"Clubs, clubs; these lovers will not keep the peace." It was customary on the appearance of a fray, to call out Clubs, " clubs." Line 137.human as she is,] That is, not a phantom, but the real Rosalind, without any of the danger generally conceived to attend the rites of incantation. JOHNSON. Line 138. which I tender dearly, though I say I am a magician:] Hence it appears this was written in James's time, when there was a severe inquisition after witches and magicians. WARB. ACT V. SCENE III. The stanzas of the song are in all the editions evidently transposed: as I have regulated them, that which in the former copies was the second stanza is now the last. The same transposition of these stanzas is made by Dr. Thirlby, in a copy containing some notes on the margin, which I have perused by the favour of Sir Edward Walpole. ACT V. SCENE IV. JOHNSON. Line 276. Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, &c.] Strange beasts are only what we call odd animals. JOHNSON. Line 298. according as marriage binds, and blood breaks:] To swear according as marriage binds, is to take the oath enjoined in the ceremonial of marriage. JOHNSON. Line 308. -dulcet diseases.] This I do not understand. For diseases it is easy to read discourses: but perhaps the fault may JOHNSON. lie deeper. Line 312. -as thus, Sir; I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard;] This folly is touched upon with high humour by Fletcher in his Queen of Corinth: "Has he familiarly "Dislik'd your yellow starch, or said your doublet "Was not exactly frenchified? "-or drawn your sword, "Cry'd 't was ill mounted? Has he given the lye " In circle or oblique or semicircle "Or direct parallel; you must challenge him." WARBURTON. Line 349. like a stalking horse,] See note on Much Ado about Nothing, Act 2. Sc. 3. Line 351. Enter Hymen,) Rosalind is imagined by the rest of the company to be brought by enchantment, and is therefore introduced by a supposed aërial being in the character of Hymen. JOHNSON. Line 361. If there be truth in sight,] The answer of Phebe makes it probable that Orlando says, if there be truth in shape: that is, if a form may be trusted; if one cannot usurp the form of another. JOHNSON. Line 375. If truth holds true contents.] That is, if there be truth in truth, unless truth fails of veracity. JOHNSON. END OF THE ANNOTATIONS ON AS YOU LIKE IT. ΑΝΝΟΤΑTIONS ON ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. ACT I. SCENE I. LINE 5. -in ward.] Under his particular care, as my guardian, till I come to age. It is now almost forgotten in England that the. heirs of great fortunes were the king's wards. Whether the same practice prevailed in France, it is of no great use to enquire, for Shakspeare gives to all nations the manners of England. JOHNS. Line 20. -0, that had! how sad a passage 'tis!] Passage is any thing that passes; so we now say, a passage of an author, and we said about a century ago, the passages of a reign. When the countess mentions Helena's loss of a father, she recollects her own loss of a husband, and stops to observe how heavily that word had passes through her mind. JOHNSON, Thus Shakspeare himself. See The Comedy of Errors, Act 3, Sc. 1.-" Now in the stirring passage of the day." STEEVENS. Line 45. they are virtues and traitors too; in her they are the better for their simpleness;] Her virtues are the better for their simpleness, that is, her excellencies are the better because they are artless and open, without fraud, without design. The learned Dr. Warburton well explained virtues, but has not, I think, reached the force of the word traitors, and therefore has not shewn the full extent of Shakspeare's masterly observation. Virtues in an unclean mind are virtues and traitors too. Estimable and useful qualities, joined with evil disposition, give that evil disposition power over others, who, by admiring the virtue, are betrayed to the malevolence. The Tatler, mentioning the sharpers of his time, observes, that some of them are men of such elegance and knowledge, that a young man who falls into their way is betrayed as much by his judgment as his passions. JOHNSON. Line 51. -can season her praise in.] Thus in Twelfth Night; -"all this to season "A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh, Line 54. -all livelihood] Means all appearance of life. STEEVENS. 61. If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess makes it soon mortal.] Lafeu says, excessive grief is the enemy of the living: the countess replies, If the living be an enemy to grief, the excess soon makes it mortal: that is, if the living do not indulge grief, grief destroys itself by its own excess. By the word mortal I understand that which dies, and Dr. Warburton, (whose reading is-be not enemy) that which destroys. I think that my interpretation gives a sentence more acute and more refined. Let the reader judge. JOHNSON. Line 75. That thee may furnish,] That may help thee with more and better qualifications. JOHNSON. Line 82. The best wishes, &c.] That is, may you be mistress of your wishes, and have power to bring them to effect. JOHNS. these great tears-] The tears which the king and Line 90. countess shed for him. JOHNSON. Line 98. In his bright radiance and collateral light, &c.] I cannot be united with him and move in the same sphere, but must be comforted at a distance by the radiance that shoots on all sides from him. JOHNSON. Line 105. In our hearts' table;] Table means the board or canvass on which a picture was painted. See Walpole's Anecdotes. Line 106. trick of his sweet favour:] So in King John: |