<"Tamb. Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia!" &c. p. 64, sec. col.
This has been quoted or alluded to, generally with ridicule, by a whole host of writers. Pistol's "hollow pamper'd jades of Asia" in Shakespeare's HENRY IV. P. II. Act ii. sc. 4, is known to most readers: see also Beaumont and Fletcher's COXCOMB, act ii. sc. 2; Fletcher's WOMEN PLEASED, act iv. sc. 1; Chapman's, Jonson's, and Marston's EASTWARD HO, act ii. sig. B 3, ed. 1605; Brathwait's STRAPPADO FOR THE DIUELL, 1615, p. 159; Taylor the water-poet's THIEFE and his WORLD RUNNES ON WHEELES,--WORKES, pp. 111 [121], 239, ed. 1630; A BROWN DOZEN OF DRUNKARDS, &c. 1648, sig. A 3; the Duke of Newcastle's VARIETIE, A COMEDY, 1649, p. 72; --but I cannot afford room for more references.--In 1566 a similar spectacle had been exhibited at Gray's Inn: there the Dumb Show before the first act of Gascoigne and Kinwelmersh's JOCASTA introduced "a king with an imperiall crowne vpon hys head," &c. "sitting in a chariote very richly furnished, drawen in by iiii kings in their dublets and hosen, with crownes also vpon theyr heads, representing vnto vs ambition by the historie of Sesostres," &c.
<231> And blow the morning from their nostrils] Here "nostrils" is to be read as a trisyllable,--and indeed is spelt in the 4to "nosterils."--Mr. Collier (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET., iii. 124) remarks that this has been borrowed from Marlowe by the anonymous author of the tragedy of CAESAR AND POMPEY, 1607 (and he might have compared also Chapman's HYMNUS IN CYNTHIAM,--THE SHADOW OF NIGHT, &c. 1594, sig. D 3): but, after all, it is only a translation;
"cum primum alto se gurgite tollunt Solis equi, LUCEMQUE ELATIS NARIBUS EFFLANT." AEN. xii. 114
(Virgil being indebted to Ennius and Lucilius).
<232> in] So the 8vo.--The 4to "as."
<233> racking] i.e. moving like smoke or vapour: see Richardson's DICT. in v.
<234> have coach] So the 8vo.--The 4to "haue A coach."
<235> by] So the 4to.--The 8vo "with."
<236> garden-plot] So the 4to.--The 8vo "GARDED plot."
<237> colts] i.e. (with a quibble) colts'-teeth.
<238> same] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
<239> match] So the 8vo.--The 4to "march."
<240> Above] So the 8vo.--The 4to "About."
<241> tall] i.e. bold, brave.
<242> their] So the 4to.--Omitted in the 8vo.
<243> continent] Old eds. "content."
<244> jest] A quibble--which will be understood by those readers who recollect the double sense of JAPE (jest) in our earliest writers.
<245> prest] i.e. ready.
<246> Terrene] i.e. Mediterranean.
<247> all] So the 8vo.--Omitted in the 4to.
<248> Jaertis'] See note **, p. 62.
<249> furthest] So the 4to.--The 8vo "furthiest."
<250> Thorough] So the 8vo.--The 4to "Through."
<251> Like to an almond-tree, &c.] This simile in borrowed from Spenser's FAERIE QUEENE, B. i. C. vii. st. 32;
"Upon the top of all his loftie crest, A bounch of heares discolourd diversly, With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest, Did shake, and seemd to daunce for iollity; Like to an almond tree ymounted hye On top of greene Selinis all alone, With blossoms brave bedecked daintily; Whose tender locks do tremble every one At everie little breath that under heaven is blowne."
The first three books of THE FAERIE QUEENE were originally printed in 1590, the year in which the present play was first given to the press: but Spenser's poem, according to the fashion of the times, had doubtless been circulated in manuscript, and had obtained many readers, before its publication.