CYMBELINE.

J. and S. 1785.
Vol. Ix.

MALONE.
Vol. VII.

J. and S. 1793.
Vol. XIII.

P. 186.-311.-5.

1 Gent. You do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods

No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.

This passage, notwithstanding all the com

mentators have written about it, I do not understand.

You speak him far.

1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself.

I am not satisfied that these words will bear the sense assigned to them by the explanation of Steevens and Malone. I think we should read fair with Theobald.

1 Gent.

P. 189.-312.-10.

Liv'd in court,

(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards.

Theobald reads featur'd, perhaps rightly.

How! how! another?

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!

I believe Malone is right.

P. 193.-316.-14.

Remain, remain thou here,

While sense can keep it on !

[Putting on the ring.

I think we should read thee with Mr. Pope, and the three subsequent editors, for the reasons assigned by Mr. Steevens.

Сут.

P. 193.-317.-16.

O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth; thou heapest
A year's age on me!

I think with Mr. Steevens, that if Cymbeline meant to say that his daughter's conduct made him precisely one year older, it is a very poor conceit. I think we ought to adopt either Warburton's or Sir T. Hanmer's emendation.

Imo.

P. 194.-317.-17.

I

Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

A touch more rare is certainly explained rightly by Mr. Steevens.

P. 204.-326.-30.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;
rather shunn'd to go even with what I heard, than in
my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but,
upon my mended judgment, (if I offend not to say it is
mended,) my quarrel was not altogether slight.

Malone and Monk Mason have clearly shewn that Dr. Johnson has mistaken the meaning of this passage, which they have rightly explained.

P. 205.-327.-31.

Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I
would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her
adorer, not her friend.

I see no reason for the transposition proposed by Mr. M. Mason, nor do I perceive any objection to Dr. Johnson's explanation.

Iach.

P. 205.-327.-33.

If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excell'd many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

I think it is clear that some correction of the old copy is necessary, and that we should receive either Warburton's or Malone's emendation: they both give the same sense. I incline to prefer Malone's.

P. 208.-331.-35.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my
ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.
Iach. You are a friend, and therein the wiser.

I rather think that this is rightly explained by Dr. Johnson. Mr. Steevens's remark (in his note in the edition of 1793) is just.

P. 211.-334.-40.

Queen. Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him
Will I first work: he's for his master,

And enemy to my son.

I think we should read with Theobald, he's for his master, an enemy to my son; though I admit that if we read and, the words are explicable.

1

Blessed be those,

How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,

Which seasons comfort.

Seasons here is clearly a verb, and comfort a substantive. I incline to Mr. M. Mason's explanation of the passage.

P. 216.-339.-46.

Imo. [reads.]-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your truest

LEONATUS.

Mr. M. Mason's emendation is ingenious, but I do not see that the change is necessary.

P. 217.-339.-47.

Iach. What! are men mad? hath nature given them eyes
To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop
Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above, and the twinn'd stones
Upon the number'd beach?

I agree with Mr. Steevens.

Twinn'd is rightly explained by Mr. Steevens,

and number'd, I believe, by Dr. Johnson.

P. 218.-340.-49.

Iach. Sluttery, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
Should make desire vomit emptiness,

Not so allur'd to feed.

I agree with Mr. Malone.

Iach.

P. 220.-341.51.

'Beseech, you, sir, desire

My man's abode where I did leave him: he

Is strange and peevish.

I think strange is rightly explained by Dr. Johnson, and peevish by Steevens and Malone.

P. 220.-342.-51.

Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope, he is.

Mrs. Centlivre seems to have had this passage in her thoughts, when she wrote Violanti's enquiry after Don Felix, and Lissardo's reply. Wonder, Act. II. sc. 1.

(Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more

Than to be sure they do: for certainties

Either are past remedies; or, timely knowing,

The remedy then born,) discover to me

What both you spur and stop.

I agree with Malone in thinking we should read known and remedy's.

Iach.

P. 233.-353.-67.

The flame o'the taper

Bows toward her; and would under-peep her lids,

To see the enclosed lights, now canopied

Under these windows; white and azure, lac'd

With blue of heaven's own tinct. But my design?

I incline to think that Malone is right.

I incline to adopt Mr. M. Mason's reading befriended.

Clo.

P. 239.-359.-77.

'Tis gold

Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes

Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up

Their deer to the stand of the stealer.