But the, found fleeping, fearing no fuch thing, Into the chamber wickedly he ftalks ', To draw the cloud that hides the filver moon. Look as the fair and firy-pointed fun, 3 Into the chamber wickedly be ftalks,] This line ftrongly confirms the correction that has been made in a paffage in Macbeth: "With Tarquin's ravishing frides, towards his defign "Moves like a ghost." where the old copy reads-fides. So, in a fubfequent paf fage, when Lucretia is defcribing Tarquin's entrance into her chamber, the fays: For in the dreadful dark of deep midnight, "With fhining falchion in my chamber came "A creeping creature, with a flaming light, "And foftly cry'd Thus alfo, in a preceding stanza : "Which drives the creeping thief to fome regard." MALONE. Which gives the watch-word to his hand full soon,] The duodecimo, 1616, reads-too foon. MALONE. sfiry-pointed fun,] I would read:-fire-ypointed. So, Milton : "Under a far-ypointing pyramid." STEEVENS. I have not obferved that our author has any where, except in the antiquated chorufes of Pericles, (if they were his compofition) imitated the elder poets in prefixing y to any word, and therefore fuppofe the old reading to be right. In Shakspeare's edi tion the word is fpeis fierie-pointed. MALONE. That That dazzleth them, or else fome fhame fupposed; But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed. 6 O, had they in that darksome prifon died, Her lily hand her rofy cheek lies under 7, Swelling * In his clear bed] Clear is pure, fpotless. So, in Macbeth: -This Duncan 66 "Hath been so clear in his great office" MALONE. -her rofy cheek lies under,] Thus the first copy. The edition of 1600, and the subsequent impreffions have cheeks. MALONE. Her lily hand her rofy cheek lies under, Cozening the pillow of a lawful kifs;] Among the poems of Sir John Suckling, (who is faid to have been a great admirer of our author) is one entitled A Supplement of an imperfect Copy of Verfes of Mr. William Shakspeare's; which begins with thefe lines, fomewhat varied. We can hardly fuppofe that Suckling would have called a paffage extracted from a regular poem an imperfect copy of verfes. Perhaps Shakspeare had written the lines quoted below (of which Sir John might have had a manufcript copy) on fome occafion previous to the publication of his Lucrece, and afterwards used them in this poem, with fome variation. In a fubfequent page the reader will find fome verfes that appear to have been written before Venus and Adonis was compofed, of which, in like manner, the leading thoughts were afterwards employed in that poem. This fuppofed fragment is thus fupplied by Suckling. The variations are diftinguished by Italick characters. I. "One of ber bands one of her cheeks lay under, "Which therefore fwell'd and feem'd to part asunder, "The Swelling on either fide to want his blifs; Without the bed her other fair hand was, "The one look'd pale, and for revenge did long, îl. "Out of the bed the other fair hand was, * And fhew'd like unmelt fnow unto the fight: III. Her eyes (and therefore it was night) close laid, "Which turn'd to fmiles, ftill as't came near her face. "Her beams, which fome dull men call'd hair, divided MALONE. Where, like a virtuous monument, he lies,] On our ancient monuments the heads of the perfons reprefented are commonly repofed on pillows. Our author has nearly the fame image in Cym beline: "And be her fenfe but as a monument, "Thus in a chapel lying." STEEVENS. Thus far (lays Suckling) Shakspeare. From the want of rhime here, I fufpect this line to be corrupt. With pearly fweat, refembling dew of night'. Till they might open to adorn the day. Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath; O modeft wantons! wanton modesty ! 3 Showing life's triumph in the map of death, As if between them twain there were no ftrife", Her breafts, like ivory globes circled with blue, 'With pearly fweat, resembling dew of night.] So, Dryden : "And fleeping flow'rs beneath the night-dew feat." 2 beline: STEEVENS. Her eyes, like marigolds, had sheath'd their light, -The flame o' the taper "Bends towards her, and would underpeep her lids, Showing life's triumph-] The duodecimo, 1616, reads Showring. MALONE. in the map of death,] So, in King Richard II: "Thou map of honour." STEEVENS. As if between them twain there was no strife, But that life liv'd in death, and death in life.] So, in Macbeth: "That death and nature do contend about them, "Whether they live or die." STEEVENS. A pair of maiden worlds unconquered,] Maiden worlds! How happeneth this, friend Collatine, when Lucretia hath fo long lain by thy fide? Verily, it infinuateth thee of coldness. AMNER. Save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew,] So, Ovid, de fcribing Lucretia in the fame fituation: 66 Effugiet? pofitis urgetur pectora palmis, "Nunc primum externá pectora tačła manu.' MALONE. VOL. I. K k And And him by oath they truly honoured 3. From this fair throne to heave the owner out". What could he fee, but mightily he noted? As the grim lion fawneth o'er his prey, And him by oath they truly honoured.] Alluding to the ancient practice of fwearing domefticks into fervice. So, in Cymbeline: "Her fervants are all forn and honourable." STEEVENS. The matrimonial oath was, I believe, alone in our author's thoughts. MALONE. 9 to heave the owner out.] So, in a fubfequent flanza: "My fighs like whirlwinds labour hence to beave thee:” The duodecimo, 1616, and the modern editions, read: to have the owner out. MALONE. *And in his will his wilful eye be tired.] This may mean-He glutted his luftful eye in the imagination of what he had refolved to de. To tire is a term in falconry. So, in Heywood's Rape of Lucrece: "Muft with keen fang tire upon thy flesh." Perhaps we fhould read-And on his will &c. STEEVENS. -by gazing qualified,] i. e. foftened, abated, diminished. So, in The Merchant of Venice: 66 I have heard "Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify "His rigorous courfes." STEEVENS. Again, in Othello: "I have drank but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too." MALONE. |