90 horrible horribly, extremely thing plays on the sense of “penis”

  93 twain at odds, have nothing in common (Helen plays on the literal sense of “two”)

  94 Falling … out making up after arguing (falling in plays on the notion of sexual penetration) make them three i.e. result in childbirth

  98 fine forehead commanding countenance

  99 you may i.e. you may have your joke, so you say

  100 be be about undo ruin

  103 good now please, be so good

  106 love’s i.e. Cupid’s bow plays on the sense of “penis”

  107 Shoots plays on the sense of “ejaculates (in)” buck and doe male and female (deer)

  108 shaft arrow of love/penis confounds, Not that does not damage what

  110 tickles sexually excites still continually the sore wound/vagina (sore plays on the sense of “four-year-old male deer”)

  111 O, ho i.e. groans of pain/cries of sexual pleasure die plays on the sense of “orgasm”

  112 to kill that will prove fatal

  113 ha, ha, he i.e. laughter/increasingly excited sexual cries

  116 O … out possibly also suggestive of the subsequent pains of childbirth

  118 In love you’re in love tip … nose i.e. completely (nose plays on the sense of “penis”)

  119 doves birds associated with love; they pulled Venus’ chariot hot blood sexual desire

  120 begets conceives

  122 generation of love how love is created

  124 vipers proverbially vicious offspring afield on the battlefield

  126 gallantry gallant warriors fain gladly

  127 chance comes it

  129 He … lip Pandarus pouts, looks vexed/Troilus is sulking

  132 sped fared/succeeded

  133 To a hair i.e. down to the last detail

  138 woo entreat

  139 unarm remove armor from

  141 more obey be more obedient edge sword edge

  143 island kings kings from the Greek islands

  145 of us from me

  146 palm honor in … have than I have from my beauty

  148 above thought beyond thought itself (perhaps suggests the rashness of Paris’ actions in obtaining Helen)

  Man manservant

  3 stays waits conduct escort

  5 Sirrah sir (used to a social inferior)

  6 cousin i.e. niece (the term could designate any close relative)

  7 stalk move stealthily (hunting term, used of an approach to the prey)

  8 strange foreign, newly arrived Stygian banks banks of the Styx, the river that the souls of the dead had to cross to reach the underworld

  9 waftage conveyance by water Charon the ferryman who transported departed souls to the underworld

  10 fields the Elysian fields, the dwelling place of blessed souls in the underworld

  11 lily-beds with connotations of the sexual bed/vagina

  12 Proposed promised

  13 painted brightly colored/artificial/as depicted in paintings

  15 i’th’orchard in the garden straight straightaway

  17 imaginary relish imagined taste

  18 sense senses/power of reason be be like

  19 wat’ry tasteless/watering in anticipation indeed in reality

  20 thrice-repurèd thrice-refined, purified nectar with connotations of sexual juices Death with connotations of orgasm

  21 fine refined, pure

  22 subtle-potent powerfully refined sharp high-pitched (plays on the sense of “pungent-tasting, acidic” to provide antithesis with sweetness)

  23 capacity capability, understanding ruder coarser, more uncultivated powers faculties

  25 lose … joys be unable to distinguish one pleasure from another

  26 battle battalion on heaps in a mass, all together

  27 flying retreating

  28 her herself

  29 witty sharp, clever, amusing fetches … short is so breathless

  30 fraid with frightened by sprite ghost

  31 prettiest most delightful, charming villain here a playful term new-ta’en newly captured

  32 sparrow proverbially lecherous birds, sacred to Venus

  33 Even exactly

  34 thicker faster

  35 bestowing use, function

  36 vassalage subordination, a servant at unawares unexpectedly

  41 watched kept awake (a method used to tame and train hawks) Come your ways come along

  42 draw backward retreat, shy away

  43 i’th’fills in the shafts of a cart (like a horse) draw this curtain i.e. draw back your veil (paintings are sometimes kept behind curtains to protect them from the light)

  44 picture i.e. face

  45 close come close/embrace intimately/bring matters to a close

  46 rub … mistress a bowling metaphor; to rub is to negotiate obstacles in the way of the ball (playing on the idea of sexual friction), and to kiss the mistress to touch the target ball (with obvious sexual suggestion) kiss in fee-farm i.e. a prolonged kiss

  47 fee-farm the absolute possession of land subject to a fixed rent air i.e. Cressida’s breath

  48 fight … out compete to outdo one another in love (fighting plays on the notion of sexual grappling) falcon … tercel i.e. female is as vigorous as the male

  49 tercel a male hawk for … river I’ll bet you all the ducks on the river

  50 bereft deprived

  51 pay no debts i.e. count for little (to pay one’s debt also means to have sex) deeds actions/sexual acts/legal documents

  52 activity sexual performance

  53 billing kissing, caressing (like doves)/drawing up a legal document/entering items in a financial account ‘In … interchangeably’ phrase used in indentures (legal contract that was halved along a zigzag line to form two documents that, when placed together, were a unique match—in this context, may suggest sexual coupling)

