Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis. Laf. To be relinquished of the artists, Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus. Into Steevens. sconce literally signifies to secure as in a fort. So, in The Merry Wives of Windsor: "I will ensconce me behind the arras." (a frequent practice with old writers) is used for in. 7 unknown. fear.] Fear is here an object of fear. Johnson, 8 Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus. Laf. Of all the learned and authentick fellows,] Shakspeare, as I have often observed, never throws out his words at random. Paracelsus though no better than an ignorant and knavish enthusiast, was at this time in such vogue, even amongst the learned, that he had almost justled Galen and the ancients out of credit. On this account learned is applied to Galen, and authentick or fashionable to Paracelsus. Sancy, in his Confession Catholique, p. 301, Ed. Col. 1720, is made to say: "Je trouve la Riviere premier medecin, de meilleure humeur que ces gens-la. Il est bon Galeniste, & tres bon Paracelsiste. Il dit que la doctrine de Galien est honorable, & non mesprisable pour la pathologie, & profitable pour les boutiques. L'auture, pourveu que ce soit de vrais preceptes de Paracelse, est bonne à suivre pour la verité, pour la subtilité, pour l'espargne; en somme pour la Therapeutique. Warburton. As the whole merriment of this scene consists in the pretensions of Parolles to knowledge and sentiments which he has not, I believe here are two passages in which the words and sense are bestowed upon him by the copies, which the author gave to Lafeu. I read this passage thus: Laf. To be relinquished of the artists Par. So I say. Laf. Both of Galen and Paracelsus, of all the learned and authentick fellows Par. Right, so I say. Johnson. authentick fellows,] The phrase of the diploma is, authenticè licentiatus. Musgrave. The epithet authentick was, in our author's time, particularly applied to the learned. So, in Drayton's Owle, 4to. 1604: "For which those grave and still authentick sages "Which sought for knowledge in those golden ages, "From whom we hold the science that we have," &c. Again, in Troilus and Cressida: Malone. "As truth's authentick author to be cited." Again, in Chapman's version of the eighth Iliad: Nestor cut the yeres "With his new drawne authentique sword;—" Steevens. Par. Right, so I say. Laf. That gave him out incurable, Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too. Laf. Not to be helped, Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said. Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the 3 9 Par. It is, indeed; if you will have it in showing, &c.] We should read, I think: It is, indeed, if you will have it a showing -you shall read it in what do you call there. Tyrwhitt. Does not, if you will have it IN showing, signify IN a demonstration or statement of the case? Henley.. 1 A showing of a heavenly effect &c.] The title of some pamphlet here ridiculed. Warburton. 2 Why, your dolphin is not lustier:] By dolphin is meant the dauphin, the heir apparent, and the hope of the crown of France. His title is so translated in all the old books. Steevens. What Mr. Steevens observes is certainly true; and yet the additional word your induces me to think that by dolphin in the passage before us the fish so called was meant. Thus, in Antony and Cleopatra: 66 His delights "Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above Lafeu, who is an old courtier, if he had meant the king's son, would surely have said-the dolphin. I use the old spelling. Malone. In the colloquial language of Shakspeare's time, your was frequently employed as it is in this passage. So, in Hamlet, the Grave-digger observes, that " 'your water is a sore decayer of your whorson dead body.” Again, in As you Like it: "Your if, is the only peace-maker." Steevens. 3 facinorous spirit,] This word is used in Heywood's English Traveller, 1633: "And magnified for high facinorous deeds." Laf. Very hand of heaven. Laf. In a most weak Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king,* as to be Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, HELENA, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says:5 I'll like a Facinorous is wicked. The old copy spells the word facinerious; but as Parolles is not designed for a verbal blunderer, I have adhered to the common spelling. Steevens. 4 which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made &c.] I believe Parolles has again usurped words and sense to which he has no right; and I read this passage thus: Laf. In a most weak and debile minister, great power, great transcendence; which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made than the mere recovery of the king. Par. As to be Laf. Generally thankful. Johnson. When the parts are written out for players, the names of the characters which they are to represent are never set down; but only the last words of the preceding speech which belongs to their partner in the scene. If the plays of Shakspeare were printed (as there is reason to suspect) from these piece-meal transcripts, how easily may the mistake be accounted for, which Dr. Johnson has judiciously strove to remedy? Steevens. 5 Lustick, as the Dutchman says:] Lustigh is the Dutch word for lusty, cheerful, pleasant. It is used in Hans Beer-pot's Invisible Comedy, 1618: can walk a mile or two "As lustique as a boor-." Again, in The Witches of Lancashire, by Heywood and Broome, 1634: "What all lustick, all frolicksome!" The burden also of one of our aneient Medleys is "Hey Lusticke." Steevens. In the narrative of the cruelties committed by the Dutch at Amboyna, in 1622, it is said, that after a night spent in prayer, &c. by some of the prisoners, "the Dutch that guarded them offered them wine, bidding them drink lustick, and drive away the sorrow, according to the custom of their own nation." Reed. maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a coranto. Par. Mort du Vinaigre: Is not this Helen? King. Go, call before me all the lords in court. [Exit an Attendant. Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side: And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense The confirmation of my promis'd gift, Which but attends thy naming. Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye; this youthful parcel O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake. King. 8 Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. 6 O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice-] They were his wards as well as his subjects. Henley. 71 marry, to each, but one!] I cannot understand this passage in any other sense, than as a ludicrous exclamation, in consequence of Helena's wish of one fair and virtuous mistress to each of the lords. If that be so, it cannot belong to Helena; and might, properly enough, be given to Parolles. Tyrwhitt. Tyrwhitt's observations on this passage are not conceived with his usual sagacity. He mistakes the import of the words but one, which does not mean one only, but except one. Helena wishes a fair and virtuous mistress to each of the young lords who were present, one only excepted; and the person excepted is Bertram, whose mistress she hoped she herself should be; and she makes the exception out of modesty: for otherwise the description of a fair and virtuous mistress would have extended to herself. M. Mason. 8 bay Curtal,] i. e. a bay, docked horse. Steevens. 9 My mouth no more were broken] A broken mouth is a mouth which has lost part of its teeth. Johnson. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor❜d the king to health. Please it your majesty, I have done already: King. Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; And to imperial Love, that god most high, Do my sighs stream-Sir, will you hear my suit? 1 Lord. And grant it. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.2 Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw amesace3 for my life. 1 We blush, that thou should'st choose; but, be refus'd, Let the white death &c.] In the original copy, these lines are pointed thus: We blush that thou should'st choose, but be refus'd; Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever, &c. This punctuation has been adopted in all the subsequent editions. The present regulation of the text appears to me to afford a much clearer sense. "My blushes (says Helen) thus whisper me. We blush that thou should'st have the nomination of thy husband.— However, choose him at thy peril. But, if thou be refused, let thy cheeks be for ever pale; we will never revisit them again." The blushes which are here personified could not be supposed to know that Helena would be refused, as, according to the former punctuation, they appear to do; and, even if the poet had meant this, he would surely have written and be refused, not ". -but be refused." "Be refus'd," means the same as-thou being refused, or, be thou refused. Malone. The white death is the chlorosis. Johnson. The pestilence that ravaged England in the reign of Edward III was called "the black death." Steevens. 2 all the rest is mute.] i. e. I have no more to say to you So, Hamlet: "— the rest is silence." Steevens. chance of the dice. So, may I at my last stake, Steevens. |