Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 5, No. 0858.  Thursday, 27 October 1994.
 
From:           Nick Clary <
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Date:           Wednesday, 26 Oct 1994 10:51:52 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:        Gummed Velvet
 
If Julian is correct in his notes on the phrase "gummed velvet," then perhaps
Shakespeare's decision to have Falstaff treated the way he is at the end of
*Merry Wives* gains further irony in light of the tradition that Shakespeare
wrote *Merry Wives* at royal command to see Falstaff in another play, this time
in love: "Enter Falstaff [with a buck's head upon him]." (MMW.5.5).
 
Nick Clary