52 THRENOS threnody, funeral lament
59 posterity offspring
60 infirmity physical inability
64 Truth ... be i.e. since both truth and beauty are buried with the phoenix and the turtle, whatever appears like them cannot really be so 65 repair make their way
love loyalty and respect (though of course the word can signify a more personal affection also) pamphlet short publication (a modest way of referring to this longer work) without beginning Lucrece begins in medias res (in the middle of the story) moiety small part
warrant assurance/guarantee (possibly suggesting that Shakespeare had been rewarded for Venus and Adonis) What ... done i.e. Venus and Adonis and Lucrece
what ... do future work
being you being
my ... greater i.e. I would have been able to produce a greater poem Lucius Tarquinius last king of Rome (reigned 535-510 BC)
Superbus "proud" (Latin)
Servius Tullius sixth king of Rome (reigned 578-535 BC), killed when his daughter, Tullia, drove her chariot over him requiring or staying asking or waiting
suffrages votes
Ardea a city of the Latin Rutuli people, about twenty-five miles south of Rome humour mood
posted rode with speed
make trial of test
avouched asserted
several disports various amusements (sexual connotations)
privily secretly
according ... estate in accordance with his status
Collatium Collatia, a town ten miles northeast of Rome
ravished raped
habit clothing
actor culprit
dealing conduct (with grim play on sense of "copulation")
withal with that
wherewith at which
1 post haste
2 trustless untrustworthy
false treacherous
3 Lust-breathed inspired by or well-exercised in lust
host army
4 lightless smoldering, giving no light
5 aspire rise, break into flames (perhaps with connotations of penile erection) 6 girdle encircle, embrace
8 Haply perhaps, by chance
unhapp'ly unhappily/by mischance
9 bateless impossible to blunt
keen sharp/eager
10 let cease, stint
11 red and white i.e. of her complexion
12 triumphed ... delight i.e. shone triumphantly in her face 13 mortal stars i.e. Lucrece's eyes
14 aspects glances/astral positions (which, according to astrology, influenced human affairs) peculiar duties expressions of deference that were exclusive to him 19 proud rate glorious price
20 espoused married/attached to
21 But but neither
peerless unequaled, incomparable
22 of by
23 done over, destroyed
25 Against exposed to
26 expired ... begun period which has run out, rendered void before properly started 28 fortressed defended
29 of in
31 apology argument, justification
32 singular notable, eminent/exceptional, oustanding
33 publisher publicizer
36 Perchance perhaps
sov'reignty preeminence
37 Suggested tempted, incited
proud arrogant (plays on sense of "sexually desirous")
issue offspring
40 Braving compare defying comparison
41 high-pitched proud, ambitious
meaner lesser, lower ranking
vaunt brag, boast of
42 hap fortune
want lack/desire
43 untimely inopportune
44 all-too-timeless over-hasty
45 state high status
46 with ... intent determined to act swiftly
47 liver considered the seat of the passions, especially sexual desire 48 heat lust
49 still blasts always withers
53 underprop support, maintain
55 despite spite
57 in ... intituled entitled to that white
58 Venus' doves the goddess of love had a chariot drawn by white doves fair pale, white
field battlefield/surface of a shield on which the heraldic device is displayed (i.e. Lucrece's face) 59 Virtue ... red i.e. as red is the color of modest blushes 60 golden age mythical first age of perfection and happiness gild tinge with gold or red
61 shield protection/insignia
63 assailed attacked
fence defend
64 heraldry heraldic symbolism
65 Argued (disputed over and) demonstrated
67 world's minority the beginnings of time
68 still constantly
70 seat throne
73 traitor eye encloses treacherous gaze is surrounded 77 in over
79 niggard prodigal i.e. both inadequate, yet unwisely lavish in her praises 82 doth owe has yet to pay
83 answers makes good, pays
surmise conjecture, imagination
84 still-gazing gazing uninterruptedly
88 limed caught with birdlime, a sticky substance smeared on branches secret deceptive, containing a trap
89 securely unsuspectingly
cheer welcome, hospitable entertainment
90 reverend respectful
92 that i.e. his inward will
coloured concealed
93 pleats folds (of cloth as if his majesty were a cloak) 94 That so that
inordinate irregular, out of the ordinary
