lucius, 
Although  the  vidtor,  we  fubmit  to  Csefar, 
And  to  the  Roman  empire ;  promifing 


My  peace  we  will  legin : ]  I  think  it  better  to  read  : 

By  peace  we  will  begin. JOHNSON. 


To 


344  CYMBELINE. 

To  pay  our  wonted  tribute,  from  the  which 
We  were  diffuaded  by  our  wicked  queen ; 
On  whom  heaven's  juftice,  (both  on  her,  and  hers) 
Hath  lay'd  mott  heavy  hand. 

Sootb.  The  fingers  of  the  powers  above  do  tune 
The  harmony  of  this  peace.     The  viiion 
Which  I  made  known  to  Lucius,  ere  the  ftroke 
Of  this  yet  fcarce-cold  battle,  at  this  inftant 
Is  full  accomplilh'd  :  For  the  Roman  eagle, 
From  fouth  to  weft  on  wing  foaring  aloft, 
LefTen'd  herfelf,  and  in  the  beams  o*  the  fun 
So  vaninYd  :  which  fore-fhew'd,  our  princely  eagle, 
The  imperial  Csefar,  fhould  again  unite 
His  favour  with  the  radiant  Cymbeline, 
Which  {nines  here  in  the  weft. 

Cym.  Laud  we  the  gods ; 

And  let  our  crooked  fmokes  climb  to  their  noflrili 
From  our  bleft  altars !  Publilh  we  this  peace 
To  all  our  fubjedts.     Set  we  forward  ;  Let 
A  Roman  and  a  Britifh  enfign  wave 
Friendly  together :  fo  through  Lud's  town  march ; 
And  in  the  temple  of  great  Jupiter 
Our  peace  we'll  ratify  ;  feal  it  with  feafls.— 
Set  on  there  :— Never  was  a  war  did  ceafe, 
Ere  bloody  hands  were  wafli'd,  with  fuch  a  peace. 

[Exeunt  omnes. 

THIS  play  has  many  juft  fenttments,  Come  natural  dialogues, 
and  fome  pleafing  fcenes,  but  they  are  obtained  at  the  expence  of 
much  incongruity.  To  remark  the  folly  of  the  fiction,  the  ab- 
furdity  of  the  conduct,  the  confufion  of  the  names,  and  man- 
'  pers  of  different  times,  and  the  impoflibility  of  the  events  in  any 
fyflem  of  life,  were  to  vvafte  criticifm  upon  unrefifting  imbecility, 
upon  faults  too  evident  for  detection,  and  too  grofs  for  aggrava- 
tion. JplJNSQN, 


SONG 


CYMBELINE. 


345 


A  SONG,   Jung  by  Guiderius  and  Arviragus  over 
Fidele,  fuppofed  to  be  dead. 

£y  Mr.  WILLIAM  COLLINS. 

To  fair  Fidele's  grafly  tomb, 

Soft  maids,  and  village  hinds  Jhall  bring 
Each  opening  fweet,  of  earlieft  bloom, 

And  rifle  all  the  breathing  fpring. 

2. 

No  wailing  ghoft  Jhall  dare  appear 

To  vex  with  Jhrieks  this  quiet  grove  * 
But  Jhepherd  lads  ajfemble  here, 

And  melting  virgins  own  their  love. 

3- 
No  withered  witch  Jhall  here  be  feen, 

No  goblins  lead  their  nightly  crew  : 
The  female  fays  Jhall  haunt  the  green, 

And  drefs  thy  grave  with  pearly  dew. 

4- 

The  red~breaft  oft  at  evening  hour* 

Shall  kindly  lend  his  little  aid, 
With  hoary  mofs,  and  gathered  jlowers, 

To  deck  the  ground  where  thou  art  laid. 

5- 

IVhen  howling  winds,  and  beating  ram% 

In  tempefts  Jhake  the  Jylvan  cell; 
Or  midf,  the  chace  on  ev'ry  plain, 

The  lender  thought  on  thee  Jhall  dwell 

Each 


346  C  Y  M  B  E  L  I  N  E. 

6. 

Each  lonely  fcene  Jball  tbee  reft  ore  ; 

For  thee  the  tsar  be  duly  Jhed : 
Belov'd,  'fill  life  could  charm  no  more ; 

And  mourn' d  "till  pitfs  felf  be  dead. 


KING 


KING    LEAR. 


Perfons  Reprefented. 


Lear,  King  of  Britain, 

King  of  France. 

Duke  of  Burgundy. 

Duke  of  Cornwall. 

Duke  of  Albany. 

Earl  of  Glofter. 

Earl  of  Kent. 

Edgar,  Son  to  Glofter. 

Edmund,  Baftard  Son  to  Glofter. 

Curan,  a  Courtier. 

Phyfician. 

Fool. 

Ofwald,  Steward  to  Goneril. 

A  Captain,  employed  by  Edmund. 

Gentleman^  attendant  on  Cordelia, 

A  Herald. 

Old  Man,  Tenant  to  Glofter. 

Servants  to  Cornwall. 

Goneril,  'j 

Regan,     I  Daughters  to  Lear. 

Cordelia,  J 


Knights  attending  on  the  King,  Officers,  Mejfengers> 
Soldiers,  and  Attendants. 

SCENE,   Britain. 


KING      LEAR. 


ACT    I.       SCENE      I. 

King  Lear9 s  Palace. 
Enter  Kent,  Gkjler,  and  Edmund. 

Kent.  I  thought,  the  king  had  more  affe&ed  the 
duke  of  Albany,  than  Cornwall. 

Gfc 

1  The  (lory  of  this  tragedy  had  found  its  way  into  many  bal- 
lads and  other  metrical  pieces ;  yet  Shakefpeare  feems  to  have 
been  more  indebted  to  the  True  Chronicle  Hiftory  of  King  Leir 
and  his  Three  Daughters,  Gonorill,  Ragan,  and  Cordelia,  1605, 
(which  I  have  already  publifhed  at  the  end  of  a  collection  of  the 
quarto  copies)  than  to  all  the  other  performances  together.  It 
appears  from  the  books  at  Stationers'  Hall,  that  fome  play  on  this 
fubje&  was  entered  by  Edward  White,  May  14,  1594.  "  A 
booke  entituled,  The  mofte  famous  Chronicle  Hyjlorie  of  Leir e  King 
of  England^  and  his  three  Daughters"  A  piece  with  the  fame 
title  is  enter'd  again,  May  8,  1605;  and  again  Nov.  26,  1607, 
See  the  extracts  from  thefe  Entries  at  the  end  of  the  Prefaces, 
&c.  From  TTx  Mirror  of  Magijirates,  1586,  Shakefpeare  has, 
however,  taken  the  hint  for  the  behaviour  of  the  Steward,  and 
the  reply  of  Cordelia  to  her  father  concerning  her  future  marri- 
age. The  epifode  of  Glofter  and  his  fons  muft  have  been  bor« 
rowed  from  Sidney's  Arcadia,  as  I  have  not  found  the  leaft  trace 
of  it  in  any  other  Work.  I  have  referred  to  thefe  pieces,  when- 
ever our  author  feems  more  immediately  to  have  followed  them, 
in  the  courfe  of  my  notes  on  the  play.  For  the  firft  King  Lear> 
lee  likewife  Six  old  Plays  on  -which  Shakefpeare  founded^  &C* 
publiflied  for  S.  Leacroft,  Charing-Crofs. 

The  reader  will  alfo  find  the  ftory  of  K.  Lear,  in  the  fecond 
book  and  loth  canto  of  Spenfer's  Faery  $>ueen,  and  in  the  I5tb 
chapter  of  the  third  book  of  Warner's  Albion's  England^  1602. 

The  whole  of  this  play,  however,  could  not  have  been  writ- 
ten till  after  1603.  Harfnet's  pamphlet  to  which  it  contains  fo 
many  references,  (as  will  appear  in  the  notes)  was  not  published 
till  that  year.  STEEVENS. 

Camden,  in  his  Remains,  (p.  306.  ed.  1674.)  tells  a  fimilaf 
fiory  to  that  of  Leir  or  Ltar,  of  Ina  king  of  the  Weft  Saxons  ; 

which, 


350         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Glo.  It  did  always  feem  fo  to  us :  but  now,  *  in 
the  divifion  of  the  kingdom,  it  appears  not  which 
of  the  dukes  he  values  moft  ;  for  J  equalities  are  fo 
weigh'd,  4  that  curiofity  in  neither  can s  make  choice 
of  cither's  moiety. 

Kent.  Is  not  this  your  fon,  my  lord  ? 

Glo.  His  breeding,  fir,  hath  been  at  my  charge  :  I 
have  fo  often  blufh'd  to  acknowledge  him,  that  now 
I  am  braz'd  to't. 

Kent.  I  cannot  conceive  you. 

Glo.  Sir,  this  young  fellow's  mother  could  :  where- 

which,  if  the  thing  ever  happened,  probably  was  the  real  origin 
of  the  fable.     See  under  the  head  of  Wife  Speeches.     PERCY. 

*  •  .      in  the  divijlon  of  the  kingdom^ J  There  is  fomething 

of  obfcurity  or  inaccuracy  in  this  preparatory  fcene.     The  king 
has  already  divided  his  kingdom,  and  yet  when  he  enters  he  exa- 
mines his  daughters,  to  difcover  in  what  proportions  he  fliould 
divide  it.     Perhaps  Kent  and  Glofter  only  were  privy  to  his  de- 
fign,  which  he  ftill  kept  in  his  own  hands,  to  be  changed  or 
performed  as  fubfequent  reafons  fhould  determine  him. 

JOHNSON. 

3  ——equalities, ]  So,  the  firfl  quartos ;  the  folio  reads — 

Qualities.  JOHNSON. 

Either  may  ferve ;  but  of  the  former  I  find  an  inftance  in  the 
Floivcr  of  Friend/hip,  1568:  "  After  this  match  made,  and 
equalities  confidered,  &c."  STEEVENS. 

*  —that  curiofity  in  neither — ]  Curioftty,  for  exacleft  fcrutiny. 
The  fenfe  of  the  whole  lentence  is,  The  qualities  and  properties 
of  the  feveral  divifions  are  fo  weighed  and  balanced  againft  one 
another,  that  the  exa&eft  fcrutiny  could  not  determine  in  prefer- 
ring one  (hare  to  the  other.     WARBURTON. 

Curiofity  is  fcrupuloufnefs,  or  captioufnefs.  So,  in  the  Taming 
of  a  Shrew,  aft  IV.  fc.  iv. 

**  For  curious  I  cannot  be  with  you."  STEEVENS. 

s  -make  choice  of  either*  s  moiety.]  The  ftrift  fenfe  of  the 

word  moiety  is  half,  one  of  two  equal  parts -,  but  Shakefpeare  com- 
monly ufes  it  for  any  part  or  divifion. 

Methinks  my  moiety  north  from  Burton  here, 
In  quantity  equals  not  one  of  yours  : 
and  here  the  aivijion  was  into  three  parts.     STEEVENS. 
Hey  wood  likewifc  ufc-s  the  word  moiety  as  fynonymous  to  any  part 
or  portion.     "  I  would  unwillingly  part  with  the  greateft  moiety. 
«t  my  own  means  and  fortunes."    fllj}.  of  Women,  1^24. 

MALONE. 

upon 


KING      LEAR.         35I 

upon  fhe'grew  round -wombed  ;  and  had,  indeed,  fir, 
a  fon  for  her  cradle,  ere  flie  had  a  huiband  for  her  bed. 
Do  you  fmell  a  fault  ? 

Kent.  I  cannot  wilh  the  fault  undone,  the  iflue  of 
it  being  fo  proper. 

Glo.  But  I  have,  fir,  a  fon  by  order  of  law,  6  fomc 
year  elder  than  this,  who  yet  is  no  dearer  in  my  ac- 
count, though  this  knave  came  fomewhat  faucily 
into  the  world  before  he  was  fent  for :  yet  was  his 
mother  fair  ;  there  was  good  fport  at  his  making,  and 
the  whorefon  muft  be  acknowledged. — Do  you  know 
this  noble  gentleman,  Edmund  ? 

Edm.  No,  my  loid. 

Glo.  My  lord  of  Kent :  remember  him  hereafter 
as  my  honourable  friend. 

Edm.  My  fervices  to  your  lordihip. 

Kent.  I  muft  love  you,  and  fue  to  know  you  better. 

Edm.  Sir,  I  lhall  ftudy  deferving. 

Glo.  He  hath  been  out  nine  years,  and  away  he 
ihall  again  : — The  king  is  coming. 

[Trumpets  found  witHn. 

Enter  Lear,  Cornwall,  Albany,  Goneril,  Regan,  Cordelia^ 
and  attendants. 

Lear.  Attend  the  lords  of  France  and  Burgundy, 

Glofter. 

Glo.  I  ihall,  my  liege.  [Exeunt  Glofter,  and  Edmund. 
Lear.  Mean  time  we  Ihall  7  exprefs  our  darker 

purpofe. 

The 

*  — — 'fame year  cUer  than  this, ]  The  Oxford  editor,  not 

undemanding  the  common  phrafe,  alters  year  to  years.  He  did 
not  confider,  the  Bailard  fays  : 

For  that  I  zmfome  twelve  or  fourteen  moon-fhines 

Lag  of  a  brother. WAR  BUR  TON". 

Some  year,  is  an  expreffion  ufed  when  we  fpeak  indefinitely. 

STEEVENS. 

r  • — —express  our  darker  pjirp^fe.'}  Darker,  for  more  fecret ; 
not  ior  indirect,  oblique.  WARECRTON*. 

Thif 


35*         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

The  map  there. — Know,  that  we  have  divided, 
In  three,  our  kingdom  :  *  and  'tis  our  faft  intent 
To  fhake  all  cares  and  bufmefs  from  our  age  »  ; 
Conferring  them  on  younger  ftrengths  ',  while  we  * 
Unburden'd  crawl  toward  death. — Our  fon  of  Corn- 
wall, 

And  you,  our  no  lefs  loving  fon  of  Albany, 
We  have  this  hour  a  J  conftant  will  to  publifh 
Our  daughters' feveral  dowers,  that  future  ftrife 
May  be  prevented  now.     The  princes,  France  and 
Burgundy, 

This  word  may  admit  a  further  explication.  We  Jhall  exprtfi 
eur  darker  purpofe  :  that  is,  we  have  already  made  known  in 
forae  meafure  our  defign  of  parting  the  kingdom  ;  we  will  now 
dtfcover  what  has  not  been  told  before,  the  reafons  by  which  we 
fhall  regulate  the  partition.  This  interpretation  will  juftify  or 
palliate  the  exordial  dialogue.  JOHNSON. 

a and'tis  our  fait  intent. \     This   is  an  interpolation  of 

Mr.  Lewis  Theobald,  for  want  ot  knowing  the  meaning  of  the 
old  reading  in  the  quarto  of  1608,  and  firfl  folio  of  1623  ;  where 
we  find  it, 

and  'tis  wufrfl.  intent ; 

which  is  as  Shakefpeare  wrote  it ;  who  makes  Lear  declare  his 
purpofe  with  a  dignity  becoming  his  character :  that  the  firjl 
reafon  of  his  abdication  was  the  love  ot  his  people,  that  they 
might  be  protected  by  fuch  as  were  better  able  to  difcharge  the 
truft  ;  and  his  natural  affection  for  his  daughters,  only  thefrconJ. 

WAR  BURTON. 

Fajl  is  the  reading  of  the  firfl  folio,  and,  I  think,  the  true 
reading.  JOHNSON. 

» from  our  age  ;]  The  quartos  read— offourftate. 

STEEVENS. 

1  Conferring  them  on  younger  ftrengths,]  is  the  reading  of  the 
folio  ;  the  quartos  read,  Confirming  them  on  younger yean. 

STEEVENS. 

»  —wbilf  we,  &c.]  From  while  we,  down  to  prevented  nowt 
is  omitted  in  the  quartos.  STEEVENS. 

3  — conftant  will  teems  a  confirmation  of  faft  intent.     JOHNS. 
Conftant  \sfirm,  determined.     Conftant  will  is  the  certa  voluntas 
of  Virgil.    The  fame  epithet  is  ufed  with  the  fame  meaning  in 
the  Merchant  of  Venice  : 

elfe  nothing  in  the  world 

Could  turn  fo  much  the  constitution 
Of  any  conftant  man.  STEEVENS. 

Great 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         353 

Great  rivals  in  our  youngeft  daughter's  love, 

Long  in  our  court  have  made  their  amorous  fojourn, 

And  here  are  to  be  anfwer'd. — Tell  me,  my  daughters,, 

(Since  now  4  we  will  diveft  us,  both  of  rule, 

Intereft  of  territory,  cares  of  fiate,) 

Which  of  you,  fhall  we  fay,  doth  love  us  moil  ? 

That  we  our  largeft  bounty  may  extend 

5  Where  nature  doth  with  merit  challenge. — Goneril, 

Our  eldeft-born,  fpeak  firft. 

Gon.  Sir,  I 

Do  love  you  more  than  words  can  wield  the  matter, 
Dearer  than  eye-fight,  fpace  and  liberty  ; 
Beyond  what  can  be  valued,  rich  or  rare ; 
No  lefs  than  life,  with  grace,  health,  beauty,  honour  : 
As  much  as  child  e'er  lov'd,  or  father  found. 
A  love  that  makes  breath  poor,  and  fpeech  unable  ; 
'  Beyond  all  manner  of  fo  much  I  love  you. 

Cor.  What  ftiall  Cordelia 7  do  ?  Love,  and  be  filent. 

(Afide. 

Lear.  Of  all  thefe  bounds,  even  from  this  line  to 

this, 
With  Ihadowy  forefts  and  with 8  champains  rich'd, 

4  Since  now  &c.]  Thefe  two  lines  are  omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 

5  Where  nature  aotb  with  merit  challenge."    ]  Where  the 

claim  of  merit  is  fuperadded  to  that  of  nature ;  or  where  a  fu- 
periour  degree  of  natural  filial  affettion  is  joined  to  the  claim  of 
other  merits.     STEEVENS. 

6  Beyond  all  manner  of  fo  much ]    Beyond  all  affignable 

quantity.     I  love  you  beyond  limits,  and  cannot  fay  it  \sfo  mucbt 
for  how  much  foever  I  fliould  name,  it  would  yet  be  more. 

JOHNSON". 

7  —_<&?_—_]  So  the  quarto  ;  the  folio  has fyeak.  JOHNSON* 
*  —  and  with  cbampains  rich'd, 

With  plenteous  rivers  •• 

Thefe  words  are  omitted  in  the  quartos.  To  rich  is  an  obfolete 
verb.  It  is  ufed  by  Tho.  Drant  in  his  translation  of  Horace'! 
£/#/«,  1567: 

**  To  ritch  his  country  let  his  words  lyke  flowing  watet 
fall."    STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  A  »  Witt! 


354         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R; 

With  plenteous  rivers  and  wide-fkirtcd  meads, 
We  make  thee  lady  :  To  thine  and  Albany's  iflue 
Be  this  perpetual.  —  What  fays  our  fecond  daughter,, 
Our  dearefl  Regan,  wife  to  Cornwall  ?  Speak. 

Reg.  I  am  made  of  that  felf  metal  as  my  fitter  % 
And  prize  me  *  at  her  worth.     In  my  true  heart 
I  find,  fhe  names  my  very  deed  of  love  ; 
Only  fhe  comes  too  Ihort  :  *  that  I  profefs 
Myfelf  an  enemy  to  all  other  joys, 
3  Which  the  moft  precious  fquare  of  fenfe  poflefics  ; 
And  find,  I  am  alone  felicitate 
In  your  dear  highnefs*  love. 

Cor.  Then  poor  Cordelia  !  [Afide. 

And  yet  not  fo  ;  fince,  I  am  fure,  my  love's 
*  More  pond'rous  than  my  tongue. 

Lear. 


9  lam  maaf,  feV.]  Thus  the  folio.  The  quarto  reads,  Sir,  I 
am  made  of  the  J  elf  -fame  metal  that  my  Jtfter  is.  STEEVENS. 

1  And  prize  >ne\  I  believe  this  paffage  mould  rather  be  pointed 
thus: 

And  prize  me  at  her  worth,  in  my  true  heart 
I  find,  Jbe  names,  &c. 

That  is,  And  fo  may  you  prize   me  at  her  worth,  as  in  my  true 
heart  I  fad,  thatjbc  names,  &c.     TYRWHITT. 

*  -  that  I  profffs']  T'hat  feems  to  ihnd  without  relation, 
but  is  referred  to  find,  the  firtt  conjunction  being  inaccurately 
fupprefled.     I  find  that-  fhe,  names  my  deed,  I  find  that  I  profefs, 
tec.     JOHNSON. 

3  Which  the  moft  precious  fquare  of  fenfe  poffcjjes  ;]  By  fhe  fquare 
of  fenfe,  we  are,  here,  to  underiland  the  four  nobler  fenfes, 
T'IZ.  the  fight,  bearing,  taftc,  and  fmcll.  For  a  young  lady  could 
not,  with  decency,  infinuate  that  (Vie  knew  of  any  pleafures 
which  the  fifth  afforded.  This  is  imagined  and  exprelfed  with 
great  propriety  and  delicacy.  But  the  Oxford  editor,  tovfquarey 
reads  j^/n'/.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

This  is  acute  ;  but  perhaps  fat  are  means  only  compafs,  coinpre* 
henfion.  JOHNSON. 

So,  in  a  Partfnefis  to  the  Prince,  by  lord  Sterline,   1604  : 
"  'rhcj'jvarc  of  rcatbu,  and  the  mind's  clear  eye." 

STEEVENS. 

*  yiore  pond'raxs  than   my  tongue.~\    We   fhould    read,    their 
tongue,  meaning  her  filters.    WARBUa-rox, 

I  think 


K    I     N    G      L    E    A    R.  355 

To  thee,  and  thine,  hereditary  ever, 
Remain  this  ample  third  of  our  fair  kingdom; 
5  No  lefs  in  fpace,  validity,  and  pleafure, 
Than  that  confirm'd  6  on  Goneril. —  7  Now,  our  joy, 
*  Although  the  laft,  not  leaft  ;  to  whole  young  love 
The  vines  of  France,  and  milk  of  Burgundy, 
Strive  to  be  interefs'd  9 ;  what  can  you  fay,  '  to  draw 
A  third,  more  opulent  than  your  fitters  ?  Speak. 

I  think  the  prefent  reading  right.     JOHNSOX. 
More  pond'roua   than  my  tongue.]  Thus   the  folio  :   the  quarto 
reads,  more  richer.     STEEVENS. 

5  No  lefs   in  fpace ,  tnlidiij. — ]    Validity,    for  worth,  value; 
not  tor  integrity,  or  good  title.     WARBURTON. 

So,  in  the  Denfft  Charter,   1607  : 

"  The  countenance  of  your  friend  is  of  lefs  value  than  his 
councel,  yet  both  of  very  fmall  'validity."    STEEVENS. 

6  confirm'd ]  The  folio  reads,  conferred.     STEEVENS. 

7  Now  our  joy,]  Here  the  true  reading  is  picked  out  of 
two  copies.     Butter's  quarto  reads  : 

But  now  our  joy, 

Although  the  laft,  not  leaft  in  our  dear  love, 
What  can  you  fay  to  win  a  third,  &c. 
The  folio  : 

Now  our  joy, 

Although  our  laft,  and  leaft  ;  to  vvhofe  young  love 

The  vines  of  France,  and  milk  of  Burgundy, 

Strive  to  be  int'refs'd.     What  can  you  fay  &c.      Joi;xso:*. 

8  Although  our  laji,  not  leaft,  &c.]  So,  in   the  old  anonymous 
play,  King  Leir  fpeaking  to  Mum  ford  : 

«<  to  thee  laft  of  all ; 

"  Not  greeted  laft,  'caufe  thy  defert  was  fmall. 

STEEVKN*;. 

9  Strive  to  le  interefs'd  ;]  So,  in  the  Preface  to  Dray  ton's  I'  V- 
nlbion  :  "  — there  is  fcarce  any  of  the  nobilitie,  or  gentry  of  this 
land,  but  he  is  fome  way  or  other  by  his  blood  i^iffiJU  the  rein." 
Again,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  Sejanus  : 

"  Our  facred  laws  andjuft  authority 

"  Are  IntcreJJcd  therein." 

To  intereji  and  to  interejje,  are  not,  perhaps,  different  fpellings 
of  the  fame  verb,  but  are  two  diftinct  words  though  of  the  fame 
import ;  the  one  being  derived  from  the  Latin,  the  other  from 
the  French  intercffcr.  STEEVENS. 

*  to  <//v»-;v]  The  quarto  reads — what  can  you  fay,  to  =:•.•/«. 

SlJiEVhNS. 

A  a  2  Cor. 


356         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Cor.  Nothing,  my  lord. 

Lear.  *  Nothing  ? 

Cor.  *  Nothing. 

Lear.  Nothing  can  come  of  nothing  :  fpeak  again. 

Cor.  Unhappy  that  I  am,  I  cannot  heave 
My  heart  into  my  mouth  :  I  love  your  majefty 
According  to  my  bond  ;  nor  more,  nor  lefs. 

Lear.  How,  how,  Cordelia  ?  J  mend  your  fpeech 

a  little, 
Left  it  may  mar  your  fortunes. 

Cor.  Good  my  lord, 

You  have  begot  me,  bred  me,  lov'd  me  :  I 
Return  thofe  duties  back  as  are  right  tit, 
Obey  you,  love  you,  and  moft  honour  you. 
Why  have  my  fifters  hulbands,  if  they  fay, 
They  love  you,  all  ?  4  Haply,  when  I  mall  wed, 
That  lord,  whofe  hand  mufl  take  my  plight,  fhall 

carry 

Half  my  love  with  him,  half  my  care,  and  duty  : 
Sure,  I  lhall  never  marry  like  my  fifters, 
5  To  love  my  father  all. 

Lear.  But  goes  thy  heart  with  this  ? 

Cor.  Ay,  my  good  lord. 

Lear.  So  young,  and  fo  untender  ? 

Cor.  So  young,  my  lord,  and  true. 

Lear.  Let  it  be  fo, — Thy  truth  then  be  thy  dower : 
For,  by  the  facred  radiance  of  the  fun  ; 

2  Thcfe  two  fpeeches  are  wanting  in  the  quartos.    STEEVENS. 
'  Hoivt  how,  Cordelia?]  Thus  the  folio.    The  quarto  reads 
—Go  to,  go  to.     STEEVEVS. 

*  Haply,  when  IJhall  wed,  &c.]    So,  in  The  Mirror  ef 

ftlagijlrates,  1586,  Cordila  lays : 

**  To  love  you  as  I  ought,  my  father,  well ; 
"  Yet  fhortly  I  may  chance,  if  fortune  will, 
**  To  find  in  heart  to  beare  another  more  goodwill: 

"  Thus  much  I  faid  of  nuptial  loves  that  meant." 

STEEVENS. 

*  To  love  ny  father  all. — ]  Thefe  words  are  reftored  from  the 
firit  edition,  without  which  the  lenie  was  not  complete.    POPE. 

The 


KING      LEAR.          357 

The  myfleries  of  Hecate,  and  the  night ; 

By  all  the  operations  of  the  orbs, 

From  whom  we  do  exift,  and  ceafe  to  be ; 

Here  I  difclaim  all  my  paternal  care, 

Propinquity  and  property  of  blood, 

And  as  a  ftranger  to  my  heart  and  me 

6  Hold  thee,  from  this,    for  ever.     The  barbarous 

Scythian, 

Or  he  that  makes  his  generation  mefles 
To  gorge  his  appetite,  fhall  to  my  bofom 
Be  as  well  neighbour'd,  pitied,  and  relieved, 
As  thou  my  fometime  daughter. 

Kent.  Good  my  liege, — 

Lear.  Peace,  Kent ! 

Come  not  between  the  dragon  and  his  wrath  : 
I  lov'd  her  moft,  and  thought  to  fet  my  reft 
On  her  kind  nurfery. — Hence,  and  avoid  my  fight !  — 

[To  Cordelia  \ 

So  be  my  grave  my  peace,  as  here  I  give 
Her  father's  heart  from  her  ! — Call  France  ; — Who 
flirs? 

Call  Burgundy. Cornwall,  and  Albany, 

With  my  two  daughters'  dowers  digcft  this  third  : 
Let  pride,  which  fhe  calls  plainnefs,  marry  her. 
I  do  inveft  you  jointly  with  my  power, 
Preheminence,  and  all  the  large  effects 
That  troop  with  majefty.  Ourfelf,  by  monthly  courfe, 
With  rcfervation  of  an  hundred  knights, 
By  you  to  be  fuftain'd,  fhall  our  abode 
Make  with  you  by  due  turns.     8  Only  we  fhall  retain 

The 

6  HoJJ  tbce,  from  this, — '—  ]  i.  e.  from  this  time.    STEEVENS. 

7  [To  Corildia.']  Rather,  as  the  author  of  the  Revifal  obfcrves, 
to  Kent.     For  in  the  next  words  Lear  fends  for  France  and  Bur- 
gundy to  offer  Cordelia  without  a  dowry.     STEEVENS. 

*  Only  retain 

Jhe  name,  and  all  the  additions  to  a  king  .• 
f/jcfivay,  revenue,  execution, 
Beloved  fan,!)  le  yours  ;        '  '  '  J 

A  a  3  The 


358         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

The  name,  and  all  the  addition  to  a  king  ; 

The  f\vay,  revenue,  execution  of  the  reft, 

Beloved  fons,  be  yours  :  which  to  confirm, 

This  coronet  part  between  you.       [Giving  the  croi&t. 

Kent.  Royal  Lear, 

Whom  I  have  ever  honour'd  as  my  king, 
Lov'd  as  my  father,  as  my  matter  follow'd, 
As  my  great  patron  thought  on  in  my  prayers, — 

Lear.  The  bow  is  bent  and  drawn,  make  from  the 
Ihiaft. 

Kent.   Let  it  fall  rather,  though  the  fork  invade 
The  region  of  my  heart:  be  Kent  unmannerly, 
When  Lear  is  mad.  What  would'it  thou  do,  old  man  ? 
9  Thinii'il  thou  that  duty  fhall  have  dread  to  fpeak, 

When 

The  old  books  rend  the  lines  thus ; 

The  fvvay,  revenue,  execution  of  the  reft, 

Beloved  Ions,  be  yours. 

This  is  evidently  corrupt;  and  the  editors  not  knowing  what  to 

make  of ef'tkerejl~-'i  left  it  out.     The  true  reading,  \vi:h- 

out  doubt,  was  : 

The  ivvay,  revenue,  execution  of  tlS  beft, 

ISeloved  fons,  be  yours. 

Heft  is  an  old  word  for  regal  command  :  To  that  the  fenfe  of  the 
whole  is,—  I  will  only  retain  the  nat»ettnA  all  the  ceremonious  ob- 
fcrvances  that  belong  to  a  king  ;  the  rjfcntlah,  ns  fvvay,  revenue, 
AJnuniitration  of  the  laws,  be  yours.  \VARRUK TON. 

— i — execution  of  the  rcft,\  I  do  not  lee  any  great  difficulty  m 
the  words,  execution  of  the  reft,  which  nre  in  both  the  old  copies. 
'J  he  execution  af  the  reft  is,  I  fuppofc,  all  the  rther  lutjlntfs.  Dr. 
V.  aibui  ton's  own  explanation  ot  his  amendment  confutes  it;  it 
f-cfl  be  a  rrgal  command,  they  were,  by  the  grant  of  Lear,  to 
have  rather  the  beft  than  the  execution,  JOHNSON, 

9  TbinVft  then,  that  duty  flail  have  dread  to  ffeak^]  I  have 
given  this  paffage  according  to  the  old  folio,  from  which  the  nio- 
riprn  editions  have  (ilently  departed,  for  the  fake  of  better  ivam- 
bers.  with  a  degree  of  iniincerity,  which,  if  not  fometimes  de- 
i  .n.dand  cenfiued,  mull  impair  the  credit  of  ancient  books. 
<.)ne  of  the  editors,  and  perhaps  only  one,  knew  how  much  mil- 
chief  may  be  done  by  fuch  clandeitine  alterations.  The  quarto 
sigiccs  with  the  folio,  except  that  for  rcfcrvc  try  Jlaie,  it  gives, 
r,-i'f  I'c  thy  <,v.-/v,  :.ml  h;ss  Jlonps,  intend  of  fails  to  folly.  The 
rneaning  of  atifcw  my  life  vy  judgment,  is,  I.ct  >;:y  I'fe  l>c  anj'iwr- 
al>l(for  tryjuagmeatt  or,  /  willjtake  mj  life  on  r,y  opinion. — The 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         359 

When  power  to  flattery  bows  ?  To  plainnefs  honour's 

bound, 

When  majefty  ftoops  to  folly.     Reverfe  thy  doom; 
And,  in  thy  beft  confideration,  check 
This  hideous  raihnefs  :  anfwer  my  life  my  judgment, 
Thy  youngeft  daughter  does  not  love  thee  leaft  ; 
Nor  are  thofe  empty-hearted,  whofe  low  found 
1  Reverbs  no  hollownefs. 

Lear.  Kent,  on  thy  life,  no  more. 

Kent.  My  life  I  never  held  but  as  *  a  pawn 
To  wage  againft  thine  enemies  :  nor  fear  to  lofe  it, 
Thy  fafety  being  the  motive. 

Lear.  Out  of  my  fight ! 

Kent.  See  better,  Lear ;  and  let  me  flill  remain 
3  The  true  blank  of  thine  eye. 

Lear. 

reading  which,  without  any  right,  has  poflefled  all  the  modern 
copies  is  this  : 

to  plainnefs  honour 

Is  bound,  when  majefty  to  folly  falls. 

Referve  thy  ftate ;  with  better  judgment  check 

This  hideous  rafhnefs;  with  my  life  I  anfwer, 


Thy  youngeft  daughter,  &c. 
inclined   to  think  tha 


I  am  inclined  to  think  that  reverfe  fly  doom  was  Shakefpeare's 
firft  reading,  as  more  appoiite  to  the  prefent  occafion,  and  that 
he  changed  it  afterwards  to  referve  t/jyj?ate,  which  cenduces  more 
to  the  progrefs  of  the  action.  JOHNSON. 

1  Reverbs ]  This  is  perhaps  a  word  of   the  poet's  own 

making,  meaning  the  fame  as  reverberates.     STEEVENS. 

To  wage  againft  thine  enemies ; ] 

i.  e.  I  never  regarded  my  life,  as  my  own,  but  merely  as  a  thing" 
of  which  I  had  the  poffdlion  not  the  property  ;  and  which  was 
entrufted  to  me  as  a  fawn  or  pledge,  to  be  employed  in  waging 
war  againft  your  enemies. 

To  ivage  againft  is  an  expreffion  ufed  in  a  letter  from  Guil. 
Webbe  to  Rcb1.  Wilmot,  prefixed  to  Tancred  and  GuifmunJ, 

1592:  "  you  mail  not   be  able  to  wage  againjl  me  in  the 

charges  growing  upon  this  action."     STEEVENS. 

3  ne  true  blank  of  thine  cye.~\  The  blank  is  the  ivbitc  or  exacl 
mark  at  which  the  arrow  is  mot.  See  better,  fays  Kent,  and  keep 
ziif  aiivtyi  inyour  i>if\',;  JOHNSON. 

A  a  4  So, 


360        K    I    N    G      L    E    A    B, 

Lear.  Now,  by  Apollo, 

Kent.  Now,  by  Apollo,  king, 
Thou  fwear'ft  thy  gads  in  vain. 

Lear.  O,  vaffal !  mifcreant ! 

[Laying  his  hand  on  his  fword. 

Alb.  Corn.  Dear  fir,  forbear  +. 

Kent.  Do  ;  kill  thy  phyfician,  and  the  fee  bellow 
Upon  the  foul  difeafe.     Revoke  thy  gift 5 ; 
Or,  whiift  I  can  vent  clamour  from  my  throat, 
I'll  tell  thee,  thou  doft  evil. 

Lear.  Hear  me,  recreant ! 
On  thine  allegiance  hear  me  I—- 
Since thou  haft  fought  to  make  us  break  our  vow, 
(Which  we  durfl  never  yet,)  and,  with  6  ftrain'd  pride, 
7  To  come  betwixt  our  fentence  and  our  power, 
(8  Which  nor  our  nature  nor  our  place  can  bear,) 

Our 

So,  in  the  tragedy  of  C.  T.  Nero,   1607  : 

"  He  will  climb,  and  aim  at  honour's  white." 

Again,  in  the  JJIe  of  Gulls,   1633  : 

"  It  cannot  but  cleavq  the  very  white  of  our  hopes." 

STEEVENS. 

*  Dear  fir,  forbear.]  This  fpeech  is  omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 
5  ——thy  gift."]  The  quartos  read— thy  doom.    STEEVENS. 

*  .    .1    'Jlraind  pride'}   The  oldeft  copy    reads  Jlraycd  pride  \ 
that  is,  pride  exorbitant;  pride  pafling  due  bounds.     JOHNSON. 

7   To  come  betwixt  our  fentence  and  our  power  ;\  Power,  for  ex- 
ecution of  the  fentence.     WAR  BURTON. 

Rather,  as  Mr.  Edwards  observes,  our  power  to  execute   that 
fentence.     STEEVENS. 

8   Which  nor  our  nature,  nor  our  place,  can  Isar, 

Our  potency  make  good  \ — "]  Mr.  Theobald,  bv  putting  the 
firft  line  into  a  parenthelis,  aud  altering  make  to  made  in  the  fe- 
cond  line,  had  deftrCyed  the  fenfe  or  the  whole  ;  which,  as  it 
flood  before  he  corrupted  the  words,  was  this :  **  You  have  en- 
deavouvpd,  fays  Lear,  to  make  me  break  my  oath  ;  you  have 
prefumed  to  flop  the  execution  of  my  fentence  :  the  latter  of 
thefe  attempts  neither  my  temper  nor  high  ftation  will  fufier  me 
to  bear;  and  the  other,  had  I  yielded  to  it,  ir.y  power  could 
not  make  good,  or  excuie." H'ku-b,  in  the  firft  line,  refer- 
ring to  both  attempts  :  but  the  ambiguity  of  it,  as  it  might  re- 
fer only  to  the  latter,  has  occasioned  ail  the  oblcuihy  of  the  paf- 
fage.'  WAR  BUR  JON. 

Theo- 


KING      LEAR.         361 

Our  potency  made  good,  take  thy  reward. 
Five  days  we  do  allot  thee,  for  provifion 
To  fhield  thee  from  difafters  9  of  the  world ; 
And,  on  the  fixth,  to  turn  thy  hated  back 
Upon  our  kingdom  :  if,  on  the  tenth  day  following," 
Thy  banifh'd  trunk  be  found  in  our  dominions, 
The  moment  is  thy  death  :  Away  !  '  By  Jupiter, 
This  {hall  not  be  revok'd. 

Kent.  Why,  fare  thee  well,  king  :  fince  thus  thou 

wilt  appear, 

1  Freedom  lives  hence,  and  banifliment  is  here.— 
The  gods  to  their  dear  fhelter 3  take  thee,  maid, 

[To  Cordelia. 
That  juflly  think'ft,  and  haft  moll  rightly  faid ! — 

Theobald  only  inferted  the  parenthefis  ;  he  found  made  good  lit 
the  beft  copy  of  1623:  Dr.  Warburton  has  very  acutely  ex- 
plained and  defended  the  reading  that  he  has  choten,  but  I  am 
not  certain  that  he  has  chofen  right.  If  we  take  the  reading  of 
the  folio,  our  potency  made  good,  the  fenfe  will  be  lefs  profound 
indeed,  but  lefs  intricate,  and  equally  commodious.  As  thou. 
baft  come  with  unreafonable  pride  between  the  fentence  which  I  had 
faffed,  and  the  power  by  which  I  foall  execute  it,  take  thy  reward 
in  another  fentence  which  jball  make  good,  JJjall  efiablijb,  Jhall 
maintain,  that  power.  If  Dr.  Warburton's  explanation  be 
chofen,  and  every  reader  will  wifli  to  choofe  it,  we  may  better 
read: 

Which  nor  our  nature,  nor  our  ftate  can  bear, 

Or  potency  make  good. 

Mr.  Davies  thinks,  that  our  potency  made  good,  relates  only  to  our 
place. — Which  our  nature  cannot  bear,  nor  our  place,  without 
departure  from  the  potency  of  that  place.  This  is  eafy  and  clear. 
— Lear,  who  is  characterized  as  hot,  heady,  and  violent,  is, 
with  very  juft  obfervation  of  life,  made  to  entangle  himfelfwith 
vows,  upon  any  fudden  provocation  to  vow  revenge,  and  then 
to  plead  the  obligation  of  a  vow  in  defence  of  implacability. 

JOHNSON. 

9  Jifafters.']  The  quartos  read  difeafes.    STEEVENS. 

1  By  Jupiter,]  Shakefpeare  makes  his  Lear  too  much  a 

rnythologift  :  he  had  Hecate  and  Apollo  before.    JOHNSON. 

4  Freedom  lives  hence, ]  So  the  folio  :  the  quartos  concuf 

in  reading — Friendjhlp  lives  hence.     STEEVENS. 

3  — dtarjk-clter — ]  The  quartos  read— -proteftion.    STEEVENS. 

And 


362         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

And  your  large  fpeeches  may  your  deeds  approve, 

[To  Re^an  a,tJ.  Goneril. 

That  good  effects  may  fpring  from  words  of  love. — 
Thus  Kent,  O  princes,  bids  you  all  adieu; 
4  He'll  fliape  his  old  courfe  in  a  country  new.     [£.v:/. 

Re-enter   Glofler,     with   France,    Burgundy,     qnd    at- 
tendants. 

Glo.  Here's  France  and  Burgundy,  my  noble  lord. 

Lear.  My  lord  of  Burgundy, 
We  firft  addrefs  towards  you,  who  with  this  king 
Have  rivall'd  for  our  daughter  ;  What,  in  the  leaft, 
Will  you  require  in  prelent  dower  with  her, 
Or  ceafe  your  queft  of  love  5  ? 

Bur.  Moft  royal  majefty, 

I  crave  no  more  than  hath  your  highnefs  ofler'd, 
Nor  will  you  tender  lefs. 

Lear.   Right  noble  Burgundy, 
When  Ihe  was  dear  to  us,  we  did  hold  her  fo ; 
Eut  now  her  price  is  fall'n  :  Sir,  there  file  {lands ; 
If  aught  within  that  little,  6  feeming  fubftance, 
Or  all  of  it,  with  our  difpleafure  piec'd, 
And  nothing  more,  may  fitly  like  your  grace, 
She's  there,  and  fhe  is  yours. 

Bur.  I  know  no  anfwer. 

4  Hfttjbapc  his  old  courfe— ]     He  will  follow  his  old  maxims  ; 
he  will  continue  to  aft  upon  the  fame  principles.     JOHNSON. 

*  qucjl  of  love.]   Qucjl  of  love  is  amorous  expedition.     The 

term  originated  from  Romance.     A  quell  was  the  expedition  in 
which  a 'knight  was  engaged.     This  phrafe  is  often  to  be  met 
with  in  the  Fairy  <*uec>i.     STEEVENS. 

*  Seeming]  \sbeautiful.     JOHNSON. 

Seeming  rather  tttcsuujfaeioas.     So,  in  the  Merry  J'rj-jes,  &c. 

*4   pluck   the  borrowed  veil  of  modeity  from  the  fo 

fecmlng  miftrefs  Page." 
Again,   in  Meafure  for  Meafurc  : 

"  hence  fhall  we  fee, 

u  If  power  change  purpofe,  what  Qurfccwers  be." 

STEEVENS. 

Lear. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         363 

Lear.  Sir,    will  you,    with   thofe   infirmities  flie 

7  owes, 

Unfriended,  new-adopted  to  our  hate, 
Dower'd  with  our  curfe,  and  ftranger'd  with  our  oath, 
Take  her,  or  leave  her  ? 

Bur.  Pardon  me,  royal  fir ; 

8  Election  makes  not  up  on  fuch  conditions. 

Lear.  Then  leave  her,  fir ;  for,  by  the  power  that 

made  me, 
I  tell  you  all  her  wealth. — For  you,  great  king, 

[To  France. 

I  would  not  from  your  love  make  fuch  a  ftray, 
To  match  you  where  I  hate  ;  therefore  befeech  you 
To  avert  your  liking  a  more  worthier  way, 
Than  on  a  wretch  whom  nature  is  afhamM  . 
•Almoft  to  acknowledge  hers. 

France.  This  is  molt  ftrange  ! 
That  fhe,  who  even  but  now  was  your  bed  object, 
The  argument  of  your  praife,  balm  of  your  age, 

9  The  beft,  the  deareil ;  ihould  in  this  trice  of  time 
Commit  a  thing  fo  monftrous,  to  difmantle 

So  many  folds  of  favour  !  Sure,  her  offence 
Mufl  be  of  fuch  unnatural  degree, 
That  monfters  it ',  z  or  your  fore-vouch'd  affection 

Fall 

7  eKves,]  5.  e.  Is  pofiefled  of.     STEEVENS. 

8  EJcftlon  makes  not  up  on  fuch  conditions.}  To  make  up  fignifies 
to  complete,  to  conclude ;  as,  they  made  up  the  bargain ;  but  in 
this  ienie  it  has,  I  think,  always  the  fubject  noun  arter  it.     To 
make  up,  in  familiar  language,  is  neutrally,  to  come  forward,  to 
make  advances,  which,  I  think,  is  meant  here.     JOHNSON. 

9  The  beft,  the  deare/l; ]  Beft  is  added  from  the  firit  copy. 

JOHNSON. 

There  is  no  copy  in  which  left  is  omitted.     The  quartos  read— 
Mojl  left,  mojl  deartft.     STEEVENS. 

1  That  monfters ;'/.]  This  uncommon  verb  occurs  again  in  Co- 
rlolanus,  aft  II.  fc.  ii  : 

"  To  hear  my  nothings  moiiftcr'd.'"     STEEVE.NS, 
*  The  common  books  read  : 

or  your  fore-vouch'd  affeclion 

Fall'n  into  taint ;  • 

This 


364         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Fall  into  taint  :  which  to  believe  of  her, 
Mull  be  a  faith,  that  reafon  without  miracle 
Should  never  plant  in  me. 

Cor.  I  yet  befeech  your  majefty, 
(If  for  I  want  that  glib  and  oily  art, 
To  fpeak  and  purpofe  not  ;  fince  what  I  well  intend, 

This  line  has  no  clear  or  ftrong  fenfe,  nor  is  this  reading  autho- 
rized by  any  copy,  though  it  has  crept  into  all  the  late  editions. 
The  early  quarto  reads  : 

or  you  for  vouch  'd  affections 

Fall'ii  into  taint. 
The  folio  : 

-  or  your  fore-vouch'd  affection 

Fall  into  taint  •• 

Taint  is  ufed  for  corruption  and  for  difgrace.  If  therefore  \ve  take 
the  oldeit  reading  it  may  be  reformed  thus  : 

--  fure  her  offence 

Muft  be  of  fuch  unnatural  degree, 

That  monfters  it  ;  or  you  for  vouch'd  affection 

Fall  into  taint. 

Her  offence  muft  be  prodigious,  or  you  muft  fall  into  reproach  for 
.having  vouched  ajfcftion  which  you  did  not  feel.  It  the  reading 
of  the  folio  be  preferred,  we  may  with  a  very  flight  change  pro- 
duce the  fame  fenfe  : 

'——fure  her  offence 

Muft  be  of  fuch  unnatural  degree, 

That  monflers  it,  or  your  fore-vouch'd  affe£liou 

Falls  into  taint.  -  - 

That  is,  falls  into  reproach  or  ccnfurc.  But  there  is  another  pof- 
fible  fenfe.  Or  figpifies  before,  and  or  ever  is  before  ever  ;  the 
meaning  in  the  folio  may  therefore  be,  Sure  her  crime  muft  be 
mofiftrous  before  your  affettion  can  be  ajfeElcd  with  hatred.  Let  the 
reader  determine.  -  As  I  am  not  much  a  friend  to  conjectural 
emendation,  I  fhould  prefer  the  latter  feafe,  which  requires  no 
change  of  reading.  JOHNSON-. 

Or,  without  the  adjunct  ever,  fignifies  before.  So,  in  Mapkt's 
Nat.  Hift.  1567  :  «'  The  pyrites  alib  fparkkth  ;  and  being  hardly 
holden  and  prefled  in  any  man's  hand,  burneth  him  fore  or  he 
perceiveth  it.  Again,  Ibid:  "  —perceiving  I  fhould  be  wet 
or  I  got  home."  COLLINS. 

Taint  is  a  term  belonging  to  falconry.  So,  in  the  Boole  of 
Hautyng,  &c.  bl.l.  no  date:  "  A  taint  is  a  thing  that  goeth 
pverthwait  the  fethers,  &c.  like  as  it  were  eaten  with  wormes." 


I'll 


KING      LEAR.          365 

1*11  do't  before  I  fpeak)  that  you  make  known 

It  is  no  vicious  blot,  murder,  or  foulnefs, 

No  unchafle  attion,  or  difhonbur'd  ftep, 

That  hath  depriv'd  me  of  your  grace  and  favour : 

But  even  for  want  of  that,  for  which  I  am  richer  ; 

A  ftill-foliciting  eye,  and  fuch  a  tongue 

That  I  am  glad  I  have  not,  though,  not  to  have  it, 

Hath  loft  me  in  your  liking. 

Lear.  Better  thou 

Hadft  not  been  born,  than  not  to  have  pleas'd  me 
'  better. 

France.  Is  it  no  more  but  this  ?    a  tardinefs  in 

nature, 

Which  often  leaves  the  hiftory  unfpoke, 
That  it  intends  to  do  ? — My  lord  of  Burgundy, 
What  fay  you  to  the  lady  ?  Love  is  not  love, 
When  it  is  mingled  with  regards,  that  Hand  J 
Aloof  4  from  the  entire  point.     Will  you  have  her  ? 
She  is  herfelf  a  dowry  J. 

Bur.  6  Royal  Lear, 

Give  but  that  portion  which  yourfelf  proposed, 
And  here  I  take  Cordelia  by  the  hand, 
Dutchefs  of  Burgundy. 

Lear.  Nothing  :  I  have  fworn  ;  I  am  firm. 

Bur.  I  am  forry  then,  you  have  fo  loft  a  father, 
That  you  muft  lofe  a  hufband. 

3  vaitfj  regards  that  ftand.]  The  quarto  reads  : 
—————with  reffefls  that  {land*.     STEEVENS. 

4  ——from  the  entire  point. ]  Entire,  for  right,  true. 

WARBURTOJT. 

Rather,  fingle,  unmixed  with  other  confiderations.   JOHNSOW. 
Dr.  Johnfon  is  right.     The  meaning  of  the  paflage  is,   that 
his  love  wants  fomething  to  mark  its  fincerity  ; 

"  Who  fseks  for  aught  in  love  but  love  alone." 

STEEVENS. 

5  She  is  herfelf  a  dowry.]  The  quartos  read  : 

She  is  herfelf  and  dower,     STEEVENS. 
'  Royal  Lear,]  So,  the  quarto ;  the  folio  has— Royal  king. 

STEEVENS. 

Cor. 


;3<56         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R, 

Cor.  Peace  be  with  Burgundy  ! 
Since  that  refpects  of  fortune  are  his  love, 
I  fhall  not  be  his  wife. 

France.  Faireft  Cordelia,  that  art  moft  rich,  being 

poor ; 

Moft  choice,  forfaken ;  and  moft  lov'd,  defpis'd  ! 
Thee  and  thy  virtues  here  I  feize  upon  : 
Be  it  lawful,  I  take  up  what's  caft  away. 
Gods,   gods !   'tis  ftrange,  that  from  their   cold'ft 
negledt 

My  love  ihould  kindle  to  inflam'd  refpedr.. 

Thy  dowerlefs  daughter,  king,  thrown  to  my  chance, 
Is  queen  of  us,  of  ours,  and  our  fair  France  : 
Not  all  the  dukes  of  wat'rifh  Burgundy 
Shall  buy  rhis  unpriz'd  precious  maid  of  me. 
Bid  them  farewel,  Cordelia,  though  unkind  : 
7  Thou  lofeft  here,  a  better  where  to  find. 

Lear.  Thou  haft  her,  France :  let  her  be  thine;  for  we 
Have  no  fuch  daughter,  nor  fhall  ever  fee 
That  face  of  hers  again  : — Therefore  be  gone, 

Without  our  grace,  our  love,  our  benizon. 

Come,  noble  Burgundy. 

\FlouriJh.    Exeunt  Lear,  Burgundy,  &fc. 

France.  Bid  farewel  to  your  filters. 

Cor.  The  jewels  of  our  father,  with  wafh'd  eyes 
Cordelia  leaves  you  :  I  know  you  what  you  are ; 
And,  like  a  filter,  am  moft  loth  to  call 
Your  faults,  as  they  are  nam'd.  Ufe  well  our  father  : 
To  your  profcffing  bofoms 8 1  commit  him  : 
But  yet,  alas !  flood  I  within  his  grace, 

7  Thou  lofeft  here, ]  Here  and  where  have  the  power  of 

nouns.  Thou  loleit  this  reiidence  to  find  a  better  refidence  in 
another  place.  JOHNSON. 

1   -profejjlng  bofoms.]  All  the  ancient  editions  read— pro- 

fejjcd.  The  alteration  is  Mr.  Pope's,  but,  perhaps,  is  unnecef- 
fary,  as  Shakefpeare  often  ufes  one  participle  for  the  other  ; 
— longing  for  longed  in  the  Gentlemen  of  Verona,  and  all-obeying 
for  aU-olfjed  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  STEEYSNS. 

I  would 


KING      LEAR.         367 

I  would  prefer  him  to  a  better  place. 
So  farewel  to  you  both. 

Reg.  Prefcribe  not  us  our  duties. 

Gon.  Let  your  ftudy 

Be,  to  content  your  lord ;  who  hath  receiv'd  you 
At  fortune's  alms  :  You  have  obedience  fcanted, 
9  And  well  are  worth  the  want  that  you  have  wanted. 

Cor.  Timefhall  unfold  what '  plaited  cunning  hides, 
*  Who  cover  faults,  at  laft  fhame  them  derides. 
Well  may  you  profpcr  ! 

France.  Come,  my  fair  Cordelia. 

[Exeunt  France,  and  Cordelia*. 

9  And  well  are  ivnrtb  the  want  that  you  have  ivaitted.~\  This  fa 
a  very  obfcure  exprelfion,  and  muft  be  pieced  out  with  an  implied 
fenfe  to  be  underftood.  This  I  take  to  be  the  poet's  meaning, 
ftript  of  the  jingle  which  makes  it  dark  :  "  You  well  deferve  to 
meet  with  that  want  of  love  from  your  hufband,  which  you  have 
protefled  to  want  for  our  father."  THEOBALD. 

AndvJtll  are  worth  the  want  that  you  have  wanted.]  This  noa- 
fenfe  muft  be  corrected  thus  : 

And  well  are  worth  the  want  that  you  have  vaunted. 
i.  e.  that  diflierifon,  which  you  fo  much  glory  in,  you  deferve. 

WARBURTON. 

I  think  the  common  reading  very  fuitable  to  the  manner  of  our 
author,  and  well  enough  explained  by  Theobald.  JOHNSON. 

I  explain  the  paiTage  thus  : You  are  well  dejerving  of  the 

want  of  dower  that  you  are  without.  So,  in  the  third  part  of 
K.  HimyVl.  ad  IV.  fc.  i :  "  Though  I  want  a  kingdom,"  i.e. 
though  I  am  without  a  kingdom.  Again,  in  Stowe's  Cfcomcle^ 
p.  137  :  "  Anfelm  was  expelled  the  realm,  and  wanted  the  whole 
profits  of  his  biflioprick,"  i.  e.  he  did  not  receive  the  profits, 

&C.      TOLLET. 

1   plaited  cunning ]  i.e.  complicated,  involved  cunning. 

.    .  JOHNSON. 

The  word  unfold,  and  the  following  lines  in  our  author's  Jremu 
end  Adonis,  fliew  that  plaited,  or  (as  the  quarto  has  it)  pleated,  is 
the  true  reading  : 

"  For  that  he  colour'd  with  his  high  eftate, 
*'  Hiding  bafe  fin  in  pleats  of  majeity."    MALONE. 
*  W~ho  cov.er  faults,  &c.]  The  quartos  read, 

Who  covers  faults,  at  h&J/jame  them  derides. 
This  I  have  replaced.     The  former  editors  read  with  the  folio : 
Y^  ho  covers  faults  at  laft  with  fhame  derides.    STEEVENS. 

Gon. 


368         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Con.  Sifter,  it  is  not  a  little  I  have  to  fay,  of  what 
moft  nearly  appertains  to  us  both.  I  think,  our  fa- 
ther will  hence  to-night. 

Reg.  That's  moft  certain,  and  with  you ;  next 
month  with  us. 

Gon.  You  fee  how  full  of  changes  his  age  is ;  the 
obfervation  we  have  made  of  it  hath  not  been  little : 
he  always  lov'd  our  filler  moft  ;  and  with  what  poor 
judgment  he  hath  now  caft  her  off,  appears  too 
grofsly. 

Reg.  'Tis  the  infirmity  of  his  age  :  yet  he  hath  ever 
but  flenderly  known  himfelf. 

Con.  The  beft  and  foundeft  of  his  time  hath  been 
but  ram ;  then  muft  we  look  to  receive  from  his  age, 
not  alone  the  imperfections  of  long-engrafted  con- 
dition, but,  therewithal,  the  unruly  waywardnefs 
that  infirm  and  cholerick  years  bring  with  them. 

Reg.  Such  unconftant  ftarts  are  we  like  to  have 
from  him,  as  this  of  Kent's  banifhment. 

Gon.  There  is  further  compliment  of  leave-taking 
between  France  and  him.  Pray  you,  J  let  us  hit 
together  :  If  our  father  carry  authority  with  fuch  dif- 
pofitions  as  he  bears,  this  laft  furrender  of  his  will 
but  offend  us. 

Reg.  We  fliall  further  think  of  it. 

Gon.  We  muft  do  fomething,  and  4  i'  the  heat. 

[Exeunt. 

3 Jet  us  hit ]  So  the  old  quarto.    The  folio,  let  us 

fit.    JOHNSON. 

'"-'let  us  hit——]  i.  e.  agree.    STEEVENS. 

*        '     i'  the  h(at\  i.  e.  We  mu&firitt  while  the  iron's  hot. 

jfki*«t?trw< 


SCENE 


KING      LEAR.         369 

S  C  E  N  E.  IL 

A  cajlle  belonging  to  the  earl  of  Gbfter, 
Enter  Edmund,  with  a  letter. 

Edm.  s  Thou,  nature,  art  my  goddefs ;  to  thy  law 
My  fervices  are  bound  :  Wherefore  ihould  I 
6  Stand  in  the  plague  of  cuflom  ;  and  permit 

5  Thou,  nature,  art  my  goddefs ; ]  He  makes  his  baftard 

an  atheift.  Italian  atheiim  had  much  infecled  the  Englifh  court, 
as  we  learn  from  the  beft  writers  of  that  time.  But  this  was  the 
general  title  thofe  atheifts  in  their  works  gave  to  nature  :  thus 
Vanini  calls  one  of  his  books,  De  admirandi$  Naturae  Regina 
deaeque  mortalium  Arcanis.  So  that  the  title  here  is  empha- 
tical.  WAR  BURTON. 

Dr.  Warburton  fays  that  Shakefpeare  has  made  his  lajlard  an 
atbeift  ;  when  it  is  very  plain  that  Edmund  only  fpeaks  of  nature 
in  oppofition  to  cuftom  t  and  not  (as  he  fuppofes)  to  the  exigence 
of  a  God.  Edmund  means  only,  as  he  came  not  into  the  world 
as  cuftom  or  la--,v  had  prefcribed,  fo  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to 
follow  nature  and  her  laws,  which  make  no  difference  between 
legitimacy  and  illegitimacy,  between  the  eldeft  and  the  youngeir. 

To  contradict  Dr.  Warburton's  aflertion  yet  more  Itrongly, 
Edmund  concludes  this  very  fpeech  by  an  invocation  to  heaven. 
"  Now  £<?</.>•  ftand  up  for  baftards !"  STEEVENS. 

*  Stand  in  the  plague  of  cuflom, ]  The  word  plague  is  in  all 

the  old  copies  :  I  can  fcarcely  think  it  right,  nor  can  I  yet  re- 
concile myfelf  to  plage,  the  emendation  propofed  by  Dr.  Warbur- 
ton, though  I  have  nothing  better  to  offer.  JOHNSON. 

The  meaning  is  plain,  though  oddly  exprefled.  Wherefore 
fliould  I  acquielce,  fubmit  tamely  to  the  plagues  and  injustice  of 
cuftom  ? 

Shakefpeare  feems  to  mean  by  the  plague  of  cuflom,  Wherefore 
ihould  1  remain  in  a  fituation  where  I  (hall  be  plagued  and  tor- 
mented only  in  confequence  of  the  contempt  with  which  cuflom 
regards  thofe  who  are  not  the  iffue  of  a  lawful  bed  ?  Dr.  War- 
burton  defines  plage  to  be  the  place,  the  country,  the  boundary  of 
cuftom  ;  a  word  to  be  found  only  in  Chaucer.  STEEVENS. 

•     VOL.  IX.  Bb  The 


37o         KING       LEAR, 

7  The  curiofity  of  nations  8  to  deprive  me, 
For  that  I  am  fome  twelve  or  fourteen  moon-fhine* 
9  Lag  of  a  brother  ?  Why  baftard  ?  Wherefore  bale  ? 
When  my  dimenfions  are  as  well  compact, 

7  77r  courtefy  of  nations ]  Mr.  Pope  reads  nice'-:.    The 

copies  give, —  the  curioiity  of  nations, ;  —  but  our  author's  word 
was,  curtfjy.  In  our  laws  fome  lands  are  held  by  the  curK-jy  of 
England.  THEOBALD. 

Cnrinfjy,  in  the  time  of  Shakefpeare,  was  a  word  that  fiwni- 
r/iiitd  an  ever-nice  fcrxpnloufnefs  in  manners,  drefs,  S:c.  In  this 
i'cnfe  it  is  ufed  in  Timon.  w  When  thon  wait  (lays 'Apemantus) 
in  thy  gilt  and  thy  perfume,  they  rnock'd  thee  for  too  much  t/.- 
riojity"  Barrett  in  his  Alvearie,  or  S>uadruplc  Di8iona>y,  1580, 
interprets  itr  piked  diligence :  fomctbing  too  curious,  or  too  much  cif- 
fcSlatcd:  and  again  in  this  play  of  A".  Lear,  Shake!  pea  re  feems  to 
ufe  it  in  the  fame  fenfe,  "  which  I  have  rather  blamed  as  my  own 
jealous  curlofity"  Curicjity  is  the  old  reading,  which  Mr.  Theo- 
bald changed  into  courtcfy,  though  the  former  is  uied  by  Beau- 
mont and  Fletcher,  with  the  meaning  for  which  I  contend. 

It  is  true,  that  Orlando,  in  A3  You  Like  It,  fays:  "  The 
crurtffy  of  nations  allows  you  my  better;"  but  Orlando  is  not 
there  inveighing  againft  the  law  of  primogeniture,  but  only  npjnir.it 
the  unkind  advantage  his  brother  takes  of  it,  and  coitrttfy  is  a 
word  that  fully  fuits  the  occafion.  Edmund,  on  the  contrary,  is 
turning  this  law  into  ridicule  ;  and  for  fuch  a  purpofe,  the  curio- 
Jlty  of  nat:mn,  (i.  e.  the  idle,  nice  diftinrtions  of  the  world)  is  a 
phrufe  of  contempt  much  more  natural  in  his  mouth,  than  the 
foftcr  expreffion  of — courtrjy  of  nations.  STLLX  ENS. 

8  — —  to  Jeprivf  »;/•,]  To  deprive  wns,  in  our  author's  timcT 
fvnonyinous  to  Jifiul>trit.  The  old  Ji^tionnry  renders  cxhxrcjo 
by  this  word  :  and  Holinflied  fpeaks  of  the  line  -;/"  Henry  before 
deprived. 

Again,  in  Warner's  Albion's  England,  1602,  Rook  III.  ch.xvi. 
•'  To  you,  if  whom  ye  have  dcprlv 'd  ye  flwll  reltore  again.** 
Ag.iin,  Ibid: 

"  The  one  reftored,  for  his  late  depriving  nothing  mov'd." 

STEEVENS. 

'•*  Isrg  tf  a  brother  ?~\  Edmund  inveighs  agninfl  the  tyranny 
of  cuftom,  in  two  imianco-.  with  rdp.^.:  :<>  younger  brothers, 
and  to  batVards.  In  the  former  he  mint  not  be  underftood  to 
riieaa  hiinfelf.  but  tl;c  argument  beco;  .  by  imply- 

ing   more    thau    i>    laid,    ]l  b.rej 'art  jho:t!ii    i  ar   .i,.v   man. 

HANMER. 

My 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         yji 

My  mind  as  generous,  and  my  Ihape  as  true, 
As  honeft  madam's  ifiue  ?  Why  brand  they  us 
With  bafe  ?  with  bafenefs  ?  baftardy  ?  bafe,  bafe  ? 
1  Who,  in  the  lufty  flealth  of  nature,  .take 
More  compofmon  and  fierce  quality, 
Than  doth,  within  a  dull,  (tale,  tired  bed, 
Go  to  the  creating  of  a  whole  tribe  of  fops, 
Got  'tween  afleep  and  wake  ?  — Well  then, 
Legitimate  Edgar,  I  muft  have  your  land  : 
Our  father's  love  is  to  the  baftard  Edmund, 
As  to  the  legitimate  :  Fine  word, — legitimate  ! 
Well,  my  legitimate,  if  this  letter  fpeed, 
And  my  invention  thrive,  Edmund  the  bafe 
s  Shall  top  the  legitimate.     I  grow ;  I  profper : — 

Now, 

1  JWo,  in  the  lufyficalth  of  nature,  &c.]  Thefe  fine  lines  are 
an  inftance  of  our  author's  admirable  art  in  giving  proper  fenti- 
inents  to  his  characters.  The  la/tarcf*  is  that  of  a  confirmed 
atheift  ;  and  his  being  made  to  ridicule  judicial  ajlrology  was  de- 
figned  as  one  mark  or"  luch  a  character.  For  this  impious  juggle 
had  a  religious  reverence  paid  to  it  at  that  time.  And  therefore 
the  beft  characters  in  this  play  acknowledge  the  force  of  the  {tars' 
influence.  But  how  much  the  lines  following  this,  are  in  cha- 
racter, may  be  feen  by  that  monftrous  wifh  of  Vanini,  the  Ita- 
lian atheift,  in  his  traftZV  admirandi s  Nature,  &c.  printed  at  Paris, 
1616.  the  very  year  our  poet  died.  "  O  ntlnam  extra  legitimum 
fe"  connubialem  tborum  effem  procreatus  !  Ita  enim  progcnitorcs  met 
in  venerem  incaluiflent  ardentius,  ac  cumulat'mi  affatimque  gene- 
rofa  feinina  contulilFent,  e  quibus  ego  form*?  blanditiam  et  elegan- 
tianiy  robuftas  corporis  vires,  mentemque  inmibiltm  confeqtiuttts  fuif- 
fem.  At  quia  conjugatorum  fum  foboles,  his  orbatus  lum  bonis." 
Had  the  book  been  published  but  ten  or  twenty  years  fooner,  who 
would  not  have  believed  that  Shakefpeare  alluded  to  this  paiTage  ? 
But  the  divinity  of  his  genius  foretold,  as  it  were,  what  fuch  an 
atheift  as  Vanini  would  fay,  when  he  wrote  upon  fuch  a  fubjedr. 

WAR  BURTON. 

*  Shall  be  tie  legitimate. ~]  Here  the  Oxford  editor  would 

{hew  us  that  he  is  as  good  at  coining  phrafes  as  his  author,  and 
fo  alters  the  text  thus  : 

Shall  toe  th'  legitimate.- 

i.  e.  fays  he,  fiand  on  even  ground  with  him,  as  he  would  do  with 
his  author.    WAR  BUR  TON. 

B  b  2  Han- 


372         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

J  Now,  gods,  fland  up  for  baftards  ! 

Enter  Glofter. 

Glo.  Kent  banifh'd  thus !  And  France  in  cholcr 

parted  ! 

And  the  king  gone  to-night !  4  fubfcrib'd  his  power  ! 
Confin'd  to  5  exhibition  !  6  All  this  done 
Upon  the  gad  ! — Edmund  !  How  now  ?  what  news  ? 

Hanmer's  emendation  will  appear  very  plaufihle  to  him  that 
{hall  confult  the  original  reading.  Butter's  quarto  reads  : 

Edmund  the  bafe 

Shall  toot//  legitimate. 

The  folio,          -Edmund  the  bafe 

Shall  to  ///legitimate. 

Hanmer,  therefore,  could  hardly  be  charged  with  coining  a 
word,  though  his  explanation  may  be  doubted.  To  toe  him,  is 
perhaps  to  kick  him  out,  a  phrafe  yet  in  vulgar  ufe  ;  or,  to  toe, 
may  be  literally  tofupplant.  The  word  be  has  no  authority. 

JOHNSON. 

Mr.  Edwards  would  read, —  Shall  top  the  legitimate. 
I  have  received  this  emendation,  becaufe  the  fucceeding  ex- 
preffion,  I  grow,  feems  to  favour  it.     STEEVKXS. 

3  No-iut  gods,  ftand  up  for  baftards  /]  For  what  reafon  ?  He 
does  not  tell  us ;  but  the  poet  alludes  to  the  debaucheries  of  the 
Pagan  gods,  who  made  heroes  of  all  their  baftards. 

WARBURTON. 

«•  fubfcrib'd  bit  fHOtnf]  SulfcrlVd,  for  transferred, 

alienated.     W  A  R  B  u  R  T  o  N . 

To  fubfcribe,  is,  to  transfer  by  figning  or  fulfcriling  a  writing 
•of  teftimony.  We  now  ufe  the  term,  Hey ubftribcd  iorty  pounds 
to  the  new  building.  JOHNSON. 

The  folio  reads— preferred.    STEEVENS. 
5          .   ^exhibition! — ]  Is  allowance.     The  term  is  yet  ufed 
in  the  univerfuies.     JOHNSON. 

6 All  this  dene 

Upon  the  gad  ! ] 

So  the  old  copies  :  the  later  editions  read  : 

All  is  gone 

Upon  the  gad  ! 

which,  befides  that  it  is  unauthorized,  is  Icfs  proper.  To  do  up- 
on the  gad,  is,  to  act  by  the  fudden  ftimulation  of  caprice,  as 
cattle  run  madding  when  they  are  ftung  by  the  gad  fly. 

JOHNSON. 

Edm. 


KING      LEAR.          373 

Earn.  So  pleafe  your  lordfhip,  none. 

[Putting  up  the  letter. 

Glo.  Why  fo  earneftly  feek  you  to  put  up  that 
letter  ? 

Edm.  I  know  no  news,  my  lord. 

Glo.  What  paper  were  you  reading  ? 

Edm.  Nothing,  my  lord. 

Glo.  No?  What  needed  then  that  terrible  difpatch 
of  it  into  your  pocket  ?  the  quality  of  nothing  hath 
not  fuch  need  to  hide  itfelf.  Let's  fee  :  Come,  if  it 
be  nothing,  I  ihall  not  need  fpedtacles. 

Edm.  I  befeech  you,  fir,  pardon  me  :  it  is  a  letter 
from  my  brother,  that  I  have  not  all  o'er-read  ;  and 
for  fo  much  as  I  have  perus'd,  I  find  it  not  fit  for 
your  over-looking. 

Glo.  Give  me  the  letter,  fir. 

Edm.  I  Ihall  offend,  either  to  detain  or  give  it. 
The  contents,  as  in  part  I  underftand  them,  are  to 
blame. 

Glo.  Let's  fee,  let's  fee. 

Edm.  I  hope,  for  my  brother'sjuflification,  he  wrote 
this  but  as  an  eflay  or  7  tafte  of  my  virtue. 

Glo.  reads.]  s  This  policy,  and  reverence  of  age,  makes 
the  ivorld  bitter  to  the  bejl  of  our  times  ;  keeps  our  for- 
tunes from  us,  'till  our  oldnefs  cannot  relijh  them.  I  begin 
to  find  an  9  idle  and  fond  bondage  in  the  npprejjion  of  aged 
tyranny  -,  who  fways,  not  as  it  hath  poiver,  but  as  it  is 

7  tafte  of  my  virtue.']  Though  tafte  may  ftand  in  this 

place,  yet  I  believe  we  fhould  read,  ajjay  or  teft  of  my  virtue  : 
they  are  both  metallurgical  terms,  and  properly  joined.     So,   in 
Hamlet : 

"  Bring  me  to  the  tejl"    JOHNSON. 

8  m*  policy  and  reverence  of  ages- ]  Age  is  the  reading  of 

both  the  copies  of  authority.     Butter's  quarto  has,  this  policy  of 
age  \   the  folio,  this  policy  and  reverence  of  age.     JOHNSON. 

The  two  quartos  published  by  Butter,  concur  with  the  folio  in  read- 
ing age.     Pope's  duodecimo  is  the  only  copy  that  has  ages. 

STEEVENS. 
P   idle  and  fond ]  Weak  and  foolifh.     JOHNSON. 

Bb3  fif. 


374          K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Suffered.  Come  to  me,  that  of  ibis  I  may  fpeak  more. 
If  our  father  would  Jleep  *////  /  wak'd  him,  you  foould 
enjoy  half  his  revenue  for  ever,  and  live  the  beloved  of 
your  brother^  Edgar. — Hum — Confpiracy  ! —  Sleep, 
3 fill  I  wak'd  him,—youjhould  enjoy  half  his  revenue. — 
— My  fon  Edgar  !  Had  he  a  hand  to  write  this  ?  a 
heart  and  brain  to  breed  it  in  ? — When  came  this  to 
you  ?  Who  brought  it  ? 

Edm.  It  was  not  brought  me,  my  lord,  there's  the 
cunning  of  it ;  I  found  it  thrown  in  at  the  cafement 
of  my  clofet. 

Gk*  You  know  the  character  to  be  your  brother's  ? 

Edm.  If  the  matter  were  good,  my  lord,  I  durft 
fwear  it  were  his;  but,  in  refpect  of  that,  I  would 
fain  think  it  were  not. 

Glo.  It  is  his. 

Edm.  It  is  his  hand,  my  lord  ;  but,  I  hope,  his 
heart  is  not  in  the  contents. 

Glo.  Hath  he  never  heretofore  founded  you  in  this 
buiinefs  ? 

Edm.  Never,  my  lord :  But  I  have  often  heard 
him  maintain  it  to  be  fit,  that,  fons  at  perfect  age, 
and  fathers  declining,  the  father  Ihould  be  as  ward 
to  the  fon,  and  the  fon  manage  his  revenue. 

Glo.  O  villain,  villain  ! — His  very  opinion  in  the 

letter! Abhorred  villain!  Unnatural,  detefted, 

brutifh  villain  !  worfe  than  brutilh  ! — Go,  firrah, 
feek  him  ;  I'll  apprehend  him  : — Abominable  vil- 
lain ! — W7here  is  he  ? 

Edm.  I  do  not  well  know,  my  lord.  If  it  fhall 
pleafe  you  to  fufpend  your  indignation  againfl  my 
brother,  'till  you  can  derive  from  him  better  tcftimony 
of  his  intent,  you  fhould  run  a  certain  courfe  ;  where, 
if  you  violently  proceed  againfl  him,  miltaking  his 
purpofe,  it  would  make  a  grent  gap  in  your  own 
honour,  andfhakein  pieces  the  heart  of  his  obedience. 
I  dare  pawn  down  my  life  for  him,  that  he  hath 

writ 


KING      I,     E     A     R.          375 

vvrit  this  to  foel  my  affe&ion  to  your  honour,  and  to 
no  other  '  pretence  of  danger. 

Gk.  Think  you  fo  ? 

Edm.  If  your  honour  judge  it  meet,  I  will  place 
you  where  you  fliall  hear  us  confer  of  this,  and  bv  an 
auricular  afibrance  have  your  fatisf;;ctk>n  ;  and  that 
without  any  further  delay  than  this  very  evening. 

