the city, &c. TYRWHITT. = 33:) "and field," MALONE. 84:) To die upon the hand, &c.] To die upon, &c. in our author's language, perhaps means -- "to die by the hand." 35:) "where the, &c." MALONE.=36:) Where ox-lips-] The ox-lip is the greater cowslip.=37:) Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine,] All the old editions read luscious woodbine; which Mr. Malone prefers, but both lush and luscious (says Mr. Henley) are words of the same origin.= 38:) a roundel,] Rounds, or roundels, were like the present country dances.=39:)—with rear-mice-] Arere mouse is a bat, a mouse that rears itself from the ground by the aid of wings.=40:) — with double tongue,] our author means - forked. 41:) Newts, and blind-worms,] The newt is the eft, the blind-worm is the Cæcilia or slow-worm. = 42:) Be it ounce,] The ounce is a small tiger, or tiger cat.=43:) 0, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence;] Understand the meaning of my innocence, or my innocent meaning.= 44:) Now much beshrew, &c.] This word, of which the etymology is not exactly known, implies a sinister wish, and means the same as if she had said "now ill befall my manners," &c. 45:) "this kill-courtesy." MALONE. 46) All the power this charm doth owe:] i. e. all the power it possesses.=47:) wilt thou darkling i. e. in the dark.=48:) my grace.] My acceptableness, the favour that I can gain. 4:) "Nature shows her art." MALONE. 50:) "now I love." MALONE.

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51:) till now ripe not to reason;] i. e. do not ripen to it. Ripe, in the present instance, is a verb. =52:) — touching now the point of human skill, i. c. my senses being now at the utmost height of perfection. = 53:) Reason becomes the marshal to my will.] that is, my will now follows reason. 54:) Speak, of all loves;] Of all loves is an adjuration more than once used by our author.=

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ACT III.1:) In the time of Shakspeare there were many companies of players, sometimes five at the same time, contending for the favour of the public. Of these some were undoubtedly very unskilful and very poor, and it is probable that the design of this scene was to ridicule their ignorance, and the odd expedients to which they might be driven by the want of proper decorations. Bottom was perhaps the head of a rival house, and is therefore honoured with an ass's head. JOHNSON. 2:) By'riakin, a parlous fear.] By our ladykin, or little lady. Parlons is a word corrupted from perilous, i. e. dangerous. 3:) in eight and six.] i. e. in alternate verses of eight and six syllables.4:) No, I am no such thing; &c.] Shakspeare probably meant to allude to a fact which happened in his time, at an entertainment exhibited before Queen Elizabeth. It is recorded in a manuscript collection of anecdotes, stories, &c. entitled, Merry Passages and Jeasts, MS Harl. 6395: "There was a spectacle presented to Queen Elizabeth upon the water, and among others Harry Goldingham was to represent Arion upon the dolphin's backe; but finding his voice to be verye hoarse and unpleasant, when he came to perform it, he tears off his disguise, and swears he was none of Arion, not he, but even honest Harry Goldingham; which bluut discoverie pleased the queene better than if it had gone through in the right way: yet he could order his voice to an instrument exceeding well."=5:) that brake:] Brake signifies here a thicket, or furze-bush.=6:) "So hath," - MALONE. 7:) juvenal,] i. e. young man. = = 8:) - cues and all.] A cue, in stage cant, is the last words of the preceding speech, and serves as a hint to him who is to speak next. 9:) The ouselcock,] The ouzel-cock is generally understood to be the cock black-bird; but the ousel differs from the black-bird by having a white crescent upon the breast, and is, besides, rather larger. 10:)-plain-song cuckoo, &c] That is, the cuckoo, who, having no variety of strains, sings in plain song, or in plano cantu; by which expression the uniform modulation or simplicity of the chant was anciently distinguished, in opposition to prick song, or variegated music sung by note. 11:)-gleek-] Joke or scoff, deceive, or beguile.=12:) mistress Squash,] A squash is an immature peascod 13:) "Tie up my lover's tongue." MALONE. = 14:) What night rule-Night-rule in this place should seem to mean, what frolic of the night, what revelry is going forward? = 15:) patches,] Patch was in old language used as a term of opprobry; perhaps with much the same import as we use raggamuffin, or tatterdemalion. 16:) An ass's nowl-] a head. 17:) - choughs,] The chough is a bird of the daw kind. 18:)-sort,] company. 19:)- latch'd-]Orletch'd, lick'd over, lécher, to lick, Fr. In the North, it signifies to infect. 20:) Durst thou have look'd upon him, being awake, And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? Hast thou kill'd him sleeping, whom, when awake, thou didst not dare to look upon?=21:) O brave touch Touch in Shakspeare's time was the same with our exploit, or rather stroke: but a touch anciently signified a trick. = 22:) on a mispris'd mood:] is put for in a mispris'd mood;" i.e. "in a mistaken man - 23:)-pale of cheer-] Cheer, from the Italian cara, is frequently used by the old English writers for countenance. 24:) Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true?] In allusion to the badges (i. e. family crests) anciently worn on the sleeves of servants and retainers. = 25:) Taurus' snow,] Taurus is the name of a range of mountains in Asia. 26) join, in souls,] i. e. join heartily, 27:) -- all fiery oes-1 Shakspeare uses O for a circle.=28:) "0, now, is all forgot?" MALONE. 20:)-artificial gods, Artificial is ingenious, artful. 30:) Have with our needs, &c.] or needles. = 31:) Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, |

