Line 3701, etc. - Commentary Note (CN) 
Commentary notes (CN):
1. SMALL CAPS Indicate editions. Notes for each commentator are divided into three parts:
In the 1st two lines of a record, when the name of the source text (the siglum) is printed in SMALL CAPS, the comment comes from an EDITION; when it is in normal font, it is derived from a book, article, ms. record or other source. We occasionally use small caps for ms. sources and for works related to editions. See bibliographies for complete information (in process).
2. How comments are related to predecessors' comments. In the second line of a record, a label "without attribution" indicates that a prior writer made the same or a similar point; such similarities do not usually indicate plagiarism because many writers do not, as a practice, indicate the sources of their glosses. We provide the designation ("standard") to indicate a gloss in common use. We use ≈ for "equivalent to" and = for "exactly alike."
3. Original comment. When the second line is blank after the writer's siglum, we are signaling that we have not seen that writer's gloss prior to that date. We welcome correction on this point.
4. Words from the play under discussion (lemmata). In the third line or lines of a record, the lemmata after the TLN (Through Line Number] are from Q2. When the difference between Q2 and the authors' lemma(ta) is significant, we include the writer's lemma(ta). When the gloss is for a whole line or lines, only the line number(s) appear. Through Line Numbers are numbers straight through a play and include stage directions. Most modern editions still use the system of starting line numbers afresh for every scene and do not assign line numbers to stage directions.
5. Bibliographic information. In the third line of the record, where we record the gloss, we provide concise bibliographic information, expanded in the bibliographies, several of which are in process.
6. References to other lines or other works. For a writer's reference to a passage elsewhere in Ham. we provide, in brackets, Through Line Numbers (TLN) from the Norton F1 (used by permission); we call these xref, i.e., cross references. We call references to Shakespearean plays other than Ham. “parallels” (//) and indicate Riverside act, scene and line number as well as TLN. We call references to non-Shakespearean works “analogues.”
7. Further information: See the Introduction for explanations of other abbreviations.
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Notes for lines 2951-end ed. Hardin A. Aasand
| 3701 Till by some elder Maisters of knowne honor | 5.2.248 |
|---|
3702 I haue a voyce and president of peace
1755 John
John
3702 president] Johnson (1755, Precedent): “n.s. [The adjective has the accent on the second syllable, the substantive on the first.] Any thing that is a rule or example to future times; any thing done before of the same kind. ‘Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only’ Hooker. ‘Eleven hours I’ve spent to write it over, The precedent was full as long a doing.’ Shakespeare. ‘A reason mighty, strong and effectual, A pattern, precedent and lively warrant. For me, most wretched, to perform the like.’ Shakesp. ‘No pow’r in Venice Can alter a decree established: ‘Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an errour, by the same example, Will rush into the stage.’ MV. God, in the administrtion of his justice, is not tied to precedents, and we cannot argue, that the providences of God towrds other nations shall be comformable to his dealings with the people of Israel.’ Tillotson’s Sermons. ‘Such precedents are numberless; we draw Our right from custom; a custom is a law.’ Granville.”
1785 v1785
v1785
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor] Steevens (ed. 1785) : “This is said in allusion to English custom. I learn from an ancient MS, of which the reader will find a more particular account in a note to the Merry Wiues of Windsor , vol. i.p. 260, that in queen Elizabeth’s time there were ‘four ancient masters of defence,’ in the city of London. They appear to have been the referees in many affairs of honour, and exacted tribute from all inferior practitioners of the art of fencing, &c. STEEVENS”
1787 ann
ann = v1785
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor]
1790 mal
mal : v1785 +magenta underlined
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor] Malone (ed. 1790) : “ Mr. Steevens thinks that ‘this is said in allusionto the ancient masters of defence,’ of Shakspeare’s time. See Vol. I. p. 204, n. 9. Our poet frequently alludes to English customs, and may have done so here, but I do not believe that gentlemen ever submitted points of honour to persons who exhibited themselves for money as prize-fighters on the publick stage; though they might appeal in crtain cases to Raleigh, Essex, or Southampton, who from their high rak, their course of life, and established reputation, might with strict propriety be styoled, ‘ elder masters, of known honour .’ MALONE”
1791- rann
rann
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor] Rann (ed. 1791) : “Till by the formal decision of some allowed arbiters of the rules of honour, of the sages of the sword, I am assured. I may admit this explanation with safety to my character.”
1793 v1793
v1793=mal
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor]
1803 v1803
v1803 = v1793
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor]
1813 v1813
v1813 = v1803
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor]
1819 cald1
cald1
3702 voyce and president of peace] Caldecott (ed. 1819) : “A sentence pronounced, and adjudged case in favor of.”
1821 v1821
v1821 = v1813
3701 elder Maisters of knowne honor]
1822 Nares
Nares
3702 president] Nares (1822; 1906): “s., for prognostic, or indication. ‘With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, The precedent of pith and livelihood.’ Sh. Venus &Ad. , Suppl, I. 405.
