Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies by Samuel Johnson
page 28 of 292 (09%)
page 28 of 292 (09%)
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"What art thou _drawn_ among these heartless hinds?"
II.ii.12 (48,3) [sometime am I All wound with adders] Enwrapped by adders _wound_ or twisted about me. II.ii.32 (49,5) [make a man] That is, make a man's fortune. So in _Midsummer Night's Dream_--"we are all _made men_." II.ii.176 (54,5) [I'll get thee Young scamels from the rock] This word has puzzled the commentators: Dr. Warburton reads _shamois_. Mr. Theobald would read any thing rather than _scamels_. Mr. Holt, who wrote notes upon this play, observes, that limpets are in some places called _scams_, therefore I have suffered _scamels_ to stand. III.i.48 (58,8) [Of every creature's best] Alluding to the picture of Venus by Apelles. III.ii.71 (62,5) [What a py'd ninny's this?] This line should certainly be given to Stephano. _Py'd ninny_ alludes to the striped coat worn by fools, of which Caliban could have no knowledge. Trinculo had before been reprimanded and threatened by Stephano for giving Caliban the lie, he is now supposed to repeat his offence. Upon which Stephano cries out, _What a py'd ninny's this? Thou scurvy patch_!-- Caliban, now seeing his master in the mood that he wished, instigates him to vengeance: |
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