Authors: William Shakespeare
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’erpaid
i.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)