List of parts: PHILOSTRATE…court in the Quarto text, he is the Master of the Revels who introduces the entertainment in the final act; in Folio, this role is taken by Egeus, leaving Philostrate a nonspeaking role in the first scene.
1.1 Location: Athens Theseus mythical Duke of Athens who conquered the Amazons Hippolyta mythical Queen of the Amazons, captured by Theseus
2 apace quickly Four happy days the action actually extends over two days and the intervening night
4 lingers draws out/keeps waiting
5 Like to like stepdame stepmother dowager widow
6 withering out i.e., using up young man’s revenue i.e., her son’s inheritance
7 steep soak, be suffused in
9 moon…bow Diana was goddess of hunting and the moon
10 New-bent ready to be strung or to let an arrow loose
11 solemnities ceremonies, celebrations
14 pert lively
16 pale companion melancholy fellow pomp splendid display, ceremony
17 with my sword Hippolyta was captured during Theseus’ campaign against the Amazons
18 injuries wrongs
20 triumph public celebration Hermia name of Aristotle’s disreputable mistress; may be derived from “Hermione” (daughter of Helen of Troy) Lysander derived from “Alexander” (another name for Paris, who carried off Helen of Troy) Demetrius a villainous Demetrius appears in North’s Plutarch and in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus 32 feigning singing softly/deceitful/joyful/desirous/longing
33 stol’n…fantasy cunningly imprinted yourself in her imagination
34 gauds showy playthings conceits trinkets
35 knacks knickknacks trifles insignificant tokens nosegays small bouquets of flowers sweetmeats confectionery
36 prevailment persuasion, influence unhardened inexperienced, yielding
37 filched stolen
40 Be it so if
46 Immediately directly
52 disfigure alter/erase
56 kind respect wanting lacking voice approval
58 would wish
62 concern befit
63 presence the duke/assembled people/ceremonial place
67 die the death be executed
68 society company
70 Know of learn from blood passions
72 livery clothing (and lifestyle)
73 aye always mewed confined
78 earthlier happy i.e., more happy on earth distilled whose essence is extracted for perfume
80 single blessedness i.e., celibacy
82 Ere before virgin patent privilege of virginity
83 his lordship i.e., Demetrius
86 sealing day i.e., wedding day
90 would wishes
91 Diana Roman goddess of chastity and the moon protest vow
92 aye ever
94 crazèd flawed/unsound/mad title claim
96 Do i.e., why don’t
98 render give to
100 estate unto bestow upon
101 derived descended
102 possessed propertied, i.e., affluent
103 fairly nobly/equally
104 with…Demetrius’ superior to those of Demetrius
107 prosecute pursue
108 avouch declare head i.e., face
109 Made love to wooed Helena perhaps named after Helen of Troy
110 dotes is infatuated
112 spotted (morally) stained
115 self-affairs personal matters
116 lose forget
118 schooling admonition/advice
119 look be sure arm prepare
120 fancies desires
122 extenuate moderate
125 go come
127 Against in preparation for
128 nearly that that closely
132 Belike probably
133 Beteem grant
134 aught anything, whatever
137 blood rank
138 cross hindrance/vexation
139 misgraffèd mismatched
141 stood depended merit Folio’s emendation of Quarto’s “friends” (meaning “relatives”); some editors assume that both texts are wrong and that the line should read, “Or merit stood upon the choice of friends”
143 sympathy agreement
145 momentary fleeting
147 collied blackened
148 spleen fit of temper unfolds reveals
149 ere before
151 quick living/brief confusion ruin
152 ever crossed always thwarted
154 trial experience of this trial
157 fancy’s love’s
158 persuasion opinion
161 seven leagues about twenty-one miles
162 respects considers
167 without outside
169 do…May i.e., celebrate May Day
170 stay wait
172 Cupid Roman god of love
173 best…head i.e., one causing love (Cupid’s lead arrows were supposed to induce loathing)
174 simplicity innocence doves symbols of fidelity, these birds drew the goddess of love’s chariot
175 knitteth binds together
176 Carthage queen Dido, who committed suicide on a pyre when Aeneas deserted her
177 false Troyan the Trojan Aeneas
183 fair beautiful/fair-complexioned
185 happy favored, lucky
186 lodestars guiding stars air melody
187 tuneable harmonious
188 green fresh, new
189 favour good looks/a favorable attitude
190 catch seize
193 bated omitted (with play on “baited, hooked”)
194 translated transformed
200 move arouse
203 none i.e., no fault
