Act III Sc. 1
“These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men.”
As, so far as I know, the subs. couching does not occur anywhere else, we might read, with Hanmer, crouchings; for nothing is more common than the omission of a letter by the printer. Singer, however, quotes from Huloet, “Cowch like a dogge, Procumbo;” and we may see a reference to the dog in the whole speech. For fire I would read stir.
“To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony;
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts
Of brother’s temper do receive you in them.”
As the second line does not make sense, we may either, with Capell, read no for ‘in,’ or, deeming the error to lie in ‘malice,’ substitute friendship, or some other word.
“A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.”
Johnson, followed by Dyce, prefers lives. I do not see much to be gained by the change.
“Passion I see is catching; from mine eyes.”
For ‘from’ the 2nd folio properly read for.
Sc. 2
“Cæsar has had great wrong.—Has he, my masters?”
“Read the will. We will hear it Antony;
You shall read us the will. Read Cæsar’s will.”
“For I have neither writ, nor words, nor worth.”
The 2nd folio properly read wit, i.e. mental power.