FOOTNOTES:
[128] Langbaine observes that several incidents in this play are borrowed from novels, as the story of Mariana swearing Philocles to be dumb, from Bandello's Novels; Alfonso cuckolding Prate the orator, and the latter appearing before the council, from the same book. The English reader may see the same story in, "The Complaisant Companion," 8o, 1674.
[129] The word music is here inserted in the 4o, 1608, and is repeated at the commencement of each act.
[130] 'Tis heresy I hold—edit. of 1608.
[131] [Old copies, fare see.]
[132] An old word used by Chaucer, Spenser, Fairfax, and other writers, signifying a physician.
[133] The entrance of Mariana with the queen, &c., is not mentioned, though her exit is noticed: by the dialogue, which follows their departure from the walls, it is evident that she ought to be named, though hitherto omitted.—Collier.
[134] Dr Johnson observes that worm is the Teutonic word for serpent; and Dr Percy, that in the northern counties the same word is still used in that sense. See their several notes, and also Mr Tollet's to "Antony and Cleopatra," act v. sc. 2.
[135] [Greater, better.]
[136] [Former edits., dulat, which can surely have no meaning.]
[137] If Theobald had been as well read in our ancient dramatic writers as he pretended to be, he would have produced this passage in justification of the celebrated line in "The Double Falshood"—
"None but himself can be his parallel."
It is certain, if authorities would sanctify absurdity, he might have made a better defence against Mr Pope than that which he published. He might also have quoted the following line from Massinger's "Duke of Milan," act iv. sc. 3—
"And, but herself, admits no parallel."
[138] [Former edits., active.]
[139] [Former edits., it shows.]
[140] [Edits., Majesty's hand. The emendation was suggested by Collier.]
[141] There seems no reason for omitting these explanatory matters, which save a reference to the Dramatis Personæ.—Collier.
[142] [Former edits., gardens.]
[143] An ornament for the neck, a collar-band, or kind of ruff. Fr. Rabat.
[144] [Allusively to the enormously high headdress worn by ladies.]
[145] [Old copy, a.]
[146] This proverb is also quoted in "The Bloody Banquet," by T.D., 1639, which Mr Malone [wrongly] gives to R. Davenport—
Clown. O, always the weakest goes to the wall.
There was a play first printed in 1600, under the title of "The Weakest goeth to the Wall," the plot of which is taken with much servility from B. Rich's "Farewell to the Militarie Profession," 1581 and 1606, which book also furnished Shakespeare with the plot of his "Twelfth Night."—Collier.
[147] Fine.
[148] See Mr Collins's note to "Troilus and Cressida," [or Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," art. Potato.]
[149] "Skirret, Sisarum, quasi skirwort, i.e., sisar-wort. Tiberii Aug. deliciæ: credo potius a Belg. suycker-wortel, idem signante...."—Skinner. Compare Hofman and C. Plinii "Nat. Hist." lib. xix. c. 5.
[150] [An old form of] hangs. See the Glossary to Douglas's "Virgil," voce Hingare [or Halliwell's "Dict." in v.]
[151] The magnet, for in Kent they call the ironstone mine, quasi mineral.—Pegge.
[152] [Martial.]
[153] i.e., Prove defective, fail in my strength: defailler, Fr.—Steevens.
[154] [Edits., army; but the king would scarcely bring an army to such an encounter, even a stage-army.]
[155] When the combat was demanded and allowed, it was the custom for each party to take an oath to the following purport, viz., "that they had not brought into the lists other armour or weapon than was allowed, neither any engine, instrument, herbe, charm, or enchantment, and that neither of them should put affiance or trust in anything other than God and their own valours, as God and the holy Evangelists should help them."—Segar's "Honour Military, &c.," p. 134.
See also Mr Steevens's note on "Macbeth," act v. sc. 7.
[156] [Old copy, pure.]
[157] [Former edits., severity.]
[158] i.e., Minerva, who killed Ajax Oïleus with a thunderbolt for ravishing Cassandra in her temple.—Steevens.
[159] [Both the edits., defends.]
[160] [Edits., recant.]
[161] [Old copy, for.]