Chapter 20

and _attentive_, were once, synonymous.

[149] This expression is also introduced by Lodge into his "Rosalynde," 1590, though probably this play was written first--

"With sad and sorry cheer About her wond'ring stood The _citizens of the wood_."

Shakespeare calls deer in "As You Like It" citizens, and elsewhere, "native burghers of this desert city."

The author of "Fuimus Troes" goes farther, and calls the blessed souls in heaven _citizens_--

"Then shall I Envy no more those _citizens_ above The ambrosian juncates of the Olympian hall."

[150] Old copy, _arm_.

[151] The name of _Carbo_ is accidently omitted before this reply in the quarto.

[152] Old copy misplaces the words _break_ and _bend_; the alteration here made was suggested by Mr Collier.

[153] i.e., With a _withy_, or twig of willow.

[154] Old copy, _the ravens_.

[155] The quarto reads: "Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus," but the latter has nothing to do with the scene, while Carinna is omitted.

[156] Old copy, _heedless_.

[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use the word _pretend_ for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," act ii. sc. 6.

[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste.

[159] _Jest_ was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks of "the _jests_ or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more particular application. _Gest_ and _jest_ are the same word, though now and then distinguished.

[160] Old copy, _floats_.

[161] Old copy, _lo_.

[162] Old copy, _yea_. By _She_ Sylla must be understood to refer to Fate, whom he has just mentioned.

[163] [Old copy, _while_.]

[164] i.e., _Verse_.

[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the _razors of Palermo.--Collier_. [Mr Collier's suggested retention of _shave_, the reading of the old copy, I cannot support.]

[166] "_Phlegon's_ hot breath" is mentioned in "Fuimus Troes;" one of the horses of the sun was so named.

[167] [Old copy, _fairs_.]

[168] From the edition of 1610. It is not in the first 4°.

[169] In the edition of 1610 the number of performers is raised to ten. The two additional characters are the _King of Valentia_ and _Anselmo_.

[170] Perhaps the earliest instance of the use of this expression, as to which see "Old English Jest-Books," 1864, iii.; "Pleasant Conceits of Old Hobson," Introd.

[171] [The 4° of 1610 makes Tremelio enter here; but he does not appear to come on till afterwards.]

[172] [Old copies, _Catalone, a_.]

[173] [Old copies, _Oh_.]

[174] Old copies, hardly I did oft.

[175] Old copies, _on_.

[176] Edit. 1598, _Therefore to_. Edit. 1610, _There for to_.

[177] Edit. 1598 and 1610, _hath forget_.

[178] Edits, transpose the two commencing words of this line, and the first word of the preceding one.

[179] Edits., _say_.

[180] Anticipated. Old copies read _we_ for _me_.

[181] Old copy, _are_

[182] Old copies, _her_.

[183] Edit. 1610, _attend_.

[184] Edit. 1610, _axe_.

[185] Old copies, _his_.

[186] Edit. 1598, _Wily_; edit. 1610, _wilde_.

[187] Old copies, _his Bremo_.

[188] Edits., _ah, hermit_!

[189] Edits., _fair lady_.

[190] Edits., _this is_.

[191] In the old copies there is here a direction, _He disguiseth himself_, which appears wrong, as Mucedorus is already disguised, and what he next does is, in fact, to discover himself.

[192] Edits., _none, none, no_.

[193] Edit. 1620, _sacred_.

[194] Old copies, _look_.

[195] Edit. 1598, _paled_; 1106, _pallade_.

[196] Edit. 1610, _strike_.

[197] After this line, in the edition of 1610, occurs the following substitution for the lines in edit. 1598, beginning "Ho, lords," and concluding with "Exeunt omnes:"--

Were but thy father, the Valentia lord, Present in view of this combining knot.

_A shout within. Enter a_ MESSENGER.

What shout was that?

MESSENGER. My lord, the great Valentia king, Newly arrived, entreats your presence.

MUCEDORUS. My father?

KING OF ARRAGON. Prepared welcomes; give him entertainment. A happier planet never reigned than that, Which governs at this hour.

[_Sound_.

_Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODRIGO, BARCHEUS, _with others_; _the_ KING _runs and embraces his son_.

KING OF VALENTIA. Rise, honour of my age, food to my rest: Condemn not (mighty King of Arragon) My rude behaviour, so compell'd by Nature, That manner stood unknowledged.

KING OF ARRAGON. What we have to recite would tedious prove By declaration; therefore in and feast. To-morrow the performance shall explain, What words conceal; till then, drums, speak, bells, ring: Give plausive welcomes to our brother king.

[_Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt omnes_.

[198] [In the edition of 1610, the conclusion, from this line, is so different, that the best mode appeared to be to give it at the foot of the page:--

COMEDY. Envy, spit thy gall; Plot, work, contrive; create new fallacies; Team from thy womb each minute a black traitor, Whose blood and thoughts have twin conception: Study to act deeds yet unchronicled; Cast native monsters in the moulds of men; Case vicious devils under sancted rochets; Unhasp the wicket, where all perjureds roost, And swarm this ball with treasons. Do thy worst; Thou canst not (hell-hound) cross my star[A] to-night. [A] [Old copy, _steare_.] Nor blind that glory, where I wish delight.

