Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good

1

The word is certainly used by Chapman in his Gentleman Usher, a comedy, 1606, as synonymous to bitch: "Venus your brach there, runs so proud," &c. So, also, our author in King Henry IV, P. I: "I'd rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish." The structure of the passage before us, and the manner in which the next line is connected with this, [And couple &c.] added to the circumstance of the word brach occurring in the end of that line, incline me to think that Brach is here a corruption, and that the line before us began with a verb, not a noun. Malone.

Sir Thomas Hanmer reads-Leech Merriman; that is, apply some remedies to Merriman, the poor cur has his joints swelled.Perhaps we might read-bathe Merriman, which is, I believe, the common practice of huntsmen; but the present reading may stand. Johnson.

Emboss'd is a hunting term. When a deer is hard run, and foams at the mouth, he is said to be emboss'd. A dog also when he is strained with hard running (especially upon hard ground) will have his knees swelled, and then he is said to be emboss'd: from the French word bosse, which signifies a tumour. This explanation of the word will receive illustration from the following passage in the old comedy, entitled The Shoemakers Holiday, or the Gentle Craft, acted at court, and printed in the year 1600, signat. C:

"Beate every brake, the game's not farre,
"This way with winged feet he fled from death:
"Besides, the miller's boy told me even now,
"He saw him take soyle, and he hallowed him,
"Affirming him so emboss'd." T. Warton.

Mr. T. Warton's first explanation may be just. Lyly, in his Midas, 1592, has not only given us the term, but the explanation of it:

"Pet. There was a boy leashed on the single, because when he was imbossed he took soyle.

"Li. What's that?

"Pet. Why a boy was beaten on the tayle with a leathern thong, because, when he fom'de at the mouth with running, he went into the water."

Again, in Chapman's version of the fourth Iliad:

"

- like hinds that have no hearts,

"Who, wearied with a long-run field, are instantly embost, "Stand still," &c. - Steevens.

From the Spanish, des embocar, to cast out of the mouth. We

have again the same expression in Antony and Cleopatra:

66

the boar of Thessaly

"Was never so emboss'd."

Malone.

Can any thing be more evident than that imboss'd means swelled in the knees, and that we ought to read bathe? What has the imbossing of a deer to do with that of a hound? " Imbossed sores" occur in As you Like it; and in The First Part of King Henry IV, the Prince calls Falstaff "imboss'd rascal." Ritson.

At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;

He cried upon it at the merest loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

1 Hun. I will, my lord.

Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth

he breathe?

2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.

Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man. What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he

wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jest:Carry him gently to my fairest chamber, And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters, And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet: Procure me musick ready when he wakes, To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound; And if he chance to speak, be ready straight, And, with a low submissive reverence,

1-how Silver made it good-] This, I suppose, is a technical term. It occurs likewise in the 23d song of Drayton's Polyolbion:

"What's offer'd by the first, the other good doth make." Steevens. Say, What is it your honour will command? Let one attend him with a silver bason, Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers; Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper, And say, Will 't please your lordship cool your hands? Some one be ready with a costly suit, And ask him what apparel he will wear; Another tell him of his hounds and horse, And that his lady mourns at his disease: Persuade him, that he hath been lunatick; "And, when he says he is -," say, that he dreams, For he is nothing but a mighty lord.2 This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs; It will be pastime passing excellent, If it be husbanded with modesty.4

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.

Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him;

And each one to his office, when he wakes.

[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds.

2 And, when he says he is -, say, that he dreams,

For he is nothing but a mighty lord.] I rather think, (with Sir

Thomas Hanmer) that Shakspeare wrote:

And when he says he's poor, say that he dreams. The dignity of a lord is then significantly opposed to the poverty which it would be natural for Sly to acknowledge. Steevens. If any thing should be inserted, it may be done thus: And when he says he's Sly, say that he dreams. The likeness in writing of Sly and say produced the omission.

Johnson.

This is hardly right; for how should the Lord know the beggar's name to be Sly? Steevens.

Perhaps the sentence is left imperfect, because he did not know by what name to call him. Blackstone.