97 so ... store feels so deprived despite having so much 98 pineth starves/yearns
99 coped encountered (literally, fought/embraced sexually) stranger a stranger's
100 parling speaking/negotiating (military term)
101 subtle shining secrecies sly secret thoughts that gleamed in his eyes 102 margents margins
103 touched no sensed, guessed at/had nothing to do with (plays on sense of "had no sexual contact with") 104 moralize interpret
wanton sight lascivious gaze
105 More ... light other than to note that his eyes gleamed in the light 106 stories relates
108 decks adorns
110 bruised arms dented armor
111 heaved-up raised
112 greets i.e. thanks
116 fair clear, cloud-free
welkin sky, i.e. face
117 sable black
119 vaulty cellarlike/having an arched roof
stows stores
121 Intending pretending
heavy spright sleepy spirits
122 questioned conversed
123 wore out passed
125 to ... betake goes to bed
126 cares troubles, anxiety
127 revolving turning over in his mind
128 sundry various
of ... obtaining involved in achieving his sexual desires
130 weak-built hopes little expectation of success
131 traffic ... gaining often trades dishonestly for profit 132 treasure quibbles on sense of "vagina"
meed reward
133 adjunct the consequence
supposed anticipated, thought of
134 fond foolish/infatuated with
135 that ... bond i.e. they waste what they do have in an attempt to get what they do not 137 hoping hoping for
139 surfeit overindulge and become ill
sustain suffer
144 one ... gage i.e. we're willing to stake everything 145 As such as
fell fierce, savage
148 ventr'ing ill undertaking a foolish risk/venturing to commit a sin leave cease
149 expect hope for
150 infirmity weakness
151 defect insufficiency
153 wit sense, intelligence
154 augmenting i.e. seeking to augment
155 hazard a risk, gamble
doting foolish/infatuated
157 forsake abandon
160 confounds defeats, overthrows
164
comfortable comforting
165 death-boding cries animal noises which foretold death; the sounds of owls and wolves were considered ill omens 166 season time
surprise attack suddenly
167 silly defenseless
170 mantle cloak
rudely roughly
174 betake ... retire withdraw
175 rude violent/uncivilized/unruly
176 falchion curved sword
smiteth strikes
179 lodestar guiding light
180 advisedly deliberately
183 premeditate ponder upon, anticipate
188 His ... lust his poor defense of his intentions, namely lust, which is always destroyed upon being satisfied 189 justly rightfully, rationally
192 unhallowed wicked, unholy
196 weed garment
198 grave memorial tomb, i.e. the future reputation of his family 200 soft unmanly, effeminate
fancy's desire's
201 still always
202 digression moral deviation
205 golden coat royal coat of arms
206 loathsome dash mark of dishonor in the coat of arms 207 cipher me express, symbolize
fondly foolishly/infatuatedly
did dote was infatuated/behaved madly
208 note mark, sign
209 hold it for consider it
212 froth perhaps with connotations of semen
214 toy trifle
217 straight immediately
220 Post hasten
221 engirt surrounded
222 blur blemish
224 ever-during everlasting
225 invention imagination, ingenuity
228 eyes ... light eyes were thought to see by emitting beams of light 229 doth still exceed is even greater
230 fly flee
232 sire father
235 work upon strive to persuade/have sex with
236 quittal requital, payment
239 fact crime
241 not her own i.e. she is married
243 will intention/sexual desire (could also mean "penis") past ... removing beyond the power of reason to dissuade
244 Who he who
sentence moral maxim
saw saying
245 painted cloth wall hanging depicting scenes from moral or biblical tales (a cheaper substitute for tapestries) 246 graceless merciless/impious
disputation debate
248 makes dispensation dispenses
249 for vantage still constantly to advantage
250 confound destroy, overthrow
251 effects influences
253 Quoth said
255 hard bad
258 lawn fine linen
259 took having been taken
261 it i.e. Tarquin's hand
262 Which refers to her fear
it i.e. Lucrece's hand
265 Narcissus in Greek mythology, a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool; in some versions of the tale he drowned attempting to embrace himself 267 colour pretext
269 Poor ... abuses worthless, lowly people feel remorse for their trivial misdemeanors 271 Affection passion, lust
272 gaudy brightly colored
273 The coward i.e. even the coward
dismayed discouraged, overcome with fear
274 avaunt be gone
Debating, die! Let debate cease!
