23 fair regard consideration, respect/is well respected 25 courses actions, behavior
27 mortified killed/subdued by self-denial
29 Consideration meditation, self-reflection
30 th'offending Adam i.e. original sin, the result of the biblical Adam and Eve's disobedience to God 31 paradise i.e. place of innocence, like Eden before Adam and Eve sinned 32 spirits traits of character (perhaps plays on the sense of "supernatural celestial beings") 35 heady currance strong current
35 scouring cleaning away
36 Hydra-headed in Greek mythology, the Hydra was a monster who grew two new heads for every one that was cut off 37 seat throne/position
44 all in all entirely, exclusively
45 List listen to
46 rendered ... music i.e. described eloquently
47 cause of policy political issue, explanation of statecraft 48 Gordian knot proverbially too intricate to undo (a prophecy decreed that whoever could untie the knot would rule Asia; Alexander the Great cut it with his sword) 49 Familiar ... garter as easily as his garter (band tied around leg to keep up hosiery) 50 chartered privileged, licensed
50 libertine free spirit
53 practic practical
54 Must ... theoric must have taught him how to theorize 55 glean have learned
56 courses vain idle, worthless behavior
57 companies companions
57 unlettered illiterate, ignorant
57 rude rough, coarse, uncivilized
58 riots debauched, disorderly behavior, revelry
59 noted was seen
60 sequestration retreat into privacy
61 open public
61 popularity associating with the public, low company 65 obscured disguised, hid
65 contemplation meditation, thought
68 crescive ... faculty growing, in accordance with its natural function 70 needs necessarily
70 means natural cause
73 mitigation reducing (the severity of)
74 commons the House of Commons, parliament
75 Incline to favor
77 upon toward
78 th'exhibitors against us i.e. those who are putting forward the bill 80 Upon on behalf of
80 convocation assembly, gathering
81 causes matters, legal issues
82 opened disclosed, explained
82 at large in full
83 touching concerning
85 Than ... withal than the clergy ever gave to any previous monarch 85 withal with
89 fain gladly
90 severals particulars
90 unhidden passages clear, undisputed lines of inheritance 93 Edward i.e. Edward III
99 embassy message
Act 1 Scene 2
1 gracious holy, filled with divine grace
2 presence the royal presence
5 cousin term of address used by members of the nobility
5 resolved satisfied, decided about
7 task occupy
9 become grace, honor
12 justly precisely/in a legal sense
12 unfold reveal, explain
13 law Salic a law preventing inheritance through the female line 14 Or either
14 bar prevent, obstruct
16 fashion ... bow shape, twist, or bend
16 reading interpretation
17 nicely charge burden through ingenious subtlety
18 opening titles miscreate expounding false claims
19 Suits ... colours i.e. does not match
21 drop their blood i.e. be injured or die
21 approbation putting to the test
23 how ... person i.e. what you commit me to
25 charge command
28 complaint lament
29 wrongs grievances/wrongdoings
31 conjuration solemn appeal
32 note pay attention
39 Pharamond legendary French king
42 gloss define
47 floods rivers
47 Sala and of Elbe rivers in Germany (Sala is now Saale) 48 Charles the Great Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor and eighth-century French king 51 dishonest manners unchaste behavior
52 to wit that is to say
53 inheritrix heiress
54 'twixt between
60 defunction death
61 Idly foolishly
62 within ... redemption i.e. AD
64 seat settle, establish
66 Besides in addition
68 heir general legitimate heir (claiming through male or female lines) 74 find supply, refine
76 Conveyed himself pretended to be
77 Charlemagne Charles II, rather than the Charlemagne mentioned earlier 79 King ... Tenth an error for Louis IX, thirteenth-century king of France; the slip appears in Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's source here 81 quiet peace of mind
84 lineal a direct descendant
90 satisfaction i.e. of his lineage
