Note XVIII

IV. 2. 47 sqq. In this passage we have followed substantially the reading of the Quartos in preference to that of the Folios.

The first Quarto reads:

‘Darby. My Lord, I heare the Marques Dorset

Is fled to Richmond, in those partes beyond the seas where he abides.

King. Catesby. Cat. My Lord.

King. Rumor it abroad

That Anne my wife is sicke and like to die, &c.’

In the seventh and eighth Quartos the second line of Darby’s speech is divided ‘...seas where he abides.’

The first Folio has:

‘Stanley. Know my louing Lord, the Marquesse Dorset

As I heare, is fled to Richmond,

In the parts where he abides.

Rich. Come hither Catesby, rumor it abroad,

That Anne my Wife is very grieuous sicke &c.’

Pope follows the Folios and Rowe, except that for ‘Know, my loving Lord,’ he substitutes ‘my lord,’ ending the next line at fled. Steevens retains the reading of the Folios, but in other respects adopts Pope’s arrangement, assigning it, more suo, to Sir Thomas Hanmer.

Mr Staunton follows Steevens as regards Stanley’s speech, and then reads with the Quartos. In the preceding line he reads with the Quartos: ‘How now what news with you?’

Mr Collier suspects that ‘What’s the news?’ in line 46, is an interpolation and that the true reading is,

‘How now, Lord Stanley?

Stan. Know, my loving lord,

The Marquess Dorset, as I hear, is fled &c.’

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