4 myrtles evergreen shrubs or small trees
7 moan lament, sadness
10 Leaned … thorn in order to stay awake and sing of her sorrows all night, the nightingale supposedly rested her breast upon a sharp thorn (though the poem takes place in the day)
14 Tereu Philomel was raped by her brother-in-law, Tereus, and then metamorphosed into a nightingale
15 complain lament, express sorrow
17 lively vividly
23 King Pandion Philomel’s father
24 lapped in lead buried in lead coffins
28 beguiled deceived
35 crowns gold coins
36 want lack/need
37 prodigal lavish, extravagant
40 ‘Pity … king’ what a pity he is not a king
43 bent inclined
44 at commandement (women) at their disposal (commandement is tetrasyllabic, i.e. has four syllables metrically)
52 wake cannot sleep
1 by Shakespeare, a version of Sonnet 138
2 by Shakespeare, a version of Sonnet 144
3 by Shakespeare, a version of Longaville’s sonnet to Maria in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 4 Scene 3)
4 perhaps by Bartholomew Griffin, though conceivably by Shakespeare
5 by Shakespeare, a version of Berowne’s sonnet to Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 4 scene 2)
6 probably by Bartholomew Griffin, though conceivably by Shakespeare
7 authorship uncertain
8 by Richard Barnfield
9 authorship uncertain (possibly Bartholomew Griffin)
10 authorship uncertain
11 almost certainly by Bartholomew Griffin (a variant version appears in his Fidessa, published in 1596)
12 authorship uncertain; the poem is the first stanza of “A maiden’s choice twixt age and youth,” a poem in Thomas Deloney’s collection Garland of Good Will (the earliest surviving edition of which is from 1631); it was probably first printed in the 1590s
13 authorship uncertain
14 authorship uncertain
15 authorship unknown
16 by Shakespeare—Dumaine’s poem to Katherine in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 4 scene 3); also printed, with slight variations, in England’s Helicon (1600)
17 authorship uncertain—possibly by Richard Barnfield; also printed in Thomas Weelkes’ Madrigals (1597) and in England’s Helicon (1600)
18 authorship uncertain
19 Sir Hugh Evans sings parts of this in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Act 3 scene 1); in England’s Helicon (1600) it is attributed to Christopher Marlowe
20 by Richard Barnfield; it first appeared in Poems in Diverse Humours (1598); a shorter version was printed in England’s Helicon (1600)
1 dial clock
11 Shrovetide the three days immediately preceding the season of Lent; this epilogue was written for a court performance by Shakespeare’s company on Shrove Tuesday, 20 February 1599
14 boards tables
“LET … LAY” untitled when originally published, this poem has been known since the early 1800s as “The Phoenix and Turtle”
1 bird … lay never positively identified within the poem; the following line suggests that it might refer to the mythological Arabian phoenix
lay song
3 trumpet trumpeter
5 shrieking harbinger often identified as the screech owl, regarded as a bird of ill omen whose cry heralded death
6 precurrer precursor
fiend devil
7 Augur predictor (literally soothsayer who made predictions based on the behavior of birds)
9 session sitting (of court or parliament)
interdict prohibit
10 fowl … wing bird of prey/usurper, despot
11 Save except
12 obsequy funeral rites
strict restricted, exclusive/rigorously maintained
13 surplice ecclesiastical garment (here, the swan’s white feathers)
14 defunctive deathly, funereal
can knows
15 death-divining the swan was thought to know that its own death was coming, at which point it would sing
16 his right what is due (either to the swan or to the requiem; puns on “rite”)
17 treble-dated living three times the normal span
18 sable gender black offspring; the crow was thought to reproduce chastely through the touching of beaks and exchange of breath
21 anthem piece of music or song of praise
23 Phoenix mythological Arabian bird which lived for five hundred years, was consumed by fire, and then reborn from the ashes; only one existed at a time
turtle turtledove, a bird renowned for love and constancy
fled have departed this life
24 In … flame together in one flame
25 So … as they so loved that
twain two
26 essence … one essential irreducible quality of one thing
27 distincts separate things
28 Number the concept of plurality
29 remote apart
asunder separated
30 Distance distance and proximity was seen
32 But … wonder in anyone other than them it would have been extraordinary
34 right due, what belonged to him
35 sight eyes, gaze
36 Either … mine they belonged to each other/each was the source of the other’s wealth
37 Property ownership/self-possession
38 the same itself
39 Single … called i.e. their nature was both separate and united, so it could not properly be called either one or two
