Page 353 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

246 NOTES 5.3.

what can better describe him than a shadow ? The whole
speech is rattled off and intended, of course, to be a
rubbish-heap of affectation; but there is more in it than
has hitherto been perceived. For the individual words
v. G.
119. yaw Q2 (some copies). Others 'raw'—
a press-correction. MSH. pp. 123, 129-32.
124. trace A quibble: (a) describe, depict, (b) follow
(as a shadow does).
126. The concernancy, sir? — But what is it all
about?
127. more rawer i.e. as compared with the exquisite
refinement of the 'gentleman' it 'wraps.'
129. in another tongue i.e. in more reasonable lan-
guage.
130. You will to't, sir, really = You will be able to
tackle it if you try; cf. 'e'en to't,' 2. 2. 434.
134-35. His purse.. .spent i.e. He can no longer
speak 'sellingly.'
142—44. / dare not.. .himself An elaboration of
Matth. vii. 1 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' Verity
quotes Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 4 'No man can judge
another, because no man knows himself.' v. G.
'compare with.'
146. laid.. .unfellowed Mod. edd. punctuate (after
Steevens): 'laid on him by them, he's unfellowed in his
meed,' thus taking 'in his meed' with 'unfellowed' and
explaining 'without a peer in his particular excellence.'
But this leaves 'by them' in the air. With Q2 pointing,
'by them in his meed' = 'by those in his pay, in his
retinue,' and all is clear.
148. Rapier and dagger Despite Ham.'s jest Osric's
reply is in correct form, since 'What's his weapon?'
means 'What style offence does he follow?' (cf. note
5. 2. 222 S.D.). Atl. 152 'poniards'= daggers.
T 51. impawned(Q4) Q2 'impaund,' F1 'impon'd.'
MSH. p. 267.