Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

for the stone i'th' mine

I'd not have shew'd it.

A mine of stone, or marble, would not per haps at present be esteemed an accurate expression, but it may still have been used by Shakspeare, as it has been used by Holinshed. Descript. of Engl. c. ix. p. 235: «Now if you have regard to their or nature, how many mines of sundrie kinds of coarse and fine marble are there to be had in England?"

And a little lower he uses the same word again for a quarry of stone, or plaister: „And such is the mine of it, that the stones thereof lie in flakes, etc. TYRWHITT.

To change an accurate expression for an expres. sion confessedly not accurate, has somewhat of retrogradation. JOHNSON.

P. 194, first 1. Would I were dead, but that, methinks, already -]

The sentence compleated is,

but that, methinks, already I converse
with the dead.

But there his passion made him break off.
WARBURTON.

P. 194 1.8. The fixture of her eye has motion in't,] The meaning is, though her eye be fixed, [as the eye of a statue always is,] yet it seems to have motion in it: that tremulous motion, which is perceptible in the eye of a living person, how much soever one endeavour to fix it. EDWARDS.

P. 194, 1. 9. As we are mock'd with art.] As is used by our author here, as in some other places, for as if." MALONE.

[ocr errors]

Mr. M. Mason and Mr. Malone, very properly observe that as, in this instance is used, as in some other places, for as if. The former of these gen

tlemen would read were instead of are, but unnecessarily, I think, considering the loose grammar With, however, has the

of Shakspear's age. force of by.

A passage parallel to that before us, occurs in Antony and Cleopatra – „And mock our eyes with air." STEEVENS.

P. 196, 1. 10.

And from your sacred vials pour your graces

Upon etc.] The expression seems to have been taken from the sacred writings: ..And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the angels, go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath' of God upon the earth." Rev. xvi. 1. MALONE. P. 196, 1. 20—2′′. —— Go together,

You precious winners all; etc. etc.] You who by this discovery have gained what you desired, may join in festivity, in which I, who have lost what never can be recovered, can have no part. JOHNSON.

P. 196, 1. 21. 22.

[ocr errors]

your exultation

Partake to every one.] Partake here means participate. It is used in the same sense in the old play of Pericles, Prince of Tyre. MALONE. It is also thus employed by Spenser:

..My friend, hight Philemon, I did partake
Of all my love, and all my privity."

P. 196, two last 1.

Come, Camillo,

STEEVENS.

And take her by the hand; whose worth, etc.] The word whose, evidently refers to Camillo, shough Paulina is the immediate antecedent.

M. MASON.

348 NOTES TO THE WINTER'S TALE.

This play, as Dr. Warbuton justly observes, is, with all its absurdities, very entertaining. The character of Autolycus is naturally conceived, and strongly represented. JOHNSON.

END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME.

« PredošláPokračovať »