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Notes on Act I, scene i
more affected: preferred, had more affection for
qualities ... weighed: their portions of land are so equal
curiosity: close scrutiny
moiety: portion; that is, they each will receive equal amounts so neither one will benefit more than the other.
breeding: upbringing
brazed: brazened, hardened (no longer embarrassed to acknowledge his illegitimate son)
conceive: understand, with Gloucester jokingly taking it in the second sense of sexual conception
ere: before
issue: result
proper: handsome
order of law: legitimate
account: estimation
knave: "rascal", in this case said affectionately, but usually an insult, an unprincipled, crafty villain (which turns out to be true)
saucily: bawdily, by means of an extramarital affair
sent for: planned for
whoreson: bastard (how often has Edmund endured his father calling him this?)
sue: petition, desire
study deserving: work to deserve your praise
out: away from home, another country?
Attend: escort them in
darker purpose: secret intention for this meeting
fast: firm (if "first", primary)
Unburden'd: Lear intends to give over the responsibilities of ruling to his three daughters, so that he will no longer bear the burden of leadership in his few remaining years
son: son-in-law
publish: announce
several dowers: individual dowries, inheritance given at marriage
strife: he wants to divide up the kingdom peacefully to avoid future wars over territory
amorous sojourn: visit of courtship
answer'd: today we will decide who marries Cordelia
divest: free ourselves of
nature ... challenge: natural affection should be equal among the daughters but one may prove herself more worthy and receive a greater portion of the kingdom if she declares her love more profusely and flatters her father more
wield: carry, convey
valued: estimated
found: found himself to be loved
champains rich'd: enriched plains
wide-skirted meads: widespread meadows
issue: children
perpetual: from now on
mettle: character, temperament, but with second sense of "metal," gold or coins which she trades for his love
prize: estimate the value of my love to be the same as hers
names: describes
felicitate: happy
ponderous: weighty; that is, she believes her loving nature speaks for itself, more decidedly than anything she might say
hereditary: children
validity: value
least: youngest (Q1 uses "least" in a different sense)
interest: interested parties, combining with the wealth of her lands in England their vineyards and pastures (milk)
nothing: you will receive nothing from me if you speak nothing
bond: duty as a daughter
Haply: perhaps
plight: pledge of marriage
dower: all you will receive for your wedding is your truthfulness
Hecate: goddess of the underworld and of witches
operation of the orbs: astrological influence
propinquity: relationship
from this: from this time forth
Scythian: noted for their savagery
generation messes: makes meals of his children
sometime: once, former
set my rest: remaining days of leisure; also "stake all" as in a card game
nursery: care
who stirs?: quickly, someone, call France and Burgundy (Lear is rather impatient)
digest: the other two daughters will absorb the third that was Cordelia's
effects that troup with majesty: all that goes with being a king
turns: he intends on staying with each of the other daughters every other month, keeping with him a hundred men as well which they must house and feed
addition: Lear wants to keep the title and the privileges of being king, but without the responsibility
coronet: crown
make: get out of the way of the arrow (of my anger)
fall: strike
fork: point of the arrow
unmannerly: I must be rude if you are going to act like a madman
duty: it's my duty to challenge you like this, when you have so foolishly given in to your other daughters' flattery
plainness: I honor you by speaking the truth plainly, without flattery, if it is to warn you against acting foolishly
reserve thy state: retain your place and authority as king
check: stop
answer my life: upon my life
reverbs no hollowness: reverberates like a hollow drum; that is, Cordelia's lowly (humble) speech does not indicate that her heart is empty of love
blank: the white center of the target; that is, let me help you see clearly and aim straight
Apollo: Roman sun god; Shakespeare sets his tale in pre-Christian Britain
vassal: wretch
miscreant: infidel, unbeliever
forbear: restrain yourself
physician: kill the one who is trying to cure you, and reward those who would do you harm (Goneril, Regan)
vent clamour: breathe out a cry
recreant: traitor
provision: making preparations
trunk: body
sith: since; that is, since you will act thus, I will be better off somewhere else (although Kent later stays in disguise to serve the king)
approve: may your actions match your great words of love
Flourish: trumpet fanfare
tender: offer; that is, "you won't take back your offer, will you?"
dear: meaning precious and valuable, both used here
aught: anything
seeming substance: just what you see standing there, nothing else
pieced: added to it
owes: owns, possesses; with all her faults
stranger'd: made a stranger to us
Election: choice; no one can choose under such conditions
stray: stray so far from loving you, to marry you off to a daughter I hate
avert: turn
argument: theme, what you talked most about
trice: short period of time
dismantle: undo
monsters it: makes monstrous
fore-vouch'd: previously sworn; either she has committed a terrible act, or the love you once vowed you had for her is proven false (fallen into taint)
faith ... plant in me: to believe this of her would take a miracle
want: lack
purpose not: I don't have the talent to say things that I don't intend to do (as my sisters have)
still soliciting: ever-begging, not proud
tardiness in nature: natural hesitation to speak, but would rather show love than speak of it
Love's ... point: love is not love if it is mixed with consideration of things that don't matter (such as her dowry)
love: Burgundy loves possession of land more than her
inflamed respect: ardent love
waterish: with many rivers
unprized: unappreciated
benison: blessing
wash'd: tearful
professed: professing love
fortune's alms: a small gift cast aside by Fortune
scanted: neglected
worth the want: you deserve nothing since you gave nothing
plighted: promised; time will show if you are true to your flattering words
Who cover ... derides: you may cover up faults for a while, but eventually they will be revealed to your shame
grossly: obvious
slenderly: little
soundest: most rational; even in his best years, he was temperamental
long-ingraffed: ingrown habits; that is, we will suffer not only from problems he has had all his life, but those that also come with old age
therewithal: along with that
choleric: bad-tempered
unconstant starts: unexpected, impulsive actions
compliment: formality, ceremony upon the king of France's leaving
surrender: recent abdication of his powers
heat: immediately, "while the iron is hot"