legs makes part of master Stephen's character in Every Man in his Humour : "I think my leg would show well in a silk hose.", STEEVENS. Taurus ?that's sides and heart.] Alluding to the medical astrology still preserved in Almanacks, which refers the affections of particular parts of the body to the predominance of particular constellations. JOHNSON. 285. -a woman's part.] That is, thy proper part in a play would be a woman's. Women were then personated by boys. 293. JOHNSON. -a barrfull strife!] i. e. a conSTEEVENS. test full of impediments. 300. fear no colours.] This expression frequently occurs in the old plays. So, in Ben Jonson's Sejanus. The persons conversing are Sejanus, and Eudemus the physician to the princess Livia: "Sej. You minister to a royal lady then? "Sej. That's understood. "Of all their sex, who are or would be so ; "For those that are, their beauties fear no co- Again, in the Two Angry Women of Abington, 1599: "are you disposed, Sir? "Yes indeed: I fear no colours; change sides, Richard." Biij STEEVENS. 303. 3°3. -lenten answer :] A lenten answer, means a short and spare one, like the commons in Lent. So, in Hamlet: "what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you.” STEEVENS, The first and hanging, &c. Marry is an inMALONE. 313. Marry, a good hanging, &c.] authentick copy reads-Many a good There is clearly no need of change. novation introduced by Mr. Theobald. 315. and, for turning away, let summer bear it out.] This seems to be a pun from the nearness in the pronunciation of turning away, and turning of whey. I found this observation among some papers of the late Dr. Letherland, for the perusal of which I am happy to have an opportunity of returning my particular thanks to Mr. Glover, the author of Medea and Leonidas, by whom, before, I had been obliged only in common with the rest of the world. I am yet of opinion that this note, however specious, is wrong, the literal meaning being easy and apposite. For turning away, let summer bear it out. It is common for unsettled and vagrant serving-men, to grow negligent of their business towards summer; and the sense of the passage is, if I am turned away, the advantages of the approaching summer will bear aut, or support, all the inconveniencies of dismission; for I shall find employment in every field, and lodging under every hedge. STEEVENS. 330. -Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.—] Hall, in his Chronicle, speaking of the death of Sir Thomas Thomas Moore, says, "that he knows not whether to call him a foolish wise man, or a wise foolish man.” 336. 427. JOHNSON. -Madonna,- -] Ital. mistress, dame. So, La Madonna, by way of pre-eminence, the Blessed Virgin. STEEVENS. 392. Now Mercury indue thee with leasing, for thou speakest well of fools!] May Mercury teach thee to lie, since thou liest in favour of fools. JOHNSON. -above heat- -] i, e. above the state of being warm in a proper degree. STEEVENS. 443. stand at your door like a sheriff's post,- -] It was the custom for that officer to have large posts set up at his door, as an indication of his office. The original of which was, that the king's proclamations, and other publick acts, might be affixed thereon by way of publication. So, Jonson's Every Man out of his Humour : "To the lord Chancellor's tomb, or the Shrives posts." So, again, in the old play called Lingua: "Knows he how to become a scarlet gown, hath he a pair of fresh posts at his door?" WARBURTON. Dr. Letherland was of opinion, that "by this post is meant a post to mount his horse from, a horseblock, which, by the custom of the city, is still placed 'at the sheriff's door." In In the Contention for Honour and Riches, a masque by Shirley, 1633, one of the competitors swears "By the Shrive's post," &c. Again, in A Woman never vex'd, Com. by Rowley, 1632: "If e'er I live to see thee sheriff of London, -I am very comptible. STEEVENS. 470. -] She begs she may not be treated with scorn, because she is very submissive, even to lighter marks of reprehension. STEEVENS. skipping] Wild, frolick, mad. 496. So, in K. Henry IV. Part I. JOHNSON. "The skipping king, he ambled up and down," &c. 498. 7 STEEVENS. am to hull here] To hull means to drive to and fro upon the water, without sails or rud-· der. So, in the Noble Soldier, 1634: "That all these mischiefs hull with flagging sail." 499. STEEVENS. -some mollification for your giant,—] La-^ dies, in romance, are guarded by giants, who repel all improper or troublesome advances. Viola, seeing the waiting maid so eager to oppose her message, intreets Olivia to pacify her giant. JOHNSON. Viola likewise alludes to the diminutive size of Ma ria, who is called, on subsequent occasions, little villain, youngest wren of nine, &c. STEEVENS. 530. -Look you, Sir, such a one I was this present : is't not well done?] She says, I was this present, instead of saying I am; because she has once shewn herself, and personates the beholder, who is afterwards to make the relation. STEEVENS. 535. 'Tis beauty truly blent, -] i. e. blended, mixed together. Blent is the antient participle of the verb to blend. So, in a Looking Glass for London and England, 1617: Again, in Spenser's Faery Queene, b. i. c. 6. -for having blent "My name with guile, and traiterous intent." STEEVENS. 531. If you will lead these graces to the grave, And leave the world no copy.] How much more elegantly is this thought expressed by Shakspere, than by Beaumont and Fletcher in their Philaster: "I grieve such virtue should be laid in earth Shakspere has copied himself in his 11th sonnet: "Thou should'st print more, nor let that copy die." Again, in the 3d Sonnet: "Die single, and thine image dies with thee.” STEEVENS. |