XLV. The other two, slight air and purging fire, My life, being made of four 3, with two alone By those swift messengers return'd from thee, XLVI. Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war 5, Mine eye my heart thy picture's sight would bar ̊, appearance lies'. 3 My life, being made of four,-] So, in Twelfth Night: "Does not our life consist of the four elements?" STEEVENS. 4 Of THY fair health,] The old copy has-their fair health. MALONE. 5 Mine eye and heart are at a MORTAL WAR,] So, in a passage in Golding's Translation of Ovid, 1576, which our author has imitated in The Tempest, vol. xv. p. 159: 66 Among the earth-bred brothers you a mortal war did set. 6THY picture's sight would bar,] printed instead of thy. MALONE, 7 MALONE. Here also their was THY fair appearance lies.] The quarto has their. In this Sonnet, this mistake has happened four times. Malone. To 'cide this title is impannelled 8 A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart; The clear eye's moiety', and the dear heart's part: XLVII. Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took, 5 Thyself away, art present still with me; For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move, 8 To 'CIDE this title is impanelled-] To 'cide, for to decide. The old copy reads-side. MALONE. 9 A QUEST of thoughts,-] An inquest or jury. So, in King Richard III. : "What lawful quest have given their verdict up "Unto the frowning judge?" Malone. The clear eye's MOIETY,-] Moiety in ancient language signifies any portion of a thing, though the whole may not be equally divided. See p. 95, n. 1. MALONE. When that mine eye is FAMISH'D FOR A LOOK,] So, in The Comedy of Errors: "While I at home starve for a merry look." MALONE. BIDS my heart:] i. e. invites my heart. See vol. v. p. 53, MALONE. 4 So, either by THY picture or my love,] The modern editions read unintelligibly : "So either by the picture of my love." MALONE. 5 Thyself away, ART present-] i. e. Thyself, though away, art present, &c. The old copy is here evidently corrupt. It readsare instead of art. MALONE. XLVIII. 6 How careful was I, when I took my way, From whence at pleasure thou may'st come and part; XLIX. 9 Against that time, if ever that time come, 6 But thou, to whom my JEWELS trifles are,] We have the same allusion in King Richard II. : 66 Every tedious stride I make, "Will but remember me what a deal of world "I wander from the jewels that I love." MALONE. 7 Within the gentle CLOSURE of my breast,] So, in King Richard III.: "Within the guilty closure of thy walls." STEEVEns. We have the very words of the text in Venus and Adonis, p. 58: "Lest the deceiving harmony should run "Into the quiet closure of my breast." BOSNELL. 8 For truth proves THIEVISH FOR A PRIZE so dear.] Venus and Adonis : "Rich preys make true men thieves." C. So, in 9 WHENAS thy love hath cast his utmost sum,] Whenas, in ancient language, was synonymous to when. MALONE. Against that time do I ensconce me here 2, To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws, Since, why to love, I can allege no cause. L. How heavy do I journey on the way, When what I seek,-my weary travel's end,- LI. Thus can my love excuse the slow offence Of my dull bearer, when from thee I speed: I When love, converted from the thing it was, Shall reasons find of settled gravity:] A sentiment somewhat similar, occurs in Julius Cæsar: 2 "When love begins to sicken and decay, "It useth an enforced ceremony." STEEVENS. do I ENSCONCE me here,] I fortify myself. A sconce was a species of fortification. MALone. 3 Thus far the miles are MEASUR'D FROM THY FRIEND!] So, in one of our author's plays: "Measuring our steps from a departed friend." STEEVENS. 4 Plods DULLY on,] The quarto reads-Plods duly on. The context supports the reading that I have substituted. So, in the next Sonnet, where the same thought is pursued: "Thus can my love excuse the slow offence 66 Of my dull bearer." MALONE. From where thou art why should I haste me thence? O, what excuse will my poor beast then find, Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind + ? 4 In winged speed no motion shall I know: 3 When SWIFT extremity can seem but SLOW?] So, in Macbeth: "The swiftest wing of recompence is slow." STEEvens. 4 Then should I spur, though MOUNTED ON THE WIND ;] So, in Macbeth: "And Pity, like a naked new-born babe, 66 Striding the blast, or Heaven's cherubin, hors'd "Upon the sightless couriers of the air, "Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye." It is likewise one of the employments of Ariel, "To run upon the sharp wind of the north." Again, in King Henry IV. Part II. : 66 I, from the orient to the drooping west, "Making the wind my post-horse-." Again, in Cymbeline: "Rides on the posting winds." MALONE. 5 Shall neigh (no dull flesh) in his firy race;] The expression is here so uncouth, that I strongly suspect this line to be corrupt. Perhaps we should read: "Shall neigh to dull flesh, in his firy race." Desire, in the ardour of impatience, shall call to the sluggish animal, (the horse) to proceed with swifter motion. MALONE. Perhaps this passage is only obscured by the aukward situation of the words no dull flesh. The sense may be this: Therefore desire, being no dull piece of horse-flesh, but composed of the most perfect love, shall neigh as he proceeds in his hot career.' "A good piece of horse-flesh," is a term still current in the stable. Such a profusion of words, and only to tell us that our author's passion was impetuous, though his horse was slow! STEEVENS. |