48 tender-dying youthful dying

  49 pining wasting

  49 malady of France plays on the sense of “syphilis” (“the French disease”)

  50 unnatural against the natural order/against one’s own country

  52 edgèd sharp

  57 stainèd i.e. staining

  59 nature natural, inherent feeling/a sense of kinship

  60 exclaims on accuses, condemns loudly

  61 lawful progeny legitimate lineage

  68 mark but only note

  75 them those who

  76 wandering straying, erring

  78 haughty high, lofty

  82 hearty sincere, heartfelt

  83 power force, army

  86 makes us fresh invigorates, renews us, makes us eager

  87 beget breed, create

  88 bravely courageously/splendidly

  89 coronet small crown worn by members of the nobility

  91 prejudice injure, damage

  Act 3 Scene 4

  3.4 Location: Paris, France

  4 do my duty pay homage

  5 reclaimed won back

  8 esteem high rank

  19 stouter bolder, more hardy

  19 champion one who fights on behalf of another

  20 resolvèd convinced

  20 truth loyalty

  23 reguerdoned rewarded

  25 deserts deservings, merits

  28 hot hot-tempered, angry

  29 Disgracing … colours insulting the badge (that identifies his loyalty)

  32 patronage defend, uphold

  33 envious malicious

  33 saucy insolent

  35 Sirrah sir (used to an inferior; here, contemptuous)

  35 as he is i.e. for what he’s worth (implying not much)

  38 law of arms law that forbade fighting near a royal residence

  39 present immediate

  40 broach set flowing

  41 crave request earnestly

  42 liberty permission

  44 miscreant villain, wretch

  45 after i.e. after the king’s permission to fight has been obtained

  Act 4 Scene 1

  4 elect acknowledge, accept

  5 Esteem consider

  6 pretend intend, plan

  15 Garter sign of membership of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of English knighthood, consisting of a blue and gold ribbon tied below the left knee

  15 craven’s coward’s

  19 dastard despicable coward

  25 divers several, various

  30 fact deed, crime

  31 common ordinary, without rank

  32 captain commander of a regiment

  35 haughty courage high spirit, exalted bravery

  36 grown to credit risen to honor

  37 for from distress hardship, adversity

  39 furnished … sort so equipped

  43 degraded lowered in rank

  43 hedge-born swain person of very low birth, peasant born out of doors

  44 gentle noble

  45 doom sentence, judgment

  46 Be packing be off, get packing

  50 style form of address

  51 but than

  53 churlish ungracious, blunt

  53 superscription form of address appearing at the head of the letter

  54 Pretend imply, intend

  56 wrack ruin

  59 pernicious destructive

  64 revolt rebel; literally, perform a complete turnaround

  69 chastisement punishment, retribution

  71 but … prevented were it not for the fact that I have been anticipated (by you)

  73 strength troops

  73 straight straightaway

  74 brook tolerate

  75 flout mock, abuse

  76 still (that) always

  77 confusion destruction, overthrow

  78 the combat permission to fight a duel

  80 servant follower

  83 exclaim outcry, protest

  90 envious malicious

  92 sanguine bloodred

  92 leaves petals

  94 repugn reject, oppose

  95 question … law i.e. the question of succession, and the attainder of York’s father (see Act 2 Scene 4)

  98 confutation refutation (legal term)

  98 rude ignorant

  100 benefit (legal) privilege

  101 petition formal request

  102 forgèd false, crafted

  102 quaint conceit cunning invention/ingenious rhetoric

  103 set … upon give a plausible, attractive appearance to

  105 took exceptions at objected to

  107 Bewrayed betrayed, revealed

  107 faintness cowardice, timidity

  111 brainsick foolish, demented

  113 factious emulations divisive rivalries

  114 cousins kinsmen; also a term used to fellow nobles

  118 toucheth concerns

  120 pledge gage, i.e. item (often a glove or gauntlet) that signified the giver’s commitment to a duel

  121 rest remain

  123 Confounded destroyed, overcome

  124 prate prattle, chatter

  125 vassals servants

  126 immodest arrogant, outspoken

  129 objections accusations, allegations

  130 occasion grounds, opportunity

  131 mutiny strife, riot

  140 within ourselves among ourselves (plays on the sense of “within our own bodies”)

  141 grudging stomachs resentful tempers/stomachs exhibiting signs of disease

  142 rebel rebellion

  144 certified informed, shown

  145 toy trifle

  145 regard value, consequence

  149 forgo forfeit, lose

  150 That … that for a trifle that which was

  151 doubtful precarious, generating fear

  153 suspicious anxious

  154 incline to favor

  156 As … may they might as well

  157 forsooth in truth

  158 discretions judgments

  162 institute appoint

  163 parts regions

  165 bands of foot regiments of infantry, foot soldiers

  166 progenitors forefathers

  167 digest i.e. break down, assimilate, get rid of

  168 angry choler anger

  170 respite interval, delay

  173 rout rabble

  175 Prettily charmingly/ingeniously

  178 fancy whim

  180 An … wist if I knew

  183 passions powerful feelings

  184 deciphered revealed, detected

  187 simple common, ordinary

  189 shouldering jostling

  190 bandying verbal contests

  190 favourites supporters

  191 that sees that

  191 event outcome

  192 much a weighty business

  193 envy malice, enmity

  193 unkind unnatural

  194 confusion chaos, destruction

  Act 4 Scene 2

  4.2 Location: outside the gates of Bordeaux (a major port on the River Garonne in southwest France)

  4.2 Trump and Drum trumpeter and drummer

  4.2 aloft gallery, upper staging level, conventionally used to represent city walls

