63 roots vegetables
63 characters shapes, especially letters
64 as as though
64 Juno wife of Jupiter and queen of the gods
65 dieter one who regulates the diet/feeder
66 yokes ties together, attaches
68 that what
70 commix mingle
71 rail utter abusive language
74 spurs tree roots
75 Grow … vine the wish is that grief, like a stinking elder (which had an evil reputation because of its pungent smell), will disentangle its deadly roots from those of the growing vine (patience)
77 with from
78 great morning broad daylight
79 runagates runaways/rogues
80 mocked tricked, fooled
85 held regarded
86 but only
87 companies followers, others
89 soft not so fast
90 fly run away, flee from
94 A … knock I never did anything more slavelike than responding to an insulting slave/someone calling me a slave without beating, hitting them
99 I … mouth i.e. I am not all talk when it comes to fighting
103 clothes i.e. courtly clothes, showing rank
107 varlet scoundrel
111 loath reluctant
112 injurious insulting
120 mere confusion absolute destruction/agitation of the mind
122 not seeming since you don’t seem
123 So as
128 proper own
130 on … heads the heads of traitors were fixed on poles at the gateway to London Bridge
132 abroad around, about
133 sure clearly
135 lines of favour facial lines, lineaments
136 snatches catches, hesitancy
137 absolute certain
138 very indeed
140 make … with to do well against
141 fell fierce
142 Being … man being intellectually defective/barely come to manhood
143 apprehension perception, understanding
144 judgement reason, i.e. the rational mind
148 Hercules classical hero, who wielded a club, and performed a series of impossible tasks
150 I … this if I hadn’t done this
153 perfect well aware
154 after according to
156 take us in capture us
161 The … us i.e. because they are banished
162 tender meek/submissive
163 threat threaten
165 For because
168 safe sane, sound
169 humour disposition, frame of mind
170 mutation changeableness (of mood)
175 cave dwell in caves
176 make … head assemble a stronger force
177 like him just like him, in his nature
177 might break out he might burst out
178 fetch us in capture us and bring us before the court
179 To come that he would come
180 suffering allowing
181 tail i.e. a group coming after him
183 ord’nance what is ordained
184 foresay predict/determine
184 howsoe’er however it may turn out/nevertheless
186 mind inclination
188 way long forth way forward seem long
192 to i.e. flow to
194 reck care
199 So so that
201 I would I wish that (all the)
202 possible strength power we might muster
202 meet i.e. in battle
203 put … answer force us to answer them in battle/cause us to show them what we’re made of
208 hasty rash, impetuous
211 gain restore
212 let … blood bloodletting or bleeding a patient was a common medical procedure; Arviragus is proposing a different kind of bloodletting here, shedding the blood of (killing) a parish full of Clotens to make Innogen well
215 blazon’st are depicted
217 zephyrs soft winds, breezes; the zephyr is the west wind
218 wagging moving/disturbing
219 enchafed heated, aroused
219 rud’st roughest (rudest)
222 frame train, direct/fit, suit
224 seen from other not learned from others
225 wildly naturally, without being cultivated
230 clotpoll blockhead
233 ingenious skillfully constructed
234 occasion reason
235 give it motion i.e. play it
239 speak emit sound
240 answer correspond to
240 accidents events
241 lamenting toys lamentation over trivial, inconsequential things
242 jollity for apes i.e. only an imitation of jollity
242 grief for boys considered emotionally fickle
248 on of
250 turned … crutch i.e. turned my youth into old age
253 the … well half as well
256 sound thy bottom measure your depths
256 Find explore
256 Find … in the experience of melancholy is likened to being in a small boat sailing sluggishly through a muddy river of unknowable depth, with no way of knowing the easiest route to harbor
257 ooze i.e. the wet mud and slime at the bottom of a river
257 sluggish slow-moving
257 crare small trading boat
258 easiliest most easily
260 rare exceptional
262 stark stiff
263 as … slumber as though some fly had tickled him while he was sleeping
264 Not … at not as though he was laughing at death’s arrow
268 leagued folded
269 clouted brogues hobnailed boots
269 rudeness roughness
270 Answered … loud i.e. made his steps echo too loudly
271 but only, merely
272 he’ll … bed i.e. because he looks more like someone asleep
279 azured bright blue-colored
279 harebell a native plant with delicate blue flowers on slender stems, often called “bluebell” but actually a distinct species
280 eglantine sweetbriar (wild rose)
