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extremely ignorant or extremely disingenuous. Pasme, is admitted as a noun in the french language, and is to be found in every Dictionary. I think it highly probable, however, that the Poet may have written qualms. But we are told that the attempt to introduce pasmes instead of palms ridicules itself.' This remark from so tasteless a critic as Mr. Steevens, though it might perhaps be looked for, is yet scarcely to be endured with patience. The elucidation of difficult passages (though by the way there is nothing very difficult in the present instance) can only be effected by bold and spirited conjecture. It is only with the assistance of such men as Warburton that Shakspeare can be thoroughly under-tood. In a word, the learned Prelate certainly possessed a considerable portion of the Poet's genius, of his Celestial fire,' and must therefore rank, as I have before observed, among the foremost of his Critics and Commentators.

A perfect judge will read each work of wit.

With the same spirit that its author writ.'

With respect to 'tarish,' it may possibly have been coined by Shakspeare; as Warburton indeed supposes to have been the case with many other words. I do not, however, approve of the expression tarish springs and would therefore read:

To dry the old oak's sap, and cheerish springs.' Cheerish (which comes very near the old reading) for cheering, in the sense of refreshing. It is the office of time, says he-To dry the old oak's sap, and [also to dry] refreshing springs. Shakspeare frequently forms the participle present by ish instead of ing.

As to Dr. Johnson, it appears strange to me that he should have inade use of so very flimsy an argument as that which is here exhibited By whom is it received? In what book can it be shown?' The fact, however, is that Shakspeare has coined very many words, as Warburton properly and frequently observes. Why then must a word (I speak not oftarish') which, if we are to judge by the context, is evidently right, be cavilled at because it is not to be found in any other author? a striking or uncommon expression must have its origin with a man of abilities, and why may not the introduction of it be ascribed to Shakspeare? nay,' is it not much more probable (being striking) that it should come from him than that it should not? A like remark on objections made to new words has been extorted from me in a note on another of the plays. · B.

1 Watch. Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back?

-how we are shent.] Shent is brought to destruction. JOHN.

Shent does not mean brought to destruction, but shamed, disgraced, made ashamed of himself. PERCY.

Shent,' in this place, is reproved, blamed. B.

Cor. The noble sister of Publicola,
The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle

That's curdled by the frost from purest snow,
And hangs on Dian's temple :

The noble sister of Publicola,] Valeria, methinks, should not have been brought only to fill up the procession without speaking. JOHN.

''The noble sister of Publicola.' The editors might have remembered that in the scene in which Coriolanus is represented as returning from his victory before Corioli, Valeria utters not a word of congratulation. She is a woman of extreme sensibility, and her joy is at that time, as her grief is now, too considerable for language to express. She must on both occasions be supposed as employing, not persuasive words:

• But more persuasive sighs:

Actions that beg, and eloquence of eyes.' B..

Cor. Ay, by and by;

But we will drink together;

-drink together.] Perhaps we should read think. FAR.

'But we will drink together.' Drink together,' is certainly wrong; and think together, is a feeble expression. The right word perhaps will be swink, i. e. labor. We will labor together,' says Coriolanus, to complete this business. See Anthony and Cleopatra; Wink and die,' which should probably be swink and die. i. e. we will labor, or toil hard, and then die.' This is proin the mouth of a Soldier. B.

per

Auf. There was it ;~

For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.

For which my sinews shall be stretch'd-] This is the point on which I will attack him with my utmost abilities. JOHN.

My sinews shall be stretch'd.' Sinews' for strength: bodily strength. For which my sinews shall be stretched upon him,' i. e. For which my strength shall be exerted upon him.' B.

Julius Cae s a r.

ACT I. SCENE II.

Cas. If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me.

If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me ]

This is a reflection on Brutus's ingratitude; which concludes, as is usual on such occasions, in an encomium on his own better conditions. If I were Brutus (says he) and Brutus, Cassius, he should not cajole me as I do him. To humour signifies here to turn and wind him, by inflaming his passions. The Oxford editor alters the last line to

Casur should not love me.

