Notes for lines 2023-2950 ed. Frank N. Clary
| 2845 The ratifiers and props of euery word, 2845 | 4.5.106 |
|---|
1733 theo1
theo1: Warburton
2845 word] Warburton (apud Theobald, ed. 1733): “The whole Tenour of the Context is sufficient to shew, that this is a mistaken Reading. What can Antiquity and Custom, being the Props of Words, have to do with the Business in hand? Or what Idea is convey’d by it? Certainly, the Poet wrote: ‘The Ratifiers and Props of ev’ry Ward’; The Messenger is complaining, that the riotous Head had over-born the King’s Officers, and then subjoins, that Antiquity and Custom were forgot, which were the Ratifiers and Props of every Ward, i.e. of every one of those Securities that Nature and Law place about the Person of a King. All this is rational and consequential. Mr. Warburton.”
1733- mtby3
mtby3: contra Warburton
2845 word] Thirlby (1733-), re Warburton’s note in Theobald (ed. 1733): “ridiculous. . . . . I think Dr Bunbury told me that Mr Kinsman of Bury supposed v. 17 &18 fsql [low-level probability] weal np [not good].”
Transcribed by BWK, who adds: “Several of these words are unclear, but weal for word is the conj. that could be recorded.”
1733-47 mBrowne
mBrowne: warb
2845 word] Browne (ms. notes in Warburton, ed. 1747): “W. ward i.e. of every one of those Securitys which nature and Law place about the person of a King.[. . .] ward sometimes means a District under a particular government and may in this sense be the right word.”
EOW transcription, supervised by ECR (BL Ms 0.12.575).
1747-53 mtby4
mtby4
2845 word] Thirlby (1747-53): “fsql weal np.”
mtby4
2845-7 Thirlby (1747-53): “They cry—king Th’artificers &c shops of every ward With caps, hands, tongues (illegible Caps &c. illegible) applaud &c.”
Transcribed by BWK, who explains, “the lines should be 2846, 2845, 2847, but in his note at the bot. of 227, he changes the two main words in 2845: Th’ artificers & stops of every ward.”
1765 Heath
Heath: contra warb
2845 word]
H
eath (1765, pp.544-545): <p.544> “Thus Mr. Warburton hath thought proper to alter the text; but, as the word,
ward, signifies, either a guard, or a fence, the ratifiers of a fence, or the props of a guard, are expressions which manifest so glaring a confusion of metaphor, as this gentleman himself would, on any other occasion, make no scruple of pronouncing to be nonsense. The common reading was, ‘The ratifiers and props of every word.’ By word is here meant a declaration or proposal; and it is determined to this sense by the necessary reference it hath to what had just preceded, ‘—the rabble call him lord.’ This acclamation, which is the word here spoken of, the poet observes was make without the least regard to antiquity, or received custom, whose concurrence however, in matters where the right of government is concerned, is necessarily required to confer some degree of validity and stability on every proposal of this kind; since, without it, no establishment of any kind could be made or supported, but every thing would be perpetually involved in a </p.544> <p.545> continual series of confusion. This being the idea enquired after by Mr. Warburton, we have no farther occasion for the emendation he substituted to supply the want of it.” <p.545>
1765 john1
john1 = warb +
2845 The ratifers . . . word] Johnson (ed. 1765): “With this emendation, which was in Theobald’s edition, Hanmer was not satisfied. It is indeed harsh. Hanmer transposes the lines, and reads, ‘They cry, Chuse we Laertes for our King; The ratifiers and props of ev’ry word, Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds.
“I think the fault may be mended at less expense, by reading, ‘Antiquity forgot, custom not known, The ratifiers and props of ev’ry weal.’
“That is, of every government.”
1765 john2
john2 = john1 +
2845 word] Heath (apud Steevens, Appendix to 2nd ed., 1765 [Ll3v]): “By word is here meant a declaration, or proposal; it is determined to this sense, by the reference it hath to what had just preceded, ‘The rabble call him lord.’ This acclamation, which is the word spoken of, was made without regard to antiquity, or received custom, whose concurrence, however, is necessarily required to confer validity and stability in every proposal of this kind. REVISAL.”
Thirlby suggests weal for word in mtby4, but with “np” indicating that he is not pleased with it.
