Henry V
Page 27
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