Mr. Collier retains the prefix of the old copies, and observes, "Though Antonio was formally to give away the lady at the altar, as her pretended father, Leonato may very properly interpose this observation." But the line must be characterised as something more than an "observation": nor does the ceremony at the altar form any portion of the play.—And see notes (1), (31).

P. 73. (29)

"One Hero died defil'd; but I do live," &c.

The word "defil'd" has dropt out from the folio, but is found in the 4to."Now," says Mr. Collier, "it is most unlikely that Hero should herself tell Claudio that she had been defil'd;' and the word supplied by the Corrector of the folio, 1632, seems on all accounts much preferable :

'One Hero died belied, but I do live.'

Here we see the lady naturally denying her guilt, and attributing her death to the slander thrown upon her. Shakespeare's word must have been belied," &c. Why does Mr. Collier thus labour to deceive himself and his readers about the value of the Corrector's alterations? In the first place, there was no necessity that the lady should "deny her guilt" to one who had already a perfect conviction of her innocence; and, in the second place, the word “belied” is objectionable because it makes the gentle Hero indirectly reproach the repentant Claudio.

P. 73. (30) "Have been deceived; for they swore you did."

Here the word "for," which is wanting both in the 4to and in the folio, seems necessary for the sense,-to say nothing of the metre. But, even with that addition, I do not believe that we have the line as it came from Shakespeare's pen: the probability is, that he wrote,

"Have been deceiv'd; for they did swear you did,”— which would correspond with what presently follows,— "Are much deceiv'd; for they did swear you did.”

The old copies have "Leon."-And see notes (16), (28).

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

VOL. II.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

ACT I.

SCENE I. A park, with a palace in it.

Enter the King, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN. King. Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, Live register'd upon our brazen tombs,

And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,
Th' endeavour of this present breath may buy
That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge,
And make us heirs of all eternity.

Therefore, brave conquerors,-for so you are,
That war against your own affections,

And the huge army of the world's desires,—
Our late edíct shall strongly stand in force:
Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;
Our court shall be a little Academe,
Still and contemplative in living art.

You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville,
Have sworn for three years' term to live with me
My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes

That are recorded in this schedule here:

Your oaths are pass'd; and now subscribe your names,
That his own hand may strike his honour down
That violates the smallest branch herein:

If you are arm'd to do as sworn to do,

Subscribe to your deep oaths, and keep it too.(1)
Long. I am resolv'd; 'tis but a three years' fast:
The mind shall banquet, though the body pine:

Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits.

Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified:
The grosser manner of these world's delights
He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves:
To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die;
With all these living in philosophy.

Biron. I can but say their protestation over;
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, to live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances :
As, not to see a woman in that term,—
Which I hope well is not enrolled there;
And one day in a week to touch no food,
And but one meal on every day beside,-
The which I hope is not enrollèd there;
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day
(When I was wont to think no harm all night,
And make a dark night too of half the day),—
Which I hope well is not enrolled there :
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,—
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!

King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.
Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please :

I only swore to study with your grace,

And stay here in your court for three years' space.

Long. You swore to that, Birón, and to the rest. Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.— What is the end of study? let me know.

King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know.
Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense?
King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense.

Biron. Come on, then; I will swear to study so,

To know the thing I am forbid to know:

As thus, to study where I well may dine,

---

When I to feast (2) expressly am forbid; Or study where to meet some mistress fine,

When mistresses from common sense are hid;