Edited by Jay L.

Halio
 An international team of scholars offers:
. modernized, easily accessible texts
• ample commentary and introductions
. attention to the theatrical qualities of each
play and its stage history
• informative illustrations

The Tragedy of King Lear

For this updated critical edition of King
Lear, Professor Halio has added a new
introductory section on recent stage, film
and critical interpretations of the play. He
gives a comprehensive account of
Shakespeare's sources and the literary,
political and folkloric influences at work in
the play; a detailed reading of the action;
and a substantial stage history of major
productions. Professor Halio chooses the
Folio as the text for this edition. He
Cover design by Paul Oldman, based explains the differences between the
on a drawing by David Hockney, Quarto and Folio versions and alerts the
reproduced by permission of the reader to the rival claims of the Quarto by
means of a sampling of parallel passages in
the Introduction and by an appendix which
contains annotated passages unique to the
Quarto. An updated reading list completes
the edition.

CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
www.cambridge.org
T H E NEW C A M B R I D G E S H A K E S P E A R E

GENERAL EDITOR
Brian Gibbons

ASSOCIATE GENERAL EDITOR

A. R. Braunmuller

From the publication of the first volumes in 1984 the General Editor of the New
Cambridge Shakespeare was Philip Brockbank and the Associate General Editors were
Brian Gibbons and Robin Hood. From 1990 to 1994 the General Editor was Brian
Gibbons and the Associate General Editors were A. R. Braunmuller and Robin Hood.

T H E TRAGEDY OF K I N G L E A R

For this updated critical edition of King Lear, Professor Halio has added a new introductory
section on recent stage, film, and critical interpretations of the play. He gives a comprehensive
account of Shakespeare's sources and the literary, political, and folkloric influences at work in
the play; a detailed reading of the action; and a substantial stage history of major productions.
Jay Halio is concerned to clarify, for those approaching the play for the first time, the vexed
question of its textual history. Unlike previous editions, his does not present a conflation of the
quarto and the Folio. Accepting that we have two versions of equal authority, the one derived
from Shakespeare's rough drafts, the other from a manuscript used in the playhouses during the
seventeenth century, Professor Halio chooses the Folio as the text for this edition. He explains
the differences between the two versions and alerts the reader to the rival claims of the quarto by
means of a sampling of parallel passages in the Introduction and by an appendix which contains
annotated passages unique to the quarto.
T H E NEW C A M B R I D G E S H A K E S P E A R E

All's Well That Ends Well, edited by Russell Fraser

Antony and Cleopatra, edited by David Bevington
As You Like It, edited by Michael Hattaway
The Comedy of Errors, edited by T. S. Dorsch
Coriolanus, edited by Lee Bliss
Cymheline, edited by Martin Butler
Hamlet, edited by Philip Edwards
Julius Caesar, edited by Marvin Spevack
King Edward III, edited by Giorgio Melchiori
The First Part of King Henry IV, edited by Herbert Weil and Judith Weil
The Second Part of King Henry IV, edited by Giorgio Melchiori
King Henry V, edited by Andrew Gurr
The First Part of King Henry VI, edited by Michael Hattaway
The Second Part of King Henry VI, edited by Michael Hattaway
The Third Part of King Henry VI, edited by Michael Hattaway
King Henry VIII, edited by John Margeson
King John, edited by L. A. Beaurline
The Tragedy of King Lear, edited by Jay L. Halio
King Richard II, edited by Andrew Gurr
King Richard III, edited by Janis Lull
Macbeth, edited by A. R. Braunmuller
Measure for Measure, edited by Brian Gibbons
The Merchant of Venice, edited by M. M. Mahood
The Merry Wives of Windsor, edited by David Crane
A Midsummer Night's Dream, edited by R. A. Foakes
Much Ado About Nothing, edited by F H. Mares
Othello, edited by Norman Sanders
Pericles, edited by Doreen DelVecchio and Antony Hammond
The Poems, edited by John Roe
Romeo and Juliet, edited by G. Blakemore Evans
The Sonnets, edited by G. Blakemore Evans
The Taming of the Shrew, edited by Ann Thompson
The Tempest, edited by David Lindley
Timon of Athens, edited by Karl Klein
Titus Andronicus, edited by Alan Hughes
Troilus and Cressida, edited by Anthony B. Dawson
Twelfth Night, edited by Elizabeth Story Donno
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, edited by Kurt Schlueter

THE EARLY QUARTOS

The First Quarto of Hamlet, edited by Kathleen O. Irace
The First Quarto of King Henry V, edited by Andrew Gurr
The First Quarto of King Lear, edited by Jay L. Halio
The First Quarto of King Richard III, edited by Peter Davison
The Taming of A Shrew: The 15Ç4 Quarto, edited by Stephen Roy Miller
The First Quarto of Othello, edited by Scott McMillin
T H E T R A G E D Y OF K I N G L E A R
Updated edition

Edited by
JAY L . H A L I O
Emeritus Professor of English, University of Delaware

CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE U N I V E R S I T Y P R E S S
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sào Paulo

Cambridge University Press

The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521612630

© Cambridge University Press 1992, 2005

This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception

and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without
the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 1992

Twelfth printing 2004
Updated edition 2005

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN-13 978-0-521-84791-9 hardback

ISBN-10 0-521-84791-5 hardback
ISBN-13 978-0-521-61263-0 paperback
ISBN-10 0-521-61263-2 paperback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or
third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not guarantee that any content on such
websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
IN MEMORIAM
PHILIP BROCKBANK, 1 9 2 2 - 1 9 8 9
CONTENTS

List of illustrations page' viii

Preface xi
List of abbreviations and conventions xiv
Introduction 1
Date and sources of Shakespeare's King Lear 1
The play H
King Lear on stage and screen 32
Recent stage, film, and critical interpretations 54
Textual analysis, part i 65
Quarto and Folio compared: some parallel passages 86
Note on the text 95
List of characters 98
THE PLAY 99
Textual analysis, part 2 265
Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto 293
Reading list 311
ILLUSTRATIONS

i The title page of the 1605 quarto of King Leir, as reproduced

in the Malone Society reprint (1907) page xx
2 The title page of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia (1590), as reproduced
in the edition by Albert Feuillerat (1939) 5
3 A possible staging of Act 3, Scene 4: Edgar as Tom o'Bedlam.
Drawing by C. Walter Hodges 19
4 A possible staging of Act 4, Scene 5: Gloucester's 'suicide' leap.
Drawing by C. Walter Hodges 22
5 'Hark in thine ear' (4.5.146): Paul Scofield as King Lear and Alan
Webb as Gloucester in the production directed by Peter Brook, 1962 24
6 Lear and Cordelia: 'Is this the promised end?' Painting by
Maciek Swieszewski 26
7 A possible staging of Act 1, Scene 1, and of Act 5, Scene 3: Lear
and his daughters. Drawing by C. Walter Hodges 30
8 Susanna Maria Cibber as Cordelia in the storm saved by Edgar from
Edmond's ruffians (Tate's adaptation), c. 1743 36
9 Garrick as King Lear, with Kent and Edgar in the storm and no Fool,
as portrayed in the painting by Benjamin Wilson, 1761 43
10 John Gielgud as Lear and Alan Badel as the Fool, in Anthony Quayle's
production, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon,
1950 (Angus McBean) 46
11 Act 1, Scene 1 : Peter Brook's Royal Shakespeare Company
production, with Paul Scofield as Lear, 1962 (Angus McBean) 48
12 Antony Sher as the Fool in the oil drum (left) and Michael Gambon as
Lear, in the Royal Shakespeare Company production, 1982 49
13 Linda Kerr Scott as the Fool and John Wood as King Lear, in Nicholas
Hytner's production for the Royal Shakespeare Company, 1990 50
14 David Calder as Kent, Ian Hughes as the Fool, Simon Russell Beale as
Edgar, Robert Stephens as King Lear, in the 1993 Royal Shakespeare
Company production, directed by Adrian Noble. Malcolm Davies
Collection, copyright Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 55
[,x] List of illustrations

15 Monique Holt as Cordelia and Floyd King as Lear's Fool in the

Shakespeare Theatre's 1999 production of King Lear, directed by
Michael Kahn. Photograph by Carol Rosegg. 58
16 A page from the original typescript of The Rose Tattoo, by
Tennessee Williams 290
17 A page from The Rose Tattoo, Act 1. Copyright 1950, 1951 by
Tennessee Williams 291

Illustrations 1 and 2 are reproduced by permission of the Syndics of Cambridge Uni-

versity Library; illustrations 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 by permission of the Shakespeare
Centre Library, Stratford-upon-Avon; illustrations 12 and 13 by permission of Joe
Cocks Studio; illustration 16 by permission of the Estate of Tennessee Williams and
the University of Delaware Library; illustration 17 by permission of New Directions
Publishing Corporation and Martin Seeker and Warburg Ltd; and illustration 15 by
the Shakespeare Theatre.
PREFACE

For over two hundred years editors of King Lear have based their work on the theory
that the two early texts of the play, the first quarto of 1608 and the Folio of 1623,
represent incomplete and faulty approximations of the play as Shakespeare originally
wrote it. This single-text theory, so-called, is in the judgement of many scholars today
no longer viable. In their view, an alternative theory - that Q and F (as they are known)
represent different versions of the play - must replace it. These scholars believe that
the quarto, poorly printed by Nicholas Okes's compositors in the winter of 1607-8,
derives from an early manuscript copy in Shakespeare's hand, and that the Folio derives
from a considerably altered and revised version, one more closely approximating the
play as the author visualised it in performance, or as the King's Men actually staged
it in the period between its first performances and the third decade of the seventeenth
century.
The implications of the alternative, or revision, hypothesis are significant for a mod-
ern editor, who must now decide which version to follow as his copy-text. The advocates
of a quarto-based edition have strong arguments to support them; so do those who advo-
cate a Folio-based edition. Final choice will depend upon one's preference for an early
manuscript version, as reflected in the first printed edition, however corrupt or incom-
plete, or for a revised version of the play which, though in many respects offering a
better text, involves problems of its own. Among those problems is the vexed question
of revision and the issue of authenticity or legitimacy that revision, including authorial
revision, raises.
Recently revision and the issue of intentionality it involves have also come under
renewed scrutiny by theoretical and practical critics alike. If years have passed between
the original composition and the revision (in the case of King Lear, perhaps more than
five years), may it not be argued that the original creative impulse and sense of design
have long since vanished, that the author can no longer be sure what he intended? My
colleague, Hershel Parker, has asked just such questions and provided answers to them
in his stimulating enquiry, Flawed Texts and Verbal Icons (1984). Using examples from
American fiction, he maintains that authors may be subjected to pressures and motives
having to do with commercial viability or public taste or other matters that are irrelevant
to the composition at hand and which are extrinsic to the creative process. Much of
his argument is of course applicable to other forms of literature, perhaps even - or
especially - to plays, which are above all forms of literature highly susceptible to the
pressures of production, box-office concerns, shifts in taste or decorum (not to mention
morality), and so forth. But it is precisely here that plays also differ from novels or poems
in that they are, by their very nature, collaborative undertakings. A play by Shakespeare,
no less than one by Tennessee Williams, Tom Stoppard, or Eugène Ionesco, is seldom
the same on the boards as in the playwright's study. And it may change from production

xi
Preface [xii]

to production, revival to revival, raising questions about the nature of the play as well
as its interpretation.1 In the quarto and the Folio, King Lear presents two significantly
different versions of Shakespeare's play, one closer to the composition as he originally
conceived it (Q), the other closer to an actual staged production after revision (F). The
two versions involve a host of variant readings in addition to unique passages, alternative
speech assignments, missing stage directions, and other divergences, besides numerous
printer's errors. Editors have hitherto thought that by conflating, or splicing, the two
versions they could approach what they assumed to be the 'ideal' form of the play,
apparently lost; but this belief violates theatrical tradition and otherwise has little to
support it.
Establishing the definitive text of such a fluid enterprise as a play is in its evolution
from conception through performance under a variety of exigencies becomes impos-
sible, unless one arbitrarily decides (as past scholars usually have done) that the last
published version in the author's lifetime in which the author had a hand is 'defini-
tive'. Questions about the soundness of this procedure aside, what if the author had
no hand in the publication of the work? Shakespeare was dead before half of his plays
were published, and it is uncertain what role, if any, he played in the publication of
any of the others, including King Lear in 1608. Although he oversaw the printing of
his long poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrèce, dedicated to his patron
Southampton, he apparently cared much less about the publication of his dramatic
works, leaving to generations of scholars the fascinating problems of establishing an
authentic, if not definitive, edition of his plays. An authentic, not definitive, edition of
King Lear is the goal of this one. Founded on a fresh examination of the texts as well
as on the best available scholarship and criticism regarding the text, the total historical
context (including theatrical data), and the study of extant sources, this edition tries
to provide a clear, up-to-date, readable, and reliable version based on the Folio text of
Shakespeare's King Lear. Throughout, the emphasis is upon the play as a play, not just
a literary document, though it is that too, of course, and the Commentary accordingly
ignores neither aspect of the work.
Modern editors of Shakespeare owe enormous debts to the countless scholars, edi-
tors, critics, and theatre professionals who have preceded them. Wherever possible,
I have tried to record specific debts in footnotes or Commentary, but more gener-
alised and personal debts must be acknowledged here. Many friends and scholars have
lent assistance by reviewing various parts of the typescript in preparation and making
invaluable suggestions and often corrections of error or misunderstanding. Donald
Foster, Trevor Howard-Hill, and Gary Taylor all read the Textual Analysis in its orig-
inal form; it appears here much changed as a result of their suggestions and those of
Philip Brockbank who, until his death, served as General Editor of the New Cambridge
Shakespeare. Thomas Clayton, Richard Knowles, and George Walton Williams read
the original and the revised versions of that analysis - a service well beyond the call of
collegiality and friendship. Indeed, Thomas Clayton read all of the Introduction, except

1
So, too, poems may change from one printing to another, in new editions or new anthologies, as the texts
of Robert Lowell's early poetry attest. See Hugh Staples, Robert Lowell: The First Twenty Years, 1962.
[xm] Preface

the stage history, which Marvin Rosenberg read in an earlier form. Philip Brockbank
also vetted the original version of the section on dates and sources, which (like the
Textual Analysis) has been entirely reorganised and revised according to his recom-
mendations. I am sure, had he lived, he would have made further recommendations
concerning other sections of the Introduction, which then would have profited from his
advice and counsel. Since his death, Brian Gibbons, who has succeeded him as General
Editor, has been of great assistance, offering many suggestions and not a few corrections
of detail. It was, in fact, his suggestion to follow the example of John Hazel Smith's
edition of Bussy D'Ambois, and include a sampling of parallel passages from quarto and
Folio to highlight the kinds of changes that occur between them. The Associate General
Editors, Robin Hood and A. R. Braunmuller, have also been most helpful in making
suggestions and corrections. Sarah Stanton has advised me on various aspects of format
and procedure, and Paul Chipchase's copy-editing has been both thorough and acutely
perceptive. To all of these dedicated professionals, I express my gratitude and exempt
them from any errors or infelicities that remain. They are of my own making and my
own responsibility.
Several scholars have generously permitted me to see their work in typescript or in
proof. Among them are J. Leeds Bar roll, Peter Blayney, Frank Brownlow, G. Blakemore
Evans, F. D. Hoeniger, Arthur King, Alexander Leggatt, and Stanley Wells. Others have
kindly sent me offprints or pre-prints of articles or have answered queries concerning
some aspect of King Lear. These scholars have demonstrated once again that Shake-
spearean - indeed, all - scholarship at its best is always a collaborative venture.
I must also express gratitude to the following libraries and their staffs, who have
been unfailingly co-operative and helpful: the University of Delaware Library, the
Folger Shakespeare Library, the British Library, the Shakespeare Centre Library, and
the Library of Congress. Several graduate students and secretarial staff have assisted
in various aspects of research or preparation: Kate Rodowsky, Patience Philips, Susan
Savini, Suzanne Potts, and Victoria Gray cheerfully carried out duties that must often
have seemed at least tedious. To the Trustees of the University of Delaware, I owe
thanks for awarding me a sabbatical leave in the autumn term of 1987 and for a research
grant in the summer of 1988. Such assistance has greatly facilitated work on this edition.

J. L. H.
A B B R E V I A T I O N S AND CONVENTIONS

Shakespeare's plays, when cited in this edition, are abbreviated in a style modified slightly
from that used in the Harvard Concordance to Shakespeare. Other editions of Shakespeare are
abbreviated under the editor's surname (Theobald, Duthie) unless they are the work of more
than one editor. In such cases, an abbreviated series title is used (Cam.). When more than one
edition by the same editor is cited, later editions are discriminated with a raised figure (Rowe 2 ) .
All quotations from Shakespeare, except those from King Lear, use the text and lineation of The
Riverside Shakespeare, under the general editorship of G. Blakemore Evans.

i. Shakespeare's plays
Ado Much Ado About Nothing
Ant. Antony and Cleopatra
A WW All's Well That Ends Well
AY LI As You Like It
Cor. Coriolanus
Cym. Cymbeline
Err. The Comedy of Errors
Ham. Hamlet
1H4 The First Part of King Henry the Fourth
2H4 The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth
H5 King Henry the Fifth
1H6 The First Part of King Henry the Sixth
2H6 The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth
3H6 The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth
H8 King Henry the Eighth
JC Julius Caesar
John King John
LLL Love's Labour's Lost
Lear King Lear
Mac. Macbeth
MM Measure for Measure
MND A Midsummer Night's Dream
MV The Merchant of Venice
Oth. Othello
Per. Pericles
R2 King Richard the Second
R3 King Richard the Third
Rom. Romeo and Juliet
Shr. The Taming of the Shrew
STM Sir Thomas More
Temp. The Tempest
TGV The Two Gentlemen of Verona

xiv
[xv] List of abbreviations and conventions

Tim. Timon of Athens

Tit. Titus Andronicus
TN Twelfth Night
TNK The Two Noble Kinsmen
Tro. Troilus and Cressida
Wiv. The Merry Wives of Windsor
WT The Winter's Tale

2. Other works cited a n d g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e s

Abbott E. A. Abbott, A Shakespearian Grammar, 1894
Berlin Normand Berlin, The Secret Cause: A Discussion of Tragedy, 1981
Bevington King Lear, ed. David Bevington, 1988 (Bantam)
Blayney Peter W. M. Blayney, The Texts of'King Lear' and Their Origins,
2 vols., 1 (1982)
Booth Stephen Booth, 'King Lear', 'Macbeth', Indefinition, and Tragedy,
1983
Bradley A. C. Bradley, Shakespearean Tragedy, 2nd edn, 1905
Bratton King Lear, ed. J. S. Bratton, 1987 (Plays in Performance)
Brockbank Philip Brockbank, 'Upon Such Sacrifices', The British Academy
Shakespeare Lecture, 1976
Bullough Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare, ed. Geoffrey
Bullough, 8 vols., 1957-75, v n ( : 973)
Cam. The Works of William Shakespeare, ed. W. G Clark, J. Glover, and
W. A. Wright, 1863-6 (Cambridge Shakespeare)
Capell Mr William Shakespeare his Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies,
ed. Edward Capell, 10 vols., 1767-8, ix
Cavell Stanley Cavell, Must We Mean What We Say?, 1969
Cercignani Fausto Cercignani, Shakespeare's Works and Elizabethan
Pronunciation, 1981
Chambers E. K. Chambers, William Shakespeare: A Study of Facts and
Problems, 2 vols., 1930
Clayton Thomas Clayton, ' "Is this the promis'd end?": revision
in the role of the king', in Division, pp. 121-41
Colie Rosalie Colie, 'The energies of endurance: biblical echo in King
Lear\ in Some Facets, pp. 117-44
Colman E. A. M. Colman, The Dramatic Use of Bawdy in Shakespeare,
1974
conj. conjecture
corr. corrected
Cotgrave Randall Cotgrave, A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues,
1611
Danby John F. Danby, Shakespeare's Doctrine of Nature, 1948, reprinted
1961
Davenport A. Davenport, 'Notes on King Lear\ N&Q n.s., 98 (1953),
20-2
Dent R. W. Dent, Shakespeare's Proverbial Language: An Index, 1981
Division Gary Taylor and Michael Warren (eds.), The Division of the
Kingdoms: Shakespeare's Two Versions of'King Lear', 1983
List of abbreviations and conventions [xvi]

Doran Madeleine Doran, The Text of'King Lear\ 1931, reprinted 1967
Duthie King Lear: A Critical Edition, ed. George Ian Duthie, 1949
ELR English Literary Renaissance
Elton William Elton, 'King Lear' and the Gods, 1966
Mr William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, 1623
F (First Folio)
Mr William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, 1632
F2 (Second Folio)
F3 Mr William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies,
1663-4 (Third Folio)
F4 Mr William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, 1685
(Fourth Folio)
m Edmond Spenser, The Faerie Queene, 1596
King Lear, ed. Horace Howard Furness, 1880 (New Variorum)
Furness
The Globe Shakespeare, ed. W. G. Clark and W. A. Wright,
Globe
1864
Goldring Beth Goldring, 'Cor.'s rescue of Kent', in Division, pp. 143-51
Granville-Barker Harley Granville-Barker, Prefaces to Shakespeare, 2 vols., 1946, 1
Greg, Editorial Problem W. W Greg, The Editorial Problem in Shakespeare, 1942, 2nd edn,
I95I
Greg, S FF W W Greg, The Shakespeare First Folio, 1955
Greg, Variants W W Greg, The Variants in the First Quarto of 'King Lear ',
1940
Halio King Lear, ed. Jay L. Halio, 1973 (Fountainwell)
Hanmer The Works ofShakespear, ed. Thomas Hanmer, 1743-4
Harbage King Lear, ed. Alfred Harbage, 1958 (Penguin)
Harsnett Samuel Harsnett, A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures,
1603
Heilman Robert Heilman, This Great Stage: Image and Structure in 'King
Lear', 1948, reprinted 1963
Hinman Charlton K. Hinman, The Printing and Proofreading of the First
Folio of Shakespeare, 2 vols., 1963
Hoeniger F D Hoeniger, Medicine and Shakespeare in the English
Renaissance, 1992
Holland Norman N. Holland, The Shakespearean Imagination, 1964
Hunter King Lear, ed. G. K. Hunter, 1972 (New Penguin)
Jackson MacDonald P. Jackson, 'Fluctuating variation: author, annotator,
or actor', in Division, pp. 313-49
Jennens King Lear, ed. Charles Jennens, 1770
Johnson The Plays of William Shakespeare, ed. Samuel Johnson, 8 vols.,
1765, vi
Joseph Sister Miriam Joseph, Shakespeare's Use of the Arts of Language,
1947
Kerrigan John Kerrigan, 'Revision, adaptation, and the Fool in King Lear\
in Division, pp. 195—245
King Arthur King, Materials for the Study of'King Lear' (in
preparation)
King Leu The History of King Leir (1605) (Malone Society Reprints),
1907
[xvii] List of abbreviations and conventions

Kittredge King Lear, ed. George Lyman Kittredge, 1940

Kokeritz Helge Kokeritz, Shakespeare's Pronunciation, 1953
Mack Maynard Mack, 'King Lear' in Our Time, 1965
McLeod Randall McLeod, ''Gon. No more, the text is foolish', in Division,
PP- 153-93
Malone The Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare, ed. Edmond
Malone, 10 vols., 1790, vm
Meagher John C. Meagher, 'Vanity, Lear's feather, and the pathology of
editorial annotation', in Clifford Leech and J. M. R. Margeson
(eds.), Shakespeare 1971, Toronto, 1972, pp. 244-59
MLR Modern Language Review
Montaigne The Essayes of Michael Lord of Montaigne, trans. John Florio,
6 vols., 1897 (Temple Classics)
MP Modern Philology
Muir King Lear, ed. Kenneth Muir, 1963 (Arden)
N&Q_ Notes and Queries
Noble Richmond Noble, Shakespeare's Biblical Knowledge, 1935
NS King Lear, ed. George Ian Duthie and John Dover Wilson, i960,
1968 (New Shakespeare)
OED Oxford English Dictionary
Onions C. T Onions, A Shakespeare Glossary, enlarged and revised,
Robert D. Eagleson, 1986
Oxford William Shakespeare: The Complete Works, gen. eds. Stanley-
Wells and Gary Taylor, 1986
Eric Partridge, Shakespeare's Bawdy, 3rd edn, 1969
Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America
Derek Peat, ' "And that's true too": King Lear and the tension of
uncertainty', S.Sur., 33 (1980), 43-53
Wilfrid Perrett, The King Lear Story from Geoffrey ofMonmouth
to Shakespeare, Berlin, 1904
The Works of Shakespear, ed. Alexander Pope, 1723-5
M. William Shakespeare: HIS True Chronicle Historié of the life
and death of King Lear and his three Daughters, 1608 (first quarto)
M. William Shakespeare, HIS True Chronicle Historié of the life
and death of King Lear, and his three Daughters [1619] (second
quarto)
quartos
John Reibetanz, The Lear World, Toronto, 1977
Review of English Studies
The Riverside Shakespeare, gen. ed. G. Blakemore Evans, 1974
Marvin Rosenberg, The Masks of'King Lear', 1972
The Works of Mr William Shakespeare, ed. Nicholas Rowe, 6 vols.,
1709,v
The Works of Mr William Shakespeare, ed. Nicholas Rowe, 2nd
edn, 8 vols., 1714
Frankie Rubenstein, A Dictionary of Shakespeare's Sexual Puns
and Their Significance, 1984
Leo Salingar, Dramatic Form in Shakespeare and the Jacobeans,
List of abbreviations and conventions [xviii]

SB Studies in Bibliography
Schmidt Alexander Schmidt, A Shakespeare-Lexicon, 3rd edn, Breslau,
1901
Schmidt 1879 King Lear, ed. Alexander Schmidt, Berlin, 1879
SD stage direction
SFNL Shakespeare on Film Newsletter
SH speech heading
Shaheen Naseeb Shaheen, Biblical References in Shakespeare's Tragedies,
1987
Sisson C. J. Sisson, New Readings in Shakespeare, 2 vols., 1956,11
Some Facets Rosalie L. Colie and F. T. Flahiff (eds.), Some Facets of'King
Lear': Essays in Prismatic Criticism, 1974
SP Studies in Philology
Spurgeon Caroline Spurgeon, Shakespeare's Imagery and What It Tells Us,
!935
SQ. Shakespeare Quarterly
S.St. Shakespeare Studies
S.Sur. Shakespeare Survey
Stampfer Judah Stampfer, 'The catharsis of King Lear\ S.Sur. 13 (i960),
I-IO
Staunton The Plays of Shakespeare, ed. H. Staunton, 1858-60
Steevens The Plays of William Shakespeare, ed. Samuel Johnson and
George Steevens, 15 vols., 1793, xiv
Stone P. W. K. Stone, The Textual History of'King Lear', 1980
subst. substantively
Taylor, 'Censorship' Gary Taylor, 'Monopolies, show trials, disaster, and invasion:
King Lear and censorship', in Division, pp. 75-119
Taylor, 'Date and Gary Taylor, 'King Lear, the date and authorship of the Folio
authorship' version', in Division, pp. 351-468
Taylor, 'New source' Gary Taylor, 'A new source and an old date for King Lear\ RES
132(1982), 396-413
Taylor, 'War' Gary Taylor, 'The war in King Lear\ S.Sur. 33 (1980), 27-34
Textual Companion Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, with John Jowett and William
Montgomery, William Shakespeare: A Textual Companion, 1987
Theobald The Works of Shakespeare, ed. Lewis Theobald, 7 vols., 1733, v
uncorr. uncorrected
Urkowitz Steven Urkowitz, Shakespeare's Revision of'King Lear', 1980
Urkowitz, 'Editorial Steven Urkowitz, 'The base shall to th'legitimate: the growth
tradition' of an editorial tradition', in Division, pp. 23-43
Warburton The Works of Shakespeare, ed. William Warburton, 1747,
8 vols., vi
Warren, 'Albany and Michael Warren, 'Quarto and Folio King Lear and the
Edgar' interpretation of Albany and Edgar', in David Bevington and Jay
L. Halio (eds.), Shakespeare: Pattern of Excelling Nature, 1978,
pp. 95-107
Warren, 'Diminution' Michael Warren, 'The diminution of Kent', in Division,
PP 59-73
Warren, R. Roger Warren, 'The Folio omission of the mock trial: motives
and consequences', in Division, pp. 45-57
[xix] List of abbreviations and conventions

Werstine Paul Werstine, 'Folio editors, Folio compositors, and the Folio
text of King Lear\ in Division, pp. 247-312
Wiles David Whiles, Shakespeare's Clown, 1987
Wittreich Joseph Wittreich, 'Image of that Horror1: History, Prophecy, and
Apocalypse in 'King Lear \ 1984

Biblical quotations are taken from the Geneva Bible, 1560

 THE
pMMMH^

1 rue Chronicle Hi
ftory of K i n g L i i ^ and his three
daughters, Çm^ilî^ ^Ragan^
andCcrdcIfg.

sithathbenedraertï
times lately a&ed«

LONDON,
rintta by Simon Stafford for Iohn
Wright» and arc to bec fold at hisflbopat
Chriftes Qiurch dore» next Newgate
Market, 16 o 5,

1 The title page of the 1605 quarto of King Leir

INTRODUCTION

Date and sources of Shakespeare's King Lear

KING LEAR: DATE OF COMPOSITION AND FIRST PERFORMANCE
Although King Lear was probably performed earlier at the Globe, the first recorded
performance of the play was at the court of King James I on St Stephen's Day during
the Christmas holidays in 1606, as indicated in the Stationers' Register (26 Novem-
ber 1607) anû " proclaimed on the title page of the first quarto (1608). Both the king
and the playwright must have brought to the performance a keen sense of occasion.1
Shakespeare was a leading member of the company of actors honoured by royal patron-
age, the King's Men, and he knew that his play touched on a number of sensitive issues.
In his first parliament, James had declared his intention of uniting the kingdoms of
Scotland and England as one realm, Great Britain, restoring the ancient title and unity
to the land. While he received considerable support from the lords and judges, the com-
mons were hesitant and did not jump to ratify the proposal. Against this background of
political activity, Lear's speech, 'Know, that we have divided / In three our kingdom',
must have been startling indeed.2 James was in a position to see, however, that similar
material had attracted theatrical attention as early as Sackville and Norton's Gorboduc
(1561) and Locrine (c. 1585) as well as King Leir (c. 1590); moreover, he would quickly
have recognised that Shakespeare's play vividly dramatised the tragic consequences of
dividing the kingdom, as opposed to unifying it.
Composition of King Lear had begun by spring or summer 1605, possibly sooner.
Gloucester's references to 'These late eclipses in the sun and moon' (1.2.91) may allude
to actual eclipses in September and October 1605. The anonymous play, 'The moste
famous Chronicle historye of Leire kinge of England and His Three Daughters', first
entered in the Stationers' Register on 14 May 1594 but performed earlier, was again
entered (as 'the Tragecall historié') on 8 May 1605 and published, presumably for the
first time, later that year. If Shakespeare's play was responsible for the revival of interest
in the old play, whose title page proclaims that it was 'diuers and sundry times lately

1
In the Christian calendar, St Stephen's Day (26 December) was the first of four festivals ending on
New Year's Day that stressed man's folly and worldliness. Biblical readings on St Stephen's Day urged
patience in adversity and the festival was celebrated by granting hospitality, especially to the poor. For
these and other reasons, King Lear was thus an appropriate choice for the evening. See R. Chris Hassel,
Jr, Renaissance Drama andthe English Church Year, 1979, pp. 22-30, and Leah Marcus, Puzzling Shakespeare,
1988, pp. 148-59. In his recent edition of Harsnett's Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures, Frank
Brownlow speculates that Samuel Harsnett, then Bishop of Chichester, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge
University, and Master of Pembroke College, might also have been in the audience. On Shakespeare's debt
to Harsnett, see below.
2
Compare Annabel Patterson, Censorship and Interpretation, 1984, pp. 64-73, and Glynne Wickham, 'From
tragedy to tragi-comedy: "King Lear" as prologue', S.Sur. 26 (1973), 33-48, who notes that the two sons
of James I were at this time Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Albany. See also Wittreich, pp. 17-24.

1
 The Tragedy of King Lear [2]

acted', then King Lear must have been on the boards by early 1605.1 On the other
hand, revival of King Leir may have been otherwise occasioned, and composition of
Shakespeare's play, clearly indebted to it, may have begun afterwards. It could not have
been written before 1603, the date of Samuel Harsneti's A Declaration of Egregious Popish
Impostures, since much of Tom o'Bedlam's language derives from that document.2 And
if Eastward Ho inspired several passages, then composition occurred after April 1605.3

THE PLAYWRIGHT'S READING

The great variety of sources of King Lear becomes coherent when we recall the use
to which the play puts the material. Although The Chronicle History of King Leir was
Shakespeare's principal source, the Lear story goes back as far as Geoffrey of Mon-
mouth's Historia Regum Brittaniae (c. 1135). Shakespeare may have read this in the
original Latin (no Elizabethan translation exists) or, as Bullough suggests (p. 273), he
may have taken details from more recent writers who were themselves directly or indi-
rectly indebted to the Historia. Geoffrey was as interested in the political implications
of his Historia as in the social narrative; therefore, he focuses as much upon the con-
sequence of Leir's action in dividing the kingdom between his two older daughters,
as upon the initial love contest. The division eventually leads to insurrection as the
two dukes, his daughters' husbands, rise up against the old king and strip him of his
rights and dignities. Leir flees to France, is reunited with a forgiving Cordeilla, and
finally restored to his kingdom. When he dies three years later, Cordeilla succeeds to
his throne.
But the story as Geoffrey tells it is not yet over. The dissension that was Geoffrey's
leitmotiv from the reign of Brut onwards continues, as Margan and Cunedag, the sons
of Cordeilla's sisters, rebel against their aunt and imprison her. Overcome with despair,
Cordeilla commits suicide. Further tragedy lies in store for England, as Margan and
Cunedag fall out with each other, civil war ensues, and after much of the land has
been laid waste, Margan is finally killed. Only then is peace restored to Britain for a
prolonged period during Cunedag's reign.
Many of the later accounts of Leir and his three daughters include the episode of
Cordeilla's suicide; it is told, for example, in Holinshed's Chronicles, Higgins's Mirour
for Magistrates, and Spenser's The Faerie Queene (11.x.27-33), all of which Shakespeare
knew. It may be from Cordeilla's death in these accounts that Shakespeare got the
suggestion for turning the old Chronicle History from a tragicomedy into tragedy,
although his sub-plot, borrowed from Sidney's Arcadia, may also have influenced him.4
From the old play he got the basic outlines of his fable and adapted it to his own purposes,
which were quite different from those of the anonymous author.

1
W. W. Greg, 'The date of King Lear and Shakespeare's use of earlier versions of the story', The Library,
4th ser., 20 (1939-40), 377-400.
2
Chambers, 1, 467-70; Bullough, vu, 269-70.
3
Taylor, 'New source', pp. 396-413.
4
Fitzroy Pyle, 'Twelfth Night, King Lear, and Arcadia', MLR 43 (1948), 449-55.
[J] Introduction

THE TRUE CHRONICLE HISTORY

The old play called itself a 'true chronicle history', meeting a taste for the retelling of
'true' stories from the past with often overt didactic intentions. Holinshed's Chronicles
incorporates a span of reigns from Geoffrey of Monmouth (including Cymbeline as
well as Locrine and Gorboduc), and Shakespeare was clearly interested in this early
phase of British history, besides the events of the fifteenth century which he dramatised
earlier in the Henriad. Unlike the anonymous King Leir, which is thoroughly infused
with Christian pieties, Shakespeare's play is neither wholly pagan nor wholly Christian,
although at certain points Lear speaks with and for the thunder as if he were indeed
the thunder god himself.
Other differences between Shakespeare's play and his principal source are significant.
While keeping to the main outlines of the Lear story, Shakespeare not only introduced a
major second plot, inspired by the misadventures of the Paphlagonian King in Sidney's
Arcadia; he also introduced several new characters and episodes that King Leir lacks,
such as Lear's madness, the storm, Oswald, and the Fool (who may, however, have
been suggested by the Gallian King's jesting companion, Mumford, in King Leir). The
rather low comic relief provided by the scenes of the Watch in the anonymous play is
omitted, as are several melodramatic incidents, such as Gonorill and Ragan's murder
plot1 against their father, and Perillus's offer to let a starving Leir have his arm to
eat. The Gallian King has a substantial role in the old play, but Shakespeare limited
him to the first scene and eliminated the Gallian Ambassador, sent to invite Leir to
France, although the Ambassador's fruitless wanderings from France to Cornwall and
Cambria resemble the journeys in Shakespeare's second act. In sum, Shakespeare both
condensed and expanded his source to exploit its tragic potential, broaden its range,
and, as F. D. Hoeniger has shown, explore the primitive aspects of the legend 'in all its
depths and terror'.2
Perhaps the most significant alteration Shakespeare made in the Lear story is the
ending. Unlike all previous accounts, King Lear concludes not with the old king restored
to his throne, but with Cordelia and Lear dead.3 Though France in King Leir invades
Britain victoriously, no one dies in that play - all three sisters are spared. The wicked
ones and their husbands become fugitives and are absent from the final scene, which
includes no reference to the later fate of Cordelia. Unlike his counterpart, Kent, Perillus
is not banished, and at the end Leir rewards him for his loyalty. Departing widely from
the contours of the old tragicomedy, Shakespeare thus seems intent on stripping away
every possible consolation from the action to present it with the starkest reality.4

1
In Shakespeare's play, Gloucester twice refers to such a plot (3.4.147, 3.6.45), but it is not developed.
2
'The artist exploring the primitive', in Some Facets, p. 98.
3
In King Lear, Harvester New Critical Introductions to Shakespeare, 1988, pp. 6-7, Alexander Leggatt
argues that Shakespeare actually compressed his sources, which include Cordelia's later death in prison,
and that the happy conclusion of King Leir was new.
4
For more detailed analysis of King Leir and King Lear, see Bullough, pp. 277 ff; Muir, pp. xxvi ff; Dorothy
Nameri, Three Versions of the Story of King Lear, 1976, 1, 26-121; Stephen J. Lynch, 'Sin, suffering, and
redemption in Leir and Lear\ S.St. 18 (1986), 161-74.
 The Tragedy of King Lear M
FOOLISH FOND OLD MAN: FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS
King Lear is not only about a monarch and his divided realm, but also about a father,
his property, and his three daughters. Several contemporary analogues exist, of which
the most important are the events surrounding Sir Brian Annesley and his daughters,
the youngest of whom was named Cordell.1 An old servant of Queen Elizabeth, Sir
Brian held an estate of some value in Kent. In October 1603 his eldest daughter, Lady
Grace Wildgoose, or Wildgose, attempted to have her father certified as incompetent
so that she and her husband, Sir John Wildgoose, could take over the management of
his affairs. The part played by his second daughter, Christian, is unknown, but Cordell
opposed the plan, successfully it appears, by appealing to Sir Robert Cecil. She argued
that, given his loyalty and long service, her father deserved better than to be judged
lunatic in his old age. Sir Brian died in July 1604, and the Wildgooses contested his will,
since in it he left most of his property and possessions to Cordell. One of the executors
was Sir William Harvey, third husband of the dowager Countess of Southampton, the
mother of Shakespeare's early patron. The will was upheld, and after the countess
died in 1607, Harvey married Cordell Annesley. It may be that the Annesley case was
responsible, at least in part, for the revival of interest in The True Chronicle or for
Shakespeare's rewriting it (Bullough, pp. 270-1).

FOOLISH FOND OLD MAN: FATHERS AND SONS

Shakespeare took his second plot from Sidney's Arcadia. Sidney's romance suggested
not only a chivalric colouring, as in the duel between Edgar and Edmond, but a more
epic sweep than that of the old play and its analogues. Furthermore, through the parallel
story of the Earl of Gloucester, modelled on that of the Paphlagonian King, Shakespeare
universalised his theme and raised it to 'cosmic' proportions: 'Lear's world becomes
the entire world, and it becomes clear that Lear's fate may be the fate of any man.'2
Book 11, chapter 10, of the Arcadia (1590) describes the encounter of the princes
Pyrocles and Musidorus with an old blind man led by his son, Leonatus. The old
man is the deposed King of Paphlagonia, dethroned and blinded by his wicked bastard
son, Plexirtus, who persuaded his father first to dislike and finally to seek to destroy
his elder, legitimate son. Having accomplished that, Plexirtus systematically took over
control of the kingdom so that his father left himself (like Lear) 'nothing but the name
of a King'. 3 Still not satiated, Plexirtus took the title, too, put out his father's eyes,

1
C. J. Sisson, Shakespeare's Tragic Justice, 1963, pp. 80-3. G. M. Young, in 'Shakespeare and the Termers',
Today and Yesterday, 1948, is usually credited with this discovery; but Charlotte C. Stopes quotes Cordell
Annesley's letter to Lord Cecil dated 18 October 1603 in The Life of Henry, Third Earl of Southampton,
Shakespeare's Patron, 1922, p. 274. Compare also G. P. V. Akrigg, Shakespeare and the Earl of Southampton,
1968, pp. 257-8.
2
Irving Ribner, 'Sidney's Arcadia and the structure of King Lear\ Studia Neophilologica 24 (1952), 67;
but compare S. L. Goldberg, An Essay on 'King Lear', 1974, p. 79. In 'The very pompes of the divell -
popular and folk elements in Elizabethan and Jacobean drama', RES 25 (1949), 10-23, Douglas Hewitt
shows how Shakespeare universalises his theme in other ways, e.g. through analogous representation of
folk ceremonies, such as banishing the scapegoat, a ceremony still practised in Shakespeare's time. See
esp. his pp. 18-20.
3
Quotations are from Bullough's extracts, pp. 402-14; references are to the facsimile edition published by
Kent State University Press, 1970.
 Introduction

THE
COVNTESSE
OF PEMBROKES
ARCADIA,
WRITTEN BY SIR PHILIPPE
SIDNEL

LONDON
Printed for William Ponfonbie,

title page of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia (1590)

The Tragedy of King Lear [6]
and cast him off to feel his misery, 'full of wretchednes, fuller of disgrace, and fullest
of guiltines'. Shunned by his countrymen, the king is reduced to seeking alms until
Leonatus discovers him and leads him on his way, refusing only to help him commit
suicide by jumping off a cliff.
The parallels so far to the Gloucester-Edgar-Edmond plot in King Lear are evident,
but the differences, too, are important. Edgar conceals his identity from Gloucester
during almost all of their journey together; Edmond shares Plexirtus's ambition and
informs on his father but is not present at the blinding; Edgar assumes the identity of
Tom o'Bedlam, feigning madness, a recourse that Leonatus does not seek. As Sidney's
chapter continues, Plexirtus attempts to hunt his brother down and kill him, but he and
his troops are repulsed by Pyrocles, Musidorus, and their allies. Eventually, Plexirtus
is defeated, Leonatus is placed on his father's throne, and the old king dies, 'his hart
broken with unkindnes and affliction, stretched so farre beyond his limits with this
excesse of comfort, as it were no longer to keep safe his roial spirits'. A seemingly
penitent Plexirtus, with a rope around his neck, surrenders to Leonatus who, ever
loving and kind, forgives him on the promise of an amended life.
Other incidents from Sidney's epic romance influenced Shakespeare's play. Queen
Andromana's lust for both Pyrocles and Musidorus in chapter 20 is the mirror image
of Gonerill's and Regan's lust for Edmond; her death by stabbing herself after her
son Palladius is killed may have suggested Gonerill's suicide after Edmond's defeat.
The mortal combat ending in mutual forgiveness between Plexirtus's allies, Tydeus and
Tylenor, in chapter 22 resembles the duel between Edgar and Edmond, just as the vivid
descriptions of the storm in chapter 7 may have suggested Lear's experience in Act 3.
From the story of Plangus, King of Iberia, in chapter 15 Shakespeare may have got the
idea for Edmond's deception of Gloucester, and in chapter 12 the verse of Basilius and
Plangus anticipates Gloucester's despairing thoughts and attitude.1 But these parallels
and several verbal echoes apart, Shakespeare's greatest debt to Sidney is the hint he
found in the Arcadia for the kind of mould in which he could shape his tragedy.

THE THEATRE OF FOLLY

Apart from the altered ending and the parallel plot, Shakespeare's introduction of the
Fool is his most important contribution to the Lear story. In addition, he conspicuously
extends the king's own foolishness into madness ('folly' in its extremest degree) when,
exposed to rain and cold, Lear calls upon divine power. The development of King and
Fool in the play derives partly from the long tradition of the court fool, but Shakespeare's
handling of both character and theme is unique.
As Enid Welsford has shown in her classic study, The Fool: His Social and Literary
History (1935), the court fool can be traced back to ancient times. By the late Middle
Ages, the jester was a familiar figure, and in the Renaissance the fool had become a
domestic servant in the homes of many aristocrats, in Britain as well as on the continent.
The motley coat, eared hood, bells and marotte, or bauble, were traditional, but fools
might also be dressed like other household servants. Regarded as pets or mascots, they

1
Muir, pp. xxxix-xli.
[/] Introduction

served not simply to amuse, but to criticise their masters and mistresses and their
guests; Queen Elizabeth is said to have rebuked one of her fools for not being severe
enough with her. On the other hand, they might be whipped for excessive behaviour,
as Lear threatens to punish his Fool. Mentally deficient and/or physically deformed,
they were 'exceptional' in almost every respect, requiring the protection of powerful
patrons to avoid social ostracism or abuse.
Distinctions can be, and were, made between the 'natural fool' and the 'artificial'
or professional fool, as well as between the fool and the clown (the rustic, or country
bumpkin), but the principal feature that is relevant here is the fool's privileged status
in a royal or noble household. While his folly could be disregarded as the raving of a
madman, it could also be seen as divinely inspired: the natural fool was 'touched' by
God (or 'tetched', in American dialect). Lear's 'all-licensed fool' enjoys a privileged
status, much to GonerilPs annoyance (i.4.160), and his characteristic idiom suggests
he is a 'natural' fool, not an 'artificial' one, though his perceptiveness and wit show that
he is far from being an idiot or a moron, however 'touched' he may otherwise be.
Fools or jesters had appeared occasionally but not often in Elizabethan drama, as
in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and James IV. With the advent of Robert
Armin, who replaced Will Kempe in the King's Men and made a speciality of fools
(as distinguished from Kempe's clowns), the character became more popular on the
stage between 1598 and 1605. Armin successfully undertook the roles not only of
Touchstone, Feste, and Lavatch in Shakespeare's comedies, but of Carlo Buffone in
Jonson's Every Man Out of His Humour and Passarello in Marston's The Malcontent.1
Whether or not he himself played Lear's fool (see p. 32 below) is less important than the
fact that by 1605 the character had become both a popular and a significant one in plays
performed by the King's Men. Shakespeare then developed the role and extended it in
King Lear so that folly became a dominant theme in his tragedy.
Lear's folly - his foolishness in giving away everything to two daughters and banishing
the third - is the Fool's persistent early refrain. This foolishness turns into madness and
leads directly to the commentary in Act 4 upon 'this great stage of fools', which Lear
delivers to Gloucester, his counterpart in the second plot (4.5.174 ff). If Shakespeare
derived his use of'fool', as William Empson and others claim,2 from a rather generalised
memory of Erasmus's Praise of Folly, he developed it in ways only glimpsed or implied
by Erasmus. The ironic inversions of folly and wisdom that abound throughout the
play cast darker shadows. Shakespeare had experimented with bitter fools in Troilus and
Cressida (Thersites) and AW s Well That Ends Well (Lavatch), but the Fool in King Lear
is a more complex creation than these bitter fools - more affecting in his vulnerability
and his closeness to Lear, yet with a perception of the horror of the situation which
drives him to a relentless goading of his master.
Enid Welsford relates the central scenes of Acts 3 and 4 to the culminating moments
in the sottie, a type of comedy especially popular in Europe from the end of the fifteenth
1
Enid Welsford, The Fool: His Social and Literary History, 1935, reprinted 1961, pp. 245-6; Wiles,
pp. 144-58.
2
The Structure of Complex Words, [1951], p. 124. Compare Leo Salingar, Shakespeare and the Traditions of
Comedy, 1974, pp. 246-7, and Walter Kaiser, Praisers of Folly, 1963, pp. 2 1 - 2 , 99.
The Tragedy of King Lear [8]

century to the beginning of the seventeenth. The theme of the sottie is the universal
sway of Mother Folly, and it ends with the reduction of every class of person to 'the man
in cap and bells'.1 The Praise of Folly is a derivative of the sottie, which flourished more
on the continent than in Britain, although it influenced Sir David Lindsay's Satire
of the Three Estates (Welsford, p. 233). Whether Shakespeare consciously contrived
his tragedy according to the vision of the sottie, we cannot know, and in any case we
must guard against believing that there must be a specifically identifiable source for
everything. The topsy-turvy world is implicit in the opening scene (from which the Fool
is notably absent), proceeding inexorably from Lear's actions and reaching a climax
in Acts 3-4. After 3.6 the Fool disappears, and after 4.1 Edgar drops his pretence of
madness, leaving the stage of folly to Lear and, less obviously, to others.

THE THEATRE OF EXORCISM

All of the Fool's efforts prove incapable of preventing Lear's descent into madness,
which accelerates after he meets Edgar in disguise as Tom o'Bedlam in Act 3. The
purgation, or exorcism, that Lear requires is highlighted by the assumed madness of
Edgar, who screams that he is possessed by devils. Exorcism had become a form of
popular theatre, as priests gathered audiences to watch demonstrations of their power
over evil spirits. The Anglican church vigorously opposed such demonstrations, and
Samuel Harsnett exposed the practice as fraudulent in a treatise usually referred to by
its shortened title, A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures.2
Harsnett was chaplain to the Bishop of London and part of his job was reading and
licensing books, including plays. His Declaration followed enquiries begun in 1598 into
a series of exorcisms in 1585-6 practised by Father William Weston alias Edmonds and
performed in the household of Sir Edward Peckham. Harsnett's Declaration charac-
terised exorcism as a stage play 'fashioned by cunning clerical dramatists and performed
by actors skilled in improvisation'.3 It thereby attempted to expose what Harsnett saw
as its falsity and emptiness. Nevertheless, the illusion was gripping, as Shakespeare
doubtless realised when he borrowed from Harsnett's exposé much of the language
of possession for Edgar's masquerade as Poor Tom.4 At the same time, he appears to
support Harsnett's position in the Declaration, that evil is of this world, not a nether
world of devils and demons, as Catholic priests like Father Weston believed.5

1
Welsford, The Fool, p. 220.
2
A Declaration of egregious Popish Impostures, to with-draw the harts of her Maiesties Subiects from their
allégeance, andfrom the truth of Christian Religion professed in England, under the pretence of casting out deu
Practiced by Edmvnds, alias Weston a Iesuit, and diners Romish Priests his wicked associates. . . . At Londo
Printed by lames Roberts . . . 1603.
3
Stephen Greenblatt, 'Shakespeare and the exorcists', in Shakespeare and the Qitestion of Theory, ed. Patricia
Parker and Geoffrey Hartman, 1985, p. 169.
4
See Kenneth Muir, 'Samuel Harsnett and King Lear\ RES 2 (1951), 11-21, and Bullough, pp. 299 ff.
In his forthcoming edition, Brownlow argues that the Declaration does not represent a 'source' for King
Lear in the ordinary sense; rather, the play is the result of an encounter with that text, a kind of dialogue
between cleric and poet, in which Shakespeare delivers a 'massive reply'. Its effect was to undo Harsnett's
book and reopen matters the cleric had meant finally to close.
5
Greenblatt,'Shakespeare and the exorcists', p. 177.
[g] Introduction

The effect of Shakespeare's use of Harsnett in King Lear is yet more complicated,
Greenblatt says, in so far as Harsnett's position seems there to be reversed. Since
scepticism, an instrument of seekers after truth, is expressed through the villainous
Cornwall, Gonerill, and especially Edmond, whilst possession and exorcism, regarded
as fraudulent practices of the wicked, are given to the legitimate Edgar, Harsnett's argu-
ments against exorcism are curiously 'alienated' from themselves. 'In Shakespeare, the
realization that demonic possession is a theatrical imposture leads not to a clarification -
the clear-eyed satisfaction of the man who refuses to be gulled - but to a deeper uncer-
tainty, a loss of moorings, in the face of evil.'1 We are not comforted by the knowledge
that Edgar's performance is precisely that - a performance - any more than we can find
comfort in the fact that Lear's prayers, like his curses, remain unanswered throughout
the play. In any event, his exorcism, or purgation, such as it is, comes not at the hands
of a priest, but through the ministrations of Cordelia, unassisted by either a 'Doctor'
or by music in the Folio revision; and Gloucester's is effected by his son Edgar. Both
are extraordinarily, though differently, dramatic.

THE THEATRE OF THE BLIND

When Edgar in his disguise takes his father to Dover, he means to perform a kind of
exorcism, telling Gloucester, for example, that there stood behind him on the cliff'some
fiend' from whom he has miraculously escaped (4.5.66-74). The old man's resistance,
here and later, after his 'fall', is confused because he has lost his eyes. The blind figure
is taken from Sidney's Arcadia, but Shakespeare develops and dramatises his source
not only in the mimed 'leap', but later in the confrontation between the unseeing old
man and the mad king. Their meeting becomes the climactic spectacle in the play's
theatre of folly, to which Montaigne also was a major contributor. It was in Florio's
translation of Montaigne that Shakespeare found that a dog could be 'obeyed in office'
(4.5.151) and that a man could see with no eyes (144-5). Similarly, Montaigne several
times refers to unrighteous judges (146-8), and elsewhere Shakespeare seems indebted
to the French essayist not only for phrases and ideas but for the sceptical attitudes that
pervade the play.2

SALT AND CINDERELLA

Folklorists towards the end of the nineteenth century noticed the connection between
the old Leir story and some versions of the Cinderella tale. Although Shakespeare
makes no direct use of these versions, Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia must have
drawn upon a related body of folklore and folktales for which no record any longer
exists.3 The affinity between the story of Leir and his three daughters and the ancient
Cinderella tale, moreover, has recently aroused much interest among anthropologists

1
Ibid., p. 179. John J. Murphy comes to an opposite conclusion in Darkness and Devils: Exorcism and 'King
Lear', 1984, pp. 200-1. Compare Brownlow, cited above.
2
See Muir, pp. 249-53, ar>d Salingar, pp. 107-39.
3
See Alan R. Young, 'The written and oral sources of King Lear and the problem of justice in the play',
SEL: Studies in English Literature 15 (1975), 309-19.
The Tragedy of King Lear [w]

and psychoanalytically oriented literary critics, who focus upon the incest motif latent
in the tales and in Shakespeare's tragedy.1
Briefly, the love contest with which King Lear opens and which appears, mutatis
mutandis, in all of the analogues, closely parallels the folktale tradition of the rich man
or king who asks his daughters to tell him how much they love him. The two eldest
daughters respond much as Gonerill and Regan do, but the youngest replies that she
loves her father as fresh meat loves salt, or words to that effect.2 The father, enraged,
disowns his youngest daughter, who then follows her Cinderella-like adventures until,
married to her prince, she invites her father to the wedding feast. There he is served
food without salt, learns at last the meaning of his daughter's words, and is reconciled.
Folklorists refer to this motif in the tales alternatively as 'Love like salt' and 'The King
Lear judgement' and group the tales under the Cinderella type.3
The folk paradigm is therefore always auspicious for the Cordelia figure, and when
Nahum Tate in the Restoration gave Shakespeare's play a happy ending, he was revert-
ing to that type (see p. 34 below). On the other hand, as Katherine Stockholder notes,
'The conventional fairytale would have the two sisters either dead or repentant... by
the time Cordelia achieved her happiness [marriage to France]. As it is, the fairy tale
ends when the play has scarcely begun, and leaves the play with the task of resolving
in a more realistic mode issues put forth in fairy tale starkness and absoluteness.'4 The
long-delayed scenes of reconciliation between Lear and Cordelia in Acts 4 and 5 have a
'lyric separateness' from the rest of the action, suitable for a fairytale ending, but their
reconciliation cannot reshape the world Lear has created by banishing his daughter.5

THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR

Although called a 'True Chronicle Historié' in the 1608 quarto, the Folio title is 'The
Tragedy of King Lear', which sets up expectations about the form and outcome of
the play. While linked with the Cinderella story, it diverges from that story's familiar
course and recalls, rather, the ancient biblical story of Jephthah and his daughter, as
well as a number of dramas in which a daughter is sacrificed, such as those dealing with

1
The seminal paper is Sigmund Freud's 'The theme of the three caskets', The Standard Edition of the
Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, trans. James Strachey, 1958, xii, 291-301. Compare John
Donnelly, 'Incest, ingratitude and insanity: aspects of the psychopathology of King Lear', Psychoanalytic
Review 40 (1953), 149-55, a n d especially Alan Dundes, ' "To love my father all": a psychoanalytic study
of the folktale source of King Lear\ in Cinderella: A Casebook, ed. Alan Dundes, 1983, pp. 229-44.
2
Perrett comments on the two dozen or so most pertinent folktales (among the 345 tabulated and arranged
by M. R. Cox, Cinderella, 1893). He notes the essential features that connect them with the Lear story: the
love test and the outcast heroine. While Geoffrey includes nothing about salt, this is a literary narrative,
Perrett says, and sophistication is likely - sophistication so subtle that the real significance of Cordeilla's
cryptic and jesting reply {quantum hahes, tantum vales, tantumque le diligo) has eluded commentators. It ca
be roughly translated as 'As much as you have, so much do you value, and so much do I love you.'
3
Stith Thompson, Motif-Index of Folk-Literature, Bloomington, 1956, in, 432: Motif H592.1, Love like salt;
v, 29: Motif M21, King Lear judgement. See also Antti Aarne, The Types of the Folktale: A Classification and
Bibliography, trans, and enlarged by Stith Thompson, Helsinki, 1961, p. 175: Tale type 510; and 'Cap o'
Rushes' in Katherine M. Briggs, A Dictionary of British Folk-Tales in the English Language, 1970, Part A,
11, 387-90. Briggs includes a tale-type index in 1, 35-77.
4
'The multiple genres of King Lear, breaking the archetypes', Bucknell Review 16 (1968), 45.
5
Ibid., p. 60.
[»] Introduction

Agamemnon and Iphigeneia. Similarly, King Lear borrows from but alters the form of
the Morality play and stories from the romance tradition.
In 'King Lear' in Our Time (1965) Maynard Mack cites many parallels from the old
Morality plays and from scripture. The Morality play tradition, of course, extends
down to plays as late as Marlowe's Dr Faustus, and Shakespeare's dialogue is full of
allusions to it. Characters like Edmond have a sharp affinity with the Vice of these old
plays, as Gloucester does with Mankind or Everyman. From the romance tradition,
stories like those of King Robert of Sicily provide important analogues in the theme of
the Abasement of the Proud King. Thomas Lodge's prose romance, The Famous true
and historical! life of Robert second Duke of Normandy, surnamedfor his monstrous birth and
behavior, Robin the Diuell (1591), besides recounting Robert's humbling and penitence,
prefigures many incidents in King Lear, such as Robert's sheltering in a homely cottage
during a storm, his growing compassion for fellow sufferers, and a trial by combat.1 But
although heavily indebted to Sidney's Arcadia, Shakespeare saw in it the possibilities
for transforming his fable into tragedy. The Folio revision, moreover- specifically by its
omission of the scene in Act 4 (see p. 271 below), as well as Shakespeare's alteration of the
traditional ending of the Lear story - suggests a further hardening of this anti-romantic
impulse without, however, altogether abandoning the tantalising positive possibilities
still inherent in the later scenes of the play.

FRAGMENTARY RECOLLECTIONS
Consciously or otherwise, Shakespeare drew upon other materials as well. Numerous
parallels with Gorboduc exist, not only in the language, political implications, and plots
of the two plays, but in their symbolism and treatment of nature.2 The play Selimus
also bears close resemblances to the plot structure of King Lear,3 and Shakespeare
may have borrowed from Eastward Ho, a play by Chapman, Jonson, and Marston,
performed and then banned in 1605.4 Classical mythology plays its part, too: in the
specific allusions to centaurs and Lear's 'wheel of fire' (4.6.44), as well as the overall
structure and development of the play, the influence of the myth of Ixion may be
recognised.5 Similarly, the political and philosophic thought found in William Jones's
translation of Iustus Lipsius's Sixe Bookes ofPolitickes or Ciuill Doctrine (1594) appears
pervasive in King Lear.6
The biblical parable of the Prodigal Son probably influenced Shakespeare's handling
of situation, theme, and imagery in both the Lear and Gloucester plots." The frequent
references to nakedness and raggedness in the heath scenes apparently derive from

1
Donna Hamilton, 'Some romance sources for King Lear\ SP 71 (1974), 173-92.
2
Barbara Heliodora Carneiro de Mendonça, 'The influence of Gorboduc on King Lear, S.Sur. 13 (i960),
41-8.
3
Inga-Stina Ewbank, 'King Lear and Selimus\ N&Q, n.s., 4 (1957), 193-4.
4
Taylor, 'New source', pp. 396-413.
5
O. B. Hardison, 'Myth and history in King Lear\ SQ26 (1975), 227-42. Compare Jonathan Bate, 'Ovid
and the mature tragedies: metamorphosis in Othello and King Lear\ S.Sur. 41 (1989), 133-44.
6
Arthur F. Kinney, 'Some conjectures on the composition of King Lear\ S.Sur. 33 (1980), 13-25.
7
Susan Snyder, 'King Lear and the Prodigal Son', SQ17 (1966), 361-9.
The Tragedy of King Lear [12]

Shakespeare's conception of the Prodigal. That Lear and Gloucester are old men and
the Prodigal is a young one signifies only that Shakespeare inverted the biblical story
to produce a parable of Prodigal Fathers.

THE THEATRE OF THE B I B L E

In The Story of the Night John Holloway shows that the movement of King Lear,
especially from Act 4 to the end, parallels the movement of the Book of Job. The
action of the play is prolonged, he says, by the same ironic conception that informs
the biblical narrative of Job's ordeal: whenever we (or the characters) are made to think
that release from suffering is imminent, the suffering is renewed; the 'bitter reversal
of events comes again and again'. 1 Holloway also draws parallels between apocalyptic
prophecy in the New Testament and specific references to Doomsday in the play,
evidence that Shakespeare shared with many of his contemporaries a preoccupation
with the end of days.2 Joseph Wittreich has argued at length that Shakespeare was
directly influenced not only by James Ps interest in the Book of Revelation, but also
by the 'secular millennianism' that dates back to the fifteenth century in England and
became more pronounced from 1550 onwards.3
Marshalling considerable scholarship, Wittreich argues that the apocalypse is a rad-
ical metaphor in King Lear, 'a mind-transforming event that culminates in a king's
redemption'.4 After a close reading of all of the available evidence, he concludes, how-
ever, that while apocalypse is an essential element in the play, its function is ambiguous,
'so much so that it may be construed as lending all degrees of darkness to the play
or, conversely, as shattering that darkness by letting in the light, however scattered, of
Revelation itself'.5 As many critics have said, Kent's and Edgar's lines at the end explic-
itly invoke Doomsday: 'Is this the promised end?' 'Or image of that horror?' But the
analogy does not proclaim the play Christian, even though it provides, in Wittreich's
view, an important clue to interpretation.6 For Doomsday is not yet: Shakespeare's
strategy 'is to use apocalypse against itself, not to deny it as a possibility but to advance
the consummation of history into the future'.7 Although redemption is not proclaimed,
it is held out as a possibility for both individuals and nations; errors of the past are, after
all, reparable.8 The burden of the play's ending, therefore, is not simply pessimistic
or optimistic, but a complex of possibilities, complicated further, as Wittreich fails to
note, by divergences between the quarto and Folio texts (see Commentary at 5.3.286).

1
Holloway, The Story of the Night, 1961, p. 89.
2
In 'King Lear and Doomsday', S.Sur. 26 (1973), 69-79, Mary Lascelles discusses the existence in Shake-
speare's time of wall paintings in many churches, including Stratford's Holy Trinity Church, that depicted
Judgement Day, and connects these thematically with imagery and incidents in King Lear.
-* Wittreich, p. 26. Like most scholars until very recently, Wittreich bases his study on a conflated text (Muir's
Arden edition). Except as regards 'Merlin's Prophecy' at the end of 3.2, he fails to distinguish between
alternative versions of the play in the quarto and Folio.
4
Wittreich, p. 33.
5
Ibid., p. 90
6
Ibid., p. 123.
7
Ibid., p. 32.
8
Ibid., p. 79.
['.?] Introduction

Wittreich's analysis focuses for us the long controversy regarding Shakespeare's han-
dling of biblical material. He raises the vexed question of King Lear and its Christian
framework, and the religious milieu in which the play was composed and performed.
Religious allusion, however dense, does not imply that the experience of the play can
be contained within the parameters of a single religious interpretation. The attempts
of those who try to do this prove the effort misguided because they reach opposite
conclusions. Clearly they are working to too narrow a base. As elsewhere in Shake-
speare, most notably in Hamlet, much of the evidence in the play is contradictory or at
best inconsistent. By sorting through the evidence selectively, one could conclude that
the 'constant association of Cordelia with Christian doctrine' is a 'foreshadowing' of
Christ.I Cordelia's remark, 'O dear father, / It is thy business that I go about' (4.3.23-4)
closely paraphrases Luke 2.49, 'knewe ye not that I must go about my fathers business?',
and the Gentleman's comment at 4.5.196-7 echoes the Christian belief that Jesus
redeemed fallen humanity from the general curse. Other associations also enforce this
symbolic role of Cordelia. But at the other extreme are those who, like William R.
Elton, similarly working with a conflated text, argue that despite its Christian ref-
erences, King Lear is by no means 'an optimistically Christian drama'.2 Scriptural
echoes are adapted to the pagan context of the play, and in any case the 'business' that
Cordelia serves has an unhappy outcome.3 Rather than an analogue to Christ, Cordelia
(like Pamela in Sidney's Arcadia) represents the pagan prisca theologia, or 'virtuous-
heathen' view, embodying virtues and pieties derived from natural, not Christian,
beliefs. As such, the virtues approach the Christian ideal but are not identical with
it.4 Elton attempts to demonstrate, moreover, that the play does not show Lear saved,
redeemed, or regenerate, and that a benevolent providence does not preside over the
action; therefore, he concludes, the optimistic Christian interpretation of King Lear is
'invalid'.5
Complementing this view, Thomas P. Roche argues that although he is convinced
that Shakespeare was a Christian writer, King Lear is not a Christian play. Rather, it
depicts 'the plight of man before the Christian era, that is, before the salvation of man by
Christ's sacrifice was available'.6 Shakespeare altered the story as it appeared in King
Leir precisely to emphasise this fact. (Paradoxically, this emphasis, I believe, would
seem to make his play more Christian, not less, than the pietistic old play.) In bringing
to bear a host of biblical allusions from both the Old and New Testaments, Shakespeare
drew upon such language, Rosalie L. Colie maintains, 'to remind us both of man's
predicament and of the options he has within that predicament'.7 But her conclusion

1
S. L. Bethell, Shakespeare and the Popular Dramatic Tradition, 1944, p. 68.
2
Elton, p. 3.
;i
Ibid., pp. 83-4, 292.
4
Ibid., pp. 38-42.
5
Ibid., p. 336.
6
Roche, ' "Nothing almost sees miracles": tragic knowledge in King Lear\ in On 'King Lear\ ed. Lawrence
Danson, 1981, p. 149.
7
Colie, p. 121.
The Tragedy of King Lear ['•/]

differs from both Wittreich's guarded optimism and Roche's frank pessimism:1 the
play demonstrates the necessity for endurance, the need for men to 'test and make their
own values',2 in so far as no transcendent morality is available. 'The use of biblical
echo to suggest a morality past ordinary hopes', she says, 'allows us to work through
the complicated paradoxes of the play to accept the essential, inevitable, unalterable
limitations of human life.'3 For her, as for John Holloway, the parallels to the Book of
Job are compelling.
The truth surely is that biblical allusions and parallels operate in King Lear not
to assert particular Christian or non-Christian points of view, but to suggest a wider
dimension of experience than either approach provides. Or, as Philip Brockbank per-
ceptively says, 'the experience of both the Reformation and the Renaissance in England
made possible, through a fuller and more direct access to the Bible, a recovery of the
imaginative inheritance of Hebraic and Christian literature as distinct from its insti-
tutional, doctrinal, and ritual inheritance'. If in the Middle Ages the movement was
from imaginative truth towards doctrine, in the Renaissance the movement went in the
opposite direction.4 King Lear thus offers a powerful, imaginative rendering of conflict-
ing and sometimes complementary attitudes and beliefs. If none dominates the action,
our final impression of the play must remain what A. C. Bradley called a 'mystery we
cannot fathom'.5 Here, as elsewhere in his tragedies, Shakespeare appears intent on
exploring the possibilities of human experience, religious and secular. If his thrust is
'inquisitive rather than affirmative',6 the relentlessness of his searching endows the
plays with enormous energy.

