King Lear

Act 1 Scene 1

^1.1 Location: the royal court, Britain

¹ affected favored

⁵ qualities … moiety their qualities are so evenly balanced that the most careful scrutiny cannot distinguish between either man’s share

⁸ breeding upbringing (plays on the sense of “conception”) charge cost (plays on the sense of “accusation, blame”)

⁹ brazed made brazen, hardened

¹⁰ conceive understand (Gloucester then plays on sense of “become pregnant”)

¹³ ere before

¹⁴ fault transgression/loss of scent during a hunt/vagina

¹⁵ undone plays on the sense of “not copulated with” issue outcome/child

¹⁶ proper handsome/worthy/rightful

¹⁷ by … law legitimate

¹⁷ some year about a year

¹⁸ dearer more beloved (plays on the sense of “more expensive”)

¹⁸ account estimation (plays on the financial sense)

²¹ whoreson i.e. bastard (here used affectionately)

²⁷ sue entreat, seek

²⁸ deserving to be worthy of (your esteem)

²⁹ out away (perhaps abroad or in the house of another nobleman; it was common for a nobleman’s son to be educated in the house of another important family)

^1.1 Sennet trumpet call signaling a procession

^1.1 bearing a coronet carrying a small crown denoting inferior rank/wearing a wreath or garland about the head (must be of material that can be broken in half)

³¹ Attend wait on, look after

³⁴ darker secret (with sinister connotations)

³⁶ fast intent firm intention

³⁷ business official duties/exertion/anxiety

³⁹ son i.e. son-in-law (like Albany)

⁴¹ constant will unshakable intention

⁴¹ publish proclaim, make public

⁴² several dowers individual dowries

⁴² that so that

⁴⁵ sojourn stay

⁴⁸ Interest possession

⁵⁰ bounty generosity/gift

⁵¹ nature … challenge natural affection, combined with merit, makes a claim

⁵³ wield express

⁵⁶ grace virtue

⁵⁸ makes breath poor makes words insufficient/renders one breathless (in the attempt to express it)

⁵⁸ unable inadequate

⁵⁹ all … much i.e. all possible expressions of the amount of love

⁶¹ bounds territories

⁶² shadowy shady

⁶² champaigns riched rich open countryside

⁶³ wide-skirted meads extensive meadows

⁶⁷ self-mettle same temperament/same substance (“metal”)

⁶⁸ prize … worth value myself in equal terms

⁶⁹ deed action, performance/bond, legal document

⁷⁰ that in that

⁷² square of sense guiding principle governing the senses/(physical or mental) region of the senses

⁷³ alone felicitate only happy

⁷⁷ ponderous weighty

⁷⁸ hereditary by inheritance

⁸⁰ validity value

⁸³ vines … Burgundy Lear characterizes France and Burgundy by their assets: vineyards and cattle pastures

⁸⁴ interessed admitted, given a share

⁸⁴ draw attract/receive, collect/pull forth (as one “draws lots”)

⁹² bond duty (with connotations both of a binding legal agreement and of restrictive shackles)

⁹³ Mend improve

⁹⁴ mar spoil

⁹⁶ begot conceived, fathered

⁹⁶ bred raised, brought up

¹⁰¹ plight pledge, promise

¹⁰⁶ untender hard/cruel (plays on the sense of “not young”)

¹¹⁰ Hecate Greek goddess of witchcraft and the moon

¹¹¹ operation movement and astrological influence

¹¹¹ orbs planets

¹¹⁴ Propinquity … blood close ties of kinship

¹¹⁶ this this time (or Lear gestures toward himself)

¹¹⁶ Scythian person from Scythia, an ancient region extending over much of eastern Europe and Asiatic Russia, notorious for its barbarous inhabitants

¹¹⁷ generation children/own people

¹¹⁷ messes small groups of people who eat together/portions of food, meals/disgusting concoctions/troubled, confused conditions

¹¹⁹ neighboured treated with hospitable kindness

¹²⁰ sometime former

¹²¹ liege lord, one to whom feudal duty and service was owed

¹²⁴ set my rest stake everything (card-playing term)/repose, be at ease

¹²⁵ kind affectionate (in the manner of a family member)

¹²⁵ nursery care

¹²⁵ avoid leave

¹²⁷ Who stirs? Get on with it!/Why don’t you move?

¹²⁹ digest absorb, incorporate

¹³⁰ plainness frankness, plain speaking

¹³⁰ marry her be her dowry/get her a husband

¹³² large effects extensive trappings

¹³³ troop with accompany

¹³⁴ With reservation of reserving the right to have (legal language)

¹³⁵ sustained maintained, supported

¹³⁷ th’addition to the title and honors of

¹³⁷ sway authority, rule

¹⁴⁵ make … shaft avoid the arrow (of my anger)

¹⁴⁶ fork barbed arrowhead

¹⁴⁸ thou kings are almost always addressed, respectfully, as “you”; Kent is unmannerly in his use of the familiar “thou”

¹⁵¹ Reserve thy state retain your sovereignty

¹⁵² in … consideration with wise and careful reflection

¹⁵³ Answer … judgement I’ll stake my life on my opinion

¹⁵⁶ Reverb no hollowness do not reverberate hollowly (i.e. emptily/insincerely)

¹⁵⁸ held regarded, valued

¹⁵⁸ pawn a pledge, surety

¹⁵⁹ wage deposit as security

¹⁶³ blank center of a target/line of sight (Kent asks to be the means to help Lear see better)

¹⁶⁴ Apollo Greek and Roman sun god

¹⁶⁷ vassal servant/wretch

¹⁶⁷ Miscreant villain (literally, “infidel, unbeliever”)

¹⁶⁸ forbear stop, desist

¹⁶⁹ Kill … disease i.e. Lear has got things the wrong way round

¹⁷⁰ foul disease loathsome, festering disease/syphilis

¹⁷³ recreant traitor

¹⁷⁴ That in that, since

¹⁷⁵ durst dared

¹⁷⁵ strained excessive/unnatural

¹⁷⁶ sentences pronouncements, decisions

¹⁷⁷ nor … nor neither … nor

¹⁷⁷ place status, rank

¹⁷⁸ potency power

¹⁷⁸ made good being carried into effect/shown to be valid/secured, defended

¹⁸⁰ disasters misfortunes

¹⁸³ trunk body

¹⁸⁴ Jupiter supreme Roman god

¹⁸⁶ sith since

¹⁹⁰ your … approve may your actions prove the truth of your grand statements

¹⁹³ shape … course behave in his usual manner

^1.1 Flourish trumpet fanfare signaling the arrival of an important person

¹⁹⁷ rivalled competed

¹⁹⁷ in the least at the lowest

¹⁹⁸ present dower immediately available dowry

²⁰² tender offer

²⁰⁴ hold her so consider her to be dear (i.e. beloved/worth a great deal)

²⁰⁶ aught anything

²⁰⁶ little seeming substance insignificant (or physically small) thing/one who totally refuses to play a part

²⁰⁷ pieced augmented, increased

²⁰⁸ fitly like justly please

²¹¹ infirmities deficiencies

²¹¹ owes owns

²¹³ Dowered with given as a dowry

²¹³ strangered made a stranger, disowned

²¹⁶ Election … up choice is impossible

²¹⁸ tell you inform you of/enumerate

²¹⁹ from … stray stray so far from your love as

²²⁵ your object your focus, the object of your sight (the apple of your eye)

²²⁶ argument theme

²²⁶ balm soothing ointment

²²⁷ trice mere moment

²²⁸ monstrous unnatural

²²⁸ dismantle strip off (the folds of the metaphorical cloth of favor)

²³¹ monsters it it becomes monstrous

²³¹ fore-vouched previously sworn

²³² Fall into taint (must) come under suspicion

²³² which … me i.e. and to believe in all reason that she had committed such a monstrous offense would require a miracle

