P. 198, c. 2, 1. 50. summon. Id. l. 60. SCENE III. to warn them-] i. e. to speak fair. Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive, and cog, Duck with French nods and apish courtesy.] An importation of artificial manners seems to have afforded our ancient poets a never-failing topic of invective. Id. 1. 74. with lewd complaints.] Lewd, in the present instance, signifies rude, ignorant; froni the Anglo-Saxon, iaewede, a laick. Chaucer often uses the word lewd, both for a laick and an ignorant person. P. 199, c. 1, l. 9. Since every Jack became a gentleman,] This proverbial expression at once demonstrates the origin of the term Jack so often used by Shakspeare. It means one of the very lowest class of people, among whom this name is of the most common and familiar kind. Id. 1. 18. "while many fair promotions"-MA LONE. Id. l. 48. "To be thus taunted, scorn'd, and baited at. -MALONE. Id. l. 58. my pains-1 My labours, my toils. Id. l. 66. royalize i. e. to make royal. Id. l. 67. "Yea,"-MALONE. ld. 1. 73. Margaret's battle-] is- Margaret's army. Id. c. 2, l. 23. which you have pill'd from me] To pill is to pillage. Id. 1. 27. Ah, gentle villain,] Gentle appears to be taken in its common acceptation, but to be used ironically. Id. 1. 28. what mak'st thou in my sight?] An obsolete expression for what dost thou in my sight. 1d. 1 47. hath plagu'd thy bloody deed To plague, in ancient language, is to punish Id. l. 66. - by surfeit die your king,] Alluding to his luxurious life. P. 200, c 1,7 18. - elvish-mark'd,] The common people in Scotland (as we learn from Kelly's Proverbs), have still an aversion to those who have any natural defect or redundancy, as thinking them mark'd out for mischief. Id. l. 18. rooting hog!] The expression is fine, alluding (in memory of her young son) to the ravage which hogs make, with the finest flowers, in gardens; and intimating that Elizabeth was to expect no other treatment for her sons. WARBURTON. Id. 1. 20. The slave of nature.] The expression is strong and noble, and alludes to the ancient custom of masters branding their profligate slaves; by which it is insinuated that his misshapen person was the mark that nature had set upon him to stigmatize his ill conditions. Id. l. 27. - bottled spider,] A spider is called bottled, because, like other insects, he has a a middle slender, and a belly protuberant. Richard's form and venom made her liken him to a spider. Id. l. 66. Witness my son. &c.] Her distress cannot prevent her quibbling. It may be here remarked, that the introduction of Margaret in this place against all historical evidence. She was ransomed and sent to France soon Id. 1. 69. Your aiery buildeth in our aiery's nest :] P. 203, c. 1, l. 11. "And now in peace," &c.— MALONE. Id. 1. 14. Dissemble not your hatred,] i. e. do not gloss it over. Id C. 2.7.32 "but not in blood,"-MALONE. Id. 1. 42. The forfeit,] He means the remission of the forfeit. ld. 1 45. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,] This lamentation is very tender and pathetic. The recollection of the good qualities of the dead is very natural, and no less naturally does the king endeavour to communicate the crime to others. ld. c. 2, l. 10. "Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton; At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night." MALONE. In both readings, historical truth is violated. Id. l. 37. been remember'd,] To be remember'd is, in Shakspeare, to have one's memory quick, to have one's thoughts about one. d. l. 52. A parlous boy:] Parlous is keen, shrewd. Id. l. 76. aweless] Not producing awe, nor reverenced. To jut upon is to encroach. ACT III. SCENE I. P. 206, c. 1, 1. 28. to your chamber.] London was anciently called Camera regis. This title it began to have immediately after the Norman conquest. ld. c. 2, 6. Too ceremonious, and traditional:] Ceremonious for superstitious; traditional for adherent to old customs. Id. l. 7. Weigh it but with the grossness of this age] That is, compare the act of seizing him with the gross and licentious practices of these times, it will not be considered as a violation of sanctuary, for you may give such reasons as men are used to admit. Id. 1. 