will grieve as much for that one, as Priam who had many, could grieve for many. JOHNSON. 595. Enter Clifford wounded.] The quarto adds, with an arrow in his neck. In ridicule of this, Beaumont and Fletcher have introduced Ralph, the grocer's prentice, in the Knight of the Burning Pestle, with a forked arrow through his head. It appears, however, from Holinshed, p. 664, that this circumstance has some relation to the truth: "The lord Clifford, either for heat or paine, putting off his gorget suddenlie, with an arrow (as some saie) without a head, was striken into the throte, and immediately rendered his spirit." STEEVENS. STEEVENS. that tough commixture melts. 618. No way to fly nor strength to held our flight.] The quartos read "no strength to hold out flight." i. e. No way to fly, nor with strength sufficient left to sustain myself in flight, if there were. STEEVENS. 624. I stabb'd your fathers' bosom; split my breast.] So the folio. The quartos read: I stabb'd your father's now come split my breast. 625. Now breathe we, lords;] Instead of this speech the quartos have the following: Thus far our fortunes keep an upward course, That That now towards Berwick doth pass amain :-- 634. Edw. Whose soul, &c.] I have distinguished these speeches according to the authority of the quarto. The folio gave all to Richard, except the last line and half. STEEVENS. 637. -like life and death's departing.] The quartos read, like life and death's departure. STEEVENS. There is no occasion for correction. "'Till death us depart" was the expression in the old Marriage SerFARMER. 662. -eager words.] Sour words; words of asperity. vice. So, in Hamlet: JOHNSON. "It is a nipping and an eager air." STEEVENS. 691. And then to Britany I'll cross the sea,] Thus the folio. The quartos thus: And afterwards I'll cross the seas to France. STEEVENS. 701. -too ominous] Alluding, perhaps, to the deaths of Thomas of Woodstock, and Humphrey, dukes of Gloster. STEEVENS. ACT III. Line 1. ENTER Sinklo,] Dr. Grey observes from Hall and Holinshed, that the name of the person who took K. Henry, was Cantlowe. See Mr. Tyrwhitt's note on the first scene in the Taming of a Shrew. STEEVENS. Enter Sinklo and Humphrey-] In the quarto, these archers have no names. The direction is, "Enter two Keepers with both bowes and arrowes. This would sufficiently confirm Mr. Tyrwhitt's conjecture, if it wanted confirmation; but it does not, for Sinklo was certainly the name of a player. [See a note on the Induction to The Taming of the Shrew.] Humphrey was, I suppose, another player. 2. MALONE. -this laund- -] Laund means the same as lawn; a plain extended between woods. So, in the play of Orlando Furioso, 1594: Again : 6. "And that they trace the shady lawnds, &c.” "Tread she these lawnds, kind Flora boasts her pride." STEEVENS. the noise of thy cross-bow] The poet appears not to have forgot the secrets of his former profession. So, in the Merry Devil of Edmonton, 1626: "Did I not hear a bow go off, and the buck bray?" STEEVENS. 12. -let's stay 'till he be past.] So the folio. The quartos read: let's listen him a while. STEEVENS. 14. To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.] So the folio. The quartos perhaps better thus: And thus disguis'd to greet my native land. STEEVENS. 17. Thy balm wash'd off,-] This is an image very frequent in the works of Shakspere. So again, in this scene: "I was anointed king.” It is common in these plays to find the same images, whether jocular or serious, frequently recurring. JOHNSON. 23. This is the quondam king, &c.] Thus the folio. The quarto thus: Ay, marry, sir, here's a deer, his skin is a 24. —these sour adversities ;] The old -the sowre adversaries. And Nero will 40. read, A Nero will. STEEVENS. copy reads STEEVENS. -] Perhaps we might better STEEVENS. 49. Inferreth arguments of mighty strength;] In the former act was the same line: Inferring arguments of mighty force." JOHNSON. 53. O Margaret, &c.] The piety of Henry scarce interests us more for his misfortunes, than this his constant constant solicitude for the welfare of his deceitful queen. 56. STEEVENS. -less than I was born to:] Thus the folio. The quartos thus: 57. -for less I should not be STEEVENS. --for less I should not be,] Such is the reading of the folio. The quartos thus: and more I cannot be. 60. Why, so I am, in mind, STEEVENS. -] There seems to be an allusion to a line in an old song (quoted in Every Man out of his Humour): "My mind to me a kingdom is." -and that's enough.] So the folio. thus: -though not in shew. MALONE. The quartos STEEVENS. 70. And we his subjects, &c.] So the folio. The quartos thus: And therefore we charge you in God's name, and the king's, To go along with us unto the officers. STEEVENS. 98. In God's name, lead; &c.] So the folio. Instead of this speech, the quartos have the following: God's name be fulfill'd, your king's name be 102. obey. STEEVENS. -Sir John Grey,-] Vid. Hall, 3d Year of Edw. IV. folio 5. It was hitherto falsly printed Richard. POPE. |