King John/Henry VIII (Signet Classics) Read online

  235 folded ... smoke i.e. concealed in deceitful rhetoric 236 faithless error untrustworthy lie

  237 accordingly in the same manner/as it deserves 238 laboured exhausted with hard work

  239 Forwearied worn out

  240 harbourage shelter

  241 said finished speaking

  242 Lo see

  243 right i.e. just claim

  246 enjoys possesses

  247 For on behalf of

  247 downtrodden equity oppressed right

  247 tread picks up on downtrodden

  248 greens grassy areas

  250 constraint compulsion

  254 owes owns

  256 Save except

  256 aspect appearance

  256 offence hostility, harm

  256 sealed up i.e. prevented

  257 spent expended, fired

  259 unvexed untroubled/unimpeded

  259 retire retreat

  260 unhacked unused/undamaged (from battle)

  261 lusty vigorous

  264 fondly foolishly

  264 pass pass up, disregard

  265 roundure roundness, circumference

  266 messengers of war i.e. cannonballs

  267 Though even if

  267 discipline skill in warfare

  268 rude rough

  270 In ... which on behalf of him (Arthur) for whom 276 proves proves to be

  282 else others, suchlike

  284 bloods hot-blooded fellows/noble men

  286 in his face against him

  287 compound agree

  288 for on behalf of

  288 hold withhold

  290 everlasting residence i.e. the grave, death 291 fleet pass, fly off

  292 dreadful terrifying, daunting

  292 trial contest, putting to the proof

  293 chevaliers knights

  294 Saint George patron saint of England who famously slew a dragon 294 swinged beat, thrashed

  295 Sits ... door i.e. as a tavern sign

  295 hostess tavern landlady

  296 fence fencing skill

  297 lioness i.e. Austria's wife; also means "whore"

  298 set ... hide i.e. give Austria the cuckold's horns by sleeping with his wife 299 monster because a combination of lion and ox 303 appointment order, arrangement

  304 advantage superior military position/opportunity 306 God ... right! a battle cry

  306.1 excursions fighting (across the stage) 306.2 Trumpets trumpeters

  309 by ... France with the help of the French king 312 grovelling prostrate, face down

  316 displayed drawn up (if referring to the troops)/ unfurled (if referring to the banners) 321 Commander victor

  321 malicious violent, hostile

  322 hence from here

  323 gilt coated/glittering

  324 crest i.e. helmet

  325 staff spear/lance

  326 colours battle flags

  328 like ... huntsmen traditionally huntsmen smeared their hands with blood of the kill 333 onset and retire attack and retreat

  335 censured judged

  338 alike equally

  338 like approve

  343 passage progress, course

  344 native natural, habitual

  344 o'erswell flood (John threatens French territory) 347 progress journey (may play on the sense of "official royal tour") 351 sways rules

  351 climate part of the sky

  352 just-borne justly carried

  353 put thee down defeat you

  354 royal number i.e. a king's name

  355 tells of records/counts

  357 towers soars, mounts (falconry term)

  359 chaps jaws

  361 mousing tearing at (like a cat or an owl with its prey) 362 undetermined differences unresolved disagreements 363 fronts faces

  364 havoc a call for general slaughter

  365 potents potentates, rulers

  366 confusion overthrow, destruction

  366 part side

  367 peace i.e. victory

  368 yet admit now recognize

  371 hold up support

  372 that ... here i.e. John has no need for a spokesperson, representing himself as rightful king 374 presence own existence/majesty

  378 Kings of i.e. ruled by

  379 some certain i.e. one or the other/the particular rightful 379 purged and deposed refers to the fears

  380 scroyles scoundrels

  380 flout mock, insult

  383 industrious ingenious/painstaking/hard-working 383 acts deeds/theatrical actions/parts of a play 385 mutines mutineers, rebels

  385 mutines of Jerusalem rival Jewish factions who united to fight the Romans besieging Jerusalem in AD 70

  386 conjointly bend jointly aim

  388 mount raise/prepare for firing

  389 charged loaded

  390 soul-fearing terrifying

  390 brawled down destroyed noisily

  392 play torment by firing at

  392 jades wretches (literally, worthless horses) 393 unfenced without walls, i.e. unprotected 393 desolation barren ruin/despondency