  54 fire suggestive of sexual passion

  58 pretty artful/charming

  59 abruption breaking off curious subtle, well-hidden dreg impurity, sediment

  63 seeing reason leads is guided by clear-sighted reason

  66 apprehend conceive of, perceive/fear in … pageant spectacle, show, entertainment

  68 nothing monstrous nothing unnatural (possibly plays on phallic connotations of monstrous and “thing” to suggest “no huge penis”)

  69 undertakings (lover’s) responsibilities, vows (plays on the sense of “copulations”)

  71 imposition enough sufficiently difficult tasks

  72 monstruosity in extraordinary nature of (variant form of “monstrosity”)

  73 will desire/sexual appetite/penis execution confined acting on it limited

  74 the act human endeavor/the sexual act

  76 reserve keep back

  77 the … ten the ability of ten other lovers/the maximum, 100 percent

  80 such such men Such … we I am not one

  81 tasted tested/sampled sexually allow praise/accept, approve prove plays on the sense of “perform sexually” head may play on the sense of “head of the penis” (which will be “crowned” vaginally)

  82 crown it i.e. with a victor’s wreaths perfection in reversion promise of future achievement

  83 desert deserving, merit

  84 addition title, name Few … faith truth needs few words (proverbial)

  85 as … truth that the worst malice can do is mock Troilus’ faith and constancy

  90 folly foolishness/lechery I … you bestow as a gift to you/hold you responsible for

  91 get begets, conceives

  92 give him me i.e. name him after me flinch fall short, recoil (also suggests detumescence or sexual reluctance)

  98 burrs prickly seed-heads that stick easily to clothing

  99 thrown plays on the sense of “thrown down sexually, seduced”

  100 Boldness courage/sexual immodesty

  106 play the tyrant i.e. have mastery over me/behave in a cruel manner

  108 But … it that I could not control it

  109 unbridled uncontrolled, not reined in

  115 privilege advantage/license

  119 Cunning skilled, clever

  120 soul of counsel innermost secret thoughts

  121 shall I shall

  126 this time the time being

  129 content you be contented, be quiet

  135 unkind unnatural

  136 fool plaything

  138 Well … wisely those who speak so wisely must know what they are saying

  139 Perchance perhaps (you think) craft skill/cunning

  140 roundly openly, frankly large unrestrained, outspoken/full

  141 wise i.e. as you didn’t take the bait

  143 that that ability (to be wise and in love)

  145 presume presume that it is

  146 aye ever

  147 plight youthful good health

  148 outward outward appearance

  149 renew swifter renew itself more quickly blood decays passion wanes/aging occurs

  152 affronted matched, set face to face

  153 winnowed refined (like wheat separated from chaff)

  154 were I would I be

  155 truth’s simplicity simple truth

  156 simpler … truth more sincere than truth at its purest

  160 swains lovers

  161 Approve attest, confirm their … Troilus with reference to Troilus

  162 protest declarations of love big compare extravagant comparisons

  163 Wants lack tired having been exhausted, rendered clichéd iteration repetition

  164 plantage plant life, vegetation (which supposedly grew more effectively under moonlight)

  165 turtle turtledove (a proverbially faithful bird)

  166 adamant legendary magnetic rock th’centre its center (thought to be the point to which everything was drawn)

  167 comparisons i.e. similes

  168 authentic most authoritative, legitimate

  169 crown up add the final touches to/dignify

  170 numbers poetic meter

  172 false untrue, unfaithful a hair i.e. even a very tiny amount

  176 characterless featureless/leaving no trace, no written records grated eroded

  182 Pard leopard hind female deer stepdame stepmother

  183 stick the heart pierce the center

  185 seal it plays on the sense of “have sex”

  195 because so that

  196 encounters sexual activities press … death punish it severely (alludes to a punishment that involved pressing a suspect with heavy weights until he pleaded innocent or guilty, or died; plays on the sense of “have sex until you orgasm”)

  197 maidens virgins/young women here generally/in the audience

  198 gear necessary equipment/genitals

  2 advantage opportunity, right moment

  3 Appear it let it appear

  4 sight foresight, visionary power

  5 possession property, belongings

  7 From by turning from conveniences advantages

  8 sequest’ring separating, removing

  9 condition social position and circumstances

  10 tame familiar, customary

  12 As as though strange foreign, unfamiliar unacquainted unfamiliar/without acquaintances

  13 taste foretaste, i.e. advance payment

  15 registered in promise recorded as pledges

  16 live to come await fulfillment

  19 took captured

  20 often … therefore you have often been thanked for doing so

  21 in … exchange in exchange for a Trojan of rank

  23 wrest tuning implement (i.e. Antenor is essential to the harmonious operation of Trojan affairs)

  24 slack slow down, become less effective (like slack strings on an untuned instrument)

  25 Wanting his manage lacking his guidance

  26 blood royal lineage

  27 change of exchange for

  29 strike off cancel out, pay for

  30 In … pain with most willing effort

  31 bear him i.e. take Antenor back

  34 Furnish you fairly equip yourself fully interchange exchange

  35 Withal in addition

  36 Be answered in meet the man who will answer

  40 Please it if it please strangely distantly, as if he were a stranger

  42 loose casual, careless regard looks

  43 like likely

  44 unplausive disapproving, disdainful

  45 derision medicinable i.e. a way to use scorn to cure him

  48 glass mirror

  49 supple … fees i.e. submissive behavior such as kneeling only encourages arrogance and is the reward the proud man expects

