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Read Ebook: Notes to Shakespeare Volume III: The Tragedies by Johnson Samuel Sherbo Arthur Editor
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Ebook has 343 lines and 82677 words, and 7 pages
which Mr. Upton prefers, but it is only an errour by an accidental transposition of the types.
When Seyward, the martial earl of Northumberland, understood that his son, whom he had sent in service against the Scotchmen, was slain, he demanded whether his wounds were in the fore part or hinder part of his body. When it was answered, in the fore part, he replied, "I am right glad; neither wish I any other death to me or mine."
General Observation. This play is deservedly celebrated for the propriety of its fictions, and solemnity, grandeur, and variety of its action; but it has no nice discriminations of character, the events are too great to admit the influence of particular dispositions, and the course of the action necessarily determines the conduct of the agents.
The danger of ambition is well described; and I know not whether it may not be said in defence of some parts which now seem improbable, that, in Shakespeare's time, it was necessary to warn credulity against vain and illusive predictions.
The passions are directed to their true end. Lady Macbeth is merely detested; and though the courage of Macbeth preserves some esteem, yet every reader rejoices at his fall.
CORIOLANUS
Or more probably,
I know not whether my conceit will be approved, but I cannot forbear to think that our author wrote thus.
To do great acts, for the sake of doing them; to spend his life, for the sake of spending it.
These lines may, I think, be made more intelligible by a very slight correction.
This is not very easily understood. We might read,
I have preferred the common reading, because it is, though faulty, yet intelligible, and the original passage, for want of copies, cannot be restored.
I do not understand either line, but fancy it should be read thus,
That is, by the exertion of one right another right is lamed.
--Hom.
They might have read more smoothly,
But the whole speech is in confusion, and I suspect something left out. I should read,
General Observation. The tragedy of Coriolanus is one of the most amusing of our author's performances. The old man's merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady's dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian insolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleasing and interesting variety: and the various revolutions of the hero's fortune fill the mind with anxious curiosity. There is, perhaps, too much bustle in the first act, and too little in the last.
JULIUS CAESAR
I think we should read,
I think Warbuton right.
He reads, with the other modern editions,
but the old reading is,
I rather think it should be,
unless we read,
The image seems to be, that the blood of Caesar flew upon the statue, and trickled down it. And the exclamation,
follows better after
than with a line interposed,
I am not satisfied with the change proposed, yet cannot deny, that the words, as they now stand, require some interpretation. I think he means only, that he is so far from Avarice, when the cause of his country requires liberality, that if any man should wish for his heart, he would not need enforce his desire any otherwise, than by showing that he was a Roman.
Dr. Warburton thinks, that in this speech something is lost, but there needed only a parenthesis to clear it. The construction is this; I an determined to act according to that philosophy which directed me to blame the suicide of Cato, arming myself with patience.
General Observation. Of this tragedy many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius is universally celebrated; but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakespeare's plays; his adherence to the real story, and to Roman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
This is hardly sense. I believe we should read,
Tell our design of going away to those, who being by their places obliged to attend us, must remove in haste.
Alluding to the lachrymatory vials, or bottles of tears, which the Romans sometimes put into the urn of a friend.
It was her memory, not her oblivion, that, like Antony, vas forgetting and deserting her. I think a slight change will restore the passage. The queen, having something to say, which she is not able, or would not seem able to recollect, cries out,
The thought of which I was in quest is a very Antony, is treacherous and fugitive, and has irrevocably left me,
If this reading stand, I think the explanation of Hanmer must be received,
Without doubt erroneously; I therefore only observe it, that the reader may more readily admit the liberties which the editors of this authour's works have necessarily taken.
The common reading is more poetical.
I am not satisfied with the change, which, though it affords sense, exhibits little spirit. I fancy the line consists only of abrupt starts.
Dr. Warburton has received Sir T. Hanmer's emendation.
That is, his whole conduct becomes, ungoverned by the right, or by reason.
The common reading, however, may very well stand.
Perhaps, it should be,
The pathetick of Shakespeare too often ends in the ridiculous. It is painful to find the gloomy dignity of this noble scene destroyed by the intrusion of a conceit so far-fetched and unaffecting.
This reading, harsh as it is, Dr. Warburton has received, after having rejected many better. The meaning is, Let me do something in my rage, becoming the successor of Hercules,
Of this note it may be truly said, that it at least deserves to be right, nor can he, that shall question the justness of the emendation, refuse his esteem to the ingenuity and learning with which it is proposed.
Hanmer had proposed another emendation, not injudiciously. He reads thus,
which will enough accommodate either of the editors.
I am inclined to think that she speaks abruptly, not answering her woman, but discoursing with her own thoughts,
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