251 requiring request
252 plausible believable/ingratiating to the point to the letter 253 refer ... advantage ask for these advantageous conditions
255 answer to convenience be opportune/suit your convenience
256 course due course
257 stead up carry out
258 encounter meeting/ sexual interaction
259 acknowledge reveals her recompense redress
262 scaled weighed up frame prepare fit ready 263 carry manage
264 doubleness twofold nature reproof blame
266 image idea
267 perfection completion
268 holding up ability to maintain it
271 moated grange farmhouse surrounded by a moat
272 dispatch make arrangements
278 brown ... bastard sweet Spanish wine (plays on the sense of "illegitimate mixed-race children") 279 stuff nonsense
280 'Twas ... since the world is not as enjoyable since two usuries i.e. money lending and prostitution 281 merriest most enjoyable (prostitution)
282 fox fox fur (with connotations of cunning)
283 craft deceit
284 stands ... facing trims the outside of the garment/puts itself on show to the world 286 brother father "friar" means "brother," so the duke is making fun of Elbow's terms of address 290 picklock device for picking locks (here, those of chastity belts) 291 sirrah sir (contemptuous)
294 maw gullet/stomach
297 array dress
299 So stinkingly depending supported by such foulness mend reform your ways 300 sort way
302 proofs evidence
304 Correction punishment
305 rude barbarous
306 before go before
308 he ... errand i.e. he would be better doing anything else than that 310 That if only
311 Free ... free free from sin (as Angelo appears to be) and sin free from hypocrisy 312 come to resemble cord rope (Elbow imagines the noose being like the cord that friars wore around the waist) 313 cry call out for
316 led in triumph paraded in disgrace (in ancient Rome, following a triumph in war, prisoners were led behind the chariots of the victors) 317 Pygmalion a sculptor and king of Cyprus, he fell in love with an ivory statue he had made of his ideal woman 318 putting ... clutched i.e. to be had for money clutched with a fist grasping money 320 Is't ... rain i.e. lost (referring either to the old way of life or to Pompey's reply) 321 Trot old hag, bawd way response/fashion
322 sad ... words i.e. dejected trick manner 323 thus, and thus more and more/the same (nonsense)
324 morsel mouthful, tidbit
326 Troth in truth eaten ... beef exhausted her supply of prostitutes/eaten all the supplies of salt beef 327 tub sweating-tub used to treat venereal disease/pickling tub for curing beef 328 right of it the logical thing
329 powdered salted/heavily made-up unshunned unavoidable 332 amiss wrong
336 due penalty of antiquity of old
337 bawd-born son of a bawd/born to be a bawd
338 husband housekeeper
341 wear fashion
342 bondage imprisonment
343 mettle spirit (plays on the idea of the metal chains used to fetter prisoners) 346 paint wear makeup
349 abroad in the world
352 kennel doghouse/gutter
355 Other some others
358 fantastical trick fanciful whim steal steal away 359 usurp the beggary take on a baseness
360 puts transgression to't i.e. punishes wrongdoers
362 lenity lenience
363 crabbed severe/harsh
364 general widespread
365 sooth truth great kindred large family
366 allied connected extirp eliminate
367 put down stopped
368 downright straightforward
371 sea-maid mermaid
372 stock-fishes dried cod (plays on sense of "impotent penis")
373 makes water urinates
374 motion generative sexless puppet infallible certain 375 pleasant humorous/facetious apace rapidly/idly
377 codpiece cloth appendage worn by men at the front of the breeches (euphemism for "penis") 379 getting conception
380 a of a feeling understanding
381 sport i.e. sex service i.e. sexual business 383 detected for women accused of lechery
387 beggar of fifty fifty-year-old beggar-woman
388 use habit/sexual practice ducat gold coin clack-dish beggar's pot/vagina 389 crotchets fanciful notions
392 inward intimate friend
393 withdrawing sudden departure
397 greater ... subject majority of his subjects
399 unweighing undiscriminating
400 envy malice
401 helmed steered
402 warranted need justified necessity proclamation reputation 403 testimonied judged bringings-forth achievements 405 unskilfully without justification/ignorantly
408 Love ... love if you loved him you would know him better, and if you knew him better you would love him more 413 make your answer justify your comments
414 maintain defend
421 unhurtful an opposite weak an adversary
422 forswear deny again on another occasion
426 filling ... tundish i.e. having sex tundish funnel with a long stem (i.e. penis) 427 ungenitured sexless/impotent agent deputy, substitute 428 unpeople depopulate continency sexual abstinence Sparrows ... lecherous sparrows were sacred to Venus and proverbially lascivious 430 dark deeds secret sexual acts darkly answered privately dealt with 432 untrussing undressing (specifically, untying hose from doublet)
434 mutton on Fridays i.e. break the ecclesiastical laws that forbade the eating of meat on Fridays (mutton puns on the sense of "prostitute") 435 mouth with kiss brown bread coarse rye bread
