Volume 1

A glossary, or, Collection of words, phrases, names, and allusions to customs, proverbs, etc., which have been thought to require illustration, in the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare, and his contemporaries / [Robert Nares].

  • Robert Nares
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A glossary, or, Collection of words, phrases, names, and allusions to customs, proverbs, etc., which have been thought to require illustration, in the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare, and his contemporaries / [Robert Nares]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    termed a cross-buttock; but it will be seen, in the following passages, that the allusion is carried on with evident reference to the other origin: if i can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Merch. of V., i, 3. The hound who has caught a deer by the hip, may feed himself fat on his flesh; but this has nothing to do with a wrestler. If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip. Othello, ii, 1. Though this passage is greatly cor- rupted, its allusion to hunting can- not be overlooked. As to the text, the oldest quarto reads the first line, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I crush. Warburton conjectured “ poor brack,” sagaciously, and in exact conformity to the whole tenour of the passage. See Brach. He also proposed cherish for crush, almost as happily; for certainly the general sense is, “ If this hound, Roderigo, whose merit is his quick hunting, is staunch also, and will hold, I shall have my game on the hip.” The present reading, trash, departs from this sense, and neither substitutes one so good, nor is itself fully established, as being legitimately used in that sense. It is derived from the reading of the folio, which is, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace; Which seems to be more corrupt than the reading of the quarto. Warbur- ton’s conjectures at least make good sense of the whole, which is some advantage: If this poor brach of Venice, whom I cherish For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, Fll have our Michael Cassio on the hip. Cherish may not have been the very word of Shakespeare, but something to that effect is surely required. The chief objection is, that brach is sel- dom used, except for a female; but if that be thought valid, trash may stand, as a word of general con- tempt. Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, cor- rected the opinion given in his notes to Shakespeare, and derived the ex- pression from hunting. [The meaning of the word in the following passage is not clear.] f The Grecians them commaunde that dwelt by hip In villages, to make no spare of wine. Mir our for Magistrates, 1587. HIPPOCRAS. A medicated drink, composed usually of red wine, but sometimes white, with the addition of sugar and spices. Some would derive it from xnro, and Kepawvpi, to mix; but Menage observes, that as the apothecaries call it vinum Hippo- craticum, he is convinced that it is derived from Hippocrates, as being originally composed by medical skill. It is not improbable, that, as Mr. Theobald observes, in a note on the Scornful Lady (p. 286), it was called Hippocras, from the circumstance of its being strained; the woollen bag used for that purpose being called, by the apothecaries, Hippocrates'1 s sleeve. It was a very favorite beverage, and usually given at wed- dings. P. Stay, what’s best to drink a mornings? H. lpocras, sir, for my mistress, if I fetch it, is most dear to her. Honest Wh., 0. PI., iii, 283. Drank to your health, whole nights, in Hippocras, Upon my knees, with more religion Than e’er I said my pray’rs, which heav’n forgive me. Antiquary, 0. PL, x, 28. In old books are many receipts for the composition of Hippocras, of which the following is one: Take of cinamon 2 oz. of ginger f an oz. of grains a £ of an oz., punne [pound] them grosse, and put them into a pottle of good claret or white wine, with half a pound of sugar; let all steep together, a night at the least, close covered in some bottle of glasse, pewter, or stone; and when you would occupy it, cast a thinne linnen cloath or a piece of a boulter over the mouth of the bottle, and let so much run through as you will drink at that time, keeping the rest close, for so it will keep both the spirit, odor, and virtue of the wine and spices. And if you would make but a quart, then take but half the spices aforesaid. Haven of Health, eh. 228, p. 264. By a pottle is meant two quarts. See Pottle. See also Strutt’s View of Manners, &c., vol. iii, p. 74. tTo make Hypocrass the best way.—Take 5 ounces oi aqua vitee, 2 ounces of pepper, and 2 of ginger, of cloves and grains of paradice each 2 ounces, amber- grease three grains, and of musk two grains, infuse them 24 hours in a glass bottle on pretty warm embers, and when your occasion requires to use it, put a pound of sugar into a quart of wine or cyder; dissolve it well, and then drop 3 or 4 drops of the infusion into it, and they will make it taste richly. Luptoii’s Thousand Notable Things, fThe wind blows cold the weather’s raw. The beggars now do skulk in straw, Whilst those whose means are somewhat higher, Do warm their noses by a fire. Sack, Hippocras now, and burnt brandy, Are drinks as wurm and good as can be ;