5 against the bias contrary to the desired course (a bias is the weight in the ball that enables it to be bowled in a curve)
7 measure due proportion/stately dance step
8 measure limit
14 wanting lacking
15 remember remind
16 being altogether had as I am entirely possessed by it
17 want lack
19 boots not is useless complain lament
21 ’Tis … cause i.e. it is a good thing that you are happy enough to do so
28 My I’ll wager my row of pins i.e. insignificant items
29 state affairs of state, politics
30 Against in anticipation of forerun with heralded by
31 apricocks apricots
32 sire father, i.e. tree that bears them
33 oppression burden prodigal excessive
34 supportance support
36 sprays shoots
37 lofty tall/proud, ambitious
38 even equal
40 noisome noxious, harmful
41 wholesome healthy
42 compass limits pale fenced area, enclosure
44 model copy in miniature firm estate settled situation/secure kingdom
48 knots intricately designed flower beds
51 suffered permitted/undergone
52 fall of leaf i.e. autumn
59 seized taken into custody
60 trimmed adorned
61 at time of year in season
63 over-proud too swollen
64 confound ruin
68 bearing fertile, fruit-bearing
69 crown king’s crown/leafy head of a tree
72 Depressed humbled, lowered in fortune
73 doubted feared
76 pressed to death a punishment that involved pressing suspects with heavy weights until they pleaded innocent or guilty, or died
77 Adam in the Bible, the first man; he was in charge of cultivating the Garden of Eden until he was tempted into sin by Eve, who had been tricked by the devil in the guise of a serpent
79 suggested tempted
83 Divine prophesy
87 hold grasp/custody
90 vanities follies light of little weight/frivolous
93 odds advantage
94 Post hasten
97 embassage message/errand belong to i.e. concern
103 triumph public festivity, triumphal procession
106 so provided state situation/royal status
109 rue herb symbolizing repentance and grace sour bitter, sad
110 e’en for ruth for sheer pity
4 wrought worked/arranged
5 office task/duty timeless untimely/everlasting
9 unsay deny, retract
10 dead fatal, deadly/secret, dark/past
11 of length long
16 crowns gold coins
17 Than than have
18 withal besides
21 base contemptible/low-born
22 stars birth, rank/destiny
23 On … chastisement? To correct/punish him as if we were equals?
25 th’attainder the dishonorable slur, accusation
26 manual … death gauntlet (glove thrown down as a gage)/death warrant sealed by my hand
30 temper steely firmness/condition
31 forbear stop
32 one i.e. Bullingbrook
33 moved roused, angered
34 stand insist sympathy equal rank (in an opponent)
35 in gage engaged
37 vauntingly boastfully
39 deniest two syllables (“deny’st”)
40 turn return
46 appeal accusation
48 th’extremest … breathing i.e. the death
50 An if if
51 more again
55 in presence present
61 render return
65 Engage … trial accept it and thus pledge yourself to combat (trial)
66 fondly foolishly forward eager
68 wilderness i.e. even somewhere remote or where no help is available
71 tie bind correction punishment, rebuke
78 That to assert that
79 repealed called back from exile try test in combat
80 differences disputes rest under gage remain challenges
83 signories estates
84 enforce his trial make sure that the combat takes place
87 field i.e. battle
88 Streaming the ensign flying the banner
94 colours battle flags
97 bosom … Abraham i.e. heaven
98 appellants who have made formal accusations
102 plume-plucked humbled, stripped of his glory
105 descending i.e. being passed to an heir
108 Marry by the Virgin Mary
109 Worst of lowest rank
110 beseeming befitting (as he is a clergyman)
113 noblesse nobility
114 Learn teach
117 by present
118 apparent obvious
119 figure image
122 subject i.e. of a subject
125 heinous grave/wicked obscene repulsive, foul
131 manure fertilize (after being spilled)
135 kind countrymen confound bring to ruin
138 field battlefield Golgotha Calvary (called “the place of skulls”), the hill outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified
139 house royal family/Parliament
148 suit request (that the terms of Richard’s abdication be declared publicly to Parliament)
150 surrender abdicate
152 conduct escort
154 sureties guarantors (who will vouch for your appearance) answer trial
155 beholding indebted
156 little looked for little expected your love regalia crown and scepter
160 insinuate ingratiate myself
163 favours faces/support, kindness/gifts
164 sometime formerly
165 twelve i.e. the twelve disciples
168 priest and clerk in church services the priest said prayers to which the clerk responded “Amen”
171 service puns on the sense of “church service”
173 tired majesty exhausted, weary dignity/sovereign power
176 seize grasp/take legal possession of/arrest
179 owes owns, possesses filling one another the rising of the full bucket causes the other to be lowered and filled
