HW Home	Previous CN	View CN	View TNM	View TNI	Next CN

Line 593 - 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. Click here for more information about browsing the entries and here for more information about the special symbols used in Hamletworks. Click the question mark icon above to remove this help message.

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

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

593 Doe not belieue his vowes, for they are brokers	1.3.127

1611 Cotgrave

Cotgrave

593 brokers] Cotgrave (1611, apud Furness, ed. 1877): “Maquignonner, To play the Broker, also to play the bawd. Ed.”

Ed. note: The MED has brokour n. 2: "an intermediary in matters of marriage or love; go-between, match-maker, procurer," with a first reference to Gower, 1393, and another c.1500. where brokers are listed with "blasphemers . . . Brothelles."

1726 Theobald

Theobald

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Theobald (1726, pp. 26-27): <p. 26>“Ophelia having received the Addresses of Hamlet, Polonius, her Father, takes her to Task for Indiscretion in too lightly giving an Ear to the Prince’s Protestations. He tells her, that Hamlet may walk with a greater Latitude, than her Honour and Reputation will admit her to imitate: And besides that, being in the Heat of Youth, and professing himself a Lover, his Soul was prodigal to lend his Tongue Vows; which Polonius cautions her to look upon not as the real Sentiments of his Heart, but as Baits to betray her Virtue. Upon which he counsels her thus: [quotes 592-7]. Thus indeed all the Impressions, which have ever come in my Way, read this Passage; even that Edition of Hamlet, revised by the late accurate Mr. John Hughs. I must own, I have always stumbled at it; and been surprized how Men of Genius and Learning coiuld let it pass without some Suspicion. What Ideas can we form to our selves of a breathing bond, or of it being sanctified and pious? Surely, so absurd a Thought could scarse come from Shakespeare. The only tolerable Way of reconciling it to a Meaning without a Change, is to suppose that the Poet intends by the Word BONDS, Verbal Obligations, Protestations; and then, indeed, these Bonds may, in some Sense, be said to have Breath: But this is to make him guilty of overstraining the Word and Allusion; amd it will hardly </p. 26><p. 27> bear that Interpretation, at least, not without much Obscurity. As he, just before, is calling amorous Vows, Brokers, and Implorers of unholy Suits; I think, a Continuation of the plain and natural Sense directs us to an easy Emendation, which makes the whole Thought of a Piece, and gives it a Turn not unworthy of our Poet. I am, therefore, very willing to suspect it came from his Pen thus, tho’ none of his Editors have ever been aware of it.” [quotes again, substituting Bawds for Bonds] Where it is plain that Broker is used but as a more modest Word for Bawd; and the Business of such a One is describ’d in the Lines that follow it.

“So likewise in [AWW 3.5.71 (1691) ] pag. 420. Helena, discoursing with the Widow, her Hostess, concerning Count Rossillion’s Conduct; and the Widow insinuating that her Daugher </p. 27>. <p. 28> Diana might have an Affair with him, if she pleased; Helena says that, It may be, the amorous Count solicits her in the unlawful Purpose: to which the Widow replies. ‘ . . . He does indeed, And brokes with all that can in such a Suit Corrupt the tender Honour of a Maid. Where brokes, or brokers, evidently implies — tampers with, treats with, as with Bawds.

“So likewise in [Jn. 2.1.568 (889)] p. 142. Falconbridge descanting on Commodity and Self-Interest, and how all Ranks and Degrees of Persons were subservient to it, and, as it were, seduc’d and betray’d to forsake Virtue thro’ its Instigation, uses these Expressions: [quotes from pope1 2.1.568-72 (889-93) ] And, afterwards, a little lower he subjoins, [quotes Jn. 2.1.582 (903).

