Line 3783, 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
| 3783-4 Laer. Why as a woodcock | to mine {owne} sprindge Ostrick, | |
|---|
3785 I am iustly kild with mine owne treachery. {O1} 3785
1791- rann
rann
3783 to mine owne sprindge] Rann (ed. 1791-) : “I am caught in my own snare— in my own, “
1819 cald1
cald1
3783 to mine owne sprindge] Caldecott (ed. 1819) : “I have run into a springe like a woodcock, and into such a noose or trap as a fool only would have fallen into; one of my own setting.”
1821 v1821
v1821
3783 woodcock] Boswell (ed. 1821, 21:Glossary): “a fool.”
1832 cald2
cald2 = cald1
3783 to mine owne sprindge]
1845 gents
Mitford
3783-4 Mitford (1845, p. 131): “As woodcocks do not set springes, the allusion must be taken as an imperfect one. In the following places it is to be found, viz. Dekker’s Wonder of a Kingdom, p. 38 O.P.; Butler’s Remains, vol. I. p. 6; Taylor’s (the Water Poet,) Works, part ii. p. 263; Marston’s Malcontent, p.1 4; Lady Alimony, p. 64, ed. 1649; and Dryden’s Wild Gallant, vol. I. p. 126.
“Thus far as to similarity of allusions; with regard to any alterations or emendations of the text in this play we have few to make.” </p. 131>
1854 del2
del2
3783 to mine owne sprindge] Delius (ed. 1854) : “d.h. ich gerathe in meine eigene Schlinge und bleibe darinstecken, wie eine Schnepfe, für die sie bestimmt war. Woodcock bedeutet zubleich einen Einfaltspinsel. Polonius nannte (1.3.116 (581)0 Hamlet’s Liebesschwüre springes to catch woodcocks mit demselben Nebensinn.” [That is, I fall into my own trap and remain stuck therein, as a Schnepe{? species of bird?], for which it was made. Woodcock means at the same timea simpleton. Polonius took (Act1.3.116) Hamlet’s loving oath springes to catch woodcocks with the selfsame meaning.]
1858 col3
col3
3783 woodcock] Collier (2nd ed. 1858: 6: Glossary): “a fool.”
1869 tsch
3783 to] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “to für into, ergänze: fallen to mine own springe.” [“to for into; complete: fallen to mine own springe.”]
1872 del4
del4 = del2
3783 to mine owne sprindge]
1872 cln1
cln1
37884 sprindge] Compare [1.3.115 (581)].”
1877 v1877
v1877 ≈ F.J.V. (N &Q)
3783 woodcock]
F.J.V. (
apud Furness, ed. 1877): “This bird is trained to decoy other birds, and sometimes, while strutting incautiously too near the springe, it becomes itself entangled.”
[Ed. HLA:This is N&Q Aug. 8, 1874.]
1882 elze2
elze2 ≈ FJV (via v1877)
3783 woodcock] Elze (ed. 1882): “With the exception of a single circumstance this perplexing passage seems to have been correctly explained by F.J.V. in N.&Q., Aug. 8, 1874, p. 103. ‘A woodcock, says F.J.V., ‘is trained to decoy other birds into a a springe; then, while strutting about outside the springe, and calling, and by various arts [?] alluring other birds, the woodcock incautiously places his foot in or on the springe, and so is caught.’ Now, the woodcock is known to be a foolish bird, that can hardly be trained to anything; and in my opinion, it is simply placed or fastened near the springe to allure other birds by its very presence, especially if it be a female bird and it be pairing time. Compare Peacock’s Glossary of Manley andCorringham, s. Stale.” too near the springe, it becomes itself entangled.”
1885 macd
macd
3783 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “—the proverbially foolish bird. The speech must be spoken with breaks [3783-84]. Its construction is broken.”
macd
3785 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “His conscience starts up, awake and strong, at the approach of Death. As the show of the world withdraws, the realities assert themselves. He repents, and makes confession of his sin, seeing it now in its true nature, and calling it by its own name. It is a compensation of the weakness of some that they cannot be strong in wickedness. The king did not so repent, and with his strength was the more to blame.”
