The same comparison occurs also in Don Quixote, part ii. cap. 12. See note [E378].
[E135] Psalm cxliv. 4.
[E136] "Atrop." "The fatall sisters," Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, daughters of Erebus and the Night, were supposed to spin out the life of man as it were a long thread, which they drew out in length, till his fatal hour had arrived; but if by any other casualty his days were shortened, then Atropos was said to have cut the thread in two. Hence the old verse: "Clotho colum bajulat, Lachesis trahit, Atropos occat."
[E137] "Euer among," an expression of frequent occurrence in Early English, meaning "constantly, continually." Compare the Mod. Eng. "all the while." In a Carol of the fifteenth century, we read:
"Thys endus nyȝth
I saw a syȝth,
A stare as bryȝt as day;
And ever among
A mayden song
Lullay, by by, lullay."
And in another:
"Our der Lady she stod hym by,
And wepe water ful bytterly,
And terys of blod ever among."
[E138] "As onely of whom our comfort is had." The expression is obscure, but the meaning is clear: as the only one from whom our comfort (or strength) is derived.
[E139] "Good husbands," that is, good husbandmen or farmers.