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 | APPENDIX 1 Studies in bibliography |  |
Text of A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II [1]
Introduction
Astell made use of a variety of markings and methods for correcting or com-
menting upon her own text. Emendations are sometimes interlined within
the
text itself, but more often are found in the margins and linked to
particular points
in the text with corresponding asterisks. I have
recorded as faithfully as possible
in the Original column all emendations, including Astell's abbreviations,
using
a modified version of the system of bracketed transcription and
editorial explana-
tion proposed by David L. Vander Meulen and G.
Thomas Tanselle:
for the next level of parenthesis when commentary is required for alterations within altera-
tions. The editorial statements are italicized and thereby differentiated from words quoted
from the document, which consequently do not need quotations marks…. Generally the
basic element in each editorial comment is a participle, such as canceled or inserted. (205)
vised reading by consistently including within brackets either deleted or added
words; I have modified slightly their system by reporting within brackets all af-
fected words, i.e., both the original and the revised text. Astell's changes are
then standardized in an admittedly speculative New Edition? column in order
to provide a clean text of her revisions. Thus, where the opening entry in the
Original column reads "and Inconsiderate had [taken up inserted in left margin for
canceled imbib'd] to," the same phrase in the New Edition? column reads "and
Inconsiderate had taken up to." Astell's marginal references to particular texts
or authors likewise have been recorded within brackets in the ORIGINAL column
following the italicized phrase marginal note inserted.
Astell made her changes and marginal comments primarily in pencil, but
sometimes in pen, and with no discernable pattern; in the emendation of 17.6
(76.2-1 fb), for instance, she crossed out two words, one in pencil,
the other in
pen. All changes made in pen are recorded as such; where
confusion might arise,
pencil markings are also explicitly noted.
Editorial silence thus indicates that the
markings are in pencil.
The majority of the changes here transcribed stem from Astell's engagement
with Berkeley's revised plagiarism of the third chapter of SPII, which comprises
the bulk of his chapter on
"IGNORANCE" in the first volume of The Ladies Li-
brary (1714), pp. 438-524 (Berkeley's appropriation of Astell covers
pp. 447-524).
Her documentation of Berkeley's work is consistently
three pages discrepant
from the copy I first consulted, "printed for
J. T. and Sold by W. Mears
… and
J. Brown," according to the title page. As it turns
out, The Ladies Library was pub-
lished in two
different editions in 1714, the other one, according to its title page,
match the pagination provided in Astell's marginal citations, and it appears to
be the earlier of the two versions. Where appropriate, I have drawn attention in
my notes to revisions made in the second edition. Berkeley often changed Astell's
punctuation, capitalization, and spelling, but I have made note of such variants
only where they seem to have been of interest to Astell. Astell frequently cites
Berkeley's text by page in the margins; where she does not, I do so in a footnote.
In the footnotes I have also tracked significant departures from The Ladies Library
and made note of those occasions on which Astell herself seems to lose the thread
of her emendatory intentions.
All references are keyed by page and line number both to Astell's copy of
the 1697 edition of SPII and to Patricia
Springborg's modern edition of A Serious
Proposal to
the Ladies Parts I & II (Pickering & Chatto, 1997); the 1697
edition is
given first, followed by the Springborg edition in
parentheses. The abbreviation
"fb" stands for "from the bottom of the
page."
| Original | New Edition? |
| 4.11 (72.13-14)] and Inconsiderate had [taken up inserted in left margin for canceled imbib'd] to |
and Inconsiderate had taken up to |
| 5.3-4 (72.22-23)] which [in interlined]
Justice [should interlined above canceled requires to] be paid |
which in Justice should be paid |
| 6.4fb (73.9)] nothing but [airy canceled]
Noise |
nothing but Noise |
| 8.6fb (73.4fb-3fb)] tho I shou'd [?wth
?our Clearest Demonstration have prov'd it easy inserted in bottom margin for canceled have prov'd it feasible with the clearest Demonstration], and |
tho I shou'd with our clearest Demon- stration have prov'd it easy, and |
| 12.12 (75.9)] lost its [relish inserted in left
margin for canceled haut goust {previous two words italicized in original}]; Wisdom |
lost its relish; Wisdom |
| 12.14 (75-10)] than a [good interlined in pen above canceled Bon {previous word itali- cized in original}] -mien |
than a good-mien |
