The subsequent words a very trick for them to play at will," appear strongly to confirm Mr. Heath's explanation. MALONE.

P. 113, 1. 34. 35.

for calumny will sear Virtue itself:] That is, will stigmatize or brand as infimons. HENLEY.

P. 114, 1. 17. A federary (perhaps a word of our author's coinage) is a confederate, an accomplice. STEEVENS.

We should certainly read - a feodary with her. There is no such word as federary. See Cymbeline, Act III. sc. ii. MALONE.

P. 114, l. 17-19.

and one that knows What she should shame to know herself, But with her most vile principal, ] One that knows what we should be ashamed of, even if the knowledge of it rested only in her own breast and that of her paramour, without the participation of any confidant. But, which is here used for only renders this passage somewhat obscure. MALONE. if I mistake

P. 114, 1. 29-32.

In those foundations which I build upon,
The center is not big enough to bear

A schoolboy's top.-] That is, if the proofs which I can offer will not support the opinion I have formed, no foundation can be trusted.

JOHNSON. P. 114, 1. 33. Far off guilty, signifies, guilty in

a remote degree. JOHNSON.

P. 114, last 1. and P. 115, first 1.

till the hea

vens look

With an aspect more favourable.] An astrological phrase. The aspect of stars was anciently a familiar term, and continued to be such till the age in which Milton tells us

the swart star sparely looks." Lycidas V. 138. STEEVENS. P. 115, L. 17. this action, I now go on,] The word action is here taken in the lawyer's sense, for indictment, charge, or accusation.

JOHNSON.

We cannot say that a person goes on an indictment, charge, or accusation. I believe, Hermione only means, ..What I am now about to do."

M. MASON.

P. 115, 1. 34. 35. I'll keep my stables where

I lodge my wife;] Stable-stand (stabilis statio, as Spelman interprets it) is a term of the forest-laws, and signifies a place where a deer-stealer fixes his stand under some convenient cover, and keeps watch for the purpose of killing deer as they pass by. From the place it came to be applied also to the person, and any man taken in a forest in that situation, with a gun or bow in his hand, was presumed to be an offender, and had the name of a stable-stand. In all former editions this hath been printed stable; and it may perhaps be objected, that another syllable added spoils the smoothness of the verse. But by pronouncing stable short, the measure will very well bear it, according to the liberty allowed in this kind of writing, and which Shak speare never scruples to use; therefore I read, stable stand. HANMER.

There is no need of Sir T. Hanmer's addition to the text. STEEVENS,

If Hermione prove unfaithful, I'll never trust my wife out of my sight; I'll always go in couples with her; and, in that respect, my house shall resemble a stable, where dogs are kept in pairs. Though a kennel is a place where a pack of hounds is kept, every one, I suppose, as well as our author, has

Occasionally seen dogs tied up in couples under the manger of a stable. A dog-couple is a term at this day. In the Teutonick language, hund-stall, or dog. stable, is the term for a kennel. Stables or stable, however may mean station, stabilis statio, and two distinct propositions may be intended. I'll keep my station in the same place where my wife is lodged; I'll run every where with her, like dogs that are coupled together. MALONE.

P. 116, L. 7. and by some putter-on,] i. e. one who instigates. STEEVENS.

P. 116, 1. 9. I would land-damn him:] Sir T. Hanmer interprets, stop his urine, Land or lant being the old word for urine.

Land-damn is probably one of those words which caprice brought into fashion, and which, after a short time, reason and grammar drove irrecoverably away. It perhaps meant no more than I will rid the country of him, condemn him to quit the land. JOHNSON.

Land-damn him, if such a reading can be admitted, may mean, he would procure sentence to be past on him in this world, on this earth.

Antigonus could no way make good the threat of stopping his urine. Besides, it appears too ridiculous a punishment for so atrocious a criminal. Yet it must be confessed, that what Sir T. Hanmer has said concerning the word lant, is true.

I am persuaded that this is a corruption, and that either the printer caught the word damn from the preceding line, or the transcriber was deceived by similitude of sounds. What the poet's word was, cannot now be ascertained; but the sentiment was probably similar to that in Othello:

O heaven, that such companions thoud'st

unfold," etc.

I believe, we should read

land-dam; i. e. kill

him; bury him in earth. MALONE.

After all these aukward struggles to obtain a meaning, we might, I think, not unsafely, read— I'd laudanum him,"

I owe

i. e. poison him with laudanum. The word is much more ancient than the time of Shakspeare. this remark to Dr. Farmer. STEEVENS.

P. 116, 1. 11. The second, and the third, nine,

and some five;] The second folio reads. - sonnes five. REED.

This line appears obscure, because the word nine seems to refer to both the second and the third." But it is sufficiently clear, referendo singula sin gulis. The second is of the age of nine, and the third is some five years old.

The editor of the second folio reads -sons five; startled probably by the difficulty that arises from the subsequent lines, the operation that Antigonus threatens to perform on his children, not being commonly applicable to females. But for this, let our author answer. Bulwer in his Artificial Chan geling, 1656, shows it may be done. Shakspeare undoubtedly wrote some; for were we, with the ignorant editor above-mentioned, to read -sons five, then the second and third daughter would both be of the same age; which, as we are not told that they are twins, is not very reasonable to suppose. Besi des; daughters are by the law of England co-heirs, but sons never. MALONE.

P. 116, 1. 15. For glib I think we should read lib, which, in the northern language, is the same with geld. GREY.

P. 116, 1. 21. Some stage direction seems necessary in this place; but what that direction should be, it is not easy to decide. Sir T. Hanmer gives - Laying

hold of his arm; Dr. Johnson striking his

brows. STEEVENS.

As a stage direction is certainly requisite, and as there is none in the old copy, I will venture to propose a different one from any hitherto mentioned. Leontes, perhaps, touches the forehead of Antigonus with his fore and middle fingers forked in imitation of a SNAIL'S HORNS; for these, or imaginary horns of his own like them, are the instruments that feel, to which he alluded. There is a similar reference in The Merry Wives of Windsor, from whence the direction of striking his brows seems to have been adopted: he so

takes on, so curses all Eve's daughters, and so buffets himself on the forehead, crying, Peer out, The word lunes, it should be noted, occurs in the context of both passages, and in the same sense. HENLEY.

peer out!"

I see and feel my disgrace, as you, Antigonus, now feel me, on my doing thus to you, and as you now see the instruments that feel, i. e. my fingers, Leontes must here be supposed to lay hold of either the beard or arm, or some other part, of Antigonus. See a subsequent note in the last scene of this act. MALONE.

P. 117, 1. 13. Approbation, in this place, is put for proof. JOHNSON.

P. 117, 1. 21. Of stuff'd sufficiency:] That is, of abilities more than enough. JOHNSON.

P. 117, 1. 31. 32. Lest that the treachery of the two, fled hence,

Be left her to perform.] He has before declared, that there is a plot against his life and crown, and that Hermione is federary with Polixenes and Camille. JOHNSON.