52, Regan. "Joint stool" can also suggest the judicial bench; hence Goneril may be identified by the Fool, ironically, with those in power, who judge)

  53 store stuff

  54 Corruption ... place bribery in the court 60 counterfeiting i.e., feigned madness

  64 or ... or either ... or

  Tooth that poisons if it bite;

  Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,

  Hound or spaniel, brachdeg or lym,deg

  Or bobtail tike, or trundle-taildeg--

  Tom will make him weep and wail;

  For, with throwingdeg thus my head,

  Dogs leaped the hatch,deg and all are fled.

  Do, de, de, de. Sessa!deg Come, march to wakesdeg

  and fairs and market towns. Poor Tom, thy horndeg

  is dry.

  Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan. See what breeds about her heart.deg Is there any cause in nature that makedeg these hard hearts? [To Edgar] You, sir, I entertaindeg for one of my hundred;deg only I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say they are Persian;deg but let them be changed.

  Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.

  Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains.deg So, so. We'll go to supper i' th' morning.

  Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon.deg

  Enter Gloucester.

  Gloucester. Come hither, friend. Where is the King my master?

  Kent. Here, sir, but trouble him not; his wits are gone.

  Gloucester. Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms. 67 brach bitch

  67 lym bloadhound (from the liam or leash with which he was led)

  68 bobtail ... trundle-tail short-tailed or long-tailed cur

  70 throwing jerking (as a hound lifts its head from the ground, the scent having been lost)

  71 leaped the hatch leaped over the lower half of a divided door (i.e., left in a hurry)

  72 Sessa be off

  72 wakes feasts attending the dedication of a church

  73 horn horn bottle which the Bedlam used in begging a drink (Edgar is suggesting that he is unable to play his role any longer)

  75-76 Then ... heart i.e., if the Bedlam's horn is dry, let Regan, whose heart has become as hard as horn, be dissected

  77 make (subjunctive)

  78 entertain engage

  78 hundred i.e., Lear's hundred knights

  80 Persian gorgeous (ironically of Edgar's rags)

  82 curtains (Lear imagines himself in bed)

  84 And ... noon (the Fool's last words)

  I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him.

  There is a litter ready; lay him in't

  And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt

  meet

  Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master.

  If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,

  With thine and all that offer to defend him,

  Stand in assured loss. Take up, take up,

  And follow me, that will to some provisiondeg

  Give thee quick conduct.deg

  Kent. Oppressed nature sleeps. This rest might yet have balmed thy broken

  sinews,deg

  Which, if conveniencedeg will not allow,

  Stand in hard cure.deg [To the Fool] Come, help

  to bear thy master.

  Thou must not stay behind.

  Gloucester. Come, come, away!

  Exeunt [all but Edgar].

  Edgar. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes.deg

  Who alone suffers suffers most i' th' mind,

  Leaving freedeg things and happy showsdeg behind;

  But then the mind much sufferancedeg doth o'erskip

  When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.deg

  How light and portabledeg my pain seems now,

  When that which makes me bend makes the

  King bow.

  He childed as I fathered. Tom, away.

  Mark the high noises,deg and thyself bewraydeg

  When false opinion, whose wrong thoughtsdeg defile

  thee, 95 provision maintenance

  96 conduct direction

  97 balmed thy broken sinews soothed thy racked nerves

  98 convenience fortunate occasion

  99 Stand ... cure will be hard to cure

  102 our foes enemies peculiar to ourselves

  104 free carefree

  104 shows scenes

  105 sufferance suffering

  106 bearing fellowship suffering has company

  107 portable able to be supported or endured

  110 Mark the high noises observe the rumors of strife among those in power

  110 bewray reveal

  111 wrong thoughts misconceptions

  In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee.deg

  What will hap moredeg tonight, safe 'scape the King!

  Lurk,deg lurk. [Exit.]

  Scene 7. [Gloucester's castle.]

  Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants.

  Cornwall. [To Goneril] Post speedily to my Lord your husband; show him this letter. The army of France is landed. [To Servants] Seek out the traitor Gloucester. [Exeunt some of the Servants.] Regan. Hang him instantly.

  Goneril. Pluck out his eyes.

  Cornwall. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company. The revenges we are bounddeg to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the Duke where you are going, to a most festinatedeg preparation. We are bound to the like. Our postsdeg shall be swift and intelligentdeg betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my Lord of Gloucester.deg

  Enter Oswald.

  How now? Where's the King?

