V.v.334 (301,5) Your pleasure was my near offence, my punishment,/
Itself, and all my treason] I think this passage may better be read
thus,
Your pleasure was my _dear_ offence, my punishment
Itself _was_ all my treason; that I suffer'd,
Was all the harm I did.--
The offence which cost me so _dear_ was only your caprice. My sufferings
have been all my crime.
V.v.352 (302,6)
Thou weep'st, and speak'st.
The service that you three have done is more
Unlike than this thou tell'st]
"Thy tears give testimony to the sincerity of thy relation; and I have
the less reason to be incredulous, because the actions which you have
done within my knowledge are more incredible than the story which you
relate." The king reasons very justly.
V.v.378 (303,7) When ye were so, indeed] The folio gives,
When _we_ were so, indeed.
If this be right, we must read,
_Imo._ I, you brothers.
_Arv._ When we were so, indeed.
V.v.382 (303,8) fierce abridgment] _Fierce_, is _vehement, rapid_.
V.v.459 (306,1) My peace we will begin] I think it better to read,
_By_ peace we will begin.--
(307) General Observation. This play has many just sentiments, some
natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but they are obtained at
the expence of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the
absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names, and manners of
different times, and the impossibility of the events in any system of
life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecility, upon faults
too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation.
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