Act II Sc. 1
“It cannot hold; no reason
Can sound his state in safety.”
If ‘sound’ be the right word, it must be a nautical metaphor. Editors in general read found.
“Plays in the right hand thus;—but tell him that.”
“Ay go, sir.—Take the bonds along with you,
And have the dates in. Come....”
This is the reading of the folio, and is perfectly intelligible; perhaps we should read ‘in mind.’ Editors in general follow Theobald in reading for ‘Come’ compt.
Sc. 2
“Never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.”
Here ‘to be’ is being. See Introd. p. 70.
“What shall be done? He will not hear till he feel.”
“He humbly prays your speedy payment of.”
“With clamorous demands of [debt] broken bonds.”
I think ‘debt’ was introduced from the next line. Malone reads ‘date-broken.’
“Look you, here comes my master’s page.”
For ‘master’s,’ both here, and in the following speech, Malone very properly read ‘mistress’.’ See on Tam. of Shr. i. 2.
“I have retired me to a wasteful cock.”
By ‘cock’ here can only be meant a cockloft, and perhaps, as it is at the end of the line, loft may have been effaced. See Introd. p. 58.
“This night englutted! Who is not Lord Timon’s?”
“Canst thou the conscience lack
To think I shall lack friends?”
As to lack conscience is to be unconscionable, and would sound here rather ironically, I think ‘lack’ has been suggested by the following line for have, or some other word.
“Men and men’s fortunes could I as frankly use.”
“And in some sort these wants of mine are crown’d.”
Here also ‘crown’d’ seems to occupy the place of some other word.
“I pr’ythee, man, look cheerly; these old fellows.”
“I would I could not [think it]. That thought is bounty’s foe.”
Several of the editors concur in this proper omission.