1885 mull
mull ≈ standard
37884 sprindge]
1890 irv2
irv2 ≈ v1877 (expanded F.J.V.) ; ELZE
3783 woodcock] F.J.V. (apud Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “ A woodcock is trained to decoy other birds into a springe; then, while strutting about outside the springe, and calling, and by various arts alluring other birds, the woodcock incautiously places his foot in or on the springe, and so is caught.’
3783 woodcock] Symons (in Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “Elze, however, doubts whether the woodcock—a proverbially foolish bird—could be trained to anything; and supposes that it simply fastened near the springe to allude other birds by its mere presence.”
1891 oxf1
oxf1
3783 woodcock] Craig (ed. 1891: Glossary): “sub a simpleton, [Tam. 1.2.164 (727)].”
1899 ard1
Ard1 = cln1 w/o attribution
3783 woodcock]
1905 rltr
Rltr
3784 sprindge] Chambers (ed. 1905): “snare.”
1931 crg1
crg1 ≈ standard
3783 woodcock]
crg1 ≈ standard
3784 sprindge]
1934 cam3
cam3
3783-5 Wilson (ed. 1934): “This aside could hardly have been spoken if Osric was himself innocent of the treachery. Cf. note l. 257[3715].”
cam3 : standard
3783 woodcock] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary)
cam3 : standard
3784 sprindge] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary)
1939 kit2
kit2 ≈ standard +
3783-4 Kittredge (ed. 1936): “See [1.3.115 (581)] note.”
kit2 ≈ standard +
3784 sprindge] Kittredge (ed. 1936, Glossary):
1938 parc
parc ≈ standard
3783-84 Parrott (ed. 1938): “cf. 1.4.15 and note.”
[Ed. HLA: This note is erroneous; he means 1.3.115, and Polonius’s line, “Ay, springes to catch woodcocks.”]
1947 cln2
cln2 ≈ standard
3784 sprindge]
1951 alex
Alex ≈ standard
3783 woodcock] Alexander (ed. 1951, Glossary)
alex ≈ standard
3784 sprindge] Alexander (ed. 1951, Glossary)
1951 crg2
crg2=crg1
3783 woodcock]
1954 sis
sis ≈ standard
3783 woodcock] Sisson (ed. 1954, Glossary):
sis ≈ standard
3784 sprindge] Sisson (ed. 1954, Glossary):
1957 pel1
pel1 : standard
3783 woodcock]
pel1 : standard
3784 sprindge]
1970 pel2
pel2=pel1
3783 woodcock]
1974 evns1
evns1 ≈ standard
3784 sprindge]
1980 pen2
pen2 ≈ standard
3783 woodcock]
1982 ard2
ard2 ≈ standard
3783-4 Jenkins (ed. 1982): “This combines two proverbs ((Tilley F 626, S 788)), so that the man who is caught in his own snare becomes the foolish bird who is easily caught.”
1984 chal
chal : standard
3783 woodcock] I.4.12 Polonius //
1985 cam4
cam4 ≈ standard
3783-84
1987 oxf4
oxf4 ≈ ard2 (Tilley) +
3783-4 Hibbard (ed. 1987): “The true son of his father ((see 1.3.115)), Laertes combines two proverbs into one, recognizing his own would-be-clever folly.”
1988 bev2
bev2: standard
3783 woodcock]
bev2: standard
3784 sprindge]
1992 fol2
fol2≈ standard
3783 woodcock]
fol2≈ standard
3784 sprindge]
1993 dent
dent
3784 sprindge] Andrews (ed. 1993): "snare. Earlier in the play, Laertes’ father has employed the same proverb when warning Ophelia to avoid Hamlet ((I.iii.114))."
3783 3784 3785