Chapter LXXV: Act V

SC. 1. "Send fairplay orders and make compromise."

For 'orders' Collier's folio reads _offers_, which I have adopted.

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SC. 2. "That we the sons and children of this isle
Were born to see so sad an hour as this."

For 'Were' the folio has _Was_, produced by 'isle.'

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"And grapple thee unto a pagan shore."

'Grapple' is Pope's correction; the folio has _cripple_.

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"Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars."

Capell read 'coals of war.'

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"_Vive le roy!_ as I have bank'd their towns."

As there is mention of cards in the next line, I think that in 'bank'd' there may be an allusion to card-playing. The same is the opinion of Mr. Staunton. In Ant. and Cleop. (ii. 2) we have "she _pursed_ up his heart."

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"This unheard sauciness and boyish troops."

For 'unheard' Theobald read _unhaired_; and we have in Venus and Adonis '_hairless_ face.' I, however, prefer _unbeard_, i.e. unbearded, beardless. We have already had in this play 'heat' for _heated_.

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"Even at the crying of your nation's crow."

For 'crow' I read _cock_; Collier's folio reads _cock_, and _crowing_ for 'crying.' In the next line I read, with Rowe, _his_ for 'this.'

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SC. 4. "Unthread the rude eye of rebellion."

Theobald reads _untread_ and _way_. A little further on we have, "We will untread the steps of damned flight;" but no change is needed here.

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"For if the French be lords of this loud day,
He means to recompense," etc.

Here 'He' can only refer to John, while it is evidently the Dolphin that is meant. I have therefore, as I find Mr. Lloyd also has done, read _Prince_ for 'French,' and of course _lord_ for 'lords.' But as in this play _Prince_ alone is never used of the Dolphin, it may be that a line is lost. It might have been something of this sort: "And Fortune smile upon the Dolphin's arms."

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SC. 6. "Unkind Remembrance! Thou and endless Night."

For 'endless' Theobald read _eyeless_; but there is no need of change.

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SC. 7. "I have a kind soul that would give _you_ thanks."

KING RICHARD II.