"Full oft 'tis seen

Our means recuse us, and our mere defects

Prove our commodities."

I trust I may be left in the quiet possession of whatever merit is due to this restoration. Some other of my humble auxilia have, before now, been coolly appropriated, with the most innocent air possible, without the slightest acknowledgment. One instance is afforded in Mr. Keightley's communication to "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 136., where that gentleman not only repeats the explanation I had previously given of the same passage, but even does me the honour of requoting the same line of Shakspeare with which I had supported it.

I did not think it worth noticing at the time, nor should I now, were it not that Mr. Keightley's

confidence in the negligence or want of recollection in your readers seems not have been wholly misplaced, if we may judge from Mr. Arrowsmith's admiring foot-note in last Number of "N. & Q.," p. 568.

A. E. B.

Leeds.


SHAKESPEARE'S USE OF THE IDIOM "NO HAD" AND "NO HATH NOT."