V.ii.45 (426,1) the virginal palms of your daughters] [W:  pasmes or pames, French for “swooning fits.”  Warburton also quotes Tarquin and Lucrece, “To dry the old oak’s sap, and cherish springs” and emends to “tarnish,” from the French, meaning “to dry up,” used of springs and rivers.] I have inserted this note, because it contains an apology for many others.  It is not denied that many French words were mingled in the time of Elizabeth with our language, which have since been ejected, and that any which are known to have been then in use may be properly recalled when they will help the sense.  But when a word is to be admitted, the first question should be, by whom was it ever received? in what book can it be shown?  If it cannot be proved to have been in use, the reasons which can justify its reception must be stronger than any critick will often have to bring.  Even in this certain emendation, the new word is very liable to contest.  I should read,

  —­and perish springs.

The verb perish is commonly neutral, but in conversation is often used actively, and why not in the works of a writer negligent beyond all others of grammatical niceties?

V.ii.60 (427,2) Back, I say, go; lest I let forth your half pint of blood;—­back, that’s the utmost of your having:—­Back] [Warburton emended the punctuation] I believe the meaning never was mistaken, and therefore do not change the reading.

V.ii.69 (428,3) guess by my entertainment with him] I read, Guess by my entertainment with him, if thou standest not i’ the state of hanging [in place of guess but my entertainment].

V.ii.80 (428,4) Though I owe/My revenge properly] Though I have a peculiar right in revenge, in the power of forgiveness the Volacians are conjoined.

V.ii.104 (429,5) how we are shent] Shent is brought to destruction.

V.iii.3 (430,6) how plainly/I have born this business] That is, how openly, how remotely from artifice or concealment.

V.iii.39 (431,7) The sorrow, that delivers us thus chang’d,/Makes you think so] Virgilia makes a voluntary misinterpretation of her husband’s words.  He says, These eyes are not the same, meaning, that he saw things with other eyes, or other dispositions.  She lays hold on the word eyes, to turn his attention on their present appearance.

V.iii.46 (431,8) Now by the jealous queen of heaven] That is, by Juno, the guardian of marriage, and consequently the avenger of connubial perfidy.

V.iii.64 (432,1) The noble sister of Poplicola] Valeria, methinks, should not have been brought only to fill up the procession without speaking.

V.iii.68 (432,2) epitome of yours] I read,

  —­epitome of you.

An epitome of you which, enlarged by the commentaries of time, may equal you in magnitude.