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Notes on Act II, scene iv
they: Cornwall and Regan
purpose: intention
shame: being in the stocks
cruel: a pun on "crewel," a type of yarn used in making garters
over-lusty: either tried to run away, or lusts after women's legs
nether-stocks: stockings, as opposed to breeches
durst: wouldn't dare
respect: they wouldn't do such an outrage, out of respect for the king; one should treat the king's messenger as you would the king himself
resolve: inform me what you have done to deserve this punishment
commend: deliver
reeking post: sweating messenger
intermission: in spite of his interrupting my business
meiny: attendants
display'd: showed off to the king (back at Goneril's)
blind: indifferent to his poverty
bags: money-bags
Fortune: is unfaithful, promiscuous, unreliable
dolours: sorrows
mother: hysteria which causes choking, shortness of breath, thought to rise up from the stomach or womb; "hysterica passio" is the Latin medical term
element: proper place
number: what's happened to his 100 knights? The fool will argue that they left when the king's fortunes began to fail.
An: If
ant: the ant in the fable works in the summer while there is opportunity to store up food, unlike the lazy grasshopper who waits until winter and has none. Lear has waited until "winter" (see earlier line about the geese) and is now unprepared for hard times.
stinking: everyone ought to be able to smell the decay of Lear's fortunes
great wheel: Fortune's wheel; when a great man's fortune begins to fail him, quit following him unless you want to share his fate.
form: show, serves only to gain favor, not out of true loyalty
pack: leave
perdy: French par Dieu, by God
wise: meant ironically, for those that flee, being disloyal, are actually the fools.
fetches: excuses
tends: awaits
office: duties
health: in health we are bound to such duties that illness prevents us from performing
forbear: be patient
headier: headstrong
remotion: absence, remaining remote
practice: pretense
forth: out of the stocks
paste: pastry
buttered his hay: the foolish man thought he was being kind, but horses won't eat greased hay.
sepulchring an adultress: if you were not glad to see me, I would have to think that your mother, now in her tomb (sepulcher), was unfaithful to me and had you by another man.
naught: wicked
here: at his heart
desert: worth; I hope that you are mistaken in your evaluation of her; that is more likely than that she has ignored her duty.
confine: you are at the limits of your life
discerns: understands your condition
becomes the house: suits my royal position
unnecessary: old people are of no use
vouchsafe: grant
abated: deprived
train: followers
taking airs: infectious vapors
fen-suck'd: drawn up from the swamps
tender-hefted: framed in a tender nature
bandy: tennis term, hit back
scant: reduce
bolt: lock on the door
offices: duties
to the purpose: come to the point
approves: confirms
allow: approves of
indiscretion finds: poor judgement decides
dotage: senility
sides: Lear feels his heart is about to burst
sojourn: live with
abjure: renounce, give up
wage: fight
pinch: this is the hard decision I am forced to make
knee: kneel before
squire-like: as a servant
sumpter: pack horse
groom: Oswald
embossed carbuncle: swollen boil risen to a head
chide: scold
Jove: Jupiter (Greek Zeus), king of the gods known for throwing down thunderbolts.
sith: since
avouch: swear by
charge: expense
amity: peaceful relations
depositaries: trustees
well-favour'd: bad things look better when compared to worse.
reason not the need: don't talk to me of what I need, I demand more than the bare necessities of life.
superfluous: even beggars have some things they don't need merely to sustain life.
gorgeous: if all you needed were warmth, you wouldn't wear these beautiful gowns, which hardly keep you warm anyway.
flaws: cracks
Or ere: before
bestowed: lodged
his particular: himself
purposed: determined
ruffle: rage
procure: bring on themselves
incense: incite
abused: since he tends to listen to bad advice
