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10 bound ready/under obligation
17 But were it not
20 harrow up distress/tear up
21 like ... spheres individual stars and planets were thought to be contained within concentric hollow spheres that revolved around the earth 22 knotty ... locks neat and carefully styled hair
24 porpentine porcupine
25 eternal blazon revelation of the secrets of the eternal world
26 List listen
31 in the best even at best
34 meditation thought
35 sweep swoop in sudden attack
36 apt fit/ready/responsive
37 duller ... be you would be more sluggish
38 Lethe wharf the banks of the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness in the classical underworld 40 orchard garden
42 forged process fabricated account
43 Rankly excessively/foully
47 adulterate adulterous
48 gifts natural talents/presents
51 will sexual desire
53 dignity worth, excellence
55 decline Upon sink to
58 virtue, as it as virtue
61 sate itself become satiated/grow weary
62 garbage filth/animal entrails
66 secure carefree, unsuspecting
67 hebenon a poisonous substance--possibly "henbane" or "yew" (hebenus) 69 leperous distilment distillation causing leprosy-like symptoms (i.e. corrosion of the skin) 71 quicksilver liquid mercury
73 posset And curd clot, curdle
74 eager sour/acid
76 tetter eruption of the skin
76 barked about covered with a bark-like crust
77 lazar-like leperlike
80 dispatched deprived through death
82 Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled without having received Holy Communion (the "housel"), unprepared, and without having received extreme unction (being anointed with holy oil before death) 83 reckoning settling of debts
83 account i.e. judgment
86 nature natural feeling
88 luxury lust
90 Taint pollute
91 aught anything
94 matin morning
95 'gins begins
95 uneffectual i.e. no longer providing light
97 host angels
98 couple add (to heaven and earth) 102 distracted distressed, agitated
102 globe world/head (plays on the name of the Globe Theatre)
103 table writing tablet, slate
104 fond foolish
104 records memories/written accounts
105 saws sayings, maxims
105 pressures impressions, stamps
110 pernicious destructive/wicked
113 meet fitting
116 word watchword/motto
124 Hillo ... come Hamlet mockingly responds as if Horatio's call were that of a falconer summoning his bird to return 125 How is't how is it with you, how are you
127 wonderful astonishing, extraordinary
132 once ever
136 arrant downright/notorious
140 circumstance roundabout talk/details
142 as i.e. in the direction that
150 Saint Patrick the keeper of Purgatory
152 honest genuine (i.e. not an evil spirit)
154 O'ermaster't repress it
161 not I i.e. I will not tell (not "I will not swear")
163 sword i.e. the hilt of the sword (the shape of a cross) 166 under the stage accessed through the trapdoor, this region was often associated with hell 168 truepenny honest fellow
169 cellarage cellars
175 Hic et ubique? "Here and everywhere?" (Latin)
182 pioneer soldier whose responsibility it was to dig trenches
182 remove move
184 stranger i.e. one in need of hospitality
187 never ... mercy never, as you hope for God's mercy (Hamlet begins the oath) 188 How ... soe'er however strangely or oddly
190 antic grotesque/fantastic/bizarre
192 encumbered entangled (i.e. folded)
192 headshake shaking the head
193 doubtful ambiguous
194 an if if
195 list wished 'There ... might' there are those who might tell, if they could 196 giving out utterance/suggestion
196 note indicate
201 commend me entrust myself
202 what whatever
203 friending friendship
205 still always
206 The time things generally, the age
206 out of joint dislocated, disordered
Act 2 Scene 1
2.1 Location: within the royal castle at Elsinore; this remains the location for all scenes until Act 4 scene 3
3 marvellous marvelously, extremely
4 you i.e. if you
8 Inquire me inquire (me is emphatic)
8 Danskers Danes
9 keep lodge
11 encompassment roundabout manner of talking
11 drift general aim
12 come ... it you will come closer to the truth than you would were you to ask specific, pointed questions 14 Take you assume, affect
20 Addicted devoted or inclined to
21 forgeries fabrications
21 rank excessive/coarse
23 wanton boisterous/wild/lustful
23 slips flaws, foibles
26 gaming gambling
28 Drabbing using prostitutes
30 season ... charge moderate the accusation
32 incontinency excessive sexual license
33 quaintly artfully, skillfully
34 taints of liberty faults resulting from too much freedom
36 savageness wildness
36 unreclaimed untamed
37 Of general assault by which all men are affected
41 drift intention/plan
42 fetch of warrant legitimate stratagem
44 As 'twere as if he were
44 i'th'working in the handling, the manufacture
45 party in converse the person with whom you are conversing
45 sound question, probe
46 Having ever if he has ever
46 prenominate aforementioned
47 breathe of speak about (i.e. Laertes)
48 closes ... consequence agrees with you in the following way
50 addition form of address
58 ay, marry yes, by the Virgin Mary, i.e. yes, of course
62 o'ertook in's rouse overcome in his carousals (i.e. drunk)
65 Videlicet "that is to say" (Latin)
67 carp type of fish
68 we ... reach we who are wise and widely perceptive
69 windlasses roundabout route
69 assays of bias indirect ventures
70 directions the way things are really going
71 lecture lesson
72 have understand
74 buy i.e. be with
