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Line 3654, etc. - 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 2951-end ed. Hardin A. Aasand

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

3654-5 kind of {histy} \| <yesty> colection, which carries them through and through

1743 mF3

mF3

3654-5 a kind of histy colection] Anon. (ms. notes in F3, 1734) : “yeasty]] i.e. frothy collection—.”

1747 warb

warb

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Warburton (ed. 1747) : “The metaphor is strangely mangled by the intrusion of the word FOND, which undoubtedly should be read FANN’D; the allusion being to corn separated by the Fan from chaff and dust. But the Editors feeling, from the character of this yesty collection, that the opinions, through which they were so currently carried, were false opinions; and fann’d and winnow’d opinions, in the most obvious sense signifying tried and purified opinions, they thought fanned and winnowed opinions had also a different signification: For it may mean the opinions of great men and courtiers, men separated by their quality from the vulgar, as corn is separated from the chaff. This yesty collection, says Hamlet, insinuates it self into people of the highest Quality, as yest into the finest flower. The courtiers admire him, but when he comes to the trial &c.”

1755 John

John

3654 histy] Johnson (1755, yesty): “adj. [from yest [Saxon, yest, foam, spume, or flower of beer in fermentation; barm.”]] Frothy, spumy. ‘Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Agaisnt the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up.’ [Mac 4.1.53 (1582)].”.

1765 john1

john1 = warb +

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Johnson (ed. 1765) : “This is a very happy emendation, but I know not why the critick should suppose that fond was printed for fann’d in consequence of any reason or reflection. Such errors, to which there is no temptation but idleness, and of which there was no cause but ignorance, are in every page of the old Editions. This passage in the quarto stands thus. They have got out of the habit of encounter, a kind of misty collection, which carries them through and through the most profane and trennowned opinions. If this printer preserved any traces of the original, our authour wrote, the most sane and renowned opinions, which is better than fanned and winnowed. The meaning is, these men haue got the cant of the day, a superficial readiness of slight and cursory conversation, a kind of frothy collection of fashionable prattle, which yet carried them through the most select and approued judgement. This airy facility of talk sometimes imposes upon wise men. Who has not seen this observation verified”

1773 v1773

v1773 = john1

3654 histy]

mSTV1 Mss. notes by STEEVENS in v1773 (Folger Library)

mSTV1 ≈ John (“foam . . . fermentation”)

3654 histy]

1778 v1778

v1778 = v1773 +

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Steevens (ed. 1778) : “Fond is evidently opposed to winnowed. Fond , in the language of Shakespeare’s age, signified foolish. So, in the Merchant of Venice: ‘Thou naughty jailer, why are thou so fond , &c.’ Winnowed is sifted, examined . The sense is then, that their conversation was yet successful enough to make them passable not only with the weak, but with those of sounder judgment. The same opposition in terms is visible in the reading which the quartos offer. Profane or uulgar, is opposed to trenowned, or thrice renowned, STEEVENS”

v1778 = v1773 +

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Tollet (apud Steevens, ed. 1778) : “Fann ‘d and winnow’d seems right to me. Both words winnowed , fand * and drest, occur in Markham’s English Husbandman , p. 117. So do fan’ d and winnow’ d and winnowed in his Husbandry , p. 18. 76, and 77. So Shakespeare mentions together the fan and wind in [Tro. 5.3.41 (3198)] TOLLET”

<n>* “So written without the apostrophe, and easily might in MS. be mistaken for fond </n>

1783 malsii

malsii : see n. 3656

1784 ays1

ays1 ≈ v1778 (only john1 ; from “The meaning is, these . . . upon wise men”)

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1785 v1785

v1785 = v1778

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1787 ann

ann = v1785 (minus Tollet)

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1790 mal

mal = v1785 (minus warb ; john1 modified) + magenta underlined

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]Johnson (apud Malone, ed. 1790) : ““This is a very happy emendation, but I know not why the critick should suppose that fond was printed for fann’d in consequence of any reason or reflection. Such errors, to which there is no temptation but idleness, and of which there was no cause but ignorance, are in every page of the old Editions. This passage in the quarto stands thus: ‘They have got out of the habit of encounter, a kind of misty collection, which carries them through and through the most profane and trennowned opinions.’ If this printer preserved any traces of the original, our authour wrote, the most sane and renowned opinions, which is better than [the reading proposed by Dr. Warburton,] fanned and winnowed.

‘The meaning is, these men haue got the cant of the day, a superficial readiness of slight and cursory conversation, a kind of frothy collection of fashionable prattle, which yet carried them through the most select and approued judgement. This airy facility of talk sometimes imposes upon wise men. Who has not seen this observation verified”

The quarto, 1604, reads, ‘—dotes on; only got the tune of the time, and out of an habit,’ &c. and-— not misty , but histy ; the folio rightly, yesty : the same quarto has not trennowned , but trennowed ( a corruption of winnowed ,) for whic (according to the usual process,) the next quarto gave trennowned . Fond and winnowed is the reading of the folio. MALONE”

1793 v1793

v1793 = mal +

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Mason (apud Steevens, ed. 1793) : “On considering this passage, it always appeared to me that we ought to read, “the most found and winnowed opinions:” and I have been confirmed in that conjecture by a passage I lately met with in Howel’s Letters , where speaking of a man merely contemplative, he says, ‘ Besides he may want udgement in the choice of his authors, and knows not how to turn his hand either in weighing or winnowing the soundest opinions .’ Book III. Letter viii. M. MASON “

1798 Tooke

Tooke : John

3654 histy] Tooke (2nd ed. 1798, rpt. 1968, 2:399): <p. 399>“Yesty waves (says S. Johnson) that is foaming or frothy.

“A little mater however always makes the waves frothy. But Johnson knew what the YEAST of beer was; (which comes indeed from the same verb) and the epitehet Yesty conveyed to him no stronger idea than that of fermentation. But YESTY here is the Anglo saxon (yrtiy, Iertiy, procellosus, stormy, enraged: which much better accords with Shakespear’s high-charged description than the wretched allusion to fermenting beer.” </p. 399>

1803 v1803

v1803 = v1793

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1813 v1813

v1813 = v1803

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1815 Becket

Becket = warb ; john1 +

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Becket (1815, pp. 76) : <p. 76> “‘A kind of yesty collection,’ &c. Dr. Johnson is right in saying that the reading in the quarto is best. I am fully persuaded tht it is the true one, —except that for profane we must read profonde (fr. ) deep, subtle. B” </p. 76>

1818 Todd

Todd = John +

3654 histy] Todd (1818, yesty): “†adj. [from yest [Saxon, yest, foam, spume, or flower of beer in fermentation; barm.”]From the Sax. [yrig] stormy. Mr. H. Tooke]Frothy, spumy. “Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Agaisnt the churches; though the yesty waves Confound and swallow navigation up.” Mac.

1821 v1821

v1821 = v1813

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1822 Nares

Nares : John (Mac //)

3654 histy] Nares (1822; 1906): “a. Frothy. ‘Though the yesty waves Confound, and swallow navigation up. ‘[Mac. 4.1.53(1582)]

“Metaphorically, light and frivolous. [cites Hamlet] ‘Knowledge with him is idle, if it strain Above the compass of his yesty brain.’ Drayton, Moonc. p. 485.”

1833 valpy

valpy ≈ v1778 (steevens)

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Valpy (ed. 1833): “i.e. their plausibility makes passable not only with the weak, but with those of sounder judgment.”

1864 ktly

ktly : standard

3654 histy] Keightley (ed. 1864 [1866]: Glossary):”yesty]] foaming, frothy.”

1864 c&mc

c&mc

3654 histy] Clarke (ed. 1864, Glossary, yesty): “Frothy, like yeast.”

c&mc

3654 colection] Clarke (ed. 1864, Glossary): “Conclusion, or consequence drawn.”

1865 hal

hal : v1821 (TOLLET only) +:magenta underlined preface

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Halliwell (ed. 1865) : “Old editions read fond, the alteration fand, that is, fann’d, having been made by Warburton.”

1869 tsch

tsch ; del2 (see n. 3656] ; v1821 (warb ; Tollet) ; Johnson’s Dictionary?

