26 Angelo from the word "angel," a celestial being as well as a gold coin bearing the image of the Archangel Michael 27 pleasure wishes
29 character distinctive mark/personal trait/individual handwriting
30 history life story/ record
31 unfold narrate/reveal belongings attributes
32 Are ... proper do not belong to you exclusively (i.e. you have a duty to the public good to share your talents) waste ... thee i.e. you cannot squander your virtues for purely personal ends or waste your personal efforts purely on cultivating your virtues 36 of from (i.e. in public service)
37 Spirits souls/temperaments touched created/put to the test or stamped, like coins 38 But ... issues except to do fine deeds/except, like coins, to be refined and put into circulation 39 scruple tiny amount
40 thrifty frugal, economical determines ... use appoints herself the privileges of a creditor, namely both gratitude for the loan and financial interest (use puns on the sense of "actively using nature's gifts") 42 bend direct
43 my ... advertise instruct me
44 Hold wait a moment/be steadfast, or "take what I am about to offer you"
45 remove absence at full in every respect
46 Mortality (power to impose) the death penalty
48 first in question first under consideration/senior secondary deputy 51 mettle character/spirit; puns on "metal" (of a coin)
52 figure image
55 leavened carefully considered/matured (like dough left to rise)
57 quick condition urgent a nature
58 prefers itself takes precedence unquestioned unexamined 59 needful value necessary importance
60 concernings affairs importune urge
61 look expect
63 th'hopeful the promising
65 leave permission
66 bring you something accompany you a little
67 admit allow
68 have ... scruple concern yourself with any doubt
70 qualify moderate
72 privily secretly
73 stage me publicly display myself
74 do well is fitting/politically appropriate/pleasing to the crowd
75 aves welcoming shouts
76 safe discretion sound judgment
77 affect cultivate, like
79 Lead may they lead you
82 concerns ... place is important to me to establish the full extent of my position 88 Touching regarding
Lucio from the Italian for "light" (bright/of loose morals)
2 composition settlement
3 fall upon attack
4 peace ... Hungary's plays on the notion of a "hungry peace," during which jobless soldiers struggled to feed themselves 7 sanctimonious outwardly pious
9 table thin stone or wood slab inscribed with the Ten Commandments
11 razed erased
13 from their functions to desist from their occupations put forth set out 15 meat a meal petition entreaty
20 metre verse
21 proportion form
24 controversy refers to religious dispute over the nature of God's grace (mercy), in particular the puritan-Catholic controversy over whether one's soul was saved by one's actions in life or by grace alone 26 there ... us i.e. we are both cut from the same cloth
28 lists plain fabric edging
31 three-piled piece trebly thick, of high-quality material/sufferer from hemorrhoids lief willingly 32 kersey plain, coarsely woven cloth piled luxuriously thick/bald (a symptom of syphilis) 33 French velvet fancy garment (plays on the fact that syphilis was known as the "French disease," and syphilitic scars were sometimes covered with velvet patches) feelingly aptly/ painfully 34 painful feeling conviction/pain caused by oral syphilitic ulcers
35 confession admission
36 begin ... thee toast your health, but remember not to drink after you (since the cup will be contaminated) 38 done myself wrong misrepresented myself/laid myself open to mockery
40 tainted or free infected or healthy Overdone her name implies that she is a worn-out prostitute (to "do" was slang for "to have sex") 41 Mitigation i.e. one who relieves (mitigates) sexual desire
44 Judge guess
45 dolours lamentations/silver coins
47 French crown gold coin (plays on baldness caused by syphilis)
48 figuring calculating/imagining
50 sound healthy/ echoingly resonant
51 bones are hollow brittle bones were a symptom of late syphilis impiety lust, sin 54 profound acute sciatica pain in the upper hip, thought to be a symptom of syphilis 58 Marry by the Virgin Mary
63 after despite
68 precise scrupulous
