King Lear, page 30
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
William Shakespeare, King Lear
