Volume Ix Part 126 (1/2)
[232] i.e., Hedgehogs. See a note on Shakespeare's ”Tempest,” i. 28, edit. 1778.--_Steevens_.
Again, in Erasmus's ”Praise of Folie,” 1549, sig. Q 2: ”That the soule of Duns woulde a litle leve Sorbone College, and enter into my breast, be he never so thornie, and fuller of pricles than is any _urcheon_.”
[233] Perhaps, instead of _the masks are made so strong_, we ought to read, _the mesh is made so strong_. It clearly means the _mesh of the net_, from what is said afterwards.--_Collier_. [But _mask_, in Halliwell's ”Dictionary,” is said to be used for _mesh_. What is intended above is not a _net_, but a network ladder.]
[234] [_Hazard_, the plot of a tennis-court.--Halliwell's ”Dictionary.”]
[235] This is one of the many phrases in these volumes which, being not understood, was altered without any authority from the ancient copies.
The former editions read _odd mouthing_; the text, however, is right; for old, as Mr Steevens observes, was formerly a common augmentative in colloquial language, and as such is often used by Shakespeare and others. See notes on the ”Second Part of Henry IV.” act ii. sc. 4, and ”The Taming of the Shrew,” act iii. sc. 2.
Again, in Tarlton's ”Newes out of Purgatory,” 1630, p. 34: ”On Sunday at Ma.s.se there was _old ringing of bells_, and old and yong came to church to see the new roode.”
[236] A sneer at the Utopian Treatises on Government.--_Steevens_.
[237] The latest of the old copies, [and the first edition, have] _wine_ instead of _swine_, which is clearly a misprint, as the _hogs_ of Olfactus are subsequently again mentioned.--_Collier_.
[238] [Old copies, _he_.]
[239] [A flogging.]
[240] [i.e., A blockhead, a fool.--_Steevens_.]
[241] _Nor I out of Memory's mouth_ is the correct reading, although the p.r.o.noun has been always omitted. Anamnestes is comparing his situation with that of Mendacio.--_Collier_.
[242] [See ”Popular Antiquities of Great Britain,” ii. 296.]
[243] [Another name of Jupiter.]
[244] [Edits., _belly_.]
[245] Chess.
[246] A favourite game formerly, and apparently one of the oldest in use. The manner in which it was played will appear from the following epigram of Sir John Harington, the translator of Ariosto--
_The Story of Marcus's Life at Primero_.
”Fond Marcus ever at _Primero_ playes, Long winter nights, and as long summer dayes: And I heard once to idle talke attending The story of his times and coins mis-spending At first, he thought himselfe halfe way to heaven, If in his hand he had but got a sev'n.
His father's death set him so high on flote, All rests went up upon a sev'n and coate.
But while he drawes from these grey coats and gownes, The gamesters from his purse drew all his crownes.
And he ne'er ceast to venter all in prime, Till of his age, quite was consum'd the prime.
Then he more warily his rest regards, And sets with certainties upon the cards, On sixe and thirtie, or on sev'n and nine, If any set his rest, and saith, and mine: But seed with this, he either gaines or saves, For either Faustus prime is with three knaves, Or Marcus never can encounter right, Yet drew two Ases, and for further spight Had colour for it with a hopeful draught But not encountred, it avail'd him naught.
Well, sith encountring, he so faire doth misse, He sets not, till he nine and fortie is.
And thinking now his rest would sure be doubled, He lost it by the hand, with which sore troubled, He joynes now all his stocke unto his stake, That of his fortune he full proofe may make.
At last both eldest hand and five and fifty, He thinketh now or never (thrive unthrifty.) Now for the greatest rest he hath the push: But Cra.s.sus stopt a club, and so was flush: And thus what with the stop, and with the packe, Poore Marcus and his rest goes still to wracke.
Now must he seek new spoile to rest his rest, For here his seeds turne weeds, his rest, unrest.
His land, his plate he p.a.w.nes, he sels his leases, To patch, to borrow, and s.h.i.+ft he never ceases.
Till at the last two catch-poles him encounter, And by arrest, they beare him to the Counter.