219 post messenger
220 Stewed hot and drenched in sweat
222 spite of intermission in spite of interrupting me/in spite of his halting breath
223 presently immediately
224 meiny retinue
224 straight straight away
225 attend … answer wait until they had time to answer
230 Displayed … against openly behaved so impudently toward
231 man than wit courage than sense
231 drew drew my sword
235 Winter’s … way i.e. there is more stormy weather (trouble) on the way
237 blind i.e. to their father’s needs
238 bags moneybags
240 arrant downright/notorious
241 turns the key opens the door/provides sexual favors
242 dolours griefs (puns on “dollar,” a silver coin)
243 tell relate/count
244 mother i.e. hysteria (frequently a female affliction thought to arise from the womb or, in men, the abdomen; characterized by breathlessness and agitation)
245 Hysterica passio the Latin term for hysteria
246 element rightful environment
246 below i.e. in the womb
255 to school to i.e. to learn from
255 ant … i’th’winter i.e. the ant gathers food only in the summer when it is abundant; similarly, men work only when there is profit to be gained from a patron who is at the height of his fortunes
258 stinking i.e. with the stench of decaying fortunes
262 again back again
264 sir man
265 form appearances, outward show
266 pack pack up, be off
271 perdy by God (from the French par dieu)
274 Deny refuse
275 fetches tricks, stratagems (Lear goes on to employ the sense of “bring”)
276 flying off desertion
282 confusion destruction, overthrow
289 tends attends, awaits
293 Infirmity … bound illness always makes us neglect the duties which, when healthy, we are bound to carry out
295 oppressed overwhelmed/afflicted
297 fallen … will angry with my more headstrong impulse
299 sound healthy
299 my state royal state
301 remotion removal
302 practice deceit, cunning
302 Give … forth release my servant
303 and’s and his
309 cockney squeamish or affected woman/town-dweller not used to hardier country ways
310 i’th’paste alive alive into the pie (being too squeamish to kill them first)
310 knapped hit
310 o’th’coxcombs on the heads
311 wantons frisky creatures
312 buttered his hay another example of misguided kindness (horses dislike grease)
319 sepulch’ring entombing
319 adult’ress i.e. as you could not possibly be my daughter if you were not glad to see me
321 naught wicked/worthless
322 vulture recalls the Greek legend of Prometheus, who was punished for stealing fire from the gods by having his liver perpetually gnawed by vultures
326 You … duty you are more likely to undervalue her worth than she is to neglect her duty
336 verge … confine limit of her domain (i.e. you are near death)
338 discretion (person of) good judgment
338 state personal condition (imaged as a country; ironic glance at the sense of “kingship”)
343 becomes the house befits the royal line or family
345 unnecessary superfluous, useless
346 vouchsafe permit
346 raiment clothing
350 abated deprived
354 top head
355 taking infectious
359 fen-sucked … blister noxious vapors produced by sunshine on swampy ground were considered to be infectious and so to cause blistering
364 tender-hafted delicately framed, gently disposed
368 scant my sizes reduce my allowances (of food and drink etc.)
369 oppose the bolt lock the door
371 offices of nature natural filial duties
372 Effects outward marks
375 to th’purpose get to the point
378 approves confirms, bears out
380 easy-borrowed easily assumed
381 sickly diseased, corrupt
381 grace favor/royalty
385 on’t of it
386 sway authority, rule
387 Allow sanctions, approves
389 beard gray beard, symbol of his age
392 indiscretion poor judgment
394 sides bodily frame, rib cage
396 disorders misconduct
397 much less advancement less favorable treatment
404 entertainment hospitable reception
406 abjure renounce
407 wage … o’th’air battle against the hostility of the open air
409 Necessity’s need’s, deprivation’s
412 knee kneel before
412 squire-like like a servant or follower
412 pension financial allowance
413 afoot going
414 sumpter packhorse, beast of burden
415 groom manservant
423 embossèd carbuncle swollen tumor
424 corrupted blood diseased lineage
428 Mend improve
432 looked not for did not expect
434 mingle … passion apply rational judgment to your impulsive behavior
438 avouch declare, affirm
440 sith that since
440 charge and danger expense and the risk of riotous behavior
446 slack ye treat you negligently
447 control discipline
450 place or notice room or acknowledgment