1 CHORUS this speech, which did not appear in the First Folio, is from the Quarto editions of the play; it is written in the form of a sonnet dignity social status/worth
2 Verona city in northern Italy
3 ancient long-standing mutiny discord
4 civil of citizens (plays on the sense of “civilized”)
5 fatal fateful/deadly
6 star-crossed thwarted by fate (the malign influence of a star or planet) take their life derive life (with sinister play on the sense of “commit suicide”)
7 misadventured unfortunate
9 fearful frightened/fearsome passage progress/passing (playing on the sense of “death”)
11 but but for
12 traffic business
14 miss be found wanting, be unsuccessful
1.1 Location: a public place in Verona bucklers small round shields
1 carry coals submit to indignity or insult
2 colliers those who carry coal for sale (a dirty profession and one often associated with cheating)
3 in choler angry (puns on “collier”) draw i.e., our swords (puns on the sense of “carry, haul”)
4 draw…o’th’collar withdraw your neck from the hangman’s noose (collar puns on colliers and choler)
5 strike attack (plays on the sense of “have sex”) moved provoked (plays on the sense of “sexually aroused”)
8 move…stir in addition to “be provoked/become sexually aroused,” both verbs also now signify “move physically, displace oneself” valiant courageous/firm physically stand stand firm/get an erection
10 take the wall take the side of the road nearest the wall (forcing anyone else to walk in the gutter that ran down the center of an Elizabethan street)
12 slave rogue goes…wall are always forced to submit (a proverbial expression)
13 thrust…wall i.e., for sex
16 men male servants, i.e., not women
17 one the same thing
20 maidenheads virginities
22 take understand/receive sexually sense meaning/physical feeling
23 stand remain upright/have an erection pretty…flesh fine fellow/man with a fine penis
25 fish i.e., the opposite of flesh (meat)/a woman or a vagina poor John salted hake, a poor type of food/sexually inadequate, the possessor of a shriveled penis
26 tool sword/penis
27 naked weapon continues the phallic wordplay
28 How what
29 Fear doubt (possibly, Gregory then shifts the sense to an incredulous “be afraid of”)
30 marry by the Virgin Mary
31 of on
32 list please
33 bite my thumb an offensive gesture signifying threat or defiance
49 swashing a particular stroke in fencing/slashing with great force
51 heartless hinds cowardly menials, with a pun on “hartless hinds”—i.e., female deer (hinds) without males (harts)
54 manage use
58 Clubs…partisans rallying cry used to summon armed apprentices bills and partisans long-handled weapons with blades at the end gown dressing gown
60 long sword heavy, old-fashioned sword with a long blade
63 in spite of out of spite/malice for train retinue
67 Profaners…steel you who defile your swords by staining them with your fellow citizens’ blood
69 pernicious destructive
72 mistempered disordered/created for wrongful purposes/wrongly tempered (i.e., made hard) with blood instead of water
73 movèd angry
77 ancient aged/venerable
78 grave beseeming ornaments dignified and seemly accessories/the trappings appropriate to dignified old age
80 Cankered corroded, rusted (with disuse) cankered malignant, infected with evil
82 pay…peace be the price for breaching the peace
86 pleasure intentions, resolution
89 new abroach newly in motion
90 by nearby, present
92 ere before
94 prepared i.e., drawn
97 withal thereby
99 part and part one side and the other
104 forth from forth
105 drave drove abroad out, away from home
107 westward…side grows on the west side of the city
109 ware aware/wary
110 covert shelter/hiding place
111 affections emotions/inclinations
112 then…found were chiefly concerned to find a place of solitude
114 humour mood
115 who he who
121 Aurora goddess of the dawn
122 heavy sorrowful (plays on the sense of “weighty,” generating a play on light—i.e., “bright/not weighty”) son puns on sun
126 Black black/gloomy/deadly humour includes the sense of “bodily fluid thought to affect mood,” in this case the black bile that caused melancholy
129 of it of
130 importuned…means urged him to tell you by every means possible
133 true honest/constant/dependable
134 close secretive, shut up from view
135 sounding having his thoughts fathomed
136 envious malicious worm cankerworm, the plant-destroying grub
143 I…stay I hope that by remaining here you will be fortunate enough
144 shrift confession
145 cousin a general term for a relative or close friend
156 view appearance (Romeo’s reply shifts the sense to “sight”)
157 proof practice, experience
158 muffled Cupid, the Roman god of love, was traditionally depicted as being blind or blindfolded still always
164 create created
165 vanity trifles, foolishness
166 well-seeming apparently orderly
168 Still-waking ever wakeful
176 propagate increase, multiply (perhaps with connotations of sexual reproduction, picked up in pressed which can refer to the pressing of one body on another during sex)
177 love i.e., concern for me
180 purged purified, rid of smoke
181 vexed tormented, afflicted
182 discreet discerning, prudent
183 gall bitterness/poison
184 coz cousin
185 Soft wait a moment
186 An if if
189 sadness seriousness (Romeo’s response plays on the sense of “sorrow”) is that is it that
195 aimed so near i.e., guessed as much
196 mark-man marksman
197 fair mark unobstructed target/attractive vagina hit plays on the sense of “copulated with”
199 Cupid’s arrow playing on phallic connotations Dian’s wit the wisdom and ingenuity of Diana, huntress and Roman goddess of chastity (wit may play on a sense of “genitals”)
200 proof proven impenetrability/armor
201 love’s i.e., Cupid’s, who was traditionally depicted as a young boy uncharmed resistant to Cupid’s spells/unsubdued (some editors emend to the First Quarto’s “unharmed”)
202 stay endure
203 bide undergo, suffer encounter assault/sexual engagement
204 ope…gold a reference to Danae, whom Jove, Roman king of the gods, seduced in the form of a shower of gold lap vagina
206 That…store i.e., when she dies unmarried, her beauty will die forever as she has had no children store wealth/stock/potential to reproduce
207 still always
208 sparing thrift, economy waste puns on “waist,” generating the paradoxical image of a pregnant belly resulting from chastity
209 starved killed off
211 fair beautiful/just
212 merit…despair deserve heaven (through her chastity) by casting me into despair (with its attendant risks of damnation) despair spiritual hopelessness (thought to precede suicide)
213 forsworn to abandoned, repudiated
219 ’Tis…more that would only lead me to reflect on her exquisite beauty even more (to “call in question” means “to consider or examine”)
221 happy fortunate masks worn by ladies to protect their fashionably pale complexions from the sun
223 strucken struck
225 passing surpassingly, exceedingly
226 note marginal note/sign/reminder
227 passed surpassed
229 pay that doctrine i.e., give you that lesson
1.2 Location: a public place in Verona County Count Clown a rustic, comic character
1 bound formally required (to keep the peace)
4 reckoning estimation, reputation
6 suit request/courtship
7 saying o’er repeating
9 change passage
10 pride prime, fullest flowering (may play on the sense of “sexual desire/tumescence”)
13 marred damaged (puns on “married”) made puns on “maid”
14 Earth…she i.e., his other children are dead and buried
15 hopeful promising/expectant earth world/body, from which she has sprung/land, which she will inherit
16 gentle noble
18 An if
19 according agreeing
20 old accustomed traditional
22 store plentiful company
26 comfort enjoyment, pleasure lusty lively/lustful
27 well-apparelled finely dressed
29 fennel a fragrant herb with yellow flowers, sometimes associated with love
30 Inherit possess
