That fret the clouds are messengers of day;"[6]
and Much Ado, v. 3. 25: "Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey."
9. [Night's candles,] etc. Cf. Macb. ii. 1. 5.: "Their candles are all out." See also M. of V. v. 1. 220 and Sonn. 21. 12.
13. [Some meteor,] etc. Cf. 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4. 351: "My lord, do you see these meteors? do you behold these exhalations?" and Id. v. 1. 19: "an exhal'd meteor."
14. [Torch-bearer.] See on i. 4. 11 above.
19. [Yon grey.] See on ii. 4. 44 above.
20. [The pale reflex of Cynthia's brow.] That is, the pale light of the moon shining through or reflected from the breaking clouds Brow is put for face, as in M.N.D. v. 1. 11: "Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt," etc. Some critics have thought that a setting moon was meant; but only a rising moon could light up "the severing clouds" in the way described. The reflection (if we take reflex in that literal sense) is from their edges, as the light from behind falls upon them. Have these critics never seen—
"a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night"