III.ii.277 (90,9)

[Pattern in himself to know,

Grace to stand, and virtue go]

These lines I cannot understand, but believe that they should be

read thus:

Patterning _himself to know_,

In _grace to stand_, in _virtue go_;

To _pattern_ is _to work after a pattern_, and, perhaps, in

Shakespeare's licentious diction, simply to work. The sense is, _he

that bears the sword of heaven should be holy as well as severe;

one that after good examples labours to know himself, to live

with innocence, and to act with virtue_.

Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies · 第 58 / 153 题