Premising that I should approach the text of our great poet with an
almost equal degree of awful reverence with that which characterises his
two latest editors, I must confess that I should not have the same
respect for evident errors of the printers of the early editions, which
they have occasionally shown. In the following passage in the _Tempest_,
Act i., Scene 1., this forbearance has not, however, been the cause of
the very unsatisfactory state in which they have both left it. I
must be indulged in citing at length, that the context may the more
clearly show what was really the poet's meaning:--
"Enter FERDINAND _bearing a Log_.
"_Fer._ There be some sports are painful; and their labour
Delight in them sets off; some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
Would be as heavy to me, as odious; but
The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures: O! she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed;
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: My sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me work; and says such business
Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours;
Most busy lest when I do it."