King Lear

Act 4 Scene 1

^4.1 Location: somewhere out in the open, not far from the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

¹ thus i.e. a beggar

¹ contemned despised

² contemned and flattered despised secretly though flattered to your face

⁴ esperance hope

⁵ The … laughter the most miserable kind of change is a decline in fortunes; when things are at their worst they can only get better

¹⁰ poorly led led by a poor man/led in a way unsuitable to his status

¹² But were it not

¹² mutations changes/fickleness

¹³ Life … age we would not accept old age

¹⁵ fourscore eighty

¹⁸ Thee … hurt i.e. you may be punished for helping me

²² means secure us wealth gives us false security, overconfidence

²² mere defects sheer deficiencies

²³ Prove our commodities turn out to be benefits

²⁴ abusèd deceived

³¹ is not has not yet arrived

³⁶ reason rationality, sanity

⁴¹ wanton unruly/cruelly mischievous

⁴⁴ trade course of action/practice

⁵⁰ ancient love old affection

⁵⁴ plague affliction

⁵⁶ the rest all

⁵⁷ ’pparel apparel, clothing

⁵⁸ Come … will whatever may come of it

⁶⁰ daub it put on a false face, pretend

⁶⁸ strokes blows, afflictions

⁶⁹ happier more fortunate

⁷⁰ superfluous immoderate, extravagant, overindulgent

⁷⁰ lust-dieted fed solely by pleasure

⁷¹ slaves your ordinance subjects your laws to his desires

⁷² feel empathize, feel compassion (sense then shifts to “experience”)

⁷² quickly soon/while he is alive/sharply

⁷⁶ bending overhanging

⁷⁷ confinèd channeled (between England and France)

⁷⁸ brim edge

⁸⁰ about me that I have on my person

Act 4 Scene 2

^4.2 Location: outside Goneril and the Duke of Albany’s residence

¹ my lord i.e. Edmund

⁴ army i.e. French army

⁸ ‘sot’ fool

⁹ turned … out turned inside out, got things the wrong way round (clothing metaphor)

¹³ cowish cowardly

¹⁴ undertake take action

¹⁵ tie … answer oblige him to respond

¹⁵ on the way i.e. that we expressed during the journey here

¹⁶ prove effects be fulfilled

¹⁶ brother brother-in-law, i.e. Cornwall

¹⁷ musters gathering of troops

¹⁷ conduct his powers escort his forces

¹⁸ change exchange

¹⁸ distaff spindle for weaving, common symbol of womanhood or wifeliness

²⁰ like likely

^4.2 favor love token

²² mistress ruler/lover

²⁴ thy Goneril starts to use the more intimate pronoun to Edmund

²⁴ spirits plays on sense of “penis”

²⁵ conceive understand/imagine (with procreative connotations)

²⁶ death plays on sense of “orgasm”

²⁹ services sexual services

³⁰ fool i.e. Albany

³⁰ usurps wrongfully possesses

³² worth the whistle worth looking for (from the proverb “it is a poor dog that is not worth the whistling”)

³³ Goneril … face the Quarto text has a longer dialogue in which Albany berates Goneril (see “Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio,” p. 135)

³⁴ rude rough

³⁶ Milk-livered pale-livered, cowardly (cowardice was associated with lack of blood in the liver and milk with women)

³⁸ discerning … suffering that can distinguish between what may be honorably tolerated from what must not be endured

⁴¹ Proper … woman deformity does not seem as abhorrent in a devil (to whom it is appropriate) as it does in a woman

⁴³ vain stupid/worthless

⁴⁸ bred brought up in his household

⁴⁸ thrilled pierced, moved

⁴⁸ remorse pity (for Gloucester)

⁴⁹ Opposed opposed himself

⁴⁹ bending aiming, directing

⁵⁰ threat-enraged enraged by the threat

⁵³ after i.e. to death

⁵⁵ justices (divine) judges

⁵⁵ nether earthly

⁵⁶ venge avenge, punish

⁶³ all … life demolish the dream (of having Edmund) that I have constructed, leaving me with the life I hate

⁶⁵ tart sour

⁶⁹ back going back

^4.3 Location: the French camp, near Dover. The Quarto text precedes this scene with another one in which Kent and a Gentleman discuss the French king’s return to France and Cordelia’s concern for her father (see “Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio,” pp. 137–39)

Act 4 Scene 3

^4.3 Colours military banners

² vexed angry, turbulent

³ rank fumiter abundant fumitory (a vigorously growing weed)

³ furrow weeds weeds that grow in the furrows of plowed fields

⁴ burdocks weeds with prickly flower heads or burs

⁴ hemlock plant producing a potentially lethal sedative

⁴ cuckoo-flowers name given to various wildflowers growing when the cuckoo calls (i.e. May/June)