1766 Tyrwhitt
Tyrwhitt: han, warb, john
2845 word] Tyrwhitt (1766, p. 24): “Sir T. Hanmer would transpose the two last lines. Dr. Warburton proposes to read, word; and Mr. Johnson, weal, instead of word. I should be rather for reading, work.”
1773 JEN
jen: Heath, warb, theo, john
2845 word]
Jennens (ed. 1773): “By
word is here meant a declaration or proposal.
Heath in loc.
W. conjectures
ward, i.e. securities that nature and law place about the king; followed by
T. and
J.”
Citation based on Heath’s Revisal as it appears is in Appendix.
1773 v1773
v1773 = Tyrwhitt
2845 word] Tyrwhitt (apud ed. 1773): “Sir T. Hanmer would transpose the two last lines. Dr. Warburton proposes to read, ward; and Mr. Johnson, weal, instead of ward. I should be rather for reading, work. Observations and Conjectures, &c. printed at Oxford 1766.”
1773+ mDavies
mDavies
2845 The ratifiers . . . word] [Davies] (ms. notes in Johnson, ed. 1765): “The word ward certainly includes in all general signification an idea of Govt. — The Warder of ye cinque ports, the Governor of ye cinque ports —Such a person is a ward, that is he [is omitted?] under ye care & management of another.
“The Ward of Faringdon will [?] is a District in ye City under proper regulation—ward is likewise part of a lock corresponding to a key—Here it seems to mean every goverment or Distruct or in ye larger [sense?] ev’tu well establish’d society.”
Transcribed by BWK. Brackets are hers.
1778 v1778
v1778 = v1773 +
2845 word] Tollet (apud Steevens (ed. 1778): “In the first folio there is only a comma at the end of the above line; and will not the passage bear this construction?—The rabble call him lord, and as if the world were now to begin, and as if the ancient custom of hereditary succession were unknown, they, the ratifiers and props of every word he utters, cry, Let us make choice, that Laertes shall be king. Tollet.”
Adjusted references for two items in v1773: Tyrwhitt is substituted for title “Observations and Conjectures, &c, printed at Oxford 1766” and “Dr. Johnson” is substituted for “Mr. Johnson.”
1784 ays1
ays1 ≈ theo1 (warb conj. only)
2845 word] Ayscouth (ed. 1784): “i.e. of every one of those securities that nature and law place about the person of a king.”
1784 Davies
Davies: warb
2845 The ratifiers . . . word] Davies (1784, p. 124): “The explanation of this line, by Dr. Warburton, who connects it with the two preceding lines, seems preferable to any other. The word ward is taken from the division of a city into wards or districts of government.”
1790 mWesley
mWesley: john, Tollet
2845 word] Wesley (ms. notes in v1785): “(J. reads ‘every weal’; Tollet retains ‘word.’) I like either this, or Johnson’s reading.”
1790 mal
mal = tyrwhitt, tollet (apud v1785) +
2845 ratifiers . . . word] Malone (ed. 1790): “This construction might certainly be admitted, and the ratifiers and props of every word might be understood to be applied to the rabble mentioned in a preceding line; but there is no authority for what Mr. Tollet adds, ‘of every word he [i.e. Laertes] utters,’ for the poet has not described Laertes as having uttered a word. If therefore the rabble are called the ratifiers and props of every word, we must understand, ‘of every word uttered by themselves:’ which is so tame, that it would be unjust to our poet to suppose that to have been his meaning. Ratifiers, &c. refer not to the people, but to custom and antiquity, which the speaker says are the true ratifiers and props of every word. The last word however of the line may well be suspected to be corrupt; and Mr. Tyrwhitt has probably suggested the true reading. Malone.”
1791- rann
rann
2845 of euery word] Rann (ed. 1791-): “every acclamation, like that here spoken of, the calling Laertes ‘Lord’—of every work, like that of choosing a king; such declaration, or such election, he says, was in defiance of that ancient usage, which is requisite to give validity to the proceedings.”
1793 v1793
v1793 = mal, Heath (apud v1785)
1805 Chedworth
Chedworth: mal
2845 ratifiers and props . . . word] Chedworth (1805, p. 357): “I think with Mr. Malone that ratfiers and props refer not to the people, but to custom and antiquity. The meaning of word I do not guess. Perhaps it is a corruption.”
1815 Becket
Becket
2845 word]
Becket (1815, 1: 64-5): <p.64> “There is not the least occasion for change. ‘Word’ is here
authority,
command. Read, </p.64><p.65> ‘The rabble call him lord:—And as the world were now but to begin, Antiquity forgot, custom not known,— (The ratifiers and props of every word)—They cry choose we: Laertes shall be king.’ i.e. ‘The rabble hail him lord: and as though antiquity and custom (which are the ratifiers and props of all authority) were wholly forgotten;—They cry, Laertes shall be King.’” </p.65>
1819 cald1
cald1
2845 word] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “Word is term, and means appellation or title; as lord used before, and king afterwards: and in its more extended sense, must import ‘every human establishment.’ The sense of this passage is,—’As far as antiquity ratifies and custom makes every term, denomination, or title known, they run counter to them, by talking, when they mentioned kings, of their right of chusing and of saying who shall be king or sovereign.’”
1821 v1821
v1821 = v1813
idle word, cry Choose we,’ &c.”
1854 del2
del2: Tyrwhitt (1766) conj.
2845 ratifiers . . . word] Delius (ed. 1854): “Dass the ratifiers and props etc. Apposition zu antiquity und custom sind, ist klarer, als was every word hier bedeutet, was “jedes Wort,” das altes Herkommen und Sitte gültig erklären und stützen müssen, sein soll. Tyrwhitt wollte dafür work lesen.” [That the ratifiers and props etc. stand in apposition to antiquity and custom is clearer than what every word means here, what every word that must correctly explain and support old tradition and custom should be. Tyrwhitt would read work for it.]
1856b sing2
sing2 = sing1, Tyrwhitt + Tro. //
2845 word] Singer (ed. 1856): “Mr. Tyrwhitt would read work instead of word. The reader may compare the speech of Ulysses on tradition in Tro. [1.3.78-137 (537-97)].”
1857 fieb
fieb
2845 ratifiers . . . word] Fiebig (ed. 1857): “Ratifiers and props refer to custom and antiquity, which the speaker says are the true ratifiers and props of every word. The last word, however, of the line has been suspected to be corrupted, for which cause they have proposed to read work instead of word. But any alteration of the text appears to be a corruption, for by word is here meant a declaration or proposal. It is determined to this sense, by the inference it has to what had just preceded: ‘The rabble call him lord.’ This acclamation, which is the word here spoken of, was made without regard to antiquity, or received custom, whose concurrence, however, is necessarily required to confer validity and stability into every proposal.—Prop means support, that on which any thing rests; as to prop means to sustain, to support.”
1866 Elze
Elze: contra cam1, john, warb, Tyrwhitt + magenta underlined
2845 Elze (Athenæum, No. 2024, Aug. 11, 1866, p. 186): “I cannot let this opportunity pass by without laying before the readers of the Athenæum another conjecture, which I have already proposed in my edition, page 230, but which has been overlooked by the learned Cambridge editors. [4.5.106 (2845)] we read: ‘The ratifiers and props of every word.’ As no appropriate sense can be made out of ‘the ratifiers and props of every word’ (though, as far as I know, this is the unanimous reading of the old editions), Warburton has conjectured ‘of every ward,’ Johnson ‘of every weal,’ and Tyrwhitt ‘of every work.’ None of these conjectures, however, is a real improvement on the text. I have no doubt that we should read ‘of every worth,’ which would at once remove all difficulty. As far as his worth is concerned, Laertes would indeed be a proper person to be elected king. But the king is not to be choosen, as in the primeval times, for his worthiness along; antiquity and custom come in for their share also; they are ‘the ratifiers and props of every worth.’”
1869 tsch
tsch: Tyrwhitt, john, warb, elze, Elze (Athenæum); xrefs.
