197. [Pale as any clout.] A common simile of which Dowden cites examples from Bunyan and others. Versal is a vulgarism for universal.
198. [A letter.] One letter. Cf. Ham. v. 2. 276: "These foils have all a length," etc. For rosemary as the symbol of remembrance, see Ham. iv. 5. 175.
200. [The dog's name.] R was called "the dog's letter." Cf. Jonson, Eng. Gram.: "R is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound." Farmer cites Barclay, Ship of Fools, 1578:—
"This man malicious which troubled is with wrath,
Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R.
Though all be well, yet he none aunswere hath
Save the dogges letter glowming with nar, nar."
Dyce remarks: "Even in the days of the Romans, R was called the dog's letter, from its resemblance in sound to the snarling of a dog."
208. [Before, and apace.] Go before, and quickly. For apace, cf. iii. 2. 1 below.