[Lexicog] Shakespearean insults

Fritz Goerling Fritz_Goerling at SIL.ORG
Mon Jul 9 14:55:12 UTC 2007


Scott,

You seem to be a specialist on Shakespeare and mentioned some of his
creative insults in your most recent post. What does the following one mean?

You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe!
(Henry IV, part 2)

Interesting challenge for a translator!

Fritz Goerling

Scott Nelson wrote:

A couple of insults from Shakey using the adverbial lexeme 
meaning - "additionally"/"moreover" -- 
<
Cymbeline 2.01.024-025
SECOND LORD: [Aside.]
You are cock and capon too,
And you crow cock, with your comb on. 

and* if (Sig)

A couple of insults from Shakey using the adjective lexeme 
meaning - "overly" - 

All's Well That Ends Well 2.03.213-215(1)
LAFEW:
Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest
Thou hasten thy trial; which if -- Lord have mercy on
Thee for a hen! 

hasten thy trial* be (tested and) found out sooner (Riv)
hen* coward 



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