297 betimes early
300 charactered inscribed, written
301 Men's flesh men whose flesh is
306 happily perhaps
308 in the number among them
309 try put to the test
310 uncivil uncivilized, rebellious
310 kerns lightly armed Irish foot soldiers
311 temper clay soften, mix earth
313 Collected choicely carefully selected
314 hap luck, fortune
320 take order make arrangements
332 misdoubt mistrust, uncertainty
333 that that which
335 keep dwell, remain
335 mean-born lowborn, humble
336 harbour dwelling, shelter
338 dignity honor, high rank, kingship
340 tedious laborious, painstakingly intricate
341 politicly strategically, cunningly
343 fear me fear
344 warm ... hearts refers to the proverbial cautionary tale of the man who warms a frozen snake against his chest, only to have it revive and bite him 343 starved stiff from cold
348 nourish generate, support
350 Shall that shall
351 fell fierce, cruel
352 circuit i.e. crown
354 mad-bred created by madness
354 flaw squall, blast
355 minister ... intent agent of my intentions
357 Ashford town in Kent, south of Canterbury
358 make commotion rouse rebellion
359 John Mortimer like York, a member of the Mortimer family, who were descended from Edward III's third son Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and could thus claim entitlement to the throne 362 till that until
362 darts arrows
365 caper perform a leaping, nimble dance
365 Morisco morris dancer
366 he the morris dancer
366 bells traditionally tied to the dancer's legs
367 Full very
367 shag-haired shaggy-haired, wild-haired
370 notice information
372 John ... dead Mortimer was executed in 1424
373 gait bearing
374 commons' common people's, public's
375 affect favor, incline to
376 taken arrested
376 racked tortured by being strapped upon a frame and having the limbs stretched 378 moved persuaded
379 great like very likely
381 rascal lowborn man/rogue
383 put apart ousted, put aside (perhaps with murderous suggestion) Act 3 Scene 2
2 dispatched done away with, killed (Suffolk shifts the sense to "managed, carried out") 3 to do still to be done (i.e. that we had not done it)
9 venturous risky
11 laid fair tidied, straightened up
15 straight straightaway
17 If (to determine) whether
17 published declared
20 straiter more harshly
21 of good esteem worthy of belief
22 approved in proved guilty of
22 practice culpable guilty plotting, wrongful conspiracy
24 faultless ... man may condemn an innocent and noble man
25 acquit him clear himself
30 forfend forbid
31 tonight last night
34 Rear up raise, support
34 wring twist, squeeze (to restore circulation)
41 raven's note proverbially ominous and associated with death 42 dismal fatal, ominous
42 bereft robbed me of
44 hollow empty, insincere
45 first-conceived original, first perceived
48 affrights frightens
49 baleful deadly
53 basilisk mythological reptile whose gaze had the power to kill 57 rate berate
61 heart-offending heart-wounding (each groan or sigh was thought to deprive the heart of a drop of blood) 66 deem judge, think
67 hollow shallow, insincere
70 reproach censure, disgrace
74 woe sorry
77 adder, waxen deaf in order to resist snake charmers, the adder supposedly blocked one ear with its tail and placed the other to the ground 77 waxen grown
78 forlorn wretched, neglected, outcast
83 nigh nearly
84 awkward adverse, unfavorable
84 bank shore
85 clime land, region
86 but unless (the)
88 unkind hostile, unnatural
89 gentle kindly (i.e. in relation to what follows)
90 he i.e. Aeolus
90 forth forth from brazen strong (as brass); in classical mythology, Aeolus' island is described as being surrounded by bronze walls 93 Aeolus in Greek mythology, the ruler of the winds
95 pretty artful/clever/charming vaulting leaping 98 splitting vicious, jagged, capable of splitting ships
98 sinking sands sands capable of sinking ships
100 Because so that
101 perish destroy
102 ken see, make out
104 hatches deck
106 earnest-gaping eagerly gazing
