Cymbeline

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter two Gentlemen.Enter two Gentlemen Cym I.i.1.1
1. Gent.FIRST GENTLEMAN 
YOu do not meet a man but Frownes. / Our bloodsYou do not meet a man but frowns: our bloodsblood (n.)
disposition, temper, mood
Cym I.i.1
no more obey the Heauens / Then our Courtiers:No more obey the heavens than our courtiers Cym I.i.2
Still seeme, as do's the Kings.Still seem as does the king's.still (adv.)
constantly, always, continually
Cym I.i.3.1
2 Gent. SECOND GENTLEMAN 
But what's the matter?But what's the matter? Cym I.i.3.2
1. FIRST GENTLEMAN 
His daughter, and the heire of's kingdome (whomHis daughter, and the heir of's kingdom – whom Cym I.i.4
He purpos'd to his wiues sole Sonne, a WiddowHe purposed to his wife's sole son, a widowpurpose (v.)

old form: purpos'd
intend, plan
Cym I.i.5
That late he married) hath referr'd her selfeThat late he married – hath referred herselfrefer (v.)

old form: referr'd
assign, give, bestow
Cym I.i.6
Vnto a poore, but worthy Gentleman. She's wedded,Unto a poor but worthy gentleman. She's wedded, Cym I.i.7
Her Husband banish'd; she imprison'd, allHer husband banished; she imprisoned, all Cym I.i.8
Is outward sorrow, though I thinke the KingIs outward sorrow, though I think the kingoutward (adj.)
external, surface, superficial
Cym I.i.9
Be touch'd at very heart.Be touched at very heart.touch (v.)

old form: touch'd
wound, hurt, injure
Cym I.i.10.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
None but the King?None but the king? Cym I.i.10.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
He that hath lost her too: so is the Queene,He that hath lost her too: so is the queen, Cym I.i.11
That most desir'd the Match. But not a Courtier,That most desired the match. But not a courtier, Cym I.i.12
Although they weare their faces to the bentAlthough they wear their faces to the bentbent (n.)
direction, turning, inclination
Cym I.i.13
Of the Kings lookes, hath a heart that is notOf the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Cym I.i.14
Glad at the thing they scowle at.Glad at the thing they scowl at. Cym I.i.15.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
And why so?And why so? Cym I.i.15.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
He that hath miss'd the Princesse, is a thingHe that hath missed the princess is a thingthing (n.)
[contemptuous] being, creature, base thing
Cym I.i.16
Too bad, for bad report: and he that hath her,Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her –  Cym I.i.17
(I meane, that married her, alacke good man,I mean, that married her, alack good man, Cym I.i.18
And therefore banish'd) is a Creature, such,And therefore banished – is a creature such Cym I.i.19
As to seeke through the Regions of the EarthAs, to seek through the regions of the earth Cym I.i.20
For one, his like; there would be something failingFor one his like; there would be something failinglike (n.)
identity, equivalent, counterpart
Cym I.i.21
In him, that should compare. I do not thinke,In him that should compare. I do not think Cym I.i.22
So faire an Outward, and such stuffe WithinSo fair an outward, and such stuff withinoutward (n.)
outward show, external appearance, demeanour
Cym I.i.23
stuff (n.)

old form: stuffe
substance, composition, quality, essence
Endowes a man, but hee.Endows a man, but he. Cym I.i.24.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
You speake him farre.You speak him far.far (adv.)

old form: farre
to great lengths, very highly
Cym I.i.24.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
I do extend him (Sir) within himselfe,I do extend him, sir, within himself,extend (v.)
exaggerate, magnify, blow up
Cym I.i.25
Crush him together, rather then vnfoldCrush him together, rather than unfold Cym I.i.26
His measure duly.His measure duly. Cym I.i.27.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
What's his name, and Birth?What's his name and birth? Cym I.i.27.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
I cannot delue him to the roote: His FatherI cannot delve him to the root: his father Cym I.i.28
Was call'd Sicillius, who did ioyne his HonorWas called Sicilius, who did join his honourjoin (v.)

old form: ioyne
ally, unite, associate
Cym I.i.29
honour (n.)

old form: Honor
fame, renown, glory
Against the Romanes, with Cassibulan,Against the Romans with Cassibelan,Cassibelan (n.)
[pron: ka'sibelan, ka'sibjulan] British king in 1st-c
Cym I.i.30
But had his Titles by Tenantius, whomBut had his titles by Tenantius, whomTenantius (n.)
[pron: te'nanshius] British king, father of Cymbeline
Cym I.i.31
He seru'd with Glory, and admir'd Successe:He served with glory and admired success:admired (adj.)

old form: admir'd
wonderful, amazing, remarkable
Cym I.i.32
So gain'd the Sur-addition, Leonatus.So gained the sur-addition Leonatus:sur-addition (n.)
surname, additional title
Cym I.i.33
And had (besides this Gentleman in question)And had – besides this gentleman in questionquestion (n.)
consideration, contention
Cym I.i.34
Two other Sonnes, who in the Warres o'th'timeTwo other sons, who in the wars o'th' time Cym I.i.35
Dy'de with their Swords in hand. For which, their FatherDied with their swords in hand. For which their father, Cym I.i.36
Then old, and fond of yssue, tooke such sorrowThen old, and fond of issue, took such sorrowissue (n.)

