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Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens Page 32


  66 Under your patience if I may say so

  66 gentle noble

  67 horning giving cuckold's horns (i.e. being unfaithful to one's husband) 68 doubted suspected

  69 Are singled forth have deliberately separated yourselves (as an animal is from the herd) 69 experiments i.e. sexual exploration

  70 Jove supreme Roman god

  72 swarth swarthy (i.e. black)

  72 Cimmerian one of a people who were supposed to live in darkness (i.e. the dark-skinned Aaron) 75 sequestered separated

  75 train retinue

  81 Great reason i.e. no wonder

  81 rated berated, chastised

  83 joy enjoy

  84 passing surpassingly

  86 slips moral errors/sexual lapses

  86 noted notorious, branded with disgrace/the subject of talk 92 'ticed enticed

  95 O'ercome overgrown

  95 baleful deadly, poisonous

  97 fatal ominous

  97 raven like the owl, a bird whose call was associated with death 101 toads thought to be poisonous

  101 urchins goblins, elves

  104 straight straight away

  104 suddenly immediately

  107 dismal ominous

  110 Goth probably pronounced "goat," a proverbially lascivious animal 118 Semiramis Assyrian queen noted for beauty, cruelty, and lust 120 poniard dagger

  123 thrash plays on the sense of "have sex"

  124 minion hussy

  124 stood upon insisted upon, made much of

  126 painted i.e. false

  128 An if if

  131 honey sexual sweets

  132 outlive live longer

  133 warrant assure, guarantee

  134 perforce by force

  135 nice-preserved honesty fastidiously maintained chastity 142 dam mother

  143 learn teach

  145 tyranny violence, cruelty, villainy

  146 sons alike identical sons

  149 raven a bird of ill omen, associated with (moral) blackness and with "ravening" (ravishing/devouring) 149 lark associated with the brightness of morning and, because of its high flight, heaven 150 it it to be so

  152 paws claws

  153 forlorn abandoned, destitute

  154 birds chicks

  156 Nothing ... pitiful if not as kind (as the fostering raven), then at least somewhat pitiful 157 it i.e. pity

  166 use treat/employ sexually

  172 Fond foolish

  173 present immediate

  174 womanhood female modesty

  174 denies forbids

  176 tumble ironically to "tumble" can also mean "to have sex with"

  179 fee payment, i.e. sexual entitlement

  181 stayed delayed

  183 our general name the reputation of womankind

  184 Confusion ruin, disorder/shame/mental disturbance

  187 make her sure secure her, i.e. ensure she is no threat to us 189 Andronici Latin plural of "Andronicus," i.e. the whole family 189 made away killed

  191 spleenful violent, lustful (the spleen was regarded as the seat of strong passions) 191 trull whore

  192 better foot before best foot forward

  195 dull lacking keenness of perception (associated with a melancholy and foreboding) 198 subtle treacherous, crafty, disguised

  199 rude-growing wild, uncultivated

  204 object sight

  210 unhallowed unholy, wicked

  211 surprised bewildered, overcome

  211 uncouth unfamiliar

  217 compassionate afflicted with sorrow

  219 by surmise even to imagine

  222 embrewed soaked

  223 on a heap prostrate

  227 ring ... hole presumably the ring is set with a carbuncle, a gem supposed to emit light 228 monument tomb

  229 earthly pale, lifeless

  231 Pyramus in the mistaken belief that his lover Thisbe had been killed by a lion, Pyramus committed suicide; discovering this, Thisbe did the same 232 maiden blood his own blood, that of a male virgin/Thisbe's blood (after she had killed herself over his body) 235 fell fierce, cruel

  236 Cocytus a river in hell, used here for hell generally

  238 wanting lacking

  239 womb stomach/uterus

  258 out alas alas (out is an intensifier)

  260 gride pierced

  262 search probe

  264 writ document

  265 complot plan, plot (with suggestions of "outline of a play" picked up in tragedy) 265 timeless untimely

  266 fold hide

  268 handsomely conveniently

  272 elder tree an ill-omened tree associated with betrayal

  274 decreed decided

  275 purchase win

  279 should was to

  281 kind nature

  286 wondrous strange/incredible

  292 apparent obvious

  298 their suspicion the suspicion they are under

  305 Fear not fear not for

  Act 2 Scene 4

  2.4 ravished raped

  3 bewray divulge

  5 scrawl gesticulate awkwardly/write untidily

  6 sweet water a perfumed preparation similar to rose water

  9 cause case, situation

  10 knit knot

  12 Cousin a term used for any relative

  14 strike astrological term referring to the power of a planet to emit a deadly influence 19 circling shadows protective encircling shade

  26 Tereus her brother-in-law who raped Philomel

  27 detect expose/accuse

  30 conduit fountain

  31 Titan the sun god

  35 rail at berate, rant at

  36 stopped shut up

  39 tedious laboriously executed

  39 sampler piece of embroidery

  40 mean method, course of action

  51 Cerberus ... feet Orpheus (the Thracian poet) played his lute so sweetly that Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld, fell asleep at his feet 54 meads meadows

  Act 3 Scene 1

  3.1 Location: Rome (public place) 1 grave fathers dignified and venerable old men

  4 my blood i.e. the blood of my sons

  4 quarrel cause

  5 watched remained awake, on guard

  13 languor sorrow, affliction

  14 stanch satisfy, quench

  15 shame feel shame

  17 distil trickle down

  17 these ... ruins i.e. his eyes

  19 still continually

  22 So provided that

  24 doom sentence

  26 prevailing orators successful in their entreaty

  34 mark pay attention to

  36 bootless in vain, pointlessly

  39 intercept interrupt

  42 attired clothed/covered

  42 grave somber/deathly

  42 weeds garments/wild plants

  43 afford offer/supply

  51 happy fortunate

  64 object sight

  71 Nilus the river Nile, known for its annual flooding

  71 disdaineth scorns, treats with contempt (i.e. overflows) 74 nursed ... life i.e. in helping to uphold Rome, my hands have contributed to my own grief 76 effectless fruitless

  81 martyred mutilated

  82 engine instrument

  83 blabbed uttered/told what was better kept secret

  88 park enclosed hunting ground

  90 unrecuring incurable

  91 dear puns on deer

  94 Environed surrounded

  95 waxing swelling

  96 Expecting ever always awaiting the time

  96 envious malicious

  97 brinish briny, salty

  101 spurn kick, blow

  105 lively living

  109 this this time, now

  112 honey-dew sweet sticky substance found on the leaves and stems of plants, excreted by aphids but formerly believed to be akin to dew 121 do thee ease comfort you, bring you some relief

  126 miry mudd
y

  128 clearness i.e. the pure water of the fountain

  131 dumb shows mimes; frequently included in early drama

  134 device scheme, plan/dramatic performance

  139 wot know

  140 napkin handkerchief

  148 sympathy agreement, union

  149 Limbo dwelling place of the unbaptized, on the borders of hell 169 castle helmet, i.e. head/fortress

  170 none of both neither of you

  179 meet fit

  184 spare save, leave unharmed (but Titus privately intends the sense of "do without") 192 that you'll say i.e. you will realize that I have deceived you 193 stay your strife stop arguing

  195 warded protected

  197 that i.e. burial

  198 account of consider/value

  200 dear costly/precious

  200 mine own what already belonged to me by right

  202 Look expect

  204 fat nourish/delight

  205 fair pale-faced/virtuous

  208 ruin i.e. his mutilated body

  212 welkin sky

  215 with possibilities realistically

  218 passions outbursts of feeling

  222 o'erflow become flooded

  225 coil turmoil

  226 her i.e. Lavinia's

  228 be moved become choppy/be emotionally affected

  231 For why because

  231 bowels core, interior

  234 stomachs bellies/resentments

  239 sports entertainments

  240 That so that

  242 Aetna volcano in Sicily

  245 some deal somewhat

  246 flouted mocked

  248 shrink wither through blood loss

  249 bear his name continue to be called life

  252 starved benumbed with cold

  254 flattery self-delusion

  257 dear grievous

  260 control try to restrain

  270 tributary paid as a tribute/like tributary rivers

  273 threat warn, give ominous indication

  274 mischiefs misfortunes/injuries

  277 heavy sorrowful

  292 pledges those left behind as bail (i.e. his family)

  294 tofore formerly

  295 nor neither

  296 But except

  299 Tarquin ... queen the last King of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, was expelled after his son Sextus Tarquinius raped Lucrece; Lucius Junius Brutus led the people in an uprising that saw the establishment of a republic 300 power army

  Act 3 Scene 2

  3.2 Location: Rome (Titus' house) 3.2 banquet light meal

  4 sorrow-wreathen knot Marcus' arms are folded in a gesture denoting grief 5 want lack

  6 passionate express with passion

  8 tyrannize i.e. thump violently

  9 Who which (referring to hand)

  12 map image/epitome

  13 outrageous violent/excessive

  15 sighing each sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart 19 sink pool or pit for waste water/receptacle

  20 fool term of endearment

  22 tender young

  23 dote act foolish/deranged

  27 Aeneas in Virgil's Aeneid, Dido asks Aeneas to tell the story of the fall of Troy, to which he responds that to repeat it would renew his grief 30 still continually

  31 franticly frenziedly/foolishly

  31 square shape

  34 fall to begin eating

  38 meshed mashed (i.e. brewed)

  39 complainer one who laments

  40 action performance/oratorical gesture

  40 perfect perfectly acquainted

  43 wink close the eyes

  45 still constant

  46 grandsire grandfather

  48 tender young/tender-hearted/sensitive

  49 heaviness sorrow

  54 Out on thee expression of reproachful indignation

  62 buzz lamenting doings tell of sorrowful deeds

  66 ill-favoured ugly

  71 insult on triumph scornfully over

  72 Flattering ... if deluding myself into believing

  75 sirrah sir (used to an inferior)

  79 wrought on worked on, affected

  81 take away clear the table

  82 closet private room

  83 chanced that occurred

  85 dazzle grow blurred

  Act 4 Scene 1

  4.1 Location: Rome (outside Titus' house) 9 somewhat something

  12 Cornelia Roman mother, exemplary for educating her sons, the Gracchi, who became notable political reformers 14 Tully's Orator Cicero's De Oratore, a widely studied treatise on rhetoric 15 plies importunes, behaves insistently toward

  20 I ... Troy in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Hecuba became frenzied with grief and eventually turned into a dog 24 fury a fit of madness

  27 go accompany us

  33 deeper ... skilled i.e. prepared for more advanced reading than Young Lucius' schoolroom texts 35 beguile while away

  38 in sequence one after the other

  40 fact crime

  41 heaves lifts

  42 tosseth turns the leaves of

  46 culled selected

  47 Soft wait a moment/hush

  51 annoy mental anguish

  52 quotes observes, examines

  53 surprised seized, ambushed

  55 vast desolate

  59 Patterned by that on the pattern of that which

  62 tragedies dire events (with a play on the idea of theatrical tragedies) 65 Or ... erst or was it not Saturnine who slunk as Tarquin once did 68 Apollo ... Mercury Apollo was associated with the discovery of the truth, Pallas Athene with the law, Jove with the punishment of crime, and the messenger-god Mercury with carrying forward the will of Jove 71 plain flat, smooth

  72 after me following my example

  74 shift means, expedient

  76 discovered revealed

  80 Stuprum "rape" (Latin)

  83 Magni ... vides? "Ruler of the great heavens, are you so slow to hear crimes, so slow to see?" (Latin; from Seneca's Hippolytus) 88 exclaims outcries, protests

  90 Roman Hector's hope Hector was the greatest of the Trojan warriors, so Lucius is claimed as a Roman equivalent; his son Young Lucius is his hope for the future 91 fere spouse

  94 prosecute ... advice pursue by well-considered means

  96 reproach shame, disgrace

  97 an if

  99 dam mother

  99 wind get wind of

  100 lion i.e. Saturnine

  101 playeth ... back rolls playfully/has sex with him

  102 do plays on the sense of "have sex (with)"

  102 list pleases

  103 young inexperienced

  104 leaf sheet

  105 gad sharp spike, applied to a stylus or pen

  107 Sibyl's leaves the Sibyl (female prophet) of Cumae wrote her prophecies on leaves which were sometimes blown away before there was time to read them 111 bondmen slaves

