87. A merry catch, I troll. Cf. Shakespeare, Temp, iii. 2. 126: "will
you troll the catch," etc.
88. Buxom. Lively, brisk; as in Hen. V. iii. 6. 27: "of buxom valour,"
etc. Its original sense was yielding, obedient; as in F. Q. i. 11. 37:
"the buxome aire" (see also Milton, P. L. ii. 842); and Id. iii. 2. 23:
"Of them that to him buxome are and prone." For the derivation, see Wb.
90. Poule. Paul; an old spelling, found in Chaucer and other writers.
The measure of the song is anapestic (that is, with the accent on every
third syllable), with modifications.
92. Black-jack. A kind of pitcher made of leather. Taylor quotes Old
Mortality, chap. viii.: "The large black-jack filled with very small
beer."
93. Sack. A name applied to Spanish and Canary wines in general; but
sometimes the particular kind was specified. Cf. 2 Hen. IV. iv. 3. 104:
"good sherris-sack" (that is, sherry wine); and Herrick, Poems:
"thy isles shall lack
Grapes, before Herrick leaves Canarie sack."
95. Upsees. "Bacchanalian interjection, borrowed from the Dutch"
(Scott). Nares criticises Scott for using the word as a noun. It is
generally found in the phrases "upsee Dutch" and "upsee Freeze" (the
same thing, Frise being = Dutch), which appear to mean "in the Dutch
fashion." Cf. Ben Jonson, Alchemist, iv. 6:
"I do not like the dullness of your eye,
It hath a heavy east, 't is upsee Dutch;"
that is, looks like intoxication. See also Beaumont and Fletcher,
Beggar's Bush, iv. 4: "The bowl... which must be upsey English, strong,
lusty, London beer."