²³⁶ for (your anger is) because

²³⁶ want lack

²³⁷ purpose not not intend to do what I say

²³⁹ foulness wickedness/moral impurity

²⁴² for which i.e. for lack of which

²⁴³ still-soliciting constantly entreating, self-seeking

²⁴⁸ tardiness in nature natural slowness

²⁴⁹ history account (of an action)

²⁵² regards … point irrelevant concerns

²⁶³ respect and fortunes status and wealth

²⁶⁶ Most choice forsaken most desirable when rejected

²⁶⁷ seize upon take possession of (legal term)

²⁶⁸ be it lawful provided it is lawful

²⁶⁹ their may refer to either the gods or to Lear and Burgundy

²⁷⁰ inflamed glowing, ardent

²⁷¹ thrown … chance cast to my luck (gambling metaphor)

²⁷³ wat’rish well-watered (with rivers)/wet, feeble

²⁷⁴ unprized unvalued (may play on a sense of “priceless”)

²⁷⁵ though unkind though they are cruel (or “lacking in natural familial affection”)

²⁷⁶ where somewhere, place

²⁸⁰ grace favor (with connotations of “divinely sanctioned mercy”)

²⁸⁰ benison blessing

²⁸³ washèd i.e. wet with tears

²⁸⁶ as … named by their true names

²⁸⁷ your professèd bosoms i.e. the love you claim to have for him

²⁸⁷ commit entrust; perhaps with connotations of “confine (to prison)”

²⁸⁹ prefer advance, promote

²⁹² study concern, endeavor

²⁹⁴ At fortune’s alms as a charitable gift from fortune

²⁹⁴ scanted stinted, withheld/slighted, neglected

²⁹⁵ are … wanted deserve to be deprived of the love you have failed to show (to others)

²⁹⁶ plighted cunning secret cunning/deceitful promises

²⁹⁷ Who … derides those who hide their faults will in the end be shamed and mocked

³⁰⁰ nearly closely

³⁰⁷ grossly obviously

³⁰⁸ ever always

³⁰⁹ slenderly slightly

³¹⁰ The … rash even at his best and healthiest he was impulsive

³¹¹ look expect

³¹² long-engrafted condition long-implanted tendencies

³¹² therewithal in addition to that

³¹³ choleric irascible, hot-tempered, impulsive/bilious; one of the four “humors” or temperaments thought to be related to an excess of bile in the constitution

³¹⁵ unconstant starts unpredictable fits

³¹⁷ compliment etiquette, ceremony

³¹⁸ sit together i.e. get together, confer

³¹⁹ carry maintain, manage

³¹⁹ disposition frame of mind

³²⁰ last surrender recent yielding (of authority)

³²⁰ offend harm

³²² i’th’heat immediately

Act 1 Scene 2

^1.2 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

² Wherefore why

³ Stand in endure/stand still under

⁴ curiosity scruples, fussiness

⁴ nations i.e. society

⁵ moonshines months

⁶ Lag of behind (i.e. younger than)

⁶ base illegitimate (also low/unworthy/dishonorable)

⁷ dimensions physical proportions

⁷ compact composed

⁸ generous noble

⁸ true well-proportioned/authentic, true to his father’s likeness

⁹ honest madam’s issue a legitimate child

¹¹ Who i.e. we bastards who

¹¹ take require/receive

¹² More … quality a more complex creation and more vigorous disposition

¹⁴ fops weak fools

¹⁵ Got conceived

¹⁸ As the same as

¹⁹ speed succeed

²⁰ invention scheme

²¹ to th’legitimate advance to (or “take over”) the place of the legitimate son; editors sometimes emend this to “top the legitimate”

²³ choler anger

²³ parted departed

²⁴ Prescribed restricted, limited

²⁵ exhibition an allowance, maintenance

²⁶ gad spur of the moment

²⁸ up away

³² terrible dispatch fearful and hasty stowing away

³⁷ for as for

³⁸ o’erlooking reading

⁴⁴ essay or taste test

⁴⁵ policy … age policy of revering the old (policy also suggests the “strategic cunning” of the elderly)

⁴⁶ the … times i.e. our youth, our prime

⁴⁶ fortunes inheritance

⁴⁷ relish savor, enjoy

⁴⁷ idle useless

⁴⁸ fond foolish

⁴⁹ sways rules

⁴⁹ as … suffered only insofar as it is allowed to do so

⁵⁸ casement window

⁵⁸ closet private room

⁵⁹ character handwriting

⁶⁰ matter subject matter

⁶¹ in … that given the contents

⁶¹ fain willingly

⁶⁷ at perfect age being mature

⁶⁷ declined old/ill

⁷² sirrah sir (used to social inferiors and children)

⁷² apprehend arrest

⁷³ Abominable often, popularly, "inhuman, unnatural" (from the incorrect belief that the word was derived from the Latin ab homine, i.e. “away from man”)

⁷⁷ run … course proceed securely

⁷⁷ where whereas

⁷⁷ proceed perhaps with legal connotations (in keeping with apprehend and testimony)

⁸⁰ pawn down pledge

⁸¹ feel test, feel out

⁸² pretence intention, purpose

⁸⁴ meet suitable

⁸⁵ auricular assurance i.e. by hearing for yourself

⁸⁶ have your satisfaction resolve yourself of any doubt

⁸⁹ wind … him insinuate yourself into his confidence for me

⁸⁹ frame devise, arrange

⁹⁰ unstate … resolution give up my rank and wealth to be resolved on this matter

⁹² presently immediately

⁹² convey manage, undertake

⁹³ withal therewith

⁹⁴ late recent

⁹⁵ wisdom of nature human reason/natural science

⁹⁶ scourged punished

⁹⁶ sequent effects subsequent events

¹⁰¹ bias of nature natural inclination (a bowling image: the bias refers to the curving path taken by a weighted ball)

¹⁰⁴ it … nothing i.e. it will advantage you

¹⁰⁸ excellent foppery supreme foolishness

¹⁰⁹ surfeits excesses

¹¹⁰ disasters misfortunes

¹¹¹ on i.e. by

¹¹² treachers traitors

¹¹³ spherical predominance the dominant influence of a particular planet at one’s birth

¹¹⁵ divine celestial, supernatural

¹¹⁵ evasion shuffling excuse

¹¹⁶ whoremaster i.e. lecherous, whore-using

¹¹⁶ goatish lustful

¹¹⁷ charge responsibility

¹¹⁷ compounded had sex

¹¹⁸ the dragon’s tail the constellation Draco

¹¹⁸ Ursa Major (constellation of) the Great Bear (or Plough)

¹¹⁹ rough cruel, violent

¹²⁰ maidenliest most virginal

¹²¹ firmament sky, heavens

¹²¹ bastardizing conception out of wedlock

¹²² Pat on cue

¹²² catastrophe conclusion

¹²² comedy play

¹²² my cue could also mean “designated role”

¹²³ Tom o’Bedlam i.e. a madman (from the Saint Mary of Bethlehem hospital in London, an institution for the insane)

¹²⁴ divisions conflicts, discords (plays on the sense of “musical variations”)