206 fly flee
212 Phoebe another name for the Roman moon goddess
213 glass mirror (i.e., water)
215 still always
218 faint pale wont accustomed
219 counsel inmost thoughts/advice
222 strange foreign, new
229 o’er other some more than others
232 all everyone else
235 quantity value/substance/proportion (to what love makes them into)
236 form ordered, attractive appearance/substance
238 blind Cupid was traditionally depicted as a sightless child
239 of…taste the least bit of reason
240 figure symbolize
242 beguiled deceived, misguided
243 waggish playful, mischievous game jest/play themselves forswear break their word
245 eyne eyes
251 intelligence information
252 dear expense effort worth making/high price to pay (as Demetrius will pursue Hermia)/begrudging gratitude (from Demetrius)
1.2 Quince probably from “quines” or “quoins,” a carpenter’s wooden wedges Snug close-fitting; a good name for a joiner (craftsman who makes furniture) Bottom the core onto which the weaver’s yarn was wound, or a ball of thread; did not have modern sense of “arse” Flute suggests the fluted pipes of a church organ operated by bellows; perhaps Flute also has a reedy, high voice Snout possibly Snout has a large nose (some editors suppose a reference to the spout of a kettle, which a tinker would have to mend, but sixteenth-century kettles did not have spouts) Starveling tailors were proverbially thin
2 generally malapropism for “severally” (i.e., individually) scrip scrap of paper/script (i.e., what is written down; the word did not have its modern theatrical sense)
4 interlude short play
6 treats on deals with, is about
7 grow…point approach a conclusion
8 Marry by the Virgin Mary
11 spread yourselves spread out
17 ask require
18 condole express great sorrow
19 humour inclination Ercles i.e., the Greek hero Hercules rarely magnificently, exceptionally
20 tear…in rant and bluster split go to pieces
22 shivering shattering
25 Phibbus’ car the chariot of Phoebus, the sun god
27 mar ruin
28 Fates three goddesses in control of human destiny
29 lofty grandiose, exalted, impressive vein temperament
34 wand’ring i.e., on a mission
37 That’s all one it doesn’t matter small high-pitched
38 will can
39 An if
46 Thisbe’s…father these characters never actually appear
49 fitted equipped, provided for (perhaps maintaining the language of joinery)
52 do it extempore improvise
60 discretion sound judgment aggravate malapropism for “moderate”
61 roar roar for sucking dove conflation of “sitting dove” and “sucking lamb,” both proverbially quiet and gentle an ’twere as if it were
64 proper handsome
68 discharge perform your i.e., you know the sort orange-tawny yellowish-brown
69 purple-in-grain dyed red French-crown-coloured i.e., the gold color of the French coin
71 crowns heads; baldness was an effect of syphilis (“the French disease”)
73 con learn
75 devices plans
76 draw draw up bill list
78 obscenely malapropism, perhaps for “seemly” or “obscurely” courageously spiritedly
79 perfect word perfect
81 hold…bow-strings archers’ saying, possibly meaning “stand firm and fight, or cut your bowstrings in preparation for capture”
2.1 Location: a wood near Athens Robin Goodfellow name traditionally given to a mischievous hobgoblin Puck a kind of mischievous goblin
4 park enclosed hunting ground pale fenced-in area
5 Thorough through
7 sphere stars and planets were thought to be contained within revolving hollow spheres
9 orbs i.e., fairy rings (dark circles in the grass)
10 pensioners bodyguards
12 favours tokens of favor
13 savours (sweet) scent
16 lob country bumpkin
17 anon soon
20 passing fell excessively fierce wrath angry
23 changeling child taken by the fairies (usually exchanged for a fairy child)
25 trace traverse
26 perforce forcibly
29 fountain spring sheen brightness
30 square quarrel
32 making physical appearance quite entirely
33 shrewd cunning
35 villagery villages
36 Skim take the cream off quern churn; also a mill for grinding corn
37 bootless in vain
38 barm yeasty froth on top of fermenting ale
39 mislead i.e., with false fire that moves from place to place
46 bean-fed well-fed
47 filly female
48 gossip’s old friend’s bowl i.e., drinking cup
49 crab crab apple
51 dewlap loose fold of skin hanging at the neck
52 aunt old woman 55 ‘tailor’ cry of surprise; possibly because she ends up sitting on the floor (customary posture for tailors), or because she sits on her “tail” (i.e., bum)
56 quire company
57 waxen increase neeze sneeze
