[That sport best pleases, that doth least know how.
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it presents]
The third line may be read better thus,
--_the contents_
_Die in the zeal of_ him _which_ them _presents_.
This sentiment of the Princess is very natural, but less generous
than that of the Amazonian Queen, who says, on a like occasion,
in Midsummer-Night's Dream,
_I love not to see wretchedness o'ercharg'd_,
_Nor duty in his service perishing_.
V.ii.547 (455,8) [A bare throw at novum] This passage I do not understand.
I fancy that _novum_ should be _novem_, and that some allusion
is intended between the play of _nine pins_ and the play of the _nine_
worthies, but it lies too deep for my investigation.
V.ii.581 (457,2) [A-jax] There is a conceit of _Ajax_ and _a jakes_.
V.ii.694 (461,4) [more Ates] That is, more instigation. Ate was
the mischievous goddess that incited bloodshed.
V.ii.702 (461,5) [my arms] The weapons and armour which he wore in
the character of Pompey.
V.ii.744 (463,8) [In the converse of breath] Perhaps _converse_ may,
in this line, mean _interchange_.
V.ii.755 (464,2) [which fain it would convince] We must read,
--_which fain_ would it _convince_;
that is, the entreaties of love which would fain _over-power_ grief.
So Lady Macbeth declares, _That she will_ convince _the chamberlain
with wine_.
V.ii.762 (464,3) [Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief]
As it seems not very proper for Biron to court the princess for
the king in the king's presence, at this critical moment, I
believe the speech is given to a wrong person. I read thus,
Prin. _I understand you not, my griefs are double:
Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief._
King. _And by these badges_, &c.
V.ii.779 (465,4) [Suggested us] That is, _tempted_ us.
V.ii.790 (465,5) [As bombast, and as lining to the time] This line
is obscure. _Bombast_ was a kind of loose texture not unlike what
is now called wadding, used to give the dresses of that time bulk
and protruberance, without much increase of weight; whence the
same name is given a tumour of words unsupported by solid
sentiment. The Princess, therefore, says, that they considered this
courtship as but _bombast_, as something to fill out life, which
not being closely united with it, might be thrown away at pleasure.
V.ii.795 (466,7) [We did not quote them so] [We should read, _quote_,
esteem, reckon. Warburton] though our old writers spelling by
the ear, probably wrote _cote_, as it was pronounced. (see 1765,
II,218,5)
V.ii.823 (467,8) [To flatter up these powers of mine with rest] Dr.
Warburton would read _fetter_, but _flatter_ or _sooth_ is, in my
opinion, more apposite to the king's purpose than _fetter_. Perhaps we
may read,
_To flatter_ on _these_ hours of time _with rest_;
That is, I would not deny to live in the hermitage, to make the
year of delay pass in quiet.
V.ii.873 (469,2) [dear groans] _Dear_ should here, as in many other
places, be _dere_, sad, odious.
V.ii.904 (470,3) [_When daisies pied, and violets blue_] The first
lines of this song that were transposed, have been replaced by
Mr. Theobald.
V.ii.907 (470,5) [_Do paint the meadows with delight_] [W: much
bedight] Much less elegant than the present reading.
(472,7) General Observation. In this play, which all the editors
have concurred to censure, and some have rejected as unworthy of him.