Henry VI (Parts I, II and III) (Signet Classics)

  2.1 hallooing calling out to the dogs 1 flying ... brook hunting waterfowl by using dogs to drive the birds from the bankside bushes so that trained hawks might swoop upon them 2 these ... day for the last seven years, i.e. for a long time (proverbial) 4 And ... out i.e. the odds were against the hawk Joan being able to fly (letting birds out in a high wind risked losing them) 5 point advantageous position from which to swoop on the fowl 6 pitch height (literally, the highest point in a falcon's flight) 8 fain of inclined to, fond of

  9 an it like if it please

  10 tower soar in circling movements to the highest point 11 aloft up high, dominant

  16 how ... that what do you mean by that

  21 Pernicious destructive, wicked

  22 smooth'st it flatters, speaks plausibly

  24 peremptory unchallengeable, overbearing

  25 Tantaene ... irae? "Is there so much anger in heavenly minds?" (Latin; from Virgil's Aeneid, 1.11) 26 hot hot-tempered, angry

  36 whet not on do not encourage

  37 blessed ... earth biblical; the king cites Matthew 5:9

  41 Marry by the Virgin Mary

  42 Make ... matter do not bring any of your supporters into the business 43 abuse wrongdoing, insult (to me)

  44 peep appear, show your face

  44 an if if

  48 your man i.e. the falconer

  48 put up raised, provoked from cover into flight 49 had had would have had

  49 two-hand sword long, heavy sword

  51 Are ye advised? Do you understand?

  55 God's mother i.e. the Virgin Mary

  55 crown the tonsure, the shaved crown of a priest's head 56 fence fencing skills, swordsmanship

  57 Medice, teipsum "Physician, heal thyself" (Latin; from the Bible, Luke 4:23) 59 stomachs tempers, angry appetites

  61 jar sound discordant

  62 compound settle

  67 Forsooth in truth

  67 Saint Alban's shrine allegedly the first Christian martyr in England, Saint Alban was executed in the early fourth century for sheltering Christian converts brethren members of the town corporation 74 earthly vale i.e. the earth, the mortal world 75 by ... multiplied i.e. as he will be subject to more temptations 78 circumstance details

  85 thou ... told you would have been in a better position to say so (i.e. that he had been blind from birth) 87 Berwick Berwick-upon-Tweed, town on the border between Scotland and England 89 unhallowed unholy

  89 unhallowed pass i.e. pass without saying your prayers 90 still continually

  92 of out of, from

  96 offer make an offering

  102 fall ... tree "climbing a plum tree" could be euphemistic for copulation 107 But that only that time, once

  109 Mass by the (religious) Mass

  110 damsons plays on sense of "testicles"

  111 climb plays on sense of "mount sexually"

  112 subtle crafty

  112 shall not serve will not hold, suffice 113 wink close your eyes

  114 yet still

  116 Say'st ... so do you say so

  122 many multitude

  135 several various of between

  136 nominate name

  138 cunning skill

  141 beadles parish constables

  144 presently immediately

  145 straight straightaway

  146 by and by immediately

  149 alone unsupported

  154 doublet close-fitting jacket

  156 bearest (do you) endure it

  158 drab whore

  165 towns i.e. the French towns given away as part of Margaret's dowry 168 sort gang naughty wicked, villainous 168 lewdly bent bent on evil

  169 Under ... confederacy supported by and in collusion with 171 rout gang, crowd

  172 practised plotted

  174 apprehended ... fact caught in the act, arrested as they committed the crime 176 Demanding of asking about

  178 at large at length

  180 forthcoming yet in custody, awaiting trial 181 turned blunted

  182 like likely

  182 hour appointed time

  183 leave to afflict stop tormenting

  186 meanest groom humblest servingman

  188 confusion destruction, devastation

  189 tainture defilement

  190 look make sure, take care

  193 how it stands the full circumstances

  196 conversed kept company, associated

  197 like to pitch resembling pitch (a black, tarlike substance) 205 poise weigh, balance