Gk.  He  cannot  be  fuch  a  monftcr. 

EMU.  z  Nor  is  not,  lure. 

Gk.  To  his  father,  that  fo  tenderly  and  entirely 
loves  him. — Heaven  and  earth  ! — Edmund,  feek 
him  out  ;  3  wind  me  into  him,  I  pray  you  :  frame 
the  bufinefs  after  your  own  wifdom  :  4  I  would  un- 
ilate  myfelf,  to  be  in  a  due  resolution. 

Edm. 

1  — — pretence——  ]  Pretence  is  defign,  purpofe.  So,  after- 
wards in  this  play. 

Pretence  and  purpofe  of  unkindnefs.     JOHNSON. 
*  £//;//.]  From  Nor  is,  to  heaven  and  earth  !  are  words  omit- 
ted in  the  folio.     STEEVKNS. 

•*  wind me  into  him, »-]  I  once  thought  it   fliould  he 

read,  you  into   him;  but,  perhaps,  it  is  a  familiar  phrate,  like 
do  me  this.     JOHNSON. 

So,  in  Twelfth-Night :  "  challenge  me  the  duke's  youth 

to  fight  with  him."     Inflanccs  of  this  phrafeology  occur  in  the 
Mtrchant   of  Venice,  K.  Henry  IV.   Part  I.   and   in  OlMlo. 

STEEVENS. 

4  1 ivculd  unftate   myfelf  to  be  in  a  due  rcfoh!>o>t.~\   i.e.   I 

will  throw  afide  all  con  fide  rat  ion  of  my  relation  to  him,  that  I 
may  a£t  as  jultice  requires.     WAREURTON. 

Such  is  this  learned  man's  explanation.     I  take  the  meaning 
to  be  rather  this,  Do  you  frame  the  lu/!ncfi,  who  can  act  with  lets 
emotion;  I  would  vnjftatt  tajfelf  \  it  would  in  me  be  a  departure 
from  the  paternal  character,  to  It  in  a  due  refolution,  to  be  fet- 
tled and  compofed  on  fuch  an  occaiion.     The,  words  would  and 
JJjould  are  in  old  language  often  confounded.     JOHNSON. 
The  fame  word  occurs  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra : 
11  Yes,  like  enough,  high-battled  Caefar  will 
**  Unjlate  his  happinefs,  and  be  ilag'd  to  fliew 

**  Againft  a  fworder." 

To  unftatf,  in  both  thefe  inftances,  feems  to  have  the  fame  mean- 
ing.    Edgar  has  been  reprefented  as  wifliing  to  po fiefs  his  fa- 
ther's fortune,  i.e.  to  vjlxtt  him;  and  therefore  his  father  fays 
B  b  4  he 


376         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Edm.  I  will  feek  him,  fir,  prefcntly ;  5  convey 
the  bufinefs  as  I  ihall  find  means,  and  acquaint  you 
withal. 

Glo.  Thefe  late  eclipfes  in  the  fun  and  moon  por- 
tend no  good  to  us  :  Though  6  the  wifdom  of  nature 
can  reafon  it  thus  and  thus,  yet  nature  finds  itfelf 
fcourg'd  by  the  fequent  effects  :  love  cools,  friend- 
Jhip  falls  off,  brothers  divide  :  in  cities,  mutinies  ; 
in  countries,  difcord ;  in  palaces,  treafon ;  and  the 
bond  crack'd 'twixt  fon  and  father.  7  *  This  villain 
of  mine  comes  under  the  prediction ;  there's  fon 
againfl  father  :  the  king  falls  from  bias  of  nature  ; 

he   would  unjlate  himfelf  to  be  fufficiently  refolvcd  to  punifli 
him. 

To  enjlate  is  to  confer  a  fortune.  So,  in  Menfitre  for  Mea- 
fure : 

-  his  pofleflions 

We  do  cnftate  and  widow  you  withal.     STEEVEKS. 
It  feems  to  me,  that  I ivoylj  unftate  myfelfin  this  paflage  means 
iimply,  fwJMtktgivt  my  eftate  (including  rank  as  well  as  fortune.) 

TYRWHITT. 

5  —         convey  the  lufinefs ]  Convey ',  for  introduce  :  but 

convey  is  a  fine  word,  as  alluding  to  the  practice  of  clandeftine 
conveying  gocds,  fo  as  not  to  be  found  upon  the  felon, 

WARBURTON. 

To  convey  is  rather  to  carry  through  thnn  to  introduce  ;  in  this 
place  it  is  to  manage  artfully:  we  lay  of  a  juggler,  that  he  has 
a  clean  conveyance.  JOHNSON. 

So,  in   Mother  Bombie,  by  Lilly,  1599  ;    "  Two,  they  fay, 
may  keep  counfel    if  one  be  away";  but  to  convey  knavery  two 
are  too  few,  and  four  are  too  many," 
Again,  in  A  mad  IVorld  my  Mafters,  by  Middleton,   1640  : 

«   thus  I've  convey* el  it ; 

"  I'll  counterfeit  a  fit  of  violent  ficknefs."    STEEVEKS. 
So,  in  lord  Sterline's  Julius  Cafnr,   1607  : 

"  A  circumflance  or  an  indifferent  thing 

«'  Doth  oft  mar  all,  when  not  with  care  conveyed. 

MALONE. 

'  ,$/  vjifJom  of  nature ]  That  is,  though  natu- 
ral philofophy  can  give  account  of  eclipfes,  yet  we  feel  their  con- 
fequences.  JOHNSON. 

7  This  villain — ]  All  from  afleriflc  to  afkerilk  is  omitted  in  the 
rjuartos.  STEEYEN.S, 

there's 


K    I    N     G      L    E    A    R.          377 

there's  father  againfl  child.  We  have  feen  the  befl 
of  our  time  :  Machinations,  hollownefs,  treachery, 
and  all  ruinous  diforders,  follow  us  difquietly  to. 

our  graves  !  * Find  out  this  villain,   Edmund  ; 

it  fhall  lofe  thee  nothing  ;  do  it  carefully  : And 

the  noble  and  true-hearted  Kent  banifh'd !  his  of- 
fence, honcfty  ! Strange!  ftrange  !  .  [Exit. 

'    Edm.  8  This  is  the  excellent  foppery  of  the  world  ! 

that, 

8  This  is  the  excellent  foppery  of  tie  world,  &c.]  In  Shakefpeare's 
beft  plays,  befides  the  vices  that  arife  from  the  fubjeft,  there  is 
generally  fome  peculiar  prevailing  folly,  principally  ridiculed, 
that  runs  through  the  whole  piece.  Thus,  in  The  Tempeft,  the 
lying  difpofition  of  travellers,  and,  in  As  You  Like  It,  the  fan- 
taftic  huifiour  of  courtiers,  is  expofed  and  fatirized  with  infinite 
pleafantry.  in  like  manner,  in  this  play  of  Lear,  the  dotages 
of  judicial  aftrology  are  feverely  ridiculed.  I  iancy,  was  the 
date  of  its  firft  performance  well  confidered,  it  would  be  found 
that  fomething  or  other  happened  at  that  time  which  gave  a 
more  than  ordinary  run  to  this  deceit,  as  thefe  words  feem  to  in- 
timate ;  /  am  thinking,  brother,  of  a  prediftion  I  read  this  other 
Jay,  what  JJjould  follow  thefe  eclipfes.  However  this  be,  an  im- 
pious cheat,  which  had  fo  little  foundation  in  nature  or  reafon, 
fo  deteftable  an  original,  and  fuch  fatal  cdhfequences  on  the 
manners  of  the  people,  who  were  at  that  time  ftrangely  belbtted 
with  it,  certainly  deferved  the  fevereft  lafli  of  fatire.  It  was  a 
fundamental  in  this  noble  fcience,  that  whatever  feeds  of  good 
difpofitions  the  infant  unborn  might  be  endowed  with  either  from 
nature,  or  tradu<ftively  from  its  parents,  yet  if,  at  the  time  of 
its  birth,  the  delivery  was  by  any  cafualry  fo  accelerated  or  re- 
tarded, as  to  fall  in  with  the  predominancy  of  a  malignant  con- 
ftellation,  that  momentary  influence  would  entirely  change  its 
nature,  and  bias  it  to  all  the  contrary  ill  qualities :  fo  wretched 
and  monftrous  an  opinion  did  it  fet  out  with.  But  the  Italians, 
to  whom  we  owe  this,  as  well  as  moft  other  unnatural  crimes 
and  follies  of  thefe  latter  ages,  fomented  its  original  im- 
piety to  the  moft  deteftable  height  of  extravagance.  Petrus 
Aponenfis,  an  Italian  phyfician  of  the  i3th  century,  afiures  us 
that  thofe  prayers  which  are  made  to  God  when  the  moon  is  in 
conjunction  with  Jupiter  in  the  Dragon's  tail,  are  infallibly 
heard.  The  great  Milton,  with  a  juit  indignation  of  this  im- 
piety, hath,  in  his  Paradlfe  Regained,  fatirized  it  in  a  very 
beautiful  manner,  by  putting  thefe  reveries  into  the  mouth  of 
the  devil.  Nor  could  the  licentious  Rabelais  himfelf  forbear  to 

ridicule 


373         KING      LEAR. 

that,  when  we  are  Tick  in  fortune,  (often  the  furfeit  of 
our  own  behaviour)  we  make  guilty  of  our  difafters, 
the  fun,  the  moon,  and  the  flars  :  as  if  we  were 
villains  by  neceflity ;  fools,  by  heavenly  compulfion  ; 
knaves,  thieves,  9  and  treachers,  by  fpherical  predo- 
minance ; 

ridicule  this  impious  dotage,  which  he  does  with  exquifite  ad- 
drefs  and  humour,  where,  in  the  fable  which  he  fo  agreeably 
tells  from  ^Efop,  of  the  man  who  applied  to  Jupiter  for  the  lofs 
of  his  hatchet,  he  makes  thofe  who,  on  the  poor  man's  good  fuc- 
cefs,  had  projected  to  trick  Jupiter  by  the  fame  petition,  a  kind 
of  aftrologic  atheifts,  who  afcribed  this  good  fortune,,  that  they 
imagined  they  were  now  all  going  to  partake  of,  to  the  influence 
of  fome  rare  conjunction  and  configuration  of  the  liars.  "  Hen, 
hen,  difent  ils  — Et  doncques,  telle  eft  au  temps  prefent  la  re- 
volution des  Cieulx,  la  conflellation  des  Ailres,  &  afpec"}  dcs  pla- 
netes,  que  quiconque  coignee  perdra,  foubdain  deviendv.i  ainii 

riche  ?" Nou.  Prol.  du  IF.  Livre. But  to  return  to 

Shakefpeare.  So  blafphemous  a  delufion,  therefore,  it  became 
the  honeny  of  our  poet  to  expofe.  But  it  was  a  tender  point, 
and  required  managing.  For  this  impious  juggle  had  in  his  time 
a  kind  of  religious  reverence  paid  to  it.  It  was  therefore  to  be 
done  obliquely  ;  and  the  circumiiances  of  the  fcene  furniflied 
him  with  as  good  an  opportunity  as  he  could  wifh.  The  pcrtbns 
in  the  drama  are  all^Pagans,  fo  that  as,  in  compliance  to  cuitom, 
bis  good  characters  were  not  to  fpeak  ill  of  judicial  altrology,  they 
could  on  account  of  their  religion  give  no  reputation  to  it.  But 
in  order  to  expofe  it  the  more,  he,  with  great  judgment,  makes 
thefe  Pagans  fatalifts  ;  as  appears  by  thefe  words  of  Lear  : 

By  all  the  operations  of  the  orbs, 

From  whom  we  do  exift  and  ceafe  to  be. 

For  the  doctrine  of  fate  is  the  true  foundation  of  judicial  aftro- 
logy.  Having  thus  difcredited  it  by  the  very  commendations 
given  to  it,  he  was  in  no  danger  of  having  his  direcl  fatire  againit 
it  miflaken,  by  its  being  put  (as  he  was  obliged,  both  in  paying 
regard  to  cuftom,  and  in  following  nature)  into  the  mouth  ot  the 
viuain  and  ctheiit,  efpecially  when  he  has  added  fuch  force  of 
reafoo  to  his  ridicule,  in  the  word*  referred  to  in  the  beginning 
of  the  note.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

9  and  trfacf.n-rs, ]  The  modern  editors  read  treacherous  j 

but  the  reading  of  the  firft  copies,  which  I  have  reftored  to  the 
text,  may  be  fupported  from  mofl  of  the  old  contemporary  wri- 
ters. So,  in  DoSlor  DodypoU,  a  comedy,  1600  : 

'*  How  fmooth  the  cunning  trtafkf  iook'd  upon  it!" 

Again, 


KING      LEAR.         379 

minance;  drunkards,  lyars,  and  adulterers,  by  an  in- 
fore  M  obedience  of  planetary  influence  ;  and  all  that 
we  are  evil  in,  by  a  divine  thrufting  on  :  x  An  admi- 
rable evafion  of  whore-mafter  man,  to  lay  his  goatifh. 
difpofition  to  the  charge  of  a  ftar !  *  My  father  com- 
pounded with  my  mother  under  the  dragon's  tail;  and 
my  nativity  was  under  urfa  major',  fo  that  it  follows, 
I  am  rough  and  lecherous. — Tut,  I  fliould  have  been 
that  I  am,  had  the  maidenlieft  ftar  in  the  firmament 
twinkled  on  my  baftardizing.  Edgar • 

Rnter  Edgar. 

and  3  pat  4  he  comes,    like  the  cataftrophe    of  the 

old 

Again,  in  Every  Man  in  bis  Humour : 

"  Oh,  you  treachour  /" 

Again,  in  Robert  Earl  of  Huntingdon,   1 60 1  : 

** Hence,  trecber  as  thou  art !" 

Again,  in  the  T>Uody  Banquet,   1639  : 

"  To  poiibn  the  right  ufe  of  fervice— a  trecber" 
Chaucer,    in    his  Romaunt  of  tbe  Rofe,    mentions   **  the  falfe 
ireachcr,"  and  Spenfer  often  ufes  the  fame  word.     STEEVENS. 
1  An  admirable  evafion — to  lay  his — difpojition    on  the  charge 

fff  a  /far  ! —        ]    We  fhould   read,    change  of  a  Jlar  ! 

which  both  the  fenfe  and  grammar  require.  It  was  the  opinion 
of  aftrologers  (fee  what  is  laid  juft  above)  that  the  momentary 
influence  did  ail ;  and  we  do  not  fay,  Lay  a  thing  on  tbe  charge* 
but  to  tbe  charge.  Befides,  change  anfwering  to  evafion  juil 
above,  gives  additional  elegance  to  the  expreffion. 

WAREURTON. 

* — of  a  Jlar.'}  Both  the  quartos  read — to  the  charge  of  Jlar $. 

STEEVENS. 

3  pat  be  comes ]  The  quartos  read, 

•— — —--and  out  he  comes. .    STEEVENS. 

*  becomes,  like  tbe  catajlrcpbe  of  the  old  comedy  :  ] 

This  we  are  to  underftand,  as  a  compliment  intended  by  the 
author,  on  the  natural  winding  up  of  the  plot  in  the  comedy  of 
the  ancients  j  which  as  it  was  owing  to  the  artful  and  yet  na- 
tural introduction  of  the  perfons  of  the  drama  into  the  fcene, 
juft  in  the  nick  of  time,  or  pat,  as  our  author  fays,  makes  the 
limilitude  very  proper.  This,  without  doubt,  is  the  fupreme 
beauty  of  comedy,  confidered  as  an  aflion.  And  as  it  depend* 
folely  on  a  ftridl  obfervance  of  the  unities,  it  fhews  that  thefe 
in  nature,  and  in  the  reafon  of  things,  and  not  in  a 

mere 


380         K    ING      LEA    R. 

old  comedy  :  My  cue  is  villainous  melancholy, 
with  a  figh  like  Tom  o'  Bedlam. — O,  thefe  eclipfes 
do  portend  thefe  divifions  !  fa,  fol,  la,  me 

Edg.  How  now,  brother  Edmund  ?  What  ferious 
contemplation  are  you  in  ? 

Edm.  I  am  thinking,  brother,  of  a  prediction  I 

mere  arbitrary  invention  of  the  Greeks,  as  fome  of  our  own 
country  critics,  of  a  hxv  mechanic  genius,  have,  by  their  works, 
perfuaded  our  wits  to  believe.  For  common  fenfe  requiring  that 
the  fubject  of  one  comedy  (hould  be  one  aftion,  and  that  that  action 
fhould  be  contained  nearly  within  the  period  of  time  which  the 
reprefentation  of  it  takes  up  ;  hence  we  have  the  unities  of  time 
and  aftion  ;  and,  from  thefe,  unavoidably  arifes  the  third,  which 
is  that  of  place.  For  when  the  whole  of  one  attion  is  included 
within  a  proportionable  fmall  fpace  of  time,  there  is  no  room  to 
change  thefcene,  but  all  mud  be  done  upon  oncfpot  of  ground. 
Now  from  this  laft  unity  (the  neceflary  iflue  of  the  two  other, 
which  derive  immediately  from  nature)  proceeds  all  that  beauty 
of  the  catajlropbf,  or  the  winding  up  the  plot  in  the  ancient  co- 
medy. For  all  the  perfons  of  the  drama  being  to  appear  and  act 
on  one  limited  fpot,  and  being  by  their  feveral  intereftb  to  em- 
barras,  and  at  length  to  conduct  the  action  to  its  deftin'd  period, 
there  is  need  of  confummate  (kill  to  bring  them  on,  and  take  them 
off",  naturally  and  neccjjarily  ;  for  the  grace  of  action  requires  the 
one,  and  the  perfection  of  it  the  other.  Which  conduct  of  the 
action  muft  needs  produce  a  beauty  thn.t  will  give  a  judicious  mind 
the  higheft  pleafure.  On  the  other  hand,  when  a  comic  writer 
has  a  whole  country  to  range  in,  nothing  is  eafier  than  to  find  the 
perfons  of  the  drama  juft  where  he  would  have  them  ;  and  this 
requiring  no  art,  the  beauty  we  fpeak  of  is  not  to  be  found. 
Confequently  a  violation  of  the  unities  deprives  the  drama  of  one 
of  its  greatcft  beauties ;  which  proves  what  I  aflerted,  that  the 
three  unities  are  no  arbitrary,  mechanic  invention,  but  founded  in 
reafon  and  the  nature  of  things.  The  Tempeft  of  Shakefpeare  fuf- 
ficiently  proves  him  to  be  well  acquainted  with  thefe  unities  ;  and 
the  paflage  in  queftion  fliews  him  to  have  been  ftruck  with  the 
beauty  that  refults  from  them.  WARBURTON. 

This  fuppofnion  will  not  at  all  fuit  with  the  character  of  Ed- 
mund, with  the  comic  turn  of  his  whole  fpeech,  nor  with  the 
general  idea  of  Shakefpeare's  want  of  learning ;  fo  that  I  am 
more  apt  to  think  the  paflage  /afire  than  p.meg  yric,  and  intended 
to  ridicule  the  very  aukward  conclufions  ot  our  old  comedies, 
where  the  perfons  of  thefcene  make  their  entry  inartificially,  and 
juft  when  the  poet  wants  them  on  the  ftage.  WARNER. 

read 


KING       LEAR.          38r 

read  this  other  day,  what  fhould  follow  thefc 
eclipfes. 

Edg.  Do  you  bufy  yourfelf  with  that  ? 

Edm.  s  I  promife  you,  the  effects  he  writes  of, 
fucceed  unhappily ; 6*  as  of  unnaturalnefs  between  the 
child  and  the  parent ;  death,  dearth,  diflblutions  of 
ancient  amities ;  divifions  in  ftate,  menaces  and  male- 
dictions againft  king  and  nobles ;  needlefs  diffidences, 
banifhment  of  friends,  diffipation  of  cohorts  7,  nup- 
tial breaches,  and  I  know  not  what. 

Edg.  8  How  long  have  you  been  a  fectary  aftro- 
nomical  ? 

Edm.  Come,  come ;  *  when  faw  you  my  father  laft.? 

Edg.  Why,  the  night  gone  by. 

Edm.  Spake  you  with  him  ? 

Edg.  Ay,  two  hours  together. 

Edm.  Parted  you  in  good  terms  ?  Found  you  no 
difpleafnre  in  him,  by  word,  or  countenance  ? 

Edy.  None  at  all. 

Edm.  Bethink  yourfelf,  wherein  you  may  have 
offended  him  :  and  at  my  entreaty,  forbear  his  pre- 
fence,  until  fome  little  time  hath  qualified  the  heat 
of  his  difpleaiure  ;  which  at  this  inftant  fo  rageth  in 

5  I  promife  you, ]  The  folio  edition  commonly  differs  from 

the  firil  quarto,  by  augmentations  or  infertions,  but  in  this  place 
it  varies  by  omiffion,  and  by  the  omiffion  of  fomething  which  na- 
turally introduces  the  following  dialogue.  It  is  eafy  to  remark, 
that  in  this  fpeech,  which  ought,  I  think,  to  be  inferted  as  it 
now  is  in  the  text,  Edmund,  with  the  common  craft  of  fortune- 
tellers, mingles  the  paft  and  future,  and  tells  of  the  future  only 
what  he  already  foreknows  by  confederacy,  or  can  attain  by  pro- 
bable conjecture.  JOHNSON. 

6 — a s  of—']  All  from  this  afterifk  to  the  next,  is  omitted  in  the 
folio.  STEEVENS. 

7 — diffipation  of  cohorts. — ]  Thus  the  old  copy.  Dr.  Johnfon 
reads,  of  courts.  STEEVENS. 

8  HQ-'M  long  have  you — —  ]  This  line  I  have  reftored  from 

the  two  eldeft  quartos,  and  have  regulated  the  following  fpeech 
according  to  the  fame  copies.  STEEVENS, 

him, 


382         KING      LEAR, 

him,   '  that  with  the    mifchiqf  of   your  perfon  it 
would  fcarcely  allay. 

Edg.  Some  villain  hath  done  me  wrong. 

Edm.  That's  my  fear.  *  *  I  pray  yon,  have  a 
continent  forbearance,  'till  the  fpeed  of  his  rage  goes 
flower ;  and,  as  I  fay,  retire  with  me  to  my  lodg- 
ing, from  whence:!  will  fitly  bring  you  to  hear  my 
lord  fpeak  :  Pray  you,  go;  there's  my  key: — If 
you  do  ftir  abroad,  go  arm'd. 

Edg.  Arm'd,  brother  ?  * 

Edm.  Brother,  I  advife  you  to  the  beft ;  go  arm'd  ; 
I  am  no  honeft  man,  if  there  be  any  good  meaning 
towards  you  :  1  have  told  you  what  I  have  feen  and 
heard,  but  faintly  ;  nothing  like  the  image  and  hor- 
ror of  it :  Pray  you,  away. 

Edg.  Shall  I  heap  from  you  anon  ? 

Eiiw.  I  do  ferve  you  in  this  bufinefs. — [Exit  Edgar. 
A  credulous  father,  and  a  brother  noble, 
Whofe  nature  is  fo  far  from  doing  harms, 
That  he  fufpecls  none  ;  on  whofe  foolifh  honefty 

My  practices  ride  eafy  ! — I  fee  the  bufinefs. . 

Let  me,  if  not  by  birth,  have  lands  by  wit : 

All  with  me's  meet,  that  I  can  fafhion  fit.        [Exit. 

* flat  with  the  mfiliirf  of  your  perfon — — ]  This  rending 

is  in  both  copies;    yet  I  believe  the  author  gave  it,    that  but 
u.\ib  the  mifchief  of  your  perfon  it  would  fcarce  allay. 

JOHNSON. 

I  do  not  fee  any  need  of  alteration.  He  could  not  exprefs  the 
violence  of  his  father's  difpleafure  in  ftronger  terms  than  by  fay- 
ing it  was  fo  great  that  it  would  fcarcely  be  appeafed  by  the  de~ 
fJiu<Ttio!i  of  his  fon.  MALONE. 

*  V'iat's  mvfcar.}  All  between  this  and  the  next  afteriflc,  is 
omitted  in  the  quartos.  STEEVENS. 


SCENE 


KING      LEAR.         383 

SCENE    III. 

We  duke  of  Albany's  palace. 
Enter  Goneril,  and  Steward. 

Co».  Did  my  father    ftrike    my  gentleman  for 
chiding  of  his  fool  ? 

Stew.  Ay,  madam. 

Gon.  By  day  and  night !  he  wrongs  me ;  every  hour 
He  flafhes  into  one  grofs  crime  or  other, 
That  fets  us  all  at  odds  :  I'll  not  endure  it : 
His  knights  grow  riotous,  and  himfelf  upbraids  us 
On  every  trifle  : — When  he  returns  from  hunting, 

I  will  not  fpeak  with  him  ;  fay,  I  am  fick : 

If  you  come  flack  of  former  fervices, 

You  Ihall  do  well ;  the  fault  of  it  I'll  anfwer. 

Stezv.  He's  coming,  madam  ;  I  hear  him. 

[Horns  within. 

Gon.  Put  on  what  weary  negligence  you  pleafe, 
You  and  your  fellows ;  I'd  have  it  come  to  queflion  : 
If  he  diflike  it,  let  him  to  my  fifler, 
Whole  mind  and  mine,  I  know,  in  that  are  one, 
*  Not  to  be  over-rul'd.     *  Idle  old  man, 
That  ftill  would  manage  thofe  authorities, 
That  he  hath  given  away  !— Now,  by  my  life, 
4  Old  fools  are  babes  again  ;  and  muft  be  us'd 

With 

? .  ••  •  '  Me  old  man,  "\  The  lines  from  one  afterifk  to  the  other, 
as  they  are  fine  in  themfelves,  and  very  much  in  character  for 
Goneril,  I  have  reftored  from  the  old  quarto.  The  lait  verfe, 
which  I  have  ventured  to  amend,  is  there  printed  thus  : 

With  checks,  like  flatf  ries  when  they  are  feen  abus*d. 

THEOBALD. 
4  Old  fools  are  babes  again ;  and  muft  le  u?d 

Hr<th  checks  likeJZatt'nes  ivben  they  are  feen  dbufd.]  Thus  the 
old  qudrto  reads  thefe  lines.  It  is  plain  they  are  corrupt.  But 
they  have  been  made  vvorfe  by  a  fruitlefs  attempt  to  correct  them. 
Andfirft,  for 

Old  fools  are  babes  again ;  •     • 

pro- 


384 


KING      LEAR. 


With  checks,  as  flatteries  when  they  are  feen  abus'd  *. 
Remember  what  I  have  faid, 

-  Staff  9 

A  proverbial  exprelTion  is  here  plainly  alluded  to ;  but  it  is  a 
ftrange  proverb  which  only  informs  us  that  fools  are  innocents. 
We  fhould  read, 

Old  folks  are  babes  again  ; 

Thus  fpeaks  the  proveib,  and  with  the  ufual  good  fenfe  of  one. 
The  next  line  is  jumbled  out  of  all  meaning : 

With  checks  like  flatt'ries  when  they're  feen  abus'd. 
Mr.  Theobald  reftores  it  thus, 

With  checks  like  flattVf  r$  when  they're  feen  to  abufe  us. 
Let  us  confider  the  fenfe  a  little.  Oldfoiks^  fays  the  fpeaker,  are 
labes  again  ;  well,  and  what  then?  \Vhy  then  they  mult  be  ufed 
like  flatterers.  But  when  Shakefpeare  quoted  the  proverb,  we  may 
be  allured  his  purpofe  was  to  draw  fome  inference  from  it,  and 
not  run  rambling  atter  a  fimilitude.  And  that  inference  was  not 
difficult  to  find,  had  common  fenfe  been  attended  to,  which  tells 
us  Shakefpeare -muft  have  wrote, 

Old  folks  are  babes  again  ;  and  muft  be  us'd 

With  checks,  not  fiat? ries  when  they're  feen  abus'd. 
i.  e.  Old  folks  being  grown  children  again,  they  fhould  be  ufed  as 
we  ufe  children,  with  checks,  when  we  find  that  the  little  jlatfrics 
we  employed  to  quiet  them  are  abufed,  by  their  becoming  more 
peevifh  and  perverfe  by  indulgence. 

when  they're  feen  abus'd. 

i.  e.  When  we  find  that  thofe  flatt'ries  are  abus'd. 

WAR  BUR  TON'. 

Thefe  lines  hardly  deferve  a  note,  though  Mr.  Theobald  thinks 
them  very  fine.  Whether  fools  or  folks  fhould  be  read  is  not 
worth  enquiry.  The  controverted  line  is  yet  in  the  old  quarto, 
not  as  the  editors  reprefent  it,  but  thus  : 

With  checks  as  flatteries  when  they  are  feen  abus'd. 
I  am  in  doubt  whether  there  is  any  error  of  tranfcription.  The 
fenfe  feems  to  be  this  :  Old  men  muft  be  treated  with  checks,  when 
as  they  are  feen  to  be  deceived  with  fiatteries :  or,  ichen  they  are 
v:cak  enough  to  be  feen  abufed  by  flatteries,  they  are  then  weak 
enough  to  be  ufed  with  checks.  There  is  a  play  of  the  words 
vftd  and  abufed.  To  abufe  is,  in  our  author,  very  frequently  the 
fame  as  to  deceive.  This  conftruclion  is  harfh  and  ungrammati- 
cal ;  Shakefpeare  perhaps  thought  it  vicious,  and  chofe  to  throw 
away  the  lines  rather  than  correct  them,  nor  would  now  thank 
the  officiou  Chefs  of  his  editors,  who  reftore  what  they  do  not  un- 
derftand.  JOHNSON. 

The 


K    I     N    G       L    E     A    R.         385 

Stew.  Very  well,  madam. 

Go/i.  And  let  his  knights  have  colder  looks  among 

you; 

What  grows  of  it,  no  matter ;  advifc  your  fellows  fo  : 
I  would  breed  from  hence  occafions,  and  I  lhall, 
That  I  may  fpeak  : — I'll  write  ftraight  to  my  lifter, 
To  hold  my  very  courfe  : — Prepare  for  dinner. 

[Exeunt. 

S      C       E       N     .E         IV. 

An  open  place  before  the  palace. 
Enter  Kent,  difguifed. 

Kent.  s  If  but  as  well  I  other  accents  borrow, 
That  can  my  fpeech  difTuie,  my  good  intent 

May 

The  plain  meaning,  I  believe,  is — old  fools  muft  be  ufed  with 
checks,  as  flatteries  muft  be  check'd  when  they  are  made  a  bad 
ufe  of.  TOLLET. 

I  underftand  this  paflage  thus.  Old  fids — mujl  le  vfcd with 
r/vr/'.f,  as  well  as  flatteries,  when  they  \^\.c.  flatteries]  arc  Jeen  to 
be  abnfcd.  T  Y  R  w  H  I  T  T  . 

5  If  lut  as  <wcll  I  other  accents  lorrovjy 

And  can  my  fpeech  difufe.  ] 

Thus  Rowe,  Pope,  and  Johnfon,  in  contradiction  to  all  the 
ancient  copies. 

The  firft  folio  reads  the  whole  paflage  as  follows  : 

If  but  as  'Mill  I  other  accents  borrow, 

That  can  my  fpeech  defuft,  my  good  intent 

May  carry  through,  &:c. 

We  muft  fuppofe  that  Kent  advances  locking  en  his  difcnife. 
This  circumftance  very  naturally  leads  to  his  fpeech,  which, 
otherwife,  would  have  no  very  apparent  introduction.  //'  /  can 
change  my  fpeech  as  ivcll  as  I  have  changed  tny  drefs.  To  dijfafi 
fpeech,  lignirics  to  dlfordcr  it,  and  fo  to  difguife  it ;  as  in  the 
Merry  Wives  of  Windfor,  aft  IV.  fc.  vii : 

"  rufli  at  once 

"  With  fome  diffufid  long." 

Again,  in  the  Nice  Valour •,  &c.  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Cu- 
pid fays  to  the  Pajjionate  UTa/i,  who  appears  difordered  in  his  drefs : 

*'   Go   not  fo  dlffufedly ."     Again,  in  our  author's  A'.  JLary 

V:  "  (wearing,  and  ftern  looks,  d'.f'uid attire." 

VOL.  IX.  Cc  Again, 


3S6          KING       LEAR. 

^May  carry  through  itfelf  to  that  full  iffue 
For  which  I  raz'd  mylikcnefs.  —  Now,  banifli'd  Kent, 
If  thou  can'rt  icrve  where  thou  doft  {land  condemn'd, 
(So  may  it  conic  !)  thy  matter,  whom  thou  lov'ft, 
Shall  find  thcc  full  of  labours. 

Horr.s  :^'//  />.';;.     Enter  Lcar^  Knights,  and  Attendants, 

Lear.  Let  me  not  Hay  a  jot  for  dinner  ;  go,  get  it 

ready. 
How  now,  what  art  thou  ? 

Kent.  A  man,  fir. 

Lear.  What  doft  thou  profefs  ?  What  would'ft  thou 
with  us  ? 

Kent.  I  do  profefs  to  be  no  Icfs  than  I  feem  ;  to 
ferve  him  truly,  that  will  put  me  in  truft  ;  to  love 
him  that  is  honeft  ;  to  converfe  with  6  him  that  is 


Again,  in  a  bock  entitled,  A  Green  Forejl,  or  A  Natural 
Sac.  by  John  Miplet,  1567  :  "  In  this  ftone  is  apparently  feene 
verie  often  the  verie  forme  of  a  tode,  with  befpotted  and  co- 
loured feete,  but  thofe  uglye  and  dcfufciUy."  -  To  dijfufe 
fpecch  may,  however,  mean  tofpeak  oroad,  with  a  clownifh  accent. 
—  ;  —  The  two  eldeft  quartos  concur  with  the  folio,  except  thac 
they  read  ivell  inftead  of  <xlil.  STEEVENS. 

Dijfrffd'fXXtvaAj  meant,  in  our  author's  time,  wild,  irregular, 
heterogeneous.  So,  in  Green's  Farewell  to  Follie,  1617: 

"  I  have  feen  an  Englifli  gentleman  fo  defufedva.  his  fuits,  his 
doublet  being  for  the  weare  or  Caltile,  his  hole  for  Venice,  his 
hat  for  France,  his  cloak  for  Germany,  that  hec  feemed  no  way 
to  be  an  Englifhman  but  by  the  face."  MALONE. 

6  —  -bi,n  that  it  <t'.'-/!-,  and  fays  little;  -  ]  Though  faying 
little  may  be  the  character  of  wifdom,  it  was  not  a  quality  to 
chufe  a  companion  by  for  his  converfation.  We  ftiould  read,  — 
to  fay  little  ;  which  was  prudent  when  he  chofe  a  will-  companion 
to  profit  by.  So  that  it  WHS  as  much  as  to  fay,  I  profefs  tu  talk 
little  myfelf,  that  I  ir...y  profit  the  more  by  the  converfation  of 
the  wife.  \VARLVPTON. 

To  converfe  fignifies  immediately  and  properly  to  lap  company, 
not  to  difcourfe  or  talk.  His  meaning  is,  that  he  chutes  for  .his 
companions  men  of  reforvc  and  caution  ;  men  who  are  no  tattlers 
nor  tale-bearers.  The  old  reading  is  the  true.  JOHNSON-. 

We  ftill  fay  in  the  fame  fenfe—he  had  criminal  converfation 
with  her  —  meaning  commerce.  MALONE. 

wife, 


KING       LEAR.         387 

xvife,  and  fays  little;  to  fear  judgment;  to  fight, 
\vhcn  I  cannot  choofe  ;  7  and  to  eat  no  filh. 

Lear.  What  art  thou  ? 

Kent.  A  very  honefl-hcarted  fellow,  and  as  poor  as 
the  king. 

Lear.  If  thou  be  as  poor  for  a  fubjedt,  as  he  is 
for  a  king,  thou  art  poor  enough.  What  would'ft 
thou  ? 

Kent.  Service. 

Lear.  Whom  would'ft  thou  ferve  ? 

Kent.  You. 

Lear.  Dofl  thou  know  me,  fellow  ? 

Kent.  No,  fir;  but  you  have  that  in  your  coun- 
tenance, which  I  would  fain  call  matter. 

Lear.  What's  that  ? 

Kent.  Authority. 

Lear.  What  fervices  can'ft  thou  do  ? 

Kent.  I  can  keep  honed  counfel,  ride,  run,  rnara 
curious  tale  in  telling  it,  and  deliver  a  plain  mcfiage 
bluntly  :  that  which  ordinary  men  are  fit  for,  I  am 
qualify  *d  in  ;  and  the  befl  of -me  is  diligence. 

Lear.  How. old  art  thou  ? 

Kent.  Not  Ib  young,  fir,  to  love  a  woman  for  fing- 

7  and  to  cat  no  fjh.'\  In  queen  Elizabeth's  time  the 

Papifts  were  eftcemed,  and  with  good  reafon,  enemies  to  the  go- 
vernment. Hence  the  proverbial  phrafe  of,  He's  an  boneft  man, 
ami  eats  nofitt}\  to  fignify  he's  a  friend  to  the  government  and  a 
Proteftant.  The  eating 'fiih,  on  a  religious  account,  being  then 
efteemed  fuch  a  badge  of  popery,  that  when  it  was  enjoin'd  for 
a  feafon  by  aft  of  parliament,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  fifh- 
towns,  it  was  thought  necelfary  to  declare  the  reafon ;  hence  it 
was  called  Cecil's  fa/}.  To  "this  difgraceful  badge  of  popery 
Fletcher  alludes  in  his  Wcfaan-Jjater,  who  makes  the  courtezan 
fay,  when  Lazarillo,  in  fearch  of  the  Umbrano's  head,  was 
feized  at  her  houfe  by  the  intelligencers  for  a  traytor  :  "  Gen- 
tlemen, I  am  glad  you  have  difcovered  him.  He  fliould  not  have 
eaten  under  my  roof  for  twenty  pounds.  And  fure  I  did  not 
like  him,  when  he  called  for  fjb"  And  Marfton's  Dutch  Cour- 
tezan; "  L  truft  I  am  none  of  the  wicked  that  eat  JjJJj  afryjay.'* 

WARS  VR  TON. 

C  c  2  ing; 


3S8          KING       LEAR. 

ing;  nor  fo  old,  to  dote  on  her  for  anything:  I 
have  years  on  my  back  forty-eight. 

Lear.  Follow  me  ;  thou  (halt  ferve  me  ;  if  I  like 
thee  no  worfe  after  dinner,  I  will  not  part  from  thee 
yet. — Dinner,  ho,  dinner! — Where's  my  knave  ?  my 
fool  ?  Go  you,  and  call  my  fool  hither : 

Enter  Steward. 

You,  you,  firrah,  where's  my  daughter  ? 

Stew.  So  pleafe  you, [Exit. 

Lear.  What  fays  the  fellow  there  ?  Call  the  clot- 
pole  back. — Where's  my  fool,  ho? 1  think  the 

world's  afleep. — How  now  ?  where's  that  mungrel  ? 
Knight.  He  fays,  my  lord,  your  daughter  is  not  well. 
Lear.  Why  came  not  the  Have  back  to  me,  when  I 
call'd  him  ? 

Knight.  Sir,  he  anfwer'd  me  in  the  rounded  man- 
ner, he  would  not. 
Lear.  He  would  not ! 

Knight.  My  lord,  I  know  not  what  the  matter  is  ; 
but,  to  my  judgment,  yourhighnefsisnot  entertain'd 
with  that  ceremonious  affection  as  you  were  wont ; 
there's  a  great  abatement  of  kindncfs  appears,  as 
well  in  the  general  dependants,  as  in  the  duke  him- 
felf  alfo,  and  your  daughter. 
Lear.  Ha  !  fay 'ft  thou  fo  ? 

Knight.  I  befeech  you,  pardon  me,  my, lord,  if  I 
be  miftaken  ;  for  my  duty  cannot  be  filcnt,  when  I 
think  your  highnefs  is  wrong'd. 

Lear.  Thou  but  remember'ft  me  of  mine  own  con- 
ception :  I  have  perceived  a  moft  faint  negledt  of 
late  ;  which  I  have  rather  blamed  as  mine  own  jealous 
curiofity,  than  as  a  very  pretence  8  and  purpofe  of 

8  a  very  pretence.]  Pretence  in  Shakefnc.;re  generally  fig- 

niiies  defign.     So,  in  a  foregoing  fcene  in  this  play  :  "  to 

no    other  pretence  of   danger."     Again,  in  //W-'w/ZW,    p.  648  : 
*'  the  prctenfed  evill  purpofe  of  the  queene."    STEEVENS. 

unkind- 


KING       LEAR.         389 

unkind  nefs  :  I  will  look  further  into't.  —  But  where's 
my  fool  ?  I  have  nut  ken  him  thefe  two  days. 

Ktiigbt.  Since  my  young  lady's  going  into  France, 
fir,  the  fool  hath  much  pin'd  away. 

Lear.  No  more  of  that;  I  have  noted  it  well.  — 
Go  you,  and  tell  my  daughter  I  would  fpeak  with 
her.  —  Go  you,  call  hither  my  fool.  — 

'  Re-enter  Steward. 

O,  you  fir,  you  fir,  come  you  hither  :  Who  am  I, 
fir  ? 

Stsw.  My  lady's  father. 

Lear.  My  lady's  father  !  my  lord's  knave  :  you 
whorefon  dog  !  you  Have  !  you  cur  ! 

Stew.  I  am  none  of  thefe,  my  lord  ;  I  befeech  you, 
pardon  me. 

Lear.  Do  you  bandy  looks  9  with  me,  you  rafcal  ? 

[Striking  him. 

lSfc~v.  I'll  not  be  (truck,  my  lord. 

Kent.  Nor  tript  neither  ;  you  bafe  foot-ball  player. 

[Tripping  up  bis  heels. 

Lear.  I  thank  thec,  fellow  ;  thou  ferv'ft  me,  and 
I'll  love  thee. 

Kent.  Come,  fir,  arife,  away  ;  I'll  teach  you  dif- 
ferences ;  away,  away  :  If  you  will  meafure  your 
lubber's  length  again,  tarry  :  but  away  :  go  to  ; 
Have  you  vvifdom  ?  fo.  \_PvJbesthe  Stewardout. 

Lear.  Now,  mv  friendly  knave,  I  thank  thee  : 
there's  earneft  of  thy  fervice.  [Giving  Kent  money. 

9  -  bandy  looks  -  ]  A  metaphor  from  Tennis: 
•*  Come  in,  take  this  lanJy  with  the  racket  of  patience.'* 

Decker's  Satirowajlix. 
Again:  "  -  buckle  with  them  hand  to  hand, 

"  And  lantly  blows  as  thick  as  halftones  fall." 

Wly  BeguiUJ. 
STEEVENS. 


C  c 


390         K    I    N    G       L    E    A    R. 


Enter  Fool. 

Fool.  Let  me  hire  him  too ; — Here's  my  coxcomb. 

[Giving  Kent  his  cap. 

Lear.  How  now,  my  pretty  knave  ?  how  doft 
thou  ? 

Fool.  Sirrah,  you  were  beft  take  my  coxcomb. 

Kent.  Why,  fool  •  ? 

Fool.  Why  ?  For  taking  one's  part  that  is  out  of 
favour  :  Nay,  an  thou  can'il  not  fmile  as  the  wind  fits, 
thou'lt  catch  cold  fhortly  :  There,  *  take  my  cox- 
comb :  Why,  this  fellow  has  baniih'd  two  of  his 
daughters,  and  did  the  third  a  bleffing  againft  his 
will  ;  if  thou  follow  him,  thou  muft  needs  wear 
my  coxcomb. — How  now,  nuncle  ?  'Would  I  had  J 
two  coxcombs,  and  two  daughters ! 

Lear.  Why,  my  boy  ? 

Fool.  If  I  gave  them  all  my  living,  I'd  keep  my 
coxcombs  myfelf :  There's  mine ;  beg  another  of 
thy  daughters. 

Lear.  Take  heed,  firrah ;  the  whip. 

Fool.  Truth's  a  dog  that  muft  to  kennel ;  he  mud 

1  #7;yfool?]  The  folio  reads — why,  my  fay?  and  gives  this 
queftion  to  Lear.  STEEVENS. 

*  tale  my  coxcomb.——}   Meaning  his  cap,  called  fo,  be- 

caufe  on  the  top  of  the  fool  or  jefter's  cap  was  iewed  a  piece  of 
red  cloth,  refembling  the  comb  of  a  cock.  The  word,  after- 
wards, was  ufed  to  denote  a  vain,  conceited,  meddling  fellow. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

See  Fig.  XII.  in  the  plate  at  the  end  of  the  firft  part  of  Kin? 
Henry  IV.  with  Mr.  Toilet's  explanation,  who  has  fince  added, 
that  Mir.fhew,  in  his  Dictionary,  jCi;  fays,  "Natural  ideots  and 
fools,  have,  and  ftill  do  accultome  theWelves  to  weare  in  their 
cappes  cockes  feathers,  or  a  hat  tivV/6  a  necke  and  head  of  a  cocke 
on  the  to/>,  and  a  bell  thereon,  Sec."  STEEVENS. 

3  tii-o  coxcombs, ]    Two  fools  caps,    intended,  as  it 

feems,  to  mark  double  folly  in  the  roan  that  gives  all  to  his, 
daughters.  JOHNSON. 

be 


K    I    N    G      L    E     A    R.  391 

be  whipp'd  out,  when  the  *  lady  brach  may  (land  by 
the  fire  and  (link. 

Lear.  A  peftilent  gall  to  me  ! 

Fool.  Sirrah,  I'll  teach  thee  a  fpcech.       [To  Kent. 

Lear.  Do. 

Fool.  Mark  it,  nuncle  : 

Have  more  than  thou  fhowefl, 
Speak  It-is  than  thou  knoweft, 

5  Lend  lefs  than  thou  owed, 
Ride  more  than  thou  goeft, 

6  Learn  more  than  thou  trowed, 
Set  lefs  than  thou  throweft  ; 
Leave  thy  drink  and  thy  whore, 
And  keep  in-a-door, 

And  thou  flialt  have  more 
Than  two  tens  to  a  fcore. 

Kent.  This  is  nothing,  fool  7. 

*  lady  track ]  Brach  is  a  bitch  of  the  hunting  kind. 

"  Nos  quidem  hodie  brach  dicimus  de  cane  fceminea,  quozlepo- 
rem  ex  odore  periequitur.  Spelm.  Gloff.  in  voce  JJracco." 

Dr.  Letherland,  on  the  margin  of  Dr.  Warburtca's  edition,  pro- 
pofed  lady's  brach,  i.  e.  favoured  animal.  The  third  quarto  has 
a  much  more  unmannerly  reading,  which  I  would  not  wifti  to 
eftablifh  :  but  all  the  other  editions  concur  in  reading  lady  brach. 
Lady  is  ftill  a  common  name  for  a  hound.  So  Hotfpur  : 

"  I  had  rather  hear  lady,  my  brach,  howl  in  Irifh." 
Again,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  Poem  to  a  Friend,  &c. 

««  Do  all  the  tricks  of  a  fait  lady  bitch." 

In  the  old  black  letter  Booke  of  Huntyng,  &c.  no  date,  the  lift 
of  dogs  concludes  thus :  "  ——and  fmall  ladi  popies  that  bere 
awai  the  fleas  and  divers  fmall  fautes."  We  might  read — "  when 
lady  the  brack,  &c."  STEEVENS. 

s  Lend  lefs  than  thou  <nw/#,]   That  is,  do  not  lend  all  that  thott 
haft.     To  o-jjc,  in  old  Englifli,  is  to  poJTefs.     Ifoxwbe  taken  for 
to  be  in  debt,  the  more  prudent  precept  would  be  : 
Lend  more  than  thou  oweft.     JOHNSON. 

6  Learn  more  than  thou  trowel!,]  To  trow,  is  an  old   word 
which  fignifies  to  believe.     The  precept  is  admirable. 

WARBURTOV. 

7  7^/V  is  nothing^  fool.]  The  quartos  give  this  ipeech  to  Lear* 

STEEVENS. 

C   C   4  Fool* 


392          KING       LEAR. 

Fool.  Then  it  is  like  the  breath  of  an  unfee'd 
lawyer  ;  you  gave  me  nothing  for't : — Can  you  make 
no  ufe  of  nothing,  nuncle  ? 

Lear,  Why,  no,  boy;  nothing  can  be  made  out 
of  nothing. 

Fool.  Pr'ythee,  tell  him,  fo  much  the  rent  of  his 
land  comes  to  ;  he  will  not  believe  a  fool.  [To  Kent. 

Lear.  A  bitter  fool ! 

Fool.  Doft  thou  know  the  difference,  my  boy,  be- 
tween a  bitter  fool  and  a  fweet  fool  ? 

Lear.  ?  No,  lad,  teach  me. 

Fool.     That  lord,  that  counfel'd  thee 

To  give  away  thy  land, 
Come  place  him  here  by  me, — . 

Or  do  thou  for  him  fiand : 
The  fweet  and  bitter  fool 

Will  prefently  appear  j 
The  one  in  motley  here, 

The  other  found  out  there. 

Lear.  Doft  thou  call  me  fool,  boy  ? 

Fool.  All  thy  other  titles  thou  haft  given  away ; 
that  thou  waft  born  with. 

Kent.  This  is  not  altogether  fool,  my  lord. 

Fool.  No,  'faith,  lords  and  great  men  will  not  let 
me ;  '  if  I  had  a  monopoly  out,  they  would  have 

part 

*  No,  lad—'\  This  dialogue,  from  No,  lad,  teacbme,  down'to,  Give 
mt  an  egg,  was  reftored  from  the  firfl  edition  by  Mr.  Theobald.  It 
is  omitted  in  the  folio,  perhaps  for  political  reafons,  as  it  feemed 
to  cenfure  monopolies.  JOHNSON. 

9  ——if  I  bad  a  monopoly  out,  they  would  have  apart  on't : — ] 
A  fatire  on  the  grofs  abufes  of  monopolies  at  that  time  ;  and  the 
corruption  and  avarice  of  the  courtiers,    who  commonly  went 
flares  with  the  patentee.     WARBURTON. 
The  modern  editors,  without  authority,  read — 

• a  monopoly  /?;/'/,— 

onopolies  were  in  Shakefpcare's  time  the  common  objects  of 
So,  in  Decker's  Match  me  in  London,  163  r  .- 

«  —Give 


KING       LEAR.          393 

part  on't :  and  ladies  too,  they  will  not  let  me  have 

ajl  fool  to  myfclf ;  they'll  be  {hatching. -Give  me 

an  egg,  nuncle,  and  I'll  give  thee  two  crowns. 
Lear.  What  two  crowns  fhall  they  be  ? 
Fool  Why,  after  I  have  cut  the  egg  i'  the  middle, 
and  eat  up  the  meat,  the  two  crowns  of  the  egg. 
When  thou    cloveft  thy  crown  i'  the  middle,    and 
gavett  away  both  parts,  thou  boreft  thine  afs  on  thy 
back  over  the  dirt  :  Thou  had'il  little  wit  in  thy  bald 
crown,  when  thou  gaveft  thy  golden  one  away.     If 
I  fpeak  like  myfelf  in  this,  let  him  be  whipp'd  that 
firft  finds  it  fo. 

10  Fools  ne'er  Toad '  lefs  grace  in  a  year ;      [Singing. 

For  wife  men  are  grown  foppi/b  ; 
And,  know  not  how  their  wits  to  wear, 
ybeir  manners  are  fo  apijh. 

Lear.  When  were  you  wont  to  be  fo  full  of  fongs, 
firrah  ? 

Fool.  I  have  ufed  it,  nuncle,  ever  fince  thou  mad'ft 
thy  daughters  thy  mothers  :  for  when  thou  gaveft 
them  the  rod,  and  put'ft  dov/n  thine  own  breeches, 

"  — Give  him  a  court  loaf,  flop  his  mouth  with  a  monopoly" 
Again,  in  Ram- Alky,  or  Merry  Tricks,   1611  : 

"•  A  knight,  and  never  heard  of  imock-fees  !  I  would  I  had 
a  monopoly  of  them,  fo  there  was  no  impoit  let  on  them." 
Again,  in  the  Birth  of  Merlin  t   1662  : 

"  So  foul  a  monfter  would  be  a  fair  monopoly  worth  the 

begging." 

In  the  books  of  the  Stationers'  Company,  I  meet  with  the  fol- 
lowing entry.  "  John  Charlewoode,  Oft.  1587:  lycenfed  unto 
him  by  the  whole  content  or  the  alliitants,  the  onlye  ymprynting 
of  all  manner  of  billes  tor  plniers."  Again,  Nov.  6,  1615.  The 
liberty  of  printing  all  billes  lor  fencing  was  granted  to  Mr.  Pur- 
foot.  STEEVENS. 

10  Fools  ne'er  had  lefs  grace  in  ayear,~\  There  never  was  a  time 
when  fools  were  lets  in  tavour  ;  and  the  reafon  is,  that  they 
•\vere  never  fo  little  wanted,  for  wife  men  now  fupply  their  place. 
Such  I  think  ie  the  meaning.  The  old  edition  has  <uvV  for  grace. 

JOHNSON. 

1  — Irfc  grace — ]  So  the  folio.     Both  the  quartos  read— - 


394         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Then  they  for  fuddenjoy  did  weep  %          [Singing. 

And  I  for  forrcnv  fung, 
That  fuck  a  kingfoould  play  bo-pcep, 

And  go  the  fools  among. 

Pr'ythee,  nuncle,  keep  a  fchool-mafter  that  can  teach 
thy  fool  to  lie  ;  I  would  fain  learn  to  lie. 

Lear.  If  you  lie,  firrah,  we'll  have  you  whipt. 

Fool.  I  marvel,  what  kin  thou  and  thy  daughters 
are  :  they'll  have  me  whipt  for  fpeaking  true,  thou'lt 
have  me  whipt  for  lying ;  and,  fometimes,  I  am  whipt 
for  holding  my  peace.  I  had  rather  be  any  kind  of 
thing,  than  a  fool  :  and  yet  I  would  not  be  thee, 
nuncle ;  thou  haft  pared  thy  wito'both  fides,  and  left 
nothing  in  the  middle  :  Herecomes  one  o' the  parings. 

Enter  Goneril. 

Lear.  How  now,   daughter?    what  makes  3  that 

frontlet  en  ? 
Methinks,  you  are  too  much  of  late  i'  the  frown. 

*  Then  they  for  fudden  joy  did  iveep,  &c.]  So,  in  the  Rape  of 
Lucrece,  by'Heywood,  1630: 

«<  When  Tarquin  firft  in  court  began, 

"  And  was  approved  king, 
*'  So  men  for fuddenjoy  did  iverft 
-     ««  But  Iforforrowjing." 

I  cannot  afcertain  in  what  year  T.  Heywood  firft  publilhed  this 
play,  as  the  copy  in  1630,  which  I  have  ufcd,  was  the  fourth 
impreffion.  STEEVENS. 

3  that  frontlet ]  Lear  alludes  to  the  frontlet ,    which 

was  anciently  part  of  a  woman's  drefs.  So,  in  the  play  called 
the  Fours  P's,  1569: 

*'  Forfooth  women  have  many  lets, 
*'  And  they  be  mafked  in  many  nctc  : 
"  As  frontlets^  fillets,  partlets,  and  bracelets  : 
*'  And  then  their  bonets  and  their  poinets.'* 
Again,  in  Lylly's  MiJas>   1592  : 

**  Hoods,  frontlets,  wires,  cauls,  curling-irons,  perriwigj, 

bodkins,  fillets,  hair-laces, _ribbons,  roles,  knotitrings,  glafles,  &c." 

STEEVENS. 

Fool. 


KING      LEAR.         395 

Fool.  Thou  waft  a  pretty  fellow,  when  thou  had'ft 
no  need  to  care  for  her  frowning  ;  now  thou  art  an  O 
without  a  figure  :  I  am  better  than  thou  art  now ;  I 
am  a  fool,  thou  art  nothing. — Yes,  forfooth,  I  will 
hold  my  tongue ;  [To  Goneril]  fo  your  face  bids  me, 
though  you  fay  nothing.  Mum,  mum, 

He  that  keeps  nor  cruft  nor  crum, 
Weary  of  all,  lhall  want  fome. — 
4  That's  a  iheal'd  peafcod.  [Pointing  to  Lear. 

GOH.  Not  only,  lir,  this  your  all-licens'd  fool, 
But  other  of  your  infolent  retinue 
Do  hourly  carp  and  quarrel  ;  breaking  forth 
•In  rank  and  not-to-be-endured  riots.     Sir, 
I  had  thought,  by  making  this  well  known  unto  you, 
To  have  found  a  fafe  rcdrefs  ;  but  now  grow  fearful, 
By  what  yourfelf  too  late  have  fpoke  and  done, 
That  you  protect  this  courfe,  and  5  put  it  on 
By  your  allowance  ;  which  if  you  fhould,  the  fault 
Would  not  'fcape  cenfure,  nor  the  redrefles  fleep ; 
Which,  in  the  tender  of  a  wholefome  weal, 
Might  in  their  working  do  you  that  offence, 
Which  elfe  were  lhamc,  that  then  neceffity 
Will  call  difcreet  proceeding. 

Fool.  For  you  trow,  nuncle, 

The  hed;.;e-fparrow  fed  the  cuckoo  fo  long, 

That  it  had  its  head  bit  off  by  its  young. 

4  That's  afyeardpeafcod.~\  i.  e.  Now  a  mere  huflc,  which  con- 
tains nothing.     The  outfide  of  a  king  remains,  but  all  the  in- 
trinfic  parts  of  royalty  are  gone  :  he  has  nothing  to  give. 

JOHNSON. 

That's  ajbeardpeafcod.}  The  robing  of  Richard  lid's  effigy  in 
Weftminiter-abbey  is  wrought  with  pea/cojs  open,  and  the  peas  out ; 
perhaps  in  aliuuon  to  his  being  once  in  full  pofleffion  of  fovereignty, 
but  foon  reduced  to  an  empty  title.  See  Camden's  Remains,  1 674, 
p.  453,  edit.  16^-,  p.  340.  TOLLET. 

5  — put  it  oti]  i.  e.  promote,  pufh  it  forward.    So,  in  Macbeth: 

*'  .the  pow'rs 

<f  Put  en  their  inilruments.". .  .... ......    STEEVENS. 

So, 


396          KING      LEAR. 

SD,  out  went  the   candle,  and  we  6  \vcre  left  dark' 

ling. 

Lear.  Are  you  our  daughter  ? 
Gon.  Come,  fir, 

I  would,  you  would  make  ufe  of  that  good  \vifdom 
Whereof  I  know  you  arc  fraught ;  and  put  away 
Thefe  difpofitions,  which  of  late  transform  you  7 
From  what  you  rightly  are. 

Fool.  May  not  an  als  know  when  the  cart  draws 
the  horfe  ? — 8  Whoop,  Jug  !  I  love  thee. 

Lear.  Does  any  here  know  me  ? — Why  this  is  not 

Lear  9 :' 
Does  Lear  walk  thus  ?  fpeak  thus  ? — Where  are  his 

eyes  ? 

Either  his  notion  weakens,  or  his  difcernings 
Are  lethargy'd — Ha  !  waking? — 'Tis  not  fo  '. — 
Who  is  it  that  can  tell   me  who  I  am  ? — Lear's 
fliadow  *  ? 

c  ivcre  left  darkling.]    This  word  is  ufed  by  Milton, 

faradlfe  Loft,  book  i : 

as  the  wakeful  bird 

Sings  Jarkling." STEEVENS. 

7  transform  yo\\."\  Thus  the  quartos.     The  folio  reads— 

tranft>ort  you.     STEEVENS. 

8  ^WT)oep\  Jug,  &c.]  There  are  in  the  fool's  fpeeches 

feveral  paflagcs  which  fccm  to  be  proverbial  aliufions,  perhaps 
not  now  to  be  underftood.    JOHNSON. 

..  Hljoopi  Jugy  I  love  t bee. 1  This,  as  I  am  informed,  is  a 
quotation  from  the  burthen  of  an  old  long.     STEEVENS. 

9  this  is  not  Lear :]  This  paflage  appears  to  have  been 

imitated  by  Ben  Jonfon  in  his  Sad  Shepherd : 

*'   this  is  not  Marian  ! 

"  Nor  am  I  Robin  Hood  !  I  pray  you  afk  her  ! 
"  Afk  her,  good  fliepherds  !  alk  her  all  for  me  : 
"  Or  rather  alk  yourfclves,  if  (he  be  fne  ; 
"  Or  I  be  1."     STEEVENS. 

1 — Ha!  waking?  —  Ta •  not  fa.]    Thus  the  folio.    The  quartos 
read  : 

——Jleeping  or  waking  ;  ha  !  fure  'tis  not  fo.     STEEVENS. 
*  — 'Lear'ffoadoku  ?]  The  folio  gives  thele  words  to  the  Fool. 

STEEVENS. 

I  would 


KING       LEAR.          397 

I  would  learn  that ;  '  for  by  the  marks 

Of  fov'reignty,  of  knowledge,  and  of  reafon, 

I  fhould 


-for  ly  the 


Of  forfreignty,  of  bwwleafcf,  fin,l  of  reafon] 
His  daughters  prove  fo  unnatural,  that,  if  he  were  only  to  judge 
by  the  reafon  of  things,  he  mufi  conclude,  they  cannot  he  his 
daughters.  This  is  the  thought.  But  how  does  his  kingfhip  or 
fovereignty  enable  him  to  judge  of  this  matter?  The  line,  by  be- 
ing falfe  pointed,  has  loft  its  fenfe.  We  fhould  read, 

Of  fovereignty  of  knowledge. 

i.  e.  the  underloading.  He  calls  it,  by  an  equally  fine  phrafe, 
in  Hamlet^  —Sovereignty  of  reafon.  And  it  is  remarkable  that  the 
editors  had  depraved  it  there  too.  See  note,  aft  i.  fcene  7.  of  that 
play.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

The  contested  paff.ige  is  wanting  in  the  folio.  STEEVENS. 
The  difficulty,  which  muft  occur  to  every  reader,  is,  to  con- 
ceive how  the  marks  of  fovercignly,  of  knowledge  ^  and  of  reafon^ 
fhould  be  of  any  uie  to  perfuade  Lear  that  he  bad,  or  had  not, 
daughters.  No  logic,  I  apprehend,  could  draw  fuch  a  con- 
clution  from  fuch  premlfes.  This  difficulty,  however,  may  be 
entirely  removed,  by  only  pointing  the  pafiuge  thus  :. 

• — for  by  the  marks 

Of  fov'reignty,  of  knowledge,  and  of  reafon, 
I  fhould  be  falfe  perfuaded — I  had  daughters. — 
Your  name,  fair  gentlewoman  ? 

The  chain'of  Lear's  fpeech  being  thus  untangled,  we  can  clearly 
trace  the  fucceflion  and  connection  ot  his  idea.-;.  The  undutiful 
behaviour  of  his  daughter  fo  dilconcerts  him,  that  he  doubts,  by 
turns,  whether  (he  is  Goneril,  and  whether  he  him  felt"  is  Lear. 
Upon  her  firft  fpeech,  he  only  exclaims, 

Are  you  our  daughter  ? 

Upon  her  going  on  in  the  fame  fryle,  he  begins  to  queftion  his 
own  fanity  ot  mind,  and  even  his  pcrfooal  identity.  He  appeals 
to  the  by-ftanders, 

Who  is  it  that  can  tell  me  who  I  am  ? 

I  fliould  be  glad  to  be  told.  For  (if  I  was  to  judge  myfclf)  by 
the  mark^  of  fovereignty  ^  of  knowledge)  and  of  rcafon^  which  once 
diftinguifhed  Lear,  (but  which  I  have  now  loft)  I  jhould  be  falfe 
(againft  my  own  confcioufnefs)  perfuade J  (that  I  am  not  Lear). 
He  then  Hides  to  the  examination  of  another  diftinguifhing  mark 
of  Lear  : 

1  had  daughters. 

But  not  able,  as  it  fhould  feem,  to  dwell  upon  fo  tender  a  fub- 

jeft,  he  haftily  recurs  to  his  «:vf:  doubt  concerning  Goneril, 

Your  name,  fair  gentlewoman.     TYKWJUTI. 

This 


398         K     I     N    G      L    E     A    R. 

I  fhould  be  falfe  perfuaded  I  had  daughters  4.— 
Your  name,  fair  gentlewoman  ? 

Gon.  Come,  fir  ; 

This  admiration  is  much  o' the  favour 
Of  other  your  new  pranks.     I  do  bcfeech  you 
To  underfland  my  purpofes  aright : 
As  you  are  old  and  reverend,  you  fhould  be  wife  : 
Here  do  you  keep  a  hundred  knights  and  fquires ; 
Men  fo  diforder'd,  fo  debauch'd,  and  bold, 
That  this  our  court,  infetted  with  their  manners, 
Shews  like  a  riotous  inn  :  epicurifm  and  luft 
Make  it  more  like  a  tavern,  or  a  brothel, 
Than  5  a  grac'd  palace.     The  fhame  itfelf  doth  fpeak 
For  inftant  remedy  :  Be  then  defir'd 
By  her,  that  elfe  will  take  the  thing  Ihe  begs, 
6  A  little  to  difquantity  your  train  ; 

And 

This  note  is  written  with  confidence  difproportionate  to  the 
conviction  which  it  can  bring.  Lear  might  as  well  kno'w  by  the 
marks  and  tokens  arifing  from  fovcreignty,  knowledge,  and  rea- 
fon,  that  he  had  or  had  not  daughters,  as  he  could  know  by  any 
thing  elfe.  But,  fays  he,  if  I  judge  by  thefe  tokens,  I  find  the 
perfuafion  falfe  by  which  1  long  thought  myfelf  the  father  of 
daughters.  JOHNSON. 

* 1  had  Jaugbtcrs.  —  ]  Here  the  quarto  interpofes  the  fol- 
lowing ftiort  and  uielefs  fpeech  of  the  fool : 

"  Which  they  will  make  an  obedient  father." 
WT>icb>  is  en  this  occafion  ufed  with  two  deviations  from  prefent 
language.     It  is  referred,  contrary  to  the  rules  or"  grammarians, 
to  the  pronoun  7,  and  is  employed,  according  to  a  mode  now  ob- 
folete,  for<iv<ta;//,  the  accufativecafeof-u^o.    STEEVENS. 

5   a  grac\{ palace.— ~]  A  palace  grac'd  by  the  prefence  of 

a  fovereign.     \\~AKBURTON. 

6  A  little  to  Jifquantity your  train  ;]  A  little  is  the  reading  ;  but 
it  appears,  from  what  Lear  fays  in  the  next  icene,  that  this  num- 
ber  fifty  vvas  ^quired  to  be  cut  off,  which  (as  the  editions  itood) 
is  no  where  fpecified  by  Gxmeril.     POPE. 

Of  fifty  to  difquantity  vour  train  ;]  If  Mr.  Pope  had  examined 
the  old  copies  as  accurately  as  he  pretended  to  have  done,  he 
would  have  found,  in  \hefirjl folio >  that  Lear  had  an  exit  marked 
for  him  after  thcfe  words — 

To  havt-  H  rhanklefs  child. — Away,  away, 
and  goes  out  while  Albany  and  Goneiil  have  a  fliort  conference 

of 


KING      LEAR.  399 

And  the  remainder,  '  that  lhall  ftill  depend, 
To  be  fuch  men  as  may  befort  your  age, 
And  know  themfelves  and  you. 

Lear.  Darknefs  and  devils  ! 

Saddle  my  horfes ;  call  my  train  together. 

Degenerate  baftard  !  I'll  not  trouble  thee  ; 
Yet  have  I  left  a  daughter. 

Con.  You  ftrike  my  people  ;  and  your  diforder'd 

rabble 
Make  fervants  of  thoir  betters'. 

Enter  Albany. 

Lear.  Woe,    that  too  late  repents,— O,  fir,    arc 
you  come  ? 

Is  it  your  will  ?  fpeak,  fir. — Prepare  my  horfes 

[To  Many. 

Ingratitude  !  thou  marble-hearted  fiend, 
More  hideous,  when  thou  ihew'ft  thee  in  a  child, 
*  Than  the  fea-monfter  ! 
Alb.  Pray,  fir,  be  patient  9. 
Lear.  Dctefted  kite  !  'thou  licft  :  [To  GoneriL 

of  two  fpeeches  ;  and  then  returns  in  a  ftill  greater  paflion, 
having  been  informed  (as  it  ihould  feem)  of  the  exprefs  number, 
without. 

What  ?  fifty  of  my  followers  at  a  clap  ! 

This  renders  all  change  needlefs ;  and  aivqy,  away,  being  re- 
ftored,  prevents  the  repetition  of  go,  go,  my  people  j  which,  as 
the  text  ftood  before  this  regulation,  concluded  both  that  and 
the  foregoing  fpeech.  Goneril,  with  great  art,  is  made  to  avoid 
mentioning  the  limited  number  j  and  leaves  her  father  to  be  in- 
formed ot  it  by  accident,  which  (he  knew  would  be  the  cafe  as 
foon  as  he  left  her  prefencc.  STEEVENS. 

7 that  Jkall  Jlill  depend,]    Depend,  for  continue  in 

fervice.    WARBURTO.V. 

8  Than  the  fea-monjter  /]  Mr.  Upton  obferves,    that  the  fea-' 
monfter  is  the  Hippopotamus,  the   hieroglyphical  fymbol  of  im- 
piety and  ingratitude.     Sandys,    in  his  travels,  fays — "  that  he 
"  kiiieth  his  fire,  and  ravilheth.  his  own  dam."     STEEVENS. 

9  Pray,  fir,  It  patient.'}  The  quartos  omit  this  fpeech. 

STEEVENS. 

My 


400         K    I    N    G       L    E     A    K. 

My  train  are  men  of  choice  and  rarcfl  parts, 
That  all  particulars  of  duty  know  ; 
And  in  the  moft  exact  regard  fup.port 
The  worfhips  of  their  name. — O  moft  fmall  fault, 
How  ugly  didft  thou  in  Cordelia  fhew  ! 
Which,  *  like  an  engine,  wrench'd  my  frame  of  na- 
ture 

From  the  fixt  place  ;  drew  from  my  heart  all  love, 
And  added  to  the  gall.     O  Lear,  Lear,  Lear  ! 
Beat  at  this  gate,  that  let  thy  folly  in,  [Striking  J;is  head. 
And  thy  dear  judgment  out ! — Go,  go,  my  people. 

Alb.  My  lord,  I  am  guiltlefs,  as  I  am  ignorant 
Of  what  hath  mov'd  you  J. 

Lear.  It  may  be  fo,  my  lord. 

Hear,  nature  !   hear  ;   dear  goddefs,   hear  ! 
Sufpend  thy  purpofc,  if  thou  didft  intend 
To  make  this  creature  fruitful  ! 
Into  her  womb  convey  flcrility  ; 
Dry  up  in  her  the  organs  of  increafe ; 
And  4  from  her  derogate  body  never  fpring 
A  babe  to  honour  her  !   If  Ihc  muft  teem, 
Create  her  child  of  fpleen  ;  that  it  may  live, 
And  be  a  thwart  diinatur'd  5  torment  to  her  ! 

1  — lih  an  engine, — ]  Mr.  Edwards  conjectures  that  by  an  en- 
gine is  meant  the  ra:k.  He  is  right.  To  engine  is,  in  Chaucer,  to 
Jirain  upon  the  rack  ;  and  in  the  following  paflage  from  the 
Three  Lords  of  London,  1590,  engine  feems  to  be  ufed  for  the  fame 
inftrument  of  torture. 

"  From  Spain  they  come  with  engine  and  intent 
'*  To  flay,  fubduc,  to  triumph,  and  torment* 
Again,  in  the  Nfgbt-H'~a/ittcrt  by  B.  and  Fletcher  : 

"  Ther  fouls  fhot  through  with  adders,  torn  on  r»; 

STEEVENS. 
3  Of  what  Imtl  mev'dyou.]  Omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 

*  I.  i ...  from  her  derogate  body    "        ]  Derogate  for  unnatural, 

WARBURTOX. 
P.r.ther,  I  think,  degraded;  llafted-.     JOHKSOV. 

3 fii/'fiattf-'d}  Dijnatur'd  is  wanting  natural  affection.    So, 

Daniel  in  //y /><•>/.;  L7;-/.v/,v//:>,   1623  : 

"  I  am  no:  fo  d-fnatu re d  a  man."    STEEVENS. 

Let 


k    1    ft    G      L    E    A    R.         401 

Let  it  (lamp  wrinkles  in  her  brow  of  youth  ; 

With  6  cadent  teats  fret  channels  in  her  cheeks  ; 

Turn  all  her  mother's  pains,  and  benefits, 

To  laughter  and  contempt ;  that  fhe  may  feel 

How  fharper  than  a  ferpent's  tooth  it  is 

To  have  a  thanklefs  child  !— Away,  away  !     \_Exlt. 

Alb.  NOWJ  gods,  that  we  adore^  whereof  comes 
this  ? 

Gon.  Never  afflict  yourfelf  to  know  the  caufe  $ 
But  let  his  difpofition  have  that  fcope 
That  dotage  gives  it. 

Re-enter  Ledr. 

Lear*  What,  fifty  of  my  followers,  at  a  clap  ! 
Within  a  fortnight ! 

Alb.  What's  the  matter,  fir  ? 

Lear.  I'll  tell  thee  ;—Life  and  death  !  I  am  afham'd 
That  thou  haft  power  to  ftiake  my  manhood  thus : 

[To  Goner  II. 

7  Thatthefe  hot  tears,  which  break  from  me  perforce, 
Should  make  thee  worth  them.— Blafls   and   foga 

upon  thee  ! 

8  The  untented  woundings  of  a  father's  curfe 
Pierce  every  fenfe  about  thee  ! — Old  fond  eyes, 

6  cadent  tears— —  ]  i.e.  Falling  tears.     Dr.  Warburton 

Would  read  candent.     STEEVENS. 

7  I  will  tranfcribe  this  paflage  from  the  firft  edition,  that  it 
may  appear  to  thofe  who  are  unacquainted  with  old  books,  what 
is  the  difficulty  of  revilion,  and  what  indulgence  is  due  to  thofe 

that  endeavour  to  reftore  corrupted  partages. That  thefe  bet 

tears,  that  br cake  from  me  perforce,  Jhould  make  the  worfi  blajts  and 
fogs  upon  the  untettder  <u:oundings  of  a  father's  curfe,  perufe  every 
fenfe  about  the  old  fond  eyes,  be-weef  this  caufe  again,  &c. 

JOHNSON. 

*  The  untented  woundlngf  -  ••  ]  Untented  wounds,  mean* 
wounds  m  their  worft  {late,  not  having  a  tent  in  them  to  digeft 
them  ;  and  may  poflibly  fignify  here  fuch  as  will  not  admit  of 
having  a  tent  put  into  them  for  that  purpofe.  One  of  the  quartog 
reads,  untender.  SxEfiYiNS. 

VOL.  IX,  D  d  Be- 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Bevveep  this  caufe  again,  I'll  pluck  you  out; 
And  caft  you,  with  the  waters  that  you  lofe  9'9 
To  temper  clay. — Ha  !  is  it  come  to  this  ? 
1  Let  it  be  fo  : — Yet  I  have  left  a  daughter, 
Who,  I  am  fure,  is  kind  and  comfortable ; 
When  Ihe  ihall  hear  this  of  thee,  with  her  nails 
She'll  flea  thy  wolfifh  vifage.     Thou  (halt  find. 
That  I'll  refume  the  fhape  which  thou  doft  think 
I  have  caft  off  for  ever  ;  thou  fhalt,  I  warrant  thec.- 
[Exeunt  Lear,  Kent,  and  attendants* 
Gon.  Do  you  mark  that,  my  lord  .* 
Alb.  I  cannot  be  fo  partial,  Goneril, 

To  the  great  love  I  bear  you, 

Gon.  Pray  you,  content. — What,  Ofwald,  ho  ! 
You,  fir,  more  knave  than  fool,  after  your  matter. 

[To  the  Foot. 

Fool.  Nuncle  Lear,  nuncle  Lear,  tarry,  and  take 
the  fool  with  thee. 

A  fox,  when  one  has  caught  her, 
And  fuch  a  daughter, 
Should  fure  to  the  flaughter, 
If  my  cap-  would  buy  a  halter ; 
So  the  fool  follows  after.  [Exit. 

