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', 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: Lord. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet, 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. And brave attendants near him when he wakes, 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 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; And say, will't please your lordship cool your hands? And ask him what apparel he will wear; 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, 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, 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: See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst : I know, the boy will well usurp the grace, [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. |