Host. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the headborough 5.

[Exit.

Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law. I'll not budge an inch, boy: let him come, and kindly.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep.

Wind Horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:

Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd',
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; He cried upon it at the merest loss,

allusion to "The Spanish Tragedy," by Thomas Kyd. How the capital S became introduced into the text, it is not easy to explain; but Monck Mason would make out that it is part of the word says, the rest having dropped out; but why should it have been printed with a capital letter? The phrase "Go by" is derived from one part of "The Spanish Tragedy," of which Jeronimo may be called the hero; and "Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee," refers to another part of the same play, where Jeronimo exclaims, "What outeries pluck me from my naked bed?" when he enters in his night-dress, after the murder of his son. See "Dodsley's Old Plays," last edition, vol. iii. p. 130 & 163. Different parts of this popular play were often quoted and ridiculed by contemporary writers. Sly can scarcely mean to canonize Jeronimo, and call him a saint, from his being such a favourite with the frequenters of our early theatres; and when Malone remarks, that "Sly's making Jeronimy a saint is not more extravagant than his exhorting his hostess to go to her cold bed and warm herself," he was not aware of the allusion to "The Spanish Tragedy" in the last line of Sly's reply.

5 I must go fetch the HEADBOROUGH.] So it stands in all the old copies, but in all the modern editions it has been needlessly altered to thirdborough, under the notion that it made Sly's answer more apposite. The threat regarding the "headborough," by the hostess, brings the "thirdborough" (an officer of similar duties, and often mentioned in connection) into Sly's mind. The 66 thirdborough" (as Ritson shows by a quotation from "The Constable's Guide," 1771) is an officer still known in Warwickshire. Dull calls himself "tharborough," or thirdborough, in "Love's Labour's Lost," vol. ii. p. 289.

6 BRACH Merriman,-the poor cur is EMBOSS'D,] "Brach" generally meant a hound. A dog, or a deer, are said to be embossed when fatigue makes them foam at the mouth.

And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all:
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

1 Hun. I will, my lord.

Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe?

2 Hun. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.

Lord. O, monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies.
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,

And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he
wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jest.

Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,

And hang it round with all my wanton pictures;
Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me music ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence,
Say, what is it your honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,

And say, will't please your lordship cool your hands?
Some one be ready with a costly suit,

And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease.
Persuade him, that he hath been lunatic;
And, when he says he is-, say, that he dreams',
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.

This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs:

It will be pastime passing excellent,

If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we will play our

part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,

He is no less than what we say he is.

Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him, And each one to his office when he wakes.

[SLY is borne out. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:

[Exit Servant.

Belike, some noble gentleman, that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.—

Re-enter Servant.

An it please your honour,

How now? who is it?

Serv.

Players that offer service to your lordship.

Lord. Bid them come near.

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.

Players. We thank your honour.

7 And, when he says he is--, say, that he dreams,] The lord leaves something here to be understood. Sir Thomas Hanmer would insert poor, and Johnson Sly, although the lord could not know the name of the beggar; but no change is necessary. There is no dash after "is" in the folios, and it will be observed that the line is syllabically complete without any addition.

Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night? 2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty. Lord. With all my heart. This fellow I remember, Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son :— "Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well. I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform❜d.

1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour means. Lord. 'Tis very true: thou didst it excellent.

Well, you are come to me in happy time,
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night;
But I am doubtful of your modesties,
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play,)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile he grows impatient.

1 Play. Fear not, my lord: we can contain our

selves,

Were he the veriest antic in the world.

Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,

And give them friendly welcome every one:

Let them want nothing that my house affords.—

[Exeunt Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholmew my page, [To a Servant. And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:

That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber;

8 I think, 'twas Soto that your honour means.] This line is given to Sincklo in the first folio ; and as there was an actor of that name in Shakespeare's company, he was most likely the person who played the character. He is introduced again in "Henry IV." pt. 2, in "Henry VI." pt. 3, &c. It has been supposed by Theobald, that the reference was to Soto in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Woman Pleased;" but, as Tyrwhitt remarks, the circumstance of "wooing the gentlewoman so well" does not tally with the story of that play. Probably a character called Soto figured in some other play of the time, now lost. Pope assigned the line to a character he calls Sim; having probably been misled by the second folio, where Sincklo's name is only printed Sin.

And call him madam, do him obeisance:
Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy;
And say, what is't your honour will command,
Wherein your lady, and your humble wife
May show her duty, and make known her love?
And then, with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar.
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift,
Which, in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.

See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst :
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.

I know, the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:

[Exit Servant.

I long to hear him call the drunkard husband,

And how my men will stay themselves from laughter, When they do homage to this simple peasant.

I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence

May well abate the over-merry spleen,

Which otherwise would grow into extremes. [Exeunt.