* List of parts: irregular humorists lawless/disorderly men with wayward temperaments
1.1 prologue. The Second Part of Henry the Fourth is continuous with The First Part, taking place immediately after the battle of Shrewsbury Rumour allegorical figure traditionally covered in painted tongues
2 vent of hearing i.e., ear
3 orient east drooping declining, where the sun sets
4 post-horse horse kept at a post house or inn for the use of messengers or travelers still always, continually unfold reveal
5 acts actions, events/divisions of a play
12 fearful…defence enrollment of troops and preparations for defense inspired by fear
13 big pregnant griefs suffering, hardship
15 And…matter which is not the case pipe small wind instrument, recorder
16 jealousies suspicions
17 of…stop so easy and straightforward to play stop finger-hole of a wind instrument
18 blunt stupid, dull
19 still-discordant constantly quarrelling
21 anatomize dissect, analyze
22 household domestic intimates, i.e., audience
23 King Harry’s victory Henry IV’s troops defeated Hotspur and the other rebels at the Battle of Shrewsbury (dramatized in 1 Henry IV)
24 field battlefield Shrewsbury town on the Welsh-English border
25 Hotspur Sir Henry (or Harry) Percy, the Earl of Northumberland’s son
28 office duty, task
29 Harry Monmouth Prince Henry (or Harry, or Hal), named after the town on the Welsh-English border where he was born
31 the Douglas Archibald, Earl of Douglas; the signifies the head of a Scottish clan
32 anointed i.e., royal, legitimate (having been marked with holy oil as part of the coronation ceremony)
33 peasant country, rustic (with connotations of “unsophisticated, credulous”)
35 hold fortress; Warkworth Castle was the Earl of Northumberland’s residence ragged rough, eroded
37 crafty-sick feigning illness posts messengers on horseback tiring on in tearing haste/exhausting themselves and their horses
39 Than except what
40 true wrongs the painful truth
1.1 Location: Warkworth Castle (residence of the Earl of Northumberland) Porter gatekeeper
1 keeps guards
3 What who
5 attend wait for/wait upon
6 is has orchard garden
7 Please it if it please
11 stratagem violent deed/scheme, plot
12 wild savage, rebellious, unruly
13 high feeding overly rich food
14 bears down tramples
16 certain definite
17 an if will is willing, wishes it
20 your son Sir Henry Percy (Hotspur)
21 Blunts Sir Walter Blunt was killed by Douglas in 1 Henry IV, Act 5 Scene 1; another Blunt is only mentioned in one of the play’s sources
22 Prince John Prince Henry’s younger brother
23 Westmorland Ralph Neville, a kinsman of the king’s Stafford in 1 Henry IV, Act 5 Scene 1, the Earl of Stafford is said to have been killed in the battle
24 brawn lump of flesh/fattened boar or pig hulk big, unwieldy person (literally, large ship) Sir John i.e., Falstaff
26 followed supported by loyal troops
28 fortunes successes
29 How…derived? What is the source of your information?
33 Rendered gave, related
34 Travers his name suggests his function to contradict Lord Bardolph
36 over-rode overtook
38 haply perhaps retail recount
40 Sir John Umfrevile either the name originally given to Lord Bardolph’s character in an earlier version of the scene, or the gentleman who also gave Bardolph good news of the battle
42 Outrode rode faster than, left behind
43 forspent exhausted
44 breathe allow to rest and recover breath bloodied i.e., from the constant digging of spurs
45 Chester town in the northwest of England
49 able recovered/strong/easy to handle gave…head let him go freely, without restraint of the bridle
50 able capable/powerful
51 jade worn-out horse
52 rowel-head spiked wheel at the end of a spur
53 devour the way eat up the road
54 Staying waiting for
60 have…day has not won the battle
61 point lace for fastening clothing, i.e., something of small value
62 barony land held by a baron
64 instances evidence
66 hilding worthless
68 at a venture without due consideration/in a speculative manner Morton another servant of Northumberland’s; his name suggests death
69 title-leaf title page of a book describing the contents
71 strand shore, beach flood sea
72 witnessed usurpation visible signs of its invasion (left by the retreating tide)
79 apter more likely/more suitable
80 Even just
82 Drew drew aside, opened Priam King of Troy, killed in the Trojan war against the Greeks curtain i.e., of his bed
84 ere before
88 Stopping filling
89 stop…indeed prevent me from ever hearing anything again, i.e., kill me
98 is chanced has happened
99 divination prophecy, intuition
101 doing…wrong i.e., by telling me that I’m mistaken (a servant should not contradict his master)
102 gainsaid contradicted
103 spirit instinct, intelligence
106 hold’st maintain, believe
109 belie slander
112 losing office profitless task
113 sullen mournful
114 knolling ringing the funeral bell for
117 would wish
119 quittance repayment (of blows) out-breathed breathless
121 never-daunted never overcome with fear
123 In few in short
125 bruited reported
126 best tempered of finest quality, most hardened (literally refers to the treating of a sword to give it strength and resilience)
127 mettle character, courage plays on “metal” steeled hardened, literally overlaid with steel
128 abated blunted/diminished
131 Upon enforcement under compulsion, with force applied
132 heavy in weighed down/saddened by
133 Lend…fear i.e., despite the weight of their loss, fear made them light
136 Worcester Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, Northumberland’s brother
138 well-labouring hard-working
139 th’appearance…king several men, including Sir Walter Blunt and the Earl of Stafford, had been dressed like the king to act as decoys on the battlefield
140 ’Gan…stomach began to lessen his courage grace…backs i.e., Douglas joined those fleeing the battle grace dignify, sanction
144 power armed force encounter meet in battle
145 Lancaster Prince John (so called because he was born in Lancaster)
146 at in
148 physic medicine
150 in…well i.e., had I been healthy this bad news would have made me ill; being ill, it has gone some way toward giving me strength
153 Impatient…fit unable to endure his attack of fever
154 keeper nurse
155 Weakened “weak’ned” in Folio, perhaps playing on “weak-kneed”
156 nice effeminate, unmanly
157 scaly gauntlet armored glove covered with plates of steel, giving it the appearance of scales
158 coif nightcap
159 wanton self-indulgent, effeminate
160 fleshed made eager after having their appetites whetted (as hunting dogs are fed raw meat to excite them)
162 ragged’st roughest, harshest
167 contention strife ling’ring act painfully protracted struggle/drawn-out part of a play
168 Cain son of Adam and Eve who in killing his brother Abel became the world’s first murderer
170 rude violent/unpolished
173 complices confederates, supporters
174 give o’er give way, give in
175 passion outburst of emotion perforce necessarily
176 cast th’event calculated the likely outcome
177 summed added up
178 make head raise an army presurmise suspicion beforehand
179 dole dealing out (may play on “dole,” i.e., sorrow) drop fall, die
180 edge i.e., narrow bridge/sword edge
182 advised aware capable Of susceptible to
183 forward eager, adventurous, rash
184 trade of trafficking in ranged was positioned
186 apprehended anticipated/feared
187 stiff-borne proudly, stubbornly carried
189 like likely
190 engagèd to involved in
192 if…one the odds of coming out alive were ten to one
194 respect consideration
195 o’erset overcome
196 all put forth all set out (as if going to sea)/stake everything
197 ’Tis…time i.e., we shouldn’t delay
199 gentle well-born up prepared for battle
200 well-appointed powers well-equipped forces
201 double surety i.e., as he has both spiritual and temporal authority
202 corpse bodies (not the souls)
203 But mere
206 queasiness uncertainty, reluctance
207 As…potions like men who drink medicine
211 religion i.e., a religious cause
212 Supposed known to be
214 enlarge his rising fortify, justify his uprising with…stones by recalling the murder of Richard II at Pomfret (Pontefract) Castle; Richard had been usurped by his cousin, Henry Bullingbrook, now Henry IV
217 bestride stand over
218 Bullingbrook i.e., Henry IV
219 more and less those of both high and low rank
223 aptest best, readiest
224 posts messengers
1.2 Location: in London, but unspecified, probably a street
1 Sirrah sir (used to social inferiors) giant ironic since the page is a boy water urine
3 owed owned knew for was aware of
4 gird at taunt foolish-compounded made up of folly
8 o’erwhelmed squashed with her bulk
9 set me off display me to my best advantage; perhaps plays on “make me appear ridiculous” whoreson bastard (son of a whore)
10 mandrake poisonous plant whose forked root made it resemble the human form
11 manned with attended by agate diminutive person, an allusion to the tiny figures cut in the agate stones that appeared in rings
12 send…jewel Falstaff jokingly threatens to return the page to the prince as an ornament
13 juvenal youth (puns on first syllable of “jewel”) fledged covered with down, i.e., he hasn’t got a beard
15 stick hesitate face-royal majestic face (royal plays on the sense of “coin with the king’s face on it”)
16 amiss out of place a…it no barber could charge sixpence to shave a beardless face
17 writ called himself
18 grace term of address to a prince/favor
19 Dombledon a name probably derived from “dommel” or “dummel,” i.e., dummy, stupid
20 slops loose baggy breeches
21 assurance financial guarantee Bardolph Falstaff’s follower is unrelated to the rebel lord of the same name
23 Let…hotter! refers to the biblical parable of Dives and Lazarus in which the rich Dives refused food to the poor leper Lazarus, and was condemned to hell where he begged for water to cool his tongue; gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins
24 Achitophel an adviser to King David who betrayed him; Old Testament equivalent to Judas Iscariot yea-forsooth obsequious, like a tradesman who affects propriety by using mild oaths bear…hand lead a man on
25 stand insist smooth-pates men with short hair, an image associated with puritan tradesmen
26 high high-heeled, suggestive of pride girdles belts; the keys signify the men’s showy self-importance
27 through…up has agreed an honest and straightforward purchase with them
28 lief soon, willingly ratsbane rat poison
29 looked expected
30 horn of abundance cornucopia or horn of plenty, i.e., lots of wealth (plays on the notion of the horns supposedly sprouted by cuckolds, i.e., men with unfaithful wives)
31 lightness light/sexual promiscuity
32 lanthorn lantern (continues play on “horn”)
33 Smithfield area in the City of London with a horse and cattle market; of poor reputation
34 Paul’s St. Paul’s Cathedral; the aisle served as a place for servants to seek new masters
35 stews brothels
36 nobleman…Bardolph according to an apocryphal tale, the prince was expelled from the King’s Privy Council for hitting the Lord Chief Justice, an episode also referred to in 1 Henry IV, Act 3 Scene 2 committed imprisoned
38 close stay close/stay out of sight not see him avoid him/pretend I have not seen him
40 an’t if it
41 in question for suspected of/was questioned about
42 good service in 1 Henry IV Falstaff claimed the credit for killing Hotspur, although Prince Henry had in fact done so
43 charge military command
51 A…wars? Falstaff pretends to think the servant is begging rather than undertaking proper employment
52 want lack
54 were…it although it’s hard to say what could be worse than rebellion
57 Setting…aside disregarding my honor as a knight and soldier (which signify I couldn’t lie)
58 in my throat outrageously
62 grows to belongs to, is an integral part of
64 hunt counter one on the wrong track (hunting term: following the wrong scent); conceivably “one asking to go to prison (the Counter)” Avaunt! Be off!