⁵ Darnel type of grass that grows as a weed among corn

⁵ idle useless

⁸ What … wisdom what can human knowledge do

⁹ bereavèd stolen, lost

¹⁰ outward worth worldly goods

¹² repose rest, sleep

¹³ that … operative there are many effective medicinal herbs that can induce that in him

¹⁷ unpublished virtues secret powers (of herbs)

¹⁸ aidant helpful

¹⁸ remediate remedial, healing

²⁰ rage frenzy

²¹ wants the means i.e. lacks the sanity

²⁴ preparation equipped military force

²⁷ France i.e. the King of France

²⁸ importuned importunate, pressing

²⁹ blown swollen with pride/corrupt

Act 4 Scene 4

^4.4 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

⁴ ado fuss

⁸ import mean, contain

¹⁰ posted hurried

¹¹ ignorance folly

¹⁵ nighted darkened (literally, and in terms of his fortunes)

¹⁵ descry discover

¹⁷ after go after

¹⁹ ways roads

²¹ charged my duty swore me to obedience

²³ Belike perhaps/probably

²⁴ I’ll love thee Regan switches to the familiar thee to cajole him—love implies the promise of favors, sexual or otherwise

²⁹ oeillades amorous glances

²⁹ speaking eloquent

³⁰ of her bosom in her confidence/sexually intimate

³² Y’are ye (you) are

³³ take this note note this well

³⁵ convenient fitting

³⁶ gather more infer the rest

³⁹ call … her have more sense

⁴³ meet i.e. meet him

Act 4 Scene 5

^4.5 Location: somewhere out in the open, near Dover

¹ that same hill the hill I mentioned (i.e. the cliff Gloucester described at the end of Act 4 Scene 1)

¹¹ phrase and matter style and sense

¹⁷ choughs jackdaws or other birds of the crow family

¹⁷ wing fly across

¹⁷ midway i.e. middle regions of

¹⁸ gross large

¹⁹ samphire aromatic plant used in pickling; it was picked from cliffs by men suspended on ropes

²² yond yonder, that

²² bark small ship

²³ her cock (the size of) her cock boat, a small boat towed behind a ship

²⁵ th’unnumbered idle pebble countless insignificant pebbles

²⁷ the deficient my defective

²⁸ Topple topple me

³² leap upright jump up in the air

³⁴ Here, friend’s here, friend, is

³⁶ Prosper it cause it to prosper

⁴⁰ trifle play

⁴⁶ opposeless irresistible

⁴⁷ My … nature the smoldering wick and hated remains of my life

⁵¹ conceit imagination

⁵³ Yields submits willingly

⁵⁴ this this time, now

⁵⁶ pass die

⁵⁷ What who (Edgar adopts another persona)

⁵⁹ aught anything

⁶⁰ precipitating falling headlong

⁶¹ shivered shattered

⁶³ at each end to end

⁶⁷ bourn boundary (between land and sea)

⁶⁸ a-height on high

⁶⁸ shrill-gorged shrill-throated

⁷³ beguile cheat

⁸⁴ whelked twisted

⁸⁵ fiend i.e. tempting him to the sin of suicide

⁸⁵ happy father fortunate old man (father was a form of address for an elderly man, though Edgar plays with the literal sense)

⁸⁶ clearest brightest, purest

⁸⁶ make … impossibilities acquire honor for themselves by performing things that are impossible in the human world

⁹³ free untroubled

⁹⁴ The … thus were he (Lear) in his right mind, he would never permit himself to dress like this (or possibly “Gloucester’s senses will not be able to withstand seeing his master like this”)

⁹⁶ touch accuse, blame/lay hands on

¹⁰⁰ press-money money paid to military recruits when they were conscripted (Lear seems to imagine he is recruiting an army)

¹⁰⁰ crow-keeper scarecrow/person employed to scare crows from the crops

¹⁰¹ Draw … yard draw your bow to its fullest extent (the length of a longbow’s arrow, which, at about thirty-six inches, was the same as the length of a cloth-seller’s measuring rod)

¹⁰² gauntlet armored glove thrown down as a challenge to a duel

¹⁰³ prove it on make good my cause against

¹⁰³ brown bills long-handled weapons, painted or varnished brown and topped with axe-like blades; or soldiers carrying such weapons

¹⁰³ well flown, bird the language of falconry, here used to describe an arrow’s flight

¹⁰⁴ I’th’clout cloth at the center of an archer’s target

¹⁰⁴ hewgh perhaps Lear imitates the sound of the arrow as it flies through the air or hits the target

¹⁰⁴ word password (continues Lear’s military fantasy)

¹⁰⁵ Sweet marjoram Edgar invents a password that relates to Lear’s headgear and to the plant’s alleged medicinal properties in treating brain disorders

