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lection, which carries them through and through the most profane and trennowned opinions." If this printer preserved any traces of the original, our author wrote, "the most sane and renowned opinions," which is better than fann'd and winnow'd.

The meaning is, "these men have got the cant of the day, a superficial readiness of slight and cursory conversation, a kind of frothy collection of fashionable prattle, which yet carried them through the most select and approving judgments. This airy facility of talk sometimes imposes upon wise men."

Who has not seen this observation verified? JOHN.

"A kind of yesty collection," &c. Dr. Johnson is right in saying that the reading in the quarto is best. I am fully persuaded that it is the true one,-except that for profane we must read profonde (fr.) deep, subtle. B.

Ham. Since no man knows aught, of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes?

Since no man has fought of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes?] This the editors called reasoning. I should have thought the premises concluded just otherwise for since death strips a man of every thing, it is but fit he should shun and avoid the despoiler. The old quarto reads, Since no man, of ought he leaves, knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. This is the true reading. Here the premises conclude right, and the argument drawn out at length is to this effect: "It is true, that, by death, we lose all the goods of life; yet seeing this loss is no otherwise an evil than we are sensible of it, and since death removes all sense of it, what matters it how soon we lose them? Therefore come what will, I am prepared." But the ill pointing in the old book hindered the editors from secing Shakspeare's sense, and encouraged them to venture at one of their own, though, as usual, they are come very lamely off. WARB.

The reading of the quarto was right, but in some other copy the harshness of the transposition was softened, and the passage stood thus: Since no man knows aught of what he leaves. For knows was printed in the later copies has, by a slight blunder in such typographers.

I do not think Dr. Warburton's interpretation of the passage the best that it will admit, The meaning may be this,

SCENE II.

HAMLET.

77

Since no man knows aught of the state of life which he leaves, since he cannot judge what other years may produce, why should he be afraid of leaving life betimes? Why should he dread an early death, of which he cannot tell whether it is an exclusion of happiness, or an interception of calamity. I despise the superstition of augury and omens, which has no ground in reason or piety; my comfort is, that I cannot fall but by the direction of Providence.

Haumer has, Since no man owes aught, a conjecture not Since no man can call any possession very reprehensible.

certain, what is it to leave? JouN.

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"Since no man has aught of what he leaves." Dr. Warburton justly objects to the reasoning here laid down. The reading of the quarto is no doubt the true one, unless for "has aught," we substitute "has thought," and In either case, which, perhaps, would be better.

the Bishop's interpretation of the passage will be right, We while that of Dr. Johnson is manifestly wrong. find in the elder quarto-" Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows,"-that is, "no man of aught he leaves, has any sense or care: death has wholly ended them." In the present text we have "no man knows aught of what he leaves," which gives a totally different meaning: It asserts that there is no man who knows what it is he leaves, which is far from being strictly or philosophically true. Man knows, not only what he quits, but what he is to possess: he knows that he leaves the pains and sorrows of earthly existence, for the joys of eternal life. This, I say, must be known, or the gospel has been promulgated in vain. B.

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Capt. As when the sun 'gins his reflection. Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break; So from that spring, whence comfort seem'd to

come,

Discomfort swells.

As when the sun 'gins his reflection.] Here are two readings. in the copies, gives, and 'gins, i. c. begins. But the latter I think is the right, as founded on observation that storms gen erally come from the east. As from the place (says he) whence the sun begins his course, (viz. the east) shipwrecking storms proceed, so, &c. For the natural and constant motion of the ocean is from east to west; and the wind has the same general direction. This being so, it is no wonder that storms should come most frequently from that quarter; or that they should be most violent, because there is a concurrence of the natural motions of wind and wave. This proves the true reading is 'gins; the other reading not fixing it to that quarter. For the sun may give its reflection in any part of its course above the horizon; but it can begin it only in one, The Oxford editor, however, sticks to the other reading, gives: and says, that, by the sun's giving his reflexion, is meant the rainbow, the strongest and most remarkable reflexion of any

the sun gives. He appears by this to have as good a hand at reforming our physics as our poetry. This is a discovery, that shipwrecking storms proceed from the rainbow. But he was misled by his want of skill in Shakspeare's phraseology, who, by the sun's reflexion, means only the sun's light. But while he is intent on making his author speak correctly, he slips himself. The rainbow is no more a reflection of the sun, than a tune is a fiddle. And, though it be the most remarkable effect of reflected light, yet it is not the strongest. WAR

BURTON.

"As when the sun 'gins his reflection." The true reading is "gives." Dr. W. is mistaken in saying that storms generally come from the east." The contrary is the fact they usually proceed from the south or south Storms are the most violent, and consequently the most dangerous, when winds and tides meet; and not as the Bishop supposes when there is " a concurrence of the natural motions of wind and wave." The meaning of the whole is this." As at a time when the sun appears in splendor, and the horizon is perfectly clear, direful storms will suddenly arise: so from that source whence comfort seemed to proceed, discomfort will often come." If for argument's sake we admit that hurricanes commonly proceed from the east, the adverb when cannot be right, because it is making those hurricanes commence at the particular time in which the sun begins its course and seemingly by a natural consequence: but this is highly absurd. When, likewise, we compare the thing illustrated by that which illustrates, it will be found that the present reading, 'gins is wrong;-For when he says: from that spring, &c." we cannot understand spring as referring to the beginning of the sun's course; but, as alluding to its reflection or influence we certainly may. It is evident therefore that "gives" must be restored to the text, and that the passage should be interpreted as I have recommended. B.

Rosse. From Fife, great king,

Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky,

And fan our people cold.

-flout the sky.

SO

To flout is to dash any thing in another's face. WARBURTON.

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