40. As 'twere retail'd to all posterity.] Retailed meaus handed down from one to another. Id. 1. 46. Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, I moralize two meanings in one word.] The Vice of the old moralities was a buffoon character, whose chief employment was to make the audience laugh, and one of the modes by which he effected his purpose was by double meanings, or playing upon words. In these moral representations, Fraud, INIQUITY, Covetousness, Luxury, Gluttony, Vanity, &c, were frequently introduced. The formal Vice perhaps means, the shrewd, the sensible Vice. Id. l. 58. course. --lightly-] Commonly, in ordinary Id. L. 64. dread lord;] The original of this epithet applied to kings has been much disputed. In some of our old statutes the king JOHNSON. is called Rex metuendissimus. Id. 1. 67. Too late he died, i. e. too lately, the loss is too fresh in our memory. Id 1 79. “I pray you, uncle, give me," &c.— MALONE. P. 207, c. 1, . 11. I weigh it lightly, &c] i. e. I should still esteem it but a trifling gift, were it heavier, or perhaps, I'd weigh it lightly, -i. e. I could manage it, though it were heavier. Id. 1. 28. "My lord, will't please," &c.-MALONE. Id. 1. 36. "Why, what should you fear?"-MA LONE. Id. 1. 47. Was not incensed-] i. e. incited or suggested. Id. l. 50. -capable;] here, as in many other places in these plays, means intelligent, quick of appresension. Id. 1. 53. Mr. Malone omits "gentle." ld. l. 77. divided councils,] That is, a pri vate consultation, separate from the known and public council. SCENE II. Id. c. 2, l. 29. " from the lord Stanley."-MALONE. Id. 1. 49. His honour,] This was the usual ad- Id. l. 34 Id. l. 52. They, for their truth,] That is, with respect to their honesty. Id. 1. 76. exercise; ] For attending him in private to hear his confession; or, perhaps it means only religious exhortation or lecture. -shriving work in hand] Shriv Id. c. 2, 1. 5. ing work is confession. P. 209, c. 1, l. 8. Had you not come upon your cue,] This expression is borrowed from the theatre. The cue, queue, or tail of a speech, consists of the last words, which are the token for an entrance or answer. To come on the cue, therefore, is to come at the proper time. Id. 1. 13. Here Mr. Malone interposes, "Hast. I thank your grace." Id. l. 15. I saw good strawberries-] The reason Id. why the bishop was despatched on this errand, is not clearer in Holinshed, from whom Shakspeare adopted the circumstances, than in this scene, where it is introduced. 1. 37. There's some conceit or other-] i. e. pleasant idea or fancy. Id. . 46. Mr. Malone adds, "Stan. I pray God he be not, I say." Id. 1 76. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble. To stumble was anciently esteemed a bad omen. The housings of a horse, and sometimes a horse himself, were anciently denominated a foot-cloth. SCENE V. Id. c. 2, l. 36. Intending deep suspicion :] i. e. pretending. Id. 1. 58. "harmless"-MALONE. Id. 1. 64. his conversation- i. e. familiar intercourse. The phrase criminal conversation, is yet in daily use. P. 210, c. 1, 7. 40. "lustful eye,"-MALONE. Id. l. 55.- to Baynard's castle:] It was originally built by Baynard, a nobleman, who (according to Stowe's account) came in with the conqueror. This edifice, which stood in Thamesstreet, has long been pulled down, though parts of its strong foundation are still visible at low water. The site of it is now a timberyard. Id. 1. 62. to doctor Shaw. -] Shaw and Penker were two popular preachers. Instead of a pamphlet being published by the secretary of the Treasury, to furnish the advocates for the administration of the day, with plausible topics of argument on great political measures (the established mode of the present time), formerly it was customary to publish the court creed from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Cross. As Richard now employed Dr. Shaw to support his claim to the crown, so, about fifteen years before, the great earl of Warwick employed | his chaplain Dr. Goddard to convince the people that Henry VI. ought to be restored, and that Edward IV. was an usurper. MALONE. "breathing stones,"-MALONE. Id. 1 57. intend some fear:] Perhaps, pretend; though intend will stand in the sense of giving attention. