4.1
Line 14 society: companionship
Line 31 spite: malice
Line 39 pensive: sorrowful
Line 48 may prorogue: can delay
Line 57
label: strip attached to a deed to carry
the seal; hence, conformation, seal
Line 60 time: age
Line 81 charnel house: vault for human bones
Line 96 humor: fluid, moisture
Line 102 supple government: control of motion
Line 113 against: anticipation when
4.2
Line 16 gadding: wandering
Line 33 closet: chamber
Line 43 huswife: housewife
4.3
Line 3 orisons: prayers
Line 7 culled: picked out
Line 8 behooveful: needful; state: ceremony
Line 42 green: new, freshly
Line 47
mandrakes: (The root of the mandragora or
mandrake resembled the human form;
the plant was fabled to utter a
shriek when torn from the ground.)
Line 57 Stay: stop
4.4
Line 2 pastry: room in which pastry was made
Line 5 baked meats: pies, pastry
Line 6
cotquean: i.e., a man who acts the housewife.
(Literally, a cottage housewife.)
Line 11 mouse-hunt: i.e., hunter of women
Line 20
whoreson: i.e., fellow. (An abusive term used
familiarly.)
Line 21
loggerhead:(1) put in charge of getting logs
(2) a blockhead
4.5
Line 4 pennyworths: small portions (of sleep)
Line 16 aqua vitae: strong alcoholic spirits
Line 43 unhappy: fatal
Line 55 Beguiled: cheated
Line 65 Confusion's: calamity's
Line 72 your heaven: i.e., your idea of the greatest good
Line 79 rosemary: symbol of immortality and enduring love; therefore used at both funerals and weddings
Line 105 dump: mournful tune or dance
Line 113 gleek: jest, gibe
Line 118 re, fa: musical notes
Line 123 dry-beat: thrash (without drawing blood)
Line 130
Catling: (A catling was a small lutestring made
of catgut.)
Line 133
Rebeck: (A rebeck was a fiddle with three
strings.)
Line 136
Soundpost: (A soundpost is the pillar or peg that
supports the sounding board of a
stringed instrument.)
5.1
Line 37 apothecary: druggist
Line 40 simples: medicinal herbs
Line 59 ducats: gold coins
Line 85 cordial: restorative for the heart
5.2
Line 8
searchers of the town: town officials charged
with public health
Line 21 crow: crowbar
5.3
Line 1 aloof: to one side, at a distance
Line 16 obsequies: ceremonies in
Line 21 mattock: pickax
Line 22 wrenching iron: crowbar
Line 84 lantern: turret full of windows
Line 90
lightening: exhilaration (supposed to occur
just before death.)
Line 115
engrossing: monopolizing, taking all; also,
drawing up the contract
Line 121 be my speed: prosper me
Line 136 unthrifty: unfortunate
Line 163 churl: miser
Line 218 spring, head: source
Line 229 date of breath: time left to live
Line 293
kill your joys: (1) destroy your happiness
(2) kill your children
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