The play
Lear's failure to see is wilful in the extreme. It is not only that he lacks foresight and
cannot see people clearly or assess their motives accurately; he will not. Both Cordelia
and Kent try to correct his vision. Kent cries out in vain, 'See better, Lear, and let
me still remain / The true blank of thine eye' ( I . I . 152-3). The disasters that follow
are thus the direct result of wilful blindness; unlike Hamlet's or even Othello's, the
tragic situation is of Lear's own making. Although their experiences run parallel and
eventually intersect, in this regard Lear is also unlike Gloucester, manipulated by
his bastard son, Edmond, who scoffs at his father's belief in 'planetary influence' or
'spherical predominance' (1.2.108-10) and holds with the Renaissance belief that man
is the measure of all things. If the gods are invoked, as they are by Lear, Gloucester,

1
'The ending of Lear is as bleak and unrewarding as man can reach outside the gates of hell', Roche,
' "Nothing almost sees miracles" ', p. 156.
2
Colie, p. 141.
3
Ibid., p. 140.
4
Brockbank, p. 17.
5
Bradley, p. 279. Compare Wittreich, p. 122: 'The play quarrels with all perspectives it countenances,
questions a universe that never seems to answer back, and finds its essential meaning therefore in silences,
which is to suggest that even if the work is not meaningless its mysteries are beyond man's comprehension. '
6
René Fortin, 'Shakespearean tragedy and the problem of transcendence', S.St. 7 (1974), 323.
 Introduction
M
and others, their presence is nowhere found or felt.1 The cause of thunder remains
unknown, and no one can tell Lear what there is in nature that makes hearts hard.
Meaning in King Lear is not a priori, and absurdities result mainly because of human,
not divine or supernatural, acts. Positive meanings in the world of King Lear come from
human activity, deliberate choices, such as Kent's decision to serve his king despite the
decree of banishment, or the Fool's decision not to turn knave and run away, leaving
his master alone in the storm. But where good sense yields to appetite, or (in Hamlet's
phrase) 'reason panders will', human behaviour moves further and further to extremes.2
Truth and rationality are violated ad libitum, and the result is a world turned upside
down; but it is a world formed and determined by the people who inhabit it.

ACT I , SCENE I AND ITS AFTERMATH

Almost from the outset, the play propels us into a complex of irrationalities. Having
already divided up his kingdom and assigned the parts to his heirs (as we learn from the
opening dialogue between Gloucester and Kent), Lear asks his daughters to engage in a
contest that will decide who shall get what. Gonerill and Regan play along: as they later
reveal (i. 1.280-92), they know Lear's capriciousness and his dotage. Cordelia knows,
too, yet she refuses the gambit. To Lear's question, 'What can you say to draw / A third
more opulent than your sisters?' she answers, 'Nothing' (1.1.82). In the most literal
sense (the sense commonly ignored by critics intent upon the larger implications), she
understands the question perfectly and answers it correctly. Since the division has been
made and her sisters have already received their shares, nothing she can say now can
give her anything more than what is left. She can get less, in fact nothing; for nothing
may come of'Nothing'; and it does.
Cordelia's refusal is thus a refusal to participate not only in a show trial, but in
the unreasonable behaviour that Lear demands, insists upon. Although his daughter,
tied to him by bonds of filial devotion - and more, much more (as the play ultimately
reveals) - she is no partner to his foolishness here. Or if she is, she shows it by also
being insistent, demanding. Her logic nevertheless is irrefutable. 'Why have my sisters
husbands, if they say / They love you all?' (1.1.94-5). But Lear, in open court, is in no
mood for truth or logic, and Cordelia's irony stings. Despite his abdication, he means
(again, irrationally) to continue exercising control over the world as he knows it - that
is, the world as he has shaped it and intends to keep on shaping it. He has been told
he is 'everything'; only later does he realise that he has been lied to, that he is not even
'ague-proof (4.5.101). But by then the absurdities he has set in motion are moving to
their inexorable conclusion: 'Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, / And thou no
breath at all?' (5.3.280-1 ). 3

' Compare George Walton Williams, 'Petitionary prayer in King Lear\ South Atlantic Quarterly 85 (1986),
363: 'There are no supernatural responses in King Lear, there are only natural ones.' But Williams goes
on to argue that human agents fulfil the will of the gods in Lear as elsewhere in Shakespeare's plays.
2
G. Wilson Knight, ''King Lear and the comedy of the grotesque', The Wheel of Fire, 5th revised edn, 1957,
p. 168: 'The core of the play is an absurdity, an indignity, an incongruity.'
^ For an alternative explanation of Lear's motivation in 1.1 and Cordelia's, see Cavell, pp. 285-94. To
summarise: CavclPs argument is that Lear does not really want love but the avoidance of it through flattery.
The Tragedy of King Lear [,6]

Cordelia is not the only one who challenges Lear to desist from his reckless behaviour.
Kent also tries to get Lear to confront reality and reject the fantasy his irrationality
creates - including the fantasy that by dividing up his kingdom he will prevent future
strife. Forsaking polite courtier talk, he resorts to direct confrontation: 'Be Kent unman-
nerly / When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?' (1.1.139-40). His mono-
syllables are emphatic. Earnestly, he asks Lear to check his 'hideous rashness', keep
his kingdom intact, and recognise what Lear himself well knows - that his youngest
daughter does not love him least. But Lear is by now fully committed. He has sworn;
he is firm; and Kent is banished.
Yet the scene is not without its positive aspect. Struck by the sudden turnabout in
affairs, Burgundy and France have their choices also to make. Conventional Burgundy
cannot deal with the situation; he will accept not less than the dowry originally offered.
France is more perceptive as well as more humane. Only some aberration of Cordelia's,
an offence of such 'unnatural degree' that nothing but a miracle could make any rational-
minded individual accept it, can make him change his opinion of her. The play is notably
free of any sort of miracles, except the miracle of love, such as France demonstrates
here. In a speech studded with oxymorons, he concludes with the paradox:

Gods, gods! 'Tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect

My love should kindle to inflamed respect. ( 1.1.249-50)
Making Cordelia 'queen of us, of ours, and our fair France', he sees what only Kent
has been willing or able to see, that Cordelia is 'herself a dowry' (236).
Swiftly (nothing in this play moves slowly),1 the consequences of Lear's action follow.
Various forces combine to drive the king over the edge into madness: his elder daughters'
ingratitude; guilt over his treatment of Cordelia (compounded later by guilt over the
'poor naked wretches' that populate his kingdom); the Fool's relentless taunting; loss of
his hundred knights and increasing awareness that his world is now drastically altered;
dread of impotence and disabling illness (hysterica passio); the stubborn indifference of
the elements. But the culminating event is meeting Tom o'Bedlam. As Kenneth Muir
says, 'Edgar, in acting madness, precipitates Lear's'; for as a raving madman, Poor Tom
is what Lear has most feared he will become.2 The scene in Act 3 where the Fool, Edgar,
and Lear all act out their various forms of madness represents a terminus ad quern for
the action that the main plot has dramatised.

THE GLOUCESTER PLOT

Meanwhile, the play has introduced a parallel though not identical strand of action in
the second plot. 'This is the excellent foppery of the world', Edmond comments upon
hearing his father's troubled and confused reaction to recent events. Edmond's view is
the modern scientific one that regards 'planetary influence' as foolish and belief in it a

Cordelia 'threatens to expose both his plan for returning false love with no love, and . . . the necessity for
that plan - [Lear's] terror of being loved, of needing love' (p. 290).
1
Compare Reibetanz, p. 16.
2
'Madness in King Lear\ S.Sur. 13 (i960), 35.
M Introduction

commonplace kind of absurdity.l The 'nature' Edmond worships ( i .2.1 ff.) is the nature
that frees him as an active intelligence from all arbitrary bonds, including 'the curiosity
of nations' - social mores and conventions - as well as superstitious adherence to an
outworn creed. But anything carried to an extreme will result in absurdity, precisely the
reductio ad absurdum that not only philosophers but poets and dramatists - Shakespeare
as well as Marlowe - recognised, for example, in their portraits of'overreachers'. Hence,
Edmond errs in carrying his convictions to extremes. In a way not unlike Lear, impelled
by a powerful will that lets him believe he can shape the world to his own purposes,
he pursues and extends his goals to excessive lengths. Eventually, it will be not only
'legitimate' Edgar's lands that he seeks, but the entire kingdom of Britain. He almost
succeeds, but he seriously underestimates the counter-forces in nature and society that
finally combine to confound his efforts.
His success at first is astonishing in its quickness and completeness. 'A credulous
father and a brother noble' ( 1.2.151 ) are easy victims, almost willing ones, to Edmond's
Machiavellian 'practices'. Gloucester is tricked into believing something that initially
he finds unthinkable, let alone credible: 'My son Edgar, had he a hand to write this? a
heart and brain to breed it in?' he asks of the letter Edmond has shown him (1.2.53-4).
Then his anxiety undoes him: 'He cannot be such a monster . . . I would unstate myself
to be in a due resolution' (1.2.85-8), he says to Edmond, giving him carte blanche to
resolve the situation. Whereupon Edmond manoeuvres both Edgar and Gloucester
into suspecting - and believing - the worst of each other, without their ever exchanging
so much as a word or a glance.
For a while, Gloucester's behaviour follows this pattern of complicity and compliance
with experience as others shape it for him, until - at the crucial point in Act 3 - he begins
to see the moral disasters that will result unless he alters his course. Regarding Cornwall
as his 'worthy arch and patron', he does acquiesce, however, reluctantly, in the stocking
of Kent and later tries to smooth things out between Cornwall, Regan, and the outraged
king. His actions seem in line with the advice the Fool gives Kent, to let go of the wheel
that goes down a hill and cling to the 'great one that goes upward' (2.4.Ô7).2 Eventually,
he gives up temporising and takes a dangerous, morally more courageous stance. He
begins to move against his patron in favour of the abused and much wronged king. But
he errs in confiding his position to Edmond, whom he still believes is his loyal, loving
son. The confidence is immediately betrayed, and Gloucester pays with his eyes for his
bravery and his misplaced trust. In a stunning instant, Edmond's true nature is revealed
to him. This further insight, ironically, does not deter Gloucester later from behaviour,
such as his attempted suicide, even more naïve than that into which his overcredulous
acceptance of Edmond's 'practices' led him (see pp. 2 1 - 2 below).
Edgar's credulity and too-ready compliance also combine to propel him, like his
father, into accepting the manipulations of his brother. His passive submission is the
reverse of Lear's refusal to tolerate anyone else's participation in the determination
of events; both extremes of behaviour lead to disaster. Forced to flee as the result of

1
Danby, p. 38.
2
Compare Helen Gardner, King Lear, 1967, p. 14.
The Tragedy of King Lear [18]

Edmond's stratagem, Edgar in disguise as Tom o'Bedlam becomes the image of that
reductio ad absurdum to which everything in both plots tends. If'Robes and furred gowns
hide all' (4.5.157), paradoxically Edgar chooses 'the thing itself - 'unaccommodated
man' - for his disguise (3.4.95-6). With 'presented nakedness' he will 'outface / The
winds and persecutions of the sky' (2.3.11-12), anticipating Lear's experience in the
storm. An earl's son, one who is so 'noble, / Whose nature is so far from doing harms /
That he suspects none' (1.2.151-3), Edgar is reduced to emulating 'Poor Turlygod!
Poor Tom', a crazed servingman who claims to have committed all manner of evil. Thus
he finds his place in a world turned upside down; but for him, now, 'That's something
yet'(2.3.21).

THE MAD SCENES IN ACT 3

Edgar survives by submerging himself in the destructive elements that threaten him.
In the central episodes of the play, Shakespeare uses him and the Fool to function
partly as Lear's shadows. As Lear goes mad, first the Fool and then Edgar as Tom
o'Bedlam become superfluous and drop out of the picture. If the Fool's role is 'to heal
the gaping wound of the mind's incongruous knowledge by the unifying, healing release
of laughter',1 then he fails, as perhaps he realises; in any case, he is upstaged and finally
silenced by Edgar as Poor Tom.2
Edgar's wild imaginings outdo the Fool's and unleash Lear's. The compassion Lear
had begun to feel for his 'Poor fool and knave' (3.2.70), and for the 'Poor naked wretches'
(3.4.28) out in the storm with him, gives way for the moment to self-pity and pro-
jected fantasy. Immediately the sight and sounds of the Bedlamite arouse a self-centred
sympathy: 'Didst thou give all to thy daughters? And art thou come to this?' (3.4.47-
8); 'What, has his daughters brought him to this pass? / Couldst thou save nothing?
Wouldst thou give 'em all?' (59-60). Kent's intercession - 'He hath no daughters, sir' -
brings a furious rejection:

Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature

To such a lowness but his unkind daughters.
Is it the fashion that discarded fathers
Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?
Judicious punishment; 'twas thisfleshbegot
Those pelican daughters. (65-70)
Lear's comments and questions, provoked by his self-preoccupation and the vision
of Poor Tom, get a quizzical response from Edgar. To the query, 'Didst thou give all to
thy daughters?' Edgar replies, 'Who gives anything to Poor Tom'; reference to Lear's
'pelican daughters' evokes the bawdy verse, 'Pillicock sat on Pillicock Hill', followed
by what sounds like a cockcrow or halloo. To all this the Fool aptly responds: 'This
cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen' (3.4.72). Though it has failed to attract
notice from commentators, Edgar's absence from Act 1, Scene 1 is curious: Edmond
is there, but not his elder brother. Moreover, during Edgar's three brief appearances

1
Knight, The Wheel of Fire, p. 165.
2
Compare Kerrigan, pp. 226-9.
[<9\ Introduction

3 Act 3, Scene 4: Edgar as Tom o'Bedlam: 'Away, the foul fiend follows me. Through the sharp hawthorn
blow the winds . . .' A possible staging by C. Walter Hodges

before this scene, nothing is said of Lear's situation. Is it possible that Edgar has no
knowledge and only now learns of it? His father's remark, 'Our flesh and blood, my
lord, is grown so vile, / That it doth hate what gets it', moves Edgar to whimper merely,
'Poor Tom's a-cold' (3.4.129-31). But the full irony of Gloucester's comment will not
be revealed until several scenes later.
His father's appearance in 3.4 subdues for a while Edgar's rant. Perhaps he does
not hear Gloucester's subsequent comments on the daughters' plot against Lear's life
or his expression of grief over Edgar's supposed plot (147-52), for Lear has taken his
'philosopher' aside to speak 'one word in private' (144). But the counterpointing of
Lear's mounting insanity and Edgar's feigned madness remains for the audience, and
in their next scene together Edgar resumes his mad act. The Folio version of the play
abbreviates 3.6, deleting the mock trial and with it much of Edgar's rant as well as his
commentary in propria persona at the end of the scene.1 One effect of the cut is to reserve
the extended display of Lear's madness until 4.5; another, more immediate effect is to
juxtapose more swiftly the madness of Lear, the Fool, and Tom with the barbarity of
Gloucester's trial in the scene that follows.
Act 3, Scene 7 develops vividly the irrational behaviour of Lear's enemies. From
here onwards the vicious lusts underlying their cool but superficial rationalism stand
1
See below, pp. 270-1.
The Tragedy of King Lear [20]

revealed and control their every action. Gonerill and Regan show their passion (here,
their lust for cruelty) in unhesitating reaction to Gloucester's 'treason':1
REGAN Hang him instantly.
GONERILL Pluck out his eyes. (3-74-5)
Cornwall spells out precisely the nature of the proceedings he will undertake:
Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice, yet our power
Shall do a curtsy to our wrath, which men
May blame but not control. (3.7.24-7)
Cornwall will pay with his life for the enormity of his conviction when a nameless
servant, one who has served him all his life, revolts against the maiming Cornwall
inflicts upon his host. Gonerill and Regan suffer later for their lusts, which by then
include a deadly competition for Edmond. In this respect, in so far as they mean to
enforce their wills in order to realise their purposes and desires without regard for the
interests and claims of others, Gonerill and Regan show themselves to be truly Lear's
daughters.

GLOUCESTER'S DESPAIR AND EDGAR'S MINISTRY

As Act 4 opens, Edgar attempts with stoic counsel to find consolation for his miserable
condition and fortify himself against it, but he is shocked by a sight that mocks every
consolation.
0 gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'?
1 am worse than e'er I was. (4.1.25-6)
Yet the sight of his blinded father is not without its redeeming aspects. Admittedly the
servant who intervenes to prevent further outrage is killed without achieving his object,
and the Folio omits the kindness to Gloucester that the remaining servants intend at
the end of 3.7. Yet the Old Man's loyalty to his master and concern for him are retained.
Evil is not omnipotent or completely pervasive, after all. Edgar's ministrations to his
father and then Cordelia's to hers demonstrate this fact more fully, although the end of
the play leaves unanswered, or answered ambiguously, questions about the effectiveness
of their ministry. For the moment, at the beginning of Act 4, other questions arise. For
example, why doesn't Edgar reveal himself at once to his father, whose plea is clear and
direct?

Oh, dear son Edgar,

The food of thy abused father's wrath:
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'd say I had eyes again. (21-4)
As the scene progresses, Edgar is nearly overcome with grief watching and listening to
his father; but all he says is that he must continue in his disguise. No explanation here is

1
Reibetanz, p. 87, notes a significant change in their style of speech: here, they speak directly from the heart.
[2,] Introduction

offered. Perhaps, as Leo Kirschbaum argues, Edgar is not a 'dramatic unity' but only a
'dramatic device', contributing not to a 'rich psychological unity but to Shakespeare's
poetic purposes'.1 Thus the scene ends with the mad leading the blind, a fit emblem
for the Lear world as it has evolved to this point.
The explanation, such as it is, for Edgar's continued disguise comes in the scene
at Dover. Gloucester has asked Poor Tom to bring him to the edge of a cliff so that
he may commit suicide. Edgar pretends to comply, and the episode is one of the most
grotesque in a play noted for grotesquerie. Some critics have argued that Shakespeare
intended his audience as well as Gloucester to be taken in by Edgar's descriptions,
since they are like those used elsewhere to evoke scenery on the bare platform stage.
Jan Kott, for example, says: 'The non-existent cliff is not meant just to deceive the
blind man. For a short while we, too, [believe] in this landscape and in the mime.'2 We
do and we don't. In so far as we sympathise or identify with Gloucester, we do; Edgar's
sharply detailed verse deludes us into imagining the dizzying verge just as it does his
father. At the same time, we are aware that Gloucester's doubts are well founded: the
uphill 'labour' is all pretence; Edgar's voice has changed; the ground is both 'even' (the
Globe stage: see illustration 4) and 'Horrible steep' (4.5.3). The trick Edgar plays on
his father's imagination is also the trick Shakespeare plays on ours - except that here he
means us to be conscious of everything that is happening, including the way in which
our imagination is being made to work.3
This heightened awareness alerts us to other incongruities, such as those in Glouces-
ter's prayer (4.5.34-40), that make a further mockery of his leap. Were he truly patient,
Gloucester would not try to shake off his 'great affliction'; and if he really believes the
gods' wills are 'opposeless', would he attempt suicide?4 Gloucester's leap is not a leap
into death, as he thinks, or even into the 'abyss', unless that abyss is the abyss of utter
meaninglessness, as in a sense it is. And it is everywhere.5 Edgar realises some of the
dangers and risk: 'trifling' with his father's despair in order to cure it, he recognises the
power of illusion, particularly an illusion willingly embraced, and does not know 'how
conceit may rob / The treasury of life, when life itself/ Yields to the theft' (4.5.42-4).
'Thy life's a miracle', Edgar tells his father (4.5.55), and in one sense, of course, it is.
But if a kind of'fiend' led him to the edge, to suicide, it was not the 'clearest gods' who
preserved him.6 It was his unrecognised son, now in the role of a man of Kent, who
will perform still other services in still other disguises to protect his father before the

1
Leo Kirschbaum, 'Banquo and Edgar: character or function?', in Character and Characterization in
Shakespeare, 1962, p. 61.
2
Shakespeare Our Contemporary, Doubleday Anchor Books, 1966, p. 145. Compare William Matchett, 'Some
dramatic techniques in King Lear\ in Philip C. McGuire and David A. Samuelson (eds.), Shakespeare:
The Theatrical Dimension, 1979, pp. 190-4.
3
Compare Booth, p. 33: 'Over and over again . . . throughout King Lear, an audience thinks in multiple
dimensions - entertains two or more precise understandings at once, understandings that might, but do
not, clash in the mind.'
4
Compare Virgil Whitaker, The Mirror up to Nature: The Technique of Shakespeare's Tragedies, 1965, p. 221.
5
Kott, Shakespeare Our Contemporary, p. 146.
6
Harry Levin says that unless Edgar's presence is taken as providential, the so-called miracle here is 'more
truly a pious fraud'; see 'The heights and the depths: a scene from "King Lear" ', in John Garrett (éd.),
More Talking of Shakespeare, 1959, p. 98.
The Tragedy of King Lear [22]

4 Act 4, Scene 5: Gloucester's 'suicide' leap: 'Now, fellow, fare thee well.' A possible staging by C. Walter
Hodges

play is over - much in the manner of a Morality play figure, or guardian angel.1 For the
moment, Edgar's stratagem works: Gloucester exchanges despair for stoic resignation:
'Henceforth I'll bear / Affliction till it do cry out itself/ "Enough, enough", and die'
(4~5-75-7)- But before he can long entertain 'free and patient thoughts', Lear enters,
dressed fantastically and raving that he is 'the king himself.

1
Compare Alan Dessen, 'Two falls and a trap: Shakespeare and the spectacle of realism', ELR 5 (1975),
306: 'The true miracle is not Gloucester's survival from an illusory fall, but rather Edgar's meaningful
assertion of the bond between child and father, a bond rejected by the blind parent but upheld by a loving
son.'
[23] Introduction

KING LEAR AND GLOUCESTER AT DOVER

What follows is the most powerful and most disturbing episode in the play. Earlier, Lear
was astonished by 'unaccommodated man' and sought to become like him; here, he is
unaccommodated, not physically but mentally, as Edgar remarks (81-2). Paradoxically,
his wits turned inside out, Lear sees more clearly and speaks truths more profound
than ever before. Having dropped his disguise as Poor Tom, Edgar now recedes into
the background, as the true madman and the truly blind confront each other at the
play's climax.
For in Gloucester Lear sees and recognises a reflection of himself, literal blindness
reflecting the mental blindness that led him to give away his kingdom, banish Cordelia,
and trust his two elder daughters. In the lunatic king, Gloucester recognises a 'ruined
piece of nature' (130), the mirror image of his own behaviour in believing his bastard
son Edmond and precipitately outlawing Edgar.1 When Lear hands him a 'challenge',
ordering him to read it and 'mark but the penning of it' (134), Gloucester must again
painfully confront his initial lack of perception in 1.2 and its result.2 Earlier Lear
wounds him in proclaiming that 'Gloucester's bastard son / Was kinder to his father
than my daughters / Got 'tween the lawful sheets' (110-12). But the cruelty is self-
reflexive. Through Gloucester, Lear berates himself, inflicts punishment for his own
imperceptiveness and rash behaviour. His imagination has become diseased, and he
knows it. But the disease is purgative. Just as 'a man may see how this world goes with
no eyes', a madman can see through the camouflage of convention: 'See how yon justice
rails upon yon simple thief. Hark in thine ear: change places, and handy-dandy, which
is the justice, which is the thief?' (145-7).
Throughout this episode, 'unaccommodated' Lear removes the accretions of cus-
tom, propelling his hearers to recognition of essences, not forms. He knows he is not
'everything' (101), that he lacks soldiers (113). Though he insists he is 'every inch a
king' (103) and issues royal commands, he is aware that he is merely mortal, a man
sharing common human frailties, and that he is performing on 'a great stage of fools'
(175). These insights might provide the basis for an eventual recovery, as some interpret
the play, noting Lear's ability (in Cavell's terms) not only to recognise, but to allow
himself to be recognised for what he truly is. This dual recognition will occur in his
meeting with Cordelia in the next scene, when he awakens from a deep, healing sleep,
dressed (again) in different clothes - both the awakening and the new dress signalling
significant change. But not yet. When the Gentleman and attendants appear, Lear,
fearing discovery, runs away.3

REVELATION, RECONCILIATION, AND DEATH

Lear and Gloucester never meet again. Thanks to Edgar, Gloucester survives Oswald's
attempted murder and later a relapse into despair, but his conflicting emotions when

' Compare Cavell, p. 280: 'Gloucester has by now become not just a figure "parallel" to Lear, but Lear's
double; he does not merely represent Lear, but is psychically identical with him.'
2
Ibid., p. 279.
3
In a scene that F omits, Kent explains that 'burning shame' makes Lear avoid Cordelia (see Appendix,
pp. 305-6 below, xx, 40-5).
The Tragedy of King Lear M

5 'Hark in thine ear' (4.5.146): Paul Scofield as King Lear and Alan Webb as Gloucester in the production
directed by Peter Brook (1962)

his son finally reveals himself are too much for the old man to bear. If one strand in the
play's action is to show the need for genuine and deep feeling, especially a feeling for
others,1 then it is at least ironic that when one of the characters most deserving and
needing this feeling at last experiences it, it kills him. Hearing Edgar's story of their
'pilgrimage', Gloucester feels both joy and grief- joy at his son's safety and charity, grief
at the misery he has caused him. For his father's death, Edgar assumes responsibility,
recognising too late his 'fault' in not revealing himself sooner. He reveals himself then
only because he wants his father's blessing before going into combat against Edmond.
Blessing Edgar, Gloucester dies.
This off-stage event, however, is but a prelude to the more catastrophic one that
follows: the death of Cordelia. Many critics echo the sentiments of Samuel Johnson,
who was so shocked by Cordelia's death that he could not bear to reread thefinalscenes
of the play until he undertook to revise them as editor.2 The reason for his reaction
is that he found her death not only disappointed expectation but violated our 'natural
ideas of justice'. Cordelia's death is a violation of that kind, and being so, it is the final

1
Compare Leggatt, King Lear, pp. 26—7.
2
Compare, for example, Booth, p. 5, who cites Johnson's remarks verbatim.
[2S] Introduction

crushing experience in the play. By comparison, Lear's death is a welcome release, as

Kent says:
(), let him pass. He hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer. (5.3.287-9)

Why must Cordelia die as she does? The question has often been posed; evidently
from the later seventeenth century to the mid nineteenth no satisfactory answer could
be found, and the happy ending in Nahum Tate's redaction of the play was preferred.
Twentieth-century critics, perhaps more in tune with attitudes and experiences that
the early Jacobean stage reflected, have not objected, however deeply disturbing they
have found it. It is not simply that our age has grown more pessimistic than previous
ages were, or that our understanding of human nature is more profound than theirs.
More likely, Holocaust and Hiroshima have prepared us so that we know Cordelia's
fate corresponds to a truth of experience, not to 'natural ideas of justice'.1
Shakespeare puts the matter differently - more clearly and inescapably - in Lear's
anguished question:
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,
And thou no breath at all? (280-1)
Perhaps there is no answer after all to such a question, and the absence of an answer
compels us to feel the absurdity of existence, as so much else in the play does. If Lear's
death is a welcome release, it is nevertheless ironic that he should die (like Gloucester)
just as he has finally come to know himself and others. Some know ledge still eludes
him: he never identifies Kent with his servant Caius and, as at the beginning, he is
oblivious to other claims upon his daughter's love - her husband's - as he dreams of
having her to himself alone. But in the Folio version of the play, Lear's gaze is no longer
merely self-regarding. If he still engages in fantasy, it is a more generous-spirited one,
filled with hope, and directed outward: 'Look on her!' he says, 'Look, her lips. / Look
there, look there.' The world of King Lear is one still pervaded by outrageous and
preposterous extremities, but it is not without redeeming elements that may rescue us
from despair.

SHAKESPEARE'S EVOLVING VISION

In revising King Lear from its early form in the 1608 quarto to the later Folio version,
Shakespeare did not weaken the nihilistic energies in his play; he heightened them.
For example, to Lear's 'We'll go to supper i'th'morning', the Fool adds, 'And I'll go to
bed at noon' (3.6.40-1). References to a French invasion are almost all cut in the Folio
so that Cordelia's appearance in Act 4 seems more like an attempt to restore rightful
authority and forestall an inevitable and overwhelming anarchy than mere political
aggrandisement, though on an international scale.2 'Merlin's Prophecy', long suspected

1
Compare Mack, p. 25; Whiraker, Mirror up to Nature, p. 237.
2
Compare Taylor, 'War', p. 31.
The Tragedy of King Lear [26]

i m '^"^ 3t*t

6 Lear and Cordelia: 'Is this the promised end?' A painting by Maeiek Swieszewski

of being a spurious addition (see below, pp. 281-2), fully captures the absurdist attitude
of the play:
When every case in law is right;
No squire in debt nor no poor knight;
When slanders do not live in tongues,
[27] Introduction

Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;

When usurers tell their gold i'th'field,
And bawds and whores do churches build,
Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
That going shall be used with feet. (3.2.85-92)
If Shakespeare did not write these lines, then whoever did certainly understood the
perversions that lie at the heart of the drama.
More extensive than the revision of his own play was Shakespeare's revision of his
sources. He reconstructed the familiar story of old King Leir and his daughters so
that the ending is far from what his audience expected or, in Shakespeare's sequence
of events, from what any audience might reasonably expect. Edgar's experience at the
beginning of Act 4 thus becomes a paradigm for the audience's experience. He consoles
himself that his situation, bad as it is, cannot get worse:
Yet better thus, and known to be condemned,
Than still condemned andflattered.To be worst,
The low'st and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in espérance, lives not in fear.
The lamentable change is from the best;
The worst returns to laughter. (4.1.1-6)
Edgar of course is mistaken, as he learns almost immediately when he sees his father,
blood oozing from empty eye-sockets, led by an old man. As Tom o'Bedlam, he has not
yet hit bottom and realises that awareness of one's misfortunes provides no insurance
against further misfortune: 'Who is't can say "I am at the worst"? / I am worse than
e'er I was' (25-6).
With these lines Shakespeare prepares us for what we should expect - should, but
probably do not. For just as the iow'st and most dejected thing of fortune' lives still in
hope, anticipating an end to misfortune or at least some alleviation of it, so do most of
the rest of us. Shakespeare's audience, moreover, from what they knew of the Lear story,
would also expect something quite different from the catastrophes that end the play.
Certainly the story as it was told from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia down through
the centuries to Elizabethan accounts in Higgins's Mirour for Magistrates, Holinshed's
Chronicles, Spenser's The Faerie Queene, and the old play of King Leir would prepare
a literate audience for something other than the image of the end that Shakespeare
offers.1 If we add to these literary renderings the fairytale structure and motifs that lie
behind them, then the anticipation of a happier outcome is further strengthened.2 And
for much of the play, especially in Acts 4 and 5, King Lear also seems to be following,
if not building upon, those deeply-rooted expectations.

PROMISED AND DISAPPOINTED ENDINGS

As early as Act 2, we discover that the disguised Kent has been in communication
with Cordelia in France, and by Act 3 movement to rescue the old king and restore

1
Cordelia's death by suicide, included in some accounts, is actually a separate story. See above, p. 2.
2
See p. 10 above, and compare Young, 'Written and oral sources', pp. 309-19, esp. p. 317.
The Tragedy of King Lear [28]

his authority has begun. In Macbeth, where Shakespeare more closely followed his
sources, the reaction against Macbeth's tyranny similarly begins to gather and gain
strength well before the climactic scenes in which evil is finally overthrown and the
rightful heir ascends the throne. In King Lear, as the resistance to tyranny and anarchy
gathers, the forces of evil do also, but with this difference: jealousies, rivalries, and
suspicions begin to appear, revealing cracks in what should be (and in the sources are)
a firmly united front against the enemy, especially an enemy from abroad. Although
Albany remains willing to fight off the invaders, he has grave doubts about the justice
of his cause, having seen what his wife and Regan have done and are.
In addition, the wicked sisters, for all their apparent cleverness and control, have
begun making mistakes. Regan admits that 'It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes
being out, / To let him live' (4.4.11-12). Wherever the old earl goes, she says, he
arouses feeling against them among the people. It was a mistake in the first instance to
mutilate Gloucester so brutally, motivating Cornwall's servant - loyal since childhood -
to attack his master and fatally wound him. And, moving back in time still further, we
may infer that it was similarly a tactical as well as a moral error, having stripped him
of his dignity and his knights, to allow Lear to run off into the storm with only the
Fool as company. These errors by Lear's enemies might seem to promise his happy
restoration.
As against these actions, both cruel and foolish, other events occur that encourage
hope for a happy outcome. Lear is safely brought to Dover, where he is eventually
reunited with Cordelia. As she prepares to minister to the father who cast her out, so
the other outcast child, Edgar, ministers to his father, saving him from despair and
the suicide he intends. If Edgar errs in not revealing himself to Gloucester sooner
(5.3.183), Cordelia does not make the same mistake; her gentle ministrations to her
father succeed. Although Lear requires some 'further settling' of his wits, he has come
a long way:

You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget

And forgive. I am old and foolish. (4.6.81-2)

In the Folio, 4.6 ends here, a deeply moving scene of reconciliation and forgiveness
between Lear and Cordelia. A dozen lines of dialogue in the quarto between Kent and
the Gentleman are omitted. Some of the information they contain is distracting, such as
the news about Cornwall's death, and the Gentleman's reference to Edgar in Germany
with Kent is a red herring. More to the point is the concern shared by both speakers
about the impending battle. The end is not yet, but the Folio tends to soften that fact
by removing the concluding, ominous remarks:
KENT 'Tis time to look about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace.
GENTLEMAN The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. [Exit]
KENT My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought. Exit
Without these lines, and with the gradual but consistent upturn of events in Act 4,
the outcome in Act 5 appears more promising. Both the traditional narrative and its
underlying folktale structure seem to imply a happy ending.
[29] Introduction

That we are disappointed in this expectation has aroused a good deal of critical
comment. Susan Snyder, for example, says of Lear's awakening in Act 4, Scene 6: 'The
scene is so charged and so satisfying that the unknowing audience could easily forget
that Edmond, Goneril, and Regan are still at large, and feel that here was the end
of the story" Citing many instances, John Kerrigan remarks that the play 'constantly
provokes its audience to predict a return from "the worst", only to disappoint'. Stephen
Greenblatt compares King Lear to what the Italians called a tragedia dijin lieto, a play
wherein villains absorb calamity and the good are marvellously spared. Shakespeare
in effect invokes the conventions of this genre, only to overturn them in the end.2
And Stephen Booth says, commenting on Lear's entrance with Cordelia in his arms:
'Shakespeare has already presented an action that is serious, of an undoubted magnitude,
and complete; he thereupon continues that action beyond the limits of the one category
that no audience can expect to see challenged: Shakespeare presents the culminating
events of his story after his play is over.'3
The play indeed seems to end several times before it is over. When Edgar presents
Gonerill's intercepted letter to Albany in 5.1, we know that whatever else happens, her
mischief will end, as of course it does, though in a way that - like much else in the
final scene - comes as a surprise. Even before Edgar enters in disguise to deliver the
letter, the dialogue among the British leaders is hardly auspicious for victory on their
part. The rivalry between Gonerill and Regan for Edmond's favour is by now intense,
and Albany openly proclaims his sympathy for Lear and his supporters. Determined
to oppose the French invaders, he is equally determined to see justice done to the old
king when the battle is over.
It is startling, then, in the short scene that follows, to see Lear and Cordelia carried
off to prison. But the dismay that Cordelia feels - and with her, the audience - is
immediately and heavily qualified by Lear's reaction. Nothing daunted by losing the
battle, in his eloquent speech, 'Come, let's away to prison' (5.3.8 ff), Lear focuses
on what to him is most important: reunion with his beloved daughter. This lyric
moment, like the earlier scene of reconciliation, conveys a beauty and harmony that
are appropriate to the conclusion of a fairytale. But the world that Lear brought into
being when he banished Cordelia still exists,4 and its worst manifestations are still to
come. For the moment, however, Lear is utterly oblivious of it, and like him, so may the
audience be, forgetting that the earthly paradise Lear imagines will be a prison cell.3
Ensuing events further encourage optimism, particularly the downfall of Gonerill,
Regan, and Edmond. All the forces of evil now appear to be vanquished once and for all.
It only remains to bring Lear and Cordelia back on the stage for the happy conclusion
of the main plot, as in the old play of King Leir and its many antecedents. But Kent's
reminder to rescue the prisoners comes too late.6 When Lear enters, he carries Cordelia
1
The Comic Matrix of Shakespeare's Tragedies, 1979, p. 154.
2
Kerrigan, p. 225; Greenblatt, 'Shakespeare and the exorcists', p. 180.
}
Booth, p. 11.
4
Stockholder, 'Multiple genres', p. 60. Stockholder otherwise argues that King Lear violates fairytale struc-
ture and therefore expectations from the first scene onwards. See ibid., pp. 44 ff.
5
Snyder, The Comic Matrix, p. 155.
6
Compare Booth, p. 9: '. . . Kent enters, and a finished chapter continues. Kent's first sentence violently
aborts the ceremony of theatrical conclusion that began when Albany called the herald to supervise the
The Tragedy of King Lear M

7 Lear and his daughters: a Act i, Scene i; b Act 5, Scene 3. Possible stagings by C. Walter Hodges
M Introduction

in his arms. They emerge as a kind of inverted pietà, and Albany, Kent, and Edgar stand
aghast at the spectacle. This is not what any of the survivors - including the audience -
had expected or wanted. As Ruth Nevo has said, Lear is taken 'out of the grave' in
4.6 to suffer a still greater loss. And it is this loss that precipitates Shakespeare's 'most
unmitigated and quintessential tragic outcome, pitched as it is against an opposing pull
toward restoration in the plot itself'.1

CONCLUSION
Early in The Sense of an Ending (1967), Frank Kermode discusses the differences
between myth and fiction as he defines them, and the way that popular stories stick
close to established conventions, while major novels tend to vary them more and more.
'The story that proceeded very simply to its obviously predestined end', he says, 'would
be nearer myth than the novel or drama.' Peripeteia, or tragic reversal, is important in
sophisticated fictions; it is equivalent in narrative to irony in rhetoric. Furthermore, it
depends on our confidence of the end: 'it is a disconfirmation followed by a consonance;
the interest of having our expectations falsified is obviously related to our wish to reach
the discovery or recognition by an unexpected or instructive route'. He continues:

The more daring the peripeteia, the more we may feel that the work respects our sense of reality;
and the more certainly we shall feel that thefictionunder consideration is one of those which,
by upsetting the ordinary balance of our naive expectations, isfindingsomething out for us,
something real. The falsification of an expectation can be terrible, as in the death of Cordelia; it
is a way offindingsomething out that we should, on our more conventional way to the end, have
closed our eyes to. Obviously it could not work if there were not a certain rigidity in the set of
our expectations. (p. 18)

As the episodes cited indicate, and as Kermode rightly assumes, the expectations King
Lear arouses are, with cause, very strong if not rigid. The reality that the ending
reveals is so powerful and, to many, unbearable, that we may understand why during
the Restoration and for a hundred and fifty years afterwards it was not presented on
the stage as Shakespeare wrote it. Shakespeare shocks us out of complacency, and as
though Gloucester's off-stage death were not sufficient, he gives us Lear's which, as
Kermode later comments, is terribly delayed. 'Beyond the apparent worse there is a
worse suffering, and when it comes it is not only more appalling than anything expected,
but a mere image of that horror, not the thing itself (p. 82).
Recent productions of King Lear, certainly since Peter Brook's landmark staging
in 1962 for the Royal Shakespeare Company (see p. 47 below), rarely shun the tough
reality that the play reveals; if anything, they tend to highlight it. With Lear, we are
stretched out on the rack of this tough world as long as possible. Not satisfied with
Shakespeare's exceptional version of the story, Edward Bond has devised his own Lear,
which is more violent still. But perhaps there is a point beyond which we cannot taste
the actual horrors of the thing itself, and only the image will serve. Shakespeare seems to

formal combat between Edgar and Edmund . . . For the audience, the smooth ceremony of conclusion
presumably collapses only moments before Kent ends it for the characters.'
1
Tragic Form in Shakespeare, 1972, p. 301.
The Tragedy of King Lear [32]

understand this, and disturbing as his flouting of our expectations may be, he does not
venture beyond the pale, modifying the harsher quarto ending of the play accordingly
(see p. 25 above, and Textual Analysis, pp. 80-1 below). If, as Kermode says, ever} thing
in King Lear tends to a conclusion that does not occur - that is, a reunion with Cordelia
that endures and includes restoration as well as redemption - it is sufficient for a true
fiction. Drawing upon myth, Shakespeare transforms it and presents us instead with
'something real'.

King Lear on stage and screen

Although King Lear is a difficult play, it is not difficult to stage, notwithstanding Charles
Lamb's famous demurrer - that only the imagination can encompass it. Few props are
needed, and except possibly for the scene in Act 2 where Edgar descends from his
hiding-place (see Commentary 2.1.19), no elaborate stage set, no upper acting level is
necessary. The play thus eminently suited the bare apron stage of the Globe, where
it was probably performed in 1605, although the first record of any performance is at
court on 26 December 1606 (see p. 1 above). The first play produced at court for the
holiday season, it was also the first play performed by any company since the plague
had broken out again in London in July.1 It is possible that the plague, which continued
for much of the decade after James Fs accession, severely curtailed performances at the
Globe; little is known of King Lear's early stage history. Except for a production in 1610
at Gowthwaite Hall in Yorkshire by a provincial company under the protection of Sir
Richard Cholmeley,2 no records exist of any other seventeenth-century performances
until after the Restoration. Perhaps the play never became popular, but the revisions
reflected in the Folio text suggest attempts to revive it, at least in the decade immediately
after its first production.
Though the cast of characters is large, it was not beyond the resources of the King's
Men.3 With doubling of some roles, only fifteen players were required.4 Burbage, as the
company's leading actor, played Lear. Scholars have long believed that x\rmin played
the Fool, but William Ringler has argued5 that he probably played Edgar instead, since
Armin was adept at shifting roles within a single play, as Edgar does.6 The boy actor who
1
J. Leeds Barroll, 'Shakespeare and the plague', in Shakespeare's Art from a Comparative Perspective,
ed. Wendell M. Aycock, 1981, pp. 22-7. See Barroll, Politics, Plague, and Shakespeare's Theater, 1991,
pp. 217-26, for a compilation of plague statistics.
2
C. J. Sisson, 'Shakespeare's quartos as prompt-copies, with some account of Cholmeley's players and a
new Shakespeare allusion', RES 18 (1942), 129-43; John J. Murphy, Darkness and Devils, 1984, p. 106.
•' For the composition of the King's Men at this time, see William A. Ringler, Jr, 'Shakespeare and his actors:
some remarks on King Lear\ in Shakespeare's Art, ed. Aycock, p. 193, n. 2. Compare Chambers, 1, 79-80;
Bernard Beckerman, Shakespeare at the Globe, ij()g—i6og, 1962, p. 133.
4
As few as thirteen could perform the quarto version, according to Kent Cartwright, 'Casting the quarto
King Lear\ Shakespeare Association of America seminar paper (April 1989); compare John Meagher,
'Economy and recognition: thirteen Shakespearean puzzles', -S'j(5 35 (1984), 7-21. In another SAA paper,
Skiles Howard found fifteen required for the Q version and still more for f, including two musicians and
enough mutes to carry the dead bodies off at the end.
5
Ringler, 'Shakespeare and his actors', pp. 187-93.
6
On the other hand, would Armin's small size suit Edgar, especially as the champion against Edmond in
5.3? See Wiles, pp. 136-63.
\33] Introduction

played Cordelia also played the Fool, Ringler and others have maintained.1 Doubling
would be feasible, since Cordelia leaves the action before the Fool enters in 1.4 and
returns only after the Fool'sfinalexit in 3A 2 The lines introducing the Fool (1.4.60-3)
and the ambiguous reference in 'my poor fool is hanged' (5.3.279) provide thematic or
conceptual linking of the two roles, which some critics reject as modern thinking, not
Shakespearean. But as Giorgio Melchiori has shown, doubling for effect was practised
in dramatic representations before Shakespeare, who developed the usage further as
'a way of suggesting parallelisms in the roles played by different characters'.3

FINDING THE TEXT: KING LEAR FROM THE RESTORATION

TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Whatever its success, or lack of it, under the Stuarts, King Lear underwent a sea-
change in the Restoration. Officially closed in 1642, theatres did not reopen until after
the monarchy was restored in 1660 and the court returned from exile in France, bringing
with it much French influence. Public theatres were nowr enclosed, proscenium staging
became the norm, movable painted flats provided scenic effects, and actresses took
women's parts. Above all, the stage was ruled by a new decorum, which led to the
transformation of Shakespeare's texts to suit newly refined tastes. Two companies were
licensed, one under Thomas Killigrew (the King's Company), the other under William
Davenant (the Duke's Company), both at first using converted tennis courts as theatres.
Davenant's company won the right to perform King Lear among others of Shakespeare's
plays, and performances are recorded in January 1664 at Lincoln's Inn Fields, and on
25 June 1675 at the new Dorset Garden Theatre built in 1671 by Christopher Wren.4
Although the casts are unknown, Thomas Betterton as the company's leading actor no
doubt played Lear.5
The text of King Lear used in these Restoration performances is not known either,
but among the Smock Alley prompt-books that have survived (from the Theatre Royal
in Smock Alley, Dublin) is one of King Lear. This prompt-book, now at the Folger
Shakespeare Library, contains annotated pages from a copy of the Third Folio (1664),
marked with entrance warnings, emended readings, deleted lines, calls for props, and
so forth. Because of the number of hands involved in marking it up, and because
some emendations in the margins appear to anticipate, if they do not derive from,
eighteenth-century editions, such as those by Pope and Hanmer, it is difficult to date

1
See Booth, pp. 129-55.
2
In 'The double casting of Cordelia and Lear's Fool: a theatrical view', Texas Studies in Literature and
Language 27 (1985), 354-68, Richard Abrams accepts doubling but rejects Ringler's argument for the boy
actor in both roles.
•' 'Peter, Balthasar, and Shakespeare's art of doubling1, MLR 78 (1983), 790. Note that Edgar's absence in 1.1
may be explained by the need for the actor to play the King of France. Similarly, whoever played Edmond
could have doubled as the Duke of Burgundy (if Edmond exits with Gloucester at 1.1.30), making for a
nice symmetry. But since the roles of Burgundy and Oswald could be doubled instead, Edmond could
remain on stage throughout most of 1.1.
4
The London Stage, ihho-iHoo: Part /, /660-/700, ed. William Van Lennep, 1965, pp. 22, 75, 234.
5
In 'The Stage History of King Lear\ University of Texas dissertation, 1940, pp. 40-2, Leland Eugene
Derrick speculates that Henry Harris played Edgar; James Nokes, the Fool; Thomas Lovell, Gloucester;
John Richards, Kent; Samuel Sandford, Edmond; Cave Underbill, Oswald; Mrs Saunderson, Cordelia.
The Tragedy of King Lear \34\

the Lear prompt-book, which may have gone through several stages of adaptation.
On the other hand, as James McManaway once suggested, the relationship of the stage
to the study may have then been close enough for the emendations of eighteenth-century
editors to reflect or perpetuate those of stage tradition.1
Whatever the truth may be, available evidence does not point to Lear as a frequently
performed play. The theme of fallen royalty and the absence of a love story may explain
its lack of popularity.2 The situation changed after 1681, when Nahum Tate rewrote
it to suit contemporary taste. Consulting both quarto and Folio texts,3 Tate not only
overhauled Shakespeare's language, he drastically altered the structure of the play
and its plot, changed several characters, introduced a new one (Arante, Cordelia's
confidante), and eliminated the Fool. Most notably, he restored the happy ending of
the Lear legend. He did this by having Edgar and Cordelia fall in love, explaining:

'Twas my good Fortune to light on one Expedient to rectifie what was wanting in the Regularity
and Probability of the Tale, which was to run through the whole, A Love betwixt Edgar and
Cordelia, that never chang'd word with each other in the Original. This renders Cordelia's
Indifference and her Father's Passion in thefirstScene probable. It likewise gives Countenance
to Edgar's Disguise, making that a generous Design that was before a poor Shift to save his Life.4

Other reasons prompted Tate to change the ending. Apparently the number of dead
bodies at the ends of tragedies had become the occasion for 'unseasonable Jests'; as
Dryden had said, "tis more difficult to Save than 'tis to Kill: The Dagger and Cup of
Poyson are alwaies in Readiness; but to bring the Action to the last Extremity, and then
by probable Means to recover All, will require the Art and Judgment of a Writer . . .'5
Thus, Lear has his kingdom restored and bequeaths it to the lovers, Edgar and Cordelia,
while he, Kent, and Gloucester (whom Lear has persuaded not to commit suicide)
retire to 'some cool Cell'. There, meditating upon 'Fortunes past', and cheered by 'the
prosperous Reign / Of this celestial Pair', they will live out their lives.
From the very first scene, Tate's transformation of Shakespeare's text, both in lan-
guage and dramatic structure, is revealing. Instead of Gloucester and Kent discussing
the division of the kingdom, the play opens with Edmond's soliloquy:
Thou Nature art my Goddess, to thy Law
My Services are bound, why am I then
Depriv'd of a Son's Right, because I came not
In the dull Road that custom has prescrib'd?
Why Bastard, wherefore Base, when I can boast
A Mind as gen'rous, and a Shape as true
As honest Madam's Issue? why are we

1
'Additional prompt-books of Shakespeare from the Smock Alley Theatre', MLR 45 (1950), 65. Compare
R. C. Bald, 'Shakespeare on the stage in Restoration Dublin', PMLA 56 (1941), 369-78.
2
Derrick, 'Stage History', p. 35.
3
Ibid., pp. 53-4; but Peter Blayney suggests instead that stage practice may be responsible for some quarto
readings.
4
From the dedication to Thomas Boteler, Esq., in Five Restoration Adaptations of Shakespeare, ed.
Christopher Spencer, 1965, p. 203.
5
Ibid., p. 204. Tate quotes from Dryden's Preface to The Spanish Fryar.
 Introduction
to]
Held Base, who in the lusty stealth of Nature
Take fiercer Qualities than what compound
The scanted Births of the stale Marriage-bed?
Well then, legitimate Edgar, to thy right
Of Law I will oppose a Bastard's Cunning.
Our Father's Love is to the Bastard Edmond
As to Legitimate Edgar; with success
I've practis'd yet on both their easie Natures:
Here comes the old Man chaf t with th'Information
Which late I forged against my Brother Edgar,
A Tale so plausible, so boldly utter'd,
And heightned by such lucky Accidents,
That now the slightest circumstance confirms him,
And Base-born Edmond spight of Law inherits.

By regularising Shakespeare's language and 'clarifying' it to suit the more refined taste
of his age, Tate also flattened it considerably. At the same time, he simplified the sub-
plot and the characters. Edmond's intrigue has already occurred; now as Gloucester and
Kent enter, the old earl rejects Kent's intercession on behalf of Edgar, whose alleged
treachery he believes. Delighted, Edmond displays a more two-dimensional, rapacious
character. Later, he even attempts to assault Cordelia (see illustration 8).
Regardless of what we may now think of Tate's redaction, actors and audiences
preferred his version of the play, especially its happy ending, for the next century and a
half 1 It is an extreme instance of what Shakespeare's text, like any theatrical script, had
been subject to from the beginning: actors, managers, and directors, as well as authors,
have always felt free to alter the 'book' of a play to suit exigencies, dramatic or otherwise,
that they anticipate or experience. Nor was Tate's version itself immune. As more and
more editions of Shakespeare's works began appearing, starting with Nicholas Rowe's
in 1709, dissatisfaction with Tate's adaptation grew. Joseph Addison was not alone in
criticising the mangling of Shakespeare's tragedy in Tate's version. 2
King Lear in the eighteenth century is thus a curious combination of Shakespeare
and Tate. The Folio text, moreover, may not have been totally eclipsed. If the Smock
Alley prompt-book was actually used for professional theatre performances, and if it
dates from a period later than the Restoration, then something closer to King Lecti-
ns we know it was acted in the eighteenth century, too.3 It was in its 'Tatefied' form,

1
Compare Thomas Davies, Dm malic Miscellanies, 1783, 11, 262-3: 'The passion of Edgar and Cordelia is
happily imagined; it strongly connects the main plot of the play and renders it more interesting to the
spectators; without this, and the consequent happy catastrophe, the alteration of Lear would have been of
little worth; besides, after those turbulent scenes of resentment, violence, disobedience, ingratitude, and
rage, between Lear and his two eldest daughters, with the king's consequent agony and distraction, the
unexpected interview of Cordelia and Edgar in act m. gives a pause of relief to the harassed and distressed
minds of the audience . . . I have seen this play represented twenty or thirty times, yet I can truly affirm
that the spectators always dismissed the two lovers with the most rapturous applause.1
2
See The Spectator, No. 40, 16 April 1711, and Arthur John Harris, 'Garrick, Colman, and King Lear ,
££22(1971), 59-62.
1
Another prompt-copy in the Folger Shakespeare Library (Lear, 30) consists of the Tonson edition of
1734 incompletely marked. Whether it was actually used, and by whom, is unknown, but evidently Tate's
adaptation of 1681 did not entirely monopolise the stage. Aaron Hill's quotations in The Prompter for
The Tragedy of King Lear bfl

8 Susanna Maria Cibber as Cordelia, saved by Edgar from Edmond's ruffians in the storm, in Tate's
adaptation {c. 1743)

however, that King Lear rose in popularity, though it did not rival the other great
Shakespearean tragedies. In the Augustan period, 1700-28, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Julius
Caesar were performed more frequently: 151,132, and 105 times, respectively, to Lear's
87 performances.1 Lear therefore does not appear in G. W. Stone's list of the top
twenty-one plays - that is, those with a hundred or more performances (the bias of

Tuesday, 7 October 1735, moreover, are not from the Tate version. See The Prompter: A Theatrical Paper
(1734-1736), ed. William W. Appleton and Kalman A. Burnim, 1966, pp. 100-5.
1
George Winchester Stone, Jr, 'The making of the repertory', in The London Theatre World, 1660-1800,
ed. Robert D. Hume, 1980, p. 197.
[37] Introduction

the time clearly favoured comedy and melodrama). But by the Garrick era, 1747-76,
the situation had changed. Romeo and Juliet and Richard III (in Cibber's version) were
among the most popular plays (335 and 223 performances), trailing only Gay's The
Beggar's Opera (395 performances). Lear (141 performances) had climbed in favour,
while Julius Caesar with 27 had much declined. Hamlet continued to hold the stage
well with 203 performances, as did Macbeth (139 performances). The differences derive
partly from a change in taste, but perhaps more from the success of David Garrick,
the age's premier actor, who took many of the leading roles and made them his own,
especially Hamlet and King Lear.1
The several versions of Garrick's Lear show how fluid the play remained in the
hands of a capable and dynamic actor-manager. The text continued to evolve as Garrick
restored more and more of Shakespeare's original while tenaciously clinging to Tate's
ending,2 much against the advice of George Colman, who worked with him at Drury
Lane before moving on to Covent Garden in 1768. With the love story curtailed and
the Fool still altogether absent, increased emphasis fell on the already dominant role of
the king. This suited the taste of Garrick's audiences, who enjoyed virtuoso acting. A
high point came early in the play, when Lear curses Gonerill in 1.4. Following Tate's
structure, which eliminated 1.5, but restoring most of Shakespeare's language, Garrick
used this speech as the climax of Act 1, a moment of extreme emotionality. At 'Blasts and
fogs upon thee' a contemporary observer 'could not avoid expecting a paralytic Stroke
would wither every Limb of GoneriP'.3 Garrick continued playing on the emotions, or
rather milking them, so that when he finally burst into tears at the end of the scene, the
effect was stupendous. For the next hundred years, this moment became a crucial one
for every actor who followed Garrick in the role.4
The theatre is never without its rivalries, and the eighteenth century was no excep-
tion. Garrick's Lear was challenged by Spranger Barry and William Powell, and his
efforts to recover Shakespeare's text were rivalled, too - by George Colman, for exam-
ple, in his edition of 1768. Beginning with the opening scene, Colman restored more of
Shakespeare's original than anyone so far had done. But he was ahead of his time; his
adaptation, performed at Covent Garden, was a failure. The public still preferred Tate's
version, especially the Edgar-Cordelia love story, which Colman all but eliminated.5
Eventually, yielding to Francis Gentleman's critique in 1770, Garrick further modified
Tate's Lear but cast Barry in the leading role instead of himself.6 The points at issue
were mainly the disputed love scenes between Cordelia and Edgar, though given the

1
Ibid., pp. 202-3.
2
For a brief analysis of this evolution from Tate to Garrick's last version, see George Winchester Stone, Jr,
'Garrick's production of King Lear, a study in the temper of the eighteenth-century mind', SP 45 (1948),
96-101. Restoration of Shakespeare's originals, at least in part, had already begun with other plays: see
George C. D. Odell, Shakespeare from Betterton to Irving, 2 vols., 1920, 1, 339-47.
•' Joseph Pittard, Observations on Mr. Garrick's Acting (1758), in Shakespeare: The Critical Heritage, ed. Brian
Vickers, 1976, iv, 318.
4
Bratton, p. 23. For further details of Garrick's delivery and others', see ibid., pp. 97-9 and 225-7, ar*d
Rosenberg, pp. 127-30.
5
Odell, Betterton to Irving, I, 380-1.
Harris, 'Garrick, Colman and King Lear\ pp. 63-6.
The Tragedy of King Lear
m
temper of the times, neither Colman nor Garrick could reinstate the Fool or replace
Tate's ending with Shakespeare's.1 Those restorations awaited the courage of the next
century.
After Garrick's retirement from the stage in 1776, John Philip Kemble essayed King
Lear in 1788, and his sister, Sarah Siddons, played Cordelia. Although at first he used
Garrick's text, Kemble later went back to Tate, reversing the direction that Garrick
and Colman had taken. For this he receives the severest condemnation from Genest.2
His production at Drury Lane in 1795 was elaborate (see below). Doubling had long
since become unnecessary, and increased numbers of supers filled the cast: the first
court scene consisted of four gentlemen, three knights, a physician, a captain of the
guard, a herald, four ladies (in addition to Tate's Arante), two pages, and an unspecified
number of guards, besides the principal characters.3
Kemble continued playing Lear from time to time and from version to version
until 1810, when performances were discontinued in London owing to George Ill's
growing mental disorder. When the sovereign died in 1820, theatre managers vied with
one another to restage the play. By this time, the criticisms of Charles Dibdin, Leigh
Hunt, Charles Lamb, William Oxberry, and others, including the eminent German
critic August Wilhelm von Schlegel, weighed heavily against Tate's adaptation and its
derivatives. But it would be years before anything like a true restoration of Shakespeare's
text could be heard on the English stage.4
Junius Brutus Booth at Covent Garden on 13 April 1820 was the first to portray
Lear after King George Ill's death; his performance paled before Edmond Kean's
at Drury Lane eleven days later and soon closed. What Kean lacked in physique
he more than compensated for in passion and articulation.5 His was the first great
romantic representation of the role. Although it did not altogether please Leigh Hunt
and some others, it was obviously a great advance over Kemble's and much closer to
Garrick's, which in many ways anticipated Kean's conception.6 He excelled in The
Curse (1.4.230-44) and in the storm scenes, but perhaps his most moving scene was
the reconciliation with Cordelia in Act 4, which utterly silenced the audience, struck
dumb with admiration. Blackwood's Magazine reported that 'The mild pathos of his
voice and the touching simplicity of his manner when he kneels down before her and
offers to drink the poison if she has it for him, can never be forgotten.'7

1
See the 'Advertisement' to Colman's edition, sig. A2-4.
2
John Genest, Some Account ofthe English Stage, 1660-1830, 1832, vin, 131—4, 185. Derrick,'Stage History',
p. 137, thinks the anti-French feeling aroused by the Napoleonic wars led Kemble to adopt Tate's version,
where Edgar replaces the King of France as Cordelia's suitor. The love story, moreover, lessened the
emphasis upon the king, whose madness could remind audiences of what ailed George III.
3
Derrick, 'Stage History', pp. 153, 168-9, n. 14.
4
See Carol Jones Carlisle, Shakespeare from the Greenroom, 1969, pp. 266-74, anc^ Leigh Hunt's Drama tic-
Criticism, 1808-1831, ed. L. H. Houtchens and C. W. Houtchens, 1949, pp. 15-20.
5
H. N. Hillebrand, Edmond Kean, 1933, p. 191, quotes Crabbe Robinson: 'Kean's defects are lost in this
character, and become almost virtues. He does not need vigour or grace as Lear, but passion - and this never
fails him.' Compare the review in The Times, 25 April 1820; reprinted in Gamini Salgâdo, Eyewitnesses of
Shakespeare: First Hand Accounts of Performances ijÇO-i8ço, 1975, pp. 280-2.
6
Leigh Hunt's Dramatic Criticism, pp. 297-8; Bratton, p. 30.
7
Cited in F. W. Hawkins, The Life of Edmond Kean, 1869, 11, 137.
\39\ Introduction

Kean had wanted to retain Shakespeare's tragic conclusion, but Elliston (manager at
Drury Lane) demurred for three years. When he did agree, legend has it that the
audience tittered to see the diminutive actor struggling under the weight of Mrs
W. West's Cordelia, and the production reverted to Tate's ending after only three
performances. The 'Shakespeare' ending may not have been altogether abandoned in
later productions, and in London in 1834 William Charles Macready revived it.1
Macready was the next important Lear. Immediately following his London suc-
cess as Richard III, when Covent Garden was preparing to stage Lear in 1820, he
was offered the lead but preferred to play Edmond opposite J. B. Booth instead. Not
until August 1833, when on tour in the provinces, did he attempt Lear - and then
not very successfully.2 The following spring he acted the part for the first time in
London, restoring much of Shakespeare's language and Kean's ending, but not the
Fool. That event awaited January 1838 when, at the off-hand suggestion of his col-
league, George Bartley, he cast a nineteen-year-old actress, Priscilla Horton, in the
role.3
Criticism of Tate's version had at last triumphed, though a Tatefied King Lear
continued to hold the boards in America (where Macready, disgusted, saw it with
Forrest as Lear in 1843) and elsewhere.4 Victorian England scarcely saw the Lear of
Shakespeare's Jacobean audience, however. Textual matters aside,5 the production as
a production was vastly different. Victorians enjoyed spectacle, as Macready (and later
Charles Kean) understood, and his productions at Covent Garden were nothing if not
spectacular. Castles sat upon the stage, Druid circles adorned the landscape, and the
storm scenes were ferocious. Macready, 'gigantic', was 'very enthusiastically' received.6
Playing opposite a reluctant Helen Faucit as Cordelia, he made Lear one of his greatest
roles.
Although he restored the Fool and Shakespeare's language, Macready retained Tate's
dramatic structure and cut the text heavily. His was a virtuoso performance. Samuel
Phelps, who staged Lear in 1845 at Sadler's Wells, made fewer cuts, kept Shakespeare's
sequence of scenes, and attempted ensemble performance.7 Charles Kean's production
a dozen years later reverted to something like Macready's text (a third of Shake-
speare's lines gone) but now spectacle threatened to overwhelm text, a phenomenon
not unknown in our own time. Thus, though 'Shakespeare' was on the boards at last,
bardolatry did not extend to sanctifying his text.

' Carlisle, Shakespeare from the Greenroom, p. 273; Hillebrand, Kean, p. 234; G. K. Hunter, Introduction to
Cornmarket Press facsimile of Cumberland's 1830 edition, 1970; Odell, Betterton to Irving, 11, 154-6.
2
The Diaries of William Charles Macready, 1833-1851, ed. William Tovnbee, 1912; reprinted 1969, 1, 58.
* Ibid., 1,483.'
4
Bratton, p. 31; Charles Shattuck, Shakespeare on the American Stage: From the Hallams to Edwin Booth,
1976, p. 77.
5
On Macready's text, see Odell, Betterton to Irving, 11, 195-7.
6
Diaries of Macready, p. 442; Bratton, pp. 34-6. In his rave review in The Examiner, 4 February 1838
(reprinted in Salgâdo, Eyewitnesses of Shakespeare, pp. 283-7), Charles Dickens especially praised the
inclusion of the Fool.
7
Bratton, pp. 36-7; Odell, Betterton to Irving, 11, 272-3.
The Tragedy of King Lear [40]

FINDING THE SET DESIGN

From the bare boards of the Globe to the huge Victorian sets, King Lear had come
a long way. In Shakespeare's day, such spectacle as there was centred mainly upon
costumes and a few effects. For King Lear, only a few props were needed: a throne (if
one was used) and a map of some sort in 1.1, stocks for Kent in 2.2, and a chair (for
which the throne in 1.1 could substitute) to carry Lear on stage in 4.6.' The hovel
from which Edgar emerges in 3.4 was probably suggested by curtains at the rear of
the stage. Costumes were elaborate but reflected contemporary, not historical, design
(Lear comments upon his daughter's elegant attire at 2.4.262). Further spectacle was
provided, as the quarto title page suggests, by 'the sullen and assumed humor of Tom
of Bedlam' - Edgar in his disguise as a madman - and by the king during the storm.
Armies, represented by two or three soldiers, flags, and a drum, appear in Acts 4 and 5,
but the battle scene occurs off-stage and is deliberately underplayed. For Shakespeare's
audience, prepared to listen as well as see, theatre meant language, words, poetry.
With the advent of movable scenery during the Restoration, things began to change.
Although costuming remained elegant, it was still contemporary in style, not historical.
Only later did intricate, historically oriented set designs dominate theatrical produc-
tions, but even then much was anachronistic. In 1795 John Philip Kemble's staging of
King Lear at Drury Lane found him wearing a white wig and mustachios, a jewelled and
feathered hat, false shoulders, and a lace collar and white stockings.2 The production
had fifteen different scene locations effected by painted flats raised and lowered from
fly-galleries installed the year before.3
A taste for historical 'illustration' had grown since the days of Garrick. Charles
Kean's production reflected the current passion for 'archaeological' representation.
Baffled by how to set the play in the pre-history of Lear's reign, Kean decided on
the 'Anglo-Saxon' era of A.D. 800 as 'a date sufficiently remote' and one that could
secure 'uniformity of character in the accessories of this great drama'.4 The choice
thus depended upon what could be known as against what could only be guessed about
the mythical age of King Lear.
Noting how the 'spectacular' could 'overlay the dramatic' at the cost of 'poetic and
histrionic' effects, the Illustrated London News proclaimed that in Kean's production this
danger was overcome, even as the engineer and the painter were accorded the widest
scope for their talents.5 It was spectacular nevertheless, and Charles Kean, though
lacking his father's talent, apparently rose to the occasion. But despite his efforts, and
despite several visits from the royal family, performances ended after eight weeks, a
run not long enough to recoup the expense of producing the play.6

1
The stage direction at 5.3.204, Gonerill and Regans bodies brought out, may suggest a litter or bier for each
one, or perhaps dummies, if the actors were now needed as supers. Compare T. J. King, Shakespearean
Staging, 159Ç-1642, 1971, p. 19.
2
Bratton, p. 61.
•* David Rostron, 'John Philip Kemble's "King Lear" of 1795', in The Eighteenth-Century English Stage, ed.
Kenneth Richards and Peter Thomson, 1972, p. 153.
4
Preface to Kean's edition of 1858.
5
24 April 1858; reprinted in Salgâdo, Eyewitnesses of Shakespeare, p. 287.
6
Bratton, p. 38.
 Introduction
un
Spectacle, antiquarianism, and textual cutting culminated in Henry Irving's pro-
duction of King Lear in 1892. The elaborate staging necessarily resulted in cuts; but
other cuts, such as eliminating Gloucester's blinding, were the result of Victorian taste.
At Ford Madox Brown's suggestion, Irving set his production in the period just after
the Romans left Britain, so as to imply both greatness and decay. Druidical priests and
Viking warriors mingled on the stage among ruined Roman villas and temples. Like
Macready, Irving arranged the text and the production to set himself off to best advan-
tage, and like Macready he attempted a psychological interpretation. But the role was
beyond his powers. The elaborate set designs notwithstanding, the production (which
never toured) was not a success, nor was it ever revived. Its greatest emotional impact
was Ellen Terry's achievement as Cordelia in the reconciliation scene that ends Act 4. 1
After Irving's relative failure, King Lear fell into some disfavour, although Robert
Bruce Mantell did well in the role in America from 1905 until his death in 1928.2
Norman McKinnel was less successful at the Haymarket in 1909, but this production,
by Herbert Trench, was important for its reaction against 'archaeological' realism.
Experiments abroad and the efforts of William Poel and others to revive 'Elizabethan'
staging had begun to make their mark. Meanwhile, Gordon Craig and his followers
advocated a 'poetic' or 'symbolic' setting for Shakespeare that would provide the proper
atmosphere and ambience for the plays. Although the two schools opposed each other,
the one calling for a simple, bare stage, the other for suggestive set designs, both agreed
on the need for smoother performances uninterrupted by long intervals that elaborate
scene-shifting required. For the Haymarket, Charles Ricketts used looming monoliths,
colour tones of grey, and variously illuminated backcloths that became a model for
designers and producers for several decades.3
Experimentation has continued throughout the century, much enhanced by tech-
nological advances in lighting and scenery construction. In 1936, for Komisarjevsky's
production at Stratford-upon-Avon, lighting was mainly used; flights of narrow, angled
steps almostfilledthe stage, and Lear's fantastically-columned throne was the only fur-
niture. Although reviewers and actors were not altogether happy with the set, critics
thought that the bareness and Komisarjevsky's lighting strengthened the sense of ele-
mental forces at work in the play.4 George Devine's production in 1955, starring John
Gielgud, became notorious for the sets by the Japanese-American designer, Isamu
Noguchi. The entire play was performed against a background of geometrical or sym-
bolic shapes that emphasised the drama's timeless, out-of-this-world quality. Costum-
ing was grotesque: the strangely holed cloaks that Lear and others wore reminded some
of Henry Moore sculptures.5 If the explicit aim was to give language its preeminent

1
Carlisle, Shakespeare from the Greenroom, p. 303; Bratton, pp. 38-9; Odell, Betterton to Irving, 11, 387-8,
404, 446-7-
2
Derrick, 'Stage History', pp. 261-4; compare Shattuck, Shakespeare on the American Stage, 11: From Booth
and Barrel/ to Sothern and Marlowe, 1987, pp. 235-43.
s
Bratton, pp. 42-3; Derrick, 'Stage History', pp. 211—13. Compare Cary M. Mazer, Shakespeare Refashioned:
Elizabethan Plays on Edwardian Stages, 1981, pp. 50-9, 107-10.
4
Sally Beauman, The Royal Shakespeare Company: A History of Ten Decades, 1982, pp. 147-8; Bratton,
p. 60.
5
Bratton, p. 62.
The Tragedy of King Lear [42]

place (as the programme note stated), it did not succeed, for audiences found the set
and costume designs distracting. Only Claire Bloom as Cordelia (like Ellen Terry in
Irving's production) conveyed anything of human warmth.1
King Lear has not escaped modern-dress productions. In 1976, with Donald Sinden
in the lead, Trevor Nunn directed the play in the costumes and settings of 1914 - the last
era, he thought, in which a monarch could conceivably give away his kingdom. Sinden
as Lear wore a uniform and his family formal court attire; he entered 'stumping like
an aged Hindenburg, chewing a cigar and creakily lowering himself into his seat'.2 Six
years later at Stratford, Adrian Noble staged the play in a supposedly timeless period,
but visual allusions to the Falklands War then in progress, as in the type and colour of
the soldiers' uniforms, gave the production a contemporary relevance. So did Samuel
Beckett's influence, which was everywhere apparent, as in the oil drums or dustbins
used in the mock trial scene (3.6), the pool of water in which the two old men bathe their
feet in 4.5, the boots Lear leaves behind afterwards, and especially the representation
of the Fool (see below). Throughout the performance, as Alan Sinfield observed, an
'assault on the transcendence' usually ascribed to the tragic hero was uppermost. An
extremely physical production, the point was 'not insight into a further reality, there is
no further reality - just the material world in which people and systems do things to
you . . .'3

FINDING THE CHARACTERS AND THE OVERALL INTERPRETATION

Just as styles in staging have changed over the centuries, so has each age discovered
new ways of representing the characters in King Lear, particularly the character of the
king. Changes reflect changing tastes in art and drama, the abilities of specific actors,
and directorial 'concepts'. Lacking eye-witness accounts, we can only guess at how
Burbage portrayed Lear at the Globe or Blackfriars. In the next age, which favoured
heroic drama, Betterton played the part (in Tate's version) as an essentially angry if regal
old man. Breaking with tradition, Garrick broadened the emotional range of the part
to a more complex characterisation much closer to the Shakespearean original, which
he carefully studied. Indeed, even as he retained much of Tate's text, Shakespeare's
seems to have influenced him more.4 Madness, rage, complacency, pathos, indignation
all contributed to his characterisation of the old king, but pathos was the dominant
emotion (see illustration 9). In this age of'sentiment', Garrick hoped to gain audience
sympathy and commiseration, and he succeeded admirably.5
Kemble emphasised the age and physical decrepitude of the old king, not his titanism,
but his Lear was still dignified and stately. In his Life of Kemble, James Boaden complains
that however excellent the actor was in 1788, he subsequently 'quenched with infirmity

1
Audrey Williamson, Contemporary Theatre, JÇ^J-IÇ^Ô, n.d., pp. 122-3; J. C. Trcwin, Shakespeare on the
English Stage, igoo-ig64, 1964, p. 221.
2
The Times, 1 December 1976; cited by Bratton, p. 62.
3
Alan Sinfield, 'King Lear versus Lear at Stratford', Critical Quarterly 24, 4 (1982), 10.
4
Compare Stone, 'Garrick's production', p. 92.
5
Leigh Woods, Garrick Claims the Stage, 1984, pp. 35-6. For contemporary testimonials, see Arthur Colby
Sprague, 'Garrick as King Lear', Shakespearian Players and Performances, 1953, pp. 21-40.
[43] Introduction

9 Garrick as King Lear in the storm, with Kent and Edgar but without the Fool. A painting by Benjamin
Wilson (1761)

the insane fire of the injured father'.1 Kemble's unfortunate tendency was to simplify,
to eschew subtlety in favour of a single dominant passion, and his voice, uncertain and
unreliable at best, was inadequate to convey the depths of Lear's passion. On the other
hand, Kemble brought to the role a conscientiously studied performance, capable of
brilliant effects, which Macready admired. His greatest moments were The Curse in
Act 1 and his dialogue with Edgar as Tom o'Bedlam (played by his brother Charles) in
Act 3, but his performance overall never equalled Garrick's.2
Edmond Kean's romantic conception of King Lear had a profound influence both at
home and abroad. Like his predecessor, George Frederick Cooke, Kean toured America
on several occasions, beginning in 1820-1. During his second American tour, in 1825,
Edwin Forrest, then an aspiring actor, played opposite him in Othello and in other
Shakespearean tragedies. Forrest, who was soon to be recognised as America's greatest
actor, never forgot this formative experience. 'Until now Forrest had seen no actor who
represented in perfection the impassioned school of which Kean was the master', an

1
Cited in Salgâdo, Eyewitnesses of Shakespeare, p. 280. Compare Rostron, 'Kemble's "King Lear" ',
pp. 160-1.
2
Rostron, 'Kemble's "King Lear" ', pp. 163-6.
The Tragedy of King Lear [44}

early biographer remarked. 'He had known Cooke in the decline of his powers, but his
own judgment was immature. Here indeed was a revelation.'1 At nineteen, Forrest had
already played Lear, creditably though not outstandingly, and he determined to make
it his 'great character'.2 Partly owing to what he learned from Kean, he succeeded.
Although Edwin Booth's greatest role was Hamlet, his Lear was also note-worthy,
both in America and in London, where he performed in 1881. Like Garrick, he began
playing the role early in life, using Tate's version, as his father, Junius Brutus Booth,
had done. But he dropped the part from his repertory in i860 and did not revive it until
many years later, this time in a Shakespearean version. His most famous scene was the
Awakening:
I remember him, - indeed, who that saw him could everforget?- sitting on a stool; his attenuated
figure, his haggard face, his beseechful eyes, his bewildered glance at his clothing, his timid,
hesitant, forlorn manner as he gazed on Cordelia, the doubting, questioning look which bespoke
the slow recurrence of memory, the piteous, feeble movement of the hands, one upon the other,
and the pathos of the heart-breaking voice . . .3
But if Booth was impressive in thefinalacts, his countryman, John Edward McCullough,
was more impressive in the first half of the play. Unlike other Lears of his time, who
played a robust monarch only gradually descending into dementia, McCullough saw
Lear as a man verging on madness from the start, menaced by a disease which overtakes
him rapidly. His representation was unique, and other aspects of his portrayal were,
in Winter's words, 'inexpressibly touching'.4 Moreover, McCullough was one of the
first American actors to discard Tate's version and find in Shakespeare's the original
structure and power that the play embodies.5
The strength of Forrest and the 'subtle intelligence' of Booth were combined, accord-
ing to the American critic Towse, in Samuel Phelps's enactment of Lear in mid century.
Whereas Macready played Lear as arrogant and domineering in Act 1, and afterwards
tried to show how Lear learned through suffering, Phelps emphasised Lear's suffering
from the beginning, probed the depths of his despair, and did not try to explain it.
More aged father than king, his grief and madness were nonetheless regal. He won the
approval of many critics besides Towse, whose praise is couched in a paradox gener-
ated by the still lingering attitude of Charles Lamb: 'His Lear . . . was one of the most
satisfying interpretations of that unactable conception that I have seen.'6
In the twentieth century, especially since the Second World War, King Lear has been
more often revived and more variously represented than at any previous time in its his-
tory. John Gielgud, for example, played the role in four productions, each one different,
beginning with the Old Vic in 1931 when he was only twenty-six. Harcourt Williams
directed, Ralph Richardson played Kent, and Robert Speaight, Edmond. Like Garrick,
Booth, and Forrest, Gielgud gave promise of greater things to come. Commentators
1
Lawrence Barrett, Edwin Forrest, 1881, p. 40.
2
James Rees, The Life of Edwin Forrest, 1874, p. 82; compare Bratton, p. 31.
3
William Winter, Shakespeare on the Stage: Second Series, 1915, p. 447.
4
Ibid., p. 461.
•s Shattuck, Shakespeare on the American Stage, 1, 129.
6
Shirley S. Allen, Samuel Phelps and Sadler's Wells Theatre, 1971, pp. 173-5, w n o quotes Towse.
[«•] Introduction

remarked upon the intelligence of his interpretation and his fine speaking-voice.: In
1940 Gielgud again attempted the role at the Vic, this time under the guidance, if not
direction, of Harley Granville-Barker, who came over from Paris for ten rehearsals.
Only the limitations of his physique and perhaps too much reliance upon intellectual
control prevented Gielgud from supreme mastery, although by his own account he felt
that this was the one time he truly touched Lear.2
Gielgud played Lear twice more, in 1950 at Stratford-upon-Avon (see illustration
10), with excellent performances by Alan Badel as the Fool and Peggy Ashcroft as
Cordelia, and in 1955 at the Palace Theatre, with a Stratford company that had toured
Europe. The first of these was still influenced by Granville-Barker; the second was the
notorious Noguchi one. Gielgud changed his conception so that his initial entrance,
formerly strong and menacing, was now that of a weak and mentally deranged old man.
As he has said, there is no one way to play the part, but this interpretation was not
successful, despite excellent performances by others and the moving and emblematic
scene at Dover between the shattered, aimlessly wandering king and the blind earl,
played by George Devine. The production was a disaster, mainly because the sets and
costumes overwhelmed everything else.3
The variety of approaches notwithstanding, what some have called a 'definitive' King
Lear appeared during the war years. In 1943, Donald Wolfit brought his production
to London from the provinces, where it had been touring (see Ronald Harwood's play,
The Dresser, largely based on Wolfit's touring as Lear). Praising the revival the following
year, James Agate enumerated Lear's qualities:

First, majesty. Second, the quality Blake would have recognized as moral grandeur. Third, mind.
Fourth, he must be a man, and what is more, a king, in ruins. There must be enough voice to
dominate the thunder, and yet it must be a spent voice. Lear must have all of Prospero's 'beating
mind', but a mind enfeebled like his pulse . . .4

For Agate, Wolfit's Lear was the greatest tragic performance he had seen on the British
stage since the death of Irving, and his vote was seconded by others. But, Speaight
notes, by this time the theatre had moved on and 'was nervous of giants',5 as some
subsequent productions of Lear have shown.
Like Gielgud, Laurence Olivier played Lear more than once, and with unequal
success. His first attempt, with the Old Vic in 1946, he also directed, to mixed reviews.
Olivier was 'a comedian by instinct and a tragedian by art', Agate claimed, and his old,
testy, and capricious king showed a quizzical sense of humour. Felix Barker, Olivier's
biographer, thought this was mainly a device to help him get through the absurdity of

1
James Agate, Brief Chronicles, 1943, p. 196. Agate much preferred the still younger William Devlin who,
at twenty-two, opened at the Westminster Theatre in 1934 and was, Benson excepted, the best Lear Agate
had ever seen up to then (pp. 197-201).
2
Trewin, Shakespeare on the English Stage, p. 186; Agate, Brief Chronicles, pp. 201-2.
-1 John Gielgud, An Actor and His Time, 1979, pp. 95, 169, 212. Compare Alan S. Downer, 'A comparison of
two stagings: Stratford-upon-Avon and London', SQ6 (1955), 432-3.
4
Cited in Ronald Harwood, Sir Donald Wolfit, C.B.E., 1971, pp. 165-6. Harwood describes the genesis,
performance, and reception of the production, pp. 157-67.
5
Robert Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage, 1973, p. 229.
The Tragedy of King Lear [46]

10 John Gielgud as Lear and Alan Badel as the Fool in Anthony Quayle's production at the Shakespeare
Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (1950)

Lear's division of the kingdom in 1.1, but the humour was pervasive.: Despite moments
of great imagination and power, for example at Dover, his rendition was too lightweight:
'Instead of the pathos of great strength crumbling, he offered the misfortune of bright

1
The Oliviers, 1953, p. 294. Compare Charles Landstone, 'Four Lears', S.Sur. 1 (1948), 98.
[47] Introduction

wits blurred.'1 When Olivier performed the role for the last time, in the television
adaptation (1983), he was too frail and ill, although flashes of his old fire still emerged.
Perhaps his most memorable scene (involving a bit of un-Shakespearean stage business)
was of the mad old king in Act 4 catching and disembowelling a rabbit, and then eating
its innards raw.
By far the most widely discussed and influential post-war production of King Lear
was Peter Brook's for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962. Profoundly affected by
Jan Kott, whose view was that of a middle-European survivor of the Second World War,
Brook interpreted the play existentially. Speaight says Simone Jollivet had attempted
as much in her adaptation, produced by Charles Dullin in Paris in 1945, but Brook did
it better.2 He cut the text carefully, following the Folio more closely than the quarto,
so that the servants' dialogue at the end of 3.7 was gone along with the scene in Act 4
found only in the quarto. In addition, he cut many of Edmond's lines in the last scene,
including 'Some good I mean to do', and kept his body on stage after his death. At the end
Edgar, left alone with his brother's corpse, lugged it off-stage 'like a slaughtered pig'.3
Paul Scofield as Lear was austerely effective, as were Alec McCowen as the Fool, Irene
Worth as Gonerill, and Alan Webb as Gloucester (see illustration 11). Brook directed
from the standpoint of 'moral neutrality', with the intention of provoking questions,
not providing answers.4 The flat white set and simple leather costumes enhanced the
alienation that this deliberately Brechtian production contrived to impart. The results
were 'revolutionary':

Instead of assuming that Lear is right, and therefore pitiable, we are forced to make judgements -
to decide between his claims and those of his kin. And the balance, in this uniquely magnani-
mous production, is almost even. Though he disposes of his kingdom, Lear insists on retaining
authority; he wants to exercise power without responsibility, without fulfilling his part of the
feudal contract. He is wilfully arrogant, and deserves much of what he gets . . . This production
brings me closer to Lear than I have ever been; from now on, I not only know him but can place
him in his harsh and unforgiving world.5

While King Lear dominates his play, other characters are important as well and lend
themselves to various interpretations, which influence, or are influenced by, the overall
conception. To focus only on the Fool as he has appeared in different productions: he is
often played as a simple-minded child, but Frank Middlemass showed in the BBC-TV
series that he can appear as an old man, long allied to his master. Marius Goring played
him as 'an anxious, frightened jester fighting a losing battle', his attendance upon Lear
'urgent and sympathetic'.6 In Olivier's stage production Alec Guinness was 'neither

1
Kenneth Tynan, cited by Richard Findlater, The Player Kings, 1971, p. 221. Compare Speaight, Shakespeare
on the Stage, p. 230.
2
Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage, pp. 232-3.
* Ibid., p. 284.
4
Kenneth Tynan, A View of the English Stage: jg44~6j, 1975, p. 343.
5
From Kenneth Tynan's review in the Observer, November 1962; reprinted in Peter Brook: A Theatrical
Casebook, compiled by David Williams, 1988, pp. 23-7.
6
T. C. Kemp, 'Acting Shakespeare: modern tendencies in playing and production', S.Sur. 7 (1954), 127.
The Tragedy of King Lear [48]

11 Act 1, Scene i: Peter Brook's Royal Shakespeare Company production (1962), with Paul Scofield as
Lear

prancing jester nor piping grotesque', but 'wry, quiet, true, with a dog's devotion'.1
Antony Sher was an astonishingly original Fool in Adrian Noble's 1982 production for
the Royal Shakespeare Company (see illustration 12). From the opening tableau the
Fool commanded attention: he and Cordelia were discovered on the throne together
with a length of rope around their necks ('And my poor fool is hanged'). Sher wore a
Chariot costume of baggy trousers and oversized shoes, a red button nose, white clown's
make-up, and crumpled hat. With Lear (Michael Gambon) he performed vaudeville
routines and played a Grock violin. During the mock trial in 3.6, while raving against
his daughters, Lear plunged a dagger into his Fool who was standing, like a character
in Beckett's Endgame, in an empty oil drum, into which he slowly subsided and died.2
Sher's outlandish, vaudevillian performance made political sense, as Nicholas
Shrimpton observed: the Fool was 'an artist who uses his skills as an entertainer to
win himself a platform'. More than that, with Lear he formed 'an old-established
cross-talk act, long accustomed to claiming the spotlight for their banter'. The disad-
vantage, however, was that after the Fool's death in Act 3, following the extraordinary

1
J. C. Trewin, 'Giving the countersign', in Olivier: In Celebration, ed. Gary O'Connor, 1987, p. 38.
2
See Antony Sher, 'The Fool in King Lear\ in Players of Shakespeare 2, ed. Russell Jackson and Robert
Smallwood, 1988, pp. 151-65.
[49] Introduction

*0*
m*,

12 Antony Sher as the Fool (in the oil drum, left) and Michael Gambon as Lear in the Royal Shakespeare
Company production (1982)

representation of the storm, the play tended to lose both éclat and coherence.1 A more
conventional Fool - the consummate Shakespearean Fool in Lear, though many critics
disagreed - was Linda Kerr Scott's at the RSC in 1990 (see illustration 13). Small in
stature, with pop-eyes, bare windmilling arms, and a scampering, knock-kneed walk,
she was endearingly funny and affectionate, speaking in a Glaswegian accent and draw-
ing from the role all that binds the Fool to Lear. Closely following the Folio text, the
production showed the Fool abandoned at the end of 3.6, mouthing inaudible nonsense,
as Kent and Gloucester hurried the sleeping Lear away. One of two women to essay the
role (the other was Emma Thompson) in a season that saw three major productions of
the play, Scott revived a tradition dating back to 1838, when Macready cast Priscilla
Horton in the role.2

KING LEAR ABROAD

Like other Shakespeare plays, King Lear has a stage history outside England. In the late
seventeenth century it seems to have been performed in Smock Alley, Dublin, where
in the next century Thomas Sheridan occasionally acted the lead in Tate's version or,

1
Nicholas Shrimpton, 'Shakespeare performances in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, 1981-2', S.Sur.
^ 36(1983), i5 2 -3-
2
For these three productions see J. L. Halio, 'Five days, three King Lears\ Shakespeare Bulletin 9 (Winter
1991), 19-21.
The Tragedy of King Lear [JO]

13 Linda Kerr Scott as the Fool and John Wood as King Lear in Nicholas Hytner's production for the
Royal Shakespeare Company (1990)
[y/] Introduction

as theatre manager, arranged for others to do so. In 1752, when Lewis Hallam and
his wife led their company of actors to Williamsburg, Virginia, to perform plays by
Shakespeare and others, Lear was included in the repertoire (again, in Tate's version).
They performed also in New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston, South Carolina.1
In France, Jean-François Ducis (1733-1816) followed Tate in rewriting Shakespeare
(if anything, more drastically) for a production in Versailles and Paris. Brizard played
the lead, clean-shaven, against an elaborate set.2 In Germany, Schiller's version of
Lear was presented at Weimar, and Ludwig Devrient (1784-1832) was one of the
outstanding Lears of the century, emphasising the milder aspects of the character. At
the Burgtheater in Austria he was rivalled by Adolf von Sonnethal. In 1889 Jocza Savits
experimented in Munich with Elizabethan staging, which favourably impressed - and
directly influenced - William Poel and, in France, Antoine, who in 1904 produced the
play uncut in a translation by Pierre Loti.3 German productions of King Lear have
continued throughout the twentieth century as well, and the contemporary composer
Aribert Reimann has transformed it into an opera, which had its British première at
the Coliseum in London in January 1989. One reviewer called it 'an opera of shattering
theatrical power'. In the storm scenes, for example, 'the chord-clusters build up and
spread in huge, roaring, opaque columns of sound . . . obliterating the last traces of
rationality of Lear's mind'.4
The most notable Italian performers in the nineteenth century were Ernesto Rossi
and Tommaso Salvini. Both brought their interpretation to England, Rossi in 1876 and
1882, Salvini in 1884, and both played their roles in Italian. Rossi used an English-
speaking supporting cast, although in 1882 he experimented in the last two acts by
speaking in laboured but clear and accurate English. If Rossi emphasised Lear's madness
from the outset, Salvini varied his character as the vigorous king in Act 1, the disquieted
and sympathetic father in Act 2, the afflicted and enfeebled human being thereafter. His
performance was much better received than Rossi's, especially in the closing scene.5
In Russia, Ivan Choucherine adapted Ducis's version of Lear in 1807, using
Gothic settings. Greater productions awaited the next century, particularly Salomon
Mikhoels's in 1935 and Grigori Kozintsev's in 1941, in which Lear's humanity was
stressed as his regality decayed.6 In New York in 1892 the Russian immigrant, Jacob
Gordin, scored a rousing success on the Yiddish stage with The Jewish King Lear, con-
solidating Shakespeare's double plot and transforming setting, myth, and characters to
his own didactic purposes.7
Using electronic music and elaborate costumes, make-up and set design, J. A. Seazer
(a disciple of Shuji Terayama) staged King Lear in Japanese at the Tokyo Globe
Theatre in 1991. The production preserved the basic structure of Shakespeare's play
1
Shattuck, Shakespeare on the American Stage, 1, 3-10.
2
Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage, p. 88.
3
Ibid., pp. 105-9, 183.
4
Malcolm Hayes, Sunday Telegraph, 29 January 1989, p. 17.
5
Derrick, 'Stage History', pp. 194-8.
6
Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage, pp. 112, 222.
7
Leonard Prager, 'Of parents and children: Jacob Gordin's The Jewish King Lear\ American Quarterly 18
(1966), 506-16.
The Tragedy of King Lear \S2]

but included additional scenes, mostly in mime, at the start of the action and intermit-
tently throughout- a rousing 'Festival of Fools' at the beginning, for example, and later
'Roses of Sterile Women', a dance by Gonerill and Oswald designed to reveal Gonerill's
extreme sexuality. Dance, in fact, along with operatic singing and extravagant lighting,
made this a kind of multi-media spectacular; the overall effect was stunning. Seazer
achieved an effective translation of Shakespeare's play into other, quite different, cul-
tural terms without sacrificing any of the tragedy's essential qualities.

KING LEAR ON SCREENS LARGE AND SMALL

Films of King Lear begin with the silent cinema in America and Italy (1909-10),
but the most notable are Peter Brook's (1969), Grigori Kozintsev's (1971), and Akira
Kurosawa's adaptation Ran (1985).1 After touring with his stage version of Lear, Brook
filmed the play in Jutland at the same time as Grigori Kozintsev began filming it in
Russia. For his film, Brook transposed scenes, reassigned speeches, and made still
deeper cuts in the text, nearly eliminating Cordelia's role. In addition, he used various
cinematic effects to drive home the absurdity and despair he strove for on the stage.
Tendentious as the interpretation is, it nevertheless conveyed great power, especially
in the scene at Dover between Lear and Gloucester, which Robert Hapgood has called
the most memorable scene in any Shakespearean film to date. Unlike the two tramps in
Waiting for Godot, whom they resembled, the 'tender camaraderie of these two tough
old losers', set against a landscape of unutterable bleakness, moved even the hardest
heart.2
Kozintsev's film was wholly different. Not surprisingly, he emphasised the socialist
aspects of the play - for example, by having numbers of poor peasants ('poor naked
wretches') sheltering in a leaky shed that became Lear's refuge in the storm scenes.
For Kozintsev, Shakespeare's Lear (played by Yuri Jarvet), 'despite his inordinate fate,
cannot be separated from the sufferings of the many'. Through 'the depth of his
emotions and the power of his intellect', however, Lear learns 'to understand not only
his own mistakes but to comprehend the very essence of the unjust society which he
himself created'.3 For the musical score, Kozintsev engaged Dmitri Shostakovich, as
he had done for Hamlet, but rejected the use of musical 'character themes', preferring
instead more general ones, such as 'the Voice of Truth' or 'the Voice of Evil'.4 In
this film, which won universal acclaim, the Fool enters with Lear in 1.1 and does not
disappear after 3.6; he remains at the end, playing his wooden pipe, until a litter-bearer
carrying the dead king roughly boots him out of the way.
Departing much further from Shakespeare's texts than the other two films,
Kurosawa's Ran ('Chaos') is set in feudal Japan (like his Throne of Blood, which was
based upon Macbeth). Freely adapted from Shakespeare's original, Ran eliminates
the Gloucester plot, and instead of three daughters, Hidetora (Lear) has three sons.
Together with their wives, they combine the character traits of Lear's offspring and

1
See Charles W. Eckert, Focus on Shakespearean Fihns, 1972, pp. 169-70.
2
Robert Hapgood, 'Shakespeare on film and television', in The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies,
ed. Stanley Wells, 1986, pp. 282-3.
3
Cited by Peter Morris, Shakespeare on Film, Ottawa: Canadian Film Institute, 1972, p. 35.
4
Grigori Kozintsev, King Lear: The Space of Tragedy, tr. Mary Mackintosh, 1977, p. 246.
\S3] Introduction

Gloucester's, heightening the savagery of Shakespeare's King Lear and increasing its
violence. The eldest and weakest son's wife, Lady Kaede, seeks revenge against Hidetora
for destroying her parents, and then against Jiro, the jealous second son, for having her
husband assassinated. In her viciousness, she has Jiro's wife, gentle Lady Sue, beheaded.
Although Lady Sue has her own motives for revenge - Hidetora has also destroyed
her family and has had her brother's eyes gouged out - she is a devoted Buddhist
and refuses to hate. At the end, after an insane Hidetora and his hermaphrodite Fool
Kyoami disappear into the smoking ruins of his fortress, Lady Sue's brother appears
at the edge of a cliff, drops a scroll with the Buddha's portrait on it, and refuses to
leap, waiting instead for his sister's return to life. The English-language caption here,
in italics, is: 'The human condition'.1
King Lear has also been adapted for television, first in a much shortened version
by Peter Brook for the American Omnibus programme in 1953, with Orson Welles as
Lear. Two decades later, Joseph Papp's production at the Delacorte Theatre in New
York City was televised, with James Earl Jones as Lear and Raul Julia as Edmond.
This multi-ethnic version recalls the success of Ira Aldridge a century earlier, when
the American-born black actor played Lear in Russia.2 The next production, one made
expressly for television, was in 1982, when Jonathan Miller directed Michael Hordern
as Lear for the BBC-TV series, The Shakespeare Plays. As television differs from
film, Miller's version differs from Brook's, Kozintsev's, or Kurosawa's, principally
in avoiding large-scale or panoramic scenes. Given its recognised (and recognisable)
limitations, the production succeeds, as in the extremely moving last scene.3
Finally, at the end of his career, Laurence Olivier performed Lear for Granada
Television, directed by Michael Elliott (1983). Olivier tried to play Lear as a virile
old man heroically overcoming difficulty and dying in the conviction that Cordelia
still lived (the text was altered to enforce the interpretation).4 Diana Rigg stunningly
conveyed Regan's beauty and viciousness; David Threlfall as Edgar/Tom o'Bedlam
swirled hideously around in mud during the storm; but the Fool's part, played by John
Hurt, was considerably curtailed.

EDWARD BOND'S LEAR

The search for new meanings sometimes culminates in the composition of an entirely
new text, not merely an adaptation such as Tate's King Lear or Kurosawa's Ran. An
example is Edward Bond's Lear (1971), revived in 1982 by the Royal Shakespeare
Company at The Other Place while Adrian Noble's production was performed at the
main house. Using the basic Lear myth, Bond intensified the cruelty and violence
in Shakespeare's play as well as the lasciviousness of the elder daughters (the only
ones his Lear has). At the same time, Lear's descent into madness and his agonising

1
Hapgood, 'Shakespeare on film', p. 286; Jack Jorgens, 'Kurosawa's Ran: a Samurai Lear\ SFNL 10 (1986),
2
See Herbert Marshall and Mildred Stock, Ira Aldridge: The Negro Tragedian, 1958, pp. 236-7, 244, 286-7.
Aldridge used Tate's version.
3
In 'King Lear without tears', SFNL 7 (1983), 2, Steven Urkowitz commented, however, that a number of
Shakespeare's directions were either altered or ignored, diminishing the tragedy.
4
Marion Perret, 'The making of King Lear\ SFNL 8 (1984), 7.
The Tragedy of King Lear \54\

growth in self-knowledge remain the central focus. Instead of a Fool, Bond invents the
Gravedigger's Son, who is killed early on but returns as a ghost to accompany Lear
through his pilgrimage, gradually shrinking in stature as Lear's insights mount. The
play ends as Lear, physically blinded, is shot while tearing apart the wall he had once
foolishly built to protect his realm.
Bond justifies his use of violence on the grounds that 'an unjust society must be
violent', and in his view contemporary society is grossly unjust. He rejects the criticism
that his play is either pessimistic or resigned: Lear's experience discovering truth,
imparted to the audience, should properly be seen as 'an opportunity'. Grasping this
truth, 'you don't have to go on doing things that never work in the hope that they may
one day - because now you know why they can't\l Hence Lear begins dismantling
the wall whose construction has oppressed his people for years. But since others, also
driven by motives of power and security, have now taken over the kingdom, and they
in turn insist on building the wall, the ex-king is shot.
Bond's play, like performances of it by the RSC and others, is both a commentary
upon and an extension of Shakespeare's, a forthright transformation of King Lear into
contemporary terms.2 As the foregoing stage history has selectively demonstrated,
this is what actors, producers, and directors have done, one way or another, from the
very first: probed, examined, refashioned, reenacted it to discover all the play has to
offer. For this reason - and others having to do with the variables of performance - no
production can ever be definitive. Shakespeare's theatre continues to evolve, and the
success of any production should be measured in direct proportion to what we learn
from it.

Recent stage, film, and critical interpretations

At the start of his retrospective review of Lear scholarship and criticism (1980-2000),
Kiernan Ryan remarks that since the 1960s King Lear has 'usurped the throne occupied
till then by Hamlet as Shakespeare's masterpiece and the keystone of the canon'.3 In
support of this view he cites R. A. Foakes who, in Hamlet versus Lear, comments: 'I
suspect that for the immediate future King Lear will continue to be regarded as the
central achievement of Shakespeare, if only because it speaks to us more largely than
the other tragedies to the anxieties and problems of the modern world.'4 This view is
shared not only by many critics but also by theatre producers and directors, who have
of late often revived a play once thought to be unactable.5 In the summer of 1990 not
one but three acting productions of King Lear held the boards in Britain: the Royal
Shakespeare Company's production in Stratford-upon-Avon, with John Wood as Lear;
the Royal National Theatre's in London, with Brian Cox as Lear; and the Renaissance
Theatre's in Birmingham and elsewhere, with a surprisingly effective Richard Briers

1
Author's Preface to Lear in Edward Bond, Plays: Two, Methuen Paperback, 1978, p. 11.
2
Compare Ruby Cohn, Modern Shakespeare Offshoots, 1076, pp. 254-66.
3
'King Lear, a retrospect, 1980-2000', S.Sur. 55 (2002), 1.
4
Hamlet versus Lear, 1993, p. 224.
5
See p. 32, above.
\ss] Introduction

14 David Calder as Kent, Ian Hughes as the Fool, Simon Russell Beale as Edgar, Robert Stephens as King
Lear, in the 1993 Royal Shakespeare Company production, directed by Adrian Noble

as Lear.1 The number of outstanding productions of King Lear in the years since then
has also been very impressive.
One of the best productions was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company in
Stratford-upon-Avon in 1993. It was directed by Adrian Noble, who had also directed
a quite different production of the play with Michael Gambon as Lear and Anthony
Sher as the Fool at the RSC in 1982.2 In this production, Robert Stephens played the
title role in what was unquestionably the greatest performance of his career. A strong
supporting cast that included David Calder as Kent, David Bradley as Gloucester,
Owen Teale as Edmond, Simon Russell Beale as Edgar, and Ian Hughes as the Fool
won high critical acclaim along with Stephens. In a review Michael Davies claimed that
'this Lear is one of the most technically accomplished pieces ever staged at Stratford,
complete with a huge hanging globe, real rain in the powerful storm scene, and a map
of old England spread across the stage'.3 That hanging globe proved a distraction -
or worse - to some in the audience, especially when, after Gloucester's blinding, it
opened and what were apparently the seeds of time poured out, or as though 'the thick
rotundity o'th'world' had cracked and all nature's 'germens' spilled onto the stage

1
See above, p. 49 and footnote 2.
2
See pp. 48-9, above.
3
Daily Mail, 21 May 1993.
The Tragedy of King Lear Lf6]

(3.2.7-8). l Nevertheless, as Charles Spencer observed, the 'wonder, humility and joy'
of the reconciliation scene (4.6) was 'breathtakingly captured', making the final scene
'almost unbearable to watch'.2 Irving Wardle believed that 'No production since Peter
Brook's, thirty years ago . . . revealed the play's dimensions so fully.'3
If, as Michael Billington rightly remarked, King Lear is 'the Everest of acting',4 others
have attempted to scale its heights with some measure of success or, occasionally, failure:
for some, like Stephens and others who have genuine performance capability, the play
can inspire the best in them as actors; for others, it can be a perilous undertaking fraught
with pitfalls. In 1997 once again three productions of the play graced the stage, this
time in close geographical proximity to each other. Under Richard Eyre's direction,
Ian Holm played Lear in London at the Royal National Theatre - a production that
seemed deliberately to underplay the play's imposing grandeur. Staged in the Cottesloe
Theatre, the smallest venue of the National, it attempted to convey 'a timeless world',
where the governing idea was 'a moral and political anatomy that tears off masks,
clothes and disguises to show humanity as it really is'. 5 This was fine, except that 'the
production itself seem[ed] to shrink from accepting the moral chaos of the universe.
Indeed, it [sought] almost to explain that universe by turning Edgar [played by Paul
Rhys] into a choric figure: he [was] discovered on stage at the outset and summarized
the action at the end of both halves.'6 On the other hand, Holm's acting was excellent,
given the directorial concept. As John Gross viewed it, this Lear was a man 'who
cherishes his illusions as long as he possibly can. The shedding of those illusions [was]
all the harder to bear'; 'the fear of impending mental breakdown' was thus powerfully
signalled.7 The production was later filmed and shown on television and is available on
videotape.
A few months later, down the road at the Young Vic (located on the Cut, a street
near Waterloo Station), Kathryn Hunter played Lear in a production that originated
at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre and elicited 'remarkably varied' responses from
reviewers. To render plausible a woman's enactment of the role, the play began as
a dream or hallucination of an old woman in a geriatric hospital. Robert Smallwood's
account sounds accurate:

The performance was indisputably a curiosity, but not, I think, a freak. It was highly effective
in its presentation of Lear's journey towards increased awareness; it was intelligent and often
incisive in its handling of language . . . Lear began clearly off his rocker and remained a strutting,
peevish, rather nasty little person until he got out of [his] absurd ill-fitting suit and into a white
hospital robe for the reconciliation with Cordelia.8

1
See Nicholas De Jong, Evening Standard, 21 May 1993, and compare Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph,
22 May 1993.
2
Daily Telegraph, 22 May 1993.
3
'A giant among kings', Independent on Sunday, 23 May 1993. See p. 47 above, for Brook's Lear.
4
Guardian, 22 May 1993.
5
Michael Billington, Guardian, 29 March 1997.
6
Ibid.
7
Sunday Telegraph, 30 March 1997.
8
'Shakespearean performances in England', S.Sur. 51 (1998), 246.
M Introduction

The supporting cast was good, and the entire setting was contemporary, given its
inception in a modern geriatric hospital.1
At the Old Vic shortly thereafter (also on the Cut), Peter Hall directed Alan Howard as
Lear. (As Billington commented, it is getting just as crowded around the Shakespearean
as the Himalayan peak.)2 Howard had not played in Shakespeare for some years, but
Smallwood found his performance 'undiminished in thoughtfulness, in verbal inquis-
itiveness and experimentation, and in vocal (particularly vibrato) athleticism'.3

This was a Lear apparently much in need of physical contact. He frequently touched Poor Tom's
bare arms and shoulders, as if puzzled and worried by their nakedness. He kissed his elder
daughters . . . on each cheek then, lengthily, on the mouth, after their love speeches . . . Cordelia
held his hand throughout her failure to express her love and .. . again held his hand for much of
her interview with her prospective husbands . . . All this physical affection made the wild and
whirling rage of his rejection seem unbelievable, a performance merely.

The production overall was 'always clear, intelligent, and unpretentious. Yet somehow
it never quite caught fire.'4
Two years later Nigel Hawthorne played Lear in a production directed by Yukio
Ninagawa and jointly sponsored by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Saitama
Arts Foundation in Japan. Reviewers savaged Hawthorne's performance and the pro-
duction generally. Paul Taylor blamed the director (whose former Shakespearean
productions, in Japanese, were universally extolled); Benedict Nightingale questioned
Hawthorne's fitness to play Lear since, in his view, Hawthorne is 'essentially benign as
an actor'.5 As if stung by these negative reviews, Hawthorne rose to the occasion on
the night after the production's opening and was reportedly magnificent.6 Although
the cast was composed mainly of western actors, they were dressed in Noh costumes
and performed in what was considered Noh theatre style.
Shortly afterwards, on the other side of the Atlantic, at the Shakespeare Theatre
in Washington, D.C., Michael Kahn directed Ted van Griethuysen as Lear in a more
traditional conception of the play - with one notable exception. Monique Holt, a deaf
mute wearing short, spiky, blonde hair, played Cordelia, and the Fool spoke the lines
(which she signed with her hands) in the opening scene and later. Holt, a diminutive
Korean woman, captured beautifully the inability of Cordelia to convey her meaning
to her father in i. i, and in other ways also suggested Cordelia's fragile vulnerability

1
In 'Liberal Shakespeare and illiberal critiques: Necessary Angel's King Lear\ Shakespeare in Canada, ed.
Diane Brydon and Irena R. Makaryk, 2002, pp. 212-30, Michael McKinnie writes about a cross-cast
production of King Lear in Toronto in the spring of 1995 directed by Richard Rose, with Janet Wright as
Lear and the roles of Kent, Edmond, and Albany also performed by women, while Gonerill was played
by a man. The casting was purportedly based on merit and not, as some reviewers believed, on 'a type
of employment equity' (p. 214). The central theme of the play, according to Rose, was 'an ascent from
barbarism to humanism', although McKinnie says that the humanist teleology was often frustrated by the
'periodic dissonance between the cross-casting and the text' and by other considerations (ibid.).
2
Guardian, 22 May 1993.
3
Smallwood, 'Shakespeare performances', p. 248.
+ Ibid.
5
As reported in the Sheffield Star and the Birmingham Post on 29 October 1999.
6
See Suzanne Chambers, Sunday Express, 30 October 1999.
 The Tragedy of King Lear
m

15 Monique Holt as Cordelia and Floyd King as Lear's Fool in the Shakespeare Theatre's 1999 production
of King Lear, directed by Michael Kahn
\S9] Introduction

at the beginning. In the reconciliation scene, where again the Fool appeared to speak
her lines, she was even more effective. On the whole, the production was a stunning
success and played well into the year 2000.
In the summer of 2001, Shakespeare's Globe staged King Lear for the first time
in its venue on Bankside, near where Shakespeare's own audiences had witnessed
performances of the play. Directed by Barry Kyle and designed by Hayden Griffin,
this production was a 'ruralist Lear, responsive to the play's pastoral elements'.1 The
gaily painted from scaena was accordingly all boarded up, and a tall post, surmounted
by a wooden wheel (the wheel of fortune, perhaps?), was placed in the yard. Several
significant passages were spoken by actors who climbed on the post, as Edmond did
when delivering his soliloquy at the beginning of 1.2, or when Edgar in 2.3 spoke
his soliloquy deciding to disguise himself as Poor Tom. But the position of the wheel
in the yard might also have suggested, at least to some, that the audience were 'the
ultimate arbiters of fortune'.2 The rich, almost filmic musical background seemed to
give intimations of Lear's approaching madness and supplied all the sounds of the
storm. Peter McEnery, who played the Fool, carried a small banjo-like instrument,
which 'made one aware of how much music there is in this play, a fact that made
his departure even more regrettable than usual'.3 The Fool's hanging body, revealed
behind the central doors at the end of 3.6, explained - for better or worse - the Fool's
disappearance after this scene.4 Michael Gould as Edmond was so effective in endearing
himself to the audience as 'a swaggering, confident villain', that he tended to overbalance
the play; by comparison, Julian Glover was a 'middleweight, colonel-like Lear'. 5
In 2002 at what was once Stratford's 'Other Place', now turned into an academy for
training young actors, Declan Donnellan directed the students in King Lear. As the
Sunday Times reported,6 Donnellan

reads the play as a tragedy of terrible absurdity. Lear [Monso Anozie] is boisterous, irascible,
and self-adoring . . . The division of the kingdom sounds like a joke till it all sinks in . . . The
storm scene, superbly staged by Nick Ormerod, is all the more harrowing for Lear's almost
childlike fury and the way he declines into petulant, smiling madness; a big, innocent infant in
an uncomprehending tantrum, pottering about under an angry black sky.
The verse-speaking was excellent, and the prose, too, evidently reflecting good RSC
training. Michael Billington found a 'curious exhilaration in seeing sixteen young actors
perform' and noted how Donnellan grasped the essential point: that this is a play 'of
unfathomable contradictions'.7
In 2002 the Stratford Festival of Canada in Stratford, Ontario, also mounted King
Lear, with Christopher Plummer in the lead, a production that later transferred to

1
Michael Dobson, 'Shakespeare performances in England, 2001', S.Sur. 55 (2002), 303.
2
Lois Potter, 'Shakespeare performed', SQ51, (2002), 101.
3
Ibid., p. 97.
4
Dobson, 'Shakespeare performances', p. 305, believes it also indicates that the Fool hanged himself. See
p. 48 above, for the way the Fool died in Adrian Noble's 1982 production.
5
Dobson, 'Shakespeare performances', p. 305.
6
13 October 2002.
7
Guardian, October 2002.
The Tragedy of King Lear [60]

New York's Lincoln Center in March 2004. The following comments focus on the
New York production in which Plummer was generally considered to have given the
performance of a lifetime.I In this fast-paced staging, Ben Brantley comments, 'noth-
ingness is the backdrop against which the worldly domestic and political feuds of Lear
take place. It threatens and eventually devours all but a few of the play's principal char-
acters. And you get the sense that even the survivors are just marking time until darkness
comes for them, too.' Hardly any scenery was used, and the costumes suggested not the
pre-history of the original tale, but a Christian setting, Shakespeare's own period or the
Restoration. The director, Jonathan Miller, declared that 'Christianity is essential to
the play. Although it's only there by allusion, not by explicit mention. The whole idea
of gaining through loss is a specifically Christian notion - that it's only by enduring
the hideous ordeal of loss that any of these people gain.'2 Mahon notes (p. 122) some
unusual - and to him 'crucial' - cuts in the Folio text used as the basis for the script:
Cordelia's opening asides (1.1.57, 71-3); Gloucester's speech on the 'superfluous and
lust-dieted man' (4.1.62-6), which parallels Lear's speech at 3.4.28-36; and Edgar's
account of his father's death (5.3.172-90). The production was obviously centred on
King Lear himself who, in Plummer's 'lacerating, double-edged' portrayal, was 'a man
of prodigious will and fading powers'.3
King Lear has continued to hold its attraction for actors and directors. In 2004,
the RSC again mounted a production, a somewhat controversial one, directed by Bill
Alexander with Corin Redgrave in the leading role. As Benedict Nightingale saw it,
Redgrave's Lear was 'a smug, spoilt, playful, rather silly man' at the start, who laughed
a lot, especially with John Normington's (elderly) Fool.4 He was given to sudden mood
swings and appeared as 'a man who, if not yet clinically senile, [was] certainly heading
that way' {ibid.) The play was set in the early twentieth century; recent productions seem
to have tried to bring the action and hence the significance of tragedy as close to us today
as possible. Other critics also tended to discredit Redgrave's interpretation of the role.
Charles Spencer, for example, bemoaned Lear's lack of rage along with no terrible fear
of his encroaching madness. Instead, this Lear was 'a man who has never grown up, a
spoilt child', played without any 'sense of growing spiritual illumination'.5 John Gross,
on the other hand, found the production 'For the most part, an impressive affair . . .
marked by energy and clarity' Redgrave's Lear was very intelligently conceived, though
he failed to scale the heights.6 Indeed, Paul Taylor was torn between admiration for and
misgivings about the performance, finding Redgrave's a 'subtle, highly intelligent but
less than emotionally shattering performance'. Nevertheless, Lear's 'racked intoning
of the word "never" over and over Cordelia's corpse [was] absolutely heartbreaking in
its despairing wonder at the brutal irrevocability of life'. As for Normington's Fool,

1
See, e.g., Ben Brantley, ''King Lear, a fiery fall into the abyss', New York Times, 5 March 2004, and John
Mahon, ''King Lear at Lincoln Center', Shakespeare Newsletter 53 (Winter 2003/2004), 112, 122.
2
Cited from Lincoln Center Theater Review by Mahon, 'King Lear at Lincoln Center', p. 122.
3
Brantley, 'Fiery fall'.
4
Guardian, 2 July 2004.
5
Charles Spencer, 'Redgrave's sniffy Lear', Daily Telegraph, 2 July 2004.
6
John Gross, Sunday Telegraph, 4 July 2004.
[6/] Introduction

Taylor felt that he achieved the rare distinction of actually making his jokes sound
funny as well as wise. ' The storm was staged very effectively. Far from drowning out
Lear's words, it punctuated his lines appropriately as I have never before heard it done.
Another interesting touch came in 3.6 when, just before he disappears from the play,
the Fool handed his bauble over to Edgar.
At the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon - home of the oldest
Shakespeare festival in America - James Edmondson directed King Lear in the same
summer of 2004. He had played Lear a few years earlier in Ashland, in 1997, but now
Kenneth Albers assumed the leading role. Together they decided to examine the 'per-
sonal' tragedy of King Lear - 'Lear as a noble and gifted ruler who in his old age has
become so self-righteous, imperious and obstinate that he creates the weapons of his
own destruction.'2 Albers performed Lear's descent into madness as 'a portrayal of
the tricks that an aging mind plays, a Shakespearean examination of early Alzheimer's
disease within the context of political and familial disaster' {ibid.). As the storm echoes
his descent into madness, Lear becomes increasingly sane and humane. The ending of
the play was 'uncompromising' - no redemption but 'splendor in the ashes . . . the kind
of Shakespeare we need. It has its effect honestly, sans tricks or flash, and so is deeply
satisfying.'3
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's King Lear reminds us of the many regional
productions of this mighty drama, in America, the British Isles, and around the world -
too many to enumerate here - but a few may at least be mentioned .4 In 1998, for example,
Tom Courtney played King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and
Warren Mitchell enacted the role at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in November 1995.
King Lear has also lent itself recently to several interesting adaptations, among them The
Tale of Lear, performed by the Suzuki Company of Toga, Japan, with an all-male cast
and staged at London's Barbican in November 1994. The Yiddish Queen Lear appeared
at the Southwark Playhouse in May 1999 and later at the Pascal Theatre Company
in Bridewell, London, in October 2001. A new opera of King Lear was staged at the
Alexander Theatre in Helsinki, in September 2000. And at the Grand Theatre of the
Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 1994 Daniel Yang directed the largest-scale production
ever in Chinese. Yang made history by using two casts for his production - one speaking
Mandarin, the other Cantonese - in his own translation, which was based mainly on
the Folio text. Yang shortened the script by about 900 lines to keep the play within a
reasonable acting time, emphasising, as he says in the programme notes, that the play
is 'above all about learning'.
Given the intense interest in King Lear and in its productions on stage, a growing
number of books and essays have appeared since the original publication of this edition.

1
Independent Review, 5 July 2004.
2
Roberta Kent, 'Compassion, grace infuse King Lear\ Ashland Daily Tidings, 23 June 2004.
3
Bill Varble, Medford Mail Tribune, 20 June 2004.
4
The annual volumes of Shakespeare Survey list productions in Britain recorded by Niky Rathbone. Produc-
tions, mainly in the United States but also elsewhere, are reviewed in Shakespeare Bulletin, and Shakespeare
Jahrhuch records those in Europe. The annual bibliography of Shakespeare Qimrterly also lists many pro-
ductions and reviews from all over the world for each Shakespeare play.
The Tragedy of King Lear [62]

Marvin Rosenberg's groundbreaking volume of performance criticism, The Masks of

King Lear (1972), has led the way to further studies about performances. These include
two books by actors who have played the leading role in recent productions. In The
Lear Diaries (1992) Brian Cox recounts his experience playing Lear. As he says in the
Preface, the book 'is a diary of a year's work at the Royal National Theatre, in rehearsal,
performance, and finally on tour'. Cox is careful to explain that 'a diary is a work of
fiction, a version of the truth perceived through the bias, the prejudice, the bile of the
diarist' (p. 1). Nevertheless, despite the different impressions and recollections of other
members of the cast, whom Cox consulted, the book records many aperçus, such as
Cox's recall of opening night. He says he then experienced for the first time 'a feeling
that the play was playing me. . . . I really felt my emotional centre was open to the
play, and the play and the part just took command and drove me. As a result it was
a very rough and bumpy ride' (p. 84). Rough and bumpy though it was, the audience
reaction was 'overwhelming'. Oliver Ford Davies's Playing Lear (2003) is based on
his rather different experience performing the role at the Almeida Theatre in 2002.
The subtitle reveals his approach: 'An insider's guide from text to performance'. His
chapters proceed step by step from 'First reading' through a brief survey of previous
'Lears in performance' to several rehearsal diaries and a conversation with the director,
Jonathan Kent, two months after the run ended. Davies notes that from the very first
preview he was struck by how closely the audience listened: 'I have never felt so much
concentration in the theatre', and he attributes this phenomenon to the power of myth.
He remembers that at a number of moments in the play even the bored and wriggling
members of the audience held quite still, especially during the Dover Beach scene after
Lear says: 'I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester' (4.5.169).:
Meanwhile, scholarship and criticism have proceeded apace. While some students
may regard close reading of the text as old-fashioned, a throwback to the (not-so-)
New Criticism of the 1950s, many books and articles in fact provide readers with just
that. James Lusardi and June Schlueter's Reading Shakespeare in Performance: King
Lear' (1991) is close reading with a difference insofar as it combines performance
criticism with close attention to the text. In 'exploring the range of interpretations that
performance provides' (p. 15), their book refers both to past performances of the play
and to imagined ones. For example, the authors contend that 'a production in which
either or both of the sisters [Gonerill and Regan] grow into evil is every bit as possible
and as plausible as one in which the two are implacably wicked from the start'. They
back up this view with a close examination of the sisters' professions of love in 1.1 and
with reference to a performance by Sheila Allen and Pippa Guard.2
The subtitle of R. A. Foakes's Hamlet versus Lear: Cultural Politics and Shakespeare's
Art, really tells what the book is about. He confronts many of the trends in contemporary
criticism, attacking their defects and deficiencies while at the same time noting their
contributions to the ways we read - or view - Shakespeare's plays. But Foakes's main

1
Oliver Ford Davies, Playing Lear, 2003, p. 169. With these diaries, compare two earlier ones: Grigori
Kozintsev, 'King Lear ': The Space of Tragedy: The Diary of a Film Director, translated by Mary Mackintosh,
1977, and Maurice Good, Every Inch a Lear: A Rehearsal Journal of'King Lear' with Peter Ustinov and the
Stratford Festival Company Directed by Robin Philips, 1982.
2
James Lusardi and June Schlueter, Reading Shakespeare in Performance: 'King Lear', 1991, pp. 61-2.
 Introduction
m
interest is in Shakespeare's artistry, rejecting the post-structuralist dismissal of aesthetic
issues as 'irrelevant'. His readings of Hamlet and King Lear, which come at the end of
the book, therefore emphasise the evolving form of those plays - their artistic design -
rather than the political or experiential knowledge they may impart. His analysis is
far more concerned with such matters as dramatic unity. He says, for example: 'Our
sense of unity in a play like King Lear is fostered by our imaginative recreation of the
trajectory of an action that unfolds in time, and of the way the narrative shape seems
to gather momentum as it leads to a conclusion that in retrospect seems inevitable' (p.
136). The volume is full of such insights, even as he rejects the notion promulgated by
the two-text theory that Q and F are two different plays, notwithstanding the admittedly
heavy revision he recognises in F. 1
Several collections of essays that have appeared reprint previously published essays
or chapters from books, while others offer altogether new essays, and still others com-
pilations of both old and new works. Kiernan Ryan's collection includes previously
published essays and extracts from books on a variety of subjects by Arnold Kettle,
Howard Felperin, Leonard Tennenhouse, Annabel Patterson, Leah Marcus, and others.
Noteworthy among them are Kathleen McLuskie's 'The patriarchal bard: feminist crit-
icism and King Lear' and Terry Eagleton's 'Language and value in King Lear\ which
tend to show recent trends in cultural materialism and gender studies.2 Critical Essays
on Shakespeare's 'King Lear' (1996) edited by Jay L. Halio divides the essays into three
groups: 'The two texts of King Lear\ 'Critical and scholarly approaches to King Lear\
and 'King Lear in performance'. Although most essays are reprints of journal articles
and chapters in books, the collection also includes new essays by Alexander Leggatt
on 'Madness in Hamlet, King Lear, and Early Modern England' and Lois Potter on
'Macready, the two-text theory, and the RSC's 1993 King Lear\
Shakespeare Survey 55 has as its title 'King Lear and its afterlife' and begins with
Kiernan Ryan's survey of criticism and scholarship, 1800-2000, noted above. Of the
fifteen essays on King Lear in the volume, the first four after Ryan's do not, strictly
speaking, follow the announced theme. They include Richard Knowles's scholarly
essay, 'How Shakespeare knew King Lear\ William O. Scott's 'Contracts of love and
affection; Lear, old age, and kingship', Andrew Gurr's 'Headgear as a paralinguistic
signifier in King Lear' and Drew Milne's 'What becomes of broken-hearted Lear: King
Lear and the dissociation of sensibility'. The remaining essays range broadly from
William Carroll's essay on how Shakespeare's Tom o'Bedlam evolved into a musical-
hall character in the nineteenth century to Iska Alter's essay on Yiddish appropriations
of King Lear and R. A. Foakes's fine comparison of King Lear and Beckett's Endgame.
Thomas Cartelli believes that King Lear is closer to Brecht's Mother Courage than to
Endgame as he compares Edward Bond's Lear to Shakespeare's play in 'Shakespeare
in pain: Edward Bond's Lear and the ghosts of history'. In 'Some Lears' Richard
Proudfoot also considers several Shakespearean offshoots, while in the last essay in this
group, ' "Think about Shakespeare": King Lear on the Pacific Cliffs', Mark Houlahan
reflects on Shakespearean offshoots in New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere.

1
See pp. 97-111.
2
New Casebooks: King Lear, 1992.
The Tragedy of King Lear [64]

Among recent books on Shakespeare's life and work, one of the most widely read and
discussed is Harold Bloom's Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human (1998). While
some scholars and critics may disagree with Bloom's interpretations or approaches -
he is a self-confessed 'unreconstructed humanist' - others have found many of his
insights penetrating and compelling. His chapter on King Lear is one of the best in
the book. In confronting the greatness of King Lear, Bloom shows a broadness of
vision that others who approach Lear from various ideological vantage points, such as
cultural materialism, feminism, or psychoanalysis, clearly lack. Like Harold Goddard,
the critic he most closely resembles and to whom he acknowledges a debt, he draws
parallels and contrasts from Ecclesiastes and the Book of Job, William Blake, W B.
Yeats, Milton, Flaubert, W. H. Auden, Samuel Johnson, William Hazlitt, Nietzsche,
Goethe, and others. Love is very much the theme of Bloom's discourse on King Lear.
In this, he is not very original, though many of his observations on love, especially as
they pertain to the principal characters, are. 'The crucial foregrounding of the play, if
we are to understand it at all', he says, 'is that Lear is lovable, loving, and greatly loved,
by anyone at all worthy of our own affection and approbation' (p. 479). Those unworthy
are, of course, Goneril, Regan, Cornwall, Edmond, and Oswald. Whatever else we may
think of Lear, we seldom regard him as a loving or lovable man. But, as Bloom claims, it
is Lear's enormous capacity for love that lies at the heart of his tragedy. Like many who
have anything like his capacity for loving, Lear expects, demands, reciprocation; and
when it is not forthcoming, bafflement turns instantly into outrage and outrageousness.
In this context, Bloom notes 'Cordelia's recalcitrance in the face of incessant
entreaties for a total love surpassing even her authentic regard for her violently emo-
tional father'. Moreover, 'Cordelia's rugged personality is something of a reaction
formation to her father's overwhelming affection' (p. 479). Contributing also to the
play's immensity, Bloom says, is the figure of excess or overthrow that never aban-
dons Shakespeare's text; 'except for Edmund, everyone either loves or hates too much'
(p. 482). While excess is nothing new in Shakespearean drama, in King Lear the drama-
tist takes it to extremes heretofore unsuspected and unexamined.
Before Lear goes mad his consciousness is 'beyond ready understanding: his lack
of self-knowledge, blended with his awesome authority, makes him unknowable by
us'. Bloom continues: 'Bewildered and bewildering after that, Lear seems less a con-
sciousness than a falling divinity, Solomonic in his sense of glory, Yahweh-like in his
irascibility' (p. 482). Comparisons to Solomon and Yahweh do not seem to overstate the
case, surely not if we comprehend the greatness of man that has emerged and indeed
grown from the beginning of the play. Bloom is right: 'Lear, surging on through fury,
madness, and clarifying though momentary epiphanies, is the largest figure of love
desperately sought and blindly denied ever placed upon a stage or in print' (p. 506).
That is the measure of his and the play's greatness, and it is, just as Bloom claims,
measureless.1

1
For a fuller critique on Bloom's essay, from which some lines in the foregoing paragraphs have been taken,
see my essay, 'Bloom's Shakespeare', in Harold Bloom's Shakespeare, ed. Christy Desmet and Robert
Sawyer, 2001, pp. 19-31.
[6s] Introduction

Textual analysis, part I

In Register C, folio 161b, of the Company of Stationers of London, under the date 26
November 1607, the following entry appears:
Na. Butter Entred for their copie vnder thandes of Sr Geo.
Io. Busby Buck knight & Thwardens A booke called. Mr
William Shakespeare his historye of Kinge Lear
as yt was played before the kinges maiestie at
Whitehall vppon S' Stephans night at christmas
Last by his maitlcs servantes playinge vsually
at the globe on Banksyde vjd
The play was subsequently printed in quarto by Nicholas Okes for Nathaniel Butter
during the period from mid December 1607 to early January 1608.: The title page of
this first quarto (Q) reads:
M. William Shak-speare: / HIS / True Chronicle Historié of the life and / death of King LEAR
and his three / Daughters. / With the vnfortunate life o/Edgar, sonne / and heire to the Earle o
Gloster, and his / sullen and assumed humor of / TOM of Bedlam: / As it was played before the
Kings Maiestie at Whitehall upon / S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. / By his Ma
seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe / on the Bancke-side. / [Printer's device, McKerrow 316]
/ LONDON, / Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls / Church-ya
at the signe of the Pide Bull neere / S l . Austins Gate. 1608.
This quarto, also known as the 'Pied Bull' quarto, contains forty-two unnumbered leaves
(signatures A2 B-L4). It has occasioned controversy about its authority, the nature of
the copy from which it derives, and its relation to the version in the Folio (F).
A second quarto (Q2), printed in 1619 by William Jaggard, bears the false date and
imprint, 'Printed for Nathaniel Butter. / 1608.' It was one of a group of ten plays
intended originally as a collection of works by Shakespeare (or attributed to him) to
be published by Jaggard's friend, Thomas Pavier. Essentially a reprint of Q, the Pavier
quarto is nevertheless important because of its possible influence on the printing of the
Folio text and for a unique reading of a part line inserted before 4.5.189. The third
quarto, a poor reprint of Q2, was published in 1655 by Jane Bell and has no textual
authority whatsoever.
The third edition of the play (F) appeared in 1623. It occupies pages 283-309 (sig-
natures qq2 r -ss3 r ) of the tragedies, situated between Hamlet and Othello. The text
differs significantly from Q, lacking some 285 lines and containing about another 115
not found in Q. Moreover, many different readings of individual words and phrases
appear, punctuation and lineation vary decidedly, and speech designations are some-
times altered. F was long regarded as the authoritative text and Q a pirated one, but
many scholars now believe that the quarto and Folio represent different versions of the
play, F being a revision of the text found in Q and a form the play took on the boards
after its initial performances. This version was reprinted in 1632 (F2), 1663 (F3), and
1685 (F4). Although these reprints correct some errors, they introduce others, and none

1
Blayney, pp. 148-9.
The Tragedy of King Lear [66]

has any textual authority. Not until 1709, when Nicholas Rowe edited a new collection
of Shakespeare's works, was the text scrutinised again. Rowe used F4 as his copy-text,
adding stage directions, scene locations, and other details, while also frequently cor-
recting lineation and punctuation. It is with his edition that the history of modern
printed editions of the play may be said to begin.1

THE Q TEXT
King Lear was the first play that Nicholas Okes, who had only recently become a master
printer, attempted to print. Inexperience may explain, in part, the poor quality of Q, but
difficult copy must also share the responsibility. Early theories held that this copy was a
reported text of some kind, a version of the play taken down from memory ('memorial
reconstruction') or by shorthand by someone in the theatre. W. W. Greg, for example,
in a study of the variants among the twelve extant copies of Q, maintained that the text
derived from a shorthand report,2 a position he had arrived at earlier in an important
journal essay.3 While agreeing that Q represents a pirated text, Leo Kirschbaum argued
instead that the copy derived from a memorial reconstruction, not shorthand4 - a
position also taken by G. I. Duthie, who concluded that no available system was capable
of recording a performance with the fullness and accuracy of Q.5 Citing many examples
of what they considered anticipations, recollections, transpositions, substitutions, and
other indications of memorial reconstruction, Kirschbaum and Duthie were convinced
that Q with its manifold imperfections could not have come into being in any other way.
Meanwhile, Madeleine Doran had taken the opposite view in The Text of King Lear1
(1931). She held that the quarto text derived directly from Shakespeare's rough draft,
or foul papers,6 which contained many revised and rewritten passages. This theory
partly explained the poor printing in Okes's shop while at the same time it afforded Q
more textual authority than it could possibly have as a reported text. Many scholars
had already conceded that the Pied Bull quarto was too good for a 'bad' quarto (such
as Q Hamlet), though it was not up to the standard of the authorised, or 'good', quartos
of Shakespeare's plays (such as Q2 Hamlet). It was therefore a 'doubtful' quarto, an
anomaly perhaps unique in the bibliography of the period.7

1
Steven Urkowitz notes that some handwritten collations of Q and F exist on a copy of F3 that may have been
prepared as a prompt-book for Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre in the 1670s, and Nahum Tate collated Q
and F for his adaptation of the play. But Alexander Pope was the first editor to begin conflating the two texts,
a tradition that has remained almost unbroken up to the present time. See Urkowitz, 'Editorial tradition',
PP- 2 4 - 5 -
2
See Greg, Variants, pp. 138, 187.
3
'The function of bibliography in literary criticism illustrated in a study of the text of King Lear\ Neophilo-
logm 18 (1933), 241-62.
4
The True Text of King Lear', 1945, esp. pp. 6-7.
5
Elizabethan Shorthand and the First Quarto of King Lear', 1949. The case for memorial reconstruction is
argued at length in Duthie's critical edition of the play, pp. 6, 21-116.
6
In 'Narratives about printed Shakespeare texts: "foul papers" and "bad" quartos', -SX> 41 (Spring 1990),
65-86, Paul Werstine questions the use of this term, especially as W. W. Creg 'idealised' it, referring to it
as the author's final draft before a fair copy was made. 'Foul papers' could exist in a variety of states; see
in particular ibid., pp. 71-2.
7
Greg, Editorial Problem, second edn, 1951, pp. 77-101. Compare Duthie, p. 76, who cites David Lyall
Patrick's study, The Textual History of Richard III', 1936.
[67] Introduction

In what amounts to a kind of compromise among these competing theories, Alice

Walker proposed that Q Lear derived from a transcript of Shakespeare's foul papers
stolen by the boy actors who played Gonerill and Regan. In dictating the play to each
other, they occasionally depended more upon their memory than on the manuscript
before them and thus memorially 'contaminated' some of the scenes, such as i. i and 5.3,
where their roles were prominent. This theory received considerable support from no
less an authority than Greg, though even he recognised a number of serious difficulties
inherent in it and argued for further work on the problem.1
The challenge has been met by a number of recent studies. The first published
was Michael Warren's essay,2 which argued not only that Q and F represent alterna-
tive versions of the play, but that Q for all its problems is an authoritative text. The
next published study was P. W. K. Stone's The Textual History of'King Lear' (1980).
Also advancing the alternative versions hypothesis, Stone argued (pp. 13-40) that Q
nevertheless represented a reported text, though not a memorial reconstruction. He
attributed the multitude of aural errors, mislineation, and faulty punctuation to a long-
hand, not stenographic, report by someone in the theatre who attended the play more
than once. This report was then used as copy by Okes's compositors, who committed
further errors, especially where the manuscript was difficult to follow.
Steven Urkowitz's book, Shakespeare's Revision of'King Lear', also appeared in 1980.
Although Madeleine Doran had long since withdrawn her view on the provenance of
Q,3 Urkowitz revived her 'foul papers' theory and brought further arguments to bear
in support of it, as in his analyses of misassigned speeches, 'anomalous' spellings,
punctuation, and mislined verse. He successfully demolished Alice Walker's theory of
'memorial contamination' of foul papers and concluded that Q was printed directly
from Shakespeare's drafts and not from a transcript of them.4 His study also strongly
supported Warren's argument against the single 'ideal' text theory in favour of the
two-text hypothesis.
Peter W M. Blayney's exhaustive study of Nicholas Okes and Q Lear was published in
1982. It represents the first part of a complete investigation of the texts of Shakespeare's
tragedy (part two has necessarily been delayed to take into account new work on F by
other scholars). Eschewing any preconceptions about the provenance or authority of
Q, and roundly criticising Greg for such preconceptions in his earlier studies, Blayney
thoroughly examined the quarto text both in itself and in the context of other work pro-
duced by Okes and his immediate predecessors, particularly during the years 1605-9.
His goal was to allow the evidence 'to speak for itself'5 - that is, to discover in detail
the true nature of the quarto text as a bibliographical phenomenon. Only on that basis,
Blayney believed, could a reliable and accurate comparative textual analysis of Q and F
proceed.