108 bound in with surrounded by
112 packing gone
112 heart i.e. the jewel (plays on the sense of "affections, desires") 114 wished longed for, desired
116 agent i.e. as Henry's deputy
117 witch bewitch Ascanius son of Aeneas, in whose form Cupid disguised himself so that he could enchant Dido with tales of Aeneas' bravery in the battle of Troy, and make her fall in love with the boy's father; Aeneas responded to Dido's passion, but eventually deserted her 118 madding frantic, maddened by love
120 false inconstant, disloyal
121 can no more cannot goon
121 Commons commoners
127 want lack
128 his revenge payment for his death
129 spleenful enraged
130 order nature, circumstances
134 comment then upon explain
136 rude rough, ignorant
137 stay stop, restrain
140 suspect suspicion
142 Fain gladly
142 chafe restore warmth to
142 paly bloodless, pale
145 trunk body
147 mean obsequies meager funeral rites
147 Enter ... bed i.e. the curtains are drawn to reveal the discovery space, a sizable alcove at the back of the stage 153 my ... death an image of my own death
155 dread revered, awe-inspiring
155 king i.e. Christ
158 thrice-famed well-renowned, much honored
160 instance evidence
161 settled congealed, not flowing
162 timely-parted ghost corpse of a person who has died naturally, at their right time 163 meagre emaciated
164 Being (the blood) having
166 aidance assistance
167 Which i.e. the blood
172 upreared standing on end
173 abroad displayed spread out widely
176 well-proportioned well-shaped
176 rugged shaggy, disheveled
177 lodged flattened
179 probable sufficient evidence
184 keep guard, protect
185 like likely
185 feast entertain
186 well seen obvious
187 belike perhaps
188 timeless untimely
192 puttock bird of prey, especially the kite
199 ease disuse
200 scoured cleaned (often with a thrusting action)
201 badge insignia, sign of allegiance
203 faulty guilty
205 contumelious contemptuous, insolent
206 controller critic
214 stern untutored churl coarse ignorant peasant
214 stock tree trunk/family tree
215 graft united (horticultural image from the practice of grafting a cutting of one plant or tree onto the trunk of another, usually a stronger but coarser tree that allowed the superior cutting to flourish) 215 crab-tree slip cutting o
f a wild apple tree (slip plays on the sense of "moral lapse") 217 bucklers shields (a buckler is a small round shield)
218 And ... fee i.e. by killing you myself rather than you being executed for the murder of Gloucester 218 deathsman executioner
219 Quitting ridding
220 makes me mild makes me restrain myself
222 passed recently uttered
225 fearful homage timorous servility
226 hire payment (i.e. death)
227 Pernicious destructive, wicked
229 presence royal presence
231 cope fight, encounter
234 just justified, with righteousness on his side
235 steel i.e. armor
239 weapons ... presence it was a punishable offense to draw a sword in the presence of the king 251 mere pure, absolute
252 opposite hostile, opposing
253 As ... liking which might be thought to be opposed to your wishes 254 forward in insistent in demanding
257 charge order
258 In on
259 strait strict
263 suffered allowed to remain
264 mortal worm fatal snake
266 whe'er whether
267 fell dangerous, destructive
272 like likely (sarcastic)
272 hinds peasants
275 quaint skillful, cunning
278 sort gang
278 tinkers menders of metal pots and kettles (also applied to beggars or thieves) 282 cited urged, incited
283 purpose intend (to do)
285 Mischance calamity, misfortune
285 state kingly status
286 his i.e. God's
288 breathe infection in contaminate
289 But any more than
290 gentle noble
291 Ungentle discourteous, unkind
296 be'st be
305 tend attend
306 execrations curses
307 heavy sorrowful
311 mandrake plant with forked roots that resembled the human form; it was said to shriek when pulled from the ground, causing madness or death in any who heard it 312 bitter-searching sharp, piercing, probing
