Twelfth Night (31 page)

124
crowner
coroner

124
sit o’my coz
hold an inquest on my kinsman

129
yond
yonder, that

130
takes … understand
understands

138
sheriff’s post
decorated post denoting authority, fixed in front of the sheriff’s door

138
supporter … bench
furniture support
(bench
plays on the sense of “court of justice”)

141
of mankind
i.e. ordinary

143
ill manner
i.e. impolite

143
will … no
whether you want to or not

145
personage
appearance

147
squash
unripe pea-pod
(peascod
, allusive of genitals—a humorous reversal of “codpiece,” a bag worn over the opening at the front of a man’s breeches)

147
codling
unripe apple, plays on “cod” meaning “scrotum”

148
standing water
at the turn of the tide

149
well-favoured
good-looking

150
shrewishly
sharply/shrilly

155
embassy
message/ambassador

160
cast away
waste

161
penned
written

162
con
learn by heart

162
sustain
endure

163
comptible
sensitive

163
sinister
impolite

165
studied
learned, memorized

166
out … part
not within my brief

166
modest
reasonable

169
comedian
actor

170
my profound heart
upon my soul/(to Olivia) my wise lady

171
that I play
the character I perform

173
usurp
counterfeit (Viola shifts the sense to “assume unjust authority over”)

175
what … reserve
i.e. Olivia should not withhold herself from love and marriage

176
from
outside, not part of

176
on
go on

178
forgive
excuse from repeating

181
feigned
fictional/insincere

181
it in
it to yourself

182
saucy
impudent

183
wonder
marvel

184
if … brief
i.e. if Viola has any sense at all she should go; any sensible message must be conveyed quickly

184
’Tis … me I
am not a lunatic, i.e. not affected by the moon’s changes

185
make one
take part

185
skipping
frivolous, mad

186
hoist sail
i.e. prepare to leave

187
swabber
sailor who washes the deck

187
hull
float, with sails furled

188
Some mollification
please pacify/I have pacified

188
giant
i.e. Maria; a joke about Maria’s small size and/or Maria resembles a giant in a romance tale who guarded a lady

191
courtesy
introduction, preamble/etiquette

191
fearful
frightening, alarming

191
Speak your office
perform your task, deliver your speech

192
overture
disclosure

193
taxation of homage
demand for money on behalf on a superior lord

193
olive
olive branch, symbol of peace

194
matter
real substance

195
rudely
i.e. by being saucy at the gates

198
entertainment
reception

199
maidenhead
virginity

199
divinity
sacred

200
profanation
blasphemy

202
text
theme/topic drawn from the Bible for discussion in a sermon

204
comfortable
comforting

206
bosom
heart

207
chapter
as of the Bible

208
answer … method
continue the metaphor

213
out of
straying from

214
curtain
i.e. veil covering Olivia’s face
(picture)

215
such … present
i.e. here I am (Olivia speaks of her face as if it was a recent portrait)

217
if … all
i.e. if all Olivia’s beauty is natural, rather than cosmetic or touched up by the metaphorical painter

218
in grain
indelible, i.e. all natural

219
truly blent
genuinely blended/realistically painted

219
red and white
i.e. lips (or rosy cheeks) and skin

220
cunning
skillful

221
she
lady

222
graces
beauties

223
copy
replica in the form of a child (Olivia plays on the sense of “list”)

225
divers schedules
several inventories

225
inventoried
itemized

226
utensil
article, feature

227
indifferent
adequately

229
praise
puns on “appraise,” i.e. evaluate

231
if
even if

233
but recompensed, though
no more than repaid, even if

234
nonpareil
paragon

236
fertile
abundant

239
suppose
consider

241
In … divulged
well regarded in popular opinion

241
free
honorable/generous

242
dimension … nature
physical form

243
gracious
graceful, attractive

245
flame
passion

246
deadly
death-like

250
willow cabin
shelter made from willow branches, a symbol of unrequited love

251
my soul
i.e. Olivia

252
cantons
songs

252
contemnèd
despised, rejected

254
Hallow
shout/bless

254
reverberate
echoing

255
babbling … air
like that of Echo, whose unrequited love for Narcissus meant she wasted away to a mere voice

255
gossip
chatter

260
fortunes
position as a servant

260
state
social status

260
well
satisfactory

267
fee’d post
hired messenger

269
Love … love
may Love harden the heart of whomever you fall in love with

276
blazon
heraldic coat of arms, which could only be displayed by a gentleman

276
Soft
wait a moment

277
the … man
i.e. Orsino and Cesario could change places

277
man
servant

278
catch the plague
i.e. fall in love

284
peevish
headstrong

285
county’s
count’s, i.e. Duke Orsino’s

286
Would I
whether I wanted it

287
Desire
ask

287
flatter with
i.e. encourage

288
hold … hopes
sustain him with false expectations

290
Hie
hasten

293
Mine … mind
my eyes (through which love enters) may have betrayed my reason

294
owe
own

Act 2 Scene 1

1
Nor … not
do you not wish

3
patience
permission

3
darkly
ominously

4
malignancy
evil influence

4
distemper
spoil, unbalance

5
crave
entreat

5
leave
permission

6
evils
misfortunes

9
sooth
(in) truth

9
determinate
intended

10
extravagancy
wandering

11
modesty
propriety

11
am … in
wish to keep secret

12
it … manners
politeness compels me

13
express
reveal

14
called
said was

15
Messaline
unclear, possibly Marseilles or Messina, or invented by Shakespeare

16
an hour
the same hour (they are twins)

18
some
about an

19
breach
breaking waves

23
estimable wonder
admiring judgment

23
overfar
too greatly

24
publish
speak openly of/celebrate

25
envy
malice

27
more
i.e. tears

28
entertainment
reception (for one so worthy)

29
your trouble
the trouble I put you to

30
murder … love
i.e. by making me leave you

33
recovered
rescued, brought back to life

34
kindness
tenderness/natural affection (for my sister)

34
yet
still

35
manners … mother
i.e. a womanish inclination to weep

36
tell … me
i.e. betray my feelings by crying

38
gentleness
good favor

40
Else
otherwise

42
sport
recreation

Act 2 Scene 2

1
ev’n
just

2
on
at

3
but hither
only this far

7
desperate assurance
hopeless certainty

8
hardy
bold
in his affairs
on his business

9
taking of this
understanding of this message/reception of the ring

10
it
the ring

12
peevishly
willfully, foolishly

13
so
in the same manner, i.e. thrown

14
eye
plain sight

17
outside
appearance

18
made … of
had a good look at

19
lost
made her lose

20
starts
bursts

20
distractedly
with agitation/madly

22
in
by way of

22
churlish
blunt, ungracious

25
were better
would be better off

27
pregnant
resourceful

27
enemy
probably Satan

28
proper-false
attractive but deceitful (men)

29
set their forms
make their impressions (like seals in wax)

30
our … be
i.e. because women are made of frail material, we are weak

32
fadge
turn out

33
monster
unnatural creature (being both man and woman)

33
fond
dote

36
state … for
situation is hopeless with regard to

38
thriftless
unprofitable

Act 2 Scene 3

1
Approach
come

2
betimes
early
diluculo surgere
(…
saluberrimum est
) “to get up early is most healthy” (Latin proverb)

6
can
drinking vessel

9
lives
i.e. living beings (Sir Andrew interprets as “way of life”)