108 digression transgression
109 rational hind rustic capable of reason
111 whipped a punishment for prostitutes
111 yet yet she deserves
113 heavy sad
114 light not heavy/promiscuous
116 Clown rustic
118 penance malapropism for “pleasure”
119 For as for
120 for the dey-woman to serve the dairy woman
123 lodge hunting lodge/gamekeeper’s cottage
124 hereby nearby
128 With that face? i.e. Really?/You don’t say? (tell may pun on the sense of “count,” so that the face would be that of a clock)
134 Villain rascal/peasant/servant
136 full stomach full of food/courageously
139 bound obliged
139 fellows servants
140 but lightly little (plays on opposite of heavily)
143 pent up imprisoned/constipated
143 loose free/loose in the bowels
144 fast and loose cheating
144 shalt to shall go to
146 desolation malapropism, perhaps for “consolation”
150 silent perhaps an error for “free”
151 little error for “much” (or patience is an error for its opposite)
153 affect love
155 be forsworn break my oath
155 argument proof
157 familiar attendant evil spirit
159 Solomon biblical king known for his wisdom and love of women
160 butt-shaft unbarbed arrow used for target practice
161 too much odds at too great an advantage
162 first … cause refers to the codes of dueling practice
162 turn purpose
163 passado forward thrust with one foot advanced
163 duello established dueling code
165 manager master/user
166 extemporal … rhyme god of improvised poetry
167 turn sonnet become a sonneteer
168 for for producing
168 folio large-format book
2.1 Princess of France possible parallel in Marguerite de Valois, who married Henri of Navarre
1 dearest most valuable/strongest
1 spirits energies/thoughts
3 embassy message
5 parley speak/negotiate
5 inheritor owner
6 owe own
7 Matchless unrivaled (may pun on the king’s unmarried status)
7 plea claim
9 prodigal of lavish with
9 dear precious, beloved
10 dear costly
11 starve i.e. deprive of graces
11 beside i.e. apart from yourself
13 mean meager/moderate
16 uttered offered for sale/spoken
16 chapmen’s merchants’/peddlers’
17 tell speak of/reckon up
18 much greatly
18 counted accounted
19 spending wasting/paying out
20 task set a task for/take to task
20 tasker he who sets a task
21 ignorant unaware that
21 fame rumor
22 noise abroad broadcast
23 painful laborious/diligent
25 to’s seemeth it it seems to us
25 needful necessary
27 pleasure wishes
27 that behalf regard to that
28 Bold confident
28 single select
29 best-moving most persuasive
29 fair just/plausible/flattering
29 solicitor advocate
32 Importunes begs for
32 conference conversation
33 attend wait
35 Proud of honored by
35 willingly puns on will in the previous line
36 pride the princess shifts the sense to “arrogance, vanity”
37 votaries those bound by a vow
42 Perigort Perigord is a district in southwest France
42 heir heiress
44 Normandy region of northern France
45 sovereign parts excellent qualities
46 fitted equipped
46 arts scholarship
46 arms warfare
47 Nothing … well whatever he wants to do well he does well, and it suits him
48 soil blemish
48 gloss luster
50 blunt a will i.e. unfeeling readiness to use his wit
51 still continually
52 his its
53 belike most likely
54 humours moods
58 Of by
58 for virtue for his virtue
59 least knowing ill though he is ignorant of evil
60 wit … good such intelligence that he could make something bad seem good
61 shape the appearance
61 though even if
62 Duke Alençon King Henri III of France’s younger brother, who unsuccessfully courted Queen Elizabeth around 1580
63 much … worthiness my report of him is inadequate compared to the worth I saw in him
68 becoming appropriate
69 withal with
70 begets creates
70 occasion opportunities
71 catch i.e. see
72 mirth-moving laughter-provoking
73 conceit’s expositor the expounder of witty ideas
75 play truant at abandon their duties in order to listen to
77 voluble fluent
80 bedecking adorning
82 admittance reception
84 competitors partners/rivals
85 addressed prepared
87 lodge entertain/encamp
87 field open land/battleground
90 unpeopled inadequately staffed
94 roof … court i.e. the sky
100 by my will willingly
101 will desire
104 Where whereas
105 sworn out house-keeping renounced hospitality
109 beseemeth suits
110 Vouchsafe agree
111 suddenly immediately
111 resolve … suit answer my request
113 that … away in order to make me leave
115 Brabant in the Low Countries
119 quick impatient, sharp
120 long on account
121 hot eager, hasty
122 mire bog
123 day time is it
125 mask worn by ladies to protect the complexion from the sun