| 14.6fb (76.4)] Petitioners, [the comma inserted] who |
Petitioners, who |
| 17.6 (76.2fb-1 fb)] they've [per- haps canceled in pencil] almost lost … |
they've almost lost … which were afforded |
| which [probably canceled in pen] were afforded |
|
| 22.1-2 (78.11 fb-10fb)] know [what it is to be interlined in pen above canceled in pen wherein the Nature of] a true Chris- tian [consists canceled in pen]; and |
know what it is to be a true Christian; and |
| 22.8 fb (78.2fb)] duly serv'd [yet can- celed in pen][2] in |
duly serv'd in |
| 24.14 (81.10-9fb)] for its [Nourishmt inserted in left margin for canceled Nutri- tion], as |
for its Nourishment, as |
| 24.2fb (81.4fb)] much [Sharpness in- serted in pen in left margin for canceled in pen Acumen] and |
much Sharpness and |
| 26.7 (82.21-22)] them [is inserted in pen in left margin] he [is canceled in pen] to be accounted [of interlined in pen], if |
them is he to be accounted of, if |
| 29.8-9 (83.17-18)] I do to [supply in- serted in pen in right margin for canceled in pen fill up] my [W written over V of next word] Va[nts interlined above canceled cu- ities], to |
I do to supply my Wants, to |
| 31.12 (84.8)] precipitately, [not only canceled in pen] without[, but against canceled in pen][3] its |
precipitately, without its |
| 32.3 (84.16)] cou'd [deny his assent in- serted in pen in bottom margin for canceled in pen demur] to[4] |
cou'd deny his assent to |
| 41.14-19 (89.9-15)] Disengage…. search after Truth [marginal note inserted Rapin Refl D 1 5.31][5] |
| 47.4-5 (91-13)] we [stumble inserted in pen in right margin for canceled in pen grope][6] in |
we stumble in |
| 49.2fb-50.2 (92.13-14)] An Opinion … thing considerable [marginal note inserted Lock][7] |
|
| 68.9fb-7fb (99.1)] The perfection of the Understanding consisting in the Clear- ness [marginal note inserted in left margin ?Liv'Libro p 448- v. 1][8] |
|
| 69.9 (99.9)] For being [as inserted in right margin for canceled that] we are, [the comma inserted] but [marginal note inserted 448] |
For being as we are, but |
| 70.3fb-1fb (100.5-6)] different, [as … follows canceled].[9] |
different. |
| 71.8-11 (100.11-13)] things at once: [There are som particular Truths of wch inserted in right margin for canceled And likewise, because] GOD has not thought fit to communicate such Ideas to us, as are necessary to the disquisi- tion of [ym inserted in right margin for can- celed some Particular Truths], [marginal note inserted 449] |
things at once: There are some particular Truths of which GOD has not thought fit to communicate such Ideas to us, as are necessary to the dis- quisition of them. |
| 71.18 (100.16-17)] by [Intention inserted in right margin for canceled Intuition] or[10] |
by Intention or |
| 78.7fb (102.1fb)] real [Vertues inserted in left margin for canceled Verities], if [mar- ginal note inserted 454] |
real Vertues, if |
| 79.9-10 (103.8)] neither [is interlined for canceled do I think] there's [the 's can- celed] any[11] |
neither is there any |
| 81.15-18 (104.1-2)] In a word … proper Object. [marginal note inserted 15- 17? Rapin Ref D1-5 23][12] |
|
| 83.8fb-6fb (104.8fb-7fb)] what is truly the Object of Faith, [marginal note in- serted? Rap D 1 5 23][13] |
|
| 84.10fb-9fb (105.5-6)] had? ¶ [In a wd inserted for canceled To sum up all]: We[14] |
had? ¶ In a word: We |
| 86.1fb-87.4 (105.1fb-106.2)] estimate. ¶ [It is therefore very fit that after we canceled] have [ing interlined] consider'd the Capacity of the Understanding in general, we [must inserted in right margin for canceled shou'd] descend [marginal note inserted 460] |
estimate, ¶ Having consider'd the Ca- pacity of the Understanding in general, we must descend |
| 88.7-8 (106.16-17)] that [some inserted for canceled so we] may be [continually inserted in left margin for canceled mutually] useful [marginal note inserted 461] |
that some may be continually useful |
| 90.1fb (107.14-15)] train of [un inter- lined for canceled im at beginning of next word] immortified[15] |
train of unmortified |
| 93.14-16 (108.11-12)] except the little [soules yt envy ym inserted in right mar- |
except the little Souls that envy them. ¶ To help |
|
gin for canceled Soul'd Enviers of 'em]. ¶ To help[16] |
|
| 94.7-8 (108.20-21)] for, [thereby can- celed] to gratify [thereby inserted in left margin] their Secret Envy, [as interlined for canceled by] diverting us from[17] |
for, to gratify thereby their Secret Envy, as diverting us from |
| 95.2fb-96.5 (109.5-8)] him, [he con- tradicts … bear canceled]. Their Gall [marginal note inserted 466] |
him. Their Gall |
| 96.15-16(109.14)] a Wo on those [of in- serted in left margin] whom all Men shall speak well [of canceled] so[18] |
a Wo on those of whom all Men shall speak well so |
| 96.6fb (109.17)] commonly [has ye Applause of ye world inserted for canceled bears away the Bell]. If [marginal note inserted 467][19] |
has the Applause of the world. If |
