Edmund. Nor is not, sure.
Gloucester. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him. Heaven and earth! Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him,deg I pray you; framedeg the business after your own wisdom. I would unstate myself to be in a due resolution.deg
Edmund. I will seek him, sir, presently;deg conveydeg the business as I shall find means, and acquaint you withal.deg
Gloucester. These latedeg eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of Naturedeg can reasondeg it thus and thus, yet Nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects.deg Love cools, friendship falls off,deg brothers divide. In cities, mutinies;deg in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked 'twixt son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction, deg there's son against father; the King falls from bias of nature,deg there's father against child. We have seen the best of our time.deg Machinations, hollowness,deg treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietlydeg to our graves. Find out this 97 meet fit
99 auricular assurance proof heard with your own cars
106 wind me into him insinuate yourself into his confidence for me
106 frame manage
107-08 unstate ... resolution forfeit my earldom to know the truth
109 presently at once
109 convey manage
111 withal with it
112 late recent
113-14 wisdom of Nature scientific learning
114 reason explain
114-15 yet ... effects nonetheless our world is punished with subsequent disasters
116 falls off revolts
117 mutinies riots
119-20 This ... prediction i.e., my son's villainous behavior is included in these portents. and bears them out
121 bias of nature natural inclination (the metaphor is from the game of bowls)
122 best of our time our best days
123 hollowness insincerity
124 disquetly unquietly
villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing.deg Do it carefully. And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished; his offense, honesty. 'Tis strange.
Exit.
Edmund This is the excellent fopperydeg of the world, that when we are sick in fortune, often the surfeits of our own behavior,deg we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars; as if we were villains ondeg necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion ; knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance;deg drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence;deg and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on.deg An admirable evasion of whoremasterdeg man, to lay his goatishdeg disposition on the charge of a star. My father compoundeddeg with my mother under the Dragon's Tail,deg and my nativitydeg was under Ursa Major,deg so that it follows I am rough and lecherous. Fut!deg I should have been thatdeg I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar--
Enter Edgar.
and pat he comes, like the catastrophedeg of the old comedy. My cue is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o' Bedlam.deg--O, these eclipses do portend these divisions. Fa, sol, la, mi.deg
Edgar. How now, brother Edmund; what serious contemplation are you in?
125 it ... nothing you will not lose by it
128 foppery folly
129-30 often ... behavior often caused by our own excesses
132 on of
133-34 treachers ... predominance traitors because of the ascendancy of a particular star at our birth
134-35 by ...influence because we had to submit to the influence of our star
136 divine thrusting on supernatural compulsion
137 whoremaster lecherous
138 goatish scivious
139 compounded (1) made terms (2) formed (a child)
140 Dragon's Tall the constellation Draco
140 nativity birthday
141 Ursa Major the Great Bear
142 Fut! 's foot (an impatient oath)
142 that what
145 catastrophe conclusion
146-47 My ... Bedlam I must be doleful, like a lunatic beggar out of Bethlehem (Bedlam) Hospital, the London madhouse
148 Fa, sol, la, mi (Edmund's humming of the musical notes is perhaps prompted by his use of the word "divisions," which describes a musical variation)
Edmund I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses.
Edgar. Do you busy yourself with that?
Edmund. I promise you, the effects he writes of succeeddeg unhappily: as of unnaturalnessdeg between the child and the parent, death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities,deg divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against King and nobles, needless diffidences, deg banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, deg nuptial breaches, and I know not what.
Edgar. How long have you been a sectary astronomical? deg .
Edmund. Come, come, when saw you my father last?
Edgar. Why, the night gone by.
Edmund. Spake you with him?
Edgar. Ay, two hours together.
Edmund. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in him by word nor countenance?deg
Edgar. None at all.
Edmund. Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him; and at my entreaty forbear his presencedeg until some little time hath qualifieddeg the heat of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in him that with the mischief of your person it would scarcely allay.deg
Edgar. Some villain hath done me wrong.
