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    Love's Labour's Lost

    Page 23
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      223 cross thwart

      223 cause … born i.e. fate

      224 of all hands in any case

      225 rent torn

      227 rude ignorant, rough

      227 savage uncivilized

      227 Ind India

      228 opening dawning

      229 vassal submissive

      231 peremptory determined

      231 eagle-sighted eagles were supposed to be able to look directly into the sun

      234 fury frenzy

      236 She i.e. Rosaline

      236 attending attendant

      236 scarce … light barely visible

      238 but were it not

      238 my love i.e. the woman I love

      239 the culled sovereignty those chosen as the best

      241 worthies beings of excellence

      241 dignity (supreme) excellence

      242 wants is lacking

      242 want desire

      243 gentle well-born

      244 Fie expression of disgust

      244 painted artificial

      245 of for

      246 passes surpasses

      246 then … blot thus any praise is inadequate and defames her

      247 fivescore winters worn a hundred years old

      249 varnish improve, give luster to

      250 the crutch i.e. old age

      250 cradle’s infancy i.e. youth

      252 black as ebony dark/unattractive

      254 were felicity would be bliss

      255 book i.e. Bible

      257 If … look unless beauty learns how to look from Rosaline’s eye

      258 fair beautiful/pale

      258 full so black so completely dark-complexioned

      260 hue complexion/color

      260 school academy (though some editors emend to “scowl” or “stole”)

      261 beauty’s crest i.e. the sun

      261 becomes graces, befits

      262 resembling … light when they pose as angels

      264 It i.e. she/her beauty

      264 that the fact that

      264 painting … hair cosmetics and wigs

      265 doters infatuated fools

      265 false aspect deceptive appearance

      267 favour … days face inverts what is conventionally thought beautiful

      268 native blood natural redness, a rosy complexion

      268 counted painting considered artificial (i.e. to be rouge)

      269 red natural rosiness

      269 dispraise disparagement

      272 colliers coal vendors

      273 crack boast

      275 come in expose themselves to

      276 colours cosmetics/sparse natural color

      280 then i.e. on doomsday

      281 vile worthless/unattractive

      282 here’s i.e. Longaville’s shoe

      284 dainty light, delicate/refined

      285 goes walks

      285 what upward lies i.e. what is up her skirt

      289 prove demonstrate using logic

      291 there that’s the point

      291 flattery … evil pleasing self-deception to justify our oath-breaking

      293 quillets subtle distinctions/quibbles

      294 salve healing ointment

      295 need necessary

      296 Have at you let me at it/here goes

      296 affection’s … arms love’s soldiers

      299 state majesty/status

      302 And where … the following twenty-three lines are enclosed within solidi because, although they appear in the early printed texts, they seem to be Shakespeare’s first draft of the lines that follow; they should be cut in performance

      310 Promethean fire i.e. illumination (Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to mankind)

      329 fiery numbers passionate poems

      331 slow arts dull or more serious learning

      331 keep occupy

      332 barren unresponsive, unfruitful

      335 immurèd walled up

      337 Courses runs/chases

      337 power faculty/function

      339 Above … offices beyond their ordinary abilities

      343 the … stopped even the alert thief hears nothing

      344 sensible sensitive

      345 cockled having a shell

      346 Bacchus Roman god of wine

      346 gross inferior, coarse

      347 For as for

      348 climbing … Hesperides Hercules’ eleventh labor was to pick the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides

      349 Subtle wily

      349 Sphinx mythological creature who killed anyone who couldn’t answer her riddle

      350 Apollo Greek sun god, also god of music

      353 durst dares

      354 tempered blended

      358 still … fire continually with the heavenly fire stolen by Prometheus

      359 academes academies

      361 Else otherwise

      361 aught anything

      365 loves is loved by/inspires love in/is a friend to

      366 authors creators

      367 whom may pun on “womb”

      368 once for once/only once

      370 religion within the boundaries of our beliefs

      371 charity … law biblical allusion: “he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8)

      374 Advance your standards raise up your flags (with phallic connotations)

      374 upon them to them (with sexual connotations)

      375 Pell-mell with no regard for order/at close quarters (sexual connotations)

      375 be first advised first take care

      376 get … them make sure the sun is in their eyes (thus giving you the advantage; puns on “[be]get the son”)

      377 dealing puns on sense of “having sex”

      377 glozes elaborate speeches

      382 attach seize (legal term)

      384 strange novel, unusual, exceptional

      384 solace entertain

      387 Forerun run before

      389 betime happen

      389 fitted used appropriately

      390 Allons! “Let’s go!” (French)

      390 Sowed … corn wheat won’t be harvested if weeds are planted

      391 whirls … measure is distributed evenly

      392 Light merry/frivolous/promiscuous

      393 copper small coins

      393 treasure vaginal connotations (plagues in previous line suggests sexual disease)

      1 Satis quod sufficit “what is provided is sufficient” (i.e. “enough is as good as a feast”)

      2 reasons observations

      2 dinner main meal eaten in the middle of the day

      3 sententious full of wise remarks

      4 affection affectation

      4 audacious bold

      5 opinion arrogance

      5 strange new

      6 quondam (the) “other”

      7 intituled entitled

      7 nominated named

      9 Novi … te “I know the man as well as I know you”

      10 peremptory determined

      10 filed smooth

      12 thrasonical boastful

      12 picked fastidious

      13 peregrinate affectedly foreign (i.e. with the manner of one who has traveled)

      14 table-book notebook

      16 staple fiber/material

      16 argument subject matter

      16 fanatical extravagant/flamboyant

      17 phantasimes fantastical people

      17 insociable unsociable

      17 point-device over-precise

      18 rackers of orthography torturers of correct spelling

      18 fine thinly/affectedly; alternatively, a misprint for “sine b” (“without the letter b”)

      20 clepeth calls

      21 vocatur “is called”

      22 abhominable plays on the popular misconception that the word was derived from Latin ab homine—i.e. “away from man/unnatural”

      23 insinuateth suggests, i.e. drives me to

      23 insanie insanity

      23 Ne intelligis, domine? “Do you understand, sir?”

      25 Laus �
    �� intelligo “Praise God, I understand well”

      26 Priscian … scratched i.e. your Latin is slightly wrong (Priscian was an ancient grammarian whose works were still used in the sixteenth century)

      28 Videsne quis venit? “Do you see who is coming?”

      29 Video et gaudeo “I see and I rejoice”

      30 Chirrah! either mispronunciation of “sirrah” or the Greek chaere (“hail”)

      31 Quare “why”

      36 alms-basket charity basket of food for the poor

      37 eaten … word puns on pronunciation of Moth’s name as mot (“word” in French)

      38 long … head tall

      39 honorificabilitudinitatibus state of being honored, supposedly the longest word in Latin

      40 flap-dragon edible object, such as a raisin (plucked from burning brandy and swallowed as part of the game of flap-dragon)

      41 peal loud uproar/bell ringing

      42 lettered educated (Moth understands “literate”)

      43 hornbook paper displaying the alphabet, numbers, prayers etc. protected by a thin layer of horn

      45 pueritia “childishness,” i.e. child

      46 Ba sound made by a sheep

      46 silly foolish

      48 Quis “who”

      48 consonant nonentity, since it cannot be sounded without vowels

      51 i interrupted by Moth, Holofernes inadvertently identifies himself (I) as the sheep

      52 concludes it finishes the list/proves my point

      52 o, u i.e. “oh you/ewe”

      53 Mediterraneum Mediterranean

      54 touch hit (scored against an opponent)

      54 venue thrust (in fencing)

      54 Snip, snap remarking on Moth’s quick wit; “snip-snap” is also “smart repartee”

      54 home on the target

      56 wit-old pun on “wittold” or “wittol”—i.e. a contented cuckold

      57 figure figure of speech

      58 Horns i.e. of cuckoldry

      59 disputes reason

      60 gig spinning top

      62 manu cita “with a ready hand”

      65 halfpenny i.e. little

      66 pigeon-egg i.e. small egg

      66 discretion good judgment

      67 wert were

      68 ad dunghill corruption of ad unguem, i.e. “to the fingernail,” exact in detail

      71 Arts-man scholar

      71 preambulate (let us) walk

      72 barbarous uncivilized

      72 charge-house school

      74 mons plays on mons veneris, pubic mound

      76 sans “without” (French)

      77 affection desire

      78 congratulate pay respects to

      78 posteriors buttocks, i.e. later parts

      79 rude ignorant

      80 generous noble

      80 liable apt

      81 congruent suitable

      81 measurable fitting

      82 culled chosen

      84 familiar close friend

      85 inward private

      86 courtesy manners (in wearing your hat)

      87 apparel cover

      88 designs plans

      89 by the world mild oath

      91 excrement that which grows out of the body, such as hair and nails; also, feces

      92 sweet heart i.e. dear friend

      93 recount no fable am not telling untruths

      95 all of all essence

      97 chuck chick (term of endearment)

      98 ostentation public display

      98 antic extravagant spectacle

      99 firework i.e. fireworks display

      101 withal with this

      102 end purpose

      103 Nine Worthies popular subject for entertainments, featuring three Jews (Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabaeus), three pagans (Hector of Troy, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar), and three Christians (Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon)

      104 entertainment spending of

      107 illustrate illustrious

      113 swain i.e. Costard

      113 great … joint i.e. he has a big build (possible phallic joke)

      114 pass pass for/represent

      114 Pompey the Great famous Roman general of the first century BC

      116 club play on penis size

      117 have audience be heard

      117 in minority as a child

      118 enter entrance

      118 strangling a snake as a baby, Hercules strangled two snakes sent by Juno to kill him

      119 apology formal explanation

      120 device scheme

      128 attend listen

      129 fadge works out, succeeds

      131 Via “come along”

      135 make one take part

      136 tabor small drum

      136 hay winding country dance

      2 fairings gifts

      3 A … diamonds! presumably an ornamental lady’s portrait surrounded by diamonds

      8 margent margin

      9 fain … name obliged to place his seal over Cupid’s name (as he had written everywhere)