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Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.] Helena means to say, that she and her friend were as closely united, as much one person, as if they were both of the first house; as if they both had the privilege due but to one person, (viz. to him of the first house,) the right of bearing the family coat without any distinguishing mark. MALONE. = 32:) such an argument.] Such a subject of light merriment. 33:) No, no, sir: he will, &c.] The only difficulty in this passage arises from the words- he will, sir, which are omitted in the second folio. In that edition it runs thus: “No, no, sir, seeme to breake loose; || "Take on as you would follow, "But yet come not: you are a tame man, go." This appears to me the true reading. M. MASON. Mr. Malone reads, "No, no, he'll-sir."34:)-curst ;]i. e. shrewish or mischievous. 35:) = how fond I am.] Fond, i. c. foolish. 36:) She was a vixen,] Vixen or fixen, primitively signifies a female fox. = 37:) - of hind'ring knot-grass made;] It appears that knot-grass was anciently supposed to prevent the growth of any animal or child. — 38:) — intend-] i. e. pretend. = 39:) Thou shalt aby it.] To aby is to pay dear for, to suffer. - 40:) so did sort, So happen in the issue. = 41:) virtuous property,] Salutiferous. 42:) —wend,] i. e. go. = 43:) damned spirits all, That in cross-ways and floods have burial,] The ghosts of self murderers, who are buried in cross-roads; and of those who being drowned, were condemned (according to the opinion of the ancients) to wander for a hundred years, as the rites of sepulture had never been regularly bestowed on their bodies.44:) I with the morning's love have oft made sport ;] By the morning's love I apprehend Cephalus, the mighty hunter and paramour of Aurora, is intended. The context, "And, like a forester," &c. seems to show that the chace was the sport which Oberon boasts he partook with the morning's love. HOLT WHITE.=

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ACTIV. 1:)-do coy,] To coy, is to sooth, to stroke. 2:)-nief,] i.e. fist. =3:)—the tongs-] The old rustic music of the tongs and key. 4:) and be all ways away ji. c. disperse yourselves and scout out severally, in your watch, that danger approach us from no quarter.=5:) So doth the woodbine, the sweet honeysuckle, &c.] What Shakspeare seems to mean, is this So the woodbine, i, e. the sweet honeysuckle, doth gently entwist the barky fingers of the elm, and so does the female ivy euring the same fingers. This passage has given rise to various conjectures. — 6:) - the female iry- Though the ivy here represents the female, there is an evident reference in the words enrings and fingers, to the ring of the marriage rite, HENLEY. 7:)flourets' eyes,] The eye of the flower is the technical term for its center. 8:) Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower-] Dian's bud, is the bud of Agnus Castus, or Chaste Tree. Cupid's flower is the Viola Tricolor, or Love in Idleness. =9:) "pros perity:' MALONE. 10:) our observation is perform'd ;] The honours due to the morning of May. I know not why Shakspeare calls this play A Midsummer Night's Dream, when he so carefully informs us that it happened on the night preceding May day. JOHN ON. The title of this play seems no more intended to denote the precise time of the action, than that of The Winter's Tale; which we find, was at the season of sheep-shearing. FARMER. I imagine that the title of this play was suggested by the time it was first introduced on the stage, which was probably at Midsummer. "A Dream for the entertainment of a Midsummer-night.' Twelfth Night and The Winter's Tale had probably their titles from a similar circumstance. MALONE. = 11:)· vaward of the day,] Vaward is compounded of van and ward, the forepart.12:)-such gallant chiding:] Chiding in this instance means only sound. 13:) So flew'd,] Sir T. Hanmer justly remarks, that flews are the large chaps of a deepmouth'd hound. — 14:) so sanded;] Of a sandy colour, which is one of the true denotements of a blood hound. 15:) The rite of May ;] The rite of this month was once so universally observed, that even authors thought their works would obtain a more favourable reception, if published on May-Day. 16:) - Saint Valentine is past ;] Alluding to the old saying, that birds begin to couple on St. Valentine's day.

