Domesticks to you, serve your will,' as't please Where powers are your retainers: and your words, Domesticks to you, serve your will,] You have now got power at your beck, following in your retinue; and words therefore are degraded to the servile state of performing any office which you shall give them. In humbler and more common terms: Having now got power, you do not regard your word. JOHNSON. The word power, when used in the plural and applied to one person only, will not bear the meaning that Dr. Johnson wishes to give it. By powers are meant the Emperor and the King of France, in the pay of one or the other of whom Wolsey was constantly retained; and it is well known that Wolsey entertained some of the nobility of England among his domesticks, and had an absolute power over the rest. M. MASON. Whoever were pointed at by the word powers, Shakspeare, surely, does not mean to say that Wolsey was retained by them, but that they were retainers, or subservient, to Wolsey. MALONE. I believe that powers, in the present instance, are used merely to express persons in whom power is lodged. The Queen would insinuate that Wolsey had rendered the highest officers of state subservient to his will. STEEVENS. I believe we should read: Where powers are your retainers, and your wards, The Queen rises naturally in her description. She paints the powers of government depending upon Wolsey under three images; as his retainers, his wards, his domestick servants. TYRWHITT. So, in Storer's Life and Death of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal, a poem, 1599: "I must have notice where their wards must dwell; 66 Young nobles of the land," &c. STEEVENS. To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, [She curt'sies to the King, and offers to depart. CAM. The queen is obstinate, Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and Disdainful to be try'd by it; 'tis not well. She's going away. K. HEN. Call her again. CRIER. Katharine queen of England, come into the court. GRIF. Madam, you are call'd back. Q. KATH. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way: When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help, Upon this business, my appearance make [Exeunt Queen, GRIFFITH, and her other K. HEN. Go thy ways, Kate: That man i'the world, who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone, (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,Obeying in commanding,-and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,') could speak thee out,)] If thy several qualities had tongues to speak thy praise. JOHNSON. Rather had tongues capable of speaking out thy merits; i.e. of doing them extensive justice. In Cymbeline we have a similar expression: "You speak him far." STEEVENs. Domesticks to you, serve your will,' as't please 1 Where powers are your retainers: and your words, Domesticks to you, serve your will,] You have now got power at your beck, following in your retinue; and words therefore are degraded to the servile state of performing any office which you shall give them. In humbler and more common terms: Having now got power, you do not regard your word. JOHNSON. The word power, when used in the plural and applied to one person only, will not bear the meaning that Dr. Johnson wishes to give it. By powers are meant the Emperor and the King of France, in the pay of one or the other of whom Wolsey was constantly retained; and it is well known that Wolsey entertained some of the nobility of England among his domesticks, and had an absolute power over the rest. M. MASON. Whoever were pointed at by the word powers, Shakspeare, surely, does not mean to say that Wolsey was retained by them, but that they were retainers, or subservient, to Wolsey. MALONE. I believe that powers, in the present instance, are used merely to express persons in whom power is lodged. The Queen would insinuate that Wolsey had rendered the highest officers of state subservient to his will. STEEVENS. I believe we should read: Where powers are your retainers, and your wards, The Queen rises naturally in her description. She paints the powers of government depending upon Wolsey under three images; as his retainers, his wards, his domestick servants. TYRWHITT. So, in Storer's Life and Death of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal, a poem, 1599: "I must have notice where their wards must dwell; "I car'd not for the gentry, for I had 66 Young nobles of the land," &c. STEEVENS. To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, [She curt'sies to the King, and offers to depart. CAM. The queen is obstinate, Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and She's going away. K. HEN. Call her again. CRIER. Katharine queen of England, come into the court. GRIF. Madam, you are call'd back. Q. KATH. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way: When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help, Upon this business, my appearance make [Exeunt Queen, GRIFFITH, and her other K. HEN. Go thy ways, Kate: That man i'the world, who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone, (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,Obeying in commanding,—and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,') could speak thee out,)] If thy several qualities had tongues to speak thy praise. JOHNSON. Rather had tongues capable of speaking out thy merits; i.e. of doing them extensive justice. In Cymbeline we have a similar expression : "You speak him far." STEEVENS. The queen of earthly queens :-She is noble born; And, like her true nobility, she has Carried herself towards me. WOL. Most gracious sir, In humblest manner I require your highness, That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears, (for where I am robb'd and bound, There must I be unloos'd; although not there At once and fully satisfied,3) whether ever I Did broach this business to your highness; or Laid any scruple in your way, which might Induce you to the question on't? or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for such A royal lady,—spake one the least word, might⭑ Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person? K. HEN. My lord cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so, but, like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do: by some of these The queen is put in anger. You are excus'd: But will you be more justified? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never Desir'd it to be stirr'd;5 but oft have hinder'd; oft 3 -although not there At once and fully satisfied,)] The sense, which is encumbered with words, is no more than this-I must be loosed, though when so loosed, I shall not be satisfied fully and at once; that is, I shall not be immediately satisfied. JOHNSON. might-] Old copy, redundantly—that might. STEEVENS. • Desir'd it to be stirr'd;] The useless words-to be, might, in my opinion, be safely omitted, as they clog the metre, with out enforcement of the sense. STEEVENS. |