The metrical disorder here might, perhaps, be repaired thus: Percy. Harry, how fares your uncle?" My lord, that I should learn his health North. "Of me! Why so? Is he not with the queen "He was not so resolv'd, when last we spake together." "Together" is a stupid interpolation. 74. "And in it are the lords of York, Berkley, and Seymour." We might read: "And in it the lords York, Berkley, and Sey mour." 75. "Stands for my bounty. But who comes here?" Perhaps "Must for my bounty stand. But who comes here?" 'My lord," &c. The repetition of “ my," which in three lines occurs five times, and here only burthens the measure, should be omitted. Mr. Steevens's proposed amendment, omitting to you, will not agree with Bolingbroke's reply. I would read: My answer is to Lancaster; "Lord Hereford, my message is to you." Boling. "My lord, my answer," &c. 76. "To raze one title of your honour out." Surely it should be "tittle." The most important distinction that could belong to Bolingbroke, and what he was now peculiarly asserting, would never be called by one who disclaims all intention of offence, by the slight and general term, "a title," or one "title." The sense is clearly: "I mean not to efface or obscure the slightest circumstance belonging to your honour or dignity." Besides, what sense can be annexed to a title," or "one title," of your honour? My gracious uncle !—" York. " Tut, tut!" The interruption might justify the. hemistic in Bolingbroke's speech, but the measure is also defective in that of York; something appears to have been lost-perhaps like this: My Gracious uncle !" York. " Tut, tut, boy; go to, "Grace me," &c. 77. "But then more why.", I once thought that this reading of the first quarto ought to be retained-more question still; but this cannot well be admitted, unless many questions or " whys" had been asked already. am, therefore, inclined to believe, that the text, as it appears in the second quarto, is right:"But more than why." More than the mere answer to this question, with an interest more deep than belongs to the question itself. Ostentation of despised arms." I wish there were authority for "deposed;" but despised arms" may mean arms which, in the tranquillity of the time, had been thrown aside, and disregarded as useless lumber. 79. "Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye." As here "indifferent" signifies " impartial," so, in another place, ferent:" impartial" means "In this I'll be impartial." "indif Measure for Measure, Act 5, Scene 3. Chase them to the bay." I know not the meaning of " the bay," here, unless it be "a place of siege," a state of hostile inclosure. "I am denied to sue my livery here." Livery" is not always a dissyllable: "To sue his livéry, and beg his peace, Henry IV. First Part. 80. "It stands your grace upon, to do him right." It is incumbent on you. SCENE IV. 82. "The king reposeth all his confidence in thee." The placing kingly confidence at all, is certainly sufficiently flattering to the object of it; and as Alexandrines are not intended in these works, I think we might, without any violence, reduce this line to the ordinary measure: "The king reposeth confidence in you." 83. "Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap, "The one, in fear to lose what they enjoy." The one class. It is rather a violent ellipsis. "Ah, Richard! with the eyes of heavy mind, "I see," &c. This will admit of a very easy correction: Ah, Richard! I, with eyes of heavy mind, "Do see," &c. 85. ACT III. SCENE I. "Condemns you to the death: see them deliver'd over." The death decreed for your crimes. As in Measure for Measure: "Or else he must not only die the death," &c. The hypermeter might be avoided, by omitting over," or by reading "Condemns you to the death: deliver them o'er." Fairly let her be entreated.” 86. Used, dealt-with, treated. Thus in Greenwey's Translation of Tacitus: "Justice was ministered in the city; the allies entreated with modesty." "Thanks, gentle uncle. Come, lords, away." Come, my lords-would complete the line. 87. SCENE II. "Yea, my lord; how brooks your grace the air, After late tossing on the breaking seas?” These gross violations of the metre could never have proceeded from the poet. We might read: "Yea, my good lord; how brooks your grace the air, "After your tossing on the breaking seas ?" 90. "His treasons will — tremble at his sin.” But his sin is "his treasons:" so that it might as well have been "Then murders, treasons, and detested sins, "Stand bare and naked, trembling at themselves." 92. Hearing thou wert dead.” "Wert," instead of "wast," is an abuse that ought to be corrected wherever it occurs. "Awake, thou sluggard majesty! thou sleep'st." I believe we should point— Awake thou sluggard! majesty thou sleep'st," "Hath power enough to serve our turn.-But who comes here?" Enough" is here too much, and should be ejected. 1 |