Richard III (43 page)

195
dignity
honor, high rank, kingship

199
true-derivèd
legitimate, directly descended

203
care
duty, trouble, source of anxiety

207
as
being, because (you are)

207
zeal
devotion

210
effeminate
tender, gentle

212
estates
social ranks

226
buckle
i.e. like armor;

226
my back
draws attention to Richard’s hunched back

230
sequel
consequences

231
Your … me
the fact that you forced me shall acquit me
mere
absolute

241
Even
just, exactly

Act 4 Scene 1

4.1
Location: outside the Tower of London

4.1
Anne … Gloucester
i.e. Lady Anne, who has married Richard at some point since his wooing of her in Act 1 Scene 2

4.1
leading a girl
probably Clarence’s daughter

1
niece
granddaughter

4
tender
young

10
like devotion
same devoted purpose

11
gratulate
greet, welcome

17
suffer
allow

22
bounds
boundaries

25
in law
i.e. by marriage

27
office
responsibility, official duty

31
mother
mother-in-law (of Elizabeth and Anne)

32
looker-on
beholder
two fair queens
i.e. Elizabeth and Anne (as wife of Richard, who is shortly to be crowned)

33
straight
(go) straightaway

35
lace
cords that fastened the tightly laced bodice (often cut when a woman became faint)

36
pent
confined, penned in

38
Despiteful
cruel, malicious

44
Richmond
i.e. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (later Henry VII), who had sought refuge in Brittany

44
from
away from

45
hie
hurry

47
thrall
slave

48
Nor
neither

48
counted
accounted, acknowledged

51
letters … way
i.e. the letters will be sent to Dorset while en route/the letters will ask George Stanley to meet Dorset on the way and assist his journey/the letters will enable Dorset to be introduced to and assisted by Richmond when he reaches Brittany

51
son
stepson (Richmond), or possibly Stanley’s own son George

53
ta’en tardy
caught by surprise

54
ill-dispersing
evil-spreading

56
cockatrice
basilisk, a mythical reptile that could kill with its gaze

57
unavoided
unavoidable

60
inclusive
enclosing

60
verge
band, rim

63
Anointed
anointing with holy oil was a key part of the coronation

66
To … harm
Do not wish yourself harm just to satisfy my mood

70
other angel husband
my other (first) husband, who was an angel/my first husband, who was a different (i.e. good) type of angel (implying that Richard is the fallen angel Lucifer)

74
old
experienced/worn-out

81
Grossly
stupidly/excessively/coarsely

86
timorous
full of fear

87
Warwick
with Clarence, the Earl of Warwick deserted the Yorkist cause

89
complaining
lamentations

98
teen
grief, suffering

101
immured
imprisoned, closed in

103
Rude
harsh, rough

103
ragged
rugged, eroded

103
sullen
dismal, melancholy

105
So
such/thus
foolish
fond, doting

Act 4 Scene 2

4.2
Location: the royal court, London

4.2
pomp
ceremony, splendor, celebration

1
apart
aside

9
play the touch
act the touchstone (used to test the validity of gold)

10
try
test

10
current
genuine

17
consequence
outcome

18
true noble prince
Richard adapts Buckingham’s phrase so that it applies to Edward

19
wont … dull
accustomed to be so stupid

21
suddenly
immediately

26
breath
breathing space

27
positively
definitively, directly

28
resolve
answer

30
iron-witted
dull-witted, stupid, obtuse

31
unrespective
inattentive, disrespectful

32
considerate
thoughtful

33
High-reaching
ambitious

37
close
secret

39
haughty
proud, aspiring

40
orators
persuasive speakers

45
deep-revolving
deeply thoughtful, musing

45
witty
sharp, clever

46
counsels
secrets, confidences

47
held out
kept up

55
take order
make arrangements

55
close
shut away

56
mean
humble, low-ranking

58
The boy
i.e. Clarence’s son

59
how thou dream’st
i.e. pay attention (perhaps Catesby is shocked)

