To a moft hideous object: thence it came, That fhe, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself, King. Well excus'd. That thou do'ft love her, ftrikes fome fcores away Count. Which better than the first, O dear heav'n blefs. lour to appear artificial, Thus he fpeaks in character, and confiftently with the rest of his freech. The emendation re flores integrity to the figure, and, by a beautiful thought, makes the fcornful perpective of contempt do the office of a turningglofs. WARBURTON. It was but just to infert this note, long as it is, because the commentator feems to think it of importance. Let the reader judge. Our own love, waking, &c.] These two lines I should be glad to call an interpolation of a player, They are ill connected with the former, and not very clear or proper in themselves. I believe Or, the author made two couplets to For Jeep I think we should read flept. Love cries to fee what was done while hatred Sept, and fuffered milchief to be done. Or the meaning may be, that hatred fill continues to fcep at eafe, while lone is weeping; and fo the prefent reading may ftand. 7 Which better than the first, ture, ceafe !] I have ventured, against the authority of the printed Copies, to prefix the Count's H Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! Ber. Her's it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me fee it: For mine eye, While I was fpeaking, oft was faften'd to't.. This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, Neceffitied to help, that by this token. I would relieve her. Had you that craft to reave her Of what fhould ftead her most? Ber. My gracious fovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. Son, on my life, I've seen her wear it, and fhe reckon'd it At her life's rate. Laf. I'm fure, I faw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my Lord, fhe never faw it; In Florence was it from a cafement thrown me, Wrap'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Countess's Name to these two Lines. The King appears, indeed, to be a Favourer of Bertram: but if Bertram fhould make a bad Hufband the fecond Time, why fhould it give the King fuch mortal Pangs? A fond and difappointed Mother might reasonably not defire to live to fee fuch a Day: and from her the Wish of dying, rather than to behold it, comes with Propriety. THEOBALD. 8 In Florence was it from a cafement] Bertram fill continues to have too little virtue to de erve Helen. He did not know indeed that it was Helen's ring, but he knew that he had it not from a window. Cc3 Of Of her that threw it: Noble fhe was, and thought King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine', Than I have in this ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helen's, (Where you have never come) or fent it us metals, and the matter by which gold is multiplied, by which a fmall quantity of gold is made to communicate its qualities to a large mafs of metal. In the reign of Henry the fourth a law was made to forbid all men thenceforth to multiply gold, or ufe any craft of multiplication. of which law Mr. Boyle, when he was warm with the hope of tranfmutation, procured a repeal. then if you know, That you are well acquainted with yourself,] i. e. then if You be wife. A ftrange way of expreffing fo trivial a thought! WARBURTON. The true meaning of this Arange expreffion is, If you know that your faculties are fo found, as that you have the proper con fciousness of your own actions, and are able to recollect and relate what you have done, tell me, &c. Upon Upon her great difafter. Ber. She never faw it. King. Thou fpeak'ft it falfely, as I love mine honour; And mak'ft conject'ral fears to come into me, Which I would fain fhut out; if it should prove That thou art fo inhuman-'twill not prove foAnd yet I know not-thou didst hate her deadly, And he is dead; which nothing, but to clofe Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, More than to fee this ring. Take him away. [Guards feize Bertram. Away with him, My fore-paft proofs, howe'er the matter fall3, This ring was ever hers, you fhall as easy Where yet he never was. [Exit Bertram guarded. King. I'm wrap'd in difmal thinkings. Gent. Gracious Sovereign, Whether I've been to blame or no, I know not: Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath fome four or five removes come fhort + 3 My fore-peft proofs, bowe'er the matter fail, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly feared too little.] The proofs which I have already bad, are fufficient to fhow that my fears were not vain and irrational, have rather been Το To tender it herself. I undertook it, The King reads a letter. Upon his many proteftations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Roufillon a widower, his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to bim. He flole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to this country for juice: grant it me, O King, in you it beft lies; otherwife a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is unDiana Capulet. Laf. I will buy me a fon-in-law in a fair, and toll for him. For this, I'll none of him. done. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this difcov'ry. Seek these fuitors: Go fpeedily, and bring again the Count. Enter Bertram. I am afraid, the life of Helen (lady) Count. Now juftice on the doers! King. I wonder, Sir, wives are so monftrous to you, And that you fly them as you swear to them; Yet you defire to wed. What woman's that? Enter Widow and Diana. Dic. I am, my Lord, a wretched Florentine. |