Page 346 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

5.1. NOTE S 239

times, the passing-bell being one of these * (Sh. Eng.
ii. 148); cf. V.A. 701-702.
231. sage requiem (Fi) Q2 'a Requiem'—which
all mod. edd. follow. MSH. p. 11. Cf. / / Penseroso
'In sage and solemn tunes have sung.' For 'requiem,*
which means solemn music (v. Sh. Eng. ii. 150) and
not a mass, v. G., and cf. The Phoenix and the Turtle'.
Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music can
Be the death-divining swan,
Lest the requiem lack his right.

Here the words * surplice white' show that the
'priest' is not a Roman one. I owe much of this note
to Canon Dearmer.
236. Rest howling i.e. in Hell.
244. S.D. F i 'Leaps in the graue,' Q2 omits.
MSH. pp. 18 5-6. Graves at this time were much shal-
lower and wider than the neat deep-sunk pits of our
modern burial-grounds, which would allow no room for
a man to leap in beside the coffin (and that an open
one), still less for two to struggle therein. On the Eliz.
stage graves were represented by the open 'trap' (v.
Chambers, Eliz. Stage, in. 107 and cf. head-note
i- 5-)-
250. the wand'ring stars = the planets.
252.* Hamlet the Dane It is noteworthy that at this
first announcement to the Court of his return from
England Ham. assumes the royal title; cf. 'liegemen to
the Dane' (1. 1. 15).
S.D.* Q1 'Hamlet leapes in after Leartes,' Qz, F i
omit. MSH. p. 186. It is obvious from 11. 254-58
that Q l preserves the stage-business. Rowe read
'Grappling with him' and (at 1. 259) 'The Attendants
part them' to which latter Capell and Malone added
'and they come out of the grave.'
257. wiseness (Fi) Q2 'wisdome'—which many