So poor, so wretched, when no living thing Dol. Gentlemen, what mean you? Sub. Slave, thou hadít had no name Sub. Never been known, past equi clibanum, Dol. Do you know who hears you, sovereign ? Fac. Hang thee, collier, Dol. (0, this ’ll o'erthrow all.) (tricks Of Of coz’ning with a hollow cole, dust, scrapings, Dol. Are you sound? Fac. I will have Sub. Away, you trencher-rascal. Dol. Will you be Fac. Still spew'd out Sub. Have all thy tricks Of coz’ning with a hollow cole.) This alludes to a story in the Chanon's Yeman's tale, as told by Chaucer, v. 1180. This tale is a. Satire on the pretenders to alchemy, and the tricks they practised to cheat the ignorant and foolish. 4 And taking in of SHADOWS with a GLASS, Told in RED LETTERS.) i. c. says Mr. Upton, letters written in blood; and he thinks it an allusion to a particular manner of divination with a glass, mentioned by the scholiaft of Aristophanes in Nub. v. 750. I rather apprehend it, an allusion to a practice fan miliar to the fortune-tellers of our author's days : and that these shadows were vifions taken by a beril, which is a kind of crystal, they had used to look into. Certain formulas of prayer were used before they made the inspection; these forms they termed a Call; and the person making the inspection, was ftyled the Speculator, Scryer, or Seer. As to the expression told in red letters, the meaning is, that he would have all those tricks juft mentioned printed in red letters, which would be apter to catch the eye of a paffenger than the common print. And it was customary at that time, to print the titles of their ballads, and vulgar tales, in red letters. --- Still spew'd cut For lying too heavy o'tbe bakker.] i. e. for eating more than his Mare of Have yet Sub. Cheater. Dol. O me! yet some care of me, o'your republick Fac. Away, this brach. I'll bring thee, rogue, within The statute of forcery, tricesimo tertio Of Harry the eighth : 1, and (perhaps) thy neck Within a noose, for laundring gold, and barbing it. Dol. You'll bring your head within a cockscomb, (will you? [She catches out Face's sword, and breaks Subile's glass. And you, sir, with your menstrue, gather it up. 'Sdeath, you abominable pair of stinkards, Leave off your barking, and grow one again, Or, by the light that shines, I'll cut your throats. I'll not be made a prey unto the marshal, For ne'er a snarling dog-bolt o' you both. Ha' you together cozen'd all this while, And all the world ? and shall it now be said, Yo’have made most courteous shift to cozen yourselves? You will accuse him ? you will bring him in Within the statute ? who shall take your word? A whoreson, upstart, apocryphal captain, Whom not a puritan in Black-friers will truft So much as for a feather! and you too Will give the cause, forsooth ? you will insult, And claim a primacy in the divisions ? You must be chief? as if you only had of the provisions collected, or sent in for the prisoners. In the last edition, these words are a continuation of Dol's speech, whereas they evidently belong to Face, to whom I have here restored them. The The powder to project with, and the work Fac. 'Tis his fault, Sub. Why, so it does. Dol. How does it? do not we Sustain our parts ? Sub. Yes, but they are not equal. Dol. Why, if your part exceed to-day, I hope Sub. I, they may. [on me! Help me to throttle him. Sub. Dorothee, miftris Dorothee, Dol. Because o' your fermentation and cibation? Or, by this hand, I shall grow PACTIOUS too.) Dr. Grey questions the present reading, and thinks fractious, that is, quarrelsome, might have been the original word. I wou'd not deprive the reader of his ingenious conjecture, tho' I have not taken upon me to alter the text. And it seems confirmed by what Dol afterwards says 10 Subtle ; To leave your faction, fir, “ And labour kindly in the common work." 7 Dol. Your Sol and Luna help me.] To rail and abuse him, as Mr. Upton says the phrase must here be understood. Or perhaps, to throttle him ; as ne now holds him faft by the collar, I just before said so, and called for assistance. Sub. Sub. Would I were hang'd then. I'll conform my self. Dol. To leave your faction, sir, Sub. Let me not breathe, if I meant ought beside. Dol. I hope we need no spurs, fir. Do we ? Sub. 'Slight, the knot grow the stronger for this breach, with me. Sub. Royal Dol! Fac. For which at fupper, thou shalt fit in triumph, 8 Rascals, For which you should pay e AR-RENT?] To see me ride. i. e. to see me carted as a bawd, and you, as a couple of rogues, to lose your ears in the pillory, Mr. Upton. And |