1 came from horse dismounted
2 ne’er … now i.e. the longing I have now (to see Posthumus) exceeds my mother’s longing to see me for the first time
6 but painted thus i.e. who looked like that in a picture
7 perplexed troubled, distressed/confused
8 self-explication the ability to explain themselves
8 put … fear i.e. don’t act in such a frightening way
9 ere before
10 staider calmer, more settled
11 tender’st thou do you offer
11 paper letter
12 summer i.e. good
13 to’t before i.e. before giving it to me/in accordance with it (the good news)
13 winterly i.e. bad
14 But only
14 hand handwriting
15 drug-damned Italy Italians had a reputation for knowledge of poisons and other substances
15 out-craftied outwitted through guile
16 hard point tight spot, difficult situation
16 tongue … extremity i.e. telling me what’s in it may help me bear the worst
18 mortal fatal
23 testimonies evidence
23 lies … me i.e. has cut me to the quick
25 grief injury/anguish
27 tainted contaminated
30 pander procurer, pimp
32 What why, for what purpose
35 Outvenoms is more poisonous than
35 worms of Nile serpents of the Nile; the allusion is to the asp, which Cleopatra used to kill herself
36 posting winds i.e. speeding, like a post-horse, the winds carry the slanderous news far and wide
36 belie deceive, spread lies over
37 states people of high rank, statesmen/countries
42 ’twixt … clock from hour to hour
42 charge overcomes, i.e. so that I go to sleep
46 Thy conscience witness perhaps addressed to the absent Posthumus
47 incontinency unchastity, lack of sexual self-control
49 favour’s appearance is
49 jay whore, literally a brightly colored bird
50 painting use of cosmetics
51 stale out of date/a lover made the object of ridicule for a rival’s amusement
52 richer … th’walls too valuable to just hang on a wall (like an old coat)
53 ripped torn up for reusing/violently destroyed
54 seeming outward show, appearance
55 revolt reversal of ideas/betrayal
56 born where’t grows natural
57 worn deliberately put on
57 bait lure, temptation
59 being heard like who were heard to speak like
59 Aeneas hero of Virgil’s Aeneid, who swore love to, and then deserted, Dido, who committed suicide as a result
60 Sinon wept crocodile tears outside the walls of Troy to persuade the Trojans to admit the wooden horse containing the Greek warriors who destroyed the city
61 scandal discredit, disgrace
61 took … wretchedness prevented truly wretched cases from receiving any pity
63 leaven agent for fermenting dough
65 fail failure
67 witness testify to
69 mansion dwelling place
75 vile instrument i.e. his sword
79 self-slaughter suicide
81 cravens makes a coward of
82 afore’t in front of it
82 soft not so fast, wait
82 we’ll no defence I shan’t defend myself
83 Obedient … scabbard i.e. as willing to receive the sword as the scabbard is
84 scriptures … heresy Posthumus’ letters are likened to sacred writings, which, because of his breaking faith with love, are now heretical, sacrilegious
86 faith truth/honesty
87 stomachers decorative breast coverings
90 Stands … woe is worse off (because guilty)
91 set up initiate, instigate
92 suits love-suits, wooing
93 princely royal/fine
94 It … rareness my love for you/my disobedience against my father was no ordinary thing, but one born of exceptional qualities, circumstances
96 disedged dulled, blunted, plays on sexual sense
97 tirest feeds (ravenously, like a bird of prey)
98 panged afflicted by pangs of conscience
98 Prithee please, literally “I pray thee”
98 dispatch hurry up/make an end (of me)
106 wake … first stay awake until my eyeballs drop out before I do that
108 abused deceived/made bad use of
111 inviting thee i.e. by providing such a good opportunity
112 whereunto to which, where
113 Purpose intend to
114 be unbent change your mind; the image is of the bent, drawn hunter’s bow being unbent again without firing at the quarry
114 stand hidden shooting position
115 Th’elected the chosen
118 course i.e. of action
121 strumpet prostitute
122 Therein false struck in that matter falsely wounded
122 take receive
123 tent surgical probe to assess the depth of a wound/roll of lint to clean a wound
123 bottom probe the depths/go deeper than
125 back go back
126 Most like that’s very likely
130 purpose would prove plan would turn out
131 abused deceived
132 singular unrivaled
134 courtesan one attached to a prince’s court/prostitute
141 bide abide, live
153 not but only
153 I’th’world’s volume in the book of the world; Britain is likened to a page torn out of it
155 swan’s nest i.e. built in the middle of a pool
156 livers people who live
160 wear a mind entertain an idea/follow a course of action
162 That i.e. her female identity
