[248] [See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 318-19.] So in Dekker's "Belman's Nights-walke," it is alluded to:—"The set at Maw being plaid out."
Henslowe in his Diary mentions a play under the title of "The Maw," which probably had reference to the game at cards so called. It was acted on the 14th December 1594. He also names a play entitled "The Macke," under date of Feb. 21, 1594-5; but it is doubtful if they were not the same.—Collier.
[249] In the old editions this is given as a part of what is said by Anamnestes.—Collier.
[250] [See Dyce's "Middleton," iii. 106. There's no ho, there are no bounds or restraints with them.—Reed. They are not to be restrained by a call or ho. The expression is common.—Dyce.]
[251] Rather Ptolemy.—Pegge.
[252] Latten, as explained by Dr Johnson, is "Brass; a mixture of Copper and Caliminaris stone." Mr Theobald, from Monsieur Dacier, says, "C'est une espece de cuivre de montagne, comme son nom mesme le temoigne; c'est ce que nous appellons au jourd'huy du leton. It is a sort of mountain copper, as its very name imports, and which we at this time of day call latten." See Mr Theobald's note on "The Merry Wives of Windsor," act i. sc. 1.
Among the Harleian MSS. is a tract, No. 6395, entitled "Merry Passages and Jeasts," written in the seventeenth century, [printed by Thoms in "Anecdotes and Traditions," 1839,] in which is the following story of Shakespeare, which seems entitled to as much credit as any of the anecdotes which now pass current about him: "Shake-speare was god-father to one of Ben Jonson's children, and after the christning, being in a deepe study, Jonson came to cheere him up, and ask't him why he was so melancholy? No, faith, Ben (sayes he) not I, but I have been considering a great while, what should be the fittest gift for me to bestow upon my god-child, and I have resolv'd at last; I pr'y thee what, says he? I faith, Ben, Ile e'en give him a douzen good Lattin spoones, and thou shall translate them."
[253] Deft is handy, dexterous. So in "Macbeth," act iv. sc. 1—
"Thyself and office deftly show."
See note on "Macbeth," edit. 1778.—Steevens.