Read King John & Henry VIII Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
21
true condition
loyal disposition
22
grievance
distress
22
commissions
official authorization (to collect taxes)
23
flawed
cracked, damaged
26
putter-on
instigator
27
exactions
extortionate charges
28
soil
dishonorable stain
34
clothiers
cloth workers, who dealt with woollen fabric
35
longing
belonging, i.e. dependent on them for employment
35
put off
dismissed
36
spinsters
spinners of wool into thread for weaving into cloth
36
carders
those who prepared wool for spinning by combing out impurities and aligning the fibres
36
fullers
those who beat cloth to clean and thicken it
37
life
i.e. ways of making a living
39
Daring … th’teeth
pushing the situation to the extreme, challenging matters to the limit
40
danger
i.e. the potential for outright revolt
40
serves
has joined ranks
46
single part
individual role, i.e. only my share
46
aught
anything
47
front … me
merely march in the front rank along with others who keep the same pace
48
tell
count
53
you … acquaintance
you devise matters that are known to everyone, which are damaging to those who would rather not know of them but who are obliged to endure them nevertheless
54
have note
be informed
55
bear
carry
56
is … th’load
i.e. is bowed down painfully by the burden
58
exclamation
outcry, reproach
60
In what kind
of what nature
62
venturous
adventurous, daring
63
tempting of
testing
63
boldened Under
made bold by
64
grief
grievance, complaint
66
substance
wealth
67
pretence
alleged reason/pretext
71
prayers
i.e. for the king
72
tractable
compliant
72
slave … will
i.e. now governed by wrath
73
would
wish
75
primer baseness
greater manifestation of low, dishonorable behavior
77
pleasure
wishes
80
single voice
(his) individual vote/unanimous vote (of the Privy Council)
80
passed
ratified, approved by
81
approbation
consent
82
Traduced
slandered, dishonored
83
faculties
capabilities/qualities
85
place
high office
85
brake
thicket
86
stint
restrain, withhold
88
To cope
of encountering
88
censurers
critics
90
new trimmed
newly fitted out
91
vainly longing
i.e. hoping in vain for the refurbished and seaworthy boat to sink and provide food
91
What … allowed
malicious or essentially foolish interpreters often refuse to believe in or give us credit for our best actions
93
what … act
our worst actions, which often appeal to baser people, are declared the best we ever did
96
In
for
96
motion
action/proposal
96
carped at
complained of
98
state-statues
images of statesmen
101
example
precedent
101
issue
outcome
103
Of
for
104
rend … will
i.e. force the subjects to obey the changing will of the monarch rather than the law
106
trembling
fearful
107
lop
lopped-off branch
109
The … sap
i.e. the tree will die
110
questioned
challenged, resisted
116
grace
good will/mercy
116
commons
common people
117
Hardly conceive
think harshly
117
noised
rumored, reported
118
our
Wolsey uses the royal plural
118
revokement
repeal
119
anon
shortly
122
Is run in
has incurred, come into
124
rare
splendid/exceptional
125
To … bound
no one is more indebted to nature for such qualities
127
out of
beyond
129
disposed
applied, directed
130
vicious
wicked, immoral
131
complete
accomplished, perfect
133
ravished
entranced
135
monstrous
unnatural
135
habits
clothing/behavior, practices
138
gentleman in trust
trusted servant
140
practices
plots
141
hear too much
i.e. for our own protection
143
careful
dutiful, full of care (for the king)
143
collected
picked up, gathered (as evidence)
148
issue
children
148
carry
manage
149
sceptre
staff carried as a symbol of sovereignty
151
menaced
threatened
154
conception
intention, plan
155
Not … person
not being gratified in his wish regarding you (i.e. that the king should die childless)
157
friends
i.e. Wolsey
159
Deliver
speak
161
How … fail?
On what did he base his claim to the throne in the event of my death without an heir?
162
To this point
on this subject
167
Chartreux
Carthusian, i.e. one of a strict monastic order from Chartreux near Grenoble in France
172
the Rose
the name of a manor house belonging to Buckingham
173
St Lawrence Poultney
a church on Candlewick Street in London
174
speech
talk, gossip, prevailing opinion
176
perfidious
treacherous
177
To … danger
resulting in danger for the king
177
presently
instantly
178
doubted
feared/suspected
182
choice
chosen, appointed
183
moment
importance
187
demure confidence
grave assurance, solemn certainty
190
o’th’commonalty
of the common people
195
spleen
anger, malice
196
nobler
i.e. as the immortal soul is more important than worldly rank
198
on
go on
200
but
only
204
forged
formed, created (in)
205
much … do
very likely to be carried out
207
failed
died
210
rank
foul, corrupt, gross
214
Greenwich
a royal palace south of the River Thames
219
his
as his own (instead of the king’s)
220
committed
imprisoned
223
Richard
i.e. Richard III
223
Salisbury
town in Wiltshire, southwest England
224
suit
a formal request
225
made … duty
i.e. by kneeling before Richard in feigned respect
230
God mend all
may God put everything right
233
stretched him
stood fully upright
234
mounting
raising
236
evil used
badly treated
236
outgo
surpass
238
irresolute
shaky, undecided/not accomplished
239
period
end, purpose
240
attached
arrested
241
present
immediate
244
to th’height
in the highest degree
1
spells
magic charms
1
juggle
trick, deceive, conjure
2
mysteries
enigmatic behavior (i.e. the imitation of French courtly fashions)
5
let ’em be
even if they are
7
late
recent
8
fit … o’th’face
one or two grimaces, contrived facial expressions
8
shrewd
cunning, artful/sharp, clever
9
hold ’em
assume such facial expressions
11
Pepin or Clotharius
eighth- and sixth-century Kings of the Franks
11
keep state so
maintain such affected dignity (presumably those referred to are walking around with their noses in the air)
12
legs
i.e. ways of walking/bowing
12
take it
think, assume/affirm, swear
13
spavin
tumor on a horse’s leg caused by inflammation of cartilage
14
springhalt
stringhalt, a disease of a horse’s hind legs, causing spasmodic muscle contractions
15
Death
contracted form of the oath “by God’s death”
16
after … to’t
fashioned in such a pagan manner
17
worn out
exhausted (all the styles available in)
21
clapped
placed
27
Louvre
French royal palace in Paris
30
fool and feather
foolishness and elaborate dress (such as feathers worn on hats)
31
honourable … ignorance
foolish trivia they consider worthy (
points
plays on the sense of “laces used for fastening clothing”)
32
as
such as
32
fights
i.e. duels
32
fireworks
fighting/whoring (perhaps also with associations of “elaborate pyrotechnic displays”)
33
Abusing
dishonoring, mocking
34
Out … wisdom
using the so-called wisdom they have gained abroad
34
renouncing clean
they must now renounce totally
35
tall … breeches
i.e. French fashions, playing on notion of venereal disease
35
blistered
short and puffed/covered in blisters, symptomatic of venereal disease
36
types
marks, indications
36
travel
plays on sense of sexual travail, exertion
37
understand
comprehend/stand up properly (with sexual connotations)
37
honest
honorable/true
38
pack
depart
38
playfellows
(sexual) partners
39
cum privilegio
“with immunity” (Latin; an abbreviated form of the phrase announcing the exclusive right of a printer to publish a book)
39
oui
“yes” (French)
40
lag end
latter part, tail end (with phallic connotations)
40
lewdness
foolishness/wickedness/lechery
41
physic
medicine, specifically perhaps a cure for venereal disease
44
trim vanities
smart dandies/worthless fripperies/handsome playthings