[115] To come off is equivalent to the modern expression to come down, to pay sauce, to pay dearly, &c. In this sense Shakespeare uses the phrase in "Merry Wives of Windsor," act iv. sc. 6. The host says, "They [the Germans] shall have my horses, but I'll make them pay, I'll sauce them. They have had my house a week at command; I have turned away my other guests. They must come off; I'll sauce them." An eminent critic says to come off is to go scot-free; and this not suiting the context, he bids us read, they must compt off, i.e., clear their reckoning.
[116] Old copy, Craboun.
[117] [Talons.]
[118] Gramercy: great thanks, grand merci; or I thank ye, Je vous remercie. In this sense it is constantly used by our first writers. A very great critic pronounces it an obsolete expression of surprise, contracted from grant me mercy; and cites a passage in "Titus Andronicus" to illustrate his sense of it; but, it is presumed, that passage, when properly pointed, confirms the original acceptation—
CHIRON. Demetrius, here's the son of Lucius,
He hath some message to deliver us.
AARON. Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
BOY. My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
I greet your honours from Andronicus—
And pray the Roman gods confound you both. [Aside.
DEMETRIUS. Gramercy, lovely Lucius; what's the news?
BOY. That you are both decipher'd (that's the news)
For villains mark'd with rape. [Aside] May it please you,
My grandsire, well advis'd, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapon of his armoury,
To gratify your honourable youth,
The hope of Rome: for so he bid me say;
And so I do, and with his gifts present
Your lordships, that whenever you have need,
You may be armed and appointed well.
And so I leave you both—like bloody villains. [Aside.
—Hanmer's 2d edit., act iv. sc. 2. [The text is the same in Dyce's 2d edit., vi. 326-7.]