58 wasted spent
59 room make way Oberon name often given to the King of Fairies Titania used by Ovid to refer to Diana (moon goddess) and Circe (enchantress)
64 Tarry stay wanton willful one, perhaps also with sense of “promiscuous” lord husband
65 lady wife
67 Corin conventional pastoral name
68 corn straw versing composing/uttering verses of
69 Phillida conventional pastoral name
70 step limit
71 forsooth in truth bouncing big, strapping (perhaps with sexual connotations)
72 buskined wearing high hunting boots (“buskins”)
76 Glance at refer to/cast aspersions on credit favor
78 glimmering twinkling, shimmering
79 Perigenia (sometimes spelt “Perigouna”) Theseus slept with her after he killed her robber father ravishèd carried off/seized/raped
80 Aegles nymph loved by Theseus
81 Ariadne she helped Theseus find his way out of the labyrinth; he then abandoned her Antiopa Amazon seduced or abducted by Theseus before being abandoned by him
83 middle summer’s spring i.e., beginning of midsummer
84 mead meadow
85 pavèd with a pebbly base rushy edged with rushes
86 in on beachèd covered with shingle margent margin, edge
87 ringlets circular fairy dance
88 brawls quarrels/noise; also lively French dance (contrasts with calmer ringlets) sport recreation
89 piping whistling
91 Contagious pestilential/harmful
92 petty small proud swollen
93 overborne their continents exceeded their boundaries (i.e., flooded)
94 stretched strained at/pulled
95 lost wasted
96 ere…beard before developing the awn (bristly growth)
97 fold animal pen
98 murrion infected
99 nine men’s morris ground marked out for a game involving nine pegs (“men”)
100 quaint elaborate mazes pattern of paths cut in the turf wanton green lush grass
102 want…blessed i.e., though the weather is wintery, there are no winter festivities (some editors emend “here” to “cheer”)
104 Therefore i.e., because of our dispute floods tides
105 washes saturates, renders moist
106 rheumatic diseases illnesses involving watery discharge, such as colds
107 distemperature poor weather/disorder
108 hoary-headed white-haired
110 Hiems personification of winter
111 chaplet garland
113 childing fertile
114 wonted customary mazèd confused/dumbstruck/terrified
115 increase produce
117 debate discord dissension discord
118 original point of origin
122 henchman squire, page
125 votress female follower, bound by a vow
127 Full very
128 Neptune Roman god of the sea
129 Marking observing, noting th’embarkèd traders sailing merchants or their ships flood sea
131 wanton playful/lustful
132 swimming gait smooth, graceful motion
137 of that boy i.e., in childbirth
141 Perchance perhaps
142 patiently calmly round circular dance
144 spare avoid
147 chide quarrel downright utterly
148 from go from
151 Since when promontory headland
153 dulcet sweet breath i.e., song
154 rude rough
155 certain surely/particular
160 all fully certain accurate/specific
161 vestal woman vowed to chastity, here assumed by most commentators to be an allusion to Queen Elizabeth I (the imperial votress)
163 As as if
164 might could
167 fancy-free unaffected by love
168 bolt arrow
170 purple blood-colored
171 love-in-idleness pansy or heartsease
174 or either
177 leviathan sea monster
178 girdle belt
194 The…stayeth i.e., I will confront Lysander; it is Hermia who is preoccupying me (some editors emend to “slay…slayeth”)
196 wood angry/mad (puns on “wooed”)
199 draw attract (magnetically) adamant hard magnetic substance
201 Leave you give up
203 you fair favorably, kindly to you
209 but only
210 leave permission
218 impeach discredit
222 desert desolate, isolated
224 privilege safeguard for that because
231 brakes bushes
235 Apollo…chase a reversal of the myth in which Daphne, being chased by Apollo, was spared rape by being turned into a laurel tree
236 griffin mythical beast, part lion part eagle hind female deer
237 bootless pointless
239 stay wait for
244 set…sex make me behave in a way that disgraces womankind
248 upon by/at
254 blows blossoms
255 oxlips flowers resembling both cowslip and primrose
256 Quite completely woodbine honeysuckle
257 musk-roses wild climbing roses eglantine sweetbriar, a sweetly scented rose
258 sometime at some time or other
260 throws sheds
261 Weed garment
271 fond on infatuated with
1 roundel circular dance
3 cankers worms that destroy plants
4 reremice bats leathern leathery
7 quaint strange/dainty
8 offices duties
9 double i.e., forked
11 blind-worms adders
