I.i.9 (112,2) [Argosies] [a ship from Argo. Pope.] Whether it be derived
from Argo I am in doubt. It was a name given in our author's
time to ships of great burthen, probably galleons, such as the
Spaniards now use in their East India trade. [An Argosie meant originally
a ship from Ragusa, a city and territory on the gulph of
Venice, tributary to the Porte. Steevens.]
I.i.18 (112,3) [Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind] By
holding up the grass, or any light body that will bend by a gentle
blast, the direction of the wind is found.
_This way I used in shooting. Betwixt the markes was an open
place, there I take a fethere, or a_ lytle grasse, _and so learned_
_how the wind stood_. Ascham.
I.i.27 (113,5) [And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand] The name of
the ship.
I.i.113 (116,3) [Is that any thing now?] All the old copies read, _is
that any thing now_? I suppose we should read, _is that any thing_
new?
I.i.146 (117,4) [like a wilful youth] [W: witless] Dr. Warburton confounds
the time past and present. He has formerly lost his money
like a _wilful_ youth, he now borrows more in _pure innocence_, without
disguising his former fault, or his present designs.
I.ii.44 (120,6) [Ay, that's a colt, indeed] _Colt_ is used for a witless,
heady, gay youngster, whence the phrase used of an old man
too juvenile, that he still retains his _colt's tooth_. See Hen. VIII.
I.ii.49 (120,7) [there is the Count Palatine] I am always inclined to
believe, that Shakespeare has more allusions to particular facts
and persons than his readers commonly suppose. The count here mentioned
was, perhaps, Albertus a Lasco, a Polish Palatine, who visited
England in our author's time, was eagerly caressed, and splendidly
entertained; but running in debt, at last stole away, and endeavoured to
repair his fortune by enchantment.
I.ii.90 (122,3) [How like you the young German] In Shakespeare's time
the duke of Bavaria visited London, and was made knight of the garter.
Perhaps in this enumeration of Portia's suitors, there may be
some covert allusion to those of Queen Elizabeth.
I.iii.47 (125,4) [catch him once upon the hip] A phrase taken from the
practice of wrestlers.
I.iii.63 (126,5) [the ripe wants of my friend] _Ripe wants_ are wants
_come to the height_, wants that can have no longer delay. Perhaps
we might read, _rife wants_, wants that come thick upon him.