IV. 5. 103. Although we have not been able to find any other instance of 'impair' as an adjective, we have retained it; for editors should be careful not to obliterate ἅπαξ λεγόμενα, and etymologically 'impair' may have the sense of 'unsuitable, unequal to the theme.' Johnson's conjecture of 'impure,' though plausible, is not entirely satisfactory, as it is Troilus's ripeness of judgement and not his modesty which is the subject of praise.
Note XIV.
V. 2. 12. The short speeches throughout this scene are printed as verse first by Steevens (1793). This arrangement has been generally adopted by later editors. From the manner in which the short lines are arranged in the earlier editions it is impossible to say whether they were intended to be read as verse or not. An alteration made by Pope in line 40 for the sake of the metre shows that he read some of the lines at least as verse.
Note XV.
V. 3. III. The Folio here inserts the following lines:
'Pand. Why, but heare you?
Troy. Hence brother lackie; ignomie and shame
Pursue thy life, and liue aye with thy name.'
As they occur again, with a slight variation in the first line, in the last scene, we have followed the Quarto in omitting them. This is an indication that the play has been tampered with by another hand than Shakespeare's.