Cymbeline

by William Shakespeare

  129 foil dishonor

  130 note renown, distinction

  131 hilding good-for-nothing

  131 livery uniform worn by servants, bearing their master’s insignia

  131 squire’s cloth servant’s outfit

  132 pantler servant in the pantry

  135 thou wert you would (still) be

  136 groom servant

  136 thou … envy you would be elevated enough to make others envy you

  138 comparative … virtues i.e. if your personal merits were compared (you and Posthumus)

  138 styled given the title, position of

  139 under-hangman assistant hangman

  140 For … well for being promoted even that highly

  141 south-fog damp fog brought by the south wind, thought to carry diseases

  143 named of thee named, mentioned by you

  143 meanest garment lowliest item of clothing

  144 clipped encompassed, embraced

  146 made such men turned into men such as you

  150 sprited tormented, haunted (as if by a spirit)

  150 with by

  153 ’Shrew beshrew, may evil befall

  159 aught any, i.e. anyone

  165 action lawsuit

  168 conceive … me think, I hope, only the worst of me

  Act 2 Scene 4

  2.4 Location: Rome

  2 win win over, persuade

  2 bold confident

  4 means approaches

  6 winter’s state i.e. his relationship with Cymbeline

  7 seared withered

  8 gratify repay

  8 they failing if they fail altogether, i.e. his hopes

  11 By this by this time

  12 Hath heard of will have heard from

  13 throughly thoroughly

  14 He’ll i.e. Cymbeline will

  14 th’arrearages the arrears (overdue payments of tribute)

  15 look upon face

  15 whose remembrance the memory of whom

  16 yet still

  18 Statist politician

  19 prove prove to be, come to

  23 more ordered better disciplined

  25 frowning i.e. with worry

  27 their approvers those who put them to the test

  27 such … world whose reputation has gone up in the eyes of the world

  30 harts deer; i.e. Iachimo’s horses have run as fast as the swiftest deer

  30 posted swiftly conveyed, like a post-horse

  31 of … corners from all directions

  34 your answer i.e. the answer she gave you

  34 made is the cause of

  38 therewithal in addition

  39 casement window, i.e. as prostitutes did when trying to attract customers

  42 tenor content, drift

  43 ’Tis very like it’s very likely

  47 approached arrived

  49 sparkles … wont i.e. does this diamond sparkle as brightly as it was accustomed to

  57 Not a whit not at all

  60 sport amusement

  63 keep covenant keep to our bargain

  64 knowledge i.e. carnal knowledge

  65 question further put this to further dispute

  69 wills wishes; plays on sense of “sexual desire”

  71 tasted had intercourse with, experienced

  71 my hand i.e. a reconciliatory handshake

  73 gains … mine i.e. in a duel

  74 or … them i.e. because we will have killed each other

  76 circumstances list of evidence

  80 spare omit

  85 watching staying awake for

  86 silver silver lace

  88 Cydnus river in modern-day Turkey where Antony and Cleopatra first met; the story is recounted in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra Act 2 Scene 2

  88 or either

  89 press crowd, throng

  89 pride i.e. in carrying Antony and Cleopatra

  90 bravely splendidly, excellently

  92 rarely excellently

  102 chimney-piece ornamental carving on the mantel

  103 Chaste Dian bathing perhaps depicting the story of Diana and Actaeon; according to classical mythology, Actaeon came upon Diana bathing, for which she turned him into a stag and he was destroyed by his own hounds

  104 report themselves i.e. speak

  104 cutter carver, sculptor

  105 outwent her and outdid her, i.e. nature, in perfection

  106 Motion … out except that they could not move or breathe

  108 relation likewise reap i.e. have also learned about through hearsay

  111 fretted decorated with elaborate carvings

  111 andirons firedogs, i.e. a pair of decorative metal supports for burning wood in a fireplace

  112 winking i.e. with closed eyes;

  112 Cupid, the god of love, was traditionally depicted as blind

  113 nicely skillfully, ingeniously

  114 Depending … brands leaning on their flaming torches

  117 remembrance memory, gift for recollection

  118 nothing saves in no way wins/redeems

  121 leave permission, opportunity

  121 air show, expose it to the open air

  122 up away, hidden

  128 I … yet I can still see her now

  129 outsell exceed in value

  131 prized valued, treasured

  131 once at one time

  136 basilisk a mythical reptile with a fatal gaze

  138 semblance seeming, outward appearance

  140 bondage binding force, obligation

  145 probable capable of being proved/likely

  146 corrupted bribed

  149 so in this manner, thus

  149 Back give back

  150 corporal sign piece of physical evidence/a sign relating to her body

  151 evident conclusive

  156 sworn i.e. they have sworn oaths of loyalty

  157 enjoyed her i.e. sexually

  158 cognizance badge, token

  158 incontinency lack of self-restraint, faithlessness

  159 she … dearly i.e. this is what she has paid for the name of whore

  160 hire payment, fee

  161 you i.e. you and her (Innogen)

  164 persuaded who you are persuaded

  166 colted mounted sexually

  171 present immediate, instant

  173 stain mark (the mole); Posthumus shifts sense to “moral blot”

  178 turns i.e. the number of times you had sex

  179 Once … million i.e. if you’ve had her once, you may as well have had her a million times

  184 Thou’st thou hast (you have)

  184 cuckold a husband whose wife was unfaithful

  186 limb-meal limb from limb

  189 besides beyond, outside of

  190 government control, management

  191 pervert avert, turn aside

  195 half-workers co-workers, i.e. is there no way for men to live without women?