13 Philomel nightingale; Philomela was transformed into a nightingale after being raped by her brother-in-law
18 nigh near
24 etc. indicates chorus is to be repeated
26 aloof at a distance sentinel guard
30 ounce lynx
31 Pard leopard/panther
36 troth truth
38 tarry…day wait till the cooler part of the day
42 troth pledge (of love)/faith
45 take the sense i.e., interpret correctly
46 Love…conference i.e., love allows lovers to understand one another
52 lie mislead (you) (puns on “lie down”)
53 prettily charmingly/cleverly
54 beshrew curse
56 friend lover
57 human polite/courteous
59 Becomes befits
65 wisher’s eyes i.e., Lysander’s pressed i.e., closed in sleep
68 approve test
78 Churl villain/scoundrel
79 owe own
80 forbid…eyelid prevent you from sleeping
85 charge command haunt pursue/hang around
86 darkling in the dark
88 fond foolish/doting
89 grace favor
90 lies is/resides
96 marvel wonder
97 as as if (from)
98 glass mirror
99 sphery eyne heavenly eyes
104 Transparent radiant/see-through art skill (allowing him to see through Helena’s body)
109 What though what of it (if)
115 will inclination (plays on sense of “sexual desire”/”penis”)
118 ripe not i.e., was not mature enough
119 point peak skill discernment
120 marshal guide
121 o’erlook read
122 stories narrative/true history
123 Wherefore why
129 Good troth truly good sooth indeed
132 lord possessor gentleness nobility/courtesy/kindness
134 of by abused mistreated
137 surfeit excess
139 leave renounce
140 those…deceive i.e., the former heretics themselves
142 Of by
143 address direct
150 prey act of preying
151 removed departed
153 an if if
154 of all loves for love’s sake
3.1 Clowns lower-class comic characters
2 Pat punctually
3 brake thicket tiring-house dressing room
6 bully old mate, good fellow
10 By’r lakin by our ladykin (i.e., the Virgin Mary) parlous perilous
11 done i.e., said and done
12 Write me write/write for me
16 eight and six alternating lines of eight and six syllables (common meter for ballads)
18 afeard afraid
19 it either the lion, or that the ladies will be afraid
21 fearful frightening
22 wild-fowl i.e., wild beast (literally, bird)
25 defect malapropism for “effect”
27 My…yours by my life (literally, I would lay down my life for you)
28 pity…life a bad thing, by my life/my life would be at risk
29 plainly may pun on “plane” (carpenter’s tool)
33 almanac calendar
36 casement section of a window
38 bush…lantern the traditional props of the man in the moon
39 disfigure malapropism for “figure” (i.e., represent) present represent
44 rough-cast lime and gravel mixture used for plastering walls
47 rehearse recite
49 hempen home-spuns those wearing homemade/rustic clothes swagg’ring blustering
50 cradle place of rest
51 toward in preparation
59 by and by shortly
66 brisky juvenal lively young man eke also Jew desperate rhyme, or perhaps short for “juvenal” or “jewel” as a term of affection
69 Ninus founder of Nineveh
70 part an actor’s written part consisted solely of his lines and cues
73 fair handsome were would be
75 round circular dance/circuitous route
78 fire will-o’-the-wisp, a flame over marshy ground (caused by gas but popularly supposed to be a hobgoblin’s trick)
81 knavery trick
84 translated transformed
88 ousel cock male blackbird
90 throstle song thrush
91 quill reed/pipe (i.e., voice)
94 plain-song melodically simple
96 dares…nay is unable to deny the truth of the cuckoo’s cry of “cuckold” (man with an unfaithful wife)
97 who…bird adaptation of “do not set your wit against a fool’s” (proverbial) give…lie accuse the bird of lying
98 cuckoo i.e., “cuckold” never so ever so much
101 enthrallèd enslaved
102 virtue’s qualities’ perforce of necessity
106 gleek make a jest
110 turn purposes
112 wilt wish to
113 rate worth, rank
114 still always tend upon serve, wait upon state status as queen
117 deep bottom of the sea
119 grossness bodily form
121 Peaseblossom flower of plants of the pea family; Pease also meant “something of very small value or importance” Moth pronounced “mote” (i.e., speck) so this sense may also be implied
128 eyes i.e., sight
129 apricocks apricots dewberries type of blackberry
131 humblebees bumblebees
132 night-tapers candles
134 arise possible erectile connotations
142 cry…mercy beg your pardon
144 desire…acquaintance want to be better acquainted with you if…you cobwebs were used to stop bleeding
147 Squash unripe pea pod
148 Peascod pea pod (a traditional remedy for lovesickness, with play on “codpiece”)