41 confounded confused/overthrown
42 division grow together separateness resolve into one
43 To … neither i.e. each one was nothing without the other
44 Simple a single unmixed substance
compounded combined
45 it i.e. Reason
true truly/faithful
46 concordant harmonious
48 what … remain separate elements remain so united
51 Co-supremes joint rulers
52 THRENOS threnody, funeral lament
59 posterity offspring
60 infirmity physical inability
64 Truth … be i.e. since both truth and beauty are buried with the phoenix and the turtle, whatever appears like them cannot really be so
65 repair make their way
love loyalty and respect (though of course the word can signify a more personal affection also)
pamphlet short publication (a modest way of referring to this longer work)
without beginning Lucrece begins in medias res (in the middle of the story)
moiety small part
warrant assurance/guarantee (possibly suggesting that Shakespeare had been rewarded for Venus and Adonis)
What … done i.e. Venus and Adonis and Lucrece
what … do future work
being you being
my … greater i.e. I would have been able to produce a greater poem
Lucius Tarquinius last king of Rome (reigned 535–510 BC)
Superbus “proud” (Latin)
Servius Tullius sixth king of Rome (reigned 578–535 BC), killed when his daughter, Tullia, drove her chariot over him
requiring or staying asking or waiting
suffrages votes
Ardea a city of the Latin Rutuli people, about twenty-five miles south of Rome
humour mood
posted rode with speed
make trial of test
avouched asserted
several disports various amusements (sexual connotations)
privily secretly
according … estate in accordance with his status
Collatium Collatia, a town ten miles northeast of Rome
ravished raped
habit clothing
actor culprit
dealing conduct (with grim play on sense of
“copulation”)
withal with that
wherewith at which
1 post haste
2 trustless untrustworthy
false treacherous
3 Lust-breathèd inspired by or well-exercised in lust
host army
4 lightless smoldering, giving no light
5 aspire rise, break into flames (perhaps with connotations of penile erection)
6 girdle encircle, embrace
8 Haply perhaps, by chance
unhapp’ly unhappily/by mischance
9 bateless impossible to blunt
keen sharp/eager
10 let cease, stint
11 red and white i.e. of her complexion
12 triumphed … delight i.e. shone triumphantly in her face
13 mortal stars i.e. Lucrece’s eyes
14 aspects glances/astral positions (which, according to astrology, influenced human affairs)
peculiar duties expressions of deference that were exclusive to him
19 proud rate glorious price
20 espousèd married/attached to
21 But but neither
peerless unequaled, incomparable
22 of by
23 done over, destroyed
25 Against exposed to
26 expired … begun period which has run out, rendered void before properly started
28 fortressed defended
29 of in
31 apology argument, justification
32 singular notable, eminent/exceptional, oustanding
33 publisher publicizer
36 Perchance perhaps
sov’reignty preeminence
37 Suggested tempted, incited
proud arrogant (plays on sense of “sexually desirous”)
issue offspring
40 Braving compare defying comparison
41 high-pitched proud, ambitious
meaner lesser, lower ranking
vaunt brag, boast of
42 hap fortune
want lack/desire
43 untimely inopportune
44 all-too-timeless over-hasty
45 state high status
46 with … intent determined to act swiftly
47 liver considered the seat of the passions, especially sexual desire
48 heat lust
49 still blasts always withers
53 underprop support, maintain
55 despite spite
57 in … intitulèd entitled to that white
fair pale, white
field battlefield/surface of a shield on which the heraldic device is displayed (i.e. Lucrece’s face)
59 Virtue … red i.e. as red is the color of modest blushes
60 golden age mythical first age of perfection and happiness
gild tinge with gold or red
61 shield protection/insignia
63 assailed attacked
fence defend
64 heraldry heraldic symbolism
65 Argued (disputed over and) demonstrated
67 world’s minority the beginnings of time
68 still constantly
70 seat throne
73 traitor eye encloses treacherous gaze is surrounded
77 in over
79 niggard prodigal i.e. both inadequate, yet unwisely lavish in her praises
82 doth owe has yet to pay
83 answers makes good, pays
surmise conjecture, imagination
84 still-gazing gazing uninterruptedly
88 limed caught with birdlime, a sticky substance smeared on branches
secret deceptive, containing a trap
89 securely unsuspectingly
cheer welcome, hospitable entertainment
90 reverend respectful
92 that i.e. his inward will
coloured concealed
93 pleats folds (of cloth as if his majesty were a cloak)
94 That so that
inordinate irregular, out of the ordinary
97 so … store feels so deprived despite having so much
98 pineth starves/yearns
99 coped encountered (literally, fought/embraced sexually)