2845 euery word] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “Die Lesart: every word, wie allgemein überliefert wird, ist entschieden verwerflich. Tyrwhitt vermuthet work, Johnson weal, Warburton ward, Elze, der in seiner Hamlet-Ausgabe noch word liest, schlug später im Athenaeum Nr. 2024. Aug 11, 1866. vor: worth. Ich halte wont für das Richtige, und verstehe: Als ob alle Geschichte vergessen, das Gewohnheitsrecht, welches jeden Brauch stützt und legalisirt, nicht vorhanden wäre. Wont und custom sind bei Sh. nicht “identisch,” wie man sich aus III. 4. 161. f. überzeugen kann, wo custom und habit als zwei getrennte Begriffe aufgefasst werden. Wont braucht übrigens der Dichter schon I. 4. 6.” [The reading every word, that is generally used, is decidedly false. Tyrwhitt suggests work, Johnson weal, Warburton ward, Elze (who in his Hamlet edition still had word) later (in the Athenaeum Nr. 2024, Aug. 11, 1866) suggested worth. I hold wont to be the correct reading and understand it to mean: As if the story were forgotten and the habit which supports and legalizes the usage not present. Wont and custom are not identical in Shakespeare, as can be seen in 1.2.109f. (291f.)]., where custom and habit are understood as two separated concepts. Furthermore, the poet has already used Wont in [1.4.6 (610)].]
1872 cln1
cln1: han, Tyrwhitt, cap
2845 Clark and Wright (ed. 1872): “Hanmer most unnecessarily transposed these lines, making ‘caps, hands, and tongues ‘the ratifiers and props olf every word.’ For ‘word’ Tyrwhitt proposed, and Capell read ‘work.’ But no change is required.”
1877 v1877
v1877 ≈ Warburton (theo1), john1, Tyrwhitt, capn, Heath, Tollet, cald1, elze, tsch, Blackstone, Coleridge
2845 word]
Furness (ed. 1877): “
Warburton: Certainly Sh. wrote, i.e. the
security that nature and law place upon the person of a king.
Johnson: I think the fault may be mended at less expense, by reading
weal,
i.e. of every government.
Tyrwhitt: I should be rather for reading,
work. Capell, who adopted Tyrwhitt’s conj., says (
Notes, i, 143):
Work is work of such sort as the people were about to proceed to.
Heath (p. 544): By ‘word’ is here meant a declaration or proposal, referring to ‘the rabble call him lord.’
Tollet believed the sense to be ‘the ratifiers and props of every word
he utters.’
Caldecott: ‘Word’ is term, and means appellation or title; as ‘lord’ and ‘king’; in its more extended sense it must import ‘every human establishment.’
Elze (
Athenæum, 11 Aug. ‘66): Read
worth. As far as worth is concerned, Laer. would indeed be a proper person to be elected king. But the king is not chosen for his worthiness; antiquity and custom claim a share also; they are ‘the ratifiers and props of every worth.’
Tschischwitz: I hold
wont to be the true reading [and he so prints it. Ed.] See
Blackstone’s note on I, ii, 109 [n. 291).
Coleridge: Fearful and self-suspicious as I always feel when I seem to see an actor of judgement in Sh., yet I can not reconcile the cool reflection in these lines with the anonymousness, or the alarm, of this Gentleman or Messenger.”
1878 rlf1
2845 of euery word]
Rolfe (ed. 1878): “’Of everything that is to serve as a watchword and shibboleth of the multitude’ (
Schmidt). ‘Ward,’ ‘weal,’ ‘work,’ etc., have been proposed as emendations, but none is necessary.”
1885 macd
macd
2845 euery word] MacDonald (ed. 1885): “Antiquity and Custom.”
1891 dtn
dtn
2845-6 Deighton (ed. 1891): “they, as though it rested with them to ratify or annul, to support or overturn, every proposition, cry, etc.”
1899 ard1
ard1 contra (all emends.)
2845 word] Dowden (ed. 1899): “Ward, weal, and work have been proposed instead of ‘word’; no emendation is required; antiquity and custom are the true ratifiers and props of every word (perhaps in the sense of title); or—less probably—the rabble, ready to make good and to support every word they utter, cry, etc.”
1903 rlf3
rlf3 = rlf1 minus suggested emendations
1904 ver
ver: xref.; JC, Cor., 2H6 //s; Spenser analogue; v1877
2845] Verity (ed. 1904): “‘Antiquity’ and ‘custom’ may be called the sanction and support ‘of every word ‘we use because every word derives from the past and owes its meaning to customary use. The line is a way of emphasising the fact that ‘antiquity’ and ‘custom’ are the very foundation and fabric of society.
