Much Ado About Nothing

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Much Ado About Nothing Page 21

by William Shakespeare


  126 break as a lance might in jousting

  comparison a sneering or unflattering analogy

  128 partridge wing the part of the bird with virtually no meat on it (Beatrice’s comment is sarcastic)

  130 leaders i.e. of the dance

  134 amorous on courting

  140 near…love i.e. close to/highly regarded by my brother

  148 banquet wine, fruit and sweetmeats served after the dance

  152 constant unwavering/faithful

  153 office service/business

  154 all let all

  157 faith loyalty/integrity

  blood desire

  158 accident…proof event that is shown to be the case very regularly

  159 mistrusted suspected

  164 willow a willow

  garland was an emblem of unrequited love

  166 usurer’s chain heavy gold chain worn by wealthy moneylenders

  167 lieutenant’s scarf sash worn diagonally across the chest as a symbol of rank

  170 drover cattle dealer

  so in this way

  174 now…post i.e. strike out in anger (an allusion to a tale in which a boy is punished for stealing meat from his blind master, and gets his revenge by causing the old man to injure himself on a pillar)

  175 post pillar/messenger (i.e. Benedick)

  176 If…be i.e. if you will not leave me

  177 hurt fowl injured bird

  sedges coarse rush-like plants (where a wounded fowl might hide)

  178 not know me not know my true nature

  180 so in this way (i.e. by being merry)

  182 puts…out assumes that the world shares her opinions and represents me in that way

  185 Lady Fame i.e. a gossip Fame rumor

  186 lodge…warren dwelling (probably of a gamekeeper) in an enclosed area used for breeding game (i.e. an isolated place)

  190 forsaken rejected (by a lover)

  bind…rod bind together a bundle of twigs as rod for punishment

  193 flat transgression plain sin

  196 a trust an act of trust

  202 them i.e. the birds

  204 If…honestly if what they sing agrees with what you say you have taught them (i.e. to marry Claudio) then you speak honorably

  206 to with

  209 misused abused

  block block of wood

  213 great thaw the dull period during which roads became muddy and impassable and people were unable to go out

  214 huddling heaping up

  impossible conveyance incredible skill

  215 mark archer’s target (at which a man would have stood to note where the arrows landed)

  216 poniards daggers

  217 terminations terms of expression

  220 all…transgressed i.e. the delights and dominion of the Garden of Eden before the Fall

  221 Hercules…too in Greek legend the Queen of Lydia, Omphale, made Hercules dress as a woman and spin wool while she took over his

  club and lion’s skin; turning a roasting spit was one of the lowliest domestic tasks cleft split

  223 Ate goddess of discord and vengeance

  224 conjure exorcise (the sending of evil spirits back to hell had to be carried out in Latin so a

  scholar would be required)

  here i.e. on earth

  225 sanctuary holy place of safety

  231 Antipodes the other side of the world

  232 tooth-picker toothpick

  233 Prester John Christian ruler of a wealthy Eastern kingdom

  234 Cham Kubla Khan, emperor of the Mongols

  Pygmies race of very small people thought to live in Asia

  235 harpy fierce mythical creature with the face of a woman and body of a bird

  243 use financial interest on a loan (plays on the sense of “usage”)

  double twice as loving/duplicitous

  244 false dice i.e. false promises, deception

  246 put him down defeated him with wit (Beatrice’s response plays on the sense of “sexually subdued”)

  248 do puns on the sense of “have sex with”

  251 Wherefore why

  256 civil count grave/sober count (puns on “Seville,” the Spanish city well known as a producer of bitter-tasting oranges)

  257 jealous complexion i.e. yellow, a color associated with melancholy and jealousy

  258 blazon description

  259 conceit understanding of things, notion

  264 His grace i.e. God

  267 herald messenger/proclaimer

  269 dote upon love dearly

  275 windy…care windward (i.e. advantageous/safe) side of trouble

  278 Good…alliance! Thank God for family unions/marriage!

  goes…world everyone gets married

  279 sunburnt Elizabethans considered a tanned complexion unattractive

  280 ‘Hey-ho…husband!’ a playful expression of regret that was also the title of a ballad

  282 getting conception (a punning response to Don Pedro’s sense of “obtain”)

  289 matter substance/serious content

  290 Your…me i.e. I would much rather you talked on than were silent

  291 becomes suits

  293 cried i.e. at the pain of labor

  297 cry you mercy beg your pardon

  By…pardon with your grace’s (Don Pedro’s) pardon (for my departure)

  300 melancholy element the body was thought to consist of four elements, or humors, one of which was black bile, an excess of which caused melancholy

  301 ever always

  306 suit courtship

  313 a just seven-night precisely a week

  316 breathing interval

  317 warrant assure

  318 Hercules’ labours in Greek legend, Hercules carried out twelve seemingly impossible tasks (labours) imposed on him by King Eurystheus

  320 fain gladly

  322 minister provide

  324 watchings staying awake

  327 modest proper, seemly

  329 unhopefullest least promising

  330 strain descent, lineage

  331 approved tested/proven

  honesty honor

  334 practise on work upon craftily

  335 queasy stomach feelings of sickness/ delicate stomach/poor appetite (for love and marriage)

  338 drift plan, intention

  5 medicinable healing

  6 comes athwart impedes, is an obstacle to

  ranges evenly goes smoothly, directly

  15 unseasonable inappropriate/odd

  16 appoint instruct

  18 temper mix

  20 renowned well-reputed/honorable

  21 estimation worth

  22 stale prostitute

  24 vex torment, afflict

  25 undo ruin

  issue outcome

  26 despite spite, wreak malice on

  27 meet suitable

  draw bring together

  29 intend pretend

  zeal ardent loyalty

  30 as in as follows/such as

  31 like likely

  32 cozened cheated

  semblance outward appearance

  33 trial evidence

  34 instances proofs

  38 fashion the matter arrange matters/contrive affairs

  40 jealousy suspicion

  41 preparation i.e. for the wedding

  42 Grow…can no matter how harmful the outcome

  43 working carrying out of

  44 ducats gold (sometimes silver) coins used in Europe

  45 constant unchanging/resolved

  5 I…sir i.e. I will return so quickly that it will seem as if I had never left (in his reply Benedick jestingly takes the Boy literally)

  11 argument subject

  13 drum…fife i.e. war-like instruments fife a flute-like instrument

  14 tabor…pipe i.e. instruments associated with festivity tabor a small drum

  15 afoot on foot

  16 carving designing
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br />   17 doublet close-fitting jacket with flared base

  wont accustomed

  19 orthography stylistically polished and elaborate

  fantastical fanciful, imaginative

  22 transform…oyster turn me into a lowly creature/silence me as an oyster snaps shut

  26 graces virtues

  27 grace favor

  none have none of her

  28 cheapen bid for

  29 or come or she shall come

  noble puns on the name of a gold coin

  angel puns on the name of a gold coin

  35 As as if

  37 the music ended i.e. once the music has ended

  38 fit…pennyworth i.e. give him more than he bargained for kid-fox cunning young fox

  40 tax order

  42 It…perfection it is always proof of excellence that it claims not to recognize its own skill

  44 woo entreat, coax

  47 her…worthy Balthasar also refers to himself as one who is an unworthy singer, but whose skills have yet been courted by Don Pedro

  54 crotchets whimsical fancies/musical notes

  55 Note…nothing pay attention to your musical notes, in truth, and nothing else (nothing puns on “noting,” which was pronounced in a similar manner)

  56 air melody

  57 sheep’s guts from which an instrument’s strings were made

  hale haul

  58 horn hunting horn, a more masculine instrument (possibly with an unconscious play on cuckold’s horns)

  66 blithe and bonny joyful and healthily beautiful

  67 ditties songs

  moe more

  68 dumps low spirits (puns on the sense of “sad songs”)

  74 for a shift for the purpose/for lack of a better alternative

  76 An if

  78 as lief as soon/rather

  79 night-raven the call of which was supposed to foretell disaster

  87 Stalk on i.e. as a hunter would advance upon his prey (a sitting fowl)

  90 wonderful extraordinary/astonishing

  93 Sits…corner? Is that the way the wind is blowing? (i.e. is that the way things are)

  95 enraged affection furiously passionate love

  97 counterfeit pretend

  100 discovers reveals

  103 sit you sit

  111 gull trick/deception

  114 hold it up keep up the trick/keep going

  122 smock slip

  128 That (yes) that one

  129 halfpence fragments (a halfpenny was a small coin)

  130 railed ranted/chastised abusively

  138 ecstasy frenzy

  overborne overwhelmed

  139 outrage violence

  145 alms charitable deed

  146 suspicion doubt

  149 blood passion/desire

  150 tender young/delicate

  153 dotage great love/infatuation

  154 daffed doffed (i.e. cast off)

  respects considerations

  made…myself i.e. married her

  161 bate abate, modify

  162 make tender of offer

  164 contemptible contemptuous/scornful

  165 proper handsome

  166 good outward happiness pleasingly attractive appearance

  167 ’Fore God an exclamation roughly equivalent to “indeed so, with God as my witness”

  170 Hector the leader of the Trojans in the Trojan war, known for his bravery

  172 discretion prudence, good judgment

  178 by to judge by

  large coarse/unrestrained

  181 wear it out outlive it/use it up/grow tired of it

  182 counsel reflection

  186 the while in the meantime

  187 modestly in a reasonable, moderate way

  190 upon after

  194 carry carry out

  they…dotage each believes that the other is in love

  195 no such matter in fact there is no truth in it

  196 dumb-show play acted without words (as Benedick and Beatrice will be speechless)

  199 sadly borne seriously carried out

  200 have…bent are engaged to their fullest extent (like a bow pulled as far as possible)

  202 censured judged/ criticized

  205 their detractions criticisms of themselves

  208 reprove disprove/refute/ reject

  209 argument demonstration/evidence

  211 quirks quips/witty conceits

  broken cracked at my expense/snapped like a lance in jousting

  214 sentences maxims, sayings

  215 paper…brain i.e. words, which cannot hurt

  awe terrify/restrain

  career…humour pursuit of his inclination career gallop of a horse, as in a tournament

  222 pains efforts (Beatrice plays on the sense of literal pain in painful)

  228 choke kill/silence

  daw jackdaw (proverbially a stupid bird, so also a rude reference to the talkative Benedick)

  withal with

  stomach appetite

  235 Jew thought by many Elizabethans to be pitiless

  picture a miniature, which a lover might wear or carry with him

  3 Proposing conversing

  10 advance…it defy the very prince whose favor made them great

  12 purpose matter of our conversation

  office duty/task

  16 trace range through, pass along

  23 hearsay report/rumor/something overheard

  24 lapwing bird of the plover family known for running through the grass in a crouching fashion

  27 oars i.e. fins

  30 couchèd…coverture lying hidden in the thick covering of honeysuckle

  35 coy disdainful

  wild unrestrained/wayward/rude/fierce

  36 haggards untamed female hawks

  38 entirely completely/sincerely

  39 new-trothèd i.e. Claudio, newly betrothed

  45 Doth…upon? i.e. doesn’t Benedick deserve a wife as good as Beatrice

  46 bed marriage bed

  47 couch lie

  49 yielded given

  53 Misprising undervaluing/scorning

  55 weak of little worth/contemptible

  56 project conception, notion

  57 self-endeared in love with herself

  62 How however

  rarely excellently

  63 spell him backward declare he is the opposite

  fair-faced attractive/light-complexioned

  65 black dark-complexioned

  antic grotesque figure/grinning buffoon

  66 ill-headed with a poorly made or misshapen head

  67 agate an agate stone would often have a tiny figure carved into it before being set in a ring

  72 simpleness plainness/integrity

  purchaseth earns/deserves

  73 carping fault-finding

  74 odd at odds with

  from contrary to

  78 press…death pressing a person to death with heavy weights was the penalty for one who refused to plead guilty or innocent to a crime

  79 covered covered with a tightly packed heap of fuel to ensure a long burning time

  85 counsel advise

  86 honest slanders i.e. slanders that will do no serious harm to her reputation

  92 prized esteemed, valued

  94 only i.e. best, unrivaled

  97 fancy thought/ preference/liking

  98 argument skill in debate/powers of reasoning

  103 tomorrow from tomorrow onward

  104 attires ornamented headdresses with false hair attached to them

  105 furnish me fit me out with, clothe me with

  107 haps chance/ accidents

  114 Taming…hand i.e. as a hawk would learn to obey the falconer

  116 band bond (plays on sense of “wedding ring”)

  118 reportingly as it is reported/through hearsay

  1 consummate consummated/accomplished

  3 vouchsafe permit

  7 only…w
ith be bold only with (i.e. prevail upon)

  10 hangman i.e. executioner

  16 truant knave

  17 wants lacks

  20 Draw extract (Claudio puns on the sense of “disembowel,” sometimes the fate of a hanged man)

  21 Hang it an expression of angry impatience

  22 hang it teeth were hung up outside barbers’ shops as advertisements for the dental work that barbers also carried out (though Claudio also refers to the hanging, and drawing, of a criminal)

  24 Where where there

  humour…worm toothache was thought to be caused either by the descent from the head into the tooth of one of the four humors (fluids), or by a worm in the tooth

  25 but except

  28 fancy love (Don Pedro goes on to pun on the sense of “whim”)

  30 Frenchman tomorrow German and Spanish references follow hereafter in the Quarto (see Textual Notes); Folio’s omission of them may have been to avoid offense at court

  38 ornament…tennis-balls filling tennis balls with beard hair seems to have been an actual practice

  42 civet a musky perfume obtained from the glands of the civet cat

  smell him out detect the truth/discern his presence by his smell

  45 note sign

  46 wont accustomed

  wash clean/perfume

  47 paint apply cosmetics

  50 lute-string the lute was considered the instrument of a lover

  governed controlled/has the musical key determined

  stops frets/restraints/impediments

  51 heavy sad

  56 ill conditions bad characteristics

  dies expires/orgasms

  58 face upwards as a faithful Christian/in a sexual position, under Benedick

  59 Old signior i.e. Leonato

  61 hobby-horses jokers

  62 For upon

  63 by this by this time

  66 God save you a common greeting

  67 Good den good evening

  68 If…served if you have time

  78 let…hereafter whether or not I love you will be apparent after I have imparted what I have to say

  79 aim…manifest judge me more effectively according to what I will now reveal to you

  80 holds regards

  84 circumstances shortened in brief/regardless of details

  85 a talking of the subject of conversation (either Claudio and Don Pedro’s conversation or public gossip)

  91 paint out convey in full

  93 fit suit/adapt

  Wonder marvel/be incredulous

  warrant proof

  96 fit befit

  100 If…know if you do not dare to admit that what you see with your own eyes is the case, then you had better say nothing about it/then you know nothing at all

  110 Bear it coldly behave calmly

  112 untowardly turned unfavorably changed

  113 mischief misfortune/wickedness

  1 true reliable, honest

 

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