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the tapster of a brothel, and probably was not so apparelled. MALONE.

P. 12, 1. 30. he

needs to fear no colours] This expression frequently occurs in the old plays.

STEEVENS.

P. 1, last but one l. A good lenten answer:] A lean, or as we now call it, a dry answer. JOHNSON.

So,

Surely a lenten answer, rather means a short and spare one, like the commons in Eent. in Hamlet: ,,what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you." STEEVENS..

P. 12, 1. 11. 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, 1 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 opposite. 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 pas sage is:,,If I am turned away, the advantages of the approaching summer will bear out, Or support all the inconveniencies of dismission;' for I shall find employment in every field, and lodging under every hedge." STEEVENS.

P. 12, 1.15. Points were metal hooks, fastened to the hose or breeches (which had then no open

ing or buttons,) and going into straps or eyes fixed to the doubled, and thereby keeping the hose from falling down. BLACKSTONE.

P.12, 1. 27. Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.] Hall, in his Chronicle, speaking of the death of Sir Thomas More, says,,,that he knows not whether to call him a foolish wise man, or a wise foolish man." JOHNSON.

P. 12, last but one 1. Madonna, Ital. mistress, dame. So, La Maddona, by way of pre-eminence, the Blessed Virgin. STEEVENS.

P. 13, 1. 4. Any thing, that's mended, is but. patch'd:] Alluding to the patch'd or particoloured garment of the fool, MALONE.

P. 14, 1. 12. fool's zanies. i. e. fool's baubles,

which had upon the top of them the head of a fool. DOUCE.

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P. 14, 1. 20. 21. Now Mercury indue thee with leasing, for thou speak'st well of fools!] This is a stupid blunder. We should read, with pleasing, i. e. with eloquence, make thee a gracious and, powerful speaker, for Mercury was the god of orators as well as cheats. But the first editors, who did not understand the phrase, indue thee with pleasing,, made this foolish correction; more excusable, however, than the last editor's, who, when this emendation was pointed out to him,' would make one of his own; and so, in his Oxford edition, reads, with learning, without troubling himself to satisfy the reader how the first editor should blunder in a word so easy to be understood as learning, though they well might in the word pleasing, as it is used in this place. WARBURTON.

I think the present reading more humourous; May Mercury teach thee to lie, since thou liest in favour of fools! JOHNSON.

P. 15, 1. 10. 'Tis a gentleman here] He had before said it was a gentleman. He was asked, what gentleman? and he makes this reply; which, it is plain, is corrupt, and should be read thus:

'Tis a gentleman - heir.

i. e. some lady's eldest son just come out of the nursery; for this was the appearance Viola made in men's clothes. See the character Malvolio draws of him presently after. WARBURTON.

Can any thing be plainer than that Sir Toby was going to describe the gentleman, but was interrupted by the effects of his pickle herring? I would print it as an imperfect sentence. Mr. Edwards has the same observation, STEEVENS..

as it

Mr. Steevens's interpretation may be right: yet Dr. Warburton's reading is not so strange, hath been represented. In Broome's Jovial Crew, Scentwell says to the gypsies:,,We must find a young gentlewoman-heir among you," FARMER. P. 15, 1. 22. above heat i. c. above the state of being warm in a proper degree.

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STEEVENS.

P. 16, 1. 6. 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 public acts, might be affixed thereon, by way of publication. So, Jonson's Every Man out of his Humour:

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,,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 a horse from, a horseblock, which, by the custom of the city, is still placed at the sheriff's door."

Thus, in A Woman never vex'd, Com. by Rowley, 1632::

,,If e'er I live to see thee sheriff of London, ,,I'll gild thy painted posts cum privilegio." STEEVENS, P. 16, 1. 16. A codling anciently meant an immature apple. So, in Ben Jonson's Alchemist: ,,What is it, Dol?

,,A fine young quodling."

The fruit at present styled a codling, was unknown to our gardens in the time of Shakspeare.

STEEVENS.

P. 17, 1. 2. Comptible for ready to call to account. WARBURTON.

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Viola seems to mean just the contrary. She begs she may not be treated with scorn, because she is very submissive, even to lighter marks of reprehension. STEEVENS.

P. 17, 1. 26. If you be not mad, be gone; if you have reason, be brief:] The sense evidently requires that we should read,

If you be mad, be gone, etc.

For the words be mad, in the first part of the sentence, are opposed to reason in the second.

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M. MASON, ] Wild, frolick,

mad. JOHNSON.

P. 17, 1. 31. To hull means to drive to and fro upon the water, without sails or rudder.

STEEVENS, P. 17, 1. 32. Some mollification for your giants. sweet Lady Ladies, in romance, are guarded by

giants, who repel all improper or troublesome adyances. Viola, seeing the waiting - maid so eager to oppose her message, intreats Olivia to pacify her giant. JOHNSON.

Viola likewise alludes to the diminutive size of Maria, who is called on subsequent occasions, little villain, youngest wren of nine, etc.

P. 17, 1. 34. 35.

STEEVENS,

Oli. Tell me your mind. Vio. I am a messenger.] These 'words (which in the old copy are part of Viola's last speech) must be divided between the two speakers.

Viola growing troublesome, Olivia would dismiss her, and therefore cuts her short with this command, Tell me your mind. The other, taking advantage of the ambiguity of the word mind, which signifies either business or inelination, replies as if she had used it in the latter sense, am a messenger. WARBURTON.:

As a messenger, she was not to speak her own mind, but that of her employer. M. MASON. Y P. 18, 1. 31. Look you, Sir, such a one I was this present: Is't not well done?] This is nonsense. The change of was to wear, I think, clears all up, and gives the expression an air of gallantry. Viola presses to see Olivia's face: The other at length pulls off her veil, and says: We will draw the curtain, and shew you the picture. I wear this complexion today, I may wear another tomorrow: jocularly intimating, that she painted. The other, vext at the jest, says, ‚Excellently done, if God did all." Perhaps, it may be true, what you say in jest; otherwise 'fis an excellent face. 'Tis in grain, etc. replies Olivia. WARBURTON.

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