“Besides, what strengthens my Suspicion, and makes this Emendation the more necessary and probable, is, the Words with which the Poet winds up his Thought, the better to beguile. Every Body, I believe, is satisfied that it is the Custom of bawds to put on an Air and Form of Sanctity, to betray the Virtues of Young Ladies; by drawing them first into a kind Opinion of them, from their exterior and dissembled Goodness. And Bawds in their Office of Treachery are likewise properly Brokers; and the Implorers, and Promoters, of unholy (that is, unchaste) Suits; and so a Chain of the same Metaphors is continued to the End.” </p. 28>

BWK: [I love the self-congratulation, the sense of excited discovery.] He continues with examples of the image of brokers as bawds in other plays (27-28): InTGV 1.2.41 (194) when Julia speaks to Lucetta, “Broker is used as a more modest Word for Bawd. . . .” (27). He also finds parallels in AWW (27-8) and inJn. where Falconbridge connects the two words Bawd and Broker.

bawds; proudly in 1733, with a note, which he eliminates in 1740, about Pope accepting his emendation. v1877 records a bunch that follow Theobald, a bunch that go back to bonds. theo interprets the line thus: that bawd and broker and better to beguile all go together as they do elsewhere in the corpus, and thus the metaphor is “continued to the End.” He might have added, just as Polonius is apt to continue a metaphor to the end and beyond the end.

1733 theo1

theo1 ≈ theon + in magenta underlined, minus struck out

593 brokers . . . bonds] Theobald (ed. 1733): “To the same purpose our Author, speaking of Vows, expresses himself in his Poem, call’d The Lover’s Complaint. ‘Saw, how Deceits were guilded in his Smiling; Knew, Vows were ever Brokers to defiling. [LC

“But to the Passage in Question: Tho all the Editors have swallow’d it implicitly, it is certainly corrupt; and I have been surpriz’d, how Men of Genius and Learning could let it pass without some Suspicion. What Ideas can we form to our selves of a breathing bond, or of it being sanctified and pious? The only tolerable Way of reconciling it to a Meaning without a Change, is to suppose that the Poet intends by the Word BONDS, Verbal Obligations, Protestations; and then, indeed, these Bonds may, in some Sense, be said to have Breath: But this is to make him guilty of overstraining the Word and Allusion; and it will hardly </p. 26><p. 27> bear that Interpretation, at least, not without much Obscurity. As he, just before, is calling amorous Vows, Brokers, and Implorers of unholy Suits; I think, a Continuation of the plain and natural Sense directs to an easy Emendation, which makes the whole Thought of a Piece, and gives it a Turn not unworthy of our Poet. [quotes 596-7]

“Broker, ’tis to be observ’d, our Author perpetually uses as the more modest Synonymous Term for Bawd. Besides, what strengthens my Correction, and makes this Emendation more necessary and probable, is, the Words with which the Poet winds up his Thought, the better to beguile. It is the sly Artifice and Custom of Bawds to put on an Air and Form of Sanctity, to betray the Virtues of young Ladies; by drawing them first into a kind Opinion of them, from their exterior and dissembled Goodness. And Bawds in their Office of Treachery are likewise properly Brokers; and the Implorers and Prompters of unholy [that is, unchast) Suits: And so a Chain of the same Metaphors is continued to the End.

“I made this Emendation when I publish’d my Shakespeare restor’d. and Mr. Pope has thought fit to embrace it in his last Edition.”

1740 theo2

theo2 = theo1 (minus Lover’s Complaint and other //s)

593 brokers . . . bonds]

1747 warb

warb: theo +

593-6 brokers. . . bonds] Warburton (ed. 1747): “On which the editor Mr. Theobald remarks, Tho’ all the editors have swallowed it implicitly, it is certainly corrupt; and I have been surprised, how men of genius and learning could let it pass without some suspicion. What Ideas can we form to our selves of a breathing bond, or of it being sanctified and pious, &c. But he was too hasty in framing ideas before he understood those already famed by the poet, and expressed in very plain words, Do not believe (says Polonius to his Daughter) Hamlet’s amorous vows made to you; which pretend religion in them, (the better to beguile,) like those sanctified and pious vows [[or bonds]] made to heaven. And why should not this pass without suspicion?”

1747 mWarburton

mWarburton

593-6 brokers. . . bonds] Warburton (1747-) inserts the word Bawds.

1755 Johnson Dict.

Johnson ≈ theon; theo1

593 broker] Johnson (1755): “[sb.] 3. a pimp; a match-maker.”

