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winter York. Alluding to the cognizance of Edward IV, which was a sun, in memory of the three suns, which are said to have appeared at the battle which he gained over the Lancastrians at Mortimer's Cross, 1461. See Holinshed, iii. 660. There is also a quibble on 'son' and 'sun.' The early texts all have 'son'; modern editors adopt the emendation 'sun.'

He capers. I.e. War, first personified as a rough soldier, now 'capers.'

amorous. A looking-glass that reflects a face fond of itself. Cf. however, 'lascivious pleasing of a lute' (13); that is, as Furness suggests, the looking-glass and the lute may be interpreted as active agents.

feature. Denoted the whole exterior personal appearance (Wright).

dissembling. Fraudful, deceitful (Johnson). There is some disagreement with this interpretation.

weak piping time of peace. I.e. because in times of peace the loud, stirring strains of martial music are no longer heard. Cf. Much Ado About Nothing, II. iii. 13–15: 'I have known, when there was no music with him but the drum and fife; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe.'

fair well-spoken days. Cf. Twelfth Night, II. iv. 6: 'Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times'; Timon of Athens, IV. iii. 495: 'Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping.'

I am determined to prove a villain. It is perhaps possible, as Charles Lamb suggests, that Richard uses villain here in the sense of 'churl' as opposed to 'courtier,' and not in our modern sense of 'wicked man.' On the other hand, cf. 3 Henry VI, V. vi. 78, 79: 'Then, since the heavens have shap'd my