Note 135:A — Chapter VI
Reading edition
Dr. Johnson's definition of the word Rock in the sense of the text, is as follows:
"(rock, Danish; rocca, Italian; rucca, Spanish; spinrock, Dutch) A distaff held in the hand, from which the wool was spun by twirling a ball below." I shall add one of his illustrations:
"A learned and a manly soul I purpos'd her; that should with even powers, The rock, the spindle, and the sheers, controul Of destiny, and spin her own free hours.
Ben Jonson."