207 state affairs of state, government, statecraft

  208 operation effect, function, power

  209 expressure expression

  210 commerce dealings, transactions

  211 perfectly … yours is as well known to us as to you

  212 fit befit, suit

  213 throw … Polyxena defeat Hector in battle than to seduce Polyxena

  214 Pyrrhus Achilles’ son

  215 trump trumpet

  216 Greekish girls women of Greece (suggests also wanton women) tripping skipping, with dancing steps

  218 him i.e. Hector (also suggestive of Ajax bettering Achilles; while Ajax defeats Hector, Achilles will beat—i.e. have sex with—Polyxena)

  219 lover friend, supporter

  220 The … break i.e. Ajax deals incompetently with matters you would deal with properly/Ajax is such an idiot that he escapes dangers that would prove fatal to a man of your stature

  221 moved encouraged, urged

  222 impudent shameless

  225 stomach to appetite for

  227 wanton willful/lustful (may act as noun or verb)

  228 fold embrace

  232 by him i.e. by defeating him

  234 fame reputation, renown shrewdly gored severely wounded

  236 ill badly

  238 Seals … danger gives danger full license, gives it a blank warrant which it may fill in as it wishes

  239 ague fever characterized by shaking taints infects

  244 woman’s longing i.e. cravings like those experienced in pregnancy

  245 withal with

  246 weeds clothes

  248 Even … view until my gaze is entirely satisfied

  251 himself i.e. Ajax, perhaps punning on “a jakes”

  254 prophetically proud proud in anticipation

  255 raves … nothing rants incoherently

  257 peacock proverbially proud bird a … stand stopping and starting

  258 hostess tavern landlady arithmetic ability to calculate

  259 her reckoning the bill

  260 politic regard calculated expression, wise look as as one

  261 an ’twould out if only it would emerge

  262 knocking being struck (refers to the flint and to beating Ajax)

  263 undone ruined, destroyed, brought down

  264 knows recognizes

  267 land-fish fish living on land, i.e. an unnatural creature

  268 of opinion on reputation/self-regard

  269 leather jerkin close-fitting leather jacket (here presumably reversible)

  271 professes not does not engage in

  272 wears … arms gives his answer with his weapons

  273 put on imitate presence bearing, demeanor, appearance

  274 demands requests, questions

  275 To him set to it, tackle him

  282 Hum! i.e. hmm

  293 God buy you God be with you, i.e. goodbye

  296 howsoever in either case pay for me i.e. receive a beating

  297 has defeats

  300 tune i.e. mood

  303 fiddler fiddle player Apollo Greek god of music

  304 catlings catgut, used to make strings for musical instruments on out of

  307 capable receptive, intelligent

  308 stirred i.e. disturbed with sediment

  312 valiant hearty, utter ignorance ignorant fool

  torch torch (held by Aeneas)/torchbearer

  4 occasion opportunity/reason lie i.e. in bed

  5 heavenly business i.e. worship or deeds for the gods

  7 mind opinion

  9 Witness … speech bear witness to the drift of your own remarks (regarding Diomedes’ worth)

  10 by days daily

  11 haunt pursue

  13 question of discussions permitted during gentle noble/peaceful

  15 think conceive of/intend execute carry out (plays on the sense of “kill”)

  16 The … other i.e. both sentiments (health and defiance)

  17 bloods tempers so long i.e. while the truce lasts

  18 contention dispute, conflict occasion opportunity

  20 policy cunning/strategy

  22 backward i.e. courageously facing the pursuer

  23 Anchises Aeneas’ father

  24 Venus the goddess was Aeneas’ mother

  25 No … excellently no man alive can love in such a manner, so excellently the thing he means to kill

  27 sympathize agree, are in accord

  28 If … glory if I am not to have the glory of killing him

  29 complete … sun i.e. years

  30 in mine for, in the cause of emulous ambitious, rivalrous

  32 know understand

  33 know … worse see the other one in a worse state/meet as enemies

  34 despiteful’st gentle malicious courteous

  39 render give

  42 constantly assuredly, firmly

  43 call my thought let my thought be called

  45 note notice, news

  46 quality whereof reason for it

  52 disposition nature/arrangements

  54 morrow morning

  60 He i.e. Menelaus

  61 making … of worrying about, entertaining moral doubts about soilure defilement, sexual dishonoring

