Henry IV, Part 1

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Henry IV, Part 1 Page 28

by William Shakespeare


  160 so all well and good

  161 unlooked for without being sought, unexpectedly

  an end death/of my speech

  Excursions outbursts of fighting moving across the stage

  5 make up advance, bring up your forces

  6 retirement retreat, insufficiently aggressive strategy

  amaze alarm, bewilder

  13 stained bloodstained (may play on sense of “dishonored”)

  15 breathe rest, pause

  21 point i.e. of his sword

  22 lustier maintenance more vigorous bearing

  23 ungrown immature; historically, John was thirteen at the time of the battle

  24 mettle courage, spirit

  25 Hydra’s heads in Greek mythology, the Hydra was a monster that grew two heads for every one that was cut off

  27 colours i.e. the king’s

  28 counterfeit’st impersonates

  30 shadows reflections/those in disguise, actors

  31 very real, true

  32 Seek who seek

  34 assay test

  37 mine my victim, conquest

  39 like likely

  41 are…arms lend strength to my arms

  43 pay settle the debt/kill

  flieth runs away

  44 Cheerly expression of encouragement

  48 opinion reputation

  49 mak’st…life have some care for my life

  52 hearkened waited eagerly for, sought

  54 insulting threatening, harmful/boastful, contemptuous

  58 Make up to move your forces forward

  66 motion course, trajectory, orbit

  sphere orbit; stars and planets were thought to be contained within crystalline spheres

  67 brook endure

  71 name in arms military reputation

  73 budding…crest literally, chivalric favors decorating his helmet; figuratively, his glorious reputation

  75 vanities vain boasts

  76 said done

  killeth i.e. fatally wounds

  79 brittle fragile

  80 titles claims to honor

  84 prophesy conventional belief held that the dying were able to foretell the future

  89 Ill-weaved devious, tangled

  91 too…bound insufficient to contain it

  94 stout strong, valiant

  95 sensible aware

  96 show of zeal expression of feeling

  97 favours chivalric tokens worn on his helmet

  101 ignominy shame

  106 heavy…thee miss you greatly (heavy plays on the sense of “weighty, fat”)

  109 dearer more noble/more valuable

  110 Embowelled disemboweled (in preparation for embalming)

  111 in blood in his own blood (plays on hunting term; a deer that was in blood was vigorous and full of life)

  113 powder embalm/preserve in salt (like venison)

  114 termagant savage, violent

  scot and lot in full

  120 discretion good judgment

  121 gunpowder i.e. fiery, explosive

  125 confutes refutes, contradicts

  128 fleshed initiated into fighting (plays on sense “sexually initiated”; from the practice of feeding hunting dogs raw meat to excite them)

  129 maiden virgin, previously unused

  sword with phallic connotations

  134 fantasy illusion, imagination

  138 double man ghost/two men (referring to the fact he carries Hotspur on his back)

  139 jack knave

  146 at an instant simultaneously

  147 Shrewsbury clock perhaps referring to an actual clock (e.g. the church clock), or a metaphorical phrase

  149 take’t…death swear as though I were about to die and my soul depended upon it

  154 luggage i.e. Hotspur

  155 do thee grace bring you honor

  156 gild embellish

  happiest most favorable

  retreat specific trumpet call signaling retreat

  157 the…ours we have won

  158 highest highest vantage point

  161 do…less become a powerful nobleman/I’ll slim down

  162 purge repent, purify myself/take laxatives or emetics to cause weight loss

  leave give up

  1 rebuke punishment

  2 Ill-spirited wicked, evil-hearted

  grace goodwill, forgiveness

  4 turn…contrary report the opposite

  10 true intelligence honest information

  11 safety concern for personal safety

  14 death execution

  16 field battlefield

  20 Upon…fear running away in fear

  29 to his pleasure to do as he pleases

  33 power army

  35 bend you direct your course

  dearest utmost

  36 prelate ecclesiastical dignitary (i.e. the Archbishop of York, Richard Scroop)

  42 fair successfully

 

 

 


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