176 Humphrey Hour unclear: possibly a reference to "dining with Duke Humphrey." which meant going hungry, or perhaps an actual person is meant 176 grace puns on graced
177 forth out
186 ordinance law (plays on the sense of "artillery")
187 turn return
191 tire may it weigh heavy on, exhaust
192 complete full, well-equipped
195 Whisper whisper to
198 serves supplies/accompanies
198 doth i.e. will
205 level aim, set your target sights
209 manners morals/courteous habits
210 false unfaithful
211 veil shroud (usually associated with either modesty or mourning) 212 So provided
212 of by
216 safest ... birth only safeguarded by her high birth 218 opposite hostile, antagonistic
219 friends also "relatives"
219 contrary opposed
220 unavoided unavoidable
220 doom decree/destined judgment/condemnation
221 avoided grace an absence of God's grace (i.e. Richard) 222 fairer better/nobler/more just
225 cozened cheated
227 Whose hand soever whoever's hand
227 lanched pierced
228 head brain/instigation/command
228 all indirectly through indirect means (plays on the sense of "wrongly") 232 But ... use did not the constant experience
235 bay cove, inlet/point at which the cornered deer turns to face the hounds pursuing it 236 poor bark shabby, ill-equipped ship
236 tackling rigging
236 reft deprived
237 Rush am dashed
238 thrive I may I thrive
238 enterprise military undertaking
239 dangerous success risky outcome
240 As only as far as
242 covered ... heaven i.e. concealed by God
243 discovered revealed
244 Th'advancement the promotion, favoring (Elizabeth responds to the literal sense) 245 scaffold raised platform on which executions took place 246 dignity honor, high rank
247 type symbol, emblem
248 Flatter increase, pander to/alleviate, mollify
249 state high rank
250 demise convey, transfer (legal term)
251 Even exactly
252 endow bestow upon/give as a dowry
253 So if
253 Lethe in Greek mythology, the river in the underworld that induced forgetfulness in any who drank from or were immersed in it 254 remembrance memory
256 process story, narrative
257 telling in the telling
257 date duration, end
259 thinks i.e. believes
261 from Elizabeth now shifts the sense to "away from, at variance with"
264 confound overturn, destroy
270 How what
273 humour temperament
277 engrave inscribe (plays on the sense of "place in the grave") 278 haply probably/perhaps
279 sometime once, formerly
282 purple blood-red
283 withal with it
286 mad'st away disposed of, killed
288 conveyance removal, dispatch (playing on the senses of "stealing" and "deceit, trickery") 292 shape appearance/role/disguise
296 spoil booty gained from plunder
297 Look what whatever
298 deal act, behave (plays on the sense of "kill")
299 after-hours later moments
302 issue offspring, children
303 quicken give life to
303 increase descendants, children
303 beget conceive
304 upon by
308 mettle substance, spirit, temperament
309 Of all one causing the same amount of
310 of her by the younger Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth's daughter) 310 bid like sorrow endured similar pain
315 would would like to
316 can am able (to offer)
322 Familiarly as a family member
328 orient shining
329 Advantaging adding to the value of
329 their love the love that caused the tears to be shed 331 mother mother-in-law
332 bold confident, prepared (with connotations of "sexually ready") 341 retail relate, re-tell
342 victoress female victor
342 Caesar's Caesar i.e. the conqueror of the victor 344 lord husband
349 Infer allege, give as a reason
350 purchase ... war pay for with everlasting (personal) strife 352 That i.e. a relationship (uncle/niece) considered by the Church as incestuous 352 king's king i.e. God
354 vail lower (in submission), yield
356 title claim (plays on the sense of "queen's title") 357 in force in place, active (perhaps with sinister play on "enforce") 358 fairly justly/in safety
362 loathes puns on low
363 in on
364 speeds succeeds
364 plainly honestly/in simple terms, without adornment 367 quick hasty (Elizabeth plays on the sense of "alive" when she responds with its opposite: dead) 368 too puns on "two"
368 deep profound, learned (sense then shifts to "deep down, buried") 371 heart-strings tendons or nerves supposed to brace the heart, hence intense feelings (puns on "harp strings") 372 my George the image of Saint George, patron saint of England, that formed part of the insignia of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of knighthood in England 372 garter band tied around the leg to keep up hosiery: Knights of the Garter wore a blue and gold one below the left knee 376 his its
382 self-misused disgraced, abused by yourself
389 him i.e. God
390 unity i.e. reconciliation between court factions in Act 2 Scene 1
391 hadst would have
400 o'erpast past
402 Hereafter time the future
404 Ungoverned parentless, without a father's control
404 wail ... age lament it in their maturity/throughout their lifetime 406 with along with
410 So thrive I to the same extent may I thrive
411 Myself myself confound may I destroy myself
414 opposite hostile, adversarial
415 proceeding course of action
417 tender not do not love, hold dear
417 princely royal
425 attorney representative, pleader of a cause
426 Plead offer as a plea in court
427 my deserts what I deserve
428 times affairs/the present time
429 great designs important affairs, the business of state (plays on the sense of "schemes aimed at attaining power") 430 of by
432 forget ... myself forget my anguish and the wrongs done to me in order to be mother of a monarch 433 if ... yourself if remembering yourself (i.e. collecting your wits/remembering your wrongs) compromises your future 436 spicery spices
437 recomforture new comfort
441 mind opinion, intention
446 puissant mighty, powerful
447 doubtful fearful/unreliable
447 hollow-hearted false, insincere
449 their i.e. the attacking navy's