1
Greg, SEE, pp. 381-3. Compare Charlton Hinman's 'Note to the second impression' of King Lear, 1608
(Pied Bull Quarto), Shakespeare Quarto Facsimiles, 1964.
2
Warren, 'Albany and Edgar', pp. 95-107.
3
In a review of Greg's Variants in RES 17 (1941), 474.
4
Urkowitz, pp. 7-11, 191-2.
5
Blayney, p. 8.
The Tragedy of King Lear [68]

Although Blayney in the first part of his study does not engage directly with the
textual problems of Q, certain of his findings are relevant here. For example, without
specifying the exact nature of the manuscript copy used for printing Q, he remarks that
it was evidently very difficult copy.1 Okes therefore abandoned casting-off (for setting
by formes, the usual procedure) in favour of setting seriatim. This procedure resulted
in shortages of type from time to time. Moreover, since Okes's shop had not previously
printed a play-text from manuscript, different conventions of printing needed to be
imposed during setting. Blayney confirmed E. A. J. Honigmann's contention that
more than one compositor worked on Q Lear,2 although the second compositor did not
become involved until late, after the interruption caused by the Christmas holidays.
Blayney identifies them as B and C and suggests that C, who worked more slowly and
less competently than B, may have been an apprentice.3
Difficult copy and inexperience in setting a play-text from manuscript doubtless led
to numerous errors, some of which were discovered after press-work began, as Greg
surmised.4 Hence, sheet B is invariant and c (i) is in three states. Press-correction began
in earnest with sheet D (o) but declined after reaching maximum efficiency in sheet E
(o). Possibly because just one press was used in perfecting (i.e. printing on the blank
side of a sheet already printed on one side), variants appear in only one forme of sheets
C-H.5 Sheet K, which has variants in both inner and outer formes, is exceptional. Sheets
B, i, and L are invariant. Either the variant states of these sheets have not survived,
or proof-correction occurred on those formes to Okes's satisfaction before press-work
began.
Since the proofreader was free to work with or without reference to copy, which
may have been indecipherable or just not handy, he could make a calculated guess,
as in the correction of Q uncorr. 'crulentious' to Q corr. 'tempestious'.6 Moreover, his
corrections were not always accurately made by the compositors - or indeed made at
all.7 Although Q Lear shows evidence of an unusual amount of proof-correction, it was
after all just a play, of by no means the same importance as, say, a sermon, such as John
Pelling's 'Of the Providence of God' (1607), which took precedence over Lear in the
schedule of printing and publication.8
Blayney's study of Q Lear indicates, or at least strongly implies, that publication of
the quarto by no means assured Butter that windfall returns lay in store. The play was
already a year old, although the title page advertisement and dating tend to obscure that
fact. Unlike many popular sermons (and some plays, including a few of Shakespeare's),
Lear was not immediately reprinted; the second edition did not appear until the
abortive collection projected by Thomas Pavier eleven years later. If it was not a highly

1
Ibid., p. 184.
2
'Spelling tests and the first quarto of King Lear\ The Library, 5th ser., 20 (1965), 310-15.
3
Blayney, p. 186.
4
Variants, pp. 43-57, 191-2.
5 Ibid., pp. 44-57.
6
Ibid., p. 164. Compare F 'contentious', 3.4.6.
7
Blavnev, pp. 245-7.
8
Ibid., pp. 8 iff.
M Introduction

profitable commodity, then, the case for 'stolne, and surreptitious' copy1 accordingly
weakens.

THE F TEXT
The other authoritative text for King Lear, one which is generally recognised as at
least better printed than Q, is the text that Heminge and Condell included in the Folio
of 1623. Using cast-off copy, Compositors B and E in Jaggard's printing shop set by
formes, as Charlton Hinman showed and as subsequent scholarship has confirmed,
modifying only slightly the specific formes or part-formes set by either one. Textual
scholars now believe that Compositor B, more experienced but more prone to take
liberties in setting from copy, set pages qq2, 3% 5, r n v (column b), 2 V , 3V-6V, or (in
the Folio numbered pagination) pages 283, 286, 289, 294b, 296, 298-304. 2 These pages
correspond to 1.1.1-83, 1.2.19-135, 1.4.183-293, 2.4.138-93, 3.1.3-3.2.89, 3.4.74-
4.5.271. Compositor E, whom Hinman identified as an apprentice,3 set the rest of the
play, or almost twice as much as B.
That Compositor E's pages were more carefully proofread than B's is hardly sur-
prising, since E was only an apprentice. Hinman has recorded the corrections, which
tend to show the kinds of mistakes an apprentice might make.4 Jaggard was also more
interested in the appearance of the pages than the accuracy of the text,5 and (as in the
printing of Q) miscorrections could occur. For example, at 1.1.164 uncorrected Folio (F
uncorr.) reads 'To come betwixt our sentence, and our power', where corrected Folio
(F corr.) has '. . . sentences, and . . .'As Hinman explains, F corr. is clearly wrong.6
What probably happened is that Compositor E mistook the 'dele' sign in the margin
for an V and, instead of removing the extraneous comma intended for deletion, added
an 's' to 'sentence,' corrupting sense and metre in so doing.

THE COPY FOR F

P. A. Danielfirstadvanced the theory in 1885 that F was set from an annotated copy of Q,
one that had been collated against a theatrical manuscript, probably the prompt-book.
Sir Edmond Chambers endorsed the theory,7 and Greg accepted it. Using the evidence

1
This is the phrase used by Heminge and Condell in their preface to the Folio to stigmatise previously
published editions of Shakespeare's plays. It is an obvious seller's ploy, as the full context reveals. See
'To the Great Variety of Readers', Folio sig. A3r. But the question of how Okes obtained the manuscript
remains open.
2
Hinman, 11, 271, 277,293. T H. Howard-Hill, 'New light on Compositor E of the Shakespeare First Folio',
The Library, 6th ser., 2 (1980), 159, 173-8, modified two of Hinman's attributions for the text oi Lear,
assigning ssi and SS3 to Compositor E.
-* Hinman, 1, 200-26. Hinman first set out his findings in 'The prentice hand in the tragedies of the
Shakespeare First Folio: Compositor E,' SB 9 (1957), 3-20, but modified his attributions in the later work.
4
Hinman, 1, 304-12. Hinman's summary on p. 325 shows that of 23 pages in Lear, 13 were proof-corrected;
of 51 variants, 45 were in material set by Compositor E. Recalculated according to Howard-Hill's reattri-
butions, all but one of the variants occur in material set by E.
s
- Hinman, 1, 235-9. Hinman identifies the proof-corrector as none other than Isaac Jaggard himself (who
took over the running of the printing-house from his father at about this time) and notes that correction
was usually not made against copy.
6
Hinman, 1, 304-6.
7
Chambers, 1, 465.
The Tragedy of King Lear [70]

of errors reproduced in F from Q, Greg maintained that the annotated quarto contained
at least one sheet (D) in the corrected state and two sheets (H and K) in the uncorrected
state (possibly sheets E and G also). The state of sheets c and F he could not determine,
and sheets B, 1, and L are invariant in all extant copies.1
More recently, some scholars have argued that the exemplar used for providing the
Folio copy was not annotated Q but an annotated copy of Q2. Although she maintained
that F was printed from manuscript copy, Madeleine Doran suspected that because of
the number of correspondences between Q2 and F that could not otherwise be explained,
Q2 must have been consulted by the F compositor from time to time.2 Stone rejected
this hypothesis, although his research indicated that Q2 was used in some manner for
F. After analysing the evidence, he concluded that Compositor E used an annotated
copy of Q2 for his share in the pages of Lear, while B used manuscript copy.3 In this
conclusion, Stone concurred with Hinman, who argued that E was too inexperienced
to set from manuscript, which was left for his partner, B. 4
Although he first agreed with Stone's conclusions,5 Gary Taylor later reconsidered
the case and, reassessing the evidence, changed his view, arguing that both B and E used
annotated Q2 copy while setting the Folio text.6 To support this revised hypothesis,
he analysed substantive variants in Q and F Lear, and considered various kinds of
other evidence, such as comparisons of spellings and punctuation in the compositors'
stints when they used known printed copy (e.g. Q3 Richard III) and when they used
manuscript copy (e.g. Hamlet). He recognised, meanwhile, that the persistence of some
Q errors in F, such as '"Historic a" (2.4.53), might derive from the manuscript Jaggard
used to annotate Q2 if Shakespeare (or whoever was responsible for preparing that
manuscript) was negligent and let them stand. The same argument would apply to
common errors in punctuation and lineation.7 Errors shared only by Q2 and F would
be harder to dismiss, and Taylor cites in particular the bungled attempts in Q2 and F to
reline correctly 4.6.1-3, where (in his analysis) the errors in F result from Compositor
E's inability to follow the annotator's marks. In Q, the passage reads:

(thy goodnes,
Cord. O thou good Kent how shall I Hue and worke to match
My life will be too short and euery measure faile me.

Q2 tried to improve the setting at least visually, though not metrically, by removing the
turnover:

1
Greg, Variants, pp. 138-49. The summary of findings appears on p. 148.
2
Doran, pp. n o ff.
3
Stone, pp. 129-40. In Appendix DI, pp. 257-67, as elsewhere, Stone assigns pages ssi and SS3 to Compositor
B instead of E, apparently unaware of Howard-Hill's reattributions, with which Stone's tallies fit more
closely, obviating the need for any special pleading. Stone's conclusions are supported by MacD. P.Jackson,
'Printer's copy for Folio Lear\ in Division, pp. 346—9.
4
Hinman, 1, 220-6; 'The prentice hand', pp. 3-20.
5
'The Folio copy for Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello', S.Q.34 (Spring 1983), 44-61.
'Folio compositors and Folio copy: King Lear and its context', PBS A 79 (1985), 17-74.
7
Ibid., p. 23.
[/'] Introduction

Cord. O thou good Kent,

How shall I hue and worke to match thy goodnesse,
My life will be too short, and euery measure faile me.

According to Taylor, the annotator marked the line-division properly, inserting slash
marks after 'worke' and 'short', but Compositor E misunderstood the correction and
ended the verse lines both where Q2 ended them and where the slash marks indicated.
What resulted in F was:
Cor. O thou good Kent,
How shall I hue and worke
To match thy goodnesse?
My life will be too short,
And every measure faile me.

Compositor E, however, may have been otherwise influenced, as Taylor acknowledges

in a footnote;'1 he might have been deliberately stretching his copy to fill up space, the
result of inaccurate casting-off of copy.2
Similarly, much of the other evidence Taylor uses to demonstrate the dependence of
F upon annotated Q2 is subject to alternative interpretation or explanation. For example,
both Q2 and F alter the stage direction at 3.7.0. Q reads: Enter Cornwall, and Regan, and
Gonorill, and Bastard. Q2 reads: Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gonorill, and Bastard. F reads:
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gonerill, Bastard, and Seruants. More has occurred in F than
the simple alteration of and Regan, and; this could derive from annotated Q2 but might
as easily derive from manuscript copy. Again, the link Taylor cites at 4.5.252, which he
calls a progressive error from Q to Q2 to F, certainly looks like one, as he says.3 But the
'progression' from a comma to a colon to a full stop in the line, 'there is nothing done, If
he returne', need not be a linked progression, Q'S majuscule ' I f may have independently
influenced the Q2 compositor and the F collator to introduce heavier punctuation, as
indeed occurs throughout Q2 and F.
Nevertheless, the weight of evidence Taylor produces tends heavily in the direction
of annotated Q2 copy for both Folio compositors. Much of this weight, however, derives
from shared Q2/F spellings of fairly common words4 and from similar kinds of evidence,
such as altered speech ascriptions5 and punctuation.6 Of course, neither the resem-
blances between Q2 and the presumed copy for F, nor any other extant bibliographical
evidence can prove that Q2 was Compositor B's copy as well as E's; other alternatives
are possible, as Taylor says.7 For example, a transcript prepared from annotated Q2 that
incorporated many substantive readings from some other manuscript may have been
used as Folio copy, or the compositors may have had before them both a copy of Q2 and

1
Ibid., p. 26, n. 9.
2
Compare Hinman, 11, 507-8.
3
Taylor, 'Folio compositors', p. 29.
4
Ibid., pp. 30-41, 57—65.
5
Ibid., pp. 41-5, 52-5.
6
Ibid., pp. 65-9.
7
Ibid., p. 56. Compare Textual Companion, p. 531.
The Tragedy of King Lear [72]

an independent manuscript or transcription.1 The manuscript copy, if there was one,

had to be quite different from the kind of manuscript copy used for Hamlet and Othello,
but some kind of manuscript copy for F King Lear cannot be entirely ruled out.2 The
main point is that Q2 was a major influence on the printing of F, however it was used.
In the course of his argument Taylor tries to counter Trevor Howard-Hill's find-
ings.3 From the evidence of spelling, punctuation, and speech ascriptions, Howard-Hill
claimed that F used manuscript copy primarily but with some reference to Q2. Arguing
that dependence on Q should reveal itself in F'S spelling of unusual words, he examined
the Folio texts of other plays, those known to be set from printed copy by both B and E,
i.e. Titus Andronicus and Romeo and Juliet. He showed that the compositors, regardless
of their experience or lack of it, tended to follow copy whenever they encountered a
strange or unusual word. This tendency is not reflected in a comparison of such words
in Q, Q2, and F; hence, the evidence discredits printed copy as the basis for F Lear.
In his search for more positive evidence to indicate manuscript copy, Howard-Hill
resorted to Doran's list of errors in F most readily explained by postulating manuscript
copy in Secretary hand.4 He cites in particular the misreading 'strangenesse' (2.1.86)
for the correct reading 'strange newes' that both quartos supply and goes on to argue
for an intermediate transcript between the quartos and the Folio.5 The theory he finally
proposes is one of the alternatives noted above, that the manuscript underlying F derives
from a copy of Q2 used to interpret the playhouse prompt-book that was transcribed for
use in Jaggard's printing-house. The prompt-book, now many years old, was probably
damaged, as Greg and others have claimed in order to explain anomalous readings and
errors. Thus, for orthography and accidentals, the transcriber would be most influenced
by Q2; for substantives and the unusual spellings, the prompt-book would have greater
influence. The process of scanning first the quarto, then the manuscript (to locate
additions and corrections) best accounts, in Howard-Hill's view, for the mixture of
forms that characterises the Folio text.6
A fresh transcript would seem to be decidedly more desirable for printer's copy than
a heavily annotated exemplar of a quarto, given the myriad changes that distinguish F
from Q and Q2. Howard-Hill rejects the other possible alternative theory, supported by
Taylor, that the manuscript copy for F was prepared by first collating Q2 against the
1
Compare Doran, pp. 110-12.
2
Taylor, 'Folio compositors', pp. 71-4.
3
Howard-Hill, 'The problem of manuscript copy for Folio King Lear\ The Library, 6th ser., 4 (1982), 1-24.
4
Doran, pp. 91-5. Howard-Hill also notes Stone's use (p. 55) of the same material.
5
Other misreadings Doran mentions that indicate manuscript copy for F include 'Reuenge' for Q 'reneag'
(2.2.69), 'painting' for Q 'panting' (2.4.28), 'Fenitar' for Q 'femiter' (4.3.3). These represent the clearest
examples, but compare the many other possibilities she cites. Granted, some of them could be simple
misreadings of corrections on printed copy, e.g. F 'Somnet' for Q 'sommons', Q2 'summons' (4.5.57). But
where the quarto is correct and the Folio is clearly wrong, as in the examples singled out above, misreading
of manuscript copy and not of a correction is fairly certainly the case, although Duthie, pp. 13-14, argues
otherwise: the collator saw 'Reneag' in his copy of Q, compared it with the playhouse manuscript, misread
'Reneag' there as 'Reueng', crossed out 'Reneag' in Q and substituted 'Reuenge', which the compositor
then set up. But why would the collator deliberately substitute a word which made little sense, in the
context, for one which made perfectly good sense, other errors (e.g. Q 'stir' for F 'fire') in the passage
notwithstanding?
Howard-Hill, 'The problem of manuscript copy', p. 23.
[73] Introduction

prompt-book and then copying the annotated exemplar to provide a clean transcript for
the printer. Howard-Hill's objection to this alternative is not only that it assumes the
collator failed to see early on that what he was producing was unacceptable as printer's
copy; but also, more importantly, that the collator failed to correct the numerous errors
that persist in F when he had the playhouse copy before him. Moreover, the failure
of many distinctive Q spellings to survive in F as well as the similarity of the non-
distinctive orthography of Q2 and F suggested to him that his proposed theory (actually,
the procedure long ago suggested by Madeleine Doran) was closer to the mark.
In the still unpublished second volume of his study of the texts of King Lear, Peter
Blayney also weighs the evidence for and against annotated Q2 as copy for F. Like
Howard-Hill, he had come to the conclusion that manuscript, not printed, copy was
what both Folio compositors used, although he argues that the manuscript was neither
the original prompt-book nor a transcript of it; it was a transcription, rather, of an
annotated exemplar of Q either annotated by the reviser or altered by the reviser as
he copied it out. This transcription then became the new prompt-book. As for the
number of minor agreements between Q2 and F, many of them can be explained without
recourse to Q2 as copy for F. Nevertheless, several short stretches of text reveal a 'run' of
Q2/F agreements that appear more significant than merely the sum of their parts. One
such run occurs in the stretch of text 4.5.218-34. While the preponderance of Q2/F
agreements in quasi-substantives, punctuation, and spellings clearly demonstrates F'S
indebtedness to Q2 as against Q, however, it does not prove Q2 was itself the copy for F.
As Doran and Howard-Hill argue, it need only have been consulted during the setting
of F. Blayney's extensive examination of punctuation demonstrates that F could not
have been punctuated without constant reference to a copy of Q2 (his emphasis) by
Compositor E, who set most of the work, and probably frequent reference to it (or
another copy) by Compositor B. After considering other kinds of evidence, especially
the spellings of abbreviated speech headings in both Q2 and F, Blayney concluded that
the copy for F probably derived from a transcription of annotated Q.1
That manuscript copy was used together with an exemplar of Q2 in some fashion now
seems, on the evidence, the most plausible theory upon which to proceed. Manuscript
copy best explains a number of misreadings and errors in F, although the exact relation
of the manuscript to the prompt-book is still unclear. Whether the manuscript was the
prompt-book itself or a transcription of it made by consulting Q2 or possibly even an
autograph or scribal fair copy (made for presentation or some other purpose),2 we shall
probably never know for certain, but both a manuscript and an exemplar of Q2 influenced
the setting of the Folio.3 The numerous deletions from Q in the manuscript, including
a whole scene, strongly suggest theatrical adaptation; hence, the manuscript copy for F
1
I am greatly indebted to Dr Blayney for generously providing me with the relevant chapter of his typescript
for The Texts of'King Lear' and Their Origins, vol. 2.
2
Taylor, 'King Lear and its context', p. 74. Compare Stone's chapter, 'The manuscript "copy" for F', esp.
pp. 104-12.
•' Compare Textual Companion, pp. 530-1. Greg disregarded Q2 as a mere reprint of Q and argued that F had
to be set from an exemplar of Q with K4V in the uncorrected state. His evidence focused on the omission
of 'and appointed guard' inserted and partially turned over in Q corr. but lacking in both Q uncorr. and F
(Variants, pp. 140-1). In 'QI and the copy for Folio Lear\ PBSA 80 (1986), 427-35, Howard-Hill argues
The Tragedy of King Lear [74]

very likely was, or derived from, a prompt-book, despite the fact that several prompt-
book indicators are missing, such as the names of actors, duplicated stage directions, and
warnings for the use of some stage properties.1 In general, then, substantive readings
and alterations derive from the manuscript; accidentals and orthography from Q2.
The implications of this distinction for an editor are important. As Howard-Hill has
said, 'Depending upon whether the copy was manuscript or print, the editor may more
exactly determine the sources of textual corruption and resolve cruxes.'2 If the copy
for F was (or derived from) an authoritative playhouse manuscript, then the editor can
with some confidence correct mistakes that originate in certain misreadings (such as
minim errors) and try to determine non-authorial interventions (such as theatrical cuts
or actors' interpolations). Although accidentals and orthography will have little or no
bearing on the preparation of a modern-spelling text, the editor must be on the lookout
for mislined verse, ambiguous or erroneous speech headings, and the like. Especially
if the copy was the playhouse prompt-book (or a transcription of it) modified by the
book-keeper and then collated against an exemplar of Q2, the tendency will be to retain
F readings against Q variants, except where the collator or compositor has bungled his
job. The editor must then determine between the original Q reading and the intended
reading that F has garbled in so far as it can be 'decoded'. In the example of Q 'strange
newes' versus F 'strangenesse', noted above, the editor will adopt Q'S reading, since not
altered copy but a misreading of the manuscript underlies the F variant. On the other
hand, where both Q and F have acceptable readings, F will be preferred as the presumably
authoritative alteration or revision of the original text: 'presumably', because we cannot
always know certainly that it was the author who effected the change, as in F 'sterne'
for Q 'dearne' (3.7.62). Finally, in a few instances where both Q and F are doubtful, Q
may provide a guide to the intended alteration or correction. For example, at 1.1.104, Q
'mistresse' has been clumsily altered to F 'miseries', whereas 'misteries' (F2 'mysteries')
was probably the intended reading.

F AND Q TRANSMISSION
Strong support for a revision-hypothesis has grown among scholars and has led to the
discrete editing of Q and F Lear as differing versions of the play, as in the complete
Oxford Shakespeare. It is possible, however, that differences between Q and F are

that Greg's case does not hold up, since the F collator might have missed the insertion in the margin of his
manuscript, just as Okes's compositor did. But if the manuscript was the theatre prompt-book, a fair copy
of the corrected foul papers, why would the words again be inserted in the margin, unless of course the
person who prepared the fair copy also missed the insertion and then, like the proof-corrector of Q, went
back and added it in the margin in such a way that it could be overlooked once more by the F compositor.
This is perhaps too coincidental to be plausible, especially since Q2, the exemplar which was collated, has
the words which are missing in Q uncorr. and F. Howard-Hill therefore argues that the words were inserted
in the prompt-book in such a manner as to be ambiguous. Since underlining was used to indicate deletion
as well as interlineal insertion, Compositor E understandably became confused by the apparent conflict
in authority and opted to follow the prompt-book, which apparently marked 'and appointed guard' for
deletion.
1
Taylor, 'King Lear and its context', p. 74; Textual Companion, p. 530. But compare Stone, pp. 107-11, who
comments on several of these omissions but finds that on the whole F reflects prompt-book derivation.
2
Howard-Hill, 'The problem of manuscript copy', p. 3.
175] Introduction

mixed and cumulative, and that autonomy can be claimed for neither in isolation. If Q
derives from Shakespeare's own rough draft - his foul papers in some state or other -
it can be argued that this version, as reflected in Q, was not a finished product but
just a stage in the development of the play. Changes doubtless occurred when a fair
copy of the manuscript was made either by Shakespeare or by a scribe, and when
the fair copy became the prompt-book further alterations were introduced, a practice
no doubt typical of theatrical production then as now.1 These alterations included
deletions of varying lengths, additions and amplifications, rewriting and recasting as
well as substitutions. Moreover, changes need not have occurred all at once.2 Theatrical
practice demonstrates that playscripts tend to evolve over time, especially after initial
performances, and now and then when a play is revived.3 The author may have been a
willing participant in any or all of the alterations, or he may not have been: the text as
found in the Folio version may reflect one or more compromises between him and his
fellow shareholders in the King's Men.
Finally, other stages in the transmission of the text, for which we have no record,
may have intervened between the initial performances (not fully represented by Q) and
the text as it exists in F. It is possible, for example, that after Butter issued the Pied
Bull quarto, Shakespeare got hold of a copy and began tinkering with it, revising many
individual words and phrases and altering some passages and scenes on a larger scale
as well.4 Stylistic evidence, particularly a study of the vocabulary used in substitutions
and additions, indicates that revision was by Shakespeare and that it was quite late.5
Adding these new revisions to the prompt-book, already marked up with alterations,
must have seemed impractical, and a new prompt-book was prepared by collating the
annotated quarto and the old prompt-book. This new prompt-book (or a transcript of
it) became the copy for F, which was printed in consultation with Q2, copies of which
were available in Jaggard's printing-house.
Demonstrating with certainty each step in the transmission of the text is diffi-
cult, and evidence is admittedly sensitive to editorial predisposition. The presentation
of materials in this section of textual analysis is meant to provide a perspective for
their interpretation. The proposed stemma somewhat simplifies transmission from
foul papers to Folio. Some intervening stages have been postulated, but to include
every possibility would unduly complicate matters without shedding sufficient light on
the problems involved. Briefly, then, the following stemma is a graphic representation
of the transmission of the King Lear text:

1
In a review otherwise severely critical of many of the essays in Division, Richard Knowles supports the
claims ofJackson (pp. 333-5) that revisions could have occurred during the rehearsal process. See Knowles,
'The case for two Lears\ SQ36 (Spring 1985), 117.
2
Compare Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p 351: 'Indeed, even to speak oïuthe date" and "the authorship"
of the redaction presumes something we have no right to presume: that all the changes between the Quarto
and Folio versions were made at the same time and by the same man.'
3
For a modern instance, see Thomas Clayton, 'The texts and publishing vicissitudes of Peter Nichols's
Passion Play\ The Library, 6th sen, 9 (1987), 365-83, which includes references to Tom Stoppard's
Jumpers as well.
4
See Kerrigan, pp. 195-245, and Taylor, 'Date and authorship', pp. 351-468.
5
Compare Taylor, 'Date and authorship', pp. 376-95, 462-4.
The Tragedy of King Lear [76]

Shakespeare's foul papers

(1605-6) _ _ _ ^ ^ ^

/ ^"\. ^ — — _ Fair copy

/ ^ \ ^ — - (1606)
/ ^\. (prompt-book)

Quarto, Copy X Quarto, Copy Y

(1608) (revised, 1611-12?) \ .

New prompt-book
I (1613?)

Quarto 2 (1619) Folio (1623)

The solid lines on the stemma indicate direct transmission; the broken line indicates
collateral influence. Dates for revision are estimates, therefore queried. The stemma
shows essentially three separate but related lines of transmission. The first, from foul
papers to Q2, is firmly established. The second, from foul papers through revised Q to
F, is admittedly speculative. The third, from foul papers to fair copy and prompt-books
1 and 2 culminating in F, is also specultive but, like the second line, seems the best way
to take account of available evidence. Collation of the old prompt-book with revised
Q is necessary to explain all the revisions, including changes in vocabulary, speech
ascriptions, deletions, and other alterations involving both authorial 'tinkerings' and
production decisions.

THE NATURE OF INTERVENTIONS

The kinds of intervention by the author or others in the text of King Lear (and any other
Shakespearean or Elizabethan play-text) are simple in outline but become intricate and
extensive when set down in detail. Conclusive evidence is often impossible to marshal;
one must proceed by using knowledge of printing practices and theatrical experience;
stylistic analysis; and finally supposition, logic, and inference. Since available evidence
is frequently ambiguous, alternative explanations are possible. The purpose here is to
explain specifically the types of difference between Q and F and the nature of the Folio
text as a revised acting version of the play.

OMISSIONS AND CUTS

Omission of one or more lines usually, but not necessarily, indicates a cut. Cuts may
originate with a revising author, scribe, or book-keeper; or they may originate in the
printing-house, where a compositor may have skipped a line accidentally or, finding
copy badly cast-off, may have deliberately dropped a line. The omission after 1.1.98, for
example, could be the result of eye-skip by the Folio compositor,1 or it may be the result
of revision, eliminating a redundancy from lines 94-5 (and an irregular half-line):2
1
As Duthie, p. 166, and Stone, p. 233, believe.
2
Compare Taylor, 'Censorship', p. 87.
[77] Introduction

Why have my sisters husbands, if they say 94

They love you all? . . .
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters 98
[To love my father all].
Omission of several lines often signals a theatrical cut, marked in the prompt-book
with a stroke through the text and a vertical line in the margin. The marks could
have been misunderstood, and either too much or too little deleted (see below, p. 84).
Adjoining lines sometimes invited or required rewriting, as at 1.4.185-91, erroneously
printed as prose in the quarto and otherwise in need of correction (see below, p. 80).
More often, blocks of lines (in one instance, the entire scene following 4.2) were cut.
Where there is no disruption in the adjoining lines, we may suspect a theatrical cut,
but King Lear is seldom abridged simply to shorten the play. Although the Folio text
is some 200 lines shorter than Q, reducing performance time cannot have been the
only or even the principal reason for many of the deletions, which demonstrably alter
the ethos of several characters and are sometimes offset by additions or amplifications.
True, most of the cuts occur in the latter half of the play, from 3.6 onwards, where
anxiety about wearying the audience might have been a factor.1 These include the
omissions at the end of 3.6, the concluding lines of Acts 3 and 4, and at 5.3.195.
But elsewhere, as in the cuts in Gonerill's speeches or Kent's, many of the alterations
directly if subtly change characterisations and suggest authorial rather than theatrical
intervention.2

AMPLIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS

Amplifications that elaborate the style or content of an existing speech or passage
may sometimes be distinguished from additions of entirely new material, which mod-
ify character or dramatic structure. As Thomas Clayton has shown, Lear's first long
speech, amplified in F (1.1.31-49), contains additions closely correlated with substan-
tive variants.3

Q: Lear. Meanc time we will expreflc our darker pOrpofcs,

The map there) know wehaueaiuided
In thrcC|Our kingdomej and tis ourfirflintent,
Toflukeall cares and bufines ofour ftate, 35
Confirming them on yonger yeares,
The two great Princes Fr***tznd Btttptni),
Great ryuals in ouryoungeft daughters loue,
Long in our Court naue made their amorous foiourne,
Andliere are to 6e anfwerd^ell me my daughters,

1
Taylor, 'War', p. 29, notes that although F contains significant additions to the Q text in 1.1, 1.4, 2.4, and
3.2, between the beginning of 3.6 and the end of 4.3 the Folio omits 157 lines while adding only seven; i.e.
approximately half of the F omissions occur in these scenes. Compare Jackson, p. 331, and David Richman,
'The King Lear quarto in rehearsal and performance', -SjQ.37 (1986), 381-2.
2
See, for example, Warren, 'Albany and Edgar', pp. 95-105, and McLeod, pp. 164-88. Taylor, 'War',
pp. 28-30, shows how the cuts in Acts 3-4 'streamline the plot', strengthen the 'narrative momentum',
and otherwise tighten the dramatic structure of the play.
3
Clayton, pp. 121-41. See also the edited parallel passages, pp. 87-94 below.
The Tragedy of King Lear [78]

Which of you (hall \vc Cay doth loue v$ moft,

That we our largeft bounrie may extend,
Where merit doth moft challenge it,
Gononllour eldeft borne/peakefirft /

F- hear. Meant time we fhal exprcfle our darter p«rpofc.

<3iue me the Map there. Know, thtt we hauc diuided
In three our Kiogdome : and'eif oof faft intent,
To fhakeall Outt andBufineffefrom our Age,
Conferring them on yonget Hrenttht, while we 35
Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Oor fon of Comal,
And y ou our no leflc louing Sonne ot Albany,
We haue this houre a confiant «Aill to publish
Oui daughters feuetall Dowers, ihci tucuic(uj|>
May bepreucntednow.The l'iinceSjfrowv cV J>"r£t*xd;-f 40
Great Riuals in our yongeft daughters loue,
Long in our Court, banc made their amorous ioiournc,
And hcerc arc to be anfwer'd. Tell me my daughters
(Since now we will diueft vs both of Rule,
lntercft of Temtoiy, Cares of State) 45
Which of you fli?li we fay doth loue TS moft,
That we, out largeft bounce may extend
Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gcmrill,
Our eldeft borne, fpeake firfL
The complex effects of this amplification are essentially threefold: (1) anticipation of
Lear's firmness, as in the alteration of Q 'our first intent' to F 'our fast intent' (line
33), l and the added 'We haue this houre a constant will' (line 38); (2) provision of
more detailed and rational-sounding motives for abdication, as in the desire to confer
responsibility of the realm on 'yonger strengths' (line 35) and the wish to prevent 'future
strife' by immediately publishing the daughters' dowries (lines 38-40); (3) contributions
to the patterns of imagery involving clothing and nakedness, as in the announcement
that Lear will 'divest' himself of rule, territory, and responsibility for the state (lines
44-5). Careful comparison of the entire speech in F with its shorter - and different -
form in Q, combined with other changes later in the Folio version of the play that
Clayton notes, strongly suggest, though they cannot prove, authorial second thoughts
and subsequent revision.2
Similarly, alterations in Gonerill's character involve not only cuts but additions and
amplifications as well. While basically she remains an ungrateful daughter, headed
(as in Q) for collision with her equally strong-willed father, her nature in F is softer.
If she seems in Q 1.3-4 almost out of control raging against her father, in F she is cooler, a

1
Of course, 'first' could be a misreading of'fast', which F corrects; but compare 'I am firm' (240), which F
adds.
2
Compare Jackson, pp. 332-9, for another analysis, which comes to similar conclusions. He cites E. A. J.
Honigmann, The Stability of Shakespeare's Text, 1965, who notes how Shakespeare's 'afterthoughts' some-
times made his revised verses irregular.
[79] Introduction

woman much more capable of responding to provocation 'slowly and in proportion',

as Randall McLeod says.1 The omissions after 1.3.15 are complemented by revision of
1.4.267 (F 'Pray you content' for Q 'Come sir no more') and the addition of 1.4.276—87,
which shows her mastering emotion and countering Albany's demurrer with rational
argument. Again, in 2.4, F alters Gonerill's entrance from her aggressive behaviour
in Q, still harping on mistreatment of her servant, to a more restrained initial silence,
broken only by coming to her sister's defence (2.4.188).2 Gonerill's speech on entering
is given to Lear in F, with an appropriate change in wording (2.4.181):

Q: Duke. What meanes your Grace I Emttr Cm.

G*». Whoftruckmy feruant,Ag«»Ihaue good hope
Thou didft not know ant.
Liar, Who comes here t O heauens !
Ifyou doe loue old men, ifyou fweet fway allow
Obedience, if your fclues are old,makc it your caufé,
Send downe and take my part,
A rt not aQum'd to looke vpon this beard i
0 R<i** wilt thou take herb v the hand t
Cm. Why not by the handfir,howhaueI offended/

"* £ nier Ctnrril,

Leâr.\X\\oftocktmy ^cruar.t?&g4»,lh»ue good hope
1 !iou iiiti l\ not Vncw oof.
Who comes here ? O Heauens !
If you do loue old men , if your fweet fwiy
A How Obedience ; if you your fclues ire old,
M *ke it your caufe : Send downe,and take my part.
Arr not afham'd to looke tpon this Beard ?
O Regén, will ycu take her by ihc hand ?
G**. Why not by'th'hand Sir? Howhauel offended**

Michael Warren has shown how Albany's character is also affected by both deletions
and additions in F. 3 In Act 1, Albany seems not quite so weak in F as he does in Q, mainly
because in 1.4 F adds a few judiciously spoken lines in his dialogue with Gonerill and
Lear. For example, Albany cautions Gonerill, 'Well, you may fear too far' (1.4.282),
and he urges patience to the furious Lear (217). These additions, which somewhat
strengthen his moral character, contrast with the later weakening that occurs in Acts 4
and 5. The outrage against his wife's treatment of Lear in 4.2 is substantially reduced;
and in 5.3 Albany seems less sure of himself in his role as commander. Together with
corresponding alterations in Edgar's role, they make ceding the kingdom to the younger
man appropriate.4

1
McLeod, pp. 175-81.
2
Ibid., p. 181.
3
Warren, 'Albany and Edgar', pp. 99-101.
4
Compare Urkowitz, pp. 80-128. His fuller analysis of the differences between Q and F Albany comes to
conclusions similar to Warren's, but he tends to see every change in F as a deliberate alteration of character,
whereas some changes, such as the cut following 5.3.195, may have been dictated as much - or more - by
The Tragedy of King Lear
m
REWRITING, SUBSTITUTION, AND RECASTING
Passages might be changed significantly either by local emendations or the substitu-
tion of new text, and recasting could involve moving speeches, changing the order of
dialogue, and altering speech headings. Local emendations, sometimes of little or no
significance, occur throughout the Folio text of King Lear, as in the alteration of the
number of days Lear gives Kent in which to depart (1.1.167). Such minor (and minute)
changes, or tinkerings, are typical of an author, as Kerrigan has shown,1 not of a the-
atrical abridger, who would scarcely care how many days Lear gave Kent to leave the
kingdom (four days in Q, five in F).
At 2.4.17, two brief speeches in Q are omitted in F; in their place F adds a new line
(see below, pp. 267-8). At 3.1.14-21, eight lines in F replace twelve and a half lines in
Q. Although some editors believe both sets of lines in these examples were intended for
inclusion in F 2 (and appear thus in modern conflated texts), they are badly spliced and
otherwise point to substitution, not amplification (see below, p. 269).
Recasting is clearly evident in a number of places in the Folio King Lear. At 1.4.183—
92, F recasts Lear's speech (printed as prose in Q), making several corrections, cutting
some lines at the end, and assigning to the Fool an important response (see below,
p. 267):

Q: whoop /*£ I loue thee.

Lno\ Doth any here know mee ? why this is not Leer, doth
Z/4rwalkethus? fpeake thus? where are his eyes, either his no-
tion, weaknes,or his dilcernin»s are Iether»ie,flceping.or wake-
ing s ha! fure ris not Co,who is it that can tell me who i am fLeers
fhadow ? I would I came that, for bv the markes of foueraintie,
knowledge, and reafon, Ifhouldbce falfe perfwadcd I had
daughters.
Feele. Which they ,wi 11 make an obedient father.
Lear. Your name faire gentlewoman ?
Ce». Come fir, this ad miration is much of the fauour of other

F: Whoop Iuggc ï loue thee.

Leur. Dos »ny heere know me ?
This is not Lew-
Do's Lear wa!fce thus ? Spcake thui ? Where are hi» eics?
Either his Notion weakens, his Dii'cernings
AreLethargted. Ha! Waking? Tisnotib?
Who is it that cv\ tell me who I am ?
Foele. Letts ihadow.
Le*r. Your name, faire Gentlewoman ?
Gon, This admiracion Sir, is much o'tn'fauour

considerations of theatrical shortening. Of course, all such alterations modify character; it is a question
of assessing the motives - and the source - that underlie the changes, and these are often impossible to
determine with certainty.
1
Kerrigan, pp. 205-17.
2
For example, Duthie, pp. 394-5; compare Stone, pp. 70-5.
[8i] Introduction

The reassignment of Gonerill's speech on entering at 2.4.181 has already been noted,
but not the revision that goes with it (see above, p. 79). In 5.3 a good deal of rewriting
and recasting has occurred, most notably at the very end. Lear's last words are new,
one of his speeches is reassigned to Kent, a stage direction is added, and several other
alterations of the text appear:1

Q- Leur. Andmypoorc foolc is hongd.no, no life, why fhould a

dog.ahorfe, a rat oflife and thou no breath at all, O thou wile
come no more, neuer,neuer,neuer, pray you vndo this button,
thanke youfir,O, 0,0,0* Edg. Hefaints my Lord^ny Lord.
Lear% Breake hart,I prethe breake. Ed^tr. Look vp my Lord.
F: Leer. And my poore Foole is hang'd: 00,(10,00life?
Why (hould aDog.a Horfc.a Rat haue life,
And thou no breath at all ? Tboult come no more,
Neuer,neuer,ncuer,neuer#neoer.
Pray you vndo this Button. Thanke you Sir,
Do you fee mis' Lookeon her? Lookc her lips,
Looke thcrc,looke there* He dies,
£dg, Hefaints,my Lord,my Lord.
Kent. Breake heart, [ prythec breake.

Finally, F assigns the last speech in the play to Edgar rather than Albany, their difference
in rank notwithstanding. This is one of the alterations that concern the modified
characters of both men (see p. 276 below).

THE TIMING OF INTERVENTIONS

Previous discussions of the evolution of the F text have tended to freeze the revisions at
a single point in time, although (as noted) theatrical practice demonstrates that changes
could be introduced at intervals over an extended period.2 There seems little necessity,
therefore, to fix precisely upon a single moment for all the differences between Q and
F. Hypothetically, several stages in the evolution of the text may be posited, from
pre-performance alterations to playhouse adaptations and finally to preparation for
publication.

Pre-performance alterations
The process of alteration or revision could have begun with the transcription of foul
papers to produce a fair copy. If Shakespeare himself transcribed his autograph draft,
he might have begun tinkering with it then. Probably, however, a playhouse scribe was
commissioned to prepare a fair copy for use as the prompt-book. In that event, alter-
ations would have occurred from the scribe's failure to interpret the manuscript or from

1
See Clayton, pp. 128-38.
2
See above, p. 75, and compare Knowles, 'The case for two Lears\ pp. 119-20, who believes changed playing
conditions could account for variations, for example, in 4.6.
The Tragedy of King Lear [&]
his deliberate intervention for the sake of lucidity or tidiness.1 As Stone remarks,2 the
nature of Q misreadings suggests that the manuscript copy was sometimes illegible, not
because of sloppiness or crowding or wilful distortion but because of hasty composi-
tion. A number of the corrections or alterations in F may be the result, then, of scribal
intervention in the preparation of fair copy rather than authorial revision. Impossible
though it may be to determine when and by whom these changes were introduced, Q
'straied', F 'strain'd' (1.1.163) and Q 'bitt', F 'kill' (4.1.37) - to cite just two examples
from Stone's list of Q misreadings - may represent scribal corrections or 'tidyings' of
Shakespeare's autograph.3

Playhouse adaptations
It is likely that during the rehearsal process the author, the book-keeper, or some other
member of the company introduced other alterations. To the book-keeper fell the
responsibility for recording routine clarifications of performance, such as the insertion
of entrances and exits, speech assignments, sound effects, and the use of properties.
The Q text notoriously lacks many such designations, especially entrances and exits,
most of which F supplies, also adding or altering a number of other stage directions, as
at 1.1.28 and 2.1.36. 4 In addition, the book-keeper would have the responsibility for
indicating deletions from the prompt-book, although others in the company might have
suggested the cuts. Elimination of the scene following 4.2, for example, could have been
proposed during the first rehearsals. For all its lovely poetry, as in the Gentleman's lines
on Cordelia (Appendix, p. 304 below, xx, 12-24), t n e scene adds little to the forward
progress of the action; it is essentially a lyric interlude. Whether or not it was ever
performed, or whether Shakespeare or another member of his company suggested
the cut, we may never know. Likewise, the deletions in the last scene, such as the
Captain's two-line speech after 5.3.35 or Edgar's longer passage after 195, might have
been proposed by Shakespeare or someone else as inessential material that could be
omitted.
It is also possible - indeed likely, on the basis of stylistic analysis - that major revisions
including many additions and 'tinkerings' occurred sometime after the King's Men
occupied the Blackfriars private theatre in 1609. If Shakespeare was asked to introduce
act intervals for performance there, he might have taken that occasion to revise and
correct the text, especially if he used a copy of Q.5 At that or some other time, it might
have been decided to eliminate many of the references to France as the invading power.
1
Stone, pp. 105-6, attributes to a playhouse scribe precisely such indifferent variants as later appear in
F, but he believes they were introduced at a later stage, i.e. in the preparation of the new prompt-book
c. 1613.
2
Stone, p. 177.
3
Of course, Stone attributes the manuscript not to Shakespeare, but to a reporter.
4
F simplifies or omits a number of Q'S descriptive stage directions, as at 2.2.37, 3-3°> 3-7-8o. Many of the
omissions may have occurred through compositor error, or the book-keeper or collator may have considered
them redundant, as at 4.5.194, 233, 239. Altered stage directions may also indicate a change in staging or
playing conditions, as at 4.3.0,4.6.21. See below, pp. 83-4, and compare Taylor, 'War', p. 30, and Knowles,
'The case for two Lears\ p. 119.
5
George Walton Williams, review of Division of the Kingdoms in Medieval and Renaissance Drama in English
2 (1985), 347. Compare Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 428, and Stone, p. 107.
[5j] Introduction

Was censorship involved? Gary Taylor has argued that if a censor intervened, he would
have been more likely to cast a critical and disapproving eye upon other matters in the
play, specifically those alluding to domestic problems that date from the accession of
James I.1 Since France under Henri IV and Britain under James I were now at peace
and had been for years, an invasion set long ago in virtual pre-history would hardly be
stepping on sensitive political corns. Or would it? Of course, as Taylor reminds us, at
a time when England had much to fear from foreign invasion, the old play King Leir
(c. 1590) was more explicit concerning the French landings in Britain than Shakespeare's
King Lear is, even in the quarto. Moreover, England under James I was at peace not
only with France, but with all the great powers of Europe. Nevertheless, diplomatic
relations between Henri and James were never easy or relaxed. James was concerned
about the war between Spain and the Dutch and the role France played in it, as well
as about payment of the French debt to Britain. Since an incident involving protocol
at one of Queen Anne's masques had strained or at least chilled diplomatic relations
between the two countries,2 discretion might advise the muting of hostilities in a play
performed by the king's own company, especially if, like the masque, the performance
would be at court. In the light of James's known pursuit of policies favouring peace, this
deliberate muting becomes still more credible. Although we do not know and perhaps
cannot know how it happened or when it happened, the fact is that almost all references
to France and the French king as the invader in King Lear disappear in the Folio text;
the omissions are undoubtedly made with a purpose.3
Changed playhouse conditions, such as a change of cast, an actor's indisposition,
special performances for particular audiences, tours, and so forth may also have led
to alterations in the text. The changes in both the cast and the sound effects in 4.6
may owe something to such changed conditions. The quarto's 'Doctor' becomes the
'Gentleman' of 3.1, and the call for music to awaken Lear is omitted. If the play was
taken on tour, perhaps the musicians (except those for trumpet and drums) were left

1
'Censorship', p. 80. Taylor later acknowledges (pp. 102-5) that censorship occasioned the cut after 1.4.119,
since the lines contain pointed allusions to King James's mismanagement of the realm. But see Philip J.
Finkelpearl, ' "The comedians' liberty" : the censorship of the Jacobean stage reconsidered', ELR 16(1986),
123-38.
2
Maurice Lee, James I and Henri IV: An Essay in English Foreign Policy, 1603-1610, 1970, p. 103. Lee's
essay details the perennial difficulties in James's foreign policy regarding France under Henri IV.
3
Doran, p. 73, notes that 'references to invasion by a foreign power remain untouched when the power is
unnamed and when the circumstances of the invasion are shrouded in vagueness', but 'they are generally
missing from the folio when France is directly named'. She believes that this is evidence of censorship,
since the Master of the Revels was 'on guard to catch any matter in plays which might be offensive to
the court or to foreign ambassadors'. But knowing this, the King's Men could themselves have made the
alterations without having been told to do so. In 'War', p. 31, Taylor analyses these differences between
quarto and Folio and makes several astute observations, but he does not speculate upon political or other
motivations for the changes that are essentially extrinsic to the drama. Finkelpearl, ' "The comedians'
liberty" ', does not treat King Lear but discusses the many loopholes in the system and quotes abundant
testimony to show that scandalous and libellous plays were, in fact, performed; objectionable material
apparently could be added after licensing. Furthermore, while the deletion of verbal allusions to France
suggests self-censorship by the King's Men, on the other hand F introduces visual indications of nationality
in altered stage directions, e.g. at 4.3.0, 5.1.0, 5.2.0, as Honigmann notes in 'Do-it-yourself-Lear', New
Yark Review of Books, 25 October 1990, p. 59.
The Tragedy of King Lear
m
behind and the cast reduced.1 Again, this is entirely speculative: unfortunately, we
have sparse records of performance for King Lear in the early seventeenth century (see
above, p. 32). It bears repeating that just as no single motive or person need have been
responsible for all the alterations in the Folio, no single occasion is necessary to mark
them. On the contrary, some evidence points to several stages of alteration. At 1.4.119,
Q has fifteen lines of dialogue between Lear and his Fool, F lacks the passage, except for
the first three lines, which were probably marked for omission as well, since an obvious
hiatus is left; but Compositor E missed the notation or it was not indicated clearly
enough on his manuscript.2 The three lines in F, however, vary not only in accidentals
but in two substantive readings:

Q: Ltétr. A bitter fbolc.

F—l*. Doo'ft know the difference my boy,betwecne a bitter
fbole, and a fwcetc fbole.
L**r% No lad, teach roee.
F00U. That Lord that counfail'd theetogiue away thy land,
Come placehira hcere by mce, doe thou fbrhim (land,
The fweet and bitter fbole will prefentry appear*,
The one in roo tlcy here, the otherfoundoot there.
Lier. Do'ft thou call mce fbole boy f
F00U. All thy other Titles thouhafl giuenaway ,tha .thou
waft borne with.
Keri. This is not altogether foole my Lord.
Foie. No faith, Lords and great men will not let me, ifI had
a monopolie out,they would hauc part ant.and Ladies too,thcy
will not let me haueall the foole to my felfc, they'l be marching*,
giue m? an eggc Kuucle, and ile giuc thee two crown e s.

F: hear, A bitter Foole.

Foole. Do'ft thou know the difference my Boy, be.
iwecoe abittcr Foolc,aod « fweet one.

L(*r. No Lad, teach me.

Foole. Nunckle,giue n>eanegge, and He giue thee
twoCrot»nc5.

What apparently happened was that a reviser originally altered the passage, which at
a later time was marked for deletion in the playhouse manuscript (by a vertical line in
the left-hand margin and a diagonal line through the passage).3 Possibly the marks did
not extend fully enough or clearly enough from the beginning of the passage; hence,

1
Compare Greg, SFF, pp. 386-7. Taylor argues, however, that musicians regularly toured and in any case
no evidence exists of Lear going on tour (Textual Companion, p. 538).
2
Compare Stone, p. 234. Taylor, 'Censorship', pp. 106-7, seconded by Kerrigan, pp. 218-19, rejects Stone's
conjecture and believes Shakespeare intended the lines to stand in F as they are.
3
Alternatively, as Professor Howard-Hill advises me, a revising author might have begun adjusting the
passage, then decided it was better to omit it altogether.
[8S] Introduction

Compositor E mistakenly set the first three lines that were intended for omission along
with the rest of the passage. In the process, besides changing the spelling of 'Doo'st'
and capitalising 'boy' and 'foole', he kept the variant readings introduced earlier: the
added 'thou' and the substitution 'one' for 'foole'.

Preparation for publication

Since Shakespeare had died several years before publication of the Folio collection was
planned by his fellows, and since he apparently showed no interest in the publication of
his plays during his lifetime, preparation of copy for the printing of either Q or F by the
author may be ruled out. The book-keeper, the Folio compilers, or a printing-house
editor, however, might have taken some care to see that the manuscript was properly
prepared before printing began. Q gives little evidence that Okes or anyone else in his
printing-house edited the manuscript before printing began. Q2, on the other hand,
shows some attempts to correct lineation and other Q errors, and F (also printed by
Jaggard) shows further attempts to correct, regularise, and otherwise update spelling
and punctuation, not always accurately, as we have seen. The heavier Folio punctuation
and capitalisation are doubtless the work of Compositors B and E and reflect Jaggard's
house style, although the heavier use of parentheses might be a scribe's. Italics for stage
directions are common for Q and F, but F uses italics for the letters in i .2 and 4.5 as well.
Either the author, an editor, or the book-keeper had introduced act and scene divisions
in the copy for F, but whoever it was forgot to renumber the last scene in Act 4 correctly
(see Commentary 4.6.0). Compositors might attempt local emendation - certainly B
might, though not E - but neither was above stretching or compressing his copy to fit
his measure, or breaking or combining verse lines as the available space required (see
above, p. 69). Most likely we owe the better state of the Folio text more to the relative
tidiness of the prompt-book manuscript, collated and corrected in the theatre, than to
the attentions of a printing-house editor or the compositors.

T H E T E X T U A L DATA AND E D I T O R I A L P R O C E D U R E
Variants are of two kinds, substantive and accidental. For the editor of a modern-
spelling text, orthography and punctuation usually have little significance, although
some ambiguous spellings in the copy-text may require decisions or emendations, as
in the spelling of F 'mettle' (1.1.64), which could be 'mettle' or 'metal' (Q has 'mettall'),
and the use of question marks, which were often used for exclamation marks. Where
accidentals of this kind may have substantive implications, they are recorded in the
collation.
More important than accidentals are the nearly 1,500 substantive variants between
Q and F that require choices for a modernised text. Where both readings are acceptable,
F is usually preferred, in accordance with the revision-hypothesis generally accepted
for this edition, but both readings are recorded in the collation. Q readings usually
preferred by editors are discussed in the Commentary, as in the case of Q 'rashVF
'sticke' (3.7.57) and Q 'dearne'/F 'sterne' (3.7.62). Where F is clearly wrong and Q
right, the Q reading is adopted, as at 3.6.27, Q 'Bobtaile tike'/F 'Bobtaile tight', though
the spelling is modernised. Again, these variants are all recorded in the collation.
The Tragedy of King Lear [86]

Quarto and Folio compared: some parallel passages

The many detailed changes that occur between Q and F are graphically illustrated in
the series of parallel passages below, which are edited with collation (but no other
annotation) and modernised, like the rest of this edition. Words, phrases, lines unique
to one text or the other appear in bold type, with spaces left to indicate where cut
or added passages appear. The reader may thereby get a general idea of the revision
process, whereas the Textual Analysis (Part 2, pp. 265-91 below) and the Commentary
provide more detailed information.
In the first pair of passages, the revision of stage directions as well as Lear's opening
speeches are prominent. Not only are additions and deletions noticeable, but words
and phrases are altered, for various reasons (see Textual Analysis, pp. 77-9 above).
In the next pairs of passages, similar changes occur that, again, may be variously
explained. As the collation reveals, the Folio sometimes corrects the quarto, and vice
versa. Other emendations of both Q and F may also be required for clarity or sense, as
in the emendations of Tom o'Bedlam's mad rant. In the final example, Shakespeare
apparently took some pains to alter Lear's last speech, substituting for the long sigh
in Q ('O, o, o, o') lines that emphasise the changes in his character by the end of the
play. Two important speech ascriptions are also altered. The first makes ambiguous in
F what was straightforward in Q (does Kent wish his heart, or Lear's, to break?); the
second gives the concluding lines in F to Edgar rather than Albany and thus makes
an important thematic and political statement. An appropriate final stage direction is
added or restored.
Were a fully annotated and collated parallel-text edition feasible, the reader could
study all of the changes between Q and F in detail. Since this is not possible, the passages
presented here must serve to show the nature of at least some of the changes that sup-
port the revision theory on which this edition is based. For a complete demonstration
of the changes, the reader may consult The Complete 'King Lear', ed. Michael Warren,
1990, where the texts of quarto and Folio are presented in parallel form in facsimile
reproduction, including the corrected and uncorrected states of each passage in which
they occur. Unlike the present sampling, however, it provides no emendation or colla-
tion, and of course no annotation, although a useful introduction and bibliography are
included.
[S7] Introduction

[Quarto: Act i, Scene i]

Sound a Sennet. Enter one bearing a Coronet, then Lear, then the Dukes of Albany
and Cornwall, next Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, with Followers

LEAR Attend my lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege. [Exit] 3°
LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker purposes.
The map there. Know, we have divided
In three our kingdom, and 'tis our first intent
To shake all cares and business of our state,
Confirming them on younger years. 35

The two great princes, France and Burgundy, 4°

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters,

Which of you shall we say doth love us most,

That we our largest bounty may extend 45
Where merit doth most challenge it? Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

30 SD Exit] F; not in Q; Exeunt Gloucester with Edmond. I Capell 48-9 Gonerill, / Our . . . first] F; Gonerill, our . . . first
Q (one line)

[Quarto: Act i, Scene 2]

GLOUCESTER He cannot be such a monster. 85

EDMOND Nor is not, sure.
G L O U C E S T E R To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.
Heaven and earth! Edmond, seek him out: wind me into him, I pray
you. Frame your business after your own wisdom. I would unstate
myself to be in a due resolution.
EDMOND I shall seek him, sir, presently, convey the business as I shall see
means, and acquaint you withal. 9°
GLOUCESTER These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to
us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason thus and thus, yet nature
finds itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools, friendship falls
off, brothers divide. In cities, mutinies; in countries, discords; palaces,
treason; the bond cracked between son and father. 95
The Tragedy of King Lear [88]

[Folio: Act i, Scene i]

Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERILL, REGAN,
CORDELIA, and Attendants

LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my lord. Exit 30
LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the map there. Know, that we have divided
In three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we 35
Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, 4°
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state), 45
Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge? Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

[Folio: Act 1, Scene 2]

GLOUCESTER He cannot be such a monster. 85

Edmond, seek him out: wind me into him, I pray you. Frame the
business after your own wisdom. I would unstate myself to be in a due
resolution.
EDMOND I will seek him, sir, presently, convey the business as I shall find
means, and acquaint you withal. 9°
GLOUCESTER These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to
us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus,
yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools,
friendship falls off, brothers divide. In cities, mutinies; in countries,
discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked 'twixt son and 95
[8g] Introduction

Find out this villain, Edmond, it shall lose thee nothing. Do it carefully. ioo
And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished; his offence, honesty.
Strange, strange! [Exit]

IOI offence, honesty.] F,- offence honest, Q 102 SD] F; not in Q

[Quarto: Act 2, Scene 2]

c o R N WA L L Fetch forth the stocks!

As I have life and honour, there shall he sit till noon.
REGAN Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.
KENT Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You could not use me so.
REGAN Sir, being his knave, I will. 125
[Stocks brought out]
CORNWALL This is a fellow of the selfsame nature
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.
GLOUCESTER Let me beseech your grace not to do so. 128
His fault is much, and the good king, his master,
Will check him for't. Your purposed low correction
Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches
For pilferings and most common trespasses i28d
Are punished with. The king must take it ill
That he's so slightly valued in his messenger
Should have him thus restrained.
CORNWALL I'll answer that.
REGAN My sister may receive it much more worse
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted.
For following her affairs. - Put in his legs. i33 a
[Kent is put in the stocks]
Come, my good lord, away.
[Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent]

1 2 1 - 2 Fetch . . . noon] F lineatum; divided honour, / There Q 122 sit] F, Q corr.; set Q uncorr. 124-5 Why . . . so] F
lineation; as prose Q 125 SD] F; after 125 Dyce; not in Q 127 speaks] F; speake Q i28c-d Is . . . trespasses] Pope's
lineatum; two lines divided valued / In Q 128c basest] Q corr.; belest Q uncorr. 128c contemned'st] Capell; contaned Q
uncorr. ; temnest Q corr., Q2 1286-131 Are . . . that] Oxford lineation; lines end. . . with, / . . . valued / . . . restrained. / . . .
that. Q 133a SD] After 127, Rowe; not in Q, F 134 Come . . . away] F assigns this line to Cornwall 134 SD] Dyce; Exit
Q2, F; not in Q
The Tragedy of King Lear [90]

father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction: there's

son against father. The king falls from bias of nature, there's
father against child. We have seen the best of our time. Machina-
tions, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us
disquietly to our graves. Find out this villain, Edmond, it shall lose
thee nothing. Do it carefully. And the noble and true-hearted Kent
banished; his offence, honesty. 'Tis strange. Exit

[Folio: Act 2, Scene 2]

CORNWALL Fetch forth the stocks !

As I have life and honour, there shall he sit till noon.
REGAN Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.
KENT Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not use me so.
REGAN Sir, being his knave, I will. 125
Stocks brought out
CORNWALL This is a fellow of the selfsame colour
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.
GLOUCESTER Let me beseech your grace not to do so.

The king his master needs must take it ill

That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,
Should have him thus restrained.
CORNWALL I'll answer that.
REGAN My sister may receive it much more worse
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted. 133
[Kent is put in the stocks]
CORNWALL Come, my lord, away.
[Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent]

133 SD] After i2j Rome; not in Q, F 134 SD] Dyce; Exit. F, Q2; not in Q
[<?'] Introduction

[Quarto: Act 4, Scene 1]

GLOUCESTER Sirrah, naked fellow.

EDGAR Poor Tom's a-cold. [Aside] I cannot dance it farther.
GLOUCESTER Come hither, fellow.
EDGAR Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
GLOUCESTER Know'st thou the way to Dover? 55
EDGAR Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor Tom hath been
scared out of his good wits. Bless the good m a n from the foul fiend.
Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once: of lust, as Obidicut;
Hobbididence, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of
murder; Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing, who since 58c
possesses chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee,
master!
GLOUCESTER Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues
Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched "°
Makes thee the happier. Heavens deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man
That stands your ordinance, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly.
So distribution should under excess, 65
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
EDGAR Ay, master.
GLOUCESTER There is a cliff whose high and bending head
Looks firmly in the confined deep.
Bring me but to the very brim of it, 7°
And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me. From that place
I shall no leading need.

52 a-cold] Rome; a cold Q, F 56-586 Both . . . master] As prose F; entire passage as verse, lines ending . . . foot-path, / . . .
wits, / . . . fiend, / . . . once, / . . . dumbnes, / . . . of / . . . chambermaids / . . . maister. Q 58c Flibbertigibbet] Pope;
Stiberdigebit Q 58c mopping and mowing] Theobald; Mobing, & Mohing Q 72-3 With . . . need] F lineation; lines end
. . . me, / . . . need Q
The Tragedy of King Lear

[Folio: Act 4, Scene 1]

GLOUCESTER Sirrah, naked fellow.

EDGAR Poor Tom's a-cold. [Aside] I cannot daub it further.
GLOUCESTER Come hither, fellow.
EDGAR [Aside] And yet I must. - Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
GLOUCESTER Know'st thou the way to Dover?
EDGAR Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor Tom hath been
scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, goodman's son, from the foul
fiend.

GLOUCESTER Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues
Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched
Makes thee the happier. Heavens deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly.
So distribution should undo excess,
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
EDGAR Ay, master.
GLOUCESTER There is a cliff whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully in the confined deep.
Bring me but to the very brim of it,
And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me. From that place
I shall no leading need.

54 And . . . bleed] Capell's lineation and punctuation; two lines divided must: / Blesse F 57 scared] Q; scarr'd F
goodman's son,] thee good mans sonne, F,- the good man Q
[93] Introduction

[Quarto: Act 5, Scene 3]

LEAR And my poor fool is hanged. No, no, life?

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, 280
And thou no breath at all? O thou wilt come no more,
Never, never, never. Pray you, undo
This button. Thank you, sir. O, o, o, o.

EDGAR He faints. My lord, my lord! 285

LEAR Break, heart, I prithee break.
EDGAR Look up, my lord.
KENT Vex not his ghost. O, let him pass. He hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer. [Lear dies]
EDGAR O, he is gone indeed.
KENT The wonder is he hath endured so long. 290
He but usurped his life.
ALBANY Bear them from hence. Our present business
Is to general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain
Rule in this kingdom and the gored state sustain.
KENT I have a journey, sir, shortly to go: 295
My master calls, and I must not say no.
ALBANY The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest have borne most; we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long. 300
[Exeunt with a dead march]

279-81 And .. . more] F lineation; as prose Q 280 have] F,- of Q 282-3 Never .. . O] Oxford lineation; as prose Q 287-9
Vex . . . longer] F lineation; lines end . . . passe, / . . . wracke, / . . . longer. Q 289 SD] Oxford; not in Q {compare F) 300
SD] F; not in Q
The Tragedy of King Lear [94]

[Folio: Act 5, Scene 3]

LEAR And my poor fool is hanged. No, no, no life?

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, 280
And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
Never, never, never, never, never.
Pray you, undo this button. Thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her! Look, her lips.
Look there, look there. He dies
EDGAR He faints. My lord, my lord! 285
KENT Break, heart, I prithee break.
EDGAR Look up, my lord.
KENT Vex not his ghost. O, let him pass. He hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.
EDGAR He is gone indeed.
KENT The wonder is he hath endured so long. 290
He but usurped his life.
ALBANY Bear them from hence. Our present business
Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain
Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.
KENT I have a journey, sir, shortly to go: 295
My master calls me; I must not say no.
EDGAR The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most; we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long. 300
Exeunt with a dead march
NOTE ON THE TEXT

The text for this edition is based on the First Folio (1623), not on the first quarto
(1608). The quarto and Folio texts, while in the main running parallel to each other,
are also significantly different in places: some words, phrases, and passages are unique
in each, and some show minor alterations of various kinds. Some modern scholars
argue that the differences - in which the Folio omits some of the quarto and adds new
material - constitute evidence that the Folio is a revised version of the play, largely car-
ried out by Shakespeare himself. In the present edition, spelling has been modernised,
and abbreviations and punctuation regularised. The spelling of characters' names in
speech headings and stage directions is made uniform and consistent with spellings
used in F; hence, Edmond, Gonerill. Punctuation has been kept as light as possible,
except where syntax requires clarification; significant departures from punctuation in
the copy-text are recorded in the collation.
In the format for the collation, the authority for this edition follows immediately
after the lemma (the quotation from the text, enclosed by a square bracket). Other
readings follow in chronological order. Significant departures from F are noted in the
collation by an asterisk, and all Q-only passages (not found in F) are presented in an
Appendix, pp. 293-309 below. Discussions of substantial passages unique to either Q
or F appear in the Textual Analysis, pp. 265-91 below.
Elisions in F are generally retained, when consistent with the metre. All -ed end-
ings are assumed to be elided, where they would be today, except when the metre
requires otherwise and -id is used. Other elisions are often signalled in the Com-
mentary. Although Shakespeare was at the height of his powers when writing King
Lear, and irregular lines (short or long) may be found throughout the text, the
iambic pentameter line has been taken as the normal verse structure, and relin-
eation is made accordingly. This means that sometimes two half-lines, found to
equal a single pentameter or (occasionally) hexameter line, will be so arranged in the
text.1
The present edition generally omits locations for each scene or a detailed time scheme
for the play. In keeping with its emphasis on the play as a performance script, especially
for a modern audience, every effort is made to stress the fluid and rapid movement from
scene to scene as well as within scenes. Although act and scene designations (which
the Folio introduces) may appear as impediments to that end, they can be regarded as
useful aids for tracking events in the play, nothing more.

1
On joining half-lines, see George T. Wright, Shakespeare's Metrical Art, 1988, pp. 103-5, I43~5> an
d
compare David Bevington (éd.), Ant., 1990, pp. 266-70.

95
The Tragedy of King Lear [96]

The 'Through Line Numbers', as established by Charlton Hinman in The Norton

Facsimile: The First Folio of Shakespeare, copyright © by W. W. Norton & Company,
Inc., are used in this volume with the kind permission of Norton & Co. They appear at
the top of each page of the play text and include the first and last lines on those pages
according to Hinman's Folio numbering.
The Tragedy of King Lear
L I S T OF CHARACTERS

L E A R , King of Britain
GONERILL |
REGAN > Lear's daughters
CORDELIA I
The King of YRAN CE
The Duke O / B U R G U N D Y
The Duke O / A L B A N Y , husband to Gonerill
The Duke O / C O R N W A L L , husband to Regan
The Earl O / G L O U C E S T E R
E D G A R , his elder son
EDMOND,te bastard son
The Earl of K E N T
CUR AN, a courtier
A GENTLEMAN
0 S wA L D, Gonerill's steward
An OLD M A N , Gloucester's tenant
A CAPTAIN
A HERALD
F O O L , m Lear's service
Knights, Gentlemen, Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers, Servants
T H E T R A G E D Y OF K I N G L E A R

I.I Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMOND

KENT I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than
Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER It did always seem so to us: but now in the division of
the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most,
for qualities are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make 5
choice of either's moiety.
KENT Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge. I have so
often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to't.
KENT I cannot conceive you. 10
GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon
she grew round wombed, and had indeed, sir, a son for her
cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Title] F,- M. William Shak-speare / HIS / Historié, of King Lear. Q Act i, Scene i I . I ] Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
?; not in Q o SD] F; Enter Kent, Gloster, and Bastard. Q 4 kingdom] F; kingdomes Q 5 qualities] F; equalities Q 9
to't] too't F,- to it Q

Act 1, S c e n e 1 of the plan to his closest advisers. Compare 'darker

o SD GLOUCESTER F spells the name this way purpose' (31). As these lines and 3 2 - 3 indicate,
in some SDS and Gloster in others. In SHS, Glouc. is Lear has already divided up the realm; hence, the
most frequently used, though Compositor E tends love contest that follows is a sham and not really
to prefer Glo. or Glost. In dialogue, 'Glouster' is meant to determine who gets what share. It appears
Compositor B's preferred spelling, 'Gloster' Com- from 81 that he intends to favour Cordelia, and the
positor E's. Q consistently uses 'Gloster', which incentive in 47-8 is false.
reflects the proper pronunciation. 4 values rates.
0 SD EDMOND This is the F spelling here and at 5 qualities i.e. their qualities. F changes Q'S
21; in 1.2 and afterwards F usually uses Bastard in 'equalities'.
SDS and Bast, in SHS, like Q, but either 'Edmond' or 5 weighed balanced.
(especially in Acts 3-5) 'Edmund' in the dialogue, 5-6 t h a t . . . moiety that the most careful exam-
where Q uses 'Edmund' consistently. The name ination of either one's portion cannot determine
was probably suggested by Father Edmonds, the any preference.
exorcist in Harsnett's Declaration, and by Edmond 5 curiosity careful examination, scrutiny
Peckham, in whose home the exorcisms took place. 6 moiety share, portion.
1 affected inclined to, loved. 8 breeding (1) upbringing, (2) parentage.
1 Albany When Brute, the first King of Britain, 9 brazed brazened, hardened.
divided his realm, he gave his youngest son Alban- 10 conceive understand. Gloucester plays on
act the territory north of the Humber as far as the biological sense.
Caithness. Thus it was called Albania and later 1 1 - 1 3 Sir . . . bed Gloucester's coarse humour
Albany. must be offensive to Edmond, if he overhears his
3-4 but . . . kingdom Lear has not revealed all father speaking thus, as Rosenberg assumes (p. 12).

99
1.1.14 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 20-40 [100]

KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.
GLOUCESTER But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder 15
than this, who yet is no dearer in my account; though this knave
came something saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet
was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the
whoreson must be acknowledged. D o you know this noble
gentleman, E d m o n d ? 20
E D M O N D No, my lord.
G L O U C E S T E R M y lord of Kent; remember him hereafter as my
honourable friend.
E D M O N D M y services to your lordship.
K E N T I must love you and sue to know you better. 25
EDMOND Sir, I shall study deserving.
GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
again. The king is coming.
Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, G O N E R I L L ,
REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants

LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my lord. Exit 30

16 account;] Theobald; account, Q, F 17 to] F; into Q 22 Kent; remember] Kent: / Remember F; Kent, remember
Q 28 SD] F; Sound a Sennet, Enter one bearing a Coronet, then Lear, then the Dukes of Albany, and Cornwell, next Gonortll,
Regan, Cordelia, with followers. Q 30 lord] F; Leige Q 30 SD] F; not in Q; Exeunt Gloucester and Edmond. / Capell

14 fault (1) transgression, (2) lost scent, as in 27-8 away . . . again 'Perhaps these words seal
hunting, (3) female genitals (Rubenstein, King). Gloucester's doom' (Muir).
Compare Venus and Adonis 691-6, where 'fault' is 28 SD Sennet A set of notes played on a trumpet
used in sense (2), and AY LI 4.1.174, where 'fault' or cornet to signal a ceremonial entrance or exit.
is used in senses (1) and (3). 28 SD GONERILL F spelling of this name is con-
14 issue (1) result, (2) offspring. sistent. Compare the older form 'GonorilP pre-
14 proper (1) good-looking, (2) right. ferred by Q.
15 order of law i.e. legitimate. 28 SD Q indicates that a 'coronet' is carried
15 some year about a year; compare 1.2.5. in as part of the procession - the one intended
16 account estimation. for Cordelia, Perrett and Muir believe. It is not
16 knave fellow; often applied to servant or clear why F omits this part of the SD. See 133 n.
menial. Hence, with an implication of low condi- below.
tion (see OED sv sb 2). 29 Attend Wait upon, escort. Lear's entrance
17 something somewhat. will be conditioned as much by the size and stature
19 whoreson bastard son (like 'knave' above, of the actor playing the role as by his interpretation
said jocularly). of it. See Rosenberg, pp. 2 2 - 3 2 .
26 study deserving 'I shall make every effort 30 SD Most modern editions include Edmond in
to be worthy of your favour' (Kittredge). But the this exit, but neither Q nor F gives any indication
words carry an ominous implication. when he leaves. In the light of subsequent events
27 out abroad. Renaissance nobles often sent and the development of his character, there may
their children to be brought up in other noble- be justification in keeping him on stage through-
men's homes, sometimes in their own country, out these momentous proceedings until the general
sometimes abroad. exodus at 261. Compare Granville-Barker, p. 229.
[101] TLN 41-55 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.45

LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

Give me the map there. Know, that we have divided
In three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we 35
Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and
Burgundy, 40
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
L o n g in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answered. Tell me, m y daughters
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest o f territory, cares of state), 45

31 shall] F; will Q 31 purpose) F; purposes Q 32 Give me] F; not in Q 32 that] F,- not in Q 33 fast] F; first
Q 34 from our age] F; of our state Q 35 Conferring] F; confirming Q 35 strengths] F; yeares Q 35-40 while we . . .
now] F; not in Q 40 The princes] F,- The two great princes Q 44-5 (Since . . . state)] F; not in Q

31-49 Meantime . . . first See Textual Analysis, suggest senility, the comic senex ira tus, or the dod-
pp. 77-9 above, for Folio revisions in this passage. dering old man . . .'
31 we The royal plural. 36 son i.e. son-in-law. In the sources, none of
31 darker purpose secret intention. The sinis- the daughters has a husband until after the love
ter sense of 'darker' is submerged. contest.
32 Give me the map Perrett (p. 144), follow- 38 constant will unswerving intention. Charac-
ing Koppel, says that Gloucester or Kent car- teristically, as at 33, Lear speaks in absolute terms.
ries the map in when they enter, discussing the 38 publish publicly proclaim.
division. Mack (pp. 89-90) argues that despite its 39 several separate (OED sv adj 1).
many interrogatives, the play's dominant rhetorical 39-40 that . . . now The wisdom of Lear's
mood is imperative. Berlin (p. 92) disagrees: Lear's motive here is arguable. Shakespeare's audience
progress is from imperative to interrogative, 'from a would have recognised the dangers, and James I
sure sense of self to a confrontation with mystery'. would have been particularly concerned (see p. 1
33 In three i.e. into three parts, but not equal above). NS cites Matt. 12.25: 'Every kingdom
thirds. See 3-4 n. divided against itself is brought to desolation.' In
33 fast (1) firmly fixed, (2) swift. any event, Lear's good intention does not suc-
34-5 To shake . . . strengths This is Lear's ceed. At 2.1.6-11, Curan speaks of impending wars
motivation for dividing the kingdom in Q. F between the dukes, and at 3.1.11 Kent mentions
expands it and adds a further motive at 44-5. 'division' between them.
'Q'S "state" compresses several relevant meanings, 40 prevented forestalled.
including the political and the personal . . . F 40 France and Burgundy Shakespeare assu-
unfolds the implications in "state", partly by devel- mes that in the time of which he writes France was
oping the hint in Q'S "Confirming"' (Jackson, not a unified kingdom and that the Duke of Bur-
P- 333)- gundy shared equal status with the King of France.
36 crawl Lear speaks figuratively. Although Their rivalry for Cordelia's hand is Shakespeare's
some actors have made him appear weak and senile invention.
from the outset, Lear's old age appears vigorous 44 both Used elsewhere by Shakespeare before
throughout this scene and later, certainly in F. Gary more than two nouns, as in WT44.56.
Taylor, 'Censorship', p. 96, discusses F'S 'deliberate 45 Interest Possession; compare John 4.3.147,
retrenchment of anything which might too directly where 'interest' = ownership.
1.1.46 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 56-75 [102]

Which of you shall we say doth love us most,

That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge? Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.
G O N E R I L L Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter, 50
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
As much as child e'er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; 55
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
C O R D E L I A [Aside] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.
L E A R Of all these bounds even from this line, to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains riched
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, 60
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issues
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall?
R E G A N I am made of that self-mettle as my sister
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart 65

48 nature doth with merit challenge? Gonerill,] F; merit doth most challenge it, / Gonorill Q 50 Sir, I love] F; Sir
I do love Q 50 word] F,- words Q 51 and] F; or Q 54 as] F,- a Q 54 found] F; friend Q 57 SD] Pope; not in Q,
F 57 speak?] F; doe, Q 59 shadowy] F; shady Q 59—60 and with . . . rivers] F; not in Q 61 issues] F; issue Q 63 of]
F; to Q 64 I] F; Sir I Q 64 that self-mettle as my sister] F; the selfe same mettall that my sister is Q

48-50 Where . . . matter Metrically irregu- 56 Beyond . . . much i.e. 'I love you beyond
lar lines, F'S revision of Q is incomplete or incom- limits, and cannot say it is so much, for how
pletely transcribed. In 48 'Gonerill' is elided (= much soever I should name, it would yet be more'
'Gon'rilP); in 50 'Sir' may be an actor's interpola- (Johnson),
tion (Schmidt, Zur Textkritik, cited by Furness). 58 O f . . . to this Lear points to the map (32).
48 Where . . . challenge Where natural affec- 59-60 and . . . rivers Q'S omission is probably
tion along with desert may claim it as due. the result of the compositor's eye-skip. See Textual
50 more . . . matter more than language can Analysis, p. 277 below.
convey. 59 champains level, open country; compare
51 eyesight, space, and liberty King notes Italian campagna.
the dramatic irony behind Gonerill's first com- 59 riched enriched.
parison, to 'eyesight', and her demand at 3.7.5 60 wide-skirted meads broad meadows.
that Gloucester should be blinded, which perhaps 64 self-mettle (1) self-same spirit (mettle),
explains the curious inclusion of this abstraction (2) self-same substance (metal). Shakespeare uses
with the others. 'mettle' and 'metal' interchangeably, often playing
51 space, and liberty 'freedom from con- on both senses regardless of spelling. Compare 2H4
finement, and the enjoyment of that freedom' 1.1.116:'For from his metal was his party steeled'.
(Hunter). The pun conveys dramatic irony: Regan's met-
53 grace favour, happiness. tie/metal, like her sister's, is hard (King).
55 breath poor (1) speech inadequate, (2) Ian- 65 prize . . . worth estimate my value to be
guage impoverished, i.e. by love (King). the same as hers. Kittredge believes the form is
55 unable incapable, weak. imperative: 'value me'.
[io3] TLN 76—91 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.80

I find she names my very deed of love.

Only she comes too short, that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys
Which the most precious square of sense possesses,
And find I am alone felicitate 70
In your dear highness' love.
CORDELIA [Aside] Then poor Cordelia,
And yet not so, since I am sure my love's
More ponderous than my tongue.
LEAR To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, 75
No less in space, validity, and pleasure
Than that conferred on Gonerill. Now our joy,
Although our last and least, to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interessed. What can you say to draw

66-7 I . . . profess] F; two lines divided short, / That Q 67 comes too] F; came Q *6a possesses] Q; professes F 71 SD]
Pope; not in Q, F 73 ponderous] F; richer Q 77 conferred] F; confirm'd Q 77 Now] F,- but now Q 78 our last and
least, to whose young] F; the last, not least in our deere Q 78 least,] Hanmer; least; F 79-80 The vines . . . interessed]
F; not m Q *8o interessed] Jennens; interest F 80 draw] F,- win Q

66 very deed actual document (from which she speare's Metrical Art, 1988, pp. 116-42. Wright
can read her love). notes the variety of Shakespeare's metrics in King
67 that in that. Lear and analyses a passage (138-48 below) on
69 the most precious square of sense Of pp. 104-5.
uncertain meaning, the phrase has been variously 76 validity value. Compare 5-6.
interpreted. Riverside glosses 'square of sense' as 78 our last and least In revising (or correcting)
figurative for 'the human body' or 'human life' Q, F makes a more clear-cut distinction in Lear's
and cites FQ. 11, ix, 22. In Pythagorean terms, the attitude to Cordelia and reintroduces the France-
square is an emblem of the material world, or the Burgundy rivalry for her love. Cordelia was not
world of sense, the physical universe; the circle, only the youngest daughter but smallest in stature,
an emblem of the conceptual world, even God hence 'least' in both senses.
Himself. (See S. K. Heninger, Touches of Sweet 79 milk of Burgundy Furness and others cite
Harmony, 1974, p. i n , and compare Leonardo's Eccles: 'The pastures of Burgundy, the effect
famous drawing of the human figure inscribed for the cause'. But Burgundy was a great wine-
within a square superimposed upon the same figure producing country, then as now, and 'milk' con-
with outstretched limbs inscribed within a circle - trasting with 'vines' may signify a rich wine; com-
a design that derives from Vitruvius. See G. L. pare 'Bristol milk'. Compare 253, however, where
Hersey, Pythagorean Palaces, 1976, pp. 88 ff.) the King of France refers to 'waterish Burgundy',
69 possesses Most modern editors follow Q and n.
since the F compositor may have erred through the 80 interessed Most modern editors emend F'S
proximity of'professe' in 67. 'interest', a variant spelling of the past participle
70 felicitate made happy. form of 'interess' = 'to admit to a privilege' (OED
73 More ponderous Weightier. A short, hyper- Interess v 1: '/o be interessed, to have a right or
metrical line at the end of a speech is not unusual in share', quoting this passage).
Shakespeare's mature drama. On short and shared 80 draw win. 'The gambling metaphor is signif-
lines (like 71, also), see George T. Wright, Shake- icant' (NS).
I.I.8I The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 92-105 [/04]

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.
LEAR Nothing?
CORDELIA Nothing.
LEAR Nothing will come of nothing, speak again. 85
C O R D E L I A Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
M y heart into m y mouth: I love your majesty
According to m y bond, no more nor less.
L E A R How, how, Cordelia? M e n d your speech a little,
L e s t you may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA Good my lord, 90
You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

81 opulent] Q; opilent F 81 Speak.] F; not in Q 83-4 LEAR Nothing? / CORDELIA Nothing.] F,- not in Q 85 Nothing]
F; How, nothing Q 86—8 Unhappy . . . less] F; as prose, Q 88 no more] F; nor more Q 89 How, how, Cordelia? Mend]
F; Goe to, goe to, mend Q 90 you] F; it Q 91-2 You . . . fit] Pope's lineation; lines divided me. / I Q, F

81 A third more opulent This exposes the pre- nihil fit (Tilley N285).
tence of the contest, since only a third remains. 86-7 I cannot heave . . . mouth Noble and
Contrary to modern usage of the word 'third', these Shaheen both cite Ecclus. 21.26: 'The heart of
thirds are three very unequal parts of the whole. If fooles is in their mouth: but the mouth of the
it is more opulent, the division of the realm and wise is in his heart'; but compare Sidney's Arcadia
the awards must have been decided beforehand. (1590), Bk 11, ch. 2, where Zelmane begins speak-
The ways Lear may address, or 'tempt', Cordelia ing 'with such vehemencie of passion, as though
in these lines are numerous and various (see Rosen- her harte would clime into her mouth, to take her
berg, pp. 55-6). Nevertheless, Cordelia refuses to tongues office'. On Cordelia's linguistic behaviour
humour her father and adheres rigidly to her 'bond' and later Kent's, Colie (p. 126) cites 1 John 3.18:
of filial duty. 'let vs not loue in worde, nether in tongue onely,
81 Speak Cordelia's first response may be but in dede and trueth'.
silence (compare 57). F'S addition, besides complet- 87-8 I love . . . less Compare King Leir, 279-
ing the line metrically, increases the dramatic ten- 80: 'But looke what love the child doth owe the
sion occasioned by Cordelia's hesitation. Jill Lev- father, / The same to you I beare, my gracious
enson contrasts Cordelia's response to that of most Lord' (Bullough, p. 344). On Cordelia's reply as it
of her precursors in the Lear story and relates it to evolved from Geoffrey to Shakespeare, see Perrett,
folktale and scriptural sources ('What the silence pp. 228-40; also see p. 10, n. 2, above.
said: still points in King Lear\ in Clifford Leech 88 bond i.e. the bond between child and par-
and J. M. R. Margeson (eds.), Shakespeare 1971, ent, filial obligation. Salingar (pp. 96-7) discusses
1972, pp. 215-29). the ambiguity in 'bond' = (1) fetter, (2) covenant,
82 Nothing J. S. Gill, N&Q 31 (1984), 210, legal agreement.
suggests Matt. 27.12-14 as a possible analogue or 91-3 You . . . honour you Cordelia explains
source for Cordelia's response, and Matt. 27.11-26 what she means by her 'bond'. Shaheen compares
as a whole for the love test. the Catechism: 'To love, honour, and succour my
83 Nothing? Lear's question may reflect father and mother', and Eph. 6.1-2, Exod. 20.12,
incredulity or unsure hearing or both. The F addi- and Deut. 5.16. Seeing Cordelia as a 'dramatized
tions (83-4) not only make Cordelia's response emblem', Reibetanz notes Cordelia's reply as a close
emphatic, but provide the actor playing Lear with paraphrase of the wedding response (pp. 30-1) - a
space for further reaction. fact noticed also by some psychoanalytically ori-
85 Nothing . . . nothing Proverbial: Ex nihilo ented critics.
[/o 5 ] TLN 106-25 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.112

Why have my sisters husbands, if they say

They love you all? Happily, when I shall wed, 95
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters.
L E A R But goes thy heart with this? t
CORDELIA Ay, my good lord.
L E A R So young, and so untender? 100
C O R D E L I A S o young, my lord, and true.
L E A R Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower.
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
B y all the operation of the orbs 105
From whom we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this forever. T h e barbarous Scythian, no
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

94-8 Why . . . sisters.] F; lines end . . . you all, / . . . hand / . . . him, / . . . neuer / . . . father all. Q 98 sisters.] F;
sisters, to loue my father all. Q 100 untender?] F; vntender, Q 104 mysteries] F2,- mistresse Q miseries F 104 night,]
F; might, Q m - 1 3 Or . . . relieved] F; lines end . . . generation / . . . appetite / . . . relieued Q 112 to my bosom] F;
not in Q

94-8 Why . . . sisters Cordelia's logic here is stiff in opinion; 'true' would then = (1) unerring,
irrefutable, but Lear is in no mood for logic. He (2) growing straight,
only registers what seems to him his daughter's 104 mysteries secret rites,
cold response to a repeated invitation to tell the 104 Hecate Pagan goddess of the lower world,
world how much she really loves him, as her sis- patroness of witchcraft (usually performed at
ters have just done. As 99 and 100 show, he can- night) and of the moon, she appears in Mac 3.5
not believe what he hears or understand what is and 4.1.
happening. 105 operation of the orbs The movement, and
95 Happily i.e. haply, perchance, F'S spelling (a therefore astrological influence, of the heavenly
variant form) suggests a possible pun, though the bodies.
pronunciation is disyllabic. 108 Propinquity and property of blood i.e.
96 plight troth-plight, promise to wed. close relationship, kinship, consanguinity.
98 Sure The sarcastic effect of 'Sure' is bet- n o from this from this time (Steevens). But
ter appreciated in America, where the idiom has Lear may be gesturing from his breast. In Ham.
survived, than in Britain (King), Q'S additional 2.2.156, Polonius similarly gestures, using demon-
half-line makes Cordelia's point more emphatic strative pronouns.
but repeats the sense of 95. See Textual Analysis, n o Scythian Inhabitant of Asia known from
p. 76-7 above. classical times for barbaric practices. Tamburlaine,
99 thy heart King notes a possible pun on in Marlowe's play, was a fierce Scythian shepherd
Cordelia's name (Latin cor, cordis — 'heart'). In the whose cruelty was dramatised but did not include
next twenty lines Lear twice refers to his heart as cannibalism.
severed from her (109, 120). 1 1 1 - 1 2 Or he . . . appetite A reference to the
101 true In the preceding line, Hunter detects barbaric custom among some cannibalistic peoples
a play on 'untender' = (1) hard, (2) inflexible, of feeding upon their infant children or their
i. i. 113 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN I 26-44 [w6]

Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved,

As thou my sometime daughter.
KENT Good my liege -
LEAR Peace, Kent, 115
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. Hence and avoid my sight!
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her. Call France. Who stirs? 120
Call Burgundy. - Cornwall and Albany,
With m y two daughters' dowers digest the third.
L e t pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with m y power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects 125
T h a t troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,
With reservation o f an hundred knights
B y you to be sustained, shall our abode
Make with you by due turn; only we shall retain
T h e name and all th'addition to a king: the sway, 130

114 liege —] Rome; Liege. Q, F 115-16 Peace . . . wrath.] F; one line Q (turned over) 121 Burgundy. - ] Theobald;
Burgundy, Q, F 122 dowers . . . the] F; dower . . . this Q 124 with] F; in Q 129 turn . . . shall] F; turnes . . . still
Q 130 th'addition] F; the additions Q 130 king: the sway,] F; King, / The sway, Q

parents ('generation' = either 'offspring' or Cordelia, who disobeys.

'progenitors'; 'messes' = 'dishes of food'). Accord- 120 Who stirs? i.e. jump to it! 'The courtiers
ing to Harrison's Description of Britain, ch. 4, the are shocked into immobility' (Muir).
ancient Scots were of mixed Scythian and Spanish 122 digest consume, assimilate.
blood, and practised cannibalism (Perrett, p. 292). 123 Let pride . . . marry her i.e. let her pride,
114 sometime former. which she terms candour, be her dowry and get her
114 liege sovereign. a husband.
116 dragon . . . wrath Although the dragon was 125 all . . . effects all the outward shows,
on the crest of ancient British kings (Kittredge; accompaniments. Compare Ado 2.3.107. But note
NS), Shakespeare may refer simply to a type of the qualifiers below.
fierceness (as in Cor. 4.7.23), and to wrath as a 126-9 Ourself. . . turn Although Shakespeare
property of that fierceness, not its object. borrowed the idea of a retinue from an earlier
117 set my rest Another metaphor from gam- source than King Leir (probably the Mirour for
bling (compare 80). In the card game primero, to Magistrates), he increased the number to a hun-
set up one's rest meant 'to stand upon the cards in dred knights and added the stipulation of alter-
one's hand', thus to stake one's all. But as Kittredge nating monthly visits (Perrett, pp. 187-90). How
and others note, 'rest' also carried the suggestion Gonerill and Regan react here to Lear's unexpected
of repose, to which Lear looked forward in retire- stipulation of monthly visits is open to interpreta-
ment. These ambiguities are present in Rom. 4.5.6— tion.
7, 5.3.110. 127 reservation 'Law. The action or fact of
118 nursery i.e. care. The inversion of roles reserving or retaining for oneself some right or
involving Lear's second childhood is the subject interest in property which is being conveyed to
of much psychoanalytical commentary. another' (OED sv 2); Compare 2.4.245.
118 Hence Get away, leave; addressed to 130 addition titles, honours.
[io7] TLN 145-62 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.146

Revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.
KENT Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honoured as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master followed, 135
As my great patron thought on in my prayers -
LEAR The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.
KENT Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly
When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? 140
Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's
bound,
When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state,
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness. Answer my life, my judgement: 145
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,

133 between] F; betwixt Q 136 prayers - J Rome; prayers. Q; praiers. F 138-46 Let . . . least] F (except 142, divided
bowes? / To); nine lines ending . . . rather, / . . . heart, / . . . man, / . . . dutie I . . . bowes, / . . . folly, / . . .
consideration / . . . life / . . . least, Q 140 mad] Q2, F; man Q 140 wouldst] F4; wouldest F, F2-3; wilt Q 142 When
. . . bound] Johnson's lineation; two lines divided bowes / To F 143 Reserve thy state] F; Reuerse thy doome Q

131 Revenue Accented on second syllable. 140 When . . . old man? Abandoning the figure
133 This coronet Shakespeare uses 'coronet' of parrhesia, or respectful protest (Joseph, p. 276),
for the diadem of a nobleman in 1H6 5.4.134, Kent changes his idiom to direct, blunt address,
JfC 1.2.238, and elsewhere. In H5 2 Chorus 10 using the familiar second-person pronoun, appro-
and in Temp. 1.2.111-16 he explicitly contrasts priate only to subordinates and children, and an
'crowns and coronets'. In view of 131, moreover, appellation ('old man') that is stunning in its impu-
it is unlikely that Lear gives his sons-in-law his dence.
own crown to divide between them (compare Greg, 142 plainness blunt, frank speaking; as at 123
SFF, p. 384 n.), although in stage performances he and 2.2.91.
sometimes does, ironically emphasising the folly of 143 Reserve thy state i.e. do not relinquish
dividing his kingdom by so doing. Probably Lear your kingdom. Furness cites Johnson: T am
refers to the coronet he meant for Cordelia, which inclined to think that Reverse thy doom was Shake-
an attendant carries during the entry procession, speare's first reading, as more conducive to the
as Q directs (28 SD n.) See Perrett, pp. 151-4, and present occasion, and that he changed it after-
Rosenberg, p. 67, for stage business here, and com- wards to "Reserve thy state," which conduces
pare G. W. Williams, 'Lear's coronet', American more to the progress of the action.' Other com-
Notes & Queries 9 (1971), 99-100, who argues that mentators (e.g. Duthie, p. 125; Granville-Barker,
'coronet' means Lear's crown. p. 303) suggest that in F Kent is thinking more
137 make from i.e. let go. Lear's metaphor of Lear's safety than of Cordelia, who in the Q
refers to Kent's elaborate preamble; impatient, he reading is uppermost. Jackson (p. 338) says the
wants Kent to get to the point. But some commen- F readings stress Lear's political folly in surren-
tators (e.g. Muir, Kittredge) interpret the passage dering his kingdom; Q, more closely following the
differently and gloss 'make from' as 'avoid', i.e. get source play, emphasises his error in condemning
out of the way of (the arrow of) my anger. Cordelia.
138 fork An arrowhead with two forward points, 145 Answer . . . judgement Let my life be
or 'forkhead'. answerable for my opinion.
1.1.147 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 163-81 [108]

Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds

Reverb no hollowness.
LEAR Kent, on thy life no more.
K E N T M y life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine enemies, ne'er feared to lose it, 150
T h y safety being motive.
LEAR Out of my sight!
KENT See better, Lear, and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye.
LEAR Now by Apollo -
KENT Now by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
LEAR O vassal! Miscreant! 155
A L B A N Y , C O R N W A L L Dear sir, forbear.
K E N T Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
Or whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.
LEAR Hear me, recreant, 160
On thine allegiance hear me.

147-8 low sounds / Reverb] F; low, sound / Reuerbs Q 150 thine] F; thy Q *i50 ne'er feared] Oxford (Furnas conj.);
nere feare F; nor feare Q 151 motive] F; the motiue Q 154 Apollo - ] Q2; Appollo, Q; Apollo, F 154-5 Now . . . vain.]
F,- one line Q 155 O vassal! Miscreant] F; Vassall, recreant Q 156 ALBANY . . . forbear] F; not in Q 156 SH CORNWALL]
Cor. F,- CORDELIA Halio, Oxford 157-60 Kill . . . evil.] F; lines end . . . Physicion, / . . . disease, / . . . clamour / . . .
euill. Q 157 Kill] F; Doe, kill Q 157 thy fee] F; the fee Q 158 gift] F; doome Q 160-1 Hear . . . me.] Capell's
lineation; one Une Q, F 160 recreant] F, not in Q 161 thine] F; thy Q

148 Reverb no hollowness Do not reverber- 155 vassal base wretch.

ate hollowly; with a quibble on 'hollowness' = 155 Miscreant Villain (literally, infidel); as in
'emptiness' and 'insincerity' (Riverside). Compare R2 1.1.39. Some editions (e.g. NS) follow Rowe
Hj 4.4.67-9: 'I did never know so full a voice issue and add SD, Laying his hand on his sword, as occa-
from so empty a heart; but the saying is true, "The sioning Albany and Cornwall's interjection (156).
empty vessel makes the greatest sound." ' But other stage business suggesting violence is
149 pawn stake; as in a wager. possible (Rosenberg, p. 72; compare Urkowitz,
150 wage wager, risk. The preposition 'against' pp. 32-3).
may suggest some form of waging war (Muir), and 156 SH CORNWALL F'S Cor. can indicate either
'pawn' (149) may involve a metaphor from chess Cordelia or Cornwall. Following Goldring's sug-
(Capell). gestion (pp. 143-51), Oxford makes Cordelia the
152-3 See . . . eye Kent, as the wise counsellor, speaker here and later (see 182 SH n. below),
asks Lear to continue using him as his instrument 157-8 Kill . . . disease Compare Ham. 3.4.145-
for seeing better. 'Blank' refers to the white centre 9, where Shakespeare uses the disease metaphor for
of a target, the concentric rings of which resemble moral corruption, and 4.3.65-7, where he uses it
the pupil of an eye. Like Cordelia, Kent disobeys for mental disorder.
Lear's command to get out. 158 Revoke thy gift Seeing what has happened,
154 Apollo An appropriate pagan god, Apollo Kent opposes the plan of dividing the kingdom,
was the archer god and the sun god, or the god regardless of what he may have thought earlier (see
of clear seeing (Hunter). He wras also the god of 3-4 n. above),
diseases and their cure; compare 157-8. 160 recreant traitor.
[iog] TLN 182-204 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.182

That thou hast sought to make us break our vows,

Which we durst never yet; and with strained pride,
To come betwixt our sentence and our power,
Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, 165
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee for provision
To shield thee from disasters of the world,
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom; if on the tenth day following 170
T h y banished trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! B y Jupiter,
T h i s shall not be revoked.
KENT Fare thee well, king, since thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. 175
[To Cordelia] T h e gods to their dear shelter take thee,
maid,
That justly think'st and hast most rightly said.
[To Gonerill and Regan] And your large speeches may your
deeds approve,
That good effects may spring from words of love.
T h u s Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu, 180
He'll shape his old course in a country new. Exit
Flourish. Enter GLOUCESTER with FRANCE and BURGUNDY
[and] Attendants
CORDELIA Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
162 That] v; Since Q 162 vows] F; VOW Q 163 strained] F; straied Q 164 betwixt] F; betweene Q *i64 sentence] Q,
F uncorr., F2,- sentences F con: 167 Five] F,- Foure Q 168 disasters] F,- diseases Q 169 sixth] F4; fift Q; sixt F 170
tenth] F; seventh Collier 174 Fare| F; Why fare Q *i74 since] Q; sith F 175 Freedom] F; Friendship Q 176 SD]
Hanmer; not 111 Q, F 176 dear shelter] F; protection Q 177 justly think'st] F; rightly thinks Q 177 rightly said] F;
justly said Q 178 SD] Hanmer; not in Q, F 181 SD.I Exit] ?; not in Q 181 SD.2] F; Enter France and Burgundie with
Cluster, Q 182 su CORDKI.IA| I In HO, Oxford; Cor. Y; Glost. Q

162 That Seeing that. topsy-turviness, or inverted order, in the play. (See
163 strained excessive. NS, p. xxviii.)
166 Our . . . good i.e. our royal power being 178 approve make good, confirm.
effected. Lear has not yet relinquished his king- 179 effects deeds, actions.
ship (note 'our dominions', 171), as the subse- 181 old course customary conduct.
quent dialogue with Burgundy and France also 181 SD.2 Flourish A fanfare; compare 'Sennef,
shows. 28 SD.
171 trunk torso, body. 182 SH CORDELIA F alters Q'S Glost. to Cor.,
174-81 Fare . . . new 'After the storm comes which most editors take to indicate Cornwall.
the equanimity of Kent's rhymed couplets' (Craig, Cordelia seems a more appropriate speaker, since
cited by XS). Burgundy and France are her suitors. See 156 n.,
174 since thus Crowding may have prompted and compare Duthie, p. 168, who adopts Q'S SH,
Compositor E to substitute awkward 'sith' for Qq and Urkowitz, pp. 39-40.
'since' (Textual Companion, p. 532), thus avoiding 182 Here's A singular verb preceding a plu-
a turned-over line. ral subject appears often in Shakespeare; compare
175 Freedom . . . here An early indication of 3.3.16.
1.1.183 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 205-29 [no]

LEAR My lord of Burgundy,

We first address toward you, who with this king
Hath rivalled for our daughter. What in the least 185
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?
BURGUNDY Most royal majesty,
I crave no more than hath your highness offered,
Nor will you tender less?
LEAR Right noble Burgundy,
When she was dear to us, we did hold her so, 190
But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands.
If aught within that little seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.
BURGUNDY I know no answer. 195
L E A R Will you with those infirmities she owes,
Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,
Dowered with our curse, and strangered with our oath,
Take her, or leave her?
BURGUNDY Pardon me, royal sir,
Election makes not up in such conditions. 200
L E A R T h e n leave her, sir, for by the power that m a d e me,
I tell you all her wealth. [To France] F o r you, great king,
I would not from your love make such a stray

183-93 ^ly • • • pieced,] F; ten lines ending . . . towards you, / . . . daughter, / . . . present / . . . loue? / . . . what
/ . . . lesse? / . . . to vs [turned over] / . . . fallen, / . . . little I . . . peec'st, Q 184 toward . . . this] F; towards
. . . a Q 187 Most] F,- not in Q 188 hath] F,- what Q 194 more] F; else Q 196 Will] F,- Sir will Q 198 Dowered]
F; Couered Q 199 her?] Rome; her. Q, F 199-200 Pardon . . . conditions.] F; divided vp / On such Q 200 in] V; on
Q 202 SD] Pope; not in Q, F

184 address toward direct our speech toward (1) that person who rejects the slightest hint of
(Schmidt). insincerity, or (2) that small piece of unreality (that
185 rivalled competed. looks like a person).
189 less? Modern editors change the question 193 pieced added, eked out.
mark, found in both Q and F, to a full stop, which 194 like please.
makes Burgundy's reply sound too peremptory. 196 infirmities i.e. disabilities (enumerated in
Caught off guard by Lear's question, the duke does 197-8).
not know what to make of it and responds with a 196 owes owns, has.
query of his own. 198 strangered made a stranger, disowned.
190 so i.e. dear, worth much (with a pun on 200 Election . . . conditions No choice (elec-
'dear' = 'beloved'). tion) is possible under the terms thus set out.
192 that little seeming substance The ambi- 202 tell (1) report to, (2) count (Hunter),
guity of 'seeming' (it can go with either 'little' 202 For As for.
or 'substance') suggests two interpretations: either 203 make such a stray be so aberrant.
[///] TLN 230-51 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.224

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you

T'avert your liking a more worthier way 205
Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed
Almost t'acknowledge hers.
FRANCE This is most strange,
That she whom even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time 210
Commit a thing so monstrous to dismantle
So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree
That monsters it, or your fore-vouched affection
Fall into taint; which to believe of her 215
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Should never plant in me.
CORDELIA I yet beseech your majesty -
If for I want that glib and oily art,
To speak and purpose not, since what I well intend, 220
I'll do't before I speak - that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action or dishonoured step
That hath deprived me of your grace and favour,

205 T'avert] F; To auert Q 207 t'acknowledge] F; to acknowledge Q 207-13 This . . . degree] F,- six lines ending . . .
now / . . . praise, / . . . deerest, / . . . thing, / . . . fauour, / . . . degree, Q 208 she whom] F; she, that Q *2o8 best]
Q; not in F 210 The best, the] F; most best, most Q 214 your fore-vouched affection] F; you for voucht affections
Q 215 Fall] F,- Faine Q 217 Should) F,- Could Q 218-21 majesty - / If . . . speak - that] Maiestie, / If . . . speake,
that Q; Maiesty. / If. . . speake, that F; majesty, / (If . . . speak) that Theobald *220 well] Q; will F 221 make known]
F; may know Q 223 unchaste] F; vncleane Q

204 To As to. 215 Fall into taint i.e. must (from 213) now
204 beseech I beseech. appear to be insincere, hence discredited.
205 T'avert To redirect. 215 her 'Emphatic. Of the two alternatives
205 more worthier Double comparatives and France chooses the second, for the first is to him
superlatives are common in Shakespeare. Compare incredible' (Kittredge).
e.g. 2.2.92, 3.2.62. 2 1 5 - 1 7 to believe . . . me i.e. to believe Cordelia
208 whom i.e. who. Compare Temp. 5.1.76-8. guilty of so monstrous an offence requires a faith
208 best object most favoured object (to gaze that reason alone cannot instil in me; it would
upon). Compare MND 4.1.170, Cym. 5.4.55-6. require a miracle to get me to believe it.
209 argument theme, subject. 219 If for If (it is) because. Cordelia's bro-
2 1 1 - 1 2 dismantle . . . favour The image is ken or ungrammatical syntax (as well as her
of removing many layers of clothing that drape, somewhat repetitious speech) may be the result
or enfold, Cordelia in her father's favour. On the of her emotional state, as some commentators
imagery of clothing and divestment, see Heilman, believe,
pp. 67-87. 219 want lack (also at 225).
214 monsters it i.e. makes it (the offence) 220 purpose intend (to fulfil),
monstrous. 222 vicious blot moral stain.
214 fore-vouched affection previously pro- 223 dishonoured dishonourable,
claimed love.
1.1.22 5 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2 5 2 - 7 7 [7/2]

But even for want of that for which I am richer - 225

A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
That I am glad I have not, though not to have it,
Hath lost me in your liking.
LEAR Better thou
Hadst not been born than not t'have pleased me better.
F R A N C E Is it but this? A tardiness in nature, 230
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do? M y lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love's not love
When it is mingled with regards that stands
Aloof from th'entire point. Will you have her? 235
She is herself a dowry.
BURGUNDY Royal king,
Give but that portion which yourself proposed,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Duchess of Burgundy.
L E A R Nothing, I have sworn; I am firm. 240
B U R G U N D Y I am sorry then, you have so lost a father
That you must lose a husband.
CORDELIA Peace be with Burgundy;
Since that respect and fortunes are his love,
I shall not be his wife.
F R A N C E Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor, 245
Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised,
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.

225 for want] Q, F; the want Hanmer 225 richer] F; rich Q 227 That] F,- AS Q 228-9 Better thou / Hadst . . . better.]
Pope's lineation; Better thou hadst, / Not . . . better. F; Goe to, goe to, better thou hadst not bin borne, / Then . . .
better. Q 229 t'have] F; to haue Q 230 but this?] F; no more but this, Q 231-6 Which . . . dowry.] v; jive lines ending
. . . to do [turned under] I . . . Lady? / . . . sta[n]ds [turned under] I . . . haue her? / . . . dowre. Q 231 Which] F;
That Q *232 do?] Pope; do, Q; do: F 233 Love's] F; Loue is Q 234 regards] F; respects Q 235 th'entire point. Will]
Steevens; the intire point wil Q; th'intire point, will F 236 a dowry] F; and dowre Q 236-9 Royal . . . Burgundy.] F;
three lines ending . . . portion / . . . Cordelia / . . . Burgundie, Q 236 king] F; Leir Q; Leur Q2 240 I am firm.] F,1 not
in Q 242-4 Peace . . . wife.] F; two lines divided respects / Of Q 243 respect and fortunes] v; respects / Of fortune Q

225 for which i.e. for lack of which. considerations (such as a dowry) completely irrel-
226 still-soliciting always importuning, beg- evant to the main issue (love),
ging. 243 Since that Since.
228 liking 'Cordelia deliberately uses a colder 243 respect and fortunes consideration of
word than love'(Muir, following Kittredge). wealth (hendiadys). Compare 1.2.45, ctc -i ar, d Q
230 tardiness in nature i.e. slowness in dispo- 'respects / Of fortune'.
2
sition. 45~6 most rich . . . despised Noble and Sha-
231 history'Frequently used for what passes in heen compare the paradoxes in 2 Cor. 6.10: 'As
the inner life of man' (Schmidt 1879, cited by Fur- poore, and yet making many rich: as hauing noth-
ness). Used in this sense in MM 1.1.28, Rj 3.5.28. ing, and yet possessing all things'. Shaheen adds
233-5 Love . . . point Compare Sonnet 116, 2 Cor. 8.9: 'Our Lord Iesus Christ, that he being
where Shakespeare develops the idea more fully. riche, for your sakes became poore'.
234-5 mingled . . . point adulterated with
["3] TLN 278-99 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.1.268

Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.

Gods, gods! 'Tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflamed respect. 250
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind; 255
Thou losest here a better where to find.
LEAR Thou hast her, France, let her be thine; for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again. Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benison. 260
Come, noble Burgundy.

Flourish. Exeunt [Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloucester,

Edmond, and Attendants]

FRANCE Bid farewell to your sisters.

C O R D E L I A The jewels of our father, with washed eyes
Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are,
And like a sister am most loath to call
Your faults as they are named. Love well our father: 265
To your professed bosoms I commit him.
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
251 my] F; thy Q 253 of] F; in Q 254 Can] F,- Shall Q 257-8 Thou . . . see] F; divided thine, / For we Q 260
benison.] v; benizon? Q * 2 6 I SD] This edn; Exit Lear and Burgundie. Q; Flourish. Exeunt, F; Exeunt Lear, Burgundy,
Cornwal, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. I Capell 262-5 The . . . father:] F; lines end . . . father, / . . . you are, [turned
over] / . . . faults / . . . Father, Q 265 Love] F; vse Q

249-60 Gods . . . benison The couplets not only 260 benison blessing,
conclude the major action of this scene, they also 261 SD Exeunt 'Lear seems to take his leave, but
formalise the attitudes involved, as Hunter notes. in fact he flees . . . Flight - and pursuit - will weave
Reibetanz, p. 32, regards this speech of 'rhymed throughout the whole play now, its effect will be
paradoxy' as evidence that France is 'from another . . . pervasive' (Rosenberg, p. 79). Drawing paral-
world' than Lear's dark one. lels with classical Greek tragedy, Fredson Bowers
250 inflamed respect passionate regard. considers the climactic aspects of this scene in 'The
251 thrown . . . chance cast to my luck (another structure of King Lear\ SQ31 (1980), 7-20.
gambling metaphor). 262 jewels A term of endearment (NS), spoken
253 waterish (1) well-watered (with streams sarcastically?
and rivers), (2) weak, insipid. Compare 79 n.: the 262 washed eyes (1) tear-filled eyes, (2) eyes
king may be casting a slur on the wine of Burgundy cleared of illusion, cleansed, as in Rj 4.4.389-90,
as well! Ado 4.1.153-4.
254 unprized precious unvalued, unappreci- 265 as . . . named by their actual names.
ated (by others) but dear (to me). 266 your professed bosoms i.e. the nurture
255 though unkind i.e. though they have been and love you have declared (as opposed to what
unkind or unnatural. you may really feel and intend).
256 here . . . where Used as nouns. Kittredge 268 prefer recommend,
compares Oth. 1.1.137.
1.1.269 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 300-19 l"4]

So farewell to you both.

REGAN Prescribe not us our duty.
GONERILL Let your study 270
Be to content your lord, who hath received you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
C O R D E L I A Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides;
Who covers faults, at last with shame derides. 275
Well may you prosper.
FRANCE Come, my fair Cordelia.
Exeunt France and Cordelia
GONERILL Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most nearly
appertains to us both. I think our father will hence tonight.
REGAN That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.
GONERILL You see how full of changes his age is; the observation 280
we have made of it hath not been little. He always loved our
sister most, and with what poor judgement he hath now cast
her off appears too grossly.
REGAN 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly
known himself. 285

269 both.] F; both? Q 270 SH REGAN] F; Gononll. Q 270 duty.] F; duties? Q 270 su CÎOXF.RII 1] F; Regan Q 270-3
Let . . . wanted.] F; lines end . . . Lord, / . . . almes, / . . . scanted, / . . . wanted. Q 273 want] F; worth Q 274 plighted]
F; pleated Q 275 covers] Q, F; cover Jennens; cover'd Hanmer, Capell 275 with shame] v; shame them Q 276 my] F;
not in Q 276 SD Exeunt] F3; Exit Q, F, F2 *277~8 Sister, . . . tonight.] As prose, Capell; three verse lines ending . . . say,
/ . . . both, / . . . night. Q, F 277 little] F; a little Q *28i not] Q; not in v 283 grossly] F,- grosse Q

270 study aim, endeavour. 'cunning', and 'faults' is the object of both 'cov-
272 At fortune's alms As a charity, a poor gift ers' and 'derides' (Schmidt, cited by Duthie). NS
of fortune. and Oxford emend 'covers' to 'covert', following
272 scanted stinted, slighted. Mason (cited by Furness), so that 'cunning' is still
273 the want . . . wanted the absence of that responsible for covering faults. But Sisson, p. 231,
which you have lacked (i.e. love). Bevington says defends the F reading: 'Time at first covers faults,
'want' may also refer to her dowry. The alliteration but at last (unfolds them and) derides them with
and word-play (anadiplosis) emphasise Gonerill's shame.'
sarcasm. 276 Well . . . prosper Again, spoken sarcasti-
274 Time . . . hides Martha Andresen notes callv. Noble and Shaheen cite Prov. 28.13: 'He that
Cordelia's version of the Renaissance commonplace hideth his sinnes, shall not prosper.' Shaheen notes
sententia Veritasfiliatemporis ('Truth the daughter that the Authorised Version (1611) uses 'covereth'
of Time') and its relation to divestiture imagery instead of 'hideth'.
('"Ripeness is all": sententiae and commonplaces 278 will hence will go hence (a common
in King Lear\ in Some Facets, pp. 155-6). ellipsis).
274 plighted pleated, folded, hence concealed 279 with you Lear has not actually stipulated
(Onions). Compare 211-12. with whom he will first reside (126-9), o u t Regan
275 Who . . . derides The F reading is accept- rightly assumes that Gonerill, as the eldest daugh-
able. As Duthie says, 'The F version of the speech ter, will be first.
sounds more awkward and stilted than that of Q: 281 not Compositor E has apparently dropped
but the speech is a sententious one, and it may well the negative in this crowded line (and column), but
have left Shakespeare's pen more rather than less Schmidt 1879 and Oxford follow F.
stilted.' 'Who' takes 'Time' as its antecedent, not 283 grossly obviously.
U'S] TLN 320-36 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.2.2

GONER I L L The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash;
then must we look from his age to receive not alone the
imperfections of long-engraffed condition, but therewithal the
unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with
them. 290
REGAN Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this
of Kent's banishment.
GONER I L L There is further compliment of leave-taking between
France and him. Pray you, let us sit together. If our father carry
authority with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender 295
of his will but offend us.
REGAN We shall further think of it.
GONER I L L We must do something, and i'th'heat.
Exeunt

1.2 Enter EDMOND

EDMOND Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law

My services are bound. Wherefore should I
287 from his age to receive] F; to receiue from his age Q 288 imperfections] F; imperfection Q 288 long-engraffed]
Pope; long ingraffed F; long ingrafted Q 289 the unruly] F; vnruly Q 294 Pray you, let us sit] F; pray lets hit Q; pray
you let vs sit F 295 disposition] F,- dispositions Q 297 of it] F; on't Q Act 1, Scene 2 1.2] Scena Secunda. F; not
in Q 0 SD] Enter Bastard, v; Enter Bastard Solus. Q 1-26 Thou . . . news?] F; as prose Q 1 SH EDMOND] Bast. Q, F
{generally throughout)

286 The best . . . rash Even when in his prime period of time has elapsed and she has endured
and in good health, i.e. not infirm of age (284), disruptions to her household.
Lear has been impetuous.
287 look expect.
287 alone only. Act 1 , S c e n e 2
288 imperfections . . . condition faults 0 SD Gloucester's castle is the only location
implanted for a long time in his disposition, Q'S definitely named, besides Dover, though Perrett
'ingrafted' is closer to modern spelling; 'engraffed' (p. 258) questions the description of Gloucester's
is an older variant form. house as a 'castle' by Rowe and subsequent editors.
291 unconstant starts sudden fits (of passion). 1 - 2 2 Thou . . . bastards Edmond's soliloquy is
293 compliment ceremony. in the manner of the Vice of the old Morality plays
294 sit together take counsel with one another or Richard's opening soliloquy in / ? j , except that
(Schmidt). See Rj 3.1.173, Per. 2.3.92. Q'S 'hit' = he does not address the audience quite as directly
'agree' or 'strike' is more generally adopted by as they do while he reveals his vicious intentions.
editors, but F makes sense and does not require Like Richard III, Edmond shares the Elizabethan
emendation. McLeod (pp. 157—65) questions Machiavel's rationalism and ability to manipulate
Duthie's preference for 'hit' on several important others. See Danby, p. 63.
grounds. 1 Nature The natural son of Gloucester,
294 carry bear, manage. Edmond naturally takes Nature as his deity. See
295-6 last surrender . . . us i.e. his recent Danby, pp. 15-53, who discusses the conflicting
yielding of authority will become a problem for us. concepts of Nature in Shakespeare's time. Heil-
Gonerill is concerned that despite his abdication man says nature for Edmond is 'a vital force, the
Lear will still try to wield power. individual will, sexual vigor'. Compare Elton: 'In
298 do As opposed to Regan's 'think' (Muir). his libertine naturalism, Edmund witnesses [to] the
298 i'th'heat at once. Apparently, Gonerill and Jacobean disintegration of natural law and ethical
Regan fail to decide on a plan for immediate action. absolutes' (p. 126).
Scenes 3 and 4 show Gonerill taking the offensive 1 law i.e. as opposed to religion's laws and those
against Lear and his hundred knights only after a of society.
1.2.3 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 337-52 [1,6]

Stand in the plague of custom and permit

The curiosity of nations to deprive me?
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines
Lag of a brother? Why 'bastard'? Wherefore 'base'?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us
With 'base'? with 'baseness'? 'bastardy'? 'base, base'?
Who in the lusty stealth of nature take
More composition and fierce quality
Than doth within a dull, stale, tired bed
Go to th'creating a whole tribe of fops
Got 'tween a sleep and wake? Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.
Our father's love is to the bastard, Edmond,
As to th'legitimate. Fine word, 'legitimate'.

4 me?] F; me, Q 6 brother?] F," brother, Q 6 'base'?] F; base, Q 9 issue?] F; issue, Q 10 With 'base'? with 'baseness'?
'bastardy'? 'base, base'?] With Base? With basenes Barstardie? Base, Base? F; base, base bastardie? Q 13 dull, stale, tired]
F; stale dull lyed Q 14 th'creating] F; the creating of Q 15 a sleep] Q, F; asleep Capell 15 then,] F; the Q 16 land.]
land, Q, F 17 love] Q; loue, F 18 th'legitimate] F; the legitimate Q 18 Fine word, 'legitimate'] F; not in Q

3 custom convention, usage with the force of tion that being base-born implies being base in
law. other respects. Salingar, pp. 123-4, believes this
4 curiosity of nations 'Edmund probably owes passage is indebted in part to Montaigne's essay,
his word, curiosity - which he appears to use here in 'Upon Some Verses of Virgil'.
the sense of capricious refinement, with an overtone 7 dimensions bodily proportions; as in MV
of officious meddling - to Florio, and the attitude 3.1.61.
behind it to Montaigne, who insistently contrasts 7 compact composed, formed.
Nature and Custom' (Salingar, p. 122). Salingar 8 generous i.e. lofty, magnanimous, as befits a
cites relevant passages from the Essais, and Muir gentleman; as in Ham. 4.7.135.
from the Apology for Raymond Sebonde. 8 true proper, correct, 'truly stamped' (Muir).
4 me? Most editors continue the query to 6, 9 honest chaste.
but F appears right in making the break here. 11 lusty . . . nature 'stealthy enjoyment of nat-
Edmond is vexed at being 'deprived', or denied ural sexual appetite' (Riverside).
an inheritance; he then considers the two counts 1 1 - 1 2 take . . . quality Either (1) receive
against him: he is a younger brother, and he is ille- more physical and mental ingredients and energetic
gitimate. traits, or (2) require a greater and more vigorous
5 For that Because. physical and mental constitution. Both senses of
5 moonshines months. 'take' may be active here.
6 Lag of Behind, later than. 13 a dull . . . bed i.e. the result of a long mar-
6 Why . . . 'base' His bastardy concerns riage.
Edmond more than Edgar's seniority. Hence, in 14 fops fools.
the following lines he wrings from the terms 'bas- 15 Got Begot.
tard' and 'base' and their derivatives (the two terms 15 a sleep Capell's emendation, making one
are not, however, etymologically related) as much word, is unnecessary.
of their meaning as he can, both through the fig- 17-18 Our father's . . . legitimate The war-
ure of repetition and through what seems to him rant for this statement is Gloucester's speech,
logical questioning. (Compare Falstaff on 'honour', 1.1.17-8 (Hunter).
1H4 5.1.127-41.) Edmond challenges the assump-
["/] TLN 353-70 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.2.35

Well, my legitimate, [Takes out a letter] if this letter speed

And my invention thrive, Edmond the base 20
Shall to th'legitimate. I grow; I prosper;
Now gods, stand up for bastards!
Enter GLOUCESTER

GLOUCESTER Kent banished thus? and France in choler parted?

And the king gone tonight? Prescribed his power,
Confined to exhibition? All this done 25
Upon the gad? Edmond, how now? What news?
E D M O N D So please your lordship, none. [Putting up the letter]
G L O U C E S T E R Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?
E D M O N D I know no news, my lord.
G L O U C E S T E R What paper were you reading? 30
E D M O N D Nothing, my lord.
G L O U C E S T E R No? What needed then that terrible dispatch of it
into your pocket? T h e quality of nothing hath not such need to
hide itself. Let's see. Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need
spectacles. 35

19 SDJ This edit; not in Q, F 21 to th'| F; tooth' Q; top th' Capell (conj. Edwards) 23 thus? . . . parted?] F; thus,
. . . parted, Q 24 tonight?] v; to night Q 24 Prescribed] F; subscribd Q 25 exhibition?] F; exhibition, Q 26 gad?] F,-
gadde; Q 27 SD] Rmre; not in Q, F 32 needed] F; needes Q 32 terrible] Q2, F; terribe Q

19 speed succeed. speech, except for the last one, may be intended as
20 invention device. exclamation points, as Muir interprets them, but a
21 Shall to th'legitimate i.e. shall advance to, querying or wondering tone seems more appropri-
or take the place of, usurp, the legitimate. Nichols ate for Gloucester here.
(cited by Furness) first proposed this interpre- 23 in choler Apparently something went wrong
tation of the Q, F reading in 1861-2 as against during the 'compliment of leave-taking' referred to
Edwards's emendation, 'top th' legitimate', which at 1.T.293.
editors since Capell have generally adopted. Sisson, 23 parted departed.
without citing Nichols, also defends the original 24 tonight last night; as in Rom. 1.4.50, MV
reading, and articles by Thomas Clayton and Mal- 2.5.18.
colm Pittock, both in N&Q 31 (June 1984), 207- 24 Prescribed Limited, restricted.
10, present cogent arguments for 'disemending' the 25 Confined to exhibition Limited to an
text. As Clayton says, 'Though differently arrived allowance. Compare TGV 1.3.68-9.
at, the forceful complementarity claimed for "top" 26 Upon the gad i.e. suddenly, as if pricked or
. . . is there still' (p. 208). Moreover, other F alter- goaded (a gad is a sharp spike or spear).
ations in this passage make it unlikely that the Q 28 put up stow, conceal.
reading was overlooked (pp. 207-8); and as Pittock 31 Nothing The word reverberates through-
shows, OED gives numerous examples of an ellipsis out the first half of the play. Compare 1.1.82-5,
after 'to' (p. 209). 1.4.113-15, 2.2.148, 2.3.21.
22 Now . . . bastards Hcilman (pp. 102 and 32 terrible dispatch extremely hasty disposi-
314 n. 16) notes the ambiguities here: since 'stand tion.
up' may refer to male sexual tumescence (as in Rom. 35 spectacles Spectacles are a symbol of what
2.1.25, 3-3-88), Edmond's prayer becomes a phallic Gloucester does need. He does not see through
ritual; and he proceeds immediately to behave in Edmond's plot and shows himself entirely 'credu-
the pejorative sense of 'bastard'. lous' (Heilman, pp. 45, 154).
23 thus? F'S question marks throughout this
1.2.36 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 371-400 [1,8]

EDMOND I beseech you, sir, pardon me; it is a letter from my

brother that I have not all o'erread; and for so much as I have
perused, I find it not fit for your o'erlooking.
GLOUCESTER Give me the letter, sir.
EDMOND I shall offend either to detain or give it. The contents, as 40
in part I understand them, are too blame.
GLOUCESTER Let's see, let's see.
EDMOND I hope for my brother's justification he wrote this but as
an essay or taste of my virtue.
[Gives him the letter]
G L O U C E S T E R Reads 'This policy and reverence of age makes the 45
world bitter to the best of our times, keeps our fortunes from us
till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and
fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny, who sways not
as it hath power but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I
may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you 50
should enjoy half his revenue forever and live the beloved of
your brother. Edgar.' Hum! Conspiracy! 'Sleep till I waked
him, you should enjoy half his revenue.' M y son Edgar, had he
a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in? When
came you to this? Who brought it? 55
E D M O N D It was not brought me, my lord; there's the cunning of it.
I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.
G L O U C E S T E R You know the character to be your brother's?
E D M O N D I f the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear it were
his: but in respect of that, I would fain think it were not. 60

36 SH EDMOND] Bast, f; not in Q nncorr; Ba. Q con: 37 and] F; not in Q 38 o'erlooking] ore-looking F; liking Q 40-1
I . . . blame.] As prose Q; three verse lines ending . . . giue it: / . . . them, / . . . blame, v 44 SD| This edn; not in Q,
F 45 SD] F; not in Q, which inserts IA Letter I after 44 45-52 This . . . brother. | F prints in italics, Q /;; roman 45 and
reverence] F; not in Q 52 Sleep] F; slept Q *52 waked] wakt Q; wake F 55 you to this] F; this to you Q

38 o'erlooking inspection, perusal. hendiadys (Schmidt). 'Policy' suggests 'a clever

41 too blame too blameworthy. As recorded in trick on the part of the aged' (Kittredge).
OED Blame v 5, the dative infinitive, to blame, was 46 best . . . times best years of our lives.
much used as the predicate after be. In the sixteenth 47 _ 8 idle and fond useless and foolish.
and seventeenth centuries, the to was misunder- 48-9 who . . . suffered which rules not as
stood as too, and blame was taken as an adjective though it had real power, but because it is per-
meaning 'blameworthy, culpable'. Compare 1II4 mitted to do so.
3.1.175: 'In faith, my lord, you are too willful 57 casement A window opening on hinges.
blame', cited OED, Schmidt. Bevington emends 57 closet private room; as in Ham. 2.1.74,
'to blame', but says the Q/F reading, followed here, 3.2.331.
may be correct. 58 character handwriting.
44 essay or taste trial or sample, i.e. test. 59 matter substance (of the letter's contents).
'Essay' is etymologically the same as 'assay'. 60 that i.e. the 'matter'.
45 policy . . . age policy of revering the old: 60 fain gladly, willingly.
[»9] TLN 401-26 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.2.84

GLOUCESTER It is his.
EDMOND It is his hand, my lord, but I hope his heart is not in the
contents.
GLOUCESTER Has he never before sounded you in this business?
EDMOND Never, my lord. But I have heard him oft maintain it to 65
be fit that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declined, the father
should be as ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue.
GLOUCESTER O villain, villain - his very opinion in the letter!
Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish villain - worse
than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him: I'll apprehend him. 70
Abominable villain, where is he?
EDMOND I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please you to
suspend your indignation against my brother till you can derive
from him better testimony of his intent, you should run a
certain course; where if you violently proceed against him, 75
mistaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your own
honour and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. I dare
pawn down my life for him that he hath writ this to feel my
affection to your honour and to no other pretence of danger.
GLOUCESTER Think you so? 80
EDMOND If your honour judge it meet, I will place you where you
shall hear us confer of this and by an auricular assurance have
your satisfaction, and that without any further delay than this
very evening.

61 his.J F,- his? Q 64 Has I F; Hath Q 64 before] F; heretofore Q 65 heard him oft] F; often heard him Q 66 declined]
F; declining Q 66 the father] v; his father Q 67 his] F; the Q 70 sirrah] F; sir Q 70 I'll] F; I Q; I, Q2; Ay, Cam. 72
lord. If] F; Lord, if Q 74 his] F,- this Q 78 that he hath writ] F; he hath wrote Q 79 other] F; further Q

62 hand handwriting. 71 Abominable The Q/F spelling, 'Abhom-

64 sounded searched, examined: a nautical inable', reflects the Elizabethan belief that the term
metaphor (Kittredge). derived from Latin ab + homine, 'away from man',
66 perfect fully mature. hence 'unnatural', 'execrable'.
66-7 father . . . revenue Citing references to 74-5 you . . . course your course of action would
Pettie, Florio, and Montaigne, Muir suggests that be sure,
this notion (that aged parents should be under the 75 where whereas,
guardianship of their children) was not unfamil- 76 gap breach.
iar in Shakespeare's time; indeed, it is nowr Lear's 77 shake . . . obedience i.e. utterly destroy the
position, as Verity (cited by NS) remarks. Com- essence of his devotion,
pare Lady Wildgoose's action against her father, 78 pawn stake.
Sir Brian Annesley (p. 4 above). 78 feel test.
69 Abhorred Abhorrent. 'Participles in -ed are 79 pretence of danger dangerous purpose,
common in this use' (Kittredge). Compare Mac. 2.3.131.
69 detested detestable. 81 meet fitting, proper.
70 sirrah Familiar term of address to children 82 auricular assurance i.e. certainty derived
or subordinates. from hearing directly.
1.2.85 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 427-46 [120]

GLOUCESTER He cannot be such a monster. Edmond, seek him 85

out: wind me into him, I pray you. Frame the business after
your own wisdom. I would unstate myself to be in a due
resolution.
EDMOND I will seek him, sir, presently, convey the business as I
shall find means, and acquaint you withal. 90
GLOUCESTER These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no
good to us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus
and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects.
Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. In cities,
mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the 95
bond cracked 'twixt son and father. This villain of mine comes
under the prediction: there's son against father. The king falls
from bias of nature, there's father against child. We have seen
the best of our time. Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and
all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves. Find 100
out this villain, Edmond, it shall lose thee nothing. Do it
carefully. And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished; his
offence, honesty. 'Tis strange. Exit

85 monster.] F omits three lines here 86 the] F; your Q 89 will] v; shall Q 90 find] F,- see Q 92 it| F; not in Q 95
discord; in palaces] F,- discords, Pallaces Q 95 and the] F; the Q 96 'twixt| F; betweene Q 96-100 This . . . graves.]
F; not in Q 97 prediction:] prediction F 97 father.] Father, F 103 honesty. "Fis strange.] F; honest, strange, strange!
Q 103 SD] F; not in Q

85 monster F omits two lines here found in Q. 92-3 Though . . . effects Nature is used in
See Textual Analysis, p. 265 below. two senses here: (1) human nature, specifically
86 wind me insinuate yourself (ethical dative human reason as embodied in natural philosophy,
or
construction; compare Oth. 1.1.4g). science; (2) the world of nature, including but
86 Frame Fashion. not limited to the world of humankind. Thus:
87-8 I . . . resolution I would divest myself of human reason can explain these events scientifi-
estate and rank to be resolved sufficiently of doubt. cally, but all nature is afflicted nevertheless by what
Gloucester's anxiety resembles Othello's in Oth. 2.3 subsequently happens ('Love cools', etc.).
and 3.3, and like Othello he jumps too quickly to 95 mutinies riots, insurrections,
conclusions. Like Iago, Edmond preys upon this 96-100 This . . . graves On the absence of these
weakness and even proposes eavesdropping (81-3; lines in Q, see Textual Analysis, p. 278 below,
compare Oth. 4.1.81 ff), although he apparently 97-8 son . . . child This recalls Matt. 10.21:
changes his plan (2.1.20 ff). Edmond makes his 'The brother shall betray the brother to death, and
fortune by two letters and is undone by a third the father the sonne, and the children shal rise
(Mack, p. 95; see 3.5.8, 5.1.39). against their parents, and shal cause them to die.'
89 presently immediately. See also Mark 13.8, 12; Luke 12.52-3, 21.16; Micah
89 convey carry out. 7.6, and compare part 3 of the homily 'Against Dis-
90 withal therewith. obedience and Wilfull Rebellion' (Shaheen).
91 late eclipses A possible allusion to the 98 bias of nature 'natural course or tendency,
eclipse of the moon on 27 September and of the A figure from bowling. The bias is the curve that
sun on 2 October 1605 (see p. 1 above). Eclipses the bowl makes in its course' (Kittredge).
were regarded by superstitious men like Gloucester 99 best . . . time our best years; as at 46.
as auguries of evil, giving warning of such things 99 hollowness emptiness, insincerity; as in
as the machinations of the Catholic conspirators Kent's reference to Gonerill's and Regan's
who intended to blow up king and parliament. speeches, 1.1.148.
The Gunpowder Plot, however, was uncovered 100 disquietly unquietlv.
in November 1605 - before it could be carried 103 honesty 'love of truth, upright conduct'
out. (Schmidt).
[121] TLN 447-63 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.2.117

EDMOND This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we

are sick in fortune, often the surfeits of our own behaviour, we
make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars; as if
we were villains on necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion,
knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance,
drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of
planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine
thrusting on. An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay
his goatish disposition on the charge of a star! My father
compounded with my mother under the Dragon's tail, and my
nativity was under Ursa major, so that it follows, I am rough and
lecherous. I should have been that I am had the maidenliest
star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardising.
Enter EDGAR

Pat: he comes, like the catastrophe of the old comedy. My cue

105 surfeits] v; surfeit Q 106 stars] F; the Starres Q 107 on] F; by Q 108 treachers] F; Trecherers Q 108 spherical]
F; spiritual] Q 108 predominance,! Q; predominance. F i n whoremaster man] Q,- Whore-master-man F 112 on] F;
to Q 112 a star!] a Starre, F,-Starres: Q 115 I should] F; Fut, I should Q 115 maidenliest] F3; maidenlest Q, F, F2 116
in] F; of Q 116 bastardising. I F; bastardy Q 116 so] Q2, F; in margin Q 117 Pat: he] v; Edgar, and out hee Q 117
My cue] F; mine Q

104 excellent (1) supreme, (2) splendid (from it a malign constellation producing temperaments
Edmund's point of view: Hunter). that are not only daring and impetuous ('rough'),
104 foppery foolishness. but also lascivious ('lecherous'), as Hunter notes.
105 sick in fortune i.e. down on our luck. 115 See collation. The omission of 'Fut' (a
105 surfeits excesses. variant of the expletive 'foot' = 'Christ's foot')
107 on by; as in LLL 1.1.148. is probably the result of purging away profan-
107 heavenly compulsion i.e. astrological ity in accordance with the 'Acte to Restraine
influence. Abuses of Players' in 1606 (Duthie, p. 170). Taylot-
108 treachers traitors. concurs and argues for restoration ('Censorship',
108 spherical predominance Under the astro- pp. 78, 109-10).
logical concept of'planetary influence' (no), if at 117 Pat See collation. Because Q crowds Enter
the time of one's birth a heavenly body was espe- Edgar into the margin immediately beside 'Edgar'
cially powerful because of its ascendant position, in Edmond's speech, some editors believe the F
one's disposition and destiny were accordingly con- collator may have become confused and dropped
trolled, or 'enforced'. Edmond's summons which, Duthie argues, p. 171,
109 of to. makes 'Pat' pointless. The effect of Edmond's
n o - i i divine thrusting on supernatural speech, however, does not depend on such a direct
imposition. summons, and the F reading may stand.
m whoremaster lecherous. 117 catastrophe . . . comedy Early Tudor
1 1 1 - 1 2 lay . . . charge of impute his lustful ten- plays often lacked dramatic motivation; the catas-
dencies to (Schmidt). To Elizabethans, goats were trophe, or concluding episode, often arrived quite
emblematic of lechery. arbitrarily to suit the playwright's need to end a
113 compounded copulated. play. Armado uses 'catastrophe' in LLL 4.1.77 to
113 Dragon's tail The constellation Draco, an refer to the concluding episode of an action.
especially malevolent astrological sign. 117 cue Edmond deliberately adopts theatrical
114 nativity birth. language in keeping with the role he is about
114 Ursa major The constellation Great Bear, or to play. On stage-managing in King Lear, see
Big Dipper, in which (astrologically) Mars is pre- Reibetanz, pp. 57-67.
dominant but shares influence with Venus, making
I.2.II8 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 464-91 [122]

is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o'Bedlam. - O

these eclipses do portend these divisions. Fa, sol, la, me.
EDGAR How now, brother Edmond, what serious contemplation 120
are you in?
EDMOND I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other
day, what should follow these eclipses.
EDGAR Do you busy yourself with that?
EDMOND I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed un- 125
happily. When saw you my father last?
EDGAR The night gone by.
EDMOND Spake you with him?
EDGAR Ay, two hours together.
EDMOND Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in 130
him by word nor countenance?
EDGAR None at all.
EDMOND Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him,
and at my entreaty forbear his presence until some little time
hath qualified the heat of his displeasure, which at this instant 135
so rageth in him that with the mischief of your person it would
scarcely allay.
EDGAR Some villain hath done me wrong.
EDMOND That's my fear. I pray you have a continent forbearance
till the speed of his rage goes slower; and as I say, retire with 140
me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my
lord speak. Pray ye, go; there's my key. If you do stir abroad, go
armed.
118 sigh] Q2, F; sith Q 118 Tom o'] F; them of Q 119 Fa . . . me.] F; not in Q 124 with] F; about Q 125 writes]
F; writ Q 125-6 unhappily.] F {which omits seven lines here); vnhappily, Q 126 When] F; when Q 127 The] F; Why,
the Q 129 Ay,] I, F; not in Q 131 nor] F; or Q 134 until] F; till Q 136 person] F,- parson Q 137 scarcely] F; scarce
Q 139-44 I • • • brother?] F; not in Q

118 villainous wretched. 125 succeed follow.

