76 bellied filled, swelled

  77 wranglers quarrelsome opponents

  78 touched reached, landed at

  79 for in retaliation for aunt i.e. Hesione, Ajax’s mother and sister of Priam; she was rescued from a sea monster by Hercules and given to the Greek Telamon; plays on slang sense of “prostitute,” “bawd”

  80 Grecian queen i.e. Helen

  81 Wrinkles Apollo’s makes the sun god Apollo seem wrinkled

  84 price … ships echoes Faustus’ line to Helen in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus (“Was this the face that launched a thousand ships”) above more than

  86 avouch affirm

  87 must needs must necessarily do

  91 issue outcome proper own rate berate, condemn

  92 do … did i.e. behave even more inconsistently than fortune

  93 Beggar the estimation render worthless the valued object

  96 But but we are/we are merely

  97 That … place who insulted them in their own land and are afraid to justify the deed in ours hair … ears a conventional sign of distress or madness

  107 mid-age the middle-aged

  108 Soft tender, vulnerable

  109 betimes early, in advance

  110 moiety part/half moan grief, lamentation

  111 Practise employ, make use of

  113 firebrand when pregnant, Paris’ mother, Hecuba, dreamed that she would give birth to a firebrand that would burn down Troy

  116 high strains exalted lyrical outpourings

  117 work bring about, activate

  118 remorse pity, regret blood passion/temper (suggests sexual passion)

  120 success outcome

  121 qualify the same moderate, pacify it

  123 think believe, deem

  124 Such … it to be shaped solely by the way that things turn out

  125 deject lessen

  126 raptures fits

  127 distaste make distasteful goodness virtue, rightfulness

  128 several various/individual

  129 gracious righteous, honorable For … part in my personal case

  130 touched affected

  132 Such … maintain anything that might offend even the least courageous among us and make him unwilling to fight in its defense

  134 Else otherwise convince convict levity wantonness, immorality

  135 As well both as and counsels advice, opinion

  136 attest call to witness

  137 propension inclination

  138 dire dangerous

  139 can … arms can my arms achieve alone arms limbs/weapons

  140 propugnation defense, justification

  141 stand the push withstand the attack

  143 pass undergo

  146 faint slacken

  148 besotted intoxicated, drunk

  149 these i.e. these other Trojans gall bitterness (i.e. the hostilities resulting from Paris’ abduction of Helen)

  150 So therefore/in this manner praise virtue

  151 propose bring up for consideration

  153 soil stain, dishonor her fair rape the abduction of one so beautiful/the honorable abduction of her (rape’s more sinister connotations are picked up in ransacked)

  154 honourable keeping her the honorable keeping of her

  155 were it would it be ransacked violated/carried off as plunder

  157 her possession our holding of her

  159 strain trait, tendency

  160 generous noble

  161 meanest spirit most low-born soul/most small-minded character party side

  162 Without who has not

  164 were ill bestowed would be unworthily given death unfamed whose death would go uncelebrated

  170 glozed expounded, explained

  171 Aristotle famous Greek philosopher; in fact, he lived several centuries after the Trojan War

  173 allege put forward conduce lead, tend

  174 distempered imbalanced (in which the four bodily fluids believed to govern individual temperament are disordered)

  175 free determination unbiased judgment

  177 adders in order to resist snake charmers, the adder supposedly blocked one ear with its tail and placed the other to the ground

  179 dues debts rendered given up, returned

  180 nearer more pressing/more intimate

  182 affection passion, desire

  183 that if of partial out of self-interested

  184 benumbèd paralyzed, powerless the same i.e. nature’s law

  187 refractory rebellious, stubborn

  192 extenuates not does not lessen

  193 heavy serious

  194 in way of as a point of, in terms of

  195 spritely animated, full of spirit propend incline, yield

  196 still nevertheless/always

  197 hath … dependence i.e. depends in no small measure

  198 joint collective several individual dignities honors

  199 touched … design hit on the essence of our undertaking

  200 affected were concerned with, cultivated

  201 performance … spleens working out of our impassioned anger

  204 theme subject, cause (for action)

  205 magnanimous heroic, courageous

  206 Whose present courage the ready courage of which

  207 canonize memorialize, revere

  210 smiles … forehead looks favorably in the face

  211 For in exchange for revenue wealth

  214 roisting rousing, swaggering

  216 Will that will

  217 advertised informed general i.e. Agamemnon

  218 emulation ignoble ambition, divisive rivalry

  solus “alone” (Latin)

  2 elephant i.e. large, clumsy, thick-skinned carry it win the day

  3 rail rant, verbally abuse satisfaction recompense, compensation (sarcastic) Would I wish

  5 ’Sfoot by God’s foot conjure invoke but I’ll see if it takes that to see

  6 issue result execrations curses rare fine, splendid

  7 engineer constructor of military works/contriver, plotter undermine lay mines underneath

  8 of themselves by their own accord

  9 thunder-darter thrower of thunderbolts (Jove’s personal weapon)

