The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [2549]
II.iii.46 (413,1) I have drunk but one cap to-night, and that was carefully qualified too] Slily mixed with water.
II.iii.59 (414,2) The very elements; As quarrelsome as the as the discordia semina rerum; as quick in opposition as fire and water.
II.iii.64 (414,3) If consequence do but approve my dream] [T: my deer] This reading is followed by the succeeding editions. I rather read,
If consequence do but approve my scheme.
But why should dream be rejected? Every scheme subsisting only in the imagination may be termed a dream.
II.iii.93-99 (416,6) King Stephen was a worthy peer] These stanzas are taken from an old song, which the reader will find recovered and preserved in a curious work lately printed, intitled, Relicks of Ancient Poetry, consisting of old heroic ballands, songs, &c. 3 vols. 12.
II.iii.95 (416,7) lown] Sorry fellow, paltry wretch.
II.iii.135 (417,8) He'll watch the horologe a double set] If he have no drink, he'll keep awake while the clock strikes two rounds, or four and twenty hours.
Chaucer uses the ward horologe in more places than one.
"Well skirer was his crowing in his loge
"Than is a clock or abbey horologe."]
The bracketed part of Johnson's note is taken verbatim from Zacbary Gray, Critical ... Notes on Shakespeare, 1754, II, 316.] (see 1765, VIII, 374, 6) (rev. 1778, I, 503, 9)
II.iii.145 (418,9) ingraft infirmity; An infirmity rooted, settled in his constitution.
II.iii.175 (419,3) it frights the isle/From her propriety] From her regular and proper state.
II.iii.180 (419,4) In quarter] In their quarters; at their lodging.
II.iii.194 (420,5) you unlace your reputation thus] Slacken, or loosen. Put in danger of dropping; or perhaps strip of its ornaments.
II.iii.195 (420,6) spend your rich opinion] Throw away and squander a reputation as valuable as yours.
II.iii.202 (420,7) self-charity] Care of one's self.
II.iii.211 (421,9) he that is approv'd in this offence] He that is convicted by proof, of having been engaged in this offence.
II.iii.274 (423,1) cast in his mood] Ejected in his anger.
II.iii.343 (425,4) this advice is free] This counsel has an appearance of honest openness, of frank good-will.
II.iii.348 (425,5) free elements] Liberal, bountiful, as the elements, out of which all things are produced.
II.iii.355 (425,6) to this parallel course] i.e. a course level, and even with his design.
II.iii.363 (425,8) That she repeals him] That is, recalls him.
II.iii.382 (426,1)
Though ether things grew fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe]
Of many different things, all planned with the same art, and promoted with the same diligence, some must succeed sooner than others, by the order of nature. Every thing cannot be done at once; we must proceed by the necessary gradation. We are not to despair of slow events any more than of tardy fruits, while the causes are in regular progress, and the fruits grow fair against the sun. Hanmer has not, I think, rightly conceived the sentiment; for he reads,
Those fruits which blossom first, are not first ripe.
I have therefore drawn it out at length, for there are few to whom that will be easy which was difficult to Hanmer.
III.i.3 (427,2) Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?] The venereal disease first appeared at the siege of Naples.
III.iii.14 (430,6)
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That I, being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service]
He may either of himself think it politic to keep me out of office so long, or he may be satisfied with such slight reasons, or so many accidents may make him think my re-admission at that time improper, that I may be quite forgotten.
III.iii.23 (431,7) I'll watch him tame] It is said, that the ferocity of beasts, insuperable and irreclaimable by any other