Love, and be friends, as two fuch men fhould be; Love, and be friends, as two fuch men should be; Caf. For I bave feen more years, I'm sure, than ye.] This passage is a tranflation from the following one in the first book of Homer: Αλλὰ πίθεσθ ̓ ἄμφαἐδὲ νεωτέρω ἐσὸν ἐμεῖο. which is thus given in fir Thomas North's Plutarch: "My lords, I pray you hearken both to me, "For I have feen more years than fuch ye three." STEEVENS. 2 What should the wars do with thefe jigging fools] i. e. with thefe filly poets. A jig fignified, in our authour's time, a metrical compofition, as well as a dance. So, in the prologue to Fletcher's Love's Pilgrimage: A jig fhall be clapp'd at, and every rhyme "Prais'd and applauded by a clamorous chime." A modern editor, (Mr. Capell,) who, after having devoted the greater part of his life to the ftudy of old books, appears to have been extreme. ly ignorant of ancient English literature, not knowing this, for jigging, reads (after Mr. Pope,) jingling. His work exhibits above Nine Handred alterations of the genuine text, equally capricious and unwarrant able. This editor, of whom it was justly said by the late Bishop of Glocefter, that be bad bung bimfelf up in chains over our poet's grave,” having boasted in his preface, that his emendations of the text were at least equal in number to thofe of all the other editors and commentators put together," I fome years ago had the curiofity to look into his volumes with this particular view. On examination I then found, that, of three hundred and twenty-five emendations of the ancient copies, which, as I then thought, he had properly received into his text, two hundred and eighty-five were fuggefted by fome former editor or commentator, and forty only by himfelf. But on a fecond and more rigorous examination I now find, that of the emendations properly adopted, (the number of which appears to be much smaller than that abovementioned,) he has a claim to not more than fifteen. The innovations and arbitrary alterations, either adopted from others, or firft introduced by this editor, from ignorance of our antient customs and phrafeology, amount to no lefs a number than NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY Two!! It is highly probable that many have yet efcaped my notice. MALONE, 3 Companion, bence.] Companion is ufed as a term of reproach in many [Exit Poet. Caf. Away, away, be gone. Enter LUCILIUS, and TITINIUS. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Caf. And come yourselves, and bring Meffala with you Immediately to us. [Exeunt LUCILIUS, and TITINIUS. Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine. Caf. I did not think, you could have been fo angry. Caf. Of your philofophy you make no ufe, If you give place to accidental evils. Bru. No man bears forrow better:-Portia is dead. Bru. She is dead. Caf. How fcap'd I killing, when I crofs'd you fo?— O infupportable and touching lofs !- Upon what fickness ? Bru. Impatient of my abfence; And grief, that young Octavius with Mark Antony Caf. And dy'd fo? Bru. many of the old plays; as we fay at prefent-fellow. So, in K. Henry IV. Part II. Dol Tearsheet fays to Pistol: "I fcorn you, fcurvy companion," &c. STEEVENS. 4 And, her attendants abfent, fwallow'd fire.] This circumstance is taken from Plutarch. It is alfo mentioned by Val. Maximus. It may not, however be amifs to remark, that the death of Portia wants that foundation which has hitherto entitled her to a place in poetry, as a pattern of Roman fortitude. She is reported, by Pliny, I think, to have died at Rome in a lingering illnefs while Brutus was abroad; but fome writers feem to look on a natural death as a derogation from a diftinguished character. STEEVENS. Valerius Maximus fays that Portia furvived Brutus, and killed herself on hearing that her husband was defeated and flain at Philippi. Plutarch's account in the Life of Brutus is as follows: "And for Portia, Brutus' wife, Nicolaus the philofopher, and Valerius Maximus, doe wryte, that the determining to kill her felfe, (her parents and frends carefullie look. ing to her to kepe her from it,) tooke hotte burning coles, and caft them into her mouth and kept her mouth fo clofe, that the choked her felfe. There Bru. Even fo. Caf. O ye immortal gods! Enter LUCIUS, with wine, and tapers. Bru. Speak no more of her.-Give me a bowl of wine: In this I bury all unkindness, Caffius. Caf. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge: Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'er-fwell the cup; I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [drinks. [drinks. Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA. Bru. Come in, Titinius :-Welcome, good Meffala.Now fit we close about this taper here, And call in question our neceffities. Caf. Portia art thou gone? Meffala, I have here received letters, Mef. Myfelf have letters of the felf-fame tenour. Mef. That by profcription, and bills of outlawry, Have put to death an hundred fenators. Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree; Mine fpeak of feventy fenators, that dy'd Mef. Cicero is dead, There was a letter of Brutus found, wrytten to his frendes, complaining of their negligence; that his wife being ficke, they would not helpe her, but fuffered her to kill her feife, choofing to dye rather than to languish in paine. Thus it appeareth that Nicolaus knew not well that time, th the letter (at leaft if it were Brutus' letter,) doth plainly declare the difeafe and love of this lady, and the maner of her death.” North's Tranflation. See alfo Martial, 1. 1. ep. 42. Valerius Maximus, and Nicolaus, and Plutarch, all agree in faying that the put an end to her life; and the letter, if authentick, afcertains that he did fo in the life-time of Brutus. Our authour therefore, we fee, had fufficient authority for his reprefentation. MALONE. And And by that order of profcription.- Had you your lord? Mef. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? Mef. That, methinks, is ftrange. Bru. Why afk you? Hear you aught of her in yours? Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. Bru. Why, farewel, Portia.-We muft die, Meffala: With meditating that she muft die once, I have the patience to endure it now. Mef. Even fo great men great loffes fhould endure. But yet my nature could not bear it fo. Bru. Well, to our work alive. Of marching to Philippi presently? Caf. I do not think it good. Caf. This it is: What do you think 'Tis better, that the enemy feek us : So fhall he waste his means, weary his foldiers, Are full of reft, defence, and nimbleness. Bru. Good reasons muft, of force, give place to better. The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground, Do ftand but in a forc'd affection; For they have grudg'd us contribution: By them shall make a fuller number up, Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd; These people at our back. Caf. Hear me, good brother. Bru. Under your pardon.-You muft note befide, 3 — in art-] That is, in theory. MALONE. That That we have try'd the utmost of our friends, We, at the height, are ready to decline. Caf. Then, with your will, go on; We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. Which we will niggard with a little reft. There is no more to say? Caf. No more. Good night; Early to-morrow will we rife, and hence. Bru. Lucius, my gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewel, good Meffala ; Good night, Titinius :-Noble, noble Caffius, Good night, and good repofe. Caf. O my dear brother! This was an ill beginning of the night: Never come fuch divifion 'tween our fouls! Let it not, Brutus. Bru. Every thing is well, Caf. Good night, my lord. Bru. Good night, good brother. • There is a tide, &c.] This paffage is poorly imitated by B. and Fletcher, in the Cuftom of the Country: "There is an hour in each man's life appointed "To make bis happiness, if then be seize it," &c. STEZVENS, A fimilar fentiment is found in Chapman's Buffy d' Ambois, 1607: "There is a deep nick in time's reftlefs wheel, "For each man's good; when which nick comes, it strikes. "So no one rifeth by his real merit, "But when it cries click in his raifer's fpirit." MALONE: |