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Act 2. fc. 2. p. 302.

Antigonus. I have three daughters

And I had rather glib myself, than they
Should not produce fair iffue.]

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For glib, I think we should read (a) lib, which in the Northern language, is the same with geld, (which word he uses two lines above.)

In the Court Beggar by Mr. Richard Brome, act 4. the word lib is used in this sense.

Citizen. "I have brought him Madam, (the "gelder) the rareft fellow Madam, and do you "thank your fortune in him, Doctor? for he

can fing a charm (he fays,). fhall make you "feel no pain in your libbing, nor after it: no "tooth-drawer, nor corn-cutter did ever work "with fo little feeling to a patient."

Sc. 3. P. 305.

Paulina.

If I prove honey-mouth let my tongue blifter.] "Honey mouth'd, Folio 1632, Sir Thomas Hanmer, and Mr. Theobald.

Act 2. fc. 4. p. 306.

Leontes.-To bear the matter thus; meer weak-
nefs, if

The cause were not in being, part o'th' caufe
She the adultrefs: for the harlot King [for barlot
Is quite beyond mine arm; out of the blank [making.
And level of my brain; plot proof; but she

(a) To Libbe caftrare, B. lubben à 9xía premere terere unde bias 1. Eunuchus cui tefticuli elifi funt et expreffi. See Minfhieu's Guide to Tongues, col. 421.

1 can book to me: fay, that she were gone,· Given to the fire, a moiety of my rest Might come to me again.] Alluding to the nishment either for high treafon, or petty treafon in women; which was being drawn on a fledge, or hurdle, and being burnt.

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One remarkable inftance there is, of a perfon even of a superior quality, mentioned by Dr. Cockburn, (Hiftory of Duels, part 1. p. 106.) where he mentions the trying of perfons by fireordeal. "It is faid, that a wife of a Count of "Modena did undergo this tryal, for a proof "of her husband's innocency, who was put to "death by the command of the Emperor Otho "the Third, on this occafion. This Count

having refufed the Empress, as Jofeph did "Potiphar's wife, fhe in like manner accufed "him to the Emperor, of making fuch a difho"nourable attempt upon her, for which caufe "he fuffered he had acquainted his Lady "with the fecret reafons of his misfortune, "which out of honour to the Emperor, he de"fired might be conceal'd: but the Lady to

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avenge the death of her husband, and recover "his honour, both charged the Emperor with "innocent blood, and the Empress for being "the caufe of it by a falfe fuggeftion; and for "a miraculous conviction of the truth, fhe of"fer'd to do as above, which fo wrought upon "the Emperor that he rewarded the Lady, and commanded to burn the Emprefs."

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Leo. Thou dotard, thou art woman tyr'd, unroofted by thy Dame Partlet bere.] The word partlet is an allufion to the tale of the Cock and the Fox: or the Tale of the Nunn's Prieft, in Chaucer. Urry's Edit. p. 169.

"This gentle cocke had in his governaunce "Seven hennis, for to donne all his plesaunce "Which were his fuftirs, and his

paramours, "And wondir like to him, as of colours, "Of whiche the fayreft hewed under the throte "Was called fair damofell pertelote."

See Dryden's Fables, 4th edit. p. 165. See likewife Gawin Duglass's Virgil, 12 book of Enead 50, &c.

Sc. 6. p. 313. Leontes to Antigonus.

Leo. We enjoyn thee As thou art liegeman to us, that thou carry This female baftard hence, and that thou bear it To fome remote and defart place, quite out Of our dominions, and that there thou leave it

(Without more mercy, to it's own protection And favour of the climate.] Alluding, probably, to the ftory of Cyrus, who upon a foolish dream of his fuperftitious grandfather, was delivered to Harpagus, to be expofed in this manner. Vid. Juftini Hiftor. lib. 1. cap. 4.

Id. Ib.

Antig. Ifwear to do this, tho' a present death Had been more merciful. Come on poor babe,

Some

Some powerful Spirit inftruct the kites and
Ravens to be thy nurses.] Alluding to the ift
of Kings, xvii. 2, 3, 4. " And the word of the
Lord came unto him [Elijab] faying,

“Get thee hence, and turn to the Eastward, and "hide thy felf by the brook Cherith, that is, *before Jordan. And it fhall be, that thou "fhalt drink of the brook and I have command"ed the ravens to feed thee there."

Id. ib. Wolves and bears they fay, (cafting their Savagenefs afide) have done like offices of pity.] Alluding to the mythology of Romulus aud Remus, who were faid to have been nursed by a wolf.

'Tis reported of Cyrus that being delivered by Harpagus to the King's fhepherd, or neatherd, to be exposed: he communicated the affair to his wife fhe having about the fame time born a fon, defired to be nurfe to the princely infant "that was expofed and prevailing upon her husband to fetch the child, at his return he found a bitch fuckling it, and defending it from the wild beafts, and birds of prey. Juftini Hiftor. lib. 1. cap. 4.

A&t 3. fc. 2. p. 318.

Laftly burried

Here to this place, i'th' open air, before

I have got strength of limit.] Strength of limbs probably, as Sir Tho. Hanmer has it.

A&t 3. fc. 6. p. 325. Antigonus laying down

the child.

Bloffom, fpeed thee well,

There lye, and there thy character: there these

Which may if fortune pleafe, both breed thee
Pretty one, and still reft thine, &c.

Enter an old fhepherd.

Paftorella Daughter of Bellamour, and Claribel, whose father was Lord of Many Islands, was expofed not with any wicked defign, but to preferve her, from the cruelty of her grandfather.

Fairy Queen, book 6. canto 12, 3, &c.

III.

"Sir Calidore, when thus he now had raught "Fair Paftorella from those Brigant's power, "Unto the caftle of Belgard her brought, "Whereof was Lord the good Sir Bellamoure: "Who whylom was in his youths freshest "Flow'r,

"A lufty Knight as ever wielded spear,
"And had endur'd many a dreadful stow'r
"In bloody battle for a Lady dear,

"The fairest Lady then of all that living were. IV.

"Her name was Claribel, whofe father hight "The Lord of Many Islands far renown'd "For his great riches, and his greater might, 66 He through the wealth wherein he did abound, "This daughter thought in wedlock to have "bound

"Unto the Prince of Pitteland, bordering near; "But fhe whofe fides before with fecret wound "Of love to Bellamoure empearced were, "By all means fhunn'd to match with any “foreign Peer.

" And

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