1757 theo4

theo4 = theo2

593 brokers . . . bonds]

1765 john1 TGV 1.2.43

john1

593 broker] Johnson (1765, 1: 187 n. 1): For TGV 1.2.43 (0000), Johnson notes: “A broker was used for a matchmaker, sometimes for a procuress.”

1765 john1

john1 = warb

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

1765 Heath

Heath

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Heath (1765, pp. 528-9): <p. 528> “That is, Uttered in the semblance of sanctified and pious engagements, such as have marriage for their object. Mr. Theobald gives us a very plausible conjecture, which he supports with great ingenuity; </p. 528> <p. 529> Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, But as the common reading gives a sense which is unexceptionable, I cannot approve of altering the text without necessity.” </p. 529>

1771 han3

han3 = john TGV

593 broker]

1773- mstv1

mstv1 = Johnson

593 brokers] Steevens (1773-): “broker is a pimp, a match-maker.”

This item is ignorable because it’s a copy of something else, not an original note, but I have now

1773 TGV = john1 TGV

593 brokers] Johnson (ed. 1773, 1:114 n.5), on TGV 1.2.41 (194): “ —a goodly broker! ]] A broker was used for matchmaker, sometimes for a procuress. Johnson.”

1773 v1773

v1773 = john1

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

1774 capn

capn ≈ theo without attribution; contra warb without attribution

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Capell (1774, 1:1:125) says that “ ‘breathing like bonds’ is no rational expression, whatever gloss these objecters may put on it; whereas ‘bawds,’ which is also spelt —bauds, gives a sense that is suitable every way, and obvious to every capacity.”

BWK: He credits THEO (“third modern editor”) for bawds and wringing.

1778 v1778

v1778 = v1773

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

1778 v1778

v1778 = john1

593 brokers]

1778 = john1

In TGV = v1773 (which may also = john1) +

593 brokers] Steevens (ed. 1778, 1:131 n. 8): “So in Daniel’s Complaint of Rosamond, 1599: ‘And flie (oh flie) these bed-brokers unclean, The monsters of our sex, &c.’ Steevens.”

Though he had that ms. addition in v1773, he did not insert it into v1778. It does appear in TGV however.

1780 mals1

mals1 = theo1 on Lover’s Complaint without attribution

593 brokers] Steevens (apud Malone, 1780, 1:750 n. 2) considers LC 173 “Knew vows were ever brokers to defiling” a parallel to Ham. 593.

1783 mals2

mals2 = theon Jn. without attribution; Steevens in mals1 without attribution; john without attribution + in magenta underlined

593 brokers] Malone (1783, p. 56): “A broker in old English meant a bawd or pimp. See the Glossary to Gawin Douglass’s translation of Virgil, in verb. So, in [Jn. 2.1.568 (889)]: ‘This bawd, this broker, &c.’ In our author’s Lover’s Complaint [quotes line173].”

1783 mals2

mals2

593-6 brokers. . . bonds] Malone (1783, p. 56): “The old reading is certainy right. We have in our author’s 142d sonnet—‘false bonds of love.’ ”

1785 v1785

v1785 = v1778; mals2

593-6 brokers. . . bonds]

1785 Mason

Mason: warb; theo +

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Mason (1785, pp. 376-7): “Notwithstanding Warburton’s elaborate explanation of this passage, I have not the least doubt but Theobald is right, and that we ought to read bawds instead of bonds; indeed the present reading is little better than nonsense.

“Polonius had called Hamlet’s vows, brokers but two lines before, a word synonimous to bauds, and the very title that Shakespeare gives to Pandarus in his [Tro. 5.10.33 (3570)]; the words implorators of unholy suits, are an exact description of a bawd. And all such of them as are crafty in their trade, put on the appearance of sanctity, and are, </p. 376> <p.377> ‘Not of that dye, that their investments shew.’ ” </p. 377>

1785 v1785

v1785 = mals2 + “See vol. 1.p. 146”; minus Jn.

