"'Rack' is vapour, from _reck_, as Horne Tooke showed; and the light
clouds on the face of heaven are the 'rack,' or vapour from the earth.
The word 'rack' was often used in this way."--Coll. _Shaksp._, vol. i.
p. 70.

Mr. Knight appears to incline to the same view; and regarding these as the
two latest authorities, and finding in neither of them any reference to the
question of construction, I naturally concluded that the point had been
overlooked by the commentators. On reference, however, I found to my
surprise, that Malone, for the very same reasons, had come to the same
conclusion. Had Malone's argument been briefly stated by the "two latest
and best editors," I should, of course, have had no occasion to trouble you
with this note: and this instance, it appears to me, furnishes additional
reasons for enforcing the principle for which I am contending; the neglect
of it affecting, in however slight a degree, the sense or correctness of so
important and frequently quoted a passage. For my own part, I should have
thought that the commonest faith in Shakspeare would have protected any
editor, whose avowed object it was to restore the text, from preferring in
this instance, to the plain common sense of Malone, the more showy
authority of Horne Tooke.

In my last paper I wrote,--"So far as quantity is concerned, to eat a
crocodile would be _no_ more than to eat an ox." You have omitted the
negative.

SAMUEL HICKSON.

* * * * *

ANCIENT INEDITED POEMS, NO. III.

In my last communication on this subject, I forgot to remark on the strange
title given to the monody on Mr. Browne. May I ask if the name of "Chorus"
was thus indiscriminately applied at the time when the poem was composed?

The next poem that I shall give is copied from _Harleian MSS._, 367., art.
60., fol. 158. It is entitled--

"A VERTUOUS WOMAN.

"When painted vice fils upp the rimes
Of these our last depraued times:
And soe much lust by wanton layes
Dispersed is; that beautie strayes
Into darke corners wheere vnseen, 5
Too many sadd berefts haue been.
Aduance my muse to blaze[1] that face
Wheere beautie sits enthroand in grace.
The eye though bright, and quicke to moue,
Daignes not a cast to wanton loue. 10
A comely ffront not husht in hayre,
Nor face be-patcht to make it fayre.
The lipps and cheekes though seeme