This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...clamour. 115. best-temper'd, the metaphor is from the tempering of metal, the bringing of it to a proper degree of hardness. 116. For from... steel'd. for those on his side derived all their hardihood from his example; metal is here used both literally and figuratively, both for metal and mettle, two spellings of the ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...clamour. 115. best-temper'd, the metaphor is from the tempering of metal, the bringing of it to a proper degree of hardness. 116. For from... steel'd. for those on his side derived all their hardihood from his example; metal is here used both literally and figuratively, both for metal and mettle, two spellings of the same word. 117. abated, blunted; cp. R. III. v. 5. 35, "Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord." Johnson denies that this is the meaning here, and gives "reduced to a lower temper, or as workmen call it, let dowti"; but he does not support his explanation by any instance of the word in this technical sense, ana steel'd seems to indicate that Hotspur's metal, so keen itself, had given them their edge. 118. Turn'd... lead. Here the metaphor seems to be continued by likening the behaviour of the soldiers to the edge of a weapon turned back in use, as that of a leaden weapon would be turned, though of course the meaning is that Hotspur's soldiers again became the same dull-spirited louts that they were before his spirit animated them. The word heavy then suggests to the speaker the simile he goes on to use. 120. Upon enforcement, when an impetus is given to it. 123. fled. Dyce adopts Walker's conjecture fly. Vaughan suggests flew. 127. well-labouring, labouring to good purpose, effective in its use. 128. the appearance of the king, several of the king's adherents being dressed to counterfeit the king's person; see Pt. I. v. 4. 129. vail his stomach, lower his haughty courage; cp. Cor. iii. 1. 98, "If he have power, Then vail your ignorance." 129, 30. did grace... backs, by imitating their example lent to it a grace which it would not otherwise have had. 133. A speedy power, a force marching with all speed. 138. Havi...
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