23
Trey … Sweetheart names for bitches—even his female dogs, he imagines, have turned against him; their names may suggest Lear’s daughters (“tray” can mean “pain, affliction,” “blanch” can mean “to deceive,” “to flatter”)24
throw his head unclear; presumably a threatening gesture of some sort24
Avaunt begone25
or black or either black or26
poisons i.e. with rabies27
grim fierce28
brach bitch28
him male29
bobtail tyke small dog with a tail that has been bobbed (cut short)29
trundle-tail dog with a long, curling tail32
hatch lower half of a divided door33
Do … de apparently the sound of chattering teeth again33
Sessa! cry of encouragement used in hunting or may derive from the French33
wakes annual parish fairs (frequented by beggars)34
horn beggars carried drinking horns on strings round their necks35
anatomize dissect37
entertain employ39
Persian i.e. gorgeous, luxurious41
curtains Lear imagines that he is in a curtained bed48
litter vehicle containing a bed, here apparently drawn by horses49
Dover port on the south coast54
to … conduct i.e. hastily guide you to the necessary supplies for your journeyAct 3 Scene 7
3.7
1
Post travel swiftly7
sister sister-in-law, i.e. Goneril8
Advise counsel, urge9
duke i.e. the Duke of Albany9
festinate preparation hasty preparation of troops10
posts messengers11
intelligent possessed of information12
lord of Gloucester Edmund’s new title (though when Oswald uses it, he refers to Edmund’s father)17
questrists seekers18
the lord’s i.e. Gloucester’s25
Pinion him bind his arms26
pass … justice issue a death sentence without a formal trial28
do a court’sy bow, yield31
corky withered, dry3.7
41
white i.e. old, dignified42
Naughty wicked43
ravish seize forcibly, pluck44
quicken come to life45
hospitable favours welcoming (facial) features46
ruffle treat roughly/snatch48
Be simple answered answer straightforwardly50
Late footed recently landed52
guessingly without certain knowledge54
opposed i.e. to the dukes59
charged at peril commanded on peril of your life61
tied to th’stake like a bear in the popular sport of bear-baiting61
stand endure61
course designated bout, during which the bear was attacked by dogs65
anointed i.e. holy (having been anointed with holy oil at the coronation)67
buoyed swelled, risen68
stellèd starry69
holp helped69
holp … rain i.e. by weeping70
stern cruel, unyielding71
turn the key i.e. to let them in72
All … subscribe i.e. in such circumstances, all other cruel people would sanction a kind action73
wingèd vengeance i.e. vengeance of the gods74
Fellows servants86
shake … quarrel i.e. defy you (or “challenge you to a fight”) over this cause86
What … mean? What do you think you are doing?87
villain servant88
chance of anger risk of what anger may bring (in a fight)91
mischief on him injury done to him95
sparks of nature warmth of natural filial affection96
quit requite, avenge97
Out expression of impatience and disgust99
overture disclosure101
abused wronged, maligned105
How look you? How are you?108
apace rapidly109
Untimely at the wrong time (with war imminent)3.7
Act 4 Scene 1
4.1
1
thus i.e. a beggar1
contemned despised2
contemned and flattered despised secretly though flattered to your face4
esperance hope5
The … laughter the most miserable kind of change is a decline in fortunes; when things are at their worst they can only get better10
poorly led led by a poor man/led in a way unsuitable to his status12
But were it not12
mutations changes/fickleness13
Life … age we would not accept old age15
fourscore eighty18
Thee … hurt i.e. you may be punished for helping me22
means secure us wealth gives us false security, overconfidence