HW Home	Previous CN	View CN	View TNM	View TNI	Next CN

Line 2737 - 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 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary

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

2737 {Craues} <Claimes> the conueyance of a promisd march	4.4.3

1747-53 mtby4

mtby4

2737 conueyance] Thirlby (1747-53): “fsql convenience np fnm.”

1755 Johnson Dict.

Johnson Dict.

2737 conueyance ] Johnson (1755): 1. “the act of removing anything.”

2. “way for carriage or transportation.”

3. “the method of removing secretly from one place to another.”

4. “the means of instrument by which anything is conveyed.”

5. “transmission; delivery from one to another.”

6. “act of transferring property; grant.”

7. “writing by which property is transferred.”

8. “secret management; juggling artifice; private removal; secret substitution of one thing for another.”

1784 Davies

Davies

2737-8 Craues . . . his kindome] Davies (1784, p. 121): “That is: ‘Tell the King, that we now claim the performance of his promise; which is, leave to march, unmolested, an army through his dominions.’”

1791- rann

rann ≈ Davies

2737 Craues . . . his kindome] Rann (ed. 1791-): “Claims the performance of his promise to permit his forces to march unmolested through his territories.”

1805 Seymour

Seymour

2737 conueyance] Seymour (1805, p. 194): “‘Conveyance,’ here, seems to mean, convoiance, protection during the march.”

1819 cald1

cald1

2737 conueyance . . . march] Caldecott (ed. 1791): “The way or means of, leave of passage for.”

1821 v1821

v1821

2737 Craues] Boswell (ed. 1821): “Claims agrees better with promise. Boswell.”

1822 Nares

Nares: Wiv., 1H6, R2 //s; Todd

2737 conueyance] Nares (1822, glossary, convey): “A more decent term for to steal; as Ancient Pistol learnedly distinguishes. ‘Convey, the wise it call. Steal!—foh, a fico for the phrase!’ Wiv. [1.3.29-30 (325-6)] Hence also conveyance is used for dishonesty, and a conveyer for a robber. Since Henry’s death, I fear there is conveyance.’ 1H6 [1.3.2 (361)] ‘Oh good, convey! Conveyers are you all, that rise thus nimbly by a true king’s fall.’ R2. [4.1.316, 317 (2241, 2242)]. A conveyancer is different. See Todd.”

1832 cald2

cald2 = cald1 +

2737 conueyance . . . march] Caldecott (ed. 1832): “an army on march, as promised.”

1854 del2

del2

2737 Craues] Delius (ed. 1854): Claims] “So die Fol. Die Herausgeber lesen meisst mit den Qs.: Craves, weniger gut, da Fortinbras den Durchmarsch durch Dänmark nach den Verträgen ‘in Anspruch nehmen’ konnte.” [The Folio edition has it this way. Most editors read the passage with the Quartos: Craves, a poorer reading because Fortinbras could march through Denmark in accordance with the treaty.]

del2: xref.

2737 conueyance] Delius (ed. 1854): “Vgl. A. 2, Sc. 2. Was dort quiet pass hiess, ist hier conveyance.” [See [2.2.77 (1102)]. What is called quiet pass there is here conveyance.]

1857 fieb

fieb

2737 Craues] Fiebig (ed. 1857): “Thus the quartos. The folio—Claims. To crave means to ask with earnestness, to call for importunately.”

fieb ≈ del (xref.)

2737 conueyance] Fiebig (ed. 1857): “By conveyance, Fortinbras means what Voltimand has called quiet pass; see p. 60, [2.2.77 (1102)].”

1864a glo

glo: Nares (1H6 //)

2737 conueyance] Clark and Wright (ed. 1864a [1865] 9: glossary, Conveyance): “sb. theft, fraud. 1H6. [1.3.2 (361)].”

1869 tsch

tsch

2737 Craues] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “Beansprucht das Geleit eines ihm zugesagten Durchzugs. Das Heer des Fremden musste die ihm vorgeschriebene Route inne halten, weshalb die Begleitung dänischer Truppen nöthig war. Die Q. i. liest daher: craves a free passe and conduct over his land. In to crave liegt durchaus keine ü b e r t r i e b e n e U n t er w ü r f i g k e i t , da ags. crafjan einfach “fordern” ist, und das Wort mit “craven, Feigling” nichts gemein hat. Da auch Q1 in Uebereinstimmung mit Q2 craves liest, empfiehlt sich nur diese Lesart zur Aufnahme.” [The escort assures him of a promised passage. The foreign army must keep to the prescribed route, hence the accompaniment of Danish troops was necessary. Q1 therefore has craves a free passe and conduct over his land. In to crave there is absolutely no excessive subjection, since Anglo-Saxon crafjan means simply request and has nothing in common with craven (coward). Since Q1 and Q2 agree on having craves, this is the only reading that deserves acceptance.]

