In their embracement, as they grew together;1 Which had they, what four thron'd ones could have weigh'd The view of earthly glory: Men might say, "I 1 as they grew together;] So, in All's Well that Ends Well: grow to you, and our parting is as a tortured body." Again, in A Midsummer Night's Dream: "So we grew together." Steevens as they grew together;] That is, as if they grew together. We have the same image in our author's Venus and Adonis: 66 a sweet embrace; 66 Incorporate then they seem; face grows to face." 2 Till this time, pomp was single; but now marry'd Malone. To one above itself] The thought is odd and whimsical; and obscure enough to need an explanation. Till this time (says the speaker) pomp led a single life, as not finding a husband able to support her according to her dignity; but she has now got one in Henry VIII, who could support her, even above her condition, in finery. Warburton. Dr. Warburton has here discovered more beauty than the author intended, who only meant to say in a noisy periphrase, that pomp was encreased on this occasion to more than twice as much as it had ever been before. Pomp is no more married to the English than to the French King, for to neither is any preference given by the speaker. Pomp is only married to pomp, but the new pomp is greater than the old. Johnson. Before this time all pompous shows were exhibited by one prince only. On this occasion the Kings of England and France vied with each other. To this circumstance Norfolk alludes. M. Mason. 3- - Each following day Became the next day's master, &c.] Dies diem docet. Every day learned something from the preceding, till the concluding day col lected all the splendor of all the former shows. Johnson. 4 All clinquant,] All glittering, all shining. Clarendon uses this word in his description of the Spanish Juego de Toros. Johnson. It is likewise used in A Memorable Masque, &c. performed be KING HENRY VIII. 201 Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story, Buck. O, you go far. Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour honesty, the tract of every things Would by a good discourser lose some life, Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal; fore King James at Whitehall in 1613, at the marriage of the Palsgrave and Princess Elizabeth: 5 his buskins clinquant as his other attire." Steevens: "So match'd, as each seem'd worthiest when alone." Johnson. 6 Durst wag his tongue in censure.] Censure for determination, of which had the noblest appearance. Warburton. That Bevis was believ'd.] The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton. This Bevis, (or Beavois) a Saxon, was for his prowess created by William the Conqueror Earl of Southampton: of whom Camden in his Britannia. Theobald. 8 the tract of every thing &c.] The course of these triumphs and pleasures, however well related, must lose in the description part of that spirit and energy which were expressed in the real action. Johnson. 9 All was royal; &c.] This speech was given in all the edi 202 KING HENRY VIII. To the disposing of it nought rebell'd, Buck. Who did guide, I mean, who set the body and the limbs Buck. I pray you, who, my lord? Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend cardinal of York. Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed From his ambitious finger What had he To do in these fierce vanities?5 I wonder, tions to Buckingham; but improperly: for he wanted information, having kept his chamber during the solemnity. I have therefore given it to Norfolk. Warburton. The regulation had already been made by Mr. Theobald. 1-the office did Malone. Distinctly his full function.] The commission for regulating this festivity was well executed, and gave exactly to every particular person and action the proper place. Johnson. 2 certes,] An obsolete adverb, signifying-certainly, in truth. So, in The Tempest: "For, certes, these are people of the island.” It occurs again in Othello, Act I, sc. i. It is remarkable, that, in the present instance, the adverb certes must be sounded as a monosyllable. It is well understood that old Ben had no skill in the pronunciation of the French language; and the scene before us appears to have had some touches from his pen. By genuine Shakspeare certes is constantly employed as a dissyllable. Steevens. 3 element] No initiation, no previous practices. Elements are the first principles of things, or rudiments of knowledge. The word is here applied, not without a catachresis, to a person. Johnson. 4 — no man's pie is free'd From his ambitious finger.] To have a finger in the pie, is a proverbial phrase. See Ray, 244. Reed. 5 fierce vanities?] Fierce is here, I think, used like the French fer for proud, unless we suppose an allusion to the mimical ferocity of the combatants in the tilt. Johnson. It is certainly used as the French word fier. So, in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, the puritan says, the hobby horse "is a fierce and rank idol." Steevens. That such a keech can with his very bulk Nor. Surely, sir, There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends: Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note, Again, in The Rape of Lucrece : "Thy violent vanities can never last." In Timon of Athens, we have 1 "O the fierce wretchedness that glory brings!" Malone. 6 That such a keech-] A keech is a solid lump or mass. A cake of wax or tallow formed in a mould, is called yet in some places, a keech. Johnson. There may, perhaps, be a singular propriety in this term of contempt. Wolsey was the son of a butcher, and in The Second Part of King Henry IV, a butcher's wife is called—Goody Keech. Steevens. 7 Out of his self-drawing web,] Thus it stands in the first edition. The latter editors, by injudicious correction, have printed: Out of his self-drawn web. Johnson. 8 he gives us note,] Old copy-O gives us &c. Corrected by Mr. Steevens. Malone. 9 A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king.] It is evident a word or two in the sentence is misplaced, and that we should read: A gift that heaven gives; which buys for him A place next to the king. Warburton. It is full as likely that Shakspeare wrote: gives to him, which will save any greater alteration. Johnson. I am too dull to perceive the necessity of any change. What he is unable to give himself, heaven gives or deposits for him, and that gift, or deposit, buys a place, &c. Steevens. I agree with Johnson that we should read: A gift that heaven gives to him: for Abergavenny says in reply, "I cannot tell "What heaven hath given him." which confirms the justness of this amendment. I should other. wise have thought Steevens's explanation right. M. Mason. Aber. I cannot tell' What heaven hath given him, let some graver cye Peep through each part of him:1 Whence has he that? Or has given all before, and he begins A new hell in himself. Buck. Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, Must fetch him in he papers.4 I do know Aber. Buck. O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on them 1 2 3 I can see his pride Peep through each part of him:] So, in Troilus and Cressida : her wanton spirits look out "At every joint and motive of her body." Steevens. the file-] That is, the list. Johnson. council out,] Council not then sitting. Johnson. The expression rather means, "all mention of the board of council being left out of his letter." Steevens. That is, left out, omitted, unnoticed, unconsulted with. Ritson. It appears from Holinshed, that this expression is rightly explained by Mr. Pope in the next note: without the concurrence of the council. "The peers of the realme receiving letters to prepare themselves to attend the king in this journey, and no apparent necessarie cause expressed, why or wherefore, seemed to grudge that such a costly journey should be taken in hand-without consent of the whole boarde of the Counsaille." Malone. 4 Must fetch him in he papers.] He papers, a verb; his own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the council, must fetch in him whom he papers down.-I don't understand it, unless this be the meaning. Pope. Wolsey published a list of the several persons whom he had appointed to attend on the King at this interview See Hall's Chronicle, Rymer's Fadera, Tom. XIII, &c. Steevens. |