Chapter XXXIX: Act V

SC. 1. "Full of good news. My master will be here ere morning."

By reading _morn_ we should get a rime.

* * * * *

"My friend, Stephano, I pray you signify."

Both 4tos and folios read "signify I pray you."

* * * * *

"Is thick-inlaid with patens of pure gold."

The reading of the 2nd folio, _patterns_, the one usually followed, is decidedly wrong. In Spanish _patena_ is a medal worn by country-women about the neck.

* * * * *

"By the sweet power of music; therefore the poets."

I think we should read this in the plural, as no particular poet was regarded as the author of this mythe.

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"Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion."

In reading "ho!" for the _how_ of the original editions, I had been anticipated by Malone.

* * * * *

"That she did give me, whose--poësy was
--For all the world like cutler's poetry
Upon a knife--_Love me and leave me not_."

By punctuating thus, we need not read, with Steevens, '_to_ me.'

* * * * *

"Or your own honour to contain the ring."

It might be better, with Pope, to read _retain_. (See on Two Gent. v. 4, _ad fin._)

* * * * *

"In summer where the ways are fair enough."

The usual confusion of _where_ and _when_.

* * * * *

"Well while I live," etc.

A waggish allusion to a story told by Poggio, Ariosto, Rabelais, La Fontaine, and Prior. Our poet probably got it from Rabelais, with whom he was familiar.

AS YOU LIKE IT.