The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 96

p. 290, l. 14 _Daring, looks._ 4to 1690 'Daring, and looks'.

p. 290, l. 31 _devote._ 1724 'divorce', a bad error.

p. 290, l. 33 _the fittest._ 1724 'a fit'.

+ACT V: Scene i+

p. 295, l. 9 _Exeunt._ 4to 1690 'Ex.' 1724 'Exit'.

p. 296, l. 8 _Exeunt._ I have supplied this necessary stage direction.

p. 296, l. 11 _beat._ 4to 1690 'beating'.

p. 296, l. 13 _fight, lay._ 4to 1690 'fight, so that they lay'.

p. 296, l. 22 _All go out._ Previous editions 'Goes out.'

+ACT V: Scene ii+

p. 296, l. 23 _Scene II._ I have numbered this scene.

p. 298, l. 26 _All Exeunt._ I have added this direction.

+ACT V: Scene iii+

p. 298, l. 27 _Scene III._ I have numbered this scene.

p. 299, l. 12 _submission._ 1724 'Admission'.

p. 299, l. 17 _Pauwomungian._ 4to 1690 'Pauwmungian'.

p. 300, l. 2 _After Noise._ 1724 omits 'After'.

p. 303, l. 16 _They go out._ Previous editions 'Goes out.'

+ACT V: Scene iv+

p. 303, l. 23 _Scene IV. Changes to another part of the Wood._ All previous editions 'Scene changes to a Wood.'

p. 304, l. 21 _are._ 4to 1690 'is'.

p. 305, l. 12 _go out._ 4to 1690 'goes out'.

p. 305, l. 21 _Whimsey._ In former editions abbreviated to 'Whim.'

p. 306, l. 9 _Exeunt._ Former editions 'Exit Dunce.'

+ACT V: Scene v+

p. 306, l. 10 _Scene V._ I have numbered this scene.

p. 306, l. 18 _Lover's._ 4to 1690 'Love's'.

p. 306, l. 20 _more._ 1724 omits.

p. 306, l. 32 _and the rest._ Previous editions 'and officers', but plainly all the characters of the preceding scene a.s.semble.

p. 307, l. 21 _What has he, Mistress?_ 4to 1690 omits.

+Epilogue+

p. 309, l. 1 _Epilogue._ It will be noted that with some trifling alterations this is the Prologue to _Abdelazar_.

NOTES: CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY.

+Dedication+

p. 221 _Madam Welldon._ This Dedicatory Epistle only appears in 4to 1690. The lady doubtless belonged to a branch of the famous Weldons, of Swans...o...b.., Kent, and is probably to be identified with Madam Lucy Weldon, _nee_ Necton, the wife of Colonel George Weldon.

p. 222 _G. J._ Almost certainly George Jenkins, of whom we have two copies of complimentary verse prefixed to _La Montre, or The Lover's Watch_. _vide_ Vol. VI, pp. 9-11.

+Prologue+

p. 223 _Prologue._ This prologue was first spoken to Shadwell's comedy, _The True Widow_, produced at the Duke's Theatre, Dorset Garden, 21 March, 1678, and it is printed with all copies of that play. It was, no doubt, used on the present occasion by permission of Dryden. It will be noticed that the Epilogue to _The Widow Ranter_ is the Prologue to _Abdelazar_.

p. 223 _Muss._ A scramble. cf. _Antony and Cleopatra_, iii, 13:--

... of late, when I cried 'Ho!'

Like boys unto a muss, Kings would start forth, And cry 'Your will?'

+ACT I: Scene i+

p. 226 _a Cogue of Brandy._ 'Cogue' is a Kentish word. _Kent Glossary_ (1887), has 'cogue; a dram of brandy'; and Wright, _Eng. Dial. Dic._, who gives 'cogue' as exclusively Kentish, a.s.signs precisely the same meaning. D'Urfey, however, _Pills to Purge Melancholy_ (1719), vi, p. 351, has 'a cogue of good ale'.

p. 227 _Groom Porter's._ The Groom Porter was an officer of the Royal Household. This post was abolished in the reign of George III. From the sixteenth century he regulated all matters connected with card playing, gambling, and dicing within the precincts of the court. He even furnished cards and dice, and settled disputes concerning the game.

p. 227 _high and low Flats and Bars._ i.e. Doctored dice. cf.

_Chamber's Cycl. Supp._ (1753), 'Barr Dice, a species of false dice so formed that they will not easily lie on certain sides.' This cant term is found as early as 1545. cf. Ascham's _Toxophilus_. Flats are also cards. --(Grose, and J. H. Vaux, _Flash Dic._)

p. 231 _s.h.i.+er._ Schire = clear; pure. A Gaelic word. cf. Herd, _Scotch Songs_ (2nd ed. 1776), 11, _Gloss._--'We call clear liquor s.h.i.+re'.

p. 231 _paulter._ Mean; worthless. This rare form is perhaps found only here. The _N.E.D._ does not give it. But we have 'paltering'

and 'palterly'.

p. 232 _Hoggerds._ A rare word, being obsolete for Hogherd. cf. De Parc's _Francion_, iv, 3 (tr. 1655): 'Our Regent (who had in him no more humanity than a Hoggard).'

p. 233 _trusting for old Oliver's Funeral broke._ The obsequies of Oliver Cromwell, originally fixed for 9 November, 1658, owing to the extraordinary magnificence of the preparations were not performed until 23 November. For many days his waxen effigy, dressed in robes of state, was exhibited at Somerset House. The expenses totalled 60,000, and it was a public scandal that a great part of this wanton and wasteful extravagance remained unpaid, to the undoing of the undertakers. On 25 August, 1659, in the _Kalendar of State Affairs (Domestic)_, the following occurs: 'Report by the Committee appointed by Parliament to examine what is due for mourning for the late General Cromwell, that on perusal of the bills signed by Cromwell's servants, and of the account of Abr. Barrington, his auditor, it appears that 19,303 0_s._ 11_d._ is still due and unpaid for mourning. Also that Nath. Waterhouse, servant to Rich. Cromwell, should be authorized to see the persons in a list [missing] annexed for that mourning. Col.

Rich to make this report. Schedule of debts due to 11 mercers and drapers for the funeral of the late General Cromwell. Total 19,303 0_s._ 11_d._'