The fenfe is this. How much wickednefs may a man hide within, though he appear angel without. How may that likeness made in crimes i. e. by hypocrify; [a pretty paradoxical expreffion, an angel made in crimes by impofing upon the world [thus emphatically expreffed, making practice on the times] draw with its falfe and feeble pretences [finely called Spiders' ftrings] the most pondrous and fubftantial matters of the world, as riches, honour, power, reputation, &c. WARBURTON. Likeness may mean feemlinefs, fair appearance, as we fay, a likely man. The Revifal reads thus: How may fuch likeness trade in crimes, To draw with idle spider's ftrings Meaning by pond’rous and substantial things, pleasure and wealth. STEEVENS. The old copy reads-Making practice, &c. which renders the paffage ungrammatical, and unintelligible. For the emendation now made, [mocking] I am answerable. A line in Macbeth may add fome fupport to it: Away, and mock the time with faireft show." There is no one more convinced of the general propriety of adhering to old readings. I have ftrenuously followed the courfe which was pointed out and fuccefsfully pursued by Dr. Farmer and Mr. Steevens, that of elucidating and fupporting our author's genuine text by illuftrations drawn from the writings of his contemporaries. But in fome cafes alteration is a matter not of choice, but neceffity; and furely the prefent is one of them. Dr. Warburton, to obtain fome fenfe, omitted the word To in the third line; in which he was followed by all the fubfequent editors. But omiffion, in my apprehenfion, is, of all the modes of emendation, the most exceptionable. In the paffage before us, it is clear from the context, that fome verb must have stood in either the first or fecond of these lines. Some years ago I conjectured that, instead of made, we ought to read wade, which was ufed in our author's time in the fenfe of to proceed. But having fince had occafion to obferve how often the words mock and make have been confounded in these plays, I am now perfuaded that the fingle error in the His old betrothed, but defpis'd; [Exit prefent paffage is, the word Making having been printed instead of Mocking, a word of which our author has made very frequent use, and which exactly fuits the context. In this very play we have had make inftead of mock. [See my note on p. 209.] In the handwriting of that time, the frall c was merely a ftraight line; so that if it happened to be fubjoined and written very close to an o, the two letters might easily be taken for an a. Hence I fuppofe it was, that thefe words have been fo often confounded. The aukwardness of the expreffion" Making practice," of which I have met with no example, may be likewife urged in fupport of this emendation. Likeness is here ufed for fpecious or feeming virtue. So, before: "O feeming, feeming!" The fenfe then of the paffage is,-How may perfons affuming the likeness or femblance of virtue, while they are in fact guilty of the groffeft crimes, impofe with this counterfeit fanétity upon the world, in order to draw to themselves by the flimfieft pretenfions the moft folid advantages; i. e. pleasure, honour, reputation, &c. In Much Ado about Nothing we have a fimilar thought: "O, what authority and show of truth "Can cunning fin cover itself withal!" MALONE. I cannot admit that make, in the ancient copies of our author, has been fo frequently printed inftead of mock; for the paffages in which the one is fuppofed to have been fubftituted for the other, are ftill unfettled. But, be this as it may, I neither comprehend the drift of the lines before us as they stand in the old edition, or with the aid of any changes hitherto attempted; and muft therefore bequeath them to the luckier efforts of future criticifm. STEEVENS. By made in crimes, the Duke means, trained in iniquity, and perfect in it. Thus we fay-a made horfe; a made pointer; meaning one well trained. M. MASON. 4 So difguife fall, by the difguis'd,] So difguife fhall by means of a perfon diguised, return an injurious demand with a counterfeit perfon. JOHNSON. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room in MARIANA'S Houfe. SONG. Take, ob take thofe lips away,s bring again, feal'd in vain. 5 Take, ob take, &c.] This is part of a little fong of Shakspeare's own writing, confifting of two ftanzas, and fo extremely fweet, that the reader won't be displeased to have the other : Hide, ob hide thofe hills of snow, WARBURTON. This fong is entire in Beaumont's Bloody Brother, and in Shakfpeare's Poems. The latter ftanza is omitted by Mariana, as not fuiting a female character. THEOBALD. Though Sewell and Gildon have printed this among Shakspeare's Poems, they have done the fame to fo many other pieces, of which the real authors are fince known, that their evidence is not to be depended on. It is not found in Jaggard's edition of our author's Sonnets, which was printed during his life-time. Our poet, however, has introduced one of the fame thoughts in his 142d Sonnet: not from those lips of thine "That have prophan'd their scarlet ornaments, And feal'd falje bonds of love, as oft as mine." STEEVENS. Again, in his Venus and Adonis: Pure lips, fweet seals in my foft lips imprinted, What bargains may I make, ftill to be fealing." MALONE. MARI. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away; Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice Hath often ftill'd my brawling discontent.[Exit Boy. Enter DUKE. I cry you mercy, fir; and well could with To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. MARI. You have not been inquired after: I have fat here all day. Enter ISABELLA. DUKE. I do conftantly' believe you:-The time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a The fame image occurs alfo in the old black-letter Tranflation of Amadis of Gaule, 4to. p. 171: 66 rather with killes (which are counted the feales of Love) they chofe to confirm their unanimitic, than otherwife to offend a refolved pacience." REED. This fong is found entire in Shakspeare's Poems, printed in 1640; but that is a book of no authority: Yet I believe that both these ftanzas were written by our author. MALONE. My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.] Though the mufick foothed my forrows, it had no tendency to produce light merriment. JOHNSON. 7 conftantly] Certainly; without fluctuation of mind. JOHNSON. little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for fome advantage to yourself. MARI. I am always bound to you. DUKE. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy? [Exit. ISAB. He hath a garden circummur'd with Whose western fide is with a vineyard back'd; That makes his opening with this bigger key: DUKE. But fhall you on your knowledge find this ISAB. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whispering and moft guilty diligence, So, in The Merchant of Venice: 8 "Could fo much turn the constitution "Of any conftant man." STEEVENS. circummur'd with brick,] Circummured, walled round. "He caufed the doors to be mured and cafed up." 9 Painter's Palace of Pleafure. JOHNSON. a planched gate,] i. e. a gate made of boards. Planche, Fr. A plancher is a plank. So, in Lyly's Maid's Metamorphofis, 1600: upon the ground doth lie "A hollow plancher." Again, in Sir Arthur Gorges' tranflation of Lucan, 1614: "Yet with his hoofes doth beat and rent "The planched floore, the barres and chaines.” STEEVENS. There have I, &c.] In the old copy the lines ftand thus: Heavy middle of the night, to call upon him. STEEVENS. |