[369] [Either whets their appetite, or prostrates them.  The speaker alludes probably to the early forenoon meal then in vogue.]

[370] The line was formerly mispointed, and misprinted thus—­

    “Then live a strumpet.  Better be unborn.”

Clare means, that it were better never to have been born than to live a strumpet.—­Collier.

[371] Edit. 1611, would; and in the next line, did.

[372] [Edits., That.]

[373] [Edits., writes.]

[374] Pitiless, without pity.

[375] [Edits., her.]

[376] [This line is assuredly corrupt, but the true reading is a matter of question.]

[377] [Edits., and.]

[378] Their exit is not marked, but as their re-entrance is noticed afterwards, it is to be presumed that they followed, the old man out.

[379] Perhaps misprinted for haven.—­Collier.

[380] Example by, &c.—­second and third edits.

[381] [Edits.], stare-wearer, which means no doubt stair-wearer, or wearer of the stairs by going up and down them so frequently at call. —­Collier.

[382] [Edit. 1607, ha’t for you.]

[383] “Red lattice at the doors and windows were formerly the external denotements of an alehouse; hence the present chequers.”  Mr Steevens observes (note to “Merry Wives of Windsor,” act ii. sc. 2) that “perhaps the reader will express some surprise when he is told that shops with the sign of the chequers, were common among the Romans.  See a view of the left-hand street of Pompeii (No. 9) presented by Sir William Hamilton (together with several others equally curious) to the Antiquary Society.” [Compare “Popular Antiquities of Great Britain,” ii. 277-8.] Marston, in the “First Part of Antonio and Mellida,” act v., makes Balurdo say:  “No, I am not Sir Jeffrey Balurdo:  I am not as well known by my wit as an alehouse by a red lattice.”

[384] i.e., Defiles.  See note on “Macbeth,” edit. 1778, iv. 524. —­Steevens.

[385] [See note at p. 470.]

[386] The first edit, reads, and any man else and he.

[387] Three different departments of a prison, in which debtors were confined according to their ability or incapacity to pay for their accommodations:  all three are pretty accurately described by Fennor in “The Compter’s Commonwealth,” 1617.

[388] [Edits., importance.]

[389] Sack with sugar was formerly a favourite liquor.  Although it is mentioned very often in contemporary writers, it is difficult to collect from any circumstances what the kind of wine then called sack was understood to be.  In the Second Part of “Henry IV.,” act iv. sc. 3, Falstaff speaks of sherris sack; and Dr Johnson supposes the fat knight’s admired potation was what we now call sherry, which