3654 histy] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “yesty collection wird durch bubbles in der folgenden Zeile erklärt; Luftblasen, die bei der Gährung entstehen, sind Getreidehülsen nicht unähnlich. Die Erklärung bei Del.: ‘sie kommen sicher durch die thörichtsten wie durch die gesichtetsten Ansichten der Menschen hindurch, ‘ leidet daran, dass hier eine Verbindung der entgegengesetzten Begriffe;.fond und winnowed durch and stilistisch unmöglich ist, weil most beide umfasst und zu einem Begriff vereinigt. Am meisten hätte noch Warburton’s und Tollets Lesart fanned für sich, den to fan ist zu Sh.’s Zeit=to separae as by winnowing. (s. Sam. Johnson E.D.), so dass man etwa übersetzen könnte: gewurfelt und gesichtet. Gegen diese Tautologie spricht aber das Bild, das uns offenbar vorhält: Leute wie Osrick kommen mit ihrem thörichten Modegeschwatz in Folge ihrer luftigen Wesenheit durch die gediegensten Meinungen in der Unterhaltung hindurch, d.h. wie einzelne Getreidehülsen in einem tiefen und gut gewurfelten Weizenhaufe mit unterlaufen können, fängt man aber an zu blasen, um ihre Schwere zu versuchen, so fliegen die Hülsen hinaus, d.h. durch die Luke, vor welcher das Getreide gewurfelt wird.” [“yesty collection is explained through bubbles in the following lines; Bubbles, which originate from a yawn, are not unlike corn husks. The explanation from Delius — ‘[they] get through the foolish as if the most manifest opinion of man’ —thereby endures, that here a combination of contrary ideas fond and winnowed through and is stylistically impossible if most encompasses both and combines for one idea. For most had [[taken]] Warburton and Tollet’s reading fanned , if to fan is for Shakespeare’s period to separate as by winnowing (see Johnson’s Dictionary), so that one could adopt perhaps: chequered and tessellated. But against this tautology, the image which clearly endures suggests: People like Osric show up in a succession with their foolish babble of their airy spirit through superior belief in keeping up throughout, i.e. as individual corn husks could be suffused in a deep and well chequered cornpile, but one begans to blow in order to test the weight, so the shells fly out, i.e. through the trapdoor, before which the corn will be winnowed.”]

3655 through and through] Tschischwitz (ed. 1869): “Die durchdringende Thätigkeit dieser Präposition wird bisweilen durch die Verdoppelung derselben energischer ausgedrückt; auch in der neuesten Poesie. So Tennys. p. 5 She looking thro’ and thro’ me. Die Verdoppelung ist alter Gebrauch; adverbial reicht sie bis ins Halbs. [th]a fleh Henges [th]urh and [th]urh. Lagam. II. 264. M.II. 323.” [“The penetrating activity of this preposition is uttered now and then through the energetic repetition of itself ; as in modern poetry. So Tenny[son] . . . The replication is an old custom: it reaches the adverbial in Halbs [[half-verse??]] . . .”]

1872 cln1

cln1

3654 histy] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “yesty]] So the folios. The quartos have ‘histy,’ and ‘misty.’ The former of these may have been a mistake for ‘hasty.’”

cln1

3655 colection] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “A ‘yesty collection’ is a frothy and superficial knowledge, gathered in fragments. See [4.5.9 (2754)].”

1873 rug2

rug2

3654-55 histy colection] Moberly (ed. 1873): “yesty collection]] A set of frothy expressions suited perpetually to express the absurdest and most over-refined notions.”

1877 v1877

v1877 : ≈ cln1

3654 histy] Clark & Wright (apud Furness, ed. 1877): “yesty]] Histy of [Q2] may have been a mistake for hasty.”

1881 hud3

hud3

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Hudson (ed. 1881): “Yesty is frothy. A gathering of mental and lingual froth.”

1885 macd

macd : see also n. 3653-4

3654-57 MacDonald (ed. 1885): “Hamlet has just blown Osricke to his trial in his chosen kind, and the bubble had burst. The braggart gentleman had no faculty to generate after the dominant fashion, no invention to support his ambition—had but a yesty collection, which failing him the moment something unconventional was wanted, the fool had to look a discovered fool.”

1888 Mull

Mull

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Mull (1888, p. 26): <p. 26> “i.e. ‘Osric is one of many whom the drossy age dotes on, and with their superficial tricks of speech and address they triumph over what is most revered and cherished (‘fond’), and that which has been sifted and tested.’” </p. 26>

1889 Barnett

Barnett

3654-5 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Barnett (1889, p. 64): <p. 64> “A light collection which rises up to the top through the weightiest opinions, and if you put them to the test, the bubbles burst. Another mixed metaphor.” </p. 64>

1891 oxf1

oxf1 : standard

3654 histy] Craig (ed. 1891: Glossary): “yesty]] adj.foaming, frothy, [Mac. 4.1.53 (1582)].”

