[156] Old copy, heedless.
[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use the word pretend for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," act ii. sc. 6.
[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste.
[159] Jest was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks of "the jests or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more particular application. Gest and jest are the same word, though now and then distinguished.
[160] Old copy, floats.
[161] Old copy, lo.
[162] Old copy, yea. By She Sylla must be understood to refer to Fate, whom he has just mentioned.
[163] [Old copy, while.]
[164] i.e., Verse.
[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the razors of Palermo.—Collier. [Mr Collier's suggested retention of shave, the reading of the old copy, I cannot support.]