IV. v. 122 (294, 7) [counterfeiting the action of an old woman] [T: a wood
woman] This emendation is received by Sir Thomas Hammer,
but rejected by Dr. Warburton. To me it appears reasonable
enough.
IV. v. 130 (294, 8) [sure, one of you does not serve heaven well, that
you are so cross'd] The great fault of this play, is the frequency of
expressions so profane, that no necessity of preserving
character can justify them. There are laws of higher authority
than those of criticism.
V. v. 28 (300, 3) [my shoulders for the fellow of this walk] Who the
_fellow_ is, or why he keeps his shoulders for bin, I do not understand.
V. v. 77 (304, 9) [Fairies use flowers for their charactery] For the
matter with which they make letters.
V. v. 84 (304, 1) [I smell a man of middle earth] Spirits are supposed
to inhabit the ethereal regions, and fairies to dwell under
ground, men therefore are in a middle station.
V. v. 99 (305, 4) [_Lust is but a bloody fire_] So the old copies. I once
thought it should be read,
_Lust is but a_ cloudy _fire_,
but Sir T. Hammer reads with less violence,
_Lust is but_ i' the blood a _fire_.
V. v. 172 (308, 8) [ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me] Though this
be perhaps not unintelligible, yet it is an odd way of confessing
his dejection. I should wish to read:
--_ignorance itself_ has a plume o' me;
That is, I am so depressed, that ignorance itself plucks me, and
decks itself with the spoils of my weakness. Of the present
reading, which is probably right, the meaning may be, I am so enfeebled,
that _ignorance itself_ weighs me down and oppresses me. (see 1765, II,
554, 1)
V. v. 181 (309, 1) [laugh at my wife] The two plots are excellently
connected, and the transition very artfully made in this speech.
V. v. 249 (311, 2) [_Page_. Tell, what remedy?] In the first sketch of
this play, which, as Mr. Pope observes, is much inferior to the latter
performance, the only sentiment of which I regret the omission, occurs
at this critical time, when Fenton brings in his wife, there is this
dialogue.
Mrs. Ford. _Come, mistress Page. I must be bold with you.
'Tis pity to part love that is so true._
Mrs. Page. [Aside] _Although that I have miss'd in my intent,
Yet I am glad my husband's match is cross'd.
--Here Fenton. take her.--_