-r<f
r^
s \
«r

v ^
\1NS
"*---: '- J&
1
I
K
i
&f)e (Eamfrt&ge £f)afcespeate.
THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
EDITED BY
WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT
IN NINE VOLUMES
VOLUME I.
MACMILLAN AND CO.
AND NEW YORK
1891
All Rights reserved.
OIZK «-73 93*7
The First Edition of this volume of
The Cambridge Shakespeare was published in 1863.
Second Edition 1867. Third Edition 1891.
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A. AND SONS,
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
K
x(
\
(>.
t
f
TO HIS GEACE
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIKE, KG.
CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE,
THIS EDITION
OF
THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
BY
THE EDITOR.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Addenda ix
Preface to the first Edition xi
Preface to the second Edition xlv
The Tempest 3
Notes to the Tempest 95
The Two Gentlemen of Verona 103
Notes to the Two Gentlemen of Verona 193
Introduction to the Merry Wives of Windsor . . . .199
^The Merry Wives of Windsor 201
Notes to the Merry Wives of Windsor 311
Measure for Measure 317
Notes to Measure for Measure 433
The Comedy of Errors 443
Notes to the Comedy of Errors . 518
ADDENDA.
Tempest.
i. 2. 488 '/ww'] now Wagner conj.
ii. 1. 139 do] not do Wagner conj.
144 riches] no riches Wagner conj.
146 bounoZ] boundary Wagner conj.
243 And we perform] Are by that destiny to perform Wagner conj.
289 you, his friend^] you his friends Wagner conj.
Two Gentlemen of Verona.
i. 3. 45 note, add Sweet life! and sioeeter love Seymour conj.
ii. 7. 52 thou best likest] thee best likes Wagner conj.
iii. 2. 77 such] much Wagner conj.
iv. 4. 197 statue] stated Wagner conj.
v. 4. 88 deliver] give or bring or take Wagner conj. arranging as Capeli.
Merry Wives op Windsor.
ii. 1. 196 An-lieires] my hearts Halliwell conj.
iv. 6. 50 name] way Wagner conj.
51 give...ceremony] join our liearts in ties of ceremony Wagner conj.
Measure for Measure.
i. 1. 1 Escalus] Now hear our purpose, Escalus Seymour conj.
13 As...any] As any, most enrich'd by art and practice Seymour conj.
36 As if] om. Seymour conj.
48 Now] No Wagner conj.
76 Duke. I thank...well] om. Seymour conj.
78 and] as Seymour conj.
81 instructed] instructed, and ivould learn Seymour conj.
i. 2. 151 fault and] vaunt and Wagner conj.
183 should] shouydst Seymour conj.
i. 3. 2 dribbling] dHbbing Schmidt conj.
i. 4. 42. from the seedness] forms the seed,—next Wagner conj.
X ADDENDA.
ii. 2. 62 Become] Becomes Seymour conj.
71 of] to Seymour conj.
ii. 4. 6 swelling] smelling Seymour conj.
14 and tie] yea, tie Seymour conj.
,52, 53 had...took] would...take Seymour conj.
89 that] this Seymour conj., beginning the parenthesis at no other.
103 longing I have] long I have Wagner conj.
110 So] om. Seymour conj.
160 race] rage Wagner conj.
iii. 1. 83 As...dies] As doth a giant dying Seymour conj.
iv. 4. 29 By] For Seymour conj.
v. 1. 21 wrong'd...maid] wronged—/ would fain say maid or wroncfd—I
fain would have said maid Seymour conj.
63 As] That Seymour conj.
Comedy of Errors.
ii. 1. 41 in thee] of thee Nares conj.
v. 1. 156 gates] gate Johnson's Diet. (s. v. Abbess).
PEEFACE TO THE FIBST EDITION.
The main rules which we proposed to ourselves in under-
taking this Edition are as follows:
1. To base the text on a thorough collation of the four
Folios and of all the Quarto editions of the separate plays, and
of subsequent editions and commentaries.
2. To give all the results of this collation in notes at the
foot of the page, and to add to these conjectural emendations
collected and suggested by ourselves, or furnished to us by our
correspondents, so as to give the reader in a compact form a
complete view of the existing materials out of which the text
has been constructed, or may be emended.
3. In all plays of which there is a Quarto edition differing
from the received text to such a degree that the variations
cannot be shown in foot-notes, to print the text of the Quarto
literatim in a smaller type after the received text.
4. To number the lines in each scene separately, so as to
facilitate reference.
5. To add at the end of each play a few notes, (a) to
explain such variations in the text of former editions as could
not be intelligibly expressed in the limits of a foot-note, (b) to
justify any deviation from our ordinary rule either in the text
or the foot-notes, and (c) to illustrate some passage of unusual
difficulty or interest.
Xll PREFACE.
6. To print the Poems, edited on a similar plan, at the end
of the Dramatic Works.
An edition of Shakespeare on this plan has been for several
years in contemplation, and has been the subject of much
discussion. That such an edition was wanted seemed to be
generally allowed, and it was thought that Cambridge afforded
facilities for the execution of the task such as few other places
could boast of. The Shakespearian collection given by Capell
to the Library of Trinity College supplied a mass of material
almost unrivalled in amount and value, and in some points
unique; and there, too, might be found opportunities for
combined literary labour, without which the work could not
be executed at all. At least, if undertaken by one person only,
many years of unremitting diligence would be required for its
completion.
The first step towards the realization of the project was
taken in the spring of 1860, when the first act of Richard the
Second was printed by way of specimen, with a preface signed
'W. G. Clark' and CH. K Luard/* where the principles, on
which the proposed Edition should be based, were set forth
with the view 'of obtaining opinions as to the feasibility of the
plan, and suggestions as to its improvement.'
All the persons who answered this appeal expressed their
warm approval of the general plan, and many favoured us with
suggestions as to details, which we have either adopted, or at
least not rejected without careful and respectful consideration.
Since our work was commenced, we have learned that the
need of such an Edition has presented itself, independently, to
the minds of many literary men, and that a similar undertaking
was recommended as long ago as 1852, by Mr Bolton Corney,'in
Notes and Queries, Vol. vi. pp. 2,3; and again by a correspondent
of the same journal who signs himself ' Este,' Vol. vin. p. 362.
* A third editor was afterwards added. Mr Luard's election to the office of
Eegistrary compelled him to relinquish his part, at least for the present; and
the first volume, consequently, is issued under the responsibility of two editors
only.
PREFACE. Xlll
This concurrence of opinion leads us to hope that our
Edition will be found to supply a real want, while, at the same
time, the novelty of its plan will exempt us from all suspicion
of a design to supersede, or even compete with, the many able
and learned Editors who have preceded us in the same field.
We will first proceed to explain the principles upon which
we have prepared our text.
A. With respect to the Headings.
The basis of all texts of Shakespeare must be that of the
earliest Edition of the collected plays, the Folio of 1623, which,
for more easy reference, we have designated Ft*. This we have
mainly adopted, unless there exists an earlier edition in quarto, as
is the case in more than one half of the thirty-six plays. When
the first Folio is corrupt, we have allowed some authority to the
emendations of F2 above subsequent conjecture, and secondarily
to F3 and F4; but a reference to our notes will show that the
authority even of F2 in correcting is very small Where we
have Quartos of authority, their variations from Fx have been
generally accepted, except where they are manifest errors, and
where the text of the entire passage seems to be of an inferior
recension to that of the Folio. To show that the later Folios
only corrected the first by conjecture, we may instance two
lines in Midsummer Night's Bream:
Give me your neif, Mounsieur Mustard Seed. iv. 1.
'Neif/ which is spelt 'niefe' in Qq F1? becomes 'newfe' in F2,
1 newse' and 'news' in F3F4.
And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain, v. 1.
Fj omits 'trusty.' F2 makes up the line by inserting 'gentle.'
Where the Folios are all obviously wrong, and the Quartos
also fail us, we have introduced infco the text several conjectural
emendations; especially we have often had recourse to Theo-
bald's ingenuity. But it must be confessed that a study of
errors detracts very much from the apparent certainty of
* See page xxiii.
XIV PREFACE.
conjectures, the causelessness of the blunders warning us off the
hope of restoring, by general principles or by discovery of causes
of error.
For example: in the Midsummer Night's Dream, I. 1,
Or else it stood upon the choice of merit,
the reading of the Folios, is certainly wrong; but if we compare
the true reading preserved in the Quartos, 'the choice of
friends/ we can perceive no way to account for the change of
'friends' to 'merit/ by which we might have retraced the error
from 'merit' to ' friends.' Nothing like the 'ductus literarum/ or
attraction of the eye to a neighbouring word, can be alleged here.
Hence though we have admitted conjectures sometimes, we
have not done so as often as perhaps will be expected. For, in
the first place, we admit none because we think it better
rhythm or grammar or sense, unless we feel sure that the
reading of the Folio is altogether impossible. In the second
place, the conjecture must appear to us to be the only
probable one. If the defect can be made good in more ways
than one equally plausible, or, at least, equally possible, we
have registered but not adopted these improvements, and the
reader is intended to make his own selection out of the notes.
For example, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, II. 3. 80, we
have assumed Mr Dyce's conjecture*, 'Cried I aim V to be the
only satisfactory reading of a passage decidedly wrong; but in
the same play, IV. 1. 63, 'Woman, art thou lunaties?' as the
error may equally possibly be evaded by reading 'lunacies' with
Rowe, and 'lunatics' with Capell, we have retained the errorf.
The well-known canon of criticism, that of two readings
'ceteris paribus' the more difficult is to be preferred, is not
always to be applied in comparing the readings of the Folios.
For very frequently an anomaly which would have been plaus-
ible on account of its apparent archaism proves to be more
archaic than Shakespeare, if the earlier Quartos give the
* Anticipated by Douce. [W. A. W.]
f I have ventured to decide in favour of Capell's reading. [W. A. W.]
PREFACE. XV
language of Shakespeare with more correctness. Ex. Mid-
summer Night's Dream, ill. 2: * Scorn and derision never come
in tears' Qq; 'comes' Ff; and in the same play, IV. 1: 'O how
mine eyes do loath' Q15 altered to 'doth loath' in Q2 F13 and
restored, evidently by a grammatical reviser, to * do loath' in
F2F3F4. Again, I. 1: c what all but he do know,' Qq, is altered
to 'doth know' in Ff.
This last error points to a very common anomaly in
grammar; one which seems almost to have become a rule, or,
at any rate, a license in Shakespeare's own time, that a verb
shall agree in number with the nominative intervening between
■the true governing noun and the verb.
B. Grammar,
In general, we do not alter any passage merely because the
grammar is faulty, unless we are convinced that the fault of
grammar was due to the printer altogether, and not to Shake-
speare. We look upon it as no part of our task to improve the
poet's grammar or correct his oversights: even errors, such as
those referred to in note (vn) to the Two Gentlemen of Verona,
and notes (i) and (x) to the Merry Wives of Windsor, because
we thought them to be Shakespeare's own blunders, have been
allowed to stand. But many phrases that are called bad
grammar by us, and rightly so called, were sanctioned by usage
among the contemporaries of Shakespeare, especially, no doubt,
by the usage of conversation, even among educated persons.
And as a learned correspondent (Dr B. Nicholson) remarks, this
would naturally be the style of English which Shakespeare
would purposely use in dramatic dialogue.
As examples of the anomalies of grammar sanctioned by
Elizabethan usage we may mention:—
Singular verbs, with plural nouns, especially when the verb
precedes its nominative:
Hath all his ventures failed? What; not one hit?
Merchant of Venice, in. 2.
VOL. I. ])
XVI PREFACE.
Nominatives for accusatives:
She should this Angelo have married.
Measure for Measure, in. 1. 204.
And repeatedly c who' for l whom.'
Omission of prepositions:
Most ignorant of what he's most assured. Ibid. n. 2. 119. which now you censure him. Ibid. n. 1. 15.
The changes of accidence are less frequent than those of
syntax, yet such occur. In the Folios verbs ending in d and t
are constantly found making their second persons singular in ds
and ts instead of d'st and t'st. This was a corruption coming
into vogue about the time of their publication, and in the
earlier Quartos we frequently find the correct form; for example,
in Midsummer Night's Dream, v. 1: 'standst' in Q1 is corrupted
to 'stands' in Q2 and in Ff. We have therefore confidently
replaced the correct form for the incorrect, even without
authority to back us; looking upon the variation as a corrupt
abbreviation of spelling.
But, in general, our practice has been not to alter the text,
in order to make the grammar conform to the fixed rules of
modern English. A wide latitude of speech was allowed in
Shakespeare's age both as to spelling and grammar.
C. Orthography.
It was not without much consideration that we determined
to adopt the spelling of the nineteenth century. If we had any
evidence as to Shakespeare's own spelling, we should have been
strongly inclined to adopt it, but to attempt to reproduce it, by
operating by rule upon the texts that have come down to us,
would be subjecting Shakespeare's English to arbitrary laws, of
which it 'never yet was conscious. This argues no want of
education on the part of Shakespeare; for if Lord Bacon himself
had rules for spelling, they were but few, as we may easily perceive
by inspection of his works published under his own eye. But if
PREFACE, .XVll
we have not Shakespeare's own spelling to guide us, what other
spelling shall we adopt? Every student of Shakespeare has now
an easy opportunity of acquainting himself with the text of F1? by
means of Mr Booth's excellent reprint, and we are certain that not
one of them will consider the spelling of that volume intrinsically
better than that of our day. Rather more like Shakespeare's
it certainly is, but we doubt whether much is gained by such
approximation, as long as it is short of perfect attainment.
Moreover, in many of the Plays there is a competing claim to
guide our spelling, put forward by an array of Quartos, of
earlier date than Fr To. desert Fx for these, where they exist,
would be but an occasional, and at best an uncertain means of
attaining the lost spelling of Shakespeare, while the spelling of
our volume would become even more inconsistent than that of
Fx itself. Add to this; there are places, though, as has been
seen, not many, where we have had to leave the reading of Fx
altogether. How then shall we spell the correction which we
substitute?
D. Metre.
Corrections of metre are avoided even more carefully than
those of grammar. For the rules of prosody have undergone
perhaps greater change than those of grammar. There is no
doubt that a system of versification has taken root among us
very different from that which was in use in the earlier days of
our poetry. The influence of classical prosody has worked in
a manner that could hardly have been expected. Quantity
in the sense in which the Greeks and Romans understood it, is
altogether foreign to our speech; and our poets, willing to
imitate the verse regulated by laws of quantity, have partially
adopted those laws, substituting for long syllables those that
bear a stress of accent or emphasis.
In Greek and Latin accent was essentially distinct from
quantity, and verse was regulated entirely by the latter. In.
the modern imitation of classical metres, for want of apprecia-
b 2
XV111 PREFACE.
tion of quantity, we go entirely by accent or emphasis, and
make precisely such verses as classical taste eschewed. Thus
we have learned to scan lines by iambuses, or rather by their
accentual imitations, and a perfect line would consist of ten
syllables, of which the alternate ones bore a rhythmical stress.
These iambuses may, under certain restrictions, be changed for
c trochees/ and out of these two 'feet/ or their representatives,
a metre, certainly very beautiful, has grown up gradually, which
attained perhaps its greatest perfection in the verse of Pope.
But the poets of this metre, like renaissance architects, lost all
perception of the laws of the original artists, and set themselves,
whenever it was possible, to convert the original verses into
such as their own system would have produced. We see the
beginnings of this practice even in the first Folio, when there
exist Quartos to exhibit it. In each successive Folio the process
has been continued. Howe's few changes of F4 are almost all
in the same direction, and the work may be said to have been
completed by Hanmer. It is to be feared that a result of two
centuries of such a practice has been to bring about an idea of
Shakespearian versification very different from Shakespeare's.
But we feel a hope that the number of Shakespeare's students
who can appreciate the true nature of the English versifica-
tion in our elder poets is increasing, and will increase more as
the opportunity is furnished them of studying Shakespeare
himself.
Of course we do not mean to give here an essay on
Shakespearian versification. Those who would study it may
best be referred to Capell, in spite of the erroneous taste of
his day, to Sidney Walker, and especially, if they are earnest
students, to Dr Guest's History of English Rhythms.
We will only state some of the differences between
Shakespearian versification and that which has now become
our normal prosody; namely, such as have excited an ambition
of correcting in later editors. There is a large number of
verses which a modern ear pronounces to want their first
PREFACE. XIX
unaccented syllable. The following we quote as they appear
in Fx, in the opening of the Two Gentlemen of Verona:
No, I will not, for it boots thee not. I. 1. 28.
Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. I. 2. 30.
Is't near dinner-time? I would it were. i. 2. 67.
These lines are all corrected by editors; and it is evident
that there would be little trouble in altering all such lines
wherever they occur: or they may be explained away, as
for instance in the second cited, 'fire' doubtless is sometimes
pronounced as a dissyllable. Yet to attempt correction or
explanation wherever such lines occur would be ill-spent
labour. A very impressive line in the Tempest is similarly
scanned:
Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since. I. 2. 53.
Where we are rightly told that 'year' may be a dissyllable.
Yet that one word should bear two pronunciations in one
line is far more improbable than that the unaccented syllable
before 'twelve' is purposely omitted by the poet; and few
readers will not acknowledge the solemn effect of such a verse.
As another example with a contrary effect, of impulsive
abruptness, we may take a line in Measure for Measure:
Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. rv. 3. 88.
This last example is also an instance of another practice, by
modern judgement a license, viz. making a line end with
two unaccented 'extrametrical' syllables.
Two very effective lines together, commencing similarly
to the last, are in the same Play:
Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you
Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose, v. 1. 309, 310.
Another irregularity is a single strong syllable commencing
a line complete without it. This might often be printed in
a line by itself. For example:
And we're betrothed: nay more, our marriage-hour
Two Gentlemen of Vero?ia, n. 4 175.
XX" 'PREFACE.
Another irregularity is the insertion of syllables in the
middle of lines. The dramatic verse is doubtless descended
from the Old . English decasyllables of Chaucer, and that
his verse was divided actually into two sections is evinced
by the punctuation of some MSS. The licenses accorded to
the beginnings and endings of the whole verse were also
allowed, with some modification, to the end and beginnings
of these sections, and accordingly, in early poetry, many
verses will appear to a modern reader to have a syllable too
many or too few in the part where his ear teaches him to
place a caesura. Exactly similarly, but more sparingly, syllables
are omitted or inserted at the central pause of Shakespeare's
verse, especially when this pause is not merely metrical, but
is in the. place of a stop of greater or less duration; and
most freely when the line in question is broken by the
dialogue.
The following examples of a superfluous syllable at the
middle pause are taken out of the beginning of the Tempest:
Obey, and be attentive. Canst thou remember? i. 2. 38.
But blessedly holp hither. 0, my heart bleeds. I. 2. 63.
Without a parallel; those being all my study, i. 2. 74.
With all prerogative :—hence his ambition growing. I. 2. 105.
The extra syllables may be at the commencement of the
second section:
He was indeed the Duke; out o' the substitution. I. 2. 103.
And the following are defective of a syllable:
Dashes the fire out. 0, I have suffered, i. 2. 5.
Make the prize light. One word more; I charge thee. I. 2. 452.
To these 'licenses' we may add verses sometimes with one
and sometimes with two additional feet, and many half
verses, and some a foot too short. When these inequalities
are allowed, the reader will perceive much simpler and
more general methods of scanning some lines supposed to be
PREFACE. XXI
unmetrical than the Procrustean means adopted by Sidney
Walker for reducing or multiplying the number of syllables
in words.
E. Punctuation.
We have now to state our practice of punctuation. The
Folio and other editions, starting with very different principles
from those that guide the punctuation of this day, have acted
on those principles with exceeding incorrectness. Questions
are marked and unnoticed almost at random; stops are
inserted in the ends of lines fatal to the sense. In fact, in
many places, we may almost say that a complete want of
points would mislead us less than the punctuation of the
Folios. The consequence is, that our punctuation is very
little dependent upon the Folios and Quartos, but generally
follows the practice which has taken possession of the text
of Shakespeare, under the arrangement of the best editors,
from Pope to Dyce and Staunton. Only for an obvious
improvement have we altered the punctuation on our own
judgement, and in most cases the alteration is recorded in
the notes.
One thing remains to be said in reference to our .text.
It is well known, that in James the First's reign, a statute
was passed for exscinding profane expressions from plays.
In obedience to this many passages in the Folios have been
altered with an over-scrupulous care. When we have seen
the metre, or, as is sometimes the -case, even the sense
marred by these changes, and the original contains no
offensive profanity, we have recalled Shakespeare's words.
Our object in the foot-notes has been (1) to state the
authority upon which a received reading rests, (2) to give
all different readings adopted into the text by other editors,
and (3) to give all emendations suggested by commentators.
When no authority is mentioned for the reading of the
XX11 PREFACE.
text, it must be understood that all the Folios agree in it,
as well as all editors previous to the one mentioned, as
authority for an alteration. Thus, in the Comedy of Errors,
in. 1. 71, 'cake here] cake Capell' indicates that 'cake here'
is the reading of the four Folios, of Eowe, Pope, Theobald,
Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson.
Mere differences of spelling are not noticed, except (1)
in corrupt or disputed passages, where the 'ductus literarum'
is important as a help towards the determination of the true
text, and (2) when the variation is interesting etymologically
or characteristic of a particular edition.
In the same way, differences of punctuation are recorded
only when they make a difference in the sense, or when
they may serve as a guide to the restoration of some corrupt,
or the explanation of some difficult, passage.
Misprints also are passed over as a general rule. We
have noticed them occasionally, when they appeared to be
remarkable as indicating the amount of error of which the
old printers were capable.
. We have endeavoured faithfully to record any variation
of reading, however minute (except, as before said, mere
differences of spelling or punctuation), adopted by any editor,
and to give that editors name. Sometimes, however, we
have passed over in silence merely arbitrary re-arrangements
of the metre made in passages where no change was required
and no improvement effected.
In recording conjectures, we have excepted only (1) those
which were so near some other reading previously adopted
or suggested, as to be undeserving of separate record, and
(2) a few (of Becket, Jackson, and others) which were palpably
erroneous. Even of these we have given a sufficient number
to serve as samples.
We will now proceed to explain the notation employed
in the foot-notes, which, in some cases, the necessity of com-
pressing may have rendered obscure.
PREFACE. XX111
The four Folios are designated respectively by the letters
Fx, F2, F3, and F4, and the quarto editions of separate plays,
in each case, by the letters Q1? Q2, Q3, &c.
When one or more of the Quartos differ so widely from
the Folios that a complete collation is impossible, the letters
which designate them are put between brackets, for the
sake of keeping this difference before the mind of the
reader. Thus, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, the two
earliest Quartos differ widely from the Folios, while the
third Quarto (1630) is printed from the first Folio. Hence,
they are designated thus: I. 4. 20, Cain] F3F4. Kane (Q1Q2).
Gaine F^F,.
When no authority is given for the reading in the text,
it is to be understood that it is derived from such of the
Folios as are not subsequently mentioned. Thus, in the
Comedy of Errors, n. 2. 203, the eye] thy eye F2F3 indicates
that Fx and F4 agree in reading 'the eye '.
In the same scene, line 191, the note lor] and Theobald5
means, that the four Folios, followed by Rowe and Pope,
agree in reading 'or '.
When the difference between the reading adopted and
that given in one or more of the Folios is a mere difference
of spelling, it has not been thought worth while to record
the name of the first editor who modernized it: for instance,
in the Two Gentlemen of Verona, n. 6. 35, the note is:
counsel] counsaile F1F2. councel F3. council F4.
We have given at full the name of the editor who first
introduced a particular reading, without recording which of
his successors adopted it. Thus, in Measure for Measure,
in. 1. 143, 'grant' for 'shield' is read by Pope, Theobald,
Hanmer, Warburton, and others, but the first only is men-
tioned: 'shield] Fr shield: F2F3F4. grant Pope.'
The conjectures made by annotators or by editors, but
not introduced by them into the text, are distinguished by
the addition of 'conj.', as 'Farmer conj.', 'Johnson conj.' &c.
XXIV PREFACE.
'Steevens (Farmer conj.)' indicates that the reading in question
was first suggested by Farmer, and first introduced into the
text by Steevens. If, however, the person who first made
the conjecture, afterwards became an editor, and gave it in
his own text, while, in the mean time, it had been adopted
by some other editor, the 'conj.' is omitted. Thus, for
example, 'Theobald (Warburton)' shows that Warburton was
the first to propose such and such a change, that Theobald
first incorporated it in the text, and that Warburton afterwards
gave it in the text of his own edition. We have designated
the readings derived from Mr Colliers corrected copy of the
second Folio thus: 'Collier MS.' not 'Collier MS. conj.,' as in
this case we could consult brevity without danger of misleading
any one.
We have arranged the names both of Editors and of
Commentators (as far as was possible) in order of time. It
has frequently happened that several persons have hit on
the same conjecture independently. In such cases we have
assigned it to the earliest, determining the priority by the
date of publication.
The metrical arrangement of each passage is marked in the
notes by printing each word which commences a line with an
initial capital letter. In the Folios, many substantives, other
than proper names or titles, are printed with initial capitals;
but, in order to avoid ambiguity, we have generally made our
quotations conform, in this respect, to the modern usage.
We had originally intended to give in our Preface a cata-
logue raisonne' of all the editions of our author and other books
used by us in the preparation of the present work, but this
labour has been fortunately spared us by Mr Bonn's reissue of
Lowndes's Bibliographers Manual, the eighth part of which
contains a full and accurate account of Shakespearian literature.
To that work we refer our readers for more complete biblio-
graphical details, and propose to confine ourselves to some
remarks on the critical value of the principal editions and com-
PREFACE. XXV
mentaries. We have, of course, confined our collation to those
editions which seemed to possess an independent value of then-
own. Mr Bohn enumerates two hundred and sixty-two different
editions of Shakespeare. It was therefore a matter of necessity
to make a selection. In the following remarks we pass briefly
in review the editions which we have habitually consulted.
Whenever any commentary was known to us to exist in a
separate form, we have always, if possible, procured it. In some
few instances, we have been obliged to take the references at
second-hand.
The first Folio (Fx), 1623, contains all the plays usually
found in modern editions of Shakespeare, except Pericles. It
was 'published according to the True Originall Copies/ and 'set
forth' by his 'friends' and 'fellows,' John Heminge and Henry
Condell, the author 'not having the fate common with some to
be exequutor to his own writings,'
In an address 'To the great variety of Readers' following
the dedication to the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery, the
following passage occurs:
'It had bene a thing, we confesse, worthie to have bene
wished, that the Author himselfe had liv'd to have set forth,
and overseen his owne writings; But since it hath bin ordain'd
otherwise, and he by death departed from that right, we pray
you do not envie his Friends, the office of their care, and paine,
to have collected & publish'd them; and so to have publish'd
them, as where (before) you were abus'd with diverse stolne and
surreptitious copies, maimed, and deformed by the frauds and
stealthes of injurious impostors, that expos'd them: even those
are now offer'd to your view cur'd, and perfect of their limbes;
and all the rest, absolute in their numbers, as he conceived
them. Who, as he was a happie imitator of Nature, was a
most gentle expresser of it. His mind and hand went together:
And what he thought, he uttered with that easinesse, that wee
have scarse received from him a blot in his papers.'
The natural inference to be drawn from this statement is, that
XXVI PKEFACE.
all the separate editions of Shakespeare's plays were 'stolen,'
'surreptitious/ and 'imperfect/ and that all those published in
the Folio were printed from the author's own manuscripts.
But it can be proved to demonstration that several of the plays
in the Folio were printed from earlier Quarto editions, and that
in other cases the Quarto is more correctly printed or from a
better MS. than the Folio text, and therefore of higher
authority. For example, in Midsummer Night's Dream, in
Loves Labours Lost, and in Richard the Second, the reading of
the Quarto is almost always preferable to that of the Folio, and
in Hamlet we have computed that the Folio, when it differs from
the Quartos, differs for the worse in forty-seven places, while it
differs for the better in twenty at most.
As the 'setters forth' are thus convicted of a 'suggestio falsi'
in one point, it is not improbable that they may have been
guilty of the like in another. Some of the plays may have
been printed not from Shakespeare's own manuscript, but from
transcripts made from them for the use of the theatre. And
this hypothesis will account for strange errors found in some of
the plays—errors too gross to be accounted for by the negligence
of a printer, especially if the original MS. was as unblotted as
Heminge and Condell describe it to have been. Thus too we
may explain the great difference in the state of the text as
found in different plays. It is probable that this deception
arose not from deliberate design on the part of Heminge and
Condell,—whom as having been Shakespeare's friends and
fellows we like to think of as honourable men,—but partly at
least from want of practice in composition, and from the wish
rather to write a smart preface in praise of the book than to
state the facts clearly and simply. Or the preface may have
been written by some literary man in the employment of the
publishers, and merely signed by the two players.
Be this as it may, their duties as editors were probably
limited to correcting and arranging the manuscripts and send-
ing them to the press. The 'overseeing' of which they speak,
PREFACE. XXV11
probably'meant a revision of the MSS., not a correction of the
press, for it does not appear that there were any proof sheets in
those days sent either to author or editor. Indeed we consider
it as certain that, after a MS. had been sent to press, it was
seen only by the printers and one or more correctors of the press,
regularly employed by the publishers for that purpose*.
The opinions of critics have varied very much as to the
merits of the first Folio, some praising it as among the most
correct, and others blaming it as one of the most incorrect
editions of its time. The truth seems to be that it is of very
varied excellence, differing from time to time according to the
state of the MS. from which it was printed, the skill of the
compositor, and the diligence of the corrector. There is the
widest difference, for instance, between the text of the Two
Gentlemen of Verona and that of All's Well that Ends Well
As is the case with most books of that timef, different
copies of the first Folio are found to vary here and there;
generally, however, in a single letter only. It is probable that
no one copy exactly corresponds with any other copy. We
have indicated these variations, wherever they were known to
us, in a note either at the foot of the page or at the end of
each play.
A reprint of the first Folio, not free from inaccuracies, was
published in 1807. A second reprint is now in course of pub-
lication by Mr Lionel Booth. The first part, containing the
Comedies, has already appeared. It is probably the most
correct reprint ever issued.
The second Folio (F2) is a reprint of the first, preserving the
same pagination. It differs, however, from the first in many
passages, sometimes widely, sometimes slightly, sometimes by
accident, sometimes by design. The emendations are evidently
* A passage in the Return from Parnassus compared with one in Bale's preface
to his Image of Both Churches puts this almost beyond a doubt.
t Mr Wright in his preface to Bacon's Essays mentions that he has collated
ten copies of the edition of 1625, * which though bearing the same date, are all
different from each other in points of no great importance.'
XXVU1 PREFACE.
conjectural, and though occasionally right, appear more fre-
quently to be wrong. They deserve no more respect than those
of other guessers, except such as is due to their author's familiar
acquaintance with the language and customs of Shakespeare's
day, and possible knowledge of the acted plays.
Capell's copy of the second Folio has been of great use to us
in our collations. He has annotated the margin with a multi-
tude of marks in red ink,—conventional symbols indicating
where and how it differs from the first. We have hardly in a
single instance found his accuracy at fault.
The third Folio (F3) was first published in 1663, and reissued
in the following year with a new title-page*, and with seven
additional plays, viz.: Pericles, Prince of Tyre: The London
Prodigal: The History of the Life and Death of Thomas Lord
Cromwell: The History of Sir John Oldcastle, the good Lord
Cobham: The Puritan Widow: A Yorkshire Tragedy: and
The Tragedy of Locrine. With regard to the plays which it
contains in common with the former Folios, it is on the whole a
tolerably faithful reprint of the second, correcting, however, some
obvious errors, making now and then an uncalled-for alteration,
and occasionally modernizing the spelling of a word. The
printer of course has committed some errors of his own.
The fourth Folio (F4) was printed from the third, but with a
different pagination, in 1685. The spelling is very much
modernized, but we have not been able to detect any other
evidence of editorial care.
The first octavo edition was that of Nicholas Rowe, pub-
lished in 1709, dedicated to the Duke of Somerset, in words
which we take pleasure in recording: "Tis the best security a
poet can ask for to be sheltered under that great name which
presides over one of the most famous Universities of Europe.'
It contained all the plays in the fourth Folio in the same order,
* Mr Bohn is mistaken in saying that the Capell copy has both titles. It
has that of 1664 only, with the portrait, and B. J. 's verses underneath on the
opposite page.
PREFACE. XXIX
except that the seven spurious plays were transferred from
the beginning to the end. The poems were added also.
It is evident that Rowe took the fourth Folio as the text
from which his edition was printed, and it is almost certain that
he did not take the trouble to refer to, much less to collate, any
of the previous Folios or Quartos. It seems, however, while the
volume containing Romeo and Juliet was in the press he learned
the existence of a Quarto edition, for he has printed the prologue
given in the Quartos and omitted in the Folios, at the end of
the play. He did not take the trouble to compare the text of
the Quarto with that of F4. When any emendation introduced
by him in the text coincides with the reading of F1? as some-
times happens, we are convinced that it is an accidental coincid-
ence. Being, however, a man of natural ability and taste he
improved the text by some happy guesses, while, from overhaste
and negligence, he left it still deformed by many palpable errors.
The best part of the work is that with which his experience of
the stage as a dramatic poet had made him familiar. In many
cases he first prefixed to the play a list of dramatis personae, he
supplied the defects of the Folios in the division and numbering
of Acts and Scenes, and in the entrances and exits of characters.
He also corrected and further modernized the spelling, the
punctuation and the grammar.
A characteristic specimen of blunders and corrections occurs
in the Comedy of Errors, v. I. 138.
important] Fr impoteant F2. impotent F3F4, all-potent Eowe.
A second Edition, 9 Volumes 12mo, was published in
1714
Pope's edition in six volumes, 4to, was completed in 1715. *L
v0n the title-page we read, 'The Works of Shakespeare, in six
volumes/ The six volumes, however, included only the plays
contained in the first and second Folios. The poems, with an
Essay on the Rise and Progress of the Stage, and a Glossary,
were contained in a seventh volume edited by Dr Sewell.
Pope, unlike his predecessor, had at least seen the first
XXX PREFACE.
Folio and some of the Quartos of separate plays, and from the
following passage of his preface it might have been inferred that
he had diligently collated them all:
'This is the state in which Shakespeare's writings be at
present; for since the above-mentioned folio edition [i e. FJ, all
the rest have implicitly followed it without having recourse to
any of the former, or ever making the comparison between
them. It is impossible to repair the injuries already done him;
too much time has elaps'd, and the materials are too few. In
wrhat I have done I have rather given a proof of my willingness
and desire, than of my ability, to do him justice. I have dis-
charg'd the dull duty of an editor, to my best judgment, with
more labour than I expect thanks, with a religious abhorrence
of all innovation, and without any indulgence to my private
sense or conjecture. The method taken in this edition will
show itself. The various readings are fairly put in the margin,
so that every one may compare 'em, and those I prefer'd into the
text are constantly ex fide codicum, upon authority.'
This passage, as any one may see who examines the
text, is much more like a description of what the editor did
not do than of what he did. Although in many instances
he restored, from some Quarto, passages which had been
omitted in the Folio, it is very rarely indeed that we find
any evidence of his having collated either the first Folio or
any Quarto, with proper care. The 'innovations' which he
made, according to his own 'private sense and conjecture,'
are extremely numerous. Not one in twenty of the various
readings is put in the margin, and the readings in his text
very frequently rest upon no authority whatever. The glaring
inconsistency between the promise in the preface and the
performance in the book may well account for its failure
with the public.
It would, however, be ungrateful not to acknowledge that
Pope's emendations are always ingenious and plausible, and
sometimes unquestionably true. He never seems to nod over
PREFACE. XXXI
that dull labour of which he complains. His acuteness of
perception is never at fault.
What is said of him in the preface to Theobald's edition
is, in this point, very unjust*.
'They have both (i.e. Pope and Rymerf) shown them-
selves in an equal impuissance of suspecting or amending
the corrupted passages, &c.'
Pope was the first to indicate the place of each new
scene; as, for instance, Tempest, I. 1. 'On a ship at sea.'
He also subdivided the scenes as given by the Folios and
Rowe, making a fresh scene whenever a new character
entered—an arrangement followed by Hanmer, Warburton,
and Johnson. For convenience of reference to these editions,
we have always recorded the commencement of Pope's scenes.
By a minute comparison of the two texts we find that
Pope printed his edition from Rowe, not from any of the
Folios.
A second edition, 10 volumes, 12mo, was published in
1728, 'by Mr Pope and Dr Sewell.' In this edition, after
Pope's preface, reprinted, comes: 'A table of the several
editions of Shakespeare's plays, made use of and compared
in this impression.' Then follows a list containing the first
and second Folios, and twenty-eight Quarto editions of
separate plays. It does not, however, appear that even the
first Folio was compared with any care, for the changes
made in this second edition are very few.
Lewis Theobald had the misfortune to incur the enmity
of one who was both the most popular poet, and, if not the
first, at least the second, satirist of. his time. The main cause
* Capell's copy now before us contains the following note in Capell's hand-
writing: 'This copy of Mr Theobald's edition was once Mr Warburton's; who
has claim'd in it the notes he gave to the former which that former depriv'd him
of and made his own, and some Passages in the Preface, the passages being put
between hooks and the notes signed with his name. E. C The passage quoted
from Theobald's Preface is one of those between hooks.
+ Thomas Eymer, whose book, called A short View of Tragedy of the last
Age, 1693, gave rise to a sharp controversy.
YOL. I. C
XXXU PREFACE.
of offence was Theobald's Shakespeare Restored, or a Specimen
of the many Errors committed as well as unamended by
Mr Pope in his late edition of this Poet, 1726. Theobald
was also in the habit of communicating notes on passages
of Shakespeare to Mist's Journal, a weekly Tory paper.
Hence he was made the hero of the Dunciad till dethroned
in the fourth edition to make way for Cibber; hence, too,
the allusions in that poem:
'There hapless Shakespear, yet of Theobald sore,
Wish'd he had blotted for himself before;'
and, in the earlier editions,
'Here studious I unlucky moderns save,
Nor sleeps one error in its father's grave;
Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek,
And crucify poor Shakespear once a week.'
Pope's editors and commentators, adopting their authors
quarrel, have spoken of Theobald as 'Tibbald, a cold, plodding,
and tasteless writer and critic.' These are Warton's words.
A more unjust sentence was never penned. Theobald, as
an Editor, is incomparably superior to his predecessors, and
to his immediate successor, Warburton, although the latter
had the advantage of working on his materials. He was
the first to recal a multitude of readings of the first Folio
unquestionably right, but unnoticed by previous editors.
Many most brilliant emendations, such as could not have
suggested themselves to a mere 'cold, plodding, and tasteless
critic,' are due to him. If he sometimes erred—'humanum
est.' It is remarkable that with all his minute diligence*,
(which even his enemies conceded to him, or rather of which
they accused him) he left a goodly number of genuine
* Capell, who might be supposed to write 'sine ira et studio,' denies to
Theobald even this merit: 'His work is only made a little better [than Pope's]
by his having a few more materials; of which he was not a better collator than
the other, nor did he excel him in use of them.' The result of the collations we
have made leads us to a very different conclusion.
PREFACE. XXXU1
readings from the first Folio to be gleaned by the still more
minutely diligent Capell. It is to be regretted that he gave
up numbering the scenes, which makes his edition difficult
to refer to. It was first published in 1733, in seven volumes,
8vo. A second, 8 volumes, 12mo, appeared in 1740.
In 1744, a new edition of Shakespeare's "Works, in six
volumes, 4to, was published at Oxford. It appeared with a
kind of sanction from the University, as it was printed at
the Theatre, with the Imprimatur of the Vice-Chancellor,,
and had no publisher's name on the title-page. The Editor
is not named—hence he is frequently referred to by subsequent
critics as 'the Oxford Editor';—but as he was well known
to be Sir Thomas Hanmer, we have always referred to the
book under his name. We read in the preface: 'What the
Publick is here to expect is a true and correct Edition of
Shakespear's W'orks, cleared from the corruptions with which
they have hitherto abounded. One of the great admirers
of this incomparable author hath made it the amusement
of his leisure hours for many years past to look over his
writings with a careful eye, to note the obscurities and
absurdities introduced into the text, and according to the
best of his judgment to restore the genuine sense and purity
of it. In this he proposed nothing to himself but his private
satisfaction in making his own copy as perfect as he could;
but as the emendations multiplied upon his hands, other
Gentlemen equally fond of the Author, desired to see them,
and some were so kind as to give their assistance by com-
municating their observations and conjectures upon difficult
passages which had occurred to them.'
From this passage the character of the edition may be
inferred. A country gentleman of great ingenuity and lively
fancy, but with no knowledge of older literature, no taste
for research, and no ear for the rhythm of earlier English
verse, amused his leisure hours by scribbling down his own
and his friends' guesses in Pope's Shakespeare, and with
c2
XXXIV PREFACE.
this apparatus criticus, if we may believe Warburton, 'when
that illustrious body, the University of Oxford, in their public
capacity, undertook an edition of Shakespeare by subscription,'
Sir T. Hanmer 'thrust himself into the employment.'
Whether from the sanction thus given, or from its typo-
graphical beauty, or from the plausibility of its new readings,
this edition continued in favour, and even 'rose to the price
of 101. 10s. before it was reprinted in 1770—1, while Pope's,
in quarto, at the same period sold off at Tonson's sale for
16s. per copy.' Bohn, p. 2260.
In 1747, three years after Pope's death, another edition of
Shakespeare based upon his appeared, edited by Mr Warburton.
On the title-page are these words: 'The Genuine Text
(collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and
emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders
of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last:
with a Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By
Mr Pope and Mr Warburton*.'
The latter, in his preface, vehemently attacks Theobald
and Hanmer, accusing both of plagiarism and even fraud.
'The one was recommended to me as a poor Man, the other
as a poor Critic: and to each of them, at different times,
I communicated a great number of Observations, which
they managed as they saw fit to the Relief of their several
distresses. As to Mr Theobald, who wanted Money, I allowed
him to print what I gave him for his own Advantage: and
he allowed himself in the Liberty of taking one Part for his
own, and sequestering another for the Benefit, as I supposed,
of some future Edition. But as to the Oxford Editor, who
wanted nothing, but what he might very well be without,
the reputation of a Critic, I could not so easily forgive him
for trafficking in my Papers without my knowledge; and
when that Project fail'd, for employing a number of my
* Notwithstanding this claim of identity, Warburton seems to have used
Theobald's text to print from. Capell positively affirms this (Preface, p. 18),
PREFACE. XXXV
Conjectures in his Edition against my express Desire not to
have that Honour done unto me.'
Again he says of Hanmer: 'Having a number of my
Conjectures before him, he took as many as he saw fit to
work upon, and by changing them to something, he thought,
synonimous or similar, he made, them his own/ &c. &c. p. xii.
Of his own performance Warburton says, 'The Notes
in this Edition take in the whole Compass of Criticism. The
first sort is employed in restoring the Poet's genuine Text;
but in those places only where it labours with inextricable
Nonsense. In which, how much soever I may have given
scope to critical Conjecture, when the old Copies failed me,
I have indulged nothing to Fancy or Imagination; but have
religiously observed the severe Canons of literal Criticism,
&c. &c.' p. xiv. Yet further on he says, 'These, such as they
are, were amongst my younger amusements, when, many
years ago I used to turn over these sort of Writers to unbend
myself from more serious applications.'
The excellence of the edition proved to be by no means
proportionate to the arrogance of the editor. His text is,
indeed, better than Pope's, inasmuch as he introduced many
of Theobald's restorations and some probable emendations
both of his own and of the two editors whom he so unsparingly
denounced, but there is no trace whatever, so far as we have
discovered, of his having collated for himself either the earlier
Folios or any of the Quartos.
Warburton* was, in his turn, severely criticised by Dr
Zachary Grey, and Mr John Upton, in 1746, and still more
severely by Mr Thomas Edwards, in his Supplement to Mr
Warburton s edition of Shakespeare, 1747. The third edition
of Mr Edwards's book, 1750, was called Canons of Criticism
* Dr Johnson told Bumey that Warburton, as a critic,' would make two-and-
fifty Theobalds cut into slices.' (BoswelTs Life of Johnson, Vol. n. p. 85. Ed.
1835). From this judgment, whether they be compared as critics or editors, we
emphatically dissent.
XXXVI PREFACE.
and Glossary, being a Supplement, &c. This title is a sarcastic
allusion to two passages in Warburton's preface: 'I once
intended to have given the Reader a body of Canons, for
literal Criticism, drawn out in form/ &c. p. xiv, and (I had
it once, indeed, in my design, to give a general alphabetic
Glossary of these terms/ &c. p. xvi. Dr Grey's attack was
reprinted, with additions, and a new title, in 1751, and again
in 1752. Warburton and his predecessors were passed in review
also by Mr Benjamin Heath, in A Revisal of Shakespeare s
text, 1765.
Dr Samuel Johnson first issued proposals for a new edition
of Shakespeare in 1745, but met with no encouragement. He
resumed the scheme in 1756, and issued a new set of Proposals
(reprinted in Malone's preface), 'in which/ says Boswell, che
shewed that he perfectly well knew what a variety of research
such an undertaking required, but his indolence prevented him
from pursuing it with that diligence, which alone can collect those
scattered facts that genius, however acute, penetrating, and
luminous, cannot discover by its own force.' Johnson deceived
himself so far, as to the work to be done and his own energy in
doing it, that he promised the publication of the whole before
the end of the following year. Yet, though some volumes were
printed as early as 1758 (Boswell, Yol. II. p. 84), it was not
published till 1765, and might never have been published at all,
but for Churchill's stinging satire:
'He for subscribers baits his hook,
And takes your cash, but where's the book?
No matter where; wise fear, you know,
Forbids the robbing of a foe,
But what, to serve our private ends,
Forbids the cheating of our friends?5
Not only Johnson's constitutional indolence and desultory
habits, but also the deficiency of his eye-sight, incapacitated
him for the task of minute collation. Nevertheless, he did
consult the older copies, and has the merit of restoring some
PREFACE. XXXV11
readings which had escaped Theobald. He had not systematic-
ally studied the literature and language of the 16th and 17th
centuries; he did not always appreciate the naturalness, sim-
plicity, and humour of his author, but his preface and notes are
distinguished by clearness of thought and diction and by
masterly common sense. He used Warburton's text, to print
his own from. The readings and suggestions attributed to
'Johnson,' in our notes, are derived either from the edition of
1765, or from those which he furnished to the subsequent
editions in which Steevens was his co-editor. Some few also
found by the latter in Johnson's hand on the margin of his copy
of 'Warburton,' purchased by Steevens at Johnson's sale, were
incorporated in later editions. Johnson's edition was attacked
with great acrimony by Dr Kenrick, 1765 (Boswell, YoL II. p. 300).
It disappointed the public expectation, but reached, nevertheless,
a second edition in 1768. Tyrwhitt's Observations and Conjee-
tures were published anonymously in 1766.
Capell's edition (10 volumes, small 8vo) was not published
till 1768, though part of it had gone to press, as the editor him-
self tells us, in September, 1760. It contained the Plays in the
order of the first and second Folios, with a preface, of which
Dr Johnson said, referring to Tempest, I. 2. 356, 'The fellow
should have come to me, and I would have endowed his purpose
with words. As it is he doth gabble monstrously.'
Defects of style apart, this preface was by far the most
valuable contribution to Shakespearian criticism that had yet
appeared, and the text was based upon a most searching colla-
tion of all the Folios and of all the Quartos known to exist at
that time. Capell's own conjectures, not always very happy,
which he has introduced into his text, are distinguished by
being printed in black letter.
The edition before us contains the scansion of the lines, with
occasional verbal as well as metrical corrections, marked in red
ink, in Capell's hand. This was done, as he tells us in a note
prefixed to Vol. I., in 1769.
XXXV1U PREFACE.
He described, much more minutely than Pope had done, the
places of the scenes, and made many changes, generally for the
better, in the stage directions.
In his peculiar notation, Asides are marked by inverted
commas, and obvious stage business is indicated by an obelus.
In a note to his preface, p. xxiii, Capell says:
'In the manuscripts from which all these plays are printed,
the emendations are given to their proper owners by initials and
other marks that are in the margin of those manuscripts; but
they are suppressed in the • print for two reasons: First their
number, in some pages, makes them a little unsightly; and the
editor professes himself weak enough to like a well-printed book;
in the next place, he does declare, that his only object has been
to do service to his Author; which provided it be done, he
thinks it of small importance by what hand the service was
administer'd,' &c.
By this unfortunate decision, Capell deprived his book of
almost all its interest and value*. And thus his unequalled
zeal and industry have never received from the public the
recognition they deserved.
In 1774, a volume of notes f was printed in quarto, and in
1783, two years after his death, appeared Notes, Various Read-
ings, and the School of Shakespeare, 3 vols. 4to. + The printing
of this work was begun in 1779.
George Steevens, who had edited in 1766 a reprint of
Twenty of the Plays of Shakespeare from the Quartos, at a time,
* We trust that in our edition the matter which Capell discarded has been
presented in a well printed book. We have found no trace of the Manuscripts
here spoken of.
+ In Lowndes's Manual (Bohn), p. 2316, we find 'Notes and Various Head-
ings to Shakespeare. By Edward Capell, Lond. 1759.' No such book of this
date is in the Capell collection, nor is it ever mentioned elsewhere, so far as we
know. In the preface to the work of 1783, it is mentioned that the first volume
had been printed in 1774, but no allusion is made to any former edition.
% These volumes^ together with the whole of Shakespeare's Plays and Milton's
Paradise Lost, written out in Capell's own regular, but not very legible hand, are
among his collection in Trinity College Library.
PREFACE. XXXIX
when, as he himself afterwards said, he was 'young and unin-
formed/ and had been in the meanwhile one of Johnson's most
active and useful correspondents, was formally associated with
him as Editor in 1770 (Boswell, Yol. in. p. 116). At Steevens's
suggestion, Johnson wrote to Dr Farmer of Emmanuel College,
Cambridge, requesting him to furnish a Catalogue of all the
Translations Shakespeare might have seen and used. Hence, it
seems, Farmer took an interest in the successive editions, and
supplied many valuable notes and acute conjectural readings.
It was on Farmer's authority that Pericles has been re-admitted
among the Plays of Shakespeare.
The first edition of Johnson and Steevens appeared in 1773.
The improvements in this edition, as compared with those which
bore Johnson's name only, are evidently the work of the new
editor, who brought to the task diligent and methodical habits
and great antiquarian knowledge, thus supplementing the
defects of his senior partner. J. Collins, editor of Capell's Notes
&c. charged Steevens with plagiarism from Capell. Steevens
denied the charge. The second edition came out in 1778; the
third in 1785; and the fourth in 1793. In this edition Steevens
made many changes in the text, as if for the purpose of differing
from the cautious Malone, now become a rival.
Edmond Malone contributed to Steevens his Attempt to
ascertain the order in luhich the plays attributed to Shakespeare
ivere written; in 1780, published a Supplement to the edition of
1778, containing the Poems, the seven plays from F3, notes, &c,
and moreover distinguished himself by various researches into
the history and literature of the early English stage. He
published in 1790 a new edition of Shakespeare in 10 volumes,
8vo, containing the Plays and Poems, 'collated verbatim with
the most authentic copies, and revised,' together with several
essays and dissertations, among the rest that on the order of the
plays, corrected and enlarged.
The animosities which both Steevens and Malone had the
misfortune to excite, have had the effect of throwing some slur
xl
PREFACE.
on their names as editors, and even as men, and have prevented
the fair appreciation and a due acknowledgment of the services
they rendered jointly and severally to English literature.
The learning and ability displayed by Malone in denouncing
Ireland's most clumsy and palpable of frauds, would have sufficed
for the detection of the most cunningly conceived and skilfully
executed.
Among the critics of this time may be mentioned (1) Joseph
Ritson, who published in 1783 his Remarks, &c. on the second
edition of Johnson and Steevens, and in 1788, The Quip Modest,
on the third edition, and (2) John Monck Mason, whose Com-
ments appeared in 1785, and Further Observations in 1798.
In 1803 appeared an edition in 21 volumes 8vo, edited by
Isaac Reed. This is called on the title-page 'the Fifth Edition/
i.e. of Johnson and Steevens. It is generally known as the first
variorum edition. Chalmers's edition, 9 vols. 8vo, 1805, professes
to be printed from the corrected text left by Steevens. The
'sixth edition' of Johnson and Steevens, or the second variorum,
appeared in 1813, also edited by Reed; the 'seventh,' or third
variorum, in 1821, edited by James Boswell, from a corrected
copy left by Malone.
Among those whose notes were communicated to or collected
by various editors from Johnson to Boswell, the best known
names are the following: Sir William Blackstone, Dr Burney,
Bennet Langton, Collins the poet, Sir J. Hawkins, Musgrave,
the editor of Euripides, Dr Percy, editor of the Reliques, and
Thomas Warton. Less known names are: Blakeway, J. Collins,
Henley, Holt White, Letherland, Roberts, Seward, Smith,
Thirlby, Toilet, and Whalley*
Harness's edition, 8 volumes, 8vo, appeared in 1825.
Of the comments published separately during the present
century the principal are:
* Steevens was accused of giving, under fictitious names, notes which he was
afraid to sign himself.
PREFACE. xll
1. Remarks, &c., by E. H. Seymour, 2 vols. 8vo, 1805, in
which are incorporated some notes left by Lord Chedworth.
2. Shakspeare's himself again by Andrew Becket, 2 vols.
8vo, 1815. The author has indulged in a license of conjecture
and of interpretation which has never been equalled before or
since. We have nevertheless generally given his conjectures,
except when he has gone the length of inventing a word.
3. Shakspeares Genius Justified, by Zachary Jackson, 1 vol.
8vo, 1811. As the author himself had been a printer, his
judgement on the comparative likelihood of this and that
typographical error is worth all consideration. But he some-
times wanders 'ultra crepidam*.'
Douce's Illustrations to Shakespeare, 2 vols. 8vo, 1807, ought
to be mentioned as a work of great antiquarian research, though
he rarely suggests any new alteration of the text, and his name
therefore will seldom occur in our notes.
The more recent editions of Shakespeare are so well known
and so easily accessible, that it is unnecessary for us, even were
it becoming in this place, to undertake the invidious task of
comparing their respective merits.
It will suffice to mention the names of the editors in the
order of their first editions: S. W. Singer, Charles Knight,
Barry Cornwall, J. Payne Collier, S. Phelps, J. 0. Halliwell,
Alex. Dyce, Howard Staunton.
We have also to mention the edition of Delius, 7 vols. 8vo,
Elberfeld, 1854—61, the English text, with concise notes, critical
and explanatory, in German, and that of Mr Richard Grant
White (known as the author of Shakespeare's Scholar, 1854),
published at Boston, United States, 1857.
In 1853, Mr J. Payne Collier, published in 1 vol. 8vo, Notes
and Emendations to the text of Shakespeare's Plays, from early
* The two last-named books, as well as some suggestions from correspondents,
did not reach us till the first Volume was partly printed. We propose to supply
all omissions in an Appendix to the whole work.
xlii
PREFACE.
manuscript corrections, in a copy of the Folio 1632, in his own
possession. All the emendations given in this volume by Mr
Collier, or subsequently as an Appendix to Coleridge's Lectures,
except, of course, where they have been anticipated, have been
recorded in our notes.
We have no intention of entering in the'controversy respect-
ing the antiquity and authority of these corrections, nor is it
necessary to enumerate the writings on a subject which is still
so fresh in the memory of all.
M. Tycho Mommsen, of Marburg, who published the most
elaborate work on the so-called 'Perkins Folio/ also published
in 1859 the text of the first Quartos of Borneo and Juliet, with
a collation of the various readings of all editions down to Rowe's,
a full description of the critical value of the different texts, and
an inquiry into the versification, and incidentally the grammar
and orthography of Shakespeare. The precise rules which he
lays down disappear, for the most part, on a wider induction, and
we greatly question whether it be worth while 'to register and
tabulate such minutiae as do not represent in any way Shake-
speare's mind or hand, but only the caprices of this or that com-
positor, at a period when spelling, punctuation, and even rules of
grammar, were matters of private judgement.
But M. Mommsen's industry is beyond praise, and his
practice of using the labours of English Editors, without insult-
ing them, is worthy of all imitation*.
Among the works to which reference will be found in our
edition are the following:
Coleridge's Literary Remains: Dr Guest's History of English
Rhythms: the Versification of Shakespeare, by W. Sidney
Walker (1854), and Criticisms, by the same, 3 vols, post 8vo,
* Aber man lauft ein gefahrliches Spiel, wenn man nicht iiberall off en und
bescheiden bekennt, dass man ganz von den Englandern abhange: ja man
scheitert gewiss, wenn man mit der einen Hand alien Stoff von dem man lebt
und athmet ihnen entnimmt, und mit der andern zum Dank Hohn und Belei-
digung auf ihren Namen wirft. Vorrede, pp. vi. vii.
PREFACE. xliii
(1860), edited by Mr Lettsom, who has also contributed in his
notes some suggestions for the improvement of the text. It is
to be regretted that these volumes have not been accompanied
by an Index. Dr Charles Badham's article in the Oamhridge
Essays, 1856, contains many ingenious suggestions.
We have borrowed from several literary journals, the Atlie-
nceum, Notes and Queries, and the Parthenon, and from Magazines
the conjectures of their correspondents. When the real name
of the correspondent, or what might be such, was signed, we
have given it in our notes, as 'Hickson,' fS. Verges' (from Notes
and Queries). When the name was obviously fictitious, or when
the article was not signed at all, we have noted it thus: 'Anon.
(N. and Q.) conj.', 'Anon. (Fras. Mag.) conj.', &c, referring to
Notes and Queries, Fraser's Magazine, <&c.
'Spedding,' 'Bulloch/ cLloyd/ 'Williams/ 'Wright/ indicate
respectively our correspondents, Mr James Spedding, Mr John
Bulloch, of Aberdeen, the Rev. Julius Lloyd, Mr W. W. Williams,
of Oxford, and Mr W. Aldis Wright, to each and all of whom
we beg to return our best thanks. We have also to thank
Mr Archibald Smith, Mr C. W. Goodwin, Mr Bolton Corney,
Mr 1ST. E. S. A. Hamilton, Mr J. Nichols, Mr Jourdain, Dr Brinsley
Nicholson, Mr Halliwell, Dr Barlow, Mr Grant White, Mr B. H.
Bright, Mr Henry A. Bright, and Mr Bohn, for friendly sugges-
tions and kind offers of assistance.
The proposed emendations, marked 'Anon, conj.' are those
which we have not been able to trace, or those in which the
authors have not sufficient confidence to acknowledge them.
Those proposed with some confidence by the present editors
are marked 'Edd. conj.'
In conclusion, we commend this volume, the first product of
long laboiir, to the indulgent judgement of critics. In saying
this we are not merely repeating a stereotyped phrase. We
have found errors in the work of the most accurate of our
predecessors. We cannot hope to have attained perfect accuracy
xliv PREFACE.
ourselves, especially when we consider the wide range which our
collation has embraced, and the minute points which we have
endeavoured to record, but at all events we have spared no pains
to render our work as exact as we could. Those who have ever
undertaken a similar task will best understand the difficulty,
and will be most ready to make allowance for shortcomings.
'Expertus disces quam gravis iste labor.'
W. G. C.
J. G.
The five plays contained in this volume occur in the first
Folio in the same order, and, with one exception, were there
printed for the first time.
In the case of The Merry Wives of Windsor, two Quartos
(Qx and Q2) imperfect copies of an earlier play, appeared in 1602
.and 1619, the second a reprint of the first. They are described
in a special Introduction to that play, and a reprint of Qp collated
with Q2, is given in the last volume. A third Quarto (Q3) was
printed from F1 in 1630.
The Tempest was altered by Dryden and D'Avenant, and
published as The Tempest; or the Enchanted Island, in 1669.
We mark the emendations derived from it: 'Dryden's version.'
D'Avenant, in his Law against Lovers fused Measure for Measure
and Much Ado about Nothing into one play. We refer to his
new readings as being from < D'Avenant's version'.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
In preparing the present edition I have followed substan-
tially the rules laid down in the Preface to the first edition,
although I have exercised my judgement in occasionally
departing from them, and in applying them more strictly than
the original editors of the first volume found it necessary to do.
But I have thought it more convenient, both for the arrange-
ment of the plays and for those who use this work for purposes
of study, to place the reprints of the imperfect quartos in the
last volume instead of putting them immediately after the plays
to which they refer. By this means the Comedies will be con-
tained in three volumes, the Histories in two, and the Tragedies
in three, while the last volume will include Pericles, the Poems,
and the reprinted quartos.
In the first edition the readings of the annotated second
Folio, which was once in the possession of the late Mr Payne
Collier, were given on the authority of that gentleman, the
editors not having had the opportunity of consulting the orig-
inal. They were quoted as 'Collier MS.' and none were given
which could be found in print earlier than 1853, when Mr
Collier published his Notes and Emendations. As the editors
were blamed, somewhat unreasonably, for not quoting these
readings at first hand, I have endeavoured to remove this rock
of offence. By the kindness of the Duke of Devonshire, to
whom the volume now belongs, I have been enabled to examine
it at leisure, and so to correct what was faulty, and to supply
xlvi PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
what was lacking, in the readings quoted from it in our first
edition.
So much has been done for the textual criticism of Shakes-
peare in the more than twenty years which have passed since
this work was completed that the additions to the notes are very
numerous. My business as an editor has been to record all the
emendations which have been suggested, without endeavouring
to discriminate between them. It may be that in this way the
notes contain many conjectures which are at best superfluous,
but it seems better to err on the side of excess than of defect,
and if there are any omissions they must be reckoned among
the imperfections which are inseparable from a work involving
so much minuteness of detail.
WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT.
Trinity College, Cambridge.
March 1887.
THE TEMPEST.
VOL. I.
DRAMATIS PERSON^1.
Alonso, King of Naples.
Sebastian, his brother.
Prospero, the right Duke of Milan.
Antonio, his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan,
Ferdinand, son to the King of Naples.
Gonzalo, an honest old Counsellor.
Adrian,
, Lords.
Francisco,
Caliban, a savage and deformed Slave.
Trinculo, a Jester.
Stephano, a drunken Butler.
Master of a Ship.
Boatswain.
Mariners.
Miranda, daughter to Prospero.
Ariel, an airy Spirit.
Iris,
Ceres,
Juno, }• presented by2 Spirits.
Nymphs,
Reapers,
Other Spirits attending on Prospero3.
Scene—A ship at sea4: an uninhabited island.
1 Dramatis Persons] Names of 3 Other.. .Prospero] Theobald.
the actors Fx at the end of the Play. 4 A ship at sea:] At sea: Capell.
2 presented by] Edd.
THE TEMPEST.
ACT I.
Scene I. On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of thunder and
lightning heard.
Enter a Ship-Master and a Boatswain
Mast. Boatswain!
Boats. Here, master: what cheer?
Mast. Good, speak to the mariners: fall to't, yarely, or
we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir. [Exit.
Enter Mariners.
Boats. Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts!
yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the master s
whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, if room enough!
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo, and
others.
Alon. Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master?
Play the men.
Boats. I pray now, keep below. 10
Sc. i. On a ship at sea] Pope. thou burst, tlvou wind, Anon, apud
Enter.. .Boatswain] Collier M3. adds Rann conj.
'as on ship-board, shaking of wet.' and others] and others from the
3 Good,] Howe. Good: Ff. Good. Cabin. Collier MS.
. Collier. 8 Jiawe care] have a care Dryden's
toH, yarely] tooH, yarely Ff. toH version.
yarely Theobald.' Capell adds stage direction [Exeunt
V till thou burst, thy wind] till thou Mariners aloft.
burst, wind Johnson conj. till thou 9 Play] Ply Upton conj.
burst thee, wind Steevens conj. till
1—2
4
ACT I.
THE TEMPEST.
Ant. Where is the master, boatswain?
Boats. Do yon not hear him? You mar our labour:
keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.
Gon. Nay, good, be patient.
Boats. When the sea is. Hence! What cares these
roarers for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble
us not.
Gon. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Boats. None that I more love than myself. You are a
counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence,
and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope
more; use your authority: if you cannot, give thanks you
have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin
for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good
hearts! Out of our way, I say. [Exit.
Gon. I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks
he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is
perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging:
make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth
little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case
is miserable. [Exeunt.
Re-enter Boatswain.
Boats. Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower!
Bring her to try with main-course. [A cry within.] A plague
upon this howling! they are louder than the weather or our
office. 35
11 boatswain] Bo we (ed. 2). Boson Ff.
11_18 Yerse. S. Walker conj.
13 do] om. Pope.
15 cares] care Eowe. See note (i).
21 peace] prease Warburton conj.
of]tf ( = on) Theobald.
present] tempest Crosby conj.
hand] handle Johnson.
31 [Exeunt] Theobald. [Exit Ff.
Be-onter...]Pope. Enter... Ff.
33 Bring her to try] F4. Bring Jier to
Try F^Fg. Bring her to: try
Grant White (Story conj.).
33—35 Text asjn Capell. A plague—
A cry within." Enter Sebastian,
Anthonio & Goijizalo. vpon this
howling. Ff. h
34—37 Yerse. S. Walker conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 5
Re-enter Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo.
Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o'er, and
drown? Have you a mind to sink?
Seb. A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous,
incharitable dog!
Boats. Work you, then. 40
Ant. Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent noise-
maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.
Gon. I'll warrant him for drowning; though the ship
were no stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky as an un-
stanched wench. 45
Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses; off
to sea again; lay her off.
Enter Mariners wet.
Mariners. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!
Boats. What, must our mouths be cold?
Gon. The king and prince at prayers! let's assist them,
For our case is as theirs.
Seb. I'm out of patience. 51
Ant. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:
This wide-chapp'd rascal,—would thou mightst lie drowning
The washing of ten tides!
Gon. He'll be hang'd yet,
Though every drop of water swear against it, 55
And gape at widest to glut him.
[A confused noise within: 'Mercy Oil US !'—
35 Re-enter...] Theobald. Enter... Ff. 50—54 As in Pope. Prose in Ff.
43 for] from Theobald. 50 at] are at Rowe.
44, 45 unstanched] wistanck Hudson let's...them] let us..?em Pope.
(Harvard ed.). 56 to glut] f englut Johnson conj.
46 two co urses;off to sea] Steevens (Holt A confused noise within:] Several
conj.). two courses off to sea Ff. voices. Taylor conj. MS.
47 [Enter...] [Re-enter... Dyce. 57 See note (11).
48 [Exe. Theobald.
b THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
6 We split, we split!'—' Farewell my wife and children !?—
'Farewell, brother !'—' We split, we split, we split!']
Ant. Let's all sink with the king. 60
Seb. Let's take leave of him. [Exeunt Ant. and Seb.
Gon. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for
an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any
thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain die a
dry death. [Exeunt. 65
Scene II. The island. Before Prospero's cell.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Mir. If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out. 0, I have suffer'd 5
With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel,
Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
Dash'd all to pieces. 0, the cry did knock
Against my very heart! Poor souls, they perish'd!
Had I been any god of power, I would 10
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or ere
59 Farewell, brother!] Brother, fare- Ff. Scene II. The Inchanted
well! Theobald. Farewell, my bro- Island. Pope. Scene changes to a
ther! Keightley. Part of the Inchanted Island, near
60 with the] Rowe. with' FXF2. with the cell of Prospero. Theobald.
j1 F 1, 2 If...them.] Seymour would end
[Exit. Theobald. the first line at you.
61 [Exeunt A. and S.] [Exit Ff. 3 stinking] flaming Singer conj. kind-
63 long heath, brown furze] ling, heath, ling Jervis conj.
broom, furze Hanmer. brown heath, 4 cheek] heate Collier MS. crack
long furze Keightley. Staunton conj. cheeks Jervis conj.
furze] Rowe. firrs F^F^ firs F4. 5 suffered] Pope, suffered Ff.
furs Collier MS. 7 creature] creatures Theobald.
65 [Exeunt] [Exit ¥v om. F2F3F4. 11 ere] e'er Rowe.
Sc. ii....cell] Capell. Scena Secunda.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 7
It should the good ship so have swallow'd and
The fraughting souls within her.
Pros. Be collected:
No more amazement: tell your piteous heart
There's no harm done.
Mir. O, woe the day!
Pros. No harm. 15
I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who
Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
Of whence I am, nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, 20
And thy no greater father.
Mir. More to know
Did never meddle with my thoughts.
Pros. 'Tis time
I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment from me.—So:
[Lays down his mantle.
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.
The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd 26
The very virtue of compassion in thee,
I have with such provision in mine art
So safely order'd, that there is no soul,
13 fraughting] Pf. fraighted Pope. Eowe (ed. 2).
fraighting Theobald. freighting 20 full poor] full-poor Theobald.
Steevens. 24 [Lays...mantle.] Pope. Layitdowne.
14—16 heart...I have] heart—Mir. 0, Collier MS.
woe the day! Pros. There's no harm 28 provision] I\. compassion P2F3F4.
done! Mir. No harm? Pros. 7 prevision Collier, ed. 2 (Hunter
have Elze conj. conj.).
15 Mir. 0, woe the day! Pros. No 29 orderd] Powe. ordered Pf.
harm.] Mir. 0 woe the day! no that...soul,] soul, tJiat there is no, or
harm? Johnson conj. that there is no—soul, Holt conj.
18 nought] naught ¥v soul] soul lost Rowe. foyle Theobald.
19 I am more better] lam more or better soil Johnson conj. ill Kenrick conj.
0 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
No, not so much perdition as an hair 30
Betid to any creature in the vessel
"Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw st sink. Sit down;
For thou must now know farther.
Mir. You have often
Begun to tell me what I am; but stopp'd,
And left me to a bootless inquisition, 35
Concluding 'Stay: not yet/
Pros. The hour s now come;
The very minute bids thee ope thine ear;
Obey, and be attentive. Canst thou remember
A time before we came unto this cell?
1 do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not 40
Out three years old.
Mir. Certainly, sir, I can.
Pros. By what? by any other house or person?
Of any thing the image tell me, that
Hath kept with thy remembrance.
Mir. 'Tis far off,
. And rather like a dream than an assurance 45
That my remembrance warrants. Had I not
Four or five women once that tended me?
Pros. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it
That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else
In the dark backward and abysm of time? 50
If thou remember st aught ere thou earnest here,
How thou earnest here thou mayst.
Mir. But that I do not.
loss Capell. soul. hurt Long MS. 38 thou] om. Pope.
soul— Collier, foul Wright conj. 41 Out] Full Pope (after Dryden).
(withdrawn), evil Bailey conj. Quite Collier MS. But Anon. conj.
30 hair] hair's Capell conj. MS.
31 Betid] Fr Betide F2F3F4. 44 with] in Pope (after Dryden).
35 a] Fr the F2F3F4. 50 dark bachvard] Hyphened in FXF2.
37 [Sit downe. Collier MS.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. V
Pros. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,
Thy father was the Duke of Milan, and
A prince of power.
Mir. Sir, are not you my father? 55
Pros. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan; and his only heir
A princess, no worse issued.
Mir. 0 the heavens!
What foul play had we, that we came from thence? 60
Or blessed was't we did?
Pros. Both, both, my girl:
By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence;
But blessedly holp hither.
Mir. 0, my heart bleeds
To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to,
Which is from my remembrance! Please you, farther. 65
Pros. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio,—
I pray thee, mark me,—that a brother should
Be so perfidious !—he whom, next thyself,
Of all the world I loved, and to hirn put
The manage of my state; as at that time 70
Through all the signories it was the first,
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel; those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother, 75
53 Twelve year...year'] 'Tis twelve years 63 holp] helped Pope.
...years Pope. 0, my heart] My heart Pope.
58, 59 and his only heir A princess,] 70 as at that time] F^, as at that
. Pope, and his onelie heire, And time. F3F4. as, at that time, John-
Princess?, Ff. thou his only heir A son.
princes, Hamner. thou, his only heir 71 Through] Though F2. Though of
And princess, Steevens. and thou his Hunter conj.
only heir A pri7icess, Johnson conj. 74 those] these So quoted by Hunter.
10 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
And to my state grew stranger, being traasported
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle—
Dost thou attend me?
Mir. Sir, most heedfully.
Pros. Being once perfected how to grant suits,
How to deny them, who to advance, and who 80
To trash for over-topping, new created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em,
Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state
To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was 85
The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,
And suck'd my verdure out on t. Thou attend'st not.
Mir. 0, good sir, I do.
Pros. I pray thee, mark me.
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind 90
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary, as great 95
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
76 stranger] a stranger Keightley conj. mark me then. Pope. 0 yes, good
77 studies. Thy] Rowe. studies, thyFf. sir...mark me. Capell.
78 me] om. F3F4. Mir. 0,...do. Pros. I...me]I...me.
80 who...who]Y\. whom...whom~F2FsFi. Mir. 0...do. Steevens (1793).
81 To trash] To plash Hanmer. To 89 dedicated] dedicate Steevens, 1793
crush Long MS. To thrash Marsh. (Eitson conj.).
Too rash D. Wilson conj. 91 so] Fx. om. F2F3F4.
82, 83 5em...'m] them...them Capell. 92 Oer-prized] O'er-peized Nicholson
84 t9 the state] iHh state Fx. eHh state conj.
F2. oHh state F3F4. om. Pope. 95 falsehood...as] falsehood, in its con-
87 my] the Hudson (Harvard ed.). trary, as Nicholson conj.
88 0, good sir...mark me.] Good sir... 97 lorded] Loaded Collier MS,
SCENE II.
11
THE TEMPEST.
Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact, like one
Who having into truth, by telling of it, 100
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, he did believe
He was indeed the duke; out o? the substitution,
And executing the outward face of royalty,
With all prerogative :—hence his ambition growing,—
Dost thou hear?
Mir. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. 106
Pros. To have no screen between this part he play'd
And him he play'd it for, he needs will be
Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library
99 exact, like] exact. Like Ff.
100 Who...of it] Whose having in the
truth, by his telling of it Bulloch
conj.
having into truth...of it] loving an
untruth, and telling H oft Hanmer.
having unto tricth...oft Warburton.
having injured truth. ..of it Warbur-
ton conj. A line lost. Heath conj.
having sinrfd to truth...oft Mus-
grave conj. having into truth by
telling H oft Theobald conj. having
to untruth,...of it Collier, ed. 2
(Collier MS.), adding unto truth...
of it Duffus Hardy conj. having
sinrfd to truth, by telling of it
Wetherell conj. (Athenaeum, 1866).
having—sin to truth—by telling
of it H. D. conj. (Athenaeum,
1866). hating an untruth...of it
D. Wilson conj. loving an un-
truth,—by telling of it Anon. conj.
(N. and Q. 1877). adding unto truth
by telling oft Green conj. having
come into trust,...of it Herr conj.
having in untruth, by telling of it
Kinnear conj. having unto truth,
by falsing of it Hudson (Harvard
ed.).
telling] quelling Jervis conj.
100, 101 having...memory,] having unto
truth his memory Made such a
sinner of, by telling it Spence conj.
(K and Q. 1877).
101 MoAe...memory] Makes...memory
Hanmer. Makes...memory too
Musgrave conj.
103 indeed the duke] the duke Steevens
(1793). indeed duke S. Walker
conj.
out o' the] from Pope.
105 his] is F2.
105j 106 ambition... hear ?] ambition
Growing,—Dost Jiear? Steevens
(1793).
106 hear?] hear, child? Hanmer.
108 him] them Hudson (Daniel conj.).
109 Milan] Millanie ~F1 (Capell's copy).
Me] For me Anon. conj. MS. (in
Capell's copy of F3).
109, 110 Me, poor man,...enough: of]
Me—poor man! ...enough—of Allen
conj.
12 THE TEMPEST.
ACT I.
Was chikedoni large enough: of temporal royalties no
He thinks me now incapable; confederates,
So dry he was for sway, wi' the King of Naples
To give him annual tribute, do him homage,
Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend
The dukedom, yet unbow'd,—alas, poor Milan !— 115
To most ignoble stooping.
Mir. 0 the heavens!
Pros. Mark his condition, and the event; then tell me
If this might be a brother.
Mir. I should sin
To think but nobly of my grandmother:
Good wombs have borne bad sons.
Pros. Now the condition.
This King of Naples, being an enemy 121
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
Which was, that he, in lieu o the premises,
Of homage and I know not how much tribute,
Should presently extirpate me and mine 125
Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan,
With all the honours, on my brother: whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one midnight
Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open
The gates of Milan; and, 1 the dead of darkness, 130
The ministers for the purpose hurried thence
110 enough] enough for Keightley. borne] bore Theobald.
royalties] roalties Fr realties D. condition] conduct Gould conj.
Wilson conj. 122 hearkens] hears Pope. hearJcs
112 dry] ripe D. Wilson conj. Theobald, harks Walker conj.
wi} the] Capell. with Ff. wi} tN 123, 124 premises, Of] promises Of D.
Eowe. with the Steevens. Wilson conj.
116 most] Fr much F2F3F4. 129 Fated] Mated Dryden's version.
117 his] the Hanmer. purpose] practise Collier, ed. 2
119 but] not Pope. (Collier MS.).
120 Good...sons] Spoken by Prospero, 131 ministers] minister Eowe.
Hanmer (Theobald conj.).
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 13
Me and thy crying self.
Mir, Alack, for pity!
I, not remembering how I cried out then,
Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint
That wrings mine eyes to't.
Pros. Hear a little further, 135
And then 111 bring thee to the present business
Which now's upon ?s; without the which, this story
Were most impertinent.
Mir. Wherefore did they not
That hour destroy us?
Pros. Well demanded, wench:
My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, 140
So dear the love my people bore me; nor set
A mark so bloody on the business; but
With colours fairer painted their foul ends.
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared 145
A rotten carcass of a butt, not rigg d,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats
Instinctively have quit it: there they hoist us,
To cry to the sea that roar'd to us; to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again, 150
Did us but loving wrong.
Mir. Alack, what trouble
Was I then to you!
133 oict] onH Capell. it Lettsom conj. 141 me] om. Pope.
o'er H Kinnear conj. me; nor set] me—set Hudson
135 to 't] om. Steevens, 1793 (Farmer (Wright conj.).
conj.). 146 butt] Butt F^Fg. But F4. Boat
138 Wherefore] Why Pope. Howe (after Dryden). busse Black
140 Dear,] om. Hanmer. conj. hulk Kinnear conj.
140, 141 they durst not, So dear] they 147 sail] Fr nor sail F2F3F4.
durst not So dare Staunton conj. 148 have] had Howe (after Dryden).
(Athen. 1872). 150 the winds] winds Pope.
14 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Pros. 0, a cherubin
Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile,
Infused with a fortitude from heaven,
When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, 155
Under my burthen groan'd; which raised in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.
Mir. How came we ashore?
Pros. By Providence divine.
Some food we had, and some fresh water, that 160
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
Out of his charity, who being then appointed
Master of this design, did give us, with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,
Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me 166
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.
Mir. Would I might
But ever see that man!
Pros. Now I arise: [Resumes his mantle.
Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. 170
152 cherubin] cherubim F4. 162 who] om. Pope, he Capell.
155 / have] I, who Anon, apud Rami 165 steaded] Steevens (1778). steededYi.
conj. 169, 170 Pros. Now...arise: Sit] Mir.
decked] bracttd Hanmer. moctid Now I may rise. Pros. Sit Bailey
"Warburton. flecked Johnson conj. conj.
devtd Anon, apud Rann conj. 169 Now I arise] Now, Ariel Theobald
deggyd Hudson (Anon. ap. Reed conj. Continued to Miranda. Black-
conj.). eiFd Anon. conj. (Monthly stone conj. Now, ire, rise! Jack-
Review), lecttd Bailey conj. son conj. Now I arrest Seymour
decttd the sea with] lacked. The conj. (doubtfully). Now I arrive
sea, with D. Wilson conj. Herr conj.
156 groan'd] groaning Anon. MS. (in [Resumes his mantle.] Resumes his
CapelTs copy of F3 and in Clark's robe. Dyce. om. Ff. Put on robe
of F4). againe. Collier MS. P. rises. Cart-
159 divine.] divine; F4. diuine, F1F2F3. wright conj.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 15
Here in this island we arrived; and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princess' can, that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
Mir. Heavens thank you fort! And now, I pray you, sir,
For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason 176
For raising this sea-storm?
Pros. Know thus far forth.
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; and by my prescience 180
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions:
Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, 185
And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.
\_Miranda sleeps.
Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.
Approach, my Ariel, come.
Enter Ariel.
Ari. All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be t to fly, 190
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality.
Pros. Hast thou, spirit,
Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee?
173 princess'] Dyce (S. Walker conj.). Keightley conj.
Princesse F-^Fg. Princess F4. 186 [M. sleeps] Theobald. Shesleepe[s]
princes Rowe. pHncesses Clark Collier MS.
and Glover. See note (in). 189 Scene hi. Pope.
have] has Anon. conj. MS. (in Ca- 190 beH] Fx. be it F2F3F4.
pell's copy of F3), reading prhicesse. 193 quality] qualities Pope (after Dry-
74 hours] lores Bailey conj. joys den).
16 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Ari. To every article. 195
I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, 200
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
0? the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not: the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble, 205
Yea, his dread trident shake.
Pros. My brave spirit!
"Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
"Would not infect his reason?
Ari. Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners 210
Plunged in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel,
Then all afire with me: the king's son, Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring,—then like reeds, not hair,—
Was the first man that leapd; cried, 'Hell is empty,
And all the devils are here/
Pros. Why, that's my spirit! 215
But was not this nigh shore?
Ari. Close by, my master.
198 sometime] Fr sometimes F2F3F4. My brave] My brave, brave Theo-
200 bowsprit] Bore-spritt Fr Bore- bald. That's my brave Hanmer.
sprit F2F3F4. bolt-sprit Rowe. 209 mad] mind Rowe, ed. 2 (after
201 lightnings] Theobald. lightning Dryden).
Yf. 210 but mariners] but the mariners
202 0' the] (9/Pope. Hunter conj. buf mariners Phil-
thunder-claps] thunder-clap John- adelphia Sh. Soc.
soru 211, 212 vessel,...son] As in Howe.
205 Seem] Seem'd Rowe (ed. 2). vessell; Then all a fire with meJhe
206 dread] Fv ■ dead F2F3F4. Kings sonne Ff.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 17
Pros. But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ari. Not a hair perish'd;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me,
In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle. 220
The kings son have'I landed by himself;
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
In an odd angle of the isle, and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot.
Pros. Of the kings ship,
The mariners, say how thou hast disposed, 225
And all the rest o' the fleet.
Ari. Safely in harbour
Is the king s ship; in the deep nook, where once
Thou calTdst me up at midnight to fetch dew
From the still-vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid:
The mariners all under hatches stow'd; 230
Who, with a charm join d to then: suffered labour,
I have left asleep: and for the rest o' the fleet,
Which I dispersed, they all have met again,
And are upon the Mediterranean flote,
Bound sadly home for Naples; 235
Supposing that they saw the kings ship wreck'd,
And his great person perish.
Pros. Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is performed: but there's more work.
218 sustaining] sea-stained Edwards 229 Bermoothes] Bermudas Theobald,
conj. unstaining Hudson (Sped- 231 WJ10] Whom Hanmer.
ding conj.). sea-staining Spedding 234 are] all Collier MS.
conj. sea-drenched Gould conj. upon].on Pope.
224, 225 ship, The] Ff. ship The Jlote] float Collier (ed. 2).
lanmer. 235—237 Bound...perish] Two lines,
\m hast] hast thou S. Walker the first ending that, Keightley
"Jnj. conj.
f226 fleet.] Knight. Fleete? Ff.
YOL. I. 2
18 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
"What is the time o' the day?.
•A™' Past the mid season.
Pros. At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now
Must by us both be spent most preciously. 241
AH. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains,
Let me remember thee what thou hast promised,
Which is not yet performed me.
Pros. How now? moody?
What is't thou canst demand?
AH. My liberty. 245
Pros. Before the time be out? no more!
AH. I prithee,
Remember I have done thee worthy service;
Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served
Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise
To bate me a full year.
Pros. Dost thou forget 250
From what a torment I did free thee?
AH. No.
Pros. Thou dost; and think'st it much to tread the ooze
Of the salt deep,
To run upon the sharp wind of the north,
To do me business in the veins o' the earth 255
239, 240 Ari. Past the mid season. 246 no more! Ari. I prithee, Remem-
Pros. At least two glasses.'] Ari. ber] no more: I prethee. Ar. Pie-
Past the mid season At least two member Long MS.
glasses. "Warburton (Theobald 248 made thee] Ff. made Rowe (ed. 2).
conj.). Pros. ...Past the mid sea- made...served] made no mistakings,
son? Ari. At least two glasses. sertfd thee Capell conj.
Johnson conj. 249 grumblings] grumbling Collier MS.
240 glasses...now] glasses—the time, didst] F3F4. did FjFg.
Hwixt six and now— Staunton. 253—260 Of the...born?] Seven lines,
244 How novj? moody?] Hoio now, ending sharp...in...frost...thi^
moody/ Dyce (so Dryden, ed. Sycorax,...hoop?...born?, Ke|
1808). conj.
245 What] Fx. Which F2F3F4. 254 run] ride Upton conj.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 19
When it is baked with frost.
AH. I do not, sir.
Pros. Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her?
AH. No, sir.
Pros. Thou hast. Where was she born? speak;
tell me. 260
AH. Sir, in Argier.
Pros. 0, was she so? I must
Once in a month recount what thou hast been,
Which thou forget'st. This damn dv witch Sycorax,
For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible
To enter human hearing, from Argier, 265
Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did
They would not take her life. Is not this true?
AH. Ay, sir.
Pros. This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child,
And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave, 270
As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant;
And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate
To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands,
Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee,
By help of her more potent ministers, 275
And in her most unmitigable rage,

259 grown"] gowne F2. xxi. 1840. one (or yon) tiling she
260 tell me] tell me, say Hanmer. bred Anon. conj. one thing she
264 mischiefs...sorceries] sorceries mani- had Hudson (Crosby conj.).
fold and ov mischiefs many, and sor- 267 Is not this true?] Is this not true?
ceries ov mischiefs manifold,sorceries Rowe (ed. 2).
Anon. ap. Grey conj. 269 blue-eyed] blear-ey'd Staunton conj.
and sorceries] sorceries too Hanmer. bleared D. Wilson conj.
15 -hearing] earing Capell conj. 271 ivast] Rowe (after Dryden). wasFL
6 one thing she did] one (or yon) thing 273 earthy] earthly Rowe (ed. 2).
2—2
20 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Into a cloven pine; within which rift
Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain
A dozen years; within which space she died, 279
And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans
As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island—
Save for the son that she did litter here,
A freckled whelp hag-born—not honour d with
A human shape.
Ari. Yes, Caliban her son.
Pros. Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, 285
Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st
What torment I did find thee in; thy groans
Did make wolves howl, and penetrate the breasts
Of ever-angry bears: it was a torment
To lay upon the damn d, which Sycorax 290
Could not again undo: it was mine art,
When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape
The pine, and let thee out.
Ari. I thank thee, master.
Pros. If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak,
And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till 295
Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters.
Ari. Pardon, master:
I will be correspondent to command,
And do my spiriting gently.
Pros. Do so; and after two days
I will discharge thee.
Ari. That's my noble master!
What shall I do? say what; what shall I do? 300
279 within] in Capell conj. 289 ever-angry] even angry T>. Wilson
282 son] Fr sunne F2. sun F3F4. conj.
she] Eowe (after Dryden). he Ff. 298 See note (iv).
litter] Eowe (after Dryden). littour spiriting] spryting FXF2. sprit J
Ff. F3F4.
287 torment] torture S. Walker conj.

SCENE II.
21
THE TEMPEST.
Pros. Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea:
Be subject to no sight but thine and mine; invisible
To every eyeball else. Go take this shape,
And hither come in t: go, hence with diligence! [Exit Ariel.
Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; 305
Awake!
Mir. The strangeness of your story put
Heaviness in me.
Pros. Shake it off. Come on;
Well visit Caliban my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
Mir. 'Tis a villain, sir,
I do not love to look on.
Pros. But, as 'tis, 310
We cannot miss him: he does make our fire.
Fetch in our wood, and serves' in offices
That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!
Thou earth, thou! speak.
Cat. [within] There's wood enough within.
Pros. Come forth, I say! there's other business for
thee: 315
Come, thou tortoise! when?
301 like] Fv like to F2E3F4.
302 Be subject to] be subject To Malone.
but thine and mine] but mine Howe
(ed. 2).
302—304 Be subject ...diligence!] As
four lines,ending mine. ..else. ..hence
...diligence, Elze conj.
304 And...diligence!] As in Pope.
Two lines, the first ending hence,
inFf.
inH] in it Pope.
fo, hence] goe: hence Ef. go hence
lowe (ed. 2). hence Hanmer.
lExit Ariel.] [Exit. Ef.
I awaking. Singer (ed. 2). Waking.
Collier MS.
307 Heaviness] Strange heaviness Clark
and Glover conj. Heart heaviness
Bulloch conj. A heaviness Anon,
conj.
308 [Waking. Collier, ed. 2.
312 serves in offices] Fr serves offices
F2F3F4. serveth offices Collier MS.
314 [within] Rowe (after Dry den).
316 Come, thou tortoise! when?] om.
Pope. Come, thou tortoise wen!
Jackson conj. Come, thou tortoise,
then. Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag.
1820).
Come] Come forth Steevens.

22 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Re-enter Ariel like a water-nymph,
Fine apparition! My quaint Ariel,
Hark in thine ear.
Ari. My lord, it shall be done. [Exit.
Pros. Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil' himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! 320
Enter Caliban.
Cat. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd
With raven s feather from unwholesome fen
Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye
And blister you all o'er!
^ Pros. For. this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins 326
Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made 'em.
Cal. I must eat my dinner. 330
This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou takest from me. When thou earnest first,
Thou strokedst me, and madest much of me ; wouldst give me
Water with berries in't; and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less, 335
That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee,
Re-enter...] Capell. Enter... Ff. worke All Ef {work E3F4). Shall
320 come forthf] come forth, thou tor- forth at vast of night, that they may
toise! Pope. W0TJc All T. White conj.
321 Scene iv. Pope. 329 honeycomb] honey-combs Pope.
wicked] cursed Cartwright conj. 330 made] make Jervis conj.
323 south-west] south-west wind Keight- 332 earnest] Rowe. cam'st Ff. cam'st
ley conj. Jiere Hudson (Ritson conj,).
327 vast of] wait at Long MS. waste 333 strokedst] stroak'dst Rowe. st
o/Kinnearconj. FXF2. stroak'st F3F4.
327, 328 Shall...All] Theobald. Shall madest] Rowe (after Dryden).
for that vast of night, that they may Ff.

SCENE II.
THE TEMPEST. 23
And show'd thee all the qualities o' th' isle,
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile:
Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! 340
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest o' th' island.
Pros. 'Thou most lying slave, 344
Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee,
Filth as thou art, with human care; and lodged thee
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
The honour of my child.
Cat. 0 ho, 0 ho! would ?t had been done!
Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else 350
This isle with Calibans.
Pros. Abhorred slave,
Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour
One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage, 355
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like
A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes
With words that made them known. But thy vile race,
Though thou didst learn, had that in't which good natures
Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou 360
338 place] place' Philadelphia Sh. Soc. 351 Pros.] Theobald (after Dry den).
339 Cursed be I that] Curid be I that Mira. (or Mir.) Ff.
Fr Curs'd be I that I F2F3F4. 352 wilt~\ Fi- wiU ^s^V
Cursed be I that Steevens (1793). 355, 356 didst not...Know] coiddst not
342, 352 Which] Who Pope. ...Sliew Hanmer (Warburton).
15 not] nor F2. 356 wouldst] didst Hanmer.
tfiuman] P4. humane F1F2F3. 358 vile] Eowe. vild Ff. wild D. Wil-
hee] om. F4. son conj.
^cld *t] Ff. i" wouJd it Pope.

24 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
365
2
Deservedly confined into this rock,
Who hadst deserved more than a prison.
Cal. You taught me language; and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!
Pros- Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou rt best,
To answer other business. Shrugst thou, malice?
If thou neglect'st, or dost unwillingly
What I command, 111 rack thee with old cramps,
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar, 370
That beasts shall tremble at thy din..
C™- No, pray thee.
[Aside] I must obey: his art is of such power,
It would control my dam's god, Setebos,
And make a vassal of him.
Pros. So, slave; hence! [Exit Caliban.
Re-enter Ariel, invisible, playing and singing; Ferdinand following.
Ariel's song.
Come unto these yellow sands, 375
And then take hands:
Courtsied when you have and kiss'd
The wild waves whist:
361, 362 Deservedly...deserved] Justly Ee-enter ... following.] Malone.
...who hadst Deserved S. Walker Enter Ferdinand and Ariel, inuisi-
conj. Confined...deserved Id. conj. ble playing and singing. F^Fg.
362 Who...prison] om. Pope (after Enter F. and A. invisible,...F4.
Dryden). Musick. Ee-enter Ariel invisible;
deserved] deserved death Nicholson Ferdinand following. Capell.
conj. 375,376 sands,... hands:] sands ;... hands,
364 learning] teaching Clark MS. Nicholson conj.
366 thou'rt]^?^. thou art Y^. thou 377, 378 kiss'd The...whist:] kiss'd:—
wer't Eowe. thou wert Steevens Ye...whist I Nicholson conj. (N.
(1785). and Q. 1866).
372 [Aside] Johnson, om. Ff. 378 The wild waves whist] Printed
374 So] Go Long MS. parenthesis by Steevens. Se
375 Scene v. Pope. (v).

SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 25
Foot it featly here and there;
And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear. 380
Hark, hark!
Burthen [dispersedly]. Bow-wow.
Ari. The watch-dogs bark:
Burthen [dispersedly]. Bow-wow.
Ari. Hark, hark! I hear
The strain of strutting chanticleer 385
Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow.
Fer. Where should this music be? i th' air or th5 earth?
It sounds no more: and, sure, it waits upon
Some god oJ th' island. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping again the king my father's wreck, 390
This music crept by me upon the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my passion
With its sweet ah*: thence I have followed it,
Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.
No, it begins again. 395
Ariel sings.
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
Burtlien: Ding-dong.
Ari. Hark! now I hear them,—Ding-dong, bell.
380 And, sxoeet sprites^] And let the rest doive Fr
In PurcelTs music. 387 % ib? air or th earth?] in air or
the burthen bear] Pope (after Dry- earth? Pope.
den), beare the burthen Ff. 390 again] against Eowe (after Dry-
381—383 Arranged as by Capell. See den).
note (v). 391 crept] creept F2.
386 Cock-a-diddle-dow] Cochadidle- 397 coral] corals Keightley conj.
400
i
26 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Fer. The ditty does remember my drown'd father. 405
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes :—I hear it now above me.
Pros. The fringed curtains of thine eye advance,
And say what thou seest yond.
Mir. What is't? a spirit?
Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, 410
It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.
Pros, No, wench ; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses
As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest
Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain d
With grief, that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him
A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows, 416
And strays about to find 'em.
Mir. I might call him
A thing divine; for nothing natural
I ever saw so noble.
Pros. [Aside] It goes on, I see,
As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee
Within two days for this.
Fer. Most sure, the goddess 421
On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer
May know if you remain upon this island;
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here: my prime request, 425
Which I do last pronounce, is, 0 you wonder!
If you be maid or no?
406 [Musicke aboue. Collier MS. It goes on, I see,} It goes, I see
407 owes] 010ns Pope (after Dryden), Capell. It goes on Steevens (1793).
but leaves ovtst 454. 'T goes on, I see, Nicholson conj.
408 Scene vi. Pope. 420 fine spirit/] om. Hanmer.
eye] eyes Collier MS. 421 [seeing her. Collier MS.
409 What is't? a spirit?] What! v?t a 423 [Kneeling. Collier (ed. 2). Kneeles.
spirit? Daniel conj. Collier MS.
419 [Aside] Pope. 427 maid] P3. Mayd F^. made F4.
I
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 27
Mir. No wonder, sir;
But certainly a maid.
Fer. My language! heavens!
I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.
Pros. How? the best? 430
What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?
Fer. A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;
And that he does I weep: myself am Naples,
Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld 435
The king my father wrecked.
Mir. Alack, for mercy!
Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan
And his brave son being twain.
Pros. [Aside] The Duke of Milan
And his more braver daughter could control thee,
If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight 440
They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel,
111 set thee free for this. [To Fer.] A word, good sir;
I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.
Mir. Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that e'er I saw; the first 445
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
To be inclined my way!
Fer. 0, if a virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The queen of Naples.
428 [Rising. Collier (ed. 2). 442, 452 [To Fer.] To him. Collier.
429 [rising. Collier MS. 443 £ee note (vi).
438 [Aside] Dyce (Collier MS.). Capell 444 ungently] Fx. urgently F2F3F4.
marks At...this (440—442) only as grudgingly Anon. conj. MS. (Prof.
Aside. D. Wilson's copy of F2).
439 control] console Staunton conj. 445, 446 e'er] Eowe. ere Ff.
(doubtfully).
28 THE TEMPEST. ACT I.
Pros. Soft, sir! one word more.
[Aside] They are both in either s powers: but this swift
business 450
I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light. [To Fer.] One word more; I charge
thee
That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp
The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself
Upon this island as a spy, to win it 455
From me, the lord on't.
Fer. No, as I am a man.
Mir. There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:
If the ill spirit have so fair a house,
Good things will strive to dwell with't.
Pros. Follow me.
