Act III Sc. 1
“The arch-deacon hath divided it for us.”
“And then he runs you straight and evenly.”
“I’ll in and haste the writer and withal.”
So I think we should read with Steevens and Malone. “I’ll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence” (Rich. III. i. 1).
“He held me last night at the least nine hours.”
“As a tired horse or as a railing wife.”
So Pope also. The usual correction is that of Capell, ’as is a tired horse.’
“In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blameable.”
We have “wilful-opposite” (K. John, v. 2), “wilful-negligent” (Wint. Tale, i. 2), “wilful-slow” (Son. li.), and “wilful-ignorant” (Fletcher, Woman-hater, v. 2). For my part, I regard it as a convincing proof of the truth of my theory of effacement (Introd. p. 57).
“Which thou pourest down from those swelling heavens.”
The Cambridge editors and myself have independently transposed in ‘pourest down.’ We might also read “Which from those,” etc.
“Nay, nay, if you melt, then will she run mad.”
“Come, Kate, come; thou art perfect in lying down.”
“I had rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish.”
So, after all the editors, I have printed it, in accordance with the 4tos; the folio applies ‘Lady’ to Lady Percy. I, however, strongly suspect that we should read ‘my lady-brach,’ as in Lear, i. 4, which would also accord better with the metre. See Index s. v. Brach.
“Come sing.—I will not sing.—’Tis the next way
To turn tailor or be redbreast-teacher.”
So it should be arranged.
“By this our book is drawn; we’ll but seal and then
To horse immediately. With all my heart.”
As this is preceded by a couplet, and the scenes generally end with one, I would read ‘then start’ for ‘and then.’ Start being probably effaced, the printer added ‘and’ to complete the measure. See Introd. p. 67.
Sc. 2
“As in reproof of many tales devis’d—
Which oft the ear of Greatness needs must hear—
By smiling pick-thanks and base news-mongers.”
The two last lines should, I think, be transposed.
“Mingled his royalty with carping fools.”
The 4to, 1598, reads capring, i.e. capering. The choice is difficult.
Sc. 3
“Go, Poins, to horse, to horse!”
Both 4tos and folio have Peto. Johnson made the change.
“At two o’clock in the afternoon.”
Something seems wanting here. I have added precisely.