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17:) Fair Helena in fancy-] Fancy is for love or affection. -18:) - an idle gawd,] i. e. bauble, toy, or trifle. = 19:) And I have found Demetrius like a jewel, Mine own, and not mine own.] He'cna means to say, that having found Demetrius unexpectedly, she considered her property in him as insecure as that which a person has in a jewel that he has found by accident; which he knows not whether he shall retain, and which therefore may properly enough be called his own and not his own. MALONE.20:) Mr. Malone begins Demetrius's speech thus, Dem. "Are you sure "That we are awake? li seems to me," &c. 21:) patched fool,] That is, a fool in a particolour'd coat.=22:) — at her death.] He may mean the death of Thisbe, or, being killed, as Pyramus, on the stage, he may mean after his death. =

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good strings to your beards, i. e. to prevent the false beards, which they were to wear, from falling off; or, perhaps, ornamental strings, employed to give an air of novelty to the countenances of the performers.=

ACT V.1:) Are of imagination all compact:] i. e. are made of mere imagination.=2:)-in a brow of Egypt:] the brow of a gipsy. 3:) constancy:] Consistency, stability, certainty. :) "Wait in” — MALONE. =5:) Say, what abridg

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ment, &c.] By abridgment our author may mean a dramatic performance, which crowds the events of years into a few hours. It may be worth while, however, to observe, that in the North the word abatement had the saine meaning as diversion or amusement. 6:) - a brief,] i. e. a short account or enumeration.=7:) — unbreath'd —] Unexercised, unpractised. =8:)—addrest.] That is, ready.=9:) Flourish of trumpets.] It appears that the prologue was anciently ushered in by trumpets. 10:) on a recorder:] It should seem that the flute and the recorder were different instruments, and that the latter in propriety of speech was no other than the flagelet. 11:) but not in government.] That is, uot tunefully. 12:)-by name lion hight,] Hight, in old English, siguifies is called.=13:) And like Limander, &c.] For Leander and Hero. Shafalus and Procrus, for Cephalus and Procris. 14:) Here come two noble beasts in, a moon and a lion.] The old copies read — a man, &c. which Mr. Malone adopts. 15:)-in snuff.] An equivocation. Snuff signifies both the cinder of a candle, and hasty anger. JOHNSON. =16:) Well moused, lion.] To mouse signified to mammock, to tear in pieces, as a cat tears a mouse. =17:) Cut thread and thrum; Thrum is the end or extremity of a weaver's warp; it is popularly used for very coarse yarn. The maids now call a mop of yarn a thrum inop. 18:) and quell!] To quell is to murther, to destroy.19:)- cheer.] i. e. countenance. 20:) "lips," MALONE. 21: a Bergomask dance,] A dance after the manner of the peasants of Bergomasco, a country in Italy, belonging to the Venetians.=22:) - heavy gait i. e. slow passage, progress. = 23:) - fordone.] i. e. overcome. =24:) I am sent, with broom, before, || To sweep the dust behind the door. Cleanliness is always necessary to invite the residence and the favour of the fairies. =25:) Nor mark prodigious,] Prodigious for portentous. — 26:) — take his gait;] i. e. take his way, or direct his steps. =27:) "Ever shall in safety rest," MALONE. 28:)-unearned luck,] i. e. if we have better fortune than we have deserved. =29) Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,} that is, if we be dismissed without hisses. 30:) Give me your hands,] That is, clap your hands. Give us your applause. JOHNSON.=

VIII. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

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ACT I. =1:) With all these —] i. e. the King, Biron, &c. 2:) while truth the while Doth falsely blind-] Falsely is here, and in many other places, the same as dishonestly or treacherously. =3:) Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed, | And give him light that was it blinded by.] This passage is unnecessarily obscure; the meaning is, that when he dazzles, that is, has his eye made weak, by|| fixing his eye upon a fairer eye, that fairer eye shall be his heed, his direction or lode-star, and give him light that was blinded by it. JOHNSON. Mr. Malone reads "it was.": 4:)-sneaping frost,] To sneap is to check, or rebuke. ==5:) May's new-fangled shows;] By these shows the poet means Maygames at which a snow would be very unwelcome and unexpected. It is only a periphrasis for May.=6)-sit you out: To sit out: is a term from the card-table. = 7:) Mr. Malone omits And. = 8:) "This penalty?"— MALONE.=9:) A dangerous law against gentility.] or urbanity. :10:) lie here] Means reside here, in the same sense as an ambassador is said to lie lieger. 11:) Not by might master'd, but by special grace:] Biron, amidst his extravagancies, speaks with great justness against the folly of vows. They are made without sufficient regard to the variations of life, and are therefore broken by some unforeseen necessity. They proceed commonly from a presumptuous confidence, and a false estimate of human power. JoHNSON.=12:) Suggestions-Temptations. 13:)-quick recreation] Lively sport, spritely diversion. 14:) A man of complements, Compliment, in Shakspeare's time, did not signify, at least did not only signify verbal civility, or phrases of courtesy, but, according to its original meaning, the trappings, or ornamental appendages of a character, in the same manner, and on the same principles of speech with accomplishment. 15:) This child of fancy,] This fantastic. = 16:) - That Armado hight,] Who is called Armado. = 17:) And I will use him for my minstrelsy.] i. e. I will make a minstrel of him, whose occupation was to relate fabulous stories. 18:)fire new words,] i. e..words newly coined, new from the forge. Fire-new, new off the irons, and the Scottish expression bren new, have all the same origin. 19:)-tharborough:] i. e. thirdborough, a peace officer, alike in authority with a headborough or a constable. = = 20:) A high hope for a low having:] Though you hope for high words, and should have them, it will be but a low acquisition at best. 21:)-taken with the manner.] i, e. in the fact. =22:) — curious knottedgarden.] Ancient gardens abounded with figures of which the lines intersected each other in many directions. 23:) -base minnow of thy mirth,] The base minnow of thy mirth, is the contemptible little object that contributes to thy entertainment. 24:) — my tender juvenal?] Juvenal is youth. 25:) crosses love not him.] By crosses he means money. 26:)- the dancing horse will tell you.] Bankes's horse, which play'd many remarkable pranks, and is alluded to by many writers contemporary with Shakspeare.=27:) Green, indeed, is the colour of lovers:] An allusion to jealousy, or perhaps to the green willow. =28:) Which native she doth owe.] i. e. of which she is naturally possessed. = 29:) — my

