Henry V

by William Shakespeare

  23 fair regard consideration, respect/is well respected 25 courses actions, behavior

  27 mortified killed/subdued by self-denial

  29 Consideration meditation, self-reflection

  30 th'offending Adam i.e. original sin, the result of the biblical Adam and Eve's disobedience to God 31 paradise i.e. place of innocence, like Eden before Adam and Eve sinned 32 spirits traits of character (perhaps plays on the sense of "supernatural celestial beings") 35 heady currance strong current

  35 scouring cleaning away

  36 Hydra-headed in Greek mythology, the Hydra was a monster who grew two new heads for every one that was cut off 37 seat throne/position

  44 all in all entirely, exclusively

  45 List listen to

  46 rendered ... music i.e. described eloquently

  47 cause of policy political issue, explanation of statecraft 48 Gordian knot proverbially too intricate to undo (a prophecy decreed that whoever could untie the knot would rule Asia; Alexander the Great cut it with his sword) 49 Familiar ... garter as easily as his garter (band tied around leg to keep up hosiery) 50 chartered privileged, licensed

  50 libertine free spirit

  53 practic practical

  54 Must ... theoric must have taught him how to theorize 55 glean have learned

  56 courses vain idle, worthless behavior

  57 companies companions

  57 unlettered illiterate, ignorant

  57 rude rough, coarse, uncivilized

  58 riots debauched, disorderly behavior, revelry

  59 noted was seen

  60 sequestration retreat into privacy

  61 open public

  61 popularity associating with the public, low company 65 obscured disguised, hid

  65 contemplation meditation, thought

  68 crescive ... faculty growing, in accordance with its natural function 70 needs necessarily

  70 means natural cause

  73 mitigation reducing (the severity of)

  74 commons the House of Commons, parliament

  75 Incline to favor

  77 upon toward

  78 th'exhibitors against us i.e. those who are putting forward the bill 80 Upon on behalf of

  80 convocation assembly, gathering

  81 causes matters, legal issues

  82 opened disclosed, explained

  82 at large in full

  83 touching concerning

  85 Than ... withal than the clergy ever gave to any previous monarch 85 withal with

  89 fain gladly

  90 severals particulars

  90 unhidden passages clear, undisputed lines of inheritance 93 Edward i.e. Edward III

  99 embassy message

  Act 1 Scene 2

  1 gracious holy, filled with divine grace

  2 presence the royal presence

  5 cousin term of address used by members of the nobility

  5 resolved satisfied, decided about

  7 task occupy

  9 become grace, honor

  12 justly precisely/in a legal sense

  12 unfold reveal, explain

  13 law Salic a law preventing inheritance through the female line 14 Or either

  14 bar prevent, obstruct

  16 fashion ... bow shape, twist, or bend

  16 reading interpretation

  17 nicely charge burden through ingenious subtlety

  18 opening titles miscreate expounding false claims

  19 Suits ... colours i.e. does not match

  21 drop their blood i.e. be injured or die

  21 approbation putting to the test

  23 how ... person i.e. what you commit me to

  25 charge command

  28 complaint lament

  29 wrongs grievances/wrongdoings

  31 conjuration solemn appeal

  32 note pay attention

  39 Pharamond legendary French king

  42 gloss define

  47 floods rivers

  47 Sala and of Elbe rivers in Germany (Sala is now Saale) 48 Charles the Great Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor and eighth-century French king 51 dishonest manners unchaste behavior

  52 to wit that is to say

  53 inheritrix heiress

  54 'twixt between

  60 defunction death

  61 Idly foolishly

  62 within ... redemption i.e. AD

  64 seat settle, establish

  66 Besides in addition

  68 heir general legitimate heir (claiming through male or female lines) 74 find supply, refine

  76 Conveyed himself pretended to be

  77 Charlemagne Charles II, rather than the Charlemagne mentioned earlier 79 King ... Tenth an error for Louis IX, thirteenth-century king of France; the slip appears in Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's source here 81 quiet peace of mind