  5 would wishes

  8 bloody bloodthirsty, warlike

  11 quartering dismembering

  12 even level

  13 air-braving defying the heavens, lofty

  14 forsake reject

  15 ominous … death the owl’s cry was thought to portend evil or death

  17 period end

  20 issue out come forth

  21 appointed equipped

  23 hand thee side of you

  23 pitched drawn up in battle formation

  24 wall block, shut off

  25 redress relief, aid

  26 front confront, face

  26 apparent spoil obvious destruction

  27 pale i.e. deathly

  28 ta’en the sacrament taken Communion as a means of confirming their oaths

  29 rive split open (with explosions)

  33 latest last

  34 due endow

  35 glass hourglass

  37 well colourèd in good health

  39 warning bell bell rung to warn of fire or invasion

  40 heavy solemn, sad, burdensome

  41 dire dreadful

  41 departure i.e. death

  42 fables lies, fabricates

  43 peruse investigate, survey

  43 wings flanks, forces at the sides of a main body of troops

  44 heedless careless, slack

  44 discipline military strategy

  45 parked … pale fenced in and confined within an enclosure

  47 Mazed bewildered, confused

  47 kennel pack

  47 curs hounds

  48 in blood full of life, in fine condition (hunting term)

  49 rascal-like like young, inferior deer

  49 pinch bite, nip

  50 moody-mad wild with rage

  51 heads of steel antlers like swords

  52 stand … bay back off as we, like the maddened, cornered deer, turn to face our pursuers

  54 dear costly (with obvious pun)

  Act 4 Scene 3

  4.3 Location: France; six hours’ journey from Bordeaux, exact location unspecified

  2 dogged tracked, followed

  3 give it out assert

  6 espials spies

  13 louted made a fool of, mocked; or possibly “delayed”

  15 necessity unavoidable event

  16 miscarry come to harm

  18 needful necessary

  20 girdled belted, surrounded

  20 waist belt (puns on “waste,” i.e. vast expanse)

  25 stop detain, delay

  25 cornets cavalry, troops of horsemen

  29 remiss careless

  30 distressed undergoing adversity

  33 ’long of because of

  41 vexation terrible anguish, affliction

  42 sundered separated

  42 friends relatives

  43 can can do

  44 cause i.e. Somerset

  46 ’Long all all because

  47 sedition disputes between factions/mutiny, revolt

  49 Sleeping neglection careless, lazy neglect

  50 scarce-cold recently dead (historically, however, the events of this scene took place thirty-one years after the death of Henry V)

  51 ever-living … memory man who will live forever in memory

  52 cross thwart, obstruct

  53 lauds praises

  53 Exit some editors have Lucy remaining onstage; he speaks again shortly after the beginning of the following scene

  Act 4 Scene 4

  2 expedition speedy action, military enterprise

  4 sally sudden attack, sortie

  4 very town merely the town’s garrison, unsupported by further troops

  5 buckled with encountered, tackled

  6 gloss luster

  7 unheedful careless, negligent

  11 o’ermatched outnumbered

  13 bought and sold betrayed

  16 legions troops

  19 in advantage ling’ring trying to draw out any kind of benefit through delaying tactics/desperately protracting his superior military position for as long as possible

