[Note V.]
II. 2. 101. In the quarto no distinction is made between the letter of Falstaff and the speaker's remarks, but in the Folios the letter is printed in italics.
[Note VI.]
II. 4. 166. As the quotation is made by Pistol, who has just spoken of 'Cannibals' (for 'Hannibals') and of 'Trojan Greeks,' we have left it uncorrected. It would be scarcely consistent to put correct Italian, or Spanish, into his mouth. All the editors assume that Italian is the language meant, and give it, as such, more or less correctly. If Pistol's sword were a Toledo blade, the motto would be Spanish. In that case 'Si' and 'me' would need no alteration. Mr Douce mentions a sword inscribed with a French version of the motto. On the same ground we have left 'obsque,' for 'absque,' (v. 5. 28).
[Note VII.]
II. 4. 221 sqq. We follow the Quarto in writing 's for is, i' for in, 'll for will, an for if, a' for he, &c. as it seems to represent better the language of the speakers, and from this point we cease to record such minute discrepancies between it and the Folios.
[Note VIII.]
II. 4. 342. At this point commences an important variation between different copies of the Quarto. In the earlier impression, which we call Q1, the whole of Act III. Sc. 1, was omitted, but inserted in the latter (Q2), and in order to make room for this insertion two new leaves were added to sheet E, but as the new matter did not exactly fill up the two leaves required, the pagination was altered. Hence in Q2, Sig. E 3 recto is made to terminate at 'how now, what's the matter?' (II. 4. 342) which is seven lines from the bottom in Q1. The two become again identical at 'strong and of good friends' (III. 2. 99), the first line of Sig. F.