Line 2740 - Commentary Note (CN) 
Commentary notes (CN):
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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
| 2740 We shall expresse our dutie in his eye, 2740 | 4.4.6 |
|---|
1793 v1793
v1793: Establishment of the Household, andThe Regulations for the Government analolgues
2740 in his eye] Steevens (ed. 1793): “So, in Ant.: ‘—tended her i’the eyes.’ In his eye, means, in his presence. The phrase appears to have been formularly. See The Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry, A.D. 1610: ‘Also the gentleman-usher shall be careful to see and informe all such as doe service in the Prince’s eye, that they perform their dutyes’ &c. Again, in The Regulations for the Government of the Queen’s Household, 1627: ‘—all such as doe service in the Queen’s eye.’ Steevens.”
1819 Jackson
Jackson: contra Steevens
2740 in his eye] Jackson (1819, p. 356-7): “i.e. In his presence. I should not have deemed an explanation of this passage necessary, but that the example from Ant., as introduced by Mr. Steevens, is inadmissible here: ‘tended her i’the eyes,’ alludes to the eyes connected with the rigging of a ship. See my notes on Ant.”
1826 sing1
sing1 ≈ v1793 (abbrev.)
2740 in his eye] Singer (ed. 1826): “Eye for presence. In the Regulations for the establishment of the Queen’s Household, 1627:—‘All such as doe service in the queen’s eye.’ And in The Establishment of Prince Henry’s Household, 1610:—‘All such as doe service in the prince’s eye.’ It was the formulary for the royal presence.”
1854 del2
del2
2740-1 let him know so] Delius (ed. 1854): “let bezieht sich auf we = wir lassen ihn das wissen. Andere fassen let als Imperativ und setzen demnach hinter eye ein Semikolon.” [let belongs to we and means we make him know it. Others read let as an imperative and put a semicolon after eye.]
del2
2740 in his eye] Delius (ed. 1854): “‘vor seinem Angesichte.’” [to his face.]
1856 hud1 (1851-6)
hud1 = sing1 minus “Eye for presence.” without attribution
Abbreviated version of sing1 comment may be traced to Steevens (v1793).
1857 fieb
fieb = v1793 minus Ant. // for in his eye (2740)
1861 wh1
wh1 ≈ v1793 (Ant. //)
2740 in his eye] White (ed. 1861): “i.e., before his face. So in Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)], ‘Her gentlewomen . . . tended her i’ th’ eyes.’”
1865 hal
hal = v1793, minus Ant. //
1868 c&mc
c&mc ≈ sing without attribution
2740 in his eye]
Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1868, rpt. 1878): “‘In his presence.’ The expression in the text was according to a state formula used in Shakespeare’s time; since it is found in “The Regulations for the Government of the Queen’s Household” (1627)—’All such doe service
in the queen’s eye’; and in “The Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry” (1610)—’All such as doe service
in the prince’s eye.’”
1872 cln1
cln1: v1793 (Ant. //) + magenta underlined
2740 in his eye] Clark and Wright (ed. 1872): “in his presence. Compare [1.2.116 (298)], and Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)]: ‘Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i’ the eyes.’ And TN 2.1.14-5 (671)]: ‘If it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your eye.’”
1877 v1877
v1877 ≈ v1793; xref.
2740 in his eye]
Furness (ed. 1877): “
Steevens: Compare
Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)]. The phrase appears to have been formularly for the royal presence. See
The Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry, 1610: ‘Also the gentleman-usher shall be careful to see and informe all such as doe service
in the Prince’s eye, that they perform their dutyes’ &c. Again, in
The Regulations for the Government of the Queen’s Household, 1627: ‘—all such as doe service in the Queen’s eye.’ [See [4.7.44-5 (3055-6)].]”
1877 neil
neil
2740 eye] Neil (ed. 1877): “presence, in reference to superiors.”
1878 rlf1
rlf1: v1793, v1877 (xref.)
2740 in his eye] Rolfe (ed. 1878): “In his presence; especially used of the royal presence (Steevens). Cf. Ant. 2. 2. 212: ‘tended her i’ the eyes,’ etc. Steevens quotes The Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry, 1610: ‘all such as doe service in the Queen’s eye.’ F. refers to [4.7.45 (3056)] below.”
1881 hud3
hud3 = hud2 + magenta underlined
2740 We shall expresse . . . eye] Hudson (ed. 1881): “Fortinbras means, ‘I will wait upon his presence, and pay my respects to him.’”
1883 wh2
wh2 ≈ neil
2740 in his eye] White (ed. 1883): “in his presence.”
1885 macd
macd
2740 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “‘we shall pay our respects, waiting upon his person.’”
1889 Barnett
Barnett
2740 in his eye] Barnett (1889, p. 55): “in his sight.”
1890 irv2
irv2 ≈ v1793
2740 in his eye] Symons (Irving & Marshall, ed. 1890): “Compare Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)]: ‘Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i’ the eyes.’ And see Ham. [1.2.116 (298)]. Steevens thinks the expression was the customary formula for ‘in the presence,’ i.e. the royal presence. He cites the expression ‘all such as do service in the Queen’s (Prince’s) eye’ from the Regulations for the Government of the Queen’s Household, 1627, and the Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry, 1610.”
1891 dtn
dtn
2740 Deighton (ed. 1891): “we shall be ready to appear before him in person and do homage to him.”
dtn: v1793 (Ant. //)
2740 in his eye] Deighton (ed. 1891): “Steevens compares Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)], ‘Her gentlewomen . . . tend her i’ the eyes,’ and says ‘the phrase seems to have been a formulary for the royal presence.’”
1899 ard1
ard1: wh2; v1793 (Ant. //); col1
2740 in his eye] Dowden (ed. 1899): “in his presence; Steevens compares Ant. [2.2.206-7 (919-20)]. Collier’s semicolon after eye is meant to make it clear that the words which follow are a direction to the Captain.”
1903 p&c
p&c ≈ irv2 (Establishment analogue)
2740 eye] Porter & clarke (ed. 1903): “The formal phrase for the royal presence: ‘All such as doe service in the Prince’s eye’ (‘The Establishment of the Household of Prince Henry’).”
1903 rlf3
rlf3 = rlf1 for in his eye
1931 crg1
crg1 = wh2
2740 in his eye] Craig (ed. 1931): “in his presence.”
1939 kit2
kit2 ≈ crg1; xref.
2740 in his eye] Kittredge (ed. 1939): “in his royal presence. Cf. [1.2.116 (298)].”
1942 n&h
n&h: standard
2740 eye] Neilson & Hill (ed. 1942): “presence.”
1974 evns1
evns1 = pel1
2740 eye] Evans (ed. 1974): “presence.”
1980 pen2
pen2
2740 in his eye] Spencer (ed. 1980): “by presenting myself (us, the royal plural) personally go before him.”
1982 ard2
ard2
2740 express our duty] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “pay our respects.”
ard2 ≈ kit2 (incl. xref.)
2740 in his eye] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “in his presence. Cf. [1.2.116 (298)] and n.”
1988 bev2
bev2 ≈ ard2
2740 dutie] Bevington (ed. 1988): “respect.”
bev2 = evns1 for presence (2740)
1993 dent
dent ≈ crg1 + magenta underlined
2740 in his eye] Andrews (ed. 1993): “To his face, in his presence. Fortinbrasse’s phrasing hints at effontery. See [4.7.44-45 (3054-55)], where a jaunty Hamlet uses similar language, and compare [2.2.424-25, 573 (1469-70, 1613)].”
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2
2740 express. . . eye] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “’pay our respects in his presence’.”
2740