Antony and Cleopatra (42 page)
Read Antony and Cleopatra Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
pelleted
consisting of pellets, hail
197
buried … prey
i.e. eaten them
199
sets down
encamps
200
oppose his fate
do battle with his destiny
202
fleet
is afloat
sea-like
like the sea itself/seaworthy and shipshape
205
in blood
bloodstained from battle/in full vigor/sexually aroused
206
chronicle
place in history
209
treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed
three times myself in muscle, heart, and breath
210
maliciously
fiercely
211
nice
extravagant, pampered/lascivious
men … jests
I allowed captives to be redeemed for trifles
214
gaudy
luxurious
215
sad
melancholy/somber, grave
216
mock … bell
stay up late, make a night of it (perhaps with suggestion of scorning the death bell)
218
held it poor
marked it in a poor fashion
224
sap in’t yet
still life left
225
contend … scythe
compete with death, killing as many as he does with the plague (
contend
plays on the sense of “engage in amorous conflict, embrace”)
227
outstare
defy, stare down
furious
full of fierce passion/frenzied, raging
229
estridge
ostrich/goshawk
231
heart
courage
1
as
as if
4
ruffian
villain/swaggering bully/protector or confederate of prostitutes
9
breath
breathing space
10
Make boot
take advantage
distraction
madness
12
best heads
chief commanders
14
files
ranks
15
but late
only recently
16
fetch him in
capture him
17
store
plenty of supplies
18
waste
extravagance
1
Domitius
the only time that Antony uses Enobarbus’ first name
4
of better fortune
more fortunate than you
7
or … Or
either … or
8
bathe … again
a metaphor drawn from the belief that bathing in warm blood could cure one of debilitating diseases
9
Woo’t
wilt, i.e. will you
10
‘Take all’
“Winner takes all” (gambling phrase; plays on the sense of “Lower my ship’s sails in defeat and surrender everything”)
14
honest
honorable, faithful
16
fellows
fellow servants
18
tricks
whims, caprices
22
clapped up
combined
27
Scant … cups
give me plenty to drink
29
suffered
was under, was subject to
33
period
end
34
Haply
perhaps
if … shadow
if you do, it will be as a mutilated ghost
35
Perchance
maybe
41
yield
reward
43
discomfort
grief, distress
44
onion-eyed
i.e. weeping
47
the … me
may I be bewitched
48
Grace
forgiveness/the herb of grace (rue)
hearty
kind-hearted/sincere/noble, courageous
49
dolorous
sad, dismal
50
for your comfort
in order to cheer you up
51
burn … torches
i.e. spend all night in revelry
55
consideration
serious thoughts
1
day
i.e. of battle
2
determine one way
decide matters/conclude one way or another
5
Belike
probably
7
careful
cautious, wary
10
absolute
positive, free from all doubt
12
brave
valiant/splendid
purpose
determination
hautboys
oboe-like instruments
14
List
listen
18
signs well
is a good omen
21
Hercules
legendary Greek hero of immense strength, supposed ancestor of Antony
28
masters
sirs
29
we have quarter
our watch extends
30
give off
cease
3
chuck
chick (term of endearment)
4
thine iron
the armor that you are holding
6
brave
defy
10
False
that’s wrong (Cleopatra has got the wrong piece of armor, or has tried to attach a piece incorrectly)
11
Sooth
in truth
la
emphatic exclamation
12
Well
i.e. Cleopatra’s assistance
14
thy defences
your own armor
15
Briefly
shortly
17
Rarely
splendidly
18
we … repose
I choose to remove it in order to rest (Antony uses the royal pronoun)
19
doff’t
take it off
storm
rain of blows
20
squire
young man of good birth attendant on a knight
21
tight
deft
dispatch
hurry up
22
knew’st
understood
23
royal occupation
business of kings, i.e. warfare
24
workman
expert craftsman
25
him
one
knows … charge
has a military responsibility (i.e. comes to deliver a message)/has experience of fighting
26
betime
early
29
riveted trim
armor
30
port
gate
33
’Tis well blown
referring either to the flourish of trumpets or to the dawning of the morning
35
of note
famous
37
dame
queen/my lady
39
check
reprimand
stand
insist
40
mechanic compliment
formal etiquette
41
that will
who intend to
45
That
if only
46
Determine
decide/end
1
happy
fortunate
2
Would
I wish
prevailed
succeeded in persuading
5
revolted
deserted
21
charge
order
22
subscribe
sign
25
Dispatch
do it straightaway
2
took
captured
5
universal peace
the Pax Romana, a long period of relative peace established under the rule of Emperor Augustus (Octavius’ subsequent title); also the beginning of the Christian era
6
three-nooked
three-cornered; refers either to the tripartite division of lands ruled by a triumvirate, or to the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia
7
bear the olive
bring forth the olive tree/wear an olive garland (symbolic of peace)
freely
willingly, readily/abundantly/without impediment
10
van
vanguard, the front
13
Jewry
Judaea, modern Israel/Palestine
14
dissuade
persuade to change his allegiance
15
Great Herod
Herod the Great, King of the Jews
18
fell away
deserted
entertainment
hospitality/employment
24
bounty overplus
generous gift in addition
25
on my guard
while I was on guard duty
29
safed
escorted safely
30
host
army
office
duties
33
alone
the only, the worst
34
most
more than anyone else, most acutely
36
turpitude
wickedness, depravity
37
blows
swells/batters
38
swift thought
instant despair
mean
method (i.e. suicide)
39
outstrike
deal a heavier blow than/obliterate
41
foul’st
worst/muddiest
Alarum
a call to arms
1
Retire
retreat, fall back
2
has work
has his hands full
our oppression
the pressure on us
5
droven
driven
6
clouts
cloths, bandages/blows
9
H
puns on “ache” (the two were similarly pronounced)
11
bench-holes
toilet holes
12
scotches
gashes
13
serves
is as good as/gives us the opportunity
15
score
mark with cuts
16
snatch … behind
an image from hare-hunting
17
runner
one who runs away, a coward
19
sprightly comfort
spirited encouragement
21
halt
limp
2
gests
deeds
5
doughty-handed
hardy in battle
6
as … cause
as though you merely served the general cause
as’t … mine
as if each of you had the same personal motivation as I
7
shown all Hectors
all behaved like Hector, the most renowned Trojan warrior
8
clip
embrace
10
congealment
congealed blood
11
whole
better, healed (puns on “hole”)
12
fairy
magical being, enchantress
13
day
light