King Lear

³⁵again back again (refers either to an intention to reclaim sovereignty, or to Goneril’s withdrawal of Lear’s privileges)

⁴²temper my right state of mind

⁴⁶maid virgin

⁴⁷things penises

Act 2 Scene 1

^2.1Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

^2.1severally separately

¹Save thee God save thee (a common greeting)

⁷abroad out there, in circulation

⁷ones i.e. the news, regarded as plural

⁷ear-kissing arguments rumored, whispered topics, not established truths

¹⁰toward impending

¹⁵perforce of necessity

¹⁶take arrest

¹⁷queasy question dangerous, uncertain nature

²⁰watches is on guard, on the lookout

²¹intelligence information

²⁴i’th’haste in haste

²⁵have … Albany i.e. have you spoken in support of Cornwall and against Albany/have you spoken critically about Cornwall’s hostility to Albany

²⁷Advise yourself consider

³⁰In cunning to deceive (Gloucester; though playing on the fact that it is Edgar who is being tricked)

³¹quit you acquit yourself

³⁴beget … endeavour give the impression that I fought more fiercely

³⁵fierce violent/brave/zealous

⁴⁰conjuring invoking

⁴⁰the moon i.e. Hecate, goddess of the moon and of witchcraft

⁴¹stand auspicious mistress favor him as his patroness

⁵⁰bend direct

⁵²fine conclusion

⁵³loathly opposite deeply opposed, horrified

⁵⁴fell savage, ruthless

⁵⁵preparèd unsheathed

⁵⁵charges home makes a direct attack on

⁵⁶unprovided unprotected

⁵⁶latched caught

⁵⁷alarumed stirred, roused

⁵⁸quarrel’s right rightfulness of my cause

⁵⁸th’encounter the fight

⁵⁹ghasted frightened

⁶⁰Full very

⁶³found — dispatch once found, he shall be killed

⁶⁴arch and patron chief patron

⁶⁷stake i.e. place of execution

⁷⁰pight determined

⁷⁰curst angry

⁷¹discover reveal his plans

⁷²unpossessing unable to take possession of land and property (illegitimate children could not legally inherit)

⁷³would stand against stood against, contradicted

⁷³reposal placing

⁷⁵faithed believed

⁷⁷character handwriting

⁷⁸suggestion incitement to evil

⁷⁸practice scheme

⁷⁹make … world think the world very stupid

⁸⁰not thought did not think

⁸⁰profits i.e. benefits to Edmund

⁸¹pregnant … spirits fertile and powerful temptations (literally, evil spirits)

^2.1Tucket personal trumpet call, here signaling the arrival of Cornwall

⁸³strange unnatural

⁸³fastened confirmed, determined

⁸⁵where why

⁸⁶ports seaports/gates of walled towns

⁸⁷picture could also mean “description”

⁹⁰natural naturally loyal and loving to one’s family (plays on the sense of “illegitimate”)

⁹⁰work the means find a way

⁹¹capable able to inherit

¹⁰¹tended upon attended, waited on

¹⁰³consort company (often pejorative)

¹⁰⁴though … affected if he is ill-disposed

¹⁰⁵put him on incited him to

¹⁰⁶th’expense the spending

¹¹³child-like i.e. obedient, loving

¹¹³office duty/service

¹¹⁵bewray inform on, expose

¹¹⁵his practice Edgar’s plot

¹²⁰make … please to achieve your ends, use my means and authority in any way you wish

¹²¹For as for

¹²³be ours i.e. work for us, join our household

¹²⁵seize on take possession of (legal term)

¹²⁹out of season inconveniently, unconventionally

¹²⁹threading finding a way through (sewing image)

¹²⁹dark-eyed quibbling on the idea of a needle’s eye

¹³⁰occasions events/circumstances

¹³⁰prize importance

¹³³differences disputes

¹³⁴from away from

¹³⁵attend dispatch wait to be dispatched

¹³⁸craves … use requires immediate action.

Act 2 Scene 2

^2.2Location: outside the Earl of Gloucester’s residence

^2.2severally separately

¹dawning it is actually before dawn; we later learn that the moon shines

²Ay in fact, Kent is not a servant at this house; perhaps Kent opens up an opportunity to abuse Oswald

³set put, lodge (Kent plays on the sense of “fix, make stuck”)

⁴mire mud

⁵if … me i.e. if you would be so kind (Kent pretends to take the expression literally)

⁸Lipsbury pinfold the pound for stray animals in Lips-town (i.e. “between my teeth”)

¹⁰use treat

¹²for as

¹³knave rogue (two lines later the sense shifts to “servant”)

¹³broken meats scraps of food