126 fall befall
128 so provided that
130 intimate refer to/imply
133 Disbursèd paid out
133 his i.e. the King of France’s
134 he Navarre’s father
134 as neither have which neither of us has
136 in surety as guarantee
137 bound contracted
138 valued to of the same value as
139 restore repay
140 unsatisfied unpaid
143 little purposeth scarcely intends
144 demand … repaid legally claims back/insists he has already paid
145 not … crowns does not even request, on payment of the rest of the money
147 have … in regain his entitlement to
148 depart withal part with
150 gelded weakened (literally, castrated)
153 A … reason me compromise even against reason
157 unseeming not seeming
162 arrest take you at
162 word utterance/promise
163 acquittances documents confirming payment of a debt
165 his i.e. the King of Navarre’s
166 Satisfy me so provide me with this
168 specialties sealed contracts
171 liberal reason reasonable terms
173 breach of honour i.e. breaking the oath
174 Make tender of offer
176 without outside
177 As that
179 Your may your
181 consort attend
184 do my commendations give it my greetings
187 fool poor thing
189 let it blood bleed it
191 physic medical knowledge
192 eye gaze (puns on ay)
193 Non point “not at all” (French), perhaps also suggesting “no penis” (picking up on prick)
196 stay thanksgiving remain to express thanks
199 Katherine Shakespeare confused the names and wrote “Rosaline” here: editors and directors must emend for clarity of coupling
200 gallant fine-looking
204 light … light wanton when her behavior is known
205 desire want to have
212 choler anger
214 unlike unlikely
216 Rosaline Shakespeare confused the names and wrote “Katherine” here: editors and directors must emend for clarity of coupling
216 hap chance, fortune
218 so something like that
220 welcome to you you are welcome to go
224 take … word accept what he says/take him on at his own word games
225 grapple contend with, seize (literally, attach one’s ship to another vessel)
225 board accost (literally, climb aboard another ship)
226 hot fiery, ardent
226 sheeps puns on ships
229 pasture puns on “pastor” (i.e. shepherd)
230 So as long as
232 common common ground (available to all sheep/men)
232 several private land/more than one/parted
235 jangling squabbling
235 gentles gentlefolk
236 civil domestic/polite
237 bookmen scholars
237 abused misapplied
239 By about
239 still silent
242 affected being in love
244 did … retire retreated
245 court royal dwelling (puns on sense of “courtship”)
245 thorough through
246 agate precious stone often carved with tiny figures
246 print image
246 impressed stamped/affected
247 Proud made proud/swollen
247 his form i.e. the princess’ image
248 all … see frustrated at only being able to speak rather than gaze
250 that sense i.e. eyesight
250 make their repair go
253 crystal under crystal glass
254 Who, tend’ring which, offering
254 glassed encased in glass
255 point direct, invite
256 margin i.e. like that of a page, which often carried additional notes
256 quote display
259 An if
260 pavilion ceremonial tent
260 disposed inclined (to be merry)
261 But only
267 Venus goddess of love, mother of Cupid
267 father i.e. Boyet, as Cupid’s grandfather
268 grim ugly
269 mad excitable
273 hard tough (to outwit)
3 Concolinel presumably the title of Moth’s song, perhaps of Irish or French origin
4 air tune
5 enlargement freedom
5 festinately speedily
7 brawl French dance
8 Brawling quarreling
9 jig … tune sing the tune of a jig
10 canary i.e. dance (name of a lively dance)
10 humour adapt (yourself) to/indulge
14 penthouse-like like a roof projecting over a shop
15 thin-belly doublet unpadded lower part of a close-fitting jacket
17 after in the style of
18 snip and away snatch before moving on to the next
18 compliments gentlemanly accomplishments
19 humours whims
19 betray seduce/mislead
19 nice coy/capricious/lecherous
20 note reputation (plays on the sense of “musical note”)
21 note pay attention
21 men possibly addressed to the men in the audience
21 affected inclined
22 purchased acquired
25 ‘The … forgot’ probably lines from a popular song, now lost
26 hobby-horse false or toy horse/prostitute
27 colt young horse/lascivious person
28 hackney horse for hire/whore
33 prove demonstrate (sense then shifts to “turn out to be”)
37 come by possess
39 out of heart discouraged
43 me for me
44 sympathized suited
48 slow-gaited slow-moving
51 ingenious clever one
53 Minime by no means (Latin)
60 Thump i.e. noise of a cannon going off
61 acute clever
61 free of grace liberal with charm
62 welkin sky, heaven
63 gives thee place yields its place to you
65 costard apple/head
67 l’envoy postscript (i.e. explanation)
69 egma Costard’s mistake for “enigma” (which he seems to think, along with
69 riddle and
69 l’envoy, means some type of remedy)
69 salve healing ointment
69 mail (medicine) bag
70 plantain medicinal herb
72 By virtue mild oath
72 silly foolish
73 spleen laughter
74 ridiculous derisive
75 inconsiderate thoughtless, idiotic
75 salve Latin for “hail, greetings” (the opposite of l’envoy)
80 precedence something said before
80 tofore earlier
80 sain said
83 humble-bee bumble-bee
84 still always
84 at odds quarreling/of an uneven number
86 Staying the odds ending the quarrel/making the number even
86 adding four making up the fourth
87 l’envoy … goose oie is French for “goose” and the final sound of envoy
89 sold … bargain i.e. made a fool of him (proverbial)
89 flat obvious
90 good i.e. well-spent
90 an if
91 fast and loose cheating
93 argument discussion
99 ended the market refers to “Three women and a goose make a market” (proverbial)
102 sensibly with common sense/feelingly
103 feeling sense of the pain
105 threshold doorway
107 matter pus
108 enfranchise liberate (Costard hears as “en-Frances”—i.e. “give you a Frances”)
109 Frances typical name for a prostitute
110 goose prostitute (slang)
112 immured confined
114 purgation purger of guilt/laxative
115 let me loose free me/loosen my bowels
116 from durance free from imprisonment
117 lieu exchange
118 significant sign
119 remuneration payment
119 ward protection
120 dependants servants
121 sequel that which follows (recalls the l’envoy joke)
122 incony fine
122 Jew affectionate term; possible pun on juvenal or diminutive of “jewel”
124 farthings coins worth quarter of a penny
125 inkle kind of linen tape
126 carries it wins the day
127 French crown coin/bald head caused by syphilis, the “French disease”
128 out of without using
130 carnation flesh-colored
133 halfpenny farthing i.e. three farthings, three quarters of a penny
136 slave rascal/fellow
137 good my knave my good fellow
144 villain rascal/fellow
149 train entourage
152 commend entrust
153 counsel private communication
153 guerdon reward
154 Gard
on anglicized version of guerdon
155 better i.e. the shilling (twelvepence) is eleven and a quarter pence better than his previous reward
156 in print to the letter
158 beadle parish officer responsible for whipping minor offenders
158 humorous moody
160 pedant schoolmaster
161 Than compared with
161 magnificent proud
162 wimpled blindfolded
162 purblind completely blind
164 Regent ruler
167 Dread revered
168 imperator emperor
169 paritors those who summoned offenders to ecclesiastical courts
170 corporal … field Cupid’s field officer
171 colours insignia
171 tumbler’s hoop acrobat’s ribboned hoop
172 sue pay court
173 German clock i.e. elaborate, likely to go wrong
174 Still a-repairing always in need of repair
174 frame order
175 going aright keeping time/behaving well
176 But being unless it is
179 whitely pale
179 wanton willful one
179 brow forehead
180 pitch-balls balls as black as pitch (tarlike substance)
181 deed i.e. sex
182 Though even if
182 Argus monster with a hundred eyes
182 eunuch castrated male (i.e. guard)
183 watch be unable to sleep
184 Go to expression of impatient dismissal
185 neglect disregard
188 my … Joan i.e. a worthy versus a lowly woman
4 a was, a he was, he
4 mounting climbing/aspiring
5 dispatch dismissal
9 coppice thicket
10 stand hunter’s position
12 fairest most favorable/beautiful
14 again in response
17 paint flatter
18 fair beauty
18 brow appearance
19 good my glass my good mirror
21 inherit possess
22 merit its intrinsic worth/reward/good deeds
23 in fair regarding beauty
24 giving … praise proverbial: “the giving hand is fair”
25 mercy i.e. the princess
26 then i.e. when the princess hunts, because she is merciful
27 credit reputation
28 Not … do’t i.e. if she fails to hit a deer, she can claim it was out of pity
31 out of without
32 Glory the desire for glory/boastful spirit
33 outward part superficial attribute
35 As just as
36 my … ill means me no harm/toward whom I do not essentially mean harm
37 curst shrewish
37 self-sovereignty self-discipline
42 member … commonwealth ordinary person
43 God dig-you-den God give you good evening (i.e. any time after noon)
44 heads may pun on “maidenheads”
46 thickest fattest
55 carve cut up/make courteous gestures
56 Break up cut up
56 capon chicken (i.e. love letter)
Love's Labour's Lost Page 21