593 brokers]

1787 ann

ann = v1785 minus ref. to Theobald in warb; and minus 1st sentence in mals2

593 brokers]

1790 mal

mal: theo1; Heath without attribution; mals2 +

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Malone (ed. 1790): “. . . The bonds here in our poet’s thoughts were bonds of love. So in his 142d Sonnet: [and he quotes, including the phrase “bonds of love”]. Again, in MV [quotes, including the phrase “love’s bonds”]. “ ‘Sanctified and pious bonds,’ are the true bonds of love, or, as our poet has elsewhere expressed it, ‘A contract and eternal bond of love.’ Dr. Warburton certainly misunderstood this passage . . . . And why, he triumphantly asks, ‘may this not pass without suspicion?’ If he means his own comment, the answer is, because it is not perfectly accurate. Malone.”

1790 mal

mal = v1785

593 brokers]

mal Tro. “Hence broker lacquey!” ≈ theon without attribution

593 brokers] Malone (ed. 1790, 8:304, Tro. 5.10.33 [3570]): “Broker in our author’s time signified a bawd of either sex. So, in [Jn 2.1.568 (889)] ‘This bawd. this broker, this all-changing word,’ &c. See [4:489 n. 5].”

1791- rann

rann ≈ Heath; mal

593-6 brokers. . . bonds] Rann (ed. 1791-) defines brokers as “pandars,” and paraphrases the whole thought: “nor are they really what they seem to be, but mere solicitors to debauchery, carrying the face of solemn marriage engagements.” He also cites the sonnet [142]“‘And seal’d false bonds of love.’ Poems, p. 697.”

1793 v1793

v1793: v1785; mal; Mason

593-6 brokers. . . bonds]

1803 v1803

v1803 = v1793 in this order: Malone, warb, john1, Mason, Malone

593-6 brokers. . . bonds]

1805 Seymour

Seymour: warb

596 Seymour (1805, 2:155): “The sense of this passage appears to have been mistaken by Dr. Warburton, and not accurately conceived by the succeeding commentators, ‘Implorators breathing like bonds,’ i.e. ‘Breathing as bonds breathe,’ is an expression not easily to be understood; but the meaning and the construction, I take to be this: ‘His vows are implorators, breathing like bonds, (i.e. similar bonds, to sanctified vows) to those which are breathed by implorators of unholy suits.’

“A thought resembling this occurs in Othello: ‘When devils would their blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shews’.”

1813 v1813

v1813 = v1803

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

1819 cald1

cald1 = mal; theo AWW without attribution; note at 596 +

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “Bawds or pimps. Gloss. to Gavin Douglass’s Virgil.” ‘This bawd, this broker,’ &c. [Jn.5.7.65 (2675)]. ‘Know, vows are ever brokers to defiling.’ [LC 173]. Malone.

“Procurers. See [AWW], &c. [3.5. 71 (1691)]. Widow.”

cald1

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “Like the protestations of solemn contracts entered into with all the formalities and ceremonies of religion. Adam tells Orlando, in [AYL 2.3.13 (716)] ‘Thy virtues, gentle master, Are sanctified and holy traitors to you.’ Adam.”

1821 v1821

v1821: = v1813 warb, john1, Mason, Malone

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

Malone analogue to Gavin Douglas & //s to Jn. and LC. and vol/page ref: XV.478n2.

1821 v1821

v1821 = v1813 +

593 brokers] “See also, Troilus and Cressida, Act V. Sc.1 [Tro. 5.1. (0000)] : ‘Hence broker lackey.’ ”

1826 sing1

sing1: mal minus Douglas and Jn.

593 brokers] Singer (ed. 1726): “i.e. panders. Brokage and to broke was anciently to deal in business of an amatory nature by procurement. Thus in [LC and he quotes].”

1832 cald2

cald2 = cald1

593 brokers]

1843 col1

col1: theo

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Collier (ed. 1843): “Theobald, with great plausibility, and with reference to ‘brokers’ just above, read bawds for ‘bonds’; but as the text is intelligible without alteration, we make none.”

-1853 mcol1

mcol1 “corrects” to bawds

593 brokers]

1853 coln

coln; theo

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Collier (1853, p. 421): “Theobald guessed rightly that ‘sanctified and pious bonds’ ought to be ‘sanctified and pious bawds:’ . . . .”

The note continues in 598-9 doc.