32 Which…none which being the case, you may find that when you have viewed the ladies more thoroughly, my daughter, being but one among a number of them, may make up part of the group, but be found to be worthy of no real consideration; some editors emend “one more view” to the Fourth Quarto’s “on more view”
33 reck’ning estimation/consideration/counting up
34 sirrah sir, often used to address a social inferior
37 stay wait
38 it…nets in assigning the wrong tools to each tradesman, the Servingman, who cannot read, suggests that it is pointless for him to have been given the task of identifying those who appear on a written list; his words parody a passage from John Lyly’s Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit
39 meddle concern himself/interfere/have sex yard measuring rod used by a tailor/penis last wooden model of the foot, used by a shoemaker to mold shoes upon/penis
40 pencil paintbrush/penis
42 in good time I must do this promptly/here comes help just at the right moment
43 another’s i.e., another fire’s
45 holp helped backward turning turning in the reverse direction
46 another’s languish i.e., the languishing caused by another’s grief
49 plaintain herb used to ease minor cuts or bruises
51 broken grazed
53 bound…madman conventional treatments for madness included tying up the sufferer and confining him in darkness
55 e’en evening (used for any time after noon)
56 gi’ give you
58 without book by heart
61 rest you merry i.e., goodbye (the Servingman understands Romeo to imply that he cannot read)
67 whither where
75 crush drink
77 ancient long-established
80 unattainted unbiased/uninfected
84 Maintains upholds falsehood untruth/faithlessness/deception
85 these i.e., my eyes (which cannot drown however often they are flooded with tears)
86 Transparent clear (like eyes)/obvious and easily detected (like heretics) heretics holders of unorthodox religious beliefs; those suspected of heresy or witchcraft were tested by being thrown into water, if they floated they were considered guilty and might be burnt at the stake
90 poised balanced, weighed
92 Your lady’s love the love you bear your lady/the negligible amount of love your lady may bear you
94 scant scarcely
96 splendour the brilliant light mine own i.e., the sight of my own Rosaline
1.3 Location: the Capulets’ house, Verona
2 by…old the Nurse cannot swear to having been a virgin at thirteen
3 What an expression of impatience
4 God forbid either an apologetic exclamation for the fact that ladybird, as well as being a term of endearment, could also mean “lewd woman,” or an expression of concern for Juliet’s well-being
8 give leave give us leave (i.e., leave us alone)
10 thou’s thou shalt
11 pretty fair/proper
14 teen sorrow (punning on the suffix of fourteen)
15 Lammas-tide August, 1 the harvest festival
17 Even…‘Ay’ all the early texts print this speech as prose, though it has some verse rhythms within it, which have led many editors to set it as verse; the same goes for the Nurse’s remaining speeches in the scene Even or odd the Nurse has misunderstood Lady Capulet’s sense of odd (i.e., a few) Lammas…night the evening of July 31
18 Susan the Nurse’s dead daughter
22 laid…dug applied the bitter-tasting plant wormwood to my breast (as a means of weaning the baby)
24 Mantua city in northern Italy bear a brain i.e., have a good memory
25 fool a term of endearment
26 ‘Shake’…dovehouse i.e., the dovehouse shook as a result of the earthquake/the shaking of the dovehouse instructed the Nurse tostir herself quoth said trow am sure
27 trudge depart, walk off
28 th’rood Christ’s cross
29 broke banged, grazed A he
31 fall backward i.e., for sex wit understanding
32 holidam holiness/what I consider holy
33 come about come true warrant assure you
34 stinted stopped (crying)
37 it its
38 stone testicle
41 say I puns on said ‘Ay’
42 mark…grace single you out for mercy
43 once one day
46 disposition inclination
49 thy teat the breast that fed you
53 much…years at much the same age
56 man of wax i.e., perfect, as if modeled from wax
64 several individual, separate (an apparently purposeful Folio emendation of Quarto’s “married lineament”) lineament facial feature (playing on the sense of “line or sketch”)
65 content happiness, satisfaction (plays on the sense of “contents of a volume“)
67 margent margin (which might contain additional commentary)
68 unbound unmarried/without a book’s binding
69 cover plays on the notion of “embracing wife” and puns on the phrase “feme covert” (a wife)
71 the…hide the fish is in his element within the confines of the sea, and it is an excellent thing for a beautiful exterior to cover and compliment the beauty that lies within
72 book binding
73 clasps fastenings on a book/embraces
76 women…men i.e., in pregnancy
77 like of be pleased by
78 look expect/use my eyes liking move may generate liking
79 endart mine eye gaze piercingly as if firing one of Cupid’s arrows
83 straight straightaway
84 county count (i.e., Paris) stays awaits
1.4 Location: near the Capulets’ house; the action then shifts indoors Masquers masked performers
1 speech…excuse traditionally one of the masquers would make a speech excusing the group’s intrusion and complimenting the company
3 The…prolixity such long-windedness is out of fashion
4 Cupid i.e., boy dressed as Cupid who would deliver the speech for the masquers hoodwinked blindfolded
5 Tartar’s…lath imitation bow made out of a narrow strip of wood and painted to look like the powerful lip-shaped bow of a Tartar (person from central Asia)
6 crow-keeper scarecrow
7 measure judge
8 measure…measure mete out a dance to them/pace out a dance
9 ambling affected way of walking or dancing
10 heavy melancholy (plays on the sense of “weighty,” enabling Romeo to pun on light)
16 common bound ordinary limit (bound puns on the senses of “leap in a dance” and “state of being shackled”)
17 enpiercèd pierced through shaft arrow
18 bound fastened down/imprisoned
19 pitch degree/height (literally, highest point of a falcon’s flight) dull heavy/dim/gloomy
21 And…love plays on the senses of “and if you penetrated your lover sexually you would weigh her down with your body/and if you lost your erection during sex you would disappoint your lover”
22 oppression misfortune/physical pressure thing plays on sense of “vagina” (Romeo then shifts the punning sense to “penis”)
24 rude harsh/turbulent/vulgar/large and coarse boist’rous painful to the feelings/turbulent/stiff (with sexual connotations) pricks plays on sense of “penetrates, thrusts like a penis”
26 Prick wound, stab/penetrate sexually/stimulate sexually (i.e.,, masturbate) for in return for beat love down get the better of love/get rid of your erection
27 case mask
28 visor…visor mask for a face/mask for a face so ugly it resembles a grotesque mask
29 quote take note of
30 beetle brows bushy or overhanging eyebrows (on the mask)
32 betake…legs i.e., dance
33 wantons lively/promiscuous people light of heart carefree/promiscuous
34 Tickle plays on sense of “stimulate sexually” senseless lacking feeling rushes commonly used to cover floors heels often associated with sexual license
35 proverbed…phrase furnished with an old proverb
36 I’ll…on may refer to the proverb “a good candle-holder proves a good gamester” (i.e., one is better off as a spectator)
37 The…done refers to the proverb “when play is at the best, it is time to leave”
38 dun’s…word a reference to the quiet and hidden nature of a dun mouse, hence “be still,” the sort of cautionary phrase a constable might utter dun gray-brown; puns on done
39 draw…mire refers to the game “Dun is in the mire” in which players heave a horse called Dun, represented by a heavy log, out of imaginary mud
40 save your reverence if you’ll excuse my language
41 burn daylight waste time (Romeo interprets this literally and disagrees on the grounds that it is nighttime)
45 Take…wits understand my true meaning, for good sense is five times more likely tobe found there (through the use of reason) than in the exercise of the senses
47 mean intend (playing on Mercutio’s sense of “signify”)
48 wit wisdom
50 tonight last night
55 Queen Mab possibly from the Celtic fairy queen “Mabh,” but queen puns on “quean” (i.e., prostitute) and mab could also mean “promiscuous woman”
57 agate-stone precious stone often set in a ring and carved with tiny figures
58 alderman influential member of a local council
59 atomies creatures as tiny as atoms
61 spinners spiders
63 traces straps linking the collar round an animal’s neck to the crossbar of the chariot
65 lash flexible cord of the whip film fine gossamer-like thread
66 wagoner driver
67 worm…maid worms were said to breed in the fingers of lazy maids
70 joiner skilled craftsman who works in wood grub insect larva or worm that bores holes
74 curtsies bows straight straightaway
78 sweetmeats candied fruit/confectionary
80 smelling…suit finding someone with a petition to present at court from whom he may claim a fee for his assistance
81 tithe-pig pig given to the parson as part of the tithe (the tenth of one’s goods due to the Church annually)
83 another benefice additional Church position (with property and income)
86 breaches gaps in fortifications inflicted by artillery ambuscadoes ambushes Spanish blades Spanish swords, especially those made in Toledo, were famed for being of superior quality
87 healths five-fathom deep toasts drunk from extremely deep glasses anon shortly
92 bakes stiffens/forms into a mass elflocks tangles (which superstition held to be the work of elves)
94 hag evil spirit in female form (here the incubus that presses on sleepers and causes nightmares or erotic dreams)
95 learns teaches bear bear the weight of a man/bear children
96 carriage deportment/ability to carry a burden (i.e., a man or a baby)
99 nothing plays on the sense of “vagina”
102 Begot conceived, created vain worthless, empty, idle
107 Turning his side changing direction/changing allegiance
110 misgives fears/is full of foreboding about
112 fearful fear-inspiring date appointed time
113 expire cause to expire term duration/agreed period for repayment (Romeo has mortgaged his life)
115 forfeit penalty/loss
118 drum drummer
119 take away i.e., clear the table
120 trencher wooden plate
121 manners may quibble on the Latin manuarius to suggest “belonging to the hand”
122 foul bad/dirty
123 joint-stools stools made of parts fitted together by a joiner court-cupboard sideboard
124 plate silver or gold tableware marchpane marzipan
125 Grindstone like Potpan, a name that suggests the character has a domestic function, though Grindstone, used to sharpen knives, may additionally be sexually suggestive (“to grind” had a slang sense of “to have sex,” a “stone” could also mean a “testicle”)
129 Cheerly cheerily
130 the…all a proverb equivalent to “the winner takes all”
132 walk a bout dance a round
134 deny refuse makes dainty is coyly reluctant
135 Am…now? Have I touched a sensitive spot/hit home with this?
141 A hall i.e., clear the hall
142 turn…up clear the tables to one side, probably by removing the boards from trestle tables
144 sirrah sir (used to a social inferior, here either a servant, younger male guest, Capulet himself or, affectionately, the cousin) unlooked-for unexpected
149 By’r lady by Our Lady (the Virgin Mary)
152 Pentecost Whit Sunday (the seventh Sunday after Easter)
157 ward minor under the control of a guardian (i.e., under twenty-one)
163 Ethiope’s Ethiopian’s
164 Beauty possibly puns on “booty” use plays on sense of “financial interest” earth life on earth/death and burial dear beloved/costly
167 her…stand where she stands
168 rude rough/uncivilized
169 Forswear it deny it/renounce my former vows of love (to Rosaline)
172 rapier lightweight sword
173 antic grotesque (refers to Romeo’s mask)
174 fleer mock, laugh scornfully solemnity celebration
175 stock ancestry
184 portly of good bearing/dignified
192 semblance appearance
196 goodman boy a contemptuous and belittling expression goodman a man below the rank of gentleman go to an expression of impatience and reproof
198 God…soul an oath
200 set cock-a-hoop behave recklessly/provoke disorder be the man play the big man
203 saucy insolent
204 scathe injure I know what I assure you/I know how much
205 contrary contradict, defy time i.e., time you complied/time you were taught a lesson/time I concerned myself with my guests
206 said done hearts fine friends (i.e., the guests) princox conceited, impertinent youth
209 perforce enforced choler anger
210 different antagonistic, clashing
213 profane desecrate, defile
214 shrine i.e., Juliet’s hand
218 mannerly…this shows proper devotion in this action
219 saints i.e., images of saints
220 palmers pilgrims who have traveled to the Holy Land and returned with a palm leaf as a symbol of their visit (playing on palm of the hand)
224 grant thou you must concede/grant their prayers
225 move entreat, pray (Romeo shifts the sense to “change position”)
229 urged argued/provoked
231 by th’book expertly, by the rules/religiously, in accordance with the Bible
233 What who
234 bachelor young man
237 withal with
238 lay hold of with sexual connotations
239 the chinks lots of money (plays on sense of “vagina”)
241 dear account costly debt, heavy reckoning (dear puns on sense of “beloved”) my foe’s debt a debt I owe to my foe
242 the…best another allusion to the proverb “when play is at the best, it is time to leave”
245 banquet light meal/course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine towards ready, imminent
247 honest honorable
249 fay faith
251 yond yonder, that
258 like likely
263 Prodigious abnormal (used to describe a deformed baby)/ill-omened
268 Anon coming, just a minute
2 gapes waits eagerly
3 fair beauty (i.e., Rosaline) groaned…die perhaps with sexual connotations (“to die” can mean “to orgasm”)
4 matched compared
5 again in return
6 Alike both equally looks physical appearance/gazes
7 foe supposed i.e., Juliet complain make a lover’s laments
8 fearful frightening
10 use are accustomed
14 Temp’ring extremities modifying severe hardships
2.1 Location: outside the Capulets’ walled orchard; the action then shifts to the orchard itself
1 go forward move on, leave
2 earth i.e., his body centre i.e., heart/Juliet
6 orchard garden/land devoted to herbs and fruit trees
8 conjure summon him with an incantation as one would a spirit
9 Humours (creature of) moods
11 rhyme i.e., verse of love poetry
13 gossip old friend Venus Roman goddess of love
14 purblind blind
15 Abraham Cupid i.e., one who is both young and old, and a patriarch like the biblical Abraham
16 King…beggar-maid the tale of the African King Cophetua, who fell in love with a beggar, was popularized in a ballad
18 The…dead probably refers to performing apes who played dead as part of an act (ape is also an affectionate term)
22 demesnes lands (i.e., the vaginal area)
26 raise a spirit summon a supernatural spirit/get an erect penis circle magic circle/vagina
27 strange supernatural/belonging to someone other than Romeo stand continues to play on the idea of having an erection
28 laid…down subdued the spirit/provided sex and caused the erection to subside
29 spite vexation
30 honest honorable (plays on the sense of “chaste”)
33 consorted with associated with/part of (plays on the sense of “sexually intimate with”) humorous damp/subject to varying moods
35 hit the mark strike the target/penetrate the vagina
36 medlar fruit with a deep hollow at the top, hence a slang term for the vagina (also puns on “meddler”—i.e., “fornicator”)
39 O another vaginal pun
40 open arse medlar fruit, with obvious sexual sense pop’rin pear pear from Poperinghe in Flanders and a slang term for the penis; puns on “pop her in” (where “her” signifies “it”)
