Richard III (Modern Library Classics)

  8 enforcement coercion/rape

  9 tyranny for trifles severe punishment of minor crimes/oppressive behavior even with regard to trivialities 10 got begot, conceived

  15 Laid open revealed/described/elaborated on

  16 discipline strategic skill

  17 bounty generosity fair honorable

  18 fitting for relevant to

  19 slightly neglectfully

  30 recorder civic official in the City of London

  32 inferred alleged

  33 in ... himself on his own authority

  35 hall i.e. the Guildhall

  37 the vantage advantage

  39 general public/widespread

  40 Argues demonstrates

  41 even here at this point

  41 brake broke

  42 blocks blockheads, idiots

  43 brethren members of the town corporation

  44 Intend pretend, feign

  44 fear an intimidating manner/religious veneration/fearfulness 45 suit request, entreaty

  46 look make sure

  48 ground base melody

  48 descant accompaniment to or improvised variation on the ground, or underlying melody 49 won persuaded

  50 maid's young woman's/virgin's

  50 still constantly, repeatedly

  50 and take it yet have sex all the same

  52 for myself on my own behalf/for my own advantage

  53 issue outcome

  54 leads lead-covered flat roof

  55 dance attendance am being kept waiting, am eager to be seen 61 bent occupied, concerned/bent over (in prayer)

  62 suits affairs, petitions (especially legal)

  63 exercise prayers

  66 deep very important, profound

  66 moment significance

  67 No less importing concerning no less a matter

  71 lulling lolling, reclining

  73 dallying toying sexually, having sex

  73 brace pair

  74 deep learned, profoundly wise

  74 divines priests

  75 engross fatten

  76 watchful alert/awake

  77 Happy fortunate

  78 his grace plays on the ducal title and on the sense of "divine grace" (suggesting a God-given right to the crown) 80 defend forbid

  89 perfect complete

  92 beads rosary beads

  93 zealous pious, devout

  93.1 aloft i.e. on the upper staging level, or gallery 95 props supports

  96 stay keep fall of moral fall caused by

  102 right rightful/genuine, true/extremely

  106 visitation visit (especially by an ecclesiastical body); Richard is deliberately employing language with religious connotations 111 disgracious disilked

  112 reprehend my ignorance rebuke me for the fault I am unaware of 115 Else ... land? Why else do I live as a Christian (if not to amend my faults)?

  118 sceptred involving the bearing of a royal scepter

  119 state position, rank/kingship

  119 of fortune to which fortune entitles you

  120 lineal hereditary

  121 blemished morally tainted (through illegitimacy)

  121 stock family tree (sense subsequently shifts to "tree trunk") 124 want lack

  124 proper rightful, own

  125 infamy bad reputation, disgrace

  126 graft grafted, i.e. united (as in horticulture) 126 plants may pun on "Plantagenet"

  127 shouldered shoved (possibly "immersed up to the shoulders") 127 gulf abyss/whirlpool

  129 recure redress, cure

  133 factor agent

  134 successively by right of succession

  135 empery sovereign dominions

  136 consorted united, in league

  137 worshipful honorable/respectful

  139 move persuade

  142 degree rank or perhaps "spiritual condition"

  142 condition social status

  143 not to I do not

  143 haply perhaps

  144 yielded consented

  146 fondly foolishly

  149 checked (would have) rebuked

  153 desert Unmeritable unworthiness

  155 cut away with sinister connotations of "cut off, killed"

  156 even direct, smooth

  157 revenue possession/yield, income

  160 greatness i.e. kingship

  161 bark ship

  161 brook endure, withstand

  162 in ... hid desire to be enveloped by greatness

  163 vapour mist/spray

  165 much I need I would need a great deal (i.e. I am inadequate) 166 royal tree i.e. King Edward IV

  167 mellowed matured

  167 stealing creeping (forward)

  168 become suit, befit

  168 seat throne

  170 that what

  171 happy auspicious, favorable

  172 defend forbid

  172 wring wrench

  173 argues shows, is evidence of

  174 respects thereof factors in your argument

  174 nice unimportant, trifling

  178 contract ... vow the verbal contract entered into at betrothal was considered binding 180 substitute deputy, delegate

