241 readiness eagerness/speed
244 pains trouble
245 put ... upon't make you perform the task for so long/work you so hard 246 ward district of a city sufficient competent (enough) 247 wit intelligence
249 go ... all carry out all the duties of my position
255 Eleven ... dinner lunch was usually eaten before midday
261 needful necessary
262 Mercy ... woe i.e. being merciful may in fact encourage further wrongdoing 1 He's i.e. Angelo
4 pleasure intention
5 He i.e. Claudio but as offended only done wrong as if 6 sects types of people smack have a flavor of, partake in 12 Lest in case
13 Under ... correction correct me if I am wrong
15 Repented ... doom regretted the sentence he had imposed
16 mine my role/my problem
18 you ... spared we will manage perfectly well without you/you will be spared the fear of error 20 groaning i.e. in labor
21 hour time to give birth
22 Dispose of make arrangements for
28 sisterhood order of nuns
31 fornicatress i.e. Juliet
33 order authorization
37 suitor petitioner, supplicant
44 will ... not wanting and not wanting to
45 matter subject/point
47 his ... brother let the evil deed be condemned rather than Claudio himself 49 moving persuasive
51 every ... done i.e. all faults are wrong, by their very nature, therefore they must be condemned even before they can be committed 52 the ... function a meaningless role
53 fine punish fine ... record punishments are set down by the law 54 by unpunished
57 Give't ... so do not give up so easily
59 pin i.e. worthless trifle
67 would wanted to
68 what whatever
70 remorse compassion
76 'longs belongs, is fitting
77 deputed sword sword of justice entrusted to rulers or their deputies as a symbol of office 78 marshal senior military officer truncheon military staff symbolizing command 79 Become suits grace virtue
81 as you in your position
85 potency power
87 tell assert
89 vein proper course to follow
90 a forfeit of subject to
92 were ever existed before Christ offered redemption
94 he i.e. God vantage opportunity (to condemn mankind for original sin) 99 new made i.e. reborn through Christian salvation, or through Christ's redemption of mankind 106 kill ... season kill the birds when they are in the best condition to be eaten 107 minister attend to/supply
108 gross inferior/mortal bethink you consider
113 Those ... deed the many people who have engaged in extramarital sex would not have done so if the first person to break the law had been punished 117 glass mirror/crystal
118 now now in existence remissness new-conceived moral laxity freshly contemplated (though not yet carried out) 119 hatched and born planned and executed
120 successive degrees further stages of development
121 ere before end die
125 dismissed overlooked/unpunished gall harm/vex
135 Jove in Roman mythology, king of the gods; his weapon was the thunderbolt quiet at peace 136 pelting paltry
139 sharp ... bolt i.e. lightning
140 unwedgeable incapable of being split oak a tree that was sacred to Jove 141 myrtle evergreen shrub symbolic of love
142 brief temporal, earthly
143 assured confident about
144 glassy vain/fragile/translucent/reflected
145 fantastic illusory/grotesque/capricious/foolish
146 with our spleens if they had human spleens (thought to be the seat of laughter) 147 laugh mortal laugh themselves into being human/laugh themselves to death 149 coming coming around
151 weigh ... ourself judge others by the same standards we employ for ourselves 152 jest with joke about/speak lightly of wit mental sharpness 153 in ... profanation in inferior men it is blasphemy
155 choleric hot-tempered
156 flat downright
157 avised aware
158 put force
161 skins covers up, like a film of skin over an ulcer
164 natural guiltiness inherent tendency to sin/guilt over normal affections 165 sound declare
167 sense reason
168 sense senses/sexual impulses breeds grows (with connotations of pregnancy and, possibly, erection) 174 You ... else i.e. a material bribe would have undone all your previous good work 175 fond foolish, trivial sicles shekels, silver coins tested genuine 176 stones jewels rates value
