1
carry coals
do menial work
2
colliers
coal-miners:  Gregory takes Sampson's phrase in its literal rather than figurative sense
3
choler
anger:  the word puns backward to collier and forward to collar in the next line
draw
draw their swords:  Gregory puns on this with the phrase 'draw your neck out of collar'
4
collar
hangman's noose
5
*5
There follows a series of puns on the word 'move'.
moved5
make angry
6
moved6
given cause to
7
moves7
8
move8
to change position
9
moved9
10
move10
10 to 11
take the wall
walk nearest the wall: an aggressive action, forcing anyone passing to walk nearest the road and thus run the risk of being splashed with mud
12 to 13
goes to the wall
is pushed into an inferior position
18
*18
Gregory pretends to rebuke Sampson saying that the quarrel is between men and that women are not involved.
23
maidenheads
state of virginity
24
sense24
meaning
25
sense25
feeling
26 to 7
*26
Sampson says that he will make their women feel him as long as he can maintain an erection, and it's well known how effective he is in that way!
29
poor-John
dried hake, a very unpalatable dish
35
Let us take the law of our sides
let us make sure we are on the right side of the law:  Gregory and Sampson are not really as bold as they like to pretend
38
bite my thumb
The clicking of the thumbnail against the teeth was an insulting gesture at that time.
53
*53
Gregory urges Sampson to claim that Capulet is a better man than Montague; he feels it is safe to be bolder because he sees Tybalt coming, who he thinks will support them.
57
swashing
swishing, sweeping
60 to 6
*60
Benvolio tries to stop the servants fighting; but when Tybalt enters, he forces Benvolio into a fight himself.  So begins the  'new mutiny' of the Prologue.
60
heartless hinds
This is a complicated pun (hind = deer and servant).  Presumably the hind is to be regarded as a symbol of timidity.
67
bills, and partisans
long-handled weapons
76
neighbour-stained
stained with the blood of neighbours
81
mistempered
used in a wrong cause
86 to 9
*86
The Prince says that the old citizens of Verona have had to intervene to break up the quarrels between the parties of Montague and Capulet.
87
grave beseeming ornaments
the sober equipment of peaceful men
89
Canker'd1
age-stiffened
canker'd2
malignant
98
abroach
open:  a term usually applied to a barrel
104 to 6
*104
Benvolio speaks with contempt of Tybalt's showy behaviour.
108
on part and part
on either side
112
*112
Note that the tone of the language here changes from that of violence to a song-like, decorative style.
119
covert
shade, cover
120
measuring his affections...
judging his mood by what I know of my own
121
*121
which at that time inclined me to be alone
123
*123
followed my inclination not to break in upon his desire to be alone
126
augmenting
adding to
129 to 31
*129
This is an elaborate way of describing the sunrise, in keeping with the song-like, decorative style of the language here.
130
Aurora
In Roman mythology, Aurora was the goddess of the dawn.
131
heavy
heavy-hearted
135
*135
This mood suggests a gloomy outcome.
139
importun'd
urged him to explain his behaviour
141
his own affections' counsellor
This suggests that Romeo will be guided only by his own inclinations, which are to keep his affairs very strictly to himself.
144
sounding and discovery
submitting to questions, and answering them
152 to 3
*153
I hope that you will be so fortunate by staying behind as to get a true confession out of him
160
*160
out of favour with the girl I'm in love with
163 to 4
*163
alas that love, which seems so attractive in prospect, turns out to be so harsh in practice
165
*165
Romeo is here referring to Cupid, the archer of love in Roman mythology, who was always pictured as blind but was nevertheless able to get his own way with us.
167
O me! What fray was here?
Romeo presumably notices the weapons lying on the ground and goes on to lament the social disorder in a series of contradictory phrases (oxymorons).  The extremely elaborate nature of the language suits Romeo's present superficial form of romantic love.
178
*178
at your being so heavy-hearted
179
*179
Romeo replies that this is the common effect that being in love has on one.  We may contrast this superficial infatuation with the profound passion that Romeo will feel for Juliet after meeting her.
180 to 2
*180
I am weighed down by my own troubles, which will only be increased if you show distress
187
discreet
discriminating:  another forced paradox, since madness usually implies an inability to make discriminative judgements.  In this speech Romeo continues to play with words and act the conventional part of the distracted lover.
188
gall
bitterness, poison
193
in sadness193
in all seriousness
195
sadly
seriously
196
in sadness196
a pun, introducing the more modern meaning of 'unhappiness'
197
*197
Romeo goes on to say that with this meaning, the work is an unfortunate one to use to a man who is sick, i.e. with love.
201
A right fair mark
an easily seen target
203
Dian's wit
This means that she has the cleverness of Diana (the Roman goddess of chastity) in avoiding the temptations of love and remaining a virgin.
206
stay
give in to
207
bide
put up with
208
*208
she will not give up her virginity even for gold, which was capable of seducing saints
210
*210
Because she will have no children to perpetuate her beauty.  This idea is a common one in Elizabethan poetry.  Elizabethan ladies often wore black masks when they walked in public places.
store
fertility, increase
229 to 30
*229
Romeo says that looking at other women only heightens and emphasizes her beauty in his eyes.
232
I'll pay that doctrine
I'll teach you that lesson