100. Is afar off guilty, etc. Is remotely (or indirectly) guilty for only speaking. Cf. M. W. i. 1. 216: “a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by Sir Hugh here.' Malone quotes Hen. V. i. 2. 239:

"Or shall we sparingly show you far off

The Dauphin's meaning and our embassy?"

101. Some ill planet. For the astrological allusion, cf. i. 2. 195 above. Aspect (regularly accented by S. as here) was an astrological term for the peculiar position and influence of a heavenly body. Čf. R. of L. 14, Sonn. 26. 10, T. and C. i. 3. 92, Lear, ii. 2. 112, etc.

106. But I have, etc. Douce compares Ham. i. 2. 85: "But I have that within which passeth show," etc. For pities, see on i. 1. 30 above, and cf. charities in 107 and peaces in 135 below.

114. Good fools. For fool as a term of pity or endearment, see A. Y. L. P. 151.

115. When ye shall know, etc. "If it be desired to know the full difference between noble pride and false pride, here is shown the former in perfection. No one better than S. knew the true distinction between them; the right time for and due amount of self-assertion, the simplicity and severity of moral dignity: and in none of his characters are these points more notably developed than in Hermione. Her few farewell words to her mistaken husband in this speech combine in a wonderful way the essence of wifely tenderness with the utmost wifely self-respect" (Clarke). See also p. 24 above.

117. Action. "Charge, accusation" (Johnson); "law-suit" (Schmidt). Mason and Steevens make this action I now go on=“ what I am now about to do."

123. Be certain what you do, etc. "In the very first words Antigonus utters, S. shows him to us in thorough contrast with Camillo. By the mere word justice Antigonus admits the possibility that Hermione may be guilty; while Camillo, from first to last, feels the impossibility of her guilt. Antigonus at once proclaims himself a courtier, the man who points out to his royal master the expediency and policy of what he is about to do as touches his own person, his consort, and his heir-apparent; Camillo is the faithful counsellor, the honest friend, the loyal servant, who strives to preserve the intrinsic honour of his king, rather than to maintain himself in his favour. Not only are these two characters finely distinguished in their delineation, the one from the other, but they are most dramatically framed for and adapted to the exigencies of the parts they are each destined to fill in the progress of the plot. Camillo, with his honourable nature and integrity of purpose, becomes the ultimate bond of reconciliation and union between the two kings and their respective children; while Antigonus, with his courtier pliancy and lack of earnest faith-having a glimpse of the better, yet following the worse, path becomes the agent for the king's cruelty to his infant daughter, and loses his own life in the unworthy act" (Clarke).

130. I'll keep my stables, etc. Malone explains the passage thus: "I'll never trust my wife out of my sight; I'll always go in couples with her; and in that respect my house shall resemble a stable, where dogs are kept in pairs." He adds that dogs are sometimes "tied up in couples

under the manger of a stable." Clarke remarks that this is "a coarse way of saying that he would not quit his wife an instant; treating her as his coach-horses and hounds are treated, which are made to go always harnessed, or leashed in couples." For a different interpretation, see Ingleby's Shakespeare Hermeneutics, p. 76 fol. Hanmer gave "stablestand," a term of the forest-laws a place where a deer-stealer fixes his stand to watch for the animals. The Coll. MS. has "me stable ;" and the Camb. editors conjecture "my stabler or my stablers."

66

132. Than. The folios have "Then," which Pope and some other editors retain; but it is probably the old form for Than. See Gr. 70. 135. Peaces. See on 106 above.

137. Abus'd.

Deceived. See Ham. p. 215.

Putter-on. One who puts on (see Ham. p. 257, or Oth. p. 180), or instigates. Cf. Hen. VIII. i. 2. 24:

66

"they vent reproaches

Most bitterly on you, as putter-on
Of these exactions."

139. Land-damn. A stumbling-block to the commentators; probably a misprint, though no one has made a satisfactory guess at the word intended. Farmer conjectured "laudanum," Heath "half-damn," Walker "live-damn," Nicholson "Lent-damn," etc. The Coll. MS. has "lamback" (= beat). Johnson thought land-damn might mean "rid the country of him, condemn him to quit the land." Malone suggested land-dam"=kill, bury in earth; and Rann that land-damn might mean "condemned to the punishment of being built up in the earth." W. considers this last conjecture "worthy of attention as being, to say the least, not without reason," and, moreover, supported by T. A. v. 3. 179: "Set him breast-deep in the earth and famish him," etc. Schmidt regards it as a misprint, and proposes to read "I would-Lord, damn him!"

142. Doing thus. Hanmer inserts the stage-direction "Laying hold of his arm;" and the commentators generally agree that something of the sort is implied. Malone paraphrases the passage thus: "I see and feel my disgrace, as you, Antigonus, now feel me, on my doing thus to you, and as you now see the instruments that feel-that is, my fingers." Heath conjectured "instruments of that you feel," with "If so " for If it be so.

