Page:The Plays and Poems of William Shakspeare (1790) - Vol. 1a.djvu/35

Rh for which the second folio substitutes—

"———there will she hide her,

"To listen to our purpose."

Again, in The Winter’s Tale, Act I. sc. ii.

"Thou dost make possible, things not so held."

The plain meaning is, thou dost make those things possible, which are held to be impossible. But the editor of the second folio, not understanding the line, reads—

"Thou dost make possible things not to be so held;" i. e. thou dost make those things to be esteemed impossible, which are possible: the very reverse of what the poet meant. In the same play is this line: "I am appointed him to murder you." Here the editor of the second folio, not being conversant with Shakspeare’s irregular language, reads—

"I appointed him to murder you.”

Again, in Macbeth:

"This diamond he greets your wife withal, "By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up "In measureless content."

Not knowing that shut up meant concluded, the editor of the second folio reads—

"———and shut it up [i. e. the diamond]

"In measureless content." "In the same play the word lated, ("Now spurs the ’lated traveller—") not being understood, is changed to latest, and Colmes-Inch to Colmes-hill.