129 foil dishonor
130 note renown, distinction
131 hilding good-for-nothing
131 livery uniform worn by servants, bearing their master’s insignia
131 squire’s cloth servant’s outfit
132 pantler servant in the pantry
135 thou wert you would (still) be
136 groom servant
136 thou … envy you would be elevated enough to make others envy you
138 comparative … virtues i.e. if your personal merits were compared (you and Posthumus)
138 styled given the title, position of
139 under-hangman assistant hangman
140 For … well for being promoted even that highly
141 south-fog damp fog brought by the south wind, thought to carry diseases
143 named of thee named, mentioned by you
143 meanest garment lowliest item of clothing
144 clipped encompassed, embraced
146 made such men turned into men such as you
150 sprited tormented, haunted (as if by a spirit)
150 with by
153 ’Shrew beshrew, may evil befall
159 aught any, i.e. anyone
165 action lawsuit
168 conceive … me think, I hope, only the worst of me
Act 2 Scene 4
2.4 Location: Rome
2 win win over, persuade
2 bold confident
4 means approaches
6 winter’s state i.e. his relationship with Cymbeline
7 seared withered
8 gratify repay
8 they failing if they fail altogether, i.e. his hopes
11 By this by this time
12 Hath heard of will have heard from
13 throughly thoroughly
14 He’ll i.e. Cymbeline will
14 th’arrearages the arrears (overdue payments of tribute)
15 look upon face
15 whose remembrance the memory of whom
16 yet still
18 Statist politician
19 prove prove to be, come to
23 more ordered better disciplined
25 frowning i.e. with worry
27 their approvers those who put them to the test
27 such … world whose reputation has gone up in the eyes of the world
30 harts deer; i.e. Iachimo’s horses have run as fast as the swiftest deer
30 posted swiftly conveyed, like a post-horse
31 of … corners from all directions
34 your answer i.e. the answer she gave you
34 made is the cause of
38 therewithal in addition
39 casement window, i.e. as prostitutes did when trying to attract customers
42 tenor content, drift
43 ’Tis very like it’s very likely
47 approached arrived
49 sparkles … wont i.e. does this diamond sparkle as brightly as it was accustomed to
57 Not a whit not at all
60 sport amusement
63 keep covenant keep to our bargain
64 knowledge i.e. carnal knowledge
65 question further put this to further dispute
69 wills wishes; plays on sense of “sexual desire”
71 tasted had intercourse with, experienced
71 my hand i.e. a reconciliatory handshake
73 gains … mine i.e. in a duel
74 or … them i.e. because we will have killed each other
76 circumstances list of evidence
80 spare omit
85 watching staying awake for
86 silver silver lace
88 Cydnus river in modern-day Turkey where Antony and Cleopatra first met; the story is recounted in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra Act 2 Scene 2
88 or either
89 press crowd, throng
89 pride i.e. in carrying Antony and Cleopatra
90 bravely splendidly, excellently
92 rarely excellently
102 chimney-piece ornamental carving on the mantel
103 Chaste Dian bathing perhaps depicting the story of Diana and Actaeon; according to classical mythology, Actaeon came upon Diana bathing, for which she turned him into a stag and he was destroyed by his own hounds
104 report themselves i.e. speak
104 cutter carver, sculptor
105 outwent her and outdid her, i.e. nature, in perfection
106 Motion … out except that they could not move or breathe
108 relation likewise reap i.e. have also learned about through hearsay
111 fretted decorated with elaborate carvings
111 andirons firedogs, i.e. a pair of decorative metal supports for burning wood in a fireplace
112 winking i.e. with closed eyes;
112 Cupid, the god of love, was traditionally depicted as blind
113 nicely skillfully, ingeniously
114 Depending … brands leaning on their flaming torches
117 remembrance memory, gift for recollection
118 nothing saves in no way wins/redeems
121 leave permission, opportunity
121 air show, expose it to the open air
122 up away, hidden
128 I … yet I can still see her now
129 outsell exceed in value
131 prized valued, treasured
131 once at one time
136 basilisk a mythical reptile with a fatal gaze
138 semblance seeming, outward appearance
140 bondage binding force, obligation
145 probable capable of being proved/likely
146 corrupted bribed
149 so in this manner, thus
149 Back give back
150 corporal sign piece of physical evidence/a sign relating to her body
151 evident conclusive
156 sworn i.e. they have sworn oaths of loyalty
157 enjoyed her i.e. sexually
158 cognizance badge, token
158 incontinency lack of self-restraint, faithlessness
159 she … dearly i.e. this is what she has paid for the name of whore
160 hire payment, fee
161 you i.e. you and her (Innogen)
164 persuaded who you are persuaded
166 colted mounted sexually
171 present immediate, instant
173 stain mark (the mole); Posthumus shifts sense to “moral blot”
178 turns i.e. the number of times you had sex
179 Once … million i.e. if you’ve had her once, you may as well have had her a million times
184 Thou’st thou hast (you have)
184 cuckold a husband whose wife was unfaithful
186 limb-meal limb from limb
189 besides beyond, outside of
190 government control, management
191 pervert avert, turn aside
195 half-workers co-workers, i.e. is there no way for men to live without women?
