[412] "Towards the rear of the stage there appears to have been a balcony or upper stage, the platform of which was probably eight or nine feet from the ground. I suppose it to have been supported by pillars. From hence, in many of our old plays, part of the dialogue was spoken; and in front of it curtains likewise were hung, so as occasionally to conceal the persons in it from the view of the audience."--Malone's "History of the Stage." See his edition of "Shakespeare" by Boswell, iii. 79. [413] [The two brothers, disguised for the purpose, pretend to be their sister's uncles, and engage in a conversation about her marriage, intended to be overheard by Ilford and the others below.] [414] [Edits., _beyond discourse, she's a paragon for a prince, than a fit implement for a gentleman; beyond my element_.] [415] [Edit. 1607] says, _Exit Ilford with his Sister_, but this is obviously an error: it means with Scarborow's sister.--_Collier_. [416] _Indeed_, second and third editions. [417] [Edits., _for_.] [418] [Edits., _flourish_.] [419] [i.e., _Which make_.] [420] _Them_ is the reading of the quarto, 1611, and perhaps Thomas refers to "nature and her laws," mentioned not very intelligibly, in his preceding speech.--_Collier_. [The first edit. of 1607 reads rightly _thee_.] [421] The grammar and language of this line are alike obscure and incorrect; but the sense is tolerably clear--"Thou hast been so bad, the best thing I can say is, &c." [422] [Edits., _finisht_.] [423] i.e. Measure it out. Hesperiam metire jacens.--_Virgil_. --_Steevens_. [424] i.e., Facility; [Greek: euergos], facilis.--_Steevens_. [425] "Apud eosdem nasci Ctesias scribit, quam mantichoram appellat, triplici dentium ordine pectinatim coeuntium, facie et auriculis hominis, oculis glaucis, colore sanguineo, corpore leonis, cauda scorpionis modo spicula infigentem: vocis ut si misceatur fistulae et tubae concentus: velocitatis magnae, humani corporis vel praecipue appetentem."--C. Plinii "Nat. Hist." lib. viii. c. 21. [426] The edit. 1611, reads-- "Do as the devil does, hate panther-mankind."--_Collier_. [427] _All--breath_, edits. 1611 and 1629. [428] The old copy of 1611 reads, _unto their wives_, and it has been supposed a misprint for _wines_; but this seems doubtful taking the whole passage together, and the subsequent reference to the _children. --Collier_. [429] i.e., To defile. So in Churchyard's "Challenge," 1593, p. 251-- "Away foule workes, that _fil'd_ my face with blurs!" Again, "Macbeth," act iii. sc. 1-- "If it be so, For Banquo's issue have I _fil'd_ my mind." See also Mr Steevens's note on the last passage. [430] Sorry for you. [431] [Edits., _or_, which is merely the old form of _ere_.] [432] Mischievous, unlucky. So in "All's Well that Ends Well," act i. sc. 5-- "A shrewd knave and an _unhappy_." See also Mr Steevens's note on "Henry VIII.," act i. sc. 4.