163 self-danger bringing danger upon yourself, i.e. as a woman alone
164 view prospects
164 haply perhaps
165 nigh near
167 render bring/describe
170 modesty chastity
170 death on’t its loss
171 adventure take the risk
174 Command into obedience i.e. from a princess to a servant
174 niceness coyness/fastidiousness
175 handmaids i.e. qualities/attributes
176 it i.e. her
176 waggish roguish; “wag” was a term for a saucy boy, habitual joker
177 Ready in gibes ready to make mocking remarks
177 quick-answered quick in reply
178 quarrellous quarrelsome
179 Forget neglect
179 rarest … cheek i.e. pale complexion, signifying her social rank
182 common-kissing Titan the sun, who shines on everybody alike
183 laboursome … trims beautifully made and pretty clothes
184 Juno wife of the supreme Roman god Jupiter, was jealous of her husband’s attraction to beautiful mortals
186 end purpose, intention
189 Forethinking anticipating
189 fit ready
190 doublet close-fitting padded men’s jacket
190 hose clothing for the legs
191 answer to belong with, go with
191 in their serving with them serving you, i.e. using them as a disguise
193 season age
194 his service to serve him
195 Wherein you’re happy in what ways you are accomplished
195 make him know convince him
196 If … music if he has any appreciation for music at all
198 means abroad resources away from home
200 Beginning nor supplyment i.e. beginning nor continuing to supply you with money
202 diet feed, supply
203 even keep up with
205
soldier to willing to fight for/bravely prepared for
205 abide endure
207 short brief, hurried
209 Your carriage taking you away
213 distemper illness
213 shade cover
214 fit you adapt, adjust yourself
Act 3 Scene 5
3.5 Location: Britain
1 Thus far i.e. this is as far (as I will accompany you)
7 ourself myself using the royal plural pronoun
8 must needs can only
10 so very good, so be it
11 conduct safe conduct/escort
12 befall come to
13 office duty, task (i.e. accompanying Lucius)
14 honour i.e. the honor due to Lucius as an ambassador
14 point small way
19 event battle/outcome
22 Severn river bordering England and Wales
23 it honours us it does us credit (because we have been patriotic and defiant)
24 cause reason, grounds
28 fits us befits us, is appropriate that we
28 ripely immediately (because the time is ripe)
31 drawn to head brought to full strength
36 forward prepared
39 duty … day daily greeting she owes Cymbeline as her father and king
39 looks us appears to me (us)
42 slight in sufferance lax in allowing such behavior
44 retired withdrawn, reclusive
47 Forbear hold back, refrain from
48 tender of sensitive to
51 answered accounted for, excused
56 close private, secluded
57 Whereto … infirmity to which she is compelled by her illness
59 proffer offer, present
69 stand’st so for support/represent
71 Proceed by result from
73 Haply it may be, perhaps
76 end aim, design
78 placing arranging, disposal
84 forestall … day prevent him from seeing tomorrow
85 her Innogen
86 that because
86 parts qualities
87 from … hath as though she has taken the best qualities from each and every woman
88 compounded made up
89 Outsells exceeds in value
91 slanders discredits
92 rare exceptional about her
95 packing plotting, scheming/running away, leaving
95 sirrah fellow (addressed to a social inferior)
96 pander bawd, sexual go-between
98 Thou … fiends i.e. I will instantly kill you, sending your soul to hell
101 Close secretive
104 weights i.e. weights and measures
105 dram a tiny measure
109 Come nearer get to the point/come (physically) closer to me
110 halting hesitation
110 home completely
114 Discover reveal
120 Touching regarding
123 Or … perish i.e. either show him the letter or be killed
125 travel literally “traveling”; plays on “travail,” meaning “trouble”/ “labor”
132 undergo undertake
133 employments tasks
134 serious careful, meticulous
134 industry application, diligence
136 want lack
137 relief assistance
137 voice … preferment support for your promotion, advancement
141 course ordinary way
141 but other than
144 Hast do you have
145 late i.e. former
154 upon a time once
159 her eyes i.e. in her sight
161 insultment scornful, contemptuous triumph
163 knock beat
164 foot kick
172 voluntary mute i.e. willingly silent; mutes were servants whose tongues were cut out to stop them telling secrets
173 tender offer, present
176 to my loss i.e. to lose my honor
178 him … true i.e. Posthumus
181 crossed hindered, thwarted
181 meed reward
Act 3 Scene 6
3.6 Location: Wales, outside Belarius’ cave
2 tired exhausted/dressed (attired)
6 ken sight
7 Foundations … wretched things recede as the poor or desperate approach/ charitable organizations fail those who need them most
