"As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Approaching two and two, these _cow'ring_ low With blandishment, each bird stoop'd on his wing." --_Paradise Lost_, B. viii., l. 349. [193] I believe we should read _halse anchor_, or _anker_, as it was anciently spelt; a naval phrase. The _halse_ or _halser_ was a particular kind of cable. Shakspeare, in his "Antony and Cleopatra, has an image similar to this-- "The brize upon her, like a _cow_ in June, _Hoists sail and flies_."--_S._ [194] Gib was the name by which all male or ram cats were distinguished. See Warton's Note on the "First Part of Henry IV.," act i., sc. 2. [195] _i.e._, Breaking. See Note on "King Henry IV.," Part II., edit. 1778, vol. v., p. 537.--_S._ From the following passage, in a letter from Mr Sterne, dated August 11, 1767, it appears that the word was then still used in the same sense among the common people in the north of England. "My postilion has set me a-ground for a week, by one of my pistols bursting in his hand, which he, taking for granted to be quite shot off, he instantly fell upon his knees, and said, 'Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,' at which, like a good Christian, he stopped, not remembering any more of it; the affair was not so bad as he at first thought, for it has only _bursten_ two of his fingers, he says." [196] [Haunch. See Halliwell's "Dict. _v._ Pesate."] [197] _i.e._, God's curse. Glossary to Peter Langtoft. [198] Mr Dodsley, in the former edition, reads _tacke_. [199] Swiftly and directly-- Kyng Estmere threwe the harpe asyde And _swith_ he drew his brand; And Estmere he and Alder yonge, Right stiffe in stour can stand. --Percy's _Reliques of Ancient Poetry_, [Ed. 1765] vol. i., p. 75. Hence _swythe_ to Doctor Rat hie thee, that thou were gone. --Act iii., sc. 3. Thou shalt find lying an inch of white tallow candle. Light it, and bring it _tite_ away. --Act i., sc. 4. [200] Perhaps a corruption of Saint Swithin.--S. [201] Mr Dodsley reads, _back again_. [202] "This term," says Mr Malone, "came into use from the name of a celebrated fool. This I learn from Wilson's 'Art of Rhetorique,' 1553: 'A word making, called of the Grecians Onomatopiea, is when we make words of our own mind, such as be derived from the nature of things,' as to call one _patche_, or cowlson, whom we see to do a thing foolishly; because these two in their time were notable fools. "Probably the dress which the celebrated _patch_ wore was in allusion to his name, patched or parti-coloured. Hence the stage-fool has ever since been exhibited in a motley coat. In Rowley's 'When you see me, you know me,' Cardinal Wolsey's fool _Patch_ is introduced. Perhaps he was the original _patch_ of whom Wilson speaks."--Note on "Merchant of Venice," act ii., sc. 5.