the changes proposed are comparatively simple and plausible, while others are of the wildest and most preposterous sort. The general meaning of the passage is obvious from the preceding statement, of which it is evidently a figurative repetition. The idea is that of a little leaven of evil leavening the whole lump of "noble substance ;" and it seems probable that "evil," or some word of the same sense ("ill," "vile," " "base," etc., have been suggested) is disguised in eale. It is a significant fact that, in ii. 2. 586 below, the 2d quarto has "deale" for devil. D. says that eale itself is used in the western counties of England in the sense of "reproach;" and "eale, to reproach," is given in Halliwell and Wright's Archaic Dict. as a Devonshire word. Of a doubt has been changed to "often dout" (=do out, efface), "ever dout," ""oft corrupt," etc. These

are samples of the better sort of emendations; for such absurdities as 'dram of ale," "dram of eel," "bran of meal," "often daub," "overclout," etc., we must refer the reader to F.

38. His. Its; as in 26 above.

40. A spirit of health. "A healed or saved spirit" (Wr.).

42. Intents. The folio has "events," which some critics defend. 43. Questionable. "Inviting question" (Theo.). Cf. unquestionable= averse to conversation, in A. Y. L. iii. 2. 393. S. uses the word only here. 45. Roya! Dane. We follow F. in adopting the punctuation proposed anonymously in a London journal in 1761. The modern eds. generally, with the folio, join Royal Dane to Father, but the climax naturally ends with the latter word. F. says: "Mr. Edwin Booth has informed me that his father always spoke the line thus, and that he himself has always so spoken it."

47. Canoniz'd. The regular accent in S. Cf. K. John, iii. 1. 177, iii. 4. 52, T. and C. ii. 2. 202, etc.

Hearsed. Coffined. Cf. M. of V. iii. 1. 93: “Would she were hearsed at my foot."

49. Inurn'd. The quartos have "interr'd."

52. Complete. Accented by S. on either syllable, as suits the measure. Schmidt says that "cómplete always precedes a noun accented on the first syllable, compléte is always in the predicate." Cf. M. for M. i. 3. 3, L. L. L. i. I. 137, Rich. III. iv. 4. 189, etc., with T. G. of V. ii. 4. 73, K. John, ii. 1. 433, Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 49, etc.

53. Glimpses. That is, glimmering through the clouds or through the openings among the battlements (Hunter).

54. We. See Gr. 216.

Fools of nature. Of whom nature makes fools. Cf. R. and J. iii. 1. 141: "O I am fortune's fool!" See also Lear, iv. 6. 195, Macb. ii. 1. 44, etc.

55. Disposition. Constitution, nature. See Mach. p. 220.

56. Reaches. "The plural is here used as in i. 1. 173" (Wr.).

57. Why. For the use of the word, see Gr. 75.

59. Impartment. Communication; used by S. nowhere else.

61. Waves. The folio has "wafts," which S. uses in the same sense. Cf. C. of E. ii. 2. 111: "who wafts us yonder ?"

II, T. of A. i. 1. 70, etc.

See also M. of V. v. I.

Removed. Remote. See A. Y. L. p. 177.

64. Should. See Gr. 328.

73. Deprive. Take away; as in R. of L. 1186 and 1752 (Schmidt). Your sovereignty of reason. The sovereignty of your reason, the com

mand of your reason.

Gr. 423.

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75. Toys. Freaks. Cf. R. and J. iv. 1. 119: no inconstant toy," etc. Lines 75-78 are omitted in the folio.

83. The Nemean lion's. We have this mythic beast again in L. L. L. iv. I. 90, where Nemean is accented as here.

Nerve. Sinew; the only meaning that Schmidt recognizes. Cf. Sonn. 120. 4, Temp. i. 2. 484, Macb. iii. 4. 102, etc.

85. Lets. Hinders. Cf. T. N. v. 1. 256: "If nothing lets to make us happy," etc. So the noun hindrance, as in Hen. V. v. 2. 65, etc.

