Line 2547 - 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 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary
| 2547 And when you are desirous to be blest, | 3.4.171 |
|---|
1772 A Rat (SJC)
A Rat (SJC)
2547-8 And . . . you] A Rat (St. James’s Chronicle, No. 1836, Nov.19-21: 2): “This, surely, without any forced Construction, may thus be explained: ‘And when there is that Reformation in your Manners, and that Repentance of your former Crimes, which they so loudly call for; when you shew, by your sincere and unfeigned Abhorrence of the past, and your strict Regard and Attention to your future Conduct, that you ardently wish for Reconciliation both with God and Man, and are, as the Poet strongly expresses it, desirous to be blest, I shall then esteem and reverence you as a Parent, and regarding you in that Light, shall think your Blessing essential to my Happiness;’ intimating hereby, a Suspicion of its Inefficacy whilst she remained in that Stage of Reprobation her unexpiated Crimes had plunged her into.”
1772 Johnson (SJC)
Johnson (SJC)
2547-8 And . . . you] Ben Johnson (St. James’s Chronicle, No. 1836, Nov.19-21: 4): “In this scene, Hamlet acts consistently with his Character and his Situation; a Sense of Religion and filial Piety make up the greatest Part of his Composition; he loves his Mother, and would wish her Blessing, but he sees, in her present State of Guilt, she has no Claim to being blest herself, and it would be Folly and Mockery to his distressed Mother, to desire her to pray to God to bless him. . . . Nothing which precedes the Passage in Question warrants the Alteration; and for Hamlet to say, ‘. . . I’ll blessing ask for you,’ is assuming and presumptuous: Why is Hamlet to ask a Blessing for his Mother? and what Custom warrants such an Intercession from a Son for a Parent? But the Blessing of Parents to Children has ever been received where any Religion has prevailed to be of Efficacy. I would therefore leave the Passage as it stands at present.”
1784 Davies
Davies
2547-8 when . . . you] Davies (1784, p. 109): “That is: ‘When I perceive in you the true signs of penitence, I shall then, and not till then, desire your prayers for me.’”
1791- rann
rann
2547 desirous to be blest] Rann (ed. 1791-): “discover any symptoms of true contrition.”
1805 Seymour
Seymour
2547-8 when . . . you] Seymour (1805, p. 190): “The being desirous to be blest will shew contrition, and constitute a state of grace, and consequently will render you fit to bestow a blessing on me.”
1819 cald1
cald1
2547-8 And . . . you] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “When you are desirous to receive a blessing from heaven (which you cannot, seriously, till you reform) I will beg to receive a blessing from you.”
1832 cald2
cald2 = cald1 +
2547-8 And . . .
you]
Caldecott (ed. 1832): “This passage can receive no better comment than from
Tro. ‘Serv. I hope, I shall know your honour
better. Pand. I do desire it. Serv. You are in the state of grace.’ [3.1.13-15 [1491-93)].”
1839 knt1 (nd)
knt1
2547-8 And . . . you] Knight (ed. [1839] nd): “I, as your son, will ask your blessing, when, by your altered life, you evince your desire to be bless’d.”
1854 del2
del2
2547 blest] Delius (ed. 1854): “blessed, = gesegnet, bedeutet zugleich “fromm, heilig.’” [blessed means pious and holy as well as blessed.]
1873 rug2
rug2
2547 to be blest] Moberley (ed. 1873): “By God.”
1881 hud3
hud3
2547-8 when . . . you] Hudson (ed. 1881): “How beautiful this is! Of course Hamlet means that, when he finds his mother on her knees to God, he will be on his knees to her.”
1891 dtn
dtn
2547-8 And when . . . you] Deighton (ed. 1891): “and when you crave a blessing from heaven, thus showing your contrition, I will ask of you a mother’s blessing.”
1903 rlf3
rlf3 = rlf1 for to be blest
1913 tut2
tut2
2547 when you . . . blest] Goggin (ed. 1913): “i.e. ‘when by repentance you seek Heaven’s blessing.’”
1930 Granville-Barker
Granville-Barker
2547-8 when you are . . . beg of you] Granville-Barker (1930, rpt. 1946, 1: 237): “And if it will comfort her, he will beg a mother’s blessing of her again.”
1931 crg1
crg1
2547 be blest] Craig (ed. 1931): “become blessed, i.e., repentant.”
1934 cam3
cam3
2547 desirous to be blest] Wilson (ed. 1934): “i.e. truly repentant, and so, ready for Heaven’s blessing.”
1939 kit2
kit2: xrefs.
2547-8 And when . . . you] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “And when you show some sign of wishing for the blessing of heaven, I will be once more your dutiful son and ask your blessing at parting, as I used to do. Cf. [1.3.53, 57, 81 (518, 522, 546)].”
1947 cln2
cln2
2547 desirous to be blest] Rylands (ed. 1947): “(viz. by heaven) penitent.”
1974 evns1
evns1 ≈ crg1
2547 desirous . . . blest] Evans (ed. 1974): “i.e. repentant.”
1980 pen2
pen2
2547 when you . . . of you] Spencer (ed. 1980): “that is, I shall not ask for your blessing (as a son would normally do on departure) until you are repentant and seek God’s blessing).”
1988 bev2
bev2
2547 when . . . you] Bevington (ed. 1988): “i.e., when you are ready to be penitent and seek God’s blessing, I will ask your blessing as a dutiful son should (on the occasion of departure).”
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2: KL, Cor //
2547 And. . . you] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “See KL 5.3.10-11: ’When thou dost ask me blessing I’ll kneel down / And ask of thee forgiveness.’ In both instances Shakespeare draws on the assumption that it would be normal or proper for a child to kneel to ask blessing of a parent rather than vice versa. See also Cor 5.3.187, where the sight of Volumnia kneeling to her son is described as ’unnatural’.”
2007 ShSt
Stegner: 2493, 2532-3, Morris xref
2547-48 Stegner (2007, p. 119-20): <119> “The most explicit association of Hamlet with a father confessor occurs in the closet scene with Gertrude. His determination to confront his mother with her sins in many ways corresponds to the traditional instilling of shame in an unrepentant sinner. Further, the Ghost commands Hamlet to "step between her and her fighting Soul ... Speak to her," and thereby take on the part of a spiritual mediator (3.4.113-15). The similarities between Hamlet’s treatment of Gertrude and the </119><120> sacrament of confession lead Harry Morris to conclude that Hamlet "uses directly the terms of the sacrament: ’Confess yourself to heaven [confession], / Repent what’s past [contrition], avoid what is to come [satisfaction]’" (3.4.151-52). (58) Yet Hamlet’s remark, "And when you are desirous to be blest, / I’ll blessing beg of you," suggests not only a deferral of the rite of absolution, but also an indeterminacy regarding the agency of who will bless (that is, absolve) Gertrude (3.4.173-74). The question of whether he means himself, God, or even a minister remains unclear, and thus registers the theological uncertainties that govern the world of the play.”</120>
2547