Cymbeline (36 page)

12
make me
make me out, distinguish me

13
keep
remain on

15
as
as though

15
fits … mind
mental anguish, unsettled thoughts

16
slow … on
reluctant he was to leave

18
Thou … crow
you should have waited until he appeared no bigger than a crow

19
ere left
before you ceased

20
after-eye
gaze after

22
eyestrings
muscles, nerves in the eye; thought to break when a person died or went blind

23
diminution of space
reduction, contraction of the size of everything

24
pointed
fashioned to a point, i.e. made him as small as her
needle
’s point

30
With … vantage
at his next opportunity

35
shes
women

36
interest
right

37
At … midnight
three of the hours specified for prayer by the Christian Church

38
T’encounter … him
i.e. they can meet in heaven through prayer

38
orisons
prayers

41
charming
acting as a charm, a spell to ward off evil

42
north
the north wind, which
shakes
buds as it blows, and stops them growing

Act 1 Scene 4

1.4
Location: Rome

1.4
Philario
means “loving, dear” (Greek)

1.4
Iachimo
the modern Italian spelling is Giacomo (James)

2
of … note
growing in reputation, like a crescent moon

3
been … of
been recognized as

4
without … admiration
without feeling any particular sense of admiration for him

5
endowments
qualities, attributes

5
tabled
listed

11
behold … he
i.e. there were many as noble as Posthumus there; eagles, the noblest birds, were thought to be able to stare at the sun

13
weighed
judged, assessed

14
words … matter
allows for him to be described in ways which falsely magnify his own worth

16
approbation
approval, praise

17
divorce
physical separation

17
under her colours
from her side

18
be it but
if only

18
fortify
support, justify

19
battery
military assault

20
sojourn
temporarily stay

21
creeps acquaintance
has he insinuated himself into your acquaintance

25
suits
is appropriate, suitable

25
knowing
knowledge/experience of the world

29
story … hearing
speak about him/sing his praises in front of him

30
we … together
we have been acquainted

32
which … still
which I will spend forever repaying, although I will still be in debt

34
atone
make peace between, reconcile

35
put together
set in opposition with each other

35
mortal
deadly, fatal

38
rather … experiences
preferred not to go along with what others said

42
arbitrament of
settlement (of the dispute) by

48
suffer the report
bear recounting

49
fell out
took place

50
our country mistresses
the women of our own countries/the women we have sex with (country puns on “cunt”)

51
vouching
claiming, swearing

51
and … affirmation
with a pledge to back up what he said with bloodshed if necessary

53
attemptable
able to be seduced

56
by … out
by now is worn out

57
holds
retains

57
mind
opinion

60
abate her nothing
not budge in any part of my high opinion of her

60
profess myself
confess I am

62
hand-in-hand comparison
which seeks to imply equality

64
went before
surpassed, were superior to

68
rated
estimated

69
esteem
value

70
enjoys
possesses

71
unparagoned
unequaled, matchless

72
outprized … trifle
surpassed in value by an insignificant thing (the ring)

73
or
either

79
You … yours
you may be able to call her yours in the legal sense (because you are married)

80
strange … ponds
i.e. a man’s neighbor may visit (and seduce) his wife; there are also cruder sexual undercurrents;
strange
was an epithet for “an illicit sexual partner”;
fowl
was a term for “a prostitute”;
pond
also means “vagina”

80
ring
plays on sexual sense of (Innogen’s) “vagina”

81
brace
pair

81
unprizable estimations
objects considered beyond value

82
frail
subject to human weakness

82
casual
subject to mischance, precarious

83
that-way-accomplished courtier
i.e. a womanizer, one who can court successfully

86
convince
persuade/overcome

88
store
plenty, an abundance

89
leave here
leave off now

91
familiar at first
on familiar terms right from the start

92
get … yielding
succeed in advancing upon; fencing terminology with strong sexual undertones

94
friend
befriend/become intimate with (with sexual implication)

96
pawn the moiety
wager one half

96
to
against

97
something
somewhat

99
bar your offence
prevent you taking it as a personal affront

101
abused
deceived

102
persuasion
conviction

102
you … of
you will get what you deserve

107
came in
came about

109
put my estate
bet all my capital

110
th’approbation
the proof

113
ten thousand ducats
anachronistic;
ducats
were gold coins used in Italy in Shakespeare’s time, not in ancient Rome; a huge sum even for a rich nobleman

114
commend
if you recommend

115
conference
meeting

117
reserved
preserved/averse to displays of emotion

118
wage
pledge, bet

120
friend … wiser
i.e. as her lover you know her well

121
dram
very small amount

121
preserve
stop, prevent

122
But … fear
perhaps alluding to Psalm 3:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”

122
that
since

124
but … tongue
just your way of speaking, i.e. just idle talk

125
graver
more serious

126
undergo
undertake

129
covenants drawn between’s
terms of (legal) agreement drawn up between us

132
have … lay
not allow this wager

134
testimony
proof

136
come off
fail

138
commendation
(letter of) introduction, recommendation

139
free entertainment
informal, friendly reception (both words are capable of a sexual interpretation)

140
articles betwixt us
i.e. a legal agreement, drawn up

141
make … her
seduce her; with blatant sexual connotations

148
covenant
agreement, i.e. let’s shake on it

150
lest … starve
i.e. in case we have time to calm down and reflect, and end up calling it off

153
Will this hold
will they really go through with this

154
from it
back down

Act 1 Scene 5

1.5
Location: Britain, the royal court

1
Whiles … ground
while the dew is still on the ground; plants were believed to be at their freshest, most potent when covered with dew

2
note
list

4
Dispatch
see it done

7
without offence
without (wishing to cause) offense

8
wherefore
why

9
compounds
compounded drugs, i.e. drugs made by mixing different chemical elements together

10
are … of
cause

10
languishing
long and drawn-out

11
But … deadly
and although they work slowly, they are, nevertheless, deadly

14
learned
taught

15
Distil? Preserve?
extract the essences from plants and preserve them

15
Yea so
indeed so well

17
confections
mixtures (drugs)

18
meet
appropriate

19
amplify … conclusions
extend my knowledge through other experiments

20
try
test

20
forces
effects

23
vigour
strength

24
Allayments
antidotes

24
act
effect

25
several
various

29
noisome and infectious
physically noxious, harmful/morally corrupting

30
content thee
don’t worry

40
Strange
rare, unfamiliar/special, powerful

40
ling’ring poisons
poisons that cause a slow, painful death

44
prove
test, try

45
higher
in the chain of being, i.e. on people

46
show
appearance, illusion

47
locking-up … time
temporary disappearance of the signs of life

48
reviving
upon reviving

55
quench
cool down, settle down

55
instructions
good advice

56
Do thou work
i.e. on persuading Innogen to forget Posthumus and marry Cloten

60
fortunes … gasp
i.e. Posthumus’ state and reputation are like a deathbed patient about to die

62
shift his being
change his dwelling place

64
every … him
i.e. every day is wasted since he has no future

66
depender
dependent

66
leans
is unstable

73
What … cordial
anything more restorative

74
earnest
installment, foretaste

76
as from thyself
i.e. as if it were your own opinion on the matter

77
Think … on
think how your fortunes will improve by switching sides

78
Thou … still
you won’t lose Innogen

78
to boot
also, as well/to (your) advantage

79
take … thee
acknowledge your service and make sure you are preferred

79
I’ll … desire
I’ll persuade the king to confer on you any kind of rank, social advancement you wish

82
set … desert
persuaded you to go for this reward