ENVY. I can. I will.

COMEDY. Nefarious hag, begin; And let us tug, till one the mast'ry win.

ENVY. Comedy, thou art a shallow goose; I'll overthrow thee in thine own intent, And make thy fall my comic merriment.

COMEDY. Thy policy wants gravity; thou art too weak. Speak, fiend. As how?

ENVY. Why thus; From my foul study will I hoist a wretch, A lean and hungry negro [Old copy, _neagre_.] cannibal: Whose jaws swell to his eyes with chawing malice, And him I'll make a poet.

COMEDY. What's that to th'purpose?

ENVY. This scrambling raven, with his needy beard, Will I whet on to write a comedy, Wherein shall be compos'd dark sentences, Pleasing to factious brains: And every other where place me a jest. Whose high abuse shall more torment than blows. Then I myself (quicker than lightning), Will fly me to a puissant magistrate, And waiting with a trencher at his back, In midst of jollity rehearse those galls [Old copy, _gaules_.] (With some additions) so lately vented in your theatre: He upon this cannot but make complaint, To your great danger, or at least restraint.

COMEDY. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly; This is a trap for boys, not men, nor such, Especially desertful in their doings, Whose staid discretion rules their purposes. I and my faction do eschew those vices. But see, O see, the weary sun for rest Hath lain his golden compass to the west, Where he perpetual bide and ever shine, As David's offspring in his happy clime. Stoop, Envy, stoop, bow to the earth with me, Let's beg our pardons on our bended knee. [_They kneel_.

ENVY. My power has lost her might; Envy's date's expired, Yon splendant majesty hath fell'd my sting, And I amazed am. [_Fall down and quake_.

COMEDY. Glorious and wise Arch-Caesar on this earth, At whose appearance Envy's stroken dumb, And all bad things cease operation, Vouchsafe to pardon our unwilling error, So late presented to your gracious view, And we'll endeavour with excess of pain To please your senses in a choicer strain, Thus we commit you to the arms of night, Whose spangled carcase would (for your delight) Strive to excel the day. Be blessed then: Who other wishes, let him never speak.

ENVY. Amen! To Fame and Honour we commend your rest; Live still more happy, every hour more blest.

FINIS.]

[199] To the edition printed in the Percy Society's Series.

[200] The old spelling has now been abandoned.

[201] For these I am indebted to the kindness of Mr J.P. Collier, who is now editing "Henslowe's Diary" for the Shakespeare Society. The portions of it which were published by Malone are very incorrectly given.

[202] _Book_ in these entries means play.

[203] This entry is struck through, the money having been repaid.

[204] This entry is in Porter's own handwriting.

[205] "Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets," ii. 185, edit. 1835.

[206] See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," iv, 38-40.

[207] Second edit., _Welcome then_.

[208] From the second edit. Not in first edit.

[209] Prospects, views, scenes in sight; a meaning of the word which is found in much later writers.

[210] So second edit. First edit. _he_.

[211] Absolute, perfect, [or rather, perhaps, pure.]

[212] Read, for the metre, _He will_.

[213] So second edit. First edit., _to_.

[214] The audience were to suppose that the stage now represented an orchard; for be it remembered that there was no movable painted scenery in the theatres at the time when this play was produced.

[215] Second edit., _rubber_, but the other form is common in our old writers.

[216] [So second edit.] Equivalent to be hanged.

[217] Second edit., _woman_, which is probably right; see two passages farther on, in one of which both editions have _woman_.

[218] Gold coins. The words give occasion to innumerable puns in our early dramas.

[219] Read, for the metre, _here is_

[220] Second edit., _woman_: see note [217].

[221] A term of the game.

[222] Edits., _better_,--the eye of the original compositor having caught the word above.

[223] A term of the game.

[224] i.e. _Hit_.

[225] Here, probably, Mistress Goursey should make her exit.

[226] i.e., We cannot help it.

[227] So second edit. First edit., _Afford_.

[228] The author probably wrote, "_I_ do _impart_:" compare the next line.

[229] [Old copies, _tick_.]

[230] i.e., Taught her to tread the ring,--to perform various movements in different directions within a ring marked out on a piece of ground: see Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry," &c. p. 18, sqq. edit. 1631.

[231] [_Campagne_.] A form of _campaign_ common in our early writers.

[232] i.e., Wilt thou wear, &c.: _point_ means one of the tagged laces which were used in dress to attach the hose or breeches to the doublet, &c.

[233] So second edit. First edit., _th'art_.

[234] [Old copies read _when_.]

[235] So second edit. First edit., _in the_.

[236] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[237] [Meaning a tavern of that name.]

[238] Sheathe your sword.

[239] Edits., _me_.

[240] [Old copy, _He's_.] Read, for the metre, _He is_.

[241] i.e., Quality, disposition.