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come; 460
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together:
Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh-brook muscles, wither d roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.
Fer. No;
I will resist such entertainment till 465
Mine enemy has more power.
[Draws, and is charmed from moving.
Mir. 0 dear father,
Make not too rash a trial of him, for
He's gentle, and not fearful.
450 [Aside] Marked by Capell. After thee—Dost thou attend me?—thou
line 451, Collier MS. D. Wilson conj.
451 lest] F4. least F^TV 459 withH] irit Philadelphia Sh. Soc.
452 One word] Sir, one word Pope. 460 Pros, prefixed again to this line in
One word, sir, Keightley conj. Ff.
I charge thee] I charge thee [to 467 rash] harsh Anon. conj. MS. (in
Ariel. Pope. Prof. D. Wilson's copy of F2).
452,453 I charge...me: thou] I charge 468 and] thd Hanmer. but Capell conj.
SCENE II.
THE TEMPEST. 29
Pros. What! I say,
My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor;
Who makest a show, but darest not strike, thy conscience
Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward; 471
For I can here disarm thee with this stick
And make thy weapon drop.
Mir. Beseech you, father.
Pros, Hence! hang not on my garments.
Mir. Sir, have pity;
I'll be his surety.
Pros. Silence! one word more 475
Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!
An advocate for an impostor! hush!
Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he,
Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench!
To the most of men this is a Caliban, 480
And they to him are angels.
Mir. My affections
Are, then, most humble; I have no ambition
To see a goodlier man.
Pros. Come- on; obey:
Thy nerves are in then infancy again,
And have no vigour in them.
Fer. So they are: 485
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father s loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,
469 My...tutorf\ Foolish, my tutor! foot.] Kinnear conj.
Anon. conj. MS. (in Prof. D. Wil- 470 makest] mak'st ~FV makes F2F3F4.
son's copy of F2). 471 so] Fr om. F2F3F4. all Pope.
foot] fool Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker 477 hush] tush Clark MS.
conj.). child Dryden's version. 478 is] are Rowe.
tool Bulloch conj. 488 nor] and Rowe (after Dryden). or
my tutor?] thy tutor! [Stamps his Capell. nay Keightley conj.
30
THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
Might I but through my prison once a day 490
Behold this maid: all corners else o th' earth
Let liberty make use of; space enough
Have I in such a prison.
Pros. [Aside] It works. [To Fer.] Come on.
Thou hast done well, fine Ariel! [To Fer.] Follow me.
[ToArl] Hark what thou else shalt do me.
Mir. Be of comfort;
My father's of a better nature, sir, 496
Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted
Which now came from him.
Pros. Thou shalt be as free
As mountain winds: but then exactly do
All points of my command.
Ari. To the syllable. 500
Pros. Come, follow. Speak not for him. [Exeunt
ACT II. .
Scene I. Another part of the island.
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco,
and others.
Gon. Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause,
So have we all, of joy; for our escape
Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe
Is common; every day, some sailor's wife,
489 are] were Warburton. 2 So...joy;] Of joy:—so have we all;
but] om. Hudson (Cartwright conj.), Keightley.
reading and in line 488. 3 hint] stint Warburton. dint Weston
493 [Aside] Marked by Capell. conj. hin Hutchesson conj. (Gent.
497 by] by*s Grey conj. Mag. 1790).
Another part of the island] Pope.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 31
The masters of some merchant, and the merchant, 5
Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle,
I mean our preservation, few in millions
Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
Our sorrow with our comfort.
Alon. Prithee, peace.
Seb. He receives comfort like cold porridge. 10
Ant. The visitor will not give him o'er so.
Seb. Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit; by
and by it will strike.
Gon. Sir,—
Seb. One: tell. 15
Gon. .When every grief is entertain d that's oifer'd,
Comes to the entertainer—
Seb. A dollar.
Gon. Dolour comes to him, indeed: you have spoken
truer than you purposed. 20
Seb. You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.
Gon. Therefore, my lord,—
Ant. Fie/ what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!
Alon. I prithee, spare.
Gon. Well, I have done: but yet,— 25
Seb. He will be talking.
5 masters] master Johnson, mistress 11 visitor] adviser Hanmer. 'viser
Steevens conj. master's Keightley Warburton.
(Clark and Glover conj.). mariners him] oni. Rowe.
Bulloch, conj. 12, 13 Look...strike] As Wo lines in
merchant, and the merchant] mer- Ff.
chant-man; the merchant Chalmers 15 One] F1# On F2F3F4.
conj. vessel—and the merchant 16 entertained...Comes] Capell. enter-
Keightley. taind, Thafs offered comes Ff.
6 of woe] om. Steevens conj. and Long Printed as prose by Pope.
MS. of grief Staunton conj. (Athen. 17 Comes] What comes Long MS.
I&72). 20 you purposed] you proposd Eo\ve
10—43 Omitted in Collier MS. (ed. 2). he proposed Hanmer (ed. 2).
11—99 Marked as interpolated by 24 spare] spare me Hudson (S. Walker
Pope.
conj.).
32 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
Ant. Which, of he or Adrian, for a good wager, first
begins to crow?
Seb. The old cock.
Ant. The cockerel. 30
Seb. Done. The wager?
Ant. A laughter.
Seb. A match!
Adv. Though this island seem to be desert,—
Seb. Ha, ha, ha !—So, you're paid. 35
Adr. Uninhabitable, and almost inaccessible,—
Seb. Yet,—
Adr. Yet,—
Ant. He. could not miss t.
Adr. It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate
temperance. 41
Ant. Temperance was a delicate wench.
Seb. Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered.
Adr. The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
Seb. As if it had lungs, and rotten ones. 45
Ant. Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.
Gon. Here is every thing advantageous to life.
Ant. True; save means to live.
Seb. Of that there's none, or little.
Gon. How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!
Ant. The ground, indeed, is tawny. 51
Seb. With an eye of green in't.
Ant. He misses not much.
Seb. No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.
27 of he or] Ff. of them, he or Howe So: you'r paid Ff. Ant. Ha, ha,
(ed. 2). or he or Collier, ed. 2 (Col- ha! Seb. So, you're paid. Grant
lier MS. and Clark MS.), of him and White (ed. 1). Seb. Ha, ha, ha/
Jervisconj. See note (vn). , Ant. So, you've pay'd Capell.
35 Seb. Ha, ha,, ha!—So, you're paid] 50 lush] fresh D. Wilson conj.
Theobald. Seb. Ha, ha, ha! Ant. 54 doth] does Rowe (ed. 2).
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 33
Gon. But the rarity of it is,—which is indeed almost
beyond credit,— 5(3
Seb. As many vouched rarities are.
Gon. That our garments, being, as they were, drenched
in the sea, hold, notwithstanding, their freshness and glosses,
being rather new-dyed than stained with salt water. 60
Ant. If but one of his pockets could speak, would it
not say he lies?
Seb. Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report.
Gon. Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when
we put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of the king's
fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis. 66
Seb. Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in
our return.
Adv. Tunis was never graced before with such a para-
gon to their queen. To
Gon. Not since widow Dido's time.
Ant. Widow! a pox o' that 1 How came that widow
in? widow Dido!
Seb. What if he had said 'widower JEneas' too? Good
Lord, how you take it! 75
Adv. 'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of
that: she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
Gon. This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
Adv. Carthage?
Gon. I assure you, Carthage. 80
Ant. His word is more than the miraculous harp.
Seb. He hath raised the wall, and houses too.
Ant. What impossible matter will he make easy next?
55 rarity] F3F4. rar.ety FXF2. 81 is] does Long MS.
57 rarities] F3F4. rarieties'F1F2. 81, 82 Ant. His...harp. Seb. He...
59 freshness] freshness* Philadelphia Sh. too] Ff. Seb. His...too Clark and
Soc. Glover.
glosses] gloss Dyce, ed. 2 (Jervis conj.).
VOL. I. / 3
34 THE TEMPEST. . ACT II.
Seb. I think he will carry this island home. in his
pocket, and give it his son for an apple. 85
Ant. And, sowing the kernels of it in the seav bring
forth more islands.
Gon. Ay.
Ant. Why, in good time. 89
Gon. Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now
as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage of your
daughter, who is now queen.
Ant. And the rarest that e'er came there.
Seb. Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
Ant. 0, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido. 95
Gon. Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day
I wore it? I mean, in a sort.
Ant. That sort was well fished for.
Gon. When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?
Alon. You cram these words into mine ears against
The stomach of my sense. Would I had never 101
Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,
My son is lost, and, in my rate, she too,
Who is so far from Italy removed
I ne'er again shall see her. 0 thou mine heir 105
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee?
Fran. Sir, he may live:
I saw him beat the surges under him,
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted no
The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head
'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar d
88 Gon.] Alon. Staunton. 96 sir, my doublet] Sir my doublet Fx.
Ay.] I. Ff. Ay? Pope. Ay! Staunton. my doublet, sir F2F3F4.
[To Adr.] Ay. Cowden Clarke. 107 Fran.] Gon. Anon, apud Kami conj.
90 Gon.] Gon. [To Alon.] Cowden Clarke. 112 oar'd] Pope, oared Ff.
SCENE I.
THE TEMPEST. 35
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,.
As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt 115
He came alive to land.
Alon. No, no, he's gone.
Seb. Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather lose her to an African;
Where she, at least, is banish'd from your eye, 120
Who hath cause to wet the grief ont.
Alon. Prithee, peace.
SS. You were kneel'd to, and importuned otherwise,
By all of us; and the fair soul herself
Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at
Which end 0' the beam should bow. We have lost your son,
I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have 126
Mo widows in them of this business' making
Than we bring men to comfort them:
The fault's your own.
Alon. So is the dear'st o' the loss.
Gon. My lord Sebastian, 130
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness,
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaster.
Seb. Very well.
113 stroke] F^Fg. strokes F4. 127 Mo] More Rowe.
114 bow'd] Rowe. botved Ff. 128 tliem] tliem withal Anon. ap. Grey
115 relieve] receive Keightley conj. conj.
121 wet] whet Anon, apud Rann conj. 129 The faidtfs your own] the faults
weigh D. Wilson conj. your own (at the end of 128) Capell.
124 Weigh'd] F4. WaigKd F^Fg. the faults Your own Hanmer.
Swaifd Jervis conj. dearest 0' the] dearest o} the Theo-
at] as Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). bald, dearest of the Hanmer.
om. Jervis conj. 129, 130 So...Sebastian] One line, S.
125 0' the] the Pope, o't the Spence Walker conj.
conj. (N. and Q. 1877). 132 time to] tN time you Hanmer.
should] she'd Malone.
3—2
36 THE TEMPEST. ACT II,
Ant. And most chirurgeonly.
Gon. It is foul weather in us all, good sir, 135
When you are cloudy.
Seb. Foul weather?
Ant. Very foul.
Gon. Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,—
Ant. Held sow't with nettle-seed,
Seb. Or docks, or mallows.
Gon. And were the king ont, what would I do?
Seb. 'Scape being drunk for want of wine. 140
Gon. T the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession, 145
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all;
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty ;—■
Seb. Yet he would be king ont. 150
Ant. The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the
beginning,
Gon. All things in common nature should produce
136 Very foul] Water-fowl Nicholson Of ricJies or of poverty; no con-
con], tracts, Successions; bound of land
136—175 Seb. Foul..,changing.] om. Steevens (1793).
Collier MS. 145 contract, succession] succession, Con-
137 plantation] the plantation Rowe. tract Malone conj. contract, succes-
the planting Hanmer. sion, None id. conj.
139 were] were I Long MS. I were 146 Bourn] Borne FXF2. Born F3F4.
Nicholson conj. bound] or bound Keightley.
onH] of it Hanmer. tilth, vineyard] and tilth, and vine-
144 riches, poverty] wealth, poverty yard Anon. conj. tilth, pasture,
Pope. poverty, riches CapelL vineyard S. Walker conj.
riches, and poverty Anon. conj. none] olives, none Hanmer. olive,
144—146 Hches... land] no use of service, none Capell.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 37
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine, 155
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of it own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.
Seb. No marrying 'mong his subjects?
Ant None, man; all idle; whores and knaves. 160
Gon. I would with such perfection govern, sir,
To excel the golden age.
Seb. 'Save his majesty!
Ant. Long live Gonzalo!
Gon. And,—do you mark me, sir?
Alon. Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.
Gon. I do well believe your highness; and did it to mi-
nister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible
and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing.
Ant. 'Twas you we laughed at.
Gon. Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to
you: so you may continue, and laugh at nothing still. 170
Ant. What a blow was there given!
Seb. An it had not fallen flat-long.
Gon. You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would
lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it
five weeks without changing. 175
Enter Ariel {invisible) playing solemn music.
We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.
Ant Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
Gon. No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my dis-
157 it] FXF2. its F3F4. See note (viii). 163 Gonzalo] King Gonzalo Elze conj.,
162 'Save] F^Fg. Save F4. God reading 'Save...Gonzalo as one line!
save Hudson (S.Walker conj.), read- 175 Enter.. .invisible.. .music] Malone.
ing God...Gonzalo/ as one line. Enter Ariell playing solemne
162, 163 age. Seb. 'Save...Gon. And, Musicke. Ff. Collier MS. adds
—do] age, <m<£—Seb. 'Save...Gon. 'aboue inuisible.5 om. Pope, [so-
Bo Ed. conj. lemn Musick. Capell.
Seb.
38 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
cretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am vary
heavy? 180
Ant. Go sleep, and hear us.
[All sleep except Alon., Seb., and Ant.
Alon. What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes
Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find
They are inclined to do so.
Seb. Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it: 185
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
It is a comforter.
Ant We two, my lord,
Will guard your person while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.
Alon. Thank you.—Wondrous heavy.
[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.
Seb. What a strange drowsiness possesses them! 190
Ant It is the quality o' the climate.
Seb. Why
Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not
Myself disposed to sleep.
Ant. Nor I; my spirits are nimble.
They fell together all, as by consent;
They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might, 195
Worthy Sebastian ?—0, what might ?—No more :—
And yet methinks I see it in thy face,
181 us"] us not Keightley. [Alonso sleeps.] Capell. All sleep
[All sleep...Ant.] Stage direction but Seb. and Ant. Eowe. Sleepes.
to the same effect, first inserted by Collier MS.
Capell. [They sleepe. Collier MS. [Exit Ariel.] Malone.
183—189 Text as in Pope. In Ff the 191—193 Elze would end the lines Why
lines begin Would...I Jmde...Do doth it...myself...nimble.
not.. .It sildome. ..We two... While' 192 find not] Rowe (ed. 2). jmde Not Ff.
...ThanJce. 194 together all, as] together, all as
186. It] Bleep Grey conj. Holt conj.
189 Wondrous] Im wondrous Grey conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. £9
What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee; and
My strong imagination sees a crown
Dropping upon thy head.
Seb. What, art thou waking? 200
Ant. Do you not hear me speak?
Seb. I do; and surely
It is a sleepy language, and thou speak'st
Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep
With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving, 205
And yet so fast asleep.
Ant. Noble Sebastian,
Thou let'st thy fortune sleep—die, rather; wink'st
Whiles thou art waking.
Seb. Thou dost snore distinctly;
There's meaning in thy snores.
Ant. I am more serious than my custom: you 210
Must be so too, if heed me; which to do
Trebles thee o'er.
Seb. Well, I am standing water.
Ant. I'll teach you how to flow.
Seb. Do so: to ebb
Hereditary sloth instructs me.
Ant. 0,
If you but knew how you the purpose cherish 215
Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it.
You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,
Most often do so near the bottom run
By their own fear or sloth.
Seb. Prithee, say on:
211 so too, if heed] so too, if you heed 212 Trebles thee o'er] Troubles thee
Howe, so, if you heed Pope, so too, o'er Eowe (ed. 2). Troubles thee
if ye heed Hunter conj. not Hanmer. Rebels thee o'er
if ..do] if—heed me—which to doH D. Wilson conj.
D. "Wilson conj.
40 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim 220
A matter from thee; and a birth, indeed,
Which throes thee much to yield.
Ant. Thus, sir:
Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,
Who shall be of as little memory
When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,— 225
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only
Professes to persuade,—the king his son's alive,
'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd
As he that sleeps here swims.
Seb. I have no hope
That he's undrown'd.
Ant. 0, out of that 'no hope' 230
What great hope have you! no hope that way is
Another way so high a hope that even
Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,
But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me
That Ferdinand is drown'd?
Seb. He's gone.
Ant. Then, tell me, 235
Who's the next heir of Naples?
Seb. Claribel.
Ant. She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
220 proclaim] proclaims Keightley conj. (1793), reading For... only as a
222 throes] Pope. throwes FjFgFg. parenthesis.
throws F4. 227—229 the Icing.. .swims] As two lines,
Thus, sir] Why then thus Sir Han- the first ending impossible, Stee-
mer. Thus, sir, I say Keightley vens (1793).
conj. 234 But doubt discovery] Nor aught dis-
226 he's] he 'as Hanmer. he Johnson cover Hudson conj.
conj. doubt] drops Hanmer. doubts
. persuasion, only] persuasion only, Capell. drowns Herr conj. dout
Kenrick conj. Nicholson conj.
227 Professes to persuade] om. Steevens with] om. Gould conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 41
Can have no note, unless the sun were post,—
The man i the moon's too slow,—till new-born chins 240
Be rough and razorable; she that from whom
We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,
And by that destiny, to perform an act
Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come,
In yours and my discharge.
Seb. What stuff is this! How say you?
"lis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis; 246
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions
There is some space.
Ant. A space whose every cubit
Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel
Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis, 250
And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death
That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse
Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples
As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate
239, 240 note} unless...slow,—] note— perform Steevens, 1793 (Musgrave
unless...slow,— Brae conj. (Epit. of conj.). (And that by destiny) to
Lit. Feb. 1879). perform Staunton conj. And, by
241, 242 she that from whom We all] Ff. that, destiny to perform Boswell (a
she from whom We all Rowe. she misprint).
for whom We Pope, she, from whom 244 is] Fx. in F2F3F4.
coming We all Singer (ed. 2). she what] ichafs Collier MS.
that—from whom? We all Spedding 245 In] Is Pope. *JS in Daniel conj.
conj. she from whom we All D. 249 shall that] shalt thou Hanrner.
Wilson conj. she that from—whom 249—251 'How...wake:] 'How measure
We all Furnivall conj. (N. and Q. us back to Naples?' That Claribel
1877). she too for whom We all sliall keep in Tunis, and—Let
Hudson (Harvard ed.). she's that Sebastian wake! Brae conj. (Epit.
from whom We all Id. conj. (with- of Lit. Feb. 1879).
drawn), she 'twas for whom We all 250 us] it Hanmer.
Id. conj. (Epit. of Lit. 1878). See back to Naples?] back? b\d>y\
note (ix). Naples; Tyrwhitt conj.
242 all were] were all Keightley conj. to] Fx. by F2F3F4.
cast] cast up Keightley conj. Keep] Sleep Johnson conj. Keep
243 And...to perform] May...perform her Herr conj.
Pope. And, by that, destined to 251 See note (x).
42 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
As amply and unnecessarily .255
As this Gonzalo; I myself could make
A chough of as deep chat. 0, that you bore
The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
For your advancement! Do you understand me?
Seb. Methinks I do.
Ant. And how does your content 260
Tender your own good fortune?
Seb. I remember
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
Ant. True:
And look how well my garments sit upon me;
Much feater than before: my brother's servants
Were then my fellows; now they are my men. 265
Seb. But, for your conscience.
Ant. Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,
'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not
This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they, 270
And melt, ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
No better than the earth he lies upon,
If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;
Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus, 275
257 of] give D. Wilson conj. stand] stood Hanmer.
260, 261 how...Tender] how? do you candied] Discandifd Upton conj.
consent T endeavor Daniel conj. bandied So quoted in Theobald's
266 conscience.] Ff. conscience— War- Letters.
burton, conscience? Globe ed. 270, 271 candied...molest/] Candy'd
267 where] and where Dyce (ed. 2). were they, wou'd melt...molested.
Hwere] it were Singer. Hanmer.
267—271. Pope ends the lines with 271 And melt] Would melt Johnson
that ?... slipper... bosom... Milan... conj. Or melt Id. conj.
molest...brother. 273, 274. like, that's dead; Whom I,
267 See note (xi). with] like, whom I With Steevens,
269 twenty] Ten Pope. 1793 (Farmer conj.).
270 That] Might Jervis conj. 275 whiles] whilst Eowe. om. Pope.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 43
To the perpetual wink for aye might put
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that 280
We say befits the hour.
Seb. Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;
And I the king shall love thee.
Ant. Draw together; 285
And when I rear my hand, do you the like,
To fall it on Gonzalo.
Seb. 0, but One word. [They talk apart.
Re-enter Ariel invisible.
Ari. My master through his art foresees the danger
That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth,—
For else his project dies,—to keep them living. 290
[Sings in Gonzalo's ear.
While you here do snoring lie,
Open-eyed conspiracy
His time doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber, and beware: 295
Awake, awake!
277 morsel] Moral War burton. 'Come dowiie.' Music. Ariel de-
280, 281 business...hour.]hour...business, scends, invisible. Collier (ed. 2).
Farmer conj. 289 you, his friend,] these, his friends,
282 precedent] Pope, president Ff. Steevens, 1793 (Johnson conj.).
287 0, but one] But one Pope. 0,but— 289, 290 friend., project dies...them]
one Philadelphia Sh. Soc. friend...project dies...you Hanmer.
[They talk apart.] Capell. friend...projects die...them Malone
Ke-enter Ariel invisible.] Enter... conj. friend...project dies...thee
Capell. Enter Ariel with Musicke Dyce.
and Song. Ff. Collier MS. adds
44 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
Ant. Then let us both be sudden.
Gon. Now, good angels
Preserve the king! [They wake.
Alon. Why, how now? ho, awake!—why are you drawn?
Wherefore this ghastly looking?
Gon. What's the matter? 300
Seb. Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.
Alon. I heard nothing.
Ant. 0, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear, 305
To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.
Alon. Heard you this, Gonzalo?.
Gon. Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd, 310
I saw their weapons drawn:—there was a noise,
That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,
Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons.
Alon. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search
For my poor son.
Gon. Heavens keep him from these beasts! 315
For he is, sure, i' th' island.
Alon. Lead away.
Ari. Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:
So, king, go safely on to seek thy son. [Exeunt.
297, 298 Now...king!] As in Staunton. 300 this] thus Collier MS.
One line in Ef. Gon.] Alon. [Waking.] Staunton.
297—300 See Note (xn). 307 Gonzalo] om. Pope.
298 [They wake.] Eowe. Wakes. Collier 312 verily] verity Pope.
MS. 'Tis best we] 'Best Steevens (1793).
299 Alon.] Continued to Gonzalo by upon our guard] on guard Pope.
Staunton.
SCENE II, THE TEMPEST. 45
Scene II. Another part of the island.
Enter Caliban" with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard.
Cal. All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall, and make him
By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me,
And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i' the mire, 5
Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid 'em: but
For every trifle are they set upon me;
Sometime like apes, that mow and chatter at me,
And after bite me; then like hedgehogs, which 10
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount
Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I
All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness.
Enter Trinculo.
Lo, now, lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me 15
For bringing wood in slowly. Ill fall flat;
Perchance he will not mind me.
Trin. Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off any
weather at all, and another storm brewing; I hear it sing i'
the wind: yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like
a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. If it should
thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head:
yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What
have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish:
Another...] Changes to another... 19 weather at all] weather, at all Phila-
Pope. delphia Sh. Soc.
4 nor] FXF2. not F3F4. brewing] a-brexdng Keightley.
9 mow] Dyce. moe Ff. 21 foal] full Upton conj.
15 and] now Pope, sent Clark and 23 [Seeing Cal. Collier MS.
Glover conj. (so Dryden).
46 THE TEMPEST. . ACT II.
he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell;
a kind of not of the newest Poor-John. A strange fish!
Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but
this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give
a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man;
any strange beast there makes a man: when they will not
give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten
to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man! and his fins
like arms! Warm o' my troth! I do now let loose my
opinion; hold it no longer: this is no fish, but an islander,
that hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt. [Thunder.] Alas,
the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under
his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout: misery
acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows. I will here
shroud till the dregs of the storm be past.
Enter Stephano, singing: a bottle in his hand.
Ste. I shall no more to sea, to sea, 40
Here shall I die a-shore,—
This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral:
well, here's my comfort. [Drinks.
[Sings. The master, the swabber, the boatswain, and I,
The gunner, and his mate, 45
Loved Mall, Meg, and Marian, and Margery,
But none of us cared for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!
She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch; 50
Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch.
Then, to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort. [Brinks.
28 this] his F2. MS.), rage Bailey conj.
31 lame] live Meredith conj. (1883). 40 Scene hi. Pope.
35 [Thunder.]. Capell. a bottle in his hand] Capell.
39 dregs] drench Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 46 and Marian]. Marrian Pope.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 47
Cal. Do not torment me :—0! 54
Ste. What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you
put tricks upon 's with salvages and men of Ind, ha? I
have not scaped drowning, to be afeard now of your four
legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as ever.went
on four legs cannot make him give ground; and it shall be
said so again, while Stephano breathes at nostrils. 60
Cal. The spirit torments me :—0!
Ste. This is some monster of the isle with four legs,
who hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil
should he learn our language? I will give him some relief,
if it be but for that. If I can recover him, and keep him
tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a present for any
emperor that ever trod on neat's-leather.
Cal. Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood
home faster. 69
Ste. He's in his fit now, and does not talk after the
wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have never drunk
wine afore, it will go near to remove his fit. If I can re-
cover him, and keep him tame, I will not take too much for
him; he shall pay for him that hath him, and that soundly.
Cal. Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon,
I know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.
Ste. Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that
which will give language to you, cat: open your mouth; this
56 salvages] Ff. savages Johnson. wilt...trembling...thee, in Steevens,
57 afeard] afraid F4. 1793 (Anon. ap. Grey conj.). Three,
60 at nostrils] F2F3F4. at ^nostrils Fr ending wilt...now...thee, in Keight-
at his nostrils Howe (ed. 2). at 's ley.- The Philadelphia Shakespeare
nostrils Grant White, at itt nostrils Society propose to end the lines at
Philadelphia Sh. Soc. Kurt... trembling... thee.
68, 69 Yerse in Steevens (1793). 76 tliee] me Harnner.
68 prithee] 'pretKee F-^Fg. pretKee F4. 78 you, cat] you Cat Ff. a cat Han-
pr'ythee Pope. rner. your cat Clark and Glover
73 will not take] can not ask Hanmer. conj. yon cat Gould conj.
75, 76 Thou...thee] Three lines, ending
48 THE TEMPEST. ACT II.
will shake your shaking, I can tell you, and that soundly:
you cannot tell who's your friend: open your chaps again.
Trin. I should know that voice: it should be—but he
is drowned; and these are devils :—0 defend me! 82
Ste. Four legs and two voices,—a most delicate monster!
His forward voice, now, is to speak well of his friend;
his backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract.
If all the wine in my bottle will recover him, I will help
his ague. Come :—Amen! I will pour some in thy other
mouth.
Trin. Stephano! 89
Ste. Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy!
This is a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have
no long spoon.
Trin. Stephano! If thou beest Stephano, touch me,.
and speak to me; for I am Trinculo,—be not afeard,—thy
good friend Trinculo. 95
Ste. If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee
by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs, these are they.
Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How earnest thou to be
the siege of this moon-calf? can he vent Trinculos? 99
Trin. I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke.
But art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope, now, thou
art not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me
under the dead moon-calf s gaberdine for fear of the
storm. And art thou living, Stephano? 0 Stephano, two
Neapolitans scaped! 105
Ste. Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not
constant.
Col. [Aside] These be fine things, an if they be not
sprites.
80 [Cal. drinkes. Collier MS. 108 [Aside] Dyce.
84 weU]¥v om. F2F3F4. 108—110 These...him.] As in Johnson
85 utter] spatter Warburton. (Anon. ap. Grey conj.). Prose in Ff.
105 scaped] 'scap'd Hanmer.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 49
That's a brave god, and bears celestial liquor:
I will kneel to him. no
Ste. How didst thou 'scape? How earnest thou hither?
swear, by this bottle, how thou earnest hither. I escaped
upon a butt of sack, which the sailors heaved overboard, by
this bottle! which I made of the bark of a tree with mine
own hands, since I was cast ashore. 115
Cal. I'll swear, upon that bottle, to be thy true subject;
for the liquor is not earthly.
Ste. Here; swear, then, how thou escapedst.
Trin. Swum ashore, man, like a duck: I can swim like
a duck, I'll be sworn. 120
Ste. Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like
a duck, thou art made like a goose.
Trin. 0 Stephano, hast any more of this?
Ste. The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by the
sea-side, where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf! how
does thine ague? 126
Cal. Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?
Ste. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man
i' the moon when time was.
Cal. I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee:
my mistress show'd me thee, and thy dog, and thy bush.
Ste. Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it
anon with new contents: swear. 133
114 bottle/] bottle/ [drinks] Nicholson son conj.
conj. swear, then, how thou escapedst]
115 ashore] a'-shore F^. swear then: how escap'dst thou? P'ope.
116, 117 Steevens prints as verse, Til then] man Hudson.
...thy True.. .earthly. 119 Swum] Sworn Ff. Swam Steevens
117 [kneeling. Collier MS. (1793).
118 Ste. Here; stoear, then...escapedst] 130, 131 Ihave...bush] As verse in Ff.
Ste. [To Cal.] Here, swear then.— 131 and thy dog, and thy bush] thy dog
[To Trin.] How escaped'st thou? and bush Steevens (1793).
Ritson conj. Ste. [To Cal.] Here.— 133 new] Fr the new F2F3F4.
[To Trin.] Swear... escapedst J^ichol- contents] con texts Daniel conj.
YOL. I. 4
50 THE TEMPEST.
ACT II.
Trin. By this good light, this is a very shallow mon-
ster! I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man
i' the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well drawn,
monster, in good sooth! 137
Cal. I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island; and
I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.
Trin. By this light, a most perfidious and drunken
monster! when's god's asleep, hell rob his bottle. 141
Cal. I'll kiss thy foot; I'll swear myself thy subject.
Ste. Come on, then; down, and swear.
Trin. I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed
monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart
to beat him,— 146
Ste. Come, kiss.
Trin. But that the poor monster's in drink. An abo-
minable monster!
Cal. I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;
I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough. 151
A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!
I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
Thou wondrous man.
Trin. A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of
a poor drunkard! 156
Cal. I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts;
Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how
To snare the nimble marmoset; I'll bring thee 160
To clustering filberts, and sometimes I'll get thee
135 afeard] afraid Rowe. 148 abominable] F4. abhominable ¥1
weak] Fr shallow F2F3F4. F2F3.
136 drawn] sworn Daniel conj. 150—154, 157—162, printed as verse
138, 139 PH... god.] Prose in Ff. Two by Pope (after Dryden). Prose in Ff.
lines of verse in Johnson. 160 marmoset] Capell. Marmazet Ff.
138 island] Fx. Isle F2F3F4. marmozet Steevens.
143 [lies downe. Collier MS. [Cal. lies 161 filberts] Clark and Glover. Phil-
down. Collier (ed. 2). birts Ff. Filberds Eowe.
SCENE II.
51.
THE TEMPEST.
Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?
Ste. I prithee now, lead the way, without any more
talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company else being
drowned, we will inherit here: here; bear my bottle: fellow
Trinculo, we'll fill him by and by again. 166
Cal. sings d/runkenly.~\ Farewell, master; farewell, farewell!
Trin. A howling monster; a drunken monster!
Gal. No more dams I'll make for fish;
Nor fetch in firing yjO
At requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish:
'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban
Has a new master:—get a new man.
Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom, hey-day,
freedom! 176
Ste. 0 brave monster! Lead the way. [Exeunt.
162 scamels] shamois Theobald, stan-
nels Id. conj. sea-malls Hanmer
(Theobald conj.). sea-mews Jackson
conj. staniels Dyce conj. seagells
Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. 1844). sam-
phire Hunter conj. samols Allies
conj. seamels Keightley. muscles
D. Wilson conj. chamois or stamels
Ingleby conj. scambles Bulloch
conj. sea-veles Nicholson conj.
(doubtfully), conies Kinnear conj.
squirrels Evans conj.
163 Ste.] Fr Cal. F2F3F4.
165 Before here; bear my bottle Capell
inserts [To Cal.]. See note (xin).
172 trencher] Pope (after Dryden).
trenchering Ff.
175 Jiey-day] Eowe. high-day Ff.
4—2
52 THE TFMPEST. ACT III.
!
ACT III.
Scene I. Before Prospero's cell
Enter Ferdinand, bearing a log.
Fer. There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone, and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
Would be as heavy to me as odious, but 5
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures: 0, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, 10
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me. work, and says, such baseness
Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
Most busy lest, when I do it.
Before Prospero's cell] Theobald. Pros- these sweet thoughts—do even refresh
pero's cave. Pope. one; labour's Most busy rest w7ien I
1 anoT] but Pope. do it. Daniel conj. I forget But
labour] labours Allen conj. these sweet thoughts: do even refresh
2 sets] Rowe. set Ff. my labours Most busy: rest when I
4 This] And so this Anon. conj. do it. Spence conj. (jST. and Q. 18*77).
4, 5 my. ..odious] my mean tosh wou'd be I forget—But these sweet thoughts do
As heavy to me, as His odious Pope. even refresh—my labours, Most \
9 remove] move Pope. feast when I do it. Beale conj. (1ST.
12 me] my So quoted by Vaughan. and Q. 1877). / forget But t/wse
13—15 /forget...do it.] Iforgive''t: For sweet thoughts, do even refresh my
these sweet.. .do it. Jackson conj. but labours Most busiliest, when I do it.
thoughts Do even refresh my Vaughan conj. (N. and Q. 1882).
labours; I forget My business, and 14 But...labours] Nay,...labour Han-
rest me while I do it. Anon. conj. mer.
(Fraser^s Mag. 1853). I forget all even] ever Anon. conj.
But those sweet thoughts that ev'n 14, 15 labours, Most busy lest, wlien]
refresh my labour Most busily when labour's Most business when Taylor
I do it. Bailey conj. I forget But conj. labour Most busy least, when
SCENE I.
53
THE TEMPEST.
Enter Miranda; and Prospero at a distance, unseen.
Mir. Alas, now, pray you,
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
Pray, set it down, and rest you: when this burns,
'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
Is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.
Fer. 0 most dear mistress,
The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
Mir. If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
I'll carry it to the pile.
Fer. No, precious creature;
15
20
25
Anon. conj. (N. and Q. 1850). la-
bour's Most busy hest when Brae conj.
labour Most baseless when D. Wilson
conj. labour Most, when busyless
Beale conj. (N. and Q. 1875). la-
bour's Most busy haste when Id. conj.
(K and Q. 1876). labours Most
bicsy,—lost, when Corson conj. (1ST.
and Q. 1877). labour. Most busy,
least when Watkiss Lloyd conj.
(Athen. 1878). labour, Most busiest
when Parchment Libr. ed. (Kinnear
conj.) labour; Most busie—when
Meredith conj.
15 Most busy lest,] Most busie lest, Fj.
Most busie least, F2F3F4. Least busie
Pope. Most busie-less Theobald.
Most busiest Holt conj. Most busy
left, Jackson conj. Most busy, least
Collier. Most busy, blest Collier MS.
Most busy felt Staunton. Most busy
still Id. conj. Most busiliest Bulloch
conj. Most busily Bailey conj. Most
busy rest Wetherell conj. (Athen.
1864). Most busied Beisly conj. (N.
and Q. 1864). Most busy beat Herr
conj. Most busy, least, Sprague conj.
(Shakespeariana, 1884).
Most busy lest, when I do {doe F-^Fg)
it] Most busy when least I do it
Brae conj. Most busy, least when I
do. Anon. conj. (N. and Q. 1853).
Most busy when I do rest Jervis conj.
Most busiest when idlest Spedding
conj. Most busy left when idlest
Clark and Glover conj. Most busy,
lest when I do it... Keightley. Most,
busy; least, when idlest Wellesley
conj. Most busy lost when idlest
Whistler conj. (K and Q. 1865).
Most busiliest when I face it Bulloch
conj. (MS. 1865). Most busiliest
when jaded Id. conj. (N. and Q.
1876). Most busy when I do it least
Hudson (Harvard ed.), reading la-
bour. See note (xiv).
Enter... ] Ro we. Enter Miranda and
Prospero. Enter M. and P. (behinde)
Collier MS.
17 you are] Fx. thou art F2F3F4.
54 THE TEMPEST. ACT III.
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
Mir. It would become me
As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it, 30
And yours it is against.
Pros, Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it.
Mir. You look wearily.
Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night. I do beseech you,—
Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers,— 35
What is your name?
Mir. Miranda.—0 my father,
I have broke your hest to say so!
Fer. Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration! worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have eyed with best regard, and many a time 40
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I liked several women; never any
With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed, 45
And put it to the foil: but you, 0 you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!
Mir. I do not know
One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
31 it is] om. Steevens, 1793 (Anon. infected..At as one line.
ap. Grey conj.). is it Steevens conj. 34, 35 I do beseech you,—Chiefly] I do
(apart) behinde. Collier MS. beseech you Gheefely Ff.
32 This] and this Hanmer, reading 36 [to herselfe. Collier MS.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 55
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen 50
More that I may call men than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you; 55
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
Something too wildly, and my father s precepts
I therein do forget.
Fer. I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king; 60
I would, not so !—and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides, 65
To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log-man.
Mir. Do you love me?
Fer. 0 heaven, 0 earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true! if hollowly, invert 70
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else i the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.
Mir. I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of.
51 you] thou Delius (an error). than to] than I tvoidd Pope, than
59 / therein do] I do Pope. Therein I woidd to Anon. conj.
Steevens (1793). 71—73 I,...Bo love] Aye /...Bo I love
62 This] At home this Elze conj. (iST. Allen conj.
and Q. 1883). 72 what else] aught ehe Hanmer. whatfs
wooden] wodden Fr sudden D. else Keigktley. what else's Allen
"Wilson conj. conj.
56 THE TEMPEST. ACT III.
Pros. Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace 75
On that which breeds between 'em!
Fer. Wherefore weep you?
Mir. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself, 80
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, 85
Whether you will or no.
Fer. My mistress, dearest;
And I thus humble ever.
Mir. My husband, then?
Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
Mir. And mine, with my heart in't: and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.
Fer. A thousand thousand! 91
[Exeunt Fer. and Mir. severally.
Pros. So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book;
For yet, ere supper-time, must I perform 95
Much business appertaining. [Exit.
76 [apart. Collier MS. 91 [Exeunt...severally] Capell. Exeunt.
80 all] yet or still Grey conj. Ff. Exeunt both. Collier MS.
seeks] seehd F3F4. 93 are] am Hudson (Harvard ed.).
87 [kneeles. Collier MS. [Kneeling. withal] Theobald, with all Ff.
Collier. rejoicing] rejoying F2.
88 as] Fx. so F2F3F4. 96 appertaining] appertaining to my
[rise. Collier MS. [Rising. Collier. project Keightley.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 57
Scene II. Another part of the island.
Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.
Ste. Tell not me;—when the butt is out, we will drink
water; not a drop before : therefore bear up, and board 'em.
Servant-monster, drink to me.
Trin. Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They
say there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them;
if th' other two be brained like us, the state totters. 6
Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes
are almost set in thy head.
Trin. Where should they be set else? he were a brave
monster indeed, if they were set in his tail. . 10
Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue hi sack:
for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I
could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues off and
on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster,
or my standard. 15
Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.
Ste. We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.
Trin. Nor go neither; but you'll lie, like dogs, and
yet say nothing neither.
Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest
a good moon-calf. 21
Cat. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.
I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.
Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case
Scene h. Another...] Theobald. The 4 the...islandI] 'The folly of this
other... Pope. island!' (as a toast) Nicholson
Enter...] Enter S. and T. reeling, conj.
Caliban following with a bottle. 8 head] Fr heart F2F3F4.
Capell. Enter C. S. and T. with a 14 on. By this light, thou] on, by this
bottle. Johnson. light thou Ff. on, by this light.—
3, 4 Servant-monster] Theobald. Ser- Thou Capell.
vant Monster Ff.
5 8 THE TEMPEST. ACT III.
to justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish, thou, was
there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack
as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half
a fish and half a monster?
Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?
Trin. 'Lord,' quoth he! That a monster should be such
a natural! 31
Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.
Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you
prove a mutineer,—the next tree! The poor monster s my
subject, and he shall not suffer indignity. 35
Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased
to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?
Ste. Marry, will I: kneel and repeat it; I will stand,
and so shall Trinculo.
Enter Ariel, invisible.
Cal. As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a
sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.
Ari. Thou liest.
Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou:
I would my valiant master would destroy thee!
I do not lie.
Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in s tale, by
this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth. 46
Trin. Why, I said nothing.
Ste. Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.
Cal. I say, by sorcery he got this isle;
From me he got it. If thy greatness will 50
25 deboshed] debosKa Ff. debauched 40, 41 As I...island.] Three lines of
Collier. verse, ending to...cunning...island,
29 my] om. Anon. ap. Grey conj. Nicholson conj.
37 to the suit I made to thee] the suit I 49, 50 isle; From me he] Pope. Isle
madetheeBteeyens( 1793), who prints From me, he F^Fg. Isle, From
all Caliban's speeches as verse. Me, he F4. Isle, From me he Eowe.
39 [Cal. kneeles. Collier MS.
SCENE
59
M
THE TEMPEST.
Revenge it on him,—for I know thou darest,
But this tiding dare not,—
Ste. That's most certain.
Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee.
Ste. Ho^7- now shall this be compassed? Canst thou
bring me to \the party? 56
Cal. Yea, >yea, my lord: 111 yield him thee asleep,
Where thou lAayst knock a nail into his head.
Ari. Thou Iciest; thou canst not.
Cal. What 4 pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch \ m
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows,
And take his bottle from him: when that's gone,
He shall drink noxight but brine; for I'll not show him
Where the quick freshes are. 64
Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the
monster one word further, and, by this hand, 111 turn my
mercy out o' doors, and make a stock-fish of thee.
Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing. Ill go farther
off.
Ste. Didst thou not sajk he lied? 70
Ari. Thou liest.
Ste. Do I so? take thou\ that. [Beats him.] As you
like this, give me the lie another time.
Trin. I did not give the lie. Out o' your wits, and
hearing too? A pox o' your bottle! this can sack and
drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil
take your fingers!
Cal. Ha, ha, ha!
Ste. Now, forward
farther off.
with your tale.—Prithee, stand
52 dare] dares Hannier.
54 HI] I-will S. Walker conj.
55 now] om. Pope.
60 Johnson conjectured that this line
was spoken by Stephano.
80
68 farther] Fx. no further F2F3F4.
72 [Beats him.] Rowe.
As] An Keightley conj.
74 give] give thee F4.
60 THE TEMPEST. / ACT III.
Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time,
I'll beat him too.
$te. Stand farther.—Come, proceed.
Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom Wdth him
I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst fcrain him,
Having first seized his books; or with a log/ 85
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a staTie,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books; for without th4n
He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not /
One spirit to command: they all do hate him 90
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books. /
He has brave utensils,—for so he calls Ahem,—
Which, when he has a house, he'll defck withal.
And that most deeply to consider is/
The beauty of his daughter; he himself 95
Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw/a woman,
But only Sycorax my dam and she;
But she* as far surpasseth Sycorax
As greatest does least. /
Ste. Is it sq' brave a lass?
Cal Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant, 100
And bring thee forth brave brood.
Ste. Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I
will be king and queen,—save our Graces!—and Trinculo
and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot,
Trinculo? 105
Trin. Excellent.
Ste. Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but,
while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
84 there] then Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 96 / never saw a woman] I ne'er saw
MS.), where Jervis conj. woman Pope.
89 nor] and Pope. 97 she] her Hanmer.
92 He] 0 he Anon. conj. 99 great?st does least] greatest does the
93 deck] deck H Hanmer. least Eowe.
SCENE II. THE TEMPEST. 61 (
Cat Within this half hour will he be asleep:
Wilt thou destroy him then?
Ste. Ay, on mine honour. no
Ari. This will I tell my master.
Cat. Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?
Ste. At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any
reason.—Come on, Trinculo, let us sing. [Sings.
Flout 'em and scout 'em, and scout 'em and flout 'em;
Thought is free.
Col. That's not the tune.
[Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.
Ste. What is this same? 120
Trin. This is the tune of our catch, played by the
picture of Nobody.
Ste. If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
if thou beest a devil, take t as thou list.
Trin. 0, forgive me my sins! 125
Ste. He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy
upon us!
Col. Art thou afeard?
Ste. No, monster, not I.
Col. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, 130
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, 135
111 [Aside. Allen conj. 125 sins] sin F4.
115, 116 Printed as verse in Ff. 130 afeard] afraid Eowe.
115 any] Fr And F2F3F4. 132 Sometimes] Sometime Dyce (ed. 2).
117 scout 'em, and scout 'em] Pope. twangling] tivanging Pope.
cout 'em: and skowt 'em Ff. 133 sometime] Yv sometimes F2F3F4.
62 THE TEMPEST.
ACT III.
The clouds niethought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I
shall have my music for nothing. 140
Col. When Prospero is destroyed.
Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story.
Trin. The sound is going away; let's follow it, and after
do our work.
Ste. Lead, monster; well follow. I would I could see
this taborer; he lays it on. 146
Trin. Wilt come? Ill follow, Stephano. [Exeunt.
Scene III. Another part of the island.
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco,
and others.
Gon. By r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed,
Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,
I needs must rest me.
Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who am myself attach'd with weariness, 5
To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.
Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it
No longer for my flatterer: he is drowned
Whom thus we stray to find; and the sea mocks
137 thai] om. Pope. Another...] changes to another...
143 Trin.] Cal. Hudson (Daniel conj.), Theobald, changes again. Pope.
reading as verse. 2 ache] ake F2F3F4. akes Fr
147 Trin. Wilt come? Fll follow, maze trod] maze-trod Keightley.
Stephano] Trin. Wilt come? Ste. 3 forth-rights] F3F4. fourth rights F1.
Til follow. Capell (Anon. ap. Grey forth rights F2. sore frights D. Wil-
conj.). Ste.... Wilt come? Trin. Ell son conj.
follow, Stephano. Dyce, ed. 2 (Bitson 5 attachd] attacked Clark MS.
conj.). 8 flatterer] Fx. flatterers F2F3F4.
SCENE III. THE TEMPEST. 63
Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go. 10
Ant. [Aside to Seb.] I am right glad that he's so out of
hope.
Do not, for one repulse, forgo the purpose
That you resolved to effect.
Seb. [Aside to Ant.] The next advantage
Will we take throughly.
Ant. [Aside to Seb.] Let it be to-night;
For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they 15
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they are fresh.
Seb. [Aside to Ant.] I say, to-night: no more.
[Solemn and strange music.
Alon. What harmony is this?—My good friends, hark!
Gon. Marvellous sweet music!
Enter Prospero above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes,
bringing in a banquet: they dance about it with gentle actions
of salutation; and, inviting the King, <kc. to eat, they depart.
Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens !—What were
these? 20
Seb. A living drollery. Now I will believe
That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix7 throne; one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
Ant. Ill believe both;
And what does else want credit, come to me, 25
And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did lie,
11 [Aside to Seb.] Hanmer. The 'A- ...salutations... Ff.
sides' to lines 13,14,17, were marked 20 were] F^Fg. are F4.
by Capell. 21 will] well Daniel conj.
17 [here Enter. Collier MS. 26 His true] to H Steevens conj.
19 Prospero above] Malone. Prosper did lie] lied Hanmer. lie Nicholson
on the top Ff. See note (xiv). conj.
they dance...salutation;] and dance
64 THE TEMPEST. ACT III.
Though fools at home condemn 'em.
Gon. If in Naples
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say, I saw such islanders,—
For, certes, these are people of the island,— 30
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.
Pros. [Aside] Honest lord,
Thou hast said well; for some of you there present 35
Are worse than devils.
Alon. I cannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing—
Although they want the use of tongue—a kind
Of excellent dumb discourse.
Pros. [Aside] Praise in departing.
Fran. They vanished strangely.
Seb. No matter, since 40
They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.—
WilTt please you taste of what is here?
Alon. Not I.
Gon. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at em 45
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find
29 islanders] F2F3F4. Islands Fr 37 gestae] gestures Collier MS.
32 gentle-hind] Theobald, gentle, Jcinde sound] sounds Collier MS.
Ff. gentle kind Howe. 39 excellent dumb] excellent-dumb S.
34, 39 [Aside.] Marked by Capell. Walker conj.
34 [Aside.] (aboue) and aside. Collier [Aside] Capell. (aboue) Collier MS.
MS. 40 Fran.] Ant. Kinnear conj.
36 muse] F^Fg. muse, F4. muse; No] 'Tis no Hanmer.
Capell. 42 Alon.] Ant. Hanmer.
SCENE III. THE TEMPEST. * 65
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.
Alon. I will stand to, and feed,
Although my last: no matter, since I feel 50
The best is past. Brother, my lord the duke,
Stand to, and do as we.
Thunder and lightning. Enter Ariel, like a harpy; claims his wings
upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes.
Ari. You are three men of sin, whom Destiny,—
That hath to instrument this lower world
And what is in t,—the never-surfeited sea 55
Hath caused to belch up you; and on this island,
Where man doth not inhabit,—you 'mongst men
Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad;
And even with such-like valour men hang and drown
Their proper selves. [Alon., Seb. &c. draw their swords.
You fools! I and my fellows 60
Are ministers of Fate: the elements,
Of whom your swords are temper d, may as well
Wound the loud winds, or with bemock?d-at stabs
Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish
One dowle that's in my plume: my fellow-ministers 65
Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt,
48 of five for one] Ff. on five for one F4. belch up Theobald, belch up,
Theobald, of one for five Malone yea, Hudson (Staunton conj.).
(Thirlby conj.). of five for ten 58 live.~\ live,— Jervis conj.
Thirlby conj. at five for one Daniel [seeing them draw. Capell.
conj. See note (xv). 59 And] As Jervis conj.
49—51 I will...past] Mason conjectured 60 [Alon.... draw their swords] They
that these lines formed a rhyming draw their swords. Hanmer.
couplet. 62 lohom] which Hanmer.
52 Stand to] F4. Stand too F^Fg. 65 dowle] dozen Pope.
53 Scene iv. Pope. plume] Eowe. plumbe F^Fg.
54 instrument] instruments F4. plumb F4.
56 belch up you] F-^Fg. belch you up 66 like] Hike Allen conj.
VOL. I. 5
66 "' THE TEMPEST. ACT III.
Your swords are now too massy for your strengths,
And will not be uplifted. But remember,—
For that's my business to you,—that you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero; 70
Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it,
Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed
The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have
Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,
Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso, 75
They have bereft; and do pronounce by me:
Lingering perdition—worse than any death
Can be at once—shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from,—
Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls 80
Upon your heads,—is nothing but heart-sorrow
And a clear life ensuing.
He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again,
and dance, with mocks and mows, and carrying out the table.
Pros, Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
Performed, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring:
Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated 85
In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life
And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Their several kinds have done. My high charms work,
And these mine enemies are all knit up
In their distractions: they now are in my power; 90
And in these fits I leave them, while I visit
67 strengths] strength F4. Rowe. hearts sorrotu Pope.
71 requit it,] requited D. "Wilson conj. 82 mocks] mopps Theobald.
79 wraths'] wrath Theobald. 83—93 Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.
80 falls] fall Hanmer. (aboue) Collier MS.
81 is] there's Hanmer. 83 harpy hast] harpy 'st Allen conj.
heart-sorrow] Clark and Glover. 86 life]list Johnson conj. will J ervis conj.
hearts-sorrow Ff. . hearts-sorrow 90 now] om. Pope.
SCENE III. THE TEMPEST. 67
Young Ferdinand,—whom they suppose is drown d,—
And his and mine loved darling. [Exit above.
Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?
Alon. O, it is monstrous, monstrous! 95
Methought the billows spoke, and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced
The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass.
Therefore my son i' th? ooze is bedded; and 100
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded,
And with him there lie mudded. [Exit.
Seb. But one fiend at a time,
I'll fight their legions o'er.
Ant. Til be thy second.
[Exeunt Seb. and Ant.
Gon. All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,
Like poison given to work a great time after, 105
Now gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstasy
May now provoke them to.
Adv. Follow, I pray you. [Exeunt.
92 whom] who Hanmer. 102 But one fiend] One Seymour conj.
93 mine] my Bowe. 103 [Exit. Capell (after o'er).
[Exit above.] Exit Prospero from [Exeunt Seb. and Ant.] Malone.
above. Theobald, om. Ff. Exeunt. Ff. Exit. Capell.
94 something holy, sir,] something, holy 105 great time] long time Hudson (S.
Sir, F4. Walker conj.).
99 Prosper] Prospero Anon. ap. Grey 106 the spirits] their spirits Allen conj.
conj. do] om. Pope.
bass] Johnson, base Ff.
68 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
ACT IV.
Scene I. Before Prospeko's cell.
Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
Pros. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations 5
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. 0 Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise, 10
And make it halt behind her.
Per. I do believe it
Against an oracle.
Pros. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased, take my daughter: but
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before 15
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister d,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Before...] Capell. Prospero's cell. 8 0] om. Hanmer.
Theobald. Prospero's cave. Pope. 9 her off] F2F3F4. her ofYv of her
3 a third] a thread Theobald, a thrid Keightley.
"Wright,Clar. Pressed. (Tollettconj.) 11 do] om. Pope.
the thread Jackson conj. the end 13 gift] Rowe. guest Ff.
Bailey conj. 14 but] Fr om. F2F3F4.
4 who] whom Pope. 17 rite] Rowe. right Ff.
7 strangely] strongly Long MS. and 18 aspersion] aspersions So quoted by
Sherwen conj. (Gent. Mag. 1811). Holt.
test] Fr rest F2F3F4.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 69
Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew 20
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.
Fer. As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den, 25
The most opportune place, the strong st suggestion
Our worser Genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd, 30
Or Night kept chain'd below.
Pros. Fairly spoke.
Sit, then, and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!
Enter Ariel.
Ari. What would my potent master? here I am.
Pros. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service 35
Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place:
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple 40
Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise,
23 lamps] lamp Elze conj. (N. and Q. 30 Phoebus'] Phoebus Fr Phcedus F2F3.
1883). Phceduus F4.
25 love as His now,"] Rowe. loue, as His 31 Fairly] Most fairly Hanmer. 'Ti*
now Ff. fairly Keightley.
His] is Capell. 34 Scene ii. Pope.
murkiest den] murkiest e'en (or ev'ri) 38 give] gave Elze conj. (N. and Q,
Anon. conj. (N. and Q. 1874). mur- 1883).
hiest even Hudson (Harvard ed.). 41 vanity] rarity S. "Walker conj.
27 can] can make or can give Keightley variety Long MS.
conj.
70 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
And they expect it from me.
Ari. Presently?
Pros. Ay, with a twink.
Ari. Before you can say, 'come/ and 'go/
And breathe twice, and cry, 'so, so/ 45
Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and mow.
Do you love me, master? no?
Pros. Dearly, my delicate Ariel, Do not approach
Till thou dost hear me call.
Ari. Well, I conceive. [Exit. 50
Pros. Look thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw
To the fire 1 the blood: be more abstemious,
Or else, good night your vow!
Per. I warrant you, sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart 55
Abates the ardour of my liver.
Pros. Well.
Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly!
No tongue! all eyes! be silent. [Soft music
Enter Iris.
Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas 60
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
48 me, master? no?] me?—master no? pertly]presently D. Wilson conj.
Nicholson conj. 60 Scene hi. A Masque. Pope.
no?] no. Eowe (ed. 1). thy] Fr the F2F3F4.
52 rein] F4. raigne F^. raign F3. 61 vetches] Capell. Fetches Ff.
53 abstemious] abstenious Fr 62 turfy] tufty Anon. ap. Grey conj.
57 corollary] whole array D. Wilson 63 thatch'd] Kowe (ed. 2). thetchd Fr
conj. choir of lares Bulloch conj. thetch'd F2F3F4. hatch'd Tathwell
58 want a spirit] wanton spirits Bulloch conj.
COnj. thatch'd with] with thatch'd Hanmer.
SCENE I.
THE TEMPEST. 71
Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,
"Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, 65
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,
Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air;—the queen o' the sky, 70
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport:—her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain. 75
Enter Ceres.
Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown 80
My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth;—why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green*?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;
And some donation freely to estate 85
On the blest lovers.
Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Yenus or her son, as thou dost know,
64 banks] becks Jervis conj., reading as b?*oad groves or trim groves K.eigh.tlej
Steevens. conj.
pioned]pionied~W arburtoii. peonied 68 pole-clipt]pale-clipt Hanmer. pole-
Steevens (1793). pinioned Brae conj. yclipt Allen conj.
pansies pied or bryonied Bailey conj. 69 sterile] stirrile Fr
peoned Dyce, ed. 2. rocky-hard] rocky hard Gould conj.
twilled] tulip*d Rowe. tilled Capell - 72 After this line Ff have the stage
(Holt conj.). lilted Rann (Heath direction, 'Juno descends.' Collier
conj.). willovJd Keightley (Jervis MS. adds 'slowly.5
conj. and Bailey conj.) willied 74 her] Rowe. here Ff.
Keightley conj. (N. and Q. 1863). 76 many-colour'd]Rowe. many-coloured
66 cold...chaste] chaste...cold Keight- Fx. many coloured F2F3F4.
ley. 83 short-grass'oT] F3F4. short graid
fooom-groves] brovm groves Hanmer. ^1^2- short-grass Pope.
72 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
Do now attend the queen*? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company 90
I have forsworn.
Iris. Of her society
Be not afraid: I met her Deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, 95
Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain;
Mars's hot minion is returned again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, 100
And be a boy right out.
Cer. High'st queen of state,
Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.
Enter Juno.
Juno. How does my bounteous sister1? Go with me
To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be,
And honour'd in their issue. [They sing: 105
Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.
Cer. Earth's increase, foison plenty, 110
Barns and garners never empty;
Vines with clustering bunches growing;
Plants with goodly burthen bowing;
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest! 115
96 bed-right] bed-rite Steevens (1778). marriage, blessing Ff.
98 Mars's] F3F4. Marses F^. 110 Cer.] Theobald, om. Ff.
101 HigWst] Highest Ff. High Pope. increase] rich increase Jacob conj.
102 Juno,comes]Theobald. IunocomesFi. foison] foyzonFv andfoi/zonF2F3Fi.
gait] Johnson, gate Ff. 114 Spring] Raine Collier MS. Shall
Enter Juno] Juno descends, and Keightley. i^a^Shilletoconj.(1ST.and
enters. Theobald. At line 101, Q.1870). Offspring!). Wilson conj.
Collier MS. om. Ff. See line 72. at the farthest] at farthest D. Wil-
106 9narriage-blessing] Warburton. son conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 73
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.
Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?
Pros. Spirits, which by mine art 120
I have from their confines calTd to enact
My present fancies.
Fer. Let me live here ever; •
So rare a wonder d father and a wise -
Makes this place Paradise.
[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.
Pros. Sweet, now, silence!
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously; 125
There's something else to do: hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr'd.
Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the windring brooks,
With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land 23q
Answer your summons; Juno does command:
119 Harmonious charmingly] Harmoni- the change.
ous charming lay Hanmer. Ear- 124—127 Pros. Sweet...marr'd] Sweet,
monious charming lays Warburton. now— Pros. Silence!...man*d or
Harmonious: charming! Holt conj. Mir. Sweet, now ...do. Pros. Hush...
Harmoniously charming Steevens marr'd Wright conj. Mir. [To Fer.]
conj. Sweet,...seriously. Pros. There's...
121 fromtheir]~Ev fromalltheir'F2FsFi. marr'd Elze conj. (N. and Q. 1883).
123 So...wise] So rare a wonder, and 125 Juno...seriously'^] om. Hanmer.
a father wise, Staunton. A won- 126 else] more So quoted by Elze.
der'd father, and so rare a wife, 128 j\Taiads]JSrayads~Po-pe. JVayadesFL
Cartwright conj. windring] winding Eowe. wand-
wise] Fx (var.) F2F3F4. wife Fx ring Steevens.
(var.). Rowe. 129 sedged] sedge Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
124 Makes] Make Pope. MS. and S. Walker conj.).
Sweet, now, silence] Now, silence, 130 green land] Warburton. greene-
sweet Hanmer. 0 sweet, now, Land ¥v greene-landY%. green-
silence Keightley. land F3F4.
In Ff. the stage direction [Juno, land] laund Wright conj.
&c] follows line 127. Capell made 131 your] our Hudson (Harvard ed.).
74 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.
Enter certain Nymphs.
You sunburn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: 135
Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.
Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with the Nymphs in a
graceful dance; towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly,
and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they
heavily vanish.
Pros. [Aside] I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates 140
Against my life: the minute of their plot
Is almost come. [To the Spirits.] Well done! avoid; no
more!
Per. This is strange: your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.
Mir. Never till this day
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. 145
Pros. You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors.
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
136 holiday] holly day F^FgFg. holy- 146 You] Why, you Hanmer. Ha!
day F4. you Anon. conj. Sure, you Dyce
139 Scene iv. Pope. (ed. 2).
[Aside] Johnson. do] om. Pope. See note (xvi).
142 [To the Spirits.] Johnson, [to do look,...sort] do look in amoved
them. Collier MS. sort, my son Keightley. do, my
143 This is] JTis Seymour conj. This' son, look in a moved sort Hudson
(for This >s) S. Walker conj. Nay! (Seymour conj.).
This is Nicholson conj. moved] most moved Shilleto conj.
strange] most strange Hanmer. (N. and Q. 1873).
145 anger so] Warburton. anger, so Ff.
SCENE I.
THE TEMPEST. 75
Are melted into air, into thin air: 150
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, 155
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled:
Be not disturbed with my infirmity: 160
If you be pleased, retire into my cell,
And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.
Fer. Mir. We wish your peace. [Exeunt.
Pros. Come with a thought. I thank thee, Ariel: come.
Enter Ariel.
Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure?
Pros. Spirit, 165
We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
Ari. Ay, my commander: when I presented Ceres,
I thought to have told thee of it ;■ but I fear'd
Lest I might anger thee.
151 this vision] Fr their vision F2F3F4. a thought/—/ thank ye [Exeunt
tK air visions Warburton. Fer. and Mir.]—Ariel, come! Dyce
156 rack] F3F4. racke FXF2. track (ed. 2).
Hanmer. wreck Dyce (Malone / thank thee, Ariel: come.] I thank
conj.). scrap Cartwright conj. you:—Ariel, come. Theobald. /
wrack Keightley. thank ye—Ariel, come. Capell.
157 on] of Steevens (1793). Enter Ariel.] Ff. Prospero comes
little] brittle Anon. conj. forward from the Cell; enter Ariel
161 you] thou Rowe (ed. 2). to him. Theobald.
163 mind] heart Gould conj. 165, 166 Spirit,...Caliban] As in Theo-
your] F^Fg. you F4. bald. One line in Ff.
164 Come...come.] [to Ariel] Come with 169 Lest] F4. Least F1F2F3.
76 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
Pros. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?
Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking;
So full of valour that they smote the air 172
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kissing of then feet; yet always bending
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor; 175
At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears,
Advanced their eyelids, lifted up then noses
As they smelt music: so I charm'd then ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing followed through
Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and thorns, 180
Which enter d their frail shins: at last I left them
I' the filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake
O'erstunk their feet.
Pros. This was well done, my bird.
Thy shape invisible retain thou still: 185
The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither,
For stale to catch these thieves.
Ari. I go, I go. [Exit.
Pros. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; 190
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers. I will plague them all,
Even to roaring.
170 Say again] But, say again Hanmer. Steevens conj.
Well; say again Capell. Say yet your] you F2.
again Nicholson conj. 184 O'erstunk] Oerswanfd Cartwright
varlets] Rowe. varlots Ff. conj.
180 furzes] Rowe. firzes Ff. feet] fear Spedding conj. fell D.
181 skins] skins So quoted by Warbur- Wilson conj. feat Bulloch conj.
ton. 190 all, all] are all Hanmer. all are
182 filthy-mantled] Clark and Glover. Keightley (S. Walker conj.).
filthy mantled Ff. filth-ymantled 191 uglier] ouglier Fr
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 77
Re-enter Ariel, loaden with glistering apparel, <kc.
Come, hang them on this line.
Prospero and Ariel remain, invisible. Enter Caliban, Stephano,
and Trinculo, all wet.
Col. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not
Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. 195
Ste. Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless
fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.
Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my
nose is in great indignation.
Ste. So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should
take a displeasure against you, look you,— 201
Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.
Col. Good my lord, give me thy favour still.
Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to
Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly.
All's hush'd as midnight yet. 206
Trin. Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,—
Ste. There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that,
monster, but an infinite loss.
Trin. That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is
your harmless fairy, monster. 211
Ste. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears
for my labour.
Col. Prithee, my king, be quiet. See'st thou here,
This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter. 215
Do that good mischief which may make this island
193 Ee-enter...] Capell. Enter... Ff. 2). Prose in Ff.
them on] Rowe. on them Ff. 196—222 The speeches of Stephano
Prospero.. .invisible.] Prospero re- and Trinculo are printed as irregul-
mains invisible. Theobald. Pros- ar verse in Ff.
pero, and Ariel, invisible. Capell. 203 Good] Good, good Hanmer. 0
om. Ff. good Keightley. Xay, good Hudson.
194 Scene v. Pope. 212 ears] head and ears Hanmer.
194, 195 Pray...cell.] As in Rowe (ed.
78 THE TEMPEST. ACT IV.
Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban,
For aye thy foot-licker.
Ste. Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody
thoughts. 220
Trin. 0 King Stephano! 0 peer! 0 worthy Stephano!
look what a wardrobe here is for thee!
Cat. Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.
Trin. 0, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a
frippery. 0 King Stephano! 225
Ste. Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have
that gown.
Trin. Thy Grace shall have it.
Col. The dropsy drown this fool! what do you mean
To dote thus on such luggage? Let's alone, 230
And do the murder first: if he awake,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches,
Make us strange stuff.
Ste. " Be you quiet, monster. Mistress line, is not this
my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line: now,
jerkin, you are like to lose your hair, and prove a bald
jerkin. 237
Trin. Do, do: we steal by line and level, an't like your
Grace.
Ste. I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment fort:
wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this coun-
try. c Steal by line and level' is an excellent pass of
pate; there's another garment for't.
Trin. Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers,
and away with the rest. 245
Col. I will have none on't: we shall lose our time,
222 [Seeing the apparell. Collier MS. Bann. See note (xvn).
229 dropsy] deep sea D. Wilson conj. 233 stuff.~\ stuff... Keightley.
230 Lets alone] Lei's along Theobald. 246 none] done F2.
Let it alone Hanmer. Let H alone
SCENE I.
THE TEMPEST. 79
And all be turn d to barnacles, or to apes
With foreheads villanous low.
Ste. Monster, lay-to your fingers: help to bear this away
where my hogshead of wine is, or 111 turn you out of my
kingdom: go to, carry this. 251
Trin. And this.
Ste. Ay, and this.
A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers Spirits, in shape of dogs and
hounds, hunting them about; Prospero and Ariel setting them on.
Pros. Hey, Mountain, hey!
Ari. Silver! there it goes, Silver! 255
Pros. Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark, hark!
[Cal., Ste., and Trin. are driven out.
Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints
With dry convulsions; shorten up their sinews
With aged cramps; and more pinch-spotted make them
Then pard or cat o' mountain.
Ari. Hark, they roar! 260
Pros. Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
Lie at my mercy all mine enemies:
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little
Follow, and do me service. [Exeunt.
247 or to apes] or apes Pope. 257 they] F1F3F4. thou F2.
256 Fury] Hey, Fury Keightley. 258 dry] wry Warburton conj.
Cal., Ste.,...driven out.] Calib., 259 aged] agued D. Wilson conj.
Steph. and Trine, driven out, roar- 260 [Cries and roaring. Collier MS.
^ng. Added by Theobald to stage 262 Lie] Rowe. Lies Ff.
direction above.
80 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
ACT Y.
Scene I. Before the cell of Prospero.
Enter Prospero in his magic robes> and Ariel.
Pros. Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time
Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?
Ari. On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord,
You said our work should cease.
Pros. I did say so, 5
When first I raised the tempest. Say, my spirit,
How fares the king and's followers?
Ari. Confined together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge,
Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,
In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell; 10
They cannot budge till your release. The king,
His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted,
And the remainder mourning over them,
Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly
Him that you term'd, sir, * The good old lord, Gonzalo;'
His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops 16
From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em,
Before the cell of Prospero.] before 14 Brimful] Brim full F^Fg. ^rim-
theCell. Theobald. full¥±. *
2 crack] break D. Wilson conj. 14, 15 Malone (\790) ends the lines him
7 fares] fare Capell conj. ...Gonzalo.
together] om. Pope. 15 Him] He Hanmer.
9 all] all your Pope, all are Collier, sir] om. Pope.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 16 run] runs Fr
10 line-grove] lime-grove Rowe. winter's] winter F4.
11 your] FXF2. you F3F4. 17 reeds] reed Capell conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 81
That if you now beheld them, your affections
Would become tender.
Pros. Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ari. Mine would, sir, were I human.
Pros. And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling 21
Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply,
Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
Yet _^tfch_ myLJiobler reason /gainst my fury 26
Do I take part^ the .rarer action is
In _Tirtue~tFan in vengeance: they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel: 30
My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,
And they shall be themselves.
Ari. I'll fetch them, sir. [Exit.
Pros. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and
groves;
And ye that on the sands with printless foot
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him 35
When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,
Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice
To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid— 40
20 human] Rowe. humane Ff. doth end Anon, apud E-ann conj.
23 sharply,] sharpely, FXF2. sharply 33 Scene ii. Pope.
F3F4. 37 do] on Long MS. and Hunter conj.
24 Passion] Passioned Pope. green sour] green-sward Douce conj.
26 'gainst] Rowe (ed. 2). gainst F^. greensome Grindon conj. (Academy,
against F3F4. 1885).
27, 28 action...virtue] virtue...par don 39 mushrooms] Rowe. MushrumpsFJ?^
Daniel conj. Mmhromes F3F4.
29 purpose doth extend] purpose, wrath
YOL. I. fi
82 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
Weak masters though ye be—I have bedimm'd
The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault
Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder
Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak 45
With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory-
Have I made shake, and by the spurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar: graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough magic 50
I here abjure; and, when I have required
Some heavenly music,—which even now I do,—
To work mine end upon their senses, that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, 5&
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I'll drown my book. [Solemn music.
Re-enter Ariel before: then Alonso, with a frantic gesture, attended by
Gonzalo; Sebastian and Antonio in like manner, attended by Adrian
and Francisco: they all enter the circle which Prospero had made,
and there stand charmed; which Prospero observing, speaks:
A solemn air, and the best comforter
To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains,
Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, 60
For you are spell-stopp'd.
41 masters'] ministers Hanmer. motives Re-enter...] Heere enters... Ff.
Kinnear conj. 58 Scene hi. Pope.
43 azured] azure S. Walker conj. and] om. Capell. as Hudson.
46 strong-based]'Rowe. strongbass'dFL 59 fancy, cure] fancy! sure Harness
47 spurs] roots Long MS. conj.
49 Have...forth] Have open'd and let 59, 60 thy...thy] t/ie...t/ie Hudson (In-
forththeirsleeperSjWaFdW&rbMrton. gleby conj.). their...their Hudson
54 is for] hasfraiVd Warburton. conj.
55 it certain fathoms]'t a certain fadorn br aim...boil'd] brains, that, Now...
Warburton. ooil Keightley.
57 [Solemn Music] After skull! line 60 boil'd] Pope, boile FXF2. boil F3F4.
60 Strutt conj. 5ow&c? Jervisconj. coil D.Wilson conj.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 83
Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace;
And as the morning steals upon the night, 65
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason. 0 good Gonzalo,
My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him thou follow st! I will pay thy graces 70
Home both in word and deed. Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtherer in the act.
Thou art pinch'd fort now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood,
You, brother mine, that entertain d ambition, 75
ExpelTd remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian,—
Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,—
Would here have kilTd your king; I do forgive thee,
Unnatural though thou art. Their understanding
Begins to swell; and the approaching tide 80
Will shortly fill the reasonable shore,
That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them
That yet looks on me, or would know me: Ariel,
Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell:
I will disease me, and myself present 85
62 Holy] Noble Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 74 Sebastian. Flesh and blood,] Sebas-
MS0- tian, flesh and blood. Theobald.
63 show] sheio Ff. floio Collier, ed. 2 75 entertained] e?itertaine Fr
(Collier MS.), dew Long MS. 76 who] Kowe. whom Ff.
64 fellowly] fellow Pope, fellowy Rowe 81, 82 shore..dies] shores...lie Malone.
(ed. 2). 82 lies] F3F4. ly FXF2.
68 0] 0 my Pope. 0 thou Dyce, ed. 2 83 That yet] E'en yet D. Wilson conj.
(S. "Walker conj.). or] ere Collier MS. e'er Keightley.
69 sir] servant Collier MS. suitor D. 84 Theobald gives as stage direction
Wilson conj. 'Exit Ariel, and returns inimedi-
72 Didst] ¥1 (catchword) F3F4. Did ately.'
F1 (text) F,
6—2
84' THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
As I was sometime Milan: quickly, spirit;
Thou shalt ere long be free.
Ariel sings and helps to attire him.
Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry. 90
On the bat's back I do fly
Aiter summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
Pros. Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee;
But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so. 96
To the king's ship, invisible as thou art:
There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain
Being awake, enforce them to this place, 100
And presently, I prithee.
Ari. I drink the air before me, and return
Or ere your pulse twice beat. [Exit.
Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement
Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us 105
Out of this fearful country!
Pros. Behold, sir king,
The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero :'
For more assurance that a living prince
Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
And to thee and thy company I bid 110
A hearty welcome.
Alon. Whether thou best he or no,
88 suck] lurk Theobald. 100 awake] awaked Hudson (S. Walker
90 There...cry.] There I couch: when conj.).
owls do cry, Capell (Heath conj.). 106 [attired as Duke. Collier MS.
couch] crowch F3F4. Behold] Lo Pope.
90, 91 Tliere...fiy] There...cry On the 111 Alon.] Ant. Ingleby conj.
'bats hack. I do fly Knight conj. Whether thou he'st] Where thou
92 summer] sun-set Theobald. bee'st Ff. BeUt thou Pope. WheW
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 85
Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,
As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse
Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,
The affliction of my mind amends, with which, 115
I fear, a madness held me: this must crave—
An if this be at all—a most straxige story.
Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs.—But how should Prospero
Be living and be here?
Pros, First, noble friend, 120
Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot
Be measured or confined.
Gon. Whether this be
Or be not, 111 not swear.
Pros. You do yet taste
Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you
Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all! 125
[Aside to Seb. and Ant] But you, my brace of lords, were I
so minded,
I here could pluck his Highness' frown upon you,
And justify you traitors: at this time
I will tell no tales.
Seb. [Aside] The devil speaks in. him.
Pros. No.
For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother 130
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest fault,—all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know,
Thou must restore.
thou be'st Capell. 124 nof\ F3E4. nor F^.
he or no] Prospero Cartwright 126 [Aside to Seb. and Ant.] Johnson.
conj. he Jervis conj. 129 [Aside] Johnson.
112 trifle] diuell Collier MS. rival JSTo.] om. Hanmer. Noic, Hudson
Bailey conj. model Id. conj. (Allen conj.).
119 my] thy Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 132 fault] faults F4.
86 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
Alon. If thou be'st Prospero,
Give us particulars of thy preservation; 135
How thou hast met us here, who three hours since
Were wrecked upon this shore; where I have lost—
How sharp the point of this remembrance is !—
My dear son Ferdinand.
Pros. I am woe for t, sir.
Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and patience 140
Says it is past her cure.
Pros. I rather think
You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace
For the like loss I have her sovereign aid,
And rest myself content.
Alon. You the like loss!
Pros. As great to me as late; and, supportable 145
To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
Than you may call to comfort you, for I
Have lost my daughter.
Alon. A daughter?
O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,
The king and queen there! that they were, I wish 150
Myself were mudded in that oozy bed
Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?
Pros. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords
At this encounter do so much admire,
That they devour their reason, and scarce think 155
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
136 who] F2F3F4. whom Fx. A daughter?] Only daughter? Han-
142 soft] sought Theobald conj. mer. Daughter? Capell. Did you
145 late] late you Gould conj. say a daughter? Cartwright conj.
and,] sir, and Capell. A daughter? la son Nicholson conj.
supportable] FXF2. insupportable 155 devour] demure Gould conj.
F3F4. portable Steevens (1793). re- scarce] scare F2.
parable D. Wilson conj. 156 eyes] exes Fr eie F2. eye F3F4.
148 my] my only Hanmer. their] these Capell.
SCENE I.
THE TEMPEST. 87
Are natural breath: but, howsoeer you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain
That I am Prospero, and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely leo
Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,
To be the lord on t. No more yet of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor
Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; 165
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye 170
As much as me my dukedom.
Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.
Mir. Sweet lord, you play me false.
Fer. No, my dear st love,
I would not for the world.
Mir. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
And I would call it fan play.
Alon. If this prove 175
A vision of the island, one dear son
Shall I twice lose.
Seb. A most high miracle!
168 given] given it Hunter conj. 174, 175 kingdoms...play] kingdoms;
172 Scene iv. Pope. and should I wrangle, you woidd
Here Prospero discovers...] Ff. call it fair play Smith conj.
Collier MS. adds 'drawe Curtaine'. 174 wrangle] wrong me Staunton conj.
. Scene opens to the entrance of (Ath. 1872).
the cell. Here Prospero discovers 175 If this prove] If this prove not or
... Theobald. Cell opens and dis- But this prove Hudson conj. (with-
covers... Capell. drawn).
my] om. Collier MS. 177 lose] F3F4. loose F1F2.
dearest] dearest Ff.
88 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
Fer. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;
I have cursed them without cause. [Kneels.
Alon. Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about! 180
Arise, and say how thou earnest here.
Mir. 0, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! 0 brave new world,
That has such people in't!
Pros. Tis new to thee.
Alon. What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?
Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: 186
Is she the goddess that hath sever d us,
And brought us thus together?
Fer. Sir, she is mortal;
But by immortal Providence she's mine:
I chose her when I could not ask my father 190
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Received a second life; and second father 195
This lady makes him to me.
Alon. I am hers:
But, O, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!
Pros. There, sir, stop:
Let us not burthen our remembrances with
A heaviness that's gone.
Gon. I have inly wept, 200
178 (To his father) Collier MS. with Eowe (ed. 2). remembrances
179 [Kneels] Theobald. With Malone. remembrance^ with
191 advice] F4. advise F^Fg. Allen conj.
199 remembrances with] remembrance
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 89
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown!
For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither.
Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo!
Gon. Was Milan thrust from .Milan, that his issue 205
Should become kings of Naples? 0, rejoice
Beyond a common joy! and set it down
With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife 210
Where he himself was lost, Prospero his dukedom
In a poor isle, and all of us ourselves
When no man was his own.
Alon. [to Fer. and Mir.] Give me your hands:
Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
That doth not wish you joy!
Gon. Be it so! Amen! 215
^Re-enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.
0, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us:
I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news? 220
Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found
Our king and company; the next, our ship—
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split—
Is tight and yare and bravely rigg'd, as when
213 Wlien~\ Where Johnson conj. is] are Pope.
[to Fer and Mir.] Capell. 219 swear'st] sioar'st Allen conj.
216 Scene v. Pope. 221 safely] safe F3F4.
Re-enter...] Enter... Ff. 224 tight] Powe (ed. 2). tyte F^Fg.
sir, look, sir] sir, look P3F4. tite F4.
90 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
We first put out to sea.
Ari. [Aside to Pros.] Sir, all this service 225
Have I done since I went.
Pros, [Aside to AH.] My tricksy spirit!
Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen
From strange to stranger. Say, how came you hither?
Boats, If I did think,. sir, I were well awake,
I'ld strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, 230
And—how we know not—all elapp'd under hatches;
Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And mo diversity of sounds, all horrible,
We were awaked; straightway, at liberty; 235
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
Capering to eye her :—on a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought moping hither.
Ari. [Aside to Pros.] Was't well done? 240
Pros. [Aside to AH.] Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt
be free.
Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod;
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of: some oracle
Must rectify our knowledge.
Pros. Sir, my liege, 245
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure
225, 226, 240, 241, 251, and 316 The her] Theobald (Thirlby conj.). our
'Asides' first marked by Capell. Ff.
230 of sleep] a-sleep Pope, on sleep 239 them] her Keightley conj.
Malone. 242 Alon.] Alo. Fr Ar. F2F3F4.
231 hatches] the hatches Hunter conj. 244 conduct] conductor Tathwell conj.
234 mo] F^. nioe F3F4. more Kowe. 247 leisure] Fx. seisure F2. seizure
236 Where] When Dyce (ed. 2). F3 F4.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST. 91
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,
Which to you shall seem probable, of every
These happen d accidents; till when, be cheerful, 250
And think of each thing well. [Aside to Arl] Come hither,
spirit:
Set Caliban and his companions free;
Untie the spell. [Exit Ariel] How fares my gracious sir?
There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads that you remember not. 255
Re-enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, in their
stolen apparel,
Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no. man
take care for himself; for all is but fortune.—Coragio,
bully-monster, coragio!
Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my
head, here's a goodly sight. 260
Cat. 0 Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!
How fine my master is! I am afraid
He will chastise me.
Seb. Ha, ha!
What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy 'em?
Ant, Very like; one of them 265
Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.
Pros. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,
His mother was a witch; and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, 270
248 Which shall be shortly, single] 258 coragio] Gorasio Fr
Pope. (Which shall be shortly 263 He will] He'll S. Walker conj.
single) Ff. (Which shall be shortly 265,266 Very.. .marketable] As prose,
singled) Theobald conj. S. Walker conj.
253 [Exit Ariel.] Capell. 267 badges] visages Anon. conj. MS. (in
256 Scene vi. Pope. Prof. D. Wilson's copy of F2).
Ee-enter...] Capell. Enter... Ff. 268 mis-shapen] mis-shap'd Pope.
92 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
And deal in her command, without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil—
For he's a bastard one—had plotted with them
To take my life. Two of these fellows you
Must know and own; this thing of darkness I 275
Acknowledge mine.
Gal. I shall be pinch'd to death.
Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?
Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they
Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?— 280
How earnest thou in this pickle?
Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you
last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I
shall not fear fly-blowing.
Seb. Why, how now, Stephano! 285
Ste. 0, touch me not;—I am not Stephano, but a
cramp.
Pros. You Id be king o' the isle, sirrah?
Ste. I should have been a sore one, then.
Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on.
[Pointing to Caliban.
Pros. He is as disproportion d in his manners 290
As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.
271 And...power] And its power deal 280 liquor] 'lixir Theobald.
in her command withal Herr gilded^] gelded Theobald conj.(with-
eory, drawn), 'guiled D. Wilson conj.
command, without her power.] 282—284 Printed as verse in Ef.
command. Without her poiver, 288 then] om. Hanmer.
Anon. conj. 289 This is] F^. >Tis F3F4.
without] with all Collier, ed. 2 a strange] as strange a Capell.
(Collier MS.). der JT] I ever Hanmer.
272 three] two D. Wilson conj. [Pointing to Caliban.] Steevens.
278 now :] novj: but how? Hanmer.
SCENE I. THE TEMPEST, 93
Cat. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass 295
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,
And worship this dull fool!
Pros. Go to; away!
Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you
found it.
Seb. Or Stole it, rather. [Exeunt Gal., Ste., and Trin.
Pros. Sir, I invite your Highness and your train 300
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which, part of it, 111 waste
With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away v the story of my life,
And the particular accidents gone by 305
Since I came to this isle: and hi the morn
111 bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where 310
Every third thought shall be my grave.
Alon. I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.
Pros. Ill deliver all;
And promise you calm, seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch 315
Your royal fleet far off. [Aside to Arl] My Ariel, chick,
That is thy charge: then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.
[Exeunt.
299 [Exeunt...Trin.] Capell. or that it Allen conj.
308 nuptial] nuptiall Fr Nuptials E2 317 elements] element; Keightley.
E3E4. 318 [Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes Ef. ora.
309 See note (xvin). Collier MS.
315 that] it Hanmer. that? or that 't
94 THE TEMPEST. ACT V.
EPILOGUE.
SPOKEN BY PPOSPERO.
Now my charms are all overthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not, 5
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands: 10
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair, , 15
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon d be,
Let your indulgence set me free. 20
Epilogue...Prospero.]advancing, 13 Now] For now Pope. Now, now
Capell. Nicholson conj.
1 Row] Now, now F3F4. 20 [Exit. Ff. Exeunt omnes. Collier
3 now] and now Pope, for now Nichol- MS.
son conj.
NOTES.
Note I.
I. 1. 15, 16. What cares these roarers. This grammatical inaccuracy,
which escaped correction in the later folios, probably came from Shake-
speare's pen. Similar cases occur frequently, especially when the verb
precedes its nominative. For example, Tempest, iv. 1. 262, 'Lies at my
mercy all mine enemies,' and Measure for Measure, n. 1. 22, 'What knows
the laws, &c.' We correct it in those passages where the occurrence of a
vulgarism would be likely to annoy the reader. In the mouth of a Boat-
swain it can offend no one. We therefore leave it.
Note II.
I. 1. 57—59. Mercy on us!—we split, &c. It may be doubtful
whether the printer of the first folio intended these broken speeches to
express 'a confused noise within.' Without question such was the
author's meaning. Rowe, however, and subsequent editors, printed them
as part of Gonzalo's speech. Capell was the first editor who gave the true
arrangement. [Theobald (Nichols' Illustrations, ii. 243) proposed the
same. Hanmer attributed the words to Sebastian.]
Note III.
i. 2. 173. [As in Henry V. v. 2. 28 'mightiness' is a plural, I have^
here retained the reading of the folios, following Dyce in using the
apostrophe to prevent misapprehension. In the first edition the editors
printed 'princesses' and justified it in the following note. W. A. W.l
See Mr Sidney Walker's Shakespeare'fs Versification, p. 243 sqq. 'The
plurals of substantives ending in s, in certai^. instances, in se, ss, ce, and
sometimes ge,... are found without the usual addition of s or es, in pro-
nunciation at least, although in many instances the plural affix is added
in printing, where the metre shows that it is not to be pronounced.'
In this and other instances, we have thought it better to trust to the
ear of the reader for the rhythm than to introduce an innovation in ortho-
96 THE TEMPEST.
graphy which might perplex him as to the sense. The form 'princesses,'
the use of which in Shakespeare's time was doubted by one of our corre-
spondents, is found in the History of King Leir.
Howe's reading 'princes' might be defended on the ground that the
sentiment is general, and applicable to royal children of both sexes; or
that Sir Philip Sidney, in the first book of the Arcadia, calls Pamela and
Philoclea c princes.' [Comp. Bacon, Adv. of L. i. 7, § 9, where he speaks of
Queen Elizabeth as 'a prince']
Note IV.
i, 2. 298. The metre of this line, as well as of lines 301, 302, is
defective, but as no mode of correction can be regarded as completely
satisfactory we have in accordance with our custom left the lines as they
are printed in the Folio. The defect, indeed, in the metre of line 298 has
not been noticed except by Hanmer, who makes a line thus:
'Do so, and after two days I'll discharge thee.'
Possibly it ought to be printed thus:
'Do so; and
After two days
I will discharge thee.'
There is a broken line, also of four syllables, 253 of the same scene,
another of seven, 235.
There is no reason to doubt that the words are as Shakespeare wrote
them, for, although the action of the play terminates in less than four
hours (i. 2. 240 and v. 1. 186), yet Ariel's ministry is not to end till the
voyage to Naples shall be over. Prospero, too, repeats his promise, and
marks his contentment by further shortening the time of servitude, 'within
two days,' i. 2. 421. Possibly 'invisible' (301) should have a line to itself.
Words thus occupying a broken line acquire a marked emphasis.
But the truth is that in dialogue Shakespeare's language passes so
rapidly from verse to prose and from prose to verse, sometimes even hover-
ing, as it were, over the confines, being rhythmical rather than metrical,
that all attempts to give regularity to the metre must be made with
diffidence and received withf doubt.
[Capell in his Notes proposes to divide the lines thus:
'Do so: and after
Two days I will discharge thee.'
Prof. Elze would arrange
NOTES. 97
Til be corr'spondent to command, and do
My spriting gently.
Pros. Do so; and after two days, <fcc.']
Note Y.
i. 2. 377, 378:
Gourtsied when you have and kiss'd
The wild waves whist.
This punctuation seems to be supported by what Ferdinand says (391,
392):
'The music crept by me upon the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my passion, &c.'
At the end of the stanza the editors of the first edition printed Hark,
hark !... The watch-dogs bark as that part of the burthen which 'sweet
sprites bear,' the other part being borne by distant watch-dogs.
Dr Nicholson proposes substantially the same arrangement:
[Spirits dispersedly.] Hark, hark!
[Within.'] Bow, wow.
[Spirits.] The watch-dogs bark.
[Within.] Bow, wow.
Mr Daniel, regarding 'Cry' as a stage direction, arranges the 'Burthen
dispersedly' thus, with Ariel's song:
Harke, harke! f Burthen dispersedly.
The watch-Dogges barke. J Bowgh-wawgh.
Hark, hark, I heare Bowgh-wawgh.
The strain of strutting Chanticlere. I Cockadidle-dowe.
His arrangement is adopted by Hudson in the Harvard edition.
Brae arranges:
Foot it featly
Here and there
And sweet sprites bear
The burden.
[Burden dispersedly
Hark, hark !—&c.
Note VI.
I. 2. 443. I fear you have done yourself some wrong. See this phrase
used in a similar sense, Measure for Measure, I. 2. 39.
VOL. I. 7
98
THE TEMPEST.
Note "VII.
ii. 1. 27. ^ Which, of he or Adrian. 'Of' is found in the same con-
struction, Midsummer Mghtfs Dream, in. 2. 337
'Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right,
Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.'
Note VIII.
ii. 1. 157. Of it own kind. There is no doubt, as Dr Guest has shewn,
that 'it,' which is the reading of the 1st and 2nd Polios, was commonly
used as a genitive in Shakespeare's time, as it is still in some provincial
dialects. 'Its,' however, was coming into use. Two instances occur in this
play, i. 2. 95, 'in its contrary'; and i. 2. 393, 'With its sweet air.'
Note IX.
n. 1. 241. she that from whom. Mr Spedding writes: 'The received
emendation is not satisfactory to me. I would rather read, "She that
From whom % All were sea-swallow'd <fec, i.e. from whom should she have
note? The report from Naples will be that all were drowned. We shall
be the only survivors." The break in the construction seems to me
characteristic of the speaker. But you must read the whole speech to feel
the effect.'
Note X.
n. 1. 249—251. All editors except Mr Staunton have printed in italics
(or between inverted commas) only as far as 'Naples?,' but as 'keep' is
printed with a small k in the Folios, they seem to sanction the arrangement
given in our text.
Note XL
ii. 1. 267. Ay, sir; vihere lies that? if 'twere a kibe. Mr Singer and
Mr Dyce have changed "twere' to 'it were' for the sake of the metre.
But then the first part of the line must be read with a wrong emphasis.
The proper emphasis clearly falls on the first, third, and fifth syllables,
'Ay, sir; where lies that V
Note XII.
n. 1. 297—300. Dyce, in his second edition, arranges thus:
Gon. [waking] Now, good angels
NOTES. 99
Preserve the king!—[To Seb. and Ant.] Why, how now !—[To Alon.]
Ho, awake I—
[To Seb. and Ant.] Why are you drawn 1 Wherefore this ghastly
looking *?
Alon. [waking] What's the matter %
Note XIII.
ii. 2. 165. Before 'here; bear my bottle5 Capell inserts a stage
direction [To Cal.], but it appears from in. 2. 62, that Trinculo was
entrusted with the office of bottle-bearer. Dr Nicholson thinks that in
this scene Trinculo had a bottle of his own.
Note XIY.
in. 1. 15. Most busy lest, wJien I do it. As none of the proposed
emendations can be regarded as certain, we have left the reading of F1?
though it is manifestly corrupt. The spelling 'doe' makes Mr Spedding's
conjecture 'idlest' for 'I doe it' more probable.
Staunton suggested Most busy [ ] when I dote.
Note XY.
hi. 3. 19. The stage direction, which we have divided into two parts,
is placed all at once in the Folios after 'as when they are fresh' [Solemne
and strange Musicke\ and Prosper on the top (invisible:) Enter...depart].
Pope transferred it to follow Sebastian's words, 'I say, to night: no
more.'
Note XVI.
in. 3. 48. Each putter out of five for one. See Beaumont and Fletcher,
The Noble Gentleman, i. 1. (Yol. n. p. 261, ed. Moxon): 'The return will
give you five for one.' See Theobald's Letters, Nichols' Illustrations n.
258—260.
Note XYII.
iv. 1. 146. You do look, my son, in a moved sort. Seymour suggests
a transposition: 'you do, my son, look in a moved sort.' This line however
can scarcely have come from Shakespeare's pen. ^Perhaps the writer who
composed the Masque was allowed to join it, as best he might, to Shake-
speare's words, which re-commence at 'Our revels now are ended,' <fcc.
7—2
100 THE TEMPEST.
Note XYIII.
rv. 1. 230. Let's alone. See Staunton's Shakespeare, Vol. i. p. 81,
note (b).
Note XIX.
V. 1. 309. Of these our dear-beloved solemnized. The Folios have
'belov'd'; a mode of spelling, which in this case is convenient as indicating
the probable rhythm of the verse. We have written 'beloved,' in accord-
ance with the general rule we have adopted with regard to the participles
of verbs ending in 'e.'
1 Solemnized' occurs in four other verse passages of Shakespeare. It
is three times to be accented c solemnized' and once (Love's Labour's Lost,
II. 1. 41) 'solemnized.'
THE
TWO GENTLEMEN OE YEEONA.
DRAMATIS PERSON^1
Duke of Milan2, Father to Silvia.
'> the two Gentlemen.
Proteus3, J
Antonio4, Father to Proteus.
Thurio, a foolish rival to Yalentine.
Eglamour, Agent for Silvia in her escape.
Host, where Julia lodges.
Outlaws, with Yalentine.
Speed, a clownish Servant to Yalentine.
• Launce, the like to Proteus.
Panthino5, Servant to Antonio..
Julia, beloved of Proteus.
Silvia, beloved of Yalentine.
Lucetta, waiting-woman to Julia.
Servants, Musicians6.
Scene, Verona; Milan; the frontiers of Mantua7.
i Dramatis Person^.] The names 4 Antonio] Capell. Anthonio Ff.
of all the Actors. Ff, at the end of 5 Panthino] Capell. Panthion Ff.
the play. See note (i).
2 of Milan] added by Pope. 6 Servants, Musicians] Theobald.
3 Proteus] Steevens. Protheus r Scene...] Pope and Hanmer.
Ff. See note (i).
THE
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.
ACT I.
Scene I. Verona. An open place.
Enter Valentine and Proteus.
Vol. Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus:
Hoine-keeping youth have ever honiely wits.
Were't not affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honoured love,
I rather would entreat thy company 5
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardized at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.
But since thou lovest, love still, and thrive therein,
Even as I would, when I to love begin. 10
Pro. Wilt thou be gone? Sweet Valentine, adieu!
Think on thy Proteus, when thou haply seest
Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel:
Wish me partaker in thy happiness,
When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, 15
If ever danger do environ thee,
Yerona. An open place] an open and Speed. Fx. Valentine, Pro-
Place in Verona. Theobald. theus, and Speed. F2F3F4.
Verona. Pope. 8 with] in Capell.
Enter...] Eowe. Valentine: Pro theus,
104 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT I.
Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers,
For I will be thy beadsman, Valentine.
Val. And on a love-book pray for my success?
Pro. Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee. 20
Val. That's on some shallow story of deep love:
How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont.
Pro. That's a deep story of a deeper love;
For he was more than over shoes in love.
Val. Tis true; for you are over boots in love, 25
And yet you never swum the Hellespont.
Pro. Over the boots? nay, give me not the boots.
Val. No, I will not, for it boots thee not.
Pro. What?
Val. To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans;
Coy looks with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth
With twenty watchful, weary, tedious nights: 31
If haply won, perhaps a hapless gain;
If lost, why then a grievous labour won;
However, but a folly bought with wit,
Or else a wit by folly vanquished. 35
Pro. So, by your circumstance, you call me fooL
Val. So, by your circumstance, I fear you'll prove.
Pro. 'Tis love you cavil at: I am not Love.
Val. Love is your master, for he masters you:
And he that is so yoked by a fool, 40
Methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.
Pro. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud
The eating canker dwells, so eating love
Inhabits in the finest wits of all.
19 my] Fx. thy F2F3F4. 26 swum] Clark and Glover, sworn F£
success?] success. Warburton. svjam Steevens (1793).
21—28 Put in the margin as spurious 28 thee] om. S. Walker conj. See note
by Pope. (11).
25 for] but Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 30 fading] om. Hanmer.
and Hudson (Staunton conj.).
SCENE I.
OF VERONA. 105
Val. And writers say, as the most forward bud 45
Is eaten by the canker ere it blow,
Even so by love the young and tender wit
Is turn'd to folly; blasting in the bud,
Losing his verdure even in the prime,
And all the fair effects of future hopes. 50
But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee,
That art a votary to fond desire?
Once more adieu! my father at the road
Expects my coming, there to see me shipp'd.
Pro. And thither will I bring thee, Valentine. 55
Val. Sweet Proteus, no; now let us take our leave.
