Note 149 — ACT III.
Reading edition
The word fear is often used by our ancient writers in the sense of frighten or make afraid, as in "Every Man in his Humour," iii. 7:—
"(He shall not go) I but fear the knave."
And in "Sejanus his Fall," iv.:—
"His subtility hath chose this doubling line, To hold him even in; not so to fear him, As wholly put him out."
Again, in "A Fair Quarrel," ii. 1: "But as it is, it fears me." So in "Euphues and his England," 1580: "Nor the perswasions of Papists ... could either fear hir or allure hir." Parkes, in his "Curtain-Drawer of the World," 1612, p. 41, has, "If he shall feare us out of our wits with strange words."