"Prenzie" in "Measure for Measure."—It must be gratifying to the correspondents of "NOTES AND QUERIES" to know that their suggestions receive attention and consideration, even though the result be unfavourable to their views. I am therefore induced to express, as an individual opinion, that the reading of the word "prenzie," as proposed by LEGES, does not appear more satisfactory than those already suggested in the various editions.
Of these, "precise" is by far the most consonant with the sense of the context; while "pensive," almost exclusively restricted to the single meaning, contemplative,—action of mind rather than strictness of manner,—is scarcely applicable to the hypocritical safeguard denounced by Isabella.
From the original word, too, the deviation of "precise" is less than that of "pensive." Since the former substitutes e for n, and transposes two letters in immediate proximity, while the latter substitutes v for r, and transposes it from one end of the word to the other.
But "precise" has the immeasurable advantage of repetition by Shakspeare himself, in the same play, applied to the same person, and coupled with the same word "guard," which is undoubtedly used in both instances in the metaphorical sense of defensive covering, and not in that of "countenance or demeanour," nor yet in that of "the formal trimmings of scholastic robes:"
"Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy—
O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell
The damned'st body to invest and cover
In precise guards."
Therefore, while I cannot quite join with Mr. Knight in understanding "precise" as applicable to the formal cut of Angelo's garments, I nevertheless agree with him, on other grounds, in awarding a decided preference to the reading of the German critic.