KING HENRY VIII.

"Even so, an'tplease your worship, Brackenbury."

"Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous."

The folio hasjealious, which may be read as a trisyllable, of which Sidney Walker has given examples, though nonefrom Shakespeare. I, however, prefer reading 'yeärs' and 'faïr,' as more suited to the slowchaffingtone of Gloster: "Of foür hoürs long. I must endure all." Fletch. Chances, i. 6.

"Which I must reach unto by marrying her."

This transposition seems necessary; for he is speaking simply and without involution.

"The bleeding witness of her hatred by."

This is the reading of the 4tos; the folio hasmy, butherhatred had been mentioned only two lines before. Still the point is doubtful.

"The slave of nature and the son of hell."

So in The Honest Whore (Part I. i. 6) we have,

"You [harlots] are the miserablest creatures breathing,The veryslaves of nature."

"You [harlots] are the miserablest creatures breathing,

The veryslaves of nature."

But that expression may have been taken from this very place.

"Why strewest thou sugar on that bottel'd spider?"

This is the orthography of the folio; the 4tos read herebotled, but in iv. 4 as the folio. Now asbottledhas, as far as my knowledge extends, but one sense, and one which would give no meaning here, it may be intended to show that the verb comes frombottelorbottlein the sense of truss, bundle, as a bottle of hay or straw, a sense which it retains in various compounds in the provincial dialects. 'Bottel'd spider' would then answer to 'bunch-back'd toad' a few lines further on. If this should not satisfy, we might readbloated spider, as in Cowper, Task. v. 442.

"Nay, I pr'ythee, stay a little; I hope my holy humour will change."

This is the reading of the 4tos, which I prefer. The folio has 'passionate humour ofmine.' The change, as Mr. Dyce says, was made by the editors on account of the statute 3 Jac. I. 21.

"If two such murderers as yourselves came to youWould not entreat for life? As you would begWere you in my distress...—Relent! no,no; 'tis cowardly and womanish."

"If two such murderers as yourselves came to you

Would not entreat for life? As you would beg

Were you in my distress...—

Relent! no,no; 'tis cowardly and womanish."

This punctuation gives, I think, the sense of the poet; and I am happy to find I had been anticipated in it by Singer.

"And more to peace my soul shall part to heaven."

It might be better, though the meaning is the same, to read 'atpeace,' as in the following line. The second 'to' was probably in the printer's mind. The usual reading is 'inpeace' which may be right.

"To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night."

The more appropriate term, I think, would belight. Editors follow the reading of the 4tos, 'of perpetual rest.'

"And may direct his course asitplease himself."

"Too late he died, that might have kept that title."

Surely it was toosoonor tooearly. This may, perhaps, be regarded as an instance of the substitution of a contrary term. In the Faerie Queen, however, we have "Saying, that harlot shetoo latelyknew" (i. 3. 25). "And knightly worth which hetoo latedid try" (Ib. iii. 9. 25). See Index,s. v.Too.

"I pray you,gentleuncle, give me this dagger."

We might also read 'givetome'; but it would sound rather stiff. The usual reading is 'unclethen.'

"My lord, will it please youtopass along?"

"My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours."

The folio omits 'you do' which is necessary for the sense, and is in the 4tos.

"Make haste, the hour of death is expiate."

In Sonnet xxii. 'expiate' is also used in the sense of expired, ended.

"And whëre one sad truth mayexpiateThy wrath."

"And whëre one sad truth mayexpiate

Thy wrath."

Donne, Elegy xiv.

"Because, my lord, we would have had you heard."

Grammar requires 'hear.'

"To be spoke to, butonlyby the Recorder."

Onlyis often omitted after 'but.' We might also read 'spokenunto.'

"He is not lulling on a lewd day-bed."

A 'day-bed' was a couch or sofa. The folio has 'love-bed.' 'Lulling' andlollingare only different orthographies, likejustlingandjostling.

"That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls."

"That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,

That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls."

So Capell judiciously transposed these lines.

"Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee."

For 'hate,' Tyrwhitt readlove; Masonhave.

"Sir Gilbert TalbotandSir William Stanley."

"That spoil'd your summer fields and fruitful vines."

The context requiresspoils.

"Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch-light."

As he required a light, for he was going to write, and 'watch' alone never has this sense, I thinklightmay have been effaced. Introd. p.58.

"Bid my guard watch.Nowleave me."

"Harry, that prophesy'd thou shouldest be king,Doth comfort thee in sleepnow. Live and flourish."

"Harry, that prophesy'd thou shouldest be king,

Doth comfort thee in sleepnow. Live and flourish."

There is evidently a syllable wanting after 'sleep'; andnowseems, being as it were opposed to the preceding line, to be the most likely word. We might, perhaps, but with loss of force, readslumberfor 'sleep,' or 'Flourish and live'; but everywhere else it is 'Live and flourish.' The usual reading is 'inthysleep,' thus setting metre at defiance. Introd. p.79.

