a third Th. Dekker "P. and Q."

[Mark Mandel]

On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 8:52 AM, Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:

> Thomas Dekker. Match Me in London. (published 1631 but apparently written many
> years earlier)
> Act 2 Scene 1
>
> A shop opened, Enter Bilbo and Lazarillo.
> ....
> [Gallants enter, no sale, and exit]
> Laz. Their powder is dankish and will not take fire.
> Bilbo. Reach that paper of gloves, what marke is't?
> Laz. P. and Q.
> Enter Malevento.
> Bilbo. P. and Q., chafe these, chafe, chafe, here's a world to make
> Shopkeepers chafe.

What the heck does that last line mean?

And what's the history of the name "Bilbo"? Aside from the
once-notorious Senator and the famous Mr. Baggins, that is.

--
Mark Mandel

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