Chapter XLVIII: Act V

SC. 1. "And bid him speak of patience _to me_."

* * * * *

"And sorrow wag, cry Hem! when he should groan."

For 'wag,' which gives no sense, I would read _sway_, which gives most excellent sense.

"For Affection,
Mistress of passion, _sways_ it."
Mer. of Ven. iv. 1.

"You _sway_ the motion of Demetrius' heart."
M. N. D. i. 1.

"The will of man is by his reason _sway'd_."
Ib. ii. 2.

"Our own stars all our fortunes,
Which, as we _sway_ 'em, to abuse or bless us."
Fletch. Chances, ii. 3.

It seems evident that the initial _s_ of _sway_ was effaced, a thing not unusual. As to the change of _y_ to _g_, I lately read a work on South America, in which the well-known name _Almagro_ was invariably printed _Almayro_. 'Cry Hem!' may mean, use the language of rakish youths; "Our watch-word was, Hem boys!" (2 Hen. IV. iii. 2).

* * * * *

"Some of us would lie low.--Who _is it_ wrongs him?"

* * * * *

"Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience."

The meaning of 'wake' is not clear; perhaps we should read _task_. Hanmer read _rack_; Talbot _waste_.

* * * * *

"I cannot bid you bid my daughter live."

A printer's error, probably caused in the usual way. We might better read _make_, though 'bid' makes sense. 'Can I _make men live_ whe'r they will or no?' (2 Hen. VI. iii. 3.)

* * * * *

"I do embrace your offer, and dispose
From henceforth of poor Claudio."

It would seem that something had been lost at the end, the speech terminates so abruptly. We might supply _at your pleasure_.

* * * * *

"Have you been deceived; _for_ they swore you did."

Mr. Dyce would read '_for_ they _did swear_'; but the two _did_s rather offend the ear.

* * * * *

"Brave punishments for him. _Come_, strike up, piper."

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.