Page 21 of Measure for Measure


  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
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  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