438 censure 'scape escape condemnation
440 gall bile
445 Double ... kind? (You have been) warned two or three times and still continue to do wrong?
446 swear ... tyrant become so exasperated that it would become pitiless 450 information official legal complaint
451 Keepdown the name may imply sexual appetite and "lying down"
452 duke's time under the rule of the duke
453 Philip and Jacob May 1, the day of Saint Philip and Saint James
455 licence immorality/lechery
458 brother colleague
459 divines clergymen
460 wrought ... pity acted with the same amount of pity I feel
463 entertainment reception
466 whence are you where are you from
467 chance situation
468 my time the time being
469 See Holy See, Rome
471 abroad out
472 so ... it (goodness) is so sick with worldly ills that it can only cure itself by dying 473 in request (exists only when it is) in demand/fashionable
474 aged consistent
475 course course of action/mode of behavior
476 societies associations between people
477 security overconfidence (plays on sense of "financial pledge guaranteeing a loan") fellowships partnerships (plays on sense of "trading corporations") 481 strifes objectives/endeavors
483 pleasure enjoyments
486 events activities
489 lent him visitation paid him a visit
490 sinister measure unfair treatment
492 determination resolution, decision framed to devised for 493 instruction prompting
494 good leisure own time discredited shown to be false 501 You ... calling you have fulfilled your divine duties to both God and the prisoner 503 extremest ... modesty limits of my abilities
505 indeed Justice Justice itself
506 straitness severity
511 sword of heaven emblem of religious/legal authority
513 Pattern ... know be himself a model of virtue
514 Grace to stand support himself with grace virtue go conduct himself with virtue 515 More ... w
eighing administering no more or less justice to himself than he would to others 520 weed weed out
523 likeness ... crimes seemingly virtuous behavior founded on sin
524 Making practice practice deception
525 draw ... things pretend to catch big things, but with merely insubstantial means 527 Craft cunning, skill
529 old betrothed ex-fiancee (Mariana) despised scorned 530 disguise deception th'disguised the disguised Mariana 531 Pay ... exacting repay with deception the wrongful demands (made on Isabella) 532 contracting marriage contract
2 forsworn perjured, false
3 the ... day like the dawn
9 stilled quieted brawling clamorous
10 cry you mercy beg your pardon
13 My ... woe my music does not mean I am merry but it soothed my grief 14 charm magical ability
17 Much upon at about this
20 constantly entirely
21 forbearance patience/absence
22 anon immediately afterward/in a while
24 well met perfect timing well come welcome
26 circummured walled around
28 planched made of planks
29 makes his opening opens
30 command unlock
33 Heavy dark/ sleepy
34 on your knowledge with the information you have
35 due careful/adequate wary cautious
37 action ... precept verbal directions
39 tokens signals
40 'greed agreed her observance particulars she must adhere to 41 repair visit
42 possessed informed most longest
45 stays upon attends persuasion belief
47 borne up sustained, managed
52 like same
54 have found it have experience of it
57 attend your leisure wait for you until you are ready
60 place status, position false treacherous
61 stuck fixed report rumor
62 quests ... doings inquiries into your business
63 escapes outbursts
64 father ... dream source of their delusion
65 rack torment/distort fancies imaginations
69 It ... too I not only agree to it, but beg you to do it
71 Little ... say say little
76 pre-contract betrothal, a binding contract
78 Sith since title claim
79 flourish adorn, render attractive