91 hold in rely on, derive from
93 Howbeit however
93 would wish to
95 net i.e. tangle of contradictory legalities/network of lineal justifications (rather than a direct line)/possibly refers to the proverbial "you dance in a net and think nobody sees you"--i.e. try to conceal what is obvious 96 amply openly
96 imbar bar claim to/make bare, reveal
96 crooked false/indirect
97 progenitors ancestors
99 The ... head i.e. if the claim is false, the moral blame will lie with Canterbury 99 dread revered
100 book ... daughter a reference to Numbers 27:8
103 Stand for defend/uphold
105 great-grandsire's i.e. Edward III's
106 From ... claim i.e. as whose ancestor you make this claim; Edward was descended through his mother from the French king Philip IV
107 Edward ... France the English defeated France at the battle of Crecy, 1346; Edward III had given command of his armies to his eldest son, the Black Prince
111 lion's whelp cub
112 Forage plunder/eat greedily
113 entertain engage, meet with
116 for through lack of
117 valiant dead i.e. Henry's ancestors
118 puissant powerful
120 renowned made famous
126 former ... blood i.e. kingly ancestors; the lion is the symbol of kingship, and appears on the royal coat of arms 130 Whose ... England i.e. who are already imagining themselves in France 131 pavilioned in military tents
133 right i.e. rightful claim to the French throne 134 spiritualty clergy
139 lay ... proportions allocate troops
140 make road invade
141 advantages opportunities
142 marches northern border regions
144 borderers i.e. the Scottish
145 coursing snatchers swift-riding raiders (from hare-coursing with greyhounds; the "snatch" was the act of capture) 146 intendment intention
147 giddy wild, unstable
150 unfurnished unprotected
151 breach hole, gap (in this instance in a sea wall) 152 brim i.e. total
153 Galling vexing, wounding
153 gleaned stripped (of defenders)
153 hot fast/hot-tempered
153 assays attacks
154 Girding surrounding
156 th'ill neighbourhood poor neighborliness, hostility 157 She i.e. England
158 hear ... herself i.e. listen to instructive examples from the past 159 chivalry knights, protectors
162 stray stray dog
163 king ... France David II of Scotland was captured and imprisoned by English forces in 1346; Edward III was in France at the time but David was not, in fact, sent there 164 fame reputation
165 their i.e. Edward and England's
165 chronicle historical account
166 ooze mud
168 ELY spoken by Ely in Folio, but many editors reassign to WESTMORLAND, who speaks the corresponding lines in Shakespeare's chronicle sources (would the Bishop contradict his
superior, the archbishop?) 171 in prey out hunting
175 'tame attame, i.e. break into
175 havoc destroy
177 crushed forced, distorted
179 pretty clever
181 Th'advised the sensible, prudent
182 high ... parts divided into melodies of differing pitches 182 high ... lower i.e. of three different social groups 183 consent harmony
184 Congreeing coming together, agreeing
184 close cadence
187 divers various, different
189 aim target
189 butt archery target
193 king Aristotle's belief that the queen bee was male remained influential 194 correct enforce order
196 stings bee stings/staffs used as weapons
197 Make boot upon plunder
198 pillage spoils, booty
200 majesty royal responsibilities
201 masons stonemasons, builders
202 civil civilized, orderly
203 mechanic engaged in manual labor
205 sad-eyed justice solemn judge
205 surly stern
205 hum "hmm"--noise signifying displeasure or deliberation/noise made by a bee 206 executors executioners
207 drone male bee whose sole function was to impregnate the queen; they died after mating or were cast out of the hive to die 208 having ... consent working together for an agreed cause 209 contrariously in opposed ways
211 mark target
211 ways roads
213 close converge, meet
213 dial's sundial's
215 borne carried out
217 happy fortunate
219 withal with it
219 Gallia Gaul, i.e. France
222 worried anxious, concerned/shaken in the jaws of a dog 223 policy statesmanship, strategy