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digression-] Digression on this occasion signifies the act of going out of the right way, transgression. = 80:) — før the day-woman.] i. e. for the dairy maid. = 31:) That's hereby.] i. e. as it may happen. = 32:) With that face?) This cant phrase has oddly lasted till the present time.= 33:) - affect - i. e. love. 34:) — butt-shaft —] i. e. an arrow to shoot at butts with.

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ACT II. =1:)—your dearest spirits;] Dear, in our author's language, has many shades of meaning. In the present instance and the next, it appears to signify -- best, most powerful. STEEVENS. = 2:) Bold of your worthiness,] i. e. confident of it.=3:) And much too little, &c.] i. e. And my report of the good I saw, is much too little compared to his great worthiness. 4:)—competitors in oath,] i. e. confederates. =5:) Were all address'd-] To address is to prepare. = 6:) Where] Where is here used for whereas. 7:) depart withal,] To depart and to part were anciently synonymou3.8:) No poynt,] A negation borrowed from the French.=9:) My lips are no common, though several they be.] A play on the word several, which, besides its ordinary signification of separate, distinct, likewise signifies iu unin closed lands, a certain portion of ground appropriated to either corn or meadow, adjoining the common field. =10) His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see,] Althouga the expression in the text is extremely odd, I take the sease of it to be that his tongue envied the quickness of his eyes, and strove to be as rapid in its utterance, as they in their perception. STEEVENS.=

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ACT III. =1:) Concolinel-] Here is apparently a song lost in the old comedies, the sougs are frequently omitted. = 2:) festinately hither;] i. e. hastily.=3:) — ́a French brawl?] A brawl is a kind of dance, perhaps what we now call a cotillon.4:) - canary to it with your fect, Canary was the name of a spritely nimble dance. 5:) By my peasy of observation.] The allusion is to the famous old piece, I called a Penniworth of Wit. — 6:) — here's a Costard bre ken- i. e. a head. = 7:) - l'envoy;] The l'envoy is a term borrowed from the old French poetry. It appeared always at the head of a few concluding verses to each piece, which either served to convey the moral, or to address the poem to some particular person. It was frequently adopted by the ancient English writers. 8:) — no salve" in the mail, sir:] What this can mean, is not easily discovered; if mail for a packet or bag was a word then in use, no saire in the mail may mean, no salve in the mountebank's budget. Or, perhaps we should read -no salve in them all, sir. = 9) Like the sequel, I.] Alluding to the sequel of any story. = 10:) - my iucony Jew!] Incony or kony in the North, siguifies, fine, delicate-as a kony thing, a fine thing =11) guerdon;] i e. reward.=12:)—in print.] i. e. exactly, with the utmost nicety. 13:) - --so magnificent!] i, e. glorying, boasting.=14:) This wimpled,] The wimple was a hood or veil which fell over the face.=15:) Dread prince of plackets.] A placket is a petticoat.=16:) Of trotting paritors,] An apparitor, or paritor, is an officer of the Bishop's court, who carries out citations; as citations are most frequently issued for fornication, the paritor is put under Cupid's government.

17:) And I to be a corporal of his field,] A corporal of the field was employed as an aide de-camp is now, in taking and carrying to and fro the directions of the general, or other the higher officers of the field. = 18:) And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop!] Tumbler's hoops are to this ' day bound round with ribbands of various colours. ==

ACT IV. = 1:) God dig-you-den-] A corruption of -God give you good even. = =2:) Break up this capon. i. e. open this letter. Our poet uses this metaphor, as the French do their poulet; which signifies both a young fowl and a love-letter. 3:)erewhile.] Just now; a little while ago.