I have no doubt that the blank was intended by the author. It is observable that the metre of the line is perfect, without any supplemental word. In The Tempest a similar blank is found, which Shakspeare there also certainly intended: "I should know that voice; it should be -; but he is drowned, and these are devils." Malone.

3 This do, and do it kindly,] Kindly, means naturally.

M. Mason.

[ocr errors]

4-modesty.] By modesty is meant moderation, without suffering our merriment to break into an excess. Johnson. When he says what he is

mr. fol. 1682

Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:

[Exit Serv.

Belike some noble gentleman, that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.-

Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Serv.

"An it please your honour,

Players that offer service to your lordship.

Lord. Bid them come near:

Enter Players.5

"

Now, fellows, you are welcome.

1 Play. We thank your honour.

Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night?

2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty." Lord. With all my heart. This fellow I remember,

Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son ;-
'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well:
I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd.

1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour means.

5 Enter players.) The old play already quoted reads: "Enter two of the plaiers with packs at their backs, and a boy. "Now, sirs, what store of plaies have you?

"San. Marry my lord you may have a tragicall,

"Or a commoditie, or what you will.

"The other. A comedie thou shouldst say, souns thou 'lt shame

us all.

"Lord. And what's the name of your comedie? "San. Marrie my lord, 'tis calde The Taming of a Shrew: ""Tis a good lesson for us my L. for us that are married men," &c.

6

Steevens.

to accept our duty.] It was in those times the custom of players to travel in companies, and offer their service at great houses. Johnson.

In the fifth Earl of Northumberland's Household Book, (with a copy of which I was honoured by the late duchess) the following article occurs. The book was begun in the year 1512:

"Rewards to Playars.

"Item, to be payd to the said Richard Gowge and Thomas Percy for rewards to players for playes playd in Chrystinmas by stranegers in my house after xxd. every play by estimacion somme xxxiijs. iiijd. Which ys apoynted to be paid to the said Richard Gowge and Thomas Percy at the said Christynmas in full contentacion of the said rewardys xxxiijs. iiijd." Steevens.

7 I think, 'twas Soto-] I take our author here to be paying a An' it pleave your honor, Players

That offer humble service to your Lordship

Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent.-
Well, you are come to me in happy time;
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.

1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves, Were he the veriest antick in the world.8

compliment to Beaumont and Fletcher's Woman Pleased, in which comedy there is the character of Soto, who is a farmer's son, and a very facetious serving-man. Mr. Rowe and Mr. Pope prefix the name of Sim to the line here spoken; but the first folio.has it Sincklo; which, no doubt, was the name of one of the players here introduced, and who had played the part of Soto with applause. Theobald.

As the old copy prefixes the name of Sincklo to this line, why should we displace it? Sincklo is a name elsewhere used by Shakspeare. In one of the parts of King Henry VI, Humphrey and Sincklo enter with their bows, as foresters.

With this observation I was favoured by a learned lady, and have replaced the old reading. Steevens.

It is true that Soto, in the play of Woman Pleased, is a farmer's eldest son, but he does not wove any gentlewoman; so that it may be doubted, whether that be the character alluded to. There can be little doubt that Sincklo was the name of one of the players, which has crept in, both here and in The Third Part of K. Henry VI, instead of the name of the person represented.

Again, at the conclusion of The Second Part of King Henry IV : "Enter Sincklo and three or four officers." See the quarto, 1600. Tyrwhitt.

If Soto were the character alluded to, the compliment would be to the person who played the part, not to the author.

M. Mason.

Sincklo or Sinkler, was certainly an actor in the same company with Shakspeare, &c. - He is introduced together with Burbage, Condell, Lowin, &c. in the Induction to Marston's Malcontent, 1604, and was also a performer in the entertainment entitled The Seven Deadlie Sinns. Malone.

8 in the world.] Here follows another insertion made by Mr. Pope from the old play. These words are not in the folio, 1623. I have therefore degraded them, as we have no proof that the first sketch of the piece was written by Shakspeare:

« ПредишнаНапред »