Hamlet

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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