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the hoop wears colours, but that the colours are worn as a tumbler carries his hoop, hanging on one shoulder and falling under the opposite arm. JOHNSON.

It was once a mark of gallantry to wear a lady's colours. So, in Cynthia's Revels, by Ben Jonson & "-dispatches his lacquey to the chamber early to know what her colours are for the day, with purpose to apply his wear that day accordingly," &c. I am informed by a lady who remembers morris-dancing, that the character who tumbled, always carried his hoop dressed out with ribbands, and in the position described by Dr. Johnson. STEEVENS. Corporals of the field are mentioned in Carew's Surpey of Cornwall; and Raleigh speaks of them twice, Vol. I. p. 103. Vol. II. p. 367. edit. 1571.

TOLLET. This officer is likewise mentioned in Ben Jonson's New Inn:

"As corporal of the field, maestro del campo." Giles Clayton, in his Martial Discipline, 1591, has a chapter on the office and duty of a corporal of the field. In one of Drake's Voyages, it appears that the captains Morgan and Sampson by this name, had commandement over the rest of the land-captaines.' Brookesby tells us, that "Mr. Dodwell's father was in an office then known by the name of corporal of the field, which he said was equal to that of a captain of horse." FARMER.

It appears from Lord Strafford's Letters, Vol. II. p. 199, that a corporal of the field was employed as an

aid-de-camp is now, "in taking and carrying to and fro the directions of the general, or other the higher officers of the field." TYRWHITT.

194. What? what? I love!] The second what has been supplied by the editors. I should like better to read-What?! I love ! TYRWHITT.

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Still a repairing ;-] The same allusion occurs in Westward-Hoe, by Decker and Webster, 1607:no German clock, no mathematical engine whatsoever, requires so much reparation," &c.

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Again, in A mad World my Masters, 1608:

66 -she consists of a hundred pieces,

"Much like your German clock, and near allied:
"Both are so nice they cannot go for pride.
"Besides a greater fault, but too well known,
"They'll strike to ten when they should stop at

one."

Ben Jonson has the same thought in his Silent Woman; and Beaumont and Fletcher in Wit without Money.

Again, in Decker's Newes from Hell, &c. 1606 :"their wits (like wheels of Brunswick clocks) being all wound up so far as they could stretch, were all going, but not one going truly."

The following extract is taken from a book called The Artificial Clock-Maker, 3d. edit. 1714 :-" Clockmaking was supposed to have had its beginning in Germany within less than these two hundred years. It is very probable that our balance-clocks or watches,

and

and some other automata, might have had their beginning there ;" &c. Again, p. 91.- Little worth remark is to be found till towards the 16th century; and then clock-work was revived or wholly invented anew in Germany, as is generally thought, because the ancient pieces are of German work."

A skilful watch.maker informs me, that clocks have not been commonly made in England much more than one hundred years backward.

To the inartificial construction of these first pieces of mechanism executed in Germany, we may suppose Shakspere alludes. The clock at Hampton-Court, which was set up in 1540 (as appears from the inscription affixed to it), is said to be the first ever fabricated in England. STEEVENS.

I have heard a French proverb that compares any thing that is intricate and out of order to the coq de Strasburg, that belongs to the machinery of the townclock.

S. W.

209. -sue, and groan ;] And, which is not in either of the authentick copies of this play, the quarto 1598, or the folio, 1623, was added, to supply the metre, by the editor of the second folio.

MALONE.

210. Some men must love my lady, and some Joan.] To this line Mr. Theobald extends his second act, not injudiciously, but, as was before observed, without sufficient authority.

JOHNSON.

ACT

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ACT IV.

Line 19. HERE, good my glass,] To understand how the princess has her glass so ready at hand in ́a casual conversation, it must be remembered that in those days it was the fashion among the French ladies to wear a looking-glass, as Mr. Bayle coarsely represents it, on-their bellies; that is, to have a small mirror set in gold hanging at their girdle, by which they occasionally viewed their faces or adjusted their hair. JOHNSON.

Dr. Johnson, perhaps, is mistaken. She had no occasion to have recourse to any other looking glass than the Forester, whom she rewards for having shewn her to herself as in a mirror. STEEVENS.

33. When, for fame's sake, for praise, an outward part,

We bend to that the working of the heart :] The harmony of the measure, the easiness of the expression, and the good sense in the thought, all concur to re-. commend these two lines to the reader's notice.

WARBURTON.

36. that my heart means no ill.] That my heart means no ill, is the same with to whom my heart means no ill the common phrase suppresses the particle, as I mean him [not to him] no harm. JOHNSON. that self-sovereignty] Not a sovereignty

37.

over, but in, themselves. So, self-sufficiency, selfconsequence, &c.

MALONE.

42. a member of the common-wealth.] Here, I believe, is a kind of jest intended: a member of the common-wealth is put for one of the common people, one of the meanest. JOHNSON. 50. An your waist, mistress, were as slender as my

wit,

One of these maids' girdles for your waist should

be fit.] It is plain that the ladies' girdles

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would not fit the princess. For when she has referred the clown to the thickest and the tallest, he turns immediately to her with the blunt apology, truth is truth and again tells her, you are the thickest here. Perhaps he mentions the slenderness of his own wit to excuse his bluntness. JOHNSON.

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Break up this capon.] i. e. open this letter. Our poet uses this metaphor, as the French do their poulet; which signifies both a young fowl and a love-letter. Poulet amatoria litera, says Richelet; and quotes from Voiture, Repondre au plus obligeant poulet du monde; to reply to the most obliging letter in the world. The Italians use the same manner of expression, when they call a love-epistle, una policetta amorosa. I owed the hint of this equivocal use of the word to my ingenious friend Mr. Bishop.

THEOBALD.

Henry IV. consulting with Sully about his marriage, says, "My niece of Guise would please me best, notwithstanding

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