Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 5.djvu/160

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152
NOTES.

(3) Master of arts.] Persius: magister artis, ingeniique largitor venter.

(4) Idolater.] Alludes to the sacrifices offered by the Romans to the goddess Cloacina.

(5) Priests.] Gold-finders, who perform their office in the night time: but our author farther seems to have an eye to the custom of the heathen priests stealing the offerings in the night; of which see more in the story of Bel and the Dragon.

(6) Wrinkle.] This refers, to a proverb you have one wrinkle in your a-se more than you had before.

(7) Tears of blood.] Hemorrhoids, according to the physicians, are a frequent consequence of intemperance.

(8) Unquiet.] Their tails being generally observed to he most restless.

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