Cymbeline (41 page)

53
ripped
torn up for reusing/violently destroyed

54
seeming
outward show, appearance

55
revolt
reversal of ideas/betrayal

56
born where’t grows
natural

57
worn
deliberately put on

57
bait
lure, temptation

59
being heard like
who were heard to speak like

59
Aeneas
hero of Virgil’s
Aeneid
, who swore love to, and then deserted, Dido, who committed suicide as a result

60
Sinon
wept crocodile tears outside the walls of Troy to persuade the Trojans to admit the wooden horse containing the Greek warriors who destroyed the city

61
scandal
discredit, disgrace

61
took … wretchedness
prevented truly wretched cases from receiving any pity

63
leaven
agent for fermenting dough

65
fail
failure

67
witness
testify to

69
mansion
dwelling place

75
vile instrument
i.e. his sword

79
self-slaughter
suicide

81
cravens
makes a coward of

82
afore’t
in front of it

82
soft
not so fast, wait

82
we’ll no defence
I shan’t defend myself

83
Obedient … scabbard
i.e. as willing to receive the sword as the scabbard is

84
scriptures … heresy
Posthumus’ letters are likened to sacred writings, which, because of his breaking faith with love, are now heretical, sacrilegious

86
faith
truth/honesty

87
stomachers
decorative breast coverings

90
Stands … woe
is worse off (because guilty)

91
set up
initiate, instigate

92
suits
love-suits, wooing

93
princely
royal/fine

94
It … rareness
my love for you/my disobedience against my father was no ordinary thing, but one born of exceptional qualities, circumstances

96
disedged
dulled, blunted, plays on sexual sense

97
tirest
feeds (ravenously, like a bird of prey)

98
panged
afflicted by pangs of conscience

98
Prithee
please, literally “I pray thee”

98
dispatch
hurry up/make an end (of me)

106
wake … first
stay awake until my eyeballs drop out before I do that

108
abused
deceived/made bad use of

111
inviting thee
i.e. by providing such a good opportunity

112
whereunto
to which, where

113
Purpose
intend to

114
be unbent
change your mind; the image is of the bent, drawn hunter’s bow being unbent again without firing at the quarry

114
stand
hidden shooting position

115
Th’elected
the chosen

118
course
i.e. of action

121
strumpet
prostitute

122
Therein false struck
in that matter falsely wounded

122
take
receive

123
tent
surgical probe to assess the depth of a wound/roll of lint to clean a wound

123
bottom
probe the depths/go deeper than

125
back
go back

126
Most like
that’s very likely

130
purpose would prove
plan would turn out

131
abused
deceived

132
singular
unrivaled

134
courtesan
one attached to a prince’s court/prostitute

141
bide
abide, live

153
not but
only

153
I’th’world’s volume
in the book of the world; Britain is likened to a page torn out of it

155
swan’s nest
i.e. built in the middle of a pool

156
livers
people who live

160
wear a mind
entertain an idea/follow a course of action

162
That
i.e. her female identity

163
self-danger
bringing danger upon yourself, i.e. as a woman alone

164
view
prospects

164
haply
perhaps

165
nigh
near

167
render
bring/describe

170
modesty
chastity

170
death on’t
its loss

171
adventure
take the risk

174
Command into obedience
i.e. from a princess to a servant

174
niceness
coyness/fastidiousness

175
handmaids
i.e. qualities/attributes

176
it
i.e. her

176
waggish
roguish; “wag” was a term for a saucy boy, habitual joker

177
Ready in gibes
ready to make mocking remarks

177
quick-answered
quick in reply

178
quarrellous
quarrelsome

179
Forget
neglect

179
rarest … cheek
i.e. pale complexion, signifying her social rank

182
common-kissing Titan
the sun, who shines on everybody alike

183
laboursome … trims
beautifully made and pretty clothes

184
Juno
wife of the supreme Roman god Jupiter, was jealous of her husband’s attraction to beautiful mortals

186
end
purpose, intention

189
Forethinking
anticipating

189
fit
ready

190
doublet
close-fitting padded men’s jacket

190
hose
clothing for the legs

191
answer to
belong with, go with

191
in their serving
with them serving you, i.e. using them as a disguise

193
season
age

194
his service
to serve him

195
Wherein you’re happy
in what ways you are accomplished

195
make him know
convince him

196
If … music
if he has any appreciation for music at all

198
means abroad
resources away from home

200
Beginning nor supplyment
i.e. beginning nor continuing to supply you with money

202
diet
feed, supply

203
even
keep up with

205
soldier to
willing to fight for/bravely prepared for

205
abide
endure

207
short
brief, hurried

209
Your carriage
taking you away

213
distemper
illness

213
shade
cover

214
fit you
adapt, adjust yourself

Act 3 Scene 5

3.5
Location: Britain

1
Thus far
i.e. this is as far (as I will accompany you)

7
ourself
myself using the royal plural pronoun

8
must needs
can only

10
so
very good, so be it

11
conduct
safe conduct/escort

12
befall
come to

13
office
duty, task (i.e. accompanying Lucius)

14
honour
i.e. the honor due to Lucius as an ambassador

14
point
small way

19
event
battle/outcome

22
Severn
river bordering England and Wales

23
it honours us
it does us credit (because we have been patriotic and defiant)

24
cause
reason, grounds

28
fits us
befits us, is appropriate that we

28
ripely
immediately (because the time is ripe)

31
drawn to head
brought to full strength

36
forward
prepared

39
duty … day
daily greeting she owes Cymbeline as her father and king

39
looks us
appears to me (us)

42
slight in sufferance
lax in allowing such behavior

44
retired
withdrawn, reclusive

47
Forbear
hold back, refrain from

48
tender of
sensitive to

51
answered
accounted for, excused

56
close
private, secluded

57
Whereto … infirmity
to which she is compelled by her illness

59
proffer
offer, present

69
stand’st so for
support/represent

71
Proceed by
result from

73
Haply
it may be, perhaps

76
end
aim, design

78
placing
arranging, disposal

84
forestall … day
prevent him from seeing tomorrow

85
her
Innogen

85
for
because

86
that
because

86
parts
qualities

87
from … hath
as though she has taken the best qualities from each and every woman

88
compounded
made up

89
Outsells
exceeds in value

91
slanders
discredits

92
rare
exceptional about her

95
packing
plotting, scheming/running away, leaving

95
sirrah
fellow (addressed to a social inferior)

96
pander
bawd, sexual go-between

98
Thou … fiends
i.e. I will instantly kill you, sending your soul to hell

101
Close
secretive

104
weights
i.e. weights and measures

105
dram
a tiny measure

109
Come nearer
get to the point/come (physically) closer to me

110
halting
hesitation

110
home
completely

114
Discover
reveal

120
Touching
regarding

123
Or … perish
i.e. either show him the letter or be killed

125
travel
literally “traveling”; plays on “travail,” meaning “trouble”/ “labor”

132
undergo
undertake

133
employments
tasks

134
serious
careful, meticulous

134
industry
application, diligence

136
want
lack

137
relief
assistance

137
voice … preferment
support for your promotion, advancement

141
course
ordinary way

141
but
other than

144
Hast
do you have

145
late
i.e. former

154
upon a time
once

159
her eyes
i.e. in her sight

161
insultment
scornful, contemptuous triumph

163
knock
beat

164
foot
kick

172
voluntary mute
i.e. willingly silent; mutes were servants whose tongues were cut out to stop them telling secrets