Act 1 Scene 3
1 What a plague an oath, like "what the hell"
1 niece Toby may be Olivia's uncle, but "niece" could be used more generally for any female relative 2 care worry/grief
3 troth faith
4 a-nights at night
4 cousin relative
5 ill antisocial
6 except, before excepted plays on the legal phrase exceptis excipiendis ("with the aforementioned exceptions"); essentially Sir Toby says he does not care, Olivia may object all she likes 8 modest moderate
9 confine ... finer I won't restrain myself further/I won't dress more finely 11 An if
13 quaffing copious drinking
16 Aguecheek suggesting thin face of one suffering from a fever (ague) 18 tall brave/noble/of great height (Maria understands the latter meaning) 18 any's any (man) is
20 ducats gold coins (three thousand was a considerable annual income) 21 he'll ... ducats he'll have spent all his money in a year 22 very complete/veritable
22 prodigal excessively extravagant person
23 o'th'viol-de-gamboys the viol da gamba, a bass viol played held between the legs (often has sexual connotations) 25 without book i.e. spontaneously, from memory 26 natural like an idiot
28 allay ... in reduce his taste for
31 subtractors detractors, slanderers
37 coystrill knave
38 o'th'toe head-over-heels
38 parish top large spinning-top (kept rotating by being whipped), provided for parishioners' entertainment 39 Castiliano vulgo! unclear Latin-Italian phrase; possibly "Speak of the devil!"
39 Agueface playful variation of Aguecheek
42 shrew small mouse/troublesome one
44 Accost approach/woo/grapple with
46 chambermaid female attendant
50 front confront
50 board accost (sexual-naval metaphor referring to sex as attacking a ship) 51 assail attack, seduce
52 undertake approach/have sex with (literally, "have her underneath me") 52 in this company in front of spectators
55 An ... so if you let her leave in this way
56 sword symbol of gentlemanly status (with phallic connotations) 58 in hand to deal with (Maria takes the phrase literally; also plays on the idea of masturbation) 61 Marry by the virgin Mary
63 thought is free think what you like (proverbial)
64 th'buttery-bar the ledge created by opening the half-door of the buttery, with play on genitals 65 Wherefore why
66 dry thirsty/shriveled/impotent (supposedly signified by a dry palm) 67 I ... dry alludes to the proverb "fools have wit enough to come in out of the rain"
69 dry jest stupid/ironic
71 at ... ends always ready/literally by the hand
72 barren empty of jests and of Sir Andrew's hand
73 canary sweet wine from the Canary Islands; also continues play on impotence 74 put down snubbed (Sir Andrew plays on the senses of "drunk/impotent") 77 Christian i.e. average man
77 eater ... wit beef was thought to dull the intellect; wit may also signify "penis" and beef "whore," implying impotence as a result of veneral disease 80 forswear it give it up
82 Pourquoi "why" (French)
84 tongues foreign languages
85 bear-baiting spectator sport in which a bear chained to a stake was attacked by dogs 85 the arts liberal arts/academic learning
86 head of hair puns on tongues pronounced "tongs," thus suggesting a barber's curling tongs 87 mended improved
90 becomes suits
91 flax yellow fiber
91 distaff staff used to spin flax
92 housewife woman who keeps house/prostitute
92 take ... off treat Sir Andrew as a distaff and his hair as flax to be spun/have sex with Sir Andrew, resulting in syphilitic hair loss 94 none of me have nothing to do with me
95 count i.e. Duke Orsino
95 hard near
97 degree(social) position
97 estate status/fortune
97 wit intelligence
98 life in't still hope (proverbial)
100 strangest oddest/most extraordinary
100 masques and revels courtly entertainments involving dancing 102 kickshawses trivial distractions/sexual sweetmeats 103 under ... betters except for my social superiors 104 old man expert
106 galliard lively dance
107 cut a caper perform a leap/have sex
108 caper as a berry used in sauce for
108 cut ... to't plays on the sense of
108 mutton; also a prostitute
