A móther, and a mistress, and a friend, Hel. That I wish well-'Tis pity— the enjoyment of her his mafter fhould find the gratification of all his moft romantic wishes. What Dr. Warburton fays afterwards, is faid at random, as all positive declarations of the fame kind muft of neceffity be. STEEVENS. Perhaps we should read, "Will you any thing with us ?" i. e. will you fend any thing with us to court to which Helena's anfwer would be proper enough "Not my virginity yet." T. T. • A phœnix, captain, &c.] The eight lines following friend. I am perfuaded is the nonfenfe of fome foolish conceited player. What put it into his head was Helen's faying, as it should be read for the future, There fhall your mafter have a thousand loves; A mother, and a mistress, and a friend. I know not, what he shall—God fend him well. Where the fellow finding a thousand loves fpoken of, and only three reckoned up, namely, a mother's, a miftref's, and a friend's, (which, by the way, were all a judicious writer could mention; for there are but these three fpecies of love in nature) he would help out the number, by the intermediate nonfenfe: and, be cause they were yet too few, he pieces out his loves with enmities, and makes of the whole fuch finished nonfenfe as is never heard out of Bedlam. WARBURTON. 7-a traitrefs.] It feems that traitress was in that age a term of endearment, for when Lafeu introduces Helena to the king, he fays, You like a traytor, but fuch traytors his majefty does at much fear. JOHNSON. Par. Par. What's pity? Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't, Which might be felt: that we, the poorer born, Whose bafer stars do fhut us up in wishes, Might with effects of them follow our friends, 'And fhew what we alone must think, which never Returns us thanks. Enter Page. Page. Monfieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. [Exit page. Par. Little Helen, farewel: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court. Hel. Monfieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable ftar. Par. Under Mars, I. Hel. I especially think, under Mars. Par. Why under Mars? Hel. The wars have kept you so under, that you must needs be born under Mars. Par. When he was predominant. Hel. When he was retrograde, I think, rather. Hel. You go fo much backward, when you fight. Hel. So is running away, when fear proposes the fafety but the compofition that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well. 9 Par. And show what we alone must think] And shea by realities what we now must only think. JOHNSON. 9 is a virtue of a good wind, and I like the wear well.] The integrity of the metaphor directs us to Shakespeare's true reading;~ which, doubtlefs, was a good MING, i. e. mixture, compoftion; a word common to Shakespeare and the writers of this age, Par. I am fo full of bufineffes, I cannot answer thee acutely I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my inftruction fhall ferve to naturalize thee, fo thou wilt be capable of courtier's counfel, and understand what advice fhall thruft upon thee; elfe thou dieft in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away; farewel. When thou haft leifure, fay thy prayers; when thou haft none, remember thy friends: get thee a good husband, and use him as he ufes thee: fo farewel. [Exit. Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we afcribe to heaven. The fated sky Gives us free fcope; only, doth backward pull Our flow designs, when we ourselves are dull. 'What power is it, which mounts my love so high; That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye? The mightiest space in fortune, nature brings To join like likes, and kifs, like native things. Imand taken from the texture of cloth. The M was turned the wrong way at prefs, and from thence came the blunder. WARBURTON. This conjecture I could wish to fee better proved. This come mon word ming I have never found. The first edition of this play exhibits wing without a capital: yet, I confess, that a virtue of a good wing is an expreffion that I cannot understand, unlefs by a metaphor taken from falconry, it may mean, a virtue that will fly high, and in the ftile of Hotfpur, Pluck honour from the moon. JOHNSON. Mr. Edwards is of opinion, that a virtue of a good wing refers to his nimbleness or fleetness in running away. STEEVENS. What power is it, that mounts my love fo high, That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye ] She means, by what influence is my love directed to a perfon fo much above me; why am I made to difcern excellence, and left to long after it, without the food of hope. The mightiest space in fortune nature brings That weigh their pain in finfe; and do fuppofe What hath been, JOHNSON. All these four lines are obfcure, and, I believe, corrupt. I fhall propose Impoffible be strange attempts, to those SCENE II. Changes to the court of France. Flourish Cornets. Enter the king of France, with let ters, and divers attendants. King. The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue A braving war. 1 Lord. So 'tis reported, Sir. King. Nay, 'tis moft credible; we here receive it, A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Auftria; With caution that the Florentine will move us For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the bufinefs, and would feem To have us make denial. propose an emendation, which those who can explain the present reading, are at liberty to reject. Through mightiest Space in fortune nature brings Likes to join likes, and kifs, like native things. That is, nature brings like qualities and difpofitions to meet through any diftance that fortune may have fet between them; fhe joins them and makes them kifs like things born together. The next lines I read with Hanmer. Impoffible be firange attempts to thofe That weigh their pain in fenfe, and do fuppofe New attempts feem impoffible to those who eftimate their la bour or enterprises by fenfe, and believe that nothing can be but what they fee before them. JOHNSON. I Lord. 1 Lord. His love, and wisdom, Approv'd fo to your majesty, may plead King. He hath arm'd our answer; And Florence is deny'd, before he comes: who are fick 2 Lord. It may well ferve A nursery to our gentry, For breathing and exploit. King. What's he comes here? Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. 1 Lord. It is the count Roufillon, my good lord, Young Bertram. King. Youth, thou bear'ft thy father's face. Frank nature, rather curious than in hafte, Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May'st thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris. Ber. My thanks, and duty, are your majesty's. King. I would, I had that corporal foundness now, As when thy father, and myself, in friendship First try'd our foldiership! He did look far Into the fervice of the time, and was Discipled of the braveft. He lafted long; But on us both did haggish age fteal on, And wore us out of act. It much repairs me To talk of your good father: in his youth 'He had the wit, which I can well obferve 3 He had the wit, which I can well obferve To i. e. Ere their titles can cover the levity of their behaviour, and VOL. IV. C make |