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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review June 1902

"Romeo and Juilet."

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"Romeo and Juilet."

As no annotated edition of this play appears to be forthcoming, the authors would crave leave to present a few original notes, hoping thereby to mitigate the Shakesperian sufferings of the English students. Should these few samples be favourably received it is contemplated bringing out an annotated edition of the play on the lines suggested therein, including a general and particular introduction, the former dealing with Mrs. Gallope and the Shacon-Bakespere theory, while the latter will endeavour to show clearly the extent to which Bacon collaborated with his friend in producing the inexpressibly beautiful and moving tragedy of "Romeo and Juilet."

"Dramatis Personve "—A phrase found without exception in every one of Shakespere's plays. Being Latin it proves conclusively that S. was a finished classical scholar.

Act 1.

"Choler," collar—This is a pun, therefore to be avoided by students. Such a vile practice is unknown in the Macaulay flowers of English Literature.

"Aurora "—A goddess. Also known as Borealis or Australis.

"Feather of lead "—Distinguish.carefully from sugar of lead.

"Star-crossed lovers "—Astrological allusions are very common with regard to lovers; such terms are no doubt suggested by their moonlight propensities.

"Coz"—Presumably a printer's error; not found in Webster.

"Fray"—A fight; somewhat resembling a Hockey match.

"I'll be e candle-holder and look on "—The modern term is "goose-berry."

Act 2.

"Civil brawls "—Peace celebrations; not to be confused with common or garden brawls which are most uncivil.

"The fish lives in the sea "—Shakespere was a naturalist.

"Alligator "—One who makes an allegation.

"Cleopatra "—A seamstress of tbe ancient world; her needle is still preserved in London.

"Atomies "—A Mexican tribe; probably suggested to Shakespere by Rider Haggard's work on same.

"Wisely and slow "—(Lat) Festina lente; (Maori) Haeretnai.

"Panto reverso "—A flat-bottomed boat, or perhaps a timely save by a smart half back.

"Shift a trencher "—Salute; a reference to to the practice, now extinct among students, of wearing mortarboards.

"With love's light wings did l o'er perch these walls "—Obviously a poetic licence.

"Where the devil can this Romeo be ? "—This is undoubtedly a contribution of Bacon's, as no authentic records go to show that Shakespere ever indulged in unseemly expletives. Compare the advice of the latter, put into the month of Juliet (Act III., Sc. II.) " Do not swear." Part of this expression has become proverbial.

"Dido "—Cremated 55 B.C.

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Act III.

"Ache "—The folios have "ake" (vide Kirk's Dictionary of the Maori language, 1534).

"O single-soled jest solely singular for the singleness "—Considerable discussion has taken place as to whether this singular passage originated in the brain of Bacon or of Shakespere. It is undoubtedly modelled on Erasmos's "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper-corns."

"Petrarch "—A Dutch painter (1611-1649), killed at the Battle of Zutphen by Sir Philip Sidney.

"Catling "—We now say kitten.

Act IV.

"Chop-logic "—Mr. Semi% of Japan, considers this an argument in favour of Kreophagy.

"Rebeck "—Contraction for Rebecca.

"Elf-locks "—A peculiar contortion of the front hair produced by using "Hinde's Patent, Curlers." As the result of these contorted locks was to make the mildest countenance look peculiarly ferocious the term "elf" was applied to them by the sterner sex. Comp. Chaucer, " With lokkes crulle as thei were laide in presse."

"Scurvy "—A disease peculiar to North American Indians, "who live exclusively on meat" (Richmond).

"I have a head, sir, that will find out logs "—This explodes the popular fallacy that logarithms were first invented by Napier, or the D—————].

"There's no trust, no faith, no honesty in men "—An aphorism ascribed to Marie Corelli.

"Tybalt "—A collateral form of cobalt.

"From nine to twelve is three long hours "—Romeo had graduated in mathematics.

"Dancing shoes with nimble soles "—This make are not very plentiful among students of the present day.

Aqua vitae "—Conjectured by Gervinus "Mountain Dew." Aqua equals H.2 0. (Toogood).

"O, be some other name "—Malone agrees with Juilet in her advice to Romeo, and suggests ",Adolphus," " Mourilzan," or "Rawdon de Vere."

"To be valiant is to stand "—This applies equally to duels and debates.

Graphic border

GLEE CLUB. "Gone but not forgotten." It is with sincere regret that we have to record the untimely end of the Glee Club. Like a meteor it Hashed upon us as a star in the dawning it melted away. "The best laid plans of mice and men Gang aft a-glee)"

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Ye Englische Classe