King John & Henry VIII (68 page)

48
it you
for it back from you

50
watchful
time-keeping/wakeful/vigilant

51
Still and anon
continually

51
heavy
slow-moving/sad

52
lack you
i.e. do you need

52
grief
physical pain/sorrow

53
love
act of kindness

54
lien
lain

56
at … service
i.e. to look after you through your illness

57
crafty
devious

58
an if
if

59
ill
badly, wrongfully

65
iron age
the present/the last and worst of the four classical ages: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron/a period of wickedness and cruelty (puns on
irons
)

66
heat
heated

68
this
its

69
Even … matter
in the very substance, i.e. tears

71
But for containing
merely because it contained

73
should have
had

78
out
put out/blinded

86
winch
wince

87
angerly
angrily

91
from
away from

92
chid
scolded/driven

97
remedy
alternative/relief

99
mote
particle of dust; making literal the biblical reference to “a mote in the eye,” i.e. a minor fault observed in another person by someone who ignores a greater fault of his or her own (Matthew 7:3)

101
annoyance
irritation

101
sense
organ of sense, i.e. eye

102
boisterous
painful

104
Go to
expression of irritated impatience

105
a brace
(even) a pair

106
Must … pleading
would not be sufficient to plead

107
Let me not
do not make me

110
still
always

111
troth
faith

114
in good sooth
truly

115
create
created

116
undeserved extremes
unjust cruelties

116
else
otherwise, i.e. if it isn’t true

121
but
only

123
perchance
perhaps

123
sparkle in
send sparks into

125
Snatch
snap, bite

125
tarre
provoke, urge

127
office
proper function

128
extends
offers

129
Creatures … uses
instruments noted for compassion when they are not put to evil uses

131
owes
owns

132
purpose
intend

137
but
anything other than that

138
doggèd
doglike/cruel

139
doubtless
without fear

141
offend
harm

143
closely
secretly

4.2
Location: England, the court of King John

4
once
in a word/one occasion (that was)

7
Fresh
new

8
state
state of affairs/monarch

9
possessed
invested, given possession (of the royal title)

9
double pomp
second ceremony

10
guard
adorn/protect

11
gild
cover with a thin layer of gold

14
taper-light
candlelight

15
eye of heaven
i.e. the sun

17
But
i.e. were it not

17
pleasure
will/desire

20
unseasonable
unsuitable (probably four syllable;
Being
at beginning of line may be monosyllabic for sake of meter)

21
antique
old

21
well-noted
well-known

22
form
custom

22
disfigurèd
altered

23
shifted
changed (in direction)

24
It
i.e. having a second coronation

24
fetch about
change tack

25
consideration
deep reflection

26
sound
healthy

27
new a fashioned
newly made/of new design

29
confound
ruin

30
excusing … th’excuse
i.e. excuses draw attention to faults rather than explaining them away

32
breach
tear, hole

33
Discredit
bring into disrepute

35
new crowned
i.e. crowned again

36
breathed
spoke

37
overbear
overrule

39
make … at
stop and give way for/resist

41
possessed you with
informed you of

42
more … fear
I shall give you further reasons that are as great as my fear is small

43
indue
supply

47
tongue
spokesperson

48
sound
proclaim/discover the depth of

50
them
they

51
Bend
direct, focus

51
studies
efforts

52
enfranchisement
release

55
rest
peace/freedom from exertion

55
in right
rightfully

56
attend
accompany

57
attend … wrong
i.e. are bent toward wrongdoing

57
mew up
confine

58
tender
young

60
exercise
occupations/gentlemanly physical training in the martial arts

61
That
so that

61
this
i.e. such an argument

62
grace occasions
suit their purposes

62
suit
request (that John earlier invited them to make)

64
goods
personal benefits

65
weal
welfare

66
Counts
considers

67
commit
entrust

68
direction
responsibility (for Arthur’s upbringing)

70
should do
who was to have done

72
heinous
hateful, odious

73
Lives
i.e. is apparent

73
close
secretive

73
aspect
appearance

74
Do
most editions since the Fourth Folio emend to “Does,” but “Does show” sounds infelicitous: an elision
Do’ show
is possible (“Doth show” is also possible)

76
charge
order

77
colour
i.e. of his complexion (which alternates between pale and red)

79
’twixt
between

79
dreadful battles
terrifying fighting forces

80
ripe
swollen (like an abscess)

80
break
burst

83
hold
hold back

84
give
i.e. grant your request

86
tonight
last night

90
answered
accounted for/recompensed

90
hence
elsewhere/in the future/in the next world

91
brows
faces, expressions

92
shears of destiny
i.e. like Atropos, one of the three Fates, responsible for cutting the thread of life

93
commandment on
control over

94
apparent
evidently

95
greatness
i.e. a king

95
grossly
blatantly

95
offer
undertake, venture to do

96
So
thus, i.e.
grossly

96
game
intrigue, undertaking

99
forcèd
compelled, brought about by violence

100
owed
owned

101
the while
in the meantime/while such things happen

103
doubt
fear

105
sure
secure

105
set
i.e. built

107
fearful
frightened

110
weather
i.e. stormy news

111
From … England
the messenger interprets John’s
how goes
(“how is it going”) in terms of literal movement (France invading England)

111
power
army

112
preparation
military expedition

113
levied
mustered, raised

113
body
length and breadth

114
copy
example

117
intelligence
military information, spies

118
care
diligence

119
drawn
gathered

124
frenzy
madness/fit of agitation

126
idly
casually

127
Occasion
course of events

128
league
alliance/truce

130
wildly
disorderedly, without rule

130
walks
goes, progresses

130
estate
affairs/holdings

131
conduct
leadership

132
for … out
claim in the name of truth

135
Pomfret
Pontefract in Yorkshire

136
proceedings
course of action, i.e. to collect money from the monasteries

138
afeard
afraid

139
unheard … head
befall you without warning, i.e. it is better to be prepared for the
worst

140
amazed
stunned/bewildered

141
tide
i.e. torrent of bad news

142
Aloft
above, afloat in

144
sped
succeeded/fared

145
express
communicate/reveal

147
strangely fantasied
full of strange imaginings

148
idle
foolish/crazy

152
treading … heels
i.e. following him closely

153
rude
unlearned/lacking in polish

154
Ascension Day
celebration of the feast of ascension of Christ into heaven, the Thursday forty days after Easter

155
deliver up
surrender

161
safety
safekeeping, i.e. custody

162
gentle
noble

163
abroad
out there, in public

168
is
was

168
tonight
last night

169
suggestion
instigation

175
the … before
i.e. quickly

176
subject enemies
i.e. subjects who are enemies

177
adverse
hostile

178
stout
bold/determined

179
Mercury
messenger of the Roman gods, often depicted with feathered sandals or feet

181
spirit … time
i.e. circumstances (conceivably
spirit
plays on the alchemical sense of “mercury”)

182
sprightful
spirited

184
betwixt
between

188
tonight
last night