Henry V

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Henry V Page 25

by William Shakespeare


  99 just honorable/true

  99 sutler seller of provisions

  100 camp military camp

  103 justly exactly/fairly

  105 come of were born of (may play on "come off"--i.e. dismount after sex) 107 quotidian tertian types of fever, a quotidian afflicting the patient daily, a tertian every third day; illness that combined fevers was deemed almost certainly fatal 109 run bad humours i.e. vented his bad temper/caused Falstaff's misery and illness 110 even of it i.e. the truth of the matter

  112 fracted broken

  112 corroborate strengthened; Pistol presumably errs, meaning the opposite 114 passes lets pass, indulges in

  114 humours inclinations, whims

  114 careers short gallops at full speed--i.e. sudden impulses 115 condole comfort, sympathize with

  115 live i.e. outlive Falstaff

  Act 2 Scene 2

  2.2 Location: Southampton (a port on the south coast of England)

  1 bold daring/overconfident

  2 apprehended arrested

  3 smooth in a pleasant, plausible manner

  3 even steadily

  3 bear present, conduct

  6 hath note is informed, aware

  7 interception i.e. intercepting their messages

  8 bedfellow i.e. close companion

  9 dulled dulled the appetite of

  9 cloyed overfilled and sickened

  10 a foreign purse i.e. French money

  14 gentle noble

  15 powers troops

  17 execution action/killing

  18 in head as an army

  22 grows ... consent is not in total agreement, sympathy 24 attend on wait upon

  25 feared revered, viewed with awe

  27 heart-grief discontent, unhappiness

  30 steeped ... honey soaked their bitterness in honey

  31 create created

  33 And ... merit i.e. I am more likely to forget how to use my own hand than to forget to repay what is due to people 33 office use, proper function

  34 quittance repayment

  35 weight and worthiness due proportion and worth (of the deserving deeds) 36 steeled hardened, steely

  39 judge think

  40 Enlarge release

  40 committed imprisoned

  41 railed ranted, spoke abusively

  43 more advice thinking better of it (in sobriety)

  44 security complacency, overconfidence

  46 his sufferance i.e. your pardoning him

  51 correction punishment

  53 orisons pleas, prayers

  54 on distemper from mental ill-health (in this case, drunkenness) 55 winked at i.e. ignored

  55 how ... eye how wide must we open our eyes

  56 capital punishable by death

  56 chewed ... digested i.e. carefully planned and organized 58 dear worthy, tender (puns on the sense of "dire, grievous") 61 late commissioners officials recently appointed to act for the king in his absence 72 lose ... complexion grow so pale

  74 paper i.e. white/easily read

  76 Out of appearance away from sight/out of your faces 80 quick alive/prompt

  83 reasons i.e. the arguments you made about showing no mercy 84 worrying biting at

  87 accord agree

  88 furnish provide

  88 appertinents ... honour things appropriate for his dignified position 90 light of little value/immoral

  90 lightly readily, easily

  91 practices plots

  93 This knight i.e. Grey

  93 bounty (kingly) generosity

  97 counsels secrets

  99 coined ... gold i.e. used me to make as much gold as you liked 100 practised on worked on, deceived

  100 use profit

  103 annoy harm

  104 off as gross out as plainly

  107 yoke-devils devils yoked together in evil

  108 grossly blatantly

  108 natural i.e. natural to evil creatures

  109 whoop exclaim

  110 proportion natural order

  111 wait on serve

  113 wrought worked

  113 preposterously unnaturally

  114 voice vote

  115 suggest tempt

  115 treasons suggesting treasonous acts

  116 botch ... up clumsily patch

  117 patches pieces of material/fools/rogues

  117 colours outward appearances/excuses, pretexts/military flags denoting allegiance 117 forms outward behavior

  118 glist'ring shining, glittering

  119 tempered shaped/made resolved (as a sword is hardened) 119 stand up make a stand, rebel

  120 instance motive, evidence

  121 dub invest, knight

  122 gulled tricked

  123 lion gait alludes to 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

  124 vasty Tartar vast hell (Tartarus is hell in classical mythology) 125 legions multitudes of devils

