Thanks as always to our indefatigable and eagle-eyed copy editor Tracey Day and to Ray Addicott for overseeing the production process with rigor and calmness.
Picture research by Michelle Morton. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for assistance with picture research (special thanks to Helen Hargest) and reproduction fees.
Images of RSC productions are supplied by the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive, Stratford-upon-Avon. This library, maintained by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, holds the most important collection of Shakespeare material in the UK, including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s official archive. It is open to the public free of charge.
For more information see www.shakespeare.org.uk.
1. Ellen Terry (1896) Reproduced by permission of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
2. Directed by Peter Hall (1957) Angus McBean © Royal Shakespeare Company
3. Directed by Bartlett Sher (2001) Malcolm Davies © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
4. Directed by Adrian Noble (1997) Malcolm Davies © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
5. Directed by William Gaskill (1962) Tom Holte © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
6. Directed by Bill Alexander (1987) Joe Cocks Studio Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
7. Directed by David Jones (1979) Joe Cocks Studio Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
8. Directed by John Barton (1974) Joe Cocks Studio Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
9. Directed by Dominic Cooke (2003) John Haynes © Royal Shakespeare Company
10. Directed by Emma Rice (2006) Ellie Kurttz © Royal Shakespeare Company
11. Reconstructed Elizabethan Playhouse © Charcoalblue
Act 1 Scene 1
1.1 Location: the British royal court (the play moves between ancient Britain and Rome)
1 but frowns who does not frown
1 bloods dispositions, temperaments
3 Still … king mimic the king’s emotions; seem suggests a lack of sincerity
6 purposed to intended for, i.e. to marry
7 late recently
7 referred … Unto given herself to/chosen
9 all … heart i.e. Cymbeline is deeply wounded whereas the courtiers’
9 outward sorrow is false
13 He … her i.e. Cloten
15 bent inclination
19 missed failed to win; also suggests Innogen’s lucky escape
19 thing contemptuous being, beneath humanity
22 creature living being, suggesting he is beyond common humanity
24 his like like him
24 something … compare anyone chosen for comparison would have some fault to distinguish them
26 outward physical appearance
26 stuff substance, quality
27 Endows … he so enriches/is to be found in any other
28 speak him far speak highly of him
29 extend … himself i.e. praise him no further than he deserves
31 measure true capacity
32 birth parentage/social status
33 delve … root properly trace his family history
34 honour fame, renown; also himself and his forces
35 Cassibelan Cymbeline’s uncle
36 by from, under
36 Tenantius Cymbeline’s father
38 sur-addition added title
38 Leonatus means “born of a lion” (Latin)
42 fond of issue doting on his children
44 Big of pregnant with
47 of his bedchamber a personal servant
48 learnings education
48 time age/experience
50 fast as fast
51 in’s … harvest reached maturity even in his youth
52 rare unusual
53 sample example, model
54 glass mirror
54 feated them displayed them to themselves
54 graver more important, influential persons
55 dotards old fools
56 her own price the price she paid/her personal merit
57 Proclaims shows, proves
57 how to what extent/in what manner
57 his … read the very fact that she chose Posthumus demonstrates his worth
60 even out of based only on
65 I’th’swathing clothes in the swaddling (i.e. baby) clothes
70 conveyed taken away, stolen
71 slackly negligently, loosely
73 Howsoe’er ’tis strange strange as it may seem
77 forbear cease/give way
77 Posthumus meaning “after death” (Latin); so named from the deaths of his parents before and at his birth, with the name “Leonatus” living on in him
77 Innogen Folio’s “Imogen” is probably a misprint or scribal error; she is called Innogen in Shakespeare’s source material, which suggests “innocence”
80 After the slander as in the conventional unjust image
83 restraint loss of liberty, perhaps an actual prison cell
84 win win over, persuade
85 marry by the Virgin Mary, i.e. indeed
87 leaned unto went along with, obeyed
87 with … you with what resignation, compliance you must decide
89 Please if it please
90 from hence leave here
91 peril danger (in staying since Posthumus is banished)
92 fetch a turn take a walk
92 pitying because I pity
93 pangs … affections pains caused by forbidden love
94 charged ordered
95 dissembling false, feigned, deceitful
98 reserved … duty having always dutifully obeyed him as a daughter
100 hourly shot continual glare; the eye was thought to emit beams at objects in order to see them
