The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]

He seems to have thought that 'hat' was an intolerable anachronism, for in Coriolanus, II. 3. 92 and 160, he has substituted 'cap.' In this passage it would seem that he could not make up his mind and left a blank accordingly. It is noticed in one of Theobald's letters to Warburton (Nichols's Illustrations, Vol. II. p. 493).

Note III.

II. 1. 189. Jennens quotes 'and wildness' as the reading of Rowe's Octavo. Two lines below he quotes 'laugh at us hereafter' as from the same edition. In I. 2. 110, he says that Rowe's Octavo reads 'we arrive' for 'arrive;' in I. 2. 163, that it reads 'would you' for 'you would;' in I. 2. 170, that it reads 'But' for 'Both;' in I. 3. 85, that it omits 'say;' in III. 1. 207, that it reads 'Sing'd.' In none of these cases does our copy of Rowe correspond with his statements.

Note IV.

III. 2. 109. We transcribe a portion of Pope's note on this passage:

If ever there was such a line written by Shakespear, I shou'd fancy it might have its place here, and very humorously in the character of a Plebeian.' He refers to Ben Jonson's quotation in the Sylva or Discoveries, which has been much discussed by the commentators on III. 1. 47. Jonson's words are: 'Many times he [i.e. Shakespeare] fell into those things, could not escape laughter: as when he said in the person of Cæsar, one speaking to him, "Cæsar thou dost me wrong." He replied "Cæsar did never wrong but with just cause," and such like; which were ridiculous.' Vol. IX. pp. 175, 176. ed. 1816. There is another reference to Shakespeare's supposed blunder in the Induction to Ben Jonson's Staple of News, first acted in 1625: 'Prologue. Cry you mercy, you never did wrong, but with just cause.' Vol. V. p. 162. Gifford in his note supposes that Metellus Cimber's speech and Cæsar's reply, as they are found in the Folio of 1623, are due to the 'botchery of the players,' and that they originally stood thus:

But surely the first twelve lines of Cæsar's reply, to which Gifford makes no allusion, cannot have been written by any other hand than Shakespeare's. On the whole it seems more probable that Jonson, quoting from memory, quoted wrong, than that the passage was altered in consequence of his censure, which was first made, publicly, in 1625.

Note V.

III. 2. 202. The arrangement given in the text, suggested by Mr Grant White and Dr Delius, was first printed by us in the Globe Shakespeare and has been adopted by Mr Dyce in his second edition. The folios continue the words to the second citizen, thus:

See Coriolanus, Note (VII). Perhaps the speech given to Sec. Cit. lines 206, 207, should be also given to All, as Dr Delius has also suggested. The same remark may apply to the speech of Third Cit. at the end of Scene 3.

Note VI.

IV. 1. Rowe and Pope give 'Rome' for the Scene. Theobald places it on 'a small Island near Mutina.' In his note he says, 'Shakespeare, I dare say, knew from Plutarch, that these Triumvirs met, upon the Proscription, in a little Island: which Appian, who is more particular, says, lay near Mutina upon the River Lavinius.' Hanmer makes the scene at 'A small Island in the little River Rhenus near Bononia.' Warburton cuts the knot by omitting to indicate the scene. Johnson followed Theobald. Capell put 'A Room in Antony's House,' which is adopted by Malone and modern editors generally. Mr Knight says, 'The triumvirs, it is well known, did not meet at Rome to settle their proscription. But it is evident that Shakspere places his scene at Rome, by Lepidus being sent to Cæsar's house, and told that he shall find his confederates "or here, or at the Capitol."'

Note VII.

IV. 2. 50, 52. The ingenious alteration made by Mr Craik cures the defective metre of line 50 and gets rid of the incongruous 'association of an officer of rank and a servant boy' in line 52. We have not however adopted it, because we are of opinion that the error, such as it is, is due to the author and not to a transcriber. In the first place, irregularities of metre are especially frequent, as Mr Dyce and others have pointed out, where proper names occur; and, secondly, an incongruity which was unnoticed by a long series of commentators may well have escaped the observation of a writer among whose merits minute accuracy cannot be ranked. Moreover in Shakespeare's eyes Lucius was probably a page of gentle birth, with whom Titinius might not unfitly be associated; and the office of guarding a door is at least as suitable to him as that of carrying a message to an army. In the next scene, both Lucius and Lucilius are in attendance.

Note VIII.

V. 1. 69, 70. The stage directions given in the text are compounded of that given in the Folios and that given by Rowe. The Folios after 'hark, a word with you,' add Lucillius and Messala stand forth, which Capell was the first to omit. Rowe retaining those words added, Brutus speaks apart to Lucilius.

MACBETH.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[3666].

Scene: Scotland: England.

THE TRAGEDY OF

MACBETH.

ACT I.

Scene I. A desert place.[3668]

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.

Scene II. A camp near Forres.[3680]

Alarum within. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.[3681]

[Exit Sergeant, attended.

Enter Ross.

[Exeunt.

Scene III. A heath.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

Enter Macbeth and Banquo.[3746]

[Witches vanish.

Enter Ross and Angus.

Scene IV. Forres. The palace.[3801]

Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, and Attendants.[3802]