  195 We … bastards i.e. because there are no faithful women in the world

  196 venerable old and worthy of respect

  198 stamped made, conceived

  198 coiner counterfeit coin maker

  201 nonpareil unrivaled person

  202 lawful pleasure i.e. marital sex

  203 prayed … forbearance often entreated me to restrain my desire

  204 pudency modesty

  204 rosy presumably referring to her blushes

  204 view on’t sight of it

  205 Saturn Roman god associated with melancholy and coldness

  207 yellow sallow, i.e. dark-complexioned

  208 at first straightaway

  209 full-acorned boar well-fed male pig

  209 German i.e. fierce and fat

  211 looked for anticipated

  212 encounter sexual encounter

  213 woman’s part fault specific to women; plays on sense of “va
gina”

  213 motion impulse

  217 rank lascivious

  218 covetings desires for material objects

  218 change of prides continually changing (or variety of) excesses

  219 Nice longing wanton desires

  219 mutability changeableness, inconsistency

  223 still always, constantly

  224 but of only

  225 so as

  226 skill wisdom

  227 have their will get their way, have their sexual desires fulfilled

  Act 3 Scene 1

  3.1 Location: Britain, the royal court

  2 remembrance memory

  2 yet still

  4 theme topic of discussion

  6 Famous … it famous because Caesar praised him, but equally for the feats he performed to earn that praise

  7 for … succession on behalf of himself and his successors, i.e. future British kings

  9 pounds i.e. pounds weight

  10 untendered unpaid

  11 kill the marvel put an end to the surprise

  13 be may/will be

  18 from’s from us

  18 resume … again we have to take back again

  19 liege lord, used to a feudal superior owed duty and allegiance

  21 bravery … isle beauty of the land/courage of the inhabitants

  22 Neptune’s of Neptune, Roman god of the sea

  22 park tract of land held by royal grant used for hunting; also used for an enclosed body of water in which oysters or fish are bred

  22 paled in fenced with pales (long, vertical stakes); the coastline was densely forested with trees which formed a sort of unscalable (hard to climb) perimeter fence

  24 bear support

  25 suck … th’topmast i.e. like quicksand they will suck the ships under until only the topmast (formerly the uppermost mast) is visible

  27 “came … overcame” Caesar reported his victory at the battle of Zela in 47 BC with this phrase in Latin: veni, vidi, vici

  30 ignorant baubles foolish, inexperienced toys

  33 at point ready, just about

  34 giglot whore (i.e. fickle, disloyal)

  34 master overcome, defeat

  35 Lud’s town i.e. London, after King Lud, Cymbeline’s grandfather

  40 crooked i.e. hooked, Roman

  40 owe own

  40 straight powerful, forceful

  42 grip i.e. the handle of a sword

  46 else otherwise

  49 injurious insulting/malicious

  52 against all colour without any pretext; perhaps playing on “collar” in conjunction with yoke in the next line meaning “wooden collar fastened to a pair of animals and attached to a plow or cart”

  54 Becomes is appropriate for

  56 Mulmutius supposedly the first British king (from fourth century BC)

  56 which who

  57 use application, practice (of the laws)

  58 repair restoration

  58 franchise enfranchisement

  68 confusion destruction

  69 pronounce proclaim

  70 Thus defied i.e. now that I have issued this declaration

  75 perforce by necessity

  76 Behoves … utterance obliges me to defend it to the death

  76 perfect well aware/reliably informed

  77 Pannonians and Dalmatians ancient inhabitants of what are now Hungary and the Balkans

  78 precedent example

  79 read interpret

  79 cold lacking spirit

  81 Let proof speak let the outcome of the battle/the battle itself do the talking

  82 Make pastime stay

  84 saltwater girdle the sea

  85 adventure attempt

  85 crows birds which feed on carrion, i.e. dead flesh

  87 So so be it

  88 pleasure desire, aim

  89 the remain that remains (to say)

  Act 3 Scene 2

  1 How? What?

  1 Wherefore why

  5 As … handed as capable a poisoner by word as by hand

  7 truth loyalty

  7 undergoes endures

  9 take in defeat, conquer

  9 some virtue some people’s virtue

  12 Upon because of

  17 fact deed

  20 Senseless bauble unfeeling, worthless thing

  21 fedary confederate, accomplice

  23 ignorant in to pretend to be ignorant of

  27 astronomer includes sense of an “astrologer”