106 more … man i.e. join you in crying; not considered appropriate for a man
108 plight troth take marriage vows; the phrase was more often associated with engagement
111 thither there, to that place
113 gall an excrescence produced by insects on oak trees used to make ink/bile (a bitter secretion of the liver) hence bitterness of spirit, rancor
118 buy interpret, believe (wrongly)
121 term period of time
122 loathness reluctance, unwillingness
125 petty inadequate
131 cere wrap in a burial cloth
133 sense the ability to feel/control one’s actions
134 As … you just as you gave up more than me for our marriage, you do so again in our exchange of gifts
135 trifles small, insignificant tokens
138 fairest prisoner i.e. Innogen’s arm
140 see meet, see each other
141 Alack expression of sorrow, regret
142 basest most worthless (morally and socially)
142 avoid hence get away
143 fraught burden/trouble
147 good remainders remaining courtiers/virtuous courtiers
149 pinch pain, torment
152 repair restore, renew, prolong
156 senseless of insensible to
156 touch more rare greater pain (caused by Posthumus’ departure)
159 past grace Cymbeline means beyond filial duty, but Innogen shifts the sense to “beyond heavenly grace/salvation”
162 puttock kite, seen as an inferior bird to the eagle/greedy scavenger
170 overbuys … pays i.e. the price he has paid is almost twice my worth
174 neatherd cowherd
178 after in accordance with
180 Beseech I beg
183 best advice calm meditation on the matter
184 languish … folly grow weak by loss of a
184 drop of blood a day for the rest of her life until she is old and dies
187 Fie … way unclear as to whether this is said to Innogen or the departing Cymbeline
189 drew i.e. his sword
194 no … anger wasn’t angry enough to fight seriously
197 takes his part does his duty/takes the king’s side
199 Afric i.e. a desert or remote place where they could fight without intervention
201 goer-back one who retreats, backs off
202 suffer allow
203 haven harbor
207 lay wager
Act 1 Scene 2
1 shift a shirt change your shirt
1 violence … sacrifice i.e. your fight (with Posthumus) has made you smell (through sweat or fear) like a sacrificial animal
2 where … vent the air you give out (vent) is more wholesome than the air that comes in to replace it (ironic flattery)
3 abroad outside (you)
5 then to then I would
7 not … as nothing more than
8 passable carcass would pass for a dead body/a body that can be stabbed (passed) through
10 His … town Cloten’s sword (steel) rather went around the backstreets like a debtor trying to avoid a creditor
12 stand me stand his ground/stand up to me
17 As … oceans i.e. none at all
17 Puppies! Conceited young fools!
19 till … ground i.e until you were fallen prostrate on the ground
22 election choice, with a pun on salvation; in Calvinist doctrine, the predestined elect were to be saved
25 She’s … sign she has a good physical appearance
26 reflection evidence, indication; the Second Lord shifts the sense to “the literal reflection of light” (i.e. her radiance which fools are unable to absorb and would dazzle her)
26 wit intelligence, judgment (perhaps with sexual connotation of “genitals”)
29 would there had I wish there had
32 ass i.e. Cloten
36 Well very well
Act 1 Scene 3
1 grew’st unto took root like a plant (by remaining there so long)
2 And … sail scrutinized every approaching ship
4 offered mercy perhaps God’s mercy, but a letter (paper) seems to favor the image of a king’s pardon arriving too late
5 spake spoke
9 Senseless inanimate
12 make me make me out, distinguish me
13 keep remain on
15 as as though
15 fits … mind mental anguish, unsettled thoughts
16 slow … on reluctant he was to leave
18 Thou … crow you should have waited until he appeared no bigger than a crow
19 ere left before you ceased
20 after-eye gaze after
22 eyestrings muscles, nerves in the eye; thought to break when a person died or went blind
23 diminution of space reduction, contraction of the size of everything
24 pointed fashioned to a point, i.e. made him as small as her needle’s point
30 With … vantage at his next opportunity
35 shes women
36 interest right
37 At … midnight three of the hours specified for prayer by the Christian Church
38 T’encounter … him i.e. they can meet in heaven through prayer
38 orisons prayers
41 charming acting as a charm, a spell to ward off evil
42 north the north wind, which shakes buds as it blows, and stops them growing
Act 1 Scene 4
1.4 Location: Rome
1.4 Philario means “loving, dear” (Greek)
1.4 Iachimo the modern Italian spelling is Giacomo (James)
2 of … note growing in reputation, like a crescent moon
3 been … of been recognized as
4 without … admiration without feeling any particular sense of admiration for him
5 endowments qualities, attributes
5 tabled listed
11 behold … he i.e. there were many as noble as Posthumus there; eagles, the noblest birds, were thought to be able to stare at the sun