118 Tom o'Bedlam A common name for a real 125-6 unhappily Taylor suggests that Edmond
or pretended madman (Bedlam, or Bethlehem, was snaps his book shut and (in F) abruptly changes
a London lunatic asylum). See 2.3.14. the subject. F omits seven lines here found in Q;
119 divisions (1) conflicts (as in 94-6), (2) a see Textual Analysis, pp. 265-6 below, and 96-100.
musical run. 131 countenance bearing, demeanour.
119 Fa . . . me Edmond vocalises to him- 134 forbear avoid,
self, pretending to be unaware of Edgar's approach 135 qualified mitigated, reduced,
while he is busy about something else, possibly 136-7 with . . . allay i.e. even with bodily harm
a book on astrology he is reading, as the sub- to you his rage would not subside much,
sequent dialogue suggests (Taylor, 'Censorship', 139-45 I P r ay . . . Brother See Textual Analy-
p. 86). Some commentators, e.g. Hunter, think sis, p. 278 below, on the lines missing from Q.
Edmond is deliberately singing across the interval 139 have . . . forbearance 'restrain yourself and
of an augmented fourth, or 'the devil in music', a keep out of his presence' (Kittredge).
most unpleasant sound suggesting the disharmony 141 fitly at a suitable time,
of'divisions' (or the sound of a bedlamite?). 142 abroad outside, out-of-doors.
125 effects results (of the eclipses).
[«J] TLN 492-513 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.3.7

EDGAR Armed, brother?

EDMOND Brother, I advise you to the best. I am no honest man, if 145
there be any good meaning toward you. I have told you what I
have seen and heard - but faintly, nothing like the image and
horror of it. Pray you, away.
E D G A R Shall I hear from you anon?
E D M O N D I do serve you in this business. 150
Exit [Edgar]
A credulous father and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
M y practices ride easy. I see the business.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit. 155
All with me's meet that I can fashion fit. Exit
1.3 Enter GONERILL and [her] Steward [OSWALD]

GONERILL Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his

fool?
OSWALD Ay, madam.
GONERILL By day and night, he wrongs me; every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other 5
That sets us all at odds. I'll not endure it.
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us

145 best.] F; best, goe arm'd Q 146 toward] F; towards q 150 SD] AS Q; after 14g Q2,- Exit F {after 14g) Act 1, Scene
3 1.3] Scena Tenia, v; not in q o SD| Collier (suhst.); Enter Gonerill, and Steward F; Enter Gonori/l and Gentleman q *3
su] Ste. F; Gent. q (throughout) 3 Ay, | Rowe; I F; Yes q 4-5 By . . . other] F; divided me, / Euery q 7 upbraids] F;
obrayds Q

147-8 image and horror true picture of the 1 - 2 Did . . . fool This is not only the first men-
actual horror (hendiadys). tion of the Fool, but the first mention of disor-
154 practices plots, machinations. Edmond derliness caused by Lear and his entourage, giving
then uses an equestrian metaphor. Gonerill the excuse to act as she does.
154 I see the business Edmond's plot now 4 By . . . night Either (1) an oath (com-
becomes clear. pare 1.1.103-4), or (2) constantly (compare 'every
156 All . . . fit Everything is all right with me hour'). F punctuation favours (1); Q, omitting the
that I can frame to my own purposes. comma, favours (2).
5 flashes breaks out.
Act 1, S c e n e 3 5 crime offence.
0 SD In the fictional narrative, enough time is 7 His . . . riotous The absence of actual
supposed to have passed for Gonerill to experience evidence for this behaviour in the play has led
the disruptions in her household she says Lear and some commentators, e.g. Kittredge, to discredit
his knights have caused. Gonerill's assertion, but some stage and film ver-
0 SD OSWALD F consistently uses Steward in SDs sions, such as Peter Brook's, have graphically pre-
and SHS; Q uses Gentleman and Gent, in this scene sented Lear's train as unruly. In any event, a hun-
but Steward and Stem, in the next. At 1.4.268 and dred knights and squires given to hunting and
281 Gonerill calls for Oswald, whose name was the other sports would doubtless cause some prob-
Anglo-Saxon word for a steward. He is foppishly lems, which Gonerill decides to exacerbate, forcing
dressed, probablv in Albany's cast-off garments a confrontation with her father.
(NS).
1.3.8 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 514-32 [124]

On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,

I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
If you come slack of former services, 10
You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.
[Horns within]
O S W A L D He's coming, madam, I hear him.
GONERILL Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows: I'd have it come to question.
If he distaste it, let him to my sister, 15
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one.
Remember what I have said.
O S W A L D Well, madam.
GONERILL And let his knights have colder looks among you:
What grows of it no matter. Advise your fellows so. 20
I'll write straight to my sister to hold my course.
Prepare for dinner.
Exeunt
1.4 Enter KENT [disguised]
KENT If but as well I other accents borrow
That can my speech defuse, my good intent

8 trifle. When] F,- trifell when Q I I SD] Capell {after 12); not in Q, F 13-16 Put . . . one.] v; as prose Q 14 fellows:]
F,- fellow seruants, Q 14 to] F; in Q 15 distaste] F; dislike Q 15 my] F; our Q 16 one.] one, Q, F; F omits four lines
here 17 Remember . . . said] F; as prose Q 17 have said.] F; tell you. Q 18 Well] F,- Very well Q 19-20 And . . . so. |
Haunter's lineation; as prose Q, F 20 so.] so, Q, F; F omits one and a half lines here 21-2 I'll . . . dinner.) This edn; as
prose Q, F 21 course.] F; very course, Q 22 Prepare] F; goe prepare Q 22 SD] F; Exit. Q Act 1, Scene 4 1.4] Seena
Quarta. v; not in Q o SD disguised] Rome; not in Q, F 1-7 If. . . labours.] F,- as prose Q 1 well] q; will F

8 hunting The provision for Lear's hunting two more after 19; see Textual Analysis, p. 266
appears in Layamon's Brut, which also includes a below.
hunting episode (Muir). 21 s t r a i g h t at once, straightaway.
9 Say I am sick A transparent 'social' lie.
10 come slack of slacken, fall short of. Act 1, S c e n e 4
11 answer be answerable for. 0 SD KENT [disguised] Kent reappears, his
12 I hear h i m Capell introduces SD, Horns countenance altered (4) and wearing clothing more
within, which many editors follow. (Compare 1.4.7 suitable for the servant, 'Caius', than for an earl. He
SD.) also tries to disguise his voice by adopting a differ-
13 weary negligence tiresome or irksome ent accent (usually the actor adopts a rustic brogue,
neglect (of service). according to Rosenberg, p. 96) and a blunt, plain-
14 come to question i.e. come to a head, made spoken manner. The Elizabethan convention of
an issue of. 'impenetrable disguise' operates here and through-
15 distaste dislike. out the rest of the play, until Kent drops the dis-
1 5 - 1 6 let . . . one Apparently, though they may guise in 5.3. Lear never identifies Caius with Kent,
not have decided upon any immediate course of even at the end, when Kent wishes it (5.3.257-63).
action, Gonerill and Regan have agreed not to put 1 as well i.e. as well as I have disguised myself
up with much from Lear for very long. (Compare otherwise.
1.1.298 n.) 2 defuse confuse, disorder; a variant of'diffuse'.
16 one F omits four lines here found in Q and 2 my good intent i.e. to serve his master, Lear.
[i2s] TLN 533-56 The Tragedy of King Lea?' 1.4.22

May carry through itself to that full issue

For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemned, 5
So may it come thy master, whom thou lov'st,
Shall find thee full of labours.
Horns within. Enter LEAR, [Knights,] and Attendants
LEAR Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go, get it ready.
[Exit an Attendant]
How now, what art thou?
KENT A man, sir. 10
LEAR What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?
K E N T I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him truly that
will put me in trust, to love him that is honest, to converse with
him that is wise and says little, to fear judgement, to fight when
I cannot choose, and to eat no fish. 15
L E A R What art thou?
K E N T A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.
L E A R I f thou be'st as poor for a subject as he's for a king, thou art
poor enough. What wouldst thou?
KENT Service. 20
L E A R Who wouldst thou serve?
KENT YOU.

*4 razed I raz'd Q; raiz'd F 6 So . . . come| F; not in Q 6 lov'st] F,- louest Q 7 labours] F; labour Q 7 SD] Rome;
Homes within. Enter Lear and Attendants. V; Enter Eear Q 8 SD] Malone; not in Q, F 18 be'st] F; be Q 18 he's] F,- he
is Q 18 thou art I v; thar't Q

3 full issue complete or satisfactory outcome. pares Ecclus. 9.17: 'Let thy talke be with the wise',
4 razed erased, obliterated. Muir suggests a and Prov. 13.20, 17.27-8.
quibble on 'razor'. 14 fear judgement Many commentators
4 likeness appearance. assume a reference to the Last Judgement. (Noble
4 banished Kent 'In case the audience have not and Shaheen cite Psalms 1.5; Noble adds Jer. 8.7.)
recognized his voice, he announces his identity' Kittredge says such an allusion may accord with
(Hunter). the pagan religion of Lear's time, though not the
6 So . . . come Either (1) let it then happen following reference to abstaining from fish, which
that, or (2) it may happen thus. is anachronistic (Catholics ate fish but not meat
7 SD Horns within Lear has been hunting (com- on Fridays, the day of the Crucifixion). Kent may,
pare 1.3.8). however, simply be declaring his desire to serve
7 SD Knights That knights as well as attendants well, fearing his master's censure.
accompany Lear is clear from SHS at 44 ff. (Duthie). 15 cannot choose i.e. cannot help it.
8 stay wait. 15 eat no fish Three not incompatible glosses
10 man (1) a fully human being, (2) a servant. are possible. Kent means: (1) he is no papist
Compare Ham. 1.2.187: "A was a man, take him (Warburton); (2) he is 'a jolly fellow, and no lover
for all in all.' of such meagre diet as fish' (Capell; compare 2H4
11 profess set up for, claim as a calling or trade. 4.3.90-5); (3) he is no womaniser.
Kent plays on the sense 'proclaim, declare' in his 17 as . . . king Kent risks the joke, but Lear
reply. takes it good-humouredlv.
13 converse associate, consort. Shaheen com-
i .4.23 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 557-80 iI26]

LEAR Dost thou know me, fellow?

KENT No, sir; but you have that in your countenance, which I
would fain call master. 25
LEAR What's that?
KENT Authority.
LEAR What services canst thou do?
KENT I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale
in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly. That which 30
ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is
diligence.
LEAR HOW old art thou?
KENT Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to
dote on her for anything. I have years on my back forty-eight. 35
LEAR Follow me; thou shalt serve me, if I like thee no worse
after dinner. I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner!
Where's my knave? my fool? Go you and call my fool hither.
[Exit an Attendant]
Enter OSWALD

You, you sirrah, where's my daughter?

OSWALD So please you - Exit 40
LEAR What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back.
[Exit a Knight]
Where's my fool? Ho, I think the world's asleep.
[Enter KNIGHT]

How now? Where's that mongrel?

KNIGHT He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
28 thouj F; not in Q 31 mej me, Q, F 34 sir] F,- not in Q *37 dinner. 1} Jennens; dinner, I Q, F 38 SD.I ] Dycc (following
Cupel/); not in Q, F 38 SD.2 Enter OSWALD] Capell (subst.); Enter Steward. Q, F (after JIJ) 39 You, you) You you F;
you, Q 40 SDJ F,- not in Q 41 clotpoll] Clot- / pole F; clat-pole Q 41, 42 sn| Dyee; not in Q, F 44 sn| i<7 Kent. Q;
daughter] Q; Daughters F

24 countenance demeanour, bearing. to exit, but no dinner is served (Rosenberg, p. 100).

25 fain gladly, willingly. Gonerill's instructions in 1.3 to slack off service are
29 keep honest counsel keep honourable con- taking effect.
fidences. 38 knave boy. The word, often used familiarly,
29-30 m a r . . . telling it Proverbial: 'A good could imply affection (Kittredge) and does not nec-
tale ill told is marred in the telling' (NS, citing essarily refer to the Fool's age. Compare 1.1.16 and
Tilley T28). Kent underscores his plainspokenness below, 80. At 3.4.26 Lear addresses the Fool as 'boy'
here. but may be using the word similarly.
29 curious elaborate, intricate. 40 So please you A deliberate snub.
34 to as to. 41 clotpoll blockhead. A 'clot' or (in dialect)
36-7 thou . . . dinner, Q/F punctuation is 'clat' = 'a clod of earth'; 'poll' = head.
ambiguous, but Lear's capricious attitude is clearer 44 SH KNIGHT Here and later Y assigns speeches
with a full stop after 'dinner'. to a Knight, where Q assigns 44 to Kent and 46,
37 Dinner, ho Lear repeatedly calls for dinner, 49-53, 55-6, 62-3 to a servant. Duthie notes
and modern editors insert directions for attendants the Lear/Kent alternation of speeches (9-36) and
['27] TLN 581-606 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.66

LEAR Why came not the slave back to me when I called him? 45
KNIGHT Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would
not.
LEAR He would not?
KNIGHT My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to my
judgement your highness is not entertained with that cer-
emonious affection as you were wont. There's a great abate-
ment of kindness appears as well in the general dependants as
in the duke himself also, and your daughter.
LEAR Ha? Sayest thou so?
KNIGHT I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken, for
my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged.
LEAR Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception. I have
perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I have rather
blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence
and purpose of unkindness. I will look further into't. But 60
where's my fool? I have not seen him this two days.
KNIGHT Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool
hath much pined away.
LEAR No more of that, I have noted it well. Go you and tell my
daughter I would speak with her. 65
[Exit an Attendant]
Go you, call hither my fool.
[Exit an Attendant]
46, 49, 55, 62 su I F,- sentant. Q 48 He] F; A Q 52 of kindness] F; not in Q 54 Sayest] F; say'st Q 57 rememberest]
remember'st o_; remembrest F 60 purpose] F; purport Q 61 my] F; this Q *62 lady's] Rome; Ladies Q, F 64 well]
F; not in Q 65 SD, 66 SD. 1 ] Dyce; not in Q, F

says Q'S SH for Kent here is a misassignment, but with Albany's claim to be 'guiltless' (228) and with
the others are the result of F'S abridgement of the his general behaviour. Either the Knight is delib-
number of speaking characters. On altered SHS, see erately exacerbating the situation, or Shakespeare
Textual Analysis, p. 80 above. emphasises Lear's isolation (Hunter).
46 roundest bluntest, most plainspoken. Com- 57 rememberest remindest.
pare 'round' in Polonius's admonition to Gertrude, 57 conception thought.
Ham. 3.4.5, and in King Henry's to Williams, H5 58 faint neglect Either Lear minimises what
4.1.203. the Knight has seen as 'a great abatement' ( 5 1 -
50 entertained treated. Although Gonerill has 2) because he dreads the consequences of a con-
just given instructions to slight Lear (1.3.13-14) frontation, or the Knight, again, has exaggerated
and the action between Scenes 3 and 4 is continu- the situation.
ous, Shakespeare conveys the illusion of a greater 59 jealous curiosity suspicious fastidiousness,
passage of time. i.e. paranoid concern over trifles.
50-1 ceremonious affection 'combination the 59-60 pretence and purpose deliberate inten-
affection due to a father and the ceremony appro- tion (synonyms).
priate to a king' (Hunter). 62-3 Since . . . away The Knight calls atten-
52 general dependants i.e. household staff as tion to the affection between the Fool and Cordelia,
a whole. whose roles may have been doubled. (See pp. 3 2 - 3
52-3 as in the duke This charge is inconsistent above.)
i.4.66 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 607-25 [/2#]

Enter OSWALD

Oh, you, sir, you, come you hither, sir, who am I, sir?
OSWALD My lady's father.
LEAR 'My lady's father'? My lord's knave, you whoreson dog, you
slave, you cur! 70
O S W A L D I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your pardon.
L E A R D o you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
[Strikes him]
O S W A L D I'll not be strucken, m y lord.
K E N T [Tripping him] Nor tripped neither, you base football player.
L E A R I thank thee, fellow. T h o u serv'st me, and I'll love thee. 75
K E N T Come, sir, arise, away, I'll teach you differences. Away,
away. I f you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry; but
away, go to! Have you wisdom?
[Pushes Oswald out]
So.
LEAR NOW, my friendly knave, I thank thee; there's earnest of thy 80
service.
[Gives Kent money]
Enter FOOL

FOOL Let me hire him, too; here's my coxcomb.

[Offers Kent his cap]

66 SD.2 Enter OSWALD] Johnson (subst.); not in Q; Enter Steward, i (after by) 71 1 . . . pardon.| As one line Q; divided
Lord, / I F 71 these] F; this Q 71 your pardon.] F; you pardon me. Q 72 SD] Roire (snbsl.); not m Q, F 73 strucken]
F,- struck Q 74 SD] Rome (subst.); not in Q, F 75 I thank . . . love thee.] As one line Q; divided fellow. / Thou F 76
arise, away] F; not in Q *78-Q go to! Have you wisdom? So.] Theobald (subst.); goe too, haue you wisdome, so i-v you
haue wisdome. Q, *78 SD] Theobald (subst.); not in Q, F 80 mv| F; not in Q 81 SD.I| (Jupell (subst.); not in Q, F 82
SD] Rome (subst.); not in Q, F

72 bandy bat back and forth (as in tennis), length. Shakespeare uses the term in MND 3.2.429
exchange. NS adds SDS, glares and glares back, at and similarly in Rom. 3.3.69-70.
68 and 70. Oswald's insolence moves Lear to strike 77 lubber clumsy lout.
him. 80 earnest earnest-money, i.e. part payment to
74 base football player Tennis was played by bind a bargain.
aristocrats, football by the lower classes. Thomas 82 coxcomb professional jester's cap. The cap
Elyot, The Boke of the Governottr (1531), warns 'al evidently varied somewhat, though its salient fea-
noble men' against football, 'wherein is nothinge ture was a crest made of red flannel in the shape
but beastly furie and extreme violence' (NS). of a cock's comb. It may also have had a bell, ass's
76-9 Come . . . So Kent roughly picks Oswald ears, and/or feathers attached. (See p. 6 above.)
up and shoves him out. The Fool offers the symbol of his office to Kent
76 differences distinctions (of rank, position). as someone who deserves it for following Lear, but
77 measure . . . length Kent sent Oswald Kent demurs (84).
sprawling to the ground (74), where he lay at full
[l2ç] TLN 626-47 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.102

LEAR How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?

FOOL [To Kent] Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
L E A R Why, my boy? 85
F O O L Why? For taking one's part that's out of favour. [To Kent]
Nay, and thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt catch
cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb; why, this fellow has
banished two on's daughters and did the third a blessing
against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my 90
coxcomb. How now, nuncle? Would I had two coxcombs and
two daughters.
L E A R Why, my boy?
F O O L If I gave them all my living, I'd keep my coxcombs myself.
There's mine; beg another of thy daughters. 95
L E A R Take heed, sirrah, the whip.
F O O L Truth's a dog must to kennel. He must be whipped out,
when the L a d y Brach may stand by th'fire and stink.
L E A R A pestilent gall to me.
F O O L Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. 100
LEAR Do.
FOOL Mark it, nuncle:

84 SD] Oxford; not m Q, F 85 1.1.AR Why, my boy?] F; Kent. Why Foole? Q 86 Why?] F,- Why Q 86 one's] F, CM;
on's Q 86 SD| Oxford; not in Q, v 88-9 has banished] v; hath banisht Q 89 did] F; done Q 94 all my] F; any Q 97
Truth's| F; Truth is Q 97 dog' must] v; dog that must Q 98 the Lady Brach] v; Ladie oth'e brach Q 98 by th'] v;
by the Q 99 gall| v; gull Q 102-12 Mark . . . score.] F lincation; as prose Q 102 nuncle] F; vncle Q

85 LEAR Why, my boy? Duthie, p. 171, 96 the whip Fools, like children, were whipped
attributes the changed su in F to compositor eye- when they went too far out of line. Compare AY LI
skip from 85 to 93 (and then back to 86). This 1.2.84-5.
seems unlikely in view of F'S other alterations in 97-8 Truth . . . stink The Fool identifies
the passages that follow. himself with truth, imagined as an unwelcome,
87 and if; a common variant of 'an'. lowly dog chased out of the house into a rude
87-8 thou . . . shortly i.e. if you cannot ingra- shelter; whereas the bitch, flattery ('brach' =
tiate yourself with the powers that prevail, you will bitch), enjoys a privileged place. The Fool hints
soon be out in the cold and suffering. at Gonerill or Regan, 'braches of noble rank,
89 banished Compare 1.1.175. and sycophantic' (Sisson, p. 231), and implies
89 on's of his. an identification between Truth and Cordelia
89-90 blessing . . . will Cordelia is now out of (Muir).
Britain and Queen of France - hardly the cursed 99 pestilent gall plaguey irritant. Lear proba-
existence Lear intended for her. bly refers to the Fool's gibes, though he may be
90 must needs A redundancy used for empha- thinking of Oswald and his fellows or his own
sis (as often). foolish behaviour. In any event, the Fool tactfully
91 nuncle A contraction of 'mine uncle' (the changes strategy here.
usual address of a jester to his master). 100 Sirrah Some editions follow Rowe and
94 If. . . myself XS cites Tilley A187: 'He that add a SD, TO Kent. But the Fool seems to address
gives all before he dies is a fool.' Two coxcombs is Lear, who responds, not Kent. The Fool's licence
the equivalent of a double fool. permits him to address Lear as 'Sirrah'.
95 There's mine The Fool now offers his cox-
comb to Lear.
i.4.103 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 648-76 ['30]

Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest, 105
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest,
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door, no
And thou shalt have more,
Than two tens to a score.
KENT This is nothing, fool.
F O O L Then 'tis like the breath of an unfeed lawyer; you gave me
nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? 115
L E A R Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.
F O O L [To Kent] Prithee, tell him so much the rent of his land
comes to; he will not believe a fool.
L E A R A bitter fool.
F O O L Nuncle, give me an egg, and I'll give thee two crowns. 120
L E A R What two crowns shall they be?
F O O L Why, after I have cut the egg i'th'middle and eat up the
meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown
i'th'middle and gav'st away both parts, thou bor'st thine ass on

113 SH] F; Lear. Q 114 'tis] F; not in Q 115 nuncle?] F; vncle? Q 116 Why . . . nothing.] Q,- two lines divided Boy, /
Nothing F 117 SD] Rome; not in Q, F 119 fool.] This edn; F erroneously includes three lines here meant for exclusion (see
p. jg above), then omitsfifteenlines 120 Nuncle, . . . egg,] F; giue . . . Nuncle, Q 122 i'th'] v; in the Q 123 crown] Q;
Crownes F 124 i'th'] F; it'h Q 124 gav'st] F,- gauest Q 124 bor'st] F,- borest Q 124 thine] F; thy Q 124-5 o n tn>J
F; at'h Q

103-12 Have . . . score This counsel of pru- lawyer will not plead but for a fee' (Tilley L125);
dence is set in sing-song rhyme to emphasise its 'breath' = speech, hence pleading.
conventional w isdom, and accordingly earns Kent's 115 use usury, interest. Compare Ado 1.1.278-9.
response. 116 nothing . . . nothing Compare 1.1.84-5.
105 thou owest you own. 117 his land Ironic: Lear is landless. He feels
106 thou goest you walk; as at 3.2.92, where the Fool's gibe (119).
'going' means walking. 119 fool F includes three lines here that should
107 Learn . . . throwest i.e. don't believe every- probably have been cut along with the passage
thing you hear. of twelve lines found only in Q that immediately
108 Set . . . throwest i.e. don't gamble away follows: see Textual Analysis, p. 84 above.
your last penny. 121 two crowns Compare 'two coxcombs', 91.
n o in-a-door indoors. NS compares MV The two crowns are obviously the two halves of the
2.5.53-5 o n staying home and saving money. eggshell, but Lear is deliberately acting as a stooge
1 1 1 - 1 2 thou . . . score i.e. you will grow richer (Muir).
(Riverside). 123-4 When . . . parts Compare 1.1.133 and
113 nothing i.e. no big news. As at 85, F changes n. The P'ool alludes not to Lear's parting of the
Q'S SH. Kent's interruption is dramatically apt. coronet but to the division of the kingdom.
114 unfeed lawyer Alludes to the proverb 'A
[i3i] TLN 677-94 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.142

thy back o'er the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown 125
when thou gav'st thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in
this, let him be whipped that first finds it so.
[Sings] Fools had ne'er less grace in a year,
For wise men are grown foppish,
And know not how their wits to wear, 130
Their manners are so apish.
LEAR When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?
F O O L I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou mad'st thy daughters
thy mothers; for when thou gav'st them the rod and put'st down
thine own breeches, 135
[Sings] Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to 140
lie. I would fain learn to lie.
LEAR And you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.

126 gav'st] !•',- gauest Q 128 si)| Rowe; not in Q, F 128 grace] F; wit Q 130 And] F; They Q 130 to] F; doe Q 133
e'er] ere F; euer Q 134 mothers] F; mother Q 134 gav'st] ¥; gauest Q 136 SD] Rowe; not in Q, F 136 Then they]
Theobald; then they Q, F (as part of preceding prose) 136-9 for . . . among.] F lineation; as prose Q 139 fools] Q; Foole
F 141 learn to| F; learne Q unciirr.; learneto Q eon: 142 And] F, Q; If Q2 142 sirrah] F; not in Q

124-5 thou . . . dirt An allusion to the fable of 133 used it i.e. made it a practice. Muir cites
the old man who foolishly, out of a mistaken sense Ham. 3.2.45.
of kindness, carried his ass on his back instead of 133-4 thou . . . mothers i.e. you made your
letting it carry him. The Fool's comments insis- children your parents (another inversion, or per-
tently point up inversions or perversions of the version, of the natural order).
natural order. 134-5 thou . . . breeches i.e. the right to
126-7 If • • • so i.e. let him who calls this foolish chastise has been transferred from parent to
be whipped, not me. Compare 96-7. The Fool's child.
baldness (to prevent lice) gives extra point to the 136-9 Then . . . among The Fool adapts
passage if he removes his coxcomb to 'speak like the first stanza of the familiar old Ballad of John
myself in this' (Wiles, p. 190). Carelesse: 'Some men for sodayne ioye do wepe,/
126 like myself i.e. like a fool. And some in sorow syng: / When that they lie in
128-31 Fools . . . apish i.e. fools have never been daunger depe, / To put away mournyng' (Hyder
more out of favour since wise men have become E. Rollins, '"King Lear" and the ballad of "John
foolish and do not behave properly, their style Careless'", MLR 15 (1920), 87-90).
becoming ridiculously imitative (of fools). Compare 138 bo-peep 'A nursery play with a young
Lyly, Mother Bomlne 2.3: T thinke Gentlemen had child, who is kept in excitement by the nurse
neuer lesse wit in a yeere' (Capell, cited by F*ur- or playmate alternately concealing herself (or her
ness). NS, citing Tilley F535, 'Fools had never less face), and peeping out for a moment at an unex-
wit in a year', says the Fool is parodying either pected place, to withdraw again with equal sud-
Lyly or the original proverb; hence the F reading denness' (OED). Apparently, the game was also
is correct. played with naturals, or fools. Compare Skel-
128 grace favour. ton, Image Hypocrisy: 'Thus youe make vs sottes
129 foppish foolish. / And play with vs boopeepe' (cited Tilley
131 apish foolishly imitative. The off-rhyme B540).
with 'foppish' seems deliberate: see Kokeritz, 142 And If.
p. 225.
14- H3 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 695-715 U32]

FOOL I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have
me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt have me whipped for
lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had 145
rather be any kind o'thing than a fool, and yet I would not be
thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o'both sides and left
nothing i'th'middle. Here comes one o'the parings.
Enter GONERILL

LEAR How now, daughter! What makes that frontlet on? You are
too much of late i'th'frown. 150
F O O L T h o u wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care
for her frowning; now thou art an O without a figure. I am
better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing. [To
Gonerill] Yes, forsooth, I will hold m y tongue, so your face bids
me, though you say nothing. 155
[Sings] M u m , mum:
He that keeps nor crust, nor crumb,
Weary o f all, shall want some.
T h a t ' s a shelled peascod.
G O N E R I L L Not only, sir, this, your all-licensed fool, 160
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,

144 thou'lt] F,- thou wilt Q 145 sometimes] F; sometime Q 146 o'] F,- of Q 147 o'| F; a Q 148 i'th'] F; in the Q 148
o'] F; of Q 149-50 How . . . frown.] F; as verse, two lines divided on, / Me Q 149 on? You] F; on, / Me thinks you
Q 150 of late] F,- alate Q 150 i'th'] F; it'h Q 152 frowning] v; frowne Q 152 now thou] F, Q con.; thou, thou Q
union:, Q2 153-4 SD J Pope; not in Q, F 156 SD] Rowe; not in Q, F 156—7 Mum . . . crumb,] Capell's lineation; one
line Q, F 157 nor crust] F; neither crust Q *i57 nor crumb] nor crum Q,- not crum F 158-9 Weary . . . peascod.]
Rome's lineation; one verse line Q, F 160-73 Not . . . proceeding.] F lineation; as prose Q *i63 In . . . Sir,] Cupel (without
hyphens); in ranke & (not to be indured riots,) Sir Q; In ranke, and (not to be endur'd) riots Sir. F

143-5 I marvel . . . peace An example of the why she is wearing the cloth and commenting on
'crocodile's argument', one that harms the oppo- her demeanour.
nent whichever way he chooses (Joseph, p. 202). 152 O without a figure i.e. a cipher; a zero
146-8 yet . . . middle i.e. if a fool is only a with no number before it to give it value (NS).
half-wit, Lear is less: he has given his wits away 154 forsooth An expletive: in truth, truly.
along with everything else. 156 Mum, m u m Hush, hush; softly.
149 What . . . on Gonerill enters wearing a 157-8 He . . . some i.e. he who foolishly gives
frontlet = 'a cloth or bandage containing some everything away, because he is tired of it all, shall
medicament' (OED sv sb ic; compare 44 above and at the end of the day want some of it back.
1.3.9, where Gonerill instructed Oswald to tell Lear 159 shelled peascod empty pea-pod, i.e.
she is sick). A frontlet also = a 'frowning cloth', i.e. nothing.
a forehead band worn by ladies at night to prevent 160 all-licensed free to say or do anything.
or smooth out wrinkles (OED sb la). Lear quib- 162 carp find fault, cavil.
bles on the two senses of 'frontlet', asking Gonerill 163 rank gross, excessive.
['331 TLN 716-34 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.182

I had thought by m a k i n g this well known unto you

T o have found a safe redress, but now g r o w fearful, 165
B y what yourself too late have spoke a n d done,
T h a t you protect this course, a n d put it o n
B y your allowance; which i f you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, n o r the r e d r e s s e s sleep;
Which in the tender o f a wholesome weal 170
M i g h t in their working d o you that offence
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.
F O O L F o r you know, nuncle,
T h e h e d g e - s p a r r o w fed the cuckoo so long, 175
T h a t it's h a d it head bit off by it young.
S o out went the candle, a n d we were left darkling.
LEAR Are you our d a u g h t e r ?
GONERILL I would you would make use o f your good wisdom,
W h e r e o f I know you are fraught, a n d put away 180
T h e s e dispositions, which o f late transport you
F r o m what you rightly are.

167 it] F; not in Q 169 redresses| F; redresse Q 170 Which] F; that Q 173 Will] F; must Q 173 proceeding] F;
proceedings Q 174 know] v; trow Q 175-6 The . . . young.] Pope's lineation; as prose Q, F 176 it's] F,- it Q 176 by
it] F,- beit Q 179-82 I . . . are.] F lineation: as prose Q 179 I] F; Come sir, I Q 180 Whereof. . . fraught,] Q; (Whereof
. . . fraught), F 181 which] v; that Q 181 transport] F; transforme Q

164 I . . . you The line is hypermetrical unless 170 tender care.

the first two words are elided (= I'd) as well as 175-6 The hedge-sparrow . . . young The
'known unto' (= known to). Similarly, in the next cuckoo proverbially laid its eggs in other birds'
line, 'To have' = T'have. In correcting Q'S prose, nests, and its chicks were notorious for their mur-
the F editor or reviser failed to make all the neces- derous gluttony. (See 1H4 5.1.59-64.) The Fool
sary adjustments to verse. alludes figuratively to GonerilPs illegitimacy (com-
165 safe sure. pare 209) or usurpation and certainly to her ingrat-
166 too late very recently. itude in taking over half the realm. The baby-talk
167 put it on encourage it. ('it . . . it') heightens the grotesqueness.
168 allowance i.e. failure to censure. 177 So . . . darkling Possibly this is a nonsense
168-73 which . . . proceeding i.e. if you do tag to take off the edge of the Fool's bitter couplet,
approve of all this, then you are to blame and but even so it conveys a sense of disaster. 'Lear's
redress will be forthcoming, although the steps I folly has produced a figurative darkness in the king-
take, designed to maintain a healthy state ('whole- dom, and darkness can be very frightening' (NS,
some weal'), may offend you as they are carried out. p. xxx). The image of the snuffed candle may come
In other circumstances these steps might indeed from the Lear story in FQ_ 11, x, 30 (Knight, cited
be shameful, but in this instance they will be con- by Furness).
sidered an act of necessary discretion. Gonerill's 177 darkling in the dark,
rhetoric conveys 'an impression of cold venom' 180 fraught furnished (literally, freighted).
(Hunter). Her speech is formal, convoluted, and 181 dispositions moods, humours; as in AYLI
abstract; but Lear gets the point, which leaves 4.1.114.
him - and Kent - speechless; hence, the Fool fills 181 transport passionately carry away; as in
the silence (Rosenberg, p. 117). WT 3.2.158.
170 Which i.e. the redresses.
1.4-183 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 735-58 i'34]
F O O L M a y not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop,
J u g , I love thee!
L E A R Does any here know me? T h i s is not Lear: 185
Does L e a r walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied - Ha! Waking? ' T i s not so!
Who is it that can tell m e who I am?
FOOL Lear's shadow. 190
L E A R Your name, fair gentlewoman?
G O N E R I L L T h i s admiration, sir, is much o'th'savour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:
As you are old and reverend, should be wise. 195
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
M e n so disordered, so deboshed and bold,
T h a t this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn; epicurism and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel 200
Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desired
By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train,
*i83~4 Whoop . . . thee!] Q (suhst.); as separate verse line F (see Commentary) 185 Does . . . Lear:] Rowe's lineation;
as prose Q; two lines divided me? / This F 185 Does] F; Doth Q 185 This| F; why this Q 186-9 ' ) ( , e s • • • àm'] F
lineation; as prose Q 186 Does] F; doth Q 187 notion weakens,] F; notion, weaknes, or Q 188 lethargied - | Rome;
Lethargied. F; lethergie, Q 188 Ha! Waking?] F; sleeping or wakeing; ha! sure Q *i88 so!] so? F; SO, Q 190 FOOL
Lear's shadow.] F,- no SH in Q, which continues as Lear's prose speech with four lines not in v 190 shadow.] F,- shadow?
Q 192-210 This . . . daughter.] F lineation; as prose Q 192 This admiration, sir,) F; Come sir, this admiration Q 192
o'th'J F; of the Q 194 To] F; not in Q 195 old] Q; Old, F 197 deboshed] F; deboyst Q 200 Makes it| F; make Q 200
or a] Y; or Q 201 graced] F; great Q 202 then] F; thou Q

183 May . . . horse As Lear remains stunned by 188 Ha! Waking? Lear pinches or shakes him-
what he is hearing, the Fool again interposes, refer- self to be sure he is not asleep and dreaming.
ring sarcastically to the proverbial inversion of the 192 admiration (pretended) astonishment,
cart and the horse. wonderment. Compare Ham. 1.2.192.
183-4 Whoop . . . thee Gonerill makes a threat- 192 savour characteristic (literally, taste).
ening gesture that elicits this mock protestation of 193 Of other your Of your other (anastrophe).
love, possibly the tag from an old song. 193 pranks childish misbehaviour. Gonerill's
184 Jug Nickname for Joan, often = whore, as terminology reflects her attitude to her father.
in Cambyses 2 5 1 - 2 : "Rufe. I wil give thee sixpence 195 should you should.
to lye one night with thee. Meretrix. Gogs hart, 196-200 Here . . . brothel Compare 1.3.7 n -
slave, doost thinke I am a sixpenny jug?1 (NS). 197 disordered disorderly.
187 notion understanding. 197 deboshed Variant of 'debauched1.
187-8 discernings . . . lethargied intellec- 197 bold impudent.
tual faculties or ability to discriminate is dulled, 199 epicurism gluttony.
paralysed. Moved almost to incoherence, Lear does 201 graced endowed with graces, favoured,
not complete the either/or construction. Compare adorned with honour (Onions).
2.4.263. 202 desired requested.
188-90; Ha . . . shadow On F'S revisions, see 204 disquantity reduce the size or number of.
Textual Analysis, p. 267 below.
l'3S] TLN 759-74 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.217

And the remainders that shall still depend

To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves and you.
LEAR Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses; call my train together. -
Degenerate bastard, I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.
G ONER I L L You strike my people, and your disordered rabble
Make servants of their betters.
Enter ALBANY

LEAR Woe that too late repents!

Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.
Ingratitude! Thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
Than the sea-monster.
ALBANY Pray, sir, be patient.

205 remainders| F; remainder Q 207 Which] F; That Q 207 devils!] Q; Diuels. F 211-12 You . . . betters] Rome's
lineation; as prose Q, F 212-16 Woe . . . sea-monster.] F lineation; as prose Q 212 Woe] F,- We Q 212 repents!] F;
repent's, () sir, are you come? Q *2i3 will? Speak, sir.] Johnson; will, speake Sir? F; will that wee Q 213 my] F,- any
Q 215 show'st] shew'st F; shewest Q 217 ALBANY Pray . . . patient.] F; not in Q, which continues Lear's speech without

205 remainders . . . depend i.e. the rest of and knights are paralysed by events. At 227 Lear
your followers. urges his people out, but their departure seems fur-
206 besort suit, befit. ther delayed until 244.
207 Which . . . you Who know their places and 216 sea-monster No monster of the deep has
yours. been satisfactorily identified, but the ocean, tradi-
207 Darkness and devils Lear explodes with tionally a home of horrors, was also cold and piti-
anger at this point. Peter Brook staged the scene less. The sea-monster that destroyed Hippolvtus
thus: 'Incensed by [Gonerill's] words, Lear over- probably best fits the context (Hunter). In the 1581
turns the dinner-table and storms out. This is the translation of Seneca's Phaedra, it has a 'marble
cue for general pandemonium as the knights, fol- neck' and is sent as a punishment for filial ingrat-
lowing their master's example, tip chairs, throw itude.
plates and generally demolish the chamber' (C. 217 ALBANY . . . patient See Textual Analysis,
Marowitz, 'Lear Log', Tula ne Drama Review p. 279 below.
8 (1963), 113). This representation is extreme 217 be patient Coverdale's definition of
(Rosenberg, p. 121). Lear's knights may appear dis- patience is 'the precious pearl', the Christian virtue
orderly in varying degrees; compare 218-21 below that guards against forsaking charity and falling
and Booth, p. 50. into wrath (Danby, p. 29). 'Lear's passion rises.
208 Saddle . . . together Lear's servants seem Albany - always the "moral fool" - calls out the
frozen here; thus, he must order them again at 227 advice from the devotionahsts appropriate for the
(see n.) and 244. Nevertheless, Oxford adds SD Exit occasion . . . Patience is the only remedy in cases
one or more. such as Lear's. Lear, however, flings into the angry
212 Woe i.e. woe to him who. venom of his outburst against Goneril. Patience is
213 Speak, sir Albany is astonished at what is something he has yet to learn' (Danby, p. 177).
happening. Compare Hoeniger, who notes that patience is
213 Prepare my horses Again, no SD appears, the only virtue that can cure intemperate passion
though Oxford repeats Exit one or more. Either the (p. 325). At 2.4.264 Lear prays for patience, and by
servants ignore Lear's commands, or his attendants 4.5.170 he preaches it to Gloucester.
i.4.217 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 775-96 ['J6]

LEAR [To Gonerilf] Detested kite, thou liest!

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know,
And in the most exact regard support 220
The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of nature
From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! 225
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
And thy dear judgement out. Go, go, my people.
ALBANY My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.
LEAR It may be so, my lord.
Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear: 230
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful.
Into her womb convey sterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring 235
A babe to honour her. If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
217 SD] Rome; not in Q, F 217 liest!] F; list Q,- lessen Q2 218 train are] F,- traine, and Q 222 sho\v!| shew? F,- shewe,
Q 223 Which] F; that Q 225 Lear, Lear, Lear!] F; Lear, Lear! Q 228 su] F; Duke. Q {throughout scene) 229 Of . . .
you.] F; not in Q 226-41 It . . . away!] F lineation; us prose Q 230 Hear] F; harke Q 230 goddess, hear] F,- Goddesse, Q

217 kite A carrion bird particularly despised by Kent and Knights, but their departure appears fur-
Shakespeare. Muir cites Armstrong, Shakespeare's, ther delayed until 244.
Imagination, 1946, pp. 12, 17. 230 Nature The goddess Lear appeals to is very
218 choice and rarest parts select and special different from Edmond's (1.2.1). It is closer to a
qualities. personification of the orthodox Elizabethan con-
220-1 in . . . name i.e. on every single point ception of nature as described, for example, by
justify and uphold their honourable reputation. Richard Hooker in Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical
221 worships dignity, honour. 'Abstract nouns Polity, i.iii: '. . . God being the author of Nature,
are often pluralized when they refer to more than her voice is but his instrument' (cited by Danby,
one person' (Kittredge). p. 26). Lear's curse is very much like those of the
223 engine mechanical contrivance; here, one Old Testament. Hunter cites Deut. 28.15, J8- In
used for levering, not the rack. the eighteenth century (in Tate's adaptation), this
223-4 wrenched . . . place i.e. pried loose the was regarded as a high point of the drama,
structure of my being from its foundations. The 230 dear precious.
metaphor is of an overturned edifice or building. 235 derogate debased (Onions); but compare
Lear implies that Cordelia was the centre of his Cotgrave: dérogé 'disabled; also . . . abolished in
being. part'. If Gonerill's 'organs' were dried up, her body
225 gall bitterness; literally, bile, secreted by the would be 'derogate' in the latter sense,
liver. 236 teem be fruitful, have offspring.
226 B e a t . . . gate Pope and others add SD Strtk- 237 of spleen i.e. entirely of malice, as in Cor.
ing his head. 4-5-9 1 -
227 Go . . . people Some editors add SD Exeunt
['37] TLN 797-819 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.255

And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.

Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, 240
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child. Away, away!
Exeunt [Lear, Kent, Knights, and Attendants]
A L B A N Y Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? 245
GONER I L L Never afflict yourself to know more of it,
But let his disposition have that scope
As dotage gives it.

Enter LEAR

LEAR What, fifty of my followers at a clap?

Within a fortnight?
ALBANY What's the matter, sir? 250
L E A R I'll tell thee. [To Gonerilf] Life and death! I am ashamed
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!
Th'untented woundings of a father's curse 255

238 thwart disnatured| v; thouit disuetur'd Q 240 cadent] F; accent Q 242 feel] F; feele, that she may feele Q 244
Away, away! ] F; goe, goe, my people? Q 244 SD] This edn; not in Q; Exit F; Exit Lear and Attendants Rome {after 265) 245
Now . . . this?] Q; two lines divided adore, / Whereof F 246-8 Never . . . it.] F lineation; as prose Q 246 more of it,]
F; the cause, Q 248 As] v; that Q 248 SD] V; not in Q 249-50 What . . . fortnight?] F lineation; as prose Q 250
What's] F; What is Q 251 I'll . . . ashamed] Rowe's lineation; two lines divided thee: / Life F 251 SD] Theobald; not
m Q, F 252-65 That . . . forever.] F lineation (except 254); as prose Q 253 which] F; that Q 254 Should . . . thee!]
Rowe's lineation; two lines divided them. / Blasts F 254 thee worth them. Blasts] F,- the worst blasts Q 254-5 thee! /
Th'untented] F; the vntender Q uncorr.; the vntented Q con:

238 thwart perverse, cross-grained. counts explanations that depend upon realism and
238 disnatured unnatural, lacking natural feel- praises instead 'the bold foreshortening that makes
ings. the loss of fifty followers seem the consequence
240 cadent falling. of an absence during which only four lines are
240 fret make or form by wearing away. spoken'.
241 pains care. 249 at a clap at one stroke.
243 How . . . is The wording recalls Ps. 140.3: 250 Within a fortnight? Either this is part of
'Thei haue sharpened their tongues like a serpent' the ultimatum, or it suggests the length of time
(Malone). Lear has been with Gonerill so far.
2
247 disposition mood, humour. 5 3 - 4 That these . . . them That you appear
248 As That. to be worth the tears that uncontrollably fall from
249-50 What . . . fortnight Gonerill has said me.
nothing to Lear about halving his train; presum- 254 Blasts Gusts of pestilential foul air.
ably someone informs him of her order in the brief 255 untented untentable, i.e. too deep for prob-
time he is off-stage, and the news drives him back ing with a tent (probe or absorbent wedge used for
for further confrontation. But Hunter rightly dis- cleaning wounds: OED sb^ 1 and 2).
1.4-256 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 8 2 0 - 3 9 [/j#]

Pierce every sense about thee. Old fond eyes,

Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out
And cast you with the waters that you loose
To temper clay. Ha! Let it be so.
I have another daughter, 260
Who I am sure is kind and comfortable.
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolvish visage. T h o u shalt find
T h a t I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off forever. Exit
GONERiLL Do you mark that? 265
A L B A N Y I cannot be so partial, Gonerill,
To the great love I bear you -
GONERILL Pray you, content.
What, Oswald, ho!
You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.
F O O L Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, take the fool with thee. 270
A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,

256 Pierce] F; peruse Q uncorr.; pierce Q con: 256 thee. Old] F; the old Q 257 ye] F; you Q 258 cast you) v; you cast
Q 258 loose] F; make Q 259 clay.] F; clay, yea, i'st come to this? Q 259 Ha! . . . so.] F; not in Q 260 I have another]
F; yet haue I left a Q 261 Who] F; whom Q 265 forever.] F; for euer, thou shalt I warrant thee. Q 265 SD] F,- not in
Q 265 that?] F; that my Lord? Q 266-7 I • • • >ou -J F Uneation: as prose Q 267 you - ] Theobald (suhst.); you, Q; you.
F 267 Pray you, content.] F,- Come sir no more, Q 268 What, Oswald, ho!] F; not in Q 269 You, sir,] v; you, Q 270
Nuncle . . . thee] As prose Q; two verse lines divided: Lear, / Tarry, F, Oxford 270 tarry,] v; tary and Q 270 with thee]
F; with Q 271-5 A fox . . . after.] F Uneation; as prose Q

256 fond foolish (as often). 267 Pray you, content Gonerill cuts Albany
257 Beweep this cause again If you cry over off in mid sentence in both Q and F, but the man-
this once more. ner in F is somewhat gentler, as Duthie, p. 35, and
258 loose let loose, release. But'lose'is also pos- McLeod, pp. 176-7, agree. On F'S alterations of
sible, as the spellings were interchangeable. Muir Gonerill's role, see Textual Analysis, p. 73 above,
suggests a quibble. 270 take . . . thee 'An absolutely perfect pun.
259 temper soften by moistening. Compare The literal sense is obvious; but the phrase was a
2H6 3.1.311: 'And temper clay with blood of regular farewell gibe: "Take the epithet'fool'with
Englishmen'. you as you go!" ' (Kittredge).
259-60 Ha! . . . daughter An example of F 271-5 A fox . . . after The rhymes here may
substitution for Q. Compare Duthie, pp. 36, 172, have been phonetically exact, possibly involving
and Stone, p. 234, who believe the Q half-line was a patchwork of colloquial pronunciations. Neither
accidentally omitted and should be restored. Some the / in 'halter' nor the/in 'after' was pronounced,
metrical disruption is manifest, but short lines are Compare Ben Jonson's rhymes, water: daughter:
not uncommon in F, similar substitutions occur slaughter: after in 'On the Birth of the Lady Mary',
elsewhere (see Textual Analysis, pp. 78-9 above), which Elizabethans would not have regarded as
and other evidence of revision appears; hence, vulgar or rustic, but 'undoubtedly a source of
conflation (which does not perfect the metre) is amusement and appreciative comment' (Kokeritz,
unwarranted. p. 183; compare Cercignani, p. 211).
261 comfortable able to comfort, comforting. 273 sure to certainly go to.
[•39] TLN 840-64 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.4.294

If my cap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after. Exit 275
GO NE R I L L This man hath had good counsel. A hundred knights?
'Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights? Yes, that on every dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers 280
And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!
A L B A N Y Well, you may fear too far.
GONER I L L Safer than trust too far.
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
What he hath uttered I have writ my sister: 285
If she sustain him and his hundred knights
When I have showed th'unfitness -
Enter OSWALD

How now, Oswald?

What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
OSWALD Ay, madam.
GONER I L L Take you some company and away to horse. 290
Inform her full of my particular fear,
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compact it more. Get you gone,
And hasten your return.
[Exit Oswald]

275 so] F; not in Q 276-87 This . . . th'unfitness - ] F; not in Q 276 This . . . knights?] Rowe's lineation; two lines
divided Counsell, / A F *278 knights? | Hantner; Knights: F 287 th'unfitness - ] Rome; th'vnfitnesse. F 287 SD] F; not
in Q 287 How now, Oswald?] F; What Oswald, ho. Oswald. Here Madam. Q 288 that] F,- this Q 289 Ay,] I F; Yes
Q 290-300 Take . . . well.] F lineation; as prose Q 291 fear] F; feares Q 294 And hasten] F; and after Q uncon:, Q2;
& hasten Q con: 294 SD] Rowe; not in Q, F

274 halter hangman's noose. uses the rhetorical device of antimetabole (Joseph,
276-87 This . . . unfitness On F'S addition, see p. 81). Compare Tro. 3.3.178-9.
Textual Analysis, p. 279 below. 288 What . . . writ At 1.3.21, Gonerill says she
276 This man i.e. Lear. Gonerill speaks sarcas- will write to her sister at once, but the letter cannot
tically. contain what Lear has just said, and presumably
278 At point In (armed) readiness. she means she has commissioned Oswald to write
279 buzz whisper, rumour. for her.
280 enguard put a guard around, protect. 291 full fully.
281 in mercy in fee, at (his) mercy. 291 particular own.
282 fear . . . trust too far Compare 'Fear is 293 compact strengthen, confirm.
one part of prudence1 (Tilley F135, cited by NS). 294 return Although Gonerill orders Oswald to
283 still always (as often). return, she meets him instead at Gloucester's castle
284 N o t . . . taken Rather than constantly live in (2.4).
fear of being overtaken by those dangers. Gonerill
1.4-294 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 864-77 [ 7 4°]

No, no, my lord,

This milky gentleness and course of yours, 295
Though I condemn not, yet under pardon
You are much more ataxed for want of wisdom,
Than praised for harmful mildness.
ALBANY How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell;
Striving to better, oft we mar what's well. 300
GONERiLL Nay then -
ALBANY Well, well, th'event.
Exeunt

1.5 Enter LEAR, K E N T , and FOOL

LEAR Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my

daughter no further with anything you know than comes from

294 No, no] F; NOW Q 295 milky] F,- mildie Q uncorr.; milkie Q corr. 296 condemn] F; dislike Q *297 You are]
F2; y'are Q; Your are F *297 ataxed for] ataxt for Dut hie, conj. Greg; alapt Q uncorr., Q2,- attaskt for Q corr.; at task
for F 298 praised] F; praise Q 300 better, oft] F; better ought, Q 302 th'event] the'uent F; the euent Q Act 1,
Scene 5 1.5] Scena Qiiinta. F; not in Q *o SD] Q2; Enter Lear. Q; Enter Leur, Kent, Gentleman, and Foole. v

295 milky . . . course mild and gentle course Act 1 , S c e n e 5

of action (hendiadys). Compare Tim. 3.1.54. 0 SD Although F includes Gentleman in the SD,
296 Though . . . not 'But she does' (NS). most editors delete it, as Lear directs Kent, not
296 under pardon pardon me. his Gentleman or Knight, to carry his letters. The
297 ataxed taxed, censured: a famous crux. Gentleman has no speaking role and is not needed
Greg, Variants, pp. 153-5, has convinced most until 38, where Theobald inserts his entrance.
recent editors that Q uncorr. 'alapt' is probably a Oxford, following Jennens, retains the Gentleman
misprint for 'ataxt' (t and .v were often confused here and has Lear give him letters for Glouces-
with / and p). The press readers wrongly corrected ter and Kent a letter for Regan, after which each
the word in Q corr. and F, although Q corr. 'attaskt' exits. While this arrangement attempts to resolve
can be construed as a variant of 'ataxt', and F 'at the problem of Regan and Cornwall's residence (see
task' may be a sophistication or régularisation of below), Gloucester in the next scene gives no indi-
Q corr. (Hunter). Noting the common origin of cation of receiving word from Lear, as Regan does
'task' and 'tax' and their interchangeable spellings, (2.1.122).
T. Howard-Hill conjectures that F 'at task' derived 1 before i.e. before me, ahead.
from 'ataxt' through an intermediate manuscript 1 Gloucester Perhaps Lear refers not to the
'in which the spelling may have already been var- Earl of Gloucester but to the town of that name,
ied' ('The problem of manuscript copy for Folio near where Cornwall and Regan may have a resi-
King Lear\ The Library, 6th ser., 4 (1982), 21-2). dence (Perrett, pp. 167-72). Bradley, p. 449, notes
Compare 3.2.15, where F reads 'taxe' for Q 'taske'. that Cornwall is Gloucester's 'arch and patron',
298 harmful mildness i.e. leniency, which 2.1.58. But NS sees a slip here for 'Cornwall' and
results in further harm being done. emends accordingly. Shakespeare may simply have
299 How . . . tell i.e. I cannot tell how percep- anticipated the later action.
tive you are or how well you can predict future 1 these letters this letter; compare Latin lit-
events. terae, a similar plural form with a singular meaning;
300 Striving . . . well Compare 'Let well see also 3 and 5 below, and 4.5.237, 244.
enough alone' (Tilley W260), Bodenham, Belvedere 1 - 3 Acquaint . . . letter Compare 1.4.288-
(1600): 'Some men so strive in cunning to excell, 93. Lear does not distrust Kent; unlike Goner-
/ That oft they marre the worke before was well' ill, he is trying to keep a lid on the situation.
(Dent, p. 246) and Sonnet 103.9-10. Hunter implausibly says Lear distrusts Regan and
302 Well . . . event i.e. let's await the outcome. does not want to give her any ammunition against
x\lbany has no stomach here for continuing the him.
quarrel.
1'4'] TLN 877-905 The Tragedy of King Lear 1.5.26

her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I

shall be there afore you.
KENT I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. 5
Exit
F O O L If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of
kibes?
LEAR Ay, boy.
FOOL Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slipshod.
LEAR Ha, ha, ha. 10
F O O L Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly, for though
she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I
can tell.
LEAR What canst tell, boy?
FOOL She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou 15
canst tell why one's nose stands i'th'middle on's face?
LEAR No.
FOOL Why, to keep one's eyes of either side 's nose, that what a
man cannot smell out, he may spy into.
LEAR I did her wrong. 20
FOOL Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
LEAR No.
FOOL Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.
LEAR Why?
FOOL Why, to put 's head in, not to give it away to his daughters, 25
and leave his horns without a case.
4 afore] F; before Q 6 were in's| v; where in his Q 6 were't] Rowe; wert Q, F 9 not] F; nere Q 12 crab's] F; crab is
Q 12 can tell what] F; con, what Q 14 What canst] F; Why what canst thou Q 14 boy?] F; my boy? Q 15 She will]
F; Sheel Q 15 does] F; doth Q 16 canst] F; canst not Q 16 stands] F; stande Q 16 i'th'] F; in the Q 16 on's] F; of
his Q 18 one's] v; his q 18 of] v; on Q 19 he] F; a Q 25 put 's] F; put his Q 25 daughters] F,- daughter Q

3 demand question. look slightly different, they are essentially the same.
3 out of from, suggested by. 12 like this i.e. like this daughter.
6 were't i.e. his brains, taken as singular. 12 crab crab-apple; a small, sour wild apple.
7 kibes chilblains. The Fool refers first to Kent's Wright (cited by Furness) quotes Lyly, Euphues:
promise of speedy service, then ( n - 1 3 ) to Lear's 'The sower Crabbe hath the shew of an Apple as
foolish journey that shows he has no wit, even in well as the sweet Pippin.'
his heels. 15-19 Thou . . . into An example of the Fool's
9 thy . . . slipshod your brains will not have to rapidly shifting focus though the answer to his
wear slippers (because of chilblains); you are witless question adheres to the main issue of perception.
to begin with (in going to Regan and thinking to 16 on's of his.
find succour there). The joke has sometimes been 20 I . . . wrong Lear broods on his treatment of
used as a cue for actors playing the Fool to do Cordelia. Compare 'O most small fault' (1.4.221).
handstands or somersaults (Rosenberg, p. 137). D. G. James, The Dream of Learning, 1951, pp. 94-
11 Shalt Thou shalt. 6, believes Lear refers to Gonerill.
11 kindly (1) affectionately, (2) according to her 23-5 why a snail . . . in Compare Tilley, S580:
kind (the same as Gonerill's). 'Like a snail he keeps his house on his head' (NS).
1 1 - 1 5 though . . . to a crab The Fool makes an 25 put 's put his.
ironic joke, continuing the play on 'kindly': only a 26 horns An allusion to the cuckold's horns;
fool could think there is any real difference between being cuckolded was the inevitable fate of married
Regan and Gonerill. Though Regan and Gonerill men, according to the standard (and much
1.5.27 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 906-25 U42]

LEAR I will forget my nature. S o kind a father! B e my horses ready?

FOOL T h y asses are gone about 'em. T h e reason why the seven
stars are no m o than seven is a pretty reason.
L E A R Because they are not eight. 30
F O O L Yes, indeed, thou wouldst make a good fool.
L E A R T o take't again perforce. Monster ingratitude!
F O O L I f thou wert m y fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being
old before thy time.
L E A R How's that? 35
F O O L T h o u shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
L E A R O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!
K e e p me in temper, I would not be mad.
[Enter GENTLEMAN]

How now, are the horses ready?

GENTLEMAN Ready, my lord. 40
L E A R Come, boy.
F O O L S h e that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure,
Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.
Exeunt

28 'em] F; them Q 29 mo] F; more Q 31 indeed] F; not in Q 36 till] F; before Q 37-9 O . . . ready?] Pope's lineation;
as prose Q, F 37 not mad] F; not in Q 38 Keep] F,- I would not be mad, keepe Q 38 SD| Theobald; not in Q, F 39 How
now,] F; not in Q 40 SH] F; Seruant. Q 41 boy] F; boy. Exit. Q 42 that's] F; that is Q 43 unless] F; except Q 43 SD]
F; Exit. Q

repeated) Elizabethan joke. The legitimacy of Gonerill, here Lear may be thinking of Gonerill's
Lear's elder daughters is again brought into ques- rescinding the privileges she agreed to grant him
tion, and Lear's destitution predicted. (Steevens).
27 forget lose. 32 perforce by force.
27 nature Either (1) generally: character, 37-8 O . . . mad The fear is occasioned by
disposition; or (2) specifically: paternal instincts; 'wise' = in one's right mind, in the Fool's pre-
or (3) both. ceding gibe (NS). Lear's passion is rising, and
28 asses An obvious quibble. the 'unnatural' events are approaching a climax.
28-9 The reason . . . reason An example of Hoeniger describes Lear's madness in Renaissance
the fallacy of begging the question, i.e. when the terms as 'acute hypochondriac melancholy devel-
conclusion, or question to be proved, stands as one oping into mania' (p. 330) and traces it from here
of the premises (Joseph, p. 198). through 4.5.
29 mo more. 42-3 She . . . shorter The Fool addresses the
31 thou . . . fool 'There is bite in Fool's answer audience and warns naif s against a simplistic (i.e.
. . . Fool's jokes are not working, line by line Lear merely humorous) interpretation of his role and (by
slips further away from communication . . . as Fool extension) of all experience. He puns on 'depar-
incites Lear to sanity, he baits him, too, and the ture' (pronounced like 'departer' and rhyming
pitch rises' (Rosenberg, p. 139). with 'shorter': Kokeritz, pp. 169, 226; Cercignani,
32 To take't again i.e. to resume his pp. 114, 263), and on the bawdy sense of'things',
sovereignty Lear's mutterings, when he does not perhaps putting his bauble (= a phallus) between
directly respond to the Fool, are not fully coher- his legs as he mimes the lines (Wiles, pp. 190-1).
ent. As at 20 'her' could refer to either Cordelia or
 TLN
[143] 9 2 7 _ 49 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.1.19

2.1 Enter EDMOND and CUR AN, severally

EDMOND Save thee, Curan.
CUR AN And you, sir. I have been with your father and given him
notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will
be here with him this night.
EDMOND How comes that? 5
CURAN Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad? I
mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing
arguments.
EDMOND Not I; pray you, what are they?
CURAN Have you heard of no likely wars toward 'twixt the Dukes 10
of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMOND Not a word.
CURAN You may do then in time. Fare you well, sir. Exit
EDMOND The duke be here tonight! The better, best.
This weaves itself perforce into my business. 15
My father hath set guard to take my brother,
And I have one thing of a queasy question
Which I must act. Briefness and Fortune, work!
Brother, a word, descend; brother, I say!

Act 2, Scene i 2.11 Actus Secundus. Scena Prima, F; not in Q o SD] F; Enter Bast, and Curan meeting, Q 2 - 4 And . . .
night.] As prose Q,- four verse lines ending . . . bin / . . . notice / . . . Duchesse / . . . night. F *2 you] Q; your F 3
Regan] F; not in Q 4 this] F; to Q *6 abroad?] Duthie; abroad, Q, F 7 they] F,- there Q 7 ear-kissing] F; eare-bussing
Q 9 Not I;] F; Not, I Q 10-11 Have . . . Albany?] Q; not in Q2, which also omits 12; two verse lines divided toward, /
'Twixt F 10 toward] iv towards Q 10 Dukes] F,- two Dukes Q 13 You . . . sir.] Q; two lines divided time. / Fare F 13
do] F; not in Q 13 SD] F; not in Q 14-27 The . . . yourself.] F lineation; as prose Q *i4 better,] Rowe; better Q, F 18
I must act. Briefness and Fortune, work] v; must aske breefnes and fortune helpe Q

Act 2 , S c e n e 1 10—11 wars . . . Albany A leitmotiv from here

0 SD severally Edmond and Curan enter sepa- on, showing disorder in domestic politics and con-
rately from different entrances. futing one of Lear's reasons for giving up the
1 Save thee i.e. God save thee (a common throne (1.1.39-40).
greeting). 10 toward impending.
1 Curan Though unusual, as Hunter says, for 14 The better, best i.e. this is better, in fact the
so minor a character to have a proper name, it is best news yet.
not unprecedented (compare Conrad in Much Ado). 17 queasy question i.e. delicate nature.
Curan is apparently one of Gloucester's men and 18 Briefness and Fortune Whereas Fortune
thus known by name to Edmond. was a standard allegorical figure, Edmond here
6 news abroad talk going around. personifies another 'natural' force, speed. During
7 ear-kissing Q'S 'bussing' may be a misreading this speech following Curan's exit, Edmond moves
for 'kissing' since k could be misread as h - as e.g. at towards his imagined lodging, where he has hidden
4.1.37: Q 'bitt', F 'kill'. Minim misreadings, i for «, Edgar (1.2.140-2).
and vice versa, are common. On the other hand, 19 descend This is the only occasion in the play
'kissing' may be a Folio sophistication (Duthie, where some kind of'above' seems to be used. Possi-
p. 192, adopting Q). The two words mean the same, bly Edgar drops down from the Lord's Room above
but 'bussing' has the advantage of a possible pun on the rear centre stage, where he is hidden by specta-
'buzzing' (Collier, cited by Furness). Nevertheless, tors seated there. Edmond is again stage-managing
the F reading is perfectly acceptable. the action, manipulating people and events.
8 arguments subjects, topics.
2.1.20 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 9 5 0 - 6 9 U44]
Enter EDGAR

M y father watches: O sir, fly this place. 20

Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You have now the good advantage of the night.
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke o f Cornwall?
He's coming hither, now i'th'night, i'th'haste,
And R e g a n with him. Have you nothing said 25
U p o n his party 'gainst the Duke o f Albany?
Advise yourself.
EDGAR I am sure on't, not a word.
EDMOND I hear my father coming. Pardon me,
In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you.
Draw, seem to defend yourself. Now, quit you well. 30
[Shouting] Yield! Come before my father! - L i g h t ho,
here! -
Fly, brother! - Torches, torches! - so, farewell.
Exit Edgar
S o m e blood drawn on me would beget opinion
O f m y more fierce endeavour.
[Wounds his arm]
I have seen drunkards
D o more than this in sport. Father, father! 35
Stop, stop! N o help?

*i9 SD] Theobald; in margin before ij Q; after 18 F 20 sir,] F; not in Q 23 Cornwall?) F; Cornwall ought, Q 24
i'th'night] F; in the night Q 24 i'th'haste] F; it'h hast Q 26 'gainst] F; against Q 27 yourself.] F; your - Q 28-36
I . . . help?] F lineation (except 30); as prose Q 29 cunning] F,- crauing Q 30 Draw . . . well.] Capell's linealion; two
lines divided your selfe, / Now F 30 Draw] F; not in Q 31 SD] This edn; not in Q, F 31 ho| F; here Q 32 brother! -
Torches,] Brother, Torches, F; brother flie, torches, Q 32 SD] F; not in Q 34 SD] Rome; not in Q, F 36 No| Q, F; Ho
Oxford

21 Intelligence Information. gest, however, that the duel is a sham from first
23 spoken 'gainst Edmond is not wildly specu- to last, even though Edmond might be better off
lating, but planting seeds of doubt in Edgar's mind with Edgar dead.
concerning his safety, as he does at 25-6. 30 quit you acquit yourself; with a possible play
24 i'th'haste i.e. in haste. on the sense 'leave'.
27 on't of it. 3 3 - 4 beget . . . endeavour i.e. cause people to
29-30 In cunning . . . yourself Playing on his think that my efforts were fiercer than they actually
brother's naivety, as in 1.2, Edmond implies that were in the struggle.
his 'cunning', or craft, is used on Edgar's behalf, 34-5 drunkards . . . sport Young gallants some-
though in fact the opposite is true. Rosenberg, times stabbed their own arms so that they could
pp. 142-3, questions whether Edmond here intends drink the healths of their mistresses in blood (Col-
to kill Edgar (the 'queasy question', 17) and claim lier, cited by Furness). Several references to the
self-defence. But citing the duel in 5.3, Rosenberg practice appear in dramatic literature; e.g. Steevens
notes that Edgar, a better swordsman, frustrates cites a relevant passage from Marston's The Dutch
Edmond's design, unless Edmond himself has a Courtesan 4.1, and Kittredge cites Middleton's A
change of heart at the last moment. 33-4 sug- Trick to Catch the Old One 5.2.108.
{•45} TLN 970-88 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.1.51

Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches

GLOUCESTER Now, Edmond, where's the villain?
EDMOND Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand auspicious mistress.
GLOUCESTER But where is he?
EDMOND Look, sir, I bleed.
GLOUCESTER Where is the villain, Edmond? 40
E D M O N D Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could -
G L O U C E S T E R Pursue him, ho! G o after.
[Exeunt Servants]
' B y no means' what?
E D M O N D Persuade me to the murder of your lordship,
But that I told him the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend, 45
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
T h e child was bound to'th'father; sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion
With his prepared sword he charges home 50
M y unprovided body, latched mine arm;

36 SD] F; Enter Glost. Q 36 where's] F; where is Q 37-9 Here . . . mistress.] F lineation; as prose Q 38 Mumbling] F;
warbling Q 39 stand) F; stand's Q, Oxford; stand his Q2 *4i could - ] Q; could. F 42 ho] F,- not in Q 42 SD] Dyce
(subst.); not in Q, F 43-84 Persuade . . . capable.] F lineation; as prose Q 44 revenging] F; reuengiue Q 45 the thunder]
F; their thunders Q 46 manifold] F; many fould Q 47 to'th'] F; to the Q 47 fine] F; a fine Q 49 in] F,- with Q 51
latched] F; lancht Q

36 SD with torches Note the ironies of (a) 44 revenging avenging.

Edmond's call for torches (32), when he does not 45 bend aim. The metaphor is from archery;
really want to reveal what is happening, and (b) compare 1.1.137.
Gloucester's entrance with them, and their failure 47 in fine finally.
to illuminate what he most needs to see (Heilman, 48 loathly opposite loathingly opposed.
P- 46). 49 fell motion fierce, deadly thrust.
38-9 Mumbling . . . mistress Edmond is play- 50 prepared unsheathed.
ing upon Gloucester's superstitious nature, but the 50 charges home makes a home thrust at
lines also show Shakespeare beginning to imagine (Muir).
Edgar as Tom o'Bedlam. Compare 1.2.118. 51 unprovided i.e. unprotected, unarmed.
38-9 moon . . . mistress Edmond alludes to 51 latched caught. In defending the F reading
Hecate. See 1.1.104 n - against Q'S 'lancht' ( = lanced), Duthie, p. 137,
39 stand be; 'his' is understood, though Q prints regrets that his best evidence is a 1535 quota-
'stand's' and Q2 'stand his'. tion from a Scottish author cited by OED Latch
41 this way Edmond points in the wrong direc- sb 2. But compare OED sb 4, 'to receive . . . a
tion, of course, giving Edgar time to flee, just as blow'; Bishop Hall in 1649: 'A man that latches the
in the preceding lines he has been deliberately weapon in his own body to save his Prince'; and
stalling despite his father's repeated demands to Mac. 4.3.195, also cited by OED under sb 4.
know where Edgar is.
2.1.52 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 989-101 I [,46]

And when he saw my best alarumed spirits

Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to th'encounter,
Or whether ghasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.
GLOUCESTER Let him fly far, 55
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found, dispatch. T h e noble duke m y master,
M y worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
B y his authority I will proclaim it,
T h a t he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, 60
B r i n g i n g the murderous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death.
EDMOND When I dissuaded him from his intent
And found him pight to do it, with cursed speech
I threatened to discover him. H e replied, 65
' T h o u unpossessing bastard, dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Make thy words faithed? No; what I should deny
(As this I would, ay, though thou didst produce 70
My very character) I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice;
And thou must make a dullard of the world,

52 AndJ F,- but Q 53 quarrel's right,] F; quarrels, rights Q 53 th'] v; the Q 54 ghasted] Knight; gasted Q, F 55
Full] F,- but Q *s6-7 uncaught; / And found, dispatch. The] Steevem (mbsl.); vncaught / And found; dispatch, the
F; vncaught and found, dispatch, the Q 61 coward] F; caytife Q 67 would the reposal] F; could the reposure Q *Ô9
I should] Q; should I F 70 *ay,] I, Q; not in F 72 practice] F; pretence Q

52 best alarumed spirits i.e. best energies 64 cursed angry.

called to arms (Kittredge). 65 discover him i.e. reveal his purpose.
54 ghasted frightened, scared. Compare Oth. 66 unpossessing Illegitimate children could not
5.1.106. Muir suggests a possible pun on 'ghosted', inherit property.
since Edgar 'vanished like a ghost at cock-crow'. 67 I would I should.
The two words are nevertheless etymologically 67 reposal placing.
distinct. 68 virtue, or worth 'These words are not the
55 Full An intensive ( = 'very', 'extremely'). objects of of; they are in the same construction as
55-7 Let . . . dispatch Either (1) however far reposal: "Would our father's putting any confidence
he flies, we'll catch him and kill him, or (2) let him in you, or would any virtue or worthiness on your
fly far from this land, for if he dares to remain I'll part", etc' (Kittredge).
see that he is caught and exiled (Davenport, p. 20). 69 faithed believed.
57 And found, dispatch i.e. and once he is 71 character handwriting.
found, he will be summarily executed. 72 practice evil machination. Compare 106
58 arch and patron chief patron (hendiadys). below.
61 to the stake i.e. to the place of execution. 73-6 thou . . . seek it i.e. you must think the
64 pight firmly set, determined; an archaic form world is pretty stupid for people not to think that
of the past participle of 'pitch', as in 'to pitch a what you stood to gain from my death was a power-
tent'. Compare Tro. 5.10.24 for its literal use. ful incentive for you to seek it (by this stratagem).
l'47l TLN 1012-27 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.1.87

If they not thought the profits of my death

Were very pregnant and potential spirits 75
To make thee seek it.'
Tucket within
GLOUCESTER O strange and fastened villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he?
Hark, the duke's trumpets. I know not why he comes.
All ports I'll bar, the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture 80
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.
Enter C O R N W A L L , RE G A N , and Attendants
CORNWALL How now, my noble friend, since I came hither, 85
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
REGAN I f it be true, all vengeance comes too short

75 spirits] v; spurres Q 76 sn] F; after yy, Met lone; not in Q 76 O strange] F; Strong Q 77 said he?] F; I neuer got
him, Q *78 why] Q; wher F 82 due] F; not in q 84 SD] F; Enter the Duke of Cornwall. Q 85-94 How . . . father?] F
linealion; as prose Q *86 strange news.] Q; strangenesse F

75 pregnant and potential spirits i.e. spir- got him' leaves an irregular line, but conflation,
its fertile and powerful in incitement. Many edi- as Duthie recommends (p. 173) and many edi-
tors, ignoring a possibly mixed metaphor ('preg- tors read, does not help metrically. Duthie believes
nant spurs'), adopt Q'S reading as better suiting 'said he?' was meant as an addition, not a substitu-
the sense. Duthie, p. 173, thinks the F collator or tion, and was misinterpreted by the scribe or col-
compositor may have misread 'spurres' and thus lator preparing copy for F. Gloucester's agitation
miscorrected Q. But Sisson, p. 232, argues that the lends itself to hypermetrical speech, interrupted
sense and language of the whole speech points to by the trumpet announcing Cornwall and Regan's
'spirits', with 'pregnant and potential' fitting evil arrival.
spirits and referring back to 'damned practice' (72). 79 ports seaports; but possibly gates of walled
Shakespeare often juxtaposes 'potent' and 'spirits' towns, too.
(Muir, adopting F, as does Riverside). 80—1 his picture . . . near Before xerography
76 SD Tucket within Most editors place SD after or even photography, this method of apprehend-
77, but space considerations did not force Com- ing malefactors was used. Furness cites Nobody and
positor B to insert it earlier, and Gloucester's pre- Somebody (1606): 'Let him be straight imprinted to
occupation with Edmond's news naturally suggests the life: / His picture shall be set on euery stall, /
a delayed response. A tucket (from Italian toccata) And proclamation made, that he that takes him, /
is a succession of notes on a trumpet distinguished Shall haue a hundred pounds of Somebody.'
from a flourish. Gloucester recognises the particu- 83 natural The ambiguity - (1) naturally loyal
lar melody or sequence as Cornwall's (78). and loving, (2) illegitimate - is further compounded
76 strange (1) monstrous (of human species), since 'natural' could also refer to a legitimate
(2) unnatural, alienated (of human kinship). child. Thus Gloucester may already indicate that
76 fastened confirmed, hardened. Edmond is his heir (Muir).
77 said he? F'S substitution for Q'S 'I neuer 84 capable i.e. legallv able to inherit patrimonv.
2.1.88 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1028-53 ['4SI

Which can pursue th'offender. How dost, my lord?

GLOUCESTER O madam, my old heart is cracked, it's cracked.
REGAN What, did my father's godson seek your life? 90
He whom my father named, your Edgar?
GLOUCESTER O lady, lady, shame would have it hid.
REGAN Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tended upon my father?
GLOUCESTER I know not, madam; 'tis too bad, too bad. 95
EDMOND Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
REGAN No marvel, then, though he were ill affected.
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have th'expense and waste of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister 100
Been well informed of them, and with such cautions,
That if they come to sojourn at my house,
I'll not be there.
CORNWALL Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
Edmond, I hear that you have shown your father
A child-like office.
EDMOND It was my duty, sir. 105
GLOUCESTER He did bewray his practice, and received
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
CORNWALL Is he pursued?
GLOUCESTER Ay, my good lord.
CORNWALL If he be taken, he shall never more no
Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose

88 th'] F; the Q 89 O] F,- not in Q 89 it's] F; is Q 92 O] F; I Q 94 tended] F; tends Q 96 of that consort] F; not
in Q 99 th'expense and waste] F; these - and wast Q uncon:; the wast and spovlc Q corr. 99 his) F, Q corr.; this his Q
uncorr. 102-3 That . . . there.] F lineation; one line Q 103-5 Nor . . . office.] F linealion; as prose Q 104 hear] F; heard
Q 104 shown] shewne F; shewen Q 105 It was] F; Twas Q 106 bewray] F; betray Q no—16 If . . . on.] F lineation;
as prose Q

88 dost i.e. dost thou. Since Regan never again 96 consort band, company; accented on second
addresses Gloucester in the second-person familiar, syllable.
Furness believes the F2 emendation, 'does', should 97 though if.
be adopted, though his text follows Q/F. 97 ill affected badly disposed, disloyal.
90 my father's godson Regan begins to make 98 put him on put him on or up to.
a series of associations connecting Edgar and Lear 99 th'expense the spending,
with mischief and disorder. Compare 93-4. 99 revenues Accented on second syllable.
94 tended upon Although many editors fol- 101 them i.e. Lear's knights,
low Theobald and emend 'tended' to 'tend', 103 assure thee be assured,
thus preserving the metre, Abbott 472 (cited by 105 child-like office filial service.
Furness, Duthie) indicates that -ed was often not 106 bewray expose, reveal,
pronounced after a d or t\ hence, the emenda- m - 1 2 Make . . . please i.e. carry out your
tion, which also changes the tense, is unneces- plan to capture Edgar, using whatever means in
sary. my name you please.
[i49\ TLN 1054-73 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.1.129

How in my strength you please. For you, Edmond,

Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours;
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
You we first seize on.
EDMOND I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.
GLOUCESTER For him I thank your grace.
CORNWALL You know not why we came to visit you?
REGAN Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night?
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some prize,
Wherein we must have use of your advice.
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I best thought it fit
To answer from our home. The several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow
Your needful counsel to our businesses,
Which craves the instant use.
GLOUCESTER I serve you, madam;
Your graces are right welcome.
Exeunt. Flourish

116-17 I . . . else.] Pope's linen lion; one line Q, F 116 sir] F; not in Q 119 threading] F; threatning Q 120 prize] F;
prise Q uncorr.; poyse Q con: 123 differences] F, Q con:; defences Q uncorr. 123 best] F, Q uncon:; lest Q con: *i23
thought] Q; though F 124 home] F, Q con:; hand Q uncon: 126-8 Lay . . . use.] F lineation; two lines divided councell /
To Q 127 businesses] F; busines Q 128-9 I • . . welcome] F; one line Q 129 SD] F; (Exeunt Q (after vse, 12/)

114 ours The royal plural. and again at 123 Q'S press-corrections are author-
115 we . . . need Cornwall alludes to impending itative and were simply overlooked by the F col-
broils with either Lear or Albany (Hunter). lator ('Date and authorship', pp. 362-3). Duthie,
116 seize on 'take legal possession of (a vassal)' pp. 139-40, rejects Q corr. 'poyse', since he believes
(NS); but Cornwall may not be using the term F'S 'prize' came from a playhouse manuscript,
technically. 123 which Not the differences, or quarrels, but
118 you? Many editions (e.g. Muir, Oxford) fol- the letters (Delius, cited by Muir).
low Rowe and change the question mark to a dash, 124 To . . . home Regan leaves her home so
making Regan cut Cornwall off in mid speech. But that she will have an easier way to put Lear off
by interposing herself and relegating Cornwall to and to consult with Gonerill. But, dramaturgically,
second fiddle, Regan does not necessarily interrupt her arrival and Cornwall's at Gloucester's castle
her husband (NS). bring all the principal characters of the main plot
119 out of season i.e. untimely travel by night. together (except Cordelia and Albany) for the cli-
119 threading dark-eyed night A precise mactic episodes that end this act and the next
metaphor conveying the difficulties of travel along (Bradley, p. 449).
unlit roads and byways, with a quibble on the eye 124 from i.e. away from.
of a needle (NS). 125 attend dispatch are waiting to be sent back
120 prize importance. See collation. Oxford (with replies).
reads 'poise': Taylor argues, against Greg, that here 128 craves . . . use demands immediate action.
2.2.1 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1075-92 [150]

2.2 Enter KENT [disguised] and OSWALD, severally

OSWALD Good dawning to thee, friend. Art of this house?
KENT Ay.
OSWALD Where may we set our horses?
KENT Fth'mire.
OSWALD Prithee, if thou lov'st me, tell me. 5
KENT I love thee not.
OSWALD Why, then I care not for thee.
KENT If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for
me.
OSWALD Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. 10
KENT Fellow, I know thee.
OSWALD What dost thou know me for?
KENT A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats, a base, proud,
shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-
stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking, whoreson glass- 15
gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting

Act 2, Scene 2 2.2] Sccna Sccunda. F; not in Q o SD] severally] F; not m Q 1 da\vning| F; deuen Q uncorr.; euen Q
con: 1 this] F; the Q 5 lov'st] F; loue Q *i4 three-suited, hundred-pound,] three snyted hundred pound Q uncorr.;
three shewted hundred pound Q corn; three-suited-hundred pound F,- three-suited, hundred pound F2 14-15 worsted-
stocking] woosted-stocking F; wosted stocken Q uncorr.; worsted-stocken Q corr. 15 action-taking] F; action taking
knaue, a Q 16 superserviceable, finical] F; superfinicall Q *i6 one-trunk-inheriting] F3; one trunckc inheriting Q; one
Trunke-inheriting F, F2

Act 2, Scene 2 I pray you? Who allowes you your horsemeat,

1 dawning Q uncorr. 'deuen' (colloquial) was and man's-meat? your three sûtes of appareil a
unnecessarily changed to Q corr. 'euen' (NS). F'S yeere? your foure paire of stockings, one silke,
neologism, 'Good dawning', is 'possibly an inven- three worsted?' (Wright, following Steevens; cited
tion . . . to suit Oswald's euphuistic style' (Stone, by Furness).
p. 194). In any event, as 26-7 indicate, it is night- 14 hundred-pound A large amount for a serv-
time before dawn. ingman, but probably a hit at James I's profuse
1 of this house i.e. a servant here. Why Kent creation of knights (Muir). Compare Middleton's
answers affirmatively is not clear, unless it is to give The Phoenix 4.3.55: 'How's this? am I used like
occasion for further attacks on Oswald (Hunter). a hundred-pound gentleman?' (Steevens, cited by
5 i f . . . me A conventional, if affected, way of Furness).
saying please (Hunter). 1 4 - 1 5 worsted-stocking Silk stockings were
7-8 care . . . care A quibble: (1) like, (2) heed very dear; servingmen wore woollen ones.
(NS). _ 15 lily-livered cowardly.
8 Lipsbury pinfold Probably a pun on 15 action-taking i.e. preferring litigation to
'between my teeth' (Nares, cited by Furness). No fighting.
town of Lipsbury is known; 'pinfold' = pound, or 15-16 glass-gazing given to self-admiration,
pen, for confining stray cattle or sheep. vain.
10 use treat. 16 superserviceable ready and willing to serve
13 broken meats Leftover food or scraps, such beyond one's duties, even dishonourably (Kent
as a menial would eat. soon calls him a bawd and a pander). Compare
14 three-suited Servingmen were allotted three 4.5.240-2.
suits of clothes. Compare 3.4.120-2 and Jonson, 16 finical fussily fastidious.
Epicoene, or The Silent Woman 3.1.38-42 (Mrs 16 o n e - t r u n k - i n h e r i t i n g possessing only
Otter scolds her husband, whom she treats as a enough things to fill a single trunk.
dependant): 'Who giues you your maintenance,
[151] TLN 1092-1116 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.2.37

slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and

art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward,
pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch, one whom
I will beat into clamorous whining if thou deniest the least 20
syllable of thy addition.
OSWALD Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail on
one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee!
KENT What a brazen-faced varlet art thou to deny thou knowest
me! Is it two days since I tripped up thy heels and beat thee 25
before the king? Draw, you rogue! For though it be night, yet
the moon shines. I'll make a sop o'th'moonshine of you,
[Drawing his sword] you whoreson cullionly barber-monger,
draw!
OSWALD Away, I have nothing to do with thee. 30
KENT Draw, you rascal. You come with letters against the king,
and take Vanity the puppet's part against the royalty of her
father. Draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado your shanks -
draw, you rascal, come your ways!
OSWALD Help, ho, murder, help! 35
KENT Strike, you slave! Stand, rogue! Stand, you neat slave, strike!
OSWALD Help, ho, murder, murder!

19 one] F; not in r Q *20 clamorous] Q ion:; clamarous Q ttncorr.; clamours F 20 deniest] F; dénie Q 21 thy] F; the
Q 22 Why] F; not in Q 23 that is| F; that's Q 23 thee!] thee. Q; thee? F 24 brazen-faced] F; brazen fac't Q 25 me!]
mee, Q; me? F 25 days . . . thee| F; dayes agoe since I beat thee, and tript vp thy heelcs Q 26 yet] F; not in Q 27 o'th']
F; of the Q 27 of you] F; a'you, draw Q 28 SD] After 2g, Rome; not in Q, F 31 come with | r, bring Q *33 shanks - ]
Rowe; shankes, Q; shanks, F 36 strike!] strike? Q corn; strike. Q uncorr., F 37 murder, murder-j murther, murther. F;
murther, helpe. Q

17 be a bawd . . . service i.e. do anything, no interchangeable with the figure of Pride (one of the
matter how dishonourable, and consider it good Seven Deadly Sins). The figure appears often in
service. Renaissance iconography, though not in any extant
18 composition compound. Morality plays, as commentators (following John-
19 heir 'A fine touch! - not merely the son, son) have been misled into believing (Meagher,
but the heir, inheriting all the mongrel's qualities' pp. 252-3). Kent refers to Gonerill thus because
(Kittredge). as part of her costume she wears a hand-mirror
21 addition A mark of distinction, something (compare 3.2.33-4); but Meagher fails to connect
added to a man's name or coat-of-arms to denote Gonerill's vanity with her servant Oswald's, which
his rank, title (Onions); here used ironically. Kent detests. 'Puppet' is also a 'contemptuous term
24 varlet rogue, rascal. for a person (usually a woman)' (OED sv sb 1,
27 sop o'th'moonshine Kent threatens to beat cited by NS). Compare 'poppet' = darling, pet,
Oswald so badly that he will be worthless except to or dolled-up woman.
soak up moonlight. He may also allude to sopping 33 carbonado cut crosswise for broiling.
up 'eggs in moonshine', a dish of fried eggs and 34 come your ways come on, come along; as
onions (Nares, cited by Furness). in Tro. 3.2.44. Kent tries to get Oswald to fight,
28 cullionly despicable. but he comically keeps backing away, refusing the
28 barber-monger frequenter of barbershops; encounter. (Some editors follow Rowe and insert a
hence, a vain fop. SD after 36: Beats him.)
32 Vanity the puppet's part Vanity as a proud, 36 neat elegant, foppish.
self-admiring woman was emblematic, virtually
2.2.38 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1117-40 I'S*]
Enter EDMOND, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, Servants
EDMOND How now, what's the matter? Part!
KENT With you, goodman boy, if you please; come, I'll flesh ye;
come on, young master. 40
G L O U C E S T E R Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?
C O R N W A L L Keep peace, upon your lives; he dies that strikes
again. What is the matter?
R E G A N T h e messengers from our sister and the king?
C O R N W A L L What is your difference - speak! 45
O S W A L D I am scarce in breath, my lord.
K E N T N o marvel, you have so bestirred your valour, you cowardly
rascal. Nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made thee.
C O R N W A L L T h o u art a strange fellow - a tailor make a man?
K E N T A tailor, sir, a stone-cutter, or a painter could not have made 50
him so ill, though they had been but two years o'th'trade.
CORNWALL Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?
O S W A L D T h i s ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared at suit
of his grey beard -
K E N T T h o u whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter! M y lord, i f you 55
will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar
and daub the wall o f a jakes with him. Spare m y grey beard,
you wagtail?
37 SD] F; Enter Edmond with his rapier drawne, Glosler the Duke and Dulchesse. Q 38 Fart!| Part, v; not in Q 39 if] F;
and Q 39 ye] F; you Q 43 What is] F,- what's Q 44 king?] F; King. o_ 45 What is] F; W hats Q 50 A] 17 I, a Q 51
they] F; hee Q 51 years] F,- houres Q 51 o'th'] o'th' F3; oth' F, Y 2; at the Q 52 .sn| t\- G lost. Q 53 ruffian] F; ruffen
Q *54 grey beard - ] Rome (suhst.); gray-beard. Q, F 55-6 you will] F; you'l Q 57 \vall| 17 walks Q

37 SD Since Edmond's name precedes those of speare knows that art is long' (Greg, Editorial Prob-
the others, who outrank him, he may actually enter lem, p. 91).
first and try to separate Kent and Oswald (who may 55 unnecessary letter The letter c is 'unnec-
have drawn his sword by now). Oxford alters the essary' because its function is largely taken over by
SD accordingly. See collation: in Q, Edmond enters .s-; dictionaries of the time ignored the letter, which
with his rapier drawne. is not used in Latin (Muir). As a parasite, Oswald
39 With you Kent here turns to Edmond, chal- is 'unnecessary'.
lenging him. 56 unbolted (1) unsifted (of flour or cement),
39 goodman boy A contemptuous term of hence (2) unmitigated, or (3) undiscovered,
address for a presumptuous young man. unexamined; (4) released of fetters or bolts (as a
39 flesh initiate (i.e. into tasting blood, fighting); villain should not be); (5) effeminate, impotent (i.e.
as in 1H4 5.4.130. lacking a 'bolt').
45 difference quarrel. 57 jakes privy.
48 disclaims in thee disavows, renounces hav- 58 wagtail '(used as a term of contempt) obse-
ing any part in you. quious person' (Onions); compare OED sv sh 3b,
48 a tailor made thee Referring to Oswald's 'contemptuous term for a profligate or inconstant
fancy clothes but hollow character, Kent alludes woman'. Oswald is too scared to stand still and,
to the proverb, 'The tailor makes the man' (Tilley hopping about, resembles the actions of a bird,
T17), as Guiderius does in Cytn. 4.2.81-3, describ- the wagtail (Kittredge). Kent may also strike out
ing Cloten. against him again, prompting Cornwall's response.
51 years Q'S 'houres' is a vulgarisation; 'Shake-
l'S3] TLN 1141-55 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.2.73

CORNWALL Peace, sirrah.

You beastly knave, know you no reverence? 60
K E N T Yes, sir, but anger hath a privilege.
C O R N W A L L Why art thou angry?
K E N T That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain, 65
Which are too intrince t'unloose; smooth every passion
That in the natures o f their lords rebel,
Being oil to fire, snow to the colder moods,
Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gall and vary of their masters, 70
Knowing naught, like dogs, but following.
A plague upon your epileptic visage!
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?

59-60 Peace . . . reverence? | F lineation; one line Q 60 know you] F; you haue Q 61 hath] F; has Q 64 Who] F;
That Q 65 the holy] 1 •'; those Q 65 a-twain] V; in twaine Q *66 too intrince] Capell; to intrench, Q; t'intrince, F 66
t'unloose I F,-to inloose Q 68 Being | v; Bring Q 68 fire] F; stir Q 68 the] F,-their Q *69 Renege] Reneag Q; Reuenge
F 70 gall] I',- gale Q 71-3 Knowing . . . fool?] F lineation: two lines divided epileptick [turned over] I Visage Q 71
dogs] F; dayes Q 73 Smile | smoyle Q; Smoile F

61 anger . . . privilege Tilley L458, citing John a melancholy mood, which is a cold mood, the
4.3.32: 'Impatience hath his privilege' (NS). flatterers are snow to that mood, keep it cold'
63 sword A symbol of manhood. (pp. 142-3).
64 smiling rogues Compare Ham. 1.5.105-7, 69 Renege Deny. Compare 4.5.94-7. Q is clearly
where Hamlet refers to Claudius as 'a smiling right here; F results from Compositor E's misread-
damned villain'. ing copv (Doran, p. 91; compare Duthie, pp. 1 3 -
65 rats, oft bite Compare Tilley M135: 'A 14).
mouse in time may bite in two a cable' (NS). 69 halcyon beaks The bird is the kingfisher,
65 holy cords i.e. sanctified bonds (of matri- which when hung up by the neck or tail could
mony). 'Kent hints that Oswald is "duteous to the serve as a weathervane. Compare Marlowe's The
vices" of his mistress' (NS). Jew of Malta 1.1.38-9: 'But now how stands the
65 a-twain in two. wind? / Into what corner peeres my Halcion's bill?'
66 too intrince too intertwined, tightly bound (Steevens, cited by Furness). Flatterers thus shift
(compare 'intrinsicate', .-/;;/. 5.2.304, and Stone, with their masters' passions.
pp. 52-3). F'S contraction may have been influ- 70 gall and vary Most editors accept Q'S 'gale'
enced, wrongly, by the contraction later of the and treat the words as hendiadvs. Duthie cites
preposition; /' for the adverb is not normal (Tex- 0£D's reference to 'gall-wind' and retains 'gall',
tttal Companion, p. 534), though it is common for since his is an old-spelling edition (NS adopts
the preposition. Both words could be spelled the 'gale'). Oxford reads 'gall' ( = 'a state of men-
same, as they are in Q. (Compare Doran, p. 93, tal soreness or irritation', OED si?2 2), despite
and Duthie, pp. 385-7.) Moreover, 'are' should be F2's emendation supporting Q (Textual Companion,
elided so that 'too' receives the accent. p. 534). The hendiadvs may then signify 'varying
66 smooth flatter, humour (Onions). irritation', a less easy metaphor but not less Shake-
67 rebel i.e. against reason, which should con- spearean.
trol the passions. 72 epileptic visage 'Oswald pale, and trem-
68 Being Although in NS Duthie withdrew bling with fright, was yet smiling and trying to
his earlier defence of F, his argument still makes put on a look of lofty unconcern' (Muir).
excellent sense. Citing 2H6 5.2.51-5, he says that 73 Smile you i.e. smile you at.
'flatterers are oil to the flame of their masters' 73 as as if.
wrath . . . just as when their masters are in, say,
2.2.74 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1156-79 ['54]

Goose, if I had you upon Sarum Plain,

I'd drive ye cackling home to Camelot. 75
CORNWALL What, art thou mad, old fellow?
GLOUCESTER How fell you out? Say that.
KENT No contraries hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave.
CORNWALL Why dost thou call him knave?
What is his fault?
KENT His countenance likes me not. 80
CORNWALL No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.
KENT Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.
CORNWALL This is some fellow 85
Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb
Quite from his nature. He cannot flatter, he;
An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth.
And they will take it, so; if not, he's plain. 90
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends
Than twenty silly-ducking observants
That stretch their duties nicely.

74 if] F; and Q 75 drive ye] F,- send you Q 79-80 Why . . . fault?] F lineation; one line Q 80 What is] F; what's Q 80
fault?] F; offence. Q 81 nor . . . nor] F; or . . . or Q 84 Than] Then F; That Q 85-94 This . . . nicely] F lineation;
nine verse lines ending . . . praysd / . . . ruffines, / . . . nature, / . . . plaine, / . . . so, / . . . know / . . . craft, / . . .
ducking / . . . nisely Q 85 some] F,- a Q 87 roughness] F; ruffiness Q 89 An . . . plain,] F; he must be plaine, Q *90
take it,] Rome; take it F,- tak't Q 93 silly-ducking] F; silly ducking Q

74-5 Goose . . . Camelot Though the passage style of plain speech from its inherent function,
is variously interpreted, the main sense is clear. sincerity, and makes it a cloak for craftiness and
Oswald's laughter suggests the cackling of a goose corrupt ends (92) (Clarke, cited by Furness). In
and hence associations with Sarum ( = Salisbury) Shakespeare 'garb' = 'style, fashion (of speech or
Plain, not far from Winchester, where Camelot behaviour); never = "fashion in dress" ' (NS).
may have been located. But it is not certain that 88 his its.
geese were, in fact, found on Sarum Plain, or why 90 And . . . plain i.e. if people will take it, fine;
Shakespeare should make that association. Capell if not, his excuse is that he's plainspoken.
suspected an allusion to 'Winchester goose', i.e. a 92 craft craftiness.
syphilitic person, but Muir thinks the association 92 more corrupter Double comparatives, like
must have been largely unconscious and doubts that double superlatives, are common in Shakespearean
it would have been picked up by an audience. Com- and Elizabethan usage.
pare E. A. Armstrong, Shakespeare's Imagination, 93 silly-ducking observants obsequious ser-
1963, pp. 57-8. vants who foolishly keep bowing.
80 likes pleases. 94 stretch . . . nicely strain the exercise of their
86 affect put on, assume. duties to a fine point.
87-8 constrains . . . nature i.e. he distorts the
Uss] TLN 1180-1200 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.2.113

KENT Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity, 95

Under th'allowance of your great aspect,
Whose influence like the wreath of radiant fire
On flick'ring Phoebus' front -
CORNWALL What mean'st by this?
K E N T To go out of my dialect, which you discommend so much. I
know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that beguiled you in a plain 100
accent was a plain knave, which for my part I will not be,
though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to't.
CORNWALL What was th'offence you gave him?
OSWALD I never gave him any
It pleased the king his master very late 105
To strike at me upon his misconstruction,
When he, compact, and flattering his displeasure,
Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,
And put upon him such a deal of man
That worthied him, got praises of the king no
For him attempting who was self-subdued,
And in the fleshment of this dread exploit
Drew on me here again.

95 faith] F; sooth Q 95 in] v; or in Q 96 great] v; graund Q *98 flick'ring] Duthie (suhst.); flitkering Q; flicking F;
flickering Pope *98 front - ] Rowe; front, Q, F 98 mean'st] F; mean'st thou Q 99 dialect] F; dialogue Q 103 What
was th'] F; What's the Q 104-6 I . . . misconstruction,] F lineation; two verse lines divided maister / Very Q 107
compact,] v; conjunct Q 109 man] F; man, that, Q 112 fleshment] F; flechuent Q * i i 2 dread] Q; dead F

95-8 Sir . . . front Kent parodies the style and 105 very late most recently,
manner of one of the 'silly-ducking observants', 106 misconstruction misunderstanding, mis-
adopting the idiom of an Oswald (or an Osric). construing.
95 sincere verity A deliberate redundancy for 107 compact in league with, in cahoots with
'good faith'. (the king).
96 aspect (1) countenance, (2) astral position 108 being . . . railed i.e. I being down, he
and influence (in astrology); accent is on the second insulted and railed at me.
syllable. Kent's inflated speech compares Cornwall 109 put . . . man i.e. struck such an attitude of
to a powerful planet or star. manliness.
97 influence Another astrological term (com- n o That worthied him Either (1) that it made
pare 1.2.no). him appear very worthy, (2) that it raised him
98 Phoebus' front The sun's forehead. Phoe- to honour or distinction (Onions), or (3) that it
bus was the sun god. made a hero of him (NS). It is not clear, as Muir
99 dialect idiom, manner of speaking. notes, whether the verb derives from the adjec-
100-1 He . . . knave Kent alludes to the person tive (Abbott), or from the noun 'worthy' = hero
Cornwall described above, 85-94, and disassociates (Schmidt), or from Middle English wurthien =
himself accordingly. dignify (Perrett).
102-2 though . . . to't Unsatisfactorily 1 1 1 For . . . subdued'For attacking a man who
explained. Kent probably means that nothing, not offered no resistance' (NS).
even the incentive of Cornwall's further displea- 112 fleshment 'Excitement resulting from a
sure, could induce him to be the kind of 'plain first success' (Onions). Compare 39 above,
knave' Cornwall has described. 112 dread exploit Oswald speaks ironically.
2.2.113 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1201-21 [^56]

KENT None of these rogues and cowards

But Ajax is their fool.
CORNWALL Fetch forth the stocks!
You stubborn, ancient knave, you reverend braggart, 115
We'll teach you.
KENT Sir, I am too old to learn:
Call not your stocks for me. I serve the king,
On whose employment I was sent to you.
You shall do small respects, show too bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master, 120
Stocking his messenger.
CORNWALL Fetch forth the stocks!
As I have life and honour, there shall he sit till noon.
R E G A N Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.
K E N T Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not use me so.
REGAN Sir, being his knave, I will. 125
Stocks brought out
CORNWALL This is a fellow of the selfsame colour
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.
GLOUCESTER Let me beseech your grace not to do so.
The king his master needs must take it ill

113-14 None . . . fool.] F lineation; one line Q 114 Ajax] F; A'Iax Q 114 Fetch] F; Bring Q 114 stocks!] F,- stockes
ho? Q 115 ancient] F; ausrent Q uncorr.; miscreant Q con. 116-18 Sir . . . you.] F lineation; two lines divided me, / I
Q 116 Sir,] F; not in Q 118 employment] F,- imployments Q 119 shall] F; should Q 119 respects] F; respect Q 121
Stocking] F; Stobing Q uncorr.; Stopping Q con: 121-2 Fetch . . . noon.] F lineation; divided honour, / There Q 122
sit] F, Q con:; set Q uncorr. 124-5 Why . . . so.] F lineation; as prose Q 125 should] F; could Q 125 si)] F; after i2j.
Dyce and most later editors (except Oxford); not in Q 126 colour] F; nature Q 127 speaks] F; speake Q 128 so.] so, Q, F
(F omits four lines here) 129-31 The . . . restrained.] F lineation; two lines divided valued / In Q 129 his master needs]
F; not in Q

114 Ajax Kent's muttered response arouses 120 grace and person The position he holds
Cornwall's fierce outburst because he believes Kent as king and himself personally.
identifies him with the foolish Greek warrior who 125 should would.
is easily duped by others (as in Tro.) (NS). Kent's 125 being i.e. since you are.
pun, intentional or otherwise ('Ajax' - 'a Jakes'), 126 colour stripe, complexion.
does not help matters. 127 sister i.e. Gonerill. Elizabethans took the
114 stocks An ancient form of punishment for marriage ceremony literally, husband and wife
servants. In the fifth Earl of Huntington's house- becoming 'one flesh'; hence, a sister-in-law was a
hold, disorderliness or unseemly behaviour towards sister.
one's betters was punished first by a spell in the 127 Come . . . stocks Some editors take this as
stocks, as recorded in Rawdon Hastings MSS. iv the cue to bring out the stocks and move the pre-
(G. M. Young, Times Literary Supplement, 30 Sept. vious SD (125) here. But the change is unnecessary;
1949, p. 633; cited by Muir). Cornwall sees the stocks at this point and directs
115 reverend old. Cornwall is being sarcastic. them to be brought up.
117 I . . . king Kent reminds Cornwall that he 129-31 The king . . . restrained For F'S revi-
is not his servant, but the king's (and thus should sion and cuts here and at 133, see Textual Analysis,
be treated with more consideration). p. 267 below.
 TLN
[ij7] 1222-41 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.2.147

That he, so slightly valued in his messenger, 130

Should have him thus restrained.
CORNWALL I'll answer that.
R E G A N M y sister may receive it much more worse
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted.
[Kent is put in the stocks]
C O R N W A L L Come, my lord, away.
[Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent]
G L O U C E S T E R I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure, 135
Whose disposition all the world well knows
Will not be rubbed nor stopped. I'll entreat for thee.
K E N T Pray do not, sir. I have watched and travelled hard.
Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.
A good man's fortune may grow out at heels. 140
Give you good morrow.
G L O U C E S T E R T h e duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken. Exit
K E N T Good king, that must approve the common saw,
Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st
To the warm sun. 145
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
That by thy comfortable beams I may

130 he] r; hee'.s Q 133 gentleman] F; Gentlemen Q 133 assaulted.] F; assalted Q; F omits one line here 133 SD] After
134, Rome; not in Q, F 134 su] v; not in Q, where line is part of Regan's speech 134 my] F; my good Q 134 SD] Dyce;
Exit, F; not in Q *i35 duke's] Dukes Q; Duke F 138 Pray] F; Pray you Q 139 out] F; ont Q 142 The . . . taken.] Q
lineation; two lines divided this, / 'Twill F *\$2. to] Q; too F 142 taken] F; tooke Q 142 SD] F; not in Q 143 saw] F,
Q eon:; say Q union: 144 com'st] F; comest Q

133 SD Kent . . . stocks '[T]he Morality-play and compare 1.2.41, where 'too blame' = too
icon of virtue martyred in the stocks becomes an blameworthy.
icon of social transposition, of the confusion of 143 approve confirm, prove the truth of.
moral values' (Salingar, p. 99; compare Mack, pp. 143 saw saying, proverb.
55-6). 144-5 Thou . . . sun Proverbial for going from
134 Come . . . away Cornwall addresses good to bad (compare Tillev G272, who quotes
Gloucester who, unhappy about the situation, Florio: ' "Da baiante a ferrante": From bad to
remains behind for a few moments. worse, out of gods blessing into the warme sun,
137 rubbed A term from bowls, meaning out of the parlor into the kitchin'). Perhaps used
impeded or deflected. Kittredge compares R2 ironically: bad as Gonerill is, Lear is heading for
34-3-S- worse. Muir cites King Leir 1154: 'he came from
138 watched stayed awake, been up. bad to worse'. Daybreak reminds Kent of the
140 A good . . . heels With mordant humour proverb.
Kent reflects that the usual metaphor, or saying, 146 thou beacon The sun. Its beams may be
has become reality, for him, being in the stocks 'comfortable' (147), i.e. comforting, in so far as they
(Furness). Compare Tillev H389. Colie compares will provide light for Kent to read Cordelia's letter,
Job 13-27. whereas 'the warm sun' (145) in context suggests
141 Give i.e. may God give. less beneficent exposure to the elements.
142 to blame to be blamed; but see collation
2.2.148 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1242-57 Uss\
Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles
B u t misery. I know 'tis from Cordelia,
Who hath most fortunately been informed 150
Of m y obscured course, a n d shall find time
For this enormous state, seeking to give
L o s s e s their remedies. All weary and o'er-watched,
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
T h i s shameful lodging. Fortune, goodnight, 155
Smile once more, turn thy wheel. [He sleeps]

2 . 3 Enter EDGAR

E D G A R I heard myself proclaimed,

And by the happy hollow o f a tree
Escaped the hunt. N o port is free, n o place
T h a t guard a n d most unusual vigilance
D o e s not attend m y taking. Whiles I m a y 'scape
I will preserve myself, a n d am bethought

148 miracles] F; my rackles Q union:; my wracke Q con: 150 most] F, Q con:; not Q union: *I_SI course, and] Q;
course. And F * i j 2 For] Rowe; From Q, F 152 enormous] F,- enormious Q 153 their] F, Q con:; and Q union: 153
o'er-watched] F; ouerwatch Q 154 Take] F, Q con:; Late Q union: 156 Smile once more,] F; smile, once more Q *ig6
SD] sleepes Q; not in F Act 2, Scene 3 2.3] Steevens; not in Q, F (see Commentary) 1 heard] v; heare Q 4 unusual]
Q; vnusall Q2, F 5 Does] F; Dost Q 5 Whiles] F; while Q

148-9 Nothing . . . misery The most miserable Edmond also refers to Fortune's wheel.
are almost the only ones to witness miracles ('for, 156 SD He sleeps The SD, from Q, indicates that
when we are in despair, any relief seems miracu- Kent remains asleep in the stocks as Edgar enters
lous' (Kittredge)). and gives his soliloquy. Modern editors follow Q,
1 5 1 - 3 and . . . remedies A famous crux. Many keeping Kent on stage (as he would have been at the
editors follow Jennens and assume that Kent is Globe) during Edgar's speech. 'The juxtaposition
reading excerpts from Cordelia's letter, or that the is symbolic, not illusionistic, making a point about
passage is corrupt and some words are missing. Per- two banished men who must disguise themselves
haps Kent cannot fully make out the contents of the and endure humiliation while villains prosper'
letter since it is not yet light enough (Muir). But (D. Bevington, Action Is eloquence, 1984, p. 121).
such considerations may be irrelevant: 'Who' (150)
can be understood as the subject of this clause, too.
Rowe's emendation, 'For' for 'From', is simple and Act 2 , S c e n e 3
easy and makes sense of the lines ( Textual Compan- 0 SD Although the action is continuous, and
ion, P- 5I5)- probably the Globe stage would not be cleared,
152 enormous state monstrous situation, one Edgar's soliloquy warrants a scene to itself; there-
full of enormities. fore, I preserve the traditional scene numbering.
153 o'er-watched exhausted, used too much for 1 proclaimed publicly declared (an outlaw).
'watching'; compare 138 above. 2 happy opportune.
154 Take vantage Take advantage (of your 3 port Compare 2.1.79, where Gloucester orders
fatigue and fall asleep). all ports closed to Edgar.
155 shameful lodging i.e. the stocks. 5 attend my taking stand ready to capture me.
156 turn thy wheel Compare 5.3.164, where 6 a m bethought have an idea.
i'59\ TLN 1258-72 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.3.21

To take the basest and most poorest shape

That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast. My face I'll grime with filth,
Blanket my loins, elf all my hairs in knots,
And with presented nakedness outface
The winds and persecutions of the sky.
The country gives me proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars, who with roaring voices
Strike in their numbed and mortified arms,
Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;
And with this horrible object, from low farms,
Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes, and mills,
Sometimes with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,
Enforce their charity. 'Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom!'
That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am. Exit

10 elf] F; else Q IO hairs in] F; haire with Q 12 winds] F,- wind Q 12 persecutions] F; persecution Q 15 numbed
. . . arms] F; numb'd and mortified bare armes Q corr; numb'd mortified bare armes Q uncorr. 16 Pins] F, Q corn; Pies
Q uncorr. 16 wooden pricks] wodden prickcs Q,- Wodden-prickes F 17 from] F, Q corr., Q2; frame Q uncorr. 17 farms]
F; seruice Q *i8 sheep-cotes] sheep-coates Q; Sheeps-Coates F 19 Sometimes] F; Sometime Q 20 Turlygod] F, Q
corr., Q2; Tue/ygod Q uncorr.

8 in contempt of man holding humanity in in Dekker's Be/man of London (1608), which

contempt. gives a more detailed description corroborating
10 elf twist, tangle into 'elflocks' (Rom. 1.4.go). Shakespeare's.
11 presented exposed, exhibited. 15 numbed i.e. with cold.
11 outface brave, confront. As Edgar utters 15 mortified deadened to pain. See collation.
these lines, he strips off his clothes and decorates Duthie accepts the Q reading, which 'adds an effec-
himself accordingly. The action is moreover signif- tive touch to the picture' (it also helps the metre),
icant if Edgar throws off conspicuously rich attire and explains F'S omission as compositor oversight
(as a nobleman's son) to become 'nothing'. 'On this (p. 175). But accenting -ed in 'mortified' makes the
pivot, Edgar's inward journey turns: he gives up, metre regular.
not only clothes and person, but also a way of life, 16 pricks skewers.
from best to worst, and the peripety is evidently 17 object spectacle.
steep' (Rosenberg, p. 151). 17 low lowly, humble.
13 proof example. 18 pelting paltry, mean.
14 Bedlam beggars 'Abram men', or 19 bans curses.
vagabonds, who feigned madness or who actually 20 Turlygod Unexplained. Oxford prefers Q
were discharged from Bedlam (i.e. Bethlehem uncorr. 'Tuelygod' and suggests some possible
Hospital, the lunatic asylum in London) and derivations for the word (Textual Companion,
licensed to beg. Furness cites Awdeley's Frater- pp. 515-16). See collation.
mtye of Vacabondes (1565): 'An Abraham man is 21 That's . . . a m i.e. Poor Tom is at least some-
he that walketh bare armed, and bare legged, and thing, however base and despicable; I renounce my
fayneth hym selfe mad, and caryeth a packe of identity as Edgar, who is doomed in any case.
wool, or a stycke with baken on it, or such lyke The rhyme, 'Tom' - 'am', is probably dialectal
toy, and nameth himself poore Tom.' Furness also (Kokeritz, p. 224; compare Cercignani, pp. 113—
quotes a longer passage adapted from Harman's 14); Edgar doubtless means to disguise his voice as
Caueat or Waremng for Cowmen Cvrsetors (1567) well as his person.
2.4-1 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1273-94 [JM

2.4 Enter LEAR, FOOL, and GENTLEMAN

LEAR 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home

And not send back my messenger.
GENTLEMAN As I learned,
The night before there was no purpose in them
Of this remove.
KENT [Waking] Hail to thee, noble master.
LEAR Ha! 5
Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?
KENT No, my lord.
FOOL Ha, ha, he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the heads,
dogs and bears by th'neck, monkeys by th'loins, and men by
th'legs: when a man's overlusty at legs, then he wears wooden
nether-stocks. 10
LEAR What's he that hath so much thy place mistook
To set thee here?
KENT It is both he and she,
Your son and daughter.
LEAR No.
KENT Yes. 15
LEAR No, I say.
KENT I say, yea.

Act 2, Scene 4 2.4J Steevens; not in Q, F o SD] F; Enter King. Q 1 home] F; hence g *2 messenger) g; Messengers
F 2 su] F; Knight, g 2-4 As . . . remove.) F; two lines divided was / No g 3 in them| F,- nut in g 4 this] v; his g 4
SD] Staunton; not in g, F 5-6 Ha! . . . pastime] Steevens's Itneation; one line g, F 5 IIa!| F; HOW, g 6 thy] g; ahy
F 6 KENT No, my lord.] F; not in g 7-10 Ha, ha . . . nether-stocks.j As prose v; five verse lines ending . . . garters, /
. . . beares / . . . men / . . . at legs, / . . . neatherstockes g 7 he] F; looke he g 7 heads | F,- heeles g 8 by th'neck]
F; Byt'h necke g 8 by th'loins] F; bit'h loynes g 8-9 by th'legs:] v; Byt'h legges, g *9 man's| mans g; man F 9
wooden] g; wodden F 11-12 What's . . . here?] Rome's lineation; three lines ending . . . he, / . . . mistooke / . . . heere
F; as prose g 12-13 It . . . daughter] F; one line g 17 yea.] F omits tiro half-lines here

Act 2 , S c e n e 4 the stocks, with a pun on 'crewel1, thin worsted

o SD The action may be regarded as continuous material. Compare Tiro Angry Women of Abtnglon
from 2.2 (see 2.2.156 SD n.). Lear and the others (1599): 'heele haue / His Cruel garters crosse about
at first do not see Kent in the stocks; he awakens the knee' (Muir).
at 4. 9 overlusty at legs too eager to use his legs
0 SD GENTLEMAN Q designates this speaker as (for running away from service or indenture); with
Knight, a member of Lear's reduced entourage (see a quibble on the deadly sin of lust.
56 below). The speech headings are simply alter- 10 nether-stocks stockings. Upper-stocks were
native appellations for the same small-part actors breeches (Kittredge).
(Duthie, p. 83). 11 place (1) rank (as king's messenger), (2)
1 they i.e. Regan and Cornwall. proper place for you to be (Hunter).
2 messenger i.e. Kent. 12 To As to.
4 remove change of residence. 13 son son-in-law; compare 2.2.127 n -
6 pastime amusement; i.e. is this your idea of a 14-19 LEAR . . . swear ay See Textual Analysis,
joke? p. 80 above.
7 cruel garters The Fool refers of course to
[,6i] TLN 1295-1321 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.42

LEAR By Jupiter, I swear no.

KENT By Juno, I swear ay
LEAR They durst not do't:
They could not, would not do't. ' T i s worse than murder, 20
To do upon respect such violent outrage.
Resolve me with all modest haste which way
Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage,
Coming from us.
KENT M y lord, when at their home
I did commend your highness' letters to them, 25
Ere I was risen from the place that showed
M y duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
From Gonerill, his mistress, salutations;
Delivered letters spite of intermission, 30
Which presently they read. On those contents
They summoned up their meiny, straight took horse,
Commanded me to follow and attend
The leisure of their answer, gave me cold looks;
And meeting here the other messenger, 35
Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine -
Being the very fellow which of late
Displayed so saucily against your highness -
Having more man than wit about me, drew.
He raised the house with loud and coward cries. 40
Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
The shame which here it suffers.

19 KENT By . . . ay. I v; nul in Q 20 could not, would] F; would not, could Q 23 mightstj F; may'st Q 23 impose]
F; purpose Q 26 showed| shewed q, K *28 panting Q,- painting F 31 thosej F; whose Q 32 meiny] F; men Q 3 3 - 4
Commanded . . . looks;] K; divided leasure / Of Q 37 which] F; that Q 42 The] F; This Q

21 upon respect Either (1) against proper 30 spite of intermission in spite of interrupt-
regard and deference (due to a king's messenger), ing me. Note that Cornwall and Regan not only
or (2) deliberately, upon consideration (compare permit the interruption, they extend it by reading
MV 1.1.74; John 3.4.90). the letters Oswald delivers.
22 Resolve me i.e. free me from uncertainty or 31 presently immediately,
ignorance, satisfy, inform (Schmidt). 32 meiny body of retainers (Onions).
22 modest moderate. 38 Displayed Acted, exhibited himself.
24 us The royal plural. 39 more m a n than wit more manliness or
25 commend deliver. courage than sense.
27 reeking steaming, sweating. 39 drew i.e. his sword.
28 panting Duthie, p. 176, rightly suspects 40 raised woke up.
a minim misreading of manuscript copy. Oxford
retains F 'painting', defended in Textual Compan-
ion, p. 534.
2.443 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1322-39 [m
FOOL Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind, 45
But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne'er turns the key to th'poor.
But for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for thy 50
daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
LEAR O how this mother swells up toward my heart!
Hysterica passio! Down, thou climbing sorrow,
Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?
K E N T With the earl, sir, here within.
LEAR Follow me not, stay here. 55
Exit
G E N T L E M A N Made you no more offence but what you speak of?
KENT None.
How chance the king comes with so small a number?
FOOL And thou hadst been set i'th'stocks for that question,
thou'dst well deserved it. 60
KENT Why, fool?

43-51 FOOL Winter's . . . year.J F; not in Q 43 wild] F2,- wil'd F 44-9 Fathers . . . poor.] Pope's lineation; three lines ending
. . . blind, / . . . kind. / . . . poore. F *53 Hysterica] F4; Historien Q, F, F2,- Hystorica VT, 55 here] v; not in Q 55 stay
here.] F; stay there? Q 55 SD] F; not in Q 56 su] F,- Knight. Q 56 Made . . . of?] One line Q; two lines divided offence,
/ But F 56 but] F; then Q 57 None] F; No Q (as part ofsj) 58 the] Q; the the F 58 number] F; traine Q 59 And]
F, Q; If Q2 59 i'th'] F; in the Q 60 thou'dst] F,- thou ha'dst Q

4 3 - 5 J FOOL . . . year See Textual Analysis, 52 mother hysteria. Compare 114 below.
pp. 279-80 above, for F addition. Richard Mainy, mentioned by Harsnett, suffered
43 Winter's . . . way i.e. we're in for more trou- from the mother, also known as Passio Hysterica,
ble (bad weather), judging from these portents. which Harsnett describes as a disease that 'riseth
43 wild geese A possible allusion to Sir John . . . of a wind in the bottome of the belly, and
and Lady Grace Wildgoose? See p. 4 above. proceeding with a great swelling, causeth a very
44-9 Fathers . . . poor Oxford inserts SD Sings painfull colicke in the stomack, and an extraor-
before these lines (as later at 71). Possibly the dinary giddiness in the head' (NS, citing Aluir,
verses were sung, but neither Q nor F indicates this, 'Samuel Harsnett and King Lear, RES 2 (1951),
they do not sound like traditional ballad material 14).
(Hunter, p. 340), and actors often speak the lines, 53 Hysterica passio Hysteria, or the 'mother'
though in sing-song fashion. (sec 52 n.). In his chapter on 'The development of
45 blind i.e. to their father's needs. Lear's madness', Hoeniger traces the medical his-
46 bags money bags. tory of the illness, its symptoms, and Shakespeare's
49 turns the key opens the door (as a prostitute borrowing from Harsnett.
would, admitting someone to her favours). 54 element sphere, place; 'a visceral symbol of
50 dolours (1) griefs, (2) dollars (from German the breakdown in hierarchy, when the lower ele-
thaler, a silver coin first struck in 1515 and worth ments climb up to threaten or destroy the superior
about three marks, or about 15 pence). ones' (Hunter).
50 for on account of, owing to (Aluir). 58 How chance How comes it.
51 tell (1) count, (2) relate.
[i63\ TLN 1340-62 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.81

FOOL We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no

labouring i'th'winter. All that follow their noses are led by their
eyes but blind men, and there's not a nose among twenty but
can smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold when a great 65
wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following.
But the great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after.
When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine
again; I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives
it. 70
That sir which serves and seeks for gain
And follows but for form,
Will pack when it begins to rain
And leave thee in the storm.
But I will tarry, the fool will stay, 75
And let the wise man fly;
The knave turns fool that runs away,
The fool no knave, perdy.
KENT Where learned you this, fool?
FOOL Not i'th'stocks, fool. 80
Enter LEAR and GLOUCESTER

LEAR Deny to speak with me? They are sick, they are weary,

63 i'th'l F; in the Q 64 twenty| F; a 100. Q *6$ hold] Q; hold, F 66 following.] F; following it, Q 67 upward) F;
vp the hill Q 68 wise man| Q; wiseman F 68 gives] F con:, Q; giue F uncorr. 68 counsel,] Q, F uncorr.; counsell F
corr. *6ç have] Q; hause F 71 which] F; thai Q 71 and seeks] F; not in Q 73 begins] F,- begin Q 76 wise man] Q,-
wiseman v 80 i'th'] v; in the Q 80 foolj F; not in Q *8o SD] AS in Q; after 78 F 81 Deny . . . weary,] One line Q; two
lines divided me? / They F 81 They are . . . they are] F; th'are . . . th'are Q

62-3 We'll . . . winter The Fool alludes to the both ironically and straightforwardly. In one sense
proverbial ant, mentioned by Aesop, gathering its it is mere foolishness for anyone to hang on to the
food in harvest time (i.e. during times of plenty), 'great wheel' while it rolls down-hill; 'The better
not in winter. Compare Prov. 6.6, 30.25 (cited by part of valour is discretion', as Falstaff says {1H4
Noble, NS, Shaheen). As he falls from prosperity, 5.4.120). This is one kind of wisdom. Against it the
Lear offers less attraction to hangers-on, as Kent Fool posits absolute fidelity - adversity and self-
ought to realise. Even a blind man, the Fool contin- interest notwithstanding. The paradox that con-
ues, can detect someone's decaying fortunes ('him cludes the lines resolves itself thus: the knave is
that's stinking' (65)). foolish, finally, for running away and exposing his
64 twenty i.e. twenty blind men. true colours, and he is foolish in any higher moral
65-6 great wheel Compare Ham. 3.3.17-22, sense; the loyal fool - whatever else he may be - is
where Rosencrantz uses the image similarly. at least no knave, i.e. guilty of disloyalty and gross
71-2 That . . . form Compare Oth. 1.1.49- self-interest.
55: Iago describes himself to Roderigo as one of 78 perdy by God (from French par Die it).
those self-serving individuals, 'throwing but shows 81 Deny Refuse.
of service on their lords'. 81-2 They . . . they . . . They The pronouns
71 sir man. perhaps are stressed, as Lear may be sardonic; he,
73 pack pack up and leave. after all, has 'travelled twice as far, wearily, unfed,
75-8 But . . . perdy The Fool plays on different sickening in mind and body' (Rosenberg, p. 157).
senses of'fool', 'wise man', and 'knave', using them
2.4-82 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1363-82 [,64]

They have travelled all the night? Mere fetches,

The images of revolt and flying off.
Fetch me a better answer.
GLOUCESTER My dear lord,
You know the fiery quality of the duke, 85
How unremovable and fixed he is
In his own course.
L E A R Vengeance, plague, death, confusion!
'Fiery'? What 'quality'? Why Gloucester, Gloucester,
I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. 90
G L O U C E S T E R Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.
L E A R 'Informed them'? Dost thou understand me, man?
G L O U C E S T E R Ay, my good lord.
L E A R T h e king would speak with Cornwall, the dear father
Would with his daughter speak! Commands - tends -
service! 95
Are they 'informed' of this? M y breath and blood!
'Fiery'? T h e 'fiery duke'? Tell the hot duke that -
No, but not yet; maybe he is not well:
Infirmity doth still neglect all office
82 have travelled all the] F; traueled hard to Q 82 fetches,] F ton:; fetches F union:; lustice, Q 83 The] F; I the
Q 84-90 My . . . wife.] F; us prose Q 88 plague, death] F; death, plague Q 89 'Fiery? What 'quality'?] F; What tierie
quality, Q 91-2 Well . . . man?] F; not in Q 94 The . . . father] As in Q; two lines divided: Cornwall, / The F 94
father] F, Q con:; fate Q uncorr. 95 his] F, Q eon:; the Q uneorr. 95 Commands - tends - service!| This edit; commands,
tends, service. F; come and tends seruise, Q uncorr.; commands her seruice, Q corr. 96 Are . . . blood!| F; not in Q 97
'Fiery'? The 'fiery duke'?] F; The fierie Duke, Q uncorr.; Fierie duke Q corr. 97 that - ] F; that Lear, Q 98 No] F, Q
con:; Mo Q uncorr. 99-102 Infirmity . . . forbear,] F,- three lines ending . . . health / . . . oprest / . . . forbeare, Q

82 fetches (1) contrivances, dodges, tricks, (2) waits for. (See Greg, Variants, pp. 161-2; Duthie,
(an allusion to) the nautical manoeuvre of 'tack- pp. 143-4; D u t Duthie in NS adopts the Q corr.
ing', by which a vessel sails indirectly to wind- reading, withdrawing his earlier note.) Hunter sug-
ward by alternating between two oblique courses, gests that 'commands true seruise', or something
or 'tacks'. Milton uses a similar image to describe like it, may have been in the copy for Q, but he
Satan's approach to Eve in the Garden of Eden follows F.
{Paradise Lost, ix.510 ff.). 97 'Fiery'? The 'fiery duke'? See collation.
83 images . . . off Lear sees in their refusal Again, the Q corrector erred and F (which restores
to see him the sign or symbol of serious disobe- or adds 96) may reflect the original wording (Greg,
dience, tantamount to 'revolt' and desertion, the Variants, p. 162). Blayney, however, conjectures that
breakdown of order. in Q corr. the line, with punctuation emended,
85 quality character, disposition. should have read: 'Fierie? the Duke? Tell the hot
9 1 - 2 GLOUCESTER . . . m a n See Textual Duke that Lear - '; he then explains how the com-
Analysis, p. 280 below, for F'S addition here and at positor might have failed to make corrections the
96. ' proofreader had marked. He conjectures, further,
95 Commands - tends - service See col- that the second 'fiery?' was retained in F through
lation. Q corr. is generally regarded as a proof- faulty proof-correction or compositor error
corrector's guess carried over into Q2, since 'tends' (PP- 2 45-6)-
could not be a misreading of 'her'. Q uncorr., 97 hot i.e. hot-tempered. Lear plays on 'fiery'.
'come and tends seruise', is possibly a misreading of 99-100 Infirmity . . . bound i.e. illness invari-
what was in the original manuscript, which F may ably makes us neglect duties which, when well, we
recover: 'tends', an aphetic form of 'attends' = are obliged to perform.
[765] TLN 1383-1404 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.119

Whereto our health is bound. We are not ourselves 100

When nature, being oppressed, commands the mind
To suffer with the body. I'll forbear,
And am fallen out with my more headier will,
To take the indisposed and sickly fit
For the sound man. - Death on my state! Wherefore 105
Should he sit here? This act persuades me
That this remotion of the duke and her
Is practice only. Give me my servant forth.
Go tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with them,
Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me, no
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum
Till it cry sleep to death.
G L O U C E S T E R I would have all well betwixt you. Exit
L E A R Oh me, my heart! M y rising heart! But down.
F O O L Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels when she put 115
'em i'th'paste alive; she knapped 'em o'th'coxcombs with a stick
and cried, 'Down, wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that in
pure kindness to his horse buttered his hay.
Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, [and] Servants
LEAR Good morrow to you both.

101 commands] F; Cômanil Q 104-7 To . . . her] F; three lines ending . . . man, / . . . here? / . . . & her [turned
under] Q 109 Go| F; not in Q 109 I'd] Il'd F,- Ile Q 113 SD] F; not in Q 114 Oh . . . down.] F,- O my heart, my heart.
Q 115 cockney] v; Coknay Q union:; Cokney Q corr. 116 'em i'th'] F; vm it'h Q 116 paste] F,- past Q uncorr.; past Q
corr. 116 knapped 'em o'th'] F; rapt vm ath Q 118 SD] F; Enter Duke and Regan. Q

100-102 We . . . body Compare 3.4.11—14, 52-3 above and n.

where Lear also notes psychosomatic effects. 1 1 5 - 1 8 Cry . . . hay NS identifies two exam-
102-5 I'll • • • man i.e. I'll desist, for I am pies here of foolish tender-heartedness relevant to
upset that my violent impulse ('will') mistook the Lear's earlier dealings with his daughters: (1) the
unhealthy condition for the well man. But this cockney cook who could not bear to kill eels before
rationalisation and the calm it induces are short- baking them in a pie, and when they tried to wrig-
lived, as Lear catches sight again of Kent in the gle out, she could only rap them on the head and
stocks and is reminded of the insult it represents. cry, 'Down'; (2) her brother, who thought he was
105 state royal power. favouring his horse by buttering its hay but actu-
107 remotion keeping aloof or remote; as in ally was doing the opposite (horses dislike grease).
Tim. 4.3.342. But Lear may refer to Cornwall and Now that Lear's heart distresses him by 'rising',
Regan's removal from their home to Gloucester's he is as ludicrous as the cockney crying 'Down!'
(Malone, cited by Furness). For possible borrowing from or allusion to Lyly's
108 practice craft, trickery; as at 2.1.72. Euphues, see Muir.
109 and's and his. 116 coxcombs heads.
n o presently immediately, at once. 117 wantons playful, frisky creatures.
112 Till . . . death i.e. till sleep is destroyed by 118 SD Cornwall and Regan may be in night
the noise. Muir compares Mac. 2.2.39. gowns, or they may be fully clothed, giving the lie
114 Oh . . . down A further symptom, or aggra- to their 'social excuse' (Rosenberg pp. 161-2). But
vation, of the 'mother', hysterica pussio; compare whatever Regan wears, she is 'gorgeous' (261).
2.4.119 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1405-28 [,66]

CORNWALL Hail to your grace.

