Authors: William Shakespeare
53
ripped
torn up for reusing/violently destroyed
54
seeming
outward show, appearance
55
revolt
reversal of ideas/betrayal
56
born where’t grows
natural
57
worn
deliberately put on
57
bait
lure, temptation
59
being heard like
who were heard to speak like
59
Aeneas
hero of Virgil’s
Aeneid
, who swore love to, and then deserted, Dido, who committed suicide as a result
60
Sinon
wept crocodile tears outside the walls of Troy to persuade the Trojans to admit the wooden horse containing the Greek warriors who destroyed the city
61
scandal
discredit, disgrace
61
took … wretchedness
prevented truly wretched cases from receiving any pity
63
leaven
agent for fermenting dough
65
fail
failure
67
witness
testify to
69
mansion
dwelling place
75
vile instrument
i.e. his sword
79
self-slaughter
suicide
81
cravens
makes a coward of
82
afore’t
in front of it
82
soft
not so fast, wait
82
we’ll no defence
I shan’t defend myself
83
Obedient … scabbard
i.e. as willing to receive the sword as the scabbard is
84
scriptures … heresy
Posthumus’ letters are likened to sacred writings, which, because of his breaking faith with love, are now heretical, sacrilegious
86
faith
truth/honesty
87
stomachers
decorative breast coverings
90
Stands … woe
is worse off (because guilty)
91
set up
initiate, instigate
92
suits
love-suits, wooing
93
princely
royal/fine
94
It … rareness
my love for you/my disobedience against my father was no ordinary thing, but one born of exceptional qualities, circumstances
96
disedged
dulled, blunted, plays on sexual sense
97
tirest
feeds (ravenously, like a bird of prey)
98
panged
afflicted by pangs of conscience
98
Prithee
please, literally “I pray thee”
98
dispatch
hurry up/make an end (of me)
106
wake … first
stay awake until my eyeballs drop out before I do that
108
abused
deceived/made bad use of
111
inviting thee
i.e. by providing such a good opportunity
112
whereunto
to which, where
113
Purpose
intend to
114
be unbent
change your mind; the image is of the bent, drawn hunter’s bow being unbent again without firing at the quarry
114
stand
hidden shooting position
115
Th’elected
the chosen
118
course
i.e. of action
121
strumpet
prostitute
122
Therein false struck
in that matter falsely wounded
122
take
receive
123
tent
surgical probe to assess the depth of a wound/roll of lint to clean a wound
123
bottom
probe the depths/go deeper than
125
back
go back
126
Most like
that’s very likely
130
purpose would prove
plan would turn out
131
abused
deceived
132
singular
unrivaled
134
courtesan
one attached to a prince’s court/prostitute
141
bide
abide, live
153
not but
only
153
I’th’world’s volume
in the book of the world; Britain is likened to a page torn out of it
155
swan’s nest
i.e. built in the middle of a pool
156
livers
people who live
160
wear a mind
entertain an idea/follow a course of action
162
That
i.e. her female identity
163
self-danger
bringing danger upon yourself, i.e. as a woman alone
164
view
prospects
164
haply
perhaps
165
nigh
near
167
render
bring/describe
170
modesty
chastity
170
death on’t
its loss
171
adventure
take the risk
174
Command into obedience
i.e. from a princess to a servant
174
niceness
coyness/fastidiousness
175
handmaids
i.e. qualities/attributes
176
it
i.e. her
176
waggish
roguish; “wag” was a term for a saucy boy, habitual joker
177
Ready in gibes
ready to make mocking remarks
177
quick-answered
quick in reply
178
quarrellous
quarrelsome
179
Forget
neglect
179
rarest … cheek
i.e. pale complexion, signifying her social rank
182
common-kissing Titan
the sun, who shines on everybody alike
183
laboursome … trims
beautifully made and pretty clothes
184
Juno
wife of the supreme Roman god Jupiter, was jealous of her husband’s attraction to beautiful mortals
186
end
purpose, intention
189
Forethinking
anticipating
189
fit
ready
190
doublet
close-fitting padded men’s jacket
190
hose
clothing for the legs
191
answer to
belong with, go with
191
in their serving
with them serving you, i.e. using them as a disguise
193
season
age
194
his service
to serve him
195
Wherein you’re happy
in what ways you are accomplished
195
make him know
convince him
196
If … music
if he has any appreciation for music at all
198
means abroad
resources away from home
200
Beginning nor supplyment
i.e. beginning nor continuing to supply you with money
202
diet
feed, supply
203
even
keep up with
205
soldier to
willing to fight for/bravely prepared for
205
abide
endure
207
short
brief, hurried
209
Your carriage
taking you away
213
distemper
illness
213
shade
cover
214
fit you
adapt, adjust yourself
Act 3 Scene 5
3.5
Location: Britain
1
Thus far
i.e. this is as far (as I will accompany you)
7
ourself
myself using the royal plural pronoun
8
must needs
can only
10
so
very good, so be it
11
conduct
safe conduct/escort
12
befall
come to
13
office
duty, task (i.e. accompanying Lucius)
14
honour
i.e. the honor due to Lucius as an ambassador
14
point
small way
19
event
battle/outcome
22
Severn
river bordering England and Wales
23
it honours us
it does us credit (because we have been patriotic and defiant)
24
cause
reason, grounds
28
fits us
befits us, is appropriate that we
28
ripely
immediately (because the time is ripe)
31
drawn to head
brought to full strength
36
forward
prepared
39
duty … day
daily greeting she owes Cymbeline as her father and king
39
looks us
appears to me (us)
42
slight in sufferance
lax in allowing such behavior
44
retired
withdrawn, reclusive
47
Forbear
hold back, refrain from
48
tender of
sensitive to
51
answered
accounted for, excused
56
close
private, secluded
57
Whereto … infirmity
to which she is compelled by her illness
59
proffer
offer, present
69
stand’st so for
support/represent
71
Proceed by
result from
73
Haply
it may be, perhaps
76
end
aim, design
78
placing
arranging, disposal
84
forestall … day
prevent him from seeing tomorrow
85
her
Innogen
85
for
because
86
that
because
86
parts
qualities
87
from … hath
as though she has taken the best qualities from each and every woman
88
compounded
made up
89
Outsells
exceeds in value
91
slanders
discredits
92
rare
exceptional about her
95
packing
plotting, scheming/running away, leaving
95
sirrah
fellow (addressed to a social inferior)
96
pander
bawd, sexual go-between
98
Thou … fiends
i.e. I will instantly kill you, sending your soul to hell
101
Close
secretive
104
weights
i.e. weights and measures
105
dram
a tiny measure
109
Come nearer
get to the point/come (physically) closer to me
110
halting
hesitation
110
home
completely
114
Discover
reveal
120
Touching
regarding
123
Or … perish
i.e. either show him the letter or be killed
125
travel
literally “traveling”; plays on “travail,” meaning “trouble”/ “labor”
132
undergo
undertake
133
employments
tasks
134
serious
careful, meticulous
134
industry
application, diligence
136
want
lack
137
relief
assistance
137
voice … preferment
support for your promotion, advancement
141
course
ordinary way
141
but
other than
144
Hast
do you have
145
late
i.e. former
154
upon a time
once
159
her eyes
i.e. in her sight
161
insultment
scornful, contemptuous triumph
163
knock
beat
164
foot
kick
172
voluntary mute
i.e. willingly silent; mutes were servants whose tongues were cut out to stop them telling secrets