13 weighed judged, assessed
14 words … matter allows for him to be described in ways which falsely magnify his own worth
16 approbation approval, praise
17 divorce physical separation
17 under her colours from her side
18 be it but if only
18 fortify support, justify
19 battery military assault
20 sojourn temporarily stay
21 creeps acquaintance has he insinuated himself into your acquaintance
25 suits is appropriate, suitable
25 knowing knowledge/experience of the world
29 story … hearing speak about him/sing his praises in front of him
30 we … together we have been acquainted
32 which … still which I will spend forever repaying, although I will still be in debt
34 atone make peace between, reconcile
35 put together set in opposition with each other
35 mortal deadly, fatal
38 rather … experiences preferred not to go along with what others said
42 arbitrament of settlement (of the dispute) by
48 suffer the report bear recounting
49 fell out took place
50 our country mistresses the women of our own countries/the women we have sex with (country puns on “cunt”)
51 vouching claiming, swearing
51 and … affirmation with a pledge to back up what he said with bloodshed if necessary
53 attemptable able to be seduced
56 by … out by now is worn out
57 holds retains
57 mind opinion
60 abate her nothing not budge in any part of my high opinion of her
60 profess myself confess I am
62 hand-in-hand comparison which seeks to imply equality
64 went before surpassed, were superior to
68 rated estimated
69 esteem value
70 enjoys possesses
71 unparagoned unequaled, matchless
72 outprized … trifle surpassed in value by an insignificant thing (the ring)
73 or either
79 You … yours you may be able to call her yours in the legal sense (because you are married)
80 ring plays on sexual sense of (Innogen’s) “vagina”
81 brace pair
81 unprizable estimations objects considered beyond value
82 frail subject to human weakness
82 casual subject to mischance, precarious
83 that-way-accomplished courtier i.e. a womanizer, one who can court successfully
86 convince persuade/overcome
88 store plenty, an abundance
89 leave here leave off now
91 familiar at first on familiar terms right from the start
92 get … yielding succeed in advancing upon; fencing terminology with strong sexual undertones
94 friend befriend/become intimate with (with sexual implication)
96 pawn the moiety wager one half
96 to against
97 something somewhat
99 bar your offence prevent you taking it as a personal affront
101 abused deceived
102 persuasion conviction
102 you … of you will get what you deserve
107 came in came about
109 put my estate bet all my capital
110 th’approbation the proof
113 ten thousand ducats anachronistic; ducats were gold coins used in Italy in Shakespeare’s time, not in ancient Rome; a huge sum even for a rich nobleman
114 commend if you recommend
115 conference meeting
1
17 reserved preserved/averse to displays of emotion
118 wage pledge, bet
120 friend … wiser i.e. as her lover you know her well
121 dram very small amount
121 preserve stop, prevent
122 But … fear perhaps alluding to Psalm 3:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”
122 that since
124 but … tongue just your way of speaking, i.e. just idle talk
125 graver more serious
126 undergo undertake
129 covenants drawn between’s terms of (legal) agreement drawn up between us
132 have … lay not allow this wager
134 testimony proof
136 come off fail
138 commendation (letter of) introduction, recommendation
139 free entertainment informal, friendly reception (both words are capable of a sexual interpretation)
140 articles betwixt us i.e. a legal agreement, drawn up
141 make … her seduce her; with blatant sexual connotations
148 covenant agreement, i.e. let’s shake on it
150 lest … starve i.e. in case we have time to calm down and reflect, and end up calling it off
153 Will this hold will they really go through with this
154 from it back down
Act 1 Scene 5
1.5 Location: Britain, the royal court
1 Whiles … ground while the dew is still on the ground; plants were believed to be at their freshest, most potent when covered with dew
2 note list
4 Dispatch see it done
7 without offence without (wishing to cause) offense
8 wherefore why
9 compounds compounded drugs, i.e. drugs made by mixing different chemical elements together
10 are … of cause
10 languishing long and drawn-out
11 But … deadly and although they work slowly, they are, nevertheless, deadly
14 learned taught
15 Distil? Preserve? extract the essences from plants and preserve them
15 Yea so indeed so well
17 confections mixtures (drugs)
18 meet appropriate
19 amplify … conclusions extend my knowledge through other experiments
20 try test
20 forces effects
23 vigour strength
24 Allayments antidotes
24 act effect
25 several various
29 noisome and infectious physically noxious, harmful/morally corrupting
30 content thee don’t worry