His old betrothed, but defpis'd; [Exit. present paffage is, the word Making having been printed inftead of Mocking, a word of which our author has made very frequent use, and which exactly fuits the context. in this very play we have had make instead of mock. [See my note on p. 35. | In the handwriting of that time, the fmall c was merely a ftraight line; fo that if it happened to be fubjoined and written very close to au 0, the two letters might eafily be taken for an a. Hence I fuppofe it was, that thefe words have been so often confounded. The aukwardness of the expreffion Making practice, of which I have met with uo example, may be likewife urged in fupport of this emendation. Likeness is here used for fpecious or feeming virtue. So, before: "O seeming, feeming!" The fenfe then of the paffage is, — How may perfons affuming the likeness or femblance of virtue, while they are in fact guilty of the groffeft crimes, impofe with this counterfeit fanctity upon the world, in order to draw to themselves by the flimfiet pretenfions the most folid advantages, i. e. pleasure, honour, reputation, &c. In Much Ado about Nothing we have a fimilar thought: "O, what authority and fhow of truth MALONE. I cannot admit that make, in the ancient copies of our author, has been fo frequently printed inftead of mock; for the paffages in which the one is fuppofed to have been fubftituted for the other, are still unfettled. But, be this as it may, I neither comprehend the drift of the lines before us as they ftand in the old edition, or with the aid of any changes hitherto attempted; and must therefore bequeath them to the luckier efforts of future criticifm. STEEVENS. By made in crimes, the Duke means, trained in iniquity, and perfect in it. Thus we fay-a made horfe; a made pointer; meaning one well trained. M. MASON. 4 So difguife fhall, of a perfou difguifed, perfen. JOHNSON. by the difguis'd,] So difguife fhall by means 1 ACTIV. SCENE I A Room in MARIANA'S Houfe. MARIANA difcovered fitting; a Boy finging. Take, oh take, &c.] This is part of a little fong of Shakspeare's own writing, confifting of two flanzas, and fo extremely sweet, that the reader won't be difpleafed to have the other: Hide, oh hide thofe hills of frow, WARBURTON. This fong is entire in Beaumont's Bloody Brother, and in Shake, fpeare's Poems. The latter flanza is omitted by Mariana, as not fuiting a female charager. THEOBALD. Though Sewell and Gildon have printed this among Shakspeare's Poems, they have done the fame to so many other pieces, of which the real authors are fince known, that their evidence is not to be depended on. It is not found in Jaggard's edition of our author's Sonnets, which was printed during his life-time. Our poet, however, has introduced one of the fame thoughts in his 142d Sonnet : "That have prophan'd their fcarlet ornaments, Again, in his Venus and Adonis : "Pure lips, fweet feals in my foft lips imprinted, STEEVENS. "What bargains may I make, fill to be fealing." MALONE. MARI. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away; Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice Enter DUKE. [Exit Boy. I cry you mercy, fir; and well could wifh My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. DUKE. 'Tis good: though mufick oft hath fuch a charm, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet. MARI. You have not been inquired after: I have fat here all day. Enter ISABELLA. DUKE. I do conftantly believe you :--- The time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a The fame image occurs alfo in the old black-letter Tranflation of Amadis of Gaule, 4to. p. 171: " ———————rather with kiffes (which are counted the feales of Love) they chofe to confirm their unanimitie, than otherwise to offend a resolved pacience. REED. This fong is found entire in Shakspeare's Poems, printed in 1640; but that is a book of no authority: Yet I believe that both these ftanzas were written by our author. MALONE. 6 My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe,] Though the mufick foothed my forrows, it had no tendency to produce light merriment. JOHNSON. 7 conftantly] Certainly; without flu&uation of mind. JOHNSON. little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for fome advantage to yourself. MARI. I am always bound to you. DUKE. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy? [Exit. ISAB. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western fide is with a vineyard back'd; And to that vineyard is a planched gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key; This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There have I made my promife to call on him, Upon the heavy middle of the night." DUKE. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way? ISAB. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whispering and moft guilty diligence, So, in The Merchant of Venice: 8 "Could fo much turn the conftitution "Of any conftant man. STEEVENS. circummur'd with brick,] Circummured, walled round. "He caufed the doors to be mured and cafed up. Painter's Palace of Pleafure. JOHNSON. — a planched gate, ] i. c. a gate made of boards. Planche, Fr. A plancher is a plauk. So, in Lyly's Maid's Metamorphofis, 1600: upon the ground doth lie "A hollow plancher. Again, in Sir Arthur Georges' tranflation of Lucan, 1614: "Yet with his hoofes doth beat and rent "The planched floore, the barres and chaines. 29 STEEVENS. 2 There have I, &c.] In the old copy the lines ftand thus: There have I made my promije upon the Heavy middle of the night, to call upon him. STEEVENS. The prefent regulation was made by Mr. Steevens. MALONE, • In action all of precept,' he did fhow me 4 DUKE. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her observance? ISAB. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark; And that I have poffefs'd him,+ my moft flay Can be but brief: for I have made him know, I have a fervant comes with me along, That flays upon me; whofe perfuafion is, I come about my brother. DUKE. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this:-What, ho! within! come forth! Re-enter MARIANA. I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; ISAB. I do defire the like. DUKE. Do you perfuade yourself that I respect you? MARI. Good friar, I know you do; and have found it. 3 In action all of precept,] i. e. fhewing the feveral turnings of the way with his hand; which action contained fo many precepts, being given for my direction. WARBURTON. I rather think we fhould read, In precept of all action, that is, in direction given not by words, but by mute figns. JOHNSON. I have poffefs'd him, ] I have made him clearly and frongly comprehend. JOHNSon. To poffefs had formerly the fenfe of inform or acquaint. As in Every Man in his Humour, A& I. fc. v. Captain Bobadil says: Poffefs no gentleman of our acquaintance with notice of my lodging. REED. That stays upon me;] So, in Macbeth: "Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure." STEEVINS. |