Volume Ii Part 8 (1/2)

'Cel'. But is all this for your father?

'Ros'. No, some of it is for _my child's father_.

Theobald restores this as the reading of the older editions. It may be so; but who can doubt that it is a mistake for 'my father's child,'

meaning herself? According to Theobald's note, a most indelicate antic.i.p.ation is put into the mouth of Rosalind without reason;--and besides, what a strange thought, and how out of place, and unintelligible!

Act iv. sc. 2.

Take thou no scorn To wear the horn, the l.u.s.ty horn; It was a crest ere thou wast born.

I question whether there exists a parallel instance of a phrase, that like this of 'horns' is universal in all languages, and yet for which no one has discovered even a plausible origin.

TWELFTH NIGHT.

Act I. sc. 1. Duke's speech:--

--so full of shapes _is_ fancy, That it alone is high fantastical.

Warburton's alteration of _is_ into _in_ is needless. 'Fancy' may very well be interpreted 'exclusive affection,' or 'pa.s.sionate preference.'

Thus, bird-fanciers, gentlemen of the fancy, that is, amateurs of boxing, &c. The play of a.s.similation,--the meaning one sense chiefly, and yet keeping both senses in view, is perfectly Shakspearian.

Act ii. sc. 3. Sir Andrew's speech:--

An explanatory note on _Pigrogromilus_ would have been more acceptable than Theobald's grand discovery that 'lemon' ought to be 'leman.'

Ib. Sir Toby's speech: (Warburton's note on the Peripatetic philosophy.)

Shall we rouse the night-owl in a catch, that will draw three souls out of one weaver?

O genuine, and inimitable (at least I hope so) Warburton! This note of thine, if but one in five millions, would be half a one too much.

'Ib.' sc. 4.

'Duke'. My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye Hath stay'd upon some favour that it loves; Hath it not, boy?

'Vio'. A little, by your favour.

'Duke'. What kind of woman is't?

And yet Viola was to have been presented to Orsino as a eunuch!--Act i.