¹⁰⁹ like a dog i.e. as if they were fawning dogs

¹⁰⁹ had … there i.e. was wise even while I was still a child

¹¹¹ divinity theology

¹¹² me i.e. my teeth

¹¹³ peace be still

¹¹⁶ ague-proof immune to fever and shivering

¹¹⁷ trick characteristic, individual quality

¹²¹ cause charge, offense

¹²⁴ goes to’t does it, has sex

¹²⁵ lecher fornicate

¹²⁷ got begot, conceived

¹²⁸ luxury lechery, lust

¹²⁸ for … soldiers i.e. more sex means more children to man his army

¹³⁰ between … snow forecasts frigidity between her legs

¹³¹ minces virtue affects chastity

¹³¹ shake the head i.e. in disapproval

¹³³ fitchew polecat/prostitute

¹³³ soilèd fed with green fodder, so lively, skittish

¹³⁴ riotous unrestrained, lustful

¹³⁵ centaurs mythical creatures that were human above the waist and horse below; reputed to be lustful

¹³⁶ But … girdle only as far as the waist

¹³⁶ inherit possess, have power over

¹³⁸ hell slang term for the vagina

¹³⁸ sulphurous suggests both hell and syphilis

¹³⁹ burning … consumption alludes to painful syphilitic burning, odor and decay (consumption)

¹⁴⁰ civet perfume

¹⁴⁰ apothecary person who prepared and sold drugs, spices, perfumes etc.

¹⁴³ mortality being human/death

¹⁴⁵ so similarly

¹⁴⁷ squinny squint

¹⁴⁷ Cupid Roman god of love, traditionally depicted as blind or blindfolded

¹⁴⁸ challenge written challenge to a duel

¹⁴⁸ penning style/handwriting

¹⁵⁰ take … report believe it if I heard it reported

¹⁵³ case sockets

¹⁵⁵ heavy case sorrowful predicament

¹⁵⁷ feelingly literally, through touch/with great emotion

¹⁵⁹ justice judge

¹⁶⁰ simple humble

¹⁶¹ handy-dandy take your pick (from the child’s game of guessing which clenched hand contains something)

¹⁶⁵ a … office given authority, even a dog will be obeyed

¹⁶⁷ beadle parish officer, responsible for punishing thieves, prostitutes, and vagabonds

¹⁶⁹ use employ sexually

¹⁶⁹ kind manner

¹⁷⁰ usurer moneylender, notorious for charging excessively high interest

¹⁷⁰ cozener cheat

¹⁷² Place … gold i.e. when sins are committed by the rich

¹⁷³ hurtless harmlessly

¹⁷⁴ it i.e. sin

¹⁷⁵ able ’em authorize them

¹⁷⁸ scurvy politician despicable schemer

¹⁷⁹ Now … now perhaps comforting Gloucester, perhaps distracted by his boots

¹⁸¹ matter and impertinency sense and nonsense

¹⁸⁴ hither i.e. into this world

¹⁸⁹ block style of hat or mold for hats (perhaps Lear removes his headgear)/block from which to mount a horse/tree stump (stage may even give rise to a sense of “scaffold and executioner’s block”)

¹⁹⁰ delicate ingenious

¹⁹¹ put’t in proof try it out

^4.3 Gentleman perhaps the same man that Kent gave instructions to in Act 3 Scene 1

¹⁹⁷ natural fool born fool (as opposed to a professional jester)

²⁰¹ seconds supporters (as for a duel)

²⁰² salt i.e. tears

²⁰⁴ die plays on the sense of “orgasm”

²⁰⁴ bravely handsomely

²⁰⁵ jovial cheerful/majestic (like Jove, king of the gods)

²⁰⁶ Masters sirs

²⁰⁹ Sa … sa hunting cry, from French ça (“that’s it,” “it’s there”)

²¹² nature i.e. human nature

²¹² general curse curse of original sin

²¹³ twain Adam and Eve (but also suggests Goneril and Regan)

²¹⁴ gentle noble

²¹⁵ speed you (may God) prosper you

²¹⁶ toward impending

²¹⁷ vulgar widely known

²¹⁹ by your favour if you would be so good

²²¹ main … thought sight of the main army is expected hourly

²²⁴ Though that though

²²⁴ on special cause for a special reason (i.e. to find Lear)

²²⁹ worser spirit evil angel/bad side of my nature

²³⁴ known … sorrows deeply felt sorrows I have experienced

²³⁵ pregnant … pity disposed to compassion

²³⁶ biding dwelling

²³⁸ benison blessing

²³⁹ To … boot in addition, and may it benefit you

²⁴⁰ proclaimed prize i.e. a man with a price on his head

²⁴⁰ happy fortunate

²⁴¹ framed flesh conceived and born

²⁴³ thyself remember recall your sins (i.e. prepare to die)

²⁴⁸ published proclaimed

²⁵¹ ’Chill I shall

²⁵¹ ’chill … ’casion I shall not let go, sir, without further occasion (cause); for his new persona, Edgar adopts a West Country accent in which he substitutes “v” for “f” and “z” for “s”

