Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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SCENE I.
The Palace in London.
Enter King Henry in his Night-gown, with a Page.
K. Henry.
Go, call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick;
But, ere they come, bid them o'er-read these letters,
And well consider of them: make good speed.
[Exit Page.
How many thousands of my poorest Subjects
Are at this hour asleep! &plquo;O gentle Sleep,
&plquo;Nature's soft Nurse, how have I frighted thee,
&plquo;That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-lids down,
&plquo;And steep my senses in forgetfulness?
&plquo;Why rather, Sleep, ly'st thou in smoaky cribs,
-- 252 --
&plquo;Upon uneasie pallets stretching thee,
&plquo;And husht with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber;
&plquo;Than in the perfum'd chambers of the Great,
&plquo;Under the Canopies of costly State,
&plquo;And lull'd with sounds of sweetest melody?
&plquo;O thou dull God, why ly'st thou with the vile
&plquo;In loathsom beds, and leav'st the kingly couch
&plquo;1 noteA watch-case to a common larum-bell?
&plquo;Wilt thou, upon the high and giddy mast,
&plquo;Seal up the ship-boy's eyes, and rock his brains,
&plquo;In cradle of the rude imperious Surge;
&plquo;And in the visitation of the winds,
&plquo;Who take the ruffian billows by the top,
&plquo;Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them
&plquo;With deaf'ning clamours 2 notein the slip'ry shrouds,
&plquo;That, with the hurley, death it self awakes?
&plquo;Can'st thou, O partial Sleep, give thy repose
&plquo;To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude?
&plquo;And, in the calmest and the stillest night,
&plquo;With all appliances and means to boot,
&plquo;Deny it to a King? 3 notethen, happy low! lye down;&prquo;
Uneasie lyes the head, that wears a Crown.
-- 253 --
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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