The Nightingale (Philip Sidney poem)

The Nightingale (Philip Sidney poem) Glossary

bringeth

Archaic word meaning, 'to bring'

unto

archaic term that means 'until' or 'to'

woes

a state of sadness or distress

bewailing

expressing one's sadness about something

expresseth

Archaic term for expressing something/an emotion

oppresseth

Archaic term for oppress

Philomela

Mythical figure in Greek mythology who is associated with literature, art, and music. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Philomela was raped by her sister’s husband, Tereus.

Tereus

Tereus was a figure in Greek mythology. He was a Thracian king, married to Procne and was the son of Ares. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Tereus rapes his wife Procne's sister Philomela.

plaintful

Archaic term for lamenting or complaining

fadeth

Archaic term which means 'to fade'

invadeth

Archaic term which means 'to invade'

anguish

strong mental or physical pain

wroken

Old term used as a past participle for wreak, which means to cause harm

chaste

refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virginal

languish

to abstain from an impulse to say or do something