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Line 1661 - 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 1018-2022 ed. Eric Rasmussen

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

1661 Ros. Niggard of question, but of our demaunds	3.1.13

1747 warb

warb

1661 Warburton (ed. 1747): “This is given as the description of the conversation of a man whom the speaker found not forward to be sounded ; and who kept aloof when they would bring him to confession: But such a description can never pass but at cross-purposes. Shakespear certainly wrote it just the other way, ‘Most free of question, but of our demands Niggard in his reply.’

“That this is the true reading we need but turn back to the preceding scene, for Hamlet’s conduct, to be satisfied.”

1747-60 mbrowne

mbrowne

1661 Browne (c.1747-60): “This is a difficult passage—Mr. W. [Warburton] understands it, sparing in asking us questions but free in his answers to our questions, which plainly contradicts with the description before given of his behaviour, as standing aloof, the fact indeed itself too, and therefore he reads it by transport of words

“Most free of question etc. i.e. free in asking us questions but sparing in assisting ours. but if we consider upon what act these Gents[?] were placed about Hamlet that may lead us [. . .] sense of these obscure lines. They were employed for two purposes to sift out of him the real ground [. . .] of his madness, and to lead [. . .] Invention [. . .] Entertainment.—by your companys To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as etc.—

“When they are here asked how they have succeeded, they say he kept aloof and would not be sounded, and as to his behaviour to them, they say, he was niggard of question,i.e. as I understand it close or sparing of being questioned by us but of our etc—i.e. but most free in complying with what we desired of him[. . .] .”

1773 v1773

v1773 = warb

1773 jen

jen

1661-62 Niggard...reply.] Jennens (ed. 1773): “The text is here copied from H.’s alteration, followed by W. who gives the reason for thus altering, and which will sufficiently appear to the reader by his turning back to the scene between Hamlet and Rosincraus. All other editions read, ‘Niggard of question, but of our demands / Most free in his reply.’”

1774-79? capn

capn

Niggard of question] CAPELL (1774-79?, p.135): “If “question” be restrain’d, as it should be, to– questions of moment, such as might give the speaker a handle to “bring on a confession,” there will be no occasion for the transposition that has been made in these lines by the two latter moderns: the import of "free" is not– open, but ready, prodigal of words, and is set against "niggard:" The speech, thus interpreted, conveys a very excellent precept, fit for the observation of persons in Hamlet’s circumstances, and we accordingly find it observ’d by him. The second "of" in this line is put loosly for–to, but should not be displac’d by it.”

1785 mason

mason

1661 Mason (1785, p. 383): “Warburton forgets that by question, Shakespeare does not usually mean interrogatory, but discourse; but in which ever sense the word be taken, this account given by Rosincrantz agrees but ill with the sense between him and Hamlet, as actually represented. “

1790 mal

mal

1661-62 Malone (ed. 1790): “Slow to begin conversation, but free enough in his answers to our demands. Guildenstern has just said that Hamlet kept aloof when they wished to bring him to confess the cause of his distraction: Rosencrantz therefore here must mean, that up to that point, till they touch’d on that, he was free enough in his answers.”

1791- rann

rann

1661 Niggard of question;] Rann (ed. 1791-): “—Though he cautiously declined entering upon any serious topic, yet was he ready enough to take a share in common conversation.”

1793 v1793

v1793 = Mason, MAL (w/minor variants in magenta)

Malone (apud. ed. 1793): “Thus to begin conversation, but free enough in his answers to their demands. Guildenstern has just said that Hamlet kept aloof when they wished to bring him to confess the cause of his distress. Rosencrantz therefore here must mean, that up to that point, till they touch’d on that, he was free enough in his answers.

1815 becket

beckett

1661-62 Niggard...reply.] Becket (1815, p. 40): “This evidently should be— ‘free of question.’ The change must therefore be made as proposed by Warburton.” </p. 40>

1826 sing1

sing1

1661-2 Singer (ed. 1826): “‘Slow to begin conversation, but free enough in answering our demands.’”

-1845 mhun1

mhun1

1661-62 Niggard...reply.] Hunter (-1845, f. 244r): “Warburton has very happily conjectured that Shakespeare wrote the very opposite in qu[margins] to this passage as it now stands: ‘Most free of question; but of our demands Niggard in his reply’ and this reading is supported by the scene in which the interview between him & the [margins] courtiers is presented.

This sense is found in the newly discovered quarto: ‘My lord we have done all the best we could To wring from him the cause of all his grief But still he put us off, and by no means Would make an answer to thee in expand.’”

1845 hunter

hunter

1661-62 Niggard...reply.] Hunter (1845, p. 236): <p. 236>“Warburton had very happily conjectured that we ought rather to read ‘Most free of question; but of our demands Niggard in his reply.’ which is in fact the account which the two lords must have rendered in their interview with Hamlet, if they meant to report it truly. Warburton’s conjecture has not had justice done to it by other commentators, but we find it confirmed by the newly-discovered quarto.”</p. 236>

1856b sing2

sing2=warb+

Singer (ed. 1856): “Warburton shought we should read:—’Most free of question; but of our demands Niggard in his reply’. And the conjecture is strongly confirmed by the 4to 1603:— ‘But still he put us off, and by no means Would make an answer to that we exposde’.”

