Act IV Sc. 1
“Cannot contain their urine; for Affection,
Masters of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes or loathes.”
The original editions all read “Cannot contain their urine for affection;” but that this cannot be right is proved by the context. The only question then is, should we read Master with Thirlby, or Mistress with the same and Capell. Nothing (see Introd. p. 59) is more common than the addition of s, while master and mistress are frequently confounded. (See on Taming of Shrew, i. 2.) On the whole, I prefer mistress. In the last line I read she for ‘it,’ evidently caused by that in the preceding line. For the meaning of ‘affection,’ see Index s. v.
“Why he a woollen bag-pipe.”
The bag of the bag-pipe is no doubt generally covered at the present day with a piece of green baize, which is woollen; yet I incline with Hawkins and Steevens to read swollen; the s might easily have been lost, of which I think we have another example in the change of sway to wag (Much Ado, v. 1).
“As to offend himself, being offended.”
I prefer this punctuation.
“I pray you think you question with the Jew.”
Though by reading ‘a Jew’ we get sense, and Launce (Com. of Err. ii. 3) makes a Jew the type of hard-heartedness, and we have the same notion in Much Ado, ii. 3, I yet cannot but adhere to stint your for ‘think you,’ as I have given it in my Edition. It seems to me so much more forcible, and more suited to the calm resignation of Antonio; while in the other reading there is something of sneer or irony that is unpleasant. Nothing was easier than for the printer to read stint, the more unusual term, as think, and then to make your you for the sake of sense (see Introd. p. 67), and as they are pronounced nearly alike. However, judicet lector.
“You may as well use question with the wolf
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb.”
This is the reading of the Bridgewater copy of Heyes’ 4to, only reading bleak for ‘bleat’; in the Devonshire copy of that 4to it is:
“Well use question with the wolf
The ewe bleat for the lamb.”
In the folio:
“Or even as well use question with the wolf
... The ewe bleat for the lamb.”
So editions vary!
“Of such deep misery doth she cut me off.”
A syllable is wanting, and a, the reading of the 2nd folio, is feeble. We have “such deep sin”(Rich. II. i. 1); “deep grief” (Ham. iv. 5); and many similar expressions. The omission of an adjective is not unusual. (See on M. N. D. v. 1.)
“As makes it light or heavy in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple.”
By reading Of for ‘Or’ we gain both in sense and energy. The proof-sheets of my Edition have given me instances of this confusion of or and of.
“Be valu’d ’gainst your wife’s commandement.”