147 bent resolved/tensed for action
152 say assay, evidence
153 nicely in strict keeping with the rules
156 hell-hated lie the lie I hate as much as hell
157 for they since they (the treasons)
157 by off
158 instant way an immediate passage (to your heart)
160 him probably a call to Edgar to spare Edmund’s life so that a confession can be obtained from him
161 practice trickery
164 cozened and beguiled cheated and deceived
165 dame woman
168 know recognize
170 arraign indict, bring to trial
173 govern restrain
177 fortune on good fortune to defeat
179 charity forgiveness
181 th’hast thou hast (i.e. you have)
183 pleasant pleasurable (sexually so in this case)
185 dark literally and metaphorically
185 vicious immoral
185 got begot, conceived
188 wheel wheel of fortune
189 prophesy suggest, foretell
196 List listen (to)
198 bloody proclamation i.e. the sentence of death pronounced on him
200 the … die would repeatedly suffer pain as bad as death
202 semblance outward appearance
203 habit clothing/guise, appearance
204 rings i.e. eye sockets
206 despair the spiritual hopelessness that precedes suicide
209 success outcome (in the duel with Edmund)
211 pilgrimage course of events/period of exile/spiritual journey
211 flawed cracked
219 dissolve i.e. in tears
225 smokes i.e. steams with hot blood
236 compliment etiquette (of greeting)
239 aye forever (Kent is aware he is dying)
241 Great thing vital matter
243 object sight
248 Even exactly
251 writ written order (for execution; a legal term)
255 office task, responsibility
263 fordid killed
270 stone specular stone, a crystalline substance used to make mirrors
272 promised end the 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 slave villain/wretched servant
289 falchion curved sword
291 crosses troubles, frustrations
292 Mine … o’th’best failing sight was believed to be a sign of approaching death
292 straight in a moment
293 two … hated perhaps “two people she first loved and then hated”; it is not entirely clear who the one Kent refers to is
295 dull sight refers either to Lear’s dim eyesight or to the motionless Cordelia
297 caius the only mention of the name Kent assumed when he was in disguise
301 I’ll … straight I’ll attend to that in a moment
302 your … decay the beginning of the change and decline in your fortunes (may also suggest mental decay)
305 Nor … else completes 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 fordone killed
307 desperately as a result of the spiritual despair that precedes suicide
309 vain … him it is useless for us to tell him who we are
311 bootless pointless
315 this great decay noble ruin, i.e. Lear
316 For as for
316 resign hand over
319 boot advantage, additions
319 addition titles, honors
322 cup painful experience (plays on the related sense of “drinking vessel”)
322 see, see something attracts Albany’s attention, presumably to Lear
323 fool i.e. Cordelia (fool was a term of endearment), but recalls Lear’s Fool as well
327 this button may 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)
327 sir it is unclear whom Lear addresses here
333 ghost spirit
334 rack torture instrument that stretched the limbs
335 longer for a longer period of time/to longer physical dimensions
338 usurped stole, made illegal use of (beyond its rightful length)
342 gored wounded, bleeding
342 sustain support/keep alive
343 journey i.e. to death
Quarto Passages That Do Not Appear in the Folio
1 Nor … sure and I am sure he is not
4 unnaturalness lack of natural family feeling
5 dearth famine
5 ancient amities long-standing friendships
5 divisions breaches, disagreements
6 maledictions curses
7 diffidences doubts, mistrust
7 dissipation of cohorts dispersal of troops
8 nuptial breaches breaking of marriage vows
9 sectary astronomical devotee of astrology (in the period, astronomy and astrology were often indistinguishable from one another)
11 Not i.e. we are not
11 Idle foolish/useless
14 used handled, dealt with
15 checks as flatteries rebukes instead of flattery
15 seen abused seen to be misguided
17 stand i.e. stand in
18 presently immediately
19 motley the traditional multicolored costume of the fool
23 altogether fool entirely foolish (the Fool replies to the sense of “the only fool”)
25 on’t of it