0 s.d. It is possible that Richardetto does not wear his disguise in private with Philotis. If so, the costume and false beard need to be seen on stage in this scene, not only because Philotis refers to the disguise (‘this borrowed shape’) in line 5 but also to show the audience that this is the same character as the Doctor who appeared in II.i (rather than the same actor doubling another role). He might, for example, be taking off the beard as he enters (in which case he will need to put it hastily back on when Grimaldi arrives later in the scene).

4 act my shame Because in reality Richardetto is planning revenge, his ‘shame’ (as an unavenged cuckold) is only a fiction in which other people unwittingly participate, like actors performing a play.

8 secure unsuspecting, with a false sense of security.

13 how… allows how public opinion responds

16 Richardetto saves her from becoming an accessory in his criminal plans (and so legally liable for them) by not telling her what they are.

18 How That

24 used behaved towards, treated

28 s–d. Q places Grimaldi’s entrance here, but it is hard to make sense of this in staging the scene: it seems to indicate that Grimaldi walks uninvited and unannounced into what the preceding dialogue suggests to be Richardetto’s private chamber, a discourtesy the audience would be particularly likely to notice after Hippohta’s bursting in on Soranzo in the previous scene; he is then ignored for six lines while Richardetto explains who he is. Possibly Richardetto’s ‘Who comes here?’ is in response to a knock at the door; he would then look through a spy-hole or lattice in the door to see the caller, talk briefly to Philotis about him (perhaps while donning his disguise; see note to 0 s.d.), and then open the door tor Grimaldi to enter after line 33.

31 Nuncio a permanent representative of the Pope at a foreign court, with both political and ecclesiastical powers

32 by which means i.e. by playing on his association with an influential person

34 save you a greeting (worn down from ‘God save you’)

40 arts Grimaldi’s unusual plural is perhaps intended to flatter Richardetto with omnicompetence. Dyce and some other editors, suspecting a misprint, emend to ‘art’.

40–1 receipts… affection love-philtres (‘receipts’ = recipes)

50 speed succeed

53 lineation ed. (Worse … Confusion; / I’le… streight Q)

55 This line (presented as a parenthesis in Q) could qualify either the preceding or, as here punctuated, the following line. In the former case, Richardetto presumptuously recommends that Grimaldi should accept his advice for the Cardinal’s sake; in the latter, he offers to help plan the murder as a favour to the Cardinal through Grimaldi, reflecting not only his disingenuous humility in the rest of the exchange but also his facade of not being personally concerned in the crime.

59–60 if he… Hydra had no matter how hard he is to kill. The Hydra was a many-headed venomous monster in classical mythology, which grew two new heads for every one that was cut off.