To Milan let me hear from thee by letters
Of thy success in love, and what news else
Betideth here in absence of thy friend;
And I likewise will visit thee with mine. 60
Pro. All happiness bechance to thee in Milan!
Val. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. [Exit.
Pro. He after honour hunts, I after love:
He leaves his friends to dignify them more;
I leave myself, my friends, and all, for love. 65
Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me,
Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,
War with good counsel, set the world at nought;
Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.
Enter Speed.
Speed. Sir Proteus, save you! Saw you my master? 70
48 blasting] blasted Collier MS. matamorphos'd F4.
49 Losing] Loosing ~FV 67 Made] Make Hudson(Johnsonconj.).
57 To...hear] To Milan! let me hear lose] loose Fx (and passim).
Malone conj. 69 Enter Speed.] Rowe. om. Ff. Enter
To] Fx. At F2F3F4. Speed, bluntly. Capell.
65 leave] Pope, love Ff. 70 Scene il Pope.
all, for] Dyce. all for Ff. 70—144 Put in the margin by Pope.
66 metamorphosed] metamorphiid Yv
106
THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT 1.
Pro. But now he parted hence, to embark for Milan.
Speed. Twenty to one, then, he is shipp'd already,
And I have play d the sheep in losing him.
Pro. Indeed, a sheep doth very often stray,
An if the shepherd be awhile away. 75
Speed. Yon conclude that my master is a shepherd,
then, and I a sheep?
Pro. I do.
Speed. Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I
wake or sleep.
Pro. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.
Speed. This proves me still a sheep. 80
Pro. True; and thy master a shepherd.
Speed. Nay, that I can deny by a circumstance.
Pro. It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another.
Speed. The shepherd seeks the sheep, and not the sheep
the shepherd; but I seek my master, and my master seeks
not me: therefore I am no sheep. 86
Pro. The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd; the
shepherd for food follows not the sheep: thou for wages
followest thy master; thy master for wages follows not
thee: therefore thou art a sheep. 90
Speed. Such another proof will make me cry 'baa/
Pro. But, dost thou hear? gavest thou my letter to
Julia?
Speed. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter
to her, a laced mutton, and she, a laced mutton, gave
me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour. 96
Pro. Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.
Speed. If the ground be overcharged, you were best
stick her. 99
73 losing] loosing Fr 76 a] F2F3F4. om. Fr
74 very] om. Pope (ed. 2). 87 follow] follows Pope.
75 An if] Pope. And if Ff.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 107
Pro. Nay: in that you are astray, 'twere best pound you.
Speed. Nay, sir, less than a pound shall serve me for
carrying your letter.
Pro. You mistake; I mean the pound,—a pinfold.
Speed. From a pound to a pin? fold it over and over,
Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover. 105
Pro. But what said she?
Speed. [First nodding] Ay.
Pro. Nod—Ay—why, that's noddy.
Speed. You mistook, sir; I say, she did nod: and you
ask me if she did nod; and I say, 'Ay.' 110
Pro. And that set together is noddy.
Speed. Now you have taken the pains to set it toge-
ther, take it for your pains.
Pro. No, no; you shall have it for bearing the letter.
Speed. Well, I perceive I must be fain to bear with you.
Pro. Why, sir, how do you bear with me? 116
Speed. Marry, sir, the letter, very orderly; having no-
thing but the word 'noddy' for my pains.
Pro. Beshrew me, but you have a quick wit.
Speed. And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse. 120
Pro. Come, come, open the matter in brief: what said
she?
100 Nay:...astray,] Clark and Glover. said she? [Speed nods.] Did she
Nay,...astray: Ff. nod? Spe. I. Capell. Pro. But
astray] a stray Theobald (Thirlby what said she? [Speed nods
conJ-)- clumsily, and Proteus imitates it
103 a] the Delius (Capell conj.). jeeringly and interrogatively.]
106, 107 Pro. But what said she? Speed. Ay. Nicholson conj.
Speed. [First nodding] Ay.] Clark 108 Nod—Ay—] Nod-I, Ff.
and Glover. Pro. But what said 109, 110 say...say] Fr said...said F2
she? Sp. I. Ff. Pro. But what F3F4.
said she? Speed. She nodded and 117 orderly] motherly Staunton conj.
said I. Pope. Pro. But what said elderly or elder-like Nicholson
she; Did she nod? [Speed nods] conj.
Speed. I. Theobald. Pro. But what
108 THE TWO GENTLEMEN . ACT I.
Speed. Open your purse, that the money and the matter
may be both at once delivered.
Pro. Well, sir, here is for your pains. What said she?
Speed. Truly, sir, I think you'll hardly win her. 126
Pro. Why, couldst thou perceive so much from her?
Speed. Sir, I could perceive nothing at all from her;
no, not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter: and
being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll
prove as hard to you in telling your mind. Give her no
token but stones; for she's as hard as steel. 132
Pro. What said she? nothing?
Speed. No, not so much as 'Take this for thy pains.'
To testify your bounty, I thank you, you have testerned
me; in requital whereof, henceforth carry your letters your-
self: and so, sir, I'll commend you to my master.
Pro. Go, go, be gone, to save your ship from wreck,
Which cannot perish having thee aboard,
Being destined to a drier death on shore. [Exit Speed.
I must go send some better messenger: 141
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post. [Exit.
124 at once] Fv om. F2F3F4. ' said she, nothing? Ff. What) said
125 [Giving him money. Collier, ed. 2 she nothing?
(after Capell). 134, 135 as 'Take...I thank you] as 'I
128—132 Printed as verse in Ff. thank you; take... Clark and Glover
128 from her] from her better Collier conj. testerned] F2F3F4. cesterrtd
MS. to rhyme with letter in the Fr
next line. 136 henceforth] F1F3F4. hence/ore F2.
130 brought] brought to her Collier MS. letters] Fr letter F2F3F4.
131 your] Fx. her F2F3F4. you her 140 [Exit Speed.] Dyce. Exit. John-
Jackson conj. son (after line 139).
133 What said she? nothing?] What 143 [Exit.] om. Ff. [Exeunt. Rowe.
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 109
Scene II, The same. Garden of Julia's house.
Enter Julia and Lucetta.
Jul. But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,
Wouldst thou, then, counsel me to fall in love?
Luc. Ay, madam; so you stumble not unheedfully.
Jul. Of all the fair resort of gentlemen
That every day with parle encounter me, 5
In thy opinion which is worthiest love?
Luc. Please you repeat then* names, I'll show my mind
According to my shallow simple skill.
Jul. What think'st thou of the fan Sir Eglamour?
Luc. As of a knight well-spoken, neat and fine: 10
But, were I you, he never should be mine.
Jul. What think;st thou of the rich Mercatio?
Luc. Well of his wealth; but of himself, so so.
Jul. What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus?
Luc. Lord, Lord! to see what folly reigns in us! 15
Jul. How now! what means this passion at his name?
Luc. Pardon, dear madam: 'tis a passing shame
That I, unworthy body as I am,
Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen.
Jul. Why not on Proteus, as of all the rest? 20
Luc. Then thus,—of many good I think him best.
Scene il] Scene hi. Pope. 18 am] can Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.)-
Garden &c] Capell. Changes to 19 censure...gentlemen~\ censure on a
Julia's chamber. Pope. lovely gentleman J ervis conj. censure
1 now we are] Fx. now are we P2F3 on this lovely gentleman Clark and
F4. Glover conj.
5 parle] parte Ff. thus] pass Hanmer.
8 shallow simple] shallow-simple Dyce, on lovely gentlemen] a lovely gentle-
ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.). man Pope. a loving gentleman
10 of a knight] our blight Boswell. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
12 Mercatio] Mercutio Collier MS. 20 of] on Jervis conj.
15 reigns] feigns Anon. conj.
110 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT I.
Jul. Your reason?
Luc. I have no other but a woman's reason;
I think him so, because I think him so.
Jul. And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him? 25
Luc. Ay, if you thought your love not cast away.
Jul. Why, he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.
Luc. Yet he, of all the rest, I think, best loves ye.
Jul. His little speaking shows his love but small.
Luc. Fire that's closest kept burns most of all. 30
Jul. They do not love that do not show their love.
Luc. O, they love least that let men know their love.
Jul. I would I knew his mind.
Luc. Peruse this paper, madam.
Jul. 'To Julia/—Say, from whom? 35
Luc. That the contents will show.
Jul. Say, say, who gave it thee?
Luc. Sir Valentine s page; and sent, I think, from Pro-
teus.
He would have given it you; but I, being in the way,
Did in your name receive it: pardon the fault, I pray. 40
Jul. Now, by my modesty, a goodly broker!
Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines?
To whisper and conspire against my youth?
Now, trust me, 'tis an office of great worth,
And you an officer fit for the place. 45
There, take the paper: see it be return d;
Or else return no more into my sight.
Luc. To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
28 loves] lov'd Keightley. 39 being in the way] being by Pope.
30 Fire] Ff. The fire Pope. 40 pardon the fault, I pray] pardon
that's] that is Johnson. rne Pope.
34 [Gives a letter. Collier MS. [Giving 46 [Gives it back. Collier MS. [Giving
a letter. Collier, ed. 2 (after back the letter. Collier, ed. 2 (after
Capell). Capell).
SCENE II. OF VERONA. Ill
Jul. Will ye be gone?
Luc. That you may ruminate. {Exit.
Jul. And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter: 50
It were a shame to call her back again,
And pray her to a fault for which I chid her.
What fool is she, that knows I am a maid,
And would not force the letter to my view!
Since maids, in modesty, say 'no' to that 55
Which they would have the profferer construe 'ay.'
Fie, fie, how wayward is this foolish love,
That, like a testy babe, will scratch the nurse,
And presently, all humbled, kiss the rod!
How churlishly I chid Lucetta hence, 60
When willingly I would have had her here!
How angerly I taught my brow to frown,
When inward joy enforced my heart to smile!
My penance is, to call Lucetta back,
And ask remission for my folly past. 65
What, ho! Lucetta!
Re-enter Lucetta.
Luc. What would your ladyship?
Jul. Is't near dinner-time?
Lac. I would it were;
That you might kill your stomach on your meat,
And not upon your - maid.
Jul. What is't that you took up so gingerly? 70
49 ye] you Malone. near] om. Boswell.
53 What fool] F4. What foole F^Fg. 69 [Dropping the letter, and taking it
What a fool Clark and Glover. See up again. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
note (in). MS.).
66 Re-enter Lucetta.] Rowe. om. Ff. 70 What...gingerly?] As in Collier. Two
Enter Lucetta. Collier MS. lines, the first ending you, in Ff.
67 Is 't] Is it Capell (Anon. ap. Grey that] om. Steevens (1793), ending
conj.). the line at up.
112
THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT I.
Luc. Nothing.
Jul. Why didst thou stoop, then?
Luc. To take a paper up that I let fall.
Jul. And is that paper nothing?
Luc. Nothing concerning me. 75
Jul. Then let it lie for those that it concerns.
Luc. Madam, it will not lie where it concerns,
Unless it have a false interpreter.
Jul. Some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme.
Luc. That I might sing it, madam, to a tune. 80
Give me a note: your ladyship can set.
Jul. As little by such toys as may be possible.
Best sing it to the tune of 'Light o' love/
Luc. It is too heavy for so light a tune.
Jul. Heavy! belike it hath some burden, then? 85
Luc. Ay; and melodious were it, would you sing it.
Jul. And why not you?
Luc. I cannot reach so high.
Jul. Let's see your song. How now, minion!
Luc. Keep tune there still, so you will sing it out:
And yet methinks I do not like this tune. 90
Jul. You do not?
Luc. No, madam; it is too sharp.
Jul. You, minion, are too saucy.
Luc. Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant:
There wanteth but a mean to fill your song. 95
Jul. The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass.
80 tune] time Keightley conj. After this line Hanmer adds a stage
81 F-l omits the stop after set. direction [Gives her a box on the
83 o' love] Theobald. 0, Loue F^. ear]. Long MS. adds 'tears the
0 Love F3F4. letter and throws it on the ground/
88 song.] song.— [snatching the letter.] 91 not?] not like it? Keightley.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 92 [Slaps her face. Nicholson conj.
How now] Why, how now Hanmer. 96 your] you Fx.
SCENE II. . OF VERONA. 113
Luc. Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus.
Jul. This babble shall not henceforth trouble me.
Here is a coil with protestation! [Tears the letter.
Go get you gone, and let the papers lie: 100
You would be fingering them, to anger me.
Luc. . She makes it strange; but she would be best
pleased
To be so anger d with another letter. [Exit.
Jul. Nay, would I were so anger d with the same!
0 hateful hands, to tear such loving words! 105
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey,
And kill the bees, that yield it, with your stings!
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ 'kind Julia.' Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude, no
1 throw thy name against the bruising stones,
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ 'love-wounded Proteus.'
Poor wounded name! my bosom, as a bed,
Shall lodge thee, till thy wound be throughly heal'd; 115
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was 'Proteus' written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away,
Till I have found each letter in the letter,
Except mine own name: that some whirlwmd bear 120
Unto a ragged, fearful-hanging rock,
97 bid] bide Theobald conj. did Gould 103 [Exit.] om. Fx.
conj. 104 JSTay,...same.f] Continued to Luc.
99 [Tears the letter.] [Tears it. Pope. Staunton conj.
[looking over the Letter; tears, and 106 wasps] waspe Collier MS.
throws it away. Capell. [Tearing 107 stings] sting Collier MS.
the letter, and throwing it down. 108 [picking up the Pieces. Capell.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 121 fearful-hanging] Delius. fearfully
102 best pleased] pleased better Collier, hanging Ff.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
VOL. I. 8
114 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT I.
And throw it thence into the raging sea!
Lo, here in one line is his name twice writ,
'Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia':—that I'll tear away.— 125
And yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one upon another:
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
Re-enter Lucetta.
Laic. Madam, 130
Dinner is ready, and your father stays.
Jul. Well, let us go.
Luc. What, shall these papers lie like tell-tales here?
Jul. If you respect them, best to take them up.
Luc. Nay, I was taken up for laying them down: 135
Yet here they shall not lie, for catching cold.
Jul. I see you have a month's mind to them.
Luc. Ay, madam, you may say what sights you see;
I see things too, although you judge I wink.
Jul. Come, come; wilTt please you go? [Exeunt. 140
127 names] name Collier MS. and S. 136 [takes them up. Long MS.
Walker conj. 137 you] that you Keightley.
129 Ee-enter Lucetta.] Pope. Enter month's] moneth's Grant White.
Lucetta. Eowe. Enter. F2F3E4. to] unto Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
onL jf them.] them, minion! Hanmer.
130, 131 Madam, Dinner is] Capell. 138 say what sights you see] see what
Madam: dinner is Ef, reading sights you think Collier, ed. 2
Madam... states as one line. Ma- (Collier MS.).
dame, dinner's Capell conj. 140 wilVt] Eowe (ed. 2). wilt Ef.
SCENE III. OF VERONA. 115
Scene III. The same. Antonio's house.
Enter Antonio and Panthino.
Ant. Tell me, Panthino, what sad talk was that
Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister?
Pan. 'Twas of his nephew Proteus, your son.
Ant. Why, what of him?
Pan. He wonder'd that your lordship
Would suffer him to spend his youth at home, 5
While other men, of slender reputation,
Put forth their sons to seek preferment out:
Some to the wars, to try their fortune there;
Some to discover islands far away;
Some to the studious universities. 10
For any, or for all these exercises,
He said that Proteus your son was meet;
And. did request me to importune you
To let him spend his time no more at home,
Which would be great impeachment to his age, 15
In having known no travel in his youth.
Ant. Nor need'st thou much importune me to that
Whereon this month I have been hammering.
I have considered well his loss of time,
And how he cannot be a perfect man, 20
Not being tried and tutor d in the world:
Experience is by industry achieved,
And perfected by the swift course of time.
Then, tell me, whither were I best to send him?
Pan. I think your lordship is not ignorant 25
Scene in.] Scene iv. Pope. 6 slender] slenderer S. Walker conj.
Antonio's House.] Theobald. (doubtfully).
Enter...] Enter Antonio and Pan- 21 and] Er nor F2F3Fi.
thino. Proteus. E. 24 whither'] F2E3F4. whether Fx.
1 Panthino] E1F2. Panthion F3F4.
8—2
116 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT I.
How his companion, youthful Valentine,
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
Ant. I know it well.
Pan. 'Twere good, I think, your lordship sent him
thither:
There shall he practise tilts and tournaments, 30
Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen,
And be in eye of every exercise
Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth.
Ant. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised:
And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it 35
The execution of it shall make known.
Even with the speediest expedition
I will dispatch him to the emperor's court.
Pan. To-morrow, may it please you, Don Alphonso,
"With other gentlemen of good esteem, 40
Are journeying to salute the emperor,
And to commend their service to his will.
Ant. Good company; with them shall Proteus go:
And, in good time! now will we break with him.
Enter Proteus.
Pro. Sweet love! sweet lines! sweet life! 45
Here is her hand, the agent of her heart;
Here is her oath for love, her honour's pawn.
O, that our fathers would applaud our loves,
To seal our happiness with their consents!
O heavenly Julia! 50
32 eye] the eye Keightley. father. Collier MS.
44 And, in good time/] And in good 45 sweet life] sweet life! sweet Julia
time: Er Andingoodtime,!?^^^ Capell.
And,—in good time:— Dyce. 46 [Kissing a letter. Collier, ed. 2
Enter Proteus] om. Fr Enter (Collier MS.).
Protheus, at a Distance, reading. 49 To] And Collier MS.
Capell. Enter Pro. not seeing his 50 0] Pro. Oh Fx.
SCENE III. OE VERONA. 117
Ant. How now! what letter are you reading there?
Pro. May't please your lordship, 'tis a word or two
Of commendations sent from Valentine,
Deliver'd by a friend that came from him.
Ant. Lend me the letter;' let me see what news. 55
Pro. There is no news, my lord; but that he writes
How happily he lives, how well beloved,
And daily graced by the emperor;
Wishing me with him, partner of his fortune.
Ant. And how stand you affected to his wish? 60
Pro. As one relying on your lordship's will,
And not depending on 'his friendly wish.
Ant. My will is something sorted with his wish.
Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed;
For what I will, I will, and there an end. 65
I am resolved that thou shalt spend some time
With Valentinus in the emperor's court:
What maintenance he from his friends receives,
Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
To-morrow be in readiness to go: 70
Excuse it not, for I am peremptory.
Pro. My lord, I cannot be so soon provided:
Please you, deliberate a day or two.
Ant. Look, what thou want'st shall be sent after thee:
No more of stay! to-morrow thou must go. 75
Come on, Panthino: you shall be employ'd
To hasten 011 his expedition. [Exeunt Ant. and Pan.
Pro. Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning,
And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.
I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter, 80
53 [putting it vp. Collier MS. Valentine Warburton.
65 there'] E^. there's Y^^. 73 you,} to Pope (ed. 2).
67 Valentinus] Fr Valentino F2E3E4. 77 [Exeunt Ant. and Pan.] Howe.
118 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Lest he should take exceptions to my love;
And with the vantage of mine own excuse
Hath he excepted most against my love.
O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day, 85
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!
Re-enter Panthino.
Pan. Sir Proteus, your father calls for you:
He is in haste; therefore, I pray you, go.
Pro. Why, this it is: my heart accords thereto, 90
And yet a thousand times it answers 'no.' [Exeunt
ACT II.
Scene I. Milan. The Duke's Palace.
Enter Valentine and Speed.
Speed. Sir, your glove.
Vol. Not mine; my gloves are on.
Speed. Why, then, this may be yours, for this is but one.
Vol. Ha! let me see: ay, give it me, it's mine:
Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine!
Ah, Silvia, Silvia! 5
84 resembleth] resembleth well Pope. 91 [Exeunt.] Exeunt. Finis. Ff.
resembleth right Johnson conj. re- Milan.] Pope.
sembleth soon Taylor conj. MS. The Duke's Palace.] An Apartment
86 sun] light Johnson conj. in the Duke's Palace. Theobald.
87 Ke-enter Panthino.] Capell. om. Fx. Enter Valentine and Speed.] Howe.
Enter. F2F3F4. Enter Panthion. Enter Valentine, Speed, Silvia. Ff.
Rowe. 2 but] om. Anon. ap. Grey conj.
88 father] Fathers Fr
SCENE I. OF VERONA.' 119
Speed, Madam Silvia! Madam Silvia!
Val. How now, sirrah?
Speed, She is not within hearing, sir.
Val. Why, sir, who bade you call her?
Speed, Your worship, sir; or else I mistook. 10
Val. Well, you'll still be too forward.
Speed. And yet I was last chidden for being too slow.
Val. Go to, sir: tell me, do you know Madam Silvia?
Speed. She that your worship loves?
Val. Why, how know you that I am in love? 15
Speed. Marry, by these special marks: first, you have
learned, like Sir Proteus, to wreathe your arms, like a
male-content; to relish a love-song, like a robin-redbreast;
to walk alone, like one that had the pestilence; to sigh, like'
a school-boy that had lost his A B C; to weep, like a young
wench that had buried her grandam; to fast, like one that
takes diet; to watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak
puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. You were wont, when
you laughed, to crow like a cock; when you walked, to walk
like one of the lions; when you fasted, it was presently after
dinner; when you looked sadly, it was for want of money:
and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress, that, when
I look on you, I can hardly think you my master.
Val. Are all these things perceived in me?
Speed. They are all perceived without ye. 30
Val. Without me? they cannot.
Speed. Without you? nay, that's certain, for, without
you were so simple, none else would: but you are so with-
out these follies, that these follies are within you, and shine
19, 20, 21 had] hath Collier, ed. 2 (Singer MS. and Collier MS.).
(Collier MS.). 29 in] within in Taylor conj. MS.
21 buried] Yv Zos* F2F3F4. 32 Without you?] Without you! Dyce.
22 takes] hates Gould conj. 33 would] would be Collier MS.
27 you are] you are so Singer, ed. 2
120 * THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
through you like the water in an urinal, that not an eye that
sees you but is a physician to comment on your malady. 36
Val. But tell me, dost thou know my lady Silvia?
Speed. She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper?
Val. Hast thou observed that? even she, I mean.
Speed. Why, sir, I know her not. 40
Val. Dost thou know her by my gazing on her, and
yet knowest her not?
Speed. Is she not hard-favoured, sir?
Val. Not so fair, boy, as well-favoured.
Speed. Sir, I know that well enough. 45
Val. What dost thou know?
Speed. That she is not so fair as, of you, well favoured.
Val. I mean that her beauty is exquisite, but her
favour infinite.
Speed. That's because the one is painted, and the other
out of all count. 51
Val. How painted? and how out of count?
Speed. Marry, sir, so painted, to make her fair, that no
man counts of her beauty.
Val. How esteemest thou me? I account of her beauty.
Speed. You never saw her since she was deformed. 56
Val. How long hath she been deformed?
Speed. Ever since you loved her.
Val. I have loved her ever since I saw her; and still
I see her beautiful. 60
Speed. If you love her, you cannot see her.
Val. Why?
Speed. Because Love is blind. 0, that you had mine
eyes; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to
have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered! 65
35 through you like] through you; 47 well favoured^] well favour"d. Rowe.
like Gould conj. well-fauourd? Fx. well favoured?
41 my] FXF2. om. F3F4. F2F3F4.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 121
Val. What should I see then?
Speed. Your own present folly, and her passing de-
formity: for he, being in love, could not see to garter his
hose; and you, being in love, cannot see to put on your hose.
Val. Belike, boy, then, you are in love; for last morning
you could not see to wipe my shoes. 71
Speed. True, sir; I was in love with my bed: I thank
you, you swinged me for my love, which makes me the
bolder to chide you for yours.
Val. In conclusion, I stand affected to her. 75
Speed. I would you were set, so your affection would
cease.
Val. Last night she enjoined me to write some lines
to one she loves.
Speed. And have you? 80
Val. I have.
Speed. Are they not lamely writ?
Val. No, boy, but as well as I can do them. Peace!
here she comes.
Speed. [Aside] 0 excellent motion! O exceeding puppet!
Now will he interpret to her. 86
Enter Silvia.
Val. Madam and mistress, a thousand good-morrows.
Speed. [Aside] 0, give ye good even! here's a million
of manners.
Sil. Sir Valentine and servant, to you two thousand. 90
Speed. [Aside] He should give her interest, and she
gives it him.
68, 69 See note (rv). 86 Enter Silvia.] Bowe (after 1. 84).
69 put on your hose] beyond your nose om, Ff.
Hudson (Clark and Glover conj.). 88 give] 'give Ff.
76 set,] set; Malone. 91 Speed.] FXF4. Sil. F2F3.
85, 88, 91 [Aside] Capell.
122 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Vol. As you enjoin d me, I have writ your letter
Unto the secret nameless friend of yours;
Which I was much unwilling to proceed in, 95
But for my duty to your ladyship.
Sil. I thank you, gentle servant: 'tis very clerkly done.
Vol. Now trust me, madam, it came hardly off;
For, being ignorant to whom it goes,
I writ at random, very doubtfully. 100
Sil. Perchance you think too much of so much pains?
Vol. No, madam; so it stead you, I will write,
Please you command, a thousand times as much;
And yet—■
Sil. A pretty period! Well, I guess the sequel; 105
And yet I will not name it;—and yet I care not;—
And yet take this again :—and yet I thank you;
Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more.
Speed. [Aside] And yet you will; and yet another 'yet.'
Vol. What means your ladyship? do you not like it? no
Sil. Yes, yes: the lines are very quaintly writ;
But since unwillingly, take them again.
Nay, take them.
Vol. Madam, they are for you.
Sil. Ay, ay: you writ them, sir, at my request; 115
But I will none of them; they are for you;
I would have had them writ more movingly.
Vol. Please you, I'll write your ladyship another.
96 for] om. F3F4. Grey conj.).
[Gives a letter. Collier MS. and yet] yet Pope.
97 gentle servant] sir Taylor conj. MS. 109 [Aside] Eowe.
98 hardly of] hardly-off Fr yet another] Capell. yet, another Ff.
100 random] randon F2. 110 What...it?] As in Pope. Two lines
102 madam; so it stead you,] madam, in Ff.
so it stead you; Nicholson conj. 113 them] them again Keightley.
stead] steed Ff. [dues it backe. Collier MS.
106 name it] name H Capell (Anon. ap. 114 for] writ for Anon. ap. Grey conj.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 123
self?
Sil. And when it's writ, for my sake read it over,
And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. 120
Val. If it please me, madam, what then?
Sil. Why, if it please you, take it for your labour:
And so, good morrow, servant. [Exit.
Speed. 0 jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,
As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple! 125
My master sues to her; and she hath taught her suitor,
He being her pupil, to become her tutor.
O excellent device! was there ever heard a better,
That my master, being scribe, to himself should write the
letter?
Val. How now, sir? what are you reasoning with your-
131
Speed. Nay, I was rhyming: 'tis you that have the
reason.
Val. To do what?
Speed. To be a spokesman from Madam Silvia. 135
Val. To whom?
Speed. To yourself: why, she wooes you by a figure.
Val. What figure?
Speed. By a letter, I should say.
Val. Why, she hath not writ to me? 140
Speed. What need she, when she hath made you write
to yourself? Why, do you not perceive the jest?
Val. No, believe me.
Speed. No believing you, indeed, sir. But did you per-
ceive her earnest? 145
123 [Exit.] Exit. Sil. Fx. line in Ff.
124 [aside. Collier MS. 137 wooes] woes Ff.
124, 125 Printed as prose by Pope. 141,142 What...jest?] As in Capell.
129 That...letter?] As in Rowe (ed. 2). Three lines in Ff.
Two lines in Ff. 144, 145 No.. .earnest ?] As in Pope.
scribe] the scribe Rowe (ed. 2). Two lines, the first ending sir, in
130, 131 what...yourself?] Pope. One Ff.
124 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Val. She gave me none, except an angry word.
Speed. Why, she hath given yon a letter.
Val. That's the letter I writ to her friend.
Speed. And that letter hath she delivered, and there
an end. 150
Val. I would it were no worse.
Speed. I'll warrant you, 'tis as well:
For often have you writ to her; and she, in modesty,
Or else for want of idle time, could not again reply;
Or fearing else some messenger, that might her mind dis-
cover, 155
Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover.
All this I speak in print, for in print I found it. Why
muse you, sir? 'tis dinner-time.
Val. I have dined. 159
Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir; though the chameleon
Love can feed on the air, I am one that am nourished by
my victuals, and would fain have meat. 0, be not like
your mistress; be moved, be moved. [Exeunt.
Scene II. Verona. Julia's house.
Enter Pkoteus and Julia.
Pro. Have patience, gentle Julia.
Jul. I must, where is no remedy.
Pro. When possibly I can, I will return.
Jul. If you turn not, you will return the sooner.
149 there] ¥v there's E2F3F4. Julia's house.] Theobald.
157, 158 Why ...dinner-time.'] As in Enter Proteus and Julia.] Enter Pro-
Dyce. A separate line in Ff. theus and Julia. Howe. Enter
Verona.] Pope. Pro theus, Julia, Panthion. Ff.
SCEISTE II. OF VERONA. 125
Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. [Giving a ring.
Pro. Why, then, well make exchange; here, take you
this. 6
Jul. And seal the bargain with a holy kiss.
Pro. Here is my hand for my true constancy;
And when that hour o'erslips me in the day
Wherein I sigh not, Julia, for thy sake, 10
The next ensuing hour some foul mischance
Torment me for my love's forgetfulness!
My father stays my coming; answer not;
The tide is now :—nay, not thy tide of tears:
That tide will stay me longer than I should. 15
Julia, farewell! [Exit Julia.
What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do: it cannot speak;
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.
Enter Panthixo.
Pan. Sir Proteus, you are stay'd for.
Pro. Go; I come, I come. 20
Alas! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb. [Exeunt.
5 [Giving a ring.] Eowe. Exchange 16 [Exit Julia.] Howe.
ringes. Collier MS. 18 Enter Panthino.] Enter Panthion.
6 Why...this.] As in Pope. Two lines Eowe. om. Ff.
in Ef. 20 I come, I come] I come Pope.
7 [kisse. Collier MS.
126 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT H.
Scene III. The same. A street
Enter Launce, leading a dog.
Launce. Nay, 'twill be this hour ere I have done weep-
ing; all the kind of the Launces have this very fault. I
have received my proportion, like the prodigious son, and
am going with Sir Proteus to the Imperials court. I think
Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives: my
mother weeping, my father wailing, my sister crying, our
maid howling, our cat wringing her hands, and all our house
in a great perplexity, yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed
one tear: he is a stone, a very pebble stone, and has no
more pity in him than a dog: a Jew would have wept to
have seen our parting; why, my grandam, having no eyes,
look you, wept herself blind at my parting. Nay, I'll show
you the manner of it. This shoe is my father: no, this left
shoe is my father: no, no, this left shoe is my mother: nay,
that cannot be so neither: yes, it is so, it is so, it hath the
worser sole. This shoe, with the hole in it, is my mother,
and this my father; a vengeance on t! there 'tis: now, sir,
this staff is my sister, for, look you, she is as white as a lily,
and as small as a wand: this hat is Nan, our maid: I am
the dog: no, the dog is himself, and I am the dog,—Oh!
the dog is me, and I am myself; ay, so, so. Now come I to
my father; Father, your blessing: now should not the shoe
speak a word for weeping: now should I kiss my father;
well, he weeps on. Now come I to my mother: Oh, that
A street.] Theobald. 3 prodigious] prodigous Bulloch conj.
Enter Launce...] Enter Launce, with 9 pebble] Pope. pibbleFf.
a Dog in a String. Capell. Enter 20 / am the dog] I am me Hanmer.
Launce, with his dog Crab. Pope. 20, 21 Oh! the dog is me] Ay, the dog is
Enter Launce, Panthion. Ff. the dog Hanmer.
SCENE III. OF VERONA. 127
she could speak now like a wood woman! "Well, I kiss her,
why, there 'tis; here's my mother's breath up and down.
Now come I to my sister; mark the moan she makes.
Now the dog all this while sheds not a tear, nor speaks a
word; but see how I lay the dust with my tears. 29
Enter Panthino.
Pan. Launce, away, away, aboard! thy master is
shipped, and thou art to post after with oars. What's the
matter? why weepest thou, man? Away, ass! you'll lose
the tide, if you tarry any longer.
Launce. It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is
the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. 35
Pan. What's the unkindest tide?
Launce. Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog.
Pan. Tut, man, I mean thou'lt lose the flood: and, in
losing the flood, lose thy voyage, and, in losing thy voyage,
lose thy master, and, in losing thy master, lose thy service,
and, in losing thy service,—Why dost thou stop my mouth?
Launce. For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue. 42
Pan. Where should I lose my tongue?
Launce. In thy tale.
Pan. In thy tail! 45
Launce. Lose the tide, and the voyage, and the master,
and the service, and the tied! Why, man, if the river were
25 she] the shoe Hanmer. slwe Singer, ...tide'F1. Tide...tydeY2F3Fi.
ed. 2 (Singer MS.) punctuating as 44 thy] my Long MS.
Malone. 45 thy tail!] my tail? Hanmer.
a wood woman] Theobald, a would- [Kicking him. Anon. conj.
woman Ff. an ould woman Pope. 46 tide] Tide FXF4. Tyde F2F3. flood
a wild woman Collier MS. Pope, tied Collier.
Malone (Blackstone conj.) punctu- 47 and the tied/] Singer (ed. 2). and
ates (0 that she could speak now!). the tide: Ff. om. Capell. The tide!
29 Enter Panthino.] Enter Panthion. Steevens (1793). om. Id. conj. (with-
Rowe. om. Ff. drawn), indeed I Jervis conj. Lose
34, 37 tied] ty'd Theobald, tide Ff. the tide! Kinnear conj.
35 tied..jied]ty'd...tijdTheobald. Tide
128 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
dry, I am able to fill it with my tears; if the wind were
down, I could drive the boat with my sighs.
Pan. Come, come away, man; I was sent to call thee.
Launce. Sir, call me what thou darest. 51
Pan. Wilt thou go?
Launce. Well, I will go. [Exeunt.
Scene IV. Milan. The Duke's palace.
Enter Silvia, Yalentine, Thurio, and Speed.
Sil. Servant!
Vol. Mistress?
Speed. Master, Sir Thurio frowns on you.
Vol. Ay, boy, it's for love.
Speed. Not of you. 5
Vol. Of my mistress, then.
Speed. 'Twere good you knocked him. [Exit.
Sil. Servant, you are sad.
Vol. Indeed, madam, I seem so.
Thu. Seem you that you are not? 10
Vol. Haply I do.
TJiu. So do counterfeits.
Vol. So do you.
Thu. What seem I that I am not?
Vol. Wise. 15
Thu. What instance of the contrary?
Vol. Your folly.
Thu. And how quote you my folly?
Vol. I quote it in your jerkin.
Milan.] Pope. 2 [they converse apart. Capell.
The Duke's palace.] An Apartment in 7 [Exit.] Clark and Glover. See note
the... Theobald. (v).
Enter...Speed.] Rowe. Enter...Speed, 19 jerkin] jerking Theobald conj.
Duke, Protheus. Ef.
SCENE IV.
OF VERONA. 129
Thu. My jerkin is a doublet. 20
Vol. Well, then, I'll double your folly.
Thu. How?
Sil. What, angry, Sir Thurio! do you change colour?
Vol. Give him leave, madam; he is a kind of chameleon.
Thu. That hath more mind to feed on your blood than
live in your air. 26
Vol. You have said, sir.
Thu. Ay, sir, and done too, for this time.
Vol. I know it well, sir; you always end ere you begin.
Sil. A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly
shot off. 31
Vol. Tis indeed, madam; we thank the giver.
Sil. Who is that, servant?
Vol. Yourself, sweet lady; for you gave the fire. Sir
Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks, and
spends what he borrows kindly in your company. 36
Thu. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall
make your wit bankrupt.
Vol. I know it well, sir; you have an exchequer of
words, and, I think, no other treasure to give your follow-
ers, for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by
your bare words. 42
Sil. No more, gentlemen, no more:—here comes my
father.
Enter Duke.
Duke. Now, daughter Silvia, you are hard beset. 45
Sir Valentine, your father's in good health:
21 TIT] He Ff. 'twill Collier MS. As four lines of verse in Ff.
22 How ?] How! Capell (Errata). 45 Scene v. Pope.
34—ZQ Your self...company.] As in'? o^q. Enter Duke.] Enter the Duke.
As three lines of verse in Ff. Rowe. Enter Duke, attended. Ca-
39—42 I hnow...ivords.~\ As in Pope. pell. om. Ff.
VOL. I. 9
130 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
What say you to a letter from your friends
Of much good news?
Vol. My lord, I will be thankful
To any happy messenger from thence.
Duke. Know ye Don Antonio, your countryman? 50
Vol. Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman
To be of worth, and worthy estimation,
And not without desert so well reputed.
Duke. Hath he not a son?
Vol. Ay, my good lord; a son that well deserves 55
The honour and regard of such a father.
Duke. You know him well?
Vol. I know him as myself; for from our infancy
We have conversed and spent our hours together:
And though myself have been an idle truant, 60
Omitting the sweet benefit of time
To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection,
Yet hath Sir Proteus, for that's his name,
Made use and fair advantage of his days;
His years but young, but his experience old; 65
His head unmellow'd, but his judgement ripe;
And, in a word, for far behind his worth
Comes all the praises that I now bestow,
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman. 70
Duke. Beshrew me, sir, but if he make this good,
He is as worthy for an empress' love
As meet to be an emperor's counsellor.
Well, sir, this gentleman is come to me,
With commendation from great potentates; 75
49 happy] Fr om. F2F3F4. MS- and S. Walker conj.).
50 ye] ye, Fr you F2F3F4. 58 I know him] Ay, Taylor conj. MS.
Antonio] Antonie S. Walker conj. Jcnovj] Hanmer. knew Ff.
52 worth] wealth Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 68 Gomes] Ff. Come Kowe.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 131
And here he means to spend his time awhile:
I think 'tis no unwelcome news to you.
Vol. Should I have wish'd a thing, it had been he.
Duke. Welcome him, then, according to his worth.
Silvia, I speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio, 80
For Valentine, I need not cite him to it:
I will send him hither to you presently. [Exit.
Vol. This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me, but that his mistress
Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks. 85
Sil. Belike that now she hath enfranchised them,
Upon some other pawn for fealty.
Vol. Nay, sure, I think she holds them prisoners still.
Sil. Nay, then, he should be blind; and, being blind,
How could he see his way to seek out you? 90
Vol. Why, lady, Love hath twenty pair of eyes.
Tliu. They say that Love hath not an eye at all.
Vol. To see such lovers, Thurio, as yourself:
Upon a homely object Love can wink.
Sil. Have done, have done; here comes the gentleman. 95
Enter Proteus.
Vol. Welcome, dear Proteus! Mistress, I beseech you,
Confirm his welcome with some special favour.
Sil. His worth is warrant for his welcome hither,
If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from.
Vol. Mistress, it is: sweet lady, entertain him 100
77 unwelcome] vn-welcome ~FV
welcome
Enter Proteus.] Enter Protheus.
]wf
Rowe. Enter. E2F3F4. om. Fr
78 he~] this Taylor conj.
MS.
[Exit Thurio. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
81 cite] 'cite Malone.
MS.). Exeunt Thurio and Speed.
82 IwiU\rWPope.
Halliwell. See note (v).
[Exit.] Eowe.
97
his] Fr this F2F3F4.
95 Scene vi. Pope.
98
hither] hether Fr
9—2
132 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship.
Sil. Too low a mistress for so high a servant.
Pro. Not so, sweet lady: but too mean a servant
To have a look of such a worthy mistress.
Val. Leave off discourse of disability: 105
Sweet lady, entertain him for your servant.
Pro. My duty will I boast of; nothing else.
Sil. And duty never yet did want his meed:
Servant, you are welcome to a worthless mistress.
Pro. I'll die on him that says so but yourself. no
Sil. That you are welcome?
Pro. That you are worthless.
Enter Servant.
Serv. Madam, my lord your father would speak with
you.
Sil. I wait upon his pleasure. [Exit Serv.] Come, Sir Thurio,
Go with me. Once more, new servant, welcome:
Til leave you to confer of home affairs; 115
When you have done, we look to hear from you.
Pro. We'll both attend upon your ladyship.
[Exeunt Silvia and Thurio.
Val. Now, tell me, how do all from whence you came?
Pro. Your friends are well, and have them much com-
mended.
104 a worthy] a worthy a ¥v 113 [Exit Serv.] Theobald, om. Ff.
111 welcome] welcome, sir Capell. 114 Go] Go you Capell. Come, go
That you are worthless] No, that you Keightley.
are worthless Johnson. new servant] my new servant Pope.
Enter Servant.] Theobald. Enter 117 [Exeunt S. and T.] Eowe. Exeunt
an Attendant. Capell. om. Ff. Silvia, Thurio, Speed, and Att.
Enter Thurio. Collier. Ee-enter Capell.
Thurio. Clark and Glover. 118 Scene vii. Pope.
112 Serv.] Theobald. Thu. Ff.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 133
Val. And how do yours?
Pro. I left them all in health.. 120
Val. How does your lady? and how thrives your love?
Pro. My tales of love were wont to weary you;
I know you joy not in a love-discourse.
Val. Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter'd now:
I have done penance for contemning Love, 125
Whose high imperious thoughts have punish/d me
With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs;
For, in revenge of my contempt of love,
Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes, 130
And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow.
O gentle Proteus, Love's a mighty lord,
And hath so humbled me, as I confess
There is no woe to his correction,
Nor to his service no such joy on earth. 135
Now no discourse, except it be of love;
Now can I break my fast, dine, sup and sleep,
Upon the very naked name of love.
Pro. Enough; I read your fortune in your eye.
Was this the idol that you worship so? 140
Val. Even she; and is she not a heavenly saint?
Pro. No; but she is an earthly paragon.
Val. Call her divine.
Pro. I will not flatter her.
Val. 0, flatter me; for love delights in praises.
Pro. When I was sick, you gave me bitter pills; 145
And I must minister the like to you.
126 Whose] Those Dyce, ed. 2 (Johnson burton.
conj.). 134 woe] wo (i.e. stop) "Weston conj.
high imperious] high-imperious 135 no sicch] any Hanmer.
Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.). 144 praises] Fx. praise F2F3F4.
133 as I confess] as, I confess, War-
134
THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Vol. Then speak the truth by her; if not divine,
Yet let her be a principality,
Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth.
Pro. Except my mistress.
Vol. Sweet, except not any; 150
Except thou wilt except against my love.
Pro. Have I not reason to prefer mine own?
Vol. And I will help thee to prefer her too:
She shall be dignified with this high honour,—
To bear my lady's train, lest the base earth 155
Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss,
And, of so great a favour growing proud,
Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower,
And make rough winter everlastingly.
Pro. Why, Valentine, what braggardism is this? 160
Vol. Pardon me, Proteus: all I can is nothing
To her, whose worth makes other worthies nothing;
She is alone.
Pro. Then let her alone.
Vol. Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own;
And I as rich in having such a jewel 165
As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
Forgive me, that I do not dream on thee,
Because thou see st me dote upon my love.
My foolish rival, that her father likes 170
Only for his possessions are so huge, .
Is gone with her along; and I must after,
153 too] to FJPp 162 makes] make Fr
158 summer-swelling] summer-smelling worthies] worth as Grant White
Collier, ed. 2 (Steevens conj. with- (ed. 1).
drawn). 163 Then] Why, then Hanmer.
160 braggardism] Steevens. Bragadisme let her] let her be Keightley.
FXF2. Bragadism F3F4. 167 rocks] Fr rocke F2. rock F3F4.
&CENE IV.
135
OF VERONA.
180
Jor love, thou know'st, is full of jealousy.
Pro. But she loves you?
Vol. Ay, and we are betroth'd: nay, more, our mar-
riage-hour, 175
With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Determined of; how I must climb her window;
The ladder made of cords; and all the means
Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness.
Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
Pro. Go on before; I shall inquire you forth:
I must unto the road, to disembark
Some necessaries that I needs must use;
And then I'll presently attend you.
Val. Will you make haste?
Pro. I will. [Exit Val.
Even as one heat another heat expels,
Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
So the remembrance of my former love 190
Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Is it mine, or Valentine's praise,
185
175 Ay', and we are\ Ay, And we're
Clark and Glover conj.
nay, more] Nay, more, my Protheus
Capell.
our marriage-hoitr] our marriage
Pope, the very hour of our marriage
Taylor conj. MS. ending the lines
betrothed.. .marriage.
185 yoic] upon you Hanmer. on you
Capell.
187 [Exit Val] Eowe. [Exit. Fx. om.
F2F3F4. [Exeunt Valentine and
Speed. Dyce. See note (v).
192 Z? it.. .praise^ It is mine, or Valen-
tines praise? Fx. Is it mine then,
or Valentineans praise? F2E3F4.
Is it mine then or Valentino's
praise, Howe. Is it mine eye or
Valentino''s praise, Theobald (War-
burton). Is it mine eyne, or Valen-
tino's praise, Hanmer. 75 it mine
ovm, or Valentino's praise, Capell.
7s it her mien, or Valentinus' praise,
Malone (Blakeway conj.). Is it mine
eye or Valentinus' praise Dyce (ed.
2). 7s it mine eye, or Valentine's
praise Keightley. 75 it or mine, or
Valentine's praise, Anon. conj. Is
it, in fine &c. Wetherell conj. (N.
and Q. 1868). See note (vi).
136 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Her true perfection, or my false transgression, <
That makes me reasonless to reason thus? f
She is fair; and so is Julia, that I love,— 195
That I did love, for now my love is thaw'd; I
Which, like a waxen image 'gainst a fire, i
Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
And that I love him not as I was wont. 200
O, but I love his lady too too much!
And that's the reason I love him so little.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,
That thus without advice begin to love her!
Tis but her picture I have yet beheld, 205
And that hath dazzled my reason's light;
But when I look on her perfections,
There is no reason but I shall be blind.
If I can check my erring love, I will;
If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. [Exit 210
Scene V. The same. A street
Enter Speed and Launce severa
Speed. Launce! by mine honesty, welcome to Padua!
Launce. Forswear not thyself, sweet youth; for I am not
welcome. I reckon this always—that a man is never un-
193 transgression,] F4. transgression? Qttarta F2F3F4. Scene viii. Pope.
F^Fg. A street.] Theobald.
195 She is] Shee:s Collier MS. Enter...severally.] Dyce. Enter...
201 too too] too-too Ef. too, too Theo- meeting. Capell. Enter Speed and
bald, too, too, Warburton. Launce. Ef.
206 dazzled^] dazeVd Er dazeVd so F2 1 welcome to Padua /] welcome! or
]7 J1 welcome to— Perring conj.
light] sight Bailey conj. Padua] Ff. Milan Pope. See note
210 [Exit.] Exeunt. Fx. (vn).
Scene v.] Scena Quinta Fx. Sczena
ffCENE V. OF VERONA. 137
done till lie be hanged; nor never welcome to a place till
some certain shot be paid, and the hostess say 'Welcome!' 5
Speed. Come on, you madcap, I'll to the alehouse with
ypu presently; where, for one shot of five pence, thou shalt
have five thousand welcomes. But, sirrah, how did thy
master part with Madam Julia?
Launce. Marry, after they closed in earnest, they parted
very fairly in jest. 11
Speed. But shall she marry him?
Launce. No.
Speed. How, then? shall he marry her?
Launce. No, neither. 15
Speed. What, are they broken?
Launce. No, they are both as whole as a fish.
Speed. Why, then, how stands the matter with them?
Launce. Marry, thus; when it stands well with him, it
stands well with her. 20
Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not.
Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not!
My staff understands me.
Speed. What thou sayest?
Launce. Ay, and what I do too: look thee, 111 but
lean, and my staff understands me. 26
Speed. It stands under thee, indeed.
Launce. Why, stand-under and under-stand is all one.
Speed. But tell me true, will't be a match?
Launce. Ask my dog: if he say ay, it will; if he say,
no, it will; if he shake his tail and say nothing, it will.
Speed. The conclusion is, then, that it will. 32
Launce. Thou shalt never get such a secret from me
but by a parable.
4 be\ is Rowe. by Pope.
21—28 Put in the margin as spurious 27 Speed.] om. F2.
138 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.)
Speed, Tis well that I get it so. But, Launce, how*
sayest thou, that my master is become a notable lover?'
Launce. I never knew him otherwise. 37
Speed. Than how? /
Launce. A notable lubber, as thou reportest him to be.
Speed. Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistakest me. ,40
Launce. Why fool, I meant not thee; I meant thy master.
Speed. I tell thee, my master is become a hot lover.
Launce. Why, I tell thee, I cafe not though he burn
himself in love. If thou wilt, go with me to the alehouse;
if not, thou art an Hebrew, a Jew, and not worth the name
of a Christian. 46
Speed. Why?
Launce. Because thou hast not so much charity in thee
as to go to the ale with a Christian. Wilt thou go?
Speed. At thy service. [Exeunt 50*
Scene VI. The same. The Duke's palace.
Enter Proteus.
Pro. To leave my Julia, shall I be forsworn;
To love fair Silvia, shall I be forsworn;
To wrong my friend, I shall be much forsworn;
And even that power, which gave me first my oath,
Provokes me to this threefold perjury; 5
36 that] F2F3F4. that that Fx. Scene vl] Scene ix. Pope. om. Theo-
44 in love. If thou wilt, go] Knight. bald.
in Zone. If thou wilt goe Ff. in The same. The Duke's palace.]
love, if thou wilt go Collier (Malone The same. A Room in the Palace.
conj.). Capell.
wilt, go...alehouse;] wilt go...ale- Enter Proteus.] Enter Protheus
house, so; Nicholson conj. solus. Ff.
alehouse] Fr Alehouse, so F2F3F4. 1, 2 forswom;.. .forsworn;] Theobald.
45 Hebrew] Ebrew Nicholson conj. forswom ?.. forsworn? Ff.
49 ale] Ale-house Rowe.
(SCENE VI. OF VERONA. 139
Love bade me swear, and Love bids me forswear.
0 sweet-suggesting Love, if thou hast sinn d,
Teach me, thy tempted subject, to excuse it 1
At first I did adore a twinkling star,
But now I worship a celestial sun. 10
Lrnheedful vows may heedfully be broken;
And he wants wit that wants resolved will
To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better.
Fie, fie, unreverend tongue! to call her bad,
Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferrd 15
With twenty thousand soul-con firming oaths.
1 cannot leave to love, and yet I do;
But there I leave to love where I should love.
Julia I lose, and Valentine I lose:
If I keep them, I needs must lose myself; 20
If I lose them, thus find I by their loss
For Valentine, myself, for Julia, Silvia.
I to myself am dearer than a friend,
For love is still most precious in itself;
And Silvia—witness Heaven, that made her fan-!— 25
Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope.
I will forget that Julia is alive,
Bemembering that my love to her is dead;
And Valentine I'll hold an enemy,
Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend. 30
I cannot now prove constant to myself,
Without some treachery used to Valentine.
This night he meaneth with a corded ladder
To climb celestial Silvia's chamber-window;
7 sweet-suggesting'] sweet suggestion, 21 thus] this Theobald.
Pope. by]Yv ^F2F3E4.
if thou hast] if I have Warburton. 24 most] more Steevens.
16 soul-confo-ming^oul-confirmedVoipQ. in] to Collier MS.
140 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
Myself in counsel, his competitor. 35
Now presently I'll give her father notice I
Of their disguising and pretended flight; j
Who, all enraged, will banish Valentine;
For Thurio, he intends, shall wed his daughter;
But, Valentine being gone, I'll quickly cross io
By some sly trick blunt Thurio's dull proceeding. /
Love, lend me wings to make my purpose swift, /
As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift! [Exit.
Scene VII. Verona. Julia's house. j
Enter Julia and Lucetta. /
I
Jul. Counsel, Lucetta; gentle girl, assist me;
And, even in kind love, I do conjure thee,
Who art the table wherein all my thoughts
Are visibly charactered and engraved,
To lesson me; and tell me some good mean, 5
How, with my honour, I may undertake
A journey to my loving Proteus.
Luc. Alas, the way is wearisome and long!
Jul. A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps; 10
Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly,
And when the flight is made to one so dear,
Of such divine perfection, as Sir Proteus.
Luc. Better forbear till Proteus make return.
35 counsel] counsaile F1F2. councel F3. Scene i. Johnson conj.
council F4. Yerona.] Pope.
37 pretended^] intended Johnson conj. Julia's house.] Theobald.
43 this] Fx. his F2F3F4. 13 perfection] F^F^ perfections F3.
Scene vil] Scene x. Pope. Act hi.
SCENE VII. OF VERONA. 141
Jul. 0, know'st thou not, his looks are my soul's food? 15
Pity the dearth that I have pined in,
By longing for that food so long a time.
Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow
As seek to quench the fire of love with words. 20
Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire,
But qualify the fire's extreme rage,
Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.
Jul. The more thou damm'st it up, the more it burns.
The current that with gentle murmur glides, 25
Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage;
But when his fair course is not hindered,
He makes sweet music with the enamell'd stones,
Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage; 30
And so by many winding nooks he strays,
With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course:
I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,
And make a pastime of each weary step, 35
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as after much turmoil
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.
Luc. But hi what habit will you go along?
Jul. Not like a woman; for I would prevent 40
The loose encounters of lascivious men:
Gentle Lucetta, fit me with such weeds
As may beseem some well-reputed page.
Luc. Why, then, your ladyship must cut your hair.
Jul. No, girl; I'll knit it up in silken strings 45
16 I have] I so long have Anon. conj. 24 damm'sf] dampest "Warburton conj.
18 inly] EXF2. inchly F3F4. 32 wild] wide Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
22 extreme] extremist Pope. MS. and Long MS.).
142 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT II.
With, twenty odd-conceited true-love knots.
To be fantastic may become a youth
Of greater time than I shall show to be.
Luc. What fashion, madam, shall I make your breeches?
Jul. That fits as well as, 'Tell me, good my lord, 50
What compass will you wear your farthingale?'
Why even what fashion thou best likest, Lucetta.
Luc. You must needs have them with a codpiece,
madam.
Jul. Out, out, Lucetta! that will be ill-favour d.
Luc. A round hose, madam, now's not worth a pin, 55
Unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on.
Jul. Lucetta, as thou lovest me, let me have
What thou think st meet, and is most mannerly.
But tell me, wench, how will the world repute me
For undertaking so unstaid a journey? 60
I fear me, it will make me scandalized.
Luc. If you think so, then stay at home, and go not.
Jul. Nay, that I will not.
Luc. Then never dream on infamy, but go.
If Proteus like your journey when you come, 65
No matter who's displeased when you are gone:
I fear me, he will scarce be pleased withal.
Jul. That is the least, Lucetta, of my fear:
A thousand oaths, an ocean of his tears,
And instances of infinite of love, 70
Warrant me welcome to my Proteus.
Luc. All these are servants to deceitful men.
Jul. Base men, that use them to so base effect!
But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth:
47 fantastic] fantantastique F2. 70 of infinite] Fx. as infinite F2F3F4.
52 likest] like'st Eowe (ed. 2). likes of the infinite Malone. o} the infinite
Ff. Hudson.
67 withal] withall F2F3. with all E'-J?4. 73 so] some Gould conj.
SCENE VII. OF VERONA. 143
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; 75
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears pure messengers sent from his heart;
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth.
Luc. Pray heaven he prove so, when you come to him!
Jul. Now, as thou lovest me, do him not that wrong, 80
To bear a hard opinion of his truth:
Only deserve my love by loving him;
And presently go with me to my chamber,
To take a note of what I stand in need of,
To furnish me upon my longing journey. 85
All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,
My goods, my lands, my reputation;
Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.
Come, answer not, but to it presently!
I am impatient of my tarriance. [Exeunt. 90
ACT III.
Scene I. Milan. Ante-room in the Duke's palace.
Enter Duke, Thurio, and Proteus.
Duke. Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile;
We have some secrets to confer about. [Exit Tim.
Now, tell me, Proteus, what's your will with me?
Pro. My gracious lord, that which I would discover
The law of friendship bids me to conceal; 5
85 longing] loving Collier MS. Enter...] Rowe. Enter Duke,
89 to it] do it Warburton. Thurio, Protheus, Valentine,
Milan.] Pope. Launce, Speed. Ef.
Ante-room...] Capell. the Duke's 2 [Exit Thu.] Rowe.
palace. Theobald.
144 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
But when I call to mind your gracious favours
Done to me, undeserving as I am,
My duty pricks me on to utter that
Which else no worldly good should draw from me.
Know, worthy prince, Sir Valentine, my friend, 10
This night intends to steal away your daughter:
Myself am one made privy to the plot.
I know you have determined to bestow her
On Thurio, whom your gentle daughter hates;
And should she thus be stoln away from you, 15
It would be much vexation to your age.
Thus, for my duty's sake, I rather chose
To cross my friend in his intended drift
Than, by concealing it, heap on your head
A pack of sorrows, which would press you down, 20
Being unprevented, to your timeless grave.
Duke. Proteus, I thank thee for thine honest care;
Which to requite, command me while I live.
This love of theirs myself have often seen,
Haply when they have judged me fast asleep; 25
And oftentimes have purposed to forbid
Sir Valentine her company and my court:
But, fearing lest my jealous aim might err,
And so, unworthily disgrace the man,
A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd, 30
I gave him gentle looks; thereby to find
That which thyself hast now disclosed to me.
And, that thou mayst perceive my fear of this,
Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested,
I nightly lodge her in an upper tower, 35
V as] F1E3F4. as as F2. unprevented] F1E2. unprepared F3F4.
17 chose] choose Anon. conj. 32 hast] hath Eowe (ed. 2).
21 Being] If Pope. 33 that] Fr om. F2F3F4.
SCENE I. OF YERONA. 145
The key whereof myself have ever kept;
And thence she cannot be convey'd away.
Pro. Know, noble lord, they have devised a mean
How he her chamber-window will ascend,
And with a corded ladder fetch her down; 40
For which the youthful lover now is gone,
And this way comes he with it presently;.
Where, if it please you, you may intercept him.
But, good my Lord, do it so cunningly
That my discovery be not aimed at; 45
For, love of you, not hate unto my friend, .
Hath made me publisher of this pretence.
Duke. Upon mine honour, he shall never know
That I had any light from thee of this.
Pro. Adieu, my Lord; Sir Valentine is coming. [Exit. 50
Enter Valentine.
Duke. Sir Valentine, whither away so fast?
Vol. Please it your grace, there is a messenger
That stays to bear my letters to my friends,
And I am going to deliver them.
Duke. Be they of much import? 55
Vol. The tenour of them doth but signify
My health and happy being at your court.
Duke. Nay then, no matter; stay with me awhile;
I am to break with thee of some affairs
That touch me near, 'wherein thou must be secret. 60
'Tis not unknown to thee that I have sought
To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter.
50 [Exit.] Eowe. 51 Scene ii. Pope.
Enter Valentine.] Rowe. om. Fx. whither] whether Fr
Enter. E2F3F4. Enter V. in his 56 tenour] tenure Ff.
Cloake. Collier MS.
VOL. I. 10
146 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
Val. I know it well, my Lord; and, sure, the match
Were rich and honourable; besides, the gentleman
Is full of virtue, bounty, worth and qualities 65
Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter:
Cannot your Grace win her to fancy him?
Duke. No, trust me; she is peevish, sullen, froward,
Proud, disobedient, stubborn, lacking ;duty;
Neither regarding that she is my child, 70
Nor fearing me as if I were her father;
And, may I say to thee, this pride of hers,
Upon advice; hath drawn my love from her;
And, where I thought the remnant of mine age
Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty, 75
I now am full resolved to take a wife,
And turn her out to who will take her in;
Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower;
For me and my possessions she ..esteems not.
Val. What would your Grace have me to do in this? 80
Duke. There is a lady in Verona here
Whom I affect; but she is nice and coy,
And nought esteems my aged eloquence:
Now, therefore, would I have thee to my tutor,—
For long agone I have forgot to court; 85
Besides, the fashion of the time is changed,—
How and which way I may bestow myself,
To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.
Val. Win her with gifts, if she respect not words:
Dumb jewels often in their silent kind 90
More than quick words do move a woman's mind.
64 besides,] om. Anon. ap. Grey conj. 81 in Verona] Ff. sir, in Milan Pope.
72 may I\ I may Hanmer. in Milano Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
72,73 this pride of hers, Upon advice,] MS.), of Verona Halliwell. See
upon advice, This pride of hers ■ note (vn).
Anon. ap. Grey conj. 83 nought] F2F3F4. naught ~F±.
78 doiver] dowre Ff. dowry Hanmer. 89 respect] FjFgFg. respects F4.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 147
Duke. But she did scorn a present that I sent her.
Val. A woman sometime scorns what best contents her.
Send her another; never give her o'er;
For scorn at first makes after-love the more. 95
If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,
But rather to beget more love in you:
If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;
For why, the fools are mad, if left alone.
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say; 100
For 'get you gone,' she doth not mean 'away!'
Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces;
Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces.
That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man,
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman. 105
Duke. But she I mean is promised by her friends
Unto a youthful gentleman of worth;
And kept severely from resort of men,
That no man hath access by day to her.
Val. Why, then, I would resort to her by night, no
Duke. Ay, but the doors be lock'd, and keys kept safe,
That no man hath recourse to her by night.
Val. What lets but one may enter at her window?
Duke. Her chamber is aloft, far from the ground,
And built so shelving, that one cannot climb it 115
Without apparent hazard of his life.
Val. Why, then, a ladder, quaintly made of cords,
To cast up, with a pair of anchoring hooks,
Would serve to scale another Hero's tower,
92 that I sent he?'] tJiat I sent, sir 98 'tis] F^F^ 'its F2.
Steevens conj. 99 For why, the] For why the Dyce.
93 sometime] F^Fg. sometimes F3F4. 101 For] By or For by Keightley conj.
best contents] best content Mason 105 with] F1F3F4. this F2. by Long
conj. would content Taylor conj. MS.
MS.
10—2
148 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
So bold Leander would adventure it. 120
Duke. Now, as thou art a gentleman of blood,
Advise me where I may have such a ladder.
Val When would you use it? pray, sir, tell me that.
Duke. This very night; for Love is like a child,
That longs for every, thing that he can come by. 125
Val. By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder.
Duke, But, hark thee; I will go to her alone:
How shall I best convey the ladder thither?
Val. It will be light, my lord, that you may bear it
Under a cloak that is of any length. 130
Duke. A cloak as long as thine will serve* the turn?
Val. Ay, my good lord.
Duke. Then let me see thy cloak:
I'll get me one of such another length.
Val. Why, any cloak will serve the turn, my lord.
Duke. How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak? 135
I pray thee, let me feel thy cloak upon me.
What letter is this same? What's here? 'To Silvia'!
And here an engine fit for my proceeding.
I'll be so bold to break the seal for once. [Reads.
1 My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly; 140
And slaves they are to me, that send them flying:
0, could their master come and go as lightly,
Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying!
My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them;
While I, their king, that thither them importune, 145
Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them,
Because myself do want my servants' fortune:
I curse myself, for they are sent by me.
That they should harbour where their lord would be.'
130 cloak] clocke F2. 139 [Reads] Kowe.
136 [letter. Collier MS. 149 would] F2F3F4. should Fv
137 [ladder. Collier MS.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 149
"What's here? 150
'Silvia, this night I will enfranchise thee.'
Tis so; and here's the ladder for the purpose.
Why, Phaethon,—for thou art Merops' son,—
Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car,
And with thy daring folly burn the world? 155
Wilt thou reach stars, because they shine on thee?
Go, base intruder! overweening slave!
Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates;
And think my patience, more than thy desert,
Is privilege for thy departure hence: 160
Thank me for this more than for all the favours,
Which all too much I have bestow'd on thee.
But if thou linger in my territories
Longer than swiftest expedition
Will give thee time to leave our royal court, 165
By heaven! my wrath shall far exceed the love
I ever bore my daughter or thyself.
Be gone! I will not hear thy vain excuse;
But, as thou lovest thy life, make speed from hence. [Exit.
Vol. And why not death rather than living torment? 170
To die is to be banish'd from myself;
And Silvia is myself: banish'd from her,
Is self from self: a deadly banishment!
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by? 175
Unless it be to think that she is by,
And feed upon the shadow of perfection.
Except I be by Silvia hi the night,
There is no music in the nightingale;
151 I will] F^Fg. will I F4. 162 bestovtd] Rowe (ed. 2). bestowedFi
153 Phaethon] Phaeton Ff. 169 [Exit.] om. Fx.
154 car] Cat F3F4. IvO Scene hi. Pope.
150 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
Unless I look on Silvia in the day, 180
There is no day for ine to look upon:
She is my essence; and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Foster'd, illumined, cherish'd, kept alive.
I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom: 185
Tarry I here, I but attend on death:
But, fly I hence, I fly away from life.
Enter Proteus and Launce.
Pro. Eun, boy, run, run, and seek him out.
Launce. Soho, soho!
Pro. What seest thou? 190
Launce. Him we go to find: there's not a hair on's
head but 'tis a Yalentine.
Pro. Valentine?
Vol. No.
Pro. Who then? his spirit? 195
Vol. Neither.
Pro. What then?
Vol. Nothing.
Launce. Can nothing speak? Master, shall I strike?
Pro. Who wouldst thou strike? 200
Launce. Nothing.
Pro. Villain, forbear.
Launce. Why, sir, 111 strike nothing: I pray you,—
Pro. Sirrah, I say, forbear. Friend Valentine, a word.
Vol. My ears are stopt, and cannot hear good news,
185 his] this Dyce (ed. 2). is Singer Fr
(ed> 2). 200 Who] Fx. Whom F2F3F4.
Enter Pro. and Launce] F4. Enter 203 you— ] Theobald, you. Ff.
Pro. and Launs. F2F3. om. Fx. 204 Sirrah,] om. Pope.
189 Soho, soho /] So-hough, Soa hough—
SCENE I. OP VERONA. 151
So much of bad already hath possessed them. 206
Pro. Then in dumb silence will I bury mine,
For they axe harsh, untuneable, and bad.
Vol. Is Silvia dead?
Pro. No, Valentine. 210
Vol. No Valentine, indeed, for sacred Silvia.
Hath she forsworn me?
Pro. No, Valentine.
Vol. No Valentine, if Silvia have forsworn me.
What is your news? 215
Launce. Sir, there is a proclamation that you are van-
ished.
Pro. That thou art banished—0, that's the news!—
From hence, from Silvia, and from me thy friend.
Vol. 0, I have fed upon this woe already,
And now excess of it will make me surfeit. 220
Doth Silvia know that I am banished?
Pro. Ay, ay; and she hath offer d to the doom—
Which, unreversed, stands in effectual, force—
A sea of melting pearl, which some call tears:
Those at her father's churlish feet she tender d; 225
With them, upon her knees, her humble self;
Wringing her hands,, whose whiteness so became them
As if but now they waxed pale for woe:
But neither bended knees, pure hands held up,;
Sad sighs, deep groans, nor silver-shedding tears, 230
Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire;
But Valentine, if he be ta'en, must die.
Besides, her intercession chafed him so,
206 hath] have Boswell. banished— Val. Oh, thafs the news!
216 vanished] vanish'd Kowe (ed. 2). Pro. From Clark and Glover conj.
217, 218 banished-—0 thafs...From] 221 banished] Eowe (ed. 2). banish'd
banisNd: oh thafs... From Ff. Ff.
banish'd; oh that is...From Pope. 222 offered] Theobald, offered Ff.
152 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
When she for thy repeal was suppliant,
That to close prison he commanded her, 235
"With many bitter threats of biding there.
Vol. No more; unless the next word that thou speak'st
Have some malignant power upon my life:
If so, I pray thee, breathe it in mine ear,
As ending anthem of my endless dolour. 240
Pro. Cease to lament for that thou canst not help,
And study help for that which thou lament'st.
Time is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Here if thou stay, thou canst not see thy love;
Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life. 245
Hope is a lovers staff; walk hence with that,
And manage it against despairing thoughts.
Thy letters may be here, though thou art hence;
Which, being writ to me, shall be deliver d
Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love. 250
The time now serves not to expostulate:
Come, 111 convey thee through the city-gate;
And, ere I part with thee, confer at large
Of all that may concern thy love-affairs.
As thou lovest Silvia, though not for thyself, 255
Regard thy danger, and along with me!
Vol. I pray thee, Launce, an if thou seest my boy,
Bid him make haste, and meet me at the North-gate.
Pro. Go, sirrah, find him out. Come, Valentine.
Vol. 0 my dear Silvia! Hapless Valentine! 260
[Exeunt Vol. and Pro.
Launce. I am but a fool, look you; and yet I have the
238 malignant] maligant F2. 260 [Exeunt Val. and Pro.] Exeunt. F3
240 As] An Hutchesson conj. MS. F3F4. om. Fr
anthem] Amen Singer conj. 261 Scene vi. Pope, by misprint for
242 lament'st] lamentest Collier MS. iv.
244 Here if] F3F4. Here, if FXF2.
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 153
wit to think my master is a kind of a knave: but that's all
one, if he be but one knave. He lives not now that knows
me to be in love; yet I am in love; but a team of horse
shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love; and yet
'tis a woman; but what woman, I will not tell myself; and
yet 'tis a milkmaid; yet 'tis not a maid, for she hath had
gossips; yet 'tis a maid, for she is her master's maid, and
serves for wages. She hath more qualities than a water-
spaniel,—which is much in a bare Christian. [Pulling out a
paper.] Here is the cate-log of her condition. 'Imprimis:
She can fetch and carry.' Why, a horse can do no more:
nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry; therefore is she
better than a jade. 'Item: She can milk;' look you, a
sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands. 275
Enter Speed.
Speed. How now, Signior Launce! what news with
your mastership?
Launce. With my master's ship? why, it is at sea.
Speed. Well, your old vice still; mistake the word.
What news, then, in your paper? 280
Launce. The blackest news that ever thou heardest.
Speed. Why, man, how black?
Launce. Why, as black as ink.
Speed. Let me read them.
Launce. Fie on thee, jolt-head! thou canst not read. 285
Speed. Thou liest; I can.
263 one knave] one kind of knave Han- Imprimis] F4. InpHmis F-^Fg.
mer. one kind Warburton. one 273 is she] she is Har ^ier (ed. 2).
in love Hudson (Staunton conj.). 274 milk;' look you,] milkj look you;
264 horse] horses Jervis conj. Capell.
270, 271 [Pulling out a paper.] Eowe. 276 Enter Speed.] om. Fr
271 cate-log] cat-log Howe (ed. 2). 278 master's ship] Theobald. Master-
condition] F1F2F3. conditions F4. ship Ff.
154 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
Launce. I will try thee. Tell me this: who begot thee?
Speed. Many, the son of ray grandfather.
Launce. 0 illiterate loiterer! it was the son of thy
grandmother: this proves that thou canst not read. 290
Speed. Come, fool, come; try me in thy paper.
Launce. There; and Saint Nicholas be thy speed!
Speed [reads]. 'Imprimis: She can milk/
Launce. Ay, that she can.
Speed. 'Item: She brews good ale/ , 295
. Launce. And thereof comes the proverb: 'Blessing of
your heart, you brew good ale/
Speed. 'Item: She can sew.'
Launce. That's as much as to say, Can she so?
Speed. 'Item: She can knit/ 300
Launce. What need a man care for a stock with a
wench, when she can knit him a stock?
Speed. 'Item: She can wash and scour/
Launce. A special virtue; for then she need not be
washed and scoured. 305
Speed.. 'Item: She can spin/
Launce. Then may I set the world on wheels, when
she can spin for her living.
Speed. 'Item: She hath many nameless virtues/
Launce. That's as much as to say, bastard virtues;
that, indeed, know not their fathers, and therefore have
no names. 312
Speed. 'Here follow her vices/
Launce. Close at the heels of her virtues.
Speed. 'Item: She is not to be kissed fasting, in
respect of her breath.'
293, 294 om. Farmer conj. F2F3F4.
293 Imprimis] F3F4. Inprimis F^. 313 follow] Fx. followes F2. follows
Item Halliwell. F3F4.
304 need not he] Fx. need not to be 315 kissed] hist Bo we. om. Ff.
SCENE I.
155
OF VERONA.
Launce. Well, that fault may be mended with a break-
fast. Read on.
Speed.
Launce,
Speed.
Launce.
talk.
Speed.
Launce.
Item: She hath a sweet mouth/
That makes amends for her sour breath. 320
Item: She doth talk in her sleep/
It's no matter for that, so she sleep not in her
; Item: She is slow in words/ 324
O villain, that set this down among her vices!
To be slow in words is a woman's only virtue: I pray thee,
out with 't, and place it for her chief virtue.
Speed. 'Item: She is proud/
Launce. Out with that too; it was Eve's legacy, and
cannot be ta'en from her. 330
Speed.
Launce.
crusts.
Speed.
Launce.
Speed.
Launce.
not, I will
Speed.
Launce.
Item: She hath no teeth/
I care not for that neither, because I
love
Item: She is curst/
Well, the best is, she hath no teeth to bite. 335
Item: She will often praise her liquor.'
If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will
for good things should be praised.
Item: She is too liberal/ 339
Of her tongue she cannot, for that's writ down
she is slow of; of her purse she shall not, for that I'll keep
shut: now, of another thing she may, and that cannot I
help. Well, proceed.
Speed. 'Item: She hath more hair than wit, and more
faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults.' 345
322 sleep] slip Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
MS.).
325 0...tins'] Oh villaine, that set this
Fx. Oh villame, that set F2. Oh
villanie! that set K. Oh villain!
that set F4. 0 villainy that set this
Malone.
342 cannot I] I cannot -Johnson.
344 hair] haire Yv haires F0, hairs
156 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
Launce. Stop there; I'll have her: she was mine, and
not mine, twice or thrice in that last article. Rehearse that
once more.
Speed. 'Item: She hath more hair than wit/— 349
Launce. More hair than wit? It may be; I'll prove it.
The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore it is more
than the salt; the hair that covers the wit is more than the
wit, for the greater hides the less. What's next?
Speed. 'And more faults than hairs,'—
Launce. That's monstrous: 0, that that were out! 355
Speed. 'And more wealth than faults.'
Launce. Why, that word makes the faults gracious.
Well, I'll have her: and if it be a match, as nothing is
impossible,—
Speed. What then? 360
Launce. Why, then will I tell thee—that thy master
stays for thee at the North-gate?
Speed. For me?
Launce. For thee! ay, who art thou? he hath stayed
for a better man than thee. 365
Speed. And must I go to him?
Launce. Thou must run to him, for thou hast stayed
so long, that going will scarce serve the turn.
Speed. Why didst not tell me sooner? pox of your
love-letters! [Exit. 370
Launce. Now will he be swinged for reading my latter,
—an unmannerly slave, that will thrust himself into secrets!
I'll after, to rejoice in the boy's correction. [Exit.
347 that last] Fx (in some copies impossible. Ff.
only, according to Malone), that 369 of] F1E2. on F3F4.
■p y F. 370 [Exit.] Capell. Exit running.
350 It may be; Til prove it] Theobald. Collier MS.
It may be He prove it Ff. 371 reading] reading of Keightley.
359 impossible,—] impossible— Howe. 373 [Exit.] Capell. [Exeunt. Ff.
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 157
Scene II. The same. The Duke's palace.
Enter Duke and Thurio.
Duke. Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you,
Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight.
Tliu. Since his exile she hath despised me most,
Forsworn my company, and rail'd at me,
That I am desperate of obtaining her. 5
Duke. This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts,
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot. 10
Enter Proteus.
How now, Sir Proteus! Is your countryman,
According to our proclamation, gone?
Pro. Gone, my good lord.
Duke. My daughter takes his going grievously.
Pro. A little time, my lord, will kill that grief. 15
Duke. So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee—
For thou hast shown some sign of good desert—
Makes me the better to confer with thee.
Pro. Longer than I prove loyal to your Grace 20
Scene 11.] Scene v. Pope. ora. Theo- 10 Enter...] Enter Protheus. Rowe.
bald. 14 grievously.] grieuously? Fx (in some
The same...] The same. A Eoom copies only, according to Malone).
in the same. Capell. heavily? F2F3. heavily. F4.
Enter...] Eowe. Enter Duke, 18 some] sure Collier MS.
Thurio, Protheus. Ff. 19 better] bolder Capell conj.
4 and] and so Keightley. 20 loyal] royall F2.
158 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT III.
Let me not live to look upon your Grace.
Duke. Thou know'st how willingly I would effect
The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter.
Pro. I do, my lord.
Duke. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant 25
How she opposes her against my will.
Pro. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.
Duke. Ay, and perversely she persevers so.
What might we do to make the girl forget
The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio? 30
Pro. The best way is to slander Valentine
With falsehood, cowardice and poor descent,
Three things that women highly hold in hate,
Duke. Ay, but she'll think that it is spoke in hate.
Pro. Ay, if his enemy deliver it: 35
Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken
By one whom she esteemeth as his friend.
Duke. Then you must undertake to slander him.
Pro. And that, my lord, I shall be loath to do:
'Tis an ill office for a gentleman, 40
Especially against his very friend.
Duke. Where your good word cannot advantage him,
Your slander never can endamage him;
Therefore the office is indifferent,
Being entreated to it by your friend. 45
Pro. You have prevailed, my lord: if I can do it
By aught that I can speak in his dispraise,
21 your] you, F2. FjFgFg. cowardise F4.
Grace] face Anon. conj. 37 esteemeth] Fr esteemes F2. esteems
23 daughter.] Eowe. daughter? Ff. F3F4.
25 /] Fr Idoe¥2. 7cfoF3F4. 46 prevail'd, my lord: if] prevail'd
26 will.] Kowe. will? Ef. {my Lord): E4. preuaiVd {my Lord)
28 persevers] perseveres F3F4. if F^Fg.
32 cowardice] Theobald. cowardize -47 aught] Warburton. ought Ff.
SCENE II. OE VERONA. 159
She shall not long continue love to him.
But say this weed her love from Valentine,
It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio. 50
Tliu. Therefore, as you unwind her love from him,
Lest it should ravel and be good to none,
You must provide to bottom it on me;
Which must be done by praising me as much
As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine. 55
Duke. And, Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind,
Because we know, on Valentine's report,
You are already Love's firm votary,
And cannot soon revolt and change your mind.
Upon this warrant shall you have access 60
Where you with Silvia may confer at large;
For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy,
And, for your friend's sake, will be glad of you;
Where you may temper her by your persuasion
To hate young Valentine and love my friend. 65
Pro. As much as I can do, I will effect:
But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough;
You must lay lime to tangle her desires
By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes
Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows. 70
Duke. Ay,
Much is the force of heaven-bred poesy.
Pro. Say that upon the altar of her beauty
You sacrifice your tears, your sighs, your heart:
Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears 75
Moist it again; and frame some feeling line
49 weed] Ef. wean Howe, wind Keight- walefull Ex.
ley- 71, 72 Ay, Much] Capell. Iy much
55 worth] word Capell conj. Ef. Much Pope.
64 Where] When Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 72 is] om. Anon. conj.
MS.)- 76 line] lines Hudson (Jervis conj.).
69 wailfuT\F^ wailfuWE^ wailefidlY2. .
160 THE TWO GENTLEMEN" ACT III.
That may discover such integrity:
For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews;
Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones,
Make tigers tame, and huge leviathans 80
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.
After your dire-lamenting elegies,
Yisit By night your lady's chamber-window
With some sweet consort; to their instruments
Tune a deploring dump: the night's dead silence 85
Will well become such sweet-complaining grievance.
This, or else nothing, will inherit her.
Duke, This discipline shows thou hast been in love.
Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice.
Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, 90
Let us into the city presently
To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music.
I have a sonnet that will serve the turn
To give the onset to thy good advice.
Duke. About it, gentlemen! 95
Pro. We'll wait upon your Grace till after supper,
And afterward determine our proceedings.
Duke. Even now about it! I will pardon you. [Exeunt.
77 sicch] strict Collier MS. love's Jervis integrity... Keightley.
conj. Malone suggests that a line 81 to] Fx. and F2F3F4.
has been lost to this purport: 84 consort] Ff. concert Hanmer.
As her obdurate heart may pene- 86 sweet-complaining] Capell. sweet
trate. complaining Ff.
integrity:] idolatry: Lettsom conj. 94 advice] advise Fx.
SCENE I.
161
OF VERONA.
ACT IV.
Scene I. The frontiers of Mantua. A forest
Enter certain Outlaws.
First Out. Fellows, stand fast; I see a passenger.
Sec. Out. If there be ten, shrink not, but down with em.
Enter Valentine and Speed.
Third Out. Stand, sir, and throw us that you have
about ye:
If not, well make you sit, and rifle you.
Speed. Sir, we are undone; these are the villains 5
That all the travellers do fear so much.
Vol. My friends,—
First Out. That's not so, sir: we are your enemies.
Sec. Out. Peace! we'll hear him.
TJiird Out. Ay, by my beard, will we, for he's a proper
man. 10
Vol. Then know that I have little wealth to lose:
A man I am cross'd with adversity;
My riches are these poor habiliments,
Of which if you should here disfurnish me,
You take the sum and substance that I have. 15
Scene i. The frontiers...forest.] Capell.
A forest. Rowe. A forest, leading
towards Mantua. Theobald.
Enter certain Outlaws.] Rowe.
Enter Valentine, Speed, and certaine
Out-lawes. Ff.
2 shrink] shrinkd F2.
Enter...] Rowe. om. Ff.
4 you sit] FXF2. you sir F3F4. you,
sir Capell (Errata).
VOL. I.
5 Sir] 0 sir Capell.
6 do] om. Pope, who prints lines 5 and
6 as prose.
7 friends,—] Theobald, friends. Ff.
9 Peace!] Peace,peace! Capell read-
ing Peace...will we, as one line.
10 he's] Capell. he is Ff.
11 little wealth] Fx.
little left Hannier.
little F2F3F4.
11
162 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
Sec. Out. Whither travel you?
Val. To Verona.
First Out. Whence came you?
Val. From Milan.
Third Out. Have you long sojourned there? 20
Val. Some sixteen months, and longer might have
stay'd,
If crooked fortune had not thwarted me.
First Out. What, were you banish'd thence?
Val. I was.
Sec. Out. For what offence? 25
Val. For that which now torments me to rehearse:
I kilTd a man, whose death I much repent;
But yet I slew him manfully in fight,
Without false vantage or base treachery.
First Out. Why, ne'er repent it, if it were done so. 30
But were you banish'd for so small a fault?
Val. I was, and held me glad of such a doom.
Sec. Out. Have you the tongues?
Val. My youthful travel therein made me happy,
Or else I often had been miserable. 35
Third Out. By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat
friar,
This fellow were a king for our wild faction!
First Out. We'll have him. Sirs, a word.
Speed. Master, be one of them; it's an honourable
kind of thievery. 40
18 Whence] And whence Capell, who [talke apart. Collier MS.
reads 16—20 as two lines ending 39, 40 it's...thievery] As in Pope. As
came you ?... there? a verse in Ff. It is a hind of honour-
35 I often had been] F2. / often had able thievery Steevens (1778). It
beene often Fx. often had been F3 F4. is an honourable kind of thievery
I had been often Collier. Steevens (1793).
38 Sirs] Sir Hudson (S. Walker conj.).
SCENE I. OF VERONA. 163
Vol. Peace, villain!
Sec. Out. Tell us this: have you any thing to take to?
Vol. Nothing but my fortune.
TJiird Out. Know, then, that some of us are gentlemen,
Such as the fury of ungovern d youth 45
Thrust from the company of awful men:
Myself was from Verona banished
For practising to steal away a lady,
An hen, and near allied unto the duke.
Sec. Out. And I from Mantua, for a gentleman, 50
Who, in my mood, I stabb'd unto the heart.
First Out. And I for such like petty crimes as these.
But to the purpose,—for we cite our faults,
That they may hold excused our lawless lives;
And partly, seeing you are beautified 55
With goodly shape, and by your own report
A linguist, and a man of such perfection
As we do in our quality much want,—
Sec. Out. Indeed, because you are a banish'd man,
Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: 60
Are you content to be our general?
To make a virtue of necessity,
And live, as we do, in this wilderness?
TJiird Out. What say'st thou? wilt thou be of our con-
sort?
Say ay, and be the captain of us all: 65
Well do thee homage and be ruled by thee,
Love thee as our commander and our kino\
42 thing] Fr things F2F3F4. Neece alli'd F4.
46 awful] lawful Heath conj. 51 Who] Whom Pope.
49 An heir, and near allied] Theobald. 58 want,—] want;— Theobald, ivant.
And heire and Neece, alide Fr And Ff.
heire and Neece, allide F2. An heir, 60 Therefore] FXF2. There F3F4.
and Neice allide F3. An Heir, and 63 this] F^ the F2F3F4.
11—2
164 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
First Out. But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest.
Sec. Out. Thou shalt not live to brag what we have
offer'd.
Vol. I take your offer, and will live with you, 70
Provided that you do no outrages
On silly women or poor passengers.
Third Out. No, we detest such vile base practices.
Come, go with us, we'll bring thee to our crews,
And show thee all the treasure we have got; 75
Which, with ourselves, all rest at thy dispose. [Exeunt.
Scene II. Milan. Outside the Duke's palace, under Silvia's
chamber.
Enter Proteus.
Pro. Already have I been false to Valentine,
And now I must be as unjust to Thurio.
Under the colour of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer:
But Silvia is too fair, too true, too holy, 5
To be corrupted with my worthless gifts.
When I protest true loyalty to her,
She twits me with my falsehood to my friend;
When to her beauty I commend my vows,
She bids me think how I have been forsworn 10
In breaking faith with Julia whom I loved:
And notwithstanding all her sudden quips,
74 crews] F4. Crewes F^Fg. cave under Silvia's Apartment. Theobald.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), caves Court of the palace. Capell.
Singer (ed. 2). crew Delius conj. Enter...] Eowe. Enter Protheus,
cruives Bulloch conj. Thurio, Iulia, Host, Musitian, Siluia.
76 all] shall Pope. Ff.
Scene n. Milan. Pope. 1 have JT] Fve Pope.
[Outside...palace...] An open place, 5 fair]'pure Gould conj.
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 165
The least whereof would quell a lover's hope,
Yet, spaniel-like, the more she spurns my love,
The more it grows, and fawneth on her still. 15
But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window,
And give some evening music to her ear.
Enter Thurio and Musicians,
Thu. How now, Sir Proteus, are you crept before us?
Pro. Ay, gentle Thurio; for you know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go. 20
Thu. Ay, but I hope, sir, that you love not here.
Pro. Sir, but I do; or else I would be hence.
Thu. Who? Silvia?
Pro. Ay, Silvia; for your sake.
Thu. I thank you for your own. Now, gentlemen,
Let's tune, and to it lustily awhile. 25
Enter, at a distance, Host, and Julia in boy's clothes.
Host. Now, my young guest, methinks you're ally-
cholly: I pray you, why is it?
Jul. Marry, mine host, because I cannot be merry.
Host. Come, we'll have you merry: I'll bring you
where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that
you asked for. 31
Jul. But shall I hear him speak?
Host. Ay, that you shall.
Jul. That will be music. [Music plays.
15 and] om. F3F4. and Julia... Rowe. Enter H. and
18 Enter...] Eowe. om. Ff. J. Collier MS.
23 Who] Fr Whom F2F3F4. 26 you're] your> Fx. you'r F2F3F4.
Ay] Ay, sir Taylor conj. MS. 26, 27 allycholly] melancholy Pope.
24 [To the musicke. Collier MS. 27 I pray you, why is it] Theobald. /
25 tune] ¥v turne F2. turn F3F4. pray you why is it Fx. I pray you
Enter, at a distance...] Enter Host, what is it F2F3. I pray what is it F4.
at a Distance, with Julia, apparel'd [stand aside. Collier MS.
like a Boy. Capell. Enter Host, 34 [Music plays.] Capell.
166 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
Host. Hark, hark! 35
Jul. Is he among these?
Host. Ay: but, peace! let's hear 'em.
Song.
Who is Silvia*? what is she,
That all our swains commend her1?
Holy, fair, and wise is she; 40
The heaven such grace did lend her,
That she might admired be.
Is she kind as she is fair1?
For beauty lives with kindness.
Love doth to her eyes repair, 45.
To help him of his blindness,
And, being help'd, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia let us sing,
That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing 50
Upon the dull earth dwelling:
To her let us garlands bring.
Host. How now! are you sadder than you were before?
How do you, man? the music likes you not.
Jul. You mistake; the musician likes me not. 55
Host. Why, my pretty youth?
Jul. He plays false, father.
Host. How? out of tune on the strings?
Jul. Not so; but yet so false that he grieves my very
heart-strings. 60
Host. You have a quick ear.
Jul. Ay, I would I were deaf; it makes me have a
slow heart.
40 is she] as free Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 53 are you...before?'] you are...beforer
MS.). Singer, ed. 2 (Heath conj.).
50 excels] exceeds S. Walker conj. 58 strings?] strings. Fr
53 Scene in. Pope.
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 167
Host. I perceive you delight not in music.
Jul. Not a whit, when it jars so. 65
Host. Hark, what fine change is in the music!
Jul. Ay, that change is the spite.
Host. You would have them always play but one thing?
Jul. I would always have one play but one thing.
But, host, doth this Sir Proteus that we talk on 70
Often resort unto this gentlewoman?
Host. I tell you what Launce, his man, told me,—he
loved her out of all nick.
Jul. Where is Launce? 74
Host. Gone to seek his dog; which to-morrow, by his
masters command, he must carry for a present to his lady.
Jul. Peace! stand aside: the company parts.
Pro. Sir Thurio, fear not you: I will so plead,
That you shall say my cunning drift excels.
Thu. Where meet we?
Pro. At Saint Gregory's well.
Thu. Farewell. 80
\_Exeunt Thu. and Musicians.
Enter Silvia above.
Pro. Madam, good even to your ladyship.
Sil. I thank you for your music, gentlemen.
Who is that that spake?
Pro. One, lady, if you knew his pure heart's truth,
68 You would] You would then Boswell. not F3F4. feare you not Collier
You would not Collier MS. MS.
thing?] Pope, thing. Ff. 80 [Exeunt Thu. and Musicians.]
70, 71 Printed as prose by Capell. Rowe.
70 Sir] om. Boswell. 81 Scene iv. Pope.
72—74 Printed as verse in Ff, the first Enter Silvia above.] Rowe. om. Ff.
line ending me. Silvia above, at her Window. Theo-
76 [Musick ceases. Capell. bald.
78 fear not you] Yv feare not F2. fear even] evening Boswell.
168 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
You would quickly learn to know him by his voice. 85
Sil. Sir Proteus, as I take it.
Pro. Sir Proteus, gentle lady, and your servant.
Sil. What's your will?
Pro. That I may compass yours.
Sil. You have your wish; my will is even this:
That presently you hie you home to bed. 90
Thou subtle, perjured, false, disloyal man!
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless,
To be seduced by thy flattery,
That hast deceived so many with thy vows?
Return, return, and make thy love amends. 95
For me,—by this pale queen of night I swear,
I am so far from granting thy request,
That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit;
And by and by intend to chide myself
Even for this time I spend in talking to thee. 100
Pro. I grant, sweet love, that I did love a lady;
But she is dead.
Jul. [Aside] 'Twere false, if I should speak it;
For I am sure she is not buried.
Sil. Say that she be; yet Yalentine thy friend
Survives; to whom, thyself art witness, 105
I am betroth'd: and art thou not ashamed
To wrong, him with thy importunacy?
Pro. I likewise hear that Yalentine is dead.
Sil. And so suppose am I; for in his grave
Assure thyself my love is buried. no
Pro. Sweet lady, let me rake it from the earth.
Sil. Go to thy lady's grave, and call hers thence;
85 You would] Ff. You'd Pope. 105 thyself] even thyself Hanmer.
88 Whafs] What is Pope. 109 his] her Fx.
89 even] Fr ever F2F3F4. 112 hers] FXF2. her F3F4.
102, 114, 122 [Aside] Pope.
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 169
Or, at the least, in hers sepulchre thine.
Jul. [Aside] He heard not that.
Pro. Madam, if your heart be so obdurate, 115
Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love,
The picture that is hanging in your chamber;
To that I'll speak, to that 111 sigh and weep:
For since the substance of your perfect self
Is else devoted, I am but a shadow; 120
And to your shadow will I make true love.
Jul. [Aside] If 'twere a substance, you would, sure,
deceive it,
And make it but a shadow, as I am.
Sil. I am very loath to be your idol, sir;
But since your falsehood shall become you well 125
To worship shadows and adore false shapes,
Send to me in the morning, and I'll send it:
And so, good rest.
Pro. As wretches have o'ernight
That wait for execution in the mom.
[Exeunt Pro. and Sil. severally.
Jul. Host, will you go? 130
Host. By my halidom, I was fast asleep.
Jul. Pray you, where lies Sir Proteus?
Host. Marry, at my house. Trust me, I think 'tis
almost day.
Jul. Not so; but it hath been the longest night 135
That e'er I watch'd, and the most heaviest. [Exeunt.
115 if] if that Warburton. an if Anon, conj. But, since your falsehood,
conj. H shall Collier MS.
115, 116 so obdurate, VoucJisafe] so Ob- 125, 126 you well To] you: well—Go:
durate, oh I vouchsafe Hanmer. Jackson conj.
116 for my love] om. Hanmer. 129 [Exeunt...severally] Exe. Pro. and
123 shadow] shadow soon Taylor conj. Sil. Eowe. om. Fx. [Exeunt. F2F3
MS. F4. Exeunt Protheus; and Silvia,
125 But since your falsehood shall] Biot, from above. Capell.
since you're false, it shall Johnson 136 heaviest] heavy one Pope.
170 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
Scene III. The same.
Enter Eglamour.
Egl. This is the hour that Madam Silvia
Entreated me to call and know her mind:
There's some great matter sheld employ me in.
Madam, madam!
Enter Silvia above.
Sil. Who calls?
Egl. Your servant and your friend;
One that attends your ladyship's command. 5
Sil. Sir Eglamour, a thousand times good morrow.
Egl. As many, worthy lady, to yourself:
According to your ladyship's impose,
I am thus early come to know what service
It is your pleasure to command me in. 10
Sil. O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman,—
Think not I flatter, for I swear I do not,—
Valiant, wise, remorseful, well accomplish'd:
Thou art not ignorant what dear good will
I bear unto the banish'd Valentine; 15
Nor how my father would enforce me marry
Vain Thurio, whom my very soul abhors.
Thyself hast loved; and I have heard thee say
Scene ni.] Scene v. Pope. Dyce Pope. Wise, valiant Anon. conj. A
makes no new scene here. See note monosyllable lost before valiant. S.
(vni). Walker conj.
Enter Eglamour.] Rowe. Enter Valiant...accomplish!]d] Valiant, re-
Eglamore, Siluia. Ef. morseful, well accomplished, wise
4 Madam, madam/] Madam! Han- Wright conj.
mer. 17 abhors] Hanmer. abhor'd Y^^z.
Enter Silvia above.] Rowe. abhorred F4. abhorreth Keightley.
13 Valiant, wise] Valiant and wise
SCENE III. OF VEEONA. 171
No grief did ever- come so near thy heart
As when thy lady and thy true love died, 20
Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity.
Sir Eglamour, I would to Valentine,
To Mantua, where I hear he makes abode;
And, for the ways are dangerous to pass,
I do desire thy worthy company, 25
Upon whose faith and honour I repose.
Urge not my father's anger, Egiamour,
But think upon my grief, a lady's grief,
And on the justice of my flying hence,
To keep me from a most unholy match, 30
Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues.
I do desire thee, even from a heart
As full of sorrows as the sea of sands,
To bear me company, and go with me:
If not, to hide what I have said to thee, 35
That I may venture to depart alone.
Egl. Madam, I pity much your grievances;
Which since I know they virtuously are placed,
I give consent to go along with you;
Recking as little what betideth me 40
As much I wish all good befortune you.
When will you go?
Sil. This evening coming.
Egl Where shall I meet you?
SH At Friar Patrick's cell,
Where I intend holy confession.
19 ever] F1# om. F2F3F4. pathise with your affections, Which
near] near unto Pope. Keigktley conj.
31 rewards] Ff. reward Pope. 38 placed^ caused Staunton conj.
37,38 grievances; Which] grievances, 40 Recking] Pope. Wreaking Ff.
And the most true affections that 42 evening coming] evening coming on
you hear; Which Collier, ed. 2 Capell. coming evening Anon. conj.
(Collier MS.), grievances, And sym-
172 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IT.
Egl. I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow,
gentle lady. 46
Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.
\Exeunt severally.
Scene IV. The same.
Enter Launce, with his Dog.
Launce. Wlien a man's servant shall play the cur with
him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a
puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or
four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it! I have
taught him, even as one would say precisely, 'thus I
would teach a dog/ I was sent to deliver him as a present
to Mistress Silvia from my master; and I came no sooner
into the dining-chamber, but he steps me to her trencher,
and steals her capon s leg: 0, 'tis a foul thing when a cur
cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as
one should say, one that takes upon him to be a dog in-
deed, to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had not
had more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he
did,. I think verily he had been hanged fort; sure as I
live, he had suffered fort: you shall judge. He thrusts
me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-
like dogs, under the duke's table: he had not been there
—bless the mark!—a pissing while, but all the chamber
46 gentle] om. Taylor conj. MS. Launce. Eowe. Enter Launce, Pro-
47 [Exeunt severally.] Exeunt. Ff. theus, Julia, Siluia. Ef.
