Henry V

Home > Fiction > Henry V > Page 27
Henry V Page 27

by William Shakespeare


  122 peevish foolish/headstrong

  123 mope wander about aimlessly

  123 fat-brained thick-witted, stupid

  123 out ... knowledge i.e. out of known territory, familiar affairs 125 apprehension understanding

  128 head-pieces helmets

  130 mastiffs strong and fierce breed of dog

  131 run ... bear i.e. in bear-baiting with dogs

  131 winking with eyes closed

  133 eat his breakfast i.e. suck blood from

  136 robustious noisy, rough

  136 coming on advancing

  137 give if you give

  140 shrewdly seriously, severely

  142 stomachs appetites

  Act 4

  1 entertain conjecture of i.e. imagine

  1 conjecture supposition

  2 murmur rumor

  2 poring eye-straining (puns on "pouring")

  4 foul loathsome/dark, dirty

  5 stilly quietly

  8 paly pale

  9 umbered shadowed/orange-brown, as though stained with umber (brown pigment made from earth) 12 accomplishing equipping

  13 rivets bolts for fastening armor

  14 note sound/notice

  17 secure overconfident

  18 over-lusty overly lively and cheerful

  19 low-rated little valued

  19 play gamble for

  20 chide scold

  20 tardy-gaited slow-moving

  22 tediously laboriously/painfully

  24 inly inwardly

  25 gesture sad serious/sorrowful bearing

  26 Investing enveloping, clothing

  26 lank-lean gaunt

  28 who whoever

  30 watch group of soldiers on guard

  32 host army

  35 note sign

  36 enrounded surrounded

  37 dedicate give up, sacrifice

  38 all-watched i.e. spent entirely in watchfulness

  39 over-bears overcomes

  39 attaint sign of weariness (perhaps plays on the sense of "false color") 40 semblance appearance

  41 pining wasting away

  43 largess largesse (generosity, warmth)

  44 liberal unrestrained, generous

  45 that ... all so that men of low and high ranks

  46 unworthiness the Chorus refers to his own humble status or inadequate means of expression 47 touch glimpse

  50 ragged shabby

  50 foils light, fencing swords

  51 ill-disposed poorly handled

  53 Minding calling to mind

  53 mock'ries imitations

  Act 4 Scene 1

  4.1 Location: the English camp, near Agincourt

  5 Would men if men would

  5 observingly observantly

  5 distil extract

  6 bad ... stirrers proverbial: "he that has an ill neighbour has oftentimes an ill morning" (the neighbors here being the French) 7 husbandry domestic management (here applies to life rather than a household) 10 dress us prepare ourselves

  11 gather ... weed proverbial

  12 make ... of i.e. draw a moral from

  15 churlish hard, unyielding

  16 likes pleases

  19 Upon example by taking another's example

  20 quickened revived

  22 Break up break out of

  23 casted slough cast off skin (like a snake's)

  23 legerity lightness

  25 Commend me convey my greetings

  26 anon shortly

  27 pavilion ceremonial tent

  32 bosom i.e. heart

  36 Che vous la? Pistol's rendering of Qui va la?, French for "Who goes there?"

  38 Discuss declare

  39 popular of the common people

  40 gentleman ... company gentleman volunteer serving in the ranks 41 Trail'st ... pike? i.e. are you in the infantry

  42 Even so just so

  45 bawcock fine fellow

  46 imp shoot, scion

  49 bully fine fellow

  50 le Roy the king (roi is French for "king")

  51 crew group/military company

  55 pate head

  56 Saint Davy's day 1 March, when Welshmen wore leeks in their caps to commemorate Saint David, the patron saint of Wales 64 sorts fits

  66 fewer less/more quietly

  67 admiration wonder

  68 prerogatifes i.e. prerogatives--principles, rights 70 Pompey the Great famous Roman general

