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

  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