Scene iv.] Scene vi. Pope. Dyce 6 / was sent] I went Theobald.
makes no new scene here. 11, 12 to be a dog indeed] to be a dog,
The same.] The same. Silvia's Anti- to be a dog indeed Johnson conj.
chamber. Capell. dog indeed, to be] dog, indeed to be
Enter Launce...] Theobald. Enter Hutchesson conj. (Gent. Mag. 1790).
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 173
smelt him. 'Out with the dogf says one: 'What cur is
that?' says another: 'Whip him out/ says the third: 'Hang
him up/ says the duke. I, having been acquainted with
the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to the
fellow that whips the dogs: 'Friend/ quoth I, 'you mean
to whip the dog?', 'Ay, marry, do 1/ quoth he. 'You
do him the more wrong/ quoth I; ''twas I did the thing
you wot of/ He makes me no more ado, but whips me
out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for
his servant? Nay, Til be sworn, I have sat in the stocks
for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been exe-
cuted; I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed,
otherwise he had suffered fort. Thou thinkest not of this
now. Nay, I remember the trick you served me when I
took my leave of Madam Silvia: did not I bid thee still
mark me, and do as I do? when didst thou see me heave
up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman's far-
thingale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick? 36
Enter Proteus and Julia.
Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well,
And will employ thee in some service presently.
Jul. In what you please: I'll do what I can.
Pro. I hope thou wilt. [To Launce] How now, you
whoreson peasant! 40
Where have you been these two days loitering?
20 the third] a third Hanmer. 33 Silvia] Julia Warburton.
23 you mean] do you mean Collier, ed. 36 Enter...] Eowe. om. Ff.
2 (Collier MS.). 39 Til do] He do Fx. lie do sir E2F3
24 dog ?] Howe, dog: Ff. F4. I will do Malone.
26 makes me no more] makes no more 40 I hope...peasant!] As in Pope. Two
Eowe. lines in Ff.
28 his servant] their servant Pope. [To Launce.] Johnson.
174 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
Launce. Many, sir, I carried Mistress Silvia the dog
you bade me.
Pro. And what* says she to my little jewel?
Launce. Marry, she says your dog was a cur, and tells
you currish thanks is good enough for such a present. 46
Pro. But she received my dog?
Launce. No, indeed, did she not: here have I brought
him back again.
Pro. What, didst thou offer her this from me? 50
Launce. Ay, sir; the other squirrel was stolen from me
by the hangman boys in the market-place: and then I
offered her mine own, who is a dog as big as ten of yours,
and therefore the gift the greater.
Pro. Go get thee hence, and find my dog again, 55
Or ne'er return again into my sight.
Away, I say! stay'st thou to vex me here? *
[Exit Launce.
A slave, that still an end turns me to shame!
Sebastian, I have entertained thee,
Partly that I have need of such a youth, 60
That can with some discretion do my business,
For 'tis no trusting to yond foolish lout;
But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour,
Which, if my augury deceive me not,
Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth: 65
Therefore know thou, for this I entertain thee.
45 was] is Capell conj. Hangman's hoy F4. a hangman
48 did she] FjFg. she did F3F4. hoy Collier MS.
50 this] this cur Hudson (Collier MS.). 57 stay'st] Eowe. stay est Ff.
51 the other squirrel] the other, Squirrel, [Exit Launce.] om. Fx. [Exit. F2F3
Hanmer. F4 after line 58.
51—54 As in Pope. Four lines ending me 58 still an end] ev'ry day Pope.
...marketplace...dog...greater in Ff. 65 fortune] nourture Singer conj.
52 the hangman hoys] Singer, ed. 2 66 know thou] F2F3F4. knovj thee Fr
(Singer MS.), the Hangmans hoyes know that Bailey conj.
Fx. the hangmans hoy F2F3. the thee] hee F2.
SCENE IV.
OF VERONA. 175
Go presently, and take this ring with thee,
Deliver it to Madam Silvia:
She loved me well deliver d it to me.
Jul. It seems you loved not her, to leave her token.
She is dead, belike?
Pro. Not so; I think she lives. 71
Jul. Alas!
Pro. Why dost thou cry, 'alas'?
Jul. I cannot choose
But pity her.
Pro. Wherefore shouldst thou pity her?
Jul. Because methinks that she loved you as well 75
As you do love your lady Silvia:
She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
You dote on her that cares not for your love.
'Tis pity love should be so contrary;
And thinking on it makes me cry, 'alas!' 80
Pro. Well, give her that ring, and therewithal
This letter. That's her chamber. Tell my lady
I claim the promise for her heavenly picture.
Your message done, hie home' unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. [Exit. 85
Jul. How many women would do such a message?
Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertaind
A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.
Alas, poor fool! why do I pity him
70 to leave] F2F3F4. not leaue Fx. nor conj.
love Johnson conj. 81 Well] Well, well Dyce, ed. 2 (S.
73, 74 Arranged as by Capell. Walker conj.).
74 Wherefore] Why Hanmer. give her] give to her Keightley (Collier
75 that she loveoT] if she loves Hanmer. MS.).
that lov'd she Collier (ed. 2). and therewithal] and give therevdthal
76, 77 Silvia: She] Silvia, She Collier Theobald, and give her therevjithal
(ed. 2). Capell.
77 him that has] you that have Daniel 85 [Exit.] om. Fx.
176 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
That with his very heart despiseth me? 90
Because he loves her, he despiseth me;
Because I love him, I must pity him.
This ring I gave him when he parted from me,
To bind him to remember my good will;
And now am I, unhappy messenger, 95
To plead for that which I would not obtain,
To carry that which I would have refused,
To praise his faith which I would have dispraised.
I am my master's true-confirmed love;
But cannot be true servant to my master, 100
Unless I prove false traitor to myself.
Yet will I woo for him, but yet so coldly,
As, heaven it knows, I would not have him speed.
Enter Silvia, attended.
Gentlewoman, good day! I pray you, be my mean
To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia. 105
Sil. What would you with her, if that I be she?
Jul. If you be she, I do entreat your patience
To hear me speak the message I am sent on.
Sil. From whom?
Jul. From my master, Sir Proteus, madam. 110
Sil. 0, he sends you for a picture.
Jul. Ay, madam.
Sil. Ursula, bring my picture there.
Go give your master this: tell him, from me,
95 am I] F^. I am F3F4. 110 From my master, Sir Proteus] My
102 woo] Eowe. woe F^ wooe F2F3 master; from Sir Proteus Capell.
F4. From Sir Proteus, my master
103 heaven] God S. Walker conj. Keightley conj.
Enter Silvia, attended.] "Malone. Ill picture.] Knight. Picture? Ff.
Enter Silvia. Rowe. picture; does he not? Capell.
104 Gentlewoman] Lady Pope. 113 [Picture brought. Capell.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 177
One Julia, that his changing thoughts forget, 115
Would better fit his chamber than this shadow.
Jul. Madam, please you peruse this letter.—
Pardon me, madam; I have unadvised
Deliver d you a paper that I should not:
This is the letter to your ladyship. 120
Sil. I pray thee, let me look on that again.
Jul. It may not be; good madam, pardon me.
Sil. There, hold!
I will not look upon your master's lines:
I know they are stuff?d with protestations, 125
And full of new-found oaths; which he will break
As easily as I do tear his paper.
Jul. Madam, he sends your ladyship this ring.
Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me;
For I have heard him say a thousand times 130
His Julia gave it him at his departure.
Though his false finger have profaned the ring,
Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong.
Jul. She thanks you.
Sil. What say'st thou? 135
Jul. I thank you, madam, that you tender her.
Poor gentlewoman! my master wrongs her much.
Sil. Dost thou know her?
Jul. Almost as well as I do know myself:
To think upon her woes I do protest 140
That I have wept a hundred several times.
Sil. Belike she thinks that Proteus hath forsook her.
115 forget] YjF2. forgot F3F4. Capell.
117 please you peruse] may't please you 126 new-found] new coiri'd W. n. apud
to peruse Pope, wilt please you to Long MS.
peruse Capell. so please you to 127 easily] Fx. easie F2F3F4.
peruse Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). his] this Dyce conj.
119 [Paper. Collier MS. 138 Dost thou] Dost Capell conj.
123 [giving back the first Letter. 142 her.] F4. her? FXF2F3.
VOL. I. 12
178 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT IV.
Jul. I think she doth; and that's her cause of sorrow.
Sil. Is she not passing fair?
Jul. She hath been fairer, madam, than she is: 145
When she did think my master loved her well,
She, in my judgement, was as fair as you;
But since she did neglect her looking-glass,
And threw her sun-expelling mask away,
The air hath starved the roses in her cheeks, 150
And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face,
That now she is become as black as I.
Sil. How tall was she?
Jul. About my stature: for, at Pentecost,
When all our pageants of delight were play'd, 155
Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd in Madam Julia's gown;
Which served me as fit, by all men's judgements,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore I know she is about my height. 160
And at that time I made her weep agood,
For I did play a lamentable part:
Madam, 'twas Ariadne passioning
For Theseus' perjury and unjust flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears, 165
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and, would I might be dead,
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow!
Sil. She is beholding to thee, gentle youth.
Alas, poor lady, desolate and left! 170
I weep myself to think upon thy words.
145 146 is:...well,] is;...well, Eowe. 158 judgements] judgment Capell.
'is,...well; F^F,,. is,...well: F4. 161 agood] F2F3F4. a good Fr a-
151 <pinctid]pitctid~WaJrbwrton. pincte good Theobald.
Becket conj. pinc'd Id. conj. 168 felt] feel Seward conj.
153 was] is Ritson conj. 169 beholding] beholden Pope.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 179
Here, youth, there is my purse: I give thee this
For thy sweet mistress' sake, because thou lovest her.
Farewell. [Exit Silvia, with attendants.
Jul, And she shall thank you for t, if e'er you know
her. .175
A virtuous gentlewoman, mild and beautiful!
I hope my master's suit will be but cold,
Since she respects my mistress' love so much.
Alas, how love can trifle with itself!
Here is her picture: let me see; I think, 180
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter'd her a little,
Unless I flatter with myself too much.
Her hair is auburn, mine is perfect yellow: _ __185
If that be all the difference in his love, , .
I'll get me such a colour'd periwig.
Her eyes are grey as glass; and so are mine:
Ay, but her forehead's low, and mine's as high. ,
What should it be that he respects in her, 190
But I can make respective in myself,
If this fond Love were not a blinded god? - - - -•
Come, shadow, come, and take this shadow up,
For 'tis thy rival. 0 thou senseless form,
Thou shalt be worshipp'd, kiss'd, loved, and adored! 195
And, were there sense in his idolatry,
172 my purse] Fr a p wse F2F3F4. 185 auburn] Rowe. Abume'Ft
174 Farewell] As in F2F3F4. At the 188 grey as glass] Ft. grey as grasse
end of line 173 in Fx. om. Pope. F2F3F4. green as grass Collier,
[Exit... attendants] Dyce,after 175. ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
[Exit. F2F3F4. om. Fr [Exit S. 189 minds as high] mine is high Pope.
Singer, after 175; after 178, Barron 191, 192 my self,... god?] my selfeL..
Field conj. god. Fv
178 my mistress'] his mistress' Hanmer.
12—2
180 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT V.
My substance should be statue in thy stead.
I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake,
That used me so; or else, by Jove I vow,
I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes, 200
To make my master out of love with thee! [Exit
ACT V.
Scene I. Milan. An abbey.
Enter Eglamour.
Egl. The sun begins to gild the western sky;
And now it is about the very hour
That Silvia, at Friar Patrick's cell, should meet me.
She will not fail, for lovers break not hours,
Unless it be to come before their time; 5
So much they spur their expedition.
See where she comes.
Enter Silvia.
Lady, a happy evening!
Sil. Amen, amen! Go on, good Eglamour,
Out at the postern by the abbey-wall:
197 statue] sainted Hanmer. statued cell. Theobald.
Warburton. statua Reed conj. Enter Eglamour.] Rowe. Enter
shadow Elze conj. Eglamoure, Siluia. Ff.
200 your] thy Hanmer. those Blair 3 That] om. Pope.
conj. Friar] om. Steevens, 1793 (Capell
201 [Exit.] E2. [Exeunt. Fr conj.).
Scene i. Milan.] Pope. Enter Silvia.] Rowe. om. Ff.
An abbey.] Capell. Near the Friar's
SCENE II. OP VERONA. 181
I fear I am attended by some spies. 10
Egl. Fear not: the forest is not three leagues off;
If we recover that, we are sure enough. [Exeunt.
Scene II. The same. The Duke's palace.
Enter Thurio, Proteus, and Julia.
Thu. Sir Proteus, what says Silvia to my suit?
Pro. 0, sir, I find her milder than she was;
And yet she takes exceptions at your person.
Thu. What, that my leg is too long?
Pro. No; that it is too little. 5
Thu. I'll wear a boot, to make it somewhat rounder.
Jul. [Aside'] But love will not be spurrd to what it
loathes.
Thu. What says she to my face?
Pro. She says it is a fair one.
Thu. Nay then, the wanton lies; my face is black. 10
Pro. But pearls are fair; and the old saying is,
Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes.
Jul. [Aside] Tis true, such pearls as put out ladies'
eyes;
For I had rather wink than look on thero.
12 we are] we We Pope. 7 Jul. [Aside] But love] Collier
Scene h. The Duke's palace.] An (Boswell conj.). Pro. But lo:ce
Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Ff.
Theobald. 13 Jul.] Powe. Thu. Ff.
Enter...and Julia.] Rowe. Enter... [Aside] Eowe.
Julia and Duke. Ff.
182" THE TWO GENTLEMEN . ACT V.
Tliu. How likes she my discourse? 15
Pro. Ill, when you talk of war.
Thu. But well, when I discourse of love and peace?
Jul. [Aside] But better, indeed, when you hold your
peace.
Thu. What says she to my valour?
Pro. 0, sir, she makes no doubt of that. . 20
Jul. [Aside] She needs not, when she knows it cow-
ardice.
Thu. What says she to my birth?
Pro. That you are well derived.
Jul. [Aside] True; from a gentleman to a fool.
Thu. Considers she my possessions? 25
Pro. 0, ay; and pities them.
Thu. Wherefore?
Jul. [Aside] That such an ass should owe them.
Pro. That they are out by lease.
Jul. Here comes the duke. so
Enter Duke.
Duke. How now, Sir Proteus! how now, Thurio!
Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late?
Thu. Not I.
Pro. Nor I.
Duke. Saw you my daughter?
Pro. Neither.
18, 21, 24, 28 [Aside] Capell.
25 possessions] large possessions Collier,
18 better, indeed] indeed, better Dyce
ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
(ed. 2).
28 owe] Ff. own Pope.
hold] do hold Capell.
30 Enter Duke.] Eowe. om. Ff. Enter
your] you FjF2.
Duke angerly. Collier MS.
21 cowardice] Theobald, cowardize Fl
.32 saw Sir] F4. saw Fx. say saw Sir
F2F3. Cowardise F4.
F2*V
SCENE II. OF VERONA. 183
Duke. Why then,
She's fled unto that peasant Valentine ,\ 35
And Eglamour is in her company.
Tis true; for Friar Laurence met them both,
As he in penance wander d through the forest;
Him he knew well, and guess'd that it was she,
But, being mask'd, he was not sure of it; '40
Besides, she did intend confession
At Patrick's cell this even; and there she was not;
These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence.
Therefore, I pray you, stand not to discourse,
But mount you presently, and meet with me 45
Upon the rising of the mountain-foot
That leads toward Mantua, whither they are fled:
Dispatch, sweet gentlemen, and follow me. [Exit.
Thu. Why, this it is to be a peevish girl,
That flies her fortune when it follows her. 50
m after, more to be revenged on Eglamour
Than for the love of reckless Silvia. [Exit.
Pro. And I will follow, more for Silvia's love
Than hate of Eglamour, that goes with her. [Exit.
Jul. And I will follow, more to cross that love 55
Than hate for Silvia, that is gone for love. [Exit.
34, 35 Why then, She's] Wliy then, she's 48 [Exit.] Rowe. Exit in haste. Collier
Capell. MS.
35 that] Fx. the F2F3F4. 50 when] Fr where F2F3F4.
38 in penance] by chance Gould conj. 51 on] o/Rowe (ed. 2).
40 it] her Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). Eglamour] him Taylor conj. MS.
44 you, stand not] you stand, not 52 [Exit.] Capell.
Fr 54 [Exit.] Capell.
47 toward] towards Pope. 56 [Exit.] Capell. [Exeunt. Ff.
184 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT V.
Scene III. The frontiers of Mantua. The forest
Enter Outlaws with Silvia.
First Out. Come, come,
Be patient; we must bring you to our captain.
Sil. A thousand more mischances than this one
Have learn d me how to brook this patiently.
Sec. Out. Come, bring her away. 5
First Out. Where is the gentleman that was with her?
Third Out. Being nimble-footed, he hath outrun us,
But Moses and Valerius follow him.
Go thou with her to the west end of the wood;
There is our captain: we'll follow him that's fled; 10
The thicket is beset; he cannot scape.
First Out. Come, I must bring you to our captain's
cave:
Fear not; he bears an honourable mind,
And will not use a woman lawlessly.
Sil. 0 Valentine, this I endure for thee! [Exezmt. 15
Scene IV. Another 'part of the forest.
Enter Valentine.
Vol. How use doth breed a habit in a man!
This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
Scene ill The...Mantua] Capell. 11 [Exeunt. Capell.
The forest.] Pope. Scene iv. Another...forest.] The same.
Enter...] Capell. Enter Silvia and Another Part of it. Capell. The
Out-laws. Bowe. Siluia, Out-lawes. Out-law's Cave in the Forest. Theo-
Ff. bald.
1, 2 Come...captain.] As in Capell. Enter Valentine.] Eowe. Enter
The first line ends at patient in Ff. Valentine, Protheus, Siluia, Iulia,
One line in Pope. Duke, Thurio, Out-lawes. Ff.
2 [draws her in. Collier MS. 2 This shadovnj desert,] These shadowy,
8 Moses] Capell. Moyses Ff. desert. Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
10 we'll] om. Pope. woods] wood Daniel conj.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 185
I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
And to the nightingale's complaining notes 5
Tune my distresses and record my woes.
O thou that dost inhabit in my breast,
Leave not the mansion so long tenantless,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall,
And leave no memory of what it was! 10
Repair me with thy presence, Silvia;
Thou gentle nymph, cherish thy forlorn swam!
What halloing and what stir is this to-day?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law.
Have some unhappy passenger in chase. 15
They love me well; yet I have much to do
To keep them from uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?
Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia.
Pro. Madam, this service I have done for you,
Though you respect not aught your servant doth, 20
To hazard life, and rescue you from him
That would have forced your honour and your love;
Vouchsafe me, for my meed, but one fair look;
A smaller boon than this I cannot beg,
And less than this, I am sure, you cannot give. 25
Vol. [Aside] How like a dream is this I see and hear!
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
8 so] too Collier MS. 18 [Steps aside. Johnson.
13 halloing] hallding Theobald, kal- Enter...] Rowe. om. Ff.
hiring F^F2FZ. hollowing F4. 19 I have] F^Fg. have IF±. liaving
[shouts. Collier MS. Collier MS.
14 These are my] These my node Collier, 25 I am] Tm Pope.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). "Tis sure my 26, 32 [Aside] Theobald.
Singer (ed. 2). Ah, these my Taylor 26 is this I see and hear f] Theobald,
conj. MS. is this? I see and hear: Ff. is
1*7 [Stand backe. Collier MS. this! I see and hear! Daniel conj.
186 THE TWO GENTLEMEN t ACT V.
Sil. 0 miserable, unhappy that I am 1
Pro. Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came;
But by my coming I have made you happy. 30
Sil. By thy approach thou makest me most unhappy.
Jul. [Aside] And me, when he approacheth to your
presence.
Sil. Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast,
Bather than have false Proteus rescue me. 35
O, Heaven be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
And full as much, for more there cannot be,
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone; solicit me no more. 40
Pro. What dangerous action, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look!
0, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,
When women cannot love where they're beloved!
Sil. When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved. 45
Bead over Julia's heart, thy first, best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury, to love me.
Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two, 50
And that's far worse than none; better have none
Than plural faith which is too much by one:
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!
Pro. In love
Who respects friend?
Sil. All men but Proteus.
33 seized] F3F4. ceazed Fv seazed¥2. hail...Discandied into perjury. To
43 and still approved] for ever proved love me Thou Daniel conj.
Pope. 49 love] Fr deceive F2F3F4.
47—50 rend...perjury, to love me. Thou] 50 thou'dst] thou hadst Steevens.
rain.. .perjury. To love me Thou or
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 187
Pro. Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving words 55
Can no way change you to a milder form,
Til woo you like a soldier, at arms' end,
And love you 'gainst the nature of love,—force ye.
Sil. 0 heaven!
Pro. I'll force thee yield to my desire.
Val. Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil touch, 60
Thou friend of an ill fashion!
Pro. Valentine!
Val. Thou common friend, that's without faith or love,
For such is a friend now; treacherous man!
Thou hast beguiled my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me: now I dare not say 65
I have one friend alive; thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count the world a stranger for thy sake. 70
The private wound is deepest: 0 time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
Pro. My shame and guilt confounds me.
57 woo] wooe Fr move F2F3F4. trusted, when ones Fr trusted now,
58 the nature of love,—force] love's when the Pope, trusted, when one's
nature,—/ will force Hudson own Johnson.
(Harvard ed.). 69 / am] Fm Pope.
ye]Yf. you Warburton. 71 deepeit] deep'st Singer (ed. 2).
60 [Coming forward. Collier MS. 0] om Taylor conj. MS.
63 isafriendoiow; treacherous] a friend 0 time most accurst] 0 time accurst
is now,—thou treacherous Hudson Hanmer. 0 time most curst Johnson.
(Harvard ed.). a friend art thou,— 0 spite accurst Jervis conj.
thou treacherous Id. conj. 72 all foes that a friend] all ony foes, a
treacherous man] Fx. Thou, treach- friend Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
erous man F2. Though treacherous 73 My ...confounds me] My shame and
man F3. Tho treacherous man F4. desperate guilt at o?we confound me
65 now] om. Pope. Collier MS.
/ dare not] dared I to Collier MS. confounds] confound Rowe.
67 trusted noio, when one's] F2F3F4.
188 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT V.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence, 75
I tender 't here; I do as truly suffer
As e'er I did commit.
Val Then I am paid;
And once again I do receive thee honest.
Who by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are pleased. 80
By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased:
And, that my love may appear plain and free,
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
Jul. 0 me unhappy! [Swoons.
Pro. Look to the boy. 85
Val. Why, boy! why, wag! how now! what's the mat-
ter? Look up; speak.
Jul. 0 good sir, my master charged me to deliver a
ring to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never
done. 90
Pro. Where is that ring, boy?
Jul. Here 'tis; this is it.
Pro. How! let • me see:
Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.
Jul. 0, cry you mercy, sir, I have mistook:
This is the ring you sent to Silvia. 95
82, 83 Blackstone proposes to transfer 86 what's] what is Capell.
these lines to the end of Thurio's 88 to deliver] Deliver Steevens conj.
speech, line 135. Staunton would 92 see] see it Steevens conj. suggesting
give them to Proteus, reading Julia that lines 92—97 should end at ring
in line 83. .. .sir.. .sent...this? (om. ring).. .Julia.
83 mine] thine Barron Field conj. Taylor MS. would end them at gave
in Silvia] ere Sylvia's Taylor conj. ...sir...sent...ring?
MS. 93 Why, this is] This is Pope. Why
give] 'give {= for give) Cartwright this' S. Walker conj. Why, 'tis
conj. Hudson (Jervis conj.).
84 [Swoons.] Pope. 94 0] om. Steevens conj.
86—90 Printed by Capell as four verses 95, 96 This...But] One line, Elze conj.
ending matter.. .me.. .Silvia.. .done. (1882).
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 189
Pro. But how earnest thou by this ring? At my depart
I gave this unto Julia.
Jul. And Julia herself did give it me;
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
Pro. How! Julia! 100
Jul. Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths,
And entertain d 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!
0 Proteus, let this habit make thee blush!
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me 105
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live
In a disguise of love:
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
Pro. Than men their minds! 'tis true. 0 heaven, were
man no
But constant, he were perfect! That one error
Fills him with faults; makes him run through all the sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.
What is in Silvia's face, but I may spy
More fresh in Julias with a constant eye? 115
Vol. Come, come, a hand from either:
Let me be blest to make this happy close;
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
Pro. Bear witness, Heaven, I have my wish for ever.
Jul. And I mine.
120
96 But] om. Pope. 113 Inconstancy] In constancy Hutch-
100 [discouers her selfe. Collier MS. esson conj. MS.
102 'em] them Capell. 118 be long] long be Pope.
103 root] root onH Hanmer. roof Kers- 120—122 And L. .Forbear,] As one line
lake conj. of verse, Dyce, ed. 2.
107 In a disguise of love] Transferred 120 And] om. Dyce conj.
to the beginning of the speech, And I mine] And I have mine
Taylor conj. MS. Steevens (Ritson conj.). And I
112 all the sins] all th} sins Ff. allsim mine, too Keightley.
Pope, [embracing. Capell.
190 THE TWO GENTLEMEN ACT V.
Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Thurio.
Outlaws. A prize, a prize, a prize!
Vol. Forbear, forbear, I say! it is my lord the duke.
Your Grace is welcome to a man disgraced,
Banished Valentine.
Duke. Sir Valentine!
Thu. Yonder is Silvia; and Silvia's mine. 125
Vol. Thurio, give back, or else embrace thy death;
Come not within the measure of my wrath;
Do not name Silvia thine; if once again,
Verona shall not hold thee. Here she stands:
Take but possession of her with a touch: 130
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
Thu. Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I:
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine. 135
Duke. The more degenerate and base art thou,
To make such means for her as thou hast done,
And leave her on such slight conditions.
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine, 140
And think thee worthy of an empress' love:
Know, then, I here forget all former griefs,
121 Scene v. Pope. 124 Banished] The banished Pope.
Enter...] Theobald. Enter Duke, 129 Verona shall not hold] Milan shall
Thurio, and Out-laws. Eowe. om. not behold Theobald. And Milan
Ff. shall not hold Hanmer. Milan den
122 Forbear, forbear, I say /] Forbear, shall not hold Halliwell. Milano
I say! Capell. Forbear, forbear! shall not hold Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
Pope. MS.). See note (vn).
forbear...duke] One line, S. Walker thee.] me. Wagner conj. thee; Per-
conj., putting the first Forbear in ring conj.
a separate line.
SCENE IV. OF VERONA. 191
Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrival?d merit,
To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine, 145
Thou art a gentleman, and well derived;
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
Val, I thank your grace; the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you. 150
Duke, I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
Val, These banish'd men that I have kept withal
Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here,
And let them be recalled from their exile: 155
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment, worthy lord.
Duke, Thou hast prevaiTd; I pardon them and thee:
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.
Come, let us go: we will include all jars 160
With triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
Val, And, as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your Grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord?
Duke, I think the boy hath grace in him; he blushes.
Val, I warrant you, my lord, more grace than boy. 166
Duke, What mean you by that saying?
Val. Please you, 111 tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.
143 grudge] grudge1 S. Walker conj. 164 page] stripling page Collier, ed. 2
again,] again. Steevens (Tyrwhitt (Collier MS.).
conj.). lord] worthy lord S. Walker conj.
144 unrwaVd] vn-riuaVd Fx. arrival*d noble lord Hudson conj.
F2F3F4. 165 blushes] blushes so Taylor conj. MS.,
156 reformed] Fr reformed F2F3F4. reading the boy.. .so as one line.
160 include] conclude Hanmer. 16V saying ?] saying, Valentine? Collier,
161 rare] Fx. all F2F3F4. ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
192 THE TWO GENTLEMEN" OF VERONA. ACT V.
Come, Proteus; 'tis your penance but to hear 170
The story of your loves discovered:
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours;
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness. [Exeunt.
171 loves discovered] love discovered the Duke, Williams, conj.
Pope. Loves discoverer Collier MS. 172 That done, our.. .yours] Our day of
Loves discovery Collier MS. (oblit- marriage shall be yours no lesse
erated). Collier MS.
172, 173 That...happiness] Spoken by
NOTES.
Note I.
Dramatis Persons. We have followed Steevens and the later
editors in reading 'Proteus' for 'Protheus'; for though the latter form
is invariably used in the Polios, and was, in all probability, what
Shakespeare wrote, yet in choosing the name he doubtless meant to
compare the fickle mind of the lover with the changeable form of the god.
We have written 'Panthino,' not 'Panthion,' because the authority of the
first Polio preponderates in favour of the former, in itself the more
probable form of an Italian proper name. 'Panthion' occurs in P1?
among 'the names of all the actors/ and in a stage direction at the
beginning of Act n. Sc. 2, but never in the text. 'Panthino' is found
twice in the text, and once in a stage direction at the beginning of Act I.
Sc. 3. The blunder 'Panthino,' I. 3. 76, which is the reading of P1? shows
that the original MS. had 'Panthino,' not 'Panthion.'
Note II.
I. 1. 28 sqq. Mr Sidney Walker (Criticisrns on Shakespeare, in. p. 9)
says we ought 'perhaps' to read
'No,
I will not, for it boots not.'
Doubtless he meant also to re-arrange the following lines, and so get
rid of the Alexandrine at 30; thus:
'Vol. No,
I will not, for it boots not.
Pro. What1?
Yah To be
In love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks
With heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth,' &c.
VOL. I. 13
194 THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.
Note III.
i. 2. 53. The first Folio reads 'What 'foole is she,5 doubtless to
indicate an ellipsis of the indefinite article, which, for the sake of the
metre, was to be slurred over in pronunciation. As we have not followed
the Folio in reading tW or th for the before a consonant, so we have
thought it best to insert here the omitted letter a, especially as the use of
the apostrophe is by modern custom much more restricted than it was in
the Folio. For example, we find 'Save for God save (Tempest, n. 1. 162),
and at 'nostrils for at's nostrils or at the nostrils (Id. n. 2. 60).
[In the first edition the editors printed 'What a fool is she'; but the
omission of the article in such cases is not without example. See Twelfth
Night, ii. 5. 104.]
Note IV.
ii. 1. 68, 69. This passage is corrupt. The usual explanation, which
satisfies Delius, is inadmissible, because Valentine would certainly not
appear, like the Knight of La Mancha, without his hose. A rhyming
couplet was probably what the author intended. Many conjectures might
be made, as for example:
'For he, being in love, could not see to garter his hose;
And you, being in love, cannot see to beyond your nose.'
Or, 'to put spectacles on your nose.' Or possibly, 'to put on your shoes,'
the point of which remark Valentine's disordered dress might make clear
to the audience. Hosalind, when enumerating the marks of a man in
love, mentions the untied shoe as well as the ungartered hose, As You
Like It, Act in. Sc. 2. The same misprint, 'hose' for 'shoes,' occurs in
the first edition of Greene's Groatsworth of Wit. See Mr Dyce's preface
to his edition of Greene's Dramatic Works, p. xxviii. Keightley suggested
'clothes.' Mr Daniel conjectures 'to button your shoes.'
Note V.
ii. 4. 7, 95, 111. As Speed after line 7 does not say a word during the
whole of this long scene, we have sent him off the stage. It is not likely
that the clown would be kept on as a mute bystander, especially when he
had to appear in the following scene.
The Folios give line 110 to Thurio, who, if the reading be right, must
have quitted the stage during the scene. The most probable time for this
NOTES. 195
would be on Proteus' entrance, line 95. Mr Dyce however argues that
"Thurio, after what the Duke, in the presence of Silvia, had said to him
about welcoming Proteus, would hardly run off the moment Proteus
appeared/ [He adds another reason that in line 113 the words 'I wait
upon his pleasure' are not addressed to Thurio but to the Servant.] But
Thurio is not held up as a model of courtesy, and he might as well be off
the stage as on it, for any welcome he gives to Proteus. Besides, in line
101 Yalentine ignores Thurio altogether, who, if he had been present,
would not have remained silent under the slight.
On the whole, we think that the arrangement we have given is the
best, as involving no change in the original reading. The question
however is a difficult and doubtful one—indeed, far more difficult and
doubtful than it is important, or instructive.
[In the present edition I have restored Theobald's arrangement in lines
111—113. W. A.W.]
Note VI.
ii. 4. 192. Theobald's correction, 'mine eye,' or as Mr Spedding
suggests, 'my eye' ('my eie' in the original spelling), is supported by a
passage in the Comedy of Errors, in. 2. 55:
* It is a fault that springeth from your eye.5
If this were not satisfactory, another guess might be hazarded:
'Is it mine unstaid mind or Valentine's praise.'
The resemblance of 'mine' and 'mind' in the printer's eye (final d and
final e being perpetually mistaken for each other) might cause the
omission of the two words. 'Valentine' is found as a dissyllable i. 2. 38,
'Sir Valentine's page, &c.': perhaps also in. 1. 191:
'There's not a hair on 's head but 'tis a Valentine,'
and, if Capell's arrangement be right, v. 2. 34.
Note VII.
ii. 5. 1, in. 1. 81, and v. 4. 129. We have retained 'Padua' in the
first of these passages and 'Verona' in the second and third, because it is
impossible that the words can be a mere printer's, or transcriber's, error.
These inaccuracies are interesting as showing that Shakespeare had written
the whole of the play before he had finally determined where the scene
was to be laid.
13—2
THE
MEEEY WIVES OF WINDSOR.
Besides the copies of the Merry Wives of Windsor appearing in the
Polios and modern editions, a Quarto, Q3, has been collated in these Notes,
of which the following is the title:
The | Merry Wives | of Windsor. | With the humours of Sir John
Falstaffe, | as also, The swaggering vaine of Ancient | Pistoll, and
Corporall Nym. | written by William Shakespeare. \ Newly corrected. \
LONDON: | Printed by T. H. for R. Meighen, and are to be sold | at his
Shop, next to the Middle-Temple Gate, and in | S. Dunstans Church-yard
in Fleet-street, | 1630.
Q] and Q0 are editions of an early sketch of the same play. The
variations between the text of these Quartos and the received text are so
great that collation cannot be attempted. The text printed in the last
volume of this edition is taken literatim from Q , the edition of 1602, of
which a copy is preserved among Capell's Shakespearian A, and this text
is collated verbatim with Q2, the second Quarto printed in 1619. Q, was
reprinted in 1842 for the Shakespeare Society by Mr J. C. Halliwell.
This text, which differs in one or two places from Capell's Ql, has also been
collated. Q2 is given among Twenty of the Plays of Shakespeare,
edited by Steevens. Their titles are as follows:
(1) A | Most pleasaunt and | excellent conceited Co-|medie, of Syr
John Falstaffe, and the | merrie Wiues of Windsor. | Entermixed with
sundrie | variable and pleasing humors, of Syr Hugh | the Welch Knight,
Iustice Shallow, and his | wise Cousin M. Slender. | With the swaggering
vaine of Auncient | Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. | By William Shake-
speare. | As it hath bene diuers times Acted by the right Honorable | my
Lord Chamberlaines seruants. Both before her | Maiestie, and else-
where. | London | Printed by T. C. for Arthur Iohnson, and are to be
sold at | his shop in Powles Church-yard, at the signe of the | Flower de
Leuse and the Crowne. | 1602.
[This consists of 7 Quires of 4. In Quire G one line in Capell's copy
has been cut away by the binder. It is supplied from the facsimile by
Mr Griggs.]
(2) A | Most pleasant and ex-|cellent conceited Comedy, | of Sir Iohn
Falstaffe, and the \ merry Wiues of Windsor. | With the swaggering
vaine of An|cient Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. | Written by W. Shake -
SPEARE. I Printed for Arthur Johnson, 1619.
DEAMATIS PERSONS1.
Sir John Falstaff.
Fenton, a gentleman.
Shallow, a country justice.
Slender, cousin to Shallow.
Ford, )
_^ I two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor.
Page, j ° °
William Page, a boy, son to Page.
Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson.
Doctor Caius, a French physician.
Host of the Garter Inn.
Bardolph, \
Pistol, > sharpers attending on Falstaff.
£Tym, J
Robin, page to Falstaff.
Simple, servant to Slender.
Rugby, servant to Doctor Caius.
Mistress Ford.
Mistress Page.
Anne Page, her daughter.
Mistress Quickly, servant to Doctor Caius.
Servants to Page, Ford, <fcc.
Scene—Windsor, and the neighbourhood.
1 Not in Ff Q3. Inserted by Eowe.
f
I THE
r
MEEEY WIVES OF WINDSOB.
ACT I.
Scene I. Windsor. Before Page's house.
Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-
chamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs,
he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.
Slen. In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and
'Coram/ 5
Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and 'Custalorum.'
Slen. Ay, and 'Rato-lorum' too; and a gentleman born,
master parson; who writes himself 'Armigero/ in any bill,
warrant, quittance, or obligation, 'Armigero.'
Windsor...] Before Page's House in ^Tyni, Pistoll, Anne Page, Mistresse
Windsor. Theobald. Ford, Mistresse Page, Simple. FfQ3.
Enter...] Rowe. Enter Iustice Shal- 6 Custalorum'\ Citstos Farmer conj.
low, Slender, Sir Hugh Euans, Cataloi*um Anon. conj.
Master Page, Falstoffe, Bardolph, 7 Rato-lorum] Ff. Rotulorum Q3.
202 \ THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
\.
>
Shal. Ay, thatt| do; and have done any time these
three hundred years.v s.,, n
Slen. All his successors gone before him hath done't;
and all his ancestors that ccpae after him may: they may
give the dozen white luces in their coat.
Shal. It is an old coat. \ 15
Evans. The dozen white louses do become an old coat
well; it agrees well, passant; it igy* familiar beast to man,
and signifies love. ^
Shal. The luce is the fresh figfy; the salt fish is an
old coat. "\ 20
Slen. I may quarter, coz. \
Shal. You may, by marrying.
Evans. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.
Shal. Not a whit. 24
Evans. Yes, py'r lady; if he has a quarter of your coat,
there is but three skirts for yourself, in my simple con-
jectures: but that is all one. If Sir John Falstaff have
committed disparagements unto you, I am of the church,
and will be glad to do my benevolence to make atonements
and compremises between you. 30
Shal. The council shall hear it; it is a riot.
Evans. It is not meet the council hear a riot; there is
no fear of Got in a riot: the council, look you, shall desire
to hear the fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your
vizaments in that. 35
10 7] we Steevens (Farmer conj.). Anon. conj. apud Knight (ed. 2).
12 hath] FtQ3F2. have F3F4. 21 coz.] coz? Steevens (1793).
14 give] have Gould conj. 23 marring] F1Q3. marrying F2F3F4.
19 The luce is] The lv.ce [to Slen. 25 py'r lady] Capell. per-lady Ff Q3.
showing him his Seal-ring] is Capell. 26 skirts] shirts Q3. parts Gould conj.
19, 20 the salt fish... coat] Evans. 28 unto] upon Eowe (ed. 2).
'Tis ott fish in an old coat. J. E. 30 compremises] compromises Pope.
Jackson conj. (N. and Q. 1867). 32 hear] FXQ3. heare of F2F3F4.
19 salt] same Keightley conj. saltant 34 take your] FjQg. take you F2F3F4.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 203
Shot. Ha! o my life, if I were young again, the sword
should end it.
Evans. It is petter that friends is the sword, and end
it: and there- is also another device in my prain, which per-
adventure prings goot discretions with it:—there is Anne
Page, which is daughter to Master Thomas Page, which is
pretty virginity. 42
Slen. Mistress Anne Page? She has brown hair, and
speaks small like a woman.
Evans. It is that fery person for all the orld, as just as
you will desire; and seven hundred pounds of moneys, and
gold and silver, is her grandsire upon his death's-bed (Got
deliver to a joyful resurrections !) give, when she is able to
overtake seventeen years old: it were a goot motion if we
leave our pribbles and prabbles, and desire a marriage
between Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page. 51
Slen. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound?
Evans. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
Slen. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good
gifts. 55
Evans. Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot
gifts.
Shal. Well, let us see honest Master Page. Is Falstaff
there? 59
Evans. Shall I tell you a lie? I do despise a liar as I do
despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is not true.
The knight, Sir John, is there; and, I beseech you, be ruled
38 and] that Kowe (ed. 2). 52, 54, 55 Given to Shallow by
40 goot] r^. good F2F3F4. Capell.
41 Thomas] FfQ3. George Theobald. 53 he?- father] his father Capell (cor-
See note (i). rected in Errata).
44 small] FXQ3. om. F2F3F4. 56 possibilities] F^. 'possibilitie F2F3
45 orld] Ff. world Q3. F4.
49 See note (n).
20 4 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
by your well-willers. I will peat the door for Master Page.
[Knocks'] "What, hoa! Got pless your house here!
Page. [Within] Who's there? 65
Enter Page.
Evans. Here is Got's plessing, and your friend, and
Justice Shallow; and here young Master Slender, that per-
adventures shall tell you another tale, if matters grow to
your likings.
Page. I am glad to see your worships well. I thank
you for my venison, Master Shallow. 71
Shot. Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good
do it your good heart! I wished your venison better; it
was ill killed. How doth good Mistress Page?—and I
thank you always with my heart, la! with my heart. 75
Page. Sir, I thank you.
Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no, I do.
Page. I am glad to see you, good Master Slender.
Slen. How does your fallow greyhound, sir? I heard
say he was outrun on Cotsall. 80
Page. It could not be judged, sir.
Slen. You'll not confess, you'll not confess.
Shal. That he will not. Tis your fault, 'tis your fault;
'tis a good dog.
Page. A cur, sir. 85
63 well-willers] well-wishers Rowe. Capell.
64 [Knocks] Rowe. 70 worships] worship's Rowe.
65 [Within] Above at the window. 75 thank] love (QXQ2) Steevens, 1793
Collier (ed. 2). aboue. Collier MS. (Farmer conj.).
Enter Page.] Clark and Glover. 77 thank] love Farmer conj. MS.
Enter Mr. Page. Rowe (after line 79 Slen.] Page. Hunter conj.
64). Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), after 80 Cotsall] Fx Q3. Cotsale F2 F3 F4.
line 69. om. Ff Q3. Cotsold Collier MS.
Scene ii. Pope. 82—84 Slen.... dog] Shall. You'll...
66 Gofs] gofs F2F3F4. ^VsF1Q3. confess. Slen. That... not. Shall.
67 here] F^. here's F2F3F4. here is 'Tis...dog. Farmer conj. MS.
SCENE I. OF WIjSJDSOK. 205
Shot. Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog: can there be
more said? he is good and fair. Is Sir John Falstaff here?
Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good
office between you.
Evans. It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak. 90
Shal. He hath wronged me, Master Page.
Page. Sir, he doth in some sort confess it.
Shal. If it be confessed, it is not redressed: is not that
so, Master Page? He hath wronged me; indeed he hath;
at a word, he hath, believe me: Robert Shallow, esquire,
saith, he is wronged. 96
Page. Here comes Sir John.
Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, ISTym, and Pistol.
Fal. Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to
the king?
Shal. Knight, you have beaten my men, killed my
deer, and broke open my lodge. 101
Fal. But not kissed your keepers daughter?
Shal. Tut, a pin! this shall be answered.
Fal. I will answer it straight; I have done all this.
That is now answered. 105
Shal. The council shall know this.
Fal. 'Twere better for you if it were known in counsel:
you'll be laughed at.
Evans. Pauca verba, Sir John; goot worts.
95 hath, believe me:] hath: beleeue me, counsell(QiC^). Councell...councell
F-^Fg. hath: believe me, F3. hath, Fx Q3 F2. Council... counsell F3.
believe me, F'4. hath—believe me— Council...councelY^.
Johnson, hath; believe me; Capell. 107, 108 you if...you'll] you: if it xoere
97 Enter...] Eowe. om. Ff Q3. Tcnoim in council, you'll Harness
98 Scene hi. Pope. (Johnson conj.).
99 king] council (Q^) Warburton. 107 known] not known Pope.
102 daughter?] F^FgFg. daughter. 109 goot] Dyce. good FfQ3.
(Q1Q2) ^4- loorts] 'orts Wheat ley conj.
106, 107 council...counsel] Councell...
206
THE MEKRY WIVES ACT I.
Fal. Good worts! good cabbage. Slender, I broke
your head: what matter have you against me? m
Slen. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against
you; and against your cony-catching rascals, Bardolph,
Nym, and Pistol.
Bard. You Banbury cheese! 115
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.
Fist. How now, Mephostophilus!
Slen. Ay, it is no matter.
Nym. Slice, I say! pauca, pauca: slice! that's my
humour. 120
Slen. Where's Simple, my man? Can you tell,
cousin?
Evans. Peace, I pray you. Now let us understand.
There is three umpires in this matter, as I understand;
that is, Master Page, fidelicet Master Page; and there is
myself, fidelicet myself; and the three party is, lastly
and finally, mine host of the Garter. ' 127
Page. We three, to hear it and end it between them.
Evans. Fery goot: I will make a prief of it in my
note-book; and we will afterwards ork upon the 'cause
with as great discreetly as we can. 131
Fal. Pistol!
Fist. He hears with ears.
Evans. The tevil and his tarn! what phrase is this, 'He
hears with ear'? why, it is affectations. 135
Fal. Pistol, did you pick Master Slenders purse?
Slen. Ay, by these gloves, did he, or I would I might
114 Pistol.] Pistol; they carried me to 119, 120 pauca, pauca... humour]
the tavern, and made me drunk, and Evans. Pauca, pauca. Nym.
afterward "picked my pocket. Ma- Slice...humour. Farmer conj.
lone from (Q^). See note (in). 126 three] third Pope.
119 Slice,...slice !] Silence,...silence! 127 Garter] Q3. GaterYi.
Collier conj. (doubtfully). .131 discreetly] discretions Pope.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 207
never come in mine own great chamber again else, of
seven groats in mill-sixpences, and two Edward shovel-
boards, that cost me two shilling and two pence a-piece of
Yead Miller, by these gloves. 141
Fal. Is this true, Pistol?
Evans. No; it is false, if it is a pick-purse.
Pist. Ha, thou mountain-foreigner! Sir John and
master mine, 145
I combat challenge of this latten bilbo.
Word of denial in thy labras here!
Word of denial: froth and scum, thou liest!
Slen. By these gloves, then, 'twas he. 149
Nym. Be avised, sir, and pass good humours: I will
say 'marry trap' with you, if you run the nuthook's hu-
mour on me; that is the very note of it.
Slen. By this hat, then, he in the red face had it; for
though I cannot remember what I did when you made me
drunk, yet I am not altogether an ass. 155
Fal. What say you, Scarlet and John?
Bard. Why, sir, for my part, I say the gentleman had
drunk himself out of his five sentences.
Evans. It is his five senses: fie, what the ignorance is!
Bard. And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashiered;
and so conclusions passed the careires. 161
Slen. Ay, you spake in Latin then too; but 'tis no
matter: I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again, but in
144—148 Ha,...liest f\ As in Pope. humour Pope, bace humors (QjC^)-
Prose in Ff. 160 fap] sap A. A. conj. vap Boys conj.
146 latten] laten (Q^). Latine Ff Q3. sapped Bulloch conj.
latten bilbo.] latten. Bilbo! Becket 161 passeol] paced Bulloch conj.
conj. careires] Car-eires FfQ3. careeres
147 thy labras here] my labras hear CapelL canaries Bulloch conj.
Johnson conj. 162 Latin] Latten F1Q3.
150 avised] advised F4. too] to F1F2.
151, 152 the nuthook's humour] the base
208 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
honest, civil, godly company, for this trick: if I be drunk,
I'll be drank with those that have the fear of God, and not
with drunken knaves. 166
Evans. So Got udge me, that is a virtuous mind.
Fal. You hear all these matters denied, gentlemen;
you hear it.
Enter Anne Page, with wine; Mistress Ford and Mistress
Page, following.
Page. Nay, daughter, carry the wine in; we'll drink
within. [Exit Anne Page.
Slen. 0 heaven! this is Mistress Anne Page.
Page. How now, Mistress Ford!
Fal. Mistress Ford, by my troth, you are very well
met: by your leave, good mistress. [Kisses her. 175
Page. Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome. Come, we
have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I
hope we shall drink down all unkindness.
[Exeunt all except Shal., Slen., and Evans.
Slen. I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book
of Songs and Sonnets here. 180
Enter Simple.
How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on
myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddles about
you, have you?
Sim. Book of Biddies! why, did you not lend it to
167 Got udge] got-udge¥v Page. Rowe. om. Ff Q3.
169 Enter...following.] Enter...follow- 175 [Kisses her.] Pope.
ing her. Capell. Enter Mistress 178 [Exeunt...] Ex. Fal. Page, &c.
Anne Page, with Wine. Howe. om. Manent Shallow, Evans and Slen-
FfQ3. der. Howe. om. Ff Q3.
171 [Exit A. P.] Theobald. 179 Scene iv. Pope.
172 [Following after. Collier MS. 180 Enter Simple.] Rowe. om. Ff Q3.
Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 209
Alice Shortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight afore
Michaelmas? 186
Shal. Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you. A word
with you, coz; marry, this, coz: there is, as 'twere, a
tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hugh here.
Do you understand me? 190
Slen. Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable; if it be so,
I shall do that that is reason.
Shal. Nay, but understand me.
Slen. So I do, sir.
Evans. Give ear to his motions, Master Slender: I will
description the matter to you, if you be capacity of it. 196
Slen. Nay, I will do as my cousin Shallow says: I
pray you, pardon me; he's a justice of peace in his country,
simple though I stand here.
Evans. But that is not the question: the question is
concerning your marriage. 201
Shal. Ay, there's the point, sir.
Evans. Marry, is it; the very point of it; to Mistress
Anne Page.
Slen. Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any rea-
sonable demands. 206
Evans. But can you affection the 'oman? Let us com-
mand to know that of your mouth or of your lips; for
divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the
mouth. Therefore, precisely, can you carry your good will
to the maid? 211
Shal. Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?
186 Michaelmas] Martlemas Theobald. 207, 208 command] demand Collier
188 this, coz] this Q3. MS.
192 that that] that F3F4. 210 mouth] mind Pope.
195 motions, Master Slender: T] mo- carry] F^. marry F2F3F4.
tions; {Mr Slender) I F.
VOL. I. • 14
210 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
Slen. I hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one that
would do reason.
Evans. Nay, Got's lords and his ladies! you must
speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards
her. 217
Shal. That you must. Will you, upon good dowry,
marry her?
Slen. I will do a greater thing than that, upon your
request, cousin, in any reason. 221
Shal. Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz: what
I do is to pleasure you, coz. Can you love the maid?
Slen. I will marry her, sir, at your request: but if there
be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease
it upon better acquaintance, when we are married and have
more occasion to know one another; I hope, upon famili-
arity will grow more contempt: but if you say, 'Marry her,'
I will marry her; that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
Evans. It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is in
the ort 'dissolutely:' the orb is, according to our meaning,
c resolutely :' his meaning is good. 232
Shal. Ay, I think my cousin meant well.
Slen. Ay, or else I would I might be hanged, la!
Shal. Here comes fair Mistress Anne. 235
Re-enter Anne Page.
Would I were young for your sake, Mistress Anne!
Anne. The dinner is on the table; my father desires
your worships7 company.
213 / hope, sir,] I hope, sir... Keightley Ff Q3.
conj. 232 good] goot Haumer.
216 carry her] carry-her F^FgFg. 234 hanged] hang' F2F3F4.
carre-her¥±. carry-a Anon. conj. 235 Re-enter...] Capell. Enter... Rowe.
228 contempt] Theobald, content Ff Q3. om. Ff Q3.
230/aZ£] FfQ3. fauV Hanmer. fault 236 Scene v. Pope.
Collier. faW Singer, faul Dyce. 238 worships'] Capell. worships F^g
231 ort...ort] Rowe (ed. 2). 'ord...ort F2F3. worship's J?4.
SCENE I. OP "WINDSOR. 211
Shal. I will wait on him, fair Mistress Anne.
Evans, Od's plessed will! I will not be absence at the
grace. [Exeunt Shallow and Evans. 241
Anne. Will't please your Worship to come in, sir?
Slen. No, I thank you, forsooth, heartily; I am very
well.
Anne. The dinner attends you, sir. 245
Slen. I am not a-hungry, I thank you, forsooth. Go,
sirrah, for all you are my man, go wait upon my cousin
Shallow. [Exit Simjile.] A justice of peace sometime may
be beholding to his friend for a man. I ^ keep but three
men and a boy yet, till my mother be dead: but what
though? yet I live like a poor gentleman born. 251
Anne. I may not go in without your worship: they
will not sit till you come.
Slen. T faith, I'll eat nothing; I thank you as much as
though I did. 255
Anne. 'I pray you, sir, walk in.
Slen. I had rather walk here, I thank you. I bruised
my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger
with a master of fence; three veneys for a dish of stewed
prunes; and, by my troth, I cannot abide the smell of hot
meat since. Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears
i' the town? 262
Anne. I think there are, sir; I heard them talked of.
Slen. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel
at it as any man in England. You are afraid, if you see
the bear loose, are you not? 266
Anne. Ay, indeed, sir.
241 [Exeunt...] Eowe. om. Ff Qs. like] om. F2F3F4.
248 [Exit Simple.] Theobald. om. 261 [Dogs bark. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
FfQ3. MS.).
249 beholding] beholden Pope. 265 any] my Johnson (a misprint).
251 tlwugh?] Capell. though, FfQ3.
14—2
212 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
Slen. That's meat and drink to me, now. I have seen
Sackerson loose twenty times, and have taken him by the
chain; but, I warrant you, the women have so cried and
shrieked at it, that it passed: but women, indeed, cannot
abide 'em; they are very ill-favoured rough things. 272
Re-enter Page.
Page, Come, gentle Master Slender, come; we stay for
you.
Slen. I'll eat nothing, I thank you, sir. 275
Page. By cock and pie, you shall not choose, sir! come,
come.
Slen. Nay, pray you, lead the way.
Page. Come on, sir.
Slen. Mistress Anne, yourself shall go first. 280
Anne. Not I, sir; pray you, keep on.
Slen. Truly, I will not go first; truly, la! I will not do
you that wrong.
Anne. I pray you, sir.
Slen. I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome.
You do yourself wrong, indeed, la! [Exeunt. 286
Scene II. The same.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple,
Evans. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' house
which is the way: and there dwells one Mistress Quickly,
which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry nurse, or his
cook, or his- laundry, his washer, and his wringer.
272 Re-enter...] Capell. Enter Mr The same.] Capell. An outer room
Page. Rowe. om. Ff Q3. in Page's house. Dyce.
275 Til eat] Ichuse to eat Hanmer. Enter...] Re-enter... Theobald.
Scene il] Scene vi. Pope. Scene 3 dry] try (QiQ2) Dyce.
continued by Theobald. 4 wringer] Theobald. Ringer Ff Q3.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 213
Sim. Well, sir. 5
Evans. Nay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for
it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with Mistress
Anne Page: and the letter is, to desire and require her to
solicit your masters desires to Mistress Anne Page. I
pray you, be gone: I will make an end of my dinner;
there's pippins and cheese to come. [Exeunt. 11
Scene III. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Falstaff, Host, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol, and Robin.
Fal. Mine host of the Garter!
Host. What says my bully-rook? speak scholarly and
wisely.
Fal. Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of my
followers. 5
Host. Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag;
trot, trot.
Fal. I sit at ten pounds a week.
Host. Thou rt an emperor, Caesar, Keisar, and Pheezar.
I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap:
said I well, bully Hector? n
Fal. Do so, good mine host.
Host. I have spoke; let him follow. [To Bard.] Let
me see thee froth and lime: I am at a word; follow. [Exit.
7 altogether's'] Steevens, 1778 (Tyr- 2 bully-rook] Bally Rock Rowe (and
whitt conj.). altogeathers F^. elsewhere).
altogether F2F3F4. scJwlarly] Schollary F4.
II cheese] seese Dyce. 10 shall... shall] F1Q3. mil... will
[Exeunt.] Exeunt severally. Theo- F2F3F4.
bald- 13 [To Bard.] Clark and Glover.
Scene m.] Scene vii. Pope. 14 see thee froth] see thee, froth Staun-
A room...] Capell. Changes to the ton.
Garter-Inn. Pope. Ume] Capell. lyme (Q^). Hue
Enter.. .and Robin] Rowe. Enter... Ff Q3.
Page. FfQ3. [Exit.] Exit Host. Rowe. om.FfQ3.
214 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
Fal. Bardolph, follow him. A tapster is a good trade:
an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-
man a fresh tapster. Go; adieu. 17
Bard. It is a life that I have desired: I will thrive.
Pist. 0 base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot
wield? [Exit Bardolph. 20
Nym. He was gotten in drink: is not the humour
conceited?
Fal. I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his
thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful
singer; he kept not time. 25
Nym. The good humour is to steal at a minute's rest.
Pist. 'Convey/ the wise it call. 'Steal!' foh! a fico
for the phrase!
Fal. Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
Pist. Why, then, let kibes ensue. 30
Fal. There is no remedy; I must cony-catch; I must
shift.
Pist. Young ravens must have food.
Fal. Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist. I ken the wight: he is of substance good. 35
Fal. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about.
Pist. Two yards, and more.
Fal. No quips now, Pistol! Indeed, I am in the waist
two yards about; but I am now about no waste; I am
about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to Ford's
wife: I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she
carves, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe
19 Hungarian] F4. Hungarian FXQ3 23 acquit] quit Pope.
F2F3. Gongarian (QxQ2) Capell. 26 minute's] Rowe. minutes Ff.
20 [Exit...] Rowe. om. Ff Q3. minuntes Q3. minim's Singer, ed. 2
22 conceited?] Theobald here inserts (Bennet-Langton conj.).
(fromQiQa), His mind is not heroick, 42 carves] Ff (Q^). craues Q3. cranes
and there's the humour of it. Bulloch conj. curves Stanford conj.
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 215
the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice
of her behaviour, to be Englished rightly, is, 'I am Sir
John Falstaff's.' 45
Pist. He hath studied her will, and translated her
will, out of honesty into English.
Nym. The anchor is deep: will that humour pass?
Fal. Now, the report goes she has all the rule of her
husband's purse: he hath a legion of angels. 50
Pist. As many devils entertain; and c To her, boy,'
say I.
Nym. The humour rises; it is good: humour me the
angels. 54
Fal. I have writ me here a letter to her: and here
another to Page's wife, who even now gave me good eyes
too, examined my parts with most judicious oeillades;
sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes
my portly belly.
Pist. Then did the sun on dunghill shine. 60
Nym. I thank thee for that humour.
Fal. 0, she did so course o'er my exteriors with such
a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye did seem
to scorch me up like a burning-glass! Here's another
44 rightly] right P3F4. 50 he] she (QXQ2) Pope.
46, 47 studied her vrill, and translated her a legion] Pope. a legend Pf Q3.
will] Pf Q3. studied her well (QXQ2). legians (Qj). legions (Q2) Capell.
studied her well and translated her 51 entertain] Pf Q3. attend her (QiQ2).
well Pope, study'd her well and enter swine Coleridge conj. in her
translated her Hanmer. studied train Anon. conj.
hen* well and translated her will 57 oeillades] Capell (Pope conj.). illiads
Grant White, studied her well and Ff Q3. oiellades Hanmer. eyliads
translated her ill Hudson (Clark and Johnson, eyelids Halliwell (Pope
Glover conj.). studied her will; and conj.).
translated her well Collier MS. 58 gilded] guilded P^. guided
48 anchor] author Johnson conj. angle F2F3F4.
Kinnear conj. 60 [Aside. Theobald.
49 has] hath (QXQ2) Capell.
216 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is a region
in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be cheaters to
them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they
shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to
them both. Go bear thou this letter to Mistress Page;
and thou this to Mistress Ford: we will thrive, lads, we
will thrive. 71
Fist. Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become,
And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all!
Nym. I will run no base humour: here, take the
humour-letter: I will keep the haviour of reputation. 75
Fal. [To Eobin] Hold, sirrah, bear you these letters
tightly;
Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.
Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go;
Trudge, plod away o' the hoof; seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of the age, 80
French thrift, you rogues; myself and skirted page.
[Exeunt Falstaff and Robin.
Pisi. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam
holds,
And high and low beguiles the rich and poor:
66 bounty] beauty Collier, ed. 2 (Collier Capell.
MS.). oy the] otN F2F3F4. itK F^.
cheaters] (Q1Q2)F4. Cheaters F^Fg. 80 learn] earn Anon. conj.
Cheators F2. ^cheaters Pope (ed. 1). humour] (QXQ2) Theobald, honor
Cheater Theobald. Escheator Han- F^. honour F2F3F4.
mer. 'cheator Capell. the age] Ff Q3. this age (QXQ2) Capell.
76 [To Eobin] Theobald. To his boy. 81 [Exeunt Falstaff and Eobin.] Exit
Collier MS. Falstaff and Boy. Rowe. Exit.
these] these two Keightley. the Hud- Dyce.
son. 82 Scene viii. Pope.
tightly] Fr titely (QxQ2). rightly 82, 83 Let.. .poor:] As in Pope. Prose
Q3F2F3F4. in Ff Q3.
77 thesegolde?i]thegolden(Q&2)Capell. 82 fullam holds] Fulhams hold Han-
[Exit Robin. Dyce. mer.
79 plod...hoof] plod, away, 0' the hoof 83 beguiles] beguile Hanmer.
SCENE III. OP WINDSOR. 217
Tester I'll have in pouch when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk! 85
Nym. I have operations which be humours of revenge.
Pist. Wilt thou revenge?
Nym. By welkin and her star!
Pist. With wit or steel?
Nym. With both the humours, I: 90
I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.
Pist. And I to Ford shall eke unfold
How Falstaff, varlet vile,
His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile. 95
Nym. My humour shall not cool: I will incense Page
to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness, for
the revolt of mine is dangerous: that is my true humour.
Pist. Thou art the Mars of malecontents: I second
thee; troop on. [Exeunt. 100
Scene IV. A room in Doctor Caius's house.
Enter Mistress Quickly, Simple, and Rugby.
Quick. What, John Rugby! I pray thee, go to the
casement, and see if you can see my master, Master Doctor
86 operations] Ff Q3. operations in my 98 the] this Pope.
Aeac? (QXQ2) Pope. mine] mien Theobald, mind Jackson
88 star] fairies (QiQg). stars Collier, conj. mine humour Seager conj.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). meinse or me?i Anon, conj. See note
91 dismiss] disclose (Q^) Pope. (iy).
91, 92 Page ... Ford] (Qx Q2) Rami. Scene iy.] Scene ix. Pope.
Ford . .. Page Ff Q3. See note A room...] Capell. Changes to Dr
(i)- Caius's house. Pope.
96 Page] Rann. Ford FfQ3. Enter...] Rowe. Enter Mistris
97 yellowness] yalloionesse F1Q3. jea- Quickly, Simple, Iohn Rugby, Doctor
lousies Pope. Iallowes (C^Qg). Caius, Fenton. Ff (Doctor, Fx) Qs.
218 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
Caius, coming. If he do, i' faith, and find any body in the
house, here will be an old abusing of God's patience and
the kings English. 5
Rug. Ill go watch.
Quick Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night,
in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire. [Exit Rugby.] An
honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come
in house withal; and, I warrant you, no tell-tale nor no
breed-bate: his worst fault is, that he is given to prayer;
he is something peevish that way: but nobody but has
his fault; but let that pass. Peter Simple, you say your
name is?
Sim. Ay, for fault of a better. 15
Quick. And Master Slender's your master?
Sim. Ay, forsooth.
Quick. Does he not wear a great round beard, like a
glover's paring-knife?
Sim. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with
a little yellow beard,—a Cain-coloured beard. 21
Quick. A soffcly-sprighted man, is he not?
Sim. Ay, forsooth: but he is as tall a man of his
hands as any is between this and his head; he hath fought
with a warrener. 25
Quick. How say you ?—O, I should remember him: does
he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?
Sim: Yes, indeed, does he.
Quick. Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse for-
tune! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can
for your master: Anne is a good girl, and I wish— 31
4 an] om. Pope. 21 Cain] F3F4. Kane (QiQ2). Caine
8 [Exit Rugby.] Rowe. F1Q3F2. Cane Rowe (ed. 2).
20 wee face] wee-face Ff Q3. whey face 27 gait] Capell. gate Ff Q3.
Capell.
SCENE IV. OF WINDSOR. 219
Re-enter Rugby.
Rug. Out, alas! here comes my master.
Quick We shall all be shent. Eun in here, good young
man; go into this closet: he will not stay long. [Shuts Simple
in the closet.] What, John Rugby! John! what, John, I say!
Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be not well,
that he comes not home. 37
[Singing] And down, down, adown-a, &c.
Enter Doctor Caius.
Caius. Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray
you, go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert,—a box,
a green-a box: do intend vat I speak? a green-a box. 41
Quick. Ay, forsooth; I'll fetch it you. [Aside] I am glad
he went not in himself: if he had found the young man, he
would have been horn-mad.
Caius. Fe, fe, fe, fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je
m'en vais a la cour,—la grande affaire. 46
Quick. Is it this, sir?
Caius. Oui; mette le au mon pocket: dep6che, quickly.
Vere is dat knave Rugby?
Ee-enter...] Re-enter Rugby, hastily. unboyteen F3F4.
Capell. Enter Rugby. Rowe. om. vert] Dyce. verd Ff Q3.
FfQ3. 41 speak? a green-a box] speake? greene-
32 [Exit. Grant White. a-Box Q3.
34, 35 [Shuts S. in the closet.] Rowe. 42 [Aside] Pope.
35 Rugby] Rugabie Grant White (and 45,46 mafoi...affaire]~Ro\ve. mai(moi
elsewhere). F2F3F4) f°y-> ^ fait for ehando, le
38 Enter...] Rowe. om. FfQ3. man voi a le Court la grand affaires.
39 Scene x. Pope. Ff Q3.
des toys] F3F4. des-toyes F^Fg. 48 mette] mettez Theobald.
dese toys Theobald. depeche] de-peech Ff Q3. Depechez
40 closet] closset Grant White (and else- Theobald.
where). quickly] Quickly Rowe.
un boitiei'] Rowe. vnboyteene F^Fg.
220 THE MEKRY WIVES ACT I.
Quick. What, John Rugby! John! 50
Rug. Here, Sir!
Caius. You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby.
Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the
court.
Rug. "lis ready, sir, here in the porch. 55
Caius. By my trot, I tarry too long. Od's me! Qu ai-
j'oublie! dere is some simples in my closet, dat I vill not for
the varld I shall leave behind.
Quick. Ay me, he'll find the young man there, and be
mad! 60
Caius. 0 diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villain!
larron! [Pulling Simple out] Rugby, my rapier!
Quick. Good master, be content.
Caius. Wherefore shall I be content-a?
Quick. The young man is an honest man. 65
Caius. What shall de honest man do in my closet?
dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
Quick. I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the
truth of it: he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
Caius. Veil. 70
Sim. Ay, forsooth; to desire her to—
Quick. Peace, I pray you.
Caius. Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.
Sim. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to
speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master in
the way of marriage. 76
52 Jack Rugby] Jack Rogoby Halliwell. 61 Villain] Q3. Villanie Ff.
Jack Rogue-by Grant White. 62 larron] La-roone Ff Q3.
53 take-a] take Q3. [Pulling S. out.] Pulls Simple out
53, 58 the] de Capell. of the Closet. Theobald.
56, 57 Qu'ai-foublieT] Qu'ay foublie 64 Wherefore] Verfore Hanmer.
Johnson. Que ay je oublie Theobald. 64, 67 shall] F^. should F2F3F4.
que ay ie oitblie Ff Q3. 66 What] Vat Hanmer.
57 vill] will F2F3F4. 67 dere] here Q3.
SCENE IV. OF WINDSOR. 221
Quick This is all, indeed, la! but I'll ne'er put my
finger in the fire, and need not.
Caius. Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, bailie me some
paper. Tarry you a little-a while. [Writes. 80
Quick. [Aside to Simple] I am glad he is so quiet: if he
had been throughly moved, you should have heard him so
loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I'll
do you your master what good I can: and the very yea and
the no is, the French doctor, my master,—I may call him
my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash,
wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the
beds, and do all myself,—
Sim. [Aside to Quickly] 'Tis a great charge to come under
one body's hand. 90
Quick. [Aside to Single] Are you avised o' that? you shall
find it a great charge: and to be up early and down late ;—
but notwithstanding,—to tell you in your ear; I would
have no words of it,—my master himself is in love with
Mistress Anne Page: but notwithstanding that, I know
Anne's mind,—that's neither here nor there. 96
Caius. You jack'nape, give-a this letter to Sir Hugh;
by gar, it is a shallenge: I will cut his troat in de park;
and I will teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or
make. You may be gone; it is not good you tarry here.—
By gar, I will cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not
have a stone to throw at his dog. [Exit Simple. 102
Quick. Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
78 wild need not] indeed not I Hanmer. 85 t/ie French] Ff. that French Q3.
79 bailie] Clark and Glover, balloio 87 wring] Rowe (ed. 2). ring Ff Q3.
Ff Q3. baillez Theobald. 96 [Enter wfc a letter Cains. Collier
80 [Writes.] Sitting down to write. MS.
Capell. Exit. Collier MS. 97 give-a] F^. givie-a F2F3F4.
81, 89, 91 [Aside...] Clark and Glover. 98, 99, 101 will] mil Pope.
84 do you] doe yoe F^. doe for F2. 102 throw] F^g. trow F2F3F4.
do for F3F4. do Capell. [Exit Simple.] Rowe.
222 THE MERRY WIVES ACT I.
Caius. It is no matter-a ver dat:—do not you tell-a
me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself?—By gar, I vill
kill de Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of de
Jarteer to measure our weapon.—By gar, I will myself
have Anne Page. 108
Quick. Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well.
We must give folks leave to prate: what, the good-jer!
Caius. Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if
I have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my
door. Follow my heels, Rugby. [Exeunt Caius and Rugby. 113
Quick. You shall have An fool's-head of your own. No,
I know Anne's mind for that: never a woman in Windsor
knows more of Anne's mind than I do; nor can do more
than I do with her, I thank heaven.
Fe?it [Within] Who's within there? ho!
Quick. Who's there, I trow? Come near the house, I
pray you. 120
Enter Fenton.
Fent. How now, good woman! how dost thou?
Quick. The better that it pleases your good worship
to ask.
Fent. What news? how does pretty Mistress Anne?
104 ver] FfQ3. for Hanmer. 114 You shall have AnfooVs-head] You
107 Jarteer] F^gFgFg. Garter F4. Jar- shall have An-fooles head Ff. You
terre Theobald (and elsewhere). shall have Anne—[Exeunt Caius
will] vill Hanmer. and Rugby]—fool's head Daniel
110 good-jer]^^^^ good-ier¥v gou- conj.
jeres Hanmer. goujere Johnson. 117 do trith] can with Hanmer.
good year Capell. 118 [Within] Rowe.
111 the] de Capell. 119 1 trow] Rowe. I troa FfQ3. trow
with] vith Pope, vit Capell. So quoted by S. Walker.
112 my] om. Capell (corrected in Er- 120 Enter...] Enter Mr Fenton. Rowe.
rata). om. Ff.
113 [Exeunt...]Rowe. ExitwthRugby. 121 Scene xi. Pope.
Collier MS. . 123 ash] F4. ashe? F1Q3F2F3.
SCENE IV. OF WINDSOR. 223
Quick. In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and
gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by
the way; I praise heaven for it. 127
Fent. Shall I do any good, think'st thou? shall I not
lose my suit?
Quick. Troth, sir, all is in his hands above: but not-
withstanding, Master Fenton, 111 be sworn on a book, she
loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?
Fent Yes, marry, have I; what of that? 133
Quick. Well, thereby hangs a tale:—good faith, it is
such another Nan; but, I detest, an honest maid as ever
broke bread:—we had an hour's talk of that wart.—I shall
never laugh but in that maid's company!—But, indeed, she
is given too much to allicholy and musing: but for you—
well, go to. 139
Fent. Well, I shall see her to-day. Hold, there's
money for thee; let. me have thy voice in my behalf: if
thou seest her before me, commend me.
Quick. Will I? i' faith, that we will; and I will tell
your worship more of the wart the next time we have
confidence; and of other wooers. 145
Fent. Well, farewell; I am in great haste now.
Quick. Farewell to your worship. [Exit Fenton.] Truly,
an honest gentleman: but Anne loves him not; for I know
Anne's mind as well as another does.—Out upon't! what
have I forgot? [Exit. 150
132 above] about Steevens. 147 [Exit Fenton.] Exit. Rowe (after
133 what of that?] and what of that? line 146). om. FfQ3.
Howe (ed. 2). 148 for] om. Eowe (ed. 2).
143 we will] I will Hanmer. 150 forgot?] forgot. F1Q3.
224 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
ACT II.
Scene I. Before Page's house.
Enter Mistress Page, with a letter.
Mrs Page. What, have I scaped love-letters in the
holiday-time of my beauty, and am I now a subject for
them? Let me see. [Reads.
£Ask me no reason why I love you; for though Love use Reason for
his physician, he admits him not for his counsellor. You are not young,
no more am I; go to, then, there's sympathy: you are merry, so am I;
ha, ha! then there's more sympathy: you love sack, and so do I; would
you desire better sympathy? Let it suffice thee, Mistress Page,—at the
least, if the love of soldier can suffice,—that I love thee. I will not say,
pity me,—'tis not a soldier-like phrase; but I say, love me. By me, 10
Thine own true knight,
By day or night,
Or any kind of light,
With all his might
For thee to fight, John Falstaff.' 15
What a Herod of Jewry is this! 0 wicked, wicked world!
One that is well-nigh worn to pieces with age to show him-
self a young gallant! What an unweighed behaviour hath
this Flemish drunkard picked—with the devil's name!—out
of my conversation, that he dares in this manner assay me?
Before Page's house.] Pope. 5 physician"] Dyce (Theobald" conj.).
Enter...] Bowe. Enter Mistris precisian FfQ3. See note (v).
Page, Mistris Ford, Master Page, 8 yoit] F1F3F4. yout Q3. your F2.
Master Ford, Pistoll, Nim, Quickly, 8, 9 at the least] at the last F4.
Host, Shallow. Ff Q3. 9 soldier] F^Fg. a soldier FgF^
1 1] om. Yv 18 an] om. F3F4. one Capell.
3 see.] Q3. see: F4. see? F^Fg. 19 picked] picht in Long MS.
[Beads] Capell. with the] i> th> F3F4.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 225
Why, he hath not been thrice in my company! What
should I say to him? I was then frugal of my mirth:
Heaven forgive me! Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the par-
liament for the putting down of men. How shall I be re-
venged on him? for revenged I will be, as sure as his guts
are made of puddings. 26
Enter Mistress Ford.
Mrs Ford. Mistress Page! trust me, I was going to
your house.
Mrs Page. And, trust me, I was coming to you. You
look very ill. 30
Mrs Ford. Nay, 111 ne'er believe that; I have to show
to the contrary.
Mrs Page. Faith, but you do, in my mind.
Mrs Ford. Well, I do, then; yet, I say, I could show
you to the contrary. 0 Mistress Page, give me some
counsel! 36
Mrs Page. What's the matter, woman?
Mrs Ford. 0 woman, if it were not for one trifling
respect, I could come to such honour!
Mrs Page. Hang the trifle, woman! take the honour.
What is it ?—dispense with trifles;—what is it? 41
Mrs Ford. If I would but go to hell for an eternal
moment or so, I could be knighted.
Mrs Page. What? thou liest! Sir Alice Ford! These
knights will hack; and so thou shouldst not alter the arti-
cle of thy gentry. 46
24 putting] pulling Jackson conj. 33 but] om. Howe.
men] fat men Theobald. mmHau- 44 What? thou liest!] What thou liest?
mer (Warburton). F^F^. What, thou liest/ F4.
26 of] for Gould conj. 45 will hack] will lack Warburton.
27 Scene ii. Pope. we'll hack Johnson conj. willsniack
Enter...] Rowe. Elze conj. will hatch Leo conj.
29 coming] going Q3.
VOL. I. 15
226 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Mrs Ford. We burn daylight:—here, read, read; per-
ceive how I might be knighted. I shall think the worse of
fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of
mens liking: and yet he would not swear; praised women's
modesty; and gave such orderly and well-behaved reproof
to all uncomeliness, that I would have sworn his disposition
would have gone to the truth of his words; but they do no
more adhere and keep place together than the Hundredth
Psalm to the tune of 'Green Sleeves/ What tempest, I
trow, threw this whale, with so many tuns of oil in his
belly, ashore at Windsor? How shall I be revenged on
him? I think the best way were to entertain him with
hope, till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own
grease. Did you ever hear the like? 60
Mrs Page. Letter for letter, but that the name of
Page and Ford differs! To thy great comfort in this mys-
tery of ill opinions, here's the twin-brother of thy letter:
but let thine inherit first; for, I protest, mine never shall.
I warrant he hath a thousand of these letters, writ with
blank space for different names,—sure, more,—and these
are of the second edition: he will print them, out of doubt;
for he cares not what he puts into the press, when he would
put us two. I had rather be a giantess, and lie under
Mount Pelion. Well, I will find you twenty lascivious tur-
tles ere one chaste man. 71
Mrs Ford. Why, this is the very same; the very hand,
the very words. What doth he think of us?
Mrs Page. Nay, I know not: it makes me almost
ready to wrangle with mine own honesty. I'll entertain
myself like one that I am not acquainted withal; for, sure,
50 praised] Theobald, praise Ff Q3. dred Psalms Ff Q3.
54 place'] pace Dyce, ed. 2 (Theobald 56 trow] Eowe. troa Ff Q3.
conj.). tuns] FfQ3. tun Rowe. tons Dyce.
54, 55 Hundredth Psalm] Rowe. hun- 66 sure] F^. sue F2F3F4. nay Rowe.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 227
unless he know some strain in me, that I know not myself,
he would never have boarded me in this fury.
Mrs Ford. 'Boarding/ call you it? I'll be sure to keep
him above deck. 80
Mrs Page. So will I: if he come under my hatches,
I'll never to sea again. Let's be revenged on him: let's
appoint him a meeting; give him a show of comfort in his
suit, and lead him on with a fine-baited delay, till he hath
pawned his horses to mine host of the Garter. 85
Mrs Ford. Nay, I will consent to act any villany
against him, that may not sully the chariness of our ho-
nesty. 0, that my husband saw this letter! it would give
eternal food to his jealousy. 89
Mrs Page. Why, look where he comes; and my
good man too: he's as far from jealousy as I am from
giving him cause; and that, I hope, is an unmeasurable
distance.
Mrs Ford. You are the happier woman. 94
Mrs Page. Let's consult together against this greasy
knight. Come hither. [They retire.
Enter Ford, with Pistol, and Page, with Nym.
Ford. Well, I hope it be not so.
Pist. Hope is a curtal dog in some affairs:
Sir John affects thy wife.
Ford. Why, sir, my wife is not young. 100
Pist. He wooes both high and low, both rich and poor,
Both young and old, one with another, Ford;
77 know] knew F4. verse apart. Capell.
strain] stain Pope. 97 Scene hi. Pope.
87 chariness] clearness Anon. conj. Enter...] Eowe.
88 0, t/iat...letter/] 0, if...letter, Jervis 101—103 He...perpend.] As in Pope,
conj. Prose in Ff Q3.
96 [They retire.] Theobald, they con- 102 one] and one F4.
15—2
228 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
He loves the gallimaufry: Ford, perpend.
Ford, Love ray wife! 104
Pist. With liver burning hot. Prevent, or go thou,
Like Sir Actseon he, with Ringwood at thy heels:
O, odious is the name!
Ford. What name, sir?
Pist. The horn, I say. Farewell. 109
Take heed; have open eye; for thieves do foot by night:
Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do sing.
Away, Sir Corporal Nym!—
Believe it, Page; he speaks sense. [Exit.
Ford. [Aside] I will be patient; I will find out this. 114
Nym. [To Page] And this is true; I like not the hu-
mour of lying. He hath wronged me in some humours:
I should have borne the humoured letter to her; but I
have a sword, and it shall bite upon my necessity. He
loves your wife; there's the short and the long. My name
is Corporal Nym; I speak, and I avouch; 'tis true: my
name is Nym, and Falstaff loves your wife. Adieu. I
love not the humour of bread and cheese; and there's the
humour of it. Adieu. [Exit.
Page. (The humour of it,' quoth 'a! here's a fellow
frights English out of his wits. 125
103 the] FiQg. thy F2F3F4. a Anon. 114, 126, 128, 131 Marked as cAside'
(N. & Q.) conj. by Capell.
105—107 With...name!] As in Capell. 115 [To Page] Speaking to Page. Han-
The1in.esendpreuent:.. .with.. .name ~ mer.
in Ff Q3. 116 hath] have Q3.
106 he] om. F3F4. be Gould conj. 118 bite...Re] bite—upon my necessity',
111 do sing] a fright Theobald. he Warburton conj.
112, 113 Away...sensed Away Sir Cor- my] any S. Walker conj.
poral! Nym. Believe...sense. John- 120 avouch;His]F1Q3F2. avouchytis¥^E±.
son conj. Away, Sir Corporal. 122, 123 and there's the humour of it]
Nym. Believe it. Page. He speaks (Q1Q2) Capell. om. Ff Q3.
sense. Jackson conj. Away, sir cor- 123 [Exit.] Exit Nym. Eowe.
poral Nym. Nym. Believe...seme 124, 127, 129 [Aside. Dyce.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 125 English] humour Pope, from (QxQg).
113 [Exit.] Exit Pistol. Eowe. his] its Pope.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR '229
Ford. I will seek out Falstaff.
Page. I never heard such a drawling, affecting rogue.
Ford. If I do find it:—well.
Page. I will not believe such a Cataian, though the
priest o' the town commended him for a true man. 130
Ford. 'Twas a good sensible fellow:—well.
Page. How now, Meg!
[Mrs Page and Mrs Ford come forward.
Mrs Page. Whither go you, George? Hark you.
Mrs Ford. How now, sweet Frank! why art thou me-
lancholy? 135
Ford. I melancholy! I am not melancholy. Get you
home, go.
Mrs Ford. Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy
head. Now, will you go, Mistress Page? 139
Mrs Page. Have with you. You'll come to dinner,
George? [Aside to Mrs Ford] Look who comes yonder:
she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight.
Mrs Ford. [Aside to Mrs Page] Trust me, I thought on
her: she'll fit it. 144
Enter Mistress Quickly.
Mrs Page. You are come to see my daughter Anne?
Quick Ay, forsooth; and, I pray, how does good Mis-
tress Anne? 147
Mrs Page. Go in with us and see: we have an hour's
talk with you. [Exeunt Mrs Page, Mrs Ford, and Mrs Quickly.
127 drawling, affecting]^^. drawl- 139 head. Now, will] head, Now: wiW¥v
ing-affecting F^. drawling, affect- head, Now, will Q3. head. Now: will
edHanmer. F2F3F4. head note. Will Johnson.
132 [Mrs...forward.] ...forwards. Theo- 141, 143 [Aside...] Marked by Capell.
bald. 144 Enter...] Eowe.
Scene iv. Page and Ford meeting 148 we have] we would have Hudson
their wives. Pope. (S. Walker conj.). we'd have Jervis
138 crotchets] crotchet Dyce, ed. 2 (S. conj.
Walker conj.). 149 [Exeunt...] Rowe.
230 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Page. How now, Master Ford! 150
Ford. You heard what this knave told me, did you not?
Page. Yes: and you heard what the other told me?
Ford. Do you think there is truth in them?
Page. Hang 'em, slaves! I do not think the knight
would offer it: but these that accuse him in his intent
towards our wives are a yoke of his discarded men; very
rogues, now they be out of service. 157
Ford. Were they his men?
Page. Marry, were they.
Ford. I like it never the better for that. Does he lie
at the Garter? 161
Page. Ay, marry, does he. If he should intend this
voyage toward my wife, I would turn her loose to him; and
what he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my
head. 165
Ford. I do not misdoubt my wife; but I would be loath
to turn them together. A man may be too confident: I
would have nothing lie on my head: I cannot be thus
satisfied. 169
Page. Look where my ranting host of .the Garter
comes: there is either liquor in his pate, or money in his
purse, when he looks so merrily.
Enter Host.
How now, mine host!
Host. How now, bully-rook! thou rt a gentleman.
Cavaleiro-justice, I say! 175
150 Scene v. Pope. 174 Scene vi. Pope.
162 this] Ms Rowe (ed. 2). 174, 179, 183 bully-rook] Bully Rock
172 Enter Host.] Dyce. Enter Host Rowe.
and Shallow. Rowe. Enter Host, 175, 179 Cavaleiro] Caueleiro F^Fg.
Shallow following. Collier, ed. 2 Cavalerio F3F4.
(Colher MS.)
SCENE I.
231
OF WINDSOR.
Enter Shallow.
Shot. I follow, mine host, I follow. Good even and
twenty, good Master Page! Master Page, will you go with
us? we have sport in hand.
Host. Tell him, cavaleiro-justice; tell him, bully-rook.
Shot. Sir, there is a fray to be fought between Sir
Hugh the Welsh priest and Caius the French doctor. 181
Ford. Good mine host o' the Garter, a word with you.
[Drawing him aside.
Host. What say'st thou, my bully-rook?
Shot. [To Page] Will you go with us to behold it? My
merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons; and,
I think, hath appointed them contrary places; for, believe
me, I hear the parson is no jester. Hark, I will tell you
what our sport shall be. [They converse apart.
Host. Hast thou no suit against my knight, my guest-
cavaleire? 190
Ford. None, I protest: but I'll give you a pottle of
burnt sack to give me recourse to him, and tell him my
name is Brook; only for a jest.
Host. My hand, bully; thou shalt have egress and re-
gress ;—said I well ?—and thy name shall be Brook. It is
a merry knight. Will you go, An-heires? 196
175 Enter Shallow.] Dyce.
182 [Drawing...] Capell.
183 [They go a little aside. Johnson,
(aparte) Collier MS.
my] om. Eowe.
184 [To Page] Johnson.
186 hath] om. Q3. he hath Warburton.
188 [They...] Capell.
191 Ford.] Q3. Shal. Ff.
193, 195 Brook] (Q^) Pope. Broome
FfQ3. Bourne Collier MS. See
note (vi).
196 An-heires] FjQ^. An-heirs F3.
an-heirs F4. myn-heers Hanmer
(Theobald conj.). on here Collier, ed.
2 (Theobald conj.). on, Hons War-
burton, an heiress Grey conj. on,
liearts Cowden Clarke (Heath conj.).
on, heroes Steevens conj. and hear
us Malone conj. cavaliers Singer
(Boaden conj.). eh, sir Becket
conj. an arrlies Anon. conj. (X.
& Q. 1867). one-ears Bushton
conj. (N. & Q. JL868). Anchises
Bulloch cpnj.
232 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Shal. Have with you, mine host.
Page, I have heard the Frenchman hath good skill in
his rapier. 199
Shal. Tut, sir, I could have told you more. In these
times you stand on distance, your passes, stoccadoes, and
I know not what: 'tis the heart, Master Page; 'tis here, 'tis
here. I have seen the time, with my long sword I would
have made you four tall fellows skip like rats.
Host. Here, boys, here, here! shall we wag? 205
Page. Have with you. I had rather hear them scold
than fight. [Exeunt Host, Shal., and Page.
Ford. Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so
firmly on his wife's frailty, yet I cannot put off my opinion
so easily: she was in his company at Page's house; and
what they made there, I know not. Well, I will look
further into't: and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff. If
I find her honest, I lose not my labour; if she be otherwise,
'tis labour well bestowed. [Exit.
Scene II. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Falstaff and Pistol.
Fal. I will not lend thee a penny.
Pist. Why, then the world's mine oyster,
Which I with sword yrill open.
204 you] your Collier, ed. 2 (Williams 211 they made] made them Hanmer.
conj.)- 214 [Exit.] Rowe. Exeunt. FfQ3.
205 Here...heref\ Hear, hoys, hear, Scene il] Scene vii. Pope.
hear! Gould conj. • A room in...] Capell. The Garter
206 hear] have Hanmer. Inn. Pope.
207 than] than see them Singer, ed. 2 Enter...] Rowe. Enter Falstaffe,
(Collier MS.). Pistoll, Robin, Quickly, Bardolffe,
[Exeunt...] Rowe. Ford. FfQ3.
208 stands] stand F4. 2,3 Wliy... open.] As in Steevens(lV93).
209 frailty] fealty Theobald, fidelity One line in Capell. Prose in Ff Q3.
Collier MS. purity Gould conj. 3 open.] open.—I will retort the sum in
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 233
Fal. Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you
should lay my countenance to pawn: I have grated upon
my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-
fellow Nym; or else you had looked through the grate,
like a geminy of baboons. I am damned in hell for swear-
ing to gentlemen my friends, you were good soldiers and
tall fellows; and when Mistress Bridget lost the handle of
her fan, I took't upon mine honour thou hadst it not.
Fist. Didst not thou share? hadst thou not fifteen
pence? 12
Fal. Reason, you rogue, reason: think'st thou I'll en-
danger my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about
me, I am no gibbet for you. Go. A short knife and a
throng !—To your manor of Pickt-hatch! Go. You'll not
bear a letter for me, you rogue! you stand upon your
honour! Why, thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as
I can do to keep the terms of my honour precise: I, I, I
myself sometimes, leaving the fear of God on the left hand,
and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle,
to hedge, and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce
your rags, your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice
phrases, and your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of
your honour! You will not do it, you! 25
equipage. Theobald (from Q^). 7, I, 7] 7 Pope. 7, ay, I Grant
open.—7 will...equipoise. Jackson White.
conj. 20 God] (Q1Q2). heaven Ff Q3.
6, 7 coach-fellow] couch-fellow Theo- 22 yet you, rogue,] Pope. yet,you Rogue,
bald, yoke-fellow Id. conj. FfQ3. yet you, you rogue, Collier
12 Didst not thou] F1Q3F2. Didst thou MS..
not F3F4. 23 rags] rages Becket conj. brags Sin-
Didst...pence?] As in Capell. Prose ger, ed. 2 (Anon., K & Q., conj.).
in Ff Q3. 24 bold-beating] bull-baiting Hanmer.
16 throng] (Q^) FfQ3. thong Pope bold-bearing Warburton. boldcheat-
(from Dennis). ing Heath conj. blunderbust Halli-
19 terms] termes F^g. terme F2. term well MS. bold-breathing Cartwright
F3F4. conj. bold-braving Kinnear conj.
honour] hononor Fr
234 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Fist. I do relent: what would thou more of man?
Enter Robin.
Rob. Sir, here's a woman would speak with you.
Fal. Let her approach.
Enter Mistress Quickly.
Quick. Give your worship good morrow.
Fal. Good morrow, good wife. 30
Quick. Not so, an't please your worship.
Fal. Good maid, then.
Quick. I'll be sworn;
As my mother was, the first hour I was born.
Fal. I do believe the swearer. What with me? 35
Quick. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two?
Fal. Two thousand, fair woman: and 111 vouchsafe
thee the hearing.
Quick. There is one Mistress Ford, sir :—I pray, come
a little nearer this ways :—I myself dwell with Master
Doctor Caius,— 41
Fal. Well, on: Mistress Ford, you say,—
Quick. Your worship says very true:—I pray your
worship, come a little nearer this ways.
Fal. I warrant thee, nobody hears;—mine own people,
mine own people. 46
Quick. Are they so? God bless them, and make them
his servants!
Fal. Well, Mistress Ford;—what of her?
Quick. Why, sir, she's a good creature.—Lord, Lord!
26 relent] Ff Q3. recant (QxQg). 33 Til] That I am Til Wheatley, from
would thou] wouldst thou Rowe (ed. (QiQ2)-
2). would you Anon. conj. 42 on: Mistress] one Mistress Grant
Enter Kobin.] Eowe. White (Douce conj.).
29 Scene viii. Pope. 47 God] (QiQg) Clark and Glover.
Enter...] Rowe. heaven FfQ3.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 235
your worship's a wanton! Well, heaven forgive you and
all of us, I pray! 52
Fal. Mistress Ford ;—come, Mistress Ford,—
Quick Marry, this is the short and the long of it; you
have brought her into such a canaries as 'tis wonderful.
The best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Wind-
sor, could never have brought her to such a canary. Yet
there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their
coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after let-
ter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly, all musk, and so
rushling, I warrant you, in silk and gold; and in such alli-
gant terms; and in such wine and sugar of the best and
the fairest, that would have won any woman's heart; and,
I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her:
I had myself twenty angels given me this morning; but
I defy all angels—in any such sort, as they say—but in the
way of honesty: and, I warrant you, they could never get
her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all:
and yet there has been earls, nay, which is • more, pen-
sioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her. 70
Fal. But what says she to me? be brief, my good she-
Mercury.
Quick. Marry, she hath received your letter; for the
which she thanks you a thousand times; and she gives you
to notify, that her husband will be absence from his house
between ten and eleven. 76
Fal. Ten and eleven.
Quick. Ay, forsooth; and then you may come and see
the picture, she says, that you wot of: Master Ford, her
husband, will be from home. Alas, the sweet woman leads
an ill life with him! he's a very jealousy man: she leads a
very frampold life with him, good heart. 82
62 in such wine] such wine Hanmer. 77 eleven.] eleven? Steevens (1785).
65 this] of a Collier MS.
236 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Fal. Ten and eleven. Woman, commend me to her;
I will not fail her. 84
Quick Why, you say well. But I have another mes-
senger to your worship. Mistress Page hath her hearty
commendations to you, too: and let me tell you in your
ear, she's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one, I tell
you, that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer, as
any is in Windsor, whoe'er be the other: and she bade me
tell your worship that her husband is seldom from home;,
but, she hopes, there will come a time. I never knew a
woman so dote upon a man: surely, I think you have
charms, la; yes, in truth.
Fal. Not I, I assure thee: setting the attraction of my
good parts aside, I have no other charms. 96
Quick. Blessing on your heart for t!
Fal. But, I pray thee, tell me this: has Ford's wife
and Page's wife acquainted each other how they love me?
Quick. That were a jest indeed! they have not so
little grace, I hope: that were a trick indeed! But Mis-
tress Page would desire you to send her your little page,
of all loves: her husband has a marvellous infection to the
little page; and, truly, Master Page is an honest man.
Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life than she does:
do what she will, say what she will, take all, pay all, go to
bed when she list, rise when she list, all is as she will: and,
truly, she deserves it; for if there be a kind woman in
Windsor, she is one. You must send her your page; no
remedy. no
Fal. Why, I will.
Quick. Nay, but do so, then: and, look you, he may
come and go between you both; and, in any case, have a
nay-word, that you may know one another's mind, and
86 hath] has F4. 109 she is one] truly she is one Rowe.
103 loves] love Rowe.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR 237
the boy never need to understand any thing; for 'tis not
good that children should know any wickedness: old folks,
you know, have discretion, as they say, and know the world.
Fal. Fare thee well: commend me to them both:
there's my purse; I am yet thy debtor. Boy, go along
with this woman. [Exeunt Mistress Quickly and Robin.'] This
news distracts me! 121
Fist. This punk is one of Cupid's carriers:
Clap on more sails; pursue; up with your fights:
Give fire: she is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! [Exit.
Fal. Say'st thou so, old Jack? go thy ways; 111 make
more of thy old body than I have done. Will they yet
look after thee? Wilt thou, after the expense of so much
money, be now a gainer? Good body, I thank thee. Let
them say 'tis grossly done; so it be fairly done, no matter.
Enter Bakdolph.
Bard. Sir John, there's one Master Brook below would
fain speak with you, and be acquainted with you; and hath
sent your worship a morning's draught of sack. 132
Fal. Brook is his name?
Bard. Ay, sir.
Fal. Call him in. [Exit Bardolph.] Such Brooks are
welcome to me, that o'erflow such liquor. Ah, ha! Mistress
Ford and Mistress Page have I encompassed you? go to; via!
115 need] heede Q3. 130,135 Brook...Brooks] Pope, from
120 Exeunt...] Exit Quic. and Robin. (QiQ2). Broome...Broomes FfQ3,
Rowe. (and elsewhere). See note (vi).
122 punk] pink Warburton. 135 [Exit...] Theobald.
123 your fights] yond frigat Hanmer 136 that o'erflow] Capell. that oreflowes
(Warburton conj. withdrawn). F^. that that ore'flowes Q3.
124 my] thy Keightley. that oreflows F3. that o'reflowes
them all] all Q3. F4. that o'erflow with Pope.
[Exit] Rowe. Ah, ha!] ah ha, I^Qg. ah, ha, F2.
130 Scene ix. Pope. ah, ah, F3F4.
Enter...] Rowe.
238 THE MEBRY WIVES ACT II.
Re-enter Bakdolph, with Eord disguised.
Ford. Bless you, sir!
Fal. And you, sir! Would you speak with, me?
Ford. I make bold to press with so little preparation
upon you. 141
Fal. You're welcome. What's your will?—Give us
leave, drawer. [Exit Bardolph.
Ford. Sir, I am a gentleman that have spent much;
my name is Brook. 145
Fal. Good Master Brook, I desire more acquaintance
of you.
Ford. Good Sir John, I sue for yours: not to charge
you; for I must let you understand I think myself in better
plight for a lender than you are: the which hath something
emboldened me to this unseasoned intrusion; for they say,
if money go before, all ways do lie open. 152
Fal. Money is a good soldier, sir, and will on.
Ford. Troth, and I have a bag of money here troubles
me: if you will help to bear it, Sir John, take all, or half,
for easing me of the carriage. 156
Fal. Sir, I know not how I may deserve to be your
porter.