41 truckle-bed small wheeled bed stored under a larger bed
42 field-bed bed on the ground above i.e., on the upper staging level or gallery; the entry, or the sight of Juliet, might be delayed until “It is my lady”
51 maid votary (of Diana, Roman goddess of the moon and chastity)
53 vestal livery virginal clothing
62 spheres orbits; stars and planets were thought to be contained within transparent concentric spheres that rotated around the earth
74 glorious magnificent/illustrious/shining
76 white upturnèd looking upwards, so that the whites of the eyes are visible
80 wherefore why
86 though even if you were
93 owes owns
94 doff cast off
95 for in exchange for
100 bescreened concealed
101 counsel private thoughts
115 o’er-perch flyover
122 proof impervious/armored
125 but unless
127 proroguèd postponed wanting of lacking
130 counsel advice, guidance
131 pilot navigator, one who directs the course of a ship
137 Fain willingly form formality, decorum
138 compliment etiquette
142 Jove Jupiter, Roman king of the gods
143 pronounce declare
146 So so long as else otherwise
147 fond loving/infatuated/foolish
148 light frivolous/forward/unchaste
150 coying coyness, affected reluctance strange aloof, reserved
152 ware aware (of you)
155 Which which yielding discoverèd revealed
159 circlèd orb i.e., celestial sphere
163 gracious full of divine grace
168 contract i.e., mutual declarations of love
177 satisfaction may pick up on the sense of “sexual satisfaction”
180 were were mine
182 frank generous/candid
184 bounty generosity
194 bent intention, inclination
203 strife antagonism/strivings, efforts
207 want lack
210 Hist a whispered call for attention
211 tassel-gentle tiercel gentle, a male falcon
212 Bondage is hoarse i.e., one who is confined can only whisper
213 Echo in Greek mythology, Echo, rejected by Narcissus, pined away in caves until only her voice was left
220 nyas young hawk (which has yet to fly)
226 to in order to still yet/always (Romeo plays with these meanings and with the sense of “motionless”)
231 wanton’s spoiled child’s
233 gyves fetters
245 fleckled dappled
246 From forth away from, out of Titan Roman sun god, who drove the sun across the heavens in a chariot
247 ghostly holy, spiritual close cell humble dwelling, especially that of a monk
248 dear hap good fortune (though dear may quibble ominously on “dire, grievous”)
2.2 Location: near Friar Laurence’s cell, Verona
3 fleckled dappled
4 From forth away from, out of Titan Roman sun god, who drove the sun across the heavens in a chariot
5 advance raise
7 osier cage willow basket
8 baleful deadly
11 divers various
14 None…some there are none that do not have some useful properties
15 mickle great grace beneficent virtue
19 aught anything strained forced
25 that part i.e., its smell
26 slays some editors prefer the Second Quarto’s “stays” with along with
27 them still themselves always
30 canker worm that destroys plants
32 Benedicite! Bless you!
34 argues suggests distempered disordered, unhappy
36 Care worry
39 couch lay, rest
53 physic medicine, healing
54 lo look (a common speech marker)
55 intercession petition, entreaty steads helps
56 rest homely remain simple drift meaning/aim
57 shrift absolution
75 old former/abundant
80 sentence maxim, saying
82 chid’st rebuked
84 bad’st bade, instructed
88 grace favor
91 read by rote recite by memory, without understanding
93 In one respect for one reason
96 stand insist/depend
2.3 Location: a public place in Verona
2 tonight last night
3 man servant
9 answer it accept the challenge (in the following line Mercutio plays on the literal meaning)
11 dared challenged
13 eye plays on sense of “vagina” pin wooden peg at the center of a target (plays on sense of “penis”)
14 blind bow-boy’s i.e., Cupid’s butt-shaft strong unbarbed arrow (in archery used for shooting at the butt, a mound on which the target stood)
16 prince of cats an allusion to Tybert, the cat in the moral tale Reynard the Fox captain of compliments master of the fastidious etiquette of dueling
17 prick-song written music rests…rests pauses very briefly (between feinting thrusts), like a musician pausing momentarily between very short notes
18 third i.e., third thrust (the genuine one) butcher…button i.e., so precise he can pierce his opponent’s button
19 first house best fencing school first…cause in the rules of fencing, the two valid reasons for undertaking a duel
20 passado forward thrust with one foot advanced punto reverso backhanded thrust hay penetrating thrust
22 The pox of a plague upon affecting affected, pretentious phantasimes fanciful, extravagant men these…accent those whose speech is peppered with fashionable foreign phrases/those who pronounce words in an affected manner or with a foreign inflection
23 blade sword/fine fellow tall brave/fine
24 grandsire Mercutio addresses an imaginary old man or grandfather
25 strange flies bizarre or foreign parasites stand insist (plays on the literal sense)
26 form code of behavior, etiquette (plays on sense of bench) old bench i.e., traditional behavior and customs their bones i.e., their bones are so tender they cannot sit on a hard bench/their bones are corrupted from venereal disease (plays on the way such men fill their speech with foreign words, here the French bon, i.e., “good”)
29 roe female deer/semen—i.e., he is sexually exhausted (plays on the first syllable of Romeo’s name, leaving “me, o,” the lament of a lover) dried herring withered penis (roe was removed from the herring during the curing process) flesh plays on sense of “penis/erection” fishified made fishlike, i.e., coldblooded/dried out (impotent)/obsessed with your mistress’ vagina
30 numbers…in the Italian poet Petrarch wrote passionate verse (numbers) to his love Laura flowed in wrote fluently/overflowed in/swam in to compared to
31 better love i.e., Petrarch Dido the legendary Queen of Carthage who committed suicide after her lover Aeneas deserted her dowdy shabbily dressed woman
32 Cleopatra Egyptian queen of the first century BC who committed suicide after the loss of her kingdom and the death of her lover Antony Helen and Hero the famously beautiful Helen of Troy, and Hero, lover of Leander, who committed suicide when he drowned swimming the Hellespont to see her hildings good-for-nothings/whores Thisbe the lover of Pyramus committed suicide after his death grey considered a particularly beautiful eye color
33 not nothing bon jour “good day” (French) to…slop to match your French-style loose breeches
34 the counterfeit i.e., the slip (a counterfeit coin was known as a slip)
36 conceive understand, work it out
37 case situation (Mercutio then shifts the sense to “vagina”)
39 bow…hams bow from the waist (playing on courtesy, a form of curtsy)/ hunch over after a heavy bout of sexual activity or with the pain of venereal disease hams thighs and buttocks
41 curtsy bow
42 kindly hit it readily got it/naturally had sex
44 very pink most excellent example (Romeo plays on the fact that a pink is a type of flower and on the verb “to pink” (i.e., to ornament a pump or garment by punching small holes or designs into it)
47 pump light shoe flowered decorated with flowers/pinked
48 Sure sure-footed, secure follow me follow (me is emphatic)
49 single only/thin sole singular uniquely individual/alone
51 single-soled…singleness slight, poor jest, only noteworthy for the fact that there is only one of it/that it is simple
53 Switch and spurs i.e., urge your wits on switch whip cry a match declare the contest is over/declare my victory
54 wild-goose chase horse race in which the leading rider chose the course and the others were obliged to follow him anywhere/a pointless pursuit of the wild-goose i.e., foolishness (geese were proverbially stupid)