**  Gon.  This  man  hath  had  good  counfel : — A  hun- 
dred knights  ! 

'Tis  politic,  and  fafe,  to  let  him  keep 
,3  At  point,  a  hundred  knights.     Yes,  that  on  every 

dream, 
Each  buz,  each  fancy,  each  complaint,  diflike, 

»  »      tbatyon  Tofe.]  The  quartos  read — that  you  make. 

STEEVENS. 

•  *  Lctitlefo,  &c.]    The  reading   is  here   gleaned   up,   part 
from  the  firft,  and  part  from  the  fecond  eJuion.     JOHNSON. 
Let  it  be  fo  is  omitted  in  the  quartos.     STEEVENS. 
*  Gon.  All  from  this  afterilk  to  the  next,  is  omitted  in  the 
quartos.     STEEVENS. 

3  At  point ,]  I  believe,    means  completely  armed,  and  confe- 
quently  ready  at  appointment  or  command  un  the  flighteft  notice-. 

STEEVBNS. 

He 


KING     LEAR; 

He  may  enguard  his  dotage  with  their  powers, 
And  hold  our  lives  at  mercy.  —  Ofwald,  I  fay  !  —  • 

AW.  Well,  you  may  fear  too  far. 

Con.  Safer  than  truft  too  far  : 
Let  me  ftill  take  away  the  harms  I  fear, 
Not  fear  ftill  to  be  taken.     I  know  his  heart  : 
What  he  hath  utter'd,  I  have  writ  my  fitter; 
If  fhe  fuftain  him  and  his  hundred  knights, 
When  I  have  Ihew'd  the  unfitnefs  *,  -  How  now, 
Ofwald4? 

Enter  Steward. 

What,  have  you  writ  that  letter  to  my  fifter  ? 

Stew.  Ay,  madam. 

Gon.  Take  you  fome  company,  and  away  to  horfe  : 
Inform  her  full  of  my  particular  fear  ; 
And  thereto  add  fuch  reafons  of  your  own, 
As  may  5  compact  it  more.     Get  you  gone  ; 
And  haflen  your  return.     No,  no,  my  lord, 

[Exit  Steward* 

This  milky  gentlenefs,  and  couvfe  of  yours, 
Though  I  condemn  it  not,  yet,  under  pardon, 
You  are  much  6  more  at  talk  for  want  of  wifdom, 
Than  prais'd  for  harmful  mildnefs. 

Alb.  How  far  your  eyes  may  pierce,  I  cannot  tell  ; 
Striving  to  better,  oft  we  mar  what's  well. 


*  —How  «<KV,  Ofv:alJf~\  The  quartos  read  —  what  OfojalJ)  hot 
Ofvv.   Here,  Madam. 
Gon.  What  have  you  ivrlt  this  letter,  &c.     STEEVENS. 

5  -  compact  it  more.  --  ]  Unite  one  circumilance  v.'ith  an- 
other, fo  as  to  make  a  confident  account.     JOHNSON. 

6  more  at  talk  -  ]  It  is  a  common  phrafe  now  with  pa- 
rents and  governeffes.     F  II  take  you  to  tajk,  i.e.  I  <vsill  reprehend 
and  correcl  you.     To  be  at  tajkj  therefore,  is  to  be  liable  to  repre~ 
henfion  and  corrcElion.     JOHNSON. 

Both  the  quartos  inftead  of  at  tajk  —  read,  alapt.  A  late  editor 
of  King  Lear,  fays,  that  the  firft  quarto  reads  attaJk'J;  but  un- 
lefs  there  be  a  third  quarto  which  I  have  never  feen  or  heard  of, 
his  aflertioii  is  erroneous.  STEKVENS. 

D  d  2  Gon. 


4o4         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    K. 

Gon.  Nay,  then 

Alb..  Well,,  well ;  the  event.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE    V. 

A  coMt-yard  before  the  duke  of  Albanfs  palace. 
Enter  Lear,  Kent,  and  Fool. 

Lear.  Go  you  before  to  Glofter  with  thefe  letters  : 
acquaint  my  daughter  no  further  with  any  thing  you 
know,  than  comes  from  her  demand  out  of  the  let- 
ter :  If  your  diligence  be  not  fpeedy,  I  lhall  be 7 
there  before  you. 

Kent.  I  will  not  fleepy  my  lord,  'till  I  have  deli- 
vered your  letter.  [£.v/V. 

Fool.  If  a  man's  brains  were  in  his  heels,  wer't 
not  in  danger  of  kibes  ? 

Lear.  Ay,  boy. 

Fool.  Then,  I  pr'ythee,  be  merry ;  thy  wit  fhall 
not  go  flip-ftiod., 

Lear.  Ha,  ha,  ha  ? 

Fool.  Shalt  fee,  thy  other  daughter  will  ufe  thee 
kindly  :  for  though  (he's  as  like  this  as  a  crab  is  like 
an  apple,  yet  I- can*  tell  what  I  can  tell.. 

Lear.  Why  what  can'ft  thou  tell,  boy  ? 

Fool.  She  willtafte  as  like  this,  as  a  crab  does  to  a 
crab.  Thou  can'ft  tell,  why  one's  nofe  ilands  i'  the 
middle  of  one's  face  ? 

Lear.  No. 

Fool.  Why,  to  keep  one's  eyes  on  either  fide  one's 
nofe  ;  that  what  a  man  cannot  fmell  out,  he  may  fpy 
into. 

Lear.  8 1  did  her  wrong  : — 

7  there  before  _yo».]  He  feems  to  intend  to  go  to  his 

daughter,  but  it  appears  afterwards  that  he  is  going  to  the  houfe 
of  Glofter.  JOHN- SON. 

*  I  did  her  <jvro//j— ]  He  is  raufing  on  Cordelia.    JOHNSON. 

Fool. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          405 

Fool.  Can'ft  tell  how  an  oyfter  makes  his  fhell  ? 

Lear.  No. 

Fool.  Nor  I  neither ;  but  I  can  tell  why  a  fnail  has 
a  hoiife. 

Lear.  Why  ? 

Fool.  Why,  to  put  his  head  in  ;  not  to  give  it  away 
to  his  daughters,  and  leave  his  horns  without  a  cafe, 

Lear.  I  will  forget  my  nature. — So  kind  a  father! — 
Be  my  horfes  ready  ? 

Fool.  Thy  afles  are  gone  about  'em.  The  reafoa 
why  the  feven  ftars  are  no  more  than  feven,  is  a  pretty 
reafon. 

Lear.  Becaufe  they  are  not  eight  ? 

Fool.  Yes,  indeed  :  Thou  would'ft  make  a  good 
fool. 

Lear.  9  To  take  it  again  perforce  ! — Monfler  in- 
gratitude ! 

Fool.  If  thou  wert  my  fool,  nuncle,  I'd  have  thec 
beaten  for  being  old  before  thy  time. 

Lear.  How's  that  ? 

Fool.  Thou  fhould'fl  not  have  been  old,  before 
thou  hadft  been  wife. 

Lear.  O,  let  me  not  be  mad,  not  mad,  fweet heaven ! 
Keep  me  in  temper  ;  I  would  not  be  mad  ! — 

Enter  Gentleman. 

How  now  !  Are  the  horfes  ready  ? 
Gent.  Ready,  my  lord. 
Lear.  Come,  boy. 
Fool.  She  that's  a  maid  now,  and  laughs  at  my 

departure, 

Shall  not  be  a  maid  long,    unlefs  things  be  cut 
fhorter.  [Exeunt. 

9  To  take  it  again  perforce  /— —  ]  He  is  meditating  on  the  re- 
fumption  of  his  royalty.  JOHNSON. 

He  is  rather  meditating  on  his  daughter's  having  in  fo  violent  a 
manner  deprived  him  of  thole  privileges  which  before  flic  had 
agreed  to  grant  him.  STEEVENS. 

D  d  3  ACT 


4o6         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 
A  C  T    II.       SCENE      I. 

A  cqftle  belonging  to  tie  earl  of  Glofter. 
Enter  Edmund,  and  Curan^  meeting. 

Edm.  Save  thee,  Curan. 

Cur.  And  you,  fir.  I  have  been  with  your  fa- 
ther ;  and  given  him  notice,  that  the  duke  of  Corn- 
wall, and  Regan  his  dutchefs,  will  be  here  with  him 
to-night. 

EMI.  How  comes  that  ? 

Cur.  Nay,  I  know  not  :  You  have  heard  of  the 
news  abroad  ;  I  mean,  the  whifper'd  ones,  for  they 
are  yet  but  '  ear-kifling  arguments  ? 

Edm,  Not  I  ;  Pray  you,  what  are  they  > 

*  Cur.  Have  you  heard,  of  no  likely  wars  toward, 
'twixt  the  dukes  of  Cornwall  and  Albany  ? 

Edm.  Not  a  word. 

Cur.  You  may  then,  in  time.     Fare  you  well,  fir. 


. 

Edm,  The  duke  be  here  to-night?  The  better!  Beft! 
This  weaves  itielf  perforce  into  my  bufinefs  ! 
My  father  hath  fet  guard  to  take  my  brother  ; 
And  I  have  one  thing,  of  a  J  queazy  queflion, 

Which 

*  .  ear-biffing  arguments*"}  Subjects.  of  difconrfe  ;  topics, 

JOHNSON. 

Ear-kijpng  arguments  means  that  they  are  yet  in  reality  only 
whif  per*  ti  ones.     SrEEVENS. 

a  Cur.  This  and  the  following  fpeech,  are  omitted  in  one  of 
the  quartos.     STEEVENS. 

3  -  queazy  quejlion,'}   Something  of  Kfufplcious,  qutjlioiiallc, 
1ind  uncertain  nature.     This  is,  I  think,  the  meaning.    JOHNSON. 
Stuea-y,  I  believe,  rather  means  delicate,  what  requires  to  be 
Dandled  nicely.     So,  Ben  Jonfon,  in  St-janus  : 

"  Thofe  times  are  fomevvhat  t^utajy  to  be  touch  'd.— 
"  Have  you  not  feen  or  read  part  of  his  book  ?" 

So, 


KING      LEAR.         407 

"Which  I  muft  act : — Briefncfs,  and  fortune,  work!  — 
•Brother,  a  word ; — clefccnd  : — Brother,  I  fay  ; 

Enter  Edgar. 

My  father  watches  : — O  fir,  fly  this  place  ; 
Intelligence  is  given  where  you  are  hid  ; 
\  ou  have  now  the  good  advantage  of  the  night  :— 
I-iave  you  not  fpoken  'gainft  the  duke  of  Cornwall? 
1,  's  coming  hither ;  now,  i*  the  night,  4  i'  the  hafle, 
A       Regan  with  him  ;  5  Have  you  nothing  faid 
L  is  party  'gainft  the  duke  of  Albany? 

Advife  yourfelf. 

Lag.  I  am  fure  on't,  not  a  word. 

Edm.  I  hear  my  father  coming, — Pardon  me  :— « 
Ir,  ^nning,  I  muft  draw  my  fvvord  upon  you  : — 
D  .  :  Seem  to  defend  yourfelf :  Now  quit  you  well* 
Yield : — come  before  my  father; — Light,  ho,  here!— 
F  ,  brother; — Torches!  torches! — So,  farewel. — 

[Exit  Edgar. 
Some  blood  drawn  on  me  would  beget  opinion 

[Wounds  bis  arm. 

Of  m\-  more  fierce  endeavour :   I  have  feen  drunkards 
Do  more  than  this  in  fport. — Father!  father! 
btop,  flop  !  No  help  ? 

So,  in  Ben  Jonfon's  "Nc\x  Inn : 

"  Notes  of  a  -quea/y  and  fick  ftomach,  labouring 
"  With  want  of  a  true  injury."—— 
Again,  in  Mucb  Ado  about  Nothing  : 

"  Delpight  of  his  quick  wit  and  queasy  ftomach." 

STEEVENS. 

4   /'  the  kafte,~\  I  fhould  fuppofe  we  ought  to  read  only  /a 

bajle ;  z"  the  being  repeated  accidentally  by  the  compofitor. 

STEEVENS. 
5  •  have  you  nothing  fetid 

Upon  his  party  'gain/i  the  duke  of  Albany  ?] 

The  meaning  is,  have  you  faid  nothing  upon  the  party  formed  ly 
him  againft  we  duke  of  Albany  ?     HANMER. 

i  cannot  but  think  the  line  corrupted,  and  would  read  : 

dgainji  his  party,  for  the  duke  of  Albany  ?     JOHNSOV. 

D  d  4  Enhf 


4oS         KING      LEAR. 


Enter  GkJIer,  and  Servants  with  torches. 

Glo.  Now,  Edmund,  where's  the  villain  ? 

Edm.  Here  flood  he  in  the  dark,  his  ftiarp  fvvord 

out, 

6  Mumbling  of  wicked  charms,  conjuring  the  moon 
To  ftand  his  aufpicious  miftrefs  : — - 

Glo.  But  where  is  he  ? 

Edm.  Look,  fir,  I  bleed. 

Glo.  Where  is  the  villain,  Edmund  ? 

Edm.  Fled  this  way,  fir.     When  by  no  means  he 
could 

Glo.    Purfue   him,    ho  ! — Go   after. By   no 

means, — what  ? 

Edm.  Perfuade  me  to  the  murder  of  your  lordfhip ; 
But  that  I  told  him,  the  revenging  gods 
'Gainft  parricides  did  all 7  their  thunders  bend  ; 
Spoke,  with  how  manifold  and  ftrong  a  bond 

The  child  was  bound  to  the  father; Sir,  in  fine, 

Seeing  how  lothly  oppofite  I  flood 

To  his  unnatural  purpofe,  in  fell  motion, 

With  his  prepared  fword,  he  charges  home 

My  unprovided  body,  lanc'd  mine  arm  : 

But  when  hp  faw  my  befl  alarum'd  fpirits, 

Bold  in  the  quarrel's  right,  rous'd  to  the  encounter, 

Or  whether "  gafted  by  the  noife  I  made, 

Full  fuddenly  he  fled. 

*  Mumbling  of  wided  charms,  conjuring  the  r?ioon\  This  was  a 
proper  circumflance  to  urge  to  Glofter  5  who  appears,  by  what 
pafied  between  him  and  his  baftard  fon  i;i  a  foregoing  fcene,  to 
be  very  fuperiHtious  with  regard  to  this  matter.    WARBURTOK, 

The  quartos  read,  iwarbling  inftead  of  mumbling,     STEWENS. 

7  tlcir  (bunder: '• — ]  Firft  quarto;  the  refl  have  it, 

tbe  thunder,     J  p  H  N  s  p  NT  . 

*  ..  >"—va]lc(l ]  Frighted.     JOHNSOX. 

So,  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Wit  atfwcral  Weapons  : 

f*  either  the  fight  of  the  lady  has  ££/<•</ him,  or  clfe 

he's  drunk."    STEEVENS. 

Qb, 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.        409 

Glo.  Let  him  fly  far  : 

1  Not  in  this  land  fhall  he  remain  uncaught ; 
And  found — Difpatch. — The  noble  duke  my  mafter, 
My  worthy  *  arch  and  patron,  comes  to-night : 
3y  his  authority  I  will  proclaim  it, 
That  he,  which  finds  him,  fliall  deferve  our  thanks, 
Bringing  the  J  murderous  coward  to  the  flake  ; 
He,  that  conceals  him,  death. 

Edm.  When  I  diflvvaded  him  from  his  intent, 
4  And  found  him  pight  to  do  it,  with  curft  fpeech 
I  threaten'd  to  difcover  him  :  He  replied, 
^kou  unpojfeffing  baftard  !  dijl  thou  think, 
If  I  would Jland  againft  tbee,  s  would  the  repofal 
Of  any  truft,  virtue,  or  worth,  in  thee 
Make  thy  words  faith' d  ?  No :  what  Ifioulddeny, 

1  Not  in  ibis  landjhall  be  remain  uncaught ; 

And  found  dif patch — the  nolle  duke,  Sic.]  j 

This  nonfenfe  fliould  be  read  and  pointed  thus  : 

Not  in  this  land  fliall  he  remain  uncaught  ; 

And  found,  difpatch'd WAS. BURTON. 

I  do  not  fee  how  this  change  mends  the  fenfe  :  I  think  it  may 
be  better  regulated  as  in  the  page  above.  The  fenfe  is  interrupt- 
ed.  He  fhall  be  caught — and  found,  be  Jball  be  puni/bed.  Dif- 
patch. JOHNSON. 

1  arch— —  ]  i.  e.  Chief;  a  word  now  ufed  only  in  com- 

pofition,  as  arch-angel,  arch-duke. 

So,  in  Hey  wood's  If  you  know  not  me,  you  know  Nobody,  1613  s 
*'  Poole,  that  arch  for  truth  and  honefty."    STEEVENS. 
3  tmirtberous  coward  }  The  firft  edition  reads, 

caitiff.     JOHNSON. 

*  And  found  him  pight  to  do  it,  with  curft  Jjxecb'}  Pight  19 
pitched,  fixed,  fettled.  Curjl  is  fevere,  harfh,  vehemently  angry. 

JOHNSOJT, 

So,  in  the  old  morality  of  Lufly  Juventus,  1561  ; 
'  Therefore  my  heart  is  furely  pyght 

*  Of  her  alone  to  have  a  fight." 
Thus,    n  Troilus  and  CreJJida,  : 

*  tents 

'  Thus  proudly  pight  upon  our  Phrygian  plains.'* 

STEEVENS. 

f  •*—  would  the  repofal}    i.e.   Would  any  opinion   that  men 
have  repofed  in  thy  truft,  virtue,  &c.    WARBURTON. 
The  old  cjuano  reads,  could  the  repofure,    S  TEE  YENS. 

(As 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

( As  this  I  would  j  ay,  though  thou  didft  product 

My  very  character)  I'd  turn  it  all 

fvttyjuggtftion,  plot,  and  damned  practice  r 

And  thou  muft  make  a  dullard  of  the  world, 

If  they  not  thought  the  profits  of  my  death 

Were  very  pregnant  and  potential  fpurs 

50  make  theefeek  it.  [Trumpets  within. 

Glo.  O  6  ftrange,  faftcn'd  villain  ! 
Would  he  deny  his  letter,  faid  he  ? — I  never  got  him. 
Hark,  the  duke's  trumpets !    I  know  not  why  he 

comes  : 

All  ports  I'll  bar  ;  the  villain  mall  not  fcape  ; 
The  duke  muft  grant  me  that :  betides,  his  pidlure 
I  will  fend  far  and  near,  that  all  the  kingdom 
May  have  due  note  of  him  :  and  of  my  land, 
Loyal  and  natural  boy,  I'll  work  the  means 
To  make  thee  capable  7. 

Enter  Cornwall,  Regan,  and  attendants. 

Corn.  How  now,  my  noble  friend  ?  fmcc  I  came 

hither, 
(Which  I  can  call  but  now)  I  have  heard  ftrange  news. 

Reg.  If  it  be  true,  all  vengeance  comes  too  fhort, 
Which  can  purfue  the  offender.  How  does  my  lord  ? 

Glo.  O,  madam,  my  old  heart  is  crack'd,  is  crack'd  ! 

Reg.  What,  did  my  father's  godlbn  feek  your  life  ? 
He  whom  my  father  nam'd  ?  your  Edgar  ? 

Glo.  O,  lady,  lady,  lhame  would  have  it  hid ! 

Reg.  Was  he  not    companion  with   the  riotous 

knights 
That  tend  upon  my  father  ? 

Glo.  I  know  not,  madam  : 
It  is  too  bad,  too  bad. 

6  Strange  and,  tfc.]  Strong  and fajlened.     Quarto.     JOHNSON. 

7  Capable  of  my  land——]  i.e.  capable  of  Succeeding  to  my 
land,  nctwithitanding  the  legal  bar  of  thy  illegitimacy. 

STEEVENS. 


KING      LEAR.         4n 

Edm.  Yes,  madam,  he  was  of  that  confort. 

Reg.  No  marvel  then,  though  he  were  ill  affedted  j 
'Tis  they  have  put  him  on  the  old  man's  death, 
To  have  the  expence  and  wafte  of  his  revenues. 
I  have  this  prefent  evening  from  my  filter 
Been  well  inform'd  of  them  ;  and  with  fuch  cautions, 
That,  if  they  come  to  fojourn  at  my  houfe, 
I'll  not  be  there. 

Corn.   Nor  I,  affure  thee,  Regan. 

Edmund,  I  hear  that  you  have  Ihewn  your  father 
A  child-like  office. 

Edm.  'Twas  my  duty,  fir. 

Glo.  8  He  did  bewray  his  practice;  and  receiv'd 
This  hurt  you  fee,  ftriving  to  apprehend  him. 

Corn.  Is  he  purfu'd  ? 

Glo.  Ay,  my  good  lord. 

Corn.  If  he  be  taken,  he  Ihall  never  more 
Be  fear'd  of  doing  harm  :  make  your  own  purpofe, 
How  in  my  ftrength  you  pleafe. — For  you,  Edmund, 
Whole  virtue  and  obedience  doth  this  inftant 
So  much  commend  itfelf,  you  lhall  be  ours ; 
Natures  of  fuch  deep  trull  we  fnall  much  needj 
You  we  firlt  leize  on 

Edm.   I  lhall  ferve  you,  fir, 
Truly,  however  elfe. 

Glo.  For  him  I  thank  your  grace. 

Co?  n.  You  know  not  why  we  came  to  vifit  you,— 

8  He  did  bewray  bis  prafllce ; ]   i.e.  D  if  cover,  betray.    So, 

in  The  Downfall  of  Robert  Earl  of  Huntingtoxy   1601  : 

"  \Ye  were  bewray*  dt  befet,  and  iorc'd  to  yield." 
Again,  in  The  Devil's  C  barter ,   1607  : 

'*  Thy  foiitary  pallions  fhould  be^vray 

"  Some  diicontent." 

Praflice  is  always  ufed  by  Shakefpeare  for  injidloui  mifcbief.    So," 
in  Revenge  for  Honour,  by  Chapman  : 

"  Howe'er  thou  Icap'ic  my  frafiices  with  life." 
The  quartos  read  betray.     S'TEEVLNS. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Reg.  Thus  out  of  feafon  ;  9  threading  dark-ey'd 

night. 

*  Occafions,  noble  Glofter,  of  fome  prize, 
Wherein  we  muft  have  ufe  of  your  advice  :—  .  — 
Our  father  he  hath  writ,  fo  hath  our  fifter, 
Of  differences,  which  I  beft  thought  it  fit 
To  anfwer  *  from  our  home  ;  the  feveral  mefTengers 
From  hence  attend  difpateh.  Our  good  old  friend, 
Lay  comforts  to  your  bofom  ;  and  beflow 
Your  needful  counfel  to  our  bufmefies, 
Which  crave  the  inflant  ufe. 

Glo.  I  ferve  you,  madam  : 
Your  graces  are  right  welcome.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE      II. 

Enter  Kent  and  Steward,  feverally. 

Stew.  Good  even  *  to  thee,  friend  :  Art  of  this 

houfe  ? 
Kent.  Ay. 


9  threading  Jar&-c/J  xigbt.']  I  have  not  ventured  to  dif- 

place  this  reading,  though  "I  have  great  fufpicion  that  the  poet 
wrote  : 


•treading  dark-ey'd  night, 


i.  e.  travelling  in  it.  The  other  carries  too  obfcure  and  mean  an 
allufion.  It  muft  either  be  borrow'd  from  the  cant  phrafe  of 
threading  of  alleys,  i.e.  going  through  bye  paflages  to  avoid  the 
high  ftreets  ;  or  to  threading  a  needle  in  the  dark,  THEOBALD. 

The  quarto  reads : 

...  threafning  dark-ey'd  night.     JOHNSON-. 

Shakefpear  ufes  the  former  of  thefe  cxpreffions  in  Coriolanus : 

aft  III : 

They  would  not  thread  the  gates.     STEEVENS. 
1  Occajions,  noble  Glojler,    of  fome  prize,]     We  fhould  read, 
foize,  i.e.  weight.    WARBURTO'N. 
Prize,  or  price,  for  value.     JOHNSON. 

*  fram  our  home : ]  Not  at  home,  but  at  fome  other 

place.     JOHNSON. 

3  Good  even.'}  Thus  the  quarto.    The  folio— Good  jfenMMKt 

STEEVENS. 

Stew. 


KING      LEAR. 

S.Yw.  Where  may  we  fet  our  riorfes  ? 
JC?*/.  F  th'mire. 

^tezo.  Pr'ythee,  if  thoulove  me,  tell  me. 
Kent.  I  love  thee  not. 
Stew.  Why,  then  I  care  not  for  thee. 
Kent.  If  I  had  thee  in  4  Lipfbury  pinfold,  I  would 
make  thee  care  for  me. 

Stew. 

4  Lipjlury  pinfold,—  ]  The  allufion  which  feems  to  be 

contained  in  this  line  I  do  not  underfland.  In  the  violent  erup- 
tion of  reproaches  which  burfb  from  Kent  in  this  dialogue,  there 
are  fome  epithets  which  the  commentators  have  left  unexpound- 
ed,  and  which  I  am  not  very  able  to  make  clear.  Of  a  three- 
fuitcd  knave  I  know  not  the  meaning,  unlefs  it  be  that  he  has 
different  drefles  for  different  occupations.  Lilly -liver^'d  is  cmn'- 
tirdly ;  ivhitc-blooded  and  white-liver* d  are  flill  in  vulgar  ufe.  An 
onc-trunk-inheriting  Jl&uc,  I  take  tu  be  a  wearer  of  old  call-off 
deaths,  an  inheritor  of  torn  breeches.  JOHNSON. 

I  do  not  find  the  name  of  Li£/lury :  it  may  be  a  cant  phrafe, 
with  fome  corruption,  taken  from  a  plnce  where  the  fines  were 
arbitrary.  Tbrec-f tilted  ihould,  I  believe,  be  third-fuited,  wearing 
cloaths  at  the  third-band.  Edgar,  in  his  pride,  had  tfwec  fuits 
only.  FARMER. 

Lipjlury  pinfold  may  be  a  cant  expreffion  importing  the  feme  23 
Lol>'t  Pound.     So,  in  Maffinger's  Duke  of  Milan  : 
44  To  marry  her,  and  fay  he  was  the  party 
**  Found  in  Lob's  Pound." 

A  Pinfold  is  a  pound.  Thus  in  Gafcoigne's  Dan  Bartiwlextsvj 
of  Bailie,  1587  : 

"  In  fuch  a  pin- foldv  were  his  pleafures  pent.*' 

Three  fuifcd  knave  might  mean,  in  an  age  of  oilentatious  finery 
like  that  of  Shakefpeare,  one  who  had  no  greater  change  of 
rayment  than  three  fuits  would  furnifh  him  with  ;  fo,  in  Ben  Jon- 
fon's  Silent  Woman:  "  — wert  a  pitiful  fellow,  and  hadft  nothing 
but  three  fuits  of  apparel :"  or  it  may  fignify  a  fellow  tbrice-fued 
at  /aw,  who  has  three  fuits  for  debt  ftanding  out  againft  him.  A 
one-trunk-inheriting Jlave  may  be  ufed  to  fignify  a  fellow,  the 
whole  of  whofe  pofleffions  are  confined  to  one  coffer,  and  that  too 
inherited  from  his  father,  who  was  no  better  provided,  or  had 
nothing  more  to  bequeath  to  his  fuccejjbr  in  poverty  ;  a  poor  rogue 
hereditary,  as  Tinton  calls  Apemantus.  A  worftcd-ftocking  knave  is 
another  reproach  of  the  lame  kind.  The  (lockings  in  Eng- 
land, in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth  (  as  I  learn  from 
Stubbs's  Anatomic  of  Abufes,  printed  in  1 595 )  were  remarkably 

expen- 


4i4         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Stew.  Why  doft  thou  ufe  me  thus  ?  I  know  thee 
not. 

Kent.  Fellow,  I  know  thee. 

Stew.  What  doft  thou  know  me  for  ? 

Kent.  A  knave,  a  rafcal,  an  eater  of  broken  meats ; 
a  bafe,  proud,  (hallow,  beggarly,  three-fuited,  'hun- 
dred-pound, filthy  worfted-ftocking  knave ;  a  lilly- 
liver'd,  action -taking  knave ;  a  whorfon,  glafs-gazing, 
fuper-ferviceable,  finical  rogue ;  one-trunk-inheriting 
Have  ;  one  that  would'ft  be  a  bawd,  in  way  of  good 
fervice,  and  art  nothing  but  the  compofition  of  a 
knave,  beggar,  coward,  pandar,  and  the  fon  and  heir 
of  a  mungrel  bitch  :  one  whom  I  will  beat  into  cla- 
morous whining,  if  thou  deny'ft  the  leaft  fyllable  of 
thy  addition  6. 

Stew.  Why,  what  a  monftrous  fellow  art  thou,  thus 

expenfive,  and  fcarce  any  other  kind  than  filk  were  worn,  e%-en 
(as  this  author  fays)  by  thofe  who  had  not  above  forty  fhillings  a 
year  wages.— So,  in  an  old  comedy,  called  The  Hog  bath  loft  bis 
Pearl,  1611,  by  R.Taylor: 

"  good  parts  are  no  more  fet  by  in  thefe  times,  than  a 

good  leg  in  a  woollen  ftocking" 
Again,  in  The  Captain,  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  : 

"  Green  fickneffcs  and  ferving-men  light  on  you, 
"  With  greafy  breeches,  and  in  topolkaftocliitgs. 
Again,  in   the  Miferies  of  inforc'd  Marriage,  1607:  Two  fober 
young  men  come  to  claim  their  portion  from  their  elder  brother 
who  is  a  fpendthriit,  and  tel!  him  :  "  Our  birthright,  good  brother : 
this  town  craves  maintenance  ;  Jilk-ftockings  mull  be  had,  &c." 

Silk  ftockings  were  not  made  in  England  till  1560,  the  fecond 
year  of  queen  Elizabeth's  reign.  Of  this  extravagance  Drayton 
takes  notice  in  the  i6th  fong  of  his  Polyolbion  ; 

"  Which  our  plain  fathers  erft  would  have  accounted  fin 
"  Before  the  coftly  coach  and  filkcnftock  came  in." 

STEEVEN-S. 

5   i       'hundred-pound, ]   A  hundred-found  gentleman  is  a  term 

of  reproach  ufed  in  Midclleton's  fhcenix,  1607.     STEEVENS. 

—  °  addition.'}  i.e.  titles.  The  act  i  Hen.  V.  ch.  v.  which  di- 
rects that  in  certain  writs,  a  defcription  ihould  be  added  to  the 
name  of  the  defendant,  exprellive  of  his  eitate,  myilcry,  degree, 
&c,  is  called  the  ibtute  of  Additions.  MALONE. 

to 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         415 

to  rail  on  one,  that  is  neither  known  of  thee,  nor 
knows  thee? 

Kent.  What  a  brazen-fac'd  varlet  art  thou,  to  deny 
thou  know'ft  me  ?  Is  it  two  days  ago,  fince  I  tript 
up  thy  heels,  and  beat  thee,  before  the  king  ?  Draw, 
you  rogue  :  for,  though  it  be  night,  yet  the  moon 
Ihines  ;  7  I'll  make  a  fop  o'  the  moonihine  of  you  : 
Draw  you  whorefon  cullionly  Sarbcr-monger,  8  draw. 

[Drawing  his  fword. 

Stew.  Away  ;  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  thee. 

Kent.  Draw,  you  rafcal  :  you  come  with  letters 
againft  the  king ;  and  take  '•>  vanity  the  puppet-'s  parr, 
againft  the  royalty  of  her  father  :  Draw,  you  rogue, 
or  I'll  fo  carbonado  your  ihanks  : — draw,  you  rafcal ; 
come  your  ways. 

Stew.  Help,  ho  !  murder !  help  ! 

i  . Til  make  a  fop  o*  tie  moon/bine  of  you.— —  ]  This  Is 

equivalent  to  our  modern  phrafc  of  making  the  fun  Jkine  through 
any  one.  But,  alluding  to  the  natural  philofophy  of  that  time, 
it  is  obfcure.  The  Peripatetics  thought,  though  falfely,  that  the 
rays  of  the  moon  were  cold  and  moift.  The  ipeaker  therefore 
fays,  he  would  make  a  fop  of  his  antagonift,  which  fhould  abforb 
the  humidity  of  the  moon's  rays,  by  letting  them  into  his  guts. 
For  this  reafon  Shakefpeare,  in  Romeo  and  Juliet,  fays: 

*«  .   the  moonfliine's  watry  beams." 

And,  in  the  Midfummer  Night's  Dream  : 

"  Quench'd  in  the  chart  beams  of  the  ivatry  moon." 

WARBURTON. 

r  Til  make  a  fop  o' the  moonfliine  of  you.'}  Perhaps  here  an  equi- 
voque was  intended.  In  the  Old  Shepherd's  Kahndar,  among  the 
difhes  recommended  for  Prymetync,  '*  One  is  cgges  in  moncjhine" 

FARMER. 

•  —-larler-mongtr, ]  Of  this  word  I  do  not  clearly  fee 

the  force.     JOHNSON. 

Barber-monger  may  mean,  dealer  in  the  lower  tradcfmen  :  a  flur 
upon  the  fleward,  as  taking  fees  for  a  recommendation  to  the  bu- 
finefs  of  the  family,  FARMER. 

9 vanity  the  puppet's ]   Alluding  to  the  myfteries  or 

allegorical  (hews,  in  which  vanity,  iniquity,  and  other  vices, 
were  perfonified,  JOHNSON. 

Kent. 


4i6         K    I    N    G      L    £    A    R, 

Kent.  Strike,  you  Have ;  fland,  rogue,  fland  « 
you  *  neat  Have,  ftrike.  [Beating  kirn* 

-Stew.  Help  ho  !  murder  !  murder  ! 

Enter  Edmund,  Cornwall,  Regan,  Glofler,  and  Servants* 

Edm.  How  now  ?  What's  the  matter  ?  Part. 

Kent.  With  you,  goodman  boy,  if  youpleafe;  come, 
I'll  flefli  you  ;  come  on,  young  matter. 

Glo.  Weapons  !  arms  !  What's  the  matter  here  ? 

Corn.  Keep  peace,  upon  your  lives ; 
He  dies,  that  ftrikes  again  :  What  is  the  matter? 

Reg.  The  meflengers  from  our  fitter  and  the  king. 

Corn.  What  is  your  difference  ?  fpeak. 

Stew.  I  am  fcarce  in  breath,  my  lord. 

Kent.  No  marvel,  you  have  fo  beftirr'd  your  Valour. 
You  cowardly  rafcal,  *  nature  difclaims  in  thee  ; 
A  tailor  made  thee. 

Corn.  Thou  art  a  ftrange  fellow  : 
A  tailor  make  a  man  ? 

Kent.  Ay,  a  tailor,  fir :  a  flone-cutter,  or  a  painter, 

•  neatjlave, ]  You  mere  flave,  you  very  flave. 

JaHNSON. 

You  ncatjlave,  I  believe,  means  no  more  than  yau  finical  mf- 
ra/,  you  who  are  an  afiemblage  of  foppery  and  poverty.  Ben  Jou- 
fon  ufes  the  fame  epithet  in  his  Poetafter : 

"  By  thy  leave,  my  neat  fcoundrel."    STEEVENS. 

*  ——nature  difclaims  In  tbee ;}  So  the  quartos  and  the  folio. 
The  modern  editors  read,  without  authority  : 

nature  difclaims  her  Jbare  in  thee. 

The  old  reading  is  the  true  one.    So,   in  R.  Brome's  Northern 
Lafs,   1633: 

"          -  I  will  dlfclaim  in  your  favour  hereafter." 
Again,  in  The  Cafe  is  Alter* d,  by  Ben  Jonfon,   1609  : 

««  Thus  to  difclaim  in  all  th'efteds  of  pleafure." 
Again  : 

"  No,  I  difclaim  in  her,  I  fpit  at  her." 

Again,  in  Warner's  Albion's  England,  1602,  B.  III.  chap,  xvl : 
"  Not  thefe,  my  lords,    make  me  d'rfdaim    in  it  which 
all  purfue."    STEEVEX*. 

could 


K    I    N    G      L     E     A    R.         417 

could  not  have  made  him  fo  ill,  though  they  ha4 
been  but  two  hours  at  the  trade. 

Corn.  Speak  yet,  how  grew  your  qu.irrcl  ? 

Stew.  This  ancient  ruftian,  fir,  whofe  life  I  have 

fpar'd, 
At  fuit  of  his  grey  beard, — — 

Kent.  J  Thou  whorefon  zed  !  thou  unneceffary  let- 
ter ! — My  lord,  if  you  will  give  me  leave,  I  will  tread 
4  this  unbolted  villain  s  into  mortar,  and  daub  the  wall 
of  a  jakes  with  him. — Spare  my  grey  beard,  you 
wagtail  ? 

Corn. 

3   Thou  ivborfon  zed!  tbou  unneceffary   letter  I "\   I  do   not 

well  underftand  how  a  man  is  reproached  by  being  called  zed,  nor 
how  Z  is  an  unnecejjary  letter.  Scarron  compares  his  deformity 
to  the  fhape  of  Z,  and  it  may  be  a  proper  word  of  infult  to  a 
crook-backed  man  ;  but  why  (hould  Goneril's  iteward  be  crook- 
ed, unlefs  the  allufion  be  to  his  bending  or  cringing  pofture  in 
the  prefcnce  of  his  fuperiors.  Perhaps  it  was  written,  tbou 
ivborefon  C  (for  cuckold)  tbou  unnecejjary  Utter.  C  is  a  letter 
unnecelfary  in  our  alphabet,  one  ot  its  two  founds  being  repre- 
fented  by  S,  and  one  by  K.  But  all  the  copies  concur  in  the 
common  reading.  JOHNSON.  , 

77"  Y    •.-horefon  zed!  thott  unnecrfTary  letter  ! ]  Zed  is   here 

probably  ufed  as  a  term  of  contempt,  becaufe  it  is  the  laft  letter 
in  the  EngUfli  alphabet,  and  as  its  place  may  be  fupplied  by  S, 
and  the  Roman  alphabet  has  it  not ;  neither  is  it  read  in  my 
word  originally  Teutonic.  In  Barret's  Alvearic,  or  Quadruple 
Dictionary,  1580,  it  is  quite  omitted,  as  the  author  affirms  it  to 
be  rather  a  fy liable  than  a  letter.  C  cannot  be  the  unneceilary 
letter,  as  there  are  many  words  in  which  its  place  will  not  be  iup- 
plied  by  any  other,  as  charity,  cbaf.ity,  &c.  STEEVENS. 

T7.'ou  wborcfon  zed!  tbou  unnecejjary  letter.  This  is  taken  from 
the  grammarians  of  the  time.  Mulcalter  fays,  "  Z  is  much; 
harder  amongft  us,  and  fehlom  feen  : — S  is  become  its  lieutenant 
general.  It  is  lightlie  expreffed  in  Englifh,  faving  in  foren  en- 
tranchifments."  FARMER. 

*  —  this  unbolted  villain ]  i.e.  unrefined  by  education,  the 

bran  yet  in  him.     Metaphor  from  the  bakehoufe.    WAR  BUR  TON, 

5  into  mortar^ ]  This  exprellion  was  much  in  ufe 

in  our  author's  time.  So,  Maffinger,  in  his  AV.u  Way  to  pay  old 
Debfs,  aft  I.  fcene  i  : 

"  1, will  help  your  memory, 

"  And  tread  tbee  Into  mortar"    STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  E  c  Uriah** 


4x3         KING      LEAR, 

Corn.  Peace,  firrah  ! 
You  beaftly  knave,  know  you  no  reverence  ? 

Kent.  Yes,  fir ;  but  anger  hath  a  privilege. 

Corn.  Why  art  thou  angry  ? 

Kent.  That  fuch  a  flave  as  this  fhould  wear  a  fword, 
Who  wears  no  honefty.  Such  fmiling  rogues  as  theic, 
*  Like  rats,  oft  bite  the  holy  cords  in  twain 

Too 

Unbolted  mortar  is  mortar  made  of  unfifted  lime,  and  therefore 
to  break  the  lumps  it  is  neceflary  to  tread  it  by  men  in  wooden 
flioes.  This  unbolted  villain  is  therefore  this  coarfe  rafcal. 

TOLLET. 
6  Like  rats,  oft  lite  the  hoJy  cords  atvvaine, 

Which  are  /'  intrince,  «'  unloofe ; } 

Thus  the  firil  editors  blundered  this  paflage  into  unintelligible 
nonfenfe.  Mr.  Pope  fo  far  has  dilengaged  it,  as  to  give  us  plain 
lenfe  ;  but  by  throwing  out  the  epithet  holy,  it  is  evident  that  he 
was  not  aware  of  the  poet's  fine  meaning.  I  will  firft  eftablifh 
and  prove  the  reading,  then  explain  the  allufion.  Thus  the  poet 
gave  it : 

Like  rats,  oft  bite  the  holy  cords  in  twain, 

Too  Intrlnjlcate  t'  unloofe  : 

This  word  again  occurs  in  our  author's  Antony  and  Cleopatra^ 
where  fhe  is  ipeaking  to  the  Afpick  : 

"   Come,  mortal  wretch  ; 

«'  With  thy  fliarp  teeth  this  knot  intrinficate 

"  Of  life  at  once  untie." 

And  we  meet  with  it  in  Cynthia  3  Revels,  by  Ben  Jonfon. 

Yet  there  are  certain  J>n?;f}H!os,  or,  as  I  may  more  nakedly  injiiinalc 
them,  certain  intrinficate  jlroka  and  worth,  to  which  your  (jfUvity 
ii  not  yet  amounted,  &c.  It  means  inward,  hidden,  perplex r; 
as  a  knot,  hard  to  be  unravelled  :  it  is  derived  from  the  Latin 
adverb  intrinfecm ;  from  which  the  Italians  have  coined  a  very 
beautiful  phrafe,  intrhfaarft  col  une,  i.  e.  to  grow  intimate  with, 
to  wind  one  felf  into  another.  And  now  to  our  author's  fenle. 
Kent  is  rating  the  fteward,  as  a  paralite  of  Goneril's  ;  and 
fuppofes  very  juitly,  that  he  has  fomented  the  quarrel  betwixt 
that  princefs  and  her  father  :  in  which  office  he  compares  him  to 
a  facrilegious  rat. :  and  bv  a  fine  metaphor,  as  Mr.  Warburtoti 
obferved  to  me,  ftiles  the  union  between  parents  and  children 
the  My  cords.  "THEOBALD. 

Like  rats,  oft  brte  the  holy  cords  in  twain 

Too  intrinficate  t*  unloofe : ] 

By  thefe  holy  cords  the  poet  means  the  natural  union  between  pa- 
rents and  children.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from  the  cords  of  th* 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Too  'intrinficate  t'unloofe  :  footh  every  paflion 
That  in  the  nature  of  their  lords  rebels ; 
Bring  oil  to  fire,  fnow  to  their  colder  moods  ; 
Renege,  affirm,  7  and  turn  their  halcyon  beaks 
With  every  gale  and  vary  of  their  mailers  ; 
Knowing  nought,  like  dogs,  but  following.— 
A  plague  upon  your  *  epileptic  vifage  ! 
Smile  you  my  fpeeches,  as  I  were  a  fool  ? 
Goofe,  if  I  had  you  upon  Sarum  plain, 
I'd  drive  ye  cackling  home  to  9  Camelot. 

Com.  What  art  thou  mad,  old  fellow  ? 

Glo.  How  fell  you  out  ?  fay  that. 

fanRuary  ;  and  the  fomenters  of  family  differences  are  compared 
to  thefc  {acrilegious  rats.     The  expreffion  is  fine  and  noble. 

WARBURTON. 
7  •   -and turn  their  halcyon  beaks 

With  ev'jy  gale  and  vary  of  their  mafters ;  ] 

The  halcyon  is  the  bird  otherwife  called  the  king-ji/ber.     The 
vulgar  opinion  was,  that  this  bird,  if  hung  up,  would  vary  with 
the  wind,  and  by  that  means  fhew  from  what  point  it  blew. 
So,  in  Marlow's  Jew  of  Malta,   1633  : 
*'  But  how  now  Hands  the  wind  ? 
«*  Into  what  corner  peers  my  Halcyon's  Ml?" 
Again,  in  Storer's  Life  and  Death  of  Tho.  Wolfey^  Cardinal^  :, 
poem,   1 599  : 

"  Or  as  a  halcyon  with  her  turning  breft, 
"  Demonftrates  wind  from  wind,  and  eaft  from  well." 

STEEVENS. 

8  epileptic  vifage!}  The  frighted  countenance  of  a  man 

ready  to  fall  in  a  fit.     JOHNSON. 

»  Camelot}  Was  the  place  where  the  romances  fay 

king  Arthur  kept  his  court  in  the  Weft  ;  fo  this  alludes  to  fome 
proverbial  fpeech  in  thofe  romances.     WAR  BUR.  TON. 
So,  in  the  Birth  of  Merlin,   1662  : 

**  raife  more  powers 

"  To  man  with  ftrength  the  caftle  Camelot'' 
Again,  in  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  Song  III  : 

"  Like  Camclot,  what  place  was  ever  yet  renown'd  ? 
**  Where,  as  at  Carlion,  oft  he  kept  the  table  round." 

STEEVENS. 

In  Somerfetfhire,  near  Camelot,  are  many  large  moors,  where 
are  bred  great  quantities  of  geefe,  fo  that  many  other  places  are 
from  hence  fupplied  with  quills  and  feathers .  HA  N  v.  E  R  . 

E  e  2  Kent. 


42o  K     I     N     G       L     E     A    R. 

Kent.  No  contraries  hold  more  antipathy  ', 
Than  I  and  fuch  a  knave. 

Corn.  Why  dofl  thou  call  him  knave  ?  What's  his 
offence  ? 

Kent.  His  countenance  likes  me  not  *. 

Ccrft*  No  more,  perchance,  docs  mine,  or  his,  or 
hers. 

Kent.  Sir,  'tis  my  occupation  to  be  plain  ; 
I  have  feen  better  faces  in  my  time, 
Than  {land  on  any  fhouldcr  that  I  fee 
Before  me  at  this  inftant. 

Corn.  This  is  fome  fellow, 

Who,  having  been  prais'd  for  bluntnefs,  doth  affedt 
A  faucy  roughnefs  ;  and  '  conftrains  the  garb, 
Quite  from  hi-s  nature  :  He  cannot  flatter,  he  !  — 
An  honeft  mind  and  plain, — he  mult  fpeak  truth  : 
An  they  \vill  take  it,  fo;  if  not,  he's  plain. 
Thefe  kind  of  knaves  I  know,  which  in  this  plainncfs 
Harbour  more  craft,  and  more  corrupter  ends, 
4  Than  twenty  filly  ducking  obfervants, 
That  flretch  their  duties  nicely. 

Kent. 

1  No  contraries  bold  more  antlpatly^ 

Than  I  andfuch  a  knave.] 
Hence  Mr.  Pope's  expreflion  : 

"  The  itrong  antipathy  of  good  to  bad."     TOLLET. 

"*•  likes  me  not.]  \.  e.  pleafes  me  not.     So,  in  Every  Mar. 

tut  of  Ij'n  Humour : 

"  I  did  but  cart  an  amorous  eye,  e'en  now, 

"  Upon  a  pair  of  gloves  that  fomewhat  /;iV  me." 

STEEVENS. 

3  '         conftrains  the  garb 

Sbtitcfrom  bit  nature.— ] 

Forces  his  outfiJe  or   his  appearance  to  fomething  totally  ti'JTtrent 
from\ns  natural  dilpoiition.     JOHNSON. 

4  Tl>an  twenty  filly  ducking  obfervants^}  The  epithet  filly  can- 
not be  right,  ift,  Bccaufc  Coiuwall,  in  this  beautiful  ipeech, 
is  not  talking  of  the  different  fuccrfs  of  thefe  two  kinds  of  para- 
iitcs,  but  of  their  dffircat  corruptions  of  bean,  ad,  Becaufe  he 
1-vs  thefe  ducking  ubfcrvants  know  hovj  to  ftretch  their  duties 

I  am  perfuaded  we  fhould  read  : 
Than  twenty  'f-P.-y  ducking  obfervants, 

which 


KING       LEAR.         421 

Kent.  Sir,  in  good  (both,  or  in  finccre  verity, 
Under  the  allowance  of  your  grand  afpe(£r, 
Whofe  influence,  like  the  wreath  of  radiant  fire 
5  On  flickering  Phoebus'  front, 

Cor.  What  mean'ft  thou  by  this  ? 

Kent.  To  go  out  of  my  dialed,  which  von  difcom- 
mend  Ib  much.  I  know,  fir,  I  am  no  flatterer:  he 
that  beguil'd  you,  in  a  plain  accent,  was  a  plain 
knave;  which,  for  my  part,  I  will  not  be,  6  though 

which  not  only  alludes  to  the  garb  of  a  court  fycophant,  but  ad- 
mirably well  denotes  the  fmoothnefs  of  his  cbarafler.  But  what  is 
more,  the  poet  generally  gives  them  this  epithet  ia  other  places. 
So,  in  RicbarJ  \\\.  he  calls  them  : 

"    Silky,  lly,  inlinuating  Jacks." 

And,  in  Coriolanus: 

*' when  fteel  grows 

"  Soft  as  the paraf.tf1  s filk" \\~ARSURTON'. 

The  alteration  is  more  ingenious  than  the  arguments  by  which 
it  is  fupported.  JOHNSON. 

Silly  means  only  Jim  pie,  or  ruftic.  So,  in  Cymbdine,  aft  V. 
fc  iii  : 

"  There  was  a  fourth  man  in  a  filly  habit,"  meaning  Pofthu- 
mus  in  the  drefs  or"  a  peafant.     Nicely  isfoolijbly.     Ninis.  Fr. 

STEEVKNS. 

5  On  flickering  Pbcelu?  front— ]  Dr.  Johnfon  in  his  Dictionary 
fays  thts  word  means  \.o  flutter.  I  meet  with  it  in  The  Hiflory  of 
Clyomon,  Knight  of  the  Golden  Shield,  I  599  : 

"  By  fly  ing 'force  of  flickering  fame  your  grace  fliall  under- 

ftand.'" 
Again,  in  The  Pilgrim   of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  : 

"  • fome  caftrel 

"  That  hovers  over  her,  and  dares  her  daily  ; 

"  Sorne  flicknng  flave." 

Sir  Thomas  North,  in  his  tranflation  of  Plutarch,  talks  of  the 
flickering  enticements  of.Clenpatra — Stunyhurft,  in  his  traoflatioo 
of  the  fourth  book  of  Virgil's  JEncid,  1582,  defcribes  Iris, 

**  From  the  fky  down  flickering,  &c." 
And  again  in  the  old  play,  entitled,  Fuimus  Trees,   1603  : 

*'  V/ith  gaudy  pennons  flickering  in  the  air." 
Again,  in  the  Arraignment  of  Paris,    i  584  : 

"  Her  turtles  and  her  fwans  unyoked  be, 
u  Andjftcfyr  near  her  fide  for  company."     STF.EVE\TS. 
"•  ••  though  I Jbould  win  your  difpkafure   to  intreat  me  /i)V.] 

Though  I  fliould  win  you,  diipleafed  as  you  now  iire,  to  like  me 
fb  well  as  to  intreat  me  to  be  a  knave.  JOHNSON. 

E  e  3  I  fhould 


422         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

I  fhould  win  your  difpleafure  to  entreat  me  to  if. 

Cor.  What  was  the  offence  you  gave  him  ? 

Stew..  I  never  gave  him  any  : 
It  pleas'd  the  king  his  mafler,  very  late, 
To  flrike  at  me,  upon  his  mifconftruclion  ; 
When  he,  7  conjunct,  and  flattering  his  difpleafure, 
Tript  me  behind  ;  being  down,  infulted,  rail'd, 
And  put  upon  him  fuch  a  deal  of  man,  that 
That  worthy'd  him,  got  praifes  of  the  king 
For  him  attempting  who  was  felf-fubdu'd  ; 
And,  in  the  fleflimentof  this  dread  exploit, 
Drew  on  me  here  again. 

Kent.  None  of  thefe  rogues,  and  cowards, 
8  But  Ajax  is  their  fool. 

Corn.  Fetch  forth  the  flocks,  ho ! 
You  ftubborn  ancient  knave 5,  you  reverend  braggart, 
We'll  teach  you 

Kent.  Sir,  I  am  too  old  to  learn  : 
Call  not  your  flocks  for  me  :  I  ferve  the  king ; 
On  whofe  employment  I  was  fent  to  you  : 
You  fhall  do  fmall  refped:,  Ihew  too  bold  malice 
Againft  the  grace  and  perfon  of  my  mailer. 
Stocking  his  meiTenger. 

Corn.  Fetch  forth  the  flocks  : — 
As  I  have  life  and  honour,  there  fhall  he  fit  'till  noon. 

Regan.  'Till  noon  !  'till  night,  my  lord  ;  and  all 
night  too. 

7  ConjunR  is  the  reading  of  the  old  quartos  :  compa£l>  of  the 
folio.     STEEVENS. 

8  But  Ajax  is  their  foo!.]   Their  fool  means  here,   their  <$*//, 
their  laugh/ng-Jtock.     Thefe  finical  puppies    (fays  Kent)    thefe 
rogues  and  cowards  t  never  meet  with  a  man  fuperior  to  themfelves, 
but  they  make  him  their  jeft,  like  Ajax  with  Therfitts.     Shake- 
fpeare's  idea  of  Ajax   may  be  feen   in  his  Troilus  and  CrcJJiJa^ 
\vhere  he  is  the  fool  of  the  play,  and  the  conftant  cbjed't  ot  Thcr- 

Jitei'  ridicule,   for  a  fcurvy  valiant  afs,  Mars1!  ideot,  &C. 

STEEVENS, 

9   ancient  knave."]    Two    of  the  quartos  read — mfircant 

knave,  and  one  oi  them — vnrevcrentt  initead  of  reverend. 

STEEVENS. 

Kent. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         423 

Kent.  Why,  madam,  if  I  were  your  father's  dog> 
You  fhould  not  life  me  fo. 

Reg.  Sir,  being  his  knave,  I  will. 

[Stocks  brought  out f. 

Corn.  This  is  a  fellow  of  the  felf-fame  colour  * 
Our  filter  fpeaks  of  : — Come,  bring  away  the  flocks, 

Glo.  Let  me  befeech  your  grace  not  to  do  fo  : 
3  *  His  fault  is  much,  and  the  good  king  his  mafter 
Will  check  him  for't :  your  purpos'd  low  correction 
Is  fuch,  as  bafefl  and  the  meaneft  4  wretches, 
For  pilferings  and  moft  common  trefpafies, 
Are  punifh'd  with  *  :  the  king  mult  take  it  ill, 
That  he,  fo  flightly  valu'd  in  his  meflenger, 
Should  have  him  thus  reflrain'd. 

Corn.  I'll  anfwer  that.     . 

Reg.  My  filter  may  receive  it  much  more  worfe, 
To  have  her  gentleman  abus'd,  aflaulted, 
For  following  her  affairs. — Put  in  his  legs. — — 

[Kent  is  put  in  the  flocks  *. 
Come,  my  good  lord  ;  away. 

[Exeunt  Regan,  and  Cornwall. 

Glo.  I  am  forry  for  thee,  friend;  'tis  the  duke's 

pleafure, 
Whofe  difpofition,  all  the  world  well  knows, 

1  — -flocks]  This  is  not  the  firft  time  that  (locks  had  been  intro- 
duced on  the  ftage.  In  Hick-fcorner,  which  was  printed  early  in 
the  reigu  of  K.  Henry  VIII.  Pity  is  put  into  them  and  left  there 
till  he  is  freed  by  Perfe-veraunce  and  Contcniplacyon.  STEEVENS. 

a  colour. ~\  The  quartos  read,  nature.     STEEVENS. 

3  His  fault— •  ]  All  between  the  afterilks  is  omitted  in  the  folio. 

STEEVENS. 

4  tie  meaneft ]  This  is  a  conjectural  emendation  by 

Mr.  Pope.     The  quartos  read—  and  temneft,    perhaps,    for  c-on- 
tcmnetfft.     STEEVEXS. 

5  I  know  not  whether  this  circumftance  of  putting  Kent  in  the 
fiocks  be  not  ridiculed  in  the  punifhment  of  Numps,  in  jjen  Jon- 
fon's  Bartholomew-Fair. 

It  fliould  be  remembered,  that  formerly  in  great  houfes,  as  ftill 
in  fome  colleges,  there  were  moveable  'foctx  for  the  correction 
«f  the  f«rvants.  FARMER. 

E  e  4  Will 


424          KING       LEAR. 

*  Will  not  be  rubb'd,  nor  ftopp'd  :  I'll  entreat  for  thee, 
Kent.  Pray,    do   not,    fir  :    I  have  watch'd,    and 

travell'd  hard  ; 

Some  time  I  {hall  ileep  out,  the  reft  I'll  whittle. 
A  good  man's  fortune  may  grow  out  at  heels  : 
Give  you  good  morrow  ! 

Glo.  The  duke's  to  blame  in  this;  'twill  be  ill  taken, 

[£»>, 
Kent.  7  Good  king,  that  mud  approve  the  common 

faw  ! 

Thou  out  of  heaven's  benedidtion  com'ft 
To  rhe  warm  fun  ! 
Approach,  thou  beacon  to  this  under  globe, 

'[Looking  v.p  lo  the  moon. 
That  by  thy  comfortable  beams  I  may 
Perufc  this  letter  ! — Nothing  almoft  fees  miracles s ; 
But  milery, — 9  I  know,  'tis  from  Cordelia  ; 

[Reading  the  letter* 
Who 

6  Will  not  le  rubVd,  nor  Jtofp'd. ]    Metaphor  from 

bowling.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

'  Good  king,  tbat  n:ujl  approve  the  common  Jaw  !\  That  art 
now  ro  exemplify  the  common  proverb,  That  out  nf,  &c.  That 
chau&eft  better  for  worfe,  Hanmer  obferves,  that  it  is  a  pro- 
ve''bial  faying,  applied  to  thofe  who  are  turned  out  of  houfe  and 
home  to  the  open  weather.  It  was  perhaps  firit  uicd  of  men  dif- 
mified  from  an  hofpital,  or  houfe  or"  charity,  fuch  as  was  ei  efted 
formerly  in  many  places  for  travellers.  Thofe  houfes  had 
names  properly  enough  alluded  to  by  heaven 's  leucdiftion* 

JOHNSON. 

The/rf<u>  alluded  to,  is  in  Hey  wood's  Dialogues  on  Proverbs, 
book  ii,  chap.  5. 

"  In  your  renning  from  him  to  me,  ye  runne 
•  "  Out  of  God'*  biffing  into  the  ivarmc  funne" 

TYRWHITT. 

* — Nothing  almoftftfs  miracles,]  Thus  the  folio.  The  quartos 
read — Nothing  alinoft  fees  my  wrack.  STEEVENS. 

9  • /  know  *titfro9i  Cordelia,  &c. "]    This  paffage,  which 

feme  of  the  editors  have  degraded  as  fpurious,  to  the  margin, 
and  others  have  filently  altered,  I  have  faithfully  printed  ac- 
cording to  the  quarto,  from  which  the  folio  difters  only  in  punc- 
tuation. The  paffage  is  very  obfcure,  if  cot  corrupt.  Perhaps 
it  may  be  read  thus ; 


KING      LEAR.         425 

AVho  hath  mofl  fortunately  been  inform'd 
Of  my  obfcured  courfe  ; — '  and fiall  find  time 

From  this  enormous  flat 'e, feeking  to  give 

Loffes  their  remedies  ; — All  weary  and  o'er-watch'd, 
Take  vantage,  heavy  eyes,  not  to  behold 
This  fhameful  lodging. 

Fortune,good  night;  fmile  once  more;  turnthywhecl! 

[Hejleeps. 

SCENE     III. 

Apart  of  the  heath. 

Enter  Edgar. 

EJg.  I  heard  myfelf  proclaim'd  ; 
And,  by  the  happy  hollow  of  a  tree, 
Efcap'd  the  hunt.     No  port  is  free ;  no  place, 

Cordelia has  been informed 

Of  my  obfcured  courfe,  and  {hall  find  time 
From  this  enormous  ftate-feeking,  to  give 

Lofles  their  remedies. 

Cordelia  is  informed  of  our  affairs,  and  when  the  enormous  care  of 
fceking  her  fortune  will  allow  her  time,  fhe  will  employ  it  in  re- 
medying lofles.  This  is  harfh  ;  perhaps  fomething  better  may  be 
found.  I  have  at  leaft  fupplied  the  genuine  reading  of  the  old, 
copies.  Enormous  is  unwonted,  out  of  rule,  out  of  the  ordinary 
courfe  of  things.  JOHNSON. 

So  Holinmed,  p.  647,  "  The  maior  perceiving  this  enormous 
doing,  &c."  STEEVENS. 

1 and  Jb  all  find  time 

From  this  enormous  Jiate^  fceking  to  give 

Loffes  their  remedies, ] 

I  confefs  I  do  not  underfland  this  paflage,  unlefs  it  may  be 
confidered  as  divided  parts  of  Cordelia 's  letter ,  which  he  is  reading 
to  himielf  by  moonlight :  it  certainly  conveys  the  fenfe  of  what 
fhe  would  have  faid.  In  reading  a  letter,  it  is  natural  enough  to 
dwell  on  thofe  circumltances  in  it  that  promile  the  change  in  our 
affairs  which  we  moft  wifli  for"  ;  and  Kent  having  read  Cordelia's  af- 
furances  that  fhe  will  find  a  time  to  free  the  injured  from  the  enorm* 
ous  mifrule  of  Regan,  is  willing  to  go  to  fleep  with  that  pleafing 
reflexion  uppermolt  in  his  mind.  But  thi$  is  mere  conjecture. 

STEEVEKS. 

That 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

That  guard,  and  molt  nnufual  vigilance, 

Does  not  attend  my  taking.     While  I  may  fcape, 

I  will  preferve  myfelf :  and  am  bethought 

To  take  the  bafeft  and  mod  pooreft  ihape, 

That  ever  penury,  in  contempt  of  man, 

Brought  near  to  beaft  :  my  face  I'll  grime  with  filth ; 

Blanket  my  loins ;  *  elf  all  my  hair  in  knots  ; 

And  with  prefented  naked nefs  out-face 

The  winds,  and  perfecutions  of  the  fky. 

The  country  gives  me  proof  and  precedent 

Of  Bedlam  beggars  %  who,  with  roaring  voices, 

Strike  in  their  numb'd  and  mortify'd  bare  arms 

Pins,  wooden  pricks  4,  nails,  fpiigs  of  rofemary ; 

And  with  this  horrible  object  from  low  farms  J, 

*  —  elf  all  my  hair  in  knots  ;~\  Hair  thus   knotted,    was 

vulgarly  fuppofed  to  be  the  work  of  elves  and  fairies  in  the  night. 
So,  in  Romeo  and  Juliet  : 

"  plats  the  manes  of  horfes  in  the  night, 

**  And  cakes  the  elf-locks  in  foul  fluttifh  hairs, 

"  Which,  once  untangled,  much  misfortune  bodes." 

STEKVENS. 

3  Of  Realam  beggars,"]  In  the  Bell-man  of  London ,  by  Decker, 
^th  edit.  1640,  is  the  following  account  of  one  of  thefe  charac- 
ters, under  the  title  of  an  Abraham-Man.  **  -he  fwcares  he 

hath  been  in  Bedlam,  and  will  talke  frantickely  of  purpofe  :  you 
fee  fifties  ftuck  in  fundry  places  of  his  naked  fiefh,  efpccially  in 
his  arwcs,  which  paine  he  gladly  puts  himfelfe  to,  only  to  make 
you  believe  he  is  out  of  his  wits.  He  calles  himfelfe  by  the 
name  of  Poore  Tom,  and  comming '  near  any  body  cries  eut, 
Poor  Tom  is  a  cold.  Of  thefe  Ab'al  am-men,  Come  be  exceeding 
merry,  and  doe  nothing  but  ling  fongs  rationed  out  of  their  owne 
braines  :  fome  will  dance,  others  will  doe  nothing  but  either 
laugh  or  wcepe  :  others  are  Logged,  and  fo  fullen  both  in  loke  and 
fpeech,  that  fpying  but  a  (mail  company  in  a  houfe,  they  boldly 
and  bluntly  enter,  compelling  the  fervants  through  feare  to  give 
them  what  they  demand."  Tojtjaw  Abraham,  a  cant  term,  itill 
in  ufe  among  lailors  and  the  vulgar,  may  have  this  origin. 

STEEVF.NS. 

*  wooden  pricks,]  i.e.  fkewers.     So,  in   7!>r  H'yll  of  the 

Druvll,  bl.  1.  no  date.  '*  I  give  to  the  butchers,  &c.  pricks 
wough  to  fet  up  their  thin  meate,  that  it  may  appeare  thicke  and 
tveil  fedcle."  STKEVKNS. 

s  —>/ow  farms,]  The  quartos  read,  low  Jervicr.    STEEVENS. 

Poor 


KING      LEAR.         427 

*  Poor  pelting  villages,  flieep-cotes,  and  mills, 
Sometime  with  lunatic  bans 7,  ibmetime  with  prayers, 
Inforce  their  charity. — *  Poor  Turlygood !  poor  Tom ! 
That's  fomething  yet ; — 9  Edgar  I  nothing  am.  [Exit* 

6  Poor  pelting  villages, ]  Pelting  is  ufed  by  Shakefpeare  in 

the  fenfe  of  beggarly  :  I  fuppofe  from  pelt  a  Ikin.  The  poor 
being  generally  cloathed  in  leather.  WARBURTON. 

Pelting  is,  I  believe,  only  an  accidental  depravation  of  petty, 
Shakefpeare  ufes  it  in  the  Midfummer '-Night's  Dream  of  fmall 
brooks.  JOHNSON. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher  often  ufe  the  word  in  the  fame  fenfe 
as  Shakefpeare.  So  in  King  and  no  King,  a6t  IV  : 

"  This  pelt ing,  prating  peace  is  good  for  nothing." 

Spanijh  Curate,  aft  II.  fc.  ult. "  To  learn  the  pelting  law." 

Shakefpeare's  MiJfummer  Night's  Dream,  —  "  every  pelting Driver." 
Mcafurefor  Meafure,  aft  II.  fc.  vii  : 

"  And  every  felting  petty  officer." 
Again,  in  Troilus  and  Crejfida,  Heclor  fays  to  Achilles  : 
"  We  have  had  petting  wars  fince  you  refus'd 
"  The  Grecian  caufe." 

From  the  firft  of  the  two  laft  inftances  it  appears  not  to  be  a  corrupt/ 'on. 
of  petty,  which  is  ufed  the  next  word  to  it,  but  feems  to  be  the 
fame  as  paltry  ;  and  if  it  comes  from  pelt  a  fltin,  as  Dr.  Warbur- 
ton  fays,  the  poets  have  furnifhed  villages,  peace,  law,  rivers, 
officers  of  j uft ice  and  "Mars,  all  out  ot  one  wardrobe.  STEEVENS. 

7  lunatic  bans,]  To  ban,  is  to  curie. 

So,  in  Mother  Bombie,    1594,  a  comedy  by  Lilly: 

"   Well,  be  as  be  may  is  no  banning" 
So,  in  ArJen  of  Fever/bam,    1592  : 

"  Nay,  if  thofe  ban,  let  me  breathe  curfes  forth. 

STEEVENS. 

1   poor  Turlygood  !  poor  Tom  /]  We  fliould  read  Tur- 

lupin.  In  the  fourteenth  century  there  was  a  new  fpecies  of  gip- 
fies,  called  Turlupins,  a  fraternity  of  naked  beggars,  which  ran  up 
and  down  Europe.  However,  the  church  ot  Rome  hath  digni- 
fied them  with  the  name  of  heretics,  and  actually  burned  fome  of 
them  at  Paris.  But  what  fort  of  religionifls  they  were,  appears 
from  Genebrard's  account  of  them.  "  Turlupin  Cynicorum 
fectam  fufcitantes,  de  nuditate  pudendorum,  &  publico  coitu.'* 
Plainly,  nothing  but  a  band  of  Tom-o* -Bedlams.  WAR  BURTON. 
Hanmer  reads,  poor  Turlitru.  It  is  probable  the  word  Turfy- 
good  WAS  the  common  corrupt  pronunciation.  JOHNSON-. 

9  Edgar  I  nothing  am.]  As  Edgar  I  am  outlawed,  dead  in 

law  ;  I  have  no  longer  any  pjlitical  exiitence.     JOHNSON. 

SCENE 


428         K     I    N     G      L    E    A    R. 

S    C    E    N     E     IV. 

1  Earl  of  Gkjler's  cqftle. 

Enter  Lear,  Fool,  and  Gentleman. 

Lear.  'Tis  ftrange,  that  they  fhould  fo  depart  from 

home, 
And  not  fend  back  my  mefienger. 

Gent.  As  I  learn'd, 

The  night  before  there  was  no  purpofe  in  them 
Of  this  remove. 

Kent.  Kail  to  thee,  noble  matter  ! 

Lear.  How  !  mak'tf  thou  this  fliame  thy  paftime  ? 

Kent.  No,  my  lord  *. 

FooL  Ha,    ha ;    look  !  }  he  wears  cruel  gaiters  ! 

Horfcs 

"  Earl  of  Glower's  co/tle.]  It  is  not  very  clearly  difcovered 
why  Lear  comes  hither.  In  the  foregoing  part  he  lent  a  letter 
toGlofter;  but  no  hint  is  given  ot  its  content?.  He  lecms  to 
have  gone  to  vifit  Glofter  while  Cornwall  and  Regan  might  pre- 
pare to  entertain  him.  JOHNSON. 

It  is  plain,  I  think,  that  Lear  comes  to  the  earl  of  Gloceflers, 
in  confequence  of  his  having  been  at  the  duke  ot  Cornwall's,  and 
having  heard  there,  that  his  fon  and  daughter  were  gone  to  the 
carl  of  Glocefter's.  His  firft  words  {hew  this  :  "  'Tis  Jlraugc  that 
they  (Cornwall  and  Regan)  Jbo^M  fo  depart  from  borne,  and  not 
fend  back  my  meflenger  (Kent)."  It  is  clear  alfo  from  Kent's 
ipeechin  this  fcene,  that  he  went  direttly  from  Lear  to  the  duke 
of  Cornwall's,  and  delivered  his  letters,  but,  inftead  of  being 
fent  back  with  any  anfwer,  was  ordered  to  follow  the  duke  and 
dutchefs  to  the  earl  of  Gloceftcr's.  But  what  then  is  the  meaning  of 
Lear's  order  to  Kent  in  the  preceding  a<ft,  fcene  v.  Go  you  before 

-to  Glocefter  ivitb  thtfe letters. The  obvious  meaning,  and  what 

will  agree  beft  with  the  courfe  of  the  fubfequent  events,  is,  that 
the  duke  of  Cornwall  and  his  wife  were  then  rcfiding  at  Glocefter. 
Why  Shakefpeare  fhould  choofe  to  fuppofe  them  at  Gloceller,  ra- 
ther than  at  any  other  city,  is  a  different  queftion.  Perhaps  he 
might  think,  that  Glocefter  implied  fuch  a  neighborhood  to  the 
carl  of  Glocefter's  caftle,  as  his  ftory  required.  TYRWHITT. 
*  No,  my  loril.~\  Omitted  in  the  quartos.  STEEVKNS. 

3 he  wears  cruel  garters. — ]  I  believe  a  quibble  was  here 

intended.     Crewel  fignifies  ivor/lcdt  of  which  flocking?,  garters, 

night- 


KING      LEAR.         429 

Horfcs  arc  ty'd  by  the  heads;  dogs,  and  bears,  by 
the  neck ;  monkies  by  the  loins,  and  men  by  the 
legs  :  when  a  man  is  over-lufty  «•  at  legs,  s  then  he 
wears  wooden  nether-flocks. 

night-caps,  &c.  are  made ;  and  it  is  ufed  in  that  fenfe  in  Beau* 
mont  and  Fletcher's  Scornful  Lady,  a6t  ii. 

**  For  who  that  had  but  half  his  wits  about  him 

"  Would  commit  the  counfel  of  a  ferious  fin 

*'  To  fuch  a  crewel  night-cap" 

So  again  in  the  comedy  of  The  Two  angry  Women  of  Abi*gtont 
printed  1 599  : 

**  I'll  warrant  you,   he'll  have 

"  His  crutU  garters  cmb  about  the  knee." 
So,  in  the  Bird  in  a  Cagt,  1633  .- 

"  I  fpeak  the  prologue  to  our  filk  and  cruel 

"  Gentlemen  in  the  hangings." 
Again,   in  VFomans  a  Weathercock,    1612: 

"  Wearing  oijiik  why  art  thoju  ftill  fo  cruel*** 
Again,  in  Edmund  Preftwich's  Poem  on  a  lady  working  a  bed 
with  crcwell : 

"  Not  m>t<,W/bed,  but  bed  of  cruelty"     STEEVENS. 
*—  o-jer-'ufly  in  this  place  has  a  double  fignification.     Luftinefs 
anciently  me*ntjauchuft. 
So,  in  Decker's  If  this  le  not  a  good  Play  the  Devil  is  in  it,    1612  : 

,«« -upon  pain  of  being  plagued  for  their  lujlynefi*" 

Again,  in  Claudius  Tiberius  Nero,    1607  : 

"    — (he'll  fnarl  and  bite, 

"  And  take  up  Nero  for  his  luftintfs" 
Again,  in  fir  Thomas  North's  tranilation  of  Plutarch  : 

"  Caffius'  foldiers  did  ftiewe  themielves  rerie  ftubborne  and 
luftie'vA  thecampe,  &c."     STEEVENS. 

•  s  then  he  wears  wooden  nether-flocks.]  Nether-flocks  f* 

the  old  word  for  Jiockings.  Breeches  were  at  that  time  called 
"  men's  ovtrjiockes"  as  1  learn  from  Barrett's  Alvearit,  or  Qua- 
druple Dictionary,  i^8c.  Stubbs,  in  his  Anatomic  of  Abitfcs,  has 
a  whole  chapter  on.  The  Z)/w/_yf//Vff/"Nether-Stockes  -ivorne  in  Eng- 
land, 1595.  Heywood  among  his  Epigrams,  1562,  has  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  Thy  upper  flocks,  be  they  {tuft  with  filke  or  flocks, 

**  Never  become  thee  like  a  nether  pair e  of  flocks" 
Again,  in  Reginald  Scott's  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft,   1^85: 

— "  to  cover  the  pot  with  nay  right  nether/lock" 

STEEVENS, 

Lear. 


430         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Lear.  What's  he,  that  hath  fo  much  thy  place 

miftook 
To  fet  thee  here  ? 

Kent.  It  is  both  he  and  me, 
Your  Ton  and  daughter. 

Lear.  No. 

Kent.  Yes. 

Lear.  No,  I  fay. 

Kent.  I  fay,  yea. 

Lear.  6  No,  no  ;  they  would  not. 

Kent.  Yes,  they  have. 

Lear.  By  Jupiter,  I  fwear,  no. 

Kent.  By  Juno,  I  fwear,  ay  . 

Lear.  They  durft  not  do't ; 
They  could  not,  would  not  do't;  'tis  worfe  than 

murder, 

*  To  do  upon  refpeift  fuch  violent  outrage  : 
Refolve  me,  with  all  model!  hafte,  which  way 
Thou  might'fl  deferve,  or  they  impofe,  this  ufage, 
Coming  from  us. 

Kent.  My  lord,  when  at  their  home 
I  did  commend  your  highnefs'  letters  to  them, 
Ere  I  was  rifen  from  the  place  that  fhew'd 
My  duty  kneeling,  came  there  a  reeking  poft, 
Stew'd  in  his  hafte,  half  breathlefs,  panting  forth 
From  Goneril  his  miftrefs,  falutations  ; 
9  Deliver'd  letters,  Ipight  of  intermiffion, 

Which 

6  Lear.'}   This  and  the  next  fpeech  are  omitted  in  the  folio. 

STEEVENS. 

7  By  Jtino>  I fwr,  ay>  ]    Omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 

•  To  do  upon  refpctf  fucb  violent  outrage:]  To  violate  the  pub- 
lic and  venerable  charader  of  a  mellenger  from  the  king. 