146. Dungy earth. The expression occurs again in A. and C. i. 1. 35. 152. Forceful. Powerful, strong; used by S. nowhere else.

155. In skill. Through cunning (Schmidt). Clarke explains it as 'designedly, purposely.'

156. Relish. Feel, perceive. Cf. Temp. v. 1. 23:

that relish all as sharply," etc.

"One of their kind,

158. On't. Of it. Cf. ii. 2. 31, ii. 3. 15, iii. 1. 14, and iv. 4. 5 below. Gr. 182.

161. Without more overture. That is, without referring the matter to us, or consulting us.

166. Approbation. Proof, confirmation. See Hen. V. p. 146; and for approve prove, Ham. p. 171.

171. Wild. Rash; as in iv. 4. 555 below.

In post. In haste. See R. and J. p. 218.

172. Delphos. Delphi. See on iii. 1. 2 below.

174. Of stuff'd sufficiency. "Of abilities more than enough" (Johnson). Cf. Much Ado, i. 1. 56: "stuffed with all honourable virtues ;" and R. and 7. iii. 5. 183: "Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts." See also Oth. i. 3. 224: "of most allowed sufficiency."

183. Free. "That is, accessible to all" (Schmidt).

SCENE II.-6. Whom. The 1st folio has "who" here. For who= whom, see Gr. 274; and cf. v. 1. 108 below.

11. Access. Accented by S. on the first syllable only in Ham. ii. 1. 110 (Schmidt). Cf. v. 1. 87 below.

23. On. In consequence of. Cf. Rich. II. i. 1.9: "If he appeal the duke on ancient malice," etc.

Gr. 180.

30. Lunes. Lunacies, mad freaks. The word is not found elsewhere in the folio, but has been substituted by some editors for lines in M. W. iv. 2. 22 and T. and C. ii. 3. 139, and for lunacies in Ham. iii. 3. 7 (see our ed. p. 232). For unsafe, the Coll. MS. has " unsane.

33. Honey-mouth'd. Cf. L. L. L. v. 2. 334: "honey-tongued Boyet." See also V. and A. 452 and Rich. III. iv. 1. 80.

34. Red-look'd. Red-looking. Cf. Rich. II. ii. 4. 11: "lean-look'd prophets;" and M. N. D. v. 1. 171: "O grim-look'd night!" See also Gr. 294 and 374.

35. Trumpet. The word is sometimes trumpeter or herald; and Schmidt explains it so here. Cf. K. John, i. 1. 27: "Be thou the trumpet of our wrath," etc. See also Ham. p. 176.

45. Thriving. Prosperous, successful. Cf. 7. C. iii. 1. 13: "I wish your enterprise may thrive," etc.

47. Presently. Immediately; as very often. See Ham. p. 204. 49. Hammer'd af. Hammered on (Gr. 175), pondered.

i. 3. 18:

"Nor needst thou much importune me to that
Whereon this month I have been hammering."

See also Rich. II. v. 5. 5 : “I'll hammer it out.”
52. Wit. Wisdom. See T. N. p. 165.

Cf. T. G. of V.

SCENE III.-2. Weakness. The folio reads "weaknesse, if," and is followed by some modern editors, who end the sentence at me in 7 below. 3. Part o' the cause. See on i, 2. 446 above.

4. Harlot. Lewd. The noun is sometimes masculine. Cf. C. of E. v. 1. 205 and Cor. iii. 2. 112 (Schmidt).

The blank was
Ham. iv. 1. 42:

5. The blank and level. The mark and range, or aim. properly the white spot in the centre of the target. Cf. "As level as the cannon to his blank;" Oth. iii. 4. 128: "And stood within the blank of his displeasure;" Hen. VIII. i. 2. 2 :

"I stood i' the level

Of a full-charg'd confederacy," etc.

See also iii. 2. 80 below.

6. She. Her.

See Oth. p. 199, or Gr. 211.

: 8. Moiety. Portion (as in Ham. i. 1. 90, etc.), not a half. For the latter sense, see iii. 2. 38 and iv. 4. 790 below.

17. Leave me solely. Leave me to myself.

18. Him. That is, Polixenes, to whom his thoughts now revert.

20. Recoil. The plural is to be explained by the intervening revenges. Cf. iv. 2. 21 below: "whose loss of his most precious queen and children are even now to be afresh lamented." See also Gr. 412.

In himself too mighty, etc. Malone quotes Greene's novel: "Pandosto, although he felt that revenge was a spur to warre, and that envy always proffereth steele, yet he saw Egisthus was not only of great puissance and prowesse to withstand him, but also had many kings of his alliance to ayd him, if need should serve; for he married the Emperor of Russia's daugh

ter."