stranger a stranger’s
100 parling speaking/negotiating (military term)
101 subtle shining secrecies sly secret thoughts that gleamed in his eyes
102 margents margins
103 touched no sensed, guessed at/had nothing to do with (plays on sense of “had no sexual contact with”)
104 moralize interpret
wanton sight lascivious gaze
105 More … light other than to note that his eyes gleamed in the light
106 stories relates
108 decks adorns
110 bruisèd arms dented armor
111 heaved-up raised
112 greets i.e. thanks
116 fair clear, cloud-free
welkin sky, i.e. face
117 sable black
119 vaulty cellarlike/having an arched roof
stows stores
121 Intending pretending
heavy spright sleepy spirits
122 questionèd conversed
123 wore out passed
125 to … betake goes to bed
126 cares troubles, anxiety
127 revolving turning over in his mind
128 sundry various
of … obtaining involved in achieving his sexual desires
130 weak-built hopes little expectation of success
131 traffic … gaining often trades dishonestly for profit
132 treasure quibbles on sense of “vagina”
meed reward
133 adjunct the consequence
supposed anticipated, thought of
134 fond foolish/infatuated with
135 that … bond i.e. they waste what they do have in an attempt to get what they do not
137 hoping hoping for
139 surfeit overindulge and become ill
sustain suffer
144 one … gage i.e. we’re willing to stake everything
145 As such as
fell fierce, savage
148 ventr’ing ill undertaking a foolish risk/venturing to commit a sin
leave cease
149 expect hope for
150 infirmity weakness
151 defect insufficiency
153 wit sense, intelligence
154 augmenting i.e. seeking to augment
155 hazard a risk, gamble
doting foolish/infatuated
157 forsake abandon
160 confounds defeats, overthrows
164 comfortable comforting
165 death-boding cries animal noises which foretold death; the sounds of owls and wolves were considered ill omens
166 season time
surprise attack suddenly
167 silly defenseless
170 mantle cloak
rudely roughly
174 betake … retire withdraw
175 rude violent/uncivilized/unruly
176 falchion curved sword
smiteth strikes
179 lodestar guiding light
180 advisedly deliberately
183 premeditate ponder upon, anticipate
188 His … lust his poor defense of his intentions, namely lust, which is always destroyed upon being satisfied
189 justly rightfully, rationally
192 unhallowed wicked, unholy
196 weed garment
198 grave memorial tomb, i.e. the future reputation of his family
200 soft unmanly, effeminate
fancy’s desire’s
201 still always
202 digression moral deviation
205 golden coat royal coat of arms
206 loathsome dash mark of dishonor in the coat of arms
207 cipher me express, symbolize
fondly foolishly/infatuatedl
y
did dote was infatuated/behaved madly
208 note mark, sign
209 hold it for consider it
212 froth perhaps with connotations of semen
214 toy trifle
217 straight immediately
220 Post hasten
221 engirt surrounded
222 blur blemish
224 ever-during everlasting
225 invention imagination, ingenuity
228 eyes … light eyes were thought to see by emitting beams of light
229 doth still exceed is even greater
230 fly flee
232 sire father
235 work upon strive to persuade/have sex with
236 quittal requital, payment
239 fact crime
241 not her own i.e. she is married
243 will intention/sexual desire (could also mean “penis”)
past … removing beyond the power of reason to dissuade
244 Who he who
sentence moral maxim
saw saying
245 painted cloth wall hanging depicting scenes from moral or biblical tales (a cheaper substitute for tapestries)
246 graceless merciless/impious
disputation debate
248 makes dispensation dispenses
249 for vantage still constantly to advantage
250 confound destroy, overthrow
251 effects influences
253 Quoth said
255 hard bad
258 lawn fine linen
259 took having been taken
261 it i.e. Tarquin’s hand
262 Which refers to her fear
it i.e. Lucrece’s hand
265 Narcissus in Greek mythology, a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool; in some versions of the tale he drowned attempting to embrace himself
267 colour pretext
269 Poor … abuses worthless, lowly people feel remorse for their trivial misdemeanors
271 Affection passion, lust
272 gaudy brightly colored
273 The coward i.e. even the coward
dismayed discouraged, overcome with fear
274 avaunt be gone
Debating, die! Let debate cease!
276 countermand revoke a command from
277 Sad serious
beseems suit, befit
280 sinking perhaps, bearing in mind the vaginal connotations of treasure, plays on sense of “sexual penetration”
281 heedful mindful, wary
282 unresisted irresistible
284 fond mistrust foolish doubt
285 servitors attendants
286 cross thwart
opposite persuasion conflicting advice
287 league alliance
290 confounds his wits overthrows his reason
291 as more divine since it’s more clear-sighted and rational
292 view sight/judgment
incline be disposed