P.S.--Since writing the above, I have seen MR. KEIGHTLEY's letter. I hope he will not deprive the readers of "N. & Q." of the benefit of his valuable communications for the offences of one or two. He might consider, first, that his own dignity would suffer least by letting them pass by him "as the idle wind;" and, secondly, that some allowance should be made for gentlemen who engage in controversy on a subject which, strangely enough, next to religion, seems to be most productive of discord.
"I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen Our means _secure_ us; and our mere defects Prove our commodities."
Does not Shakspeare here use _secure_ as a verb, in the sense "to make careless?" If so, the passage would mean, "Our means," that is, our power, our strength, make us wanting in care and vigilance, and too self-confident. Gloucester says, "I stumbled when I saw;" meaning, When I had eyes I walked carelessly; when I had the "means" of seeing and avoiding stumbling-blocks, I stumbled and fell, because I walked without care and watchfulness. Then he adds, "And our mere defects prove our commodities." Our deficiencies, our weaknesses (the sense of them), make us use such care and exertions as to prove advantages to us. Thus the antithesis is preserved.
How scriptural is the first part of the passage!
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."--1 Cor. x. 12.
"He hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down; there shall no harm happen unto me."--Ps. x. 6.
"My strength is made perfect in weakness."--2 Cor. xii. 9.
"When I am weak then am I strong."--2 Cor. xii. 10.
In _Timon of Athens_ we find _secure_ used as verb "_Secure_ thy heart."--Act II. Sc. 2.
"I do not so _secure_ me in the error."--Act I. Sc. 3.
In Du Cange's _Gloss._ is the verb "_Securare_ nudè pro securum reddere." In the "Alter Index sive Glossarium" of Ainsworth's _Dictionary_ is the verb "_Securo_, as ... to live carelessly." In the "Verba partim Græca Latinè scripta, partim barbara," &c., is "_Securo_, as securum reddo."
The _means_ of the hare in the fable for the race (that is, her swiftness) _secured_ her; the defects of the tortoise (her slowness) proved her _commodity_.