K. HEN. Still exaction! The nature of it? In what kind, let's know, Is this exaction? I am much too venturous 1 In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd The sixth part of his substance, to be levied Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold mouths: Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze Allegiance in them; their curses now, Live where their prayers did and it's come to pass, To each incensed will2. I would, your highness! 2 tractable obedience, &c.] i. e. those who are tractable and obedient, must give way to others who are angry. MUSGRAVE. The meaning, I think, is-Things are now in such a situation, that resentment and indignation predominate in every man's breast over duty and allegiance. MALONE. The meaning of this is, that the people were so much irritated by oppression, that their resentment got the better of their obedience. M. MASON. 3 There is no primer BUSINESS.] In the old edition "There is no primer baseness." The queen is here complaining of the suffering of the commons, which, she suspects, arose from the abuse of power in some great men. But she is very reserved in speaking her thoughts concerning the quality of it. We may be assured then, that she did not, in conclusion, call it the highest baseness; but rather made use of a word that could not offend the Cardinal, and yet would incline the King to give it a speedy hearing. I read therefore: "There is no primer business." i. e. no matter of state that more earnestly presses a dispatch. WARBURTON. K. HEN. This is against our pleasure. WOL. By my life, And for me, I have no further gone in this, than by A single voice and that not pass'd me, but 6 To cope malicious censurers; which ever, That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further Dr. Warburton (for reasons which he has given in his note) would read: no primer business : but I think the meaning of the original word is sufficiently clear. No primer baseness is no mischief more ripe or ready for redress, So, in Othello : "Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkies —” STEEVENS. 4 If I am traduc'd by tongues, which neither know My faculties, nor person.] The old copy-by ignorant tongues. But surely this epithet must have been an interpolation, the ignorance of the supposed speakers being sufficiently indicated by their knowing neither the faculties nor person of the Cardinal. I have, therefore, with Sir T. Hanmer, restored the measure, by the present omission. STEEVENS. 5 We must not STINT] To stint is to stop, to retard. Many instances of this sense of the word are given in a note on Romeo and Juliet, vol. vi. p. 36, n. 5. STEEVENS. TO COPE] To engage with, to encounter. The word is still used in some counties. JOHNSON. So, in As You Like It, vol. vi, p. 384: 7 "I love to cope him in these sullen fits." STEEVENS, ONCE weak ones,] The modern editors read-or weak ones; but once is not unfrequently used for sometime, or at one time or other, among our ancient writers. Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft, For our best act'. If we shall stand still, In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at, K. HEN. Things done well', And with a care, exempt themselves from fear; From every tree, lop, bark, and part o' the timber So, in the 13th Idea of Drayton : "This diamond shall once consume to dust." 3 Again, in The Merry Wives of Windsor: "I pray thee, once to-night give my sweet Nan this ring." Again, in Leicester's Commonwealth: " if God should take from us her most excellent majesty (as once he will) and so leave us destitute-" 8 STEEVENS. —or not ALLOW'D;] Not approved. n. 5; and vol. x. p. 125, n. 6. 9 - what worst, as oft, MALONE. See vol. viii. p. 33, Hitting a grosser quality,] The worst actions of great men are commended by the vulgar, as more accommodated to the grossness of their notions. JOHNSON. For our best ACT.] I suppose, for the sake of measure, we should read-action. Perhaps the three last letters of this word were accidentally omitted by the compositor. STEEVENS. 2 Things done well,] Sir T. Hanmer, very judiciously in my opinion, completes the measure by reading: 'Things that are done well." STEEVENS. 3 From every tree, LOP, bark, and part o' the timber;] Lop is a substantive, and signifies the branches. WAREUrton. WOL. A word with you. [To the Secretary. Let there be letters writ to every shire, commons The griev'd Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd, Enter Surveyor3. Q. KATH. I am sorry that the duke of Buck ingham Is run in your displeasure. K. HEN. It grieves many: The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker; mostrare To nature none more bound; his training such, That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself? Yet see 66 4 That, through our intercession, &c.] So, in Holinshed, p. 892: The cardinall, to deliver himself from the evill will of the commons, purchased by procuring and advancing of this demand, affirmed, and caused it to be bruted abrode that through his intercession the king had pardoned and released all things." STEEVENS. s Enter Surveyor.] It appears from Holinshed that his name was Charles Knyvet. RITSON. 6 The gentleman is learn'd, &c.] We understand from "The Prologue of the translatour," that the Knyghte of the Swanne, a French romance, was translated at the request of this unfortunate nobleman. Copland, the printer, adds, " - this present history compyled, named Helyas the Knight of the Swanne, of whom linially is descended my said lord." The duke was executed on Friday the 17th of May, 1521. The book has no date. STEEVENS. 7 And NEVER seek for aid OUT OF HIMSELF.] Beyond the treasures of his own mind. JOHNSON. Read: "And ne'er seek aid out of himself. Yet see-." RITSON. When these so noble benefits shall prove Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt, MA As if besmear'd in hell 9. Sit by us; you shall hear (This was his gentleman in trust,) of him Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount We cannot feel too little, hear too much. WOL. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate what you, Most like a careful subject, have collected Out of the duke of Buckingham. K. HEN. Speak freely. SURV. First, it was usual for him, every day 8 WOL. noble benefits Please your highness, note Not well dispos'd,] Great gifts of nature and education, not joined with good dispositions. JOHNSON. 9 I is become as black As if besmear'd in hell.] So, in Othello: 66 Her name, that was as fresh "As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black "As mine own face." STEEVENS. HE'D carry it-] Old copy-he'l. Rowe. MALONE. VOL. XIX. Corrected by Mr. |