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dence abroad, he was watched and reftrained almoft like a captive; and fubfifted by supplies conveyed by the countess of Richmond, his mother. It seems probable therefore, that we must read,

Long kept in Bretagne at his mother's coft. THEOB. P. 547. 1. 8. That is, fright the skies with the shivers of your lances. JOHNS. L. 21. Daring an oppofite to ev'ry danger!] We fhould read, a daring oppofite. WARB.* Ibid.] That is, challenging any of his enemies to encounter him at every danger into which he trufts himself. If Mr. Warburton had understood the text, I fuppofe he would hardly have attempted an alteration.

REVIS.* P. 548.1. 13. and make use of it] Some old books read, make much of it: and therefore Mr. Theobald reads fo too: but very foolishly. Without doubt Shakespeare himself thus corrected it, to make use of it. Which fignifies don't abuse it like the tyrant you have destroyed: whereas the other reading make much of it, fignifies be fond of it; a very ridiculous moral for the conclufion of the play.

WARB.

It

Ibid.] After the exhortations to wear and enjoy the crown, the following one, to make use of it, is extremely flat. is an anticlimax with a witnefs. The reading of the elder editions,

Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it,

is liable to no juft exception; for the verb, to make much of a thing, doth not only fignify to be fond of it, but to preserve it with the most heedful care, an injunction which Henry VII. punctually complied with during the whole course of his reign. REVIS.*

P. 549. 1. 7. All this divided York and Lancaster,

Divided in their dire divifion] I think the paf

fage will be fomewhat improved by a flight alteration,
All that divided York and Lancaster,
Divided in their dire divifion,

O now let Richmond and Elizabeth,
The true fucceeders of each royal house,
By God's fair ordinance conjoin together.

Let them unite all that York and Lancafter divided. JOHNS.

This is one of the most celebrated of our author's performances; yet I know not whether it has not happened to him as to others, to be praised most when praise is not most deferved. That this play has fcenes noble in themselves, and very well contrived to strike in the exhibition, cannot be denied. But fome parts are trifling, others shocking, and fome improbable. JOHNS.

END of the NOTES on RICHARD III.

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