151 patience endurance (as mustard is eaten with beef)
153 made…water since mustard is hot in the mouth
157 weeps i.e., causes dew
158 enforcèd violated
159 Tie…tongue perhaps because Bottom is braying
3 in extremity to excess
5 night-rule mischievous, disordered nighttime activity haunted much frequented
7 close private/secluded
8 dull inactive
9 patches clowns/fools rude mechanicals uneducated manual workers
13 barren sort stupid group
15 Forsook left scene performance space
17 noll head
19 mimic burlesque actor/performer
20 fowler hunter
21 russet-pated choughs reddish-brown jackdaws (with play on “chuff,” rustic boor) many in sort i.e., in a large flock
22 report sound of firing
23 Sever scatter sweep move swiftly across
30 yielders those who yield to fear
36 latched ensnared/wetted
40 of force by necessity
41 close concealed
45 chide rebuke (you) use treat
48 Being o’er shoes having waded
50 true loyal
53 whole solid, intact bored pierced through
54 centre i.e., of the earth
55 Her brother’s i.e., the sun’s th’Antipodes the people/places on the opposite side of the globe
57 dead deadly/murderous
61 Venus bright planet; also Roman goddess of love sphere orbit/hollow surrounding sphere
62 to got to do with
65 cur dog
67 numbered counted
68 once once and for all
69 Durst would you/did you dare a have
70 brave touch fine/impudent deed
71 worm snake
72 doubler more divided/deceitful
74 spend expend/waste passion powerful feelings misprised mood mistaken anger
78 therefor for it
82 vein mood
84 So…owe i.e., lack of sleep and sorrow combined are making me very tired heavier harder to bear/sleepier
85 For because of the
87 his tender sleep’s offer make some stay stay here awhile
88 quite utterly
90 misprision error
92 one…troth for each man who keeps his word/faith in love
93 confounding breaking on after
95 look be sure
96 fancy-sick lovesick cheer face
97 sighs…dear each sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart
98 illusion deception
99 against in preparation for when
101 Tartar’s bow powerful bow from central Asia
104 apple pupil/center
109 remedy relief, resolution
113 fee payment
114 fond pageant foolish spectacle
119 alone unique/on its own
121 preposterously perversely, out of the normal course of events
124 Look when whenever
125 nativity i.e., through weeping
127 badge outward sign (as worn on servants’ livery), i.e., tears
128 advance show
129 truth kills truth i.e., his vows to Hermia and to Helena invalidate one another devilish-holy fray quarrel involving false and true vows
130 o’er up
133 light as tales false as rumors/lies
136 Demetrius…you there maybe a missing rhyme line for Helena hereafter
139 ripe i.e., full and red show appearance
141 pure congealèd white i.e., pale skin (considered to be especially beautiful) Taurus mountain range in Turkey
142 turns…crow seems black in comparison (with Helena’s white skin)
144 seal promise
145 bent disposed
146 set against be hostile to
148 do…injury insult me so much
150 join in souls unite
152 gentle noble/mild
153 superpraise praise excessively parts qualities
157 trim fine
160 extort torture/wring
169 will none i.e., want nothing to do with her
171 but…sojourned stayed with her merely as a visitor
176 abide suffer for/pay for dear at great cost
178 his its
179 apprehension perception
186 press urge
187 bide remain
188 engilds brightens with gold
189 yon i.e., those over there oes spangles (i.e., stars)
193 confed’racy alliance
195 fashion contrive in spite to vex
196 Injurious harmful, unjust
198 bait persecute/torment
199 counsel inmost thoughts/advice
201 chid scolded
204 artificial skilled in the arts of creation
207 one key total harmony
209 incorporate indivisible, one body
210 Like similar
213 heart may pun on “hart,” a common heraldic device
214 first i.e., bodies (plays on sense of “dominant color on a shield”) coats coats of arms (which can appear twice on a shield though under one crest)
215 Due…one a coat of arms is allocated to a specific individual
216 rent rend, tear ancient long-standing asunder apart
227 rare splendid/exceptional
231 tender offer
233 grace favor
238 Persever persevere sad solemn
239 mouths faces
240 hold…up maintain the joke
241 carried conducted
243 argument subject (for a joke)
257 withdraw i.e., remove yourself from present company (for a duel)
259 whereto to what end
260 Ethiope Ethiopian, i.e., dark-complexioned (in comparison with fair Helena)
262 take on as behave as if
