FOOTNOTES:
[370] Far gone in woe. Dr Warburton observes: "This word was common enough amongst the old Scottish and English poets, as G. Douglas, Chaucer, Lord Buckhurst, Fairfax." See Notes on "Second Part of Henry IV.," act i. sc. 1., by him and Mr Steevens. Again, in Erasmus's "Praise of Folie," sig. E 3: "As who before represented a kinge, being clothed all in purpre, havinge no more but shifted hymselfe litle, shoulde shew hymselfe agayne lyke a woo begon myser."
[371] [Old copies, nobles.]
[372] Thapsus, a maritime town in Africa, where Cæsar defeated the remains of Pompey's army.—Steevens.
[373] [Cutlass.] "A cuttelas, courtelas, or short sword for a man at armes."—Cotgrave's "Dictionary," voce coutelas.
[374] [Every-each, an uncommon form in our later literature, though constantly occurring in the old poetry and romance.]
[375] Headpieces or helmets. So, in Marston's "Sophonisba," act i. sc. 2—
"And while our ore-toyl'd foe
Snores on his unlac'd cask, all faint, though proud;
Through his successful fight."
And ibid. act ii. sc. 2—"Enter Massinissa in his gorget and shirt, shield, sword, his arme transfixt with a dart; Jugurth followes with his cures and caske."
[376] [Old copies, champant.]
[377] [Old copies, nor northeast.]
[378] Terms of heraldry.—Steevens.
[379] This speech is in great measure translated from the 7th Book of Lucan, 1. 560, &c.—
"Hic Cæsar, rabies populi, stimulusque furorum,
Ne qua parte sui pereat scelus, agmina circum
It vagus, atque ignes animis flagrantibus addit.
Inspicit et gladios, qui toti sanguine manent,
Qui niteant primo tantum mucrone cruenti,
Quæ presso tremat ense manus," &c.—Steevens.
[380] "Pell-mell. Confusedly, hand over head, all in a heap one with another"—Cotgrave, voce Pesle-mesle. So, in Marston's "Sophonisba," act i. sc. 2—
"We gave the signe of battaile: shouts are rais'd
That shook the heavens: Pell-mell our armies joyn
Horse, targets, pikes, all against each opposed."
[381] [Hipponium. See Smith's "Dict. of Geogr." in v.]
[382] So both the ancient editions. Mr Dodsley altered it to tearing unnecessarily and improperly. To tire is a term in falconry, and signifies to prey on, or tear in pieces.
So in Ben Jonson's "Poetaster," act iv. sc. 3—
"What, and be tir'd on by yond' vulture?"
In "The Honest Man's Fortune," by Beaumont and Fletcher, [edit. Dyce, iii. 383]—
"Ye dregs of baseness, vultures amongst men,
That tire upon the hearts of generous spirits."
And in Dekker's "Match me in London"—
"The vulture tires
Upon the eagle's heart."
[383] i.e., Venalis sub hastâ.—Steevens. See also note on "The Parson's Wedding."
SOLIMAN AND PERSEDA.
EDITION.
The Tragedy of Solyman and Perseda. Wherein is laid open Loves constancy, Fortunes inconstancy, and Deaths Triumphs. At London. Printed by Edward Allde for Edward White, and are to be solde at the little North doore of Paule's Church at the signe of the Gun. [1599.] 4°.
Some copies are dated 1599, and Dr Bliss's purported on the title-page to be "newly corrected and amended," but there was only one impression, which received no fewer than three title-pages. Compare Hazlitt, p. 468.
Though not printed till 1599, the introduction of a part of the story into Kyd's "Spanish Tragedy," licensed in 1592, may seem to show that the play had been written, partly or wholly, several years before.