P. 267.-92.-141.

Clo. Say'st thou, that house is dark ?

Mal. As hell, Sir Topas.

Clo. Why, it hath bay windows transparent as barri-
cadoes, and the clear stones towards the south-north are

as lustrous as ebony; and yet complainest thou of ob-
struction?

Here Mr. Malone is constrained to admit a correction of the 2d folio.

P. 271.-95.-145.

Mal. I tell thee, I am as well in my wits, as any man in
Illyria.

Clo. Well-a-day, that you were, sir!

Mal. By this hand, I am: Good fool, some ink, paper,
and light, and convey what I will set down to my lady;
it shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of
letter did.

Clo. I will help you to't. But tell me true, are you not
mad indeed? or do you but counterfeit?

"It is strange to see how the commentators "have here mistaken the clown's character, who

"

says to Malvolio, are you not mad indeed, or do "you but counterfeit? They would fain make "him talk sense. Shakespeare made him talk nonsense in character. The question means, are you really in your senses, or do you but act as "though you were? As though a madman could "counterfeit a wise man! Absurd, but highly in "character! Praises equally applicable to the "annotators." HERON.

Mr. M. Mason understands the passage as Heron does.

P. 272.-95.-147.

Clo. I am gone, sir,
And anon, sir,

I'll be with you again,
In a trice,
Like to the old vice,

Your need to sustain;

Who with dagger of lath,
In his rage and his wrath,

Cries, ah, ha! to the devil:

Like a mad lad,
Pare thy nails, dad,

Adieu, goodman devil.

I am for receiving the common reading, goodman drivel.

Oli.

P. 273.-98.-150.

He shall conceal it,
Whiles you are willing it shall come to note,

I have frequently heard while used corruptly for till, particularly at Harrow, in Middlesex. I find it is used in this sense in the trial of Spencer Cowper and others at Hertford, 5 State Trials, 195. "Mr. Jones. My Lord, then we should keep you "here while to-morrow morning." While is also used in this sense by Sir John Freind at his trial. On his applying to the court to have a witness sent for who was a prisoner in the Gatehouse, the Lord Chief Justice Holt asks: "Sir John, "why did you not send, and desire this before?" to which Freind answers: My Lord, I did " not hear of him while last night." So too Ben

Jonson:

66

I am born a gentleman,

A younger brother, but in some disgrace
Now with my friends; and want some little means

To keep me upright, while things be reconciled.

Devil is an Ass, Act I. Sc. 3d.

P. 282.-105.-159.

Sir To. Sot, did'st see Dick surgeon, sot ?

Clo. O he's drunk, sir Toby, an hour agone; his eyes

were set at eight i'the morning.

Sir To. Then he's a rogue. After a passy-measure, or a

pavin, I hate a drunken rogue.

I incline to agree with Malone.

P. 286.-108.-164.

Vio. All the occurrence of my fortune since
Hath been between this lady, and this lord.

I think Malone is right.

P. 287.-109.-166.

Oli. Open it, and read it.

Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers

the madman, By the Lord, madam,

Oli. How now! art thou mad?

Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow wox.

Malone is certainly right. Mr. Steevens's misconception of the meaning seems to me very strange.

Р. 291.-113.-170.

Clo. Why some are born great, some atchieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interludes one sir Topas, sir; but that's all one:-By the Lord, fool, I am not mad;-But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.

Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you.

I think the regulation proposed by Mr. Tyrwhit is very judicious.

P. Ibid.-171.

Duke. He hath not told us of the captain yet;
When that is known, and golden time convents,
A solemn combination shall be made

Of our dear souls.

:

There is no need of any change: convents

means suits, convenient.

THE WINTER'S TALE.

WARBURTON's remark on the merit of this play is perfectly just. I have always been astonished at the judgment pronounced on it by Mr. Pope. I entirely agree with Dr. Farmer with respect to Sir Thomas Hanmer's alteration of Bohemia to Bithynia.

You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,

To let him there a month, behind the gest

Prefix'd for his parting.

I incline to read you with Warburton.

P. 304.-125.-12.

yet, good-deed, Leontes,

I love thee not a jar o'the clock behind

What lady she her lord.

Good-deed is right.

The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did.

I think the reading of the 2d folio is right. Taking doctrine for a trisyllable, the verse would

be one of the harshest ever written.

Leon.

P. 307.-130.-20.

1

But were they false

As o'er-died blacks, as wind, as waters; false
As dice are to be wish'd, by one that fixes

No bourn 'twixt his and mine; yet were it true
To say, this boy were like me.

I think Sir Thomas Hanmer understands this expression (o'er-died blacks) rightly.

P. 311.-132.-21.

Leon.

Sweet villain!

Most dear'st! my collop! - Can thy dam?-may't be?
Affection! thy intention stabs the center.

Intention is here used for intenseness.

Pol.

P. 310.-131.-23.

How, my lord ?

What cheer? how is't with you, best brother ?

I agree with Mr. Steevens.

Leon.

P. 313.-134.-26.

I am angling now,
Though you perceive me not how I give line.
Go to, go to!

[Aside. Observing Polixenes and Hermione.

How she holds up the neb, the bill to him!
And arms her with the boldness of a wife
To her allowing husband.

I cannot think that allowing here means approving. Every word Leontes utters shews he does not approve Hermione's conduct. Allowing means the same as he before expresses by giving line, permitting unrestrained conversation between Polirenes and Hermione.