| 97.6fb-98.7 (109.8fb-2fb)] them. [But is there. … beautify canceled]. If [then canceled] instead of [Jostling and can- celed] Disputing [& Laughing with ym inserted in left margin for canceled with our Fellow Travellers], of [marginal note in- serted 467] |
them. If instead of Disputing and Laughing with them, of |
| 98.15-19 (110.3-5)] another. [What.… rectify'd? canceled] We[20] |
another. We |
| 98.8fb-7fb (110.6-7)] reach, [& in- serted for deleted move … Sphere] not abuse[21] |
reach, and not abuse |
| 98. 3fb-1fb (110.8-g)] others, [be … 'em canceled]. ¶ We[22] |
others. ¶ We |
| 99.2fb (110.21)] is [yn inserted in right margin for canceled thus] defective [mar- ginal note inserted 468] |
is then defective |
| 100.8fb-7fb (110.6fb)] have, [tho inserted in left margin for canceled till] clearness [marginal note inserted 469] |
have, tho clearness |
| 101.11-4fb (111.3-11)] Imagination. [But … of. canceled] They[23] |
Imagination. ¶ They |
| 105.5 (112.19-20)] shew of [very great canceled] Ingenuity[24] |
shew of Ingenuity |
| 105.1 fb (112.10fb)] perfectly [perhaps canceled] it[25] |
perfectly it |
| 107.7fb (113-15)] does not [next word underlined] choak [marginal note inserted Err][26] |
does not choque |
| 108.6-7 (113.21-22)] If then [for ye Future inserted in left margin] we wou'd [hereafter canceled] think [marginal note inserted 474][27] |
If then for the Future we wou'd think |
| 109.6fb-110.13 (114.5-15)] System. ['Tis impossible … purpose. Canceled] ¶ [Volatileness of Thought occasions inserted in left margin for canceled Doing so we shall prevent] Rashness and Precip- itation in our Judgments, [as also too great a conceit of inserted in left margin for canceled which is occasion'd by that Vol- atileness we have been speaking of, to- gether with an over-weaning opinion] of[28] our Selves. All the irregularities of our Will proceed from those [e interlined for 0 in the previous word] false Judgments [we make canceled], thro [marginal note inserted 475][29] |
System. ¶ Volitileness of Thought oc- casions Rashness and Precipitation in our Judgments, as also too great a Conceit of our Selves. All the irregu- larities of our Will proceed from these false Judgments, thro |
| 110.5fb-4fb (114.19-20)] Mind, [before … Glory! Canceled]. But we seek[30] |
Mind. But we seek |
| 111.3-4 (114.15fb))] This Precipitation is [wt inserted for canceled that which] gives[31] |
This Precipitation is what gives |
| 112.4-5 (114.1fb))] For [first four letters canceled in the next word] hereby [this means inserted in left margin] the [marginal note inserted 476] |
For by this means the |
| 112.4fb-113.11 (115.9-17)] them. [We…. him. ¶ In sum, canceled] whatever[32] |
them. Whatever |
| 113.5fb-3fb (115.22-24)] into, [nor … Truth, canceled] The General Causes[33] |
into. The General Causes |
| 114.5-6 (115.11 fb)] And the best way [that canceled] I[34] |
And the best way I |
| 114.8-9 (115.10fb-9fb)] Errors [proceed from ever what inserted in left margin for canceled proceed they from what] Cause they may[35] |
Errors proceed from ever what Cause they may |
| 114.9fb-115.8 (115.5fb-116.4)] of any [palbable {sic} inserted in left margin for canceled Culpable] Error, [we shou'd inserted in left margin] Not [to canceled] Judge of any thing which we don't Ap- prehend, [we shou'd inserted in left mar- gin for canceled to] suspend our Assent till we see just cause to give it, and to determine nothing till the Strength and Clearness of the Evidence oblige us to it. [we shou'd inserted in left margin for can- celed To] withdraw our selves as much as may be from Corporeal things, that pure Reason may be heard the better; [we shou'd inserted in left margin for can- celed to] make that use of our senses for |
of any palpable Error. We shou'd not Judge of any thing which we don't Ap- prehend, we shou'd Suspend our As- sent till we see just Cause to give it, and to determine nothing but the Strength and Clearness of the Evidence oblige us to it. We shou'd withdraw our selves as much as may be from Cor- poreal things, that pure Reason may be heard the better; we shou'd make that use of our senses for which they are design'd and fitted, the preserva- tion of the Body, but not to depend on their Testimony in our Enquiries after Truth. We shou'd particularly divest ourselves of mistaken Self-love, little |
| which they are design'd and fitted, the preservation of the Body, but not to depend on their Testimony in our En- quiries after Truth, [we shoud inserted in right margin] Particularly [to canceled] divest our selves of mistaken Self-love, little Ends, and mean Designs, and [we shoud inserted in right margin for canceled to] keep [marginal note inserted 477][36] |
Ends, and mean Designs, and we shou'd keep |
