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D. JOHN. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied that I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my

• I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace;] A canker is the canker-rose, dog-rose, cynosbatus, or hip. The sense is, I would rather live in obscurity the wild life of nature, than owe dignity or estimation to my brother. He still continues his wish of gloomy independence. But what is the meaning of the expression, a rose in his grace? If he was a rose of himself, his brother's grace or favour could not degrade him. I once read thus: I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his garden; that is, I had rather be what nature makes me, however mean, than owe any exaltation or improvement to my brother's kindness or cultivation. But a less change will be suffici ent: I think it should be read, I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose by his grace. JOHNSOŃ.

The canker is a term often substituted for the canker-rose. Heywood, in his Love's Mistress, 1636, calls it the "cankerflower."

Again, in Shakspeare's 54th Sonnet:

"The canker blooms have full as deep a die

"As the perfumed tincture of the rose."

I think no change is necessary:

The sense is,-I had rather be

a neglected dog-rose in a hedge, than a garden-flower of the same species, if it profited by his culture. STEEvens.

The latter words are intended as an answer to what Conrade has just said-" he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, wheer it is impossible you should take true root," &c. In Macbeth we have a kindred expression:

66

Welcome hither:

"I have begun to plant thee, and will labour

“To make thee full of growing."

Again, in King Henry VI. P. III:

"I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares."

VOL. VI.

D

MALONE.

cage: If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter

me.

CON. Can you make no use of your discontent? D. JOHN. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? What news, Borachio?

Enter BORACHIO.

BORA. I came yonder from a great supper; the prince, your brother, is royally entertained by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

D. JOHN. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness?

BORA. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. D. JOHN. Who? the most exquisite Claudio? BORA. Even he.

D. JOHN. A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he?

BORA. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.

D. JOHN. A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?

BORA. Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty room, comes me the prince and

8

"—for I use it only.] i. e. for I make nothing else my counsellor. STEEVENS.

8'

8 smoking a musty room,] The neglect of cleanliness among our ancestors, rendered such precautions too often neces

Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference:" I whipt me behind the arras; and there heard it agreed upon, that the prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to count Claudio.

D. JOHN. Come, come, let us thither; this may prove food to my displeasure: that young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way: You are both sure,' and will assist me?

CON. To the death, my lord.

D. JOHN. Let us to the great supper; their cheer is the greater, that I am subdued: "Would the cook were of my mind!-Shall we go prove what's to

be done?

BORA. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt

sary. In the Harleian Collection of MSS. No. 6850, fol. 90, in the British Museum, is a paper of directions drawn up by Sir John Puckering's Steward, relative to Suffolk Place before Queen Elizabeth's visit to it in 1594. The 15th article is " The swetynynge of the house in all places by any means." Again, in Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, edit. 1632, p. 261: "—the smoake of juniper is in great request with us at Oxford, to sweeten our chambers." See also King Henry IV. P. II. Act V. sc. iv.

9

STEEVENS.

-in sad conference:] Sad in this, as in future instances, signifies serious. So, in The Winter's Tale: "My father, and the gentlemen, are in sad talk." STEEVENS.

1

both sure,] i. e. to be depended on. "Thou sure and firm-set earth—.”

So, in Macbeth. STEEVENS.

ACT II. SCENE I.

A Hall in Leonato's House.

Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others.

LEON. Was not count John here at supper?
ANT. I saw him not.

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BEAT. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him, but I am heart-burned an hour after.2

HERO. He is of a very melancholy disposition.

BEAT. He were an excellent man, that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick: the one is too like an image, and says nothing; and the other, too like my lady's eldest son, evermore tattling.

LEON. Then half signior Benedick's tongue in count John's mouth, and half count John's melancholy in signior Benedick's face,

BEAT. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world,-if he could get her good will.

LEON. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue. ANT. In faith, she is too curst.

2

heart-burned an hour after.] The pain commonly called the heart-burn, proceeds from an acid humour in the stomach, and is therefore properly enough imputed to tart looks.

JOHNSON.

BEAT. Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen God's sending that way: for it is said, God sends a curst cow short horns; but to a cow too curst he sends none.

LEON. So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns.

BEAT. Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing, I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face; I had rather lie in the woollen.3

LEON. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard.

BEAT. What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel, and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard, is more than a youth; and he that hath no beard, is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him: Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. LEON. Well then, go you into hell?*

BEAT. No; but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get

" 3

in the woollen.] I suppose she means-between blankets, without sheets.

STEEVens.

Well then, &c.] Of the two next speeches Dr. Warburton says, All this impious nonsense thrown to the bottom, is the players', and foisted in without rhyme or reason. He therefore

puts them in the margin. They do not deserve indeed so honourable a place; yet I am afraid they are too much in the manner of our author, who is sometimes trying to purchase merriment at too dear a rate. JOHNSON.

I have restored the lines omitted. STEEVENS.