²⁵³ your gait on your way

²⁵⁴ An … vortnight if I could have been killed by boasting, I would not have lasted a fortnight (or “it would have been shorter by a fortnight”)

²⁵⁶ che vor ye I warrant you, I promise you

²⁵⁶ i’se I shall

²⁵⁷ costard head (literally, a large apple)

²⁵⁷ ballow cudgel

²⁵⁹ pick knock out with the cudgel

²⁵⁹ foins sword thrusts

²⁶⁴ party side

²⁶⁵ serviceable eager to serve, ready to do anything

²⁷² deathsman executioner

²⁷³ Leave give me leave, permit me

²⁷⁷ will desire/lust

²⁷⁷ want not is not lacking

²⁷⁸ done achieved

²⁸¹ for your labour as a reward for your efforts/as a place for sexual activity

²⁸² servant lover

²⁸³ undistinguished space limitless scope

²⁸³ will lust

²⁸⁶ Thee … up I will bury you (Oswald)

²⁸⁶ post unsanctified unholy messenger

²⁸⁷ in … time when the time is ripe

²⁸⁸ ungracious wicked, sinful

²⁸⁸ strike blast/afflict

²⁸⁹ death-practised whose death is plotted

²⁹¹ stiff stubborn

²⁹² ingenious sensitive, intelligent

²⁹³ distract mad

²⁹⁵ wrong imaginations illusions

Act 4 Scene 6

^4.6 Location: the French camp, near Dover

³ every … me all my efforts will be inadequate

⁴ o’erpaidi.e. already more than enough

⁵ All … truth everything I have told you is the simple truth (or possibly “may all reports of me be unexaggerated and accurate”)

⁶ Nor … clipped neither overstated nor abbreviated

⁷ suited dressed

⁸ weeds clothes

¹¹ Yet … intent to have my identity known now would spoil the plan I have devised

¹² My … it the favor I ask is

¹² know me not do not acknowledge me

¹³ meet suitable

¹⁸ wind up put in tune (by tightening the pegs on a stringed instrument)

¹⁹ child-changèd changed by his children

²³ I’th’sway … will as you see fit, under your own authority

²³ arrayed dressed (appropriately)

²⁷ doubt of fear for

²⁷ temperance self-control

³¹ reverence i.e. position deserving respect, venerable state

³³ Had you even if you had

³³ flakes locks of hair

³⁴ Did challenge would have demanded

³⁴ of from

³⁸ fain obliged

³⁹ rogues forlorn destitute vagabonds

⁴⁰ short i.e. broken up (and hence less comfortable)

⁴¹ at once at the same time

⁴² concluded all come entirely to an end

⁴⁶ bliss i.e. heaven

⁴⁷ wheel of fire i.e. one of hell’s tortures of the damned; recalls Ixion, who, in Greek mythology, was bound to a wheel of fire for attempting to seduce the queen of the gods

⁴⁷ that so that

⁵¹ wide wide of the mark, confused

⁵⁴ abused wronged, ill-treated/deluded

⁵⁷ Would … condition! I wish I could be sure of what state I am in!

⁶³ fond silly

⁸⁴ rage frenzy

⁸⁶ further settling his mind is more settled

Act 5 Scene 1

^5.1 Location: the British camp, near Dover

^5.1 Drum and Colours soldiers with military flags and a drum beating

¹ Know of find out from

¹ last purpose most recent intention

² since subsequently

² advised persuaded/warned

² aught anything, i.e. any news

⁴ self-reproving self-reproach

⁴ constant pleasure fixed wishes

⁵ miscarried come to harm

⁶ doubted feared

¹¹ honoured honorable

¹³ forfended place forbidden place, i.e. Goneril’s vagina

¹⁵ I … her I cannot stand her

¹⁶ familiar too friendly/sexually intimate

²⁰ rigour … state harshness of our government

²¹ cry out i.e. protest in pain

²² Why … reasoned? Why are we discussing this?

²³ Combine together i.e. let us combine our two armies

²⁴ domestic … broils private internal squabbles

²⁷ th’ancient of war experienced senior officers

³⁰ convenient suitable, seemly

³¹ know the riddle understand your enigmatic request, see your trick (Regan wants to keep a suspicious eye on Goneril)

³⁴ I’ll overtake you presumably Albany calls after those who have or are in the process of departing

³⁵ ope open

³⁵ letter i.e. the letter Oswald was carrying from Goneril to Edmund

³⁶ sound i.e. sound a summons

³⁸ champion one who fights in single combat

³⁹ avouchèd declared, affirmed

³⁹ miscarry lose the battle and die

⁴¹ machination plotting

⁴⁴ cry make the proclamation

⁴⁶ o’erlook read over

⁴⁷ powers troops

⁴⁹ discovery intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance

⁵¹ greet the time be ready when the time comes

⁵³ jealous suspicious, mistrustful

⁵⁸ hardly with difficulty

⁵⁸ carry … side fulfill my side of the agreement (with Goneril)/achieve my own (power-seeking) ends