224 dauphin title of the heir to the French throne
225 well resolved free from doubt/determined
227 bend ... awe make it revere us
228 Or there either
229 large great/generous/unrestrained
229 empery sovereignty
233 with full mouth loudly, with mouth wide open
235 Turkish mute a Turkish slave, perhaps a castrated harem guard, who has had his tongue cut out to ensure secrecy 236 waxen i.e. quickly worn away and forgotten 237 pleasure wish, intention
241 render deliver
241 in charge been ordered (to say)
242 sparingly with restraint and delicacy
242 far off indirectly, more generally
245 Unto ... subject i.e. his temper is ruled by his Christian goodness 246 fettered chained
249 in few in brief
250 sending into i.e. sending an ambassador with his claims 254 savour smell, have a flavor
255 advised warned/informed
256 galliard lively dance
258 meeter more suitable
259 tun box, chest
264 pleasant merry, jocular
266 rackets tennis rackets/noisy assaults of war
268 crown royal crown/coin staked on a game of tennis, which gave its name to the final point scored in the game 268 hazard danger/opening in the wall of a tennis court; a ball that entered it became unplayable so no point could be scored 269 wrangler quarrelsome opponent
270 courts tennis courts/royal court
271 chaces double bounces of the ball in tennis before it is returned, hence no points/hunts, pursuits 272 comes o'er us assumes superiority, taunts us
273 measuring judging
274 seat throne
275 hence i.e. away from the court
276 licence wild freedoms
278 state throne/dignity, kingship
279 sail of greatness fully unfurled power
280 rouse me raise or rear up
281 For that with that ultimate glory in mind
282 like ... days i.e. like a common man
286 mock act of mockery
287 balls tennis balls (may also play on the sense of "testicles") 287 gun-stones cannon balls
288 charged burdened (plays on the sense of "loaded with ammunition") 288 wasteful damaging
292 ungotten not yet conceived
297 venge me revenge myself
298 well-hallowed holy, much blessed
305 omit ... hour do not neglect any favorable opportunity 306 furth'rance help
308 to for
309 proportions military resources
312 God before with God on our side
313 chide rebuke, punish
314 task employ
315 fair honorable/favored/lawful
315 on ... brought get under way
315 Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority Act 2
1 on fire i.e. burning to fight
2 silken dalliance fine clothes/idle pastimes
6 mirror i.e. model, example
7 winged ... Mercuries i.e. swiftly, like Mercury, messenger of the Roman god Jove; he wore winged sandals 9 hilts crosspiece by the handle
10 coronets small crowns, worn by some members of the nobility 12 intelligence information obtained by spying
13 preparation equipped military force
14 pale fearful, cowardly, ineffective
14 policy stratagems, intrigue
16 Model to replica of
18 What i.e. what great things
18 would i.e. would have
19 thy children i.e. Englishmen
19 kind honorable/full of natural family affection
21 hollow empty/false
21 bosoms hearts/clothing covering the breast, in which a purse could be concealed 22 crowns gold coins
26 gilt gold
27 fearful frightened
28 this ... kings i.e. Henry V
30 Ere before
30 Southampton port on the south coast of England
31 digest break down/set in order
32 Th'abuse of distance i.e. the violation of the theatrical unity of place as the action moves to Southampton
32 force cram full
38 charming casting a spell over
39 pass passage
40 offend one stomach offend good taste/make anyone seasick 41 till ... then i.e. this accounts for the fact that the following scene takes place in London Act 2 Scene 1
2.1 Location: in London, but unspecified, probably a street
2.1 Nym means "thief" or "to thieve"
2 morrow morning
3 Ancient ensign, i.e. soldier responsible for carrying military banners 3 Pistol pronounced "pizzle," generating a pun on the sense of "penis"
4 part possible sexual quibble on the sense of "penis"
4 time ... serve i.e. opportunity arises
6 wink close both eyes
6 iron sword (perhaps with phallic connotations)
