Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/250

 204 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9- s. VL s«w. 15,1900. had a confused recollection of the passage in Maplet, and misattributed it to Claudian. The present condition of our information is therefore this: (1) The nearest parallel does not relate to bears, nor to any device for shooting them ; (2) no parallel appears to be in Pliny, or (3) in Claudian. 1 have read widely in both these authors, but I am not sufficiently familiar with their works to venture on a positive assertion. But I feel sure that if such a reference existed it would have been traced before this I hope that before the discussion closes we shall have full and final solution in the pages of 'N. &Q.' PERCY SIMPSON. ' OTHELLO,' I. i.—Is it not strange that none of the commentators lias drawn attention to the obscurity that overhangs the opening lines of ' Othello' ] The discussion between Roderigo and lago is absolutely unintelligible to the audience, and to make matters worse lago wanders from the point under discussion to air his own grievances, so that the play has made some little headway before the spectators become aware of the fact that the original conversation related to the elope- ment of Desdemona. MAURICE JONAS. ' KING LEAR,' III. vii. 63-5.— If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Thou shouldat have said, "Good porter, turn the key," AH cruels else subscrib'd. No previous explanation, I think, correctly shows to what "else" refers. I should read, "All cruels (cruel things, agents of cruelty) else (other than the cruelty of that stern time) subscrib'd (forgiven)." The idea to be brought out is the extreme cruelty of the storm, which is done by saying that every other form of cruelty in comparison, even that of wolves, at such a time shrinks into insignificance, and that they are entitled as living creatures to shelter. The point of the comparison is lost if we do not refer " ulse " to " that stern time." Also compare IV. vii. 36-8 :— Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire. Regarding the question whether we shall understand the address to the porter to be " Good porter, turn the key, All cruels else subscribe" (following Furness, and reading " subscribe of folios), or take the address to be "Good porter, turn the key," and read " subscrib'd " of the quartos, as "else" would seem to refer to another part of Gloucester's speech ("that stern time") not included in the address to the porter, it would not seem proper to include in that address the line " All cruels else subscrib'd." E. MKETON DEY. ' KINO LEAR,' IV. ii. 53-5.— _ . That not know'st .tools do those villains pity who are punish'd lire they have done their mischief. These words, constituting a part of Goneril's reply when Albany upbraids her for her in- human treatment of her father, bring to mind the conversation between Regan and Goneril regarding their father (I. i.), after the parting with France and Cordelia, in which they express the fear that "the infirmity of his age" will subject them to such inconstant starts," and that "the imperfections of long-ingraff'd condition" would be followed by "the unruly wayward- ness that infirm and choleric years bring with them." Consequently they "do some- thing, and i th' heat," to make it impossible for him to "carry authority with such dis- position as he bears." This is the "mischief" which, in Goneril's opinion, has been prevented, none but fools such as Albany pitying those who are thus punished in advance. It certainly seems natural that the reply should have reference to the severe denunciation. Goneril had tried to dismiss the subject, and, failing, now offers her only excuse. If Goneril refers to Albany and his inactivity in repelling foreign invasion, as stated by Furness and approved by Rolfe, why does she speak of " villains " who "have done their mischief"! A man in defending himself could not be termed a villain doing mischief. Rather, shall we not hold with Capell that, horrid as it may seem, her father is the villain who, according to this lady, is to be pity'd of none but 'fools' —he, indeed, ia punished ere any mischief is done by him " • and with Singer: "Surely there cannot be a doubt that she refers to her father, and to the pity' for his sufferings expressed by Albany, whom she means indirectly to call a fool for expressing it" ? E. MERTON UEY. ' KING LEAR,' IV. iii. 31-3.— There she shook Ihe holy water from her heavenly eyes And clamour moisten'd. I believe Capell directs us to the proper explanation when ho says, "' Clamour' may stand for the exclamations preceding which Cordelia 'moistens' with the tears which followed them instantly," although the remainder of his remark, in substance, allayed with tears her grief ready to burst