Read King John & Henry VIII Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
158
Bretagne
Brittany
163
it
its
165
fig
fruit/something valueless/rude gesture
169
coil
turmoil, fuss
170
shames
dishonors, embarrasses
173
pearls
i.e. tears
174
in … fee
as a bribe for divine support
175
beads
teardrops (plays on the sense of “prayer beads on a rosary”)
177
monstrous
unnatural
180
dominations
dominions
180
royalties
royal rights
181
eldest son’s son
eldest grandson
182
Infortunate
unfortunate
183
visited
punished
184
canon … law
scriptural rule (that the sins of the parents will be visited upon their children)
185
but
only
186
Removèd
distant
187
Bedlam
i.e. madwoman
190
her sin
implies John, whom Constance suggests was conceived adulterously (in sin)
191
removèd issue
relative at one remove, i.e. Arthur
191
for
because of
192
his injury
harm done to Arthur
193
beadle
parish officer entitled to punish minor offences, i.e. punisher
195
for
because of/instead of
196
unadvisèd
rash, thoughtless
197
title
legal claim
199
will
willfulness, wish
199
cankered
corrupt
200
temperate
calm
201
beseems
befits
201
presence
royal company
201
cry aim
shout encouragement (archery term)
202
ill-tunèd
harsh-sounding
202
repetitions
repeated accusations
203
trumpet
trumpeter
205
admit
grant, recognize
206
warned
summoned
207
France, for England
i.e. the French king on behalf of Arthur (who should be King of England)
211
gentle
peaceful/noble
211
parle
negotiation
213
advancèd
raised, displayed
214
prospect
view
215
endamagement
damage, detriment
216
bowels
entrails
222
stones
i.e. city walls
223
waist
belt
224
ordinance
artillery
225
lime
mortar
226
dishabited
dislodged
227
bloody power
violent, fierce troops
229
much expedient
very hasty
230
countercheck
rebuke/check to oppose (the course of something)
232
amazed
stunned/overwhelmed
232
vouchsafe
permit
233
bullets
cannonballs
235
folded … smoke
i.e. concealed in deceitful rhetoric
236
faithless error
untrustworthy lie
237
accordingly
in the same manner/as it deserves
238
laboured
exhausted with hard work
239
Forwearied
worn out
240
harbourage
shelter
241
said
finished speaking
242
Lo
see
243
right
i.e. just claim
246
enjoys
possesses
247
For
on behalf of
247
downtrodden equity
oppressed right
247
tread
picks up on
downtrodden
248
greens
grassy areas
250
constraint
compulsion
254
owes
owns
256
Save
except
256
aspect
appearance
256
offence
hostility, harm
256
sealed up
i.e. prevented
257
spent
expended, fired
259
unvexed
untroubled/unimpeded
259
retire
retreat
260
unhacked
unused/undamaged (from battle)
261
lusty
vigorous
264
fondly
foolishly
264
pass
pass up, disregard
265
roundure
roundness, circumference
266
messengers of war
i.e. cannonballs
267
Though
even if
267
discipline
skill in warfare
268
rude
rough
270
In … which
on behalf of him (Arthur) for whom
276
proves
proves to be
282
else
others, suchlike
284
bloods
hot-blooded fellows/noble men
286
in his face
against him
287
compound
agree
288
for
on behalf of
288
hold
withhold
290
everlasting residence
i.e. the grave, death
291
fleet
pass, fly off
292
dreadful
terrifying, daunting
292
trial
contest, putting to the proof
293
chevaliers
knights
294
Saint George
patron saint of England who famously slew a dragon
294
swinged
beat, thrashed
295
Sits … door
i.e. as a tavern sign
295
hostess
tavern landlady
296
fence
fencing skill
297
lioness
i.e. Austria’s wife; also means “whore”
298
set … hide
i.e. give Austria the cuckold’s horns by sleeping with his wife
299
monster
because a combination of lion and ox
303
appointment
order, arrangement
304
advantage
superior military position/opportunity
306
God … right!
a battle cry
306.1
excursions
fighting (across the stage)
306.2
Trumpets
trumpeters
309
by … France
with the help of the French king
312
grovelling
prostrate, face down
316
displayed
drawn up (if referring to the troops)/ unfurled (if referring to the banners)
321
Commander
victor
321
malicious
violent, hostile
322
hence
from here
323
gilt
coated/glittering
324
crest
i.e. helmet
325
staff
spear/lance
326
colours
battle flags
328
like … huntsmen
traditionally huntsmen smeared their hands with blood of the kill
333
onset and retire
attack and retreat
335
censured
judged
338
alike
equally
338
like
approve
343
passage
progress, course
344
native
natural, habitual
344
o’erswell
flood (John threatens French territory)
347
progress
journey (may play on the sense of “official royal tour”)
351
sways
rules
351
climate
part of the sky
352
just-borne
justly carried
353
put thee down
defeat you
354
royal number
i.e. a king’s name
355
tells of
records/counts
357
towers
soars, mounts (falconry term)
359
chaps
jaws
361
mousing
tearing at (like a cat or an owl with its prey)
362
undetermined differences
unresolved disagreements
363
fronts
faces
364
havoc
a call for general slaughter
365
potents
potentates, rulers
366
confusion
overthrow, destruction
366
part
side
367
peace
i.e. victory
368
yet admit
now recognize
371
hold up
support
372
that … here
i.e. John has no need for a spokesperson, representing himself as rightful king
374
presence
own existence/majesty
378
Kings of
i.e. ruled by
379
some certain
i.e. one or the other/the particular rightful
379
purged and deposed
refers to the
fears
380
scroyles
scoundrels
380
flout
mock, insult
383
industrious
ingenious/painstaking/hard-working
383
acts
deeds/theatrical actions/parts of a play
385
mutines
mutineers, rebels
385
mutines of Jerusalem
rival Jewish factions who united to fight the Romans besieging Jerusalem in AD 70
386
conjointly bend
jointly aim
388
mount
raise/prepare for firing
389
chargèd
loaded
390
soul-fearing
terrifying
390
brawled down
destroyed noisily
392
play
torment by firing at
392
jades
wretches (literally, worthless horses)
393
unfencèd
without walls, i.e. unprotected
393
desolation
barren ruin/despondency
394
vulgar
common
397
point
i.e. sword point
398
cull forth
select
399
happy minion
fortunate favorite
400
day
i.e. victory
402
wild
irregular/audacious
402
states
sovereigns
403
Smacks … something
has it not a flavor
403
the policy
stratagem
405
knit
unite
406
lay
level, flatten
407
who
i.e. to determine who
408
An if
if
408
mettle
spirit, disposition
409
peevish
obstinate/foolish
411
saucy
insolent
412
when that
when
413
pell-mell
headlong/in hand-to-hand combat
414
ourselves
i.e. each other
414
heaven or hell
i.e. eternal life or damnation
419
thunder
i.e. cannon
420
drift
shower, deluge
421
discipline
military strategy
424
vouchsafe
agree, grant
425
league
alliance, friendship
427
breathing lives
i.e. living people
429
Persever
persevere, proceed