1872 del4

del4 = del2

1885 macd

macd: Q1 xref.

2737 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “‘claims a convoy in fulfillment of the king’s promise to allow him to march over his kingdom.’ The meaning is made plainer by the correspondent passage in Q1: [quotes Q1CLN 1672-7].”

1890 irv2

irv2: xref.

2737 Craues] Symons (Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “Claims] Ff. here read Claims, all the Qq. Craves. The readings have been pretty equally followed by the editors: it seems to me that the former is in every way preferable. For one thing, claims agrees better than craves with the expression in the previous line, by his license. [4.4.2 (2736)].”

1891 dtn

dtn

2737-8 Craues . . . kingdome] Deighton (ed. 1891): “desires that, according to promise, he may be allowed to transport his forces across Denmark.”

1906 nlsn

nlsn ≈ cln1 minus 1H6 //

2737 conueyance] Neilson (ed. 1906, glossary): “trickery.”

1913 tut2

tut2: xref.

2737 promisd march] Goggin (ed. 1913): “see [2.2.77 (1102)], where the King does not promise, but says that he will think over the matter. How does Fortinbras arrive so soon after the ambassadors?”

1929 trav

trav

2737 Craues] Travers (ed. 1929): “expresses urgent need of the performing of the promise and thus humility, the formal expression of which would not be lost on Claudius. Not so, ‘claims’ (F).”

1931 crg1

crg1

2737 conueyance] Craig (ed. 1931): “escort, convoy.”

1934 Wilson

Wilson: xref.

2737 Craues] Wilson (1934, rpt. 1963, 1:59): <1:59> “Fortinbras speaks politely; after all that has happened at the beginning of the play, he is a suspect character in Denmark; he ‘craves’ therefore. F1, however, makes him talk in a more peremptory vein [[quotes F1 version with “Claimes”]]. It might be thought that the change is just one of those little chance substitutions of which the F1 Hamlet is full. But it is something more; for it is linked with two lines which belong to Fortinbras at [5.2.389-90 (3885-6)]: ‘I haue some rights, of memory in this kingdome, Which now to clame my vantage doth mute me.’ Once again the repetition of a word by Shakespeare, the word ‘kingdom.’ has acted like a sort of memory-hook. ‘Kingdome’ and ‘claim’ have become associated, and so when ‘kingdom’ occurs in an earlier speech in another scene by the same character, ‘claims’ asserts itself and thrusts the more polite ‘craves’ aside.” </1:59>

1937 pen1

pen1

2737 conueyance] Harrison (ed. 1937): “permission to convey.”

1939 kit2

kit2: xref.

2737 conueyance] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “escort. Danish heralds would accompany the troops of Fortinbras to certify that they come marching through the kingdom by royal license (see [2.2.77-80 (1102-5)]).”

1942 n&h

n&h

2737 conueyance of] Neilson & Hill (ed. 1942): “command.”

1947 cln2

cln2 ≈ crg1

2737 conueyance ] Rylands (ed. 1947): “convoy, conduct.”

1957 pel1

pel1 ≈ crg1

2737 conveyance] Farnham (ed. 1957): “escort.”

1974 evns1

evns1 ≈ pel1

2737 conueyance of] Evans (ed. 1974): “escort for.”

1980 pen2

pen2 ≈ evns1

2737 the conueyance of] Spencer (ed. 1980): “escort during.”

pen2 ≈ kit2 (xref.)

2737 promisd] Spencer (ed. 1980): “previously agreed.([2.2.77-8 (1102-3)], where a favourable answer to the Norwegian request is implied).”

1982 ard2

ard2: Sjogren, Dollerup; xrefs.