  62 With … charge and the pain and cost of war

  64 palating tasting, affected by

  66 puling whimpering, whining

  67 lees and dregs remains, sediment flat tamèd piece wine cask that has been left open (tamèd) and the contents of which have become stale; plays on the sense of “sexually conquered woman” (piece), with flat suggesting unresponsive submission

  68 whorish loins i.e. Helen’s

  69 breed out conceive, create/taint and dilute the lineage of

  70 poised balanced

  71 he as he i.e. both men are equal the heavier both are more sorrowful whore plays on the antithesis of “light” (i.e. sexually immoral), a common descriptor for whores

  75 sunk i.e. been lost scruple tiny amount

  76 carrion putrefied, rotten (also a term for a whore)

  78 breath utterance

  80 chapmen traders, merchants

  81 Dispraise disparage, belittle

  82 But … sell i.e. we won’t play the tradesman hold uphold

  83 commend praise/hand over

  84 way path, route

  5 kill subdue, overpower

  6 soft attachment gentle confinement

  7 As as have/as to those of

  11 But were it not busy active/interfering

  12 ribald raucously abusive, irreverent

  14 from go from

  16 Beshrew curse venomous wights malignant people stays lingers

  17 grasps clutches/embraces

  18 momentary-swift fleeting

  20 tarry linger, delay

  21 held off i.e. from intercourse

  23 What’s i.e. why are

  25 pestilence plague

  26 life i.e. hard time of it

  27 how go how is it with/what is the current price for maidenheads virginities

  28 Hear … Cressid? Pandarus pretends not to recognize Cressida now that she is no longer a virgin

  29 naughty wicked (perhaps also “licentious”)

  30 – – – – the original text has this sequence of dashes to suggest an obscenity flout insult, mock, taunt

  31 do plays on the sense of “have sex with”

  34 suffer others allow others to be

  35 chipochia vulva, vagina (from Italian poccia dell’amore, woman’s genitalia); most editors incorrectly emend to capocchia, “foreskin,” which would require the line to be addressed to Troilus

  37 bugbear hobgoblin, bogeyman (used to frighten children; Pandarus continues teasingly speaking in a manner appropriate to small children)

  38 knocked i’th’head bashed over the head (perhaps Cressida unconsciously employs sexual language: “to knock” could mean to have sex and head could refer to the head of a penis)

  41 meant naughtily had wicked intentions, i.e. was inviting you in for sex (in addition, to come could mean “to orgasm” and chamber could mean “vagina”)

  43 thing perhaps plays on the sense of “penis”

  50 knew recognized

  54 import concern

  58 Who a form of “ho” or “whoa” (expressions of impatience)

  59 ere you’re ware unintentionally, before you know it you’ll … him i.e. in trying to be loyal you will end up doing him a disservice

  60 Do … him i.e. very well, so you don’t know where he is (Aeneas will play along with Pandarus’ lie) yet nevertheless

  63 rash urgent

  67 sacrifice religious observance, offering to the gods (made at regular intervals throughout the day)

  70 concluded decided, settled

  71 state council

  73 achievements accomplishments, success/sexual conquest

  77 Have … taciturnity are not more gifted than in keeping silent

  80 broke’s broken his

  93 changed exchanged

  94 bane poison/destruction/murder

  99 touch feeling, hint consanguinity kinship, blood relationship

  103 force violence

  105 base foundation

  106 centre … it refers to the Elizabethan idea that all things were drawn toward the earth’s core; plays on architectural sense of centre as a “temporary framework supporting any superstructure”

