Hamlet (50 page)

44
still
always (i.e. continue)

44
wheaten garland
symbolic of peace

45
comma
the mark of punctuation that indicated only a slight break between words, thus a symbol of closeness and connection between the two countries

45
amities
friendship

46
‘
As’es
phrases beginning with “as” (puns on “asses”)

46
charge
importance/burden (continuing the play on “asses”)

50
shriving-time
time for confession and absolution from sin

52
ordinant
in control

53
signet
signet ring which acted as a seal

54
model … seal
exactly the same as the seal used to secure the commission

55
writ
letter/written command

56
Subscribed
signed (in Claudius’ name)

56
th’impression
the seal

57
changeling
substitution, i.e. false letter (literally a fairy child substituted for a human one)

58
to … sequent
followed this

61
make love to
court, entreat

62
defeat
destruction

63
insinuation
ingratiating behavior/intrusive involvement

64
baser
of lower social status/inferior

65
pass
sword thrust

65
fell
fierce

65
points
swords

66
opposites
opponents, enemies

68
Does … upon
do you not think that it is now incumbent upon me

70
th’election
i.e. the designation as king

71
angle
fishing-hook and line

71
proper
own

72
cozenage
deception (puns on “cousinage”—i.e. kinship)

73
quit
requite, repay

74
canker
spreading ulcer

74
come In
spread to, generate

77
issue
outcome

79
no … ‘one’
is only as brief as the time it takes to say “one”

82
by … his
i.e. in my situation (having a murdered father) I recognize his also

84
bravery
extravagance, ostentatious display

88
water-fly
i.e. buzzing insect

90
gracious
blessed, fortunate

91
let … mess
even if you are an animal yourself, provided that you own a lot of livestock you shall eat at the king’s table (
mess
)

92
crib
animal’s food receptacle

93
chough
jackdaw (i.e. chatterer)/chuff (i.e. rustic, churl)

94
if … leisure
i.e. if the two of you have finished talking

97
bonnet
hat (usually worn indoors when in company)

100
indifferent
moderately

101
complexion
constitution

106
remember
probably “remember your courtesy,” a way of asking someone to put on their hat

107
for mine ease
a polite way of resisting Hamlet’s request

111
Rapier
long, pointed, double-edged sword (the flexible épée of modern fencing had not yet been invented)

112
well
very well, never mind

113
Barbary horses
valued North African horses, noted for their speed

114
imponed
wagered (impawned; or an affected coinage from the Latin
imponere
, meaning “to pile or lay on”)

115
poniards
daggers

115
assigns
accessories

115
as
such as

115
girdle
sword belt

115
hangers
loops on sword belts, from which the sword was hung; often richly ornamented

116
carriages
an affected word for
hangers

116
dear to fancy
pleasing to the fancy/delightfully tasteful

117
responsive … hilts
well-matched to the sword handle

117
delicate
finely made

118
liberal conceit
elaborate design

119
call you
do you mean by

121
germane
relevant

122
cannon … sides
“carriage” is the word for the wheeled support on which a cannon is mounted

127
laid
wagered

127
in … nine
famously incomprehensible and much-debated wager; Claudius bets that, in a series of twelve rounds, Laertes’ total number of hits will not exceed Hamlet’s by three or more, but it is unclear what is meant by “twelve for nine,” where “he” may be Claudius or Laertes

127
passes
rounds

128
him
i.e. Laertes

130
vouchsafe the answer
be pleased to accept the challenge (Hamlet interprets
answer
more literally as “reply”)

132
opposition … trial
presenting of yourself as an opponent in a contest

135
breathing time
time for exercise

138
odd
occasional/extra three

139
re-deliver you
report back what you say

140
after what flourish
according to whatever lavish gesture or manner of speaking you choose

142
commend
entrust (part of a standard phrase, but Hamlet responds to the sense of “recommend, praise”)

