"And tells me those are shadows and supposes." To blear the eye, was an ancient phrase signifying to deceive. So, in Chaucer's Manciple's Tale, v. 17,202, late edit.

"For all thy waiting, blered is thin eye."

Again, in the 10th pageant of the Coventry Plays, in the British Museum, MS. Cott. Vesp. D. VIII. "Shuld I now in age begynne to dote,

"If I her chyde, she wolde clowte my cote,

"Blere mine ey and pyke out a mote." STEEVENS. 134. My cake is dough:] This is a proverbial expression which I meet with in the old interlude of Tom Tyler and his Wife, 1661:

"Alas, poor Tom, his cake is dough."

Again, in The Case is Alter'd, 1609:

"Steward, your cake is dough as well as mine." STEEVENS. 146. raging war is done.] The old copy has Mr. Rowe made the correction. MALONE. 191. Have at you for a better jest or two.] Instead of better, one of the modern editors reads bitter; I think rightly.

come.

So, in the play before us:

"Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour."

Again, in Love's Labour Lost:

"Too bitter is thy jest."

Again, in Bastard's Epigrams, 1598:

"When he was removed, and quite dispossest, "He shut up the matter with this bitter jest."

MALONE.

200.

-swift] besides the original sense of

speedy in motion, signified witty, quick-witted. So, in As You Like It, the Duke says of the Clown, "He is very swift and sententious." Quick is now used in almost the same sense as nimble was in the age after that of our author. Heylin says of Hales, that he had known Laud for a nimble disputant. JOHNSON.

204. —that gird, good Tranio.] A gird is a sarcasm. a gibe. So, in Stephen Gosson's School of Abuse, 1579: "Curculio may chatte til his heart ake, ere any be offended with his gyrdes." STEEVENS.

312. Let's each one send unto his wife;] Thus in the original play:

"Feran. Come, gentlemen; nowe that supper's done,

"How shall we spend the time til we go bed?

"Aurel. Faith, if you wil, in trial of our wives, "Who wil come soonest at their husbands cal. "Pol. Nay, then Ferando, he must needes sit out; "For he may cal, I thinke, til he be weary, "Before his wife wil come before she list.

"Feran. 'Tis wel for you that have such gentle wives :

"Yet in this trial wil I not sit out;

"It may be Kate will come as soone as I do send.

"Aurel. My wife comes soonest, for a hundred

pound.

"Pol. I take it. He lay as much to yours,

"That my wife comes as soone as I do send.

"Aurel. How now, Ferando! you dare not lay belike. "Feran. Why true, I dare not lay indeed : "But how? So little money on so sure a thing. "A hundred pound! Why I have laid as much "Upon my dog in running at a deere.

"She shall not come so far for such a trifle:

"But wil you lay five hundred markes with me? "And whose wife soonest comes, when he doth cal, "And shewes herselfe most loving unto him, "Let him enjoy the wager I have laid:

"Now what say you? Dare you adventure thus ? "Pol. I, were it a thousand pounds, I durst presume "On my wife's love: and I will lay with thee.

Enter Alfonso.

Alfon. How now, sons! What in conference so hard?

"May I, without offence, know what about?
"Aurel. Faith, father, a waighty cause, about our
wives:

"Five hundred markes already we have laid ;
"And he whose wife doth shew most love to him,
"He must injoy the wager to himselfe.

Alfon. Why then, Ferando, he is sure to lose it: "I promise thee, son, thy wife wil hardly come; "And therefore I would not wish thee lay so much. "Feran. Tush, father; were it ten times more, "I durst adventure on my lovely Kate :"But if I lose, Ile pay, and so shal you. "Aurel. Upon mine honor, if I lose, Ile pay. "Pol. And so wil I upon my faith, I vow.

"Feran.

"Feran. Then sit we downe, and let us send for

them.

"Alfon. I promise thee, Ferando, I am afraid thou

wilt lose.

"Aurel. Ile send for my wife first: Valeria,

"Go bid your mistris come to me.

"Val. I wil, my lord.

[Exit Valeria.

"Aurel. Now for my hundred pound :

"Would any lay ten hundred more with me, "I know I should obtaine it by her love.

"Feran. I pray-you have not laid too much already.

"Aurel. Trust me, Ferando, I am sure you have; "For you, I dare presume, have lost it al

"Enter Valeria againe.

“Now, sirha, what saies your mistris ?

"Val. She is something busie, but sheele come

anone.

"Feran. Why so? did I not tel you this before? "She was busie, and cannot come.

"Aurel. I pray-your wife send you so good an

answere:

"She may be busie, yet she saies shele come.

"Feran. Wel, wel: Polidor, send you for your wife. "Pol. Agreed. Boy, desire your mistris to come hither.

"Boy. I will, sir.

"Feran. I, so, so; he desires her to come. "Alfon. Polidor, I dare presume for thee, "I thinke thy wife wil not denie to come; Hiij

[Exit.

"And

"And I do marvel much, Aurelius,

"That your wife came not when you sent for her. "Enter the Boy againe.

"Pol. Now, wher's your mistris ?

"Boy. She bade me tell you that shee will not come; "And you have businesse, you must come to her.

"Feran. O monstrous intollerable presumption, "Worse than a blasing star, or snow at midsummer, "Earthquakes, or any thing unseasonable!

"She will not come; but he must come to her. "Pol. Wel, sir, I pray you, let's hear what "Answere your wife wil make.

"Feran. Sirha, command your mistris to come "To me presently.

[Exit Sander. "Aurel. I thinke, my wife, for all she did not

come,

"Will prove most kind; for now I have no feare, "For I am sure Ferando's wife she will not come.

"Feran. The more's the pitty; then I must lose, "Enter Kate and Sander.

"But I have won, for see where Kate doth come. "Kate. Sweete husband did you send for me? "Feran. I did, my love, I sent for thee to come; "Come hither, Kate: What's that upon thy head? "Kate. Nothing, husband, but my cap, I thinke, "Feran. Pul it off and tread it under thy feet: "'Tis foolish; I wil not have thee weare it.

["She takes off her cap and treads on it,

"Pol. O wonderful metamorphosis!

"Aurel.