69 draws ... purpose is relevant to the conversation we had on that topic 71 proclamation public declaration/legal prohibition
74 sweat sweating-sickness/ induction of sweating as a treatment for syphilis 75 custom-shrunk lacking in customers Pompey his name has (ironic) connotations of "pomp and splendor"; Pompey the Great was a famous Roman general of the first century BC
77 Yonder man i.e. Claudio
78 done Pompey's response puns on the sense of "had sex with"
81 Groping ... river i.e. sex (literally, a reference to catching fish by hand) peculiar privately owned, with play on female private parts 82 maid young unmarried woman/virgin (plays on the sense of "type of fish") 86 houses ... suburbs brothels, almost always situated in city suburbs
89 stand for seed like plants, remain unharvested so that they may generate another crop (stand plays on the sense of "have an erection" and seed on "semen") 90 burgher citizen put in bid/interceded
91 resort regular visiting
96 counsellors advisers/lawyers
98 tapster waiter, barman
99 worn ... service worked so long and hard in the business/become almost blind from syphilis through sexually servicing so many men 101 Thomas generic name for a tapster
3 evil disposition malice
6 down immediately weight in full (literally, weighing rather than counting coins, in order to ensure their true value) 7 The ... heaven according to the Bible (specifically Romans 9:15, in which God says "I will have mercy on him to whom I will show mercy") 9 Whence ... restraint? Why have you been arrested?
11 liberty freedom/sexual license
12 surfeit excess, overindulgence fast starvation/ restraint 13 scope opportunity, freedom
15 ravin ... bane eagerly devour their particular poison (ratsbane, usually arsenic oxide) 16 thirsty thirst-provoking (rat poison dehydrates rodents)
18 creditors i.e. those who would arrest him (for debt)
19 lief willingly foppery folly morality wisdom 29 looked after vigilantly pursued, watched out for
30 true contract i.e. both parties declared their intention to marry, in the presence of witnesses 32 fast firmly
33 Save except denunciation official declaration
34 outward public/legal
35 propagation of a dower increase/production of a dowry
36 friends relatives/protectors
37 meet right
38 made ... us made them into our allies
39 mutual entertainment lovemaking
40 character too gross writing that is only too large, obvious
44 glimpse of newness brief dazzling of new power
45 body public state/ populace
47 that so that
48 straight straightaway
49 in his place inherent in his official position
50 his ... up the pride of the man who occupies that position
51 stagger in am uncertain about
52 Awakes me revives (me is emphatic) enrolled legally recorded 53 unscoured unpolished, rusty
54 zodiacs years
55 them i.e. the armor/laws for a name to gain a reputation 58 tickle precariously
63 cloister nunnery
64 approbation probationary period as a novice (one in the early stages of becoming a nun) 67 To with assay assault/test/tempt
69 prone ready/gentle, tractabl
e, submissive speechless dialect silent communication (body language) 70 move affects/arouses prosperous art successful rhetorical skill 71 discourse rationality, understanding
74 the like others guilty of the same offense grievous imposition serious accusation/penalty 76 game of tick-tack form of backgammon involving the placing of pegs in holes, hence a euphemism for sex 1 that thought apparently the friar thinks that the duke wishes to conceal himself in the monastery as part of some amorous plan 2 dribbling dart random arrow (of Cupid)
3 complete whole, accomplished, perfect
4 harbour refuge
5 wrinkled i.e. mature
9 removed secluded
10 in idle price at little worth assemblies large social gatherings 11 cost extravagance witless bravery keeps foolish bravado is to be found 13 stricture severity, self-restraint
16 strewed spread
18 demand ask
21 bits and curbs parts of harnesses used to control horses weeds people who are of no use in society (some editors emend to "steeds" so as to maintain the equine imagery) 22 let slip unloosed/allowed to go unchecked
23 o'ergrown old/fat and inactive
24 fond foolish/doting
25 twigs of birch used for beating disobedient children
27 rod cane
29 Dead ... dead not being enforced, have become redundant
