Which correction is out of all rule of criticism. In Hamlet, A&t I. there is an allufion, still more diftant, to the Vice; which will not be obvious at first, and therefore is to be introduced with a fhort explanation. This butfoon character was used to make fun with the devil; and he had several trite expreffions, as I'll be with you in a trice: Ab, ha, boy, are you there, &c. And this was great entertainment to the audience, to fee their old enemy fo belabour'd in effigy. In king Henry V. Act IV. a boy characterizing Pistol, fays, "Bardolph and Nim had ten times more valour, than this roaring devil i' th' old play; every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger." Now Hamlet, having been inftructed by his father's ghoft, is refolved to break the fubject of the difccurfe to none but Horatio; and to all others his intention is to appear as a fort of madman: when therefore the oath of fecrecy is given to the centinels, and the ghost unfeen calls out fear; Hamlet fpeaks to it as the Vice does to the devil. Ab, ba, boy, fayft thou fo? Art thou there truepenny? Hamlet had a mind that the centinels should imagine this was a fhape that the devil had put on; and in act III. he is fomewhat of this opinion himself, The spirit that I have feen may be the devil. This manner of speech therefore to the devil was what all the audience were well acquainted with; and it takes off in fome meafure from the horror of the fcene. Perhaps too the poet was willing to inculcate, that good humour is the best weapon to deal with the devil. True penny either by way of irony, or literally from the greek, reúnavov, veterator. Which word the fcholiaft on Ariftophanes' clouds, ver. 447. explains, τρύμη, ὁ περιτετριμμένος ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν, ὃν ἡμεῖς ΤΡΥΠΑΝΟΝ καλοῦμεν. Several have tried to find a derivation of the Vice; if I fhould not hit on the right, I should only err with others. The Vice is either a quality perfonalized as BIH and KAPTOL in Hefiod and Aefchylus. Sin and Death in Milton; and indeed Vice itself is a person. B. XI. 517. And took his image whom they serv'd, a brutish Vice. bis image. i. e. a brutish Vice's image: the Vice gluttony; not without fome allufion to the Vice of the old plays: but rather, I think, 'tis an abbreviation of Vice-devil, as vice-roy, Vice-doges, &c. and therefore properly called The Vice. He makes very free with his mafter, like most other vice-roys, or prime-minifters. So that he is the devil's vice, and primeminister; and 'tis this, that makes him fo fawcy. UPTON. Ibid.] Mr. Upton's learning only fupplies him with abfurdities. His derivation of vice is too ridiculous to be anfwered. I have nothing to add to the observations of these learned critics, but that fome traces of this antiquated exhibition are still retained in the ruftick puppet-plays, in which I have feen the Devil very luftily belaboured by Punch, whom I hold to be the legitimate fucceffor of the old Vice. JOHNS. P. 477. 1. 30. Lightly, commonly, in ordinary course. JOHNS. P. 478. 1. 3. Dread Lord] The original of this epithet applied to kings has been much difputed. In fome of our old ftatutes the king is called Rex metuendiffimus. JOHNS. L. 5. Too late he died- -] i. e. too lately, the lofs is too fresh in our memory. But the Oxford Editor makes him fay, Too foon he died WARB. L. 21. And being but a toy which is no gift to give.] This is the reading of the quartos; the first folio reads, And being but a toy, which is no grief to give. This reading, made a little more metrical, has been followed, I think erroneously, by all the editors. JOHNS. L. 28. I weigh it lightly, &c.] i. e. I should still efteem it but a trifling gift were it heavier. But the Oxford Editor reads, I'd weigh it lightly, i. e. I could manage it though it were heavier. WARB. P. 479. 6. Because that I am little like an ape] The reproach feems to confift in this at country fhows it was common to fet the monkey on the back of fome other animal as a Bear. The duke, therefore, in calling himself Ae, calls his uncle Bear. JOHNS. P. 480. 1. 27. Divided counfels] That is, a private confultation, feparate from the known and public council. So, in the next scene, Haftings fays, Bid him not fear the separated councils. JOHNS. P. 482. 1. 15. Wanting infiance] That is, wanting fome example or act of malevolence, by which they may be juftified; or fhould, perhaps, be added tion pafs between the woper interval of action. quible. niece Plantagenet, which, perhaps, is nearer to the true meaning, wanting any immediate ground or reason. JOHNS. P. 484. 1. 21. Have with you] A familiar phrafe in parting, as much as, take fomething along with you, or I have fomething to say to you. L. 24. They, for their truth] That is, with respect to their JOHNS. bonefty. P. 485. 1. 10.] Hold it, that is, continue it. JOHNS. JOHNS. JOHNS. P. 486. 1. 10. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this bereafter. Rat. Difpatch the limit of your lives is out] Thefe two lines Mr. Pope has thought fit to suppress in his editions, for what reafon I can't pretend to fay; tho' they have the authority both of the old folios, and are likewife in Mr. Rowe, whom he feems generally to follow. Without them, I would obferve, that Sir Thomas Vaughan is introduced, and led off to die, without a single syllable spoken by him. THEOB.* L. 18. When he exclaim'd on Haftings, you, and I,] This verfe is likewife tacitly fupprefs'd by Mr. Pope, tho' it has THEOB. the fame authorities as the former. P. 488. 1. 3. Had you not come upon your cue] This expreffion is borrowed from the theatre. The Cue, queue, or tail of a fpeech, confift of the last words, which are the token for an entrance or anfwer. To come on the cue, therefore, is to come at the proper time. JOHNS. L. 28. I think, there's ne'er a man, &c.] This character is what Ennius gives of himself, and in the fame words, "Eo ego ingenio natus fum, amicitiam atque inimicitiam in frontem promptam gero. Ap. Non. in Inimic." But this is no imitation: For the thought, which is a common one, could hardly be expreffed otherwise. WARB. P. 489. 1. 4. Likelihood.] Semblance; appearance. L. 26. In former copies : : JOHNS. Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done] The Scene is here in the Tower and Lord Haftings was cut off on that very day, when Rivers, Gray and Vaughan fuffered at Pomfret. How then could Ratcliff be both in Yorkshire and the Tower? |