Hamlet (51 page)

343
question
dispute/affair

346
stage
platform

346
view
general view

350
accidental judgements
punishments happening by chance

350
casual
occurring by chance

351
put on
instigated/arranged

351
forced cause
deliberate contrivance/false grounds

352
upshot
conclusion, outcome

354
deliver
report

358
of memory
old/traditional/unforgotten

359
vantage
advantage, favorable opportunity

361
voice
speaking voice/vote

361
draw on
encourage, rally the support of

362
this same
i.e. the displaying of the bodies and explanation of events

362
presently
immediately

363
wild
bewildered/agitated

364
On
on top of/as a result of

367
put on
put to the test (as king)

368
passage
journey into death

370
Speak
i.e. let them speak

372
Becomes the field
suits the battlefield

372
shows much amiss
is very out of place

Second Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio

1
e’en
even, i.e. exactly

2
sort
fit

4
question
cause (of dispute)

5
mote
speck, irritating particle

6
palmy
triumphant, flourishing

7
ere
before

7
Julius
Julius Caesar, murdered by conspirators in 44 BC

8
sheeted
shrouded

9
squeak
ghosts were traditionally supposed to have thin high-pitched voices

10
As
editors have speculated that a preceding line is missing

10
stars … fire
i.e. comets, signs of ill omen

11
Disasters
unfavorable aspects (astrological term)

11
moist star
i.e. the moon, which controls the tides

12
Neptune
Roman god of the sea

12
stands
depends

13
to doomsday
as if it were Judgment Day (when, according to the Bible, the moon would grow dark)

14
even … precurse
exactly the same foreshadowing

15
As harbingers
like forerunners

15
still
always

16
omen
calamity

18
climatures
regions

20
petition
entreaty

21
will
plays on the sense of “legal document” (which Polonius fixed his seal on)

21
hard
reluctant

22
east and west
i.e. everywhere

23
traduced … of
dishonored and censured by

24
clepe
call

24
with swinish phrase
by calling us pigs

25
addition
name, reputation

25
takes
removes

26
though … height
even though they are outstanding

27
pith … attribute
very essence of our distinguished reputation

29
for
because of

29
mole
blemish

30
As
for example

32
o’ergrowth … complexion
excessive growth of some natural trait

33
pales
fences, safeguards

34
too much o’erleavens
spoils (as too much leaven ruins dough)

35
plausive
pleasing, praiseworthy

37
nature’s livery
uniform designating one’s servitude to nature

38
virtues else
other virtues

39
undergo
sustain

40
general censure
public opinion/view of the man as a whole

41
the … scandal
unclear; the general sense is “even a tiny portion (
dram
) of polluting matter can bring a
noble substance
into disrepute” (or perhaps “… corrupt a
noble substance
to its own shameful nature”)

41
eale
ale

44
toys
wild thoughts

44
desperation
the hopelessness or spiritual despair preceding suicide

46
fathoms
a fathom is approximately six feet

51
anchor’s cheer
the provisions or lifestyle of an anchorite (i.e. hermit)

51
scope
limit

52
Sense
senses, feeling (in the following line the sense shifts to “reason”)

53
motion
the power of movement/emotions and impulses

54
apoplexed
paralyzed

54
err
err in this manner/err to this degree

55
ecstasy
madness

55
thralled
enslaved

56
quantity
small amount

57
serve … difference
enable it to distinguish between the two men

59
sans
without

61
mope
be stupefied/wander aimlessly

62
sense … devil
destroys all sensitivity to devilish practices

64
use
habit/undertaking

65
frock
monk’s clothing/man’s coat/dress

65
livery
uniform

66
aptly
readily

68
use
habit

69
[]
a verb is missing here; editors often insert “master” or, more recently, “shame”

70
wondrous potency
extraordinary power

74
sweep my way
clear my path

75
marshal
guide

76
enginer
constructor of military engines (weaponry)/plotter

77
Hoist … petard
blown up by his own bomb

77
and’t … But
unless luck is against me

78
delve … mines
i.e. countermine by digging deeper than and intercepting the enemy mines

80
crafts
cunning plots

81
powers
troops

87
main
main part

89
addition
exaggeration

92
farm
rent

94
ranker
higher

94
fee
fee simple, i.e. sold outright, with no conditions

98
Will … straw
are not enough to fight out this trifling issue

99
th’imposthume
abscess

102
buy
i.e. be with

104
straight
straightaway

105
inform against
betray/bring a charge against

107
market
profit

109
discourse
powers of reasoning

110
Looking … after
able to look ahead and to assess what is past

112
fust
molder

113
oblivion
forgetfulness

113
craven
cowardly

114
Of
resulting from

114
precisely
scrupulously

114
th’event
outcome

117
to do
i.e. yet to be done

118
Sith
since

119
gross
obvious/large/material, earthly

120
mass and charge
size and cost

121
delicate
fine/skilled/elegant

121
tender
youthful

123
Makes mouths
makes faces, i.e. is scornful

123
invisible event
unforseeable outcome

125
dare
can do/can threaten

126
Rightly … great
i.e. true greatness

127
stir
i.e. take up arms

127
great argument
a noble cause

128
greatly … straw
to find great cause for contention over a trifle

131
Excitements
incitements, provocations

131
blood
anger/passion

134
fantasy and trick
illusory and deceptive whim

134
fame
reputation, honor

135
plot
plot of land

136
Whereon … cause
which is not big enough to hold the soldiers who are to fight for it

137
continent
(sufficiently large) container; plays on the sense of “land”

143
organ
instrument, agent (of Hamlet’s death)

144
falls right
fits well

147
your … parts
all of your other qualitites

150
unworthiest siege
least importance

152
ribbon
i.e. mere adornment/crowning accomplishment

153
becomes
suits

155
sables
garments trimmed with sable fur

155
weeds
clothing/mourning garments

156
health
well-being/prosperity

157
scrimers
fencers (from the French
escrimeur
)

158
motion
skilled and trained movements

158
eye
quick perception

162
is … still
remains always at the same degree of goodness

163
pleurisy
excess/chest inflammation

164
too much
excess

164
That
that which

164
would
wish to

167
tongues … accidents
i.e. tongues to dissuade one, hands to prevent one and chance events to get in the way

168
spendthrift
i.e. wasteful; each
sigh
was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart

169
hurts by easing
harms the heart at the same time as it eases the immediate emotional pain of the sufferer

169
quick
tender central part

170
absolute
perfect, accomplished

171
differences
fine qualities

171
soft society
pleasant company/sociable manners

171
great showing
fine appearance

172
feelingly
to the purpose, with just perception

172
card or calendar
map or guide

173
the … see
one who contains any quality a gentleman would wish to see

175
definement
definition (Hamlet begins to mock Osric’s affected language)

175
perdition
loss

175
you
i.e. your account of him

175
to … inventorially
to list his qualities, to itemize him

176
but … sail
merely swing unsteadily off course in comparison to his speedy sailing (i.e. Laertes outstrips attempts to define his virtues)

177
in … extolment
to praise him truthfully

178
of great article
highly accomplished, with many qualities to list in an inventory

178
infusion
essence (literally, what has been infused into him)

178
dearth
rarity/costliness

179
make … diction
speak truly

179
his mirror
the only person truly like him is his reflection in a mirror

179
who
whoever