Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
287 One ... another another time will compensate for this one 289 up on
289 brace pair
291 'tis ... arithmetic i.e. we are incalculably outnumbered 292 manhood manliness/valor
292 foolery folly
293 fabric building
294 tag rabble
294 rend tear apart, lay waste
295 interrupted obstructed
295 o'erbear ... bear overwhelm what usually contains them (i.e. river banks) 298 in request With required by 299 patched ... colour i.e. mended by any means possible 304 Neptune Roman god of the sea, who traditionally carried a 304 trident (three-pronged spear)
305 thunder Jove's weapon was the thunderbolt
305 his ... mouth i.e. he speaks what he feels 310 Tiber Rome's river
310 What the vengeance! intensifying phrase, similar to "What the hell!"
311 'em fair to them courteously
317 rigorous harsh, severe
318 scorn disdain to offer
320 sets values
323 sure on't be sure of it
326 cry havoc call for slaughter and general devastation 327 modest warrant limited license
328 holp helped
329 rescue forcible removal of a prisoner from custody (legal term) 336 leave permission
341 peremptory resolved
342 eject him hence exile him
348 deserved deserving
348 enrolled recorded
349 dam mother
353 Mortal fatal
358 by at the hands of
359 suffer permit
360 brand mark of disgrace
361 cam crooked, awry
361 clean cam utterly misleading
362 Merely totally
373 unscanned thoughtless
374 to's to its
374 process proper legal procedure
375 parties sides, factions
378 What why
380 smote struck
382 a he
383 bolted sifted (i.e. refined, considered)
383 meal and bran flour and worthless husks
386 Where ... peril where he, his life at stake, shall answer for his behavior through the calm process of a trial 391 Unknown ... beginning unpredictable
396 attend await
3.2 Location: Rome (Coriolanus' house)
1 pull ... ears i.e. destroy everything, crush me 1 present me put me forward for
2 wheel torture wheel to which the victim was tied and their bones broken before they died 2 at ... heels a form of death in which the victim's limbs were tied to horses that then ran in different directions 4 precipitation steep drop
5 beam the eyes were thought to emit beams that enabled vision 8 muse wonder (that)
9 approve support, praise
9 wont accustomed
10 woollen i.e. coarsely clothed
10 vassals servants/slaves
11 groats coins worth four old pence (suggesting the people are mere petty traders) 11 show bare heads i.e. remove their hats as a mark of deference 12 congregations gatherings
12 yawn gape
13 ordinance rank, standing
19 put ... on i.e. fully gained and exercised your new authority 21 Let go enough
23 lesser ... dispositions the people would have understood less of your plans/moods (sense is awkward, so many editors emend "things," e.g. to "thwartings") 26 cross thwart
29 something somewhat
33 cleave ... midst split down the middle
35 apt compliant, submissive
37 vantage advantage, benefit
39 but were it not
40 fit attack of illness/seizure
40 physic medicine
49 absolute inflexible
50 therein ... speak i.e. being uncompromising is a noble stance, except in cases of extreme urgency 52 policy strategy/cunning
52 unsevered inseparable, united
57 demand question
58 seem ... not dissimulate, pretend to be what you are not 60 adopt adopt as
60 less i.e. less honorable
61 That ... request for policy to be honorable in peacetime as well as in war, given that both situations require it equally 64 force urge
65 lies you on is incumbent upon you
66 instruction conviction, prompting
68 but roted merely learned by heart
69 Bastards i.e. illegitimate, not genuine
69 of ... To unacknowledged by
71 take in capture
72 gentle honorable/soft, kind
72 else otherwise
72 put ... blood put your chances to the test and risk much bloodshed 74 dissemble with disguise
74 where ... honour in a case where, my fortunes and friends being at risk, honor required me to do so 78 general common
79 a fawn flattery
80 inheritance acquisition
81 want lack (i.e. of their loves/of flattery)
83 salve heal, remedy
84 Not not only
87 bonnet hat
88 stretched it held it out to them
88 here ... them go this far in humoring them/on this point, give them what they want 89 bussing kissing
91 learned i.e. responsive
91 waving shaking or bowing (in repentance and humility) 92 stout proud
94 hold withstand
95 broils turmoil, battles
96 soft sociable/gentle
97 fit as fit
98 asking asking for
98 frame adapt, make
99 forsooth in truth
100 person personal authority, influential presence 102 Even ... speaks exactly as she describes
103 free freely granted
108 bower arbor/boudoir
111 make gather
111 party faction, side
117 unbarbed sconce unarmed head
120 plot piece of earth, i.e. body
121 mould earth/frame
124 discharge to th'life perform convincingly
132 harlot's beggar's/whore's
132 throat of war i.e. soldier's voice
133 choired sang in harmony
134 Small high-pitched
135 babies lull lulls, soothes babies
136 Tent encamp
136 take up occupy
140 alms charitable gift
141 surcease cease
143 inherent permanent, abiding
147 feel experience, undergo the effects of