68 abroad out of doors
69 by advice with the doctor’s permission
70 smack hint, taste relish flavor, taste saltness artificially preserved vitality of youth (salt is used to preserve meat)
71 reverend respectful
77 apoplexy illness causing paralysis
81 What why
82 it original its origin
83 Galen famous second-century Greek physician
87 marking paying attention withal with
88 punish…heels i.e., shackle your ankles, or put you in the stocks
90 Job biblical character who lost all his wealth but bore his ill-luck with patience
91 in…poverty i.e., because I am too poor to pay a fine how why, in what way
92 wise…itself a wise person might question dram unit of weight/small measure of medicine scruple third of a dram/doubt
94 matters…life charges laid against you that are punishable by the death penalty
96 land-service military service, which meant one could not be summoned to answer a civil charge; also a euphemistic way of referring to the robbery Falstaff carried out at Gad’s Hill (in 1 Henry IV)
99 He…less i.e., one of my large girth cannot be anything but great
100 means financial resources, income waste expenditure (puns on “waist”)
104 I…dog presumably a joke about a fat man being led by his dog; possibly alludes to the full moon, popularly supposed to be inhabited by a man with a dog
106 gall irritate
107 exploit…Hill i.e., the robbery at Gad’s Hill in Kent in which Falstaff was involved in 1 Henry IV
108 unquiet disturbed by war your…action having that offence quietly passed over
111 smell a fox be suspicious
112 better greater, most useful/more virtuous
113 wassail candle fat candle used at a feast tallow animal fat (used in candle making) wax beeswax (used for high-quality candles; plays on the sense of “growth”)
114 approve demonstrate, prove
115 his its
117 gravy grease, sweat
118 angel attendant spirit (Falstaff plays on the sense of “gold coin”)
119 light slim, underweight/counterfeit or fraudulently filed/satanic (the devil was originally Lucifer, the angel of light)
120 weighing considering, judging/determining physical weight go pass as currency/walk/perform sexually
121 cannot tell do not know/cannot be counted as a legitimate coin costermongers barrow boys, street salesmen; originally sellers of costard apples
122 bear-herd keeper of a performing bear pregnancy cleverness, quick-wittedness tapster innkeeper, barman
123 reckonings tavern bills appertinent belonging
125 livers considered the seat of the passions
126 galls the source of bitterness and anger vaward vanguard, forefront, early part
127 wags mischievous fellows
129 characters letters/characteristics moist watery, rheumy
131 broken cracked, weak single weak, poor
132 blasted blighted Fie expression of shame and indignation
134 halloing shouting/calling to hunting dogs approve prove/commend
136 caper with dance with/compete in dancing with marks a mark was worth two-thirds of a pound
137 have at him expression of defiance: so much for him/let’s go for it For as for
138 rude violent, unmannerly sensible reasonable/capable of physical sensation checked rebuked
139 marry by the Virgin Mary ashes and sackcloth symbols of repentance
140 sack Spanish white wine
146 I…it either a sarcastic “thank you for reminding me” or implies that the Lord Chief Justice is responsible for the separation look you be sure to
149 spit white i.e., be healthy (red spittle would result from illness or internal injury)
150 action engagement with the enemy
152 be honest behave honorably
153 furnish me forth equip me for the expedition
154 bear crosses sustain hardships/carry coins (stamped on one side with a cross)
156 fillip strike three-man beetle huge sledgehammer requiring three men to lift it
158 pox venereal disease pinches torments both the degrees i.e., of age and youth
162 groats coins worth four old pence
163 consumption disease (specifically, tuberculosis, which caused victims to waste slowly away)
166 Mistress Ursula not mentioned elsewhere; either an error for Mistress Quickly (Nell) or perhaps Falstaff is involved with another woman
168 pox of plague on pox syphilis
169 halt limp colour excuse, pretext
171 commodity profit, advantage
1.3 Location: presumably York, the Archbishop’s palace
1 causes concerns/matters of legal dispute means methods/resources
4 lord marshal i.e., Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, the son of the man banished by Richard II
5 allow grant occasion motive/necessity/opportunity arms taking arms
7 in with advance ourselves promote our cause/be so ambitious/make military advances
9 puissance strength, influence
10 Our…file i.e., our current list of recruited soldiers grows
11 men of choice selected troops
12 supplies reinforcements live…Of rely chiefly on/are greatly increased by the expectation of support from
17 hold up head form a sufficient army
22 by the hand at hand, ready
23 theme cause bloody-faced violent, bloody (perhaps with additional sense of “shameful”)
25 aids incertain uncertain support admitted entertained, treated as valid
27 case situation
28 lined fortified
29 Eating the air i.e., feeding on false hopes
30 project the mental conception, prospect power army
31 Much smaller which turned out to be much smaller
34 winking with his eyes shut (to reality)
35 by your leave with your permission (to contradict)
37 Yes i.e., yes it can hurt quality state, condition
38 instant present cause on foot business that is already underway
39 Lives…them has as little chance of success as early spring buds that are likely to be killed by frosts before they have borne fruit warrant assurance, grounds for optimism
44 figure design
45 rate calculate
46 ability i.e., to pay
48 offices rooms least worst
53 Consent agree
54 estate wealth, resources
55 able…undergo practical it is to undertake the project
56 opposite adverse factors/the resources of the enemy
57 fortify plays on sense of “strengthen structurally, build” figures numbers/designs
61 o’er up cost object of expense, i.e., the building
62 naked subject exposed, unprotected victim
63 churlish rough, unkind
65 now…expectation already have all the men we can expect
71 as…brawl given the present strife
73 Glendower leader of the Welsh rebels perforce of necessity
74 unfirm insecure/indecisive
75 coffers money chests, i.e., treasury
82 Baying hunting, barking at in pursuit like a pack of dogs
83 like likely
86 substituted delegated
87 notice information
89 publish the occasion proclaim the cause
91 surfeited overindulged and become sick
92 habitation dwelling
93 vulgar heart popular, public affection
94 fond many foolish multitude
97 trimmed furnished with, adorned/strengthened
98 Thou i.e., the people
99 cast vomit
100 So in the same way disgorge vomit up from
102 eat…up the idea that a dog eats its vomit is proverbial (originating in Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22)
112 draw add up/assemble
2.1 Location: Eastcheap, London, near a tavern Hostess landlady of a tavern
1 Master Quickly errs in using an overly respectful title for a mere constable entered the action begun the lawsuit
3 yeoman police officer’s assistant lusty strong, vigorous/lustful stand to it be up to the task/get an erection
8 entered brought a lawsuit against
10 stabbed hurt (financially; plays on sense of “penetrated sexually” house inn (plays on sense of “vagina”)
11 weapon with phallic connotations
12 foin lunge, thrust with a weapon (sexual connotations, continued in thrust)
13 close grapple, fight (plays on sense of “embrace sexually”)
15 fist punch (plays on the sense of “masturbate”) come plays on sense of “have an orgasm” vice grip
16 undone ruined (financially/sexually, in terms of reputation) going plays on the sense of “sexual activity” warrant assure you infinitive malapropism for “infinite” thing with phallic connotations
17 score tavern bill, accounts sure securely, firmly
18 scape escape continuantly malapropism for “continually” or for “incontinently,” i.e., immediately (plays on “continently,” i.e., chastely) Pie-corner the corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane, in Smithfield, London; famous for cooks’ shops and saddlers, also known for prostitution (pie and corner were both slang terms for the vagina) saving…manhoods apologetic formula for mentioning an indelicate subject (manhoods may have phallic connotations)
19 saddle with slang sense of “whore” indited malapropism for invited (to “indite” is to summon for trial) Lubber’s-head i.e., Libbard’s or Leopard’s Head, name of a public house; a lubber is a clumsy, idle lout Lombard Street London street running from Mansion House to Gracechurch Street
20 exion i.e., action case lawsuit (plays on sense of “vagina”)
21 A hundred mark equivalent to £66—a large sum; mark also means “score, reckoning,” and has phallic connotations
22 long one i.e., large bill (with phallic connotations) borne endured patiently (plays on the sense of “borne the weight of a man during sex”)
23 fubbed fobbed
24 dealing plays on the sense of “having sex”
25 wrong assumes additional sense of “(shaming) penis” or possibly “illegitimate child”
26 arrant notorious, downright malmsey-nose red-nosed (from drink; malmsey is a sweet red wine)
27 offices official duties/acts of bodily excretion do me do (me is emphatic; plays on sense of “have sex with me”)
29 Whose mare’s dead? What’s the fuss? mare plays on the sense of “whore”
31 varlets rogues, rascals
32 quean whore channel gutter
34 honeysuckle malapropism for “homicidal”
35 honey-seed i.e., homicide (plays on sense of “sweet semen”)
36 man-queller murderer, crusher of men (appropriate given Falstaff’s size) woman-queller with sexual connotations
39 a rescue i.e., help (or perhaps Quickly thinks a rescue is some type of weapon or restraining rope)
40 hemp-seed i.e., one fit for the hangman’s rope (made of hemp); perhaps another malapropism for “homicide”
41 scullion most menial kitchen servant rampallion scoundrel, ruffian fustilarian unclear; perhaps derived from “fustilugs” (i.e., a fat, unkempt woman) tuck punish (may pun on “fuck”)
42 catastrophe arse
44 Good my my good stand to support (plays on sense of “become erect for”)
46 become befit, suit
47 wherefore why
49 Eastcheap London Street running from the junction of Cannon and Gracechurch Streets to Great Tower Street
53 ride…mare sit on you and suffocate you like the nightmare, a female spirit supposedly responsible for bad dreams; with sexual connotations mare plays on the sense of “whore”
55 vantage of ground superior position, favorable opportunity
56 get up with sexual connotations
57 temper disposition
59 come…own get what is due to her (come plays on the sense of “orgasm”)
60 gross total (perhaps with play on “fat/lecherous”)
