' The
fact is that both words were sometimes spelt _geere_, as well
as in a variety of other ways.
fact is that both words were sometimes spelt _geere_, as well
as in a variety of other ways.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
" When Jonson uses the word
_jeer_ he spells it quite differently. The _Staple of News_ was first
printed at the same time as the present play, and in the beginning of
Act IV. Sc. 1, I find: "_Fit. _ Let's _ieere_ a little. _Pen. _ Ieere?
what's that? "'
It is so spelt regularly throughout _The Staple of News_, but in
_Ev. Man in_ 1. 2 (fol. 1616), we find: 'Such petulant, geering
gamsters that can spare No . . . subject from their jest.
' The
fact is that both words were sometimes spelt _geere_, as well
as in a variety of other ways. The uniform spelling in _The
Staple of News_, however, seems to indicate that this is the
word _gear_, which fits the context, fully as well as, perhaps
better than Gifford's interpretation. A common meaning is 'talk,
discourse', often in a depreciatory sense. See Gloss.
=1. 6. 125 Things, that are like, are soone familiar. =
'Like will to like' is a familiar proverb.
=1. 6. 127 the signe o' the husband. = An allusion to the
signs of the zodiac, some of which were supposed to have a
malign and others a beneficent influence.
=1. 6. 131 You grow old, while I tell you this. =
Hor.
_jeer_ he spells it quite differently. The _Staple of News_ was first
printed at the same time as the present play, and in the beginning of
Act IV. Sc. 1, I find: "_Fit. _ Let's _ieere_ a little. _Pen. _ Ieere?
what's that? "'
It is so spelt regularly throughout _The Staple of News_, but in
_Ev. Man in_ 1. 2 (fol. 1616), we find: 'Such petulant, geering
gamsters that can spare No . . . subject from their jest.
' The
fact is that both words were sometimes spelt _geere_, as well
as in a variety of other ways. The uniform spelling in _The
Staple of News_, however, seems to indicate that this is the
word _gear_, which fits the context, fully as well as, perhaps
better than Gifford's interpretation. A common meaning is 'talk,
discourse', often in a depreciatory sense. See Gloss.
=1. 6. 125 Things, that are like, are soone familiar. =
'Like will to like' is a familiar proverb.
=1. 6. 127 the signe o' the husband. = An allusion to the
signs of the zodiac, some of which were supposed to have a
malign and others a beneficent influence.
=1. 6. 131 You grow old, while I tell you this. =
Hor.