“It was used also for a rough draft, or previous copy of any writing: ‘My lord Melun, let this be copied out, And keep it safe for our remembrance; Return the precedent to these lords again.’ [Jn. 5.2.1-3 (2252-4)].”
1832 cald2
cald2 = cald1
3702 voyce and president of peace]
1856 sing2
sing2 = sing1
3702 voyce and president of peace]
mhal1: notes that cln 2142-4 are abridged version of 3699-3701
1866 dyce2
dyce2 : Walker
3701 Maisters, honor] Dyce (ed. 1866) : “Walker (Crit. Exam. &c. vol. I. p. 245) suspects that ‘masters’ is a mistake for ‘master,’ and that ‘honour’ originated in the ‘honour’ of the preceding line but one.”
1872 cln1
cln1 : standard
3702 voyce and president of peace] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “An opinion and precedent which will justify me in making peace.’”
1877 v1877
v1877 ≈ Walker
3701 Maisters, honor]
v1877 : = cln1 ; ≈ clarke (“The stiffness . . . Laertes”)
3702 peace]
Clarke (
apud Furness, ed. 1877): “The stiffness of egotistical susceptibility, the petty anxiety to preserve the world’s good opinion, the regard to social claims rather than to natural affections, the artificial
and not the true gentleman,—are all admirably embodied in Laertes.”
1881 hud3
hud3
3702 president of peace] Hudson (ed. 1881): “The meaning is, ‘till some experts in the code of honour give me the warrant of custom and usage for standing on peaceful terms with you.’ Laertes thinks, or pretends to think, that the laws of honour require him to insist on a stern vindication of his manhood. Hamlet has before spoken of Laertes as ‘a very noble youth.’ In this part of the scene, he has his faculties keenly on the alert against Claudius; but it were a sin in him even to suspect Laertes of any thing so unfathomably base as the treachery now on foot.”
1885 mull
mull
3702 voyce] Mull (ed. 1885): “an opinion.”
mull
3702 president of peace] Mull (ed. 1885): “to make.”
1899 ard1
ard1 : standard
3702 voyce and president of peace] Dowden (ed. 1899): “authoritative pronouncement, justified by precedent, on the question whether an insult by one distracted should be formally resented. Laertes’ words—spoken by an assassin—are wholly insincere.”
1931 crg1
crg1 ≈ ard1 w/o attribution
3702 voyce]
1934 cam3
cam3 ≈ ard1(from “authoritative . . . precedent”)
3702 voyce and president of peace]
cam3
3702 voyce] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): “opinion.”
1939 kit2
kit2
3701 Maisters] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “experts in these questions.”
kit2 ≈ standard
3701 Maisters] Kittredge (ed. 1939, Glossary):
kit2 ≈ standard
3702 voyce . . . peace]
1937 pen1a
pen1a : standard
3701 Maisters]
1938 parc
parc ≈ ard1 w/o attribution (only “authoritative . . . precedent.”
3702 voyce and president of peace]
1942 n&h
n&h ≈ standard (ard1 or cam3 ?)
3702 voyce and president of peace]
1947 Cln2
Cln2
3701-03 Till . . . vngord] Rylands (ed. 1947): “i.e. until I receive an authoritative decision justified by precedent to preserve my honour.”
1951 crg2
crg2=crg1
3702 voyce]
1954 sis
sis ≈ standard
3702 president] Sisson (ed. 1954, Glossary):
1957 pel1
pel1 : standard
3702 voyce]
1970 pel2
pel2=pel1
3702 voyce]
1980 pen2
pen2 ≈ standard
3702 voyce]
pen2 ≈ standard
3702 president]
1982 ard2
ard2 ≈ Ard1 (only “authoritative . . . precedent”)
3702 president]
1984 chal
chal : standard + F1 VN
3702 voyce]
1985 cam4
cam4 ≈ standard
3702 voyce]
cam4
3702 of peace] Edwards (ed. 1985): “for reconciliation.”
1987 oxf4
oxf4 ≈ standard
3702 voyce]
oxf4 ≈ standard
3702 president]
1988 bev2
bev2: standard
3702 voyce]
bev2: standard
3702 president]
1992 fol2
fol2≈ standard
3702 voyce]
1998 OED
OED
3702 president] n 1.c. Law. A judicial decision which constitutes an authoritative example or rule for subsequent analogous cases; a form of a document which has been found valid or useful in the past and can be copied or adapted.
In English law the system of precedent is comparatively rigid; the general principle is that a court is bound by its own previous decisions and by those of a court above it in the hierarchy of courts. In other legal systems, the validity of a previous decision may be reconsidered by a court.1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice IV. i. 217 There is no power in Venice can altar a decree established: twill be recorded for a precedent.
3701 3702