JOHNSON. 

9  D diver' J  letters,  ff'-^lt  of  intermiflion,]  I*termlffion\  for  an- 
other meflage  which  'they  had  then  before  them,  to  confider 
of;  called  intermijfion,  becaufe  it  came  between  their  leifure  and 
the  Reward's  meflagc.  WARBURTON. 


K    I    N    G      L    E     A    R.         43I 

Which  prefently  they  read  :  on  whofe  contenst, 
1  They  fummon'd  up  their  meinv,  flraight  took  horfe  ; 
Commanded  me  to  follow,  and  attend 
The  leifure  of  their  anfwer  ;  gave  me  cold  looks  : 
And  meeting  here  the  other  meflenger, 
Whofe  welcome,  I  perceiv'd,  had  poifon'd  mine, 
(Being  the  very  fellow  which  of  late 
Difplay'd  fo  faucily  againft  your  highnefs) 
Having  more  man  than  wit  about  me,  I  drew  ; 
He  rais'd  the  houfe  with  loud  and  coward  cries  : 
Your  fon  and  daughter  found  this  trefpafs  worth 
The  fhame  which  here  it  fuffers. 

Fool.  *  Winter's  not  gone  yet,  if  the  wild  geefe  fly 
that  way. 

Fathers,  that  wear  rags, 

Do  make  their  children  blind  ; 

But  fathers,  that  bear  bags, 
Shall  fee  their  children  kind. 

Fortune,  that  arrant  whore, 

Ne'er  turns  the  key  to  the  poor. 

Spight  of  intermljjwn  is  without  faufe,  without  fuffering  time  ;• 
intervene.     So,  in  Macbeth  : 

"   — . gentle  heaven, 

«*  Cut  ftiort  all  intcrmijjion,  &c."     SrEEVENS. 

1   They  fummor? d up  their  ineiny, ]  Meiny,  i.e.  people. 

POPE. 

Mef*f,  a  houfe.     Mefnie,  a  family,  Fr. 
So,  in  Monfieur  D'Olive,   1 606  . 

«   jf  ftej  or  [ier  fa(j  meiny^ 

"  Be  towards  flecp,  I'll  wake  them." 

Again,  in  the  bl.  1.  Romance  of  Syr  JLglamoure  of  Art<yst  n» 
date : 

"  Of  the  emperoure  took  he  leave  ywys, 
**  And  of  all  the  meiny  that  was  there.'* 
Again  : 

"  Here  coineth  the  king  of  Ifrael, 
**  With  a  fay  re  meinye."     STEEVENS. 

*  Winter's  not  gone  yet^  &c.]  It  this  be  their  behaviour,  thfl 
king's  troubles  are  not  yet  at  an  end.     JOHNSON. 
This  fpeech  i$  omitted  in  the  quartos.    STEEVEXS. 

But 


4^2         KING       LEAR. 

But,  for  all  this,  thou  lhalt  have  as  many  J  dolours 
from  thy  dear  daughters,  as  thou  can'ft  tell  in  a  year* 

Lear.  O,  how  this  mother  4  fwells  up  toward  my 

heart ! 

H}fterka  pqflio  !  down,  thou  climbing  forrow, 
Thy  element's  below  ! — Where  is  this  daughter  ? 

Kent.  With  the  earl,  fir,  here  within. 

Lear.  Follow  me  not ;  flay  here.  [Exit* 

Gent.  Made  you  no  more  offence  than  what  you 
fpeak  of  ? 

Kent.  None. 
How  chance  the  king  comes  with  fo  fmall  a  train  ? 

Fool.  An  thou  hadft  been  fet  i'  the  tfocks  for  that 
qucftion,  thou  hadft  well  deferv'd  it. 

3 dolours.'}  Quibble  intended  between  dolours  and 

dollars.  HANMER. 

The  fame  quibble  had  occurred  in  the  Tempcjl,  and  in  Meafurt 
for  Meafure.  STEEVENS. 

*  Oh,  h<nv  this  mother,  £ffc.]  Lear  here  affects  to  pafs  off  the 
fwelling  of  his  heart  ready  to  burft  with  grief  and  indignation, 
for  the  difeafe  called  the  Mother,  or  Hyjlerica  t'afio,  which,  in 
our  author's  time,  was  not  thought  peculiar  to  women  only.  In 
Harfnet's  Declaration  of  Popijb Impojlu-ts,  Richard  Mainy,  Gent, 
t/neof  the  pretended  demoniacs,  depofes,  p.  263,  that  the  firlt 
night  that  he  came  to  Denham,  the  feat  of  Mr.  Peckham,  where 
thefe  impofturcs  were  managed,  he  was  fomewhat  evill  at  eaie, 
and  he  grew  worfe  and  worfe  with  an  old  difeafe  that  he  had, 
and  .which  the  priefts  perfuaded  him  was  from  the  potfellior.  of 
the  devil,  viz.  "  The  difeafe,  I  fpake  of  was  a  fpice  of  the 
Mother,  wherewith  i  had  bene  troubled  .  .  before  my  going  into 
Fraunce  :  whether  doe  rightly  term  it  the  Mother  <;r  no,  1  knowe 
not  .  .  .  When  I  was  (icke  of  this  difeafe  :n  Fraunce,  a  cottifh 
doctor  of  phyfick  then  in  Paris,  called  it,  as  I  remember,  Verti- 
ginem  Capitts.  It  riteth  .  .  .  ;  of  a  winde  in  the  bottome  of  the 
belly,  and  proceeding  with  a  great  fwelling,  caufeth  a  very  pain- 
full  collicke  in  the  ftomack,  and  an  extraordinary  gidJines  in  the 
head." 

It  is  at  leaft  very  probable,  that  Shakefpenrc  would  not  have 
thought  of  making  Lear  aflfecl  to  have  the  Hy ft  nick  Pajfion,  or 
Mother,  if  this  palfage  in  Harfnet's  pamphlet  had  not  iuggelted 
it  to  him,  when  he  was  feleclinjr  the  other  particulars  from  it, 
in  order  to  furnifh  out  his  chancier  of  Tom  of  Bedlam,  to 
whom  this  demoniacal  gibberifli  is  admirably  adapted.  PERCY. 

Kent. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         433 

fca/.  Why,  fool  ? 

Foe/.  We'll  fet  thee  to  fchool  to  ari  ant,  to  teach 
thee  there's  no  labouring  in  the  winter.  *  All  that  fal- 
low their  nofes  are  led  by  their  eyes,  but  blind  men  ; 
and  there's  riot  a  nofe  among  twenty,  but  can  frhell 
him  that's  (linking.  Let  go  thy  hold,  when  a  great 
wheej  runs  down  a  hill,  left  it  break  thy  neck  with 
following  it ;  but  the  great  one  that  goes  up  the 
hill,  let  him  draw  thee  after.  6  When  a  wife  man 
gives  thee  better  counfel,  give  me  mine  again  :  I 
would  have  none  but  knaves  follow  it,  fince  a  fool 
giVes  ir. 

That,  fir,  which  ferves  and  feeks  for 
And  follows  but  for  form, 

*  All  thatfollo-iv  their  nofes  are  led  by  their  eyes,  liit  Hind  men  J 
and  there's  not  a  nofe  among  twenty  t  but  can  fmell,  &C;J  There  is 
in  this  fentence  no  clear  leries  of  thought.  If  he  that  follows  his 
nofe  is  led  or  guided  by  his  eyes,  he  wants  no  information  from  his 
nofe.  I  perfuade  myfelf,  but  know  not  whether  I  can  perfuade 
others,  that  our  author  wrote  thus  :  —  **  All  men  are  led  by  their 
**  e"yes,  but  blind  men,  and  they  follow  their  nofes  :  and  there's 
44  not  a  nofe  among  twenty  but  can  fmell  him  that's  {Unking."*— •» 
Here  is  a  fucceffioh  of  reafoning.  You  afk,  why  the  king  has 
no  more  in  his  train  ?  why,  becaufe  men  who  are  led  by  their 
eyes  fee  that  he  is  ruined  ;  and  if  there  were  any  blind  amongj 
them,  who,  for  want  of  eyes,  followed  their  noies,  they  might 
by  their  nofes  difcover  that  it  was  no  longer  fit  to  follow  the  king. 

JOHNSON. 

The  word  twenty  refers  to  the  nofes  of  the  III nd men,  and  not 
to  the  men  in  general.  The  paflag.?,  thus  confidered,  bear* 
clearly  the  very  lenfe  which  the  above  note  endeavours  to  eftubltih 
by  alteration.  STEEVENS. 

6  When  a  iv iff  man  gives  thee,  &rc'.]  One  cannot  too  much 

eommend  the  caution  which  our  moral  poet  ufes,  on  all  occa- 
lions,  to  prevent  his  fentimcnts  from  being  pervcrfcly  t:iken.  So 
here,  having  given  an  ironical  precepr  in  commendation  of  per- 
fidy ;md  bale  defertion  of  the  unfortunate,  for  fear  it  fliould  be 
xmderllood  fetioufly,  though  delivered  by  his  buffoon  orjclrcr, 
he  has  the  precaution  to  add  this  beautiful  corrective,  full  of  fine 
Icnfe :  —  **  I  would  have  none  but  knaves  follow  it,  fmce  a  fool 
gives  it."  WAP.  BUR  TON. 

VOL.  IX.  F  f  Will 


434         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Will  pack,  when  it  begins  to  rain, 

And  leave  thee  in  the  florm. 
7  But  I  will  tarry  ;  the  fool  will  ftay, 

And  let  the  wife  man  fly  : 
The  knave  turns  fool,  that  runs  away; 

The  fool  no  knave,  perdy. 
Kent.  Where  learn'd  you  this,  fool  ? 
Fool.  Not  i'  the  flocks,  fool. 

Re-enter  Lear,  with  Glofter. 

Lear.  Deny  to  fpeak  with  me  ?  They  are  lick  ? 

they  are  weary  ? 

They  have  travell'd  hard  to-night  ?  Mere  fetches ; 
The  images  of  revolt  and  flying  off! 
Fetch  me  a  better  anfwer. 

Glo.  My  dear  lord, 

You  know  the  fiery  quality  of  the  duke  ; 
How  unremoveable  and  fixt  he  is 
In  his  own  courfe. 

Lear.  Vengeance  !   plague  !  death  !  confufion  ! — 
Fiery  ?  what  quality  ?  Why,  Glofter,  Glofter, 
I'd  fpeak  with  the  duke  of  Cornwall,  and  his  wife/ 
Glo.  8  Well,    my  good    lord,    I    have   inform'd 

them  fo. 

Lear.  Inform'd  them  !  Doft  thou  underftand  me. 
man  ? 

7  Sut  I  w///  tarry  ;  tie  fool  willfiay, 

And  let,  &c.] 

I  think  this  paflage  erroneous,  though  both  the  copies  concur. 
The  fenfe  will  be  mended  if  we  read  : 

But  I  will  tarry  ;  the  fool  will  flay, 

And  let  the  wife  man  fly  ; 

The  fool  turns  knave,  that  runs  away  ; 

The  knave  no  fool, 

That  I  flay  with  the  king  is  a  proof  that  I  am  a  fool,  the  wife 
men  are  deferting  him.  There  is  knavery  in  this  dcicrtion,  but 
there  is  no  folly.  JOHNSON. 

8  G&.]  This,    with  the  following  fpeech,    is  omitted  in  the 
quartos.     STEEVF.NS. 

Clo. 


KING       LEAR.         435 

Glo.  Ay,  my  good  lord. 

Lear.  The  king  would  fpcak  with  Cornwall ;  the 

dear  father 
Would  with  his  daughter  fpcak,    commands  her 

fervice  : 

Are  they  inform'd  of  this  ?— My  breath  and  blood  !  — 
Fiery  ?  the  fiery  duke  ? — Tell  the  hot  duke,  that —  9 

No,  but  not  yet : may  be,  he  is  not  well ; 

Infirmity  doth  ftill  neglect  all  office, 
Whereto  our  health  is  bound  ;  we  are  not  ourfelves, 
When  nature,  being  opprefs'd,  commands  the  mind 
To  fuffer  with  the  body  :  I'll  forbear; 
And  am  fallen  out  with  my  more  headier  will, 
To  take  the  indifpos'd  and  fickly  fit 
For  the  found  man. — Death  on  my  ftate  !  wherefore 

[Looking  on  Kent. 

Should  he  fit  here  ?  This  aft  perfuadcs  me, 
That  this  remotion  of  the  duke  and  her 
1  Is  practice  only.     Give  me  my  fervant  forth  : 
Go,  tell  the  duke  and  his  wife,  I'd  fpeak  with  them, 
Now,  prefently  ;  bid  them  come  forth  and  hear  me, 
Or  at  their  chamber  door  I'll  beat  the  drum, 
'Till  it  cry,  Sleep  to  death. 

Glo.  1  would  have  all  well  betwixt  you.        [Exit. 
Lear.  O  me,  my  heart,  my  riling  heart! — but, 

down. 

Fool.     Cry  to  it,  nuncle,  as  the  cockney  a  did  to 

the 

9  —Tell the  hot  dukc^  that ]  The  quartos  read — Tell  the  hot 

duke,  that  Lear——  STEEVENS. 

1  It  practice  only. ]  Praftice  is  in  Shakefpeare,  and 

other  old  writers,  ufed  commonly  in  an  ill  fenfe  for  unlawful  ar- 
tifice. JOHNSON. 

z  —  the  cockney]  It  is  not  eafy  to  determine  the  cxaft 
power  of  this  term  of  contempt,  which,  as  the  editor  of  the  Can- 
terbury Tales  of  Chaucer  observes,  might  have  been  originally 
borrowed  from  the  kitchen.  From  the  ancient  ballad  of  the 
T.urna7ncnt  of  Tottenham,  publilhed  by  Dr.  Percy  in  his  fecond 
volume  of  Ancient  Poctrv,  p.  24,  it  fliould  leem  to  figuify  a  cook  : 
F  i  a  "  At 


436          KING      LEAR. 

3  the  eels,  when  Ihe  put  them  i'  the  pafte  alive  ;  fhe 
rapt  'em  o'  the  coxcombs  with  a  flick,  and  cry'd, 
Down,  wantons,  down  :  'Twas  her  brother,  that,  ia 
pure  kindnefs  to  his  horfe,  butter'd  his  hay. 

Enter  Cornwall,  Regan,  Ck/ier,  and  Servants. 

Lear.  Good  morrow  to  you  both. 

Corn.  Hail  to  your  grace  !        [Kent  isfet  at  liberty. 

Reg.  I  am  glad  to  fee  your  highnefs. 

Lear.  Regan,  I  think  you  are  ;  I  know  what  reafon 
1  have  to  think  ib  :  if  thou  ihould'ft  not  be  glad, 
I  would  divorce  me  from  thy  mother's  tomb, 
Sepulch'ring  an  adultrefs  4.  —  O,  are  you  free  ? 

[To  Kert. 

Some  other  time  for  that.  —  Beloved  Regan, 
Thy  fitter's  naught  :  O  Regan,  5  fhe  hath  tied 
Sharp-tooth'd  unkindncfs,  like  a  vulture,  here,  -- 

[Points  IQ  bis  heart. 

**  At  that  feaft  were  they  fcrved  in  rich  army  ; 

**  Every  five  and  five  hr.d  a  ctkeny* 
i.e.  a  cool-,  orjl'u!lioay  to  attend  them. 

Shakefpeare,  however,  in  T^wlftb  Nigt.'f,  makes  his  Clown 
fay,  **  I  am  afraid  this  grout  lubber  the  world,  will  prove  a  cock- 
ney." In  this  place  it  feems  to  have  a  fignification  not  unlike 
that  which  it  bears  at  prefent  ;  and,  indeed,  Chaucer  in  his 
Rcve's  Tale,  ver.  4;  05,  appears  to  employ  it  with  fuch  a  meaning  : 

*'  And  whan  this  jape  is  raid  another  day, 

"  I  (hall  be  halden  a  dafte  or  a  cokenay" 

See  the  notes  on  the  Canterbury  Tales  of  dancer,  Vol.  IV.  p.  253, 
where  the  reader  will  meet  with  all  the  information  to  be  had  oa 
this  fubjedl.  STEEVENS. 

3  -  tbt  eels,  when  jbc  put  them  ?  tic  paflc  -  ]   Hinting  that 
the  eel  and  Lear  are  in  the  fame  danger.     JOHNSON. 

4  fi-piilcbring,  &c.]  This  word  is  accented  in  the  f.nne  munue* 
by  Fair  fax  and  Milton: 

«*  As  ir"  his  work  fliould  khfyalcfierbe,"     C.  i.  IK  25. 
**  And  foff/itdc/jir'd  in  fuch  pomp  doe  lie." 


Milton  orrSbaktfytare,  Hncxv. 


. 


5  f,,<  bMi  t'.td 

>,  lilt  a  vulture  here,"] 
ethctu.     WAR  auai  o.v. 

I  can 


. 

Sharp-tooted  nnk>ndn<:f>,  lilt  a  vulture  here,"] 
Alluding  to  the  table  or'  Proinethctu.     WAR  auai  o.v 


KING      LEAR.  437 

I  can  fcarce  fpeak  to  thee ;  thou'lt  not  believe, 
56  Of  how  deprav'd  a  quality — O  Regan  ! 

Reg.  I  pray  you,  fir,  take  patience ;  I  have  hope, 
You  lefs  know  how  to  value  her  defert, 
7  Than  fhe  to  fcant  her  duty. 

Lear.  Say  ?  8  How  is  that  ? 

Reg.  1  cannot  think,  my  fitter  in  the  leaft 
Would  fail  her  obligation  ;  If,  fir,  perchance, 
She  have  rcftrain'd  the  riots  of  your  followers, 
'Tis  on  fuch  ground,  and  to  fuch  wholefome  end, 
As  clears  her  from  all  blame. 

Lear.  My  curfes  on  her  ! 

Reg.  O,  fir,  you  are  old  ; 
Nature  in  you  ftands  on  the  very  verge 
Of  her  confine  :  you  ihould  be  rul'd,  and  led 
By  fome  difcretion,  that  difcerns  your  Hate 
Better  than  you  yourfelf  :  Therefore,  1  pray  you, 
That  to  our  filter  you  do  make  return  ; 
Say,  you  have  wrong'd  her,  fir. 

Lear.  Afk  her  forgivenefs  ? 

6  Of  JJO-M  depraved  a  quality— — — .]  Thus  the  quarto.     The 
folio  reads  : 

Hit/.'  how  deprav'd  a  quality        <  •     JOHNSON. 

7  Ibanjbe  to  fcant  her  duty,~\     The  ward  fcant  is  direclly  con- 
trary to  the  fenfe  intended.     The  quarto  reads : 

Jlack  her  duty, 

which  is  no  better.     May  we  not  change  it  thus  : 

You  lefs  know  how  to  value  her  deiert, 

Than  fhe  lofcan  her  duty. 

To/.™  may  be  to  meafure  or  proportion.     Yet  our  author  ufes  his 
negatives  with  fuch  liccntioufnefs,  that  it  is  hardly  fare  to  make 

any  alteration. Scant  may  mean  to  adapt ,  to  fit,  to  proportion  ; 

which  fenfe  feems  flill  to  be  retained  in  the  mechanical  term 
JcantUitg*     Jo  H  N  s  o  N  . 

Hnniner  had  propofcd  this  change  of 'fcant  \Mofcan,  but  furely 
no  alteration  is  neceflary.  The  other  reading— -Jlack  would  anfwer 
as  well.  You  lefs  know  how  to  value  her  defert,  than  (lie 
(kmttvs)  to  fcant  her  duty,  i.e.  than  flie  can  be  capable  of  being 
wanting  in  her  duty.  STEEVE.VS. 

8  Say,  &:c.]  This,  as  well  as  the  followirg  fpee;h5  is  omitted 
?n  the  quartos.     STEEVENS. 

F  f  3  Do 


438          KING       LEAR. 

9  Do  you  but  mark  how  this  becomes  the  houfe  ? 
Dear  daughter,  I  confefs  that  I  am  old ; 
1  Age  is  unneceffary :  on  my  knees  I  beg,  ([Kneeling. 

That  you'll  voucv/bfi  me  raiment,  bed,  and  food. 

Reg. 

9  Doyctt  but  mark  bow  this  becomes  the  houfe  r]  This  phrafe  to 
roe  is  unintelligible,  and  feems  to  fay  nothing  to  the  purpofe  : 
neither  can  it  mean,  how  this  becomes  the  order  of  families. 
Lear  would  certainly  intend  to  reply,  how  does  aflcing  my  daugh- 
ter's forgivenefs  agree  with  common  faihion,  the  eftablifned  rule 
and  cuftoin  of  nature  ?  No  doubt,  but  the  poet  wrote,  becomes 
the  nfe,  And  that  Shakefpeare  employs  nfe  in  this  iigiiification, 
is  too  obvious  to  want  a  proof.  THEOBALD. 

Do  ynu  but  mark  bo\u  this  becomes  the  houfe  ?]  Mr.  Theobald 
fays,  "  This  phrafe  feems  to  fay  little  to  the  purpofe;"  and 

therefore  alters  it  to, becomes  the  ufe, —  which  fignifies  lefs. 

The  Oxford  Editor  makes  him  frill  more  familiar— becometh  us. 
All  th's  chopping  and  changing  proceeds  from  an  utter  ignorance 

of  a  great,  a  noble,  and  a   muft  cxprcllive  phrafe, becomes 

the   houfe; which  fignifies  the  order  of  families,  duties  of 

relation.     WARBURTON. 

With   this  mnji  cxprrjjire  pbrafc  I  believe  no  reader  is  fatisfied. 
I  fufped  that  it  has  been  written  originally  : 
Afk  her  forgivenefs  ? 

Do  you  but  mark  how  this  becometh thus. 

Dear  daughter,  I  confefs,   &c. 

Becomes  the  bcufe,  and  bccomctb  tbus,  might  be  eaiily  confounded 
by  readers  fo  unfkilful  as  the  origin:;!  printers.     JOHNSON. 
'  Dr.  Warburton's  explanation  may  be  fupported  by  the  follow- 

ing  pafTage  in  Milton  on  Divorce,  book  ii.  ch.  12.     **  the 

reftraint  whereof,  who  is  not  too  thick-righted,  may  fee  how  hurt- 
ful, how  deftrutStive,  it  is  to  the  houfe,  the  church,  and  common- 
wealth !"  TOLLET. 

The  old  reading  may  likcwife  receive  additional  fupport  from 

the   following  p;;fiage  in  the  Blind  Brggar  of  Alexandria,    1598  : 

"  Come  un  to  ("upper  ;   it  will  become  the  houfe  wonderful  well." 

Mr.  Toilet  has  tincc  furnifhed  me  with  the  following  extract 

from  fir  Thomas  Smith's  Commonweal! b  of  England,  410.  1601. 

chap.  II.  which  has   much  the  fame  cxprelfion,  and  explains  it. 

"    I'hev  two  together  [man  and   wire]   ruleth  the  bonfe.     The 

bottfi:  I  call  here,  the  man,  the  woman,  their  children,  their  fer- 

vants,  bond  and  free,  &c."     STEKVKNS. 

'  s^cls  uimeccflary  : ]  i.  c.  Old  age  has  few  wants. 

JOHNSON. 

This  ufage  of  the  word  unuecejjary  is  quite  without  example  ; 
and  I  believe  my  learned  coadjutor'h;is  rather  improved  than  ex- 
plained 


KING      LEAR.         439 

Rtg.  Good  fir,  no  more ;  thefe  are  unfightly  tricks : 
Return  you  to  my  fifter. 

Lear.  Never,  Regan  : 
She  hath  abated  me  of  half  my  train  ; 
*  Look'd  black  upon  me  ;  ftruck  me  with  her  tongue, 

Mod  ferpent-like,  upon  the  very  heart : 

All  the  ftor'd  vengeances  of  heaven  fall 

On  her  ingrateful  top  !  Strike  her  young  bones, 

You  taking  airs,  with  lamenefs  ! 

Corn.  Fie,  fir,  fie  ! 

Lear.  You  nimble  lightnings,  dart  your  blinding 

flames 

Into  her  fcornful  eyes !  Infed:  her  beauty, 
You  fen-fuck'd  fogs,  drawn  by  the  powerful  fun, 
3  To  fall  and  blaft  her  pride  ! 

Reg. 

plained  the  meaning  of  his  author,  who  feems  to  have  defigned 
to  fay  no  more  than  that  it  feems  itnneceffary  to  children  that  the 
lives  of"  their  parents  Jbould  be  prolonged.  Age  is  unnecejjary,  may 
mean,  old  people  are  ufelrfs.  So,  in  The  Old  Laiv,  by  Mallinger : 

" your  laws  extend  not  to  defert, 

*'  But  to  unnecejjary  years ;  and,  my  lord, 
"  His  are  not  luch."     STEEVENS. 

UnneceJJary  in  Lear's  fpeech,  I  believe,  means — in  ivant  of  neccf- 
faries  unable  to  procure  them.  TYRWHITT. 

*  Looked  black  upon  me ; ]   To  look  black,  may  eafily  be  ex- 

plain'd  to  look  cloudy  or  gloomy.     See  JMilton  : 

"  So  frown'd  the  mighty  combatants,  that  hell 

*'  Grew  darker  at  their  frown."- JOHNSON. 

So,  Holinfhed,  vol.  iii.  p.  1157:  "  The  biihops  thereat 

repined,   and  looked  black."     TOLLET. 

3  To  fall,  and  blaft  her  pride  /]  Thus  the  quarto:  the  folio 
reads  not  fo  well,  to  fall  and  bliftcr.  I  think  there  is  ftill  a  fault, 
which  may  be  eafily  mended  by  changing  a  letter : 

Infect  her  beauty, 

You  fen-fuck'd  fogs,  drawn  by  the  powerful  fun, 
Do,  fall,  and  blaii  her  pride  !     JOHNSON. 
Dr.  Johnfon's  alteration  will  appear  unnecefTary,  if  we  confider 
fall  to  be  ufed  here  as  an  a£tive  verb,  fignifying  to  humble,  to 
pull  down.     InftR  her  beauty,  ye  fen-fuck*  d  fogs,  drawn  by  the  fun 
for  this  end — to  fall  and  blaft,  i.e.  humble  and 1  deftroy  her  fri  de. 
Shakefpeare  in  other  places  ufes  fall  in  an  active  fenfe.    So,  in 
Othello; 

F  f  4  "  Each 


440         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Reg.  O  the  bleil  gods ! 
So  will  you  vvilh  on  me,  4  when  the  rafli  mood  is  on. 

Lear.  No,  Reg.u.,  thou  fhalt  never  have  my  curfe ; 
Thy  5  tender-hefted  nature  fhull  not  give 
ThKe  o'er  to  harfhnefs ;  her  eyes  are  fierce,  but  thine 
Do  comfort,  and  not  burn  :  '  Tis  not  in  thee 
To  grudge  mv  pleafures,  to  cut  off  my  train, 
To  bandy  haky  words,  6  to  fcnnt  my        s, 

And 

M  Each  drop  (befalls  will  prqve  a  crocodile.'* 
Again,  in  the  Tempcft : 

"  To  fall  it  on  Gonzalo. 
Again,  in  Troilus  and  Crr//iJa  : 

f*  -^— make  him  fall 

"  His  creft,  that  prouder  than  blue  Iris  bends."  '}].*  LO    s. 

4  ivfjcn  the  rajh  mood  if  on.]  Thus  the  folio.      The 

quartos  read  only, iv/jen  the  rajb  mood perhaps   leaving 

the  ientence  purpofely  unfinifhed.     STEEVENS. 

5 tender-hefted — ]  This  word,  though  its  general  mean- 
ing be  plain,  I  do  not  critically  underitand.  JOHNSON 

Thy  tender- bef ted  nature — ]  Hefted  leems  to  mean  the  fame  as 
/•.YztY.:7.  Tender-hefted,  i.  e.  whofe  boibm  is  agitated  by  tender 
paiiions.  The  formation  of  fuch  a  participle,  I  believe,  cannot 
be  grammatically  accounted  for.  Shnkeipeare  uies  hefts  for 
beamings  in  The  H'lntcr's  Tal<-,  aft  II.  Both  the  quartos  however 
*ead,  "  tendcr-/v,Cv\V  nature;"  which  may  mean  a  nature  which 
is  governed  by  gentle  difpolitions.  Heft  is  an  old  word  fignifying 
•command.  So,  i n  The  11  ~ars  of  Cym." ,  c^c.  1594: 

"  ]Muu  yield  to  btft  of  others  that  be  free.5' 
Hefted  is  the  reading  ot  the  folio.     STEEVEXS. 

6  — i to  f;ant  my  fize?,]  To  contract  my  allowances  or  pro- 
portions fettled.  JOHNSON'. 

AJizcr  is  one  of  the  loweft  rank  of  {Indents  at  Cambridge, 
and  lives  on  a  fhted  allowance. 

Sizes  are  certain  portions  of  bread,  beer,  or  other  victuals,  which 
in  public  focierics  arc  fct  down  to  the  account  of  particular  pcr- 
fons  :  a  word  itill  ufed  in  colleges.  So,  in  the  Return  from  Par- 
iiaJTus  : 

"  You  are  one  of  the  devil's  fellow-commoners ;  one  that 
Jixtl  the  devil's  butteries." 

"  Fidlc:s,  fct  it  on  my  head;  I  ufe  to  far  my  mufic,  or  gp 
on  the  tcoie  for  ir."  Return  from  ParnaJJus. 

Size  fometimes  means  company.  So,  in  Clmhias  Rc-cfigr^ 
2615  ; 

"  He 


KING      LEAR.        44i 

And,  in  conclufion,  to  oppofe  the  bolt 
Againfr  my  coming  in  :  thou  better  know'fl 
The  offices  of  nature,  bond  of  childhood, 
EfTedts  of  courtefy,  dues  of  gratitude  ; 
Thy  half  o'the  kingdom  thou  haft  not  forgot, 
Wherein  I  thee  endow'd. 

Reg.  Good  fir,  to  the  purpofe.     [Trumpets  "joitliin* 
Lear.  Who  put  my  man  i'  the  flocks  ? 
Com.  What  trumpet's  that  ? 

Enter  Steward, 

Reg.  I  know't,  my  fitter's  :  this  approves  her  letter, 
That  fhe  would  foon  be  here.  —  Is  your  lady  come? 

Lear.  This  is  a  flave,  whofe  eafy-borrow'd  pride 
Dwells  in  the  fickle  grace  of  her  he  follows  :— 
Out,  varlet,  from  my  fight  ! 

Corn.  What  means  your  grace  ? 

Lear.  Who  ftock'd  my  fervant  ?    Regan,   I  have 

good  hope 

Thou  did'ft  not  know  on't.  —  Who  comes  here  ?  O 
heavens, 

Enter  Goaerll. 

7  If  yon  do  love  old  men,  if  your  fweet  fway 
Allow  obedience,  if  yourfelves  are  old, 

Make 


"  He  now  attended  with  a 
"  Of  foher  ftatefmen,  &c." 

I  fuppofe  a  barlalji~,e  is  a  bearded  company.     SrEZVENS. 
See  -\fizc  in  Minfliew's  Diftionary.     TOLI.ET. 
7  If  you  d°  I0>ve  °M  m"h  if  your  facet  fvsay 

Allow  obedience,  if  yourfelves  are  old,~\ 
Mr.  Upton  has  proved  by.irrefiftible  authority,  that 
fignifies  not  only  to  permit,  but  to  approve,  and  has  defervedly 
replaced  the  old  reading,  which  Dr.  V\  arburton  had  changed  into 
faulew)  obedience,  not  recollefting  the  Icripture  expreflion,  The 
.Lord  allowerh  the  righteous,  Pfalm  xi.  ver.  6.  So,  in  Greene's 
Nevir  too  Late,  1616  ;  "  —  fhe  allows  of  thce  for  love,  not  »or 

lull." 


44*          KING       LEA    R. 

Make  it  your  caufe ;  fend  down,  and  take  my  part ! — 
Art  not  afham'd  to  look  upon  this  beard  ? — [To  Gon. 
O,  Regan,  wilt  thou  take  her  by  the  hand  ? 

Gon.  Why  not  by  the  hand,  fir  ?    How  have  I 

offended  ? 

All's  not  offence, 8  that  indifcretion  finds, 
And  dotage  terms  fo. 

Lear.  O,  fides,  you  are  too  tough  ! 
Will  you  yet  hold  ? — How  came   my  man  i'  the 
flocks  ? 

Corn.  I  fet  him  there,  fir  :  but  his  own  difordcrs 
Deferv'd  9  much  lefs  advancement. 
,   Lear.  You  !  did  you  ? 

Reg.  l  I  pray  you,  father,  being  weak,  feem  fo. 

If> 

luft."  Again,  in  Greene's  Farewell  to  Follie,  1617:  "  I  allow 
thofe  pleating  poems  of  Guazzo,  which  V>egin,  &c."  Again, 
Sir  1*ho.  North's  tranfiation  of  Plutarch,  concerning  the  reception 
with  which  the  death  of  Csfar  met :  "  they  neither  greatly  re- 
proved, nor  allowed  the  facl."  Dr.  Warburton  might  have  found 
the  emendation  which  he  propofed,  in  Tare's  alteration  of  King 
Lear,  which  was  firlr,  published  in  1687.  STEEVENS. 

8  that  indifcretion  finds,]  Finds  is  here  ufed  in  the  fame 

fenfe  as  when  a  jury  is  laid  to  find  a  bill,  to  which  it  is  an  allu- 
fion.  Our  author  again  ufes  the  fame  word  in  the  fame  fenfe  in 
Hamlet,  aft  V.  fc.  i  : 

"  Why  'tis  foundh."     EDWARDS. 

To  fad  is  little  more  than  to  think.  The  French  ufe  their 
word  trouver  in  the  fame  fenfe  ;  and  we  ftill  fay  I  find  time  te- 
dious, or  I  find  company  troublefome,  without  thinking  on  a  jury. 

STEEVENS. 

»   much  lefs  advancement]  The  word  advancement  is 

ironically  ufed  for  confpicuoufnefs  of  punifhment  ;  as  we  now  fay, 
<z  man  is  advanced  to  the  pillory.  We  mould  read  : 

but  his  own  diforders 

Deferv'd  much  more  advancement.     JOHNSON. 

By  lefs  advancement  is  meant,  a  (till  wcrfe  or  more  difgraceful 
fituation  :  a  fituaticn  not  fo  reputable.  PERCY. 

Cornwall  certainly  means,  that  Kent's  dforders  had  entitled  him 
even  a  port  of  lefs  honour  than  the  flocks.  STEEVENS. 

1  /  pray  you,  father,  being  iveak,  feem  fo.~\  This  is  a  very 
odd  req  licit.  She  furely  aflced  Ibmcthing  more  reafonable.  \Vc 
fhould  read, 

«   being 


KING       LEAR.          443 

If,  'till  the  expiration  of  your  month, 
You  will  return  and  fojourn  with  my  fitter, 
Difmiffing  half  your  train,  come  then  to  me  ; 
I  am  now  from  home,  and  out  of  that  provifion 
Which  fhall  be  needful  for  your  entertainment. 

Lear.  Return  to  her,  and  fifty  men  difmifs'd? 
*  No,  rather  I  abjure  all  roofs,  and  choofe 

To 

-being  weak,  deem't  fo. 

\.  e.  believe  that  my  hufband  tells  you  true,  that  Kent's  diforders 
ilefci  ved  a  more  ignominious  punifliment.     WAR  BURTON. 

The  meaning  is,  fmceyou  are  iueakt  be  content  to  think  your- 
felfweak.     No  change  is  needed.     JOHNSON. 
z  .A7*?,  rather  I  abjure  all  roofs,  and  chuje 
To  wage  againft  the  enmity  o1 the  air: 
To  be  a  comrade  with  the  ii'o/f 'and  cr.vl, 

Neceffity'sfoarp  pinch. ] 

Thus  fhould  thele  lines  (in  the  order  they  were  read,  in  all  the 
editions  till  Mr.  Theobald's)  be  pointed :  the  want  or  which 
pointing  contributed,  perhaps,  to  rnillead  him  in  tranfpofing  the 
fecond  and  third  lines ;  on  which  imaginary  regulation  he  thus  de- 
;  fcants.  "  The  breach  of  the  fenfe  here  is  a  manifeft  proof  that 
thefe  lines  were  tranfpofed  by  the  firit  editors.  Neither  can  there 
be  any  iyntax  or  grammatical  coherence,  unlefs  we  fuppoie  (ne- 
ccjf.ty 's  foarp  pinch)  to  be  the  accufative  to  (wage)"  But  this  is, 
fuppofing  the  verb  wage,  to  want  an  accufative,  which  it  does' 
not.  Towage^  or  nvager  agalnjl  one,  was  a  common  ex preflion; 
and,  being  a  fpecies  ot  ading  (namely,  acting  in  oppolition)  was 
as  proper  as  to  fay,  afl  againft  any  one.  So,  to  wage  againji  the 
enmity  o*  the  air,  was  to  itrive  or  fight  againft  it.  Necefify's  fharf> 
finch,  therefore,  is  not  the  accufative  to  tvage,  but  declarative  of 
the  condition  of  him  who  is  a  comrade  of  the  vjolf  and  <KU/;  in 
which  the  verb  (is)  is  underftood.  The  confequence  of  all  this 
is,  that  it  was  the  loft  editors,  and  not  ihtjjrjt,  who  tranfpofed 
the  lines  from  the  order  the  poet  gave  them  :  for  the  Oxford  edi- 
tor follows  Mr.  Theobald.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

To  wage  is  often  uled  absolutely  without  the  word  tear  after  it, 
and  yet  fu;nifies  to  make  war,  as  before  in  this  play: 
My  life  iTiever  held  but  as  a  pawn 
To  ttvror  againft  thine  enemies. 

The  fpirit  of  the  following  paflhge  feems  to  be  loft  in  the  hands 
of  both  the  commentators.     It  fliould,  perhaps,  be  pointed  thus  : 
To  be  a  comrade  of  the  wolf  and  owl,-— 
Necefliry's  fliarp  pinch  !  — 

Thcfe  laft  words  appear  to  be  the   reflection  of  Lear  on  the 

wretched 


444         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

To  wage  againft  the  enmity  o*  the  air  ; 

To  be  a  comrade  with  the  wolf  and  owl,— 

Neceffity's  fharp  pinch  ! Return  with  her  ? 

Why,  the  hot-blooded  France,  that  dowerlefs  took 
Our  youngeft  born,  I  could  as  well  be  brought 
To  knee  his  throne,  and,  fquire-like,  penfion  beg 

To  keep  3  bafe  life  afoot ; Return  with  her  > 

Perfuade  me  rather  to  be  flave  4  and  fumpter 

To  this  detefted  groom.          [Looking  on  the  Steward. 

Gon.  At  your  choice,  fir. 

Lear.  Now  I  pr'ythee,  daughter,  do  not  make  me 

mad  ; 

I  will  not  trouble  thee,  my  child ;  farewel : 
We'll  no  more  meet,  no  more  fee  one  another  : — 
But  yet  thou  art  my  fleih,  my  blood,  my  daughter; 
Or,  rather,  a  difeafe  that's  in  my  flcfh^ 
Which  I  muft  needs  call  mine  :  thou  art  a  bile, 
A  plague-fore,  an  s  embofled  carbuncle, 
In  my  corrupted  blood.     But  I'll  not  chide  thee; 
Let  fhame  come  when  it  will,  I  do  not  call  it  : 
I  do  not  bid  the  thunder-bearer  fhoot, 
Nor  tell  tales  of  thee  to  high-judging  Jove  : 
Mend,  when  thou  canft ;  be  better,  at  thy  leifurc  : 
I  can  be  patient ;  I  can  ftay  with  Regan, 
I,  and  my  hundred  knights. 

Reg.  Not  altogether  fo,  fir; 

xvretched  fort  of  exiftence  he  had  defcribed  in   the  preceding 
lines.     STEEVENS. 

3 bafe  life — ]  i.e.  In  zfervile  ftate.     JOHUSON'. 

*  —  and  fumpter']  Suwftcr  is  a  horfe  that  carries  neccflaries  on  a 
journey,  though  fometimes  ufed  for  the  cafe  to  carry  them  in. — 
Vide  B.  and  Fletcher's  Noble  Gentleman,  Sey ward's  edit.  vol.  viii. 
note  35  ;  and  Cupid's  Revenge. 

«*. I'll  have  a  horfe  to  leap  thee, 

«'  And  thy  bafe  iflue  (hall  carry  fumpter  s" 
Again,  in  Webfter's  Dutchefsof  Malfy,   1623  : 
"  He  is  indeed  a  guarded  fumpter-clotb 
"  Only  for  the  remove  o'the  court."     STEEVENS. 

s  - '—cmloffcd  carbuncle]  Embojjcd  is  facHiag,  protuberant* 

JOHNSON, 

I  look'd 


K    I    N     G      L    E    A    R.          445 

1  look'd  not  for  you  yet,  nor  am  provided 

For  your  fit  welcome  :  Give  ear,  fir,  to  my  fitter ; 

For  thofe  that  mingle  reafon  with  your  paffion, 

Muft  be  content  to  think  you  old,  and  fo 

But  ftie  knows  what  ihe  does. 
Lear.  Is  this  well  fpoken  now  ? 
Reg.  I  dare  avouch  it,  fir  :  What,  fifty  followers  ? 
Is  it  not  well  ?  What  fhould  you  need  of  more  ? 
Yea,  or  fo  ma'ny  ?  fith  that  both  charge  and  danger 
Speak  'gainft  fo  great  a  number  ?  How,  in  one  houfe, 
Should  many  people,  under  two  commands, 
Hold  amity  ?  'Tis  hard  ;  almoft  impoffible. 

Gon.  Why  might  not  you,  my  lord,  receive  at- 
tendance 

From  thofe  that  fhe  calls  fervants,  or  from  mine  ? 
Reg.  Why  not,  my  lord  ?  If  then  they  chanc'd  to 

flack  you, 

We  could  controul  them :  If  you  will  come  to  me, 
(For  now  I  fpy  a  danger)  I  intreat  you 
To  bring  but  five  and  twenty  ;  to  no  more 
Will  I  give  place,  or  notice. 
Lear.  I  gave  you  all — 
Reg.  And  in  good  time  you  gave  it. 
Lear.  Made  you  my  guardians,  my  depofitaries  ; 
But  kept  a  refervation  to  be  follow 'd 
With  fuch  a  number  :  What,  mull  I  come  to  you 
With  five  and  twenty,  Regan  ?  laid  you  fo  ? 

Reg.  And  fpeak    it   again,    my  lord  ;    no  more 

with  me. 

Lear.  6  Thofe  wicked  creatures  yet  do  look  well- 
.     favoured, 

When 

*  Tbofe  wicked  creatures  yet  da  look  tvett-faV6ttrtJt 

Jf7jen  others  are  more  wicked, ] 

Dr.  Warburton  would  exchange  the  repeated  epithet  i<:ickttl 
"into  winkled  in  both  places.  The  commentator's  only  objection 
to  the  lines  as  they  now  ftand,  is  the  difcrepancy  of"  the  meta- 
phor, the  want  of  oppofition  between  v.'ickeel  rind  well-favoured. 
£ut  he  might  have  reraejiibered  what  he  fays  in  his  own  preface 

concern- 


446         KING      LEAR. 

When  others  are  more  wicked ;  not  being  the  worft, 
Stands  in  fome  rank  of  praife  : — I'll  go  with  thee ; 

[To  Goneril. 

Thy  fifty  yet  doth  double  five  and  twenty, 
And  thou  art  twice  her  love. 

Gon,  Hear  me,  my  lord ; 
What  need  you  five  and  twenty,  ten,  or  five, 
To  follow  in  a  houfe,  where  twice  fo  many 
Have  a  command  to  tend  you  ? 

Reg-  What  need  one  ? 

Lear.  O,  reafon  not  the  need  :  our  bafeft  beggars 
Are  in  the  pooreft  thing  fupcrfluous  : 
Allow  not  nature  more  than  nature  needs, 
Man's  life  is  cheap  as  bead's  :  thou  art  a  lady  ; 
If  only  to  go  warm  were  gorgeous, 
Why,  nature  needs  not  what  thou  gorgeous  wear'ft, 
Which  fcarcely  keeps  thee  warm. — But,  for  true 

need,— 

You  heavens,  give  me  that  patience,  patience  I  need ! 
You  fee  me  here,  you  gods,  a  7  poor  old  man, 
As  full  of  grief  as  age  ;  wretched  in  both  ! 
If  it  be  you  that  flir  thefe  daughters'  hearts 
Againfl  their  father,  fool  me  not  ib  much 

concerning  mixed  modes.  Shakcfpenre,  vvhofe  mind  was  more  in- 
tent upon  notions  than  words,  had  in  his  thoughts  the  pulchritude 
of  virtue,  and  the  deformity  of  wickednefs  ;  and  though  he  had 
mentioned  tLvickednefst  made  the  correlative  anfwer  to  deformity , 

JOHNSON. 
A  flmilar  thought  occurs  in  Cymld-.tie,  a£t  V. 

That  all  the  abhorred  things  o'the  earth  amend, 
By  being  worle  than  they.     STEEVENS. 
This  paflage,  I  think,  fhould  be  pointed  thus : 

T/jofe  ivicked  creatures  yet  do  look  well-favour* J,        , 
When  others  are  more  wicked',  not  being  the  luorjl 
Stands  in  fome  rank  of  praife. — 

That  is,  To  lc  not  the  worfl  deferves  fome  praife.     TyawHiTT. 
7  —feor  old  man j}  The  quarto  has,  poor  old  fellow. 

JOHNSON. 

To 


KING      LEAR.         447 

To  bear  it  tamely  ;  8  touch  me  with  noble  anger  ! 

O,  let  not  women's  weapons,  water-drops, 

Stain  my  man's  cheeks ! — No,  you  unnatural  hags, 

I  will  have  fuch  revenges  on  you  both, 

That  all  the  world  flial!, — I  will  do  fuch  things9,—. 

What  they  are,  yet  I  know  not ;  but  they  fliall  be 

The  terrors  of  the  earth.     You  think,  I'll  weep  : 

No,  I'll  not  weep  :  — 

I  have  full  caufe  of  weeping;  but  this  heart 

Shall  break  into  a  hundred  thoufand  flaws, 

Or  ere  I'll  weep  :— O,  fool,  I  fhall  go  mad  ! 

[Exeunt  Lear,  Glqfter,  Kent,  and  Fool. 

Corn.  Let  us  withdraw,  'twill  be  a  ftorm. 

[Storm  and  tempeft  heard. 

Reg.  This  houfe is  little;  the  old  man  and  his  people 
Cannot  be  well  beftow'd. 

Gon.  'Tis  his  own  blame ;  he  hath  put  himfe.lf  from 
reft, 

1  touch  me  with  nolle  anger  /]  It  would  puzzle  one  at  firft 

to  find  the  fenfe,  the  dritt,  and  the  coherence  of  this  petition.  For 
if  the  gods  fent  this  evil  for  his  punifliment,  how  could  he  ex- 
pc£t  that  they  fhould  defeat  their  own  defign,  and  affift  him  to 
revenge  his  injuries  ?  The  folution  is,  that  Shakefpeare  here 
makes  his  fpeaker  allude  to  what  the  ancient  poets  tell  us  of  the 
misfortunes  of  particular  families  :  namely,  that  when  the  anger 
of  the  gods,  for  an  a£t  of  impiety,  was  raifed  againil  an  offend- 
ing houfe,  their  method  of  punifliment  was,  firft  to  inflame  the 
breafts  of  the  children  to  unnatural  afts  againft  their  parents  ; 
and  then,  of  the  parents  againir.  their  children,  in  order  to  de- 
flroy  one  another ;  and  that  both  thefe  outrages  were  the  in- 
ftigation  of  the  gods.  To  confider  Lear  as  alluding  to  this  di- 
vinity, makes  his  prayer  exceeding  pertinent  and  fine. 

WAR  BURTON. 

9  ... .  /  civ'//  do  fuck  things 

irbattbey  are ,  yet  I  know  not  ;] 

magnum  eft  quodcunque  paravi, 

Quid  fit,  adhuc  dubito.         Ovid.  Met.  lib.  vi. 

haud  quid  fit  fcio, 

Sed  grande  quiddam  elh         Sencc<e  Ttyefles. 
Let  fuch  as  are  unwilling  to  allow  that  copiers  of  nature  muft 
occafionally  ufe  the  fame  thoughts   and  expreffions,  remember, 
that  of  both  thefe  authors  there  were  early  tranflations. 

STEBVBNS. 

And 


448        K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R; 

And  muft  needs  tafte  his  folly. 

Reg.  For  his  particular,  I'll  receive  him  gladly, 
But  not  one  follower. 

Gon.  So  am  I  purpos'd. 
Where  is  my  lord  of  Glofler  ? 

Re-enter  Glofler. 

Corn.  Follow'd  the  old  man  forth  :  —  he  is  return'd* 

Glo.  The  king  is  in  high  rage. 

Corn.  Whither  is  he  going  '  ? 

Glo.  He  calls   to   horfe  ;    but  will  I  know   not 
whither. 

Corn.  JTis  beft  to  give  him  way  ;  he  leads  himfelf. 

Gon.  My  lord,  entreat  him  by  no  means  to  flay. 

Glo.  Alack,  the   night  comes  on,  and  the  bleak 

winds 

*  Do  forely  ruffle  ;  for  many  miles  'about 
There's  fcarce  a  buih. 

Reg.  O,  fir,  to  wilful  men, 
The  injuries,  that  they  themfelves  procure, 
Muft  be  their  fchool-maftcrs  :  Shut  up  your  doors; 
He  is  attended  with  a  defperate  train; 
And  what  they  may  inccnfc  him  to,  being  apt 
To  have  his  ear  abus'd,  wifdom  bids  fear. 

Corn.  Shut  up  your  doors,  my  lord  ;   'tis  a  wild 

night  ; 
My  Regan  couniels  well  :  come  out  o'  the  florm. 

[Exeunt. 


Glo.  He  call,  tu  btnfe-t] 
Omitted  in  the  quartos.     STCEV;  ->:;. 

*  Do  ford-  vuHlc,  —    —  ]  Thus  the  folio.     The  quartos  read, 
Do  forely  rujjil,  \.c.ruj:k.     ^  . 


ACT 


&    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          44<j 
ACT    III.     SCENE    I. 

A  Heath. 

A  florin  is  heard,  with  thunder  and  lightning.     Enter 
Kent,  and  a  Gentleman^  meeting. 

Kent.  Who's  there,  betide  foul  weather  ? 

Gent.  One  minded  like  the   weather,    mofl   uiv» 

quietly. 

Kent.  I  know  you ;  Where's  the  king  ? 
Gent.  Contending  with  the  fretful  element : 
Bids  the  wind  blow  the  earth  into  the  fea, 
Or  fwell  the  curled  waters  'bove  the  rhain ', 
That  things  might  change,    or  ceafe  :  4  tears  his 

white  hair; 

Which  the  impetuous  blafts,  with  eyelefs  rage, 
Catch  in  their  fury,  and  make  nothing  of : 
Strives  in  his  little  world  of  man  to  out-fcorn 
The  to-and- fro -conflicting  wind  and  rain. 
4  This  night,   wherein  the  cub-drawn  bear    would 
couch, 

The 

3  Or/U.W7  the  curled  ivate r's  'love  the  main,]    The  main  feems 
to  fignify  here  the  main  land,  the  continent.     So,  in  Bacon  s  War 
ivitb  Spain:  "  In  1589,  we  turned  challengers,  and  invaded  the 
tnaln  of  Spain." 

This  interpretation  fets  the  two  objcfts  of  Lear's  defire  in  pro- 
per oppolition  to  each  other.  He  wifties  for  the  deftruction  of 
the  world,  either  by  the  winds  blowing  the  land  into  the  waters, 
or  raifing  the  waters  fo  as  to  overwhelm  the  land.  STEEVENS. 

4  tears  bis  ivblte  lair;']  The  fix  following  verfes  were 

ofnitted  in  all  the  late  editions  :  I  have  replaced  them  from  the 
firft,  for  they  are  certainly  Shakefpeare's.     POPE. 

The  firft  folio  ends  the'fpeech  at  change  or  ceafe,  and  begins 
again  at  Kent's  queftion,  But  ^\ibo  is  <v.':tb  him?  The  whole 
fpeech  is  forcible,  but  too  long  for  the  occafion,  and  properly 
retrenched.  JOHXSON. 

5  This  H'gbt,  wherein  the  cub-drawn  a  car  wn&ld  co:u~b,~\   Cut- 
frav:n  has  been  explained  to  fignify  a>-a-w  ]y  nature  to  itsyov?  ; 

VOL,  IX,  G  'g  whereas 


450         K    I     N     G      L    E    A    R. 

The  lion  and  the  belly-pinched  wolf 
Keep  their  fur  dry,  unbonneted  he  runs, 
And  bids  what  will  take  all. 

Kent.  But  who  is  with  him  ? 

Gent.  None  but  the  fool ;  who  labours  to  out-jell 
His  heart-ftruck  injuries. 

Kent.  Sir,  I  do  know  you ; 
And  dare,  upon  the  warrant  of  6  my  note, 
Commend  a  dear  thing  to  you.     There  is  divifion, 
Although  as  yet  the  face  of  it  be  cover'd 
With  mutual  cunning,    'twixt  Albany  and  Corn- 
wall; 

7  Who  have  (as  who  have  not,  that  their  great  ftars 
Throne  and  fct  high  ?)  fervants,  who  feem  no  lefs ; 
Which  are  to  France  the  fpies  and  fpeculations 
Intelligent  of  our  flate  ;  what  hath  been  ieen  % 

whereas  it  means,  wbofe  dugs  are  drawn  dry  ly  its  younq.  For 
no  animals  leave  their  dens  by  night  but  for  prey.  So  that  the 
meaning  is,  "  that  even  hunger,  and  the  fupport  of  its  young, 
would  not  force  the  bear  to  leave  his  den  in  fuch  a  night." 

WARRURTON. 
Shakefpeare  has  the  fame  image  in  Asyou  Like  It : 

"  A  lionefs,  ivith  udders  all  draivn  dry^ 

**  Lay  couching " 

Again,  Ibidem : 

**  Food  to  t\\e  fuck* d  and  hungry  lionefs."    STEEVENS. 

6  my  note,}  My  observation  of  your  character.    JOHNSON-. 

The  quartos  read : 

upon  the  warrant  of  my  art : 

L  e.  on  the  ftrength  of  my  Jkill\n  philiognomy.      STEEVENS. 

7  Who  have  (as  who  have  not, ]  The  eight  fublequent 

verfes  were  degraded  by  Mr.  Pope,  as  unintelligible,  and  to  no 
purpofe.     For  my  part,  I  fee  nothing  in  them  but  what  is  very 
eafy  to  be  understood  ;  and  the  lines'Yeem  abfolutely  neceflary  to 
clear  up  the  motives  xipon  which  France  prepared  his  invafion : 
nor  without  them  is  the  fenie'  of  the  context  complete. 

THEOBALD. 
The  quartos  omit  thefe  lines.     STEEVENS. 

*  — what  hath  leenfcen,]  What  follows,  are  the  circumftances 
in  the  fhue  of  the  kingdom,  of  which  he  fuppoles  the  fpies  gave 
France  the  intelligence.  STEEYENS. 

Either 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          451 

9  Either  in  {huffs  and  packings  of  the  dukes  ; 
Or  the  hard  rein  which  both  of  them  have  borne 
Againft  the  old  kind  king  ;  or  fomething  deeper, 
Whereof,  perchance,  thele  '  are  but  furnilhings  ;— 
[  *  But,  true  it  is,  3  from  France  there  comes  a  power 

Into 


9  Either  in  (huffs  or  packings  -  ]  Snuffs  are  diflikes, 
tttgs  underhand  contrivances. 
So,  in  Henry  IV.  firft  part  :  "  Took  it  infou/";"  and  in  King 
Edward  III.   1599  : 

"  T\\\s  packing  evH,  we  both  (hall  tremble  for  it.'* 
Again,  in  Stanyhurft's  Virgil,   1582  : 

"  With  two  goAs  packing  one  woman  filly  to  cozen. 
We  ftill  talk  of  packing  juries,  and  Antony  fays  of  Cleopatra, 
that  fhe  has  '•'•packed  cards  with  Cjefar."     STEEVENS. 

1  -  are  but  furnifhings.]  Furnijlnngs  are  what  we  now  cal 
colours,  external  pretences.  JOHNSON. 

A  furnijb  anciently  fignified  a  fample.  So,  in  the  Preface  to 
Greene's  Groatfwtb  of  Writ,  1621:  "To  lend  the  world"  a 
furnijh  of  wit,  fhe  lays  her  own  to  pawn."  STEEVENS. 

*  But  true  it  iis,  &c.]  In  the  old  editions  are  the  five  following 
lines  which  I  have  inferted  in  the  text,  which  feem  neceflary  to 
the  plot,  as  a  preparatory  to  the  arrival  of  the  French  army  with 
Cordelia  in  aft  IV.  How  both  thefe,  and  a  whole  fcene  between 
Kent  and  this  gentleman  in  the  fourth  aft,  came  to  be  left  out 
in  all  the  later  editions,  I  cannot  tell  ;  they  depend  upon  each 
other,  and  very  much  contribute  to  clear  that  incident.  POPE. 
3  from  France  there  comes  a  po\.ver 

Into  this  fcatter'd  kingdom  ;  who  already  , 

Wife  in  our  negligence,  havefecrct  fea 

In  fame  of  our  bejl  ports.    •        ] 

Scattered  kingdom,  if  it  have  any  fenfe,  gives  us  the  idea  of  a 
kingdom  fallen  into  an  anarchy  :  but  that  was  not  the  cafe.  Ic 
fubmitted  quietly  to  the  government  of  Lear's  two  fons-5n-law. 
It  was  divided,  indeed,  by  this  means,  and  fo  hurt,  and  weak- 
en'd.  And  this  was  what  Shakefpeare  meant  to  lay,  who,  with- 
out doubt,  wrote  : 

-  fcatbed  kingdom  ;  - 

i.e.  hurt,  wounded,  impaired.  And  fo  he  frequently  vksfcatb 
for  hurt  or  damage.  Again,  vvliat  a  ftrange  phrafe'is,  having 
fea  in  a  port,  to  fignify  a  fleet's  lying  at  anchor  ?  which  is  all  it 
can  fignify.  And  what  is  fl  ranger  ftill,  %.  ferret  fea,  that  is,  lying 
incognito,  like  the  army  at  Knight's  Bridge  in  Tic  Rebenrfjl, 
Without  doubt  the  poet  wrote  : 

G  g  2  ——have 


452         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R; 

Into  this  fcatter'd  kingdom ;  who  already, 
Wife  in  our  negligence,  have  fecret  fee 
In  fome  of  our  belt  ports,  and  are  at  point 

have  fecretyi'/z<? 
In  fome  of  our  beft  ports  ; 

T.  e.  they  are  fecretly  iecure  or  fome  of  the  beft  ports,  by 
having  a  party  in  the  garrifon  ready  to  fecond  any  attempt  of 
their  friends,  &c.  The  exaclnels  of  the  expreffion  is  remark- 
able; he  fifySfJecrct  fei-ze  in  fome,  not  of  fome.  For  the  firit 
implies  a  confpiracy  ready  to  feize  a  place  on  warning,  the  other, 
a  place  already  feized .  WA  R  n u R  T o x . 

The  true  Hate  of  this  fpeech  cannot  from  all  thefe  notes  be 
difcovered.  As  It  now  ftands  it  is  collected  from  two  editions  : 
the  eight  lines,  degraded  by  Mr.  Pope,  are  found  in  the  folio, 
not  in  the  quarto  ;  the  following  lines  inclofed  in  crotchets 
are  in  the  quarto,  not  in  the  folio.  So  that  if  the  fpeech  be 
read  with  omiffion  of  the  former,  it  will  ftand  according  to  the 
firft  edition ;  and  if  the  former  are  read,  and  the  lines  that  follow 
them  omitted,  it  will  then  ftand  according  to  the  fecond.  The 
fpeech  is  now  tedious,  becaufe  it  is  formed  by  a  coalition  of 
both.  The  fecond  edition  is  generally  bert,  and  was  probably 
neareft  to  Shakefpeare's  laft  copy,  but  in  this  paflage  the  firlt 
is  preferable  ;  for  in  the  folio,  the  meffenger  is  lent,  he  knows 
not  why,  he  knows  not  whither.  I  fuppoie  Shakefpeare  thought 
his  plot  opened  rather  too  early,  and  made  the  alteration  to  veil 
the  event  from  the  audience  ;  but  trufting  too  much  to  himfelf, 
and  full  of  a  (ingle  purpofe,  he  did  not  accommodate  his  new 
lines  to  the  reft  of  the  fcene. — The  lc?.vned  critic's  emendations 
are  now  to  be  examined.  Scattered  he  has  changed  to  fcatbed; 
\mfcattered,  he  fays,  gives  the  idea  of  an  anarchy,  -which  ivas 
•not  the  cafe.  It  may  be  replied  t\\ttfcatbcd  gives  the  idea  of  ruin, 
wafte,  and  defolation,  ivbicb  was  not  tbe  cafe.  It  is  unworthy 
a.  lover  of  truth,  in  queftions  of  great  or  little  moment,  to  ex- 
aggerate or  extenuate  for  mere  convenience,  or  for  vanity  yet 
lefs  than  convenience.  Scattered  naturally  means  divided,  unfft- 
tled,  dlfunitcd. — Next  is  offered  with  great  pomp  a  change  of  fta. 
tofeixc  ;  but  in  the  firft  edition  the  word  is  fee,  for  hire,  in  the 
lenfe  of  having  any  one  in  fee,  that  is,  at  devotion  for  money. 
Fee  is  in  the  fecond  quarto  changed  to/tv,  from  which  one  made 
fea  and  another  feist:  JOHNSON. 

One  of  the  quartos  (for  there  are  two  that  differ  from  each  other, 
though  printed  in  the  fame  year,  and  for  the  fame  printer)  reads 
fecret  feet.     Perhaps  the  author  wrote  fecret  foot,  i.  e.  footing. 
So,  in  a  following  Icene  : 

what  confederacy  have  you  with  the  traitors 
the  kingdom  ?    STEEV&NS. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         453 

To  fliew  their  open  banner,  —  Now  to  you  : 

If  on  my  credit  you  dare  build  fo  far 

To  make  your  fpeed  to  Dover,  you  fhall  find 

Some  that  will  thank  you,  making  juft  report 

Of  how  unnatural  and  bemadding  forrow 

The  king  hath  caufe  to  plain. 

I  am  a  gentleman  of  blood  and  breeding, 

And  from  fome  knowledge  and  aflurance,  offer 

This  office  to  you.] 

Gent.  I  will  talk  further  with  you. 

Kent.  No,  do  not. 

For  confirmation  that  I  am  much  more 
Than  my  out  wall,  open  this  purfe,  and  take 
What  it  contains  :  If  you  fhall  fee  Cordelia, 
(As  fear  not  but  you  fhall)  Ihew  her  this  ring; 
And  fhe  will  tell  you  who  your  fellow  is 
That  yet  you  do  not  know.     Fie  on  this  Itorm  ! 
I  will  go  feek  the  king. 

Gent.  Give  me  your  hand  :  Have  you  no  more  to 
fay? 

Kent.  Few  words,  but,  to  effect,  more  than  all  yet  ; 
That,  when  we   have  found  4  the  king,  (in  which 

your  pain 

That  way  ;  I'll  this,)  he  that  firfl  lights  on  him, 
Holla  the  other.  \_Exeuntfeveralfy. 


4  the  king.  In  which  your  pain, 

That  iivry,  /'//  this  :  be  that  firji^  &c. 

Thus  the  folio.     The  late  reading  : 
-  for  which  you  take 
That  way,  I  this,——— 

was  not  genuine.     The  quartos  read  : 

That  when  we  have  found  the  king, 

lie  this  way,  you  that,  he  that  firit  lights 

On  him,  hollow  the  other.     STEEVENS. 


SCENE 


454         KING      LEAR. 

SCENE     II. 

dnotker  part  of  the  heat}:. 
Storm  JlllL     Enter  Lear>  and  Fool. 

Lear.  Blow,  winds,  and  crack  your  cheeks !  rage  ! 

blow! 

You  cataracts,  and  hurricanoes,  fpout 
'Till  you  have  drench'd  our  fteeples,  drown'd  the 

cocks ! 

You  fulphurous  and  5  thought-executing  fires, 
Vaunt-couriers  6  to  oak-cleaving  thunder-bolts, 
Singe  my  white  head  !  And  thdu  all-fhaking  thunder, 
7  Strike  flat  the  thick  rotundity  o'  the  world  ! 
8 Crack  nature's  moulds;  all  germens  fpill  at  once9, 
That  make  ingrateful  man  ! 

5  thought-executing— —~\  Doing  execution  with  rapidity 

equal  to  thought.     JOHNSON. 

*  F'aunt'couriers.']  Avant  couriers,  Fr.     This  phrafe  is  not  un- 
familiar to  other  writers  of  Shakefpeare's    time.     It  originally 
meant  the  foremoft  fcouts  of  an  army.     So,  in  Jarvis  Markham's 
Englijb  Arcadia,    1 607  : 

— "  as  Coon  as  the  full:  vancurrer  encountered  him  face  to  face.'* 
Again,  in  The  Tragedy  of  Mariam,    1613  : 

"  Might  to  my  death,  but  the  vaunt-currier  prove." 
Again,  in  Darius:  1603  : 

"  Th*  avant-ccrours,  that  came  for  to  examine." 

STEEVENS. 
7  Strikej^/,  Sec.]  The  quarto  reads, — Smite  flat.    STEEVENS. 

*  Crack  nature's  moulds,  all  germains^///  at  once\   Thus  all  the 
editions  have  given  us  this  paflage;  and  Mr.  Pope  has  explained 
gcrmains  to  mean  relations,  or  kindred  elements.     But  the  poet 
means  here,  "  Crack  nature's  mould,  and  fpill  all  the  feeds  of 
matter,  that  are  hoarded  within   it."     To  retrieve  which  fcnfe 
we  mult  write  germins  from  germen.     Our  author  not  only  ufes 
the  fame  thought  again,  but  the  word  that  afcertains  my  explica« 
lion,  in  The  Winter's  Tale : 

"  Let  nature  crufh  the  fides  o'  the  earth  together, 
"  And  mar  the^w/.f  within."    THEOBALD. 
Theobald  is  right.     So",  in  Macbeth  ; 

"  and  the  fum 

*'  Of  nature's germin*  tumble  altogether."    STEEVENS. 

FooL 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         4^ 

Fool.  O  nunclc,  court  holy-water  '  in  a  dry  houfe 
is  better  than  this  rain-water  out  o'  door.  Good 
nuncle,  in,  and  afk  thy  daughters  bleffing  ;  here's  a 
night  pities  neither  wife  men  nor  fools. 

Lear.  Rumble  thy  belly  full !  Spir,  fire  !  fpout, 

rain ! 

Nor  rain,  wind,  thunder,  fire,  are  my  daughters  : 
I  tax  not  you,  you  elements,  with  unkindnefs, 
I  never  gave  you  kingdom,  cali'd  you  children, 
*  You  owe  me  no  fubfcription  ;  why  then  let  fall 
Your  horrible  pleafure ;  3  here  I  {land,  your  flave, 
A  poor,  infirm,  weak,  and  defpis'd  old  man  : — 
Rut  yet  I  call  you  fervile  minifters, 
That  have  with  two  pernicious  daughters  join'd 
Your  high-engender'd  battles,  'gainft  a  head 
So  old  and  white  as  this.     O  !   O  !  4  'tis  foul ! 

Fool.  He  that  has  a  houfe  to  put's  head  in,  has  a 
good  head-piece. 

9  fpill  at  once.']  Tofpittis  to  deftroy.     So,  in  Govvcr  De 

CofiffJ/ione  Arnaults,  lib.  iv.  fol.  67  : 

So  as  I  (hail  myfelf  fpill.     STEEVENS. 

1  court  holy-water — ]  Ray,  among  his  proverbial  phrafes, 

p.  184,  mentions  court  holy-wafer  to  mean  fair  words.  The 
French  have  the  fame  phrafe.  Ea't  Icn'te  de  cour ;  fair  empty 
uri>rds. — Ckambaud*  s  Dictionary.  STEEVENS. 

r_  You  oive  me  no  fubfcription  ;          ]  Subfcription  for  obedience. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

3  Here  I  ft  and  your  flave,]  But  why  fo  ?  It  is  true,  he 

lays,  that  they  o~jjcd  him  no  fubfcription  ;  yet  fure  he  owed  them 
none.  We  fhould  read  : 

• Here  I  ftand  your  Iravc  ; 

i.e.  I  defy  your  worlt  rage,  as  he  had  faid  juft  before.  What 
led  the  editors  into  this  blunder  was  what  fhould  have  kept  them 
out  of  it,  namely,  the  following  line  : 

A  poor,  infirm,  weak,   and  defpis'd  old  man. 
And  this  was  the  wonder,  that  fuch  a  one  mould  brave  them  all. 

WAR  BURTON. 

The  meaning  is  plain  enough,  he  was  not  their_/7flrw  by  right 
or  compact,  but   by  neceffity   and   compulfion.     Why  fliotilu  a 
paiF.ige  be  darkened  for  the  fake  of  changing  it  ?    Befides,  of 
triive  in  that  fenfe  I  remember  no  example.     JOHNSON. 
*  'tis  foul.]  Shameful ;  difhonourable.    JOHNSON. 

G  g  4  77* 


45,6         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R; 

fbe  cod-piece  that  will  houfi, 

Before  the  head  has  any : 
The  head  and  hefliall  louje  ;— 
5  So  beggars  marry  many.    < 
tfhe  man  that  makes  his  toe 

IVloat  he  his  heart  Jhould  make, 
Shall  of  a  corn  cry,  woe  ! 

And  turn  hisjleep  to  wake. 

;—  for  there    was  never  yet   fair  wpman,    but  flie 
made  mouths  in  a  glafs. 

Enter  Kent. 

Lear.  6  No,  I  will  be  the  pattern  of  all  patience, 
I  will  fay  noihing. 

Kent.  Who's  there  ? 

Fool.  Marry,  here's  grace,  and  a  cod-piece 7  $ 
that's  a  wife  man,  and  a  fool. 

Kent.  Alas  fir,  *  are  you   here  ?  things  that  love 

night,    , 

Love  not  fuch  nights  as  thefe  ;  the  wrathful  fkies 
9  Gallow  the  very  wanderers  of  the  dark, 
And  make  them  keep  their  caves  :  Since  I  was  man, 

5  So  beggars  marry  ma  fry.]  i.e.  A  beggar  marries  a  wife  and 
Jice.  JOHNSON. 

6  No,  I  "Mill  le  the  pattern  of  all  patience, 

I  "Mill  fay  nothing.] 

So  Perillus,  in  the  old  anonymous  play,  fpeaking  of  Leir  : 
"  But  he,  the  myrrour  of  mild  patience', 
"  Puts  up  all  wrongs,  and  never  gives  reply. "STEEVENS, 
7  — and  a  cod-piece,  that's  a  -wife  man  and  a  fool.]  Alluding 
perhaps  to  the  faying  of  a  contemporary  wit  \  that  there  is  nodif- 
jrction  bclo--M  the  girdle.     STEEVENS. 

*  are  you  here? The  quartos  read— -fit  you  here  ? 

STEEVENS. 

9  Gallow  the  very  wanderers  of  the  dark,]  Callow,  a  weft- 
country  word,  lignifies  to  fcare  or  frighten.  WARBURTON. 

So,  the  Somerfetfliire  proverb  :  '*  The  dunder  do  %ally  the 
ieans."  .Beans  are  vulgarly  fuppofed  to  (hoot  up  faster  after 
tjiundeirftorms.  STEEVENS. 

{Such, 


KING      LEAR.          457 

Such  fheets  of  fire,  fuch  burfts  of  horrid  thunder, 
Such  groans  of  roaring  wind  and  rain,  I  never 
Remember  to  have  heard  :  man's  nature  cannot  carry 
The  affliction,  nor  the  '  fear. 

Lear.  Let  the  great  gods, 
That  keep  *  this  dreadful  pother  o'er  our  heads, 
Find  out  their  enemies  now.    Tremble,  thou  wretch, 
That  hail  within  thee  undivulged  crimes, 
Unwhipt  of  juftlce  :  Hide  thee,  thou  bloody  hand ; 
Thou  perjur'd,  and  3  thou  fimular  man  of  virtue 
That  art  inceituous  :  Caitiff,  to  pieces  fhake, 
4  That  under  covert  and.conveniejit  feeming 
Haft  practis'd  on  man's  life ! — Clofe  pent-up  guilts, 
Jlive  your  J  concealing  continents,  6  and  cry 

Thefe 

*  — — fear.~\  So  the  folio  :  the  later  editions   read,    with  the 
quarto,  force  for  fear,  Icfs  elegantly.     JOHNSON. 

1  -  -—this  dreadful  pother ]  Thus  one  of  the  quartos  and 

the  folio.     The  other  quarto  reads  ibtbuTring. 

The  reading  in  the  text,  however,   is  rfn  expreffion  commoa 
to  others.     So,  in  the  Scornful  Lady  of  B.  and  Fletcher: 

*'  fain  out  with  their  meat,  and  kept  a  pudder" 

STEEVENS. 

*  thou  Jinndar  of  virtue,]  Shakefpeare  has  here  kept  ex- 
aftly  to  the   Latin  propriety  of  the  term.     1  will  only  obferve, 
that  our  author  feems  to  have  imitated  Skelton  in  making  a  fub- 
Jtantive  pffintilar,  as  the  other  did  of  diffimular  : 

"  With  other  foure  of  theyr  afFynyte, 

"  Dyfdayne,  ryotte,  dijjymuler^  fubtylte."—  The  Bouge 
of  Ccnrtc.     WAHBURTON. 

The  quartos  read  fimular  man,  and  therefore  Dr.  Warburton's 
pote  might  be  fpared.     STEEVENS. 

4  That  under  covert  and  convenienty^;.;/tf~,]  Convenient  needs 
not  be  underftood  in  any  other  than  its  ufual  and  proper  icnle ; 
accommodate  to  the  prefent  purpofe  ;  fuitable  to  a  defign.     Con- 
venient feemhig  is  appearance  fuch  as  may  promote  his  purpofe  to 
deltroy.     JOHNSON. 

5  — concealing  continents,—]  Continent  Hands  for  that  which 
fontains  or  indofcs.     JOHNSON. 

Thus  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra  : 

Henrt,  once  be  ftronger  than  thy  continent ! 
Again,  in  Chapman's  tranflation  of  the  Xllth.  Book  of  Homer's 

?*  I  to!4 


4^S          K    I    N    G      L     E    A    R. 

Thefe  dreadful  fummoners  grace. — I  am  a  man  7, 
More  finn'd  againft,  than  finning. 

Kent.  Alack,  bare-headed  ! 
Gracious  my  lord,  hard  by  here  is  a  hovel ; 
Some  friendlhip  will  it  lend  you  'gainft  the  tempeft  ; 
Repofe  you  there  :  while  I  to  this  hard  houfe, 
(More  hard  than  is  the  ftone  whereof  'tis  rais'd  ; 
Which  even  but  now,  demanding  after  you, 
Deny'd  me  to  come  in)  return,  and  force 
Their  fcanted  courtefy. 

Lear.  My  wits  begin  to  turn. 

Come  on,  my  boy  :  How  doft,  my  boy  ?  Art  cold  ? 
I  am  cold  myfelf. — Where  is  this  ftraw,  my  fellow  ? 
The  art  of  our  neceffities  is  ftrange, 
That  can  make  vile  things  precious.     Come,  your 

hovel. 

Poor  fool  and  knave,  I  have  8  one  part  in  my  heart 
That's  forry  yet  for  thee. 

Fool.    9  He  that  has  a  little  tiny  wit, — 

With  hslgh,  ho,  the  wind  and  the  rain— 

Muft 

*'  I  told  our  pilot  that  part  other  men 
*'  He  moft  mull  bear  firm  fpirits,  fince  he  fway'd 
*'  The  continent  that  all  our  fpirits  convey'd,  &c." 
The  quartos  read,  concealed  centers.     STEEVENS. 

