* * * * * "Most ignorant of what he's most assured _of_." * * * * * "Not with fond sickles of the tested gold." In all the English versions of the Scriptures anterior to the Authorized one, _sicle_ is the word, from _siclus_ of the Vulgate, by which the Hebrew _shekel_ is rendered. Shakespeare therefore knew nothing of this last, and must of course have written _sickle_. Yet all editors, the Cambridge and myself included, have adopted Pope's correction, _shekel_, for which all are highly to blame. The word 'tested' proves that Gen. xxiii. 16 was in the poet's mind. * * * * * "Would all themselves laugh mortal." It would be simpler and better to read: "Would laugh themselves all mortal." * * * * * "For I am that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross.--At what hour to-morrow shall I Attend your lordship?--At any time fore noon." * * * * * "_Heaven_ save your honour!--From thee, even from thy virtue." * * * * * SC. 3. "Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth, Hath blister'd her report." Editors follow Warburton in reading _flames_ for 'flaws'; but as _flaw_ is defect, weakness, the text may be right. _Flaw_ is also gust, blast of wind, which also might make some sense here. We should, then, perhaps read 'flaw.' * * * * * "Showing we would not spare Heaven, as we love it, But as we stand in fear...." For 'spare' Collier's folio reads _serve_. * * * * * "_Jul. May_ grace go with you! _Duke. Benedicite_!" So Ritson properly arranges. It is evident that the names and _May_, which I and Steevens have added, were effaced in the MS. In Twelfth Night (i. 5) we have a similar effacement of names of speakers. In the following line 'love' should be _law_, a change made by Hanmer. * * * * * SC. 4. "Is like a good thing, being often read, Grown sear'd and tedious." The folio has '_f_ear'd'; the correction is Warburton's. It is a most unusual use of 'sear'd' in the sense of dry; _sear_ would seem less strange. So Heath also thought. * * * * * "To thy false seeming.--Blood thou art blood _still_!-- Let us write 'Good Angel' on the Devil's horn, 'Tis not the Devil's crest.... How now! Who's there?" Pope read '_but_ blood'; Malone '_still_ blood.' * * * * * "As to put metal in restricted means." It might be better to read, with Malone, _moulds_ instead of 'means.' * * * * * "_Ha!_ say you so, then I shall pose you quickly." * * * * * "Now took your brother's life or to redeem him."