Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens (63 page)

78
therefore
for that reason

80
counterfeit
image, likeness (plays on the senses of “forgery/deception”)

82
lively
lifelike

83
So, so
passably

84
E’en so
exactly, just

84
fiction
literary creation/lies

85
smooth
elegantly flowing/flattering, deceitful

86
thou … art
your imitations of nature seem like the real thing/you show your true self in your deceit (
natural
may also have the sense of “foolish”)

89
monstrous
overly large/unnatural

93
ill
badly

97
never … but
i.e. both of you

100
cog
cheat

100
dissemble
disguise the truth

101
patchery
trickery

102
Keep
keep him

102
bosom
heart

103
made-up
complete

108
draught
sewer, cesspool

109
Confound
destroy

109
course
method, course of action

112
You … company
even if you part company, neither of you is alone (as each man has a dual identity: honest man and villain)

115
thou … thou
Timon addresses first one man, then the other

116
him
i.e. the other man

118
pack
be off

120
alchemist
i.e. poet who transforms his subjects into something more splendid than they are in reality (and whose creations elicit payment); an alchemist seeks to turn base metals into gold

123
set … himself
so self-absorbed

127
part
role

130
still
always

131
framed
made

131
fairer
kinder/more favorable

133
The … him
may restore Timon to his former self

134
chance … may
let things fall out as they will

142
cantherizing
blistering and burning

145
Of … Timon
i.e. we are
worthy
of nothing better than one another

150
What … thee
the wrongs that we regret having done to you

151
one consent
unanimous agreement

153
dignities
high offices

154
wearing
possession, employment

156
general gross
publicly obvious

158
recanter
one who retracts

159
withal
moreover, with it

160
restraining
in withholding

161
sorrowed
sorrowful

161
render
acknowledgment, apology (literally “payment of account”)

163
weigh … dram
outweigh when measured with great accuracy

163
dram
one eighth of an ounce

166
write in thee
i.e. as if in an account book

168
witch
bewitch

169
Surprise
overpower (emotionally)

171
beweep
weep at

175
Allowed
endowed

177
of … wild
Alcibiades’ fierce attacks

186
sack
plunder, pillage

188
stain
i.e. pollution of rape

189
contumelious
insolent, contemptuous

193
take’t at worst
put the worst interpretation on it

194
answer
i.e. be cut (plays on the sense of “utter a reply”)

195
whittle
knife

196
prize … before
love and value it more than

199
keepers
jailers

204
nothing
i.e. the oblivion of death

206
last … enough
remain in that suffering state for a long time

210
bruit
report, rumor

213
become
befit

215
triumphers
victorious warriors returning to the city in triumph

220
throes
naturally occurring pains

221
nature’s fragile vessel
i.e. the body

225
close
enclosure

226
use
need

228
sequence of degree
order of social rank

229
whoso please
whoever wishes

230
take his haste
hurry

233
still
always

235
everlasting mansion
eternal dwelling, i.e. grave

236
beachèd verge
beach at the edge

236
salt flood
the sea

237
Who
refers either to Timon or to his grave

237
embossèd
foaming

239
be your oracle
i.e. impart wisdom to you

245
Coupled to nature
part of his character

247
strain
stretch to their limits

248
dear
extreme

Act 5 Scene 2

5.2
Location: Athens, seemingly just outside the city walls

1
painfully discovered
revealed painful news

1
files
ranks of troops

3
least
lowest estimate

4
his … approach
the speed of his march suggests that he will arrive imminently

6
stand much hazard
are at great risk

7
one
one who is

7
ancient
long-established

8
in … opposed
i.e. we were on opposite sides in this conflict

9
particular
personal

12
imported
concerned/communicated

13
fellowship
partnership

14
in … moved
undertaken, in part, for Timon’s sake

15
brothers
fellow senators

17
fearful
inducing fear

17
scouring
swift movement of troops/cleaning of guns with scouring-rods

19
fall
defeat/capture

19
the snare
are the trap we will be caught by

Act 5 Scene 3

5.3
Location: woods near Athens

3
outstretched his span
i.e. lived beyond his desired time

4
there … man
i.e. all men are beasts

6
character
lettering

6
take with wax
take a wax impression of it/copy it onto a wax tablet

7
figure
kind of writing

8
aged
i.e. experienced

9
set down
encamped

9
this
this time, now

10
Whose fall
the fall of which

10
mark
goal, target

Act 5 Scene 4

5.4
Location: outside the walls of Athens powers
troops

1
Sound
proclaim by trumpet

2
terrible
terrifying

2
parley
trumpet summons to negotiation, during which a ceasefire was observed

2
above
i.e. on the upper staging level, or gallery

4
all licentious measure
every kind of licentiousness/extremes of licentiousness

4
wills
desires

5
scope
measure

6
slept
dwelt/remained passive

7
traversed arms
folded arms/weapons held crossed (as in a military drill—i.e. not being used in active warfare)

7
breathed
expressed, uttered

8
vainly
in vain

8
flush
in full flood

9
crouching marrow
previously inactive vitality

10
of itself
of its own accord

10
breathless wrong
i.e. wrongdoers who are out of breath from fear or through running away

12
pursy
fat/short of breath

12
break his wind
gasp for breath/fart

15
griefs
grievances

15
conceit
idea, thought

17
sent
i.e. sent messages

17
balm
soothing relief

19
Above their quantity
greater than your
rages
(or
griefs
)

20
So
in the same manner

20
woo
entreat

22
means
terms of peace/wealth

24
common
indiscriminate

27
they
i.e. those that have caused you grief

28
trophies and schools
monuments and public buildings

29
private
individual, personal

31
motives … out
instigators behind your banishment

32
Shame … excess
excessive shame for their lack of skill and effective policy

35
decimation … death
the death of every tenth person

36
food … loathes
i.e. death

38
hazard … die
throw of a die (the singular of “dice” puns on the verb “to die”)

39
spotted
tainted, guilty (shifting the sense away from “marked with dots”)

41
were
were alive at the time (and did offend)

41
square
just, fair

42
are
are alive now

44
without
outside (the city walls)

46
bluster
violent storm

48
fold
sheep-pen

48
cull
select

50
wilt
will, want

54
rampired
reinforced/blocked

54
ope
open

55
So
provided

55
gentle
peaceful/honorable

57
Throw
if you throw

58
token
pledge

60
confusion
ruin

60
powers
troops

61
make their harbour
have safe lodging

62
sealed
completed, satisfied, ratified

64
unchargèd ports
unassailed gates

66
set … reproof
pick out for punishment and disgrace

67
atone
appease

68
With … meaning
by telling you of my nobler intentions

69
pass
leave

69
quarter
designated military lodgings

71
But … to
without being dealt with by

72
heaviest answer
strictest penalty

77
insculpture
inscription

79
Interprets
serves as an interpreter

81
caitiffs
wretches

83
stay … gait
do not pause as you walk by

84
These
i.e. these words

84
latter
recent

86
brains’ flow
tears

87
niggard
miserly

87
conceit
imagination

88
Neptune
Roman god of the sea

88
aye
ever

89
low
near to the edge of the sea/humble