Miko: annotations

Different ideas have been advanced to explain why the the old lady cries “tailor”. 1) She cries “tailor” because she finds herself squatting on the floor in the way a tailor squats to do work. 2) The word somehow descends from the word “thief” (although we have been unable to find any source that clarifies that descent) 3) The word sounds like “tail” meaning her buttocks, and so she is crying “Oh, my butt!”

It might be worth noting that although modern texts put “tailor” in quotes, both the First Quarto and the First Folio do not have it in quotes, and, furthermore, it is spelled “tailour”. Whether or not those details have any significance could be the subject of further speculation.

Crabapple. Robin is probably referring to a popular winter time drink called “lamb's wool” which consisted of apples, spices, and warm ale.

A gossip’s bowl was originally a cup used as part of a christening ceremony. The term evolved to mean a cup containing a spiced drink that was passed around among friends.

“Hobgoblin” is another name for Robin Goodfellow. “Hob” is a shortened form of “Robin”. A goblin is any of a variety of scary or mischievous creatures from fairy tales.

Some editors feel that there is a syllable missing in these two lines. Taken together, they don't quite form a correct line of iambic pentameter. Some editors add “Fairy” to make the meter work: Are not you he? / Fairy, thou speakest aright;

Housewife. Pronounced “hussif”, which works with iambic pentameter.

Without success. So the huswife churns but produces no butter.

The yeasty froth on beer. Barm was used to leaven bread.

The grammatical accuracy of this sentence has been called into question, and has been supposedly fixed by some editors. However, the consensus is that “frights” matches with “he”, but “skim”, “labor”, “make”, and “mislead” match with “you”.

a small hand operated mill for grinding grain