"And as for poetry, woods eloquence."
It is no doubt a misprint for words' eloquence, or the eloquence of words.
[48] [Old copy, source. The emendation was suggested by Collier.]
[49] [Former edits.—"Envy envieth not outcries unrest." And so the 4to.]
[50] [Old copy, slight.]
[51] On this subject Camden tells us: "There was both this summer (1592) and the last so great a drought all England over, that the fields were burnt, and the fountains dried up, and a great many beasts perish'd everywhere for want of water. The Thames likewise, the noblest river of all Britain, and which has as full and large a tide as any in Europe (for it flows twice a day above sixty miles from the mouth of it, and receives an increase from the mixture of many other streams and rivers with it), was, however, sunk to that degree (to the wonder of all men) on the 5th September, that a man might ride over it near London Bridge, so shallow was the channel."
[52] There seems to be no account of this flood, unless it was that which occurred in the autumn of 1579. See Stow's "Annals," edit. 1615, fol. 686, and Collier's "Extr. from Stat. Reg.," ii. 105. There was also a great partial flood in 1571; but it is not mentioned as having affected the Thames.
[53] i.e., Persons who had drunk the Thames water fell ill.
[54] Guesses.
[55] Had I wist is had I thought; and the words are often met with as the reproof of imprudence. So afterwards again in this play—