314 fixed gritted, clenched
318 beaten flint this stone gives off sparks when it is struck 319 fixed on end standing upright
319 distract frenzied, mad
320 ban curse
323 Gall bile
323 daintiest most refined thing
324 cypress trees often planted in graveyards, they were associated with death 325 prospect view
325 basilisks mythical reptiles that could kill with a look 326 smart painful, sharp
326 lizards these reptiles were often confused with snakes and thought to be poisonous 328 boding ominous
328 consort group of musicians
332 overcharged overloaded
334 leave stop
339 sport entertainment, diversion
343 monuments memorials, mementos
345 these ... seal these lips by the imprint they left on your hand 347 know feel, realize the extent of
348 surmised guessed at, imagined
349 surfeits overindulges and grows sick
349 want deprivation
350 repeal recall from exile
351 Adventure venture, hazard
354 friends plays on the sense of "lovers"
356 Loather more reluctant
360 wert thou thence if you were not in it
362 So provided
364 several various
366 joy enjoy
372 catch the gasp for
376 as as if
377 overcharged overburdened
380 heavy sorrowful
382 an ... loss i.e. the cardinal's old age would mean he did not have long to live in any event 383 Omitting disregarding
385 southern clouds rain was thought to come chiefly from the south 385 contend in compete for
388 by near
388 but as good as
390 die plays on the sense of "have an orgasm"
391 lap plays on the sense of "vagina"
392 breathe ... air i.e. die
394 dug nipple
395 Where whereas
395 from away from
398 turn turn back, return
400 lived would live
400 Elysium heaven or paradise of Greek mythology
401 but ... jest not really to die at all/to play at dying (with sexual connotations) 404 fretful abrasive, aggravating
405 deathful deadly, fatal
408 Iris in Greek mythology, goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of Juno, queen of the gods (plays on the sense of "part of the eye") 411 cask casket
413 bark ship
413 sunder we we are split in two, we separate
413 severally separately
Act 3 Scene 3
3.3 Location: the cardinal's bedchamber
4 So if
6 is seen appears
9 he i.e. Gloucester
14 dust i.e. to which all bodies return
16 lime-twigs twigs smeared with birdlime, a sticky substance used to catch birds 18 of from
21 fiend the devil
24 grin grimace
30 argues testifies to, suggests
32 close tightly
33 meditation reflection and prayer
Act 4 Scene 1
4.1 Location: the coast of Kent
4.1 Ordnance cannon
1 gaudy bright
1 blabbing revealing, telltale
3 arouse awaken jades worn-out horses, but here dragons (who drew the chariot of Hecate, Greek goddess of the night) 5 flagging drooping
6 Clip strike glancingly, skim/embrace, clasp
8 prize captured vessel
9 pinnace small two-masted boat
9 Downs an anchorage off the coast of Kent
11 discoloured i.e. which will be discolored
4.1 Master officer in charge of sailing a ship
13 make boot take advantage, make profit
18 much it too much
19 port social position
22 counterpoised compensated, offset
25 laying ... aboard boarding the captured ship
29 George badge or emblem of Saint George, patron saint of England; part of the insignia of the knightly Order of the Garter 30 Rate value
31 Walter pronounced like "water"
32 affright frighten you
34 cunning man one skilled in magic and fortune-telling calculate my birth cast my horoscope 36 bloody-minded intent on murder/think on my death
37 sounded pronounced
41 sell revenge i.e. ransom prisoners
42 arms coat of arms
48 Jove Roman king of the gods
50 Obscure lowly, insignificant
50 lousy despicable, louse-infested
50 swain rustic, yokel
52 jaded contemptible (language in the next line picks up a play on "jades," i.e. worn-out horses) 52 groom servant/servant who tended to horses
53 kissed thy hand a gesture of respect
54 Bare-headed servants did not wear hats in deference to their masters 54 foot-cloth mule mule used to carry (or possibly wearing) the stately ornamental cloth used to drape a nobleman's horse 55 happy fortunate
