²²⁵contend … scythe
compete with death, killing as many as he does with the plague (
contend
plays on the sense of “engage in amorous conflict, embrace”)

²²⁷outstare
defy, stare down

furious
full of fierce passion/frenzied, raging

²²⁹estridge
ostrich/goshawk

²³¹heart
courage

¹as
as if

⁴ruffian
villain/swaggering bully/protector or confederate of prostitutes

⁹breath
breathing space

¹⁰Make boot
take advantage

distraction
madness

¹²best heads
chief commanders

¹⁴files
ranks

¹⁵but late
only recently

¹⁶fetch him in
capture him

¹⁷store
plenty of supplies

¹⁸waste
extravagance

¹Domitius
the only time that Antony uses Enobarbus’ first name

⁴of better fortune
more fortunate than you

⁷or … Or
either … or

⁸bathe … again
a metaphor drawn from the belief that bathing in warm blood could cure one of debilitating diseases

⁹Woo’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”)

¹⁴honest
honorable, faithful

¹⁶fellows
fellow servants

¹⁸tricks
whims, caprices

²²clapped up
combined

²⁷Scant … cups
give me plenty to drink

²⁹suffered
was under, was subject to

³³period
end

³⁴Haply
perhaps

if … shadow
if you do, it will be as a mutilated ghost

³⁵Perchance
maybe

⁴¹yield
reward

⁴³discomfort
grief, distress

⁴⁴onion-eyed
i.e. weeping

⁴⁷the … me
may I be bewitched

⁴⁸Grace
forgiveness/the herb of grace (rue)

hearty
kind-hearted/sincere/noble, courageous

⁴⁹dolorous
sad, dismal

⁵⁰for your comfort
in order to cheer you up

⁵¹burn … torches
i.e. spend all night in revelry

⁵⁵consideration
serious thoughts

¹day
i.e. of battle

²determine one way
decide matters/conclude one way or another

⁵Belike
probably

⁷careful
cautious, wary

¹⁰absolute
positive, free from all doubt

¹²brave
valiant/splendid

purpose
determination

hautboys
oboe-like instruments

¹⁴List
listen

¹⁸signs well
is a good omen

²¹Hercules
legendary Greek hero of immense strength, supposed ancestor of Antony

²⁸masters
sirs

²⁹we have quarter
our watch extends

³⁰give off
cease

³chuck
chick (term of endearment)

⁴thine iron
the armor that you are holding

⁶brave
defy

¹⁰False
that’s wrong (Cleopatra has got the wrong piece of armor, or has tried to attach a piece incorrectly)

¹¹Sooth
in truth

la
emphatic exclamation

¹²Well
i.e. Cleopatra’s assistance

¹⁴thy defences
your own armor

¹⁵Briefly
shortly

¹⁷Rarely
splendidly

¹⁸we … repose
I choose to remove it in order to rest (Antony uses the royal pronoun)

¹⁹doff’t
take it off

storm
rain of blows

²⁰squire
young man of good birth attendant on a knight

²¹tight
deft

dispatch
hurry up

²²knew’st
understood

²³royal occupation
business of kings, i.e. warfare

²⁴workman
expert craftsman

²⁵him
one

knows … charge
has a military responsibility (i.e. comes to deliver a message)/has experience of fighting

²⁶betime
early

²⁹riveted trim
armor

³⁰port
gate

³³’Tis well blown
referring either to the flourish of trumpets or to the dawning of the morning

³⁵of note
famous

³⁷dame
queen/my lady

³⁹check
reprimand

stand
insist

⁴⁰mechanic compliment
formal etiquette

⁴¹that will
who intend to

⁴⁵That
if only

⁴⁶Determine
decide/end

¹happy
fortunate

²Would
I wish

prevailed
succeeded in persuading

⁵revolted
deserted

²¹charge
order

²²subscribe
sign

²⁵Dispatch
do it straightaway

²took
captured

⁵universal 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

⁶three-nooked
three-cornered; refers either to the tripartite division of lands ruled by a triumvirate, or to the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia

⁷bear the olive
bring forth the olive tree/wear an olive garland (symbolic of peace)

freely
willingly, readily/abundantly/without impediment

¹⁰van
vanguard, the front

¹³Jewry
Judaea, modern Israel/Palestine

¹⁴dissuade
persuade to change his allegiance

¹⁵Great Herod
Herod the Great, King of the Jews

¹⁸fell away
deserted

entertainment
hospitality/employment

²⁴bounty overplus
generous gift in addition

²⁵on my guard
while I was on guard duty

²⁹safed
escorted safely

³⁰host
army