There is yet another instance in Cymbeline, which seems to bear a
similar construction:
"Whom best I love, I cross: to make my gifts
The more delay'd, _delighted_."
Act v. Sc. 4.
That is, "the _more_ delighted;" the longer held back, the better worth
having; lightened of whatever might detract from their value, that is,
refined or purified. In making the remark here, that "delighted" refers
not to the recipient nor to the giver, but to the gifts, I pass by the
nonsense that the greatest master of the English language did not heed
the distinction between the past and the present participles, as not
worth a second thought.
The word appears to have had a distinct value of its own, and is not to
be explained by any other single word. If this be so, it could hardly
have been coined by Shakspeare. Though, possibly, it may never have been
much used, perhaps some of your correspondents may be able to furnish
other instances from other writers.
SAMUEL HICKSON.
St. John's Wood.
* * * * *
AUTHORS OF "THE ROLLIAD."
The subjoined list of the authors of _The Rolliad_, though less complete
than I could have wished, is, I believe, substantially correct, and may,
therefore, be acceptable to your readers. The names were transcribed by
me from a copy of the ninth edition of _The Rolliad_ (1791), still in
the library at Sunninghill Park, in which they had been recorded on the
first page of the respective papers.
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