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 65. As I can say nay to thee. &c.] i. e. if (says Richard) you speak for them as plausibly as I in my own person, or my own purposes, shall seem to deny your suit, there is no doubt but we shall bring all to a happy issue. Id. l. 31. SCENE II. —now do I play the touch,] To play the touch is to represent the touchstone. Id. 1. 54. see, he gnaws his lip.] Several of our ancient historians observe, that this was an accustomed action of Richard, whether he was pensive or angry. Id. l. 58. And unrespective boys;] Unrespective Id. c. 2, l. 5. I will take order for her keeping Id. l. 11.-- it stands me much upon,] i. e. it is P. 214, c. 1, l. 2. Because that, like a Jack,—] Id. Id. P. 211, c. 1, l. 11. Id. l. 79. Which to recure,] To recure is to re cover. Id. c. 2. 1.36. And much I need to help you,] | And I want much of the ability requisite to give you help, if help were needed. Id. 1. 46. are nice and trivial,] Nice is generally used by Shakspeare in the sense of minute, trifling, of petty import. Id. l. 60. loath'd bigamy,] Bigamy, by a ca non of the council of Lyons, A. D. 1274 (adopted in England by a statute in 4 Edw. I.), was made unlawful and infamous. It differed from polygamy, or having two wives at once: as it consisted in either marrying two virgins successively, or once marrying a widow. P. 212, c. 1, l. 3. - effeminate remorse,] i. e. pity. Id. 1.22. "and you sage," &c.-MALONE. ACT IV. Id. c. 2, 1.47. Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain!] She seems to allude to the ancient mode of punishing a regicide, or any other egregious criminal, viz. by placing a crown of iron, heated red-hot, upon his head. Id. 1. 72. But with his timorous dreams-] 'Tis recorded by Polydore Virgil, that Richard was frequently disturbed by terrible dreams: this is therefore no fiction. P. 213, c. 1, l. 9. And each hour's joy wreck'a with a week of teen.] Teen is sorrow. 1. 12. To Brecknock,] To the castle of Brecknock in Wales, where the duke of Buckingham's estate lay. Id. l. 73. -fearful commenting Is leaden servitor-] Timorous thought and cautious disquisition are the dull attendants on delay. SCENE IV. Id. c. 2, l. 10 dire induction-] Induction is preface, introduction, first part. It is so used by Sackville in our author's time. Id. 1. 22.. say, that right for right—] Margaret now perhaps means to say, The right of me, an injured mother, whose son was slain at Tewksbury, has now operated as powerfully as that right which the death of Rutland gave you to divine justice, and has destroyed your children in their turn. Id. 1. 31. When didst thou sleep, &c.] That is, When, before the present occasion, didst thou ever sleep during the commission of such an action? Id. 1. 46.- seniory,] For seniority. JOHNSON. "I had a Henry,"-MALONE. -her pew-fellow-] Pew-fellow seems to be companion. Id. 1.78. Young York he is but boot.] Boot is that which is thrown in to mend a purchase. P. 215, c. 1, 1. 21. The flattering index of a direful pageant,] Pageant are dumb shows, and the poet meant to allude to one of these, the index of which promised a happier conclusion. The pageants then displayed on public occasions were generally preceded by a brief account of the order in which the characters were to walk. These indexes were distributed among the spectators, that they might understand the meaning of such allegorical stuff as was usually exhibited. The index of every book was anciently placed before the beginning of it. Id. l. 24. —— a garish flag, To be the aim of every dangerous shot;] Alluding to the dangerous situation of those persons to whose care the standards of armies were enstrusted. STEEVENS. Id. l. 34. Decline all this,] i. e. run through all this from first to last. Id. c. 2, l. 7. —— that ow'd that crown,] i. e. Id. L. 25. —— a touch of your condition,] A spice Id 1 44. That ever grac'd me-] To grace seems Id. l. 45. — Humphrey Hour,] I believe nothing more than a quibble was meant. In our poet's twentieth Sonnet we find a similar conceit; a quible between hues (colours) and Hughes, (formerly spelt Hewes) the person addressed. MALONE. Id. 1. 