pro 1861 IC-NBLF $B 272 5b4 10 r- CO m >- PEOPOSED EMENDATIONS OF THE TEXT OF SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS WITH CONFIRMATORY AND ILLUSTRATIVE PASSAGES FROM THE POET'S WORKS AND THOSE OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES BY SWYNFEN JEEVIS SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED LONDON LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS 1861 LONDON PR1NTKD BY 8POTTISWOODE AND CO. NEW-STKEET SQUARE PREFACE. IT is a fact too notorious to be disputed, that the first edition of Shakspeare's Plays, the Folio of 1623, is disfigured throughout, whatever may have been the cause, by the grossest and most perplexing errors. Much has since been done no doubt to rectify and improve the text ; but nume- rous passages, it is equally certain, remain, even in the best modern editions, in all their original obscurity. The emend- ations to be found in the following pages are for the most part, I believe, new, referring exclusively to difficult and doubtful passages which former editors and commentators have either left untouched, or have touched without im- proving. Whether I have been more or less successful than my predecessors, time will show ; but, if only a very small number of the new readings here proposed are thought worthy of acceptance, I shall consider my self-imposed labours amply rewarded. There is an evident tendency in many of the great poet's admirers to undervalue and decry all attempts of this kind, to look upon all further change as unnecessary, and every new emendation, however reasonable, " flat burglary as ever was committed." What ! say these critical Dogberrys, do you pretend* to know what Shakspeare wrote better than those who had the original manuscripts before their eyes ? We pretend M147S11 4 : : PREFACE. to no such superior wisdom. We merely doubt whether the printers of the first Folio had the originals before them at all. In several instances it is most certain they had not. We know, from internal evidence, that " Borneo and Juliet," " A Midsummer Night's Dream," and " Much Ado about Nothing," were not printed from the original manuscripts, but were copied, errors and all, from the Quarto Editions of those plays. It is certainly possible that the plays which appeared in print for the first time in the Folio of 1623, may have been printed from the author's manuscripts ; but, judging from the state in which those plays appear in that edition, it is, to say the least, highly improbable. The probability is that the original manuscripts had perished before the year 1623, and that the printers of the first Folio had no better guides to follow than the Prompter's Books, or other copies equally fallible. The allusion to the handwriting of Shakspeare, in the preface to that edition, goes for nothing, or but little, as we are not sure who wrote it. It evidently does not apply to three of the plays, and it may be equally applicable to all. How many it does apply to, we have now no means of knowing. SWYNFEN JERVIS. October 1860. PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF THE TEXT OF SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. VOL. I. ACT IV. Page 307.* Shave the head, and tie the beard. Scene 2. Read Shave the head, and trim the beard. "Clip and trim those tender strings like a beard." Erotvn. ACT V. 318. To make the truth appear where it seems hid, And hide the false seems true. Scene 1 Mead Unhid the false seems true. 318. One Lucio As then the messenger. Read Was then the messenger. * The figures in the margin refer to the pages of Dycc's edition of the " Works of Shakspeare," 6 vols. 8vo. 1857, which has been made the groundwork generally of these emendations. A 3 PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. VOL. I. ACT I. Page 356. Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst. Scene 1. Read Our hopeful ship was splitted in the midst. " She is the hopeful lady of my earth." Romeo and Juliet, Act I. Sc. 2. " The mother to a hopeful prince." Winter's Tale, Act m. Sc. 2. "His hopeful son's, his babe's, betrays to slander." Winter's Tale, Act n. Sc. 3. 357. To seek thy help by beneficial help. Scene 1. Read To seek thy weal by beneficial help. t( Which for our good we do no further ask, Than whereupon our weal, on you depending, Counts it your weal he have Ms liberty." King John, Act iv. Sc. 2. " To seek niy weal, and wot not where it lies." T. Lodge, 1593. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, VOL. n. ACT IV. Page 57. Let them be in the hands. Scene 2. Read Let them be in the bands. " But release me from my bands With the help of your good hands." Epilogue to the Tempest. " Here's eight that must take hands To join in Hymen's bands." As you Like it, Act v. Sc. 4. THE TEXT OF SlIAKSPEARE'S PLAYS. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. VOL. II. ACT IV. Page 113. Like a jewel in the ear of coelo, the sky. Scene 2. Read In the ear of ccelum, the sky. 120. Stoop, I say. Scene 3. Read Stoops, I say. 121. Come, sir, you blush : as his your case is such. Read Come, sir, your blush. " shame, where is thy blush ? "Hamlet, Act in. Sc. 4. 122. Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear. Read Of faith infringed which such zeal did swear. 123. That you three fools lack'd me fool to make up the mess. Read That you three fools lack'd one fool. 127. For wisdom's sake, a word that all men love ; Or for love's sake, a word that loves all men. Read Or for love's sake, a word that moves all men. " A prone and speechless dialect, Such as moves men." Measure for Measure, Act I. Sc. 2. " And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me." A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act in. Sc. 1. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. ACT IV. 308. Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Scene 1. Read Had not once a lover. " How dear a lover of my lord your husband." Merchant of Venice, Act in. Sc. 4. A 4 PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF " I tell thee, fellow, thy general is my lover." Coriolanus, Act v. Sc. 2. " Farewell, my lord, I as your lover speak." Troilus and Cressida, Act m. Sc. 3. AS YOU LIKE IT. VOL. n. ACT III. Page 380. Bring us to this sight, and you shall say. Scene 4. Read Bring us to see this sight. (( To see this sight, it irks my very soul." Henry VI., Pt. 3rd, Act n. Sc. 2. 380. Lean upon a rush. Scene 5. Read Lean thee upon a rush. ACT V. 401. I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not; As those that fear they hope, and know they fear. Scene 4. Read As those fear that they hope, and know they fear. " I swear I am not that I play." Twelfth Night, Act I. Sc. 5. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. ACT IV. 487. Have to my widow ! Scene 5. Read Have at my widow ! " Have at you for a bitter jest or two ! " Taminy of the Shrew, Act v. Sc. 2. THE TEXT OF SHAKSPEAEE'S PLATS. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. VOL. n. ACT II. Page 531. The greatest grace lending grace. Scene 1. Read The Greatest lending grace. 531. Ne worse of worst extended, With vilest torture let my life be ended, Read Nay^ worse of worst extended. ACT V. 580. (rood Monsieur Lavatch. Scene 2. Read (rood Monsieur Lapatch. TWELFTH NIGHT. ACT II. 21. That methought her eyes had lost her tongue. Scene 2. Read That me bethought her eyes had lost her tongue. " And me bethought that when it first begun." Fifth Satire, Book in. THE WINTER'S TALE. VOL. in. ACT III. Page 1 1 9. Hast thou read truth ? Scene 2, Read Hast thou read true ? 10 PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF KING JOHN. VOL. in. ACT II. Page 194. England was Geffrey's right, Scene 1. And this is Geffrey's : in the name of God. Read And this is Geffrey's heir. 203. And she again wants nothing, to name want, If want it be not, that she is not he. Scene 1. Read If want it be, but that she is not he. ACT V. 244. I must withdraw and weep Scene 2. Upon the spot of this enforced cause. Read Upon the spite of this enforced cause. i( This is the deadly spite that angers me." Henry IV., Part I. Act m. Sc. 1. " spite ! too old to be engag'd to young." Midsummer NigMs Dream, Act I. Sc. 1. RICHARD THE SECOND. ACT I. 283. And with thy blessings steel my lance's point, That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat. Scene 3. Read That it may enter Mowbray's woven coat. " In woven maile all armed warily." SPENSEB'S Fairy Queen, Book I. Canto v. Stanza 4. ACT III. 315. Some haunted by the ghosts they have depos'd. Read Some haunted by their ghosts they have depos'd. Scene 2. THE TEXT OF SHAKSPEAKE'S PLAYS. 