281 ruddock robin (in folklore believed to cover the dead by strewing them with leaves and flowers, hence charitable bill)
286 winter-ground cover and protect in winter
288 wench-like womanish
290 admiration i.e. of Innogen/amazement, wonder
291 due debt the debt that needs to be paid, i.e. burial
292 shall’s shall us (i.e. shall we)
296 Have … crack i.e. have broken
297 once we once did for
297 like the same
298 save except
300 word speak
302 fanes temples
304 med’cine the less cure lesser ones
306 came came here as
307 paid given his payment, i.e. death
307 mean … dust i.e. both high and low come to the same end
308 reverence respect, deference
314 Thersites in Homer’s Iliad, the most scurrilous and cowardly of all the Greek warriors at the siege of Troy
314 Ajax heroic Greek warrior in the Iliad
317 the whilst in the meanwhile
318 to th’east emphasizing the pagan setting since it is the opposite in Christian practice
321 remove move
326 Home i.e. heaven
326 ta’en thy wages payment for the worldly task
327 Golden … dust i.e. the rich must die as surely as the poor; dandelions were known as chimney-sweepers in Warwickshire
328 As like
333 sceptre, learning, physic i.e. kings, scholars, doctors
336 thunder-stone thunderbolt
340 consign to thee seal the same contract with/entrust to your charge
&nb
sp; 341 exorcizer one who conjures or raises spirits
342 charm cast a spell on
343 Ghost … thee let any ghost which has not been laid to rest stay away from you
345 consummation end, fulfillment
347 obsequies funeral rites
350 upon their faces meaning is unclear; possibly “strew the flowers on the front of their bodies”/“turn the bodies facedown”/“strew the flowers on their faces”
352 herblets shall small herbs will also (wither)
353 apart … knees let us go and pray
354 gave them first i.e. bore them
358 ’Od’s pittikins a diminutive of “God’s pity,” reduced to its mildest form
359 gone journeyed
360 But … bedfellow! But wait, I don’t remember any bedfellow!
362 care on’t its (the world’s) grief
363 so in the same way, i.e. dreaming
365 bolt arrow
366 fumes bodily vapors, thought to rise from the body to the brain, thus causing dreams
370 wren’s eye i.e. a tiny amount, the wren being regarded as the smallest bird
370 a part give me some of it
372 Without … me outside me (a physical reality), as it was inside me (in my imagination, dream)
372 felt tangible
375 His … face Innogen likens bodily attributes to those of gods and heroes; Mercury was the messenger of the gods, Mars the god of war, Hercules a hero famed for his strength, and Jove (Jupiter) king of the gods
376 brawns muscles
378 madded maddened
378 Hecuba wife of Priam, King of Troy; accounts describe her frenzied grief, cursing the Greeks as they sacked Troy and murdered Priam
379 darted shot like darts (arrows)
380 Conspired i.e. having conspired
380 irregulous lawless
384 this … vessel i.e. Posthumus, likened to a ship
384 bravest most excellent/handsome/courageous, strong
384 of in
385 Struck the main-top chopped off the top part of the ship’s mainsail, i.e. his head
389 lucre greed for money
390 laid inflicted/placed, laid out
390 pregnant obvious, clear
392 cordial healthful, restorative
395 Give … blood i.e. she smears his blood on her cheeks
396 horrider more ghastly, intimidating
397 Which chance who happen
397 Soothsayer one who foretells the future
398 Gallia France
399 After in accordance with
399 attending waiting for
403 confiners those dwelling within the confines, inhabitants (presumably means common men, as opposed to gentlemen)
407 Siena Duke of Siena
409 benefit advantage
410 forwardness diligence, industriousness/promptness
413 purpose outcome
415 fast fasted
415 intelligence information, message
416 winged flying, on the wing
417 spongy damp
418 portends indicates
419 sins … divination earthly sins distort my ability to communicate with the gods
420 host army
422 trunk body
423 his its
423 speaks suggests, attests
425 or either
426 nature doth abhor i.e. living creatures naturally detest
427 defunct deceased
430 instruct us of tell us about
432 crave … demanded beg to be asked about
435 altered … picture i.e. by cutting off the head
436 wreck ruin, catastrophe/mutilated person
442 is are
443 occident west
443 service masters to serve
446 ’Lack alas (alack)
447 complaining lamenting, mourning
451 Say you did you speak
454 approve … same i.e. prove yourself true to your name (Fidele means “the faithful one” in Latin)
460 prefer recommend
461 an’t if it
463 poor pickaxes i.e. her fingers
465 century of hundred
466 can am able to
468 So … me if it please you to take me into your service
474 pikes pointed metal tips of a staff or spear
474 partisans long-handled spears with broad blades
