FOOTNOTES:
[244] i.e., To make some of the lesser necessaries of a theatre, properties being the usual term for them. So Bottom, in the "Midsummer Night's Dream"—
"I will draw a bill of properties."
See a note on this passage.—Steevens.
Mr Steevens, in his note upon "Midsummer Night's Dream," (Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, v. 198), says that dresses were not included in the properties of theatres. Maine's authority is to the contrary, if Aurelia's apparel were to be used for the apparel of the actors.—Collier.
[245] Cuerpo is an undress: the Spaniards, from whom we borrowed the word, apply it to a person in a light jacket without his cabot or cloak.—Mr Gifford's note on the "Fatal Dowry," iii. 390. Cuerpo is the body, and in cuerpo means in body clothing.—Collier.
[246] i.e., The gold on my apparel. So in "King Henry V."
"Our gayness and our gilt are all besmerch'd."
See a note on this passage, vi., 128, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[247] [Omitted in former edit.]
[248] [The christening-fee.] The chrysome was the white cloth thrown over the new-baptized child. This perhaps was the perquisite of the officiating clergyman. The child itself, however, was sometimes called a chrysome. See a note on "King Henry V.," vi., 52, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[249] i.e., Leopards, animals often introduced into heraldic devices.
[250] [Former edit., vocation.]
[251] [Run into debt. Scores used to be chalked up at taverns. Hence the proverb, "The tapster is undone by chalk!" From being a particular phrase, it became general.]
[252] [The allowance to a kept mistress.]
[253] A biggon was a kind of coif formerly worn by men. It is now only in use for children.
[254] [Granting infant to be the right word, we are perhaps to suppose that illegitimate children were surreptitiously deposited on mercers' counters, occasionally, wrapped up as parcels. Upon their strengths appears to mean upon their credit.]
[255] From Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," p. 207, &c., we learn that the office of a Reader at the Middle Temple was held at a great charge to the person who executed it. "His expences," says that author, "during this time of reading, are very great; insomuch, as some have spent above six hundred pounds in two dayes less than a fortnight, which now is the usual time of reading." It appears also that many gentlemen, who were put by their reading, were removed from the Bar-table unto a table called, The Auncients Table; "And it is no disgrace," says the same author, "for any man to be removed hither; for by reason of the excessive chardge of readings, many men of great learning and competent practise, as well as others of less learning, but great estates, have refused to Read, and are here placed." To relieve the gentlemen who undertook this expensive office, it seems to have been usual to call upon the students for their assistance; and this circumstance is alluded to in the text. [The Ancients' Table is the same as the Benchers', and at Gray's Inn the Benchers are still called Ancients.]
[ACT V., SCENE I.]
Plotwell, Aurelia, Bright, Newcut, Quartfield, Roseclap, two Footmen, Cypher.
Plot. Well, sister, by this hand, I was afraid
You had marr'd all; but I am well content
You have outreach'd me. If she do act it well now,
By Jove, I'll have her.
Aur. She hath studied all
Her cues already.
Plot. Gentlemen, how do
You like the project?
Bright. Theirs was dull and cold,
Compar'd to ours.
New. Some poet will steal from us,
And bring't into a comedy.
Quart. The jest
Will more inspire than sack.
Plot. I have got Cypher
Over to our side too: he has been up and down
To invite guests to th' wedding.
Enter Salewit like a Curate.
How now, Salewit, are they gone home?
Sale. Yes, faith, for better for worse.
I've read a fiction out of Rab'lais to 'em
In a religious tone, which he believes
For good French liturgy. When I had done,
There came a christening.
Plot. And didst thou baptize
Out of thy Rab'lais too?
Sale. No, faith; I left 'em
In expectation of their pastor.
Bright. Newcut,
Who does he look like in that dress?
New. Hum! why
Like a Geneva weaver in black, who left[256]
The loom, and enter'd into th' ministry
For conscience' sake.
Plot. Well, gentlemen, you all
Do know your parts: you, Captain and Bannswright,
Go, get your properties. For you two, these
Two mules shall carry you in greater state
And more ease than the fistula. You, sister,
We'll leave unto your knight, to come anon.
Roseclap and I will thither straight. You, Cypher,
Know what you have to do.
Sale. And as for me,
I'm an invited guest, and am to bless
The venison in French, or in a grace
Of broken English.
Quart. Before we do divide
Our army, let us dip our rosemaries[257]
In one rich bowl of sack to this brave girl,
And to the gentleman that was my fish.
All. Agreed, agreed.
Plot. Captain, you shall dip first. [Exeunt.