I. iv. 40. Dun's the mouse. Mercutio's quip is not clear. Perhaps the phrase is simply, Keep still—hence the constable's own word. Dun's in the Mire was a Christmas game wherein Dun, the horse (a log of wood), was supposed to be got out of the mire by the players.
I. iv. 42. save your reverence. At once an apology for a remark of doubtful propriety and an adjective referring to excrement.
I. iv. 45. lights. Mercutio puns on the word 'lights,' referring to the second meaning, 'enlightenments,' and then says, Take our real meaning, where our sound opinion is much more often found than in the subtle embroideries thereon which our cleverness suggests to us.
I. iv. 56. agate-stone. In allusion to the small figures often cut in agates to be used as seals.
I. iv. 66. worm. 'It was supposed, and the notion probably encouraged for the sake of promoting industry, that when maidens were idle, worms bred in their fingers.' (Nares.)
I. iv. 90. plats the manes. There was a superstition that malignant spirits, carrying tapers of wax, sometimes haunted stables in the night-time, dropping wax on the horses' manes, thereby plaiting them in inextricable knots.
I. iv. 115. Exeunt. The stage direction of the Folio reads, 'They march about the stage, and serving-men come forth with napkins.' This indicates the original stage business—the procession of maskers approaching the rear-stage, supposed to be the house of Capulet, and the entrance therefrom of the servants, indicating that the scene is thereafter within the house. After the servants' conversation the procession of the maskers appeared to enter the house, while Capulet and his guests came from another room (the rear-stage) to meet them.
