First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
| Enter Duke and Frier Peter. | Enter Duke, in his own habit, and Friar Peter | habit (n.) dress, clothing, costume | MM IV.v.1 | |
| Duke. | DUKE | | | |
| These Letters at fit time deliuer me, | These letters at fit time deliver me. | | MM IV.v.1 | |
| The Prouost knowes our purpose and our plot, | The provost knows our purpose and our plot. | purpose (n.)intention, aim, plan | MM IV.v.2 | |
| The matter being a foote, keepe your instruction | The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, | matter (n.)affair(s), business, real issue | MM IV.v.3 | |
| | keep (v.)look to, attend to, follow | | |
| | afoot (adv.)on the go, in existence | | |
| And hold you euer to our speciall drift, | And hold you ever to our special drift, | drift (n.)plan, intention, aim | MM IV.v.4 | |
| Though sometimes you doe blench from this to that | Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, | blench (v.)swerve, turn aside, give way | MM IV.v.5 | |
| As cause doth minister: Goe call at Flauia's house, | As cause doth minister. Go call at Flavius' house, | minister (v.)prompt, suggest, indicate | MM IV.v.6 | |
| And tell him where I stay: giue the like notice | And tell him where I stay. Give the like notice | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | MM IV.v.7 | |
| To Valencius, Rowland, and to Crassus, | To Valentius, Rowland, and to Crassus, | | MM IV.v.8 | |
| And bid them bring the Trumpets to the gate: | And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; | | MM IV.v.9 | |
| But send me Flauius first. | But send me Flavius first. | | MM IV.v.10.1 | |
| Peter. | FRIAR PETER | | | |
| It shall be speeded well. | It shall be speeded well. | speed (v.)further, carry out, expedite | MM IV.v.10.2 | |
| Exit | | MM IV.v.10 | |
| Enter Varrius. | Enter Varrius | | MM IV.v.11 | |
| Duke. | DUKE | | | |
| I thank thee Varrius, thou hast made good hast, | I thank thee, Varrius, thou hast made good haste. | | MM IV.v.12 | |
| Come, we will walke: There's other of our friends | Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends | | MM IV.v.13 | |
| Will greet vs heere anon: my gentle Varrius. | Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. | gentle (adj.)well-born, honourable, noble | MM IV.v.14 | |
| | anon (adv.)soon, shortly, presently | | |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt | | MM IV.v.14 | |