Aganippe
in classical mythology, a spring of poetic inspiration on Mt. Helicon
alabaster
smooth and white, like the alabaster stone
allegory
a representation of something often abstract or spiritual through something concrete or tangible; usually the elements of the concrete thing have parallels with elements of the thing represented
ambrosia
the traditional food of the gods
Amphion
in classical mythology, one of two twin brothers of Antiope and Zeus. He became the husband of Niobe. With his twin Zethus, he built the Theban walls by using his lyre to charm the stones to move into place.
Argus
a giant having one hundred eyes
Aurora
the goddess of the dawn
base
morally low or dishonorable
bate
to contend; a contention
beck
nod
beggary
utter poverty
beguile
to charm, divert, or influence, often by trickery
brawl
a kind of dance
brazen
shameless or impudent; also, like brass or made of brass
caustic
harsh, especially in language; corrosive
chafe
anger
changeling
an ugly or odd creature left by fairies in place of a child
chastity
being pure and chaste, especially by avoiding sexual practices
citadel
a defensive fortress over a city
clips
hugs or embraces
coltish
unruly or wild, like a young horse
conceit
in poetic terms, an extended metaphor; a whim
Dian
Diana, the virgin goddess of the moon and of hunting, also a protector of women
dribbed
done little by little
dustie
timeworn and stale
eke
also
eloquence
rhetoric, the art of using language well for communication
endite
to compose or write something, such as this poem
ermine
a weasel or its white fur
fancy
imagination or fantasy
firebrand
a piece of burning wood or something similar; metaphorically, a person with a fiery temper
Ganymede
a mythological boy so beautiful that Jove fell in love with him. Jove made him his cup-bearer in the heavens.
guise
a semblance or an assumed appearance
harbinger
a herald or anything that points to a future event
Helen
the beautiful wife of King Menelaus who was abducted to Troy by the young man Paris. This was the stated cause of the Trojan War (see the Iliad).
hemisphere
half of the globe
Hercules
a mythological hero with exceptional strength and verve
indentures
a contract that binds one person into the service of another
Jove
Jupiter, the supreme deity of the ancient Romans, god of the heavens and weather.
languish
to become weak or feeble, or to be so
laud
praise
layman
a person who is not a member of the clergy or a given profession (such as law or medicine)
livery
a distinctive uniform worn by an official or a member of a company or guild; also, characteristic dress or outward appearance
loadstar
something that serves as a guide or on which someone fixates
lyre
a musical instrument used to accompany singing and recitation
margent
the border or edge, especially on the edges of a printed book
Mars
the ancient Roman god of war and agriculture, identified with the Greek god Ares
maugre
despite
metamorphose
to undergo a change in form or nature
Morpheus
a son of Hypnos (the god of sleep) and the god of dreams
Muscovite
someone from the Grand Duchy of Muscovy or Moscow; a Russian
Muscovy
also called Grand Duchy of Muscovy, a Russian principality founded about 1271
ne
nor
nectar
traditionally the life-giving drink of the gods
Nestors
Nestor was an epic hero considered an elderly, wise counselor to the Greeks when they fought at Troy (see the Iliad).
niggard
an excessively miserly or stingy person
orator
a public speaker, especially one of great eloquence
Orpheus
in Greek mythology, a poet and musician who followed Euridice, his dead wife, to the underworld. He charmed Hades to give him permission to lead her back home, provided that he did not look back at her until they returned. At the last moment, he turned to look, and she was lost to him forever.
page
someone, usually young, in attendance on a person of rank
pap
a teat or nipple
Paris
the Trojan prince who abducted Helen (see the Iliad); he had been called on to judge which of three goddesses was the most beautiful. His judgment caused havoc in the heavens and on earth.
Parnassus
a Greek mountain that was sacred to Apollo, Dionysus, and the nine Muses
perplexity
a state of confusion or uncertainty
Petrarch
an 14th-century Italian poet and scholar who was famous for his love lyrics and his sonnet style
phlegmatic
having the cold, moist humor (a biological term of Sidney's time), resulting in a slow temperament
Phoebus
Apollo, the sun god
pied
black and white; particolored
Pindar
a Greek poet from the 5th century B.C., generally regarded as the greatest Greek lyric poet
piteous
evoking or deserving pity; pathetic
plague
an epidemic disease that had a very high mortality in the Middle Ages. It was transmitted to humans from rats via fleas.
plaint
complaint
poesie
poetry
porphir
a kind of stone
purling
flowing or rippling with a murmuring sound
quintessence
the pure, concentrated essence of something
ravishing
extremely beautiful and entrancing
rhubarb
a caustic substance, when medicinal; a vegetable
rogue
a homeless man or vagabond
ruddy
looking fresh, healthy, and red (especially in the cheeks)
scourge
a cause of great affliction or calamity; more weakly, someone or something that punishes or deeply criticizes
shent
shamed
sophistry
a false method of reasoning; a false argument; what the Sophists practiced
sovereignty
supremacy of authority or rule; having a rightful status, independence, or prerogative
Spartan
a native or inhabitant of Sparta, known for having a culture geared toward the production of warriors
sprite
a small or elusive supernatural being; an elf or pixie; also, a different form of the word for "spirit," meaning the attitude or principle that inspires thought, feeling, or action
staid
fixed, settled, or permanent
step-dame
stepmother
strife
vigorous or bitter conflict
succour
help or relief; also, a person or thing that gives succor
Tantals
a reference to Tantalus, a son of Zeus who stole from the gods, revealed their secrets, and killed and boiled his son. Tantalus was punished (tantalized).
Tempe
a Greek valley where Apollo chased Daphne until she was transformed into a laurel tree
Thebes
a city of ancient Greece
treble
pertaining to the highest pitch or range, as a voice part, voice, or instrument
trope
a figure of speech using words in non-literal ways, such as a metaphor
tygrish
tiger-like
vapours
vapor; a state of depression
vellum
calfskin, lambskin, kidskin, etc., used as a writing surface; books often were published on vellum
vexing
annoying and bothersome
wanton
malicious or unjustifiable; also, mischievous or frolicsome, often sexually and to one's detriment
windlass
ambush
wit
understanding, intelligence, or astuteness
wracke
damage or destruction
wretch
a person who is very unfortunate or unhappy or who has a despicable or base character
yelden
yielded
yoke
a device that holds together the heads of draft animals so that they will, for example, plow a field together; metaphorically, subjection, servitude, or oppression
zenith
a point in the sky that is directly above the observer