  84 lineal a direct descendant

  90 satisfaction i.e. of his lineage

  91 hold in rely on, derive from

  93 Howbeit however

  93 would wish to

  95 net i.e. tangle of contradictory legalities/network of lineal justifications (rather than a direct line)/possibly refers to the proverbial "you dance in a net and think nobody sees you"--i.e. try to conceal what is obvious 96 amply openly

  96 imbar bar claim to/make bare, reveal

  96 crooked false/indirect

  97 progenitors ancestors

  99 The ... head i.e. if the claim is false, the moral blame will lie with Canterbury 99 dread revered

  100 book ... daughter a reference to Numbers 27:8

  103 Stand for defend/uphold

  105 great-grandsire's i.e. Edward III's

  106 From ... claim i.e. as whose ancestor you make this claim; Edward was descended through his mother from the French king Philip IV

  107 Edward ... France the English defeated France at the battle of Crecy, 1346; Edward III had given command of his armies to his eldest son, the Black Prince

  111 lion's whelp cub

  112 Forage plunder/eat greedily

  113 entertain engage, meet with

  116 for through lack of

  117 valiant dead i.e. Henry's ancestors

  118 puissant powerful

  120 renowned made famous

  126 former ... blood i.e. kingly ancestors; the lion is the symbol of kingship, and appears on the royal coat of arms 130 Whose ... England i.e. who are already imagining themselves in France 131 pavilioned in military tents

  133 right i.e. rightful claim to the French throne 134 spiritualty clergy

  139 lay ... proportions allocate troops

  140 make road invade

  141 advantages opportunities

  142 marches northern border regions

  144 borderers i.e. the Scottish

  145 coursing snatchers swift-riding raiders (from hare-coursing with greyhounds; the "snatch" was the act of capture) 146 intendment intention

  147 giddy wild, unstable

  150 unfurnished unprotected

  151 breach hole, gap (in this instance in a sea wall) 152 brim i.e. total

  153 Galling vexing, wounding

  153 gleaned stripped (of defenders)

  153 hot fast/hot-tempered

  153 assays attacks

  154 Girding surrounding

  156 th'ill neighbourhood poor neighborliness, hostility 157 She i.e. England

  158 hear ... herself i.e. listen to instructive examples from the past 159 chivalry knights, protectors

  162 stray stray dog

  163 king ... France David II of Scotland was captured and imprisoned by English forces in 1346; Edward III was in France at the time but David was not, in fact, sent there 164 fame reputation

  165 their i.e. Edward and England's

  165 chronicle historical account

  166 ooze mud

  168 ELY spoken by Ely in Folio, but many editors reassign to WESTMORLAND, who speaks the corresponding lines in Shakespeare's chronicle sources (would the Bishop contradict his
superior, the archbishop?) 171 in prey out hunting

  175 'tame attame, i.e. break into

  175 havoc destroy

  177 crushed forced, distorted

  179 pretty clever

  181 Th'advised the sensible, prudent

  182 high ... parts divided into melodies of differing pitches 182 high ... lower i.e. of three different social groups 183 consent harmony

  184 Congreeing coming together, agreeing

  184 close cadence

  187 divers various, different

  189 aim target

  189 butt archery target

  193 king Aristotle's belief that the queen bee was male remained influential 194 correct enforce order

  196 stings bee stings/staffs used as weapons

  197 Make boot upon plunder

  198 pillage spoils, booty

  200 majesty royal responsibilities

  201 masons stonemasons, builders

  202 civil civilized, orderly

  203 mechanic engaged in manual labor

  205 sad-eyed justice solemn judge

  205 surly stern

  205 hum "hmm"--noise signifying displeasure or deliberation/noise made by a bee 206 executors executioners

  207 drone male bee whose sole function was to impregnate the queen; they died after mating or were cast out of the hive to die 208 having ... consent working together for an agreed cause 209 contrariously in opposed ways

  211 mark target

  211 ways roads

  213 close converge, meet

  213 dial's sundial's

  215 borne carried out

  217 happy fortunate

  219 withal with it

  219 Gallia Gaul, i.e. France

  222 worried anxious, concerned/shaken in the jaws of a dog 223 policy statesmanship, strategy