“Some interpret word = ‘title’ (referring to Claudius’s). (F.)
“The ‘people’ does not fare in Shakespeare’s plays. We have seen Hamlet’s contempt for its judgment [2.2.434-440 (1479-84)]. One of the main features of JC and Cor. is the representation of the fickleness of the crowd. The popular but constitutional movement of Jack Cade is essentially misrepresented in those scenes of 2H6 which are commonly assigned to Shakespeare; and the misrepresentation is the more remarkable because Holinshed, his usual authority for English history, gives a very different picture. In short, there seems some ground for attributing to Shakespeare a measure of ‘anti-democratic conviction.’ We have it in Spenser; see The Faerie Queene, 1.12.9 (with Kitchin’s note).
“We must remember that in Shakespeare’s time literature, especially the drama, drew its support very largely from the great nobles like Essex and Southampton. Intercourse with these patrons must have influenced considerably the views of writers. A section of the citizen-class was opposed to the stage, and their numbers and hostility increased as Puritanism grew.”
1909 subb
subb contra unnamed editors (e.g., del)
2845 ratifiers . . . word] Subbarau (ed. 1909): “Several editors consider than no emendment is needed [for word], and, construing ‘ratifiers and props’ as appositional to ‘antiquity’ and ‘custom,’ take word to mean title, as ‘lord’ and ‘king’ . . . . I think the words ‘ratifiers and props’ really refer to ‘they’ in the following line.”
1931 crg1
crg1≈ ard1 + magenta underlined
2845 word] Craig (ed. 1931): “probably, title or custom; ward, weal, and work have been suggested as emendations.”
1934 cam3
cam3
2845 The ratifiers . . . word] Wilson (ed. 1934): “This has puzzled all, because they have not seen that ‘word’ (v. G.), as often elsewhere in Sh., means ‘promise, pledge, undertaking.’”
1935 ev2
ev2
2045 ratifiers and props] Hereford (ed. 1935): “‘antiquity’ and ‘custom’ are the ‘ratifiers and props.’ This gentleman is another Polonius.”
1936 cam3b Glossary
cam3b Glossary: xref.
2845 word] Wilson (ed. 1936, Glossary): “(i) motto (v. note); [1.5.110 (795}]; (ii) promise pledge.”
1957 pel1
pel1 ≈ cam3b minus xref.
2845 word] Farnham (ed. 1957): “promise.”
1958 mun
mun
2845 word] Munro (ed. 1958): “The meaning is that, ignorant of precedent, the rabble assumes the right to apply what passes for declared principle (word) in the matter of sovereignty.”
1974 evns1
evns1 = cam3b Glossary
2845 word] Evans (ed. 1974): “pledge, promise.”
1980 pen2
pen2: contra commentators (e.g., ver)
2845 Spencer (ed. 1980): “Traditional practices, inherited from earlier times, are the things which give authority and stability to society. This leisurely comment hardly suits the excited tone of the speech. Editors have often emended word. It may mean ‘pledge, honourable undertakings according to promise’, or ‘oath of allegiance’, or ‘title of rank’. But all these interpretations are strained.”
1982 ard2
ard2: Belleforest; xref.
2846 Choose . . . king] Jenkins (ed. 1982): “Denmark was an elective monarchy and in Belleforest Hamlet himself became king by public proclamation after he had killed his uncle. But this proclamation of Laertes against a reigning monarch is in defiance of all precedent (2843-5).”
1984 chal
chal ≈ cam3b Glossary (first def. minus xref.)
2845 word] Wilkes (ed. 1984): “motto, slogan
1985 cam4
cam4
2845 Edwards (ed. 1985): “Tradition (‘Antiquity’) and custom should ratify and support everything we say.”
1988 bev2
bev2 ≈ cam4 without attribution
2845 Bevington (ed. 1988): “i.e., antiquity (or tradition) and custom ought to confirm (ratify) and underprop our every word or promise.”
1993 dent
dent
2845 Andrews (ed. 1993): “The basis and support for every pledge and compact in civilized society.”
2006 ard3q2
ard3q2: OED
2845 Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “i.e. Antiquity and custom guarantee and support every word (OED’s first use of ratifier ).”
2845