Chapter CXXXIX: Act I: Prol. "To Tenedos they come."

This should be a single line, and is a sort of proof that the Prologue is by Shakespeare (see Introd. p. 82). N.B.--In the beginning of the Address prefixed to this play I read '_that_ brain' for "your brain." See Introd. p. 68.

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SC. 1. "I have--as when the sun doth light a storm."

Rowe's correction of _scorn_ of the 4tos and folio.

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SC. 2. "What were you talking of when I came _up_?"

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"_In his right_ condition, I had gone barefoot to India."

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"Hector shall not have his wit this year."

Rowe's correction again, 'wit,' for _will_.

* * * * *

"So, traitor!--when she comes!--when is she thence?"

This is Rowe's correction of "So, traitor, then she comes, when she is thence?"

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"And a proper man of _his_ person."

* * * * *

"Words, vows, gifts, tears, and love's full sacrifice."

For 'gifts' the Var. edit. has _griefs_.

* * * * *

"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing."

For 'lies' Mason read, and perhaps with reason, _flies_. We might, but less probably, conjecture _dies_.

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"Achievement is command; ungain'd beseech."

Nothing can be more correct than this; yet some approve of Mr. Harness's correction, _Achieved men_. 'Ungain'd' sc. men, are those who have not gained, achieved. In Corneille's Polyeucte (i. 3), Pauline makes the very same remark.

* * * * *

"Then though my heart's content firm love doth bear."

For 'Then' of the 4tos the folio reads 'That,' another instance of the confusion of these words. (See note on Prol.) The folio also reads 'contents.'

* * * * *

SC. 3. "Princes * * * * * *"

The remainder of the line has evidently been omitted or effaced; for speeches never begin thus abruptly. We might read _and leaders of the Grecian host_.

* * * * *

"With those of nobler bulk * * *"

We might add, _and greater strength_.

* * * * *

"And flies fled under shade," etc.

Here 'flies' is either a verb or a noun; if the former, we have the grotesque image of the wind running and hiding itself after doing mischief; if the latter, as in the folio, alluding to 'the brize,' we have a bathos unworthy of any poet. Something, then, must have been lost between 'flies' and 'fled.' I read thus:--

"And flies _along the sky, while bird and beast are_
Fled under shade;"

and I fancy I have made a near approach to what the poet wrote. As he was reading Chaucer at that time, he may have had in his mind:--

"Ne how the _beestes_ and the _briddes_ alle
_Fledden_ for feare when the wood was falle."
Knt's. Tale.

If nothing is lost, we should read '_have_ fled.'

* * * * *

"Retires to chiding Fortune."

For 'Retires' Pope, whom I have followed, read _Returns_, Hanmer _Replies_, Dyce _Retorts_. Yet the text may be right, and 'Retires' be the French _retire_, shoots again, returns the shot.

* * * * *

"Speak, Prince of Ithaca, and be it of less expect."

This is not sense. I read _'we_ it less.' The superfluous insertion of _of_ was not infrequent (see on Meas. for Meas. iv. 4). Here, however, it was manifestly introduced to make some kind of sense. See Introd. p. 67.

* * * * *

"But for these instances * * *"

We might add, _which now I'll show you_.

* * * * *

"And look! how many Grecian tents [do] stand hollow
Upon this plain so many hollow factions.
When that the general is not as the hive."

'Do' was evidently introduced to eke out the verse. We should perhaps read 'general'_s_' sc. tent.

* * * * *

"Degrees being vizarded,
The unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask."

As what? A line seems to be lost.

* * * * *

"In noble eminence enthron'd and spher'd
Amidst the others."

Mr. Singer read _ether_ for 'others.'

* * * * *

"The enterprise is sick."

Hanmer read _Then_ for 'the.' See Introd. p. 65.

* * * * *

"This chaos, when degree is suffocate,
Follows the choking."

I have added in my Edition _of the common weal_; but we might also read _as his consequence_, which I think better.

* * * * *

"Breaks scurril jests * * * *"

I would add _on thee and all of us_.

* * * * *

"To weaken _us_ and discredit our exposure."

* * * * *

"To overbulk us all.--Well, and how _then_?"

* * * * *

"And in the publication make no strain."

Perhaps we should read _doubt_ for 'strain.'

* * * * *

"And think, perchance, they'll sell; if _they do_ not."

* * * * *

"What glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
Were he not proud, we all should share with him."

We should read _wins_ or _gains_ for 'shares.' See Introd. p. 64. It is remarkable that for the 'share' of the second line the folio reads _wear_, thus correcting the error of the 4tos.