61 Marry by the Virgin Mary (plays on the sense of “marriage”)
62 parcel-gilt partly gilded Dolphin-chamber a particular room in the inn (these were often individually named)
63 sea-coal superior type of coal transported by sea from the north of England Whitsun week seven weeks after Easter
64 broke hit, grazed singing-man of Windsor chorister of the royal chapel; possibly a reference to John Magdalen of the King’s Chapel, who passed himself off as Richard II in a plot to overthrow Henry IV
66 goodwife term of address for a married woman Keech lump of congealed fat, an appropriate name for a butcher
67 gossip familiar form of address for a female friend mess small quantity
68 dish perhaps with vaginal connotations whereby whereupon
69 green fresh, unhealed
71 madam i.e., a suitable term of address for the wife of a knight
72 book-oath oath on the Bible
75 son…you i.e., that you’re his father in good case well-off (case plays on the sense of “vagina”)
76 distracted her driven her mad
81 level fair, balanced practised upon worked craftily on, taken advantage of
82 easy-yielding generous, soft-hearted/sexually pliant
83 troth truth (plays on the sense of “pledge of marriage”)
84 Pay…debt plays on the sense of “undertake your obligation of marital sex” unpay undo, make good
86 current present, immediate/genuine
87 sneap snub, rebuke
88 curtsy bow
89 your…remembered not forgetting the respect due to one in your position be your suitor petition you for a favor
92 power authorization in…reputation in accordance with the reputation you claim
93 satisfy financially reimburse/sexually pleasure
101 heavenly ground Quickly mixes religious and secular oaths: by this heavenly light/by the ground I walk on fain content
102 plate silver or gold tableware, presumably cups in view of Falstaff’s response
103 Glasses…drinking in the late sixteenth century glassware was becoming more fashionable than metal drinking vessels
104 drollery comic picture or drawing Prodigal biblical story of the wasteful prodigal son, a popular subject for wall hangings German hunting hunting scenes of German origin water-work imitation tapestry/watercolor
106 humours moods
107 draw thy action withdraw your lawsuit
108 set on put up
109 nobles gold coins worth about a third of a pound I I am
110 la exclamation used for emphasis
111 shift arrangements still always
114 Will I live? i.e., as sure as I live Hook on hang on to her, don’t let her out of sight
115 Doll a common name for a prostitute Tearsheet again suggestive of prostitution, evoking vigorous sexual activity sufficient to tear the bedsheets
116 have plays on the sense of “possess sexually”
120 Basingstoke a market town in Hampshire, forty-six miles southwest of London
127 presently immediately
133 being it being the case that take soldiers up enlist soldiers
138 grace style tap for tap tit for tat fair on good terms
139 lighten thee enlighten you/reduce your weight great considerable/fat
2.2 Location: in London but unspecified—either the prince’s apartments or the same street location as the previous scene
2 attached arrested, taken into custody (legal term)
4 discolours…greatness makes me blush/tarnishes my princely status
5 show vilely appear base small beer weak or thin beer/trivial occupations
6 loosely studied poorly educated/concerned with immoral matters
7 composition mixture, brew/invention
8 Belike perhaps, most likely got begotten, created
10 disgrace…name a member of the royal family would not have been expected to have any kind of personal relationship with a commoner
12 videlicet “namely” (Latin)
13 bear be aware of for superfluity as a spare
14 low…racket i.e., he doesn’t play when he hasn’t got a shirt to change into
16 low countries nether regions, i.e., his sexual appetite and brothel use made…Holland contrived to use up the money that would have been spent on shirts (Holland, one of the Low Countries, was a source of fine linen)
24 Go to exclamation of dismissive impatience stand the push withstand the thrust
25 meet fitting
26 albeit even though fault lack
28 Very hardly with difficulty
30 try test, judge, determine
32 ostentation outward show
37 never a no keeps the roadway sticks to the common path (of men’s thoughts)
39 accites induces/summons (in legal sense)
40 lewd common, base engraffed closely attached
43 second brother i.e., a younger son without an inheritance, dependent on his wits proper…hands good in a fight
47 transformed him ape apparently Falstaff has dressed his page up in an elaborate outfit, like a performing monkey
48 Save God save your grace respectful title, but Henry shifts the sense of grace to “virtue, honor”
50 blushing i.e., red-faced from drink
52 get…maidenhead i.e., drain a tankard of ale maidenhead virginity
53 red lattice the lattice windows of alehouses were usually painted red; Bardolph’s face is therefore indistinguishable from the background
55 ale-wife’s new petticoat landlady’s (red) skirt (not necessarily underwear); red clothing was associated with prostitution
56 profited benefited (from Falstaff’s teaching)
58 Althaea’s dream in classical mythology Althaea was told that her son would live until a burning brand was consumed; the page confuses her with Hecuba, mother of Paris, who dreamed that she would give birth to a fire-brand that would destroy Troy (as Paris’ actions later did)
60 fire-brand burning log/mischief maker
63 blossom i.e., the page cankers grubs that destroy plants
64 sixpence probably alludes to the cross on an Elizabethan sixpence
65 If…you if your influence doesn’t end up getting him hanged
70 good respect very properly, most ceremoniously (ironic given Bardolph’s blunt delivery) martlemas i.e., fattened beast; Martinmas, the feast of Saint Martin (November 11), was associated with the slaughter of cattle and pigs
74 wen wart, growth holds his place insists on his rank
77 as…himself since he continually reminds them whenever he mentions his name
78 even like in the same way as
80 conceive understand
81 borrower’s cap i.e., readily removed in humble respect
82 will be are determined to be but…Japhet even if they have to derive their claim from as far back as Japhet, Noah’s third son
85 certificate licence issued to a subject by the king; in a letter the addressee’s name should come first
88 I…thee Falstaff imitates Roman brevity by emulating the structure of Caesar’s veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”): “I present my kind regards, praise your virtues and say goodbye”
90 idle times leisure mayst can by…no a mild oath
91 familiars close friends
92 steep soak
93 sack Spanish white wine
94 twenty i.e., a lot use treat, behave toward
97 play…time pass the time foolishly
100 frank sty, pig-pen
103 Ephesians…church good old companions of the usual disreputable ways
106 pagan heathen/prostitute
107 proper respectable
108 town bull commonly owned bull that was used to impregnate all the heifers
116 road i.e., whore (used by all men; road was slang for “vagina”)
117 way…London i.e., Watling Street, the main road from London to the Midlands St Albans Hertfordshire town twenty-five miles north of London
118 bestow behave
121 drawers bartenders, waiters
122 God…bull refers to the supreme god Jove’s transformation into a bull, in which form he raped Europa heavy declension serious decline case plays on the sense of “vagina”
123 prentice apprentice (bartender)
124 weigh with equal, counterbalance
2.3 Location: Warkworth Castle, Northumberland
2 even way smooth passage rough difficult
3 visage face, i.e., attitude
8 but except for
10 time…word Lady Percy refers to Northumberland’s failure to join his son at Shrewsbury (see 1 Henry IV)
19 grey pale blue
21 glass mirror
22 dress themselves fashion themselves, using him as a model
23 He…gait there was no one did not imitate his manner of walking
24 thick rapidly and loudly
27 turn…abuse spoil their naturally pleasant manner of speaking
29 affections of delight enjoyment of pleasures
30 humours of blood moods
31 mark reference point
34 unseconded unsupported
36 abide a field face a battle
38 defensible to offer any defense
39 ghost soul, spirit
40 precise and nice scrupulous and particular
42 marshal…archbishop i.e., Mowbray and the Archbishop of York
45 Monmouth’s i.e., the Prince of Wales’
46 Beshrew curse
47 spirits vital powers
48 new newly, again ancient oversights past mistakes
51 provided prepared, equipped
54 puissance power, strength
55 ground…of superiority and advantage over
59 so suffered allowed to do so came I I became
61 remembrance perhaps the plant of remembrance, rosemary
63 recordation to commemoration of
66 still-stand pause, standstill
69 for to make for
2.4 Location: Quickly’s tavern in Eastcheap, London Drawers bartenders, waiters
1 Apple-johns type of apple said to be in best eating condition when shriveled
7 cover lay the table
8 noise band of musicians fain gladly
9 anon soon
10 jerkins close-fitting jackets often made of leather
12 old Utis fine larks, high jinks (from the now obsolete word utas, meaning “festivity”)
15 temperality Quickly means “temper” (plays on “temporality,” i.e., time) pulsidge malapropism for “pulse” extraordinarily malapropism for “ordinarily”
17 canaries wine from the Canary Islands searching penetrating, powerful perfumes probably a malapropism for “perfuses,” i.e., suffuses, permeates
19 Hem! probably a hiccup
22 ‘When…court’ a line from the popular ballad “Sir Launcelot du Lake”
23 jordan chamber pot
25 calm i.e., “qualm,” a fit of faintness good sooth truly
26 sect sex/type/profession If…sick for a woman or a prostitute to be quiet means she is unwell
28 rascals rogues/lean young deer
29 make possibly with sexual connotations: “have sex with”
30 cook plays on the sense of “pimp” and puns on “cock”
31 catch of get diseases (specifically, venereal disease) from (Doll responds to the sense of “steal from”)
33 ‘Your…ouches’ presumably a line from a ballad, but “broaches, pearls and ouches” are also terms for skin lesions (associated with venereal disease) ouch gem/boil serve in military and sexual sense bravely courageously/showily halting limping (from injury sustained in war/as a result of syphilitic bone erosion; “come off” could mean “dismount sexually”)
34 breach gap in fortifications/vagina pike staff with an iron spike/penis surgery treatment (for injury/venereal disease)
35 charged chambers loaded barrels of small cannon/infectious vagina
37 rheumatic Quickly probably intends “choleric,” i.e., temperamentally hot and dry
38 confirmities malapropism for “infirmities” misleadingly suggesting “resemblances” What…year! common exclamation of impatience (like “What the devil!”)
