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.51 (143,8) Having alike your cause?] The meaning seems to be,
_having the same cause as you to be offended with me_. But why, because
he was offended with Antony, should he make war upon Caesar? May it not
be read thus,
--_Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach_,
Hating _alike_ our _cause_?
II.ii.53 (143,9) As matter whole you have not to make it with] The
original copy reads,
_As matter whole you_ have _to make it with_.
Without doubt erroneously; I therefore only observe it, that the reader
may more readily admit the liberties which the editors of this authour's
works have necessarily taken.
II.ii.61 (144,1) fronted] i.e. _opposed_.
II.ii.85 (145,4) The honour's sacred which he talks on now,/Supposing
that I lack'd it] [_Sacred_, for unbroken, unviolated. WARB.] Dr.
Warburton seems to understand this passage thus; _The honour which he_
talks _of me as_ lacking, _is_ unviolated, _I never lacked it_. This may
perhaps be the true meaning, but before I read the note, I understood it
thus: Lepidus interrupts Caesar, on the supposition that what he is
about to say will be too harsh to be endured by Antony; to which Antony
replies, _No, Lepidus, let him speak, the security of_ honour on which
he now speaks, _on which this conference is held now_, is sacred, _even_
supposing that I lacked _honour_ before.
II.ii.112 (146,5) your considerate stone] This line is passed by all the
editors, as if they understood it, and believed it universally,
intelligible. I cannot find in it any very obvious, and hardly any
possible meaning. I would therefore read,
_Go to then_, you _considerate_ ones.
You, who dislike my frankness and temerity of speech, and are so
_considerate_ and discreet, _go to_, do your on business.
II.ii.113 (146,6) I do not much dislike the matter, but/The manner of
his speech] I do not, says Caesar, think the man wrong, but too free of
him interposition; _for't cannot be, we shall remain in friendship: yet
if it were possible, I would endeavour it_.
II.ii.123 (147,7) your reproof/Were well deserv'd] In the old edition,
--_your_ proof
_Were well deserv'd_--
Which Mr. Theobald, with his usual triumph, changes to _approof_, which
he explains, _allowance_. Dr. Warburton inserted _reproof_ very properly
into Hanmer's edition, but forgot it in his own.
II.ii.159 (148,8) Lest my remembrance suffer ill report] Lest I be
thought too willing to forget benefits, I must barely return him thanks,
and then I will defy him.
II.ii.210 (150,1) And what they undid, did] It might be read less
harshly,
_And what they did_, undid.
II.ii.212 (150,2) tended her i' the eyes] Perhaps _tended her_ by th'
_eyes_, discovered her will by her eyes.
II.iii.21 (153,6) thy angel/Becomes a Fear] Mr.Uptan reads,
_Becomes_ afear'd,--
The common reading is more poetical.
II.iii.37 (154,7) his quails ever/Beat mine] The ancients used to match
quails as we match cocks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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