¹²⁴ Fa … mi Edmund hums a musical scale to himself

¹²⁷ this the

¹³⁰ succeed follow

¹³¹ unhappily unluckily, by misfortune

¹³⁶ countenance bearing, demeanor/facial expression

¹³⁹ forbear avoid

¹⁴⁰ qualified cooled, lessened

¹⁴¹ mischief … person harm caused by your presence

¹⁴² allay abate, calm

¹⁴⁴ have … forbearance i.e. restrain yourself and stay away from him

¹⁴⁶ fitly at an appropriate time

¹⁴⁸ abroad out of the house

¹⁵¹ meaning intention

¹⁵³ image and horror horrific true picture

¹⁵⁴ anon soon

¹⁵⁵ serve help/trick, deceive

¹⁵⁹ practices plots

¹⁶⁰ wit intelligence, ingenuity

¹⁶¹ meet fitting

¹⁶¹ fashion fit shape to my purposes

Act 1 Scene 3

^1.3 Location: Goneril and the Duke of Albany’s residence

¹ gentleman man of gentle (i.e. noble) birth attached to a royal household

¹ chiding rebuking

⁵ flashes breaks out

¹⁰ come slack fall short

¹¹ answer be answerable for

¹⁴ fellows fellow servants

¹⁴ question conflict, a dispute

¹⁵ distaste dislike

²¹ straight straight away

²¹ to i.e. and tell her to

Act 1 Scene 4

¹ as will I perhaps “as I intend” (but most editors opt for the Quarto “well”- i.e. “as well as being disguised”)

² defuse confuse, disorder

³ full issue complete outcome

⁴ razed my likeness erased my true appearance

⁸ stay wait

¹¹ What … profess? What is your occupation? (Kent shifts the sense of profess to “claim, declare”)

¹¹ wouldst thou do you want

¹² us Lear continues to use the royal plural pronoun

¹⁶ judgement i.e. God’s judgment/the judgment of fellow men

¹⁶ cannot choose have no other option

¹⁶ to eat … fish i.e. only to eat a hearty diet of meat/not to eat fish on Fridays like a Roman Catholic/not to have sex with prostitutes

³¹ keep honest counsel keep secrets like an honorable man/keep secrets that are honorable

³¹ mar … tale spoil an elaborate story

³⁷ anything “thing” plays on the sense of “vagina”

⁴¹ knave rogue/servant

⁴⁴ So if it

⁴⁵ clotpoll idiot

⁴⁹ slave servant/villain

⁵¹ roundest bluntest

⁵⁵ entertained received, treated hospitably

⁵⁶ wont accustomed (to receive)

⁵⁷ general dependants servants as a whole

⁶³ rememb’rest remind

⁶³ conception notion, thought

⁶⁴ faint slight/lazy, half-hearted

⁶⁵ jealous curiosity mistrustful fastidiousness

⁶⁵ very pretence real intention

⁷⁷ cur dog

⁷⁹ bandy exchange looks as an equal (literally, “bat to and fro” as in tennis)

⁸⁰ strucken struck, beaten

⁸¹ football played by the lower classes (unlike tennis)

⁸⁴ differences class distinctions

⁸⁵ measure … length be knocked flat to the floor

⁸⁵ lubber clumsy lout

⁸⁶ tarry stay

⁸⁶ go to an expression of impatient dismissal

⁸⁸ earnest part-payment in advance

⁹⁰ coxcomb fool’s headgear with a crest like a cock’s comb

⁹¹ pretty fine-looking/clever

⁹⁵ an … sits i.e. if you cannot please those in power

⁹⁷ on’s of his

⁹⁸ needs necessarily

⁹⁹ nuncle contraction of “mine uncle”

⁹⁹ Would I wish

¹⁰² living property, possessions

¹⁰⁶ Brach bitch

¹⁰⁷ pestilent gall troublesome irritation

¹¹⁰ Mark pay attention to

¹¹³ owest own

¹¹⁴ goest walk

¹¹⁵ trowest believe

¹¹⁶ Set … throwest don’t stake everything on the throw of the dice

¹¹⁹ have … score i.e. make a profit

¹²⁰ score twenty

¹²² unfee’d unpaid

¹²³ use employment/profit

¹³⁴ crowns coins (the sense then shifts to “eggshells,” “royal headgear,” and “head”)

¹³⁶ meat edible contents

¹³⁶ clovest split

¹⁴⁰ like myself i.e. foolishly

¹⁴¹ grace favor, patronage

¹⁴² foppish foolish

¹⁴⁴ apish silly

¹⁴⁶ used it made it my custom

¹⁴⁷ rod punishment cane

¹⁵¹ bo-peep a child’s game (in which an adult alternately conceals and reveals his or her face)

¹⁵² the fool among among fools

¹⁵⁴ fain gladly

¹⁵⁵ An if

¹⁵⁶ marvel wonder

¹⁶⁰ pared trimmed

¹⁶³ frontlet ornamental headband/band worn round forehead at night to smooth wrinkles

¹⁶⁶ figure accompanying digit (to make it a number higher than zero)

¹⁶⁸ forsooth in truth

¹⁷¹ nor … crumb i.e. no part of the loaf

¹⁷² want some need something/experience need

¹⁷³ peascod peapod

¹⁷⁴ all-licensed licensed to speak entirely freely

¹⁷⁶ carp complain

¹⁷⁷ rank excessive, uncontrolled

¹⁷⁹ safe certain

¹⁸⁰ too late all too recently

¹⁸¹ course behavior

¹⁸¹ put it on encourage it

¹⁸³ scape escape

¹⁸³ redresses sleep punishments be neglected

¹⁸⁴ in … proceeding might offend and shame you but which, in the interests of maintaining a healthy state, must be deemed a prudent course of action

¹⁸⁹ cuckoo young cuckoo, hatched from an egg its mother had laid in another bird’s nest

¹⁹⁰ it’s had it it had its

¹⁹⁰ it young the young cuckoo

¹⁹¹ darkling in darkness

¹⁹⁴ fraught equipped (literally “freighted”)

¹⁹⁵ dispositions moods

¹⁹⁸ Jug a form of “Joan,” often used as a generic name for a prostitute

²⁰¹ notion understanding

²⁰¹ discernings Are lethargied power of discernment is asleep

²⁰² Waking? Am I awake?

²⁰⁴ shadow reflection/ghost/shadow cast by the sun/imitator, actor

²⁰⁶ admiration air of wonder

²⁰⁶ o’th’savour of the flavor

²⁰⁹ should i.e. you should

²¹¹ bold presumptuous, audacious

²¹³ epicurism gluttony/pleasure-seeking

²¹⁵ graced honorable

²¹⁵ speak call

²¹⁶ desired requested, entreated

²¹⁸ disquantity your train reduce your retinue

²¹⁹ depend be your dependants, serve you

²²⁰ besort befit, suit

²²¹ know … you i.e. know their place, and yours

²²⁴ Degenerate having lost the qualities proper to a family member

²²⁸ that to he who

²³⁴ kite bird of prey, scavenger

²³⁵ rarest parts splendid qualities

²³⁷ in … name uphold the honor of their names with the most careful consideration (or “… in every respect”)

²⁴⁰ engine piece of machinery

²⁴² gall bitterness

²⁴⁶ moved provoked, angered

²⁵² increase procreation

²⁵³ derogate degenerate, debased

²⁵⁴ teem be fertile, have children

²⁵⁵ spleen malice

²⁵⁶ thwart perverse, obstinate

²⁵⁶ disnatured unnatural

²⁵⁸ cadent falling

²⁵⁸ fret erode, wear

²⁵⁹ pains efforts (also suggests labor pains)

²⁵⁹ benefits kindnesses

²⁶⁶ dotage foolish old age

²⁶⁷ at a clap with one blow

²⁷² perforce by force, uncontrollably

²⁷³ Blasts violent gusts of winds

²⁷⁴ Th’untented the festering (literally, not probed and cleaned surgically)

²⁷⁵ fond foolish/doting

²⁷⁷ waters … loose i.e. tears

²⁷⁸ temper moisten

²⁷⁸ clay i.e. earth, the ground

²⁸⁰ kind benevolent/possessed of natural familial love

²⁸⁰ comfortable comforting

²⁸² visage face

²⁸⁶ partial biased

²⁸⁸ content content yourself, i.e. be quiet

²⁹⁵ halter hangman’s noose

²⁹⁸ politic prudent, shrewd

²⁹⁹ At point armed and ready

²⁹⁹ that so that

³⁰⁰ buzz rumor

³⁰⁰ fancy whim

³⁰¹ enguard protect, defend

³⁰² in at (his)

