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Notes on Act V, scene ii
instantly: shortly
to't: to understand it
try: see for themselves
Paracelsus: German physician known for his radical cures
eagles: noble birds, in contrast to commoners (daws)
haunt: Ferdinand's shadow is seen by commentators as a symbol of his guilty conscience; compare the image that the Cardinal sees in the pond (V.v)
sheep-biter: a sheep dog that drives the flock by biting at them
civil: that is, I don't like your looks
salamander: a lizard which was thought to be able to live in fire
cockatrix: a mythical monster similar to the basilisk, whose looks could kill
brook: permit
fetch a frisk: dance a jig
cullis: broth
anatomies: skeletons used by medical colleges, implying that this doctor has supplied many of them by his bad practice
Chirugeon's: Surgeon's; barbers also performed some surgical practices such as bleeding
tongue and belly: man is nothing but a deceiver and a creature of appetite
throughly: thoroughly
feign: pretend
intelligence: knowledge
full of all th' engagement: the entire plan appeared to come from Ferdinand
in a breath: quickly
think long: people who think about an action too long never get around to performing it, and so accomplish nothing
that fellow: admiring Bosola
style me thy advancement: name your price
mass: church service
school-name: a mere word, not taken seriously
fashion: for appearance's sake he may go with him to church
taking up: borrowing; Jews were known for lending money
picture-makers: painters of miniature portraits
her: the Duchess
happily: perhaps
freeze: delay
surer way to trace: better path to follow
fast: locked tight
kissing-comforts: breath mints
disarm: he takes her gun from her, then takes her in his arms
wanton: lustful
familiar: spirit in the form of an animal that accompanies witches
wants: lacks
want compliment: I lack the ability to compliment, I'm no flatterer
charge: task
cut off: we dispense with merely longing for someone and take our pleasure without hesitating
dependence: means of support
follow the wars: become a mercenary
calling: profession as a hired killer
pillows: that is, someone who always chooses the hard life
cabinet: closet
distraction: insanity
Yond's: there is (Julia)
consumption: disease
quit of: rid of her
secretary: confidant
rack: torture
adamant: have their hearts encased with the hardest metal
dally: toy
book: Webster loves outlandish murder weapons; in his other tragedy The White Devil, he uses a poisoned mask and a poisoned portrait.
colours: why do you paint me in your colors, which hide your rotten acts?
actors: men cover up their crimes by killing those who helped them accomplish the deed
smother: smoke; that is, why stir up trouble when things are going well?
that body: Julia
grow: become
bier: the stand on which coffins are placed; Bosola also had to carry off the Duchess' body
horseleeches: applied to swelling to suck the blood off
train: followers
frost-nail'd: spiked boots for gripping the ice
bears up: is wading in blood
security: with no fear of danger, men do evil deeds which lead to hell
biters: blood suckers (compare the Duchess's comments in IV.ii, also here)
