3 That he did in the general bosom reign Many there were that did his picture get, The goodly objects which abroad they find Of lands and mansions, their's in thought assign'd; And labouring in more pleasures to bestow them, Than the true gouty landlord which doth owe them" So many have, that never touch'd his hand, 3 That he did in the GENERAL BOSOM reign-] So, in Hamlet: "And cleave the general ear with horrid speech." - Of young, of old; and sexes both ENCHANTED,- STEEVENS. A similar panegyrick is bestowed by our author upon Timon : 5- 66 his large fortune "Upon his good and gracious nature hanging, "Subdues and properties to his love and tendance MALONE. following where he HAUNTED:] Where he frequented. So, in Romeo and Juliet: 6 66 here in the publick haunt of men." MALONE. the true GOUTY LANDLORD which doth owe them:] So, Timon, addressing himself to the gold he had found: 66 66 Thou'lt go, strong thief, When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand." STEEvens. What with his art in youth, and youth in art, Yet did I not, as some my equals did, With safest distance I mine honour shielded: But ah! who ever shunn'd by precedent Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood, 7 And was my own FEE-SIMPLE-] Had an absolute power over myself; as large as a tenant in fee has over his estate. MALONE. 9 8 the FOIL Of this false JEWEL,-] So, in King Richard II. : 66 thy weary steps "Esteem a foil, in which thou art to set "The precious jewel of thy home return." STEevens. to our BLOOD, i. e. to our passions. See vol. vii. p. 41, n. 1. MALOne. 5 For further I could say, this man's untrue, And bastards of his foul adulterate heart. And long upon these terms I held my city*, That's to you sworn, to none was ever said; 9 — the PATTERNS of his foul beguiling ;] The examples of his seduction. I MALONE. in others' ORCHARDS grew,] Orchard and garden were, in ancient language, synonymous. Our author has a similar allusion in his 16th Sonnet: 66 many maiden gardens yet unset, "With virtuous wish would bear you living flowers, MALONE. 2 Knew vows were ever BROKERS TO DEFILING ;] So, in Hamlet: "Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers, "Meer implorators of unholy suits." STEEVENs. A broker formerly signified a pandar. MALONE. 3 THOUGHT, characters, and words, merely but art,] Thought is here, I believe, a substantive. MALONE. 4 And long upon these terms I held MY CITY,] Thus, in The Rape of Lucrece: "So did I, Tarquin; so my Troy did perish." Again, ibidem: "This move, in him more rage, and lesser pity, Again, in All's Well That Ends Well: Virginity being blown down, man will quickly be blown up; marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lose your city." MALONE. All offences that abroad you see, my Are errors of the blood, none of the mind; They sought their shame that so their shame did find; And so much less of shame in me remains, Among the many that mine eyes have seen, Or any of my leisures ever charm'd: Harm have I done to them, but ne'er was harm'd; Kept hearts in liveries, but mine own was free, And reign'd, commanding in his monarchy. Look here, what tributes wounded fancies sent me, 5 Love made them not: with ACTURE they may be, Where neither party is nor true nor kind:] Thus the old copy. I have not found the word acture in any other place, but suppose it to have been used as synonymous with action. We have, I think, enactures in Hamlet. His offences that might be seen abroad in the world, were the plants before mentioned, that he had set in others' gardens. The meaning of the passage then should seem to be-My illicit amours were merely the effect of constitution, and not approved by my reason: Pure and genuine love had no share in them or in their consequences; for the mere congress of the sexes may produce such fruits, without the affections of the parties being at all engaged. MALONE. 6 Among the many that mine eyes have seen, &c.] So, in The Tempest: 66 Full many a lady "I have ey'd with best regard,-but never any 7 Or my affection PUT TO the smallest TEEN,] Teen is trouble. you to." MALONE. Of grief and blushes, aptly understood Encamp'd in hearts, but fighting outwardly 9. And lo! behold these talents of their hair 1. 3 The diamond; why 'twas beautiful and hard, 8 Look here, what tributes wounded FANCIES sent me,] Fancy is here used for love or affection. So, in The Rape of Lucrece : "A martial man to be soft fancy's slave." MALONE. 9 Encamp'd in HEARTS, but FIGHTING outwardly.] So, in Hamlet: 66 Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting." STEEvens. And lo! behold these TALENTS of their hair, &c.] These lockets, consisting of hair platted and set in gold. MALONE. 2 amorously IMPLEACH'D,] Impleach'd is interwoven; the same as pleached, a word which our author uses in Much Ado About Nothing, and in Antony and Cleopatra : 66 Steal into the pleached bower, "Where honey-suckles ripen'd by the sun 66 with pleach'd arms bending down "His corrigible neck." MALONE 3 Each stone's dear nature, worth, and quality.] In the age of Shakspeare, peculiar virtues were imputed to every species of precious stones. STEEVENS. 4 Whereto his INVIS'D properties did tend;] Invis'd for invisible. This is, I believe, a word of Shakspeare's coining. His invised properties are the invisible qualities of his mind. So, in our author's Venus and Adonis : "Had I no eyes, but ears, my ears would love 66 Thy inward beauty and invisible." MALONE. |