Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

MOTH. The world was very guilty of fuch a ballad fome three ages fince: but, I think, now 'tis not to be found; or, if it were, it would neither ferve for the writing, nor the tune.

ARM. I will have the fubject newly writ o'er, that I may example my digreflion' by fome mighty precedent. Boy, I do love that country girl, that I took in the park with the rational hind Coftard; fhe deserves well.

MOTH. To be whipp'd; and yet a better love than my master. [Afide. ARM. Sing, boy; my fpirit grows heavy in love. MOTH. And that's great marvel, loving a light wench.

ARM. I fay, fing.

MOTH. Forbear till this company be paft.

my digreffion] Digreffion on this occafion fignifies the act of going out of the right way, tranfgreffion. So, in Romeo and Juliet:

"Thy noble fhape is but a form of wax,

[ocr errors]

Digreffing from the valour of a man. STEEVENS,

Again, in our author's Rape of Lucrece:

my digreffion is fo vite, fo base,

[ocr errors]

That it will live engraven on my face." MALONE.

[ocr errors]

the rational hind Coftard;] Perhaps, we fhould read — the irrational hind, &c. TYRWHITT.

The rational hind, perhaps, means only the reafoning brute, the animal with fome share of reason. STEEVENS.

I have always read irrational hind: if hind be taken in it's beflial fenfe, Armado makes Coftard a female. FARMER.

Shakspeare ufes it in its beftial fenfe in Julius Cæfar, A& I. fc. iii. and as of the mafculine gender:

"He were no lion, were not Romans hinds." Again, in K. Henry IV. P. I. fc. iii:

cowardly hind, and you lie."

STEEVINS.

you are a fhallow

Enter DULL, COSTARD, and JAQUENETTA.

DULL. Sir, the duke's pleafure is, that you keep Coftard fafe and you must let him take no delight, nor no penance; but a'muft faft three days a-week: For this damfel, I must keep her at the park; fhe is allowed for the day-woman. ' Fare you well.

ARM. I do betray myself with blufhing.—Maid.
JAQ. Man.

ARM. I will vifit thee at the lodge.
JAQ. That's hereby.

ARM. I know where it is fituate.

JAQ Lord how wife you are!

ARM. I will tell thee wonders.

JAQ. With that face?

ARM. I love thee.

JAQ. So I heard you fay.

ARM. And fo farewell.

JAQ Fair weather after you!

DULL. Come, Jaquenetta, away.

[Exeunt DULL and JAQUENETTA.

Dairy,

་ - for the day-woman.] i. e. for the dairy-maid. fays Johnson in his Dictionary, is derived from day, an old word for milk. In the northern counties of Scotland, a dairy-maid is at prefent termed a day or dey. Edinburgh Magazine, Nov. 1786. STEEVENS.

[ocr errors]

6 That's hereby.] Jaquenetta and Armado are at cross purposes. Hereby is used by her as among the vulgar in fome counties) to fignify as it may happen. He takes it in the sense of just by.

--

STEEVENS.

7. With that face?]. This cant phrase has oddly lafted till the prefent time; and is ufed by people who have no more meaning annex'd to it, than Fielding had; who putting it into the mouth of Beau Didapper, thinks it neceffary to apologize (in a note) for its want of fenfe, by adding -"that it was taken verbatim, from very polite converfation. STEEVENS.

& Come, &c.] To this line in the first quarto, and the first folio,

ARM. Villain, thou fhalt faft for thy offences, ere thou be pardoned.

COST. Well, fir, I hope, when I do it, I shall do it on a full ftomach.

ARM. Thou shalt be heavily punished.

COST. I am more bound to you, than your fellows, for they are but lightly rewarded.

ARM. Take away this villain; fhut him up. MOTH. Come, you tranfgreffing flave; away. COST. Let me not be pent up, fir; I will faft, being loofe.

MOTH. No, fir; that were faft and loose: thou fhalt to prifon.

COST. Well, if ever I do fee the merry days of defolation that I have feen, fome fhall fee

MOTH. What fhall fome fee?

