Page 289 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

N O T E S 2.2.

dramatic propriety, so that the phrase may be para-
phrased 'plays written under strict regulation.' On the
other hand, the lively and careless genius of Plautus is
connected with 'the liberty' (i.e. districts within or
without the city exempt from the sheriff's jurisdiction,
and therefore convenient for the erection of playhouses),
and may in turn be paraphrased as 'plays out of all
bounds* (cf. Chambers, Eliz. Stage, ii. 477-80). The
sentence 'These are the only men' stands apart from the
rest. Pol. is repeating in other words 'The best actors in
the world' after his pompous fashion.
406. light for the law of writ and the liberty...
These Q2 'light for the lawe of writ, and the liberty:
these' F1 'light, for the law of Writ, and the Liberty.
These' Theobald 'light. For the law of writ and the
liberty, these'
408.* Jephthah, judge of Israel If the repertory
satirised in the previous speech be that of the Admiral's
men, Ham.'s change of subject is not so abrupt as it
seems, since a play called Jephthah by Dekker and
Munday was being acted by them in July 1601 (v.
Chambers, Eliz. Stage, ii. 179). The play is lost, but
the 'pious chanson' survives, and the first 'row,' or
stanza, runs (according to Halliwell):
I read that many yeare agoe,
When Jepha Judge of Israel
Had one fair Daughter and no more,
whom he loved so passing well.
And as by lot God wot,
It came to passe most like it was,
Great warrs there should be,
and who should be the chiefe, but he.
Dramatically 'Jephthah,' who sacrificed his daughter,
harks back to 2. 2. 162. The reference to 'warrs' is
omitted as beside the point, but 'as by lot.. .like it was'
was intended, I think, to recall 2. 2. 184-86. Cf.
3 Hen. FI,$.i. 90-1, and Book of Homilies, 1574 ("A