76 Observe ... yourself observe his behavior in person/go along with his inclinations 78 ply his music (literally) practice his musical skills/(metaphorically) go his own way 79 Well very well
85 doublet close-fitting jacket with buttons down the front
85 unbraced undone
86 No hat Elizabethans usually wore hats indoors when in company
87 Ungartered falling down, untied (garters were bands that held the stockings in place) 87 down-gyved fallen down and resembling fetters (gyves)
89 purport meaning
96 goes ... arm he backs away until he stands at arm's length
99 As as if
108 bended their light i.e. directed their gaze
110 ecstasy frenzy, madness
111 Whose ... itself the violent nature of which causes self-destruction 120 speed profit/promptness
121 quoted observed
122 wreck dishonor, ruin sexually
122 beshrew my jealousy curse my suspicion
123 proper ... age i.e. typical of old men
124 cast beyond ourselves miscalculate/miss the mark (another angling metaphor) 127 close secret
127 move ... love cause more unhappiness by concealment than unpleasantness by coming forward Act 2 Scene 2
2 Moreover that in addition to the fact that
10 deem think, discern/judge
12 neighboured to familiar with
12 humour temperament
13 vouchsafe your rest consent to stay
16 occasions opportunities
18 opened revealed
21 more adheres is more attached
22 gentry courtesy
24 supply and profit fulfillment and advancement
28 of over
29 dread pleasures revered wishes
32 in ... bent to the utmost
40 practices actions (perhaps playing on the sense of "schemes")
45 still always
47 hold regard/uphold
50 policy shrewdness/statecraft
55 fruit i.e. dessert
56 grace honor (plays on sense of "prayer before a meal")
58 distemper illness, derangement
59 doubt suspect
59 main chief concern
61 sift him question him (Polonius) closely
63 desires good wishes
64 Upon our first as soon as we raised the matter
66 Polack Polish/King of Poland
69 impotence frailty, helplessness
70 borne in hand deluded, taken advantage of
70 arrests orders to cease military activity
72 fine conclusion
74 give ... arms attempt to use force
76 crowns gold coins (of varying values according to the countries they were used in) 77 commission authority
80 quiet pass safe passage
82 On ... allowance i.e. according to conditions regarding the safety of Denmark and your permission for such an enterprise 84 likes pleases
85 at ... time when we have the time for proper consideration
91 expostulate discuss/ask
95 wit intellect/good sense
98 for ... mad Polonius means that it would be mad to attempt to define madness, but ends up implying, rather nonsensically, that the definition of madness is "being mad"
104 figure figure of speech
109 this ... cause this defective behavior (Hamlet's madness) has a cause 110 Thus ... thus this is the current state of affairs, and now for the rest 110 Perpend consider
113 gather, and surmise collect your thoughts, draw your conclusions (or gather may be a request to Claudius and Gertrude to draw closer and look at the letter) 117 these i.e. this letter/these phrases
119 faithful i.e. to the letter/in reading the letter fully 122 Doubt in this third line the sense shifts to "suspect"
124 ill ... numbers poor at writing verse
125 reckon my groans count my groans/make my groans scan poetically 127 machine is to bodily structure belongs to
129 more above moreover
130 fell out occurred
135 fain willingly
140 played ... table-book remained silent and withheld the information/assisted in conveying messages between them 141 given ... winking closed the eyes of my heart
142 with idle sight complacently/without recognizing its significance 143 round roundly, in a forthright manner
144 bespeak address/speak angrily to
145 out ... star beyond your reach/outside your destiny
146 precepts instructions
147 resort visits
152 a watch sleeplessness
153 lightness light-headedness
153 declension decline (plays on the grammatical sense)
163 circumstances circumstantial evidence
165 centre i.e. of the earth
166 try test
170 loose set loose (often used of an animal; sometimes with the sense of releasing the female to the male for sex, which would lend sexual connotations to encounter) 171 arras large tapestry wall-hanging
173 thereon on that account
174 assistant ... state policy adviser
175 carters cart drivers
177 sadly solemnly
180 board accost
180 presently immediately
180 give me leave a polite way of asking to be left alone
182 God-a-mercy God have mercy (i.e. thank you)
184 fishmonger plays on slang senses of "lecher" and "pimp"
192 good kissing carrion good piece of rotting flesh to kiss (carrion also suggests "whore") 194 i'th'sun in public/in the sun (or "son") that causes breeding 194 conception understanding/becoming pregnant
202 matter content (Hamlet plays on sense of "cause of a dispute") 207 purging discharging
207 amber ... gum tree resin
208 hams legs
210 honesty decent/honorable
211 old as old
217 pregnant meaningful/quick-witted (with childbearing connotations, continued in delivered of) 217 happiness fortuitousness
219 suddenly immediately
224 withal with
233 indifferent ordinary, average
234 Happy fortunate
235 button i.e. point at the very top of the cap
239 favours sexual favors (middle has vaginal connotations) 240 privates ordinary citizens/genitals
242 strumpet prostitute
245 particular detail
251 confines places of confinement
252 wards prison cells
