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Notes on Act IV, scene ii
durance: hardship
muse: think
molten brass: possibly an allusion to the punishments described in Deuteronomy 28
custom: habit
show: appearance
eyesight: Fortune is often depicted as blind, but in this case she looks on the Duchess' misery, but does nothing
sport: entertainment
imposthume: ulcer
usher: servant who goes before a person of rank and makes introductions
hinder'd transportation: he couldn't get his grain to market in time
bell: bellow
cloy'd: filled
corrosiv'd: corroded
quire: choir
perspective: telescope to observe the stars
glass: magnifying glass
haycocks: stacks of hay
pothecary: druggist
overstraining: preaching too loudly
woodcock: a stupid person
translation: referring to different versions of the Bible, which different groups of Puritans fought over
rope-maker: hangman
placket: pocket, but with a sexual implication
caroche: coach
pared: cut
agues: fevers
possets: hot drinks
costive: constipated
insensible: not realized by her
worm-seed: food for worms
salvatory of green mummy: ointment box containing the dust of mummified bodies (used for medicine)
cruded: curdled
puff-paste: light pastry, insubstantial
compass: boundaries
riot: signs of age, wrinkles
breeds: cuts
affect fashion: why should we care what our tomb looks like once we're dead?
images: effigies carved to resemble the person buried in the tomb
charnel: cemetery
in their veins: implying that her brothers are like leeches or vampires
bellman: bells were rung to drive evil spirits away that lie in wait for the departing soul
mortification: ready for death
competent: sufficient
reversion: inheritance
apoplexy: stroke
catarrh: cerebral hemorrhage
cassia: perfume
open them both ways: you may wait for death, or choose to go through yourself (suicide); from Seneca
fault: talking too much
knees: she kneels
mandragora: plant used to induce sleep
feed: another image of vampires or carnivores
come to my answer: make my defense
counsel: secrets
contracted: engaged
wedding ring: the noose
discover: reveal information in exchange for her life
When?: an exclamation of impatience
quick: pregnant
credit's saved: if you die before you have this illegitimate child, your reputation will be safe.
this: the Duchess' body
infelicity: unhappiness
approv'd: proven
bad: bade, commanded
friend: can also refer to a lover
meanness of her match: marrying a common man beneath her status
gain'd: this is rationalization, as the inheritance would naturally have gone to her son by her first husband; Ferdinand doesn't want to admit the real reason for his intense jealousy of Antonio.
gall: bitterness
wolf: foreshadowing Ferdinand's lycanthropia in Act V.ii
pension: payment
him: God
chain'd bullets: cannon balls chained together to cause more destruction
blood: runs in the blood of families
wherefore: why
owl-light: night
painted: false
sensible: felt through the senses
store: restore
pity would destroy pity: if he calls out in pity for her life, Ferdinand might hear and return to finish the job.
atonement: reconcilement
turtles': turtle doves
suffer'd: allowed
manly sorrow: ironic, why cry now? why didn't I do something about this before when I had the chance?
estate: situation; I am past fear
fountains: tears
direful: dreadful
post: speed
worth my dejection: I shall do something in keeping with my lowly state of mind