Ford. I will tell you, sir, if you will give me the hearing.
Fal. Speak, good Master Brook: I shall be glad to be
your servant. 161
Ford. Sir, I hear you are a scholar,—I will be brief with
you,—and you have been a man long known to me, though
I had never so good means, as desire, to make myself ac-
quainted with you. I shall discover a thing to you, wherein
137 Ee-enter...] Theobald. Enter Ford 143 [Exit...] Theobald,
disguis'd. Kowe. 144 spent] seen Gould conj.
138 Bless] F4. 'Blesse F1Q3E2F3. God 155 all, or half] half, or all Staunton
save (QiQg). (Collier MS.).
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 239
I must very much lay open mine own imperfection: but,
good Sir John, as you have one eye upon my follies, as you
hear them unfolded, turn another into the register of your
own; that I may pass with a reproof the easier, sith you
yourself know how easy it is to be such an offender. 170
Fal. Very well, sir; proceed.
Ford. There is a gentlewoman in this town; her hus-
band's name is Ford.
Fal. Well, sir. 174
Ford. I have long loved her, and, I protest to you, be-
stowed much on her; followed her with a doting observance;
engrossed opportunities to meet her; fee'd every slight occa-'
sion that could but niggardly give me sight of her; not only
bought many presents to give her, but have given largely to
many to know what she would have given; briefly, I have
pursued her as love hath pursued me; which hath been on
the wing of all occasions. But whatsoever I have merited,
either in my mind or in my means, meed, I am sure, I have
received none; unless experience be a jewel that I have
purchased at an infinite rate, and that hath taught me to
say this: 186
'Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues;
Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues.'
Fal. Have you received no promise of satisfaction at
her hands? 190
Ford. Never.
Fal. Have you importuned her to such a purpose?
Ford. Never.
Fal. Of what quality was your love, then? 194
Ford. Like a fair house built on another man's ground;
166 imperfection'] imperfections Pope. jewel; that Theobald.
177 fee'd] free'd Q3. that] om. Rowe.
179 bought] brought Q3. 195 on] upon Johnson.
184 jewel that]¥\. IewellJthatF1QsF2F3.
240 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
so that I have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where
I erected it. 197
Fed: To what purpose have you unfolded this to me?
Ford. When I have told you that, I have told you all.
Some say, that though she appear honest to me, yet in
other places she enlargeth her mirth so far that there is
shrewd construction made of her. Now, Sir John, here is
the heart of my purpose: you are a gentleman of excellent
breeding, admirable discourse, of great admittance, authen-
tic in your place and person, generally allowed for your
many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations. 206
Fal. 0, sir!
Ford, Believe it, for you know it. There is money;
spend it, spend it; spend more; spend all I have; only
give me so much of your time in exchange of it, as to lay
an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife: use
your art of wooing; win her to consent to you: if any man
may, you may as soon as any. 213
Fal. Would it apply well to the vehemency of your
affection, that I should win what you would enjoy? Me-
thinks you prescribe to yourself very preposterously. 216
Ford. 0, understand my drift. She dwells so securely
on the excellency of her honour, that the folly of my soul
dares not present itself: she is too bright to be looked
against. Now, could I come to her with any detection in
my hand, my desires had instance and argument to com-
mend themselves: I could drive her then from the ward of
her purity, her reputation, her marriage-vow, and a thou-
sand other her defences, which now are too too strongly
embattled against me. What say you to't, Sir John? 225
210 exchange] enchange Fv MS.).
214 vehemency] vehemence F4. 224 other her] other Rowe (ed. 2).
218 soul] suit Collier, ed. 2 (Collier too too] too-too FfQ3. too Rowe.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 241
Fal. Master Brook, I will first make bold with your
money; next, give me your hand; and last, as I am a
gentleman, you shall, if you will, enjoy Ford's wife.
Ford. 0 good sir!
Fal. I say you shall. 230
Ford. Want no money, Sir John; you shall want none.
Fal. Want no Mistress Ford, Master Brook; you shall
want none. I shall be with her, I may tell you, by her
own appointment; even as you came in to me, her assist-
ant, or go-between, parted from me: I say I shall be with
her between ten and eleven; for at that time the jealous
rascally knave her husband will be forth. Come you to me
at night; you shall know how I speed.
Ford. I am blest in your acquaintance. Do you know
Ford, sir? 240
Fal. Hang him, poor cuckoldly knave! I know him not:
—yet I wrong him to call him poor; they say the jealous
wittolly knave hath masses of money; for the which his wife
seems to me well-favoured. I will use her as the key of the
cuckoldly rogue's coffer; and there's my harvest-home. 245
Ford. I would you knew Ford, sir, that you might
avoid him, if you saw him.
Fal. Hang him, mechanical salt-butter rogue! I will
stare him out of his wits; I will awe him with my cudgel:
it shall hang like a meteor o'er the cuckold's horns. Mas-
ter Brook, thou shalt know I will predominate over the
peasant, and thou shalt lie with his wife. Come to me
soon at night. Ford's a knave, and I will aggravate his
230 i" say you shall] Master Brooke, I F2F3.
say you shall (QiQg) Theobald. 241 acckoldly] cuckoldy Rowe.
236, 237 jealous rascally knave] jealous- 245 cuckoldly rogue's] Cuckoldly-rogues
rascally knaveY^. iealious-rascally- F^. Cuckold-rogues F2F3F4.
knaneY^. jealious-rascally-knave 251 over] o'er Reed (1803).
VOL. I. 16
242 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
style; thou. Master Brook, shalt know him for knave and
cuckold. Come to me soon at night. [Exit. 255
Ford. What a damned Epicurean rascal is this! My
heart is ready to crack with impatience. "Who says this is
improvident jealousy? my wife hath sent to him; the hour
is fixed; the match is made. Would any man have thought
this? See the hell of having a false woman! My bed
shall be abused, my coffers ransacked, my reputation gnawn
at; and I shall not only receive this villanous wrong, but
stand under the adoption of abominable terms, and by him
that does me this wrong. Terms! names!—Amaimon
sounds well; Lucifer, well; Barbason, well; yet they are
devils' additions, the names of fiends: but Cuckold! Wit-
tol!—Cuckold! the devil himself hath not such a name. Page
is an ass, a secure ass: he will trust his wife; he will not
be jealous. I will rather trust a Fleming with my butter,
Parson Hugh the Welshman with my cheese, an Irishman
with my aqua-vitae bottle, or a thief to walk my ambling
gelding, than my wife with herself: then she plots, then
she ruminates, then she devises; and what they think in
their hearts they may effect, they will break their hearts
but they will effect. God be praised for my jealousy!—
Eleven .o'clock the hour. I will prevent this, detect my
wife, be revenged on Falstaff, and laugh at Page. I will
about it; better three hours too soon than a minute too
late. Fie, fie, fie! cuckold! cuckold! cuckold! [Exit. 279
254 knave] a knave Malone. Cuckold Ef Q3. wittol-cicekold Ma-
256 Scene x. Pope. lone.
260 false] Jhire Q3. 275 God] (QXQ2) Clark and Glover.
264 this wrong] the vjrong Kowe (ed. 2). Heaven FfQ3.
266, 267 Wittol /— Cuckold] Wittoll,
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 243
Scene III. A field near Windsor.
Enter Caius and Rugby.
Caius. Jack Rugby!
Rug. Sir?
Caius, Vat is de clock, Jack?
Rug. Tis past the hour, sir, that Sir Hugh promised
to meet. 5
Caius. By gar, he has save his soul, dat he is no come;
he has pray his Pible well, dat he is no come: by gar,
Jack Rugby, he is dead already, if he be come.
Rug. He is wise, sir; he knew your worship would
kill him, if he came. 10
Caius. By gar, de herring is no dead so as I vill kill
him. Take your rapier, Jack; I vill tell you how I vill
kill him.
Rug. Alas, sir, I cannot fence.
Caius. Villainy, take your rapier. 15
Rug. Forbear; here's company.
Enter Host, Shallow, Slender, and Page.
Host. Bless thee, bully doctor!
Shot. Save you, Master Doctor Caius!
Page. Now, good master doctor!
Sl'en. Give you good morrow, sir. 20
Scene hi.] Scene xi. Pope. 11, 12 is no dead so as I vill hill him]
A field...] Dyce. Windsor-Park. is not so dead as one vill make him
Pope. Pope, be not so dead as I shall make
Enter...] Rowe. Enter Caius, him (QjC^).
Rugby, Page, Shallow, Slender, 14 [afeard runs backe. Collier MS.
Host. FfQ3. [Running back afraid. Collier (ed. 2).
3 de] F3F4. the F^Fg. 15 Villainy] Villain Dyce (ed. 2).
6 no come] F4. no-come F^FgFg. 16 Enter...] Rowe.
7 well] veil Capell. 17,18, 20 Bless...Save...Give] 'Blesse...
no come] F3F4. no-come F1Q3F2. >Saue...>Giue~FfQz.
16—2
244 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Cains. Vat be all you, one, two, tree, four, come for?**
Host. To see thee fight, to see thee foin, to see thee
traverse; to see thee here, to see thee there; to see thee
pass thy punto, thy stock, thy reverse, thy distance, thy
montant. Is he dead, my Ethiopian? is he dead, my Fran-
cisco? ha, bully! What says my iEsculapius? my Galen?
my heart of elder? ha! is he dead, bully-stale? is he dead?
Caius. By gar, he is de coward Jack priest of de
vorld; he is not show his face.
Host. Thou art a Castalion-King-Urinal. Hector of
Greece, my boy! 31
Caius. I pray you, bear vitness that me have stay six
or seven, two, tree hours for him, and he is no come.
Shal. He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a
curer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should
fight, you go against the hair of your professions. Is it
not true, Master Page? 37
Page. Master Shallow, you have yourself been a great
fighter, though now a man of peace.
Shal. Bodykins, Master Page, though I now be old,
and of the peace, if I see a sword out, my finger itches
to make one. Though we are justices, and doctors, and
churchmen, Master Page, we have some salt of our youth
in us; we are the sons of women, Master Page.
Page, 'Tis true, Master Shallow. 45
Shal. It will be found so, Master Page. Master Doctor
21 tree] trees F4. Urinal Hanmer. Castillian, king
24 punto] Johnson, puncto FfQ3. urinal Capell. Castilian king, Urinal
25, 26 Francisco] Francoyes (QxQ2) Steevens 1778 (Farmer conj.).
Warburton. Castalion] Castallian (Q1Q2).
26 Galen] Gallon (QxQa). Galien F^. 32 that] dat Pope.
Gallen Q3F3F4. six] from six Hanmer.
29 vorld] varlcl Hanmer. 33 no come] Eowe. no-come FfQ3.
30 Gastalion-King- Urinal] Castalion- 41 the] FXQ3. om. F2F3F4.
king-Yrinall Ff. Oardalion, king
SCENE III.
245
OE WINDSOR.
Caius, I am come to fetch you home. I am sworn of
the peace: you have shewed yourself a wise physician,
and Sir Hugh hath shewn himself a wise and patient
churchman. You must go with me, master doctor. 50
Host Pardon, guest-justice.—A word, Mounseur Mock-
wrater.
Caius. Mock-vater! vat is dat?
Host Mock-water, in our English tongue, is valour,
bully. 55
Caius. By gar, den, I have as much mock-vater as de
Englishman.—Scurvy jack-dog priest! by gar, me vill cut
his ears.
Host. He will clapper-claw thee tightly, bully.
Caius. Clapper-de-claw! vat is dat? m
Host. That is, he will make thee amends.
Caius. By gar, me do look he shall clapper-de-claw
me; for, by gar, me vill have it.
Host. And I will provoke him to't, or let him wag.
Caius. Me tank you for dat. 65
Host. And, moreover, bully,—But first, master guest,
and Master Page, and eke Cavaleiro Slender, go you through
the town to Frogmore. [Aside to them.
Page. Sir Hugh is there, is he? 69
Host. He is there: see what humour he is in; and
I will bring the doctor about by the fields. Will it do
well?
Shot. We will do it.
51 guest-justice] bully'-justice Theobald
conj.
A word] Theobald, from (Q^). a
FfQ3. ah Hanmer.
51, 53, 54 Mock-water] Muck-ivater Ma-
lone (Farmer conj.). Mark-water
Collier conj. Make-water Cartwright
conj.
56 much] mush Dyce.
57 cut] om. Q3.
66 guest] justice Theobald conj.
68 [Aside...] Marked first by Capell.
71 by] om. F3F4.
73 We will do it] We...it. Adieu, good
master doctor. Capell.
246 THE MERRY WIVES ACT II.
Page, Shal., and Slen. Adieu, good master doctor.
[Exeunt Page, Shal., and Slen.
Caius. By gar, me vill kill de priest; for he speak for a
jack-an-ape to Anne Page. 76
Host. Let him die: sheathe thy impatience, throw cold
water on thy choler: go about the fields with me through
Frogmore: I will bring thee where Mistress Anne Page
is, at a farm-house a-feasting; and thou shalt woo her.
Cried I aim? said I well? 81
Caius. By gar, me dank you vor dat: by gar, I love
you; and I shall procure-a you de good guest, de earl, de
knight, de lords, de gentlemen, my patients.
Host. For the which I will be thy adversary toward
Anne Page. Said I well? 86
Caius. By gar, 'tis good; veil said.
Host. Let us wag, then.
Caius. Come at my heels, Jack Rugby. [Exeunt.
74 Page, Shal., and Slen.] Malone. Warburton. and cry 'amie\ Becket
Page. Slen. Capell. All. FfQ3. conj. Drtfd game, Jackson conj.
[Exeunt...]Eowe. Curds and cream! Collier, ed. 2
77 sheathe] but, first, sheath Theobald, (Collier MS.). Cried, Game? Keight-
from (QjC^)- out sheath Hanmer. ley. Cry tefaime, Bulloch conj.
81 Cried I aim?] Dyce (Douce conj.). 82 dank]Y±. da7icke¥1F2. danckQ3Yz.
cried game: (Q^)- Cride-game, tank Rowe (ed. 2).
FfQ3. Try'd Game, Theobald, red vor] for Capell.
Game, Id. conj. (doubtfully), cock 89
o' thJ game; Hanmer. Cry aim,
SCENE I.
247
OF WINDSOR-.
ACT III.
Scene I. A field near Frogmore.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans and Simple.
Evans. I pray you now, good Master Slender s serv-
ing-man, and friend Simple by your name, which way
have you looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor
of physic?
Sim. Marry, sir, the pittie-ward, the park-ward, every
way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town way. 6
Evans. I most fehemently desire you you will also
look that way.
Sim. I will, sir. [Exit.
Evans. Pless my soul, how full of chollors I am, and
trempling of mind !—I shall be glad if he have deceived
me.—How melancholies I am !—I will knog his urinals
about his knave's costard when I have goot opportunities
for the ork.—Pless my soul!— [Sings.
To shallow rivers, to whose falls 15
Melodious birds sings madrigals;
There will we make our peds of roses.
And a thousand fragrant posies.
To shallow—
A field...] Malone. Fields...Capell.
Frogmorc near Windsor. Pope.
Enter...] Enter Evans and Simple.
Kowe. Enter Euans, Simple, Page,
Shallow, Slender, Host, Caius, Rugby.
FfQ3. Enter Sir Hugh Evans with
a book,... Collier, ed. 2. Enter Evans,
Simple, Euans vnreadie, wth a booke.
Collier MS.
5 pittie-ivardr]~F1Q3. pitty-wa?'y~F2F3F±.
city-ward Capell. petty-ward Stee-
vens conj. p itty-way quoted by Rann.
pit ivay Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
pit-ward Jervis conj.
the parh-waroZ] the park way Collier,
ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
5, 6 every way;] om. Hanmer.
7 also] om. Q3.
10,14 Pless] 'Plesse F^F^ 'Pless F3F4.
10 chollors] F^Fg. chollars F3F4. cho-
lers Capell.
11 glad] mad Gould conj.
13 goot] Dyce. good Ff Q3.
opportunities] oportunities F1Q3.
14 [Sings.] Sings, being afraid. Pope.
15, 19, 24, 27 To shallow] (QXQ2) FfQ3.
By shallow Theobald.
16 sings] Ff. sing Q3.
18 fragrant] (QXQ2) Ff. vagram Q3. vra-
grant Hanmer. vagrant Johnson.
248 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mercy on me! I have a great dispositions to cry. [Sings. 20
Melodious birds sing madrigals—
Whenas I sat in Pabylon—
And a thousand vagram posies.
To shallow &c.
Re-enter Simple.
Sim. Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh. 25
Evans. He's welcome.— [Sings.
To shallow rivers, to whose falls—
Heaven prosper the right!—What weapons is he?
Sim. No weapons, sir. There comes my master,
Master Shallow, and another gentleman, from Frogmore,
over the stile, this way. 31
Evans. Pray yon, give me my gown; or else keep it
in your arms.
Enter Page, Shallow, and Slender.
Shed. How now, master parson! Good morrow, good
Sir Hugh. Keep a gamester from the dice, and a good
student from his book, and it is wonderful. 36
Slen. [Aside] Ah, sweet Anne Page!
Page. Save you, good Sir Hugh!
Evans. Pless you from his mercy sake, all of you!
Shal. What, the sword and the word! do you study
them both, master parson? 41
20 Mercy] Mercie 'F1% Mercy F2F3F4. 34 Scene ii. Pope.
dispositions] F^. disposition F2F3 36 student] Y^F^. Studient F1Q3F2.
F4. 37, 65, 105 [Aside] Clark and Glover.
21 madrigals] mad/rigall F2F3F4. 38 Save] ySaue FfQ3.
23 vagram] FfQ3. vagrant Pope, vra- 39 Pless] 'Plesse F^. 'Pleasse Q3.
grant Hanmer. vagrant Johnson. 'Pless F3F4. Got pless Hudson (S.
27 to whose] in whose Q3. Walker conj.).
33 Enter...] Rowe.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 249
Page. And youthful still! in your doublet and hose
this raw rheumatic day!
Evans. There is reasons and causes for it.
Page. We are come to you to do a good office, master
parson. 46
Evans. Fery well: what is it?
Page. Yonder is a most reverend gentleman, who, be-
like having received wrong by some person, is at most odds
with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw. 50
Shal. I have lived fourscore years and upward; I never
heard a man of his place, gravity, and learning, so wide of
his own respect.
Evans. What is he?
Page. I think you know him; Master Doctor Caius,
the renowned French physician. 56
Evans. Got's will, and his passion of my heart! I had
as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge.
Page. Why?
Evans. He has no more knowledge in Hibocrates and
Galen,—and lie is a knave besides; a cowardly knave as
you would desires to be acquainted withal. 62
Page. I warrant you, he's the man should fight with
him.
Slen. [Aside] 0 sweet Anne Page! 65
Shal. It appears so, by his weapons. Keep them a-
sunder: here comes Doctor Caius.
Enter Host, Caius, and Rugby.
Page. Nay, good master parson, keep in your weapon.
Shal. So do you, good master doctor.
57 his passion] his—Passion Staunton. 66 Scene hi. Pope.
61 Galen,—] Oapell. Galen, FfQ3. 67 Enter...] Rowe (after line 65).
62 desires] F1Q3. desire F2F3F4. 68 in] om. Q3.
250
THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Host Disarm them, and let them question: let them
keep their limbs whole, and hack our English. 71
Cains. I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your
ear. Verefore vill you not meet-a me?
Evans. [Aside to Caius] Pray you, use your patience:
in good time. : 75
Caius. By gar, you are de coward, de Jack dog, John
ape.
Evans. [Aside to Caius] Pray you, let us not be laugh-
ing-stocks to other men s humours; I desire you in friend-
ship, and I will one way or other make you amends.
[Aloud] I will knog your urinals about your knave's cogs-
comb for missing your meetings and appointments. 82
Caius. Diable !—Jack Rugby,—mine host de Jarteer,
—have I not stay for him to kill him.? have I not, at de
place I did appoint? 85
Evans. As I am a Christians soul, now, look you, this
is the place appointed: I'll be judgement by mine host of
the Garter.
Host, Peace, I say, Gallia and Gaul, French and
Welsh, soul-curer and body-curer! 90
Caius. Ay, dat is very good; excellent.
Host Peace, I say! hear mine host of the Garter. Am
I politic? am I subtle? am I a Machiavel? Shall I lose my
72 with] vit Capell. Rowe.
73 meet-a me] meet a-me Singer (ed. 1). urinals] (QXQ2) Capell. VrinalFfQ3.
74 [Aside...] Clark and Glover. See 82 for ...appointments] Pope, from
note (vh). (QiQ2)- om. FfQ3.
74, 75 patience: in] patience. In John- 89 Gallia and Gaul] F3F4. Gallia and
son. patience in FfQ3. Gaule F^Fg. Gawle and Gaiolia
78 [Aside...] Staunton. (QiQ2)- Gallia and WalliaHanmer.
Pray you] I pray you Q3. Guallia and Gaul Malone (Farmer
laughing-stocks] laughing-stogs conj.). Gallia and Guallia Collier
Capell. (Farmer conj. MS.).
81 [Aloud] Staunton. 93 Machiavel] Rowe (ed. 2). Machiuell
your] your your F4. you your F1Q3F2F3. Machivel F4.
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 251
doctor? no; he gives me the potions and the motions.
Shall I lose my parson, my priest, my Sir Hugh? no; he
gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs. Give me thy
hand, terrestrial; so. Give me thy hand, celestial; so.
Boys of art, I have deceived you both; I have directed
you to wrong places: your hearts are mighty, your skins
are whole, and let burnt sack be the issue. Come, lay their
swords to pawn. Follow me, lads of peace; follow, follow,
follow.
Shed. Trust me, a mad host. Follow, gentlemen,
follow.
Slen. [Aside] 0 sweet Anne Page! 105
[Exeunt Shal., Slen., Page, and Host.
Caius. Ha, do I perceive dat? have you make-a de sot
of us, ha, ha?
Evans. This is well; he has made us his vlouting-stog.
—I desire you that we may be friends; and let us knog our
prains together to be revenge on this same scall, scurvy,
cogging companion, the host of the Garter. m
Caius. By gar, with all my heart. He promise to bring
me where is Anne Page; by gar, he deceive me too.
Evans. Well, I will smite his noddles. Pray you,
follow. [Exeunt 115
95 lose my parson, my priest] lose my 108 vlouting-stog] vlouting-stock Pope.
Priest Pope. 110, 111 scall,...companion] scaV,...com-
96, 97 Give me thy hand, terrestrial; so] panion Capell. scall-scuruy-cog-
Theobald, from (QiQs). om. FfQ3. ging-companion FP scall scurvy-
Give me thy hands (Celestiall and cogging-companion Q3F2F3F4. scall
terrestrial) so. Collier MS. Scurvy-cogging. companion Rowe.
101 lads] (QiQ2) Warburton. lad~FtQs. scald scurvy cogging companion
105 [Exeunt...] Rowe. Pope.
106 make-a de sot] Hanmer. Make-a- 112 with] vith Pope (ed. 1). vit Capell.
de-sot F^Fg. make a-de-sot F4. 113 where] vhere Pope (ed. 1). ver Han-
make a de-sot Johnson. mer. vere Capell.
107 us, ha, ha?] us? ha, ha! Capell. 115 [Exeunt.] Pope. om. FfQ3.
252 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Scene II. The street, in Windsor.
Enter Mistress Page and Robin.
Mrs Page. Nay, keep your way, little gallant; you were
wont to be a follower, but now you are a leader. Whether
had you rather lead mine eyes, or eye your master's heels?
Rob. I had rather, forsooth, go before you like a man
than follow him like a dwarf. 5
Mrs Page. 0, you are a flattering boy: now I see
you'll be a courtier.
Enter Ford.
Ford. Well met,. Mistress Page. Whither go you?
Mrs Page. Truly, sir, to see your wife. Is she at home?
Ford. Ay; and as idle as she may hang together, for
want of company. I think, if your husbands were dead,
you two would marry. 12
Mrs Page. Be sure of that,—two other husbands.
Ford. Where had you this pretty weathercock?
Mrs Page. I cannot tell what the dickens his name is
my husband had him of.—What do you call your knight's
name, sirrah? 17
Rob. Sir John Falstaff.
Ford. Sir John Falstaff!
Mrs Page. He, he; I can never hit oil's name. There
is such a league between my good man and he !—Is your
wife at home indeed? 22
Scene il] Scene iv. Pope. 7 Enter Ford.] Rowe.
The street,...] Theobald. The 11 company] your company Collier, ed.
Street. Pope. 2 (Collier MS.).
Enter...] Rowe. Mist. Page, Robin, 19 Ford. Sir John Falstaff7] omitted
Ford, Page, Shallow, Slender, Host, in F3F4 and Rowe.
Evans, Caius. FfQ3. v 20 on's] on his Rowe.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 253
Ford. Indeed she is.
Mrs Page. By your leave, sir: I am sick till I see her.
[Exeunt Mrs Page and Robin.
Ford. Has Page any brains? hath he any eyes? hath
he any thinking? Sure, they sleep; he hath no use of them.
Why, this boy will carry a letter twenty mile, as easy as a
cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score. He pieces out
his wife's inclination; he gives her folly motion and advan-
tage: and now she's going to my wife, and FalstafFs boy
with her. A man may hear this shower sing in the wind.
And FalstafFs boy with her! Good plots, they are laid;
and our revolted wives share damnation together. Well; I
will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed
veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge
Page himself for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these
violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim. [Clock
heard.] The clock gives me my cue, and my assurance
bids me search: there I shall find Falstaff: I shall be rather
praised for this than mocked; for it is as positive as the
earth is firm that Falstaff is there: I will go. 41
Enter Page, Shallow, Slender, Host, Sir Hugh Evans, Caius,
and Rugby.
Shot., Page, &c. Well met, Master Ford.
Ford. Trust me, a good knot: I have good cheer at
home; and I pray you all go with me.
Shal. I must excuse myself, Master Ford. 45
24 [Exeunt...] Rowe. strike Ten. Collier MS.
25 Scene v. Pope. 38 cue] Rowe (ed. 2). Qu Ff Q3.
Has] Hath Collier MS. 39 search: titere] search where Singer,
27 mile] miles Capell (a misprint), fol- ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
lowed by Steevens. 41 Enter...] Eowe.
37, 38 [Clock heard.] Capell. Clocke 42 Scene vi. Pope.
254 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Slen. And so must I, sir: we have appointed' to dine
with Mistress Anne, and I would not break with her for
more money than I'll speak of.
Shal. We have lingered about a match between Anne
Page and my cousin Slender, and this day we shall have
our answer. 51
Slen, I hope I have your good will, father Page.
Page, You have, Master Slender; I stand wholly for
you :—but my wife, master doctor, is for you altogether.
Cains. Ay, be-gar; and de maid is love-a me: my
nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush. 56
Host. What say you to young Master Fenton? he
capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth, he writes verses,
he speaks holiday, he smells April and May: he will
carry't, he will carry't; 'tis in his buttons; he will carry't. 60
Page. Not by my consent, I promise you. The gentle-
man is of no having: he kept company with the wild
prince and Poines; he is of too high a region; he knows
too much. No, he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with
the finger of my substance: if he take her, let him take her
simply; the wealth I have waits on my consent, and my
consent goes not that way. 67
Ford. I beseech you heartily, some of you go home
with me to dinner: besides your cheer, you shall have sport;
I will show you a monster. Master doctor, you shall go;
so shall you, Master Page; and you, Sir Hugh. 7i
Shal. Well, fare you well: we shall have the freer
wooing at Master Page's. [Exeunt Shal. and Slen.
Cains. Go home, John Rugby; I come anon.
[Exit Rugby.
46—48 And so... of.] As in Pope. Printed conj.
as verse in FfQ3. 63 Poines] Pointz F^Fg. Poinz F3F4.
47 her] here F2. 65 he take] he takes Q3.
59 April] all April (QA). ™ [Exeunt...] Oapell.
60 huttons]betmes(QlQ2). destiny Anon. 74 [Exit Rugby.] Capell.
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR 255
Host. Farewell, my hearts: I will to my honest knight
Falstaff, and drink canary with him. [Exit. 76
Ford. [Aside] I think I shall drink in pipe-wine first
with him; I'll make him dance. Will you go, gentles?
All. Have with you to see this monster. [Exeunt.
Scene III. A room in Ford's house.
Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress Page:
Mrs Ford. What, John! What, Eobert!
Mrs Page. Quickly, quickly !—is the buck-basket—
Mrs Ford. I warrant. What, Robin, I say!
Enter Servants uith a basket.
Mrs Page. Come, come, come.
Mrs Ford. Here, set it down. 5
Mrs Page. Give your men the charge; we must be brief.
Mrs Ford. Marry, as I told you before, John and
Robert, be ready here hard by in the brew-house; and
when I suddenly call you, come forth, and, without any
pause or staggering, take this basket on your shoulders:
that done, trudge with it in all haste, and carry it among
the whitsters in Datchet-mead, and there empty it in
the muddy ditch close by the Thames side.' 13
76 [Exit.] Exit Host. Capell. Ford, M. Page, Seruants, Robin,
77 in pipe-wine] hornpipe iui?ieTyrwhitt Falstaff, Ford, Page, Caius, Euans.
conj. FfQ3.
Scene hi.] Scene vii. Pope. 3 Enter...] Capell.
A room...] Capell. Ford's House. 6—8 brief. Mrs Ford. Marry...Robert,
Pope. 'be ready] briefe, be ready Q3.
Enter...] Capell. Enter Mistress 12 Datchet-mead] Eowe. Botchet Mead
Ford, Mistress Page, and Servants F1Q3F2F3. Dutchet-Mead F4. •
with a Basket. Howe. Enter M.
256 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mrs Page. You will do it?
Mrs Ford. I ha told them over and over; they lack
no direction. Be gone, and come when you are called. ie
[Exeunt Servants.
Mrs Page. Here comes little Kobin.
Enter Robin.
Mrs Ford. How now, my eyas-musket! what news
with you?
Rob. My master, Sir John, is come in at your back-
door, Mistress Ford, and requests your company. 21
Mrs Page. You little Jack-a-Lent, have you been true
to us?
Rob. Ay, I'll be sworn. My master knows not of your
being here, and hath threatened to put me into everlasting
liberty, if I tell you of it; for he swears he'll turn me away.
Mrs Page. Thou'rt a good boy: this secrecy of thine
shall be a tailor to thee, and shall make thee a new doublet
and hose. Ill go hide me. 29
Mrs Ford. Do so. Go tell thy master I am alone.
[Exit RoUn.'\ Mistress Page, remember you your cue. 31
Mrs Page. I warrant thee; if I do not act it, hiss me.
[Exit.
Mrs Ford. Go to, then: well use this unwholesome
humidity, this gross watery pumpion; well teach him to
know turtles from jays. 35
15 ha'] ha FfQ3. have Capell. 27 Thou'rt] Thou art Singer.
16 [Exeunt Servants.] Johnson. 31 [Exit Robin.] Rowe.
17 Enter Robin.] Rowe. cue] Rowe (ed. 2). Qu FfQ3.
18 eyas-musket] eyes-musket Rowe (ed. 32 [Exit.] Rowe.
2). 34 gross watery] gross watry F4. grosse-
20 your] the Q3. watry FjQgFgFg.
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 257
Enter Falstaff.
Fal. 'Have I caught' thee, 'my heavenly jewel V Why,
now let me die, for I have lived long enough: this is the
period of my ambition: 0 this blessed hour!
Mrs Ford. 0 sweet Sir John! • 39
Fal. Mistress Ford, I cannot cog, I cannot prate,
Mistress Ford. Now shall I sin in my wish: I would thy
husband were dead: 111 speak it before the best lord;
I would make thee my lady.
Mrs Ford. I your lady, Sir John! alas, I should be a
pitiful lady! 45
Fal. Let the court of France show me such another. I
see how thine eye would emulate the diamond: thou hast
the right arched beauty of the brow that becomes the ship-
tire, the tire-valiant, or any tire of Venetian admittance.
Mrs Ford. A plain kerchief, Sir John: my brows be-
come nothing else; nor that well neither. 51
Fal. By the Lord, thou art a traitor to say so: thou
wouldst make an absolute courtier; and the firm fixture of thy
foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait in a semi-
circled farthingale. I see what thou wert, if Fortune thy foe
were not, Nature thy friend. Come, thou canst not hide it.
35 Enter...] F2F3F4. tire of Venetian admittance] FfQ3.
36 Scene viii. Pope. Venetian attire (QxQg) Pope, tire
thee] Ff Q3. om. (QLQ2) Dyce. of Venetian addition Hanmer.
38 my] om. Q3. 52 By the Lord, thou art a traitor]
41 Mistress] Master Q3. (Q1Q2) Singer. Thou art a tyrant
48 beauty] bent (QXQ2) Steevens. bend FfQ3. Thou art a traitor Warburton.
Keightley conj. Thou art a truant Long MS. By
49 tire-valiant] F4. Tyre-valiant FXQ3 the Lord, thou art a tyrant Collier.
F2F3. tire-vellet (QiQ^. tire-vailant 53 fixture] FjQg. fixure F2F3F4.
Warburton. tire-voilant Warbur- 54 gait] Capell. gate Ff Q3.
ton's reading, misquoted by Stee- 55, 56 foe were not, Nature] F2F3F4.
vens. tire-velvet Heath conj. tire- foe, were not Nature F^. foe were
volant Steevens conj. not; Nature is Capell. foe were but,
VOL. I. 17
258 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mrs Ford. Believe me, there's no such thing in me. 57
Fal. What made me love thee? let that persuade thee
there's something extraordinary in thee. Come, I cannot
cog, and say thou art this and that, like a many of these
lisping hawthorn-buds, that come like women in men's ap-
parel, and smell like Bucklersbury hi simple time; I cannot:
but I love thee; none but thee; and thou deservest it.
Mrs Ford. Do not betray me, sir. I fear you love
Mistress Page. 65
Fal. Thou mightst as well say I love to walk by the
Counter-gate, which is as hateful to me as the reek of a
lime-kiln.
Mrs Ford. Well, heaven knows how I love you; and
you shall one day find it. 70
Fal. Keep in that mind; I'll deserve it.
Mrs Ford. Nay, I must tell you, so you do; or else I
could not be in that mind.
Rob. [Within] Mistress Ford, Mistress Ford! here's
Mistress Page at the door, sweating, and blowing, and
looking wildly, and would needs speak with you presently.
Fal. She shall not see me: I will ensconce me behind
the arras.
Mrs Ford. Pray you, do so: she's a very tattling
woman. [Falstaff hides himself. 80
Nature S. Walker conj. foe were 68 lime-kiln] Lime-kill Ff Q3.
not. Nature's Jervis conj. foe, were 74 [Within] F2F3F4. Re-enter Robin.
but Nature Staunton conj. Capell.
58, 59 persuade thee there's] persuade 75 sweating] F^. swearing F2F3F4.
thee There's ('Q1Q2). persuade Thee. 78 [stepping behind it. Capell.
There's Ff. perswade thee: Therms 80 [Falstaff...] Theobald. Falstaff
Q3. stands behind the Arras. Wheatley,
61 buds] birds Long MS. from (QxQg).
62 simple] F1Q3F2. simpling F3F4.
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 259
Re-enter Mistress Page and Robin.
What's the matter? how now!
Mrs Page. 0 Mistress Ford, what have you done?
You re shamed, you're overthrown, you're undone for ever!
Mrs Ford. What's the matter, good Mistress Page?
Mrs Page. 0 well-a-day, Mistress Ford! having an
honest man to your husband, to give him such cause of
suspicion! 87
Mrs Ford. What cause of suspicion?
Mrs Page. What cause of suspicion! Out upon you!
how am I mistook in you! 90
Mrs Ford. Why, alas, what's the matter?
Mrs Page. Your husband's coming hither, woman,
with all the officers in Windsor, to search for a gentleman
that he says is here now in the house, by your consent, to
take an ill advantage of his absence: you are undone. 95
Mrs Ford. Tis not so, I hope.
Mrs Page. Pray heaven it be not so, that you have
such a man here! but 'tis most certain your husband's com-
ing, with half Windsor at his heels, to search for such a one.
I come before to tell you. If you know yourself clear,
why, I am glad of it; but if you have a friend here, convey,
convey him out. Be not amazed; call all your senses to
you; defend your reputation, or bid farewell to your good
life for ever. 104
Mrs Ford. What shall I do? There is a gentleman
my dear friend; and I fear not mine own shame so much
as his peril: I had rather than a thousand pound he were
out of the house. xos
Re-enter...] Dyce. Enter Mis. 96 'Tis not so] Speak louder —[Aside]
Page. F2F3F4. om. F^. 'Tis not so Theobald, from (QiQ.,).
81 Scene ix. Pope. (aside) Speak louder. (Aloud.) 'Tis
92 hither] hether F1Q3. not so Wheatley.
17—2
260 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mrs Page. For shame! never stand 'you had rather'
and 'you had rather:' your husband's here at hand; be-
think you of some conveyance: in the house you cannot
hide him. 0, how have you deceived me! Look, here is a
basket: if he be of any reasonable stature, he may creep
in here; and throw foul linen upon him, as if it were going
to bucking: or,—it is whiting-time,—send him by your two
men to Datchet-mead. 116
Mrs Ford. He's too big to go in there. What shall
I do?
Fal [Coming forward] Let me see't, let me see't,
0, let me see't!—I'll in, I'll in.—Follow your friend's
counsel.—I'll in. 121
Mrs Page. What, Sir John Falstaff! Are these your
letters, knight?
Fal. I love thee.—Help me away.—Let me creep in
here.—I'll never— 125
\Gets into the basket; they cover him with foul linen.
Mrs Page. Help to cover your master, boy.—Call your
men, Mistress Ford.—You dissembling knight!
Mrs Ford. What, John! Robert! John! [Exit Robin.
Re-enter Servants.
Go take up these clothes here quickly.—Where's the cowl-
staff? look, how you drumble!—Carry them to the laundress
in Datchet-mead; quickly, come. 131
110 and] oni. Q3. 125 [Gets...linen.] Rowe. Gets...
119 [Coming forward.] Enter F. Rowe. basket and falles ouer. Collier
Ee-enter Falstaff. Pope, [start- MS.
ing from his concealment. Capell. 128 John! Robert] John Rugby Q3.
124 / love thee] Ff Q3. / love thee and [Exit Robin.] Malone.
none but thee (Q^) Malone. A Re-enter Servants.] Capell.
quotation, Nicholson conj.
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 261
Enter Ford, Page, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Ford. Pray you, come near: if I suspect without cause,
why then make sport at me; then let me be your jest;
I deserve it.—How now! whither bear you this?
Serv. To the laundress, forsooth. 135
Mrs Ford. Why, what have you to do whither they
bear it? You were best meddle with buck-washing.
Ford. Buck!—I would I could wash myself of the buck!
—Buck, buck, buck! Ay, buck; I warrant you, buck; and
of the season too, it shall appear. [Exeunt Servants with the
basket] Gentlemen, I have dreamed to-night; I'll tell you
my dream. Here, here, here be my keys: ascend my cham-
bers; search, seek, find out: HI warrant we'll unkennel the
fox. Let me Stop this way first. [Locking the door.] So,
now uncape. . 145
Page. Good Master Ford, be contented: you wrong
yourself too much.
Ford. True, Master Page. Up, gentlemen; you shall
see sport anon: follow me, gentlemen. [Exit.
Evans. This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies.
Caius. By gar, 'tis no the fashion of France; it is not
jealous in France. 152
Page. Nay, follow him, gentlemen; see the issue of
hlS search. [Exeunt Page, Caius, and Evans.
132 Scene x. Pope. 149 [Exit.] Exit Ford. Capell.
Enter...] Rowe. 151 no the] F4. no-the F^F^. no
134 Row now!] Hoio now? ivho goes de Hanmer.
here? Halliwell, from (Q^). How 152 [Seuerall wayes Exeunt. Collier
now! what's here? Jervis conj. MS.
140, 141 [Exeunt...basket.] Rowe. 154 [Exeunt...] Capell. Exeunt. F2F3F4
144 [Locking the door.] Capell. (after line 152). om. F^.
144, 145 So, noiu uncape] om. Pope. Exeunt (at line 152). Manent
So, now uncouple Hanmer. Mistress Page and Mistress Ford.
145 uncape] uncase Anon. conj. Rowe.
262
THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mrs Page, Is there not a double excellency in this?
Mrs Ford. I know not which pleases me better, that
my husband is deceived, or Sir John. 157
Mrs Page. What a taking was he in when your hus-
band asked who was hi the basket!
Mrs Ford. I am half afraid he will have need of wash-
ing; so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit.
Mrs Page. Hang him, dishonest rascal! I would all of
the same strain were in the same distress.
Mrs Ford. I think my husband hath some special sus-
picion of Falstaff s being here; for I never saw him so gross
in his jealousy till now. 166
Mrs Page. I will lay a plot to try that; and we will
yet have more tricks with Falstaff: his dissolute disease
will scarce obey this medicine.
Mrs Ford. Shall we send that foolish carrion, Mistress
Quickly, to him, and excuse his throwing into the water;
and give him another hope, to betray him to another pun-
ishment?
Mrs Page. "We will do it: let him be sent for to-morrow,
eight o'clock, to have amends. 175
Re-enter Ford, Page, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Ford. I cannot find him: may be the knave brag-
ged of that he could not compass.
Mrs Page. [Aside to Mrs Ford] Heard you that?
Mrs Ford. You use me well, Master Ford, do you?
155 Scene xi. Pope. morrow by eight F2F3F4.
159 who] what Staunton (Ritson conj.). 175 Re-enter...] Rowe. Enter AIL
170 foolish] F2F3F4. foolishion F^. F2F3F4. om. F^.
foolish eye on—carry on Jackson 178 [Aside to Mrs Ford] Capell.
conj. 179 You use...]IyI; peace:— You use...
174 We will] FXF2. We >l F3F4. Theobald, from (QXQ2).
174, 175 to-morrow, eight] F-^. to- .
SCENE III.
OF WINDSOR. 263
Ford. Ay, I do so. 180
Mrs Ford. Heaven make you better than your
thoughts!
Ford. Amen!
Mrs Page. You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford.
Ford. Ay, ay; I must bear it. 185
Evans. If there be any pody in the house, and in the
chambers, and in the coffers, and in the presses, heaven for-
give my sins at the day of judgement!
Caius. By gar, nor I too: there is no bodies.
Page. Fie, 'fie,. Master Ford! are you not ashamed?
"What spirit, what devil suggests this imagination? I would
not ha' your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Wind-
sor Castle. 193
Ford. "lis my fault, Master Page: I suffer for it.
Evans. You suffer for a pad conscience: your wife is
as honest a 'omans as I will desires among five thousand,
and five hundred too.
Caius. By gar, I see 'tis an honest woman. 198
Ford. Well, 1 promised you a dinner.—Come, come,
walk in the Park: I pray you, pardon me; I will hereafter
make known to you why I have done this.—Come, wife;
come, Mistress Page.—I pray you, pardon me; pray heart-
ily pardon me. 203
Page. Let's go in, gentlemen; but, trust me, we'll
mock him. I do invite you to-morrow morning to my
house to breakfast: after, we'll a-birding together; I have
a fine hawk for the bush. Shall it be so? 207
Ford. Any thing;
180 Ay, I] I, IF1Q3F2. i, 2, / F3F4. om. F2F3F4.
181 Mrs Ford] M. Ford. F^. Mis. 189 By gar] F3F4. Be gar F^,.
Page F2F3F4. there] dere Hanmer.
you] me Capell (Errata). 192 ha?] have Capell.
188 at the day of judgement] F^. 202, 203 heartily] F4. harily F1Q3F2F3.
264 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Evans, If there is one, I shall make two in the com-
pany. 210
Cains. If there be one or two, I shall make-a the turd.
Ford. Pray you, go, Master Page.
Evans. I pray you now, remembrance to-morrow on
the lousy knave, mine host.
Caius. Dat is good; by gar, with all my heart! 215
Evans. A lousy knave, to have his gibes and his
mockeries! [Exeunt.
Scene IV. A room in Page's liouse.
Enter Fenton cmd Anne Page.
Fent. I see I cannot get thy father's love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
Anne. Alas, how then?
Fent. Why, thou must be thyself.
He doth object I am too great of birth;
And that, my state being gall'd with my expense, 5
I seek to heal it only by his wealth:
Besides these, other bars he lays before me,—
My riots past, my wild societies;
And tells me 'tis a thing impossible
I should love thee but as a property. 10
Anne. May be he tells you true.
211 there] dere Hanmer. Enter...] Enter Fenton, and Mis-
the]de H&nmer. tress Anne Page. Rowe. Enter
Theobald inserts from (QA), Fenton, Anne Page, Shallow, Slen-
Evans. In your Teeth: for Shame! der, Quickly, Page, Mist. Page. Ff
215 with] vit Capell. (Anne, Fx) Q3.
Scene iv.] Scene xn. Pope. V Besides these, other] FfQ3. Besides,
A room in...] Capell. Page's house. these other S. Walker conj.
pope> 8 societies] society S. Walker conj.
SCENE IV# OF WINDSOR. 265
Fent. No, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
Albeit I will confess thy father s wealth
Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne:
Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value 15
Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags;
And 'tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.
Anne. Gentle Master Fenton,
Yet seek my father's love; still seek it, sir:
If opportunity and humblest suit 20
Cannot attain it, why, then,—hark you hither!
[They converse apart.
Enter Shallow, Slender, and Mistress Quickly.
Shal. Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman
shall speak for himself.
Slen. I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'slid, 'tis but
venturing. 25
Shal. Be not dismayed.
Slen. No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for
that, but that I am afeard.
Quick. Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word
with you. 30
Anne. I come to him. [Aside] This is my father's
choice.
0, what a world of vile ill-favour d faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!
12 Fent.] om. Fr Theobald.
my] the Capell (altered to my in his 22 Scene xiii. Pope,
own hand). Enter...] Rowe.
20 opportunity] importunity Hanmer 28 but that] F^Fg. but F3F4.
(Thirlby conj.). 31 [Aside] Marked by Capell.
21 [They converse apart.] Capell. 32 vile] Rowe. vilde Ff Q3.
Fenton and Mrs. Anne go apart. 33 Looks] Look Rowe.
266 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Quick. And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you,
a word with you. 35
Shal. She's coming; to her, coz. 0 boy, thou hadst
a father!
Slen. I had a father, Mistress Anne; my uncle can
tell you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress
Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen,
good uncle. 41
Shal. Mistress Amie, my cousin loves you.
Slen. Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in
Gloucestershire.
Shal. He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. 45
Slen. Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under
the degree of a squire.
Shal. He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds
jointure.
Anne. Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself. 50
Shal. Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that
good comfort. She calls you, coz: I'll leave you.
Anne. Now, Master Slender,—
Slen. Now, good Mistress Anne,—
Anne. What is your will? 55
Slen. My will! od's heartlings, that's a pretty jest in-
deed! I ne'er made my will yet, I thank heaven ; I am not
such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.
Anne. I mean, Master Slender, what would you with
me? 60
Slen. Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing
with you. Your father and my uncle hath made motions:
if it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his dole! They
40 pen] henloft (QiQ2) Halliwell. 62 my] om. Q3.
52 [Stands back. Collier (ed. 2). hath] have F4.
(backe) Collier MS.
SCENE IV. OF WINDSOR. 267
can tell you how things go better than I can: you may
ask your father; here he comes. 65
Enter Page and Mistress Page.
Page. Now, Master Slender: love him, daughter Anne.—
Why, how now! what does Master Fenton here?
You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house:
I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of.
Fent. Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. 70
Mrs Page. Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
Page. She is no match for you.
Fent. Sir, will you hear me?
Page. No, good Master Fenton.
Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in.
Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton. 75
[Exeunt Page, Shal., and Slen.
Quick. Speak to Mistress Page.
Fent. Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter
In such a righteous fashion as I do,
Perforce, against all checks, rebukes and manners,
I must advance the colours of my love, 80
And not retire: let me have your good will.
Anne. Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
Mrs Page. I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
Quick. That's my master, master doctor.
Anne. Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth, 85
And bowl'd to death with turnips!
65 ash] om. Q3. [Exeunt...] Eowe.
66 Scene xiv. Pope. 80 of] or Q3.
Enter...] Howe. 85, 86 Anne. Alas,...turnips/] Anne.
67 Fenton] Fenter Yv Alas,...earth. Quia And...turnips.
75 mind] wind F2. Warburton.
268 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Mrs Page. Come, trouble not yourself. Good Master
Fenton,
I will not be your friend nor enemy:
My daughter will I question how she loves you,
And as I find her, so am I affected. 90
Till then farewell, sir: she must needs go in;
Her father will be angry.
Fent. Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.
[Exeunt Mrs Page and Anne.
Quick. This is my doing now: 'Nay,' said I, 'will you
cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look on
Master Fenton:' this is my doing. 96
Fent. I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night
Give my sweet Nan this ring: there's for thy pains.
Quick. Now heaven send thee good fortune! [Exit
Fenton.] A kind heart he hath: a woman would run
through fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet
I would my master had Mistress Anne; or I would
Master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would Master
Fenton had her: I will do what I can for them all three;
for so I have promised, and 111 be as good as my word;
but speciously for Master Fenton. Well, I must of another
errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses: what
a beast am I to slack it! [Exit 108
87, 88 Come...enemy:] Arranged as in mistress] mistress Page Keightley.
Rowe (ed. 2). Prose in Ff. [Exeunt...] Eowe.
87 yourself. Good] your self; good 95 and] or Hanmer.
Warburton. your selfe good Ff Q3. 99, 100 [Exit Fenton.] Exit. F2F3F4
92 angry] angry else Jervis conj. (at line 98).
93 gentle] my gentle Capell. 108 [Exit.] Exeunt. F^.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 269
Scene V. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Falstafp and Bardolph.
Fal. Bardolph, I say,—
Bard. Here, sir.
Fed. Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in;t. [Exit
Bard.] Have I lived to be carried in a basket, like a barrow
of butcher's offal, and to be thrown in the Thames? Well,
if I be served such another trick, 111 have my brains ta;en
out, and buttered, and give them to a dog for a new-year's
gift. The rogues slighted me into the river with as little
remorse as they would have drowned a blind bitch's pup-
pies, fifteen i' the litter: and you may know by my size
that I have a kind of alacrity in sinking; if the bottom
were as deep as hell, I should down. I had been drowned,
but that the shore was shelvy and shallow,—a death that
I abhor; for the water swells a man; and what a thing
should I have been when I had been swelled! I should
have been a mountain of mummy. 16
He-enter Bardolph with sack.
Bard. Here's Mistress Quickly, sir, to speak with you.
Fal. Come, let me pour in some sack to the Thames
water; for my belly's as cold as if I had swallowed snow-
balls for pills to cool the reins. Call her in. 20
Bard. Come in, woman!
Scene v.] Scene xv. Pope. blind batch of Williams conj. (Par-
A room...] Capell. The Garter Inn. thenon, 1862).
P°Pe- 16 mummy] mummy. Now, is the Sack
Enter...] Bowe. Enter Falstaffe, brewed? Theobald, from (Q^).
Bardolfe, Quickly, Ford. FfQ3. Re-enter...] Dyce. Be-enter Bar-
3, 4 [Exit Bard.] Theobald. dolph, with the Wine. Capell.
5 in] into Howe. Enter Bardolph. Theobald.
9 blind bitch's] bitch's blind Theobald. 20 [Drinks. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
270 t THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
Enter Mistress Quickly.
Quick. By your leave; I cry you mercy: give your
worship good morrow.
Fal. Take away these chalices. Go brew me a pottle
of sack finely. 25
Bard. With eggs, sir?
Fal. Simple of itself; I'll no pullet-sperm in my brew-
age. [Exit Eardolph.] How HOW!
Quick. Marry, sir, I come to your worship from Mis-
tress Ford. 30
Fed. Mistress Ford! I have had ford enough; I was
thrown into the ford; I have my belly full of ford.
Quick. Alas the day! good heart, that was not her
fault: she does so take on with her men; they mistook
their erection. 35
Fal. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's
promise.
Quick. Well, she laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn
your heart to see it. Her husband goes this morning
a-birding; she desires you once more to come to her
between eight and nine: I must carry her word quickly:
she'll make you amends, I warrant you. 42
Fed. Well, I will visit her: tell her .so; and bid her
think what a man is: let her consider his frailty, and then
judge of my merit. 45
Quick. I will tell her.
Fal. Do so. Between nine and ten, sayest thou?
Quick. Eight and nine, sir.
22 Scene xvi. Pope. 28 [Exit...] Capell.
Enter...] Enter Quickly. F2F3F4. 29 Mistress] Kowe. M. F^. Mi.
om. FiQj. F2F3F4.
23 morrow] even Daniel conj. 38 yearn] Capell. yern F^FgF^.
24 pottle] posset Grant White. yerne F2.
27 pullet-sperm] Pullet-Spersme F1Q3. 39 this] to-morrow or in the Daniel conj.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 271
Fal. Well, be gone: I will not miss her.
Quick. Peace be with you, sir. [Exit. so
Fal. I marvel I hear not of Master Brook; he sent me
word to stay within: I like his money well.—0, here he
comes.
Enter Ford.
Ford. Bless you, sir!
Fal. Now, Master Brook,—you come to know what
hath passed between me and Ford's wife? 56
Ford. That, indeed, Sir John, is my business.
Fal. Master Brook, I will not lie to you: I was at her
house the hour she appointed me.
Ford. And sped you, sir? 60
Fal. Very ill-favouredly, Master Brook.
Ford. How so, sir? Did she change her determination?
Fal. No, Master Brook; but the peaking Cornuto her
husband, Master Brook, dwelling in a continual larum of
jealousy, comes me in the instant of our encounter, after
we had embraced, kissed, protested, and, as it were, spoke
the prologue of our comedy; and at his heels a rabble of
his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his
distemper, and, forsooth, to search his house for his wife's
love. 70
Ford. What, while you were there?
Fal. While I was there.
Ford. And did he search for you, and could not find
you? 74
Fal. You shall hear. As good luck would have it,
comes in one Mistress Page; gives intelligence of Ford's
50 [Exit.] om. F^. 62 How so, sir] F^F* How Sir F3F4.
51 Act iv. Scene i. Daniel conj. 63 Cornuto] Curnuto F^.
53 Enter Ford.] om. F^g. 65 me] om. F4.
60 sped you] you sped Eowe. how sped 69, 77 wife's] Howe, wines FfQ3.
you (QiQg) Dyce (ed. 2).
272 THE MERRY WIVES ACT III.
approach; and, in her invention and Ford's wife's distrac-
tion, they conveyed me into a buck-basket.
Ford. A buck-basket! * 79
Fal. By the Lord, a buck-basket!—rammed me in with
foul shirts and smocks, socks, foul stockings, greasy nap-
kins; that, Master Brook, there was the rankest compound
of villanous smell that ever offended nostril.
Ford. And how long lay you there? 84
Fal. Nay, you shall hear, Master Brook, what I have
suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good. Being
thus crammed in the basket, a couple of Ford's knaves, his
hinds, were called forth by their mistress to carry me in the
name of foul clothes to Datchet-lane: they took me on their
shoulders; met the jealous knave their master in the door,
who asked them once or twice what they had in their
basket: I quaked for fear, lest the lunatic knave would
have searched it; but fate, ordaining he should be a cuck-
old, held his hand. Well: on went he for a search, and
away went I for foul clothes. But mark the sequel, Master
Brook: I suffered the pangs of three several deaths; first,
an intolerable fright, to be detected with a jealous rotten
bell-wether; next, to be compassed, like a good bilbo, in
the circumference of a peck, hilt to point, heel to head;
and then, to be stopped in, like a strong distillation, with
stinking clothes that fretted in their own grease: think of
that,—a man of my kidney,—think of that,—that am as
subject to heat as butter; a man of continual dissolution
and thaw: it was a miracle to 'scape suffocation. And in
the height of this bath, when I was more than half stewed
in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames,
77 in] by (QXQ2) Theobald. 83 smell] smells Hanmer.
77, 78 distraction] direction Hanmer 96 several] egregious (QiQ2) Pope.
(Warburton). 97 with] by Rowe (ed. 2).
80 By the Lord] (QiQ2) Malone. Yes jealous] iealiozcs FXQ3.
F^. Yea F2F3F4. 106 in] is F2.
81 greasy] and greasie Eowe. dish] fish Wheatley conj.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 273
and cooled, glowing hot, in that surge, like a horse-shoe;
think of that,—hissing hot,—think of that, Master Brook.
Ford. In good sadness, sir, I am sorry that for my sake
you have suffered all this. My suit, then, is desperate;
you'll undertake her no more? ill
Fal. Master Brook, I will be thrown into Etna, as I
have been into Thames, ere I will leave her thus. Her
husband is this morning gone a-birding: I have received
from her another embassy of meeting; 'twixt eight and
nine is the hour, Master Brook. lie
Ford. Tis past eight already, sir.
Fal. Is it? I will then address me to my appoint-
ment. Come to me at your convenient leisure, and you
shall know how I speed; and the conclusion shall be
crowned with your enjoying her. Adieu. You shall have
her, Master Brook; Master Brook, you shall cuckold Ford.
[Exit 122
Ford. Hum! ha! is this a vision? is this a dream? do
I sleep? Master Ford, awake! awake, Master Ford! there's
a hole made in your best coat, Master Ford. This 'tis to
be married! this 'tis to have linen and buck-baskets!
Well, I will proclaim myself what I am: I will now take
the lecher; he is at my house; he cannot 'scape me; 'tis
impossible he should; he cannot creep into a halfpenny
purse, nor into a pepper-box: but, lest the devil that guides
him should aid him, I will search impossible places.
Though what I am I cannot avoid, yet to be what I would
not shall not make me tame: if I have horns to make
one mad, let the proverb go with me,—I'll be horn-mad.
[Exit. 134
107 surge] forge Capell conj. 122 [Exit.] om. F^.
110 have suffered^] suffered F4. 130 nor] not Q3.
111 more?] more. Singer. 134 one] me Dyce (Collier MS.).
114 is] in F2. [Exit.] Rowe. Exeunt. FfQ3.
115 embassy] ambassie FfQ3.
VOL. I. 18
274 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV0
ACT IV.
Scene I. A street
Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Quickly, and William.
Mrs Page. Is he at Master Ford's already, think'st
thou?
Quick Sure he is by this, or will be presently: but,
truly, he is very courageous mad about his throwing into
the water. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly. 5
Mrs Page. Ill be with her by and by; I'll but bring
my young man here to school. Look, where his master
comes; 'tis a playing-day, I see.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans.
How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day?
Evans. No; Master Slender is let the boys leave to
play. 11
Quick. Blessing of his heart!
Mrs Page. Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits
nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him
some questions in his accidence. 15
Evans. Come hither, William; hold up your head; come.
Mrs Page. Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; an-
swer your master, be not afraid.
Evans. William, how many numbers is in nouns?
Will. Two. 20
Quick. Truly, I thought there had been one number
more, because they say, 'Od's nouns.'
Evans. Peace your tattlings! What is 'fair,' William?
A Street] Capell. Page's House. Page, Quickly, William, Euans. Ff.
Pope. 8 Enter...] Enter Evans. Rowe.
Enter...] Rowe. Enter Mistris 10 let] get Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS..).
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 275
Will. Pulcher.
Quick. Polecats! there are fairer things than polecats,
sure. 26
Evans. You are a very simplicity 'oman: I pray you,
peace.—What is 'lapis/ William?
Will. A stone.
Evans. And what is 'a stone/ William? 30
Will. A pebble.
Evans. No, it is 'lapis': I pray you, remember in your
prain.
Will. Lapis.
Evans.. That is a good William. What is he, William,
that does lend articles? 36
Will. Articles are borrowed of the pronoun, and be
thus declined, Singulariter, nominativo, hie, haec, hoc.
Evans. Nominativo, hig, hag, hog; pray you, mark:
genitivo, hujus. Well, what is your accusative case? 40
Will. Accusativo, hinc.
Evans. I pray you, have your remembrance, child;
accusativo, hung, hang, hog.
Quick. 'Hang-hog' is Latin for bacon, I warrant you.
Evans. Leave your prabbles, 'oman.—What is the
focative case, William? 46
Will. 0,—vocativo, 0.
Evans. Remember, William; focative is caret.
Quick. And that's a good root.
Evans. 'Oman, forbear. 50
Mrs Page. Peace!
Evans. What is your genitive case plural, William?
25 polecats] powlcat Q3. 43 hung] Pope, hing FfQ3.
35 a good] good Reed (1803). good, 44 Latin] Rowe. latten F^Fg. La-
Boswell. tine F3F4.
41 Accusativo] Accusative F3F4. 45 your] you F4.
hinc] hunc Halliwell.
18—2
276 THE MEKRY WIVES ACT IV.
Will. Genitive case!
Evans. Ay.
Will. Genitive,—horum, harum, horuin. 55
Quick. Vengeance of Jennys case! fie on her! never
name her, child, if she be a whore,
Evans. For shame, oman.
Quick. You do ill to teach the child such words:—he
teaches him to hick and to hack, which they'll do fast
enough of themselves, and to call 'horum':—fie upon
you! 62
Evans. 'Oman, art thou lunatics? hast thou no under-
standings for thy cases, and the numbers of the genders?
Thou art as foolish Christian creatures as I would desires. 65
Mrs Page. Prithee, hold thy peace.
Evans. Show me now, William, some declensions of
your pronouns.
Will. Forsooth, I have forgot.
Evans. It is qui, quae, quod: if you forget your
'quies/ your 'quaes/ and your 'quods,' you must be preeches.
Go your ways, and play; go. 72
Mrs Page. He is a better scholar than I thought he
was.
Evans. He is a good sprag memory. Farewell, Mis-
tress Page. 76
Mrs Page. Adieu, good Sir Hugh. [Exit Sir Hugh.
Get you home, boy. Come, we stay too long. [Exeunt.
55 Genitive] Genitivo Singer. 65 desires] desire Pope.
56 Jenny's] Ginyes EfQ3. 70 qui, quae, quod] ki, kce, cod Steevens.
60 to hick and to hack] to 'hie* and to 70, 71 quce...quces] que...ques FfQ3.
(-haci Wheatley. your ^quies] your ^quoes] and your
61 fioruni] whoreum Jackson conj. '•quods'] your kies, your kces, and
63 lunatics] lunaticks Capell. lunatics your cods Steevens.
Ff Q3. lunacies Rowe. 77 [Exit Sir Hugh.] Steevens (1793).
64 of] and Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
SCENE IT. OF WINDSOR. 277
Scene II. A room in Ford's house.
Enter Falstaff and Mistress Ford.
Fal. Mistress Ford, your sorrow hath eaten up my
sufferance. I see you are obsequious in your love, and
I profess requital to a hair's breadth; not only, Mistress
Ford, in the simple office of love, but in all the accoutre-
ment, complement, and ceremony of it. But are you sure
of your husband now? 6
Mrs Ford. He's a-birding, sweet Sir John.
Mrs Page. [Within] What, ho, gossip Ford! what, ho!
Mrs Ford. Step into the chamber, Sir John.
[Exit Falstaff.
Enter Mistress Page.
Mrs Page. How now, sweetheart! who's at home be-
sides yourself? 11
Mrs Ford. Why, none but mine own people.
Mrs Page. Indeed!
Mrs Ford. No, certainly. [Aside to her~\ Speak louder.
Mrs Page. Truly, I am so glad you have nobody here. 15
Mrs Ford. Why?
Mrs Page. Why, woman, your husband is in his old
lunes again: he so takes on yonder with my husband; so
rails against all married mankind; so curses all Eve's
daughters, of what complexion soever; and so buffets him-
A room...] Capell. Ford's house. 9 [Exit...] Rowe.
Pope. Enter...] Rowe. Enter F2F3F4. om.
Enter...] Rowe. Enter Falstoffe, Mist. F^.
Ford, Mist. Page, Seraants, Ford, 10 who's] whose Fr
Page, Cains, Euans, Shallow. FfQ3. 14 [Aside to her] Dyce. Aside. Theo-
4 accoutrement] Capell. accustrement bald.
F1Q3. accoustrement F2F3F4. 18 lunes] Theobald, lines Ff Q3. vaine
8 [Within.] Rowe. (QiQ2)-
278 THE MEHHY WIVES ACT IV.
self on the forehead, crying, 'Peer out, peer out!' that any
madness I ever yet beheld seemed but tameness, civility,
and patience, to this his distemper he is in now: I am glad
the fat knight is not here.
Mrs Ford. Why, does he talk of him? 25
Mrs Page. Of none but him; and swears he was car-
ried out, the last time he searched for him, in a basket;
protests to my husband he is now here; and hath drawn
him and the rest of their company from their sport, to make
another experiment of his suspicion: but I am glad the
knight is not here; now he shall see his own foolery. 31
Mrs Ford. How near is he, Mistress Page?
Mrs Page. Hard by, at street end; he will be here anon.
Mrs Ford. I am undone!—the knight is here.
Mrs Page. Why, then, you are utterly shamed, and
he's but a dead man. What a woman are you !—Away
with him, away with him! better shame than murder. 37
Mrs Ford. Which way should he go? how should I
bestow him? Shall I put him into the basket again?
Re-enter Falstaff.
Fal. No, I'll come no more i' the basket. May I not
go out ere he come? 41
Mrs Page. Alas, three of Master Ford's brothers watch
the door with pistols, that none shall issue out; otherwise
you might slip away ere he came. But what make you
here? 45
Fal. What shall I do?—I'll creep up into the chimney.
Mrs Ford. There they always use to discharge their
birding-pieces. Creep into the kiln-hole.
23 Ms] om. Collier MS. 40 Scene hi. Pope.
33 street] FXQ3. streets F2F3F4. 43 pistols] Pistol Jackson conj.
39 Ee-enter F.] Capell. Enter Falstaff. 48 Creep into the kiln-hole] Given to
Eowe. Enter. F2F3F4. Enter in Mrs Page by Dyce (Malone conj.).
fright. Collier MS*, om. Fr kiln-hole] Capell. Kill-hole FfQ3.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 279
Fal. Where is it?
Mrs Ford. He will seek there, on my word. Neither
press, coffer, chest, trunk, well, vault, but he hath an abs-
tract for the remembrance of such places, and goes to
them by his note: there is no hiding you in the house.
Fal. Ill go out, then. 54
Mrs Page. If you go out in your own semblance, you
die, Sir John. Unless you go out disguised,—
Mrs Ford. How might we disguise him?
Mrs Page. Alas the day, I know not! There is no
woman's gown big enough for him; otherwise he might put
on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so escape. 60
Fal. Good hearts, devise something: any extremity
rather than a mischief.
Mrs Ford. My maid's aunt, the fat woman of Brent-
ford, has a gown above.
Mrs Page. On my word, it will serve him; she's as big
as he is: and there's her thrummed hat, and her muffler
too. Run up, Sir John. 67
Mrs Ford. Go, go, sweet Sir John: Mistress Page and
I will look some linen for your head.
Mrs Page. Quick, quick! we'll come dress you straight:
put on the gown the while. [Exit Falstaff. 71
Mrs Ford. I would my husband would meet him in
this shape: he cannot abide the old woman of Brentford;
he swears she's a witch; forbade her my house, and hath
threatened to beat her. 75
Mrs Page. Heaven guide him to thy husband's cudgel,
and the devil guide his cudgel afterwards!
55 Mrs Page.] (QiQ2) Malone. Mist. 63, 73, 85,150, and passim. Brentford]
Ford. FfQ3. Brainforcl (Q^) FfQ3.
57 Mrs Ford.] om. F2F3F4. 66 th-iimmed]thrum'dY^^z. thrumbF^.
60 a kerchief] kerchiefe Q3. 71 [Exit Falstaff.] Exit. F2F3F4. om.
62 a mischief] mischief F4. E1Q3.
280 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Mrs Ford. But is my husband coming?
Mrs Page. Ay, in good sadness, is lie; and talks of
the basket too, howsoever he hath had intelligence. 80
Mrs Ford. We'll try that; for I'll appoint my men to
carry the basket again, to meet him at the door with it, as
they did last time.
Mrs Page. Nay, but he'll be here presently: let's go
dress him like the witch of Brentford. 85
Mrs Ford. I'll first direct my men what they shall do
with the basket. Go up; I'll bring linen for him straight.
[Exit.
Mrs Page. Hang him, dishonest varlet! we cannot mis-
use him enough.
We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do, 90
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too:
We do not act that often jest and laugh;
'Tis old, but true,—Still swine eats all the draff. [Exit.
Re-enter Mistress Ford with two Servants.
Mrs Ford. Go, sirs, take the basket again on your
shoulders: your master is hard at door; if he bid you set it
down, obey him: quickly, dispatch. [Exit. 96
First Serv. Come, come, take it up.
Sec. Serv. Pray heaven it be not full of knight again.
First Serv. I hope not; I had as lief bear so much lead.
87 [Exit.] Capell. Rowe (after 1. 96).
89 him] F2F3F4. om. F^. 96 quickly, dispatch] quickly despatch
93 eats] eat Johnson. Singer.
draff] Capell. draugh FfQ3. [Exit.] Capell. Exeunt Mrs Page
[Exit. Ke-enter...] Malone. Exit. and Mrs Ford. Theobald.
Re-enter...her two Men. Capell. 98 knight] F^. the knight F2F3F4.
Enter Servants with the Basket. 99 as lief] F2F3F4. liefe as F^.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 281
Enter Ford, Page, Shallow, Caius, and Sir Hugh Evans.
Ford. Ay, but if it prove true, Master Page, have you
any way then to unfool me again? Set down the basket,
villain! Somebody call my wife. Youth in a basket!—O
you pandarly rascals! there's a knot, a ging, a pack, a con-
spiracy against me: now shall the devil be shamed.—What,
wife, I say!—Come, come forth! Behold what honest
clothes you send forth to bleaching! 106
Page. Why, this passes, Master Ford; you are not to
go loose any longer; you must be pinioned.
Evans. Why, this is lunatics! this is mad as a mad
dog! no
Shal. Indeed, Master Ford, this is not well, indeed.
Ford. So say I too, sir.
Re-enter Mistress Ford.
Come hither, Mistress Ford; Mistress Ford, the honest wo-
man, the modest wife, the virtuous creature, that hath the
jealous fool to her husband! I suspect without cause, mis-
tress, do I? 116
Mrs Ford. Heaven be my witness you do, if you sus-
pect me in any dishonesty.
Ford. Well said, brazen-face! hold it out. Come forth,
sirrah! [Pulling clothes out of the basket. 120
100 Scene iv. Pope. 105 wife] om. Rowe.
Enter...and Sir Hugh Evans] Enter 107 passes, Master Ford; you] passes!
...and Evans. Rowe. Master Ford, you Capell.
Caius,] om. Capell. not] not fit Gould conj.
101 again?] againe. F^. 112 Re-enter...] Dyce. Enter...Capell.
102 villain] villains Dyce (Collier MS.). Enter...Theobald (after line 110).
Youth in a basket] You youth in a 115 jealous] iealious Fx.
basket, come out here Malone, from 120 Pulling ...] Pulls the... Rowe.
(QiQ2)- Throwes about the cloathes all
103 pandarly] Ed. Fanderly EfQ3. ouer the stage. Collier MS.
ging] E2E3E4. gin F^. gang ...basket.]basket, and throws them
Rowe. all over the stage. Collier, ed. 2.
104 shamed] ashamed F2.
282 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Page. This passes!
Mrs Ford. Are you not ashamed? let the clothes alone.
Ford. I shall find you anon.
Evans. Tis unreasonable! Will you take up your
wife's clothes? Come away. 125
Ford. Empty the basket, I say!
Mrs Ford. Why, man, why?
Ford. Master Page, as I am a man, there was one con-
veyed out of my house yesterday in this basket: why may
not he be there again? In my house I am sure he is: my
intelligence is true; my jealousy is reasonable. Pluck me
out all the linen.
Mrs Ford. If you find a man there, he shall die a flea's
death.
Page. Here's no man. 135
Slial. By my fidelity, this is not well, Master Ford;
this wrongs you.
Evans. Master Ford, you must pray, and not follow the
imaginations of your own heart: this is jealousies.
Ford. Well, he's not here I seek for. uo
Page. No, nor nowhere else but in your brain.
Ford. Help to search my house this one time. If I
find not what I seek, show no colour for my extremity; let
me for ever be your table-sport; let them say of me, 'As
jealous as Ford, that searched a hollow walnut for his wife's
leman.' Satisfy me once more; once more search with me.
Mrs Ford. What, ho, Mistress Page! come you and the
old woman down; my husband will come into the chamber.
Ford. Old woman! what old woman's that? 149
122 ashamed?] asham'd, EfQ3. 134 [All clothes thrown out. Collier
125 wife's] Kowe. wiues FfQ3. (ed- 2)- a11 throwne out. Collier
Come away] Rowe. Come, away MS.
FfQ3. 145 wife's] Pope, wiues FfQ3.
130 again?] againe, FjQg.
SCENE II. OF WINDSOR. 283
Mrs Ford. Why, it is my maid's aunt of Brentford.
Ford. A witch, a quean, an old cozening quean! Have
I not forbid her my house? She comes of errands, does
she? We are simple men; we do not know what's brought
to pass under the profession of fortune-telling. She works
by charms, by spells, by the figure, and such daubery as
this is, beyond our element: we know nothing. Come
down, you witch, you hag, you; come down, I say! 157
Mrs Ford. Nay, good, sweet husband !—Good gentle-
men, let him not strike the old woman.
Re-enter Falstaff in woman's clothes, and Mistress Page.
Mrs Page. Come, Mother Prat; come, give me your
hand. 161
Ford. Ill prat her. [Beating him] Out of my door,
you witch, you hag, you baggage, you polecat, you ron-
yon! out, out! Ill conjure you, 111 fortune-tell you.
[Exit Falstaff.
Mrs Page. Are you not ashamed? I think you have
killed the poor woman. 166
Mrs Ford. Nay, he will do it. Tis a goodly credit for
you.
Ford. Hang her, witch!
Evans. By yea and no, I think the oman is a witch in-
deed: I like not when a 'oman has a great peard; I spy a
great peard under his muffler. 172
152 house?] house. FXQ3. Fal. F2F3F4. om. F^.
156 this is, beyond] this is beyond Theo- 162 [Beating him] Beats him. Eowe.
bald. (beatesher). Collier MS.
159 not] om. Fr 163 hag] F3F4. Hagge Q3. Ragge Fx.
160 Scene v. Pope. rag F2.
Re-enter...and Mistress Page] En- 163,164 ronyon] Capell. Runnion FfQ3.
ter Falstaff in women's cloaths, 164 [Exit...] om. FXQ3.
and Mrs Page. Pope. Enter Fal- 170 By yea and no] By Jeshu (QiQo).
staff in womens cloaths. Rowe. By yea, and nay Collier MS.
Enter Mistress Page; leading in 171 'oman] 'omans Q3.
Falstaff disguis'd. Capell. Enter 172 his] FfQ3. her (Q^) Pope.
284 THE MERRY "WIVES ACT IV.
Ford. Will you follow, gentlemen? I beseech you,
follow; see but the issue of my jealousy: if I cry out thus
upon no trail, never trust me when I open again. 175
Page. Let's obey his humour a little further: come,
gentlemen. [Exeunt Ford, Page, Shal, Gains, and Evans.
Mrs Page, Trust me, he beat him most pitifully.
Mrs Ford. Nay, by the mass, that he did not; he beat
him most unpitifully methought. 180
Mrs Page. I'll have the cudgel hallowed and hung
o'er the altar; it hath done meritorious service.
Mrs Ford. What think you? may we, with the warrant
of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience, pur-
sue him with any further revenge? 185
Mrs Page. The spirit of wantonness is, sure, scared
out of him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with
fine and recovery, he will never, I think, in the way of
waste, attempt us again.
Mrs Ford. Shall we tell our husbands how we have
served him? 191
Mrs Page. Yes, by all means; if it be but to scrape
the figures out of your husband's brains. If they can find
in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight shall be any
further afflicted, we two will still be the ministers. 195
Mrs Ford. I'll warrant they'll have him publicly
shamed: and methinks there would be no period to the
jest, should he not be publicly shamed.
Mrs Page. Come, to the forge with it, then; shape it:
I would, not have things cool. [Exeunt. 200
175 trail] F^FgFg. Tryal E4. 193 brains] brain F3F4.
177 [Exeunt...] Dyce. Exeunt Page, 195 still be] bee still Q3.
Ford, Shal. and Sir Hugh. Capell. 197 period] right period Hanmer.
Exeunt. F2F3F4. om. F^. 197, 198 the jest] jest Q3.
181 hung] hang Eeed (1803). 199 it, then; shape it:] it, then shape
188 fine] find Q3. it: FfQ3.
191 him?] him. Fx (Booth's reprint).
SCENE III. OF WINDSOR. 285
Scene III. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Host and Bardolph.
Bard, Sir, the Germans desire to have three of your
horses: the duke himself will be to-morrow at court, and
they are going to meet him.
Host. What duke should that be comes so secretly? I
hear not of him in the court. Let me speak with the gen-
tlemen: they speak English? 6
Bard. Ay, sir; I'll call them to you.
Host. They shall have my horses; but I'll make them
pay; I'll sauce them: they have had my house a week at
command; I have turned away my other guests: they must
come off; I'll sauce them. Come. [Exeunt. 11
Scene IV. A room in Ford's house.
Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and
Sir Hugh Evans.
Evans. Tis one of the best discretions of a 'oman as
ever I did look upon.
Page. And did he send you both these letters at an
instant?
Mrs Page. Within a quarter of an hour. 5
Ford. Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt;
I rather will suspect the sun with cold
Scene hi.] Scene vl Pope. 11 come off] corrupt off Theobald (War-
A room...] Capell. Changes to the burton), not come off Capell.
Garter Inn. Pope. Scene iv.] Scene yil Pope.
1 Germans desire] Capell. Germane A room...] Capell. Changes to
desires FfQ3. Ford's house. Pope.
7 Ay] om. F3F4. 1 'oman] timan Ff. tfmans Q3. 'omans
them] (QiQ^FgF^ Mm F^Fg. Capell.
9 house] (QxQ2) Rowe, houses FfQ3. 7 cold] Rowe. gold FfQ3.
286 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Than thee with wantonness: now doth thy honour stand,
In him that was of late an heretic,
As firm as faith.
Page. Tis well, 'tis well; no more: 10
Be not as extreme in submission
As in offence.
But let our plot go forward: let our wives
Yet once again, to make us public sport,
Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, 15
Where we may take him, and disgrace him for it.
Ford. There is no better way than that they spoke of.
Page. How? to send him word they'll meet him in the
Park at midnight? Fie, fie! hell never come. 19
Evans. You say he has been thrown in the rivers, and
has been grievously peaten, as an old oman: methinks
there should be terrors in him that he should not come;
methinks his flesh is punished, he shall have no desires.
Page. So think I too.
Mrs Ford. Devise but how you'll use him when he
comes, 25
And let us two devise to bring him thither.
Mrs Page. There is an old tale goes that Heme the
hunter,
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest,
Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight,
10 as faith] FXQ3. of faith F2F3F4. 19 he'll} he will Capell.
11 as] F1Q3. om. F2F3F4. 20 say] see Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
11, 12 Be...offence.] As in Capell. One has] Fr hath F2F3F4.
line in FfQ3. in the rivers] F^. into the River
12, 13 As...forward:] One line in F2F3F4.
Hanmer. 22 terrors] terror Q3.
13, 14 let...sport,] Let our wives once 27, 28 There., forest,] Arranged as by
again, to make us sport, Hanmer. Pope. Prose in Ff.
18 to send] send Capell, reading How?... 28 here in] in F4. in our Pope.
Park as one line of verse. 29 midnight] F^g. of midnight F2F3F4.
SCENE IV. OF WINDSOR. 287
Walk round about an oak, with great ragg d horns; 30
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner:
You have heard of such a spirit; and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld 35
Received, and did deliver to our age,
This tale of Heme the hunter for a truth.
Page. Why, yet there want not many that do fear
In deep of night to walk by this Heme's oak:
But what of this?
Mrs Ford. Marry, this is our device; 40
That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us.
Page. Well, let it not be doubted but he'll come:
And in this shape when you have brought him thither,
What shall be done with him? what is your plot?
Mrs Page. That likewise have we thought upon, and
thus: 45
Nan Page my daughter and my little son
And three or four more of their growth we'll dress
Like urchins, ouphes and fairies, green and white,
With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads,
And rattles in their hands: upon a sudden, 50
As Falstaff, she, and I, are newly met,
Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once
With some diffused song: upon their sight,
We two in great amazedness will fly:
30 great ragged] great ragged Eowe. on his Head. Malone gives the
'Pope, great jag'c£ Capell. second line only. See note (vin).
31 tree] trees Hanmer. 42, 43 come: And...sliape when~\ come.
32 makes'] make F^. And...sJiape when Eowe. come,
41 Here Theobald inserts from (QjQg) And...shape when F2F3F4. come,
We'll send him word to meet us in And...shape, when F^. come, And
the Field, Disguised like Heme .. .sliape; when Capell.
[Home (Q1Q2)], with huge Horns
288 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Then let them all encircle him about, 55
And, fairy-like, to pinch the unclean knight;
And ask. him why, that hour of fairy revel,
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread
In shape profane.
Mrs Ford. And till he tell the truth,
Let the supposed fairies pinch him sound, 60
And burn him with their tapers.
Mrs Page. The truth being known,
We'll all present ourselves, dis-horn the spirit,
And mock him home to Windsor.
Ford. The children must
Be practised well to this, or they'll ne'er do't.
Evans. I will teach the children their behaviours; and
I will be like a jack-an-apes also, to burn the knight with
my taber. 67
Ford. That will be excellent. I'll go buy them
vizards.
Mrs Page. My Nan shall be the queen of all the
fairies, 70
Finely attired in a robe of white.
Page. That silk will I go buy. [Aside] And in that
time
Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away,
And marry her at Eton. Go send to Falstaff straight.
Ford. Nay, I'll to him again in name of Brook: 75
56 fairy-like, to pinch] like to fairies ne're F3. ne:r F4.
pinch Hanmer. fairy-like too,pinch 67 taber~\ taper Pope.
Warburton. 68 That] This Rowe (ed. 2).
to pinch] FfQ3. to-pinch Steevens, 70, 71 My Nan...white.] As in Rowe
1778 (Tyrwhitt conj.). (ed. 2). Prose in FfQ3.
59 Mrs Ford.] Rowe. Ford. FfQ3. 72 will] F^Fg, would F3F4.
60 him sound] F2F3F4. him, sound, [Aside] Pope.
F1Q3. him round, Pope, him sound- time] tire Theobald, trim Singer
ly Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). (ed. 2).
64 ne'er] Rowe. nevJr FjQg. nev'r F2. 75 in name] in the name Q3.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 289
Hell tell me all his purpose: sure, he'll come.
Mrs Page. Fear not you that. Go get us properties
And tricking for our fairies.
Evans. Let us about it: it is admirable pleasures and
feiy honest knaveries. [Exeunt Page, Ford, and Evans. 80
Mrs Page. Go, Mistress Ford,
Send quickly to Sir John, to know his mind.
[Exit Mrs Ford.
I'll to the doctor: he hath my good will,
And none but he, to marry with Nan Page.
That Slender, though well landed, is an idiot; 85
And he my husband best of all affects.
The doctor is well money'd, and his friends
Potent at court: he, none but he, shall have her,
Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her. [Exit.
Scene Y. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Host and Simple.
Host. What wouldst thou have, boor? what, thick-skin?
speak, breathe, discuss; brief, short, quick, snap.
Sim. Marry, sir, I come to speak with Sir John Fal-
staff from Master Slender. 4
Host. There's his chamber, his house, his castle, his
standing-bed, and truckle-bed; 'tis painted about with the
story of the Prodigal, fresh and new. Go knock and call;
he'll speak like an Anthropophaginian unto thee: knock,
I say. 9
80 [Exeunt...] Rowe. A room...] Capell. The Garter Inn.
82 quickly] Quickly Theobald. Pope.
[Exit...] Rowe. Enter...] Rowe. Enter Host, Simple,
86 he] him Hanmer. Ealstaffe, Bardolfe, Euans, Caius,
87 his] om. Q3. has Anon. conj. Quickly. Ef Q3.
89 [Exit.] om. F^. 2 snap] nap Q3.
Scene v.] Scene viii. Pope.
VOL. I. 19
290 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Sim. There's an old woman, a fat woman, gone up into
his chamber: I'll be so bold as stay, sir, till she come
down; I come to speak with her, indeed. 12
Host. Ha! a fat woman! the knight may be robbed:
I'll call.—Bully knight! bully Sir John! speak from thy
lungs military: art thou there? it is thine host, thine Ephe-
sian, calls. 16
Fal. [Above] How now, mine host!
Host. Here's a Bohemian-Tartar tarries the coming
down of thy fat woman. Let her descend, bully, let her
descend; my chambers are honourable: fie! privacy? fie!
Enter Falstaff.
Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now
with me; but she's gone. 22
Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of
Brentford?
Fal. Ay, marry, was it, muscle-shell: what would you
with her? 26
Sim. My master, sir, Master Slender, sent to her, seeing
her go thorough the streets, to know, sir, whether one Nym,
sir, that beguiled him of a chain, had the chain or no.
Fal. I spake with the old woman about it. 30
Sim. And what says she, I pray, sir?
Fal. Marry, she says that the very same man that be-
guiled Master Slender of his chain cozened him of it.
Sim. I would I could have spoken with the woman
herself; I had other things to have spoken with her too
from him. 36
Fal. What are they? let us know.
17 [Above] Theobald. Enter Falstaff. 27 Master Slender] Steevens (1778,
Eowe. om. FfQ3. (within). Collier 1785). my master Slender, FfQ3.
MS. 28 thorough] F^. through F2F3F4.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 291
Host. Ay, come; quick.
Sim. I may not conceal them, sir.
Host. Conceal them, or thou diest. 40
Sim. Why, sir, they were nothing but about Mistress
Anne Page; to know if it were my master's fortune to have
her or no.
Fal. Tis, 'tis his fortune.
Sim. What, sir? 45
Fal. To have her, or no. Go; say the woman told
me so.
Sim. May I be bold to say so, sir?
Fal. Ay, sir; like who more bold.
Sim. I thank your worship: I shall make my master
glad with these tidings. [Exit. 51
Host. Thou art clerkly, thou art clerkly, Sir John.
Was there a wise woman with thee?
Fal. Ay, that there was, mine host; one that hath
taught me more wit than ever I learned before in my
life; and I paid nothing for it neither, but was paid for
my learning. 57
Enter Bardolph.
Bard. Out, alas, sir! cozenage, mere cozenage!
Host. Where be my horses? speak well of them,
varletto. 60
39 Sim. / may] Rowe. Fal. / may Ay, sir; like] Ff Q3. I tike, ((^Qg).
, Ff Q3. Fal. You may Collier, ed. 2 Ay, sir Tike; like Steevens (1778).
(Collier MS.). Ay, sir Tike; Steevens, 1785 (Farmer
40 Host.] Fal. Warburton. conj.). Ay, sir, tike, Collier. See
Conceal them, or] Conceal them, and note (ix).
Hanmer. A ye conseil them or Becket 51 [Exit.] Exit Simple. Rowe. om.
conJ- FfQ3.
39, 40 conceal...Conceal] reveal...Reveal 52 Thou art] Thou are F^.
Farmer conj. 58 Scene ix. Pope.
42 master's] master Q3. Enter Bardolph.] om. F1Q3.
49 Fal.] Ff Q3. Host. Rowe (ed. 2).
19—2
292 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
Bard. Run away with the cozeners: for so soon as I
came beyond Eton, they threw me off, from behind one of
them, in a slough of mire; and set spurs and away, like
three German devils, three Doctor Faustuses.
Host. They are gone but to meet the duke, villain: do
not say they be fled; Germans are honest men. 66
Enter Sir Hugh Evans.
Evans. Where is mine host?
Host. What is the matter, sir?
Evans. Have a care of your entertainments: there is a
friend of mine come to town, tells me there is three cozen-
germans that has cozened all the hosts of Readins, of Mai-
denhead, of Colebrook, of horses and money. I tell you for
good will, look you: you are wise, and full of gibes and
vlouting-stocks, and 'tis not convenient you should be
cozened. Fare you well. [Exit. 75
Enter Doctor Caius.
Cains. Yere is mine host de Jarteer?
Host. Here, master doctor, in perplexity and doubtful
dilemma.
Caius. I cannot tell vat is dat: but it is tell-a me dat
you make grand preparation for a duke de Jamany: by my
trot, dere is no duke dat the court is know to come. I tell
you for good vill: adieu. [Exit.
Host. Hue and cry, villain, go !—Assist me, knight.—
61 with] with hy Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 75 Enter Doctor Caius.] Capell. Enter
MS.). Caius- F2FsF4- om- FiQs-
63 slough] F1Q3. slow F2F3F4. 75, 82 [Exit.] om. F^.
64 Fatostuses] Faustasses F1Q3. 80 grand] agrand F3F4.
66 Enter...] Capell. Enter Euans. preparation]preparations Singer.
F2F3F4. om. F1Q3. 81 dat] that F1Q3.
71 Readins] Reading F4. Readings 82 vill] Capell. will FfQ3.
Theobald. 83 Hue] Rowe. Huy Ff Q3.
74 vlouting-stocks] vlouting-stogs Capell.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 293
I am undone!—Fly, run, hue and cry, villain!—I am un-
done! [Exeunt Host and Bard. 85
Fal. I would all the world might be cozened; for I
have been cozened and beaten too. If it should come to
the ear of the court, how I have been transformed, and how
my transformation hath been washed and cudgelled, they
would melt me out of my fat drop by drop, and liquor
fishermen's boots with me: I warrant they would whip me
with their fine wits till I were as crest-fallen as a dried pear.
I never prospered since I forswore myself at primero. Well,
if my wind were but long enough to say my prayers, I
would repent. 95
Enter Mistress Quickly.
Now, whence come you?
Quick, From the two parties, forsooth.
Fal. The devil take one party, and his dam the other!
and so they shall be both bestowed. I have suffered more
for their sakes, more than the villanous inconstancy of
man's disposition is able to bear. 101
Quick And have not they suffered? Yes, I warrant;
speciously one of them; Mistress Ford, good heart, is
beaten black and blue, that you cannot see a white spot
about her. 105
Fal. What teLTst thou me of black and blue? I was
beaten myself into all the colours of the rainbow; and I
was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brentford: but
that my admirable dexterity of wit, my counterfeiting the
84 hue] Eowe. hu F2F3F4. huy, FtQ3. om. Ff Q3.
85 [Exeunt...] Capell. Exit. F2F3F4. 95 repent] praye and repent Collier
om. F1Q3. MS.
90 me out of my fat] my fat out of me 96 Scene x. Pope.
Gould conj. Enter...] Eowe. Enter Quickly.
94 to say my prayers] (QiQ2) Pope. F2F3F4. om. F^g.
294 THE MERRY WIVES ACT IV.
i
action of an old woman, delivered me, the knave con-
stable had set me i' the stocks, i' the common stocks, for a
witch. 112
Quick. Sir, let me speak with you in your chamber:
you shall hear how things go; and, I warrant, to your con-
tent. Here is a letter will say somewhat. Good hearts,
what ado here is to bring you together! Sure, one of you
does not serve heaven well, that you are so crossed. 117
Fed. Come up into my chamber. [Exeunt.
Scene VI. The same. Another room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Fenton and Host.
Host. Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is
heavy: I will give over all.
Fent. Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose,
And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee
A hundred pound in gold more than your loss. 5
Host. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will at
the least keep your counsel.
Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you
With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page;
Who mutually hath answered my affection, 10
So far forth as herself might be her chooser,
Even to my wish: I have a letter from her
Of such contents as you will wonder at;
The mirth whereof so larded with my matter,
That neither singly can be manifested, 15
110 an old woma?i] a wode woman Theobald continues Sc. 5.
Theobald. The same...] Another room. Capell.
Scene vl] Ff Q3. Scene xi. Pope. 14 whereof] whereof s Pope.
SCENE VI. OF WIISTDSOR. 295
Without the show of both; fat Falstaff
Hath a great scene: the image of the jest
111 show you here at large. Hark, good mine host.
To-night at Heme's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one,
Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen; 20
The purpose why, is here: in which disguise,
While other jests are something rank on foot,
Her father hath commanded her to slip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eton
Immediately to marry: she hath consented: 25
Now, sir,
Her mother, even strong against that match,
And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he shall likewise shuffle her away,
While other sports are tasking of their minds, 30
And at the deanery, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot
She seemingly obedient likewise hath
Made promise to the doctor. Now, thus it rests:
Her father means she shall be all in white; 35
And in that habit, when Slender sees his time
To take her by the hand and bid her go,
She shall go with him: her mother hath intended,
The better to denote her to the doctor,—
For they must all be mask'd and vizarded,— 40
That quaint in green she shall be loose enrobed,
16 fat Falstaff] F^Qg. wherein fat letter. Steevens (after Capell).
Falstaff (QiQ2) Malone. fat sir 25, 26 Immediately...sir,] As in Malone.
John Falstaffe F2F3F4. fat Falstaff, One line in Ff Q3.
he, S. Walker conj. therein fat 25 hath] hatst Q3.
Falstaff Id. conj. 27 even] ever Pope, e'en S. Walker
17 scene] scare (Q.1Q2). scene in it conj., reading JSrow...match as one
Capell. share Dyce, ed. 2 (Jervis line.
conj.). 39 denote] Capell. denote Ff Q3.
[Shewing a letter, (or) Showing the
296 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
With ribands pendent, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
The maid hath given consent to go with him. 45
Host. Which means she to deceive, father or mother?
Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me:
And here it rests,—that you'll procure the vicar
To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one.
And, in the lawful name of marrying, 50
To give our hearts united ceremony.
Host. Well, husband your device; 111 to the vicar:
Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest.
Fent. So shall I evermore be bound to thee;
Besides, I'll make a present recompence. [Exeunt. 55
ACT V.
Scene I. A room in the Garter Inn.
Enter Falstaff and Mistress Quickly.
Fed. Prithee, no more prattling; go. I'll hold. This
is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers.
Away! go. They say there is divinity in odd numbers,
either in nativity, chance, or death. Away!
Quick. I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do what I can
to get you a pair of horns. 6
Fal. Away, I say; time wears: hold up your head,
and mince. [Exit Mrs Quickly.
42 ribands pendent] Ribonds-pendant tinues the scene.
Fr Ribondspendant Q3. Ribands- A room...] Capell.
pendant F2F3F4. Enter...] Eowe. Ee-enter...Pope.
50 name] time Wheatley conj. Enter Falstaffe, Quickly, and Ford.
marrying] marriage S. Walker conj. Ff Q3.
51 ceremony] matrimony (Q^). 4 chance] chains Theobald conj.
Actv. Scene l] Act iv. (continued). 8 [Exit...] Capell. After line 6, Rowe.
Scene xii. Pope. Theobald con-
SCENE I. OF WINDSOR. 297
Enter Ford.
How now, Master Brook! Master Brook, the matter will
be known to-night, or never. Be you in the Park about
midnight, at Heme's oak, and you shall see wonders. 11
Ford. Went you not to her yesterday, sir, as you told
me you had appointed?
Fed. I went to her, Master Brook, as you see, like a
poor old man: but I came from her, Master Brook, like a
poor old woman. That same knave Ford, her husband,
hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, Master Brook,
that ever governed frenzy. I will tell you:—he beat me
grievously, in the shape of a woman; for in the shape of
man, Master Brook, I fear not Goliath with a weaver's
beam; because I know also life is a shuttle. I am in
haste; go along with me: 111 tell you all, Master Brook.
Since I plucked geese, played truant, and whipped top,
I knew not what 'twas to be beaten till lately. Follow
me: 111 tell you strange things of this knave Ford, on
whom to-night I will be revenged, and I will deliver his
wife into your hand. Follow. Strange things in hand,
Master Brook! Follow. [Exeunt. 28
Scene II. Windsor Park.
Enter Page, Shallow, and Slender.
Page. Come, come; well couch 1 the castle-ditch till
we see the light of our fairies. Remember, son Slender,
my daughter.
Slen. Ay, forsooth; I have spoke with her, and we
have a nay-word how to know one another: I come to her
Enter Ford. Rowe. Scene il] Act v. Scene i. Pope.
12 yesterday] this morning Daniel conj. Windsor Park] Pope. A street.
20 Goliath] Steevens (1793). Goliah Capell.
Ff Q3. 3 daughter] om. YXQ3.
298 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
in white, and cry, 'mum;' she cries 'budget;' and by
that we know one another. 7
Shot. That's good too: but what needs either your
'mum' or her 'budget?' the white will decipher her well
enough. It hath struck ten o'clock. 10
Page. The night is dark; light and spirits will become
it well. Heaven prosper our sport! No man means evil
but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns. Let's
away; follow me. [Exeunt.
Scene III. A street leading to the Park.
Enter Mistress Page, Mistress Ford, and Doctor Caius.
Mrs Page. Master Doctor, my daughter is in green:
when you see your time, take her by the hand, away with
her to the deanery, and dispatch it quickly. Go before
into the Park: we two must go together.
Caius. I know vat I have to do. Adieu. 5
Mrs Page. Fare you well, sir. [Exit Caius.'] My hus-
band will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff
as he will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter: but
'tis no matter; better a little chiding than a great deal of
heart-break. io
Mrs Ford. Where is Nan now and her troop of fairies,
and the Welsh devil Hugh?
