Richard II

Home > Fiction > Richard II > Page 23
Richard II Page 23

by William Shakespeare


  5 against the bias contrary to the desired course (a bias is the weight in the ball that enables it to be bowled in a curve)

  7 measure due proportion/stately dance step

  8 measure limit

  14 wanting lacking

  15 remember remind

  16 being altogether had as I am entirely possessed by it

  17 want lack

  19 boots not is useless complain lament

  21 ’Tis … cause i.e. it is a good thing that you are happy enough to do so

  28 My I’ll wager my row of pins i.e. insignificant items

  29 state affairs of state, politics

  30 Against in anticipation of forerun with heralded by

  31 apricocks apricots

  32 sire father, i.e. tree that bears them

  33 oppression burden prodigal excessive

  34 supportance support

  36 sprays shoots

  37 lofty tall/proud, ambitious

  38 even equal

  40 noisome noxious, harmful

  41 wholesome healthy

  42 compass limits pale fenced area, enclosure

  44 model copy in miniature firm estate settled situation/secure kingdom

  48 knots intricately designed flower beds

  51 suffered permitted/undergone

  52 fall of leaf i.e. autumn

  59 seized taken into custody

  60 trimmed adorned

  61 at time of year in season

  63 over-proud too swollen

  64 confound ruin

  68 bearing fertile, fruit-bearing

  69 crown king’s crown/leafy head of a tree

  72 Depressed humbled, lowered in fortune

  73 doubted feared

  76 pressed to death a punishment that involved pressing suspects with heavy weights until they pleaded innocent or guilty, or died

  77 Adam in the Bible, the first man; he was in charge of cultivating the Garden of Eden until he was tempted into sin by Eve, who had been tricked by the devil in the guise of a serpent

  79 suggested tempted

  83 Divine prophesy

  87 hold grasp/custody

  90 vanities follies light of little weight/frivolous

  93 odds advantage

  94 Post hasten

  97 embassage message/errand belong to i.e. concern

  103 triumph public festivity, triumphal procession

  106 so provided state situation/royal status

  109 rue herb symbolizing repentance and grace sour bitter, sad

  110 e’en for ruth for sheer pity

  4 wrought worked/arranged

  5 office task/duty timeless untimely/everlasting

  9 unsay deny, retract

  10 dead fatal, deadly/secret, dark/past

  11 of length long

  16 crowns gold coins

  17 Than than have

  18 withal besides

  21 base contemptible/low-born

  22 stars birth, rank/destiny

  23 On … chastisement? To correct/punish him as if we were equals?

  25 th’attainder the dishonorable slur, accusation

  26 manual … death gauntlet (glove thrown down as a gage)/death warrant sealed by my hand

  30 temper steely firmness/condition

  31 forbear stop

  32 one i.e. Bullingbrook

  33 moved roused, angered

  34 stand insist sympathy equal rank (in an opponent)

  35 in gage engaged

  37 vauntingly boastfully

  39 deniest two syllables (“deny’st”)

  40 turn return

  46 appeal accusation

  48 th’extremest … breathing i.e. the death

  50 An if if

  51 more again

  55 in presence present

  61 render return

  65 Engage … trial accept it and thus pledge yourself to combat (trial)

  66 fondly foolishly forward eager

  68 wilderness i.e. even somewhere remote or where no help is available

  71 tie bind correction punishment, rebuke

  78 That to assert that

  79 repealed called back from exile try test in combat

  80 differences disputes rest under gage remain challenges

  83 signories estates

  84 enforce his trial make sure that the combat takes place

  87 field i.e. battle

  88 Streaming the ensign flying the banner

  90 toiled exhausted

  94 colours battle flags

  97 bosom … Abraham i.e. heaven

  98 appellants who have made formal accusations

  102 plume-plucked humbled, stripped of his glory

  105 descending i.e. being passed to an heir

  108 Marry by the Virgin Mary

  109 Worst of lowest rank

  110 beseeming befitting (as he is a clergyman)

  113 noblesse nobility

  114 Learn teach

  117 by present

  118 apparent obvious

  119 figure image

  122 subject i.e. of a subject

  125 heinous grave/wicked obscene repulsive, foul

  131 manure fertilize (after being spilled)

  135 kind countrymen confound bring to ruin

  138 field battlefield Golgotha Calvary (called “the place of skulls”), the hill outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified

  139 house royal family/Parliament

  148 suit request (that the terms of Richard’s abdication be declared publicly to Parliament)

  150 surrender abdicate

  152 conduct escort

  154 sureties guarantors (who will vouch for your appearance) answer trial

  155 beholding indebted

  156 little looked for little expected your love regalia crown and scepter

  160 insinuate ingratiate myself

  163 favours faces/support, kindness/gifts

  164 sometime formerly

  165 twelve i.e. the twelve disciples

  168 priest and clerk in church services the priest said prayers to which the clerk responded “Amen”

  171 service puns on the sense of “church service”

  173 tired majesty exhausted, weary dignity/sovereign power

  176 seize grasp/take legal possession of/arrest

  179 owes owns, possesses filling one another the rising of the full bucket causes the other to be lowered and filled

  189 Your … down your assumption of the anxieties and obligations of kingship does not detract from my grief; in the following lines Richard plays on several senses of care: kingly responsibility/personal grief/concern

  190 by … done caused by my former inadequate responsibility

  193 tend attend, follow

  195 Ay puns on “I” no puns on “know”

  197 mark me note undo bring to naught, destroy, unmake

  200 sway rule

  204 release … oaths release my subjects from their oaths of allegiance to me

  205 forswear reject

  210 with nothing grieved not grieved at all/grieved with the fact that I have nothing

  223 ravel out unravel

  224 Gentle noble/kind

  226 troop company

  227 read a lecture read out an account (as though preaching a lesson)

  228 article item forming part of an accusation

  230 warrant guarantee

  233 bait harass, torment (like a bear being baited for sport)

  234 Pilate Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judaea involved in the crucifixion of Christ, but who washed his hands before the discontented crowd as a means of exonerating himself from blame

  236 sour bitter, harsh

  238 dispatch make haste, get on with it

  241 sort pack, gang

  245 T’undeck to undress, to strip of ornament pompous splendid, ceremonially dressed

  249 haught haughty, arrogant

  251 at the font i.e. at my christening

  255 mocke
ry imitation/subject of ridicule

  259 An if if sterling valid currency

  261 what what kind of

  262 his its

  263 some i.e. one glass mirror

  276 beguile deceive

  278 keep maintain

  279 wink blink, shut their eyes

  280 faced covered over/countenanced, sanctioned

  281 out-faced defied, challenged/replaced by

  284 shivers shards, fragments

  285 moral significance, true meaning

  287 shadow reflection/dark, gloomy shade (Richard develops the sense to include delusive semblance, “thing without substance”)

  292 manner forms

  298 boon favor

  305 to as

  313 convey escort (Richard goes on to play on the sense of “steal”)

  316 set down appoint the time for

  322 pernicious destructive

  324 take the sacrament receive Holy Communion (as a means of confirming your word)

  325 bury conceal

  2 Julius Caesar it was a popular notion that the Roman emperor built the Tower of London; in fact, it was erected by William the Conqueror ill-erected built for wicked ends and with evil consequences

  3 flint i.e. hard

  4 doomed judged/consigned to some adverse fate

  11 model ground plan, outline Troy supposedly founded by the Trojan Brutus, London was often referred to as the New Troy

  12 map outline, image

  13 inn house/place of temporary lodging

  14 hard-favoured ugly

  15 ale-house cheap, lowly place of lodging

  18 state situation/kingship

  20 sworn brother the devoted, loyal friend

  22 league bond of friendship, allegiance Hie hurry

  23 cloister seclude, conceal religious house convent

  24 new world’s i.e. heaven’s

  26 shape physical appearance

  31 To be at being

  32 rod punishment cane

  35 beasts beastly men aught but anything other than

  36 still yet/always happy fortunate

  37 sometime former

  42 long ago betid that happened long ago

  43 quit requite, repay grief i.e. mournful tales

  46 why this cause brands burning logs sympathize feel for, respond to

  47 heavy accent sorrowful tone moving talking/affecting, stirring to sorrow

  48 weep literally, exude resin as they burn

  49 some i.e. of the firewood (brands)

  52 Pomfret Pontefract Castle, in Yorkshire

  53 order ta’en instructions issued, arrangements made

  55 wherewithal by means of which

  57 many … age i.e. older

  58 head to a head (of a boil, with play on the sense of “insurrection”)

  59 corruption pus (plays on the sense of “sin, destruction”)

  60 Though he even if he were to

  61 helping you having helped

  62 which who

  63 unrightful illegitimate

  67 one or both i.e. either usurping king or his collaborator

  68 worthy well-deserved

  70 part separate (from the queen; sense then shifts to “depart”)

  72 ’twixt betwixt, between

  74 unkiss annul with a kiss

  77 pines afflicts, wastes away

  78 from whence from where; Isabel was daughter to the French king

  80 Hallowmas November 1, All Saints’ Day short’st of day the winter solstice, shortest day of the year

  84 were would show

  88 be … near not being together near nearer

  92 piece … out lengthen the journey

  95 stop stop up, silence

  97 ’Twere … me it would do no good to take it upon myself (part plays on the sense of “parting” and “body part, organ”)

  98 kill i.e. with sorrow

  101 wanton playful, unrestrained, self-indulgent fond foolish/doting

  102 adieu goodbye

  3 cousins kinsmen, i.e. Richard and Bullingbrook; York was their uncle

  4 leave break off

  6 rude unkind, uncivilized, rough misgoverned unruly, unrestrained windows’ tops upper windows