89. Have after. Let's after him! Cf. have with you I'll go with you; as in A. Y. L. i. 2. 268, Oth. i. 2. 53, etc. So have at it (W. T. iv. 4. 302) have at you (v. 2. 290 below), have to it (T. of S. i. 1. 143), etc.

91. It. Referring to issue.

Nay. "That is, let us not leave it to heaven, but do something our selves" (Wr.).

SCENE V.-6. Bound. The adjective=ready (Schmidt). The Ghost uses it as the participle of bind.

II. To fast. Cf. Chaucer, Persones Tale: "And moreover the misese of helle shall be in defaute of mete and drink."

19. An end. The 1st quarto and most modern eds. have "on end." See Gr. 24.

20. Porpentine. Porcupine; the only name by which S. knows the animal. Cf. Ascham, Toxophilus: "nature geve example of shootinge first by the porpentine," etc. Topsell, in his Hist. of Beasts, 1607, has porcuspine."

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21. Eternal blazon. "This promulgation of the mysteries of eternity (M.). Abbott (Gr. p. 16) thinks it is infernal here; also in 7. C. i. 2. 160 and Oth. iv. 2. 130. In these passages Schmidt defines it as "used to express extreme abhorrence." Cf. the use of eternal in the provincial dialects of the east of England, and in Yankee slang ("tarnal").

29. Haste. For the transitive use, cf. M. of V. ii. 2. 121, T. and C. iv. 3. 5, Cor. v. I. 74, etc.

32. Shouldst. Wouldst. Gr. 322.

33. Roots. The foiio has "rots," which is preferred by many editors. Lethe wharf. Lethe's bank. See Gr. 22. Cf. A. and C. ii. 2. 218: "the adjacent wharfs" (that is, banks). For the allusion to Lethe, cf. T. N. iv. 1. 66, 2 Hen. IV. v. 2. 72, Rich. III. iv. 4. 250, and A. and C. ii. 7. 114. 37. Forged process. A false account of the manner. Wr. thinks that

process may mean an official narrative."

40. O my prophetic soul! "My very soul abhorred the murderer even when I knew not his crime" (M.). Cf. i. 2. 255-258 above.

42. Adulterate. Used by S. oftener than adulterous. Cf. R. of L. 1645, C. of E. ii. 2. 142, Rich. IIÍ. iv. 4. 79, etc.

46. Seeming-virtuous. See Gr. 2.

48. That. Such. Gr. 277. Cf. i. 2. 171 above. 50. Decline upon. Sink down it decline on the declin'd," etc.

to. Cf. T. and C. iv. 5. 189: "Not letting
Wr. quotes Tennyson, Locksley Hall:
66 Having known me, to decline

On a range of lower feelings and a narrower heart than mine."

53. Virtue. For the "absolute" or pleonastic construction, see Gr. 417. 56. Sate. The 1st quarto has "fate," the other quartos "sort." 58. Soft. "Hold, stop" (Schmidt). See M. N. D. p. 176.

60. In. The quartos have "of" (cf. M. N. D. ii. 1. 253, etc.).

61. Secure. Careless, unsuspicious (Latin securus). Cf. Rich. II. v. 3. 43, Hen. V. iv. chor. 17, T. and C. ii. 2. 15, etc. S. accents the word on

either syllable. Cf. 52 above. Cf. complete in i. 4. 52 above.

62. Hebenon. The folio reading; the quartos have "Hebona." Probably henbane is meant, but Schmidt and some others think it may be ebony, the juice of which was supposed to be poisonous.

63. Ears. It was a belief even among medical men in that day that poison might be thus introduced into the system. The eminent surgeon, Ambroise Paré, the contemporary of S., was suspected of having infused poison into the ear of Francis II. while dressing it (Caldecott).

68. Vigour. Power, activity.

St. reads "rigour.'

Posset. Coagulate, curdle. See Macb. p. 189.

