Scene 2. Page 413.
Per. Let none disturb us: why this charge of thoughts?
Both the old editions have change, which, as Mr. Mason has shown, may very well stand; and even the redundant word should, in the old copies, might be retained without diminishing the harmony of the line. The sense would then be, "Let none disturb us: why should this change of sentiment [disturb us]?"
Scene 4. Page 426.
Cle. If heaven slumber while their creatures want,
They may awake their helps to comfort them.
As these lines stand they are ungrammatical. The original reading was, no doubt, if the Gods slumber, which was altered by the licencer of the press. This should either be restored, or the whole rendered correct.
ACT II.
Page 438.
Gow. ... what shall be next,
Pardon old Gower; this longs the text.
Which Mr. Steevens thus explains: "Excuse old Gower from telling you what follows. The very text to it has proved of too considerable a length already." But has he not missed the meaning of this elliptical mode of expression, which seems to be, "Excuse old Gower from relating what follows; this belongs to the text, i. e. the play itself, not to me the commentator?" In the third Act he uses a similar speech,