6 ' and  ay 

Ihefe  dreadful  fummoners  grace. ] 

Snmmonen  are  here  the  officers  that  fummon  offenders  before  a 
proper  tribunal.     STEEVENS. 

7  lama  man,]  Oedipus,  in  Sophocles,  reprefents  himfelf  in 
the  fame  light.     Oedip.  Colon,  v.  258. 

-ray  e^a.  ^ 

DtvevSbr'  £r»  ^taMoK  f>  W^*(UT*.    TYRWHITT. 

1 one  part  in  my  heart  &c.]  Some  editions  read, 

thing  in  my  heart  ; 

from  which  Hanmer,  and   Dr.  Warburton  after  him,  have  made 
firing,  very  unneceflarily ;  both  the  copies  have  part. 

JOHNSON. 
The  old  quartos  read, 

That/>mMw  yet  for  thee.    STEEVENS. 

9  He  that  has  a  little  t::y  w/V, — ]    I   fancy  that  the  fecond 
liae  of  this  ihnza  had  once  a  termination  that  rhymed  with  the 

fourth 


KING       LEAR.          459 

Mujl  make  content  with  bis  fortunes  ft ; 

For  the  rain,  it  raineth  every  day. 
Lear.  True,  my  good  boy. — Come,  bring  us  to 
this  hovel.  [Exit. 

Fool.  This  is  a  brave  nighf  to  cool  a  courtezan. 
1  I'll  fpeak  a  prophecy  ere  I  go  : 

When 

fourth  ;  but  I  can  only  fancy  it ;  for  both  the  copies  agree.     It 
was  once  perhaps  written, 

\\ith  heigh  ho,  the  wind  and  the  rain  in  bis  way. 
The  meaning  feems  likewife  to  require  this  infertion.  *'  He 
that  has  wit,  however  fmall,  and  finds  wind  and  rain  in  his  way, 
muft  content  himfelf  by  thinking,  that  fomewhere  or  other  it 
raineth  every  day,  and  others  are  therefore  differing  like  himfelf." 
Yet  I  am  afraid  that  all  this  is  chimerical,  for  the  burthen  ap- 
pears again  in  the  fong  at  the  end  ot  Twelfth  Night,  and  feems  to 
have  been  an  arbitrary  fupplcment,  without  any  reference  to  the 
fenfe  or  the  fong.  JOHNSON. 

1   /'//  fpeak  a  prophecy  ere  I  go  : 

When  priejis  are  more  in  -words  than  matter  ; 
When  brewers  marr  their  malt  with  water  j 
When  nobles  are  their  tailors1  tutors  ; 
No  heretics  lurrfd,  T)ut  wenches' fuitors  j 
Jf  T>c n  every  cafe  in  lavj  is  right ; 
No  f quire  in  debt,  nor  no  poor  knight ; 
Whenjlanders  do  not  live  in  tongues^ 
And  cut  purfes  come  not  to  throngs ; 
Wlien  ufurers  tell  their  gold  ?  the  field, 
And  bawds  and  whores  do  churchef  bttllJ  'y 
7 'hen  Jhall  the  realm  of  Albion 
Come  to  great  confufion. 
Then  comes  the  time,  who  lives  to  fee*  t, 
That  going  fiall  be  us'd  with  feet.] 

The  judicious  reader  will  obferve  through  this  heap  of  nonfenfe 
and  confufion,  that  this  is  not  one  but  two  prophecies.  The  firfr, 
a  fatyrical  defcription  of  \hcprcfent  manners  as  future:  and  the 
fecond,  a  fatyrical  defcription  of  future  manners,  which  the  cor- 
ruption of  the  prefent  would  prevent  from  ever  happening.  Each 
of  thele  prophecies  has  its  proper  inference  or  deduction  :  yet, 
by  an  unaccountable  ihipimry,  the  firll  editors  took  the  whole  to 
be  all  one  proyhecy,  and  fo  juirblcd  the  two  contrary  inferences 
together.  The  whole  then  ihould  be  read  as  follows,  only  pre- 
mifmg  that  the  firft  line  is  corrupted  by  the  lofs  of  a  word — or 
(re  /  r0,  is  not  Englifli,  and  fliould  be  helped  thus  : 

i.  I'll 


4*6         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

When  priefts  are  more  in  word  than  matter  ; 

When  brewers  mar  their  malt  with  water  ; 

*  When  nobles  are  their  tailors'  tutors  ; 

s  No  heretics  burn'd,  but  wenches'  fuitors  : 

Then  comes  the  time,  who  lives  to  fee't, 

That  going  fhall  be  us'd  with  feet.— 

When  every  cafe  in  law  is  right ; 

No  fquire  in  debt,  nor  no  poor  knight; 

When  flanders  do  not  live  in  tongues ; 

Nor  cut-purfes  come  not  to  throngs  ; 

When  ufurers  tell  their  gold  i'  the  field; 

And  bawds,  and  whores,  do  churches  build  ;— 

Then  fhall  the  realm  of  Albion 

Come  to  great  confufion. 

1.  I'll  fpeak  a  prophecy  or  two  ere  I  go  : 
When  priefts  are  more  in  words  than  matter  ; 
When  brewers  marr  their  malt  with  water  ; 
When  nobles  are  their  tailors'  tutors  ; 

No  heretics  burnt,  but  wenches*  -fuitors  ; 
Then  comes  the  time,  who  lives  to  fee't, 
That  going  fhall  be  us'd  with  feet. — /.  e.  JVV.v. 

2.  When  every  cafe  in  law  is  right  ; 

No  fquire  in  debt,  and  no  poor  knight ; 
When  ilanders  do  not  live  in  tongues, 
And  cut-purfes  come  not  to  throngs  ; 
When  ufurers  tell  their  gold  i'  the  field, 
And  bawds  and  whores  do  churches  build ; 
Then  fhall  the  realm  of  Albion 

Come  to  great  confufion. — i.e.  Never.  WAR  EUR  TON. 
The  fagacity  and  acutenefs  of  Dr.  Warburton  are  very  confpi- 
cuous  in  this  note.  He  has  difentangled  the  confufion  of  the 
pafTage,  and  I  have  inferted  his  emendation  in  the  text.  Or 
e'er  is  proved  by  Mr.  Upton  to  be  good  Englifli ;  but  the  con- 
troverfy  was  not  neceflhry,  for  or  is  not  in  the  old  copies. 

JOHNSON. 

*  Wlicn  nobles  arc  their  tailors'  tutors;]  i.e.  Invent  fafhions  for 
them.  WARBURTON. 

3  No  heretics  buntd,  but  wenches'  fuitors  ;  ]  The  difeafe  to  which 
•wenches'  fuitors  are  particularly  expofed,  was  called  in  Shake - 
fpeare's  time  the  brenning  or  burning.  JOHNSON. 

This 


KING      LEAR.         461 

4  This  prophecy  Merlin  fliall  make ;  for  I  live  before 
his  time.  [£r//. 

SCENE    III. 

An  apartment  in  Glofter's  caftle. 
"Enter  Glojler,  and  Edmund. 

Glo.  Alack,  alack,  Edmund,  I  like  not  this  un- 
natural dealing  :  When  I  defir'd  their  leave  that  I 
might  pity  him,  they  took  from  me  the  ufe  of  mine 
own  houfe  ;  charg'd  me,  on  pain  of  their  perpetual 
difpleafure,  neither  to  fpeak  of  him,  entreat  for  him, 
nor  any  way  fuftain  him. 

Edm.  Moft  favage,  and  unnatural ! 

Glo.  Go  to  ;  fay  you  nothing  :  There  is  divifion 
between  the  dukes ;  and  a  worfe  matter  than  that :  I 
have  received  a  letter  this  night; — 'tis  dangerous  to 
be  fpoken. — I  have  lock'd  the  letter  in  my  clofet : 
thefe  injuries  the  king  now  bears  will  be  revenged 
home ;  there  is  part  of  a  power  already  footed  : 
we  muft  incline  to  the  king.  I  will  feek  him,  and 
privily  relieve  him  :  go  you,  and  maintain  talk 
with  the  duke,  that  my  charity  be  not  of  him  per- 
ceived :  If  he  afk  for  me,  1  am  ill,  and  gone  to 
bed.  If  I  die  for  it,  as  no  lefs  is  threaten'd  me, 
the  king  my  old  matter  muft  be  relieved.  There  is 
fome  ftrange  thing  toward,  Edmund ;  pray  you,  be 
careful.  [Exit, 

*  This  prophecy — ]  This  prophecy  is  not  in  the  quartos. 
7benjball  the  realm  of  Albion 
Come  to  great  con  fit  lion, ~\ 

Thefe  lines  arc  taken  i'rom  Chaucer.     Puttenham,  in  his  Art  of 
Ptctry,   1 589,  quotes  them  as  follows  : 

\\  hen  faith  iaiis  in  prieftes  faws, 

And  lords  hefts  are  holden  for  laws, 

And  robbery  is  tane  for  purchafe, 

And  letchery  for  Iblace, 

Thenjball  the  realm  of  Albion 

Be  brsught  tc  grtat  cwfnjion,"    STEEYENS. 

Edm. 


461         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Edm.  This  courtefy,  forbid  thee,  fhall  the  duke 
Inftantly  know ;  and  of  that  letter  too  : — 
This  feems  a  fair  deferving,  and  muft  draw  me 
That  which  my  father  lofes  ;  no  lefs  than  all : 
The  younger  rifes,  when  the  old  doth  fall.       [Exit. 

SCENE         IV. 

A  part  of  the  heatht  with  a  hovel. 
Enter  Lear,  Kent,  and  Fool. 

Kent.  Here  is  the  place,  my  lord  \  good  my  lord, 

enter : 

The  tyranny  of  the  open  night's  too  rough 
For  nature  to  endure.  [Storm  Jlill. 

Lear.  Let  me  alone. 
Kent.  Good  my  lord,  enter  here. 
Lear.  Wilt  break  my  heart  ? 
Kent.  I'd  rather  break  mine  own  :  Good  my  lord, 

enter. 
Lear.  Thou  think'ft  'tis  much,  that  this  contentious 

ftorm 

Invades  us  to  the  fkin  :  fo  'tis  to  thee  ; 
But  where  the  greater  malady  is  fix'd, 
The  lefler  is  fcarce  felt  5.     Thou'dft  fhun  a  bear ; 
But  if  thy  flight  lay  toward  the  6  raging  fea, 
Thou'dft  meet  the  bear  i'  the  mouth.     When  the 

mind's  free, 
The  body's  delicate  :  the  temped  in  my  mind 


3  Rut  where  the  greater  malady  is 

The  L'JJer  is  fcarce  felt.] 
So,  in  Spenier's  Faery  !$ueen,  b.  I.  c.  vi. 

"  He  lefier  pangs  can  bear  who  hath  endurM  the  chief." 

STEEVENS. 

'  " raging/M,]  Such  is  the  reading  of  that  which  ap- 
pears to  be  the  elder  of  the  two  quartos.  The  other,  with  the 
folio,  reads, — roaring  fca.  STEEVEN«» 

Doth 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         463 

Doth  from  my  fenfes  take  all  feeling  elfe, 
Save  what  beats  there. — Filial  ingratitude  ! 
Is  it  not  as  this  mouth  fhould  tear  this  hand, 
For  lifting  food  to't  ? — But  I  will  punifli  home  :  — 
No,  I  will  weep  no  more. — In  fuch  a  night 7 
To  fhut  me  out ! — Pour  on  ;  I  will  endure  : — 
In  fuch  a  night  as  this !  O  Regan,  Goneril ! — 
Your  old  kind  father,  whofe  frank  heart  gave  you 

all,- 
O,  that  way  madnefs  lies ;  let  me  fhun  that; 

No  more  of  that, 

Kent.  Good  my  lord,  enter  here. 

Lear.  Pr'ythee,   go  in  thyfelf ;    feek  thine  own 

eafe  ; 

This  tempeft  will  not  give  me  leave  to  ponder 
On  things  would  hurt  me  more — But  I'll  go  in  : — 
« In,  boy ;    go  firfl.— [To  the  Fool.'}  You  houfelefs 

poverty, — 
Nay,  get  thee  in.     Til  pray,  and  then  I'll  fleep. — 

\_Fool  goes  in. 

Poor  naked  wretches,  wherefoe'er  you  are, 
That  bide  the  pelting  of  this  pitilefs  ftorm, 
How  (hall  your  houfelefs  heads,  and  unfed  fides, 
Your  loop'd  and  window'd  raggednefs 9,  defend  you 

7  —^—Infucb  a  night 

Tofyut  me  out ! — Pour  on,  Ituill  endure  .— 
Omitted  in  the  quartos.     STEEVENS. 

8  /«,  bey;  go  firft. ]  Thefe  two  lines  were  added  in  the 

author's  reviiion,  and  are  only  in  the  folio.     They  are  very  ju- 
diciouily  intended  to  reprefcnt  that  humility,  or  tendernels,  or 
neglect  of  forms,  which  affliction  forces  on  the  mind. 

JOHNSON. 

9  window'd  raggednefs-^ 

So  in  the  Amorous  War^   1648  : 

" fpare  me  a  doublet  which 

Hnth  linings  in't,  and  no  glafs  windows" 

This  allufion  is  as  old  as  the  time  of  Plautus,  in  one  of  whofe 
plays  it  is  found. 
Again,  in  tin-  comedy  already  quoted : 

*' this  jerkin 

"  It  wholly  made  of  deon"    STEEVENS. 

From 


464          K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R, 

From  feafons  fuch  as  thefe  ?  O,  I  have  ta'eri 
Too  little  care  of  this !  Take  phyfic,  pomp  ; 
Expofe  thyfelf  to  feel  what  wretches  feel ; 
That  thou  may 'ft  {hake  the  fuperflux  to  them, 
And  fhew  the  heavens  more  juft. 

Edg.  [witloin.~]  Fathom  and  half ',  fathom  and  half? 
Poor  Tom! 

Fool.  Come  not  in  here,  nuncle,  here's  a  fpirit. 
Help  me,  help  me  !  [The  Fool  runs  out  from  the  hovel. 

Kent.  Give  me  thy  hand. — Who's  there  ? 

Fool.   A  fpirit,  a  fpirit ;   he  fays  his  name's  poor 
Tom. 

Kent.  What  art  thou  that  doft  grumble  there  i'  the 

flraw  ? 
Come  forth. 

Enter  Edgar,  difgv.ifed  as  a  madman. 

Edg.  Away  !  the  foul  fiend  follows  me  !  — 
Through  the  iharp  hawthorn  blows  the  cold  wind.—* 
*  Humph  !  go  to  thy  cold  bed,  and  warm  thee. 

Lear.  Halt  thou  given  all  to  thy  two  daughters  J  ? 
And  art  thou  come  to  this  ? 

Edg.  Who  gives  any  thing  to  poor  Tom  ?  whom 
the  foul  fiend  hath  +  led  through  fire  and  through 
ilarue,  through  ford  and  whirlpool,  over  bog  and 

1  Fathom,  &c.]  This  fpccch  of  Edj-nr  is  omitted  in  the  quartos. 
He  gives  the  lign  ufed  by  thofe  who  are  founding  the  depth 
at^fea.  STELVEXS. 

a  Humph  !  go  to  tly  letl ]  So  the  folio.     The  quarto, 

Go  to  thy  cold  bed  and  warm  thee.     JOHNSON. 
So,  in  the  introduction  to  the  Taming  of  aSlre-iv,  6'/rfays,  "  gd 
to  thy  cold  bed  and  \varm  thee."     A  ridicule,  I  fuppofe,  on  fomc 
|>aflage  in  a  play  as  abt'urd  as  the  Span!j}>  Tragedy.     STEEVF.N-S. 

3  Haft  thou  given  all  to  thy  t-ivo  daughters?]  Thus  the  quartos. 
The  folio  reads,  Duljl  thou  give  all"  to  dy  daughters  ? 

STEEVEKS. 

*  led  through  fire  and  through  fiame, — ]   Alluding  to  the 

ignis  fattau,  fuppoied  to  be  lights  kindled  bv  mifchievous  beings 
to  lead  travellers  into  deilruttioa.    JOHNSON. 

quag- 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         46- 

rjuagmire;  that  hath  5  laid  knives  under  his  pillow, 
and  halters  in  his  pew  ;  fet  ratibane  by  his  porridge; 
made  him  proud  of  heart,  to  ride  on  a  bay  trotting 
horfe  over  four-inch'd  bridges,  to  courfe  his  own 
fhadow  for  a  traitor  : — 6  Blefs  thy  five  wits  !  Tom's 
a-cold. —  O,  do  de,  do  de,  do  de. — Blefs  thee  from 

5  laid  knives  under  bis  pillow, — ]  He  recounts  the  temp- 

tations  by  which  he  was  prompted  to  fuicide  ;  the  opportunities 
of  deftroying  himfelf,  which  often  occurred  to  him  in  his  melan- 
choly moods.    JOHNSON. 

Shakefoeare  found  this  charge  againft  the  fiend,  with  many 
others  of  the  fame  nature,  in  Harfenet's  Declaration,  and  has 
ufed  the  very  words  of  it.  The  book  was  printed  in  1603.  Sec 
Dr.  Warburton's  note,  aft  IV.  fc.  i. 

Infernal  fpirits  are  always  reprefented  as  urging  the  wretched  to 
felf-deftruftion.  So,  in  Dr.  Faujlus,  1604.: 

'*  Swords,  poifons,  halters,  and  envenom'd  fteel, 

"  Are  laid  before  me  to  difpatch  myfelf."    STEEVENS, 

6  blcfs  thy  five  ivifs."]  So  the  five  fenfes  were  called  by  our' 

old  writers.     Thus  in  the  very  ancient  interlude  of  The  Fyve 
Elements,  one  of  the  characters  is  Senfual  Appetite,  who  with  great 
Simplicity  thus  introduces  himfelf  to  the  audience  : 

"  I  am  callyd  fenfual  apetyte, 

**  All  creatures  in  me  delyte, 
"  I  comforte  the  vuyttys  five  ; 

**  The  taftyng  fmelling  and  herynge 

"  I  refrefhe  the  fyghte  and  felynge 

**  To  all  creaturs  alyve." 

Sig.  B.  iij.  PERCY. 

So  again,  in  Every  Man,  a  Morality  : 

"  Every  man,  thou  arte  made,  thou  haft  thy  ivyt&fyvc." 
Again,   in  Hycke  Scorxcr  : 

"  I  have  fpent  amys  my  v  ivittes" 

Again,  in  the  Interlude  of  the  Four  Elements,  by  John  Raftell, 
1519  : 

"  Brute  beftis  have  memory  and  &t\ri\yttes-foe.n 
Again,  in  the  firrt  book  of  Gower  De  ConfeJJione  Amantls  : 

"  As  touchende  of  my  wittesfive."     STEEVENS. 
Shakefpeare,  however,  in  hib  141^  Sonnet  feems  to  have  confi- 
dered  the  fve  i\.-/ts,  as  diftinct  from  the fci'fcs  : 

"   But  my  five  wifs,  nor  myfivcfenfes  can 

**  DilTiude  one  fooliih  heart  from  ferving  thee."  MALOXE. 

VOL.  IX.  .  H  h  whirl- 


4<56         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

\vhirlwinds,  ftar-blafting,  and  7  taking  !  Do  poor 
Tom  fome  chariiv,  whom  the  foul  fiend  vexes : — 
There  could  I  have  him  now, — and  there, — and 
there,— and  there  again,  and  there.  [Storm  fill. 

Lear.  What,  have  his  daughters  brought  him  to 

this  pafs  ? — 

Could'ft  thou  fave  nothing?  Didftthou  give  them  all? 
Fool.  Nay,  he  referv'd  a  blanket,  elfe  we  had  been 
all  fhamed. 

Lear.  Now,  all  the  plagues  that  in  the  pendulous  air 
Hang  fated  o'er  men's  faults,  light  on  thy  daughters ! 
Kent.  He  hath  no  daughters,  fir. 
Lear.  Death,   traitor !  nothing  could  have    fub- 

du'd  nature 

To  fuch  a  lownefs,  but  his  unkind  daughters.— 
Is  it  the  fafhion,  that  difcarded  fathers 
Should  have  thus  little  mercy  on  their  ilelh  ? 
Judicious  puniftunent !  'twas  this  fiefh  begot 
Thofe  8  pelican  daughters. 

Edg.  Pillicock  fat  on  pillicock-hill;— 
Halloo,  halloo,  loo,  loo ! 

Fool.  This  cold  night  will  turn  us  all  to  fools  and 
madmen. 

Edg.  Take  heed  o'  the  foul  fiend  :  Obey  thy  pa- 
rents;  keep  thy  wordjuftly;   fwear  not;  commit 

7  taking! — ]  To  take  is  to  blaft,  or  flrike  with  malignant 

influence : 

flrike  her  young  bones, 

Ye  taking  airs,  with  lamenefs.     JOHNSON. 

*  pelican  daughters.}  The  young  pelican  is  fabled  to 

fuck  the  mother's  blood.     JOHNSON. 

So,  in  Decker's  Honcft  If'/jore,   1630,  fecond  part  : 
*'  Shall  a  filly  bird  pick  her  own  breaft  to  nourifli  her  young 
ones?  thefeh'cax  does  it,  and  fliall  not  I?** 
Again,  in  I,ovc  in  a  Maze,    1632  : 

44  The  pelican  loves  not  her  young  fo  well 

"  That  uigs  upon  her  breait  a  hundred  fprings." 

Srftsmr*. 

BBC 


KING     LEAR.       467 

hot  9  with  man's  fworn  fpoufe ;  fet  not  thy  fweet 
heart  on  proud  array  : — Tom's  a-cold. 

Lear.  What  haft  thou  been  ? 

Edg.  A  ferving-man,  proud  in  heart  and  mind  ; 
that  curl'd  my  hair,  '  wore  gloves  in  my  cap,  ferv'd  the 
luftof  my  miftrefs's  heart,  and  did  the  act  of  darknefa 
with  her :  fwore  as  many  oaths  as  I  fpake  words,  and 
broke  them  in  the  fweet  face  of  heaven  :  one,  thatfiept 
in  the  contriving  of  luft,  and  wak'd  to  do  it :  Wine 
lov'd  I  deeply  ;  dice  dearly  ;  and  in  woman,  out- 
paramour'd  the  Turk  :  Falfe  of  heart,  *  light  of  ear, 
bloody  of  hand ;  J  Hog  in  iloth,  fox  in  Health, 

wolf 

9  Commit  not,  &c.]  The  word  commit  is  ufed  in  this  fenfe  by 
Middleton,  in  Women  beware  Women  : 

"  His  weight  is  deadly  who  commits  with  (trumpets." 

STEEVEXS. 

1  <  fjjore  gloves  in  my  cap, — ]  i.e.  His  miftrefs's  favours  : 
which  was  the  rafhion  of  that  time.  So  in  the  play  called  Cam- 
pafpe :  "  Thy  men  turned  to  women,  thy  foldiers  to  lovers, 
gloves  worn  in  velvet  caps,  inftead  or  plumes  in  graven  helmets." 

\VAREURTON. 

It  was  anciently  the  cuilom  to  wear  gloves  in  the  hat  on  three 
diftintt  occalkms,  viz.  as  the  favour  of  a  miftrefs,  the  memorial 
of  a  friend,  and  as  a  mark  to  be  challenged  by  an  enemy.  Prince 
Henry  boafts  that  he  TV///  pluck  a  glave  from  the  commoncfr  crea- 
ture, and  fix  it  his  helmet ;  and  Tucca  fays  to  iir  Quintilian,  ia 
Decker's  Satiromajiix : 

«*  Thou  fhalt  wear  her  glove  in  thy  worfhipful  bat,  like 

to  a  leather  brooch :"  and  Pandora  in  Lylly's  If^o.-nan  in  the 
Moon,  i 597  : 

"   he  that  firft  prefents  me  with  his  head, 

"  Shall  wear  my  glove  in  favour  of  the  deed." 
Portia,  in   her  affumcd  character,  alks  B:iflanio    for  his  gloves^ 
which  ihe  fays  flie  will  wear  for  his  fake:  and  King  Henry  V. 
gives  the  pretenckd  glove  of  Alen9oa  to  Fluellen,  which  after- 
wards occafions  his  quarrel  with  the  Englifli  foldicr.     STEEVENS. 

1  light  of  car, ]  i.e.  Credulous.     WAREURTON. 

Not  merely  credulous,  but  credulous  of  evil,  ready  to  receive 
malicious  reports.  JOHNSC.V. 

3    Hoglnjloth,  fox  infiealtb,  wolf  in  g*ed'.ntp,  &c.]  The 

Jefuits  pretended  to  call  the  leven  deiully  i:Tis  out  of  Ivlainy  in 

the  fliape  of  thofe  animals  that  represented  them  ;  auci   before 

c^ch  w«*s  call  out,  Mainy  hy  geftures  adfcJ  that  particular  lui  ; 

H  h  a  curl- 


468          KING      LEAR. 

wolf  in  grecclinefs,  dog  in  madnefs,  lion  in  prey, 
Let  not  the  creaking  of  fhoes,  nor  the  ruftling  of 
filks,  betray  thy  poor  heart  to  women  :  Keep  thy 
foot  out  of  brothels,  thy  hand  out  of  plackets  *, 
thy  pen  from  lenders'  books  s,  and  defy  the  foul 
fiend. — Still  through  the  hawthorn  blows  the  cold 
wind  :  6  Says  fuum,  mun,  ha  no  nonny,  dolphin 
my  boy,  boy,  Seffy  ;  let  him  trot  by.  [Storm  jtill. 

Lear. 

curllns;  his  hair  to  0\&f?  pride,  vomiting  for  gluttony,  gaping  and 
fnoring  for  Jlotb,  &c. — Harfenet's  book,  pp.  279,  280,  &c. 
To  this  probably  our  author  alludes.  STEEVENS 

4  thy  hand  out  nf  plackets.]  It  appeareth  from  the  fbllovr- 

ing  paflage  in  Any   fhing  for  a  quiet  Life,  a  filly  comedy,  that 
placket  doth   not  fignify   the  petticoat  in  general,  but  only  the 
aperture  therein  :  "  — between  which  is  difcovered  the  open  part 
which  is  now  called  the  placket."     Bayly  in  his  Dictionary ,  giveth 
the  lame  account  of  the  word. 

Yet  perad venture,  our  poet  hath  fome  deeper  meaning  in  the 
Winter's  Tah,  where  Aurolycus  faith—"  You  might  have  pinch'd 
a. placket,  it  was  fenfelefs."  AMNER. 

5  Thy  pen  from  kitdcrf  books.']  So,  in  All  Fools,  a  comedy  by 
Chapman,   1605  : 

*'  If  I  but  write  my  name  In  mercer?  looks, 

*'  I  am  as  fure  to  have  at  fix  months  end 

"  A  rafcal  at  my  elbow  with  his  mace,  &c."   STEEVEKS. 

6   Says  fuum,  mun,  nonny,  &c.]    Of  this  paflage  I  can 

make  nothing.     I  believe  it    corrupt  ;    for  wildnefs,    not  non- 
fenfe,  is  the  efteft  of  a   difordered   imagination.      The  quarto 
reads,  bay  no  on  ny,  dolphins,  my  boy,  ceafe,  let  him  trot  by.     Of 
interpreting  this  there  is  not  much  hope  or  much  need.     But 
any  thing  may  be  tried.     The  madman,   now  counterfeiting  a 
proud  fit,  fuppoles  himfelt  met  on  the  road  by  fome  one  that 
difputes  the  way,  and  cries  Hey! — No — but  altering  his  mind, 
condelcends  to  let   him  pafs,  and  calls  to  his  boy  Dolphin  (Ro- 
dolph)  not  to  contend  with  him.     On — Dolphin,  my  boy,  ceafe. 
J.,ct  him  trot  by.     JOHNSON, 

The  reading  of  the  quarto  is  right.  Hry  no  nonny  is  the 
burthen  of  a  ballad  in  The  Tivo  "Nolle  Kinfmen  (faid  to  be  written 
by  Shakefpeare  in  conjunction  with  Fletcher)  and  was  probably 
common  to  many  others.  The  rolio  introduces  it  into  one  ot 
Ophelia's  longs. 

Dolphin,  my  loy,  my  boy, 
Ceafe,  let  him  trot  by  ; 
It  feemeth  not  that  fuch  a  foe 
From  me  or  you  would  fly. 

Till 


KING       LEAR.  469 

Lear.  Why  thou  were  better  in  thy  grave,  than 
to  anfwer  with  thy  uncover'd  body  this  extremity  of 
the  fkies. — Is  man  no  more  than  this  ?  Confider  him 
well:  Thou  oweft  the  worm  no  filk,  the. bead  no 
hide,  the  Iheep  no  wool,  the  cat  no  perfume  : — 
Ha  !  here's  three  of  us  are  fophifticated  ! — Thou 
art  the  thing  itfelf :  unaccommodated  man  is  no 
more  but  fuch  a  poor,  bare,  forked  animal  as  thou 
art. — Off,  off,  you  lendings : — Come  8 ;  unbutton 
here. —  [Tearing  off  his  ck: 

Fool.  Pr'ythee,  nuncle,  be  contented ;  this  is  a 
naughty  night  to  fwim  in. — Now  a  little  fire  in  a 
wild  field,  were  like  an  old  lecher's  heart 9 ;  a  fmall 

fpark, 

This  is  a  ftanza  from  a  very  old  ballad  written  on  fome  battle 
fought  in  France,  during  which  the  king,  unwilling  to  put  the 
fufpe&ed  valour  of  his  fon  the  Dauphin,  i  e.  Dolphin  (fo  called 
and  fpelr  at  thole  times)  to  the  trial,  is  reprefented  as  defirous  to 
reibain  him  from  any  attempt  to  elrablifli  an  opinion  of  his  cou- 
rage on  an  adversary  who  wears  the  lenft  appearance  or  itrength  ; 
and  at  lair  ailiits  in  propping  up  a  dead  body  againil  a  tree  for 
him  to  try  his  manhood  upon.  Therefore  as  different  cham- 
pions are  fuppofcd  croffing  the  field,  the  king  always  difcovers 
Ibme  objection  to  his  attacking  each  of  them,  and  repeats  thefe 
two  lines  as  every  frefli  perfonage  is  introduced. 
Dolphin,  mv  boy,  mv  boy,  &c. 

The  fong  I  h.ive  never  feen,  but  had  this  account  from  an 
old  gentleman,  who  was  only  able  to  repeat  part  of  it,  and  died 
before  I  could  have  fuppofed  the  dilcovery  would  have  been  of  the 

lealt  importance  to  me. As  for  the  words,  fayifuum,  man,  they 

are  only  to  be  found  in  the  firft  folio,  and  were  probably  added 
by  the  players,  who,  together  with  the  competitors^  were  likely 
enough  to  corrupt  what  they  did  not  underrtand,  or  to  add  more 
of  their  own  to  what  they  already  concluded  to  be  nonfcnie. 

STEEVEXS. 
Cotes  cries  out  in  Bartholomew  Fair  : 

*'  God's  my  life  !— He  (ball  be  Dattphin  my  ley  /"  FARMER. 

8  Come;  unbutton  here, ~\  Thus  the   rolio.     One  of  the  quartqa 
reads  : 

.Come  on,  le  trite.    STEEVENS. 

9  an  clj lecher's  heart. ~\  This  irgage  appears  to  have  been 

imitated  by  B.  and  Fletcher  in  the  Humonroui  Lieutenant: 

"  an  old  mans  loofe  defire 

"  Is  like  the  glow-worm's  light  the  aues  fo  womlerM  at : 
H  h  3  "  Which 


470          KING       LEAR. 

fpark,  and  all  the  reft  of  his  body  cold. — Look,  here 
comes  a  walking  fire. 

Edg»  This  is  the  foul  fiend  '  Flibbertigibbet :  he 
begins  at  curfew,  and  walks  'till  the  firft  cock;  he 
gives  the  *  web  and  the  pin,  fquints  the  eye,  and 
makes  the  hare-lip  ;  mildews  the  white  wheat,  and 
hurts  the  poor  creature  of  earth. 

3  Saint  Withold  footed  thrice  the  wold} 
He  met  the  night-mar 'e,  and  her  nine-fold ; 

Bid 

"  Which  when  they  gather'd  flicks,  and  laid  upen't, 

"  And  blew  and  blewj  turn'd  tail,  and  went  out  prefently." 

STEEVENS. 

1  —  Flibbertigibbet ;  — —  ]  We  are  not  much  acquainted  with 
this  fiend.  Latimer  in  his  fermons  mentions  him  ;  and  Hey- 
wood,  among  his  tixte  hundred  of  Epigrams,  edit,  1576,  has  tho 
following,  Of  calling  one  Fielergibet : 

"  Thou  Flebcrgioet,  Flebergibet,  thou  wretch  ! 

"  Wotteft  thou  whereto  laft  part  of  that  word  doth  ftretch  ? 

"  Leave  that  word,  or  I'le  baile  thee  with  a  libet ; 

"  Of  all  woords  I  hate  woords  that  end  with  gibet." 

STEEVENS. 
**  Frateretto,    Flibcrd'gibet,    Hoberdidance,    Tocobatto,    were 

four  devils  of  the  round  or  rnorice Thefe  four  had  forty 

affilknts  under  them,  as  themlelves  doe  confeflc."  Harjcuet^ 
p.  49.  PERCY. 

*  web  and  the  pin, ]  Difeafes  of  the  eye,     JOHNSON. 

So,  in  Every  V/ui,^;'.  In  her  Humour,  1600.  One  of  the  charac- 
ters is  giving  a  ludicrous  deicription  of  a  lady's  face,  and  when 
he  comes  to  her  eyes  he  fays,  *'  a  pin  and  i'.w  argent  in  hair  du 
roy."  STEEVE.XS. 

3  S-vjithold  footed  thrice  the  old  ;]  The  old,  my  ingenious  friend 
Mr.  Bifhop  fays,  mult  be  wold,  which  fignifies  a  down,  or  ground, 
hiiiv  and  void  of  wood.  THEOBALD. 

Saint  Withold  footed  thrice  the  wold, 
He  met  the  night-mare,  and  her  nine -fold, 
Bid  her  alight,  and  her  troth  plight, 
And  arrynt  thee,  ivltcb,  aroynt  thte  !~\ 
We  ftiould  read  it  thus  : 

Saint  Withold  footed  thrice  the  wold, 
He  met  the  night-mare,  and  her  name  toll, 
Bid  her  alight,  and  her  troth  plight, 
And  aroynt  thee,  witch,  aroynt  thee  right. 
\.  t,  5$int  Withold  traverfing  the  wold  or  do-ivtu,  met  the  night- 
mare ; 


K    I    N    G      I,    E    A    R.         471 

Bid  her  alight, 
And  her  troth  plight, 
And,  Aroynt  thee,  witch,  aroynt  thee  ! 

Kent.  How  fares  your  grace  ? 

Enter 

mare  ;  who  having  told  her  nr.me,  he  obliged  her  to  alight  from 
thole  perlbns  whom  flie  rides,  and  plight  her  troth  to  do  no  more 
mifchief.  This ",  j  taken  from  a  ftory  of  him  in  his  legend.  Hencfe 
he  was  invoked  as  the  patron  faint  againft  that  diftemper.  And 
thefe  verfes  were  no  other  than  a  popular  charm,  or  n'ght-fpell 
againft  the  Epialtes.  The  laft  line  is  the  formal  execration  or 
apoftrophe  of  the  fpeaker  of  the  charm  to  the  witch,  arcy.-t  thee 
right,  i.  e.  depart  forthwith.  Bedlams,  giplies,  and  fuch  like 
vagabonds,  uled  to  fell  thefe  kinds  of  fpells  or  charms  to  the 
people.  They  were  of  various  kinds  for  various  diforders.  We 
have  another  of  them  in  the  Monjievr  Thomas  of  Fletcher,  which 
he  exprefsly  calls  a  night-fpdl,  and  is  in  thefe  words  : 

"  Saint  George,  Saint  George,  our  lady's  knight, 

*'  He  walks  by  day,  fo  he  does  by  night ; 

**  And  when  he  had  her  found, 

**  He  her  beat  and  her  bound  ; 

*'  Until  to  him  her  troth  Jin  plight, 

**  She  would  not  ftir  from  him  that  night." 

WAR  BUR  TON'. 

This  is  likevvife  one  of  the  "  magical  cures"  for  the  incubus, 
-quoted,  with  little  variation,  by  Reginald  S^ott  in  his  Difcovery 
ef  Witchcraft,  1584.  STEEVENS. 

In  the  old  quarto  the  corruption  is  fuch  as  may  deferve  to  be 
noted.  **  S.vithald  footed  thrice  the  olde  anelthu  night  moorc 
and  her  nine  told  bid  her,  O  light  and  her  troth  plighi  aud 
arint  thee,  wiih  arintthee,"  JOHNSON. 

Her  nine  f  .d  feems  to  be  put  (tor  the  fake  of  the  rime)  inftead 
of  her  rinc  foals.  I  cannot  find  this  adventure  in  the  common  le- 
gend ot  St.  Vitiilis,  who,  I  fuppoie,  is  here  called  M.  Withold. 

TYRWHITI. 

Shakefpeare  might  have  met  with  St.  Withold  in  the  old  fpu- 
rious  play  of  King  John,  where  this  faint  is  invoked  by  a  Fran- 
cifcan  friar.  The  iaold  I  fuppofe  to  be  the  true  reading.  So  in 
the  Coventry  Colteftion  of  Myfteries,  Muf.  Brit.  Vefp.  U.  viii, 
p.  93,  Herod  fays  to  one  of.  his  officers  : 

**  Seyward  bolde,  walke  thou  on  «aW//r, 
"  And  wyfely  behold  all  abowte,  &c." 

Dr.  Hill's  reading,  the  cold,  is  the  reading  of  Mr.  Tate  in  his  al- 
teration of  this  play  in  168  r.    STEEVENS. 

H  h  4  It 


47*         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Enter  Glqfter,  with  a  torch. 

Lear.  What's  he  ? 

Kent.  Who's  there  ?  What  is't  you  feek  ? 

Glo.    What  are  you  there  ?  Your  names  ? 

Edg.  Poor  Tom ;  that  eats  the  fwimming  frog, 
the  toad,  the  tadpole,  the  wall-newt,  and  the  water- 
newt  ;  that  in  the  fury  of  his  heart,  when  the  foul 
fiend  rages,  eats  cow-dung  for  fallets ;  fwallows  the 
old  rat,  and  the  ditch-dog ;  drinks  the  green  mantle 
of  the  flanding  pool ;  who  is  4  whipt  from  tything 
to  tything,  and  ftock'd,  punifti'd,  and  imprifon'd  ; 
who  hath  had  three  fuits  to  his  back,  fix  fliirts  to  his 
body,  horfc  to  ride,  and  weapon  to  wear, 

It  is  pleafant  to  lee  the  various  readings  of  this  paflage.  In  a 
book  called  the  After,  which  has  been  afcribed  to  Dr.  Hill,  it  is 
quoted  "  Switbin  footed  thrice  the  cold"  •  Mr.  Colman  has  it  in 
his  alteration  of  Lear, 

"  Switbin  footed  thrice  the  world." 

The  ancient  reading  is  the  olds:  which  is  pompoufly  corrected  by 
iVIr.  Theobald,  with  the  help  of  his  friend  Mr.  Biftop,    to  the 
•wolds  :  in  fact  it  is  the  fame  word.     Spelman  writes,  Burton  upon 
olds:  the  provincial  pronunciation  is  nill  thfe  tffej"/  and  that  pro- 
bably was  the  vulgar  orthography.     Let  us  read  then, 
St.  Withold  footed  thrice  the  oles, 
He  met  the  night-mare,  and  her  nine  files,  &c." 

FARMER. 

I  was  furprifed  to  fee  in  the  Appendix  to  the  laft  edition  of 
Shakefpeare,  that  my  reading  of  this  paflage  was  "  Swithin  footed 
thrice  the  ivorM."  I  have  ever  been  averfe  to  capricious  va- 
riations of  the  old  text ;  and,  in  the  prefent  inltance,  the  rhime, 
as  well  as  the  fenfe,  would  have  induced  me  to  abide  by  it.  World 
was  merely  an  error  of  the  prefs.  Wold  is  a  word  flill  in  ufe  in  the 
North  of  England  ;  fignifying  a  kind  of  down  near  the  fea.  A 
•  large  tra&of  country  in  the  Eaft-Riding  of  Yorkftiire  is  called  the 
Would*.  COLMAN. 

*  — — whipt  from  tything  to  tything,  •  •-]  A  iytllng  is  a  di- 
vifion  of  a  place,  a  diftrid  ;  the  fame  in  the  country,  as  a  ward  in 
the  city.  In,  the  Saxon  times  every  hundred  was  divided  into 
'-  STEEVENS. 

But 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         47j 

But  mice,  and  rats,  andfttcb  r  fmall  deer, 
Have  been  Tom'  s  food  for  fevcn  long  year. 

Beware   my  follower  :  —  Peace,   Smolkin  6  ,*    peace, 

thou  fiend  ! 

Glo.  What,  hath  your  grace  no  better  company  ? 
Edg.  The  prince  of  darknefs  is  a  gentleman  7  ; 
'  Modo  he's  call'd,  and  Mahu. 

Glo. 

s  fmall  deer]  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer  reads  gecr,   and  \% 

followed  by  Dr.  Warburton.  But  deer  in  old  language  is  a  ge- 
neral word  for  wild  animals.  JOHNSON". 

Mice  and  rats  and  fitch  fmall  deere 

Hai'e  been  Tom'  s  food  for  f  even  long  year  c."\ 

This  diftich  has  excited  the  attention  of  the  critics.  Inftead  of 
dccre.  Dr.  Warburton  would  read,  gcer,  and  Dr.  Grey  cheer. 
The  ancient  reading  is,  however,  eitabliihed  by  the  old  metrical 
romance  of  bir  Bevis,  which  Shakei'pcare  had  probably  oftea 
heard  fung  to  the  harp,  and  to  which  he  elfewhere  alludes,  as  iu 
the  following  inftances  : 

"  As  Bevis  of  Southampton  fell  upon  Afcapart" 

Htn.  VI.  Aft  II. 


Again,  Hen.  VIII.  Aft.  I. 

"  That  Bei-:':\\c.s  believ'd. 


This  di!T"rh  is  part  of  a  defcription  there  given  of  the  hard- 
fl  Jp5  fuftered  by  Bevis  when  confined  for  feven  years  in  a  duu- 
g/on  : 

"  Rattc:  and  myce  and  fuch  final  dcre 
**  Was  his  mtate  that  feven  yere." 
Sig.  F.  iij.  PERCY. 

6  —  Peace,  Smolkin,  peace,  —  ]   "  The  names  of  other  puuie 
fpirits  caft  out  of  Trayford  were  thefc  :  Hilco,  Smoikiu,  Hlilio, 
&c."     Harfenet,  p.  49.     PERCY. 

7  7  he  prince  of  darknefs  is  a  gentleman  ;]   This  is   fpoken  in  re- 
fentment  of  what  Glofter  had  juft  laid  —  '*  Has  your  grace  no 
tetter  company  ?"     STEEVENS. 

8  Modo  bes  fd//V,  and  Mahu.~\   So  in  Harfcnct's  Declaration^ 

was  the  chief  devil  that  had  pofTeflion  ct  Sarah  Williams  ; 
but  another  of  the  poflefled,  named  Richard  !Mainy,  was  molefted 
by  a  ftill  more  conliderable  fiend  called  Mcdu.  hee  the  book  al- 
ready mentioned,  p.  268,  where  the  laid  Richard  Mainy  depofes  : 
*'  Furthermore  it  is  pretended,  that  there  rcmaineth  iiill  in  mee 
the  prince  of  all  other  devils,  whofe  name  fhould  be  Modn  ;"  he 
is  ellc'.vhcre  called,  "  the  prince  Mcdit  ;"  fo,  p.  ^69,  '-  When 

the 


474         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Glo.  Our  flefh  and  blood,  my  lord,  is  grown  fo 

vile, 
That  it  doth  hate  what  gets  it. 

Edg.  Poor  Tom's  a-cold. 

Glo.  Go  in  with  me ;  my  duty  cannot  fuffer 
To  obey  in  all  your  daughters'  hard  commands  : 
Though  their  injunction  be  to  bar  my  doors, 
And  let  this  tyrannous  night  take  hold  upon  you  ; 
Yet  have  I  ventur'd  to  come  feek  you  out, 
And  bring  YOU  where  both  fire  and  food  is  ready. 

Lear.  Firft  let  me  talk  with  thisphilofopher  :— 
What  is  the  caufe  of  thunder  ? 

Kent.  My  good  lord,  take  his  offer ; 
Go  into  the  houfe. 

Lear.  I'll    talk    a  word  with    this  fame  learned 

Theban  9  :— 
What  is  your  ftudy  ? 

Edg.  How  to  prevent  the  fiend,  and  to  kill  vermin. 

Lear.  Let  me  afk  you  one  word  in  private. 

Kent.  Importune  him  once  more  to  go,  my  lord, 
His  wits  begin  to  unfettle. 

Glo.  Canft  thou  blame  him  ?  [Storm  jl ill. 

His  daughters    feek  his  death  : — Ah,    that  good 

^Kent  !— 

He  faid,  it  would  be  thus  : — Poor  banilh'd  man  !— 
Thou  fay'O,  the  king  grows  mad;  I'll  tell  thee,  friend, 
1  am  almoft  mad  myfelf :   I  had  a  fon, 
Now  out-law'd  from  my  bio  .d  ;  he  fought  my  life, 
But  lately,  very  late  ;  I  lov'd  him,  friend, — 
Islo  father  his  fon  dearer  :  true  to  tell  thee, 

the  faid  priefts  had  difpatched  theire  bnfinefs  at  Hackney  (where 
they  had  been  exorcifing  Sara  Williams)  they  then  returned  to- 
wards mee,  uppon  pretence  to  call  the  great  prince  Modu , . .  out 
race."  STEEVENS. 

*  learned  Theban, ,~\   Ben  Jonfon   in  his  Mafque  of  Pan's 

Annivcrfary ,  has  introduced  a    Tinker  whom  he  calls  a  learned 
.)  perhaps  in  ridicule  ot  this  paflkge.     STEEVENS. 

The 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         475 

The  grief  hath  craz'd  my  wits.  What  a  night's  this ! 
I  do  befeech  your  grace, — 

Lear.  O,  cry  you  mercy,  fir  : 

Noble  philofopher,  your  company. 

Rdg.  Tom's  a-cold. 

Glo.  In,  fellow,  there,  to  the  hovel :  keep  thee 
warm. 

Lear*  Come,  let's  in  all. 

Kent.  This  way,  my  lord. 

Lear.  With  him  ; 
I  will  keep  ftill  with  my  philofopher. 

Kent.  Good  my  lord,  footh  him  ;  let  him  take  the 
fellow. 

Glo.  Take  him  you  on. 

Kent.  Sirrah,  come  on ;  go  along  with  us. 

Lear.  Come,  good  Athenian. 

Glo.  No  words,  no  words  ;  hufh. 

Edg.  '  Child  Rowland  to  the  dark  terser  came. 
His  word  was  ft  illy — = — Fie,  fob,  and  f urn, 

I  fmell  the  blood  of  a  Britijh  man.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE 

*  Child  Rowland    •  ]  In  the  old  times  of  chivalry,  the 

noble  youth  who  were  candidates  for  knighthood,  during  the 
fealbn  of  their  probation,  were  called  Infans,  Farlets,  Damoyfeht 
Bacbeliers.  The  moil  noble  of  the  youth  particularly,  Infam. 
Here  a  ftory  is  told,  in  fome  old  ballad,  of  the  famous  hero  and 
giant-killer  Roland,  betore  he  was  knighted,  who  is,  therefore, 
called  Infans ;  which  the  ballad-maker  trauikted,  Child  Roland. 

WARBURTON. 

This  word  is  in  fome  of  our  ballads.  There  is  a  fong  of 
Child  Walter,  and  a  Lady.  JOHNSON. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  in  The  Woman  $  Prize,  refer  alfo  to 
this  : 

"   .    .         a  mere  hobby-horfe 
"  She  made  the  Child  Rowland." 

In  Have  with  you  to  Saffron  Waldeny  or  Gabriel  Harvey's  Hunt 
is  Upy  1598.  pan  of  thefe  lines  repeated  by  Edgar  is  quoted  : 
"  — a  pedant,  who  will  find  matter  inough  to  dilate  a  whole 
daye  of  the  firft  invention  of 

"  Fy,  fa,  fum, 
"  I  fnell  the  blood  of  an  Englifoman." 

tfafi* 


476         KING      L    E  '  A    R, 

SCENE    V. 

Glcfter's  cafde, 
Enter  Cornwall,  and  Edmund. 

Com.  I  will  have  my  revenge,  ere  I  depart  his  houfct 

JLdm.  How,  my  lord,  I  may  be  cenfur'd,  that  na- 
ture thus  gives  way  to  loyalty,  fomething  fears  me 
to  think  of. 

Corn.  I  now  perceive,  it  was  not  altogether  your 
brother's  evil  difpofition  made  him  feek  his  death  ; 
*  but  a  provoking  merit,  fet  a-work  by  a  reprovabie 
badnefs.  in  himfelf. 

Edm.  How  malicious  is  my  fortune,  that  I  mud 
repent  to  be  juft  !  This  is  the  letter  which  he  fpoke 

Spenfcr  often  ufes  the  word  child,  to  fignify  a  prince,  or  a  }"outh« 
ful  knight.     So,  in  the  Faerie  S^ucen,  Book  V.  c.  xi.  ft.  8. 
"    -  that  fad  fteel  feiz'd  not  where  it  was  hight 
"  Upon  the  child,  but  fbmewhat  fhort  did  fall." 
J5y  the  child  is  here  meant  Prince  Arthur.     Both  the  quartos  read  : 
-  to  the  dark  town  come.     STEEVENS. 


]  The.  word  child  (however  it  came  to  have 
this  fenfe)  is  often  applied  to  K'ngbts,  &c.  in  old  hiftorical  fongs 
and  romances;  of  this,  l,e  inftanccs  occur  in  the  Re- 

iiquts  of  ancient  1'  <y.     See  particniaiiy  in  Vol.  I.  f.  iv. 

v.  97,  where   in  a  defcrlption  rf  a   bc.itlc  between  two  knights, 
we  ^nd  thcic  lines  : 
.     "•  The  Eldridge  knighte,  he  prickM'  his  flced  ; 

I'  Syr  Cawline  bofd^  abode: 
<i  Then  either  flioolc  his  trufry  fpcar, 
*'  And  the  timber  thcic  two  chUrcn,  bare 

*'  So  foon  in  lur.dcr  floJc." 

See  in  the  fame  volumes  the  ballads  concerning  the  child  of  Rllr, 
child  waters,  child  Mawuc   [Vol.   III.  1".  .\x.J    &c.     The  fame 
4idk>m  occurs  in  tya.ft-r's  Faerie  ^neen^   where   the   famous  knight 
fir  Triih-arn  is  m\i'..:cmly  called  C'  •.     .  .     See  F>.  V.  c.  ii. 

ft.  8.  13.  15.  VI.  c.  ii.  "ft.  36.  ibid.  c.  viii.  fl.  15.     PERCY. 

11  -  Imt  a  provoking  merit,"]  5.  c.  A  merit  which  being  neg- 
lefted  by  the  father,  \vas  provoked  to  an  extravagant  a6h  The 
Oxford  editor,  ut  tofirovtfeJffirit. 

V.'ARBURTON, 

of, 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R;         477 

of,  which  approves  him  an  intelligent  party  to  the 
advantages  of  France.  O  heavens  !  that  this  trea- 
icn  were  not,  or  not  I  the  detector  ! 

Corn.  Go  with  me  to  the  dutchefs. 

Edm.  If  the  matter  of  this  paper  be  certain,  you 
have  mighty  bufinefs  in  hand. 

Corn.  True,  or  falfe,  it  hath  made  thee  earl  of 
Glofter.  Seek  out  where  thy  father  is,  that  he  may 
be  ready  for  our  apprehenfion. 

Edm.  \_Afide.~\_  If  I  find  him  J  comforting  the  king, 
it  will  fluff  his  fufpicion  more  fully. — I  will  perfeverc 
in  my  courfe  of  loyalty,  though  the  conflict  be  fore 
between  that  and  my  blood. 

Corn.  1  will  lay  truft  upon  thee ;  and  thon  lhalt 
find  a  dearer  father  in  my  love.  [Exeunt. 

SCENE    VI. 

A  chamber,  in  a  Farm  bottfe. 
Enter  Gioftcr,  Lear,  Kent,  Fool,  and  Edgar. 

Glo.  Here  is  better  than  the  open  air ;  take  it 
thankfully  :  I  will  piece  out  the  comfort  with  what 
addition  I  can  :  I  will  not  be  long  from  you.  [£*//. 

Kent.  All  the  power  of  his  wits  has  given  way  to 
his  impatience  : — The  gods  reward  your  kindnefs  ! 

Edg.  Frateretto  calls  me ;  and  tells  me,  Nero  is 
an  angler  in  the  lake  of  darknefs.  Pray,  innocent, 
and  beware  the  foul  fiend. 

Fool.  Pr'ythee,  nuncle,  tell  me,  whether  a  mad- 
man be  a  gentleman,  or  a  yeoman  ? 

Lear.  A  king,  a  king ! 

Fool.  4  No ;  he's  a  yeoman,  that  has  a  gentleman 

3  — comforting — : — ]  He  ufes  the  word  in  the  juridical 

fenfe  tor  fupporting,  helping,  according  to  its  derivation  ;  falvia 
confortat  nerves. — Sckol.  Sal.  JOHXSO.V. 

*  Fool.}  Thisfpeech  is  omitted  in  the  n-nitos.     STEEVEXS. 

to 


478         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

to  his  Ton  :  for  he's  a  mad  yeoman,  that  fees  his  fon 
i  gentleman  before  him. 

Lear.  To  have  a  thoufand  with  red  burning  fpits 
f  Come  hizzing  in  upon  them  :— 
Edg.  6  The  foul  fiend  bites  my  back. 
Fool.  He's  mad,  that  trufts  in  the  tamenefs  of  a 
wolf,  7  a  horfe's  health,  a  boy's  love,  or  a  whore's 
oath. 

Lear.  It  fhall  be  done,  I  will  arraign  them  ftraight :— - 
Come,  lit  thou  here,  mofl  learned  jufticer ; — 

[To  Edgar. 
Thou,  fapient  fir,  fit  here.  [To  the  Fool.'] — Now,  you 

Ihe  foxes  !  — — 

Edg.  Look,  where  he  ftands  and  glares ! — Wantefl 
thou  eyes  s  at  trial,  madam  ? 

Come 

5  Come  hizzing  in  upon  Vw.— — —  ]  Then  follow  in  the  old 
edition  feveral  fpeeches  in  the  mad  way,  which  probably  were 
left  out  by  the  players,  or  by  Shakefpeare  himielf :  I  fhall  how- 
ever infert  them  here,  and  leave  them  to  the  reader's  mercy. 

PO'PE. 

As  Mr.  Pope  had  begun  to  infert  feveral  fpeeches  in  the  mad 
Way,  in  this  fcene,  from  the  old  edition,  I  have  ventured  to  re- 
place feveral  others,  which  ftunJ  upon  the  fame  footing,  and  had 
an  equal  right  or  being  reftored.  THEOBALD. 

'  Edgar.]  This  and  the  next  fourteen  fpeeches  (which  Dr. 
Johnfon  had  enclofed  in  crotchets)  are  only  in  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 

7  — —  the  health  of  a  borfe, — ]  Without  doubt  we  ihould  read 
beck)  i.  e.  to  ftand  behind  him.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

Shakefpeare  is  here  fpeaking  not  of  things  malicioufly 
treacherous,  but  of  things  uncertain  and  not  durable.  A  horfe  is 
above  all  other  animals  fubje<5t  to  difeafes.  JOHNSON. 

8  UFanttft)  &c.]  I  am  not  confident  that  I  underftand  the  mean- 
ing of  this  defultory  fpeech.     When  Edgar  fays,  Look  where  be 
JlatiJs  and  glares  !  he  feeins  to  be  fpeaking  in  the  character  of  a 

mad  man,  who  thinks  he  fees  the  fiend.  W^antejl  tbau  eyes  ar 
trial,  madam  ?  is  a  qvieftion  whic,h  appears  to  beaddrcfledto  the 
vifionary  Goneril,  or  fome  other  abandon'd  female,  and  may  fig- 
uitv,  Do  you  vjant  to  attratl  r.dmlration,  even  while  youjland  at  the 
Inr  of  juflice  ?  Mr.  Sc.-y  ward  propoics  to  read,  wanton  Jl  inilead  of 


K    I     N     G      L    E    A    R. 


9  Come  o  V  the  bourn,  Befjy,  to  me  .* 
Fool.         Her  boat  hath  a  leak, 
And  foe  muft  not  fpeak 

dares  not  come  over  to  thee* 


At  trial,  madam  ?]  It  may  be  obferred  that  Edgar,  being  fup- 
pofed  to  be  found  by  chance,  and  therefore  to  have  no  knovvbcge 
of  the  reft,  conne&s  not  his  idea*  w.rh  rhoie  of  Lear,  but  purlues 
his  own  train  of  delirious  or  rantatlic  though  ..  To  tLefe  <>ror<it>, 
At  trial,  madam  ?  I  think  therefore  thai  rue  '.ame  f  Le^r  fao.ill 
be  put.  Theprocefsof  the  dialogue  will  lup^ort  t-is  conje£  ;re. 

JON- 

9  Come  o'er  the  broom,  Bejjy,  to  me  ;]  As  there  is  no  reiu. 
tween  broo?n  and  a  boat,  we  may  better  read, 

Come  o'er  the  brook,  Belfy,  tome.  JOHNFON- 
At  the  beginning  of  A  very  mery  andf.ythie  commedic,  called,  7bt 
longer  thou  Liveft,  the  more  Fvole  thou  art,  &c.  Imprinted  at  Lon- 
don by  Wyttyam  How,  &c.  black  letter,  no  date,  "  Entreth 
Moros,  countervailing  a  vaine  gefture  and  a  foolifh  countenance, 
fynging  the  foote  of  many  fonge,  as  fooles  were  wont  ;"  and 
among  them  is  this  palfage,  which  Dr.  Johnfon  has  veryjuftly* 
fufpcfted  of  corruption. 

"  Com  over  the  loorne  Beflc 
*'  My  little  pretie  Li-Td- 
"  Com  over  the  boornc  Befle  to  me." 

A  lourn  in  the  north  fi^nifies  a  rivulet  or  brook.  Hence  the 
names  of  many  of  our  vi.iages  terminate  in  burn,  as  Mil£«r»f 
Sher£«r«,  &c.  The  former  quotation,  together  with  the  follow- 
ing inftances,  at  once  confirm  the  jullnefs  or  Dr.  Johnfon's  remark, 
and  fupport  the  re.iuing. 
So  in  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  Song  I  : 

"  The  bourns,  the  brooks,  the  becks,  the  rills,  the  rivulets." 
Again,  in  Song  xxviii. 

"  But  that  the  brooks  and  bournes  fo  hotly  her  purfue." 
Again,  in  Song  the  xxixth  : 

"  As  petty  bournes  and  becks  I  fcorn  but  once  to  call." 
Again,  in  Spenfer's  Faery  S>ur?n,  B.  II.   c.  vi  : 

"  My  little  boat  can  laiely  pafle  this  perilous  bourne" 
Shakefpeare  himlelf,  in  the  Teixpcft,  has  dilcriminated  bourn  frooi 
bound  of  land  in  general  : 

"  Bcurn,  bound  of  land,  tilth,  vineyard  none." 
Again  in  the  Pjjbn  cf  Pierce  Plowman,  line  8  : 

"  Under  a  brode  banke  by  bourne  fyde." 

To  this  I  may-pdd,  that  ceurn,  a'  boundary,  is  from  the  French 

bornt. 


480         K    I     N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Edg.  The  foul  fiend  haunts  poor  Tom  in  the 
voice  l  of  a  nightingale.  *  Hopdance  cries  in  Tom's 
belly  for  two  white  herring  *.  Croak  not,  black  an- 
gel ;  I  have  no  food  for  thee. 

Kent.  How  do  you,  fir  ?  Stand  you  not  fo  amaz'd  : 
Will  you  lie  down  and  reft  upon  the  cufhions  ? 

-  Lear.  I'll  fee  their  trial  firft : Bring  in    the 

evidence. — 

Thou  robed  man  of  juftice,  take  thy  place  ; 

[To  Edgar. 

And  thou,  his  yoke-fellow  of  equity,      [To  tbe  Fool. 
Bench  by  his  fide  : — You  are  of  the  commiffion, 
Sit  you  too.  [To  Kent. 

Rdg.  Let  us  deal  juftly. 

3  Sleepeft^  or  wakeft  thou,  jottyjhepkerd  ? 
Tbyjheep  be  in  tbe  corn ; 

And 

lorne.    Bourne,  or  (as  it  ought  to  be  fpelt)  burn,  a  rivulet,  is 
from  the  German  burn,  or  born,  a  well.     STE EVENS. 

*   in  the  voice  of  a  nightingale.]    Another  deponent  in 

Harfnet's  book  (p.  225,  fays)  that  the  miftrefs  of  the  houfe    kept 
a  nightingale-  in  a  cage,   which  being  one  night  killed,  and  con- 
veyed away  into  the  garden,  it  was  pretended  the  devil  had  killed 
it  in  fpire.     Eerhaps  this  paffage  fuggefted  to  Shakefpeare  the 
circumilance  or  Tom's  being  haunted  in  the  voice  of  a  nightingale. 

PERCY. 

*  — Hopdance  cries  in  Tom's  belly— ]  In  Harfenct's 

book,  p.  194,    195,  Sarah  Williams   (one  of  the  pretended  de* 
moniacs)  depofeth,  "  — that  it  at  any  time  fhe  did  belch,  as  often 
times  fhe  did  by  reafon  that  fhee  was  troubled  with  a'wind  in  her 
irpmacke,  the  priefh  would  fay  at  fuch  times,  that  then  the  fpirit 
began  to  rife  in  her  ....  and  that  the  wind  was  the  devil."  And, 
'*  as  fhe  faith,  if  they  heard  any  croaking  in  her  belly  ....  then 
they  would  make  a  wonderful  matter  ot  that."   HoberdLdance  is 
mentioned  before  in  Dr.  Percy's  note.    STEEVENS. 

*  — white  herring.~\  White  herrings  are  pickled  herrings.    Seethe 
Northumberland Hottfchda'Btoki  p.  ».     STEEVENS. 

3  Slccpeft,  or  °joahfr,  &c.]  This  feems  to  be  a  ftanza  of  fomc 
paftoral  long.  A  fiiepherd  is  defired  to  pipe,  and  the  requeft  is 
enforced  by  a  promife,  that  though  his  flieep  be  in  the  corn,  i.  e. 
committing  a  trcfpafs  by  his  negligence,  implied  in  the  quelKon, 
Stiepc/i  tic  a  or  ivakift  ?'  Yet  a  fmgle  tune  upon  his  pipe  Hull  ff 
'cure  them  from  the  pound.  JOHXSO.V. 


KING      LEAR.         481 

And  for  one  Uaft  of  thy  minikin  mouth, 
Thy  Jheep  JhaU  take  no  barm. 

Purre  !  the  cat  is  grey. 

Lear.  Arraign  her  firft ;  'tis  Goneril.  I  here  take 
my  oath  before  this  honourable  afTembly,  Ihe  kick'd 
the  poor  king  her  father. 

Fool.  Come  hither,  miftrefs;  Is  your  name  Goneril  ? 

Lear.  She  cannot  deny  it. 

Fool.  Cry  you  mercy,  I  took  you  for  a  joint- ftool  4. 

Lear.  And  here's  another,  whofe  warpt  looks  pro- 
claim 

What  (lore  her  heart  is  made  on. — Stop  her  there ! 
Arms,  arms,  fvvord,  fire  ! — Corruption  in  the  place  ! 
Falfe  juflicer,  why  haft  thou  let  her  'fcapc  ? 

Edg.  Blefs  thy  five  wics  ! 

Kent.  O  pity  ! — Sir,  where  is  the  patience  no\v, 
That  yon  ib  oft  have  boafted  to  retain  ? 

Edg.  My  tears  begin  to  take  his  part  fo  much, 
They'll  mar  my  counterfeiting.  [/$&• 

Lear.  The  little  dogs  and  all, 
Tray,  Blanch,  and  Sweet-heart,  fee,  they  bark  at  me  y. 

Minikin  was  anciently  a  term  of  endearment.  So,  in  the  en- 
tcriude  of  the  Repentance  of  Marie  Magdalainc,  1567,  the  Vice 
fays,  "  What  mynikin  carnal  concupilcence  !"  Barrett,  in  his 
Alvearie,  or  Quadruple  Dictionary,  1580,  interprets  feat,  by 
«*  proper,  well-faftiioned,  minikin,  handfome."  In  the  Interlude 
of  tbe  Fcur  Element!,  &c.  printed  by  Raftell,  1519,  Ignorance 
lir.gs  a  fong  compofed  of  the  fcraps  of  feveral  others.  Among 
them  is  the  following  line,  on  which  Shakefpeare  may  have  de- 
ligned  a  parody : 

"  Sleepy  ft  thou,  wakyft  thou,  Geffery  Coke." 

4  Cry  you  mercy,  Itnokyouforajoint-Jlool.]   This  is  a  prover- 
bial expreffion.     STEEVENS. 

5   fee  they  bark  at  me,"]  The  hint  for  this  clrcumflance 

might  have  been  taken  trom  the  pretended  madnefs  of  one  of 
the  brothers  in  the  tranflation  of  the  Mcnccchmi  of  Plautus,  1 59; : 

*'  Here's  an  old  maftiff  bitch  Hands  barking  at  me,  &c." 

STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  J  i 


482         KING      LEAR. 

Edg.  Tom  will  throw  his  head  at  them  : — Avaimt, 

you  curs  ! 

Be  thy  mouth  or  black  or  white  % 
Tooth  that  poifons  if  it  bite  ; 
Maltiff,  grey-hound,  mungril  grim, 
Hound,  or  fpanicl,  7  brache,  or  lym  ; 
Or  bobtail  tike  %  or  trundle-tail  9  ; 
Tom  will  make  him  weep  and  wail  : 

For 

*  Be  thy  mouth  or  black  or  white,].  To  have  the  roof  of  the- 
mouth  Hack  is  in  fome  dogs  a  proof  that  their  breed  is  genuine. 

STKEVENS.. 

7   lr ache  or  hym,  &c.]  Names  of  particular  forts  of 

dogs.     POPE. 

Sir  T.  Hanmer  for  by m  reads  Ijm.     JOHNSON. 

In  Ben  Jonfon's  Bartholomew  Fair,  Quarlous  fays, — "  all  the 
//;tf<r-hounds  of  the  city  fhpuld  have  drawn  after  you  by  the 

Icent." A  limmtr  or  learner,  a  dog  of  the  chaee,  was  fo  called 

from  the  learn  or  leafti  in  which  he  was   held  till  he  was  let  flip. 

I  have  this   information  from  Caius  de  Canilus  Britannicls* 

So,  in  the  book  of  Anticnt  Tenures,  by  T.  B.  1679,  the  words,'    ,  _ 
*'  canes  domini  regis  lefus,"  are  tranflated  "  Leafli  hounds,  fuch 
as  draw  after  a  hurt  deer  in  a  leajk,  or  Ham" 
Again,  in  the  Mufes  JLhfium,  by  Drayton  : 

"  My  dog-hook  at  my  belt,  to  which  my  lyains  ty'd." 
Again  :  "  My  hound  then  in  my  lyam,  Sic." 
Among  the  prefents  fent  from  James  I.  to  the  king  and  queen 
cf  Spain  were,  "  A  cupple  of  lymc-honnda  of  fingular  qualities." 
Again,  in  MalHnger's  }]tiJJjful  Lover  : 

"  fmellout 

"  Her  footing  like  a  lime-hound" 

The  late  Mr.  Hawkins,  in  his  notes  to  the  Return  from  Par- 
itajjui,  p.  237,  fays,  that  a  rache  is  a  dog  that  hunts  by  fcent 
wild  beads,  birds,  and  even  fillies,  and  that  the  female  of  it  is 
called  a.  braibe :  and  in  Magnificence,  an  ancient  interlude  or 
morality,  by  Skchon  j  printed  by  Railell,  no  date,  is  the  fol- 
lowing line  : 

"•  Here  is  a  leyfhe  of  rate/set  to  renne  an  hare."   STEEVE.VS. 

\Vh:it  is  here  laid  of  a  rache  might  perhaps  be  taken  by  Mr. 
Hawkins,  from  Holinfhed's  Dpftrifition  of  Scotland,  p.  14,  where 
the  (Tcuthound  means  a  bloodhound.  The  females  of  all  doga 
were  once  called  Iraches ;  and  Llitius  upon  Gratius  <jbferves, 
**  Racha  Saxonibus  canem  fignificnbat  unde  Scoti  hodie  Rache 
pro  dine  fcemina  habent,  quod  Anglis  eft  Bracbe".  TOLLET. 

bobtail  tike ]  Tijk  is  the  Runic  word  for  a  little,  or 

worthicii  dug : 


KING      LEAR.          483 

For,  with  throwing  thus  my  head, 
Dogs  leap  the  hatch,  and  all  arc  fled. 
'Do  de,  de  de.     '  Sefly,  come,  march  to  wakes  and 

fairs, 

And  market  towns : — Poor  Tom,  *  thy  horn  is  dry. 

Lear. 


l{  Are  Mr.  Robinfon's  dogs  turn'd  tikes  with  a  wanion  r" 
Witches  of  Lancafter,   1634.     STEEVENS. 

'  — trundle-tail.]    This  fort  of   dog  is  mentioned  in  A 

oman  killed  ivif/j  Kindncfs,    1617: 

"   your  dogs  are  trundle-tails  and  curs." 

Again,  in  The  Boolte  of  Huntyng,  &c.  bl.  1.  no  date  : 

*'  dunghill  dogs,  trindle-tails,  &c."     STEEVENS. 

1  Srjfiy,  come,  &c.]  Here  is  fejfcy  again,  which  I  take  to  he 
the  French  word  cejjez  pronounced  cefjey,  which  was,  I  fuppofe, 
like  fome  others  in  common  ufe  among  us.  It  is  an  interjection 
enforcing  ceflation  of  any  action,  like,  be  quiet,  have  done.  It 
feems  to  have  been  gradually  corrupted  into,  fo,  fo.  JOHNSON. 

This  word  is  wanting  in  the  quarto  :  in  the  folio  it  is  printed 
fefe.  It  is  difficult  in  this  place  to  fay  what  is* meant  by  it.  It 
fliould  be  remembered,  that  juft  before,  Edgar  had  been  calling 
on  BeJJy  to  come  to  him  ;  and  he  may  now  with  equal  propriety 
invite  Sejjy  (perhaps  a  female  name  corrupted  from  Cecilia)  to 
attend  him  to  wakes  and  fairs.  Nor  is  it  impoffible  but  that  this 
may  be  a  part  of  fome  old  fong,  and  originally  flood  thus  : 
Sifly,  come  inarch  to  wakes, 

And  fairs,  and  market  towns. 

So,  in  Humor's  Ordinariet  an  ancient  cclIedVion  of  fatires,  no 
date  : 

"  To  make  Siffe  in  love  withal." 

Again  :  "  My  heart's  deare  bleed,  fweet  Sffi  is  my  caroufc." 
There  is  another  line  in  the  c}ia::i6ter  ot  Edgar  which  I  am  very 
confident  I  have  feen  in  an  old  ballad,  viz. 

Through  the  (harp  haw-thorn  blows  the  cold  wind. 

STEEVENS. 

*   thy  born  is  dry .]  Men  that  begged   under  pretence 

of  lunacy  ufed  formerly  to  carry  a  horn,  and  blow  it  through  the 
ftreets.    JOHNSON. 

A  born  is  at  this  day  employed  in  many  places  in  the  country 
as  a  cup  for  drinking,  but  anciently  the  ufe  of  it  was  much  more 
general.  Thy  horn  is  dry,  appears  to  be  a  proverbial  expreffion, 
introduced  when  a  man  has  nothing  further  to  ofFer,  when  he  has 
faid  all  he  had  to  fay.  Such  a  cne'i  fife's  out  is  a  phrafe  current 
in  Ireland  on  the  fame  occalion. 

I  fuppofe  Edgar  to  fpeak  theie  words  afidt.     Being  quite  weary 
J  i  2  of 


484         K    I    N    G      L    E     A    R, 

Lear.  Then  let  them  anatomize  Regan,  fee  What 
breeds  about  her  heart  :  Is  there  anycaufein  nature, 
that  makes  thefe  hard  hearts  ? — Von,  fir,  I  entertain 
you  for  one  of  my  hundred  ;  only,  I  do  not  like  the 
fafhion  of  your  garments  :  '  you  will  fay,  they  are 
Perfian  attire  ;  but  let  them  be  chang'd.  [To  Edgar. 
Kent.  Now,  good  my  lord,  lie  here,  and  relt 

awhile. 
Lear*  Make  no  noifc,  make    no  noife  ;  draw  the 

curtains  : 
So,  fo,  fo  :  We'll  go  to  fupper  i'  the  morning  :  £o, 

fo,  fo. 
Fool.  And  I'll  go  to  bed  at  noon 


4 


Re-enter  Gkftcr. 

do.  Come  hither,  friend  :    Where  is   the  ki 

my  mailer  ? 
Kent.  Here,  fir;  but  trouble  him  nor,  his  whs  arc 

gone.  •  ^    . 

do*  Good  friend,  I  pr'ythec  take  him  in  thy  arms ; 
I  have  o'er-heard  a  plot  of  death  upon  him  : 
There  is  a  litter  ready  ;  lay  him  in't, 
And  drive  toward  Dover,  friend,  where  thou  (halt 

meet 

Both  welcome  and  protection.  Take  np  thy  mailer : 
If  thou  fhould'il  dally  half  an  hour,  his  life, 

of  his  Tom  o'  Bedlam's  part,  and  finding  him  ft  if  unable  to  fup- 
port  it  any  longer,  he  fays  privately,  'k  — I  can  no  more  :  ail 
my  materials  for  fuitaining  the  character  of  Poor  Tom  are  now 
exhauiied;"  my  born  is  ttry :  i.e.  has  nothing  more  in  it;  and 
accordingly  we"  have  no  more  of  his  diilembled  madnefs  till  he 
meets  hid  rather  in  the  next  ad,  when  he  relumes  it  for  a  ipcech 
or  two,  bat  not  without  exprcfTing  the  fame  diflike  of  it  that  he 
expreflcs  here,  "  : — 1  cannot  daub  it  further."  STEKVKNS. 

-*   Yo.n^aitt  Ttty  tbty  are  fcrjtan  \ ]   Alluding  perhaps 

to  Clytus  refuting  the  Tertian  robes  offered  him  by  Alexander. 

STEEVEKS. 
4  Jnd  Vti £o  to  ltd  at  noon.']  Omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STKEVENS. 

With 


KING       LEAR.         485 

With  thine,  and  all  that  offer  to  defend  him, 
Stand  in  alTured  lofs  :  Take  up,  take  up  * ; 
And  follow  me,  that  will  to  fome  provifion 
Give  thee  quick  conduct. 

[Kent.  6  Opprefled  nature  ileeps  : — 
This  reft  might  yet  have  balm'd  7  thy  broken  fenfes, 
Which,  if  convenience  will  not  allow, 
Stand  in  hard  cure. — Come,  help  to  bear  thy  matter ; 
Thou  muft  not  flay  behind.  [To  the  FcoL 

G!o.  Come,  come,  away. 

[Exeunt,  bearing  off-  the  kin*. 

Manet  £.£vir. 

Edg.  When  we  our  betters  fee  bearing  our  WQCS, 
We  fcarcely  think  our  miferies  our  foes. 
Who  alone  fuffcrs,  fuffers  mod  i'the  mind  ; 
Leaving  8  free  things,  and  hnppy  (hows,  behind  : 
But  then  the  mind  much  fulferance  doth  o'crikip, 
When  grief  hath  mates,  and  bearing  fellowfhip. 

5  Taieif,  take  up. "\  One  of  the  quartos  reads Take  up  tit 

king)  &c.  the  other — Take  up  to  keep,  &c.     STEEVENS. 

