“Rule A Wife and Have A Wife”
Act iii. Old Woman’s speech:—
... “I fear he will knock my
Brains out for lying.”
Mr. Seward discards the words “for lying,” because “most of the things spoke of Estifania are true, with only a little exaggeration, and because they destroy all appearance of measure.”—Colman’s note.
Mr. Seward had his brains out. The humour lies in Estifania’s having ordered the Old Woman to tell these tales of her; for though an intriguer, she is not represented as other than chaste; and as to the metre, it is perfectly correct.
Ib.—
“Marg. As you love me, give way.
Leon. It shall be better, I will give none, madam,” &c.
The meaning is:—“It shall be a better way, first;—as it is, I will not give it, or any that you in your present mood would wish.”