| 115.4-5fb (116.8-12)] so. [we shoud in- serted in right margin for canceled But to] be passionately in Love with Truth, as being throughly sensible of her Excel- lency and Beauty, [we shd inserted in right margin for canceled To] embrace her how opposite soever she may some- times be to our Humours and Designs, to bring these over to her, and never attempt to make her truckle to them. [we shd inserted in right margin for canceled To] be so[37] |
so. We shou'd be passionately in Love with Truth, as being throughly sensi- ble of her Excellency and Beauty. We shou'd embrace her how opposite so- ever she may sometimes be to our Hu- mours and Designs, to bring these over to her, and never attempt to make her truckle to them. We shou'd be so |
| 116.2-4 (116.15-16)] Miscarriages. [These are ye Tr inserted in left margin for canceled For indeed] it concerns us most to know [such Truths as these canceled], it is not material [marginal note 478] |
Miscarriages. These are the Truths it concerns us most to know, it is not material |
| 117.5-8 (116.g-8fb)] She does not treat them so tenderly and [familiarly inserted in right margin for canceled fawningly, with so much Ceremony and Complaisance] as [marginal note inserted 479] |
She does not treat them so tenderly and familiarly as |
| 117.16-119.2 (116.3fb-117.18)] and Var- nish. [But to…. ¶ Above all…. Ex- cites them, canceled] ¶ §IV. As to[38] |
and Varnish. ¶ §IV. As to |
| 119.5-119.11 (117.18-21)] Thinking, [we inserted in right margin for canceled if … I] shall [39] |
Thinking, we shall |
| 119.6fb-2fb (117.12-10fb)] For as a [very canceled] Judicious Writer on this Subject [of ye Art of Thinking inserted in right margin for canceled (to whose In- genious Remarks and Rules I am much obliged)] well observes[40] |
For as a Judicious Writer on this Subject of the Art of Thinking well observes |
| 122.7 (118.20-21)] it. [And canceled] since Truth [marginal note inserted 481] |
it. Since Truth |
| 123.13-15 (118.1fb-119.1)] shou'd Think as Justly, [they can interlined above tho'] not as [Copiously inserted in right mar- gin for canceled Capaciously {previous word italicized in original}], as [marginal note inserted 482][41] |
shou'd Think as Justly, tho' they can- not as Copiously, as |
| 125.10 (119.14fb)] Equality between 2 [times interlined in ink above canceled in ink and] 2 [& 4 interlined in ink]is[42] |
Equality between 2 times 2 and 4 is |
| 128.15-16 (120-9fb-8fb)] Words and Actions as it becomes Wise Persons and Good Christians [marginal note in- serted ?Rapns Refl D1 5 32][43] |
|
| 129.7fb-6fb (121.8-9)] Who [final three letters in next word canceled] cannot [bear inserted for canceled endure] to be [mar- ginal note inserted 486[44] |
Who can bear to be |
| 130.4fb-131.1 (121.23-25)] conse- quently [how canceled] can we be Un- derstood [? And canceled] if sometimes we annex one Idea to a Word, and sometimes another [? interlined for can- celed,] we [first letter of previous word capi- talized] may [marginal note inserted 487][45] |
consequently can we be Understood if sometimes we annex one Idea to a Word, and sometimes another? We may |
| 132.11-12 (122.6)] Thus [are inserted in left margin for canceled many times] our Ideas [often inserted in left margin for can- celed are] thought [marginal note inserted 488] |
Thus are our Ideas often thought |
| 132.6fb (122.11)] them. [Thus inserted in left margin for? canceled So that] after [marginal note inserted 488][46] |
them. Thus after |
| 133.10-14 (122.19-21)] Always obser- ving … highest Evidence and Convic- tion [marginal note inserted Locke][47] |
|
| 134.1fb-135-1 (123.4-5)] Distinct, ¶ [open bracket before next word] That[48] |
|
| 135.16 (123.12)] as he ought. Thus we may have [marginal note inserted Les Princip de la Philos de M Des Car-tes Pt 1 45][49] |
|
| 136.9-137.1 (123.17-8fb)] not. [And were it…. complain of canceled]. ¶ As Judgments[50] |
not. ¶ As Judgments |
| 138.7fb-6fb (124.15-16)] by Equiva- lents, [the comma canceled] conversation [marginal note inserted 492][51] |
by Equivalents conversation |
| 139.8-143.13 (124.15fb-126.4)] Bal- lancing. [But….'em. canceled] ¶ But because[52] |
Ballancing. ¶ But because |
| 141.13 (125.15-16)] regularly [cted in- serted in pen in right margin for canceled in pen nex'd in next word] connex'd[53] |
regularly connected |
| 143.7fb-4fb (126.7-10)] following Rules, [which Rules, … of 'em. canceled] ¶We have[54] |
following Rules. ¶We have |
| 144.11-18 (126.17-20)] Rule I. [And therefore we shou'd in the first place, canceled] Acquiant [y interlined at beginning of next word] our selves throughly with the State of the Question, have a Distinct Notion of [y interlined at beginning of next word] our Subject whatever it be, and of the Terms [you interlined above next word] we make use of, knowing precisely what it is [you interlined above next word] we drive at: [that so we may in the second canceled], [marginal note added 493] |