  71 tiddle ... babble tittle-tattle, babbling

  72 ceremonies formalities

  73 cares duties

  73 forms due procedures, codes of conduct

  73 sobriety seriousness

  74 modesty discipline

  74 otherwise i.e. other than as things are here

  76 prating prattling

  77 coxcomb fool

  83 care responsibility

  94 estate situation, circumstances

  95 wrecked shipwrecked

  95 sand sandbank

  98 though ... it i.e. though I myself say so (but should not) 100 element sky

  102 conditions qualities, functions, limitations

  102 ceremonies kingly trappings

  102 laid by put aside

  103 affections emotions

  103 higher mounted more lofty and sophisticated

  104 stoop swoop, descend (falconry term)

  105 like wing i.e. in the same way that ours do

  105 of for

  106 relish flavor

  107 possess him with show him/induce in him

  108 he i.e. the king

  112 Thames the River Thames, which runs through London

  113 at all adventures at all events, whatever the outcome 113 quit away from, finished

  120 feel test

  125 seek after try to find out

  130 reckoning account of debts (both literal losses and spiritual debts) 131 join together remake whole bodies/unite in crying out 132 latter day Judgment Day

  133 upon on account of

  135 rawly too young/unprovided for

  135 afeard afraid

  136 charitably i.e. with Christian charity

  136 dispose of make arrangements for/bestow (possessions in a will/souls to God) 137 argument theme

  139 proportion natural order

  140 subjection the condition of being a subject

  142 merchandise trading, commerce

  142 sinfully miscarry i.e. die in a state of sin 143 imputation of accusation of, responsibility for

  146 irreconciled unreconciled to God, unabsolved

  146 iniquities wicked acts, sins

  147 author person responsible for, creator of

  150 purpose intend, plan

  153 arbitrement of swords arbitration, determining of the matter through war 153 try it out i.e. put his cause to the test

  153 unspotted pure, sin-free

  154 peradventure perhaps

  155 beguiling deceiving

  156 perjury oath-breaking

  157 bulwark (military) fortification/safeguard, means of escape (from punishment for crimes) 159 native punishment the punishment due to them at home 161 beadle parish officer with the power to punish petty offenders 162 before-breach previous breaking

  162 now ... quarrel the war that is now being fought on behalf of the king 163 death death penalty

  163 borne life away i.e. got away with their lives 165 unprovided unprepared

  167 visited punished

  171 blessedly fortunately, in a holy manner

  171 lost spent

  173 making ... offer in offering himself to God

  175 prepare i.e. for death

  176 ill i.e. unprepared, in sin

  177 to answer it responsible for it

  179 lustily heartily

  185 it i.e. that outcome

  186 pay punish

  186 perilous dangerous (said ironically)

  187 elder-gun toy gun, pellet gun (made from an elder stick) 187 a ... displeasure the disple
asure of a commoner

  188 go about try

  191 round blunt, plain-spoken

  194 embrace heartily accept

  196 gage pledge (usually signifying a commitment to duel; often a glove or gauntlet) 197 bonnet hat

  197 darest dare to

  203 take give

  206 though even if

  206 take find

  210 reckon count

  212 crowns coins/heads

  213 cut French crowns cut French heads off/shave silver or gold from French coins 214 clipper clipper of coins/barber

  216 careful full of cares or grief

  217 lay on burden/assault

  218 condition situation/social rank

  219 Twin-born born at the same birth

  219 breath i.e. opinion

  221 wringing aches and pains

  221 heart's-ease inner peace, contentment

  223 privates men who do not hold public office

  224 Save except

  224 general public

  225 idle useless

  227 mortal human

  228 comings in income

  230 of adoration made up of insubstantial admiration/of the things that provoke admiration 231 aught anything

  231 place ... form i.e. social rank and eminence 239 titles puns on "tittles," i.e. trifles

  239 blown fanned, breathed (as if to cool fever)/corrupted, contaminated 240 give place retreat, give way

  240 flexure kneeling

  240 bending bowing

  241 command'st ... knee claim it as your right that the beggar kneels before you 243 subtly deceptively

  243 repose rest

  244 find thee find you out, discover your true nature

  245 balm consecrated oil (used at a coronation)

  245 ball monarch's orb

  246 mace official scepter

  247 intertissued interwoven

  248 farced stuffed, pompous

  249 pomp ceremonious trappings, splendor

  255 distressful earned by labor

  257 lackey servant, specifically a footman who ran alongside his master's coach (here, Phoebus' chariot) 257 the ... set sunrise to sunset