39 bear be tolerant/bear the weight of a man during sex/bear children
41 vessel now takes on vaginal connotations hogshead large wine barrel, i.e., Falstaff
42 venture i.e., cargo (risked in a sea voyage) Bordeaux stuff wine from Bordeaux in France hulk big, unwieldy person/large ship
45 Ancient ensign, i.e., soldier responsible for carrying military banners Pistol pronounced “pizzle,” generating a pun on the sense of “penis”
46 swaggering blustering, insolent, quarrelsome
49 I’ll I’ll have fame reputation
56 Tilly-fally nonsense
57 Tisick i.e., “phthisic” or tuberculosis, a wasting disease of the lungs deputy one acting in place of a magistrate, before whom Quickly has been summoned for keeping a disorderly tavern
59 Dumbe parsons who did not preach or who did so with insufficient vigour were known as “dumb dogs” by nearby
60 receive i.e., as customers are…name have a bad reputation Now…whereupon and now I understand why
63 companions fellows bless you be surprised/consider yourself fortunate
65 tame harmless cheater crafty card-player (with connotations of “deceiver”)
66 Barbary hen guinea fowl/prostitute
69 am the worse feel ill
72 if it as if I were
75 charge load (like a gun)/toast
76 discharge fire/toast/ejaculate
77 two bullets plays on the idea of “testicles”
78 Pistol-proof bulletproof/resistant to your charms, or penis/past child-bearing age hardly plays on notion of erectile hardness
79 Come possible play on sense of “orgasm” drink plays on the sense of “have sex”
81 Dorothy Doll is the shortened form of the name
82 Charge Doll interprets this in a sexual sense, perhaps “charge at with a (phallic) weapon” or “burden (with pregnancy)” scurvy worthless, contemptible
83 lack-linen mate poorly dressed fellow meat…master i.e., too good for you (meat puns on “mate” and on the sense of “whore”)
85 know perhaps with sexual overtones (i.e., “am familiar with you sexually”)
86 cutpurse thieving, pickpocket bung pickpocket
87 chaps cheeks saucy cuttle insolent thief (a cuttle was the knife used by thieves to cut the strings securing purses to people’s belts)
88 bottle-ale perhaps meaning cheap or frothy basket-hilt i.e., swashbuckling, inadequate (literally, sword hilt provided with a defense for the swordsman’s hand, consisting of narrow plates of steel curved into the shape of a basket) juggler trickster Since when i.e., how long have you claimed to be a soldier/so manly
89 points laces for attaching armor Much! sarcastic exclamation (i.e., “Much manly prowess you have!”/”Two points certainly is a lot!”
90 murder i.e., rip off, tear (i.e., sexually assault; ruff was slang for “vagina”) ruff prostitutes were known for wearing large ruffs
91 Captain Quickly promotes Pistol (who is an ensign), either inadvertently or in order to flatter him
93 truncheon beat out i.e., of their ranks, from military service
95 bawdy-house brothel
96 stewed prunes a dish commonly available in brothels (hence also “whores”) dried stale
98 look to it beware, look out
99 down downstairs
104 I’ll…first this and several of Pistol’s subsequent speeches are set in prose in Folio, but consist of fragments and parodies of verse plays, so they should be spoken as verse, though the rhythms and line-breaks are highly irregular
105 Pluto’s damnèd lake Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld, which had several rivers; the Romans thought that the Italian lake Avernus was the entrance to the underworld
107 Erebus son of Chaos and Night, used to personify the underworld
108 Hold…line i.e., don’t let go (angling terminology)
109 Fates classical goddesses of destiny
110 Hiren perhaps Pistol has affectedly named his sword; Hiren (Irene) may refer to a character in George Peele’s lost play The Turkish Mahomet and Hiren the Fair Greek; puns on “iron,” again suggesting Pistol’s sword
111 Peesel variant pronunciation of “Pistol,” further emphasizing play on “pizzle” (penis) beseek i.e., beseech
112 aggravate in fact Quickly means the opposite, perhaps “abrogate” (put an end to) choler anger, one of the four bodily humors
113 humours moods (literally, bodily fluids governing the temperament) Shall…day closely modeled on lines in Christopher Marlowe’s Tamburlaine Part II, 4.3.1–2; much of Pistol’s speech parodies theatrical rhetoric
114 jades worn-out horses/whores
116 cannibals Pistol may mean “Hannibal” (i.e., famous Carthaginian general who fought the Romans in the third century BC)
117 Trojan Greeks Greeks besieging Troy in the Trojan war, or Pistol confuses the two groups (may play on sense of “jolly, roistering fellows”)
118 King Cerberus the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld; not a king
119 welkin sky, heavens fall…toys quarrel/be destroyed over trifles
122 Die men let men die Give…pins give crowns away as though they were worth no more than pins
125 deny her deny that she is here (Quickly thinks that Pistol is referring to an actual woman, probably a prostitute)
126 feed…Calipolis parodies a line in George Peele’s The Battle of Alcazar
128 Si…contento “If fortune torments me, hope contents me” (rather garbled Italian)
129 broadsides simultaneous discharge of artillery from one side of a ship give fire shoot
131 full points an end (literally, full stops, periods); plays on the sense of “erect penises” etceteras nothing both euphemisms for the vagina
133 neaf hand seven stars constellation of the Pleiades; Pistol suggests they’ve enjoyed themselves at night
134 fustian cheap/bombastic
135 Galloway nags small Scottish horses/prostitutes
136 Quoit throw shove-groat shilling shilling coin used in shove-groat, a board game that involved moving a coin toward a compartment
139 incision i.e., bloodshed imbrue stain (with blood)
140 death…asleep quotation from a song attributed to Anne Boleyn, written as she awaited execution abridge shorten
142 Untwined unravel, spin out (like the thread of a person’s life, spun by the Fates) Sisters Three Fates of classical mythology Atropos one of the Fates, who cut the thread of life after her sisters, Clotho and Lachesis, spun and unwound it
143 toward coming up, imminent
144 rapier lightweight sword
147 forswear reject, give up keeping house inn-keeping
148 tirrits fits of fear, upsets put…weapons sheathe, or hold back your swords (plays on the sense of “get an erection with your bare penises”)
152 shrewd vicious, dangerous
156 brave challenge, defy
158 chops fat cheeks
159 Hector of Troy leader of the Trojan army, known for his valiant and honorable nature Agamemnon leader of the Greek army when it opposed the Trojans
160 Nine Worthies historical figures embodying the ideals of chivalry: three Jews (Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabaeus), three pagans (Hector of Troy, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar), and three Christians (Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon)
161 toss…blanket proverbial punishment for cowards
162 canvass…sheets i.e., have sex with you canvass toss
166 quicksilver mercury, i.e., rapidly
167 like a church unclear; perhaps “slowly, in a stately manner/not at all” tidy fat, healthy
168 Bartholomew boar-pig pig roasts were traditional at London’s St. Bartholomew’s fair (August 24) foining thrusting (with a sword; sexual connotations)
170 death’s head skull used as a memento mori, a reminder of the inevitability of death
172 humour disposition
173 pantler servant in charge of the pantry
174 chipped bread cut away the hard crusts
176 Tewkesbury mustard creamy mustard blended with horseradish, produced in the West Country town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire
177 conceit wit, understanding, imagination
179 legs…bigness i.e., they’re the same type (vain, fashion-conscious); men were judged by the shapeliness of their legs of a the same quoits game in which a metal ring was thrown at a peg fixed in the ground
180 conger and fennel conger eel seasoned with fennel, difficult to digest drinks…flap-dragons plays a drinking game in which one must drink liquor with burning objects (in this case candles’ ends) floating in it flap-dragons raisins that had to be plucked from burning brandy and swallowed rides the wild-mare plays a game similar to leapfrog in which players land on rather than jump over others (mare plays on the sense of “whore”)
181 jumps upon joint-stools i.e., indulges in high spirits joint-stool low stool made by a joiner
182 smooth close-fitting (to show off his legs) sign of the leg sign over a boot maker’s shop breeds no bate causes no dissent, rouses no disagreement
183 discreet cautious, prudent (i.e., dull) gambol playful
184 admits receives, socializes with
185 such another the same type
186 avoirdupois weight
187 nave of a wheel wheel hub (puns on “knave” and on Falstaff’s rotundity) ears cut off the punishment for slandering royalty
189 elder elder tree/old man poll…parrot Doll is ruffling his hair poll head (plays on popular name for a parrot)
192 Saturn and Venus planets thought to govern old age and love respectively in conjunction together in the heavens (plays on the sense of “in sexual union”) almanac astrological calendar
194 fiery Trigon i.e., red-faced Bardolph; signs of the zodiac were divided into four groups of three (trigons), the fiery set consisting of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius lisping whispering/talking in a loving voice
195 tables…counsel-keeper i.e., Mistress Quickly tables notebook (for recording secret assignations)
196 busses kisses
200 stuff material kirtle gown
204 handsome smartly, respectably harken the end judge by the outcome (whether I’m faithful or not), wait and see
206 Anon coming, right away
207 Poins his Poins’
208 continents parts of the world/contents
213 compound composition, piece light loose, immoral (refers to Doll)
217 take…heat do not act now
