'The readiness is all. Since no man owes aught of what he leaves,
what is't to leave betimes?'
Warburton:
'The readiness is all. Since no man, of ought he leaves, knows,
what is't to leave betimes? Let be.'
Johnson:
'The readiness is all. Since no man knows aught of what he
leaves, what is't to leave betimes?'
Steevens (1773, 1778, 1785) and Rann adopt the reading of Johnson, adding the words 'Let be.'
Warburton's reading was followed by Capell, Malone, Steevens (1793), the Editors of the three Variorum Shakespeares, 1803, 1813, 1821, Singer, Harness and Mr Collier.
Caldecott first adopted the reading given in our text. Mr Grant White follows him.
Becket would substitute 'has thought' for 'has aught.'
Mr Keightley prints thus, marking the sentence as unfinished: