All's Well That Ends Well (37 page)

115
set him there
put him in the position

116
forward
in the front line/facing the enemy

117
caitiff
wretch

120
ravin
ravenous

121
constraint
compulsion

122
owes
owns

124
Whence … scar
from where honor merely earns a scar by undergoing danger

125
oft
often as

125
all
i.e. life

127
do't
i.e. keep you away

127
although
even if

129
officed all
carried out all household duties

130
pitiful
compassionate

131
consolate
console

132
steal
creep (plays on the sense of “rob”)

Act 3 Scene 3

3.3
Location: Florence Drum and Trumpets
i.e. a drummer and a trumpeter

2
Great
pregnant/swelling

2
lay
wager

2
credence
trust, faith

7
th'extreme edge
the utmost limit

9
helm
helmet

12
file
rank of soldiers

13
like my thoughts
i.e. valiant

Act 3 Scene 4

3.4
Location: Rossillion

1
of
from

4
“I … free”
this letter is cast in the form of a sonnet

4
Saint Jaques
Saint James, whose shrine was at Compostella, in northwest Spain

7
sainted
holy/dedicated to a saint

9
hie
hasten

12
taken
undertaken

13
despiteful
cruel, malicious

13
Juno
supreme goddess, who imposed twelve labors on Hercules

14
camping
tent-dwelling (i.e. army)

17
Whom
i.e. death

19
advice
judgment

22
prevented
forestalled

24
at overnight
last night

29
whom
i.e. both Helen and her prayers

32
unworthy husband
husband unworthy

33
weigh heavy of
emphasize

37
When haply
perhaps when

41
sense
perception

42
Provide
equip

Act 3 Scene 5

3.5
Location: Florence tucket
trumpet fanfare

3.5
Diana
significantly, given her role, the name of the goddess of chastity and hunting; the Folio entry direction calls her “Violenta,” which was perhaps Shakespeare's first thought for the name

2
lose all
entirely miss

5
their
i.e. Siena's

10
suffice
satisfy

11
earl
i.e. Bertram

12
name
reputation

13
honesty
chastity

15
solicited
entreated, courted

17
officer
agent

17
suggestions
promptings toward evil/entreaties

17
for
on behalf of

19
engines
devices/plots

19
go under
appear to be

21
wreck of maidenhood
loss of virginity

22
succession
(others from) doing the same

23
that
for all that

23
limed
trapped (like birds caught in lime, a sticky substance smeared on
twigs
)

25
grace
virtue

25
though
even if

26
further … lost
worse risk than the loss of virginity (i.e. pregnancy)

27
fear
fear for

29
lie
lodge

32
palmers
pilgrims

33
Saint Francis
inn with the sign of Saint Francis

33
port
city gate

36
tarry
wait

39
for
because

40
ample
well, fully

43
stay upon
await

43
leisure
convenience

52
Whatsome'er
whoever

53
bravely taken
highly regarded

54
for
because

56
mere
absolutely

61
believe
agree

62
argument
any issue

62
to
in comparison with

63
mean
lowly/unworthy

64
All her deserving
her only merit

65
reservèd honesty
well-guarded chastity

66
examined
called into question

70
write
style her (some editors emend to “warrant”)

72
shrewd
malicious

77
brokes
bargains, negotiates

77
suit
endeavor, request

80
honestest
most chaste

80
colours
battle flags

81
else
(that it should be) otherwise

88
honester
more honorable

95
jackanapes
monkey

98
shrewdly
sorely

101
courtesy
curtsy (i.e. bow)

101
ring-carrier
pimp

103
host
lodge

103
enjoined penitents
those bound by oath to undertake pilgrimage as penance for sin

107
Please it
if it please

108
charge
expense

109
for me
mine

110
precepts of
advice on

112
kindly
gratefully

Act 3 Scene 6

3.6
Location: battlefield

1
to't
to the test

3
hilding
good-for-nothing

5
bubble
i.e. nothing/showy/easily destroyed

8
as
as if he were

11
entertainment
patronage

12
reposing
trusting, relying

13
trusty
requiring trustworthiness

15
try
test

16
fetch off
rescue/retrieve

19
surprise
ambush, attack

19
knows not
cannot distinguish

20
hoodwink
blindfold/deceive

21
leaguer
military camp

25
intelligence
secret information

27
oath
i.e. the vow he took never to divulge the intelligence

30
bottom
extent

31
ore
precious metal

31
give … entertainment
i.e. beat him/cast him out (proverbial)

32
inclining
partiality, liking (for Parolles)

36
in any hand
in any case

37
sticks
stabs

37
sticks … disposition
is really upsetting you

39
pox
plague

42
wings
flanks, on either side of the main body of troops

42
rend
tear apart, devastate

43
in
upon

43
command … service
military orders

51
But
were it not

53
hic jacet
i.e. I shall die—literally “here lies” (Latin), phrase found on tombstones

54
stomach
appetite/courage

55
mystery
skill

56
his
its

57
grace
honor

58
speed
fare/succeed

59
becomes
befits

62
slumber in it
i.e. delay

63
presently
immediately

63
pen
write

64
dilemmas
choices of action

65
mortal preparation
spiritual readiness either for my death or those of the men I kill

71
possibility
competence, capacity

72
subscribe
vouch

76
damns himself
i.e. by swearing falsely

81
have
have a true understanding of

82
make no deed
perform no part/make no attempt

85
probable
plausible

86
embossed
hunted down/driven to exhaustion

87
for
worthy of

88
case
skin, unmask

89
smoked
smoked out, exposed

90
sprat
small fish (i.e. contemptible person)

92
look my twigs
see to my bird-trap

93
Your … me
i.e. Bertram pulls rank and orders the Second Lord to accompany him in his pursuit of Diana, leaving the First Lord to undertake the ambush on Parolles

100
coxcomb
fool (literally, fool's cap)

100
have i'th'wind
have scented, are tracking

Act 3 Scene 7

3.7
Location: Florence

1
misdoubt
disbelieve, suspect

3
But … upon
without losing the foundations my plans rely on

4
estate
worldly fortune

10
sworn counsel
private hearing that you have vowed to keep secret

11
so … word
true in every word

12
By
with respect to

15
approves
proves, demonstrates

20
found it
received your help

21
wanton
lascivious

22
carry
win

22
in fine
in the end/to sum up

23
bear
manage

24
important blood
urgent sexual passion

25
county
count

29
rich choice
high esteem

29
idle fire
foolish ardor

30
will
sexual desire

33
bottom
essence

34
lawful
to be lawful

36
appoints … encounter
arranges a meeting with him

39
marry her
enable her to marry

40
is passed
has been given

42
persever
proceed

44
coherent
fitting

45
musics
musicians/instruments/music

46
unworthiness
humble status/because convincing her to do an unworthy deed

46
steads
profits

47
chide
scold, drive away

48
lay
depended

50
assay
try

50
speed
succeed

51
meaning
intention (on Bertram's part)

51
lawful deed
i.e. marital sex

53
fact
i.e. Bertram's belief that he is having sex with another woman