[154] In the previous editions of the Rhapsody, this line has always been imputed to the Wife, and the following one to the Widow; but as throughout the Contention each party praises her own state, whilst she ridicules that of the other, the transposition in the text appeared to be imperiously called for. Nicolas.
[155] By the rule of note 8, Wife seems necessary to be here prefixed; but see our Memorial-Introduction for a critical notice of this and other portions. G.
[156] = alloy. G.
[157] It was long a "Vulgar Error" that certain 'christall glasses' flew into bits on poison being put into them. G.
[158] See Introductory-note to the preceding poem. G.
[159] This Lottery was presented to the Queen in the year 1602, at York House, the residence of Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper, not in 1601, as stated in Nichols' Progresses, vol iii. p. 570. See our Memorial-Introduction for authority for this correction, and for the names of the ladies who drew the successive 'lots,' and also other points. Collier, as before, in a strangely curious remark, supposes these lottery verses may be Samuel Rowland's "When gossips meet," and as strangely does not connect them with Davies' name at all. He, however, supplies interesting memorabilia, relating to these Elizabethan Entertainments. He mis-names the poet-compiler of the 'Rhapsody' throughout, Davidson.
[160] Or Caract, a large ship. Chaucer speaks of Satan having "a tayle, broder than of a Carrike is the sayl." Sir Walter Raleigh,—a contributor to the Rhapsody,—observes "in which river the largest Carack may, &c." Nicolas.
[161] Mr. Nichols, in his Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, cites the
following passage from a speech made at her entertainment at Cowdray,
to prove that the line in the text was an "olde saying."
"Madame it is an olde saying 'There is no fishing to the sea, nor
service to the King;' but it holds when the sea is calm, and the King
virtuous."... Vol. iii., pp. 95-571. Nicolas. The sense is
that there is no fishing to be compared (in result) to sea-fishing, nor
any service to be compared with the king's. G.
[162] Manningham, in the original MS., has these variants: l. 1, 'hath sent'; l. 2, 'A plaine.' G.
[163] Manningham, as before, has 'word doth'—a reading which brings it more into accord with the language of the times, 'word' being then used for a sentence of import, impressa, or posy. He has also 'fit' for 'hit.' G.