act i. sc. 2.

[314] The late ingenious Mr Robert Dodsley, whose modest merit is well known to those who were acquainted with him, had little skill in our ancient language, and therefore permitted many uncommon terms to be exchanged for others, to the no small detriment of the scenes which he undertook to publish. We had here a proof of the unpardonable licence, where a word of no meaning, _soak_, was given instead of a technical term belonging to falconry, in the language of which the present metaphor is carried on. A young hawk, like a young deer, was called a _soar_ or _soare:_ so that the brown _soar_ feathers are the remains of its first plumage, or such feathers as resemble it in colour. These birds are always mewed while they were moulting, to facilitate the growth of fresh plumes, more strong and beautiful than those which dropped off. Without this restoration and explanation, the passage before us is unintelligible.--_Steevens._

Latham, in his book of falconry, says: "A _sore hawke_, is from the first taking of her from the eiry, till she have mewed her feathers." The error introduced into the play by Mr Dodsley is continued by Mr Garrick who, in his alteration, reads brown _soak_ feathers.

Trincalo has already used a phrase that seems to be equivalent, in act ii. sc. 4, where he says--

"But if I _mew_ these _flags of yeomanry_ Gild in the _sear_," &c.

See the explanatory notes, where _flags_ are called "the baser order of feathers," and _sear_, we are told, is "the yellow part between the beak and the eyes of the hawk." After all, _sear_ may be a misprint for _soar_, and this would make the resemblance in the two passages the stronger.--_Collier._

[315] The metaphor is taken from a cock, who in his pride _prunes himself_, that is, picks off the loose feathers to smooth the rest. See notes by Dr Johnson and Mr Steevens to "First Part of King Henry IV.," act i. sc. 1.

The previous metaphors and phrases are from _falconry_, and probably the allusion is meant to be continued here: a _hawk_ may be said to _prune itself sleek_ just as well as a _cock_.--_Collier._

[316] See a translation of Apuleius's "Golden Asse," by William Adlington, 4º, 1566.

[317] The 4º of 1615 omits _was_.--_Collier._

[318] This appears to be the same as if, in modern language, he had said, _I stand_ at so many, a term still used at the game of _commerce_, and once perhaps current at many others; for it is not very certain at what particular game the deluded Trincalo supposes himself to be playing.--_Steevens._

The terms in the text appear to have been used at primero. I believe, therefore, Trincalo imagines himself to be playing at that game. It appears from a passage in "Nugæ Antiquæ," that fifty-five was esteemed a number which might safely be relied on. See note to "Lingua," [ix. 387, 388.]

[319] See note to "The City Nightcap," [act iv. sc. 4, vol. xiii.; and Dyce's "Shakespeare Glossary," _v._ Haggard.]

[320] "_Stooping_," says Latham, "is when a hawke, being upon her wings at the height of her pitch, bendeth violently down to strike the fowle, or any other prey." So in "The Alchymist," act v. sc. 5--

"Here stands my dove: _stoop_ at her if you dare."

"Again, Milton, in "Paradise Lost," bk. xi. 1. 185.

"The bird of Jove, _stoop'd_ from his aery tour, Two birds of gayest plume before him drove."

[321] _i.e._, Two footmen in _garded_ or _laced_ liveries. So in "The Merchant of Venice," act ii. sc. 2--

"Give him a livery More _garded_ than his fellows."

--_Steevens._

[322] _i.e._, Embraced me.

[323] [Old copy, _and_.]

[324] The two stanzas decrease and then increase, after the manner of wings. See the Greek poet Simmias Rhodius.--_Pegge._

[325] [Old copy, _his_.]

[326] Hitherto the reading has been--

"'Twas a hard passage; but not so dangerous As was this vessel."

The true word and the measure have been restored from the old copy.--_Collier._