218 candle-mine source of animal fat for making candles
219 honest chaste
222 knew recognized
225 wilful abuse deliberate slander
237 close unite, agree wicked mocking the language of puritan zealots
239 burns…nose another reference to Bardolph’s alcoholically red face
240 dead elm rotten old tree; the elm tree was traditionally used to support vines, and to make coffins
241 pricked marked
242 Lucifer’s privy-kitchen i.e., hell malt-worms drunkards
243 outbids i.e., is more influential than
245 hell…burns i.e., has syphilis, with which she infects others
246 owe…that puritans considered money lending sinful
248 quit acquitted, forgiven/paid back
249 suffering permitting flesh…eaten i.e., meat to be eaten during Lent (when it was forbidden)/prostitution to take place
250 howl be punished/be damned
251 victuallers innkeepers mutton sheep/prostitute
255 says…against i.e., the polite title gentlewoman is one that the prince (or his sexual impulse) knows instinctively to be misapplied to a loose woman like Doll grace title for a prince/honor, virtue
258 Westminster location of the royal court in London
259 posts messengers
262 Bare-headed a sign of haste; it was customary to cover the head
265 profane i.e., misuse
266 commotion insurrection south south wind, thought to carry disease and storms
267 Borne…vapour carried along with dark clouds
270 morsel part/sexual titbit
271 unpicked untasted
272 presently at once
273 stay wait
277 post posthaste, immediately
281 known perhaps with sexual connotations
282 peascod-time the time when peas ripen in the pod (plays on sense of “testicle time”)
3.1 Location: the royal court
9 cribs hovels
10 pallets straw mattresses
13 state splendor
15 vile mean, wretched, low-born
17 watch-case ticking watch in a case/sentry box common ’larum-bell public alarm bell, rung by a night watchman in an emergency
20 rude imperious surge rough, overwhelming swell of the sea
21 visitation violent, destructive force
22 ruffian billows rough waves
24 slipp’ry rapidly passing/unable to be grasped
25 That so that hurly tumult, uproar
26 partial unfair, biased/sympathetic
27 rude rough, dangerous
29 to boot besides
30 happy low fortunate humble men
32 morrows mornings
39 foul diseased, polluted rank festering, gross, abundant
41 distempered out of sorts
43 little a little
44 cooled calm down, regain equilibrium
46 revolution change, movement
47 continent dry land
50 beachy…ocean i.e., seashore, imaged as a belt
51 Neptune Roman god of the sea chance’s mocks mockeries of fortune
53 divers various/unfavorable
54 Richard Richard II
57 This Percy i.e., Northumberland
59 under my foot at my service
60 eyes i.e., face
62 Neville in fact, Warwick’s name is Richard de Beauchamp, although the Earl of Warwick in 3 Henry VI is Richard Neville
64 rated berated
66 ‘Northumberland…throne’ for these and the other lines the king recalls, see Richard II, Act 5 Scene 1
72 head to a head (of a boil, with play on the sense of “insurrection/army”)
73 corruption pus (plays on the sense of “sin, destruction”)
74 same current
77 Figuring reproducing, depicting deceased past, gone by
79 near aim accurate guess main chance likely outcome
81 intreasurèd safely stored
82 hatch and brood outcome and offspring
83 necessary form inevitable pattern
85 false disloyal
91 cries out on denounces/calls for attention from
101 A certain instance secure evidence Glendower leader of the Welsh rebels
103 unseasoned late, unseasonable perforce of necessity
106 inward civil out of hand over and done with
107 would wish to go
3.2 Location: Gloucestershire, west England (the home of Shallow—though Falstaff is supposed to be going from London to York and this would not be on his way) Shallow and Silence both Justices of the Peace (magistrates); Silence (from Lincolnshire?) appears to be visiting his kinsman Mouldy…Bullcalf army recruits (Folio groups their entrance at the beginning of the scene, but they could come on individually when their names are called from the roll)
2 rood (Christ’s) cross
4 bedfellow i.e., wife
6 black of dark hair and/or complexion (considered less attractive than fair hair and skin) ouzel blackbird
7 By…nay a mild oath
8 Oxford Oxford University, sixty miles northwest of London
10 Inns of Court in London where young men trained for the legal profession Clement’s Inn one of the Inns of Chancery, a step below the Inns of Court
12 lusty lively/lustful
14 roundly to the full Doit an appropriate name for a little man; a doit is a small coin of little value
15 Pickbone a name suggestive of greed Squele suggests an excitable man, or one with a shrill, high-pitched voice Cotswold the Cotswolds are a range of hills in Gloucestershire
16 swinge-bucklers swashbucklers, swaggerers
17 bona-robas attractive whores
21 Scoggin’s John Scoggin was court jester to Edward IV
22 court-gate palace gates crack lively lad (picks up on the language of breaking)
23 Sampson Stockfish ironic combination of names: Sampson is a biblical hero and stockfish is dried cod (used to suggest physical weakness and an impotent penis) Gray’s Inn one of the Inns of Court
27 How what price is yoke of bullocks pair of young bulls Stamford town in Lincolnshire famous for horse and cattle fairs; some editors suspect that this scene is in fact located near Stamford, a more logical stopping place for Falstaff as he travels from London to York, but Shakespeare was often careless of geographical realism
31 drew…bow was a good archer John of Gaunt Henry IV’s father; he dies in Richard II
33 clapped…clout hit the target clout square of cloth marking the center twelvescore i.e., 240 yards (twelve times twenty) forehand shaft arrow shot directly, without the usual curved trajectory employed when shooting at distance
34 fourteen…half i.e., 280–90 yards
35 score twenty ewes female sheep
36 Thereafter…be depending on their quality
40 beseech seek to know
41 esquire one ranking just below a knight
42 justices of the peace local magistrates
43 tall brave
45 backsword fencing weapon with a protective basket-work hilt
47 accommodated equipped (a fashionable word unfamiliar to the provincial Shallow)
50 accommodo Shallow considers the word’s Latin origin phrase the term could refer to a single word
56 just true
59 Surecard the name means “one certain of success”
61 in commission authorized to act as a magistrate
62 of the peace a magistrate/silent
65 sufficient competent
73 friends family
79 Prick mark down on the list
80 pricked vexed/sour, mouldy (plays on the sense of “equipped with a penis”)
81 dame wife (possibly mother, but the sexual punning makes a wife seem more likely) undone at a loss do her husbandry undertake agricultural or household work/perform the sexual role of a husband drudgery domestic/sexual labor
83 spent used up, consumed (plays on the sense of “sexually exhausted after orgasm”)
86 other others, rest
87 cold cool (like shade)/cowardly
90 son puns on “sun”
92 shadow reflection, image
93 not…substance i.e., potentially the son of another man
96 serve do, suffice/perform military service
97 shadows names of dead or imaginary men, a ruse to enable the captain of the regiment to claim their pay muster military recruitment
103 ragged rough/tattered (may pun on “ragwort,” a plant thought to be an aphrodisiac)
105 apparel…pins suggesting his clothes are held together by pins, or that his physical frame is poorly put together (pins plays on the sense of “legs”)
111 tailor the profession had a reputation for effeminacy as well as for lechery (“tail” plays on the sense of “sexual organs,” thus leading to renewed sexual play on prick in the following lines)
113 pricked clothed/stabbed with a pin/penetrated sexually
114 battle army
116 good will best (will plays on the sense of “penis”)
118 magnanimous brave
119 well…deep i.e., firmly (with continued sexual play)
122 go plays on the sense of “have sex” put him to enlist him as
123 thousands i.e., vermin/lice
126 green i.e., village green
129 likely promising again in response
134 ringing…affairs church bellringing on behalf of the king
135 coronation day i.e., anniversary of the coronation
136 gown dressing gown/nightgown
137 take such order issue instructions, arrange ring for thee ring the bells instead of you/for your funeral
138 two…four Shallow counts six but we only see five
140 tarry stay for
142 Windmill probably the name of a brothel, perhaps a tavern
143 St George’s Field area between Southwark and Lambeth, south of the River Thames; known for prostitution
145 Nightwork her surname suggests her occupation as a prostitute
147 away with endure, get on with
149 bona-roba whore
158 watch-word code word, password/drinking cry
161 Corporate malapropism for “Corporal” stand act as Harry ten shillings shillings from the reign of Henry VII, subsequently worth only half their original value
162 lief willingly
164 friends family
166 Go to i.e., very well, off you go
169 forty i.e., shillings
172 so so be it
173 quit free
184 service military/domestic/sexual service come unto it reach manhood
186 likeliest ablest
189 thews physique, strength assemblance appearance, frame, composition
191 charge…you load and fire pewterer’s hammer pewter was hammered out with rapid actions
192 come off and on advance and retreat/lower and raise (the gun)/stay still and act gibbets…bucket slightly unclear meaning; perhaps hangs on, carries, balances the beam (bucket) from which the brewer’s buckets are suspended
193 half-faced thin mark target
194 aim chance of hitting the target level aim
196 spare thin/surplus to requirement caliver light musket
198 traverse march/take aim
199 manage me handle skillfully
200 chopped chapped, i.e., dried up shot marksman (possible play on sense of “animal left over after the best of the herd have been selected”) said done
201 scab rascal (plays on his name) tester sixpence
