Note 483 — SCENE II.

The nips of fairies, &c.] This passage is explained by the following lines of Browne:

“where oft the Fairy-Queene

At twy-light sate, and did command her Elues

To pinch those Maids that had not swept their shelues;

And further if by Maidens ouersight

Within doores water were not brought at night,

Or if they spread no Table, set no Bread,

They should haue nips from toe vnto the head.”

Britannia’s Pastorals, b. i. song ii. p. 41, ed. 1625.