Chapter VI: Act I

SC. 1. "Yet that the world may witness that my end
Was wrought by Nature, not by vile offence."

It was surely wrought by _Fortune_ rather than by Nature, and so the poet may have written it. Collier's folio makes the same correction.

* * * * *

"And by me, had not oür hope been bad."

The editor of 2nd folio read 'me _too_,' not being aware of the dissyllabic form of 'our.'

* * * * *

"A _poor_ mean woman was delivered."

The editor of 2nd folio added _poor_, which was probably the poet's word.

* * * * *

"Unwilling I agreed. Alas! too soon
We came aboard * * * * * *
A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd."

We might supply '_our ship. Somewhat more than._'

* * * * *

"Which being violently borne up_on_,
Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst."

It was the mast, not the ship; but the text is probably as the poet wrote it.

"At length another ship had seiz'd on us."

We should surely read '_the_ other.'

* * * * *

"That by misfortune was my life prolong'd."

It might be better to read _Thus_ for 'That.'

"That his attendant--for his case was like."

For 'for,' the judicious correction of 2nd folio, the 1st has _so_.--See on L. L. L. i. 1; 1 Hen. IV. i. 3.

* * * * *

"To seek thy help by beneficial help."

See Introd. p. 61. For the first 'help,' Pope read _life_; I read _ransom_, a word already used by the Duke. If the error should be in the second 'help,' we might, with Malone, read _means_; which, however, is rather feeble.

* * * * *

"And live, if no thou then art doom'd to die."

For 'no' we should surely, with Rowe, read _not_.

* * * * *

SC. 2. "Who falling there to find his fellow forth."

Mr. Barron Field proposed _failing_, which may be right.

* * * * *

"Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger."

'Clock' is Pope's correction for _cook_ of the folio, which, however, may be right after all; for the cook used to _strike_ on the dresser to give notice that the dinner was ready.