2 undertake… parts guarantee that they will play their parts efficiently

5 Liguria a mountainous region of north-western Italy between Parma and Genoa

5–10 pardons… free Banditti were thought often to be banished men (like the outlaws in The Two Gentlemen of Verona) who would welcome the opportunity to return to civil society as free men if a pardon were offered them.

8 want lack

8–9 lineation ed. (prose in Q)

12 vizard mask

18 ends purposes

19 s.d. Exeunt ed. (Exit Q)

20 Yes, sir prose ed. (printed on a separate line in Q) edge sharpen (like a sword); compare II.ii.63.

28 you … Italian In becoming more vindictive, Soranzo is living up to his nationality: among the perceived national characteristics of the Italians was vengefulness.

29 sharp… old bit keen for sex with his former paramour

31 hare supposed to have an excessive sexual appetite law a head-start

32 post ride swiftly

32–3 in… damnation If killed while committing a mortal sin, without time to repent, Giovanni will go directly to hell.

37 father father-in-law (= Florio)

40 good typical – here meaning one who is idle and wastes time; a relevant secondary sense of ‘housewife’, in Soranzo’s mouth though not in Giovanni’s ears, is ‘hussy’, promiscuous woman.

42 expect await

45 s.d. Flourish A fanfare of trumpets played upon the arrival of an important personage (here, the Cardinal).

48 this grace the honour the Cardinal does Soranzo in visiting his feast

49 vouchsafe deign to visit

53 Saint Peter’s vicar the Pope (St Peter was thought to be the first Pope; his successors were thus considered his ‘vicars’, substitute representatives)

60 keep your way carry on in the direction you’re going