|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes on Act III, scene ii
casket: box with makeup, comb
glass: mirror
cap and knee: with cap in hand and on bended knee; that is, requesting permission to sleep with their wives, rather than assuming it is their right.
lord of misrule: a person of lower rank chosen to be Master of Revels on festival days, reversing the normal social order
sprawlingest: that is, she spreads herself over most of the bed, an idea which Antonio likes
wherefore still: why always
count the clock: Antonio jokingly compares himself in bed to a worker who hates his job and watches the clock
stop: close
Venus: Roman goddess of love
forego: avoid
Daphne: a nymph pursued by Apollo and turned into a tree to escape (see Ovid's Metamorphoses book 1); in all these myths, Antonio contrasts women who avoided lovers, associated with barrenness, with women who married, associated with fruitfulness and beauty.
peevish: irritable
friends: lovers
transhap'd: transformed (see Ovid's Metamorphoses)
vain poetry: meaningless fiction
propos'd: if three men proposed to me, who should I choose: the one with wisdom, riches, or beauty?
several: separate
Paris: Paris was son of the king of Troy, whose task was to choose the most beautiful goddess from among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Because all were breathtaking, presenting themselves nude, each offered him a bribe. Aphrodite promised him the loveliest woman in the world, so he chose her, and she helped him seduce Helen, taking her back to Troy, resulting in a ten-year war and disaster for the city.
motion ... apprehension: a spectacle able to obscure the judgement
hard-favour'd: unattractive
worse-favour'd: even more unattractive
ill: bad; just as a poor painter doesn't want to be compared to a good one, no plain woman wants to be seen next to an attractive one.
face-making: portraits
prithee: pray thee
tangles: the Duchess is combing her hair, distracting her from seeing them leave and seeing Ferdinand enter
steal forth: sneak out of
divers: many
chaf'd: become annoyed
'gin: begin
wax: grow
arras: white powder
vouchsafe: condescend to agree
Enter: this entrance is not marked in the Quarto text, leaving it for producers to decide between the suspense of an early entrance, or the surprise of a late one.
his: Ferdinand's
keep: keep to your own bed (out of fear of being discovered)
gossips: godfathers (British usage)
sees: in many productions (including ours) the Duchess sees Ferdinand's reflection in her hand mirror as he approaches her from behind
bare name: just a name, nothing more
I will plant my soul in mine ears: I will give you all my attention
there's in shame ... : the only good in shamelessness is that you no longer feel any shame about anything
happily: perhaps
basilisk: mythical creature whose glance was fatal
confederacy: her husband's assistance; the Duchess hopes naively that Antonio has arranged this meeting, not suspecting Bosola of stealing a passkey.
to thee: compared to thee (her voice)
whate'er: whoever
hear'st: Ferdinand assumes correctly that her husband is hiding nearby
lecher: lover
embracements: in your arms
use to sound: ability to speak
paraquito: parrot
bewray: betray
thou hast ta'en ... heart: you have taken the lead lining of your husband's coffin and wrapped it around me: that is, you have put me in your first husband's tomb/place by replacing him/me with another lover (suggestion of Ferdinand's incestuous feelings).
hollow bullet: cannonball
too willful: another suggestion that even she recognizes his more than brotherly jealousy
shepherds: one popular genre of plays in the Renaissance were pastorals which depicted love tales of shepherds in the woods
shook hands: bid farewell
invisible: no longer seen
cas'd up: locked up
apparition: Ferdinand appeared suddenly out of nowhere, like a ghost, and just as frightening
cleft: split open
relate: demonstrate
warrantable: justifiable or capable of being proved
gall: gall bladder, associated with bitterness
unjust actions: those who have committed true injustices should have to disguise their actions, not those who are innocent.
fashion'd: worked out a plan
post: in haste
stood engag'd: as her cover story, the Duchess claims that Antonio failed to repay a loan that her brother had guaranteed.
cunning: being used to falsehood and subterfuge, Bosola easily sees through her story.
protested: the creditors are demanding payment, and will claim the deposit that Ferdinand put up.
enginous: pertaining to engines, suggesting speed
periods: complete sentences; we don't have time to speak long
Tasso: 16th century Italian poet
got well: you have treated me well, meant ironically
let him: let him go
publish: publicly announce what he has done
brook: withstand
humour: character; he blames his stars for his misfortune, not her (see commentary on humours, II.v)
parts ... sat down: a faithful servant receives no reward, and leaves as poor as he started.
I am all yours: meant with double meaning for the Duchess' ears
pass: leave to go
moisture ... sea again: what goes around comes around; what we reap, that shall we sow
gaping: with an apple in it; orthodox Jews do not eat pork; a typical anti-Semitic insult of the time.
thick: hard of hearing, when someone asked him for a loan
hermaphrodite: a person with both male and female sex organs
chippings: bread crumbs used to polish gold
chain: chain of office, sign of his position as chief steward
rogues: liars, hypocrites
in's: in his (Antonio's); when he was prosperous, they would do anything for him, in hopes of reward
intelligencers: made their children his spies, lackeys
livery: The costume or insignia worn by the servants of a feudal lord
lice: these men were nothing but parasites, who abandon their "host" once he is out of favor
the like: one like him
flatterers: flatterers deny that princes have any vices, and princes likewise deny that the flatterers are lying to them.
coffers: lockboxes, he has filled his own pockets
Pluto: actually the god of the underworld; Plutus was the god of wealth, although an easy mistake, as wealth such as gold or diamonds is found underground.
scuttles: quick movements; wealth comes slowly to reward good deeds but quickly to evil.
unvalued: undervalued
to bless: whoever finds Antonio in his service will be blessed by what you have thrown away.
show: being humble, he would rather criticize himself than show off his good qualities
whispering room: confessional booth at a church
basely descended: born of the lower classes
want: miss
Bermoothes: Bermuda islands
bladders: filled with air, like balloons, to help one float in water
favour: ironically, Bosola aptly describes himself here, as a spy who relies falsely on the favor of the duke and the cardinal.
down: bring you down
painted: false
seminary: bed for sowing seeds
unbenefic'd: unpaid
engine: a lifting crane or hoist
that: your grave
cabinets: rooms
coats: coat of arms, signifying an important family, sometimes these were sold as bribes rather than merited. See Bosola's earlier comment about mercenary heralds (a few speeches above). Antonio shall be remembered for being rewarded for his merit as a man long after those who have bought their honorary titles.
concealment: I hope you can keep a secret.
Loretto: a religious shrine, where it was believed angels carried the house of Mary from Nazareth.
progress: official journey
train: servants of the household
politician: one who schemes, such as Bosola
quilted anvil: covering the anvil with a quilt softens the blows, so no one hears them
rests: remains
base: lowly; Bosola has few delusions about his own character.
prefers: leads to; every quality of character, whether good or evil, will lead to some type of reward (so he hopes)
paint weeds to the life: even artists who paint lifelike pictures of weeds (a worthless subject) are praised for their skill, so much more Bosola should be praised for his efforts.
