NOTE.

In all cases the Lections are given of Dyce (ed. 1875), Delius (The Leopold ed.), Staunton, Singer, The Cambridge Editors (The Globe ed.), The Clarendon Press Editors or Editor (the eleven plays published). These six editions are termed The Compared Editions.

CRUCES SHAKESPEARIANE.

Note (1.)

THE TEMPEST.

Act I. Scene 2, Line 3,

"The sky, it seems, would pour down flaming pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out."

Compare, same scene, line 198,

"I flamed amazement: sometime I'd divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,

The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble."

J. C. i. 3, 10,

"I have seen tempests,

But never till to-night, never till now,

Did I go through a tempest dropping fire."

"Flaming pitch "blackness with flashes of lightning. So, A. and C. i. 4, 13,—

66

as the spots of heaven,

More fiery by night's blackness."

Shakespeare has "pitchy vapours-pitchy day-pitchy night-night's pitchy mantle."

The folio has "stink

ing pitch," but "dashes the fire out" requires an

B

epithet showing that fire was in the pitch. The correction is given in Singer's note. All the compared eds. retain “stinking."

Note (2.) Ib. Line 28,—

"I have with such prevision in mine art

So safely order'd,”

Compare, same scene, line 180,

"and by my prescience

I find my zenith doth depend-" &c.

Act ii. sc. 1, 297,

"My master through his art forsees the danger." The folio has "provision," which the Clar. P. ed. says means the same thing, foresight; but no human foresight can foretell events; it is his magic art which gives Prospero prevision, prescience, that enables him to foresee. Dyce and Singer print "prevision," after Hunter; the other compared eds. retain "provision.”

Note (3.) Ib. Line 29,

"Tell your piteous heart

There's no harm done."

"No harm."

"I have with such prevision in mine art
So safely order'd, that there is no loss,
No, not so much perdition as an hair
Betid to any creature."

Compare, same scene, line 217,

"But are they, Ariel, safe? Not a hair perish'd;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish."

The folio has "that there is no soule" All the com

pared eds. print "no soul

وو

", "loss" is the

reading of Capell. For loss used with perdition, compare T. and C. v. 2, 144,