³⁰⁵ still always

³⁰⁶ taken defeated, captured

³¹⁵ compact confirm, consolidate

³¹⁸ under pardon if you’ll pardon my saying so

³¹⁹ at task taken to task, blamed

³²⁴ th’event the outcome (will tell)

Act 1 Scene 5

¹ before ahead

³ demand out of questions prompted by

⁸ kibes chilblains

¹⁰ wit intellect

¹⁰ slip-shod in slippers (worn for chilblains)

¹³ Shalt i.e. thou shalt

¹⁴ crab sour-tasting crab apple

¹⁸ on’s of his

²⁰ side’s side of his

²² her i.e. Cordelia (though Goneril is just possible)

³¹ asses idiots/donkeys (i.e. Lear’s servants)

³¹ the seven stars the Pleiades

³² pretty ingenious

³⁵ again back again (refers either to an intention to reclaim sovereignty, or to Goneril’s withdrawal of Lear’s privileges)

⁴² temper my right state of mind

⁴⁶ maid virgin

⁴⁷ things penises

Act 2 Scene 1

^2.1 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

^2.1 severally separately

¹ Save thee God save thee (a common greeting)

⁷ abroad out there, in circulation

⁷ ones i.e. the news, regarded as plural

⁷ ear-kissing arguments rumored, whispered topics, not established truths

¹⁰ toward impending

¹⁵ perforce of necessity

¹⁶ take arrest

¹⁷ queasy question dangerous, uncertain nature

²⁰ watches is on guard, on the lookout

²¹ intelligence information

²⁴ i’th’haste in haste

²⁵ have … Albany i.e. have you spoken in support of Cornwall and against Albany/have you spoken critically about Cornwall’s hostility to Albany

²⁷ Advise yourself consider

³⁰ In cunning to deceive (Gloucester; though playing on the fact that it is Edgar who is being tricked)

³¹ quit you acquit yourself

³⁴ beget … endeavour give the impression that I fought more fiercely

³⁵ fierce violent/brave/zealous

⁴⁰ conjuring invoking

⁴⁰ the moon i.e. Hecate, goddess of the moon and of witchcraft

⁴¹ stand auspicious mistress favor him as his patroness

⁵⁰ bend direct

⁵² fine conclusion

⁵³ loathly opposite deeply opposed, horrified

⁵⁴ fell savage, ruthless

⁵⁵ preparèd unsheathed

⁵⁵ charges home makes a direct attack on

⁵⁶ unprovided unprotected

⁵⁶ latched caught

⁵⁷ alarumed stirred, roused

⁵⁸ quarrel’s right rightfulness of my cause

⁵⁸ th’encounter the fight

⁵⁹ ghasted frightened

⁶⁰ Full very

⁶³ found — dispatch once found, he shall be killed

⁶⁴ arch and patron chief patron

⁶⁷ stake i.e. place of execution

⁷⁰ pight determined

⁷⁰ curst angry

⁷¹ discover reveal his plans

⁷² unpossessing unable to take possession of land and property (illegitimate children could not legally inherit)

⁷³ would stand against stood against, contradicted

⁷³ reposal placing

⁷⁵ faithed believed

⁷⁷ character handwriting

⁷⁸ suggestion incitement to evil

⁷⁸ practice scheme

⁷⁹ make … world think the world very stupid

⁸⁰ not thought did not think

⁸⁰ profits i.e. benefits to Edmund

⁸¹ pregnant … spirits fertile and powerful temptations (literally, evil spirits)

^2.1 Tucket personal trumpet call, here signaling the arrival of Cornwall

⁸³ strange unnatural

⁸³ fastened confirmed, determined

⁸⁵ where why

⁸⁶ ports seaports/gates of walled towns

⁸⁷ picture could also mean “description”

⁹⁰ natural naturally loyal and loving to one’s family (plays on the sense of “illegitimate”)

⁹⁰ work the means find a way

⁹¹ capable able to inherit

¹⁰¹ tended upon attended, waited on

¹⁰³ consort company (often pejorative)

¹⁰⁴ though … affected if he is ill-disposed

¹⁰⁵ put him on incited him to

¹⁰⁶ th’expense the spending

¹¹³ child-like i.e. obedient, loving

¹¹³ office duty/service

¹¹⁵ bewray inform on, expose

¹¹⁵ his practice Edgar’s plot

¹²⁰ make … please to achieve your ends, use my means and authority in any way you wish

¹²¹ For as for

¹²³ be ours i.e. work for us, join our household

¹²⁵ seize on take possession of (legal term)

¹²⁹ out of season inconveniently, unconventionally

¹²⁹ threading finding a way through (sewing image)

¹²⁹ dark-eyed quibbling on the idea of a needle’s eye

¹³⁰ occasions events/circumstances

¹³⁰ prize importance

¹³³ differences disputes

¹³⁴ from away from

¹³⁵ attend dispatch wait to be dispatched

¹³⁸ craves … use requires immediate action.

Act 2 Scene 2

^2.2 Location: outside the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

^2.2 severally separately

¹ dawning it is actually before dawn; we later learn that the moon shines

² Ay in fact, Kent is not a servant at this house; perhaps Kent opens up an opportunity to abuse Oswald

³ set put, lodge (Kent plays on the sense of “fix, make stuck”)

⁴ mire mud

⁵ if … me i.e. if you would be so kind (Kent pretends to take the expression literally)

⁸ Lipsbury pinfold the pound for stray animals in Lips-town (i.e. “between my teeth”)

¹⁰ use treat

¹² for as

¹³ knave rogue (two lines later the sense shifts to “servant”)

¹³ broken meats scraps of food

¹⁴ three-suited servingmen were permitted to have three outfits a year

¹⁴ hundred-pound far more than a servingman’s income; possibly a contemptuous reference to those who bought knighthoods from James I for £100

¹⁵ worsted-stocking i.e. servant/unable to afford silk stockings (worsted is a woollen fabric)

¹⁵ lily-livered cowardly, with a bloodless liver (the organ thought to be the seat of strong emotions)

¹⁵ action-taking litigious

¹⁶ whoreson bastard

¹⁶ glass mirror

¹⁶ glass-gazing vain

¹⁶ super-serviceable ready to do any kind of service

¹⁶ finical fussy

¹⁷ one-trunk-inheriting owner (or heir to) no more than would fit in a single trunk

¹⁷ bawd pimp

¹⁸ service plays on the sense of “sex”

¹⁸ composition combination

¹⁹ pander go-between/pimp

²¹ addition attributes/title/mark of honor added to a coat of arms (ironic)

²² rail rant, heap abuse

²⁴ varlet rogue

²⁶ Draw draw your sword

²⁷ sop o’th’moonshine i.e. beat you to a pulp (so that you resemble either a soggy piece of bread lying under the moon’s light, or the blancmange pudding called moonshine)

²⁸ cullionly rascally

²⁸ barber-monger frequenter of barbers (i.e. vain fop)

³¹ vanity the puppet i.e. Goneril, imagined as a puppet (or dressed-up woman) who is the personification of vanity

³² carbonado slash diagonally, like meat prepared for broiling or grilling

³³ come your ways come on then

³⁵ neat trim, foppish

³⁹ With you i.e. I’ll fight with you

³⁹ Goodman a man below the rank of gentleman

³⁹ Goodman boy a contemptuous and belittling form of address (used to Edmund)

⁴⁰ flesh ye initiate you (into fighting; from the practice of feeding dogs bits of freshly killed meat in order to excite them for prey)

⁴⁵ difference argument

⁴⁷ bestirred your valour worked up your courage (ironic)

⁴⁸ disclaims in disowns

⁴⁸ tailor made thee i.e. his only worth lies in his fancy clothes

⁵¹ ill badly

⁵⁵ suit … beard his own request, because his old age required it

⁵⁶ zed … letter “z” was regarded as unnecessary because “s” could be used instead and there was no “z” in the Latin alphabet

⁵⁷ unbolted unsifted (plays on the sense of “unmanly/impotent”—a “bolt” was a term for the penis)

⁵⁸ jakes privy, toilet

⁵⁹ wagtail tail-wagger, obsequious person/womanizer

⁶¹ beastly brutish

⁶² a privilege license to express itself

⁶⁵ honesty honor, integrity

⁶⁶ holy cords sacred bonds (family or matrimonial ties)

⁶⁶ a-twain in two

⁶⁷ too intrinse t’unloose too intertwined to be disentangled

⁶⁷ smooth flatter, indulge

⁶⁸ rebel i.e. against reason

⁶⁹ Being … fire i.e. feed the fire of their masters’ passions

⁷⁰ halcyon beaks the kingfisher (halcyon) was thought to act as a weather vane if dried and hung up

⁷¹ gall irritation

⁷¹ vary change

⁷³ epileptic visage seeing Oswald smiling away his insults, Kent compares his expression to that of an epileptic, grimacing involuntarily

⁷⁴ my at my

⁷⁴ as as if

⁷⁵ Goose proverbially stupid bird; cackling suggests that Oswald may be laughing

⁷⁵ if … Camelot i.e. if I had you at my mercy, I’d send you running home in fright; the exact nature of this reference is unclear, though, as Camelot was sometimes identified with Winchester, some suspect a jibe about a “Winchester goose” (i.e. a prostitute/venereal disease)

⁷⁵ Sarum Salisbury, in Wiltshire

⁷⁶ Camelot legendary city that was home to King Arthur

⁸² likes pleases

⁸⁴ occupation habit, business

⁹⁰ saucy insolent

⁹⁰ constrains … nature forces the style (of speaking) away from its true purpose

⁹³ An if

⁹³ so so be it

⁹³ plain honest (his excuse for his rudeness)

⁹⁵ craft cunning

⁹⁵ corrupter corrupt

⁹⁶ ducking observants bowing attendants

⁹⁷ stretch … nicely strain to perform their duties to the last detail

⁹⁸ verity truth

⁹⁹ th’allowance the approval

⁹⁹ aspect face/planetary position (in comparing Cornwall to a powerful planet, Kent mocks a courtier’s flattery)

¹⁰⁰ influence astrological influence

¹⁰¹ Phoebus the Greek and Roman sun god

¹⁰¹ front forehead

¹⁰³ dialect usual manner of speaking

¹⁰⁴ beguiled deceived

¹⁰⁶ though … to’t even if I should incur your displeasure by refusing (to be a knave) when asked

¹¹⁰ misconstruction misinterpretation

¹¹¹ compact colluding (with the king)

¹¹² being and I being

¹¹³ deal of man great show of manliness

¹¹⁴ worthied him earned him honor/made him a hero

¹¹⁵ attempting … self-subdued attacking one who offered no resistance

¹¹⁶ fleshment excitement of a first success

¹¹⁶ dread exploit fearsome military enterprise (sarcastic)

¹¹⁸ None … fool there is not one of these rogues and cowards who cannot make a fool of a man like Ajax (the great Greek warrior was famously stupid; Cornwall is the subject of this dig)

¹²⁰ stocks instrument of public punishment in which the offender sat with his ankles and sometimes wrists confined

¹²¹ reverent old and revered (sarcastic)

¹²¹ braggart boaster

¹²⁶ bold malice impudent hostility

¹²⁷ grace sovereignty

¹³³ use treat

¹³⁵ colour type

¹³⁶ sister sister-in-law, i.e. Goneril

¹³⁶ away here/there (Cornwall directs where the stocks are to be placed)

¹⁴¹ answer be responsible for

¹⁴⁵ pleasure will

¹⁴⁷ rubbed deflected (from bowling where the “rub” is the obstacle that disrupts the path of the ball)

¹⁴⁸ watched gone without sleep

¹⁵⁰ out at heels worn out (literally, coming through one’s stockings or shoes; an appropriate phrase for one whose feet are poking out of the stocks)

¹⁵¹ Give … morrow Good-bye

¹⁵³ approve prove

¹⁵³ saw saying

¹⁵⁴ out … sun proverbial for going from good to bad; Kent means that Regan will prove worse than Goneril

¹⁵⁶ beacon i.e. the sun

¹⁵⁶ this under globe i.e. the earth

¹⁵⁷ comfortable comforting, encouraging

¹⁵⁸ Nothing … misery the miserable are almost the only people to see miracles

¹⁶¹ obscurèd course secret (and “disguised”) course of action/dimmed fortunes

¹⁶² From away from (i.e. in France)

¹⁶² enormous state disordered situation (or country)

¹⁶³ o’erwatched worn out by lack of sleep

¹⁶⁴ vantage advantage

¹⁶⁶ Fortune … wheel! Fortune was traditionally depicted as a woman turning a wheel that raised humans up and cast them down

¹⁶⁷ proclaimed publicly declared an outlaw

¹⁶⁸ happy opportune, fortunate

¹⁷¹ attend my taking wait to catch me

¹⁷² am bethought have decided

¹⁷⁴ in … man despising mankind (in particular, man’s claim to be superior to beasts)

¹⁷⁶ elf tangle (into “elflocks” or messy knots of hair)

¹⁷⁷ presented openly displayed

¹⁸⁰ Bedlam the Saint Mary of Bethlehem hospital in London; a number of those who were released became beggars

¹⁸¹ mortifièd deadened

¹⁸² pricks spikes

¹⁸³ object sight

¹⁸³ low humble, lowly

¹⁸⁴ pelting paltry, insignificant

¹⁸⁵ bans curses

¹⁸⁶ Turlygod unexplained; perhaps a deliberately nonsensical name

¹⁸⁶ Poor … Tom! the sorts of cries the beggars would utter; several sixteenth-century accounts refer to beggars calling themselves “Poor Tom”

¹⁸⁷ That’s something yet i.e. at least as Poor Tom I have some form of existence

¹⁸⁷ Edgar … am as Edgar I do not exist/I renounce my identity as Edgar

^2.2 Gentleman presumably one of Lear’s reduced retinue of knights

¹⁸⁸ they i.e. Regan and Cornwall

¹⁹⁶ cruel puns on “crewel” (i.e. wool used for stockings)

¹⁹⁸ over-lusty at legs as a servant, too ready to run away (perhaps plays on the sense of “too eager for sex”)

¹⁹⁹ nether-stocks stockings

²⁰⁰ place position (as Lear’s messenger)

²⁰¹ To as to

²⁰³ son son-in-law

²⁰⁹ Juno wife of Jupiter, the supreme Roman god

²¹² upon respect upon consideration/against the respect due to a king and his representatives

²¹³ Resolve make clear to, inform

²¹³ modest moderate, reasonable

²¹³ which way why, how

²¹⁴ usage treatment

²¹⁵ coming from us when you were sent by me

²¹⁷ commend deliver

²¹⁹ reeking steaming (with sweat)

²¹⁹ post messenger

²²⁰ Stewed hot and drenched in sweat

²²² spite of intermission in spite of interrupting me/in spite of his halting breath

²²³ presently immediately

²²⁴ meiny retinue

²²⁴ straight straight away

²²⁵ attend … answer wait until they had time to answer

²³⁰ Displayed … against openly behaved so impudently toward

²³¹ man than wit courage than sense

²³¹ drew drew my sword

²³⁵ Winter’s … way i.e. there is more stormy weather (trouble) on the way

²³⁷ blind i.e. to their father’s needs

²³⁸ bags moneybags

²⁴⁰ arrant downright/notorious

²⁴¹ turns the key opens the door/provides sexual favors

²⁴² dolours griefs (puns on “dollar,” a silver coin)