  181 sister sister-in-law

  182 petitioner Elizabeth Grey catches Edward's eye when she entreats him for the return of her dead husband's lands (see 3 Henry VI, Act 3 Scene 2) 183 care-crazed fraught, worn out with anxiety

  186 purchase booty, plunder

  186 wanton lustful

  187 pitch height (literally, the highest point in a falcon's flight) 188 base declension descent to baseness

  188 bigamy i.e. because Edward had been engaged to two other women previously 190 our manners courtesy

  191 expostulate expound on, argue about

  192 some alive i.e. Richard and Edward's mother, the Duchess of York 193 sparing considerate, forbearing

  195 benefit benevolent bestowal

  195 dignity honor, high rank, kingship

  199 true-derived legitimate, directly descended

  203 care duty, trouble, source of anxiety

  207 as being, because (you are)

  207 zeal devotion

  210 effeminate tender, gentle

  212 estates social ranks

  226 buckle i.e. like armor;

  226 my back draws attention to Richard's hunched back 230 sequel consequences

  231 Your ... me the fact that you forced me shall acquit me mere absolute 241 Even just, exactly

  Act 4 Scene 1

  4.1 Location: outside the Tower of London

  4.1 Anne ... Gloucester i.e. Lady Anne, who has married Richard at some point since his wooing of her in Act 1 Scene 2

  4.1 leading a girl probably Clarence's daughter 1 niece granddaughter

  4 tender young

  10 like devotion same devoted purpose

  11 gratulate greet, welcome

  17 suffer allow

  22 bounds boundaries

  25 in law i.e. by marriage

  27 office responsibility, official duty

  31 mother mother-in-law (of Elizabeth and Anne)

  32 looker-on beholder two fair queens i.e. Elizabeth and Anne (as wife of Richard, who is shortly to be crowned) 33 straight (go) straightaway

  35 lace cords that fastened the tightly laced bodice (often cut when a woman became faint) 36 pent confined, penned in

  38 Despiteful cruel, malicious

  44 Richmond i.e. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (later Henry VII), who had sought refuge in Brittany 44 from away from

  45 hie hurry

  47 thrall slave

  48 Nor neither

  48 counted accounted, acknowledged

  51 letters ... way i.e. the letters will be sent to Dorset while en route/the letters will ask George Stanley to meet Dorset on the way and assist his journey/the letters will enable Dorset to be introduced to and assisted by Richmond when he reaches Brittany 51 son stepson (Richmond), or possibly Stanley's own son George 53 t
a'en tardy caught by surprise

  54 ill-dispersing evil-spreading

  56 cockatrice basilisk, a mythical reptile that could kill with its gaze 57 unavoided unavoidable

  60 inclusive enclosing

  60 verge band, rim

  63 Anointed anointing with holy oil was a key part of the coronation 66 To ... harm Do not wish yourself harm just to satisfy my mood 70 other angel husband my other (first) husband, who was an angel/my first husband, who was a different (i.e. good) type of angel (implying that Richard is the fallen angel Lucifer) 74 old experienced/worn-out

  81 Grossly stupidly/excessively/coarsely

  86 timorous full of fear

  87 Warwick with Clarence, the Earl of Warwick deserted the Yorkist cause 89 complaining lamentations

  98 teen grief, suffering

  101 immured imprisoned, closed in

  103 Rude harsh, rough

  103 ragged rugged, eroded

  103 sullen dismal, melancholy

  105 So such/thus foolish fond, doting

  Act 4 Scene 2

  4.2 Location: the royal court, London

  4.2 pomp ceremony, splendor, celebration

  1 apart aside

  9 play the touch act the touchstone (used to test the validity of gold) 10 try test

  10 current genuine

  17 consequence outcome

  18 true noble prince Richard adapts Buckingham's phrase so that it applies to Edward 19 wont ... dull accustomed to be so stupid