109 back-trick backward dance step/sex
112 like to take likely to gather
113 Mistress Mall's picture i.e. a portrait protected from dust and light by a curtain (Mall is a diminutive of "Mary") 114 in doing
114 coranto running dance
115 jig rapid, springing dance
115 make water urinate
116 sink-a-pace cinquepace, a lively dance with five steps; may play on the sense of sink as "sewer"
117 virtues talents
118 star ... galliard astrological influence favorable to dancing 119 indifferent moderately
120 damned damnably (the Folio reading "dam'd" is defensible as an intensifier, but it could be emended to, e.g., "damson-coloured" or "flame-coloured") 120 stock stocking
123 Taurus ... heart zodiacal signs were thought to govern parts of the body 124 legs and thighs more usually Taurus was said to govern the neck and throat Act 1 Scene 4
2 Cesario suggests "little Caesar" and perhaps the idea of splitting/separating (as in "Cesarean" and "caesura") 2 advanced promoted
4 humour disposition/capriciousness
10 On your attendance ready to serve you
11 aloof to one side
12 no ... all i.e. everything
14 address thy gait direct your steps
16 them i.e. Olivia's servants
16 grow i.e. take root
17 audience reception by Olivia
20 spokesaid, rumored
21 civil bounds bounds of civilized behavior
25 surprise ambush, take unawares
25 faith faithful love
26 become suit
27 attend listen, pay attention to
28 nuncio's messenger's
28 aspect appearance
30 lad servant/young man
31 belie deceive
32 Diana's lip Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, and chastity; in view of "pipe" and "organ," lip may play on "nether lip" (labia) 33 rubious ruby red
33 pipe voice/penis
34 shrill and sound high-pitched and unbroken
35 is semblative resembles
35 part attributes/role/sexual organ
36 constellation disposition determined by the stars
40 freely independently
43 barful strife effort full of hindrances
Act 1 Scene 5
1.5 Feste From Latin or Italian, festa ("feast" or "festival"), an appropriate name for a fool/clown 2 in by
4 well hanged plays on the sense of "with a large penis"
5 no colours i.e. nothing (literally, military flags); puns on "collars" (nooses) 6 Make that good justify yourself
7 He ... fear i.e. a dead man cannot see (enemy colours)
8 lenten meager (Lent, the time of fasting, was especially associated with puritanism) 11 bold confident/certain
16 turned away dismissed from service
17 Many ... marriage proverbial; good hanging may continue play on the sense of "large penis"
18 for as for
18 let ... out i.e. good weather will make dismissal more bearable 20 points matters (Maria plays on the sense of "laces used to hold up breeches") 22 gaskins breeches
23 Apt quick, witty
23 if ... drinking either never, or suggesting that Maria and Sir Toby would be a good match 25 Eve's flesh woman
27 were best are best advised Malvolio "ill-will" (Latin) 28 an't if it
31 Quinapalus an invented authority, perhaps playing on French qui n'a pas lu ("unread") or mock Italian "him on the stick" (the face on the fool's bauble) 35 Go to expression of impatient dismissal
35 dry dull
36 dishonest undutiful
37 Madonna "my lady" (Italian)
39 dry dull/thirsty
39 mend improve; later plays on the sense of "repair"
40 botcher mender of clothes and shoes
41 patched simply mended, covered up; also alludes to the fool's multicolored costume 43 simple uncomplicated/foolish
43 syllogism reasoning based on two premises (here those concerning virtue and sin) 44 so well and good
44 no ... calamity i.e. one married to calamity will always be faithless 45 cuckold man with an unfaithful wife
45 beauty's a flower i.e. it will fade; Feste advises Olivia to make the most of her youth and beauty, rather than shutting herself away and refusing to marry 48 Misprision error/wrongful arrest cucullus ... monachum "a hood does not make a monk" (Latin) 49 motley multicolored clothing worn by professional fools 50 leave permission
52 Dexteriously skillfully