Rule I. Acquiant your selves throughly with the State of the Question, have a Distinct Notion of your Object whatever it be, and of the Terms you make use of, knowing precisely what it is you drive at. |
| 145.3fb-1fb (126.2fb-1fb)] Rule III. [Our Business … {next word italicized in original} To canceled] conduct [y inserted in left margin as first letter of next word] our Thoughts [55] |
Rule III. Conduct your Thoughts |
| 146.3-19 (127.1-10)] Compos'd. [I need not … that canceled] Order makes ev- erything, Easie, Strong and Beautiful, and that the Superstructure is neither like to Last or Please unless the Foun- dation be duly laid, [for this is obvious |
Compos'd. Order makes everything, Easie, Strong and Beautiful, and that the Superstructure is neither like to Last or Please unless the Foundation be duly laid. Nor are they likely to solve the Difficult, who have neglected |
| to the most Superficial Reader, canceled]
Nor are they likely to solve the Dif- ficult, who have neglected or slightly pass'd over the Easie Questions. [Our Knowledge … more Abstruse, canceled] ¶Rule IV. [In this Method … {next two words italicized in original} Not to canceled] leave any [56] |
or slightly pass'd over the Easie Ques- tions. ¶Rule IV. Leave any |
| 147.1 (127.13)] Object, if we [read in- serted in right margin for canceled view] but [marginal note inserted 494] |
Object, if we read but |
| 148.4 (127.11 fb)] Pieces: [And let us take inserted in left margin for canceled Ever taking] care to [marginal note in- serted 494] |
Pieces: And let us take care to |
| 148.9 (127.8fb)] Rule V. [To which pur-
pose we must canceled] Always keep [yor inserted in left margin for? canceled our {pre- vious word italicized in original}] Subject [57] |
Rule V. Always keep your Subject |
| 149.9-12 (128.6-7)] Rule VI. [All which … which is, {next word italicized in original} To canceled] judge no further than we Perceive [58] |
Rule VI. Judge no further than we Perceive |
| 149.17 (128.10)] did so only, [the comma inserted] where[59] |
did so only, where |
| 151.8-9 (128.7fb)] found, [final letter of next word canceled] enjoyns us[60] |
found, enjoyn us |
| 151.11-15 (i28-5fb-4fb)] But by this we may learn ([the open parenthesis canceled] and so we may by every thing that such weak and fallible Creatures as we are |
But by this we may learn and so we may by every thing that such weak and fallible Creatures as we are be sure to think Candidly |
| [be sure inserted for canceled perform])
[the close parentheses canceled] to think Candidly [marginal note inserted 497][61] |
|
| 152.5 (129.5-6)] Idea. ¶ [For ?canceled] if[62] |
Idea, ¶ If |
| 153.1 (129.17)] But if it be [made can- celed] a Question [marginal note inserted 498] |
But if it be a Question |
| 153.9fb (129.13fb)] This. [If therefore inserted in right margin for canceled So that] if we[63] |
If therefore we |
| 154.2fb-1fb (130.5-6)] Being. ¶ [For in the first place, canceled] what ever[64] |
Being, ¶ What ever |
| 155.14-15 (130.13)] Nor can they derive [their inserted in right margin for canceled either] Being [& interlined above canceled or] Perfection [marginal note inserted 500] |
Nor can they derive their Being and Perfection |
| 157.10-11 (130.1fb-131.1)] hastning? ¶ [To Sum up all: canceled] Since[65] |
hastning? ¶ Since |
| 158.4 (131.10)] must needs [entertain inserted in left margin for canceled contain] in [marginal note inserted 502] |
must needs entertain in |
| 158.10-1fb (131.14-22)] necessary, ¶ [Perhaps these Arguments…. forgot again. But canceled] if some[66] |
necessary. ¶ If some |
| 159.8fb-7fb (131.7-6fb)] Happy must be Rich, and [all canceled] who are Rich [marginal note inserted 502] |
Happy must be Rich, and who are Rich |
| 160.16-18 (132.7-8)] Happy ([the open parenthesis canceled] in the Enjoyment… |
Happy in the Enjoyment … Silver, therefore |
| Silver,) [the close parenthesis closed]
therefore[67] |
|
| 160.7fb-161.15 (132.8-20)] disting- uish'd. [& inserted for canceled ¶We may further…. we find, that] we cannot [marginal note inserted 503] |
distinguish'd and we cannot |
| 162.6fb-5fb (132.2fb-1fb)] Banners [final letter of previous word canceled] of Error[68] |
Banner of Error |
| 163.1fb-164.17 (133.15-24)] Truth. ¶ [Neither…. of 'em. ¶ But canceled] it[69] |
Truth. ¶ It |
| 167.1-4 (134.19-20)] We all pretend ¶ to this [it's true ?canceled], and think our selves Injur'd if it be not believed [semicolon interlined for canceled that] we are Disninterss'd [marginal note inserted 507][70] |
We all pretend to this, and think our selves Injur'd if it be not believed; we are Disinterss'd |
| 168.17-18 (135.3-4)] of Education, Capacity, [ye inserted in pen for canceled of] Leisure, and [ye interlined in pencil] Opportunity[71] |
of Education, Capacity, the Leisure, and the Opportunity |
| 169.9-10 (135.13)] not conclude [it inserted in right margin for canceled in] such[72] |
not conclude it such |
| 169.2fb-1fb (135.21)] Present Interest,