55 Was…goose? Have I evened the score with my jest about the goose?
57 for the goose as a stupid person/in search of a prostitute
61 sweeting sweet apple sharp sauce biting riposte/stinging impudence/bitter sauce for food
62 And…goose? Romeo may allude to the proverb “sweet meat must have sour sauce”; he may also shift the sense of sauce to “semen,” so that served plays on the sense of sexual service, and goose continues to play on the sense of “prostitute”
63 wit plays on sense of “penis” cheverel easily stretched kid leather ell forty-five inches/penis
66 broad large/obvious/outspoken/indecent (may pun on “brood-goose” and on “abroad,” i.e., out and about)
69 drivelling tedious/dribbling natural idiot, fool lolling with tongue (or bauble) hanging out
70 bauble baton with a carved head on one end traditionally carried by a fool/penis (fools were supposed to be particularly well-endowed) hole plays on the sense of “vagina”
71 there i.e., now, at this point in your jesting (but Mercutio plays on the sense of “in the hole”)
72 stop in cease telling/stuff in tale puns on “tail,” i.e., penis against the hair against my wish/up against the pubic hair
73 large long/vulgar/erect
74 short plays on the sense of “flaccid, no longer erect” was…depth had reached the conclusion/had achieved orgasm (whole puns on hole)
75 occupy continue/have sex with argument topic (almost certainly plays on a sense of “vagina”)
76 goodly gear applies either to the joke (“good stuff” quibbling on the sense of “fine genitals”) or to the nurse (“fine clothing/good new matter for a joke”) A sail the cry given when a ship is sighted (here a reference to the Nurse’s appearance or manner of approach)
77 shirt…smock i.e., man and a woman
85 hand of the clock (plays on the sense of “human hand”) prick mark on the clock face indicating the hour/penis
87 Out upon you! expression of indignant reproach What what kind of
88 that…mar i.e., though made in God’s image, such a man will ruin it through sin
89 troth faith quoth a said he
92 fault lack
95 took taken, interpreted
96 confidence malapropism for “conference”/private conversation
97 indite intentional malapropism for “invite” supper also euphemistic for sex
98 bawd hare/procurer, pimp So ho! a hunting cry given when game is sighted
100 hare plays on the sense of “prostitute” Lenten pie pie consumed during Lent when meat-eating was prohibited (in theory such a pie should be meatless so this hare pie may be a leftover or one made of old meat that has been obtained illicitly; pie was also a slang term for the vagina) stale plays on the sense of “prostitute”
101 hoar moldy, old (puns on “whore”) be spent used up, eaten/employed sexually
104 meat plays on sense of “sexual goods/vagina”
105 hoar the word now takes on sense of “syphilitic”
106 too…score not worth paying for/not worth having sex with
107 hoars becomes moldy/is diseased/infects with venereal disease
111 merchant fellow ropery roguery/trickery/Iewdness
113 stand to uphold, abide by (plays on the idea of sustaining an erection)
114 An a if he take him down humble him, take him down a peg or two (plays on sense of “quell his erection”) lustier livelier/more lustful
115 Jacks knaves (and possibly “penises”)
116 flirt-gills loose women, whores skains-mates a “skene” is a dagger, hence “knife-wielding companions/whores” (literally, the sheath for his phallic dagger)
117 use…pleasure treat me as he wishes (Peter plays on the sense of “have sex with me”)
118 weapon sword/penis
121 part with vaginal connotations
126 deal double with deceive/betray sexually (“to deal” was to have sex)
127 weak poor, contemptible
128 protest declare/vow
131 mark listen to
135 shrift confession
137 shrived absolved
143 cords…stair a rope ladder
144 top-gallant highest point (literally the platform at the top of the tallest mast on a ship)
146 quit requite, reward
150 secret trustworthy
151 ‘Two…away’ proverbial saying meaning that two may keep a secret in the absence of a third party
152 Warrant thee be assured
154 prating chattering, babbling fain…aboard willingly lay a claim to her (from the practice of bringing one’s own knife to the dinner table, or “board,” and using it to mark one’s place); to “lay aboard” could also refer to boarding a vessel, and plays on the sense of sexual boarding (knife has phallic connotations)
155 as lief rather, as soon
156 properer finer/better-looking
157 clout piece of cloth/sail versal whole (from “universal”)
158 rosemary the herb symbolized fidelity and remembrance, and was used at weddings and funerals
160 dog’s name because “r” sounds like a dog’s growl R is for the—the Nurse may be about to say “arse”
161 sententious malapropism for “sentences,” i.e., maxims
166 apace quickly
2.4 Location: either the Capulets’ house or their garden
4 lame slow/unsatisfactory herald messenger
6 louring frowning, darkened
7 nimble-pinioned…love Venus, the Roman goddess of love, had a chariot drawn by swift-winged doves
14 bandy toss (to and fro, like a ball in tennis)
26 jaunt tiring, troublesome journey
36 stay the circumstance wait for the details
38 simple foolish
49 Beshrew curse
53 honest honorable
59 God’s lady the Virgin Mary
60 hot eager/fervent/impatient (with a play on the sense of “lustful”) come up expression of indignant surprise and reproof
61 poultice hot preparation applied to the skin to soothe aches
63 coil fuss
66 hie hurry
68 wanton unrestrained/lively/sexually passionate
72 bird’s nest i.e., Juliet’s room (bird plays on the sense of “young woman” and nest on the sense of “vagina”)
74 bear the burden do the work/bear the weight of Romeo’s body
2.5 Location: Friar Laurence’s cell
4 countervail counterbalance
6 close join
10 powder gunpowder
11 consume are destroyed (with a play on sexual consummation)
13 confounds ruins
17 flint i.e., stone floor
18 gossamers fine cobwebs
19 wanton playful
20 light not heavy/worthless vanity transitory worldly joy
22 thank thee i.e., with a kiss
23 As…much i.e., I must kiss him in return or I shall have been overpaid
25 that if
26 blazon describe/proclaim
27 music’s tongue i.e., Juliet’s voice and words
28 imagined i.e., not yet expressed
29 in either from one another
30 Conceit imagination/idea/understanding matter genuine substance
31 ornament i.e., descriptive words
34 sum up sum calculate the total
3.1 Location: a public place in Verona
3 scape escape
6 claps me claps (me is emphatic)
7 by…cup by the time his second drink has taken effect draws…drawer draws his sword on the innkeeper
10 Jack knave mood anger
11 moved provoked tobe at being
13 two puns on to
18 meat edible matter addle rotten/muddled, confused
21 doublet close-fitting jacket with a flared base Easter i.e., the time after Lent when new clothes were worn
22 from to avoid
23 fee-simple absolute possession (term relating to property)
24 for…quarter i.e., were he so quarrelsome, his life would be over very soon
25 simple foolish
34 consort’st associate with (Mercutio deliberately interprets this as “play in a musical group, or consort”)
35 minstrels musicians
36 look expect
40 coldly calmly
45 your livery the uniform of your servant (Mercutio has deliberately interpreted man as “manservant”)
46 go…field should you go to the dueling field follower manservant/pursuer
51 excuse…greeting excuse me from displaying the rage that is the appropriate response to such a greeting
57 devise conceive
59 tender value/cherish
62 Alla stoccado Italian fencing term meaning “at the thrust” (here a reference to Tybalt) carries it away wins the day
