Hamlet

7 ere before

7 Julius Julius Caesar, murdered by conspirators in 44 BC

8 sheeted shrouded

9 squeak ghosts were traditionally supposed to have thin high-pitched voices 10 As editors have speculated that a preceding line is missing 10 stars ... fire i.e. comets, signs of ill omen 11 Disasters unfavorable aspects (astrological term)

11 moist star i.e. the moon, which controls the tides 12 Neptune Roman god of the sea

12 stands depends

13 to doomsday as if it were Judgment Day (when, according to the Bible, the moon would grow dark) 14 even ... precurse exactly the same foreshadowing

15 As harbingers like forerunners

15 still always

16 omen calamity

18 climatures regions

20 petition entreaty

21 will plays on the sense of "legal document" (which Polonius fixed his seal on) 21 hard reluctant

22 east and west i.e. everywhere

23 traduced ... of dishonored and censured by

24 clepe call

24 with swinish phrase by calling us pigs

25 addition name, reputation

25 takes removes

26 though ... height even though they are outstanding

27 pith ... attribute very essence of our distinguished reputation 29 for because of

29 mole blemish

30 As for example

32 o'ergrowth ... complexion excessive growth of some natural trait 33 pales fences, safeguards

34 too much o'erleavens spoils (as too much leaven ruins dough) 35 plausive pleasing, praiseworthy

37 nature's livery uniform designating one's servitude to nature 38 virtues else other virtues

39 undergo sustain

40 general censure public opinion/view of the man as a whole 41 the ... scandal unclear; the general sense is "even a tiny portion (dram) of polluting matter can bring a noble substance into disrepute" (or perhaps "... corrupt a noble substance to its own shameful nature") 41 eale ale

44 toys wild thoughts

44 desperation the hopelessness or spiritual despair preceding suicide 46 fathoms a fathom is approximately six feet