уильям шекспир - King Lear

52 queeni.e. Cordelia

55 sessionhearing in a court of justice

56 by your patienceif you’ll excuse me

57 subject ofsubordinate in

59 listplease

60 pleasure … demandedwishes might have been asked

62 commissionauthority

63 immediacycloseness, connection

66 gracemerit

67 your additionthe honors or titles you bestow on him

69 compeersequals

70 That … mosti.e. he would be most fully invested with your rights

72 Hollawhoa, stop

73 asquintcrookedly, distortedly

75 full-flowing stomacha stomach full of anger (where stomach is used like “heart” for the seat of the passions)

76 patrimonyinheritance

77 Dispose ofuse, deal with

77 wallsRegan images herself as a fortress surrendering

78 Witness the worldlet the world witness

80 enjoyi.e. have sex with him as your husband

81 let-alonepermission or refusal to give it

83 Half-bloodedillegitimate (fellow is contemptuous)

86 ini.e. along with

87 gilded serpenti.e. Goneril

87 Foras for

88 bar itprevent its advancement (legal term)

89 subcontractedengaged for a second time, entered into a contract that is subsidiary to her marriage contract with Albany

90 bannsproclamation of marriage (spelled “banes” in Folio, perhaps playing on “evil-doings”)

91 make … towoo, make advances to

92 bespokespoken for

93 interludebrief comic play (i.e. “What a farce!”)

97 pledgechallenge/pledge to fight

97 make iti.e. make it good

98 nothingno way

101 medicinedrugs (i.e. poison)

102 whatwhoever

108 single virtueunaided courage or strength

115 quality or degreenoble birth or high rank

116 listscatalog of soldiers

127 canker-biteaten away by canker-worms (grubs that feed on plants)

129 copeencounter, fight with

137 honours … professioni.e. as a knight

138 protestdeclare

139 Maugredespite

139 placeposition, rank

140 fire-newi.e. brand new, freshly minted

143 Conspiranta conspirator

144 upwardtop, crown

145 descentlowest part, sole

146 toad-spottedtoads’ spots were believed to contain venom

147 bentresolved/tensed for action

152 sayassay, evidence

153 nicelyin strict keeping with the rules

156 hell-hated liethe lie I hate as much as hell

157 for theysince they (the treasons)

157 byoff

158 instant wayan immediate passage (to your heart)

160 himprobably a call to Edgar to spare Edmund’s life so that a confession can be obtained from him

161 practicetrickery

164 cozened and beguiledcheated and deceived

165 damewoman

168 knowrecognize

170 arraignindict, bring to trial

173 governrestrain

177 fortune ongood fortune to defeat

179 charityforgiveness

181 th’hastthou hast (i.e. you have)

183 pleasantpleasurable (sexually so in this case)

185 darkliterally and metaphorically

185 viciousimmoral

185 gotbegot, conceived

188 wheelwheel of fortune

189 prophesysuggest, foretell

196 Listlisten (to)

198 bloody proclamationi.e. the sentence of death pronounced on him

200 the … diewould repeatedly suffer pain as bad as death

202 semblanceoutward appearance

203 habitclothing/guise, appearance

204 ringsi.e. eye sockets

206 despairthe spiritual hopelessness that precedes suicide

209 successoutcome (in the duel with Edmund)

211 pilgrimagecourse of events/period of exile/spiritual journey

211 flawedcracked

219 dissolvei.e. in tears

225 smokesi.e. steams with hotblood

236 complimentetiquette (of greeting)

239 ayeforever (Kent is aware he is dying)

241 Great thingvital matter

243 objectsight

248 Evenexactly

251 writwritten order (for execution; a legal term)

255 officetask, responsibility

263 fordidkilled

270 stonespecular stone, a crystalline substance used to make mirrors

272 promised endthe death Lear expected (when he divided the kingdom)/Judgment Day, the end of the world (the sense that Edgar understands)

274 Fall and cease!either Albany calls for the end of the world, or he wishes for Lear to die and be put out of his anguish

286 slavevillain/wretched servant

289 falchioncurved sword

291 crossestroubles, frustrations

292 Mine … o’th’bestfailing sight was believed to be a sign of approaching death

292 straightin a moment

293 two … hatedperhaps “two people she first loved and then hated”; it is not entirely clear who the oneKent refers to is

295 dull sightrefers either to Lear’s dim eyesight or to the motionless Cordelia

297 caiusthe only mention of the name Kent assumed when he was in disguise

301 I’ll … straightI’ll attend to that in a moment

302 your … decaythe beginning of the change and decline in your fortunes (may also suggest mental decay)

305 Nor … elsecompletes Kent’s previous, unfinished sentence with “and no one else” as well as beginning his current one with “neither I nor anyone else (is welcome)”

306 fordonekilled

307 desperatelyas a result of the spiritual despair that precedes suicide

309 vain … himit is useless for us to tell him who we are

311 bootlesspointless

315 this great decaynoble ruin, i.e. Lear

316 Foras for

316 resignhand over

319 bootadvantage, additions

319 additiontitles, honors

322 cuppainful experience (plays on the related sense of “drinking vessel”)

322 see, seesomething attracts Albany’s attention, presumably to Lear

323 fooli.e. Cordelia (fool was a term of endearment), but recalls Lear’s Fool as well

327 this buttonmay refer to Cordelia’s (hoping to help her breathe) or Lear’s own (if he is once again afflicted by “the mother,” the hysteria that causes one to struggle for breath)