To quit the penalty, and to ransome him. My woes end likewise with the evening sun. DUKE. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause Why thou departedst from thy native home: And for what cause thou cam❜st to Ephesus. EGE. A heavier task could not have been im- Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable : Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence,] All his hearers understood that the punishment he was about to undergo was in consequence of no private crime, but of the publick enmity between two states, to one of which he belonged: but it was a general superstition amongst the ancients, that every great and sudden misfortune was the vengeance of heaven pursuing men for their secret offences. Hence the sentiment put into the mouth of the speaker was proper. By my past life, (says he,) which I am going to relate, the world may understand, that my present death is according to the ordinary course of Providence, wrought by nature,] and not the effects of divine vengeance overtaking me for my crimes, [not by vile offence.]' WARBURTON. The real meaning of this passage is much less abstruse than that which Warburton attributes to it. By nature is meant natural affection. Egeon came to Ephesus in search of his son, and tells his story, in order to show that his death was in consequence of natural affection for his child, not of any criminal intention. M. MASON. 2 And by me too, had not our hap been bad. To Epidamnum, till my factor's death; And he (great care of goods at random left)3 And, which was strange, the one so like the other, And by me too,] Too, which is not found in the original copy, was added by the editor of the second folio, to complete the metre. MALONE. 3 And he (great care of goods at random left)] Surely we should read And the great care of goods at random left Drew me &c. The text, as exhibited in the old copy, can scarcely be reconciled to grammar. MALONE. A parenthesis makes the present reading clear: And he (great care of goods at random left) Drew me &c. M. MASON. 4 A poor mean woman-] Poor is not in the old copy. It was inserted, for the sake of the metre, by the editor of the second folio. MALONE. Unwilling I agreed; alas, too soon. A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, A doubtful warrant of immediate death; DUKE. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off so; For we may pity, though not pardon thee. ÆGE. O, had the gods done so, I had not now Worthily term'd them merciless to us! For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues, And therefore homeward did they bend their Thus have you heard me sever'd from my That by misfortunes was my bliss; -borne upon,] The original copy reads-borne up. The additional syllable was supplied by the editor of the second folio. MALONE. Gave helpful welcome-] Old copy-healthful welcome. Corrected by the editor of the second folio. So in King Henry IV. P. I: "And gave the tongue a helpful welcome." MALONE. DUKE. And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for, Do me the favour to dilate at full What hath befall'n of them, and thee, till now." 9 EGE. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care," At eighteen years became inquisitive After his brother; and impórtun'd me, That his attendant, (for his case was like, Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name,) Might bear him company in the quest of him: Whom whilst I labour'd of a love to see, I hazarded the loss of whom I lov'd. Five summers have I spent in furthest Greece, Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,1 And coasting homeward, came to Ephesus; Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought, 7 -and thee, till now,] The first copy erroneously readsand they. The correction was made in the second folio. 8 MALONE. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,] Shakspeare has here been guilty of a little forgetfulness. Ægeon had said, page 352, that the youngest son was that which his wife had taken care of: "My wife, more careful for the latter-born, "Had fasten'd him upon a small spare mast." He himself did the same by the other; and then each, fixing their eyes on whom their care was fixed, fastened themselves at either end of the mast. M. MASON. 9 for his case was like,] The original copy has-so his. The emendation was made by the editor of the second folio. 1 MALONE. 1 Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,] In the northern parts of England this word is still used instead of quite, fully, perfectly, completely. So, in Coriolanus: 66 -This is clean kam." Again, in Julius Cæsar: "Clean from the purpose of the things themselves." The reader will likewise find it in the 77th Psalm. STEEVENS. |