Does not this confirm, what the passage itself cannot but suggest, the propriety of substituting “booty” for “beauty” in Falstaff's speech, Henry IV. part i. act i. sc. 2. “Let not us, &c.?”
It is not often that old Ben condescends to imitate a modern author; but Master Dan. Knockhum Jordan, and his vapours are manifest reflexes of Nym and Pistol.
Ib. sc. 5.—
“Quarl. She'll make excellent geer for the coachmakers here in
Smithfield, to anoint wheels and axletrees with.”
Good! but yet it falls short of the speech of a Mr. Johnes, M.P., in the Common Council, on the invasion intended by Buonaparte:—“Houses plundered—then burnt;—sons conscribed—wives and daughters ravished,” &c., &c.—“But as for you, you luxurious Aldermen! with your fat will he grease the wheels of his triumphant chariot!”
Ib. sc. 6.—
“Cok. Avoid in your satin doublet, Numps.”
This reminds me of Shakespeare's “Aroint thee, witch!” I find in several books of that age the words aloigne and eloigne—that is,—“keep your distance!” or “off with you!” Perhaps “aroint” was a corruption of “aloigne” by the vulgar. The common etymology from ronger to gnaw seems unsatisfactory.
Act iii. sc. 4.—