Authors: William Shakespeare
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