L. 4. A writer in THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW, vol. xliii. 53, thinks that it "is a misprint for RICO-CASTELLANO, meaning a Spaniard belonging to the class of RICOS HOMBRES, and the phrase therefore is-- 'Hey, NOBLE CASTILIAN, a man's a man!' 'I can pledge like a man and drink like a man, MY WORTHY TROJAN;' as some of our farce-writers would say." But the frequent occurrence of RIVO in various authors proves that it is NOT a misprint.
(171) he] Old ed. "you".
(172) and he and I, snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar] There is surely some corruption here. Steevens (apud Dodsley's O. P.) proposes to read "hand TO FIST". Gilchrist (ibid.) observes, "a snicle is a north-country word for a noose, and when a person is hanged, they say he is snicled." See too, in V. SNICKLE, Forby's VOC. OF EAST ANGLIA, and the CRAVEN DIALECT.--The Rev. J. Mitford proposes the following (very violent) alteration of this passage; "Itha. I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he and I-- Pilia. Two hands snickle-fast-- Itha. Strangled a friar."
(173) incony] i.e. fine, pretty, delicate.--Old ed. "incoomy."
(174) they stink like a hollyhock] "This flower, however, has no offensive smell. STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). Its odour resembles that of the poppy.
(175) mushrooms] For this word (as, indeed, for most words) our early writers had no fixed spelling. Here the old ed. has "Mushrumbs": and in our author's EDWARD THE SECOND, the 4tos have "mushrump."
(176) under the elder when he hanged himself] That Judas hanged himself on an elder-tree, was a popular legend. Nay, the very tree was exhibited to the curious in Sir John Mandeville's days: "And faste by, is zit the Tree of Eldre, that Judas henge him self upon, for despeyt that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lorde." VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE, &c. p. 112. ed. 1725. But, according to Pulci, Judas had recourse to a carob-tree: "Era di sopra a la fonte UN CARRUBBIO, L'ARBOR, SI DICE, OVE S'IMPICCO GIUDA," &c. MORGANTE MAG. C. xxv. st. 77.
(177) nasty] Old ed. "masty."
(178) me] Old ed. "we".
(179) Enter Ferneze, &c.] Scene, the interior of the Council- house.
(180) him] Qy. "'em"?
(181) Exeunt all, leaving Barabas on the floor] Here the audience were to suppose that Barabas had been thrown over the walls, and that the stage now represented the outside of the city.
(182) Bassoes] Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. (i.e. note 117.)
(183) trench] A doubtful reading.--Old ed. "Truce."--"Query 'sluice'? 'TRUCE' seems unintelligible." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.).--The Rev. J. Mitford proposes "turret" or "tower."
(184) channels] i.e. kennels.
(185) Enter CALYMATH, &c.] Scene, an open place in the city.
(186) vail] i.e. lower, stoop.
(187) To kept] i.e. To have kept.
(188) Entreat] i.e. Treat.
(189) Bassoes] Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. (i.e. note 117.)
(190) Thus hast thou gotten, &c.] A change of scene is supposed here--to the Citadel, the residence of Barabas as governor.
(191) Whenas] i.e. When.
(192) Within here] The usual exclamation is "Within THERE!" but compare THE HOGGE HATH LOST HIS PEARLE (by R. Tailor), 1614; "What, ho! within HERE!" Sig. E 2.
(193) sith] i.e. since.
(194) cast] i.e. plot, contrive.
(195) Bassoes] Here and afterwards old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164.(i.e. note 117.)--Scene, outside the walls of the city.
(196) basilisk[s] See note ‡, p. 25.
(note ‡, p. 25, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great: "‡ basilisks] Pieces of ordnance so called. They were of immense size; see Douce's ILLUST. OF SHAKESPEARE, i. 425.")
(197) And, toward Calabria, &c.] So the Editor of 1826.--Old ed. thus: "And toward Calabria back'd by Sicily, Two lofty Turrets that command the Towne. WHEN Siracusian Dionisius reign'd; I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus?"
(198) Enter FERNEZE, &c.] Scene, a street.
(199) linstock] "i.e. the long match with which cannon are fired." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O.