  Oswald. My Lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence. 112 In ... thee on the manifesting of your innocence recalls you from outlawry and restores amity between you and your father

  113 What ... more whatever else happens

  114 Lurk hide 3.7.9 bound (1) forced (2) purposing to

  11 festinate speedy

  12 posts messengers

  13 intelligent full of information

  14 Lord of Gloucester i.e., Edmund, now elevated to the title

  Some five or six and thirty of his knights,

  Hot questristsdeg after him, met him at gate;

  Who, with some other of the lords dependants,deg

  Are gone with him toward Dover, where they

  boast

  To have well-armed friends.

  Cornwall. Get horses for your mistress. [Exit Oswald.]

  Goneril. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

  Cornwall. Edmund, farewell. [Exeunt Goneril and Edmund.]

  Go seek the traitor Gloucester,

  Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.

  [Exeunt other Servants.]

  Though well we may not pass upondeg his life

  Without the form of justice, yet our power

  Shall do a court'sy todeg our wrath, which men

  May blame, but not control.

  Enter Gloucester, brought in by two or three.

  Who's there, the traitor?

  Regan. Ingrateful fox, 'tis he.

  Cornwall. Bind fast his corkydeg arms.

  Gloucester. What means your Graces? Good my friends, consider You are my guests. Do me no foul play, friends.

  Cornwall. Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him.]

  Regan. Hard, hard! O filthy traitor.

  Gloucester. Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.

  Cornwall. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find--

  18 questrists searchers

  19 lords dependants attendant lords (members of Lear's retinue)

  25 pass upon pass judgment on

  27 do a court'sy to indulge

  30 corky sapless (because old)

  [Regan plucks his beard. deg]

  Gloucester. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard.

  Regan. So
white, and such a traitor?

  Gloucester. Naughtydeg lady, These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin

  Will quickendeg and accuse thee. I am your host.

  With robber's hands my hospitable favorsdeg

  You should not ruffledeg thus. What will you do?

  Cornwall. Come, sir, what letters had you latedeg from France?

  Regan. Be simple-answered,deg for we know the truth.

  Cornwall. And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom?

  Regan. To whose hands you have sent the lunatic King: Speak.

  Gloucester. I have a letter guessinglydeg set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one opposed.

  Cornwall. Cunning.

  Regan. And false.

  Cornwall. Where hast thou sent the King?

  Gloucester. To Dover.

  Regan. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at perildeg--

  Cornwall. Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that. 35 s.d. plucks his beard (a deadly insult) 38 Naughty wicked

  40 quicken come to life

  41 hospitable favors face of your host

  42 ruffle tear at violently

  43 late recently

  44 simple-answered straightforward in answering

  48 guessingly without certain knowledge

  53 charged at peril ordered under penalty

  Gloucester. I am tied to th' stake, and I must stand the course. deg

  Regan. Wherefore to Dover?

  Gloucester. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister

  In his anointeddeg flesh rashdeg boarish fangs.

  The sea, with such a storm as his bare head

  In hell-black night endured, would have buoyeddeg up

  And quenched the stelleddeg fires.

  Yet, poor old heart, he holpdeg the heavens to rain.

  If wolves had at thy gate howled that dearndeg time,

  Thou shouldst have said, "Good porter, turn the

  key."deg

  All cruels else subscribe.deg But I shall see

  The wingeddeg vengeance overtake such children.

  Cornwall. See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

  Gloucester. He that will thinkdeg to live till he be old, Give me some help.--O cruel! O you gods!

  Regan. One side will mockdeg another. Th' other too.

  Cornwall. If you see vengeance--

  First Servant. Hold your hand, my lord! I have served you ever since I was a child;

  But better service have I never done you

  Than now to bid you hold.

  Regan. How now, you dog?

  First Servant. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, 55 course coursing (in which a relay of dogs baits a bull or bear tied in the pit)

  59 anointed holy (because king)

  59 rash strike with the tusk, like a boar

  61 buoyed risen

  62 stelled (1) fixed (as opposed to the planets or wandering stars) (2) starry

  63 holp helped

  64 dearn dread

  65 turn the key i.e., unlock the gate

  66 All cruels else subscribe all cruel creatures but man are compassionate

  67 winged (1) heavenly (2) swift

  70 will think expects

  72 mock make ridiculous (because of the contrast)

  I'd shake itdeg on this quarrel. What do you mean!deg

  Cornwall. My villain!deg

  Draw and fight.

  First Servant. Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.

  Regan. Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus? She takes a sword and runs at him behind, kills him.

  First Servant. O, I am slain! my lord, you have one eye left To see some mischiefdeg on him. O!

  Cornwall. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly. Where is thy luster now?

