Chapter LVII: Act I

SC. 1. "Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds in that the lists of all advice
My strength can give you."

I know of no meaning 'put' has in English that will make any sense here. We must, then, regard it as a misprint; and as a negative is plainly wanting, I read _not yet_, the negative being, as so frequently, omitted, and 'put' printed for _yet_. "Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn?" (3 H. VI. iv. 4.) Pope read _not_ for 'put.'

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"But that to your sufficiency as
Your worth is able * * *"

It is quite evident that part of a line has been lost. The numerous corrections attempted here may be seen in the Cambridge Edition. I supply _you add diligence_.

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"Hold therefore, Angelo, _thy deputation_."

Something was surely lost here; and as Angelo is constantly called the Deputy, _deputation_ (which occurs a few lines higher) seems to be the missing word.

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SC. 2. "I grant as there may between the list[s] and the velvet."

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"And which is more, within these three days his head'_s_ to be
chopped off."

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SC. 3. "Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends."

For 'propagation' Malone would read _prorogation_; but the text seems to be right, as 'propagation' was used in the sense of extension, increase.

"All kinds of natures
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To _propagate_ their states."--Timon, i. 1.

"Griefs of my own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt _propagate_, to have it press'd,
With more of thine."--Rom. and Jul. i. 1.

"To give thanks to the gods of Rome,
That for the _propagation_ of the empire
Vouchsafe us one to govern it like themselves."
Massinger, Rom. Actor. i. 3.

And portions--as we learn by Sir Moth Interest in Jonson's Magnetic Lady--used to double in seven years. The same play would also justify Malone's reading, as guardians were not always willing to part with dowers in their hands. Perhaps for 'of _a_ dower' we should read 'of _her_ dower,' for the _h_ in _her_ not being pronounced, and the _r_ but slightly, the printer might easily make the mistake; so also 'coffer' should probably be 'coffers.'

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SC. 4. "For terror not to use, in time the rod
More mock'd than fear'd, so our decrees
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead."

In the second line _Becomes_ was added by Pope, or rather by Davenant, and it has been adopted by subsequent editors. Yet the poet may have written, and I think did write, 'the rod _is_' and 'More mocked _at_.'

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"And yet my nature never in the fight _have_
To do in slander."

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"How I may formally in person bear _me_."

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"Only this one _now_: Lord Angelo is precise."

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SC. 5. "Sir, make me not your story."

For 'story' Singer would read _sport_; but 'me' may be '_to_ me,' and her meaning be, seek not to impose on me.

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"As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison ... even so her plenteous womb," etc.

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"The Duke, _who_ is very strangely gone from hence,
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand and hope of action."

As _in_ and _and_ are so frequently confounded (see on iii. 2 _ad fin._) I would read _in_ for 'and' in the last line.