790. Widow's mate expires. An instance of prolepsis, or "anticipation" in the use of a word. He must expire before she can be a widow. Cf. Macbeth, iii. 4. 76: "Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time, Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal;" that is, purged it and made it gentle. 794. Ward. Ward off, avert. 796. The crowd's wild fury, etc. The MS. reads: "The crowd's wild fury ebbed amain In tears, as tempests sink in rain." The 1st ed. reads as in the text, but that of 1821 has "sunk amain." The figure here is a favorite one with Shakespeare. Cf. R. of L. 1788: "This windy tempest, till it blow up rain, Held back his sorrow's tide, to make it more; At last it rains, and busy winds give o'er;" 3 Hen. VI. i. 4. 146: "For raging wind blows up incessant showers, And, when the rage allays, the rain begins;" Id. ii. 5. 85: "see, see, what showers arise, Blown with the windy tempest of my heart;" T. and C. iv. 4. 55: "Where are my tears? rain, to lay this wind, or my heart will be blown up by the root;" and Macbeth, i. 7. 25: "That tears shall down the wind." 808. The rough soldier. Sir John of Hyndford (768 above). 811. He led. The 1st ed. has "they led," and "their" for his in 813. 812. Verge. Note the rhyme with charge, and see on iv. 83 above. 819. This common fool. Cf. Shakespeare's "fool multitude" (M. of V. ii. 9. 26). Just below Lockhart quotes Coriolanus, i. 1. 180: "Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and your affections are A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends Upon your favors swims with fins of lead And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye? With every minute you do change a mind, And call him noble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland." 821. Douglas. The reading of the 1st ed., as in 825 below; not "Douglas'," as in some recent eds. 830. Vain as the leaf, etc. The MS. has "Vain as the sick man's idle dream." 838. Cognizance. "The sable pale of Mar." See on iv. 153 above. 853. With scanty train, etc. The MS. has "On distant chase you will not ride." 856. Lost it. Forgot it. 858. For spoiling of. For fear of ruining. Cf. Shakespeare, Sonn. 52. 4: "The which he will not every hour survey, For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure; T. G. of V. i. 2. 136: "Yet here they shall not lie for catching cold;" Beaumont and Fletcher, Captain, iii. 5: "We'll have a bib for spoiling of thy doublet," etc. 887. Earl William. The Douglas who was stabbed by James II. See on 551 above. Canto Sixth.