After all, what could booters mean? Unless S. P. designed to characterise the Scythians, as Homer does his countrymen, ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ, the well-booted Greeks. [II. a. 17.] Free-booters, indeed, is used for plunderers; but I know not that booters is ever employed, unless in conjunction with some epithet that fixes its meaning.—S.
[359] Dishonoured. So in Spenser's "Fairy Queen," B. iii. sc. 1. § 12—
"Thus reconcilement was between them knitt,
Through goodly temp'rance and affection chaste;
And either vow'd with all their power and witt,
To let not other's honour be defaste,
Of friend or foe, who ever it embaste."
[360] Mr Steevens observes that this passage is very like the following in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," act iv. sc. 12—
"Would'st thou be windowed in great Rome, and see
Thy master thus with pleach'd arms bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd
To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat
Of fortunate Cæsar drawn before him branded
His baseness that ensued?"
[361] To affront is to meet directly. As in "Fuimus Troes," act ii. sc. 1—
"Let's then dismiss the legate with a frown;
And draw our forces toward the sea, to join
With the four kings of Kent, and so affront
His first arrival."
And in "Hamlet," act iii. sc. 1—
"That he, as 'twere by accident, may here
Affront Ophelia."
See Mr Steevens's note on the last passage.