55 shook my head nodded in approval/gave the slightest sign of acknowledgment 56 waited ... cup served me drink
57 Fed ... trencher acted as my taster/been supported by my household 57 trencher plate
57 kneeled ... board bowed, served deferentially at the table (board)
59 crest-fall'n humbled
61 voiding lobby antechamber or lobby for those leaving the main chamber 64 charm i.e. silence (with a spell)
65 forlorn swain wretched fellow/neglected lover (of Queen Margaret; or Whitmore mocks the idea of the servant-master relationship Suffolk has just elaborated on) 67 blunt forthright/unthreatening, lacking sharpness
68 longboat the largest boat belonging to a sailing vessel, presumably
used to bring the men ashore 70 for thy own for fear of losing your own head
72 Pole? Suffolk reacts to the insolent use of his family name by an inferior; in his ensuing speech, the Lieutenant puns on "pool"
73 kennel gutter
73 sink sewer
74 Troubles stirs up, muddies
75 yawning gaping
77 sweep the ground either as the body kneels with its head bowed for execution or as the decapitated head falls to the ground, its lips against the dirt 79 Against exposed to
79 senseless unfeeling
79 grin grimace
80 Who i.e. the winds
80 again in response
81 hags of hell the three Furies of classical mythology
82 affy betroth, engage mighty ... king i.e. Henry VI to Margaret 84 subject subjects
85 policy cunning, strategy
86 Sylla Sulla (138-78 BC), notoriously cruel Roman dictator who drew up a list of his enemies who were to be killed 86 overgorged stuffed, glutted
87 gobbets chunks of raw flesh mother's i.e. native country's 89 revolting rebellious
89 thorough through, because of
90 Picardy region of northern France
91 surprised seized
95 As hating in hate of
97 murder ... king i.e. Richard II, who was deposed by Bullingbrook (Henry IV), thus establishing the ascendancy of the house of Lancaster 98 encroaching grasping (wrongfully)
99 whose i.e. the House of York
99 colours military banners (of the House of York)
100 Advance raise, hold up
100 half-faced sun the emblem of Edward III and Richard II consisted of the sun's rays emerging above clouds 101 'Invitis nubibus' "In spite of clouds" (Latin) 102 commons common people
106 god ... thunder Jove (Jupiter), the Roman king of the gods, was traditionally armed with a thunderbolt 107 drudges base servants
109 pinnace i.e. relatively small boat, often in attendance on a larger 110 Bargulus ... pirate a pirate mentioned in Cicero's De Officiis, a standard text in Elizabethan schools 111 Drones ... beehives nonworking male bees (whose sole purpose is to impregnate the queen) were thought to eat the honey other bees had made; equally inaccurate was the belief that beetles sucked eagles' blood 113 vassal servant, slave
115 of with a
116 waft guide, convey
119 Paene ... artus "Cold fear almost entirely seizes my limbs" (Latin) 122 fair courteously
123 imperial commanding
125 we Suffolk uses the royal pronoun
126 suit entreaty
129 bloody pole the heads of traitors were mounted on spikes and displayed on London Bridge; pole puns on Suffolk's family name 130 uncovered hatless (a mark of deference)
133 Hale haul, drag
136 vile low, contemptible
136 Besonians beggars, basemen
137 sworder assassin
137 banditto bandit, lawless
138 sweet sweet-voiced, rhetorically masterful
138 Tully Cicero, famous Roman orator and statesman of the first century BC; in fact, he was killed by a centurion and a tribune, though Thomas Nashe refers to his murder by "slaves"
138 Brutus' bastard rumor had it that Brutus was Julius Caesar's illegitimate son 140 Pompey the Great famous Roman general of the first century BC; he was killed in Egypt, but a play by George Chapman depicted his death on the Greek island of Lesbos 145 mistress "female master," but here predominantly "lover"
Act 4 Scene 2