Indeed the instant action: a cause on foot, Lives so in hope, as in an early spring We see the appearing buds; which to prove fruit, 40 That frosts will bite them. When we mean to build, We first survey the plot, then draw the model; And when we see the figure of the house, 45 What do we then but draw anew the model "Yes, in this present quality of war ;Indeed the instant action, (a cause on foot) Lives so in hope as in an early spring," etc. This is paraphrased by Grant White: "Yes, in this present quality, function, or business of war, it is harmful to lay down likelihoods, etc. Indeed this very action or affair-a cause on footis no more hopeful of fruition than the buds of an unseasonably early spring." Pope read "Yes, if this present quality of war Impede the instant act; a cause," etc. Johnson suggested "Yes, in this present quality of war, Indeed of instant action. A cause," etc. Mason proposed "Yes, if this prescient quality of war Induc'd the instant action. A cause," etc. Mason's version is approved by Herford, by whom it is paraphrased: "Yes (i.e. it did hurt to lay down likelihoods, etc.), if the momentary aspect of the war, so arrived at, induced immediate action; since a cause once set on foot has always more chances against it than for it." Staunton, Camb. Edd., and Clarke retain the text of Ff, while believing it to be corrupt. Case suggests: "Yes, in this present quality of war. Indeed, the instant action, a cause on foot," etc. For "Indeed" Steevens proposed Impel, Vaughan Indued, and Furnivall Induce; Cambridge Edd. suggest End in. Instant, now present, as in All's Well, IV. iii. 128. For "instant" Tollet suggested instanc'd, and Moberly infant. 39. which to prove fruit] and that these will become fruit. For the construction, Rolfe refers to As You Like It, v. iv. 171. = 66 41-48. When... at all?] Suggested, perhaps, by S. Luke, xiv. 28-30. 42. plot] piece of ground, site. Cf. "plotted situated," in The Puritan, III. V: "how do you like this house? Is 't not most wholesomely plotted?" Model, the design for the building. John Day, The Isle of Gulls, II. iii: "hauing so firme a foundation to build vpon, lets draw the modall and raise the whole frame . . . anew." Cf. also Much Ado, 1. iii. 48. 43. figure] design. 47. In... offices] with fewer apartments; for "offices," cf. Timon of Athens, II. ii. 168. 47. or at least] Pope, for metrical reasons, read at least. To improve the sense, Hanmer substituted else for at least, and Capell read or, at last,. The reading at least is defended by Clarke, who suggests that the expression may here: ="at worst, supposing the least advantageous prospect.' "At least" is, in fact, sometimes used where the sense requires "at most. Thus in Jonson, The Magnetic Lady, IV. i: "stay you for us . . . we 'll . . meet you there within this quarter at least," and A Tale of a Tub, v. i: "till I come-which shall be Within an hour at least." Cf. Shakespeare's use of "less" "with words expressing or implying a negative, where the sense requires' 'more (Onions), as in Winter's Tale, III. ii. 57, and Coriolanus, 1. iv. 14; and similarly "lesser " To build at all? Much more, in this great work, Which is almost to pluck a kingdom down 50 The plot of situation and the model, Question surveyors, know our own estate, To weigh against his opposite; or else 55 Using the names of men instead of men: Like one that draws the model of a house Beyond his power to build it; who, half through, 60 Hast. Grant that our hopes, yet likely of fair birth, 65 I think we are a body strong enough, Even as we are, to equal with the king. L. Bard. What, is the king but five and twenty thousand? 58. one] on Q. 55. opposite ;] opposite: Theobald; Opposite? Ff. an Q. 59. through] thorough Q. 66. a body] so, body Q. 54, 55. How able . . . opposite] how far our estate is able to bear the expense of such a work as will counterpoise that which is opposed to it (Vaughan). Rolfe, in support of this explanation, refers to 1 Henry IV. 11. iii. 13. Lee paraphrases: "Taking into consideration both sides of the question; setting the likelihood that we are able to go through with the undertaking against the possibility of failing in it." For To weigh Capell read How weigh, and Staunton conjectured And weigh. 56. in paper] Hudson, after Collier MS., read on paper. Figures, ciphers. 58. model] architect's design. 60. part-created cost] Perhaps an 70 58. a] 62. waste tyranny] Cf., again, Edward the Third, I. ii: "weathers Waste." Waste, an object marked for destruction- -a proleptic use of the word. Churlish, unkind, rough. Tyranny, cruelty, violence. 67. equal with] cope on equal terms with, match. 70. divisions] sc. of an army. 70. as... brawl] to correspond to the number of wars that are on foot. Brawl, are discordant. Are in three heads: one power against the French, In three divided; and his coffers sound Arch. That he should draw his several strengths together Hast. Need not be dreaded. If he should do so, He leaves his back unarm'd, the French and Welsh L. Bard. Who is it like should lead his forces hither? Arch. I have no certain notice. Let us on, And publish the occasion of our arms. The commonwealth is sick of their own choice; An habitation giddy and unsure Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart. 78-80. If 75 80 85 90 that.] prose Q. 71. Are] And Q. 78. be] to be Q. 79, 80. He... Baying] French and Welch he leaues his back vnarmde, they baying Q. 84. 