226 It is no vicious blot, nor other foulness, 226. nor other] Coll. (MS), Sing. ii. murder or Q murther, or Ff, Wh. Sch. murder, or Q2 et cet. no slur, or 226. nor other] COLLIER (Notes, &c., p. 451): Murder or murther, of the Ff, seems entirely out of place; Cordelia could never contemplate that anybody would suspect her of murder as the ground of her father's displeasure; she is referring to vicious blots' and 'foulness' in respect to virtue. The copyist or the compositor miswrote or misread nor other murther.' Blackwood's Maga. (Oct. 1853, p. 464): France has just before said: 'Sure her offence must be of such unnatural degree That monsters it'—that is, it can be nothing short of some crime of the deepest dye, and therefore 'murder' does not seem to be so much out of place in the mouth of Cordelia. WHITE pronounces this emendation only specious; for "vicious blot". is altogether too general a term to be put in the alternative with "foulness," almost as general, and of like meaning. I do not doubt that Sh. wrote "murther." [In his Shakespeare's Scholar, WHITE gave in his adherence to Collier's emendation, saying that murther is an easy and undeniable mistake for nor other, and that 'murder' has no proper place in the category of blemishes enumerated by Cordelia.] WALKER (Crit. iii, 275): What has murder to do here? Read umber. MALONE onumber'd face,' Hen. V: IV. Chorus: 'Umber is a dark yellow earth brought from Umbria in Italy, which, being mixed with water, produces such a dusky yellow colour as the gleam of fire by night gives to the countenance. Our author's profession probably furnished him with this epithet; for, from an old MS play, entitled The Telltale, it appears that umber was used in the stage exhibitions of his time. In that piece, one of the marginal directions is: "He umbers her face."' DYCE (ed. 2): Undoubtedly the original reading is a very suspicious one. HALLIWELL: Most readers will agree with Dyce. BAILEY (ii, 89) proposes burden, because [Heaven save the mark!] the burden of guilt, the burden of dishonour, the burden of sorrow, are all Shakespearian expressions.' STAUNTON : Collier's (MS) emendation is certainly a very plausible substitution. KEIGHTLEY: How could the pure and gentle Cordelia suppose herself to be suspected of murder? which, moreover, accords not with the other charges she enumerates. I feel strongly persuaded that Sh.'s word was misdeed, which, if a little effaced, might easily be taken for murder.' HUDSON: Murder seems a strange word to be used here, and Collier's reading has some claims to preference; but I suspect Cordelia purposely uses murder out of place, as a glance at the hyperbolical absurdity of denouncing her as a wretch whom Nature is ashamed to acknowledge.' MOBERLY: There seems good reason for adopting Collier's reading: the gradation vicious blot, murder, foulness' would not be happy. Moreover, from the parallel expression, vicious mole of nature,' in Ham. I, iv, 24, we may conclude that in this line Cordelia refers to natural defects, which Lear might be supposed to have just discovered; but in the next line: No unchaste action,' &c. to evil actions, from all suspicions of which she wishes to be cleared. [If ever emendation be necessary, here seems to be the occasion. Rather than suppose that Cordelia could be accused of murder, I would adopt Walker's far-fetched 'umber' or Keightley's prosaic misdeed.' Instead, we have what is to me an emendatio certissima, restoring the rhythm, according with the ductus literarum, and offering no violence to the consistency of Cordelia's character. To White's objection, which seems to me the only serious one, that there is not enough of an alternative between 6 C No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath deprived me of your grace and favour; A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue 227 Hadst not been born than not t' have pleased me better. 230 231. That] As Qq, Cap. Jen. Coll. ii, Glo.+, Dyce ii, Mob. Huds. I have not] I've not Pope +. 232. Better] Goe to, goe to, better Qq (subs.), Jen. 232, 233. Better...better.] Pope. The first line ends borne, Qq, Cap. Jen. At hadft, Ff, Rowe. 233. t' have] t have F. to haue Qq. have Pope +. 