0  OfprcfTeJ  nature  Jlcep*. ]   Thefe  t\vo  concluding 

fpeeches  by  Kent  and  Kdgar,  and  which  by  no  means  ought  to 
have  been  cut  off,  I  have  reitored  from  the  old  quarto.  The  fo- 
liloquy  of  Edgar  is  extremely  fine  ;  and  the  fentiments  of  it  are 
drawn  equally  from  nature  and  the  fubjecl.  Betides,  with  regard 
to  the  ftage,  it  is  abfolutely  neceflary  :  for  as  Edgar  is  not  de- 
iigned,  in  the  conftitution  of  the  play,  to  attend  rhe  king  to 
Dover  ;  how  abfurd  would  it  look  for  a  cha racier  of  his  import- 
ance to  quit  the  fccne  without  one  word  laid,  or  the  leaft  intima- 
tion what  \vc  are  to  expect  from  him  ?  THEOBALD. 

The  lines  inferted  from  the  quarto  are  in  crotchets.  The 
omidion  of  them  in  the  tolio  is  certainly  faulty  :  yet  I  believe 
the  folio  is  printed  trcm  Shakefpeare'a  lait  revilion,  carelefsly  and 
halVily  performed,  with  more  thought  of  fliortening  the  fcenes, 
than  of  continuing  the  aclion.-  JOHNSON. 

7 tby  broken  fenfes,]  The  quarto,  fwm  whence  this 

fpeech  is  taken,  -reads,  —  thy  broken  Jinpivs.     Strifes  is  the  con- 
jectural emendation  of  Theobald.     STLEV^S. 

0  ••    •  free  thing!, — ]  States  clear  from  diilrefs.     JOHNSON. 

I  i  2  How 


486          KING       LEAR. 

How  light  and  portable  my  pain  feems  now, 
When  thar,which  makes  mebend,  makes  the  kingbowj 

He  childed,  as  I  father'd  ! Tom,  away  : 

9  Mark  the  high  noifes  ;  and  thyfelf  bewray  ', 
When  falfe  opinion,  whofe  wrong  thought  defiles  thee, 
Jn  thy  juft  proof,  repeals,  and  reconciles  thee. 
What  will  hap  more  to-night,  fafe  fcape  the  king ! 
Lurk,  Lurk.] [Exit. 

SCENE    VII. 

GIqfter>s  cajlk. 

Enter  Cornwall,  Regati,  Goueril,  Edmund,  and  Servants* 

Corn.  Pod  fpeedily  to  my  lord  your  hufband  ;  fhew 
him  this  letter  : — the  army  of  France  is  landed  :— 
Seek  out  the  traitor  Glofter,  [Exeunt  Jervdfits^ 

Reg.  Hang  him  initantly. 

Gon.  Pluck  out  his  eyes. 

Corn.  Leave  him  to  my  difpleafure. — Edmund, 
keep  you  our  fifler  company  ;  the  revenges  we  are 
bound  to  take  upon  your  traitorous  father,  are  not 
fit  for  your  beholding.  Advife  the  duke,  when  you 
are  going,  to  a  moft  feflinate  preparation  ;  we  are 

9  Mark  the  high  noifes ! ]  Attend  to  the  great  events  that 

are  approaching,  and  make  thyfelf'  known  when  that/^//?  opinion 
now  prevailing  againit  thee  fiiall,  in  con(equence  of  jujl  proof  'or 
thy  integrity,  revoke  its  erroneous  fentence,  and  recall  thee  to 
honour  and  reconciliation.  JbHNsox. 

1  and  thyfflf  bewray,]  Be-ivray  which  at  prefent  has  only 

a  dirty  meaning,  anciently  iignitied  to  bctray9  to  difcover.  In 
this  fenfe  it  is  ufed  by  Spenfer;  and  in  Promos  and  Caffandra^ 
1578  : 

*'  Well,  to  the  king  AndrwgiQ  no\v  \vill  hyc, 

"  Hap  lyfe,  hap  death,  his  fafetie  to  bewray." 
Again,  in  the  Span'Jh  Tragedy  : 

"  With  ink  bewray  what  blood  began  in  me." 
Again,  in  Lylly's  E>ufym:ony  1591  : 

"  —left  my  head  break,  and  fo  I  Iwivray  my  brains." 

STEEV^NS. 

bound 


KING      LEAR.         487 

bound  to  the  li!<e.  Our  ports  fhall  be  fwift,  and 
intelligent  betwixt  us  *.  Farewel,  dear  filler ; — 
farewel,  J  my  lord  of  Glofter. 

Enter  Steward. 

How  now  ?  "Where's  the  king  ? 

Stezc.  My  lord  of  Glofter  hath  conveyM  him  hence : 
Some  five  or  fix  and  thirty  of  his  knights, 

4  Hot  qucftrifts  after  him,  met  him  at  gate  ; 
Who,  with  fome  other  of  the  lord's  dependants, 
Are  gone  with  him  towards  Dover;  where  they  boaft 
To  have  well-armed  friends. 

Corn.  Get  horfes  for  your  miftrefs. 
Gon.  Farew&l,  fweet  lord,  and  fifter. 

[Exeunt  Goner  II,   and  Edmund. 

Corn.  Edmund,  farewel. Go,  feek  the  traitor 

Glofter, 
Pinion  him  like  a  thief,  bring  him  before  us : — 

5  Though  well  we  may  not  pals  upon  his  life 

With- 

*  — ar.J  intelligent  iMcnfci  tis.~]  So,  in  a  former  fcene  : 

.  fpies  and  Speculations 

"  InfcU'vait  of  our  itate.     STEEVENS. 

s  ——r.iy  lord  of  Glojlcr.]  Meaning  Edmund,  newly  inverted 
with  his  father's  titles.  The  lleward,  fpeaking  immediately 
after,  mentions  the  old  earl  by  the  fame  title.  JOHNSON. 

*  Hot  queftrirts  after  him, ]  A  qurjlrift  is  one  who  goes  in 

fearch  or  ijnejl  of  another.     Mr.  Pope  and  fir  T.  Hanmer  read 
quefters.     STEEVENS. 

5   Though  ivell  we  mf.y  not  pafs  upon  his  life, 

• yet  cur~f>o-v'r 

61/'.?//  Jif  a  courtefy  to  our  wrath. ] 

To  Jo  a  ccnrtc/y  is  to  gratify,  to  comply  with.     T"0faft%  is  to 
pafs  a  judicial  fcntence.     JOHNSON. 

The  original  of  the  expreffion,  to  pafs  on  any  one  may  be  traced 
from  Magnet  Chart  a : 

**  nccfnftr  curt  ibimust  nifi  per  legale  judicium  parium 

fuoruni." 

It  is  common  to  mcft  of  our  early  wrirers.     So,  in  Acolaftus, 
a  comedy,   1529  :  ««  I  do  not  nowe  cohfidcrthemyfchievous  pa- 
geants he  hath  played  ;  I  do  not  now /«//>•  upon  them."    Again, 
11  isx 


483         KING       LEAR. 

Without  the  form  of  juftice  ;  yet  our  power 
Shall  do  a  courtefy  to  our  wrath,  which  men 
May  blame,  but  not  controul.     Who's  there  ?  The 
traitor  ? 

Enter  Glojler,  brought  in  by  fcrvants. 

Reg.  Ingrateful  fox  !  'tis  he. 

Corn.  Bind  faft  his  6  corky  arms. 

Glo.  What  mean  your  graces?  —  Good  my  friends, 

cpnfider 
You  are  my  guefts  :  do  me  no  foul  play,  friends. 

Corn.  Bind  him,  I  fay,  [Jlhey  bind  him. 

Reg.  Hard,  hard  :  —  O  filthy  traitor  ! 

Glo.  Unmerciful  lady  as  you  are,  I  am  none. 

Corn.  To  this  chair  bind  him  :  —  Villain,  thou  lhalt 
find  --  [Regan  plucks  his  beard. 

Glo.  7  By  the  kind  gods,  'tis  mail  ignobly  done 
To  pluck  me  by  the  beard. 


in  If  ttis  be  not  a  good  Play,  tic  Devil  is  in  //,  161  ?!  :  "A  iury 
of  brokers,  impanel'd,  and  deeply  fwcrn  to  fajfe  on  all  villains  iu 
hell."  STEEVENS. 

6  —  corky  arms.~\  Dry,  wither'd,  hu(ky  arms.     JoBNSON. 

As  Shakefpeare  appears  from  ether  p  adages  of  this  play  to 
have  had  in  his  eye  BiJJjop  Harfi  net's  Declaration  of  ' 


PopiJI)  Impojlures,  ike.  ifco?,  410,  ic  is  probable,  that  this  very 
expreffive,  but  peculiar  epithet,  IWAV,  was  fuggetled  to  him  by 
a  paflage  in  that  very  curious  pamphlet.  "  1:  would  pole  all 
the  cunning  exorciits,  that  are  this  day  to  be  found,  to  teach  au 
eld  corkie  woman  to  writhe,  tumble,  cr.rvt.-r,  und  fetch  her  n:d- 
rice  gamboles,  as  Martha  Breilier  (one  of  the  poflelled  mentioned 
in  the  pamphlet)  did."  PERCY. 

7  7?v  the  jkind  godi)  -  ]  We  are  not  to  underhand  by  this 
the  gods  in  general,  who  are  beneficent  and1  kind  to  men  ;  bqt 
that  particular  fpecies  of  them  called  by  the  ancients  dii  bofpi- 
ttilcs,  kind  gods.  So,  Plautus  in  ro?;:u!o: 

44  Dcujnhajpitalcm-^  tefleram  mecum  k-ro." 
This  was  a  beautiful    exclaination,    as  thoie  who  infulted    the 
fpcakcr  were  hllgtteflt,  whom  he  had  bcfpitullv  received  into  his 
houfe.     But  to  i'ay  the  truth,  Shakefpeare  never  makes  his  people 
f.i'C;;r  at  random.     Of  his  propriety  iu  ihis  matter  uke  th£  tol- 

lowinjg 


KING      LEAR.         489 

Reg.  So  white,  and  fuch  a  traitor  ! 

•Glo.  Naughty  lady, 

Thefe  hairs,  which  thou  doft  ravifli  from  my  chin> 
Will  quicken,  and  accufe  thce  :   I  am  your  hoft ; 
With  robbers'  hands,  8  my  hofpitable  favours 
You  mould  not  ruffle  thu?.     What  will  you  do  ? 

Cera.  Come,  fir,  what  letters  had  you  late  from 
France  ? 

Reg.  9  Be  fimple-anfwer'd,  for  we  know  the  truth. 

Com.  And  what  confederacy  have  you  with  the 
traitors 

lowing  inftance!!.  In  Trolltts  and  Crejjida,  ^Eneas,  in  an  expof- 
tulation  with  Diomede,  1  wears  by  the  band  of  bis  mother  Venus ^ 
as  a  covert  reproof  for  Diomede 's  brutality  in  wounding  the  god- 
defs  of  beauty  in  the  hand,  and  a  fecret  intimation  that  he  would 
revenge  her  injuries.  In  Coriolanus,  when  that  hero  is  exaf- 
Jpented  at  the  fickle  inconuant  temper  of  the  multitude,  he 
Iwears  by  the  clouds :  and  again,  when  he  meets  his  wife  after  a 
long  ablence,  by  the  jealous  queen  of  heaven  ;  for  Juno  was  fup- 
pofed  the  aveng'refs  of  conjugal  infidelity.  In  Ot  bells  ^  the  dou- 
ble lago  is  made  to  fwcar  by  Janus.  And  in  this  very  play  of 
Lear.,  a  Pagan,  much  given  to  judicial  ailrology,  very  confo- 
nantly  to  his  chr. racier,  1  wears  : 

By  all  f'.-c  iterations  of  the  orbs^  . 

J}y  ivho;n  -r.v  Jo  exi/l,  aa.i  cc.ijc  to  be.     WAR  BUR  TON, 

By  the  kit.J  SW.«, ]    Slv.tkefpeare  hardly  received  any 

afiiltance  from  mythology  to  lurnifli  out  a  proper  oath  for  Glof- 
ter.  Peopl-r  a'-vavs  invoke  their  deities  as  they  would  have  them 
(hew  themfdves  :;t  particular  times  in  their  favour ;  and  he  ac- 
cordingly call*  thofe  kind  gods  whom  he  would  wifh  to  find  fo  on 
this  cccalion.  He  docs  Ib  yet  a  fecond  time  in  this  fcene.  Our 
own  liturgy  will  fufliciently  evince  the  truth  of  my  fuppofitirr. 

STEEVENS. 

8  my  bofpitable  favours]   It  is  nonfenfe  to  underiland  it 

of  gifts,  kincfneflcs,  &c.  We  Ihov-ld  read  favour,  i.e.  vilage. 
For  they  pluck* J  him  by  the  beard.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

Favours  means  the  Tame  as  features ,  i.  e.  the  different  parts  of 
which  a  face  is  compofed.  So,  in  Draytoa's  epiftle  from  Matilda, 
to  K.  John  : 

"  Within  the  compajs  of  man's  face  we  fee, 
*'  How  many  forts  of  feveral  favours  be." 
Again,  in  David  t5  Eetk/abe,    \  599  : 

"  To  &avtotfbtfervffitrs  of  his  lovely  face.     STEEVEVS. 

'   Be  fimple-anfwer'd^ ]    The  old  quarto   reads,    Jie  flmf-Je 

^/j/r.'ivv/-.— Either  is  good  fenfe  :  ji'-'fk  means  plain.     STEEVENS. 

Lute 


49o         KING       LEAR. 

Late  footed  in  the  kingdom  ? 

Reg.  To  whofe  hands  have  you  fent  the  lunatic 

king  ? 
Speak. 

Glo.  I  have  a  letter  gueflingly  fet  down, 
Which  came  from  one  that's  of  a  neutral  heart, 
And  not  from  one  oppos'd. 

Corn.  Cunning. 

Reg.  And  falfe. 

Corn.  Where  haft  thou  fent  the  king  ? 

Glo.  To  Dover. 

Reg.  Wherefore  to  Dover  ? 

*\V?&  I-VT^  not  charg'd  at  peril 

,  Corn*  Wherefore  to  Dover  ?  Let  him  firft  anfwcr 
that. 

Glo.  9  I'm  ty'd  to  the  flake,   and  I  muft  ftand 
1  the  courfe. 

Reg.  Wherefore  to  Dover  ? 

Glo.  Becaufe  I  would  not  fee  thy  cruel  nails 
Pluck  out  his  poor  old  eyes  ;  nor  thy  fierce  fifter 
In  his  anointed  flefli  flick  boarifh  fangs  r. 
The  fea,  with  luich  a  ftorm  as  his  bare  head 
In  hell-black  night  endur'd,  would  have  buoy'd  up, 
And  quench'd  the  flelled  fires :  yet,  poor  old  heart, 
He  holp  the  heavens  to  rain  '. 


'  /  am  ty  V  to  tbcjlakc, ]   So,  in  Macbeth : 

"  TbeylnrGehiuJJvttoaJfaifi  I  cannot  fly, 

"  Bur,  bear-like,  I  mull  ftand  the  courfe."     STEEVENS. 

*  — ike  courfe.]  The  running  of  the  dogs  upon  me.   JOHNSON. 

*  —-flick  loarijh  fangs."]  The  quartos  read — ra/h  boarifli  fangs. 
This  verb  occurs  in  Spenfer's  Faery  Quecn,  B.  IV.  c.  ii  : 

"  And  fliields  did  fhare,  and  mailes  did  ra/b,  and  helmes 

did  hew." 
Again,  B.  V.  c.  iii : 

"  Rajhing  off  helmes,  and  ryving  plates  afunder." 

STEEVENS. 

3  — — •  to  rain.]     Thus  the  folio.     The  quartos  read — to  rage^ 

STEEVENS. 

If 


K    I    N     G      L    E    A    R.         491 

If  wolves  had  at  thy  gate  howl'd 3  that  ftern  time, 
Thou  fhould'ft  have  faid,  Good  porter,  turn  the  key ; 
All  cruels  elfe  4  fubfcrib'd  :— But  I  ftiall  fee 
The  winged  vengeance  overtake  fuch  children. 

Corn.  See  it  (halt  thou  never  : — Fellows,  hold  the 

chair  : 

Upon  thefe  eyes  of  thine  I'll  fet  my  foot 5. 

[Gkfter  is  held  dawn,    while  Cornwall  treads  out 
one  of  his  eyes. 

Glo.  He,  that  will  think  to  live  'till  he  be  old, 
Give  me  fome  help  : O  cruel !  O  ye  gods  ! 

Reg.  One  fide  will  mock  another;  the  other  too, 

Corn.  If  you  fee  vengeance, — 

Serv.  Hold  your  hand,  my  lord  : 
I  have  ferv'cl  you  ever  fince  I  was  a  child  ; 
But  better  fervice  have  I  never  done  you, 
Than  now  to  bid  you  hold. 

Reg.  How  now,  you  dog  ? 

Serv.  If  you  did  wear  a  beard  upon  your  chin, 

3  ——that  ftern  tlme,~\  Thus  the  folio.      Both  the  quartos 

read, that  (learn  time. Dcarn  is  a  north-country  word, 

fignifying  lonely,  folitary,  melancholy,  far  from  neighbours. 
So,  in  the  Valiant  Scot: 

"  Of  all  thy  ioys  the  Jearne  and  difmal  end." 
Again,  in  Spenfer's  Faery  £>ucen,  B.  II.  c.  i : 

«'  They  heard  a  rueful  voice  that  dearnly  cride.'* 
Again,  in  Pericles  Prince  of  Tyre,    1609  : 

"  By  many  a  dearnc  and  painful  pearch."         STEEVENS. 

*  fulfcriVd: — ]  Yielded,  fubmitted  to  the  neceffity  of 

the  occafion.     JOHNSON. 

5  Upon  tbefe  eyes,  &c.j  In  Scllmus,  Emperor  of  tie  Turks,  one 
of  the  fons  of  Bajazct  pulls  out  the  eyes  of  an  aga  on  the  ftage, 
and  fays, 

**  Yes  thou  (halt  live,  but  never  fee  that  day, 

"  Wanting  the  tapers  that  fliould  give  thee  light." 

[Pulls  out  bis  cyrs. 

Immediately  after,  his  hands  are  cut  off.  I  have  introduced  this 
paflage  to  fhew  that  Shakefpeare's  drama  was  not  more  fanguinary 
than  that  of  his  contemporaries.  STEEVENS. 

In  Marfton's  Antonio  and  Melllda,  p.  ii,  1602.  Piero's  tongue 
is  torn  out  on  the  flage.  MALOXE. 

W 


49*         K     I     N     G      L    E     A    R. 

I'd  fhake  it  on  this  quarrel :  What  do  you  mean  ? 
Corn.  My  villain  6  !  [Draws*  and  runs  at  him. 

Serv.  Nay,  then  come  on,  and  take  the  chance  of 
anger.  [Fight ;  Cornwall  is  wounded. 

Reg.  [To  another  fervant.']  Give  me  thy  fword. — A 
peafant  fland  up  thus  ! 

[Comes  behind,  and  kills  Lim. 
Serv.  O,  I  am  flain  ! — My  lord,    yet  you    have 

one  eye  left 

To  fee  fome  mifchief  on  him  : — O  !  [Dies. 

Corn.  Left  it  fee  more,    prevent  it : — Out,   vile 

•   jelly  ! 

Where  is  thy  luflre  now  ?  [Treads  the  other  out. 

Glo.  All  dark  and  comfortlefs. — Where's  my  fon 

Edmund  ? 

Edmund,  enkindle  all  the  fparks  of  nature, 
To  quit  this  horrid  aft. 

Reg.  Out,  treacherous  villain  ! 
Thou  call'ft  on  him  that  hates  thee  :  it  was  he 
That  made  the  overture  of  thy  treafons  to  us; 
Who  is  too  good  to  pity  thee. 

Glo.  O  my  follies  ! 
Then  Edgar  was  abus'd. — 
Kind  gods,  forgive  me  that,  and  profper  him  ! 

Reg.  Go,  thruft  him  out  ar  gates,  and  let  him  fmcll 
His  way  to  Dover. — How  is't,  my  lord  ?  How  look 

you  ? 

'    Corn.  I  havereceiv'd  a  hurt : — Follow  me,  lady. — 
Turn  out  that  eyelcfs  villain  ; — throw  this  flave 
Upon  the  dunghill. — Regan,  I  bleed  apace  : 
Untimely  comes  this  hurt  :  Give  me  your  arm. 

[Exit  Cornwall,    led  by  Regan  ;  —  &  wants   lead 

Gkfter  out. 
'    ijl  Serv.  7  I'll  never  care  what  wickedncfs  I  do, 

If 

6  j!/y  villain!]  Villain  is  liere  perhaps  ufedin  its  original  fenfe 
«f  one  in  fervitude.     STEKVENS, 

1  2*1*  never  care  what  wideJitefi   I  tlo>]  This  ftiort   dialogue  I 

have 


KING       LEAR.          493 

If  this  man  come  to  good, 
id  Serv.  If  ihe  live  long, 
And,  in  the  end,  meet  the  old  courfe  of  death, 
Women  will  all  turn  monfters. 

ijl  Scrv.  Let's  follow  the  old  earl,  and  get  the 

Bedlam 

To  lead  him  where  he  would ;  his  roguilh  madnefs 
Allows  itfelf  to  any  thing. 

id  Scrv.  Go  thou  ;    I'll  fetch  8  fome   flax,    and 

whites  of  eggs, 

To  apply  to  his  bleeding  face.  Now,  heaven  help  him ! 

[Exeunt  feverally. 


A  C  T     IV.      S  C  E  N  E    I. 

An  open  country. 
Enter  Edgar. 

EJg.  9  Yet  better  thus,  and  known  to  be  contemn'd 
Than  {till  contemn'd  and  ilatter'd.     To  be  worlr, 

The 

have  inferted  from  the  old  quarto,  becaufe  I  think  it  full  of  na- 
ture. Servants  could  hardly  lee  fiich  a  barbarity  committed  on 
their  matter,  without  pity  ;  and  the  vengeance  that  they  prefume 
muft  overtake  the  a&ors  or"  it,  is  a  fentiment  and  dottrine  well 
worthy  of  the  ftage.  THEOEAI.U. 

It  is  not  neceflary  to  fuppofe  them  the  fcrvants  of  Glofter  j 
for  Cornwall  was  oppofed  to  extremity  by  his  own  fervant. 

JOHNSON. 

8    ••  fome  flax,  &c.]  This  pafiage  is  ridiculed  by  Ben 

Jonfon,  in  The  Cafe  is  alter1 'd,    1609. 

" go  get  a  white  of  an  egg,  and  a  little  flax,  and 

clofe  the  breaches  of  the  head,  it  is  the  moft  conducible 
thing  that  can  be."     STEEVENS. 

Tl'f  Cafe  is  altered  was  written  before  the  end  of  the  year  1599 ; 
but  Ben  Jonfon  might  have  inlcrted  this  fneer  at  our  author,  be- 
tween the  time  of  King  Lear's  appearance,  and  the  publication 
of  his  own  play  in  1609.  MALOtiE. 

*  Tet  better  thus,   end  known  to  be  <v.v&wiV,]  The  meaning 


494         K    I     N     G      L    E     A     R. 

The  lowed,  and  mofl  dejcded  thing  of  fortune^ 

Stands  ftill  in  efperance,  lives  not  in  fear  ' : 

The  lamentable  change  is  from  the  belt ; 

The  worfl  returns  to  laughter.     *  Welcome  then* 

Thou  unfubftantial  air,  that  I  embrace  ! 

The  wretch,  that  thou  haft  blown  unto  the  worft, 

Owes  nothing  to  thy  blafts z. — But  who  comes  here  ? 

Enter  Glofter,  led  by  an  old  man. 

My  father,  poorly  led  ? — 5  World,  world,  O  world  i 
But  that  thy  ftrange  mutations  make  us  hate  thee, 
Life  would  not  yield  to  age. 

Old 

is,  '77*  letter  to  be  thus  contemned^  and  known  to  yourfelf  to  be 
contemned.  Or  perhaps  there  is  an  error,  which  may  be  rec- 
tified thus  s 

Yet  better  thus  tinknovsn  to  be  contemn'd. 

When  a  man  divefts  himfelf  of  his  real  character  he  feels  no  pain 
from  contempt,  becaufe  he  fuppofes  it  incurred  only  by  a  volun- 
tary difguife  which  he  can  throw  oft"  at  pleafure.  i  do  not  think 
any  correction  necefiary.  JOHNSON. 

I    cannot  help  thinking  that  this   puflage  mould  be  written 
thus: 

Yet  better  thus  unknown  to  be  contemn'd, 
Than  ftill  contemn'd  and  llatter'd  to  be  v:orfe. 
Theloweft,  &c. 

The  quarto  edition  has  no  flop  after  flattered.  The  firft  folio, 
which  has  a  comma  there,  has  a  colon  at  the  end  of  the  line. 

The  expreffion  in  this  fpeech — ows  nothing  to  thy  Hafts (in 

a  more  learned  writer)  might  feem  to  be  copied  from  Virgil, 
./En.  xi.  51: 

*'  NosjuveKfK  exanimum,  et  nil  jam  cceleiHbus  ullis 

"  Debentem,  i>ano  mcpfli  comitamur  bonore"   TYRWHITT. 

1  lives  not  in  fear.]  So  in  Milton's  Par.  Reg.  B.  iii* 

*'  For  where  no  hope  is  left,  is  left  no  fear."       STEEVENS* 
*  — — •  Welcome  then,]  The  neit  two  lines  and  a  half  are  omitted 
in  the  quartos.     STEEVENS. 

3    JForUt  nvorU,  O  world ! 

But  Wat  toy  ftrange  mutations  make  z;i  t.\itc  !bce,~\ 
The  reading  of  this  paflage  has  been  explained,  but  not  fatis- 
faftorily.     ^Iy  explanation  of  the  poci's  fentiment  was,  "  If  the 
number  of  changes  and  viciilitudes,  which  happen  in  life,  did  not 
make  us  wait,  and  hope  fur  foinc  turn  oi  fortune  for  the  better, 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          495 

Old  Man.  O  my  good  lord,  I  have  been  your  te- 
nant, and  your  father's  tenant,  thefe  fourfcore  years. 

Glo.  Away,  get  thee  away ;  good  friend,  begone  : 
Thy  comforts  can  do  me  no  good  at  all, 
Thee  they  may  hurt. 

Old  Mem.  Alack,  fir,  you  cannot  fee  your  way. 

Glo.  I  have  no  way,  and  therefore  want  no  eyes ; 
I  ftumbled  when  I  faw  :  Full  oft  'tis  feen, 
4  Our  mean  fecures  us ;  and  our  meer  defects 

Prove 

we  could  never  fupport  the  thought  of  living  to  be  old,  on  any 
other  terms."  And  our  duty,  as  human  creatures,  is  piou fly  in- 
culcated in  this  reflection  of  the  author.  I  read  therefore,  make 
us  v/ait  tbce.  THEOBALD. 

JBut  that  tby  firange  mutations  make  us  hate  tbeet 
Life  ivoulil  not  yield  to  age-] 

The  fenfe  of  this  obfcure  paflbge  is,  O  world  !  fo  much  are 
human  minds  captivated  with  thy  pleafures,  that  were  it  net  for 
thofe  fucceffive  miferies,  each  worfe  than  the  other,  which  over- 
load the  fcenes  of  life,  we  mould  never  be  willing  to  fubmit  to 
death,  thoi'^h  the  infirmities  of  old  age  \vould  teach  us  to  chufe 
it  as  a  proper  afylum.  Befides,  by  uninterrupted  profperity, 
whiqh  leaves  the  mind  at  eafe,  the  body  would  generally  pre- 
ferve  fuch  a  ftate  of  vigour  as  to  bear  up  lung  againft  the  de- 
cays of  time.  Thefe  are  the  two  reafons,  I  iuppofe,  whv  he 
laid, 

Life  would  not  yield  to  age. 

And  how  much  the  pleafures  of  the  body  pervert  the  mind's 
judgment,  and  the  perturbations  of  the  mind  dilbrder  the  body's 
frame,  is  known  to  all.  WARBURTON. 

2 "•'.•/./  to  fignifies  no  more  than  give  way  to,  fink  under,  in 
oppufuion  to  the  firuggling  ivitb,  Itaring  up  againft  the  infirmities 
of  age.  HANMER. 

*  Our  mean  fecures  us  ; ]  i.e.  Moderate,  mediocre  condi- 
tion. WARLURTON. 

Hanmer  writes,  by  an  eafy  change,  meannefs  fecures  us,  The 
two  original  editions  have  : 

Our  tK  fanes  fecures  us. 

I  do  not  remember  that  mean  is  ever  ufed  as  a  fubftantire  for  low- 
fortune,  which  is  the  fenfe  here  required,  nor  for  mediocrity, 
except  in  the  phrafe,  the  golden  mean,     I  fu'p.dl  the  paflage  of 
corruption,  and  would  either  read  : 
Our  means  j'ednce  us  : 

Our 


496         K     I     N    G       L    E     A    R, 

Prove  our  commodities. — O,  dear  foil  Edgar, 
The  food  of  thy  abnfed  father's  wrath  ! 
Might  I  but  live  to  fee  thee  in  my  touch 5, 
I'd  lay,  I  had  eyes  again  ! 

Old  Man.  How  now  ?  Who's  there  ? 

Edg.  [4(iJe.~\  O  gods  !  6  Who  is't  can  fay,  I  am  at 

'the  wbrfi? 
I  am  worfe  than  e'er  I  was. 

Old  Man.  'Tis  poor  mad  Tom. 

Edg.  [_dfide.~]  And  worfe  I  may  be  yet :  The  worffi 

is  not, 
So  long  as  we  can  fay,  This  is  the  worft. 

Old.  Man.  Fellow,  where  goeft? 

Glo.  Is  it  a  beggar-man  ? 

Old  Man.  Madman  and  beggar  too. 

Glo.  He  has  fome  reafon,  die  he  could  not  beg. 

Our  powers  of  body  or  fortune  draw  us  into  evils.     Or, 

Our  maims  lecure  us. 

That  hurt  or  deprivation  which  makes  us  defcncelefs,  proves  our 
fafeguard.  This  is  very  proper  in  Gluiter,  newly  maimed  by 
the  evulfion  of  his  eyes.  JOHNSON*. 

There  is  furely  no  reafon  for  alteration.  Mean  is  here  a  fub- 
fhntive,  and  fignifies  a  middle  Jlate,  as  Dr.  Warburton  rightly  in- 
terprets it.  So  again  in  the  Miercbaatffftiace,  "it  is  no  mean 
happinefs  therefore  to  be  feated  in  the  mean."  See  more  inftauccs 
in  Dr.  Johnlbn'j  Dittionary.  STEEVENS. 

* tofeetbee  in  my  touch.}     So,  in  another  fccne,  I  fee  it 

feelingly.     STEEVENS. 

0  iuho  is't  can  fay ,  I  am  at  the  luorjl  f 

. . 1 — ' /Ac  -~Morft  is  nott 

So  long  as  ive  can  fay ,  Tbh  is  the  wor/i.] 

i.  e.  While  we  live  ;  for  while  we  yet  continue  to  have  a  fenfe  of 
feeling,  fomcthing  worfe  than  the  prefent  may  flill  happen.  What 
occafioned  this  reiledtion  was  his  raflily  faying  in  the  beginning  of 
this  fcene, 

To  be  worft, 

The  loweft,  moft  de'iefted  thing  of  fortune,  &c. 
'    The  wretch,  thut  thou  hall  blown  unto  the  worft,  &:c. 

WAREURTOIf. 

I'the 


Jft    I    N    G       L    E    A    R.         497 

I'  the  laft  night's  ftorm  I  fuch  a  fellow  faw  ; 
Which  made  me  think  a  man  a  worm  :  My  fon 
Came  then  into  my  mind  ;  and  yet  my  mind 
Was  then  fcarce  friends  with  him  :  I  have  heard 
more  fince  : 

7  As  flies  to  wanton  boys,  are  we  to  the  gods  ; 
They  kill  us  for  their  fport. 

Edg.  How  Ihould  this  be  ?  — 
Bad  is  the  trade,  that  muft  play  the  fool  to  forrow, 

8  Ang'ring  itfelf  and  others.  [_Afide.~\  --  -Blefs  thee^ 

mafter  ! 

Glo.  Is  that  the  naked  fellow  ? 

Old  Man.   Ay,  my  lord. 

Glo.  Then,  pr'y  thee,  get  thee  gone  :  If,  for  my  fake, 
Thou  wilt  o'ertake  us,  hence  a  mile  or  twain, 
I'  the  way  to  Dover,  do  it  for  ancient  love  ; 
And  bring  fome  covering  for  this  naked  foulj 
Whom  I'll  intreat  to  lead  me. 

Old  Man.  Alack,  fir,  he  is  mad. 

Glo.  'Tis  the  times'  plague,  when  madmen  lead 

the  blind  : 

Do  as  I  bid  thee,  or  father  do  thy  pleafure; 
Above  the  reft,  be  gone. 

Old  Matt.  I'll  bring  him  the  beft  'parrel  that  I  have, 
Come  on't  what  will.  [Exit. 

Glo.  Sirrah,  naked  fellow. 

Edg.    Poor  Tom's    a-cOld.—  9  I  cannot    daub   it 
further* 

Glo.  Come  hither,  fellow. 


7  As  Jlifs  to  wanton  loys,  are  we  to 

They  kill  us  for  thcir'fport.~\ 
"  Dii  nos   quafi  pilas   homines    habent."  —  Plaut.  Captl-v. 
Prol.  1.  22.    STEEVENS. 

8  AngJbiHg  -  ]  Oxford  editor  and  Dr.  Warburton.—  Vulg. 
Angring)  rightly.     JOHNSON. 

v   -  /  c<ar»«0f  daub  iY  -  ]  i.e.   Difguifc.     V/A&EURTON. 
So,  in  King  RicbarJ  III  : 

"  So  fmooth  he  dauVd  his  vice  with  (hew  of  virtue." 
The  quartos  read,  I  cannot  dance  it  further. 

V»L.  IX*  K  k 


498          KING       LEAR. 

Edg.  [4We.~\  And  yet  I  muft. 
ittefs  thy  {Wet  eyes,  they  bleed. 

Glo.  Know'ft  thou  the  way  to  Dover  ? 

Edg.  Both  itilc  and  gate,  horfe-ivay  and  foot-path* 
Poor  Tom  hath  been  fcar'd  out  of  his  good  wits  : 
Blefs  thee,  good  man's  fon,  from  the  foul  fiend  f 
[Five  '  fiends  have  been  in  poor  Tom  at  once;  of 
luft,  as  ObidicKt ;  H»bbididance,  prince  of  dumbnefs  : 
Mabu,  of  ftealing  ;  Modo,  of  murder ;  and  Flibber- 
tigibbet, of  mopping  and  mowing ;  who  fince  *  pof- 

feires 

1  Five  fiends,  feV.]  The  reft  of  this  fpeeeh  is  omitted  in  the 
folio.  In  Harfncfs  Book,  already  quoted,  p.  278,  we  have  an 
extract  from  the  account  publifhed  by  the  exorcifts  themfelves, 
viz.  "  By  commaundement  of  the  exorcift  ...  the  devil  in  Ma. 
Mainy  confefled  his  name  to  be  Modu,  and  that  he  had  befides 
himfelf/iwrf«  other  fpir  its,  and  all  of  them  captains,  and  of  great 
fame."  '*  Then  Edmundes  (the  exorciit)  began  ngaine  with  great 
eariieftnefs,  and  all  the  company  cried  out,  &c.  .  .  .  fo  as  both 
th".t  v.'vked  i>r' ncs  Modu  and  his  company,  might  be  caft  out." 
This  pa  ii  «4f  v,  ill  account  for  five  feuds  having  been  in  poor  Tom 
at  once.  PiiRCY. 

a   pvSjiJfe*  cba;;;ler-mauls  and  vjalttng-vjomen.—-']  Shake- 

fpenre  has  made  Edgar,  in  his  feigned  diftra£Hon,  frequently  al- 
lude to  a  vile  impolture  of  fome  Englifh  jefuits,  at  that  time 
much  the  fubjeft  of  converfation  ;  the  hiilory  of  it  having  been 
juil  then  compofed  with  great  art  and  vigour  of  ilile  and  compo- 
lition  by  Dr.  S.  Harienet,  afterwards  archbifhop  of  York,  by 
order  or  the  privy-council,  m  a  work  intitled,  A  Declaration  of 
'tg regions  Popijb  Impoftura  to  withdraw  her  Majejlys  Sub'iefts  from 
.their  Allegiance,  &c.  pratf'ifed  by  Edmunds,  alias  Wcfton,  a  Je- 
fuif,  and  divers  Rom<Jh  fricfls  his  wicked  AJJbciates :  printed 
i6o}.  The  impolture  ;vas  in  fubftance  this.  While  the  Spa- 
niards were  preparing  their  annado  againlt  England,  thejefuita 
\verehere  buly  at  work  to  promote  it,  by  making  converts  :  one 
method  they  employed  was  to  difpoflcfs  pretended  demoniacs,  by 
which  artifice  they  made  feveral  hundred  converts  amongft  the 
common  people.  The  principal  fcenc  of  this  farce  was  taid  in 
the  family  of  one  Mr.  Edmund  Peckham,  a  Roman-catholic, 
where  Marwood,  a  fcrvant  of  Anthony  Babington's  (who  was 
afterwards  executed  for  treafon)  Trayford,  an  attendant  upon 
Mr.  Peckhum,  and  Sarah  and  Frifwood  Williams,  and  Anne 
fcmith,  three  chambermaids  in  that  family,  came  into  the  priefl'a 
hands  for  cure.  But  the  difcipline  of  the  patients  was  {b  long 

and 


K    I    N    C      L    E    A    R.         499 

fefjfes  chamber-maids  and  waiting-women.   So,  blefs 
thee,  matter!] 

Glo.  Here,  take  this  purfe,  thou  whom  the  heaven's 

plagues 

Have  humbled  to  all  flrokes  :  that  I  am  wretched,    . 
Makes  thee  the  happier  : — Heavens,  deal  fo  ftill  ! 

3  Let  the  fuperfluous,  and  luft-dieted  man, 

4  That  flaves  your  ordinance,  that  will  not  fee 

Be- 

and  fevere,  and  the  priefts  fo  elate  and  carelefs  with  their  fuccefs, 
that  the  plot  was  difcovered  on  the  confeffion  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned, and  the  contrivers  of  it  defervedly  puniflied.  The  five 
devils  here  mentioned,  are  the  names  of  five  of  thofe  who  were 
made  to  acl  in  this  iarce  upon  the  chamber -maids  and  waiting- 
women  ;  and  they  were  generally  fo  ridiculoufly  nick-named,  that 
Harfnet  has  one  chapter  on  tbe  ftrange  names  of  their  devils ;  left, 
fays  he,  meeting  them  otherivife  l/y  chance^  you  mifiake  them  for  tLc 
names  of  tapfters  or  jugglers.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

The  paflage  in  crotchets  is  omitted  in  the  folio,  becaufe  I  fup- 
pofe  as  the  ftory  was  forgotten,  the  jeft  was  loft.    JOHNSON. 

3  Let  tbcfuperjlnousf—\  Lear  has  before  uttered  the  fame  fen- 
timent,  which  indeed  cannot  be  too  ftrongly  imprefled,  though 
it  may  be  too  often  repeated.     JOHNSON. 

4  That  Haves  your  ordinance, ]  Superfluous  is  here  ufed  for 

one  living  in  abundance.     But  the  next  line  is  corrupt.     The 
only  fenie  I  know  of,  in  which  Jta-ves  your  ordinance  can  be  un- 
derftood,  is  when  men  employ  the  form  or  femblance  of  reli- 
gion to  compafs  their  ill  dcfigns.     But  this  will  not  do  here* 
Glofter  is  fpeaking  of  fuch  who  by  an  uninterrupted  courfe  of 
profperity  are  grown  wanton,  and  callous  to  the  misfortunes  of 
others  ;  fuch  as  thofe  who  fearing  no  reveife,  flight  and  neglecl, 
and  therefore  may  be  laid  to  brave  the  ordinance  of  heaven  : 
which  is  certainly  the  right  reading.     And  this  is  the  fecond  time 
in  which  Jlaves  has,  in  this  play,  been  read  for  braves. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

The  emendation  is  plaufible,  yet  I  doubt  whether  it  be  right. 
The  language  of  Shakefpeare  is  very  licentious,  and  his  words 
have  often  meanings  remote  from  the  proper  and  original  ufe» 
To  JJave  or  le/lavc  another  is  to  treat  him  with  terms  of  ind"ig? 
nlty  :  in  a  kindred  fenfe,.  \ojlave  tbe  ordinance,  may  be,  to  Jligbt 
or  ridicule  it.  JOHNSON. 

Tofiave  an  ordinance^   is  to  treat  it  as  ajtfave,  to  make  it  fub« 
jeft  to  us,  inftead  of  afting  in  obedience  to  it. 
So,  in  Hey  wood's  Brazen  Jge,  1613  : 

K  k  2  "  nrne 


500         KING      LEAR. 

Becaufe  he  doth  not  feel,  feel  your  power  quickly  5 
So  diftribution  mould  undo  excefs, 
And   each    man   have  enough. — Doft    thou  know 
Dover  ? 

Edg.  Ay,  matter. 

Glo.  There  is  a  cliff,  whofe  high  and  bending  head 
Looks  fearfully  on  the  confined  deep  : 
Bring  me  but  to  the  very  brim  of  it, 
And  I'll  repair  the  mifery  thou  doft  bear, 
With  fomething  rich  about  me  :  from  that  place 
I  fhall  no  leading  need. 

Edg.  Give  me  thy  arm  ; 
Poor  Tom  mall  lead  thee.  \Exeuttt. 

SCENE      II. 

The  duke  of  Manfs  palace. 

Enter  Goner  il,  and  Edmund. 

Con.  Welcome,  my  lord  :  I  marvel,  s  our  mild 

hufband 
Not  met  us  on  the  way  : — Now,  where's  your  matter? 

«'  none 

«'  CoMj7avf  him  like  the  Lydian  Omphale." 
Again,  in  A  Ne--v  Way  to  pay  old  Debts,  bv  Maffinger  : 

«*  thatjlaves  me  to  his  will."    STEEVENS. 

Heywood,  in  his  Plcafant  Dialogue  s  and  Dramas,   1637,  ufes  thij 
verb  in  the  fame  fenfe  : 

"  What  (hall  I  do?  my  love  I  will  not./fcro* 

"  To  an  old  king,  though  he  my  love  Ihould  crave.'* 
Again,  in  Marfton's  Mahcontent,    1604  : 

**  Oh  powerful  blood,  how  doit  thoajfticr*  their  foul  !'* 

MALONJE. 

s  our  m!U  JuJbanJ]  It  mud  be  remembered  that  Albany, 

the  hufband  of  Goneril,    dilliked,    in  the  end  of  the  firit  a<5rr 
the  fchcme  of  oppreCiou  and  ingratitude,     JOHNSON. 

Enter 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          501 


Enter  Steward. 

Stew.  Madam,  within  ;  but  never  man  fo  chang'd: 
I  told  him  of  the  army  that  was  landed  ; 
He  fmil'd  at  it  :  I  told  him,  you  were  coming; 
His  anfwer  was,  The  worfe  :  of  Glofters  treachery, 
And  of  the  loyal  fervice  of  his  fon, 
When  I  informal  him,  then  he  call'd  me  fot  ; 
And  told  me,  I  had  turn'd  the  wrong  fide  out  :  — 
What  moil  he  fhould  diilike,  feems  pleafant  to  him  ; 
What  like,  offenfive. 

Gon.  Then  ihall  you  go  no  further.     [To  Edmund. 
It  is  the  cowifh  terror  of  his  fpirit, 
That  dares  not  undertake  :  he'll  not  feel  wrongs, 
Which  tie  him  to  an  anfwer  :  6  Our  wifhes,on  the  way, 
May  prove  effe&s.    Back,  Edmund,  to  my  brother  ; 
Haften  his  mufters,  and  condudt  his  powers  : 
I  muft  change  arms  7  at  home,  and  give  the  diftaff 
Into  my  hufband's  hands.     This  trufty  fervant 
Shall  pafs  between  us  :  ere  long  you  are  like  to  hear, 
If  you  dare  venture  in  your  own  behalf, 
A  miftreiTes  command.     Wear  this  ;  fpare  fpeech  ; 

[Giving  a  favour. 

8  Decline  your  head  :  this  kifs,  if  it  durft  fpeak, 
Would  flretch  thy  fpirits  up  into  the  air  ;— 

6  -  our  wijhesj  on  the  way, 

May  prove  cjfcfls.  ---  •—  ] 

I  believe  the  meaning  of  the  paflage  to  be  this  :  "  What  we 
wifli,  before  our  inarch  is  at  an  end,  may  be  brought  to  happen," 
\.  e.  the  murder  or  difpatch  of  her  huflvmd.  —  On  the  ivay,  how- 
ever, may  be  equivalent  to  the  expreflion  we  now  ufe,  viz.  By 
the  ivay,  or  By  the  ly,  i.  e.  enjxrffanf.  STEEVENS. 

7  -  1  muft  change  arms,  fsc.]  Thus  the  quartos.     The  folio 
reads  —  change  names.     STEEVENS. 

8  Decline  your  head  :  this  £//},   //  it  ditrftfpcak^ 

Would  ftrctch  thy  fpirit  5  up  Into  the  air."] 

She  bids  him  decline  his  head,  that  (lie  might  give  him  a  kifi 
(the  fteward  being  prefent)  and  that  it  might  appear  only  to  him 
as  a  whifper.  STEEVENS. 

K  k  3  Con- 


5o2         KING      LEAR, 

Conceive,  and  fare  thee  well. 

Edm.  Yours  in  the  ranks  of  death. 

Gon.  My  moil  dear  Glofter  !  [Exit  Edmund* 

O,  |:he  difference  of  man,  and  man 9 ! 
To  thee  a  woman's  fervices  are  due  ; 
*  My  fool  ufurps  my  body, 

Stetv.  Madam,  here  comes  my  lord. 

Enter  Albany. 

Gon.  *  I  have  been  worth  the  whittle. 

Alb.  O  Goneril ! 

You  are  not  worth  the  duft  which  the  rude  wind 
Blows  in  your  face. — J I  fear  your  difpofition  : 
That  nature,  which  contemns  its  origin, 

4  Cannot  be  border'd  certain  in  itfelf ; 

5  She  that  herfelf  will  fliver  and  difbranch 

From 

9  Ot  the  dijf'e  r(:icf  of  man  and  man!"}  Omitted  in  the  quartos. 

STEEV^NS. 

.*•  My  fool  tifurfs  my  body.]  One  of  the  quartos  reads  : 
My  foot  ufurps  my  head',  the  other, 
My  foot  ufurps  my  body.     STEEVENS. 

*  I  have  hen  worth  the  wbiftk.']  This  expreffion  is  a  reproach 
to  Albany  for  having  negle&ed  her  ;  though  you  difregard  JHC 
thus,  I  have  been  worth  the  whittle,  I  have  found  one  that  thinks 


me  worth  calling.     JOHNSON. 


This  expreflion  is  a  proverbial  one.  Heywood  in  one  of  his 
dialogues,  confiding  entirely  of  proverbs,  fays  : 

"  It  is  a  poor  dog  that  is  not  worth  the  wbtftling»" 

GoneriJ's  meaning  feems  .to  be  —  There  ivas  a  time  ivhcn  you 
•would  have  thought  me  worth  the  calling  to  you  ;  reproaching  him 
for  not  having  lummon'd  her  to  confult  with  on  the  prefent  cri- 
tical occafion.  STEEVENS. 

3  I  fear  your  difpofition  ;~\  Thefe  and  the  fpeech  en- 

fuing  are  in  the  edition  of  1608,  and  are  but  ne.cefTary  to  explain 
the  reafons  of  the  delegation  which  Albany  here  exprefles  to  his 
wife.  POPE. 

*  Cannot  be  bordered  certain———']  Certain,  for  within  the 
bounds  that  nature  prefcribes.  WAR  BUR  TON, 

^ She  that  herfelf  will  ft\\vev  and  dfiranch,]  Thus  all  the  edi- 
tbni,  but  the  old  quarto,  that  Kzfojlivcr^  \vhich  is  right.  Shi, 


K    I  'N    G       LEAR.         503 

6  From  her  maternal  fap,  perforce  muft  wither, 

And 

vtr  means  to  (hake  or  fly  a-pieces  into  fplinters.  As  he  faya 
afterwards  : 

Thou'd'ft  Jhi'ver'd  like  an  egg. 
But./Ttc.vr  fignifies  to  tear  oiF  or  difbranch.     So,  in  Macbeth : 

Hips  of  yew 

Sliver' d  in  the  moon's  eclipfe.     WARBURTOK. 

*  From  her  material  fap, ]  Thus  the  old  quarto  ;  but 

material  fap  is  a  phrafe  that  I  do  not  underfland.  The  mother- 
tree  is  the  true  technical  term  ;  and  confidering  our  author  has 
faid  but  juft  before,  That  nature,  which  contemns  its  origin,  there 
is  little  room  to  queilion  but  he  wrote  : 

From  her  maternal  fap.     THEOBALD. 

From- her  material  fap, "]  Thus  all  the  editions  till  Mr. 

Theobald's,  who  alters  material  to  maternal;  and  for  thefe  wife' 
reafons  :  Material  fap  (fays  he)  I  ozvn  is  a  phrafe  that  I  do  not 
vnderftand.  The  mother-tree  is  the  true  technical  term,  and  cofifi-* 
dering  our  author  had  f aid  jvft  before,  That  nature,  which  con- 
temns its  origin,  there  is  no  room  to  queftion  but  he  wrote,  From 
her  maternal  lap.  And  to  prove  that  we  may  fay  Maternal  fap9 
he  gives  _many  authorities  from  the  daffies,  and  fays  he  eould 
produce  more,  where  words  equivalent  to  maternal  ftock  are  ufed  j 
which  is  quite  another  thing,  as  we  (hall  now  fee.  In  making 
his  emendation,  the  editor  did  not  conlider  the  difference  be- 
tween material  fap,  and  material  body,  or  trunk  or  flock  :  the 
latter  expreffion  being  indeed  not  fo  well ;  material  being  a  pro- 
perer  epithet  for  body.  But  the  firft  is  right ;  and  we  mould  fay, 
material  fap,  not  maternal.  For  material  fap  fignifies  that  where- 
by a  branch  is  nourifhed,  and  increafes  in  bulk  by  frefti  accef- 
fion  of  matter.  On  which  account  material  is  elegnnt.  In- 
deedyl/^  when  applied  to  the  ivhole  tret,  might  be  called  matfrnalt 
but  could  not  be  fo  when  applied  to  a  branch  only.  For  though 
fap  might,  in  fome  fenfe,  ,be  faid  to  be  maternal  to  the  tree, 
"yet  it  is  the  tree^  that  is  maternal  to  the  branch,  and  not  the  fap  : 
but  here  the  epithet  is  applied  to  the  branch.  From  all  this  we 
conclude  that  the  old  reading  is  the  true.  But  what  if,  after  all, 
material  was  ufed  by  the  writers  of  thefe  times  in  the  very  fenfe 
of  maternal?  It  would  feem  fo  by  the  title  of  an  old  Englifh 
tranflation  of  Froiflart's  Chronicle,  which  runs  in  thefe  words, 
Syr  John  Froijfart's  Chronicle,  tranjlated  out  of  Frenche  into  our 
material  Exgli/b  Tongue  by  John  Bouchier,  printed  i  ;  z  5 . 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

I  fuppofe  no  reader  doubts  but.  the  word  fhould  be  maternal* 

"Dr.  Warburton  has  taken  great  pains  without  much  fuccefs,  and 

indeed  without  much  exaclnefs  of  attention,  to  prove  that  material 

K  k  4  hM 


504        KING      LEAR. 

J  And  come  to  deadly  ufe. 

Gon.  No  more;  the  text  is  foolifh. 

Alb.  Wifdom  and  goodnefs  to  the  vile  feem  vile  : 
Filths  favour  but  themfelves.  What  have  you  done  ? 
Tygers,  not  daughters,  what  have  you  perform'd  ? 
A  father,  and  a  gracious  aged  man, 
Whofe  reverence  the  head-lugg'd  bear  would  lick  s, 
Moft  barbarous,  moft  degenerate  !  have  you  madded. 
Could  my  good  brother  fuffer  you  to  do  it  ? 
9  A  man,  a  prince,  by  him  fo  benefited  ? 
If  that  the  heavens  do  not  their  vifible  fpirits 
Send  quickly  down  to  tame  thefe  vile  offences, 
*Twill  come,  humanity  muft  perforce  prey  on 
1  Itfelf,  like  monfters  of  the  deep. 

has  a  more  proper  fenfe  than  maternal,  and  yet  feemed  glad  at 
laft  to  infer  from  an  apparent  error  of  another  prefs  that  material 
and  maternal  meant  the  fame.  JOHNSON. 

7  And  come  to  deadly  ufe.]   Alluding  to  the  ufe  that  witches 
and  inchanters  are  faid  to  make  o{  ivi  t  her*  d  branches  in  their  charms. 
A  fine  infinuation  in  the  fpeaker,  that  (lie  was  ready  for  the  moft 
unnatural  irnfchief,  and  a  preparative  of  the  poet  to  her  plotting 
with  the  baftard  againft  her  hufband's  life.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

8  would  lick. ~]  This  line,  which  had  been  omitted  by  all 

my  predcceflbrs,  1  h:ive  reftored  from  the  quartos.     STHEVENS. 

9  A  man,  a  prince  by  him  fo  benefited ?~\    After  this  line  I   fuf- 
peft  a  line  or  two  to  be  wanting,  which  upbraids  her  for  her  lif- 
ter's cruelty  to  Glofter.     And  my  reaion  is,  that  in  her  anfwer 
we  find  thefe  words  : 

Fools  do  thefe  villains  pity,  who  are  punifli'd 

Ere  they  have  done  their  mifchief 

xvhich  evidently  allude  to  Glofter's  cafe.  Now  I  cannot  conceive 
that  flie  would  here  apologize  for  what  was  not  objected  to  her. 
But  1  fuppofe  the  players  thought  the  fpcech  too  long  ;  which 
lias  occalioned  throughout,  and  more  particularly  in  this  play, 
the  retrenchment  of  numerous  lines  mid  Ipeeches ;  manv  of 
which  have  been  reilored  by  the  care  and  difcernment  of  Mr. 
Pope.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

Here  is  a  pompous  note  to  fupport  a  conjei^urc  apparently 
erroneous,  and  confuted  by  the  next  fccnc,  in  whidi  the  account 
it  given  for  the  firil  time  to  Albany  ot  Gloitei  's  futierings. 

JOHNSON. 

1  —like  xionfters  of  the  decp.~\  Fifties  are  the  only  animals  that 
arc  known  to  prey  upon  their  owu  fpccics.  JOHNSON. 

don. 


KING      LEAR.         505 

Gon.  Milk-Hver'd  man ! 

That  bear'ft  a  cheek  for  blows,  a  head  for  wrongs  ; 
Who  haft  not  in  thy  brows  an  eye  difcerning 
Thine  honour  from  thy  fuffering;   '  that  not  know'ft, 
Fools  do  thofe  villains  pity,  who  are  punifh'd 
Ere  they  have  done  their  mifchief.     Where's  thy 

drum  ? 

France  fpreads  his  banners  in  our  noifelefs  land; 
With  plumed  helm  thy  flayer  begins  threats  ; 
Whilft  thou,  a  moral  fool,  fit'ft  ftill,  and  cry'ft, 
Mack  /  why  docs  be  jo  ? 

Alb.  Seethyfelf,  devil! 
*  Proper  deformity  feems  not  in  the  fiend 
So  horrid,  as  in  woman. 

Gon.  O  vain  fool ! 

Alb.  3  Thou  changed  and  felf-coVer'd  thing,  for 

ihame, 

Be-monfter  not  thy  feature.     Were  it  my  fitnefs 
To  let  thefe  hands  obey  my  blood, 
They  are  apt  enough  to  diflocate  and  tear 
Thy  flefh  and  bones :— Howe'er  thou  art  a  fiend, 
A  woman's  fhape  doth  Ihield  thee. 

Gon.  Marry,  your  manhood  now  ! 

Enter  Mejfenger. 
Alb.  What  news  ? 
Mef.  O,  my  good  lord,  the  duke  of  Cornwall's  dead; 

«  — that  not,  &c.]  The  reft  of  this  fpecch  is  omitted  in  the 
folio.  STEEVENS. 

a  Proper  deformity ]   i.e.  Diabolic  qualities  appear  not  fo 

horrid  in  the  devil  to  whom  they  belong,  as  in  woman  who  un- 
naturally afluines  them.  WARBURTON. 

3  Thou  changed,  and  felf-cover'd  thing, — ]  Of  thefe  lines  there 
is  but  one  copy,  and  the  editors  are  forced  upon  conjecture. 
They  have  publifhed  this  line  thus  ; 

Thou  changed,  and fe/f -converted thing; 

but  I  cannot  but  think  that  by  fclf-tover'd  the  author  meant,  thou 
that  haft  dijguifed  nature  by  wickednefs  ;  thou  that  haft  bid  the 
jyoman  under  the  fiend.  JOHNSON. 

This  apd  the  next  fpeech  are  omitted  in  the  folio.     STEEVENS. 
'  Slain 


5o6         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Slain  by  his  fervant,  going  to  put  out 
The  other  eye  of  Glofter. 

Alb.  Glofter's  eyes ! 

Mef.  A  fervant  that  he  bred,  thrill'd  with  remorfe, 
Oppos'd  againft  the  act,    bending  his  fword 
To  his  great  mailer;  who,  thereat  enrag'd, 
Flew  on  him,  and  amongft  them  fell'd  him  dead  : 
But  not  without  that  harmful  ftroke,  which  fincc 
Hath  pluck'd  him  after. 

Alb.  This  ftiews  you  are  above, 
You  jufticers,  that  thefe  our  nether  crimes 
So  fpeedily  can  venge  ! — But,  O  poor  Glofter ! 
Loft  he  his  other  eye  ? 

Mef.  Both,  both,  my  lord. 

This  letter,  madam,  craves  a  fpeedy  anfwer ; 
'Tis  from  your  lifter. 

Gon.  \_Afide.']  *  One  way  I  like  this  well  ; 
But  being  widow,  and  my  Glofter  with  her, 
May  all  the  building  in  my  fancy  pluck 
Upon  my  hateful  life  :  Another  way, 
The  news  is  not  fo  tart.— I'll  read,  and  anfwer. 

[Exit. 

Alb.  Where  was  his  fon,  when  they  did  take  his 
eyes  ? 

Mef.  Come  with  my  lady  hither. 

Alb.  He  is  not  here. 

Mef.  No,  my  good  lord ;  I  met  him  back  again. 

Alb.  Knows  he  the  wickednefs  ? 

Mef.  Ay,  my  good  lord  ;  'twas  he  inform'd  againft 

him  ; 

And  quit  the  houfeon  purpofe,  that  their  punifhment 
Might  have  the  freer  courfe. 

Alb.  Glofter,  I  live 
To  thank  thee  for  the  love  thou  fliew'dft  the  king, 

*  One  <voay,  I  like  this  <uW/;]  Goneril  is  well  pleafed  that 
Cornwall  is  deftroyed,  who  was  preparing  war  againft  her  and 
her  hulband,  but  is  afraid  of  lofing  Edmund  to  the  widow. 

JOHNSON. 
And 


KING      LEAR.         507 

And  to  revenge  thine  eyes. — Come  hither,  friend ; 
Tell  me  what  more  thou  knoweft.  [Exeunt. 


pS      C      E      N     E        III. 

The  French  campy  near  Dover. 
Enter  Kent^    and  6  a  Gentleman. 

Kent.  Why  the  king  of   France  is  fo  fuddenly 

gone  back 
Know  you  the  reafon  ? 

Gent.  Something  he  left  imperfect  in  the  flate, 
Which  fince  his  coming  forth  is  thought  of;  which 
Imports  to  the  kingdom  fo  much  fear  and  danger, 
That  his  perfonal  return  was  moft  requir'd  and  ne- 
ceflary. 

Kent.  Who  hath  he  left  behind  him  general  ? 

Gent.  The  marefchal  of  France,  Monfieur  le  Fer. 

Kent.  Did  your  letters  pierce  the  queen 
To  any  demonstration  of  grief  ? 

Gent.  Ay,  fir ;  fhe  took  them,  read  them  in  my 

prefence ; 

And  now  and  then  an  ample  tear  trill'd  down 
Her  delicate  cheek  :  it  feem'd,  ftie  was  a  queen 
Over  her  paffion ;  who,  moil  rebel-like, 
Sought  to  be  king  o'er  her. 

Kent.  O,  then  it  mov'd  her. 

Gent.  Not  to  a  rage  :  patience  and  forrow  flrove 

5  Scene  III.]  This  fcene,  left  out  in  all  the  common  books,  is 
reftored  from  the  old  edition  ;  it  being  manifeftly  of  Shakefpeare's 
writing,  and  neceflary  to  continue  the  ilory  of  Cordelia,  whofe 
behaviour  is  here  moil  beautifully  painted.     POPE. 

This  fcene  feems  to  have  been  left  out  only  to  fhorten  the  play, 
and  is  neceflary  to  continue  the  action.  It  is  extant  only  in  the 
quarto,  being  omitted  in  the  firft  folio.  I  have  therefore  put  it 
becwcen  crotchets.  JOHNSON. 

6  — ; —  a  Gentleman.']   The  gentleman  whom  he  fent  in  the 
foregoing  acl  with  letters  to  Cordelia.    JOHNSON, 

Who 


5o3          KING       LEAR. 

Who  fhould  exprefs  her  goodlieft.     You  have  feen 
Sunlhine  and  rain  at  once  :  7  her  fmiles  and  tears 
Were  like  a  better  day.     Thofe  happy  fmiles  % 
That  play'd  on  her  ripe  lip,  fcem'd  not  to  know 
What  guefts  were  in  her  eyes  ;  which  parted  thence, 


her  Jrn 'lies  and  tears 


Were  like  a  better  day ] 

It  Is  plain,  we  fhould  read, a  wetter  May. 

5.  e.  A  fpring  feafon  wetter  than  ordinary.     WAR  BURTON. 

The  thought  is  taken  from  Sidney's  Arcadia,  p.  244.  "  Her 
tears  came  dropping  down  like  rain  in  funfliine."  Cordelia's  be- 
liaviour  on  this  occafion  is  apparently  copied  from  Pkilocka's. 
The  fame  book,  in  another  place,  fays, "  that  her  tears  fol- 
lowed one  another  like  a  precious  rope  of  pearl."  The  quartos 
read, — a  letter  way,— which  may,  be  an  accidental  invcrfion  of 
the  M. 

A  letter  day,  however,  is  the  left  day,  and  the  left  day  is  a  day 
moft  favourable  to  the  productions  of  the  earth.  Such  are  the 
days  in  which  there  is  a  due  mixture  of  rain  and  funfhine. 

It  muft  be  obferved  that  the  comparative  is  ufed  by  Milton  and 
others,  inftead  of  \hspofitivc  andfufertative,  as  well  as  by  Shake - 
Ipeare  himfelf,  in  the  play  before  us  : 

"  Thefafer  fenfe  will  ne'er  accommodate 

*'  Its  malter  thus." 
Again,  in  Macbeth : 

"  — —  it  hath  cow'd  my  letter  part  of  man.'* 
Again, 

"  . Go  not  my  horfe  the  letter." 

Mr.  Pope  makes  no  fcruple  to  fay  of  Achilles,  that : 

**  The  Pelian  javelin  in  his  letter  n&nd 

**  Shot  trembling  rays,  &c." 
3.  e.  his  left  hand,  his  right.     STEEVEVS. 

Doth  not  Dr.  Warburton's  alteration  infer  that  Cordelia's  for- 
row  was  fuperior  to  her  patience?  But  it  feem'd  that  (he  was  a 
queen  over  her  paffion  ;  and  the. fmiles  on  her  lip  appeared  not  to 
know  that  tears  were  in  her  eyes.  Her  fmiles  and  tears  were  like 
a  better  day,  or  like  a  better  May,  may  fignify  that  they  were  like 
i'uch  a  feafon  where  funfhine  prevailed  over  rain.  So  in  dll's  <av// 
that  ends  Ifa/l,  Act.  V.  Sc.  iii.  we  fee  in  the  king  "  fwijhine  and 
hail  at  once,  but  to  the  brightelt  beams  di drafted  clouds  give  way  : 
fhe  time  is  fair  again,  and  he  is  like  a  day  of  feafon,"  i.e.  a  better 
day.  TOI.LET. 

8  /Mites.]  The  quartos  rc&d/mi'Iets.  This  may  be  u  dimi- 
nutive of  Shakefpeare's  coinage.  STEEVENS. 

As 


KING      LEAR.          509 

As  pearls  from  diamonds  dropt 9. — In  brief,  forrow 
Would  be  a  rarity  mott  belov'd,  if  all 
Could  fo  become  it. 

Kent.  '  Made  Ihe  no  verbal  qneftion  ? 

Gent.  Yes ;  once,  or  twice,  Ihe  heav'd  the  name  of 

father 

Pantingly  forth,  as  if  it  prefs'd  her  heart ; 
Cry'd,  Sifters  !  Jtfters  /— Shame  of  ladies  !  Ji/lers  / 
Kent  I  father  !  Jl/lers  !    mat  ?    i*  the  form  ?    ?  the 

night  ? 

-  Let  pity  not  be  believed  ! — There  fhe  fhook 
The  holy  water  from  her  heavenly  eyes, 
3  And  clamour  moiften'd  her  :  then  away  fhe  ftarted 
To  deal  with  grief  alone. 

Kent. 

9  As  pearls  from  diamonds  dropt, — ]  A  fimilar  thought  to  thif 
of  Shakefpeare,  occurs  in  Middleton's  Game  at  Chefs,  1625  ; 

"  the  holy  dew  lies  like  a  pearl 

"  Dropt  from  the  opening  eye-lids  of  the  morn 
"  Upon  the  baftUul  rote." 
Milton  has  tranfplanted  this  image  into  his  Lycia'as, 

**   Under  the  opening  eye-lids  of  the  morn,"     SrEEVENS. 
1  Made  Jhe  no  verbal  queition  ?]   Dr.  Wnrburton  would  fub- 
ftitute  quejl,    from  the  Latin  queftvs,  i.  e    complaint :    becaufe, 
fays  he,  what  kind  of  qucjiion  could  flie  make  but  verbal  ? 

STEEVENS. 

I  do  not  fee  the  impropriety  of  verbal  queftlon  :  fuch  plconafmi 
are  common.  So  we  fay,  my  cars  have  heard,  my  eyes  have  be- 
held. Befides,  where  is  the  wordt/ucft  to  be  found  ?  JOHNSON. 

Made  Jhe  no  verbal  queiHon  ?]  Means  only,  Did  fhe  enter  into 
no  converfation  with  you  ?  In  this  fenfe  our  poet  frequently  ufes 
the  word  quejllon,  and  not  fimply  as  the  aft  of  interrogation.  Did 
(lie  give  you  to  understand  her  meaning  by  vsords  as  well  as  by  the 
foregoing  external  teftimonie?  of  forrow  ? 
So  in  All's  Well  that  ends  ll'cll : 

" Hie  told  me 

**  In  a  fweet  verbal  brief,  &c."     STEEVEKS. 
*  Let  pity  not  be  bellev\i!~\  i.  e.  Let  not  fuch  a  thing  as  pity 
be  fuppofed  to  exift  !  Thus  the  old  copies ;  but  the  modern  edi- 
tors  have  hitherto  read, 

Let  pity  not  believe  it! STEEVENS. 

3  And  damour-moijlend —  ]  It  is  not  impoflible  but  Shake- 
fpeare might  have  formed  this  fine  picture  of  Cordelia's  agony 

from 


5io         KING      LEAR. 

Kent.  It  is  the  ftars, 

The  ftars  above  us,  govern  our  conditions  ; 
Elfe  4  one  felf  mate  and  mate  could  not  beget 
Such  different  iffues.    You  fpoke  not  with  herfince  ? 

Gent.  No. 

Kent.  Was  this  before  the  king  returned  ? 

Gent.  No,  fince. 

Kent.  Well,  fir ;   The  poor  diftrefied  Lear  is  i'  the 

town  : 

Who  fometimes,  in  his  better  tune,  remembers 
What  we  are  come  about,  and  by  no  means 
Will  yield  to  fee  his  daughter. 

Gent.  Why,  good  fir  ? 

Kent.  A  fovereign  lhame  fo  elbows  him  :   his  own 

unkindnefs, 

That  ftripp'd  her  from  his  benediction,  turn'd  her 
To  foreign  cafualties,  gave  her  dear  rights 
To  his  dog-hearted  daughters, —  s  thefe  things  fling 
His  mind  fo  venomoufly,  that  burning  lhame 
Detains  him  from  Cordelia. 

Gent.   Alack,  poor  gentleman  ! 

Kent.  Of  Albany's  and  Cornwall's  powers  you  heard 
not  ? 

Gent.  6  'Tis  fo ;  they  are  afoot. 

from  holy  writ,  in  the  conduft  of  Jofeph  ;  who,  being  no  longer 
able  to  rertrain  the  vehemence  of  his  afteftion,  commanded  all  his 
retinue  from  his  prefence ;  and  then  wept  aloud%  and  difcovered 
himfelf  to  his  brethren.  THEOBALD. 

Clamour  moijlen'd  her  ;  ]  that  is,  her  out-cries  were  accompanied 
•with  tears.  JOHNSON. 

4  onefe If  mate  and  mate ]  The  fame  hulband  and  the 

fame  wife.    JOHNSON. 

5  thefe  things  Ji  ing  hint 

So  venomoujly,   that  burning  jhamc\ 

The  metaphor  is  here  prefetved  with  great  knowledge  of  na- 
ture. The  <venom  of  poifonous  animals  being  a  high  cauiVic  laltr 
that  has  all  the  effeft  ot  fire  upon  the  part.  \YARBURTON. 

6  'Tisfo  they  are  a-foot.~\  Dr.  Warburton  thinks  it  neceflary  to 
read,  'tisfaid-t  but  the  fenfe  is  plain,  So  /f/jthat  they  arena  foot. 

JOHNSON. 

Kenu 


K    I    N    O      L    E    A    R.         511 

Kent.  Well,  fir,  I'll  bring  you  to  our  matter  Lear, 
And  leave  you  to  attend  him  :  fome  dear  caufe 
Will  in  concealment  wrap  me  up  awhile ; 
When  I  am  known  aright,  you  ftiall  not  grieve 
Lending  me  this  acquaintance.     I  pray  you,  go 
Along  with  me.]  [Exeunt. 

SCENE        IV. 

A  tent  in  the  camp  at  Dover. 
Enter  Cordelia,  Phyfttian,  and  Soldiers. 

Cor.  Alack,  'tis  he  ;  why,  he  was  met  even  now 
As  mad  as  the  vex'd  fea  :  finging  aloud  ; 
Crown'd  with  rank  fumiter,  and  furrow  weeds, 
7  With  harlocks,  hemlock,  nettles,  cuckoo-flowers, 
Darnel 8,  and  all  the  idle  weeds  that  grow 
In  our  fuftaining  corn. — A  century  fend  forth  ; 
Search  every  acre  in  the  high-grown  field, 
And  bring  him  to  our  eye. — What  can  man's  wif- 

dom  do, 

In  the  reftoring  his  bereaved  fenfe  ? 
He,  that  helps  him,  take  all  my  outward  worth. 

Ply.   There  is  means,  madam  : 
Our  fofter  nurfe  of  nature  is  repofe, 

7  With  hardocks,  hemlock,  &c.]  I  do  not  remember  any  fuch. 
plant  us  a  burdock,  but  one  of  the  moft  common  weeds  is  a  bur- 
Jock,  which  I  believe  fliould  be  read  here  ;  and  fo  Hanmer  reads. 

JOHNSON. 

Hardccks  fliould  be  harlocks.     Thus  Drayton  in  one  or"  hit 
Edogues: 

**  The  honey -fuckle,  the  barbch. 
"  The  lilly,  and  the  lady-fmocke,  &c."    FARMER. 
In  Markham,    of  Horfe s,  1595,   a  burdock  leaf  is  mentioned, 
u  burdock  or  charlock  may  be  uled."     STEEVENS. 

8  Darnel,  according  to  Gerard,    is  the  moft  hurtful  of  weeds 
among  corn.     It  is  mentioned  in  Ibe  Witches  of  Lancq/hire.  1634  : 

*'  That  cockle,  darnel,  poppy  wild, 

*'  May  choak  his  grain,  &c."    STEEVENS. 

The 


5i£         K    I     N    G      L    E    A    R. 

The  which  he  lacks ;  that  to  provoke  in  him, 
Are  many  fimples  operative,  whofe  power 
Will  clofe  the  eye  of  anguiih. 

Cor.  All  bleft  fecrets, 
All  you  unpublifli'd  virtues  of  the  earth, 
Spring  with  my  tears  !   be  aidant,  and  remediate, 
In  the  good  man's  diflrefs  ! — Seek,  feek  for  him  ; 
Left  his  ungovern'd  rage  diflblve  the  life 
That  wants  9  the  means  to  lead  it. 

Enter  a  Mejfenger. 

Mef.  News,  madam ; 
The  Britim  powers  are  marching  hitherward. 

Cor.  'Tis  known  before ;  our  preparation  Hands 
In  expectation  of  them. — O  dear  father, 
It  is  thy  bufmefs  that  I  go  about ; 
Therefore  great  France 

My  mourning,  and  '  important  tears,  hath  pitied. 
*  No  blown  ambition  doth  our  arms  incite, 
But  love,  dear  love,  and  our  ag'd  father's  right : 
Soon  may  I  hear,  and  fee  him !  [Exeunt. 

9  tie  means  to  lead  it.]  The  reafon  which  (hould  guide  it. 

JOHNSON-. 

1  important  •     -  ]  In  other  places  of  this  author  for 

importunate.     JOHNSON'. 

The  folio  reads,  importuned.    STEEVENS. 

*  No  blown  ambition. J  No  inflated,  no  fuelling  pride. 

Beza  on  the  Spanifli  armada  : 

"  Quam  hene  te  ambitio  merfit  vaniffima,  ventus, 
"  Et  tumidos  tumida;  VMS  fuperaftis  aquse."     JOHNSON*. 
In  the  Mad  Lover  of  B.  and  Fletcher,  the  fame  epithet  is  given 
to  Ambition. 


Again,   in  the  Little  French  Lawyer  : 

"  I  corac  with  no  ILii-sn  fpirit  to  abufe  you.' 


STEEVENS. 


SCENE 


£    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          513 

SCENE    V, 

Regan's  palace. 
Enter  Regan,  and  Steward. 

tleg.  But  are  my  brother's  powers  fet  forth  ? 

Stew.  Ay,  madam. 

Reg.  Himfelf  in  perfon  there  } 

Stew.  Madam,  with  much  ado : 
Your  fitter  is  the  better  foldier. 

Reg.  Lord  Edmund  fpake  not  with  J  your  lady  at 
home  ? 

Stew.  No,  madam. 

Reg.  What  might  import  my  filler's  letter  to  him  ? 

Stew.  I  know  not,  lady. 

Reg.  'Faith,  he  is  polled  hence  on  ferious  matter, 
It  was  great  ignorance,  Gioiler's  eyes  being  out> 
To  let  him  live  ;  where  he  arrives,  he  moves 
All  hearts  againlt  us  :  Edmund,  I  think,  is  gone, 
In  pity  of  his  mifery,  to  difpatch. 
4  His  nigh  ted  life  ;  moreover,  to  defcry 
The  flrength  o'  the  enemy. 

Stew.  I  muft  needs  after  him,  madam,  with   my 
letter. 

Reg.  Our  troops  fet  forth  to-morrow  ;  flay  with  us ; 
The  ways  are  dangerous. 

Sfezv.  I  may  not,  madam  ; 
My  lady  charg'd  my  duty  in  this  bufinefs. 

Reg.  Why  ihould  flic  write  to  Edmund  ?  Might 

not  you 

Tranfport  her  purpofes  by  word  ?  Belike, 
Something — I  know  not  what — 1*11  love  thee  much, 

3  your  lady  ]  The  folio  reads,  yoi^rlorA;  butlady  is 

the  firft  and  better  reading.  JOHNSON. 

