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that, if the sense of reckoning, in consequence of the King's petition, was taken from them, the numbers opposed to them would be no longer formidable. When they could no more count their enemies, they could no longer fear them. It will be the lot of few criticks to retive with advantage gained over the remarks of my lamented friend, Mr. Tyrwhitt. STELVERS.

The old reading appears to be right. The King prays that his men may be unable to reckon the enemy's force, that their hearts (i. e. their sense and passions) may be taken from them: that they may be as brave as a total absence of all feeling and reflection can make them. An explanation which seems to be countenanced by the old quarto. 'RITSON.

P. 76, 1.33. Two chantries] One of these monasteries was for Carthusian monks, and was called Bethlehem; the other was for religious men and wonen of the order of Saint Bridget, and was nained Sion. They were on opposite sides of the Thames, and adjoined the royal manor of Sheene, now called Richmond.

MALONE.

P. 77, 1. 1. 2. Since that my penitence comes after all,

Imploring pardon.] We must observe, that Henry IV. had committed an injustice, of which he and his son reap'd the fruits. But reason tells us, justice demands that they who share the profits of iniquity, shall share also in the punishment. Scripture again tells us, that when men have sinned, the grace of God gives frequent invitations to repentance: which, in the language of divines, are styled calls. These, if neglected, or carelessly dallied with, are, at length, irrecoverably withdrawn, and then repentance comes too late. All this shows that the unintelligible reading of the text should be corrected thus:

comes after call. WARBURTON.

I wish the commentator had explained his meaning a little better; for his comment is to me less intelligible than the text. I know not what he thinks of the King's penitence, whether coming in consequence of call, it is sufficient; or whether coming when calls have ceased, it is ineffectual. The first sense will suit but ill with the position, that all which he can do is no thing worth; and the latter as ill with the intention of Shakspeare, who certainly does not mean to represent the King as abandoned and reprobate.

The old reading is in my opinion easy and zight. I do all this, says the King, though all that I can do is nothing worth, is so far from an adequate expiation of the crime, that penitence comes after all, imploring pardon both for the crime and the expiation. JOHNSON.

I am sensible that every thing of this kind (works of piety and charity,) which I have done or can do, will avail nothing towards the remission of this sin; since I well know that after all this is done, true penitence, and imploring pardon, are previously and indispensably necessary towards my obtaining it. HEATH,

I should not have reprinted Dr. Warburton's note, but for the sake of Dr. Johnson's reply. Mr. Malone, however, thinks Mr. Heath's explication more correct. STEEVENS.

P. 77, 1. 18. Via is an old hortatory excla

mation, as allons! JOHNSON.

1

Dr.

Dr. Johnson is right.. So, in K. Edward III. 1596:

"Then Via! for the spacious bounds of France!" STEEVENS.

P. 77, 1. 27. 28.

That their hot blood may spin in English eyes,

And dout them with superfluous courage:]

The first folio reads doubt, which, perhaps, may have been used for to make to doubt; to terrefle. TYRWHITT.

To doubt, or (as it ought to have been spelled) dout, is a word still used in Warwickshire, and signifies to do out, or extinguish. For this information I was indebted to my late friend, the Reverend H. Homer. STEEVENS.

In the folio, where alone this passage is found, the word is written doubt. To dout, for to do out, is a common phrase at this day in Devonshire and the other western counties; where they often say, dout the fire, that is, put out the fire. Many other words of the same structure are used by our author; as, to don, i. e. to do on, to doff, i. e. to do off, &c.

4

Mr. Pope for doubt substituted daunt, which was adopted in the subsequent editions. For the emendation now made I imagined I should have been answerable; but on looking into Mr. Rowe's edition I find he has anticipated me, and has printed the word as it is now exhibited in the text. MALONE.

P. 78, 1. 20. To purge this field of such a hilding foe;] Hilding

or hinderling, is a low wretch. JOHNSON.

P. 78, 1.25-27. Then let the trumpets

VOL. x.

sound

20

1

The tucket sonuance, and the note to mount:

For our approach shall so much dare the field. He uses terms

of the field as if they were going out only to the chace for sport. To dare the field is a phrase in falconry. Birds are dared when by the falcon in the air they are terrified from rising.. so that they will be sometimes taken by the hand.

Such an easy capture the lords expected to make of the English. JOHNSON.

The tucket sonuance was, believe, the name. of an introductory flourish on the trumpet, as toccata in Italien is the prelude of a sonata on the harpsichord, and toccar la tromba is to blow the trumpet. STEEVENS

P. 78, last 1. By their ragged curtains, are meant their colours, M. MASON.

P. 79, 1. 4. 5. Their horsemen sit like fixed

candlesticks

With torch - staves in their hand:] Grandpré alludes to the form of ancient candlesticks, which frequently represented human figuves holding the sockets for the lights in their extended hands.

The following is an exact representation of one of these candlesticks, now in the possession of Francis Douce, Esq. The receptacles for the candles are wanting in the original. The sockets in which they were to be placed are in the outstretched hands of the figure.

[graphic]

A similar image occurs in Vittoria Corombona, 1612:"he show'd like a pewter candlestick, fashioned like a man in armour, holding a tilting staff in his hand little bigger than a candle."

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