King John & Henry VIII Read online

  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 chargèd loaded

  390 soul-fearing terrifying

  390 brawled down destroyed noisily

  392 play torment by firing at

  392 jades wretches (literally, worthless horses)

  393 unfencèd 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 finishèd completed

  447 divided incomplete

  452 bounds boundaries

  453 princes royal persons (of either sex)

  454 battery assault

  455 fast-closèd 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 infixèd 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 peisèd 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 untrimmèd 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<
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  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

  169 fearful awesome, fear-inducing

  169 difference dispute, discord

  172 Unyoke this seizure unclasp this grasp (of hands)

  172 regreet return of salutation

  173 fast and loose i.e. gamble (literally, game of betting whether the end of a rope was fastened or not)

  173 so in the same manner

  174 unconstant changeable, fickle

  177 bloody bloodstained/violent

  177 host army

  178 brow forehead

  181 ordain establish

  188 revolting rebelling

  189 hold … tongue “take a serpent by the tongue” (proverbial; a snake’s venom was thought to be located in the tongue)

  190 casèd wearing a skin, i.e. living

  190 mortal fatal, lethal

  193 faith promise (to King John)

  194 faith religious faith, i.e. the Church

  195 to against

  199 since subsequently, i.e. since swearing allegiance to the Church

  199 swor’st i.e. allegiance with John

  202 truly done i.e. not done at all

  203 to toward

  205 act action

  205 purposes mistook misguided aims, erroneous outcomes

  206 mistake again i.e. break your oath to John

  206 indirect roundabout, devious

  208 fire … burned “one heat drives out another” (proverbial; heat was used to treat burns)

  210 religion religious belief, obligation or fear

  212 By … swear’st i.e. you swear against the very faith by which you swear (in the making of your second oath to John)

  213 And … truth i.e. in making an oath that apparently guarantees your loyalty and integrity, you in fact violate your faith

  214 unsure uncertain, hesitant

  215 swears … forsworn you swear never to break your word

  224 part side

  226 light descend (heavy creates a play on the sense of “of little weight”)

  227 as that

  228 black deadly

  229 Rebellion i.e. Philip’s rebellion against the Church or against himself

  229 flat outright

  230 be i.e. be still and silent

  231 stop fill/silence

  234 blood … marrièd i.e. as Blanche is John’s niece

  235 kept celebrated

  237 measures melodious accompaniment

  245 doom judgment/destiny

  245 forethought anticipated, planned

  248 that thee upholds who supports you

  250 muse wonder

  251 profound respects important considerations

  252 denounce proclaim

  253 fall from desert/renounce

  256 rue grieve for/regret

  257 bald proverbially, Time was hairless

  259 adieu good-bye