147 are ... me is that what you tell me
149 heavy case sad plight (pun on 1. 146)
149 light i.e., empty
151 feelingly (1) by touch (2) by feeling pain (3) with emotion
154 simple common, of low estate
155 handy-dandy i.e., choose, guess (after the children's game--"Handy-dandy, prickly prandy"--of choosing the right hand)
160 image of authority symbol revealing the true meaning of authority
160-61 a ... office i.e., whoever has power is obeyed
162 beadle parish constable
164 kind i.e., sexual act
For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the
cozener.deg
Through tattered clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furred gownsdeg hide all. Plate sin with
gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtlessdeg breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pygmy's straw does pierce it.
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll abledeg
'em:
Take thatdeg of me, my friend, who have the power
To seal th' accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,deg
And, like a scurvy politician,deg seem
To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now,
now.
Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so.
Edgar. O, matter and impertinencydeg mixed! Reason in madness!
Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.
Gloucester. Alack, alack the day!
Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools. This'deg a good block.deg 164-65 The usurer ... cozener i.e., the powerful moneylender, in his role as judge, puts to death the petty cheat
167 Robes and furred gowns (worn by a judge)
168 hurtless i.e., without hurting the sinner
170 able vouch for
171 that (the immunity just conferred) (1. 170)
172 glass eyes spectacles
173 scurvy politician vile politic man
176 matter and impertinency sense and nonsense
185 This' this is
185 block (various meanings have been suggested, for example, the stump of a tree, on which Lear is supposed to climb; a mounting-block, which suggests "horse" 1.
187; a hat [which Lear or another must be made to wear], from the block on which a felt hat is molded, and which would suggest a "felt" 1.
187. The proposal here is that "block" be taken to denote the quintain, whose function is to bear blows, "a mere lifeless block" [As You Like It, 1.2.263], an object shaped like a man and used for tilting practice. See also Much Ado, 2.1.246-7, "she misused me past the endurance of a block!" and, in the same passage, the associated reference, "I stood like a man at a mark [target]" [1.253])
It were a delicatedeg stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;deg
And when I have stol'n upon these son-in-laws,
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter a Gentleman [with Attendants].
Gentleman. O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir, Your most dear daughter--
Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even The natural fooldeg of fortune..Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
I am cutdeg to th' brains.
Gentleman. You shall have anything.
Lear. No seconds?deg all myself? Why, this would make a man a man of salt,deg
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.
Gentleman. Good sir--
Lear. I will die bravely,deg like a smugdeg bridegroom.deg What! I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king; Masters, know you that?
Gentleman. You are a royal one, and we obey you.
Lear. Then there's life in 't.deg Come, and you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.deg
Exit [running; Attendants follow].
Gentleman. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to,deg
186 delicate subtle
187 put't in proof test it
193 natural fool born sport (with pun on "natural": "imbecile")
195 cut wounded
196 seconds supporters
197 man of salt i.e., all (salt) tears
201 bravely (1) smartly attired (2) courageously
201 smug spick and span
201 bridegroom whose "brave" sexual feats are picked up in the pun on "die"
205 there's life in't there's still hope
206 Sa ... sa hunting and rallying cry; also an interjection of defiance
209-10 general ... to (1) universal condemnation which Goneril and Regan have made for (2) damnation incurred by the original sin of Adam and Eve
Edgar. Hail, gentledeg sir.
Gentleman. Sir, speeddeg you: what's your will?
Edgar. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?deg
Gentleman. Most sure and vulgar:deg every one hears that, Which can distinguish sound.
Edgar. But, by your favor, How near's the other army?
Gentleman. Near and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought.deg deg
Edgar. I thank you, sir: that's all.
Gentleman. Though that the Queen on special cause is here, Her army is moved on.
Edgar. I thank you, sir.
Exit [Gentleman].
Gloucester. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; Let not my worser spiritdeg tempt me again
To die before you please.
Edgar. Well pray you, father.
Gloucester. Now, good sir, what are you?