54 catechize cross-examine (literally, form of Church instruction in which a person answers a set of questions about the Christian faith) 54 Good ... virtue my good virtuous mouse; playful term of endearment 56 idleness pastime
56 bide await/endure
66 mend improve (Malvolio shifts the sense to "grow (more foolish)"
71 no fox not cunning
72 pass give
76 barren dull-witted
76 put down defeated
76 with by
77 ordinary fool unexceptional fool/fool performing at an inn (ordinary)/natural idiot 77 stone may also refer to Stone, an Elizabethan tavern fool 78 out ... guard defenseless (fencing term), i.e. lacking a witty reply 79 minister occasion provide opportunity (for fooling) 79 protest declare
80 crow laugh raucously
80 set unspontaneous
81 zanies assistants
82 of with
83 distempered unbalanced
83 free generous
84 bird-bolts blunt arrows for shooting birds
85 allowed licensed
86 rail rant
87 discreet prudent
87 reprove express disapproval
88 Mercury ... leasing may Mercury, god of deception, make you good at lying 98 madman i.e. rubbish, gibberish
98 Fie expression of impatience or disgust
100 What you will whatever you want to say
101 old stale
104 should be were
104 Jove Roman king of the gods
106 pia mater brain (literally, soft membrane enclosing it) 112 sot fool/drunkard
115 lethargy (drunken) state
116 one someone
119 faith i.e. to defy the devil
119 it's all one it doesn't matter
121 one ... heat one drink beyond that which would warm him 123 drowns makes him excessively drunk/unintelligible/unconscious 124 crowner coroner
124 sit o'my coz hold an inquest on my kinsman
129 yond yonder, that
130 takes ... understand understands
138 sheriff's post decorated post denoting authority, fixed in front of the sheriff's door 138 supporter ... bench furniture support (bench plays on the sense of "court of justice") 141 of mankind i.e. ordinary
143 ill manner i.e. impolite
143 will ... no whether you want to or not
145 personage appearance
147 squash unripe pea-pod (peascod, allusive of genitals--a humorous reversal of "codpiece," a bag worn over the opening at the front of a man's breeches) 147 codling unripe apple, plays on "cod" meaning "scrotum"
148 standing water at the turn of the tide
149 well-favoured good-looking
150 shrewishly sharply/shrilly
155 embassy message/ambassador
160 cast away waste
161 penned written
162 con learn by heart
162 sustain endure
163 comptible sensitive
163 sinister impolite
165 studied learned, memorized
166 out ... part not within my brief
166 modest reasonable
169 comedian actor
170 my profound heart upon my soul/(to Olivia) my wise lady 171 that I play the character I perform
173 usurp counterfeit (Viola shifts the sense to "assume unjust authority over") 175 what ... reserve i.e. Olivia should not withhold herself from love and marriage 176 from outside, not part of
176 on go on
178 forgive excuse from repeating
181 feigned fictional/insincere
181 it in it to yourself
182 saucy impudent
183 wonder marvel
184 if ... brief i.e. if Viola has any sense at all she should go; any sensible message must be conveyed quickly 184 'Tis ... me I am not a lunatic, i.e. not affected by the moon's changes 185 make one take part
185 skipping frivolous, mad
186 hoist sail i.e. prepare to leave
187 swabber sailor who washes the deck
187 hull float, with sails furled
188 Some mollification please pacify/I have pacified 188 giant i.e. Maria; a joke about Maria's small size and/or Maria resembles a giant in a romance tale who guarded a lady 191 courtesy introduction, preamble/etiquette
191 fearful frightening, alarming
191 Speak your office perform your task, deliver your speech 192 overture disclosure
193 taxation of homage demand for money on behalf on a superior lord 193 olive olive branch, symbol of peace
194 matter real substance
195 rudely i.e. by being saucy at the gates
198 entertainment reception
199 maidenhead virginity
199 divinity sacred
200 profanation blasphemy
202 text theme/topic drawn from the Bible for discussion in a sermon 204 comfortable comforting
206 bosom heart
207 chapter as of the Bible
208 answer ... method continue the metaphor