[wch inserted for canceled which is that which] weighs [marginal note inserted 509][73] |
Present Interest, which weighs |
| 173.6 (136.11fb)] expect. [So that can- celed] when we [marginal note inserted 511] |
expect. When we |
| 173.14-15 (136.7fb)] us ([the open pa- renthesis canceled if other Considerations will not) [the close parenthesis canceled] to be[74] |
us if other Considerations will not to be |
| 174.4-5 (137-3)] hereafter, [semicolon in- serted in left margin] When [first letter of previous word crossed through] we[75] |
hereafter; when we |
| 174.9 (137.5)] Encouragement, [the comma changed to a period] how [first letter of previous word capitalized] low[76] |
Encouragement. How low |
| 175.12-13 (137.19-20)] Beauty. [So that… well observes, canceled] all[77] |
Beauty. All |
| 178.1fb-179.1 (138.8fb-7fb)] we're [ye inserted in right margin] then [the final letter of the previous word canceled] perplext and Obscure Writers [marginal note inserted 515][78] |
we're the perplext and Obscure Writers |
| 179.12-13 (138.1fb)] yet not [verbose in- serted for? canceled Wordy] and tedious[79] |
yet not verbose and tedious |
| 179.2fb-1fb (139.7)] believe, [the pe- riod changed to a semicolon] [also inserted in right margin] Always [marginal note in- serted 515] |
believe; also always |
| 180.7fb-181.6 (139.17-24)] meant it. [But this…. Minds. ¶In a word, can- celed] I know[80] |
meant it. ¶ I know |
| 183.4-6 (140.13)] Meditations, [yt in- serted in right margin for canceled This] affects a Grave that a Florid Style [mar- ginal note inserted 517][81] |
Meditations. That affects a Grave that a Florid Style |
| 183.14-16 (140.18)] Reason, the [parity inserted for canceled purity] and propri- ety of Expression [marginal note inserted 517] [82] |
Reason, the parity and propriety of Expression |
| 184.13 (140.8fb)] were [first letter of next
word underlined] Impartial [marginal note inserted 518][83] |
were impartial |
| 184.2fb-1fb (140.1fb-141.1)] us. ¶ [In doing this inserted for canceled And if we do so I believe] we shall[84] |
us. ¶ In doing this we shall |
| 188.2fb-190.4 (142.17-34)] recommend it. ¶ [And since Piety…. do good to. ¶[Besides, by being canceled] [marginal note inserted 521] True Christians [we canceled] have Really that Love for oth- ers which all who desire to perswade must pretend to; [they have inserted for canceled we've] that [marginal note inserted 521] |
recommend it. ¶True Christians have Really that Love for others which all who desire to perswade must pretend to; they have that |
| 191.9 (143.13-14)] Provoke, [now arriv'd to a more scandalous degree of Rage & Insoln yn ever inserted in ink in top margin] whence [marginal note inserted in pencil 522][85] |
Provoke, now arriv'd to a more scan- dalous degree of Rage and Insolence then ever whence |
| 193.8 (144.3-4)] we. ¶ [I've said can-
celed] nothing [has been sd inserted in right margin] of [marginal note inserted 524] |
we. ¶ Nothing has been said of |
| 194.6-7 (144.16-17)] Conversation ¶ But for [marginal note inserted thus for L Lib][86] |
|
| 216.2fb-1fb (153.15-16)] them, ¶ [For inserted in left margin for canceled But] as |
them, For as |
| 293.9 (180.2fb)] disagreeableness [in them interlined]? |
disagreeableness in them? |
| 298 (182[87]
)] ERRATA. [marginal note in- serted p 107 cho / que][88] |
Springborg correctly notes that "yet" is marked for deletion in
the list of errata, and she
brackets it accordingly;
Astell nevertheless has crossed through the word several times.
Both Astell's
copy and the British Library copy show a
comma not recorded in Springborg: "serv'd, yet."
Astell again crosses through words marked for deletion in the
list of errata; as before,
Springborg brackets these
words.
An emendatory road not taken: in the left margin of this
passage, Astell has written, and
scratched out, "find
fault"—another possibility for the rejected "demur."
René Rapin (1621-1687), French Jesuit, influential
neoclassical critic, and prolific au-
thor of theological
and philosophical tracts, many of which were translated into
English. Astell's
passage parallels in both logic and
phrasing section 5 of his Some Christian
Reflections (1673):
"All the wisest among the
antient Philosophers have believed they knew nothing: In summe,
the uncertainty of the Senses which are such deceivers,
the natural obscurities of the Heart of
man, the weakness
of his Spirit, Education, Custom, Opinion, the tumult of
ordinary Passions,
and those prepossessions no power can
surmount, have so utterly effaced all those footsteps of
Truth which remained in man, that the most common Secrets of
Nature appear inconceiveable
[sic] to the most wise and
knowing" (203-204).
Astell crossed out the original, "grope," heavily in pen, and
added "stumble" in the
margin. The British Library copy
also has "grope." Springborg's copy-text (held in the Folger
Shakespeare Library), however, had "stumble," suggesting a
stop-press change.