Edgar. A most poor man, made tamedeg to fortune's blows; Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,deg
Am pregnantdeg to good pity. Give me your hand,
I'll lead you to some biding.deg
Gloucester. Hearty thanks; 211 gentle noble
211 speed God speed
212 toward impending
213 vulgar common knowledge
216-17 the ... thought we expect to see the main body of the army any hour
221 worser spirit bad angel, evil side of my nature
224 tame submissive 2
25 art ... sorrows instruction of sorrows painfully experienced
226 pregnant disposed
227 biding place of refuge
The bounty and the benisondeg of heaven
To boot, and boot.deg
Enter Oswald.
Oswald. A proclaimed prizedeg! Most happy!deg That eyeless head of thine was first frameddeg flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself reinember:deg the sword is out
That must destroy thee.
Gloucester. Now let thy friendlydeg hand Put strength enough to 't.
[Edgar interposes.]
Oswald. Wherefore, bold peasant, Dar'st thou support a publisheddeg traitor? Hence!
Lest that th' infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
Edgar. Chilldeg not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.deg
Oswald. Let go, slave, or thou diest!
Edgar. Good gentleman, go your gait,deg and let poor volkdeg pass. And chud ha' bin zwaggereddeg out of my life, 'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis by a vort-night. Nay, come not near th' old man; keep out, che vor' ye,deg or I'sedeg try whether your costarddeg or my ballowo be the harder: chill be plain with you.
Oswald. Out, dunghill!
They fight.
228 benison blessing
229 To boot, and boot
also, and in the highest degree
229 proclaimed prize i.e., one with a price on his head
229 happy fortunate (for Oswald)
230 framed created
232 thyself remember i.e., pray, think of your sins
233 friendly i.e., because it offers the death Gloucester covets
235 published proclaimed
238 Chill ... (Edgar speaks in rustic dialect)
238 Chill I will
238 vurther 'casion further occasion
240 gait way
241 volk folk
241 And chud ha' bin zwaggered if I could have been swaggered
244 Che vor' ye I warrant you
244 I'se I shall
244 costard head (literally, "apple")
245 ballow cudgel
Edgar. Chill pick your teeth,deg zir: come; no matter vor your foins.deg
[Oswald falls.]
Oswald. Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse: If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters which thou find'st aboutdeg me
To Edmund Earl of Gloucester; seek him out
Upon the English party.deg O, untimely death!
Death!
He dies.
Edgar. I know thee well. A serviceabledeg villain, As duteousdeg to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
Gloucester. What, is he dead?
Edgar. Sit you down, father; rest you. Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks
of
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry
He had no other deathsman.deg Let us see:
Leave,deg gentle wax;deg and, manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we rip their hearts;
Their papersdeg is more lawful.
Reads the letter.
"Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not,deg time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror: then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labor.
"Your--wife, so I woulddeg say--affectionate 248 Chill pick your teeth I will knock your teeth out
249 foins thrusts
252 about upon
254 party side
256 serviceable ready to be used
257 duteous obedient
262 deathsman executioner
263 Leave by your leave
263 wax (with which the letter is sealed)
265 Their papers i.e., to rip their papers
267-68 if ... not if your desire (and lust) be not lacking
273 would would like to
servant, and for you her own for venture,deg
'Goneril.' "
O indistinguished space of woman's will!deg
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchangedeg my brother! Here in the sands
Thee I'll rake up,deg the post unsanctifieddeg
Of murderous lechers; and in the maturedeg time,
With this ungracious paperdeg strikedeg the sight
Of the death-practiceddeg Duke: for him 'tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.
Gloucester. The King is mad: how stiffdeg is my vile sense,deg That I stand up, and have ingeniousdeg feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:deg
So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginationsdeg lose
The knowledge of themselves.
Drum afar off.
Edgar. Give me your hand: Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I'll bestowdeg you with a friend.
Exeunt.
Scene 7. [A tent in the French camp.]
Enter Cordelia, Kent, Doctor, and Gentleman.
