And diuers other thinges that in the bowels of earth do loorke,
With care I haue sought out, with payne I did then proue;
With them eke can I helpe my selfe at times of my behoue," etc.
9. [The earth,] etc. Cf. Milton, P.L. ii. 911: "The womb of nature, and perhaps her grave." See also Per. ii. 3. 45:—
"Whereby I see that Time's the king of men,
He's both their parent, and he is their grave."
15. [Mickle.] Much, great; a word already half obsolete in the time of S. Cf. C. of E. iii. 1. 45: "The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle blame," etc. Powerful grace = "efficacious virtue" (Johnson); or = gracious power.
19. [Strain'd.] Wrenched, forced. Cf. M. of V. iv. 1. 184: "The quality of mercy is not strain'd" (that is, excludes the idea of force or compulsion), etc.
23. [Weak.] So all the early eds. except 1st quarto, which has "small." Weak seems the better word as opposed to the following power (Daniel).
25. [With that part.] That is, with its odour. Malone and Clarke take part to be = the sense of smell.