1899 ard1

ard1 : standard

3654 histy]

ard1 : see 3656

3654-6 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions]

1900 ev1

ev1≈ standard

3654-6 a kind of histy colection . . . opinions] Herford (ed. 1900): "The froth of empty phrases on which they float into the utterance of the most idle and fantastic opinions, and which immediately collapse at the touch of argument."

1906 nlsn

nlsn: standard

3655 histy] Neilson (ed. 1906, Glossary) : see also yest (“foam”).

1931 crg1

crg2 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

1934 rid1

rid1 : standard

3655 histy colection] Ridley (ed. 1934, Glossary, yesty collection):

1934 cam3

cam3

3655 histy] Wilson (ed. 1934): “yeasty]] A ‘yeasty collection’=an assortment of phrases, ‘flouriches,’ etc. which float upon the mind of these courtiers like froth upon a vat. The whole passage is a sustained metaphor from fermentation of barley for brewing. Cf. Introd. p. xxxvii. A ‘collection’ lit = miscellaneous extracts of a literary or historical character, v. G[lossary].”

The reference to the introduction simply replays this dialogue and notes that our understanding of the meaning is enhanced by understanding “the hidden picture of the fermentation of barley in a vat.’

cam3

3655-6 which . . . opinions] Wilson (ed. 1934): “Hitherto misunderstood, partly through doubts concerning the text (v. next note [3656]). I explain: ‘which enables them to impose upon tried and experienced men of the world.’ The image is that of frothy bubbles on the vat passing over the malted barley, which has been previously winnowed (by the keen winds of experience). For ‘winnowed’ cf. G[lossary]. ‘unsifted.’”

cam3 : OED

3655 colection] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): “(ii) assortment ‘of extracts, historical or literary materials’ (N.E.D. 3a).”

cam3 : standard

3655 histy] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): yeasty]]

3655 histy] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary) : “unsifted]] untested, inexperienced; 1.3.102”

cam3

3655 through and through] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary): “right through (cf. [AYL 2.7.59-60 (0000)] ‘through and through Cleanse’).”

3655 carries them through and through] Wilson (ed. 1934, Glossary, carry through): “carry through difficulties, enable to pass muster.”

1939 kit2

kit2≈ standard

3655 histy colection]

kit2≈ standard

3655 histy] Kittredge (ed. 1936, Glossary, yesty): “frothy.”

1938 parc

parc ≈ standard

3655 histy] yeasty]]

1942 n&h

n&h ≈ standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

1947 Cln2

Cln2 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

1951 alex

Alex ≈ standard

3655 colection] Alexander (ed. 1951, Glossary)

1951 crg2

crg2=crg1

3655 histy] yesty]]

1954 sis

sis ≈ standard

3655 colection] Sisson (ed. 1954, Glossary):

1974 evns1

evns1 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

evns1 ≈ standard

3655 colection]

1980 pen2

pen2 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

pen2 ≈ standard

3655 carries them through and through]

1982 ard2

ard2 : john1 (“fashionable prattle”) : standard

3655 histy] yesty]]

ard2 : cam3 (“impose upon men . . .”)

3655-6 which . . . opinions] see 3656 LN.

1984 chal

chal : Jenkinson

3655 histy] yeasty]] Jenkinson (in Wilkes, ed. 1984): "accumulation of froth."

1985 cam4

cam4 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yeasty]]

cam4

3655 colection] Edwards (ed. 1985): “mixture, brew ((see notes to 3.2.233, 4.7. 143)).”

1987 oxf4

oxf4 ≈ standard

3655 histy] yeasty]]

oxf4 ≈ standard

3655-6 which . . . opinions]

1988 bev2

bev2: standard

3655 histy] yeasty]]

bev2 : cam3

3655 colection]

1993 dent

dent

3655 histy] yeasty]]

1998 OED

OED

3655 histy]OED a2. fig. with various connotations: "Swelling", "working"; light and superficial, "frothy". 1598 E. GUILPIN Skial. (1878) 36 Like a Swartrutters hose his puffe thoughts swell With yeastie ambition. 1602 SHAKS. Ham. V. ii. 199 He..only got the tune of the time, and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of yesty collection, which carries them through & through the most fond and winnowed opinions. [etc.]