68. Shame serves thy life,] To serve is to accompany, servants being near the persons of their masters. Id. l. 73. Stay, madam,] On this dialogue 'tis not necessary to bestow much criticism; part of it is ridiculous, and the whole improbable. JOHNSON. Id. l. 11. -while we reason here,] i. e. while we talk here. SCENE V. ld. l. 17. Sir Christopher Urswick.] The person, who is called Sir Christopher here, and who has been styled so in the Dramatis Persona of all the impressions, was Christopher Urswick, a bachelor in divinity; and chaplain to the countess of Richmond, who had intermarried with the lord Stanley. This priest, the history tells us, frequently went backwards and forwards, unsuspected, on messages betwixt the countess of Richmond, and her husband, and the young earl of Richmond, whilst he was preparing to make his descent on England. He was afterwards almoner to king Henry VII. and retired to Hackney, where he died in 1521. ACT V. Id. 1. 66. Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs.] Hanmer has rightly explained it, the time to which the punishment of his wrongs was respited. Wrongs in this line means wrongs done, or injurious practices. SCENE IL SCENE III. Id. 1. 59. sound direction:] True judgment; I cannot agree with Dr. Johnson's opinion. P. 219, c. 1, l. 19. Lies now—] i. e. sojourns. I see nothing ridiculous in any part of this dialogue; and with respect to probability, it was not unnatural that Richard, who by his art and wheedling tongue had prevailed on lady Anne to marry him in her heart's extremest grief, should hope to persuade an ambitious, and, as he thought her, a wicked woman, to consent to his marriage with her daughter, which would make her a queen, and aggrandize her family. M. MASON. P. 216, c. 1, l. 15. All unavoided, &c.] i. e. un- Id. 28. still use-] i. e. constant use. hibition, show, display, or perhaps, emblem. Id. 1. 49. Canst thou demise-] To demise is to grant, from demittere, to devolve a right from one to another. ld. l. 74. I, even I: what think, &c." MALONE. tense from bide. Id. 1. 69. To whom I will retail my conquest won,] P. 217, c. 1, 1. 5.—which the king's King Id. l. 47. "by heaven,"-MALONE. Id. 1. 39. Some light-foot friend, &c.] Richard's Id. c. 2, l. 10. — they must be told.] This was with it. tried keeps his regiment;] i. e. remains Id. c. 2, l. 10. make some good means-] i. e. adopt some convenient measure. Id. 1. 23. It's nine o'clock.] I think, we ought to to read-six instead of nine, as in the quarto edition. A supper at so late an hour as nine o'clock, in the year 1485, would have been a prodigy. STEEVENS. Mr. Malone reads six, and "full supper-time." Id. c. 2, 1. 40. Give me a watch.] A watch has many significations, but I should believe that it means in this place not a sentinel, which would be regularly placed at the king's tent; nor an instrument to measure time, which was not used in that age; but a watch-light, a candle to burn by him; the light that afterwards burnt blue. JOHNSON. Id. l. 43. Look that my staves-] Staves are the wood of the lances. Id. l. 46. the melancholy lord Northumberland?] Richard calls him melancholy, because he did not join heartily in his cause. Id. l. 48, Cock-shut time,] i. e. twilight. Id. l. 50. "So, I am satisfied."--MALONE. Id. l. 53. "Set it down."-MALONE. Id. l. 55. "Ratcliff, bid my," &c - MALONE. A reading which he censured in his first edition. Id. i. 67. — by attorney.] By deputation. Id. 1. 74. mortal-staring war,] I suppose, by mortal-staring war is meant-war that looks big, or stares fatally on its victims. STEE VENS. - 1d. 1. 75. I, as I may,- With best advantage will deceive the time,] peise me down to-morrow,] To peize, i, e. to weigh down, from peser, French. Id. 1. 