To cry to the fea that roar'd to us; to figh MIRA. Was I then to you! PRO. Alack! what trouble O! a cherubim Thou waft, that did preserve me! Thou didst fmile, Infused with a fortitude from heaven, When I have deck'd the fea' with drops full falt; To cry to the fea that roar'd to us;] This conceit occurs again in the Winter's Tale:-" How the poor fouls roar'd, and the sea mock'd them," &c. STEEVENS. 9 -deck'd the fea-] To deck the fea, if explained, to honour, adorn, or dignify, is indeed ridiculous, but the original import of the verb deck is, to cover; fo in fome parts they yet say deck the table. This fenfe may be borne, but perhaps the poet wrote fleck'd, which I think is ftill used in ruftic language of drops falling upon water. Dr. Warburton reads mock'd; the Oxford edition brack'd. JOHNSON. Verftegan, p. 61. fpeaking of Beer, fays," So the overdecking "or covering of beer came to be called berham, and afterwards "barme." This very well fupports Dr. Johnson's explanation. The following paffage in Antony and Cleopatra may countenance the verb deck in its common acceptation: -do not pleafe fharp fate "To grace it with your forrows." What is this but decking it with tears? Again, our author's Caliban fays, Act III. fc. ii : He has brave utenfils, Which, when he has a houfe, he'll deck withal." STEEVENS. To deck, I am told, fignifies in the North, to Sprinkle. See Ray's DICT. of North Country words, in verb. to deg, and to deck; and his DICT. of South Country words, in verb. dag. The latter fignifies dew upon the grafs;-hence daggle-tailed. In Cole's Latin Dictionary, 1679, we find" To dag, collutulo, irroro." MALONE. A correfpondent, who figns himself Eboracenfis, proposes that this contefted word fhould be printed degg'd, which, fays he, fignifies fprinkled, and is in daily use in the North of England. When cloaths that have been washed are too much dried, it is Under my burden groan'd; which rais'd in me Against what should enfue. MIRA. How came we afhore? PRO. By Providence divine. Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity, (who being then appointed neceffary to moiften them before they can be ironed, which is always done by sprinkling; this operation the maidens universally call degging. REED. An undergoing ftomach.] Stomach is ftubborn refolution. So Horace, "gravem Pelidæ ftomachum." STEEVENS. 3 Some food we had, and some fresh water, that A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo, Out of his charity, (who being then appointed Mafter of this defign,) did give us;] Mr. Steevens has fuggefted, that we might better read-be being then appointed; and fo we fhould certainly now write: but the reading of the old copy is the true one, that mode of phrafeology being the idiom of Shakspeare's time. So, in the Winter's Tale: 66 This your fon-in-law, "And fon unto the king, (whom heavens directing,) Again, in Coriolanus: "waving thy hand, "Which often, thus, correcting thy ftout heart, "Now humble as the ripest mulberry, "That will not hold the handling; or, fay to them," &c. MALONE. I have left the paffage in queftion, as I found it, though with flender reliance on its integrity. What Mr. Malone has ftyled "the idiom of Shakspeare's time," can fcarce deferve fo creditable a distinction. It should be remembered that the inftances adduced by him in fupport of his pofition, are not from the early quartos which he prefers on the fcore of accuracy, but from the folio 1623, the inaccuracy of which, with equal judgment he has cenfured. The genuine idiom of our language, at its different periods, can only be ascertained by reference to contemporary writers whofe Rich garments, linens, ftuffs, and neceffaries, Which fince have fteaded much: fo, of his gentlenefs, Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me, I prize above my dukedom. MIRA. But ever fee that man! PRO. 