263 substance ... ambitious material that fuels ambition/stuff ambitious men are made of 267 Then ... shadows i.e. if ambition is nothing but shadow, then only unambitious beggars have bodily substance; their shadows must then be made up of ambitious people such as monarchs and heroes
268 outstretched reaching out ambitiously/elongated like shadows 269 fay faith
270 wait upon accompany (Hamlet emphasizes the sense of "serve") 271 No such matter i.e. I'll have no such thing
271 sort class
273 dreadfully attended poorly waited upon (with possible play on sense of "haunted by dire visions") 273 beaten way well-trodden path
277 too ... halfpenny too expensive at a halfpenny (i.e. worthless)/too expensive by a halfpenny (if the visitors are not being honest about the reason for their visit) 282 anything ... purpose anything irrelevant, any lie you wish
284 modesties decency/sense of shame
284 colour disguise, excuse
287 conjure entreat, appeal to
288 consonancy harmony, friendship
289 what more dear whatever more precious thing
290 proposer questioner
290 charge urge, entreat
291 even level/honest
293 of on
296 my ... discovery my saying it first mean that you are not forced to reveal anything 298 moult no feather remain undiminished
299 custom of exercise usual pursuits/gentlemanly activities
300 heavily dejectedly
301 frame framework, structure (like canopy, may also evoke the physical structure of the theater building) 301 sterile promontory barren point of land jutting out into the sea 302 brave splendid
303 firmament sky
303 fretted adorned
307 express well-designed/expressive/exact
308 apprehension understanding
310 quintessence essence/purest form (literally the "fifth essence," of which heavenly bodies were composed and supposedly present in all matter) 316 Lenten entertainment poor reception/meager employment, i.e. appropriate to Lent 317 coted overtook
320 tribute homage/payment
321 foil and target sword and shield
321 gratis for nothing (Latin)
322 humorous moody or ill-tempered (with an imbalance of the four bodily "humours," fluids thought to control mood) 323 tickled o'th'sear easily triggered (to laughter)
323 sear part of the mechanism involved in firing a gun
324 halt limp (if the actor playing the lady is interrupted by heckling from the audience the rhythm of his speech will be lost) 326 wont accustomed
328 residence remaining in their usual home
330 inhibition (city) ban on performing plays
331 late innovation recent political insurrection/new fashion for boy actors 332 estimation reputation
337 eyrie nest/brood
337 eyases young hawks
337 cry ... question shrilly dominate the debate (i.e. the rivalry between child and adult acting companies) 338 tyrannically outrageously/vehemently
339 berattle ... stages clamor against the public theaters (where the adult acting companies perform) 340 many ... thither many fashionable young men hardly dare attend the public theaters as they are so afraid of being mocked by the playwrights working for the boy actors 343 escoted supported
343 quality (acting) profession
343 no ... sing i.e. only until their voices break
345 common i.e. adult
345 like likely
346 means financial resources
347 succession future professions
349 tar incite
350 no ... question the acting companies paid for the plots of no new plays unless they featured the quarrel between the children's dramatists and the adult actors (or "without the playwright and the adult acting company coming to blows over the controversy") 355 carry it away win the day
356 his load i.e. the world, carried on Hercules' shoulders (possibly a reference to the emblem of the Globe Theatre) 359 mows mouths, grimaces
360 ducats gold coins
361 picture in little miniature portrait
361 more than natural i.e. unnatural
362 philosophy science
362.1 Flourish trumpet fanfare
365 appurtenance appropriate accompaniment
366 comply observe proper courtesies
366 garb appropriate manner
366 my extent the behavior I extend
367 fairly courteously
368 entertainment welcome
371 but mad north-north-west only mad when the wind is in the north-northwest/only slightly mad (like a faulty compass that points north-northwest rather than north) 372 handsaw handheld saw (some editors emend to "hernshaw," a type of heron) 376 swathing-clouts swaddling-clothes in which a newborn baby was wrapped 377 Happily perhaps
380 You ... indeed Hamlet pretends to Polonius that he is mid-conversation with his friends 384 Roscius a famous Roman actor
386 Buzz, buzz! dismissive exclamation made in response to idle gossip or old news 388 ass may pun on "arse"
392 scene individable a play observing the unities of time, place and action/a play whose genre is unclassifiable 392 poem unlimited dramatic verse (a play) that does not observe the unities of time, place and action/a play whose genre is all-inclusive/a play that explores a general rather than a specific question (a rhetorical application of unlimited) 392 Seneca Roman writer of tragedies
393 heavy sorrowful/weighty
393 Plautus Roman writer of comedies
393 For ... liberty for plays written according to the rules and for those that disregard all prescriptions 395 O ... thou! In the Bible, Jephthah vowed to God that if he was successful in war he would sacrifice the first creature he met on his return home; he encountered his daughter but kept his word 399 "One ... well." lines from a well-known ballad
400 passing surpassingl