11 HENRY THE FOURTH. PART I. VOL. in. ACT II. Page 392. Didst thou never see Titan kiss a dish Scene 4. of butter ? pitiful-hearted Titan, that melted at the sweet tale of the sun ? Read Didst thou never see Titan, pitiful- hearted Titan, kiss a dish of butter, that melted at the sweet tale of the sun ? PART II. ACT III. 503. Here is two more called than your number. Read Here is one more called than your number. Scene 2 HENRY THE FIFTH. ACT I. 566. Yet that is but a crushed necessity. Scene 2, Read Yet that is but a cur's necessity. ACT IV. 622. The French might have a good prey of Scene 4. us, if he knew of it. Read If they knew of it. 12 PKOPOSED EMENDATIONS OP YOL. III. ACT V. Page 639. With better heed Scene 2. To re-survey them, we will suddenly Pass our accept and peremptory answer. Read Pass our exact and peremptory answer. " royal knavery ! an exact command." Hamlet, Act v. Sc. 2. " And in the most exact regard support The worship of their name." King Lear, Act I. Sc. 4. HENRY THE SIXTH. PART II. VOL. IV. ACT II, Page 109. And then we may deliver our supplications in the quill. Scene 3. Read Deliver our supplications in the quite. That is, all together. Quile is a provincial word for a heap. PART III. ACT I. 217. That trembles under his devouring paws. Scene 3. Read That trembles under his devouring jaws. ACT II. 242. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. Scene 6. Read Like life and breath's departing. THE TEXT OP SHAKSPEAEE S PLAYS. 13 HENRY THE EIGHTH. VOL. IV. ACT I. Page 432. A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king. Scene 1. Read A gift that heaven gives ; for him which buys. ACT II. 469. Spake one the least word that might Scene 4. Be to the prejudice of her present state. Read Spoke one the least word. ACT III. 489. There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to. Read He would aspire to. Scene 2. TROILUS AND CRESSIDA. ACT I. 550. And flies fled under shade. Scene 3, Read And flies flee under shade. CORIOLANUS. ACT I. 668. At a crack 'd drachm. Scene 5. Read At a crack'd drachma. " To every several man, seventy-five drachmas." Julius Cctsar, Act in. Sc. 2. <( And drop my blood for drachmas." Julius Casar, Act iv. Sc. 3. 14 PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF VOL. IV. Page 677. Embarquements all of fury. Read Imbarments all of fury. " Only her povertie was the maine imbarment of her marriage." Tr. ofBoccace, 1620. ACT III. 701. If he have power, Scene I. Then vail your ignorance ; if none, awake Your dangerous lenity. Read If none, abate Your dangerous lenity. " Haply my presence May well abate the over-merry spleen Which otherwise would grow into extremes." Induction to the Tammy of the Shrew, Sc. 1. 711. But with such words, that are but rooted in Scene 2. Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables Of no allowance to your bosom's truth. Read Naught but bastards, and syllables Of no allowance to your bosom's truth. " In one that promis'd naught But beggary and poor looks." Cymbeline, Act v. Sc. 5. "He's but a mad lord, and naught but humour sways him." Timon of Athens, Act m. Sc. 6. ACT V. 741. What he would do Scene 1. He sent in writing after me ; what he would not. Read What he would do, What he would not, he sent in writing after me ; THE TEXT OF SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS. 15 , TIMON OF ATHENS. VOL. V. ACT I. Page 204. But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on, Scene 1. Leaving no tract behind. Read Leaving no track behind. " To dim his glory, and to stain the track Of his bright passage to the Occident." Richard 11. Act m. Sc. 3. " And by the bright track of his fiery car Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow." Richard III. Act v, Sc. 3. 210. That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Read That I had no glory but to be a lord. "No glory lives behind the back of such." Much Ado about Nothing, Act in. Sc. 1. JULIUS CJ1SAR. ACT I. 305. You look pale and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder. Read And case yourself in wonder. " For my part I am so attired in wonder." Much Ado about Nothing, Act rv. Sc. 1. " And case thy reputation in thy tent." Troilus and Cressida, Act m. Sc. 3. ACT III. 332. A curse shall light upon the limbs of men. Scene 1. Read Upon the minds of men. " But, woe the while !. our fathers' minds are dead." Julius Cfssar, Act I. Sc. 3. 16 PROPOSED EMENDATIONS OF MACBETH. VOL. V. ACT III. Page 410. Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say it. Scene-l. Read Not i' the worser rank of manhood, say it.