Mrs Page. They are all couched in a pit hard by
Heme's oak, with obscured lights; which, at the very in-
stant of FalstafFs and our meeting, they will at once
display to the night. 16
Scene iil] Scene ii. Pope. 12 iZ^A] Capell. JIemeFfQ3. Evans
A street...] Another street,... Ca- Theobald (Thirlby conj.).
pell. 13 all] om. Q3.
6 [Exit Caius.] Capell. After line 5, 16 night] knight Jackson conj.
Kowe.
SCENE IV.
299
OF WINDSOR.
Mrs Ford. That cannot choose but amaze him.
Mrs Page. If he be not amazed, he will be mocked; if
he be amazed, he will every way be mocked.
Mrs Ford. We'll betray him finely. 20
Mrs Page. Against such lewdsters and their lechery
Those that betray them do no treachery.
Mrs Ford. The hour draws on. To the oak, to the
Oak! [Exeunt
Scene IV. Windsor Park.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans disguised, with others as Fairies.
Evans. Trib, trib, fairies; come; and remember your
parts: be pold, I pray you; follow me into the pit; and
when I give the watch-'ords, do as I pid you: come, come;
trib, trib. [Exeunt
Scene V. Another part of the Park.
Enter Falstaff disguised as Heme.
Fal. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve; the minute
draws on. Now, the hot-blooded gods assist me! Re-
member, Jove, thou wast a bull for thy Europa; love set
on thy horns. 0 powerful love! that, in some respects,
makes a beast a man; in some other, a man a beast. You
19 every way] I^Qg. om. F2F3F4.
Scene iv.] Scene ii. continued in
Pope.
Windsor Park] The Park. CapelL
Enter...] Enter Sir Hugh, Pistol,
Quickly, Anne Page, and Others,
vizarded, and disguis'd for Fairies.
CapelL Enter Euans and Fairies.
FfQ3.
3 pid] FiQg. bid F2F3F4.
Scene v.] Scene ni. Pope.
Another...] CapelL
Enter F...] Enter sir Iohn with a
Bucks head vpon him (Q^). En-
ter Falstaffe, Mistris Page, Mistris
Ford, Euans, Anne Page, Fairies,
Page, Ford, Quickly, Slender, Fen ton,
Caius, Pistoll. FfQ3.
hot-blooded gods] Rowe (ed. 2). hot-
bloodied-Gods F-^Fg. hot-bloodied-
God F3F4. hot-blooded God Rowe
(ed. 1).
300 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
were also, Jupiter, a swan for the love of Leda. 0 omni-
potent Love! how near the god drew to the complexion of a
goose! A fault done first in the form of a beast;—0 Jove,
a beastly fault! And then another fault in the semblance
of a fowl;—think ont, Jove; a foul fault! When gods have
hot backs, what shall poor men do? For me, I am here a
Windsor stag; and the fattest, I think, i? the forest. Send
me a cool rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss my
tallow ?—Who comes here? my doe? 14
Enter Mistress Ford and Mistress Page.
Mrs Ford. Sir John! art thou there, my deer? my
male deer?
Fal. My doe with the black scut! Let the sky rain
potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green Sleeves, hail
kissing-comfits, and snow eringoes; let there come a tem-
pest of provocation, I will shelter me here. 20
Mrs Ford. Mistress Page is come with me, sweetheart.
Fal. Divide me like a bribe buck, each a haunch: I
will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the fellow
of this walk, and my horns I bequeath your husbands.
Am I a woodman, ha? Speak I like Heme the hunter?
Why, now is Cupid a child of conscience; he makes resti-
tution. As I am a true spirit, welcome! [Noise within.
Mrs Page. Alas, what noise?
Mrs Ford. Heaven forgive our sins!
Fal. What should this be? 30
Mrs Ford.)
Mrs Page] Away' away! ^-They run off'
14 Enter...] Rowe. 24 husbands] husband Q3.
20 [embracing her. Capell. 27 [Noise within.] Eowe.
22 bribe] Theobald. &nWFfQ3. broke 31 [They run off.] Capell. The women
up Kinnear conj. run out. Rowe.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 301
Fal. I think the devil will not have me damned, lest
the oil that's in me should set hell on fire; he would never
else cross me thus.
Enter Sir Hugh Evans, disguised as before; Pistol, as Hobgoblin;
Mistress Quickly, Anne Page, and others, as Fairies, vAth
tapers.
Quick. Fairies, black, grey, green, and white, 35
You moonshine revellers, and shades of night,
You orphan heirs of fixed destiny,
Attend your office and your quality.
Crier Hobgoblin, make the fairy oyes.
Pist. Elves, list your names; silence, you airy toys. 40
Cricket, to Windsor chimneys shalt thou leap:
Where fires thou find'st unraked and hearths unswept,
There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry:
Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery.
Fal. They are fairies; he that speaks to them shall die: 45
111 wink and couch: no man their works must eye.
\_Lies down upon his face.
Evans. Where's Bede? Go you, and where you find
a maid
That, ere she sleep, has thrice her prayers said,
Raise up the organs of her fantasy;
32 thafs] that is Eowe. Keightley.
32—34 Printed as verse in Ff Q3. 40 Pist.] Puck. Harness conj.
34 Enter...tapers] See note (x). 41 shalt thou leap] when thoiCst leapt
Anne Page,] Anne Page, as the Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), having
Fairy Queen, Harness, giving to her leapt Singer (ed. 2).
all the speeches here assigned to 42 unsiuept] to siueep Jervis conj.
Mistress Quickly. unsivep Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker
35 Quick.] Qui. Ff Q3. Queen. Collier. conj.).
Anne. Dyce. Que. Collier MS. 46 [Lies...face.] Rowe.
Quick. Fairies,] Queen. Quickly, 47 Bede] Ff Q3. Pede Theobald. Pead
ye fairies, M. conj. Fras. Mag. xxi. (Q1Q2) Dyce, ed. 2. Bead Collier.
742. 49 Raise] Rein, Warburton. Rouse
37 orphan lieirs] ouphen-heirs Theobald Collier MS.
(Warburton). ouphs, and heirs
302 THE MERRY "WIVES ACT V.
Sleep she as sound as careless infancy: 50
But those as sleep and think not on their sins,
Pinch them, arms, legs, backs, shoulders, sides, and shins.
Quick. About, about;
Search Windsor Castle, elves, within and out:
Strew good luck, ouphes, on every sacred room; 55
That it may stand till the perpetual doom,
In state as wholesome as in state 'tis fit,
Worthy the owner, and the owner it.
The several chairs of order look you scour
With juice of balm and every precious flower: 60
Each fair instalment, coat, and several crest,
With loyal blazon, evermore be blest!
And nightly, meadow-fairies, look you sing,
Like to the Garter's compass, in a ring:
Th' expressure that it bears, green let it be, 65
More fertile-fresh than all the field to see;
And Honi soit qui mal y pense write
In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white;
Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroidery,
Buckled below fair knighthood's bending knee: 70
Fairies use flowers for their charactery.
Away; disperse: but till 'tis one o'clock,
Our dance of custom round about the oak
Of Heme the hunter, let us not forget.
51 as] that F4. Nightly-meadow-Fairies Ff Q3.
53 Quick] Qu-FjQgFg. Qui. F3F4. Que. 64,65 ring: TK expressure...hears,]
Collier MS. Howe, ring, TK expressure...heares:
57 state as] site as Hanmer. seat as Ff Q3.
Dyce, ed. 3 (S. Walker conj.). 66 More] Mote F^.
58 and] as Theobald (Warburton). 68 emerald tufts] Emrold-tuffes Ff Q3.
60 halm and... flower:] Balm and.., purple] pur fled Warburton.
Floidr; Eowe. Balme; and...flowre, 69 sapphire, pearl] Theobald. Saphire-
Ff Q3. pearle Ff Q3.
63 nightly, meadow-fairies,] Capell. and] in Warburton.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 303
Evans. Pray you, lock hand in hand; yourselves in
order set; 75
And twenty glow-worms shall our lanterns be,
To guide our measure round about the tree.
But, stay; I smell a man of middle-earth.
Fal. Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy, lest he
transform me to a piece of cheese! 80
Pist. Vile worm, thou wast o'erlook'd even in thy birth.
Quick. With trial-fire touch me his finger-end:
If he be chaste, the flame will back descend,
And turn him to no pain; but if he start,
It is the flesh of a corrupted heart. 85
Pist. A trial, come.
Evans. Come, will this wood take fire?
[They bum him with their tapers.
Fal. Oh, Oh, Oh!
Quick. Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire!
About him, fairies; sing a scornful rhyme;
And, as you trip, still pinch him to your time. 90
Song.
Fie on sinful fantasy!
Fie on lust and luxury!
Lust is but a bloody fire,
Kindled with unchaste desire,
Fed in heart, whose flames aspire, 95
As thoughts do blow them, higher and higher.
75 Pray you] om. Pope. 88 Quick.] Qui. F^F^. Qu. F2.
79,80 Heavens...cheese f] As in Pope. 90 time] time. Eva. It is right, indeed.
Two lines in Ff Q3. he is full of leacheries and iniquity.
80 [To himselfe. Collier MS. Theobald, from (Q^).
81 Vile] Capell. Vilde F1Q3F2F3. Vild Song.] Song, by one. Collier, ed. 2
*V (Collier MS.), giving the four last
[Seeing Falstaff all start out. Collier lines to 'Chorus.'
MS. 91 sinful] simple Pope.
82 Quick.] Qu. FXF2. Qui. Q3F3F4. 93 a bloody fire] $ W blood a fire
84 turn] bum Keightley conj. Hanmer.
86 [They burn...tapers.] Rowe. 95 heart] the heart Hanmer.
304 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
Pinch him, fairies, mutually;
Pinch him for his villany;
Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about,
Till candles and starlight and moonshine be out. 100
During this song they pinch Falstaff. Doctor Caius comes one way,
and steals away a boy in green; Slender another way, and takes off
a boy in white; and Fenton comes, and steals away Mrs Anne Page.
A noise of hunting is heard within. All the Fairies run away.
Falstaff pulls off his buck's head, and rises.
Enter Page, Ford, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford.
Page. Nay, do not fly; I think we have watch'd you
now:
Will none but Heme the hunter serve your turn?
Mrs Page. I pray you, come, hold up the jest no
higher.
Now, good Sir John, how like you Windsor wives?
See you these, husband? do not these fair yokes 105
Become the forest better than the town?
Ford. Now, sir, who's a cuckold now? Master Brook,
Falstaffs a knave, a cuckoldly knave; here are his horns,
Master Brook: and, Master Brook, he hath enjoyed nothing
of Ford's but his buck-basket, his cudgel, and twenty
pounds of money, which must be paid to Master Brook;
his horses are arrested for it, Master Brook. 112
97 mutually] mutuall Q3. bands Hanmer. this husbandry
100 The stage direction which follows Bulloch conj.
was inserted by Theobald from fair yokes'] fairy jokes Jackson conj.
(Q1Q2) ^h some verbal changes. fairy oaks Grant White.
101 Enter...] Enter...They lay hold on yokes]yoakes F1Q3. okes~F2F3. oaks
him. Bowe. E4. oaks [Pointing to the horns.
watch'd] matched Collier MS. Hanmer.
101,102 Nay...turn?] As in Bowe. [Putting the horns yoke-fashion on
Prose in Ff Q3. Falstaffs neck. Nicholson conj.
102 [taking off his buckes head and 111 money] his money Collier MS.
discouering F. Collier MS. paid to Master Brook] paid to M.
105 these, husband] these husband F1Q3. Foord (Q.jQg). patfd too, Master
these husbands F2F3F4. these, hus- Brook Capell.
SCENE V. OE WINDSOR. 305
Mrs Ford, Sir John, we have had ill luck; we could
never meet. I will never take you for my love again ; but
I will always count you my deer. lis
Fal. I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass.
Ford. Ay, and an ox too: both the proofs are extant,
Fal. And these are not fairies? I was three or four
times in the thought they were not fairies: and yet the
guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers,
drove the grossness of the foppery into a received belief, in
despite of the teeth of all rhyme and reason, that they
were fairies. See now how wit may be made a Jack-a-Lent,
when 'tis upon ill employment! 124
Evans. Sir John Falstaff, serve Got, and leave your
desires, and fairies will not pinse you. 126
Ford. Well said, fairy Hugh.
Evans. And leave you your jealousies too, I pray you.
Ford. I will never mistrust my wife again, till thou art
able to woo her in good English. 130
Fal. Have I laid my brain in the sun and dried it, that
it wants matter to prevent so gross overreaching as this?
Am I ridden with a Welsh goat too? shall I have a cox-
comb of frize? Tis time I were choked with a piece of
toasted cheese. 135
Evans. Seese is not good to give putter; your pelly is
all putter.
Fal. 'Seese' and 'putter'? Have I lived to stand at the
taunt of one that makes fritters of English? This is enough
to be the decay of lust and late-walking through the realm.
Mrs Page. Why, Sir John, do you think, though we
would have thrust virtue out of our hearts by the head and
shoulders, and have given ourselves without scruple to hell,
that ever the devil could have made you our delight?
120 the sudden] ivith thesuddenllanmer. 136 pelly] F2E3F4. belly F Q
132 matter] butter Gould conj. 138 at] in Rowe (ed. 2).
vol. i. 20
306 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
Ford. What, a hodge-pudding? a bag of flax? 145
Mrs Page. A puffed man?
Page. Old, cold, withered, and of intolerable entrails?
Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Satan?
Page. And as poor as Job?
Ford. And as wicked as his wife? 150
Evans. And given to fornications, and to taverns, and
sack, and wine, and metheglins, and to drinkings, and
swearings, and starings, pribbles and prabbles?
Fal. Well, I am your theme: you have the start of
me; I am dejected; I am not able to answer the Welsh
flannel: ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me: use me as
you will. 157
Ford. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, to one
Master Brook, that you have cozened of money, to whom
you should have been a pandar: over and above that you
have suffered, I think to repay that money will be a biting
affliction. 162
Page. Yet be cheerful, knight: thou shalt eat a posset
to-night at my house; where I will desire thee to laugh at
my wife, that now laughs at thee: tell her Master Slender
hath married her daughter. 166
Mrs Page. [Aside.] Doctors doubt that: if Anne Page
be my daughter, she is, by this, Doctor Caius' wife.
145 hodge-pudding] hog* spuddingYoye. from (QiQ2): Mrs Ford. Nay,
hog-pudding Collier MS. husband, let That go to make
148 as slanderous] slanderous Q3. amends; Forgive that Summ, and
152 sack, and wine] sacks, and wines so we'll all be Friends. Ford. Well,
p0pe< herds my hand: all 's forgiven at
153 starings] F±QZ. staring F2F3F4. last. Keightley adds, Fal. It hath
156 is a plummet o'er me] is plummet cost me well; I have been well
o'er me Q3. has a plume o' me pinch!d and wasKd.
Johnson conj. is a planet o'er me 167 Mrs Page.] Mis. Ford. Q3.
Farmer conj. [Aside] Theobald.
162 After this line Theobald inserts
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 307
Enter Slender.
Slen. Whoa, ho! ho, father Page!
Page. Son, how now! how now, son! have you dis-
patched? 171
Slen. Dispatched! I'll make the best in Gloucester-
shire know on't; would I were hanged, la, else!
Page. Of what, son?
Slen. I came yonder at Eton to marry Mistress Anne
Page, and she's a great lubberly boy. If it had not been
i' the church, I would have swinged him, or he should have
swinged me. If I did not think it had been Anne Page,
would I might never stir !—and 'tis a postmaster's boy.
Page. Upon my life, then, you took the wrong. 180
Slen. What need you tell me that? I think so, when
I took a boy for a girl. If I had been married to him, for
all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him.
Page. Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you
how you should know my daughter by her garments? 185
Slen. I went to her in white, and cried 'muni,' and she
cried 'budget,' as Anne and I had appointed; and yet it
was not Anne, but a postmaster's boy.
Mrs Page. Good George, be not angry: I knew of
your purpose; turned my daughter into green; and, in-
deed, she is now with the doctor at the deanery, and there
married. 192
169 Scene vi. Pope. 188 After this line Theobald inserts
Enter Slender.] Enter Slender, from (QXQ2): Eva. Jeshu! Master
crying. Collier MS. Slender, cannot you see but marry
Whoa] What Rowe. boys? Page. 0, lam vext at Heart.
170 hoiu now! hoio now] Row now Q3. What shalb-Ido?
174 what, son?] what sonne? F1Q3. 190 into green] Rowe (ed. 2). into tuhite
177 i' the] i't F2. Ff. in white Q3.
186 ivhite] Pope, greene Ff Q3.
20—2
308 THE MERRY WIVES ACT V.
Enter Caius.
Caius. Yere is Mistress Page? By gar, I am cozened:
I ha married un gargon, a boy; un paysan, by gar, a boy; it
is not Anne Page: by gar, I am cozened. 195
Mrs Page. Why, did you take her in green?
Caius. Ay, by gar, and 'tis a boy: by gar, I'll raise all
Windsor. [Exit.
Ford. This is strange. Who hath got the right Anne?
Page. My heart misgives me:—here comes Master
Fenton. 201
Enter Fenton and Anne Page.
How now, Master Fenton!
Anne. Pardon, good father! good my mother, pardon!
Page. Now, mistress, how chance you went not with
Master Slender? 205
Mrs Page. Why went you not with master doctor,
maid?
Pent. You do amaze her: hear the truth of it.
You would have married her most shamefully,
Where there was no proportion held in love.
The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, 210
Are now so sure that nothing can dissolve us.
The offence is holy that she hath committed;
And this deceit loses the name of craft,
Of disobedience, or unduteous title;
193 Scene vii. Pope. 197 by gar] Capell. bee gar F3Q3. be
194 un gargon] Capell. oon Gar soon gar F2F3F4.
F^g. one Garsoon F2F3F4. by gar] Capell. begar~FfQs.
un paysan] Capell. oon pesant 203 [Kneeles. Collier MS.
Ff Q3. 214 title\ guile Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
boy] boe F2F3F4. MS.), wile Dyce (ed. 2). will
196 did you] did you not Eowe. Cartwright conj.
green] Pope, white Ff Q3.
SCENE V. OF WINDSOR. 309
Since therein she doth evitate and shun 215
A thousand irreligious cursed hours,
Which forced marriage would have brought upon her.
Ford. Stand not amazed; here is no remedy:
In love the heavens themselves do guide the state;
Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate. 220
Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special stand
to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanced.
Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heaven give thee
PJ!
What cannot be eschew'd must be embraced.
Fed. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are chased.
Mrs Page. Well, I will muse no further. Master
Fenton, 226
Heaven give you many, many merry days!
Good husband, let us every one go home,
And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire;
Sir John and all.
Ford. Let it be so. Sir John, 230
To Master Brook you yet shall hold your word;
For he to-night shall lie with Mistress Ford. [Exeunt.
223,224 Well...embraced.] As in Rowe (Theobald adds also) dance and
(ed. 2). Prose in Ef Q3. eat plums at your wedding.
224 After this line Pope, followed by 225 When...chased] Prose in F^Fg.
Theobald, inserts from (Q^): 230 Let it be so. Sir John,] Let it be
Evans [aside to Fenton] / will so (Sir John:) Ff Q3.
NOTES.
Note I.
i. 1. 41. Master Page is called 'George' in three places, n. 1. 134
and 142, and v. 5. 189, but we have left the text of the Folios uncor-
rected, as the mistake may have been Shakespeare's own. It is however
possible that a transcriber or printer may have mistaken 'Geo.' for 'Tho.'
In i. 3. 91, 92, on the other hand, we have not hesitated to correct
the reading of the Folio, substituting 'Page' for 'Ford,' and 'Ford' for
'Page,' because, as the early Quartos have the names right, it seems likely
that the blunder was not due to Shakespeare.
Note II.
i. 1. 49. Here again, as in line 40, F„F3F4 read 'good,' FXQ3 'goot,'
but we have not thought it necessary to do more than give a specimen
of such variations. Capell, in order to make Dr Caius's broken English
consistent with itself, corrects it throughout and substitutes 'de' for
'the,' 'vill' for 'will,' and so forth. As a general rule, we have silently
followed the first Folio.
Note III.
i. 1. 114. With regard to this and other passages which Pope,
Theobald, Malone, &c. have inserted from the early Quartos, our rule has
been to introduce, between brackets, such, and such only, as seemed to
be absolutely essential to the understanding of the text, taking care to
give in the note all those which we have rejected.
312 THE MEKRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.
The fact that so many omissions can be supplied from such mutilated
copies as the early Quartos, indicates that there may be many more
omissions for the detection of which we have no clue. The text of the
Merry Wives given in Fj was probably printed from a carelessly written
copy of the author's MS.
Note IY.
i. 3. 98. Perhaps, as in the Two Gentlemen of Verona, in. 1. 315,
and other passages, some of which are mentioned by Sidney Walker
in his 'Criticisms,5 Yol. n. p. 13 sqq., this vexed passage may be
emended by supplying a word. We venture to suggest 'the revolt of
mine anger is dangerous.' The recurrence of the same letters anger
in the word 'dangerous,' might mislead the printer's eye and cause
the omission.
Note Y.
ii. 1. 5. In the copy of Johnson's Edition, which belongs to
Emmanuel College, there is a MS. note of Dr Farmer's referring to
Sonnet cxlvii. in support of the conjecture 'physician' for 'precisian:'
we find there
'My reason, the physician to my love,' <fcc.
[Printed by Steevens.]
Note YI.
ii. 1. 193, 195. Here again we have followed the early Quartos in
reading 'Brook' instead of 'Broome,' the name given by Ff Q . That
the former was the original name is proved by the jest in n. 2. 136,
where the Folios make sheer nonsense.
Mr Halliwell suggests that the following lines, iv. 4. 75, 76,
'Nay I'll to him again in name of Broome;
He'll tell me all his purpose: sure he'll come,'
were intended to rhyme and therefore favour the later reading. But
in this scene there are no rhyming lines except the couplet at the end.
On the whole, it seems likely that the name was altered in the
stage copies at the instance of some person of the name of Brook living
at Windsor, who had sufficient acquaintance with the players, or interest
with their patrons, to get it done.
NOTES. 313
Note VII.
in. 1. 74, 78. Mr Staunton is unquestionably right in supposing
that one part of Evans's speech is spoken aside to his opponent, and
the other part aloud. It is impossible else to account for the sudden
change of tone. It might have been conjectured that, being a parson,
he wished to appear peacefully minded, and therefore made his offers
of reconciliation aloud and his menaces in an under tone, but Caius's
reply shews that it was the threat which had been made aloud. Evans's
valour, it would seem, had already evaporated when he had ca great
dispositions to cry' (in. 1. 20), and, besides, he had just begun to see
that he was being made a laughing-stock. As his former speech (74, 75,)
is also conciliatory, it was probably spoken so as to be heard by Caius
only. He wished to keep up his credit for courage in the eyes of the
bystanders. In the corresponding scene of the first Quartos we have
the words 'Hark van urd in your ear,' and the meaning of the text may
have been obscured by some omission in the Folio.
Note VIII.
iv. 4. 41. No doubt there is an omission here in the Folio, which
may be partly supplied from the Quarto. But it is probable that
Mrs Ford gave a still fuller explanation of her device and the grounds
on which the disguise was recommended to Falstaff, otherwise Page
would not have been so confident of his falling into the snare.
Note IX.
iv. 5. 49. In the edition of 1778 Steevens reads 'Ay, sir Tike,
like'... but it is clear from Farmer's note that it should be 'Ay, sir
Tike,'... and so it is corrected in the later editions of Steevens. In the
edition annotated by Farmer, mentioned in note v., we find another
conjecture of his: 'Ay, sir, if you like,'... or it may have been 'Ay,
sir, an you like,' for the word preceding 'you' has been cut away by
the binder.
Note X.
v. 5. 34. The stage direction of the early Quartos is: Enter Sir
Hugh like a Satyre, and boyes drest like Fayries, Mistresse Quickly >
like the Queene of Fayries; they sing a song about him and afterward
speake.
314 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.
The Polio enumerates at the commencement of the scene all who
take part in it, including Anne Page, Fairies, Quickly and Pistol, and
in this place has merely Enter Fairies. Malone introduced Anne Page
as the Fairy Queen, and at the end, with waxen tapers on their heads.
He however still assigned the speeches 35—39, 53—74, 82—85, and
88—90 to Quickly. Recent Editors have generally given them to Anne,
on the ground that it is proved by iv. 6. 20 and v. 3. 11, 12, that she
was to 'present the Fairy Queen,' and that the character of the speeches
is unsuitable to Mrs Quickly. It has been argued, too, that the Qui.
of the folios, line 35, may be a misprint for Qu., i.e. Queen. This
however is contradicted by the fact that Mrs Quickly plays the Queen
in the early Quartos, and that the recurrence of Qui., line 88, proves
that the printer of the first Folio used either Qui. or Qu. indifferently
as the abbreviation of Quickly.
Most likely, in this and other respects the play was altered by its
author, but the stage MSS. were not corrected throughout with sufficient
care. This will account for the mistake about the colours 'green' and
'white' in the final scene, lines 186, 190, 196.
Or we may suppose Mrs Quickly to have agreed to take Anne's
part in order to facilitate her escape with Fenton.
Collier MS. has 'Enter Fairies with the Queene Anne.'
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
DRAMATIS PEKSON.E1.
Vincentio, the Duke.
Angelo, Deputy.
EscaluSj an ancient Lord.
Claudio, a young gentleman.
Lucio, a fantastic.
Two other gentlemen.
Provost.
Thomas, ] , - .
'Y two mars.
Peter, J
A Justice2.
Yarrius3.
Elbow, a simple constable.
Froth, a foolish gentleman.
Pompey, servant to Mistress Overdone4.
Abhorson, an executioner.
Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner.
Isabella, sister to Claudio.
Mariana, betrothed to Angelo.
Juliet, beloved of Claudio.
Francisca, a nun.
Mistress Overdone, a bawd.
Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants2.
Scene— Vienna.
1 Dramatis Persons] The Names 3 Varrius, a Gentleman, servant to
op all the Actors Ff (added at the the Duke. Rowe. om. Ff.
end of the play). 4 Pompey...] Dyce. Clown...Rowe.
2 Omitted in Ff. Clowne. Ff.
I,
^1 i
■\-'
MEASUEE FOE MEASUEE.
ACT I.
Scene I. An apartment in the Duke's palace.
Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords and Attendants.
Duke. Escalus.
Escal. My lord.
Duke. Of government the properties to unfold,
Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;
Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
My strength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your sufficiency
as your worth is able,
Scene i. Lords and Attendants.]
Singer. Lords. Ff. and Attend-
ants. Capell.
An apartment...] Steevens (1793).
A room.. .Capell. The Duke's Palace.
Theobald. A Palace. Pope.
5 put] not Pope, apt Collier MS.
not yet Keightley.
know] avow Watkiss Lloyd conj.
(Athen. 1883).
7, 8 remains, But that] remains; Put
that Rowe.
8, 9 But that to your sufficiency...]
But that, to your sufficiency, as...¥f.
But that to your sufficiency you add
Due diligency...Theobald conj. But
that to your sufficiency you, joyn A
will to serve i«...Hanmer. But that
to your sufficiency you put A zeal as
trilling...Tyrwhitt conj. But that
to your sufficiencies your worth is
abled Johnson conj. But your suffi-
ciency as worth is able Farmer conj.
But that your sufficiency...Steevens
(1773, 1778, 1785). Your sufficiency
...able Steevens conj. But that your
sufficiency be as your worth is stable
Becket conj. But state to your
sufficiency... Jackson conj. But there-
to your sufficiency...Singer (ed. 2).
But add to your sufficiency your
worth Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
But that [tendering his commission]
to your sufficiency And, as your
worth is able, let them work Staun-
ton conj. But that to your sufficiency
I add Commission ample Spedding
conj. But that to your sufficiency you
318 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I.
And let them work. The nature of our people, 10
Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you're as pregnant in
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commission,
From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,
I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. 16
"What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply;
Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love, 20
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: what think you of it?
Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.
Duke. Look where he comes. . 25
Enter Angelo.
Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will,
I come to know your pleasure.
Duke. Angelo,
There is a kind of character in thy life,
add worth as ample Bailey conj. But 9 able] ample Hudson conj.
that to your sufficiency, as Your worth 11 city's] Cities Ff.
is able, you add diligence Keightley. 11, 12 terms For] forms Of Hutchesson
But that to your sufficiency I add A conj. MS.
power as mighty {or forceful) Furni- 14 [Giues it. Collier MS.
vail conj. (1ST. & Q. 1874). But that 16 [Exit an Attendant.] Capell.
to your sufficiency you take This 18 soul] roll Warburton. seal Johnson
your commission... Anon. conj. (N. & conj.
Q. 1874). But...sufficiency, add your 22 what] say, what Pope.
worth as able Kmne&r conj. To that, 25 Scene ii. Pope.
bid your sufficiency... Hicks conj. (N. Enter Angelo.] Enter Angelo and
& Q. 1875). But f add sufficiency, Lord. Collier MS.
as your worth is able Hudson. See 27 your pleasxure] Fx. your Graces
note (1). pleasure F2F3F4.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 319
That to th' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings 30
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike 35
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touched
But to fine issues; nor Nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor, . 40
Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
To one that can my part in him advertise;
Hold therefore, Angelo:—
In our remove be thou at full ourself;
Mortality and mercy in Vienna 45
Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.
Aug. Now, good my lord,
Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure 50
Be stamp'd upon it.
28, 29 character...history] history... 43 Hold therefore, Angelo:—] Sold
character Monck Mason conj. therefore, Angelo: [Giving him his
28 life] look Johnson conj. commission] Hanmer. Sold there-
29 history] hearts history Kinnear conj. fore. Angelo, Tyrwhitt conj. Sold
32 they] them Hanmer. therefore, Angelo, our place and
35, 36 all alike As if ive] all as if We power: Grant White. Sold therefore,
Hanmer. Angelo, thy deputation; Keightley.
37 nor] om. Pope. 45 Mortality] Morality Pope.
40 glory] guerdon Bailey conj. 48 [Giving it. Collier (ed. 2). Giues
42 my part in him] in my part me it. Collier MS.
Hanmer. my part to him Johnson 49 metal] Howe, mettle Ff.
conj. in him, my part Becket conj. 51 upon it] upon H Capell.
320 MEASURE FOB, MEASURE. ACT I.
Duke. No more evasion:
We have with a leaven d and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd 55
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you m
Of your commissions.
Aug. Yet, give leave, my lord,
That we may bring you something on the way.
Duke. My haste may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any scruple; your scope is as mine own, 65
So to enforce or qualify the laws
As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to then eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well 70
Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
Aug. The heavens give safety to your purposes!
Escal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness! 75
Duke. I thank you. Fare you well. [Exit.
iVo more] Come, no more Pope. m^'ow F2F3F4. ourcommission'Rovte
52 leaven'd and prepared] Ff. leverfd (ed. 2).
and prepared Kowe. prepaid and give] give me Theobald.
leaverfd Pope, prepared and leveVd Grey conj.
Warburton. prepaid unleavened 66 laws] law Eowe (ed. 2).
Heath conj. 70 it] /Staunton conj. (Athen. 1872).
56 to you] om. Hanmer. 76 [Exit.] F2F3F4. Exit, (after line 75)
61 your commissions] Fx. your com- Fr
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 321
Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave
To have free speech with you; and it concerns me
To look into the bottom of my place:
A power I have, but of what strength and nature 80
I am not yet instructed.
Aug. Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
And we may soon our satisfaction have
Touching that point.
Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt.
Scene II. A street
Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.
Lucio. If the Duke, with the other dukes, come not to
composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the
dukes fall upon the king.
First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the
King of Hungary's! 5
Sec. Gent. Amen.
Lmcio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate,
that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped
one out of the table.
Sec. Gent. 'Thou shalt not steal'? 10
Lucio. Ay, that he razed.
First Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command
the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put
forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the
thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that
prays for peace. 16
Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it.
84 your] you F2. Why? HioasYi. First Gent. Why?
Scene il] Scene hi. Pope. Luc. 'Twos Singer (ed. 2).
A street] Capell. The street Rowe. 15 before] after Hanmer. See note (n).
.. .two].. .two other Ff. do] doth Hanmer. does Warburton.
7 sanctimonious] testimonious Pope. relish] Rowe. rallish F1F2. rellish
12 First Gent. Why, Hwas] 1. Gent. F3F4.
VOL. I. 21
322 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I.
Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast
where grace was said.
Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 20
First Gent. What, in metre?
Lucio. In any proportion or in any language.
First Gent. I think, or in any religion.
Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all
controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked
villain, despite of all grace. 26
First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears be-
tween us.
Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the
velvet. Thou art the list. 30
First Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet;
thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief
be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art
piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?
Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most pain-
ful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confes-
sion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to
drink after thee. 38
First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have
I not? 40
Sec. Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted
or free.
21 What, in metre?'] What? in metre. drawn in Notes).
Capell conj. 23 religion.'] religion? Capell (with-
22—26 Lucio. In any proportion... drawn in Notes).
language. First Gent, I think... 27, 31 First Gent.] 2 Gent. Hanmer.
religion. Lucio. Ay, why not?...all 29 lists] list Collier, ed. 2 (S. Walker
grace.] Lucio. Not in any profes- conj.).
sion...language, I....religion. 2 Gent. 32 thou Wt] thou art Johnson.
Andwhy not? ...controversie. Lucio. 39 First Gent.] 2 Gent. Hanmer.
As for...all grace. Hanmer. See 41 Sec. Gent] 1 Gent. Hanmer.
note (in). 42 Here Ff have Enter Baiode, trans-
22 proportion or...language.] propor- ferred by Theobald to follow line 55.
tion? or...language? Capell (with-
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 323
Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation
comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof
as come to— 45
Sec. Gent. To what, I pray?
Lucio. Judge.
Sec. Gent. To three thousand dolours a year.
First Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more. 50
First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me;
but thou art full of error; I am sound.
Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so
sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow;
impiety has made a feast of thee. 55
Enter Mistress Overdone.
First Gent. How now! which of your hips has the
most profound sciatica?
Mrs Ov. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and
carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
Sec. Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? 60
Mrs Ov. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
First Gent. Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.
Mrs Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested;
saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these
three days his head to be chopped off. 65
Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it
so. Art thou sure of this?
43 Scene iv. Pope. bald).
Bawd coming at a distance. Han- 48 dolours] Rowe. dollours Ff. dollars
mer. Pope.
Lucio] 1 Gent. Malone. 56 Scene iv. Johnson.
44 I have] 1 Gent. I have Pope, ed. 2 57 sciatica] Ciatica Yv
(Theobald). He has Halliwell. 65 head] head is Rowe. heads Capell.
4V Lucio] 1 Gent. Pope, ed. 2 (Theo-
21—2
324 MEASURE EOR, MEASURE. ACT I.
Mrs Ov. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting
Madam Julietta with child.
Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet
me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-
keeping. 72
Sec. Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near
to the speech we had to such a purpose.
First Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclam-
ation. 76
Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it.
\Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.
Mrs Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the
sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am
custom-shrunk. 80
Enter Pompey.
How now! what's the news with you?
Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison.
Mrs Ov. Well; what has he done? •
Pom. A woman.
Mrs Ov. But what's his offence? 85
Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
Mrs Ov. What, is there a maid with child by him?
Pom. No, but there's a woman with maid by him.
You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?
Mrs Ov. What proclamation, man? 90
Pom. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be
plucked down.
Mrs Ov. And what shall become of those in the city?
77 [Exeunt...]Capell. Exit.Fr Exeunt. conj.
E2F3F4. Exe. Manet Bawd. Theo 91 houses] bawdy houses Collier, ed. 2
bald. (Tyrwhitt conj.). houses of resort
81 Scene y. Pope. Theobald conj. banio (altered to-
88 with maid] irith-made Seymour baiody) houses Collier MS.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 325
Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down
too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. 95
Mrs Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the
suburbs be pulled down?
Pom. To the ground, mistress.
Mrs Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the common-
wealth! What shall become of me? 100
Pom. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no
clients: though you change your place, you need not
change your trade; 111 be your tapster still. Courage!
there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your
eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. 105
Mrs Ov. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's
withdraw.
Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost
to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exeunt
Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers.
Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the
world? no
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from Lord Angelo by special charge.
Claud. Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offence by weight 115
The words of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.
96 all] om. Pope, Juliet] Ff. Gaoler. Halliwell (T.
110 Scene continued in Rowe. Scena White conj.). om. Hudson (Collier
Tertia. Ff. Scene vi. Pope. MS.). See note (iv).
Enter Provost...Officers.] Eowe. 113 Lord] om. F2F3F4.
Enter Prouost, Claudio, Juliet, 115 offence] offence' (for ofences) S.
Officers, Lucio, & 2 Gent. Ff. Walker conj.
Enter...Officers; Lucio, and the 115, 116 by weight The words] Ff. by
two Gentlemen, following. Capell. weight; F tN words Hanmer. by
326
ACT I.
MEASURE EOS, MEASURE.
Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.
Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this
restraint?
Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
As surfeit is the father of much fast, 120
So every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.
Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I
would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the
truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the
morality of imprisonment. "What's thy offence, Claudio?
Claud. What but to speak of would offend again.
Lucio. What, is't murder? 130
Claud. No.
Lucio. Lechery?
Claud. Call it so.
JProv. Away, sir! you must go.
Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.
Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. 136
Is lechery so looked after?
Claud. Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract
I got possession of Julietta's bed:
The words Warburton
(after Davenant). by weight.—The
sword Staunton (Roberts conj.).
by weight The word Halliwell. by
weight.—The words Becket conj.
by weight—The works Jackson conj.
by weight TK awards Nicholson
conj. See note (v).
117 yet still His just] yet His just still
Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).
Re-enter Lucio...] Dyce.
121 every scope] liberty Wheler MS.
every scape Collier MS.
124 A thirsty evil] An evil thirst Dave-
nant's version. A thirsted evil
Spedding conj.
128 morality] Rowe (after Davenant).
mortality Ff.
135 [Takes him aside. Malone.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 327
You know the lady; she is fast my wife, 140
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends;
From whom we thought it meet to hide our love 145
Till time had made them for us. But it chances
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment
With character too gross is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even so.
And the new Deputy now for the Duke,— 150
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
Or whether that the body public be
A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the spur; 155
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in :—but this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall 160
So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
141 the] om. Meredith conj. (1883). 148 on] Fx. in F2F3F4.
denunciation]pronunciation Collier 151 fault and] fla^sh and Johnson conj.
MS- fault or Id. conj. foil and T.
143 propagation] F2F3F4. propogation White conj. heat and or gilt and
Fr prorogation Malone conj. pro- Bailey conj.
deration Jackson conj. preserva- glimpse] limpse Warburton conj.
tion Grant White. guise Anon. conj. gloss Bailey
a] her Keightley conj. conj.
144 coffer] coffers Keightley conj. 161 nineteen] fourteen Whalley conj.
147 most] om. Hanmer.
328 MEASURE EOS, MEASURE. ACT I.
Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.
Lucio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle
on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may
sigh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to him.
Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found.
I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my sister should the cloister enter no
And there receive her approbation:
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:
I have great hope in that; for in her youth 175
There is a prone and speechless dialect,
Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.
Lucio. I pray she may; as well for the encouragement
of the like, which else would stand under grievous impos-
ition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry
should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. Ill
to her.
Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. 185
Lucio. Within two hours.
Claud. Come, officer, away!
[Exeunt;
165 it is] so it is Hanmer (who prints 177 move] Ff. moves Howe,
lines 165—167 as four verses end- beside] besides Capell.
ing stands...milk-maid...off..Mm. 181 under] Fr upon F2F3F4. cwHan-
166 size be] she be but Hanmer. mer, who prints 179—185 as six
173 voice] name Wheler MS. verses ending may...like...impos-
174 assay] essay Collier MS. ition...be...tick-tack...Lucio.
175 youth] zenith Johnson conj. After 181,182 imposition] inquisition Johnson
this S. Walker proposes to insert conj. (withdrawn).
Her beauty', and her maiden 182 the enjoying of] om. Hanmer.
modesty. who I would] which Td Hanmer.
176 prone] prompt Johnson conj. powW 184 her] her strait Hanmer.
Id. conj. proue Becket conj. 186 hours.] hours,—Theobald.
SCENE III. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 329
Scene III. A monastery.
Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.
Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought;
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends 5
Of burning youth.
Fri. T. May your grace speak of it?
Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever loved the life removed,
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. 10
I have delivered to Lord Angelo,
A man of stricture and firm abstinence,
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, 15
And so it is received. Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me why I do this.
Fri. T. Gladly, my lord.
Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,
The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, 20
Scene iil] Ro we. Scena Quart a keeps] keep Hanmer.
Ff. Scene vii. Pope. 11 delivered] delivered Reed (1803).
A monastery.] Rowe. A Cell. Ca- 12 stricture] strict7iess Davenant's ver-
pell. sion. strict ure Warburton.
3 bosom] breast Pope. 15 For] Far F2.
10 and witless] F2F3F4. witless Fr 17 this.] this? Pope.
with witless Clark and Glover conj. 20 to] F^ for F2F3F4.
a witless Nicholson conj. (N. and weeds] Ff. steeds Theobald, wills
Q. 1885). S. Walker conj. deeds Perring conj.
330 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I.
Which for this fourteen years we have let slip;
Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,
Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight 25
For terror, not to use, in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd than fear d; so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart 30
Goes all decorum.
Fri. T. It rested in your Grace
To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd
Than in Lord Angelo.
Duke. I do fear, too dreadful:
Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 35
'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them
For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,
I have on Angelo imposed the office; 40
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the fight
21 this] these Theobald. decrees Collier MS. the rods More...
fourteen] nineteen Theobald. so our Decrees Long MS. the rod's
slip] Ff. sleep Theobald (after More mocked at...decrees Keightley.
Davenant). 27 mocFd] marht Davenant's version.
25 to] do Dent MS. 34 do] om. Pope.
26 terror] ¥r errour F2F3F4. 37 / bid] I bad Collier MS.
26, 27 in time...more] will find in time be done] om. Pope.
The rod more Badham conj. do find 39 the] their Dyce ed. 2, and Keightley.
in time The rod more Hudson. indeed] om. Pope.
the rod Becomes more... decrees] Pope 42 yet] put Leo conj. (reading 43 as
(after Davenant). the rod More... Halliwell).
decrees Ff. the rod's More.. .most just my] by Bulloch conj.
SCENE III. MEASURE EOR MEASURE. 331
To do in slander. And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee, 45
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. Moe reasons for this action
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise; 50
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be. [Exeunt.
Scene IV. A nunnery.
Enter Isabella and Fbanctsca.
Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges?
Fran. Are not these large enough?
Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more;
nature] natures Seager conj. name Clarke, in the fight To do with
is Kinnear conj. (reading 43 as Cow- slander Seager conj. in the fight
den Clarke). have To do in slander Keightley.
42, 43 never...slander] ever in the fight 43 And] om. Pope.
To dole in slander Jackson conj. 45 T\ om. Pope.
in the fight To do in slander] in 47 in person hear me~\ Capell. in person
the sight To do in slander Pope. beare Ff. my person bear Pope.
in the fight So do in slander Theo- 48 Moe] Ff. More Rowe.
bald, in the sight To do it slander 49 our] Fr your F2F3F4.
Hanmer. in the sight, So doing 50 Only, this one] Only, this one now
slandered Johnson conj. in the sight Keightley. Only this now Staunton
To draw on slander Collier, ed. 2 conj. (Athen. 1872).
(Collier MS.), in the right To do him Scene iv.] Rowe. Scena Quinta Ff.
slander Singer conj. in the light To Scene viii. Pope.
do it slander Dyce conj. in the A nunnery.] Rowe.
fight To do me slander Halliwell. ...Francisca.] Rowe. ...Francisca a
win the fight To die in slander Nun. Ff.
Staunton conj. in the plight To 1 farther] further Warburton.
draw on slander Bulloch conj. in the 2, 7 Fran.] Capell. Nun. Ff.
fight, To do it slander Cowden
332 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I.
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. 5
Lucio [within]. Ho! Peace be in this place!
Isab. Who's that which calls?
Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella,
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.
When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men 10
But in the presence of the prioress:
Then, if you speak, you must not show your face;
Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit.
Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? 15
Enter Lucio.
Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses
Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio? 20
Isab. Why, 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella and his sister.
Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:
Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. 25
Isab. Woe me! for what?
Lucio. For that which, if myself might be his judge,
He should receive his punishment in thanks:
5 sisterhood^the votarists] sister votarists Enter Lucio.] Rowe.
Pope, sisterhood, votarists Dyce 17 stead] Rowe. steed Ff.
(ed. 2). 21, 22 ask The rather] ash; The rather
13 (call) Collier MS. Steevens.
14 [Exit.] Exit Franc. Rowe. 26 Woe] Woe's Collier MS. (in pencil).
15 Isab. Peace...calls?] Lucio. Peace 27 For that which] That for which
and prosperity! Isab. Who isH that Malone conj.
calls? Staunton conj. (Athen. 1872).
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOR, MEASURE. 333
He hath got his friend with child.
Isdb. Sir, make me not your story.
Lucio. It is true. 30
I would not—though 'tis my familiar sin
"With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest,
Tongue far from heart—play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted;
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit; 35
And to be talk'd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.
Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.
Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus:—
Your brother and his lover have embraced: 40
As those that feed grow full,—as blossoming time,
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison,—even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.
Isab. Some one with child by him ?—My cousin Juliet?
Lucio. Is she your cousin? 46
Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names
By vain, though apt, affection.
Lucio. She it is.
Isab. 0, let him marry her.
Lucio. This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence; 50
30 make me not your story] mock me 40 have] having Rowe.
not:—your story Malone. make me 42 That...brings] Both.. .bring Hanmer.
not your scorn Collier, ed. 2 (Collier That forms the seed, next the bare
MS. after Davenant). make...sport falloio brings Wagner conj.
Singer, make...mockery Gould conj. seedness] seeding Collier, ed. 2
It is true] Steevens. }Tis true Ff (Collier MS.), seed dues Gould conj.
(reading 'Tis...sin as one line), om. 44 his] its Hanmer.
Pope. Nay, His true Capell. 49 0, let him] Fr Let him F2F3F4.
31 / would not] Malone puts a full stop Let him then Pope.
here. 50 is] who's Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
33 so:] so, Malone. who is Keightley.
334 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I.
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings-out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place, 55
And with fall line of his authority,
Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense,
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge 60
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He—to give fear to use and liberty,.
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions—hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life 65
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example. All hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business 70
'Twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio. Has censured him
Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
52 and] with Johnson conj. mKeight- note (vi).
ley. pith of] om. Pope.
do] om. Pope. 72 so seek] so, SeeJce Ff. so Seek for
53 nerves] news Gould conj. Theobald, so? seek Clark and
54 givings-out] Kowe. giving-out Ff. Glover conj.
60 his] its Capell. Has] Was Theobald. Hath Knight.
63 for long] long time Pope. 71—75 As in Capell. In Ff the lines
68 hope is] hope's Pope. end so,...already...warrant..poore...
70 pith of business 'Twixt] pith Of good.
business betwixt Hanmer. pith Of 73 as] om. Hanmer.
business'twixt Steevens (1778). See
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 335
A warrant for his execution.
Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me 75
To do him good?
Lucio. Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power? Alas, I doubt,—
lucio. Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, 80
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as freely theirs
As they themselves would owe them.
Isab. Ill see what I can do.
lucio. But speedily.
Isab. I will about it straight; 85
No longer staying but to give the Mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
111 send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Isab. Good sir, adieu. 90
[Exeunt.
ACT II.
Scene I. A hall in Angelo's house.
Enter Angelo, Escalus, and a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other
Attendants, behind.
Aug. We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
74 A warrant for his] a warrant For's made Johnson (a misprint).
Ff- 82 freely] Fv truely F2F3F4.
76, 77 Assay...power ?] One line in Ahall...] Capell. The Palace. Rowe.
Knight. Enter...] Enter.. .and others, attend-
76 Assay] Essay Collier MS. ing. Capell. Enter Angelo, Escalus,
78 make] Rowe (ed. 2). makes Ff. and seruants, Iustice. Ff.
336 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.
Escal. Ay, but yet
Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, 5
Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman,
Whom I would save, had a most noble father!
Let but your honour know,
Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,
That, in the working of your own affections, 10
Had time cohered with place or place with wishing,
Or that the resolute acting of your blood
Could have attain d the effect of your own purpose,
Whether you had not sometime in your life
Err'd in this point which now you censure him, 15
And puird the law upon you.
Aug. Tis one thing to be.tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,
The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,
May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two 20
Guiltier than him they try. What's open made to justice,
That justice seizes: what know the laws
That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,
6 fall] fell Warburton conj. 19 the] a Collier MS.
8—10 Let...That, in the] Let...whom 21, 22 What's...laws] Keightley ends
I believe To...whether in The Han- line 21 at made.
mer. Zet...tvhom I believe To... 22 justice seizes] justice ceizesYi. justice
virtue, and consider This, In the seizes on Pope, it seizes on Hanmer.
Capell. what know] what! know we Bulloch
9 strait] straight Knight. conj.
12 your] Howe (after Davenant). our know] Howe (ed. 2). knowes I\F2.
Ff. knows F3F4.
15 which now you censure him] you know the laios] knows the laio Dyce
censure now in him Hanmer. which (ed. 2).
noio you censure him for Capell. 23 very] om. Hanmer, ending lines 21,
where now you censure him Grant 22, 23 at made...knoio...pregnant.
White.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 337
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't,
Because we see it; but what we do not see 25
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence
For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that censure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgement pattern out my death, 30
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
JSscal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Aug. Where is the provost?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Aug. See that Claudio
Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared; 35
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Exit Provost.
Escal. [Aside] Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive
us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes of ice, and answer none;
And some condemned for a fault alone. 40
Enter Elbow, and Officers with Froth and Pompey.
Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people
24 takeH] take it Steevens. and Knight conj. through brakes of
31 Sir] om. Pope. ice, and Cartwright conj. from
After this line Ff have 'Enter banks of vice and Gould conj. from
Provost.' Capell omitted it. franks of Iceland, Bulloch conj.
36 [Exit Provost.] Rowe. om. Ef. from brakes of grace, and Herr conj.
37 [Aside] Clark and Glover (S. Walker (withdrawn), from brakes of law,
conj.). and Id. conj.
heaven] God Adee conj. answer] answering Bulloch conj.
38 This line is printed in italics in Ef. 40 And,..alone] Some are...alone, or
39 from brakes of ice, and] through And some...fault alone— Seager conj.
brakes of vice, and Rowe. from serine] some are ELeightley.
brakes of vice, and Malone. from 41 Scene ii. Pope.
brakes of justice, Capell. from breaks Enter...] Dyce. Enter Elbow, Froth,
of ice, and Collier, from wreaks o) Clowne, Officers. Ff.
vice Keightley. from brakes^ off ice
vol. I. 22
338 MEASURE EOB, MEASURE. ACT II.
in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in
common houses, I know no law: bring them away.
Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's
the matter? 45
Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor Duke's
constable, and my name is Elbow: I do lean upon justice,
sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two no-
torious benefactors.
Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they?
are they not malefactors? 51
Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what
they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of;
and void of all profanation in the world that good Chris-
tians ought to have. 55
Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer.
Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is
your name? why dost thou not speak, Elbow?
Pom. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.
Ang. What are you, sir? 60
Elb. He, sir! a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that
serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say,
plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-
house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.
Escal. How know you that? 65
Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and
your honour,—
Escal. How? thy wife?
Elb. Ay, sir;—whom, I thank heaven, is an honest
woman,— 70
Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?
Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as
57 they] you Eowe. conj.
63, 64 a hot-house] an alehouse Gould 66 sir,] Sir? Fx.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 339
she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity
of her life, for it is a naughty house.
Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? 75
Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a
woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornic-
ation, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.
Escal. By the woman's means?
Elb. Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone s means: but as she
spit in his face, so she defied him. 81
Pom. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honour-
able man; prove it.
Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? 85
Pom. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing,
saving your honour s reverence, for stewed prunes; sir, we
had but two in the house, which at that very distant time
stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence;
your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China
dishes, but very good dishes,— 91
Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. .
Pom. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in
the right: but to the point. As I say, this Mistress Elbow,
being, as I say, with child, and being great-bellied, and
longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the
dish, as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having
eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them
very honestly; for, as you know, Master Froth, I could not
give you three-pence again. 100
Froth. No, indeed.
78 uncleanliness] "Fv uncleanness F2F3
sir] om. F4.
F4.
88 distant] Fr instant F2F3F4.
79 the] that Hanmer.
96 prunes] Johnson. prewyns ~FV
85 [to Ange. Capell.
Prewyns F2. Prewynes F3. prewns
87 primes] Johnson. preioyns Fr
F,
Preivynes F2F3. Prewns F4.
but two] Fv no more F2F3F4.
22—2
340 MEASURE EOS, MEASURE. ACT II.
Pom. Very well;—you being then, if you be remem-
bered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,—
Froth Ay, so I did indeed. 104
Pom. Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be re-
membered, that such a one and such a one were past cure
of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as
I told you,—
Froth. All this is true.
Pom. Why, very well, then,— no
Escal, Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose.
What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to
complain of? Come me to what was done to her.
Pom. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not. 115
Pom. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's
leave. And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth here,
sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at
Hallowmas :—was't not at Hallowmas, Master Froth ?—
Froth. All-hallond eve. 120
Pom. Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir,
sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir; 'twas in the Bunch of
Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit, have you
not?
Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and
good for winter. 126
Pom. Why, very well, then; I hope here be truths.
Aug. This will last out a night in Russia,
When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave,
103 prunes] Johnson, prewyns Fx. 120 All-hallond\ All-holland Pope.
Prewym F2F3. Prevms F4. All-hollond Steevens (1778). All-
105 telling] tell Boswell. hallownd Staunton.
107 very] om. Pope. 122 chair, sir] chambeo^ sir Capell conj.
113 me] om. Pope, we Grant White. chamber Anon. conj.
115 nor] om. Pope. 126 winter] windowes Collier MS.
117 into] unto Collier MS.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 341
And leave you to the hearing of the cause; 130
Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them all.
Escal. I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship.
[Exit Angelo.
Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once
more? 133
Pom. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once.
Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did
to my wife.
Pom. I beseech your honour, ask me.
Escal. Well, sir; what did this gentleman to her?
Pom. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face.
Good Master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good
purpose. Doth your honour mark his face?
Escal. Ay, sir, very well.
Pom. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so. 145
Pom. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?
Escal. Why, no.
Pom. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the
worst thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the
worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the
constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your
honour. 152
Escal. He's in the right. Constable, what say you to it?
Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected
house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress
is a respected woman. 156
Pom. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected
person than any of us all.
Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! the
132 Scene hi. Pope. 148 supposed] sworn Gould conj.
[Exit Angelo.] Theobald. Exit 154 an] Theobald, and Ff.
(after 131). Ff.
342 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
time is yet to come that she was ever respected with
man, woman, or child. 161
Pom. Sir, she was respected with him before he mar-
ried with her.
Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity?
Is this true? 165
Elb. 0 thou caitiff! O thou varlet! 0 thou wicked
Hannibal! I respected with her before I was married to
her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me,
let not your worship think me the poor Duke's officer.
Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action
of battery on thee. 171
Esccd. If he took you a box o? th' ear, you might have
your action of slander too.
Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What
is t your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked
caitiff? 176
Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in
him that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him
continue in his courses till thou knowest what they are.
Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it. Thou seest,
thou wicked varlet, now, what's come upon thee: thou
art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.
Escal. Where were you born, friend?
Froth. Here in Vienna, sir.
Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? 185
Froth. Yes, an't please you, sir.
Escal. So. What trade are you of, sir?
Pom. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escal. Your mistress' name?
Pom. Mistress Overdone. 190
175 shall] should Reed (1803). 187 you] ye F4.
183 [To Froth. Rowe. [To the Clown. Eowe.
186 an H] Hanmer. and H Ff. 189 mistress'] mistress's Eowe (ed. 2).
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 343
Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband?
Pom. Nine, sir; Overdone by the last. 192
Escal. Nine! Come hither to me, Master Froth.
Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tap-
sters: they will draw you, Master Froth, and you will hang
them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. 196
Froth. I thank your worship. For mine own part, I
never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am
drawn in. 199
Escal. Well, no more of it, Master Froth: farewell.
[Exit Froth.'] Come you hither to me, Master tapster.
What's your name, Master tapster?
Pom. Pompey.
Escal. What else?
Pom. Bum, sir. 205
Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about
you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the
Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howso-
ever you colour it in being a tapster, are you not? come,
tell me true: it shall be the better for you. 210
Pom. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live.
Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a
bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it
a lawful trade?
Pom. If the law would allow it, sir. 215
Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor
it shall not be allowed in Vienna.
Pom. Does your worship mean to geld and splay all
the youth of the city?
Escal. No, Pompey. 220
192 by] be Anon. conj. 209 in] Fr om. F2F3F4.
195 hang] hang on Heath conj. 216 nor] and Pope.
200 Scene iy. Pope. 218 splay] spay Steevens.
201 [Exit Froth.] Eowe. 219 of] Fx. in F2F3F4.
344 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Pom. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't,
then. If your worship will take order for the drabs and
the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.
Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell
you: it is but heading and hanging. 225
Pom. If you head and hang all that offend that way
but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a
coin mission for more heads: if this law hold in Vienna
ten year, 111 rent the fairest house in it after three-pence
a bay: if you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey
told you so. 231
Escal. Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of
your prophecy, hark you: I advise you, let me not find
you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever; no,
not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, I shall
beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Caesar to
you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt:
so, for this time, Pompey, fare you well. 238
Pom. I thank your worship for your good counsel:
[Aside] but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall
better determine. 241
Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade:
The valiant heart ?s not whipt out of his trade. [Exit.
Escal. Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither,
Master constable. How long have you been in this place
of constable? 246
Elb. Seven year and a half, sir.
Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you
had continued in it some time. You say, seven years
together? 250
223 the knaves] Fr knaves F2F3F4. 237 Pompey] om. F4.
224 are] F2F3F4. is Fr 240 [Aside] Staunton.
227 year] Ff. years Rowe. 244 Scene v. Pope.
229 year] Fr years F2F3F4. 248 your] Pope, the Ff. thy Collier
230 bay] day Rowe (ed. 2). conj. (withdrawn)
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 345
Elb. And a half, sir.
Escal. Alas, it hath been great pains to you. They
do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: are there not
men in your ward sufficient to serve it? 254
Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as
they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them;
I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.
Escal. Look you bring me in the names of some six
or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.
Elb. To your worship's house, sir? 260
Escal. To my house. Fare you well. [Exit Elbow.'] What's
o'clock, think you?
Just. Eleven, sir.
Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.
Just. I humbly thank you. 265
Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio;
But there's no remedy.
Just. Lord Angelo is severe.
Escal. It is but needful:
Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe: 270
But yet,—poor Claudio! There is no remedy.
Come, sir. [Exeunt.
Scene II. Another room in the same.
Enter Provost and a Servant.
Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight:
I'll tell him of you.
261 [Exit Elbow.] Rowe. Another room...] Malone. A room...
264 home] Fx. go home F2F3F4. Capell. Changes to Angelo's House.
271 There is] There's Pope. Johnson.
Scene il] Scene vi. Pope. Scene 1 he will] he'll Pope.
continued in Theobald.
346 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
-Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Servant] I'll know
His pleasure; may be lie will relent. Alas,
He hath but as offended in a dream!
All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he 5
To die for 't!
Enter Angelo.
Aug. Now, what 's the matter, provost?
Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow?
Aug. Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order?
Why dost thou ask again?
Prov, Lest I might be too rash:
Under your good correction, I have seen, 10
When, after execution, Judgement hath
Repented o'er his doom.
Aug. Go to; let that be mine:
Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spared.
Prov. I crave your honour's pardon.
What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? 15
She's very near her hour.
Aug. Dispose of her
To some more fitter place, and that with speed.
Re-enter Servant.
Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd
Desires access to you.
2 [Exit...] Capell. Walker conj., reading smack...will
4 but as offended] offended but as as two lines the first ending Now.
Grant White. 9 dost thoxi] om. Hanmer.
5 sects'] sorts S. Walker conj. 12 Go to] om. Hanmer.
of this] 0' tK Hanmer. 14 honour's] om. Pope.
6 for }t]for it Pope. 17 fitter] fitting Pope.
6, 7 what'5...Is it] What is...IsH S. Ee-enter...] Capell.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 347
Aug. Hath he a sister?
Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, 20
And to be shortly of a sisterhood,
If not already.
Aug. Well, let her be admitted. [Exit Servant
See you the fornicatress be removed:
Let her have needful, but not lavish, means;
There shall be order for 't.
Enter Isabella and Lucio.
Prov. God save your honour! 25
Aug. Stay a little while. [To Isab.] You're welcome:
what's your will?
Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your honour,
Please but your honour hear me.
Aug. Well; what's your suit?
Isab. There is a vice that most I do abhor,
And most desire should meet the blow of justice; 30
For which I would not plead, but that I must;
For which I must not plead, but that I am
At war 'twixt will and will not.
Aug. Well; the matter?
Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die:
I do beseech you, let it be his fault, 35
And not my brother.
22 Well] om. Pope. [To Isab.] Malone.
[Exit...] Theobald. 28 Please] 'Please Ef.
25 for H] for it Pope. Well] om. Pope.
God save] Clark and Glover (S. suit ?] suite. Fv
Walker conj. reading God...while as 30 And most] And more Rowe.
one line). 'Save Ff. 32 must not plead, but that] must plead,
[offering to retire. Malone. Going. albeit Hanmer. must noio plead,
Stand backe. Collier MS. but yet Johnson conj.
26 a little] yet a Pope.
348 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Prov. [Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces!
Aug. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it?
Why, every fault's condemn'd ere it be done:
Mine were the very cipher of a function,
To fine the faults whose fine stands in record, 40
And let go by the actor.
Isab. 0 just but severe law!
I had a brother, then.—Heaven keep your honour!
I/ticio. [Aside to Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him again,
entreat him;
Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown:
You are too cold; if you should need a pin, 45
You could not with more tame a tongue desire it;
To him, I say!
Isab. Must he needs die?
Aug. Maiden, no remedy.
Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him,
And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy. 50
Aug. I will not do 't.
Isab. But can you, if you would?
Aug. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.
Isab. But might you do 't, and do the world no wrong,
If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse
As mine is to him?
Aug. He's sentenced; 'tis too late. 55
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] You are too cold.
Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word,
36 [Aside] Collier. 46 more tame a] a more tame Rowe.
graces] grace S. Walker conj. 53—55 might you..Mm?] you might...
37 it?] Rowe (ed. 2). it,Y^z. #:F4. him. Dyce (ed. 2) and Keightley (S.
40 To fine] To find Theobald. Walker conj.).
faults] fault Dyce. 56 [Aside...] Collier. To Isabel. John-
42 [retiring. Malone. Going. Collier son.
]yj;gt You are] To. art F2. Thou art
43 [Aside...] Collier. To Isab. John- Collier MS.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. . 349
May call it back again. Well, believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones longs,
Not the kings crown, nor the deputed sword, 60
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace
As mercy does.
If he had been as you, and you as he,
You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, 65
Would not have been so stern.
Aug. Pray you, be gone.
Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?
No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge,
And what a prisoner.
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] Ay, touch him; there's the vein. 70
Aug. Your brother is a forfeit of the law,
And you but waste your words.
Isab. Alas, alas!
Why, all the souls that were were forfeit once;
And He that might the vantage best have took
Found out the remedy. How would you be, 75
If He, which is the top of judgement, should
But judge you as you are? 0, think on that;
And mercy then will breathe within your lips,
Like man new made.
Aug. Be you content, fair maid;
It is the law, not I condemn your brother: 80
58 back] F2F3F4. om. Fr line in Ff.
Well,] and Hanmer. 63—66 As...stem.] Three lines, end-
Well, believe] Well believe Theo- ing you,...him,...stem, in Pope.
bald- 70, &c. [Aside to Isab.] Collier. Aside.
59 'longs] Theobald, longs Ff. be- Johnson.
longs Eowe (ed. 2). 73 that were] that are Warburton.
62 with one] not with So quoted by 76 top] God Collier MS.
Keightley. 80 condemn] condemns Howe.
63, 64 As...he,] As in Capell. One
350 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,
It should be thus with him: he must die to-morrow.
Isab. To-morrow! 0, that's sudden! Spare him, spare
him!
He's not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens
We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven 85
With less respect than we do minister
To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you;
Who is it that hath died for this offence?
There's many have committed it.
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] Ay, well said.
Aug. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept:
Those many had not dared to do that evil, 91
If the first that did the edict infringe
Had answer d for his deed: now 'tis awake,
Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet,
Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils, 95
Either now, or by remissness new-conceived,
And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,
Are now to have no successive degrees,
But, ere they live, to end.
Isab. Yet show some pity.
Aug. I show it most of all when I show justice; 100
For then I pity those I do not know,
82 must die] dies Pope. conj.).
83 Printed as two lines in Ff, the first the first that] he who first Davenant's
ending sudden. version.
85 shall we serve] serve we Pope. did the edict] the edict did Keight-
92 If the first...edict] If he that did ley.
the edict first Anon. conj. 95 that shows what] which shews t/iat
the first] the first, Ff. the first man Hanmer.
Pope, he, the first Capell (Tyrwhitt 96 Either now] Or new Pope. Either
conj.). the first one Collier, ed. 2 new Dyce (Collier MS.). Either
(Collier MS.), but the first Grant now born Keightley.
White, the first he Spedding conj. 99 ere] Hanmer. here Ff. where Ma-
that the first Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker lone.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 351
Which, a dismiss'd offence would after gall;
And do him right that, answering one foul wrong,
Lives not to act another. Be satisfied;
Your brother dies to-morrow; be content. 105
Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sen-
tence,
And he, that suffers. 0, it is excellent ^\[ , \%
To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] That's well said.
Isab. Could great men thunder no
As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,
For every pelting, petty officer
Would use his heaven for thunder.
Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven,
Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt 115
Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assured,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape, 120
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.
104 Be] Then be Pope. 117 myrtle] Pope. Mertill F^Fg.
107 it is] His Pope. Mertil F4. Mirtle Rowe. yielding
108 it is] om. Hanmer. myrtle Keightley.
110 men] man Staunton conj. (Athen. but] Fv 0 but F2F3F4. but a
1872). Hudson conj. (doubtfully).
111 ne'er] neuer Fr proud] weak, proud Malone conj.
113 Would] Incessantly would Han- 119 assured] assured of Keightley.
mer. 120 glassy] grassy Lloyd conj. ghostly
113, 114 Would...but thunder!] One Gould conj.
line in Steevens. 122 make] Steevens. makes Ff.
114 Heaven] sweet Heaven Hanmer. 123 all themselves laugh] laugh them-
116 Split'st] Splits Fj. selves all Keightley conj.
352 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Lucio. [Aside to Isah.] 0, to him, to him, wench! he
will relent;
He's coming; I perceive 't.
Prov. [Aside] Pray heaven she win him! 125
Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself:
Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them,
But in the less foul profanation.
Lucio. Thou'rt i' the right, girl; more o that.
Isab. That in the captain 's but a choleric word, 130
Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] Art avised o' that? more on't.
Aug. Why do you put these sayings upon me?
Isab. Because authority, though it err like others,
Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, 135
That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom;
Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know
That's like my brother's fault: if it confess
A natural guiltiness such as is his,
Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue 140
Against my brother's life.
Aug. [Aside] She speaks, and 'tis
Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you well.
Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back.
Aug. I will bethink me: come again to-morrow.
Isab. Hark how I'll bribe you: good my lord, turn back.
125 [Aside] Collier. To Lucio. John- 132 avised] avis'd FXF2. advis'd F3F4.
son. thou advised Hanmer.
126 We] You Collier MS. more on't] more on't, yet more Han-
cannot] can but Anon. conj. mer.
ourself] yourself Theobald (War- 140 your] you F2.
burton). 141 [Aside] Johnson.
127 saints] sins Anon. conj. 141, 142 She...Such sense] As in Stee-
129 ^5 the right] i' th right FjFg. i' vens. One line in Ff.
right F3F4. right Pope, in the 142 breeds] bleeds Pope. bends So
right Steevens. quoted by Theobald.
[Aside. Johnson. [To Isab. Johnson.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 353
Aug. How? bribe me? 146
Isab. Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with
you.
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] You had marr'd all else.
Isab. Not with fond sides of the tested gold,
Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor 150
As fancy values them; but with true prayers
That shall be up at heaven and enter there
Ere sun-rise, prayers from preserved souls,
From fasting maids whose minds are dedicate
To nothing temporal.
Aug. Well; come to me to-morrow. 155
Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] Go to; 'tis well; away!
Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe!
. Aug. [Aside] Amen:
For I am that way going to temptation,
Where prayers cross.
Isab. At what hour to-morrow
Shall I attend your lordship?
Aug. At any time Tore noon. 160
Isab. 'Save your honour!
[Exeunt Isabella, Lucio, and Provost.
149 sides] sickles Ff. shekels Pope. 159 Where] Which your Johnson conj.
cycles Collier conj. Sirkles Collier 159, 160 Where...Shall J] One line
MS. See note (vn). in Keightley.
150 rates are] Johnson, rate are Ff. 160 your lordship] you lordship F2.
rate is Hanmer. yoio Hanmer.
153 preserved] reserved Daniel conj. fore noon] Rowe. fore-noone FXF2
155 To...me] One line in Steevens. F3. fore-noon T?4,
to me] om. Pope. 161 'Save] God save Hudson (S. Walker
156 [Aside...] Johnson. conj.), reading At any...honour! as
'tis well; away/] it is well away. one line. Heaven save Keightley.
Singer (ed. 1). [Exeunt...] Capell. Exeunt Lucio
157 [Going. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). and Isabella. Rowe. Exeunt.
[Aside] Johnson. F2F3F4. om. Fx.
Amen] Amen! I say Hanmer. Scene viii. Pope.
See note (viii).
vol. i. 23
354 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. ACT II.
Aug. From thee,—even from thy virtue!
What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine?
The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?
Ha!
Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I 165
That, lying by the violet in the sun,
Do as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, 170
Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
And pitch our evils there? 0, fie, fie, fie!
What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?
Dost thou desire her foully for those things
That make her good? 0, let her brother live: 175
Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
0 cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, 180
With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet,
With all her double vigour, art and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid 185
Subdues me quite. Ever till now,
When men were fond, I smiled, and wonder'd how. [Exit.
164 Ha!] Clark and Glover, om. Pope. 186 Ever till now] Fr Even till now
At end of line 163, Ff. F2F3F4. Even till this very now
166 by] with Capell. Pope. Ever till this very novj
172 evils] off alls Collier MS. Theobald. Even from youth till
183 never] ne'er Pope. now Collier MS.
SCENE III. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 355
Scene III. A room in a prison.
Enter, severally, Duke disguised as a friar, and Provost.
Duke. Hail to you, provost! so I think you are.
Prov. I am the provost. What's your will, good friar?
Duke. Bound by my charity and my blest order,
I come to visit the afflicted spirits
Here in the prison. Do me the common right 5
To let me see them, and to make me know
The nature of their crimes, that I may minister
To them accordingly.
Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful.
Enter Juliet.
Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine, 10
Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth,
Hath blister d her report: she is with child;
And he that got it, sentenced; a young man
More fit to do another such offence
Than die for this. 15
Duke. When must he die?
Prov. As I do think, to-morrow.
I have provided for you: stay awhile, [To Juliet.
And you shall be conducted.
Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?
Jul. I do; and bear the shame most patiently. 20
Scene hi.] Scene ix. Pope. that I May Seymour conj.
Act hi. Scene i. Johnson conj. 9 Enter Juliet] Transferred by Dyce
A room...] Capell. A Prison. to line 15.
Rowe. 10 mine] name Staunton conj. (Athen.
Enter severally...] Dyce. Enter 1872).
Duke habited like a Friar, and 11 flaws] F3F4. flaives FXF2. flames
Provost. Rowe. Enter Duke and Warburton (after Davenant).
Provost. Ff. 17 [To Juliet.] Theobald.
7 crimes, that I may] several crimes,
23—2
356 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your con-
science,
And try your penitence, if it be sound,
Or hollowly put on.
Jul. Ill gladly learn.
Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you?
Jul. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. 25
Duke. So, then, it seems your most offenceful act
Was mutually committed?
Jul. Mutually.
Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.
Jul. I do confess it, and repent it, father.
Duke. Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, 30
As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,
Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven,
Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it,
But as we stand in fear,—
Jul. I do repent me, as it is an evil, 35
And take the shame with joy.
Duke. There rest.
Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow,
And I am going with instruction to him.
Grace go with you, Benedicite! [Exit.
Jul. Must die to-morrow! 0 injurious love, 40
That respites me a life, whose very comfort
Is still a dying horror!
Prov. 'Tis pity of him. Exeunt.
26 offencefuF] offence full Fv 34 fear,—] Capell. feare. Ff.
30 lest you do repent] F'4. least you do 36 There rest] 'Tis well, there rest
repent F1F2FS. repent you not Pope. Hanmer.
Tyrwhitt conjectures that a line is 39 Grace] So grace Pope. May grace
lost after this. Keightley(Steevensconj.). All grace
33 we would not spare] Ff. we'd not Seymour conj. God's grace Hudson
spare Rowe (ed. 2). we'd not seek (S. Walker conj.). Grace go with
Pope, we would not serve Collier, you is assigned to Juliet by Dyce
ed. 2 (Collier MS.), we'd not ap- (ftitson conj.).
pease Singer conj. 40 love] law Hanmer.
/
/
/
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 357
Scene IV. A room in Angelo's house..
Enter Angelo.
Aug. "When I would pray and think, I think and pray -^j.^r^ v
To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty words ; Y; uix r!; *{{^.Ut.
Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue, ^. _
Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth, L
As if I did but only chew his name; 5
And in my heart the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception. The state, whereon I studied,
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown fear d and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein—let no man hear me—I take pride, 10
Could I with boot change for an idle plume,
Which the air beats for vain. 0 place, O form,
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls
To thy false seeming! Blood, thou art blood: 15
Let's write good angel on the devil's horn;
"lis not the devil's crest.
Enter a Servant.
How now! who's there?
Serv. One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you.
Scene iv.] Scene x. Pope. 10 take] took Seymour conj.
A room...] Capell. The Palace. 12 for vain. 0 place,] for vane. 0
Eowe. place! or for vane o:the place. Ma-
2 empty] om. Seymour conj. lone conj.
3 invention] intention Pope. 15 thou art blood] thou art but blood
4 Heaven] Heaven's Rowe. Heaven is Pope, thou still art blood Malone.
Capell. blood, thou art blood S. Walker
5 his] its Pope. conj. thou art blood still Keightley.
9 fear'd] sear'd Hanmer. sear Heath 17 'Tis not] IsH not Hanmer. 'Tisyet
conj. stale Anon. conj. hard Gould Johnson conj.
conj. sere Hudson. See note (ix). Enter...] Enter Seruant. Ef.
358 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Aug. Teach her the way. 0 heavens!
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, 20
Making both it unable for itself,
And dispossessing all my other parts
Of necessary fitness?
So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons;
Come all to help him, and so stop the air 25
By which he should revive: and even so
The general subject to a well-wish'd king
Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness
Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love
Must needs appear offence.
Enter Isabella.
How now, fair maid? 30
Isab. I am come to know your pleasure.
Aug. That you might know it, would much better
please me
Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live.
Isab. Even so.—Heaven keep your honour!
Aug. Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, 35
As long as you or I: yet he must die.
Isab. Under your sentence?
17—19 How...way..] Two lines, the first 27 general subject...king] general, sub-
ending sister, in Steevens (1793). ject...hing, Steevens, 1778 (Malone).
18 desires] asks Pope. subject] FjF^. subjects F4.
19 [ExitServ. Malone. Solus, Johnson. 28 part] path Collier MS.
20 my blood] the blood Anon. conj. 30, 31] Row...pleasure.] As one line in
21 both it] both that Pope, it both Steevens.
Collier MS. 31 Scene xi. Pope.
22 all] om. Hanmer, who makes lines 33 demand] declare Hanmer.
19—23 end at blood...both that...dis- Tour brother] He Hanmer.
possessing.. .fitness? 34 your honour] you Hanmer.
my] the Keed (1803). [Going. Eowe. Eetiring. Malone.
24 swoons] Howe (ed. 2). swounds Ff. 35 awhile] Pope, a while Ff.
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOR, MEASURE. 359
Ang. Yea.
Isdb. "When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve,
Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted 40
That his soul sicken not.
Ang. Ha! fie, these filthy vices! It were as good
To pardon him that hath from nature stolen
A man already made, as to remit
Their saucy sweetness that do coin heaven s image 45
In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy
Falsely to take away a life true made,
As to put metal in restrained means 1
To make a false one. l
Isdb. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. 50
Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose you quickly.
Which had you rather,—that the most just law
Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him,
Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness
As she that he hath stain d?
Isab. Sir, believe this, 55
I had rather give my body than my soul.
Ang. I talk not of your soul: our compell'd sins
Stand more for number than for accompt.
Isab. How say you?
Ang. Nay, 111 not warrant that; for I can speak
Against the thing I say. Answer to this :— 60
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:
Might there not be a charity in sin
45 sweetness] lewdness Hanmer. 51 Say] And say Pope. Yea, say S.
46 easy] just Hanmer. Walker conj. (ending lines 50, 51 at
48 metal] Theobald, mettle Ff. heaven...thenI.) Ha!say Keightley.
mea7is]mmtsSteeyens conj. moulds Ay, say Hudson.
Keightley (Malone conj.). 53 or] Rowe (after Davenant). and Ff.
50 'Tis...earth] 'Tis so set down in earth 58 for accompt] accompt Pope.
but not in heaven Johnson conj.
360 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
To save this brother's life?
Isab. Please you to do't,
111 take it as a peril to my soul, 65
It is no sin at all,, but charity.
Ang. Pleased you to do't at peril of your soul,
Were equal poise of sin and charity.
Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin,
Heaven let me bear it! you granting of my suit, 70
If that be sin, 111 make it my morn prayer
To have it added to the faults of mine,
And nothing of your answer.
Ang. Nay, but hear me.
Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant,
Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good. 75
Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good,
But graciously to know I am no better.
Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright
When it doth tax itself; as these black masks
Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder 80
Than beauty could, displayed. But mark me;
To be received plain, I'll speak more gross:
Your brother is to die.
Isab. So.
Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears, 85
68 Were...charity.1 WereH...charity? 80 enshieltf] in-shelVd Collier, ed. 2
Hanmer. * Twer e...charity. Keight- (Tyrwhitt conj.). conceaVd Bailey
ley (Seymour conj.). conj. enshelVd Keightley.
70 of] om. Pope. louder] lovelier Bailey conj.
71 'make it my mom prayer] maMt my 81 Than beauty] Than itself Keightley
morning prayer Hanmer. conj.
73 your] yours Johnson conj. could, displayed] broad-display3d
75 craftily] Eowe (after Davenant). Bailey conj.
crafty Ff. mark me] mark me well Hanmer.
thafs] that is Collier, ed. 2 (Collier mark me now Keightley conj. mark
MS.), reading crafty. you me Hudson.
76 me] om. Fr
SCENE-IV. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 361
Accountant to the law upon that pain.
Isab. True.
Aug. Admit no other way to save his life,—
As I subscribe not that, nor any other,
But in the loss of question,—that you, his sister, 90
Finding yourself desired of such a person,
Whose credit with the judge, or own great place,
Could fetch your brother from the manacles
Of the all-building law; and that there were
No earthly mean to save him, but that either 95
You must lay down the treasures of your body
To this supposed, or else to let him suffer;
What would you do?
Isab, As much for my poor brother as myself:
That is, were I under the terms of death, 100
The impression of teen whips lid wear as rubies.
And strip myself to death, as to a bed
That longing have been sick for, ere lid yield
My body up to shame.
Aug. Then must your brother die.
Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: 105
Better it were a brother died at once,
Than that a sister, by redeeming him,
Should die for ever.
Aug. Were not you, then, as cruel as the sentence
That you have slanderd so? no
90 loss] loose Singer MS. toss Johnson conj.
conj. list Heath conj. force Collier, 103 longing liave~\ longing Pve Rowe.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.), top "Wellesley longing I have Capell. longing
conj. had Knight, long I had Dyce, ed.
94 all-building] Ff. all-holding Eowe. 2 (Lettsom conj.). See note (xi).
all-binding Johnson, thrall-holding sick] seek Johnson (a misprint).
Bulloch conj. See note (x). 104, 105 your...way:] One line in Col-
97 to let] let Hanmer. lier (Capell conj.).
102 After this, a line omitted. Gould 106 at] for Johnson conj.
362 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II.
Isab. Ignomy in ransom and free pardon
Are of two houses: lawful mercy
Is nothing kin to foul redemption.
Aug. You seem'd of late to make the law a jtyrant;
And rather proved the sliding of your brother 115
A merriment than a vice.
Isab. 0, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out,
To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean:
I something do excuse the thing I hate,
For his advantage that I dearly love.- 120
Aug. We are all frail.
Isab. Else let my brother die,
If not a feodary, but only he
Owe and succeed thy weakness.
Aug. Nay, women are frail too.
Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves;
Which are as easy broke as they make forms. 126
Women !—Help Heaven! men their creation mar
In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail;
For Ave are soft as our 'complexions are,
And credulous to false prints.
Aug. I think it well: 130
And from this testimony of your own sex,—
Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger
111 Ignomy in] Ignomie in Fr Igno- 122 feodary] F2F3F4. fedarie Fx. feo-
miny in F2F3F4. An ignominious dary of Heaven Keightley.
Pope. No; ignomy in Keightley. 123 succeed thy] succumb to th} Gould
112, 113 mercy Is nothing kin] Ff. conj.
mercy store Is nothing Tcin Pope. thy weakness] by weakness Rowe.
mercy is Nothing akin Steevens. to weakness Capell. this weakness
See note (xn). Harness (Malone conj.).
117 oft] very oft Hanmer, who ends 126 make] take Johnson conj.
lines 116, 117 at me...have. 127 Heaven!] heav'n! Johnson, hea-
118 To...mean] As in Eowe (ed. 2). ven; Ff.
Two lines in Ff. their] thy Clark and Glover conj.
we would] vje'd Steevens (1793).
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 363
Than faults may shake our frames,—let me be bold;—
I do arrest your words. Be that you are,
That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none; 135
If you be one,—as you are well expressed
By all external warrants,—show it now,
By putting on the destined livery.
Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord,
Let me entreat you speak the former language. 140
Aug. Plainly conceive, I love you.
Isab. My brother did love Juliet,
And you tell me that he shall die for it.
Aug. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love.
Isab. I know your virtue hath a license in't, 145
Which seems a little fouler than it is,
To pluck on others.
Aug. Believe me, on mine honour,
My words express my purpose.
Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believed,
And most pernicious purpose !—Seeming, seeming !— 150
I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look fort:
Sign me a present pardon for my brother,
Or with an outstretched throat I'll tell the world aloud
What man thou art.
Aug. Who will believe thee, Isabel?
My unsoiTd name, the austereness of my life, 155
My vouch against you, and my place i' the state,
Will so your accusation overweigh,
That you shall stifle in your own report,
And smell of calumny. I have begun;
135 you be] you're Pope. 145 virtue] office Gould conj.
140 former] formal Warburton. 153 Pope ends the line at world.
142, 143 My...me] One line in Steevens aloud] om. Hudson (Dyce conj.).
(1793). A stage direction. Gould conj.
143 for it Pope, forH Ff. 156 My] May Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
364 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT II. SCENE IV.
And now I give my sensual race the rein: ieo
Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite;
Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes,
That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother
By yielding up thy body to my will;
Or else he must not only die the death, 165
But thy unkindness shall his death draw out
To lingering sufferance. Answer me to-morrow,
Or, by the affection that now guides me most,
I'll prove a tyrant to him. As for you,
Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. [Exit.
Isab. To whom should I complain? Did I tell this,
"Who would believe me? 0 perilous mouths, 172
That bear in them one and the self-same tongue,
Either of condemnation or approof;
Bidding the law make court'sy to their will; 175
Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite,
To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother:
Though he hath fall'n by prompture of the blood,
Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour,
That, had he twenty heads to tender down 180
On twenty bloody blocks, held yield them up,
Before his sister should her body stoop
To such abhorr'd pollution.
Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die:
More than our brother is our chastity. 185
I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,
And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. [Exit
160 race] rage Gould conj. 175 courtesy] curtsie Ff.
163 redeem] save Pope. 179 mind] mine Jackson conj.
171 should] shall Reed (1803). 183 pollution] pollution as this Keight-
172 perilous] most perilous Theobald. ley.
these perilous Keightley (Seymour 185 Inverted commas prefixed to this
conj.). pernicious So quoted by line in Ff.
S. Walker.
ACT III. SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 365
ACT III.
Scene I. A room in the prison.
Enter Duke disguised as before, Claudio, and Provost.
Duke. So, then, you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo?
Claud. The miserable have no other medicine
But only hope:
IVe hope to live, and am prepared to die.
Duke. Be absolute for death; either death or life 5
Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life:
If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing
That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art,
Servile to all the skyey influences,
That dost this habitation, where thou keep st, 10
Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool;
For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun,
And yet runn st toward him still. Thou art not noble;
For all the accommodations that thou bear'st
Are nursed by baseness. Thourt by no means valiant;
For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork ie
Of a poor worm. Thy best of rest is sleep,
And that thou oft provokest; yet grossly fear st
Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself;
For thou exist 'st on many a thousand grains 20
That issue out of dust. Happy thou art not;
A room...] Capell. The Prison. 5 either] or Pope.
Howe. 8 keep] reck Warburton. weep Bailey
Enter...] Dyce. Enter Duke, Clau- conj.
dio, and Prouost. Ff. thou art] om. Hanmer.
1 of] for Hanmer. 10 dost] Ff. do Hanmer. doth
3, 4 But...die] As in Capell. Prose Keightley.
in Ff. One line in Rowe. Hanmer 15 Thou Wi\ Thou art Steevens.
reads But...am as one line. 20 exist7st] Theobald, exists Ff.
4 I've] Fhave Ff.
366 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
For what thou hast not, still thou strivest to get,
And what thou hast, forget'st. Thou art not certain;
For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,
After the moon. If thou art rich, thou'rt poor; 25
For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear st thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee. Friend hast thou none;
For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,
The mere effusion of thy proper loins, 30
Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum,
For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth nor age,
But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,
Dreaming on both; for all thy blessed youth
Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms 35
Of palsied eld; and.when thou art old and rich,
Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty,
To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this
That bears the name of life? Yet in this life
Lie hid moe thousand deaths: yet death we fear, 40
That makes these odds all even.
24 effects] affects Dyce, ed. 2 and Keight- Kinnear conj.
ley (Johnson conj.). as aged] an indigent Hanmer. as-
25 If] Though Hanmer. suaged Warburton. unaged or non-
28 unloads] unloadeth Kowe (ed. 2). in aged Smith ap. Grey conj. assieged
fine unloads Keightley. Becket conj. engaged Keightley
29 bowels] barnes Gould conj. (Staunton conj.). a
thee sire] F'4. thee, fire ¥1¥2F3. See abject Keightley conj. enaged T.
note (xin). "White conj. abased Clark and Glover
31 serpigo] Eowe. Sapego Fr Sarpego conj. assailed Bulloch conj.
F2F3F4. 37 beauty] bounty Warburton.
33 it were] Hwere Elze. conj., reading 38—40Whatsyet...deaths:yet]What?sin
nor age.. .sleep as one line. this That...life, when in.. .deaths? yet
34 all thy blessed^ palVd, thy blazed Watkiss Lloyd conj. (Athen. 1884).
. Warburton. all thy blasted John- 38 yet] om. Pope.
son conj. all thy boasted Collier 39 Yet] Yea, Keightley.
MS. and T.White conj. (withdrawn). 40 moe] Ff. more Bowe. a Hanmer.
all thy best of T. White conj. some Keightley.
35 Becomes as aged] Beholding is to age
SCENE I.
367
MEASURE FOE, MEASURE.
Claud. I humbly thank you.
To sue to live, I find I seek to die;
And, seeking death, find life: let it come on.
Isab. [within] What, ho! Peace here; grace and good
company!
Prov. Who's there? come in: the wish deserves a wel-
come. 45
Duke. Dear sir, ere long 111 visit you again.
Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you.
Isab.
Prov.
sister.
Duke.
Prov.
Duke.
concealed.
Claud.
Isab.
Enter Isabella.
My business is a word or two with Claudio.
And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your
50
Provost, a word with you.
As many as you please.
Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be
[Exeunt Duke and Provost.
Now, sister, what's the comfort? 55
Why,
As all comforts are; most good, most good indeed.
Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven,
44 [within] Capell.
46 sir] son Dyce (ed. 2) and Keightley
(Mason conj.).
47 Enter Isabella.] As in Dyce. After
line 43, in Ff. After line 45, in
Capell.
49 Look] om. Pope.
53 Bring me to hear them speak] Malone
(Steevens conj.). Bring them to hear
me speak ¥v Bring them to speak
F2F3F4. Bring me to stand Capell.
54 concealed] conceaVd Fr conceaVd,
yet hear them F2F3F4. conceaVd,
yet hear t/wm speak Capell. Bring
me where I conceaVd May hear them
speak Davenant's version.
[Exeunt...] Kowe. Exeunt. F2F3F4.
om. Fr
55 Scene ii. Pope.
sister] good sister Haiimer.
56, 57 Why.. .indeeoT] As one line,
Keightley.
57 comforts] Our comforts Hudson conj.,
reading Now...all as one line.
most good, most good indeed.] most
good indeed. Pope, most good in
deed. Theobald, most good in speed.
Hanmer. most good. Indeed Black-
stone conj. See note (xiv).
368 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
Intends you for his swift ambassador,
Where you shall be an everlasting leiger: 60
Therefore your best appointment make with speed;
To-morrow you set on.
Claud, Is there no remedy?
Isab. None, but such remedy as, to save a head,
To cleave a heart in twain.
Claud. But is there any?
Isab. Yes, brother, you may live: 65
There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.
Claud. Perpetual durance?
Isab. Ay, just; perpetual durance, a restraint,
Though all the world's vastidity you had, 70
To a determined scope.
Claud. But in what nature?
Isab. In such a one as, you consenting to't,
Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear,
And leave you naked.
Claud. Let me know the point.
Isab. 0, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, 75
Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain,
And six or seven winters more respect
Than a perpetual honour. Darest thou die?
The sense of death is most in apprehension;
And the poor beetle, that we tread upon, 80
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.
60 leiger] ledger Capell. lieger Staun- Through Ff.
ton. 72 to't] to it Collier MS.
62 set on] set out Pope. 76 shouldst] wouldst Collier MS.
64 To] Must Hanmer. 78 die] not die Watkiss Lloyd conj.
70 Though] Tho' Eowe (ed. 2). (Athen. 1884).
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 369
Claud. Why give you ine this shame?
Think you I can a resolution fetch
From flowery tenderness? If I must die,
I will encounter darkness as a bride, 85
And hug it in mine arms.
Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's grave
Did utter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die:
Thou art too noble to conserve a life
In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, do
Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew
As falcon doth the fowl, is yet a devil;
His filth within being cast, he would appear
A pond as deep as hell.
Claud. The prenzie Angelo! 95
Isab. 0, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,
The damned'st body to invest and cover
In prenzie guards! Dost thou think, Claudio ?—
83, 84 can a...From] cannot...From line 98.
Keightley. cannot ...For Daniel 95, 98 prenzie] Ft. princely F2F3F4.
conj. priestly Hanmer (Warburton). pre-
83 can a resolution fetch] want a reso- else Knight (Tieck conj.). pensive
lution fetch'd Hanmer. can in reso- Anon. conj. (1ST. & Q. 1851). saintly
lution faint "Watkiss Lloyd conj. Hickson conj. printsy Taylor conj.
(Athen. 1884). pkrenzied Anon. conj. (N. & Q. 1851).
84 tenderness ?] tenderness. Dyce, ed. primsie Anon. conj. (N. & Q. 1851).
1 (Heath conj.). primzie Singer (ed.- 2). reverend
90 appliances] appliance Hanmer. Staunton, pensie Bulloch conj.
92 head] hud Grey conj. (withdrawn), proxy Id. conj. priest-
emmew] enmeio Steevens (1793). like Kinnear conj. preuzie Adee
enew Keightley. conj. (Shakespeariana, 1885), read-
93 falcon] faulconer Grey conj. ing princely or priestly in line 98.
94, 95 filth...pond] pond...filth Upton See note (xv).
conj. 97 damnedest] damnest Fx.
95 prenzie Angelo !] prenzie, Angelo? 98 guards] garb Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
Fx. Princely, Angelo.?F2F3. Princely MS.).
Angelo? F4. frenzy! Angelo ? Knight 98—100 Claudio ?—.. freed.] Clark and
(Stratford ed.), reading pHncely in Glover. Claudio,...freed? Ff. Clau-
VOL. I. 24
370 MEASUBE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
If I would yield him my virginity,
Thou mightst be freed.
Claud. 0 heavens! it cannot be. 100
Isab. Yes, he would give't thee, from this rank offence,
So to offend him still. This night's the time
That I should do what I abhor to name,
Or else thou diest to-morrow.
Claud. Thou shalt not do't.
Isab. 0, were it but my life, 105
lid throw it down for your deliverance
As frankly as a pin.
Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel.
Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow.
Claud. Yes. Has he affections in him,
That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, no
When he would force it? Sure, it is no sin;
Or of the deadly seven it is the least.
Isab. Which is the least?
Claud. If it were damnable, he being so wise,
Why would he for the momentary trick 115
Be perdurably fined ?—0 Isabel!
Isab. What says my brother?
Claud. Death is a fearful thing.
Isab. And shamed life a hateful.
Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where;
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot; 120
This sensible warm motion to become
dio,..freed. Collier. Claudio,—... 115 Why] Why, Hanmer.
freed! Staunton. 120 obstruction] destruction Bailey conj.
101 giveH] grant Hanmer. give War- abstraction Cartwright conj. obli-
burton. give it Steevens. won So quoted in the Cornhill
from] for Hanmer. Mag. (May 1867). obstriction Gould
107 dear] dearest Pope. conj.
109 Yes] I will Keightley. 121 sensible warm] sensible-warm S.
he] he then Hanmer. Walker conj.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 371
A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice;
To be imprisond in the viewless winds, 125
And blown with restless violence round about
The pendent world; or to be worse than worst
Of those that lawless and incertain thought
Imagine howling :—'tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life 130
That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment
Can lay on nature is a- paradise
To what we fear of death.
Isab. Alas, alas!
Claud. Sweet sister, let me live:
What sin you do to save a brother's life, 135
Nature dispenses with the deed so far
That it becomes a virtue.
Isab. , 0 you beast!
O faithless coward! 0 dishonest wretch!
Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice?
Is't not a kind of incest, to take life 140
From thine own sister's shame? What should I think?
Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair!
122 the] this Spence conj. (N. & Q. 128, 129 those that...thought Imagine]
1878). those, that...thought, Imagine Ff.
delighted] dilated Hanraer. he- those, that...thoughts Imagine Theo-
nighted (Anon. conj. ap. Johnson). bald, those—that...thought—Ima-
delinquent Upton conj. alighted gine Hanmer. those whom...thought
Anon. conj. delated Jackson conj. Imagines Heath conj. (after Dave-
delivered Hutchesson conj. (Gent. nant). those that, lawlesse and
Mag. 1790). dislodged Bulloch conj. incertaine, thought Imagines Col-
See note (xvi). lier MS.
123 reside] recide Fr 131 pernor?/] F2F3F4. periury Fx.
124 thrilling] chilling Cartwright conj. and] om. Pope.
region] regions Kowe. 142 shield] Fv shield: F2F3F4. grant
thick-ribbed/] tlxich-ribVd Theobald. Pope.
24—2
372 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
For such a warped slip of wilderness
Ne'er issued from his blood. Take my defiance!
Die, perish! Might but my bending down 145
Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed:
111 pray a thousand prayers for thy death,
No word to save thee.
Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel.
Isab. 0, fie, fie, fie!
Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade. 150
Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd:
Tis best that thou diest quickly.-
Claud.' 0, hear me, Isabella!
Ee-enter Duke.
Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word.
Isab. What is your will? 154
Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would
by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I
would require is likewise your own benefit.
Isab. I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be
stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. 159
[Walks apart.
Duke. Son, I have overheard what hath passed be-
tween you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose
to corrupt her; only he hath made an assay of her virtue
to practise his judgement with the disposition of natures:
she, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that
gracious denial which he is most glad to receive. I am
confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore
143 wilderness] wildness or wiliness 153 Scene ni. Pope.
Grey conj. Re-enter Duke.] Capell. Duke steps
145 perish f] perish, wretch! Cartwright in. F2E3F4. om. I\. Enter Duke
conj. perish thou! Hudson conj. and Provost. Rowe.
hut my] my only Pope. 159 [Walks apart.] Capell.
149 Nay] om. Pope. 160 [To Claudio aside. Johnson.
152 [Going. Capell. 162 assay] essay Rowe,
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 373
prepare yourself to death: do not satisfy your resolution
with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go
to your knees, and make ready. 169
Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of
love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it.
Duke. Hold you there: farewell. [Exit Claudio.] Pro-
vost, a word with you!
Re-enter Provost.
Prov. What's your will, father? 174
Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone.
Leave me awhile with the maid: my mind promises with
my habit no loss shall touch her by my company.
Prov. In good time.
[Exit Provost. Isabella comes forward.
Duke. The hand that hath made you fair hath made
you good: the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes
beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your
complexion, shall keep the body of it ever fair. The assault
that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath conveyed to
my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for
his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How will you do
to content this substitute, and to save your brother? 186
Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my
brother die by the law than my son should be unlawfully
born. But, 0, how much is the good Duke deceived in
167 satisfy] falsify Hanmer ("Warbur- 177 habit] Liverie Egerton MS. 1
ton), qualify Hudson (Bailey conj.). 178 [Exit...forward.] Clark and Glover.
resolution] irresolution Cartwright [Exit. Ff.
conj. 180 cheap] chiefe Collier MS.
