Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III.

Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III.

  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?

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Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.