A Midsummer Night's Dream (32 page)

102
knavery
trick

109
translated
transformed

114
ousel cock
male blackbird

116
throstle
song thrush

117
quill
reed/pipe (i.e. voice)

120
plain-song
melodically simple

122
dares … nay
is unable to deny the truth of the cuckoo's cry of “cuckold” (man with an unfaithful wife)

123
who … bird
adaptation of “do not set your wit against a fool's” (proverbial)

124
give … lie
accuse the bird of lying

124
cuckoo
i.e. “cuckold”
never so
ever so much

127
enthrallèd
enslaved

128
virtue's
qualities'

128
perforce
of necessity

134
gleek
make a jest

137
turn
purposes

139
wilt
wish to

140
rate
worth, rank

141
still
always

141
tend upon
serve, wait upon

141
state
status as queen

144
deep
bottom of the sea

146
grossness
bodily form

148
Peaseblossom
flower of plants of the pea family;
Pease
also meant “something of very small value or importance”

148
Moth
pronounced “mote” (i.e. speck) so this sense may also be implied

155
eyes
i.e. sight

156
apricocks
apricots

156
dewberries
type of blackberry

158
humble-bees
bumblebees

159
night-tapers
candles

161
arise
possible erectile connotations

169
cry … mercy
beg your pardon

172
desire … acquaintance
want to be better acquainted with you

173
if … you
cobwebs were used to stop bleeding

176
Squash
unripe pea pod

177
Peascod
pea pod (a traditional remedy for lovesickness, with play on “codpiece”)

181
patience
endurance (as mustard is eaten with beef)

184
made … water
since mustard is hot in the mouth

188
weeps
i.e. causes dew

189
enforcèd
violated

190
Tie … tongue
perhaps because Bottom is braying

3
in extremity
to excess

5
night-rule
mischievous, disordered nighttime activity

5
haunted
much frequented

7
close
private/secluded

8
dull
inactive

9
patches
clowns/fools

9
rude mechanicals
uneducated manual workers

13
barren sort
stupid group

15
Forsook
left

15
scene
performance space

17
noll
head

19
mimic
burlesque actor/performer

20
fowler
hunter

21
russet-pated choughs
reddish-brown jackdaws (with play on “chuff,” rustic boor)

21
many in sort
i.e. in a large flock

22
report
sound of firing

23
Sever
scatter

23
sweep
move swiftly across

30
yielders
those who yield to fear

36
latched
ensnared/wetted

40
of force
by necessity

41
close
concealed

45
chide
rebuke (you)

45
use
treat

48
Being o'er shoes
having waded

50
true
loyal

53
whole
solid, intact

53
bored
pierced through

54
centre
i.e. of the earth

55
Her brother's
i.e. the sun's

55
th'Antipodes
the people/places on the opposite side of the globe

57
dead
deadly/murderous

61
Venus
bright planet; also Roman goddess of love

61
sphere
orbit/hollow surrounding sphere

62
to
got to do with

65
cur
dog

67
numbered
counted

68
once
once and for all

69
Durst
would you/did you dare

69
a
have

70
brave touch
fine/impudent deed

71
worm
snake

72
doubler
more divided/deceitful

74
spend
expend/waste

74
passion
powerful feelings

74
misprised mood
mistaken anger

78
therefor
for it

82
vein
mood

84
So … owe
i.e. lack of sleep and sorrow combined are making me very tired

84
heavier
harder to bear/sleepier

85
For
because of the

87
his tender
sleep's offer

87
make some stay
stay here awhile

88
quite
utterly

90
misprision
error

92
one … troth
for each man who keeps his word/faith in love

93
confounding
breaking

93
on
after

95
look
be sure

96
fancy-sick
lovesick

96
cheer
face

97
sighs … dear
each sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart

98
illusion
deception

99
against
in preparation for when

101
Tartar's bow
powerful bow from Central Asia

104
apple
pupil/center

109
remedy
relief, resolution

113
fee
payment

114
fond pageant
foolish spectacle

119
alone
unique/on its own

121
preposterously
perversely, out of the normal course of events

124
Look when
whenever

125
nativity
i.e. through weeping

127
badge
outward sign (as worn on servants' livery), i.e. tears

128
advance
show

129
truth kills truth
i.e. his vows to Hermia and to Helena invalidate one another

129
devilish-holy fray
quarrel involving false and true vows

130
o'er
up

133
light as tales
false as rumors/lies

136
Demetrius … you
there may be a missing rhyme line for Helena hereafter

139
ripe
i.e. full and red

139
show
appearance

141
pure congealèd white
i.e. pale skin (considered to be especially beautiful)

141
Taurus
mountain range in Turkey

142
turns … crow
seems black in comparison (with Helena's white skin)

144
seal
promise

145
bent
disposed

146
set against
be hostile to

148
do … injury
insult me so much

150
join in souls
unite

152
gentle
noble/mild

153
superpraise
praise excessively

153
parts
qualities

157
trim
fine

160
extort
torture/wring

169
will none
i.e. want nothing to do with her

171
but … sojourned
stayed with her merely as a visitor

176
abide
suffer for/pay for

176
dear
at great cost

178
his
its

179
apprehension
perception

186
press
urge

187
bide
remain

188
engilds
brightens with gold

189
yon
i.e. those over there

189
oes
spangles (i.e. stars)

193
confed'racy
alliance

195
fashion
contrive

195
in spite
to vex

196
Injurious
harmful, unjust

198
bait
persecute/torment

199
counsel
inmost thoughts/advice

201
chid
scolded

204
artificial
skilled in the arts of creation

207
one key
total harmony

209
incorporate
indivisible, one body

210
Like
similar

213
heart
may pun on “hart,” a common heraldic device

214
first
i.e.
bodies
(plays on sense of “dominant color on a shield”)

214
coats
coats of arms (which can appear twice on a shield though under
one crest
)

215
Due … one
a coat of arms is allocated to a specific individual

216
rent
rend, tear

216
ancient
long-standing

216
asunder
apart

227
rare
splendid/exceptional

231
tender
offer

233
grace
favor

238
Persever
persevere

238
sad
solemn

239
mouths
faces

240
hold … up
maintain the joke

241
carried
conducted

243
argument
subject (for a joke)

257
withdraw
i.e. remove yourself from present company (for a duel)

259
whereto
to what end

260
Ethiope
Ethiopian, i.e. dark-complexioned (in comparison with fair Helena)

262
take on as
behave as if

264
Hang off
leave hold

264
burr
prickly seed head that sticks easily to clothing

264
let loose
get off

266
rude
harsh, unkind, offensive

268
Out
exclamation of impatience (“get away!”)

268
tawny
dark-skinned

268
Tartar
person from central Asia

269
medicine
i.e. poison

271
sooth
truly

274
weak bond
i.e. Hermia (plays on earlier sense of “oath”)

280
erewhile
before

286
out of
free from

289
juggler
trickster

289
canker-blossom
flower-destroying worm

295
Impatient
angry

296
puppet
false thing/small person

299
urged
insisted on/brought forward