263 dismember mutilate, tear limb from limb
266 Father i.e. father-in-law
272 Cousin i.e. kinsman
272 puissance power/army
274 condition nature/stipulation
276 dearest-valued i.e. royal/life-sustaining
280 threats threatens
280 hie hasten
3.2 Alarums calls to battle
3.2 excursions fighting (across the stage)
2 airy devil aerial demons were associated with storms and, here, battle
4 Philip i.e. the Bastard
4 breathes catches his breath
4.1 Hubert probably based on Hubert de Burgh, chief judicial officer under King John
5 keep look after/guard
5 make up move forward, press on
6 assailèd attacked
7 ta’en taken, captured
10 liege lord, superior entitled to feudal allegiance and service
10 pains … labour a birth metaphor
11 happy end fortunate outcome/pleasing conclusion
11.1 retreat call for withdrawal of army
12 stay behind i.e. remain behind in charge of John’s territories
17 Haste before hurry ahead (of us)
19 angels gold coins (playing on the sense of “heavenly angels”)
22 commission warrant/authority
22 his its
23 Bell … candle items involved in the ceremony of excommunication
24 becks beckons
28 gentle kind/noble
29 Coz cousin
34 advantage profit/interest
34 pay repay
35 voluntary freely offered, willing
36 bosom i.e. heart
38 tune i.e. words, speech
40 respect regard
41 bounden indebted, obliged
48 wanton lively, playful
48 gauds showy playthings, attractive trifles
49 give me audience listen to me
49 midnight bell i.e. bell tolling midnight
50 brazen made of brass/shameless
51 Sound on continue striking
51 race course
56 else otherwise
57 idiot clown/fool
57 keep occupy, hold captive
59 passion emotion
62 conceit thought
64 despite spite
64 watchful wakeful/vigilant
67 troth faith
68 what whatever
69 adjunct to attendant upon, linked to
73 yon yonder, that
78 so in such a way
88 powers forces
90 cousin i.e. Arthur
91 man servant
1 flood sea
2 armado armada, fleet
2 convicted defeated
3 fellowship puns on “fellow ships”
5 run fared/followed a course
7 Divers various/several
8 bloody bloodstained/violent
8 England the King of England
9 O’erbearing overcoming
9 interruption resistance, obstacles
9 spite in defiance
11 hot active, vigorous, quick
11 advice prudence
11 disposed handled
12 temperate calm, composed
13 want example lack precedent
14 kindred related, allied in qualities
14 like similar
16 So provided that
16 pattern previous example
17 grave i.e. shell of the body, mere container
21 issue outcome
21 peace i.e. agreement, treaty
23 defy reject
23 counsel advice
23 redress assistance, comfort
24 But except
25 amiable lovable
26 odoriferous sweet-smelling
26 sound wholesome, healthy
27 lasting everlasting
30 vaulty empty/sepulchral
32 gap of breath i.e. mouth
32 fulsome repulsive
33 carrion skeletal/rotting
35 buss kiss
37 affliction i.e. afflicted one
41 fell terrible/cruel
41 anatomy skeleton
43 modern commonplace, everyday
43 invocation entreaty
45 belie slander
50 like likely
54 sensible of sensitive to, capable of feeling
55 reasonable part rational faculty
56 delivered of released from (perhaps with connotations of childbirth)
59 clouts cloths/rags
61 different distinct, individual
61 plague affliction
62 Bind … tresses in her distress, Constance’s hair is loose and disheveled
64 silver drop i.e. tear
65 wiry friends i.e. hairs (wiry does not necessarily suggest “coarse, tough”)
66 sociable sympathetic
69 To … will Constance’s response to Philip’s invitation earlier in the scene
71 wherefore why
73 redeem liberate
75 envy at resent
79 know recognize/be acquainted with
81 Cain in the Bible, Adam and Eve’s eldest son (who killed his brother Abel)
82 suspire (first) breathe
83 gracious filled with divine grace/virtuous/delightful
84 canker-sorrow the gnawing worm of grief
84 bud i.e. young son
85 native natural
87 dim dull/pale
87 meagre gaunt
87 an ague’s fit (the victim of) a bout of shaking caused by fever
88 so in that way/in that condition
88 rising i.e. from death/into heaven
90 know recognize
92 heinous grave, severe
92 respect view
94 fond of doting on
95 room place
98 Remembers reminds
103 form orderly arrangement
108 outrage passionate act of violence (i.e. suicide)
109 joy feel happy, take pleasure
111 dull bored/inattentive/sleepy
112 word’s i.e. Life
113 That so that
115 in the instant at the precise moment
115 repair recovery
116 fit bout of illness
118 day i.e. battle (Lewis employs the more literal sense)
120 had would have (lost all those things)
121 means intends
124 accounts reckons
