[179] This is addressed to the common headsman. [180] With a skull in his hand. That it is the skull of his mistress is evident from the whole of the scene. He makes use of it afterwards in Act iii.--_Collier._ [181] Luxury was the ancient term for incontinence. [182] Years must be read _yearës_. [183] This is not a name of syphilis, but a comparison only of it to a mole, on account of the effects it sometimes produces in occasioning the loss of hair.--_Pegge._ [184] Disembowelled. [185] She means from the highest to the lowest of her sex. At this time women of the inferior order wore hats. See Hollar's _Ornatus Muliebris Anglicanus_, 1640.--_Hazlitt._ [186] "Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride a gallop." [187] That part of a ring in which the stone is set. [188] Old copy, "Met." [189] Bonds. [190] _i.e._ Sand it, to prevent it from blotting, while the ink was wet.--_Steevens._ [191] _i.e._ Embrace. [192] "Portico" has been suggested. But I see no reason to alter the text. "Portion" is here that which specially belongs to the soul as its birthright. [193] Equivalent to hit the nail on the head, clinched the matter. Perhaps the metaphor is derived from ringing sound. [194] Put a thief upon the track. [195] Novice. [196] A corruption of "God's blood." [197] There is no reason to omit the word "by." Vendice seems to refer to "families called honourable," _i.e._, the children of lords. [198] _i.e._ Next heir. [199] Wheel of fortune. [200] A play upon the double meaning of the word "angel," which was the name of a gold coin. [201] Decline, droop. [202] Long-suffering. [203] Embrace. [204] Alluding to the custom of hanging hats in ancient halls upon stags' horns.--_Steevens._ [205] This allusion to farms sold for a court-wardrobe is common in our drama. [206] _i.e._ Measured. [207] _i.e._ Honesty. [208] Decline. [209] _i.e._ Nightdresses. [210] Alluding to the custom of entering horses sold at fairs in a book called the "Toll-book." [211] Defile. [212] Liars. [213] Stable. [214] Some lune or frenzy. [215] Edits., "Impudent." The least imprudent is equivalent to the most farsighted or wary. [216] _i.e._ Hat. [217] Alluding to Duns Scotus, who commented upon "The Master of the Sentences." [218] In the game of Primero. [219] He imagines her to be speaking, and answers her. [220] Embraces. [221] Weak, treacherous. [222] Poultry. [223] A corruption of _certiorari_. [224] Like. [225] It has been suggested that _quarled_ is equivalent to _guarelled_; and that it alludes to poison put on arrows. The sound of the word seems to point at some synonym for _curdled_. [226] Alluding to the 5th Commandment. [227] _i.e._ Incite, encourage her.