  10 craft cunning/skill

  11 caduceus Mercury’s wand, which featured two serpents entwined about it

  12 short-armed inadequate, lacking in reach

  13 circumvention craft, power to outwit

  14 deliver release massy heavy, massive irons swords

  15 After following, as a result of

  16 bone-ache i.e. syphilis, which weakens the bones

  17 dependent on hanging over/attendant upon placket the slit at the front of a skirt or petticoat, hence “woman/vagina”

  22 gilt counterfeit false coin

  23 slipped plays on “slip,” another term for a counterfeit coin contemplation mind, thoughts (Thersites has forgotten to curse Patroclus along with Ajax and Achilles)

  24 thyself upon thyself i.e. may you be cursed by being yourself

  25 revenue abundance

  26 bless save, protect discipline learning, instruction

  27 blood impulses, passions (rather than reason) direction guide

  28 lays thee out prepares you for burial fair virtuous/attractive/undiseased

  29 shrouded wrapped in a shroud, prepared for burial lazars lepers (sometimes confused with syphilitics)

  36 cheese thought to aid digestion

  37 served … meals i.e. come to see me for such a long time

  43 Thy knower one who knows you

  47 decline go through in order (grammatical term)

  51 done finished

  52 privileged man i.e. professional fool allowed to speak without restraint

  55 Derive explain, trace the source of (grammatical term)

  56 offer dare, presume/attempt

  57 of by

  58 fool positive absolute fool

  60 Make … to ask that question of suffices is enough for

  64 patchery trickery juggling cheating, deceiving

  65 All the argument the entire subject (of the war) cuckold … whore i.e. Menelaus and Helen cuckold man with an unfaithful wife

  66 draw bring about, generate

  67 serpigo skin disease/venereal disease subject whole business/the cause, Helen

  68 confound destroy, overcome

  70 ill disposed indisposed, unwell

  72 shent abused, insulted lay by put aside

  73 appertainments prerogatives of rank visiting of in visiting

  74 of of this so i.e. in case

  75 move … place insist on the issue of our authority

  80 lion-sick i.e. sick with pride

  84 bay bark, howl

  85 inveigled lured away

  88 matter subject matter/material for arguing his argument subject matter/subject of his complaints, i.e. Thersites

  90 he … Achilles Achilles is his new cause for complaint as he has taken away his old one, Thersites

  92 fraction … faction we prefer them quarreling to forming a faction against us

  93 it … disunite it must have been a strong faction if a fool could divide it (sarcastic)

  95 amity friendship, unity

  99 elephant … courtesy elephants were thought to lack leg joints that would enable them to kneel

  102 sport recreation/exercise

  103 noble state group of nobles

  104 it … other i.e. it is for no other reason

  106 breath i.e. of fresh air

  110 apprehensions understanding (plays on the sense “arrest”)

  111 attribute reputation, honor

  113 of … beheld upheld by him

  115 fair fresh, attractive unwholesome unsightly, contaminated

  116 like likely

  117 sin i.e. lie, do wrong

  119 under-honest less than honorable self-assumption … judgement more arrogant than of good judgment/greater in his own estimation than those of good judgment know him to be

  120 worthier … on worthier men than he wait here on account of the uncivil aloofness he affects

  122 command authority

  123 underwrite … predominance submit in a deferential manner to his prevailing mood

  124 humorous relating to the four bodily humors thought to govern mood

  125 pettish lunes petulant fits

  126 passage progress carriage conduct action enterprise, i.e. the war

  127 Rode … tide i.e. relied on him

  128 overhold overestimate

  129 none of have nothing to do with engine piece of military equipment

  130 lie under be subject to

  131 this i.e. this engine (Achilles)

  132 stirring active allowance approval, praise

  133 Before over, rather than

  134 presently immediately

  135 In second voice i.e. with a reply conveyed through a messenger

  142 subscribe confirm, endorse

  144 gentle courteous, honorable

  148 the clearer more innocent

  150 glass mirror trumpet announcer chronicle record

  151 but … deed other than in performing worthy deeds devours consumes the value of

  152 engendering mating/offspring, spawn

  155 field battlefield

  158 stream … dispose course of his inclination

  159 observance notice/consideration/respect respect notice/regard for

  160 will peculiar personal inclination, independent will self-admission self-approbation, self-centeredness

  161 fair courteous/legitimate

  162 Untent his person emerge from his tent

  163 for … only simply because they are requested

  164 greatness self-worth

  165 speaks … self-breath i.e. he is almost too proud to speak

  167 hot fired-up/passionate/angry

  169 Kingdomed Achilles Achilles, as if he were a kingdom commotion rebellion/agitation

  171 plaguy insufferably, damnably death-tokens fatal symptoms

  175 holds regards

  176 from himself i.e. away from his arrogant, self-absorbed behavior

  178 We’ll consecrate we would rather bless

  179 from away from

  180 seam fat, grease

  181 suffers allows

  182 revolve … himself involve contemplating and meditating on himself

  184 Of … he? by one whom we consider more worthy of worship (i.e. Ajax)

  186 stale cheapen, lower the dignity of palm honor (literally, palm leaf, a symbol of victory or prowess)

