(the last word being, perhaps, in the 8vo "lute.") Here "light"
is a very questionable reading: qy."air"? (though the third line above ends with that word).
<177> boss] In the GENT.MAG.for Jan.1841, J.M.proposed to alter "boss" to "Bassa." But Cotgrave, in his DICT., has;
"A fat BOSSE.Femme bien grasse et grosse; une coche."
<178> advocate] So the 4to.--The 8vo "aduocates."
<179> That dare, &c.] Something dropt out from this line.
<180> Re-enter Bajazeth, pursued by Tamburlaine] The old eds.
have, "Bajazeth flies, and he pursues him.The battell short [Qto.is short], and they enter, Bajazeth is ouercome."
This not very intelligible stage-direction means perhaps that, after Bajazeth and Tamburlaine had entered, a short combat was to take place between them.
<181> foil] The old eds."soil."
<182> gat] So the 8vo.--The 4to "got."
<183> pilling] i.e.plundering.
<184> British] So the 4to.--The 8vo "brightest."
<185> martial] So the 8vo.--The 4to "materiall."
<186> Awake, ye men of Memphis!] These words are put into the mouth of Judas, in Fletcher's BONDUCA, at the commencement of act ii.; and in Fletcher's WIT WITHOUT MONEY, act v.sc.2.we find "thou man of Memphis."
<187> basilisks] Pieces of ordnance so called.They were of immense size; see Douce's ILLUST.OF SHAKESPEARE, i.425.
<188> monstrous] To be read as a trisyllable.
<189> Or ever-drizzling] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Or drisling."
<190> should] So the 4to.--The 8vo "shal."
<191> he devil] So the 8vo.--The 4to "he THE deuill."
<192> Arabian king] Scil.Alcidamus: see p.10, l.9, sec.col.
<Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play:
"Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,">
<193> it] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo.
<194> it should] So the 4to.--The 8vo "should it."
<195> this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "it."
<196> into] So the 4to.--The 8vo "vnto."
<197> heart] So the 4to.--The 8vo "soul."
<198> stoop] Qy."stoop, STOOP"?
<199> your] Old eds."their."--Compare the tenth line of the speech.
<200> to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "on."
<201> brent] i.e.burnt.So the 8vo.--The 4to "burnt."
<202> kings] So the 8vo.--The 4to "king."
<203> from] So the 4to.--The 8vo "in."
<204> then, for you] So the 4to.--The 8vo "for you then."
<205> stark nak'd] Compare (among many passages which might be cited from our early poets),--
"rather on Nilus' mud Lay me STARK NAK'D, and let the water-flies Blow me into abhorring!"
Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, act v.sc.2.(where the modern editors print "naked.")
<206> dignities] So the 8vo.--The 4to "dignitie."
<207> whiles] So the 8vo.--The 4to "while."
<208> shalt] So the 4to.--The 8vo "shal."
<209> grace] Olds eds."grac'd."
<210> stature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue:" but again, in the SECOND PART of this play, act ii.sc.4, we have, according to the 8vo--
"And here will I set up her STATURE."
and, among many passages that might be cited from our early authors, compare the following;
"The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made."
Warner's ALBIONS ENGLAND, p.303.ed.1596.
"By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand."
Chapman's BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig.A 3.
"Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?"
Lyly's MIDAS, sig.A 2.ed.1592.
<211> bird] i.e.the ibis.
<212> are] Old eds."is."
<213> country] Old eds."countries."
<214> King of Arabia] i.e.Alcidamus; see p.10, l.9, sec.col.
<Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play:
"Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,">
<215> Calydonian] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Calcedonian."
<216> lusty] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
<217> and] So the 4to.--0mitted in the 8vo.
<218> Renowmed] See note ||.p.11.<i.e.note 52.> So the 8vo.
--The 4to "Renow<ned.">
<219> Ibis' holy name] The ibis has been already alluded to in the lines (p.27, sec.col.),--
"The golden stature of their feather'd bird, That spreads her wings upon the city-walls";
and it is well known to have been a sacred bird among the Egyptians (see Cicero DE NAT.DEORUM, I.36).Compare the old play of THE TAMING OF A SHREW;
"Father, I SWEARE BY IBIS' GOLDEN BEAKE, More faire and radiente is my bonie Kate Then siluer Zanthus," &c.
p.22.ed.Shakespeare Soc.
In the passage of our text the modern editors substitute "Isis'"
for "Ibis'."
<220> the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and."
<221> and] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
<222> thy baseness and] So the 8vo.--The 4to "THE basnesse OF."
<223> mask] So the 8vo.--The 4to "walke."
<224> My lord, &c.] Something has dropt out: qy."TAMELY
suffer"?
<225> a goodly refreshing for them] So the 8vo.--The 4to "a GOOD
refreshing TO them."
<226> Here] So the 8vo.--The 4to "there."
<227> it from] So the 8vo.--The 4to "it VP from."
<228> slice] So the 8vo.--The 4to "fleece."
<229> will fall] So the 8vo.--The 4to "will NOT fall."
<230> let] i.e.hinder.
<231> while] i.e.until.
<232> consort] i.e.band.
<233> pen] i.e.his sword.
<234> hastening] So the 4to.--The 8vo "hasting."
<235> 'specially] So the 8vo.--The 4to "especially."
<236> Morocco] Here and in the next speech the old eds.have "Morocus" and "Moroccus:" but see note ? p.22.<i.e.note 162.>
<237> plage] i.e.region.--Old eds."place."
<238> valour] Old eds."value."
<239> again] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
<240> renowm'd] See note ||.p.11.<i.e.note 52.> So the 8vo.
--The 4to "renown'd."
<241> Damascus] Both the old eds.here "Damasco:" but in many other places they agree in reading "Damascus."
<242> remorse] i.e.pity.
<243> sakes] So the 8vo.--The 4to."sake."
<244> blubber'd] That this word formerly conveyed no ludicrous idea, appears from many passages of our early writers.
<245> And use us like a loving conqueror] "i.e.And that he will use us like, &c." Ed.1826.
<246> care] So the 4to.--The 8vo "cares."
<247> helps] So the 8vo.--The 4to "help."
<248> or] So the 8vo.--The 4to "for."
<249> power] So the 8vo.--The 4to "powers."
<250> knew] So the 8vo.--The 4to "know."
<251> Reflexed] Old eds."Reflexing."
<252> their] Old eds."your."