  20 trust trustee, guardian

  21 Keep off aloof stand aside

  21 worthless emulation ignoble ambition, rivalry

  22 private discord personal disagreement

  23 levied succours mustered military assistance

  25 world of immense, overwhelming

  27 compass him about surround him

  28 default negligence, failure to act

  29 set him on incited him

  31 host army, specifically cavalry

  33 sent sent for

  35 take foul scorn think scornfully, find it disgraceful

  44 though even if

  Act 4 Scene 5

  4.5 Location: a battlefield near Bordeaux, France

  5 drooping transferred epithet: decaying, failing

  6 malignant of evil influence

  6 ill-boding inauspicious

  8 unavoided unavoidable

  11 sudden rapid/immediate

  22 Your … great the loss of you would have a devastating impact

  22 regard self-regard, care of yourself

  27 mine i.e. my honour

  27 exploit warlike deeds

  28 vantage military advantage

  29 bow retreat

  32 mortality death

  41 abuse dishonor

  42 charge order, command

  44 apparent certain, evident

  46 age whole life

  53 eclipse extinguish

  Act 4 Scene 6

  2 Regent i.e. York, who was appointed regent in Act 4 Scene 1

  3 France his France’s

  9 determined limited, with an appointed ending

  9 date limit, term

  10 crest helmet

  13 Quickened was reanimated, lived

  13 spleen fiery temper, impetuosity

  15 pride arrogance/foremost nobility

  15 Gallia France

  16 ireful enraged

  17 maidenhood virginity

  20 in disgrace with contempt, insultingly

  22 misbegotten illegitimate, wrongly created

  23 Mean base

  25 purposing as I was intending

  29 sealed confirmed

  32 wot know

  35 mickle great

  42 smart suffer, feel pain

  44 On that advantage for the sake of that advantage (i.e. safety)

  47 The may the

  48 like liken

  49 scorn object of scorn

  49 subject of mischance victim of misfortune

  52 boot use

  55 follow … Icarus Icarus and his father, Daedalus, tried to escape imprisonment in Crete using wings made out of feathers and wax; Icarus flew too close to the sun and the wax melted so that he fell to his death

  57 pride honor, glory

  Act 4 Scene 7

  3 Triumphant victorious, celebrating victory

  3 captivity the blood of injured captives

  8 stern impatience cruel fury

  9 guardant protector, guard

  10 Tend’ring my ruin tending to my injuries, caring for me in my fall

  10 of by

  11 Dizzy-eyed with dazzled, glazed eyes

  13 clust’ring crowded, swarming

  14 drench drown

  15 over-mounting over-ambitious

  17 lo look

  18 antic grinning, grotesque

  19 Anon soon

  21 lither yielding, supple

  22 In thy despite in contempt, in spite of you

  22 scape mortality escape death (through the immortality of the soul)

  23 become hard-favoured suit ugly, hideous

  25 Brave defy, challenge

  27 who one who

  35 whelp puppy (plays on the fact that a “talbot” is a type of hunting dog)

  35 wood mad

  36 flesh initiate (from the practice of feeding hunting dogs raw meat to excite them)

  36 puny inexperienced, novice

  38 maiden virginal, inexperienced

  41 pillage plunder giglot strumpet, whorish

  42 bowels depths, core

  45 inhearsèd laid as in a coffin

  46 bloody bloodthirsty/covered in blood

  46 nurser … harms person who taught him to harm his enemies/person who has caused his injuries (by allowing him into battle)/person bent or slumped over him and seemingly tending his wounds

  48 wonder source of amazement and awe

  49 that … fled i.e. Talbot

  53 submissive message message of submission, surrender

  54 a mere an exclusively

  55 wot know

  57 survey examine, take note of

  71 But … France this epic list of Talbot’s many titles may have been derived from an epitaph on his original tomb in France

  71 Alcides Hercules, the mythical hero famed for feats of strength

  71 rare extraordinary/splendid

  71 Worthy equal to/worthy of

  71 Saint Michael the Order of Saint Michael, a French chivalric order in fact not established until 1469, after the events of the play occurred

  71 Golden Fleece another French order of knights, set up in 1429

  72 style list of titles, mode of expression

  73 The Turk conventional title for the Turkish sultan

  76 fly-blown putrefied, rotting (literally, with fly’s eggs laid in his decomposing flesh)

  78 Nemesis Greek goddess of justice and retribution, who punished pride and arrogance

  84 amaze terrify, alarm

  86 beseems befits, is appropriate to

  93 ashes … phoenix the phoenix, a mythical bird, was said to live for five hundred years, consume itself in fire, and then rise again from its own ashes

  94 So provided

  Act 5 Scene 1

  5.1 Location: the royal court, London

  4 sue unto entreat

  5 concluded of resolved, settled

  7 affect their motion incline to their proposal

  10 stablish establish

  13 immanity barbarity, atrocities

  17 near knit closely related

  21 young historically Henry was actually twenty-one

  23 wanton lascivious

  27 Tends that tends

  27 weal welfare

  27 legate representative

  29 degree rank

  30 verified come true

  31 sometime at one time, formerly

  33 cap i.e. Cardinal’s red hat

  34 several separate, respective

  38 draw draw up

  40 presently immediately

  42 at large in full

  43 As that

  46 In argument as evidence

  49 wherein shipped where once embarked

  54 grave ornaments dignified robes of office

  56 trow am sure

  62 a mutiny an open revolt, rebellion

  Act 5 Scene 2

  5.2 Location: France, exact location unspecified

  2 stout brave, resolute

  5 powers troops

  5 dalliance idleness, time wasting

  7 combat with fight, bring down

  9 accomplices allies

  15 provide prepare ourselves

  20 repine complain

  Act 5 Scene 3

  2 charming magic

  2 periapts amulets, charms (worn on the body)

  3 choice excellent, worthy

  3 admonish forewarn

  4 accidents events, chance happenings

  5 substitutes servants, agents

  6 lordly … north i.e. the devil

  8 quick lively, in living form/alert, vigorous

  10 familiar spirits attendant spirits that served a witch, often inhabiting the bodies of animals culled selected