Vocabulary

deadly disease; sickness leading to death; terminal illness

on the right as one faces (it)

to die; to ascend to heaven

to invent a pretext for a quarrel; to pick a fight

to be talented; to be able

to dominate (usu. one's husband)

herewith; from this

even though; despite; when

so to speak

(of a choice) one being as excellent as the other; both so beautiful it is hard to choose between

hard to choose between (because both are excellent); equally matched; of comparable quality

consider your income before spending

when you make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct it; do not delay in making amends for your wrongs

cautious; careful; shrewd; tactful; prudent; faultless

cautious; careful; shrewd; tactful; prudent; faultless

let's put formalities aside; let's not speak so stiffly

bursts of exertion will fail to bear fruit if interrupted by long periods of idleness

let's not say (such things) to each other

to cause offence (offense); to create hard feelings

to advise strongly; to insist (on something)

to advise strongly; to insist (on something)

to use someone's (argument, attack) against them; to use (an attack) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a negative situation)

perseverance makes one stronger; slow but steady wins the race

(at the) last moment; (in the) nick of time

disparity of wealth; wealth inequality; social inequality

to wish to go well; to have good intentions

O Great God of Arms, I beseech your aid against my enemy!

well-known only to those in the know; well-known but to the few; well-known to a connoisseur

to be discouraged; to be disheartened

of no concern at all; I couldn't care less; no skin off my nose

no matter what; whatever happens; under any circumstances; never

now (while the time is ripe); while one still can

all pain, no gain; doing no good and a lot of harm; having no redeeming features; being a complete disadvantage; a hundred harms and not a single gain

the early bird gets the worm

not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage

once more; again

once more; again

pangs of conscience

avoiding unnecessary talk can prevent disaster falling on one; there is safety in silence; the pheasant would not be shot but for its cries

truth is stranger than fiction