The last editors agree with Theobald in approving of this reading; and also in supposing, that the poets had in view the words of the sacred writ; which says, that woman is the weaker vessel. But I cannot argue with them in either; for, by urging to Hippolyta the frailty of her sex, Arnoldo would have furnished her with an excuse for her misconduct, and that too founded on the Scriptures, at the very time that he was endeavouring to reclaim her. Seward proposes to read wealthy, instead of weaker, which appears to me the better reading; and is supported by the subsequent speech of Hippolyta, in the 57th page-- Being a woman, could not but torment me; But bringing for my advocates, youth and beauty, Set off with wealth, and then to be refus❜d, von 21€ 15 And it is certain, that every excellence of mind, or body, becomes more conspicuous by being possessed by persons of great fortune and elevated ránk. | Page 51. ARNOLDO............ Fortune, that ruins all, make that his conquest. Read, makes that his conquest, as in Theo bald's edition. Page 51. HIPPOLYTA............ r Young women, in the old world, were not wont, sir, Alluding to the bushes formerly hung out at taverns. Page 53. JACQUES.......What goldly locks. Read, goldy locks, as in Theobald's edition. Page 53. SULPITIA........The Rutter too is gone. Theobald supposes that this should be routier, which signifies, as he says, in French, an old weather-beaten soldier--but an old weather-beaten soldier would not have answered Sulpitia's purpose. Les Ruitres, is the name given by all the French historians of the last age to a species of German infantry, which served in their armies. So that by Rutter, Sulpitia means the German soldier; describing him by his country, as she does the rest of her heroes. But Fletcher probably meant also to allude to his occupation in Sulpitia's service; and in that sense the word is justly explained by the Editor. So in the first act, Rutilio, speaking of Claudio, says++ mod ForTo any honest well-deserving fellow, An 'twere but a merry cobler, I could sit still now, Page 56 RUTILIO........I will so frubbish you. The right word is furbish, which signifies to rub to brightness. Page 65. DUARTE............ " No moisture sooner dies than woman's tears. Sympson reads dries, which is certainly, in familiar language, a more natural expression; but the Editors retain the old reading, as more poetical, and I think they are right. Page 66. LEOPOLD....... What will you take, sir, To beat a fellow for me, that thus wrong'd me? I have no doubt but we should adopt Sympson's amendment, and read---A fellow that bas wrong'd me. 4 The Editors preserve the old reading; because, as they say, the word thus might possibly refer to a supposed explanation between Zabulon and the Bravo, before his interview with Leopold : but such an explanation with an assassin was unnecessary; nor had Leopold received any wrong from Arnoldo, which could have been specified. Page 71. ARNOLDO........And I forgot to like her, And glad I was deceived. The word glad is here used as a verb, and means rejoice. Page 80. RUTILIO........ There's no living thus, With all the helps and heats that can be given me; I'm at my trot, means, I am reduced to a trot; I am off my speed. Theobald supposes, that the allusion in this passage is to the management of horses; and says, it is the duty of the groom to give his horses heats; that is, to pace them out in the morning, lest they should grow restive, or short-winded; but I fear that such exercise as Rutilio was led out to in the morning, would not much contribute to his speed, or his wind. The truth is, that no such allusion is intended: the heats that Rutilio means, are the nourishing meats which were given him to warm his blood; and accordingly Sulpitia tells him, in the next page... You have cost me an hundred crowns since you came hither, These are the heats that Rutilio speaks of. And such a one there was. We should surely read, Such a one that was; meaning the stranger who wounded him. Page 83. RUTILIO............ I've found my angel now, too, if I can keep him! He considered Zabulon as Arnoldo's angel; and says to him, in the 35th page, when Zabulon offers money to Arnoldo-- Take it, man; Sure thy good angel is a Jew! Page 86. ZABULON........... The thread of life. Read, cut short, instead of shut. Page 89. GUIEMAR........ Who's there? DUARTE........ There's no starting back now, madam. This is not pointed right, but should stand thus-- There is no starting back now-Madam. The word Madam only is addressed to Guiémar; the rest of the line is said aside. Page 91. ARNOLDO.........Propagate Your great opinion in the world, That is, the great opinion conceived of you in the world. Page 93. CLODIO........Preserve her, A town is your reward! HIPPOLYTA........I'll treble it In ready gold, if you restore Arnoldo. no I see no difficulty in this pro passage. Clodio mises to give the Doctor a town as a reward, if he recovers Zenocia; and Hippolyta promises to give him three times the value of that town in money, if he restores Arnoldo. Sympson reads crown; by which, he says, is meant a coronet, instead of town, which reduces very much indeed the reward proffered to the |