A trim exploit, a manly enterprize, Whom I do love, and will do to my death. Hel. Never did mockers wafte more idle breath. 9 My heart with her but, as gueft-wise, fojourn'd; Lyf. Helen, it is not fo. Dem. Difparage not the faith thou doft not know, A trim exploit, a manly enterprize, &c.] This is written much in the manner and spirit of Juno's reproach to Venus in the 4th book of the Aucid: 7 "Egregiam vero laudem et fpolia ampla refertis, "Tuque puerque tuus; magnum et memorabile nomen, "Una dolo divûm fi fœmina victa duorum eft." STEEVENS. -none, of nobler fort,] The folio reads, nobie fort. Sort is here ufed for degree or quality. See vol. ii. p. 261. MALONE. 3 Extort a poor foul's patience,] Harrafs, torment. JOHNSON. 9 My heart to her.] We fhould read : So, Prior: My heart with her but as gueft-wife fojourn'd. "No matter what beauties I faw in my way, "They were but my vifits, but thou art my home." JOHNSON. So, in our author's 109th Sonnet : 玄 "This is my home of love; if I have rang'd, "Like him that travels, I return again." MALONE. Left to thy peril, thou aby it dear.] The folio has abide. 2. MALONE. Enter Enter Hermia. Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, The ear more quick of apprehenfion makes; Lyf. Why should he stay, whom love doth prefs to go? Her. What love could prefs Lyfander from my fide? Lyf. Lyfander's love, that would not let him bide, Fair Helena; who more engilds the night Than all yon fiery o's' and eyes of light. Her. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. Is all the counsel that we two have fhar'd, 2 thy found.] Fo.-that found. MALONE. 3 - all yon fiery O's] Shakspeare ufes O for a circle. So, in the prologue to Henry V. 66 can we crowd "Within this little O, the very cafques "That did affright the air at Agincourt ?" Again, in the Partheneia Sacra, 1633: "the purple canopy of the earth, powder'd over and befet with filver o'es, or rather an azure vault, &c." STEEVENS. D'Ewes's Journal of Queen Elizabeth's Parliaments, p. 650, mentions a patent to make fpangles and ces of gold; and I think haberdashers call fmall curtain rings, O's, as being circular. TOLLET. + -in spite of me.] I read, in fpite to me. JOHNSON. The fifters' vows, the hours that we have spent, All fchool-day friendship, childhood innocence? Two lovely berries molded on one stem: 5-artificial gods,] Artificial is ingenious, artful. STEEVENS. 6 Have with our needles, c.] It was probably written by Shakspeare ncelds, (a common contraction in the inland counties at this day) otherwise the verse will be inharmonious. See Gammer Gurton's Needle. Again, in fir Arthur Gorges' tranflation of Lucan, 1614: "Thus Cato fpake, whofe feeling words "Like pricking neelds, or points of fwords, &c." Again, in Pericles Prince of Tyre, 1609: "Deep clerks the dumbs, and with her neele compofes "Nature's own shape." Again, in Stanyhurst's Virgil, 1582: "-on neeld-wrought carpets." The fame ideas occur in Pericles Prince of Tyre, 1609: "Would ever with Marina be: "Be't when they weav'd the fleded filk, "With fingers long, fmall, white as milk, "Or when the would with fharp neeld wound In the age of Shakspeare many contractions were used. Ben Jonfon has wher for whether in the prologue to his Sad Shepherd; and in the earl of Sterline's Darius is fport for fupport, and twards for towards. STEEVENS. 7 Two of the firft life, coats in heraldry, Due but to one, and crowned with one creft:] The true correction of this paffage 1 owe to the friendship and communication of the ingenious Martin Folkes, efq.-Two of the firft, fecond, &c. are terms peculiar in heraldry, to distinguish the different quarterings of coats. THEOBALD. Due Due but to one, and crowned with one creft. Our fex, as well as I, may chide you for it; Her. I am amazed at your paffionate words (Who even but now did fpurn me with his foot) Her. I understand not what you mean by this. But, Ay, do perfever,-] Perfever is the reading of all the old copies. The word was formerly fo pronounced. Thus our author in All's Well that End's Well, act iv. sc. 2: 44 fay thou art mine, and ever So, in Glapthorne's Argalus and Parthenia, 1639: "May they in love and union ftill perfever." STEEVENS. G3 JOHNSON. But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault; Her. Sweet, do not.fcorn her fo. De. If the cannot entreat, I can compel. Lyf. Thou canst compel no more than fhe entreat;, Thy. threats have no more ftrength, than her weak prayers'. Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do; I fwear by that which I will lofe for thee, Her. Lyfander, whereto tends all this? Dem. No, no, fir, he'll Seem to break loofe; take on, as you would follow; Or I will shake thee from me, like a ferpent. Sweet love? Lyf. Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out; Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence! Her. Do you not jeft? So, in the first part of King Henry IV. act ii. fc. 2. "it would be argument for a week, &c. STEEVENS, -than her weak prayers.] The old copies read: than her weak praife. STEEVENS." A modern editor very plaufibly reads-than her weak prays. The ufing the verb as a fubftantive is much in our author's manner; and the tranfcriber's ear might have deceived him here as in many other places. MALONE. Hel. |