7 what though what of it
8 there's an end i.e. that's that (end may play on the sense of "penis") 9 bestow give
10 sworn brothers avowedly loyal brothers-in-arms
12 certain certainty, fact
14 rest last resolve (term from card-playing referring to the final, reserved stake) 14 rendezvous last resort, refuge
16 troth-plight engaged, betrothed (a much more binding contract than it is now) 18 cannot tell do not know
21 though ... plod plod on, wait her turn; Nym may hint at eventual revenge on Pistol 24 host innkeeper (Pistol picks up on the sense of "pimp") 25 tike dog, mongrel
26 keep lodgers rent out rooms/run a brothel
27 troth faith
28 live ... needles make a respectable living from taking in sewing (but prick plays on the senses of "penis/sexual penetration" and needles on "vaginas") 30 bawdy house brothel
30 straight bawdy house
30 well-a-day exclamation of dismay
31 draw i.e. draw their swords
31 lady i.e. by our Lady (the Virgin Mary)
31 drawn refers to his sword being out/his penis being erect 33 offer start, attempt
&nb
sp; 34 Pish! exclamation of contempt, disgust
35 Iceland dog species of lap dog with an abundance of long, rough hair (being a lap dog may generate sexual connotations: one that burrows into ladies' laps) 35 prick-eared pointy-eared/with an eagerly erect penis/having cuckold's horns (men with unfaithful wives were popularly supposed to grow horns) 35 cur dog
36 valour honor/courage
36 put up sheathe, put away
38 shog off go away
38 solus alone
39 egregious outrageous
42 maw throat/stomach
42 perdy i.e. par dieu, French for "by God"
44 retort return
44 bowels intestines, guts
45 take catch fire/have sex
45 cock is up pistol is cocked, ready to fire/penis is erect 46 fire the retort of the gun/the burning effects of venereal disease 47 Barbason name of a demon
47 conjure summon/control
48 humour inclination, mood (governed by one of the four "humors," or bodily fluids believed to influence health and disposition) 48 indifferently fairly
48 foul insulting, foul-mouthed/dirty from firing/syphilitic ("the foul disease") 49 scour clean (a gun) with a scouring-rod/stab/have sex 49 rapier light sword used for fencing
50 fair terms plain language/justly, legitimately/terms that are not foul, like Pistol's 50 prick stab (with sexual connotations)
52 braggart boaster
52 wight person
54 exhale i.e. draw your sword
56 run ... hilts i.e. plunge my sword all the way into him 58 mickle much
59 fist hand
59 fore-foot hand, paw
60 tall bold, valiant
63 'Couple a gorge!' i.e. Couper la gorge!--French for "Cut the throat!"
65 hound of Crete hairy dog
66 spital hospital
67 powd'ring tub sweating tub for the treatment of venereal disease 67 infamy bad reputation
68 lazar leprous
68 kite bird of prey/prostitute
68 Cressid's in classical legend, Cressida was the unfaithful lover of Troilus; in Robert Henryson's Testament of Cressid she gets leprosy 69 Doll Tearsheet Doll was a common name for a prostitute; Tearsheet is similarly suggestive, evoking vigorous sexual activity sufficient to tear the bedsheets 69 espouse marry
70 have ... hold familiar phrase from the marriage service 70 quondam former (her name has changed through marriage) 71 only she i.e. unequaled female
71 pauca "few" (Latin), i.e. few words 73 my master i.e. Falstaff, companion of Henry's wild youth (see 1 and 2 Henry IV)
75 put ... warming-pan i.e. because his face is fiery red from drinking 75 warming-pan flat, closed dish used to hold hot coals 78 yield ... pudding i.e. die (proverbial, referring to providing the crow with dead flesh to eat) 79 king ... heart on coming to the throne, Henry rejected Falstaff and his former wild companions (see 2 Henry IV, Act 5 Scene 5) 80 presently immediately/soon
86 Base poor, low (in spirit/in money)
88 manhood shall compound i.e. valor will decide (in a fight) 91 Sword ... oath plays on " 's word"--i.e. "by God's word," a common oath
92 an if
94 put up sheathe (your sword)
95 noble gold coin worth six shillings and eightpence
98 Nym may play on the meaning of the name: "thieving"