452 in … it it was about time you did so
453 guardians, my depositaries trustees
454 kept a reservation reserved the right
458 well-favoured good-looking
460 stands … praise is, in relative terms, worthy of some praise
468 Our … superfluous even our most wretched beggars have something, however poor, that is more than they absolutely need
470 Allow not if you do not allow
472 If … gorgeous if being sumptuously dressed simply entailed wearing sufficiently warm clothes
473 what … wear’st your magnificent clothes
479 fool … much don’t make me such a fool as
488 flaws fragments
489 Or ere before
491 and’s and his
492 bestowed lodged, accommodated
493 blame fault (that he)
493 put … rest turned himself away from repose/deprived himself of peace of mind
495 his particular him individually
502 will will go
503 give him way let him go, give him scope
506 ruffle rage, bluster
509 themselves procure bring on themselves
511 desperate train retinue of dangerous men
513 have … abused be misled by what he is told
Act 3 Scene 1
3.1 Location: somewhere out in the open, not far from the Earl of Gloucester’s residence
3 severally separately
2 minded … unquietly in the same restless and disturbed mood as the storm
4 Contending battling against/competing with
6 main mainland
9 out-jest drive out with jokes
10 heart-struck injuries injuries that strike to the heart
12 warrant … note basis of what I have observed (about you)
13 Commend … you entrust you with an important matter
16 as … high i.e. like anyone to whom fortune has given power and royal authority
17 seem no less seem to be only servants (but are really spies)
18 France the King of France
18 speculations observers
19 Intelligent of bearing information about
20 snuffs resentments
20 packings plots
21 hard rein harsh curbing (equestrian metaphor; puns on “reign”)
21 borne maintained
23 furnishings superficial trappings
27 out-wall outward appearance
30 that fellow i.e. Kent
34 to effect in importance
35 in … this to which end you employ your efforts that way while I go this way
37 Holla shout to
Act 3 Scene 2
2 cataracts floods/waterspouts
2 hurricanoes waterspouts
3 cocks weathercocks
4 thought-executing fires i.e. lightning (as swift as thought/thought-destroying)
5 Vaunt-couriers forerunners
8 nature’s moulds the molds in which nature makes living creatures
8 germens seeds
10 court holy-water courtly flattery
16 tax … with accuse … of
18 subscription allegiance
21 ministers agents
22 pernicious destructive/wicked
23 high-engendered battles battalions created in the heavens
23 head plays on the sense of “army”
24 foul wicked/bad (weather)
25 put’s put his
26 head-piece helmet/brain
27 codpiece penis (literally, appendage worn on the front of a man’s breeches to cover and emphasize the genitals)
27 house find a house for itself, i.e. have sex
28 any i.e. any shelter
29 louse get lice (in pubic and head hair)
30 So … many in this way beggars end up with a string of mistresses (or “end up not only with a woman but a quantity of lice”)
31 makes … make values most what he should value least/considers his penis (sex) more important than his heart (love/moral integrity)
33 corn may suggest a syphilitic sore
35 made … glass practiced smiling or pouting in a mirror
40 grace … codpiece royalty and a fool (fools sometimes wore exaggerated codpieces and were proverbially well-endowed)
44 Gallow gally, i.e. frighten
44 wanderers … dark nocturnal animals
51 pudder pother, tumult
54 Unwhipped of unpunished by
55 simular faker, pretender
56 caitiff villain, wretch
57 seeming false appearances, deception
58 practised on plotted against
59 Rive split open
59 continents containers
59 cry … grace beg for mercy from these terrifying summoners (officers who summoned the accused to court)
65 hard near
65 hard house pitiless household (Gloucester’s house, under the authority of Cornwall and Regan)
67 demanding (when I was) asking urgently
69 scanted withheld
72 fellow servant (but with connotations of “companion”)
73 The … strange necessity has a strange skill
77 He … day adapted from Feste’s song at the end of Twelfth Night
77 and a a very
77 wit possibly plays on the sense of “penis”
79 make … fit make his happiness fit his fortunes/be content with the fortune that he deserves
82 brave fine
82 cool i.e. cool the lust of
82 courtesan courtier’s mistress, high-class prostitute
84 in … matter more concerned with words than substance (i.e. do not practice what they preach)
85 mar spoil (i.e. water down for their own profit)
86 are … tutors i.e. teach their tailors about fashion