But, Rofaline, you have a favour too; Rof. I would, you knew. An if my face were but as fair as yours, Rof. Much in the letters; nothing in the praise. Rof. 'Ware pencils! How? let me not die your debtor, My red dominical, my golden letter. O, that your face were not fo full of O's! Cath. Pox of that jeft! and I befhrew all shrows." Prin. But what was fent to you from fair Dumain? Cath. Madam, this glove. Prin. Did he not fend you twain ? Cath. Yes, Madam; and moreover, Some thousand verfes of a faithful lover: 5 'Ware pencils! Were pencils -] The former editions read, Sir T. Hanmer here rightly restored, "Ware pencils Rofaline, a black beauty, reproaches the fair Catherine for paint ing. JOHNSON. The folio reads, Ware penfals STEEVENS. Pox of that jeft! and I beforew all brews.] In former copies this line is given to the Princefs; but as fhe has behaved with great decency all along, there is no reafon why the fhould start all at once into this coarfe dialect. Rosaline and Catherine are rally. ing one another without referve; and to Catherine this first line certainly belonged, and therefore I have ventured once more to put her in poffeffion of it. THEOBALD. A A huge tranflation of hypocrify, Vilely compil'd, profound fimplicity. Mar. This, and thefe pearls, to me fent Longaville; The letter is too long by half a mile. Prin. I think no lefs; doft thou not wish in heart, The chain were longer, and the letter short? Mar. Ay, or I would thefe hands might never part. O, that I knew he were but in by the week! 7 8 And make him proud to make me proud that jefts! Prin 7 in by the week!] This I fuppofe to be an expreffion taken from hiring fervants or artificers; meaning, I wish I was as fure of his fervice for any time limited, as if I had hired him. 8 So portent-like, &c.] In former copies, So pertaunt like, would I o'er-fway his ftate, STEEVENS, In old farces, to fhew the inevitable approaches of death and deftiny, the Fool of the farce is made to employ all his firatagems to avoid Death or Fate; which very stratagems, as they are ordered, bring the Fool, at every turn, into the very jaws of Fate. To this Shakespeare alludes again in Meafure for Measure, -merely thou art Death's Fool; For him thou labour'st by thy flight to fhun, It is plain from all this, that the nonfenfe of pertaunt-like, fhould be read, portent-like, i. e. I would be his fate or destiny, and, like a portent, hang over, and influence his fortunes. For pertints were not only thought to forsbode, but to influence. So the Latins called VOL. II. Ff a per Prin. None are fo furely caught when they are As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, As gravity's revolt to wantonness. Mar. Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, As foolery in the wife, when wit doth dote: Since all the power thereof it doth apply, To prove, by wit, worth in fimplicity. Enter Boyet. Prin. Here comes Boyet, and mirth is in his face, Boyet. O, I am stabb'd with laughter! Where's her Grace? Prin. Thy news, Boyet? Boyet. Prepare, madam, prepare. Arm, wenches, arm! Encounters mounted are a perfon deftined to bring mifchief, fatale portentum. WARBURTON. 9 None are so, &c.] Thefe are obfervation worthy of a man who has furveyed human nature with the clofeft attention. * Saint Dennis, 10 faint Cupid!] The Princess of France invokes, with too much levity, the patron of her country, to op pofe his power to that of Cupid. JoHNSON. Boyet Boyet. Under the cool fhade of a fycamore, Cry'd, Via! we will do't, come what will come. goes well: The fourth turn'd on the toe, and down he fell. 2 To check their folly, paffion's folemn tears. thus, Like Mufcovites, or Ruffians: as I guess 3 And "Spleen ridiculous] is, a ridiculous fit. JOHNSON. 3 Like Mufc.vites, or Ruffins, as I guess.] The fettling commerce 1 And every one his love feat will advance Prin. And will they fo? the gallants fhall be For, ladies, we will every one be mafk'd, Hold, Rofaline, this favour thou shalt wear; Cath. But, in this changing, what is your intent? Rof. But fhail we dance, if they defire us to't? And quite divorce his memory from his part. in Ruffia was, at that time, a matter that much ingroffed the concern and converfation of the publick. There had been feve ral embaflies employed thither on that occafion; and feveral trads of the manners and state of that nation written: fo that a mask of Mufcovites was as good an entertainmenment to the audience of that time, as a coronation has been fince. WARBURTON, Prin. |