59
give Out
make it known

61
it … upon
it is very important for me

63
brother’s daughter
i.e. Edward IV’s daughter Elizabeth

67
pluck on
draw on

68
Tear-falling pity
mercy, compassion that induces weeping

72
Prove
test, try

73
friend
plays on the sense of “relative”

78
deal upon
deal with, act against

80
open
unrestricted

83
token
some symbol of authority, perhaps a ring

84
There … so
that is all there is to it

85
prefer
advance, promote

88
late
recent

88
sound me in
ask me about

91
he
i.e. Richmond

93
pawned
pledged

94
movables
portable property

96
look to
beware, watch

97
answer
be answerable for

101
peevish
foolish, childish

103
resolve
answer, satisfy

104
vein
mood

108
Brecknock
Brecon in Wales, Buckingham’s family seat

Act 4 Scene 3

2
arch
extreme, foremost

4
suborn
bribe

5
ruthful
lamentable, sad

6
fleshed
experienced (hunting term referring to feeding hounds with raw meat to excite them for the chase)

8
their … story
In telling the sad story of their deaths

10
girdling
hugging, encircling

11
alabaster
i.e. white (the substance was often used for human figures that formed part of funeral monuments)

15
Which one
which, which thing

18
replenishèd
complete, perfect

19
prime
first

19
framed
created

20
gone
overcome

22
bloody
bloodthirsty

26
gave in charge
ordered

34
soon and
i.e. soon

35
process
account, story

37
be
 … 
desire
you shall get what you wish

40
close
securely, privately

41
meanly … marriage
I have married to a low-ranking man

42
Abraham’s bosom
i.e. heaven

44
for
because
Breton
from Brittany (where Richmond is taking refuge)

46
by that knot
through that marriage

49
bluntly
unceremoniously, abruptly

50
Morton
John Morton, Bishop of Ely (whom Richard asks for strawberries in Act 3 Scene 4)

51
hardy
bold, resolute

52
power
army

53
near
deeply

54
rash-levied
rapidly mustered

55
fearful commenting
nervous talk

56
leaden servitor
the slow servant

57
leads
precedes, generates

57
beggary
ruin

58
expedition
speed, quick action

59
Jove’s Mercury
swift messenger of Jove, king of the Roman gods

60
My … shield
the best advice is to arm myself/arms shall be my advisers (i.e. let us not waste time discussing matters)

61
brief
swift

61
brave the field
challenge us on the battlefield

Act 4 Scene 4

4.4
Location: unspecified; probably somewhere near the royal court

1
mellow
ripen

3
confines
regions, territories (of England)

5
induction
introduction, opening scene

6
consequence
unfolding events and their conclusion

10
unblowed
young and unopened, not yet in bloom

10
sweets
flowers/dear ones

12
in doom perpetual
eternally in the place appointed for you

15
right for right
even-handed justice

17
crazed
cracked

19
Edward Plantagenet
could refer to Edward IV or his son

20
quit
requite, repay

21
Edward for Edward
probably refers to Elizabeth’s son and Margaret’s (with Henry VI)

23
entrails
insides, intestines

25
Harry
Henry VI (Margaret’s husband)

27
grave’s … usurped
i.e. one who should have died but remains living

28
abstract
summary/epitome

29
lawful
own proper, that is rightfully England’s

31
thou
i.e. the earth

31
afford
offer

36
seniory
seniority

37
on … hand
from the superior position

38
admit society
permit company

39
Edward
Margaret’s son with Henry VI (murdered by Richard, Edward IV and
Clarence; see 3 Henry VI
. Act 5 Scene 5)

40
husband
Henry VI (murdered by Richard; see
3 Henry VI
, Act 5 Scene 6)

41
Edward
Elizabeth’s eldest son with Edward IV

42
Richard
Elizabeth’s second son, the young Duke of York

43
Richard
the Duke of York, the Duchess’ husband (killed by Margaret and Clifford; see
3 Henry VI
, Act 1 Scene 4)

44
Rutland
the Duchess’ youngest son (murdered by Clifford; see
3 Henry VI
, Act 1 Scene 3)