Note 38 — SHAKSPEARE PAPERS.—No. V.
Reading edition
The speech of this porter is in blank verse.
Here is a knocking indeed! If a man Were porter of hell-gate, he should have old Turning the key. Knock—knock—knock! Who is there, In the name of Beelzebub? Here is a farmer That hanged himself [up]on the expectation Of plenty: come in time. Have napkins enough About you. Here you'll sweat for it. Knock—knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? [I'] faith Here's an equivocator, that could swear In both the scales 'gainst either scale; [one] who Committed treason enough for God's sake, yet Cannot equivocate to heaven. Oh! come in, Equivocator. Knock—knock—knock! Who's there? 'Faith, here's an English tailor come hither For stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor. Here you may roast your goose. Knock—knock— Never in quiet. Who are you? but this place is too cold for hell. I'll devil-porter it no longer. I had thought T'have let in some of all professions, That go the primrose-path to th' everlasting darkness.
The alterations I propose are very slight. Upon for on, i'faith for 'faith, and the introduction of the word one in a place where it is required. The succeeding dialogue is also in blank verse. So is the sleeping scene of Lady Macbeth; and that so palpably, that I wonder it could ever pass for prose.