  51 purpose plan

  52 form appearance

  54 shake affect, unsettle

  58 aught have anything to do

  62 The better so much the better

  71 Know recognize

  72 used accustomed

  76 poor devalued, insignificant

  78 the declined man whose fortune has declined, one brought low

  81 mealy powdery (as if covered with meal or flour) but except

  83 but … him except the honor bestowed by external recognition

  84 as such as place position, rank

  85 of accident gained by chance, fate

  86 they i.e. such men as … standers like those standing on slippery ground (may play on the sense of “lecherous erections,” in which case Die … fall plays on the sense of “orgasm and lose the erection,” enjoy and possess resonate sexually and ample point plays on the sense of “fully erect penis”)

  87 love i.e. adulation of others slippery sense now also includes “fickle”

  91 At ample point to the full (possibly puns on sexual sense of point as penis)

  92 Save except

  93 such rich beholding of such high regard

  99 Writes me writes (me is emphatic) how … parted however richly endowed with personal qualities

  100 or … in either externally or internally

  102 owes owns, possesses but by reflection except in how his qualities are reflected in others’ responses to him

  104 retort reflect, cast back

  108 but unless it/but instead it

  109 Not … form not in leaving and looking back at itself, but through facing another person, which enables the gazers to see themselves mirrored in each other’s eyes

  111 speculation the power of sight/contemplation, thought

  112 travelled plays on the sense of “travailed,” i.e. labored/become learned through study

  113 strange odd/unfamiliar

  114 strain … position have difficulty accepting the hypothesis

  115 drift application (of the argument)

  116 his circumstance the surrounding details of his argument

  118 in … consisting he is composed of many fine qualities

  119 parts personal qualities

  120 know … aught recognize them as anything significant

  121 th’applause … extended the praise of those who have seen them displayed

  122 who refers to those applauding or to the applause itself an arch i.e. of a city gate or bridge

  123 voice praise/vote of approval gate door

  124 Fronting facing renders returns

  125 His figure the sun’s shape wrapt in involved in, engaged by

  126 apprehended thought of, recognized

  127 unknown little known, unacknowledged

  128 horse i.e. strong (perhaps slyly alludes to Ajax being large and stupid)

  129 That … what i.e. who knows not what strength he possesses (perhaps also a dig at Ajax’s ignorance)

  130 Most … use that are considered contemptible but are of immense practical value

  131 again also/conversely

  135 leave to do give up/neglect (a reference to Achilles)

  136 creep … hall creep furtively into fickle fortune’s domain

  137 idiots jesters, clowns, fools

  138 pride glory

  139 is … wantonness starves on account of his willful behavior

  141 lubber clumsy lout

  143 shrinking recoiling in fear

  147 wallet bag, knapsack

  148 alms for oblivion i.e. admirable deeds destined to be forgotten alms charitable offerings

  153 to have done i.e. to have done a good deed in the past

  154 mail piece of armor made of chain-mail links

  155 in monumental mock’ry as a mocking trophy to forgotten glory instant immediate, direct

  156 strait narrow passage, confined path

  157 one … abreast i.e. one must go in single file Keep … path i.e. stick to the path/keep moving along the path

  158 emulation ambitious rivalry

  160 hedge aside deviate, shift forthright straight path

  161 entered inrushing, broken through

  162 hindmost last

  163 rank line of attacking troops

  164 for … rear as a paved thoroughfare for the contemptible troops in the back ranks

  168 slightly casually, inattentively

  169 as … fly as if he was about to fly

  170 Grasps in embraces ever always

  172 Remuneration payment, reward

  174 vigour of bone bodily strength desert in service worthy deeds in war

  176 calumniating slandering, defaming

  177 touch of nature natural trait/human weakness makes … kin unites all people

  178 with one consent in mutual agreement, with one voice new-born gawds trifling novelties, fashionable trinkets (gawds puns on “gods”)

  180 dust … gilt i.e. worthless objects that are covered with a thin veneer of gold

  181 laud praise, honor gilt o’er-dusted true gold covered with dust (here gilt as gold)

  182 present object item immediately within its view

  183 complete accomplished

  186 cry … thee you were once acclaimed

  189 case enclose, conceal

  190 but … late even lately on the battlefield

  191 Made emulous missions caused forays into the battle provoked by envy/rivalry

  192 drave drove to faction to take sides

  198 one … daughters i.e. Polyxena

  201 providence foresight, forethought

  202 Pluto the wealthy Greek god of the underworld

  203 th’uncomprehensive deeps the fathomless seas

  204 Keeps place keeps up

  205 thoughts … cradles i.e. discerns thoughts even before they can be fully formulated or uttered

  206 mystery inexplicable essence/art, skill/trade secret with … meddle that is never discussed relation report, narration