168, 169 go to] Goe, to Collier MS. 181 in goodness] in sicch goodness
170 [Crosses to Isabella, and kisses her Hanmer.
hand. Acting copy. 182 should] shall Steevens (1778).
172 [Exit C] Exit. F2F3F4 after line 183 to you] on you Hanmer.
171. om. Fr See note (xvn). 187 him:] him, Dyce.
173 Re-enter...] Capell.
374 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
Angelo! If ever he return and I can speak to him, I will
open my lips in vain, or discover his government. 191
Duke. That shall not be much amiss: yet, as the matter
now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial
of you only. Therefore fasten your ear on my advisings: to
the love I have in doing good a remedy presents itself. I
do make myself believe that you may most uprighteously
do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your
brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gra-
cious person; and much please the absent Duke, if perad-
venture he shall ever return to have hearing of this business.
Isab. Let me hear you speak farther. I have spirit to
do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit.
Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have
you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick the
great soldier who miscarried at sea? 205
Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went
with her name.
Duke. She should this Angelo have married; was affi-
anced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between
which time of the contract and limit of the solemnity, her
brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish-
ed vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark how heavily
this befell to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble
and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most
kind and natural; with him, the portion and sinew of her
fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate
husband, this well-seeming Angelo. 217
Isab. Can this be so? did Angelo so leave her?
194, 195 advisings:...good] Pope, ad- 208 She] Her Pope.
visi?igs,...good; Ff. was] he was Hanmer,
196 uprighteously] uprightly Pope. 209 by] om. Fv
201 speak farther] speak, father F4. and] om. F4:
speak further Johnson. 211 wrecked^wrecttdll&iimei'. wracktFf.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 375
Duke. Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them
with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pretending in
her discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestowed her on her
own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake; and he,
a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not.
Isab. What a merit were it in death to take this poor
maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it
will let this man live! But how out of this can she avail?
Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and
the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you
from dishonour in doing it.
Isab. Show me how, good father. 230
Duke. This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continu-
ance of her first affection: his unjust unkindness, that in all
reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impedi-
ment in the current, made it more violent and unruly.
Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible
obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer
yourself to this advantage, first, that your stay with him
may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and
silence in it; and the place answer to convenience. This
being granted in course,—and now follows all,—we shall
advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go
in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself here-
after, it may compel him to her recompence: and here, by
this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor
Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt Deputy scaled. The
maid will I frame and make fit for his attempt. If you
221 few] F^. few words F3F4. in course now Rowe (ed. 2). grant-
Tier on] on her Capell conj. ed in course, now Capell.
223 a marble] as marble Collier MS. 241 stead] Rowe (ed. 2). steed Ff.
tears] teares Fr eares F2F3. ears F4. go] and go Keightley.
232 unkindness] kindness Pope. 245 scaled] foiled Grant White, sealed
240 granted in course,—and no w] grant- Staunton conj.
ed in course, and now Ff. granted, 246 his] this Hudson (S. Walker conj.).
376
ACT III.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of
the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think
you of it?
Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and I
trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. 251
Duke. It lies much in your holding up. Haste you
speedily to Angelo: if for this night he entreat you to his
bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will presently to
Saint Luke's: there, at the moated grange, resides this de-
jected Mariana. At that place call upon me; and dispatch
with Angelo, that it may be quickly.
Isab. I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well,
good father. [Exeunt severally. 259
Scene II. The street before the prison.
Enter, on one side, Duke disguised as before; on the other, Elbow,
and Officers with Pompey.
Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you
will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we
shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.
Duke. 0 heavens! what stuff is here?
Pom. 'Twas never merry world since, of two usuries,
the merriest was put down, and the worser allowed by
order of law a furred gown to keep him warm; and furred
248 from] and Rowe.
250, 251 and I trust it] and, I trust, it
Theobald.
255 resides] recides Fr
259 [Exeunt severally] Theobald.
[Exit. Ff.
Scene il] Capell. om. Ff. Scene
iv. Pope.
The street...] Street...Capell. The
Street. Rowe.
Enter Pompey.] Dyce. Enter
Elbow, Clowne, Officers. Ff. Enter
Duke, Elbow, Clown and Officers.
Pope. Re-enter Duke as a Friar...
Theobald.
4 here ?] heere. Fr
5 uswries] usances Collier MS.
7 Punctuated as in Hanmer. Ff. place
a semicolon after law. Pope a full
stop. Warburton supposes a line
or two to be lost.
furred gown] furred lamb-skin gown
Capell.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 377
with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that craft, being
richer.than innocency, stands for the facing.
Elb. Come your way, sir. 'Bless you, good father friar.
Duke. And you, good brother father. What offence
hath this man made you, sir?
Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law: and, sir, we
take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him,
sir, a strange picklock, which we have sent to the Deputy.
Duke. Fie, sirrah! a bawd, a wicked bawd! 16
The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live. Do thou but think
What 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back
From such a filthy vice: say to thyself, 20
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend.
Pom. Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir; but yet,
sir, I would prove— 26
Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin,
Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer:
Correction and instruction must both work
Ere this rude beast will profit. 30
Elb. He must before the Deputy, sir; he has given
him warning: the Deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if
he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as
good go a mile on his errand.
Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be,
8 food and lamb-skins] fox-shins Capell. conj.). eat away my selfe Ff.
fox on lamb-skins Hudson (Mason 24 Go mend, go mend] Go mend, mend
conj.). Pope. Mend,gomendSteevens(I*7~3).
II father] om. Johnson conj. Go, mend, go, mend Steevens (1778).
16 sirrah F] sirrah, fie! Hudson (Dyce 25 does] doth Pope.
conj.). 26 prove—] prone. Fr
22 eat, array myself] Theobald (Bishop
378
ACT III.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
From our faults, as faults from seeming, free! 36
ETb. His neck will come to your waist,—a cord, sir.
Pom. I spy comfort; I cry bail. Here's a gentleman
and a friend of mine.
Enter Lucio.
Lucio. How now, noble Pompey! What, at the wheels
of Csesar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there none
of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had
now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it
clutched? What reply, ha? What sayest thou to this tune,
matter and method? Is't not drowned i the last rain, ha?
What sayest thou, Trot? Is the world as it was, man?
Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? or how? The
trick of it?
Duke. Still thus, and thus; still worse!
Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Pro-
cures she still, ha? 51
Pom. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and
she is herself in the tub.
Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be
so: ever your fresh whore and your powdered bawd: an
unshunned consequence; it must be so. Art going to
prison, Pompey? 57
36 From.. .faults from] From overt faults
assoilzied, from Bulloch conj.
From our' faidts] ~E\. Free from our
faults F2F3. Free from all faults F4.
From all our faults Seager conj.
as faults from seeming] or faults
from seeming Theobald conj. as
from faults seeming Hanmer. or
from false seeming Johnson conj. our
faults from seeming Kinnear conj.
37 Scene v. Pope.
Enter Lucio.] As in Pope. After
line 36 in Ff.
waist] Steevens (1778). wast F^Fg.
waste F4.
40 wheels] heels Steevens.
43 it] Eowe (ed. 2). om. Ff.
44, 45 this tune...IsH not] this? tune...
method,—isH not? Johnson conj.
45 matter and method] the matter and
the method Hanmer.
IsH not...rain] It's not down in the
last reign "Warburton.
46 thou, Trot] thou toH Dyce (Grey
conj.). thou, Troth Jackson conj.
52 her] the Rowe (ed. 2).
55, 56 ever...so] Two lines of verse, S.
Walker conj.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 379
Pom. Yes, faith, sir.
Lucio. Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey. Farewell: go
say I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how? 60
Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.
Lucio. Well, then, imprison him: if imprisonment be
the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: bawd is he doubtless,
and of antiquity too; bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey.
Commend me to the prison, Pompey: you will turn good
husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. 66
Pom. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.
Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the
wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if
you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more.
Adieu, trusty Pompey. 'Bless you, friar. 71
Duke. And you.
Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?
Elb. Come your ways, sir; come.
Pom. You will not bail me, then, sir? 75
Lucio. Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad,
friar? what news?
Elb. Come your ways, sir; come.
Lucio. Go to kennel, Pompey; go. [Exeunt Elbow,
Pompey and Officers.] What news, friar, of the Duke? 80
Duke. I know none. Can you tell me of any?
Lucio. Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia;
other some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?
59, 60 go say] go, say Rowe (ed. 2). conj.).
69, 70 bondage: if ...patiently,] Theo- 79, 80 [Exeunt... Officers.] Exeunt
bald, bondage if...patiently: Ff. Elbow, Clown and Officers. Kowe.
70 not patiently...mettle] but patiently Exeunt. F2F3F4. om. Fx.
...merit Gould conj. 79 Go to] Go—to Johnson.
76 Then] Neither then Keightley. 80 Scene vi. Pope.
Pompey, nor] Pompey? nor Steevens. 81 none] of none Keightley.
Pompey? no, nor Hudson (S. Walker
380 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
Duke. I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him
well. 85
Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal
from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born
to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts
transgression to't.
Duke. He does well in't. 90
Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no
harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.
Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.
Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kin-
dred; it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp it
quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They
say this Angelo was not made by man and woman after
this downright way of creation: is it true, think. you?
Duke. How should he be made, then? 99
Lucio. Some report a sea-maid spawned him; . some,
that he was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is
certain that, when he makes water, his urine is congealed
ice; that I know to be true: and he is a motion gene-
rative; that's infallible.
Duke. You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace. 105
Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for
the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man!
"Would the Duke that is absent have done this? Ere he
would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred bas-
tards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: he
86 mad fantastical] mad-fantastical S. no motion generative Hanmer. is
"Walker conj. not a motion generative Capell. is
87 the state] his state Dyce (ed. 2). a motion ingenerative Collier, ed. 2
93 general] gentle Warburton. genteel (Collier MS.), is a notion genera-
Grey conj. (withdrawn). tive Upton conj. is a mule ungene-
94 a great] great Eowe. rative Anon. conj. is a?most un-
98 this] Ff. the Pope. generative Bulloch conj. a motion
103, 104 is a motion generative] is a generated Seager conj.
motion ungenerative Theobald, has 110 a] of a Singer (ed. 1).
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 381
had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and
that instructed him to mercy.
Duke, I never heard the absent Duke much detected
for women; he was not inclined that way.
Lucio. 0, sir, you are deceived. 115
Duke. Tis not possible.
Lucio. Who, not the Duke? yes, your beggar of fifty;
and his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the Duke
had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too; that let me
inform you. 120
Duke. You do him wrong, surely,
Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was
the Duke: and I believe I know the cause of his with-
drawing.
Duke. What, I prithee, might be the cause? 125
Lucio. No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be locked within
the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand,
the greater file of the subject held the Duke to be wise.
Duke. Wise! why, no question but he was. 129
Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.
Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking:
the very stream of his life and the business he hath helmed
must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclama-
tion. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings-
forth, and he shall appear to the envious a scholar, a states-
man and a soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully; or
if your knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your
malice.
Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. 139
Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and know-
ledge with dearer love.
113 detected] detracted Capell. 133 need] meed Gould conj.
117 your] with your Keightley. 141 dearer] Hanmer. deare F^.
122 shy] sly Hanmer. dear E3F4.
125 I] om. Eowe.
382 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT III.
Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know.
Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not
what you speak. But, if ever the Duke return, as our
prayers are he may, let me desire you to make your answer
before him. If it be honest you have spoke, you have
courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and,
I pray you, your name?
Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the
Duke. 150
Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to
report you.
Lucio. I fear you not.
Duke. 0, you hope the Duke will return no more; or
you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I
can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again. 156
Lucio. I'll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me,
friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die
to-morrow or no?
Duke. Why should he die, sir? 160
Lucio. Why? For filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I
would the Duke we talk of were returned again: this un-
genitured agent will unpeople the province with contin-
ency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because
they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds
darkly answered; he would never bring them to light:
would he were returned! Marry, this Claudio is condemned
for untrussing. Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for
me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on
Fridays. He's not past it yet, and I say to thee, he would
155 too] to Fx. thee] Hanmer. H£s now past it,
156 little] a little Hanmer. yet (and I say to thee) Ff. Re's
again.] again? Ff. now past it: yea, and I say to thee
167 this Claudio] this: Claitdio Clark Capell.
and Glover conj. say] sayH Anon. conj.
170 Heh not past it yet, and I say to
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 383
mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and
garlic: say that I said so. Farewell. [Exit.
Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality
Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny
The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong 175
Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?
But who comes here?
Enter Escalus, Provost, and Officers with Mistress
Overdone.
Escal. Go; away with her to prison!
Mrs Ov. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour
is accounted a merciful man; good my lord. 180
Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit
in the same kind! This would make mercy swear and
play the tyrant.
Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it
please your honour. 185
Mrs Ov. My lord, this is one Lucio's information
against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by
him in the Duke s time; he promised her marriage: his
child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob:
I have kept it myself- and see how he goes about to abuse
me! 191
Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much license: let
him be called before us. Away with her to prison! Go
to; no more words. [Exeunt Officers with Mistress Ov.] Provost,
my brother Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must
die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have
171 smelt] smelt of Howe. Bawd. Ef.
172 said] say Pope. 182 swear] sicerve Hannier. severe
178 Scene vii. Pope. Parmer conj.
Enter...] Dyce. Enter Escalus, 194 [Exeunt...] Exeunt with the Bawd.
Provost, Bawd, and Officers. John- Eowe. om. Ff.
son. Enter Escalus, Prouost, and
384 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. ACT III.
all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my
pity, it should not be so with him.
Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him,
and advised him for the entertainment of death. 200
Escal. Good even, good father.
Diike. Bliss and goodness on you!
Escal, Of whence are you?
Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now
To use it for my time: I am a brother 205
Of gracious order, late come from the See
In special business from his Holiness.
Escal. What news abroad i' the world?
Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on good-
ness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only
in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind
of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertak-
ing. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies
secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurst:—
much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This
news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you,
sir, of what disposition was the Duke?
Eseal. One that, above all other strifes, contended
especially to know himself.
Duke. What pleasure was he given to? 220
Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than
199 So] My lord, so Keightley. as FXF2.
201 even] F4. ,even¥1F2F3. 211,212 it is as...as it is] as it is..*soit
205 time] turn Gould conj. is Staunton conj. (Athen. 1872).
206 See] Theobald. Sea Ff. See of 212 constant] inconstant Hudson (Staun-
Rome Keightley. Holy See Id. ton conj.).
conj. (withdrawn). undertaking. There] undertaking,
211—213 and it is as...course, as... there Collier.
undertaking. There] and, as it is 218, 219 One...himself.] Two lines, the
...course; as...undertaking; there first ending strifes, in Ff.
Hudson. 219 especially] specially Pope.
211 and it is as] F3F4. and as it is
SCENE II. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 385
merry at any thing wliich professed to make him rejoice: a
gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his
events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let
me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am
made to understand that you have lent him visitation. 226
Duke. He professes to have received no sinister mea-
sure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to
the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself,
by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of
life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him,
and now is he resolved to die. 232
Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and
the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have laboured
for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my
modesty: but my brother justice have I found so severe,
that he hath forced me to tell him he is indeed Justice.
Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his pro-
ceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to
fail, he hath sentenced himself. 240
Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.
Duke. Peace be with you! [Exeunt Escalus and Provost.
He who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know, 245
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
231 leisure] lecture Capell conj. conj. Pattern...show Of grace...go
233 your function] the dice of 'your func- Watkiss Lloyd conj. (Athen. 1884).
tion Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). Pattern in himself to show Grace
242 Scene yiii. Pope. withstanding virtue's foe Bulloch
[Exeunt...] Capell. [Exit. F2F3F4. conj. Pattern...show, Grace...owe
om. F1# Kinnear conj.
245,246 Pattern...go] Patterning him- 246 Grace...and virtue] In grace...in
self to know, In grace to stand, in virtue Keightley conj. Place to
virtue go (Johnson conj.). Pattern stand on, way to Leo conj.
in himself to show Grace and virtue. and virtue go] virtue to go Coleridge
Stand or go Becket conj. Pat- conj. and undergo Wellesley conj.
tern...show, Grace...go Staunton
vol. I. 25
386
ACT III. SCENE II.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
More nor less to others paying
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders' strings
Most ponderous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed but despised;
So disguise shall, by the disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.
250
255
260
[Exit 264
248 self-offences] self offences Collier.
255 Hov)...made] How made likeness
may Nicholson conj. (N. & Q. 1866).
To have my likeness trade Bulloch
conj.
255—257 may...To draw] many...Draw
Harness.
255 likeness made in crimes] Ff. that
likeness made in crimes Theobald
(Warburton). tliat likeness shading
cnmes Hanmer. svxh likeness trade
in crimes Heath conj. likeness wade
in crimes Dyce, ed. 2 (Malone conj.
withdrawn), likeness mate in cHmes
Leo conj. weakness wade in crimes
Jervis conj. likeness masking crimes
Bailey conj. lewdness trade in crimes
Wellesley conj. lightness made in
crimes Seagerconj. (1869). likeness
work, in crimes,— Hudson, reading
line 256 as a parenthesis, lightness
make in crimes Watkiss Lloyd conj.
(Athen. 1884).
256 Making practice] Mocking, practise
Singer (Malone conj.). Make sin
practise Jackson conj. Masking
practise Collier MS. {Making) prac-
tise Barron Field conj. Make ill
practice Nicholson conj. Magic
practice Watkiss Lloyd conj.
on the times] oftentimes Wellesley
conj.
256—258 times,... things!] times!...
things, Barron Field conj.
25*7 To draw] Draw Theobald (War-
burton). So draw Staunton conj.
BravAng Bulloch conj. And draw
Nicholson conj. To-draw Gow conj.
spiders* strings] spider-strings Bailey
conj.
262 disguise shall, by the] disguise shall
buy ttt Badham conj. shall disguise
buy the Bulloch conj.. disguise
shall, to th' Hudson.
ACT IV. SCENE I.
387
MEASURE FOE, MEASURE.
ACT IV.
Scene I. The moated grange at St Luke's.
Enter Mariana and a Boy.
Boy sings.
Take, O, take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again, bring again; 5
Seals of love, but seal'd in vain, seal'd in vain.
Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:
Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. [Exit Boy.
Enter Duke disguised as before.
I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish 10
You had not found me here so musical:
Let me excuse me, and believe me so,
My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.
Duke. Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. 15
Scene i. Enter...] Enter Mariana,
and Boy singing. Ff. M. discovered
sitting; a Boy singing. Steevens
(1793).
The moated...] A Grange. Theo-
bald. A Room in Mariana's House.
Capell. A Room at the moated
Grange. Collier.
5, 6 F4 omits the refrain in 1. 6. Rowe
omits it in both lines.
6 but] though Fletcher's version.
9 [Exit Boy.] Capell, after comfort 1. 8.
Enter Duke...] Dyce. Enter Duke.
Ff, after line 6. After line 9, in
Capell.
13 it] is Warburton.
25—2
388
ACT IV,
MEASURE FOB, MEASURE.
I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-
day? much upon this time have I promised here to meet.
Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat
here all day. 19
Enter Isabella.
Duke. I do constantly believe you. The time is come
even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little: may be
I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself.
Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit.
Duke. Very well met, and well come.
What is the news from this good Deputy? 25
Isab. He hath a garden circummured with brick,
Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;
And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
That makes his opening with this bigger key:
This other doth command a little door 30
Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
There have I made my promise
Upon the heavy middle of the night
To call upon him.
16 body] lady Staunton conj. (Athen.
1872).
17 here] her Staunton conj. (Athen.
1872).
meet] meet one. Hanmer. meet— S.
Walker conj. (doubtfully).
19 Enter Isabella.] Capell. Enter Isa-
bell. Ff. Transferred by Singer to
line 23.
20 time] same Staunton conj. (Athen.
•1872).
24 Scene n. Pope.
well come] Ff. welcome Warburton.
32, 33, 34 There have I made my pro-
mise Upon the heavy middle of the
night To call upon him.] Clark and
Glover (Tennyson and S. Walker
conj.). There haue I made my pro-
mise, vpon the Heauy midle of the
night, to call vpon him. Ff. There
on the heavy middle of the night
Save I my promise made to call
upon him. Pope. There have I made
my premise to call on him Upon the
heavy middle of the night. Capell.
TJiere have I made my promise in
the heavy Middle... Singer (ed. 2).
Thence liave I made my promise on the
heavy Middle... Dyce (ed. 1). Delius
and Staunton read with Ff, but print
as prose. There Fve my heavy pro-
mise made to call, Upon the middle
of the night, on him. Bulloch conj.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 389
Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon 9t: 36
With whispering and most guilty diligence,
In action all of precept, he did show me
The way twice o'er.
Duke. Are there no other tokens
Between you 'greed concerning her observance? 40
Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark;
And that I have possessed him my most stay
Can be but brief; for I have made him know
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon.me, whose persuasion is 45
I come about my brother.
Duke. ?Tis well borne up.
I have not yet made known to Mariana
A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!
Re-enter Mariana.
I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;
She comes to do you good.
Isab. I do desire the like. 50
Ditke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
Mari. Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
Duke. Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
Who hath a story ready for your ear.
I shall attend your leisure: but make haste; 55
The vaporous night approaches.
Mari. Will't please you walk aside?
[Exeunt Mariana and Isabella.
38 action all of precept] precept of all 52 have] I Jiave Pope, here have or
action Johnson conj. have here S. Walker conj. oft have
49 Scene in. Pope. Dyce, ed. 2 (Staunton conj.).
Re-enter...] Capell. Enter... Ff, 57 [Exeunt... ] Ex. Mar. and Isab.
after line 47. Rowe (ed. 2). - Exit. Ff.
390
ACT IV.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
Duke. 0 place and greatness, millions of false eyes
Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report
Hun with these false and most contrarious quests eo
Upon thy doings! thousand escapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dreams,
And rack thee in their fancies!
Re-enter Mariana and Isabella.
Welcome, how agreed?
Isab. She'll take the enterprise upon her, father,
If you advise it.
Duke. It is not my consent, 65
But my entreaty too.
Isab. Little have you to say
When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
"Remember now my brother.'
Mari. Fear me not.
Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
He is your husband on a pre-contract: 70
To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin,
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go:
Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow. [Exeunt.
58—63 0 place...fancies] These lines
to precede in. 2. 178. Warburton
conj.
60 these] their Hannier. base. Collier,
ed. 2 (ColUer MS.).
quests] Quest Fr
61 escapes] 'scapes Pope.
62 their idle dreams] Eowe (ed. 2).
their idle dreame Ff. an idle dream
Eowe (ed. 1).
63 Ke-enter...] Pope. Enter... Ff
(after agreed?).
Welcome, how agreed?] Well! a-
greed? Hanmer. Welcome! how
greed? Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker
conj.).
Scene iv. Pope.
65 It is] 'Tis Pope.
74 Our...sow] Our tythe's to reap, for
yet our corn's to soto Capell conj.
yet our tithe's] tliat our tilth's Jervis
conj.
tithe's] tythe's Pope. Tithes FiF2F3.
Tythes F4. tilth's Theobald (War-
burton), fields Collier (one vol.
ed.).
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 391
Scene II. A room in the prison.
Enter Provost and Pompey.
Prov. Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head?
Pom. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be
a married man, he's his wife's head, and I can never cut off
a woman's head. 4
Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me
a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio
and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common execu-
tioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it
on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves;
if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and
your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have
been a notorious bawd. 12
Pom. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of
mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I
would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow
partner. 16
Prov. What, ho! Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?
Enter Abhorson.
Abhor. Do you call, sir?
Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow
in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with
him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not,
use him for the present, and dismiss him. He cannot plead
his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd.
Abhor. A bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit
our mystery. , ,'" 25
Scene il] Scene v. Pope. ...Pompey.] Dyce. ...Clowne. Ff.
A room...] Capell. The Prison. 2—4 Printed as verse in Ff.
Howe. 3 he 5s] he is Pope.
392 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will
turn the scale. [Exit.
Pom. Pray, sir, by your good favour,—for surely, sir, a
good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,—
do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? 30
Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery.
Pom. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery;
and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation,
using painting, do prove, my occupation a mystery: but
what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be
hanged, I cannot imagine. 36
Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery.
Pom. Proof?
Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: if it
be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big
enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it
little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief.
Re-enter Provost.
Prov. Are you agreed?
Pom. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hang-
man is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth
oftener ask forgiveness. 46
Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe
to-morrow four o'clock.
37—42 Abhor. Sir, thief] Abhor. ...thief Cloim: if it be...thief (42)
*** Clown. *** Sir, it is a mystery. Theobald.
Abhor. Proof Clown. Every...thief 40 thief...true man] true man...thief
(42) Hanmer (Warburton). Abhor. Theobald conj.
Sir... Pom. Proof'...thief (42) Lloyd 41 thief...thief] true man...thief Theo-
conj. bald conj.
38 Proof?] Proofe. Ff. 42 thief] hangman Kinnear conj.
39_42 Abhor. Every...thief] Capell. Re-enter...] Pope. Enter...Ff.
Abh. Euerie...Theefe (39). Clo. If 45 your] you¥2.
it be...Theefe (42) Ff. Abh. Every
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR, MEASURE. 393
Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my
trade; follow. 50
Pom. I do desire to learn, sir: and I hope, if you have
occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me
yare; for, truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you a good
turn.
Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: 55
[Exeunt Pompey and Abhor son.
The one has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter Claudio.
Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death:
Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine? 60
Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless labour
When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones:
He will not wake.
Prov. Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. [Knocking within.] But, hark,
what noise?—
Heaven give your spirits comfort! [Exit Claudio.] By
and by.— 65
I hope it is some pardon or reprieve
For the most gentle Claudio.
53 yare] Theobald, y'are Ff. yours Pope.
Rowe. 64 yourself] yourself [Ex. Claudio.]
55 [Exeunt...] Capell. Exit. Ff, after Theobald.
line 54. [Knocking within.] Capell. Knock
56, 57 The one...brother.] om. S. Walker within. Eowe, at end of line.
conj. 65 spirits] spirit S. Walker conj. (doubt-
56 The one] TK one Ff. One Hanmer. fully).
58 Scene vi. Pope. comfort! [Exit Claudio.] By and
63 Re will not wake] FXF2. Re will by.—] Capell. comfort: by, and by,
not awake F3F4. Re'll not awake Ff.
394 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
Enter Duke disguised as before.
Welcome, father.
Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night
Envelop you, good Provost! Who eall'd here of late?
Prov. None, since the curfew rung. 70
Duke. Not Isabel?
Prov. No.
Duke. They will, then, ere't be long.
Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?
Duke. There's some in hope.
Prov. It is a bitter deputy.
Duke. Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd 75
Even with the stroke and line of his great justice:
He doth with holy abstinence subdue
That in himself which he spurs on his power
To qualify in others: were he meal'd with that
Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; 80
But this being SO, he's just. [Knocking within.
Now are they come.
[Exit Provost.
This is a gentle provost: seldom when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. [Knocking within.
How now! what noise? That spirit's possess'd with haste
That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. 85
67 Enter...] Dyce. Enter Duke. Ff. 81 [Knocking within...Exit Provost.]
69—71 Envelop...Isabel?] Two lines, As in Dyce. Knock again. Rowe.
the first ending here, Elze conj. Knock again. Provost goes out.
70 None] Fx. Now F2F3F4. Theobald (at end of line). Knocking
70—74 None...] Arranged as by Clark again: Provost goes to the Door.
and Glover. In Steevens (1793) the Capell. om. Ff.
lines end Isabel...long...hope. 82 seldom when] seldom, when Warbur-
71 They] She Hawkins conj. There ton. Seldom-when Singer (ed. 2).
Capell conj. 'Tis seldom when Keightley.
73, 74 There's...deputy] One line in 83 [Knocking within.] Dyce. Knock-
Clark and Glover. ing. Collier, om. Ff.
79, 80 In Pope the first line ends at 85 unsisting] FXF2F3. insisting F4. un-
meaVd. resisting Eowe. unresting Hanmer.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 395
Re-enter Provost.
Prov. There he must stay until the officer
Arise to let him in: he is call'd up.
Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet,
But he must die to-morrow?
Prov. None, sir, none.
Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is, 90
You shall hear more ere morning.
Prov. Happily
You something know; yet I believe there comes
No countermand; no such example have we:
Besides, upon the very siege of justice
Lord Angelo hath to the public ear 95
Profess'd the contrary.
Enter a Messenger.
This is his lordship's man.
Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon.
Mes. [Giving a paper] My lord hath sent you this note;
and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from the
smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other cir-
cumstance. Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.
PrOV. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger.
Duke. [Aside] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin
For which the pardoner himself is in.
unfeeling Johnson conj. unshifting 96 Scene vii. Pope.
Capell. unlist*ningSteevensconj. un- 96, 97 This...man. Duke. And...par-
listing Mason conj. unwisting Singer don] Knight (Tyrwhitt conj.). Duke,
(ed. 2). resisting Collier (ed. 2). This...man. Pro. And...pardon Ff.
(againe) Collier MS. 96 lordship's] Eowe (ed. 2). Lords Ff.
Ke-enter...] Collier. Provost re- om. Capell.
turns. Theobald. Speaking to one at 98 [Giving a paper] Dyce.
the door; after which he comes for- 98—101, 110—112 Printed as verse
ward. Capell (after line 87). om. Ff. in Ff.
91 Happily] Happely F^. Happily. 102 [Exit...] Kowe. om. Ff.
F3F4. See note (xvni). 103 [Aside] Johnson.
396 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. ACT IV.
Hence hath offence his quick celerity, 105
When it is borne in high authority:
When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,
That for the fault's love is the offender friended.
Now, sir, what news? 109
Prov. I told you. Lord Angelo, belike thinking me re-
miss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting-
on; methinks strangely, for he hath not used it before.
Duke. Pray you, let's hear. 113
Prov. [Heads]
Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed
by four of the clock \ and in the afternoon Barnardine: for my better
satisfaction, let me have Clauclio's head sent me by five. Let this
be duly performed; with a thought that more depends on it than we
must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will answer
it at your peril.
What say you to this, sir? 120
Duke. What is that Barnardine who is to be executed
in the afternoon?
Prov. A Bohemian born, but here nursed up and bred;
one that is a prisoner nine years old. 124
Duke. How came it that the absent Duke had not
either delivered him to his liberty or executed him? I
have heard it was ever his manner to do so.
Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and,
indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord Angelo,
came not to an undoubtful proof. 130
Duke. It is now apparent?
Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself.
Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison?
how seems he to be touched? 134
113 you] om. F4. 117 duly] truly Capell (a misprint).
114 Prov. [Reads] Rowe. The Letter. 131 It is] Ff. Is it Pope.
Ff.
SCENE II. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 397
Prov. A man that apprehends death no more dread-
fully but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless
of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality,
and desperately mortal. 138
Duke. He wants advice.
Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the
liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he
would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days en-
tirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if to carry
him to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it:
it hath not moved him at all. 145
Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your
brow, provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not truly,
my ancient skill beguiles me; but, in the boldness of my
cunning, I will lay my self in hazard. Claudio, whom here
you have warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the
law than Angelo who hath sentenced him. To make you
understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days'
respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and
a dangerous courtesy.
Prov. Pray, sir, in what? 155
Duke. In the delaying death.
Prov. Alack, how may I do it, having the hour limited,
and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head
in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's,
to cross this in the smallest. 160
Duke. By the vow of mine order I warrant you, if my
instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be
this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo.
135 A man] As a man Keightley conj. rate Hanmer.
136 reckless] Theobald, wreaklesse F1 150 warrant] a warrant Johnson.
F2F3. wreakless F4. reckless Pope. 161—165 As in Pope. Printed as verse
138 desperately mortal] mortally clespe- in Ff.
398 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover
the favour. 165
Duke. 0, death's a great disguiser; and you may add
to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say it was
the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death:
you know the course is common. If any thing fall to you
upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the Saint
whom I profess, I will plead against it with my life. m
Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath.
DuJce. Were you sworn to the Duke, or to the Deputy?
Prov. To him, and to his substitutes.
Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the
Duke avouch the justice of your dealing? 176
Prov. But what likelihood is in that?
Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I
see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor persua-
sion can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I
meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is
the hand and seal of the Duke: you know the character, I
doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.
Prov. I know them both. 184
Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke:
you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you
shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is
a thing that Angelo knows not; for he this very day
receives letters of strange tenour; perchance of the Duke's
death; perchance entering into some monastery; but, by
chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star
167 tie] FXF4. tye F2F3. tire Theobald Rowe.
conj. dye Grant White (Simpson 188 that] F1F2F3. which F4.
conj.). trim Dyce, ed. 2 (Jervis 190 entering] of his entering Hudson
conj V (Dyce conj.). his entering Keight-
168 bared] Malone. bar>de F^Fg. ley.
barVd F4. 191 writ] here writ Hanmer. right
179 persuasion] Ff. my persuasion Collier conj.
SCENE II.
399
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
calls up the shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement
how these things should be: all difficulties are but easy
when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with
Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift and
advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but
this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost
clear dawn. [Exeunt. 198
Scene III. Another room in the same.
Enter Pompey.
Pom. I am as well acquainted here as I was in our
house of profession: one would think it were Mistress Over-
done's own house, for here be many of her old customers.
First, here's young Master Rash; he's in for a commodity
of brown paper and old ginger, nine-score and seventeen
pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry,
then ginger was not much in request, for the old women
were all dead. Then is there here one Master Caper, at
the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for some four
suits of peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a
beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young
Master Deep-vow, and Master Copper-spur, and Master
Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-
heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the
tilter, and brave Master Shooty the great traveller, and
198 [Exeunt.] Exe. Pope (ed. 2). Exit.
Ff.
bald, marrie then, Ff.
11 Z)%]F2F3F4. DisieYv Dizzy Pope.
Dicey Steevens conj.
Scene in.] Scene viii. Pope. Scene
continued in Rowe.
Another...] Capell.
5 paper] pepper Rowe.
6, 7 marry ^ then] marry, then, Theo-
14 Forthlight] Ff. Forthright War-
burton.
15 Shooty] F2F3F4. Shootie¥v SJwoter
Warburton. Shoo-tye Capell.
400 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
wild Half-can that stabbed Pots, and, I think, forty more;
all great doers in our trade, and are now 'for the Lord's
sake.' 18
Enter Abhorson.
Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.
Pom. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged,
Master Barnardine! 21
Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine!
Bar. [Within] A pox 0' your throats! Who makes that
noise there? What are you?
Pom. Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be
so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. 26
Bar. [ Within] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.
Abhor. Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.
Pom. Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are
executed, and sleep afterwards. 30
Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.
Pom. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw
rustle.
Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Pom. Very ready, sir. , 35
Enter Barnardine.
Bar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?
Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your
prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come.
Bar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am
not fitted for't. 40
Pom. 0, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night,
and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the
sounder all the next day.
17 are] cry Anon. conj. See note (xix). 32 his] the Rowe (ed. 2).
now] noio in Pope. 35 Enter...] As in Capell. After line
25 friends] FjF2. friend F3F4. 33 in Ff.
SCENE III. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 401
Abhor. Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father:
do we jest now, think you? 45
Enter Duke disguised as before.
DuJce. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how
hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, com-
fort you and pray with you.
Bar. Friar, not I: I have been drinking hard all night,
and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat
out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this
day, that's certain. 52
Duke. 0, sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you
Look forward on the journey you shall go.
Bar. I swear I will not die to-day for any man s per-
suasion. 56
Duke. But hear you.
Bar. Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me,
come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit.
Duke. Unfit to live or die: 0 gravel heart! 60
After him, fellows; bring him to the block.
\_Exeunt Abhor son and Pompey.
Enter Provost.
Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke. A creature unprepared, unmeet for death;
And to transport him in the mind he is
Were damnable.
Prov. Here in the prison, father, 65
45 Enter...] Dyce. Enter Duke. Ff, 61 Given by Hanmer to Prov.
after line 43. Exeunt...] Exeunt Clown, and Ab-
49 1} om. F4. horson. Capell.
57 hear] heave F2. Enter Provost.] As in Capell. After
59 Scene ix. Pope. line 59 in Ff. Ee-enter Provost.
60 gravel heart] grovelling beast Grant Dyce.
White (Collier MS.). 64 is] is in Keightley conj.
"^ vol. I. 26
402 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head
Just of his colour. What if we do omit
This reprobate till he were well inclined; 70
And satisfy the Deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides!
Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix d by Angelo: see this be done, 75
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine must die this afternoon:
And how shall we continue Claudio, 80
To save me from the danger that might come
If he were known alive?
Duke. Let this be done.
Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio:
Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting
To the under generation, you shall find 85
Your safety manifested.
Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke. Quick, dispatch, and send the head to An-
gelo. \Exit Provost.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,—
69 his] Fx. om. F2F3F4. der Rowe (ed. 2).
do] om. Pope. 86 manifested] manifest Hanmer.
76 whiles] while Pope. 87, 88 I am...dispatch,] One line in
80 continue] continue to keep Keightley Steevens (1793).
conj. 87 lam] Fm Collier MS.
83 both Barnardine and Claudio] Clau- 88 Quick] Quick, then, Capell. Quick,
dio and Barnardine Hanmer. See quick, Keightley.
note (xx). [Exit Provost.] As in Pope. Exit.
85 the under] Hanmer. yond Ff. yon- Ff, after line 87.
SCENE III. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 403
The provost, he shall bear them,—whose contents 90
Shall witness to him I am near at home,
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence, 95
By cold gradation and well-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.
Re-enter Provost.
Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.
Duke. Convenient is it. Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of such things 100
That want no ear but yours.
Prov. I'll make all speed. [Exit.
Isab. [Within] Peace, ho, be here!
Duke. The tongue of Isabel. She 's come to know
If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good, 105
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.
Enter Isabella.
Isab. Ho, by your leave!
Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.
Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man.
Hath yet the Deputy sent my brother's pardon? no
Duke. He hath released him, Isabel, from the world:
96 cold] slow Gould conj. 103 She's come] She comes Rowe (ed. 2).
we^-]Rowe. weale- P-^Fg. weal¥±. 106 comforts] comfort Hanmer.
97 Re-enter...] Capell. Enter...Ff. Re- 107 Ho,] om. Pope.
enter Provost with Ragozine's head. by your] btfr S. "Walker conj.
Dyce. 108 Good... daughter.] As in Rowe.
102 Scene x. Pope. Prose in Ff.
26—2
404 MEASURE FOR, MEASURE. ACT IV.
His head, is off, and sent to Angelo.
Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
Duke. It is no other: show your wisdom, daughter, .
In your close patience. 115
Isab. 0, I will to him and pluck out his eyes!
Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight.
Isab. Unhappy Claudio! wretched Isabel!
Injurious world! most damned Angelo!
Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot; 120
Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say, which you shall find
By every syllable a faithful verity:
The Duke comes home to-morrow ;—nay, dry your eyes;
One of our covent, and his confessor, 125
Gives me this instance: already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;
Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom
In that good path that I would wish it go; 130
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart,
113, 114, 115 Ff make two lines end- 124 nay] om. Pope.
ing at other...patience. Text as 125 covent] Ff. convent Rowe.
proposed by Spedding. 126 instance] news Pope, notice Gould
114 other] other. (Catches her) Collier conj.
MS. 129 If you, can, pace] Rowe. If yon
114, 115 show...patience] In your close can pace Ff. Pace Pope. Pace, if
patience, daughter, shew your wis- you can, Keightley.
cfom Capell. 129, 130 If...go;] If you can pace...
114 your wisdom] wisdom Pope. wish it, go, Edd. conj.
115 close] closest Pope. 130 After go S. Walker conjectures that
119 Injurious] Perjurious Collier MS. a line is lost.
120 nor hurts] not hurts F4. hurts not go] go in Keightley.
Rowe. 131 And] Then Hudson (Keightley
122 say] say to you Dyce, ed. 2 (Collier conj.), reading If you can pace in
MS.). line 129. There Kinnear conj. om.
find] surely find Pope, find to be Gould conj.
Keightley.
SCENE III. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 405
And general honour.
Isdb. I am directed by you.
Duke. This letter, then, to Friar Peter give;
Tis that he sent me of the Duke's return: 135
Say, by this token, I desire his company
At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause and yours
I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you
Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home and home. For my poor self, 140
I am combined by a sacred vow,
And shall be absent. "Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,
If I pervert your course.—Who's here? 145
Enter Lucio.
Lucio. Good even. Friar, where's the provost?
Duke. Not within, sir.
Lucio. 0 pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to
see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain
to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my
head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't.
But they say the Duke will be here to-morrow. By my
troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical
Duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived.
\Exit Isabella.
Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholding to
your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. 156
13V Mariana's] Mai*ian's Fleay conj. reading If I...sir as two lines, the
to-night] om. Pope. first ending even.
141 combined] confined Johnson conj. 154 [Exit Isabella.] Theobald, om. Ff.
(withdrawn), constrained Keight- After 'patient line 149, in Collier MS.
ley. 155 marvellous] F3F4. marueilous Fv
145 Who's] whose Fx. marveilous F2.
146 Scene xi. Pope. beholding] Ff. beholden Rowe.
where's] where is Steevens (1793),
406 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I
do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for.
Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.
Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee: I can tell
thee pretty tales of the Duke. 161
Duke. You have told me too many of him already,
sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.
Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench
with child. 165
Duke. Did you such a thing?
Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but I was fain to forswear
it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar.
Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Best
you well. 170
Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's
end: if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it.
Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick. [Exeunt.
Scene IY. A room in Angelo's house.
Enter Angelo and Escalus.
Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.
Aug. In most uneven and distracted manner. His
actions show much like to madness: pray heaven his wis-
dom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates,
and redeliver our authorities there? 5
Escal. I guess not.
Aug. And why should we proclaim it in an hour be-
159, 170 [Going. Collier MS. Palace. Kowe.
163 not true] not Rowe. 2, sqq. Angelo's speeches in this scene
172 it] om. F2. Collier prints as verse.
Scene iv.] Scene hi. Rowe. Scene 5 redeliver] Capell. re-lwer ¥v de-
xii. Pope. liver F^Y^
A room house.] Capell. The 7 in] om. Collier MS.
SCENE IV. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 407
fore his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they
should exhibit their petitions in the street?
JEscal. He shows his reason for that: to have a dis-
patch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices here-
after, which shall then have no power to stand against us.
Aug. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes
i the morn; 111 call you at your house: give notice to such
men of sort and suit as are to meet him. 15
Escal. I shall, sir. Fare you well.
Aug. Good night. [Exit Escalus.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant,
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body that enforced 20
The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
For my authority bears of a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch 25
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta en revenge,
13 A colon is put after proclaimed by dares her not Steevens conj. dares
Capell, who prints lines 13—16 as her on Grant White (Becket conj.).
verse, ending proclaimed...house: says her no Keightley. fears her not
...suit...well. Cartwright conj. (reading 1. 24 with
17 [Exit Escalus.] As in Capell. Exit. Singer), dares her mo Staunton
Ef, after 1. 16. conj. (Athen. 1872).
19 And] om. Hanmer. 24 bears of a credentbulk] F^Eg. bears
22 against] at large or to ibt world or off a credent bulk F4. bears off all
aloud Staunton conj. (Athen. 1872). credence Pope, bears a credent bulk
23 reason...no] treason dares her?—No Theobald, bears such a credent bulk
Jackson conj. her reason dares not Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), here's of
Williams conj. a credent bulk Singer (ed. 2). bears
dares her no;] Ff. dares her: Pope. up a credent bulk Grant White, bears
dares her: no, Hanmer. dares her so credent bulk Dyce (Long MS.).
No Warburton. dares her? no: Ca- rears of a credent bulk Staunton,
pell, dares her note Theobald conj.
408 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT IV.
By so receiving a dishonoured life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived! 30
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not. [Exit
Scene V. Fields without the town.
Enter Duke in his own habit, and Friar Peter.
- Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me:
[Giving letters.
The provost knows our purpose and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, 5
As cause doth minister. Go call at Flavius' house,
And tell. him where I stay: give the like notice
To Yalentius, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.
Fri. P. It shall be speeded well. [Exit. 10
Enter Varrius.
Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good
haste:
Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt.
Scene v.] Scene iv. Rowe. Scene 4 our] your S. Walker conj.
xni. Pope. Act v. Scene i. John- 6 Go] om. Hanmer.
son conj. Flavins'] Rowe. Flavians Ff.
Fields...] Pope. 8 To Yalentius] To Yalencius Ff.
...in his own habit...] Rowe. om. Unto Yalentius Pope. To Yalenti-
Ff. nus Capell.
Friar Peter] See note (xxi). Rowland] to Rowland Keightley.
1 [Giving letters.] Johnson. 10 [Exit.] Exit Friar. Theobald. om.Ff.
SCENE VI. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 409
Scene VI. Street near the city-gate.
Enter Isabella and Mariana.
Isab. To speak so indirectly I am loath:
I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part: yet I am advised to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose.
Mari. Be ruled by him.
Isab. Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure 5
He speak against me on the adverse side,
I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic
That's bitter to sweet end.
Mari. I would Friar Peter—
Isab. 0, peace! the friar is coma.
Enter Eriar Peter.
Fri. P. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,
Where you may have such vantage on the Duke, n
He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets sounded;
The generous and gravest citizens
Have hent the gates, and very near upon
The Duke is entering: therefore, hence, away! [Exeunt. 15
Scene vl] Scene v. Rowe. Scene Theobald, to Wailful Hanmer. to
xiv. Pope. Scene continued in veil his full Keightley.
Theobald. 9 Enter Eriar Peter.] Enter Peter.
Street...] Street near the Gate. Ff (after line 8).
Capell. 12—15 He...away!] As in Pope. Six
2 I would] Td Pope. lines in Ef.
so] soundly Gould conj. 13 generous] most generous Keightley.
3 / am] .Pra Pope. 14 hent] kemm'd Anon. ap. Theobald
4 to veil full] Malone. to vaile full conj.
EjFgFg. to vail full E4. f availful upon] upon this time Keightley.
410 MEASURE FOB, MEASURE. ACT V.
ACT V.
Scene I. The city-gate,
Mariana veiled, Isabella, and Friar Peter, at their stand. Enter
Duke, Yarrius, Lords, Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost,
Officers, and Citizens, at several doors.
Duke, My very worthy cousin, fairly met!
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.
rr 7 ( Happy return be to your royal Grace!
Duke, Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you; and we hear 5
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.
Aug, You make my bonds still greater.
Duke, 0, your desert speaks loud; and I should
wrong it,
To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, 10
When it deserves, with characters of brass,
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time
And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
The city-gate] CapelL The street. 4 thankings] Fx. thankings he F2F3.
Bowe. A public place near the thinkings be F4. thanks be Bowe
City. Theobald. Capell adds: A (ed. 2).
State with Chairs under it: Crowds 5 We have] We've Pope.
of Citizens, Lucio, Provost, Officers, 7 you forth to] forth to you Grant
&c. attending. White.
Mariana...stand.] CapeU. om. Ff. 9 wrong it] Fx. wrong F2F3F4.
Provost, Officers, and] Malone 13 me] F3F4. we F^.
(after Capell). om. Ff. 14 subject] subjects Theobald.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 411
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim 15
Favours that keep within. Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand:
And good supporters are you.
Friar Peter and Isabella come forward.
Fri. P. Now is your time: speak loud, and kneel be-
fore him.
Isab. Justice, 0 royal Duke! Vail your regard 20
Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object
Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! 25
Duke. Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be
brief.
Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice:
Reveal yourself to him.
Isab. 0 worthy Duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak 30
Must either punish me, not being believed,
Or wring redress from you. Hear me, 0 hear me, here!
Aug. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother
19 Scene ii. Pope. 28 [Rising. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
Friar...come forward.] Capell. En- 32 Two lines in Ff, ending you...heere.
ter Peter and Isabella. Ff. [Kneeling again. Collier, ed. 2
Now..Mm.] As in Pope. Two lines (Collier MS.).
in Ff. Hear me, 0 hear me, here /] F3F4.
20 [Kneeling. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier Heare me: oh heare me, heere F1F9.
MS.). 0 hear me here. Pope. Oh, hear me!
21 I would] Fd Pope. hear me. Theobald. Sear me, 0
25 given] give Fl4. hear me! Hudson (Capell conj.).
26 Printed as two lines in Ff, ending Hear me, 0 hear me, hear! Keightley
wrongs... brief. conj.
412 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Cut off by course of justice,—
Isab. By course of justice! 35
Aug. And she will speak most bitterly and strange.
Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak:
That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief, 40
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange and strange?
Duke. Nay, it is ten times strange.
Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth 45
To the end of reckoning.
Duke. Away with her !—Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. 0 prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion 50
That I am touch'd with madness! Make not impossible
That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible
But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute
As Angelo; even so may Angelo, 55
In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince:
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
35 justice,—] Dyce. justice. Ff. 45 true] truer Keightley conj.
[Rising. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 47 infirmity] injwmiry F4.
By] om. Pope. 48 0 prince, I conjure thee,] 0,1 conjure
36 and strange] F1. om. F2F3F4. and thee, Prince, Pope. 0 pHnce, I do
strangely Collier MS. conjure thee, Capell.
37 strange, but yet] strangely yet Collier 54, 55 as absolute As] F4. as absolute:
MS. As^F^.
42 it is] om. Pope. 57 believe it] trust me Pope. .
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 413
Had I more name for badness.
Duke. By mine honesty,
If she be mad;—as I believe no other,— eo
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.
Isab. 0 gracious Duke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality; but let your reason serve 65
To make the truth appear where it seems hid,
And hide the false seems true.
Duke. Many that are not mad
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?
Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication 70
To lose his head; condemn d by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,
Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
As then the messenger,—
Lucio. That's I, an't like your Grace:
I came to her from Claudio, and desired her 75
To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo
For her poor brother's pardon.
Isab. That's he indeed.
Duke. You were not bid to speak.
63 e'er] Rowe. ere FjF2F3. efre F4. 67 And hide] Not hide Theobald (War-
mer Dyce, ed. 2 (Capell conj.). burton). And hid, Phelps conj.
madness] sanity or saneness Staun- And chide Jervis conj.
ton conj. (Athen. 1872). false seems true] false, seems true
0] om. Pope. Theobald, false seems-true Singer
64 nor] and Pope. (ed. 2).
65 inequality] incredulity Collier, ed. 2 that are] om. Hanmer.
(Collier MS.). 68 Two lines in Ff, ending reason.. .say?
65, 66 serve To make the truth] Serve to 73 Lucio] Lucio being Hanmer.
make truth Pope, ending line 65 at 74 As] Was Johnson.
reason. 78 speak.] speak. [To Lucio. Kowe.
414 MEASURE FOB, MEASURE. ACT V.
Lucio. No, my good lord;
Nor wish'd to hold my peace.
Duke. I wish you now, then;
Pray you, take note of it: and when you have 80
A business for yourself, pray heaven you then
Be perfect.
Lucio. I warrant your honour.
Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.
Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,—
Lucio. Bight. 85
Duke. It may be right; but you are i' the wrong
To speak before your time. Proceed.
Lsab. I went
To this pernicious caitiff Deputy,—
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Lsab. Pardon it;
The phrase is to the matter. . 90
Duke. Mended again. The matter;—proceed.
Lsab. In brief,—to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refelTd me, and how I replied,—
For this was of much length,—the vile conclusion 95
I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust,
Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
79 82 I loish...honour'.] Three lines, The matter;} The matter then;
ending it...yourself,...honour, S. Hanmer. om. Capell. the matter?
Walker conj. —Now Collier (ed. 2). The matter
82 7] Ay, I Anon. conj. now; Collier MS.
your honour] your honour, sir Han- 92 process] Fx. om. F2F3F4.
mer. 94 refelVd] repelVd Pope.
83 take heed] be sure, take heed Hanmer. 95 vile] F4. vild Fx. vilde F2F3.
toH] to it Capell. 98 concupiscible] concupiscent Pope.
84 somewhat] Fx. something F2F3F4. 99 and,] om. Pope.
91 Mended] Mend it Malone conj.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 415
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, 100
And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.
Duke. This is most likely!
Isab. 0, that it were as like as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not what
thou speak'st, 105
Or else thou art suborn d against his honour
In hateful practice. First, his integrity
Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, no
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on:
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou earnest here to complain.
Isab. And is this all?
Then, O you blessed ministers above, 115
Keep me in patience, and with ripen d time
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up
In countenance!—Heaven shield your Grace from woe,
As I, thus wrong d, hence unbelieved go!
Duke. I know you'ld fain be gone.—An officer! 120
To prison with her!—Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.
101 but the] om. Pope. 109 vehemence/'] vehemence Pope.
102 surfeiting] Theobald, surfeiting 110—113 Hanmer ends the lines so...
F^Pg. forfeiting "Ft, by...one...say.
103 likely] unlikely Long MS. like 111 He would] he'd Hanmer.
Hudson (Lettsom conj.). 116 ripen'd] Rowe. ripened Ff.
104 like] unlike Gould conj. 123 needs] om. Pope.
107 First,] om. Pope. a] om. Dyce (ed. 2).
108 Next,] om. Pope.
416 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. ACT V.
Who knew of your intent and coming hither?
Isab. One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. 125
Duke. A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lo-
dowick?
Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your Grace
In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. 130
Duke. Words against me! this s a good friar, belike!
And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar,
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, 135
A very scurvy fellow.
Fri. P. Blessed be your royal Grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abused. First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accused your substitute, 140
Who is as free from touch or soil with her
As she from one ungot.
Duke. We did believe no less.
Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of?
Fri. P. I know him for a man divine and holy;
Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, 145
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your Grace.
124 your] our Rowe (ed. 2). 142, 143 Hanmer ends the lines believe
126 A...Lodowick?] As in Hanmer. ...Lodowick.
Two lines in Ff. 143 that she speaks of] Fr which she
131 this 's a] this }a F^Fg. this a F4. speaks o/F2F3F4. om. Hanmer.
this is Rowe. His a Hudson. See 145 temporary] tamperer and Johnson
note (xxn). conj. temporal S. Walker conj.
137 Blessed] Bless'd Hanmer. 147 trust] truth Collier MS. troth
royal] om. Hanmer. Singer (ed. 2).
SCENE I.
417
ME&SUBE FOR MEASURE.
155
Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it.
Fri. P. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; 150
But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request,—
Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended gainst Lord Angelo,—came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true and false; and what he with his oath
And all probation will make up full clear,
"Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman,
To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly and personally accused,
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke. Good friar, let's hear it.
[Isabella is carried off guarded; and Mariana
comes forward.
Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo?—
O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools !—
Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo;
In this 111 be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face, and after speak.
Mart. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face
160
165
149 My lord] Me did, my lord Keight-
ley.
villanously;] villanously he did;
Hanmer.
152 strange] strong S. Walker conj.
154 'gainst] Fx. against F2F3F4.
156 what he loith] he with Rowe (ed. 2).
he upon Pope.
157 And] By Pope.
158 Whensoever he's convented] Ff {lie is
F3F4). Whensoever he is convened
Howe (ed. 2). Whenever he's con-
VOL. I.
veri'd Pope. Whenever he's con-
vented Warburton.
162 [Isabella, &c] Stage direction to
this effect inserted here by Capell.
Theobald, &c. to Johnson place it
after line 167, where Ff have,
Enter Mariana, and Rowe Enter
Mariana, veil'd.
166 Til be impartial] I will be partial
Theobald.
169 Scene hi. Pope.
her face] F2F3F4. your face FL.
27
418.
-ACT V.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
170
Mari.
Duke.
Mari.
Duke.
Mari.
Duke.
175
Until my husband bid me.
Duke. What, are you married?
No, my lord.
Are you a maid?
No, my lord.
A widow, then?
Neither, my lord.
Why, you are nothing, then:—neither maid,
widow, nor wife?
Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them
are neither maid, widow, nor wife. 180
Duke. Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause
To prattle for himself.
Lucio. Well, my lord.
Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married;
And I confess, besides, I am no maid: 185
I have known my husband; yet my husband
Knows not that ever he knew me.
Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord: it can be no better.
Duke. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too!
Lucio. Well, my lord.
Duke. This is no witness for Lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:
She that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms
With all the effect of love.
190
195
170—178 Printed as four lines by
Steevens (Capell conj.), ending
married?...lord... Why, you.. .wife?
173 maid] maid then Keightley.
175 A widow] Widow Capell.
177 Why...then:] What, are you no-
thing then? Capell.
you are] Fr are you F2F3F4.
186, 187 I have...Knows not] Ff. One
line in Pope.
195 with such a time] with such, a time
Clark and Glover conj. with such,
at time Wright conj.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 419
Ang. Charges she moe than me?
Mari. Not that I know.
Duke, No? you say your husband.
Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, 200
Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body,
But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's.
Ang. This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
[ Unveiling.
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, 205
Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on;
This is the hand which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine; this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house 210
In her imagined person.
Duke. Know you this woman?
Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke. Sirrah, no more!
Lucio. Enough, my lord.
Ang. My lord, I must confess I know this woman:
And five years since there was some speech of marriage 215
Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity: since which time of five years 220
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
197—199 With...husband.] Two lines, thirties, Ff.
the first ending me ?, in Steevens he knows] he hiew Hanmer.
(1793). 204 [Unveiling.] Rowe.
198 moe] Ff. more Rowe. 209 match] murch or murck Gould conj.
know] know of Keightley. 213 my lord] om. Hanmer.
199 No?] om. Hanmer, reading than 217 promised] Rowe. promised Ff.
me..,husband as one line. 221 with her, saw her, nor] with, saw, or
[To Mariana. Rowe. Hanmer.
202 knows he thinks] Dyce. knows, he
27—2
420 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. ACT V.
Upon my faith and honour.
Mari. Noble prince,
As there comes light from heaven and words from breath,
As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue,
I am affianced this man's wife as strongly 225
As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone in's garden-house
He knew me as a wife. As this is true,
Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here, 230
A marble monument!
Aug. I did but smile till now:
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touched. I do perceive
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member 235
That sets them on: let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.
Duke, Ay, with my heart;
And punish them to your height of pleasure.
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths, 240
Though they would swear down each particular saint,
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. 245
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.
222 [Kneeling. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 235 mightier] mighty Pope.
MS.). 23? with] with all Long MS.
227 in '*] in his Steevens. 238 to] unto Pope, even to Capell.
234 informal] informing Hanmer. in- 242 against] Fr gainst F2. 'gainst
femail Long MS. F3F4.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 421
Fri. P. Would he were here, my lord! for he, indeed,
Hath set the women on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides, 250
And he may fetch him.
Duke. Go, do it instantly. [Exit Provost
And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; 255
But stir not you till you have well determined
Upon these slanderers.
fiscal. My lord, we'll do it throughly. [Exit Duke.']
Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that Friar Lodo-
wick to be a dishonest person? 260
Lucio. 6 Cucullus non facit monachum:' honest in
nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most
villanous speeches of the Duke.
fiscal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come,
and enforce them" against him: we shall find this friar a
notable fellow. 266
Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.
fiscal. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would
speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.] Pray you, my lord,
give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle
her. 271
Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
fiscal. Say you?
251 Go, do] Bo Pope. Go do Dyce. 258 Scene iv. Pope.
[Exit Provost.] Capell. throughly] thoroughly Steevens
255—257 while...you; But.. .determined (1778).
Upon] Clark and Glover (Spedding [Exit Duke.] As in Capell, who
conj.). while Will...have Well deter- adds, Escalus, and Angelo, seat
mwHd upon Pf. while Will...well themselves. Exit. Ff, at line 257.
Determined upon Theobald, while 268 [to an Attendant. Capell.
Will...have Determined well upon 269 [Exit...] Dyce.
Hanmer.
422 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately,
she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, she'll be
ashamed. 276
Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.
Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.
Re-enter Officers with Isabella; and Provost
with the Duke in his friar's habit.
Escal. Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman de-
nies all that you have said. 280
Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here
with the provost.
Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him till
we call upon you.
Lucio. Mum. 285
Escal. Come, sir: did you set these women on to
slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did.
Duke. 'Tis false.
Escal. How! know you where you are?
Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil
Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne! 291
Where is the Duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Escal. The Duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
Look you speak justly.
Duke. Boldly, at least. But, 0, poor souls, 295
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
275 would] Fx. should F2F3F4. verse in Fr
she'll] F^Fg. she'ld F4. she'd 279 here's] [to Isab.] here's Capell.
Eowe. 281, 282 My.. .provost] As in Pope.
278 Ee-enter...] Capell. Enter Duke, Two lines in Ff.
Provost, Isabella. Ff. (after line 289 Malone supposes a line preceding
276). Enter Duke in the Friar's this to be lost.
Habit, Provost and Isabella. Kowe. 290 and] then Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
Enter Duke and Provost. Collier MS.).
MS., after line 282. 295 at least] at least I'll speak Hanmer.
279,280 Come...said.] Two lines of 296 fox?] F3F3F4. Fox; Fv fox, Dyce.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 423
Good night to your redress! Is the Duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth 300
Which here you come to accuse.
Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.
Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar,
Is't not enough thou hast suborn d these women
To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth, 305
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain? and then to glance from him
To the Duke himself, to tax him with injustice?
Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you
Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose. 310
What, 'unjust'!
Duke. Be not so hot; the Duke
Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he
Dare rack his own: his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial. My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna, 315
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble ,
Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults,
But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark. 320
299 retort] reiect Collier MS. his] this Hanmer. your Collier,
303 unhallowed] Rowe. vnhalloived Ft ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
305 in] with Theobald. 310—312 Joint...Dare] Two lines, the
307—311 Capell ends the lines: vil- first ending What, in Keightley.
lain?...himself,...hence;...by joint, 311 What,] What? He Hanmer.
...unjust? hot] hot, sir Keightley.
307 to glance] glance Pope. 311, 312 the Duke Dare no more] Capell.
309 Take] Go take Hudson conj. the duke dare No more Ff.
you] him Malone conj. 311—313 Pope ends the lines at stretch
310 Joint by joint] Even joint by joint ...own...not.
Hanmer. 319 forfeits] forceps Jackson conj.
424 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison!
Aug. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio?
Is this the man that you did tell us of?
Lucio. Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-
pate: do you know me? 325
Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice:
I met you at the prison, in the absence of the Duke.
Lucio. 0, did you so? And do you remember what
you said of the Duke?
Duke. Most notedly, sir. 330
Lucio. Do you yso, sir? And was the Duke a flesh-
monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him
to be?
Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you
make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and
much more, much worse. 336
Lucio. 0 thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee
by the nose for thy speeches?
Duke. I protest I love the Duke as I love myself.
Aug. Hark, how the villain would close now, after his
treasonable abuses! 341
Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away
with him to prison! Where is the provost? Away with
him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak
no more. Away with those gigiets too, and with the other
confederate companion! 346
Duke. [To the Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile.
Aug. What, resists he? Help him, Lucio.
321 Two lines in Ff. and with] and or with Gould conj.
329 Duke?] Duke. Fr 346 [The Provost lays hand on the
331 sir?] F4. Sir: F^Fg. Duke. Johnson. (Seize on him)
340 close] glose Singer, ed. 2 (Collier Collier MS.
MS. and Long MS.). 347 [To the Provost] Capell.
345 gigiets] giglots Capell.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 425
Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foil, sir!
Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded,
must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you!
show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour!
Will't not off? 353
[Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke.
Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a Duke.
First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. 355
[To Lucio] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you
Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.
Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. [To Escalus] What you have spoke I pardon:
sit you down:
Well borrow place of him. [To Angelo] Sir, by your leave.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, 361
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.
Aug. 0 my dread lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, 365
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive your Grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession: 370
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.
Duke. Come hither, Mariana.
352 hanged an hour/] hanged/ an 356 [To Lucio] Johnson.
hoar? Hanmer. hanged—an' how? 359 [To Escalus] Rowe.
Johnson conj. hanged anon/ 360 [To Angelo] Johnson. thrusts
Lloyd conj. Angelo from his Chair, and seats
353 Stage direction inserted by Rowe. himself in it. Capell.
[All start and stand. Collier MS. 368 passes] lapses Staunton conj.
354 e'er] Rowe. ere F^Fg. e're F4. 372 Mariana] Marian Elze conj.
madest] madst Ff. made Capell.
426 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. . ACT V.
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Aug. I was, my lord.
Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.
Do you the office, friar; which consummate, 376
Eeturn him here again. Go with him, provost.
[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter and Provost
Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour
Than at the strangeness of it.
Duke. Come hither, Isabel.
Your friar is now your prince: as I was then 380
Advertising and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney d at your service.
Isab. 0, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty!
Duke. You are pardon d, Isabel: 385
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel why I obscured myself,
Labouring to save his life, and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power 390
Than let him so be lost. 0 most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That braind my purpose. But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death, 395
3*73 e'er] ere F^ ever F2F3F4. om. 390 remonstrance'] demonstrance Col-
Hanmer, who divides the lines: Her, ed. 2 (Malone conj.).
Come...thou Contracted...lord. 391 so be] F^Fg. be so F4.
377 [Exeunt...] Bowe. Exit. Ff. 394 brain'd] bairfd Warburton.
378 Scene v. Pope. purpose] purposes ColHer conj.
379 of it.] of— Capell. But,] But now, Hanmer. but all
381 Advertising] Advantaging Gould Collier MS. but, Gods Hudson (S.
conj. "Walker conj.).
and] all Hanmer.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 427
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.
Isab. I do, my lord.
Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, and Provost.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong d
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon 400
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,—
Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,—
The very mercy of the law cries out 405
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!'
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and measure still for measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; 410
Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage.
We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.
Away with him!
Mari. 0 my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband. 415
397 Re-enter...] Capell. Enter...Rowe. 403, 404 promise-breach Thereon depen-
Enter Angelo, Maria, Peter, Pro- dent, for] promise-breach, Ther
'eon
vost. Ff. dependant, for Johnson, promise-
398 Scene vi. Pope. breach, Thereon dependant for Ff.
400 pardon] pardon him Hanmer. 410 faults thus manifested;] Ff. faults
401 Mariana's] Marian's Elze conj. are manifested; Rowe. faults are
he adjudged your brother] a judge manifest; Hanmer. fault thus
Hanmer. manifested— Dyce.
402 Being criminal, in double violation] 411 deny, denies] deny 'em, deny Han-
Being doubly criminal, in violation mer.
Hanmer. 413 haste.] haste, F4.
403 ofpromise-breach]inpromise-breach 415 hitsband.] Hanmer. husband? Ff.
Hanmer. of promise Malone conj.
428 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with, a husband.
Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions, 420
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari. 0 my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. 425
Mari. Gentle my liege,— [Kneeling.
Duke. You do but lose your labour.
Away with him to death! [To Lucio] Now, sir, to you.
Mari. 0 my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part;
Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life to do you service. 430
Duke. Against all sense you do importune her:
Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.
Mari. Isabel,
Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 435
Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
0 Isabel, will you not lend a knee? 440
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.
421 confiscation] F2F3F4. confutation 426 [Kneeling.] Johnson. (Kneele)
Fr computation Anon. conj. Collier MS., at line 429.
422 withal] F4. with all Fv withall 427 [To Lucio] Johnson.
F2F3. 441 [Kneeling.] Eowe.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. 429
Look, if it please you, on this man condemned,
As if my brother lived: I partly think
A due sincerity govern d his deeds,
Till he did look on me: since it is so, 445
Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,
His act did not overtake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent 450
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents, but merely thoughts.
Mari. Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.
I have bethought me of another fault.
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded 455
At an unusual hour?
Prov. It was commanded so.
Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message.
Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office:
Give up your keys.
Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: 460
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserved alive.
Duke. What's he?
444—448 A due...Angelo,,] Four lines, thoughts.
ending he...die...did...Angelo, in 453 [They rise. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
Keightley. MS.).
447 died] dide Fr di'd F2F3F4. 456 It was commanded so] 'Twos so
448, 449 For...bad intent;] As in John- commanded Hanmer.
son. One line in Ff. 465 Whatfs he?] And what is he?
452 but] om. Hanmer, who ends lines Hanmer. See note (xx).
448—452 at overtake...but...way:...
430 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Prov. His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. 466
Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, Lord Angelo, have still appeared,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, 470
And lack of temper'd judgement afterward.
Aug. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
"Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. 475
Re-enter Provost, with Barnardine, Claudio muffled, and Juliet.
Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov. This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man.
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemii'd: 480
But, for those earthly faults, I quit* them all;
And pray thee take this mercy to provide
For better times to come. Friar, advise him;
I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?
Prov. This is another prisoner that I saved, 485
Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unmuffles Claudio.
466 would] Fr wouldst F2F3F4. wish Enter Barnardine and Prouost,
Capell (corrected in Errata to Claudio, Iulietta. Ff.
would). This] This is Keightley.
467 [Exit Provost.] Johnson. my lord] my good lord Hanmer.
470 the heat] heat Pope. 480 according] accordingly F4.
476 Scene vii. Pope. 482 And] Fr 7F2F3F4.
Ke-enter...] He-enter Provost, with 484 your hand] you Hanmer.
Barnardine; Claudio behind, and 487 [Unmuffles Claudio.] Malone. un-
Julietta, both muffl;d up. Capell. muffles, and discovers him. Capell.
SCENE I. MEASURE FOE, MEASURE. 431
Duke. [To Isabella] If he be like your brother, for his sake
Is he pardon d; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, 490
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.
By this Lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks I see a quickening in his eye.
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. 495
I find an apt remission in myself;
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.
[To Lucio] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,
One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you, 500
That you extol me thus?
Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the
trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had
rather it would please you I might be whipt.
Duke. Whipt first, sir, and hang'd after. 505
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city,
If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow,—
As I have heard him swear himself there's one
Whom he begot with child, let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, 510
488 [Claudio and Isab. embrace. Collier, conj.). her worth work yours! Hud-
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). son (S. Walker conj.). her worth
[To Isabella] Johnson. weiglis yours Bailey conj.
489 Is he pardon'd] He's pardoned 500 so deserved] deserved so Pope, so
Hanmer. Is he too pardon'd Capell. well deserved Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
Then is he pardon'd Dyce (ed. 2). MS.), so undeserved S. Walker
Is he pardoned Singer. conj. sir, so deserved Cartwright
490 and say you will] say you'll Han- conj. (K & Q. 1864).
mer- 507 If any woman] Ff. If any woman!s
491 He is] and he's Hanmer, ending the Hanmer. Is any woman Clark and
line here. Glover.
495 her worth worth yours] her worth felloiv,—] Dyce. fellow Ff.
works yours Hanmer. her worth's 510 finish'd] finished Singer.
worth yours Keightley (Heath
432 MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT V.
Let him be whipt and hang'd.
Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a
whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a Duke:
good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a
cuckold. 515
Duke, Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits.—Take him to prison;
And see our pleasure herein executed.
Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,
whipping, and hanging. 521
Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.
\Exeunt Officers with Lucio.
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:
I have confessed her, and I know her virtue. 525
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:
We shall employ thee in a worthier place.
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home 530
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. 535
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.
\_Exeunt.
519 executed] execute Hanmer. gratulate. Dear Isabel,...
522 [Exeunt...Lucio] Djce. 527 gratulate] gratulating Keightley
523 She] Her Hanmer. conj.
527, 532 Johnson conjectures: Ang. 537 thafs] F2F3F4. that Fr
The offence pardons itself. Duke. [Exeunt.] Eowe. Curtain drawn.
There's more behind That is more Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), om. Ff.
NOTES.
Note I.
I. 1. 7—10. The suggestion that a line has been lost in this place
came first from Theobald. It is scarcely necessary to say that there is
no mark of omission in the Folios. Malone supposes that a similar
omission has been made n. 4. 123. The compositor's eye (he says) may
have glanced from 'succeed' to 'weakness' in a subsequent hemistich.
In order to relieve the plethoric foot-note we set down in this place
some conjectures for which we are indebted to Mr Halliwell's note on
the passage.
(1) Then no more remains,
To your sufficiency, as your worth is able,
But that you let them work.
Wheler MS.
(2) But task to your sufficience...
Dent MS.
(3) But that your sufficiency, as your worth, be able...
Monck Mason.
(4) Then no more remains,
To your sufficiency your worth is able,
And let them work.
(5) .../ let them work.
T. Hull's MS. Commentary.
Chalmers.
The reading assigned in the foot-note to Steevens is found in a note
to the Editions of 1773, 1778, 1785, 1793. He afterwards changed his
vol. i. 28
434 MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
mind. In Reed's Variorum edition of 1803 the passage as given at the
head of Steevens's note stands thus:
But that sufficiency', as worth is able.
And let them work.
The following corrections are proposed, apparently by Steevens:
But that sufficiency to your worth is abled,
and But your sufficiency as your worth is able.
Seymour would read,
But to your sufficiency your worth be added.
Leo proposes:
Exceeds the lists of all, advice can give you;
And thus no more remains, but add my strength
To your sufficiency—your worth is able !—
And let them work.
Brae (K and Q. 1st S. v. 410) reads
Then no more remains,
But—that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able
And let them work,
referring 'that' to 'the commission which the Duke holds in his hand,
and which he is in the act of presenting to Escalus.'
Note II.
i. 2. 15. Hanmer's reading is recommended by the fact that in the
old forms of 'graces' used in many colleges, and, as we are informed, at
the Inns of Court, the prayer for peace comes always after, and never
before, meat. But as the mistake may easily have been made by Shake-
speare, or else deliberately put into the mouth of the 'First Gentleman,'
we have not altered the text.
ISTOTE III.
i. 2. 22—26. In the remainder of this scene Hanmer and other
Editors have made capricious changes in the distribution of the dialogue.
It is impossible to discern any difference of character in the three speakers,
or to introduce logical sequence into their buffoonery.
NOTES. 435
Note IV.
I. 2. 110. We retain here the stage direction of the Folio, 'Enter
...Juliet, &c.,' for the preceding line makes it evident that she was on
the stage. On the other hand, line 140 shows that she was not within
hearing, nor near Claudio while he spoke. We may suppose that she was
following at a distance behind, in her anxiety for the fate of her lover.
She appears again as a mute personage at the end of the play.
Note Y.
i. 2. 115, 116. Johnson says, 'I suspect that a line is lost/
Note YI.
i. 4. 70. 'To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business.' We
have left this line as it is printed in the Folios. There is a line of similar
length and rhythm in The Tvjo Gentlemen of Verona, iv. 2. 16,
'But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window.'
Note YII.
[ii. 2. 149. There can be no doubt that the word which Shakespeare
wrote, however it may have been spelt, was pronounced £ sickles.' So he
would hear it read in Church from the Bishops' Bible, where it is spelt
'sides.' To avoid confusion I have adopted the spelling of the Bishops'
Bible. The Hebraic form 'shekels' was introduced in the Geneva Bible
of 1560 and adopted by King James's Translators. W. A. W.]
Note YIII.
ii. 2. 155—159. The printing in the Folios gives no help towards the
metrical arrangement of these and other broken lines. In the present
case we might read:
cAng. Well, come to me to-morrow.
Luc. Go to: 'tis well;
Away!
Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe!
Ang. Amen:
For I, &c.'
28—2
436 MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
Or, considering the first two lines as prose, we might read the last [as
Steevens(1793)]:
'Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe i
Ang. Amen: for I
Am that way going to temptation
"Where prayers cross.'
Note IX.
ii. 4. 9. 'fear'd.? Mr Collier mentions that in Lord Ellesmere's copy
of the First Eolio the reading is 'sear'd.' The cross of the 'f' has been
erased on the inside (see Ingleby's Complete View &c. p. 24).
Note X.
ii. 4. 94. 'all-building.' 'Mr Theobald has binding in one of his
copies.' Johnson.
Note XI.
ii. 4. 103. 'That longing have been sick for.' Delius says in his note
on this passage, 'Das / vor have lasst sich nach Shaksperischer Licenz
leicht suppliren.' The second person singular of the governing pronoun is
frequently omitted by Shakespeare in familiar questions, but, as to the
first and third persons, his usage rarely differs from the modern. If the
text be genuine, we have an instance in this play of the omission of the
third person singular i. 4. 72, 'Has censured him.' See also the early
Quarto of the Merry Wives of Windsor, Sc. xiv. 1. 40:
'He cloath my daughter, and aduertise Slender
To know her by that signe, and steale her thence,
Ajid vnknowne to my wife, shall marrie her.'
Note XII.
ii. 4. Ill—113. Mr Sidney Walker adopts Steevens' emendation,
and affirms that among all the metrical licenses used by Shakespeare, the
omission of the final syllable of the line is not one. But if the reading of
the first Eolio be allowed to stand, we can find many instances of lines
which want the final syllable. The line immediately preceding may be so
scanned:
'Ignomy in ransom and free pardon.'
NOTES. 437
And in this same scene, line 143, we have
'And you tell me that he shall die for't.'
And in v. 1. 83:
'The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.'
It is conceivable that 'mercy7 may be pronounced as a trisyllable; but
in all the undoubted examples of such a metrical license, the liquid is the
second of the two consonants, not the first. See, however, S. Walker's
Shakespeare's Versification, pp. 207 sqq.
Possibly a word may have dropt out, and the original passage may
have stood thus:
'Ignomy in ransom and free pardon are
Of two opposed houses: lawful mercy
Is nothing kin to foul redemption.'
Note XIII.
in. 1. 29. Mr Collier reported that his copy of the second Folio had
4sire.' Notes and Queries, Yol. vi. p. 141. So in Lord Ellesmere's Folio,
where the cross of the 'f' has been also erased (Ingleby, Complete View
<fec. p. 87).
Note XIY.
hi. 1. 56, 57. The metrical arrangement is uncertain here. It is not
probable that the last word of the Duke's speech, 'concealed,' should be
the first of a line which would be interrupted by his exit. Perhaps, too,
the true reading of the following line may have been:
'As comforts all are good, most good indeed.'
Note XY.
hi. 1. 95, 98. The word 'prenzie,' occurring, as it does, twice in
this passage, rests on such strong authority that it is better to seek to
explain than to alter it. It may be etymologically connected with 'prin,'
in old French, meaning 'demure;' also with 'princox,' a 'coxcomb,' and
with the word 'prender,' which occurs more than once in Skelton: e. g.
'This pevysh proud, this prender gest,
"When he is well, yet can he not rest.'
438 MEASURE FOE, MEASURE.
Mr Bulloch mentions, in support of his conjecture, that 'pensie' is still
used in some north-country dialects. See Scott's Heart of Midlothian,
Postscript to Introduction. 'Primsie' is also found in Burns' "Halloween"
with the signification of 'demure, precise,' according to the glossary.
Note XYI.
hi. 1. 122. Johnson says the most plausible conjecture is 'benighted.'
It does not appear by whom this conjecture was made.
Note XYII.
hi. 1. 172. We must suppose that Claudio, as he is going out, stops
to speak with his sister at the back of the stage within sight of the
audience.
Note XVIII.
iv. 2. 91. This is a case in which we have thought it best to make an
exception to our usual rule of modernizing the spelling. The metre
requires 'Haply' to be pronounced as a trisyllable. Perhaps it would be
well to retain the spelling of the first two Folios 'Happely,' and as a
general rule it would be convenient if an obsolete spelling were retained in
words used with an obsolete meaning. We have, however, abstained from
introducing on our own authority this, or any other innovation in ortho-
graphy. In iv. 3. 125, we have retained 'covent,' which had grown to be
a distinct word from 'convent,' and differently pronounced. Shakespeare's
ear would hardly have tolerated the harsh-sounding line
'One of our convent and his confessor.'
Note XIX.
iv. 3. 17. The reading 'cry' (i.e. 'crie') for 'are' was suggested by a
passage in Nashe's Ajpologiefor Pierce Pennilesse, 1593, quoted by Malone:
'At that time that thy joys were in the fleeting, and thus crying 'for the
Lord's sake' out at an iron window.'
Note XX.
iv. 3. 83. In order to avoid the unmetrical line 83, as given in the
Folios and by all Editors to Johnson inclusive, the lines 82—85 have been
arranged as Hvey thus:
NOTES. 439
If...Let...In secret...Ere To the under...Capell.
If... Let... Loth The sun ... The under Steevens.
If ...Let...Loth Ere To yond Collier (ed. 1).
If...Let...Loth The sun ...To yond Singer (ed. 1).
Perhaps the best arrangement, because requiring the least change from
the printing of the Folio, would be to put the words 'And Claudio' in a
line by themselves. Many examples of such a broken line in the middle
of a speech may be found (e.g. v. 1. 448), and it would add to the emphasis
with which the Duke commends Claudio to the Provost's care. The long
line v. 1. 465 might be similarly reduced by reading
'His name
Is Barnardine.'
Note XXI.
iv. 5. 1. Johnson suggests that Act v. should begin here. He
adds: "This play has two Friars, either of whom might singly have
served. I should therefore imagine that 'Friar Thomas,' in the first
Act, might be changed without any harm to 'Friar Peter:' for why should
the Duke unnecessarily trust two in an affair which required only one *?
The name of Friar Thomas is never mentioned in the dialogue, and .there-
fore seems arbitrarily placed at the head of the scene."
Note XXII.
v. 1. 131. Mr Sidney Walker, in his Shakespeare's Versification, pp.
80 sqq., suggests that in this and other passages we should read 'this',7
because 'This is is not unfrequently, like That is, &c., contracted into a
monosyllable.' For the reason assigned in Note (in) to The Tempest, i. 2.
173, we have preferred the more familiar spelling this's.
THE COMEDY OF EEEOES.
DRAMATIS PERSON^1
Solinus2, duke of Ephesus.
.iEGEON, a merchant of Syracuse.
Antipholus3 of Ephesus, | twin brothers, and sons to
Antipholus of Syracuse, J Pigeon and Emilia.
Deomio of Ephesus, 1 twin brothers, and attendants on
Dromio of Syracuse,] tiie two Antipholuses.
Balthazar, a merchant.
Angelo, a goldsmith.
Eirst Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse.
Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is a debtor4.
Pinch, a schoolmaster.
-^Emilia, wife to JEgeon, an abbess at Ephesus.
Adriana, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus.
Luciana, her sister.
Luce, servant to Adriana.
A Courtezan.
Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants.
Scene—Ephesus.
1 Dramatis Persons first given by 3 Antipholus] See note (i).
Rowe. 4 Added by Dyce.
2 Solinus] See note (i).
THE COMEDY OF ERROBS.
ACT I.
Scene I. A hall in the Duke's palace.
Enter Duke, -SCgeon, Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants.
JEge. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall,
And by the doom of death end woes and all.
Duke. Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more;
I am not partial to infringe our laws:
The enmity and discord which of late 5
Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke
To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,
Who, wanting guilders, to redeem their lives,
Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods,
Excludes all pity from our threatening looks. 10
For, since the mortal and intestine jars
'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,
It hath in solemn synods been decreed,
A hall...palace.] Malone. The Duke's Officers,] Capell. Officer, Staunton.
palace. Theobald. A publick Place. om. Ff.
Capell. 1 Solinus] Fx. Salinus F2F3F4.
Duke] the Duke of Ephesus. Ff. 8 guilders] Singer (eel. 2). gilders Ff.
iEgeon,] Rowe. with the Merchant 10 looks'] books Anon. conj.
of Siracusa, Ff.
444 THE COMEDY OE ERRORS. ACT I.
Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
To admit no traffic to our adverse towns: 15
Nay, more, x
If any born at Ephesus be seen
At any Syracusian marts and fairs;
Again: if any Syracusian born
Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, 20
His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose;
Unless a thousand marks be levied,
To quit the penalty and to ransom him.
Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,
Cannot amount unto a hundred marks; 25
Therefore by law thou art condemn d to die.
JEge. Yet this my comfort: when your words are done,
My woes end likewise with the evening sun.
Duke. Well, Syracusian, say, in brief, the cause
Why thou departed'st from thy native home, 30
And for what cause thou earnest to Ephesus.
JEge. A heavier task could not have been imposed
Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable:
Yet, that the world may witness that my end
Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence, 35
I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave.
In Syracusa was I born; and wed
Unto a woman, happy but for me,
And by me, had not our hap been bad.
With her I lived in joy; our wealth increased 40
14 Syracusians]^ ±. Siracusians'F1F2F3. 30 home,] Home; Rowe. home? Ff.
Syracusans Pope. See note (1). 33 griefs] Fr griefeY2. grief 'F3F4.
16, 17, 18 Nay, more. If...seen At any] 35 nature] fortune Collier MS.
Malone. Nay, more, if ...Ephesus 39 And "by me] Yv And by me too
Be seene at any Ff. F2F3F4. And ty me happy Shilleto
18 any] om. Pope. conj. (N. & Q. 1873). And but (or
23 and to] Fr and F2F3F4. yet) by me Nicholson conj. Happy
27 thisytisKsmmer. this' S.Walker conj. by me Seager conj.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 445
By prosperous voyages I often made
To Epidamnum; till my factor's death,
And the great care of goods at random left,
Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse:
From whom my absence was not six months old, 45
Before herself, almost at fainting under
The pleasing punishment that women bear,
Had made provision for her following me,
And soon and safe arrived where I was.
There had she not been long but she became 50
A joyful mother of two goodly sons;
And, which was strange, the one so like the other
As could not be distinguished but by names.
That very hour, and in the self-same inn,
A meaner woman was delivered 55
Of such a burthen, male twins, both alike:
Those, for their parents were exceeding poor,
I bought, and brought up to attend my sons.
My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys,
Made daily motions for our home return: 60
Unwilling I agreed; alas! too soon
We came aboard.
A league from Epidamnum had we saiTd,
Before the always-wind-obeying deep
Gave any tragic instance of our harm: 65
42 Epidamnum] Pope. Epidamium 50 had s/ie] Ff. she had Rowe.
Ff. Epidamniumllowe. See note (i). 55 meaner] Delius (S. Walker conj.).
Epidamnum; ... death,] Theobald. meane Fx. poor meane F9. poor
Epidamium,...death, Fx. Epidam- mean F3F4. moaning Staunton conj.
mm,... death; F2F3F4. delivered] delivered Boswell.
43 the] then Clark and Glover conj. 56 burthen, male twins] burthen Male,
the,..care...left] Theobald, he...care twinsFx.
...left¥v he...store...leaving~F2F3Fi. burthen] burden Johnson.
he, great care...left Steevens (1778, 61, 62 As in Pope. One line in Ff.
1793). heed...caves...left Jackson 61 soon] soon! Pope. soon. Capell.
conJ- 62 aboard.] aboard our ship. Some-
random] F3F4. randone FXF2. what more than Keightley conj.
446 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT I.
But longer did we not retain much hope;
For what obscured light the heavens did grant
Did but convey unto our fearful minds
A doubtful warrant of immediate death;
Which though myself would gladly have embraced, 70
Yet the incessant weepings of my wife,
Weeping before for what she saw must come,
And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,
That mourn d for fashion, ignorant what to fear,
Forced me to seek delays for them and me. 75
And this it was, for other means was none:
The sailors sought for safety by our boat,
And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us:
My wife, more careful for the latter-born,
Had fastened him unto a small spare mast, 80
Such as seafaring men provide for storms;
To him one of the other twins was bound,
Whilst I had been like heedful of the other:
The children thus disposed, my wife and I,
Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix'd, 85
Fasten d ourselves at either end the mast;
And floating straight, obedient to the stream,
Was carried towards Corinth, as we thought.
At length the sun, gazing upon the earth,
Dispersed those vapours that oifended us; 90
And, by the benefit of his wished light,
The seas wax'd calm, and we discovered
69 doubtfulj'dreadfid Theobald conj. 87, 88 And... Was] Ff. And... Were
70 gladly] gently Collier MS. Rowe. Wliich... Was Capell.
71 weepings] Fx. weeping F2F3F4. 89 sun] sonne Fx.
76 this] thus Hudson (Collier MS.). 91 wished] Fx. wish,d¥2F3Fi.
79 latter-] elder- Rowe. 92 seas wacc'd] seas waxt Fx. seas waxe
83 other] others Capell conj. F2. seas wax ~E%. seas was F4. sea
86 either end the mast] th} end of either was Eowe.
mast Hanmer. discovered] discovered Boswell.
mast] masts Furnivall conj.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 447
Two ships from far making amain to us,
Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this:
But ere they came,—0, let me say no more! 95
Gather the sequel by that went before.
Duke. Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so;
For we may pity, though not pardon thee.
JEge. 0, had the gods done so, I had not now
Worthily term/d them merciless to us! 100
For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,
We were encountered by a mighty rock;
Which being violently borne upon,
Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst;
So that, in this unjust divorce of us, 105
Fortune had left to both of us alike
What to delight in, what to sorrow for.
Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdened
With lesser weight, but not with lesser woe,
Was carried with more speed before the wind; no
And in our sight they three were taken up
By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.
At length, another ship had seized on us;
And, knowing whom it was then hap to save,
Gave healthful welcome to then shipwrecked guests; 115
And would have reft the fishers of their prey,
Had not their bark been very slow of sail;
And therefore homeward did they bend then course.
Thus have you heard me severed from my bliss;
That by misfortunes was my life prolonged, v 120
94 Epidaurus] Epidanvs'Fv Epidam- 115 healthful] T?v helpful E2F3F4.
nus Theobald conj. 117 baric] backe Fr
103 upon] Pope, vp Fv up upon 120 That] Thus Hanmer. Yet Anon.
F2F3F4. conj. And Collier MS.
104 helpful] helpless Eowe. hopeful misfortunes] misfortune Dyce, ed. 2
Hudson (Jervis conj.). (Collier MS.).
113 another] the other Hanmer.
448 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT I.
To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.
Duke. And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for,
Do me the favour to dilate at full
What hath befall'n of them and thee till now.
JEge. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, 125
At eighteen years became inquisitive
After his brother: and importuned me
That his attendant—so his case was like,
Reft of his brother, but retain d his name—
Might bear him company in the quest of him: 130
Whom whilst I labour d of a love to see,
I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.
Five summers have I spent in farthest Greece,
Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,
And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus; 135
Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought
Or that, or any place that harbours men.
But here must end the story of my life;
And happy were I in my timely death,
Could all my travels warrant me they live. 140
Duke. Hapless iEgeon, whom the fates have mark'd
To bear the extremity of dire mishap!
Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,
Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,
Which princes, would they, may not disannul, 145
My soul should sue as advocate for thee.
122 sake] Fa. soJces F2F3F4. labour*d] Rowe. laboured Ff.
124 hath...thee] haue...they Fr 133 farthest] Ff. furthest Steevens
of] om. F4. (1793).
125 youngest...eldest] eldest...young est 144, 145 These lines inverted by Han-
Collier conj. mer (Theobald conj.).
128 so] Fx. for F2F3F4. 145 princes, would they, may] Theobald.
130 the] om. Pope. Princes would they may Fj. Princes
131 / laboured of a] he labour'd of all would, they may F2F3F4.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 449
But, though thou art adjudged to the death,
And passed sentence may not be recalled
But to our honour's great disparagement,
Yet will I favour thee in what I can. 150
Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day
To seek thy .help by beneficial help:
Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;
Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,
And live; if no, then thou art doom'd to die. 155
Gaoler, take him to thy custody.
Gaol. I will, my lord.
JEge. Hopeless and helpless doth JEgeon wend,
But to procrastinate his lifeless end. [Exeunt.
Scene II. The Mart.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of Syracuse, and First
Merchant.
First Mer. Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here;
151 Therefore, merchant, I'll] Ff. 156 Gaoler,'] Jailor, now Hanraer. So,
Therefore, merchant, I Rowe. 1, jailer, Capell. Go, gaoler, S. Wal-
therefore,me?,chant'Po-pe. Til there- ker conj. Gaoler, go Anon. conj.
fore, merchant Capell. 158 JEgeon] Egean Fr
152 seek thy help] eke thy store Bailey 159 lifeless] Warburton. liuelesse Ff
conj. seek the s^m Cartwright conj. luckless Gould conj. life's last
help...help] Ff. life...help Rowe Anon. conj.
(ed. 2). help.. .means Steevens conj. Scene il] Pope. No division in Ff.
hope...help Staunton (Collier conj.). The Mart.] Clark and Glover. A
fine...help Singer (ed.2). hele...help public place. Capell. The Street.
Brae conj. weal...help Jervisconj. Pope. See note (11).
ransom...help Keightley conj. help Enter...] Dyce. Enter Antipholis
... hands Kinnear conj. fine... help Erotes, a Marchant, and Dromio. Ff.
Gould conj. 1 First Mer.] Dyce. Mer. Ff.
by] thy Jackson conj. 4 arrival] a rivall Fx.
155 no] not Rowe.
vol. I. 29
450 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT I.
And, not being able to buy out his life, 5
According to the statute of the town,
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
Ant. S. Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee. 10
Within this hour it will be dinner-time:
Till that, I'll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return, and sleep within mine inn;
For with long travel I am stiff and weary. 15
Get thee away.
Dro. S. Many a man would take you at your word,
And go indeed, having so good a mean. [Exit.
Ant S. A trusty villain, sir; that very oft,
When I am dull with care and melancholy, 20
Lightens my humour with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town,
And then go to my inn, and dine with me?
First Mer. I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
Of whom I hope to make much benefit; 25
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
Please you, I'll meet with you upon the mart,
And afterward consort you till bed-time:
My present business calls me from you now.
Ant. S. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself, 30
And wander up and down to view the city.
10 till] tellT2. 24, 32 First Mer.] Dyce. E. Mer. Ff.
.11, 12 The order of these lines is Mer. Rowe.
inverted in F2F3F4. 26 Soon at] Soon, at Johnson.
12 that] then Collier MS. at] as Jervis conj.
18 mean] Fr means F2F3F4. 28 afterward] afterwards Steevens.
[shaking money. Collier MS. consort] consort with Hanmer.
23 my] Fr the F2F3F4. 30 myself] Fr my life F2F3F4.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 451
First Mer. Sir, I commend you to your own content.
[Exit.
Ant. S. He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water, 35
That in the ocean seeks another drop;
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself. 40
Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Here comes the almanac of my true date.
What now? how chance thou art return'd so soon?
Dro. E. Return'd so soon! rather approached too late:
The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit;
The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell; 45
My mistress made it one upon my cheek:
She is so hot, because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold, because you come not home;
You come not home, because you have no stomach;
You have no stomach, having broke your fast; 50
But we, that know what 'tis to fast and pray,
Are penitent for your default to-day.
Ant. S. Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
Dro. E. O,—sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last 55
32 [Exit.] Exit Mer. Rowe. Exeunt. Ff. tivej Staunton.
33 Scene m. Pope. 40 them] Fr him F2F3F4.
mine]Yv my F2F3F4. unhappy,] F2F3F4. (unhappie a)
37 falling]failing Barron Field conj. Fr unhappier, Clark and Glover
37, 38 fellow forth, Unseen,] fellow, for conj.
TK unseen Anon. conj. 55 o* Wednesday] Steevens (1773). a
38 Unseen,] In search Spedding conj. wensday F^Fg. a Wednesday F4.
Unseen, inquisitive,] Unseen inquisi- o' wdnsday Capell.
29—2
452 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. . ACT I.
To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
Ant. S. I am not in a sportive humour now:
Tell me, and dally not, where is the money?
We being strangers here, how darest thou trust 60
So great a charge from thine own custody?
Dro. E. I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner:
I from my mistress come to you .in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
For she will score your fault upon my pate. 65
Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
Ant. S. Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of
season;
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee? 70
Dro. E. To me, sir? why, you gave no gold to me.
Ant. S. Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
Dro. E. My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner: 75
My mistress and her sister stays for you.
Ant. S. Now, as I am a Christian, answer me,
In what safe place you have bestow'd my money;
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours,
That stands on tricks when I am undisposed: 80
Where is the thousand marks thou had'st of me?
Dro. E. I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders;
But not a thousand marks between you both.
56 crupper ?] crupper;— Capell. 66 your clock] Pope, your coohe Fv
61 custody ?] F4. custodie. FjFgFg. you cooTce F2. your cook F3F4.
65 score] Rowe. scoure FiF2F3. scour 76 stays] stay Rowe.
F4. 81 is] are Pope.
SCENE II.
THE COMEDY OE EBJEtORS. 453
If I should pay your worship those again, 85
Perchance you will not bear them patiently.
Ant. S. Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave,
hast thou?
Dro. E. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the Phoenix;
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner,
And prays that you will hie you home to dinner. 90
Ant. S. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave.
Dro. E. What mean you, sir? for God's sake, hold your
hands!
Nay, an you will not, sir, I'll take my heels. [Exit.
Ant. S. Upon my life, by some device or other 95
The villain is o'er-raught of all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage;
As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
Soul-killing witches that deform the body, 100
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many such-like liberties of sin:
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I'll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave:
I greatly fear my money is not safe. [Exit. 105
86 will] would Collier, ed. 2 (Collier 96 o'er-raught] Hanrner. ore-wrought
MS.). Ff.
92 [striking hirn. Collier (ed. 2). beates 99 Dark-working] Drug-working War-
him. Collier MS. burton.
93 God's] Hanrner. God Ff. 99, 100 Dark-working...Soid-killing]
94 an] Pope, and Ff. Soid-killing... Dark-working John-
[Exit.] Exeunt Dromio Ep. Fr Exit son conj.
Dromio Ep. F2F3F4. Exit running. .100 Soid-killing] Soul-selling Hanrner.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 102 liberties] libertines Hanrner.
454 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.'
ACT II.
Scene I. The house of Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Adriasta and Luciaisa.
Adr. Neither my husband nor the slave returned,
That in such haste I sent to seek his master!
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.
Luc. Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner. 5
Good sister, let us dine, and never fret:
A man is master of his liberty:
Time is their master; and when they see time,
They'll go or come: if so, be patient, sister.
Adr. Why should their liberty than ours be more? 10
Luc. Because their business still lies out o' door.
Adr. Look, when I serve him so, he takes it ill.