177 fancy whim, arbitrariness true faithful, constant 179 preserved protected (in the nunnery)
180 fasting maids i.e. nuns dedicate dedicated 181 temporal worldly
187 cross are in conflict, thwart one another
191 'Save God save
196 violet flower associated with chastity
197 carrion dead, putrefying flesh
198 Corrupt ... season rot under the wholesome sun (which causes violets to flourish) 199 modesty chastity
200 lightness promiscuity, lasciviousness waste ground wasteland 201 raze the sanctuary obliterate the holy places
202 pitch build
204 foully i.e. immorally/sexually
210 enemy i.e. the devil
214 double vigour twofold power, enhanced energy art and nature skills of seduction and inherent sexuality 215 stir my temper disturb my temperament/ equilibrium, inflame my desire 217 fond infatuated/loving/foolish
1 so ... are the duke remembers that he is in disguise and, as a friar, would not know the provost 3 Bound obliged blest order religious order
5 common right right of a priest to visit condemned people/right of any citizen 10 of mine in my charge
11 flaws gusts of passion/faults/cracks
12 blistered her report tarnished her reputation
13 got conceived
19 conducted escorted
21 bear endure (plays on the sense of "bear a child")
22 arraign interrogate
23 try test if to see whether sound genuine 24 hollowly insincerely
31 heavier more severe/more sorrowful/heavier with the weight of a baby 33 meet so proper that you do so lest in case
34 As that because
35 toward ourselves selfish
37 we ... fear i.e. we tend to repent out of fear of God rather than love for him 38 as because
40 There rest maintain that attitude
42 instruction moral guidance
43 Benedicite bless you
44 injurious harmful
45 respites grants
46 still constantly
47 'Tis ... him he is to be pitied
2 several various
3 invention thoughts/imagination
4 Anchors fixes heaven probably substituted for "God" as a result of prohibition on naming the deity 7 conception thought/plan (perhaps with connotations of pregnancy) state affairs of government 9 seared dried up gravity authority/respectability
11 boot advantage change exchange idle plume frivolous feather (worn in hats) 12 for vain (in punishment) for vanity/to no purpose (plays on "weather vane") place rankform ceremony, dignity 13 case, thy habit clothing/outward appearance
14 tie ... seeming bind even the wiser people to a faith in the trappings of authority 15 Blood sexual desire/human frailty
16 Let's even if we were to angel plays on Angelo's name 17 'Tis ... crest i.e. it would still not change the devil's evil nature crest identifying feature on a coat of arms 20 Teach show
22 muster to rush to, collect in
23 unable for itself incapable
24 dispossessing depriving
26 throngs crowds
29 general people well-wished well-liked
30 part role obsequious fondness fawning foolishness/dutiful affection 31 untaught indecorous, ignorant
35 That ... 'tis I would rather you gave me what I desire, than ask what it is (plays on the sexual connotations of know and pleasure) 38 Even so so be it
43 reprieve time before his execution
44 fitted prepared spiritually
47 from ... made i.e. murdered a man
48 remit pardon
49 saucy sweetness lecherous pleasures coin ... forbid i.e. forge illegitimate children in God's image 50 stamps instruments for impressing images on coins
51 Falsely wrongly true legitimately
52 mettle substance/metal/semen restrained means forbidden molds 54 'Tis ... earth the sins of murder and conceiving illegitimate children may be judged equally sinful in heaven, but they are not by humans 55 pose you present you with a problem/question you
62 Our ... account sins we commit out of necessity are recorded, but we are not made to pay for them 65 warrant guarantee
71 Please if it please
72 I'll ... soul I'll risk the punishment of my soul (by saying)
75 poise balance
78 morn morning
80 answer responsibility
82 sense understanding/intention (plays on sense of "sensual inclination") ignorant unaware 83 seem so crafty are cunningly pretending to be so (some editors emend to "craftily") 85 But graciously except with grace and humility