'blot' and 'foulness,' may there not be opposed that Cordelia's distress might make her verge on incoherence? As Moberly truly says, 'the gradation from a vicious blot to murder, and then to foulness, is not happy.' This alone is so un-Shakespearian that of itself it would taint the line. Murder may have been a much less heinous crime in Shakespeare's days than at present, and Lady Capulet may have thought to cheer Juliet's drooping spirits with the contemplation of Romeo's assassination, but that it could ever have been of less degree than foulness demands a faith that reason without miracle can never plant in me. Can a parallel instance of anticlimax be found in Sh.? And mark how admirably the lines are balanced: vicious blot or foulness, unchaste action or dishonour'd step.'-ED.] 229. But... richer] WRIGHT: The construction is imperfect, though the sense is clear. We should have expected 'even the want,' as Hanmer reads, but Sh. was probably guided by what he had written in the line preceding, and mentally supplied 'I am deprived.' There is an obscurity about for which.' It would naturally mean for having which,' but here it must signify for wanting which.' 230. still] Constantly. See Ham. I, i, 122. 231. I have] MOBERLY: Pronounce I've not.' 232. in your liking] WRIGHT: The 'in' denotes the amount of the loss,-as in the phrases, they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver'-Deut. xxii, 19; 'condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver,' &c.—2 Chron. xxxvi, 3; and the common expression to stand one in,' for 'to cost.' The phrase may also be explained, hath caused me loss in respect of your love.' 232. Better, &c.] BUCKNILL (p. 177): All this is exaggerated passion, perverted affection, weakened judgement; all the elements, in fact, of madness, except incoherence and delusion. These are added later, but they are not essential to madness; and, as we read the play, the mind of Lear is, from the first, in a state of actual unsoundness, or, to speak more precisely, of disease. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature What say you to the lady? Love's not love Aloof from th' entire point. Will you have her? Give but that portion which yourself proposed, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing. I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry then you have so lost a father That you must lose a husband. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, re 238. regards that stands] Sch. gards, that stands Ff, Rowe. refpects that ftands Qq. respects that stand Mal. Steev. Bos. Coll. Sing. Sta. Ktly. regards, and stands Cap. regards: that stands Jen. regards that stand Pope et cet. 239. th'] Ff, Rowe +, Sing. Wh. Sch. the Qq et cet. point. Will Steev. point wil Q. point, will Q2Ff, Rowe. point. Say will Pope +, Cap. Jen. 235 240 245 240. a dowry] and dowre Q,. and dower Q2, Jen. 240-243. Royal...Burgundy.] Three lines, ending portion...Cordelia...Burgundie, Q.; ending portion...take...Burgundy, Q. 240. Lear] Q. Leir Q. King Ff +, Knt, Dyce i, Wh. Sch. 241. yourself] you yourself Bos. (misprint?) 244. I have sworn; I am firm.] I haue fworn, I am firm. Ff, I haue fworne. Qq, Jen. I've sworn. Pope+. 245. Iam] I'm Pope +, Dyce ii, Huds. 246-248. Peace....wife.] Two lines, the first ending respects, Qq. 246. Burgundy] Burguny F. 247. respects of fortune] respect and fortunes Ff, Rowe, Pope, Sch. 235. history] SCHMIDT: Frequently used for what passes in the inner life of man. Cf. Son. xciii; Meas. for Meas. I, i, 29; Rich. III: III, v, 28. 235. unspoke] WRIGHT: Sh. uses both forms of the participle of the verb speak. See Temp. IV, i, 31. In the A. V. of the Bible the form 'spoken' alone occurs. 237. Love's not love] Compare Son. xcvi. 237. regards] KNIGHT: Considerations. 238. entire] JOHNSON: Single, unmixed with other considerations. MOBERLY: The main point of affection. 247. Since that] See Mach. IV, iii, 106, or ABBOTT, § 287. 247. respects of fortune] If we adopt this reading, 'respects' is used like 're I shall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor, Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised, Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect 249. that] thou Han. 251. seize] ceaze Q 252. Be it] Be't Pope +, Dyce ii. 253. cold'st] couldft Q,. 