(180) Re-enter Bajazeth, pursued by Tamburlaine] The old eds. have,
"Bajazeth flies, and he pursues him. The battell short [Qto. is short], and they enter, Bajazeth is ouercome."
This not very intelligible stage-direction means perhaps that, after Bajazeth and Tamburlaine had entered, a short combat was to take place between them.
(181) foil] The old eds. "soil."
(182) gat] So the 8vo.--The 4to "got."
(183) pilling] i.e. plundering.
(184) British] So the 4to.--The 8vo "brightest."
(185) martial] So the 8vo.--The 4to "materiall."
(186) Awake, ye men of Memphis!] These words are put into the mouth of Judas, in Fletcher's BONDUCA, at the commencement of act ii.; and in Fletcher's WIT WITHOUT MONEY, act v. sc. 2. we find "thou man of Memphis."
(187) basilisks] Pieces of ordnance so called. They were of immense size; see Douce's ILLUST. OF SHAKESPEARE, i. 425.
(188) monstrous] To be read as a trisyllable.
(189) Or ever-drizzling] So the 4to.--The 8vo "Or drisling."
(190) should] So the 4to.--The 8vo "shal."
(191) he devil] So the 8vo.--The 4to "he THE deuill."
(192) Arabian king] Scil. Alcidamus: see p. 10, l. 9, sec. col.
(Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play: "Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,")
(193) it] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo.
(194) it should] So the 4to.--The 8vo "should it."
(195) this] So the 8vo.--The 4to "it."
(196) into] So the 4to.--The 8vo "vnto."
(197) heart] So the 4to.--The 8vo "soul."
(198) stoop] Qy. "stoop, STOOP"?
(199) your] Old eds. "their."--Compare the tenth line of the speech.
(200) to] So the 8vo.--The 4to "on."
(201) brent] i.e. burnt. So the 8vo.--The 4to "burnt."
(202) kings] So the 8vo.--The 4to "king."
(203) from] So the 4to.--The 8vo "in."
(204) then, for you] So the 4to.--The 8vo "for you then."
(205) stark nak'd] Compare (among many passages which might be cited from our early poets),--
"rather on Nilus' mud Lay me STARK NAK'D, and let the water-flies Blow me into abhorring!" Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, act v. sc. 2. (where the modern editors print "naked.")
(206) dignities] So the 8vo.--The 4to "dignitie."
(207) whiles] So the 8vo.--The 4to "while."
(208) shalt] So the 4to.--The 8vo "shal."
(209) grace] Olds eds. "grac'd."
(210) stature] So the 8vo.--The 4to "statue:" but again, in the SECOND PART of this play, act ii. sc. 4, we have, according to the 8vo--
"And here will I set up her STATURE."
and, among many passages that might be cited from our early authors, compare the following;
"The STATURES huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made." Warner's ALBIONS ENGLAND, p. 303. ed. 1596.
"By them shal Isis STATURE gently stand." Chapman's BLIND BEGGER OF ALEXANDRIA, 1598, sig. A 3.
"Was not Anubis with his long nose of gold preferred before Neptune, whose STATURE was but brasse?" Lyly's MIDAS, sig. A 2. ed. 1592.
(211) bird] i.e. the ibis.
(212) are] Old eds. "is."
(213) country] Old eds. "countries."
(214) King of Arabia] i.e. Alcidamus; see p. 10, l. 9, sec. col.
(Page 10, Second Column, Line 9, This Play: "Where her betrothed lord, Alcidamus,")
(215) Calydonian] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Calcedonian."
(216) lusty] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
(217) and] So the 4to.--0mitted in the 8vo.
(218) Renowmed] See note ||. p. 11.(i.e. note 52.) So the 8vo. --The 4to "Renow(ned.")
(219) Ibis' holy name] The ibis has been already alluded to in the lines (p. 27, sec. col.),--
"The golden stature of their feather'd bird, That spreads her wings upon the city-walls";
and it is well known to have been a sacred bird among the Egyptians (see Cicero DE NAT. DEORUM, I. 36). Compare the old play of THE TAMING OF A SHREW;
"Father, I SWEARE BY IBIS' GOLDEN BEAKE, More faire and radiente is my bonie Kate Then siluer Zanthus," &c. p. 22. ed. Shakespeare Soc.
In the passage of our text the modern editors substitute "Isis'" for "Ibis'."
(220) the] So the 8vo.--The 4to "and."
(221) and] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.