Luc. 0, know he is the bridle of your will.
Adr. There's none but asses will be bridled so.
Luc. Why, headstrong liberty is lash'd with woe. 15
There's nothing situate under heaven's eye
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky:
The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls,
Are their males' subjects and at their controls:
Act ii. Scene l] Actus Secundus. FXF4. F4.
Actus Secunda. F2F3. ■ 12 ill] F2F3F4. thus Fr
The house...Ephesus.] Pope. The 15 lash'd] leastid "a learned lady"
same (i. e. A publick place). Capell, conj. ap. Steevens. lacKd or ladd
and elsewhere. Becket conj.
Enter...] Enter Adriana, wife to 17 bound,...shy:] bound:...sky, Anon.
Antipholis Sereptus, with Luciana conj.
her Sister. Ff. 19 subjects'] subject Capell.
11 o5 door] Capell. adored^F2F3. acloor
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 455
Men more divine, the masters of all these, 20
Lords of the wide world and wild watery seas,
Indued with intellectual sense and souls,
Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords:
Then let your will attend on their accords. 25
Adr. This servitude makes you to keep unwed.
Luc. Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed.
Adr. But, were you wedded, you would bear some
sway.
Luc. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey.
Adr. How if your husband start some other where? 30
Luc. Till he come home again, I would forbear.
Adr. Patience unmoved! no marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; 35
But were we burden'd with like weight of pain,
As much, or more, we should ourselves complain:
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience wouldst relieve me;
But, if thou live to see like right bereft, 40
This fool-begg'd patience in thee will be left.
Luc. Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man; now is your husband nigh.
20, 21 Men...masters...Lords] Hanmer. (Johnson conj.). ot/ierwhere Capell.
Man...master...Lord Ff. See note (in).
21 wild watery] wilde watry F-^ wide 31 home] orn. Boswell.
watry F2F3F4. 39 wouldst] Rowe. would Ff.
22, 23 souls...fowls] F1# soul...fowl 40 see] be Hanmer.
F2F3F4. right bereft] Hght-bereft Hanmer.
25 your] our Capell conj. 41 fool-begg'd] fool-egcfd Jackson conj.
30 husband . start] hitsband's hearts fool-bagged Staunton conj. fool
Jackson conj. badged Id. conj. fool-bragg}d Kin-
other where] other hare Hudson near conj.
456 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.
Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Adr. Say, is your tardy master now at hand?
Dro. E. Nay, he's at two hands with me, and that my
two ears can witness. 46
Adr. Say, didst thou speak with him? know'st thou
his mind?
Dro. E. Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear:
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.
Luc. Spake he so doubtfully, thou couldst not feel his
meaning? 51
Dro. E. Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too well
feel his blows; and withal so doubtfully, that I could scarce
understand them.
Adr. But say, I prithee, is he coming home? 55
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.
Dro. E. Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad.
Adr. Horn-mad, thou villain!
Dro. E. I mean not cuckold-mad;
But, sure, he is stark mad.
When I desired him to come home to dinner, 60
He ask'd me for a thousand marks in gold:
"Tis dinner-time/ quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he:
'Your meat doth burn,' quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he:
'Will you come home?' quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he,
'Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain V 65
'The pig/ quoth I, 'is burn d / 'My gold!' quoth he:
44 Scene ii. Pope. 50—54 as four verses ending feel...
now] yet Capell (corrected in Errata). /... therewithal... them.
45 Nay] At hand? nay Capell, ending -58, 59 not...stark mad] one line in
the line at one. Collier (ed. 2).
and] om. Capell. 59 he is] he's Pope, reading / mean...
45, 46 two...two] too..Moo Fv stark mad as one line. om. Hanmer.
50^ 53 doubtfully] doubly Collier MS. 61 a thousand] F4. a hundred Fr a
53 withal] therewithal Capell. 1000 F2F3.
that] om. Capell, who prints lines 64 home] Hanmer. om. Ff.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 457
'My mistress, sir/ quoth I; 'Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress F
Luc. Quoth who?
Dro. E. Quoth my master: 70
'I know/ quoth he, 'no house, no wife, n!o mistress/
So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders;
For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.
Adr. Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home. 75
Dro. E. Go back again, and be new beaten home?
For God's sake, send some other messenger.
Adr. Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.
._ Dro. E. And he will bless that cross with other beating:
Between you I shall have a holy head. 80
Adr. Hence, prating peasant! fetch thy master home.
Dro. E. Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither:
If I last in this service, you must case me in leather. [Exit. 85
Luc. Fie, how impatience loureth in your face!
Adr. His company must do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age the alluring beauty took
From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it: 90
68 I knoijb...mistress!] I know no mis- 71—74 As in Pope. Printed as prose
tress; out upon thy mistress! in Ff.
Steepens conj. 72 errand] F4. arrant F^Fg.
I know not thy mistress] Thy mistress 73 bare] bear Steevens (1773).
/ know not Hanmer. / know not of my] thy F2.
thy j mistress Capell. I know thy 74 there] thence Capell conj.
mistress not Seymour conj. 83 thus?] F4. thus: F1F2F3.
owt on thy mistress] F1F4. out on 85 I last] Pm to last Anon. conj.
my mistresse F2F3. 'out on thy [Exit.] om. Fx.
mistress,' Quoth he Capell. 86 loureth] loureth Ff.
70 Quoth] Why, quoth Hanmer. 87 Scene ni. Pope.
458
ACT II.
THE COMEDY OF EKROBS.
100
Are my discourses dull? barren my wit?
If voluble and sharp discourse be marr d,
Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard:
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
That's not my fault; he's master of my state:
"What ruins are in me that can be found,
By him not ruin'd? then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayed fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair:
But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale,
And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale.
Luc. Self-harming jealousy! fie, beat it hence!
Adv. Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere;
Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain;
Would that alone, alone he would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed!
I see the jewel best enamelled
Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still,
That others touch, and often touching will
95
105
110
91 wit?]¥*. wit, FiF2F8.
93 blunts] Fr blots F2F3F4.
98 defeatures] defeature Collier MS.
107 alone, alone] F2F3F4. alone, a loue
Fr alone alas! Hanmer. alone,
0 love, Capell conj. alone a lone
Nicholson conj. alone from me
Gould conj.
he] she Staunton conj.
110 lose] loose Fr
110, 111 beauty...touch, and] beauty,
yet the gold 'bide...touch. And
Keightley.
yet the...and] Ff. and the...yet
Theobald, and tho'.. .yet Hanmer.
yet the...though Heath conj. yet
though ...an Collier, yea, though...
an Anon. conj. (Fras. Mag. 1853).
yet the... That others... and often]
and though...The triers'.\..yet often
Hudson.
Ill That others touch] The tester's touch
Anon. conj. (Fras. Mag. 1853). The
trier £ touch Singer (ed. 2). That
fingers touch Keightley conj. The
toucher's touch Bulloch conj.
Ill, 112 and...gold] and, often touching,
will, Where gold Perring conj.
will Wear] Theobald (Warbui^ton).
will, Where Fr will Wear, even
Anon. conj. (Fras.Mag. 1853),read-
ing But with Theobald, line 11,3.
i
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 459
Wear gold: and no man that hath a name,
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
111 weep what's left away, and weeping die. 115
Luc, How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!
[Exeunt.
Scene II. A public place.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse.
Ant S. The gold I gave to Dromio is laid up
Safe at the Centaur; and the heedful slave
Is wander d forth, in care to seek me out
By computation and mine . host's report.
I could not speak with Dromio since at first 5
I sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
How now, sir! is your merry humour alter'd?
As you love strokes, so jest with me again.
You know no Centaur? you received no gold?
Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner? 10
My house was at the Phoenix? Wast thou mad,
That thus so madly thou didst answer me?
112, 113 F2F3F4 Rowe and Pope omit Scene il] Capell. Scene iv. Pope,
these two lines, putting a colon at om. Ff.
will in 1. 111. See note (iy). A public place.] Capell. A street.
112 Wear] Besmear Cartwright conj. Pope.
and no man] Fr and so no man Enter...] Enter Antipholis Errotis.
Theobald, and den so, man, Capell. Fx. Enter Antipolis Erotes. F2.
and so a man Keightley (Heath Enter Antipholis Erotes. F3F4.
conj.). and woman too Bulloch 3, 4, 5 out By...report. 7] F-^Fg.
conj. out By...report, I F4. out. By...
hath] honoureth Kinnear conj. report, /Eowe.
113 By]Yv But Theobald. 6 Enter...] Enter Dromio Siracusia.
114 that] then Cartwright conj. Fr Enter Dromio Siracusan.
115 whafs left atoay] (what's left away) F2F3F4.
Fx. (whafs left) away F2F3F4. 12 didst] did didst Fx.
460 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.
Dro. S. What answer, sir? when spake I such a word?
Ant. S. Even now, even here, not half an hour since.
Dro. S. I did not see you since you sent me hence,
Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me. 16
Ant. S. Villain, thou didst deny the gold's receipt,
And told'st me of a mistress and a dinner;
For which, I hope, thou felt'st I was displeased.
Dro. S. I am glad to see you in this merry vein: 20
What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.
Ant. S. Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth?
Think'st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and that.
[Beating him.
Dro. S. Hold, sir, for God's sake! now your jest is
earnest:
Upon what bargain do you give it me? 25
Ant. S. Because that I familiarly sometimes
Do use you for my fool, and chat with you,
Your sauciness will jest upon my love,
And make a common of my serious hours.
When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport, 30
But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.
If you will jest with me, know my aspect,
And fashion your demeanour to my looks,
Or I will beat this method in your sconce.
Dro. S. Sconce call you it? so you would leave batter-
ing, I had rather have it a head: an you use these blows
long, I must get a sconce for my head, and insconce it
too; or else I shall seek my wit in my shoulders. But,
I pray, sir, why am I beaten?
Ant. S. Dost thou not know? 40
23 Beating him.] Beats Dro. Ff. (doubtfully).
28 jest] jet Dyce. 35—107 Pope marks as spurious.
29 common] comedy Hanmer. 36 an] Rowe. and Ff.
serious] several Staunton conj. 38 else] om. Capell.
SCENE II.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 461
Dro. S, Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten.
Ant. S. Shall I tell you why?
Dro. S. Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say every
why hath a wherefore.
Ant. S. Why, first,—for flouting me; and then, where-
fore,— 45
For urging it the second time to me.
Dro. S. Was there ever any man thus beaten out of
season,
When in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor
reason?
Well, sir, I thank you.
Ant. S. Thank me, sir! for what? 50
Dro. S. Marry, sir, for this something that you gave
me for nothing.
Ant. S. I'll make you amends next, to give you no-
thing for something. But say, sir, is it dinner-time?
Dro. S. No, sir: I think the meat wants that I have.
Ant. S. In good time, sir; what's that? 56
Dro. S. Basting.
Ant. S. Well, sir, then 'twill be dry.
Dro. S. If it be, sir, I pray you, eat none of it.
Ant. S. Your reason? 60
Dro. S. Lest it make you choleric, and purchase me
another dry basting.
Ant. S. Well, sir, learn to jest in good time: there's
a time for all things.
Dro. S. I durst have denied that, before you were so
choleric. 66
Ant. S. By what rule, sir?
45, 46 Why...me] As in Capell. Prose Prose in Ff.
in Ff. 53 next, to] newt time, Capell conj.
45 Why, first] First, why Capell. to] and Collier MS.
47_49 Was...you.] As in Rowe (ed. 2). 59 none] J?v not F2F3F4.
462 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.
Dro. S. Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the plain bald
pate of father Time himself.
Ant. S. Let's hear it. . 70
Dro. S. There's no time for a man to recover his hair
that grows bald by nature.
Ant. S. May he not do it by fine and recovery?
Dro. S. Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig, and recover
the lost hair of another man. 75
Ant. S. Why is Time such a niggard of hair, being, as
it is, so plentiful an excrement?
Dro. S. Because it is a blessing that he bestows on
beasts: and what he hath scanted men in hair, he hath
given them in wit. 80
Ant. S. Why, but there's many a man hath more hair
than wit.
Dro. S. Not a man of those but he hath the wit to
lose his hair.
Ant. S. Why, thou didst conclude hairy men plain
dealers without wit. 86
Dro. S. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost: yet he
loseth it in a kind of jollity.
Ant. S. For what reason?
Dro. S. For two; and sound ones too. 90
Ant. S. Nay, not sound, I pray you.
Dro. S. Sure ones, then.
Ant. S. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing.
Dro. S. Certain ones, then.
Ant. S. Name them. 95
Dro. S. The one, to save the money that he spends in
76 hair] hair to men Capell. 91 sound] Fr sound ones F2F3F4.
79 men] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), them 93 falsing] falling Grant White (Heath
Ff. conj.). false Ingleby conj.
88 jollity] policy Staunton conj.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 463
tiring; the other, that at dinner they should not drop
in his porridge.
Ant S. You would all this time have proved there is
no time for all things. 100
Dro. S. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time to re-
cover hair lost by nature.
Ant S. But your reason was not substantial, why
there is no time to recover.
Dro. S. Thus I mend. it: Time himself is bald, and
therefore to the world's end will have bald followers. ioe
Ant S. I knew 'twould be a bald conclusion:
But, soft! who wafts us yonder?
Enter Adriana and Luciana.
Adr. Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown;
Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects; no
I am not Adriana nor thy wife.
The time was once when thou unurged wouldst vow
That never words were music to thine ear,
That never object pleasing in thine eye,
That never touch well welcome to thy hand, 115
That never meat sweet-savour'd in thy taste,
Unless I spake, or look'd, or touch'd, or carved to thee.
How comes it now, my husband, 0, how comes it,
That thou art then estranged from thyself?
Thyself I call it, being strange to me, 120
97 tiring] tyring Pope, trying Ff. trim- MS.
mingllowe. Hiring Collier (ed. 1). try- 111 not...nor] but...and Capell conj.
ing to save them Cowden Clarke conj. 112 unurged] unurg'dst Pope.
99 there] See note (v). 115 well] were Gould conj.
101 no time] F2F3E4. in no time Fr 117 or lootfd, or] look'd, Steevens (1793).
e'en no time Boswell (Capell conj.). to thee] om. Pope, tliee S. "Walker
is no time Grant White. conj.
110 thy]Yv someF2FzFi. your Collier 119 then] thus Rowe.
464 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.
That, undividable, incorporate,
Am better than thy dear self s better part.
Ah, do not tear away thyself from me!
For know, my love, as easy mayst thou fall
A drop of water in the breaking gulf, 125
And take unmingled thence that drop again,
Without addition or diminishing,
As take from me thyself, and not me too.
How dearly would it touch thee to the quick,
Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, 130
And that this body, consecrate to thee,
By ruffian lust should be contaminate!
Wouldst thou not spit at me and spurn at me,
And hurl the name of husband in my face,
And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot-brow, 135
And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring,
And break it with a deep-divorcing vow?
I know thou canst; and therefore see thou do it.
I am possessed with an adulterate blot;
My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: 140
For if we two be one, and thou play false,
I do digest the poison of thy flesh,
Being strumpeted by thy contagion.
Keep, then, fair league and truce with thy true bed;
I live distain'd,- thou undishonoured. 145
Ant. S. Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you not:
In Ephesus I am but two hours old,
As strange unto your town as to your talk;
130 but] Fx. om. F2F3F4. 145 distain'd^ unstairtdKamner (Theo-
135 off] Hanmer. o/Ff. bald conj.). dis-stain'd Theobald.
138 canst] would'st Hanmer. distained Heath conj. undistain'd
140 crime] grime Warburton. Keightley.
142 thy] F^ my F2F3F4. undishonoureoT] dishonoured Heath
143 contagion] catagion F4. conj.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF EKROKS. 465
Who, every word by all my wit being scann'd,
Wants wit in all one word to understand. 150
Luc. Fie, brother! how the world is changed with you!
When were you wont to use my sister thus?
She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner.
Ant. S. By Dromio?
Dro. S. By me? 155
Adv. By thee; and this thou didst return from him,
That he did buffet thee, and, in his blows,
Denied my house for his, me for his wife.
Ant. S. Did you converse, sir, with this gentlewoman?
What is the course and drift of your compact? 160
Dro. S. I, sir? I never saw her till this time.
Ant. S. Villain, thou liest; for even her very words
Didst thou deliver to me on the mart.
Dro. S. I never spake with her in all my life.
Ant. S. How can she thus then call us by our names?
Unless it be by inspiration. 166
Adv. How ill agrees it with your gravity
To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave,
Abetting him to thwart me in my mood!
Be it my wrong you are from me exempt, 170
But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt.
Come, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine:
Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine,
Whose weakness, married to thy stronger state,
Makes me with thy strength to communicate: 175
If aught possess thee from me, it is dross,
149, H ") Marked as spurious by Pope. * names,...inspiration? F4.
Wi 0,... Wants] Whose every..., Want 167 your] you F2.
Becket conj. 174 thy] the So quoted in Gent. Mag.
150 Wants] Ff. Want Johnson. (lxxxi. 221).
155 By me?] Eowe (ed. 2). By me. Ff. stronger] F4. stranger F^Fg.
156 this] Fx. thus F2F3F4. 176 aught] Warburton. ought Ff.
165, 166 names ?...inspiration.] F-jFgFg.
VOL. I. 30
466 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II.
Usurping ivy, brier, or idle moss;
Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion
Infect thy sap, and live on thy confusion.
Ant. S. To me she speaks; she moves me for her theme:
What, was I married to her in my dream? 181
Or sleep I now, and think I hear all this?
What error drives our eyes and ears amiss?
Until I know this sure uncertainty,
Hi entertain the offer'd fallacy. 185
Luc. Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner.
Dro. S. 0, for my beads! I cross me for a sinner.
This is the fairy land: 0 spite of spites!
We talk with goblins, owls, and sprites:
If we obey them not, this will ensue, 190
They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue.
Luc. Why pratest thou to thyself, and answer st not?
Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, thou sot!
Dro. S. I am transformed, master, am not I?
Ant. S. I think thou art in mind, and so am I. 195
Dro. S. Nay, master, both in mind and in my shape.
178 Who] Which Hanmer. conj. none but goblins Dyce (ed. 2).
180—185 Marked 'aside5 by Capell. owls] ouplis Theobald, elves Cart-
180 moves] means Singer, ed. 2 (Collier wright and Lettsom conj.
MS.), loves Keightley conj. takes sprites] Sprights Yv Elves Sprights
Gould conj. F2F3F4. elvish sprights Vo^q. Elves
183 drives] draws Singer, ed. 2 (Collier and Sprights Hudson (Collier MS.).
MS.). fairy sprites Cartwright conj.
184 sure uncertainty] sure: uncertainly 191 or] and Theobald.
Becket conj. 192 and answer''st not?] ¥v om.
185 offend] CapeU. free'd Ff. favouSd F2F3F4.
Rowe (ed. 2). proffered Singer 193 Dromio, thou drone, thou snail]
conj. forced Grant White. Theobald. Dromio, thou Dromio,
186, 192, 198 Luc] Adr. Keightley thou snaile Fr Dromio, thou
com. Dromio, snaile F2F3F4. Dromio,
18*7 201 Marked as spurious by Pope. thou Dronio, thou snail Cowden
189 We tall] For here we talk Keightley. Clarke.
talk] walk and talk Anon. conj. 194 am not I?] Theobald, am I not?
goblins] ghosts and goblins Lettsom Ff.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 467
Ant. S. Thou hast thine own form.
Dro. S. No, I am an ape.
Luc. If thou art changed to aught, 'tis to an ass.
Dro. S. 'Tis true; she rides me, and I long for grass.
Tis so, I am an ass; else it could never be 200
But I should know her as well as she knows me.
Adr. Come, come, no longer will I be a fool,
To put the finger in the eye and weep,
Whilst man and master laughs my woes to scorn.
Come, sir, to dinner. Dromio, keep the gate. 205
Husband, I'll dine above with you to-day,
And shrive you of a thousand idle pranks.
Sirrah, if any ask you for your master,
Say he dines forth, and let no creature enter.
Come, sister. Dromio, play the porter well. 210
Ant. S. Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?
Sleeping or waking? mad or well-advised?
Known unto these, and to myself disguised!
I'll say as they say, and persever so,
And in this mist at all adventures go. 215
Dro. S. Master, shall I be porter at the gate?
Adr. Ay; and let none enter, lest I break your pate.
Luc. Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late.
[Exeunt.
198 aught] Warburton. ought Ff. 204 laughs] Ff. laugh Pope.
203 the eye] thy eye E2^3- mV eVe 21*—2-15 Marked as 'aside' by CapelL
Collier MS. 217 and] om. Collier conj.
30—2
468 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
ACT III.
Scene I. Before the house of Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of Ephesus, Angelo,
and Balthazar.
Ant. E. Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us all;
My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours:
Say that I linger d with you at your shop
To see the making of her carcanet,
And that to-morrow you will bring it home. 5
But here's a villain that would face me down
He met me on the mart, and that I beat him,
And charged him with a thousand marks in gold,
And that I did deny my wife and house.
Thou drunkard, thou, what didst thou mean by this? 10
Dro. E. Say what you will, sir, but I know what I know;
That you beat me at the mart, I have your hand to show:
If the skin were parchment, and the blows you gave were ink,
Your own handwriting would tell you what I think.
Ant. E. I think thou art an ass.
Dvo. E. Marry, so it doth appear
By the wrongs I suffer, and the blows I bear. 16
I should kick, being kick'd; and, being at that pass,
You would keep from my heels, and beware of an ass.
Enter...Dromio...Balthazar.] Rowe. 11 Say] You must say Capell.
Enter...his man Dromio, Angelo 13 the skin] my shin Collier MS.
the Goldsmith, and Balthaser the 14 otvn] Fr om. E2F3F4.
Merchant. Ff. you] you for certaine Collier MS.
Before...] The Street before Anti- 15, 16 so it doth...bear.] doth it so...
pholis's House. Pope. . bear? Hanmer.
1 all] om. Pope. 15 doth] donH Theobald.
11—14 Put in the margin as spurious 16 I suffer...I bear] that I suffer...that
by Pope. / bear Keightley.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 469
Ant E. You're sad, Signior Balthazar: pray God our
cheer
May answer my good will and your good welcome here. 20
Bal. I hold your dainties cheap, sir, and your welcome
dear.
Ant E. 0, Signior Balthazar, either at flesh or fish,
A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish.
Bal. Good meat, sir, is common: that every churl affords.
Ant. E. And welcome more common; for that's no-
thing but words. 25
Bal. Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry
feast.
Ant. E. Ay, to a niggardly host and more sparing
guest:
But though my cates be mean, take them in good part;
Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart.
But, soft! my door is lock'd.—Go bid them let us in. 30
Dro. E. Maud, Bridget, Marian, Cicely, Gillian, Ginn!
Dro. S. [ Within] Mome, malt-horse, capon, coxcomb, idiot,
patch!
Either get thee from the door, or sit down at the hatch.
Dost thou conjure for wenches, that thou call'st for such
store,
When one is one too many? Go get thee from the door.
Dro. E. What patch is made our porter? My master
stays in the street. 36
Dro. S. [Within] Let him walk from whence he came,
lest he catch cold on's feet.
19 You're] Yare Ff. You are Capell. Ginn] om. Pope. Jen' Malone.
cheer] good cheer Anon. conj. Gin* Collier. Jin Dyce.
20 here] om. Pope. 32 &c. [Within] Rowe.
21—29 Put in the margin as spurious 35 many?] F4. many, F1F2F3.
by Pope. Go get] go, get Eowe.
23 table full] table-full Anon. conj. 36—60 Put in the margin as spurious
27 more] a more Keightley. by Pope.
31 [calles. Collier MS.
470 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
Ant. E. Who talks within there? ho, open the door!
Dro. S. [Within] Right, sir; I'll tell you when, an you'll
tell me wherefore.
Ant. E. Wherefore? for my dinner: I have not dined
to-day. 40
Dro. S. [Within] Nor to-day here you must not; come
again when you may.
Ant. E. What art thou that keepest me out from the
house I owe?
Dro. S. [Within] The porter for this time, sir, and my
name is Dromio.
Dro. E. O villain, thou hast stolen both mine office
and my name!
The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle blame. 45
If thou hadst been Dromio to-day in my place,
Thou wouldst have changed thy face for a name, or thy
name for an ass.
Luce. [Within] What a coil is there, Dromio? who are
those at the gate!
Dro. E. Let my master in, Luce.
Duce. [Within] Taith, no; he comes too late;
And so tell your master.
Dro. E. 0 Lord, I must laugh! 50
Have at you with a proverb;—Shall I set in my staff?
Luce. [ Within] Have at you with another; that's,—
When? can you tell?
Dro. S. [Within] If thy name be calTd Luce,—Luce,
thou hast answer d him well.
39 an] Rowe (ed. 2). and Ff. 48 Luce. [Within] Rowe. Enter Luce.
41 not; come] not come Ff. Ff.
42 keepest] Clark and Glover. keep* stiff, there, Dromio? who...gate!] there!
46 been] Fr 5^F2F3F4. Dromio, who...gate? Capell.
47 Thou wouldst] Thou'ldst S. Walker 49—51 'Faith...proverb;] As in Rowe
conj. (ed. 2). Two lines, the first ending
face] place Gould conj. Master, in Ff.
an ass] a face Collier MS. 51 staff?] Rowe. staffe. Ff.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 471
Ant. E. Do you hear, you minion? you'll let" us in, I
hope?
Luce. [Within] I thought to have ask'd you.
Dro. S. [Within] And you said no.
Dro. E. So, come, help: well struck! there was blow
for blow. 56
Ant. E. Thou baggage, let me in.
Luce. [ Within] Can you tell for whose sake?
Dro. E. Master, knock the door hard.
Luce. [Within] Let him knock till it ache.
Ant. E. You'll cry for this, minion, if I beat the door
down.
Luce. [Within] What needs all that, and a pair of stocks
in the town? 60
Adv. [Within] Who is that at the door that keeps all
this noise?
Dro. S. [Within] By my troth, your town is troubled
with unruly boys.
Ant. E. Are you there, wife? you might have come
before.
Adv. [Within] Your wife, sir knave! go get you from
the door.
Dro. E. If you went in pain, master, this 'knave' would
go sore. 65
Ang. Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome: we would
fain have either.
Bat. In debating which was best, we shall part with
neither.
54 hope] trow Theobald, know Crosby 61 Adr. [Within]. Rowe. Enter Adri-
conj. Malone supposes a line omitted ana. Ff.
ending rope. 64 go get] go, get Theobald.
55 ask'd you. Dro. S. And] asKd 65—83 Put in the margin as spurious
you, had you brought a rope. Dro. by Pope.
S. / ask'd you to let us in, and 67 part] have part Warburton.
Keightley conj.
472 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
Dro. E. They stand at the door, master; bid them
welcome hither.
Ant E. There is something in the wind, that we can-
not get in.
Dro. E. Yon would say so, master, if your garments
were thin. 70
Your cake here is warm within; you stand here in the cold:
It would make a man mad as a buck, to be so bought
and sold.
Ant. E. Go fetch me something: I'll break ope the gate.
Dro. S. [ Within] Break any breaking here, and I'll break
your knave's pate.
Dro. E. A man may break a word with you, sir; and
words are but wind; 75
Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not behind.
Dro. S. [Within] It seems thou want'st breaking: out
upon thee, hind!
Dro. E. Here's too much 'out upon thee!' I pray thee,
let me in.
Dro. S. [Within] Ay, when fowls have no feathers, and
fish have no fin.
Ant. E. Well, I'll break in: go borrow me a crow. 80
Dro. E. A crow without feather? Master, mean you so?
For a fish without a fin, there's a fowl without a feather:
If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow together.
Ant. E. Go get thee gone; fetch me an iron crow.
Bal. Have patience, sir: 0, let it not be so! 85
Herein you war against your reputation,
71 cake here] cake Capell. cake there 78 Here's] Here is Singer (ed. 1).
Anon, conj. much] much, F^Fg. much; F4.
72 mad] Fx. as mad F2F3F4. SI feather?...so?] Collier, feather,...
as a buck] om. Capell. so; F^Fg. feather,...so? F4.
73 Go fetch] Go, fetch Capell. feather] a feather Steevens (1793).
75 you, sir] your sir Fr 84 Go get] Dyce. Go, get Ff.
77 want'st] wantest Pope. 85 so] thus Pope.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 473
And draw within the compass of suspect
The unviolated honour of your wife.
Once this,—your long experience of her wisdom,
Her sober virtue, years, and modesty, 90
Plead on her part some cause to you unknown;
And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse
Why at this time the doors are made against you.
Be ruled by me: depart in patience,
And let us to the Tiger all to dinner; 95
And about evening come yourself alone
To know the reason of this strange restraint.
If by strong hand you offer to break in
Now in the stirring passage of the day,
A vulgar comment will be made of it, loo
And that supposed by the common rout
Against your yet ungalled estimation,
That may with foul intrusion enter in,
And dwell upon your grave when you are dead;
For slander lives upon succession, 105
For ever housed where it gets possession.
Ant E. You have prevail'd: I will depart in quiet,
And, in despite of mirth, mean to be merry.
I know a wench of excellent discourse,
Pretty and witty; wild, and yet, too, gentle: no
There will we dine. This woman that I mean,
My wife—but, I protest, without desert—
Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal:
89 Once this] Own this Malone conj. 105 slander] looting slander Johnson
This once Anon. conj. conj.
thisj—your] this; your Rowe. this upon] upon itfs own Capell conj.
your Ft 106 housed...gets] Singer (ed. 1). hows'd
her] Rowe. your Ff. .. .gets Fr housed... once gets F2F3F4.
91 her] Rowe. your Ff. housed where H gets Steevens.
93 made] barr'd Rowe (ed. 2). 108 mirth] wrath Theobald, my wife
101 siopposed] supported Johnson conj. Keightley. my wrath Id. conj.
(withdrawn). (adopted in Errata).
474 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
To her will we to dinner. [To Aug.] Get you home,
And fetch the chain; by this I know 'tis made: 115
Bring it, I pray yon, to the Porpentine;
For there's the house: that chain will I bestow—
Be it for nothing but to spite my wife—
Upon mine hostess there: good sir, make haste.
Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me, 120
I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me.
Aug. I'll meet you at that place some hour hence.
Ant JE. Do so. This jest shall cost me some expense.
[Exeunt.
Scene II. The same.
Enter Luciana, with Antipholus of Syracuse.
Luc. And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband's office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
Shall love, in building, grow so ruinous?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth, 5
Then for her wealth's sake use her with more kindness:
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth;
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness:
Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator; 10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint;
114 [To Aug.] Clark and Glover. 1 Luc] Rowe. Iulia. Ff.
116 Porpentine] Ff. Porcupine Rowe. 2 Antipholus] Antipholis, hate Theo-
117 will T] Fr Iwill'F2FzFi. bald. Antipholis, thus Id. conj. a
119 mine] Fv my F2F3F4. nipping hate Heath conj. unkind
122 hour] Yv hour, sir F2F3F4. debate Collier MS.
Scene ii. om. Ff. 4 building] Theobald, buildings Ff.
Enter Luciana] F2F3F4. Enter ruinous] Capell (Theobald conj.).
Juliana Fr Enter, from the house, ruinate Ff..
Luciana. Dyce (ed. 2).
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 475
Be secret-false: what need she be acquainted? 15
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
Tis double wrong, to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board:
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
111 deeds are doubled with an evil word. 20
Alas, poor women! make us but believe,
Being compact of credit, that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
Then, gentle brother, get you in again; 25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife
'Tis holy sport, to be a little vain,
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.
Ant. S. Sweet mistress,—what your name is else, I know
not,
Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine,— 30
Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not
Than our earth's wonder; more than earth divine,
Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak;
Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit,
Smotherd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak, 35
The folded meaning of your words' deceit.
Against my soul's pure truth why labour you
To make it wander in an unknown field?
Are you a god? would you create me new?
Transform me, then, and to your power 111 yield. 40
But if that I am I, then well I know
Your weeping sister is no wife of mine,
16 attaint] Rowe. attaine F^Fg. at- 30 of] on Steevens (1793).
tain F4. 34 earthy-gross] Hyphened by Clark
20 are] F2F3F4. is Fr and Glover (S. Walker conj.).
21 but] Theobald, not Ff. 35 shallow] Yv shaddow~F2~Fz. shadow
26 wife] wise ~FV F4.
476 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
Nor to her bed no homage do I owe:
Far more, far more to you do I decline.
0, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note, 45
To drown me in thy sister's flood of tears:
Sing, siren, for thyself, and I will dote:
Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs,
And as a bed I'll take them, and there lie;
And, in that glorious supposition, think 50
He gains by death that hath such means to die:
Let Love, being light, be drowned if she sink!
Luc. What, are you mad, that you do reason so?
Ant. S. Not mad, but mated; how, I do not know.
Lite. It is a fault that springeth from your eye. 55
Ant. S. For gazing on your beams, fair sun, being by.
Luc. Gaze where you should, and that will clear your
sight.
Ant. S. As good to wink, sweet love, as look on night.
Luc. Why call you me love? call my sister so.
Ant. S. Thy sister's sister.
Luc. That's my sister.
Ant. S. No; 60
It is thyself, mine own self's better part,
Mine eye's clear eye, my dear heart's dearer heart,
My food, my fortune, and my sweet hope's aim,
My sole earth's heaven, and my heaven's claim.
Luc. All this my sister is, or else should be. 65
43 no] Fx. a F2F3F4. 52 Love, being light, he] Love be light,
44 decline] incline Collier MS. being Hudson (Badham conj.).
46 sister's] F2F3F4. sister Fr she] he Capell.
48 hairs] hears Keightley. 56 For] From Capell conj.
49 a bed] F2F3F4. a bud Fv a-bed so 57 where] Eowe (ed. 2). when Ff.
quoted in Johnson's Diet. s. v. Siren. 60,61 No;...part,] As in Pope. One
a bride Dyce, ed. 1 (withdrawn) and line in Ff.
Staunton. 63, 64 aim...claim]dreame...beameCol-
them] Capell(Edwardsconj.). theeFL lier MS. (struck out).
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 477
Ant. S. Call thyself sister, sweet, for I am thee.
Thee will I love, and with thee lead my life:
Thou hast no husband yet, nor I no wife.
Give me thy hand.
Luc. 0, soft, sir! hold you still:
I'll fetch my sister, to get her good will. [Exit. 70
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
Ant. S. Why, how now, Dromio! where runn st thou
so fast?
Dro. S. Do you know me, sir? am I Dromio? am I
your man? am I myself?
Ant. S. Thou art Dromio, thou art my man, thou art
thyself. 76
Dro. S. I am an ass, I am a woman's man, and besides
myself.
Ant. S. What woman's man? and how besides thyself?
Dro. S. Marry, sir, besides myself, I am due to a
woman; one that claims me, one that haunts me, one that
will have me. 82
Ant. S. What claim lays she to thee?
Dro. S. Marry, sir, such claim as you would lay to your
horse; and she would have me as a beast: not that, I
being a beast, she would have me; but that she, being a
very beastly creature, lays claim to me. 87
Ant. S. What is she?
Dro. S. A very reverent body; ay, such a one as a man
may not speak of, without he say Sir-reverence. I have
66 for I am] for I mean Rowe (ed. 2). ter Dromio of Syracuse hastily.
for I aim Capell. / am for Gould Collier (ed. 1). Enter, running,.
c°nj- Dromio of Syracuse. Dyce.
71 Scene in. Pope. 71—79 Why...thyself?] As in Rowe
Enter...] Enter Dromio, Siracusia. (ed. 2). Printed as verse in Ff.
Ff (Siracusa F4). Enter, from the 82 me.] me, or no man. Collier MS.
house of Antipholus of Ephesus, 89 reverent] reverend Boswell.
Dromio of Syracuse. Malone. En-
478 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
but lean luck in the match, and yet is she a wondrous fat
marriage. 92 v
Ant. S. How dost thou mean a fat marriage?
Dro. S. Marry, sir, she's the kitchen-wench, and all
grease; and I know not what use to put her to, but to make
a lamp of her, and run from her by her own light. I war-
rant, her rags, and the tallow in them, will burn a Poland
winter: if she lives till doomsday, shell burn a week
longer than the whole world.
Ant. S. What complexion is she of? 100
Dro. S. Swart, like my shoe, but her face nothing like
so clean kept: for why she sweats; a man may go over
shoes in the grime of it.
Ant. S. That's a fault that water will mend.
Dro. S. No, sir, 'tis in grain; Noah's flood could not
. do it. 106
Ant. S. What's her name?
Dro. S. Nell, sir; but her name and three quarters,
that's an ell and three quarters, will not measure her from
hip to hip. 11(>
Ant. S. Then she bears some breadth?
Dro. S. No longer from head to foot than from hip to
hip: she is spherical, like a globe; I could find out coun-
tries in her.
Ant. S. In what part of her body stands Ireland? 115
Dro. S. Marry, sir, in her buttocks: I found it out by
the bogs.
Ant. S. Where Scotland?
Dro. S. I found it by the barrenness; hard in the palm
of the hand. 120
Ant. S. Where France?
93 How] What C^ell 108 and] Theobald(Thirlbyconj.). wF£
97 Poland] Lapland Warburton. 109 thafs] that is, Pope.
102 for why she sweats;] Dyce. for 119 hard in] hard, in Capell.
why? she sweats Y^F^^. for why? 120 the] Ff. her Eowe.
she svjeats, F4.
SCENE II.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 479
Dro. S. In her forehead; armed and reverted, making
war against her heir.
Ant. S. Where England? 124
Dro. S. I looked for the chalky cliffs, but I could
find no whiteness in them; but I guess it stood in her
chin, by the salt rheum that ran between France and it.
Ant. S. Where Spain?
Dro. S. 'Faith, I saw it not; but I felt it hot in her
breath. 130
Ant. S. Where America, the Indies?
Dro. S. Oh, sir, upon her nose, all o'er embellished
with rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining then rich as-
pect to the hot breath of Spain; who sent whole arma-
does of caracks to be ballast at her' nose. 135
Ant. S. Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands?
Dro. S. Oh, sir, I did not look so low. To conclude,
this drudge, or diviner, laid claim to me; called me
Dromio; swore I was assured to her; told me what privy
marks I had about me, as, the mark of my shoulder, the
mole in my neck, the great wart on my left arm, that
I, amazed, ran from her as a witch: 142
And, I think, if my breast had not been made of faith,
and my heart of steel,
She had transform'd me to a curtal dog, and made me
turn i' the wheel.
122 forehead] sore head Jackson conj. this Warburton.
reverted] revolted Grant White. or diviner] this divine one Capell
inverted Hudson conj. conj.
123 heir] heir•eY1. haireY2~Fz. hairF±. 139 assured] affied Gould conj.
125 chalky] chalkle Fx. 140 mark] marke Fr markes F2F3F4.
132 o'er] Eowe. ore F^Fg. o're F4. 143, 144 Printed as prose in Ff. As
134, 135 armadoes] armadas Singer verse first by Knight. S. Walker
(ed. 1). would begin the verse with if my Ike.
135 caracks] Hanmer. Carrects Fr 143 faith] flint Hanmer.
carracts F2F3F4. 144 curtal] F4. Curtull Fr curtail
ballast] ballasted Capell. ^2^V cur-tail Hanmer.
138 drudge, or] drudge of the Devil,
480 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT III.
Ant. S. Go hie thee presently, post to the road: 145
An if the wind blow any way from shore,
I will not harbour in this town to-night:
If any bark put forth, come to the mart,
Where I will walk till thou return to me.
If every one knows us, and we know none, 150
'Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack, and be gone.
Dro. S. As from a bear a man would run for life,
So fly I from her that would be my wife. [Exit.
Ant. S. There's none but witches do inhabit here;
And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence. 155
She that doth call me husband, even my soul
Doth for a wife abhor. But her fair sister,
Possessed with such a gentle sovereign grace,
Of such enchanting presence and discourse,
Hath almost made me traitor to myself: 160
But, lest myself be guilty to self-wrong,
I'll stop mine ears against the mermaid's song.
Enter Angelo with the chain.
Ang. Master Antipholus,—
Ant S. Ay, that's my name.
Ang. I know it well, sir: lo, here is the chain.
I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine: 165
The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long.
145 Go hie] Go, hie Theobald. 162 mine] my Singer (ed. 1).
presently, post] presently post 1A&- Enter...] Enter the Goldsmith
lone. Capell.
146 An] Capell. And Ff. 163 Antipholus,—] Antipholis, Theo-'
150 knows us] know us Johnson. bald. Antipholus. Ff. Antipho-
154 Scene iy. Pope. lus? Capell.
155 high] F4. hie F1F2F3. 164 here is] Pope, here's Ff.
161 to] of Pope. 165 Porpentine] Porcupine Eowe.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 481
Ant. S. What is your will that I shall do with this?
Ang. What please yourself, sir: I have made it for
you.
Ant. S. Made it for me, sir! I bespoke it not.
Ang. Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have.
Go home with it, and please your wife withal; 171
And soon at supper-time I'll visit you,
And then receive my money for the chain.
Ant. S. I pray you, sir, receive the money now,
For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more. 175
Ang. You are a merry man, sir: fare you well. [Exit.
Ant. S. What I should think of this, I cannot tell:
But this I think, there's no man is so vain
That would refuse so fair an offer d chain.
I see a man here needs not live by shifts, 180
When in the streets he meets such golden gifts.
I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay:
If any ship put out, then straight away. [Exit.
ACT IV.
Scene I. A public place.
Enter Second Merchant, Angelo, and an Officer.
Sec. Mer. You know since Pentecost the sum is due,
And since I have not much importuned you;
Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage:
177 Ant. S.] Ant. FXF4. Dro. F2F3. Goldsmith, and an Officer. Ff.
181 streets] street Capell conj. 4 guilders'] Singer (ed. 2). Gilders Ff.
Enter...] Dyce. Enter a Merchant,
VOL. I. 31
482 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. . ACT IV.
Therefore make present satisfaction, t" 5
Or I'll attach you by this officer.
Ang. Even just the sum that I do owe to you
Is growing to me by Antipholus;
And in the instant that I met with you
He had of me a chain: at five o'clock 10
I shall receive the money for the same.
Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
I will discharge my bond, and thank you too.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus from
the courtezan's.
Off. That labour may you save: see where he comes.
Ant. E. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou
And buy a rope's end: that will I bestow 16
Among my wife and her confederates,
For locking: me out of my doors by day.
But, soft! I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone;
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. 20
Dro. E. I buy a thousand pound a year: I buy a rope.
[Exit.
Ant E. A man is well holp up that trusts to you:
I promised your presence and the chain;
But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me.
Belike you thought our love would last too long, 25
If it were chain'd together, and therefore came not.
Aug. Saving your merry humour, here's the note
How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat,
8 growing] owing Pope. 21 rope.] rope! Rowe.
12 Pleaseth you] Ff. Please you Rowe 23 JT\ You Dyce (ed. 2).
(ed. 2). Please y'ou but Pope. Please promised^ promised me Collier MS.
it you Anon. conj. 26 it] vie Keightley.
14 may you] F^Fg. you may F4. and] om. Pope.
17 her] Rowe. their Ff. these Collier, 28 carat] Pope, charect F1# Raccat
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). F2F3F4. caract Collier (ed. 1).
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 483
The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion,
Which doth amount to three odd ducats more 30
Than I stand debted to this gentleman:
I pray you, see him presently discharged,
For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
Ant. E. I am not furnish'd with the present money;
Besides, I have some business in the town. 35
Good signior, take the stranger to my house,
And with you take the chain, and bid my wife .
Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof:
Perchance I will, be there as soon as you.
Aug. Then you will bring the chain to her yourself? 40
Ant E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time
enough.
Ang. Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
Ant.,E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have;
Or else you may return without your money.
Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain: 45
Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
And I, to blame, have held him here too long.
Ant. E. Good Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse
Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
I should have chid you for not bringing it, 50
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
Sec. Mer. The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.
Ang. You hear how he importunes me ;—the chain!
Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your
money.
29 chargeful] charge for Anon. conj. 46 stays] stay Rowe (ed. 2j-
33 but] om. Rowe. this] Fx. the F2F3F4.
41 No; bear it] No; Bear H S. Walker 47 to blame] F3. too blame F1F2F4.
conj., reading Bear H...enough as 49 Porpentine] Porcupine Rowe.
one line. 53 the chain!] Dyce. the chain. Ff.
time enough] in time Hanmer. the chain— Johnson.
43 An] Theobald. And Ff.
31—2
484 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IY.
Ang. Come, come, you know I gave it you even now. 55
Either send the chain, or send me by some token.
Ant. E. Fie, now you run this humour out of breath.
Come, where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
Sec. Mer. My business cannot brook this dalliance.
Good sir, say whether you 11 answer me or no: 60
If not, 111 leave him to the officer.
Ant. E. I answer you! what should I answer you?
Ang. The money that you owe me for the chain.
Ant. E. I owe you none till I receive the chain.
Ang. You know I gave it you half an hour since. 65
Ant. E. You gave me none: you wrong me much to
say so.
Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it:
Consider how it stands upon my credit.
Sec. Mer. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
Off. I do; and charge you in the duke's name to
obey me. 71
Ang. This touches me in reputation.
Either consent to pay this sum for me,
Or I attach you by this officer.
Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had! 75
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest.
Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer.
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently.
Off. I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit. 80
Ant. E. I do obey thee till I give thee bail.
56 Either'] Or Pope. 65 gave it] gave H S. Walker conj.
me by] by me Singer (Heath conj.). 67 more] Fx. om. F2F3F4.
58 chain?] F4. Chaine, F^Fg. 70 Printed as verse by Hanmer, ending
60 whether] whe'r Ff. where Eowe. if the first line at do.
Pope. 74 this] Fr the F2F3F4.
62 what] F,. Why F2F3F,. 75 thee] Fx. om. F2F3F4. for Eowe.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 485
But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear
As all the metal in your shop will answer.
Ang. Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
To your notorious shame; I doubt it not. 85
Enter Drohio of Syracuse, from the bay.
Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum
That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir,
I have conveyed aboard; and I have bought
The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitse. 90
The ship is in her trim; the merry wind
Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all
But for their owner, master, and yourself.
Ant. E. How now! a madman! Why, thou peevish
sheep,
"What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? 95
Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire wantage.
Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope,
And told thee to what purpose and what end.
Dro. S. You sent me for a rope's end as soon:
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. ioo
Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure,
And teach your ears to list me with more heed.
To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight:
Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk
That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry 105
86 Scene ii. Pope. 95 me?] me. Fx.
there is] Pope, there's Ff. 96 hire] F4. Her F1F2F3.
88 And then,sir,]~FV Then,sir,F2F3F4. 99 You sent me] A rope! You sent me
And then Capell. Capell. You sent me, Sir, Steevens
site] om. Steevens. (11793).
fraughtage] faughtage F2. a ropers] a rope! rope's Perring
89 bought] Fr brought F2F3F4. codj.
486 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IV.
There is a purse of ducats; let her send it:
Tell her I am arrested in the street,
And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave, be gone!
On, officer, to prison till it come.
[Exeunt Sec. Merchant, Angelo, Officer, and Ant. E.
JDro. S. To Adriana! that is where we dined, no
Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband:
She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
Thither I must, although against my will,
For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Exit.
Scene II. The house 0/Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Adriana and Luciana.
Adv. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so?
Mightst thou perceive austerely in his eye
That he did plead in earnest? yea or no?
Look'd he or red or pale, or sad or merrily?
What observation madest thou, in this case, 5.
Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face?
Luc. First he denied you had in him no right.
Adv. He meant he did me none; the more my spite.
Lac. Then swore he that he was a stranger here.
Adv. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he
were. 10
Luc. Then pleaded I for you.
109 Exeunt...] Dyce. Exeunt Mer. 4 or sad or] sad Capell.
Gol. Officer, and Antiphilus. Ca- merrily] merry Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
pell. Exeunt. Ff. MS.).
Sceneil] Capell. Sceneni. Pope. 5,6 case, Of...face?] ¥±. case? Of...
Thehouse...]E.Antipholis'sHouse. face. E2E3. case? Oh,...face. F2.
Pope. 5 case] race Staunton conj.
2 austerely] assuredly Hudson (Heath 7 you] you; you Capell.
conj.). sincerely Gould conj. no] a Kowe.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 487
Adr. And what said he?
Luc. That love I begg d for you he begg'd of me.
Adr. With what persuasion did he tempt thy love?
Luc. With words that in an honest suit might move,
First he did praise my beauty, then my speech. 15
Adr. Didst speak him fair?
Luc. Have patience, I beseech.
Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still;
My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will.
He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere,
Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere; 20
Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind;
Stigmatical in making, worse in mind.
Luc. Who would be jealous, then, of such a one?
No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone.
Adr. Ah, but I think him better than I say, 25
And yet would herein others' eyes were worse.
Far from her nest the lapwing cries away:
My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
Dro. S. Here! go; the desk, the purse! sweet, now,
make haste.
Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath?
Dro. S. By running fast.
Adr. Where is thy master, Dromio? is he well? 31
Dro. S. No, he's in Tartar limbo, worse than hell.
A devil in an everlasting garment hath him;
18 his] it's Rowe. ing fell Anon. conj. (Fras. Mag.1853).
22 in mind] Fx. the mind F2F3F4. an everlasting garment hath him]
26 lierein] he in Hanmer. everlasting torment laid him by the
29 Scene iv. Pope. heels Bailey conj.
siveet] swift Collier, ed. 2 (Collier everlasting] everlasting S. Walker
MS.), sweet mistress Keightley. conj.
speed Id. conj. hath him] hath him fell Collier, ed. 2
33 A devil...him] A devil in an everlast- (Collier MS.), hath him by the heel
488 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IV.
One whose hard heart is button d up with steel;
A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough; 35
A wolf, nay, worse; a fellow all in buff;
A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermands
The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands;
A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry-foot well;
One that, before the Judgement, carries poor souls to hell.
A dr. "Why, man, what is the matter? 41
Dro. S. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested on
the case.
Adr. What, is he arrested? Tell me at whose suit.
Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is arrested well;
But he's in a suit of buff which rested him, that can I
tell. 45
Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the money in his
desk?
Adr. Go fetch it, sister. [Exit Luciano,.] This I won-
der at,
That he, unknown to me, should be in debt.
Spedding conj. hath him still or alleys] allies Ff.
hath him at his will Keightley conj. lands] lanes Grey conj. gates Bailey
34 One] F2F3F4. On Fr conj. See note (vi).
button'd up with steel] batten'd upon 42, 45 'rested] Theobald, rested Ff.
seals Bailey conj. 43 Tell] Well, tell Clark and Glover
After this line Collier, ed. 2 (Collier conj.
MS.) inserts: Who knows no touch Tell...suit] Pope (ed. 2). tell...suite?
of mercy, cannot feel. Ff. tell me, at whose suit? Johnson.
35 fury] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). Fairie 44—46 As in Capell. Prose in Ff.
]?£ 44 arrested well;] Fr arrested, well;
37 a] om. Collier MS. F2F3. arrested: well: F4. arrested;
countermands] commands Theobald. Pope.
counterminesW&vburton conj. ?with- 45 Buthe's]¥z¥±. but is F^. But'a's
drawn. See Nichols' Ulustr. ii. 295. Clark and Glover conj.
counterwaits Bailey conj. can 1] Y^F2. / can F3F4.
37, 38 countermands The...lands] his 46 mistress, redemption] Hanmer. Mis-
court maintainsFthe...lanesBecket tris redemption FjFgFg. Mistris
con; Redemption F4. See note (vn).
38 of] and Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). 48 That] Thus Fx.
SCENE II. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 489
Tell me, was he arrested on a band?
Dro. S. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing; 50
A chain, a chain! Do you not hear it ring?
Adr. What, the chain?
Dro. S. No, no, the bell: 'tis time that I were gone:
It was two ere I left him, and now the clock strikes one.
Adr. The hours come back! that did I never hear. 55
Dro. S. 0, yes; if any hour meet a sergeant, 'a turns
back for very fear.
Adr. As if Time were in debt! how fondly dost thou
reason!
Dro. S. Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than
he's worth to season.
Nay, he's a thief too: have you not heard men say,
That Time comes stealing on by night and day? 60
If Time be in debt and theft, and a sergeant in the way,
Hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day?
Re-enter Luciana with a purse.
Adr. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it straight;
And bring thy master home immediately.
Come, sister: I am press'd down with conceit,— 65
Conceit, my comfort and my injury. [Exeunt.
49, 50 band] bond Rowe. to season] om. Pope.
50 but on] but Rowe (ed. 2). 60 day] by day Keightley.
51 chain!] chain:— S. Walker conj. 61 Time] Rowe. /Ff. he Malone. 'a
ring?] ring. Fr Staunton.
54—62 Put in the margin as spurious 62 an hour] any liour Collier MS.
by Pope. Re-enter... a purse] Re-enter... the
55 hear] here Fr purse. Dyce. Re-enter Luciana.
56 'a turns] it turns Pope, he turns Capell. Enter Luciana. Ff.
Capell. e6 [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.
58 bankrupt] banhrout Ff.
490 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IV.
Scene III. A public place.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse.
Ant. S. There's not a man I meet but doth salute me
As if I were their well-acquainted friend;
And every one doth call me by my name.
Some tender money to me; some invite me;
Some other give me thanks for kindnesses; 5
Some offer me commodities to buy:
Even now a tailor calTd me in his shop,
And show'd me silks that he had bought for me,
And therewithal took measure of my body.
Sure, these are but imaginary wiles, 10
And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
Dro. S. Master, here's the gold you sent me for. What,
have you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled?
Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean?
Dro. S. Not that Adam that kept the Paradise, but that
Adam that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's skin
that was killed for the Prodigal; he that came behind you,
sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. 18
Ant. S. I understand thee not.
Dro. S. No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a
base-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gen-
tlemen are tired, gives them a sob, and 'rests them; he, sir,
Scene hi.] Capell. Scene v. Pope. picture] victory Perring conj.
Enter...] Enter Antipholis Siracu- 16 calf s shin] calues-skinYi.
sian in the chaine. Collier MS. 22 sob] fob Rowe. bob Hanmer. sop
12, 13 What, have] Rowe (ed. 2). what Staunton and Dyce conj. stop
haue Ff. Grant White (ed. 1).
13 got] got rid of Theobald, not Anon. 'rests] "Warburton. rests Ff.
conj. lost Kinnear conj.
SCENE III. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 491
that takes pity on decayed men, and gives them suits of
durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with
his mace than a morris-pike. 25
Ant. S. What, thou meanest an officer?
Dro. S. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he that
brings any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that
thinks a man always going to bed, and says, 'God give you
good rest!' 30
Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there
any ship puts forth to-night? may we be gone?
Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since,
that the bark Expedition put forth to-night; and then were
you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy Delay.
Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you. 36
Ant. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I;
And here we wander in illusions:
Some blessed power deliver us from hence!
Enter a Courtezan.
Cour. Well met, well met, Master Antipholus, 40
I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now:
Is that the chain you promised me to-day?
Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.
Dro. S. Master, is this Mistress Satan?
Ant. S. It is the devil. 45
Dro. S. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and
here she comes in the habit of a light wench: and there-
of comes that the wenches say, 'God damn me;' that's
25 morris-pike] Moris Pike Ff. llaicrice- 40 Scene yi. Pope.
Pike Hanmer (Warburton). 44—62 Put in the margin as spurious
28 band] bond Kowe. by Pope.
29 says] Capell. saies Fr saieth F2. 47—49 and...wench:] Marked as spuri-
saith F3F4. ous by Capell, MS. and in Notes.
32 skip] F2F3F4. ships Fx. 48 damn] Capell. dam Ff.
34 put] puts Eowe (ed. 2).
492 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IV.
as much to say, 'God make me a light wench/ It is
written, they appear to men like angels of light: light is an
effect of fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will
burn. Come not near her. 52
Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.
Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here?
Dro. S. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or be-
speak a long spoon. 56
Ant. S. Why, Dromio?
Dro. S. Marry, he must have a long spoon that must
eat with the devil.
Ant. S. Avoid then, fiend! what telTst thou me of
supping? 60
Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress:
I conjure thee to leave me and be gone.
Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,
Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised,
And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 65
Dro. S. Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail,
A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin,
A nut, a cherry-stone;
But she, more covetous, would have a chain.
Master, be wise: an if you give it her, 70
The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.
Cour. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain:
I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.
49 as much] as much as Rowe (ed. 2). Grant White, ed. 1 (Ritson conj.).
54 me?...here?] me,...here? Ff. one?... Oh! Anon. conj.
here. Steevens (1778). me?...there. 60 then]^^. thouY^. thee Dyce.
Gould conj. 61 are all] all are Boswell.
55 if you do, expect] F2F3F4. if do 66—71 Printed as prose by Ff, as verse
expect Fx. if you do expect Rowe. by Capell, ending the third line at
if...bespeak] if you do, or expect covetous.
spoon-meat, bespeak Collier (ed. 2). 70 an] Theobald, and Ff.
or] om. Rowe. so Capell. either 73 so.] Hanmer. so? Ff.
stay away, or Malone conj. and
SCENE IV. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 493
Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.
Dro. S. 'Fly pride/ says the peacock: mistress, that
you know. [Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S. 75
Cour. Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
And for the same he promised me a chain:
Both one and other he denies me now. 80
The reason that I gather he is mad,
Besides this present instance of his rage,
Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner,
Of his own doors being shut against his entrance.
Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, 85
On purpose shut the doors against his way.
My way is now to hie home to his house,
And tell his wife that, being lunatic,
He rush'd into my house, and took perforce
My ring away. This course I fittest choose; 90
For forty ducats is too much to lose. [Exit.
Scene IV. A street.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and the Officer.
Ant. E. Fear me not, man; I will not break away:
I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money,
To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for.
My wife is in a wayward mood to-day,
75 Put in the margin as spurious by 91 [Exit.] om. Fx.
Pope. Scene iv.] Capell. Scene viii. Pope.
[Exeunt...] Exeunt Dromio, and Enter...and the Officer.] Capell.
Antiphilus. Capell. Exeunt. F2F3F4. Enter Antipholus Ephes. with a
Exit. Fr "Iailor. Ff.
76 Scene yii. Pope. 3 'rested] Hanmer. rested Ff.
84 doors'] door Johnson.
494 THE COMEDY OF EKRORS. . ACT IV.
And will not lightly trust the messenger. 5
That I should be attached in Ephesus,
I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears.
Enter Dromio of Ephesus with a rope's-end.
Here comes my man; I think he brings the money.
How now, sir! have you that I sent you for?
Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all.
Ant. E. But where's the money? 11
Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.
Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?
Dro. E. Ill serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.
Ant. E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? 15
Dro. E. To a rope's-end, sir; and to that end am I
returned.
Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.
[Beating him.
Off. Good sir, be patient.
Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity.
Off. Good now, hold thy tongue. 21
Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.
Ant. E. Thou whoreson, senseless villain!
Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not
feel your blows. 25
Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and
so is an ass.
Dro. E. I am an ass, indeed; you may prove it by my
long ears. I have served him from the hour of my nativity
to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service
5, 6 messenger. That...EphesusJ Eowe. 15 hie] high F2.
Messenger, That...Ephesus, FXF2 17 returned] come Anon. conj.
F3. Messenger; That...Ephesus, F4. 18 [Beating him.] CapeH [Beats Dro.
messenger, That...Ephesus: Capell. Pope. om. Ff.
14 Dro. E.] Off. Hudson (Clark and 21 Good now] Good, now Dyce.
Glover conj.). 29 ears] See note (vin).
SCENE IV. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 495
but blows. When I am cold, he heats me with beating;
when I am warm, he cools me with beating: I ani waked
with it when I sleep; raised with it when I sit; driven out
of doors with it when I go from home; welcomed home
with it when I return: nay, I bear it on my shoulders, as
a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed
me, I shall beg with it from door to door. 37
Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder.
Enter Adriana, Luciana, the Courtezan, and Pinch.
Dro. E. Mistress, 'respice finem/ respect your end; or
rather, the prophecy like the parrot, 'beware the rope's-end/
Ant. E. Wilt thou Still talk? [Beating him. 41
Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad?
Adr. His incivility confirms no less.
Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer;
Establish him in his true sense again, 45
And I will please you what you will demand.
Luc. Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks!
Cour. Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy!
Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.
Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. 50
[Striking him.
Pinch. I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,
To yield possession to my holy prayers,
And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight:
I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven!
38 Scene ix. Pope. The stage direc- conj.
tion < Enter... Pinch,' precedes line 40 the prophecy] the prophesied'f. pro-
38 in Ff, and all editions till Dyce's. phesie Rowe. to prophesy Dyce.
Pinch.] a Schooleniaster, call'd Pinch. 41 [Beating him.] Beats Dro. Ff.
Ff. 46 please] pay Gould conj.
39—41 or rather...talk?] or rather, what] in what Hanmer.
lprospice funemj beware the rope's 50 [Striking him.] Dyce. om. Ff.
end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk 51 Satan] F4. Sathan F^Fg.
like the parrot? Clark and Glover
496 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IV.
Ant E. Peace, doting wizard, peace! I am not mad. 55
Adv. 0, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul!
Ant E. You minion, you, are these your customers?
Did this companion with the saffron face
Revel and feast it at my house to-day,
Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, 60
And I denied to enter in my house?
Adv. 0 husband, God doth know you dined at home;
Where would you had remain d until this time,
Free from these slanders and this open shame!
Ant E. Dined at home! Thou villain, what say est
thou? 65
Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home.
Were not my doors lock'd up, and I shut out?
Perdie, your doors were lock'd, and you shut out.
And did not she herself revile me there?
Sans fable, she herself reviled you there. 70
Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and
scorn me?
Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn d you.
And did not I in rage depart from thence?
In verity you did; my bones bear witness,
That since have felt the vigour of his rage. 75
Adr. Is't good to soothe him in these contraries?
Pinch. It is no shame: the fellow finds his vein,
And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.
Ant E. Thou hast suborn d the goldsmith to arrest me.
Adr. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you, 80
By Dromio here, who came in haste for it.
58 the] a Singer (ed. 1). 74 bear] beares Yv
61 house?] Rowe. house. Ff. 75 vigour] rigour Collier, ed. 2 (Collier
63 say est] say'st Rowe. MS.).
65 Dined] Dirtd I Theobald. / din'd his] your Eowe (ed. 2).
Capell. 76 soothe] sooth Fx. smooth F2F3F4.
72 Certes] Pope, certis Ff. contraries] crontraries Fr
Ant.
E.
Dro.
E.
Ant.
E.
Dro.
E.
Ant.
E.
Dro.
E.
Ant.
E.
Dro.
E.
SCEKE IV. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 497
Dro. E. Money by me! heart and good-will you might;
But surely, master, not a rag of money.
Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats?
Adr. He came to me, and I deliver d it. 85
Luc. And I am witness with her that she did.
Dro. E. God and the rope-maker bear me witness
That I was sent for nothing but a rope!
Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is possessed;
I know it by their pale and deadly looks: 90
They must be bound, and laid in some dark room.
Ant. E. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-
day?
And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?
Adv. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.
Dro. E. And, gentle master, I received no gold; 95
But I confess, sir, that we were locked out.
Adv. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both.
Ant. E. Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all,
And art confederate with a damned pack
To make a loathsome abject scorn of me: 100
But with these nails Til pluck out these false eyes,
That would behold in me this shameful sport.
Enter three or four, and offer to hind him. He strives.
Adv. 0, bind him, bind him! let him not come near me.
Pinch. More company! The fiend is strong within him.
Luc. Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks! 105
83 master] mistress Dyce (ed. 2). 101 these false] Ff. those false Rowe.
rag] bag Becket conj. 102 [flying at his "Wife; Assistants,
84 not thou] tlwu not Capell. and Doctor, interpose; and with
ducats?] Buckets. Fr much strugling, bind him, and
87 bear] do bear Pope, now bear Dyce, Dromio. Capell.
ed. 2 (Collier MS.). Enter...] The stage direction is
89 is] are Rowe. transferred by Dyce to follow 105,
99 art] are F2. 105 Ay] Ah Steevens (1793).
vol. I. 32
498 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT IY.
Ant, E, What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou,
I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer them
To make a rescue?
Off, Masters, let him go:
He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.
Pinch, Go bind this man, for he is frantic too. no
[They offer to bind Dro. E.
Adr, What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?
Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?
Off, He is my prisoner: if I let him go,
The debt he ow.es will be required of me. 115
Adr, I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:
Bear me forthwith unto his creditor,
And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.
Good master doctor, see him safe convey'd
Home to my house. 0 most unhappy day! 120
Ant, E, O most unhappy strumpet!
Dro, E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you.
Ant, E, Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou
mad me?
Dro, E, Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, good
master: cry, The devil! 125
Luc, God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk!
Adr, Go bear him hence. Sister, go you with me.
[Exeunt all but Adriana, Luciana, Officer and Courtezan.
106 me? Thou...thou,'] Rowe. me, thou 124 nothing?] nothing thus? Hanmer,
...thou? Ff. reading as verse.
107—109 / am...him.] As in Pope. 125 cry, The devil!] cry, the devil. Theo-
Prose in Ff. bald, cry the divell. Ff.
110 [They...Dro. E.] Clark and Glover. 126 help, poor] Theobald, help poor
om. Ff. Ff.
117 [They bind Ant. and Dro. Rowe. idly] Pope, idlely Ff.
123—126 Out...talk!] As in Pope. 127 go] stay Pope.
Prose in Ff. [Exeunt all but...] Exeunt. Ma-
123 thee, villain] the Villain, F4. net... Ff (after line 128).
SCENE IV. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 499
Say now;. whose suit is lie arrested at?
Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith: do you know him?
. Adr. I know the man. What is the sum he owes?
Off. Two hundred ducats.
Adr. Say, how grows it due? 131
Off. Due for a chain your husband had of him.
Adr. He did bespeak a chain for me, but had it not.
Cour. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day
Came to my house, and took away my ring,— 135
The ring I saw upon his finger now,—
Straight after did I meet him with a chain.
Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it.
Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is:
I long to know the truth hereof at large. 140
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse with his rapier drawn,
and Dromio of Syracuse.
Luc-. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again.
Adr. And come with naked swords.
Let's call more help to have them bound again.
Off. Away! they 11 kill us.
\_Exeunt all but Ant. S. and Dro. S.
Ant. S. I see these witches are afraid of swords. 145
Dro. S. She that would be your wife now ran from you.
Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from
thence:
I long that we were safe and sound aboard.
Dro. S. Faith, stay here this night; they will surely do
129 Scene x. Pope. Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse
131 due?] F4. due. F1F2F3. with their rapiers drawn. Dyce.
133 for me] om. Hanmer. 142—144 Two lines, the first ending
had it] hadH S. Walker conj. help, in Steevens (1778).
134 When as] Whenas Staunton. 143 [Runne all out. Ff.
141 Scene xr. Pope. 144 [Exeunt...] Exeunt omnes, as fast
Enter...] Enter Antipholus of as may be, frighted. Ff.
32—2
500 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
us no harm: you saw they speak us fair, give us gold:
methinks they are such a gentle nation, that, but for the
mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could
find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch..
Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town;
Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. [Exeunt 155
ACT V.
Scene I. A street before a Priory.
Enter Second Merchant and Angelo.
Aug. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you;
But, I protest, he had the chain of me,
Though most dishonestly he doth deny it.
Sec. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city?
Aug. Of very reverent reputation, sir, 5
Of credit infinite, highly beloved,
Second to none that lives here in the city:
His word might bear my wealth at any time.
Sec. Mer. Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse.
Aug. Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, 10
Which he forswore most monstrously to have.
Good sir, draw near to me, 111 speak to him;
Signior Antipholus, I wonder much
150 sato...speak us...give] Fx. saw... Enter Second Merchant...] Dyce.
spake us.. .give F2F3F4. saw.. .spake Enter the Merchant and the Gold-
to us... give Rowe. saw... spake us... smith. Ff.
gave Rowe (ed. 2). see...speak us 3 dot/ijF^ didF2FsF^.
...give Capell. 9 Enter...] Enter Antipholis (Anti-
Scene I. A street...Priory.] Pope. pholus Fx) and Dromio againe. Ff.
See note (ix). 12 to me] with me Hudson (Collier MS.).
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 501
That you would put me to this shame and trouble;
And, not without some scandal to yourself, 15
With circumstance and oaths so to deny
This chain which now you wear so openly:
Beside the charge, the shame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honest friend;
Who, but for staying on our controversy, 20
"Sad hoisted sail and put to sea to-day:
This chain you had of me; can you deny it?
Ant. S. I think I had; I never did deny it.
Sec. Mer. Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too.
Ant. S. Who heard me to deny it or forswear it? 25
Sec. Mer. These ears of mine, thou know'st, did hear
thee.
Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou livest
To walk where any honest men resort.'
Ant. S. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:
I'll prove mine honour and mine honesty 30
Against thee presently, if thou darest stand.
Sec. Mer. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.
{They draw.
Enter Adriana, Luciana, the Courtezan, and others.
Adr. Hold, hurt Mm not, for God's sake! he is mad.
Some get within him, take his sword away:
Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house. 35
Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house!
This is some priory. In, or we are spoil'd!
[Exeunt Ant S. and Dro. S. to the Priory.
18 Beside] Ff. Besides Rowe (ed. 2). 30 mine honesty] F^Fg. my honesty F4.
26 knoiv'st...thee.] Ff. hiowest...thee. 33 Scene ii. Pope.
Pope, hnowest ivell...thee. Hanmer. 33 Gods] Gods F3F4. God¥^F<>.
knoiu>st...thee, sir. Capell. hiouht... 36 Gods] Gods Ff.
thee swear Grant White conj. 37 [Exeunt...] Exeunt to the Priorie. Ff.
502 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
Enter the Lady Abbess.
Abb. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither?
Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.
Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, 40
And bear him home for his recovery.
Aug. I knew he was not in his perfect wits.
Sec. Mer. I am sorry now that I did draw on him.
Abb. How long hath this possession held the man?
Adv. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, 45
And much different from the man he was;
But till this afternoon his passion
Ne'er brake into extremity of rage.
Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea?
Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye 50
Stray'd his affection in unlawful love?
A sin prevailing much in youthful men,
^Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing.
Which of these sorrows is he subject to?
Adv. To none of these, except it be the last; 55
Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.
Abb. You should for that have reprehended him.
Adr. Why, so I did.
Abb. Ay, but not rough enough.
Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me.
Abb. Haply, in private.
Adr. And in assemblies too. 60
Abb. Ay, but not enough.
38 quiet, people.] Theobald, quiet people. was] was before Keightley.
Ff. 49 of sea] Fr at sea F2F3F4.
44 man?] man. Fr 50 Math not else his eye] Hath nought
45 sour, sad] Rowe. sower, sad F2F3F4. else his eye? Anon. conj.
sower sad Fx. 51 his...in] in...and Anon. conj.
46 much] FXF4. much much F2F3. too 61 Ay] Ay, ay Hanmer.
much Hudson (Jervis conj.).
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 503
Adr, It was the copy of our conference:
In bed, he slept not for my urging it;
At board, he fed not for my urging it;
Alone, it was the subject of my theme; 65
In company I often glanced it;
Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
Abb, And thereof came it that the man was mad.
The venom clamours of a jealous woman
Poisons more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. 70
It seems his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing:
And thereof comes it that his head is light.
Thou say st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings:
Unquiet meals make ill digestions;
Thereof the raging fire of fever bred; 75
And what's a fever but a fit of madness?
Thou say'st his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls:
Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair; 80
And at her heels a huge infectious troop
62 copy] topic Gould conj. moody, moping Hanmer. moodie
66 it] at it Pope. moping Heath conj. moody mad-
67 vile] Rowe. wide FjFgFg. mid F4. ness Singer conj. (ed. 1.). moody
68 thereof] therefore Singer. sadness Id. conj. (ed. 2). moody
69 venom]venome~F1F2. venomous F3E4. musing S. Walker conj. only moody
venom!d Pope. Keightley conj.
woman] Pope, woman^i. melancholy] melanc/wlia Anon. conj.
69, 70 clamours...Poisons] clamours... melancholy only Keightley.
Poison Pope. clamour...Poisons 80 Kinsman]kins-womanCapell, ending
Capell. line 79 at kins-. A'hin Hanmer.
71 hinder'd] hindered Singer (ed. 1). Kinsmen Singer conj.
72, 75 thereof] therefore Johnson. Warburton marks this line as spu-
73 Thou say'st] Thy sayest F2. rious. Steevens puts it in a paren-
74 make] Fx. makes F2F3F4. thesis.
77 by] with Pope. 81 her] their Malone (Heath conj.). his
brawls] bralles Fr Collier, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).
79 moody] moodie Yv muddy F2F3F4.
504 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT ^r
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturbed, would mad or man or beast:
The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits 8
Have scared thy husband from the use of wits.
Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly,
When he demean d himself rough, rude, and wildly.
Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not?
Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof. 90
Good people, enter, and lay hold on him.
Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house.
Adr. Then let your servants bring my husband forth.
Abb. Neither: he took this place for sanctuary,
And it shall privilege him from your hands 95
Till I have brought him to his wits again,
Or lose my labour in assaying it.
Adv. I will attend my husband, be his nurse,
Diet his sickness, for it is my office,
And will have no attorney but myself; 100
And therefore let me have him home with me.
Abb. Be patient; for I will not let him stir
Till I have used the approved means I have,
With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy prayers,
To make of him a formal man again: 105
It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,
A charitable duty of my order.
Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.
Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here:
And ill it doth beseem your holiness no
To separate the husband and the wife.
86 Have] F2F3F4. Hath ¥v conj.
of] ofs Collier MS. of his Keightley. wildly] wild Capell.
88 rough, rude] rough-rude S. Walker 89 these] FXF2. those F3F4.
T'ENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 505
Abb. Be quiet, and depart: thou shalt not have him.
[Exit
Luc. Complain unto the Duke of this indignity.
'Adv. Come, go: I will fall prostrate at his feet,
And never rise until my tears and prayers 115
Have won his Grace to come in person hither,
And take perforce my husband from the abbess.
Sec. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five:
Anon, I'm sure, the Duke himself in person
Comes this way to. the melancholy vale, 120
The place of death and sorry execution,
Behind the ditches of the abbey here.
Aug. Upon what cause?
Sec. Mer. To see a reverend Syracusian merchant,
Who put unluckily into this bay 125
A!gainst the laws and statutes of this town,
Beheaded publicly for his offence.
Aug. See where they come: we will behold his death.
Luc. Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey.
Enter Duke, attended; ^Egeon bareheaded; with the Headsman
and other Officers.
Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publicly, 130
If any friend will pay the sum for him,
He shall not die; so much we tender him.
Adr. Justice, most sacred Duke, against the abbess!
Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady:
112 [Exit.] Theobald. Enter.. .bareheaded,...] Enter the
113 indignity] iniquity Collier conj. Duke of Ephesus, and the Merchant
117 [Exeunt. Enter Merchant and of Siracuse bareheaded (bare head
Goldsmith. F2. F^,... Ef.
121 death] E3E4. depth F^. 130 Scene hi. Pope.
sorry] solemn Collier, ed. 2 (Collier attended] Theobald.
MS.), sore or sour Keightley conj. 132 Enter Adriana. F2.
124 reverend] F3F4. reuerent FXF2 134 reverend] Ff.
128 Enter Adriana and Lucio. F2.
506
ACT Vj
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong. 13^
Adv. May it please your Grace, Antipholus my hus-
band,—
Whom I made lord of me and all I had,
At your important letters,—this ill day
A most outrageous fit of madness took him;
That desperately he hurried through the street,— mo
With him his bondman, all as mad as he,—
Doing displeasure to the citizens
By rushing in their houses, bearing thence
Rings, jewels, any thing his rage did like.
Once did I get him bound, and sent him home, 145
Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,
That here and there his fury had committed.
Anon, I wot not by what strong escape,
He broke from those that had the guard of him;
And with his mad attendant and himself, 150
Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords.
Met us again, and, madly bent on us,
Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,
We came again to bind them. Then they fled
Into this abbey, whither we pursued them; 155
And here the abbess shuts the gates on us,
And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence.
Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command
Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help. ieo
137,138 Whom...letters,—this] (Whom
...letters) this Theobald. Who...
Letters thisFr Whom...had, (At...
Letters) this F2F3F4.
148
150
strong] strange Dyce, ed. 2 (Malone
conj.).
with] here Capell. then Hudson
(Ritson conj.).
138 important] Fr impoteant F2
(CapelTs copy), impotent F2 (other
copies) F3F4. all-potent Rowe.
letters] letter F4.
155
158
and himself] mad himself War-
burton.
whither] whether FP
hence] F:F2. thence F3F4.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 507
Duke. Long since thy husband served me in my wars;
And I to thee engaged a prince's word,
When thou didst make him master of thy bed,
To do him all the grace and good I could.
Go, some of you, knock at the abbey-gate, 165
And bid the lady abbess come to me.
I will determine this before I stir.
Enter a Servant.
Serv. 0 mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself!
My master and his man are both broke loose,
Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor, no
Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire;
And ever, as it blazed, they threw on him
Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hah-:
My master preaches patience to him, and the while
His man with scissors nicks him like a fool; 175
And sure, unless you send some present help,
Between them they will kill the conjurer.
Adr. Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here;
And that is false thou dost report to us.
Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; 180
I have not breathed almost since I did see it.
He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you,
To scorch your face and to disfigure you. [Cry within.
Hark, hark! I hear him, mistress: fly, be gone!
Duke. Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with
halberds! 185
168 Scene iv. Pope. and the] the Hanmer. om. Stee-
Enter a Servant.] Capell. Enter vens.
a Messenger. Ff. 175 scissors] Cizers Fx.
Serv.] Capell. Mess. F2F3F4. om. 176 some] Fx. some other F2F3F4.
*V 179 ^F^F,. o/F2.
174 to him] om. Capell. 183 scorch] scotch Warburton.
508 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
Adr. Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you,
That he is borne about invisible:
Even now we housed him in the abbey here;
And now he's there, past thought of human reason.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus.
Ant. E. Justice, most gracious Duke, 0, grant me
justice! 190
Even for the service that long since I did thee,
When I bestrid thee in the wars, and took
Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood
That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.
JEge. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, 195
I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio.
Ant E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman
there!
She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife,
That hath abused and dishonour'd me
Even in the strength and height of injury: 200
Beyond imagination is the wrong
That she this day hath shameless thrown on me.
Duke. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just.
Ant. E. This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon
me,
While she with harlots feasted in my house. 205
Duke. A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so?
Adr. No, my good lord: myself, he and my sister
To-day did dine together. So befal my soul
186 Ay] Ah Capell. (ed. 2). Prose in Ff.
189 Enter...] Enter Antipholus, and E. 199 dishonour'<£] Howe, dishonored ~FV
Dromio of Ephesus. Fr Enter dishonoured F2F3F4.
Antipholis, and E. Dromio of 205 While] Fr Whilst F2F3F4.
Ephesus. F2. Enter E. Antipholis, 208 To-day] om. Hanmer.
and E. Dromio of Ephesus. F3F4. So befal] So fall Capell.
195, 196 Unless...Dromio.] As in Rowe
SCENE I.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 509
As this is false he burthens me withal!
Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, 210
But she tells to your Highness simple truth!
Aug. 0 perjured woman! They are both forsworn:
In this the madman justly chargeth them.
Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say;
Neither disturbed with the effect of wine, 215
Nor heady-rash, provoked with raging ire,
Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.
This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner:
That goldsmith there, were he not pack'd with her,
Could witness it, for he was with me then; 220
Who parted with me to go fetch a chain,
Promising to bring it to the Porpentine,
Where Balthazar and I did dine together.
Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,
I went to seek him: in the street I met him, 225
And in his company that gentleman.
There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down
That I this day of him received the chain,
Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which
He did arrest me with an officer. 230
I did obey; and sent my peasant home
For certain ducats: he with none return d.
Then fairly I bespoke the officer
To go in person with me to my house.
By the way we met my wife, her sister, and a rabble more
Of vile confederates. Along with them 236
209 burthens] burdens Johnson. morel om. Long MS.
212, 213 [To Mer. Capell. 235, 236 Pope ends these lines and...
222 Porpentine] Porcupine Kowe. confederates.
228 of] Fr from F2F3F4. 236 vile] Rowe (ed. 2). vilde F1F2F3.
235 By the way] To which he yielded: vild F4.
by the way Capell, making two Along with them] om. Pope.
verses of 235. See note (x).
510 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain,
A mere anatomy, a mountebank,
A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller,
A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch, 240
A living dead man: this pernicious slave,
Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer;
And, gazing in" mine eyes, feeling my pulse,
And with no face, as 'twere, outfacing me,
Cries out, I was possessed. Then all together 245
They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence,
And in a dark and dankish vault at home
There left me and my man, both bound together;
Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder,
I gain d my freedom, and immediately 250
Ran hither to your Grace; whom I beseech
To give me ample satisfaction
For these deep shames and great indignities.
Aug. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,
That he dined not at home, but was lock'd out. 255
Duke, But had he such a chain of thee or no?
Aug. He had, my lord: and when he ran in here,
These people saw the chain about his neck.
Sec. Mer. Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine
Heard you confess you had the chain of him, 260
After you first forswore it on the mart:
• And thereupon I drew my sword on you;
And then you fled into this abbey here,
From whence, I think, you are come by miracle.
Ant E. I never came within these abbey-walls; 265
Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me:
245 all together] Rowe. altogether Ff. 249 in sunder] Fr asunder F2F3F4.
247 And in] Into Lettsom conj. 251 hither] hether Fr .
248 There] They Dyce, ed. 2 (Collier 264 come] come out Long MS.
MS.).
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 511
I never saw the chain, so help me Heaven 1
And this is false you burthen me withal.
Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this!
I think you all have drunk of Circe's cup. 270
If here you housed him, here he would have been;
If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:
You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here
Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?
Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.
Cour. He did; and from my finger snatch'd that ring.
Ant. E. Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of her.
Duke. Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey here? 278
Cour. As sure, my liege, as I do see your Grace.
Duke. Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.
I think you are all mated, or stark mad. 281
[Exit one to the Abbess.
JEge. Most mighty Duke, vouchsafe me speak a word:
Haply I see a friend will save my life,
And pay the sum that may deliver me.
Duke. Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt. 285
JEge. Is not your name, sir, call'd Antipholus?
And is not that your bondman, Dromio?
Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir,
But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords:
Now am I Dromio, and his man unbound. 290
JEge. I am sure you both of you remember me.
Dro. E. Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you;
For lately we were bound, as you are now.
You are not Pinch's patient, are you, sir?
JEge. Why look you strange on me? you know me well.
Ant. E. I never saw you in my life till now. 296
267, 268 chain,so...Heaven! And] chain. [Exit...] F-^. Enter...F3F4.
So...heaven As Dyce. 287 that] om. Singer (ed. 1).
269 burthen] burden Johnson. 291 you both] Fx. both F2F3F4.
281 mad] made F2.
512 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
AEge. 0, grief hath changed me since you saw me last,
And careful hours with time's deformed hand
Have written strange defeatures in my face:
But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice? 300
Ant E. Neither.
AEge. Dromio, nor thou?
Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I.
AEge. I am sure thou dost.
Dro. E. Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not; and whatso-
ever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him. 305
AEge. Not know my voice! 0 time's extremity,
Hast thou so crack'd and splitted my poor tongue
In seven short years, that here my only son
Knows not my feeble key of untuned cares?
Though now this grained face of mine be hid 310
In sap-consuming winter s drizzled snow,
And all the conduits of my blood froze up,
Yet hath my night of life some memory,
My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left,
My dull deaf ears a little use to hear: 315
All these old witnesses—I cannot err—
Tell me thou art my son Antipholus.
Ant E. I never saw my father in my life.
AEge. But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy,
298 deformed] deforming Capell. cares'] care S. Walker conj. ears
302, 303 Mo. ..dost] One line in Steevens Anon. conj.
(1793). 314 lamps] lamp Eowe (ed. 2)
304 Ay, sir,] Capell. / sir, Ff. /, sir, '316 All] And all Eowe.
Eowe. 1", sir? Pope. om. Hanmer, old/] hold Warburton.
reading as verse. Ay, sir? Malone. witnesses—I cannot err—] witnesses,
304, 305 Printed as verse by Capell: I cannot err, Eowe. witnesses, I
But...whatsoever A.. .him. cannot erre. Ff. witnesses that (or
307 cracked and splitted] cractid my which) cannot err so quoted by Dodd.
voice split Collier MS. 319 Syracusa, boy] Capell. Siracusa
309 of untuned cares] untuned of cares boy Ff. Syracusa bay Eowe. Sy-
Anon. conj. racusats bay Hanmer.
SCENE I.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 513
Thou know'st we parted: but perhaps, my son, 320
Thou shamest to acknowledge me in misery.
Ant. E. The Duke and all that know me in the city
Can witness with me that it is not so;
I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life.
Duke. I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years 325
Have I been patron to Antipholus,
During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa:
I see thy age and dangers make thee dote.
Re-enter Abbess, with Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of
Syracuse.
Abb. Most mighty Duke, behold a man much wrong'd.
[All gather to see them.
Adv. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. 330
Duke. One of these men is Genius to the other;
And so of these. Which is the natural man,
And which the spirit? who deciphers them?
Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio: command him away.
Dro. E. I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay. 335
Ant. S. iEgeon art thou not? or else his ghost?
Dro. S. 0, my old master! who hath bound him here?
Abb. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds,
And gain a husband by his liberty.
Speak, old JEgeon, if thou be'st the man 340
That hadst a wife once call'd ^Emilia,
That bore thee at a burthen two fair sons:
0, if thou be'st the same iEgeon, speak,
And speak unto the same ^Emilia!
327 Syracusa] Syracuse Collier MS. [All...them.] All...him. Warbur-
328 Re-enter...] Dyce. Enter the Ab- ton.
besse with Antipholus Siracusa 332 these. Which] these, which Ff.
(Siracusan F2F4. Syracusan F3), 338 loose] lose Fx.
and Dromio Sir. (Sirac. F2F3F4). Ff. 342 burthen] burden Warburton.
329 Scene vii. Pope.
vol, i. 33
514 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT V.
JEge. If I dream not, thou art ^Emilia: 345
If thou art she, tell me, where is that son
That floated with thee on the fatal raft?
Abb. By men of Epidamnum he and I
And the twin Dromio, all were taken up;
But by and by rude fishermen of Corinth 350
By force took Dromio and my son from them,
And me they left with those of Epidamnum.
What then became of them I cannot tell;
I to this fortune that you see me in.
Duke. Why, here begins his morning story right: 355
These two Antipholuses, these two so like,
And these two Dromios, one in semblance,—
Besides her urging of her wreck at sea,—
These are the parents to these children,
Which accidentally are met together. 360
Antipholus, thou earnest from Corinth first?
Ant. S. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse.
Duke. Stay, stand apart; I know not which is which.
Ant. E. I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord,—
Dro. E. And I with him. 365
346, 347 tell me, where...raft?"] Capell. 358 Besides her urging of her'] Both
tell me, where...rafte. F1F2F3. tell sides emerging from their Hanmer.
me where...raft. F4. Besides his urging of her Mason
355—360 Why...together] Ff insert this conj. Besides his urging of his
speech after 344. The alteration Collier MS. Besides his urging of
is due to Capell. their Cartwright conj. Besides her'
355 his] F^. this F3F4. the Eowe urging of the Hudson (S. Walker
(ed. 2). conj.). Malone supposes a line,
story right] story's light Capell. beginning with These, lost after
356 Antipholuses, these] Antipholus, 358.
these Fx. Antipholis, these F2F3F4. wreck at sea,—] wreck,—all say,
Antipholis's, these Howe (ed. 2). Jackson conj.
Antipholui, these S. "Walker conj. 359 These are] These plainly are Pope.
See note (1). 361 Ff prefix 'Duke.'
357 these] FXF4. those F2F3. first?] Capell. first. Ff.
semblance] semblance prove Capell.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 515
Ant. E. Brought to this town by that most famous
warrior,
Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle.
Adv. Which of you two did dine with me to-day?
Ant. S. I, gentle mistress.
Adv. And are not you my husband?
Ant. E. No; I" say nay to that. 370
Ant. S. And so do I; yet did she call me so:
And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here,
Did call me brother. [To Luciano] What I told you then,
I hope I shall have leisure to make good;
If this be not a dream I see and hear. 375
Ang. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me.
Ant. S. I think it be, sir; I deny it not.
Ant. E. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me.
Ang. I think I did, sir; I deny it not.
Adv. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, 380
By Dromio; but I think he brought it not.
Dro. E. No, none by me.
Ant. S. This purse of ducats I received from you,
And Dromio my man did bring them me.
I see we still did meet each other's man; 385
And I was ta'en for him, and he for me;
And thereupon these errors are arose.
Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here.
Duke. It shall not need; thy father hath his life.
Cour. Sir, I must have that diamond from you. 390
Ant. E. There, take it; and much thanks for my good
cheer.
Abb. Renowned Duke, vouchsafe to take the pains
366 by] with Singer (ed. 1). 383 from] for Capell conj.
372 her sister] Fr om. F2F3F4. 387 are arose] Ff. all arose Rowe. rare
373 [To Luciana] Clark and Glover. arose Staunton, here arose Anon,
[Aside to Luciana Staunton conj. conj.
516 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT. V.
To go with us into the abbey here,
And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes:
And all that are assembled in this place, 395
That by this sympathized one day's error
Have suffer'd wrong, go keep us company,
And we shall make full satisfaction.
Thirty-three years have I but gone in travail
Of you, my sons; and till this present hour 400
My heavy burthen ne'er delivered.
The Duke, my husband, and my children both,
And you the calendars of their nativity,
Go to a gossips' feast, and go with me;
After so long grief, such nativity! 405
Duke. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast.
[Exeunt all but Ant. S., Ant. E., Dro. S., and Dro. E.
Dro. S. Master, shall I fetch your stuff from ship-
board?
Ant. E. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embark'd?
397 wrong, go] Rowe. wrong. Goe, ley conj.
EjFg. wrong. Go, F3. wrong. Go gossips'] Djce. gossips Ff. gossip's
E4. Rowe.
398 we shall make] ye shall liave Pope. and go] E1F3F4. and goe F2. and
399 Thirty-three] Ff. Twenty-fwe Theo- gaude Warburton. and joy Dyce,
bald. Twenty-three Capell. See ed. 2 (Heath conj.). and gout Jack-
note (x). son conj. and see Anon conj. and
but] Yv been F2F3F4. om. Hanmer. come Keightley.
400 and till] nor till Theobald, until 405 such nativity!] suits festivity. Anon.
Malone (Boaden conj.). and at conj.
Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). nativity] Ff. felicity Hanmer. fes-
401 burthen ne'er] Dyce. burthen are tivity Staunton and Dyce, ed. 1
Fx. burthens are F2F3F4. burdens (Johnson conj.), withdrawn.
are Warburton. burden not Capell. 406 [Exeunt...] Exeunt omnes. Manet
burden here Singer (ed. 1). burden the two Dromio's and two Brothers.
has Anon. conj. (ap. Halliwell). Ff.
ne'er delivered^] undelivered Collier 407 Scene viii. Pope,
(ed. 1). fetch] go fetch Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Wal-
404 Go...and go] Hence...along Lett- ker conj.).
som conj. So...all go Clark and ship-board]shipboardforyo^Capell
Glover conj. Come...andgoKeight- conj. ship-board now Keightley.
SCENE I. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 517
Dro. S. Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur.
Ant. S. He speaks to me. I am your master, Dromio : 410
Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon:
Embrace thy brother there; rejoice with him.
[Exeunt Ant S. and Ant. E.
Dro. S. There is a fat friend at your masters house,
That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner:
She now shall be my sister, not my wife. 415
Dro. E. Methinks you are my glass, and not my
brother:
I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.
Will you walk in to see their gossiping?
Dro. S. Not I, sir; you are my elder.
Dro. E. That's a question: how shall we try it? 420
Dro. S. We'll draw cuts for the senior: till then lead
thou first.
Dro. E. Nay, then, thus:
We came into the world like brother and brother;
And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.
[Exeunt.
412 [Exeunt...] Exit. Ff. 419—421 at question...draw...first
420 we try it?] we trie it Fx. / try it. senior] Rowe (ed. 2). SigniorY-^Y^.
F2F3F4. we try it, brother? Capell. signiority F3F4.
421 We'll] We will Capell, ending lines 422 [embracing. Rowe.
NOTES.
jSTote I.
In the spelling of the name of 'Solinus' we have followed the first
Folio. In the subsequent Folios it was altered, most probably by an
accident in F2 to 'Salinus.' The name occurs only once in the copies, and
that in the first line of the text. The name which we have given as
'Antipholus' is spelt indifferently thus, and 'Antipholis' in the Folios. It
will hardly be doubted that the lines in the rhyming passage, in. 2. 2, 4,
where the Folios read 'Antipholus,' are correctly amended by Capell, and
prove that 'Antipholus' is the spelling of Shakespeare. Either word is
evidently corrupted from 'Antiphilus.' These names are merely arbitrary,
but the surnames, 'Erotes' and 'Sereptus,' are most probably errors for
'Errans,' or 'Erraticus' and 'Surreptus,' of which the latter is plainly
derived from Plautus' Mencechmus Surreptus, a well-known character in
Shakespeare's day: see Brian Melbancke's Philotimus (1582), p. 160:
4Thou art like Menechmus Subreptus his wife...whose "husband shall not
neede to be justice of peace" for she "will have a charter to make her
justice of coram."' See Merry Wives, I. 1. 4, 5. In spelling 'Syracusian'
instead of 'Syracusan' we follow the practice of the Folios in an indifferent
matter. 'Epidamnum' not 'Epidamium' is found in the English transla-
tion of the Mencechmi, 1595, so the latter form in Ft is probably a printer's
Note II.
i. 2. 1. That the scene is laid at the Mart appears from Antipholus's
allusion to this place in n. 2. 5, 6:
'I could not speak with Dromio since at first
I sent him from the mart.'
As the play is derived from a classical prototype, Capell lias supposed no
NOTES. 519
change of scene, but lays the whole action in caPublick Place;' evidently
with much inconvenience to the Persons.
Note III.
ii. 1. 30. Johnson's ingenious conjecture may have been suggested to
him by a passage in As you like it, iv. 3. 18:
'Her love is not the hare that I do hunt.'
But the received reading of the Folios is perhaps confirmed by a line in the
present play, in. 2. 7:
'Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth.'
Note IY.
ii. 1. 110 sqq. The only correction of this passage which we believe
to be quite free from doubt is that in line 112, 'Wear' for 'Where.'
Accordingly, with this exception, we have retained the precise words of
the first Folio.
Note Y.
ii. 2. 99. Capell gives 'here' as the reading of the first Folio, but in
his own copy and others which I have consulted there are traces of an im-
perfect 't' at the beginning of the word. [W. A. W.]
Note YI.
iv. 2. 38. Grey's conjecture of 'lanes' for 'lands' is made somewhat
more probable by the existence of copies of Fx in which the word appears
flans.' A corrector would naturally change this rather to 'lands' than to
'lanes,' because of the rhyme.
Note YII.
iv. 2. 46. The first three Folios have 'send him Mistris redemption,'
the fourth has 'send him Mistris Redemption,' and Howe, by his
punctuation and capital B,, made Dromio call Luciana 'E-edemption.' Pope
and Theobald seem to have followed him, though they give the small r.
The Folios cannot be made chargeable with this error, for the comma
does not regularly follow vocatives in these editions where we expect it.
There is no comma, for instance, following the word 'Mistress' in iv. 3. 75
or in iv. 4. 39.
520 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Note VIII.
iv. 4. 29. The word 'ears' might probably be better printed ''ears' for
'years;' for a pun—hitherto, however, unnoticed—seems to be indicated by
the following words. A very farfetched explanation has been offered by
Steevens, and accepted by Delius and, we believe, by all the modern
editors, namely, that Antipholus has wrung Dromio's ears so often that
they bave attained a length like an ass's.
Note IX.
v. 1. Shakespeare uses the words 'Priory' and 'Abbey' as synonymous.
Compare v. 1. 37 and v. 1. 122.
Note X.
v. 1. 235. It might possibly be better to print this line as two lines,
the first being broken, as Steevens (1793) does:
'By the way we met
My wife...'
But the place is probably corrupt.
Keightley proposes -7
'By the way we met as we were going along
My wife...'
Note XI.
v. 1. 399. The number Thirty-three has been altered by editors to
bring the figures into harmony with other periods named in the play.
From i. 1. 126, 133 the age of Antipholus has been computed at twenty-
three; from I. 1. 126 and v. 1. 308 we derive twenty-five. The Duke says
he has been patron to Antipholus for twenty years, v. 1. 325; but three
or five seems too small an age to assign for the commencement of this
patronage. Antipholus saved the Duke's life in the wars 'long since,' v. 1.
161, 191. His 'long experience' of his wife's 'wisdom' and her 'years' are
mentioned, in. 1. 89, 90. But Shakespeare probably did not compute the
result of his own figures with any great care or accuracy.
Cambridge: printed by c. j. clay, m.a. and sons, at the university press.
< l-
4 1^y
/-
V- ~ ^ -
^^<~g* t"
^ -
-\
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
DATE DUE


f EEM /,
APR 2 3 1991


APR 2 » 1995
P10 1996
&
'^ J-- v5<^-.
- -c -*"v
^
■^
*?¥& .
-r-"
<^"^'. > ~^S?
-;3 ^\ i*^ '^C^v ""- ^ '* -"" :^ »~' ^ j" V^"" '-^r" ^- ; <rro*' --^
; ^ .;>:
"-<■*&. -
•^ -
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 01227 3937
- i \-t s
\r x* J
J- '-,
%i/icluu\
:>"\i^J'ixJ
DO NOT REMOVE
OR
MUTILATE CARD
5?_
jr-"?--^