Henry IV, Part 2
Page 24
giant ironic since the Page is a boy
2 water urine
3 owed owned
4 knew for was aware of
5 gird at taunt
6 foolish-compounded made up of folly
10 o’erwhelmed squashed with her bulk
11 set me off display me to my best advantage; perhaps plays on “make me appear ridiculous”
12 whoreson bastard (son of a whore)
mandrake poisonous plant whose forked root made it resemble the human form
14 manned with attended by
agate diminutive person, an allusion to the tiny figures cut in the agate stones that appeared in rings
15 send…jewel Falstaff jokingly threatens to return the page to the prince as an ornament
16 juvenal youth (puns on first syllable of “jewel”)
17 fledged covered with down, i.e. he hasn’t got a beard
19 stick hesitate
20 face-royal majestic face (royal plays on the sense of “coin with the king’s face on it”)
21 amiss out of place
a barber…it no barber could charge sixpence to shave a beardless face
23 writ called himself
24 grace term of address to a prince/favor
25 Dombledon a name probably derived from “dommel” or “dummel,” i.e. dummy, stupid
26 slops loose baggy breeches
27 assurance financial guarantee
28 Bardolph Falstaff’s follower is unrelated to the rebel lord of the same name
30 Let…hotter! refers to the biblical parable of Dives and Lazarus in which the rich Dives refused food to the poor leper Lazarus, and was condemned to hell where he begged for water to cool his tongue; gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins
31 Achitophel an adviser to King David who betrayed him; Old Testament equivalent to Judas Iscariot
yea-forsooth obsequious, like a tradesman who affects propriety by using mild oaths
32 bear…hand lead a man on
stand insist
33 smooth-pates men with short hair, an image associated with puritan tradesmen
34 high high-heeled, suggestive of pride
girdles belts; the
keys signify the men’s showy self-importance
35 through…up has agreed an honest and straightforward purchase with them
36 lief soon, willingly
37 ratsbane rat poison
38 looked expected
40 horn of abundance cornucopia or horn of plenty, i.e. lots of wealth (plays on the notion of the horns supposedly sprouted by cuckolds, i.e. men with unfaithful wives)
41 lightness light/sexual promiscuity
42 lanthorn lantern (continues play on “horn”)
44 Smithfield area in the City of London with a horse and cattle market; of poor reputation
46 Paul’s St. Paul’s Cathedral; the aisle served as a place for servants to seek new masters
47 stews brothels
49 nobleman…Bardolph according to an apocryphal tale, the prince was expelled from the King’s Privy Council for hitting the Lord Chief Justice, an episode also referred to in 1 Henry IV, Act 3 Scene 2
committed imprisoned
51 close stay close/stay out of sight
not see him avoid him/pretend I have not seen him
53 an’t if it
54 in question for suspected of/was questioned about
55 good servicein 1 Henry IV Falstaff claimed the credit for killing Hotspur, although Prince Henry had in fact done so
56 charge military command
65 A…wars? Falstaff pretends to think the servant is begging rather than undertaking proper employment
67 want lack
69 were…make it although it’s hard to say what could be worse than rebellion
72 Setting…aside disregarding my honor as a knight and soldier (which signifies I couldn’t lie)
73 in my throat outrageously
79 grows to belongs to, is an integral part of
80 hunt counter one on the wrong track (hunting term: following the wrong scent); conceivably “one asking to go to prison (the counter)”
