Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies — John Shaqi
Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: ComediesJohnson, Samuel
General
Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies
Johnson, Samuel
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Criticism and interpretation
III.ii.89 (83,6) [Go--to kennel, Pompey--go] It should be remembered,
that Pompey is the common name of a dog, to which allusion
is made in the mention of a _kennel_. (1773)
III.ii.135 (85,9) [clack-dish] The beggars, two or three centuries
ago, used to proclaim their wont by a wooden dish with a moveable
cover, which they clacked to shew that their vessel was empty.
This appears in a passage quoted on another occasion by Dr. Gray,
(see 1765, I,331,9 and the note in the 1765 Appendix)
III.ii.144 (86,1) [The greater file of the subject] The larger list,
the greater number.
III.ii.193 (87,5) [He's now past it] Sir Thomas Hammer, _He is not
past it yet_. This emendation was received in the former edition,
but seems not necessary. It were to be wished, that we all explained
more, and amended less. (see 1765, I,333,5)
III.ii.277 (90,9)
[Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go]
These lines I cannot understand, but believe that they should be
read thus:
Patterning _himself to know_,
In _grace to stand_, in _virtue go_;
To _pattern_ is _to work after a pattern_, and, perhaps, in
Shakespeare's licentious diction, simply to work. The sense is, _he
that bears the sword of heaven should be holy as well as severe;
one that after good examples labours to know himself, to live
with innocence, and to act with virtue_.
III.ii.294 (91,5)
[So disguise shall, by the disguis'd
Pay with falshood false exacting]
So _disguise_ shall by means of a person _disguised_, return an
_injurious demand_ with a _counterfeit person_.
IY.i.13 (93,4) [My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe]
Though the musick soothed my sorrows, it had no tendency to produce
light merriment.
IV.i.21 (93,5) [constantly] Certainly; without fluctuation of mind.
IV.i.28 (93,6) [circummur'd with brick] _Circummured_, walled round.
_He caused the doors to be_ mured _and cased up_.
Painter's Palace of Pleasure.
IV.i.40 (94,7) [In action all of precept] I rather think we should
read,
_In precept all of action_,--
that is, _in direction given not by words, but by mute signs_.
IV.i.44 (94,8) [I have possess'd him] I have made him clearly and
strongly comprehend.
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