2737-8 the conveyance . . . kingdom] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “Cf. [2.2.77-8 (1102-3)], which explains licence [4.4.2 (2736)] and promis’d. The conveyance is not merely the carrying out of the promise but the ‘conducting’ of the marchers (Q1, ‘free passe and conduct’ With Fortinbras’s march over Denmark the play seems to place Denmark between Norway and Poland. Cf. LNN on [1.1.63 (79), 2.1.7 (898)]. The Elizabethan geography of those parts is often confused. Fynes Moryson thought that Elsburg (=Helsingborg), across the strait from Elsinore, was ‘in the kingdom of Norway’ (Itinerary, 1907, 1.124), and if Shakespeare thought the same, the heightened proximity of Norway might, as G. Sjogren remarks (Sh.Jahr., c-ci, 272), ‘explain the invasion scare’ of [1.1.95-107 (112-124)]. On the other hand Belleforest locates the Hamlet story in Jutland, observing that this projects into the sea which has Norway on its northern shore; and if some recollection of the earlier venue stayed with Shakespeare even while he transferred the scene to Elsinore, it might help him to envisage a Norwegian army crossing Jutland as it moved south (cf. Dollerup, pp. 94-6). But it is not profitable to seek geographical precision for what Shakespeare is content to leave vague. The play is consistent with itself in making Fortinbras plan an invasion of Denmark [1.1.95ff., 1.2.17ff. (112ff., 195ff.)], switch his troops against Poland [2.2.64ff. (1089ff.)], proceed there by way of Denmark, and return the same route [5.2.350 (3839)]. The shipbuilding of [1.1.75 (91)] acknowledges that a Norwegian invasion would be by sea, and if we think of Fortinbras now as having just disembarked, a meeting between him and Hamlet, who is about to put to sea, [4.3.53-55 (2716-20)], is plausible enough.”

1984 chal

chal: xref.

2737 conueyance] Wilkes (ed. 1984): “[2.2.77 (1102)].”

1984 klein

klein: Wilson, parc; H5 , 2H6, Oth. //s; Q1 xref.; Schmidt, Onions

2737 Craues] Klein (ed. 1984): “Wilson (MSH, p.58f.) explains F1 Claimes as an anticipatory recollection of [5.2.350f. (3839f.)]. on the part of the copytext’s scribe (also kingdom figures there); Parrott/Craig see it as an arbitrary change. Craves could be vb. (1) ’to demand (a thing); to ask authoritatively’ (only ME examples), much more likely it is the polite (2) ’to beg for ( a thing), esp. as a gift or favour’, cf. H5 [1.1.92 (135)], 2H6 [4.5.4 (2604)], etc. conveyance here is not “grant” (Schmidt) but “convoy, conduct” (Wilson after Onions) viz. “escort” (Kittredge), thus sb. (1); cf. in Sh. Oth. [1.3.236 (584)]. Q1 clinches the issue: Craues a free passe and conduct ouer his land (G4v).”

1987 oxf4

oxf4 ≈irv2 without attribution

2737 Craves] Hibbard (ed. 1987): Claimes] “This F reading is more in keeping with Fortinbras’s character and with the legalistic phrasing of the sentence than is Q2’s Craves.”

1988 bev2

bev2 ≈ evns1

2737 the conueyance of] Bevington (ed. 1988): “escort during.”

1997 evns2

evns2 = evns1

1998 OED

OED

2737 conueyance] OED (Sept. 15, 1998): “b. The written instrument or document by which this transference is effected.

“1576 FLEMING Panopl. Epist. 240 Your father left you nothing either by deede of gift, testament, or any other conveyance. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet 31 These Martins make the Scriptures a Scriueners-shop to drawe conueyances. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. V. i. 119 The very conueyances of his Lands will hardly lye in this Boxe. 1626 SIR S. D’EWES Jrnls. (1783) 35 All particulars to bee inserted into the marriage-conveyance. 1679-88 Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden) 65 To Daniel Storer, for copying and ingrossing the conveyances made by Sir Wm Poultney and others of the ground and houses bought by his said late Majesty to enlarge St. James Parke. 1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 309 [Deeds] used in the alienation of real estates..are commonly denominated conveyances. 1877 DOWDEN Shaks. Primer ii. 26 His brother Gilbert received the conveyance for him. Mod. (Indorsement of purchase-deed or draft), Conveyance of message and hereditaments at Stoke in the county of X.”

2006 ard3q2

ard3q2: Branagh, Sewell

2737 Craves] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “F’s ’Claimes’ is defended by Hibbard as more appropriate to the character of Fortinbras and his use of legalistic language here, and this reading is chosen by productions which present a strong, macho Fortinbras. Certainly it is a little strange that he should ’crave’ something he has already been promised, but, as a ’chillingly calm’ Fortinbras in Branagh’s 1996 film, Rufus Sewell spoke the line menacingly, as if ’craves’ were merely a diplomatic euphemism (Branagh, 120).”

ard3q2

2737 conveyance] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “granting or fulfillment (of a promise). Some editors, influenced by Q1’s ’Craues a free passe and conduct’, argue that it means ’escort’.”