  28 characters handwriting

  30 relish taste

  31 not i.e. not his content

  33 med’cinable restorative, able to heal

  34 physic love i.e. being apart makes love healthier, stronger

  35 wax i.e. used to seal the letter

  35 thy leave by thy leave; Innogen is asking its permission for her to break it and read the letter

  36 locks of counsel seals to secrecy, private matters

  38 forfeiters defaulters of contracts

  39 Cupid’s of Cupid, Roman god of love

  39 tables writing tablets

  42 even renew could not restore

  43 Cambria Wales

  43 Milford Haven most southwesterly Welsh port

  49 mean affairs trivial business

  53 bate abate, i.e. qualify what I have just said

  54 fainter kind more moderate fashion

  55 mine my longing (to see Posthumus)

  55 thick fast, the words crammed together

  56 bores of hearing i.e. ears

  57 smothering overwhelming

  58 by th’way on the way

  61 steal creep away, surreptitiously go

  63 to excuse i.e. how to explain our absence

  63 how get hence how to get away

  64 Why … begot? i.e. why should an excuse be made before the act which needs excusing has been performed

  66 score twenty

  66 well possibly/comfortably

  67 ’Twixt … hour i.e. in an hour

  68 ’twixt … sun i.e. in a day

  71 riding wagers horse races with bets on them

  73 i’th’clock’s behalf in place of a clock, i.e. an hourglass

  74 feign pretend to be affected by

  75 home go home

  75 presently immediately

  76 fit be suitable for

  77 franklin small landowner, below the rank of a gentleman

  78 you’re best you had better

  79 before me what’s in front of me

  79 nor neither

  80 what ensues what will happen

  80 but but that they

  83 none no route

  Act 3 Scene 3

  3.3 Location: Wales, outside Belarius’ cave

  1 keep house stay inside

  1 with such among those

  2 gate entrance

  3 Instructs … heavens i.e. by forcing you to bow

  4 office divine service

  5 jet strut

  6 impious turbans i.e. non-Christian (giants were frequently imaged as Saracens in Romance literature)

  8 use treat

  8 hardly badly

  9 prouder livers those who live more ostentatiously

  13 these flats this plain

  15 place physical position/social rank

  15 lessens … off diminishes and enhances

  16 revolve consider/turn over in the mind

  17 tricks accidents

  19 so allowed acknowledged as such

  19 apprehend thus look at things in this way

  22 sharded living in dung/with scaly wings

  22 hold stronghold, refuge

  24 attending serving/awaiting

  24 for in exchange for

  24 check rebuke

  25 robe i.e. robe of office

  27 Such those who do so

  27 gain … fine gain the respect (by doffing the cap) of the tailor that provides their

&n
bsp; 27 fine clothes

  28 Yet … uncrossed i.e. the debts in his account book never get crossed off

  28 to compared to

  29 proof experience

  29 unfledged young things; literally of young birds “not yet covered with feathers”

  31 air’s from home the air is like away from home

  31 Haply perhaps

  34 stiff rigid, not flexible or pliant

  35 travelling abed i.e. in the imagination, dreaming of going places

  37 stride a limit step over the threshold, go out

  41 pinching bitingly cold/narrowly restricting

  43 beastly beastlike

  44 Like as

  45 what flies what runs away, i.e. food or prey (as opposed to men who would stand and fight)

  49 usuries corrupt financial practices

  50 knowingly i.e. from experience

  50 art artifice/artfulness

  51 keep stay in

  54 pain labor, effort

  56 oft often

  57 record … act i.e. report of good deeds

  58 Doth ill deserve i.e. is ill rewarded

  59 curtsy … censure bow at the (unjust) reproof

  61 report reputation

  62 best of note most renowned, distinguished

  63 theme topic of discussion

  64 as like

  67 mellow hangings ripe fruit

  68 weather bad weather i.e. ill fortune

  69 favour goodwill, especially of a superior or multitude

  72 perfect unblemished, true

  74 this these

  75 demesnes lands, domains

  76 at in

  78 fore-end early part

  78 time life

  80 venison deer

  81 minister be servants

  82 attends … state is an ever-present threat in places of greater status, pomp

  84 sparks of nature signs of inherent qualities

  87 trained … meanly brought up in such a humble way/in such lowly surroundings

  88 they bow i.e. because the roof is so low

  88 hit i.e. reach as high as

  90 prince it behave like princes

  91 trick capacity, skill

  94 three-foot i.e. having three legs (a modest item of furniture)

  96 say when I say

  99 nerves sinews

  101 in … figure in a similar fashion/posture

  102 much more i.e. than Guiderius

  103 conceiving understanding (of the story)

  103 Hark … roused! Listen, the quarry (the animal being hunted) is driven from cover!

  105 whereon for which reason

  107 bar deprive

  107 succession successors (to the throne)

  108 reft’st robbed

  109 nurse wet nurse, i.e. a woman employed to suckle another woman’s children

  110 her i.e. Euriphile’s

  Act 3 Scene 4

  3.4 Location: near Milford Haven