The "new way of ideas" John Locke had presented in An Essay Concerning Human Under-
standing (1690) had been attacked most famously by
Bishop Stillingfleet, of course, but also by
Astell in her
Christian Religion (1705). Assuming
this pencil note, like the others, was made after
1715,
Astell may be pointing to Locke as representative of those
thinkers who valued novelty
over truth, and/or as one who
disables his own truth claims by refusing the Platonic concept
of
divine ideas. It is also possible, however, that Astell
is simply noting her own Lockean dismissal
of historical
consensus as a necessary arbiter of truth.
Astell here signals the beginning of the section of SPII George Berkeley plagiarized in
The Ladies Library (1714). This passage
actually begins in the final line of 447.
Rapin's comment in section 17 of his Reflections does indeed adumbrate perfectly
Astell's argument in this section: "We ought to know how to
distinguish the knowledge of things
by their Principles;
that is to say, to know Sensible things by Sense, Intellectuals
by Reason,
and Supernatural and Divine things by Faith"
(211 [misnumbered as 112]). I have been unable
to decipher
what the later portion of Astell's reference might indicate.
Again, Astell's citation would seem to refer to Rapin's Reflections, wherein he too com-
plained that "Philosophers," by "accustoming their Spirits too
much to knowledges palpable,
sensible, and evident," have
rendered themselves "very unfit for the Submissions of Faith."
In
a paradox Astell would readily have accepted, Rapin
argued that in order truly "to be reason-
able," a person
must recognize the need for "Reason" to "be submitted to Faith."
See sections 15
and 16, pp. 210-211 [misnumbered as
112].
Astell has tinkered with the revision she found in Ladies Library: "to gratify thereby their
secret Envy, diverting us from …" (465).
Springborg explains that Berkeley's substitution is a paraphrase
of Astell's colloquial-
ism (188, note 73).
Astell underlined this word in pencil. The erroneous "choak" is
a solecism for
"choque," an archaic form of "shock" (see
OED, s.v. shock). It seems likely that
"err" refers to
the now updated list of errata; see the
entry for 298 (182) and note.
Astell should also have canceled this "of" to avoid repetition
of the preposition—an
oversight.
Slightly revised in the second edition of Ladies Library, which has "and" for "as also"
and
a colon rather than a period between "selves" and "All" (472).
For an account of the two
versions of Berkeley's text, see
the introduction to this Appendix.
Ladies Library: "into, the general Causes
…" (477). Astell has made a note in the right
margin reading "The General Causes," the capitalization perhaps
indicating her dissatisfaction
with Berkeley's decision to
join the two sentences into one.
Astell does not substitute "and determine" for her "and to
determine" or "not depend"
for her "not to depend." The
awkwardness of the current phrasing suggests an oversight on
Astell's part, not a deliberate rethinking of Berkeley's
changes.
Ladies Library 478. The final passage has
been revised in the second edition of Ladies
Library: "… Designs, we should labour to
bring these over to her, and …" (475).
Ladies Library: "For, as the judicious
Author of The Art of Thinking well
observes …"
(480). Astell had cited Arnauld's work
marginally in her original and would likely have done
so
again; her new phrasing would appear to stress the aptness of
Arnauld's title to its subject
matter.
Unlike the vast majority of the changes in this section of the
text, this correction is
made in ink. Astell's revision is
an obvious improvement on her original tautology.
Perhaps a reference to Rapin's argument in section 15 of Reflections that religious faith
provides the foundation both for morality and for
epistemology.
Although "can" maintains parallel syntax, it vitiates the
meaning of the rhetorical
question. The second edition of
Ladies Library makes the correction:
"cannot bear" (483).
Berkeley actually keeps the "how" that Astell elects to cut: Ladies Library reads "con-
sequently, how…" (487).
Astell neglects to mark the words she would need to cancel (and
which Berkeley did
cancel) to insert, as she does,
Berkeley's "Thus." An oversight seems likely.
Compare Astell's paragraph to Locke's Essay: "Some of the Ideas that
are in the Mind,
are so there, that they can be, by
themselves, immediately compared, one with another: And in
these, the Mind is able to perceive, that they agree or
disagree, as clearly, as that it has them….
And
this, therefore, as has been said, I call Intuitive Knowledge; which is certain, beyond all
Doubt,
and needs no Probation, nor can have any; this
being the highest of all Humane Certainty. In
this
consists the Evidence of all those Maxims, which no Body has any Doubt about, but every
man (does not, as is said, only assent to, but) knows to
be true, as soon as ever they are proposed
to his
Understanding" (4.17.14.683). Astell would appear to acknowledge
her debt to Locke
on this point, though she, unlike Locke,
held to the Augustinian guarantee for the validity of
such
self-evident ideas by maintaining that "all Truth is Antient, as
being from Eternity in the
Divine Ideas" (SPII92).
Astell opens a bracket before "That" but never closes it. See
Ladies Library 490, where
the
first portions of Astell's paragraph are significantly cut and
rewritten. Perhaps Astell had
second thoughts about
considering Berkeley's substantial revision?