450 hull float with sails furled
452 light-foot swift-footed
452 post hurry
458 unmindful inattentive
463 strength and power army
464 suddenly immediately
464 Salisbury town in Wiltshire, southwest England
472 well easily, readily
473 Hoyday exclamation of contemptuous impatience
475 nearest most direct
479 White-livered runagate cowardly renegade, runaway
484 chair throne
484 sword official sword of office
484 unswayed not wielded
485 empire kingdom
485 unpossessed not inherited/not ruled
488 makes he is he doing
489 that i.e. the crown
490 for that because
491 the Welshma
n i.e. Richmond, grandson of the Welsh Owen Tudor and Katherine of Valois (widow of Henry V) 494 power army
495 tenants who would have been required to undertake military service for their lord 499 Cold unfriendly, distant (plays on the fact that the north of England often undergoes cold weather) 502 Pleaseth if it please
508 hold consider, deem
511 Look make sure
512 assurance safety
515 advertised informed
520 competitors associates, allies
523 owls thought to be birds of ill omen, whose cry portended death 526 fall of waters i.e. heavy rain, storms
530 cry thee mercy beg your pardon
532 well-advised prudent
541 assistants supporters
543 his party Richmond's faction
544 Hoised hoisted
548 taken captured
550 Milford Milford Haven, on the coast of southwest Wales 551 colder less welcome
552 reason talk
Act 4 Scene 5
4.5 Location: unspecified; possibly Stanley's home in the north of England, to which Richard sent him to muster troops, or his London residence
2 sty pen
2 boar i.e.Richard
3 franked penned
3 hold custody
8 espouse marry
10 Pembroke town in southwest Wales, just south of Milford Haven 10 Ha'rfordwest Haverfordwest, a town north of Milford Haven 11 name rank/reputation
11 resort gather
14 redoubted revered/feared
14 Pembroke Earl of Pembroke (Richmond's uncle)
15 Rice i.e. Rhys
17 bend direct
18 by on
20 resolve ... mind explain my intentions
Act 5 Scene 1
5.1 Location: Salisbury
5 miscarried come to harm, died
7 moody angry
10 All Souls' day November 2, the day in the Church calendar devoted to prayer for the souls of the dead 13 This ... allies Buckingham refers to his speech in Act 2 Scene 1, in which, following the formal reconciliation of court factions, he wished to be punished with treacherous friends if he was ever disloyal to Elizabeth and her allies 19 determined respite of ordained end to the postponement in punishing 20 all-seer i.e. God
20 dallied with trifled with, mocked
21 feigned insincere, pretend
22 in jest in pretense
28 block execution block
Act 5 Scene 2
5.2 Location: Tamworth, in the East Midlands
3 bowels center, inmost part
5 father stepfather
8 spoiledstripped, despoiled
9 Swills gulps
9 wash pig food
10 embowelled disemboweled
12 Leicester chief town of Leicestershire, east of Tamworth 14 cheerly cheerfully, hopefully
16 sharp harsh, merciless
18 homicide murderer
22 vantage advantage
24 meaner humbler
Act 5 Scene 3
5.3 Location: Bosworth Field, to the east of Leicester
2 sad solemn, grave
6 knocks hard blows
9 all's ... that it doesn't matter, it makes no difference
10 descried discovered, seen
12 battalia army
12 account number
14 want lack
16 vantage ... ground best position for military action
17 sound direction good tactical judgment
21 tract traces, streaks
21 car chariot (which in classical mythology was driven by the sun god) 23 standard flag, military banner
25 form and model arrangement and ground-plan
26 Limit appoint, designate
26 several separate, respective
26 charge duty
27 part ... proportion distribute evenly
30 keeps stays with
35 quartered encamped
36 colours identifying battle flags
42 needful urgent
52 beaver helmet's visor
52 easier looser, moving more efficiently
53 into in
55 hie hasten
55 charge duty post
59 warrant assure, guarantee
62 pursuivant at arms officer attendant on a herald, i.e. messenger 66 watch watch light, a slow-burning candle or one maeked regular divisions to measure the passing of time/guard, watchman 67 Surrey the name of a horse
68 staves staffs used as weapons
68 sound in good condition
73 cockshut time dusk, twilight (when poultry are cooped up) 74 cheering up encouraging, rallying
76 alacrity readiness, sharpness
77 wont used, accustomed
78 it presumably the wine
82 arm me put on my armor
83 helm helmet
85 father-in-law stepfather
87 attorney proxy
90 flaky streaked with light
91 season time of day
93 th'arbitrement the decision, final judgment
94 mortal-staring deathly-faced, with fatal gaze
95 that ... would what I would like to do (i.e. fight openly on your side) 96 With ... time with every opportunity I get, I will be strategically duplicitous (toward Richard) 97 doubtful shock clash of forces, the outcome of which is uncertain/frightening military encounter 98 forward eager
99 brother stepbrother
99 tender young
101 leisure time available
103 ample interchange full exchange
103 sweet discourse pleasant conversation
104 sundered separated
108 with against
109 peise weigh
112 account consider
113 gracious filled with divine grace/favorable
114 irons swords
119 watchful wakeful
121.1 Prince Edward son of Margaret and Henry VI 124 despair experience spiritual hopelessness (thought to precede suicide) 127 issue child, offspring
128 anointed marked with holy oil, the sign of monarchy 129 punched punctured, pierced
130 Tower of London, where Henry was murdered (see 3 Henry VI, Act 5 Scene 6) 136 washed i.e. drowned (in a butt of malmsey, a strong sweet wine) 136 fulsome nauseating/an abundant quantity of
139 fall drop, let fall
139 edgeless blunt, useless
142 battle army
156 laid buried
160 annoy injury, harm
164 quiet peaceful
176 Fainting staggering, losing consciousness/losing heart 176 yield give up
180 Richard may Richard
182 Soft wait
184 lights burn blue thought to be a sign of the presence of ghosts 185 drops i.e. of sweat
