[NOTES]
P. [2].
The Rubie.—This is the famous and characteristic note of Euphuism—the accumulation of similes from natural history, or what was taken for natural history. It can hardly be necessary to take note of each of these; still less of the abundant classical allusions which any one acquainted with the classics will understand at once, and which could only be explained to others by loading these notes with lumps of Lemprière. Nor will any one find much difficulty in the language if he remembers that 'then' and 'than,' 'there' and 'their,' 'wayed' and 'weighed,' were written, or at least printed, in those days according to the liberal standard of the taste and fancy of the speller. In case of any difficulty, reading the word aloud will generally solve it. In a few instances, however, it may be well to gloss a little more specially.
M.—I am not sure what this abbreviates. 'Master,' for which it is the commonest sign, would do.
Oftscome = 'off-scum,' 'off-scouring.'
P. [3].
Find faulte is rather a loss: it is better than 'fault-finder.'
Closset.—This refers to the famous copy of Homer called ἡ ἑκ του νἁρθηκος, which Alexander carried about with him in a sumptuous narthex—a portable medicine-case.
Bourde = 'jest.'