  21 suddenly immediately

  26 breath breathing space

  27 positively definitively, directly

  28 resolve answer

  30 iron-witted dull-witted, stupid, obtuse

  31 unrespective inattentive, disrespectful

  32 considerate thoughtful

  33 High-reaching ambitious

  37 close secret

  39 haughty proud, aspiring

  40 orators persuasive speakers

  45 deep-revolving deeply thoughtful, musing

  45 witty sharp, clever

  46 counsels secrets, confidences

  47 held out kept up

  55 take order make arrangements

  55 close shut away

  56 mean humble, low-ranking

  58 The boy i.e. Clarence's son

  59 how thou dream'st i.e. pay attention (perhaps Catesby is shocked) 59 give Out make it known

  61 it ... upon it is very important for me

  63 brother's daughter i.e. Edward IV's daughter Elizabeth 67 pluck on draw on

  68 Tear-falling pity mercy, compassion that induces weeping 72 Prove test, try

  73 friend plays on the sense of "relative"

  78 deal upon deal with, act against

  80 open unrestricted

  83 token some symbol of authority, perhaps a ring

  84 There ... so that is all there is to it

  85 prefer advance, promote

  88 late recent

  88 sound me in ask me about

  91 he i.e. Richmond

  93 pawned pledged

  94 movables portable property

  96 look to beware, watch

  97 answer be answerable for

  101 peevish foolish, childish

  103 resolve answer, satisfy

  104 vein mood

  108 Brecknock Brecon in Wales, Buckingham's family seat Act 4 Scene 3

  2 arch extreme, foremost

  4 suborn bribe

  5 ruthful lamentable, sad

  6 fleshed experienced (hunting term referring to feeding hounds with raw meat to excite them for the chase) 8 their ... story In telling the sad story of their deaths

  10 girdling hugging, encircling

  11 alabaster i.e. white (the substance was often used for human figures that formed part of funeral monuments) 15 Which one which, which thing

  18 replenished complete, perfect

  19 prime first

  19 framed created

  20 gone overcome

  22 bloody bloodthirsty

  26 gave in charge ordered

  34 soon and i.e. soon

  35 process account, story

  37 be ... desire you shall get what you wish 40 close securely, privately

  41 meanly ... marriage I have married to a low-ranking man 42 Abraham's bosom i.e. heaven

  44 for because Breton from Brittany (where Richmond is taking refuge) 46 by that knot through that marriage

  49 bluntly unceremoniously, abruptly

  50 Morton John Morton, Bishop of Ely (whom Richard asks for strawberries in Act 3 Scene 4) 51 hardy bold, resolute

  52 power army

  53 near deeply

  54 rash-levied rapidly mustered

  55 fearful commenting nervous talk

  56 leaden servitor the slow servant

  57 leads precedes, generates

  57 beggary ruin

  58 expedition speed, quick action

  59 Jove's Mercury swift messenger of Jove, king of the Roman gods 60 My ... shield the best advice is to arm myself/arms shall be my advisers (i.e. let us not waste time discussing matters) 61 brief swift

  61 brave the field challenge us on the battlefield

  Act 4 Scene 4

  4.4 Location: unspecified; probably somewhere near the royal court

  1 mellow ripen

  3 confines regions, territories (of England)

  5 induction introduction, opening scene

  6 consequence unfolding events and their conclusion

  10 unblowed young and unopened, not yet in bloom

  10 sweets flowers/dear ones

  12 in doom perpetual eternally in the place appointed for you 15 right for right even-handed justice

  17 crazed cracked

  19 Edward Plantagenet could refer to Edward IV or his son 20 quit requite, repay

  21 Edward for Edward probably refers to Elizabeth's son and Margaret's (with Henry VI) 23 entrails insides, intestines

  25 Harry Henry VI (Margaret's husband)

  27 grave's ... usurped i.e. one who should have died but remains living 28 abstract summary/epitome

  29 lawful own proper, that is rightfully England's

  31 thou i.e. the earth

  31 afford offer

  36 seniory seniority

  37 on ... hand from the superior position

  38 admit society permit company

  39 Edward Margaret's son with Henry VI (murdered by Richard, Edward IV and Clarence; see 3 Henry VI. Act 5 Scene 5) 40 husband Henry VI (murdered by Richard; see 3 Henry VI, Act 5 Scene 6) 41 Edward Elizabeth's eldest son with Edward IV

