148 Upon … bed lazily upon a bed (transferred epithet)

  149 Breaks cracks, makes scurril scurrilous, vulgar

  150 ridiculous comically derisory awkward unfavorable, perverse (also possibly “turned the wrong way, back foremost,” suggesting a joke about anal sex)

  152 pageants impersonates, parodies

  153 topless deputation supreme role puts on imitates

  154 conceit intellect, wits

  155 hamstring i.e. legs

  156 wooden dull, lifeless, stupid/resounding on a wooden surface dialogue … scaffoldage echoing noise of his long strides over the stage platform

  158 to-be-pitied … seeming pitiable and overstrained appearance

  160 a-mending in need of tuning terms unsquared ill-fitting words, clumsy expressions

  161 Typhon giant monster of Greek mythology who made war upon the gods and was associated with winds, earthquakes, and volcanoes

  162 fusty moldy, stale (glances perhaps at “fustian,” i.e. inflated, hyperbolic language)

  163 large powerfully built (also suggesting self-importance and licentiousness) pressed weighed down (with his body)

  164 deep large and resounding

  165 just exactly

  166 me for me hum murmur in displeasure or in thought/make a throat-clearing sound

  167 dressed to prepared for, ready to begin

  168 as … parallels i.e. unconvincingly (parallel lines never meet)

  169 as … wife Vulcan differs completely from his wife Venus: he is the deformed Roman god of fire, she the beautiful goddess of love

  170 god sarcastic (perhaps nods to Achilles’ near-immortal status in mythology; his mother was the sea nymph Thetis who made him invulnerable, apart from his heel)

  171 me for me

  172 answer in respond to

  173 forsooth in truth faint frail, feeble

  175 palsy-fumbling fumbling because his hand is shaking palsy shaking fit, tremor, paralysis gorget piece of armor protecting the throat

  176 rivet bolt for fastening armor sport amusement

  177 Sir Valour sarcastic title for Achilles dies i.e. dies laughing

  179 spleen thought to be the seat of laughter and strong emotion

  181 Severals … exact accomplished virtues, both individual and universal

  182 preventions defensive measures

  183 Excitements exhortations, encouragement

  185 paradoxes absurdities, statements contrary to received belief

  186 twain two

  188 an imperial voice absolute approval, a ruling vote infect infected

  189 bears … rein (like a horse) resists the reins, is skittish and willful (rein puns on “reign”)

  190 in … place just as proudly/with just such a proud sense of his own status

  191 broad physically large/outspoken, unrestrained keeps keeps to

  192 factious divisive, faction-forming rails on denounces, rants about

  194 slave rogue, wretch/lackey gall bitterness coins … mint invents insults as fast as a mint coins money

  196 exposure vulnerable situation

  197 How … danger however abundantly we are surrounded by dangers

  198 tax our policy criticize our strategy/condemn our diplomacy

  200 Forestall prescience obstruct forward planning

  201 that of hand physical combat/immediate action

  202 contrive plan

  203 fitness the right moment/a proper state of readiness know … weight by careful observation judge the enemy’s strength

  205 hath … dignity is not deemed worth a finger (in relation to the whole body)

  206 bed-work armchair strategy, dreaming up of plans mapp’ry map-making closet-war i.e. war conducted from the study

  207 ram battering ram

  208 For due to rudeness … poise brute force of its impact

  209 place … engine value more highly than the man who designed it

  210 fineness … souls subtlety of their intelligence

  211 his execution the operation of the battering ram

  212 Let … sons if this is the case then Achilles’ horse is worth many an Achilles (son of Thetis) Tucket personal trumpet call

  216 ’fore before

  220 fair courteous

  221 surety security arm might, power

  224 leave permission large comprehensive/generous

  229 waken reverence summon a respectful demeanor (in myself)