  258 in ... Phoebus under the sun (Phoebus, the Roman sun god) 259 Elysium i.e. perfect contentment (the heaven of classical mythology) 260 Hyperion in classical mythology, father of the sun; sometimes the sun itself 262 profitable useful, valuable (not "remunerative")

  265 forehand ... of advantage over

  266 member sharer in

  267 gross dull

  267 wots knows

  268 watch sleeplessness/guard

  269 advantages benefits from

  270 jealous of anxious about

  278 sense of reck'ning counting, calculation

  278 th'opposed numbers the numbers of enemy soldiers

  281 compassing obtaining

  281 My ... crown! Henry's father, Henry IV, deposed Richard II, who was murdered while in captivity 282 interred new newly buried, with proper ceremony

  284 forced violently shed

  287 blood i.e. murder

  288 chantries endowed chapels where

  288 sad serious, grave

  288 priests sing masses for the founders or for individuals specified by them (in this case, Richard) 289 still to this day/continually

  296 stay wait

  Act 4 Scene 2

  4.2 Location: the French camp near Agincourt

  2 Monte a cheval! "To horse!"

  2 varlet manservant/rascal

  2 Laquais! "Lackey!"

  4 Via ... terre "Go through and over water and earth"

  5 Rien ... feu "Nothing else? Air and fire"

  6 Cieux "the heavens"

  8 present service immediate action

  9 make ... hides i.e. with spurs

  10 spin spurt

  11 dout extinguish, douse

  11 superfluous courage an excess of French courage (shown by the abundance of blood) 14 embattled arranged in battle formation

  14 peers companions

  16 yond ... band i.e. the English

  17 fair show splendid appearance

  18 shales shells

  21 curtle-axe cutlass, short sword

  22 gallants fine, spirited young men

  24 o'erturn them knock them over

  25 exceptions objections

  28 squares of battle square formations of soldiers

  29 hilding worthless, contemptible

  30 basis base

  30 by nearby

  32 honours noble ranks/sense of honor

  32 What's what's left

  35 tucket sonance trumpet sound

  36 dare defy/daze, paralyze with fear

  38 stay wait

  39 Yond yonder, those (over there)

  39 island i.e. English

  39 carrions carcasses

  39 desperate ... bones without hope of saving their lives 40 Ill-favouredly become i.e. ill-befit, disgrace

  41 curtains banners

  42 passing surpassingly, extremely

  43 Mars Roman god of war

  43 beggared host impoverished army

  44 beaver helmet's visor

  45 fixed candlesticks i.e. inanimate metal objects

  46 torch-staves staffs for holding torches

  47 Lob hang heavily

  48 gum rheum, gummy discharge

  48 down-roping hanging in strings

  49 gimmaled jointed

  50 foul dirty, stained

  51 executors those who dispose of what is left after death 52 hour i.e. of death

  53 suit clothe/befit

  54 demonstrate ... battle vividly depict such an army

  58 fasting starving

  58 provender fodder

  60 guidon pointed flag or pennant

  63 outwear waste

  Act 4 Scene 3

  4.3 Location: the English camp, near Agincourt

  3 threescore thousand sixty thousand

  6 buy' be with

  6 charge company

  10 kinsman i.e. Westmorland, whose son was married to Salisbury's daughter 13 mind remind

  14 framed composed

  14 truth principle

  22 we ... loss there are enough of us for England to feel the loss 25 wish wish for

  26 Jove supreme Roman god

  27 upon my cost at my expense

  28 yearns grieves

  32 coz cousin

  34 share take away as his share

  36 proclaim it declare, announce

  37 stomach to appetite/courage for

  38 passport document of authorization (to pass through France and board a ship) 39 convoy i.e. his journey

  41 his fellowship duty as a companion

  42 feast of Crispian Saint Crispin's day, 25 October

  44 stand a tiptoe i.e. feel uplifted, proud, eager

  47 vigil evening before a feast day

  51 all all else

  52 advantages additions

  57 Be ... remembered i.e. a toast will be raised to them 59 Crispin Crispian Saint Crispin's day marks the martyring of two brothers, Crispin and Crispianus 62 happy fortunate

