[370] _All amort_ here and in other places signifies _melancholy_. So in Greene's "History of Friar Bacon," 1594--
"Shall he thus _all amort_ live malecontent."
"Why, how now, Sophos, _all amort_? still languish in love?"
[ix. 305]. And in the "Contention between Liberality and Prodigality," 1602, the author makes an addition to this French expression not usually found in English--
"What, is there none that answers? _Tout a-la-mort?_"
[371] [Prevent. See note at p. 18 of vol. vii.]
[372] _i.e._, Contrive it. The word is still sometimes used in the same sense.
[373] All after the words _O rare invention_ has been hitherto given to Throat without any notice, and although both the quartos assign it to Beard, who, as appears subsequently, had advanced the sum he mentions.--_Collier._
[374] So in "The Country Captain," by the Duke of Newcastle, 1649, p. 51: "When these wordes of command are rotten, we will sow some other military seedes; _you beare a braine_ and memory."
Again, the Nurse, in "Romeo and Juliet," says--
See Mr Steevens's note on this last passage.
Enter SIR OLIVER SMALL-SHANKS, JUSTICE TUTCHIN.
JUS. TUT. A-hunting, Sir Oliver, and dry-foot too!
O. SMALL. We old men have our crotchets, our conundrums. Our figaries, quirks, and quibbles, As well as youth. Justice Tutchin, I go To hunt no buck, but prick a lusty doe. I go, in truth, a-wooing.
JUS. TUT. Then ride with me, I'll bring you to my sister Sommerfield.
O. SMALL. Justice, not so; by her there hangs a tale.
O. SMALL. I likewise have a son, A villanous boy, his father up and down;[376] What should I say? these velvet-bearded boys Will still be doing, say what we old men can.
JUS. TUT. And what of this, Sir Oliver? be plain.
O. SMALL. A nimble-spirited knave, the villain boy Has one trick of his sire, has got the wench, Stol'n your rich sister's heir.
O. SMALL. Has done the deed, has pierc'd the vessel's head, And knows by this the vintage.
O. SMALL. As I am by my counsel well-informed, This very day.
JUS. TUT. Tut, it cannot be, Some ten miles hence I saw the maid last night.
O. SMALL. Maids may be maids to-night, and not to-morrow. Women are free, and sell their maidenheads, As men sell cloth by yard and handful; But if you chance to see your sister widow, Comfort her tears, and say her daughter's match'd With one that has a knocker to his father-- An honest, noble knight.