What he means by it, is not worth inquiring. WArb.

The meaning, I think, is this, Casar loves Brutus, but if Brutus and I were to change places, his love should not humour me, should not take hold of my affection, so as to make me forget my principles. JOHN.

'He should not humour me.' 'I do not concur with the editors in their interpretation. He should not humour me,' must mean Cæsar should not humour me. It surely is not said in reference to Brutus. What we are to understand by the expression is this, deceive me by apparently falling in with my humour or inclination. The implied sense will be, the better to conceal his evil designs. B.

Cas. A man no mightier than thyself, or me,
In personal action; yet prodigious grown,
And fearful as these strange eruptions are.

-prodigious grown,] Prodigious is portentous. See Vol. III. p. 134

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Prodigious grown.' Prodigious' is not to be considered as merely portentous; it has a farther, a more extended sense. Cassius would represent Cæsar as a prodigy not only physically, but morally or politically taken. B.

Bru. But 'tis a common proof,

That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,

—common proof,] Common experiment. JoHN.

Rather, continually seen or found. The substantive for the

verb. B.

Cas. It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come, when it will come.

-- —death, a necessary end, &c.] This is a sentence derived from the stoical doctrine of predestination, and is therefore improper in the mouth

of Cæsar. JOHN.

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Seeing that death, a necessary end, &c.' The remark of Johnson is really extraordinary. The Poet's expression savours not of the stoical doctrine in particular: the principle is general, for do not all men acknowledge that death is a necessary end?' that death is emanative of the Deity: that is fixed and known as an end,' though uncertain as to mode and time; 'will come when it will come.' 'The tenets of the porch are not to be censured as being held of irreversible decrees. The followers of Zeno are chiefly distinguished by their notion in respect to the neutrality of external things, so as to be free from, or unmoved by passion. B.

Cas. She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain, with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came suniling, and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent :

She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,] The defect of the metre in this line, and a redundant syllable in another a little lower, show that this passage, like many others, has suffered by the carelessness of the transcriber. It ought, perhaps, to be regulated thus:

She dreamt to-night she saw my statue, which,
Like a fountain with a hundred spouts, did run
Pure blood; and many lusty Romans came
Smiling, and did bathe their hands in't : and these
Does she apply for warnings and portents
Of evils imminent. MAL.

It will read better thus :

She dreamt to-night she saw my statue, which,

Like to a fountain with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came similing, and did bathe their hands in it.
These she applies for warnings, and portents
Of evils imminent. B.

Dec. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell
And reason to my love is liable.

you

this;

And reason, &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. JOHN.

Rather-Reason falls in with or agrees, to' what my love has suggested. B.

Ant. My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.

Teeth of emulation.' Emulation' is here improperly used for envy. Its particular meaning is rivalry or competition. B.

Cas. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;

And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,
Into the lane of children.

"These couchings.' It were better to read, crouchings. B.

Into the lane of children.] I do not well understand what is meant by the lane of children I should read, the law of children. That is, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into such slight determinations as every start of will would alter. Lane and luwe in some manuscripts are not easily distinguished. JOHN.

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I believe we should read bane. Bane in its ordinary acceptation is hurt, injury; and by a licence common with our author, it may possibly be used for punishment. You behave, by these low courtesies, and crouchings, like children, and many men might be tempted to punish you as such.' B.

Cæs. I mean, sweet words,

Low-crooked curtsies and base spaniel fawning. 'Low-crooked.' This is a bad compound. We may point thus, 'low, crooked curtsies.' B.

Cas. I do know but one

That unassailable holds on his rank,

Unshak'd of motion:

–holds on his rank,] Perhaps, holds on his race ; continues his course. We commonly say, To hold a rank, and To hold on a course or way. JOHN.

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