Doctor. His objection to the present reading is, that Clodio had no town to give; and that, if he had, the Doctor would not know what to do with it but as Clodio's rental has not been handed down to us, it is difficult to determine the validity of the objection. Page 94. ARNOLDO........We are now Going our latest journey, and together; This passage should be pointed thus-- We are now Going our latest journey; and together, Your charity to our ashes! This going together is what Arnoldo says was their only comfort. Page 100. GUIEMAR........ When thine own bloody sword cried out against thee, Dr. Johnson tells us, in his Dictionary, that the verb, to batch, means to engrave, and derives it from the French verb bacher, to cut; which he supports by the following passage in Troilus and Cressida... Such as Agamemnon, and the hand of Greece, Should, with a bond of air, strong as the axle-tree On which Heaven rides, knit all the Grecian ears! This might possibly have been the original meaning of the word; but it was afterwards used to express any other sort of ornament, as well as engraving, either by gilding, inlaying, or colouring, as is the case in the present passage. Thus, in Valentinian, Claudia says-- Some grave instructors on my life! they look MARCELLINA......'Tis true, wench; For here and there (and yet they painted well too) In this passage it is evident, that hatch'd means gilt. And in the following passage, in the same play, it has the like meaning--punk ol Accrus.......I counsell'd them to turn" Their war-like pikes to plough-shares, their sure targets, And in Ronduca, Suetonius says Thus hatch'd in Britain-blood, Let's march to rest, and set in gales like suns. In the following passage, in Thiercy and Theodoret, the word hatch'd seems to mean inlaid-- MORTEL........Oh, my lord, Your honour cannot leave a gentleman, 1 To which your worth is wedded, your profession Hatch'd in, and made one piece, in such a peril. I have dwelt longer on this passage than it may seem to require; but my purpose is to ascertain the true meaning of an expression which so frequently occurs, in all the dramatic writers. Page 104. HIPPOLITA........ Tho' my desires were loose, from unchaste art, The Editors of the two last editions concur in reading act instead of art, the old reading---but the change was unnecessary, as the word art is frequently used by the ancient dramatic writers, to express practice, practical knowledge, or act. So, in the Beggar's Bush, Goswin says-- Not all the anger can be sent unto her In frown, or voice, or other art, shall force her: Page 104. RUTILIO........ Be so; and no more, you man-huckster. We should read, as in Theobald's edition--No more, your man-huckster. VOL. II. THE ELDER BROTHER. Page 112. LEWIS........ Where a stirring nature, With wholesome exercise, guards both from danger. Page 115. ANDREW........ Tho' their weight would sink A Spanish carrack. A carrack, as the Editors observe, means a ship of large burthen; because the Spanish vessels, which traded to the Caraceas, were of that description; from whence the name is derived. Page 117. ANDREW........He is, sir, In serious study, and will lose no minute, I see no difficulty in this passage. Andrew meant to say, that his master would lose no time," or be put out of his progress to knowledge. A pace is a settled rate of going. The last Editors propose to read-- He will lose no minute, Nor ought of space to knowledge. 3 And add, that time and space are no uncommon association--- but this, in my opinion, is little better than nonsense." Page 120. EGREMONT........ Which we'll repay with servulating. This, it seems, is the reading of one edition only; all the rest agree in reading-- Which we'll repay with service, And they are clearly right. The Editors prefer the present reading, as they say it may be meant to ridicule the conceited affectation of Eustace's travelled companions; but a pedantic jargon was not one of their affectations, nor do they use this language in any other of their speeches. - Page 125, Cowsy........If this take now, We're made for ever, and will revel it. We are told, that in many of the old Editions, these words make part of Eustace's speech, and I have no doubt but they belong to him. The former part of his speech was addressed to his father, but this part of it to his young companions. It would be great presumption in Cowsy to say, in what manner he would dispose of Eustace's property, though Eustace might do so himself. Page 129. BRISAC........ He that will fling off all occasions And cares, to make him understand what state is. State means here estate, or property. So Miramont says, in the third A&-- Would I were thine uncle to mine own content! I'd make thy husband's state a thousand better, Page 133. EUSTACE........ How I do look now to my elder brother? That is, compared to my elder brother. Page 134. Cowsy........ Do they know any thing but a tir'd hackney? And then they cry absurd, as the beast understood them, |