4:) a Monarcho,] The allusion is to a fantastical claracter of the time. =5:) — queen Guinever -] This was king Arthur's queen, not over famous for fidelity to her husband. 6:) Wide o'the bow hand!] i, e. a good deal to the left of the mark; a term still retained in modern archery.—7— the clout.] The clout was the white mark at which archers took aim. The pin was the wooden nail that upheld it. 8:)

you talk greasily,] i. e. grossly.=9:) Enter Holofernes, By Holofernes is designed a pedant and schoolmaster of our author's time, one John Florio, a teacher of the Italian tongue in London, who has given us a small dictionary of that language under the title of A World of Words. =10:)—ripe as a pomewater,] A species of apple formerly much esteemed. Malus Carbonaria. 11:)-a patch-] Patch, or low fellow. 12:) And raught not -] í. e, reach'd not. = 13:) The allusion holds in the exchange.] i. e. The riddle is as good when I use the name of Adam, as when I use the name of Cain. 14:) - affect the letter;] 'That is, I will practise alliteration.=15:) - claws him with a talent.] i. e. flatters him. = 16:) - - the tired horse-] The tired horse was the horse adorned with ribbands, — The famous Bankes's horse so often alluded to. = 17:) Ay, sir, from one monsieur Biren.] Shakspeare forgot himself in this passage. Jaquenetta knew nothing of Biron, and had said, just before, that the letter had been "sent to her from Don Armatho, and given to her by Costard."-18:)-colourable colours. i. e. specious appearances. 19:)-certes-]i. e. certainly, in truth. =20:)

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I am toiling in a pitch;] Alluding to lady Rosaline's complexion, who is through the whole play represented as a black beauty. 21:) he comes in like a perjure,] The punishment of perjury is to wear on the breast a paper ex pressing the crime. 22:) Disfigure not his slop.] This alfudes to the usual tawdry dress of Cupid, when he appeared on the stage. — 23:) — the liver vein,] The liver was anciently supposed to be the seat of love. 24:) All hid, all hid,] The children's cry at hide and seck. = 25:) -amber coted.] The word here intended, though mispelled, is quoted, which signifies observed or regarded, both here and in every place where it occurs in these plays; and the meaning is, that amber itself is regarded as foul, when compared with her hair. 26:)- why, then incision | Would let her out in saucers;] It was the fashion among the young gallants of that age, to stab themselves in the arms, or elsewhere, in order to drink their mistress's health, or write her name in their blood, as a proof of their passion. 27:) "uch zeal" - MALONE.= 28:) Your eyes do make no coaches;] Alluding to a passage in the king's sonnet: "No drop but as a coach doth carry thee."; 29:) teen!] i. e. grief. = 30:) To see a king transformed to a gnat!] Biron is abusing the king for his sonneting like a minstrel, and compares him to a gnat, which always sings as it flies. 31:) -- cri- || tic Timon-] Critic and critical are used by our author in the same sense as cynic and cynical. = 32:) In pruning me?] A bird is said to prune himself when he picks and sleeks his feathers. 33:) — a gait, a state,] State, I believe, in the present instance, is opposed to gait (i, e, the motion), and signifies the art of standing. = 34:) "doth not"-MALONE.35:) And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well] i. e. the very top, the height of beauty, or the utmost degree of fairness, becomes the heavens. 36:) -- and usurping hair,] i. e. false hair. 37:)- - some quillets,] Quillet is the peculiar word applied to law-chicane. 38:) affection's men at arms: i. e. Ye soldiers of affection. 39:) The nimble spirits in the arteries;] L the old system of physic they gave the same office to the arteries as is now given to the nerves. 40:) Mr. Malone has followed this fine by a hemistich "with ourselves" for which it would be difficult to find a meaning. 41:) Other slow arts entirely keep the brain;] As we say, keep the house, or keep their bed. M. MASON. 42:) -the suspicious head of theft is stopp'd] i. e. a lover in pursuit of his mistress has his sense of hearing quicker than a thief (who suspects every sound he hears) in pursuit of his prey. Or, the suspicious head of theft may mean the head suspicious of theft. = 43:) cockled. e. inshelled, like the fish called a cockle. 44:) Still climbing trees in the He-perides?] Our author seems to have thought that the latter word was the name of the garden in which the golden apples were kept: and some of his contemporaries are chargeable with the same inaccuracy. 45:) a word that loves all men ;] i. e. that is pleasing to all men.=

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ACT V. 1:) — your reasons at dinner have been, &c.] I know not well what degree of respect Shakspeare intends to obtain for his vicar, but he has here put into his mouth a finished representation of colloquial excellence. It is very difficult to add any thing to his character of the schoolmaster's table-talk, and perhaps all the precepts of Castiglione will scarcely be found to comprehend a rule for conversation so justly delineated, so widely dilated, and so nicely limited. It may be proper just to note, that reason here, and in many other places, signifies discourse; and that audacious is used in a good sense for spirited, animated, confident. Opinion is the same with obstinacy or opiniatreté. JOHNSON.2:)-without affection,] i. e. without affectation. = 3:) thrasonical.] Boastful, bragging, from Terence. 4:) He is too picked,] nicely drest.—5:) - point devise –]|| A French expression for the utmost, or finical exactness. 6:) -a flap-dragon.] A flap-dragon is a small inflammable substance, which topers swallow in a glass of wine. =7:)— a quick venew of wit:] A venew is the technical term for a bout at the fencing school. = 8:) - the charge-house-] perhaps, is the free school. 9:) — inward –]i. e. confidential. =10:) -I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy head ;] By "remember thy courtesy,' I suppose Armado means-remember that all this time thou art standing with thy hat off. STEEVENS. 11:) - dally with my excrement,] The author calls the beard valour's excrement in The Merchant of Venice.—12:) — chuck,] i. e. chicken; an ancient term of ́endearment. = 13:) — if this fadge not, i. e. suit not, pass not into action. 14:) Fia,] An Italian exclamation, signifying courage! come on!=15:) -to make his god-head wax:] To wax anciently signified to grow. It is yet said of the moon, that she wares and wanes.16:)-mouse,] This was a term of endearment formerly. 17:)—taking it in snuff;] Snuff is here used equivocally for anger, and the snuff of a candle = 18:) -a set of wit-] A term from tennis. 19:) A pox of that jest! and beshrew all shrows "Pox of that jest!" Mr. Theobald is scandalized at this language from a princess. But there needs no alarm - the small por only is alluded to; with which, it seems, Katharine was pitted; or, as it is quaintly expressed, "her face was full of O's." Mr. Malone reads, "I beshrew."=20:) "But, Katherine," &c. MALONE. 21:) in by the week!] An expression taken from hiring serv ants or artificers; meaning I wish I was as sure of his ser vice for any time limited, as if I had hired him.=22:) And

