That neither, singly, can be manifested,

Without the show of both ;-wherein fat Falstaff Hath a great scene: the image of the jest

6

[Showing the letter. I'll show you here at large. Hark, good mine host: To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one, Must my sweet Nan present the fairy queen; The purpose why, is here; in which disguise,

of Shakspeare's age. Whereof was formerly used as we now use thereof; "the mirth thereof being so larded," &c. So, in Mount Tabor, or Private Exercises of a Penitent Sinner, 8vo. 1639: "In the mean time [they] closely conveyed under the cloaths wherewithal he was covered, a vizard, like a swine's snout, upon his face, with three wire chains fastened thereunto, the other end whereof being holden severally by those three ladies; who fall to singing again," &c. MALONE.

6

wherein fat Falstaff

Hath a great scene:] The first folio reads:

"Without the show of both: fat Falstaff," &c.

I have supplied the word that was probably omitted at the press, from the early quarto, where, in the corresponding place, we find

"Wherein fat Falstaff hath a mighty scare [scene]." The editor of the second folio, to supply the metre, arbitrarily reads

7

"Without the shew of both :-fat Sir John Falstaff-." MALONE.

the image of the jest-] Image is representation. So, in K. Richard III :

"And liv'd by looking on his images."

Again, in Measure for Measure:"The image of it gives me content already." STEEVENS.

These words allude to a custom still in use, of hanging out painted representations of shows.

So, in Bussy d'Ambois:

-like a monster

"Kept onely to show men for goddesse money:
"That false hagge often paints him in her cloth
"Ten times more monstrous than he is in troth."

is here;] i. e. in the letter. STEEVENS.

HENLEY.

While other jests are something rank on foot,'
Her father hath commanded her to slip
Away with Slender, and with him at Eton
Immediately to marry: she hath consented:
Now, sir,

Her mother, even strong against that match,'
And firm for doctor Caius, hath appointed
That he shall likewise shuffle her away,
While other sports are tasking of their minds,"
And at the deanery, where a priest attends,
Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot
She, seemingly obedient, likewise hath

Made promise to the doctor ;-Now, thus it rests:
Her father means she shall be all in white;
And in that habit, when Slender sees his time
To take her by the hand, and bid her go,
She shall go with him :-her mother hath intended,
The better to denote3 her to the doctor,

9 While other jests are something rank on foot,] i. e. while they are hotly pursuing other merriment of their own.

1

STEEVENS.

even strong against that match,] Thus the old copies. The modern editors read-ever, but perhaps without necessity. Even strong, is as strong, with a similar degree of strength. So, in Hamlet, "—even christian" is fellow christian. STEEVENS.

3

tasking of their minds,] So, in K. Henry V:

66 some things of weight

"That task our thoughts concerning us and France."

STEEVENS.

to denote] In the MSS. of our author's age n and u were formed so very much alike, that they are scarcely distinguishable. Hence it was, that in the old copies of these plays one of these letters is frequently put for the other. From the cause assigned, or from an accidental inversion of the letter n at the press, the first folio in the present instance reads-deuote, u being constantly employed in that copy instead of v. The same mistake has happened in several other places. Thus, in

(For they must all be mask'd and vizarded,)
That, quaint in green, she shall be loose enrob'd,
With ribbands pendant, flaring 'bout her head;
And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,
To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
The maid hath given consent to go with him.
HOST. Which means she to deceive? father or
mother?

FENT. Both, my good host, to go along with me: And here it rests, that you'll procure the vicar To stay for me at church, 'twixt twelve and one, And, in the lawful name of marrying,

To give our hearts united ceremony.

Much Ado about Nothing, 1623, we find, "he is turu'd orthographer," instead of turn'd. Again, in Othello :-" to the contemplation, mark, and deuotement of her parts," instead of denotement. Again, in King John: This expeditious charge, instead of expedition's. Again, ibid: involuerable for invulnerable. Again, in Hamlet, 1605, we meet with this very word put by an error of the press for denote:

"Together with all forms, modes, shapes of grief,
"That can deuote me truly."

The present emendation, which was suggested by Mr. Steevens, is fully supported by a subsequent passage, quoted by him: "the white will decipher her well enough." MALONE.

quaint in green,]

may mean fantastically drest in green. So, in Milton's Masque at Ludlow Castle:

ness.

66

--lest the place,

"And my quaint habits, breed astonishment."

Quaintness, however, was anciently used to signify gracefulSo, in Greene's Dialogue between a He and She ConeyCatcher, 1592: "I began to think what a handsome man he was, and wished that he would come and take a night's lodging with me, sitting in a dump to think of the quaintness of his personage." In The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act III. sc. i. quaintly is used for ingeniously:

66

a ladder quaintly made of cords." STEEVENS.

In Daniel's Sonnets, 1594, it is used for fantastick:

"Prayers prevail not with a quaint disdayne." MALone.

HOST. Well, husband your device; I'll to the

vicar:

Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest.

FENT. So shall I evermore be bound to thee 15 Besides, I'll make a present recompense. [Exeunt.

5

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Room in the Garter Inn.

Enter FALSTAFF and Mrs. QUICKLY.

FAL. Pr'ythee, no more prattling ;-go.———————I'll hold: This is the third time; I hope, good luck lies in odd numbers. Away, go; they say, there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance, or death-Away.

6

QUICK. I'll provide you a chain; and I'll do what I can to get you a pair of horns.

FAL. Away, I say; time wears: hold up your head, and mince.' [Exit Mrs. QUICKLY.

5

I'll hold: I suppose he means-I'll keep the appointment. Or he may mean I'll believe. So, in K. Henry VIII: "Did you not of late days hear," &c.-" Yes, but held it not." STEEVENS.

they say, there is divinity in odd numbers,] Alluding to the Roman adage

9

numero deus impare gaudet. Virgil, Ecl. viii.

hold up your head, and mince.]

STEEVENS.

To mince is to walk with affected delicacy. So, in The Merchant of Venice: 66 turn two mincing steps

"Into a manly stride." STEEvens.

Enter FORD.

How now, master Brook? Master Brook, the matter will be known to-night, or never.

Be you

in the Park about midnight, at Herne's oak, and you shall see wonders.

FORD. Went you not to her yesterday, sir, as you told me you had appointed?

8

FAL. I went to her, master Brook, as you see, like a poor old man: but I came from her, master Brook, like a poor old woman. That same knave, Ford her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, master Brook, that ever governed frenzy. I will tell you. He beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman; for in the shape of man, master Brook, I fear not Goliath with a weaver's beam; because I know also, life is a shuttle. I am in haste; go along with me; I'll tell you all, master Brook. Since I plucked geese, played truant, and whipped top, I knew not what it was to be beaten, till lately. Follow me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave Ford: on whom to-night I will be revenged, and I will deliver his wife into your hand. Follow: Strange things in hand, master Brook! follow. [Exeunt.

8

9

because I know also, life is a shuttle.] An allusion to the sixth verse of the seventh chapter of the Book of Job: "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle," &c. STEEVENS.

9 Since I plucked geese,] To strip a living goose of his feathers, was formerly an act of puerile barbarity. STEEVENS.