Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of Ancient Manners: / with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspeare; on a Collection of Popular Tales Entitled Gesta Romanorum; and on the English Morris dance.

by Francis Douce

ACT I.

Scene 1. Page 461.

Glo. He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.

The question with Dr. Johnson is, whether it be war that capers, or York; and he justly remarks that if the latter, the antecedent is at an almost forgotten distance. The amorous temper of Edward the Fourth is well known; and there cannot be a doubt that by the lascivious pleasing of a lute, he is directly alluded to. The subsequent description likewise that Richard gives of himself is in comparison with the king. Dr. Johnson thought the image of war capering poetical; yet it is not easy to conceive how grimvisag'd war could caper in a lady's chamber.

Scene 1. Page 462.

Glo. Cheated of feature by dissembling nature.

The poet by this expression seems to mean no more than that nature had made for Richard features unlike those of other men. To dissemble, both here and in the passage quoted from King John, signifies the reverse of to resemble, in its active sense, and is not used as dissimulare in Latin.