  111 sounding crying out resoundingly

  1 great morning broad daylight prefixed Of prearranged for

  5 haste … purpose hurry her along, get her ready for it

  7 presently immediately/soon

  12 would I wish as … pity as much as I pity

  3 fine refined, pure

  6 temporize negotiate, effect a compromise

  7 brew dilute, water down

  8 like allayment same moderation, lessening

  9 qualifying dross diluting impurity

  10 No more no more does, neither can such … loss the loss of something so precious

  11 duck term of endearment for a lover

  13 pair … here sight the pair of you make (possibly pair of spectacles plays on the sense of “eyeglasses”)

  17 he i.e. the heart

  18 smart pain

  21 we see it i.e. we have seen how such words can console

  23 strange rare, exceptional

  24 as as if they are fancy love

  25 More bright which fancy is more bright

  26 Cold chaste blow breathe out (as they make their vows)

  27 envy malice/jealousy

  34 where … chance so that the cruelty of fate

  35 Puts back prevents by aside

  36 rudely roughly, harshly, unkindly beguiles cheats

  37 rejoindure reunion (i.e. a kiss; also suggestive of “rejoinder,” i.e. reply)

  38 embrasures embraces dear precious/heartfelt

  39 in … breath as we struggle to give them voice (a grim image of infanticide)

  42 discharge exhalation/payment one i.e. one sigh

  43 Injurious wounding, wrongful

  44 thiev’ry booty, stolen valuables

  46 distinct … kisses individual words and ratifying kisses to accompany each one

  47 fumbles up gathers clumsily together

  48 scants restricts, supplies inadequately

  49 Distasting its sweetness destroyed broken interrupted (by sobs)

  51 genius attendant spirit thought to accompany and influence a person throughout life

  52 instantly at that moment, imminently

  54 Rain … wind i.e. I must cry to stop myself sighing lay allay, calm

  55 blown … root uprooted (like a tree)

  58 merry Greeks a “merry Greek” was a popular phrase for a jolly fellow

  59 see see each other

  61 deem thought, notion, suspicion

  62 use expostulation kindly remonstrate gently with one another

  63 it i.e. the opportunity to even talk

  64 as fearing thee as if I doubted you

  65 throw my glove issue a challenge (to a duel)

  66 maculation stain

  67 fashion in introduce

  68 sequent protestation following declaration

  72 sleeve detachable sleeve, ornamented cuff (given as a love token)

  74 corrupt bribe

  79 quality accomplishments/personal qualities

  80 Their loving i.e. as lovers, in wooing composed made up, put together

  81 arts and exercise well-practiced skills (arts)

  82 move incite to love/arouse (sexually suggestive) parts with person natural gifts together with the handsome man they belong to (possibly parts plays on the sense of “genitals”)

  83 godly i.e. righteous

  89 mainly much

  90 heel dance high lavolt a lively dance that involved leaping movements (from Italian lavolta, “the turn”)

  91 subtle cunning, involving strategy

  92 prompt and pregnant readily disposed and receptive

  94 still continual/silent dumb-discoursive silently persuasive, eloquent in silence

  98 will desire, wish

  101 Presuming … potency relying too readily on a power that may in fact prove changeable

  109 craft cunning for great opinion to secure great reputations

  110 simplicity sincerity

  111 crowns royal headgear (in the next line Troilus picks up on the sense of “heads”)

  112 wear mine bare in its natural copper/go bareheaded

  113 wit thinking

  114 all the reach the full extent

  117 port city gate

  118 by on possess inform

  119 Entreat her fair treat her courteously fair noble

  124 save keep, withhold

  126 Pleads makes the case for usage treatment

  129 petition towards request to you

  132 thou you are servant devotee, lover (like mistress, a term of courtly love)

