Authors: William Shakespeare
305
sea-mark
boundary of the flow of the sea/landmark used in navigation
306
lost
wasted
307
Man…rush
use a mere reed
309
ill-starred
ill-fated
310
smock
woman’s undergarment
compt
the day of reckoning, Judgment Day
313
slave
i.e. himself/Iago
317
steep-down
extremely steep
322
I…feet
i.e. to see if Iago, like the devil, has cloven feet
327
in my sense
according to the way I feel
329
practice
scheming, treachery
344
Torments
torture
349
imports
concerns/indicates
353
gross
vile/monstrously evident
354
discontented
filled with discontent
357
belike
probably/perhaps
358
satisfied him
provided him with answers and explanations (relating to the issues raised in the letter)
359
caitiff
wretch
365
wrought…desire
worked in accordance with his wishes
369
Brave
challenge, confront
whereon
as a result of which
370
cast
dismissed
377
hold him long
keep him alive under torture for a long time
378
close
securely confined
385
extenuate
diminish, disparage
388
wrought
worked on/worked up
389
Perplexed
distressed, tormented, agitated
390
base
unworthy
Judean
may allude to Judas Iscariot, the Judean disciple who betrayed Christ, or to Herod, the jealous Judean king who accused his wife Mariamne of adultery and had her executed
391
subdued
overcome (by emotion)
393
Arabian trees
i.e. myrrh trees, which drip with the gum resin
394
medicinable
myrrh was used in astringent and expectorant tinctures
395
Aleppo
city in Turkey
397
traduced
slandered
400
period
conclusion
402
kissed…thee
perhaps another reference to Judas, who famously identified Christ to his enemies by kissing him; he later killed himself
403
die
with shading into sense of “orgasm”
406
Spartan dog
a particularly fierce breed of hunting dog
407
fell
fierce/cruel
410
keep
guard, secure/remain in/seize
411
seize upon
take legal possession of
412
succeed on
descend to, pass to
413
censure
judgment/sentencing
416
heavy
sorrowful
gulled
duped, deceived
*
See discussion of Quarto/Folio variants in “About the Text,” below.