THE PASSAGE IN TROILUS AND CRESSIDA.
(Vol. ii., p. 386.)
The oldest edition of this play is the quarto of 1609, in which the passage referred to stands thus:—
"Hect. Begon, I say, the gods have heard me sweare.
"Cas. The gods are deafe to hotte and peevish vowes,
They are polluted offrings more abhord,
Then spotted livers in the sacrifice.
"And. O be perswaded, do not count it holy,
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow,
But vowes to every purpose must not hold:
Unarme, sweet Hector."
This reading, by stopping the sense at "holy," renders less likely to be correct the emendation of Tyrwhitt, adopted by Malone:—
"O be persuaded: do not count it holy
To hurt by being just: it is as lawful,
For we would give much to use violent thefts,
And rob in the behalf of charity."
Dr. Johnson observes, "This is so oddly confused in the folio, that I transcribe it as a specimen of incorrectness:—
'——do not count it holy
To hurt by being just: it is as lawful
For we would count give much to as violent thefts,' &c."
With reference to these particulars, I should be glad if you would allow me to propose a reading which has not yet been suggested:—
"O be persuaded; do not count it holy:
To hurt, by being just, count it unlawful:
For we would give, as much, to violent thefts,
And rob, in the behalf of charity."
The meaning being, it is as unlawful to do hurt by being just, as it would be to give to a robbery, or to rob for a charity; to assist a bad cause by a good deed, or a good cause by a bad deed.
The word "count," in its second occurrence, was inserted by the printer in the wrong line; when it is restored to its proper place, the passage presents but little difficulty.
JOHN TAYLOR.