To him that did but yesterday suspire', I as of but yesterday fufpire,] To fufpire in Shakespeare, I believe, only means to breathe. So, in K. Henry IV. P. II: "Did he fufpire, that light and weightless down "Perforce muft move.' STEEVENS. 2 a gracious creature born.] Gracious, in this inftance, as in fome others, fignifies graceful. So, in Albion's Triumph, a mafque, 1631: 66 on which (the freeze) were feftoons of feveral fruits, in their natural colours, on which, in gracious poftures, lay children fleeping." Again, in the fame piece : 66 they stood about him, not in fet ranks, but in feveral gracious poftures." Again, in the Malecontent, 1604: "The moft exquifite, &c. that ever made an old lady gratious by torch-light." STEEVENS. 3 Grief fills the room up of my abfent child,] Lucan, lib. ix. A French poet, Maynard, has the fame thought: Then, Then, have I reafon to be fond of grief. [Tearing off her head-drefs. When there is fuch diforder in my wit. O Lord! my boy, my Arthur, my fair fon! My life, my joy, my food, my all the world! My widow-comfort, and my forrows' cure! [Exit. K. Phil. I fear fome outrage, and I'll follow her. [Exit. me joy: Lewis. There's nothing in this world, can make Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowfy man; And bitter fhame hath spoil'd the fweet world's tafte, had you fuch a lofs as I, I could give better comfort This is a fentiment which great forrow always dictates. Whoever 'cannot help himself cafts his eyes on others for affistance, and often mistakes their inability for coldnefs. JOHNSON. There's nothing in this &c.] The young prince feels his defeat with more fenfibility than his father. Shame operates most strongly in the earlier years; and when can difgrace be less welcome than when a man is going to his bride? JOHNSON. Pand Pand. Your mind is all as youthful as your blood. Thy foot to England's throne; and, therefore, mark. Lewis. But what fhall I gain by young Arthur's fall? Pand. You, in the right of lady Blanch your wife, May then make all the claim that Arthur did. Lewis. And lose it, life and all, as Arthur did. Pand. How green you are, and fresh in this old world! 6 John lays you plots; the times confpire with you: * No scape of nature, no diftemper'd day, 6 true blood,] The blood of him that has the just claim. JOHNSON. "No scape of nature,-] The author very finely calls a monftrous birth, an efcape of nature. As if it were produced while fhe was bufy elsewhere, or intent on fome other thing. But the Oxford editor will have it, that Shakespeare wrote: WARBURTON. No fhape of nature. No No common wind, no cuftomed event, Lewis. May be, he will not touch young Arthur's life, But hold himself safe in his prifonment. Pand. O, fir, when he shall hear of your approach, If that young Arthur be not gone already, Even at that news he dies: and then the hearts Of all his people fhall revolt from him, And kifs the lips of unacquainted change; And pick ftrong matter of revolt, and wrath, Out of the bloody fingers' ends of John. Methinks, I fee this hurly all on foot; And, O, what better matter breeds for you, Than I have nam'd!-The baftard Faulconbridge Is now in England, ranfacking the church, Offending charity: If but a dozen French Were there in arms, they would be as a call To train ten thousand English to their fide; 8 Or, as a little fnow, tumbled about, Anon becomes a mountain. O noble Dauphin, Go with me to the king: 'Tis wonderful, What may be wrought out of their discontent: Now that their fouls are top-full of offence, For England go; I will whet on the king. Lewis. Strong reafons make ftrong actions: Let us go; If you say, ay, the king will not fay, no. [Exeunt. 8 Or, as a little fnow,-] Bacon, in his Hiftory of Henry VII. fpeaking of Simnel's march, obferves, that "their Snow-ball did not gather as it went." JOHNSON. 9 ftrong actions:-] The oldeft copy reads :-ftrange actions: the folio 1632-frong. STEEVENS. VOL. V. G ACT ACT IV. SCENE L. England. Northampton. A room in the castle. Enter Hubert, and executioners. Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand Within the arras when I ftrike my foot Young lad, come forth; I have to fay with you. Enter Arthur. Arth. Good morrow, Hubert. Hub. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. As little prince (having fo great a title To be more prince) as may be.-You are fad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier. Arth. Mercy on me! Methinks, no body fhould be fad, but I: Only Young gentlemen &c.] It fhould feem that this affectation had found its way into England, as it is ridiculed by Ben Jonfon in the character of Maiter Stephen in Every Man in his Humour. Again, in Beaumont and Fletcher's Queen of Corinth, Onos fays: "Come let's be melancholy." Again, in Lylly's Midas, 1592: "Melancholy! is melancholy a word for a barber's mouth? Thou should'ft fay, heavy, dull, and doltish |