[Footnote 3: The singular is better: 'the pigeon lays no more than two eggs.' Steevens. Only, couplets might be used like twins.]
[Footnote 4: —hatched, the sporting term of the time.]
[Footnote 5: 'The pigeon never quits her nest for three days after her two young ones are hatched, except for a few moments to get food.' Steevens.]
[Footnote 6: Laertes stands eyeing him with evil looks.]
[Footnote 7: I suppose here a pause: he waits in vain some response from
Laertes.]
[Footnote 8: Here he retreats into his madness.]
[Footnote 9: '—but I cannot compel you to hear reason. Do what he will, Hercules himself cannot keep the cat from mewing, or the dog from following his inclination!'—said in a half humorous, half contemptuous despair.]
[Footnote 10: 'into immediate train'—to Laertes.]
[Footnote 11: life-like, or lasting?]
[Footnote 12: —again to Laertes.]