The form 'scan' occurs in Othello and Pericles, and 'scann'd' occurs in Comedy of Errors. The two other occurrences of 'scann'd' are noteworthy for their syntactic and prosodic resemblances in a context of murderous thoughts. Hamlet refrains from killing Claudius because he considers the circumstances inadequate revenge: "And so am I [reveng'd]. That would be scann'd"(Ham.3.3.75). Macbeth looks ahead to crimes "which must be acted ere they may be scann'd" (Mac.3.4.139).
18 September 1999