      10 godhead i.e. Cupid’s

      10 wax grow (puns on the wax of the seal; plays on idea of an enlarging penis)

      11 five … boy a child since the world was created

      12 shrewd cunning/mischievous

      12 unhappy trouble-causing

      12 gallows someone who deserves to be hanged

      13 a … sister i.e. she died for love

      14 heavy sorrowful

      15 light merry/light-hearted/promiscuous

      17 grandam grandmother

      19 dark hidden

      19 mouse term of affection

      19 light word frivolous talk/word “light”

      20 condition disposition

      22 taking … snuff trimming the wick/taking offense (proverbial)

      23 darkly obscurely/enigmatically

      24 Look what whatever

      24 do it plays on sense of “have sex”

      25 light wench i.e. unchaste

      26 not i.e. not the same as

      27 weigh esteem

      27 that’s that means

      28 past … cure there’s no point worrying about what can’t be helped (proverbial); some editors transpose “care” and “cure”

      29 bandied exchanged, tossed to and fro

      29 set game (of tennis/wit)

      30 favour love token

      32 would wish

      36 numbers true poetic meter correct

      36 numbering enumeration/calculation

      38 fairs beautiful women

      41 letters lettering

      41 praise content

      43 text B elaborately written capital B, possibly for “black” or “Berowne”

      43 copy-book writing practice book

      44 ’Ware beware

      44 pencils fine paintbrushes

      44 Let … debtor i.e. I’ll not owe you an insult, I’ll get my own back (proverbial)

      45 red dominical red lettering used to mark Sundays of the church year in calendars

      45 golden also used to mark Sundays or Easter, or a reference to Katherine’s hair

      46 O’s possibly small scars caused by smallpox

      47 pox curse (may pick up on the idea of smallpox scars)

      47 beshrew curse

      47 shrews vexatious, scolding women

      51 twain two

      54 translation expression

      55 simplicity foolishness/lack of skill

      60 would wish

      60 these … part perhaps Maria has bound the chain around her hands

      62 purchase deserve, earn

      64 in by th’week fully ensnared

      66 the season for the right time

      66 observe the times keep to the rules

      67 prodigal lavish, excessive

      67 bootless useless

      69 make … jests make him feel grateful even for Rosaline’s proud mockery of him

      70 pert aunt like Folio’s “pertaunt” (Quarto “perttaunt”) is unexplained: perhaps “like a lively older woman” (or with French tante for “aunt”?), though many e
    mendations have been proposed, including “planet-like,” “fortune-like,” and “pair-taunt-like” (supposedly a strong hand at cards)

      70 o’ersway overrule

      71 his fate controller of his destiny

      72 surely securely

      74 warrant authorization

      77 gravity seriousness/respectability

      77 wantonness foolish, uncontrolled, desirous behavior

      78 note stigma/reproach

      79 dote behave foolishly

      80 all … simplicity the wise man will use his intelligence to demonstrate the wisdom of folly

      86 Arm prepare (for combat)

      86 Encounters mounted are skirmishes are prepared

      88 surprised ambushed

      89 Muster assemble (like troops)

      91 Saint Denis patron saint of France

      91 to against

      92 charge load/fire

      92 breath i.e. words

      92 scout spy

      93 sycamore tree associated with melancholy

      95 purposed intended

      96 might behold addressed saw approaching

      98 by nearby

      99 overhear hear told again

      100 by and by shortly

      102 conned learned

      102 embassage message

      103 Action appropriate gestures

      103 accent verbal delivery

      105 ever and anon every now and then

      105 made a doubt voiced their fear (that)

      106 majestical regal

      106 put him out disconcert him/make him forget his lines

      112 wag mischievous young man

      113 rubbed his elbow gesture of satisfaction

      113 fleered grinned

      115 with … thumb i.e. snapping his fingers

      116 Via! “Come along!”

      117 capered leaped/danced joyfully

      118 turned … toe pirouetted

      121 spleen ridiculous ludicrous fit of merriment

      122 check restrain/reprimand

      125 Like … guess no rhyme for this line, so a line may be missing

      126 parley enter into conversation

      127 love-feat perhaps a misprint for “love-suit”

      128 several individual

      130 gallants fine gentlemen/suitors

      130 tasked tested

      132 grace privilege

      133 Despite of suit in spite of entreaty

      134 Hold … dear these two lines might be a first draft of the two that follow

      138 change exchange

      139 removes exchanges

      140 most in sight conspicuously

      142 cross thwart

      145 counsels private intentions

      145 unbosom disclose

      146 loves mistook i.e. the wrong women

      146 withal with this

      148 visages displayed faces visible, i.e. unmasked

      150 to the death i.e. we’d rather fight to the death than

      151 penned composed

      151 render yield

      151 grace favor

      153 kill … heart discourage his affection

     


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