Here, as in ii. 3, the verb 'write' makes no sense. The 2nd folio has 'I (ay) right,' which, from the punctuation, would seem to have been a mere makeshift; the ordinary reading is that of Malone, 'A right good creature,' which we may be very sure is not what the poet wrote. As in Hamlet (ii. 1) the 4to, 1604, has "a fetch of _wit_" for "a fetch of _warrant_" of the folio, my first impulse was to read _I warrant_--also that of the editors of the Globe Shakespeare; but I then fixed on "_I wis_," and so it stands in my Edition. I am now convinced that the reading of the 2nd folio, when properly pointed, is the true one. I point it thus: "Ay, right.--Good creature! wheresoe'er she is." The 'Ay, right,' expresses the widow's assent to the truth of her daughter's observation; she then proceeds to speak of Helena. To my great surprise and gratification, I found, after I had made this natural and certain correction, that I had been completely anticipated in it by Capell. How it does provoke one to think of the wilful blindness or obtuseness of editors! For nearly an entire century they have had the true reading before their eyes, and never could see it! Singer has "Ay, right; good creature" etc.; but the punctuation shows he did not understand the passage. * * * * * SC. 6. "Oh, for the love of laughter let him fetch _off_ his drum." * * * * * "This counterfeit lump of ore will be melted." 'Ore' is Theobald's correction of _ours_ in the folio. * * * * * "Hinder not the honour of his design." For 'honour' I, with others, have adopted Theobald's correction _humour_; which, however, is not absolutely certain. * * * * * SC. 7. "That she'll demand. A ring the county wears." As this is the only place in the play where 'county' occurs, and as we have had 'the count he' twice already in this scene, I think we ought to read so here also. (See on Twelfth Night, i. 5.) * * * * * "Herself most chastely absent. After _this_." The 2nd folio added _this_, which had evidently been effaced. * * * * * "Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed, And lawful meaning in a lawful act." If we were not aware of the abjectness of printer-worship, we might wonder at Warburton's most certain correction _wicked_ for the last 'lawful' not having been adopted by every editor. ACT IV. SC. 1. "And buy me another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils." Warburton read _mute_ for 'mule,' and I think he was right. We have "Turkish _mute_" (Hen. V. i. 2). * * * * * "Inform _them_ on that.--So I will, sir.-- Till then I'll keep him dark and safely locked _up_." In the first line Rowe read _'em_ for 'on.' * * * * *