[The thorny point
Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the shew
Of smooth civility]
We might read _torn_ with more elegance, but elegance alone will
not justify alteration.
II.vii.125 (271,1) [And take upon command what help we have] It seems
necessary to read, _then take upon_ demand _what help_, &c. that is,
_ask_ for what we can supply, and have it.
II.vii.156 (272,3) [Full of wise saws and modern instances] I am in
doubt whether _modern_ is in this place used for absurd; the meaning
seems to be, that the justice is full of _old_ sayings and _late_
examples.
II.vii.167 (273,5) [Set down your venerable burden] Is it not likely
that Shakespeare had in his mind this line of the Metamorphoses?
--_Patremque
Fert humeris_, venerabile onus _Cythereius heros_.