+  His  nighted  life;'}  i.e.  His  lite  made  dark  as  night,  by  the 
extinction  or  his  eye*,  STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  L  1  Let 


$14         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

5  Let  me  unfeal  the  letter. 

Stew.  Madam,  I  had  rather 

Reg,  I  know,  your  lady  docs  not  love  her  hufband  ; 
I  am  lure  of  that :  and,  at  her  late  being  here, 

6  She  gave  ftrange  oeiliads,  and  mod  fpeaking  looks 
To  noble  Edmund  :  I  know,  you  are  of  her  bofom. 

Stew.  I,  madam  ? 

Reg.  I  fpeak  in  underftanding ;  you  are,  I  know  it : 
Therefore,  7  I  do  advife  you,  take  this  note  : 

My 

5  Let  me  vnfeal,  &c.]  I  know  not  well  why  Shakefpeare  gives 
the  fteward,  who  is  a  mere  iaftor  of  wickednefs,  fo  much  fidelity. 
He  now  refufes  the  letter;  and  afterwards,  when  he  is  dying, 
thinks  only  how  it  mny  be  fafely  delivered.  JOHNSON. 

*  She  gave  Jlrange  azXtofej ]  Oeillade,  Fr.  a  caft,  or  fig- 

nificant  glance  of  the  eye. 

Greene,  in  his  Deputation  between  a  He  and  She  Coney-catcher  y 
1592  :  fpeaks  of  "  amorous  glances,  fmirkiug  ociliadsi,  &c." 

STEEVENS. 

7  •  Ida  fidvife, you,  take  this  note  : }  Note  means  in  this 

place  not  a  letter  ^  biit  a  remark.  Therefore  olferve  what  I  am, 
faying.  JOHNSON. 

Therefore,  I  da  ad-i-ife you,  take  this  note  : 

Jb'fy  lord  is  dead ;   Edmund  and  I  have  taik'd  f 

Jlnd  more  convenient  is  he  for  my  hand^ 

Than  for  your  lady's.     Ton  may  gather  more. 

If  you  da  jind  him  t  pray  you  give  him  this  ; 

And  when  your  miftrefs  hears  thus  much  from  you t 

1 pray ,  defire  her  call  her  wifdom  to  bcr.~\ 

This  paflage,  by  a  word's  being  left  out,  and  a  word  mifp'aceu, 
and  a  full  Itop  put  where  there  ihould  be  but  a  comma,  has  led 
all  our  editors- into  a  very  great  miltake  ;  as  will,  I  hope,  appear> 
when  we  proceed  a  little  iuither  in  the  fame  play.  The  emen- 
dation is  as  follows : 

Therefore  I  do  advifc  you,  *  take  note  of  this  ; 

My  lord  is  dead,  &c. 

If  you  fo  find  him,  pray  you  give  him  this  : 
\.  e.  This  anfwer  by  word  of  mouth.     The  editors,  not  fo  re- 
gardful of  confiflency  as  they  ought  to  have  been,  ran  away  with 
the  thought  that  Regan  delivered  a  letter  to  the  Ik-ward  ;  whereas 
(he  only  defired  him  to  give  or  deliver  fo  much  by  word  of  mouth. 

•  The  like  expreflbn,  Twelfth  Night,  aft  ii.    fc.  4.— "  S'irToby. 
Challenge  me  the  duke's  youth,  to  light  with  him  }  hurt  him  m 
tlcr.n  places }  my  niece  fliall  take  note  of  it." 


K    I    Jit    G      LEAR. 

My  lord  is  dead  ;  Edmund  and  I  have  talk'd  ; 

And  more  convenient  is  he  for  my  hand, 

Than  for  your  lady's  :— 8  You  may  gather  more. 

If  you  do  find  him*  pray  you,  give  him  this ; 

And  when  your  miftrefs  hears  .thus  much  from  youf 

I  pray,  defire  her  call  her  wifdom  to  her. 

So,  fare  you  well. 

If  you  do  chance  to  hear  of  that  blind  traitorj 

Preferment  falls  on  him  that  cuts  him  off. 

Stew.  'Would  I  could  meet  him,  madam  !  I  would! 

Ihew 
*  What  party  I  do  follow. 

Reg.  Fare  thee  well.  [Exeunt. 

And  by  this  means  another  blunder  as  egregious  as  the  former, 
and  arifing  out  of  it,  prefents  itfelf  to  view  in  the  fame  aft, 
icene  ix. 

And  give  the  letters,  which  thou  find'ft  about  me, 

To  Edmund  earl  of  Glofter,  &c. 
Edg.  Let's  fee  thefe  pockets :  the  letters,  that  he  fpeaks  of, 

May  be  my  friends.- 

{Reads  the  letter.'] 

Dbferve,  that  here  is  but  one  letter  produced  and  read,  which  la 
Goneril's.  Had  there  been  one  or  Regan's  too,  the  audience 
no  doubt  fliould  have  heard  it  as  well  as  Goneril's.  But  it  \% 
plain,  from  what  is  amended  and  explained  above,  that  the 
Steward  had  no  letter  from  Regan,  but  only  a  meflage  to  be 
delivered  by  word  of  mouth  to  Sdmvnd  carl  of  Glofter.  So  that 
it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  the  laft  paflage  fhould  be  read  thus  : 

And  crive  the  letter,  which  thou  find'ft  about  me, 

To  Edmund  carl  of  Glojler. 

Edg.  Let's  fee  thefe  pockets :  the  letter,  that  he  fpeaks  of, 

May  be  my  friend. 

Thus  the  whole  is  connected,  clear,  and  confident.         GRAY. 

8  . Ton  may  gather  more.  ]  You  may  inter  more  than  J 

bave  directly  told  you.     JO.HNSON. 

9  Wlxtt party — ]  Quarto,  Wat  lady.     JOHNSON. 


1  *  SCENE 


516         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

'SCENE    VI. 

The  country  near  Dover. 
i 

Enter  Glo/ler,  and  Edgar  as  a  peafant. 

Glo.  When  ihall  we  come  to  the  top  of  that  fame 

hill  ? 
Edg.  You  do  climb  up  it  now  ;  look,  how  we 

labour. 

Glo.  Methinks,  the  ground  is  evert. 
Edg.  Horrible  ftcep  : 
Hark,  do  you  hear  the  fea  ? 
Glo.  No,  truly. 

Edg.  Why,  then  your  other  fenfes  grow  imperfect 
By  your  eyes'  anguifh. 

Glo.  So  may  it  be,  indeed  : 

Methinks,  *  thy  voice  is  alter'd  ;  and  thou  fpeak'ft 
In  better  phrafc,  and  matter,  than  thou  didit. 
Edg.  You  arc  much  deceiv'd ;  in  nothing  am  I 

chang'd, 
But  in  my  garments. 

Glo.  Methinks,  you  are  better  fpoken. 
Edg.  Come  on,  fir;  here's  the  place:— Hand  Hill. — 
J  How  fearful 

And 

1  Scene  VI.)  This  fcene,  and  the  frratagem  by  which  Glof- 
ter  is  cured  of  his  defperation,  are  wholly  borrowed  from  Sidney's 
Arcadia.  JOHNSON. 

i  *  — —  thy  voice  is  alter' d,  &c.)  Edgar  alters  his  voice  in  order 
to  pafs  afterwards  for  a  malignant  fpirit.  JOHNSOW. 

3  How  fearful 

And  dizzy  '/;'*,  to  caft  one's  yes  fa  low  /) 

This  defcription  has  been  much  admired  fince  the  time  of  Addi- 
fon,  who  has  remarked,  with  a  poor  attempt  at  plcafantry,  that 
*'  he  who  can  read  it  without  being  giddy,  has  a-  very  gpod  head* 
or  a  very  bad  one."  The  defcription  is  certainly  nor  mean,  but 
I  am  far  from  thinking  it  wrought  to  the  ut  uoft  excellence  of 
poetry.  He  that  looks  from  a^prccipfce  finds  himfclf  aflailed  by 

oue 


-K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         517 

And  dizzy  'tis,  to  cad  one's  eyes  fo  low  ! 
The  crows,  and  choughs,  that  wing  the  midway  air, 
Shew  fcarce  fo  grofs  as  beetles :  Half  way  down 
,Hangs  one  that  gathers  famphire  ;  dreadful  trade  ! 
Methinks,  he  feems  no  bigger  than  his  head  : 
The  fifhermen,  that  walk  upon  the  beach, 
Appear  like  mice ;  and  yon*  tall  anchoring  bark, 
Diminifh'd  to  +  her  cock ;  her  cock,  a  buoy 
Almoft  too  fmall  for  light  :  The  murmuring  furge, 
That  on  the  unnumber'd  idle  pebbles  chafes, 
Cannot  be  heard  fo  high  : — I'll  look  no  more  ; 
Left  rny  brain  turn,  and  the  deficient  fight 
^Topple  down  headlong  s. 

Glo.  Set  me  where  you  ft  and. 

Edg.  Give  me  your  hand  :  You  are  now  within  a 

foot 
Of  the  extreme  verge  :  6  for  all  beneath  the  moon 

Would 

one  great  ?nd  dreadful  image  of  irrefiftible  deftrudYion.  But  this 
overwhelming  idea  is  dirTipated  and  enfeebled  from  the  inftant 
that  the  mind  can  reftore  itfelf  to  the  obfervation  of  particulars, 
and  difiufe  its  attention  to  dilHixft  objedls.  The  enumeration  of 
th,e  choughs  and  crows,  the  famphire-man,  and  the  fifliers,  coun- 
teracts the  great  'effect  of  the  profpecl,  as  it  peoples  the  defert 
of  intermediate  vacuity,  and  itops  the  mind  in  the  rapidity  of 
its  defcent  through  em'ptinefs  and  horror.  JOHNSON. 

— dre adful  trade ! J  *'  Samphire  grows  in  great  plenty  on  moil 
of  the  fea-clifls  in  this  country  :  it  is  terrible  to  fee  how  people 
gather  it,  hanging  by  a  rope  ieveral  fathom  from  the  top  of  the 
impending  rocks  as  it  were  in  the  air."  Smith's  /////.  of  Water* 
ford,  p.  315.  edit.  1774.  TOLLET. 

4  her  cock; ]  Her  cock-boat.     JOHNSON. 

So,  in  the  Tragedy  of  Hoffman ,   1637  : 

«*  1  cauled  my  lord  to  leap  into  the  cod;  &c. — at  laft  our 

cock  and  we  were  caft  afl>ore."    STEEVENS. 

5  Topple  dovsn  headlong.}  To  topple  is  to  i untile.     The  word 
has  been  already  ufed  in  Macbeth.     So,  in  Nafli's  Lcnten-Stuf^ 
&c.   1599:  "  fifty  people  toppled  up  their  heels  there." 

Again  :  *'  he  had  thought  tQ  have  toppled  his  burning  car, 

fcc.  into  the  fea."    STEEVENS. 

*   -        •  for  aU  lerteath  the  moon 
Would  I  not  leap  upright.] 

L  1  Bat 


5i8         KING      LEAR. 

Would  I  not  leap  upright. 

Glo.  Let  go  my  hand. 

Here,  friend,  is  another  purfe  ;  in  it,  a  jewel 
Well  worth  a  poor  man's  taking  :  Fairies,  and  gods4 
Profper  it  with  thee  !  Go  thou  further  off; 
Bid  me  farewel,  and  let  me  hear  thce  going. 

JLdg.  Now  fare  ye  well,  good  fir.         [Seems  to  go. 

Glo.  With  all  my  heart. 

Edg.  Why  do  I  trifle  thus  7  with  his  defpair  ?  — 
*Tis  clone  to  cure  it. 

Glo.  O  you,  mighty  gods  ! 

This  world  I  do  renounce  ;  and,  in  your  fights, 
Shake  patiently  my  great  affliction  off: 
If  I  could  bear  it  longer,  and  not  fall 
To  quarrel  with  your  great  oppofelefs  wills, 
My  fnuff,  and  loathed  part  of  nature,  fhould 
Burn  itfelf  out.     If  Edgar  live,  O,  blefs  him  !—  . 
Now,  fello'.v,  fare  thee  well. 

[He  leaps,  and  falls  along  < 
But  what  danger  is  in  leaping  upwards  or  t/otv^-juar^s  ?  He  \vrio 


leaps  thus  muft  needs  fall  again  on  his  feet  upon  the  place  from 
\vhence  he  rofe.     We  fhould  read  : 

Would  I  not  leap  outright  ; 

j.  e.  fonvard  :  and  then  being  on  the  verge  of  a  precipice  ho 
muft  needs  fall  headlong.     WARBCRTON. 

Dr.  Warburton  would  not  have  written  this  note,  had  he  ret 
collected  a  paflage  in  Tie  Wife  of  Eatb't  Prologue  : 

*'  Some  let  their  lechour  dight  them  all  the  night, 

"  While  that  the  cors  lay  on  the  flore  upright."  FARMER, 
So,  in  Chaucer's  Monkes  Tale,  late  edit.  v.  14489  : 

"  Judith,  a  woman,  as  he  lay  upright 

"  Sleeping,  his  hed  of  fmote,  &c." 
Again,  v.  1  5048  : 

"  And  in  this  carte  he  lith,  gaping  upright" 
Again,  in  the  Rom.  of  the  Rofc  :  v,  1604  : 

"  That  made  him  fith  to  lie  upright." 
Upright  has  the  fame  fenfe  as  the  Latin/w//«»j.     STEEVENS, 
7   Why  do  I  trifle  thui  <vjith  his  Jcfpair  ?  — 

'Tis  done  to  cure  it.~\ 
Perhaps  the  reading  of  the  folio  is  better,——* 

Why  I  do  trifle  thus  with  his  defpair 

It  done  to  cure  it, 


K    I    N    G      L    E     A    R.         519 

E^-.  Gone,  fir  ?  farewell  *. 
And  yet  I  know  not  how  conceit  may  rob 
The  trcafury  of  life,  9  when  life  itfelf 
Yields  to  the  theft :  Had  he  been  where  he  thought, 
By  this,  had  thought  been  pafl. — Alive,  or  dead  ? 
Ho,  you,  firi  friend! — Hear  you,  fir? — fpeak  ! 
1  Thus  might  he  pafs,  indeed  :— — -Yet  he  revives. 
What  are  you,  fir  ? 

Glo.  Away,  and  kt  me  die. 

Edg*  *  Hadft  thou  been  aught  but  gofibmer,  fea- 
thers, air, 

So  many  fathom  down  precipitating, 
Thou  had'ft  fhiver'd  like  an  egg  :   but  thou  doft 

breathe  ; 

Haft  heavy  fubilance;  bleed'ft  not;  fpeajv'tl;  art  found. 
3  Ten  mails  at  each  make  not  the  altitude, 
Which  thou  hail  perpendicularly  fallen  ; 

8  Gone,  Jtr?  fare-wet.]  Thus  the  quartos  and  folio.  The  mo- 
dern editors  have  been  content  to  read — Goodjir,  &c.  SVEEYEXS. 

0 ivbea  life  itfelf 

Yields  to  the  theft. ] 

When  lite  is  willing  to  be  deftroyed.      JOHNSON. 

1  Thus  might  he  pafs,  Indeed : — ]  Thus  he  might  die  in  reality. 
We  {till  ufe  the  word pajjing  bell.  JOHNSON. 

*  Haifft  thou  I  fen  aught  but  goflbmer,  feathers,  a':r,~\  GoJJamore, 
the  white  and  cobweb-like  exhalations  that  fly  about  in  hot 
funny  weather.  Skinner  fays,  in  a  book  called  The  Ft  -end  Gar- 
diner, it  fignifieg  the  down  of  the  fow-thiftle,  which  is  driven  to 
and  fro  by  the  wind  : 

*'  As  fure  fome  wonder  on  the  crmfe  of  thunder, 
"  On  ebb  and  flood,  or\  goJTnmcr  and  mift, 
**  And  on  all  things,  till  that  the  caufeis  will."    Dr.  GRAY. 
3  Ten  mafts  nt  each  make  not  the  altitude, ~\  So  Mr.  Pope  found 
it  in  the  old  editions  ;   and  feeing  it  corrupt,  judicioufly  corrected 
it  to  attacht.     But  Mr.  Theobald  reftorcs  again  the  old  nonfenfe, 
at  each.     WAR  BURTON. 

Mr.  Pope's  conjecture  may  ftand  if  the  word  which  he  ufes 
were  known  in  our  author's  time,  but  I  think  it  is  of  later  Ln- 
troducYion.  We  may  fay  : 

Ten  mafts  en  end  JOHNSON. 

Perhaps  we  fliould  read — at  reach,  i.  e.  extent. 

Jo  Mr.  Rowe's  edition  it  is,  Ten  mafts  at  leaft.    STEEVEXS. 

L  1  4  Thy 


Sid         KING      LEAR. 

Thy  life's  a  miracle  :  Speak  yet  again. 

Glo.  But  have  1  fallen,  or  no  ? 

Edg.   From  the  dread   fummit  of  this  4  chalky 

bourn  : 

Look  up  a-height ; — the  fhrill-gorg'd  lark  fo  far 
Cannot  be  fccn  or  heard  :  do  but  look  up. 

Glo.  Alack,  I  have  no  eyes. — 
Is  wretchednefs  depriv'd  that  benefit, 
To  end  itfelf  by  death  ?  'Twas  yet  fome  comfort, 
When  mifery  could  beguile  the  tyrant's  rage, 
And  fruftrate  his  proud  will. 

Edg.  Give  me  your  arm  : 

Up  :— So ; — How  is't  ?  Feel  you  your  legs?   You 
ftand. 

Glo.  Too  well,  too  well. 

Edg.  This  is  above  all  flrangenefs. 
Upon  the  crown  o'the  cliff,  what  thing  was  that 
Which  parted  from  you  ? 

Glo.  A  poor  unfortunate  beggar. 

Edg.  As  I  flood  here  below,  methought,  his  eyes 
Were  two  full  moons ;  he  had  athoufand  nofes, 
Horns  welk'd,  and  wav'd  like  the  enridged  fea  * ; 
It  was  fome  fiend  :  Therefore,  th'ou  happy  father, 
Think  that 6  the  cleareft  gods,    who   make    them 

honours 
Of  men's  impoflibilities,  have  preferv'd  thce. 

Glo.  I  do  remember  now  :  henceforth  I'll  bear 
Affliction,  'till  it  do  cry  out  itfelf, 
Enough,  enough,  and,  die.     That  thing  you  fpeak  of, 
1  took  it  for  a  man  ;  often  'twould  fay, 

*  I.    •    •  chatty  bourn  :]  Bourn  feems  here  to  fignify  a  /&/,"•'.    Its 
common  fignilication  is  a  brook.      Milton  in   Comus  uies   bnfiy 
tourn,    in  the  lame  fenfe  perhaps  with  Shakefpeare.   But  in  both 
authors  it  may  mean  only  n  boundary.     JOHNSON. 

s  __ -  enraged  {K&."\  Thus  the  410.     The  folio  enraged. 

STEEVENS. 

*  tie  cleareft  gods,*— ]  The  pureft ;  the  moft  free  fron* 

fvil.    JOHNSON. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R,         52; 

%*he fiend,  the  fiend:  he  led  me  to  that  place. 

Edg.  7  Bear  free  and  patient  thoughts. But 

who  comes  here  ? 

Enter  Lear,  fantaficully  drejt  tip  with  flowers. 

*  The  fafer  fenfe  will  ne'er  accommodate 
His  matter  thus. 

Lear.  No,  they  cannot  touch  me  for  coining ;  I 
am  the  king  himfelf. 

Edg.  O  thou  fide-piercing  fight  ! 

Lear.  Nature's  above  art  in  that  refpecl. — There's 
your  prefs-money.     9  That  fellow  handles  his  bow- 
like 

7  Rear  free  and  patient  thoughts.']  To  be  melancholy  is  to  have 
the  mind  chained  down  to  one  painful  idea  ;  there  is  therefpre 
great  propriety  in  exhorting  Gloiler  to  free  thoughts^  to  an  eman- 
cipation cr  his  foul  from  grief  and  defpair.     JOHNSON. 
8  Thr  iafer fenfe  will  neer  accommodate 

Hi    -'i  after  thzs.] 
Without  doubt  Shakeipeare  wrote  : 

The/S&T  fenfe, > 

j.  e.  vhile  the  underftanding  is  in  a  right  frame  It  will  never  thus 
'accommodate  its  owner  ;  alluding   to   Lear's  extravagant  drefi. 
Thence  he  concludes  him  to  be  mad.     WARBURTON. 
'   J  read  rather: 

Thefaner  fenfe  will  ne'er  accommodate 

His  mafter  thus. 

*l  Here  is  Lear,  but  he  mud  be  mad :  his  found  or  fane  fenfes 
would  never  fuffer  him  to  be  thus  difguifed."     JOHNSON. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  fafer  was  the  poet's  word.  So,  in 
tylcafure  for  Meafure : 

"  Nor  do  I  think  the  man  of  fafe  difcretion 

*'  That  does  affeft  it."     STEEVENS. 

s  That  fellow  handles  his  b<nu  like  a  crovj-kecper.~\  Mr.  Pope  in 
his  laft  edition  reads  cew-kttpfr.  It  is  certain  we  muft  read  cro-iv- 
trepcr.  In  feveral  counties  to  this  day,  they  call  a  fluffed  figure, 
reprefenting  a  man,  r.nd  armed  with  a  bow  and  arrow,  fet  up  to 
fright  the  crows  from  the  fruit  and  corn,  a  cmv-keeper,  as  well 
as  a  [care-crow.  THEOBALD. 

This  crow-keeper  was  fo  common  in  the  author*s  time,  that  it 
is  one  of  the  few  peculiarities  mentioned  by  Ortelius  in  his  ac- 
count of  our  iflnnd.     JOHNSON. 
v>o,  m  the  48th  Idea  of  Dravton  \ 

«  Or 


54*         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

like  a  crow-keeper  :  '  draw  me  a  clothier's  . 
JLook,  look,  a  moufe  !  Peace,  peace  ; — this  piece 
of  toafled  cheefe  will  do't. — There's  my  gauntlet; 
I'll  prove  it  on  a  giant. — Bring  up  the  brown  bills  *•.— 
3  O,  well  flown,  bird ! — i*  the  clout,  i1  the  clout  i 
hewgh  ! 4  Give  the  word. 

"  Or  if  thou'lt  not  thy  archery  forbear, 
**  To  fome  bafe  rutfick  do  thyfejf  prefer; 
*'  And  when  corn's  fown,  or  grown  into  the  ear, 
"  PracYife  thy  quiver  and  turn  crow-keeper" 
Mr.  Toilet  informs  me,  that  Markham   in  his  Farewell  to  Huf~ 
landry,  fays,  that  fuch  feryants  are  called  field-keepers,  or  crow* 
teefcrs.     STEEVENS. 

1  Draw  me  a  clothier's  yard."]  Perhaps  the  poet  had  in  his 
mind  a  ftanza  of  the  old  ballad  of  Chevy *Chace  : 
"  An  arrow  of  a  cloth-yard  long, 
"  Up  to  the  head  drew  he,"  &c."    STEEVENS. 

*  — . the  brown  bills.]  A  &?//waa  a  kind  of  battle-axe: 

"  Which  is  the  conttable's  houfe  ? — 
*'  At  tfye  fign  of  the  brown  bill." 

Blurt  Mr.  Conftablt)    i6ci. 
Again,  in  Marlow's  A".  EJw.  II.  1622  : 

**  Lo,  with  a  band  of  bowmen  and  of  pikes, 
"  Brnvnlittsi  and  targetiers,  &c."     STEEVE^fs. 
3  O,  <MY//./?"-"r;:,  bird!]    Lear  is  here  raving  of  archery,  and 
{hooting  at  £#/.?,  as  is  plain  by  the  words  f-ibecloitt,  that  is,  thd 
•white  mark  they  fct  up  and  aim  at :  hence  the  phrafe,  to  hit  the 
white.     So  that  we  muft  read,  O,  weli-Jlownt  barb  !    i.  e.   the 
larlcd,  or  leardcd  arrow.     WAR  BURTON. 
So,  in  the  Two  Maids  of  Morcdacke,    1609  : 
**  Change  your  mark,  fhoot  at  a  white  ;  come  {lick  me  in  tli^j 
clout,  fir." 
Again,  in  Tamburlalne,  &c.   1 590  : 

**  For  kings  are  clouts  that  every  man  flio^ts  at." 
Again,  in  How  to  cbufe  a  good  Wife  from  a  ladOney  1630  : 

«'  , who  could  mifs  the  clout t 

•«  Having  fuch  fteady  aim  ?" 

The  author  of  The  Revifal  thinks  there  can  be  no  impropriety 
in  calling  an  arrow  a  bird)  from  the  fwiftnefs  of  its  flight,  efpe- 
cially  when  immediately  preceded  by  the  words  well-fiown :  but 
it  appears  that  well-flown  bird  was  the  falconers  expreffion  when 
the  hawk  was  fuccefbful  in  her  flight ;  and  is  fo  ufed  in  A  Woman, 
liirdwith  Kindacfi.  STEEVENS. 

*  Give  the  ward.]  Lear  fuppofes  himfelf  in  a  garrifon, 

aad  before  he  lets  Edgar  pafs,  requires  the  watch-word.  JOHNSON. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         523 

Sweet  marjoram. 

Lear.  Pafs. 

G/<?.  1  know  that  voice. 

Lear.  s  Ha  !  Goneril ! — with  a  white  beard  ! — I 
*  They  flatter'd  me  like  a  dog  ;  and  told  me,  I  had 
white  hairs  in  my  beard,  ere  the  black  ones  were  there. 
To  fay  ay,  and  no,  to  every  thing  I  faid  ! — Ay  and 
no  too  was  no  good  divinity.  7  When  the  rain 
came  to  wet  me  once,  and  the  wind  to  make  me 
chatter ;  when  the  thunder  would  not  peace  at  my 
bidding  ;  there  1  found  them,  there  I  fmelt  them 
out.  Go  to,  they  are  not  men  o*  their  words  :  they 
told  me  I  was  every  thing ;  'tis  a  lie ;  I  am  not 
ague-proof. 

Glo.  8  The  trick  of  that  voice  I  do  well  remember ; 
Js't  not  the  king  ? 

Lear.  Ay,  every  inch  a  king : 
When  I  do  ftare,  fee,  how  the  fubject  quakes. 
I  pardon  that  man's  life  :  What  was  the  caufe  ?— 

Adultery. 

Thou  fhalt  not  die  :  Die  for  adultery  !  No  : 
The  wren  goes  to't,  and  the  fmall  gilded  fly 
Does  lecher  in  my  fight. 

Let  copulation  thrive,  for  Glofter's  baflard  fon 
Was  kinder  to  his  father,  than  my  daughters 
Got  'tween  the  lawful  fheets. 

5  Ha!  Gonsrlll  — ivltb  a  wbite  leardl ]  So  reads  the 

folio,  properly  ;  the  quarto,  whom  the  latter  editors  have  fol- 
lowed, has,  Ha  f  Goner  Hi,  hd !  Regan  !  they  fiatttred  me,  &cl 
which  is  not  fo  forcible.  JOHNSON. 

*  —  They  flattered  me  like  a  dog\~~\  They  played  the  fpaniel 
to  me.     JOHNSON. 

7  —When  the  rain  came  to  ivet  me,  &c.]  This  feems  to  be  an 
allufion  to  king  Canine's  behaviour  when  his  courtiers  flattered 
jiim  as  lord  of  the  fea.  STEEVENS, 

*  The  tricK  of  dot  •vsice—}  Trick  (fays  fir  Tho.  Hanmer)   is 
a  word  frequently  ufed  tor  the  air,   or  that  peculiarity  in  a  face, 
•voife,  orgcfture,  vsbich  diftinguijbe s  it  from  others.      \Ve  Hill  fay 
**  he  has  a  trick  of  winking  with  his  eyes,  of  fpeaking  loud, 

5<C."      STEEYKN8. 

To't 


524         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

To't,  luxury  ',  pell-pell,  for  I  lack  foldiers, . 

Behold  yon*  fimpering  dame, 

*  Whofe  face  between  her  forks  prefageth  fnovv  ; 
That  minces  virtue,  and  does  fhake  the  head 
To  hear  of  pleafure's  name  ; 

3  The  fitchew,  4  nor  the  foyled  horfe,  goes  to't 
With  a  more  riotous  appetite. 
Down  from  the  waift  they  are  centaurs J, 
Though  women  all  above  : 
Tjut  to  the  girdle  do  the  gods  inherit, 
Beneath  is  all  the  fiends'0;  there's  hell,  there's  darkncfs, 

There 

1  To't  luxury,  &V.]  Luxury  was  the  ancient  appropriate  tern) 
for  incontinence.  See  Mr.  Coliias's  note  on  Troilus  and  Crejjl^^i, 
!3\<flV.  Sc.ii.  STEEVENS. 

1  Whofeface  ^ttwetn  her  forks — ]  i.  e.  Her  hand  held  before 
her  face  in  lign  of  modefty,  with  the  fingers  fpread  out,  forky. 

WARBURTON. 

|  believe  that  thefor&s  were  two  prominences  of  the  ruff  riling 
on  each  fide  of  the  face.  JOHNSON. 

The  conduction  is  not  "  whofe  face  between  her  forks,  &c.^' 
but  "  whofe  face  prefages  1'now  between  her  forL."  So  in 
Ttmon,  Ad  IV.  Sc.iii."- 

"  Whole  blufh  docs  tha-.vthe  confecratcd  fnow 
"  That  lies  on  Dian's  lap."  CC.KVIS  of  Criticifm. 

To  preferve  the  modeity  of  Mr.  Edwards's  happy  explanation, 
I  can  only  hint  a  reference  to  the  word  fowhcure  in  Corgrave's 

Dift:onary.      STEEVENS. 

3  tfajbcbw, ]  A  polecat.     POPE. 

* nor  the  foyled  terfi, ]  I  read,  Jiallcd  horfe. 

WAR  EUR  TON. 

Soiled  horfe  is  probably  the  fame  as  pampered  horfe,  »«  chcval 
foul'c.  JOHNSON. 

Soyled  horfe  is  a  term  ufed  for  a  horfe  that  has  been  fed  with  hay 
and  corn  in  the  liable  during  the  winter,  and  ia  turned  out  in  th^ 
Ipring  to  take  the  firft  flufli  of  grals,  or  has  it  cut  and  carried  in 
to  him.  This  at  once  cleanfes  the  animal,  and  fills  him  with 
blood.  STEEVI-NS. 

5  Down  to  the  waift  they're  centaur \f,]  In  the  Malcontent ,  is  a 
thought  as  fingular  as  this : 

"  'Tis  now  about  the  immodeft  ivalfl  of  night." 

STEEVEN-S. 

*  Beneath  is  all  the  fiend?  \\  According  to  Grecia'n  fuperllition^ 
tverj'  limb  of  us  was  configned  to  the  charge  of  fome  particular 

deity. 


KING      LEAR.          525 

There  is  the  fulphurous  pit,  burning,  fcalding,  flench, 

confumption ; — Fie,  fie,  fie  !  pah  !  pah  ! 
Give  me  an  ounce  of  civet,  good  apothecary, 
To  fweeten  my  imagination  !  there's  money  for  thcc. 

Glo.  O,  let  me  kifs  that  hand  ! 

Lear.  Let  me  wipe  it  firft;  it  fmells  of  mortality. 

Glo.  O  ruin'd  piece  of  nature  !  This  great  world 
Shall  ib  wear  out  to  nought. — Doft  thou  know  me  ? 

Lear.  I  remember  thine  eyes  well  enough.  Doft 
thou  fquiny  at  me  ?  No,  do  thy  worft,  blind  Cupid ; 
I'll  not  love. — Read  thou  this  challenge ;  mark  but 
the  penning  of  it. 

Glo.  Were  all  the  letters  funs,  I  could  not  fee  one. 

Edg.  I  would  not  take  this  from  report ; — it  is, 
And  my  heart  breaks  at  it. 

Lear.  Read. 

Glo.  What,  with  the  cafe  of  eyes  7  ? 

Lear.  O,  ho,  are  you  there  with  me  ?  No  eyes 
in  your  head,  nor  no  money  in  your  purfe  ?  Your 
eyes  are  in  a  heavy  cafe,  your  purfe  in  a  light :  Yet 
you  fee  how  this  world  goes. 

Glo.  I  fee  it  feelingly. 

Lear.  What,  art  mad  ?  A  man  may  fee  how  this 

deity.     Gowcr,  Df  ConfeJJione  Amantis,  enlarges  much  on  it,  and 
concludes  by  faying : 

«*  And  Venus  throughe  the  letcherie 

**  For  whiche  thei  hir  deifie, 

* '  She  kept  all  Jaunt  the  rcmcnant 

'«  To  thilke  office  appertainant"  CoLLINS. 

i  What,  <xitb  the  cafe  of  eyes  ?]  Mr.  Rowe  changed  the  into 
*£/.f,  but  without  neceffitv.  I  have  retfored  the  old  reading.  The 
i-afe  of  eyes  is  \hefickct  of  either  eye.  Stauus  in  his  firft  Tbebaid^ 
has  a  fimilar  expreffion.  Speaking  of  Oedipus  he  fays : 

*'  Tune  vacua  cries  crudum  ac  mifcrabile  vita? 

"  Supplicium,  oilentat  coclo,  manibufque  cruejitis 

*'  Pullat  inane  folum. 

ct  Inane  folum,  \.  e.  vacsi  oculorvm  Ice:." 
Shakefpeare  has  the  expreffion  again  in  the  If  "inter' s  Tale: 
'*- — they  feem'd  almoft,  with  (taring  oa  cnc  another,  to  tear  'tie 
cefis  of 'their  eyes." 


Sz6         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

>vorld  goes,  with  no  eyes.  Look  with  thine  ears  :  fee 
how  yon' juftice  rails  upon  yon'  fimple  thief.  Hark, 
in  thine  ear :  Change  places ;  and  handy-dandy, 
which  is  the  juftice,  which  is  the  thief  ? — Thoti 
haft  feen  a  farmer's  dog  bark  at  a  beggar  ? 
Glo.  Ay,  fir. 

Lear.  And  the  creature  run  from  the  cur  ?  There 
thou  might'ft  behold  the  great  image  of  authority  ;  a 

dog's  obey'd  in  office. 

Thou  rafcal  beadle,  hold  thy  bloody  hand  : 

Why  doft  thou  lafh  that  whore  ?  Strip  thine  own  back  3. 

Thou  hotly  luft'ft  to  life  her  in  that  kind 

For  which  thou  whipp'ft  her.     The  ufurer  hangs  the 

cozener. 

Through  tatter'd  cloaths  final  1  vices  do  appear ; 
*  Robes,  and  furr'd  gowns,  hide  all.     Plate  fin  with 

gold, 

And  the  ftrong  lance  of  juftice  hurtlefs  breaks : 
Arm  it  in  rags,  a  pigmy's  ftraw  doth  pierce  it. 
None  does  offend,  none,  I  fay,  none ;  9  I'll  able  'cm  : 
Take  that  of  me,  my  friend,  who  have  the  power 
To  feal  the  accuser's  lips.     Get  thee  glafs  eyes  ; 
And,  like  a  fcurvy  politician,  feem 
To  fee  the  things  thou  doft  not. — Now,  now,  notify 

now : 
Pull  off  my  boots; — harder,  harder;  fo. 

Edg.  O,  matter  and  impertinency  mixt ! 
Reafon  in  madnefs ! 

Lear.  If  thou  wilt  weep  my  fortunes,  take  my  eyes. 

8  Roles ,  and  furr'd  gowns,   hide  all.          •    ]  From  bldt  all  to 
acc*ftr's  lips,  the  whole  paflage  is  wanting  in  the  firft  edition,  be- 
ing added,  I  fuppofe,  at  his  revifal.     JOHNSON. 

9  P Halle 'em:]  An  old  phrafe  fignifying  to  qualify,  of 

uphold  them.     SoScogan,  contemporary  with  Chaucer,  fays: 

*'  Set  all  my  lite  after  thyne  ordinance, 

**  And  able  me  to  mercie  or  thou  deme." 
But  the  Oxford  Editor  alters  it  to  abfolve.     WARBURTOJT. 

So  Chapman,    in  his  comedy  of  The  JWriovj's  Tears,    1612. 
**  Admitted!  ay,  into  her  heart,  and  Vllalk  //."    STEEVENS. 

I  kao\f 


KING      LEAR.         527 

I  khow  thee  well  enough ;  thy  name  is  Glofter  : 
Thou  muft  be  patient ;  we  cume  crying  hither. 
1  Thou  know' ft,  the  firittime  that  we  fmell  the  air, 
We  wawle,  and  cry :— I  u : . ''.  ,:r::ach  to  thee;  mark  me. 
G/o.  Alack,  alack  the  day  ! 
Lear.  When  we  are  born,  we  cry,  that  we  are  come 

To  this  great  ftage  of  fools ; *  This   a  good 

block  f — 

It 

1   Thou  knowjl,  tbefirft  time  toot  we  fnull  tie  air, 

We  luanvle  and  cry. ] 

*'  Vagi  tuque  locum  lugubri  complet,  utoequum  eft 

"  Cui  tantum  in  vita  reftat  tranfire  malorum."    Lucretius. 

STKEVENS. 

-  —  Tikis  a  good  block  ?]  I  do  not  fee  how  this  block  corre- 
fponds  either  with  his  foregoing  or  following  train  of  thoughts. 
Madmen  think  not  wholly  at  random.  I  would  read  thus,  a  go»4 
jlock.  Flocks  are  wool  moulded  together.  The  fentence*  thea 
follows  properly  : 

It  were  a  delicate  ftratagem  to  flioe 

A  troop  of  horfe  with  felt ; 

i.  e.  vAihjlocks  kneaded  to  a  mafs,  a  praftice  I  believe  fometiraes 
ufed  in  former  ages,  for  it  is  mentioned  in  Ariofto  : 
"  — Fece  nel  cader  ftrepito  quanto 
**  AvefTe  avuto  fotto  i  piedi  \\feliro." 

It  is  very  common  for  madmen  to  catch  an  accidental  hint,  and 
ftrain  it  to  the  purpofe  predominant  in  their  minds.  Lear  picks 
vp  a  flock,  and  immediately  thinks  to  furprize  his  enemies  by  a 
troop  of  horfe  (hod  \v\ti\jlocks  or  felt.  Yet  block  may  ftand,  if  we 
fuppofe  that  the  fight  of  a  block  put  him  in  mind  of  mounting  his 
horfe.  JOHNSON. 

•     Thh  a  good  block  ? ]  Dr.  Johnfon*s  explanation 

of  this  paflage  is  very  ingenious  ;  but,  I  believe,  there  is  no  oc- 
cafion  to  adopt  it,  as  the  fpeech  itfelf,  or  at  leaft  the  aclion  that 
fliould  accompany  it,  will  furnifh  all  the  connexion  which  he  has 
fought  from  an  extraneous  circumfbnce.  Upon  the  king's  faying, 
I ivlll preach  to  tbee ,  the  poet  feems  to  have  meant  him  to  pull  off 
his  hat,  and  keep  turning  it  and  feeling  it,  in  the  attitude  of  one 
of  the  preachers  of  thofe  times  (whom  1  have  feen  fo  reprefented  in 
ancient  prints)  tUl^the  idea  of /!•//,  which  the  good  bat  or  block  was 
iriadc  of,  raifes  the  ftratagem  in  his  brain  of  moeing  a  troop  of 
horfe  with  a  fubftance  loft  as  that  which  he  held  and  moulded 
between  his  hands.  This  makes  him  ilart  from  his  preachment.— 
Block  anciently  fignified  the  bead  part  of  the  hat,  or  the  thing  on 
*-.':b:cb  a  bat  is  formed,  and  fometunes  the  hat  itfelf*—  See  Mtub 
Ada  alout  Nothing  ; 

"  He 


$±8         K    I    N    G       L    E    A    R. 

Jt  were  a  delicate  flratagem,  to  fhoe 
A  troop  of  horfe  with  felt  :  I'll  put  it  in  proof; 
And  when  I  have  ftolen  upon  thefe  fons-in-law, 
Then  kill,  kill,  kill,  kill,  kill,  kill. 

Enter  a  Gentleman,  with  attendants. 

Gent.  O,  here  he  is  ;  lay  hand  upon  him.  —  Sir, 
Your  moft  dear  daughter  -- 

Lear.  No  refcue  ?  What,  a  prifoner  ?  I  am  even 

e<  tic  vveares  his  faith  but  as  the  fafliion  of  his  bat  \    it 

*'  changes  with  the  next  Hock." 
Again,  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Wit  atfeveral  Weapons: 

*'  I  am  fo  haunted  with  this  broad-brim'd  hat 

**  Of  the  laft  progrefs  block,  with  the  young  hatband." 
Greene,  in  his  Defence  of  Coney  -catching,   1592,  defcribing  a  neat 
companion,  fays,  "  he  wearetha  hat  of  a  high  blocke,  and  a  broad 
briinme." 
So  in  The  Revenger's  Yregetty,   1  608  : 

"  His  head  will  be  made  ferve  a  bigger  block*" 
So  in  Decker's  Hone/I  Whore,   1635  :        ( 

"  --  we  have  blocks  lor  all  heads." 
Again,  in  Green's  Tu  Quoquc,  1599  : 

«*          .   -  Where  did  you  buy  your  yj-//? 

"  Nay,  never  laugh,  for  you're  in  the  fame  Hod." 
Again,  in  La\v  Tricks,  &c.   1608  :    "I  cannot  keep  a  block  pri-* 
vate,  but  every  citizen's  fon  thrufls  his  head  into  it." 


Again,  \T\HiJtrht^ix,  1610: 

"  Your  hat  is  of  a  better  block  than  mine." 
Again,  in  The  Martial  Maid  vi  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  : 

"  Tho*  now  your  block-head  be  cover'd  with  a  Spaniflj 

block" 
Again,  in  the  Two  Merry  Milkmaids,  1620  : 

*'  -  my  haberdaflier  has  a  new  block,  and  will  find  me  and 
all  my  generation  in  beavers,  &c." 

Again,  in  Decker's  Gul's  Hornbook,  1609:  "  —  that  cannot  ob- 
ferve  the  time  of  his  hatband,  nor  know  what  fafliion'd  block  is 
moft  kin  to  his  head  ;  for  in  my  opinion,  the  braine  that  cannot 
chufe  his/*-//  well,  &c." 

Again,  in  Run  and  a.  great  Caft,  an  ancient  collection  of  Epn 
grams,  4to,  without  date.  Epigram  46.  In  Scxtinum: 

'*  A  pretty  blocke  Sextinus  names  his  hat  ; 

"  So  much  the  fitter  ibr  his  head  by  that."    STEEVENS. 

Tho 


KING       LEAR.         5z9 

The  natural  fool  of  fortune  *. Ufe  me  well ; 

You  (hall  have  ranfom.     Let  me  have  a  furgeon, 
I  am  cut  to  the  brains. 

Gent.  You  fhall  have  any  thing. 

Lear.  No  feconds  ?  All  myfelf  ? 
Why,  this  would  make  a  man,  $  a  man  of  fait, 
To  ufc  his  eyes  for  garden  water-pots, 
Ay,  and  laying  autumn's  duft,— 

Gent.  Good  fir,  4 

Lear.  I  will  die  bravely,  like  a  bridegroom  ;  what  ? 
I  will  be  jovial ;  come,  come,  I  am  a  king, 
My  matters,  know  you  that  ? 

Gent.  You  are  a  royal  one,  and  we  obey  you. 

Lear.  *  Then  there's  life  in  it.     Nay,  come,  an 

you  get  it, 
You  fhall  get  it  by  running.     Sa,  fa,  fa,  fa.     [Exit. 

Gent.  A  fight  molt  pitiful  in  the  mcancft  wretch  ; 
Paft  fpeaking  of  in  a  king ! — Thou  haft  one  daughter, 
Who  redeems  nature  from  the  general  curie 
Which  twain  have  brought  her  to. 

Edg.  Hail,  gentle  fir. 

Gent.  Sir,  fpeed  you  :  What's  your  will  ? 

Edg.  Do  you  hear  aught,  fir,  of  a  battle  toward  ? 

Gent.  Moft  fure,  and  vulgar  :  every  one  hears  that, 
Which  can  diftinguifh  found. 

1  We -natural  fool  of  fortune."}  So,  in  Romeo  and  Juliet : 
*'  O,  I  am  fortu ne 'j  fool !     STEEVENS. 

3  a  man  of 'fait ,]  Would  make  a  man  melt  away  like 

fait  in  wet  weather.    JOHNSON. 

I  believe,  a  man  of  fait  is  a  man  made  up  of  tears.     In  All's 
Well  that  Ends  IVcU,  we  meet  with — your  fait  tears'  head;  and  in 
Troilus  and  Creffida,  the  fait  of  broken  tears. 
Again,  in  Coriolanus  : 

"  He  has  betray'd  your  bufinefs,  and  giv'n  up, 

**  For  certain  drops  of  fait,  your  city  Rome."  MALONE. 

*  Gent.  Good  fir, ]  Thefe  words  I  have  reitored  from  one 

of  the  quartos.  In  the  other,  they  are  omitted.    The  folio  reads: 

a/mug  bridegroom  •     STEEVENS. 

5  Then  there's  life  ;ViV,— — ]  The  cafe  is  not  yet  defperate. 

JOHNSON. 

VOL.  IX.  M  m  Edg, 


53o         K    I    N    G      L    E    A   R. 

Edg.  But,  by  your  favour, 
How  near's  the  other  army  ? 

Gent.  Near,  and  on  fpeedy  foot ;  7  the  main  defcry 
Stands  on  the  hourly  thought. 

Edg.  I  thank  you,  fir  :  that's  all. 

Gent.  Though  that  the  queen  on  fpecial  caufe  is 

here, 
Her  army  is  mov'd  on. 

Edg.  I  thank  you,  fir.  [Exit  Gent. 

Glo.  You  ever -gentle  gods,  take  my  breath  from  me; 
Let  not  my  worfer  fpirit  tempt  me  again 
To  die  before  you  pleafe  ! 

Edg.  Well  pray  you,  father. 

Glo.  Now,  good  fir,  what  are  you  ? 

A  moft  poor  man,  made  tame  to  fortune's 

blows  8 ; 

9  Who,  by  the  art  of  known  and  feeling  forrows, 
Am  pregnant  to  good  pity.  Give  me  your  hand, 
I'll  lead  you  to  fome  biding. 

Glo.  Hearty  thanks  : 
The  bounty  and  the  benizon  of  heaven 
To  boot,  and  boot ! 

Enter  Steward. 

Stew.  A  proclaim'd  prize  !  Moft  happy  ! 
That  eyelefs  head  of  thine  was  firft  fram'd  flefli 
To  raife  my  fortunes. — Thou  old  unhappy  traitor, 

7  —       — the  main  defcry 

Stands  on  the  hourly  t  bought. ~\ 

The  main  body  is  cxpcftedto  be  dcfcry'd  every  hour.    The  ex- 
preffion  is  haiih.     JOHNSON. 

8  '-made  tame  to  fortune's  Mows.']  The  quartos  read  : 

made  lame  by  fortune's  bjows.     STEEVENS. 

9  W7.w,  by  the  art  of  known  and  feeling  forro-ivs,]   i.e.  Sorrows 
paft  and  prefent ;  but  the  Oxford  Editor  lofes  all  this  fenfe  by 
altering  it  to, 

P-— —  knowing  and  feeling.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

Briefly 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R,          531 

1  Briefly  thyfelf  remember  : — The  fword  is  out 
That  muft  deftroy  thee. 

Glo.  Now  let  thy  friendly  hand 
Put  ftrength  enough  to  it.  [Edgar  oppofes. 

Stew.  Wherefore,  bold  peafant, 
Dar'ft  thou  fupport  a  publifh'd  traitor  ?  Hence ; 
Left  that  the  infection  of  his  fortune  take 
Like  hold  on  thee.     Let  go  his  arm. 

Edg.  Chill  not  let  go,  zir,  without  vurther  'cafion. 

Stew.  Let  go,  flave,  or  thou  dy'ft. 

Edg.  Good  gentleman,  *  go  your  gait,  and  let 
poor  volk  pafs.  And  ch'ud  ha'  been  zwagger'd  out 
of  my  life,  'twould  not  ha'  been  zo  long  as  'tis  by  a 
vortnight.  Nay,  come  not  near  the  old  man ;  keep 
out,  J  che  vor'ye,  or  ife  try  whether  *  your  coftard 
or  my  bat 5  be  the  harder  :  Chi'll  be  plain  with  you. 

Stew.  Out,  dunghill ! 

Edg.  Ch'ill  pick  your  teeth,  zir  :  Come ;  6  no  mat- 
ter vor  your  foyns.  [Edgar  knocks  him  dawn. 

1  Briefly  thyfelf  remember.—"]  i.  e.  Quickly  recoiled  the  pad 
offences  or  thy  life,  and  recommend  thyfelf  to  heaven. 

WARBURTON. 

a  — — -go  your  gaity  ]  Gang  your  gate  is  a  common  er- 

preflion  in  the  North.  In  the  laft  rebellion,  when  the  Scotch 
foldiers  had  finifhed  their  exercife,  inftead  of  our  term  of  difmif- 
fion,  their  phrafe  was,  gang  your  gaits.  STEEVENS. 

3  che  vor'ye, ]  /  ivarn  you.     Edgar  counterfeits  the 

weftern  dialed.     JOHNSON. 

4  —your  coftard, — ]  Coftard,  i.e.  head.    So,  in  K.  Rich.  Ill : 

"  Take  him  over  the  cojlard  with  the  hilt  of  thy  fword." 

STEEVENS. 


s  wybat,]  i.e.  club.     So,  mSpenfer: 

«* a  handfome  bat  he  held 


"  On  which  he  leaned,  as  one  far  in  eld." 
So,  in  Mucedorus,   1 668  : 

"  With  this  my  lat  I  will  beat  out  thy  brains." 
Again,  in  the  Pinner  of  Wakeficld,   \  599  : 

"  let  eveiy  thing  be  ready, 

**  And  each  of  you  a  good  bat  on  his  neck."    STEEVENS. 
*  no  matter  vor  your  foins.J  To  foyn,  is  to  make  what  we 

call  a  tbmjl  in  fencing.     Shakefpeare  often  ales  the  word. 

STEEVEN*. 

M  m  2  Stew. 


53»         KING      LEA    R, 

Stew.  Slave,  thou  haft  flain  me  : — Villain,  take 

my  purfe  ; 

If  ever  thou  wilt  thrive,  bury  my  body  ; 
And  give  the  letters,  which  thou  lind'ft  about  me, 
To  Edmund  earl  of  Glofter  ;  feek  him  out 

Upon  the   Englifh  party  : O,   untimely  death, 

death  ! [Dies. 

Edg.  I  know  thee  well  :  A  fcrviceable  villain; 
As  duteous  to  the  vices  of  thy  miftrefs, 
As  badnefs  would  defire. 
Glo.  What,  is  he  dead  ? 
Edg.  Sit  yofc  down,  father  ;  j'eft  you. — 
Let's  fee  his  pockets  :  thefe  letters,  that  he  fpeaks  of, 
May  be  my  friends. — He's  dead;  I  am  only  lorry 

He  had  no  other  death's-man. — Let  us  iee  : 

Lenve,  gentle  wax,  and,  manners,  blame  us  not : 
7  To  know  our  enemies'  minds,  we'd  rip  their  hearts ; 
Their  papers  are  more  lawful. 

Reads  the  letter. 

Let  our  reciprocal  vows  be  remembered.  You  have  many 
opportunities  to  cut  him  off :  if  your  will  want  nof,  time 
and  place  will  be  fruitfully  offered.  There  is  nothing 
done,  if  he  return  the  conqueror :  Then  am  I  the  pri- 
foner,  and  his  bed  my  gaol;  from  the  loath*  d  warmth 
.whereof  deliver  me,  and  jupply  the  place  for  your  la- 
bour. 4 

Tour  (wife,  fo  I  would  fay)  affeftionate  fervant*, 

Goneril. 

7  To  know  our  enemies'  minds,  ive  rip  their  hearts ; 

Their  papers  are  more  lawful.  j 

This  is  darkly  exprefled  :  the  meaning  is,  Our  enemies  are  put 
upon  the  rack,  and  torn  in  pieces  to  extort  confeflion  of  their  fe- 
crets  ;  to  tear  open  their  letters  is  more  lawful.  WAR  BURTON. 

The  quarto  reads,  twV  rip  their  hearts,  and  fo  I  have  printed 
it.    STEEVENS. 

8   affetfionatcfcrvant.']   After  fcrvant,  one  of  the  quartos 

has  this  ftrange  continuation  :  "  —and  for  you  her  owne  for 
•venter^  Gonorill."  STEEVEVS. 

O  un- 


KING      LEAR. 

*  O  undiftinguifh'd  fpace  of  woman's  will ! 

A  plot  upon  her  virtuous  huiband's  life  ; 

And  the  exchange,  my  brother  ! — Here,  in  the  fands, 

1  Thee  I'll  rake  up,  the  poft  unfa  edified 

Of  murderous  lechers  :  and,  in  the  mature  time, 

With  this  ungracious  paper  flrike  the  fight 

Of  *  the  death-practis'd  duke  :  For  him" 'tis  well, 

That  of  thy  death  and  bufinefs  I  can  tell. 

[JEr//  Edgar,  removing  the  body. 
Glo.  The  king  is  mad  :  How  ftiff  is  my  vile  fenfe, 
That  I  (land  up,  3  and  have  ingenious  feeling 
Of  my  huge  forrows  !  Better  I  were  diftraft  : 
So  fhould  my  thoughts  be  4  fever'd  from  my  griefs ; 
And  woes,  by  wrong  imaginations,  lofe 
The  knowledge  of  themfelves. 

Re-enter  Edgar. 

Edg.  Give  me  your  hand  : 
Far  off,  methinks,  I  hear  the  beaten  drum. 
Come,  father,  I'll  beftow  you  with  a  friend.    [Exeunt. 

9  O  undijling ttijb'd  fpace  of  woman's  wit !  ]  So  the  firft  quarto 
rends,  but  the  firft  folio  better,  ivill.  I  have  no  idea  of  the 
meaning  of  the  firlt  reading,  but  the  other  is  extremely  fatirical  j 
the  varium  &  mutabile  fcmfter ,  of  Virgil,  more  ftrongly  and  hap- 
pily exprefled.  The  mutability  of  a  woman's  w///,  which  is  fo  fud- 
den,  that  there  is  no  fpace  or  diftance  between  the  prefent  •-•.•:// 
and  the  next.  Honeft  Sancho  explains  this  thought  with  infinite 
humour,  JEntre  el  fi  y  cl  no  dc  la  mugcr,  no  me  atreveriayo  z  po- 
ner  una  punta  ffalfile r.  Between  a  ivoman'syes  u.id  OOlWatU 
7>et  undertake  to  tbrujl  a  pin's  point.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

'  Thee  V 11  rake  up , ]  I'll  cover  thee.  In  StafFordfliire,  to 

rake  the  fire,  is  to  cover  it  with  fuel  for  the  night.  JOHNSON. 

*  ——the  deatb-prafti? d  duke:]  The  duke  of  Albany,  whofe 
death  is  machinated  by  prafiice  or  treafon.  JOHNSON. 

3  •    and  have  ingenious  feeling]  Ingenious  fecling  fignifies  a 
feeling  from  an  underftar.ding  not   dlfturbed  or  diforaered,  but 
which,  reprefenting  things  as  they  are,  makes  the  fenfe  of  paia 
the  more  exquifitc.    WAR  BURTON. 

4  -     fever* d'  »•  ]  The  quartos  read  fenced,    STEEVENS. 

M  m  3  SCENE 


KING      LEAR. 

SCENE        VII. 

A  tent  in  the  French  camp. 
Enter  Cordelia,  Kent,  and  Pkyfician. 

Cor.  O  thou  good  Kent,  how  fhall  I  live,    and 

work, 

To  match  thy  goodnefs  ?  My  life  will  be  too  Ihort, 
And  4  every  meafure  fail  me. 

Kent.  To  be  acknowledg'd,  madam,  is  o'erpay'd. 
Ail  my  reports  go  with  the  modeft  truth  ; 
Nor  more,  nor  clipt,  but  fo. 

Cor.  s  Be  better  fuited  : 

6  Thefe  weeds  are  memories  of  thofe  worfer  hours ; 
I  pr'ythee,  put  them  off. 

Kent.  Pardon  me,  dear  madam  ; 
Yet  to  be  known,  7  fhortens  my  made  intent : 
My  boon  I  make  it,  that  you  know  me  not, 
'Till  time  and  I  think  meet. 

Cor.  Then  be  it  To,  my  good  lord. — — - 
How  does  the  king  ?  [To  the  Pfafician. 

4  •  every  meafure  fail  me. ~\    All  good  which   1  fliall  allot 
thee,  or  meafure  out  to  thee,  will  be  fcanty.     JOHNSON. 

5  Be  better  fuited .-]  i.  e.  Be  better  dreft,  put  on  a  better  fuit 
of  cloaths.    STEEVENS. 

6  Thefe  weeds  are  memories  of  tbnfe  tvorfer  hours  ;]  Memories^ 
\.  c.  Memorials,  remembrancers.    Shakefpearc  ufes   the  word  in 
the  fame  fenfe,  As  You  Like  It,  aft  II.  fc.  5  : 

"  O,  my  fweet  matter  !  O  you  memory 
«  Of  old  fir  Rowland  !" STEEVENS. 

So,  in  Stowc's  Survey  of  London^   1618: 

"  A  printed  mcmorle  hanging  up  in  a  table  at  the  entrance  into 

the  church-door."    MALONE. 

7  Jbortcns  my   made  intent  \\  There  is  a  diflbnancy  of 

terms  in  made  intent ;    one  implying  the  idea  of  a  thing  done, 
the  other,  undone.     I  fuppole  Shakcfpeare  wrote — laid  intent^ 
i.e.  projected.    WAR  BUR  TON. 

An  intent  made,  is  an  intent  formed.     So  we  fay  in  common 
language,  to  make  a  defi^n^  and  to  make  a  rrfolution.    JOHNSON. 

Ptyf. 


KING      LEAR.         535 

Pfyf.  Madam,  fleeps  ftill. 

Cor.  O  you  kind  gods, 
Cure  this  great  breach  in  his  abufed  nature  ! 
The  untun'd  and  jarring  fenfes,  O,  wind  up 
8  Of  this  child-changed  father ! 

Pfyf.  So  pleafe  your  majefty, 
That  we  may  wake  the  king  ?  he  hath  flept  long. 

Cor.  Be  govern'd  by  your  knowledge,  and  proceed 
I*  the  fway  of  your  own  will.  Is  he  array'd  ? 

Lear  is  brought  in  in  a  chair. 

Gent.  9  Ay,  madam  ;  in  the  heavinefs  of  his  fleep, 
We  put  freih  garments  on  him. 

Pfyf.  Be  by,  good  madam,  when  we  do  awake  him ; 
I  doubt  not  of  his  temperance. 

Cor.  '  Very  well. 

Pfyf.  Pleafe  you,  draw  near. — Louder  the  mufic 
there  ! 

Cor.  O  my  dear  father  !  *  Reftoration,  hang 

*  Of  tins  child-clanged  father  /]  i.e.  Changed  to  a  child  by 
his  years  and  wrongs  ;  or  perhaps,  reduced  to  this  condition  by 
his  children.  STEEVENS. 

9  Ay,  madanty  &c.]  The  folio  gives  thefe  four  lines  to  a  Gen- 
tlcman.  One  of  the  quartos  (they  were  both  printed  in  the  fame 
year,  and  for  the  fame  printer)  gives  the  two  firft  to  the  DoSlor^ 
and  the  two  next  to  Kent.  The  other  quarto  appropriates  the 
two  firft  to  the  Dofior,  and  the  two  following  ones  to  a  Gentleman. 
I  have  given  the  tvvo  firft,  which  beft  belong  to  an  attendant, 
to  the  Gentleman  in  waiting,  and  the  other  two  to  the  Pbyjlcian^ 
on  account  of  the  caution  contained  in  them,  \vhich  is  more 
fuitable  to  his  profeffion.  STKEVENS. 

1  Very  well.']  This  and  the  following  line  I  have  reftored  from 
the  quartos.  STEEYENS. 

*    Reftoration,  bang 

Tly  medicine  on  my  lips  ; —  ] 

This  is  fine.  She  invokes  the  goddefs  of  health,  Hygieia,  un^er 
the  name  of  Reftauration,  to  make  her  the  miniftcf  of  her  rites, 
in  this  holy  office  of  recovering  her  father's  loft  fenfes. 

WAR  BURTON. 

Reparation  is  no  more  than  recovery  perfouified.     ST£ EVENS. 

M  m  4  Thy 


536         KING       LEAR, 

Thy  medicine  on  my  lips;  and  let  this  kifs 
Repair  thofe  violent  harms,  that  my  two  fillers 
Have  in  thy  reverence  made  ! 

Kern.  Kind  and  dear  princcfs ! 
1  Cor.  Had  you  not  been  their  father,    thefe  white 

flakes 

Had  challeng'd  pity  of  them.     Was  this  a  face 
To  be  expos'd  againft  the  warring  winds  ? 
*J  To  ftand  againft  the  deep  dread-bolted  thunder  ? 
In  the  moft  terrible  and  nimble  ftroke 
Of  quick,  crcfs  lightning  ?  4  to  watch  (poor  perdu  !) 
\yith  this  thin  helm  *  ?  5  Mine  enemy's  dog, 

3  The  lines  within  the  afterifks  are  omitted  in  the  folio, 

* Yoivaich  (poor  perdue  :) 

U'itb  this  thin  helm  f\  It  ought  to  be  read  and  pointed  thus  : 
To  watch,  poor  perdu  ! 

With  this  thin  helm  ? 

The  allufion  is  to  the  forlorn-hope  in  an  army,  which  are  put 
upon  defperate  adventures,  and  called  in  French  c nfnns  perdus  ; 
fl;e  therefore  calls  her  father,  poor  perdu ;  perdue,  which  is  the 
ccmmon  reading,  being  the  feminine.  Thefe  enfans  per  Jus  be- 
ing always  (lightly  and  badly  armed,  is  the  reafon  that  flie  adds, 
With  this  thin  helm  ?  i.e.  bareheaded.  WAR  BUR  TON. 

Dr.  Warburton's  explanation  of  the  \vor&  perdu  is  juft,  though 
the  latter  part  of  his  alfertion  has  not  the  leaft  foundation.  Ps»u- 
lus  Jovius,  fpeaking  of  the  body  of  men  who  were  anciently  fent 
on  this  defperate  adventure,  fays,  "  Hos  ab  immoderura  forti- 
tudine  fcrJitcs  voc;:nt,  et  in  fummo  honore  atque  a^.miratione 
habent."  It  is  not  likely  that  thofe  who  deferved  fo  well  of  their 
country  for  expofing  themfelves  to  certain  dange*-,  fiiould  be  fent 
out,  fumma  admlrat:wc,  and  yet  {lightly  and  hadly  armed. 

The  fame  alluiion  occurs  in  fir  W.  Durcnant's  Love  and  Ho~. 
ncur,  1649: 

1  have  emlur'J 

Another  night  would  tire  uperJu, 
More  than  a  wee  furrow  and  a  great  froil." 
Again,    n  Cartwright's  Ordinary : 

•cciii'>  choice  fous'd  fifli  brought  couchant  in  a  diih 
Among  fome  fennel  or  fome  other  grafs, 
Shews  how  they  lye  i'  th' field."     STEHVENS. 
5   ••  •  •  Mixe  enemy's  dog,\  Thus  the  folio.     Both  the  quartos 
read,  Mine  Injurious  dog.    Poffibly  the  poet  wrote, — Mine  iy'u- 
r*/'sdog.    STEEVE.NS. 

Though 


KING      LEAR.         537 

Though  he  had  bit  me,  Ihould  have  flood  that  night 

Againft  my  fire;  And  waft  thou  fain,  poor  father, 

To  hovel  thee  with  fwine,  and  rogues  forlorn, 

In  ihort  and  mufly  ftraw  ?  Alack,  alack  ! 

'Tis  wonder,  that  thy  life  and  wits  at  once 

*  Had  not  concluded  all. — He  wakes ;  fpeak  to  him. 

Pbyf.  Madam,  do  you ;  'tis  fitted. 

Cor.  How  does  my  royal  lord  ?  How  fares  your 
majefty  ? 

Lear.  You  do  me  wrong,  to  take  me  out  o'  the 

grave  : 

Thou  art  a  foul  in  blifs ;  but  I  am  bound 
Upon  a  wheel  of  fire,  that  mine  own  tears 
Do  fcald  like  molten  lead. 

Cor.  Sir,  do  you  know  me  ? 

Lmr.  You  are  a  fpirit,  I  know :  When  did  you  die  ? 

Cor.  Still,  flill,  far  wide  ! 

Pbyf:  He's  fcarce  awake ;  let  him  alone  awhile. 

Lear.  Where  have  I  been  ?  Where  am  I  ? — Fair 

day-light  ?— 

7 1  am  mightily  abus'd. — I  Ihould  even  die  with  pity, 
To  fee  another  thus. — I  know  not  what  to  fay, — 
I  will  not  fwear,  thefe  are  my  hands  : — let's  fee; 
I  feel  this  pin  prick.     'Would  I  were  affur'd 
Of  my  condition. 

Cor.  O,  look  upon  me,  fir, 
And  hold  your  hands  in  benediction  o'er  me ; 

6  Had  not  concluded  all. ]  All  what?  we  fhould  read  and 

point  it  thus : 

Had  not  concluded.— .Ah  ! 
An  exclamation  on  perccivirig  her  father  wake.     WARBURTON. 

The  plain  conftruclion  is  this  :  It  is  wonder  that  thy  wits  and 
life  had  not  all  ended.     JOHNSON. 

Soj  in  Spenfer's  Faery  S>ueen,  c.  viii : 

"  Ne  fpared  they  to  ftrip  her  naked  all." 
Again,  in  Timon : 

"  And  difpoflefs  her  all."    STEEVENS. 

7  I  am  mightily  alui'd. — • — ]  I  am  ftrangely  impofed  on  by 
appearances ;  I  am  in  a  ftrange  mift  of  uncertainty.    JOHNSON. 

No, 


$38        KING      LEAR. 

*  No,  fir,  you  mufl  not  kneel. 

Lear.  Pray,  do  not  mock  me 9 : 
I  am  a  very  foolifli  fond  old  man, 
Fourfcore  and  upward ; 
Not  an  hour  more,  nor  lefs  :  and,  to  deal  plainly, 

*  I  fear,  I  am  not  in  my  perfect  mind. 
Methinks,  I  fliould  know  you,  and  know  this  man; 
Yet  I  am  doubtful :  for  I  am  mainly  ignorant, 
What  place  this  is ;  and  all  the  fkill  I  have 
Remembers  not  thefe  garments ;  nor  I  know  not 
Where  I  did  lodge  lafl  night :  Do  not  laugh  at  me ; 
For,  as  I  am  a  man,  I  think  this  lady 

To  be  my  child  Cordelia. 

Cor.  And  fo  I  am,  I  am. 

Lear.  Be  your  tears  wet  ?    Yes,   'faith.     I  pray, 

weep  not : 

If  you  have  poifon  for  me,  I  will  drink  it. 
I  know,  you  do  not  love  me ;  for  your  fitters 
Have,  'a*  I  do  remember,  done  me  wrong : 
You  have  fome  caufe,  they  have  not. 

Cor.  No  caufe,  no  caufe. 

Lear.  Am  I  in  France  ? 

Kent.  In  your  own  kingdom,  fir. 

Lear.  Do  not  abufe  me. 

Phyf.  Be  comforted,  good  madam  :  the  great  rage, 

*  No,  fir,  you  mujl  not  kneel.']  This  circumftance  I  find  in  the 
old  play  on  the  fame  fubjeft,  apparently  written  by  another  hand, 
and  publifhed  before  any  edition  of  Shakefpeare's  tragedy  had 
made  its  appearance.     As  it  is  always  difficult  to  fay  whether 
thefe  accidental  refemblances  proceed  from  imitation,  or  a  fimi- 
larity  of  thinking  on  the  fame  occalion,  I  can  only  point  out  this 
to  the  reader,  to  whofe  determination  I  leave  the  queftion. 

STEEVENS. 

9  Pray  do  not  mock  me.]  So,  in  the  Winter*  i>  Tale,   a£t  V  : 
"  ——Let  no  man  mock  me, 
<(  For  I  will  kifs  her."    STEEVENS. 

*  If  tar,  I  am  not  in  my  perfeft  mind.]  The  quarto  reads  : 

I  fear,  1  am  not  perfect  in  my  mind.     JOHNSON. 
So  one  of  the  quartos.    The  other  reads  according  to  the  pre- 
feut  text,    STEEVENS. 

You 


K    I    N     G      L    E    A    R.          539 

You  fee,  *  is  cur'd  in  him  :  [  *  and  yet  it  is  danger 
4  To  make  him  even  o'er  the  time  he  has  loft.J 
Defire  him  to  go  in  ;  trouble  him  no  more, 
'Till  further  fettling. 

Cor.  \ViH't  pleafe  your  highnefs  walk  ? 

Lear.  You  muft  bear  with  me  : 
Pray  you  now,  forget  and  forgive :  I  am  old,  and 

foolim. 
[Exeunt  Lear,  Cordelia,  Phyfician,  and  Attendants* 

[Gent.  5  Holds  it  true,  fir, 
That  the  duke  of  Cornwall  was  fo  flam  ? 

Kent.  Moft  certain,  fir. 

Gent.  Who  is  conductor  of  his  people  ? 

Kent.  As  it  is  faid,  the  baftard  fon  of  Glofler. 

Gent.  They  fay,  Edgar, 
His  banrfh'd  fon,  is  with  the  earl  of  Kent 
In  Germany. 

Kent.  Report  is  changeable. 

'Tis  time  to  look  about ;  the  powers  o'  the  kingdom 
Approach  apace. 

Gent.  The  arbitrement  is  like  to  be  bloody. 
Fare  you  well,  fir.  [Exit* 

Kent.    My  point  and  period    will  be  throughly 

wrought, 
Or  well,  or  ill,  as  this  day's  battle's  fought.]     Exit. 

*  is  cur* d ]     Thus  the  quartos.    The  folio  reads, 

is  £;Y/y.     STEEVENS. 

3  Andytt,  &c.]  This  is  not  in  the  folio.     JOHNSON. 

4  To  make  him  even  o'tr  the  time ]  i.  e.    To  reconcile  it  to 

his  apprehenlion.     WARBURTON". 

5  What  is  printed  in  crotchets  is  not  in  the  folio.     It  is  at  leaft 
proper  if  not  neceflary  ;  and  was  omitted  by  the  author,  I  fuppofe, 
for  no  other  reafcn  than  to  ihorten  the  reprefentation.    JOHNSON. 


ACT 


540         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 
ACTV.       SCENE      I. 

The  camp  of  the  Britifh  forces,  near  Dover. 

Enter,  with  drums  and  colours,  Edmund,  Regan,  Gen- 
tlemen, and  Soldiers. 

v  Edm.  Know  of  the  duke,  if  his  laftpurpofe  hold  ; 
Or  whether  fmce  he  is  advis'd  by  aught 
To  change  the  courfe  :  He's  full  6  of  alteration, 
And  felf-reproving : — bring.7  his  conftant  pleafure. 

Reg.  Our  filter's  man  is  certainly  mifcarry'd. 

E^m.  'Tis  to  be  doubted,  madam. 

Reg.  Now,  fweet  lord, 
You  know  the  goodnefs  I  intend  upon  you  : 
Tell  me, — but  truly, — but  then  fpcak  the  truth, 
Do  you  not  love  my  filter  ? 

Edm.  In  honour'd  love. 

[Reg*  8  But  have  you  never  found  my  brother's  way 
To  the 9  fore-fended  place  ? 

v  *  .<  ff  alteration,]  One  of  the  quartos  reads, 

»"  of  abdication.     STEEVENS. 

i  —  his  conftant pleafurc.'}    His  fettled  refolution. 

JOHNSON*. 

*  But  have  you  never,  £sV.]  Thtjirfl  and  Aj/?of  thefe  fpeeches, 
printed  within  crotchets,  are  inferted  in  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer's, 
Theobald's,  and  Dr.  Warburton's  editions  ;  the  two  intermediate 
ones,  which  were  omitted  in  all  others,  I  have  rellored  from  the 
old  quartos,  1608.  Whether  they  were  left  out  through  negli- 
gence, or  becauie  the  imagery  contained  in  them  might  be 
thought  too  luxuriant,  I  cannot  determine  j  but  fure  a  material 
injury  is  done  to  the  character  of  the  Ba/lard  by  the  omiflion  ; 
for  he  is  made  to  deny  that  flatly  at  firft,  which  the  poet  only 
meant  to  make  him  evade,  or  return  flight  anfwers  to,  till  he  is 
urged  fo  far  as  to  be  obliged  to  flicker  himfelf  under  an  imme- 
dir.rc  falfnood.  Qnery,  however,  whether  Shnkefpeare  meant  us 
ro  believe  that  Edinund  had  atlually  found  his  way  to  the  fore- 
fended  place.  STEEVENS. 

9 fore-fendcd//«/  ?]  Fore-funded ^ means frohilited,  for- 

liddt*.    STEEVENS. 


KING      LEAR.         541 

Edm.  That  thought  abufes  you. 

Reg.  I  am- doubtful  that  you  have  been  conjunct 
And  '  bolbm'd  with  her,  as  far  as  we  call  hers. 

Edm.  No,  by  mine  honour,  madam.] 

Reg.  I  never  mall  endure  her :  Dear  my  lord, 
Be  not  familiar  with  her. 

Edm.  Fear  me  not : — 
She,  and  the  duke  her  hufband, — — 

Enter  Albany,  Goneril,  and  Soldiers. 

Gon.  I  had  rather  lofe  the  battle,  than  that  fitter 
Should  loofen  him  and  me.  \_Afule. 

Alb.  Our  very  loving  fitter,  well  be  met. 
*  Sir,  this  I  hear,  The  king  is  come  to  his  daughter, 

With 

1 bofom'd  with  her, — ]  Bofonfd  is  ufed  in  this  fcnfe  by 

Hey  wood,  in  The  Fair  Maid  of  the  Jfeft,   1631  : 

'  We'll  crown  our  hopes  and  wifties  with  more  pomp 
'  And  fumptuous  coft,  than  Priam  did  his  fon 
«  That  night  he  lofonfd  Helen." 

Agai  i,  in  Hey  wood's  Silver  Age,  1613  : 

*  With  fair  Alcmena,  {he  that  never  bofonfd 

*  Mortal,  fave  thee."    STEEVENS. 

*  Sir,  this  /  hear, — to-make  oppofe,— ]  This  is  a  very  plain 
fpeech,  and  the  meaning  is,  The  king,  and  others  whom  we  have 
oppofed  are  come  to  Cordelia.  I  could  never  be  valiant  but  in  a 
juft  quarrel.  We  muft  diftinguifh. ;  it  is  juft  in  one  fenfe  and 
unjuft  in  another.  As  France  invades  our  land  I  am  concerned  to 
repel  him,  but  as  he  holdsy  entertains,  and  fupports  the  king,  and 
others  ichom  I  fear  many  juft  and  heavy  caufes  make,  or  compel, 
as  it  were,  to  oppofe  us,  I  efteem  it  unjuft  to  engage  againft  them. 
This  fpeech,  thus  interpreted  according  to  the  common  reading, 
is  likewife  very  neceflary :  "for  otherwife  Albany,  who  is  cha- 
rafterifed  as  a  man  of  honour  and  obferver  of  juftice,  gives  no 
reafon  for  going  to  war  with  thofe,  whom  he  owns  had  been  much 
injured  under  the  countenance  of  his  power.  Notwithftanding 
this,  Mr.  Theobald,  by  an  unaccountable  turn  of  thought,  reads 
the  fourth  line  thus, 

I  never  yet  was  valiant :  'fore  this  bufinefs,  &c. 
1  puts  the  two  lalt  lines  in  a  parenthefis,  and  then  paraphrafes  the 
whole  in  this  manner.     "  Sir,  it  concerns  me  (though  not  the 
king  and  the  difcontented  party)  to  queftion  about  your  intereft  in 


54*         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

With  others,  whom  the  rigour  of  our  flare 

Forc'd  to  cry  out '.     [Where  I  could  not  be  honed, 

I  never  yet  was  valiant  4  :  for  this  bufinefs, 

It  toucheth  us  as  France  invades  our  land, 

5  Not  bolds  the  king  ;  with  others,  whom,  I  fear, 

Moft  juft  and  heavy  caufes  make  oppofe. 