⁶⁰ countenance authority

⁶² taking off murder

⁶⁵ shall i.e. they shall

⁶⁵ my … debate my position relies on action not discussion

Act 5 Scene 2

^5.2 Location: not far from the battlefield, near Dover

^5.2 Alarum trumpet call to arms

¹ father form of address for an old man

² host i.e. shelter

^5.2 retreat trumpet call signaling retreat

⁷ ta’en (are) captured

¹² Ripeness readiness/the right time

Act 5 Scene 3

^5.3 Location: the British camp, near Dover

¹ good guard guard them carefully

² greater pleasures the wishes of more important people (i.e. Goneril, Regan, Albany)

³ censure judge, sentence

⁵ meaning intentions

⁶ cast down humbled by fortune/defeated in battle/dejected

¹⁴ gilded butterflies actual butterflies/lavishly dressed courtiers

¹⁴ poor rogues wretched fellows

¹⁷ take … things understand the secret inner workings of the world

¹⁸ God’s spies spying on the world on God’s behalf/looking at the world from a lofty vantage point, like God

¹⁸ wear out outlive

¹⁹ packs and sects cliques and factions

²⁰ That … th’moon i.e. whose fortunes ebb and flow like the tides

²² sacrifices refers to either Cordelia’s sacrifice for Lear or their joint loss of freedom

²³ throw incense i.e. like priests performing the sacrifice

²⁴ brand … foxes alludes to the practice of smoking foxes out of their holes

²⁶ flesh and fell flesh and skin (i.e. entirely)

²⁷ starved dead

³³ tender-minded sensitive, soft-hearted

³⁴ become befit, suit

³⁵ bear question permit discussion

³⁸ write happy count yourself fortunate

³⁹ carry manage

⁴¹ strain lineage

⁴³ opposites opponents

⁴⁴ use treat

⁴⁸ retention detention, confinement

⁴⁹ Whose refers to the king

⁴⁹ charms bewitching spells

⁴⁹ title name of king/legal entitlement (to land and power)

⁵⁰ pluck … bosom draw the sympathies of the common people

⁵¹ turn … them i.e. turn our conscripted soldiers’ weapons against ourselves

⁵² queen i.e. Cordelia

⁵⁵ session hearing in a court of justice

⁵⁶ by your patience if you’ll excuse me

⁵⁷ subject of subordinate in

⁵⁹ list please

⁶⁰ pleasure … demanded wishes might have been asked

⁶² commission authority

⁶³ immediacy closeness, connection

⁶⁶ grace merit

⁶⁷ your addition the honors or titles you bestow on him

⁶⁹ compeers equals

⁷⁰ That … most i.e. he would be most fully invested with your rights

⁷² Holla whoa, stop

⁷³ asquint crookedly, distortedly

⁷⁵ full-flowing stomach a stomach full of anger (where stomach is used like “heart” for the seat of the passions)

⁷⁶ patrimony inheritance

⁷⁷ Dispose of use, deal with

⁷⁷ walls Regan images herself as a fortress surrendering

⁷⁸ Witness the world let the world witness

⁸⁰ enjoy i.e. have sex with him as your husband

⁸¹ let-alone permission or refusal to give it

⁸³ Half-blooded illegitimate (fellow is contemptuous)

⁸⁶ in i.e. along with

⁸⁷ gilded serpent i.e. Goneril

⁸⁷ For as for

⁸⁸ bar it prevent its advancement (legal term)

⁸⁹ subcontracted engaged for a second time, entered into a contract that is subsidiary to her marriage contract with Albany

⁹⁰ banns proclamation of marriage (spelled “banes” in Folio, perhaps playing on “evil-doings”)

⁹¹ make … to woo, make advances to

⁹² bespoke spoken for

⁹³ interlude brief comic play (i.e. “What a farce!”)

⁹⁷ pledge challenge/pledge to fight

⁹⁷ make it i.e. make it good

⁹⁸ nothing no way

¹⁰¹ medicine drugs (i.e. poison)

¹⁰² what whoever

¹⁰⁸ single virtue unaided courage or strength

¹¹⁵ quality or degree noble birth or high rank

¹¹⁶ lists catalog of soldiers

¹²⁷ canker-bit eaten away by canker-worms (grubs that feed on plants)

¹²⁹ cope encounter, fight with

¹³⁷ honours … profession i.e. as a knight

¹³⁸ protest declare

¹³⁹ Maugre despite

¹³⁹ place position, rank

¹⁴⁰ fire-new i.e. brand new, freshly minted

¹⁴³ Conspirant a conspirator

¹⁴⁴ upward top, crown

¹⁴⁵ descent lowest part, sole

¹⁴⁶ toad-spotted toads’ spots were believed to contain venom

¹⁴⁷ bent resolved/tensed for action

¹⁵² say assay, evidence

¹⁵³ nicely in strict keeping with the rules

¹⁵⁶ hell-hated lie the lie I hate as much as hell

¹⁵⁷ for they since they (the treasons)