²⁴³ tell relate/count

²⁴⁴ mother i.e. hysteria (frequently a female affliction thought to arise from the womb or, in men, the abdomen; characterized by breathlessness and agitation)

²⁴⁵ Hysterica passio the Latin term for hysteria

²⁴⁶ element rightful environment

²⁴⁶ below i.e. in the womb

²⁵⁵ to school to i.e. to learn from

²⁵⁵ ant … i’th’winter i.e. the ant gathers food only in the summer when it is abundant; similarly, men work only when there is profit to be gained from a patron who is at the height of his fortunes

²⁵⁸ stinking i.e. with the stench of decaying fortunes

²⁶² again back again

²⁶⁴ sir man

²⁶⁵ form appearances, outward show

²⁶⁶ pack pack up, be off

²⁷¹ perdy by God (from the French par dieu)

²⁷⁴ Deny refuse

²⁷⁵ fetches tricks, stratagems (Lear goes on to employ the sense of “bring”)

²⁷⁶ flying off desertion

²⁸² confusion destruction, overthrow

²⁸⁹ tends attends, awaits

²⁹³ Infirmity … bound illness always makes us neglect the duties which, when healthy, we are bound to carry out

²⁹⁵ oppressed overwhelmed/afflicted

²⁹⁷ fallen … will angry with my more headstrong impulse

²⁹⁹ sound healthy

²⁹⁹ my state royal state

³⁰¹ remotion removal

³⁰² practice deceit, cunning

³⁰² Give … forth release my servant

³⁰³ and’s and his

³⁰⁹ cockney squeamish or affected woman/town-dweller not used to hardier country ways

³¹⁰ i’th’paste alive alive into the pie (being too squeamish to kill them first)

³¹⁰ knapped hit

³¹⁰ o’th’coxcombs on the heads

³¹¹ wantons frisky creatures

³¹² buttered his hay another example of misguided kindness (horses dislike grease)

³¹⁹ sepulch’ring entombing

³¹⁹ adult’ress i.e. as you could not possibly be my daughter if you were not glad to see me

³²¹ naught wicked/worthless

³²² vulture recalls the Greek legend of Prometheus, who was punished for stealing fire from the gods by having his liver perpetually gnawed by vultures

³²⁶ You … duty you are more likely to undervalue her worth than she is to neglect her duty

³³⁶ verge … confine limit of her domain (i.e. you are near death)

³³⁸ discretion (person of) good judgment

³³⁸ state personal condition (imaged as a country; ironic glance at the sense of “kingship”)

³⁴³ becomes the house befits the royal line or family

³⁴⁵ unnecessary superfluous, useless

³⁴⁶ vouchsafe permit

³⁴⁶ raiment clothing

³⁵⁰ abated deprived

³⁵⁴ top head

³⁵⁵ taking infectious

³⁵⁹ fen-sucked … blister noxious vapors produced by sunshine on swampy ground were considered to be infectious and so to cause blistering

³⁶⁴ tender-hafted delicately framed, gently disposed

³⁶⁸ scant my sizes reduce my allowances (of food and drink etc.)

³⁶⁹ oppose the bolt lock the door

³⁷¹ offices of nature natural filial duties

³⁷² Effects outward marks

³⁷⁵ to th’purpose get to the point

³⁷⁸ approves confirms, bears out

³⁸⁰ easy-borrowed easily assumed

³⁸¹ sickly diseased, corrupt

³⁸¹ grace favor/royalty

³⁸⁵ on’t of it

³⁸⁶ sway authority, rule

³⁸⁷ Allow sanctions, approves

³⁸⁹ beard gray beard, symbol of his age

³⁹² indiscretion poor judgment

³⁹⁴ sides bodily frame, rib cage

³⁹⁶ disorders misconduct

³⁹⁷ much less advancement less favorable treatment

⁴⁰⁴ entertainment hospitable reception

⁴⁰⁶ abjure renounce

⁴⁰⁷ wage … o’th’air battle against the hostility of the open air

⁴⁰⁹ Necessity’s need’s, deprivation’s

⁴¹² knee kneel before

⁴¹² squire-like like a servant or follower

⁴¹² pension financial allowance

⁴¹³ afoot going

⁴¹⁴ sumpter packhorse, beast of burden

⁴¹⁵ groom manservant

⁴²³ embossèd carbuncle swollen tumor

⁴²⁴ corrupted blood diseased lineage

⁴²⁸ Mend improve

⁴³² looked not for did not expect

⁴³⁴ mingle … passion apply rational judgment to your impulsive behavior

⁴³⁸ avouch declare, affirm

⁴⁴⁰ sith that since

⁴⁴⁰ charge and danger expense and the risk of riotous behavior

⁴⁴⁶ slack ye treat you negligently

⁴⁴⁷ control discipline

⁴⁵⁰ place or notice room or acknowledgment

⁴⁵² in … it it was about time you did so

⁴⁵³ guardians, my depositaries trustees

⁴⁵⁴ kept a reservation reserved the right

⁴⁵⁸ well-favoured good-looking

⁴⁶⁰ stands … praise is, in relative terms, worthy of some praise

⁴⁶⁸ Our … superfluous even our most wretched beggars have something, however poor, that is more than they absolutely need

⁴⁷⁰ Allow not if you do not allow

⁴⁷² If … gorgeous if being sumptuously dressed simply entailed wearing sufficiently warm clothes

⁴⁷³ what … wear’st your magnificent clothes

⁴⁷⁹ fool … much don’t make me such a fool as

⁴⁸⁸ flaws fragments

⁴⁸⁹ Or ere before

⁴⁹¹ and’s and his

⁴⁹² bestowed lodged, accommodated

⁴⁹³ blame fault (that he)

⁴⁹³ put … rest turned himself away from repose/deprived himself of peace of mind

⁴⁹⁵ his particular him individually

⁵⁰² will will go

⁵⁰³ give him way let him go, give him scope

⁵⁰⁶ ruffle rage, bluster

⁵⁰⁹ themselves procure bring on themselves

⁵¹¹ desperate train retinue of dangerous men

⁵¹³ have … abused be misled by what he is told

Act 3 Scene 1

^3.1 Location: somewhere out in the open, not far from the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

³ severally separately

² minded … unquietly in the same restless and disturbed mood as the storm

⁴ Contending battling against/competing with

⁶ main mainland

⁹ out-jest drive out with jokes

¹⁰ heart-struck injuries injuries that strike to the heart

¹² warrant … note basis of what I have observed (about you)

¹³ Commend … you entrust you with an important matter

¹⁶ as … high i.e. like anyone to whom fortune has given power and royal authority

¹⁷ seem no less seem to be only servants (but are really spies)

¹⁸ France the King of France

¹⁸ speculations observers

¹⁹ Intelligent of bearing information about

²⁰ snuffs resentments

²⁰ packings plots

²¹ hard rein harsh curbing (equestrian metaphor; puns on “reign”)

²¹ borne maintained

²³ furnishings superficial trappings

²⁷ out-wall outward appearance

³⁰ that fellow i.e. Kent

³⁴ to effect in importance

³⁵ in … this to which end you employ your efforts that way while I go this way

³⁷ Holla shout to

Act 3 Scene 2

² cataracts floods/waterspouts

² hurricanoes waterspouts

³ cocks weathercocks

⁴ thought-executing fires i.e. lightning (as swift as thought/thought-destroying)

⁵ Vaunt-couriers forerunners

⁸ nature’s moulds the molds in which nature makes living creatures

⁸ germens seeds

¹⁰ court holy-water courtly flattery

¹⁶ tax … with accuse … of

¹⁸ subscription allegiance

²¹ ministers agents

²² pernicious destructive/wicked

²³ high-engendered battles battalions created in the heavens

²³ head plays on the sense of “army”

²⁴ foul wicked/bad (weather)

