[285][In “Ancient British Drama,” 1810.][286]Heywood’s words are these: “Therefore Mr Kyd, in the ‘Spanish Tragedy,’ upon occasion presenting itself, thus writes:—“‘Why. Nero thought it no disparagement,And kings and emperors have tane delightTo make experience of their wits in playes.’These three lines are to be found towards the commencement of act v. of the ‘Spanish Tragedy.’”—Collier.[287]It appears from Philip Henslowe’s papers, lately [1825] discovered at Dulwich College, that the “Comedy of Hieronimo” was played by the Lord Strange’s men the 10th April 1591.—Gilchrist.[288]This word, which is variously spelt, assenet, cynet, sennet, sinet, signate, synnet, signet, &c., I believe to be no more than a corruption ofsonata,Ital.See a note on “Julius Cæsar,”vol. viii. p.9, and another on “King HenryVII.,”vol. vii. p.236.—Steevens.[289]This ceremony is still retained in the creation of a Knight of the Bath, and is generally performed by some person of eminence. See Anstis, “Historical Essay upon the Knighthood of the Bath,”4to, 1725, and “Lord Herbert of Cherbury’s Life,”p.54.[290][Old copy,from.] This passage ought either to be, “What newsforSpain?” or we must supposeSpainmisprinted forPortugal. The substitution would destroy the measure.—Collier.[291][Old copy,Push.][292][Old copy,We’ll.][293]One of the significations affixed to this word by Skinner, in his “Etymologicon,” is “Venter, hinc Hisp.,Buche, Ventriculus animalis, Belg.,Bulcke, Thorax.”So in “The Nice Valour,” by Beaumont and Fletcher, [Works, by Dyce,x.142—“My maintenance, rascals!My bulk, my exhibition!”Where Mr Dyce explains bulk simply bybody.][294]The same sentiment is both in Shakespeare and Beaumont and Fletcher. Thus in the “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” act 3,sc.2:—“Win her with gifts, if she respects not words;Dumb jewels often in their silent kind,More than quick words, do move a woman’s mind;”and in “The Woman-Hater,” act 4,sc.2:—“Your offers mustBe full of bounty; velvets to furnish a gown, silksFor petticoats and foreparts, shag for lining;Forget not some pretty jewel to fasten, afterSome little compliment! If she deny this courtesy,Double your bounties; be not wanting in abundance:Fulness of gifts, link’d with a pleasing tongue,Will win an anchorite.”[295][Mr Collier’s correction, the former editions reading,ExeuntLorenzoandLazarottoandHoratio.ManetJeronimo.][296]It seems probable, from this and several other passages in the play, that the part of Jeronimo was performed by an actor of low stature. Decker, in two distinct scenes of his “Satiromastix,” says that Ben Jonson had supported the character of Jeronimo; but this assertion most likely applies to the “Spanish Tragedy, or the Second Part of Jeronimo,” from which he introduces a quotation.—Collier.[297][Old copy] readsfull.[298]Exactly. So, in “Hamlet:” “jumpat this dead hour.”—Steevens.Again, in “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” acti.sc. 2 [edit.by Dyce,xi.342]:—“Where every seeming good’sA certain evil; where not to be evenjumpAs they are here were to be strangers, andSuch things to be mere monsters.”And in “Othello,” actii. sc.3:—“Myself the while will draw the Moor apart,And bring himjumpwhere he may Cassio find.”[299]The quarto readslost.[300]Terms current in the universities for different portions of bread and beer.—Steevens.In the character of an old college butler by Dr Earle (Microcosmographie, 1628), it is said: “He domineers over freshmen, when they first come to the hatch, and puzzles them with strange language ofcuesandcees, and some broken Latin, which he has learnt at his term.”—Note inedit.1825.[301][Old copy,then.][302][The old copy omitsears, which was suggested, in order to complete the sense, by Steevens.][303]To obscure day. So in “Othello,” acti. sc.3: “You must therefore be content toslubberthe gloss of your new fortunes.” And again in Howard’s “Defensative against the Poyson of supposed Prophecies,”fol.1620,p.117: “Surely, for the most part so they are, as may be gathered ‘either by the colours or the garments, or theslubberingof set purpose to bestow some greater grace and colour of antiquity.’”[304]The wordclingis so variously used in different authors, that it is difficult to affix any precise meaning to it. Several instances are quoted by Mr Steevens, in his Note on “Macbeth,” act v. sc. 5. I imagine Horatio means, that his weapon shallcling to him, or not leave him, until he had gratified his revenge for his friend’s murder.[305]This word is not in the quarto.[306]In “All’s Well that ends Well,” actiii. sc.5, one of the stage-directions isa Tucket afar off; and in “HenryV.,” activ. sc.2, the constable says—“Then let the trumpets soundThe tucket-sonance, and the note to mount.”A Tucketis, therefore, probablya trumpet. [A certain set of notes on the trumpet.—Dyce.][307]The [old copy] readswars.[308][Old copy,As if he.][309][Old copy,dread.][310]Poles headed by axes;contus securi munitus.—Skinner.[311][Old copy,forced laid down.][312][Old copy,for.][313][Old copy,my tongue.][314]The quarto readshis[go.][315]A play upon words was the failing of almost every writer of the times. The quibble here upongentlesandJewis also in Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” actii. sc.7. See the notes on that passage, by Dr Johnson, Mr Steevens, and Dr Farmer,vol. iii., edit.1778,p.173. To the instances there quoted may be added the following from “Euphues,” 1581,p.65: “Consider with thyselfe that thou art a gentleman, yea, and aGentile; and, if thou neglect thy calling, thou art worse than aJewe.”