87 tax rebuke masks worn to shield the complexion from the sun (perhaps also with suggestion of nuns' habits) 88 enshield concealed
89 mark pay attention to
90 received understood gross bluntly
93 appears is evident/is set down (in law)
94 Accountant accountable pain penalty (of death)
96 Admit suppose
97 subscribe not agree to neither
98 in ... question unclear; perhaps "for the sake of argument"
100 credit influence/reputation great place powerful position 102 all-building on which everything is founded (some editors emend to "all-binding") 104 treasures ... body i.e. virginity
105 supposed hypothetical man
108 terms sentence
109 impression marks keen biting/eager
110 strip whip/bare myself
117 die for ever i.e. suffer eternal damnation
120 Ignomy ... houses shameful bargaining for pardon and unconditional release are entirely different matters 122 nothing kin unrelated
124 sliding sinfulness
125 merriment lighthearted matter
126 oft falls out often happens
127 would wish to
128 something somewhat
131 Else otherwise
132 not a fedary no accomplice
133 Owe ... weakness owns and inherits the moral frailty that you speak of 136 as ... forms can be destroyed as easily as they can reflect images 137 Help heaven! Heaven help them! Men ... them men debase their inherent superiority by abusing women/men ruin women, who created them, by abusing them 140 credulous ... prints susceptible to forged imprints (i.e. ready believers of male falsehood) 141 think it well agree
143 suppose propose
144 Than ... frames than the weaknesses that we are prey to
145 that what
146 none not a woman (as you define one)
147 well ... warrants clearly reveal yourself to be by your outward appearance 149 livery uniform (of womanly frailty)
150 but one i.e. a truthful one (two tongues would be deceitful) 151 speak ... language use the plainer language employed earlier/return to the matters discussed previously 152 conceive understand (perhaps with sexual connotations)
156 licence freedom of authority (perhaps with play on sense of "licentiousness") 158 To pluck on as a means of testing
162 pernicious destructive Seeming deceptive behavior 163 proclaim denounce
164 present immediate
165 outstretched wide open
166 What what kind of
168 austereness strictness
169 vouch testimony
171 stifle suffocate report story/reputation
172 calumny slander
173 sensual ... rein allow my desires to run freely
175 by aside prolixious time-wasting
176 banish ... for eliminate the very feelings they aim to arouse
179 unkindness cruelty/unnatural behavior/lack of sisterly feeling
180 sufferance torment
181 affection passion
184 Did I were I to
187 approof approval
188 make curtsy submit, bow
190 draws demands/leads
191 prompture urging blood sexual desire
193 tender down lay down in payment
194 blocks execution blocks
198 More worth more
200 fit prepare
5 absolute resolved
9 Servile subject/obedient skyey influences planetary/ meteorological influences 10 habitation world/dwelling/body keep'st reside
11 Merely entirely fool plaything/dupe
12 For ... still you strive to flee death and yet are always running toward it 14 accommodations civilized comforts/clothing
15 Are ... baseness spring from lowly origins
16 fork forked tongue
17 worm snake of rest way to rest
18 provok'st summon grossly excessively/foolishly
19 no more i.e. than sleep
21 issue ... dust grow from the earth
23 certain consistent
24 complexion disposition strange new/unusual
25 After in accordance with/in imitation of
26 ingots gold bars
29 bowels i.e. children sire father
30 mere effusion very product proper own
31 serpigo spreading skin disease rheum catarrh/head cold 32 nor neither
33 after-dinner's i.e. early afternoon
35 as aged i.e. like an elderly beggar alms Of money from 36 palsied eld old age, afflicted by palsy (disease characterized by trembling) 37 heat, affection, limb passion, love, agility
39 bears ... of is worthy of being called
41 makes ... even i.e. levels all differences
43 To sue in pleading
44 it i.e. death
47 wish i.e. of peace, grace and good company
59 affairs to business with
61 leiger resident ambassador
62 appointment preparation
63 set on begin (your journey)