²⁵ put’s put his

²⁶ head-piece helmet/brain

²⁷ codpiece penis (literally, appendage worn on the front of a man’s breeches to cover and emphasize the genitals)

²⁷ house find a house for itself, i.e. have sex

²⁸ any i.e. any shelter

²⁹ louse get lice (in pubic and head hair)

³⁰ So … many in this way beggars end up with a string of mistresses (or “end up not only with a woman but a quantity of lice”)

³¹ makes … make values most what he should value least/considers his penis (sex) more important than his heart (love/moral integrity)

³³ corn may suggest a syphilitic sore

³⁵ made … glass practiced smiling or pouting in a mirror

⁴⁰ grace … codpiece royalty and a fool (fools sometimes wore exaggerated codpieces and were proverbially well-endowed)

⁴⁴ Gallow gally, i.e. frighten

⁴⁴ wanderers … dark nocturnal animals

⁵¹ pudder pother, tumult

⁵⁴ Unwhipped of unpunished by

⁵⁵ simular faker, pretender

⁵⁶ caitiff villain, wretch

⁵⁷ seeming false appearances, deception

⁵⁸ practised on plotted against

⁵⁹ Rive split open

⁵⁹ continents containers

⁵⁹ cry … grace beg for mercy from these terrifying summoners (officers who summoned the accused to court)

⁶⁵ hard near

⁶⁵ hard house pitiless household (Gloucester’s house, under the authority of Cornwall and Regan)

⁶⁷ demanding (when I was) asking urgently

⁶⁹ scanted withheld

⁷² fellow servant (but with connotations of “companion”)

⁷³ The … strange necessity has a strange skill

⁷⁷ He … day adapted from Feste’s song at the end of Twelfth Night

⁷⁷ and a a very

⁷⁷ wit possibly plays on the sense of “penis”

⁷⁹ make … fit make his happiness fit his fortunes/be content with the fortune that he deserves

⁸² brave fine

⁸² cool i.e. cool the lust of

⁸² courtesan courtier’s mistress, high-class prostitute

⁸⁴ in … matter more concerned with words than substance (i.e. do not practice what they preach)

⁸⁵ mar spoil (i.e. water down for their own profit)

⁸⁶ are … tutors i.e. teach their tailors about fashion

⁸⁷ heretics religious dissenters, conventionally punished with burning at the stake

⁸⁷ wenches’ suitors i.e. who are afflicted with the burning effects of syphilis

⁸⁸ right just

⁹¹ cutpurses thieves who cut the strings of moneybags hanging at their victims’ waists

⁹¹ throngs crowds

⁹² usurers moneylenders, notorious for charging excessively high interest

⁹² tell … i’th’field count their money openly

⁹³ bawds pimps

⁹⁴ Albion ancient name for Britain

⁹⁵ confusion destruction, overthrow

⁹⁶ who whoever

⁹⁷ going … feet walking will be done on foot (perhaps simply meaning “things will return to normal”)

⁹⁸ Merlin in the legendary history of Britain, the reign of Lear precedes that of Arthur by centuries

Act 3 Scene 3

^3.3 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

² leave … pity permission to help, take pity on

⁷ Go to expression of impatient dismissal

¹⁰ closet private room/cabinet

¹¹ home thoroughly

¹¹ power army

¹² footed ashore

¹² incline to support, side with

¹² look look for

¹³ privily relieve secretly help

¹⁴ that so that

¹⁴ of by

¹⁷ toward imminent

¹⁸ courtesy forbid thee forbidden kindness (to Lear)

²⁰ This … deserving i.e. my action should be worth a good reward

Act 3 Scene 4

^3.4 Location: outside a hovel somewhere out in the open, not far from the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

³ nature human nature

¹⁰ greater malady i.e. mental suffering

¹³ i’th’mouth face to face

¹³ free free of worry, untroubled

¹⁴ delicate sensitive

¹⁷ as as if

¹⁸ home soundly

²² frank generous

³² bide endure

³³ sides bodies (with visible ribs)

³⁴ lopped and windowed full of holes

³⁶ physic medicine (often a purgative)

³⁶ pomp splendor, ostentatious display (i.e. rich and powerful people)

³⁸ superflux superfluity, excess (flux was used for a discharge of excrement from the bowels, the result of a purgative)

⁴⁰ Fathom about six feet

⁴⁰ Fathom and half Edgar calls as though he is measuring the depth of the water in the hovel, as a sailor might in a leaking ship

⁴¹ spirit evil spirit, demon

⁴⁵ grumble mutter, mumble

⁵² foul wicked

⁵⁴ knives … pew the devil was believed to tempt men to damnation by leaving them the means of committing suicide (even in church)

⁵⁵ ratsbane rat poison

⁵⁶ porridge vegetable or meat soup

⁵⁶ bay reddish-brown

⁵⁷ four-inched four inches wide (the devil gives one the arrogance to try and perform extremely difficult feats)

⁵⁷ for as

⁵⁷ course hunt

⁵⁸ five wits five mental faculties (common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation, and memory)

⁵⁸ do … de the sound of chattering teeth?

⁵⁹ star-blasting being afflicted by the malign influence of the stars

⁵⁹ taking being infected with disease/malign influence of the stars

⁶⁰ vexes torments

⁶⁰ there … there perhaps Edgar snatches at parts of his body as he tries to catch lice or the devil; or he may grab or point at the air around him

⁶³ pass state, predicament

⁶⁵ reserved a blanket kept a blanket (to cover himself)

⁶⁷ pendulous overhanging

⁶⁸ fated … faults destined to punish men’s faults

⁷⁰ subdued nature reduced human nature

⁷³ thus … flesh refers to Edgar’s self-mutilation

⁷⁵ pelican young pelicans supposedly fed on their mother’s blood; they were proverbial for filial cruelty

⁷⁶ Pillicock … Pillicock-hill possibly part of an old nursery rhyme, but Pillicock is slang for penis and Pillycock-hill the female genitals

⁷⁶ alow … loo possibly from “halloo” (cry to incite dogs in a hunt), perhaps an imitation of a cock’s crow, or simply a nonsensical sound

⁷⁸ obey Edgar begins a paraphrased version of five of the Ten Commandments

⁷⁹ commit not i.e. do not commit adultery

⁸⁰ on proud array in overly fine clothes

⁸³ gloves i.e. a mistress’ gift, displayed by being worn in one’s cap

⁸⁶ slept in i.e. dreamed of

⁸⁷ dice i.e. gambling

⁸⁸ out-paramoured the Turk had more lovers than the Turkish Sultan, famous for his harem

⁸⁸ light of ear eager to listen to gossip

⁹⁰ creaking … silks i.e. the sounds of a fashionable woman walking

⁹² plackets openings in skirts/vaginas

⁹² pen … books i.e. do not sign a loan agreement

⁹⁴ suum, mun presumably Edgar imitates the sounds of the wind

⁹⁴ nonny often used as part of a refrain in popular songs

⁹⁵ Dolphin … by perhaps Edgar addresses an imaginary horse; sessa is a cry of encouragement used in hunting or may derive from the French cessez (“stop”)

⁹⁶ answer face, encounter

⁹⁹ cat no perfume the secretions of the anal glands of the civet cat are used to make perfume

¹⁰⁰ on’s of us

¹⁰⁰ sophisticated not simple or natural

¹⁰¹ unaccommodated unprovided for (i.e. not wearing clothes)

¹⁰² lendings clothes that are “lent” only, not part of him

¹⁰⁴ naughty nasty, wicked

¹⁰⁷ walking fire i.e. Gloucester and his torch

¹⁰⁸ Flibbertigibbet the name of a devil (all of the devils Edgar mentions are to be found in Samuel Harsnett’s 1603 Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures)

