St. John's Wood, May 24. 1851.
_"Prenzie" in "Measure for Measure."_--It must be gratifying to the
correspondents of "NOTES AND QUERIES" to know that their suggestions
receive attention and consideration, even though the result be
unfavourable to their views. I am therefore induced to express, as an
individual opinion, that the reading of the word "prenzie," as proposed
by LEGES, does not appear more satisfactory than those already suggested
in the various editions.
Of these, "precise" is by far the most consonant with the sense of the
context; while "pensive," almost exclusively restricted to the single
meaning, _contemplative_,--action of mind rather than strictness of
manner,--is scarcely applicable to the hypocritical safeguard denounced
by Isabella.
From the original word, too, the deviation of "precise" is less than
that of "pensive." Since the former substitutes _e_ for _n_, and
transposes two letters in immediate proximity, while the latter
substitutes _v_ for _r_, and transposes it from one end of the word to
the other.
But "precise" has the immeasurable advantage of repetition by Shakspeare
himself, in the same play, applied to the same person, and coupled with
the same word "guard," which is undoubtedly used in both instances in
the metaphorical sense of _defensive covering_, and not in that of
"countenance or demeanour," nor yet in that of "the formal trimmings of
scholastic robes:"
"Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy--
O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell
The damned'st body to invest and cover
In precise guards."
Therefore, while I cannot quite join with Mr. Knight in understanding
"precise" as applicable to the formal cut of Angelo's garments, I
nevertheless agree with him, on other grounds, in awarding a decided
preference to the reading of the German critic.