Note 375 — NOTE ON SYMBOLS (continued 3)
Reading edition
Golden Age, IV, ‘Enter foure old Beldams’, and say ‘The ‘larme bell rings’; it is Acrisius; they will ‘clap close to the gate and let him in’. He bids them watch ‘your percullist entrance’, says ‘Danae is descended’, speaks of ‘the walkes within this barricadoed mure’. She returns ‘unto her chamber’ and he ‘Exit’. The beldams will ‘take our lodgings before the Princesse chamber’ and ‘Exit’. Then ‘Enter Iupiter like a Pedler, the Clowne his man, with packs at their backes’. They are evidently outside the gate. ‘He rings the bell’ and persuades the beldams to let him ‘into the Porters lodge’. They will ‘shut the gate for feare the King come and if he ring clap the Pedlers into some of yon old rotten corners’. Then ‘Enter Danae’, whom Jupiter courts. She says ‘Yon is my doore’ and ‘Exit’. The beldams will ‘see the Pedlers pack’t out of the gate’, but in the end let them ‘take a nap upon some bench or other’, and bid them good-night. Jupiter ‘puts off his disguise’ and ‘Exit’. Then ‘Enter the foure old Beldams, drawing out Danae’s bed: she in it. They place foure tapers at the foure corners’. Jupiter returns ‘crown’d with his imperiall robes’, says ‘Yon is the doore’, calls Danae by name, ‘lyes upon her bed’ and ‘puts out the lights and makes unready’. Presently ‘The bed is drawne in, and enter the Clowne new wak’t’, followed by ‘Enter Iupiter and Danae in her night-gowne’. He puts on his cloak, and ‘Enter the foure Beldams in hast’, say ‘the gate is open’, and dismiss the pedlars.