130 rub obstacle (a term from the game of bowls)
132 mark pay attention
134 infant young child/minor, too young to claim sovereignty (legal term)
135 misplaced i.e. usurping
135 entertain receive, experience
138 boisterously violently
140 Makes … no is not fussy about using any
140 stay prop, keep
141 That in order that
147 green young, inexperienced
148 lays you plots makes schemes for you
149 steeps soaks
149 true legitimate/royal
150 untrue deceptive/uncertain
152 zeal fervent loyalty
153 none … advantage not even the smallest opportunity
154 check inhibit, curb, control
154 reign rule (puns on “rein”)
155 exhalation vapor/meteor (considered a bad omen)
156 scope circumstance
156 distempered disordered/stormy
157 customèd customary, ordinary
158 pluck away disregard
158 his its
158 cause explanation
159 prodigies omens
160 Abortives abnormalities
160 presages signs, portents
161 denouncing declaring
163 hold consider
163 himself i.e. John
163 in his prisonment i.e. while
Arthur is John’s prisoner
164 approach arrival
168 kiss … of i.e. welcome
168 unacquainted unfamiliar
169 pick extract/find
169 strong matter of compelling reason for
170 Out … John i.e. in John’s crimes, symbolized by his bloodstained hands
171 hurly uproar, turmoil
171 on foot underway
172 breeds develops
176 call decoy, bait/call to arms
177 train lure
179 Anon instantly
181 wrought fashioned
182 top-full brim-full
182 offence hostility, sense of wrong (in reaction to John’s deeds)
183 whet on encourage (as if sharpening a sword)
184 strange actions unusual/unexpected military deeds
185 ay yes
4.1 Location: England, a prison
1 me for me
1 irons branding tools
1 look be sure
2 Within behind
2 arras large tapestry wall-hanging
5 heedful watchful/careful
6 bear out support, authorize
7 Uncleanly scruples improper concerns/concerns about being morally tainted
8 to say with something to say to
10 little young, small (Arthur then shifts the sense)
11 As … be I am as little a prince as possible, despite having claims to being much greater
12 sad serious, solemn
14 ’Mercy i.e. God’s mercy
17 sad serious/mournful/dark-colored
18 Only merely
18 wantonness foolish behavior/whim
18 by my christendom i.e. as I am a Christian
19 So provided that
21 doubt suspect, fear
22 practises plots
25 would wish
26 so if
27 prate chatter
29 dispatch put (him) to death/hurry up
31 sooth truth
32 watch stay awake
33 warrant assure (you)
35 rheum i.e. tears
36 Turning … door banishing pitiless torture
37 brief quick
37 resolution determination
39 fair writ written clearly, well
40 effect purpose
46 knit tied
46 handkercher handkerchief
47 wrought it embroidered it for
48 it you for it back from you
50 watchful time-keeping/wakeful/vigilant
51 Still and anon continually
51 heavy slow-moving/sad
52 lack you i.e. do you need
52 grief physical pain/sorrow
53 love act of kindness
54 lien lain
56 at … service i.e. to look after you through your illness
57 crafty devious
58 an if if
59 ill badly, wrongfully
65 iron age the present/the last and worst of the four classical ages: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron/a period of wickedness and cruelty (puns on irons)
66 heat heated
68 this its
69 Even … matter in the very substance, i.e. tears
71 But for containing merely because it contained
73 should have had
78 out put out/blinded
86 winch wince
87 angerly angrily
91 from away from
92 chid scolded/driven
97 remedy alternative/relief
99 mote particle of dust; making literal the biblical reference to “a mote in the eye,” i.e. a minor fault observed in another person by someone who ignores a greater fault of his or her own (Matthew 7:3)
101 annoyance irritation
101 sense organ of sense, i.e. eye
102 boisterous painful
104 Go to expression of irritated impatience
105 a brace (even) a pair
106 Must … pleading would not be sufficient to plead
107 Let me not do not make me
110 still always
111 troth faith
114 in good sooth truly
115 create created
116 undeserved extremes unjust cruelties
116 else otherwise, i.e. if it isn’t true
121 but only
123 perchance perhaps
123 sparkle in send sparks into
125 Snatch snap, bite
125 tarre provoke, urge
127 office proper function
128 extends offers
129 Creatures … uses instruments noted for compassion when they are not put to evil uses
131 owes owns
132 purpose intend
137 but anything other than that
138 doggèd doglike/cruel
139 doubtless without fear
141 offend harm
143 closely secretly
4.2 Location: England, the court of King John
4 once in a word/one occasion (that was)
