That the words now replaced are better, I do not undertake to prove; it is sufficient that they are Shakespeare's: if phraseology is to be changed as words grow uncouth by disuse, or gross by vulgarity, the history of every language will be lost; we shall no longer have the words of any author; and, as these alterations will be often unskilfully made, we shall in time have very little of his meaning. IV.v.89 (292,1) Feeds on his wonder] The folio reads, Keeps _on his wonder_,-- The quarto, Feeds _on_ this _wonder_.-- Thus the true reading is picked out from between them. HANMER reads unnecessarily, Feeds _on his_ anger.-- IV.v.92 (292,2) Wherein necessity, of matter beggar'd,/ Will nothing stick our persons to arraign] HANMER reads, Whence animosity, _of matter beggar'd_. He seems not to have understood the connection. _Wherein_, that is, _in which pestilent speeches, necessity_, or, _the obligation of an accuser to support his charge, will nothing stick_, &c. IV.v.99 (293,4) The ocean, over-peering of his list] The lists are the barriers which the spectators of a tournament must not pass. IV.v.105 (293,5) The ratifiers and props of every ward] [W: ward] With this emendation, which was in Theobald's edition, Hanmer was not satisfied. It is indeed harsh. HANMER transposes the lines, and reads, _They cry_, "Chuse we Laertes for our king;" The ratifiers and props of every word, _Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds_. I think the fault may be mended at less expence, by reading, _Antiquity forgot, custom not known, The ratifiers and props of every_ weal. That is, of every _government_. IV.v.110 (294,6) Oh, this is counter, you false Danish dogs] Hounds run _counter_ when they trace the trail backwards. IV.v.161 (296,9) Nature is fine in loves and, where 'tis fine, It sends some precious instance of itself After the thing it loves] These lines are not in the quarto, and might hare been omitted in the folio without great loss, for they are obscure and affected; but, I think, they require no emendation. _Love_ (says Laertes) is the passion by which _nature is most_ exalted and _refined_; and as substances _refined_ and subtilised, easily obey any impulse, or follow any attraction, some part of nature, so purified and _refined_, flies off after the attracting object, after the thing it loves. _As into air the purer spirits f1ow, And separate from their kindred dregs below, So flew her soul_.-- IV.v.171 (297,1) O how the wheel becomes it!] [W: weal] I do not see why _weal_ is better than _wheel_. The story alluded to I do not know; but perhaps the lady stolen by the steward was reduced to _spin_.