Cosmos

Shakespearean English involves frequent reference to astrological and astronomical notions. Several terms form part of the general Ptolemaic view of the universe in which the Earth was thought to be the centre of a series of spheres around which the heavenly bodies revolved.

A number of heavenly bodies are named, with the Moon, Sun, the known planets, and various constellations all assigned particular roles, as in present-day astrology, and thought to influence a person’s destiny, situation, behaviour, and character.

General notions

Term	Example	Gloss
aspect	TC I.iii.92	direction of alignment of heavenly bodies as seen from Earth; especially, the way people are influenced by their relative positions
centre	TC I.iii.85	the Earth, seen as the centre of the Ptolemaic universe
collateral	AW I.i.87	parallel or side-by-side, referrring to the relative movement of the spheres
conjunction	2H4 II.iv.258	the apparent coming together of heavenly bodies as seen from Earth
constellation	TN I.iv.35	configurations of stars as seen from Earth
predominant	AW I.i.194	describing a heavenly body in the ascendant, and thus exercising ruling influence
retrograde	AW I.i.195	describing a heavenly body moving in an apparently contrary direction to the order of the zodiacal signs
sphere	AYL II.vii.6	celestial globe in which a heavenly body was thought to move; especially, those thought to carry the heavenly bodies around the Earth
stars	Ham I.iv.32	planets and constellations, especially those in the zodiac
trigon	2H4 II.iv.260	a set of three signs of the zodiac in the form of an equilateral triangle
wandering	Ham V.i.252	describing a heavenly body having its own motion

Specific stars, domains, and signs of the zodiac

Term	Example	Gloss
Aries	Tit IV.iii.71	(Ram) first sign of the zodiac
burning zone	Ham V.i.278	the path of the Sun between Cancer and Capricorn
Cancer	TC II.iii.194	fourth sign of the Zodiac, associated with heat
Charles’s Wain	1H4 II.i.2	[wagon of Charlemagne] the Plough; Ursa Major
dog-days	H8 V.iv.41	the hottest days of the year; associated with the astrological position of Sirius, the Dog-star
dragon’s tail	KL I.ii.129	the intersection of the orbit of the descending moon and that of the sun; associated with lechery
equinoctial	TN II.iii.23	celestial equator
Guards	Oth II.i.15	the Guardians; two stars within the Little Bear constellation, Ursa Minor
Hesperus	AW II.i.164	the evening star
house	RJ IV.i.8	one of the twelve divisions of the Zodiac
Mars	AW I.i.189	planet particularly associated with martial or aggressive temperaments
Mercury	WT IV.iii.25	planet particularly associated with eloquence, feats of skill, and the commercial world
Pigrogromitus	TN II.iii.22	mock-astrology jargon
Pole	Oth II.i.15	the pole-star, ‘ever-fixed’
Queubus	TN II.iii.23	mock-astrology jargon
Saturn	MA I.iii.11	planet particularly associated with melancholic, morose, or vengeful temperaments
Septentrion	3H6 I.iv.136	the seven stars of Ursa Major
Sol	TC I.iii.89	the Sun [here referred to as a ‘planet’]
Taurus	TN I.iii.130	(Bull) second sign of the zodiac, associated with cuckoldry (through the notion of horns), and also the neck and throat
Ursa Major	KL I.ii.129	the Great Bear; associated with lechery
Vapians	TN II.iii.22	mock-astrology jargon
Venus	2H4 II.iv.258	planet particularly associated with love, beauty, and fertility
Virgo	Tit IV.iii.65	(Virgin) sixth sign of the zodiac, associated with Astraea, goddess of justice