  Gloucester. All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Edmund? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of naturedeg

  To quitdeg this horrid act.

  Regan. Out, treacherous villain, Thou call'st on him that hates thee. It was he

  That made the overturedeg of thy treasons to us;

  Who is too good to pity thee.

  Gloucester. O my follies! Then Edgar was abused.deg Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him.

  Regan. Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover. Exit [one] with Gloucester.

  How is't, my lord? How look you?deg

  Cornwall. I have received a hurt. Follow me, lady. Turn out that eyeless villain. Throw this slave

  Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace. 78 shake it (an insult comparable to Regan's plucking of Gloucester's beard)

  78 What ... mean i.e., what terrible thing arc you doing

  79 villain serf (with a suggestion of the modem meaning)

  83 mischief injury

  87 enkindle ... nature fan your natural feeling into flame

  88 quit requite

  90 overture disclosure

  92 abused wronged.

  95 How look you how are you

  Untimely comes this hurt. Give me your arm.

  Exeunt.

  Second Servant. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man come to good.

  Third Servant. If she live long, And in the end meet the old course of death,deg Women will all turn monsters.

  Second Servant. Let's follow the old Earl, and get the Bedlam To lead him where he would. His roguish madness Allows itself to anything.deg

  Third Servant. Go thou. I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs To apply to his bleeding face. Now heaven help him. [Exeunt severally.]

  102 meet ... death die the customary death of old age

  105-6 His ... anything his lack of all self-control leaves him open to any suggestion

  ACT 4

  Scene 1. [The heath.]

  Enter Edgar.

  Edgar. Yet better thus, and known to be contemned,deg Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst,

  The lowest and most dejecteddeg thing of fortune,

  Stands still in esperance,deg lives not in fear:

  The lamentable change is from the best,

  The worst returns to laughter.deg Welcome then,

  Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!

  The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst

  Owesdeg nothing to thy blasts.

  Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.

  But who comes here?

  My father, poorly led?deg World, world, O world!

  But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,

  Life would not yield to age.deg

  Old Man. O, my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.

  Gloucester. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: 4.1.1 known to be contemned conscious of being despised

  3 dejected abased

  4 esperance hope

  6 returns to laughter changes for the better

  9 Owes is in debt for

  10 poorly led (1) led like a poor man, with only one attendant (2) led by a poor man

  11-12 But ... age we should not agree to grow old and hence die, except for the hateful mutability of life

  Thy comfortsdeg can do me no good at all;

  Thee they may hurt.deg

  Old Man. You cannot see your way.

  Gloucester. I have no way and therefore wantdeg no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen,

  Our means secure us, and our mere defects

  Prove our commodities.deg Oh, dear son Edgar,

  The fooddeg of thy abuseddeg father's wrath!

  Might I but live to see thee indeg my touch,

  I'd say I had eyes again!

  Old Man. How now! Who's there?

  Edgar. [Aside] O Gods! Who is 't can say "I am at the worst"? I am worse than e'er I was.

  Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom.

  Edgar. [As
ide] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not So long as we can say "This is the worst."deg

  Old Man. Fellow, where goest?

  Gloucester. Is it a beggar-man?

  Old Man. Madman and beggar too.

  Gloucester. He has some reason,deg else he could not beg. I' th' last night's storm I such a fellow saw,

  Which made me think a man a worm. My son

  Came then into my mind, and yet my mind

  Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard

  more since.

  As flies to wantondeg boys, are we to th' gods, 16 comforts ministrations

  17 hurt injure

  18 want require

  20-21 Our ... commodities our resources make us overconfident, while our afflictions make for our advantage

  22 food i.e., the object on which Gloucester's anger fed

  22 abused deceived

  23 in i.e., with, by means of

  27-28 the ... worst so long as a man continues to suffer (i.e., is still alive), even greater suffering may await him

  31 reason faculty of reasoning

  36 wanton (1) playful (2) reckless

  They kill us for their sport.

  Edgar. [Aside] How should this be?deg Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,

  Ang'ringdeg itself and others. Bless thee, master!

  Gloucester. Is that the naked fellow?

  Old Man. Ay, my lord.

  Gloucester. Then, prithee, get thee gone: if for my sake Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain

  I' th' way toward Dover, do it for ancientdeg love,

  And bring some covering for this naked soul,

  Which I'll entreat to lead me.

  Old Man. Alack, sir, he is mad.

  Gloucester. 'Tis the times' plague,deg when madmen lead the blind. Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;deg

  Above the rest,deg be gone.

  Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'pareldeg that I have, Come on 't what will. Exit.