  231 coldly with the chill of dawn/chastely, modestly

  232 Phoebus Roman name for the sun god

  237 free honorable, generous debonair gracious unarmed i.e. during peacetime

  238 bending bowing, reverential fame reputation

  239 galls spirit to resent insult

  241 Jove’s accord with Jove’s favor

  242 Nothing … heart no one is so courageous

  244 distains his worth sullies its value

  245 If … forth if the subject of praise does the praising himself

  246 repining begrudging, discontented commends compliments

  247 That … blows fame broadcasts that praise sole entirely/incomparably

  254 trumpet trumpeter

  255 sense … bent hearing in an attentive direction

  257 frankly freely

  263 mettle spirit (picks up on brass to play on the sense of “metal”)

  267 dull lifeless, inactive

  270 fair’st noblest, most honorable

  271 ease personal comfort

  274 That … loves who loves his lady more than can be demonstrated by mere words and potentially untrustworthy vows

  277 In … hers by taking up weapons rather than remaining in her embraces

  281 compass embrace

  282 will will come

  284 rouse challenge, stir up (with sexual connotations)

  286 retires returns

  287 sunburnt dark or tanned complexions were considered unattractive

  288 splinter … lance breaking a lance in combat (lance plays on the sense of “penis”) Even so much i.e. that is the sum of my message

  290 soul inner conviction, spirit kind matter, business

  292 mere recreant complete coward

  293 not not to be not not been

  297 grandsire grandfather sucked i.e. was a baby

  301 beaver helmet’s visor

  302 vantbrace armor for the forearm brawn muscle, arm

  304 grandam grandmother

  305 flood full flow, vigorous health

  306 pawn pledge three … blood i.e. what little blood I have left

  310 pavilion ceremonial tent

  317 conception plan/notion (with connotations of pregnancy)

  318 Be … shape i.e. help me to develop and give birth to this idea

  321 Blunt … knots blunt tools are needed to split tough knotty wood, i.e. Achilles must be stopped by decisive action seeded planted/matured, overgrown

  322 blown up become swollen/bloomed/become infected

  323 rank puffed up/overabundantly growing/diseased or either

  324 shedding spilling/scattering seed nursery training ground/collection of young plants like similar

  325 overbulk outgrow, dominate

  327 gallant fine, splendid/brave

  328 spread … name issued to everyone

  330 perspicuous … up as obvious as wealth, whose enormity is revealed in little digits

  332 in … strain when it is announced publicly, have no doubt

  334 banks of Libya shores of the Libyan desert

  335 dry barren, dull

  336 celerity swiftness

  337 on at

  338 wake … answer will it rouse him to respond

  339 meet fitting oppose put forward as an opponent

  340 from … off acquit himself honorably against Hector

  341 sportful recreational, not pursued to the death

  342 trial contest, test of skill opinion reputation

  343 taste … repute sample our most precious reputation

  344 fin’st refined, most discerning

  345 imputation reputation oddly poised unbalanced, i.e. at great risk

  346 wild reckless success result, outcome

  347 particular specific to the individual fighter scantling guideline, measure

  348 the general everyone

  349 indexes tables of contents/prefaces pricks marks, indicators (plays on the sense of “penis”)

  350 To compared to subsequent volumes the following main portion of the book (with erectile connotations)

  351 baby figure i.e. microcosm (plays on the idea of conception)

  352 at large in full (plays on the idea of pregnancy)

  353 issues results (plays on the sense of “is born”)

  355 election basis for choice boil distill by boiling

  356 distilled extracted, refined

  357 miscarrying should he fail

  358 heart spirit, encouragement hence this (failure) part side, i.e. the Trojans

  359 steel … themselves strengthen their good opinion of themselves (steel plays on “steal”)

  360 Which … limbs which opinion being held, limbs become weapons no less effective than the swords and bows controlled by those limbs

  364 meet fitting meet encounter in combat

  365 foulest most unattractive

  366 perchance perhaps

  371 strange followers i.e. undesirable outcomes (regardless of whether Achilles wins or loses)