1844 verp

verp: standard

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Verplanck (ed. 1844): “Commentators have found this so obscure, as to think the passage required conjectural correction. Yet the language and meaning are familiar to the poet. ‘These vows breathe like love’s bonds new made;’ they resemble the ‘contract and eternal bond of love,’ as he has elsewhere expressed it, while they are yet, (in his phrase,) ‘false bonds of love [Son. 142].’”

1853 Singer Vindication

Singer ≈ theo, coln p. 421

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Singer (1753, pp. 261-2): <p. 261> “Theobald’s correction of ‘Sanctified and pious </p. 261> <p. 262> bawds,’ instead of the misprint bonds has never for a moment been doubted; and the correctors adopt it of course. </p.262>

1854 del2

del2

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Delius (ed. 1854): “Hamlet’s Gelübde sind gleichsam Kuppler, die unter ehrbarem Aussehen, als ob sie fromme Verbindlichkeiten laut werden liessen (breathing), um so besser hintergehen.” [Hamlet’s vows are, as it were, match-makers that under an honorable appearance, as if they were breathing pious unions, deceive so much better.]

1854 White

White: theo1

596 bonds] White (1854, pp. 409-10): <p. 409>“Is there the least doubt that Theobald discovered the typographical error, and corrected it properly [to bawds]? </p. 409><p. 410>

“In the same sentence these ‘implorators of unholy suits’ are called ‘brokers,’ the old term for ‘bawd.’” </p. 410>

1856 hud1

hud1: theo; Tro. // without attribution

596 bonds] Hudson (ed. 1856): “The old copies have bonds instead of bawds. Theobald conjectured the latter to be the right word. The use of brokers, which formerly meant the same as bawd or pander, favours the change. It is not easy to see what bonds can have to do with the passage. See [Tro. 5.10.33 (3570)]. H.”

1856 sing2

sing2 = sing1 +

593 brokers] Singer (ed. 1856): “i.e. panders. The words brokage and broker were merely applied to love transactions, as they were to any other that took place by deputy. Words and vows being spoken of as go-betweens, though delivered in person. Thus in [LC and quotes]. ”

1858 col3

col3 = col1 minus what is struck out + ref. to mcol1 in magenta underlined

593-6 brokers . . . bonds] Collier (ed. 1858): “Theobald, with great plausibility, and with reference to ‘brokers’ just above, read bawds for ‘bonds’; but as the text is intelligible without alteration, we make none and such is the emendation in the corr. fo. 1632. We formerly preserved bonds.”

1865 hal

hal ≈ Mason (via v1821)

593-6 brokers . . . bonds]

1868 c&mc

c&mc: standard

593 brokers] Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1868): “‘Infamous pleaders, agents, or go-betweens.’ See [Jn. 2.1.582. (903), n. 84].”

1872 cln1

cln1 ≈ theo without attribution

593 brokers] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “go-betweens, negotiators. See Lover’s Complaint, line 173.”

Ed. note: cln1 om. any sexual innuendo in the gloss

1872 hud2

hud2 = hud1 + in magenta underlined (minus what is struck out), with minor variations in magenta.

593-6 brokers . . . pious bonds] Hudson (ed. 1872): “The Poet has other like instances of language [i.e. pious bawds]. See page 42, note 3. This joining of words that are really incompatible, or qualifying of a noun with adjectives that literally quench it, sometimes gives strength of expression. The old copies have read pious bonds instead of bawds, which can hardly be made to yield any sense. Theobald proposed the change; conjectured the latter to be the right word. and the use of brokers, which formerly meant the same as bawd or pander, shows it to be right.” favours the change. It is not easy to see what bonds can have to do with the passage. See [Tro. 5.10.33 (3570)]. H.”

hud2 on AYL 2.3.13 (716) 42 n3 “holy traitors”

596 pious bonds] Hudson (ed. 1872): “The Poet is fond of thus mixing incongruous words, in order to express certain complexities of thought. In like sort, even so grave a writer as Richard Hooker has the expression heavenly fraud, in a thoroughly good sense.”

1874 Schmidt

Schmidt: standard

593 brokers] Schmidt (1874): “agent, negotiator [. . .]. Especially a procurer, a go-between.”

1877 v1887

v1877 = mal; Cotgrave

593 brokers]

1881 hud3

hud3 ≈ hud2

593 brokers] Hudson (ed. 1881): “Brokers, as the word in here used, are go-betweens or panders; the same as bawds, a little after.”

He reiterates this gloss of brokers in the endnote.

hud3 endnote

593, 596 brokers, bonds] Hudson (ed. 1881): “The context, and especially the word brokers, is decisive that a noun signifying persons, and not things, is required.”

1899 ard1

ard1: standard; Furness’ Cotgrave ref.

593 brokers]

1938 parc

parc

593 brokers] Parrott & Craig (ed. 1938): “procurers.”

1939 kit2

kit2: standard

593 brokers] Kittredge (ed. 1939): panders, procurers. Polonius defines the word in [595].

1947 cln2

cln2

593-6 doe . . . beguide] Rylands (ed. 1947): "i.e. his vows are not of the colour that they show; they are go-betweens soliciting an unholy suit, uttering the holy promises of the marriage service so as to deceive you."

1957 pel1

pel1: standard

593 brokers] Farnham (ed. 1957): “middlemen, panders.”

1970 pel2

pel2 = pel1

593 brokers] Farnham (ed. 1970): “middlemen, panders.”

1980 pen2

pen2: standard

593 brokers] Spencer (ed. 1980): “go-betweens.”

1982 ard2

ard2: standard; //s

593 brokers] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “A broker, properly an agent or middleman, often meant a go-between in love affairs and hence a bawd. The word is applied to Pandarus (Tro. 3.2.199-200, 5.10.33), and in Jn. 2.1.582. broker and bawd are equivalents. (Cf. brokes, said of one who negotiates for a maid’s honour, AWW 3.5.68.) This sense of brokers, latent here, becomes active with 595. There is probably also a quibble as in Jn. 2.1.568, ’That broker that still breaks the pate of faith, That daily break-vow’. A broker popularly suggested dishonest dealing”

1985 cam4

cam4; Nigel Alexander

593 brokers] Edwards (ed. 1985): "negotiators, esp. go-betweens, pimps. Nigel Alexander suggests that in the ’complex series of images’ which follows, three meanings of ’broker’ are intertwined, ’a shady financier, a pander who promises marriage, and an old clothes man’."

1987 oxf4

oxf4: standard; Jn. // without attribution

593 brokers] Hibbard (ed. 1987): "Originally a retailer or middleman, a broker soon became synonymous, in some contexts, with a go-between, and thus a bawd or pander. This secondary sense is dominant in Shakespeare, and is the relevant one here. Compare [Jn. 2.1.582, ‘This bawd, this broker.’ "

1988 bev2

bev2: standard

593 brokers] Bevington (ed. 1988): “go-betweens, procurers.”

1992 fol2

fol2

593-7 brokers . . . beguide] Mowat & Werstine (ed. 1992): “i.e., they are panders (brokers, bawds: go-betweens in sexual intrigues) who are not as holy as their dress (investments) would indicate; instead, they are merely urgers (implorators) of sinful actions (unholy suits) speaking (breathing) as if they were holy, in order to entice (beguile) (Bawds [used by fol2 instead of Q2/F1 ’bonds’] was suggested by Lewis Theobald)”

2006 ard3q2

ard3q2: standard; xref

593-7 Doe . . . beguide] Do . . . beguile Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “a dense and highly figurative passage whose interpretation is rendered even more difficult by textual variants and emendations. In the Q2 text we have emended only ’imploratotors’ to implorators (assuming ’to’ is repeated erroneously, but see [595 CN) and ’beguide’ (not found in OED) to beguile. Hamlet’s vows are personified as brokers acting on behalf of his suits —his requests for sexual favours. The vows act like (breathe like) another set of personified verbal or written promises, bonds, which are pretending to be sanctified and pious in order to beguile Ophelia. In this reading the focus is on the near-synonymous triplet of vows—suits—bonds as the main focus of the passage.”

ard3q2: standard gloss; //

593 brokers] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “go-betweens, especially in financial and sexual matters. See Luc. 173, where the speaker admits that she knew her seducer’s ’vows were ever brokers to defiling’.”