  126 easy easily

  127 jealousy suspicion

  128 affiance trust

  128 Show appear

  132 spare frugal, abstemious

  133 gross passion powerful feeling, coarse emotion

  134 Constant in spirit steadfast in disposition

  134 blood passions

  135 complement qualities, accomplishments/outward appearance 136 working ... ear i.e. without observing and listening together 137 purged purified, refined

  138 bolted sifted

  140 full-fraught fully laden (with virtues)

  140 indued endowed

  143 Another ... man i.e. the disobedience of the biblical Adam and Eve 143 open obvious/revealed

  144 to ... of i.e. so that they will be answerable to the law 145 practices sinful plots, treacheries

  146 by ... of you who go by the name of

  151 discovered revealed

  157 what I intended Cambridge's main intention was to make Edmund Mortimer king 159 sufferance patience/suffering

  166 quit acquit, pardon

  168 enemy proclaimed i.e. France, an officially designated enemy of the state 169 earnest advance payment

  173 desolation ruin, destruction

  174 Touching our person with regard to myself

  175 tender hold dear, value

  181 dear dire/costly

  183 to ... glorious as glorious to you as to me

  184 fair favored/honorable/just

  184 lucky successful, fortunate

  188 rub obstacle (bowling term)

  190 puissance power

  191 straight in expedition straight away to speedy action 192 Cheerly heartily, cheerfully

  192 advance move forward/raise banners

  Act 2 Scene 3

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

  1 bring accompany

  2 Staines town seventeen miles west of London, on the way to Southampton 3 yearn grieve

  4 blithe merry

  4 rouse ... veins raise your lively spirits/drum up some courage 4 vaunting boasting

  5 bristle arouse, cause to stand on end

  6 earn make money/grieve

  9 Arthur's bosom malapropism for "Abraham's bosom," i.e. heaven 10 A he

  10 a finer end as fine a death as there could be

  11 an as if

  11 christom innocent, newly christened--literally, a child that died within a month of birth 12 e'en just

  14 flowers used to keep the sickroom sweet-smelling

  14 upon ... end at his own fingers

  15 pen quill pen (i.e. white, cold and pointed)

  15 table ... fields perhaps alluding to the fields on a green gaming (backgammon) table; also biblical in tone ("he maketh me to lie down in green pastures," Psalm 23:2); many editors emend to "and a babbled/talked of green fields"

  20 clothes bedclothes, blankets

  23 all ... stone plays on senses of "penis" ("awl") and "testicle"

  24
of against

  24 sack Spanish white wine

  28 incarnate in human form

  29 carnation shade of red

  31 about concerning, because of

  32 handle discuss/touch, feel

  33 rheumatic feverish/malapropism for "lunatic" (plays on "Rome-atic," thus anticipating the whore of Babylon) 33 whore of Babylon a popular image for the Roman Catholic Church 34 stick upon cling to/pierce, bite

  35 burning i.e. as Bardolph's nose is fiery red from drink 37 the fuel i.e. alcohol, supplied by Falstaff

  39 shog be gone

  42 chattels ... movables movable possessions

  43 Let senses rule i.e. be sensible, keep your wits about you 43 world ... pay' i.e. in this world it's "cash down, no credit" (proverbial) 45 oaths promises (to pay)

  45 straws i.e. worthless

  45 wafer-cakes thin, lightweight cakes

  46 hold-fast ... dog "Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better" (proverbial); a brag is a large nail, a hold-fast a clamp or bolt, and a dog a vise or clamp 47 Caveto "beware" (Latin)

  48 clear thy crystals wipe your eyes

  48 Yoke-fellows comrades

  49 horse-leeches large leeches

  55 housewifery careful housekeeping

  55 close indoors/reticent/chaste

  Act 2 Scene 4

  2.4 Location: the French royal court, at Rouen, northern France

  2.4 French King i.e. Charles VI

  2.4 Constable title of the commander-in-chief of the French army 2 more ... defences i.e. it is vitally important that we put up strong defenses 6 dispatch haste

  7 line reinforce

  8 defendant defensive

  9 approaches attacks

  10 gulf whirlpool

  11 fits us is appropriate

  11 provident forward-thinking

  12 late examples i.e. former French defeats, such as Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356) 13 neglected underestimated by the French