191 Wherefore? Why?
197 several different, separate
198 brings in introduces (as evidence)
202 used ... degree committed at every degree of severity 203 th'bar i.e. of the court
204 creature person/minion created through favor, i.e. not a genuine supporter 209 threat threaten
217 shadows something Insubstantial (Richard shifts the sense to "ghosts") 221 proof impenetrable armor
224 shrink from i.e. desert
226 Cry mercy forgive me
226 watchful alert/protective, guarding
227 ta'en caught
233 cried on invoked, called out to
234 jocund lively, joyful
239 said already said, said before
240 leisure time available
240 enforcement constraints
244 bulwarks fortifications
245 except excepted
249 raised promoted (to the throne)
249 established confirmed in power
250 made means contrived, grasped opportunities, used any resource 252 stone jewel
252 foil setting for a jewel (designed to highlight the jewel's beauty) 253 chair throne
253 falsely wrongfully, treacherou
sly/artificially
256 ward protect
260 fat wealth, prosperous growth
260 hire recompense
264 quits requites, repays
264 age old age
266 Advance your standards raise your battle flags
267 the ... face i.e. if I fail the only ransom to be paid for me shall be my death (noblemen captured in war were often released on payment of a ransom) 269 thrive succeed/live
272 Saint George patron saint of England
273 touching regarding
278 Tell count (the chimes of)
278 calendar almanac, containing astrological predictions that dealt with meteorology 281 book almanac
282 braved made splendid/challenged
282 braved the east i.e. risen
283 black dark, gloomy/evil, disastrous
286 lour glower, threaten darkly
287 from not on
290 sadly solemnly
291 vaunts flaunts itself proudly
292 Caparison harness, equip
296 foreward vanguard, front line of troops
296 drawn extended
297 horse and foot cavalry and infantry, horsemen and foot soldiers 301 directed positioned, deployed
302 puissance power
303 winged flanked
303 chiefest horse best cavalry
304 to boot (to support us) as well
307 Jockey contraction of "John-kin." a nickname for "John" (Norfolk's first name) 308 Dickon diminutive of Dick, i.e. Richard
308 bought and sold betrayed for a bribe
315 join join battle
315 pell-mell with headlong haste/at close quarters, with hand-to-hand combat 317 inferred stated
318 cope fight, grapple
319 sort gang
321 o'er-cloyed overfull and sickened
325 restrain deprive you of
325 distain defile, soil, rape
326 fellow with lower-class connotations
327 Bretagne Brittany
327 mother's an error (for "brother's") that appears in the second edition of Shakespeare's major source, Holinshed's Chronicles; just conceivably "mother" might refer to "mother England"
328 milksop weak, cowardly person/infant still on a milk diet 329 over-shoes in snow when snow is above the level of one's shoes 330 whip these stragglers i.e. as vagabonds were whipped out of the parish by a local official 331 Lash hence whip away from here
331 overweening ambitious, overreaching
331 rags vagrants/old scraps
333 but were it not for
333 fond exploit foolish military undertaking
334 want lack
337 land with connotations of "sexual territory," i.e. wives and daughters 337 bobbed and thumped beaten, pounded/had sex with, raped (their women) 338 on record as is officially recorded
338 the ... shame in disgrace/illegitimate children
339 Lie have sex with
340 Ravish rape
341 yeomen property-owning men below the level of gentlemen 343 proud splendid/rearing
343 blood i.e. the blood drawn from spurring the horses so hard 344 Amaze terrify, alarm, bewilder
344 welkin sky
344 broken i.e. shattered from energetic use
346 deny refuse
348 past the marsh i.e. advancing
350 great full of emotion
352 word of courage i.e. battle cry
353 spleen fury
353 dragons Saint George was famed for the legendary killing of a dragon 354.1 Alarum, excursions trumpet call to arms and bouts of fighting across the stage 356 a man is humanly possible
Richard III (Modern Library Classics) Page 28