202 Mile-End Green East London drill ground for citizen soldiers; now Stepney Green
203 Sir…show refers to a display of archery on Mile-End Green in which participants took the names of King Arthur’s knights of the Round Table; Shallow played Arthur’s fool
204 quiver nimble (plays on sense of “case for arrows”) manage…come i.e., was quick and skillful at firing, then retreating to the rear rank of musketeers in order to reload before advancing to fire once more; “Ra, ta, ta” is the noise of reloading and “Bounce” that of the shot
210 must i.e., must go
212 Peradventure perhaps
214 would wish
215 have…word meant what I said
216 gentle noble
217 fetch off trick, get the better of
219 prate chatter
220 Turnbull Street in Clerkenwell, London; known haunt of thieves and prostitutes duer more punctually
221 Turk’s tribute regular tribute money due the sultan; failure to pay was punishable by death man…cheese-paring figure of a man carved idly out of the rind of cheese
224 forlorn pitiful, meager thick dull, weak invincible impossible to make out; some editors emend to “invisible”
225 genius spirit rearward rear
226 Vice’s dagger thin, insubstantial wooden dagger used by the Vice character in morality plays squire of a rank just below that of knight John of Gaunt father of King Henry IV
227 sworn brother avowed companion in arms, intimate friend
228 Tilt-yard area for jousting tournaments near Whitehall, London burst…men got his head beaten trying to get past the guards
229 his own name i.e., a gaunt, very thin person
230 him i.e., Shallow eel-skin i.e., because he is so thin treble hautboy oboe
231 beefs cattle
232 acquainted familiar go…will be hard luck if I do not
233 philosopher’s two stones the philosopher’s stone supposedly turned base metal into gold; Falstaff intends to make a money out of Shallow (two stones plays on the sense of “testicles”) dace small freshwater fish pike large, voracious freshwater fish (also, appropriately enough, known as a jack)
234 shape shape matters
4.1 Location: Gaultree Forest, north of York
2 Gaultree Forest ancient royal forest to the north of York an’t if it
3 discoverers scouts
9 New-dated of recent date
11 powers forces
12 hold sortance with correspond, agree quality rank
13 levy raise, muster
14 retired withdrawn ripe ripen, develop
16 overlive survive
17 opposite adversary
18 touch ground run aground
22 form formation
24 rate estimate, number
25 just…out exact number we estimated
26 sway on move forward
27 well-appointed well-equipped fronts faces, confronts
30 prince…Lancaster Prince John, although born at Lancaster was actually Duke of Bedford
32 doth…coming does your arrival mean
35 If that if
36 like itself in its true colors routs mobs, gangs
37 bloody bloodthirsty guarded adorned, trimmed/protected, flanked by
38 countenanced approved, supported
39 commotion insurrection, rebellion
40 most proper own true
41 reverend respected
42 Had not would not have been dress dress up, adorn
44 honours noble selves
45 see diocese
47 letters scholarship
48 investments ecclesiastical robes figure symbolize
55 point musical signal (perhaps plays on the sense of “sword”)
58 wanton uncontrolled/idle/self-indulgent/lascivious
60 bleed let blood as a medical cure/shed blood in battle
63 take…me do not take on the role of
66 show appear
67 rank coarse, gross/corrupt
70 justly exactly/fairly
72 griefs sufferings, grievances
74 most quiet there former peacefulness in the stream of time
75 occasion circumstances
77 articles account of charges, list of grievances
79 suit supplication/legal petition gain our audience be granted a hearing
80 unfold disclose, explain
83 but newly gone only recently passed
84 memory…earth i.e., the land bears scars of battle
85 yet appearing still visible
86 Of…instance of which every minute gives us evidence/which each moment urges upon us
87 ill-beseeming unbecoming
92 gallèd vexed, wounded
93 suborned bribed grate on harass
94 seal approve, ratify by affixing a wax seal
96 commonwealth state, general good
103 unequal unjust
106 Construe make sense of/judge to their necessities according to what is urgent and immediate
109 not appears doesn’t appear
113 signories estates
116 breathed reanimated
117 the state circumstances
118 force perforce with violent compulsion banish him Richard II banished both Mowbray’s father and Henry Bullingbrook (Henry IV), rather than allow them to meet in combat, in events dramatized in Richard II
120 rousèd raised/angry, roused
121 coursers horses daring…spur i.e., eager to charge
122 armèd…charge lances held in position beavers visors or face guards of their helmets
123 sights of steel slits in their visors
124 blowing them together giving them the signal to charge
125 stayed kept, prevented
127 warder staff held by one presiding over combat
129 all their lives the lives of all those
130 indictment legal accusation dint of sword force of arms
131 miscarried come to grief
133 Earl of Hereford i.e., Bullingbrook
137 He…Coventry he would not have got away in safety from Coventry (Midlands town, the location of the combat)
141 did did so, did bless and grace (him)
145 wherein on those matters in which
147 enjoy them have those requests granted set off put aside
148 think you make you seem
149 compel oblige him to make
150 policy strategy, cunning
151 overween go too far
153 ken range of sight
156 battle army names noblemen, famed soldiers
157 perfect skilled
159 reason will it stands to reason
161 parley negotiation with the enemy
163 rotten…handling something putrid won’t stand close examination (rotten case plays on sense of “syphilitic vagina”)
165 very ample virtue full authority
166 determine Of decide on
168 intended implied name title
169 muse marvel
170 schedule list
172 Each several article provided that each separate charge
173 hence elsewhere
174 insinewed to an integral part of, bound to
175 Acquitted provided that we are cleared true substantial form binding legal proceedings
176 present…confined immediate carrying out of the demands relating to us and our intentions
178 awful banks respectful (awe-full) boundaries
179 knit bind, unite
180 Please you if you’re content
181 battles armies
182 At either end on both sides frame arrange
189 absolute unconditional
190 consist upon insist upon/consist of
192 valuation estimation in the eyes of the king
193 false-derivèd wrongly attributed
194 nice and wanton petty and frivolous
196 were…love even if we were willing to die for love of the king
197 winnowed separated, as is the corn from the worthless husks (chaff) by the action of the wind
198 That…partition the king will be unable to distinguish the good from the bad in us
201 dainty petty picking trifling
202 doubt fear
203 heirs of life survivors
204 tables records
206 history record, recount
208 precisely completely
209 misdoubts present occasion i.e., to the extent that he would like misdoubts suspicions, fears
210 enrooted entangled by the roots
214 enraged him on provoked him
216 hangs resolved correction forestalls the determined punishment
217 execution carry out the action
218 wasted used up rods whipping rods
219 late recent/dead
222 offer threaten
225 atonement reconciliation
231 just at an equal
233 Before lead on
234 cousin form of address between nobles, not necessarily denoting kinship
235 gentle noble
237 better…you suited you better
241 iron armored/unyielding
243 word i.e., holy word of scripture
246 Would he were he to countenance favor, patronage
247 set abroach unleash
250 deep…heaven learned in Scripture/firmly in God’s grace
251 speaker intermediary between monarch and parliament; here, between God and the people
253 opener and intelligencer one who explains and informs
254 sanctities holiness, sacred nature
255 workings efforts/perceptions
256 But you that you don’t place position
257 countenance favor
258 false dishonest, disloyal
259 taken up raised
260 zeal puns on “seal,” i.e., authority
261 heaven’s substitute the monarch was regarded as God’s deputy on earth
263 upswarmèd made them rise up like an angry swarm
267 misordered confused in common sense as all acknowledge
268 monstrous unnatural
269 hold…up maintain our security
270 parcels details
271 shoved i.e., dismissed
272 Hydra in Greek mythology, a monster that grew two heads for every one that was cut off
273 dangerous eyes refers to another monster, Argus, whose hundred eyes kept permanent watch until charmed to sleep by Mercury
280 supplies reinforcements second support, renew
282 success succession
284 Whiles…generation for as long as people continue to be born
286 sound the bottom gauge the depth, i.e., foretell
288 How far forth to what extent like approve of, agree to
289 allow them well approve of them
291 mistook misunderstood
292 lavishly freely
296 powers forces several various, separate
299 tokens signs
305 part depart
306 Hie hurry
308 pledge toast
315 happy season opportune moment
316 something somewhat
317 Against in anticipation of
318 heaviness…event sadness comes over men before a positive outcome
319 coz abbreviation of “cousin”
321 passing surpassingly, extremely
323 rendered given
324 had been cheerful would have been uplifting
330 trains retinues, followers
331 peruse look over
332 coped withal had to fight with
335 lie lodge
341 steers unyoked calves freed from the yoke
343 sporting-place place of entertainment, leisure
347 Of for, on the grounds of attach arrest
351 pawned pledged
356 Meet appropriate
357 shallowly foolishly, thoughtlessly
358 Fondly stupidly
359 stray stragglers
363 condition rank
368 Dale the sense now widens from “valley” to include “pit”
371 drops tears lovers friends
372 do observance show respect
374 I…name i.e., I am known by name everywhere on account of my vast stomach school crowd
375 An if
376 indifferency ordinary size womb belly
382 tardy tricks delaying dodges
