Richard III (41 page)

156
forward
spirited, ready
capable
responsive, receptive

157
all the mother’s
exactly like his mother

158
let them rest
enough of them, leave them for the moment; or perhaps literally “let them take their rest”

159
deeply
profoundly, solemnly

160
closely
secretly

161
urged
proposed, discussed
way
i.e. the journey from Ludlow to London

163
of … For
share our opinion and intention regarding

166
He … father’s
Hastings for Edward IV’s

167
won to aught
persuaded to do anything

171
as … off
in a roundabout way, indirectly
sound
sound out, probe

172
affected to
disposed toward

174
sit
confer, sit in council

180
divided councils
two separate meetings

181
highly
crucially

182
Lord William
i.e. Hastings

183
ancient knot
long-standing group (
knot
may play on the sense of “tumor”)

184
are let blood
i.e. will be executed: literally, refers to surgical bloodletting

186
Mistress Shore
Hastings’ mistress Jane Shore (formerly mistress of Edward IV)

188
heed
care

193
complots
conspiracies, schemes

196
movables
portable property

200
sup betimes
have supper early

201
digest
arrange (plays on the sense of literal digestion)
form
good order

Act 3 Scene 2

3.2
Location: outside Hastings’ house

6
tedious
weary, long

11
boar
Richard’s heraldic emblem
razèd
pulled, torn
helm
helmet

13
that … determined
decisions may be taken

14
to rue
grieve

15
pleasure
will, inclination

16
presently
immediately

17
post
ride swiftly

21
His honour
Lord Stanley

23
toucheth
affects, relates to

24
have intelligence
be informed

25
without instance
lacking evidence

27
mock’ry
foolish delusions, false images

28
fly
flee

29
Were
would be

30
mean
(originally) intend

33
use
treat
kindly
gently, courteously (plays on the sense of “according to his [boarlike] nature”)

40
garland
i.e. crown (with connotations of a victor’s garland)

43
crown
head

44
foul
wickedly, wrongfully/in an ugly manner (perhaps recalling Richard’s appearance)

46
forward … party
ready to support him, eagerly on his side

54
master’s
i.e. Edward IV’s

58
they
i.e. the queen’s relatives in into

64
monstrous
unnatural
falls it out
it has happened

69
make high account
hold you in high estimation (in the context of the following line,
high
plays on the sense of “high up, aloft”)

70
account
consider, expect
the bridge
London Bridge, on which traitors’ heads were displayed on poles

73
unprovided
unprepared, ill-equipped

75
rood
(Christ’s) cross

76
several
separate

78
protest
declare

81
triumphant
cheerful/exultant (over my enemies’ deaths)

83
jocund
merry, cheerful
states were sure
positions were secure

84
mistrust
doubt, suspect

86
This … misdoubt
i.e. this sudden hostile attack has made me fearful, mistrustful

88
spent
coming to an end (although the scene begins at 4 a.m.: perhaps Stanley refers figuratively to his own “time,” i.e. life)

89
have with you
literally “I’ll join you” or as a reprimand “come along now”
Wot
know

91
truth
loyalty, honesty

92
hats
i.e. official positions (Stanley has Richard’s role as royal Protector in mind)

93.1
Pursuivant
state messenger with the power to execute warrants

94
before
ahead

95
sirrah
sir (used to inferiors)

100
suggestion
instigation, prompting

103
state
prosperity, position, circumstances

104
hold
keep, maintain

105
Gramercy
great thanks

108
Sir
conventional title for a clergyman

109
I … exercise
Hastings apologizes for not attending the last church service (during which he was in prison)
exercise
religious service

110
content
recompense

114
shriving work
business of saying confession and receiving absolution

119
thence
from there

120
stay
stay for

Act 3 Scene 3

3.3
Location: Pomfret (Pontefract) castle, Yorkshire

5
knot
tight group

7
Dispatch
get on with it

10
closure
enclosure

12
for … seat
to add to the disgrace associated with this place
dismal seat
ominous position

15
exclaimed on
cried out against, condemned

15
Hastings … I
in fact, Margaret does not mention Grey (see Act 1 Scene 3)

20
for
instead of

23
expiate
reached, fully come

Act 3 Scene 4

3.4
Location: council chamber, the Tower of London

2
of
about

5
wants but nomination
requires only the appointing of the date

6
happy
auspicious, favorable

8
inward
intimate

9
mind
temperament/opinion on the coronation/intentions in general

10
for
as for

13
near in love
close, intimate

16
sounded
questioned, sounded out

19
in
on
voice
vote

20
take … part
accept in a gracious manner

22
cousins
term of address between nobles

24
neglect
cause the neglect of

27
part
role (continues the theatrical language begun with
cue
)

29
bolder
more confident

37
testy
headstrong, short-tempered

37
hot
angry/impetuous

38
head
plays on the etymology of
testy
, i.e.
teste
, Old French for “head”

39
worshipfully
respectfully

42
set down
confirmed

44
provided
prepared

45
prolonged
postponed, delayed

48
smooth
seemingly amiable or friendly

49
conceit
idea, fancy
likes
pleases

53
straight
instantly

55
livelihood
liveliness

61
charms
magic spells

64
doom
sentence

68
blasted
shriveled, blighted by supernatural means

69
is
i.e. is the doing of
monstrous
unnatural

70
Consorted
associated, in conjunction

70
Shore
Jane Shore, Hastings’ mistress and formerly Edward IV’s

76
the same
i.e. Hastings’ beheading accomp ished

80
fond
foolish

81
rouse
move violently, pull from our heads

83
foot-cloth horse
horse with a long ornate cloth draped over its back

84
started
shied, moved suddenly

85
As
as if
loath
reluctant, unwilling

88
triumphing
exulting victoriously

94
shrift
confession (to a priest)

95
grace
fortune, favor (in the next line, the sense shifts to “divine grace, mercy”)

97
Who
he who

97
in air
on the insubstantial foundation, in the emptiness

97
good
favoring, approving

101
bootless
useless

101
exclaim
protest, cry out

Act 3 Scene 5

3.5
Location: within the walls of the Tower of London

3.5
rotten
rusty/old, decaying

3.5
marvellous ill-favoured
(looking) extremely unsightly

1
change thy colour
i.e. make yourself look pale with fear

2
Murder
i.e. cut off, catch

5
counterfeit
imitate

5
deep
artful, cunning

5
tragedian
tragic actor

6
back
behind me, over my shoulder (presumably in alarm or distrust)

6
pry
peer (nervously or suspiciously)

7
at wagging
at the mere stirring, shaking

8
Intending
expressing, pretending

8
ghastly
full of fear

9
service
command

9
enforcèd
false, deliberate

10
offices
roles, tasks

17
o’erlook
look over (seems to suggest that the scene takes place on the battlements)

21
patient
calm

25
plainest
most honest

27
book
i.e. diary, personal notebook

28
history
narrative, record

29
smooth
plausibly

30
his … omitted
apart from his manifest guilt

31
conversation
sexual relationship

32
from
free from

32
attainder of suspects
stain of suspicion

33
covert’st sheltered
most secretly concealed

35
almost
even

37
subtle
cunning

41
Turks
i.e. barbarians, non-Christians

42
form
order, code

43
rashly
hastily

47
fair
good fortune

48
proceeded
acted (perhaps with connotations of “taken legal proceedings”)

50
looked for
expected

51
fell in
plays on the sense of “penetrated sexually”

52
had … die
we had determined that he should not die

53
see
attend to, manage

57
timorously
with fear, tremblingly