1858 col3

col3

1661 Collier (ed. 1858): “In the corr. fo. 1632 ‘of’ is altered to to, but needlessly, because ‘of’ has here the force of on. No doubt in the time of the old annotator it was recited ‘but to our demands.’”

1867 ktlyn

ktlyn

1661 Keightly (1867, p. 291): “Warburton transposes ‘niggard’ and ‘most free;’ and certainly, unless the poet forgot himself, he was by no means ‘niggard of question;’ and ‘niggard’ would also aaccord better than ‘free’ with ‘of demands.’ It might be better to read to for ‘of,’ as these words were often confounded.”

1870 abbott

1661 Abbott (§173): “Of is hence applied not merely to the agent and the instrument, but to any influencing circumstances, in the sense of ‘as regards,’ ’what comes from.’ Under this head perhaps come[s]: ‘Niggard of question ; but of our demands Most free in his reply.’—Hamlet. [1661].”

1872 cln1

cln1

1661-2 Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): "Warburton inverted the position of ’niggard’ and ’most free.’ ’That this is the true reading,’ syas he, ’we need but turn back to the preceding scene, for Hamlet’s conduct, to be satisfied.’ Malone, retaining the old reading, explains: ’Slow to begin conversation, but free enough in his answers to our demands.’ In truth, however, neither describes the scene accurately. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were completely baffled and Hamlet had the talk almost to himself. Perhaps they did not intend to give a correct account of the interview."

cln1

1661 of our demands] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872):" ’Of ’ may be either written by attraction from the previous ’of,’ or it may be used for ’on,’ as in Marlowe’s Jew of Malta, iv. 4: ’Of that condition I will drink it up.’ "

1877 clns

clns : warb

1661-2 Niggard . . . . reply] Neil (ed. 1877): Warburton, to bring these words nearer the truth of fact, conjectured that most free and niggard should change places. But Shakespeare probably intended to make these diplomatists lie to their employers and of their friend the prince, through courtierly policy.”

1881 hud2

hud2

1661 Hudson (ed. 1881): “Here, of is equivalent to in respect of. Also in ‘of our demands.’ Question may mean inquiry, or conversation; and either of these senses accords with the occasion referred to. See critical notes.”

1882 elze

elze

1661-2 Niggard...reply.] Elze (ed. 1882): “If there be any one among Warburton’s numerous conjectures which deserves to be inserted in the text, it is the transposition of Niggard and Most free. The reading of the old copies is the very contrary of what Rosencrans and Guyldensterne wish to state; even now they confessed that Hamlet ‘will by no meanes speake from what cause he feeles himselfe distracted’. QA reads still more plainly: — ‘My lord, we haue done all the best we could, To wring from him the cause of all his griefe, But still he puts vs off, and by no meanes Would make an answere to that we exposde.’

“Hamlet discourses indeed very freely with his old schoolfellows on a variety of topics, but always ‘starts from the affair’, when they attempt to bring him to a confession. It need hardly be added that question here as elsewhere is equivalent to discourse, conference, dialogue. Confusion or faulty transposition in the beginnings of two consecutive lines is no unusual occurrence; compare my Notes &c. No. XXXIX.”

1885 macd

macd

1662 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “Compare the seemingly opposite statements of the two: Hamlet had bewildered them.”

c1890 mWRIGHT

mwright

mWRIGHT (c. 1890) TCC MS b.58.195 “Most words which involved and are significant of position “by” another can have, are, and are practically made to have two leading variations of meaning according to the context and intent of the speaker, one of nearness and close proximity, and thence of relationship and causality, the other of distance and difference as being separate and not identical in position or oneness. Sometimes too to mark this the word is intensified. Off is the real intensitive of of intensified to express more clearly the idea of distance. [. . .] But in the English of Shakespeare’s day the original of was sometimes used where we would use off. It is so in the second clause of the above quotation.

“Hamlet, says Rosencrantz, is niggard of speech in relation to the subject matter brought before him, i.e. to our questionings, but, off our demand, most free in his replies that is most free in talk on other and casual subjects. This exactly agrees with Shakespeare’s portraiture of him witness his digressions on plays and acting etc. Nowhere else, except more markedly is there marked instances of madness does Shakespeare allow his characters to wander off on each freshly started subject, and it is good evidence of Hamlet’s unsettled and really unsound state of mind. To return to our phrase, the apposition of “but”, often a stronger disjunctive then than now, helps to indicate the sense in which of is to be taken.”

1892 cam2

cam2 addendum

1661-2 Orson (apud Wright, ed. 1893, 9, 771): “Niggard of question, and, of our demands, Not free.”

1899 ard1

1661-2 Niggard . . . reply] Dowden (ed. 1899): “Warburton transposed ‘Niggard’ and ‘Most free.’ Malone explains ‘Niggard of question,’ slow to begin conversation. Clarke -over-ingeniously: ‘Sparing of speech when questioned, but of demands respecting ourselves he was very free in return.’ Clar. Press: ‘Perhaps they did not intend to give a correct account of the interview.’ The courtiers between them try to piece out an account, which willll not discredit them, of an unsuccessful interview; Rosencrantz would suggest that they have not wholly failed; Guildenstern that this was in spite of much difficulty. They wish to turn off any inquiry as to Hamlet’s sharp examination of them and his discovery that they were sent for.”