We need no more of your advice: the matter, Ant. And I wish, my liege, You had only in your silent judgment tried it, Leon. How could that be? Either thou art most ignorant by age, Or thou wert born a fool. Camillo's flight, (Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture, Made up to the deed) doth push on this proceeding: (For, in an act of this importance, 'twere Most piteous to be wild) I have despatch'd in post, 1 Lord. Well done, my lord. Leon. Though I am satisfied, and need no more Give rest to the minds of others; such as he, Relish as truth,] The old copy reads-a truth. Mr. Rowe made the necessary correction-as. Steevens. Our author is frequently inaccurate in the construction of his sentences, and the conclusion of them do not always correspond with the beginning. So before; in this play: who,-if I "Had servants true about me, they would do that," &c. The late editions read-as truth, which is certainly more grammatical; but a wish to reduce our author's phraseology to the modern standard, has been the source of much error in the regulation of his text. Malone. 1 nought for approbation, 2 But only seeing,] Approbation, in this place, is put for proof. •stuff'd sufficiency:] That is, of abilities more than enough. Johnson Johnson. Come up to the truth: So have we thought it good, Ant. [aside] To laughter, as I take it, SCENE II. The same. The outer Room of a Prison. Enter PAULINA and Attendants. [Exeunt. Paul. The keeper of the prison,—call to him; [Exit an Attend. Let him have knowledge who I am.-Good lady! No court in Europe is too good for thee, What dost thou then in prison?-Now, good sir, Re-enter Attendant, with the Keeper. Keep. I may not, madam; to the contrary I have express commandment. Paul. Here's ado, To lock up honesty and honour from The access of gentle visitors!Is it lawful, Keep. So please you, madam, to put [Exit Keep. I must be present at your conference. Paul. Well, be it so, pr'ythee. 3 Lest that the treachery of the two, &c.] He has before declared, that there is a plot against his life and crown, and that Hermione is federary with Polixenes and Camillo. Johnson. Here's such ado to make no stain a stain, Re-enter Keeper, with EMILIA. Emil. A daughter; and a goodly babe, I am innocent as you. Paul. I dare be sworn: These dangerous unsafe lunes o' the king! beshrew them! He must be told on 't, and he shall: the office The trumpet any more:-) Persuades, when speaking fails. Emil. Most worthy madam, Your honour, and your goodness, is so evident, That your free undertaking cannot miss 4 These dangerous unsafe lunes o' the king!] I have no where, but in our author, observed this word adopted in our tongue, to signify frenzy, lunacy. But it is a mode of expression with the French.-Il y a de la lune: (i. e. he has got the moon in his head; he is frantick.) Cotgrave. "Lune, folie. Les femmes ont des lunes dans la tete. Richelet." Theobald. A similar expression occurs in The Revenger's Tragedy, 1608: "I know 'twas but some peevish moon in him." Again, in As you Like it, Act III, sc. ii: "At which time would I, being but a moonish youth," &c. Steevens. The old copy hasmade by Mr. Steevens. the king. This slight correction was Malone. A thriving issue; there is no lady living, Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer; Paul. Tell her, Emilia, I'll use that tongue I have: if wit flow from it, Emil. Now be you blest for it! I'll to the queen: Please you, come something nearer. Keep. Madam, if 't please the queen to send the babe, I know not what I shall incur, to pass it, Having no warrant. Paul. Do not you fear: upon Mine honour, I will stand 'twixt you and danger. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter LEONTES, ANTIGONUS, Lords, and other Leon. Nor night, nor day, no rest: It is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness, if The cause were not in being;-part o' the cause, She, the adultress;-for the harlot king Is quite beyond mine arm, out of the blank And level of my brain,5 plot-proof: but she 5 out of the blank And level of my brain,] Beyond the aim of any attempt that I can make against him. Blank and level are terms of archery. Johnson. I can hook to me: Say, that she were gone, 1 Atten. Leon. How does the boy? 1 Atten. -Who's there? My lord? [Advancing. He took good rest to-night; 'Tis hop'd, his sickness is discharg'd. Leon. His nobleness! To see, Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, The very thought of my revenges that way Laugh at me; make their pastime at my sorrow: 1 Lord. Enter PAULINA, with a Child. You must not enter. Blank and level, mean mark and aim; but they are terms of gunnery, not of archery. Douce. So, in King Henry VIII: 6 "Of a full-charg'd conspiracy." Ritson. Leave me solely:] That is, leave me alone. M. Mason. 7 The very thought of my revenges that way Recoil upon me in himself too mighty; And in his parties, his alliance,] So, in Dorastus and Fawnia: "Pandosto, although he felt that revenge was a spur to warre, and that envy always proffereth steele, yet he saw Egisthus was not only of great puissance and prowesse to withstand him, but also had many kings of his alliance to ayd him, if need should serve; for he married the Emperor of Russia's daughter." Our author, it is observable, whether from forgetfulness or design, has made this lady the wife (not of Egisthus, the Polixenes of this play, but) of Leontes. Malone. |