ten by him, addressed to the Lord Chancellor, on the
acting of this play at the Inner Temple.

[41] Till now the measure was spoiled by the omission of the word
_all_. The four editions read the line as it now stands. The play has
been hitherto very carelessly printed, and a few of the errors are
pointed out in the notes.--_Collier._ [But it must be added that even
Mr Collier left the text and (more particularly) the punctuation in so
corrupt a state, that many passages were unintelligible.]

[42] [Former edits., _and_.]

[43] Prior has adopted this image--

    "So when the Parthian turn'd his steed,
      And from the hostile camp withdrew,
    He backward sent the fatal reed,
      Secure of conquest as he flew."

--Poems, i. 40, edit. 1778.

[44] This speech is very much altered from the first and second
editions, where it stands that Don Henrique has already married Porcia

                          "By proxy
    To one in Flanders."

--_Collier._

[45] This word was omitted by Reed and Dodsley.--_Collier._

[46] The author has not been very strict in the observance of his metre
in any part of the play, and in this respect the changes he made in the
third edition were sometimes injurious. Thus in the two earlier copies
this line, which would have read very well if _in_ had been substituted
for _during_, is given as follows--

"And what was done in this parenthesis."

It was a point gained, however, to get rid of the figure.--_Collier._

[47] [I'll pledge you. See Nares, edit. 1859, p. 216.]

[48] [Literally a bottle. See Halliwell in _v._]

[49] [Cupboard beds, similar to those still used throughout Holland
among the humbler classes.]

[50] [Former edits., _and_.]

[51] [Former edits., _on_.]

[52] This is hardly intelligible, as it stands here and in the third
edition. In the two earlier copies, Porcia says to Flora on entering--

    "If thou lov'st me, get him away quickly
    Before my brother come, and give him this.
                                        [_She gives +Flora+ a letter_."

--_Collier._ [