That dazzleth them, or else some shame sup posed; But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed. O, had they in that darksome prison died, Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under', I her rosy CHEEK lies under,] Thus the first copy. The edition of 1600, and the subsequent impressions, have cheeks. MALONE. 2 Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under, 66 Cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss ;] Among the poems of Sir John Suckling, (who is said to have been a great admirer of our author,) is one entitled, A Supplement of an imperfect Copy of Verses of Mr. William Shakspeare; which begins with these lines, somewhat varied. We can hardly suppose that Suckling would have called a passage extracted from a regular poem an imperfect copy of verses." Perhaps Shakspeare had written the lines quoted below (of which Sir John might have had a manuscript copy) on some occasion previous to the publication of his Lucrece, and afterwards used them in this poem, with some variation. In a subsequent page the reader will find some verses that appear to have been written before Venus and Adonis was composed, of which, in like manner, the leading thoughts were afterwards employed in that poem. This supposed fragment is thus supplied by Suckling.-The variations are distinguished by Italick characters. I. "One of her hands one of her cheeks lay under, Cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss; "Which therefore swell'd, and seem'd to part asunder, "As angry to be robb'd of such a bliss: "The one look'd pale, and for revenge did long, "While t' other blush'd 'cause it had done the wrong. Swelling on either side, to want his bliss ; II. "Out of the bed the other fair hand was, III. "Her eyes (and therefore it was night) close laid "Which turn'd to smiles, still as't came near her face. IV. "Her beams, which some dull men call'd hair, divided MALONE. This description is given in England's Parnassus, p. 396, with only Shakspeare's name affixed to it; and Suckling might have met with it there, and not knowing from what poem it was taken, supposed it a fragment. BoswEll. 4 Where, like a virtuous MONUMENT, she lies,] On our ancient monuments the heads of the persons represented are commonly reposed on pillows. Our author has nearly the same image in Cymbeline: "And be her sense but as a monument, "Thus in a chapel lying." STEEVENS. Again, in All's Well that Ends Well: "You are no woman, but a monument." MALONE. * Thus far (says Suckling) Shakspeare. + Suckling probably wrote divide in the former line; and here "But these, as rude, by her breath put still aside.” Without the bed her other fair hand was, With pearly sweat, resembling dew of night 5. Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath; As if between them twain there were no strife", Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue, 5 With pearly swEAT, resembling DEW OF NIGHT.] So, Dryden : "And sleeping flow'rs beneath the night-dew sweat." STEEVENS. 6 Her EYES, like marigolds, had sheath'd their light, And, CANOPIED in darkness, sweetly lay, &c.] So, in Cym The flame o' the taper, "Bows toward her, and would underpeep her lids, 7 SHOWING life's triumph-] The octavo 1616 reads Showring. 8 MALONE. - in the MAP of death,] So, in King Richard II.: 9 As if between them twain there were no STRIFE, But that LIFE liv'd in DEATH, and DEATH in LIFE.] So, in Macbeth: "That death and nature do contend about them, "Whether they live or die." STEEVENS. Again, in All's Well that Ends Well: 3 And him by oath they truly honoured 3. From this fair throne to heave the owner out". What could he see, but mightily he noted? As the grim lion fawneth o'er his prey, A pair of MAIDEN WORLDS unconquered,] Maiden worlds! How happeneth this, friend Collatine, when Lucretia hath so long lain by thy side? Verily, it insinuateth thee of coldness. AMNER. 2 Save of their lord, no bearing yoke they knew,] So, Ovid, describing Lucretia in the same situation : Effugiet? positis urgetur pectora palmis, Nunc primum externá pectora tacta manu. MALONE. 3 And him by OATH they truly honoured.] Alluding to the ancient practice of swearing domesticks into service. So, in Cymbeline : "Her servants are all sworn and honourable." STEEVENS. The matrimonial oath was, I believe, alone in our author's thoughts. MALONE. 4 to HEAVE the owner out.] So, in a subsequent stanza: My sighs, like whirlwinds, labour hence to heave thee." The octavo 1616, and the modern editions, read : 66 to have the owner out." MALONE. 5 And IN his will his wilful eye he TIR'D.] This may mean'He glutted his lustful eye in the imagination of what he had resolved to do.' To tire is a term in falconry. So, in Heywood's Rape of Lucrece: "Must with keen fang tire upon thy flesh." Perhaps we should read-" And on his will," &c. STEEVENS. by gazing QUALIFIED ;] i. e. softened, abated, diminished. So, in The Merchant of Venice: 6 His eye, which late this mutiny restrains, And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting, In bloody death and ravishment delighting, Gives the hot charge, and bids them do their liking. His drumming heart chears up his burning eye, I have heard "Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify Again, in Othello: "I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified too." MALONE. 7-fell exploits EFFECTING,] Perhaps we should readaffecting. STEevens. The preceding line, and the two that follow, support, I think, the old reading. Tarquin only expects the onset; but the slaves here mentioned do not affect or meditate fell exploits, they are supposed to be actually employed in carnage: "for pillage fighting, "Nor children's tears, nor mothers' groans respecting." The subsequent line, "Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:' refers, not to the slaves, but to Tarquin's veins. Malone. 8 GIVES THE hot CHARGE,-] So, in Hamlet: 66 proclaim no shame, "When the compulsive ardour gives the charge." 9 His eye COMMENDS the leading to his hand ;] in our author's time sometimes signified to commit, sense here. So, in The Winter's Tale : 66 commend it strangely to some place, "Where chance may nurse, or end it." Again, in King Richard II. : STEEVENS. To commend and has that "His glittering arms he will commend to rust." MALONE. |