¹⁰⁸ curfew i.e. nightfall

¹⁰⁹ cock cockcrow

¹⁰⁹ web … pin cataract of the eye

¹¹⁰ squints causes to squint

¹¹² old wold, downs

¹¹² swithold probably Saint Withold, apparently a protector from harm

¹¹² footed thrice walked three times

¹¹³ nightmare evil female spirit supposed to settle upon a sleeper’s chest, inducing bad dreams and feelings of suffocation

¹¹³ nine-fold perhaps the imps who attend her

¹¹⁵ her troth plight give a solemn promise (to do no more harm)

¹¹⁶ aroint begone (used to witches and demons)

¹¹⁸ What’s who’s

¹²² wall-newt i.e. lizard on the wall

¹²² water i.e. water newt

¹²⁴ ditch-dog i.e. dead dog in a ditch

¹²⁵ mantle scum

¹²⁵ standing stagnant

¹²⁵ whipped the standard punishment for vagabonds

¹²⁶ tithing parish

¹²⁷ three … shirts the clothing allowance of a servant

¹²⁹ deer animals

¹³¹ Smulkin the name of a devil (that, according to Harsnett, took the form of a mouse)

¹³³ The … darkness the devil

¹³³ Modo … Mahu the names of two devils

¹³⁵ flesh and blood i.e. children (Gloucester is thinking of Edgar, Goneril, and Regan)

¹³⁵ vile debased, corrupted

¹³⁶ gets begets, conceives

¹⁴⁷ Theban i.e. Greek philosopher (from Thebes)

¹⁴⁹ prevent forestall, thwart

¹⁵¹ Importune urge

¹⁵² t’unsettle to be disturbed

¹⁵⁸ blood lineage, family

¹⁶³ cry you mercy excuse me

¹⁷⁰ keep still remain

¹⁷¹ soothe indulge, humor

¹⁷² him you on him along with you

¹⁷⁴ Athenian i.e. Greek philosopher (from Athens)

¹⁷⁶ Child … came perhaps a line from a lost ballad about the legendary French hero Roland (Child was the title for a young man seeking knighthood)

¹⁷⁷ word password/customary saying

¹⁷⁷ still always

¹⁷⁷ fie … man the cry of the giant in the children’s tale of Jack the giant-killer

Act 3 Scene 5

^3.5 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

¹ his i.e. Gloucester’s

² nature natural familial affection

³ something fears somewhat frightens

⁵ his i.e. Gloucester’s

⁵ provoking … himself Edgar’s sense of his own worth, provoked into action by Gloucester’s reprehensible badness/a provoking quality in Gloucester, which incited Edgar’s reprehensible wickedness

⁸ to be of being

⁹ approves proves

⁹ an intelligent party a spy, an informer

¹⁷ apprehension arrest

¹⁹ his suspicion suspicion of Gloucester

Act 3 Scene 6

^3.6 Location: unspecified; presumably an outbuilding on the Earl of Gloucester’s estate

² piece out supplement

⁵ impatience anger/inability to bear suffering

⁶ Frateretto the name of a devil; in Harsnett he is associated with a “fiddler,” which perhaps suggests Nero, the first-century Roman emperor who famously played the fiddle while Rome burned

⁶ angler fisherman/thief

⁷ lake of darkness presumably the Stygian lake of the classical underworld, but a phallic fishing rod and vaginal dark lake may also be implied; perhaps Nero’s murder of his own mother is glanced at—she reportedly asked to be stabbed in the womb as this was where her son had grown

¹⁰ yeoman land owner below the rank of gentleman

¹² to as

¹³ mad sense now shifts to “angry”

¹⁵ a thousand i.e. a thousand devils

¹⁶ hizzing hissing

¹⁶ ’em them i.e. Goneril and Regan; the Quarto text continues at this point with an imaginary “arraignment” of Goneril (see “Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio,” p. 132)

²¹ mar my counterfeiting spoil my pretense

²³ Trey … Sweetheart names for bitches—even his female dogs, he imagines, have turned against him; their names may suggest Lear’s daughters (“tray” can mean “pain, affliction,” “blanch” can mean “to deceive,” “to flatter”)

²⁴ throw his head unclear; presumably a threatening gesture of some sort

²⁴ Avaunt begone

²⁵ or black or either black or

²⁶ poisons i.e. with rabies

²⁷ grim fierce

²⁸ brach bitch

²⁸ him male

²⁹ bobtail tyke small dog with a tail that has been bobbed (cut short)

²⁹ trundle-tail dog with a long, curling tail

³² hatch lower half of a divided door

³³ Do … de apparently the sound of chattering teeth again

³³ Sessa! cry of encouragement used in hunting or may derive from the French cessez (“stop”)

³³ wakes annual parish fairs (frequented by beggars)

³⁴ horn beggars carried drinking horns on strings round their necks

³⁵ anatomize dissect

³⁷ entertain employ

³⁹ Persian i.e. gorgeous, luxurious

⁴¹ curtains Lear imagines that he is in a curtained bed

⁴⁸ litter vehicle containing a bed, here apparently drawn by horses

⁴⁹ Dover port on the south coast

⁵⁴ to … conduct i.e. hastily guide you to the necessary supplies for your journey

Act 3 Scene 7

^3.7 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

¹ Post travel swiftly

⁷ sister sister-in-law, i.e. Goneril

⁸ Advise counsel, urge

⁹ duke i.e. the Duke of Albany

⁹ festinate preparation hasty preparation of troops

¹⁰ posts messengers

¹¹ intelligent possessed of information

¹² lord of Gloucester Edmund’s new title (though when Oswald uses it, he refers to Edmund’s father)

¹⁷ questrists seekers

¹⁸ the lord’s i.e. Gloucester’s

²⁵ Pinion him bind his arms

²⁶ pass … justice issue a death sentence without a formal trial

²⁸ do a court’sy bow, yield

³¹ corky withered, dry

^3.7 plucks his beard a highly insulting gesture

⁴¹ white i.e. old, dignified

⁴² Naughty wicked

⁴³ ravish seize forcibly, pluck

⁴⁴ quicken come to life

⁴⁵ hospitable favours welcoming (facial) features

⁴⁶ ruffle treat roughly/snatch

⁴⁸ Be simple answered answer straightforwardly

⁵⁰ Late footed recently landed

⁵² guessingly without certain knowledge

⁵⁴ opposed i.e. to the dukes

⁵⁹ charged at peril commanded on peril of your life

⁶¹ tied to th’stake like a bear in the popular sport of bear-baiting

⁶¹ stand endure

⁶¹ course designated bout, during which the bear was attacked by dogs

⁶⁵ anointed i.e. holy (having been anointed with holy oil at the coronation)

⁶⁷ buoyed swelled, risen

⁶⁸ stellèd starry

⁶⁹ holp helped

⁶⁹ holp … rain i.e. by weeping

⁷⁰ stern cruel, unyielding

⁷¹ turn the key i.e. to let them in

⁷² All … subscribe i.e. in such circumstances, all other cruel people would sanction a kind action

⁷³ wingèd vengeance i.e. vengeance of the gods

⁷⁴ Fellows servants

⁸⁶ shake … quarrel i.e. defy you (or “challenge you to a fight”) over this cause

⁸⁶ What … mean? What do you think you are doing?

⁸⁷ villain servant

⁸⁸ chance of anger risk of what anger may bring (in a fight)

⁹¹ mischief on him injury done to him

⁹⁵ sparks of nature warmth of natural filial affection

⁹⁶ quit requite, avenge

⁹⁷ Out expression of impatience and disgust

⁹⁹ overture disclosure

¹⁰¹ abused wronged, maligned

¹⁰⁵ How look you? How are you?

¹⁰⁸ apace rapidly

¹⁰⁹ Untimely at the wrong time (with war imminent)

^3.7 Exeunt here the Quarto text has an additional sequence in which loyal servants apply a palliative to Gloucester’s eye sockets (see “Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio,” p. 134)