omitted in the first folio. I have therefore put it between crotchets. JOHNSON.

P. 86, 1. 13. a Gentleman.] The gentleman whom he sent in the foregoing act with letters to Cordelia. JOHNSON.

P. 86, l. 14. 15. Why the King of France suddenly gone back, &c.] The King of France being no longer a necessary personage, it was fit that some pretext for getting rid of him should be formed, before the play was too near advanced towards a conclusion. Decency required that, a Monarch should not be silently shuffled into the pack of insignificant characters; and therefore his dismission (which could be effected only by a sudden recall to his own dominions) was to be accounted for before the audience. For this pur¬ pose, among others, the present scene was introduced. It is difficult indeed to say what use could have been made of the King,, had he appeared at the head of his own armament, and survived the murder of his Queen. His conjugal concern on the occasion, might have weakened the effect of Lear's parental sorrow; and, being an object of respect as well as pity, he would naturally have divided the spectator's attention, and thereby diminished the consequence of Albany, Edgar, and Kent, whose exemplary virtues deserved to be ultimately placed in the most conspicuous point of view. STEEVENS.

P. 86, 1. 22. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer.] Shakspeare seems to have been poor in the names of Frenchmen, or he would scarce have given us here a Monsieur le Fer as Mareschal of France, after he had appropriated the same appellation to a common soldier, who was fer'd, ferreted, and ferk'd, by Pistol in King Henry V. STEEVENS.

17

P. 87, 1. 3-5. — You have seen

Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and

tears

Were like a better day:] It is plain, we should read a wetter May, i. e. A spring season wetter than ordinary. WARBURTON.

day. We are compelled therefore to make some other change.

A better May, on the other hand, whether we understand by it, a good May, or a May better than ordinary, corresponds exactly with the preceding image; for in every May rain may be expected, and in a good, or a better May than ordinary, the sunshine, like Cordelia's smiles, will predominate. MALONE,

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Mr. Malone reads a better May. As objections may be started against either reading, I declare my inability to decide between them. I have, therefore left that word in the text which I found in possession of it. STEEVENS.

P.87, 1.8. As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.] The harshness of the foregoing line in the speech of the Gentleman, induces me to believe that our author might have written :

"Like pearls from diamonds drop-ping."

The idea might have been taken from the ornaments of the ancient carcanet or necklace, which frequently consisted of table diamonds with pearls appended to them, or, in the jeweller's phrase, dropping from them. Pendants for the ears are still called drops. STEEVens.

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P. 87, 1. 11. Made she no verbal 'question?] Means only, did she enter into no conversation with you? In this sense our poet frequently uses the word question, and not simply as the act of interrogation. Did she give you to understand her meaning by words as well as by the foregoing external testimonies of sorrow? STEEVENS,

P. 87, 1. 19. Let pity not be believed!] i. e. Let not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist! STEEVENS.

P. 87, 1. 19-21. There she shook

The holy water from her heavenly eyes, And clamour moisten'd:] It is not impossible but Shakspeare might have formed this fine picture of Cordelia's agony from holy writ, in the conduct of Joseph; who, being no longer able to restrain the vehemence of his affection, commanded all his retinue from his presence; and then wept aloud, and discovered himself to his brethren. THEOBALD. That is, her out-cries were accompanied with tears. JOHNSON

P. 87, 1. 24.-govern our conditions; ] i. e. regulate our dispositions. MAlone.

P. 87, 1. 25. Else one self mate and mate] The same husband and the same wife. JOHNSON. P. 88, 1. 5 7. these things sting

His mind so venomously, that burning shame

Detains him from Cordelia.] The metaphor is here preserved with great knowledge of nature. The venom of poisonous animals being a high caustick salt, that has all the effect of fire upon the part. WARBURTON.

P. 88, 1. 11. 'Tis so; they are afoot.] Dr. Warburton thinks it necessary to read, 'tis said; but the sense is plain, So it is that they are on foot.

JOHNSON.

P. 98, 1. 13. - some dear cause] Some im portant business. MALONE.

I do not remember any such plant as a hardock, but one of the most common weeds is a burdock

which I believe should be read here; and so Hanmer reads. JOHNSON.

Hardocks should be harlocks. FARMER.

One of the readings offer'd by the quartos (though mis-spelt) is perhaps the true one. The hoardock, is the dock with whitish woolly leaves.

STEEVENS. P. 88, 1. 25. Darnel,] According to Gerard,

is the most hurtful of weeds among corn.

甫

P. 89, 1. 11.

STEEVENS

the means to lead it.] The reason which should guide it. JOHNSON, P. 89, 1. 19. important —] In other places of this author for importunate. JOHNSON. P. 89, 1. 20. No blown ambition] No inflated, no swelling pride. JOHNSON.

P. 90, I. 13. His nighted life] i. e. His life made dark as night, by the extinction of his eyes. STEEVENS.

P. 90, 1. 25. Let me unseal the letter.] I know not well why Shakspeare, gives the steward, who is a mere factor of wickedness, so much fidelity. He now refuses the letter; and afterwards, when he is dying, thinks only how it may be safely delivered. JOHNSON.

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P. go, 1. 30. oeiliads,] Oeillade, Fr. a cast, or significant glance of the eye. STEEVENS.

P. go, last 1. Therefore, I do advise you, take this note:] Note means in this place not a letter, but a remark. Therefore observe what I am saying. JOHNSON.

P. 91, 1. 3. You may gather more.] You may infer more than I have directly told you. JOHNSON. P. 91, 1. 4. If you do find him, pray you, give him this:] I suppose