King Lear

¹³⁰between … snow forecasts frigidity between her legs

¹³¹minces virtue affects chastity

¹³¹shake the head i.e. in disapproval

¹³³fitchew polecat/prostitute

¹³³soilèd fed with green fodder, so lively, skittish

¹³⁴riotous unrestrained, lustful

¹³⁵centaurs mythical creatures that were human above the waist and horse below; reputed to be lustful

¹³⁶But … girdle only as far as the waist

¹³⁶inherit possess, have power over

¹³⁸hell slang term for the vagina

¹³⁸sulphurous suggests both hell and syphilis

¹³⁹burning … consumption alludes to painful syphilitic burning, odor and decay (consumption)

¹⁴⁰civet perfume

¹⁴⁰apothecary person who prepared and sold drugs, spices, perfumes etc.

¹⁴³mortality being human/death

¹⁴⁵so similarly

¹⁴⁷squinny squint

¹⁴⁷Cupid Roman god of love, traditionally depicted as blind or blindfolded

¹⁴⁸challenge written challenge to a duel

¹⁴⁸penning style/handwriting

¹⁵⁰take … report believe it if I heard it reported

¹⁵³case sockets

¹⁵⁵heavy case sorrowful predicament

¹⁵⁷feelingly literally, through touch/with great emotion

¹⁵⁹justice judge

¹⁶⁰simple humble

¹⁶¹handy-dandy take your pick (from the child’s game of guessing which clenched hand contains something)

¹⁶⁵a … office given authority, even a dog will be obeyed

¹⁶⁷beadle parish officer, responsible for punishing thieves, prostitutes, and vagabonds

¹⁶⁹use employ sexually

¹⁶⁹kind manner

¹⁷⁰usurer moneylender, notorious for charging excessively high interest

¹⁷⁰cozener cheat

¹⁷²Place … gold i.e. when sins are committed by the rich

¹⁷³hurtless harmlessly

¹⁷⁴it i.e. sin

¹⁷⁵able ’em authorize them

¹⁷⁸scurvy politician despicable schemer

¹⁷⁹Now … now perhaps comforting Gloucester, perhaps distracted by his boots

¹⁸¹matter and impertinency sense and nonsense

¹⁸⁴hither i.e. into this world

¹⁸⁹block style of hat or mold for hats (perhaps Lear removes his headgear)/block from which to mount a horse/tree stump (stage may even give rise to a sense of “scaffold and executioner’s block”)

¹⁹⁰delicate ingenious

¹⁹¹put’t in proof try it out

^4.3Gentleman perhaps the same man that Kent gave instructions to in Act 3 Scene 1

¹⁹⁷natural fool born fool (as opposed to a professional jester)

²⁰¹seconds supporters (as for a duel)

²⁰²salt i.e. tears

²⁰⁴die plays on the sense of “orgasm”

²⁰⁴bravely handsomely

²⁰⁵jovial cheerful/majestic (like Jove, king of the gods)

²⁰⁶Masters sirs

²⁰⁹Sa … sa hunting cry, from French ça (“that’s it,” “it’s there”)

²¹²nature i.e. human nature

²¹²general curse curse of original sin

²¹³twain Adam and Eve (but also suggests Goneril and Regan)

²¹⁴gentle noble

²¹⁵speed you (may God) prosper you

²¹⁶toward impending

²¹⁷vulgar widely known

²¹⁹by your favour if you would be so good

²²¹main … thought sight of the main army is expected hourly

²²⁴Though that though

²²⁴on special cause for a special reason (i.e. to find Lear)

²²⁹worser spirit evil angel/bad side of my nature

²³⁴known … sorrows deeply felt sorrows I have experienced

²³⁵pregnant … pity disposed to compassion

²³⁶biding dwelling

²³⁸benison blessing

²³⁹To … boot in addition, and may it benefit you

²⁴⁰proclaimed prize i.e. a man with a price on his head

²⁴⁰happy fortunate

²⁴¹framed flesh conceived and born

²⁴³thyself remember recall your sins (i.e. prepare to die)

²⁴⁸published proclaimed

²⁵¹’Chill I shall

²⁵¹’chill … ’casion I shall not let go, sir, without further occasion (cause); for his new persona, Edgar adopts a West Country accent in which he substitutes “v” for “f” and “z” for “s”

²⁵³your gait on your way

²⁵⁴An … vortnight if I could have been killed by boasting, I would not have lasted a fortnight (or “it would have been shorter by a fortnight”)

²⁵⁶che vor ye I warrant you, I promise you

²⁵⁶i’se I shall

²⁵⁷costard head (literally, a large apple)

²⁵⁷ballow cudgel

²⁵⁹pick knock out with the cudgel

²⁵⁹foins sword thrusts

²⁶⁴party side

²⁶⁵serviceable eager to serve, ready to do anything

²⁷²deathsman executioner

²⁷³Leave give me leave, permit me

²⁷⁷will desire/lust

²⁷⁷want not is not lacking

²⁷⁸done achieved

²⁸¹for your labour as a reward for your efforts/as a place for sexual activity