Heavens: they are courtiers,

Still seem as does the King's.

Still is authorized by both the old folios, and why departed from I cannot imagine; to say, their brows were courtiers, in conformity with the king's, I think, is not very hard; and may seem grounded on Alexander's courtiers affecting to be wry-neck'd. P. 6. I do extend him, Sir.

I am sorry to confess I had reconciled this to myself; because you say it is so nonsensical that any Editor but Pope must blush at it. Thus I had solved it. Though you think, Sir, I speak so fairly of him, I assure you I extend him barely within the list and compass of his own praise and merit; crush him together in my applauses rather than display him fully.

P. 9. A yare age.

I thank you for this most ingenious emendation. I know yare signifies quick, nimble, dextrous; and I hope, as an epithet, it may be allowed in your sense of sudden, precipitated. I had guessed, meer, hoar; but the ductus literarum, to say nothing more, determines me on your side.

P. 12. She's a good sign.

Your conjecture is again ingenious. But I will tell you how I had satisfied myself in the point. You know, certain constellations, which are refulgent, are called signs; and ensigns, and ornaments of nobility, are likewise by our Poet, called signs. So in Macbeth, p. 200:

But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers.

Sub judice lis est.

P...... The diminution of space.

Your observation is perfectly right on this passage; yet, I fancy, it may be understood as it is. I understand of here as the prepositions by or from ; and then the diminution made by space, or from the distance, will be right. So, infra, p. 49:

Consider,

Consider,-When you above perceive me like a crow,
That it is place which lessens and sets off.

P. 14. Are wonderfully to extend him.

You think it should be, aids :-I do not yet see a reason for any change. I understand it thus:-that his banishment and the approbation of those that lament his divorce, are circumstances that must wonderfully extend him in opinion. As Jachimo says in the speech immediately preceding,

Wherein he must be weigh'd rather by her value, &c. P. 16. I could not believe she excell'd many.

You say del. not: I say it should be but, i. e. at most believe.

P. 17. You are a friend.

This, as you say, I have long since observed should be afraid.

P. 23. These, as you hint, I have already seen in print.

P. 30. Of the divorce he'd make.

This we had settled exactly as you accurately ob

serve.

P. 32. May ope the raven's eye.

This, your former Letter to me takes notice, should be restored to the rejected reading, bear. I think it either should be bore, or bare, i. e. make bare. Though the raven be a night-bird, it does not prey during that whole season, but slumbers towards morning, and is disturbed by the first approach of dawn. Now making bare the eye seems to me peculiarly proper; as most birds, and many quadrupeds, have a membrane for nictation, called epopπεριοφ Sáu, wherewith they can at pleasure cover their eyes, though their eyelids be open; and with this membrane they often defend their eyes from too strong a light, and draw it over the pupil, when they do not shut down the eyelid at all.

P. 34. His goodness forespent on.

Your emendation here, I presume, is occasioned by the false print in Mr. Pope. The old Editions have it,

And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us,
We must, &c.

i. e. towards him, on account of the obligations we have formerly received from him.

P. 35. Fools are not mad folks.If you'll be patient. Cure for are we had long ago determined :-as to patient, your alteration to prudent is certainly ingenious, and logically requisite, if we might tie Shakespeare so strictly: but I conceive by, If you'll be patient, Imogen means, if you will be easy, and not torture me with your impertinent solicitations. P. 37. Or look upon the Romans.

Surely, you say, this should be not. I have long since cured it with a less change.

Ere look upon the Romans.

P. 39. The foul opinion you had of her poor honour. You very justly observe it should be, prov'd honour; but Mr. Pope's negligence obliged you here to exert yourself. The old folios read rightly,

pure honour.

P. 40. Was as another nature dumb.

This we had stumbled at, but your emendation is indeed ingenious, and restores us true sense. But by changing was into has, is there not a transgression in the tenses? must not, outwent her, then be, outgone her? The sense I always conceived to be, that the carver had done Dian so excellently, that it seemed another piece of Nature, only that it was dumb nay, that he had outgone Nature as to the form and symmetry, only that breath and motion were wanting. But the words, I fear, are corrupt. As to your occasional passage from Anthony, I cannot readily accede to your correction. I cure it thus:

Was beastly dumb'd by him.

i. e. silenced by his superior noise. This is not the only passage in which our Poet has coined a verb out of the adjective dumb. So in his Pericles, speakof a young lady's transcendant talents:

Deep clerks she dumbs, &c.

P. 42. Should from encounter guard.

You advise for; I understood this thus: that Posthumus means, Jachimo met with no opposition but what he expected should oppose: and what she should guard from the attack, or encounter, of any man but her husband.

P. 48. But have a fog in them.

As you interpret this, it is certain but ought, to make sense, to be changed into that. I have conjectured it should be read thus:

I see before me, man, nor here, nor here,
Nor what ensues, but have a fog in ken,
That I cannot look through.

i. e. do not talk of considering, man; I neither see present events, nor consequences, but am in a mist of fortune, and resolved to go on upon the project I have determined. His use of ken, in this sense, I prove by authorities.

P. 50. They think they 're mine.

The pointing, as you observe, I had cured; and, as for your change of wherein to within, it gives such sense and elegance too, that I cannot but approve it.

P. 55. Now if you could wear a mind.
A mine, certainly more significant.
P. 65. Defering-

I had observed.

P. 73.

-commends-and her face

Being scarce made up

I mean to man, &c.

This, I think, is a very hard place; pray, Sir, weigh it for me once more. I am not convinced that Bel. is speaking of Guid. I rather suspect it a description

description of what Cloten formerly was, and in answer to what Arv. says of his being so fell. Ay, (says he) he was so fell; and, being then scarce at man's estate, he HAD no apprehension of roaring terrors, or of any thing that could check him with fears. But then how does the inference come to be built upon this? For defect of judgment is oft the cause of fear.-I think I should have said the mere contrary. Cloten was defective in judgment, and therefore did not fear.-I have guessed, For th' effect of judgment is oft the cause of fear. I submit the passage to your consideration.

P. 75. Marish, I think, much improves the phrase. P. 76. What coast thy sluggish care.

I am charmed with your emendation of Carrack; and wish heartily it may be true, as harbour seems to countenance it. But you will give me leave to distrust, be it but for better conviction. I am afraid the Poet's thought is from the custom at sea of letting down a plummet with tallow and pitch, to find more certainly by the colour of the soil they pluck up, whether they are making such a particular coast; and then sluggish care stands in the place of this soil that is to be so fathomed for. Besides, you know, melancholy both forms cares, and is attended with them. P. 77. Winter-gown.

A most excellent emendation.

P. 81. Wary gods.

Not to be disputed.

P. 83. 'Ploy'd.

An improvement of the thought. I wish I could remember another instance of his cutting short this word.

P. 92. Poor luck.

Exceedingly well guessed.

P. 100. Que sand another, &c.
This I had observed.

P. 101. 'Fuming the shrine seems necessary as to the sense. I doubt a little about the cutting off.

P. 104.