, be as
infallible
as
the compass.
the compass.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
38): 'Ile have you make 12.
poesies for a dozen
of cheese trenchers. ' Also _Honest Whore_, Part I, Sc. 13; and
Middleton, _Old Law_ 2. 1 (_Wks. _ 2. 149); _No Wit, no Help like a
Woman's_ 2. 1 (_Wks. _ 4. 322).
=15 Like the young adders. = It is said that young adders, when
frightened, run into their mother's mouth for protection.
=16 Would wee could stand due North. = I. e.
, be as infallible as
the compass.
=17 Muscouy glasse. = Cf. Marston, _Malcontent_, _Wks_. 1. 234: 'She
were an excellent lady, but that her face peeleth like Muscovy
glass. ' Reed (_Old Plays_ 4. 38) quotes from Giles Fletcher's _Russe
Commonwealth_, 1591, p. 10: 'In the province of Corelia, and about
the river Duyna towards the North-sea, there groweth a soft rock
which they call Slude. This they cut into pieces, and so tear it
into thin _flakes, which naturally it is apt for_, and so use it for
glasse lanthorns and such like. It giveth both inwards and outwards
a clearer light then glasse, and for this respect is better than
either glasse or horne; for that it neither breaketh like glasse, nor
yet will burne like the lanthorne. ' Dekker _(Non-dram. Wks. _ 2. 135)
speaks of a 'Muscouie Lanthorne. ' See Gloss.
of cheese trenchers. ' Also _Honest Whore_, Part I, Sc. 13; and
Middleton, _Old Law_ 2. 1 (_Wks. _ 2. 149); _No Wit, no Help like a
Woman's_ 2. 1 (_Wks. _ 4. 322).
=15 Like the young adders. = It is said that young adders, when
frightened, run into their mother's mouth for protection.
=16 Would wee could stand due North. = I. e.
, be as infallible as
the compass.
=17 Muscouy glasse. = Cf. Marston, _Malcontent_, _Wks_. 1. 234: 'She
were an excellent lady, but that her face peeleth like Muscovy
glass. ' Reed (_Old Plays_ 4. 38) quotes from Giles Fletcher's _Russe
Commonwealth_, 1591, p. 10: 'In the province of Corelia, and about
the river Duyna towards the North-sea, there groweth a soft rock
which they call Slude. This they cut into pieces, and so tear it
into thin _flakes, which naturally it is apt for_, and so use it for
glasse lanthorns and such like. It giveth both inwards and outwards
a clearer light then glasse, and for this respect is better than
either glasse or horne; for that it neither breaketh like glasse, nor
yet will burne like the lanthorne. ' Dekker _(Non-dram. Wks. _ 2. 135)
speaks of a 'Muscouie Lanthorne. ' See Gloss.