43. Harry, that prophecy'd thou should st be king,] The prophecy, to which this allusion is made, is uttered in one of the parts of Henry the Sixth. Id. l. 57. And fall thy edgeless sword:] Fall, in the present instance, is a verb active, signifying to drop, let fall. Id. c. 2. . 31. I died for hope,] i. e. I died for wishing well to you. or Id. 1. 38. Give me another horse,] There is in Id. l. 61. quit-] i. e. requite. ld. 1. 69. God, and Saint George!] Saint George was the common ery of the English soldiers when they charged the enemy. Id. c. 2, l. 9. brav'd the east-] i. e. made it splendid. Id. 1. 31. Mr. Malone omits ourself. Id. l. 34. This, and Saint George to boot!] His protection over and above. Id. l. 41. Dickon thy master, &c.] Dickon is the ancient familiarization of Richard. In the words-bought and sold, there is somewhat proverbial. Id. 1. 52. A sort of vagabonds,] i. e. a company. Id. l. 55. "adventures"--MALONE. Id. 156 "bring to you unrest ;"-MALONE. Id. 1. 79. Amaze the welkin with your broken slaves!] That is, fright the skies with the shivers of your lances. JOHNSON. P. 222, c. 1, 7. 4. "Off with his son,"-MALONE. SCENE IV. Id. c. 2. l. 8. Mr. Malone omits first. 1d. 1. 35. Abate the edge-] To abate, is to lower. Id. 1. 36. reduce-] i. e. bring back. This is one of the most celebrated of our author's performancer; yet I know notwhethes it has not happened to him as to others, to be praised most when praise is not most deserved. That this play has scenes noble in themselves, and very well contrived to strike in the exhibition, cannot be denied. But some parts are trifling, others shocking, and some improbable. JOHNSON. I agree entirely with Dr. Johnson in thinking that this play from its first exhibition to the present hour has been estimated greatly beyond its merit. From the many allusions to it in books of that age, and the great number of editions it passed through, I suspect it was more often represented and more admired than any of our author's tragedies. Its popularity perhaps in some measure arose from the detestation in which Richard's character was justly held, which much have operated more strongly on those whose grandfathers might have lived near his time; and from its being patronized by the queen on the throne, who probably was not a little pleased at seeing king Henry VIII. placed in the only favourable light, in which he could have been exhibited on the scene. MALONE. I most cordially join with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Malone in their opinions; and yet perhaps they have overlooked one cause of the success of this tragedy. The part of Richard is, perhaps, beyond all others variegated, and consequently favourable to a judicious performer. It comprehends, indeed, a trait of almost every species of character on the stage. The hero, the lover, the statesman, the buffoon, the hypocrite, the hardened and repenting sinner, &c. are to be found within its compass. wonder, therefore, that the discriminating powers of a Burbage, a Garrick, and a Henderson, should at different periods have given it a popularity beyond other dramas of the same author. No Yet the favour with which this tragedy is now received, must also in some measure be imputed to Mr. Cibber's reformation of it, which, generally considered, is judicious: for what modern audience would patiently listen to the narrative of Clarence's dream, his subsequent expostulation with the murderers, the prattle of his children, the soliloquy of the scrivener, the tedious dialogue of the citizens, the ravings of Margaret, the gross terms thrown out by the duchess of York on Richard, the repeated progress to execution, the superfluous train of spectres, and other undramatic incumbrances, which must have prevented the more valuable parts of the play from rising into their present effect and consequence?The expulsion of languor, therefore, must atone for such remaining want of probability as is inseparable from an historical drama into which the events of fourteen years are irregularly compressed. STEEVENS. |