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Notes on Act I, scene iv
defuse: disguise; Kent speaks in a different accent as part of his disguise.
full issue: intended outcome
razed my likeness: shaved off his beard to change his appearance
come: come to pass that ...
stay a jot: wait a second
eat no fish: he's not a Catholic, who ate fish instead of meat on Fridays, an anachronism in the play, since the action is apparently set before Christian times (notice the references to Roman gods, certainly before the Reformation when such a distinction would have been made).
countenance: face and bearing (the way you present yourself)
fain: want to
keep honest council: keep secrets
mar a curious tale: spoil an elaborate story, that is, he's not a good storyteller, but he sees this as a positive quality, as he speaks plainly.
dote: show excessive fondness
knave: boy (often used in a derogatory sense but not here)
clotpoll: blockhead
asleep: since no one seems to be responding to his requests quickly enough
roundest: rudest
entertained: treated
wont: accustomed to
abatement: reduction
dependants: servants
rememberest: remind, confirm my own observations
jealous curiosity: overly suspicious concern over minor matters
very pretence: true intention
young lady: Cordelia
pined: grieved, longing for Cordelia
No more of that: Lear has noted the Fool's sadness, but doesn't want to be reminded of his sending Cordelia away.
father: Lear is enraged since he doesn't acknowledge him as "My king."
whoreson: son of a whore, bastard
bandy: volley, exchange (as in tennis)
base football player: a lowly game played in the streets by idle boys
differences: in rank (to know your betters)
if you will measure your lubber's length again: if you want to be flattened out on the floor again (to measure your length), you clumsy oaf (lubber = an inexperienced sailor; a landlubber)
earnest: payment (Lear gives him a coin)
coxcomb: the fool's traditional hat
out of favour: Kent is a fool to side with Lear, since he's no longer in power
an: if
smile ... cold shortly: if you can't flatter and side with those in power, you'll be out in the cold soon enough.
banished: ironically, by giving them his kingdom, he has lost his daughters' affection (pretended though it was).
on's: of his
blessing: by sending her away from this poor situation
follow him: if you follow such a man, you are indeed a fool.
nuncle: contraction of "mine uncle" as the fool calls the king
Brach: bitch, the text probably should read "the Lady's brach" instead of a proper name (JD Wilson). The fool says that he (Truth) is whipped and sent outside like a dog, whereas Goneril's pet servant, Oswald (whom Lear has just called a dog), gets to stay inside by the fire.
gall: irritating sore (the fact that Oswald is favored in this house rather than being punished for his insolence to the king)
Mark it: pay attention
showest: that is, don't show all your cards, don't reveal all your worth.
owest: own, that is, don't lend someone everything you have (as the king has done).
goest: ride more than you walk
trowest: believe; listen to others' opinions, not just those who agree with you.
throwest: stake less at dice than you throw for, get the odds on your opponent
two tens to a score: you'll do better than break even (two tens = twenty, a score)
breath of an unfee'd lawyer: advice of an unpaid lawyer
nothing: echoes what Lear said to Cordelia in the first scene
Prithee: pray thee
rent: his lands are now worth nothing to him, since he gave them away.
stand: you, Lear, stand in for him (this fool that told you to give away your kingdom, who of course is Lear himself)
motley: the costume of a jester
found out there: discovered to be a fool, as he points to Lear
fool: foolish, that is, the "fool" speaks wisely
monopoly: the lords and great men will not let me keep all the folly to myself
meat: the contents of the egg
crowns: half shells
clovest: split
borest thy ass: carried your donkey on your back, foolishly overturning normal behavior
bald crown: his head
like myself: like a fool
Fools ... apish: fools are less in favor these days, because "wise" men now play the fools, mimicking (aping) the professionals.
mothers: you reversed roles with your daughters, as now they spank you
play bo-peep: act like a child
kin: are you and your daughters truly related?
pared: as in paring an apple, cut off the sides
frontlet: a band worn across the forehead, used here to refer to a frown
O without a figure: a zero without a digit to give it numeric value; he is nothing.
shealed peascod: empty (shelled) pea pod
all-licensed: allowed to take liberties, to insult his betters, which was part of his function in court, as only he could tell the king to his face that he is a fool (note the contrast with Kent who was banished for saying so).
retinue: the 100 knights he keeps with him
carp: complain
rank: excessive
redress: solution
too late: lately
sleep: correction would not wait
tender of a wholesome weal: care for the peace of the state
might ... proceeding: correcting your faults might humiliate you but under the circumstances would be wise and justified action
you trow: believe you
cuckoo: bird that lays its eggs in another's nest, in this case a sparrow, who feeds the young cuckoos anyway until they are old enough to kill it (metaphor of ungrateful children).
darkling: in the dark
fraught: endowed
dispositions: moods
Whoop, Jug: meaning is uncertain, scholars speculate that it is a quote from a popular song
notion: understanding
discernings are lethargied: mental faculties are asleep
shadow: Lear is only a mere shadow of his former self
marks of sovereignty: evidence that he is a king and has daughters for princesses, but this must be false, as surely no daughter would speak so harshly to her father the king.
name: Lear asks sarcastically, "Who are you? You can't be my daughter and treat me so rudely."
admiration: pretended wonder
savour: smells like, resembles
debosh'd: debauched
epicurism: living for pleasure
desired: requested
disquantity your train: reduce in number your followers
besort: befit
Degenerate: unnatural
will: Lear asks Albany, "Is this your will, too? Are you a part of this insult against me?"
kite: bird of prey
parts: qualities
worships: honors, reputation
engine: machine that tore apart the natural affection I had for Cordelia from my heart.
gall: bitterness
gate: his head
nature: Lear prays to Nature as a deity whom his unnatural daughter has offended.
derogate: degraded
teem: increase, conceive
spleen: spiteful, ill-humoured
cadent: falling
fret: wear
dotage: senility
clap: at one stroke (like a thunderclap)
fortnight: month
perforce: by force, against my will
untented: deep
fond: foolish
Beweep: if you cry again ...
temper: soften
comfortable: comforting
flay: tear the skin off
visage: face
shape: his kingly role
partial: even though I love you (I must protest)
politic: good policy (said ironically)
at point: armed
buzz: rumor
enguard: protect (his senile whims)
compact: substantiate
course: nature, disposition
attask'd: at fault
mar: spoil
event: let's see what the result is