276 countermand revoke a command from
277 Sad serious
beseems suit, befit
280 sinking perhaps, bearing in mind the vaginal connotations of treasure, plays on sense of "sexual penetration"
281 heedful mindful, wary
282 unresisted irresistible
284 fond mistrust foolish doubt
285 servitors attendants
286 cross thwart
opposite persuasion conflicting advice
287 league alliance
290 confounds his wits overthrows his reason
291 as more divine since it's more clear-sighted and rational 292 view sight/judgment
incline be disposed
293 seeks applies, looks for support
295 heartens up encourages
servile powers inferior faculties, base instincts
powers faculties/troops
296 jocund cheerful
297 Stuff up bolster, fill out (with suggestions of penile erection) 298 pride plays on sense of "sexual arousal, erection"
300 reprobate depraved, morally corrupt
302 chamber plays on sense of "vagina"
will plays on sense of "penis"
303 retires his ward withdraws its guard
304 rate his ill reprove his wickedness (by squeaking) 305 regard caution
306 The ... heard in order to have him discovered, the door makes a grating noise as it opens across the threshold 307 weasels sometimes kept by households for the purposes of rat-catching 309 portal door (along with vents and crannies continues the vaginal imagery) 311 stay stop
313 conduct guide
case matter (plays on sense of "vagina")
317 glove ... needle continuing the sexually suggestive language; both nouns were euphemisms for "vagina" (needle due to its eye) 318 rushes conventionally strewn over floors
320 who should one who might
wanton tricks sex
321 inured accustomed
322 ornaments accessories
324 consters construes, explains
denial hindrance, refusals
326 of trial designed to test him
327 bars divisions on a clock face
328 let hinder
330 attend accompany
331 threat threaten
332 a more greater
prime spring
333 sneaped pinched with cold
334 income entrance fee/beginning
335 shelves sandbanks
338 heaven sexual bliss
thought imagination
340 thing plays on sense of "vagina"
341 from far from, unlike
wrought fashioned, made him
346 foul sinful/dirty (to contrast with fair) compass obtain/embrace
347 And they and that the heavens
auspicious favorable
348 starts flinches, recoils
350 act deed/sexual act
354 cleared cleaned/declared legally innocent
absolution forgiveness of sins (not necessarily in a religious context) 355 hath dissolution dissolves
356 eye of heaven i.e. the moon
out extinguished, in darkness
359 knee ... wide an action that anticipates the rape itself 360 fast soundly
361 works plays on sense of "copulates"
362 Who whoever
364 mortal deadly
sting phallic connotations
365 stalks walks stealthily
367 curtains bed curtains
close closed
369 high treason extreme treachery/betrayal of the sovereign, i.e. Tarquin himself 370 watchword signal to begin an attack
full very
371 draw the cloud open the bed curtains (another symbolic anticipation of the rape) moon symbol of chastity
372 as just as, in the same way that
373 bereaves robs, deprives (us of)
375 wink close
376 bright brightly
378 enclosed closed
379 darksome prison i.e. behind his eyelids
380 period end
382 clear innocent, unsullied/bright
383 ope open
league alliance, i.e. Collatine and Lucrece's marriage 387 Coz'ning cheating
388 in sunder in two
389 Swelling i.e. as if in anger (possible phallic connotations and suggestion of sexual frustration) to want his at the lack of its
391 virtuous monument effigy of a virtuous wife on a tomb; such a figure was commonly presented asleep beside her husband with her head on a pillow 392 of by
lewd ignorant/lasc
ivious/wicked
unhallowed impious, sinful
393 Without outside
397 marigolds ... light these daisylike flowers close up their petals at night 402 map picture
403 life's mortality human life
404 Each i.e. life and death
405 twain two
408 maiden chaste, faithful to her husband
409 bearing yoke i.e. weight of a man during sex 417 will lust
tired exhausted/feed greedily
419 azure bright blue
alabaster white substance used, among other things, in the making of funeral monuments 421 grim fierce, savage
423 stay linger, pause
424 qualified moderated
425 Slaked lessened
426 late a moment ago
427 uproar insurrection, outbreak of disorder
428 straggling slaves lowly, contemptible soldiers
pillage plunder, stealing from the defeated enemy
429 Obdurate hard-hearted
vassals slaves, inferiors
fell fierce, cruel
effecting carrying out
430 ravishment rape
431 Nor ... nor neither ... nor
respecting considering, heeding
432 pride arrogance/sexual desire; Tarquin is getting an erection onset military/sexual assault
433 Anon at once
alarum a call to arms (signaled on a drum)
434 charge order for attack in which troops bear down on an opposing force do their liking do as they please/have sex
435 cheers up encourages
436 commends commits, entrusts
438 make his stand take up position (prior to attack); possible quibble on sense of "penile erection"
440 scale mount, ascend/attack with ladders
442 must'ring assembling in preparation for battle
cabinet private room, i.e. mind/heart
444 beset surrounded, besieged
451 ghastly terrifying/ghostly, pale
sprite spirit
452 grim aspect stern appearance
453 taking situation/agitation
454 heedfully attentively
455 supposed imagined
458 winking with eyes closed/blinking rapidly
459 Quick-shifting rapidly moving, changing
antics grotesque figures
460 shadows illusions
forgeries fictions, inventions
462 daunts subdues, overwhelms
464 ram battering ram
465 citizen i.e. of Lucrece's besieged body
466 Wounding ... death i.e. with furious pounding against her rib cage 467 bulk body
that so that
withal with it
469 breach gap in fortifications caused by a sustained bombardment (a vaginal image) 471 parley trumpet summons to negotiation with the enemy heartless disheartened, lacking courage
473 alarm sudden attack
474 by dumb demeanour silent expression
475 urgeth asks repeatedly
476 colour pretext/military insignia
480 loving tale tale of love
484 chide scold, rebuke
486 will purpose/sexual desire/penis
abide endure/await
488 Which refers to his will
490 newly bred revived once more (erectile connotations) 491 crosses troubles, afflictions
493 think the honey know that such sexual sweets are 494 counsel deliberation/prudence
496 Only he hath he has solely
502 ensue follow
504 infamy shame, disgrace
505 shakes brandishes
Roman blade phallic connotations