Edmund. That's my fear, brother I pray you have a continent forbearancedeg till the speed of his rage goes slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my 155-56 succeed follow
157 unnaturalness unkindness
158 amities friendships
159-60 diffidences distrusts
160-61 dissipation of coborts falling away of supporters
162-63 sectary astronomical believer in astrology
169 coutenance expression
172-73 forbear his presence keep away from him
173 qualified lessened
175-76 with ... allay even an injury to you would not appease his anger
178-79 have a continent forbearance be restrained and keep yourself withdrawn
lodging, from whence I will fitlydeg bring you to hear my lord speak. Pray ye, go; there's my key. If you do stir abroad, go armed.
Edgar. Armed, brother?
Edmund. Brother, I advise you to the best. Go armed. I am no honest man if there be any good meaning toward you. I have told you what I have seen and heard; but faintly, nothing like the image and horrordeg of it. Pray you, away.
Edgar. Shall I hear from you anon?deg
Edmund. I do serve you in this business.
Exit Edgar.
A credulous father, and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
My practicesdeg ride easy. I see the business.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit.
All with me's meetdeg that I can fashion fit.deg Exit.
Scene 3. [The Duke of Albany's palace.]
Enter Goneril, and [Oswald, her] Steward.
Goneril. Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his Fool?deg
Oswald. Ay, madam.
Goneril. By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour He flashes into one gross crimedeg or other 181 fitly at a fit time
188-89 image and horror true horrible picture
190 anon in a tittle while
195 practices plots
197 meet proper 197 fashion fit shape to my purpose
1.3.2 Food court jester
5 crime offense
That sets us all at odds. I'll not endure it.
His knights grow riotous,deg and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
If
you come slack of former services,deg
You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.deg
[Horns within.]
Oswald He's coming, madam; I hear him.
Goneril. Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your fellows. I'd have it come to question.deg
If he distastedeg it, let him to my sister,
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idledeg old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again, and must be used
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen
abused.deg
Remember what I have said.
Oswald. Well, madam.
Goneril. And let his knights have colder looks among you. What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so.
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
That I may speak.deg I'll write straightdeg to my sister
To hold my course. Go, prepare for dinner.
Exeunt.
7 riotous dissolute
10 come ... services are less serviceable to him than formerly
11 answer answer for 14 come to question be discussed openly
15 distaste dislike
17 Idle foolish
21 With ... abused with restraints as well as soothing words when they are misguided
25-26 breed ... speak find in this opportunities for speaking out
26 straight at once
Scene 4. [A hall in the same.]
Enter Kent [disguised].
Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow That can my speech defuse,deg my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issuedeg
For which I razed my likeness.deg Now, banished
Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand
condemned,
So may it corne,deg thy master whom thou lov'st
Shall find thee full of labors.
Horns within. deg Enter Lear, [Knights] and
Attendants.
Lear. Let me not staydeg a jot for dinner; go, get it ready. [Exit an Attendant.] How now, what art thou?
Kent. A man, sir.
Lear. What dost thou profess?deg What wouldst thou with us?
Kent. I do professdeg to be no less than I seem, to serve him truly that will put me in trust, to love him that is honest, to converse with him that is wise and says little, to fear judgment,deg to fight when I cannot choose, and to eat no fish.deg
1.4.2 defuse disguise
3 full issue perfect result
4 razed my likeness shaved off, disguised my natural appearance
6 So may it come so may it fall out
7 s.d. within offstage 8 stay wait
12 What dost thou profess what do you do
14 profess claim
17 judgment (by a heavenly or earthly judge)
18 eat no fish i.e., (1) I am no Catholic, but a loyal Protestant (2) I am no weakling (3) I use no prostitutes
Lear. What art thou?
Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the King.
Lear. If thou be'st as poor for a subject as he's for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
Kent. Service.
Lear. Who wouldst thou serve?
Kent. You.
Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?
Kent. No, sir, but you have that in your countenancedeg which I would faindeg call master.
Lear. What's that?
Kent. Authority.
Lear. What services canst thou do?
Kent. I can keep honest counsel,deg ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it,deg and deliver a plain message bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.
Lear. How old art thou?
Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years on my back forty-eight.
Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me. If I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave?deg my Fool? Go you and call my Fool hither.
[Exit an Attendant.]
Enter Oswald
You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?
Oswald So please you--Exit.