66 cleave split twain two
71 fetter enchain
72 Perpetual durance life imprisonment
73 just exactly
74 Though ... had even if you had freedom to roam the entire world vastidity vastness 75 determined scope limited range
76 in what nature of what sort
78 bark strip trunk body/tree trunk
82 feverous feverish entertain cherish, harbor
83 more respect value more
85 sense fearful awareness apprehension anticipation
87 corporal sufferance physical pain
89 Why ... shame? Why do you dishonor me in this way?
90 resolution strength of purpose fetch derive
91 flow'ry tenderness elaborately worded offers of comfort
92 encounter meet/engage with sexually
97 In base appliances through dishonorable remedies outward-sainted seemingly holy 98 settled visage fixed countenance deliberate carefully considered/ calculating 99 Nips youth i'th'head grasps youth by the neck, like a bird of prey enew drive into the water, as a falcon does its victim 101 cast vomited up/cleansed by draining
103 prenzie unclear meaning; possibly an obscure heraldic term (the register of livery, invest, guards); perhaps a misprint for "precise" (puritanical), "priestly," or "princely" (meant ironically) 105 invest dress
106 guards trimmings on the front of a rich garment Dost thou think would you believe 110 he ... still in exchange for this foul sin he would give you the freedom to continue breaking the law 116 deliverance release
117 frankly freely
/>
120 affections lust
121 bite ... th'nose i.e. mock, insult the law
122 force enforce (plays on the sense of "violate")
126 trick trifle/whim/sexual act
127 perdurably fined eternally punished
132 obstruction state of death
133 sensible warm motion feeling, living, body
134 kneaded clod compacted lump of earth delighted capable of delight 136 thrilling bitterly cold region separate part of the universe thick-ribbed formed into ridges 137 viewless invisible
139 pendent hanging in space
140 lawless and incertain frenzied and uncertain
143 penury poverty
144 nature human nature, powers of endurance
145 To compared to
149 Nature human nature/nature itself dispenses pardons 151 beast i.e. creature lacking judgment or compassion
152 dishonest shameful
153 made a man given life or prosperity
156 shield ensure/forbid played ... fair was faithful 157 warped ... wilderness twisted seedling/offspring of licentiousness 158 defiance rejection/contempt
159 but merely bending down praying (on bended knees) 165 accidental a one-off event trade habitual practice 166 prove itself turn out to be
169 Vouchsafe permit
171 dispense ... leisure give up your time by and by soon 172 satisfaction recompense
173 likewise ... benefit as much to your advantage as mine
175 attend wait for
177 purpose intention
178 only ... assay he has merely tested practise ... natures test his ability to judge personality 180 gracious virtuous
182 to for
183 satisfy your resolution maintain your determination
188 Hold you there preserve that state of mind
192 habit friar's clothing (that)
193 touch affect, harm
196 goodness ... goodness if those who are beautiful do not value virtue, their beauty will not last 197 grace divine virtue
198 complexion disposition
200 frailty ... falling there are other comparable examples of such wrongdoing 202 substitute deputy
203 resolve answer
207 discover his government reveal his conduct
209 avoid refute
210 advisings advice
211 I ... believe I am convinced
212 uprighteously uprightly, righteously
213 merited worthy/deserved
215 peradventure perhaps
217 spirit courage
218 spirit soul
221 miscarried had an accident/died/went missing
224 affianced betrothed
225 nuptial appointed wedding arranged
226 contract engagement limit ... solemnity appointed time of the ceremony 228 heavily grievously befell to fell out for/affected 230 natural brotherly
231 sinew mainstay
232 combinate betrothed
237 dishonour sexual misconduct few short bestowed ... lamentation married her to her own grief 238 yet still
242 avail benefit
248 continuance ... affection i.e. still loves Angelo
250 impediment ... current obstacle in the flow of a river