7 Fresh new
8 state state of affairs/monarch
9 possessed invested, given possession (of the royal title)
9 double pomp second ceremony
10 guard adorn/protect
11 gild cover with a thin layer of gold
14 taper-light candlelight
15 eye of heaven i.e. the sun
17 But i.e. were it not
17 pleasure will/desire
20 unseasonable unsuitable (probably four syllable; Being at beginning of line may be monosyllabic for sake of meter)
21 antique old
21 well-noted well-known
22 form custom
22 disfigurèd altered
23 shifted changed (in direction)
24 It i.e. having a second coronation
24 fetch about change tack
25 consideration deep reflection
26 sound healthy
27 new a fashioned newly made/of new design
29 confound ruin
30 excusing … th’excuse i.e. excuses draw attention to faults rather than explaining them away
32 breach tear, hole
33 Discredit bring into disrepute
35 new crowned i.e. crowned again
36 breathed spoke
37 overbear overrule
39 make … at stop and give way for/resist
41 possessed you with informed you of
42 more … fear I shall give you further reasons that are as great as my fear is small
43 indue supply
47 tongue spokesperson
48 sound proclaim/discover the depth of
50 them they
51 Bend direct, focus
51 studies efforts
52 enfranchisement release
55 rest peace/freedom from exertion
55 in right rightfully
56 attend accompany
57 attend … wrong i.e. are bent toward wrongdoing
57 mew up confine
58 tender young
60 exercise occupations/gentlemanly physical training in the martial arts
61 That so that
61 this i.e. such an argument
62 grace occasions suit their purposes
62 suit request (that John earlier invited them to make)
64 goods personal benefits
65 weal welfare
66 Counts considers
67 commit entrust
68 direction responsibility (for Arthur’s upbringing)
70 should do who was to have done
72 heinous hateful, odious
73 Lives i.e. is apparent
73 close secretive
73 aspect appearance
74 Do most editions since the Fourth Folio emend to “Does,” but “Does show” sounds infelicitous: an elision Do’ show is possible (“Doth show” is also possible)
76 charge order
77 colour i.e. of his complexion (which alternates between pale and red)
79 ’twixt between
79 dreadful battles terrifying fighting forces
80 ripe swollen (like an abscess)
80 break burst
83 hold hold back
84 give i.e. grant your request
86 tonight last night
90 answered accounted for/recompensed
90 hence elsewhere/in the future/in the next world
91 brows faces, expressions
92 shears of destiny i.e. like Atropos, one of the three Fates, responsible for cutting the thread of life
93 commandment on control over
94 apparent evidently
95 greatness i.e. a king
95 grossly blatantly
95 offer undertake, venture to do
96 So thus, i.e. grossly
96 game intrigue, undertaking
99 forcèd compelled, brought about by violence
100 owed owned
101 the while in the meantime/while such things happen
103 doubt fear
105 sure secure
105 set i.e. built
107 fearful frightened
110 weather i.e. stormy news
111 From … England the messenger interprets John’s how goes (“how is it going”) in terms of literal movement (France invading England)
111 power army
112 preparation military expedition
113 levied mustered, raised
113 body length and breadth
114 copy example
117 intelligence military information, spies
118 care diligence
119 drawn gathered
124 frenzy madness/fit of agitation
126 idly casually
127 Occasion course of events
128 league alliance/truce
130 wildly disorderedly, without rule
130 walks goes, progresses
130 estate affairs/holdings
131 conduct leadership
132 for … out claim in the name of truth
135 Pomfret Pontefract in Yorkshire
136 proceedings course of action, i.e. to collect money from the monasteries
138 afeard afraid
139 unheard … head befall you without warning, i.e. it is better to be prepared for the worst
140 amazed stunned/bewildered
141 tide i.e. torrent of bad news
142 Aloft above, afloat in
144 sped succeeded/fared
145 express communicate/reveal
147 strangely fantasied full of strange imaginings
148 idle foolish/crazy
152 treading … heels i.e. following him closely
153 rude unlearned/lacking in polish
154 Ascension Day celebration of the feast of ascension of Christ into heaven, the Thursday forty days after Easter
155 deliver up surrender
161 safety safekeeping, i.e. custody
162 gentle noble
163 abroad out there, in public
168 is was
168 tonight last night
169 suggestion instigation
175 the … before i.e. quickly
176 subject enemies i.e. subjects who are enemies
177 adverse hostile
178 stout bold/determined