Cymbeline (43 page)

154
after
according to

156
take us in
capture us

161
The … us
i.e. because they are banished

162
tender
meek/submissive

163
threat
threaten

165
For
because

168
safe
sane, sound

169
humour
disposition, frame of mind

170
mutation
changeableness (of mood)

175
cave
dwell in caves

176
make … head
assemble a stronger force

177
like him
just like him, in his nature

177
might break out
he might burst out

178
fetch us in
capture us and bring us before the court

179
To come
that he would come

180
suffering
allowing

181
tail
i.e. a group coming after him

183
ord’nance
what is ordained

184
foresay
predict/determine

184
howsoe’er
however it may turn out/nevertheless

186
mind
inclination

188
way long forth
way forward seem long

192
to
i.e. flow to

194
reck
care

199
So
so that

201
I would
I wish that (all the)

202
possible strength
power we might muster

202
meet
i.e. in battle

203
put … answer
force us to answer them in battle/cause us to show them what we’re made of

208
hasty
rash, impetuous

211
gain
restore

212
let … blood
bloodletting or bleeding a patient was a common medical procedure; Arviragus is proposing a different kind of bloodletting here, shedding the blood of (killing) a parish full of Clotens to make Innogen well

215
blazon’st
are depicted

217
zephyrs
soft winds, breezes; the
zephyr
is the west wind

218
wagging
moving/disturbing

219
enchafed
heated, aroused

219
rud’st
roughest (rudest)

222
frame
train, direct/fit, suit

224
seen from other
not learned from others

225
wildly
naturally, without being cultivated

230
clotpoll
blockhead

233
ingenious
skillfully constructed

234
occasion
reason

235
give it motion
i.e. play it

239
speak
emit sound

240
answer
correspond to

240
accidents
events

241
Triumphs
public celebrations

241
lamenting toys
lamentation over trivial, inconsequential things

242
jollity for apes
i.e. only an imitation of jollity

242
grief for boys
considered emotionally fickle

248
on
of

250
turned … crutch
i.e. turned my youth into old age

253
the … well
half as well

256
sound thy bottom
measure your depths

256
Find
explore

256
Find … in
the experience of melancholy is likened to being in a small boat sailing sluggishly through a muddy river of unknowable depth, with no way of knowing the easiest route to harbor

257
ooze
i.e. the wet mud and slime at the bottom of a river

257
sluggish
slow-moving

257
crare
small trading boat

258
easiliest
most easily

260
rare
exceptional

262
stark
stiff

263
as … slumber
as though some fly had tickled him while he was sleeping

264
Not … at
not as though he was laughing at death’s arrow

268
leagued
folded

269
clouted brogues
hobnailed boots

269
rudeness
roughness

270
Answered … loud
i.e. made his steps echo too loudly

271
but
only, merely

272
he’ll … bed
i.e. because he looks more like someone asleep

279
azured
bright blue-colored

279
harebell
a native plant with delicate blue flowers on slender stems, often called “bluebell” but actually a distinct species

280
eglantine
sweetbriar (wild rose)

281
ruddock
robin (in folklore believed to cover the dead by strewing them with leaves and flowers, hence
charitable bill
)

286
winter-ground
cover and protect in winter

288
wench-like
womanish

290
admiration
i.e. of Innogen/amazement, wonder

291
due debt
the debt that needs to be paid, i.e. burial

292
shall’s
shall us (i.e. shall we)

296
Have … crack
i.e. have broken

297
once
we once did for

297
like
the same

298
save
except

300
word
speak

302
fanes
temples

304
med’cine the less
cure lesser ones

306
came
came here as

307
paid
given his payment, i.e. death

307
mean … dust
i.e. both high and low come to the same end

308
reverence
respect, deference

314
Thersites
in Homer’s
Iliad
, the most scurrilous and cowardly of all the Greek warriors at the siege of Troy

314
Ajax
heroic Greek warrior in the
Iliad

317
the whilst
in the meanwhile

318
to th’east
emphasizing the pagan setting since it is the opposite in Christian practice

321
remove
move

326
Home
i.e. heaven

326
ta’en thy wages
payment for the
worldly task

327
Golden … dust
i.e. the rich must die as surely as the poor; dandelions were known as
chimney-sweepers
in Warwickshire

328
As
like

333
sceptre, learning, physic
i.e. kings, scholars, doctors

336
thunder-stone
thunderbolt

340
consign to thee
seal the same contract with/entrust to your charge

341
exorcizer
one who conjures or raises spirits

342
charm
cast a spell on

343
Ghost … thee
let any ghost which has not been laid to rest stay away from you

345
consummation
end, fulfillment

347
obsequies
funeral rites

350
upon their faces
meaning is unclear; possibly “strew the flowers on the front of their bodies”/“turn the bodies facedown”/“strew the flowers on their faces”

352
herblets shall
small herbs will also (wither)

353
apart … knees
let us go and pray

354
gave them first
i.e. bore them

358
’Od’s pittikins
a diminutive of “God’s pity,” reduced to its mildest form

359
gone
journeyed

360
But … bedfellow!
But wait, I don’t remember any bedfellow!

362
care on’t
its (the world’s) grief

363
so
in the same way, i.e. dreaming

365
bolt
arrow

366
fumes
bodily vapors, thought to rise from the body to the brain, thus causing dreams

370
wren’s eye
i.e. a tiny amount, the wren being regarded as the smallest bird

370
a part
give me some of it

372
Without … me
outside me (a physical reality), as it was inside me (in my imagination, dream)

372
felt
tangible

375
His … face
Innogen likens bodily attributes to those of gods and heroes; Mercury was the messenger of the gods, Mars the god of war,
Hercules
a hero famed for his strength, and Jove (Jupiter) king of the gods

376
brawns
muscles

378
madded
maddened

378
Hecuba
wife of Priam, King of Troy; accounts describe her frenzied grief, cursing the Greeks as they sacked Troy and murdered Priam

379
darted
shot like darts (arrows)

380
Conspired
i.e. having conspired

380
irregulous
lawless

384
this … vessel
i.e. Posthumus, likened to a ship

384
bravest
most excellent/handsome/courageous, strong

384
of
in

385
Struck the main-top
chopped off the top part of the ship’s mainsail, i.e. his head

389
lucre
greed for money

390
laid
inflicted/placed, laid out

390
pregnant
obvious, clear

392
cordial
healthful, restorative

393
home
i.e. to my heart

395
Give … blood
i.e. she smears his blood on her cheeks

396
horrider
more ghastly, intimidating

397
Which chance
who happen

397
Soothsayer
one who foretells the future

398
Gallia
France

399
After
in accordance with

399
attending
waiting for

403
confiners
those dwelling within the confines, inhabitants (presumably means common men, as opposed to
gentlemen
)

407
Siena
Duke of Siena

409
benefit
advantage

410
forwardness
diligence, industriousness/promptness

413
purpose
outcome

415
fast
fasted

415
intelligence
information, message

416
winged
flying, on the wing

417
spongy
damp

418
portends
indicates

419
sins … divination
earthly sins distort my ability to communicate with the gods

420
host
army

422
trunk
body

423
his
its

423
speaks
suggests, attests

425
or
either

426
nature doth abhor
i.e. living creatures naturally detest

427
defunct
deceased

430
instruct us of
tell us about

432
crave … demanded
beg to be asked about

435
altered … picture
i.e. by cutting off the head

436
wreck
ruin, catastrophe/mutilated person

442
is
are

443
occident
west

443
service
masters to serve

446
’Lack
alas (alack)

447
complaining
lamenting, mourning

451
Say you
did you speak