Fall into taint:" which to believe of her, That monsters it,] This uncommon verb occurs again in Coriolanus, Act II. sc. ii: "To hear my nothings monster'd." STEEVENS. or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint:] The common books read: or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall'n into taint : This line has no clear or strong sense, nor is this reading authorized by any copy, though it has crept into all the late editions. The early quarto reads: or you, for vouch'd affections Fall'n into taint. The folio: or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint. Taint is used for corruption and for disgrace. If therefore we take the oldest reading it may be reformed thus: sure her offence Must be of such unnatural degree, That monsters it; or you for vouch'd affection Her offence must be prodigious, or you must fall into reproach for having vouched affection which you did not feel. If the reading of the folio be preferred, we may, with a very slight change, produce the same sense: sure her offence Must be of such unnatural degree, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection That is, falls into reproach or censure. But there is another possible sense. Or signifies before, and or ever is before ever; the meaning in the folio may therefore be, Sure her crime must be monstrous before your affection can be affected with hatred. Let the reader determine.-As I am not much a friend to conjectural emendation, I should prefer the latter sense, which requires no change of reading. JOHNSON. The meaning of the passage as I have printed it [fall'n into taint] is, I think, Either her offence must be monstrous, or, if she has not committed any such offence, the affection which you always professed to have for her must be tainted and decayed, and is now without reason alienated from her. Must be a faith, that reason without miracle COR. I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour : That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Hath lost me in your liking. I once thought the reading of the quartos right-or you, for vouch'd affections, &c. i. e. on account of the extravagant professions made by her sisters: but I did not recollect that France had not heard these. However, Shakspeare might himself have forgot this circumstance. The plural affections favours this interpretation. The interpretation already given, appears to me to be supported by our author's words in another place: "When love begins to sicken and decay," &c. MAlone. The present reading, which is that of the folio, is right; and the sense will be clear, without even the slight amendment proposed by Johnson, to every reader who shall consider the word must, as referring to fall as well as to be. Her offence must be monstrous, or the former affection which you professed for her, must fall into taint; that is, become the subject of reproach. M. MASON. Taint is a term belonging to falconry. So, in The Booke of Haukyng, &c. bl. 1. no date: " A taint is a thing that goeth overthwart the fethers, &c. like as it were eaten with wormes.' STEEVENS. 8 If for I want &c.] If this be my offence, that I want the glib and oily art, &c. MALONE. For has the of because. Thus, in p. 333 : LEAR. Better thou Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better. FRANCE. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects,' that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry.3 BUR. 2 Royal Lear, Duchess of Burgundy. LEAR. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. BUR. I am sorry then, you have so lost a father, That you must lose a husband. COR. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife. • Is it but this? &c.] Thus the folio. The quartos, disre garding metre Is it no more but this? &c. STEEVENS. 1with respects,] i. e. with cautious and prudential considerations. See Vol. XV. p. 302, n. 4. 2 Thus the quartos. The folio has-regards. MALONE. -from the entire point.] Single, unmixed with other considerations. JOHNSON. Dr. Johnson is right. The meaning of the passage is, that his love wants something to mark its sincerity: "Who seeks for aught in love but love alone." 3 She is herself a dowry.] The quartos read: She is herself and dower. STEEvens. STEEVENS. Royal Lear,] So the quarto; the folio has-Royal king. STEEVENS. FRANCE. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.— Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France: LEAR. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GLOSTER, and Attendants. FRANCE. Bid farewell to your sisters. COR. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Thou losest here,] Here and where have the power of nouns. Thou losest this residence to find a better residence in another place. JOHNSON. So, in Churchyard's Farewell to the World, 1592: "That growes not here, takes roote in other where." See note on The Comedy of Errors, Vol. XX. Act II. sc. i. STEEVENS. The jewels-] As this reading affords sense, though an aukward one, it may stand: and yet Ye instead of The, a change adopted by former editors, may be justified; it being frequently impossible, in ancient MSS. to distinguish the one word from the customary abbreviation of the other. STEEVENS. Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father :7 To your professed bosoms I commit him : So farewell to you both. GON. Prescribe not us our duties." REG. you Let your study Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted.2 7 Use well our father:] So the quartos. The folio reads-Love well. MALONE. 8 -professed bosoms] All the ancient editions read-professed. Mr. Pope-professing; but, perhaps, unnecessarily, as Shakspeare often uses one participle for the other;-longing for longed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and all-obeying for all-obeyed in Antony and Cleopatra. STEEVENS. 9 Prescribe not us our duties.] Prescribe was used formerly without to subjoined. So, in Massinger's Picture: 66 Shall I prescribe you, "Or blame your fondness." MALONE. At fortune's alms.] The same expression occurs again in Othello: "And shoot myself up in some other course, 2 And well are worth the want that you have wanted.] You are well deserving of the want of dower that you are without. So, in The Third Part of King Henry VI. Act IV. sc. i: "Though I want a kingdom," i. e. though I am without a kingdom. Again, in Stowe's Chronicle, p. 137: "Anselm was expelled the realm, and wanted the whole profits of his bishoprick," i. e. he did not receive the profits, &c. TOLLET. Thus the folio. In the quartos the transcriber or compositor inadvertently repeated the word worth. They read: "And well are worth the worth that you have wanted." |