The next question is, whether the word "pensive" is an appropriate epithet to the word "guards." If Messrs. Knight and Collier are correct in construing "guards" to mean the "trimmings or border of robe," this question must be answered in the negative. But it appears to me that they are in error, and that the true meaning of the word "guards," in this particular passage, is "outward appearances," as suggested by Monck Mason; and, consequently, that the expression "pensive guards" means a grave or sanctified countenance or demeanour--"the settled visage and deliberate word" which "nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew." It requires no argument to establish that the word "pensive" is suitable to the metre in both places in which the misprint occurred and it is equally clear that "prenzie" and "pensive" in manuscript are so similar, both in the number, form, and character of the letters, that the one might easily be printed for the other. The two words also have a certain resemblance, in point of sound; and if the word "pensive" be not very distinctly pronounced, the mistake might be made by a scribe writing from dictation. Referring to Mrs. Cowden Clarke's admirable concordance of Shakspeare, it appears that the word "pensive" is used by Shakspeare in the _text_ of his plays twice; namely, in _Romeo and Juliet_, Act IV. Sc. 1., where Friar Laurence addresses Juliet thus: "My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now." and again, in the Third Part of _Henry VI_., Act IV. Sc. 1., where Clarence is thus addressed by King Edward upon the subject of his marriage with the Lady Grey: "Now, brother Clarence, how like you our choice, That you stand pensive, as half mal-content?" I also find that, according to the stage directions (both ancient and modern) of Act II. Sc 2. of _Henry VIII_. (see Collier's _Shakspeare_, vol. v. p. 534., _note_), the king is described to be found "reading pensively," at a moment when he is meditating his divorce from Katharine of Arragon, not "because the marriage of his brother's wife had crept too near his conscience," but "because his conscience had crept too near another lady." I might extend the argument by further observations upon the reference last cited, but not without risk of losing all chance of a place in "NOTES AND QUERIES." Query, Whether pen_s_ive was ever written or printed pen_z_ive in Shakspeare's time? If so, that word would bear a still closer resemblance to "prenzie." LEGES. * * * * * RHYMING LATIN VERSION OF THE SONG ON ROBIN GOODFELLOW.