Richard II (29 page)
Authors: William Shakespeare
180
but gilded
merely covered with gold, superficially fair
loam
earth, clay
181
ten-times-barred-up
i.e. extremely secure
chest
plays on the sense of “torso”
183
in one
together, inseparably
185
try
put to the test
189
crest-fall’n
humbled/abashed
190
impeach my height
discredit my high rank, stoop
191
out-dared
cowed/terrified
dastard
coward
193
parle
truce (literally trumpet call instigating negotiation)
194
motive
instrument, i.e. tongue
recanting
renouncing a belief/making a public confession of error
195
his
its (the tongue’s)
196
harbour
dwell/shelter
197
sue
beg
200
Saint Lambert’s day
September 17
202
swelling
growing/inflated with pride
settled
fixed, unchanging
203
atone
set at one, reconcile
204
design
designate, identify
chivalry
valor or prowess in war
206
home alarms
domestic calls to arms
1
part … blood
i.e. my kinship to Gloucester (who was John of Gaunt’s brother)
2
solicit
urge
exclaims
outcries, exclamations
3
stir
take action
4
those hands
i.e. Richard’s (whom Gaunt holds responsible for Gloucester’s death)
11
Edward
Edward III
15
Destinies
the Fates in classical mythology who cut the thread of life with their shears
19
liquor
liquid
20
faded
faded, withered
21
envy’s
malice’s
23
metal
substance (puns on “mettle,” i.e. disposition)
self-mould
selfsame mold/mold from which the self is made
25
consent
assent, acquiesce
28
model
copy, image
30
suff’ring
allowing
31
naked
i.e. defenseless
33
mean
lowly, humble
36
venge
avenge
37
Heaven’s … deputy
i.e. Richard who, as king, was held to be God’s earthly representative
38
anointed … sight
i.e. marked with holy oil at Westminster Abbey, the part of the coronation ceremony that signified the sacred nature of the king
42
complaint myself
lodge a formal complaint
43
champion
defender
46
cousin
kinsman
fell
cruel, fierce
49
career
charge of the horse in combat
51
courser
swift powerful horse ridden in battle
52
lists
area of combat (literally, the barriers enclosing it)
53
caitiff
cowardly, villainous
recreant
faith-breaker
54
thy sometimes
formerly your
58
boundeth
rebounds
62
brother
i.e. brother-in-law
63
Lo
look
66
Plashy
the Duke of Gloucester’s country estate in Essex
69
offices
servants’ quarters
2
at all points
completely, in every respect
3
sprightfully
full of high spirits
4
Stays
awaits
appellant
accuser, challenger
5
champions
contenders
Flourish
trumpet fanfare accompanying a person in authority
When
…
set
a Quarto direction, omitted from Folio, indicating that the king, as umpire, should be set upon a raised throne
7
demand
ask
9
orderly
duly, properly
13
quarrel
complaint
18
defend
forbid
20
succeeding
subsequent/who will inherit the throne
issue
children
Tucket
personal trumpet call
28
plated
armored
habiliments
clothing, attire
30
Depose him
take his sworn deposition
31
wherefore
why
43
daring-hardy
recklessly bold
touch
i.e. interfere in
45
fair
lawful, proper
51
several
respective/various
55
as
insofar as, to the extent to which
56
royal fight
because held in the king’s presence
57
my blood
Richard’s reference is ambiguous; Bullingbrook was his cousin but all subjects were the king’s and part of the body politic
59
profane
wrongfully let fall
66
lusty
vigorous, robust
cheerly
cheerfully
67
regreet
salute, welcome
68
daintiest
most delicious
70
regenerate
reborn, renewed
71
twofold
i.e. father’s and son’s
73
proof
impenetrability
75
waxen
i.e. soft, vulnerable
76
furbish
polish
77
’haviour
behavior, actions
81
amazing
stupefying/terrifying
casque
helmet
82
pernicious
ruinous
84
Saint George
patron saint of England
90
enfranchisement
freedom
95
gentle
pleasant, friendly, courteous
jocund
joyful, cheerful
jest
amuse oneself/act in a masque
97
Securely
confidently
98
couchèd
lodged/at rest
99
Order
set in order/initiate
106
recreant
cowardly/unfaithful to duty
108
him
i.e. Bullingbrook
112
approve
prove
114
him
i.e. Mowbray
116
Attending
awaiting
charge
trumpet call signaling the beginning of combat
118
Stay
halt, stop
warder
staff or baton held by the king to symbolize his authority over the combat
119
lay by
put aside
122
return
inform
123
list
listen to
124
For that
because
125
dear
beloved/costly
126
for
because
aspect
sight
128
boist’rous
noisy, raucous/violent
130
shock
clash in combat
136
regreet
see again
137
stranger
foreign
144
sly
stealthy
determinate
put to an end
145
dateless limit
unlimited term
dear
heartfelt/grievous
147
life
i.e. loss of life
149
unlooked for
unexpected
150
merit
reward
maim
wound
151
common
ordinary/open
157
cunning
skillfully made/requiring skill to play
158
open
not in its case
159
touch
fingering/skill
161
portcullised
shut in, as if with a portcullis (defensive iron grille, usually of a castle)
168
boots
profits
compassionate
lamenting piteously
169
plaining
complaining
171
solemn
burdensome/dark/mournful
175
Our part therein
i.e. the duty you owe to me as king
180
regreet
greet (one another) again
181
louring
darkly threatening
182
advisèd
considered, deliberate
183
complot
conspire in
187
so far as
let me say this much
190
sepulchre
tomb
192
fly
flee
194
clogging
encumbering (like a clog, a block of wood attached to the neck or leg to prevent escape)
199
rue
regret, lament
200
stray
take the wrong road/go wrong
201
Save
except
202
glasses
windows
203
aspect
look
208
wanton
abundant, flourishing
212
vantage
advantage
214
times
seasonal cycles
215
oil-dried
empty of oil
time-bewasted
used up by time
216
extinct
extinguished
217
taper
candle
218
blindfold death
refers to the eyeless skull that symbolized death and/or to the idea of death depriving Gaunt of the power to see
224
pilgrimage
i.e. journey through life
225
current
valid, genuine (as a legitimate coin)
226
dead
i.e. once I am dead
227
advice
counsel, consideration, judgment
228
party-verdict
share in the collective decision (of the king’s advisers)
229
lour
frown, look gloomy
233
looked when
expected that, waited for
234
make … away
banish my own child
235
leave
permission
239
presence … know
I cannot learn of you in person/what the royal court shall not know
240
paper
i.e. letters
245
few
i.e. few words
246
office
function
prodigal
extravagant
247
breathe
utter
dolour
sorrow