195 We … bastards i.e. because there are no faithful women in the world
196 venerable old and worthy of respect
198 stamped made, conceived
198 coiner counterfeit coin maker
201 nonpareil unrivaled person
202 lawful pleasure i.e. marital sex
203 prayed … forbearance often entreated me to restrain my desire
204 pudency modesty
204 rosy presumably referring to her blushes
204 view on’t sight of it
205 Saturn Roman god associated with melancholy and coldness
207 yellow sallow, i.e. dark-complexioned
208 at first straightaway
209 full-acorned boar well-fed male pig
209 German i.e. fierce and fat
211 looked for anticipated
212 encounter sexual encounter
213 woman’s part fault specific to women; plays on sense of “va
gina”
213 motion impulse
217 rank lascivious
218 covetings desires for material objects
218 change of prides continually changing (or variety of) excesses
219 Nice longing wanton desires
219 mutability changeableness, inconsistency
223 still always, constantly
224 but of only
225 so as
226 skill wisdom
227 have their will get their way, have their sexual desires fulfilled
Act 3 Scene 1
3.1 Location: Britain, the royal court
2 remembrance memory
2 yet still
4 theme topic of discussion
6 Famous … it famous because Caesar praised him, but equally for the feats he performed to earn that praise
7 for … succession on behalf of himself and his successors, i.e. future British kings
9 pounds i.e. pounds weight
10 untendered unpaid
11 kill the marvel put an end to the surprise
13 be may/will be
18 from’s from us
18 resume … again we have to take back again
19 liege lord, used to a feudal superior owed duty and allegiance
21 bravery … isle beauty of the land/courage of the inhabitants
22 Neptune’s of Neptune, Roman god of the sea
22 park tract of land held by royal grant used for hunting; also used for an enclosed body of water in which oysters or fish are bred
22 paled in fenced with pales (long, vertical stakes); the coastline was densely forested with trees which formed a sort of unscalable (hard to climb) perimeter fence
24 bear support
25 suck … th’topmast i.e. like quicksand they will suck the ships under until only the topmast (formerly the uppermost mast) is visible
27 “came … overcame” Caesar reported his victory at the battle of Zela in 47 BC with this phrase in Latin: veni, vidi, vici
30 ignorant baubles foolish, inexperienced toys
33 at point ready, just about
34 giglot whore (i.e. fickle, disloyal)
34 master overcome, defeat
35 Lud’s town i.e. London, after King Lud, Cymbeline’s grandfather
40 crooked i.e. hooked, Roman
40 owe own
40 straight powerful, forceful
42 grip i.e. the handle of a sword
46 else otherwise
49 injurious insulting/malicious
52 against all colour without any pretext; perhaps playing on “collar” in conjunction with yoke in the next line meaning “wooden collar fastened to a pair of animals and attached to a plow or cart”
54 Becomes is appropriate for
56 Mulmutius supposedly the first British king (from fourth century BC)
56 which who
57 use application, practice (of the laws)
58 repair restoration
58 franchise enfranchisement
68 confusion destruction
69 pronounce proclaim
70 Thus defied i.e. now that I have issued this declaration
75 perforce by necessity
76 Behoves … utterance obliges me to defend it to the death
76 perfect well aware/reliably informed
77 Pannonians and Dalmatians ancient inhabitants of what are now Hungary and the Balkans
78 precedent example
79 read interpret
79 cold lacking spirit
81 Let proof speak let the outcome of the battle/the battle itself do the talking
82 Make pastime stay
84 saltwater girdle the sea
85 adventure attempt
85 crows birds which feed on carrion, i.e. dead flesh
87 So so be it
88 pleasure desire, aim
89 the remain that remains (to say)
