[Footnote II.52: The first row of the pious Chanson] This expression does not appear to be very well understood. Steevens tells us that the pious chansons were a kind of Christmas carols, containing some scriptural history thrown into loose rhymes, and sung about the streets. The first row appears to mean the first division of one of these.
[Footnote II.53: My abridgment comes.] Hamlet alludes to the players, whose approach will shorten his talk.
