In the 4to of 1600, and in the folio of 1623, the word is
"clouds;" and he must be a very bold editor (in my opinion little
capable of doing justice to any author), who would substitute his own
imaginary improvement, for what we have every reason to believe is the
genuine text. _Shrouds_ instead of "clouds" is a merely imaginary
improvement, supported by no authority, and (as, indeed, your
correspondent shows) without the merit of originality. I am for the text
of Shakespeare as he left it, and as we find it in the most authentic
representations of his mind and meaning.
J. PAYNE COLLIER.
* * * * *
MEDAL OF THE PRETENDER.
Sir,--Possibly some one of your literary correspondents, who may be
versed in the, what D'Israeli would call _Secret_ History of the
Jacobite Court, will endeavour to answer a "Query" relative to the
following rare medal:--
_Obv._ A ship of war bearing the French flag; on the shore a
figure in the dress of a Jesuit (supposed to represent Father
Petre) seated astride of a _Lobster_, holding in his arms the
young Prince of Wales, who has a little windmill on his head.
Legend: "Allons mon Prince, nous sommes en bon chemin." In the
exergue, "Jacc: Franc: Eduard, suppose. 20 Juin, 1688."
_Rev._ A shield charged with a windmill, and surmounted by a
Jesuit's bonnet; two rows of Beads or Rosaries, for an order or
collar, within which we read "Honny soit qui _non_ y pense;" a
_Lobster_ is suspended from the collar as a badge.
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