[As all impediments in fancy's course,
Are motives of more fancy: and in fine,
Her insult coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: she got the ring]
_Every thing that obstructs love is an occasion by which love is
heightened. And, to conclude, her solicitation concurring with her
fashionable appearance_, she got the ring.
I an not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the
word _modern_, which, perhaps, signifies rather _meanly pretty_.
V.iii.296-305 (137,3) This dialogue is too long, since the audience
already knew the whole transaction; nor is there any reason for
puzzling the king and playing with his passions; but it was much
easier than to make a pathetical interview between Helen and her
husband, her mother, and the king.
V.iii.305 (137,4) [exorcist] This word is used not very properly for
_enchanter_.
V.iii.339 (139,2) [Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts]
The meaning is: _Grant us then your patience_; hear us without
interruption. _And_ take _our parts_; that is, support and defend us.
(see 1765, III,399)
(139) General Observation. This play has many delightful scenes,
though not sufficiently probable, and some happy characters, though
not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature.
Parolles is a boaster and a coward, such as has always been the
sport of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt
than in the hands of Shakespeare.
I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without
generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward,
and leaves her as a profligate: when she is dead by his unkindness,
sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman whom
he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to
happiness.
The story of Bertram and Diana hod been told before of Mariana
and Angelo, and, to confess the truth, scarcely merited to be
heard a second time.