148 stoutness obstinacy
149 heart i.e. courage
149 list please
151 owe own
154 mountebank use trickery to win
155 Cog cheat
161 arm prepare
165 word watchword, password
166 by invention with invented charges
3.3 Location: Rome (the marketplace)
1 charge him home press home your accusations
1 affects seeks out/is drawn to
3 Enforce urge against/attack/constrain
3 envy malice
4 spoil got on booty won from
11 catalogue list
13 by th'poll by head, individually
15 tribes divisions of the populace of Rome
17 presently immediately
22 old prerogative traditional rights (of the people) 23 i'th'truth o'th'cause in the justice of the case 25 cry cry out, shout
27 present execution immediate carrying out
31 hap happen
33 Put ... straight rouse him to anger straightaway 34 worth of contradiction full share of answering back, pennyworth of defiance 35 chafed roused, angered
37 looks looks likely, promises
38 us i.e. our assistance
40 ostler stable groom
40 piece coin
41 bear ... th'volume put up with being called knave any number of times/endure any degree of ill treatment from a knave 41 Th'honoured may the honored
43 among's among us
44 shows ceremonies
49 List listen
49 Audience listen, pay attention
52 this present with this present allegation
53 determine be settled
54 demand ask
56 Allow acknowledge
57 censure judgment
68 accents ways of speaking/words
70 envy you display malice toward you
90 I ... the that with which I pray to the
74 very very same
76 Answer to us i.e. you have no right to ask the questions 77 so to do so, i.e. answer to you
78 contrived plotted
79 seasoned established (or perhaps "qualified, moderate" as opposed to 80 tyrannical) wind insinuate
82 How? What?
84 fold in enfold, encircle
85 their traitor traitor to them
85 injurious insulting, wrongful
86 Within Even if within, i.e. whatever you might do to me 89 free frank/honest/unrestrained
94 put add
97 strokes blows, assaults
99 capital i.e. worthy of the death penalty 102 prate chatter, babble
109 pent imprisoned
109 linger barely survive, linger on
112 check restrain, curb
113 have't have it (i.e. the people's mercy)
114 For that because
115 in him lies he possibly could
116 Envied against shown malice toward
117 as inasmuch as (he has)
118 not not only
123 precipitation being thrown
136 estimate reputation, honor
136 womb's ... loins i.e. children 144 cry pack
145 reek stench/foggy vapor
148 remain may you remain
150 plumes feathers on a helmet
151 have may you have
151 still always
153 finds ... feels only learns through experience 154 Making ... yourselves trying only to protect yourselves/having banished everyone except yourselves 155 Still ... foes always your own worst enemies 156 abated humbled, beaten down
158 For because of
163 despite disdain, contempt
164 vexation torment, mortification
4.1 Location: Rome (near the city gates)
1 leave cease
3 ancient former
3 used accustomed
4 extremities extreme circumstances, crisis
5 common chances ordinary events
7 Fortune's ... cunning when fortune strikes hardest, it takes noble skill to bear one's wounds like a gentleman 11 conned learned, memorized
14 red pestilence red sores were characteristic of the plague 15 occupations trades
17 lacked absent/missed
18 wont accustomed
19 Hercules legendary Greek hero who achieved twelve seemingly impossible 20 labours 22 Droop look downcast, despair 25 venomous i.e. stinging, causing inflammation 25 sometime former
28 fond foolish
28 strokes blows, afflictions
29 wot know
30 still always
31 Believe't not lightly do not doubt this
32 fen swamp
34 or either
34 exceed the common outdo ordinary men, exceed ordinary expectations 35 cautelous ... practice deceitful snares and plotting 39 exposture exposure
40 starts leaps up
42 follow accompany
45 repeal recall from exile
47 advantage the advantageous opportunity
51 wars' surfeits excesses of military service
52 bring accompany
54 noble touch noble qualities/proven nobility (as the quality of gold is proved with a touchstone) 61 one seven i.e. seven
63 foot step of the way
4.2 Location: Rome (a street)
1 home go home
8 ancient former
13 mad furious/wild, high-spirited/mentally disturbed 16 Th'hoarded the stored-up
16 requite repay
22 mankind masculine/furious (Volumnia replies to the sense of "human") 24 foxship sly cunning
30 would wish
31 Arabia i.e. the desert (a suitably lawless place for death, and one with nowhere for the enemy to hide) 31 tribe supporters/family
31 before in front of, facing
34 posterity descendants
39 unknit untied for
40 knot bond between him and Rome
43 Cats i.e. wretched creatures (contemptuous) 48 brave splendid/courageous (sarcastic)
50 meanest poorest, humblest
54 baited With harassed by
58 'em i.e. the tribunes
60 to't on it
61 told chastised
61 home thoroughly
62 sup dine
63 meat food
64 starve with feeding i.e. consume myself/starve from not eating actual food 65 faint puling feeble whining
66 Juno-like like the supreme Roman goddess, Juno; her merciless fury is described in Virgil's Aeneid
4.3 Location: on the road, between Rome and Antium
5 'em i.e. the Romans