¹⁵⁷ by off

¹⁵⁸ instant way an immediate passage (to your heart)

¹⁶⁰ him probably a call to Edgar to spare Edmund’s life so that a confession can be obtained from him

¹⁶¹ practice trickery

¹⁶⁴ cozened and beguiled cheated and deceived

¹⁶⁵ dame woman

¹⁶⁸ know recognize

¹⁷⁰ arraign indict, bring to trial

¹⁷³ govern restrain

¹⁷⁷ fortune on good fortune to defeat

¹⁷⁹ charity forgiveness

¹⁸¹ th’hast thou hast (i.e. you have)

¹⁸³ pleasant pleasurable (sexually so in this case)

¹⁸⁵ dark literally and metaphorically

¹⁸⁵ vicious immoral

¹⁸⁵ got begot, conceived

¹⁸⁸ wheel wheel of fortune

¹⁸⁹ prophesy suggest, foretell

¹⁹⁶ List listen (to)

¹⁹⁸ bloody proclamation i.e. the sentence of death pronounced on him

²⁰⁰ the … die would repeatedly suffer pain as bad as death

²⁰² semblance outward appearance

²⁰³ habit clothing/guise, appearance

²⁰⁴ rings i.e. eye sockets

²⁰⁶ despair the spiritual hopelessness that precedes suicide

²⁰⁹ success outcome (in the duel with Edmund)

²¹¹ pilgrimage course of events/period of exile/spiritual journey

²¹¹ flawed cracked

²¹⁹ dissolve i.e. in tears

²²⁵ smokes i.e. steams with hot blood

²³⁶ compliment etiquette (of greeting)

²³⁹ aye forever (Kent is aware he is dying)

²⁴¹ Great thing vital matter

²⁴³ object sight

²⁴⁸ Even exactly

²⁵¹ writ written order (for execution; a legal term)

²⁵⁵ office task, responsibility

²⁶³ fordid killed

²⁷⁰ stone specular stone, a crystalline substance used to make mirrors

²⁷² promised end the death Lear expected (when he divided the kingdom)/Judgment Day, the end of the world (the sense that Edgar understands)

²⁷⁴ Fall and cease! either Albany calls for the end of the world, or he wishes for Lear to die and be put out of his anguish

²⁸⁶ slave villain/wretched servant

²⁸⁹ falchion curved sword

²⁹¹ crosses troubles, frustrations

²⁹² Mine … o’th’best failing sight was believed to be a sign of approaching death

²⁹² straight in a moment

²⁹³ two … hated perhaps “two people she first loved and then hated”; it is not entirely clear who the one Kent refers to is

²⁹⁵ dull sight refers either to Lear’s dim eyesight or to the motionless Cordelia

²⁹⁷ caius the only mention of the name Kent assumed when he was in disguise

³⁰¹ I’ll … straight I’ll attend to that in a moment

³⁰² your … decay the beginning of the change and decline in your fortunes (may also suggest mental decay)

³⁰⁵ Nor … else completes Kent’s previous, unfinished sentence with “and no one else” as well as beginning his current one with “neither I nor anyone else (is welcome)”

³⁰⁶ fordone killed

³⁰⁷ desperately as a result of the spiritual despair that precedes suicide

³⁰⁹ vain … him it is useless for us to tell him who we are

³¹¹ bootless pointless

³¹⁵ this great decay noble ruin, i.e. Lear

³¹⁶ For as for

³¹⁶ resign hand over

³¹⁹ boot advantage, additions

³¹⁹ addition titles, honors

³²² cup painful experience (plays on the related sense of “drinking vessel”)

³²² see, see something attracts Albany’s attention, presumably to Lear

³²³ fool i.e. Cordelia (fool was a term of endearment), but recalls Lear’s Fool as well

³²⁷ this button may refer to Cordelia’s (hoping to help her breathe) or Lear’s own (if he is once again afflicted by “the mother,” the hysteria that causes one to struggle for breath)

³²⁷ sir it is unclear whom Lear addresses here

³³³ ghost spirit

³³⁴ rack torture instrument that stretched the limbs

³³⁵ longer for a longer period of time/to longer physical dimensions

³³⁸ usurped stole, made illegal use of (beyond its rightful length)

³⁴² gored wounded, bleeding

³⁴² sustain support/keep alive

³⁴³ journey i.e. to death

Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio

¹ Nor … sure and I am sure he is not

⁴ unnaturalness lack of natural family feeling

⁵ dearth famine

⁵ ancient amities long-standing friendships

⁵ divisions breaches, disagreements

⁶ maledictions curses

⁷ diffidences doubts, mistrust

⁷ dissipation of cohorts dispersal of troops

⁸ nuptial breaches breaking of marriage vows

⁹ sectary astronomical devotee of astrology (in the period, astronomy and astrology were often indistinguishable from one another)

