The reading assigned in the foot-note to Steevens is found in a note to the Edition of 1778. He afterwards changed his mind. NOTE II. I. 2. 15. Hanmer's reading is recommended by the fact that in the old forms of 'graces' used in many colleges, and, as we are informed, at the Inns of Court, the prayer for peace comes always after, and never before, meat. But as the mistake may easily have been made by Shakespeare, or else deliberately put into the mouth of the 'First Gentleman,' we have not altered the text. NOTE III. I. 2. 22-26. In the remainder of this scene Hanmer and other Editors have made capricious changes in the distribution of the dialogue, which we have not thought it worth while to chronicle. It is impossible to discern any difference of character in the three speakers, or to introduce logical sequence into their buffoonery. NOTE IV. I. 2. 110. We retain here the stage direction of the Folio, '_Enter ... Juliet, &c._' for the preceding line makes it evident that she was on the stage. On the other hand, line 140 shows that she was not within hearing, nor near Claudio while he spoke. We may suppose that she was following at a distance behind, in her anxiety for the fate of her lover. She appears again as a mute personage at the end of the play. NOTE V. I. 2. 115, 116. Johnson in the first Edition, 1765, says, 'I suspect that a line is lost.' This note was omitted in the Edition of 1778. NOTE VI. I. 4. 70. 'To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business.' We have left this line as it is printed in the Folios. There is a line of similar length and rhythm in _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_, IV. 2. 16. 'But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window.' NOTE VII. II. 2. 149. A writer, 'A. E. B.' in _Notes and Queries_ (Vol. V. p. 325) points out that in Wickliffe's bible, 'shekels' is spelt 'sickles,' which he says ought, therefore, to be retained. There is no doubt of the meaning; but we, in accordance with our custom, have modernized the spelling. NOTE VIII. II. 2. 155-161. The printing in the Folios gives no help towards the metrical arrangement of these and other broken lines. In the present case we might read: '_Ang._ Well, come to me to-morrow. _Luc._ Go to: 'tis well; Away! _Isab._ Heaven keep your honour safe! _Ang._ Amen: For I, &c.' Or, considering the first two lines as prose, we might read the last: '_Isab._ Heaven keep your honour safe! _Ang._ Amen: for I Am that way going to temptation Where prayers cross.' NOTE IX. II. 4. 9. 'fear'd.' Mr Collier, in _Notes and Queries_, Vol. VIII. p. 361, mentions that in Lord Ellesmere's copy of the First Folio the reading is 'sear'd.' NOTE X. II. 4. 94. 'all-building.' 'Mr Theobald has _binding_ in one of his copies.' Johnson. NOTE XI.