[285][In “Ancient British Drama,” 1810.]
[286]Heywood’s words are these: “Therefore Mr Kyd, in the ‘Spanish Tragedy,’ upon occasion presenting itself, thus writes:—
“‘Why. Nero thought it no disparagement,And kings and emperors have tane delightTo make experience of their wits in playes.’
“‘Why. Nero thought it no disparagement,
And kings and emperors have tane delight
To make experience of their wits in playes.’
These three lines are to be found towards the commencement of act v. of the ‘Spanish Tragedy.’”—Collier.
[287]It appears from Philip Henslowe’s papers, lately [1825] discovered at Dulwich College, that the “Comedy of Hieronimo” was played by the Lord Strange’s men the 10th April 1591.—Gilchrist.
[288]This word, which is variously spelt, assenet, cynet, sennet, sinet, signate, synnet, signet, &c., I believe to be no more than a corruption ofsonata,Ital.See a note on “Julius Cæsar,”vol. viii. p.9, and another on “King HenryVII.,”vol. vii. p.236.—Steevens.
[289]This ceremony is still retained in the creation of a Knight of the Bath, and is generally performed by some person of eminence. See Anstis, “Historical Essay upon the Knighthood of the Bath,”4to, 1725, and “Lord Herbert of Cherbury’s Life,”p.54.
[290][Old copy,from.] This passage ought either to be, “What newsforSpain?” or we must supposeSpainmisprinted forPortugal. The substitution would destroy the measure.—Collier.
[291][Old copy,Push.]
[292][Old copy,We’ll.]
[293]One of the significations affixed to this word by Skinner, in his “Etymologicon,” is “Venter, hinc Hisp.,Buche, Ventriculus animalis, Belg.,Bulcke, Thorax.”
So in “The Nice Valour,” by Beaumont and Fletcher, [Works, by Dyce,x.142—
“My maintenance, rascals!My bulk, my exhibition!”
“My maintenance, rascals!
My bulk, my exhibition!”
Where Mr Dyce explains bulk simply bybody.]
[294]The same sentiment is both in Shakespeare and Beaumont and Fletcher. Thus in the “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” act 3,sc.2:—
“Win her with gifts, if she respects not words;Dumb jewels often in their silent kind,More than quick words, do move a woman’s mind;”
“Win her with gifts, if she respects not words;
Dumb jewels often in their silent kind,
More than quick words, do move a woman’s mind;”
and in “The Woman-Hater,” act 4,sc.2:—
“Your offers mustBe full of bounty; velvets to furnish a gown, silksFor petticoats and foreparts, shag for lining;Forget not some pretty jewel to fasten, afterSome little compliment! If she deny this courtesy,Double your bounties; be not wanting in abundance:Fulness of gifts, link’d with a pleasing tongue,Will win an anchorite.”
“Your offers must
Be full of bounty; velvets to furnish a gown, silks
For petticoats and foreparts, shag for lining;
Forget not some pretty jewel to fasten, after
Some little compliment! If she deny this courtesy,
Double your bounties; be not wanting in abundance:
Fulness of gifts, link’d with a pleasing tongue,
Will win an anchorite.”