81 Avaunt! Be off!
85 abroad out of doors
86 by advice with the doctor’s permission
88 smack hint, taste
relish flavor, taste
89 saltness artificially preserved vitality of youth (salt is used to preserve meat)
90 reverend respectful
98 apoplexy illness causing paralysis
103 What why
104 it original its origin
106 Galen famous second-century Greek physician
111 marking paying attention
withal with
112 punish…heels i.e. shackle your ankles, or put you in the stocks
114 Job biblical character who lost all his wealth but bore his ill luck with patience
116 in…poverty i.e. because I am too poor to pay a fine
how why, in what way
117 wise…itself a wise person might question
dram unit of weight/small measure of medicine
118 scruple third of a dram/doubt
119 matters…life charges laid against you that are punishable by the death penalty
122 land-service military service, which meant one could not be summoned to answer a civil charge; also a euphemistic way of referring to the robbery Falstaff carried out at Gad’s Hill (in 1 Henry IV)
125 He…less i.e. one of my large girth cannot be anything but
great
126 means financial resources, income
waste expenditure (puns on “waist”)
131 I…dog presumably a joke about a fat man being led by his dog; possibly alludes to the full moon, popularly supposed to be inhabited by a man with a dog
133 gall irritate
135 exploit … Hill i.e. the robbery at Gad’s Hill in Kent in which Falstaff was involved in 1 Henry IV
136 unquiet disturbed by war
your…action having that offense quietly passed over
140 smell a fox be suspicious
141 better greater, most useful/more virtuous
143 wassail candle fat candle used at a feast
tallow animal fat (used in candle making)
144 wax beeswax (used for high-quality candles; plays on the sense of “growth”)
approve demonstrate, prove
146 his its
147 gravy grease, sweat
149 angel attendant spirit (Falstaff plays on the sense of “gold coin”)
150 light slim, underweight/counterfeit or fraudulently filed/satanic (the devil was originally Lucifer, the angel of light)
151 weighing considering, judging/determining physical weight
152 go pass as currency/walk/ perform sexually
cannot tell do not know/cannot be counted as a legitimate coin
153 costermongers barrow-boys, street salesmen; originally sellers of costard apples
154 bear-herd keeper of a performing bear
pregnancy cleverness, quick-wittedness
tapster innkeeper, barman
155 reckonings tavern bills
156 appertinent belonging
159 livers considered the seat of the passions
galls the source of bitterness and anger
160 vaward vanguard, forefront, early part
161 wags mischievous fellows
163 characters letters/characteristics
164 moist watery, rheumy
166 broken cracked, weak
single weak, poor
167 blasted blighted
168 Fie expression of shame and indignation
171 halloing shouting/calling to hunting dogs
approve prove/commend
173 caper with dance with/compete in dancing with
174 marks a mark was worth two thirds of a pound
have at him expression of defiance: so much for him/let’s go for it
175 For as for
sensible reasonable/capable of physical sensation
177 checked rebuked
marry by the Virgin Mary
178 ashes and sackcloth symbols of repentance
sack Spanish white wine
186 I…it either a sarcastic “thank you for reminding me” or implies that the Lord Chief Justice is responsible for the separation
look you be sure to
191 spit white i.e. be healthy (red spittle would result from illness or internal injury)
action engagement with the enemy
194 be honest behave honorably
197 furnish me forth equip me for the expedition
199 bear crosses sustain hardships/carry coins (stamped on one side with a cross)
201 fillip strike
three-man beetle huge sledgehammer requiring three men to lift it
204 pox venereal disease
pinches torments
both the degrees i.e. of age and youth
208 groats coins worth four old pence
209 consumption disease (specifically, tuberculosis, which caused victims to waste slowly away)
213 Mistress Ursula not mentioned elsewhere; either an error for Mistress Quickly (Nell) or perhaps Falstaff is involved with another woman
216 pox of plague on
pox syphilis
218 halt limp
colour excuse, pretext
220 commodity profit, advantage
1 causes concerns/ matters of legal dispute
means methods/resources
4 lord marshal i.e. Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, the son of the man banished by Richard II
5 allow grant
occasion motive/necessity/opportunity
arms taking arms
7 in with
advance ourselves promote our cause/be so ambitious/make military advances
9 puissance strength, influence
10 Our…file i.e. our current list of recruited soldiers grows
11 men of choice selected troops
12 supplies reinforcements
live…Of rely chiefly on/are greatly increased by the expectation of support from
17 hold up head form a sufficient army
22 by the hand at hand, ready
23 theme cause
bloody-faced violent, bloody (perhaps with additional sense of “shameful”)
25 aids incertain uncertain support
admitted entertained, treated as valid
27 case situation
28 lined fortified
29 Eating the air i.e. feeding on false hopes
30 project the mental conception, prospect
power army
31 Much smaller which turned out to be much smaller
34 winking with his eyes shut (to reality)
35 by your leave with your permission (to contradict)
37 Yes i.e. yes it can hurt
quality state, condition
38 instant present
cause on foot business that is already under way
41 warrant assurance, grounds for optimism
39 Lives…them has as little chance of success as early spring buds that are likely to be killed by frosts before they have borne fruit
44 figure design
45 rate calculate
46 ability i.e. to pay
48 offices rooms
least worst
53 Consent agree
54 estate wealth, resources
55 able…undergo practical it is to undertake the project
56 opposite adverse factors/the resources of the enemy
57 fortify plays on sense of “strengthen structurally, build”
figures numbers/designs
61 o’er up
cost object of expense, i.e. the building
62 naked subject exposed, unprotected victim
63 churlish rough, unkind
65 now…expectation already have all the men we can expect
71 as…brawl given the present strife
73 Glendower leader of the Welsh rebels
perforce of necessity
74 unfirm insecure/indecisive
75 coffers money chests, i.e. treasury
82 Baying hunting, barking at in pursuit like a pack of dogs
83 like likely
86 substituted delegated
87 notice information
89 publish the occasion proclaim the cause
91 surfeited overindulged and become sick
92 habitation dwelling
93 vulgar heart popular, public affection
94 fond many foolish multitude
97 trimmed furnished with, adorned/strengthened
98 Thou i.e. the people
99 cast vomit
100 So in the same way
disgorge vomit up from
102 eat…up the idea that a
dog eats its vomit is proverbial (originating in Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22)
112 draw add up/assemble
Hostess landlady of a tavern
1 Master Quickly errs in using an overly respectful title for a mere constable
entered the action begun the lawsuit
3 yeoman police officer’s assistant
lusty strong, vigorous/lustful
4 stand to it be up to the task/get an erection
9 entered brought a lawsuit against
12 stabbed hurt (financially; plays on sense of “penetrated sexually”
13 house inn (plays on sense of “vagina”)
14 weapon with phallic connotations
foin lunge, thrust with a weapon (sexual connotations, continued in thrust)
16 close grapple, fight (plays on sense of “embrace sexually”)
18 fist punch (plays on the sense of “masturbate”)
come plays on sense of “have an orgasm”
19 vice grip
20 undone ruined (financially/sexually, in terms of reputation)
going plays on the sense of “sexual activity”
warrant assure you
21 infinitive malapropism for “infinite”
thing with phallic connotations
score tavern bill, accounts
22 sure securely, firmly
scape escape
23 continuantly malapropism for “continually” or for “incontinently,” i.e. immediately (plays on “continently,” i.e. chastely)
Pie-corner the corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane, in Smithfield, London; famous for cooks’ shops and saddlers, also known for prostitution (pie and corner were both slang terms for the vagina)
saving…manhoods apologetic formula for mentioning an indelicate subject (manhoods may have phallic connotations)
24 saddle with slang sense of “whore”
indited malapropism for invited (to “indite” is to summon for trial)
Lubber’s-head i.e. Libbard’s or Leopard’s Head, name of a public house; a lubber is a clumsy, idle lout
25 Lombard Street London street running from Mansion House to Gracechurch Street
26 exion i.e. action
case lawsuit (plays on sense of “vagina”)
27 A hundred mark equivalent to £66—a large sum;
mark also means “score, reckoning,” and has phallic connotations
28 long one i.e. large bill (with phallic connotations)
29 borne endured patiently (plays on the sense of “borne the weight of a man during sex”)
fubbed fobbed
31 dealing plays on the sense of “having sex”
33 wrong assumes additional sense of “(shaming) penis” or possibly “illegitimate child”
34 arrant notorious, downright
malmsey-nose red-nosed (from drink; malmsey is a sweet red wine)
35 offices official duties/acts of bodily excretion
36 do me do (me is emphatic; plays on sense of “have sex with me”)
37 Whose mare’s dead? What’s the fuss?
mare plays on the sense of “whore”
39 varlets rogues, rascals
40 quean whore
channel gutter
43 honeysuckle malapropism for “homicidal”
44 honey-seed i.e. homicide (plays on sense of “sweet semen”)
45 man-queller murderer, crusher of men (appropriate given Falstaff’s size)
woman-queller with sexual connotations
48 a rescue i.e. help (or perhaps Quickly thinks a rescue is some type of weapon or restraining rope)
49 hemp-seed i.e. one fit for the hangman’s rope (made of hemp); perhaps another malapropism for “homicide”
51 scullion most menial kitchen servant
rampallion scoundrel, ruffian
52 fustilarian unclear; perhaps derived from “fustilugs” (i.e. a fat, unkempt woman)
tuck punish (may pun on “fuck”)
catastrophe arse
54 Good my my good
55 stand to support (plays on sense of “become erect for”)
57 become befit, suit
59 wherefore why
61 Eastcheap London Street running from the junction of Cannon and Gracechurch streets to Great Tower Street
67 ride…mare sit on you and suffocate you like the nightmare, a female spirit supposedly responsible for bad dreams; with sexual connotations
mare plays on the sense of “whore”
69 vantage of ground superior position, favorable opportunity
get up with sexual connotations
71 temper disposition
73 come … own get what is due to her (come plays on the sense of “orgasm”)
74 gross total (perhaps with play on “fat/lecherous”)
75 Marry by the Virgin Mary (plays on the sense of “marriage”)
76 parcel-gilt partly gilded
77 Dolphin-chamber a particular room in the inn (these were often individually named)
78 sea-coal superior type of coal transported by sea from the north of England
Whitsun week seven weeks after Easter
79 broke hit, grazed
singing-man of Windsor chorister of the royal chapel; possibly a reference to John Magdalen of the King’s Chapel, who passed himself off as Richard II in a plot to overthrow Henry IV
82 goodwife term of address for a married woman
Keech lump of congealed fat, an appropriate name for a butcher
83 gossip familiar form of address for a female friend
84 mess small quantity
dish perhaps with vaginal connotations
85 whereby whereupon
86 green fresh, unhealed
89 madam i.e. a suitable term of address for the wife of a knight
90 book-oath oath on the Bible
93 son…you i.e. that you’re his father
94 in good case well-off (case plays on the sense of “vagina”)