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Line 514 - 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.”

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Notes for lines 0-1017 ed. Bernice W. Kliman

For explanation of sigla, such as jen, see the editions bib.

514 And reakes not his owne reed. {Enter Polonius.}	1.3.51

1710 Gildon

Gildon

514 reakes] Gildon (1710, p. lxxii): “Thinks of, cares for, or values.”

Ed. note: Sewell, who prepared the glossary for Pope’s eds. copied Gildon here.

1723 pope1

pope1

514 reakes . . . reed] Pope (ed. 1723): "that is, heeds not his own lessons.”

1728 pope2

pope2 = pope1

514 reakes . . . reed]

1733 theo1

theo1

514 reakes] Theobald (ed. 1733, 1:348 n.14) uses Ham. 514 to justify an emendation in MM but also cites TGV 4.3.40 (1808): “Recking as little what betideth me, As much I wish all Good befortune you. ”

1744 han1

han1 ≈ Gildon without attribution

514 reakes ] Hanmer (ed. 1743, 6: Glossary): “to regard, to care.”

1746 Upton

Upton ≈ Gildon without attribution; theo // without attribution + in magenta underlined

514 reakes . . . reed] Upton (1746, p.206): “i. e. ‘And minds not his own doctrine’: From the Sax. Reoc , cura. Reccan, curare.

“In [AYL 2.4.81 (866)]: ‘Corin. My master is of churlish disposition, And little wreaks to find the way to heaven.’ Read, recks, i.e. takes care: little recks, little heeds.” Also, Milton P.L. 2.50, “Of God, or Hell, or worse, He reck’d not.”

1747 warb

warb = pope2

514 reakes . . . reed]

1753 blair

blair = warb

514 reakes . . . reed]

1754 Grey

Grey ≈ warb +

514 reed] Grey (1754, 2:283): “So reed, redde, and areed, are used by Chaucer, and Spenser. “Alas! that I ne’ had trowid on your lore, And went with you, as ye me redde er this, Than had I now not sighid half so sore.’ [Tro. 5.736] &c.

“And again, [2.1695], &c. ‘To ben avisid by your rede the better, And found (as hap was) at his beddis hedde, The copie of a tretise and a letter, That Hector had him sent to askin redde.”

“See Monke’s Tale, 574.

“See Spenser’s [F.Q. 1.9.28]. ‘We met the villain (God from him me bless) That cursed wight, from whom I ’scap’d whylear, A man of hell, that calls himself despair, Who first us greets, and after fair areeds, Of tydings strange, and of adventures rare; So creeping lose, as snake in hidden weeds, Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deeds.’ ”

1755 Johnson Dict.

Johnson

514 reakes] Johnson (1755): “To Reck. v.a. To heed; to care for. . . . Do not you as ungracious parsons do, Who shew the steep and thorny way to heav’n; Yet like unthinking reckless libertines, That in the soft path of dalliance treads, Recks not his own rede.”

1765 john1

john1 = warb

514 reakes . . . reed]

1765- mF2FL27

mF2FL27 ≈ Upton on AYL without attribution

514 reake]

1771 han3

han3 = han1

514 reakes]

han3 ≈ pope without attribution

514 reed] Hawkins (ed. 1771, 6: Glossary): “lesson, doctrine, counsel.”

1773 jen

jen = john1 +

514 reakes . . . reed] Jennens (ed. 1773): “See the passage murdered in Johnson’s Dictionary, under the word Reck.”

1773 v1773

v1773 = john1 +

514 reed] Steevens (ed. 1773): “Ben Jonson uses the word in his Catiline. ‘So that thou couldst not move Against a public reed..’ So in Sir Tho. North’s translation of Plutarch. ‘—Dispatch, I read you, for your enterprize is betray’d.’ Steevens.”

1778 v1778

v1778 = v1773 + in magenta underlined

514 reakes . . . reed] Steevens (ed. 1778): “So, in Hyche Scorner: ‘—I reck not a feder.’ Ben Jonson uses the word reed in his Catiline. ‘So that thou couldst not move Against a public reed..’ Again, in Sir Tho. North’s translation of Plutarch. ‘—Dispatch, I read you, for your enterprize is betray’d.’ Again, in the old Morality of Hyche Scorner: ‘And of thy living, I reed amend thee.’ So the Old Proverb in the Two Angry Women of Abington, 1599: ‘Take heed, is a good reed.’ Again, in Warner’s Albion’s England, 1602, book 5. chap. 27: ‘and to his reed already bent.’ ”.

