And, for my foul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? Hamlet, A. 1, S. 4. This our life, exempt from publick haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in ftones, and good in every thing. As you like it, A. 2, S. 1. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipp'd them not; and our crimes would defpair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues. All's well that ends well, A. 4, S. 3. At my birth, The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes; I am not in the roll of common men. Henry IV. P. 1, A. 3, S. 1. My life is fpann'd already ; I am the shadow of poor Buckingham; Whose figure even this inftant cloud puts on, I every measure fail me.] All good which I fhall allot thee, or measure out to thee, will be fcanty. JOHNSON. A. B. "Measure" here is effort, endeavour. 2 My life is fpann'd already.] To fpan is to gripe, or inclofe in the band; to pan is alfo to measure by the palm and fingers. The meaning, therefore, may either be, that hold is taken of my life; my life is in the gripe of my enemies, or that my time is meafured, the length of my life is now determined. JOHNSON. My life is fpann'd," i. e. my life is short. We now fay, contracted to a pan, for any fort space of time. A. B. Sharp Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue Henry VI. P. 2, A. 3, S. 1. I cannot tell, what you and other men I was born free as Cæfar; fo were you : Julius Cæfar, A. 1, I am married to a wife, Which is as dear to me as life itself; S. 2. Merchant of Venice, A. 4, S. 1. Thou art too noble to conserve a life In bafe appliances. Meafure for Measure, A. 3, S. 1. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing, That none but fools would keep. Meafure for Measure, A. 3, S. 1. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: You take my houfe, when you do take the prop That doth fuftain my houfe; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live. Merchant of Venice, A. 4, S. 1. Make me to fee it; or (at least) fo prove it, That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life! Othello, A. 3. For all, that life can rate Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate; S. 3.. Youth, Youth, beauty, wifdom, courage, virtue, all All's well that ends well, A. 2, S. 1. L I ON. I met a lion, Who glar'd upon me, and went furly by, Without annoying me: And, yesterday, the bird of night did fit, I do believe they are portentous things I. Julius Cæfar, A. 1, S. 3. To whom do lions caft their gentle looks? Henry VI. P. 3, A. 2, S. 2. Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, Whofe top branch over-peer'd Jove's fpreading tree, I prime.] Youth; the fpring or morning of life. JOHNSON. Should we not read pride? Dr. Johnfon explains prime to mean youth; and indeed I do not fee any other plaufible interpretation that can be given of it. But how does that fuit with the context? Happiness and pride, may fignify, I think, the pride of happiness, the proudeft ftate of happiness. I think we fhould read, TYRWHIT. "That happiness in prime can happy call." i. c. happiness in the greatest degree. A. B. Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs; I I had rather heat my liver with drinking.", Antony and Cleopatra, A. 1, S. 2. LOVE, LOVER.. - Gentle lady, Merchant of Venice, A. 3, S. 2. Heaven, and fortune, bar me happy hours! To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! Richard III. A. 4, S. 4. The leifure, and the fearful time Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love, And ample interchange of fweet discourse, 1 I had rather heat my liver with drinking.] To know why the lady is fo averfe from heating her liver, it must be remembered, that a heated liver is supposed to make a pimpled face. JOHNSON. Dr. Johnson is mistaken, I believe, in fuppofing that the lady is thinking of a pimpled face. The feat of love was by ancient writers fuppofed to be in the liver. The foothfayer fays to Charmion, "You shall be more beloving than belov'd." If that is the cafe, replies fhe, I had rather heat my liver, with drinking than with love. A. B. Which Which fo long fundred friends should dwell upon, Richard III. A. 5, S. 3. Perhaps, he loves you now; Hamlet, A. 1, S. 3. O, Hamlet, what a falling off was there! Hamlet, A. 1, S. 5. Hafte me to know it; that I, with wings as swift May fweep to my revenge. This is the very ecstasy of love: Hamlet, A. 1, S. 5. Whose violent property forędoes itself, And leads the will to defperate undertakings, As oft as any paffion under heaven, That does afflict our natures. Hamlet, A. 2, S. 1. 'The inftances, that fecond marriage move, Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. Hamlet, A. 3, S. 2. There lives within the very flame of love Hamlet, A. 4, S. 7. The inftances.] The motives. JOHNSON. We should rather explain "inftances" by circumftances. We cannot well fay, the motives that move. A. B. |