"The lights burn blue. It is now dread midnight."

This passage down to the line 'Find in myself,' etc., is perhaps the worst in all Shakespeare. Steevens was, I think, right in supposing that, though it is undoubtedly the poet's, he cancelled it; and I am of opinion that he substituted the three last lines of the speech—which, it may be seen, do not cohere with what precedes—and that the cancelled passage was retained by the copyist or printer, as was done in L. L. L. iv. 3, and v. 2.

"They thus directed, we will followthen."

"But tell me,pray, is young George Stanley living."

The omission ofprayis here as in 1 Hen. IV. v. 2.

"All this divided York and Lancaster—Divided in their dire division—Oh! now let Richmond and Elizabeth," etc.

"All this divided York and Lancaster—

Divided in their dire division—

Oh! now let Richmond and Elizabeth," etc.

"Out of his self-drawing web. Oh! gives us note,The force of his own merit makes his way."

"Out of his self-drawing web. Oh! gives us note,

The force of his own merit makes his way."

So the folio reads. Steevens and Malone read 'he gives us note,' and Singer 'Oh,itgives us note.' Mr. Collier says, very plausibly, that the 'Oh' arose from 'abeing written forhe. I read "Out of his self-drawing web—Oh, give it note!"

"A gift that Heaven gives for him, which buys."

Perhaps 'for' should beto.

"A new hell in himselfnow.—Why the Devil."

"And his own letters,The honourable board of Council out,Must fetch in him he papers."

"And his own letters,

The honourable board of Council out,

Must fetch in him he papers."

'Papers' is here evidently a verb, as Pope saw, in the sense of 'puts on paper'; but we have no other instance of it. Mr. Staunton proposespaupers, a verb equally unknown and still more devoid of meaning here. I cannot regard 'papers' as right; yet I know not what to propose in its place. Possibly the original may have beenputs there.

"A beggar's bookOutworths a noble's blood."

"A beggar's book

Outworths a noble's blood."

Collier's folio readsbroodfor 'book,' and a rime may have been intended.

"To you that chok'd it."

'Chok'd' is a very bold term in this place; perhaps the word wascheck'd.

"I am solicited, not by a few,to tell you—And those of true condition—that your subjectsAre in great grievance."

"I am solicited, not by a few,to tell you—

And those of true condition—that your subjects

Are in great grievance."

It is quite evident something has been lost here.

"That tractable Obedience is a slave."

For 'That' the folio hasThis.

"There is no primer business."

'Business' is the correction of both Southern and Warburton forbasenessof the folio, and is deservedly adopted by most editors.

"What we oft do best,By sick interpreters, once weak ones, isNot ours, or not allow'd."

"What we oft do best,

By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is

Not ours, or not allow'd."

'By' would seem to be here the same asapudorbei, Germ., a sense it sometimes bears (seeIndexs. v.). Steevens gives instances of 'once' in the sense of sometimes; but I should incline to readororand, with those whom he terms "the modern editors." I suspect that 'sick' may have beensuch.

"State statues only.—Things done well."

Perhapsmy lordorlord cardinalhas been effaced at the end.

"Almost with listening ravish'd, could not find."

The folio has 'ravish'd listening.'

"This dangerous conception in this point."

The first 'This' should be perhapsHisorThe.

"By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins."

The folio hasHenton, the name of his convent, for 'Hopkins.'

"Whom after under the confession's seal."

The folio readscommission's; the correction is Theobald's.

"The monk might be deceiv'd, and that 'twas dangerous for him."

In the folio it is 'forthis'; Rowe corrected it.

"As he made semblance of his dutyhewould."

"The spavin,A springhalt reign'd among them."

"The spavin,

A springhalt reign'd among them."

For 'A' Collier's folio readsOr; I readAnd. See on Temp. i. 2.

"For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford ...This night to be comptrollers."

"For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford ...

This night to be comptrollers."

I think we should punctuate thus to get rid of the grammatical difficulty. We have precisely such another in 3 Hen. VI. i. 2.

"My lord Sands.—Yes, if Icanmake my play."

"Because they speak no English, thus they prayedme."

"Whither away so fast?—Oh! God save you,sir."

"To have brought,vivâ voce, to his face."

For 'have' the folio hashim. The correction was made in the 4th folio.

"No black envyShall mark my grave."

"No black envy

Shall mark my grave."

This is the reading of Warburton, generally followed. The folio hasmakefor 'mark.'

"Yet are the King's; and till my soul forsake."

We may, with Rowe, read 'forsakeme' making 'vows and prayers' the subj. to 'Shall cry'; but a line may have been lost, as 'my soul' is a more suitable subj. to 'cry.'