  373 shares takes

  375 insolent arrogant

  376 were … sun would be better off shriveling up under the African sun

  377 salt bitter, stinging (perhaps, picking up on parch, with connotations of “thirst-provoking, drying out”)

  378 scape escape fair successfully

  379 did … crush would destroy the chief part of our reputation

  380 taint the dishonoring

  381 device strategy, trick blockish stupid

  382 sort lot

  383 allowance acknowledgment

  384 physic dose with medicine, cure Myrmidon i.e. Achilles (who led a band of Myrmidon warriors from Thessaly)

  385 broils basks, glows fall lower, let fall

  386 crest feathers on his helmet (with connotations of the strutting cock’s crest) Iris i.e. the rainbow (of which Iris, the messenger of the Greek gods, was goddess) bends arches

  387 come safe off emerges successfully from the combat

  388 dress … voices cover him with praise/we can retain the general conviction

  389 Yet … opinion we can maintain our reputation

  391 Our … assumes the outcome of our plan comes down to this

  392 employed used in this way

  394 relish taste, appreciate

  396 straight straightaway

  397 curs dogs

  398 tarre incite, provoke

  2 how what full everywhere/big, swollen

  3 generally everywhere (puns on Agamemnon’s rank as general)

  5 run seep (sense then shifts to “run away”) Say so say it were so did would

  6 botchy core boil-covered body/flawed (i.e. cowardly) heart (core may pun on “corps,” i.e. “soldiers stationed on guard”; it can also mean “hardened mass in the center of a boil”)

  8 matter pus/significant subject matter, reason

  12 mongrel alludes to Ajax’s Greek/Trojan ancestry; his mother Hesione was sister to King Priam, his father was the Greek Telamon beef-witted thick-headed, brainless

  14 whinid’st moldiest leaven agent used to ferment dough beat plays on the idea of kneading dough

  15 handsomeness graciousness, courtesy (playing on the antithetical idea of a beating making Thersites more physically handsome)

  16 rail berate, rant wit intelligence holiness respectful piety

  17 con memorize

  18 red murrain bloody plague (literally, disease affecting cattle and sheep)

  19 jade’s tricks worthless horse’s bad habits/whore’s acts (picks up on strike as “copulate”)

  20 Toadstool poisonous mushroom (plays on the sense of “toad’s excrement”) learn me inform me of

  21 sense feeling

  25 porcupine suggesting Thersites’ prickly nature itch i.e. to beat you

  28 scab crust covering a wound/rascal

  30 on at

  31 Cerberus three-headed guard dog of the classical underworld

  32 Proserpina Roman goddess of the classical underworld

  35 Cobloaf a small loaf of bread with a round head

  36 pun pound shivers splinters, pieces

  37 sailor … biscuit ships’ biscuits were proverbially dry and brittle

  38 whoreson cur bastard dog whoreson son of a whore (a common term of abuse)

  40 stool stool/seat containing a toilet/ducking-stool

  41 sodden-witted stupid/drunken

  42 asinico little ass (from Spanish asnico)

  43 scurvy-valiant supremely worthless

  44 bought and sold betrayed for a bribe

  45 barbarian uncivilized or savage foreigner use continue, make it a habit

  46 tell reveal/count

  47 bowels depths, sensitivity (given Ajax’s size, plays ironically on the sense of “substance, internal organs”)

  49 scurvy contemptible, worthless

  51 Mars his Mars’ (Roman god of war) rudeness rough, ill-mannered one camel i.e. ungainly, misshapen one

  52 Wherefore why

  59 Well all right, very well/closely, properly (Thersites’ sense in the previous line)

  60 well approvingly

  61 Ajax perhaps puns on “a jakes,” i.e. a toilet

  63 that fool i.e. Ajax

  64 Therefore … thee i.e. it is because I forgot myself that I beat you (though Ajax unwittingly agrees that he is a fool)

  65 Lo look modicums tiny amounts

  66 evasions verbal shuffling, dodges ears thus long i.e. long ass’s ears bobbed cheated/pummeled

  67 sparrows i.e. creatures of little value

  68 pia mater brain (literally the membrane covering the brain)

  76 stop fill up eye probably plays on the sense of “vagina”

  80 that he him

  82 to against; wit may have genital connotations and fools’ penises were proverbially supposed to be large

  83 warrant assure

  84 Good words i.e. speak more appropriately, be courteous

  86 owl i.e. dullard tenor substance, nature

  91 service performance of duty/military service/beating sufferance compulsory/suffering

  92 the voluntary voluntarily

  93 as … impress conscripted/marked with beatings

  94 E’en so exactly

  95 there be liars i.e. reports are untrue

  96 were as good might as well

  97 fusty old, moldy

  98 with i.e. will you argue with

  100 ere before grandsires grandfathers yoke … war i.e. they make you do the work

  103 good sooth in good truth To the call of a plowman urging on his oxen

  108 peace puns on “piece,” i.e. genitals brach bitch, i.e. (homosexual) whore

  110 There’s i.e. there’s an insult

  111 clodpolls idiots, blockheads

  112 keep lodge, dwell

  115 host army

  116 fifth … sun i.e. eleven a.m.

  117 ’twixt between

  119 stomach appetite for fighting, courage

  121 answer him respond to the challenge/oppose him

  123 knew would know

  3 Deliver release

  4 As such as travail labor, exertion

  5 dear revered, valued

  6 cormorant greedy, voracious (from the large seabird of that name)

  7 struck off canceled

  9 touches my particular I am concerned

  10 dread deeply honored, revered

  11 bowels sensitivity, compassion

  14 surety confidence, security

  15 secure overconfident modest doubt reasonable caution

  16 tent surgical probe

  17 worst i.e. worst wound

  18 question issue, dispute

  19 tithe soul tenth life/life taken as war’s tithe tithe the tenth of one’s annual income due to the Church dimes tenths

  23 Had … name even if it (Helen) were Trojan one ten i.e. one Trojan life

  24 reason argument, reasoning

  26 Fie expression of disgust or reproach

  28 scale … ounces i.e. one designed to weigh light, inconsequential things

  29 counters worthless tokens used to represent coins in calculation sum add up, total

  30 The … infinite the immeasurable value of his infinite worth

  31 fathomless too large to measure

  32 spans measures of nine inches (roughly equivalent to a handspan)

  34 reasons may pun on “raisins”

  36 Bear … affairs rule over matters of state

  37 your … so you urge him to act unreasonably

  39 fur … reason i.e. live in comfort, prefer appeasement for an easy life

  42 flies flees object sight

  46 chidden scolded Mercury Jove’s messenger, usually depicted with wings on his sandals

  47 disorbed out of its orbit

  49 hard dishonorably callous, cruel/lean, deprived (many editors prefer Quarto’s “hare,” i.e. timid) fat fatten, feed up

  50 crammed force-fed/overfed/fat

  51 livers considered the seat of the passions, including courage lustihood vigor

  53 The holding to keep hold of

  54 aught anything (worth) valued i.e. by others, externally

  55 particular will individual preference

  56 his its estimate and dignity value and worth

  57 As well both of itself intrinsically

  58 As and prizer one who values it

  59 the service performance (of worship)

  60 dotes is mad/is infatuated is inclinable To inclines toward

  61 what … affects something it loves in a diseased manner/whatever infectious object it loves

  62 image … merit appearance of worth in that object

  63 I if I were to election choice

  64 in the conduct under the guidance will wish, desire/intention, determination/carnal appetite/genitals, usually “penis”

  66 traded experienced

  67 avoid reject, get rid of

  68 distaste (now) dislikes

  69 evasion evasive argument, subterfuge

  70 blench turn away, shrink stand firm by i.e. retain, plays on “erection”

  72 remainder viands leftover food

  73 unrespective sieve undiscriminating basket (for scraps)

  74 meet fitting (puns on “meat,” i.e. food)