80 Our ... sow we have yet to reap the harvest for we have not sown the seed tithe a tenth of the crop, due to the Church (some editors emend to "tilth," plowed field) 3 head master (the sense then shifts to pun on "maidenhead"--i.e. virginity) 5 leave ... snatches leave out your quibbles
7 common public
9 redeem release gyves shackles, ankle fetters
10 deliverance release
11 unpitied relentless, merciless
12 time ... mind for longer than I can remember
15 Abhorson a conflation of "abhor" and "whoreson" (son of a whore), with connotations of "abortion" (i.e. monstrosity) 18 meet fitting compound ... year agree on an annual sum 19 abide remain
20 plead his estimation argue he is superior to the job
23 mystery craft, profession
24 weigh equally are worth the same
26 favour permission (sense then shifts to "face")
27 hanging look downcast expression/the look of a hangman or of someone destined for hanging 28 mystery Pompey responds to the sense of "art, skill"
30 Painting art/cosmetics
37 true honest
39 big large/valuable
40 little small/worthless
43 penitent repentant he ... forgiveness the executioner would ask the condemned person for forgiveness 50 turn purpose/hanging yare quick, ready
51 good turn favor/skillful execution (perhaps, given Pompey is a bawd, with play on the sexual sense) 54 though even if
58 guiltless labour innocent toil
59 starkly stiffly traveller's laborer's ("travailer's") 61 do good on improve
69 curfew in London, the curfew bell was rung at dusk in the winter and 9 p.m. in the summer to call all persons in until dawn the next day 76 paralleled reflected/modeled on
77 Even exactly stroke and line linear course/written authority 80 qualify moderate/control mealed stained
81 corrects punishes
82 this i.e. his virtuous nature
83 gentle honorable seldom when it is seldom that
84 steeled hardened
85 spirit's i.e. the messenger
86 unsisting unyielding postern back or side gate
88 He ... up he (the officer) has arisen to attend the call 89 countermand reprieve
94 Happily perhaps
96 example precedent
97 siege seat
107 purchased ... in bought by the same sin as Angelo has committed
109 Hence ... authority sin grows rapidly when it is supported by (borne in) those in power 111 extended stretched/widened
112 fault's love love of the sin friended befriended, assisted 114 belike perhaps remiss negligent, careless
115 unwonted unusual putting-on prompting
120 satisfaction assurance
121 duly dutifully/fully
122 a thought the knowledge
123 deliver communicate
124 answer be accountable your peril risk of punishment 125 What who
128 nine years old for the last nine years
132 wrought obtained
133 fact crime
134 undoubtful absolute
138 touched affected (by the thought of his impending execution)
139 apprehends conceives of/fears dreadfully fearfully 141 insensible ... mortal unmoved by death and yet irredeemably condemned to die 143 wants lacks/needs advice guidance/spiritual counsel 144 evermore ... prison always had the freedom to go anywhere within the prison 148 seeming supposed
152 beguiles deceives boldness ... cunning confidence of my skill 153 lay ... hazard put myself at risk
156 manifested effect visible way
157 present immediate
158 courtesy service
161 limited specified
163 make ... Claudio's i.e. be subject to the death penalty
164 cross thwart, obstruct
165 warrant guarantee (your safety)
168 discover the favour recognize the face
171 tie knot/tie together (to control any straggly hair)
172 bared shaved, trimmed
173 course practice fall ... this happens to you as a result of this 180 avouch confirms
182 resemblance possibility
183 coat friar's habit
184 attempt persuade
185 hand signature/handwriting
186 character handwriting
187 signet seal of authority strange unfamiliar
193 tenor substance
194 nothing ... writ none of the above