¹¹ Not i.e. we are not

¹¹ Idle foolish/useless

¹⁴ used handled, dealt with

¹⁵ checks as flatteries rebukes instead of flattery

¹⁵ seen abused seen to be misguided

¹⁷ stand i.e. stand in

¹⁸ presently immediately

¹⁹ motley the traditional multicolored costume of the fool

²³ altogether fool entirely foolish (the Fool replies to the sense of “the only fool”)

²⁵ on’t of it

²⁷ snatching may imply snatching at the Fool’s genitals or phallic baton (picking up on and shifting the sense of part; fools were proverbially well-endowed)

²⁸ marks outward signs

²⁹ false falsely

³³ check rebuke

³³ low correction base punishment

³⁴ ’temnest most despised (contemnest)

³⁵ pilf’rings petty thefts

³⁵ trespasses crimes

³⁸ eyeless blind

³⁹ Catch seize

⁴² cubdrawn drained of milk by her cubs, ravenous

⁴² couch take cover, lie in its lair

⁴³ belly-pinchèd starving

⁴⁴ unbonneted bare-headed

⁴⁵ bids … all invites anyone who wishes to do so to take everything

⁴⁶ power army

⁴⁷ scattered divided

⁴⁸ Wise in aware of/taking advantage of

⁴⁸ feet footholds

⁴⁹ at … show on the point of displaying

⁵² on … far i.e. if you trust me so far as

⁵² credit trustworthiness

⁵⁴ making just report for making an accurate report

⁵⁵ bemadding madness-provoking

⁵⁶ ’plain complain, lament

⁵⁷ blood noble family

⁵⁸ assurance certainty

⁵⁹ office task

⁶³ arraign indict, put on trial

⁶³ straight straight away

⁶⁴ justice judge

⁶⁵ sapient wise

⁶⁷ Want’st thou do you lack

⁶⁷ eyes may signify “spectators”

⁶⁹ Come … me a snatch of popular song

⁶⁹ bourn stream

⁷⁰ Her … leak i.e. she is menstruating (or possibly “she has gonorrhea”)

⁷¹ speak say

⁷² come over i.e. for sex

⁷³ foul possible pun on “fool”

⁷⁴ Hopdance a devil associated with music (like all of the fiends Edgar mentions, taken from Samuel Harsnett’s 1603 Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures)

⁷⁶ black angel i.e. the fiend in Tom’s belly, which is causing it to rumble

⁷⁷ do are

⁷⁷ amazed stunned, overwhelmed

⁷⁸ cushings cushions

⁸¹ yoke-fellow of equity partner in fairness

⁸² Bench sit on the bench

⁸² o’th’commission of the panel of judges

⁸⁷ for … mouth i.e. if the shepherd summons his sheep back by playing his pipe

⁸⁷ minikin dainty/shrill

⁸⁹ Purr Harsnett mentions a devil called Purr, though devils were popularly thought to assume the shape of cats

⁹⁵ Cry you mercy I beg your pardon

⁹⁵ joint-stool a well-made stool

⁹⁶ another i.e. Regan

⁹⁶ warped looks contorted facial expression/warped wood

⁹⁷ store material/tradesman’s stock

⁹⁷ on of

⁹⁹ False justicer corrupt judge

⁹⁹ scape escape

¹⁰⁰ Oppressed overwhelmed/afflicted

¹⁰¹ balmed … sinews soothed your shattered nerves

¹⁰² convenience opportunity

¹⁰³ Stand … cure will be hard to heal

¹⁰⁵ bearing our woes enduring the same suffering as us

¹⁰⁷ Who … i’th’mind mental anguish is worst for those who suffer alone

¹⁰⁸ free carefree

¹⁰⁸ happy shows displays of happiness/visions of good fortune

¹⁰⁹ sufferance suffering

¹⁰⁹ o’erskip pass over, not notice

¹¹⁰ bearing endurance (of affliction)

¹¹¹ portable bearable

¹¹² bow i.e. bow down under a truly heavy weight (with suggestion of servile bowing, inappropriate to a king)

¹¹³ He … fathered his children have treated him as my father has treated me

¹¹⁴ high noises important rumors/what is being said among the powerful

¹¹⁴ bewray reveal

¹¹⁶ In … proof in proving you to be just

¹¹⁷ What … king whatever else happens tonight, may the king escape safely

¹¹⁸ Lurk i.e. stay out of sight

¹²² old … death i.e. die naturally, in old age

¹²⁴ Bedlam Bedlam beggar, i.e. Poor Tom

¹²⁵ where he would wherever he wants to go

¹²⁶ Allows itself to enables him to do

¹²⁷ flax … eggs both were conventionally used to soothe damaged eyes

¹³⁰ Obidicut … Flibbertigibbet more fiends mentioned by Samuel Harsnett; “flibbertigibbet” can also mean “a gossip” or “a flighty, frivolous woman”

