[Footnote III.45: _The ears of the groundlings_,] The meaner people appear to have occupied the pit of the theatre (which had neither floor nor benches in Shakespeare's time), as they now sit in the upper gallery.]
[Footnote III.46: _O'er-doing Termagant_;] The Crusaders, and those who celebrated them, confounded Mahometans with Pagans, and supposed Mahomet, or Mahound, to be one of their deities, and Tervagant or Termagant, another. This imaginary personage was introduced into our old plays and moralities, and represented as of a most violent character, so that a ranting actor might always appear to advantage in it. The word is now used for a scolding woman.]
[Footnote III.47: _It out-herods Herod:_] In all the old moralities and mysteries this personage was always represented as a tyrant of a very violent temper, using the most exaggerated language. Hence the expression.]
[Footnote III.48: _The very age and body of the time its form and pressure._] _i.e._, to delineate exactly the manners of the age, and the particular humours of the day--_pressure_ signifying resemblance, as in a print.]
[Footnote III.49: _Come tardy off_,] Without spirit or animation; heavily, sleepily done.]
[Footnote III.50: _The censure of which one_] _i.e._, the censure of one of which.]
[Footnote III.51: _Your allowance_,] In your approbation.]
[Footnote III.52: _Not to speak it profanely_,] _i.e._, _irreverently_, in allusion to Hamlet's supposition that God had not made such men, but that they were only the handy work of God's assistants.]
[Footnote III.53: _Indifferently_] In a reasonable degree.]
[Footnote III.54: _Speak no more them is set down for them:_] Shakespeare alludes to a custom of his time, when the clown, or low comedian, as he would now be called, addressing the audience during the play, entered into a contest of raillery and sarcasm with such spectators as chose to engage with him.]
[Footnote III.55: _Barren spectators_] _i.e._, dull, unapprehensive spectators.]
[Footnote III.56: _Question_] Point, topic.]
[Footnote III.57: _Cop'd withal._] Encountered with.]
[Footnote III.58: _Pregnant hinges of the knee_,] _i.e._, bowed or bent: ready to kneel where _thrift_, that is, thriving, or emolument may follow sycophancy.]