8 That, to the observer', doth thy history 7 There is a kind of character in thy life, That, to the observer, &c.] Either this introduction has more solemnity than meaning, or it has a meaning which I cannot discover. What is there peculiar in this, that a man's life informs the observer of his history? Might it be supposed that Shakspeare wrote this? If this "There is a kind of character in thy look." History may be taken in a more diffuse and licentious meaning, for future occurrences, or the part of life yet to come. sense be received, the passage is clear and proper. JOHNSON. Shakspeare must, I believe, be answerable for the unnecessary pomp of this introduction. He has the same thought in Henry IV. Part II. which affords some comment on this passage before us: There is a history in all men's lives, 66 "Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd: "The which observ'd, a man may prophecy "With a near aim, of the main chance of things "As yet not come to life," &c. STEEVENS. On considering this passage, I am induced to think that the words character and history have been misplaced, and that it was originally written thus : "There is a kind of history in thy life, "That to the observer doth thy character This transposition seems to be justified by the passage quoted by Steevens from The Second Part of Henry IV. M. MASON. 8 - thy belongings-] i. e. endowments. MALONE. 9 Are not thine own so proper,] i. e. are not so much thy own property. STEEVENS. I-THEM on thee.] The old copy reads-they on thee. Corrected by Sir Thomas Hanmer. MALONE. 2 for if our virtues, &c.] Paulum sepultæ distat inertiæ Celata virtus. Hor. THEobald. Again, in Massin ger's Maid of Honour : 66 STEEVENS. And, when we move not forward, we go backward.” Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine issues 3: nor nature never lends * Both thanks and use 5. But I do bend my speech Thus, in the Latin adage-" Non progredi est regredi." STEEVENS. 6 3 to fine issues:] To great consequences; for high purposes. JOHNSON. + — NOR nature NEVER lends-] Two negatives, not employed to make an affirmative, are common in our author. So, in Julius Cæsar : 66 There is no harm intended to your person, "Nor to no Roman else." STEEVENS. 5- she DETERMINES HERSELF the glory of a creditor, Both thanks and USE.] i. e. She (Nature) requires and allots to herself the same advantages that creditors usually enjoy,thanks for the endowments she has bestowed, and extraordinary exertions in those whom she hath thus favoured, by way of interest for what she has lent. Use, in the phraseology of our author's age, signified interest of money. MALONE. 6 I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise ;] This is obscure. The meaning is, I direct my speech to one who is able to teach me how to govern; my part in him, signifying my office, which I have delegated to him. My part in him advertise; i. e. who knows what appertains to the character of a deputy or viceroy. Can advertise my part in him; that is, his representation of my person. But all these quaintnesses of expression the Oxford editor seems sworn to extirpate; that is, to take away one of Shakspeare's characteristic marks; which, if not one of the comeliest, is yet one of the strongest. So he alters this to 66 To one that can, in my part me advértise." I know not whether we may not better read- Hold therefore, Angelo'; In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, ANG. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, Before so noble and so great a figure Be stamp'd upon it. One that can inform himself of that which it would be otherwise my part to tell him. JOHNSON. To advertise is used in this sense, and with Shakspeare's accentuation, by Chapman, in his version of the eleventh book of the Odyssey: "Or, of my father, if thy royal ear "Hath been advértis'd -." STEEVENS. I believe, the meaning is-I am talking to one who is himself already sufficiently conversant with the nature and duties of my office;-of that office, which I have now delegated to him. So, in Timon of Athens : "It is our part, and promise to the Athenians, "To speak with Timon." MALONE. 7 Hold therefore, Angelo;] That is, continue to be Angelo; hold as thou art. JOHNSON. I believe that" Hold therefore, Angelo," are the words which the Duke utters on tendering his commission to him. He concludes with " Take thy commission." STEEVENS. If a full point be put after therefore, the Duke may be understood to speak of himself. Hold therefore, i. e. Let me therefore hold, or stop. And the sense of the whole passage may be this.The Duke, who has begun an exhortation to Angelo, checks himself thus: But I am speaking to one, that can in him [in or by himself] apprehend my part [all that I have to say]: I will therefore say no more [on that subject]." He then merely signifies to Angelo his appointment. TYRWHItt. 8 Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart.] That is, "I delegate to thy tongue the power of pronouncing sentence of death, and to thy heart the privilege of exercising mercy." These are words of great import, and ought to be made clear, as on them depends the chief incident of the play. Douce. 9 - first in question,] That is, first called for; first appointed. JOHNSON. DUKE. No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice1 Of your commissions. ANG. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way 2. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do ; 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 their eyes*: We have with a LEAVEN'D and prepared choice-] Leaven'd choice is one of Shakspeare's harsh metaphors. His train of ideas seems to be this: I have proceeded to you with choice mature, concocted, fermented, leavened. When bread is leavened it is left to ferment: a leavened choice is, therefore, a choice not hasty, but considerate; not declared as soon as it fell into the imagination, but suffered to work long in the mind. Thus explained, it suits better with prepared than levelled [Pope's reading]. JOHNSON. 2bring you something on the way.] i. e. accompany you. So, in A Woman Kill'd with Kindness, by Heywood, 1617: "She went very lovingly to bring him on his way to horse." And the same mode of expression is to be found in almost every writer of the times. REED. 3 — your SCOPE is as mine own ;] That is, your amplitude of power. JOHNSON. -to STAGE me to their eyes:] So, in one of Queen Elizabeth's speeches to parliament, 1586: "We princes, I tel you, are set on stages, in the sight and viewe of all the world," &c. See The Copy of a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earle of Leycester, &c. 4to. 1586. STEEVENS. Though it do well, I do not relish well DUKE. I thank you: Fare you well. Exit. 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 I am not yet instructed. ANG. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw to gether, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. ESCAL. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Street. Enter LUCIO 5 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. 1 GENT. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's! 2 GENT. Amen. LUCIO. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious 5 Lucio.] This name may have been suggested by Turberville's Tragical Tales, p. 103, where we find: "One Luzio a roysting roague." MALONE. |