9 favour ... tongue identity is confirmed by your voice 9 favour appearance/face
10 note i.e. of instruction
20 ripe ready
21 glowing smoldering
22 mature ready
26 them i.e. the Volscians
30 of from
31 choose do otherwise (than appear well)
34 this this time, now
37 centurions officers, each in charge of one hundred men 37 charges i.e. troops
38 distinctly billeted individually enrolled
38 in th'entertainment on the payroll, employed
41 present immediate
43 part role, words
4.4 Location: Antium (outside Aufidius' house)
4.4 mean humble, poor
3 'fore my wars in the face of my attacks
6 puny inexperienced
7 Save God save
10 lies lives
16 slippery turns fickle, treacherous changes
16 fast firmly
17 double two (plays on the sense of "deceitful")
19 still always
21 dissension ... doit dispute over something trivial 21 doit Dutch coin of small value
22 fellest fiercest, most cruel
23 plots ... other plots to capture one another have kept them awake 25 trick trifle
26 interjoin their issues unite their fortunes/join their children in marriage 29 give me way allow me to go freely/grant my request 4.5 Location: Antium (inside Aufidius' house)
2 fellows fellow servants
7 Whence from what place
8 go ... door i.e. leave
9 entertainment hospitality, reception
12 companions rogues
17 brave defiant
18 anon in a moment
23 avoid leave
30 station place to stand
31 Follow your function get on with your job
31 batten grow fat
31 cold bits i.e. leftovers
36 canopy i.e. the sky
40 kites and crows birds of prey, scavengers
42 daws jackdaws, proverbially foolish birds
44 meddle concern yourself, interfere (Coriolanus then shifts the sense to "have sex with") 46 prat'st speak insolently/to little purpose
46 trencher wooden serving dish
49 but were it not
61 grim fierce, cruel/forbidding, severe
62 command authority
62 tackle gear, equipment--i.e. clothing (plays on sense of "ship's rigging") 63 show'st seem to be
67 particularly in person, individually
68 mischief injury
68 thereto ... Coriolanus which is attested by my honorary surname, "Coriolanus"
69 painful arduous, diligent
72 memory memorial/reminder
76 dastard cowardly
77 forsook rejected, abandoned
79 Whooped jeere
83 in mere out of pure
84 be ... of fully pay back
86 wreak vengeance
87 maims of shame shameful wounds 88 through throughout
92 cankered corrupted, diseased
93 under-fiends hell's devils
94 prove more fortunes try your fortunes further
97 ancient long-standing
100 tuns barrels
109 where against against which
110 grained ash strong spear (made of straight-grained ash) 111 clip embrace
112 anvil i.e. Coriolanus, who has been struck by Aufidius'
112 sword as an anvil is hit with a hammer
118 dances sets dancing, excites
118 rapt enraptured
120 Bestride step across
120 Mars Roman god of war; may pun on "Martius"
121 a ... foot an army mobilized
122 target shield
122 brawn muscular arm
123 out outright, fully
124 several separate
126 down together fighting with each other on the ground; the speech betrays a perhaps unconscious homoeroticism, with many of its terms having sexual connotations (hotly, encounters, half dead) 127 helms helmets
127 fisting clutching, throttling; also slang for "breaking wind," so anal connotations are not impossible 128 waked I have waked
130 muster all recruit all men
133 o'erbear't overwhelm it (Rome)
136 am prepared have forces drawn up
139 absolute incomparable, perfect
141 commission authority/those in my command
141 set down determine
145 rudely violently
146 ere destroy before destroying them
147 commend introduce (favorably)
153 gave told
156 set up set spinning
163 rarest most exceptional/most splendid
165 he ... on you know who (i.e. Aufidius)
168 it's ... for never mind about
169 on of
169 him in the following line, this may refer either to Coriolanus or to Aufidius 169 him like 175 slaves rogues/servants
179 as lief rather
180 Wherefore? Why?
181 was wont used
189 on't of it
189 scotched slashed
190 carbonado meat scored for cooking
191 An if
191 given inclined
194 on much of
195 upper end o'th'table i.e. in the place of honor 196 but ... bald without them standing hatless (a mark of respect) 198 sanctifies ... hand touches Coriolanus' hand as if it were holy 199 bottom essence, bottom line
202 sowl roughly seize
204 polled stripped bare (literally, with the branches lopped away) 210 directitude a nonsense word; perhaps the Third Servingman means "discredit"
212 crest cockerel's crest/feathers on a helmet
213 in blood in good condition, full of life (hunting term) 213 will will come
214 conies rabbits
216 presently immediately
217 parcel part
219 stirring lively, active
223 audible noisy/keen of hearing (like a hunting dog) 223 full of vent full of shouts and noise/has picked up the scent of a hunted animal 224 apoplexy paralysis
224 mulled numbed, stupefied
225 getter begetter, conceiver
228 ravisher rapist
229 cuckolds men with unfaithful wives
233 rising i.e. from the table
4.6 Location: Rome
2 His ... tame the remedies needed to get rid of Coriolanus (i.e. the protesting people) are quiet 4 hurry commotion, urgent activity