189 Your … down your assumption of the anxieties and obligations of kingship does not detract from my grief; in the following lines Richard plays on several senses of care: kingly responsibility/personal grief/concern
190 by … done caused by my former inadequate responsibility
193 tend attend, follow
195 Ay puns on “I” no puns on “know”
197 mark me note undo bring to naught, destroy, unmake
200 sway rule
204 release … oaths release my subjects from their oaths of allegiance to me
205 forswear reject
210 with nothing grieved not grieved at all/grieved with the fact that I have nothing
223 ravel out unravel
224 Gentle noble/kind
226 troop company
227 read a lecture read out an account (as though preaching a lesson)
228 article item forming part of an accusation
230 warrant guarantee
233 bait harass, torment (like a bear being baited for sport)
234 Pilate Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judaea involved in the crucifixion of Christ, but who washed his hands before the discontented crowd as a means of exonerating himself from blame
236 sour bitter, harsh
238 dispatch make haste, get on with it
241 sort pack, gang
245 T’undeck to undress, to strip of ornament pompous splendid, ceremonially dressed
249 haught haughty, arrogant
251 at the font i.e. at my christening
255 mocke
ry imitation/subject of ridicule
259 An if if sterling valid currency
261 what what kind of
262 his its
263 some i.e. one glass mirror
276 beguile deceive
278 keep maintain
279 wink blink, shut their eyes
280 faced covered over/countenanced, sanctioned
281 out-faced defied, challenged/replaced by
284 shivers shards, fragments
285 moral significance, true meaning
287 shadow reflection/dark, gloomy shade (Richard develops the sense to include delusive semblance, “thing without substance”)
292 manner forms
298 boon favor
305 to as
313 convey escort (Richard goes on to play on the sense of “steal”)
316 set down appoint the time for
322 pernicious destructive
324 take the sacrament receive Holy Communion (as a means of confirming your word)
325 bury conceal
2 Julius Caesar it was a popular notion that the Roman emperor built the Tower of London; in fact, it was erected by William the Conqueror ill-erected built for wicked ends and with evil consequences
3 flint i.e. hard
4 doomed judged/consigned to some adverse fate
11 model ground plan, outline Troy supposedly founded by the Trojan Brutus, London was often referred to as the New Troy
12 map outline, image
13 inn house/place of temporary lodging
14 hard-favoured ugly
15 ale-house cheap, lowly place of lodging
18 state situation/kingship
20 sworn brother the devoted, loyal friend
22 league bond of friendship, allegiance Hie hurry
23 cloister seclude, conceal religious house convent
24 new world’s i.e. heaven’s
26 shape physical appearance
31 To be at being
32 rod punishment cane
35 beasts beastly men aught but anything other than
36 still yet/always happy fortunate
37 sometime former
42 long ago betid that happened long ago
43 quit requite, repay grief i.e. mournful tales
46 why this cause brands burning logs sympathize feel for, respond to
47 heavy accent sorrowful tone moving talking/affecting, stirring to sorrow
48 weep literally, exude resin as they burn
49 some i.e. of the firewood (brands)
52 Pomfret Pontefract Castle, in Yorkshire
53 order ta’en instructions issued, arrangements made
55 wherewithal by means of which
57 many … age i.e. older
58 head to a head (of a boil, with play on the sense of “insurrection”)
59 corruption pus (plays on the sense of “sin, destruction”)
60 Though he even if he were to
61 helping you having helped
62 which who
63 unrightful illegitimate
67 one or both i.e. either usurping king or his collaborator
68 worthy well-deserved
70 part separate (from the queen; sense then shifts to “depart”)
72 ’twixt betwixt, between
74 unkiss annul with a kiss
77 pines afflicts, wastes away
78 from whence from where; Isabel was daughter to the French king
80 Hallowmas November 1, All Saints’ Day short’st of day the winter solstice, shortest day of the year
84 were would show
88 be … near not being together near nearer
92 piece … out lengthen the journey
95 stop stop up, silence
97 ’Twere … me it would do no good to take it upon myself (part plays on the sense of “parting” and “body part, organ”)
98 kill i.e. with sorrow
101 wanton playful, unrestrained, self-indulgent fond foolish/doting
102 adieu goodbye
3 cousins kinsmen, i.e. Richard and Bullingbrook; York was their uncle
4 leave break off
6 rude unkind, uncivilized, rough misgoverned unruly, unrestrained windows’ tops upper windows
10 Which i.e. which horse aspiring ambitious
15 casements windows
17 painted imagery the people, or speaking figures in painted wall-coverings
20 Bareheaded removing one’s hat was a sign of respect or deference
21 Bespake addressed
22 still continually
