Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of Ancient Manners: / with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspeare; on a Collection of Popular Tales Entitled Gesta Romanorum; and on the English Morris dance.

by Francis Douce

Scene 5. Page 77.

Ghost. ... it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk.

Many readers may require to be told that eager means sour, from the French aigre. In the preceding Scene it is used in the sense of sharp, and is there properly so explained; but the quotation of the present passage on that occasion seems misapplied.

Scene 5. Page 79.

Ghost. ... and sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head.

Heywood, a contemporary writer, has imitated this in his play of A woman kill'd with kindness;

"... and send them, laden
With all their scarlet sins upon their backs
Unto a fearful judgment."

Scene 5. Page 81.

Ham. My tables,—meet it is, I set it down.