ABSTRACT
In Shakespeare the weapons and armor that are being put to use in combat will be described as bright, beaming, shining, sparkling, glittering, glistering, or lustrous – that is, in terms that are seen as the exact opposite of rusted. Shakespeare's use of the words "rust" and "rest" in connection with arms and armour gives some very persuasive evidence in favour of Q1 "rest" and opposed to Q2 "rust" in Juliet's final sentence. One consequence of the negative connotations of "rust" that is especially relevant here is its possible role in acts of aggression against the body of an enemy. The emotional connotations of the word "rest", on the other hand, do not seem to have undergone any significant change from Shakespeare's day, since they were then and still are very positive. Shakespeare also uses the word "rest" frequently to convey this peaceful view of death, and all his other references to resting carry a very powerful positive charge.