  205 cause court case

  206 beam stands sure scales are evenly balanced Act 2 Scene 2

  2.2 Location: York's private garden

  3 close secluded, private

  19 Richard i.e. Richard II

  26 Pomfret Pontefract, near York

  32 issue offspring

  38 Edmund i.e. Edmund Mortimer, fifth Earl of March, declared heir presumptive by Richard II 39 This Edmund following an error in the historical sources he used, Shakespeare now confuses Edmund Mortimer with his uncle of the same name, the man who was captured by Welsh rebel leader Owen Glendower but went on to marry Glendower's daughter and fight on the rebel side 42 Who i.e. Glendower

  42 captivity ... died another error

  54 proceedings line of descent

  57 issue descendants, line of descent

  57 fails dies out, comes to an end

  59 slips cuttings

  59 stock tree

  61 plot ground

  65 We York uses the royal pronoun

  66 that until the time that

  68 suddenly immediately/impetuously

  69 with advice advisedly, prudently

  71 Wink at shut your eyes to, ignore

  81 Neville Warwick's family name

  83 but except for

  Act 2 Scene 3

  2.3 Location: London, a place of judgment (exact location unspecified)

  4 God's book i.e. the Bible

  4 adjudged to judged in advance to be worthy of 7 Smithfield area in the City of London; the customary place for the execution of heretics 8 strangled i.e. hanged

  9 for because

  10 Despoiled stripped, deprived

  10 in i.e. for the rest of

  11 open public

  13 With i.e. in the custody of

  13 Isle of Man small island off the northwest coast of England 14 were would be

  16 justify excuse

  21 would desires, would have

  22 Stay wait

  23 staff the official symbol of the Protector's role 25 God ... feet Henry draws on the words of several Psalms 25 stay support

  28 of years of maturity

  29 be to be need to be

  31 king his king's

  41 bears ... maim suffers such a serious injury 41 pulls wrenches

  43 raught seized

  45 pine possibly alludes to the emblem adopted by Henry IV, Gloucester's father 45 sprays branches (offspring)

  46 her youngest days its prime

  47 let him go i.e. forget him

  49 appellant challenger, accuser

  50 lists designated combat area

  52 purposely therefore specifically for that reason 54 A in

  54 fit prepared

  56 bestead prepared

  56.1 Drum drummer

  56.2 staff ... it a basic but potentially vicious type of weapon 60 sack type of Spanish sweet white wine

  63 charneco sweet Portuguese wine, a kind of port 64 double very strong

  66 pledge toast

  66 fig from old Spanish figo; exclamation of contempt, often accompanied by an obscene gesture that consisted of thrusting the thumb between the index and middle fingers 76 deal fight

  76 fence fencing

  86 touching concerning

  86 take my death stake my life on it

  88 have at thee i.e. here I come (standard utterance at the opening of a fight) 88 downright forthright, literally "vertically downwards"

  89 Di
spatch get on with it

  89 double slur (perhaps plays on the sense of "deceive") 90 alarum trumpet call to arms

  93 in ... way in between you and your master/hindering your master 95 presence i.e. of the king

  100 he i.e. Horner

  Act 2 Scene 4

  2.4 Location: a London street

  2 evermore succeeds always follows

  4 fleet pass swiftly away

  9 Uneath not easily

  9 flinty hard, stony

  11 abrook endure

  12 abject base, lowly

  13 envious malicious

  14 erst formerly

  14 proud splendid, luxurious

  14 chariot-wheels ... triumph the image is of a glorious military victor returning home in ceremony 14.1 verses ... back wrongdoers undertaking public penance were required to wear papers listing their crimes 14.2 taper candle

  22 giddy fickle, unstable, heady, excited

  23 throw turn, cast

  24 hateful hate-filled

  25 closet private chamber

  25 rue pity, grieve for

  26 ban curse

  32 Mailed up enveloped, wrapped up (falconry term referring to the covering of the hawk to quiet it) 34 deep-fet fetched up from deep within, profound 36 start flinch (in pain)