  64 vile low-ranking

  65 gentle his condition ennoble him

  68 manhoods manliness

  68 any anyone

  70 bestow yourself act, move

  71 bravely showily, with great display

  71 in ... set in military formations

  72 expedience speed

  74 backward reluctant/not ready

  79 likes pleases

  82 compound agree terms

  84 gulf whirlpool

  85 englutted swallowed up

  86 mind remind

  88 retire retreat

  94 achieve win, capture

  96 The ... him "to sell the bear's (lion's) skin before the beast is caught" (proverbial) is foolish and dangerous 98 many great number

  99 native English, i.e. they will survive the war

  100 in brass inscribed on brass memorial
plaques

  104 reeking smelling (not necessarily unpleasantly)/blood-smeared 105 clime region/climate

  107 Mark take notice of

  108 crazing shattering (once lodged in the body); may also suggest "grazing"--i.e. ricocheting 109 mischief damage, harm

  110 in ... mortality as their bodies decompose

  112 for the working day i.e. dressed for work, not requiring finery 113 gayness showy appearance, brightness of color

  113 besmirched discolored, stained

  114 painful field arduous terrain

  115 feather i.e. ornamental helmet feathers

  116 fly flee

  117 slovenry slovenliness, dirtiness

  118 in the trim finely dressed/ready for action

  120 pluck ... service on dismissal from service, a servant would have his livery removed (additional play on sense of military service) 124 levied raised

  126 joints limbs

  127 as ... them i.e. dead

  135 dispose direct, govern

  Act 4 Scene 4

  4.4 Location: the battlefield at Agincourt

  4.4 Excursions: bouts of fighting across the stage 2 Je ... qualite "I think that you are a gentleman of good quality"

  4 Qualtitie uncomprehending repetition of qualite

  4 calmie custure me apparently a corruption of a fairly popular Irish refrain cailin og a stor ("maiden, my treasure"); Pistol seems to have picked up on the the "qu/c" sound of the French 5 Discuss declare

  6 O Seigneur Dieu! "O Lord God!"

  8 Perpend consider

  8 mark take note

  9 fox type of sword

  10 Except unless

  11 Egregious exceptionally large

  12 O ... moi! "O, have mercy! Have pity on me!"

  13 Moy mispronunciation of "moi"; Pistol understands this to mean a type of coin, though it could also mean "measurement of corn, approximately a bushel"

  14 rim stomach lining

  16 Est-il ... bras? "Is it impossible to escape the strength of your arm?"

  17 Brass i.e. inferior metal; Pistol's misunderstanding of bras

  18 luxurious lecherous

  20 O, pardonnez-moi! "O spare me!"

  21 ton of moys Pistol's interpretation of the French

  24 Ecoutez ... appele? "Listen, what is your name?"

  25 le Fer iron

  27 fer a nonce usage of the word, roughly intending "beat"; possible play on "fear," i.e. frighten 27 firk beat (puns on "fuck")

  27 ferret worry, tear at (plays on sense of "have sex with") 31 Que ... monsieur? "What did he say, sir?"

  32 Il ... gorge "He orders me to tell you that you are to make yourself ready, because this soldier here is disposed, at this very hour, to cut your throat"

  35 Owy ... permafoy Pistol's mangled attempt to say Oui, couper la gorge, par ma foi, i.e. "yes, cut the throat, by my faith"

  36 brave fine/worthy

  38 O ... ecus "O I beseech you, for the love of God, to spare me. I am a gentleman of a good house [i.e. family]. Save my life and I will give you two hundred crowns"

  47 Petit ... dit-il? "Little sir, what does he say?"

  48 Encore ... franchisement "Although it is contrary to his vow to spare any prisoner, nevertheless, for the crowns that you have promised him, he is content to give you liberty, freedom"

  51 Sur ... d'Angleterre the Boy's ensuing translation is accurate 55 Expound explain, translate

 

‹ Prev