264 Hang off leave hold burr prickly seed head that sticks easily to clothing let loose get off
266 rude harsh, unkind, offensive
268 Out exclamation of impatience (“get away!”) tawny dark-skinned Tartar person from central Asia
269 medicine i.e., poison
271 sooth truly
274 weak bond i.e., Hermia (plays on earlier sense of “oath”)
280 erewhile before
286 out of free from
289 juggler trickster canker-blossom flower-destroying worm
295 Impatient angry
296 puppet false thing/small person
299 urged insisted on/brought forward
300 personage appearance
304 painted made-up (with cosmetics) maypole i.e., tall, skinny person
308 curst ill-tempered
309 shrewishness scolding/bad temper
310 right true/typical
312 something lower somewhat shorter
316 evermore always
319 stealth stealing away
321 chid me hence tried to drive me away with scolding
323 so if
326 fond foolish
332 part side
333 keen sharp shrewd vicious
337 suffer allow
340 minimus tiny, insignificant being knot-grass type of creeping weed
347 abide pay for
351 cheek by jowl i.e., side by side
352 coil turmoil ’long on account Exit…Hermia the Quarto text gives Hermia the exit line “I am amazed and know not what to say”; Folio’s omission of this was probably a printer’s error, but it might conceivably have been the purposeful cut of a weak line that converts a rhyming couplet to a triplet
365 sort fall out
366 As in that jangling squabbling
368 Hie hasten
369 welkin sky
370 drooping falling Acheron one of the four rivers of Hades (the classical underworld)
371 testy irritable
372 As so that
373 Like…tongue sometimes imitate Lysander’s voice
374 wrong insults
375 rail rant
378 batty batlike
379 herb i.e., the antidote
380 liquor liquid, juice virtuous powerful
381 his its
382 wonted accustomed, former
383 derision ridiculousness
385 wend make their way
386 league alliance, friendship date duration
392 dragons supposedly pulling the chariot of night or the moon cut cut through
393 Aurora’s harbinger the morning star, which can be seen before dawn
396 crossways crossroads, the unconsecrated burial place for suicides floods “burial” place of those who had drowned (and whose bodies were unrecoverable)
400 aye eternity consort keep company
402 morning’s love either Aurora’s lover, or Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn (i.e., Oberon does not have to disappear before dawn like the other spirits) made sport amused myself/made love to
403 forester guardian of the forest
405 Neptune Roman god of the sea
412 Goblin Puck refers to himself
415 drawn with sword drawn
416 straight at once
417 plainer flatter/more open
423 recreant coward
427 try test
435 spite vexation, grievance
437 Abide confront/endure wot know
442 buy pay for
444 constraineth compels
448 Abate shorten
477 Jack…Jill “all shall be well and Jack shall have Jill” (proverbial)
478 Nought nothing
479 man…mare proverbial
2 amiable lovable coy caress
13 overflown flowed over, drenched
15 neaf fist leave your courtesy stop bowing/put your hat back on
18 Cavalery cavalier (i.e., courtly gentleman) Cobweb apparently an error for Peaseblossom
19 marvellous extremely
22 tongs simple metal musical instrument, struck to produce sound bones pieces of bone clapped together between the fingers
23 rural music simple rustic music
24 peck quantity (quarter of a bushel) provender fodder (for animals)
25 bottle bundle fellow equal
26 vent’rous adventurous, daring
29 stir wake exposition of malapropism for “disposition to”
31 all ways away gone in all directions
32 woodbine bindweed, which entwines itself with honeysuckle
34 Enrings encircles
38 dotage infatuation
40 favours love tokens (perhaps flowers)
44 sometime formerly
45 orient from the east/lustrous
46 flowerets small flowers
56 swain rustic
57 other others
58 repair make their way
59 accidents events
64 Dian’s bud i.e., Oberon’s corrective herb, linked to Diana, Roman goddess of chastity
74 these five i.e., Bottom and the lovers
75 charmeth brings about by magic Music, still the “rural music” may still have been playing or perhaps this is a cue for “still” (i.e., gentle) music; Oberon’s Silence awhile may cue the suspension of the former before Sound, music! cues the latter
80 solemnly ceremoniously
81 triumphantly with great celebration
85 attend listen
87 sad solemn
88 Trip move swiftly his i.e., Theseus’
96 observation observance (of May morning rites)
97 vaward vanguard (i.e., foremost part)
99 Uncouple release (pairs of dogs for the hunt)
