Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of Ancient Manners: / with Dissertations on the Clowns and Fools of Shakspeare; on a Collection of Popular Tales Entitled Gesta Romanorum; and on the English Morris dance.

Chapter 71: FOOTNOTES:

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British Literature Essays, Letters & Speeches

About This Book

Annotated commentaries on Shakespeare's plays combine explanatory notes, historical and antiquarian research, and woodcut illustrations. The compiler clarifies obsolete words and customs, supplies critical emendations, and includes specific essays on comic personae such as clowns and fools, the influence of the medieval Gesta Romanorum on one drama, and the English morris dance. The preface reflects on the aims and methods of commentary and earlier editors; the notes range from linguistic glosses to cultural digressions intended to illuminate stage practice and popular sources while occasionally settling disputes between critics.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] It may be worth remarking that the historian Stowe has made great use of this curious and valuable Life of Wolsey, without naming the author. It has been several times printed, but the manuscript copies have greatly the advantage in fullness and accuracy.

[13] If the horrible incident of the cutting off the flesh had not occurred in the several Oriental stories that have been mentioned, one should have supposed that it had been suggested by that atrocious decemviral law of the Twelve Tables, which empowered a creditor to mangle the living body of his debtor without fear of punishment for cutting more or less than the magistrate allowed. For the honour of the Roman law, it is not recorded that the above inhuman decree was ever enforced.