  10 Which i.e. which horse aspiring ambitious

  15 casements windows

  17 painted imagery the people, or speaking figures in painted wall-coverings

  20 Bareheaded removing one’s hat was a sign of respect or deference

  21 Bespake addressed

  22 still continually

  23 the whilst during this

  25 well-graced attractive/skilled/well-regarded, favored

  26 idly unenthusiastically/inattentively

  33 combating with fighting between

  34 badges signs/livery

  36 perforce of necessity

  39 bound bind/limit, confine contents contentment

  41 state regality, kingship aye ever, i.e. fully

  45 Rutland for his support of Richard, Aumerle lost his status as duke, though he retained the title Earl of Rutland

  46 pledge … truth guarantor of his loyalty

  47 fealty allegiance

  48 violets i.e. court favorites

  49 spring i.e. Bullingbrook’s kingship

  51 as lief as soon, rather

  52 bear you conduct yourself

  53 cropped cut down/beheaded

  54 Hold go ahead triumphs public festivities

  58 seal i.e. seal attached to the bottom of a document (which Aumerle apparently carries in his doublet or jacket)

  69 bond financial agreement (retained by the creditor)

  70 against in preparation for

  84 appeach denounce, inform against

  89 answer answer for

  92 amazed stunned, confused

  93 villain rogue/servant

  96 own i.e. own child

  98 teeming date time for child-bearing

  102 fond foolish/doting

  105 interchangeably reciprocally (so each of the conspirators has a copy of the agreement)

  107 be none not be one of them

  108 that i.e. the plot/the actions of the conspirators

  111 groaned i.e. in labor

  121 his horse i.e. grab his saddled horse and ride out first

  122 post speedily

  126 the ground i.e. kneeling

  1 unthrifty extravagant, dissolute son Prince Hal, later Henry V

  7 loose immoral, wasteful

  9 watch night watchmen passengers travelers

  10 effeminate frivolous, self-indulgent, immature

  11 Takes on the undertakes as a

  15 gallant fashionable young man/fine fellow

  16 stews brothels/part of a city occupied by houses of ill fame

  17 common’st most whorish, promiscuous creature prostitute glove with vaginal connotations

  18 favour love token (worn by knights in jousts) with that wearing the token

  19 unhorse plays on the sense of “deprive of a whore” lustiest most vigorous (plays on the sense of “most licentious”)

  20 desp’rate reckless both i.e. both flaws

  22 happily with favorable destiny/with a happy result

  24 stares gapes, looks horrorstruck

  29 grow i.e. be fixed

  31 a pardon i.e. I am granted a pardon

  34 after-love future loyalty

  40 safe harmless, i.e. dead

  41 Stay withhold

  42 secure overconfident

  43 speak treason i.e. by having to use such disrespectful terms

  49 haste i.e. breathlessness

  50 passed just made

  52 hand signature

  58 strong flagrant/significant, dangerous

  60 sheer pure, clear fountain spring

  62 held his current taken its course

  65 deadly blot fatal sin/ink signature digressing deviating from its course/transgressing morally

  66 bawd pimp, procurer
/>
  67 spend waste/may play on the sense of “ejaculate”

  68 scraping money-saving

  72 true loyal

  79 ‘The … King’ probably refers to a ballad telling the popular tale of King Cophetua and the beggar maid he fell in love with

  83 for as a result of

  84 festered corrupt/diseased

  85 let alone left untreated confound destroy

  87 itself i.e. its own flesh and blood, one’s son

  88 frantic mad

  89 dugs breasts

  94 happy happy/fortunate person

  98 true loyal

  100 in jest pretend

  102 would wishes to

  118 meet fitting

  119 ‘pardonnez-moi’ French for “pardon me,” i.e. excuse me for refusing your request

  124 chopping meaning-shifting, logic-chopping/affected

  127 plaints laments

  128 rehearse pronounce/repeat

  130 sue beg

  131 suit request (puns on the sense of “suit of cards,” an image maintained in hand)

  133 happy joyous/fortunate vantage profit, gain/advantageous position

  135 twain divide in two

  139 for as for brother-in-law i.e. the Duke of Exeter the i.e. and the

  140 consorted conspiring

  142 several separate, various

  147 prove i.e. make sure you prove

  8 wistly intently, meaningfully

  9 As as one

  1 studying thinking about, dwelling on

  3 for because because

  7 beget conceive

  8 still-breeding constantly reproducing

  10 humours dispositions, moods

  12 As such as

  13 scruples doubts faith i.e. religious belief, as manifested through Scripture

  14 ‘Come, little ones’ from the Bible (Luke 18:16; also Matthew 19:14)

  16 ‘It … eye’ biblical (Luke 18:25; also Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25)

  17 postern back or side gate

  21 ragged rough, rugged

  22 for because pride prime/arrogance

  23 content acceptance

  25 silly simple/lowly/helpless

  26 stocks contraption for public punishment in which the arms or legs were confined refuge take refuge from, reduce

  27 That with the thought that

  31 prison most editions follow Quarto’s “person,” but Folio’s “prison” seems to be a purposeful alteration, not a printer’s error

  33 treason thoughts of treason

  34 penury poverty

  36 by and by soon

  38 straight straightaway

  39 but man is is merely mortal

  40 nothing anything

  41 nothing i.e. dead

  43 proportion musical time, rhythm

  45 daintiness sensitivity

  46 string individual string/musical instrument

  47 concord harmony

  49 waste decay

 

‹ Prev