86 take my death stake my life on it

  88 have at thee i.e. here I come (standard utterance at the opening of a fight)

  88 downright forthright, literally “vertically downwards”

  89 Dispatch get on with it

  89 double slur (perhaps plays on the sense of “deceive”)

  90 alarum trumpet call to arms

  93 in … way in between you and your master/hindering your master

  95 presence i.e. of the king

  100 he i.e. Horner

  Act 2 Scene 4

  2.4 Location: a London street

  2 evermore succeeds always follows

  4 fleet pass swiftly away

  9 Uneath not easily

  9 flinty hard, stony

  11 abrook endure

  12 abject base, lowly

  13 envious malicious

  14 erst formerly

  14 proud splendid, luxurious

  14 chariot-wheels … triumph the image is of a glorious military victor returning home in ceremony

  14.1 verses … back wrongdoers undertaking public penance were required to wear papers listing their crimes

  14.2 taper candle

  22 giddy fickle, unstable, heady, excited

  23 throw turn, cast

  24 hateful hate-filled

  25 closet private chamber

  25 rue pity, grieve for

  26 ban curse

  32 Mailed up enveloped, wrapped up (falconry term referring to the covering of the hawk to quiet it)

  34 deep-fet fetched up from deep within, profound

  36 start flinch (in pain)

  37 advisèd careful

  39 Trowest thou do you think

  42 pomp (former) splendor

  46 As that

  47 wonder spectacle

  47 pointing-stock object of ridicule

  48 idle useless/foolish/trifling

  48 rascal lowborn

  49 mild placid, calm

  53 her i.e. Queen Margaret

  55 limed smeared with birdlime (sticky substance used to catch birds)

  56 how thou canst as best you may

  59 forbear desist

  59 aimest guess, conjecture

  59 awry mistakenly

  60 attainted convicted of treason

  63 procure … scathe bring about any damage

  66 scandal were not disgrace would not be

  68 quiet acceptance, calm

  69 sort fashion, adapt

  70 few days’ wonder passing spectacle (proverbial: “a wonder lasts but nine days”)

  70 worn worn away, forgotten

  72 Holden to be held

  72 Bury Bury St. Edmunds, a town in Suffolk

  74 close dealing secretive business, plotting

  76 commission orders, authorization

  77 stays ends

  80 protect take custody of

  82 Entreat treat

  90 afeared afraid

  91 this world’s eternity eternal enjoyment of this world

  96 used treated

  96 state rank (Eleanor develops the sense of “condition of shame”)

  97 reproach disgrace itself

  101 better … fare may you fare better than I

  102 conduct conductor, guide

  103 office job, duty

  104 is discharged has been carried out

  107 attire clothe

  108 shifted moved, altered (puns on the sense of “changed as an undergarment or ‘shift’ ”)

  Act 3 Scene 1

  3.1 Location: Bury St. Edmunds

  1 muse wonder

  2 wont usual practice

  2 hindmost last (to arrive)

  5 strangeness aloof, distant nature

  7 insolent haughty, arrogant

  8 peremptory overbearing

  9 know remember

  9 since when

  10 far-off distant

  12 admired him for marveled at his

  14 give … day greet one another

  15 knits his brow frowns

  16 stiff unbowèd knee a respectful bow involved bending the knee

  17 duty i.e. dutiful gestures of respect

  18 curs dogs

  18 grin bare their teeth, snarl

  23 Meseemeth it seems to me

  23 no policy not expedient, imprudent

  24 Respecting considering

  24 rancorous malicious, bitter

  26 come about frequent, be in contact with

  29 commotion rebellion, riot

  31 shallow-rooted i.e. easily pulled up

  32 Suffer allow

  33 want lack

  33 husbandry cultivation

  35 collect gather (information about)/conclude, deduce

  36 fond foolish

  37 supplant uproot, overthrow, replace

  38 subscribe give in, concede

  40 Reprove refute, disprove

  41 effectual pertinent, valid

  43 put obliged, called upon

  45 subornation incitement (to do wrong)

  46 practices plots

  47 privy to privately aware of

  48 reputing boasting/thinking proudly

  49 the to the

  50 vaunts boasts

  51 bedlam brainsick insane and foolish

  52 frame organize, devise

  54 simple show innocent appearance

  57 Unsounded unfathomed, not probed or measured

  59 strange i.e. cruel or illegal

  61 Levy raise

  63 By means whereof as a result of which

  64 to compared to

  65 smooth glib, apparently amiable

  66 at once in answer to you all/without further ado/once and for all

  67 annoy injure

  68 shall I if I

  72 given disposed, inclined

  74 fond affiance misguided trust/foolish affinity

  76 disposèd as of the disposition of raven a bird of ill omen

  78 inclined of the same disposition

  78 wolves i.e. who proverbially wear sheep’s clothing

  79 steal a shape adopt a disguise

  79 means intends

  81 Hangs depends

  81 cutting short plays on the idea of beheading

  81 fraudful treacherous, fraudulent

  84 interest legal claim

  85 bereft deprived

  89 blasted blighted, withered

  91 gear business

  94 stayed delayed, been absent

  104 of from

  105 stayed withheld

  107 What who

  110 watched the night stayed awake

  111 studying pursuing/meditating on

  112 That may that

  112 doit small coin of little value

  113 groat coin worth four old pence

  115 proper store personal wealth

  117 disbursèd paid out

  123 That so that

  123 was defamed by became infamous for

  124 whiles while

  127 lowly … fault humble words of repentance were payment enough for the crime

  129 felonious wicked, criminal

  129 fleeced plundered, robbed

  129 passengers travelers

  130 condign fitting, appropriate

  132 Above … else more severely than other types of offense

  133 easy slight, small

  138 keep guard, detain

  138 further subsequent

  140 suspense suspicion

  145 subornation incitement to wrongdoing, bribery predominant in the ascendant (astronomical term)

  146 equity justice

  147 complot plot, conspiracy

  149 period end

  150 expend it pay the price (of death)

  151 mine i.e. my death

  154 blab reveal, betray

  156 Sharp merciless, severe

  157 envious malicious

  158 doggèd doglike, ill-tempered, stubborn

  159 overweening overreaching, presumptuous

  160 accuse accusation

  160 level aim

  162 Causeless without cause

  164 liefest liege dearest sovereign

  166 conventicles secret meetings

  168 want lack

  169 store abundance

  172 railing ranting, complaining

  175 chid rebuked

  175 rated at berated

  176 scope range, opportunity

  177 zeal loyalty, devotion

  178 twit taunted, reproached

  179 clerkly couched skillfully expressed

  180 subornèd bribed

  181 state authority, high position

  184 Beshrew curse

  184 played me false cheated, deceived me

  186 wrest the sense twist the meaning

  188 sure securely

  192 gnarling snarling, growling

  194 decay ruin, downfall

  200 engirt encircled

  203 map image

  205 proved thee false found you disloyal

  205 feared thy faith doubted your loyalty

  206 envies thy estate feels malice toward your position

  208 subversion the destruction, overthrow

  211 strays a problematic image as the calf is bound, unless this means loosely leashed about the neck or penned in—possibly and functions more like “or” as Henry lists the things a butcher might do to a calf; many editors emend to “strains”

  214 dam mother

  220 vowed avowed, sworn

  221 ’twixt in between

  223 Free noble, honorable

  224 cold indifferent, passive

  225 show false appearance, deceptive behavior

  226 Beguiles deceives, distracts

  227 crocodile … passengers crocodiles were believed to shed tears as a means of enticing victims

  227 relenting pitying

  229 chequered slough patterned, multicolored outer skin

  232 wit intellect, reasoning

  233 rid removed from

  235 worthy sensible, shrewd

  236 colour pretext, excuse (picks up on die/dye to pun on the sense of “hue”; also puns on “collar”—i.e. hangman’s noose)

  237 meet appropriate, fitting

  238 were would be policy clever strategy

  239 still continually

  240 haply rise may perhaps rebel

  241 trivial argument scant evidence, slight grounds

  242 More than mistrust except for suspicion

  243 by this on the strength of this reasoning

  244 fain willing

  248 all one the same (if)

  248 empty hungry

  249 kite bird of prey

  253 surveyor … fold keeper of the sheepfold

  255 idly posted over foolishly ignored

  256 Because … executed simply because he had yet to kill one of the sheep

  259 chaps jaws

  260 proved … liege has been demonstrated through reasoned argument to be a threat to Henry

  261 stand insist

  261 quillets fine distinctions, quibbles

  262 gins, by snares two types of traps for catching game

  262 subtlety cunning, crafty strategy

  264 So provided

  265 mates checkmates, catches out

  267 except unless

  269 that to show that

  269 accordeth is in accordance with

  270 meritorious worthy, deserving of God’s reward

  272 be his priest preside over his death like a priest administering the last rites (i.e. kill him)

  274 Ere … priest before you have time to be ordained as a priest/to arrange for a priest to be there

  275 censure approve

  277 tender so hold so dear

  281 skills … doom does not make much difference who questions our judgment

  281 Post messenger

  282 amain in haste

  283 signify inform, report up up in arms

  285 succours assistance

  285 betime rapidly, at an early stage

  287 green fresh

  288 breach gash, hole/uprising, rebellion

  289 weighty cause pressing circumstance, important matter

  291 meet appropriate

  291 lucky … France York is being sarcastic and insulting toward Somerset

  293 far-fet far-fetched, devious

  297 betimes early

  300 charactered inscribed, written

  301 Men’s flesh men whose flesh is

  306 happily perhaps

  308 in the number among them

  309 try put to the test

  310 uncivil uncivilized, rebellious

  310 kerns lightly armed Irish foot soldiers

  311 temper clay soften, mix earth

  313 Collected choicely carefully selected

  314 hap luck, fortune

  320 take order make arrangements

  332 misdoubt mistrust, uncertainty

  333 that that which

  335 keep dwell, remain

  335 mean-born lowborn, humble

  336 harbour dwelling, shelter

  338 dignity honor, high rank, kingship

  340 tedious laborious, painstakingly intricate

  341 politicly strategically, cunningly

  343 fear me fear

  344 warm … hearts refers to the proverbial cautionary tale of the man who warms a frozen snake against his chest, only to have it revive and bite him