475 arm him take him up in your arms
475 preferred commended
477 can are, have the right to be
Act 4 Scene 3
4.3 Location: Britain
1 Again i.e. go back again
2 with due to
3 of as a result of
4 touch wound, afflict
6 upon … bed i.e. she is desperately ill
8 present i.e. present moment
11 enforce … thee force it out of you
15 nothing know know nothing about
16 purposes intends to
17 Hold consider
21 subjection duty as a subject
22 wants lacks
23 will he will
25 slip … season let you be for a while
25 jealousy suspicion
26 Does yet depend still hangs in the balance/remains
30 gentlemen i.e. officers
31 Now for if only I now had
32 amazed with matter overwhelmed by all these matters
34 affront confront, face
35 Come more if more come
36 The … but the only thing now needed is
40 annoy harm
41 chances events
42 no letter i.e. no news
46 is betid has happened
49 find reveal, prove
50 Even … o’th’king even to the point where the king takes note
50 fall die, perish
52 Fortune … steered i.e. even some boats that are cast adrift are brought safely back to harbor by good fortune
Act 4 Scene 4
4.4 Location: Wales, outside Belarius’ cave
1 noise i.e. of the armies preparing for battle
3 lock it lock it away
6 This way if we do this
7 or for either as
7 receive … use recruit us, thinking us rebels to make use of and then kill us
11 secure us make ourselves safe, find a stronghold
13 not … bands i.e. not listed among the forces
13 mustered enlisted as soldiers
14 drive … render force us to give an account of
15 extort from’s extract from us
16 answer reward, recompense
17 Drawn on with brought about by
23 quartered fires campfires (from their quarters in the field)
24 cloyed importantly clogged, filled with important matters
25 upon our note in taking notice of us
28 Of by
29 then was then
29 wore effaced, removed
30 remembrance memory
32 want of breeding lack of education, cultivation
33 certainty inevitability
33 aye hopeless forever without hope
34 courtesy respect/refined manners
34 cradle i.e. your circumstances at birth
35 still forever
35 tanlings i.e. those tanned by constant exposure to the sun
36 shrinking as
36 slaves will recoil from and tremble at punishment, so the
36 winter cold makes one shiver
40 out of thought forgotten about
40 thereto so o’ergrown in that respect your memory obscured/your face covered with hair
41 questioned suspected
43 thing is’t a shameful thing it is
45 hot lecherous
45 venison deer
47 rowel the rotating blade at the
end of the spur
47 rowel Nor iron i.e. spurs
48 iron the framework which attaches it
54 care attention, caution
55 hazard therefore due chance, danger coming to me
60 cracked i.e. because old
61 country country’s
63 their … out their mettle, noble spirit/royal blood, stock despises everything until it may break out/be shed in battle
Act 5 Scene 1
5.1 Location: Wales
1 bloody cloth sent by Pisanio to Posthumus as proof that he had murdered Innogen
3 course i.e. of action
5 wrying erring, going astray
6 does not does not carry out
7 No bond but there is no obligation except
8 Should have had
9 put on this instigate Innogen’s murder/take such a fault upon myself/wear these clothes
10 repent i.e. her supposed unfaithfulness
11 worth deserving
13 fall i.e. sin
14 second support/follow up
14 elder later, next (with the implication that evils mature with time)/earlier, with the more recent evils diminishing in severity until finally repentance sets in
15 make … it i.e. make the perpetrators fearful and repentant
15 thrift gain, advantage (by becoming saved through repentance)
23 weeds clothes
23 suit dress
25 part side
28 pitied neither pitied
30 habits peasant’s clothes/customary behavior
32 guise custom, practice
33 less … within i.e. to privilege inner qualities over outward finery
Act 5 Scene 2
1 bosom heart
2 off away
2 belied slandered, lied about
3 on’t of it
4 or could or else could
4 carl bondman, peasant
5 very … nature’s natural-born slave
6 profession i.e. as a soldier
7 but of scorn only a mockery
8 go before outgo, excel
9 odds likelihood
12 routs defeats
12 seconds gives aid to
17 As as though
17 hoodwinked blindfolded
19 or … fly let’s either reinforce our numbers or flee before it’s too late
Act 5 Scene 3
3 fliers i.e. those who fled
6 But had it not been
7 wings flank of the army
8 but only
9 strait narrow
9 full-hearted full of confidence
10 Lolling the tongue i.e. slavering like dogs, their tongues hanging out
12 mortally fatally
12 touched wounded
13 dammed blocked up, like a dam
15 lengthened i.e. after spending the rest of their lives in shame
18 ancient old/noble
19 who … to who deserved to have lived as long a life as his white beard showed he had
22 striplings young men