We are denied access unto his person 10 Even by those men that most have done us wrong. West. When ever yet was your appeal denied? peer And consecrate commotion's bitter edge 12? I make my quarrel in particular13. 10 In Holinshed the Archbishop says, 'Where he and his companie were in armes, it was for feare of the king, to whom he could have no free accesse, by reason of such a multitude of flatterers as were about him.' 11 6 Examples of every minute's instance' are Examples which every minute instances or supplies,' Which even the present minute presses on their notice. 12 Commotion's bitter edge? that is, the edge of bitter strife and commotion; the sword of rebellion. This line is omitted in the folio. 13 The second line of this very obscure speech is omitted in the folio. As the passage stands I can make nothing of it; nor do any of the explanations which have been offered appear to me satisfactory. I think with Malone that a line has been lost, though I do not agree with him in the sense he would give to it. It is with all proper humility I offer the following reading : 'My quarrel general, the commonwealth, Whose wrongs do loudly call out for redress; I make my quarrel in particular.' i. e. my general cause of discontent is public wrongs, my particular cause the death of my own brother, who was beheaded by West. There is no need of any such redress; Or, if there were, it not belongs to you. Mowb. Why not to him, in part; and to us all, That feel the bruises of the days before; And suffer the condition of these times To lay a heavy and unequal hand Upon our honours? West. 14 O my good lord Mowbray 14, Construe the times to their necessities, And you shall say indeed, it is the time, the king's order. This circumstance is referred to in the first part of this play : "The archbishop-who bears hard His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop.' The answer of Westmoreland makes it obvious that something about redress of public wrongs should have fallen from the archbishop. Johnson proposed to read quarrel instead of brother in the first line, and explained the passage much as I have done. I have merely superadded the line, which seems to me necessary to complete the sense, and make Westmoreland's reply intelligible. 14 The thirty-seven following lines are not in the quarto. 15 i. e. their lances fixed in the rest for the encounter. 16 It has been already observed that the beaver was a moveable piece of the helmet, which lifted up or down, to enable the bearer to drink or breathe more freely. Their eyes of fire sparkling through sights 17 of steel, West. You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what: The earl of Hereford 19 was reputed then him; To know your griefs; to tell you from his grace, West. Mowbray, you overween, to take it so; Upon mine honour, all too confident 17 The perforated part of the helmets, through which they could see to direct their aim. Visière, Fr. 19 This is a mistake: he was duke of Hereford. To give admittance to a thought of fear. arms, Our armour all as strong, our cause the best; Mowb. Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley. A rotten case abides no handling. offence: Hast. Hath the Prince John a full commission, In very ample virtue of his father, To hear, and absolutely to determine West. That is intended 20 in the general's name: I muse, you make so slight a question. Arch. Then take, my lord of Westmoreland, this schedule; For this contains our general grievances;- All members of our cause, both here and hence, 20 Intended is understood, i. e. meant without expressing it. Entendu, Fr.; subauditur, Lat. 21 The old copy reads confin'd. Johnson proposed to read consign'd; which must be understood in the Latin sense, consignatus, signed, sealed, ratified, confirmed; which was indeed the old meaning according to the dictionaries. Shakspeare uses consign and consigning in other places in this sense. 22 Awful for lawful; or under the due awe of authority. Thus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona : From the society of awful men.' It is also used in the same sense in Pericles : 'A better prince and benign lord Prove awful both in deed and word.' Awful seems peculiar to Shakspeare in this acceptation. West. This will I show the general. Please you,' lords, In sight of both our battles we may meet: And either end in peace, which heaven so frame! Or to the place of difference call the swords Which must decide it. Arch. My lord, we will do so. [Exit WEST. Mowb. There is a thing within my bosom, tells me, That no conditions of our peace can stand. Hast. Fear you not that if we can make our peace. Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains. That, were our royal faiths 25 martyrs in love, Arch. No, no, my lord; Note this,-the king is weary Of dainty and such picking 26 grievances : For he hath found,-to end one doubt by death, 23 To consist, to rest; consisto.--Baret. So in Pericles :Then welcome peace, if he on peace consist.' 24 Trivial. 25 The faith due to a king. So in King Henry VIII. :—' The citizens have shown at full their royal minds,' i. e. their minds well affected to the king. 26 Piddling, insignificant. 27 Alluding to the table books of slate, ivory, &c. used by our ancestors. |