Where you shall hold your session. [At this time, The question of Cordelia, and her father, Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Gon. Not so hot : In his own grace9 he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. 5 [At this time, &c.] This passage, well worthy of restora tion, is omitted in the folio. Johnson. 6 Requires a fitter place.] i. e. The determination of the question what shall be done with Cordelia and her father, should be reserved for greater privacy. Steevens. 7 Bore the commission of -] Commission, for authority. Warburton. 8 The which immediacy-] Immediacy is supremacy in opposition to subordination, which has quiddam medium between itself and power. Johnson. Immediacy here implies proximity without intervention; in rank, or such a plenary delegation of authority, as to constitute the person on whom it is conferred, another SELF: alter et idem. Henley. Immediacy is, I think, close and immediate connexion with me, and direct authority from me, without, to use Dr. Johnson's words, quiddam medium. So, in Hamlet: 66 let the world take note, "You are the most immediate to our throne." Malone. " In his own grace-] Grace here means accomplishments, or honours. So, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona: "With all good grace to grace a gentleman." Steevens. + in your advancement.] So the quartos. Folio-your addi Malone. tion. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.] If he were Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.5 Edm. Nor in thine, lord. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To EDM. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,7 This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GON.]—for your claim, fair sister, married to you, you could not say more than this, nor could he enjoy greater power. Thus the quartos. In the folio this line is given to Albany. Malone. 3 That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint.] Alluding to the proverb: "Love being jealous makes a good eye look asquint." See Ray's Collection. Steevens. So Milton: 4 "And gladly banish squint suspicion." Comus. H. White. the walls are thine:] A metaphorical phrase taken from the camp, and signifying, to surrender at discretion. Warburton. A similar allusion occurs in Cymbeline: "The heavens hold firm the walls of thy dear honour." Steevens. 5 The let-alone lies not in your good will.] Whether he shall not or shall, depends not on your choice. Johnson. Albany means to tell his wife, that, however she might want the power, she evidently did not want the inclination to prevent the match. Ritson. To obstruct their union lies not in your good pleasure: your veto will avail nothing. Malone. 6 Reg. Let the drum strike, &c.] So the folio. This line is given to the Bastard in the quartos, and they read Let the drum strike, and prove my title good. Regan, it appears from this speech, did not know that Albany had discharged her forces. Malone. 7 thy arrest,] The quartos read-thine attaint. Steevens. I bar it in the interest of my wife; Gon. An interlude !8 Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound:9 If none appear to prove upon thy person,1 There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Glove.] I'll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! [Aside. Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison.2 Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down a Glove.] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald !3 Alb. Trust to thy single virtue ;4 for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. This sickness grows upon me. Enter a Herald. [Exit REG. led. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. An interlude] This short exclamation of Goneril is added in the folio edition, I suppose, only to break the speech of Albany, that the exhibition on the stage might be more distinct and intelligible. Johnson. 9 Let the trumpet sound:] These words are not in the quartos. Malone. 1 thy person,] The quartos read-thy head. Steevens. poison.] The folio reads-medicine. Steevens. 2 3 A herald, &c.] This speech I have restored from the quartos. Steevens. thy single virtue ;] i. e. valour; a Roman sense of the word. Thus Raleigh: "The conquest of Palestine with singular virtue they performed." Steevens. Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,- Off. Sound, trumpet.5 Herald reads. [A Trumpet sounds. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence. Edm. Sound.7 Her. Again. [1 Trumpet. 2 Trumpet. [3 Trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. What are you? Her. Edg. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit: Yet am I noble, as the adversary I come to cope withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What 's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? Edm. Himself;---What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, 5 Sound, trumpet.] I have added this from the quartos. Steevens. 6 ·within the lists of the army,] The quartos read :—within the host of the army, Steevens. 7 Edm. Sound.] Omitted in the folio. Malone. 8 Yet am I noble, &c.] One of the quartos reads: yet are I mou 't, Where is the adversarie I come to cope withal? —are I mou't, is, I suppose, a corruption of-ere I move it. Steevens. The other quarto also reads-Where is the adversary, &c. omitting the words-Yet am I noble, which are only found in the folio. The word withal is wanting in that copy. Malone. 9 here is mine. &c.] Here I draw my sword. Behold, it is the privilege or right of my profession to draw it against a traitor. I protest therefore, &c. |