[164] To levell at, or to hit the white, were phrases taken from archery, and often used by our ancient writers. The white was the mark at which archers practised when they learned to shoot. So in Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act iv. sc. 3—

"The immortality of my fame is the white I shoot at;"

in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Four [Plays in One" (Dyce's edit.), ii. 512]—

in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," 1582—"Vertue is the white we shoot at, not vanitie" (p. 11). Again, "He glaunced from the marke Euphues shot at, and hit at last the white which Philautus set up" (p. 18).

Again, "An archer saye you, is to be knowen by his aime, not by his arrowe: but your aime is so ill, that if you knewe howe farre wide from the white your shaft sticketh, you would hereafter rather breake your bowe then bend it."—Ibid. 57.

[165] In this speech are to be found the outlines of the character of Zanga, so admirably drawn by Dr Young. The plot of the Revenge is, however, said to have been taken from Mrs Behn's play of "Abdelazar," which was borrowed from "Lust's Dominion; or, The Lascivious Queen."

[166] [Old copy, and.]

[167] So in "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 3—

[168] [Mr Collier's correction. Old copy, leave.]

[169] Embrace.

[170] [i.e., Surround, crown.]

[171] See note to "The Miseries of Enforced Marriage" [ix. 538.]

[172] [Old copy, a young.]

[173] Old copy reads thirstiest.

[174] So Milton, in "Paradise Lost," bk. iv. 1. 159—

[175] [Debauched.]