11 trial test of their moral character/endurance
12 scarce hardly ever
12 lapse in fullness do wrong when in a state of prosperity
13 sorer worse
15 on of, about
16 even before only a moment ago
17 At point ready, just about
18 hold stronghold, lair
19 were best had better
20 Ere … nature i.e. before it kills me it nature
21 hardness … mother hardship always gives rise to (is the mother of) endurance
24 Take or lend take my life/money, or give me food, help me
25 Best I had better
27 Such … heavens! i.e. she begs the heavens to let it be a foe of that sort
28 woodman hunter
30 match bargain, agreement
31 The … to i.e. no one would work if it weren’t for some purpose
33 homely plain
34 flint hard, stony ground
34 resty sloth well-rested laziness
35 down feather
36 keep’st thyself i.e. looks after itself, is uninhabited
37 throughly thoroughly, utterly
39 browse nibble
42 But that if it weren’t for the fact that
42 victuals food
46 paragon outstanding example
50 good troth in good truth
51 nought nothing
52 i’th’floor on the floor/in among the rushes on the floor
53 board table
53 so as
54 parted departed
58 reckoned valued, esteemed
58 but of except by
61 should would
62 made committed
63 Whither bound? Where are you going?
66 Fidele means “the faithful one” (Latin)
68 spent exhausted
69 in into
71 churls impolite, mean-spirited people/peasants
73 cheer food/entertainment
74 thanks our approval
77 hard vigorously, boldly
77 but be but to be/if I could not otherwise be
77 in honesty your honest, loyal husband/by honorable means
78 Ay … buy i.e. woo you in the same way as I would love you as your husband
83 sprightly cheerful
84 ’Mongst … brothers I must be among friends if I am among brothers
86 prize … ballasting value would be less since she would no longer be next in line to the throne and thus more equal to Posthumus; puns on prize as “cargo, booty in a captured ship”
89 wrings writhes/wrings his hands
90 free’t remove the trouble
96 attend themselves i.e. had no servants
97 sealed them confirmed in them
97 laying by setting aside
98 nothing-gift worthless gift (flattery, adulation)
98 differing multitudes fickle crowds
99 out-peer surpass
99 twain two
101 Leonatus’ Leonatus is
103 dress our hunt i.e. prepare what we have caught for cooking
104 Discourse … fasting speech is tedious while hungry
105 mannerly politely
105 demand ask
108 The … welcome i.e. not even the night to the owl or the morning to the lark are as welcome to us
Act 3 Scene 7
3.7 Location: Rome
1 tenor substance
1 writ order
2 men soldiers
3 Pannonians and Dalmatians ancient inhabitants of what are now Hungary and the Balkans
5 Full very
6 fall’n off rebellious/defaulting
6 incite summon/stir up
9 commands appoints
10 absolute commission complete authority
16 supplyant ready to supply troops/supplementary
Act 4 Scene 1
4.1 Location: Wales
2 fit fittingly, perfectly
4 fit inclined, plays on sense of “sexually compatible”
4 saving … word standard apology for coarse language; in this case fitness, meaning “sexual inclination”
5 fits fits and starts
6 play the workman use my skill like a craftsman
7 vainglory idle boasting
7 glass mirror
10 advantage … time i.e. current favorable circumstances
11 alike conversant equally experienced
11 general services military operations serving alongside others, probably with bawdy connotations
12 single oppositions individual combats
12 imperceiverant imperceptive
13 in my despite in spite of my qualities/to spite me
13 mortality mankind/existence/death
15 enforced forced, constrained/raped
16 spurn kick
17 haply perhaps
18 usage treatment
18 power of control over
18 testiness short temper/rashness
19 commendations credit, renown
20 sore grievous, violent; bawdy quibble on sword (penis) and sore (wound/vagina)
20 Fortune may Fortune
Act 4 Scene 2
10 citizen city-bred
10 wanton weakling/spoiled child/unchaste, lewd person
11 ere before
12 journal daily, usual routine
12 breach of custom disruption of usual habit
14 amend me make me better
14 Society company
16 reason of talk (lucidly) about
17 none no one
18 Stealing so poorly i.e. if I steal from those who have so little
20 weight intensity
23 yoke me am joined, associated
26 bier at door if the coffin were at the door
29 strain offspring, stock/inherited character/disposition
30 breed lineage, ancestry
32 meal and bran grain and husks
33 yet … me it is a miracle that they should love this boy, whoever he is, more than me
38 so … sir at your service, sir (to Belarius)
41 but except
44 tributary subsidiary
47 stir move, persuade
48 gentle wellborn
49 Dishonestly afflicted unjustly oppressed/troubled by others’ dishonesty
52 To th’field i.e. let’s go hunting
58 bound tied, allied/indebted
60 distressed troubled, afflicted