Edm.  Sir,  you  fpeak  nobly.] 

Reg.  Why  is  this  reafon'd  ? 

Gon.  Combine  together  'gainft  the  enemy : 
e  For  thefe  domeftic  and  particular  broils 
7  Are  not  to  queftion  here. 

Mb.  Let  us  then  determine 
With  the  ancient  of  war  on  our  proceedings. 

8  Edm.  I  lhall  attend  you  prefently  at  your  tent. 

Reg.  Sifter,  you'll  go  with  us  ? 

our  lifter,  and  the  event  of  the  war.*'  What  he  means  by  this  I 
am  not  able  to  find  out ;  but  he  gives  a  reafon  why  his  reading 
and  fenfe  fhould  be  preferred.  And  Regan  and  Goncril  in  their 
replies feem  both  apprehenjlve  that  thisfubjefl  ivas  coming  into  delate. 
Now  all  that  we  can  colleft  from  their  replies  is,  that  they  were 
apprehenfive  he  was  going  to  blame  their  cruelty  to  Lear,  Glof- 
ter,  and  others ;  which  it  is  plain  from  the  common  reading  and 
the  fenfe  of  the  laft  line,  he  was. 

Moft  juft  and  heavy  caufes  make  oppofe. —  WARBURTON. 
3  What  is  within,  the  crotchets  is  omitted  in  the  folio. 

STEEVENS. 

*       Wiser  e  I  could  not  be  honeft, 

I  never  yet  ivas  valiant : ] 

This  fentiment  has  already  appear'd  in  Cymbeliae  : 
Thou  may1  ft  be  valiant  in  a  letter  caufey 
But  fftf-iu  thoufei-m'jl  a  co-uard.     STEEVENS. 

5  Not  bolds  the  khig  ; ]    The  quartos  read  bolds,  and  this 

may  be  the  true  reading.     This  lujlnefs  (fays  Albany)   touches  us 
as  France  invades  our  land,  not  as  it  bolds  the  king,  &c.   i.  e.  em- 
boldens him  to  aHert  his  former  title.     Thus  in  the  antient  inter- 
lude of  Hycke  Corner, 

«'  Alas,  that  I  had  not  one  to  bold  me  !"    STEEVENS. 

6  For  thffe  domeftic  and  particular  broils'}  This  is  the  reading  of 
the  folio.     The  quartos  have  it, 

For  thefe  domeftic  doore  particulars.     STEEVENS. 

7  Are  not  to  queftion  here.]  Thus  the  quartos.   The  tolio  reads, 

Are  not  the  queftion  here.     STEEVENS. 

•  £<.///.]  This  fpeech  5s  wanting  in  the  folio."    STEEVENS. 

Con. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         545 

Gon.  No. 

Reg.  'Tis  moft  convenient ;   pray  you,  go  with  us. 

Gon.  [Afide.~]  O,  ho,  I  know  the  riddle  :  I  will  go. 

As  they  are  going  out,  enter  Edgar  difgulfed. 

Edg.  If  e'er  your  grace  had  fpeech  with  man  fo 

poor, 
Hear  me  one  word. 

Alb.  I'll  overtake  you. Speak. 

[Exeunt  Edm.  Reg.  Gon.  and  Attendants. 

Edg.  Before  you  fight  the  battle,  ope  this  letter. 
If  you  have  victory,  let  the  trumpet  found 
For  him  that  brought  it :  wretched  though  I  feem, 
I  can  produce  a  champion,  that  will  prove 
What  is  avouched  there  :  If  you  mifcarry, 
Your  bufinefs  of  the  world  hath  fo  an  end, 
And  machination  ceafes.     Fortune  love  you  ! 

Alb.  Stay  'till  I  have  read  the  letter. 

Edg.  I  was  forbid  it. 

When  time  lhall  ferve,  let  but  the  herald  cry, 
And  I'll  appear  again.  [Exit. 

Alb.  Why,  fare  thee  well ;  I  will  o'erlook  thy  paper. 

Re-enter  Edmund. 

Edm.  The  enemy's  in  view,  draw  up  your  powers. 
*  Here  is  the  guefs  of  their  true  ftrength  and  forces 
By  diligent  difcovery ;— but  your  hafte 
Is  now  urg'd  on  you. 

Alb.  *  We  wHl  greet  the  time.  [Exit. 

Edm.  To  both  thefe  filters  have  I  fworn  my  love  ; 
Each  jealous  of  the  other,  as  the  flung 

9  Here  is  the  gucfs,  &c.]  The  modern  editors  read,  Hard  it 
the  guefs.  So  the  quartos.  But  had  the  difcovery  been  diligent, 
the  guefs  could  not  have  proved  fo  difficult,  I  have  given  the 
true  reading  from  the  folio.  STEEVENS. 

1  We  -will greet  the  time.}  We  will  be  ready  to  meet  the  oc. 
cafion.  JOHNSON. 

Arc 


£    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Are  of  the  adder.    Which  of  them  fliall  I  take  ? 
Both?  one?  or  neither?  Neither  can  be  enjoy'd, 
If  both  remain  alive  :  To  take  the  widow, 
Exafperates,  makes  mad  her  fifler  Goneril ; 
And  hardly  fhall  I  *  carry  out  my  fide, 
Her  hufband  being  alive.     Now  then,  we'll  ufe 
His  countenance  for  the  battle ;  which  being  done, 
Let  her,  who  would  be  rid  of  him,  devife 
His  fpeedy  taking  off     As  for  the  mercy 
Which  he  intends  to  Lear,  and  to  Cordelia,— 
The  battle  done,  and  they  within  our  power, 
Shall  never  fee  his  pardon  :  J  for  my  ftate 
Stands  on  me  to  defend,  not  to  debate.  [Exit. 

SCENE    II. 

A  field  between  the  two  camps. 

Alarum  within.     Enter,  with  drum  and  colours,  Lear, 
Cordelia^  and  Soldiers  over  theftage ;  and  exeunt. 

4  Enter  Edgar,  and  Gkjler. 

Edg.  Here,  father,  take  the  fhadow  of  this  tree 
For  your  good  hoft ;  pray  that  the  right  may  thrive  : 

*  carry  out  my  jidc.\  Bring  my  purpofe  to  a  fuccefsful 

iflue,  to  completion.    Side  feems  here  to  have  the  fenfe  of  the 
Trench  word  partic,  inprendre  partic,  to  take  bis  refolutlon. 

JOHNSON. 
So  in  the  Honcft  Man's  Fortune  by  B.  and  Fletcher  : 

"  and  carry  out 

"  A  world  of  evils  with  thy  title."    STEEVENS. 
3  for  myftatc 

Stands  on  me,  &c.] 

I  do  not  think  that  for  ftands  in  this  place  as  a  word  of  inference 
or  caufality.  The  meaning  is  rather :  Such  is  my  determination 
concerning  Lear ;  as  for  my  ftate  it  requires  novjy  not  deliberation, 
but  defence  and  fupport.  JOHNSON. 

*  The  reader,  who  is  curious  to  know  how  far  Shakefpe,are 
was  indebted  to  the  Arcadia,  will  find  a  chapter  entitled, 

'*  The  pitifull  State  and  Storie  of  the  Paphlagonian  unkinde 
King,  and  his  kindeSonne;  firft  related  by  the  Sonne,  then  by 
the  blind  lather."  P.  141.  edit.  1590.  quarto.  STEETBNS. 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R,         545 

If  ever  I  return  to  you  again. 
I'll  bring  you  comfort. 

Glo.  Grace  go  with  you,  fir  !  [Exit  Edgar. 

\_Alarum,  and  retreat  within. 

.    •   Re-enter  Edgar. 

Edg.  Away,  old  man,  give  me  thy  hand,  away  ; 
King  Lear  hath  loft,  he  and  his  daughter  ta'en  : 
Give  me  thy  hand,  come  on. 

Glo.  No  further,  fir ;  a  man  may  rot  even  here. 

Edg.  What,  in   ill  thoughts  again  ?    Men  muft 

endure 

Their  going  hence,  even  as  their  coming  hither  : 
5  Ripenefs  is  all :  Come  on. 

Glo.  And  that's  true  too  6.  [Exeunt. 


SCENE     III. 

Enter,   in  conquejl,    with  drum  and  colours,  Edmund ; 
Lear,  and  Cordelia,  as  prifoners ;  Soldiers,  Captain. 

Edm.  Some  officers  take  them  away  :  good  guard  j 
Until  their  greater  pleafures  firft  be  known 
That  are  to  cenfure  them. 

Cor.  We  are  not  the  firft, 

Who,  \vith  beft  meaning,  have  incurr'd  the  worft. 
For  thee,  opprefled  king,  am  I  caft  down  ; 
Myfelf  could  elfe  out-frown  falfe  fortune's  frown.—- 
Shall  we  not  fee  thefe  daughters,  and  thefe  fifters  ? 

Lear.  No,  no,  no,  no  !  Come,  let's  away  to  prilbn ; 
We  two  alone  will  fing  like  birds  i'  the  cage  : 

5  Riprnefs  is  all. — ]  i.  e,  To  be  ready  >  prepared,  is  all. 
The  fame  fentiment  occurs  in  Hamlet,  fcene  the  laft  : 

**  if  it  be  not  now,  yet  it  will  come  :  the  readinefi  is 

all."    STEEVEVS. 
'  And  that1  i  true  too.]   Omitted  in  the  quarto.     STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  N  n  When 


546          K    I    N    G      L    E     A    R. 

When  thou  doft  afk  me  bleffing,  I'll  kneel  down, 

And  aik  of  thee  foigivenefs  :  So  we'll  live, 

And  pray,  and  fing,  and  tell  old  tales,  and  laugh 

At  gilded  butterflies,  and  hear  poor  rogues 

Talk  of  court  news  ;  and  we'll  talk  with  them  too,— 

\Vho  lofes,  and  who  wins  ;  who's  in,  who's  out  ;— 

7  And  take  upon  us  the  myftery  of  things, 

As  if  we  were  God's  fpies  :  And  we'll  wear  out, 

In  a  wall'd  prifon,  8  packs  and  feels  of  great  ones, 

That  ebb  and  flow  by  the  moon. 

Ear;:.  Take  them  away. 

Lear.  9  Upon  fuch  facrifices,  my  Cordelia, 
The  gods  themfelves  throw  incenfe.     Have  I  caught 

thee  ? 

He,  that  parts  us,  fhall  bring  a  brand  from  heaven, 
*  And  fire  us  hence,  like  foxes.  Wipe  thine  eyes ; 

7  And  take  upon  us  the  my  fiery  of  things, 

As  If  =ive  were  Got? s  fpies. ] 

As  if  we  were  angels  commiffioned  to  furVey  and  report  the  lives 
of  men,  and  were  confequently  endowed  with  the  power  of  pry- 
ing info  the  original  motives  of  action  and  the  myfteries  of  con- 
dud.  JOHNSON. 

8  pdAseudfcfh ]  Packs  is  ufed  for  combinations  or 

collection,  as  is  a  pack  of  cards.     For  fcSls,  I  think  fcts  might   be 
more  commodiouily  read.     So  we  lay,  affairs  are  now  managed 
by  a  new  fet.    Se8,  however,  may  well  itand.     JOHNSON. 
9   Upon  fucbfacrijiccsi  my  Cordelia, 

The  gods  themfelves  throw  incenfe."  ]  The  thought  is 
extremely  noble,  and  expreffed  in  a  fublime  of  imagery  that 
Seneca  fell  fliort  of  on  the  like  occafion.  "  Ecce  fpeftaculum 
dignum  ad  quod  refpiciat  intentus  open  fuo  deus  :  ecce  par  deo 
dignum,  vir  fortis  cum  mala  fortuna  compofitus."  WARBURTON. 
1  And  f re  us  hence,  like  foxes. — ]  I  have  been  informed  that  it 
is  ufual  to  fmoke  foxes  out  of  their  holes. 

So,  in  Harrington's  translation  of  Ariojlo,  book  xxvii.  ftan.  17: 
'  Ev'n  as  a  foxe  \v\\omfmoke  and  fire  doth  fright 
*  So  as  he  dare  not  in  the  ground  remaine, 


Again, 


grc 

'  Bolts  out,  and  through  tacjfafkt  and  fire  he  flieth 

Into  the  tarier's  mouth  and  there  he  dieth." 
n  Every  Man  out  of  bis  Humour  : 
my  walk,  and  all, 

from,  as  if  I  were  a/w."    STEEVE.VS. 

The 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          447 

*  The  goujeers  fhall  devour  them,  J  flefh,  and  fell, 
Erethey  fhall  makeusweep:  we'll  fee  them  ftarvcfirft. 
Come.  [Exeunt  Lear,  and  Cordelia,  guarded. 

Edm.  Come  hither,  captain  ;  hark. 
Take  thou  this  note;  go,  follow  them  to  prifon : 
One  flep  I  have  advanc'd  thee  ;  if  thou  doft 
As  this  inftructs  thee,  thou  doft  make  thy  way 
To  iioble  fortunes  :  Know  thou  this, — that  ilien 
Are  as  the  time  is  :  to  be  tender-minded 
Does  not  become  a  fword  : — *Thy  great  employment 

'  Will 

*  Tie  goujeers  JhaJl  devour  them,  -  •  •  ]  The  goujeres,  i.e. 
Aforbus  Gallicus.  Gouge,  Fr.  iignifies  one  of  the  common  wo-« 
men  attending  a  camp  ;  and  as  that  diieafe  was  firft  difoerfed  over 
Europe  by  the  French  army,  and  the  women  who  followed  it, 
the  firft  name  it  obtained  among  us  was  the  gougerics,  i.  e»  the 
difeafe  of  the  gouges.  HANMER. 

The  refolute  John  Florio  has  fadly  miftaken  thefe gonjccrs.    He 
ires   '*  With   a  good  yeare  to  thee  !"  and  gives  it  in  Italian, 
anno  che  dio  ti  dia."    FARMER. 

Jlejb  and  fell,]  Flefli  and  Ikin.     JOHNSON-. 

-Aejb  and  felly]  So,  Skelton's  works,  p.  257. 
«'  Nakydafyde  : 

"  Neither  flcjh  nor/-//." 
Chaucer  ufes/^/and  loues  iorftin  and  bones  t 

**  And  faid  that  he  and  all  his  kinnc  at  once, 
"  Were  worthy  to  be  brent  with  /t7/and  fattei*9 

Troilus  and  CreJJeiilc.     Ga  A  Y. 

In  the  Dyafs  Playy  among  the  Chefter  Collection  of  Myjlerie^ 
in  the  Mufeum,  Antlchrlft  fays  : 

"  I  made  thee  man  of  JleJJj  and^//."    STEEVENS. 

*   Thy  great  employment 

Will  not  bear  qutjllon  ; ^-]  Mr.  Theobald  could  not 

let  this  alone,  but  would  alter  it  to 

li'Iy  great  employment, 

Becnufe  (he  fays)  the  perfon  fpoken  to  was  of  no  higher  degree 
than  a  captain.  But  he  miitakes  the  meaning  of  the  words.  By 
great  employment  was  meant  the  commljfion  given  him  for  the  mur- 
d«r;  and  this,  the  Baftsrd  tells  us  afterwards,  was  figned  by 
Goneril  and  himfelf.  Which  was  fufficient  to  make  this  cap- 
tain  vnacceanta&U  for  the  execution.  A^AREURTON. 

The  meaning,  I  apprehend,  i?,  r.ot  that   the  captain  wis  not 

accountable  for  what  he  was  about  to  do,  biir,  that  the  important 

buf:ncis  he  now  had  in  hand,  did  rot  admit  of  debate :  he  roult 

N  n  2  inftatuly 


548         K    I    N     G      L    E    A    R. 

Will  not  bear  queftion ;  either  fay,  thou'lt 
Or  thrive  by  other  means. 

Copt.  I'll  do't,  my  lord. 

Edm.  About  it;  and  write  happy,  whenthou  haft 

done. 

Mark, — I  fay,  inftantly  ;  and  carry  it  fo, 
As  I  have  fet  it  down. 

Copt.  s  I  cannot  draw  a  cart,  nor  eat  dry'd  oats ; 
If  it  be  man's  work,  I  will  do  it.  [Exit  Capt. 

Flourlfi.     Enter  Albany,  Goneril,  Regan,  and  Soldiers* 

Alb.  Sir.,  you  have  fhewn  to-day  your  valiant  flrain. 
And  fortune  led  you  well ;  You  have  the  captives 
Who  were  the  oppofites  of  this  day's  ftrife  : 
We  do  require  them  of  you  ;  fo  to  ufe  them, 
As  we  lhall  find  their  merits  and  OUT  fafety 
May  equally  determine. 

Edm.  Sir,  I  thought  it  fit 
To  fend  the  old  and  mifcrable  king 
To  fome  retention,  and  appointed  guard ; 
Whole  age  has  charms  in  it,  whofe  title  morey 
To  pluck  the  common  bofom  on  his  fide, 
6  And  turn  our  impreft  lances  in  our  eyes 
Which  do  command  them.     With  him  I  fent  the 

queen ; 

My  reafon  ail  the  fame  ;  and  they  are  ready 
To-morrow,  or  at  a  further  fpacc,  to  appear 

inftantly  refolve  to  do  it,  or  not.     Z^trfion,  here,  as  in  many 
other  places  in  thefe  plays,  fignifies  Jifcourfe—converfation. 

See  Hamlet,  a«5t  I :  "  Thou  com'it  in  fuch  a  fiigjf*M0£&ihape." 
— —  and  the  note  there.     M ALONE. 

*  I  cannot  draw,  &c.J  Thelc  two  lines  I  have  reflored  'from 
the  old  quarto.     STEEVENS. 

6   And  turn  our  impreft  lances  in  onreyet^]  \.  e.  Turn  the£z««c^« 
men  which  are prefid  into  our  fervice,  againit  us. 

So,  in  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  a<ft  III.  fc.  vii : 

"  people 

**  Ingroft  by  fwift  imprej?'    STEEVENS. 

Where 


KING       L    E     A  ,  R.          549 

Where  you  ihall  hold  your  feffion.     [7  At  this  time, 
We  fweat,  and  bleed  :  the  friend  hath  loft  his  friend  ; 
And  the  beft  quarrels,  in' the  heat,  are  curs'd 

By  thofe  that  feel  their  fharpnefs : 

The  queftion  of  Cordelia,  and  her  father, 

*  Requiresva  fitter  place.] 

Alb.  Sir,  by  your  patience, 
I  hold  you  but  a  fubjedt  of  this  war, 
Not  as  a  brother. 

Reg.  That's  as  we  lift  to  grace  him. 
Methinks,  our  plea fu re  might  have  been  demanded, 
Ere  you  had  fpoke  lo  far.     He  led  our  powers ; 
9  Bore  the  commiflion  of  my  place  and  perfon  ; 
1  The  which  immediacy  may  well  ftand  up, 
And  call  itfelf  your  brother. 

Con.  Not  fo  hot : 

*  In  his  own  grace  he  doth  exalt  himfclf, 
More  than  in  your  advancement. 

Reg.  In  my  rights, 
By  me  inverted,  he  compeers  the  beft. 

Alb.  That  were  the  moft,  if  he  fhould  huiband  you. 

Reg.  Jcfters  do  oft  prove  prophets. 

Gon.  Holla,  holla  ! 
That  eye,  that  told  you  fo,  look'd  but  a-fquint  *. 

7  At  tbh  time,  &c.]  This  paflage,  well  worthy  of  reiteration, 
is  omitted  in  the  folio.     JOHNSON. 

8  Requires  a  fitter  place. ~\   i.e.  The  determination  of  the  quef- 
tion what  fnall    be  done  with  Cordelia  and  her  rather,  fhould  be 
referred  for  greater  privacy.     STEEVENS. 

9  Bore  the  commiffion  of ]  Comm'JJion,  for  authority. 

WAR  BURTON. 

1   T/JC  ivZ>;V/>  immediacy ]  Immediacy,   for  reprefentation. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

Immediacy  is  rather  fuprcmacy  in  oppofition  to  fubordination^ 
which  has  quiddam  medium  between  iticlr"  and  power.  JOHNSON. 

1  In  bis  <Kcn  grace ]  Grace  here  means  accomplijbments,  or 

honours.     STEEVENS. 

3  The  eye  that  told  you  fa,  lootfd  lut  a-fqulnt."]  Alluding  to  the 
proverb  :  "  Love  being  jealous  makes  a  good  eye  look  af^uint" 
tJce  Ray's  Collcfticn.  STEEVENS.  . 

N  n  3  Reg. 


KING      LEAR, 

Reg.  Lady,  I  am  not  well ;  elfe  I  mould  anfwer 
From  a  full-flowing  fibmach. — General, 
Take  thou  my  ibldiers,  prifoners,  patrimony  ; 
Difpofe  of  them,  'of  me ;  4  the  walls  are  thine  : 
Wirnefs  the  world,  that  I  create  thee  here 
My  lord  and  mailer. 

Gon.  Mean  you  to  enjoy  him  ? 

Ml.  *  The  let  alone  lies  not  in  your  good  will, 

Edm.  Nor  in  thine,  lord. 

Alb.  Half-blooded  fellow,  yes. 

Reg.  Let  the  drum  ftrike,  and  prove  my  title  thine. 

Alb.  Stay  yet ;   hear  reafon  : — Edmund,  I  arreft 

thee 

On  capital  treafon;  and,  in  thy  arreft6,  [Pointing  to  Gon. 
This  gilded  ferpent : — for  your  claim,  fair  filler, 
I  bar  it  in  the  intereft  of  my  wife ; 
'Tis  me  is  fub- contracted  to  this  lord, 
And  I,  her  hulband,  contradict  your  banes. 
If  you  will  marry,  make  your  love  to  me, 
My  lady  is  befpoke. 

Gon.  7  An  interlude  J 

'Mb.  Thou  art  arm'd^  Glofler  : — Let  the  trumpet 

found  :— — 

If  none  appear  to  prove  upon  thy  pcrfoa* 
Thy  heinous,  manifeft,  and  many  treafons, 
fhere  is  my  pledge  \  I'll  prove  it  on  thy  heart, 

*  '  the  walls  are  tkine  ;~\  A  metaphorical  phrafc  taken  from 
the  camp,  and  lignifying,  to  furrender  at  difirciion.  But  the 
P^ford  Editor,  for  a  plain  reafon  alters  it  to : 

.  tlty  all  are  thine.     WAR  BURTON. 

?  The  let  alone  lia  not  in  your  good  will.  ]  Whether  he  ftiall  not 
p;  (hall  depends  not  on  your  choice.  JOHNSON-. 

6  tly  arrcjl.'}  The  quartos  read — thine  attaint. 

STEEVENS. 

7  An  interlude  ! ]    This  fliort  exclamation  of  Goneril  is 

added  in  the  folio  edition,  1  fuppofe,  only  to  break  the  fpeech 
of  Albany,  that  the  exhibition  on  the  ftage  might  be  more  dif- 
jrir.'ft  and  intelligible.     JOHN-SON. 

1  .?  «— -dy  perfon.]  The  quartos  read — thy  btad.     STEEVENS. 

Ere 


KING      LEAR.         551 

Ere  I  tafte  bread,  thou  art  in  nothing  lefs 
Than  I  have  here  proclaim'd  thee. 

Reg.  Sick,  O,  fick  ! 

Gon.  If  not,  I'll  ne'er  truft  9  poifon.  \_Afide. 

Edm.  There's  my  exchange  :  what  in  the  world 

he  is 

That  names  me  traitor,  villain-like  he  lies : 
Call  by  thy  trumpet :  he  that  dares  approach, 
On  him,  on  you,  (who  not  ?)  I  will  maintain 
My  truth  and  honour  firmly. 

Alb.  A  'herald,  ho  ! 

Edm.  A  herald,  ho,  a  herald  '  ! 

Rnter  a  Plerald. 

Alb.  Trufl  to  thy  iingle  virtue ;  for  thy  foldiers, 
All  levied  in  my  name,  have  in  my  name 
Took  their  difcharge. 

Reg.  This  ficknefs  grows  upon  me. 

Alb.  She  is  not  well ;  convey  her  to  my  tent. 

[Exit  Regan,  led. 

Come  hither,  herald, — Let  the  trumpet  found,— 
And  read  out  this. 

Copt.  Sound  trumpet 2.  [A  trumpet  founds. 

Herald  reads. 

If  any  man  of  quality,  or  degree,  J  w';ti»n  the  lifts  of 
tie  army,  will  maintain  upon  Edmund,  fuppofid  earl  of 
Glojler,  that  he  is  a  manifold  traitor,  let  him  appear  by 
the  third  found  of  the  trumpet :  He  is  bold  in  his  defence. 

9  poifon.1  The  folio  reads  medicine.     STEEVEXS. 

»  _— a  herald.]  This  fpeech  I  have  reftored  from  the  quartos, 

STEEVENS. 
*  Sound  trumpet."]  I  have  added  this  from  the  quartos. 

STEEVENS. 

3  . within  the  lifts  of  the  army, ]  The  quartos  read  : 

——within  the  bojl  of  the  army. STEEVENS. 

N  n  4  Edm. 


KING.     LEAR. 

.   Sound.  [i  trumpet* 

Her.  Again.  [2  trumpet. 

H.r,  Again.  [3  trumpet* 

[Trumpet  anfwers,  within* 

Enter  Edgar,  armed. 

'Alb.  Aik  him  his  purpofes,  why  he  appears 
Upon  this  call  o'  the  trumpet. 

Her.  What  are  you? 

Your  name,  your  quality?  and  why  you  anfwer 
This  prefent  fummons  ? 

Edg.  Know,  my  name  is  loft ; 
By  treafon's  tooth  bare-gnawn,  and  canker-bit : 
Yet  am  I  noble  %  as  the  adverfary 
I  come  to  cope  withal, 

Alb.  Which  is  that  adverfary  ? 

Edg.  What's  he,  that  fpeaks  for  Edmund  earl  of 
Glofter  ? 

Etim.  Himfelf ;— What  fay 'ft  thou  to  him  ? 

Edg.  Draw  thy  fword  ; 
That,  if  my  fpeech  offend  a  noble  heart, 
Thy  arm  may  do  thee  juilice  :  here  is  mine. 
.3  Behold,  it  is  the  privilege  of  mine  honours, 

My 

ft  Tct  am  I  nolle,  £c.]  One  of  the  quartos  reads : 
— • — yet  fire  Imorft 

IVljcre  is  the  adverfhrie  I  come  to  cope  withal  ? 
i— are  I  moiSt,  is,  I  fuppofe,  a  corruption  of — ere  I  move  it, 

STEEVENS. 
3  Behold,  it  is  the  privilege  of  mine  boncurs^ 

My  oath)  and  my  profejjion.         •  ] 

The  charge  he  is  here  going  to  bring  againft  the  Baftard,  lie 
calls  the  privilege,  &c.  To  underfland  which  phrafeelogy,  \ve 
muft  confider  thut  the  old  rites  of  knighthood  are  here  alluded  to  ; 
whofe  oath  and  profeffion  required  him  to  tlifcovcr  all  treafons, 
and  whofe  privilege  it  was  to  have  his  challenge  accepted,  or 
othenvife  to  have  his  charge  taken  pro  confejjb.  For  if  one  who 
was  no  knight  accufed  another  who  was,  that  other  was  under  no 
obligation  to  accept  the  challenge,  On  this  account  it  was  ne- 

cefiary, 


K    I     N     G      L    E    A    R.          553 

My  oath,  and  my  profeffion  :  I  proteft,— 
Maugre  thy  flrength,  youth,  place,  and  eminence, 
Befpight  thy  vidtor  fword,  and  fire-new  fortune, 
Thy  valour,  and  thy  heart, — thou  art  a  traitor : 
Falfe  to  thy  gods,  thy  brother,  and  thy  father  ; 

4  Confpirant  *gainft  this  high  illuftrious  prince; 
And,  from  the  extremeft  upward  of  thy  head. 
To  the  defcent  and  dull  beneath  thy  feet, 

A  moll  toad-fpotted  traitor.     Say  thou,  No9 
This  fword,  this  arm,  and  my  beft  fpirits,  are  bent 
To  prove  upon  thy  heart,  whereto  I  fpeak, 
Thou  Heft. 

Edm.  In  wifdom,  I  ihould  afk  thy  name ; 
But,  fince  thy  out-fide  looks  fo  fair  and  warlike, 

5  And  that  thy  tongue  fome  fay  of  breeding  breathes, 
What  fafe  and  nicely  I  might  well  delay 

cefftry,  as  Edgar  came  difguifed,  to  tell  the  Baltard  he  was  a 
knight.     WAR  BUR  TON. 

*l'he  privilege  of  this  oath  means  the  privilege  gained  by  tak- 
ing the  oath  adminitiered  in  the  regular  initiation  of  a  knight 
profefled.  JOHNSON. 

The  quartos  read, — it  is  the  privilege  of  my  tongue.  STEEVENS. 

*  Confpirant  'gaitift ]  The  quartos  read  : 

Confpicuate  'gainft STKEVENS. 

5  An  d  that  thy  tongue  "fame  'fay  cf  I  reading  breathes ;  ]   'Say,  for 
fjfy,  fome  ftew  or  probability.     POPE. 
Pay  is  fample,  a  tafte.     So,  in  Sidney : 
11  So  good  ^.fay  invites  the  eye 

"  A  little  downward  to  efpy " 

Again,  in  the  Preface  to  Maurice  Kyffin's  tranfiation  of  the 
Andria  of  Terence,    1588  : 

«'  Some  other  like  places  I  could  recite,  but  thefe  (hall  fuf- 
fice  for  a/?y." 
Again,  in  Revenge  for  Henoury  by  Chapman  : 

*' — But  pray  do  not 

"  Take  the  i\r(\fay  of  her  yourfelves " 

Again,  in  The  Unnatural  Combat,  by  Mallinger  : 

*'  or  to  take 

**  Ay^ry  of  venifon  or  dale  fowl  — " 

Again,    in  Holinjbe^  p.  847  :  "  He   (C.  Wolfe}-)  made  dulc« 
SUid  erles  to  ferve  him  of  winet  with  a//y  taken,  &c." 

STEEVEXS. 


554         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

By  rule  of  knighthood,  I  difdain  and  fpurn  : 
Back  do  I  tofs  thefe  treafons  to  thy  head ; 
With  the  hell-hated  lie  overwhelm  thy  heart ; 
Which,  (for  they  yet  glance  by,  and  fcarcely  bruife) 
This  fvvord  of  mine  fhall  give  them  inflant  way, 
Where  they  fhall  reft  for  ever.— Trumpets,  fpeak. 

[Alarm.     Fight.     Edmund  falls. 
6  Alb.  Save  him,  fave  him  ! 

Gon.  This  is  mere  practice,  Glofter  : 
By  the  law  of  arms,  7  thou  waft  not  bound  to  anfwe? 
An  unknown  oppofite  ;  thou  art  not  vanquiih'd, 
But  cozen'd  and  beguil'd. 

Alb.  Shut  your  mouth,  dame, 
Or  wjth  this  paper  fhall  I  flop  it : — Hold,  fir  : — 
Thou  worfe  than  any  name,  read  thine  own  evil  :— 
No  tearing,  lady ;  I  perceive,  you  know  it, 

[Gives  the  letter  to  Edmund. 

Gon.  Say,  if  I  do ;  the  laws  are  mine,  not  thine  ; 
Who  lhall  arraign  me  for't  ? 

Alb.  8  Monfter,  know'ft  thou  this  paper  ? 

Gon.  Afk  me  not  what  I  know.  \Exit  Gon, 

f  Alb.  Save  him,  fave  him  ! 

Gop.  This  is  mere  pra&ice,  Glofter :] 

Thus  all  the  copies ;  but  I  have  ventured  to  place  the  two  he- 
miftichs  to  Goneril.  'Tis  abfurd  that  Albany,  who  knew  Ed- 
mund's treafons,  and  his  own  wife's  paffion  for  him,  fhould  be 
folicitous  to  have  his  life  faved.  THEOBALD. 

He  defired  that  Edmund's  life  might  be  fpared  at  prefent, 
only  to  obtain  his  confeflion,  and  to  convict  him  openly  by  his 
own  letter.  JOHNSON. 

7  — ttiffu  waft  not  lound  to  anfivcr]  One  of  the  quartos  reads  ; 

thou  art  not  bound  to  offer,  &c.     STEEVENS. 

•  Moajlcr,  knovJ'ft  jkou  this  paper?}  So  the  quarto;  but  the 
folio  : 

Moftmonftrous!  O,  know'ft  thou,  &c.     JOHNSON. 
"  Knoweft  thou  thefe  letters?"  fays  Leir  to  Ragan,  in  the 
old  anonymous  play,    when    he  (hews  her  both  her  own  and 
her  filter's  letters,    which    were   written  to   procure  his  death. 
Upon  which  (he  {hatches  the  letters  and  tears  them. 

STEEVENS. 


KING      LEAR, 

Alb.  Go  after  her  ;  fhe's  defperate  ;  govern  her. 

Edm.  What  you  have  charg'd  me  with,   that  I 

have  done  ; 

And  more,  much  more  :  the  time  will  bring  it  out ; 
'Tis  paft,  and  fo  am  I  :  But  what  art  thou, 
Tbat  haft  this  fortune  on  me  ?  If  thou  art  noble, 
I  do  forgive  thee. 

£dg.  '  Let  us  exchange  chanty. 
I  am  no  lefs  in  blood  than  thou  art,  Edmund  ; 
If  more,  the  more  thou  haft  wrong'd  me. 
My  name  is  Edgar,  and  thy  father's  fon. 
The  gods  are  juft,  and  of  our  plealant  vices 
Make  inftruments  z  to  fcourge  us  : 
The  dark  and  vicious  place  where  thee  he  got, 
Coft  him  his  eyes. 

Edm.  Thou  haft  fpoken  right,  Yis  true ; 
The  wheel  is  come  $  full  circle;  I  am  here. 

Alb.  Methought,  thy  very  gait  did  prophefy 
A  royal  noblenefs  : — I  muft  embrace  thee  ; 
Let  forrow  fplit  my  heart,  if  ever  I 
Did  hate  thee,  or  thy  father ! 

Edg.  Worthy  prince,  I  know  it. 

jttb.  Where  have  you  hid  yourfelf? 
HOW  have  you  known  the  miferies  of  your  father  ? 

Edg.  By  nurlingthem,  my  lord.  Lift  a  brief  tale; — • 
And,  when  'tis  told,  O,  that  my  heart  would  burft  !— * 
The  bloody  proclamation  to  efcape, 
That  follow'd  me  fo  near,  (O  our  lives'  fwcetnefs  ! 

1  Let  us  exchange  charity. ]  Our  author  by  negligence  gives  his 
heathens  the  fentiments  and  practices  or"  chrillianity.  In  Ham- 
Jet  there  is  the  fame  folemn  aft  of  final  reconciliation,  but  with 
exaft  propriety,  for  the  perfonages  are  Chriftians  : 

*'  Exchange  forgivenefs  with  me,  noble  Hamlet,  &c." 

JOHNSON. 

*  to  fiourgr  us:]  Thus  the  quartos.     The  folio  reads : 

-to  jMgtrf  a*.     STEEVENS. 

'  - full  circle  ; «— - ]  Quarto,  full  circ 'led.     JOHNSO.V, 

That 


556          K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

*  That  we  the  pain  of  death  would  hourly  bear, 
Rather  than  die  at  once  !)  taught  me  to  fhift 
Into  a  mad-man's  rags  ;  to  aflame  a  femblance 
That  very  dogs  difdain'd  :  and  in  this  habit 
Met  I  my  father  with  his  bleeding  rings, 
Their  precious  ftones  new  loft ;  became  his  guide, 
Led  him,  begg'd  for  him,  fav'd  him  from  defpair  j 
Never  (O  fault!)  reveal'd  myfelf  unto  him. 
Until  fome  half  hour  paft,  when  I  was  arm'd, 
Not  fure,  though  hoping,  of  this  good  fuccefs, 
I  afk/d  his  bleffing,  and  from  firft  to  laft 
Told  him  my  pilgrimage  :   But  his  flaw'd  heart, 
(Alack,  too  weak  the  conflict  to  fupport !) 
'Twixt  two  extremes  of  paflion,  joy  and  grief, 
Burft  fmilingly. 

Edm.  This  fpeech  of  yours  hath  mov'd  me, 
And  {hall,  perchance,  do  good  :  but  fpeak  you  on  \ 
You  lopk  as  you  had  fomething  more  to  fay. 

Alb.  If  there  be  more,  more  xvoeful,  hold  it  in  ; 
For  I  am  almoft  ready  to  diflblve, 
Hearing  of  this. 

[$  Edg.  6  —This  would  have  fecm'd  a  period 

To 

*  77v*/  iut  the  pain  of,  death  "Mould  hourly  bear, 
Rather  than  die  at  cnce) ] 

The  folio  reads, 

That  iue  the  pain  of  death  would  hourly  /&V, 
Mr.  Pope,  whom  I  have  followed,  reads, 

would  hourly  Lear. 

The  quartos  give  the  paflTage  thus  : 

That  with  the  pain  of  death  would  hourly  dle% 

Rather  than  die  at  once) STEEVENS. 

5  Edg.]  The  lines  between  crotchets  are  not  in  the  folio. 

JOHNSON, 

*  7%/j  ivould  have  fcen? d  a  period 
Tofuch  as  love  not  farrovj :  but  another, 

7"o  amplify  too  much,  would  make  much  more, 

Aid  top  extremity  !  •— 

The  reader  eafily  lees  that  this  reflection  refers  to  the  Badard's 
defiring  to  hear  more  j  and  to  Albany's  thinking  he  had  faid 

enough. 


KING      LEAR.         557 

To  fuch  as  love  not  forrow ;   but,   another ; — 
To  amplify  too-much,  would  make  much  more, 

And  top  extremity  : 

Whilft  I  was  big  in  clamour,  came  there  in  a  man, 
Who  having  feen  me  in  my  worft  eflate, 
Shunn'd  my  abhorr'd  fociety ;  but  then,  finding 
Who  'twas  that  fo  endur'd,  with  his  ftrong  arms 
He  faften'd  on  my  neck,  and  bellow'd  out 
As  he'd  burft  heaven  ;  7  threw  him  on  my  father  ; 
Told  the  moft  piteous  tale  of  Lear  and  him, 
That  ever  ear  receiv'd  :  which  in  recounting, 
His  grief  grew  puiflant,  and  the  firings  of  life 
Began  to  crack  :   Twice  then  the  trumpet  founded, 
And  there  I  left  him  tranc'd. 

Alb.  But  who  was  this  ? 

Edg.  Kent,  fir,  the  banifn'd  Kent ;  who  in  difguife 
Follow'd  his  enemy  king,  and  did  him  fervice 
Improper  for  a  flave.] 

enough.     But  it  is  corrupted  into  miferable  nonfenfe.     We  fhoul<J 
read  it  thus  : 

This  would  have  feem'd  a  period.     But  fuch 

As  love  to  -amplify  another's  forrow, 

To  much,  would  make  much  more,  and  top  extremity. 
i.  e.  This  to  a  common  humanity  would  have  been  thought  the 
utmolt  of  my  fufferings  ;  but  fuch   as  love  cruelty  are  always  for 
adding  much  to  more,  till  they  reach  the  extremity  of  mifery. 

WAR  BUR  TON. 

The  fenfe  may  probably  be  this.  This  --.wu/J  l>ave  feemeJ  a 
period  to  fucb  as  love  not  forro*iv ',  but, — another^  i.e.  but  I  mulk 
add  another,  i.  e.  another  period,  another  kind  of  conclufion  to 
my  ftorv,  fuch  as  will  increafe  the  horrors  of  what  has  been  al- 
ready told. 
So  in  King  Richard  II: 

I  play  the  torturer,  by  fmall  and  fmall, 

To  lengthen  out  the  worft- •     STEEVENS, 

7 threw  him  on  my  father  ;]  The  quartos  read, 

' ' threw  me  on  my  father." 

The  modern  editors  have  corrected  the  paflage,    as   it  is  nowr 
printed.     STEEYENS. 

Enter 


K    I    N    (i      LEAR. 


Enter  a  Gentleman  baftily,  with  a  bloody  knife* 

Gent.  Help!   help!   O  help  ! 

Edg.  What  kind  of  help  ? 

Alb.  Speak,  man. 

Edg.  What  means  this  bloody  knife  ? 

Gent.  'Tis  hot,  it  fmoaks  ; 
It  came  even  from  the  heart  of O  !  fhe's  dead  * ! 

Alb.  Who,  man  ?  fpeak '. 

Gent.  Your  lady,  fir,  your  lady  :   and  her  fifter 
By  her  is  poifon'd  ;  ihe  hath  confefs'd  it. 

Edm.  I  was  contracted  to  them  both  ;  all  three 
Now  marry  in  an  inflant. 

JLnter  Kent. 

'Alb.  Produce  the  bodies,  be  they  alive  or  dead  !-*• 

[Goner il  and  Regan's  bodies  brought  out. 

This  judgment  '  of  the  heavens,    that   makes    us 

tremble, 
Touches  us  not  with  pity. 

Edg.  *  Here  comes  Kent,   fir. 

Alb.  O  !   is  this  he  ?  The  time  will  not  allow 
The  compliment  which  very  manners  urge. 

Kent.  I  am  come 

To  bid  my  king  and  mafter  aye  good  night ; 
Is  he  not  here  ? 

Alb.  Great  thing  of  us  forgot ! > 

8  O  !  fo£ *  Head  !~\  Omitted  In  the  quartos.    STEEVEN-*. 

»  W?jo,  man,  fpeak  f}  The  folio -reads,  Who  dead?  fpeak 
man.  STEEVENS. 

'  Tins  judgment,  &c.]  If  Shakefpeare  had  ftudied  Anftotle  all 
his  life,  he  \vould  not  perhaps  have  been  able  to  mark  with  more 
precifion  the  diiunct  operations  of  terror  vaApity.  TTRWHIT'fv 

a  Here  comet  Kent,  Jir.]  The  manner  in  which  Edgar  here 
mentions  Kent,  feems  to  require  the  lines  which  are  inlerted  from 
the  firft  edition  in  the  foregoing  icene.  JOHNSON-, 

Speak, 


KING      LEAR.         $59 

Speak,  Edmund,   where's  the  king  ?    and  whore's 

Cordelia  ?— 
See'ft  thou  this  object,  Kent  ? 

Kent.  Alack,  why  thus  ? 

Edm.   Yet  Fdmund  was  belov'd  : 
The  one  the  other  poifon'd  for  my  fake, 
And  after  flew  herfelf. 

Alb.  Even  fo. — Cover  their  faces. 

Edm.  I  pant  for  life  : — Some  good  I  mean  to  do, 
Defpight  of  mine  own  nature.     Quickly  fend, — 
Be  brief  in  it, — to  the  cattle ;  for  my  writ 
Is  on  the  life  of  Lear,  and  on  Cordelia  :— 
Nay,  fend  in  time. 

Alb.  Run,  run,  O,  run 

Edg.  To  whom,  my  lord  ? — Who  has  the  office  ? 

fend 
Thy  token  of  reprieve. 

Edm.  Well  thought  on ;  take  my  fword, 
3  Give  it  the  captain. 

Edg.  Hafte  thee  for  thy  life.  [Exit  Mffinger* 

Edm.  He  hath  commifHon  from  thy  wife  and  me 
To  hang  Cordelia  in  the  prifon,  and 
To  lay  the  blame  upon  her  own  defpair, 
*  That.fhe  fordid  herfelf. 

AW.  The  gods  defend  her !  Bear  him  hence  awhile. 

{Edmund  h  borne  of. 

Enter  Lear,  with  J  Cordelia  dead  in  his  arms. 

Lear.  Howl,    howl,   howl,  howl ! — O,   you   are 
men  of  ftones  ; 

Had 

*  Give  it  the  captain.'}  The  quartos  read : 

Take  my  fword,  the  captain, 
Give  it  the  captain.  STEEVENS. 

*  That  fie  fordid  her/elf. \   To  forJot    lignifies   to  deftroy.     It 
U  ufed  again  in  Hamlet,  aft  V  : 

"  : did,  with  defperate  hand, 

"  Fordo  his  own  life.1  STEEVENS. 

5  Corddia  dead  in  bit  arms.']  This  priucefs,  according 

to 

a 


560        K    I    N    G      L    £    A    &. 

Had  I  your  tongues  and  eyes,  I'd  ufe  them  fo 
That  heaven's  vault  Ihould  crack  :  —  O,  Ihe  is  gone 

for  ever  !  — 

I  know  when  one  is  dead,   and  when  one  lives  ; 
She's  dead  as  earth  :  —  Lend  me  a  looking-glafs  ; 
If  that  her  breath  will  mill  or  ftain  the  ftone, 
Why,  then  ihe  lives. 

Kent.  Is  this  the  promis'd  end  ? 

Edg.  6  Or  image  of  that  horror  ? 

M.  7  Fall,  and  ceafe  ! 


to  the  old  hiftorians,  retired  with  viftory  frorfi  the  battle  which 
fhe  conduced  in  her  father's  caufe,  and  thereby  replaced  him  on 
the  throne  :  but  in  a  fubfequent  one  fought  Bgainft  her  (after 
the  death  of  the  old  king)  by  the  Ions  of  Goneril  and  Regan^ 
flic  was  taken,  and  died  miferably  in  prifon.  The  poet  found 
this  in  hiflory,  and  was  therefore  willing  to  precipitate  her 
death,  which  he  knew  had  happened  but  a  few  years  after.  The 
dramatic  writers  of  this  age  fuffercd  as  fmall  a  number  of  their 
heroes  and  heroines  to  efcape  as  pofiible  ;  nor  could  the  filial  piety 
of  this  lady,  any  more  than  the  innocence  of  Ophelia,  prevail  on, 
Shakefpeare  to  extend  her  life  beyond  her  misfortunes.  STEEVENS. 

6  Or  image,  &c.~]  Thefe  two  exclamations  are  given  to  Edgar 
and  Albany  in  the  folio,  to  animate  the  dialogue,  and  employ 
all  the  perlbns  on  the  ftagej  but  they  are  very  obfcure.  JOHXSON. 

Or  image  of  that  horror?]  In  the  firll  folio  this  fliort  ipeech  of 
Edgar  (which  feems  to  be  only  an  addition  to  the  preceding  one 
of  Kent)  has  a  full  ftop  at  the  end.  Is  this  condition,  fays  Kent, 
fuch  at  the  prefent  turn  of  affairs  fcemcd  to  promfe  ?  Or  is  it  only, 
replies  Edgar,  a  reprcfentation  of  that  horror  ivaich  ivefuppofe  to  be 
real?  A  fimilar  expreflion  occurs  at  the  beginning  of  the  play.— 
/  have  told  you  nubat  1  have  fcen  and  beard,  but  faintly  ;  nothing 
like,  the  image  and  horror*?/"//.  STEEVEMS. 

7  Fall,  and  ceafc  /]    This    exclamation  of  Albany,    like  the 
other,  may  have  a  meaning  affixed  to  it.     He  is  looking  with  at- 
tention on  the  pains  employed  by  Lear  to  recover  his  child,  and 
knows  to  what  miferies  he  muft  furvive,  when  he  finds  them  ta 
}>e  ineffeftual.     Having  thefe  images  prefuit  to  his  eyes  and  ima- 
gination,  he  cries  out,  Rather  fall,  and  ceafc  to  be,  at  once,  than 
continue  in  exigence  only  to  be  wretcbcd.     So,  in  All's  Well,  &c.    to 
teafe  is  ufed  for  to  die  :  and  in  Hamlet,  the  death  of  imjeily  is 
called  "  the  ceafe  of  majcity." 

Again,  in  AW*  Well  t  bat  Ends  Well: 

**  Or,  ere  they  meet,  in  me,  O  nature,  ceafc  ! 

"  Both 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.         56! 

Lear.  This  feather  flirs  8 ;  flie  lives  !  if  it  be  fo, 
It  is  a  chance  that  does  redeem  all  forrows 
That  ever  I  have  felt. 

Kent.  O  my  good  maflcr  !  [Kneelin<rt 

Lear.  Pr'ythee,  away. 

Edg.  'Tis  noble  Kent,  your  friend. 

Lear.   A  plague  upon  you,  murderers,  traitors  all ! 
I  might  have  fav'd  her  ;  now  ihe's  gone  for  ever  I—- 
Cordelia, Cordelia,  flay  a  little.     Ha-! 
What  is't  thou  iay'il  ? — Her  voice  was  ever  foft, 
Gentle,  and  low  ;  an  excellent  thing  in  woman  :— • 
I  kill'd  the  ilave  that  was  a  hanging  thee. 

Gent.  'Tis  true,  my  lords,  he  did. 

Lear.  Did  I  not,  fellow  ? 
I  have  feen  the  day  9,  with  my  good  biting  faul- 

chion 

I  would  have  made  them  fkip  :  I  am  old  now, 
And  thefe  fame  crofles  fpoil  me. — Who  are  you  ? 
Mine  eyes  are  none  o'  the  beft  : — I'll  tell  you  ftraight. 

Kent.  If  fortune  brag  of  two  fhe  lov'd  and  hated, 
One  of  them  we  behold. 


"  Both  fuffer  under  this  complaint  you  bring, 
"  And  both  (hall  ceqfet  without  your  remedy." 

STEEVENS. 

*  77.ns  feather  fiirs  ; — ]  So,  in  Vittoria  Corombona,   1612: 
*'  Fetch  a  looking-glafs,  fee  if  his  breath  will  not  {rain  it ;  or 
pull  fame  feathers  from  my  pillow,  and  lay  them  to  his  lips." 

STEEVENS. 
9  I  have  feen  the  day,  ivitb  my  good  liting  faulcbion 

I  would  have  made  tbemjkip ] 

It  is  difficult  for  an  author  who  never  perufes  his  firft  works,  to 
avoid  repeating  fome  of  the  fame  thoughts  in  his  later  productions. 
What  Lear  has  juft  faid,  had  been  anticipated  by  Juftice  Shallow 
in  the  Merry  Wives  of  Wmdfor :  "  I  have  feen  the  time  with 
my  long  fword  I  would  have  made  you  four  tall  fellows  Ikip  like 
rats."  It  is  again  repeated  in  Othello: 

" —I  have  feen  the  day 

*'  That  with  this  little  arm  and  this  good  fword 
"  I  have  made  my  way,  &c."    STEEVENS. 

VOL.  IX.  O  o  Lear'. 


562         KING      LEAR. 

Lear.  l  This  is  a  dull  fight  :  Are  you  not  Kent  ? 

Kent.  The  fame  ;  your  fervant  Kent : 
Where  is  your  fervant  Caius  ? 

Lear.  He's  a  good  fellow,  I  can  tell  you  that ; 
He'll  ftrike,  and  quickly  too  : — He's  dead  and  rotten, 

Kent.  No,  my  good  lord  ;  I  am  the  very  man  ; — 

Lear.  I'll  fee  that  ftraight. 

Kent.  That,  from  your  firft  *  of  difference  and  decay, 
Have  follow'd  your  fad  fleps. 

Lear.  You  are  welcome  hither. 

Kent.  Nor  no  man  elfe;  all's  checrlefs,  dark,  and 

deadly. — 

Your  eldeft  daughters  have3  fore-doom'd  themfelves-, 
And  defperately  are  dead. 

Lear.  Ay,  fo  I  think. 

Alb.  He  knows  not  what  he  fays  * ;  and  vain  it  is 
That  we  prefent  us  to  him. 

£</£-.  Very  bootlefs. 

Eater  a  Meflenger, 

Mef.  Edmund  is  dead,  my  lord. 
AW.  That's  but  a  trifle  here. 


1   Tils  is  a  dull  fight. ]  This  pafiage  is  wanting  in  the 

quartos.     STEEVENS. 

z of  difference  and  decay,]  Decay  for  misfortunes. 

WARBURTONW 
The  quartos  read  : 

That  from  your  life  of  difference  and  decay.    STEEVENS. 

3  fore-doom'd  tbemfel'ves,]  Thus  the  quartos.     The 
folio  reads, fordone. 

Have  fore-doomed  themfelves  is — have  anticipated  their  own  doom. 
To  fordo  is  to  deitruy..  So,  in  Taylor,  the  water-poet's  chanidtcr 
of  a  &  rum  pet : 

**  So  defperately  had  ne'ctfortbne  themfelves." 
Again,  in  A  Warning  for   feilre  Women,  &c.    1599  :   "  Speak  ; 
who  has  done  this  deed  ?  thou  halt  \\otfordone  thyleu,  hail  thou  ?" 

STEEVENS. 

4  /.*  fays.]  The  quartos  read heyi-«,  which  may  be 

light.     STEVENS. 

You 


KING      LEAR,         563 

You  lords,  and  noble  friends,  know  our  intent. 

5  What  comfort  to  .this  great  decay  may  come, 
Shall  be  npply'd  :  For  us,  we  will  refign, 
During  the  life  of  this  old  majefty, 

To  him  our  abfolute  power  :  —  You,  to  your  rights  ; 

[To  Edgar. 

6  With  boot,  and  fuch  addition  as  your  honours 
Have  more  than  merited.  —  All  friends  Ihall  tafte 
The  wages  of  their  virtue,  and  all  foes 

The  cup  of  their  defervings.  —  O,  fee,  fee  ! 

Lear.  "'  And    my  poor  fool  is   hang'd  !  No,  no, 

no  life  : 

Why  fhould  a  dog,  a  horfe,  a  rat  have  life, 
And  thou  no  breath  at  all  ?  O,   thou  wilt  come  no 

more, 

Never,  never,  never,  never,  never  !  — 
8  Pray  you,  undo  this  button  :  Thank  you,  fir.  —  - 

Do 


5  M^at  comfort  to  this  great  decay,  may  come,'}  Decay,  for  dc- 
fohtion.     A\TAR  BUR  TON. 

This  great  decay  is  Lear,  whom  Shakefpeare  poetically  calls 
fo,  and  means  the  faire  as  if  he  had  faid,  t&is  piece  of  decayed 
royalty,  this  ruin  \l  majefiy.  STEEVENS. 

6  With  bool\  —  ]  With  advantage,  with  increafe.     JOHNSON. 

7  And  my  poor  fool  is  hang  d!  -  ]   This  is   an   expreffion   of 
tendernefs  for  his  dead  Cordelia   (not  his  fool,    as  Ibme  have 
thought)  on  whofe  lips   ht  is   ft  ill-  intent,  and  dies  away  while 
he  is  fearching  for  life  there*     STESV^NS. 

8  Prayyou^  undo  this  button.-     ]  The   rev.   Dr.  J.  Warton  ju- 
dicioufly  obferves,  that  the  twelling  and  heaving  of  the  heart  is 
defcribed  by  this  moil  expreffive  circuaiftance. 

SD,   in  the  Honejl  Lawyer,    1619: 
oh  my  heart  !- 


Again, 


Again, 


It  beats  fo  it  has  broke  my  buttons." 
L  A'.  Richard  III  : 

Ah,  cut  my  lace  afunder, 

That  my  pent  heart  may  have  fome  fcope  to  beat, 

Or  elfe  I  fwoon  with  this  dead-killing  news  !" 
i  The  Jr:>:tcr's  Talc  : 

O,  cut  my  lace  ;  left  my  heart,  cracking  it, 

Break  too'!" 

O  o  a 


564         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

Dp  you  fee  this  ?  Look  on  her,  look  on  her  lips, 
Look  there,  look  there  ! [ffe  dies* 

Edg.  He  faints  ;•—- My  lord,  my  lord, 

Kent.  Break,  heart ;  I  pr'ythee,  break  ! 

Edg.  Look  up,  my  lord, 

Kent.  Vex  not  his  ghoft :    O,  let  him  pafs !  he 

hates  him, 

That  would  upon  the  rack  of  this  tough  world  9 
Stretch  him  out  longer. 

Edg.  O,  he  is  gone,  indeed. 

Kent.  The  wonder  is,  he  hath  endur'd  fo  long  : 
He  but  ufurp'd  his  life. 

Alb.  Bear  them  from  hence. — Our  prefent  bufincfs 
Is  general  woe.  '  Friends  of  my  foul,  you  twain 

[fo  Kent^  and  Edgar. 
Rule  in  this  realm,  and  the  gor'd  ftate  fuftain. 

Kent.  I  have  a  journey,  fir,  fhortly  to  go  ; 
My  matter  calls,  and  *  I  mull  not  fay,  no. 

Alb.  $  The  weight  of  this  fad  time  we  mufl  obey  • 

•»      Speak 

and,  as  Mr»  Malone  adds,  from  N.  Field's  A  Woman's  a  Weather* 

COiky         l6l2: 

"          '  —  fivell  heart !  buttons  fly  open  ! 
*'  Thanks  gentle  doublet, — elfe  my  heart  had  broke." 

STEEVENS. 

»  —  this  tough  -TiW</.]  Thus  all  the  old  copies.  Mr.  Pope 
changed  it  to  rough,  but,  perhaps,  without  neceflity.  This  tough 
world  is  this  obdurate  rigid  world.  STEEVEXS. 

1   Friends  of  my  foul, ]  A  Spanifh  phrafe.     Amiga  de 

ml  alma.     WAR  BURTON. 

z / m lift  not  fay,  no.~\  The  modern  editors  have  fup- 

pofed  that  Kent  expires  after  he  has  repeated  thefe  two  laft  lines  ; 
but  the  fpcech  rather  appears  to  be  meant  for  a  deipairing  than 
a  dying  man  ;  and  as  the  old  editions  give  no  marginal  direction 
for  his  death,  I  have  forborn  to  infert  any. 

I  take  this,  opportunity  of  retracting  a  declaration  which  I  had 
formerly  made  on  the  faith  of  another  perfon,  viz.  that  the 
quartos,  1608,  were  exactly  alike.  I  have  fince  discovered  that 
they  vary  one  from  another  in  many  inftances.  STEEVENS. 

3  7  he  iveigbt  of  this  fad  time ,  &cj  This  fpeech  from  the  au- 
thority of  the  old  quarto  is  rightly  placed  to  Albany  :  in  the 
tditkmjby  the  plavers,  it  is  giveo,,to  Edgar,  by  whom,  I  doubt 


K     I    N    G      L    E     A    R.         565 

Speak  what  we  feel,  not  what  we  ought  to  fay. 
The  oldeft  hath  borne  mofl :  we,   that  are  young, 
Shall  never  fee  fo  much,  nor  live  fo  long. 

[Exeunt,  with  a  dead  march. 

not,  it  was  of  cuftom  fpoken.  And  the  cafe  was  this :  he  who 
•played  Edgar,  being  a  moie  favourite  -a£k>r  than  he  who  per- 
formed Albany,  in  1'pite  of  decorum  it  was  thought  proper  he 
(hould  have  the  lail  word.  THEOBALD. 

THE  tragedy  of  Lear  is  defervedly  celebrated  among  the 
dramas  of  Shakefpeare.  There  is  perhaps  no  play  which 
keeps  the  attention  fo  ftrcngly  fixed;  which  fo  much  agitates 
our  paflions  and  intereits  our  curiofity.  The  artful  involutions 
of  diftinft  interefts,  the  ftriklng  oppofition  of  contrary  charac- 
ters, the  fuddcn  changes  of  fortune,  and  the  quick  fucceflioa 
of  events,  fill  the  mind  with  u  perpetual  tumult  of  indignation, 
pity,  and  hope.  There  is  no  fcene  which  does  not  contribute  to 
the'  aggravation  of  the  diftrefs  or  conduct  of  the  acticn,  an  j 
fcarce  a  line  which  does  not  conduce  to  the  progrefs  of  the 
fcene.  So  powerful  is  the  current  of  the  poet's  imagination,  that 
the  mind,  which  once  ventures  within  it,  is  hurried  irrefiftibly 
along. 

On  the  feeming  improbability  of  Lear's  conduct,  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved,  that  he  is  reprefented  according  to  hiilories  at  that  time 
vulgarly  received  as  true.  And,  perhaps,  if  we  turn  our  thought* 
upon  the  barbarity  and  ignorance  of  the  age  to  which  this  ftory  is 
referred,  it  will  appear  net  fo  unlikely  as  while  we  eftimate  Lear's 
manners  by  our  own.  Such  preference  of  one  daughter  to  an- 
other, or  refignation  of  dominion  on  fuch  conditions,  would  be 
yet  credible,  if  told  of  a  petty  prince  of  Guinea  or  Madagafcar. 
Shakefpeare,  indeed,  by  the  mention  of  his  earls  and  dukes,  has 
given  us  the  idea  of  times  more  civilized,  and  of  life  regulated 
by  fofter  manners ;  and  the  truth  is,  that  though  he  fo  nicely 
difcriminates,  and  fo  minutely  defcribes  the  characters  of  men, 
he  commonly  neglects  and  confounds  the  characters  of  ages,  by 
mingling  cuitoms  ancient  and  modern,  Englifh  and  foreign. 

My  learned  friend  Mr.  Warton,  who  has  in  the  Adventurer 
very  minutely  criticifed  this  play,  remarks,  that  the  mllances  of 
cruelty  are  too  favage  and  (hocking,  and  that  the  intervention  of 
Edmund  deftroys  the  fimplicity  of  the  ftor%",  Thefe  objections 
jnay,  I  think,  be  anfwered,  by  repeating,  that  the  cruelty  of  the 
daughters  is  an  hiftorical  facl,  to  which  the  poet  has  added 
little,  having  only  drawn  it  into  a  feries  by  dialogue  and  action. 
jSqt  I  am  not  able  to  apologize  with  equal  plaufibility  for  the  ex- 
Q  o  (ration 


566         K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R. 

trufion  of  Glofter's  eyes,  which  feems  an  a£t  too  horrid  to  be 
endured  in  dramatic  exhibition,  and  fuch  as  muft  always  compel 
the  mind  to  relieve  its  diitrefs  by  incredulity.  Yet  let  it  be  re- 
membered that  our  author  well  knew  what  would  pleafe  the  au- 
dience for  which  he;  wrote. 

The  injury  done  by  Hdmund  to  the  fimpiicity  of  the  action  is 
abundantly  recompenfed  by  the  addition  of  variety,  by  the  art 
with  which  he  is  made  to  co-operate  with  the  chief  delign,  and 
the  opportunity  which  he  gives  the  poet  of  combining  perfidy 
with  perfidy,  and  connecting  the  wicked  fon  with  the  wicked 
daughters,  to  imprefs  this  important  moral,  that 'villainy  is  never 
at  a  flop,  that  crimes  lead  to  crimes,  and  at  laft  terminate  iu 
ruin. 

But  though  this  moral  be  incidentally  enforced,  Shakefpeare 
has  fuffered  the  virtue  of  Cordelia  to  perilh  in  a  juit  caule,  con- 
trary to  the  natural  ideas  ot  juilice,  to  the  hope  ot  the  reader, 
and,  what  is  yet  more  ft  range,  to  the  faith  of  chronicles.  Yet 
this  conduct  is  juftified.  by  The  Spectator,  who  blames  Tate  for 
giving  Cordelia  luccefs  and  happinefs  in  his  alteration,  and  de- 
clares, that,  in  his  opinion,  the  tragedy  has  Ifljl  half  its  beauty. 
Dennis  has  remarked,  whether  jultly  or  not,  that,  to  fecure  the 
favourable  reception  of  Cato,  the  to-ivn  ivas  porfsncd  nvitb  much 
falje  and  abominable  criticifm,  and  that  endeavours  had  been  ufed 
to  difcredit  and  decry  poetical  juftice.  A  play  in  which  the 
wicked  profper,  and  the  virtuous  mifcarry,  may  doubtlefs  be 
good,  becaufe  it  is  a  juft  reprefentation  of  the  common  events  of 
human  life  :  but  fince  all  reafonable  beings  naturally  love  juftice, 
I  cannot  eafily  be  perfuaded,  that  the  oblervarion  ot  juftice  makes 
a  play  worfe ;  or,  that  if  other  excellencies  are  equal,  the  au- 
dience will  not  always  rife  better  pleafed  from,  the  final  triumph 
of  perfecuted  virtue. 

In  the  prefent  cafe  the  public  has  decided  f.  Cordelia,  from 
the  time  of  Tate,  has  always  retired  with  victory  and  felicity. 
And,  if  my  fenfations  could  add  any  thing  to  the  general  fuf- 
frage,  I  might  relate,  1  was  many  years  ago  fo  fbocked  by  Cor- 
delia's death,  that  I  'know  not  whether  I  ever  endured  to  read 
again  the  lalt  fcenes  of  the  play  till  I  undertook  to  revile<hem  as 
an  editor. 

There  is  another  cnntroverfy  among  the  critics  concerning  th.is 
play.  It  is  difputed  whether  the  predominant  image  in  Lear's 
dilordered  mind  be  the  lofs  of  his  kingdom  or  the  cruelty  of  his 

f  Dr.  Jolinfon  fliould  rather  have  faid  that  the  managers  of  the 
theatres»royal  have  decided,  and  the  public  has  been  obliged  to  ac- 
quitfce  in  their  dccifion.  The  altered  play  has  the  upper  gallery 
On  its  firfe;  the  original  drama  was  parroni/ed  by  Addifon  t 

Yictfix  caufa  D:u  placuit,  fed  victa  C'atcni,     STEEVENS. 

daugH- 


K    I    N    G      L    E    A    R.          567 

aughters.  Mr.  Murphy,  a  very  judicious  critic,  has  evinced 
by  induction  of  particular  pa(Figes,  that  the  cruelty  of  his 
daughters  is  the  primary  fource  of  his  diftrefs,  and  that  the  lofs 
of  royalty  affe&s  him  only  as  a  fecondary  and  fubordinate  evil. 
He  obferves  with  great  juftnefs,  that  Lear  would  move  our  com- 
paffion  but  little,  did  we  not  rather  conlider  the  injured  father 
than  the  degraded  king. 

The  ftory  of  this  play,  except  the  epifode  of  Edmund,  which 
is  derived,  I  think,  from  Sidney,  is  taken  originally  from  Geoffry 
of  Monmouth,  whom  Holingfhed  generally  copied  ;  but  perhaps 
immediately  from  an  old  hiftorical  ballad.  My  reafon  for  be- 
lieving that  the  play  was  polterior  to  the  ballad,  rather  than  the 
ballad  to  the  play,  is,  that  the  ballad  has  nothing  of  Shakefpeare's 
nofturnal  tempell,  which  is  too  ftriking  to  have  been  omitted, 
and  that  it  follows  the  chronicle  ;  it  has  the  rudiments  of  the 
play,  but  none  of  its  amplifications  :  it  firft  hinted  Lear's  mad- 
nefs,  but  did  not  array  it  in  circumftances.  The  writer  of  the 
ballad  added  fomething  to  the  hiftory,  which  is  a  proof  that  he 
would  have  added  more,  if  more  had  occurred  to  his  mind,  and 
jnore  muft  have  occurred  if  he  had  feen  Shakefpeare. 

JOHNSON. 


P  P  4 


<68         K     I    N     G      L    E     A    R. 

A  lamentable  SONG  of  th  Death  of  Klrig  Lelr  and  ki$ 
*Tbree  Daughters. 

*  King  Leironce  ruled  in  this  l.md, 

With  princely  power  and  peace  ; 
And  had  all  things  with  heart's  content, 

That  might  his  joys  increafe. 
Amongft  thofe  things  that  nature  gave, 

Three  daughters  fair  had  he, 
So  princely  feeming  beautiful, 

As  fairer  could  not  be. 

So  on  a  time  it  pleas'd  the  king 

A  queftion  thus  to  move, 
Which  of  his  daughters  to  his  grace 

Could  (hew  the  deareft  love  : 
For  to  my  age  you  bring  content, 

Quoth  he,  then  let  me  hear 
Which  of  you  three  in  plighted  trotk 

The  kindelt  will  appear. 

fo  whom  the  eldeft  thus  begnn  5 

Dear  father,  mind,  quoth  fhe, 
Before  your  face,  to  do  you  good, 

My  blood  fhall  render'^  he  : 
And  for  your  fake  my  bleeding  heart 

Shall  here  be  cut  in  twain, 
Ere  that  I  fee  your  reverend  age 

The  ftnalleil  grief  fuftain. 


i  Kin?  Letr,  &c.]  This  ballad  is  given  from  an  ancient  copy  in  th« 
cL'cn  Carload,  black  letter.     To  the  tune  of,  When  flying  Fame.     It 

here  reprinted  from  Dr.  Percy's  Reliques  of  ancient  EngHJh  Poetry. 
ol.I-  Third  Edit.    SJEEVE.NS. 

And 


KING      LEAR. 

And  fo  will  I,  the  fecond  faid  ; 

Dear  father,  for  your  fake, 
The  worft  of  all  extremities 

I'll  gently  undertake : 
And  ferve  your  highnefs  night  and  day 

With  diligence  and  love  ; 
That  fweet  content  and  quietnefs 

Difcomforts  may  remove. 

Jn  doing  fo,  you  glad  my  foul, 

The  aged  king  reply 'd  ; 
But  what  fayft  thou,  my  youngeft  girl, 

How  is  thy  love  ally'd  ? 
My  love  (quoth  young  Cordelia  then) 

Which  to  your  grace  I  owe, 
Shall  be  the  duty  of  a  child, 

And  that  is  all  I'll  fliow. 

And  wilt  thou  fliew  no  more,  quoth  het 

Than  doth  thy  duty  bind  ? 
I  well  perceive  thy  love  is  fmall, 

When  as  no  more  I  find  : 
Henceforth  I  banifh  thee  my  court 

Thou  art  no  child  of  mine  ; 
Nor  any  part  of  this  my  realm 

By  favour  fhall  be  thine. 

Thy  elder  filters  loves  are  more 

Then  well  I  can  demand, 
To  whom  I  equally  be  flow 

My  kingdome  and  my  land, 
My  pompal  ilate  and  all  my  goods, 

That  lovingly  I  may 
With  thofe  thy  fitters  be  maifltain'4 

Until  my  dying  day. 


Thin 


570 


KING      LEAR, 

Thus  flatt'ring  fpeeches  won  renown 

By  thefe  two  fitters  here  : 
The  third  had  caufelefs  banifhment, 

Yet  was  her  love  more  dear  : 
For  poor  Cordelia  patiently 

Went  wand'ring  up  and  down, 
Unhelp'd,  unpity'd,  gentle  maid, 

Through  many  an  Englifh  town. 

Until  at  lafl  in  famous  France 

She  gentler  fortunes  found  ; 
Though  poor  and  bare,  yet  {lie  was  deem'4 

The  faireft  on  the  ground  : 
Where  when  the  king  her  virtues  heard, 

And  this  fair  lady  feen, 
With  full  confent  of  all  his  court 

He  made  his  wife  and  queen. 

Her  father,  old  king  Leir,  this  while 

With  his  two  daughters  {bud; 
Forgetful  of  their  promis'd  love?. 

Full  foon  the  fame  decay'd  ; 
And  living  in  queen  Ragan's  court, 

The  eldeft  of  the  twain, 
She  took  from  him  his  chiefeft  means^ 

And  moft  of  all  his  train. 

For  whereas  twenty  men  were  wonf 

To  wait  with  bended  knee  : 
She  gave  allowance  but  to  ten, 

And  after  fcarce  to  three  : 
Nay,  one  {he  thought  too  much  for  him  : 

So  took  (he  all  away, 
In  hope  that  in  her  court,  good  king, 

He  would  no  longer  flay. 


Am 


K     I     N     G      L    E    A    R.          571 

Am  I  rewarded  thus,  quoth  he, 

In  giving  all  I  have 
Unto  my  children,   and  to  beg 

For  what  I  lately  gave  ? 
I'll  go  unto  my  Gonorcll ; 

My  fecond  child,  I  know, 
Will  be  more  kind  and  pitiful, 

And  will  relieve  my  woe. 

Full  fa  ft  he  hies  then  to  her  court ; 

Where  when  (he  hears  his  moan 
Return'd  him  anfwer,  That  (lie  griev'd 

That  all  his  means  were  gone  : 
But  no  way  could  relieve  his  wants  ; 

Vet  if  that  he  would  flay 
"Within  her  kitchen,  he  flioukl  have 

What  {bullions  gave  away. 

When  he  had  heard  with  bitter  tears, 

He  made  his  anf-.ver  then  ; 
In  what  I  did  let  me  be  made 

Example  to  all  men. 
I  will  return  again,  quoth  he, 

Unto  my  Ragan's  court ; 
She  will  not  ufe  me  thus,  I  hope, 

But  in  a  kinder  fort. 

Where  when  (he  came,  (lie  gave  command 

To  drive  him  thence  away  : 
When  he  was  well  within  her  court, 

(She  faid)  he  would  not  ftay. 
Then  back  again  to  Gonorell 

The  woeful  king  did  hie, ' 
That  in  her  kitchen  he  might  have 

What  fcullion  boys  fet  by. 

8  But 


£72 


KING      LEAR. 

But  there  of  that  he  was  deny'd, 

Which  flie  had  promifed  late  : 
Por  once  refilling,  he  fhould  not 

Come  after  to  her  gate. 
Thus  'twixt  his  daughters,  for  relief 

He  wander'd  up  and  down  ; 
Being  glad  to' feed  on  beggar's  food, 

That  lately  wore  a  crown. 

And  calling  to  remembrance  then 

His  youngeit  daughter's  words, 
Th.it  faid,  the  duty  of  a  child 

Was  all  that  love  affords : 
But  doubting  to  repair  to  her, 

Whom  he  had  banifh'd  fo, 
Grew  frantic  mad  ;  for  in  his  mind 

He  bore  the  wounds  of  woe. 

Which  made  him  rend  his  milk -white  locks 

And  trefTes  from  his  head, 
And  all  with  blood  beftain  his  cheeks, 

With  age  and  honour  fprend  : 
To  hills  and  woods  and  wat'ry  founts, 

He  made  his  hourly  mor.n, 
Till  hills  and  woods  and  fenfclefs  things, 

Did  feem  to  figh  and  groan. 

Even  thus  poflefs'd  with  difcontents, 

He  pafTed  o'er  to  France, 
In  hope  from  fair  Cordelia  there 

To  find  fome  gentler  chance  : 
Moft  virtuous  dame  !  which  when  flie  heard 

Of  this  her  father's  grief, 
As  duty  hound,   flie  quickly  fent 

Him  conuort  and  relief: 


KING      LEAR.         573 

And  by  a  train  of  noble  peers, 

In  brave  and  gallant  fort, 
She  gave  in  charge  he  fhould  be  brought 

To  Aganippus'  court ; 
Whofe  royal  king,  with  noble  mind, 

So  freely  gave  confent, 
To  mufter  up  his  knights  at  arms, 

To  fame  and  courage  bent. 

And  fo  to  England  came  with  fpeed, 

To  repoflefs  king  Leir, 
And  drive  his  daughters  from  their  throne* 

By  his  Cordelia  dear : 
Where  ftie,  true  hearted  noble  queen, 

Was  in  the  battle  (lain  : 
Yet  he,  good  king,  in  his  old  days, 

Poflefs'd  his  crown  again. 

But  when  he  heard  Cordelia's  death, 

Who  dy'd  indeed  for  love 
Of  her  dear  father,  in  whofe  caufe 

She  did  this  battle  move  ; 
He  fwooning  fell  upon  her  breafr, 

From  whence  he  never  parted : 
But  on  her  bofom  left  his  life, 

That  was  fo  truly  hearted. 

The  lords  and  nobles  when  they  faty 

The  ends  of  thefe  events, 
The  other  fitters  unto  death 

They  doomed  by  confents  ; 
And  being  dead  their  crowns  they  left 

Unto  the  next  of  kin  : 
Thus  have  you  feen  the  fall  of  pride, 

And  difobedient  fin.  JOHNSOIC. 


END  OF  VOLUME  THE  NINTH. 


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2722    The  plays  of  \  I  \  \\  \  \  \  >'  V 

-  William  •  '3  1158  0061^ 

1778 — Shakespeare* —  ^^^^•fl^H^I 

v*9 


PR. 


OHWl 


.„..  A  0V