II.ii.176 (54,5) [I'll get thee Young scamels from the rock] This word has puzzled the commentators: Dr. Warburton reads shamois. Mr. Theobald would read any thing rather than scamels. Mr. Holt, who wrote notes upon this play, observes, that limpets are in some places called scams, therefore I have suffered scamels to stand.
III.i.48 (58,8) [Of every creature's best] Alluding to the picture of Venus by Apelles.
III.ii.71 (62,5) [What a py'd ninny's this?] This line should certainly be given to Stephano. Py'd ninny alludes to the striped coat worn by fools, of which Caliban could have no knowledge. Trinculo had before been reprimanded and threatened by Stephano for giving Caliban the lie, he is now supposed to repeat his offence. Upon which Stephano cries out,
What a py'd ninny's this? Thou scurvy patch!—
Caliban, now seeing his master in the mood that he wished, instigates him to vengeance:
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows.
III.iii.48 (67,2) [Each putter out on five for one] This passage alluding to a forgotten custom is very obscure: the putter out must be a traveller, else how could he give this account? the five for one is money to be received by him at his return, Mr. Theobald has well illustrated this passage by a quotation from Jonson.
III.iii.82 (69,3) [clear life] Pure, blameless, innocent.
III.iii.86 (69,4)
[so with good life, And observation strange, my meaner ministers Their several kinds have done]