63 will you walk are you leaving/will you walk aside with me (for a duel)
65 make bold withal take liberties with
66 as…hereafter depending on how you treat me subsequently dry-beat beat severely (without using a sword)
67 pilcher scabbard
71 passado forward thrust with one foot advanced
73 forbear stop
75 bandying exchanging blows
76 Hold desist
78 sped gone, dispatched
82 villain rogue/servant
85 grave serious, dignified/dead and buried
86 peppered done for, ruined
88 by…arithmetic by the fencing manual/precisely
95 ally relative
96 very true
101 temper disposition (plays on the sense of “hardness of a sword after it has been tempered, i.e., heated and immersed in water”)
103 aspired ascended to
105 more i.e., future depend hang over
106 others i.e., other days
109 respective lenity considerate mercy, discriminating mildness
110 conduct guide
116 consort associate with
118 This i.e., his sword
121 amazed overwhelmed/stunned/bewildered doom sentence
123 fool dupe/plaything/jester
129 charge order
131 discover reveal
132 unlucky unfortunate/ill-omened manage conduct fatal deadly/fateful
135 cousin a general term for a relative
143 nice trivial withal moreover
146 take truce make peace spleen fiery temper
147 tilts thrusts
150 with… other Mercutio is fighting with a dagger in one hand, with which he deflects blows, and a sword in the other, with which he attacks
153 Retorts returns
157 envious malicious
158 stout brave
159 by and by immediately
166 Affection partiality/love
178 interest plays on the sense of “legal claim” proceeding plays on the sense of “legal action”
179 My blood Mercutio was the prince’s relative
180 amerce punish
183 purchase out abuses redeem these wrongs
187 Mercy…kill i.e., leniency merely encourages murder
3.2 Location: the Capulets’ house
1 apace swiftly
2 Phoebus Greek god of the sun, whose chariot was drawn by fiery horses lodging i.e., the west, where the sun sets
3 Phaethon Phoebus’ son, who, unable to control his father’s chariot, was felled by one of Zeus’ thunderbolts when he burned part of the earth
5 close private/secretive/enclosing
6 runaway’s i.e., Phaethon’s/any roaming fugitive’s/a night wanderer’s wink close
10 civil soberly dressed/grave/seemly
12 learn teach lose…match Juliet will win Romeo by surrendering to him
13 maidenhoods virginities (those of Juliet and Romeo)
14 Hood cover up, blindfold (as a hawk was when it was not pursuing game) unmanned untrained (another term from falconry; plays on the sense of “without a husband”) bating fluttering impatiently (used of a hawk; puns on “beating”)
15 strange new, unfamiliar/reserved, shy
21 die may play on the sense of “orgasm”
27 possessed with sexual connotations (like enjoyed) cords i.e., the rope ladder
38 welladay expression of sorrow
39 undone ruined
41 envious malicious/full of ill will at Juliet’s happiness
49 cockatrice basilisk, a mythical reptile with a gaze that could kill
51 those eyes shut i.e., Romeo’s eyes, shut in death
53 weal well-being
55 God…mark an apologetic exclamation excusing the mention of unpleasant matters
58 gore-blood congealing blood
59 break plays on the sense of “become financially ruined”
61 earth i.e., her body resign surrender (yourself) motion movement, i.e., life (plays on sense of “strong emotion”)
62 bier stretcher-like structure on which a corpse is carried to the grave
68 lord husband
69 trumpet i.e., the last trumpet, the sound of which, according to the Bible, would announce the end of the world
76 keep live in
80 Just exact (justly shifts the sense to “truly, rightfully”)
83 bower shelter/lodge
90 dissemblers deceivers
91 aqua vitae strong alcoholic drink (literally “water of life”)
102 poor my lord my poor lord
107 tributary serving as an offering or tribute (playing on the sense of “streamlike”)
121 needly of necessity ranked accompanied/drawn up in rows (like soldiers)
123 Thy…mother i.e., news of one of their deaths
124 modern…moved might have provoked ordinary sorrow
125 rearward rearguard action (“ward” puns on “word”)
130 word’s death word’s fatal nature (or possibly “word is death”) sound give voice to/measure the depth of
136 beguiled deceived, foiled
143 wot know
3.3 Location: Friar Laurence’s cell
1 fearful full of fear
2 parts personal or physical qualities
4 doom judgment
10 doomsday Judgment Day, the end of the world (i.e., death)
11 vanished was expelled, issued into thin air
18 without outside of
20 Hence banishèd banished from here
21 world’s exile exile from the world
26 Thy…death legally, the crime that you have committed requires the death penalty
27 rushed forced
34 validity worth
35 courtship courtliness/wooing
36 carrion-flies flies that feed on rotting flesh
39 vestal virginal
40 their own kisses the fact that they naturally touch one another
45 mean method mean lowly, base
46 But…Banishèd the sequence of clauses is confusing here, suggesting some textual error, perhaps due to undeleted authorial first thoughts; Folio omits a Second Quarto line, “They are freemen, but I am banishèd,” whereas it should perhaps have deleted this line instead
49 divine clergyman
52 fond foolish (plays on sense of “loving”)
57 Yet still Hang up hang
59 Displant uproot
63 dispute reason, talk estate situation
64 that that which
67 Doting loving madly
75 taken arrested
77 simpleness foolishness
85 even exactly case state (the nurse unintentionally plays on the sense of “vagina”)
86 sympathy unity, affinity
89 stand unconscious play on “get an erection” (rise has the same connotations) an if
91 O groan (plays on sense of “vagina”)
93 Death plays on sense of “orgasm”
95 old practiced, experienced
99 cancelled invalidated, nullified (puns on concealed)
102 on Romeo cries calls upon Romeo/cries out against Romeo
105 level aim
109 sack plunder, destroy
118 tempered balanced (plays on “temper,” i.e., disposition)
123 heaven, and earth i.e., soul and body
125 Fie expression of reproach or disgust wit intelligence, reason
126 Which (you) who usurer moneylender (notorious for charging high interest)
127 in…use for its proper purpose (use plays on the sense of “financial interest”)
128 bedeck adorn shape physical appearance
130 Digressing deviating valour honor/courage
134 Misshapen deformed/ill-directed conduct guidance/management
135 powder gunpowder flask container for gunpowder
137 dismembered…defence blown to bits by the weapon that should have been used to protect you (i.e., wit/ powder)
139 dead i.e., suicidal
140 happy fortunate
145 array clothing
146 mishavèd misbehaved
149 decreed decided (earlier)
151 watch be set night watchmen take up their posts at the city gates
154 blaze proclaim, make public friends relatives
160 apt unto ready for
169 here…state your fortunes depend on what happens now
173 signify inform you
174 good hap favorable event
177 brief hurriedly
3.4 Location: the Capulets’ house
2 move persuade/encourage
11 mewed…heaviness confined with her sorrow (a “mew” was a cage for a molting hawk)
12 desperate reckless/bold tender offer
16 son (future) son-in-law
17 mark you me listen to me, pay attention
24 ado fuss
25 late recently
26 held him carelessly did not regard him highly
33 against in anticipation of
35 Afore me! either an instruction to a servant bearing a light or a mild oath
7 envious malicious/jealous
8 severing separating (the clouds drift apart, and in doing so will separate Romeo and Juliet)
9 jocund merry, sprightly
13 meteor…exhales ill-omened meteors were believed to be formed of vapors drawn up (“exhaled”) from the earth by the sun
17 ta’en arrested
18 so provided