28 countenance bearing
29 fain like to
33 honest counsel honorable secrets
33-34 mar...It i.e., I cannot speak like an affected courtier ("curious" ="elaborate," as against "plain")
43 knave boy
Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the clotpolldeg back. [Exit a Knight.] Where's my Fool? Ho, I think the world's asleep.
[Re-enter Kniglit.]
How now? Where's that mongrel?
Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
Lear. Why came not the slave back to me when I called him?
Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundestdeg manner, he would not.
Lear. He would not?
Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but to my judgment your Highness is not entertaineddeg with that ceremonious affection as you were wont. There's a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependantsdeg as in the Duke himself also and your daughter.
Lear. Ha? Say'st thou so?
Knight. I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent when I think your Highness wronged.
Lear. Thou but rememb'restdeg me of mine own conception. deg I have perceived a most faint neglectdeg of late, which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiositydeg than as a very pretensedeg and purpose of unkindness. I will look further into't. But where's my Fool? I have not seen him this two days.
Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the Fool hath much pined away.
Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you 47 clotpoll clodpoll, blockhead
54 roundest rudest
58-59 entertained treated
61 dependants servants
67 rememb'rest remindest
67-68 conception idea
68 faint neglect i.e., "weary negligence" (1.3.13)
69-70 mine own jealous curiosity suspicious concern for my own dignity
70 very pretense actual intention
and tell my daughter I would speak with her. Go you, call hither my Fool. [Exit an Attendant.]
Enter Oswald.
Oswald. My lady's father.
Lear. "My lady's father"? My lord's knave, you whoreson dog, you slave, you cur!
Oswald. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.
Lear. Do you bandydeg looks with me, you rascal?
[Striking him.]
Oswald. I'll not be strucken,deg my lord.
Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base footballdeg player.
[Tripping up his heels.]
Lear. I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv'st me, and I'll love thee.
Kent. Come, sir, arise, away. I'll teach you differences. deg Away, away. If you will measure your lubber's deg length again, tarry; but away. Go to!deg Have you wisdom?deg So.deg [Pushes Oswald out.]
Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There's earnestdeg of thy service. [Giving Kent money.]
Enter Fool.
Fool. Let me hire him too. Here's my coxcomb.deg
[Offering Kent his cap.]
Lear. How now, my pretty knave? How dost thou?
Fool. Sirrah, you were bestdeg take my coxcomb.
Kent. Why, Fool?
86 bandy exchange insolently (metaphor from tennis)
87 strucken struck
88 football (a low game played by idle boys to the scandal of sensible men)
91-92 differences (of rank)
92-93 lubber's lout's
93 Go to (expression of derisive incredu
lity)
93-94 Have you wisdom i.e., do you know what's good for you 94 So good 96 earnest money for services rendered
97 coxcomb professional fool's cap, shaped like a coxcomb
99 you were best you had better
Fool. Why? For taking one's part that's out of favor. Nay, andeg thou canst not smile as the wind sits,deg thou'lt catch cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banisheddeg two on's daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. --How now, Nuncle?deg Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters.
Lear. Why, my boy?
Fool. If I gave them all my living,deg I'd keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.
Lear. Take heed, sirrah--the whip.
Fool. Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the Brachdeg may stand by th' fire and stink.
Lear. A pestilent galldeg to me.
Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.
Lear. Do.
Fool. Mark it, Nuncle. Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,deg
Ride more than thou goest,deg
Learn more than thou trowest,deg
Set less than thou throwest,deg
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more
Than two tens to a score.deg
Kent. This is nothing, Fool.
102 an if
102 smile ... sits ingratiate yourself with those in power
104 banished alienated (by making them independent)
107 Nun-de (contraction of "mine uncle")
110 living property
115 Brach
bitch
117 gall sore
123 owest ownest
124 goest walkest
125 trowest knowest
126 Set ... throwest bet less than you play for (get odds from your opponent)
129-30 have ... score i.e., come away with more than you had (two tens, or twenty shillings, make a score, or one pound)
Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfeeddeg lawyer --you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, Nuncle?
Lear. Why, no, boy. Nothing can be made out of nothing.
Fool. [To Kent] Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to; he will not believe a Fool.
Lear. A bitterdeg Fool.