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Line 2508 - 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 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary

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

2508 Would make them capable, doe not looke vpon me,	3.4.127

1755 Johnson Dict.

Johnson Dict.

2508 capable ] Johnson (1755): 1. “endued with powers equal to any particular thing.”

2. “intelligent; able to understand.”

3. “capacious; able to receive or understand.”

4. “susceptible.”

5. “qualified for; without any natural impediment.”

6. “qualified for; without legal impediment.”

7. “it has the particle of before a noun.”

8. “Hollow. This sense is not now in use.”

1774 capn

capn

2508 capable] Capell (1774, 1:1: glossary, capable): “capability the Power of Perception. Capable, one endu’d with that Power.”

1783 malsii

malsii: R3 //

2508 capable] Malone (1783, p. 58): “Capable here signifies intelligent; endued with understanding. So, in R3 [3.1.154-155 (1740-41)]: ‘—O, ‘tis a parlous boy, Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable.’ We yet use capacity in this sense.”

1790 mal

mal = malsii +

2508 capable] Malone (ed. 1790): “See Vol. VII. p. 122, n. 8. Malone.”

1791- rann

rann

2508 capable] Rann (ed. 1791-): “of perception, sensible, intelligence.”

1793 v1793

v1793 = mal

1803 v1803

v1803 = v1793

1805 Seymour

Seymour: contra mal; xref.

2508 capable] Seymour (1805, p. 188): “‘Capable,’ Mr. Malone says, signifies ‘intelligent;’ I think it only means susceptible, sensible; thus, in [4.7.177-178 (3169-70)]: ‘—She chaunted snatches of old tunes, As one incapable of her own distress.’”

1813 v1813

v1813 = v1803

1819 cald1

cald1 ≈ v1813 + LLL // magenta underlined

2508 capable] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “Capable is intelligent, apt to conceive. See LLL [4.2.78 (1242)] Holo.”

1821 v1821

v1821 = v1813

1826 sing1

sing1 ≈ malsii (incl. R3 //)

2508 capable] Singer (ed. 1826): “Capable for susceptible, intelligent, i.e. would excite in them capacity to understand. Thus in R3 [3.1.154-155 (1740-1)] ‘—O ’tis a parlous boy, Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable.’”

1832 cald2

cald2 = cald1 + Lord analogue

2508 capable] Caldecott (ed. 1832): “‘The woman to whom you had given understanding to be capable of the properness of his speech.’ Lord’s Discourse of the Banians, 4to. 1630, p. 9.”

1853 Dyce (Notes)

Dyce (Notes): mal + Euerie Woman in her Humor analogue magenta underlined

2508 capable] Dyce (1853, p. 143): “For examples of the word ‘capable,’ Malone, it would seem, was obliged to confine himself to the works of Sh. Compare Euerie Woman in her Humor, 1609; ‘Ser. We voide of hostile armes— Hostis. I, if they had had horses, they had sau’d their armes. Ser. Be capable [i.e. be intelligent,—understand me]. I mean, voide of armorie.’ Sig. D4.”

1854 del2

del2

2508 capable] Delius (ed. 1854): “capable ist = zugänglich für Etwas, sowohl im Fühlen, wie im Verstehen; hier also zugänglich für das, was die Gestalt und Sache des Geistes im Verein ihnen predigen würde. - Die folgenden Worte sind wieder an den Geist gerichtet, dessen klägliche Geberde Hamlet’s hartes Vorhaben oder auszuführendes Thun (effect) zu vereiteln im Stande ist.” [capable is to be open to something, in feeling as in understanding; thus here open to hear what the form and circumstance of the ghost together would preach to him.—The following words are again directed to the ghost, whose pitiable gestures are able to keep Hamlet’s harsh intention or deed (effect) from being carried out.]

1856 hud1 (1851-6)

hud1 ≈ sing1 without attribution. minus R3 //

2508 capable] Hudson (ed. 1851-6): “That is, would put sense and understanding into them. The use of capable for susceptible, intelligent, is not peculiar to Sh. H.”

1856b sing2

sing2 = sing1

1857 fieb

fieb = mal

1860 stau

stau ≈ Seymour

2508 capable] Staunton (ed. 1860): “Susceptible.”

1864a glo

glo: KJ, Tro., Lr., Oth. //s

2508 capable] Clark and Wright (ed. 1864a [1865] 9: glossary, Capable): “adj. subject to. KJ [2.1.476 (792)]. Intelligent. Tro. [3.3.307 (2162)]. Capable of inheriting. Lr. [2.1.85 (1024)] Ample, capacious. Oth. [3.3.459 (2109)].”

1865 hal

hal ≈ v1803 (Sidney analogue)

2508 capable] Steevens (apud Halliwell in ed. 1865): “‘Their passions then so swelling in them, they would have made auditors of stones, rather than.’ See Arcadia, lib. v.—Steevens.”

hal ≈ cald2 (incl. LLL //)

2508 capable] Caldecott (apud Halliwell in ed. 1865): “Capable is intelligent, apt to conceive. ‘The woman to whom you had given understanding to be capable of the propernesse of his speech.’ Lord’s Discourse of the Banians, 4to. 1630, p. 9. See lll [5.2.560 (2508)]. Holo.—Caldecott.”

