"_And._ O be perswaded, do not count it holy, It is the purpose that makes strong the vow, But vowes to every purpose must not hold: Unarme, sweet Hector." This reading, by stopping the sense at "holy," renders less likely to be correct the emendation of Tyrwhitt, adopted by Malone:-- "O be persuaded: do not count it holy To hurt by being just: it is as lawful, For we would give much to use violent thefts, And rob in the behalf of charity." Dr. Johnson observes, "This is so oddly confused in the folio, that I transcribe it as a specimen of incorrectness:-- '----do not count it holy To hurt by being just: it is as lawful For we would count give much to as violent thefts,' &c." With reference to these particulars, I should be glad if you would allow me to propose a reading which has not yet been suggested:-- {63} "O be persuaded; do not count it holy: To hurt, by being just, count it unlawful: For we would give, as much, to violent thefts, And rob, in the behalf of charity." The meaning being, it is as unlawful to do hurt by being just, as it would be to _give_ to a robbery, or to _rob_ for a charity; to assist a bad cause by a good deed, or a good cause by a bad deed. The word "count," in its second occurrence, was inserted by the printer in the wrong line; when it is restored to its proper place, the passage presents but little difficulty. JOHN TAYLOR. * * * * * BLACK IMAGES OF THE VIRGIN. (Vol. ii., p. 510.) Your correspondent, MR. HOLT WHITE, throws cut a suggestion relative to the origin of the black doll as a sign at old store shops, which is ingenious, but not very probable. The images of black virgins are confined, I believe, to the south of Europe, with the exception of the celebrated shrine of Einsiedeln in Switzerland. The origin of the colour appears to be oriental, as MR. W. surmises. I send the following extract, in answer to his query on the subject. It is a quotation from Grimm, in M. Michelet's _Introduction to Universal History_; and, as your readers must be all familiar with the language of the gifted historian, I will not make the attempt to convey his brilliant style into another tongue.