COST. Nay, nothing, mafter Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prifoners to be too filent in their words; and, therefore, I will fay nothing: I thank God, I have as little patience as another man; and, therefore I can be quiet.

[Exeunt MOTH and COSTARD.

Clo. by an error of the prefs is prefixed, inftead of Con. i. e. Confable or Dull. Mr. Theobald made the neceffary correction.

MALONE.

9 It is not for prifoners to be too filent in their words;] I fuppofe we fhould read, it is not for prifoneis to be filent in their waras, that is, in cuftody, in the holds. Johnson.

The first quarto, 1598, (the most authentic copy of this play) reads It is not for prisoners to be too filent in their words; and fo without doubt the text should be printed. MALONE.

[ocr errors]

I don't think it necessary to endeavour to find out any meaning in this paffage, as it feems to have been intended that Coftard should speak nonfenfe. M. MASON.

ARM. I do affect the very ground, which is base, where her fhoe, which is bafer, guided by her foot, which is bafelt, doth tread. I fhall be forfworn, (which is a great argument of falfhood,) if I love: And how can that be true love, which is falfely attempted? Love is a familiar; love is a devil: there is no evil angel but love. Yet Sampfon was fo tempted; and he had an excellent flrength: yet was Solomon fo feduced; and he had a very good wit. Cupid's butt-fhaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier. The first and fecond caufe will not serve my turn; the paffado he refpects not, the duello he regards not: his difgrace is to be called boy; but his glory is, to fubdue men. Adieu, valour! ruft, rapier! be ftill, drum! for your manager is in love; yea, he loveth. Affill me fome extemporal god of rhime, for, I am fure, I fhall turn fonneteer. Devife wit; write pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.

9

[ocr errors]

[ Exit.

affect i. e. love. So, in Warner's Albion's England, 1602, B. XII. ch. Ixxiv:

[ocr errors]

But this I know, not Rome affords whom more you might affect,

[ocr errors]

"Than her, &c.

[ocr errors]

STEEVENS.

butt-fhaft i. e. an arrow to fhoot at butts with. The butt was the place on which the mark to be fhot at was placed. Thus Othello fays

here is my butt,

"And very fea-mark of my utmost fail. "

STEEVENS.

3 The first and second cause will not ferve my turn; ] See the laft act of As You Like It, with the notes. JOHNSON.

4

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

- Sonneteer.] The old copies read only - Sonnet. STEEVENS. The emendation is Sir T. Hanmer's. MALONE.

[blocks in formation]

Another part of the fame. A Pavilion and Tents at a diflance.

Enter the Princefs of France, ROSALINE; MARIA, KATHARINE, BOYET, Lords, and other Attendants.

Boy. Now, madam, fummon up your dearest

fpirits:

[ocr errors]

Confider who the king your father fends;
To whom he fends; and what's his embaffy:
Yourself, held precious in the world's efteem;
To parley with the fole inheritor

Of all perfections that a man may owe,
Matchlefs Navarre; the plea of no lefs weight
Than Aquitain; a dowry for a queen.
Be now as prodigal of all dear grace,
As nature was in making graces dear,
When she did ftarve the general world befide,
And prodigally gave them all to you.

PRIN. Good lord Boyet, my beauty, though but

mean,

Needs not the painted flourish of your praise;"

your dearest fpirits:] Dear, in our author's language, has many thades of meaning. In the prefent inftance and the next, it appears to fignify best, most powerful. STEEVENS.

-

Needs not the painted flourish of your praife;] Rowe has borrow ed and dignified this fentiment in his Royal Convert. The Saxon Princess is the speaker:

"Whate'er I am

"Is of myfelf, by native worth exifting,

“Secure, and independent of thy praife:

"Nor let it feem too proud a boast, if minds
"By nature great, are confcious of their greatness,
"And hold it mean to borrow aught from flattery.

[blocks in formation]

13

STEEVENS.

« AnteriorContinuar »