[But I cannot
Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress,
So sovereignly being honourable.
_Leo_. I have lov'd thee--Make that thy question,
and go rot!]
[Theobald had emended the text to give the words "I have lov'd
thee" to Leontes] I have admitted this alteration, as Dr. Warburton
has done, but am not convinced that it is necessary. Camillo,
desirous to defend the queen, and willing to secure credit to his
apology, begins, by telling the king that he _has loved him_, is
about to give instances of his love, and to infer from them his
present zeal, when he is interrupted.
I.ii.394 (278,7) [In whose success we are gentle] I know not whether
_success_ here does not mean _succession_.
I.ii.424 (279,1) [_Cam_. Swear this thought over By each particular star
in heaven] [T: this though] _Swear his thought over_
May however perhaps mean, _overswear his present persuasion_,
that is, endeavour to _overcome his opinion_, by swearing oaths numerous
as the stars. (1773)
I.ii.458 (281,3) [Good expedition be my friend, and comfort The gracious
queen] [W: queen's] Dr. Warburton's conjecture is, I think,
just; but what shall be done with the following words, of which I
can make nothing? Perhaps the line which connected them to the
rest, is lost.
--_and comfort
The gracious queen, part of his theme, but nothing
Of his ill-ta'en suspicion!_
Jealousy is a passion compounded of love and suspicion, this passion
is the theme or subject of the king's thoughts.--Polixenes,
perhaps, wishes the queen, for her comfort, so much of that _theme_
or subject as is good, but deprecates that which causes misery.
May part of the king's present sentiments comfort the queen, but
away with his suspicion. This is such meaning as can be picked
out. (1773)
II.i.38 (283,4) [Alack, for lesser knowledge!] That is, _O that my
knowledge were less_.
II.i.50 (284,5) [He hath discover'd my design, and I Remain a pinch'd
thing] [_Revisal_: The sense, I think, is, He hath now discovered
my design, and I am treated as a mere child's baby, a thing
pinched out of clouts, a puppet for them to move and actuate as
they please.] This sense is possible, but many other meanings
might serve as well. (1773)