145
for’s turn
to do it for him

146
lapwing
bird proverbial for youthful precocity as it left the nest soon after being hatched;
shell … head
may suggest that Osric has just put his hat on

147
comply … dug
pay courteous compliments to his mother’s (or nurse’s) nipple

148
bevy
company/group of birds

149
drossy
worthless, impure

149
tune
i.e. fashionable speech/general style

150
habit of encounter
custom of social inter action/fashionable dress

150
yeasty
frothy

150
collection
i.e. of fashionable words and manners

151
carries them through
enables them to successfully pass off/enables them to hold their own among

151
fond
foolish

152
winnowed
selective (literally refers to the blowing away of chaff from grain)

152
and … out
yet test them by blowing on them and the bubbles will burst/test their opinions and they are lost for words

156
at the odds
given the odds that have been laid

160
gain-giving
misgiving, foreboding

163
repair
coming

164
augury
prophecy (literally, making predictions based on an interpretation of the behavior of birds)

164
there’s … sparrow
i.e. God’s hand is in every slightest thing—alluding to Matthew 10:29

165
it
i.e. his own death

167
readiness
i.e. to meet death

167
has aught of
really owns, can take with him

168
betimes
early

168.1
gauntlets
protective gloves used for fencing

172
presence
assembly/royal company

175
nature
natural feeling/filial loyalty

175
exception
disapproval, objection

182
faction
party

185
disclaiming from
disavowal, denial of

185
purposed
intentional

186
generous
noble-minded/magnanimous

187
That I have
as to think that I have

191
my … honour
where my honor is concerned

192
will
want, will have

194
voice
(authoritative) endorsement

194
peace
reconciliation

195
name ungored
reputation uninjured

199
frankly
freely, with no ill will

202
foil
background material used to set off the luster of a jewel (shifting the sense away from “sword”)

204
Stick fiery off
stand out and sparkle brilliantly

210
laid the odds
backed

212
he is bettered
Laertes is considered to be better

212
odds
the advantage (Laertes is handicapped by having to score three hits over Hamlet)

214
likes
pleases

214
have … length
are all of the same length

216
stoups
cups

218
quit … exchange
repays Laertes (for winning the first two bouts) by scoring a hit in the third bout

219
ordnance
cannon

220
better breath
increased energy and vigor

221
union
valuable pearl

224
kettle
kettledrum

243
fat
may suggest greasy/sweaty, but primary sense is corpulent, overweight

244
napkin
handkerchief

245
carouses to
toasts

256
pass
thrust

257
make … me
toy with me/indulge me

257
wanton
spoiled child

260
scuffling
fighting at close quarters

260.1
change
exchange, probably via the maneuver known as “left-hand seizure” (see Introduction, p. xv)

266
woodcock
proverbially stupid, easily caught birds

266
springe
snare

278
practice
plot

287
Drink off
drink up, drain

287
union
pearl (plays on the sense of “marriage”)

290
tempered
mixed

296
chance
mischance/event

297
mutes
silent onlookers/actors without speaking parts

297
act
event/theatrical performance

298
fell
cruel

299
strict
rigorously just/unrelenting, stern

299
arrest
taking into custody/halting (of my words)

301
causes
grievances, grounds for revenge

302
unsatisfied
uninformed/those who wish to know

304
antique Roman
one of the ancient Romans, who viewed suicide as a noble alternative to an unworthy life

311
felicity
happiness, bliss

318
o’er-crows
triumphs over (an image from cockfighting)

320
th’election
i.e. the selection of the next king of Denmark

321
voice
vote/support

322
occurrents
events

323
solicited
prompted this

323
O … o!
a dying groan is represented thus in several plays of the period

326.1
Colours
battle flags

328
would
wish to

330
quarry
pile of dead game after a hunt

330
quarry … havoc
mound of bodies proclaims total slaughter and destruction

331
toward
imminent/being prepared

331
cell
small dwelling

334
dismal
ominous/calamitous/depressing

336
The ears
i.e. Claudius’ ears

343
jump
precisely