Astell adds the citation to Descartes just where her quotation
of him ends (at "he
ought"); this correction is indicated
in the list of errata—it calls for the citation to be
placed
at the beginning of the quotation, not the
end—and Springborg adds it to her edition ac-
cordingly (though without the close quotation mark—an
oversight). In the British Library
copy of Astell's work,
the correction has been made to the text and is included in the list of
errata—another indication of stop-press changes. Compare
this discrepancy with 47.4-5
(91.13), where Springborg's
text shows the correction but neither the British Library copy
nor
Astell's copy does the same. It would appear that
corrected and uncorrected sheets were mixed
in no
discernable pattern as copies of SPII
were being compiled, a process which Melvyn New
and I
encountered in our work with the first edition of Astell and
John Norris's Letters Concerning
the
Love of God (1695); see Letters,
"A Note on the Text" (50-52).
Ladies Library: "equivalent
Conversation." Astell's rejection of the singular "equivalent"
may be deliberate; Berkeley's revision borders on
nonsensical. Indeed, Astell's original comma
helps, though
she follows Berkeley in deleting it.
One of the few corrections in this section not inspired by
Berkeley—and one of the few
made in ink. Note that
the previous emendation would render this change
pointless—another
clue that Astell corrected her
text at different points in time.
Ladies Library 494. Berkeley's revision
includes the syntactically necessary "strong and
beautiful. That Superstructure" as well as a shift to
second-person necessary to maintain paral-
lelisms "Leave no part of your Subject
unexamin'd…." Given Astell's attempts elsewhere
to follow
Berkeley's emendations of her
first—person plural to the second person—and note
the inconsis-
tent "any" for Berkeley's "no"—it
seems likely that Astell simply lost track of the changes she
was attempting to record.
Ladies Library 495. Astell neglects to
cancel "our" to match her insertion of "yor,"
surely an
oversight.
Ladies Library 496: "Judge no farther than you perceive…." Again,
Astell inadvertently
neglects to follow Berkeley's shift
to second person.
Ladies Library 497. The second edition of
Ladies Library reverts to Astell's
original,
"enjoyns" (494). The syntactical question is
whether "Reason … enjoyns" or "Enquiries …
[they] … enjoyn."
In Ladies Library commas separate these
clauses, though the phrasing—as in the
original—remains opaque: "But by this we may learn, and
so we may by every thing, that such
weak and fallible
Creatures as we are, be sure to think candidly…."
Ladies Library 498. Astell provides a
close bracket around "For," but neglects to provide
an
open bracket—an oversight.
Astell's intentions here are difficult to decipher. She has
inserted a "Q," in the margin
before the first word of
this passage ("We"), and she fails to close the bracket she
opens around
"its true," a canceled phrase in Berkeley.
Ladies Library reads as follows: "'Tis
true, we all pre-
tend to this, and think our selves
injur'd if it be not believ'd; we are
disinterested…."
As in several other cases, the correction in pen answers to the
fist of errata, "the" for
"of" in this case; Springborg
includes the corrected reading in brackets. The correction in
pencil is an improvement on Berkeley, "the" for "that"
(Ladies Library 508).
Ladies Library:
"present Interest, is what
weighs…." The line actually falls at the very
bottom of 508.
Ladies Library 512. Unlike Berkeley,
Astell would likely have retained her marginal
acknowledgement of the quotation from Arnauld.
Astell's corrections prove redundant—the marginal
insertion of "ye" and the emenda-
tion of "then" record
the same change. The second edition of Ladies
Library further revises this
passage: "we are
perplext and obscure Writers" (512).
Ladies library 515. Astell does not
cancel "Wordy," surely an oversight given her inser-
tion
of "verbose."
Ladies Library 516. Astell excises her
laudatory reference to Locke, but it is important
to note
that she is following Berkeley's lead.
Again, Astell's citation is off by a page; this passage falls at
the very top of 518. OED,
s.v. parity: "3. Equality of nature, character, or
tendency; likeness, similarity, analogy; parallel-
ism; as
in parity of reason or reasoning."
Berkeley frequently changes the capitalization of Astell's
original; that Astell here
makes note of it suggests that
she may indeed be looking for changes that improve her text.
This is the single place where Astell records any of Berkeley's
emendations in ink, and
even here, as usual, she cites the
page number in pencil.
Astell pencils in a close bracket after "Conversation"; indeed,
Berkeley's pilfering does
end on this word (524).
Springborg's note on this fact (192, note 146) mistakenly has
534.
Springborg has incorporated into the text the changes noted in
the list of Errata and
so does not include the list
itself; it falls at the bottom of the page in the 1697 edition,
just after
the end of the text of SPII.
See above, 107.7fb (113.15) and note 26. It is not clear why
Astell makes the change
here instead of making it, as
elsewhere, directly to the text. It is possible that this
represents a
very early change that Astell had hoped to
include in the list of errata—but it should be noted
that this change, unlike other potentially early changes,
is made in pencil; cf. the entry for
47.4-5(91.13) and
note 6.
| APPENDIX 1 Studies in bibliography | |