30 liberty ... nose freedom/license contemptuously mocks the law
31 athwart in the wrong direction
32 decorum propriety, social order
35 dreadful awe-inspiring/terrible
38 Sith since
39 gall vex, harass
41 permissive pass authorization
43 office role/responsibility
44 in th'ambush under the cover or authority of home to the center of the target 45 my ... slander not incite hatred toward me
46 sway power, influence
47 brother ... order i.e. disguised as a Franciscan friar
48 prince i.e. Angelo, as the reigning authority
49 habit clothing/friar's outfit
50 formally outwardly bear me conduct myself
53 precise punctilious, morally strict
54 at ... with on guard toward (fencing term) envy malice scarce ... stone i.e. barely admits that he is human 57 purpose intention, attitude
5 votarists those bound by religious vows Saint Clare religious order set up by Saint Clare in 1212, sworn to observe poverty and silence 10 unsworn have not yet taken a nun's vows
12 prioress head of the nunnery
17 cheek-roses rosy/blushing cheeks
18 stead assist
20 novice one in the early stages of becoming a nun, yet to take her vows 21 unhappy miserable/unlucky
23 rather for more so because
25 kindly with brotherly affection
26 weary tedious
29 thanks gratitude/approval
30 friend lover
31 your story the subject of your mockery
33 familiar usual (plays on the sense of "overly intimate")
34 lapwing plover (bird associated with amorous intrigue and deceit)
35 Tongue ... heart i.e. my words contradicting my intentions play jest (with sexual connotations) 36 enskied in the skies, heavenly
37 By your renouncement because of your rejection of the material world (you are) 40 You ... me in mocking/flattering me, you defame what is truly holy
41 Fewness in few words
42 embraced i.e. had sex
44 seedness act of sowing seeds bare fallow uncultivated land 45 teeming foison plentiful harvest
46 Expresseth reveals tilth and husbandry plowing and cultivation (with sexual connotations) 47 cousin relative/close friend
50 vain ... affection silly though natural fondness
55 Bore ... hand misleadingly kept many men, including me, waiting in
58 giving-out utterances
59 true-meant design real intentions Upon in
60 line scope
62 snow-broth melted snow
63 wanton uncontrolled/lascivious motions urges sense senses 64 rebate blunt (as of a weapon)/suppress edge blade/keen desire 65 profits improvements fast fasting
66 use (disreputable) habit
67 hideous frightening
69 heavy sense severe meaning
70 Falls into forfeit has to be given up
73 grace good fortune/favor
74 pith essence
77 censured condemned
82 Assay try
87 sue plead
88 give yield/offer
89 petitions ... them requests are granted as fully as the maidens themselves would wish 94 mother mother superior, head of the nunnery
96 Soon at night early in the evening
97 my success the outcome of my attempts
2 fear frighten
3 custom familiarity
6 keen shrewd/sharp cut a little i.e. proceed gradually (in the restriction of crime) 7 fall let fall (wide-ranging or heavy punishments) bruise crush 10 strait rigorous
11 affections emotions/desires
13 that ... purpose if the determined acting out of your passion could have obtained the desired outcome (i.e. sex) 16 Erred ... which made the mistake for which
20 passing delivering a verdict
21 sworn twelve the twelve members of a jury sworn in under a legal oath 22 open made made visible
23 What who
24 pregnant obvious (that)
28 extenuate lessen
29 For because
31 judgement pattern out sentence (on Claudio) act as a precedent for
32 nothing ... partial let nothing intervene in my favor
35 like please
38 prepared i.e. for death (by confessing his sins and receiving the last rites) 39 utmost ... pilgrimage limit of his life's journey
42 run ... ice flee cracks in ice underfoot, or perhaps "get away with breaches of chastity," but Folio spelling "brakes" has led to uncertainty and editorial speculation answer none are not made responsible for their sins 43 a fault alone a single fault Froth connotations of empty-headedness and insubstantiality, perhaps also "head of ale" and conceivably suggestive of semen 45 use ... houses engage in their vices in brothels
49 poor duke's duke's poor
50 lean rely (perhaps with a play on his name)
