Notes on Act V, scene iii

good guard: guard them well

their greater pleasures: the will of those in command

censure: judge

meaning: intentions

God's spies: looking down from heaven, seeing all

wear out: outlive

moon: whose fortunes change by the month

brand from heaven: only the gods can part us (in death), like hunters scare out foxes with fire

fell: skin

advanced: promoted

as the time is: as occasion demands; successful men take advantage of opportunity

become: befit

bear question: don't waste time deliberating

write happy: consider yourself fortunate

eat dried oats: I'm not a horse but a man

opposites: opponents

charms: Lear's old age and title might win the common people's sympathy if they saw him

turn our impress'd lances: turn our conscripted lancers (forced to serve) against us

session: trial

best quarrels: even the most worthy arguments, in a time of anger, are best left to later when tempers cool

subject: subordinate

list: choose; it's my decision whether or not he will be your brother-in-law

powers: armies

immediacy: present status as my representative

hot: not so fast

grace: qualities

addition: what you would give him (by marriage)

compeers: equals

asquint: cross-eyed, not to be trusted

let-alone: permission

attaint: sharing in his crime

serpent: Goneril

contradict your bans: prohibit your announcement of marriage to Edmund

bespoke: spoken for

interlude: a scene from a play; "how dramatic!"

single virtue: fight alone

quality: rank

canker-bit: eaten by worms

cope: fight

maugre: in spite of

fire-new: fresh from the forge

prince: Albany

Save him: spare him (so he can confess his crimes)

practice: trickery

cozen'd: deceived

charity: forgiveness

got: begot (Gloucester paid for his adultery by losing his eyes)

wheel: of fortune

here: at the bottom

proclamation: the sentence on his life

habit: attire 

rings: eye sockets

period: limit

big in clamour: crying loudly

puissant: overpowering

tranced: passed out

marry: joined forever in death

compliment: ceremony

very manners: mere decency

writ: order to kill

office: commission

fordid: committed suicide

stones: without feeling

stone: glass

end: doomsday

falchion: small sword

crosses: troubles spoil my strength

Caius: Kent's alias

see that straight: I'll attend to that in a moment

first of difference: from the beginning of your decline

bootless: useless

old majesty: Lear

boot: good measure

fool: used as a term of endearment for Cordelia

vex not his ghost: don't trouble his spirit by holding it here on earth

rack: torture instrument

usurp'd: held onto life beyond his time

journey: he goes to join his master in death