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37:) — my friend;] i. e. mistress. = 38:) Three pil'd hyperboles,] A metaphor from the pile of velvet.=39:) "Spruce affection?"-MALONE. 40:) Write, Lord have mercy on us,] This was the inscription put upon the doors of the houses infected with the plague, to which Biron compares the love of himself and his companions; and pursuing the metaphor finds the tokens likewise on the ladies. The tokens of the plague are the first spots or discolorations, by which the infection is known to be received. JOHNSON. =41:) you force not to forswear.] You force not is the same with you make no difficulty. This is a very just observation. The crime which has been once committed, is committed again with less reluctance. JOHNSON. 42:)—a consent,] i. e. a conspiracy. = 43:) - zany,] A zany is a buffoon, a merry Andrew. 44:) - his cheek in years;] In years, siguities, into wrinkles; but Mr. Malone reads "jeers," or gibes. 45:) - by the squire,] From esquierre, French, a rule, or square. 46:) Go, you are allow'd;] i. e. you may say what you will. 47:) You cannot beg us,] That is, we are not fools, or lunatics; our next relations cannot beg the wardship of our persons and fortunes. 48:) Abate a throw at novum;] Novum (or novem) appears to have been some game at dice. 49:) With libbard's head-] i. e. leopard's. -it stands too right] It should be remembered, to relish this joke, that the head of Alexander was obliquely placed on his shoulders. STEEVENS. = 51:) A-jar:] There is a conceit of Ajax and a jakes, which, paltry as it is, was used by Ben Jonson, and Camden the antiquary.=52:) a little o'er-parted:] That is, the part or character allotted to him in this piece is too considerable. MALONE. 53:) - on a flask.] i. e. a soldier's powder-horn. - 54:) St. George's half-check in a brooch.] A brooch is an ornamental buckle, for fastening hat-bands, girdles, mantles, &c.=55:) Hector was but a Trojan- A Trojan was, in the time of Shakspeare, a cant term for a thief. 56:) of lances] i. e. of lance-men.= -More Ates,] That is, more instigation. Ate was the mischievous goddess that incited bloodshed. 58:) — like a northern man] Fir borealis, a clown. — 59:) woolward To go woolward was a phrase appropriated to pilgrims and penitentiaries. 60:)-liberal- Free to excess. 61:) In the converse of breath,] Perhaps converse may, in this line, mean interchange. 62:) And often, at his very loose, decides, &c.] At his very loose, may mean at the moment of his parting, i. e. of his getting loose, or away from us. 65:)-which fain it would convince;] The words which fain it would convince, mean what it would wish to succeed in obtaining. 64:) Suggested us-] That is, tempted us. 65:) and thin weeds,] i. e. clothing. 66:)—and last love;] Means, if it continue to be love. 67:) cuckoo-buds Cuckoo-buds must be wrong. I believe cowslip-buds, the true reading. FARMER. 68:) doth keel the pot.] i. e. cool the pot.69:) the parson's saw,] Saw seems anciently to have meant, not as at present, a proverb, a sentence, but the whole tenor of any instructive discourse. 70) When roasted crabs, &c.] i. e. the wild apples so called. The bowl must be supposed to be filled with ale: a toast and some spice and sugar being added, what is called lamb's wool is produced.=

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=57:)

ACT I. 1:) It is not easy to determine the orthography of this name. In the old editions the owner of it is called- Salanio, Salino, and Solanio. STEEVENS. = 2:) This character I have restored to the Persona Dramatis. The name appears in the first folio: the description is taken from the quarto. STEEVENS. 3:) argosies- A name given in our author's time to ships of great burthen, probably galleons, such as the Spaniards now use in their West India trade. JOHNSON. In 'Ricaut's Maxims of Turkish Policy, ch. xiv. it is said, "Those vast carracks called argosies.

