FOOTNOTES:
[92] In the 4o this play consists but of four acts. But as that division probably arose from the carelessness of the printer, I have made an alteration here, which appears to be a necessary one.
[93] Perhaps we should read quarell'd poison; i.e., such poison as arrows are imbued with. Quarels are square arrows. So in the "Romaunt of the Rose," v. 1823—
"Ground quarelis sharpe of steele."
—Steevens.
[The two words are the same, quarled being a contracted form of quarell'd.]
[94] Alluding to the Fifth Commandment.—Gilchrist.
[95] [Edits., world's.]
[96] [Edits., tune.]
[97] i.e., incite, encourage her.
[98] Seldom to be met with. In Shakespeare's "Coriolanus" we have "seld seen flamens."—Steevens.
[99] [Old copy, hire and.]
[100] The word great is added in the 4o to this line, but it belongs to Hippolito, and what he says has been hitherto misprinted.—Collier.
[101] ["The reality and life of this dialogue passes any scenical illusion I ever felt. I never read it but my ears tingle, and I feel a hot flush spread my cheeks, as if I were presently about to 'proclaim' some such 'malefactions' of myself as the brothers here rebuke in this unnatural parent, in words more keen and dagger-like than those which Hamlet speaks to his mother. Such power has the passion of shame, truly personated, not only to 'strike guilty creatures unto the soul,' but to 'appal' even those that are 'free.'"—Lamb.]
[102] [Old copy, lights, and in the line before, Sons—fights.]
[103] [Edits., held.]
[104] [Edits., see.]
[105] [Edits., their.]
[106] [Edits., not.]
[107] The 4o reads, Buy.—Steevens.
[108] Michaelmas term now has but four returns. By the Statute 16 Car. I. c. vi. it was abridged of two; and again, by 24 Geo. II. c. xlviii. of the like number.
[109] In secret. This uncouth expression occurs in "Hamlet," act iv. sc. 5, which many modern editors have altered to the more modern phrase of in private; but as Dr Johnson observes, "if phraseology is to be changed as words grow uncouth by disuse, or gross by vulgarity, the history of every language will be lost; we shall no longer have the words of any author; and as these alterations will often be unskilfully made, we shall in time have very little of his meaning." Mr Steevens, by several instances, has shown that the terms were in common use, and conveyed no low or vulgar ideas, and several others might be added: as in Ascham's "Toxophilus," 1571: "If shootinge fault at anye time, it hydes it not, it lurkes not in corners and budder mother."
[110] The 4o reads breast.—Steevens.
[111] Hands.
[112] i.e., unsheathe them, let them be naked swords.—Steevens.
[113] [Edits., spread.]
[114] The 4o reads, Well, have the fairest mark.—Collier.
[115] [A MS. note in one of the former edits., suggests, to other times leave words].
[116] [Old copy, possessing.]
[117] [Old copy, True.]
[118] The 4o reads, wake.
[119] The 4o reads, I cannot be express'd.—Collier.
[120] [Edits., so.]
[121] ["Mark this—it was his intention from the first to die when his revenge had been consummated."—MS. note in former edition.]
[122] Clos'd for disclos'd.—Gilchrist.