383 break…back i.e., get you hanged (and your weight will cause the gallows to break)
384 but…be if it were not
386 expedition speed
387 with…possibility as fast as possible foundered lamed
388 nine…posts over 180 horses
389 furious violent, wrathful
391 hook-nosed…Rome i.e., Julius Caesar
394 booked recorded
395 particular ballad special ballad written about me picture ballads were commonly illustrated with woodcuts
396 gilt two-pences false coins, twopenny pieces gilded and passed off as gold half-crowns to compared to
398 cinders…element i.e., stars
399 desert mount merit be recognized
400 heavy fat, weighty/heinous, dreadful
402 thick fat/dim
410 been…me taken my advice
411 won them dearer they would have cost more, i.e., you would have had to fight for them
412 sold presented/betrayed/bartered away
414 left left off, given up
415 execution stayed bloodshed halted
417 present immediate
418 sure carefully, securely
420 sore seriously
423 sober moderate, dignified
426 in my condition according to my disposition/as military commander
428 would wish
431 come…proof turn out well
432 making many fish-meals they eat such a lot of fish (as opposed to red meat) green-sickness anaemia causing a greenish complexion; it often afflicted teenage girls
433 get wenches father only daughters
434 inflammation roused emotions resulting from drink/swelling weight sherry-sack sweet Spanish white wine
435 ascends me ascends (me is used colloquially for emphasis)
436 curdy thick, curdled vapours noxious exhalations supposedly produced in the body and rising to the brain environ surround apprehensive intelligent, perceptive
437 forgetive apt at forging, inventive
440 liver considered the seat of the passions pusillanimity lack of courage, timidity
442 parts extremes extremities
443 vital…spirits the “vital spirits” were thought to be the essence of life
444 muster me assemble
446 a-work to work
447 a is a commences initiates, unleashes (puns on “Commencement,” the formal term for the degree award ceremony at Cambridge University)
450 husbanded cultivated
453 potations liquors
457 tempering becoming pliant, softening like wax
458 seal with him come to an agreement/shape him to my purposes
4.2 Location: the Jerusalem Chamber in Westminster Abbey, though here transferred to the royal court
2 debate strife, conflict
3 higher fields i.e., to Jerusalem, on a crusade
4 sanctified consecrated, holy
5 addressed ready
6 substitutes…invested deputies installed in office
7 level equal
8 want lack
9 pause us rest, wait
19 in presence present/in the royal presence
22 chance does it happen
26 offices services
28 brethren brothers
29 omit neglect
32 observed treated with respect
34 melting tender
35 flint i.e., hard, unyielding
36 humorous moody, volatile
37 flaws congealèd icy gusts of wind spring dawn/gentle warmth
38 temper disposition/mood
39 reverently respectfully
41 line range, scope
42 on ground beached
43 confound defeat, overthrow working exertion
47 suggestion suspicion/incitement to evil
48 force perforce of necessity
50 aconitum aconite or wolfsbane, a poisonous plant rash hasty, violent
55 other his continual his other constant
56 fattest richest, most fertile
60 blood…heart every sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart
64 curb restraint (literally, chain passed under a horse’s jaw)
66 lavish wild, unrestrained
68 fronting advancing/confronting opposed hostile
69 look…quite go too far in judging him
76 perfectness fullness
78 measure guide
79 mete measure
81 ’Tis…carrion i.e., people rarely give up their pleasures despite the corrupt surroundings; drawn from the biblical story of Samson who found a bees’ nest in the carcass of a lion (Judges 14:8)
87 Bishop Scroop i.e., the Archbishop of York, Richard Scroop
91 borne carried out
93 course…particular turn of events set out in detail
95 haunch hindquarter, back end
96 lifting up rising, breaking
105 packet i.e., of letters, dispatch
109 stomach appetite
121 straight straightaway
122 pangs attacks, spasms of pain
124 wrought the mure made the wall
126 fear me fill me with fear
127 Unfathered heirs children supposed to be unnatural, conceived supernaturally loathly births deformed infants, regarded as ill omens
128 change their manners alter their usual patterns as as if
130 flowed flooded
131 doting weak-minded/foolish/fond, attentive
133 Edward Edward III sicked sickened
135 apoplexy illness causing paralysis
139 dull gentle favourable kindly
146 heaviness sadness
147 Rain i.e., tears abroad outside
153 physic medicine
161 perturbation cause of trouble care source of anxiety
162 ports doors, gates (i.e., eyelids)
163 watchful wakeful
165 homely biggen plain nightcap
166 watch portion of the night/watchful vigil
168 armour…safety metal armor that gets hot and burns the wearer at the same time it protects him from attack
169 gates of breath i.e., mouth and nose
171 suspire breathe out
174 rigol circle (i.e., crown)
180 immediate direct successor
181 Derives itself descends
182 put…strength even if all the strength in the world were concentrated
184 lineal inherited
185 mine i.e., my heir
200 Chide drive with rebukes
201 part action conjoins unites
203 falls into revolt betrays itself, is unnatural
208 engrossed amassed
209 cankered tarnished/corrupt strange-achievèd ill-gotten/brought from overseas
210 thoughtful careful invest endow (plays on financial sense)
211 arts scholarship
214 thighs…wax beeswax is stored in sacs on the upper parts of bees’ legs
215 bees…pains in fact it is not workers, but drones (bees whose sole purpose is to impregnate the queen) who die after mating or are cast out of the hive to die
216 This…engrossments these accumulations give a bitter taste
217 ending dying
218 stay wait
219 determined terminated
221 kindly filial/ gentle gentle noble/tender
223 tyranny cruelty but anything but
232 chair position/throne
236 cloud of dignity rank or honor, insubstantial as a cloud
240 Were would have been
241 sealed…expectation confirmed my fears
242 manifest demonstrate
245 whetted sharpened
247 forbear endure, permit
252 balm consecrated oil used in the coronation of the monarch sanctify consecrate, render holy
253 compound mix
256 form established order, custom
260 apes of idleness fools prone to all unworthy vices
261 confines states, countries
266 gild cover with gold (puns on guilt)
267 office official position
270 flesh his tooth sink his tooth into the flesh
272 care anxiety, concerned efforts (sense then shifts to “chief concern”)
278 had would have dear heartfelt
282 affect desire
284 obedience i.e., kneeling posture
288 course current
292 have purposèd intend
295 as having sense as though it were alive
296 on thee depending attached to you
299 fine in carat pure
300 med’cine potable i.e., aurum potabile, a liquid medicine supposed to contain gold
301 fine refined, pure
304 try dispute, engage in
310 affection tendency to
311 Give entertainment to receive, be hospitable to might power
313 vassal subject
317 join the more be further united to
320 latest last, final
322 by-paths obscure, indirect paths
323 met came by
327 soil grounds, foundation/stain, dishonor
329 boist’rous unruly, violent
330 many i.e., of the men who claimed to have assisted him
333 fears sources of fear
336 argument plot, theme/subject of contention
337 purchased bought, acquired not inherited
338 fairer sort just manner/favorable lot
339 garland i.e., crown successively by right of succession
341 griefs are green grievances remain fresh, unhealed
342 make work to maintain as
344 fell working fierce efforts
345 lodge harbor
350 near closely state kingship
351 giddy foolish, restless
352 action war hence borne out undertaken abroad
353 waste dispel
354 I I say wasted worn out
361 common pain ordinary effort
367 trunk body/tree trunk
368 a period an end
372 lodging room swoon faint
374 Laud praise
375 years i.e., years ago
376 but except
377 vainly foolishly/conceitedly
5.1 Location: at Justice Shallow’s, Gloucestershire Davy one of Shallow’s servants
1 By…pie a mild oath cock form of “God” pie Roman Catholic service book
8 precepts writs, summons
9 headland strip of unplowed land in a field; used for turning the plough it was sown later than the rest of the field
10 red wheat a dark-colored late variety
11 smith’s note blacksmith’s bill plough-irons any iron parts of a plow
12 cast calculated (plays on the sense of “form metal into shape”)
13 link…bucket rope or chain, most likely for the pail drawing water up from a well
14 Hinckley Fair well-known cattle fair held every August at Hinckley, a market town on the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border
15 answer repay
16 kickshaws fancy dishes
17 man of war soldier/large warship (i.e., Falstaff)
18 use treat A…purse i.e., it’s useful to have friends in high places
19 arrant knaves absolute rogues backbite tell tales, slander
20 bitten…linen i.e., clothes full of lice
21 Well conceited very witty
22 countenance favor
29 bear out support
30 credit trust/reputation
33 Look about watch out/get busy
37 tall valiant, or perhaps ironically addressed to the page
41 quantities little bits
42 staves i.e., long and thin semblable coherence close correspondence
44 conversing associating
45 married in conjunction intimately connected
46 suit to lawsuit for/favor to beg
47 imputation…near suggestion that I am friendly with
48 curry curry favor, flatter
50 carriage behavior, bearing
53 terms sessions of the law courts (four in a year) actions lawsuits intervallums intervals between terms
54 sad brow straight face never…shoulders i.e., was young and carefree
56 ill laid up badly folded, i.e., creased up
5.2 Location: the royal court
1 whither away where are you going
8 service…injuries presumably the Lord Chief Justice is recalling the time he had Prince Henry arrested and is worried about repercussions now that Hal is king truly faithfully
