That such a keech can with his very Nor. bulk Surely, sir, There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends: Again, in The Rape of Lucrece: "Thy violent vanities can never last." In Timon of Athens, we have — 8 "O the fierce wretchedness that glory brings!" Malone. 6 That such a keech-] A keech is a solid lump or mass. cake of wax or tallow formed in a mould, is called yet in some Α places, a keech. Johnson. There may, perhaps, be a singular propriety in this term of contempt. Wolsey was the son of a butcher, and in The Second Part of King Henry IV, a butcher's wife is called-Goody Keech. Steevens. 7 Out of his self-drawing web,] Thus it stands in the first edition. The latter editors, by injudicious correction, have printed: Out of his self-drawn web. Johnson. 8 •he gives us note,] Old copy-O gives us &c. Corrected by Mr. Steevens. Malone. 9 A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king.] It is evident a word or two in the sentence is misplaced, and that we should read: A gift that heaven gives; which buys for him A place next to the king. Warburton. It is full as likely that Shakspeare wrote: gives to him,—— which will save any greater alteration. Johnson. I am too dull to perceive the necessity of any change. What he is unable to give himself, heaven gives or deposits for him, and that gift, or deposit, buys a place, &c. Steevens. I agree with Johnson that we should read: A gift that heaven gives to him: for Abergavenny says in reply, "I cannot tell "What heaven hath given him." which confirms the justness of this amendment. I should otherwise have thought Steevens's explanation right. M. Mason. Aber. I cannot tell What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye Pierce into that; but I can see his pride Peep through each part of him:1 Whence has he that? Or has given all before, and he begins Buck. Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, Who should attend on him? He makes up the file2 Must fetch him in he papers.* I do know Aber. Buck. O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on them 1 2 3 I can see his pride Peep through each part of him:] So, in Troilus and Cressida : her wanton spirits look out 66 "At every joint and motive of her body." Steevens. the file-] That is, the list. Johnson. council out,] Council not then sitting. Johnson. The expression rather means, "all mention of the board of council being left out of his letter." Steevens. That is, left out, omitted, unnoticed, unconsulted with. Ritson. It appears from Holinshed, that this expression is rightly explained by Mr. Pope in the next note: without the concurrence of the council. "The peers of the realme receiving letters to prepare themselves to attend the king in this journey, and no apparent necessarie cause expressed, why or wherefore, seemed to grudge that such a costly journey should be taken in hand-without consent of the whole boarde of the Counsaille." Malone. 4 Must fetch him in he papers.] He papers, a verb; his own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the council, must fetch in him whom he papers down.—I don't understand it, unless this be the meaning. Pope. Wolsey published a list of the several persons whom he had ap pointed to attend on the King at this interview. See Hall's Chronicle, Rymer's Fadera, Tom. XIII, &c. Steevens. 5 For this great journey. What did this vanity, But minister communication"of the consummation. A most poor issue?6 Nor. Grievingly I think, The peace between the French and us not values Buck. 5 Have broke their backs with laying manors on them For this great journey.] In the ancient Interlude of Nature, bl. 1. no date, but apparently printed in the reign of King Henry VIII, there seems to have been a similar stroke aimed at this expensive expedition: "Pryde. I am unhappy, I se it well, "For the expence of myne apparell "What in horses and other aray Chapman has introduced the same idea into his version of the second Iliad: "Proud-girle-like, that doth ever beare her dowre upon her backe." Steevens. Again, in Camden's Remains, 1605: "There was a nobleman merrily conceited, and riotously given, that having lately sold a mannor of an hundred tenements, came ruffling into the court, saying, am not I a mighty man that beare an hundred houses on my backe?" Malone. So also Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy: "Tis an ordinary thing to put a thousand oakes, or an hundred oxen, into a sute of apparell, to weare a whole manor on his back." Edit. 1634, p. 482. Whalley. 6 What did this vanity, But minister &c.] What effect had this pompous show, but the production of a wretched conclusion.. Johnson. 7 Every man, After the hideous storm that follow'd, &c.] From Holinshed: "Monday the xviii of June was such an hideous storme of wind and weather, that many conjectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortly after to follow between princes."-Dr. Warburton has quoted a similar passage from Hall, whom he calls Shakspeare's author; but Holinshed, and not Hall, was his author; as is proved here by the words which I have printed in Italicks, which are not found so combined in Hall's Chronicle. This fact is indeed proved by various circumstances. Malone. Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded Nor. Which is budded out; For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux. Aber. The ambassador is silenc'd?8 Nor. Aber. A proper title of a peace; and purchas'd At a superfluous rate! Buck. Is it therefore Marry, is 't. Why, all this business 'Like it your grace, Our reverend cardinal carry'd.1 Nor. The state takes notice of the private difference (And take it from a heart that wishes towards you What his high hatred would effect, wants not 8 The ambassador is silenc'd?] Silenc'd for recalled. This being proper to be said of an orator; and an ambassador or public minister being called an orator, he applies silenc'd to an ambassador. Warburton. I understand it rather of the French ambassador residing in England, who, by being refused an audience, may be said to be silenc'd. Johnson. 9 A proper title of a peace;] A fine name of a peace. Ironically. Johnson. So, in Macbeth: 1 "O proper stuff! "This is the very painting of your fear." Steevens. this business Our reverend cardinal carry'd.] To carry a business was at this time a current phrase for to conduct or manage it. So, in this Act: That I advise your shunning. Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, (the Purse borne before him) certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with Papers. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of disdain. Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? Where 's his examination? 1 Secr. Here, so please you. Wol. Is he in person ready? 1 Secr. Ay, please your grace. Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Bucking ham Shall lessen this big look. [Exeunt WoL. and Train. Nor. What, are you chaf'd? Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only, Which your disease requires. Buck. I read in his looks Matter against me; and his eye revil'd 2 comes that rock,] To make the rock come, is not very just. 3 Johnson. butcher's cur] Wolsey is said to have been the son of a butcher. Johnson. Dr. Grey observes, that when the death of the duke of Buckingham was reported to the Emperor Charles V, he said, "The first buck of England was worried to death by a butcher's dog." Skelton, whose satire is of the grossest kind, in Why come you not to Court, has the same reflection on the meanness of Cardinal Wolsey's birth: "For drede of the boucher's dog, "Wold wirry them like an hog." Steevens. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood.] That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high descent of hereditary greatness. This is a contemptuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the ancient, unlettered, martial nobility. Johnson. It ought to be remembered that the speaker is afterward pronounced by the King himself a learned gentleman. Ritson. |