27. Be second to me. Be helpful to me, second me. Cf. the use of the noun in Temp. iii. 3. 103, Cor. i. 4. 43, etc.

30. Free. Free from guilt, innocent. p. 165.

See Ham. p. 213 or A. Y. L.

35. Heavings. Deep sighs. Cf. Ham. iv. I. I: "these sighs, these profound heaves."

37. Medicinal. For the accent, see Oth. p. 210, note on Medicinable. 41. Gossips. Sponsors at baptism. In this sense the word is both masculine and feminine. Cf. C. of E. v. I. 405: "a gossips' feast;" Hen. VIII. v. 5. 13: "My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal,” etc.

53. Professes. Changed by Rowe to "profess;" but, if we may trust the collation in the Camb. ed., he does not alter dares below. Clarke remarks that the third person" gives the excellent effect of Paulina's speaking of another, while she thus confidently speaks of herself and her own fidelity." Both professes and dares may after all be misprints.

56. Comforting. Encouraging, or aiding. Cf. T. A. ii. 3. 209: "Why dost not comfort me and help me out?" Lear, iii. 5. 21: “If I find him comforting the king," etc. The word properly means to strengthen (see the derivation in Wb.); and the noun is still used in a similar sense in the legal phrase "giving aid and comfort to the enemy." The Hebrew verb translated "comfort" in Job, ix. 27 and x. 20 is rendered "recover strength" in Ps. xxix. 13, and "strengtheneth" in Amos, v. 9. In Wiclif's version of Isa. xli. 7, we find "he coumfortide hym with nailes, that it shulde not be moued;" where the A. V. has "fastened."

60. By combat. An allusion to the practice of "trial by combat,” for a description of which see the extracts from Holinshed in Rich. II. p. 147 fol. and p. 159 fol.

61. The worst. "The weakest, the least expert in the use of arms" (Steevens).

63. Hand. Lay hands on. Cf. Temp. i. 1. 25: "we will not hand a

rope more."

67. Mankind. Masculine. Cf. Cor. iv. 2. 16: "Are you mankind?” Steevens quotes The Two Angry Women of Abington, 1599:

"That e'er I should be seen to strike a woman.—

Why, she is mankind, therefore thou mayst strike her;"

and Mason adds from one of Jonson's Sonnets: “ Pallas, now thee I call

on, mankind maid!" Cf. B. and F., Monsieur Thomas: "A plaguy mankind girl;" and The Woman-Hater: "Are women grown so man

kind?"

68. Intelligencing. Carrying intelligence, acting as a go-between ; used by S. nowhere else. Cf. intelligencer in 2 Hen. IV. iv. 2. 20:

"The very opener and intelligencer

Between the grace, the sanctities of heaven,
And our dull workings."

74. Woman-tir'd. Hen-pecked; the only instance of the word in S. Tire was a term in falconry, meaning to tear and devour a prey. Cf. V. and A. 56:

"Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,

Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone,
Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,

Till either gorge be stuff'd or prey be gone;"

and 3 Hen. VI. i. 1. 269 :

"and like an empty eagle

Tire on the flesh of me and of my son."

Steevens quotes Chapman, The Widow's Tears: "He has given me a bone to tire on."

78. Forced. "Constrained, unnatural, false" (Schmidt); as in iv. 4. 41 below: "these forc'd thoughts," etc. Coll. conjectures "falsed." On baseness, cf. Lear, i. 2. 10:

"Why brand they us

With base? with baseness? bastardy?"

86. Whose sting, etc. Cf. Cymb. iii. 4. 37:

90. Sound.

"No, 't is slander,

Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue
Out-venoms all the worms of Nile," etc.

"found."

The later folios have "

Callat. A coarse or lewd woman. See Oth. p. 201.

92. Baits. Attacks, harasses. The word literally means to set dogs upon, as in bear-baiting. Cf. T. N. iii. 1. 130:

"Have you not set mine honour at the stake
And bated it with all the unmuzzled thoughts
That tyrannous heart can think?"

See also 2 Hen. VI. v. 1. 148, etc. Here there is a play on beat (pronounced bate) and baits.

96. The old proverb, etc. St. quotes Overbury's Characters: "The devill cals him his white sonne; he is so like him, that he is the worse for it, and he lokes after his father."

100. Valley. Apparently explained by dimples in apposition with it (Schmidt). Perhaps we should read "valleys," with Hanmer.

IOI. His smiles. Omitted by Capell.

106. No yellow in 't. For yellow as the colour of jealousy, cf. M. W. i. 3. III: "I will possess him with yellowness."

Suspect, as he does, etc. This, of course, is an absurdity, but perhaps an intentional one, as in keeping with Paulina's excited state of mind.

Clarke remarks here: "In Paulina the poet has given us a perfect pict