"I know your Majesty has always lov'd herSo dear in heart, not to deny her that."

"I know your Majesty has always lov'd her

So dear in heart, not to deny her that."

It would seem that 'So' should beToo; but then the negative may make a difficulty. 'Not' is, as not.

"To leave's a thousand times more bitter than."

"Yet if that quarrel,byfortune, do divorce."

I think the passage thus gains sense: "I foundby fortune" (Othel. v. 2). "And shalt,by fortune, once more resurvey" (Son. xxxii.). Hanmer read 'quarreler,' and Warburton said 'quarrel' was arrow. 'It' is the 'pomp' just mentioned.

"You'd venture an emballing."

Warburton readembalming; Steevensempalling.

"Commends his good opinion of you [to you] andDoes purpose honour to you."

"Commends his good opinion of you [to you] and

Does purpose honour to you."

The first 'To you' was evidently caused by the second. See Introd. p.59.

"Would I had no beingIf this salute my blood a jot. It faints me."

"Would I had no being

If this salute my blood a jot. It faints me."

'Faints' is here a causative. (See Introd. p.71.) For 'salute,' which is used in a rather unusual connexion, Collier's folio readselate, not a Shakespearian word. We have, however, "Itgreetsme, as an enterprise of kindness" (Peric. iv. 4), which is similar, and

"For why should others' false adulterate eyesGivesalutationto my sportiveblood?"

"For why should others' false adulterate eyes

Givesalutationto my sportiveblood?"

Son. cxxi.

"What friend of mine,That had to him derived your anger, did IContinue in my liking? Nay, gave noticeHe was from thence discharg'd."

"What friend of mine,

That had to him derived your anger, did I

Continue in my liking? Nay, gave notice

He was from thence discharg'd."

I think we should read 'gavenotnotice.'

"My father, King of Spain, was reckoned oneThe wisest prince that there had reigned.""For he is one the truest knight alive."

"My father, King of Spain, was reckoned one

The wisest prince that there had reigned."

"For he is one the truest knight alive."

F. Q. i. 3. 37.

"It shall be therefore bootlessThat longer you desire the court. * *"

"It shall be therefore bootless

That longer you desire the court. * *"

It is difficult to make any good sense of 'desire' here; and a foot is wanting. The 4th folio, for 'desire,' readsdefer. We might adddeferr'dordelay'dat the end.

"Sir ... I am about to weep."

This seems to be the right punctuation.

"As you have done my truth. If hethenknow."

"Where powers are your retainers; and your words,Domestics to you, serve your will."

"Where powers are your retainers; and your words,

Domestics to you, serve your will."

For 'words,' which certainly makes no sense, Tyrwhitt readwards. I doubt if either be right.

"And marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and."

For the first 'And' Pope properly readA, as above, i. 3.

"This respite shookThe bosom of my conscience."

"This respite shook

The bosom of my conscience."

For 'bosom' Theobald readbottom. In Holingshed the King's words are, "Which words conceived within the secretbottom of my conscience," which I think settles the question. We have also, "Twill purge thebottoms of their consciences" (Fletch. Span. Cur. iv. 5).

"Yea with a splitting power, and made to tremble."

The folio hasspitting; the correction was made in the 2nd folio.

"Seek me out, andinthat way I am wife in."

"I am sorry my integrity should breedSo deep suspicion, where all faith was meant,And service to his Majesty and you."

"I am sorry my integrity should breed

So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant,

And service to his Majesty and you."

This transposition of the last two lines was made by Edwards, and is right.

"And comforts to your cause."

The folio readsour, with the usual confusion of these pronouns. The 2nd folio made the correction.

"But Cardinal Sins and hollow hearts I fear ye're."

"Better, both for your honour and your cause."

The folio reads "Both for your honour better."

"Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at leastnotStrangely neglected."

"Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at leastnot

Strangely neglected."

Here the negative is absolutely necessary.

"May you be happy in your wish, my lord;For I profess you have it.—Now all my joyTrace the conjunction!"

"May you be happy in your wish, my lord;

For I profess you have it.—Now all my joy

Trace the conjunction!"

I hesitate not to read with Collier's folio, 'Nowmayall joy.'

"Into his own hand, in his bed-chamber."

"Was in his countenance. You he badethen."

"Andstrikes his breast hard; and anon he casts."

"Yet filed with my abilities. Mine own ends."

The folio readsfill'd. I adopt the usual correction.

"That for your Highness' good I ever labour'dMore than mine own, that am, have, and will be...."

"That for your Highness' good I ever labour'd

More than mine own, that am, have, and will be...."

There is an evident aposiopesis here, which the editors have not perceived.

"What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?"

As 'reap'd' makes no sense, we might readriped,raised, orroused.

"Toward the King, my ever royal master,IDare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be."

"Toward the King, my ever royal master,I

Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be."