  224 dauphin title of the heir to the French throne

  225 well resolved free from doubt/determined

  227 bend ... awe make it revere us

  228 Or there either

  229 large great/generous/unrestrained

  229 empery sovereignty

  233 with full mouth loudly, with mouth wide open

  235 Turkish mute a Turkish slave, perhaps a castrated harem guard, who has had his tongue cut out to ensure secrecy 236 waxen i.e. quickly worn away and forgotten 237 pleasure wish, intention

  241 render deliver

  241 in charge been ordered (to say)

  242 sparingly with restraint and delicacy

  242 far off indirectly, more generally

  245 Unto ... subject i.e. his temper is ruled by his Christian goodness 246 fettered chained

  249 in few in brief

  250 sending into i.e. sending an ambassador with his claims 254 savour smell, have a flavor

  255 advised warned/informed

  256 galliard lively dance

  258 meeter more suitable

  259 tun box, chest

  264 pleasant merry, jocular

  266 rackets tennis rackets/noisy assaults of war

  268 crown royal crown/coin staked on a game of tennis, which gave its name to the final point scored in the game 268 hazard danger/opening in the wall of a tennis court; a ball that entered it became unplayable so no point could be scored 269 wrangler quarrelsome opponent

  270 courts tennis courts/royal court

  271 chaces double bounces of the ball in tennis before it is returned, hence no points/hunts, pursuits 272 comes o'er us assumes superiority, taunts us

  273 measuring judging

  274 seat throne

  275 hence i.e. away from the court

  276 licence wild freedoms

  278 state throne/dignity, kingship

  279 sail of greatness fully unfurled power

  280 rouse me raise or rear up

  281 For that with that ultimate glory in mind

  282 like ... days i.e. like a common man

  286 mock act of mockery

  287 balls tennis balls (may also play on the sense of "testicles") 287 gun-stones cannon balls

  288 charged burdened (plays on the sense of "loaded with ammunition") 288 wasteful damaging

  292 ungotten not yet conceived

  297 venge me revenge myself

  298 well-hallowed holy, much blessed

  305 omit ... hour do not neglect any favorable opportunity 306 furth'rance help

  308 to for

  309 proportions military resources

  312 God before with God on our side

  313 chide rebuke, punish

  314 task employ

  315 fair honorable/favored/lawful

  315 on ... brought get under way

  315 Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority Act 2

  1 on fire i.e. burning to fight

  2 silken dalliance fine clothes/idle pastimes

  6 mirror i.e. model, example

  7 winged ... Mercuries i.e. swiftly, like Mercury, messenger of the Roman god Jove; he wore winged sandals 9 hilts crosspiece by the handle

  10 coronets small crowns, worn by some members of the nobility 12 intelligence information obtained by spying

  13 preparation equipped military force

  14 pale fearful, cowardly, ineffective

  14 policy stratagems, intrigue

  16 Model to replica of

  18 What i.e. what great things

  18 would i.e. would have

  19 thy children i.e. Englishmen

  19 kind honorable/full of natural family affection

  21 hollow empty/false

  21 bosoms hearts/clothing covering the breast, in which a purse could be concealed 22 crowns gold coins

  26 gilt gold

  27 fearful frightened

  28 this ... kings i.e. Henry V

  30 Ere before

  30 Southampton port on the south coast of England

  31 digest break down/set in order

  32 Th'abuse of distance i.e. the violation of the theatrical unity of place as the action moves to Southampton

  32 force cram full

  38 charming casting a spell over

  39 pass passage

  40 offend one stomach offend good taste/make anyone seasick 41 till ... then i.e. this accounts for the fact that the following scene takes place in London Act 2 Scene 1

  2.1 Location: in London, but unspecified, probably a street

  2.1 Nym means "thief" or "to thieve"

  2 morrow morning

  3 Ancient ensign, i.e. soldier responsible for carrying military banners 3 Pistol pronounced "pizzle," generating a pun on the sense of "penis"

  4 part possible sexual quibble on the sense of "penis"

  4 time ... serve i.e. opportunity arises

  6 wink close both eyes

  6 iron sword (perhaps with phallic connotations)

  7 what though what of it

  8 there's an end i.e. that's that (end may play on the sense of "penis") 9 bestow give