20 reflex reflection Cynthia another name for the goddess of the moon
22 vaulty vaulted, arched
23 care concern/inclination
26 hie hurry
28 Straining singing (plays on the sense of “forcing, making an unnatural effort”)
29 division rapid melodic music
31 change exchange
33 arm from arm from one another’s arms affray frighten
34 hunt’s-up song used to rouse hunters in the morning and sometimes played to the bride the morning after her wedding
43 friend lover
46 much in years very old
54 ill-divining foreseeing evil
59 Dry thirsty (each sigh was thought to drain the heart of a drop of blood)
67 not…late not yet in bed
68 procures brings
73 An if even if
76 feeling powerfully felt
77 feel experience (the loss)/touch (the living friend) friend relative (in her response Juliet privately intends “lover”)
87 like so much as grieve make sorrowful/anger, vex
93 runagate fugitive
94 dram measure (of poisoned drink)
97 be satisfied be content/be revenged (on)/have enough (of)/be sexually satisfied
98 dead can apply to either him or to heart
99 kinsman cousin (Tybalt)/husband (Romeo)
101 temper mix/modify and make safe
103 sleep in quiet die/fall into a harmless sleep
105 wreak avenge/bestow
109 needy destitute
111 careful caring, solicitous
113 sorted out chosen
114 looked not for did not expect
115 in happy time this is opportune
116 Marry plays on the marital sense of the word
133 conduit fountain
135 counterfeits imitates bark small ship
138 flood sea/torrent
140 overset overwhelm/capsize
144 would wish
145 take…you let me understand you properly
146 How what
147 her herself
148 wrought arranged (for)/ persuaded
152 hate…love something hateful that was nevertheless arranged for me out of love
153 Chopped-logic specious, false logic or one who argues in such a manner
157 fettle prepare; literally, “groom (a horse)”
159 hurdle frame on which traitors were dragged to execution
160 Out expression of indignation and scorn green-sickness anemic illness affecting pubescent girls, hence “pale” carrion corpse/worthless wretch
161 tallow-face person with a pale, waxen face tallow animal fat used for making candles and soap
169 itch i.e., to beat you
173 hilding hussy, good-for-nothing
175 rate berate, scold
177 smatter chatter, talk ignorantly gossips women friends
179 God…e’en i.e., for God’s sake/go away (literally, good evening)
182 gravity words of wisdom bowl drinking vessel
185 God’s bread an oath referring to the bread used in the Christian sacrament of Communion
187 still always
190 demesnes lands
191 parts qualities
193 puling whining
194 mammet doll/contemptible weakling in…tender when fortune makes her an offer
197 pardon the sense now shifts from “excuse, forgive” to “give permission to leave”
199 do…jest am not in the habit of joking
200 advise consider
205 be forsworn break my word
211 monument tomb
215 faith i.e., marriage vows
219 practise plot
224 all…nothing the odds are overwhelming
225 challenge lay claim to
230 dishclout dishcloth
231 quick lively/keen
232 Beshrew curse
236 use plays on the sense of “sexual employment”
240 Amen expression of agreement (to the Nurse’s advice/to beshrew them both)
247 Ancient damnation! Damned old woman!
248 forsworn perjured (by breaking marriage vows)
252 bosom i.e., private thoughts twain separated
4.1 Location: Friar Laurence’s cell
3 nothing slow in no way reluctant
4 mind opinion
8 Venus the goddess/the planet house plays on the astrological senses of “one of the twelve parts of the heavens” and “sign of the zodiac in which a particular planet has influence”
10 sway rule, influence
13 minded dwelt on, attended to
14 society companionship
18 Happily gladly/fortunately
22 text saying, proverb
28 price value
35 my face openly/about my face
37 not mine own Juliet privately means “as my face belongs to Romeo”
40 pensive sorrowful, full of melancholy musing
42 shield forbid
48 compass bounds
49 prorogue defer
55 presently immediately
58 label seal (technically the strip of paper to which the seal was affixed) deed action/legal document
60 both i.e., hand and heart
61 time age
63 extremes desperate hardships
64 umpire technically, one brought in to decide a legal matter when arbitrators cannot agree
65 commission authority/authority to perform judicial functions art skill, knowledge
66 issue outcome
76 That cop’st you who would embrace
80 thievish ways streets frequented by thieves
82 charnel-house vault containing dead bodies
84 reeky shanks stinking shinbones chapless jawless
95 distilling distilled/infusing liquor liquid off i.e., entirely
97 humour fluid
98 native natural surcease cease
101 wanny wan, pale eyes’ windows i.e., eyelids
103 supple government power of movement
115 against in anticipation of the time when
116 drift scheme/intention
121 toy aversion/whim
124 prosperous successful/fortunate
127 help afford supply help
4.2 Location: the Capulets’ house
2 cunning skillful
3 none ill no bad ones try test
5 ’tis…fingers proverbial phrase for one who has no faith in his abilities
8 unfurnished unprovided, unprepared
10 forsooth indeed, in truth
12 peevish foolish/obstinate/headstrong harlotry harlot/wretch
14 gadding wandering, roving idly
17 behests commands
24 becomèd befitting, seemly
31 closet private room
32 ornaments clothing/accessories
36 short lacking
40 deck up her adorn her, prepare her
43 They i.e., the servants forth out of the house (on errands)
4.3 Location: Juliet’s bedroom in the Capulets’ house
3 orisons prayers
5 cross perverse/unfavorable
7 culled selected
8 behoveful useful, necessary state ceremony
16 thrills pierces/passes with a shudder of emotion
20 dismal ominous/disastrous
26 Subtly craftily
30 still always tried proved
36 strangled ere suffocated before
37 like likely
38 conceit conception, idea
43 green in earth newly buried (green also suggests putrefying flesh)
48 mandrakes plants with forked roots that resembled the human form and were said to shriek when pulled from the ground, causing madness or death in any who heard them
50 distraught driven to madness
51 Environèd surrounded
54 rage madness
57 spit impale
58 Stay stop
2 quinces pear-shaped fruits pastry room in which pastry dishes were made
4 curfew-bell bell that rang at a fixed hour in the morning
5 baked meats meat pies Angelica either the Nurse or Lady Capulet (plays on the herb of the same name)
7 cotquean man who interferes with the housework
9 watching wakefulness
12 mouse-hunt hunter of mice (i.e., women, hence “fornicator”)
13 watch…watching keep an eye on you to prevent such wakeful (sexual) behavior
14 A jealous hood jealousy/a jealous woman/a jealous spy (wearing a hood as a disguise)
20 I…logs I have a good head for finding things/having a wooden (i.e., stupid) head I can easily find logs
22 Mass by the Mass (a common oath) whoreson bastard, whore’s son (spoken jovially)
23 logger-head in charge of fetching logs/a blockhead
24 straight straightaway
27 trim her up adorn her, deck her out
32 Fast fast asleep
35 take your pennyworths take what little sleep you can/sleep soundly
37 set…rest determined (literally a card-playing term meaning “to stake all” and playing on the sense of “got an erection in preparation for the assault”)
41 take find/have sex with
42 fright puns on “freight” (i.e., to load, burden)
43 down in bed
58 Out, alas expression of sorrow
74 living being alive/possessions and property
75 thought long longed/been impatient
79 lasting endless/unceasing
82 catched seized
89 Beguiled deceived, cheated
94 Uncomfortable comfortless/disquieting
95 solemnity celebration, marriage ceremony
