The mean time, lady, I'll raise the preparation of a war Shall ftain your brother. Antony and Cleopatra, A. 3, S. 4. O, wi and man of honour, that he fell off, and revolted by the chance of war. The poet certainly wrote, "But 'bides the chance of war." i. e. He never did revolt, but abides the chance of war, as a prifoner. WARBURTON. The plain meaning is, he came not into the enemy's power but by the chance of war. To 'bide the chance of war may well enough fignify, to ftand the hazard of a battle, but can fcarcely mean to endure the feverity of a prifon. JOHNSON. Notwithstanding the attempt of Dr. Johnson to explain the prefent reading, I cannot help thinking that the paffage is corrupt. The poet may have written, "He never did fall off, my fovereign liege, "But try'd the chance of war.' The meaning will then be, that Mortimer neither revolted to the enemy, nor hung back during the fight: that he did his utmoft. 1 I'll raise the preparation of a war A. B. Shall ftain your brother.] Thus the printed copies. But fure, Antony, whofe bufinefs here is to mollify Octavia, does it with a very ill grace; and 'tis a very odd way of fatisfying her, to tell her, the war he raifes, fhall ftain, i. e. cast an odium upon her brother. I have no doubt but we must read, with the addition only of a fingle letter, "Shall firain your brother," i. e. fhall lay him under constraints; thall put him to fuch shifts, that he shall neither be able to make progress against, or to prejudice me. THEOBALD, I do not fee but ftain may be allowed to remain unaltered, meaning no more than hame or difgrace. JOHNSON. "Stain," I think, is right, only that it fhould be printed 'ftain for fuftain, or fupport. The context will warrant this reading. Antony fays, that if he lofes his honour, he loses himfelf: ftill, adds he, to fhew you how much I am inclined to be well with Cæfar, yourself fhall go between us, and I will make preparation to fupport him, if he be fo minded as to act with me. "So your defires are yours," continues he, i. e. you bave your swishes for a perfect reconciliation: be quick, and, if poffible, effect it. To this Octavia returns him thanks, which the would certainly not have done, had he infinuated that he meant to fhame or difgrace her brother. When it appears to you, proceeds Antony, where this begins (i. c. where there is any fault), turn O, wither'd is the garland of the war, I The foldier's pole is fall'n; young boys, and girls, Are level now with men. Antony and Cleopatra, A. 4, S. 13. WARRIOR. Tell the conftable, We are but warriors for the working-day : Henry V. A. 4, S. 3. Thou fhalt be fortunate, If thou receive me for thy warlike mate 2. Henry VI. P. 1, A. 1, S. 2. WAVE S. Like Arion on the dolphin's back, I faw him hold acquaintance with the waves, WE ARINES S. Weariness Can fnore upon the flint, when refty floth Finds the down pillow hard. Cymbeline, A. 3, S. 6. turn your difpleasure that way. From all which we may infer, that he was willing to affift Cæfar, if in honour he could do fo. The poet wrote 'fain on account of the metre. A. B. 1 The foldier's pole.]. He at whom the foldiers pointed, as at a pageant held high for observation. JOHNSON. Perhaps by foldier's pole," is meant the ftandard-the principal military enfign. 2 66 A. B. If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.] "Mate" fhould be Meet is here used as a fubftantive, and in the fenfe of equal-one who may be allowed to enter the lifts with him. meet. A. B. WELCOME. WELCOME. Sir, you are very welcome to our houfe: Merchant of Venice, A. 5, S. 1. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep, come. A curse begin at very root of's heart, That is not glad to see thee! Coriolanus, A. 2, S. 1. I. -Therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Hamlet, A. 1, S. 5. Hermione, How thou lov'ft us, fhew in our brother's welcome; Apparent to my heart. Winter's Tale, A. 1, S. 2. Pray you, bid These unknown friends to us welcome; for it is Winter's Tale, A. 4, S. 3. Arm, arm, you heavens, against thefe perjur'd kings! Wear out the day in peace. King John, A. 3, S. 1. That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, On me, whofe all not equals Edward's moiety? Richard III. A. 1, S. 2. See what now thou art. For happy wife, a moft diftreffed widow; Richard III. A. 4, S. 4. A poor petitioner, A care-craz'd mother to a many fons, If a man do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he hall live no longer in monument, than the bell rings, and the widow weeps. Much ado about nothing, A. 5, S. 2. W I F E. If the come in, fhe'll fure fpeak to my wife :--- Methinks, it should be now a huge eclipfe Of fun and moon; and that the affrighted globe yawn at alteration. Should S..2. Othello, A. 5, S. 2. WIND S. I am a feather for each wind that blows. Thou shalt be as free As mountain winds. Winter's Tale, A. 2, S. 3. Tempeft, A. 1, S. 2. The The elements Of who:n your fwords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at ftabs Kill the ftill-clofing waters, as diminish Öne dowle that's in my plume. Tempest, A. 3, S. 3. Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts, and hurricanoes, fpout Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks! You fulphurous and thought-executing fires, Vaunt couriers to oak-cleaving thunder-bolts, The fouthern wind Lear, A. 3, S. 2. Doth play the trumpet to his purposes; Henry IV. P. 1, A. 5, S. 1. How like a younker, or a prodigal, With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged fails, To be intprifon'd in the viewlefs winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendant world. Measure for Measure, A. 3, S. 1. Midfummer Night's Dream, A. 2, S. 2. pelting. The meaning is pla'nly despicable, mean, forry, wretched, |