Insisting on the old prerogative
And power in' the truth o' the cause]
This is not very easily understood. We might read,
--o'er _the truth o' the cause_.
III.iii.26 (384,4) and to have his word/Of contradiction] _To have his
word of contradiction_ is no more than, _he is used to contradict_; and
_to have his word_, that is, _not to be opposed_. We still say of an
obstinate disputant, _he will have the last word_.
III.iii.29 (384,5) which looks/With us to break his neck] To _look_ is
to _wait_ or _expect_. The sense I believe is, _What he has in his
heart_ is waiting there _to help us to break his neck_.
III.iii.57 (386,8) Rather than envy you] _Envy_ is here taken at large
for _malignity_ or ill intention.
III.iii.64 (386,9) season'd office] All _office established_ and
_settled_ by time, and made familiar to the people by long use.
III.iii.96 (387,1) has now at last] Read rather,
--has _now at last_ [instead of _as now at last_].
III.iii.97 (387,2) not in the presence] _Not_ stands again for _not
only_.
III.iii.114 (388,3) My dear wife's estimate] I love my country beyond
the rate at which I _value my dear wife_.