"Now, if you can, blush and cry Guilty, Cardinal."

So it should be pointed. "Then, if you can, be pale." Cymb. ii. 4.

"Chattels and whatsoever, and to be."

The folio readsCastles. Theobald made the change, as Holingshed hascattels. Perhaps we should readelseafter 'whatsoever.'

"Thou fallest a blessed martyr. Serve the King and ...Pr'ythee lead me in," etc.

"Thou fallest a blessed martyr. Serve the King and ...

Pr'ythee lead me in," etc.

"You're well met once again,sir.—So are you."

"A bold brave gentleman.Andthat should be."

"One that by suggestionTied all the kingdom."

"One that by suggestion

Tied all the kingdom."

I do not understand 'Tied' here. Hanmer proposedTith'd; the word might also beTir'd; or perhapstask'd. "And in the neck of thattask'd the whole state" (1 Hen. IV. iv. 3). We, however, meet in B. and F.'s Four Plays in One, Triumph of Time, Sc. 1:—

"And greedy Lucre at a serious conferenceWhich way totiethe world within their statutes."

"And greedy Lucre at a serious conference

Which way totiethe world within their statutes."

Holingshed's words are, "By crafty suggestion got into his hands innumerable treasure."

"Unwilling to outlive the good that did it."

We must either readhefor 'that,' or, what is more likely, suppose a word lost at the end of the line. We might readcherish, as we have. "This juggling witchcraftwith reverence cherish" (King John, iii. 1). I have, however, readnourish, though I see no advantage in it. "Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers" may have been in the poet's mind. 'Good' is goodness, asfairis fairness.

"How pale she looks,And of an earthly coldness! Mark her eyes!"

"How pale she looks,

And of an earthly coldness! Mark her eyes!"

So Collier's folio also reads. Mr. Staunton proposesHer handfor 'And,' or 'Andfeels.'

"Say tohimhis long trouble now is passingOut of the world."

"Say tohimhis long trouble now is passing

Out of the world."

"Have broken with the King; who hath so farGiven ear to our complaint,thatof his great graceAnd princely care—foreseeing those fell mischiefs,Our reasons laid before him—hehath commanded."

"Have broken with the King; who hath so far

Given ear to our complaint,thatof his great grace

And princely care—foreseeing those fell mischiefs,

Our reasons laid before him—hehath commanded."

"The good I stand on is my truth and honesty."

For 'good' Johnson and Collier's folio readground, which may be right.

"'Mong boysandgrooms and lackeys."

"In our own natures frail and capableOf our flesh."

"In our own natures frail and capable

Of our flesh."

For 'capable' Malone read 'incapable.' Perhaps the right word would beculpable, and it and 'frail' should be transposed, as 'frailty' follows.

"A man that more detests, more stirs against."

For 'stirs' I readstrives, as Shakespeare nowhere uses 'stirs' in conjunction with 'against.'

"And in my presence,They are too thin and base to hide offences."

"And in my presence,

They are too thin and base to hide offences."

For 'base' Malone readbare, which may be right.

"Be'the or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker."

"He stands there like a mortar-piece to blow usup."

"And yourgood brethren I am much beholding."

"Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,Or dedicate his beauty to the same."

"Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,

Or dedicate his beauty to the same."

This is the reading of all the old editions; but the correction of Theobald,sunfor 'same,' is so obvious and so natural that I had made it long before I was aware I had been anticipated.

"Why,gentle cousin, such is love's transgression."

I make this insertion with confidence; for this is the only speech in this play beginning with a short line not complementary to the end of a preceding speech. In our poet's plays of this period speeches never began with a short line, unless when complementary, and at no time was the second line of a couplet short. (Introd. p.82.) Lower down (i. 5) we have "Content thee,gentle coz, let him alone," where the 4to, 1597, omits all but "let him alone."

"Being vexed, a sea nourish'd with lover's tears."

As Johnson also saw, a line is lost here.

"Tell me, in sadness, who she is you love."

This is the reading of 4to 1597, which, however, has 'whom' (see Introd. p.59). The other 4tos and the folios read "who is that you love."

"But sadly tell me whoshe is you love."

These words seem evidently to have been lost; and the repetition is very agreeable. Moreover in this play speeches do not thus end with a short line.

"From Love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd."

A correction of Rowe's foruncharm'dof the originals.

"Only poor,That when she dies with beauty dies her store."

"Only poor,

That when she dies with beauty dies her store."

The plain meaning of this is, that beauty was 'her store,' she had nothing but it, poor praise indeed from a lover! I would read, with Theobald,

"That when she dies with her dies beauty store."

The meaning would then be that, as the whole store of beauty lay, as it were, in her, by not marrying and transmitting it to her children, she would cause it to die with her, and would thus be poor as leaving nothing after her. The same idea is expressed in the poet's first and following sonnets: in Venus and Adonis we have—

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