Page 20 of Measure for Measure

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