Ah! but those tears are pearl, which thy love sheds, And they are rich, and ransom all ill deeds. XXXV. No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done: by a manifest error of the press, reads loss here, as well as in the corresponding line. The word now substituted is used by our author (in the sense required here) in the 42d Sonnet : "And both for my sake lay on me this cross." Again, in As You Like It: "If I should bear you, I should bear no cross." MALONE. 2 -salving thy AMISS,] That is, thy misbehaviour. So, in Hamlet: "Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss." MALONE. 3 Excusing THY sins more than THY sins are:] The old copy here also has their twice, instead of thy. The latter words of this line, whichever reading we adopt, are not very intelligible. 66 MALONE. Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are," I believe, means only this: Making the excuse more than proportioned to the offence.' STEEVENS. 4 For to thy sensual fault I bring IN SENSE,] Thus the quarto. The line appears to me unintelligible. Might we read: "For to thy sensual fault I bring incense-." A jingle was evidently intended; but if this word was occasionally accented on the last syllable, (as perhaps it might formerly have been,) it would afford it as well as the reading of the old copy. Many words that are now accented on an early syllable, had formerly their accent on one more remote. Thus, in A Midsummer-Night's Dream : "It stands as an edíct in destiny." And 'gainst myself a lawful plea commence : That I an accessary needs must be To that sweet thief, which sourly robs from me. XXXVI. Let me confess that we two must be twain 3, Again, in Hamlet: "Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a seal'd compact—.” Again, in Measure for Measure : "This is the hand, which with a vow'd contráct—.” Again, in King Henry V.: ""Tis no sinister, nor no aukward claim-." Agian, in Locrine, a tragedy, 1595: 66 Nor my exíle can move you to revenge." Again, in our author's 50th Sonnet: "As if by some instinct the wretch did find―." Again, in the 128th Sonnet: "Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap-." Again, in The Rape of Lucrece: "With pure aspécts did him peculiar duties.” Again, ibid.: "If in thy hope thou dar'st do such outrage." Again, ibid. : "But her fore-síght could not forestall their will." Again, in Troilus and Cressida : "Peaceful commérce from dividable shores." Dryden has concluded a line with the same word, which to our ears sounds as oddly as incénse would: "Instructed ships shall sail to quick commérce." MALONE. I believe the old reading to be the true one. The passage, divested of its jingle, seems designed to express this meaning.Towards thy exculpation, I bring in the aid of my soundest faculties, my keenest perception, my utmost strength of reason, my sense.' I think I can venture to affirm that no English writer, either ancient or modern, serious or burlesque, ever accented the sub. stantive incense on the last syllable. STEEVENS. 66 that we Two must be TWAIN,] So, in Troilus and Cres she'll none of him; they two are twain." MALONE. In our two loves there is but one respect, Which though it alter not love's sole effect, As a decrepit father takes delight To see his active child do deeds of youth, 4 Though in our lives a SEPARABLE SPITE,] A cruel fate, that spitefully separates us from each other. Separable for separating. MALONE. Dearest is 5 So I, made lame by fortune's DEAREST spite,] most operative. So, in Hamlet: "'Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven." A late editor, Mr. Capell, grounding himself on this line, and another in the 89th Sonnet, 66 Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,conjectured that Shakspeare was literally lame: but the expression appears to have been only figurative. So again, in Corio lanus: 66 I cannot help it now, "Unless by using means I lame the foot "Of our design." Again, in As You Like It : "Which I did store to be my foster-nurse, "When service should in my old limbs lie lame." In the 89th Sonnet the poet speaks of his friends imputing a fault to him of which he was not guilty, and yet, he says, he would acknowledge it: so, (he adds,) were he to be described as lame, however untruly, yet rather than his friend should appear in the wrong, he would immediately halt. to If Shakspeare was in truth lame, he had it not in his power halt occasionally for this or any other purpose. The defect must have been fixed and permanent. For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit, I make my love engrafted to this store: And by a part of all thy glory live. Look what is best, that best I wish in thee; XXXVIII. How can my muse want subject to invent, For every vulgar paper to rehearse? The context in the verses before us in like manner refutes this notion. If the words are to be understood literally, we must then suppose that our admired poet was also poor and despised, for neither of which suppositions there is the smallest ground. MALONE. made lame by fortune's dearest spite." So, in King Lear: "A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows." STEEVENS. 6 Entitled in thy parts do CROWNED sit,] This is a favourite expression of Shakspeare. So, in King Henry IV. Part I. : "And on thy eyelids crown the god of sleep." Again, in Twelfth Night: "It yields a very echo to the seat "Where love is throned." Again, in Timon of Athens : "And in some sort these wants of mine are crown'd, "That I account them blessings." Entitled means, I think, ennobled. The old copy reads-in their parts. The same error, as has been already observed, has happened in many other places. MALONE. "Entitled in thy parts-." So, with equal obscurity, in The Rape of Lucrece : "But beauty, in that white intituled, 66 'From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field." I suppose he means, that beauty takes its title from that fairness or white.' STEEVENS. O, give thyself the thanks, if aught in me If my slight muse do please these curious days, XXXIX. O, how thy worth with manners may I sing, What can mine own praise to mine own self bring? And our dear love lose name of single one; That due to thee, which thou deserv'st alone. 7 (Which time and THOUGHTS So sweetly DOTH deceive,)] Which, viz. entertaining the time with thoughts of love, doth so agreeably beguile the tediousness of absence from those we love, and the melancholy which that absence occasions. So, in Venus and Adonis : "A summer day will seem an hour but short, Thought in ancient language meant melancholy. See vol. xi. p. 410, n. 7, and vol. xii. p. 318, n. 1. The poet, it is observable, has here used the Latin idiom, probably without knowing it: The old copy reads: "Which time and thoughts so sweetly dost deceive." |
