[21] As to date of the play we can say only that if Greene's it must be the last one of his extant workmanship. It would not be safe to draw conclusions from the mention of _George-a-Greene_ in Tarlton's _News out of Purgatory_, as Tarlton was probably alluding to the source of the narrative used by Greene. Nor does the mention of "martial Tamburlaine" in the first scene help further than to indicate that the play was written after 1587. [22] This name was, however, quite common in this sense, Peele himself using it in his _Farewell_ and in _Polyhymnia_. [23] The reference is to the edition in _The Shakespeare Apocrypha_. [24] Compare this with a line in _James IV._ (Act ii. Sc. I). "Better, than live unchaste, to lie in grave." [25] _See_ Gayley, _Representative English Comedies_, p. 422. Opinion to-day seems strongly to favour the theory that it was Nash to whom Greene referred in the famous passage in _A Groatsworth of Wit_, and not Lodge. Considerations of age, of personal association, of the comparative gifts of satire of Nash and Lodge strengthen this view. Nash helped Marlowe in the composition of a tragedy; why not Greene in the composition of a comedy? [26] disdain: often used. [27] Such repetition is common, see pp. 37, 188, 190. [28] Use. [29] Often used for "where," as "whenas" is used for "when." [30] Boast. [31] A false quantity. [32] Another false quantity. [33] Attained the position of. [34] Simple, rude. [35] Lest; often so used. [36] Here and on p. 59 used in the sense of "neglect" or "refrain from." [37] Care. [38] It should be remembered that the scene divisions are not made by Greene. [39] In Elizabethan writers this term is used in both genders to express general relationship. Here it means cousin. [40] Strive, contend. [41] Upbraid. [42] Same as "vile." [43] Resent. [44] In the use of the descending throne, trap-door, property tomb, balcony and curtain, as well as in plastic use of scenes (pp. 42 and 248) Greene illustrates the best practice of his time. [45] Advise. [46] Here clearly a change of scene is supposed. Between the two scenes the Quarto has only this stage direction to Fausta: "Make as though you were a-going out, _Medea_ meet her and say." As some time is supposed to elapse between the two scenes they are here differentiated. Such is not the case in _George-a-Greene_ (p. 439) in which the action goes right on in two settings. [47] Prepared. [48] Among Elizabethan playwrights the use of the names of English institutions, prisons, cathedrals and inns, in foreign scene-settings, is quite common. [49] Evidently a reminiscence of I Kings xviii. 27. [50] Sex. [51] A false quantity. [52] Dyce's query "loadstar" is adopted instead of "load-stone" of the quarto. [53] Over-scrupulous. [54] Exult, strut. [55] From this line we are made to conclude that Greene intended to write a second part of _Alphonsus of Arragon._ [56] Lover. [57] Beat back. [58] Degree. [59] Beauty.