255. my chance] thy chance Qq. 257. of] in Qq, Jen. 250 255 260 258. Can] Shall Qq, Jen. Steev. Ec. Var. Coll. Sing. Sta. Del. Ktly, Huds. 259, 260. unkind; Thou] Theob, unkinde, Thou Ff, Rowe, Pope. vnkind Thou Qq. 260. better where] better-where Sta. gards,' in line 238, or in Ham. II, ii, 79, and, of course, with the same meaning as in Ham. III, i, 68. But it is doubtful if the reading of the Ff be not better; it means the same, and the turn of the phrase is certainly Shakespearian. SCHMIDT (Zur Textkritik, p. 15), in reference to this passage, has given several instances of hendiadys in this very play, e. g. I, ii, 45: This policy and reverence of age,' equivalent to this policy of revering age;' I, ii, 165: nothing like the image and horror of it,' equivalent to the horrible image of it;' I, iv, 336: This milky gentleness and course of yours,' equivalent to gentle course;' II, ii, 74: With every gale and vary of their masters,' equivalent to 'every varying gale.' 257. waterish] WRIGHT: Used with a notion of contempt. See Oth. III, iii, 15. Burgundy was the best watered district of France. See Heylyn (A Little Descrip tion of the Great World, ed. 1633, p. 22): That which Queene Katharine was wont to say, that France had more rivers than all Europe beside; may in like manner be said of this Province in respect of France.' 258. unprized] ABBOTT, $375: This may mean cious to me.' WRIGHT: Or it may mean priceless, as iv, 27, signifies invaluable. unprized by others, but preunvalued,' in Rich. III: I, 259. unkind] STAUNTON: It here signifies unnatural, unless France is intended to mean, though unkinn'd, i. e. though forsaken by your kindred. 260. here . . . where] JOHNSON: These have the power of nouns. WRIGHT: Compare the Preface of the Translators to the Reader prefixed to the Authorized Version of the Bible: As for example, if we translate the Hebrew or Greek word once by Purpose, neuer to call it Intent; if one where Iourneying, neuer Traueiling; if one where Thinke, neuer Suppose; if one where Paine, neuer Ache,' &c. Lear. Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine, for we 261 Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Your faults as they are named. Love well our father. 261, 262. for we...see] One line, Qq. 263, 264. Therefore.....benison] Cap. was the first to indicate. by dashes, that this is addressed to Cordelia. 264, 265. Without... Burgundy.] One line, Qq. 264. our love] without our love Johns. (misprint ?) 265. [Flourish.] Om. Qq. Exeunt...] Exit Lear and Burgundy. Qq. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwal, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. Cap. 266. SCENE IV. Pope +, Jen. sisters.] sisters? Q1. 265 270 267. Ye jewels] Rowe ii+, Quincy (MS), Cap. Dyce ii, Wh. Hal. Huds. Coll. iii. The jewels QqFf et cet. 267-270. The...father:] Four lines, ending Father,.....are,....faults.... Father, Qq. 268. you what] what Rowe ii +, Cap. 270. Love] Ff+, Jen. Knt, Coll. Del. Dyce, Wh. Huds. Sch. Ufe Qq et cet. 271. professed] professing Pope +, Quincy (MS), Cap. Ec. Other instances of adverbs used as nouns cxxviii, 6 are upward,' V, iii, 137; 'inward,' Son. outward,' Son. lxix, 5; and backward,' Temp. I, ii, 50. 267. Ye jewels] STEEVENS: It is frequently impossible in ancient MS to distinguish The from its customary abbreviation. WALKER (Crit. iii, 276) supports the The of the QqFf by quotations from Browne and Spenser, but, as DYCE says, they are not parallel to the present passage. MOBERLY: You who are naturally dear and precious to him.' HALLIWELL: The old reading makes sense, but The and Ye being constantly written the same in MSS, there can be little hesitation in adopting the latter reading, which seems to improve the sentence. SCHMIDT gives several instances of the use of The before the vocative: Cor. I, vi, 6; Jul. Cæs. V, iii, 99; Per. III, i, 1; but of these the first alone is parallel, and the last is generally printed 'Thou' instead of The. 267. wash'd] For instances of the use of this word as applied to tears, see SCHMIDT, Lex. s. v. 268. know you] For instances of the redundant object, see WALKER, Crit. i, 68; or ABBOTT, § 414. 271. professed] DELIUS: Cordelia commits her father to the love which her sisters had professed, not to that which they really feel. |