King lear, p.27
King Lear, page 27
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