harmony, &c. is not an explanation arising from the foregoing line "So great is the harmony!". but an illustration: - "Of the same kind is the harmony." The whole runs thus: There is not one of the heavenly orbs but sings as it moves, still quiring to the cherubin. Similar to the harmony they make, is that of immortal souls; or, (in other words,) each of us have as perfect harmony in our souls as the harmony of the spheres, inasmuch as we have the quality of being moved by sweet sounds (as he expresses it afterwards; but our gross terrestrial part, which environs us, deadens the sound, and prevents our hearing. It, [Doth grossly close it in,] I apprehend, refers to harmony. MALONE. 4:) wake Diana with a hymn;] Diana is the moon, who is in the next scene represented as sleeping. 5:) - without respect;] Not absolutely good, but relatively good as it is modified by circumstances. = 6:) A tucket-] Toccata, Ital. a flourish on a trumpet. = 7:) Let me give light, &c.] There is scarcely any word with which Shakspeare so much delights to trifle as with light, in its various significations. JOHNSON.E:) this breathing courtesy.]This verbal complimentary form, made up only of breath, i. e. words. 9:)-like cutler's poetry-] Knives, as Sir J. Hawkins observes, were formerly inscribed, by means of aqua fortis, with short sentences in distich. For posy, Mr. Malone reads poesy, in his last edition, but not in his first.: 10:)-swear by your double self,] Double is here used in a bad sense for full of duplicity. 11:)— for his wealth;] For his advantage; to obtain his happiness. Wealth was, at that time, the term opposite to adversity, or calamity.=

X. AS YOU LIKE IT.

ACT I. =1:) Mr. Malone reads, "As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion. He bequeathed me by will but a poor thousand crowns," &c. 2:)-stays me here at home unkept;] We should read stys, i. e. keeps me like a brute. The following words-for call you that keeping that differs not from the stalling of an ox? confirms this emendation. So Caliban says- "And here you sty me "In this hard rock." WARBURTON. Sties is better than stays, and more likely to be Shakspeare's. JOHNSON.=3:)—what make you here? i. e. what do you here? ===:) be better employed, and be naught awhile.] i. e. It is better to do mis chief, than to do nothing. JOHNSON. I believe that the words be naught awhile, mean no more than this: "Be content to be a cypher, till I shall think fit to clevate you into consequence. STEEVENS. Naught and nought are frequently confounded in old English books. I once thought that the latter was here intended, in the sense affixed to it by Mr. Steevens: "Be content to be a cypher, &c." But the following passage in Sweetnam, a comedy, 1620, induces me to think that the reading of the old copy (naught) and Dr. Johnson's explanation are right: "get you both in, and be naught awhile." The speaker is a chamber-maid, and she addresses herself to her mistress and her lover. MALONE. 5:) "him I am." MALONE. :) — albeit, I confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.] This, probably, refers to the courtesy of distinguishing the eldest son of a knight, by the title of esquire. == 7:) I am no villain:] The word villain is used by the elder brother in its present meaning, for a worthless, wicked, or bloody man; by Orlando, in its original signification, for a fellow of base extraction. JOHNSON. 8:)-good leave-] As often as this phrase occurs, it means a ready assent. :) - for the duke's daughter,] i. e. the usurping duke's daughter. Sir T. Hanmer reads the new duke's; aŭd in the preceding speech the old duke's daughter; but in my opinion unnecessarily. The ambiguous use of the word duke in these passages is much in our author's manner. MALONE.10;) — in the forest of Arden,] Ardenne is a forest of considerable extent in French Flanders, lying near the Meuse, and between Charlemont and Rocroy. 11:) this gamester:] Gamester, in the present instance, and some others, does not signify a man viciously addicted to games of chance, but a frolicsome person. 12:) of all sorts-] Sorts, in this place, means ranks and degrees of men. RITSON. 13:)-mock the good housewife, Fortune, from her wheel,] The wheel of Fortune is not the wheel of a housewife. Shakspeare has confounded Fortune, whose wheel only figures uncertainty and vicissi tude, with the destiny that spins the thread of life, though|| not indeed with a wheel. JOHNSON. 14:) Malone reads, "who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent, &c.' 15:) you'll be whipp'd for taxation,] Taxation is censure, or satire. 16:) - since the little wit, that fools have, was silenced,] Shakspeare probably alludes to the use of fools or jesters, who for some ages had been allowed in all courts an unbridled liberty of censure and mockery, and about this time began to be less tolerated. JOHNSON. = 17:)-laid on with a trowel. To lay on with a trowel, is, to do any thing strongly, and without delicacy. If a man flatters grossly, it is a common expression to say, that he lays it on with a trowel. M. MASON. = 18:) You amaze me,] To amaze, here, is not to astonish or strike with wonder, but to perplex; to confuse, so as to put out of the intended narrative. JOHNSON. 19:) With bills on their necks, Be it known unto all men by these presents,] I don't think that by bill is meant either an instrument of war, or one of law, but merely a label or adver

