Authors: William Shakespeare
12
make me
make me out, distinguish me
13
keep
remain on
15
as
as though
15
fits … mind
mental anguish, unsettled thoughts
16
slow … on
reluctant he was to leave
18
Thou … crow
you should have waited until he appeared no bigger than a crow
19
ere left
before you ceased
20
after-eye
gaze after
22
eyestrings
muscles, nerves in the eye; thought to break when a person died or went blind
23
diminution of space
reduction, contraction of the size of everything
24
pointed
fashioned to a point, i.e. made him as small as her
needle
’s point
30
With … vantage
at his next opportunity
35
shes
women
36
interest
right
37
At … midnight
three of the hours specified for prayer by the Christian Church
38
T’encounter … him
i.e. they can meet in heaven through prayer
38
orisons
prayers
41
charming
acting as a charm, a spell to ward off evil
42
north
the north wind, which
shakes
buds as it blows, and stops them growing
Act 1 Scene 4
1.4
Location: Rome
1.4
Philario
means “loving, dear” (Greek)
1.4
Iachimo
the modern Italian spelling is Giacomo (James)
2
of … note
growing in reputation, like a crescent moon
3
been … of
been recognized as
4
without … admiration
without feeling any particular sense of admiration for him
5
endowments
qualities, attributes
5
tabled
listed
11
behold … he
i.e. there were many as noble as Posthumus there; eagles, the noblest birds, were thought to be able to stare at the sun
13
weighed
judged, assessed
14
words … matter
allows for him to be described in ways which falsely magnify his own worth
16
approbation
approval, praise
17
divorce
physical separation
17
under her colours
from her side
18
be it but
if only
18
fortify
support, justify
19
battery
military assault
20
sojourn
temporarily stay
21
creeps acquaintance
has he insinuated himself into your acquaintance
25
suits
is appropriate, suitable
25
knowing
knowledge/experience of the world
29
story … hearing
speak about him/sing his praises in front of him
30
we … together
we have been acquainted
32
which … still
which I will spend forever repaying, although I will still be in debt
34
atone
make peace between, reconcile
35
put together
set in opposition with each other
35
mortal
deadly, fatal
38
rather … experiences
preferred not to go along with what others said
42
arbitrament of
settlement (of the dispute) by
48
suffer the report
bear recounting
49
fell out
took place
50
our country mistresses
the women of our own countries/the women we have sex with (country puns on “cunt”)
51
vouching
claiming, swearing
51
and … affirmation
with a pledge to back up what he said with bloodshed if necessary
53
attemptable
able to be seduced
56
by … out
by now is worn out
57
holds
retains
57
mind
opinion
60
abate her nothing
not budge in any part of my high opinion of her
60
profess myself
confess I am
62
hand-in-hand comparison
which seeks to imply equality
64
went before
surpassed, were superior to
68
rated
estimated
69
esteem
value
70
enjoys
possesses
71
unparagoned
unequaled, matchless
72
outprized … trifle
surpassed in value by an insignificant thing (the ring)
73
or
either
79
You … yours
you may be able to call her yours in the legal sense (because you are married)
80
strange … ponds
i.e. a man’s neighbor may visit (and seduce) his wife; there are also cruder sexual undercurrents;
strange
was an epithet for “an illicit sexual partner”;
fowl
was a term for “a prostitute”;
pond
also means “vagina”
80
ring
plays on sexual sense of (Innogen’s) “vagina”
81
brace
pair
81
unprizable estimations
objects considered beyond value
82
frail
subject to human weakness
82
casual
subject to mischance, precarious
83
that-way-accomplished courtier
i.e. a womanizer, one who can court successfully
86
convince
persuade/overcome
88
store
plenty, an abundance
89
leave here
leave off now
91
familiar at first
on familiar terms right from the start
92
get … yielding
succeed in advancing upon; fencing terminology with strong sexual undertones
94
friend
befriend/become intimate with (with sexual implication)
96
pawn the moiety
wager one half
96
to
against
97
something
somewhat
99
bar your offence
prevent you taking it as a personal affront
101
abused
deceived
102
persuasion
conviction
102
you … of
you will get what you deserve
107
came in
came about
109
put my estate
bet all my capital
110
th’approbation
the proof
113
ten thousand ducats
anachronistic;
ducats
were gold coins used in Italy in Shakespeare’s time, not in ancient Rome; a huge sum even for a rich nobleman
114
commend
if you recommend
115
conference
meeting
117
reserved
preserved/averse to displays of emotion
118
wage
pledge, bet
120
friend … wiser
i.e. as her lover you know her well
121
dram
very small amount
121
preserve
stop, prevent
122
But … fear
perhaps alluding to Psalm 3:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”
122
that
since
124
but … tongue
just your way of speaking, i.e. just idle talk
125
graver
more serious
126
undergo
undertake
129
covenants drawn between’s
terms of (legal) agreement drawn up between us
132
have … lay
not allow this wager
134
testimony
proof
136
come off
fail
138
commendation
(letter of) introduction, recommendation
139
free entertainment
informal, friendly reception (both words are capable of a sexual interpretation)
140
articles betwixt us
i.e. a legal agreement, drawn up
141
make … her
seduce her; with blatant sexual connotations
148
covenant
agreement, i.e. let’s shake on it
150
lest … starve
i.e. in case we have time to calm down and reflect, and end up calling it off
153
Will this hold
will they really go through with this
154
from it
back down
Act 1 Scene 5
1.5
Location: Britain, the royal court
1
Whiles … ground
while the dew is still on the ground; plants were believed to be at their freshest, most potent when covered with dew
2
note
list
4
Dispatch
see it done
7
without offence
without (wishing to cause) offense
8
wherefore
why
9
compounds
compounded drugs, i.e. drugs made by mixing different chemical elements together
10
are … of
cause
10
languishing
long and drawn-out
11
But … deadly
and although they work slowly, they are, nevertheless, deadly
14
learned
taught
15
Distil? Preserve?
extract the essences from plants and preserve them
15
Yea so
indeed so well
17
confections
mixtures (drugs)
18
meet
appropriate
19
amplify … conclusions
extend my knowledge through other experiments
20
try
test
20
forces
effects
23
vigour
strength
24
Allayments
antidotes
24
act
effect
25
several
various
29
noisome and infectious
physically noxious, harmful/morally corrupting
30
content thee
don’t worry
40
Strange
rare, unfamiliar/special, powerful
40
ling’ring poisons
poisons that cause a slow, painful death
44
prove
test, try
45
higher
in the chain of being, i.e. on people
46
show
appearance, illusion
47
locking-up … time
temporary disappearance of the signs of life
48
reviving
upon reviving
55
quench
cool down, settle down
55
instructions
good advice
56
Do thou work
i.e. on persuading Innogen to forget Posthumus and marry Cloten
60
fortunes … gasp
i.e. Posthumus’ state and reputation are like a deathbed patient about to die
62
shift his being
change his dwelling place
64
every … him
i.e. every day is wasted since he has no future
66
depender
dependent
66
leans
is unstable
73
What … cordial
anything more restorative
74
earnest
installment, foretaste
76
as from thyself
i.e. as if it were your own opinion on the matter
77
Think … on
think how your fortunes will improve by switching sides
78
Thou … still
you won’t lose Innogen
78
to boot
also, as well/to (your) advantage
79
take … thee
acknowledge your service and make sure you are preferred
79
I’ll … desire
I’ll persuade the king to confer on you any kind of rank, social advancement you wish
82
set … desert
persuaded you to go for this reward