Act V Sc. 1
“If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep.”
The 4to 1527 reads thus; the others and the folio ‘truth of sleep,’ in which I can see no sense, while the former seems to be justified by
“Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye.”
Son. xxxiii.
In both places flatter seems to mean cheer, enliven. ‘Eye’ is, as in “eye of green” (Temp. ii. 1), look, glance; “Yon grey is not the Morning’s eye” (iii. 5).
“Need and oppression starveth in thy eyes.”
Pope read stareth, after Otway; rightly, I think.
Sc. 3
“Under yond’ yew-trees lay thee all along.”
The 4to 1597 reads ‘Under this yew-tree’; the others ‘Under yond’ young trees. Further on they all read ‘As I did sleep under this young tree here.’ There can be little doubt that yew was the poet’s word; it is not so easy to decide between tree and trees; but I prefer the former.
“And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food.”
Perhaps the poet’s word was requite.
“Why art thou yet so fair? I will believe,
Shall I believe that unsubstantial Death is amorous?”
We have here plainly two various readings got in by mistake. (See above, iii. 3.) I agree with those who reject the first.
“This is thy sheath; there rest and let me die.”
The reading ‘rest,’ for rust of the editions, is deduced from 4to 1597.
“What fear is this which startles in our ears.”
So I read with Johnson for your.
“Look and thou shalt see.”
‘Look here’ would have more melody.
“Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while.”
The reading of Collier’s folio, outcry, seems preferable. It occurs a little before in this scene.