99 Confusion disorder/destruction/disaster care management, control
105 promotion social advancement (through marriage to Paris)
106 heaven idea of bliss, of the utmost good
113 stick fasten/place/attach as an adornment rosemary the herb symbolized fidelity and remembrance, and was used at weddings and funerals
117 reason’s merriment i.e., laughably irrational/a cause of joy to reason
118 ordainèd festival intended to be festive
119 office function, appointed role
121 cheer food and drink, provisions
122 solemn ceremonious sullen somber, melancholy
128 lour frown, look threateningly ill wrongdoing
129 Move provoke
130 put up put away, pack up
132 case situation (the First Musician then plays on the sense of “case for a musical instrument”)
133 amended repaired
134 ‘Heart’s ease’ a popular song
137 ‘My…woe’ another popular song, possibly the “Ballad of Two Lovers”
138 dump melody/mournful tune
142 soundly thoroughly/with force (plays in the sense of “audibly, with sound”)
144 gleek gibe, jest (to “give the gleek” meant to mock someone) give…minstrel call you a minstrel (i.e., a vagrant or worthless wanderer)
145 serving-creature derogatory term for a servingman
146 pate head carry no crotchets put up with no whims/sing none of these notes
147 re…you re and fa are musical notes, used here as if they were verbs meaning “to beat” note pay attention to (plays on the sense of “record in musical notation”; in his response the First Musician widens the pun to include “beat us so that we are marked like a musical score”)
149 put out extinguish/display
151 dry-beat beat severely (without using a dagger)
153 When…sound the opening lines of Richard Edwards’ song “In Commendation of Music,” published in The Paradise of Dainty Devices (1576) griping painful/grasping
156 Catling a small lutestring made from catgut
158 Prates mere chatter Rebeck a rebec was a medieval three-stringed fiddle
159 sound for silver play for money
160 Soundpost a supporting wooden peg on a violin or similar instrument
162 cry you mercy beg your pardon
163 for sounding as payment for playing/with which to make a jingling sound
167 Jack the rogue
168 stay await
5.1 Location: Mantua
1 flattering pleasing/deceptive
2 presage foretell
3 bosom’s lord i.e., heart
10 possessed actually experienced, enjoyed
11 shadows images, dreams
21 presently took post immediately set off with a post-horse (i.e., horse kept standing by for the speedy delivery of messages)
23 for my office as my responsibility
24 deny repudiate, renounce (some editors emend to the First Quarto’s “defy”)
26 post-horses horses kept at inns for the use of messengers or for hire by travelers
28 import suggest, portend
29 misadventure fatal misfortune
37 see for seek out, think about mischief calamity, harm, wicked deeds
39 apothecary person who prepared and sold drugs
40 a he which whom
41 weeds clothing overwhelming brows overhanging or bushy eyebrows
42 Culling of simples gathering medicinal herbs
44 needy impoverished
47 account number
48 earthen earthenware bladders animal bladders were used for storing liquid
49 packthread twine used for tying up packages cakes of roses preparation of rose petals compressed into a cake for use as perfume
53 Whose…death the sale of which is punishable by instant death
54 caitiff miserable/base
62 ducats gold coins used in most European countries
63 soon-speeding gear rapidly working stuff/stuff that kills quickly
65 That so that
66 trunk body/cylindrical case that discharges explosives in a weapon
69 mortal fatal
70 he man utters sells
77 it i.e., the law
79 pray entreat (some editors emend to the First Quarto’s “pay”)
85 compounds mixtures
87 get…flesh fatten yourself up
88 cordial medicine that invigorates the heart
5.2 Location: Friar Laurence’s cell
5 barefoot brother i.e., a fellow Franciscan friar
6 associate accompany
8 searchers officials whose job was to view dead bodies and ascertain the cause of death
10 pestilence plague
12 speed successful journey, rapid progress stayed prevented
18 nice trivial charge importance
19 dear import major significance/costly consequence
20 danger harm
21 crow crowbar
27 accidents events
5.3 Location: the churchyard containing the Capulet family tomb, Verona; the action moves into the tomb itself
1 aloof at a distance
3 lay…along lie stretched out
6 Being i.e., the soil being
10 stand remain
11 adventure risk it, take my chances
13 canopy covering or hangings of a bed
16 obsequies rites of remembrance
20 cross thwart mattock pickaxe wrenching iron crowbar
32 dear employment important business/costly purpose
33 jealous suspicious
43 For…same all the same, nonetheless
44 doubt suspect/fear
45 maw throat/stomach womb belly
48 in despite in angry defiance/to spite you
54 unhallowed unholy, wicked
60 gone dead
68 commiseration compassion
78 should have was to have
80 him i.e., Paris
83 triumphant splendid
84 lantern many-windowed turretlike structure often found at the top of a church
86 presence reception room in a palace or great house
89 keepers nurses/jailers
94 ensign military banner
96 advancèd raised
100 his…enemy i.e., Romeo’s own
103 unsubstantial bodiless
106 still always
110 true honest/true to his trade
119 dateless bargain eternal contract engrossing monopolizing/all-consuming (with legal connotations: “to engross” is “to write in a manner appropriate to legal documents”)
120 conduct guide (i.e., the poison)
122 dashing destructive
124 quick speedy/active (with a play on “invigorating/life-giving”)
125 speed protector, aid
129 vainly pointlessly
154 unkind unnatural/cruel
157 comfortable comforting
171 timeless untimely/eternal
172 churl miser/villain
174 Haply perhaps/with luck
178 happy fortunate/opportune
182 attach arrest
189 ground cause (quibbles on the literal meaning in the previous line)
190 circumstance details (perhaps with a play on sense of “physical surroundings”)
196 stay detain
212 mista’en mistaken its rightful house (i.e., sheath)
216 warns summons sepulchre tomb
219 is dead tonight died last night
223 untaught ignorant, unmannerly person (referring to Romeo, whose body he has seen)
225 mouth of outrage may refer to the tomb or to the characters who are reacting to events (or both) outrage violence/disorder/passionate outcry
227 spring, their head source
228 general leader
229 to death to the utmost/to death from grief/to securing death as the penalty for the wrongdoers
230 slave to governed by
234 make against conspire against, accuse
235 impeach…excused accuse myself of what I should be condemned for and exonerate myself where I deserve to be excused
238 date of breath amount of remaining life
247 perforce by compulsion
252 art skill, knowledge
254 wrought brought about/fashioned
256 as on
260 stayed detained
264 closely secretly, concealed
268 true faithful, constant
275 privy aware, in on the secret aught anything
277 the time its natural limit
279 still always
282 post haste
289 made did
293 by and by immediately
295 make good confirm
298 therewithal that being accomplished/with the poison
301 scourge punishment of divine origin
302 joys happiness/children
303 winking at shutting my eyes to
304 brace pair (i.e., Mercutio and Paris)
306 jointure marriage portion given by the bridegroom’s family
309 raise have constructed statue almost certainly a reclining figure that would be set on Juliet’s tomb
311 figure statue (plays on the sense of “number”) rate be set worth be valued
313 Romeo i.e., Romeo’s statue
314 Poor sacrifices of pitiful victims of/inadequate atonements for
315 glooming gloomy/darkened/frowning/melancholy