  15 redoubted revered

  16 meet right, fit

  18 Though even if

  19 musters lists or recruitment of soldiers

  26 Whitsun morris-dance folk-dance, traditionally held at Whitsun (the seventh Sunday after Easter) 27 idly frivolously, uselessly

  27 kinged ruled (by Henry)

  28 sceptre staff carried as a symbol of sovereignty/baton carried by the fool of a morris troupe, or possibly scepter carried by the mock figure of a king that the troupe used 28 fantastically fancifully, bizarrely

  29 humorous capricious, whimsical

  30 attends accompanies, waits on

  33 late recent

  34 state dignity/ceremony/demeanor

  36 modest moderate, mild

  36 exception i.e. taking exception, objecting 36 withal in addition

  37 terrible frightening, inspiring dread

  38 forespent previous used up

  39 Roman ... folly Lucius Junius Brutus feigned stupidity to dupe and expel Tarquinius Superbus, king of Rome 41 ordure manure

  44 though even if

  45 weigh judge, estimate

  47 So ... filled so that the defenses will be on an adequate scale 48 of ... projection if planned in too miserly a fashion 49 scanting withholding

  51 Think we let us think

  52 look you be prepared, make sure you

  53 fleshed hunting term referring to feeding hounds raw meat to excite them for the chase 54 bloody strain bloodthirsty breed

  55 haunted pursued

  55 familiar habitual/familial

  57 struck fought/stricken

  60 mountain i.e. ascendant/immovable, sturdy; may also refer to Edward's birth in mountainous Wales 60 sire father

  62 seed offspring

  63 Mangle wound, hack at

  64 patterns exemplary models

  65 This i.e. Henry

  67 native inborn

  67 fate destiny

  70 present immediate

  71 chase ... followed hunt is urgently pursued

  72 Turn head turn and face your pursuers (hunting term) 73 spend their mouths bark, cry

  75 Take ... short take quick and decisive action toward the English 78 self-neglecting a lack of self-respect

  81 wills urges, demands

  82 divest undress

  82 apart aside

  83 borrowed glories i.e. the glories of kingship that are not rightfully his 84 longs appertains

  86 wide-stretched far-reaching

  87 ordinance of times law established through long tradition 89 sinister irregular, unjust, deceitful

  89 awkward oblique

  90 worm-holes decay, incomplete remains

  92 line family tree

  95 evenly derived directly descended

  98 indirectly dishonestly, wrongfully

  99 native natural/rightful by birth

  101 Bloody constraint violent force, military compulsion 104 Jove ruler of the Roman gods, whose weapon was a thunderbolt 105 requiring demanding

  106 bowels inmost mercy

  109 on ... Turning places responsibility with you for 122 slight disdainful

  123 misbecome be unbecoming to

  124 prize you at consider you worth

  125 an if if

  126 at large in full

  129 womby womb-like, hollow

  129 vaultages vaults, caverns

  131 second accent echo

  131 ordinance artillery (ordnance)/decree

  132 fair return an agreeable reply

  134 odds conflict

  137 Louvre palace in Paris/puns on "lover"

  138 mistress-court principal court/mistress, lover

  141 greener days i.e. his wild youth

  142 masters possesses/rules

  142 weighs ... grain i.e. makes careful use of his time 143 read see, learn

  148 footed present, disembarked

  150 breath breathing space, break

  Act 3

  1 with imagined wing i.e. the wings of imagination 2 celerity speed

  4 well-appointed well-equipped

  4 Dover port on the south coast of England: Shakespeare seems to have forgotten that he had previously specified Southampton 5 his royalty his royal person, himself

  5 brave bold/impressive, splendid

  6 streamers banners, pennants

  6 the ... fanning fanning the hot face of the sun (Phoebus, Roman god of the sun) 7 Play with indulge, exercise

  7 fancies imaginations

  8 hempen tackle rigging made from hemp

  9 whistle i.e. that of the ship's chief officer

  9 order command/harmony

  10 threaden made of linen thread

  12 Draw move, drag (perhaps with play on the sense of "create, represent") 12 bottoms i.e. ships (literally hulls or keels) 13 lofty surge high, swelling waves

