ON A PASSAGE IN "THE TEMPEST."
I was indebted to MR. SINGER for one of the best emendations in the edition of Shakspeare I superintended (vol. vi. p. 559.), and I have too much respect for his sagacity and learning to pass, without observation, his remarks in "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. ii., p. 259.), on the conclusion of the speech of Ferdinand, in "The Tempest," Act iii., Sc. 1.:—
"But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours;
Most busy, least when I do it."
This is the way in which I ventured to print the passage, depending mainly upon the old copies. In the folio, 1623, where the play for the first time appeared, the last line stands:
"Most busie lest, when I doe it;"
and in that of 1632,
"Most busie least, when I doe it:"