  10 sworn brothers avowedly loyal brothers-in-arms

  12 certain certainty, fact

  14 rest last resolve (term from card-playing referring to the final, reserved stake) 14 rendezvous last resort, refuge

  16 troth-plight engaged, betrothed (a much more binding contract than it is now) 18 cannot tell do not know

  21 though ... plod plod on, wait her turn; Nym may hint at eventual revenge on Pistol 24 host innkeeper (Pistol picks up on the sense of "pimp") 25 tike dog, mongrel

  26 keep lodgers rent out rooms/run a brothel

  27 troth faith

  28 live ... needles make a respectable living from taking in sewing (but prick plays on the senses of "penis/sexual penetration" and needles on "vaginas") 30 bawdy house brothel

  30 straight bawdy house

  30 well-a-day exclamation of dismay

  31 draw i.e. draw their swords

  31 lady i.e. by our Lady (the Virgin Mary)

  31 drawn refers to his sword being out/his penis being erect 33 offer start, attempt

&nb
sp; 34 Pish! exclamation of contempt, disgust

  35 Iceland dog species of lap dog with an abundance of long, rough hair (being a lap dog may generate sexual connotations: one that burrows into ladies' laps) 35 prick-eared pointy-eared/with an eagerly erect penis/having cuckold's horns (men with unfaithful wives were popularly supposed to grow horns) 35 cur dog

  36 valour honor/courage

  36 put up sheathe, put away

  38 shog off go away

  38 solus alone

  39 egregious outrageous

  42 maw throat/stomach

  42 perdy i.e. par dieu, French for "by God"

  44 retort return

  44 bowels intestines, guts

  45 take catch fire/have sex

  45 cock is up pistol is cocked, ready to fire/penis is erect 46 fire the retort of the gun/the burning effects of venereal disease 47 Barbason name of a demon

  47 conjure summon/control

  48 humour inclination, mood (governed by one of the four "humors," or bodily fluids believed to influence health and disposition) 48 indifferently fairly

  48 foul insulting, foul-mouthed/dirty from firing/syphilitic ("the foul disease") 49 scour clean (a gun) with a scouring-rod/stab/have sex 49 rapier light sword used for fencing

  50 fair terms plain language/justly, legitimately/terms that are not foul, like Pistol's 50 prick stab (with sexual connotations)

  52 braggart boaster

  52 wight person

  54 exhale i.e. draw your sword

  56 run ... hilts i.e. plunge my sword all the way into him 58 mickle much

  59 fist hand

  59 fore-foot hand, paw

  60 tall bold, valiant

  63 'Couple a gorge!' i.e. Couper la gorge!--French for "Cut the throat!"

  65 hound of Crete hairy dog

  66 spital hospital

  67 powd'ring tub sweating tub for the treatment of venereal disease 67 infamy bad reputation

  68 lazar leprous

  68 kite bird of prey/prostitute

  68 Cressid's in classical legend, Cressida was the unfaithful lover of Troilus; in Robert Henryson's Testament of Cressid she gets leprosy 69 Doll Tearsheet Doll was a common name for a prostitute; Tearsheet is similarly suggestive, evoking vigorous sexual activity sufficient to tear the bedsheets 69 espouse marry

  70 have ... hold familiar phrase from the marriage service 70 quondam former (her name has changed through marriage) 71 only she i.e. unequaled female

  71 pauca "few" (Latin), i.e. few words 73 my master i.e. Falstaff, companion of Henry's wild youth (see 1 and 2 Henry IV)

  75 put ... warming-pan i.e. because his face is fiery red from drinking 75 warming-pan flat, closed dish used to hold hot coals 78 yield ... pudding i.e. die (proverbial, referring to providing the crow with dead flesh to eat) 79 king ... heart on coming to the throne, Henry rejected Falstaff and his former wild companions (see 2 Henry IV, Act 5 Scene 5) 80 presently immediately/soon

  86 Base poor, low (in spirit/in money)

  88 manhood shall compound i.e. valor will decide (in a fight) 91 Sword ... oath plays on " 's word"--i.e. "by God's word," a common oath

  92 an if

  94 put up sheathe (your sword)

  95 noble gold coin worth six shillings and eightpence

  98 Nym may play on the meaning of the name: "thieving"