69. Eager. Sour (Fr. aigre).

See on i. 4. 2 above.

71. Instant. Instantaneous. Cf. ii. 2. 501 below. It is used adverbially in 94 below.

72. Lazar-like. Like a leper. Cf. Hen. V. i. 1. 15, T. and C. ii. 3. 36, v. I. 72, etc.

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75. Dispatch'd. 'Deprived by death" (Schmidt). The 1st quarto has "depriued," and the Coll. MS. "despoil'd."

76. Blossoms. W. reads "blossom;" perhaps a misprint. Cf. W. T. v. 2. 135: "in the blossoms of their fortune."

77. Unhousel'd. Not having received the eucharist (Old English housel or husel). Cf. Chaucer, Persones Tale: "And certes ones a yere at the lest way it is lawful to be houseled;" Romaunt of the Rose, 6386: “Ere any wight his housel tooke," etc. Spenser (F. Q. i. 12. 37) has "The housling fire" (sacramental or sacrificial fire).

Disappointed. "Unappointed" (which Theo. substituted), unprepared; used by S. only here.

Unanel'd. Not having received extreme unction. Nares quotes Sir Thomas More: "The extreme vnccion or anelynge."

80. O horrible, etc.

This line is given to Hamlet by Rann, V., H., and some others; and W., St., and Ď. think that it probably belongs to him, as perhaps it does.

81. Nature. Natural feeling. Cf. Temp. v. 1. 76 : : "Expell'd remorse and nature," etc.

83. Luxury. Lust; its only meaning in S. Cf. Hen. V. iii. 5. 6, M. W. v. 5. 98, etc.

Cf. i. I. 40 above.

88. Fare thee well. On thee thou, see Gr. 212. = 89. Matin. Matin hour, morning; used by S. only here. Elze is in.

clined to change it to "matins ;" but the noun is used in the singular by Milton, L'All. 114: "Ere the first cock his matin rings."

90. Gins. Not "'gins," as usually printed. See Macb. p. 153. Uneffectual. Either "shining without heat" (Warb.), or lost in the light of the morning (Steevens, Schmidt). For the use of un- and in-, see Gr. 442.

91. Adieu, etc.

The quartos have "Adiew, adiew, adiew;" the folio, "Adue, adue, Hamlet: remember me."

97. This distracted globe. "Here Hamlet puts his hand upon his head" (Wr.); but Schmidt thinks that globe "perhaps world."

98. Table. Tablet. Cf. T. G. of V. ii. 7. 3:

=

"Who art the table wherein all my thoughts

Are visibly character'd and engrav'd."

99. Fond. Foolish. See M. N. D. p. 163, or M. of V. p. 152.

Records. Walker (quoted by F.) says that the accent of the noun is on the last syllable in S.; but cf. Rich. II. i. 1. 29: 'First,-heaven be the record to my speech;" A. and C. v. 2. 117: "The record of what injuries you did us," etc. In recorder it is on the first syllable in the only passage in which S. uses the word in verse (Rich. III. iii. 7. 30).

100. Saws. Maxims, sayings. Cf. A. Y. L. ii. 7. 156: "wise saws Id. iii. 5. 82: "now I find thy saw of might;" Lear, ii. 2. 167: "the common saw," etc.

Pressures. Impressions. S. uses the word only here and in iii. 2. 22 below. He has impressure in the same sense in A. Y. L. iii. 5. 23, T. N. ii. 5. 103 (=seal), and T. and C. iv. 5. 131.

107. Tables. Memorandum-book. Cf. 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. 289; "his master's old tables, his note-book," etc. Cf. table-book in ii. 2. 136 below and W. T. iv. 4. 610.