14 fantasy imagination
15 heavy issue sorrowful offspring
16 temper disposition
18 hold their places retain their positions
19 strike sail lower their sails, i.e., submit vile base
24 argument subject for discussion
29 borrow not do not put on
30 sure certainly
31 grace favor (from Hal)
32 coldest expectation the least favorable situation
35 your…quality the current of your nature and position
39 ragged wretched forestalled remission pardon so certain to be refused it is not worth asking
40 troth good faith, honesty
49 Amurah a Turkish sultan who, upon gaining the throne, had all his brothers killed; his successor did the same thing
62 number…happiness i.e., for each tear there shall be an hour of happiness
64 strangely in a distant, unfamiliar manner
65 assured convinced
69 hopes expectations
71 Rate berate
72 easy insignificant/lenient
73 Lethe in Greek mythology, the river in the underworld; immersion in its waters induced forgetfulness
74 use the person represent
80 presented represented
84 commit imprison
85 Be you would you be garland crown
87 awful awe-inspiring, majestic bench judge’s seat, i.e., judicial system
90 spurn strike/disdain
91 second body deputy, substitute
92 make…yours put yourself in that situation
93 propose imagine
94 profaned abused, treated with contempt
95 dreadful formidable, awe-inspiring loosely carelessly, casually
98 soft gently
99 cold considerance calm consideration
100 state role as king
101 misbecame was not appropriate to
103 weigh consider, reason
104 still…sword i.e., retain your position; balance (scales) and sword are the emblems of justice
110 proper own
114 commit sense shifts from “imprison” to “entrust”
115 used been accustomed
116 remembrance reminder
120 sound speak out
121 intents intentions
122 well-practised experienced
125 affections wild inclinations, self-indulgent behavior
126 sadly solemnly, seriously
127 mock defy
128 raze out erase, obliterate
129 Rotten opinion poor, corrupt reputation
130 After my seeming in accordance with the way I appeared to be
131 vanity worthlessness, folly
133 state of floods majesty of the sea
136 limbs…counsel i.e., advisers
142 accite summon
143 remembered mentioned (pronounced remembred)
144 consigning to approving, setting its seal to
5.3 Location: Shallow’s garden, Gloucestershire
1 orchard garden
2 pippin variety of apple graffing grafting, cultivation caraways sweets or cakes made with caraway seeds
4 rich fertile/well-off one
6 Spread lay the cloth for eating said done
8 husband steward
9 varlet servant/rogue
11 quoth a said he
14 flesh meat/whores dear beloved/expensive
15 lusty lively/lustful
17 health toast
21 Proface! a toast or welcoming cry: “May it do you good!” (from old French or Italian) want in meat lack in flesh, i.e., size
22 bear put up with it all i.e., the most important thing
25 shrews nags and scolds
26 in…all at dinner when men’s beards move up and down in lively conversation
27 Shrovetide the three feast days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent
29 mettle character/liveliness
30 twice and once comic inversion of “once or twice”
31 leather-coats russet apples that have tough skins
34 brisk dry/sparkling
35 leman sweetheart
40 let it come pass it round
41 pledge toast a…bottom the whole cup, even if it were a mile deep
43 beshrew a curse on
44 cavalieros fashionable young men
47 crack a quart empty a quart pot, i.e., two pints of ale
48 pottle-pot tankard containing two quarts (four pints), twice what Shallow proposed
49 stick by thee keep up with you (in drinking)
50 out drop out true bred i.e., made of the right stuff
54 done me right i.e., by matching me in drinking
55 Do…Samingo popular drinking song Samingo Sir Mingo (mingo is Latin for “I urinate”)
60 somewhat something
67 greatest most influential (Silence takes the sense of “fattest”)
68 but except for Goodman title for those below the rank of gentleman Puff name suggestive of swelling (Pistol shifts the sense to “brag, boast”)
69 recreant cowardly
73 price great value
74 man…world an ordinary mortal, i.e., in plain language
75 A foutre i.e., “I don’t give a fuck” (from the French)
77 Assyrian native of Assyria, ancient Middle Eastern country renowned in the Bible for robbery and pillage, later associated with luxury
78 King Cophetua African king who fell in love with a beggar girl; a popular topic for ballads
79 Robin…John fragment from the ballad Robin Hood and the Pinder of Wakefield
80 curs dogs Helicons i.e., the Muses who lived on Mount Helicon in Greece—hence “true poets”
81 baffled frustrated/treated with contempt
82 lay…lap appeal to the Furies, mythological goddesses of revenge
83 breeding social status
88 Besonian beggar, knave (from Italian besogno)
95 do…me make the indecent gesture known as the “fig of Spain,” which consisted of thrusting the thumb between the index and middle fingers
98 just true
99 Away let’s go
100 double-charge…dignities load you, like a firearm, twice over with honors
102 take exchange
104 Carry…bed presumably Silence has passed out from too much drink
107 withal moreover
108 Boot get your boots on sick i.e., longing, pining for (unconscious play on sense of “sick of”)
111 vultures…also refers to the punishment inflicted on Prometheus by the Greek gods; for stealing fire from heaven, he had his liver pecked out by vultures each day (it regrew at night)
112 ‘Where…led?’ line from a lost poem or ballad
5.4 Location: London, but unspecified—almost certainly a street Beadles parish officers with the power to punish petty offenders, perhaps synonymous with Fang and Snare
1 that so that
2 hanged i.e., as her murderer
3 over up (for punishment)
4 whipping-cheer feast of whipping, a common punishment for whores
5 killed about her murdered on her account; may play on “brought to orgasm” in her company
6 Nut-hook beadle or constable; literally a long pole with a hook at the end for gathering nuts
7 tripe-visaged with a face like tripe (i.e., sallow, pock-marked) go am pregnant
8 thou…struck you’d have been better off if you’d struck paper-faced i.e., thin, pale
9 bloody…somebody he’d fight and make somebody pay for this
10 I…miscarry either she hopes Doll will miscarry and the beadle be punished or she’s confused and means the opposite
11 cushions implying that Doll is feigning pregnancy by stuffing a cushion under her gown but only
14 man in a censer vessels in which incense was burnt were embossed with figures
15 swinged thrashed blue-bottled beadles wore dark-blue uniforms correctioner one who administers punishment; or more specifically, officer at the Bridewell House of Correction for prostitutes
16 forswear half-kirtles give up wearing skirts; a kirtle consisted of a bodice and a skirt
17 she knight-errant female knight/prostitute (who commits her misdeeds, or errs by night)
18 right…might inversion of the proverb “might overcomes right” sufferance…ease undergoing suffering/patient forbearance produces relief/comfort
22 Goodman…bones insults referring to the beadle’s thinness
23 anatomy skeleton
24 thing perhaps with phallic connotations rascal rogue/underweight young deer
5.5 Location: a public place in Westminster, near the Abbey Grooms manservants
1 rushes with which Elizabethan floors were commonly strewn
5 leer upon look sideways at, catch his eye countenance look/patronage
9 liveries servants’ uniforms bestowed laid out, used
10 infer imply, demonstrate
17 shift me change my shirt
22 semper idem, “ever the same” (Latin) obsque…est “apart from this there is nothing” (Latin; obsque is a mistake for absque) ’Tis…part Pistol’s rough translation of the Latin
24 liver regarded as the seat of the passions
26 Helen i.e., Helen of Troy, supposedly the most beautiful woman in the world
27 durance imprisonment
28 Haled hauled, dragged
29 mechanical vulgar, common
30 ebon ebony, black fell fierce
31 Alecto one of the Furies, described by Virgil as being crowned with snakes
32 in in prison; possibly plays on “pregnant” (hence Falstaff’s “deliver”)
36 imp scion or offspring of a noble house
38 vain foolish, worthless
40 Jove supreme Roman god heart dear old friend
44 surfeit-swelled swollen from overindulgence
46 hence henceforth
47 gormandizing excessive eating
56 riots debauched behavior, revelry, disorderly deeds
59 our Hal uses the royal plural pronoun
60 competence of life a sufficient allowance
61 That…evil so that poverty will not make you turn to crime
64 advancement promotion, favor charge responsibility, orders
65 tenor substance
71 doublet close-fitting jacket
74 colour pretence (of Henry’s)
75 colour puns on “collar” (hangman’s noose), die puns on “dye”
76 colours enemy flags
77 soon at night this very evening/early in the evening
78 Fleet prison in the City of London
82 Si…contento “If fortune torments me, hope contents me” (Italian; the same motto Pistol uttered in Act 2 Scene 4, with the Italian differently garbled)
83 fair proceeding kindly/just course of action
84 hath intent intends wonted customary
86 conversations behavior
92 civil swords used in civil wars
96 curtsy bow your addressed to the audience
99 doubt fear marring ruin
100 venture attempt/risk
102 ill venture unsuccessful commercial voyage
103 break break my promise/am bankrupt creditors plays on both financial sense and “people who believe my promise”
104 bate me let me off
112 continue…it i.e., in Henry V, although in the end Falstaff did not feature in that play
113 sweat a fit of sweating due to either physical exertion, the plague or a type of cure for venereal disease
114 hard unfavorable Oldcastle…martyr Sir John Oldcastle, the name originally given to Falstaff, was an early fifteenth-century Lollard leader, subsequently regarded as a martyr by the puritans; Shakespeare had to drop the name from the play due to objections from Oldcastle’s descendants