[45] [Old copy, baddest.]

[46] [Old copy, Heber.]

[47] The quarto reads—­

    “And as for poetry, woods eloquence.”

It is no doubt a misprint for words’ eloquence, or the eloquence of words.

[48] [Old copy, source.  The emendation was suggested by Collier.]

[49] [Former edits.—­“Envy envieth not outcries unrest.”  And so the 4to.]

[50] [Old copy, slight.]

[51] On this subject Camden tells us:  “There was both this summer (1592) and the last so great a drought all England over, that the fields were burnt, and the fountains dried up, and a great many beasts perish’d everywhere for want of water.  The Thames likewise, the noblest river of all Britain, and which has as full and large a tide as any in Europe (for it flows twice a day above sixty miles from the mouth of it, and receives an increase from the mixture of many other streams and rivers with it), was, however, sunk to that degree (to the wonder of all men) on the 5th September, that a man might ride over it near London Bridge, so shallow was the channel.”

[52] There seems to be no account of this flood, unless it was that which occurred in the autumn of 1579.  See Stow’s “Annals,” edit. 1615, fol. 686, and Collier’s “Extr. from Stat.  Reg.,” ii. 105.  There was also a great partial flood in 1571; but it is not mentioned as having affected the Thames.

[53] i.e., Persons who had drunk the Thames water fell ill.

[54] Guesses.

[55] Had I wist is had I thought; and the words are often met with as the reproof of imprudence.  So afterwards again in this play—­

    “Young heads count to build on had I wist.”

[56] Skelton wrote a humorous doggrel piece called the “Tunning of Elinor Rummin,” which is here alluded to.

[57] This anecdote is from Aulus Gellius, “Noct.  Attic.,” lib. xvii. c. 9—­

“Asiam tune tenebat imperio rex Darius:  is Histiaeus, cum in Persia apud Darium esset, Aristagorae cuipiam res quasdam occultas nuntiare furtivo scripto volebat:  comminiscitur opertum hoc literarum admirandum.  Servo suo diu oculos aegros habenti capillum ex capite omni, tanquam medendi gratia, deradit, caputque ejus leve in literarum formas compungit:  his literis, quae voluerat, perscripsit:  hominem postea, quoad capillus adolesceret, domo continuit:  ubi id factum est, ire ad Aristagoram jubet; et cum ad eum, inquit, veneris, mandasse me dicito, ut caput tuum, sicut nuper egomet feci, deradat.  Servus ut imperatum erat, ad Aristagoram venit, mandatumque domini affert:  atque ille id non esse frustra ratus, quod erat mandatum, fecit:  ita literae perlatae sunt.”

Herodotus “Terps,” c. 35, tells the story somewhat differently.  The following is Mr Beloe’s translation of it:—­