104 Cadmus founder of Thebes
105 bayed pursued with dogs
106 hounds of Sparta dogs famed for their skill
107 chiding i.e., barking
111 kind breed
112 so flewed with the same large cheek folds sanded sandy-colored
114 dewlapped with loose folds of skin hanging at the neck Thessalian from Thessaly, an ancient region of northeastern Greece
115 matched in mouth united in barking (i.e., harmonious)
116 tuneable melodious
117 hallowed to had “halloo” (a cry of encouragement) shouted to it cheered urged on
119 soft wait a moment
123 of at
126 in grace of to honor solemnity ceremony
131 Saint Valentine February 14, the day on which birds were thought to choose their mates
132 couple pair off
137 jealousy suspicion
150 defeated frustrated/deprived
156 fancy love/infatuation
160 idle gaud worthless trinket
172 overbear overrule
173 by and by soon
175 for since something worn somewhat spent
176 purposed intended
178 in with solemnity ceremony
180 undistinguishable unrecognizable
182 parted divided/unfocused
186 Mine…own i.e., because found, of uncertain ownership
194 by on
197 God’s God save hence away from here rare unique/marvelous
198 wit understanding
199 go about endeavor
201 patched i.e., wearing a fool’s multicolored costume The…was garbled version of a famous passage about what the Geneva Bible calls “the bottom of God’s secrets” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)
205 bottom foundation/(is) unfathomable Peradventure perhaps
206 her presumably Thisbe’s
4.2 Location: Athens
2 transported carried off/transformed
3 forward ahead
4 discharge perform
6 wit intellect
7 person appearance, bearing paramour malapropism for “paragon”
8 naught i.e., wickedness, shame (with possible vaginal connotations)
10 we…men i.e., our fortunes would have been made
12 sixpence a day i.e., as a reward from the duke (a considerable sum, half a day’s wage)
13 scaped escaped, avoided An if
16 hearts fine friends
19 fell out happened
21 of from
22 strings i.e., with which to attach the beards pumps light shoes
23 presently at once
24 preferred recommended
25 pare trim
5.1 his i.e. Theseus’
1 that that which
3 antic bizarre/grotesque, with pun on “antique,” antiquated, which is the Quarto spelling fairy toys foolish stories about fairies
5 shaping creative apprehend grasp (intellectually)
8 compact composed
10 frantic mad, frenzied
11 Helen’s Helen of Troy’s brow of Egypt dark-skinned complexion (thought unattractive)
14 bodies forth gives shape to
19 apprehend conceive
20 comprehends incorporates
24 transfigured changed, affected
25 More witnesseth is more certain testimony
26 constancy consistency, truth
27 admirable wondrous, extraordinary
32 board table
33 masques courtly entertainments involving music, dancing, and elaborate costumes
35 after-supper time after the evening meal
41 abridgement pastime (to shorten the evening)
44 brief summary ripe fully prepared
46 battle…Centaurs probably derived from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which tells of the battle of the Centaurs and the Lapithae; some versions say that Hercules was present
50 riot…rage another tale from Ovid’s Metamorphoses in which Orpheus was torn apart by female followers of Bacchus (Roman god of wine)
52 device show
54 thrice…beggary possible reference to Spenser’s poem “The Tears of the Muses”
56 critical judgmental
57 sorting with appropriate for
61 strange snow a word may be missing here, e.g., “strange black snow”
62 concord harmony
67 fitted suitable, apt
76 toiled exhausted, taxed unbreathed unpracticed, inexperienced
77 against in preparation for
83 conned learned
87 simpleness unassuming simplicity
89 wretchedness o’er-charged humble people overburdened
90 his service its attempt to serve
92 kind respect
94 take accept, comprehend, value
95 noble respect dignity and consideration that comes with nobility
96 in…merit in terms of effort rather than actual value
97 clerks scholars
100 Make periods full stops/rhetorical pauses
101 accent speech, intonation
104 picked extracted, detected
105 modesty propriety/shyness fearful frightened
109 capacity understanding
110 addressed ready
112 will. Quince inadvertently inserts a period here and changes the meaning of the line
114 will. another misplaced period
115 end aim
116 despite malice
117 we…you correctly punctuated, this would read “we come—but in despite we do not come—as minding to content you”
118 is. erroneous period All exclusively delight missing punctuation (e.g., period, semicolon)