1780 mals1

mals1

514 reakes . . . reed] Blackstone (apud Malone, 1780, 1:351): “To follow Steevens’s note.] ‘So, Sternhold, Psalm [1], ‘—that hath not lent To wicked rede his ear.’ —E.”

1785 v1785

v1785 = v1778 minus Warner; = mals1

514 reakes . . . reed]

1787 ann

ann = v1785 minus all from Steevens after Jonson ref. but including Blackstone

514 reakes . . . reed]

1790 mal

mal = v1785 minus (pope, Steevens, Blackstone) + in magenta standard

514 reakes . . . reed] Malone (ed. 1790): “So, in Hyche Scorner: ‘—I reck not a feder.’ Steevens. Read is counsel. Malone. So the Old Proverb in the Two Angry Women of Abington, 1599: ‘Take heed, is a good reed.’ Steevens. So, Sternhold, Psalm [1] ‘—that hath not lent To wicked rede his ear.’ Blackstone.”

1793 v1793

v1793 = v1785 [i.e. pope, Steevens, Blackstone] + in magenta underlined

514 reakes . . . reed] Steevens (ed. 1793): “So, in the old Morality of Hyche Scorner: ‘—I reck not a feder.’ Again, ibidem: ‘And of thy living, I reed amend thee.’ Ben Jonson uses the word reed in his Catiline. ‘So that thou couldst not move Against a public reed..’ Again, in Sir Tho. North’s translation of Plutarch. ‘—Dispatch, I read you, for your enterprize is betray’d.’ Again, the old proverb, in the Two angry Women of Abington, 1599: ‘Take heed, is a good reed.’ i.e. good counsel, good advice. ”

1803 v1803

v1803 = v1793

514 reakes . . . reed]

1813 v1813

v1813 = v1803

514 reakes . . . reed]

1819 cald1

cald1 = v1813 minus all but Steevens’s note

514 reed] Steevens (apud ed. 1819): “Counsel. The Old Proverb in the Two angry Women of Abington, 1599, is ‘Take heed, is a good reed.’ Steevens.”

1821 v1821

v1821 = v1813 [Pope, Steevens minus (Warner, Blackstone)]

514 reakes . . . reed]

1824 neele

Neele: Steevens +

514 reakes] Neele (ed. 1824 TGV 4.3.40 (1808): “I know not why Chaucer and Spenser alone are mentioned [by Steevens]. All the writers of their times used the word, and indeed it can scarcely yet be said to be obsolete. Editor.”

1826 sing1

sing1: cald1 without attribution; Blackstone without attribution

514 reakes . . . reed]

Blackstone could be where sing2 gets the spelling rede

1832 cald2

cald2 = cald1; doctrine from han3 Glossary, with attribution to Steevens

514 reed] Steevens (apud Caldecott, ed. 1832): “i.e. counsel, doctrine The Old Proverb in the Two angry Women of Abington, 1599, is ‘Take heed, is a good reed.’ Steevens.”

1833 valpy

valpy ≈ pope without attribution

514 reakes . . . reed] Valpy (ed. 1833): “Heeds not his own lessons.”

1843 col1

col1 ≈ Gildon without attribution + in magenta underlined

514 reakes . . . reed] Collier (ed. 1843): “i.e. And cares not for his own counsel or advice. ‘Read’ was used of old both as a substantive and a verb.”

1844 verp

verp ≈ col1 without attribution

514 reakes . . . reed] Verplanck (ed. 1844): “‘Cares not for his own admonitions to others.’ Read was used as a substantive in old English.”

1854 del2

del2 standard

514 reakes . . . reed] Delius (ed. 1854): “to reck = sich kümmern, und read ‘Rath, Lehre.’” [to reck means to be concerned about, and read ‘advice, counsel.’]

1856 hud1

hud1 ≈ col1 without attribution

514 reakes . . . reed] Hudson (ed. 1856): “That is, regards not his own lesson. Read was often thus used as a substantive, for the thing read. H.”

1856 sing2

sing2 = sing1 514 reakes . . . reed]

1858 col3

col3 ≈ col1

514 reakes . . . reed]

1860 stau

stau standard

514 reakes . . . reed] Staunton (ed. 1860): “Regards not his own counsel or advice.”

1861 wh1

wh1 ≈ stau

514 reakes . . . reed] White (ed. 1861): “i.e., is regardless of his own words, does not practise what he preaches.”

1862 cham

cham: standard gloss +

514 reakes . . . reed] Carruthers & Chambers (ed. 1862): “The phrase is now common. Burns has ‘And may you better reck the rede Than ever did th’ adviser.’”

1868 c&mc

c&mc ≈ col3 (standard)

514 reakes . . . reed] Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1868): “‘Heeds not his own monitions.’ ‘Read,’ as a substantive, was sometimes spelt ‘rede’ or ‘reed.’ It means the lesson or precept.”