¹³¹ mopping and mowing grimacing, making faces

¹³⁵ contemns i’th’origin despises its originator (father)

¹³⁶ bordered certain safely contained

¹³⁷ sliver and disbranch split and break off (like a branch from a tree)

¹³⁸ material essential, substantial

¹³⁸ perforce necessarily

¹³⁹ come … use be destroyed (like firewood)

¹⁴⁰ text sermon

¹⁴² savour but only enjoy, appreciate

¹⁴⁴ gracious generous/good/(as a king) possessed of divine grace

¹⁴⁵ reverence position deserving respect, venerable condition

¹⁴⁵ head-lugged that has been pulled about by its head, i.e. enraged

¹⁴⁶ madded sent mad

¹⁴⁷ brother brother-in-law, i.e. Cornwall

¹⁴⁷ suffer allow

¹⁴⁹ visible spirits spirits in visible form, avenging angels

¹⁵⁰ tame crush

¹⁵⁴ Fools … mischief i.e. only fools pity villains (like Lear) who are punished as a preventative measure before they have done wrong

¹⁵⁶ France the King of France

¹⁵⁶ noiseless silent, inactive

¹⁵⁷ plumèd helm (soldiers’) helmets adorned with feathers

¹⁵⁷ thy … threat begins to threaten the state

¹⁵⁸ moral moralizing

¹⁶⁰ self-covered self-concealing

¹⁶¹ Bemonster … feature do not make your beauty hideous by revealing your true fiend’s face

¹⁶¹ Were’t my fitness if it were proper for me

¹⁶² blood anger

¹⁶⁴ howe’er however much, although

¹⁶⁶ Marry by the Virgin Mary

¹⁶⁶ mew a contemptuous and belittling cat’s meow

¹⁶⁸ back i.e. to France

¹⁷⁰ imperfect unfinished

¹⁷¹ imports signifies, brings with it

¹⁷⁹ trilled trickled

¹⁸¹ passion strong emotion/grief

¹⁸⁵ goodliest best, most effectively

¹⁸⁷ smilets little smiles, half-smiles

¹⁹² so become it grace it so well, make it seem so attractive

¹⁹⁸ Let … believed! Put no trust in pity!

²⁰⁰ clamour moistened her the expression of her grief moistened her with tears

²⁰⁰ started hastened, went abruptly

²⁰⁴ mate and make husband and wife

²⁰⁵ issues children

²¹⁰ sometime sometimes

²¹⁰ tune i.e. frame of mind

²¹⁴ sovereign overpowering (plays on the related literal sense of “kingly”)

²¹⁴ elbows pushes, jostles

²¹⁶ casualties chance, uncertainties

²²² afoot on the move

²²⁴ attend wait on, look after

²²⁴ dear cause important reason

²²⁶ aright rightly, as myself

²²⁶ grieve regret

²³¹ deep rumbling, deep-voiced

²³¹ dread-bolted hurling terrifying thunderbolts

²³³ cross forked

²³³ watch remain awake/be on guard

²³⁴ perdu “lost one” (French), the name given to a guard placed in an extremely open, dangerous position

²³⁴ helm helmet/covering of hair

²³⁸ conductor … people commander of his forces

²⁴² Report rumor

²⁴³ powers … kingdom British forces

²⁴³ apace rapidly

²⁴⁴ arbitrament deciding of the dispute

²⁴⁶ point … wrought the conclusion of my aims will be thoroughly brought about

²⁴⁷ Or either

²⁴⁸ abuses dishonors, wrongs

²⁴⁹ doubtful fearful

²⁴⁹ conjunct And bosomed sexually intimate

²⁵⁰ as … hers to the fullest extent

²⁵³ honest honorable

²⁵⁴ For as for

²⁵⁵ touches us as i.e. affects our honor insofar as

²⁵⁶ bolds insofar as it emboldens

²⁵⁶ with (who) along with

²⁵⁷ Most … oppose has most just and weighty grounds for hostility

²⁶¹ the … sharpness i.e. in the heat of emotion even the best grounds for hostility are cursed by those who have suffered the losses and afflictions of battle (Edmund pretends to be anxious that Lear and Cordelia receive a fair trial)

²⁶⁵ period limit, extreme point

²⁶⁶ such … not those who do not love

²⁶⁶ another … extremity to enlarge upon another sorrowful tale (that of Kent) would increase sorrow even further and exceed all limits

²⁶⁹ big in clamour loud in lamentation

²⁷⁰ estate condition

²⁷³ fastened … neck i.e. embraced me

²⁷⁴ As as if

²⁷⁷ puissant powerful

²⁷⁷ strings of life i.e. heartstrings

²⁷⁹ ’tranced absorbed by grief/in a faint, unconscious

²⁸² enemy king i.e. the king who had treated him as an enemy

²⁸³ Improper for unfitting even for