1868 c&mc

c&mc ≈ glo (Kj, Tro. //s)

2508 capable] Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1868, rpt. 1878): “Here used in the combined senses of ‘susceptible’ and of ‘intelligent.’ See Note 3, [2.1.476 (792)] and Note 65, Tro. [3.3.307 (2162)].”

1869 tsch

tsch

2508 capable] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “capable, v. capere, fähig des Begreifens.” [capable from capere, able to seize.]

1872 hud2

hud2 = hud1 minus “That is”

1872 cln1

cln1: AWW //

2508 capable] Clark and Wright (ed. 1872): “capable of feeling, susceptible. Compare AWW [1.1.95 (99)]: ‘Heart too capable Of every line and trick of his sweet favour.”

1875 Marshall

Marshall

2508-11 doe . . . blood] Marshall (1875, p. 52): “These words point to the fact that [Hamlet] had already developed in his mind a distinct counterplot to that treacherous device of the King, the sending him away to England, as we shall see towards the end of the scene.”

1877 v1877

v1877 ≈ Seymour without attribution; xref.

2508 capable] Furness (ed. 1877): “Susceptible, See [3.2.11 (1859)].”

1877 dyce3

dyce3 = dyce2

1878 rlf1

rlf1 ≈ cln1 minus AWW //; v1877 (xref. only) + AYL //; xref. magenta underlined

2508 capable] Rolfe (ed. 1878): “Capable of feeling, susceptible. Cf. AYL [3.5.23 (1794)]: ‘the capable impressure.’ See also [3.2.11 (1859)] above, and cf. incapable=in [3.2.299 (2170)] below.”

1881 hud3

hud3 = hud2

1885 mull

mull ≈ Seymour + magenta underlined

2508 capable] Mull (ed. 1885): “susceptible to understand.”

1889 Barnett

Barnett

2508 capable] Barnett (1889, p. 52): “able to perform.”

1890 irv2

irv2 ≈ mull

2508 capable] Symons (in Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “susceptible.”

1891 dtn

dtn ≈ rlf ( AYL //)

2508 capable] Deighton (ed. 1891): “susceptible, receptive, cp. AYL [3.5.23 (1794)], ‘The cicatrice and capable impressure.’”

1899 ard1

ard1 ≈ v1877

1904 ver

ver ≈ irv2 + Mac. // magenta underlined

2507-8 Verity (ed. 1904): “Cf. Mac. [2.1.58 (638)]. capable, i.e. of feeling; susceptible.”

1906 nlsn

nlsn ≈ irv2 + magenta underlined

2508 capable] Neilson (ed. 1906, glossary): “capacious; susceptible, able, qualified.”

1931 crg1

crg1 = irv2

2508 capable] Craig (ed. 1931): “susceptible.”

1934 rid1

rid1

2508 capable] Ridley (ed. 1934): “i.e. of sensation.”

1934 cam3 Glossary

cam3 ≈ ver + xref. magenta underlined

2508 capable] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): “impressible (like wax), capable of feeling, susceptible; [3.2.11 (1859)].”

1939 kit2

kit2 ≈ ver

2508 capable] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “capable of feeling and emotion.”

1947 cln2

cln2 ≈ kit2

2508 capable] Rylands (ed. 1947): “impressionable, capable of feeling.”

1957 pel1

pel1 = crg1

1974 evns1

evns1

2508 capable] Evans (ed. 1974): “sensitive, receptive.”

1980 pen2

pen2

2508 capable] Spencer (ed. 1980): “(of responding to what he said).”

1982 ard2

ard2 ≈ cam3 (xref. only) + JC //, Luke analogue magenta underlined

2508 capable] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “responsive. Cf. [3.2.11 (1859)]. On the stones, cf. Luke xix.40; JC. [3.2.230 (1767)].”

1984 chal

chal ≈ pen1

2508 capable] Wilkes (ed. 1984): “capable of being affected, of responding.”

1987 oxf4

oxf4: OED

2508 capable] Hibbard (ed. 1987): “capable of feeling, responsive (OED 3c).”

1988 bev2

bev2 ≈ evns1

2508 capable] Bevington (ed. 1988): “receptive.”

1993 dent

dent ≈ cam3 (xref.); ≈ ard2 (Luke analogue); xref.

2508 capable] Andrews (ed. 1993): “Capable of response. In Luke 19:40 Jesus says, ’I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.’ Compare [3.2.11-12 (1859-60)].”

1997 evns2

evns2 = evns1

1998 OED

OED

2508 capable] OED (Sept. 14, 1998): “3. Able or fit to receive and be affected by; open to, susceptible: c. absol. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. 3.4.127: His forme and cause conioyn’d, preaching to stones, Would make them capable.”

2006 ard3q2

ard3q2

2508 capable] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “i.e. of some form of response -- the following lines imply one of sympathy or pity rather than fear or horror as in Act 1.”

ard3q2

2508-10 Do. . . effects] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “It is not clear why the piteous looks of the Ghost should convert Hamlet’s effects (intentions) from being stern to something else: Q1 spells out in more detail the idea that pity would interfere with his revenge.”