1872 cln1

cln1≈ cham on Burns without attribution + title; Cym. //

514 reakes . . . reed] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “So Burns, Epistle to a Young Friend: ‘And may you better reck the rede Than ever did the adviser.’ For ‘reck’ see [Cym. 4. 2. 154 (2443)].”

cln1: standard, ≈ Steevens on Chaucer without attribution + in magenta underlined

514 reed] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “counsel. . . . Not used elsewhere in Shakespeare. See Chaucer, Canturbury Tales, 1216. ‘Ther was noon other remedy ne reed’.”

1872 hud2

hud2 = hud1 (minus 2nd sentence)

514 reakes . . . reed]

1877 v1877

v1877 = col1; = cln1 (minus gloss ‘counsel’)

514 reakes . . . reed]

1878 col4

col4: standard

514 Collier (ed. 1878): “i.e., And cares not for his own counsel, or advice.”

1880 meik

meik

514 reakes] Meikeljohn (ed. 1880): “attends to. Cogs.: Reckon; reckless; wretch.”

meik: standard gloss + in magenta underlined

514 reed] Meikeljohn (ed. 1880): “advice. (H. Ger. Rath.) Burns uses the word in his ‘Epistle to a Young Friend: ‘And may you better reck the rede Than ever did the adviser. Spenser spells the verb read, reed, and areed [quotes F.Q. 1.2.17].”

1881 hud3

hud3 = hud2

514 reakes . . . reed]

1883 wh2

wh2: standard

514 reed] White (ed. 1883): “White (ed. 1883): “advice, counsel.”

1885 macd

macd; standard

514 reakes . . . reed] MacDonald (ed. 1885): “‘heeds not his own counsel.’”

1885 mull

mull : standard

514 reakes] Mull (ed. 1885): “regards.”

mull : standard

514 rede] Mull (ed. 1885): “counsel.”

1899 ard1

ard1: standard gloss; cln1 on Burns

514 Dowden (ed. 1899): “cares not for his own counsel.”

1929 trav

trav

514 Travers (ed. 1929) finds the same sort of proverbial cast in Ophelia’s as in Laertes’s last lines.

1938 parc

parc

514 reakes] Parrott & Craig (ed. 1938): “heeds.”

parc

514 reed] Parrott & Craig (ed. 1938): “advice.”

1957 pel1

pel1: standard

514 reakes] Farnham (ed. 1957): “regards.”

pel1: standard

514 reed] Farnham (ed. 1957): “counsel.”

1957 pen1b

pen1b

514 reakes not his owne reed] Harrison (ed. 1957): “does not follow his own counsel.”

1970 pel2

pel2: standard

514 reakes] Farnham (ed. 1970): “regards”

pel2 = pel1

514 reed] Farnham (ed. 1970): “counsel”

1973 E. C. Wilson

Wilson

514 his owne reed] E. C. Wilson (1973, p. 135): “ . . . her counsel that he ’reak’ his own ’rede’ after he has lectured her at length on right conduct makes him suddenly discover that he has stayed ’too long.’”

1980 pen2

pen2: standard

514 reakes . . . reed] Spencer (ed. 1980): “disregards his own advice.”

1982 ard2

ard2:

514 reakes . . . reed] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “heeds not his own counsel. Rede (O.E. rœd), though it occurs only once in Shakespeare, was still in common use.”

1985 cam4

cam4

514 Edwards (ed. 1985): "pays no attention to his own counsel."

1987 oxf4

oxf4 ≈ ard2 without attribution

514 reakes . . . reed] Hibbard (ed. 1987): "takes no notice of his own advice (to others). Shakespeare does not use rede elsewhere, though it was common enough in his time."

1988 bev2

bev2: standard

514 reakes] Bevington (ed. 1988): “heeds.”

bev2: standard

514 reed] Bevington (ed. 1988): “counsel.”

1992 fol2

fol2: standard

514 reakes not his owne reed] Mowat & Werstine (ed. 1992): “does not heed his own advice”

1995 Kliman

Kliman

514 Enter Polonius.] Kliman (1995): Placing the SD after Laertes says O fear me not may affect audience perception of why Laertes breaks off. The Q2 placement has Laertes start to protest and then break off (his phrase ending with a comma), seeing Polonius. In the F1 placement, his short answer ending with a period contrasts with his long-winded advice, for suddenly he decides he is in a hurry, and perhaps after breaking off sees his father.

2006 ard3q2

ard3q2: standard

514 reakes . . . reed] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “pays no attention to his own teaching”