Act 3 Scene 2
1 How? What?
1 Wherefore why
5 As … handed as capable a poisoner by word as by hand
7 truth loyalty
7 undergoes endures
9 take in defeat, conquer
9 some virtue some people’s virtue
12 Upon because of
17 fact deed
20 Senseless bauble unfeeling, worthless thing
21 fedary confederate, accomplice
23 ignorant in to pretend to be ignorant of
27 astronomer includes sense of an “astrologer”
28 characters handwriting
30 relish taste
31 not i.e. not his content
33 med’cinable restorative, able to heal
34 physic love i.e. being apart makes love healthier, stronger
35 wax i.e. used to seal the letter
35 thy leave by thy leave; Innogen is asking its permission for her to break it and read the letter
36 locks of counsel seals to secrecy, private matters
38 forfeiters defaulters of contracts
39 Cupid’s of Cupid, Roman god of love
39 tables writing tablets
42 even renew could not restore
43 Cambria Wales
43 Milford Haven most southwesterly Welsh port
49 mean affairs trivial business
53 bate abate, i.e. qualify what I have just said
54 fainter kind more moderate fashion
55 mine my longing (to see Posthumus)
55 thick fast, the words crammed together
56 bores of hearing i.e. ears
57 smothering overwhelming
58 by th’way on the way
61 steal creep away, surreptitiously go
63 to excuse i.e. how to explain our absence
63 how get hence how to get away
64 Why … begot? i.e. why should an excuse be made before the act which needs excusing has been performed
66 score twenty
66 well possibly/comfortably
67 ’Twixt … hour i.e. in an hour
68 ’twixt … sun i.e. in a day
71 riding wagers horse races with bets on them
73 i’th’clock’s behalf in place of a clock, i.e. an hourglass
74 feign pretend to be affected by
75 home go home
75 presently immediately
76 fit be suitable for
77 franklin small landowner, below the rank of a gentleman
78 you’re best you had better
79 before me what’s in front of me
79 nor neither
80 what ensues what will happen
80 but but that they
Act 3 Scene 3
3.3 Location: Wales, outside Belarius’ cave
1 keep house stay inside
1 with such among those
2 gate entrance
3 Instructs … heavens i.e. by forcing you to bow
4 office divine service
5 jet strut
6 impious turbans i.e. non-Christian (giants were frequently imaged as Saracens in Romance literature)
8 use treat
8 hardly badly
9 prouder livers those who live more ostentatiously
13 these flats this plain
15 place physical position/social rank
15 lessens … off diminishes and enhances
16 revolve consider/turn over in the mind
17 tricks accidents
19 so allowed acknowledged as such
19 apprehend thus look at things in this way
22 sharded living in dung/with scaly wings
22 hold stronghold, refuge
24 attending serving/awaiting
24 for in exchange for
24 check rebuke
25 robe i.e. robe of office
27 Such those who do so
27 gain … fine gain the respect (by doffing the cap) of the tailor that provides their
&n
bsp; 27 fine clothes
28 Yet … uncrossed i.e. the debts in his account book never get crossed off
28 to compared to
29 proof experience
29 unfledged young things; literally of young birds “not yet covered with feathers”
31 air’s from home the air is like away from home
31 Haply perhaps
34 stiff rigid, not flexible or pliant
35 travelling abed i.e. in the imagination, dreaming of going places
37 stride a limit step over the threshold, go out
41 pinching bitingly cold/narrowly restricting
43 beastly beastlike
44 Like as
45 what flies what runs away, i.e. food or prey (as opposed to men who would stand and fight)
49 usuries corrupt financial practices
50 knowingly i.e. from experience
50 art artifice/artfulness
51 keep stay in
54 pain labor, effort
56 oft often
57 record … act i.e. report of good deeds
58 Doth ill deserve i.e. is ill rewarded
59 curtsy … censure bow at the (unjust) reproof
61 report reputation
62 best of note most renowned, distinguished
63 theme topic of discussion
64 as like
67 mellow hangings ripe fruit
68 weather bad weather i.e. ill fortune
69 favour goodwill, especially of a superior or multitude
72 perfect unblemished, true
74 this these
75 demesnes lands, domains
76 at in
78 fore-end early part
78 time life
80 venison deer
81 minister be servants
82 attends … state is an ever-present threat in places of greater status, pomp
84 sparks of nature signs of inherent qualities
87 trained … meanly brought up in such a humble way/in such lowly surroundings
88 they bow i.e. because the roof is so low
88 hit i.e. reach as high as
90 prince it behave like princes
91 trick capacity, skill
94 three-foot i.e. having three legs (a modest item of furniture)
96 say when I say
99 nerves sinews
101 in … figure in a similar fashion/posture
102 much more i.e. than Guiderius
103 conceiving understanding (of the story)
103 Hark … roused! Listen, the quarry (the animal being hunted) is driven from cover!
105 whereon for which reason
107 bar deprive
107 succession successors (to the throne)
108 reft’st robbed
109 nurse wet nurse, i.e. a woman employed to suckle another woman’s children
110 her i.e. Euriphile’s
Act 3 Scene 4
3.4 Location: near Milford Haven