'Would I might Now I arife: 4 works were skilfully revifed as they paffed through the prefs, and are therefore unfufpected of corruption. A fufficient number of fuch books are before us. If they fupply examples of phrafeology refembling that which Mr. Malone would eftablish, there is an end of controverfy between us: Let, however, the difputed phrafes be brought to their teft before they are admitted; for I utterly refufe to accept the jargon of theatres and the mistakes of printers, as the idiom or grammar of the age in which Shakspeare wrote. Every grofs departure from literary rules may be countenanced, if we are permitted to draw examples from vitiated pages; and our readers, as often as they meet with restorations founded on fuch authorities, may juftly exclaim, with Othello,-" Chaos is come again." STEEVENS. Now I arife:] Why does Profpero arife? Or, if he does it to eafe himself by change of pofture, why need he interrupt his narrative to tell his daughter of it? Perhaps these words belong to Miranda, and we should read: Mir. Would I might But ever fee that man!-Now I arife. Pro. Sit ftill, and hear the last of our sea-forrow: Profpero, in p. 13. had directed his daughter to fit down, and learn the whole of this hiftory; having previoufly by fome magical charm difpofed her to fall asleep. He is watching the progrefs of this charm; and in the mean time tells her a long ftory, often afking her whether her attention be still awake. The story being ended (as Miranda fuppofes) with their coming on fhore, and partaking of the conveniences provided for them by the loyal humanity of Gonzalo, the therefore firft expreffes a wish to see the good old man, and then obferves that the may now arife, as the ftory is done. Profpero, furprifed that his charm does not yet work, bids her fit ftill; and then enters on fresh matter to amuse the time, telling her (what the knew before) that he had been her Sit ftill, and hear the last of our fea-forrow. MIRA. Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you, fir, (For ftill 'tis beating in my mind) your reason For raifing this fea-ftorm? PRO. Know thus far forth.By accident most strange, bountiful fortune, Now my dear lady," hath mine enemies Brought to this fhore: and by my prescience I find my zenith doth depend upon A moft aufpicious ftar; whofe influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop.-Here ceafe more queftions; Thou art inclin'd to fleep; 'tis a good dulnefs, 8 tutor, &c. But foon perceiving her drowfinefs coming on, he breaks off abruptly, and leaves her ftill fitting to her flumbers. BLACKSTONE. As the words" now I arife"-may fignify, "now I rife in my narration," "now my ftory heightens in its confequence," 1 have left the paffage in queftion, undisturbed. We still fay, that the interest of a drama rifes or declines. STEEVENS. 5 — princes—] The firft folio reads,-princeffe. HENLEY. Corrected by Mr. Rowe. MALONE. 6 Now my dear lady,] i. e. now my aufpicious mistress. STEEVENS. A moft aufpicious flar; whofe influence If now I court not, but omit, &c.] So, in Julius Cæfar: "Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life “ Is bound in fhallows and in miferies." MALONE. 8 'tis a good dulnefs,] Dr. Warburton rightly observes, that this fleepiness, which Profpero by his art had brought upon Miranda, and of which he knew not how foon the effect would begin, makes him queftion her fo often whether he is attentive to his ftory. JOHNSON. And give it way; -I know thou can'ft not choose. [MIRANDA Sleeps. Come away, fervant, come: I am ready now; Enter ARIEL. ARI. All hail, great master! grave fir, hail! come To answer thy beft pleasure; be't to fly,' f On the curl'd clouds'; to thy ftrong bidding, task Ariel, and all his quality.' PRO. Haft thou, fpirit, Perform'd to point the tempeft that I bade thee? ARI. To every article. All hail, great mafter! grave fir, hail! I come To answer thy beft pleasure; be't to fly, &c.] Imitated by Fletcher in The Faithful Shepherdefs: tell me sweetest, "What new fervice now is meetest "The failing racke, or nimbly take "Hold by the moone, and gently make "Suit to the pale queene of night, "For a beame to give me light? "Shall I dive into the fea, "And bring thee coral, making way "Through the rifing waves," &c. HENLEY. On the curl'd clouds;] So, in Timon-Crifp heaven. STEEVENS. 3-and all his quality.] i. e. all his confederates, all who are of the fame profeffion. So, in Hamlet: "Come, give us a taste of your quality." See notes on this paffage. STEEVENS. • Perform'd to point] i. e. to the minutest article, So, in the Chances, by Beaumont and Fletcher : are you all fit? "To point, fir." STEEVENS. |
