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.

1958 mun

mun: xref.

2672+1 Munro (ed. 1958): “Hamlet, however, a prince, would be guarded by a person of rank and Guildenstern’s officiating in this manner, leading up to his and Rosencrantz’s function in conducting Hamlet to England, is part of Hamlet’s case against them. Cf. [5.2.57 (3560)].”

1980 pen2

pen2

2672 Spencer (ed. 1980): SD and all the rest] “(probably, in Shakespeare’s theatre, any extras who could be spared to stand in as courtiers).”

1982 ard2

ard2: Dover Wilson, Granville-Barker, Munro; xrefs.

2672+1 Jenkins (ed. 1982): “In Q2 ‘and all the rest’ must be taken along with ‘They enter’ after 2680, the second entry being really covered by the first. Since Rosencrantz is specified at [4.3.11 (2672)] and Hamlet is brought in by others at [4.3.15 (2680)], the only problem of ‘the rest’ concerns Guildenstern. In leaving Rosencrantz unaccompanied and reducing Hamlet’s escort to Guildenstern alone, Fs economy is at its most ruthless; and its division of this pair—though written into the dialogue, still followed by most editors (with Dover Wilson as a notable exception), and defended by Granville-Barker (Prefaces, iii.126) and Munro—cannot be what Shakespeare envisaged. The pair are never otherwise separated on stage and although only one speaks here, his we in [4.3.13 (2675)] shows that there are as usual two bodies with one voice. The pair enter together to report, while their assistants, in charge of Hamlet, wait without till called for.”

1985 cam4

cam4: xref.

2672-2672+1 Edwards (ed. 1985): “Q2’s addition ‘and all the rest’ must have struck the playhouse scribe as contradicting ‘They enter’ at [4.3.15 (2680)]. As usual, he reduced the crowd, and he made Rosencrantz call for Guildenstern at [4.3.15 (2680)]. I accept F’s view that Guildenstern remains guarding Hamlet.”