[295][Mr Collier’s correction, the former editions reading,ExeuntLorenzoandLazarottoandHoratio.ManetJeronimo.]
[296]It seems probable, from this and several other passages in the play, that the part of Jeronimo was performed by an actor of low stature. Decker, in two distinct scenes of his “Satiromastix,” says that Ben Jonson had supported the character of Jeronimo; but this assertion most likely applies to the “Spanish Tragedy, or the Second Part of Jeronimo,” from which he introduces a quotation.—Collier.
[297][Old copy] readsfull.
[298]Exactly. So, in “Hamlet:” “jumpat this dead hour.”—Steevens.Again, in “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” acti.sc. 2 [edit.by Dyce,xi.342]:—
“Where every seeming good’sA certain evil; where not to be evenjumpAs they are here were to be strangers, andSuch things to be mere monsters.”
“Where every seeming good’s
A certain evil; where not to be evenjump
As they are here were to be strangers, and
Such things to be mere monsters.”
And in “Othello,” actii. sc.3:—
“Myself the while will draw the Moor apart,And bring himjumpwhere he may Cassio find.”
“Myself the while will draw the Moor apart,
And bring himjumpwhere he may Cassio find.”
[299]The quarto readslost.
[300]Terms current in the universities for different portions of bread and beer.—Steevens.In the character of an old college butler by Dr Earle (Microcosmographie, 1628), it is said: “He domineers over freshmen, when they first come to the hatch, and puzzles them with strange language ofcuesandcees, and some broken Latin, which he has learnt at his term.”—Note inedit.1825.
[301][Old copy,then.]
[302][The old copy omitsears, which was suggested, in order to complete the sense, by Steevens.]
[303]To obscure day. So in “Othello,” acti. sc.3: “You must therefore be content toslubberthe gloss of your new fortunes.” And again in Howard’s “Defensative against the Poyson of supposed Prophecies,”fol.1620,p.117: “Surely, for the most part so they are, as may be gathered ‘either by the colours or the garments, or theslubberingof set purpose to bestow some greater grace and colour of antiquity.’”
[304]The wordclingis so variously used in different authors, that it is difficult to affix any precise meaning to it. Several instances are quoted by Mr Steevens, in his Note on “Macbeth,” act v. sc. 5. I imagine Horatio means, that his weapon shallcling to him, or not leave him, until he had gratified his revenge for his friend’s murder.
[305]This word is not in the quarto.
[306]In “All’s Well that ends Well,” actiii. sc.5, one of the stage-directions isa Tucket afar off; and in “HenryV.,” activ. sc.2, the constable says—
“Then let the trumpets soundThe tucket-sonance, and the note to mount.”
“Then let the trumpets sound
The tucket-sonance, and the note to mount.”
A Tucketis, therefore, probablya trumpet. [A certain set of notes on the trumpet.—Dyce.]
[307]The [old copy] readswars.
[308][Old copy,As if he.]
[309][Old copy,dread.]
[310]Poles headed by axes;contus securi munitus.—Skinner.
[311][Old copy,forced laid down.]
[312][Old copy,for.]
[313][Old copy,my tongue.]
[314]The quarto readshis[go.]
[315]A play upon words was the failing of almost every writer of the times. The quibble here upongentlesandJewis also in Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” actii. sc.7. See the notes on that passage, by Dr Johnson, Mr Steevens, and Dr Farmer,vol. iii., edit.1778,p.173. To the instances there quoted may be added the following from “Euphues,” 1581,p.65: “Consider with thyselfe that thou art a gentleman, yea, and aGentile; and, if thou neglect thy calling, thou art worse than aJewe.”
END OF VOL. IV.
Transcriber’s NoteFootnotes were renumbered sequentially and moved to the end of the play in which the related anchor appears. The players names, which appear in small caps in the original, are displayed asboldin handheld devices.Missing end periods and end brackets were added, where needed. The following were adjusted:a- ending period changed to commab- ‘Ch a’ to ‘Cha’c- ending comma changed to periodd- ending period changed to commae- ‘Torquin’ to ‘Tarquin’f- ‘renowm’ to ‘renown’g- ‘onr’ to ‘our’h- ‘tickle’ to ‘fickle’[48]‘intances’ to ‘instances’[51]‘i.e,’ to ‘i.e.,’
Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and moved to the end of the play in which the related anchor appears. The players names, which appear in small caps in the original, are displayed asboldin handheld devices.
Missing end periods and end brackets were added, where needed. The following were adjusted: