Authors: William Shakespeare
327
sir
it is unclear whom Lear addresses here
333
ghost
spirit
334
rack
torture instrument that stretched the limbs
335
longer
for a longer period of time/to longer physical dimensions
338
usurped
stole, made illegal use of (beyond its rightful length)
342
gored
wounded, bleeding
342
sustain
support/keep alive
343
journey
i.e. to death
Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio
1
Nor … sure
and I am sure he is not
4
unnaturalness
lack of natural family feeling
5
dearth
famine
5
ancient amities
long-standing friendships
5
divisions
breaches, disagreements
6
maledictions
curses
7
diffidences
doubts, mistrust
7
dissipation of cohorts
dispersal of troops
8
nuptial breaches
breaking of marriage vows
9
sectary astronomical
devotee of astrology (in the period, astronomy and astrology were often indistinguishable from one another)
11
Not
i.e. we are not
11
Idle
foolish/useless
14
used
handled, dealt with
15
checks as flatteries
rebukes instead of flattery
15
seen abused
seen to be misguided
17
stand
i.e. stand in
18
presently
immediately
19
motley
the traditional multicolored costume of the fool
23
altogether fool
entirely foolish (the Fool replies to the sense of “the only fool”)
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