  343 starvèd stiff from cold

  348 nourish generate, support

  350 Shall that shall

  351 fell fierce, cruel

  352 circuit i.e. crown

  354 mad-bred created by madness

  354 flaw squall, blast

  355 minister … intent agent of my intentions

  357 Ashford town in Kent, south of Canterbury

  358 make commotion rouse rebellion

  359 John Mortimer like York, a member of the Mortimer family, who were descended from Edward III’s third son Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and could thus claim entitlement to the throne

  362 till that until

  362 darts arrows

  365 caper perform a leaping, nimble dance

  365 Morisco morris dancer

  366 he the morris dancer

  366 bells traditionally tied to the dancer’s legs

  367 Full very

  367 shag-haired shaggy-haired, wild-haired

  370 notice information

  372 John … dead Mortimer was executed in 1424

  373 gait bearing

  374 commons’ common people’s, public’s

  375 affect favor, incline to

  376 taken arrested

  376 racked tortured by being strapped upon a frame and having the limbs stretched

  378 moved persuaded

  379 great like very likely

  381 rascal lowborn man/rogue

  383 put apart ousted, put aside (perhaps with murderous suggestion)

  Act 3 Scene 2

  2 dispatched done away with, killed (Suffolk shifts the sense to “managed, carried out”)

  3 to do still to be done (i.e. that we had not done it)

  9 venturous risky

  11 laid fair tidied, straightened up

  15 straight straightaway

  17 If (to determine) whether

  17 publishèd declared

  20 straiter more harshly

  21 of good esteem worthy of belief

  22 approved in proved guilty of

  22 practice culpable guilty plotting, wrongful conspiracy

  24 faultless … man may condemn an innocent and noble man

  25 acquit him clear himself

  30 forfend forbid

  31 tonight last night

  34 Rear up raise, support

  34 wring twist, squeeze (to restore circulation)

  41 raven’s note proverbially ominous and associated with death

  42 dismal fatal, ominous

  42 bereft robbed me of

  44 hollow empty, insincere

  45 first-conceivèd original, first perceived

  48 affrights frightens

  49 baleful deadly

  53 basilisk mythological reptile whose gaze had the power to kill

  57 rate berate

  61 heart-offending heart-wounding (each groan or sigh was thought to deprive the heart of a drop of blood)

  66 deem judge, think

  67 hollow shallow, insincere

  70 reproach censure, disgrace

  74 woe sorry

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

  77 waxen grown

  78 forlorn wretched, neglected, outcast

  83 nigh nearly

  84 awkward adverse, unfavorable

  84 bank shore

  85 clime land, region

  86 but unless (the)

  88 unkind hostile, unnatural

  89 gentle kindly (i.e. in relation to what follows)

  90 he i.e. Aeolus

  90 forth forth from brazen strong (as brass); in classical mythology, Aeolus’ island is described as being surrounded by bronze walls

  93 Aeolus in Greek mythology, the ruler of the winds

  95 pretty artful/clever/charming vaulting leaping

  98 splitting vicious, jagged, capable of splitting ships

  98 sinking sands sands capable of sinking ships

  100 Because so that

  101 perish destroy

  102 ken see, make out

  104 hatches deck

  106 earnest-gaping eagerly gazing

  108 bound in with surrounded by

  112 packing gone

  112 heart i.e. the jewel (plays on the sense of “affections, desires”)

  114 wishèd longed for, desired

  116 agent i.e. as Henry’s deputy

  117 witch bewitch Ascanius son of Aeneas, in whose form Cupid disguised himself so that he could enchant Dido with tales of Aeneas’ bravery in the battle of Troy, and make her fall in love with the boy’s father; Aeneas responded to Dido’s passion, but eventually deserted her

  118 madding frantic, maddened by love

  120 false inconstant, disloyal

  121 can no more cannot goon

  121 Commons commoners

  127 want lack

  128 his revenge payment for his death

  129 spleenful enraged

  130 order nature, circumstances

  134 comment then upon explain

  136 rude rough, ignorant

  137 stay stop, restrain

  140 suspect suspicion

  142 Fain gladly

  142 chafe restore warmth to

  142 paly bloodless, pale

  145 trunk body

  147 mean obsequies meager funeral rites

  147 Enter … bed i.e. the curtains are drawn to reveal the discovery space, a sizable alcove at the back of the stage

  153 my … death an image of my own death