OCRed data provided
for searching only. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;552 SMALL LATINE AND LESSE GREEKE
He seem'd in running to.devour the way io
Various Biblical and classical parallels have been suggested for the phrase "devour the way," the closest being that of Catullus, XXV, 7, "viam vorabit." 40 Shakspere or any other learned grammarian of his time in search of phrases was almost certain to run upon this particular phrase of Catullus. For their primary source for both words and phrases was Cooper, and under via he had listed this one to their hands, "J orare viam. Catull. To dispatch or ridde the way." If Shakspere had the phrase from this source, he preferred his own literal translation to Cooper's English. Since this was officially a stock phrase, it is not likely that Shakspere is coining it anew. But where he got it, and whether from the Latin or from the previous Englishing of some one else, I see no way of knowing.
For contemporaries, of course, did English it. For instance, a young Cambridge student-who incidentally had considerable misinformation upon Shakspere and laughed at the large claims which his fellows were making for him-this Cambridge student writes,
as Catullus saith, devours the waye2'
Such a phrase, therefore, can hardly carry much weight as indicating that Shakspere had read Catullus.
I should consider the parallel pointed out by Malone in The Tempest as the only other of those known to me which might have weight."2 Miranda says,
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, Whether you will or no "
Malone quoted from Catullus,
Si tibi non cordi fuerant connubia nostra. Attamen in vestras potuisti ducere sedes, Quae tibi jucundo famularer serva labore; Candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis, Purpureave tuum consternens veste cubile."
The parallel, however, is too general to indicate any direct knowledge
19 2 Henry IV, I, t, 47Ã
so Malone, Variorum (1821), Vol. XVII, p. 12; Cowl, 2 Henry IV (Arden ed.), p. 9.
u r Parnassus, 97; pointed out by Theabald, R. M., Shakespeare Studies in Baconian Light, p. 300, who appears to be the first to suggest Catullus as the source, doubtless because of the statement in the play. 29 Malone, Variorum (18st), VoL XV, p. ttt.
22 Tempest, III, 1, 83-86. 24 Catullus, 62.
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