87 heretics religious dissenters, conventionally punished with burning at the stake
87 wenches’ suitors i.e. who are afflicted with the burning effects of syphilis
88 right just
91 cutpurses thieves who cut the strings of moneybags hanging at their victims’ waists
91 throngs crowds
92 usurers moneylenders, notorious for charging excessively high interest
92 tell … i’th’field count their money openly
93 bawds pimps
94 Albion ancient name for Britain
95 confusion destruction, overthrow
96 who whoever
97 going … feet walking will be done on foot (perhaps simply meaning “things will return to normal”)
98 Merlin in the legendary history of Britain, the reign of Lear precedes that of Arthur by centuries
Act 3 Scene 3
3.3 Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence
2 leave … pity permission to help, take pity on
7 Go to expression of impatient dismissal
10 closet private room/cabinet
11 home thoroughly
11 power army
12 footed ashore
12 incline to support, side with
12 look look for
13 privily relieve secretly help
14 that so that
14 of by
17 toward imminent
18 courtesy forbid thee forbidden kindness (to Lear)
20 This … deserving i.e. my action should be worth a good reward
Act 3 Scene 4
3.4 Location: outside a hovel somewhere out in the open, not far from the Earl of Gloucester’s residence
3 nature human nature
10 greater malady i.e. mental suffering
13 i’th’mouth face to face
13 free free of worry, untroubled
14 delicate sensitive
17 as as if
18 home soundly
22 frank generous
32 bide endure
33 sides bodies (with visible ribs)
34 lopped and windowed full of holes
36 physic medicine (often a purgative)
36 pomp splendor, ostentatious display (i.e. rich and powerful people)
38 superflux superfluity, excess (flux was used for a discharge of excrement from the bowels, the result of a purgative)
40 Fathom about six feet
40 Fathom and half Edgar calls as though he is measuring the depth of the water in the hovel, as a sailor might in a leaking ship
41 spirit evil spirit, demon
45 grumble mutter, mumble
52 foul wicked
54 knives … pew the devil was believed to tempt men to damnation by leaving them the means of committing suicide (even in church)
55 ratsbane rat poison
56 porridge vegetable or meat soup
56 bay reddish-brown
57 four-inched four inches wide (the devil gives one the arrogance to try and perform extremely difficult feats)
57 for as
57 course hunt
58 five wits five mental faculties (common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation, and memory)
58 do … de the sound of chattering teeth?
59 star-blasting being afflicted by the malign influence of the stars
59 taking being infected with disease/malign influence of the stars
60 vexes torments
60 there … there perhaps Edgar snatches at parts of his body as he tries to catch lice or the devil; or he may grab or point at the air around him
63 pass state, predicament
65 reserved a blanket kept a blanket (to cover himself)
67 pendulous overhanging
68 fated … faults destined to punish men’s faults
70 subdued nature reduced human nature
73 thus … flesh refers to Edgar’s self-mutilation
75 pelican young pelicans supposedly fed on their mother’s blood; they were proverbial for filial cruelty
76 Pillicock … Pillicock-hill possibly part of an old nursery rhyme, but Pillicock is slang for penis and Pillycock-hill the female genitals
76 alow … loo possibly from “halloo” (cry to incite dogs in a hunt), perhaps an imitation of a cock’s crow, or simply a nonsensical sound
78 obey Edgar begins a paraphrased version of five of the Ten Commandments
79 commit not i.e. do not commit adultery
80 on proud array in overly fine clothes
83 gloves i.e. a mistress’ gift, displayed by being worn in one’s cap
86 slept in i.e. dreamed of
87 dice i.e. gambling
88 out-paramoured the Turk had more lovers than the Turkish Sultan, famous for his harem
88 light of ear eager to listen to gossip
90 creaking … silks i.e. the sounds of a fashionable woman walking
92 plackets openings in skirts/vaginas
92 pen … books i.e. do not sign a loan agreement
94 suum, mun presumably Edgar imitates the sounds of the wind
94 nonny often used as part of a refrain in popular songs
95 Dolphin … by perhaps Edgar addresses an imaginary horse; sessa is a cry of encouragement used in hunting or may derive from the French cessez (“stop”)
96 answer face, encounter
99 cat no perfume the secretions of the anal glands of the civet cat are used to make perfume
100 on’s of us
100 sophisticated not simple or natural
101 unaccommodated unprovided for (i.e. not wearing clothes)
102 lendings clothes that are “lent” only, not part of him
104 naughty nasty, wicked
107 walking fire i.e. Gloucester and his torch
108 Flibbertigibbet the name of a devil (all of the devils Edgar mentions are to be found in Samuel Harsnett’s 1603 Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures)