rabo nunc tibi jocosam Sympathiam Reguli Vasconis equitis. Is dum viveret, audito phormingis sono, urinam illico facere cogebatur."—And to make this jocular story still more ridiculous, Shakspere, I suppose, translated phorminx by bag-pipes. But what I would chiefly observe from hence is this, that as Scaliger uses the word Sympathiam, which signifies, and so he interprets it, communem AFFECTIONEM duabus rebus, so Shakspere translates it by AFFECTION:

Cannot contain their urine for AFFECTION.

Which shews the truth of the preceding emendation of the text according to the old copies; which have a full stop at affection, and read Masters of passion. WARBURTON.

In an old translation from the French of Peter de Loier, entitled A Treatise of Spectres, or Strange Sights, Visions, &c. we have this identical story from Scaliger; and what is still more, a marginal note gives us, in all probability, the very fact alluded to, as well as the word of Shakspere. "Another gentleman of this quality lived of late in Devon, neere Excester, who could not endure the playing on a bag-pipe." We may justly add, as some observation has been made upon it, that affection in the sense of sympathy, was formerly technical; and so used by lord Bacon, Sir K. Digby, and many other writers. FARMER.

Woollen bag-pipe; ] As all the editors agree with complete uniformity in this reading, I can hardly forbear to imagine that they understood it. But I never saw a woollen bag-pipe, nor can well conceive it. I suppose

the

the author wrote wooden bag-pipe, meaning that the bag was of leather, and the pipe of wood.

JOHNSON.

This passage is clear from all difficulty, if we read swelling or swollen bag-pipe, which, that we should, I have not the least doubt. Sir J. HAWKINS.

Woollen is used as a term of contempt in Coriolanus, who says, act iii. sc. 2. his mother used to call the plebeians woollen vassals; and yet I think the same epithet hardly applicable to the bag-pipe. A passage on Turbervile's Epitaphes, p. 13. supports the emendation proposed:

"First came the rustick forth

"With pipe and puffed bag."

This instance was pointed out to me by Dr. Farmer. STEEVENS.

71. you question, &c.] To question is to converse. So, in Measure for Measure:

"in the loss of question—" i. e. conversation that leads to nothing. To reason had anciently the same meaning. STEEVENS.

91. many a purchas'd slave,] This argument, considered as used to the particular persons, seems conclusive. I see not how Venetians or Englishmen, while they practise the purchase and sale of slaves, can much enforce or demand the law of doing to others as we would that they should do to us. JOHNSON.

106.

-Bellario, a learned doctor,
Whom I have sent for] The doctor

and the court are here somewhat unskillfully brought

together.

together. That the duke would, on such an occasion, consult a doctor of great reputation, is not unlikely ; but how should this be foreknown by Portia ?

JOHNSON.

I do not see any necessity for supposing that this was foreknown by Portia. She consults Bellario as an eminent lawyer, and her relation. If the duke had not consulted him, the only difference would have been, that she would have come into court as an advocate, perhaps, instead of a judge. TYRWHITT.

125. Not on thy soal, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,] This lost jingle Mr. Theobald found again; but knew not what to make of it when he had it, as appears by his paraphrase, Though thou thinkest that thou art whetting thy knife on the soal of thy shoe, yet it is upon thy soul, thy immortal part. Absurd! the conceit is, that his soul was so hard that it had given an edge to his knife. WARBURTON.

128. Of thy sharp envy.] Envy again, in this place, signifies hatred or malice. STEEVENS.

130. -inexorable dog !] All the copies read, inexecrable. The emendation in the third folio.

STEEVENS.

144. To cureless ruin.-] Both the folios read, To endless ruin. MALONE.

181. Cannot impugn you,- -] To impugn is to oppose, to controvert. So, in the Tragedy of Darius, 1603:

"Yet though my heart would fain impugn my

word."

Again,

"If any press t' impugn what I impart."

STEEVENS.

182. You stand within his danger,

-] So, in the

Corvysor's Play, among the collection of Whitsun Mysteries represented at Chester. See MS. Harl. 1013, p. 106:

"Two detters some tyme there were

66 Oughten money to an usurere,
"The one was in his daungere

"Fyve hundred poundes tolde." STEEVENS. There are frequent instances in the Paston Letters of the use of this phrase in the same sense; whence it is obvious, from the common language of the time, that to be in DEBT and to be in DANGER, were synonimous HENLEY.

terms. 203.

-in the course of justice, Should see salvation :- -]

none of us
Portia referring

the Jew to the Christian doctrine of salvation, and the Lord's Prayer, is a little out of character.

BLACKSTONE.

210. My deeds upon my head!] An imprecation adopted from that of the Jews to Pilate: "His blood be on us, and our children!" HENLEY.

218. Malice bears down truth.- -] Malice oppresses honesty; a true man, in old language, is an honest man. We now call the jury good men and true.

JOHNSON.

327. I take this offer then

-] Perhaps we should read

A& IV. read-his, i. e. Bassanio's, who offers twice the sum, &c. STEEVENS.

334. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.] This judgment is related by Gracian, the celebrated Spanish jesuit, in his Hero, with a reflexion at the conclusion of it: "Compite con la del Salomon la promtitud de aquel gran Turco. Pretendia un Judio cortar una onca de carne a un Christiano, pena sobre usura. Insista en ello con igul terqueria a su Principe que perfidia a su Dios. Mando el gran Juez traer pesa, y cuchillo; cominole el deguello si cortava mas ni menos. Y fue dar agudo corte a la lid, y al mundo milagro del ingenio." El Heroe de Lorenzo Græcian.

Primor. 3.

Gregorio Leti, in his Life of Sixtus V. has a similar story. The papacy of Sixtus began in 1583. He died Aug. 29, 1590. The reader will find an extract from Farnworth's Translation, at the conclusion of the notes on this play. STEEVENS.

393. I am content, &c.] Anthonio tells the duke, that if he will abate the fine for the state's half, he (Anthonio) will be contented to take the other, in trust, after Shylock's death, to render it to his daughter's husband. That is, it was, during Shylock's life, to remain at interest in Anthonio's hands, and Shylock was to enjoy the produce of it.

412.

REMARKS.

-thou should'st have had ten more,] i. e. a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged.. THEOBALD.

So,