[242] [Old copies, _he'll_.] Read, for the metre, _he will_.

[243] [Fine worsted.]

[244] [Old copies, _his hat, and all green hat_.]

[245] [Old copies, _indirect_.]

[246] Edits., _vassailes_.

[247] So second edit. First edit., _women's_.

[248] Qy. _for an_?

[249] [Old copies, _She's_.] Read, for the metre, _She is_.

[250] A corruption of God's.

[251] [Old copies, _pale_.]

[252] Edits., _apprehend_, but certainly Mall had spoken with sufficient plainness.

[253] i.e., Nature.

[254] So second edit. First edit., _nay_.

[255] The common dress of a serving-man.

[256] Edits., _you_, which, perhaps, is the right reading, some word having dropp'd out after it. Qy. thus--

'MRS BAR. Mistresse flurt, you _mean_, Foule strumpet, light a loue, short heeles! Mistresse Goursey Call her,' &c.

--_Dyce_. [But _yea_ seems to be the more likely word.]

[257] So second edit. First edit., _tell_.

[258] i.e., Vile.

[259] Edits., _forlorn_.

[260] Qy., _Mother, he loves_?

[261] So second edit. First edit., _the_.

[262] So second edit. First edit., _Thaust_.

[263] i.e., Refuse.

[264] So second edit. First edit., _Gads_.

[265] Edits., _His_.

[266] Qy., _Franke_ he is _young_? Compare the preceding line but one.

[267] i.e., By our lady.

[268] i.e., Miserly persons.

[269] The author probably wrote _neuer was_.

[270] i.e., Honest men.

[271] So second edit. First edit., _ma_.

[272] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.]

[273] So second edit. First edit., _faith in_.

[274] Edits., _some_.

[275] Edits., _treason_.

[276] i.e., Vomits: a common pun in old dramas.

[277] i.e., Easily.

[278] Edits., _But_.

[279] So second edit., First edit., _cehape_.

[280] Read, for the metre, _He is_.

[281] Equivalent to--poor, contemptible fellow: but I must leave the reader to determine the exact meaning of this term of reproach. As _pingle_ signifies a small croft, Nares (citing a passage from Lyly's "Euphues") says that _pingler_ is "probably a labouring horse, kept by a farmer in his homestead." "Gloss." in v.--In Brockett's "Gloss, of North Country Words" is "_Pingle_, to work assiduously but inefficiently,--to labour until you are almost blind." In Forby's "Vocab. of East Anglia" we find, "_Pingle_, to pick one's food, to eat squeamishly:" and in Moor's "Suffolk Words" is a similar explanation. See also Jamieson's "Et. Dict. of Scott. Lang."

[282] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[283] So second edit. First edit., _drinke_.

[284] So second edit. First edit., _Nich_.

[285] [This is probably intended to run into verse--

"For when a man doth to Rome come, He must do as there is done."]

[286] [Old copies, _crush_.]

[287] A form of _digest_, common in our early writers.

[288] [This emendation was suggested by Dyce.]

[289] [Old copies, _shape_.]

[290] So second edit. First edit., _fathers_.

[291] So second edit. First edit., _than_.

[292] Edits., _Franke_.

[293] [Old copies, _boye yee_.]

[294] [Old copies, _love capable to_.]

[295] So second edit. First edit., _Maister_.

[296] Some word most probably has dropped out from the line. [Perhaps _not_.]

[297] So second edit. First edit., _craft_.

[298] A familiar term for the old English broadsword.

[299] The sharp point in the centre of the buckler.

[300] So second edit. First edit., _and_.

[301] [Dyce proposed to read _ont_.]

[302] i.e., Brave.

[303] [Old copies, _strukst_.]

[304] i.e., Manlike, masculine.

[305] See note [218].

[306] i.e., The parson: _Sir_ was a title applied to clergymen.

[307] See note [255].

[308] [A line appears to be lost here, probably ending with _selves_, as the whole dialogue is in rhyme.]

[309] i.e., Forester.

[310] Seems to be used here for herd; an unusual meaning of the word. [See Halliwell's "Diet." _v. Berry_, No. 3.]

[311] So second edit. First edit. _me_.

[312] So second edit. First edit. _th'_.

[313] Edits. _he_.

[314] So second edit. First edit. _thee_.

[315] So second edit. First edit. _thorowly_.

[316] See note [218].

[317] Swoon.

[318] Read, for the metre, _she is_.

[319] Edits., _wone_.

[320] i.e., An _I_ of the Christ-cross row or alphabet.

[321] A term of endearment, formed, perhaps, from _pink_, to wink, to contract the eyelids.

[322] Edits., _sower_.

[323] i.e., A good whip (_whipstock_ is properly the stock or handle of a whip).

[324] A term of endearment, which often occurs in our early dramatists.

[325] Edits., _patient_.

[326] [Old copies, _thy_.]

[327] So second edit. First edit., _cheesse_.

[328] So second edit. First edit., _to_.

[329] Read, for the metre, _Shee is_.

[330] A recollection perhaps of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet,"