  14 rivage shore

  15 inconstant billows shifting waves

  17 Harfleur French port at the mouth of the River Seine 18 Grapple fasten (nautical term; grappling hooks were used to attach one ship to another) 18 sternage the sterns of ships

  21 pith strength

  22 whose ... hair i.e. who has only just reached early manhood (when stubble appears) 24 culled chosen

  24 choice-drawn specially selected

  24 cavaliers military gentlemen

  25 Work be industrious/create, fashion

  26 ordnance cannons

  26 carriages wheeled frames that cannons are mounted on 27 girded besieged, surrounded

  28 Suppose imagine

  32 likes not displeases

  33 linstock stick for holding the gunner's lighted match 33 Alarum a call to arms by trumpets or drums 33 chambers pieces of artillery, such as cannon 35 eke out supplement

  Act 3 Scene 1

  3.1 Location: Harfleur, northern France

  3.1 scaling-ladders used by soldiers to climb defensive fortifications 1 breach gap in defensive fortifications

  7 the blood i.e. heat, courage, and ferocity

  8 hard-fa
voured ugly

  9 lend give

  9 terrible terrifying

  9 aspect appearance, gaze

  10 portage porthole

  11 o'erwhelm overhang, project over

  12 fearfully frighteningly

  12 galled battered

  13 jutty jut out over

  13 confounded ruined

  14 Swilled washed

  14 wasteful destructive

  15 set the teeth i.e. bare/grit your teeth

  16 bend up strain (from archery: to bring tension to the string of a bow) 18 fet derived

  18 of war-proof tested and proved in war

  19 Alexanders i.e. Alexander the Great, who lamented that he had no more worlds to conquer 21 sheathed ... argument only stopped fighting because there was no opposition left 22 Dishonour ... mothers i.e. by suggesting that they were unfaithful to your fathers 23 beget conceive

  24 copy an example

  24 grosser lesser, coarser

  25 yeoman man of property who is not a gentleman

  27 mettle quality

  27 your pasture the land you were raised on i.e. your breeding 29 so ... base of such low social status

  31 slips leashes designed for quick release

  32 upon the start in anticipation of release

  33 charge order/report of the cannon

  34 Harry i.e. Henry

  34 Saint George patron saint of England

  Act 3 Scene 2

  2 knocks hard blows

  3 case box/set, pair (of pistols)

  4 plainsong i.e. truth (literally, simple melody)

  5 humours dampness, mist/emotions/bodily fluids, especially blood 6 vassals servants

  11 fame reputation, honor

  13 prevail succeed

  14 My ... me i.e. I would get what I want

  15 hie hurry

  17 truly honorably/in tune

  18 Fluellen anglicized spelling of Llewellyn

  19 Avaunt begone

  20 cullions rascals/testicles

  21 duke captain, leader

  21 mould clay (perhaps with play on the sense of "decay, rottenness") 24 bawcock fine fellow (from French beau coq)

  24 lenity mildness

  24 chuck chick

  25 Your ... humours perhaps "you are making everyone unhappy, distempered"; many editors emend "wins" to "runs"

  28 swashers swashbucklers, boasters

  28 boy servant/youth

  29 man manservant/manly

  30 antics buffoons

  31 white-livered i.e. cowardly (the liver was thought to be the seat of the passions) 32 a faces he brazens, blusters

  34 breaks words exchanges words/breaks promises/mangles vocabulary (puns on "break swords," which Pistol fails to do) 34 whole i.e. unused

  40 purchase plunder, booty

  41 twelve leagues approximately thirty-six miles (a league was about three miles) 42 sworn brothers brothers-in-arms

  42 filching stealing

  42 Calais port on the northern coast of France, occupied by the English 1347-1558

  43 fire-shovel shovel for placing coals on the fire

  43 piece of service military exploit

  44 carry coals show cowardice/submit to insults/do degrading work 44 familiar ... pockets i.e. by picking them

  46 manhood manliness

  47 pocketing ... wrongs pocketing stolen goods/accepting insults 49 goes ... stomach makes me sick/goes against my valor

 

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