  133 charge command even … charge simply because I command it

  134 dreadful inspiring dread, fear-inducing Pluto Greek god of the underworld

  137 moved provoked, angered

  138 place i.e. as a diplomat, negotiator message mission

  139 hence gone from here

  140 answer … lust do as I please (e.g. respond to you in battle/seduce Cressida) lust will/sexual desire

  141 on charge because it was commanded To according to

  142 that insofar as, just because

  143 speak it say

  145 brave boast/defiance

  147 bend we let us direct

  150 tardy reluctant, slow

  154 fresh eager

  155 address prepare tend attend, follow

  156 lie depend

  157 single chivalry individual valor/valor in single combat

  1 in appointment armed, equipped

  2 Anticipating i.e. ahead of starting energetic, eager

  4 appallèd terrified, made pale

  6 hale haul, drag

  7 trumpet trumpeter

  8 brazen brass/audacious

  9 villain wretch/servant spherèd puffed out, rounded bias i.e. puffed out on one side, as if with a bias in it (i.e. the weight in a bowling ball that enabled it to be rolled in a curve)

  10 colic griping abdominal pain (here, attributed to excess wind) Aquilon the north wind (often depicted with swollen cheeks)

  11 spout blood i.e. due to burst blood vessels from blowing so hard

  12 for to summon

  14 early days early on in the day

  15 yond yonder, over there

  16 ken know gait walk, bearing

  18 aspiration longing for something above one

  21 dearly heartily (with suggestion of the expense incurred by the war that has brought her there)

  23 Yet as yet/however particular individual/a single event

  24 in general by everyone/indiscriminately

  25 courtly befitting court affairs and fashionable, elegant behavior/befitting courtly love

  27 winter i.e. Nestor’s old age

  29 argument subject (Menelaus refers to Helen; may play on a sense of “vagina”)

  30 argument basis, reason

  31 popped arrived unexpectedly/moved in suddenly hardiment boldness/erect penis

  32 theme … scorns reason for our being mocked/grounds of our contempt/cause for the indignities of war

  33 lose our heads lose our judgment/risk our lives gild his horns add false shine to Menelaus’ cuckoldry (men with unfaithful wives were popularly supposed to grow horns)

  36 trim fine (sarcastic)

  37 for instead of/in his place

  38 by your leave with your permission

  39 render give

  41 I’ll … live I’ll stake my life on it, I’ll bet

  42 take i.e. receive from Cressida

  44 boot something extra, an advantage, odds

  45 odd peculiar/unique/single, i.e. wifeless (also plays on the notion of odd numbers and of odds in a betting game) even an even number/equally/straightforwardly

  46 odd individual, unique

  48 odd alone, wifeless is even has settled his score (playing on the idea of being part of a couple)

  49 fillip me o’th’head touch a sensitive spot, i.e. his cuckold’s horns fillip tap, strike smartly

  51 match equal contest nail fingernail horn tough cuckold’s horns

  54 desire request (Cressida’s response either points out a difference between this more formal request and begging, or picks up desire’s sense of “want, long for”)

  57 maid unmarried/a virgin (i.e. never) his i.e. returned to Menelaus; alternatively, Ulysses breaks off without finishing

  58 when ’tis due i.e. when that has happened

  59 a kiss I’ll claim a kiss

  61 quick sense quick wit/lively sensibility/a ready sensuality

  62 Fie expression of disgust or reproach

  64 wanton lustful spirits sentiments, character traits

  65 motive moving limb, motion

  66 encounterers flirts, forward women

  67 give … comes behave in a forward, overly welcoming manner before even being approached (coasting, i.e. accosting; may pun on “costing,” i.e. costly to the man involved)

  68 wide unclasp open wide tables writing tablets, notebooks (often hinged; plays on the sense of “vaginas”)

  69 tickling lecherous/engaged in sexual stimulation with the fingers Set them down record, note them (plays on the sexual sense of “put them on their backs”)

  70 spoils of opportunity women who are sexually available on any occasion spoils sexual plunder; plays on the idea of women sexually spoiled from overuse

  71 daughters … game prostitutes