Cymbeline (39 page)

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Authors: William Shakespeare

BOOK: Cymbeline

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16
yet
still

18
Statist
politician

19
prove
prove to be, come to

23
more ordered
better disciplined

25
frowning
i.e. with worry

27
their approvers
those who put them to the test

27
such … world
whose reputation has gone up in the eyes of the world

30
harts
deer; i.e. Iachimo’s horses have run as fast as the swiftest deer

30
posted
swiftly conveyed, like a post-horse

31
of … corners
from all directions

34
your answer
i.e. the answer she gave you

34
made
is the cause of

38
therewithal
in addition

39
casement
window, i.e. as prostitutes did when trying to attract customers

42
tenor
content, drift

43
’Tis very like
it’s very likely

47
approached
arrived

49
sparkles … wont
i.e. does this diamond sparkle as brightly as it was accustomed to

57
Not a whit
not at all

60
sport
amusement

63
keep covenant
keep to our bargain

64
knowledge
i.e. carnal knowledge

65
question further
put this to further dispute

69
wills
wishes; plays on sense of “sexual desire”

71
tasted
had intercourse with, experienced

71
my hand
i.e. a reconciliatory handshake

73
gains … mine
i.e. in a duel

74
or … them
i.e. because we will have killed each other

76
circumstances
list of evidence

80
spare
omit

85
watching
staying awake for

86
silver
silver lace

88
Cydnus
river in modern-day Turkey where Antony and Cleopatra first met; the story is recounted in Shakespeare’s
Antony and Cleopatra
Act 2 Scene 2

88
or
either

89
press
crowd, throng

89
pride
i.e. in carrying Antony and Cleopatra

90
bravely
splendidly, excellently

92
rarely
excellently

102
chimney-piece
ornamental carving on the mantel

103
Chaste Dian bathing
perhaps depicting the story of Diana and Actaeon; according to classical mythology, Actaeon came upon Diana bathing, for which she turned him into a stag and he was destroyed by his own hounds

104
report themselves
i.e. speak

104
cutter
carver, sculptor

105
outwent her
and outdid her, i.e. nature, in perfection

106
Motion … out
except that they could not move or breathe

108
relation likewise reap
i.e. have also learned about through hearsay

111
fretted
decorated with elaborate carvings

111
andirons
firedogs, i.e. a pair of decorative metal supports for burning wood in a fireplace

112
winking
i.e. with closed eyes;

112
Cupid
, the god of love, was traditionally depicted as blind

113
nicely
skillfully, ingeniously

114
Depending … brands
leaning on their flaming torches

117
remembrance
memory, gift for recollection

118
nothing saves
in no way wins/redeems

121
leave
permission, opportunity

121
air
show, expose it to the open air

122
up
away, hidden

128
I … yet
I can still see her now

129
outsell
exceed in value

131
prized
valued, treasured

131
once
at one time

136
basilisk
a mythical reptile with a fatal gaze

138
semblance
seeming, outward appearance

140
bondage
binding force, obligation

145
probable
capable of being proved/likely

146
corrupted
bribed

149
so
in this manner, thus

149
Back
give back

150
corporal sign
piece of physical evidence/a sign relating to her body

151
evident
conclusive

156
sworn
i.e. they have sworn oaths of loyalty

157
enjoyed her
i.e. sexually

158
cognizance
badge, token

158
incontinency
lack of self-restraint, faithlessness

159
she … dearly
i.e. this is what she has paid for the name of whore

160
hire
payment, fee

161
you
i.e. you and her (Innogen)

164
persuaded
who you are persuaded

166
colted
mounted sexually

171
present
immediate, instant

173
stain
mark (the mole); Posthumus shifts sense to “moral blot”

178
turns
i.e. the number of times you had sex

179
Once … million
i.e. if you’ve had her once, you may as well have had her a million times

184
Thou’st
thou hast (you have)

184
cuckold
a husband whose wife was unfaithful

186
limb-meal
limb from limb

189
besides
beyond, outside of

190
government
control, management

191
pervert
avert, turn aside

195
half-workers
co-workers, i.e. is there no way for men to live without women?

195
We … bastards
i.e. because there are no faithful women in the world

196
venerable
old and worthy of respect

198
stamped
made, conceived

198
coiner
counterfeit coin maker

201
nonpareil
unrivaled person

202
lawful pleasure
i.e. marital sex

203
prayed … forbearance
often entreated me to restrain my desire

204
pudency
modesty

204
rosy
presumably referring to her blushes

204
view on’t
sight of it

205
Saturn
Roman god associated with melancholy and coldness

207
yellow
sallow, i.e. dark-complexioned

208
at first
straightaway

209
full-acorned boar
well-fed male pig

209
German
i.e. fierce and fat

211
looked for
anticipated

212
encounter
sexual encounter

213
woman’s part
fault specific to women; plays on sense of “vagina”

213
motion
impulse

217
rank
lascivious

218
covetings
desires for material objects

218
change of prides
continually changing (or variety of) excesses

219
Nice longing
wanton desires

219
mutability
changeableness, inconsistency

223
still
always, constantly

224
but of
only

225
so
as

226
skill
wisdom

227
have their will
get their way, have their sexual desires fulfilled

Act 3 Scene 1

3.1
Location: Britain, the royal court

2
remembrance
memory

2
yet
still

4
theme
topic of discussion

6
Famous … it
famous because Caesar praised him, but equally for the feats he performed to earn that praise

7
for … succession
on behalf of himself and his successors, i.e. future British kings

9
pounds
i.e. pounds weight

10
untendered
unpaid

11
kill the marvel
put an end to the surprise

13
be
may/will be

18
from’s
from us

18
resume … again
we have to take back again

19
liege
lord, used to a feudal superior owed duty and allegiance

21
bravery … isle
beauty of the land/courage of the inhabitants

22
Neptune’s
of Neptune, Roman god of the sea

22
park
tract of land held by royal grant used for hunting; also used for an enclosed body of water in which oysters or fish are bred

22
paled in
fenced with pales (long, vertical stakes); the coastline was densely forested with trees which formed a sort of
unscalable
(hard to climb) perimeter fence

24
bear
support

25
suck … th’topmast
i.e. like quicksand they will suck the ships under until only the
topmast
(formerly the uppermost mast) is visible

27
“came … overcame”
Caesar reported his victory at the battle of Zela in 47 BC with this phrase in Latin:
veni, vidi, vici

30
ignorant baubles
foolish, inexperienced toys

33
at point
ready, just about

34
giglot
whore (i.e. fickle, disloyal)

34
master
overcome, defeat

35
Lud’s town
i.e. London, after King Lud, Cymbeline’s grandfather

40
crooked
i.e. hooked, Roman

40
owe
own

40
straight
powerful, forceful

42
grip
i.e. the handle of a sword

46
else
otherwise

49
injurious
insulting/malicious

52
against all colour
without any pretext; perhaps playing on “collar” in conjunction with
yoke
in the next line meaning “wooden collar fastened to a pair of animals and attached to a plow or cart”

54
Becomes
is appropriate for

56
Mulmutius
supposedly the first British king (from fourth century BC)

56
which
who

57
use
application, practice (of the laws)

58
repair
restoration

58
franchise
enfranchisement

68
confusion
destruction

69
pronounce
proclaim

70
Thus defied
i.e. now that I have issued this declaration

75
perforce
by necessity

76
Behoves … utterance
obliges me to defend it to the death

76
perfect
well aware/reliably informed