52 benefactors malapropism for "malefactors"
56 precise malapropism for "precious" (i.e. "out-and-out") void devoid 57 profanation either Elbow really means "reverence" or this is a malapropism for "profession"
59 comes off well is well spoken
60 Go to expression of dismissive impatience quality rank, position 62 out at elbow disconcerted/speechless/ ragged
64 parcel-bawd part-time pimp serves works for/serves drinks to/serves sexually 65 house i.e. brothel
66 professes makes a profession of/claims to run (perhaps playing on the sense of "makes vows to a religious order") hot-house bathhouse (effectively another brothel) 69 detest malapropism for "protest" (i.e. "declare")
75 pity ... life a great pity/ bad thing for her/pity she should live
76 naughty wicked
79 cardinally malapropism for "carnally"
80 uncleanliness moral impurity
81 the woman's means Mistress Overdone's doing (Elbow responds to the sense of "by her agent, Pompey") 83 his i.e. Pompey's
85 varlets ... honourable Elbow gets his terms the wrong way around varlets knaves 87 misplaces misuses language, gets his word order mixed up
89 saving ... reverence i.e. begging your pardon/if you will excuse my language stewed prunes often available in brothels, they were used to treat syphilis, and here function as a euphemism for scrotum; stewed puns on "stews" (i.e. a brothel) 90 distant for "instant" or "present"
91 stood plays on the sense of "were erect" fruit-dish euphemism for vagina 95 not ... pin it is not worth a trifle (pin plays on the sense of "penis") 96 point with phallic connotations
/> 101 again back
104 stones puns on the sense of "testicles"
108 thing ... of i.e. syphilis wot know
114 Come me come (me is emphatic) done Pompey's response plays on the sense of "had sex"
118 look into consider
119 fourscore pound PS80 (a good income) Hallowmas November 1, All Saints' Day 121 All-hallond eve October 31, All Hallows' Eve (Halloween)
123 lower chair unclear; probably a low-slung seat, or easy chair Bunch of Grapes the name of a tavern or room in a tavern 125 open public (with a fire)
128 last ... Russia i.e. take a very long time
130 cause case
131 cause reason
134 done plays on the sexual sense
141 mark note
147 supposed malapropism for "deposed" (i.e. sworn) book i.e. the Bible 148 if ... harm i.e. if his face is the worst thing about him, and is in fact harmless, how could any other part of him (i.e. his penis) be effective 152 an it like if it please respected malapropism for "suspected"
158 respected Elbow understands "suspected" (of having had sex)
162 Justice or Iniquity personified characters in morality plays
164 caitiff wretch, villain
165 Hannibal probably a mistake for "cannibal"; Hannibal was a Carthaginian general who fought the Romans in the third century BC
168 action of battery lawsuit for assault, but a mistake for slander as Escalus notices 169 took gave
174 discover reveal
175 courses way of life
178 continue Elbow seems to think this means "be punished" or "be restrained"
182 an't if it
188 Overdone ... last she got the name Overdone from her last husband/she became sexually worn out after her ninth husband 191 draw corrupt/draw in/drag to execution/drain of money (plays on the sense of drawing ale from a barrel) hang them caused them to be hanged/curse them 194 tap-house tavern but unless
202 beastliest crudest/most brutish Pompey the Great famous Roman general 204 colour it in conceal it
206 would live wants to earn a living
212 geld and splay castrate (the men) and spay (the women)
215 to't continue
216 take ... knaves find employment for whores and their clients
217 fear worry about
218 pretty orders considerable laws
219 but ... hanging exclusively beheading and hanging
221 glad ... heads have to give an order for more people (heads may also play on "maidenheads"--i.e. young women) 222 hold remains valid/is observed
223 after at the rate of bay room/ space under a gable (i.e. extremely cheaply) 225 requital of repayment for
228 beat ... you Julius Caesar defeated Pompey the Great at the battle of Pharsalia, in 48 BC
229 shrewd artful/severe
230 dealing terms
233 flesh ... determine my body and opportunity dictate
235 carman the driver of a cart jade worn-out horse 238 place position