110. Word. Watchword. Cf. Rich. III. v. 3. 349: "Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George," etc.

115. Hillo, etc. "A falconer's cry to recall his hawk" (M.). Hence the come, bird, come.

121. Once. Ever. Cf. Macb. iv. 3. 167, Rich. II. ii. 3. 91, etc. 125. Come. For the omitted to, see Gr. 349.

127. Circumstance. Ceremony (Schmidt), or circumlocution (Wr.). Cf. M. of V. i. I. 154, 2 Hen. VI. i. 1. 105, etc.

etc.

129. You. "To go," or something of the sort, is understood.

132. Go pray. A very common ellipsis with go. Cf. ii. 1. 101 below,

Gr. 349.

136. Saint Patrick. "The patron saint of all blunders and confusions" (M.).

Horatio. The folio has "my lord," which Corson takes to be a retort to the same words in Horatio's speech.

141. Soldiers. A trisyllable; as in J. C. iv. I. 28: "But he's a tried and valiant soldier ;" and Lear, iv. 5. 3: "Your sister is the better soldier." Gr. 479.

147. Upon my sword. The sword was often used in oaths because the hilt was in the form of a cross (and, as Halliwell shows, sometimes had a cross inscribed upon it); and this swearing by the sword was, more

over, an old Scandinavian custom. Cf. W. T. ii. 3. 168, iii. 2. 125, Rich. II. i. 3. 179, Hen. V. ii. 1. 105, etc.

Already. Referring to in faith above (H.).

150. Truepenny. Honest fellow" (Johnson, Schmidt). Forby gives it in his Vocabulary of East Anglia as="hearty old fellow; stanch and trusty; true to his purpose or pledge."

161. In the quartos the ghost says "Sweare by his sword."

163. Pioner. Pioneer. Cf. Hen. V. iii. 2. 92 and Oth. iii. 3. 146. In R. of L. 1380 it rhymes with "appear."

Gr. 492.

165. As a stranger, etc. "Receive it without doubt or question" (Wr.). Mason makes it "seem not to know it;" but this is not so much in keeping with what follows.

167. Your. The folio has "our," which is preferred by Walker, K., W., and D. Your is probably used colloquially as in iii. 2. 3, 108, iv. 3. 21 fol., etc. Gr. 221.

172. Antic. "Disguised" (Wr.); "fantastic, foolish" (Schmidt). Cf. R. and J. i. 5. 58: "cover'd with an antic face;" Id. ii. 4. 29: "antic fantasticoes," etc. See Macb. p. 130.

174. Encumber'd.

"Folded thus in sign of wisdom" (M.). This head-shake. The quartos have "this head shake," the folio thus, head shake." Theo. inserted the hyphen.

175. Of. See Gr. 178.

176, 177. An if. The folio has "and if." Gr. 101, 103. For there be, cf. iii. 2. 26, and see Gr. 300.

178. Giving-out. Indication, intimation. Cf. M. for M. i. 4. 54, Oth. iv. I. 131, etc.

To note. Caldecott points out the grammatical irregularity in never shall... to note. Cf. A. Y. L. v. 4. 21:

See Gr. 416. 180. Most.

"Keep your word, Phebe, that you 'll marry me,
Or else, refusing me, to wed this shepherd."

Greatest. Gr. 17.

186. Friending. Friendliness; used by S. only here. Friend is found as a verb in M. for M. iv. 2. 116, Hen. V. iv. 5. 17, Hen. VIII. i. 2. 140, etc. 187. Lack. Be wanting; as in T. A. iv. 2. 44. Cf. i. 4. 3 above.

189. O cursed spite! Cf. C. of E. ii. 2. 191: "O spite of spites!" M. N. D. i. 1. 138: "O spite!" Id. iii. 2. 145: "O spite! O hell!" 3 Hen. VI. V. I. 18: "Ŏ unbid spite !" etc.

SCENE I.-3. Shall. Will.

ACT II.

Gr. 315.

4. Inquire. The folio has "inquiry," which some editors prefer. Cf Per. iii. prol. 22.

5. Of. About, concerning (Gr. 174). Cf. Rich. II. iii. 2. 186: "In quire of him," etc.