[I.29] ——clear thy crystals.] Dry thine eyes.
Act II Chorus
[IIc.1] ——which he fills] i.e., the King of France.
[IIc.2] ——Richard, earl of Cambridge;] Was Richard de Coninsbury, younger son of Edmund of Langley, Duke of York. He was father of Richard, Duke of York, father of Edward the Fourth.
[IIc.3] Henry lord Scroop of Masham,] Was third husband of Joan Duchess of York (she had four), mother-in-law of Richard, Earl of Cambridge.
[IIc.4] ——the gilt of France,] i.e., golden money.
[IIc.5] ——this grace of kings] i.e., he who does the greatest honor to the title. By the same phraseology the usurper in Hamlet is called the vice of kings, i.e., the opprobrium of them.
[IIc.6] ——while we force a play.] To force a play is to produce a play by compelling many circumstances into a narrow compass.
[IIc.7] We’ll not offend one stomach] That is, you shall pass the sea without the qualms of sea-sickness.
[IIc.8] But, till the king come forth, and not till then,] The meaning is, “We will not shift our scene unto Southampton till the king makes his appearance on the stage, and the scene will be at Southampton only for the short time while he does appear on the stage; for, soon after his appearance, it will change to France.” —Malone.