Authors: William Shakespeare
154
after
according to
156
take us in
capture us
161
The … us
i.e. because they are banished
162
tender
meek/submissive
163
threat
threaten
165
For
because
168
safe
sane, sound
169
humour
disposition, frame of mind
170
mutation
changeableness (of mood)
175
cave
dwell in caves
176
make … head
assemble a stronger force
177
like him
just like him, in his nature
177
might break out
he might burst out
178
fetch us in
capture us and bring us before the court
179
To come
that he would come
180
suffering
allowing
181
tail
i.e. a group coming after him
183
ord’nance
what is ordained
184
foresay
predict/determine
184
howsoe’er
however it may turn out/nevertheless
186
mind
inclination
188
way long forth
way forward seem long
192
to
i.e. flow to
194
reck
care
199
So
so that
201
I would
I wish that (all the)
202
possible strength
power we might muster
202
meet
i.e. in battle
203
put … answer
force us to answer them in battle/cause us to show them what we’re made of
208
hasty
rash, impetuous
211
gain
restore
212
let … blood
bloodletting or bleeding a patient was a common medical procedure; Arviragus is proposing a different kind of bloodletting here, shedding the blood of (killing) a parish full of Clotens to make Innogen well
215
blazon’st
are depicted
217
zephyrs
soft winds, breezes; the
zephyr
is the west wind
218
wagging
moving/disturbing
219
enchafed
heated, aroused
219
rud’st
roughest (rudest)
222
frame
train, direct/fit, suit
224
seen from other
not learned from others
225
wildly
naturally, without being cultivated
230
clotpoll
blockhead
233
ingenious
skillfully constructed
234
occasion
reason
235
give it motion
i.e. play it
239
speak
emit sound
240
answer
correspond to
240
accidents
events
241
Triumphs
public celebrations
241
lamenting toys
lamentation over trivial, inconsequential things
242
jollity for apes
i.e. only an imitation of jollity
242
grief for boys
considered emotionally fickle
248
on
of
250
turned … crutch
i.e. turned my youth into old age
253
the … well
half as well
256
sound thy bottom
measure your depths
256
Find
explore
256
Find … in
the experience of melancholy is likened to being in a small boat sailing sluggishly through a muddy river of unknowable depth, with no way of knowing the easiest route to harbor
257
ooze
i.e. the wet mud and slime at the bottom of a river
257
sluggish
slow-moving
257
crare
small trading boat
258
easiliest
most easily
260
rare
exceptional
262
stark
stiff
263
as … slumber
as though some fly had tickled him while he was sleeping
264
Not … at
not as though he was laughing at death’s arrow
268
leagued
folded
269
clouted brogues
hobnailed boots
269
rudeness
roughness
270
Answered … loud
i.e. made his steps echo too loudly
271
but
only, merely
272
he’ll … bed
i.e. because he looks more like someone asleep
279
azured
bright blue-colored
279
harebell
a native plant with delicate blue flowers on slender stems, often called “bluebell” but actually a distinct species
280
eglantine
sweetbriar (wild rose)
281
ruddock
robin (in folklore believed to cover the dead by strewing them with leaves and flowers, hence
charitable bill
)
286
winter-ground
cover and protect in winter
288
wench-like
womanish
290
admiration
i.e. of Innogen/amazement, wonder
291
due debt
the debt that needs to be paid, i.e. burial
292
shall’s
shall us (i.e. shall we)
296
Have … crack
i.e. have broken
297
once
we once did for
297
like
the same
298
save
except
300
word
speak
302
fanes
temples
304
med’cine the less
cure lesser ones
306
came
came here as
307
paid
given his payment, i.e. death
307
mean … dust
i.e. both high and low come to the same end
308
reverence
respect, deference
314
Thersites
in Homer’s
Iliad
, the most scurrilous and cowardly of all the Greek warriors at the siege of Troy
314
Ajax
heroic Greek warrior in the
Iliad
317
the whilst
in the meanwhile
318
to th’east
emphasizing the pagan setting since it is the opposite in Christian practice
321
remove
move
326
Home
i.e. heaven
326
ta’en thy wages
payment for the
worldly task
327
Golden … dust
i.e. the rich must die as surely as the poor; dandelions were known as
chimney-sweepers
in Warwickshire
328
As
like
333
sceptre, learning, physic
i.e. kings, scholars, doctors
336
thunder-stone
thunderbolt
340
consign to thee
seal the same contract with/entrust to your charge
341
exorcizer
one who conjures or raises spirits
342
charm
cast a spell on
343
Ghost … thee
let any ghost which has not been laid to rest stay away from you
345
consummation
end, fulfillment
347
obsequies
funeral rites
350
upon their faces
meaning is unclear; possibly “strew the flowers on the front of their bodies”/“turn the bodies facedown”/“strew the flowers on their faces”
352
herblets shall
small herbs will also (wither)
353
apart … knees
let us go and pray
354
gave them first
i.e. bore them
358
’Od’s pittikins
a diminutive of “God’s pity,” reduced to its mildest form
359
gone
journeyed
360
But … bedfellow!
But wait, I don’t remember any bedfellow!
362
care on’t
its (the world’s) grief
363
so
in the same way, i.e. dreaming
365
bolt
arrow
366
fumes
bodily vapors, thought to rise from the body to the brain, thus causing dreams
370
wren’s eye
i.e. a tiny amount, the wren being regarded as the smallest bird
370
a part
give me some of it
372
Without … me
outside me (a physical reality), as it was inside me (in my imagination, dream)
372
felt
tangible
375
His … face
Innogen likens bodily attributes to those of gods and heroes; Mercury was the messenger of the gods, Mars the god of war,
Hercules
a hero famed for his strength, and Jove (Jupiter) king of the gods
376
brawns
muscles
378
madded
maddened
378
Hecuba
wife of Priam, King of Troy; accounts describe her frenzied grief, cursing the Greeks as they sacked Troy and murdered Priam
379
darted
shot like darts (arrows)
380
Conspired
i.e. having conspired
380
irregulous
lawless
384
this … vessel
i.e. Posthumus, likened to a ship
384
bravest
most excellent/handsome/courageous, strong
384
of
in
385
Struck the main-top
chopped off the top part of the ship’s mainsail, i.e. his head
389
lucre
greed for money
390
laid
inflicted/placed, laid out
390
pregnant
obvious, clear
392
cordial
healthful, restorative
393
home
i.e. to my heart
395
Give … blood
i.e. she smears his blood on her cheeks
396
horrider
more ghastly, intimidating
397
Which chance
who happen
397
Soothsayer
one who foretells the future
398
Gallia
France
399
After
in accordance with
399
attending
waiting for
403
confiners
those dwelling within the confines, inhabitants (presumably means common men, as opposed to
gentlemen
)
407
Siena
Duke of Siena
409
benefit
advantage
410
forwardness
diligence, industriousness/promptness
413
purpose
outcome
415
fast
fasted
415
intelligence
information, message
416
winged
flying, on the wing
417
spongy
damp
418
portends
indicates
419
sins … divination
earthly sins distort my ability to communicate with the gods
420
host
army
422
trunk
body
423
his
its
423
speaks
suggests, attests
425
or
either
426
nature doth abhor
i.e. living creatures naturally detest
427
defunct
deceased
430
instruct us of
tell us about
432
crave … demanded
beg to be asked about
435
altered … picture
i.e. by cutting off the head
436
wreck
ruin, catastrophe/mutilated person
442
is
are
443
occident
west
443
service
masters to serve
446
’Lack
alas (alack)
447
complaining
lamenting, mourning
451
Say you
did you speak