Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies — John Shaqi
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The TragediesJohnson, Samuel
General
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies
Johnson, Samuel
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Criticism and interpretation
II.ii.113 (344,6) every motion/Was tim'd with dying cries] The cries of
the slaughter'd regularly followed his motions, as musick and a dancer
accompany each ether.
II.ii.115 (345,7) The mortal gate] The gate that was made the scene of
death.
II.ii.127 (345,8) He cannot but with measure fit the honours] That is,
no honour will be too great far him; he will show a mind equal to any
elevation.
II.ii.131 (345,1)
rewards
His deeds with doing them; and is content
To spend his time, to end it]
I know not whether my conceit will be approved, but I cannot forbear to
think that our author wrote thus.
--he _rewards
His deeds with doing them, and is content
To spend his time, to spend it.
To do great acts, for the sake of doing them; to spend his life, for the
sake of spending it.
II.iii.4 (348,2) We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power
that we have no power to do] [Warburton saw this as "a ridicule on the
Augustine manner of defining _free-will_."] A ridicule may be intended,
but the sense is clear enough. _Power_ first signifies _natural power_
or _force_, and then _moral power_ or _right_. Davies has used the same
word with great variety of meaning.
_Use all thy_ powers _that heavenly_ power _to praise,
That gave thee_ power _to do_.--
II.iii.18 (348,3) many-headed multitude] Hanmer reads, _many-headed_
monster, but without necessity. To be _many-headed_ includes
_monstrousness_.
II.iii.115 (352,7) I will not seal your knowledge] I will not strengthen
or compleat your knowledge. The seal is that which gives authenticity to
a writing.
II.iii.122 (352,8)
Why in this woolvish tongue should I stand here
To beg of Bob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless vouches?]
Why stand I here in this ragged apparel to beg of Bob and Dick, and such
others as _make their appearance_ here, their _unnecessary votes_. I
rather think we should read [instead of _voucher_], _Their needless_
vouches. But _voucher_ may serve, as it may perhaps signify either the
act or the agent.
II.iii.122 (352) this woolvish gown] Signifies this _rough hirsute_
gown.
II.iii.182 (355,1) ignorant to see't?] [W: "ignorant" means "impotent"]
That _ignorant_ at any time has, otherwise than consequentially, the
same meaning with _impotent_, I do not know. It has no such meaning in
this place. _Were you_ ignorant _to see it_, is, did you want knowledge
to discern it.
II.iii.208 (356,2) free contempt] That is, with contempt open and
unrestrained.
II.iii.227 (357,4) Enforce his pride] Object his pride, and enforce the
objection.
II.iii.258 (358,7) Scaling his present bearing with his past] That is,
_weighing_ his past and present behaviour.
II.iii.267 (359,8) observe and answer/The vantage of his anger] Mark,
catch, and improve the opportunity, which his hasty anger will afford
us.
III.i.23 (360,9) prank them in authority] _Plume, deck, dignify_
themselves.
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