  37 advised careful

  39 Trowest thou do you think

  42 pomp (former) splendor

  46 As that

  47 wonder spectacle

  47 pointing-stock object of ridicule

  48 idle useless/foolish/trifling

  48 rascal lowborn

  49 mild placid, calm

  53 her i.e. Queen Margaret

  55 limed smeared with birdlime (sticky substance used to catch birds) 56 how thou canst as best you may

  59 forbear desist

  59 aimest guess, conjecture

  59 awry mistakenly

  60 attainted convicted of treason

  63 procure ... scathe bring about any damage

  66 scandal were not disgrace would not be

  68 quiet acceptance, calm

  69 sort fashion, adapt

  70 few days' wonder passing spectacle (proverbial: "a wonder lasts but nine days") 70 worn worn away, forgotten

  72 Holden to be held

  72 Bury Bury St. Edmunds, a town in Suffolk 74 close dealing secretive business, plotting 76 commission orders, authorization

  77 stays ends

  80 protect take custody of

  82 Entreat treat

  90 afeared afraid

  91 this world's eternity eternal enjoyment of this world 96 used treated

  96 state rank (Eleanor develops the sense of "condition of shame") 97 reproach disgrace itself

  101 better ... fare may you fare better than I 102 conduct conductor, guide

  103 office job, duty

  104 is discharged has been carried out

  107 attire clothe

  108 shifted moved, altered (puns on the sense of "changed as an undergarment or 'shift' ")

  Act 3 Scene 1

  3.1 Location: Bury St. Edmunds

  1 muse wonder

  2 wont usual practice

  2 hindmost last (to arrive)

  5 strangeness aloof, distant nature

  7 insolent haughty, arrogant

  8 peremptory overbearing

  9 know remember

  9 since when

  10 far-off distant

  12 admired him for marveled at his

  14 give ... day greet one another

  15 knits his brow frowns

  16 stiff unbowed knee a respectful bow involved bending the knee 17 duty i.e. dutiful gestures of respect

  18 curs dogs

  18 grin bare their teeth, snarl

  23 Meseemeth it seems to me

  23 no policy not expedient, imprudent

  24 Respecting considering

  24 rancorous malicious, bitter

  26 come about frequent, be in contact with

  29 commotion rebellion, riot

  31 shallow-rooted i.e. easily pulled up

  32 Suffer allow

  33 want lack

  33 husbandry cultivation

  35 collect gather (information about)/conclude, deduce

  36 fond foolish

  37 supplant uproot, overthrow, replace

  38 subscribe give in, concede

  40 Reprove refute, disprove

  41 effectual pertinent, valid

  43 put obliged, called upon

  45 subornation incitement (to do wrong)

  46 practices plots

  47 privy to privately aware of

  48 reputing boasting/thinking proudly

  49 the to the

  50 vaunts boasts

  51 bedlam brainsick insane and foolish

  52 frame organize, devise

  54 simple show innocent appearance

  57 Unsounded unfathomed, not probed or measured

  59 strange i.e. cruel or illegal

  61 Levy raise

  63 By means whereof as a result of which

  64 to compared to

  65 smooth glib, apparently amiable

  66 at once in answer to you all/without further ado/once and for all 67 annoy injure

  68 shall I if I

  72 given disposed, inclined

  74 fond affiance misguided trust/foolish affinity

  76 disposed as of the disposition of raven a bird of ill omen 78 inclined of the same disposition

  78 wolves i.e. who proverbially wear sheep's clothing 79 steal a shape adopt a disguise

  79 means intends

  81 Hangs depends

  81 cutting short plays on the idea of beheading

  81 fraudful treacherous, fraudulent

  84 interest legal claim

  85 bereft deprived

  89 blasted blighted, withered

  91 gear business

  94 stayed delayed, been absent

  104 of from

  105 stayed withheld

  107 What who

  110 watched the night stayed awake

  111 studying pursuing/meditating on

  112 That may that

  112 doit small coin of little value

  113 groat coin worth four old pence

  115 proper store personal wealth

  117 disbursed paid out

  123 That so that

  123 was defamed by became infamous for

  124 whiles while

  127 lowly ... fault humble words of repentance were payment enough for the crime 129 felonious wicked, criminal

  129 fleeced plundered, robbed

  129 passengers travelers

  130 condign fitting, appropriate

  132 Above ... else more severely than other types of offense 133 easy slight, small

  138 keep guard, detain

  138 further subsequent

  140 suspense suspicion

  145 subornation incitement to wrongdoing, bribery predominant in the ascendant (astronomical term) 146 equity justice

  147 complot plot, conspiracy

  149 period end

  150 expend it pay the price (of death)

  151 mine i.e. my death

  154 blab reveal, betray

  156 Sharp merciless, severe

  157 envious malicious

  158 dogged doglike, ill-tempered, stubborn

  159 overweening overreaching, presumptuous

  160 accuse accusation

  160 level aim

  162 Causeless without cause

  164 liefest liege dearest sovereign

  166 conventicles secret meetings

  168 want lack

  169 store abundance

  172 railing ranting, complaining

  175 chid rebuked

  175 rated at berated

  176 scope range, opportunity

  177 zeal loyalty, devotion

  178 twit taunted, reproached

  179 clerkly couched skillfully expressed

  180 suborned
bribed

  181 state authority, high position

  184 Beshrew curse

  184 played me false cheated, deceived me

  186 wrest the sense twist the meaning

  188 sure securely

  192 gnarling snarling, growling

  194 decay ruin, downfall

  200 engirt encircled

  203 map image

  205 proved thee false found you disloyal

  205 feared thy faith doubted your loyalty

  206 envies thy estate feels malice toward your position

  208 subversion the destruction, overthrow

  211 strays a problematic image as the calf is bound, unless this means loosely leashed about the neck or penned in--possibly and functions more like "or" as Henry lists the things a butcher might do to a calf; many editors emend to "strains"

  214 dam mother

  220 vowed avowed, sworn

  221 'twixt in between

  223 Free noble, honorable

  224 cold indifferent, passive

  225 show false appearance, deceptive behavior

  226 Beguiles deceives, distracts

  227 crocodile ... passengers crocodiles were believed to shed tears as a means of enticing victims 227 relenting pitying

  229 chequered slough patterned, multicolored outer skin

  232 wit intellect, reasoning

  233 rid removed from

  235 worthy sensible, shrewd

  236 colour pretext, excuse (picks up on die/dye to pun on the sense of "hue"; also puns on "collar"--i.e. hangman's noose) 237 meet appropriate, fitting

  238 were would be policy clever strategy

  239 still continually

  240 haply rise may perhaps rebel

  241 trivial argument scant evidence, slight grounds

  242 More than mistrust except for suspicion

  243 by this on the strength of this reasoning

  244 fain willing

  248 all one the same (if)

  248 empty hungry

  249 kite bird of prey

  253 surveyor ... fold keeper of the sheepfold

  255 idly posted over foolishly ignored

  256 Because ... executed simply because he had yet to kill one of the sheep 259 chaps jaws

  260 proved ... liege has been demonstrated through reasoned argument to be a threat to Henry 261 stand insist

  261 quillets fine distinctions, quibbles

  262 gins, by snares two types of traps for catching game

  262 subtlety cunning, crafty strategy

  264 So provided

  265 mates checkmates, catches out

  267 except unless

  269 that to show that

  269 accordeth is in accordance with

  270 meritorious worthy, deserving of God's reward

  272 be his priest preside over his death like a priest administering the last rites (i.e. kill him) 274 Ere ... priest before you have time to be ordained as a priest/to arrange for a priest to be there 275 censure approve

  277 tender so hold so dear

  281 skills ... doom does not make much difference who questions our judgment 281 Post messenger

  282 amain in haste

  283 signify inform, report up up in arms

  285 succours assistance

  285 betime rapidly, at an early stage

  287 green fresh

  288 breach gash, hole/uprising, rebellion

  289 weighty cause pressing circumstance, important matter

  291 meet appropriate

  291 lucky ... France York is being sarcastic and insulting toward Somerset 293 far-fet far-fetched, devious