23 the whilst during this
25 well-graced attractive/skilled/well-regarded, favored
26 idly unenthusiastically/inattentively
33 combating with fighting between
34 badges signs/livery
36 perforce of necessity
39 bound bind/limit, confine contents contentment
41 state regality, kingship aye ever, i.e. fully
45 Rutland for his support of Richard, Aumerle lost his status as duke, though he retained the title Earl of Rutland
46 pledge … truth guarantor of his loyalty
47 fealty allegiance
48 violets i.e. court favorites
49 spring i.e. Bullingbrook’s kingship
51 as lief as soon, rather
52 bear you conduct yourself
53 cropped cut down/beheaded
54 Hold go ahead triumphs public festivities
58 seal i.e. seal attached to the bottom of a document (which Aumerle apparently carries in his doublet or jacket)
69 bond financial agreement (retained by the creditor)
70 against in preparation for
84 appeach denounce, inform against
89 answer answer for
92 amazed stunned, confused
93 villain rogue/servant
96 own i.e. own child
98 teeming date time for child-bearing
102 fond foolish/doting
105 interchangeably reciprocally (so each of the conspirators has a copy of the agreement)
107 be none not be one of them
108 that i.e. the plot/the actions of the conspirators
111 groaned i.e. in labor
121 his horse i.e. grab his saddled horse and ride out first
122 post speedily
126 the ground i.e. kneeling
1 unthrifty extravagant, dissolute son Prince Hal, later Henry V
7 loose immoral, wasteful
9 watch night watchmen passengers travelers
10 effeminate frivolous, self-indulgent, immature
11 Takes on the undertakes as a
15 gallant fashionable young man/fine fellow
16 stews brothels/part of a city occupied by houses of ill fame
17 common’st most whorish, promiscuous creature prostitute glove with vaginal connotations
18 favour love token (worn by knights in jousts) with that wearing the token
19 unhorse plays on the sense of “deprive of a whore” lustiest most vigorous (plays on the sense of “most licentious”)
20 desp’rate reckless both i.e. both flaws
22 happily with favorable destiny/with a happy result
24 stares gapes, looks horrorstruck
29 grow i.e. be fixed
31 a pardon i.e. I am granted a pardon
34 after-love future loyalty
40 safe harmless, i.e. dead
41 Stay withhold
42 secure overconfident
43 speak treason i.e. by having to use such disrespectful terms
49 haste i.e. breathlessness
50 passed just made
52 hand signature
58 strong flagrant/significant, dangerous
60 sheer pure, clear fountain spring
62 held his current taken its course
65 deadly blot fatal sin/ink signature digressing deviating from its course/transgressing morally
66 bawd pimp, procurer
67 spend waste/may play on the sense of “ejaculate”
68 scraping money-saving
72 true loyal
79 ‘The … King’ probably refers to a ballad telling the popular tale of King Cophetua and the beggar maid he fell in love with
83 for as a result of
84 festered corrupt/diseased
85 let alone left untreated confound destroy
87 itself i.e. its own flesh and blood, one’s son
88 frantic mad
89 dugs breasts
94 happy happy/fortunate person
98 true loyal
100 in jest pretend
102 would wishes to
118 meet fitting
119 ‘pardonnez-moi’ French for “pardon me,” i.e. excuse me for refusing your request
124 chopping meaning-shifting, logic-chopping/affected
127 plaints laments
128 rehearse pronounce/repeat
130 sue beg
131 suit request (puns on the sense of “suit of cards,” an image maintained in hand)
133 happy joyous/fortunate vantage profit, gain/advantageous position
135 twain divide in two
139 for as for brother-in-law i.e. the Duke of Exeter the i.e. and the
140 consorted conspiring
142 several separate, various
147 prove i.e. make sure you prove
8 wistly intently, meaningfully
9 As as one
1 studying thinking about, dwelling on
3 for because because
7 beget conceive
8 still-breeding constantly reproducing
10 humours dispositions, moods
12 As such as
13 scruples doubts faith i.e. religious belief, as manifested through Scripture
14 ‘Come, little ones’ from the Bible (Luke 18:16; also Matthew 19:14)
16 ‘It … eye’ biblical (Luke 18:25; also Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25)
17 postern back or side gate
21 ragged rough, rugged
22 for because pride prime/arrogance
23 content acceptance
25 silly simple/lowly/helpless
26 stocks contraption for public punishment in which the arms or legs were confined refuge take refuge from, reduce
27 That with the thought that
31 prison most editions follow Quarto’s “person,” but Folio’s “prison” seems to be a purposeful alteration, not a printer’s error
33 treason thoughts of treason
34 penury poverty
36 by and by soon
38 straight straightaway
39 but man is is merely mortal
40 nothing anything
41 nothing i.e. dead
43 proportion musical time, rhythm
45 daintiness sensitivity
46 string individual string/musical instrument
47 concord harmony
49 waste decay