  187 assubjugate demean, debase

  188 As … is granted that Achilles is well reputed

  189 were would be enlard fatten, smear with grease fat-already already bloated

  190 add … Hyperion increase summer’s heat (the sun, Hyperion, enters the zodiacal sign of Cancer at the beginning of summer)

  194 rubs … him stirs up his temperament, plays on his disposition

  196 armèd armored/ready

  197 pash smash, strike

  199 An a if he proud haughty pheeze fix, do for

  201 worth … quarrel all the cost attendant on our war with the Trojans

  205 The … blackness i.e. Ajax condemns Achilles for faults he himself possesses (ravens are black)

  206 let … blood draw his blood to balance his bodily humors (as doctors bled their patients)

  208 An if

  210 A he bear it behave eat swords i.e. be stabbed (possibly puns on “eat his words”)

  211 carry it prevail

  212 An ’twould if it did carry half i.e. bear half the load of pride

  213 ten shares ten tenths, all of it

  214 knead mold (like dough), i.e. strike

  215 through thoroughly Force stuff, cram

  216 dry shriveled/thirsty

  217 feed … dislike brood too much on Achilles’ dissension

  220 naming of him repeated reference to Achilles, constant citing of his heroism

  221 a man i.e. Ajax

  224 emulous greedy for praise, filled with ambitious rivalry

  225 Know … world let the whole world know

  226 palter equivocate, be evasive

  231 surly borne bore himself in an arrogant manner

  232 strange aloof, distant self-affected egotistical, self-loving

  233 lord i.e. Ajax composure temperament

  234 got begot, conceived gave thee suck suckled you

  235 Fame renown, honor thy … erudition may your natural qualities exceed three-fold anything learned

  237 disciplined trained

  238 eternity i.e. eternal fame twain two

  240 Milo Greek athlete of the sixth century BC, famed for carrying a bull on his shoulders addition title, claim to fame

  242 bourn boundary pale fenced area, enclosure shore border, shoreline confines encloses, contains

  243 dilated parts extensive qualities (sarcastically plays on Ajax’s large physical size)

  244 antiquary ancient

  247 green youthful tempered molded, composed

  248 have … of be superior to

  252 ruled guided, directed

  253 tarrying (point in) delaying hart male deer

  254 Keeps stays hidden in the

  255 state council

  257 main of power full force

  259 cull their flower select their very best cope match/encounter (in combat)

  261 draw deep require deeper water (due to their weight)

  1 follow serve, attend (the servant plays on the literal sense)

  4 depend upon serve, wait on

  5 the lord i.e. Paris, but plays on the sense of “God”

  6 must needs must

  10 superficially slightly/by sight

  12 know … better get to know your lordship better/see you become a better man

  14 You … grace? Are you in receipt of the divine favor necessary for salvation? (but Pandarus understands “Are you a duke eligible to be addressed as ‘your grace’?”)

  15 Grace? Not so here Pandarus declares such a title inappropriate for his rank

  22 pleasure command (the servant deliberately understands “enjoyment”)

  25 Who … sir? the servant willfully misunderstands Pandarus to be giving him an instruction

  27 courtly refined, possessed of the manners and language of the court too cunning clever, skillful/devious

  29 to’t to the point

  31 Venus Roman goddess of love heart-blood i.e. life blood, essence

  33 find out that work that out

  37 complimental courteous

  38 seethes boils with urgency (with sodden and stewed the servant picks up on connotations of the “boiling” effects of syphilis and of the sweating treatments used to try and cure it)

  39 Sodden boiled/limp, flaccid (phallic connotations) business may play on the sense of “sexual activity”; conceivably plays on a sense of “penis” stewed saturated (puns on a “stew” or brothel)

  40 Fair i.e. fair wishes (sense shifts to “elegant” and then “pleasing”)

  41 fair measure just proportion fairly favorably

  43 fair charming, flattering

  44 pleasure thoughts, wishes

  45 broken arranged in parts, for different instruments or voices

  46 broke interrupted cousin friendly form of address among social equals

  47 piece it out put it back together piece part of a song

  48 Nell nickname for Helen harmony tuneful singing/agreeable sentiments

  51 Rude (I am) unaccomplished, unpolished

  52 fits spurts, fits and starts (plays on the sense of “section of a poem or song”)

  53 to with

  54 vouchsafe permit, grant

  55 hedge us out exclude, get rid of me

  57 pleasant merry, jocular

  61 queen plays on “quean” meaning “prostitute”

  63 bob cheat, swindle

  64 melancholy ill temper, sullenness

  67 sour i.e. the antithesis of sweet

  68 serve your turn meet your purpose, i.e. win the argument

  69 la exclamation used for emphasis

  70 desires requests

  75 in hand under way sups dines

  77 My … you my friend Paris will get cross with you (for your repeated interruptions)

  80 disposer unclear meaning; perhaps “one who controls arrangements” hence possibly “courtly mistress” or, similarly, “one who may dispose of me as she wishes” (said playfully)

  81 wide i.e. of the mark

  83 make excuse i.e. on behalf of Troilus

  86 I spy i.e. I see what’s going on here