aery （
“eyrie,”
Cambridge
）
“ of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of
question—An,”
HAMLET, ii. 2. 335.
“Shakespeare here alludes to the encouragement at that time
given to some ‘eyry’ or nest of
children, or ‘eyases’ (young hawks) [see eyases], who spoke in a high tone of voice. There were several companies of
young performers about this date engaged in acting, but chiefly the Children of Paul's and
the Children of the Revels, who, it seems, were highly applauded, to the injury of the
companies of adult performers. From an early date the choir-boys of St. Paul's,
Westminster, Windsor, and the Chapel Royal, had been occasionally so employed, and
performed at Court”
(COLLIER)
.
A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works. Alexander Dyce. Boston. Dana Estes and Company. 1904.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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