Damon a perfect friend; in classical legend, Damon and Pythias were friends so devoted to each other that when Pythias, who had been condemned to death, wanted time to arrange his affairs, Damon pledged his life that his friend would return. Pythias returned and both were pardoned.
Danskers Danes.
delated articles detailed provisions set forth in their instructions.
Deliberate pause a deliberate step, taken after due consideration.
digested organized.
distemper mental disturbance.
divide distinguish.
doublet a man's close-fitting jacket, with or without sleeves, worn chiefly from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The coat that was fastened (braced) to the hose (short breeches) by laces. When a man was relaxing or careless of appearance, he "unbrac'd," much like a man today loosens his tie or takes off his suit jacket.
douts extinguishes; literally, do out.
down gyved fallen, like fetters, about his ankles.
drabbing associating with prostitutes.
The dram of evil / Doth all the noble substance of a doubt, / To his own scandal a much-disputed passage. Perhaps a line is missing. The general meaning seems to be that it takes only a small portion of evil to bring a scandal on the entire substance, however noble it may otherwise be.
drift of conference roundabout methods.
drossy frivolous; worthless stuff; rubbish.
dug a female animal's nipple or teat; vulgarly, a woman's breast.
dupp'd opened.
ecstasy madness
eisel vinegar.
enginer engineer.
enseam'd greasy, with a pun on semen.
envious silver malicious branch.
escoted paid.
expectancy and rose bright hope ( as future king).
extravagant and erring vagrant and wandering (both used in their original Latin sense — a common device used by Shakespeare).
eyases unfledged birds, especially young hawks taken from the nest for training in falconry.
fain wish.
fantasy an odd notion; whim.
fardels burdens; misfortune.
fat out of condition, sweaty.
fay faith, used in oaths (by my fay!); with a pun on fairy.
fear me not don't be afraid for me.
fell out occurred.
fellies the segments forming the rim of a spoked wheel.
Fie for shame! an interjection expressing a sense of outraged propriety.
first mout'd put into the mouth first in order that all the goodness may be extracted before swallowing.
fishmonger a dealer in fish, or someone who sells women.
flaw a sudden, brief gust of wind, often with rain or snow; a squall.
flood sea. Elsinore is situated on the Danish coast.
foil and target fencing rapier and small shield.
foils long, thin swords with a button on the point to prevent injury, used in fencing.
fordo destroy.
fordoes destroys.
forest of feathers plumed hat much worn by players.
formal ostentation public ceremony.
fretted having an ornamental pattern of small, straight bars intersecting or joining one another, usually at right angles, to form a regular design, as for a border or in an architectural relief; decorated like the painted ceiling over the stage at The Globe.
from occasion by chance.
fust grow moldy.
