The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]

by William Shakespeare

'Yes, in this present quality of war;—
Indeed the instant action, (a cause on foot)
Lives &c.'

Monck Mason proposes:

'Yes, if this prescient quality of war
Induc'd the instant action &c.'

Becket:

'Yes, in this present quality of war
Instance the instant action &c.'

Mr Knight retains the old reading with a new punctuation:

'Yes;—if this present quality of war,—
(Indeed the instant action, a cause on foot,)
Lives &c.'

Mr Collier, following the MS. corrector, in his second edition, reads:

'Yes, in this present quality of war:
Indeed the instant act and cause on foot
Lives &c.'

For 'Indeed' Steevens suggested 'Impel,' and Mason and Henley 'Induc'd.' For 'instant' Tollet would read 'instanc'd.' Delius thinks emendation unnecessary.