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tisement as we say a play-bill, a hand-bill; unless these words were part of Le Beau's speech; in which case the word bill would be used by him to denote a weapon, and by Rosalind perverted to mean a label. M. MASON. 20:) - is there any else longs to see this broken music in his sides?] This probably alludes to the pipe of Pan, which consisting of reeds of unequal length, and gradually lessening, bore some resemblance to the ribs of a man. M. MASON. Broken music either means the noise which the breaking of ribs would occasion, or the hollow sound which proceeds from a person's receiving a violent fall. DOUCE. I can offer no legitimate explanation of this passage, but may observe that another, somewhat parallel, occurs in K. Henry F.: "Come, your answer in broken music; for thy voice is music, and thy English broken." STEEVENS. = 21:) — if you saw yourself with your eyes, or knew yourself with your judgment,] i. e. if you should use your own eyes to see, or your own judgment to know yourself, the fear of your adventure would counsel you. JOHNSON.-22)-that calling,] i. e. appellation; a very unusual, if not unprecedented sense of the word. STEEVENS. 23:) "all promise." MALONE. =24:) one out of suits with fortune:] Out of suits with fortune, I believe, means, turned out of her service, and stripped of her livery. STEEVENS. 25:) Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.] A quintain was a post or butt set up for several kinds of martial exercises, against which they threw their darts and exercised their arms. But all the commentators are at variance about this word, and have illustrated their opinions with cuts, for which we must refer the reader to the new edition, 21 vols. 8vo. 26:)-the duke's condition,] The word condition means character, temper, disposition. = 27:) "Smaller." MALONE. 28:) by this kind of chase,] That is, by this way of following the argument. Dear is used by Shakspeare in a double sense for beloved, and for hurtful, hated, baleful. Both senses are authorised and both drawn from etymology; but properly, beloved is dear, and hateful is dere. Rosalind uses dearly in the good, and Celia in the bad sense. JOHNSON.29:) Why should I not? doth he not deserve well?] Celia answers Rosalind, (who had desired her "not to hate Orlando, for her sake,") as if she had said-"love him, for my sake:" to which the former replies, "Why should I not [i.e. love him]?" 30:) remorse ;] i. e. compassion. 31:) "in the forest of Arden." MALONE. 32:) And with a kind of umber smirch my face:] Umber is a dusky yellow-coloured earth, brought from Umbria in Italy. = 33:) - curtle-ar-] Or cutlace, a broad sword. == = 34:) We'll have a swashing, &c.] A swashing outside is an appearance of noisy, bullying valour. Swashing blow is mentioued in Romeo and Juliet; and in King Henry F. the boy says: "As young as I am, I have observed these three swashers;" meaning Nym, Pisto), and Bardolph.

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ACT II. =1:) Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;] It was the current opinion in Shakspeare's time, that in the head of an old toad was to be found a stone, or pearl, to which great virtues were ascribed. Thomas Lupton, in his First Booke of Notable Things, 4to, bl. 1. bears repeated testimony to the virtues of the Tode-stone, called Crupaudina." In his Seventh Booke he instructs us how to procure it; and afterwards tells us "You shall knowe whether the Todestone be the ryght and perfect stone or not. Hold the stone before a Tode, so that he may see it; and if it be a ryght and true stone, the Tade will leape towarde it; and make as though he would snatch it. He envieth so much that man should have that stone.' STEEVENS. = 2:) with forked head-] i, e. with arrows, the points of which were barbed. = 3:) in the needless stream;] The stream that wanted not such a supply of moisture. 4:) "of country." MALONE. 5:) to cope him-] To encounter, or engage with him. 6:)-the roynish clown,] Roynish, from rogneux, French. 7:)-quail] To quail is to faint, to sink into dejection. 8:)0 you memory-] Shakspeare often uses memory for memorial; and Beaumont and Fletcher sometimes. =9:) -so fondi. e. so indiscreet, so inconsiderate. · 10:) The bony priser-] The word bonny occurs more than once in the novel from which this play of As You Like It is taken. It is likewise much used by the common people in the northern counties. I believe, however, bony to be the true reading. MALONE. 11:) This is no place,] i. e. for you. = 12:) diverted-] turned out of the course of nature. 13:) Even with the having:] Even with the promotion gained by service is service extinguished. JOHNSON. 14:) no cross,] A cross was a piece of money stamped with a cross. On this our author is perpetually quibbling. 15:) "Wearing." MALONE.16:)-anight-Thus the old copy. Anight, is in the night. The word is used by Chaucer, in The Legende of good Women. Our modern editors read, o'nights, or o'night. = 17:) batlet,] The instrument with which washers beat their coarse clothes. JOHNSON. == = 18:) so is all nature in love mortal in folly.] This expression 1 do not well understand. In the middle counties, mortal, from mort, a great quantity, is used as a particle of amplification; as mortal tall, mortal little. Of this sense 1 believe Shakspeare takes advantage to produce one of his darling equivocations. Thus the meaning will be, so is all nature in love abounding in folly. JOHNSON. 19:) And little reeks-] i. c. heeds, cares for. 20:) And in my voice-] as far as have a voice or vote. 21:)--ragged;} Our modern editors (Mr. Malone excepted) read rugged; but ragged had an