119 here. erroneous period
120 show appearance/performance
121 like likely
122 stand upon points dwell on trivialities/insist on (correct) punctuation
123 rid dispensed with/ridden rough untrained stop pulling up (of a horse)/period
126 government control
127 nothing not
134 sunder separate
139 scorn shame, disdain
141 hight is called
144 mantle loose cloak fall let fall
146 tall fine/brave
149 broached pierced
152 twain two/separated
156 interlude short play
164 sinister left
165 fearful frightened
167 partition wall/section of a scholarly book
169 grim-looked grim-looking, forbidding
176 chink plays on sense of “vagina/anus”
177 Jove Roman supreme god
180 stones plays on sense of “testicles”
181 sensible capable of feeling again in response
183 pat exactly
188 lime probably pronounced “limb,” thus playing on sense of “penis” hair plays on “pubic hair”
190 an if
191 thou…love Thisbe misplaces the pause that should be after “love”
192 lover’s grace i.e., gracious lover
193 Limander malapropism for “Leander,” lover of Hero
194 Helen mistake for “Hero”
195 Shafalus to Procrus mistakes for “Cephalus,” who was married to “Procris”
198 hole plays on “asshole”
200 ’Tide betide, i.e., come
203 mural wall
204 walls…hear derived from the proverb “walls have ears” wilful willing
206 in this kind of this sort shadows images/reflections/actors
212 monstrous frightening/enormous
214 rough wild/cruel
216 fell fierce dam mother
220 at i.e., at playing beast puns on best
221 a very fox i.e., cunning for i.e., for all
222 goose…discretion i.e., foolish discretion judgment/prudence
224 carries i.e., literally, as prey
227 hornèd i.e. crescent-shaped
228 horns…head i.e., as a cuckold (men with unfaithful wives were said to grow horns)
229 no crescent no growing moon (presumably because he is so thin)
234 in snuff in need of blowing out/angry
236 in the wane decreasing/lacking
237 reason i.e., reasonable behavior stay the time wait for the moment, sit it out
249 moused seized/shaken (refers to Thisbe’s mantle)
258 dole sorrow, grievous occurrence
264 Furies three classical goddesses of vengeance fell fierce
265 Fates three classical goddesses in control of human destiny (a thread that would be cut when death was due)
266 thrum end of warp thread on a weaving loom, i.e., everything
267 Quail end, destroy quell overcome, ruin
268 passion fit of grief friend lover go near to almost
270 Beshrew curse
271 frame create
272 deflowered presumably a mistake for “devoured”
274 cheer face/joy
277 pap breast (usually a woman’s)
284 Tongue error for “eye”
287 die one of a pair of dice ace one (single spot on a die)
289 ass puns on ace
292 passion sorrow/suffering (resulting in death)
294 long one i.e., fit of grief
296 mote tiny particle
298 means laments/intends videlicet “that is to say” (Latin)
311 Sisters Three i.e., the Fates
315 shore shorn, cut
316 thread of silk i.e., life
319 imbrue pierce
326 Bergomask dance rustic dance, named after the people of Bergamo, Italy between i.e., performed by
333 iron tongue clapper of a bell told counted, i.e., rung (puns on “tolled”)
336 overwatched stayed up late
337 palpable-gross obviously clumsy beguiled whiled away
338 heavy gait slow/sleepy passage
339 solemnity celebration
343 heavy exhausted
344 fordone worn out
345 wasted brands burnt logs
346 screech-owl the barn owl’s cry was thought to be a bad omen
351 sprite spirit
354 triple Hecate classical goddess of witchcraft and night, associated with the moon; often represented in triple form, she was known as Luna/Cynthia in heaven, Diana on earth, and Proserpina in the underworld team i.e., the creatures, probably dragons, pulling her chariot
357 frolic frolicsome, merry
358 hallowed blessèd
360 behind out from behind/behind
361 give glimmering light probably a command to the fairies, who may have candles with them (perhaps carried on their heads to leave their hands free for dancing)
366 trippingly skillfully, lightly
367 rehearse recite rote heart
374 best bride-bed i.e., that of Theseus and Hippolyta
375 issue children create created
382 prodigious ominous
385 consecrate holy, blessed
386 gait (own) course
387 several individual
391 stay delay
397 weak deficient idle foolish/trifling
398 yielding but meaningful than
399 Gentles ladies and gentlemen reprehend reprove
400 mend improve, put it right
403 serpent’s tongue i.e., audience hisses
407 Give…hands i.e., applaud
408 restore amends make amends in return