[183] {388}[Compare—"Cozenage, mere cozenage." Merry Wives of Windsor, act iv. sc. 5, line 58.
If further proof were needed, the repetition or echo of Shakespearian phrases, here and elsewhere in the play, would reveal Byron's handiwork.]
[184] {389}[Compare Marino Faliero, act ii, sc. 2, line 115—"These swoln silkworms masters."
Silkworm ("mal bigatto") is an Italianism. See Poetical Works, 1901, iv. 386, note 4.]
[cs] {391}
——and hollow
Sickness sits caverned in his yellow eye.—[MS. M.]
[185] {393}["Thou hast harped my fear aright." Macbeth, act iv. sc. 1, line 74.]
[186] {396}["Momus is the god of cruel mockery. He is said to have found fault with the man formed by Hephæstus, because a little door had not been left in his breast, so as to enable his fellows to look into his secret thoughts." (See Lucian's Hermotimus, cap. xx.) There was a proverb, Τῷ Μώμῳ ἀρέσκειν Momo santisfacere; vide Adagia Variorum, 1643, p. 58. Byron describes Suwarrow as "Now Mars, now Momus" (Don Juan, Canto VII. stanza Iv. line 7).]
[187] {403}[For the "Theban brethren," Eteocles and Polynices, see the Septem c. Thebas of Æschylus. Byron had read and liked the "Seven before Thebes."—Letters, 1900, iv. 174.]