[1668.] rocín gallego. The gallegos, or inhabitants of Galicia, are a sober, industrious people, but have throughout Spain a reputation for ignorance and stupidity; so they have long been made the butt of malicious gibes and jests by their more volatile fellow-countrymen. In the Valencia edition this verse and the preceding one are rendered in a manner to give a clearer meaning:
En la coz y mordiscón
Parece rocín gallego.
[1681.] Es... vaya, Is all that to tease me?
[1696.] diera is used here in the double sense of "give" and "strike."
[1708.] cristal de Venecia. Early in the middle ages Venice was a center for the manufacture of glass. The industry was at its height in the 15th and 16th centuries, but gradually declined until it ceased in the 18th, only to be revived about the middle of the 19th century. Since then Venice has retaken her position as the European center for artistic creations in glass. Near the close of the 13th century the factories were moved outside the city to the island of Murano, where they are at the present time.
[1714.] Si no, etc., If not in harm, in the realization.—Caer en la cuenta, to understand, realize.
[1723.] satisfaciones is now written satisfacciones.
1733-4. The language of these two verses is drawn from the popular proverbs: "Tantas veces va el cántaro á la fuente, alguna se quiebra," and "Tantas veces va el cántaro á la fuente, que deja el asa ó la frente." Doña María uses parts of each of these forms.
[1737.] volviérades=volvierais. See v. 835 and note.
[1782.] de canela, that is, agua de canela.