  394 vulgar common

  397 point i.e. sword point

  398 cull forth select

  399 happy minion fortunate favorite

  400 day i.e. victory

  402 wild irregular/audacious

  402 states sovereigns

  403 Smacks ... something has it not a flavor

  403 the policy stratagem

  405 knit unite

  406 lay level, flatten

  407 who i.e. to determine who

  408 An if if

  408 mettle spirit, disposition

  409 peevish obstinate/foolish

  411 saucy insolent

  412 when that when

  413 pell-mell headlong/in hand-to-hand combat

  414 ourselves i.e. each other

  414 heaven or hell i.e. eternal life or damnation 419 thunder i.e. cannon

  420 drift shower, deluge

  421 discipline military strategy

  424 vouchsafe agree, grant

  425 league alliance, friendship

  427 breathing lives i.e. living people

  429 Persever persevere, proceed

  430 favour permission, approval

  430 bent resolved/inclined

  432 years age

  434 lusty lively, merry/fertile/lustful

  438 birth noble ancestry

  439 bound contain

  441 complete fully equipped, perfect in

  442 If ... she i.e. the only fault in his perfection is that he is not her 442 complete of full of (those virtues)

  443 wants lacks

  444 If ... he unless it could be a fault that she is not him 446 finished completed

  447 divided incomplete

  452 bounds boundaries

  453 princes royal persons (of either sex)

  454 battery assault

  455 fast-closed firmly, tightly shut

  455 match marriage (puns on the sense of "match that lights gunpowder") 456 spleen eagerness, angry energy

  456 powder gunpowder

  457 mouth of passage i.e. entrance

  457 ope open

  462 mortal fatal

  462 peremptory determined

  464 stay obstacle

  470 lusty blood spirited fellow

  471 plain cannon i.e. just like a cannon

  471 bounce explosion

  472 bastinado beating with a stick

  474 buffets beats, strikes

  475 Zounds by God's wounds

  475 bethumped pounded, thumped soundly

  476 Since ... dad i.e. since I learned to speak (conceivably suggesting punishment for the illegitimate boy calling Sir Robert "Dad") 477 list listen

  477 conjunction union

  480 unsured insecure

  481 yon yonder, that (one over there)

  481 green youthful/inexperienced

  481 boy i.e. Arthur

  481 sun i.e.
royal patronage

  484 Mark note, observe

  485 capable of receptive to

  486 zeal enthusiasm

  487 soft petitions gentle pleas

  487 remorse sorrow/compassion

  490 treaty proposition

  491 forward ready

  494 in ... love i.e. love Blanche

  496 Anjou Folio prints "Angiers," presumably mistaking the province of Anjou for the city of Angiers where the scene takes place 497 the of the

  499 liable subject

  501 promotions social advancement

  503 Holds hand with i.e. is equal to

  507 shadow reflection, image (sense then shifts to "mere imitation/shadow cast by the sun") 508 son plays on "sun" (popular image of royal glory) 509 makes ... shadow i.e. outshines my actual or former self (plays on sense of "dims even your royal glory") 511 infixed fastened firmly

  512 table tablet, painting surface

  513 Drawn plays on the sense of "disemboweled" (being hanged, drawn, and quartered was a traitor's punishment) 515 quartered cut into pieces/lodged

  515 espy discern

  518 love expression of love/lover

  519 will desire, determination

  520 aught anything

  521 That anything whatever it is

  522 translate convert, transform

  523 properly correctly, decorously

  524 enforce urge/compel, impose

  526 That i.e. by saying that

  526 worthy worthy of

  528 churlish harsh/grudging

  529 merit deserve

  531 still always

  532 vouchsafe deign, graciously condescend

  535 unfeignedly genuinely

  539 Full i.e. all of

  539 mark monetary unit (not a coin) worth two thirds of an English pound 540 withal with this

  542 likes pleases

  542 close join

  543 well assured very certain

  544 assured betrothed

  547 presently immediately

  550 made up accomplished

  552 who whoever

  553 passionate impassioned/emotional/sorrowful

  564 repair come

  565 solemnity i.e. the wedding ceremony

  566 measure magnitude, capacity

  567 measure limited extent, proportion

  568 exclamation outcry, objection

  569 suffer permit

  570 pomp celebration

  571 composition settlement/compromise

  572 title ... whole claim to the whole kingdom

  573 departed parted

  576 rounded whispered

  577 With by

  578 broker go-between, agent (plays on the notion of breakage) 578 breaks beats, cracks

  578 pate head, skull

  578 faith loyalty/truth

  579 wins gets the better

  581 Who i.e. the maid's

  581 thing plays on the sense of "penis"

  582 'maid' virgin

  583 smooth-faced plausible/deceitful

  583 tickling amusing, playing with (plays on the sense of "fondling sexually") 583 commodity convenience, expediency/advantage, profit, self-interest/woman in her sexual capacity (plays on the sense of "virginity/female sexual goods") 584 bias natural inclination (literally the weight in the bowling ball that enables it to be rolled in a curve) 585 peised poised, weighted

  586 even level, evenly

  587 vile-drawing i.e. that attracts evil

  588 sway guiding power/swerve/change

  589 take head from rebel against/roll away from

  589 indifferency moderation/equal impartiality 592 bawd pimp, go-between

  592 all-changing i.e. causing everything to change 593 Clapped on fixed on, presented to

  593 outward eye eyeball, external eye/hole in the bowling ball through which the bias was inserted 594 determined resolved/planned

  594 aid i.e. support for Arthur's cause 595 resolved determined/settled

  596 base dishonorable/worthless

  597 rail I on do I rant about

  598 But for only

  599 clutch clench (in refusal of an offer)

  600 angels gold coins

  600 salute greet/touch (plays on the sense of "gold coin" and on the notion of "angelic salutation"--i.e. the angels' greeting to the Virgin Mary) 601 for because

  601 unattempted untempted/unapproached

  607 upon because of

  4 misspoke spoken inaccurately/expressed badly

  5 Be well advised consider carefully/be well informed 6 but only

  7 trust believe

  8 common man i.e. not a king

  11 frighting frightening

  12 capable of susceptible to

  16 though even if

  17 take a truce make peace

  20 sadly gravely

  22 lamentable sorrowful

  22 rheum watery discharge, i.e. tears

  23 proud swollen/arrogant

  23 peering o'er his overflowing its

  24 sad solemn/sorrowful

  27 them either King John and King Philip or simply the French 28 prove discover by experience

  31 encounter meet in combat

  36 brook tolerate

  42 content patient, calm

  43 wert were

  43 grim ugly/destructive

  44 sland'rous shameful

  45 sightless unsightly, offensive (possibly "unseen, internal") 46 crooked deformed

  46 swart swarthy, of dark complexion (considered unattractive) 46 prodigious monstrous, unnatural/ill-omened

  47 Patched blotched, marked

  50 Become befit

  51 fair handsome/pale-complexioned

  54 half-blown half-blossomed, i.e. still young and beautiful 56 Sh'adulterates she commits adultery (rather than being faithful to Arthur) 56 hourly constantly (puns on "whore-ly," i.e. like a whore) 57 golden implies offers of money

  57 plucked on drawn on, enticed/dragged in

  58 sovereignty i.e. Arthur's claim to the throne 59 his majesty i.e. King Philip and his power 59 theirs i.e. King John and Fortune's

  61 strumpet harlot, prostitute

  62 fellow with connotations of "servant/worthless man"

  62 France i.e. the French king

  62 forsworn guilty of perjury, breaking his promise 63 Envenom poison

  63 words i.e. curses

  65 underbear endure

  69 proud swollen/arrogant

  71 state condition/throne

  1 'Tis true Philip and Blanche enter mid-conversation 1 daughter i.e. daughter-in-law

  4 Stays ... course stands still

  4 plays the alchemist i.e. turns base metals into gold 8 holy day holiday/blessed occasion

  11 golden letters used to mark feast days in the Church calendar 12 high tides important festival dates

  15 stand still remain

  15 with child pregnant

  16 fall i.e. be born

  17 prodigiously with ill omen, i.e. with the birth of a deformed child 17 crossed thwarted

  18 But except

  18 wreck shipwreck

  19 No ... made break only agreements made on this day 24 pawned pledged

  24 majesty royal dignity, i.e. his word

  25 beguiled deceived

  26 touched and tried put to the test

  27 forsworn perjured, guilty of breaking your word 28 in arms with weapons/in friendship

  29 arms coat of arms (Blanche and Lewis's heraldic emblems will now be united) 29 yours i.e. your arms/blood

  31 painted superficial/feigned

  32 our i.e. Constance and Arthur's

  32 made up composed, accomplished

  32 league alliance

  36 Wear out survive/waste

  36 days some editors emend to "day"

  41 Limoges i.e. Austria (Shakespeare combined two historical figures in one character, Duke Leopold of Austria and Viscount Vidomar of Limoges) 42 bloody spoil i.e. the lion's skin

  42 spoil
plunder, booty

  45 champion one who fights on behalf of another

  46 humorous temperamental

  46 by nearby

  47 safety i.e. the best course of action, how to avoid getting injured 48 sooth'st up greatness flatter powerful people

  49 ramping rampant/roaring/excessive

  49 swear ... party declare your support for my cause 54 fall over defect

  55 Doff remove

  56 calf's-skin associated with fools and cowards

  56 recreant cowardly

  61 Pandulph a fusion of two historical figures, one a cardinal, the other a legate

  62 legate papal representative

  66 Pope Innocent Innocent III

  67 religiously solemnly/in the name of religion

  69 spurn rebel, kick

  69 force perforce with violent compulsion

  70 Stephen Langton elected Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent, but rejected by John 71 see bishopric/the seat of a bishop in his church 72 foresaid aforementioned

  74 earthy earthly

  74 interrogatories questions put to an accused person 75 test put to the proof

  78 charge order

  81 tithe levy a tax (specifically the tenth of one's goods owed to the Church) 81 toll exact a payment

  83 great supremacy highest authority or power

  84 Where in which

  84 uphold maintain/rule

  86 set apart discarded, ignored

  88 blaspheme speak irreverently

  90 grossly foolishly

  90 meddling priest i.e. the Pope

  91 the curse i.e. excommunication

  91 buy out cancel

  92 vile base

  92 dross impure substance

  93 of from

  94 sells ... himself incurs his own damnation/sells pardons that do not come from God 96 juggling cheating, deceiving

  96 cherish nourish, maintain

  97 me oppose place myself in opposition

  100 excommunicate excommunicated

  102 heretic one who maintains unorthodox religious views 108 room space (puns on Rome)

  110 keen eager/sharp

  110 my wrong the wrong done to me (my motivation) 111 right properly, correctly, rightfully (plays on the sense of "good") 112 warrant authority

  114 bar no wrong does not prevent retaliation, i.e. cursing 116 holds maintains, controls

  117 perfect completely

  120 arch-heretic chief rebel to the Christian Church 121 power of France i.e. army

  121 his head him/his army

  124 Look to that beware of/consider that possibility 128 pocket up endure/swallow (the Bastard plays on the literal sense of pockets in breeches) 132 as the cardinal i.e. as the cardinal says 133 Bethink you consider carefully

  133 difference disagreement/choice

  134 purchase acquisition

  135 light minor

  139 untrimmed unadorned/unbedded, i.e. virgin 142 need appeal for help

  143 but by because of

  143 faith i.e. King Philip's promise

  144 needs necessarily

  148 moved affected with sympathy/angered

  149 be removed stand apart/separate yourself from his plans/be estranged (plays on moved) 151 Hang i.e. wear

  155 make ... yours i.e. put yourself in my position 156 bestow yourself behave

  161 latest last

  164 even right

  164 but new just immediately

  166 clap strike hands reciprocally in token of a bargain 166 bargain transaction

  167 overstained covered with stains/dyed

  168 pencil paintbrush