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Antony and Cleopatra

Page 24

by William Shakespeare


  15 purchased acquired otherwise than by inheritance (legal term)

  18 tumble have sex

  19 mirth joke

  20 keep … tippling take turns in drinking toasts

  21 reel stagger drunkenly around

  stand the buffet exchange or endure blows

  23 As though

  composure constitution, disposition

  25 foils disgraces

  when … lightness since we have to bear an extra burden because of his frivolity (or “promiscuity”)

  27 vacancy spare time

  voluptuousness sensual pleasures

  28 surfeits digestive disorders resulting from too much food and drink

  dryness … bones corrosion of the bones is a symptom of syphilis

  29 confound waste

  30 drums summons with a (military) drum

  31 his … ours i.e. our positions as triumvirs

  ’tis … chid deserves reprimand

  32 rate berate, scold

  mature in knowledge old enough to know what’s right

  34 to against

  36 biddings commands

  38 How ’tis what the situation is

  40 only have feared have obeyed (Caesar) through fear, not love

  41 discontents discontented

  42 Give him claim he is

  44 primal state beginning of the world/first organized government

  45 he … were he who is in power was only deemed desirable until he gained power

  46 ebbed declining in fortunes, on his way out

  ne’er … love no longer powerful/unable to reward his followers

  47 Comes deared becomes loved/becomes valued

  lacked absent, missed

  This common body the people

  48 vagabond drifting

  flag water iris/reed, rush

  49 lackeying following like a servant

  52 famous notorious

  53 ear plow

  54 hot inroads violent raids

  55 borders maritime coastal regions

  56 Lack blood turn pale

  flush vigorous, lively/flushed, ruddy (i.e. unafraid)

  58 Taken captured

  strikes … resisted causes more loss than resisting him in battle

  61 wassails revels

  62 Modena city in northern Italy

  64 whom i.e. famine

  65 daintily with fine food/in a refined way

  67 stale urine

  gilded tinged with gold glint of scum

  68 deign not refuse

  69 rudest wildest

  70 sheets covers

  71 browsèd fed on

  76 So … not did not so much as grow thin

  77 pity of a shame for/about

  79 twain two

  80 i’th’field on the battlefield

  85 can be able am capable of mustering

  86 front confront

  90 stirs events/uprisings

  93 bond duty/obligation

  4 mandragora juice of the mandrake, a plant with strong narcotic properties

  13 Not … sing an anachronism: castrated singers were employed in Renaissance courts

  15 unseminared castrated, deprived of virility

  freer looser, less restrained

  16 affections desires

  19 in deed in terms of the sexual act (punning on indeed)

  do perform/have sex

  20 honest chaste

  22 Venus … Mars the Roman goddess of love and the god of war had a passionate adulterous love affair

  27 bravely splendidly

  wot’st thou do you know

  28 demi-Atlas in classical mythology, Atlas carried the world on his shoulders; Cleopatra, ignoring Lepidus, describes Antony bearing responsibility for half the world

  arm weapon

  arm And burgonet i.e. complete soldier/defender

  29 burgonet light steel infantryman’s helmet/helmet with a visor

  33 Phoebus Greek and Roman sun god

  black i.e. deeply tanned

  34 Broad-fronted with a broad forehead/with a wide or open face

  Caesar Julius Caesar, with whom Cleopatra had an affair

  36 morsel beautiful woman/sexual mouthful

  great Pompey Cleopatra was actually supposed to have had an affair with Gneius (or Gnaeus) Pompey, the son of Pompey the Great (though great here may simply be a descriptive “noble” applied to Gneius)

  37 make … brow fix his eyes on my face (but stand and grow are suggestive of penile erection)

  38 aspect gaze

  die be consumed with desire/orgasm

  39 his life what he lived for

  42 great med’cine alchemical term for the supposed elixir that turned base metal into gold

  43 tinct dye, color/transmuting elixir

  44 brave valiant/splendid

  47 orient lustrous

  49 quoth said

  50 firm constant, resolute

  Egypt the Queen of Egypt

  52 mend make amends for

  piece enrich, augment

  55 arm-gaunt steed slender-limbed horse/horse that is battle-hardened or eager for battle

  56 high loud

  57 beastly dumbed drowned out by the horse’s noise/rendered inarticulate like the sounds of a beast

  60 nor sad nor neither sad nor

  62 ’tis the man that’s him exactly

  64 make … his model themselves on him

  68 violence extremity

  69 posts messengers

  70 several separate

  71 so thick such a throng

  72 Who’s whoever is

  82 paragon compare

  87 green young, inexperienced

  blood passion/sexual desire

  4 what … deny delay does not signify denial

  5 Whiles … for while we’re praying to the gods, the thing we ask for is decaying

  12 the sea i.e. control of the sea

  13 powers military forces

  crescent growing, like the new moon

  auguring prophetic

  15 dinner often euphemistic for sex

  16 without out of

  18 Of by

  neither loves loves neither

  21 strength military force

  25 Looking for expecting

  charms spells

  26 Salt lecherous

  waned faded, aging

  29 fuming fuddled with alcohol

  epicurean gourmet

  30 cloyless never-cloying, which will not satiate

  31 That so that

  prorogue delay, postpone

  32 Lethe’d oblivious (Lethe was a river in Hades, the Greek underworld; drinking from it caused complete forgetfulness)

  33 This … deliver what I am about to report is most certain

  35 ’tis … for there’s been time for

  37 less matter less serious news

  38 ear hearing

  39 donned his helm put on his helmet

  40 his … twain he’s twice as good a soldier as the other two (Octavius Caesar and Lepidus)

  41 rear … opinion elevate our opinion of ourselves

  43 lap vagina

  Egypt’s widow Cleopatra was the widow of Ptolemy XIV

  45 hope suppose

  46 well greet together meet on friendly terms

  47 wife that’s dead i.e. Fulvia

  trespasses wrongs, injuries

  48 brother i.e. Lucius

  49 moved incited

  53 pregnant obvious

  square quarrel

  54 entertainèd received

  57 yet not do not yet

  58 It … hands our lives depend upon our using our greatest strength

  5 like himself i.e. in a manner appropriate to his position/according to his natural disposition

  move angers, provokes

  6 look … head treat him as small and insignificant

  7 loud as Mars loudly and aggressively like the god of war

  Jupiter another
name for Jove, supreme Roman god

  9 I … today i.e. in order to dare Caesar to pluck it insultingly

  10 stomaching resentments, being offended or the provocation of such feelings

  19 compose settle our differences

  to Parthia we should make for Parthia (the Middle Eastern empire that was a rival to Rome)

  20 Hark … Agrippa Antony and Caesar both continue their private discussions until Lepidus’ intervention

  23 That which combined the cause that united

  24 leaner … us lesser enterprise (or “military campaign”) divide us

  What’s whatever is

  25 gently mildly, without anger/honorably

  26 commit … wounds destroy attempts at healing and reconciliation

  28 The rather for all the more because

  29 Touch refer to, deal with

  30 Nor … th’matter don’t allow bad temper to aggravate the situation

  32 to preparing to

  38 Nay then well since you insist

  40 being even if they were

  42 or … or either … or

  44 Chiefly i’th’world of all people/more than anyone else

  45 derogately disparagingly

  46 not concerned me was none of my business

  51 practise … state plot against my position

  52 question business

  53 How intend you what do you mean by

  54 catch at grasp

  56 contestation conflict

  57 theme for you about a subject that concerned you/about you/on your behalf

  you were … war the war was in your name/your name was their war-cry

  59 urge me cite me as his motive

  inquire make inquiries into

  60 learning information

  reports informants

  61 drew … you fought on your side

  62 with along with

  63 stomach inclination

  64 Having … cause I having the same reason as you to oppose his actions

  65 patch put together, contrive

  66 As matter whole though you have sufficient material

  72 I … thought I’m sure you must have known

  74 he i.e. Lucius

  75 graceful friendly, favorable

  76 fronted confronted, opposed

  77 I … another I wish you had a wife like her

  78 snaffle bridle bit, giving gentle control of a horse

  79 pace put through its paces, manage

  82 uncurbable uncontrollable (maintains the horse-handling metaphor; a “curb” is part of a horse’s bit)

  garboils disturbances, tumult

  83 not wanted did not lack

  84 policy planning, strategy

  grieving grant regretfully admit

  86 But only

  88 rioting reveling

  90 gibe … audience jeer my messenger away, out of hearing

  92 ere admitted before he had even been announced

  93 newly very recently

  did … was wasn’t at my best

  95 told … myself explained my condition

  97 nothing no part

  contend quarrel

  98 question debate, argument

  100 article clause, terms

  102 Soft wait a moment/go gently

  105 Supposing implying

  107 required requested

  111 mine own knowledge knowing my own mind

  113 Shall … it won’t detract from my authority, nor shall I exercise that authority without honesty

  116 ignorant motive unwitting cause

  121 griefs grievances

  quite completely

  123 atone reconcile

  126 instant time being

  131 presence assembly

  132 Go to, then! expression of impatient dismissal (“Very well then!”)

  You i.e. I shall be your

  considerate showing consideration/thoughtful, deliberate

  135 conditions characters, dispositions

  137 staunch firm

  141 sister … side i.e. a half-sister; historically, however, she was Caesar’s full, younger sister

  145 reproof … rashness reprimand would be merited by your rash speech

  149 amity friendship

  154 Whose … utter i.e. no one else’s words can express the true nature and extent of her virtue/no one else’s virtues can match hers

  156 jealousies suspicions, misunderstandings

  157 import bring about/signify

  158 Truths … truths uncomfortable truths would be dismissed instead of malicious half-truths being accepted

  159 both i.e. Antony and Caesar

  162 present spontaneous

  165 touched With affected by

  167 power authority

  168 would were to

  171 unto over

  173 so fairly shows seems so agreeable, looks so promising

  174 impediment obstacle; echoes the use of the term in the marriage service

  175 act of grace pleasing (or “divinely sanctioned”) action

  181 never … again may our love never desert us again

  185 For … me Pompey had courteously received Antony’s mother when she fled Italy with Fulvia

  strange extraordinary

  187 remembrance memory/reputation

  188 At … him immediately after which I must nevertheless challenge him

  190 Of by

  presently immediately

  193 Mount Misena Misenum, a port in southern Italy

  197 fame rumor/report

  198 Would … together! Antony either wishes he had discussed matters with Caesar or Pompey sooner, or that he had gone to battle sooner

  199 ere before

  dispatch we let’s speedily settle

  202 my sister’s view see my sister

  206 Not not even

  208 Half the heart i.e. intimate friend

  212 digested settled

  stayed well by’t kept at it, stuck it out well

  213 day … countenance upset day by sleeping through it

  214 light bright/merry/dissolute

  216 but only

  217 by to

  218 monstrous matter strange, exotic foods

  220 triumphant magnificent

  square just

  222 pursed pocketed (sexual connotations; “purse” is a term for the vagina)

  223 river of Cydnus now the Tarsus Cay; not in Egypt but Cilicia, a region in what is now southern Turkey

  224 reporter … her made up a good story about her

  227 burnished shining, as if made of metal

  228 Burned gleamed as though it were in flames

  poop highest deck at the stern or back of a ship

  233 strokes beats of the oars/caresses/blows (eroticized violence)

  235 cloth-of-gold of tissue rich cloth, woven with gold thread

  236 O’er-picturing … nature more beautiful than a painted image of Venus in which (the artist’s) imagination has surpassed nature

  237 her of her

  238 like resembling/in the guise of

  Cupid Roman god of love, son of Venus and Mercury; always depicted as a child

  239 divers-coloured multicolored

  240 glow make glow (with amorous excitement)

  242 rare splendid, magnificent

  243 gentlewomen … Nereides female attendants resembling (or “in the guise of”) beautiful sea nymphs

  244 tended her i’th’eyes attended to her every glance

  245 made … adornings made the scene more beautiful with their graceful bows

  246 tackle gear, i.e. ropes and sails

  247 Swell with connotations of penile erection

  248 yarely … office nimbly perform the task

  250 wharfs riverbanks/buildings

  253 but for vacancy except that it would have created a vacuum (something nature proverbially “abhors”)

  254 Had would have

  256 Egyptian potentially
ambiguous since the word could be a synonym for “Gypsy,” and both Egyptians and Gypsies were associated with magic and witchcraft

  262 Being barbered having had his hair and beard trimmed and styled

  263 ordinary supper; meal available at a fixed price in a tavern

  264 what … only i.e. he ate nothing except with his eyes

  265 wench loose woman/whore/lower-class woman (creates oxymoron with Royal)

  266 Caesar Julius Caesar

  lay … bed abandon his military responsibilities/have sex/abate his erection (through orgasm)

  267 cropped bore fruit; Cleopatra had a son by Caesar, Caesarion

  271 That in such a way that

  275 stale make stale (along with custom, plays on the idea of prostitution; a stale was a whore)

  278 vilest … themselves foulest things achieve dignity (or “… become truly themselves”)

  280 riggish licentious

  283 lottery prize

  1 office duty, position (as triumvir)

  7 Read … report don’t believe popular accounts of my faults

  8 my square my life in strict order (carpentry metaphor: a square is an implement for measuring right angles)

  9 by th’rule in a direct and orderly manner (maintains carpentry image)

  th’rule the ruler

  12 sirrah sir (used to social inferiors)

  13 nor you thither and that you had never gone there

  14 can know it

  15 motion inner prompting

  16 hie you hurry

  21 demon attendant spirit, guardian angel

  that thy thy

  keeps protects

  23 angel spirit, demon

  24 as as though

  27 no … thee I shall say no more except to you personally

  30 lustre thickens splendor darkens

  33 he he being

  36 art or hap magical skill or chance

  38 better … chance greater skill fails against his luck

  39 speeds succeeds, wins

  41 it i.e. the odds in my favor

  42 inhooped in cockfights, the birds were confined to a hoop to make them fight

  at odds even against the odds

  2 Your generals after after your generals (rather than accompanying me)

  4 e’en just, only

  8 Mount i.e. Misena (Misenum), where Pompey’s ships are anchored

  11 draw … about require me to go the long way round

  2 trade engage, deal (with connotations of prostitution)

  6 As … play a woman might as well play (or “have sex”) with a eunuch

  9 will intention/sexual desire/penis

  come too short the performance is inadequate/he orgasms prematurely/the penis is too small

  10 actor stage actor/performer of sexual deeds

  11 angle fishing tackle (literally, the hook at the end of the line)

  12 betray deceive, entrap

  13 Tawny-finned with golden-brown fins

 

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