Nor to comply with heat, affects
the young
In my distinct and proper satisfaction.
Dr. Warburton’s explanation is not more satisfactory: what made the difficulty, will continue to make it. I read,
—I beg it not, To please the palate of my appetite, Nor to comply with heat (the young affects In me defunct) and proper satisfaction; But to be free and bounteous to her mind.
Affects stands here, not for love, but for passions, for that by which any thing is affected. I ask it not, says he, to please appetite, or satisfy loose desires, the passions of youth which I have now outlived, or for any particular gratification of myself, but merely that I may indulge the wishes of my wife.
Mr. Upton had, before me, changed my to me; but he has printed young effects, not seeming to know that affects could be a noun. (1773)
I.iii.290 (391,6) If virtue no delighted beauty lack] [W: belighted] Hanmer reads, more plausibly, delighting. I do not know that belighted has any authority. I should rather read,
If virtue no delight or beauty lack.
Delight, for delectation, or power of pleasing, as it is frequently used.
I.iii.299 (391,8) best advantage] Fairest opportunity.
I.iii.317 (392,9) a Guinea-hen] A showy bird with fine feathers.
I.iii.346 (392,1) defeat thy favour with an usurped beard] [W: disseat] It is more English, to defeat, than disseat. To defeat, is to undo, to change.
I.iii.350 (393,2) It was a violent commencement in her, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration] There seems to be an opposition of terms here intended, which has been lost in transcription. We may read, It was a violent conjunction, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration; or, what seems to me preferable, It was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequel.
I.iii.363 (393,4) betwixt an erring Barbarian] [W: errant] Hanmer reads, errant. Erring is as well as either.
II.i.15 (396,1) And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole] Alluding to the star Arctophylax.
II.i.48 (397,3)
His bark is stoutly timber’d, and
his pilot
Of very expert and approv’d allowance;
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure]
I do not understand these lines. I know not how hope can be surfeited to death, that is, can be encreased, till it is destroyed; nor what it is to stand in bold cure; or why hope should be considered as a disease. In the copies there is no variation. Shall we read
Therefore my fears, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure?