Line 931 - Commentary Note (CN) 
Commentary notes (CN):
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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 0-1017 ed. Bernice W. Kliman
| 931 And I belieue it is a fetch of {wit,} <warrant:> | 2.1.38 |
|---|
1726 theon
theon
931 fetch of wit]
Theobald (1726, pp. 61-2): <p. 61> “There is a various Reading upon this Passage, which deserved the Notice of the Editor [
pope]; because, if I am not much deceived, it seems to have the genuine Stamp of our Author upon it. The second Edition in
Folio, and some other of the impressions, read; ‘
And, I believe, it is a Fetch of Warrant.’ Which I take to be the very Words and Meaning of the Poet for this Reason, because he makes
Polonius speak dubiously of his Intentions. No body is so doubtful of his own Judgment and Talents, but that he knows absolutely whether his Drifts and Purposes are designed with
Wit, or no, tho’ he cannot be so </p.61> <p. 62> certain, as to their
justification. A Man may much easier be mistaken, as to the
Legality, than as to the
Sagacity, of any Fact; because something more than private Opinion, or naked Belief, is wanting to determine positively whether a Thing be
warrantable. Besides, I observe, that it is very familiar with
Shakespeare to use the Words of
Warrant and
Warranty to signify a Justification. So, [he quotes
Oth. 1.2.79 (297) and 5.2.60 (3312),
Tit. 5.3.44 (2546),
Jn. 4.2.209 (1934) and 5.2.66 (2318), and
MV 1.1.132 (141)].” </p.62>
1773- mstv1
mstv1
931 fetch of wit] Steevens (1773 -): “ warrant; i.e. warranted, justified by [th]e success.”
1784 Davies
Davies
931 fetch of wit] Davies (1784, 3:33): “fetch of warrant. ‘I think it a very justifiable mode of enquiring into my son’s conduct.’”
1791- rann
rann ≈ Davies without attribution
931 fetch of wit] Rann (ed. 1791-): “a fetch of warrant :]] —a justifiable experiment, or method of enquiry—a fetch of wit.”
1805 Seymour
Seymour: standard
931 fetch of wit] Seymour (1805, 2:166): “‘—A fetch of warrant.’ A fair or justifiable device; as, in King Lear: ‘They are sick, they are weary, &c. mere fetches!”
1813 v1813
v1813 = v1803
931 fetch of wit]
1819 cald1
cald1 ≈ rann without attribution
931 fetch of wit] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “fetch of warrant]] Device approved.”
1821 v1821
v1821 = v1813
931 fetch of wit]
1832 cald2
cald2 = cald1
931 fetch of wit]
1832- mEliot
mEliot
831 fetch] Eliot (1832-): “‘This man (says Milton of Charles 1—Eikonoklastes) this man hath offered at more cunning fetches to undermine our liberties & put tyranny into an art than any British King before him.’ [See] p. 857.”
On 857 (in ed. 1832), Lr. “Mere fetches” 2.4.89 (1364), Lear about Regan and Cornwall’s not being able to greet him.
1843 col1
col1
931 fetch of wit] “Either [Q or F] may be right.”
1844 verp
verp: standard
931 fetch of wit]
Verplanck (ed. 1844): “‘
Fetch of warrant.’—a justifiable or warrantable trick. The quartos . . . may be right.”
1854 del2
del2 ≈ cald1 without attribution
931 fetch of wit] Delius (ed. 1854): “So [warrant] die Fol. = ‘ein bewährter zuverlässiger Kniff.’ Die Lesart der Qs. fetch of wit sagt weniger.” [warrant in the folio, meaning ‘a proven, reliable ruse.’ The reading of the 4tos, fetch of wit says less.]
1856 hud1
hud1 ≈ del2 minus 2nd sentence without attribution
931 fetch of wit] Hudson (ed. 1856): “ ‘A fetch of warrant’ seems to means an allowable stratagem or practice. H.”
1867 dyce2
dyce2
931 fetch of wit] Dyce (ed. 1867, Glossary): “fetch of warrant—A, A warranted, sanctioned, or approved artifice or device.”
1868 c&mc
c&mc: standard
931 fetch of wit]
Clarke &
Clarke (ed. 1868): “‘A warranted contrivance,’ ‘an allowable trick or stratagem.’”
1870 rug1
rug1: standard
931 fetch of wit] Moberly (ed. 1870): “An artful stratagem. The folio editions read ‘a fetch of warrant,’ that is, an artifice for which there is good authority; which gives a better sense.”
1872 cln1
cln1; standard; Lr. fetch // without attribution + xref
931 fetch of wit] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “The quartos read ‘wit.’ The folios have ‘warrant.’ Either makes good sense. A ‘fetch of wit’ is a cunning contrivance: a ‘fetch of warrant,’ a justifiable contrivance, or rather one which has been found effectual. With the latter compare ‘passages of proof’ in [3111]. In [Lr. 2.4.89 (1364)] ‘fetches’ mean pretexts, excuses. ”
1872 hud2
hud2 = hud1 through or + in magenta
931 fetch of wit] Hudson (ed. 1872): “‘A fetch of warrant’ seems to means an allowable stratagem or artifice.”
1873 rug2
rug2 = rug1
931 fetch of wit]
1877 v1887
v1877 = dyce; cln1
931 fetch of wit]
Furness (ed. 1877): “fetch of warrant]
Dyce (
Gloss.): A warranted, sanctioned, or approved artifice or device.
Clarendon: The
fetch of wit of the Qq is ‘a cunning contrivance,’ and makes as good sense as the reading of the Ff, with which compare ‘passages of proof, [3111]. In [
Lr. 2.3.90 (0000)], ‘fetches’ mean pretexts, excuses.”
1878 rlf1
rlf1 ≈ cln1 without attribution minus xref
931 fetch of wit] Rolfe (ed. 1878): “Fetch of warrant. A warranted or justifiable artifice. [. . .] ‘fetch of wit’ = cunning device. ”
1880 Tanger
Tanger
931 fetch of wit] Tanger (1880, p. 126) ascribes the variant in F1 as “probably due to the critical revision which the text received at the hands of H.C. [Heminge & Condell], when it was being woven together from the parts of the actors.”
1881 hud3
hud3 = hud2 minus (seems)
931 wit]
1885 macd
macd: standard on warrant
931 fetch of wit] MacDonald (ed. 1885): “‘a fetch with warrant for it’—a justifiable trick.”
1885 mull
mull : standard
931 fetch of wit] Mull (ed. 1885): “justifiable artifice.”
1938 parc
parc: standard
931 fetch of wit] Parrott & Craig (ed. 1938): “justifiable device.”
1939 kit2
kit2: standard
TLN a fetch of wit] Kittredge (ed. 1939): "a fetch of warrant: a warrantable device."
1947 cln2
cln2: standard
931 a fetch of wit] Rylands (ed. 1947): "a fetch of warrant: a device likely to succeed."
1957 pel1
pel1: standard
931 fetch of wit] fetch of warrant Farnham (ed. 1957): “allowable trick.”
1957 pen1b
pen1b: standard
931 fetch of wit] fetch of warrant Harrison (ed. 1957): “a trick which has been found to work.”
1970 pel2
pel2 = pel1
931 fetch of wit] fetch of warrant Farnham (ed. 1970): “allowable trick”
1980 pen2
pen2: standard
931 fetch of wit] Spencer (ed. 1980): “justifiable device. For F’s ’warrant’, Q2 reads ’wit’.”
1982 ard2
ard2: //s; contra ver; MSH
931 fetch of wit] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “legitimate trick. Cf. fetches, subterfuges, Lr. 2.4.87. Verity takes of warrant to mean ’warranted to succeed’, but Polonius’s point is that the end justifies the means. Cf. Oth. 1.2.79, ’arts inhibited and out of warrant’. Q2’s wit, like its wait at 2382, appears to be a misreading of an abbreviation of warrant. Errors with this word in other texts (see MSH, p. 108) suggest that Shakespeare was in the habit of contracting it. Cf. warn’t, 443.”
1985 cam4
cam4
931 fetch of wit] fetch of warrant Edwards (ed. 1985): "approved stratagem."
1987 oxf4
oxf4: OED
931 fetch of wit] Hibbard (ed. 1987): "justified strategem, lawful trick (OED warrant sb. 8b). Compare [Oth.1.2.78-9 (296-7)], ‘a practiser Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.’ "
1988 bev2
bev2: standard
931 fetch of wit] Bevington (ed. 1988): “legitimate trick.”
1992 fol2
fol2: standard
931 fetch of wit] Mowat & Werstine (ed. 1992): “clever trick”
1997 Kliman
Kliman
931 Kliman (1996): This approbation of his own wit is similar to what Polonius says elsewhere, 1070-3:
And I doe thinke, or els this braine of mine
Hunts not the trayle of policie so sure
As it hath vsd to doe, that I haue found
The very cause of Hamlets lunacie.
1997 OED
OED
931 fetch] OED “sb. 2. A contrivance, dodge, stratagem, trick; also, a fetch of law, policy, state, and to
cast a fetch. c 1530 REDFORDE Play Wit & Sc. (1848) 8 Beware the fechys Of Tediousnes. 1549?62 STERNHOLD & H. Ps. xli. 7 And cast their fetches how to trap me with some mortall harme. 1575 GRINDAL Let. to Burleigh Wks. (1843) 352 By lease or any other fetch of law.
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2: standard; F1; xref
931 fetch of wit] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “witty stratagem. Jenkins suggests that Q2’s wit is a misreading of an abbreviation for F’s ’warrant’ (meaning ’approved’), as ’wait’ is at [2382].”
931