Draw with idle spiders' ftrings [Exit. The fenfe is this, How much wickedness may a man hide within, tho' he appear an angel without. How may that likeness made in crimes, i. e. by hypocrify; [a pretty paradoxical expreffion, an angel made in crimes] by impofing upon the world [thus emphatically expreffed, making practice on the times] draw with its falfe and feeble pretences [finely called Spiders' ftrings] the most pondrous and fubftantial matters of the world, as riches, honour, power, reputation, &c. WARBURTON. The Revifal reads thus, -How may fuch likeness trade in crimes, To draw with idle spiders' ftrings meaning by pond'rous and fubftantial things, pleafure and wealth How may that likeness made in crimes, Draw b idle jpiders' strings Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things? STEEVENS. i. e. How may the making it a practice of letting great rogues break through the laws with impunity; and hanging up little ones for the fame crimes; draw away in time with idle fpiders ftrings, (For no better do the cords of the law become, according to the old faying. Leges fimiles aranearum telis, to which the allufion is) justice and equity, the most ponderous and fubftantial bases, and pillars of government. When juftice on offenders is not done, law, government, and commerce are overthrown. SMITH. 5 So difguife fhall, by the difguis'd,] So difguife thall by means of a perfon difguiled, return an injurious demand with a counterfeit perJon. JOHNSON. ACT Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away: 3 Take, ob, take, &c.] This is part of a little fong of Shakefpeare's own writing, confifting of two ftanzas, and fo extremely fweet, that the reader won't be difpleased to have the other. Hide, ob, hide those bills of fnow, But my poor heart first fet free, WARBURTON. This fong is entire in Beaumont's Bloody Brother, and in Shakefpeare's poems. The latter ftanza is omitted by Mariana, as not fuiting a female character. THEOBALD. Tho' Sewell and Gildon have printed this among Shakespeare's poems, they have done the fame to fo 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 his fonnets, which was printed during his life-time. STEEVENS. Here Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.+ Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufick oft hath fuch a charm To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me here to day? much upon this time, have I promis'd her to meet. Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fat here all day. Duke. I do conftantly believe you: Enter Ifabel. the time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to yourself. Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit. Ifab. 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,t That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, 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. mind. JOHNSON. -] Certainly; without fluctuation of 6 -circummur'd with brick,] Circummured, walled round. He caufed the doors to be mured and cafed up. Painter's Palace of Pleasure. JOHNSON. -a planched gate,] i. e. a gate made of boards. Planche, Fr. STEEVENS. Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way? Ifab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance ? Duke. 'Tis well born 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; Ifab. I do defire the like. Duke. Do you perfuade yourself that I refpect you? • There have I, &c.] In the old copy the lines fland thus, There have I made my promife, upon the 7 In action all of precept, Heavy middle of the night, to call upon him. STEEVENS. -] i. e. fhewing the feveral turnings of the way with his hand; which action contained fo many precepts, being given for my direction. I rather think we fhould read, In precept all of action,- WARBURTON. that is, in direction given not by awards, but by mute figns. JOHNSON. I have poffefd him,-] I have made him clearly and strongly comprehend. JOHNSON. Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and I have found it. Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear. I fhall attend your leifure; but make hafte; Mari. Will't please you to walk afide? [Exeunt Mar. and Ifab. Duke. O place and greatnefs,' millions of falfe eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report O place and greatness,] It plainly appears, that this fine fpeech belongs to that which concludes the preceding fcene, between the Duke and Lucio. For they are abfolutely foreign to the fubject of this, and are the natural reflections arifing from that. Befides, the very words, Run with thefe falfe and most contrarious quefts, evidently refer to Lucio's fcandals juft preceding: which the Oxford editor, in his ufual way, has emended, by altering thefe to their. But that fome time might be given to the two women to confer together, the players, I fuppofe, took part of the fpeech, beginning at No might nor greatness, &c. and put it here, without troubling themselves about its pertinency. However, we are obliged to them for not giving us their own impertinency, as they have frequently done in other places. WARBURTON. I cannot agree that thefe lines are placed here by the players. The fentiments are common, and fuch as a prince, given to reflection, must have often prefent. There was a neceffity to fill up the time in which the ladies converfe apart, and they must have quick tongues and ready apprehenfions, if they understood each other while this fpeech was uttered. JOHNSON. 2 -falfe eyes] That is, Eyes infidious and traiterous. JOHNSON. -contrarious quefts] Different reports, running counter to each other. JOHNSON. Re-enter |