  116 fit equip (with arms)

  116 withal in addition

  123 brave it swagger defiantly, make a show

  124 marry by the Virgin Mary

  124 be waited on i.e. not ignored as we have been formerly 126 compassion pity

  127 ecstasy fit of madness

  Act 4 Scene 2

  4.2 Location: Rome (exact location unspecified) 6 confound destroy

  7 Gramercy great thanks

  8 deciphered discovered/interpreted, read (referring to Lavinia's writing of their names) 10 well advised after careful consideration, in his right mind 16 appointed equipped

  20 'Integer ... arcu' "The man of upright life and free from crime does not need the javelins or bows of the Moor" (Latin; from Horace's Odes) 23 grammar school textbook (the quotation appears in William Lily's Latin grammar, widely used in schools from 1540 onward) 24 just just so, precisely

  26 no sound jest said in irony; the jest could not be sounder 28 That ... quick i.e. the message touches the matter to its very heart, but the boys are so s
tupid that they don't sense it 29 witty clever

  29 afoot up and about

  30 conceit ingenious conception

  31 her unrest Tamora is in labor

  32 happy fortunate

  36 brave defy, be insolent toward

  38 insinuate Demetrius has misinterpreted Titus' message as a strategy for gaining entrance at court 40 friendly kindly (ironic; also plays on the sense of "like a lover") 42 At ... bay cornered thus (hunting metaphor referring to the cornered animal turning to face its pursuers) 42 by turn one after the other (plays on the sense of "with copulation") 42 serve gratify sexually

  45 more i.e. more Roman dames

  50 Belike probably

  54 more puns on Moor

  54 ne'er a whit not a bit (perhaps plays on "white")

  55 what what do you want

  56 undone ruined

  67 issue outcome/offspring

  70 fair-faced breeders light-skinned mothers

  70 clime climate/region, realm

  71 thy ... seal i.e. with your mark upon it

  74 blowse ruddy fat-faced wench (here applied to the baby as a reaction to the nurse's condemnation of his blackness) 78 done had sex with

  80 chance luck

  87 broach stick, as on a spit

  92 got conceived

  95 Enceladus one of the giants who fought the Olympian gods

  96 Typhon another giant (and father of monsters) who fought against the gods 97 Alcides Hercules, the Greek hero famed for feats of great strength 97 god of war Mars

  99 sanguine red-faced

  100 white-limed whitewashed (puns on "white-limbed")

  100 ale-house painted crudely painted

  105 lave wash

  105 flood sea/river

  109 this i.e. the baby

  112 maugre in spite of

  113 smoke i.e. suffer (an image drawn from burning at the stake) 115 escape sexual transgression

  117 ignomy ignominy, disgrace

  120 close enacts secret actions

  121 framed made

  121 leer complexion/sly sideways glance

  122 slave villain

  123 As ... say as if saying

  124 sensibly perceptibly/made capable of sensation

  125 self-blood selfsame blood

  127 enfranchised freed

  128 the surer i.e. the mother's

  131 Advise thee consider

  133 so provided that

  135 have ... of watch as a hunter does from the security of a downwind position 140 chafed angry/provoked

  148 Weke, weke! Aaron imitates the Nurse's dying cry

  150 policy expedience, strategy

  152 long-tongued chattering

  156 like to her i.e. pale-skinned

  157 pack make an arrangement/conspire

  158 circumstance details

  164 physic medicine (ironic)

  165 bestow give

  166 grooms fellows/herdsmen/court officials responsible for organizing special events like funerals 167 days time

  168 presently immediately

  179 shifts expedients/stratagems

  181 curds and whey coagulated milk, similar to yogurt

  181 suck drink the milk of

  182 cabin lodge

  Act 4 Scene 3

  4.3 Location: Rome (outside the emperor's palace) 3 draw home draw the bow to its fullest extent

  3 'tis there straight it will reach its target straight away 4 Terras Astraea reliquit "Astraea [goddess of justice] has left the earth" (Latin; from Ovid's Metamorphoses) 4 be you remembered remember

  6 cousins kinsmen