3.
attribution: praise, tribute.
4-5.
stamp: coinage. As not a soldier of this season's stamp / Should go so general current through the world: that no one coined as a soldier in this current campaign should enjoy such a current reputation. (To go so general current is to be put into circulation, continuing the image of coining in line 4.)
6.
defy: proclaim against.
7.
soothers: flatterers. braver: better, dearer.
9.
task me my word: challenge me to make good my word. approve: test.
12.
But I will beard him: but that I will defy him; i.e., I am ready to defy anyone alive.
13.
I can but thank you: Said to Douglas.
18.
justling: contending, clashing, turbulent. power: troops.
19.
government: command.
21.
keep: keep to.
24.
fear'd: feared for.
25.
state of time: times. whole: sound, healthy.
27.
better worth: more important.
30.
catching hither: contagious as far away as this.
32-33.
And that his friends by deputation could not / So soon be drawn: and that his allies could not so soon be assembled by anyone other than himself, any deputy.
33.
meet: appropriate.
34.
dear: significant.
35.
On any soul remov'd but on his own: on anyone other than himself.
36.
advertisement: counsel, advice.
37.
conjunction: allied force. on: go on.
39.
quailing: losing heart.
40.
possess'd: informed.
42.
maim: injury.
44.
want: absence.
45.
more: more serious.
46.
To set the exact wealth of all our states: i.e., to stake the whole of our resources.
47.
cast: throw of the dice. main: stake in gambling; also, an army.
48.
nice: precious, delicate. hazard: (1) game at dice; (2) venture.
49-50.
should we read / The very bottom and the soul of hope: we should discover the utmost foundation and basis of our hopes, the most we could rely on.
51.
list: limit.
53.
Where now remains a sweet reversion: since as things stand we can expect reinforcements. (A reversion is literally part of an estate yet to be inherited; i.e., future prospects, expectation.)
56.
comfort of retirement: refuge to fall back on.
58.
big: threatening.
59.
maidenhead: i.e., commencement, early phase.
61.
hair: fiber, kind, nature.
62.
Brooks: tolerates, permits.
64.
loyalty: i.e., to the crown. mere: outright.
66.
apprehension: (1) perception; (2) apprehensiveness.
67.
fearful faction: timid support.
69.
off'ring side: side that attacks.
70.
strict arbitrement: just inquiry or investigation, scrupulous inspection.
71.
sight-holes: peep-holes. (Loop or loophole has the same meaning.) loop: loophole.
73.
draws: draws aside, opens.
75.
strain too far: exaggerate.
77.
opinion: renown.
78.
dare: daring.
80.
make a head: raise an army.
83.
Yet: still. joints: limbs.
92.
intended: on the verge of departure; i.e., intended to come.
96-97.
that daff'd the world aside, / And bid it pass?: i.e., that thumbed their noses at responsibilities telling the world to mind its own business?
97.
furnish'd: equipped.
98-99.
All plumed like estridges that with the wind / Baited like eagles having lately bathed: i.e., all plumed with ostrich feathers, fluttering their wings in the wind like eagles having just bathed. (The text may be defective.)
99.
Bated: beat their wings (a term from falconry).
100.
coats: (1) coats of mail, (2) heraldic coats of arms. images: gilded statues.
103.
Wanton: sportive, frolicsome.
104.
beaver: visor; hence, helmet.
105.
cuisses: armor for the thighs.
107.
seat: saddle.
109.
wind: wheel about. Pegasus: winged horse of ancient Greek mythology.
110.
witch: bewitch.
111-112.
worse than the sun in March, / This praise doth nourish agues: The spring was believed to give impetus to chills and fevers, by drawing up vapors. Vernon's speech, says Hotspur, gives one the shudders.
112.
agues: fevers (thought to result from vapors drawn by the sun).
113.
sacrifices: beasts for sacrifice trim: fine apparel, trappings.
114.
fire-eyed maid: i.e., Bellona, goddess of war.
116.
mailed: dressed in mail, armored.
118.
reprisal: prize.
119.
taste: try, test, feel under me.
123.
corse: corpse.
125.
Worcester: cathedral city on the Severn River south of Shrewsbury.
126.
draw his power: muster his army, assemble his troops.
129.
battle: army.
132.
The powers of us: our forces
135.
out of: free from.