Cordelia. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work, 274 and ... venture i.e., and one who holds you her own for venturing (Edmund had earlier been promised union by Goneril, "If you dare venture in your own behalf," 4.2.20).
276 indistinguished ... will unlimited range of woman's lust
278 exchange substitute
279 rake up cover up, bury
279 post unsanctified unholy messenger
280 mature ripe
281 ungracious paper wicked letter
281 strike blast
282 death-practiced whose death is plotted
284 stiff unbending
284 vile sense hateful capacity for feeling
285 ingenious conscious
286 distract distracted, mad
288 wrong imaginations delusions
291 bestow lodge
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me.
Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid. All my reports godeg with the modest truth, Nor more nor clipped,deg but so.
Cordelia, Be better suited:deg These weedsdeg are memoriesdeg of those worser
hours:
I prithee, put them off.
Kent. Pardon, dear madam; Yet to be known shortens my made intent:deg
My boon I make it,deg that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.deg
Cordelia. Then be 't so, my good lord. [To the Doctor. ] How does the King?
Doctor. Madam, sleeps still.
Cordelia. O you kind gods! Cure this great breach in his abuseddeg nature.
Th' untuned and jarring senses, 0, wind updeg
Of this child-changed father.
Doctor. So please your Majesty That we may wake the King: he hath slept long.
Cordelia. Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed I' th' sway ofdeg your own will. Is he arrayed?
Enter Lear in a chair carried by Servants.
4.7.5 go conform
6 clipped curtailed
6 suited attired
7 weeds clothes
7 memories reminders
9 Yet ... intent to reveal myself just yet interferes with the plan I have made
10 My boon I make it I ask this reward
11 meet fitting
15 abused disturbed
16 wind up tune
17 child-changed changed, deranged (and also, reduced to a child) by the cruelty of his children
20 I' th' sway of according to
Gentleman. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of sleep We put fresh garments on him. Doctor. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance.deg Cordelia. Very well. Doctor. Please you, draw near. Louder the music there! Cordelia. O my dear father, restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverencedeg made. Kent. Kind and dear Princess. Cordelia. Had you not been their father, these white flakesdeg Did challengedeg pity of them. Was this a face To be opposed against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolteddeg thunder? In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick, crossdeg lightning to watch--poor perdu!deg--With this thin helm?deg Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire; and wast thou fain,deg poor father, To hovel thee with swine and roguesdeg forlorn, In shortdeg and musty straw? Alack, alack! 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.deg He wakes; speak to him.
Doctor. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.
24 temperance sanity
29 reverence revered person
30 flakes hairs (in long strands)
31 challenge claim
33 deep dread-bolted deep-voiced and furnished with the dreadful thunderbolt
35 cross zigzag
35 perdu (1) sentry in a forlorn position (2) lost one
36 helm helmet (his scanty hair)
38 fain pleased
39 rogues vagabonds
40 short (when straw is freshly cut, it is long, and suitable for bedding, given its flexibility and crispness. As it is used, it becomes musty, shre
ds into pieces, is "short." In contemporary Maine usage, "short manure" refers to dung mixed with straw that has been broken up; "long manure" to dung mixed with coarse new straw)
42 concluded all come to a complete end
Cordelia. How does my royal lord? How fares your Majesty?
Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire,deg that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
Cordelia. Sir, do you know me?
Lear. You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
Cordelia. Still, still, far wide.deg
Doctor. He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.
Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused.deg I should ev'n die with pity,
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands: let's see;
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.
Cordelia. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hand in benediction o'er me. You must not kneel.
Lear. Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fonddeg old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;
And, to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you and know this man,
Yet I am doubtful; for I am mainlydeg ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments, nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
Cordelia. And so I am, I am.
Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. 47 wheel of fire (torment associated by the Middle Ages with Hell, where Lear thinks he is)
50 wide i.e., of the mark (of sanity)
53 abused deluded
60 fond in dotage
65 mainly entirely
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause, they have not.
Cordelia. No cause, no cause. Lear. Am I in France?
King Lear (Folger Shakespeare Library) Page 20