old form: yssue
child(ren), offspring, family, descendant
Cym I.i.37
fond (adj.)
eager [for], desirous [of]
fond (adj.)
infatuated, doting, passionate
That he quit Being; and his gentle LadyThat he quit being; and his gentle lady,being (n.)
physical existence, life
Cym I.i.38
Bigge of this Gentleman (our Theame) deceastBig of this gentleman – our theme – deceasedbig (adj.)

old form: Bigge
pregnant [with], swollen
Cym I.i.39
As he was borne. The King he takes the BabeAs he was born. The king he takes the babe Cym I.i.40
To his protection, cals him Posthumus Leonatus,To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus, Cym I.i.41
Breedes him, and makes him of his Bed-chamber,Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber,breed (v.), past form bred

old form: Breedes
raise, bring up, support
Cym I.i.42
Puts to him all the Learnings that his timePuts to him all the learnings that his timeput to (v.)
set before, make available to
Cym I.i.43
learning (n.)
field of education, domain of instruction
time (n.)
age, years
Could make him the receiuer of, which he tookeCould make him the receiver of, which he took, Cym I.i.44
As we do ayre, fast as 'twas ministred,As we do air, fast as 'twas ministered, Cym I.i.45
And in's Spring, became a Haruest: Liu'd in CourtAnd in's spring became a harvest; lived in court –  Cym I.i.46
(Which rare it is to do) most prais'd, most lou'd,Which rare it is to do – most praised, most loved;rare (adj.)
marvellous, splendid, excellent
Cym I.i.47
A sample to the yongest: to th'more Mature,A sample to the youngest, to th' more maturesample (n.)
example, exemplar, model
Cym I.i.48
A glasse that feated them: and to the grauer,A glass that feated them, and to the graverglass (n.)

old form: glasse
mirror, looking-glass
Cym I.i.49
feat (v.)
show a model of behaviour
A Childe that guided Dotards. To his Mistris,A child that guided dotards. To his mistress – dotard (n.)
old fool, senile idiot
Cym I.i.50
(For whom he now is banish'd) her owne priceFor whom he now is banished – her own priceprice (n.)
value, worth, importance
Cym I.i.51
Proclaimes how she esteem'd him; and his VertueProclaims how she esteemed him; and his virtue Cym I.i.52
By her electiõ may be truly read,By her election may be truly readelection (n.)

old form: electiõ
choice, preference
Cym I.i.53
what kind of man he is.What kind of man he is. Cym I.i.54.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
I honor him,I honour him Cym I.i.54.2
euen out of your report. / But pray you tell me,Even out of your report. But pray you tell me, Cym I.i.55
is she sole childe to'th'King?Is she sole child to th' king? Cym I.i.56.1
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
His onely childe:His only child. Cym I.i.56.2
He had two Sonnes (if this be worth your hearing,He had two sons – if this be worth your hearing, Cym I.i.57
Marke it) the eldest of them, at three yeares oldMark it – the eldest of them at three years old,mark (v.)

old form: Marke
note, pay attention [to], take notice [of]
Cym I.i.58
I'th'swathing cloathes, the other from their NurseryI'th' swathing-clothes the other, from their nurseryswathing-clothes / clouts (n.)swaddling clothes, cloths for wrapping round a new-born babyCym I.i.59
Were stolne, and to this houre, no ghesse in knowledgeWere stolen; and to this hour no guess in knowledge Cym I.i.60
Which way they went.Which way they went. Cym I.i.61.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
How long is this ago?How long is this ago? Cym I.i.61.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
Some twenty yeares.Some twenty years. Cym I.i.62
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
That a Kings Children should be so conuey'd,That a king's children should be so conveyed,convey (v.)

old form: conuey'd
carry off, make away with, take by force
Cym I.i.63
So slackely guarded, and the search so slowSo slackly guarded, and the search so slow Cym I.i.64
That could not trace them.That could not trace them! Cym I.i.65.1
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
Howsoere, 'tis strange,Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Cym I.i.65.2
Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at:Or that the negligence may well be laughed at, Cym I.i.66
Yet is it true Sir.Yet is it true, sir. Cym I.i.67.1
2 SECOND GENTLEMAN 
I do well beleeue you.I do well believe you. Cym I.i.67.2
1 FIRST GENTLEMAN 
We must forbeare. Heere comes the Gentleman,We must forbear. Here comes the gentleman,forbear (v.)

old form: forbeare
stop, cease, desist
Cym I.i.68
forbear (v.)

old form: forbeare
withdraw, leave, give way
The Queene, and Princesse.The queen, and princess. Cym I.i.69
ExeuntExeunt Cym I.i.69
 Previous Act I, Scene I Next  
x

Jump directly to