Miko: annotations

“Stygian” refers to the river Styx from Greek mythology. Styx was the border between Earth and the underworld across which newly dead souls traveled.

A periwig is a fancy wig. So “periwig-pated” describes someone wearing a periwig.

A coxcomb is the hat worn by a fool (what today we more commonly call a “jester”). So Conrade is calling Verges a fool.

The Oxford English Dictionary's definition of “eft” is “ready, convenient”, which makes sense in this context.

According to Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles (which Shakespeare used as a source for his plays), the historical Macdonwald (or “Makdowald” as Holinshed spelled it) was defeated by Macbeth. Macdonwald then retreated to his castle, killed his wife and children, then killed himself. Macbeth had Macdonwald's head cut off, stuck on a pole, and presented to the king.

“Tom o' Bedlam” was a term given to madmen. Bedlam was the Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London, the oldest mental institution in the world. It is still in existence. The hospital issued licenses to beg to former inmates.

Goodwin Sands is a shallow portion of the North Sea near Kent England. It is notorious as the site of thousands of shipwrecks.

On the morning of The Battle of Mortimer's Cross, February 2, 1461, there appeared in the sky what seemed to be three suns. It is generally believed that it was a phenomenon called “parhelion” which causes bright spots on one or both sides of the sun.

Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, or (in modern times) Fat Tuesday, is the last day before Lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday). It was traditional to consume all remaining fattening foods before Lent began. Pancakes were a good way to use up fatty foods such as milk and butter.

That is, Hamlet's vows are not the real thing, but are merely go-betweens (brokers) between him and real holy vows. Polonius is basically saying that Hamlet's vows are lies.