  42 Richard Elizabeth's second son, the young Duke of York 43 Richard the Duke of York, the Duchess' husband (killed by Margaret and Clifford; see 3 Henry VI, Act 1 Scene 4) 44 Rutland the Duchess' youngest son (murdered by Clifford; see 3 Henry VI, Act 1 Scene 3) 44 holp'st helped

  48 teeth ... eyes i.e. could bite before he could see properly; Richard was born with teeth 49 worry seize by the throat

  50 defacer ... handiwork i.e. murderer (perhaps also alludes to Richard's own deformed physique) 51 galled irritated, swollen (from weeping)

  52 excellent supreme

  54 upright righteous, just

  54 true-disposing arranging all justly

  55 carnal cur flesh-eating dog

  56 issue offspring, children

  57 pew-fellow fellow mourner

  57 moan lamentations, grief

  58 triumph glory, exult

  61 cloy me gorge myself

  62 Thy Edward Edward IV

  62 my Edward Margaret's son with Henry VI

  63 other Edward Elizabeth's eldest son with Edward IV

  64 Young York Elizabeth's second son, the young Duke of York 64 but boot merely added to make up the total

  64 both they Edward IV and his eldest son

  65 perfection ... loss completeness, extent of the loss I experience/excellence of the people I have lost 67 frantic mad, frenzied

  68 Th'adulterate the adult
erous (Hastings; refers to his affair with Jane Shore) 70 intelligencer spy, secret agent

  71 Only reserved solely kept alive (to be)/exclusively selected (as) 71 factor agent, representative

  80 bottled swollen (with venom), rounded, bottle-shaped

  80 bunch-backed hunchbacked

  81 vain flourish meaningless, frivolous adornment

  82 shadow illusory, fragile image/actor

  82 painted artificial/made-up with cosmetics

  83 presentation imitation

  84 flattering index deceptively attractive prologue

  84 pageant play

  86 mocked taunted/imitated, play-acted

  87 dream mere image

  87 flag army's identifying banner, highly visible in battle/type of flower belonging to the iris family 89 sign mere symbol/military banner

  89 dignity monarchy

  90 in jest for entertainment/pretend

  90 fill the fulfill the requirements of/make up numbers in 93 sues pays court, entreats

  94 bending bowing/yielding

  95 troops retinues

  96 Decline go through in order (grammatical term)

  97 For instead of

  98 mother

  98 name i.e. of

  100 caitiff wretch

  100 care troubles, grief

  101 of by

  104 course ... about an image that recalls the popular conception of fortune as a wheel that raised humans up and cast them down as it came full circle 105 very absolute

  106 thought i.e. memory

  113 mischance misfortune

  117 Forbear refrain, refuse

  121 Bett'ring amplifying

  121 bad causer person responsible for the evil

  122 Revolving considering, reflecting on

  123 dull lifeless, sluggish/blunt

  123 quicken enliven/sharpen

  126 Windy ... woes (words are) empty, wind-blown representatives of the grief of the speakers 127 intestine internal (both in the sense of "experienced within" and in the sense of "digestive," the latter making words into farts) 129 scope range, room

  134 exclaims outcries, exclamations

  135 expedition military enterprise/haste

  136 might i.e. should

  138 From i.e. to prevent

  140 branded i.e. branded with

  141 owed owned

  143 villain wicked one/servant

  148 flourish trumpet fanfare (usually signaling the arrival or departure of a person in authority) 148 alarum call to arms

  149 tell-tale prattling

  150 Rail rant

  150 lord's anointed i.e. the king, supposedly chosen by God and anointed with holy oil at the coronation to signify this 151 entreat me fair plead with me courteously

  152 report loud noise, specifically the explosion of a gun or cannon 156 impatience anger

  157 condition temperament

  158 brook ... reproof bear the language of rebuke

  163 stayed waited

  166 rood cross

  169 Tetchy fretful

  169 wayward willful, obstinate

  170 frightful frightening

  170 desp'rate reckless

  171 prime early years

  172 age confirmed maturity

  173 kind in hatred concealing hatred in kindness (kind may play on the sense of "natural") 174 comfortable cheerful, comforting