'gainst] against Q. 66 73. take up] oppose, encounter, cope with " (Schmidt), as in Coriolanus, III. i. 243. Unfirm, weak; for the prefix, cf. Twelfth Night, 11. iv. 33. 74, 75. coffers ] Craig refers to the proverb, quoted in Henry V. IV. iv. 72, 73: "The empty vessel makes the greatest sound." Cf. Lyly, Euphues, Anatomy of Wyt (Bond, i. 194): "the emptie vessell giueth a greater sownd, then the full barrell," and Sapho and Phao, II. iv. Also W. Congreve, The Old Bachelor, I. i: "the drum. being full of blustering noise and emptiness." 76. strengths] armies, as in King John, 11. i. 358. 85-108. Arch. Let . . . worst] om. Q. The printer attempted to amend the sense by altering the to they [baying]. Capell read To French and Welsh he leaves his back unarm'd, They baying. 79. back] rear. Cf. 3 Henry VI. v. i. 61; and Sw. rygg, rear of an army. 80. Baying... heels] pursuing him (with barking), driving him to bay; cf. Midsummer-Night's Dream, Iv. i. 119. 82. Duke of Lancaster] Prince John of Lancaster, who, at a later date, was created Duke of Bedford. Prince Henry was actually Duke of Lancaster. 84. substituted] appointed as the substitute or deputy of the King. 86. occasion] cause, reason, as frequently. Arms, hostilities. 87, 88. their... Their] Capell read her Her. 89. giddy] dizzy; cf. 111. i. 18 post, and Richard III. 1. iv. 17. O thou fond many, with what loud applause They that, when Richard lived, would have him die, 95 99 105 ΙΙΟ [Exeunt. 98. glutton bosom] hyphen Ff. 108. Past .. Mowb.] Bish. Q. 94. in] up in Ff 2-4. worst.] italics Ff. 109. 91. fond many] foolish multitude; cf. Merchant of Venice, 11. ix. 35: "that 'many' may be meant By the fool multitude," and Coriolanus, III. i. 65. Also Spenser, Faerie Queene, II. xii. 9: "the raskall many.' 92. beat heaven] assail heaven, smite repeatedly the vault of heaven, with prayers. 94. trimm'd in... desires] trimmed up in; furnished with that which thou desiredst; cf. Ford, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, v. vi: "Soranzo. But where 's Giovanni? [Enter G. with a heart upon his dagger] Giovanni. Here, here trimmed in reeking blood, That triumphs," etc. ... ... 97. common] with an allusion to the commonalty, of the people. 103. threw'st... head] See Richard II. v. ii. 30; and cf. Massinger, Maid of Honour, IV. ii: "or argue with Heaven's justice, Tearing my locks, and, in defiance, throwing Dust in the air?" 109. draw] assemble, as in 1 Henry IV. IV. i. 126. For numbers, cf. Henry V. III. v. 56. Set on, march, as in 1 Henry IV. v. ii. 97. 1 Henry IV. v. iv. 81-83; and cf. The 110. We... subjects] See note to Trial of Treasure (Haz. Dods., iii. 296), where Time says: "You know that all such things are subject to time; Therefore me to withstand is no reason nor rhyme; For like as all things in time their beginning had, So must all things in time vanish and fade." ACT II SCENE I.-London. A street. Enter HOSTESS, FANG and his BOY with her, and Host. Master Fang, have you entered the action? Fang. It is entered. Host. Where's your yeoman? Is't a lusty yeoman? will a' stand to 't? Fang. Sirrah, where 's Snare? Host. O Lord, ay! good Master Snare. 5 London.] Pope. A street.] Theobald. Enter ACT II. Scene 1. Capell; Enter Hostesse of the Tauerne, and esse, with two Officers, Fang, and Snare. Ff. Phang. Q (passim). 3. Is 't] Is it Ff. 6. O Lord, ay !... Snare.] Ó Lord I, Ff. ACT II. SCENE 1. Fang Snare] Fang and Snare are respectively the sergeant and his yeoman. The names of Sheriffs' officers or catchpoles are nearly always significant in the drama. We have, for instance, Sergeant Ambush and Yeoman Clutch in Dekker and Webster's Westward Hoe, and Flesh-Hook and Counterbuff in Middleton's Anything for a Quiet Life. Fang," from "fang," to seize (see Timon of Athens, IV. iii. 23); cf. Dekker, Match Me in London (Pearson, iv. 193): "bite any Catchpole that fangs you"; H. Shirley, The Martyr'd Souldier, v.: "it has ever beene my profession to fang and clutch and to squeeze" (of an officer). his Boy] So Capell. The presence of Fang's Boy may be inferred from line 5 post, where Fang asks: "Sirrah, where's Snare?" 1, 6. Master] The Hostess, blunderingly, or from a desire to be on the right side of the two officers, confers on 1. Master] Mr. Ff. 2. Fang.] 4. a'] he Ff. 4. to 't] to it Ff. Snare. Q; I, I, good M. Snare. them a title not warranted by their rank. See v. iv. 28 post. 1. entered the action] given notice of the cause of action at the Counter in the Poultry. See Tarlton's Fests (ed. Halliwell, p. 20): "[Tarlton] goes to the Counter, and entered his action against my Lord Maior." Also Middleton and Dekker, The Roaring Girl (Pearson's Dekker, iii. 188), where an action "is entred I' th Counter to arrest Iacke Dapper"; and The Puritan, III. iv: "Put. Go, Yeoman Dogson, before, and enter the action [against Pyeboord] i' the Counter [Pye-boord had been already arrested]." 3. Is't] So in Marlowe, Few of Malta, Iv. iv: "Is 't not a sweet-faced youth?" And Middleton, No Wit, no Help Like a Woman's, II. iii: “A proper gentleman it is." Lusty, vigorous, strong. Stand to't, make a stand. 6. ay good] Capell read ay, good! Good, an epithet of courteous address as in Tempest, 1. i. 10. |