195 unfolding star i.e. Morning Star, when the shepherd releases his sheep from the fold 199 present shrift immediate confession better place i.e. heaven Yet still 200 this i.e. the letter absolutely resolve you explain everything to you 1 acquainted known house of profession i.e. the brothel 4 Rash impetuous, capricious commodity supply brown paper coarse, poor-quality wrapping paper 5 old stale ninescore ... money which he believed to be worth PS197; only making PS3.33 in actual cash, he is now in prison for debt 7 old women proverbially fond of ginger
8 Caper leaping or skipping while dancing suit lawsuit (sense then shifts to "clothing") Three-pile luxuriously thick material, usually velvet 9 mercer a dealer in fabrics
10 peaches impeaches, denounces
11 Dizzy silly, vacuous Deep-vow perhaps a lover who falls passionately, but frequently, in love Copperspur perhaps a man who has spurs made of copper in the hope they may pass for gold 12 Starve-lackey mean person who starves his servants rapier fencing was done with a rapier (sword) and dagger 13 Drop-heir perhaps someone who kills heirs, or marries them o
nly to drop them; or "dropsied" (i.e. pretentious); or one with "hair" that is dropping out, a symptom of syphilis lusty Pudding perhaps a rich, fat heir (a pudding was a sausage) 14 Forthright moving forward, charging tilter jouster brave splendidly dressed Shoe-tie elaborate shoe-lace or bow 15 Half-can ... Pots probably refers to a drunken brawl in which Half-can, someone "half-cut" (drunk), or someone who drank smaller measures of liquor, stabbed Pots (named after a drinking vessel) 16 doers ... trade frequenters of brothels (to "do" meant to have sex with) "for ... sake" "meat for the Lord's sake" was the frequent cry of prisoners asking for food 19 rise awake/ascend the scaffold
22 pox plague
25 to as to
31 straw floors of prisons were strewn with straw
36 clap into get on with
39 fitted in a suitable condition
41 betimes early
43 ghostly father holy confessor
50 billets wooden sticks
56 hear you listen
58 ward cell thence from there
59 gravel stony
62 unmeet unfit
63 transport him i.e. put him to death
67 Ragozine possibly a native of Ragusa, a successful Adriatic port, now Dubrovnik 68 years age head hair
69 omit disregard
70 reprobate villain
71 visage head/face
73 accident event
74 Dispatch it carry it out
75 Prefixed determined
77 rude vulgar, uncivilized
80 continue keep alive
84 holds cells
85 journal greeting daily appearance
86 yonder generation those outside of the prison
87 manifested apparent
88 free dependant willing servant/entirely under your protection
93 injunctions commands bound required
95 consecrated fount holy spring
96 league three miles below outside
97 cold gradation calm advancement well-balanced form careful observance of the proper procedures 101 commune discuss
108 of out of
118 close controlled, silent
124 Forbear it restrain yourself
126 verity truth
128 confessor either Friar Thomas (mentioned in Act 1) or Friar Peter 129 instance information
132 pace control, maneuver
133 good path right direction
134 bosom on dearest wish inflicted on
135 Grace by virtue heart heart's content
142 perfect him withal tell him about
143 to ... of face to face with
144 home and home thoroughly
145 combined bound
146 Wend you direct yourself, go
147 waters i.e. tears
149 pervert turn aside
153 fain obliged
154 bran coarse brown bread for my head for fear of losing my head 155 fruitful fulfilling (with sexual connotations) set me to't set me to work sexually/provide the strength for sex 157 fantastical whimsical, capricious dark corners i.e. secretive/given to lurking in dark corners (plays on the sense of "vaginas") 159 beholding beholden, indebted
160 he ... them he is nothing like you say/his reputation does not depend on you 162 woodman hunter (of women)