154 ([return])
[ cunning: i.e. skilfully prepared.—Old ed. "running." (The MAIDS are supposed to hear their mistress' orders WITHIN.)]
155 ([return])
[ Shalt live with me, and be my love: A line, slightly varied, of Marlowe's well-known song. In the preceding line, the absurdity of "by Dis ABOVE" is, of course, intentional.]
156 ([return])
[ beard: Old ed. "sterd.">[
157 ([return])
[ give me a ream of paper: we'll have a kingdom of gold for't: A quibble. REALM was frequently written ream; and frequently (as the following passages shew), even when the former spelling was given, the L was not sounded;
"Vpon the siluer bosome of the STREAME
First gan faire Themis shake her amber locks,
Whom all the Nimphs that waight on Neptunes REALME
Attended from the hollowe of the rocks."
Lodge's SCILLAES METAMORPHOSIS, &c. 1589, Sig. A 2.
"How he may surest stablish his new conquerd REALME,
How of his glorie fardest to deriue the STREAME."
A HERINGS TAYLE, &c. 1598, Sig. D 3.
"Learchus slew his brother for the crowne;
So did Cambyses fearing much the DREAME;
Antiochus, of infamous renowne,
His brother slew, to rule alone the REALME."
MIROUR FOR MAGISTRATES, p. 78, ed. 1610.]