213 out of straying from
214 curtain i.e. veil covering Olivia's face (picture)
215 such ... present i.e. here I am (Olivia speaks of her face as if it was a recent portrait) 217 if ... all i.e. if all Olivia's beauty is natural, rather than cosmetic or touched up by the metaphorical painter 218 in grain indelible, i.e. all natural
219 truly blent genuinely blended/realistically painted 219 red and white i.e. lips (or rosy cheeks) and skin 220 cunning skillful
221 she lady
222 graces beauties
223 copy replica in the form of a child (Olivia plays on the sense of "list") 225 divers schedules several inventories
225 inventoried itemized
226 utensil article, feature
227 indifferent adequately
229 praise puns on "appraise," i.e. evaluate 231 if even if
233 but recompensed, though no more than repaid, even if 234 nonpareil paragon
236 fertile abundant
239 suppose consider
241 In ... divulged well regarded in popular opinion 241 free honorable/generous
242 dimension ... nature physical form
243 gracious graceful, attractive
245 flame passion
246 deadly death-like
250 willow cabin shelter made from willow branches, a symbol of unrequited love 251 my soul i.e. Olivia
252 cantons songs
254 Hallow shout/bless
254 reverberate echoing
255 babbling ... air like that of Echo, whose unrequited love for Narcissus meant she wasted away to a mere voice 255 gossip chatter
260 fortunes position as a servant
260 state social status
260 well satisfactory
267 fee'd post hired messenger
269 Love ... love may Love harden the heart of whomever you fall in love with 276 blazon heraldic coat of arms, which could only be displayed by a gentleman 276 Soft wait a moment
277 the ... man i.e. Orsino and Cesario could change places 277 man servant
278 catch the plague i.e. fall in love
284 peevish headstrong
285 county's count's, i.e. Duke Orsino's
286 Would I whether I wanted it
287 Desire ask
287 flatter with i.e. encourage
288 hold ... hopes sustain him with false expectations 290 Hie hasten
293 Mine ... mind my eyes (through which love enters) may have betrayed my reason 294 owe own
Act 2 Scene 1
1 Nor ... not do you not wish
3 patience permission
3 darkly ominously
4 malignancy evil influence
4 distemper spoil, unbalance
5 crave entreat
5 leave permission
6 evils misfortunes
9 sooth (in) truth
9 determinate intended
10 extravagancy wandering
11 modesty propriety
11 am ... in wish to keep secret
12 it ... manners politeness compels me
13 express reveal
14 called said was
15 Messaline unclear, possibly Marseilles or Messina, or invented by Shakespeare 16 an hour the same hour (they are twins)
18 some about an
19 breach breaking waves
23 estimable wonder admiring judgment
23 overfar too greatly
24 publish speak openly of/celebrate
25 envy malice
27 more i.e. tears
28 entertainment reception (for one so worthy)
29 your trouble the trouble I put you to
30 murder ... love i.e. by making me leave you 33 recovered rescued, brought back to life
34 kindness tenderness/natural affection (for my sister) 34 yet still
35 manners ... mother i.e. a womanish inclination to weep 36 tell ... me i.e. betray my feelings by crying 38 gentleness good favor
40 Else otherwise
42 sport recreation
Act 2 Scene 2
1 ev'n just
2 on at
3 but hither only this far
7 desperate assurance hopeless certainty
8 hardy bold in his affairs on his business 9 taking of this understanding of this message/reception of the ring 10 it the ring
12 peevishly willfully, foolishly
13 so in the same manner, i.e. thrown
14 eye plain sight
17 outside appearance
18 made ... of had a good look at
19 lost made her lose
20 starts bursts
20 distractedly with agitation/madly
22 in by way of
22 churlish blunt, ungracious
25 were better would be better off
27 pregnant resourceful
27 enemy probably Satan
28 proper-false attractive but deceitful (men)
29 set their forms make their impressions (like seals in wax) 30 our ... be i.e. because women are made of frail material, we are weak 32 fadge turn out
33 monster unnatural creature (being both man and woman) 33 fond dote