Kent here set at liberty
R E G A N I am glad to see your highness. 120
L E A R R e g a n , I think you are. I know what reason
I have to think so. I f thou shouldst not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulch'ring an adultress. [To Kent] O are you free?
Some other time for that. Beloved R e g a n , 125
T h y sister's naught. Oh Regan, she hath tied
Sharp-toothed unkindness, like a vulture here -
I can scarce speak to thee - thou'lt not believe
With how depraved a quality - oh Regan!
R E G A N I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope 130
You less know how to value her desert
T h a n she to scant her duty.
LEAR Say? How is that?
R E G A N I cannot think my sister in the least
Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance
She have restrained the riots of your followers, 135
'Tis on such ground and to such wholesome end
As clears her from all blame.
LEAR M y curses on her.
REGAN O sir, you are old,
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of his confine. You should be ruled and led 140

119 SD] F; not in Q * i 2 i you] Q; your F 123 divorce] F, Q con:; deuose Q union: *i23 mother's] mothers Q; Mother
F 123 tomb,] F; fruit, Q union:; tombe Q con: 124 SD] Rowe; not in Q, F 124 0 | F; yea Q 126 sister's] F; sister is
Q 127 here] F; heare Q 128 thou'lt] F; thout Q 129 With] F; Of Q 129 depravedj F,- deptoued Q union:; depriued
Q corr. 130 you] F,- not in Q 132 scant] F; slacke Q 132-7 Say? . . . blame.] F; not in Q 139-43 Nature . . . return;]
F lineation; four lines ending . . . confine, ['fine' turned over] / . . . discretion, / . . . your selfe, / . . . returne, Q 139 in]
F; on Q 140 his] F, Oxford; her Q, Duthie

124 Sepulch'ring Entombing. 130 take patience Standard Renaissance coun-

126 naught wicked. sel. Compare 1.4.217 and n.
126-9 Oh . . . Regan The dashes (where F uses 130-2 I . . . duty i.e. I hope you are less able
commas or, at 129, a period) emphasise the gasping to estimate her merit than she is capable of slight-
cadences that Lear's overwrought condition pro- ing her duty. The double negative, 'less know' and
duces. 'scant', makes the syntax difficult, but the sense is
126-7 tied . . . here The image of a vulture clear,
gnawing at Lear's innards derives from the torture ! 3 2 - 7 I-EAR . . . blame On F'S addition, see
of Prometheus, familiar to Shakespeare's contem- Textual Analysis, p. 280 below,
poraries. Harsnett mentions it, as Muir notes, along 135 She have i.e. she may have,
with Ixion's wheel (compare 4.6.44). 135 riots carousals.
129 quality nature, disposition. 140 his confine its limit, boundary area.
{'67} TLN 1429-50 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.159

By some discretion that discerns your state

Better than you yourself. Therefore I pray you
That to our sister you do make return;
Say you have wronged her.
LEAR Ask her forgiveness?
Do you but mark how this becomes the house? 145
[Kneels] 'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg
That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'
REGAN Good sir, no more: these are unsightly tricks.
Return you to my sister.
L E A R [Rising] Never, Regan. 150
She hath abated me of half my train,
Looked black upon me, struck me with her tongue
Most serpent-like upon the very heart.
All the stored vengeances of heaven fall
On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, 155
You taking airs, with lameness.
CORNWALL Fie, sir, fie.
LEAR You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
You fen-sucked fogs, drawn by the powerful sun

142 pray you] F; pray Q 144 her. | F; her Sir? Q 145 but] F; not in Q 146 SD] Hanmer (subst.); after 147, Johnson; not
in Q, F 150 SD] Collier; not in Q, F 150 Never] I',- No Q 154-6 All . . . lameness.] F,- two lines divided top, [turned over]
/ Strike Q 156 He, sir, fie.] F; Fie fie sir. Q 157 su] F; not in Q, but line indented 159 fen-sucked] F; Fen suckt Q

141 discretion i.e. a discreet person, the 155 top head,

abstract for the concrete (Furness, who compares 155 young bones unborn child. Compare King
3.4.26, 'houseless poverty'). Leir 844-7: Leir tries to excuse Gonorill's 'tutchy'
141 state mental and physical condition; with a behaviour by saying 'she breeds young bones',
possible ironic play upon 'power, royalty' (Hunter). Cursing Gonerill's unborn child is appropriate in
144 Ask her forgiveness? Lear is stunned by the context of 'ingrateful top': Lear is obsessed
Regan's response. with filial ingratitude. Compare 1.4.230-44, where
145 house Either (1) family, or (2) royal line. Lear similarly curses Gonerill and a child she might
146-8 Dear . . . food Deliberate bathos. Lear bear, which he hopes will be deformed and torment
is hurt and angry but still has enough wit left for her as she torments him. In both contexts, the ser-
sarcasm. pent image occurs. But 'young bones' may refer
147 Age is unnecessary Lear aptly summarises to Gonerill herself; compare Gascoigne's Supposes
Gonerill's and Regan's Darwinian outlook, in 4.2.4: 'A rope stretche your yong bones', referring
which survival of the fittest rules and the elderly to a young man (Perrett, pp. 275-6).
are superfluous (compare Heilman, p. 143). 156 taking airs blasting, pernicious vapours.
148 vouchsafe grant in condescension !58-9 Infect . . . sun Noxious vapours pro-
(Schmidt). duced by the sun's rays upon swampy fens were,
149 tricks i.e. rhetorical devices. like 'taking airs' (156), thought to be infectious.
151 abated deprived.
2.4-160 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1 4 5 1 - 7 I [,68]

To fall and blister. 160

REGAN O the blessed gods! S o will you wish o n m e
When the rash mood is on.
L E A R No, R e g a n , thou shalt never have my curse.
T h y tender-hefted nature shall not give
T h e e o'er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine 165
D o comfort and not burn. ' T i s not in thee
To g r u d g e my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
And in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
Against my coming in. T h o u better know'st 170
T h e offices of nature, bond of childhood,
Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude.
Thy half o'th'kingdom hast thou not forgot
Wherein I thee endowed.
REGAN Good sir, to th'purpose.
LEAR Who put my man i'th'stocks?
Tucket within
CORNWALL What trumpet's that? i75
R E G A N I know't, my sister's. T h i s approves her letter
T h a t she would soon be here.

160 blister] F; blast her pride Q,- blister her Muir 161-2 O . . . on.] Q lineation; divided Gods! / So F 162 mood is on.]
F; mood - Q 164-7 Thy . . . train,] F lineation; three lines ending . . . or'e / . . . burne \lurned over] / . . . traine, [turned
under] Q 164 Thy tender-hefted] F; The tèder hested Q 170 know'st] F; knowest Q 173 o'th'] F; of the Q *i75 so
Tucket within] Collier; after ijj F; not in Q 176 letter] F; letters Q

160 fall and blister i.e. the action of the fogs 168 scant my sizes reduce my allowances,
and their effect. Furness compares Temp. 1.2.323- Compare 'sizar' = 'a poor scholar who used to
4: 'A south-west blow on ye, / And blister you obtain allowances from the college butteryhatch'
all o'er!' The intransitive verbs have led editors to (Muir).
various emendations, unnecessarily, since F makes 169 oppose set over against, i.e. to lock. Corn-
sense as it stands. pare Tim. 3.4.79: 'What, are my doors oppos'd
164 tender-hefted 'A heft or haft is a handle, against my passage?' Of course, this is exaggerated;
and a nature tender-hefted is one which is set in Gonerill did not lock Lear out, although later
a tender handle or delicate bodily frame' (Wright, Regan (297), seconded by Cornwall (301), will
cited by Furness); hence 'womanly, gentle' (Muir). order Gloucester's doors shut up against Lear and
Note Regan's differences from Gonerill: '. . . her his followers.
particular style of dress, her more feminine mode 171 offices of nature duties that nature expects
of offering tenderness to Lear, her kind manner us to fulfil; specifically those relating to filial
toward Gloster, and, probably, Edmund, have so 'bonds'.
far in the text masked her capacity for hurt and 172 Effects Manifestations,
hate . . . In the theatre she has been most effective - 174 to th'purpose i.e. get to the point,
partly because it contrasts her with Goneril - 175 Who . . . stocks Lear repeats the question
when she has seemed sweet; in fact bittersweet, (181) and does not receive an answer until his third
emasculating Lear with an insistent, tender con- demand (191).
I
cern' (Rosenberg, pp. 162-3). 75 SD Tucket within See 2.1.76 SD n.
168 bandy Compare 1.4.72 and n. 176 approves confirms.
[i6g\ TLN 1471-88 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.190

Enter OSWALD
Is your lady come?
LEAR T h i s is a slave whose easy-borrowed pride
Dwells in the sickly g r a c e o f her he follows.
Out, varlet, from m y sight!
CORNWALL What m e a n s your grace? 180
Enter GONERILL

LEAR Who stocked my servant? Regan, I have good hope

Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens!
If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
Allow obedience, if you yourselves are old,
Make it your cause; send down and take my part. 185
[To Gonerill] Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?
O Regan, will you take her by the hand?
G O N E R I L L Why not by th'hand, sir? How have I offended?
All's not offence that indiscretion finds,
And dotage terms so.
LEAR O sides, you are too tough! 190
177 .SD] Dyce; alter that? (//j) Q; after Stockes? (//j) F 179 sickly] F3; fickly F, F2; fickle Q 179 her he] F; her a Q
uncorr.; her, a Q con: 180 varlet] i-, Q con:; varlot Q union: 180 SD] F, Q; after on't (182) Johnson, Duthie, and most later
editors 181 si 1J v; Con. Q 181 stocked] F; struck Q 182 Thou . . . heavens!] Pope's lineation; two lines divided ant. /
Lear. Who Q; two lines divided on't. / Who v 182 on't] F; ant Q 183-5 If • • • part.]. F lineation; lines end . . . allow /
. . . cause, / . . . part, Q 183 your| K; you Q 184 you] F; not in Q 186 so] Johnson; not in Q, F 187 will you] F; wilt
thou Q 188 by th'] F; by the Q

178 easy-borrowed Either (1) cool, derived; (2) 186 Art Art thou.
easily-assumed. Most editors follow Theobald and 186 beard Symbol of aged reverence.
insert a hyphen, as Muir does, though he questions 187 O . . . hand '. . . with four quick shocks -
it and thinks 'easy' may mean 'coolly-impudent'. his sudden recall of the outrage upon his servant,
179 sickly See collation. The copy for F cor- the sound of a trumpet, the sight of Oswald, the
rected Q, most likely, but the compositor got the sight of Goneril - [Lear] is brought to a stand and
wrong ligature, probably through foul-case error. to face the realities arrayed against him. This must
XS and Oxford reject 'fickle' on semantic grounds be made very plain to us. On the one side stand
as well: the dig at Gonerill could result in sympathy Goneril and Regan and Cornwall in all authority.
for Oswald, which is certainly not desirable in this The perplexed Gloucester stands a little apart. On
or any other context. By contrast, 'sickly grace' = the other side is Lear, the Fool at his feet, and his
diseased grace, a possible oxymoron, which could one servant, disarmed, freed but a minute since,
also mean 'causing sickness or ill health' (Textual behind him. Things are at their issue' (Granville-
Companion, p. 534). Barker, pp. 289-90). Striking as this conception of
180 varlet rogue, rascal. the staging is, alternative kinds of blocking are also
180 SD Enter GONKRil.].. Many editors follow possible here and at 193.
Johnson and move Gonerill's entrance to 182 after 189 indiscretion want of discernment or judge-
'here', but in the growing tumult, Lear may not at ment. Schmidt compares Ham. 5.2.8: 'Our indis-
first see her. On the differences between Q and F, cretion sometime serves us well / When our deep
see Textual Analysis, p. 79 above. plots do pall.'
182 on't of it. 190 sides 'the sides of the chest, strained by the
184 Allow Sanction, approve of. swellings and passions of the heart' (Hunter).
185 it i.e. what is due to parents and the elderly.
2.4. i9 x The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1489-1511 [•70]

Will you yet hold? How came my man i'th'stocks?

CORNWALL I set him there, sir; but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement.
LEAR You? Did you?
R E G A N I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
If till the expiration of your month 195
You will return and sojourn with m y sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me.
I am now from home and out of that provision
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
L E A R Return to her? and fifty men dismissed? 200
No, rather I abjure all roofs and choose
To wage against the enmity o'th'air,
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
Necessity's sharp pinch. Return with her?
Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took 205
Our youngest born - I could as well be brought
To knee his throne and, squire-like, pension beg
To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
To this detested groom.
GONERILL At your choice, sir. 210

191 Will . . . stocks?] As in Q; two lines divided hold? / How F 191 i'th'] F,- it'h Q 192 sir] F, Q,- not in Q2 202 o'th']
F; of the Q 205-6 Why . . . brought] F; divided dowerles / Tooke Q *20ç hot-blooded| F unairr.. Pope; hot-bloodied
F con: ; hot bloud in Q 207 beg] F; bag Q

192 disorders misconduct. But 'Necessity's sharp pinch', if anything, should

193 much less advancement Cornwall is be the subject, not object, of 'wage', which here
sarcastic: he belieyes Kent deseryed much more is used intransitively to signify 'wage war, strug-
seyere punishment. gle'. As it stands, however, the phrase, 'Necessity's
193 You? Did you? Uttered more in contempt sharp pinch', is in apposition to 'To be a comrade
than outrage or shock. 'Gielgud, hands clenched with the wolf and owl', i.e. cohabiting with wild
behind his back, strode up to face Cornwall, spat animals is the result of grim necessity. The lines
You!, passed, rounded on him contemptuously to thus do not require transposition,
finish the line' (Rosenberg, p. 170). But Regan 202 enmity o'th'air e.g. storms and in general
immediately interrupts that colloquy, reasserting the harsh condition of'houseless poverty'(3.4.26).
herself (compare 2.1.119) and thereby turning 204 Necessity's sharp pinch Compare Florio's
Lear's attention back to her and her sister. Montaigne: 'Necessitie must first pinch you by the
199 entertainment reception and care. throat' (Muir).
201-4 I abjure . . . pinch A self-fulfilling 205 hot-blooded passionate,
prophecy: by the end of the scene Lear does pre- 207 knee kneel before,
cisely this. 207 squire-like like a vassal or servant.
202-3 To wage . . . owl Theobald trans- 209 sumpter drudge (literally, packhorse).
posed these lines, and Oxford follows suit, making 210 groom i.e. Oswald.
'Necessity's sharp pinch' (204) the object of'wage'.
['//] TLN 1512-38 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.235

LEAR I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad.

I will not trouble thee, my child. Farewell.
We'll no more meet, no more see one another.
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter,
Or rather a disease that's in my flesh, 215
Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil,
A plague-sore, or embossed carbuncle
In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
Let shame come when it will, I do not call it.
I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot, 220
Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove.
Mend when thou canst, be better at thy leisure;
I can be patient, I can stay with Regan,
I and my hundred knights.
REGAN Not altogether so.
I looked not for you yet, nor am provided 225
For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister,
For those that mingle reason with your passion
Must be content to think you old, and so -
But she knows what she does.
LEAR Is this well spoken?
REGAN I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers? 230
Is it not well? What should you need of more?
Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
Speak 'gainst so great a number? How in one house
Should many people under two commands
Hold amity? 'Tis hard, almost impossible. 235

211 I] F,- Now I Q 215 that's in I F; that lies within Q 216 boil] bile Q; Byle F 217-18 A . . . thee;] F,- divided my /
Corrupted Q 217 or| F; an Q 224-7 Not . . . passion] F lineation; lines end . . . yet, / . . . welcome, / . . . those / . . .
passion, Q 224 so| F,- so sir Q 225 looked] F; looke Q 226 sir] F, Q; not in Q2 228 you] F; you are Q 228 so - ]
Rowe; so, Q, F 229 spoken| F; spoken now Q *23o What,] Rowe; what Q, F 233 Speak] F; Speakes Q 233 one] F;
a Q

2 1 1 - 2 4 I • • • knights Lear quickly moves 220 thunder-bearer Jupiter.

through several contrasting emotions and attitudes, 220 shoot i.e. throw thunderbolts,
from quiet withdrawal and acceptance, to passion- 224 hundred knights Although his train is
ate recognition of relationship immediately fol- diminished (compare 58 above), Lear still thinks
lowed by vigorous rejection, to hard-won self- of it as intact.
control and an attempt, again, to accept the sit- 227 mingle . . . passion view your impul-
uation and try to make the best of it. sive behaviour with calm rationality. Indeed, cool
217 embossed swollen; from French embosser rationality characterises Regan's and GonerilPs
'to swell, or arise in bunches, hulches, knobs' (Cot- speeches throughout the rest of the scene, culmi-
grave, cited by Furness). nating in Lear's appeal, 'O reason not the need',
217 carbuncle In medical terminology an 'in- 257 ff.
flammatory, circumscribed, malignant tumour . . . 230 avouch it declare it to be true.
It differs from a boil in having no central core' 232 sith that since.
(OED sv sb 3, citing this passage). 232 charge expense.
218 corrupted i.e. by disease.
2.4.236 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1539-66 ['72]

GONERILL Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance

From those that she calls servants, or from mine?
REGAN Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack ye,
We could control them. If you will come to me
(For now I spy a danger) I entreat you 240
To bring but five and twenty; to no more
Will I give place or notice.
LEAR I gave you all.
REGAN And in good time you gave it.
L E A R Made you my guardians, my depositaries,
But kept a reservation to be followed 245
With such a number. What, must I come to you
With five and twenty? Regan, said you so?
REGAN And speak't again, my lord. No more with me.
L E A R Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favoured
When others are more wicked. Not being the worst 250
Stands in some rank of praise. [To GonerilJ] I'll go with
thee;
Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
And thou art twice her love.
GONERILL Hear me, my lord:
What need you five and twenty? ten? or five?
To follow in a house where twice so many 255
Have a command to tend you?
REGAN What need one?
L E A R O reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature more than nature needs,

238 Why . . . ye,] As in Q; tmo lines divided Lord? / If F 238 ye] v; you Q *239 control | Q; comptroli F 240 (For . . .
danger)] F; For . . . danger, Q 249 look] F; seem Q 251 SD] Haiimer; nul in Q, F 256 need] v; needes Q 257 need!]
need: v; deed, Q 259 needs,] Q; needs: F

238 slack ye i.e. lessen their attendance on you. 257 O . . . need Ignoring his own earlier
242 notice cognisance, recognition. attempts to quantify love, Lear appeals to his
243 I . . . all Compare King Leiv 2144: 'Ah, cru- daughters not to compute his 'need' by rational-
ell Ragan, did I giue thee all?' (Muir). Actors at ist criteria, since it cannot truly be thus calculated,
this point often move between the extremes of love It is beyond practical measures.
and hate, tenderness and rage, gently reproachful 257-8 Our . . . superfluous The little that the
pathos and stern obstinacy, astonishment and dis- lowest and most destitute persons have is (by that
traction (Rosenberg, p. 173). way of calculating 'need') not absolutely necessary
244 guardians . . . depositaries Synonyms for to keep them alive.
trustees (of his estate). Muir compares Florio's 259-60 Allow . . . beast's Calculated by the
Montaigne, 'depositary and guardian'. lowest common denominators of 'need', human
245 reservation reserved right; compare requirements do not differ from animal needs, and
1.1.127. in that process human worth becomes downgraded
249 well-favoured attractive, handsome. to the level of a beast's.
255 follow attend you, be your followers.
[//J] TLN 1567-90 The Tragedy of King Lear 2.4.283

Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady; 260

If only to go warm were gorgeous,
Why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But for true need -
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need.
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, 265
As full of grief as age, wretched in both;
If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much
To bear it tamely. Touch me with noble anger,
And let not women's weapons, water drops, 270
Stain my man's cheeks. No, you unnatural hags,
I will have such revenges on you both
That all the world shall - I will do such things -
What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be
The terrors of the earth! You think I'll weep; 275
No, I'll not weep,
Storm and tempest
I have full cause of weeping, but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad.
Exeunt [Lear, Gloucester, Kent, Gentleman, and Fool]
C O R N W A L L Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm. 280
R E G A N This house is little. The old man and's people
Cannot be well bestowed.
G O N E R I L L 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest

260 life is] F,- life as Q; life's as Q2 262 wear'st] F; wearest Q 263 need - ] Warburton (subst.); need, Q; need: F 265 you
gods,] (you Gods) Q, F 265 man | F; fellow Q 268 so] F; to Q 269 tamely] F; lamely Q 270 And] F; O Q 273 shall-]
F, Q2; shall, Q *274 are, yet] Q2,- are yet Q,- are yet, F 275 earth!] earth? F; earth, Q 276-8 No . . . flaws] Jennens's
lineation; two lines divided weeping, / But Q, F 276 so] After weeping (277) F; not in Q 278 into . . . thousand] F; in a
100. thousand Q; in a thousand Q2 278 flaws] F; flowes Q *279 SD] This edn; Exeunt Lear, Leister, Kent, and Fonle Q;
Exeunt F 281 and 's| vz; an'ds F; and his Q *283 blame;] Boswell; blame Q, F

260-3 Thou . . . warm Lear addresses Regan: appeal is, he cannot sustain it, but breaks down into
If warmth was the only measure of elegance, then self-pity, angry, impotent threats, and near incoher-
you would not need the elegant apparel you have ence as he fears approaching insanity,
on, which hardly keeps you warm. Lear contrasts 264 patience See 1.4.217 n.
two different kinds of 'need' here, one for basic 268 fool . . . much i.e. do not make me such a
animal requirements, the other for human dignity fool as.
and pride. 271 you . . . hags Lear now turns back to
263 But for true need This phrase is 'very Gonerill and Regan,
important, for it underscores the existence of val- 278 flaws fragments,
ues entirely different from demonstrable material 279 Or ere Before,
needs - higher needs (his own need, at the moment, 282 bestowed accommodated, housed,
is for symbols of respect and love) which must be 283 blame fault,
imaginatively grasped and cannot be mechanically 283 hath he hath,
computed' (Heilman, p. 169). Eloquent as Lear's 283 put . . . rest deprived himself of repose.
2.4.284 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1 5 9 1 - 1 6 1 3 [J74]

And must needs taste his folly.

REGAN For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, 285
But not one follower.
GONERILL SO am I purposed.
Where is my lord of Gloucester?
CORNWALL Followed the old man forth.

Enter GLOUCESTER

He is returned.
GLOUCESTER The king is in high rage.
CORNWALL Whither is he going?
GLOUCESTER He calls to horse, but will I know not whither. 290
C O R N W A L L 'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.
G O N E R I L L M y lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
G L O U C E S T E R Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds
Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about
There's scarce a bush.
REGAN O sir, to wilful men, 295
The injuries that they themselves procure
Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors.
He is attended with a desperate train,
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear. 300
C O R N W A L L Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night,
M y R e g a n counsels well: come out o'th'storm.
Exeunt

286 SH] F; Duke. Q 286-7 So . . . Gloucester?] F lineation; one line Q 286 purposed] F; puspos'd Q 288 su] F; Reg.
Q 288 SD] After 28/ Q, F; at end of line, Capell 289-90 CORNWALL Whither . . . horse, | F; not in Q 290 hut] F;
& Q 291 SH] F; Re. Q 291 best] F; good Q 293 high] F; bleak Q 294-5 ')o • • • bush.] F lineation; one line Q 294
ruffle] F,- russel Q 295 scarce] F; not Q 301 wild] Q; wil'd F 302 Regan] F; Reg, Q 302 o'th1] F; at'h Q

284 taste experience (the consequences of). teach them a lesson (about how to behave).
285 For his particular As far as he himself is 298 He . . . train Regan assumes that Lear's
concerned. 'riotous' knights are still with him, or perhaps she
289-91 The king . . . himself See Textual is just making excuses for her conduct (Muir).
Analysis, p. 281 below. 299-300 being . . . abused i.e. Lear being sus-
290 will will go. ceptible to misleading stories or lying talcs.
291 give him way not to obstruct him, give him 300 wisdom bids fear i.e. prudence urges us
his head. to take precautions.
291 leads himself i.e. follows no lead or guid- 301 Shut . . . doors Cornwall's repetition
ance but his own, is headstrong. of Regan's request, or command (297), indi-
294 ruffle rage, bluster, Q'S 'ruff el' is proba- cates Gloucester's hesitation or reluctance to com-
bly the result of a simple misreading of 'ff ' as 'ff ' ply, though in the end, perhaps prompted by
(Duthie, p. 394); 'ruffle' is in Harsnett (Muir). Cornwall's men, he signals his servants to obey.
295-7 t o wilful . . . schoolmasters The harm Compare Rosenberg, p. 182.
that headstrong men bring on themselves must
 TLN 1
[i/Sl 615-3 2 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.1.15

3.1 Storm still. Enter KENT [disguised] and a GENTLEMAN, severally

KENT Who's there, besides foul weather?
GENTLEMAN One minded like the weather, most unquietly.
KENT I know you. Where's the king?
GENTLEMAN Contending with the fretful elements;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, 5
Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,
That things might change or cease.
KENT But who is with him?
GENTLEMAN None but the fool, who labours to out-jest
His heart-struck injuries.
KENT Sir, I do know you,
And dare upon the warrant of my note 10
Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
Although as yet the face of it is covered
With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall,
Who have - as who have not, that their great stars
Throned and set high? - servants, who seem no less, 15

Act 3, Scene i 3.1] Actus Tertius. Scena Prima, v; not in Q 0 SD] F; Enter Kent and a Gentleman at seuerall doores.
Q 1 Who's there, besides] F; Whats here beside Q 4 éléments] F,- element Q 7 cease.] F omits eight and a half lines
here 10 note] F; Arte Q 12 is] v; be Q 14-21 Who . . . furnishings - ] F substitutes these lines for thirteen lines in Q (see
p. 26g below) 14 have - as] have (as Theobald; haue, as F 15 high? - ] high?) Theobald; high? Rome; high; F

Act 3 , S c e n e 1 7 things i.e. everything, the world. Compare

0 SD Storm still At the Globe, thunder was 3.2.6-9.
created by rolling an iron ball, or cannon-ball ('a 7 cease F lacks eight lines here found in Q: see
roul'd bullet'), on a sheet of metal, or by drums Textual Analysis, pp. 268-9 below.
beating, or by both; lightning was suggested by a 8-9 out-jest. . . injuries dispel by jests or jokes
squib, or firework, set off. (See Andrew Gurr, The the injuries (by his daughters) that have struck him
Shakespearean Stage, 1574-1642, 2nd edn, 1980, to the heart. 'It is the Fool's tragedy that his efforts
p. 170, and compare Rosenberg, pp. 183—6; Bratton, to cheer up his master serve only to emphasize
pp. 26-30.) Lear's folly and its dreadful results' (Kittredge).
0 SD GENTLEMAN Whether or not this is the 10 note notice, observation.
same Gentleman who entered with Lear and the 11 Commend Entrust.
Fool in 2.4 is unclear but not of great importance. 11 dear important.
He has little to say in 2.4, and both Q and F omit an 11 division conflict, a parting of the ways.
exit for him when Lear, Kent, and the Fool leave 1 4 - 2 1 Who . . . furnishings On the substitu-
(279 SD). Like Kent, he may have become separated tion of these lines in F for Q'S, see Textual Analysis,
from the others in the stormy night. Although Kent p. 269 below.
recognises him as trustworthy, i.e. loyal to the king, 1 4 - 1 5 as who . . . high i.e. like all those who
and he was probably played by the same actor, have been so fortunate as to rise to positions of
Oxford regards him as a new character and des- greatness and power. Presumably, 'throned and set
ignates him 'First Gentleman'. Compare Perrett, high' is a past participial phrase = 'since they have
pp. 198-9. been throned and set high'.
4 Contending (1) physically struggling against, 15 who . . . less i.e. who seem to be just servants
(2) competing in violence and anger (Hunter). (but are really spies).
6 main mainland (Onions).
3-1.16 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1633-53 [176]

Which are to France the spies and speculations

Intelligent of our state. What hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,
Or the hard rein which both of them hath borne
Against the old kind king; or something deeper, 20
Whereof, perchance, these are but furnishings -
G E N T L E M A N I will talk further with you.
KENT No, do not.
For confirmation that I am much more
Than my out-wall, open this purse and take
What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia - 25
As fear not but you shall - show her this ring,
And she will tell you who that fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!
I will go seek the king.
GENTLEMAN Give me your hand. Have you no more to say? 30
K E N T Few words, but to effect more than all yet:
T h a t when we have found the king - in which your pain
That way, I'll this - he that first lights on him
Holla the other.
Exeunt

*2i furnishings - ] Rome; furnishings. F 22 further] F; farther Q 23 am] F; not in Q *24 out-wall,| Q con:; outwall Q
union:; out-wall; F 27 that] F; your Q 30 Give . . . say?] As in Q; two lines divided hand, / Haue Y 32 in . . . pain]
F; not in Q 33 That way, I'll this - he] That way, He this: He F; He this way, you that, he Q 33 on him] F; US part of
J4 Q 34 Holla] F; hollow Q

16 speculations observers, spies (abstract for 22 I . . . you A 'courteous postponement or dis-

concrete). missal of a request' (Delius, cited by Furness). The
17 Intelligent of Bearing or giving information Gentleman is being prudent,
about. 24 out-wall exterior appearance.
18 snuffs huffs, resentments. 25 If . . . shall In F, Kent does not send the
18 packings plots, conspiracies. Compare the Gentleman to Cordelia, but knowing her approach,
verb 'pack' = to plot, scheme, intrigue, and Shr. he knows that Lear's followers will meet her.
5.1.121: 'Here's packing . . . to deceive us all!' 27 fellow A term of address often used for ser-
(Muir). The word also appears in King Leir 1932. vants, though Schmidt and Muir gloss 'compan-
19 hard rein An equestrian metaphor, signify- ion', and Furness cites 77V 3.4.60-78. where the
ing severe curbing, with a possible pun on 'reign'. word is understood in both senses.
20 something deeper This is not disclosed 30 Give . . . say The Gentleman is won over,
because Kent's speech is cut off by the Gentle- but Kent has said enough and, in any case, is now
man, who apparently does not wish to hear any intent on finding Lear.
more, forcing Kent to offer reassurances. In Q, Kent 31 to effect in importance.
interrupts himself at 21 to shift from internal divi- 3 2 - 3 in which . . . this i.e. to find the king
sion to foreign invasion. Compare Urkowitz, p. 70. your effort (pain) lies that way, mine this way. Kent
21 furnishings extrinsic considerations, or motions accordingly,
pretexts.
[177] TLN 1655-68 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.2.12

3.2 Storm still. Enter LEAR and FOOL

LEAR Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow,

You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!
You sulph'rous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-couriers of oak-cleaving thunderbolts, 5
Singe my white head; and thou all-shaking thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o'th'world,
Crack nature's moulds, all germens spill at once
That makes ingrateful man.
FOOL O nuncle, court holy water in a dry house is better than this 10
rain-water out o'door. Good nuncle, in, ask thy daughters
blessing. Here's a night pities neither wise men nor fools.

Act 3, Scene 2 3.2] Scenu Sccunda. F; not in Q o sn Storm still.} F; not in Q 2-9 You . . . man.] F; lines end . . .
drencht, / . . . sulpherous and / . . . vaunt-currers to / . . . head, / . . . flat / . . . natures / . . . make / . . . man.
Q 2 cataracts] F; caterickes Q 2 hurricanoes] Hyrricano's F; Hircanios Q 3 our] F; The Q *3 drowned] Q; drown
F 4 sulph'rous] F; sulpherous Q 5 Vaunt-couriers of] F; vaunt-currers to Q 7 Strike] F; smite Q 7 o'th'] F,- of the
Q 8 moulds] F,- Mold Q 9 makes] F; make Q 10-12 O . . . fools.] F lineation; four verse lines ending . . . house / . . .
doore, / . . . hlessing, / . . . foole. Q 10 holy water] Q con:; holly water Q uncorr; holy-water F 11 o'] F; a Q 11 in,]
F; in, and Q * i 2 wise men] Wisemen F,- wise man Q 12 fools] F,- foole Q

Act 3, Scene 2 Shakespearean image: Muir cites Temp. 5.1.44-6,

0 SD Storm still 'The quality of Lear's resis- Cor. 5.3.152-3, MM 2.2.115-16.
tance . . . is determined by his design in the 7-9 Strike . . . m a n Delius (cited by Furness)
total action. The Lear who is weak, very cold, compares the spherical earth with the 'roundness of
already partly unbalanced must begin to find gestation'; the lines continue the image of nature's
unexpected strengths in his ordeal . . . The orgasm (3 n. above).
titanic Lears begin to deteriorate under the ero- 8 Crack . . . moulds Break the forms nature
sion within and without . . . [A] Lear too uses in the process of creation.
old and weak cannot plausibly ride the storm, 8 germens seeds; as in Mac. 4.1.59. 'Lear
a Lear too stalwart cannot be subdued to the wishes to prevent the birth of any more people,
image - even self-image - of a poor, infirm, so that the ungrateful race of man will die out'
weak old man, unless a massive factor of self- (Muir).
pitv is thrown into the equation' (Rosenberg, 8 spill spill out; hence, destroy.
pp.'188-9). 10 court holy water i.e. the flattery of the
1 crack your cheeks The winds are personi- court. Compare Cotgrave: ''Eau bemste de Cour.
fied, with cheeks ballooned, as in old maps. Court holy water; complements, faire words,
2 cataracts flood-gates of heaven. flattering speeches' (Malone, cited by Furness).
2 hurricanoes waterspouts. Arthur Kinney, 'Conjectures on the composition
3 drenched . . . cocks Lear demands a sec- of King Lear\ S.Sur. 33 (1980), 20, cites Iustus
ond deluge. Rosenberg, pp. 191-2, notes the sexual Lipsius, Sixe Bookes of Politicizes or Civil Doctrine,
undercurrent that runs through this speech. trans. William Jones (1594), 3.8, ''How a Prince
3 cocks weathercocks. ought to behaue him selfe in hearing counseP: 'Let
4 thought-executing fires i.e. lightning whose him freelie permit his Counselors, to speake their
swiftness exceeds thought (compare Temp. 1.2.201- minde boldlie, not louing this court holy water.
3), or whose fearsomeness extinguishes it. The Flattery doth more often suhuert & onerthrow the
lightning flash precedes the actual bolt, or missile, wealth of a kingdome, then an open enemie . . . That
hurled by the thunder. Emperour is miserable from whom the troth is hidden.''
5 Vaunt-couriers Forerunners. Harsnett uses 1 1 - 1 2 ask . . . blessing i.e. ask a blessing from
the term (Muir). your daughters. The verb here takes two objects;
5 oak-cleaving thunderbolts A favourite compare 5.3.10 (Kittredge).
3.2.13 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1669-84 U78]

LEAR Rumble thy bellyful; spit, fire; spout, rain!

Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters.
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. 15
I never gave you kingdom, called you children.
You owe me no subscription. Then let fall
Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man;
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That will with two pernicious daughters join
Your high-engendered battles 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O, ho! 'tis foul.
FOOL He that has a house to put 's head in has a good head-piece.
[Sings] The codpiece that will house
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse;
So beggars marry many.
The man that makes his toe

15 taxj F; taske Q 17-23 You . . . foul.] F; lives vnd . . . plesure [turned under] I . . . weak & / . . . seruile / . . . ioin'd
/ . . . white / . . . foule. Q 17 Then] F; why then Q 21 will] F; haue Q 21 join] F; ioin'd Q 22 hattles] F; hattel
Q 23 ho!] F; not in Q 24 put 's] F; put his Q 25 so] Capell; not in Q, F 25-32 The . . . wake. ] Johnson's linecttion;
four verse lines ending . . . any; / . . . many. / . . . make, / . . . wake. F; as prose Q

14 fire Disyllabic. sexual licence contrasted with real love (see 29 n.

15 tax charge, accuse. below).
17 subscription submission, allegiance. 25 codpiece (1) fool, (2) euphemism for the
18-23 Here . . . as this Lear shifts in these lines penis (as in MM 3.2.115). The codpiece (suggested
from self-pity to defiance to a mixture of both pity here by 'head-piece') was part of men's clothing
and defiance. worn at the crotch, partly to hide, partly to empha-
20 ministers agents. sise the penis and scrotum. Court fools often wore
22 high-engendered i.e. coming from on high exaggerated versions of the codpiece (compare 38
(the heavens). below). Wiles, p. 190, suggests that the Fool does
22 battles battalions, armies. not wear one but puts his bauble between his legs
24 head-piece (1) helmet, head-covering, (2) to mime the lines.
brain. 25 house i.e. fornicate.
25 SD Sings Although Hunter, p. 340, finds these 26 any any house, i.e. adequate provision.
lines unsuitable for music and thus does not include 27 louse i.e. become lousy.
Capell's SD, he agrees that 72-5 below are sung and 28 many The Fool refers to the paradox of 'the
cites the SD from 77V. The storm is apparently not Beggarman and his long line of doxies. He "mar-
a consideration to Shakespeare in either case. Com- ries" so many because he is poor (the result of
pare 72-5 n. an initial imprudence), and not vice versa. The
25-32 The codpiece . . . wake In the first four lines give a kind of condensed Rake's Progress
quatrain the Fool comments on the danger of the . . .' (Danby, p. m ) . But 'many' may also refer to
sexual appetite overcoming prudence; i.e. reckless lice; or the word order may be inverted for the sake
fornication leads to forced marriages, beggary, and of rhvme: 'manv beggars marrv after this fashion'
disease. The second quatrain comments on another (NS>:
foolish inversion of values that eventually leads to 29 toe Danby, p. 111, considers the toe a sym-
misery. Compare the proverb, 'Let not at thy heart bol of the phallus, paralleling 'codpiece'. The line
what should be at thy heel' (Tilley H317). The Fool thus contrasts sexual promiscuitv with love ('heart'
alludes to Lear's favouring of Gonerill and Regan (30)).
over Cordelia, but he also continues the theme of
[/79] TLN 1684-1703 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.2.48

What he his heart should make, 30

Shall of a corn c r y woe,
And turn his sleep to wake.
For there was never yet fair woman but she made mouths in
a glass.

Enter KENT [disguised}

LEAR No, I will be the pattern o f all patience. 35

I will say nothing.
K E N T Who's there?
F O O L Marry, here's grace a n d a codpiece; that's a wise m a n and a
fool.
K E N T Alas, sir, are you here? T h i n g s that love night 40
L o v e not such nights as these. T h e wrathful skies
Gallow the very wanderers o f the dark
And make them keep their caves. S i n c e I was m a n
S u c h sheets o f fire, such bursts o f horrid thunder,
S u c h g r o a n s o f roaring wind a n d rain I never 45
Remember to have heard. M a n ' s nature cannot carry
Th'affliction nor the fear.
LEAR L e t the great gods,
T h a t keep this dreadful pudder o'er our heads,

31 of] v; haue Q 33 but] F, Q con:; hut Q uncorr. 34 SD] F; after 35 Q *38 wise man] wiseman Q; Wiseman F 40-6
Alas . . . carry] F Uncut ion; eight lines ending . . . here? / . . . these, / . . . of the / . . . caues, / . . . fire, / . . . grones
of / . . . remember / . . . cary, Q 40 are] F; sit Q 42 wanderers] F; wanderer Q 43 make] F; makes Q 45 never] F;
ne're Q 47 Th'] v; The o_ 47 fear] F; force Q 47-58 Let . . . sinning.] F lineation; eleven lines ending . . . dreadful /
. . . now, / . . . within thee / . . . Iustice, / . . . periur'd, and / . . . incestious, / . . . couert / . . . life, / . . . centers, /
. . . grace, / . . . sinning, Q 48 pudder] F; Powther Q; Thundering Q2

33-4 For . . . glass A diversionary tactic by the 'here' but does not necessarily require Lear to keep
Fool following his rather pointed satire (Furness); standing (Urkowitz, 'Editorial tradition', pp. 36-7).
an oblique allusion to the vanity and hypocrisy of 42 Gallow Terrify.
Gonerill and Regan (Muir; compare 2.2.32 n.). To 42 wanderers . . . dark wild nocturnal animals,
'make mouths in a glass' is to practise smiling or 46-7 Man's . . . fear Kent's words underscore
grimacing in a mirror; it can also signal contempt, Lear's titanism. The upheaval in physical nature
as in Ham. 4.4.50. reflects the upheavals in international relations
38 Marry A common exclamation, derived from (conflict with France), the state (division between
'by the Virgin Mary'. the dukes), the family, and the individual. Accord-
38 grace and a codpiece An apparent refer- ing to Kent, the storm is beyond normal human
ence to Lear (the king's grace) and the F'ool (com- endurance, not only for what it does (causes afflic-
pare 25 n.), ambiguous because of Lear's foolish tion, i.e. physical buffeting), but for what it means
behaviour and the Fool's references to him as a (the'fear') - the aspect of the storm that Lear con-
fool, as in the previous song. 'This is the dialectic centrâtes upon in the lines that follow,
of man, stretched to its limits: man is love and lust, 46 carry bear, endure,
wisdom and folly' (Rosenberg, p. 195). 48 pudder Variant of 'pother' = turmoil,
40 are you here Q'S 'sit you here' may reflect tumult. 'Pother' historically rhymed with 'other',
the interpretative attitude Lear assumes above as 'smother', 'brother' and was sometimes spelled
the 'pattern of all patience' (35-6) (compare 77V 'puther', 'pudder' (OED).
2.4.114-15). F'S change lets the emphasis fall on
3.2.49 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1704-25 [,8o]

Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch,

That hast within thee undivulgèd crimes 50
Unwhipped of justice. Hide thee, thou bloody hand,
Thou perjured and thou simular of virtue
That art incestuous. Caitiff, to pieces shake,
That under covert and convenient seeming
Has practised on man's life. Close pent-up guilts, 55
Rive your concealing continents and cry
These dreadful summoners grace. I am a man
More sinned against than sinning.
KENT Alack, bare-headed?
Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel.
Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest. 60
Repose you there, while I to this hard house -
More harder than the stones whereof 'tis raised,
Which even but now, demanding after you,
Denied me to come in - return and force
Their scanted courtesy.
LEAR M y wits begin to turn. 65
Come on, m y boy. H o w dost, m y boy? Art cold?
I a m cold myself. - W h e r e is this straw, m y fellow?
The art of our necessities is strange,

52 simular] F,- simular man Q 53 incestuous] F,- incestious Q 53 to) F; in Q 55 Has] F; hast Q 56 concealing
continents] F; concealed centers Q 58 than] then F; their Q 58-65 Alack . . . courtesy.] F lineation; as prose Q 61
while] F; whilst Q 62 harder than] F; hard then is Q 62 stones] F; stone Q 63 you] F; me Q 65 wits begin] F; wit
begins Q 68-70 The . . . heart] F; lines end . . . can, / . . . poore, / . . . heart Q

49 Find . . . now The fear caused by the storm 57 grace mercy (Schmidt),
will lead guilty creatures (criminals and malefac- 57 I Emphatic (Kittredge). Lear contrasts him-
tors) to reveal themselves as enemies of the gods. self with those murderers, hypocrites, and other
Compare 46-7 above. 'pent-up guilts'.
51 of by. 59 Gracious m y lord My gracious lord; com-
51 bloody hand i.e. murderer (metonymy). pare 1.1.90.
52 simular counterfeiter, pretender. Compare 61 hard pitiless, unyielding.
Tyndale's Prologue to Rom. in his New Testament 61 house household.
(1526): 'Christ . . . calleth them [the Pharisees] 63 demanding after asking for.
ypocrites, that is to safe Simulars' (OED). 65 My . . . turn 'From this point he becomes
53 Caitiff Wretch. aware of the sufferings of others' (NS).
54 seeming hypocrisy. 66-7 Come . . . myself Salvini in the role
55 practised on plotted against. of Lear took off his cloak here and wrapped it
55 Close pent-up guilts Crimes kept secret. around the shivering Fool, who may be near col-
56 Rive . . . continents Slit open the containers lapse (Rosenberg, p. 197).
that hide you. 68-9 The art . . . precious Poverty (necessity)
56—7 cry . . . grace beg for mercy from these is an unusual alchemist; it can transform worthless
terrible agents of vengeance. A summoner was a things into precious ones,
minor official who summoned offenders to ecclesi-
astical courts.
[/<?/] TLN 1726-42 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.2.87

And can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel. -

Poor fool and knave, I have o n e part in m y heart 70
T h a t ' s s o r r y yet for thee.
F O O L [Sings] H e that h a s a n d a little tiny wit,
With heigh-ho, the wind a n d the rain,
M u s t make content with his fortunes fit,
T h o u g h the rain it raineth every day. 75
L E A R True, boy. - Come, b r i n g us to this hovel.
[Exeunt Lear and Kent]
F O O L T h i s is a brave night to cool a courtesan. I'll speak a p r o -
phecy ere I g o :
When priests are more in word than matter;
When brewers m a r their malt with water; 80
When nobles are their tailors' tutors,
N o heretics b u r n e d , but wenches' suitors,
T h e n shall the realm o f Albion
Come to great confusion.
When every case in law is right; 85
No squire in debt n o r no poor knight;
When s l a n d e r s do not live in tongues,

69 And] l-v that Q 69 yourj v; you Q 70 inj F; of Q 71 That's sorry] F,- That sorrowes Q 72 SD] Capell; not in Q,
F 72-5 He . . . day.] v; as prose Q 72 and] F; not in Q 75 Though] F; for Q 76 boy] F; my good boy Q 76 SD]
Capell; Exit. F; not in Q 77-93 FOOI. This . . . time.] F; not in Q 83-4 Then . . . confusion.] Pope's lineation; placed
here by .\S; as one line following go F (see Commentary)

72-5 He . . . day Adapted from Feste's song, 77V The pseudo-Chaucerian verse imitated here is cited
5.1.387-92. 'The Fool may be referring to Lear, or in Puttenham's Arte of English Poésie (1589) in the
to himself (Muir). section on merismus or 'the distributor', i.e. ampli-
74 Must . . . fit Either (1) must make his hap- fication (Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 383).
piness fit his fortunes (Kittredge), or (2) must be 81 nobles . . . tutors aristocrats teach their
content with the fortunes suitable to such a person. tailors. Compare Shr. 4.3.86-95: Petruchio has
77 This . . . courtesan A pun on 'night' and instructed and now criticises a tailor (Kittredge).
'knight' may explain why the comment on the 82 heretics (1) religious dissenters, (2) lovers.
weather takes this form (Hunter). It would also Compare Donne,'The Indifferent': 'Poore Héré-
partly explain the medieval parody that follows. tiques in love there bee, / Which thinke to stablish
77 brave fine. dangerous constancie.'
79-92 When . . . feet These lines and those 82 burned A quibble on 'infected with venereal
immediately preceding and following them were diseases' (NS).
long suspected of being a non-Shakespearean the- 83-4 Then . . . confusion See collation. If they
atrical interpolation. See Textual Analysis, p. 281 were a marginal insertion in copy, the lines may
below. Warburton was the first to detect two have confused the compositor, who set them as one
prophecies (79-84: a satire of England under James line in the wrong place (NS).
I; 85-92: Utopia), and to propose the relineation 83 Albion An old name for Britain.
that is followed here and in NS. Wittreich, echo- 85 right (1) just, or (2) genuine (NS). Legal pro-
ing Alalone, argues that the lines were deliberately cedures, then as now, were notoriously complex.
scrambled (p. 62). 86 nor no Double negatives do not cancel each
79 When . . . matter i.e. when clergymen talk other out.
more for the sake of talking than to say something. 87 live i.e. make a permanent residence in.
3-2.88 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1743-63 [1S2]

Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;

When usurers tell their gold i'th'field,
And bawds and whores do churches build, 90
Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
That going shall be used with feet.
This prophecy Merlin shall make, for I live before his time.
Exit

3.3 Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMOND

GLOUCESTER Alack, alack, Edmond, I like not this unnatural

dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they
took from me the use of mine own house, charged me on pain
of perpetual displeasure neither to speak of him, entreat for
him, or any way sustain him. 5
EDMOND Most savage and unnatural!
GLOUCESTER Go to, say you nothing. There is division between
the dukes, and a worse matter than that. I have received a letter
this night - 'tis dangerous to be spoken - I have locked the
letter in my closet. These injuries the king now bears will be 10

Act 3, Scene 3 3.3] Scaena Tertia. F,- not in Q o SD) F; Enter Cluster and the Bastard with lights. Q 1-5 Alack
him.] F,- W
.V.' verse lines ending . . . this, / . . . leaue / . . . from me/ . . . paine / . . . of him, / . . . sustaine him. Q 3
took] F; tooke me Q 4 perpetual] F; their Q 5 or] F; nor Q 7-17 Go . . . careful.] F; thirteen verse lines ending . . .
the Dukes, [turned over] / . . . receiued / . . . spoken, / . . . injuries / . . . home / . . . landed, / . . . him, and / . . .
talke / . . . of him / . . . gon / . . . threatned me, / . . . there is / . . . careful. Q 7 There is| F; ther's a Q 7 between]
F,- betwixt Q

88 Nor . . . throngs A crowd was an irresistible Regan's treatment of their father.

target for pickpockets, or cutpurses, as they were 2-5 When . . . him By pitying the king,
then called, because money was kept in a purse Gloucester begins to make his move in the con-
strung from a girdle. flict between father and daughters; as a result, his
89 usurers moneylenders, notorious for secrecy. guests confiscate his house and threaten still worse
89 tell count. if he continues to express compassion for Lear or
90 bawds . . . build i.e. when these low charac- tries to help him.
ters are religiously and philanthropically motivated. 2 pity take pity on, relieve.
92 going . . . feet i.e. normality shall reign and 6 Most . . . unnatural In the context of the
perversions end. entire scene, these words are ironic, but they must
92 going walking. be said without deliberate irony.
93 This . . . time A third prophecy. The Lear 7 Go to An exclamation: 'Quiet! Enough!'
legend antedates Arthurian legend by centuries. 8 worse matter Possibly the French invasion,
although the suggestion of some vague, omi-
Act 3 , S c e n e 3 nous threat is like Kent's 'something deeper'
o SD Enter . . . EDMOND Q'S addition, with (3.1.20). Compare also 'strange things toward'
lights, requires the actors to enter the Globe stage (16 below).
carrying torches - a conventional sign to indicate 8 a letter See 3.5.8-9. Like Kent, Gloucester
night scenes and perhaps here to suggest a scene is in communication with Cordelia and the French
indoors. forces.
1 - 2 unnatural dealing i.e. Gonerill's and 10 closet private room.
['S3] TLN 1763-85 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.5

revenged home. There is part of a power already footed. We

must incline to the king. I will look him and privily relieve him.
Go you and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not
of him perceived. If he ask for me, I am ill and gone to bed. If I
die for it - as no less is threatened me - the king my old master 15
must be relieved. There is strange things toward, Edmond;
pray you be careful. Exit
E D M O N D This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke
Instantly know, and of that letter too.
This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me 20
That which my father loses: no less than all.
The younger rises when the old doth fall. Exit

3.4 Enter LEAR, KENT [disguised], and FOOL

K E N T Here is the place, my lord. Good my lord, enter.

The tyranny of the open night's too rough
For nature to endure.
Storm still
LEAR Let me alone.
K E N T Good my lord, enter here.
LEAR Wilt break my heart?
K E N T I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter. 5

11 There is| F; Ther's Q n footed] v; landed Q 12 look] F; seeke Q 14 bed. If] bed; if Rowe1 ; bed, if F; bed, though
Q 15 for it] F; for't Q 16 There is strange things toward, Edmond;] there is / Some stràge thing toward, Edmund Q;
There . . . toward Edmund, F 18-22 This . . . fall.] F lineation; four verse lines ending . . . know [turned under] I . . .
deseruing / . . . lesse / . . . fall. Q 21 all.] all, Q, F 22 The] F; then Q 22 doth] F; doe Q Act 3, Scene 4 3.4]
Siena Qiiarta. F; not in Q 1-3 Here . . . endure.] F lineation; as prose Q 2 The] F, Q corn; the the Q uncorr. 3 SD] F;
not m Q 4 here] F; not in Q 5 I . . . enter.] As in Q; two lines divided owne, / Good F

11 home to the full, thoroughly. 20 This . . . deserving My action bids fair to

11 footed landed. merit a good reward.
12 look i.e. look for. 20-1 draw . . . all Edmond calculates correctly:
14 of by. see 3.5.14.
14 I f . . . bed A 'social lie': compare 2.4.81-2. 22 The . . . fall Compare Tilley R136: 'The ris-
14-16 If . . . relieved Gloucester takes his ing of one man is the falling of another' (NS).
stand, aware of the risks, but now fully commit-
ted, morally and otherwise. In assuming the major Act 3 , S c e n e 4
initiative in the preservation of Lear, he risks more 0 SD In Trevor Nunn's Royal Shakespeare
than the disguised Kent, and henceforth it is he Company production (1968), Eric Porter as Lear,
who is the suffering servant, 'punished unjustly though gaunt and haggard, carried the Fool on
for his fidelity to human values' (Warren, 'Diminu- stage in his arms, anticipating the end, when he
tion', p. 63). would enter carrying Cordelia (Rosenberg, p. 201).
16 toward coming, about to happen. 1 the place Compare 3.2.59.
17 SD Exit 'With a touch, an embrace, 2 open night night in the open.
[Gloucester] goes to face the lightning' (Rosenberg, 3 For . . . endure Kent's repeated theme (com-
p. 200). Edmond watches him leave, with a know- pare 3.2.46-7). But Lear persists in opposing his
ing smile and even, perhaps, contempt. nature against the storm's.
18 courtesy i.e. to Lear. 4 Wilt Wilt thou.
18 forbid forbidden to.
34-6 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN I 786-1806 [184]

LEAR Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm

Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee.
But where the greater malady is fixed,
The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'dst shun a bear,
But if thy flight lay toward the roaring sea,
Thou'dst meet the bear i'th'mouth. When the mind's free,
The body's delicate. This tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else,
Save what beats there: filial ingratitude.
Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand
For lifting food to't? But I will punish home.
No, I will weep no more. In such a night
To shut me out? Pour on, I will endure.
In such a night as this! O Regan, Gonerill,
Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all -
O that way madness lies; let me shun that;
No more of that.
KENT Good my lord, enter here.
LEAR Prithee, go in thyself, seek thine own ease.
This tempest will not give me leave to ponder
On things would hurt me more; but I'll go in.

6 contentious] F,- crulentious Q uncorr.; tempestious Q corr. *~] skin: so] skin.so F uncorr.; skinso F corn; skin, so Q 9
Thou'dst] F; thou wouldst Q2 *io thy] Q; they F 10 roaring] F; roring Q corr.; raging- Q uncorr., Q2 I I i'th'| F; it'h
Q *I2 body's] bodies Q, F *I2 This] Q corr.; the Q uncorr., Q2, F 14 beats| F, Q corr.; beares Q uncorr., Q2 14 there:
. . . ingratitude] there . . . ingratitude, F uncorr; there, . . . ingratitude F corr.; their . . . ingratitude Q 16 to't] F, Q; to
it Q2 16 home] F; sure Q 17-18 In . . . endure.] F,- not in Q 19-21 O . . . that;] F Itncalion; three verse lines ending . . .
father / . . . lies, [turned over] / . . . that. Q 20 gave] F; gaue you Q 21 lies] Q, F corr.; lie F uncorr. 22 here] F; not
in Q 23 thine own] F,- thy one Q

8 greater malady i.e. his mental torment, as the family - himself and his daughters -
11-14 explain. as an organic whole.
8 fixed set, established. 16 home thoroughly, to the full.
11 i'th'mouth i.e. face to face. 18 Pour . . . endure Lear asserts his titanism,
11-14 When . . . ingratitude Compare his defiance against nature and all it can do to him.
Montaigne, Apology for Raymond Sebond, iv.70: On F'S addition, see Textual Analysis, p. 282 below,
'our senses are . . . many times dulled by the pas- 20 frank (1) liberal, bounteous (of giving), (2)
sions of the mind' (Aluir). open, without guile.
11 free i.e. of pain, undisturbed, untroubled. 21 that way i.e. dwelling upon his foolish gen-
12 delicate sensitive. erosity and his daughters' ingratitude.
14 beats (1) throbs, as of thought, (2) rages, as 23 Prithee . . . ease Lear has begun to con-
of a storm (Muir). sider others first, a marked change in his attitude
15-16 Is . . . to't Is it not as if my and behaviour,
mouth should attack my hand for bringing food 25 things . . . more Lear refers to filial ingrat-
to it? The image suggests the absurd rebel- itude and his own foolishness. Compare 21 above,
(compare
lion of oneCor. part1.1.96
of theff).body
Learagainst
conceives of
another 25 would that would.
l'Ssl TLN 1807-21 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.39

In, boy, g o first. You houseless poverty -

Nay, get thee in; I'll pray, a n d then I'll sleep.
Exit [Fool]
Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are
T h a t bide the pelting o f this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads a n d unfed sides, 30
Your looped a n d windowed r a g g e d n e s s defend you
From seasons such as these? O I have ta'en
Too little care o f this. Take physic, pomp,
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,
T h a t thou mayst shake the superflux to them 35
And show the heavens more just.

Enter FOOL

EDGAR [Within] Fathom and half; fathom and half; poor Tom!
FOOL Come not in here, nuncle! Here's a spirit! Help me, help
me!
26-7 In . . . sleep.I ]•.• mil in Q 26 poverty - ) Rome; pouertie, F 27 SD\ Johnson (suhst.); Exit. F (after 26); not in Q 29
storm] F.- night Q *}i looped | loopt Q; lop'd, F 36 so] This edn; Enter Edgar, and Toole. F; The Tool runs out from the
hovel. / Theobald (after j(j; after j?, (Jape/1); not in Q 37 EDGAR Fathom . . . lorn!] F; not in Q 37 SD] Theobald; not
in F

26-7 In, boy . . . sleep See Textual Analysis, powerful persons accustomed to splendour and
pp. 282-3 below. The lines, added or restored in luxury.
F, underscore Lear's changing attitude and lead 34-6 Expose . . . just This is the 'physic' Lear
directly and naturally into his prayer, which is prescribes: the great ones of the earth should sub-
interrupted poignantly bv insistent concern for his ject themselves to the experiences of the poor (as
Fool. Lear himself now does); the action will lead them
26 houseless poverty Compare 'Poor naked to surrender unnecessary possessions ('superflux'),
wretches' (28 ff). Here, concrete and abstract and by giving them to the poor demonstrate how
are combined in a typically Shakespearean phrase. heaven can be more just than we realise. Com-
Compare 31 below. pare Gloucester's speech, 4.1.62-6, where the same
27 I'll pray 'In the night's bleak exposure he point is made.
kneels down, like a child at bedtime, to pray' 37 SD Enter FOOL Q has no SD, while F has
(Granville-Barker, p. 292). But most editions, both Edgar and the Fool enter here, though Kent
except Oxford, omit a SD. later calls Edgar (as Poor Tom) to come forth at
28-36 Macready deliberately pointed this speech 4 2 - 3 . A line (37) is also missing from Q, which
at Queen Victoria during a performance she seems (like the Bedlam's entrance) a response to
attended (Bratton, p. 143). Lear's prayer (see Textual Analysis, p. 283 below).
29 bide endure. Theobald's emendations suggest a plausible stag-
30 sides Not the sides of the chest, as at 2.4.190, ing of the scene: the Fool comes running out of
but the part of the body principally fed by nour- the hovel badly frightened by what he sees there -
ishment, as in Tim. 4.3.12 (Schmidt). the hideous figure of the Bedlam beggar, who utters
31 looped . . . raggedness More yoking a despairing cry from within. His hovel is an imag-
of concrete and abstract: the ragged clothes of ined place, entered perhaps from a trap (as in the
the poor are full of loopholes and openings 1990 Renaissance Theatre Company production) or
(windows). from behind curtains upstage centre.
32-3 O . . . this By assuming responsibility 37 Fathom . . . half 'Edgar speaks as if he were
for the wretched state of his subjects, Lear takes a sailor sounding the depth of the water in the hold
a major step forward in understanding himself. of a leaking ship. He is almost "swamped" by the
33 physic medical treatment, possibly a purge. storm' (Kittredge).
33 pomp Abstract for concrete, i.e. rich and 38 spirit supernatural being, demon.
344° The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1822-39
urn
K E N T Give me thy hand. Who's there? 40
F O O L A spirit, a spirit! He says his name's Poor Tom.
K E N T What art thou that dost grumble there i'th'straw? Come
forth.

[Enter EDGAR, disguised as a madman]

EDGAR Away, the foul fiend follows me. Through the sharp
hawthorn blow the winds. Humh! Go to thy bed and warm 45
thee.
L E A R Didst thou give all to thy daughters? And art thou come to
this?
EDGAR Who gives anything to Poor Tom, whom the foul fiend
hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and 50
whirlpool, o'er bog and quagmire; that hath laid knives under
his pillow and halters in his pew; set ratsbane by his porridge;
made him proud of heart to ride on a bay trotting-horse over
four-inched bridges, to course his own shadow for a traitor.
Bless thy five wits, Tom's a-cold! O do, de, do, de, do de. Bless 55
41 a spirit] F; not in Q 41 name's] F, Q; name is Q2 42 i'th'J F; in the Q 43 SD] Theobald; not in Q, F 44 Through]
F,- thorough Q 45 blow the winds.] F; blowes the cold wind, Q 45 Humh!] F; not in Q 45 bed] F; cold bed Q 47
Didst thou give] F; Hast thou giuen Q 47 thy] F; thy two Q *50 through fire] Q,- though Fire v 50 through flame]
F; not in Q *50-i ford and whirlpool] foord, and whirli-poole Q; Sword, and Whirle-poole F 51 hath] F,- has Q 52
porridge] F; pottage Q *55 Bless] Q; Blisse F 55 O . . . de.] F,- not in Q *55 Bless] Q; blisse F

44 Away i.e. keep away. As someone followed or 17. Suicide, a result of the sin of despair, was
attended by demons, Edgar warns the others off. a favourite temptation of the devil. Compare
44-5 Through . . . winds See collation. Hunter Marlowe, Dr Faustus 2.2.20-2: 'then swordes and
follows Q and inserts 'cold' before 'winds', cit- kniues, / Poyson, gunnes, halters, and invenomd
ing the same phrase at 89 below. Oxford omits Steele / Are layde before me to dispatch my selfe'
'cold' here but with Q inserts it before 'bed' in (Steevens, cited by Muir).
the next sentence, following S fir. Induction 1.9- 50 ford 'Sword' in F is an apparent manuscript
10 (see Textual Companion, p. 535). F'S omission misreading (Duthie, p. 178). All the other dangers
of 'cold' in both places may seem odd (Duthie, are natural phenomena: 'Sword' is exceptional; Q'S
p. 148), but the lines are satisfactory without the 'foord' is doubtless right.
adjective; if anything, they are stronger for the 51 that i.e. he that.
omissions. 52 pew A 'gallery in a house or outside a cham-
45 Humh Edgar, half-naked, shivers with cold ber window - not a pew in church' (Kittredge; from
(Kittredge). Old French puye, 'parapet, balustrade, balcony'
45-6 Go . . . thee See 44-5 n. above. Duthie, (OED); compare Cotgrave, Appuyé: 'An open, and
p. 149, thinks an actor may have interpolated 'cold' outstanding terrace, or gallery, set on th'outside
before 'bed' to make an antithesis. He follows F with railes to lean vpon').
both here and earlier, though NS retains Q'S 'cold' 52 porridge thick soup.
before 'winds'. 53-4 ride . . . bridges i.e. perform a difficult
47-8 Didst. . . this Lear's monomania becomes feat, like walking a tight-rope.
evident, and his descent into madness is aided by 54 course chase. Compare the image of a cat
the image of the Bedlam beggar. 'Immediately after chasing its own tail (NS) and Tillcy S281, 'To be
the Poor naked wretches speech [Lear] finds a fig- afraid of one's own shadow'.
ure with whom he can wholly identify himself and 55 five wits These are common wit, imagina-
whose role (of madman) he can take over' (Hunter). tion, fantasy, estimation, and memory. They were
49-58 foul fiend . . . there As Theobald first sometimes confused with the five senses, though
noted, many details of this speech are indebted not in Sonnet 141.9-10.
to Harsnett's Declaration. See also Muir, 'Samuel 55 O do . . . de Sounds of chattering teeth.
Harsnett and King Lear\ RES, n.s., 2 (1951),
['«/] TLN 1840-59 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.72

thee from whirlwinds, star-blasting, and taking. D o Poor T o m

some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. There could I have
him now, and there, and there again, and there.
Storm still
L E A R What, has his daughters brought him to this pass?
Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst thou give 'em all? 60
F O O L Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all shamed.
L E A R Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air
Hang fated o'er men's faults, light on thy daughters!
K E N T He hath no daughters, sir.
L E A R Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature 65
To such a lowness but his unkind daughters.
Is it the fashion that discarded fathers
Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?
Judicious punishment: 'twas this flesh begot
Those pelican daughters. 70
E D G A R Pillicock sat on Pillicock Hill; alow, alow, loo, loo.
F O O L T h i s cold night will turn u s all to fools and m a d m e n .

56 star-blasting] F; starre-blusting Q 58 and there again, and there.] F; and and there againe Q 58 SD] F,- not in Q *59
What, has] What, Q; Ha's F 60 Wouldst] F,- didst Q 60 'em] F; them Q 63 light] F; fall Q 69 begot] F,- begins next
line Q 71 Pillicock Hill] F; pelicocks hill Q 71 alow, alow, loo, loo.] F; a lo lo lo. Q

56 star-blasting In astrology, the adverse influ- 67-8 Is . . . flesh Lear refers to Edgar's mortified
ence of malignant stars, which could afflict one with body (see 2.3.15-16). In his monomania, he insists
disease. Edgar must be the victim of ungrateful and cruel
56 taking The state of becoming infected, daughters, despite Kent's statement (64). Edwin
blasted. Booth as Lear drew a thorn or spike from Edgar's
57-8 There . . . there 'Edgar makes grabs at arm and stuck it in his own (Sprague, cited by NS).
different parts of his body as if to catch vermin - 69 Judicious Fitting, well-judged,
or devils' (Kittredge). 69-70 'twas . . . daughters The bawdry that
59 What, has See collation. On metrical and Lear utters in his madness (e.g. 4.5.108-25) may
other grounds, Duthie, pp. 15-16, recommends be traced to this perception.
combining Q and F. Q may have inadvertently omit- 70 pelican daughters The pelican was prover-
ted 'has'; in correcting Q, the F collator or compos- bial for feeding its young with its own flesh and
itor may have misread the correction as a substitu- blood, and the young were proverbial for cruelty
tion instead of an addition. to their parents.
59 pass predicament, extremity (Schmidt). 71 Pillicock . . . Hill Edgar's fragment, sug-
61 reserved NS suggests an allusion to Lear's gested by'pelican', may be part of a nursery rhyme:
'reservation' of a hundred knights. 'Pillycock, Pillycock sat on a hill; / If he's not
62-3 all . . . faults The idea that infectious gone, he sits there still' (Collier, cited by Furness).
plagues were airborne was commonplace, as was Compare 'Pillicock' = (1) term of endearment, dar-
the notion of 'star-blasting' (56), the infliction of ling, (2) the penis; 'Pillicock Hill' = female genitals
disease as a punishment for malefactors. (Partridge).
63 fated destined (i.e. to fall). 71 alow . . . loo Variously explained. Furness
63 light alight, fall. suggests the sound of a cockcrow; Kittredge, a wild
65 subdued reduced; accent on the first syllable. 'halloo' as if to a hawk; Perrett, a Bedlam's horn;
65 nature i.e. human nature. etc., etc.
34-73 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1860-74 i1^]

EDGAR Take heed o'th'foul fiend, obey thy parents, keep thy
words' justice, swear not, commit not with man's sworn spouse,
set not thy sweet heart on proud array. Tom's a-cold. 75
L E A R What hast thou been?
EDGAR A servingman, proud in heart and mind, that curled my
hair, wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress'
heart, and did the act of darkness with her. Swore as many
oaths as I spake words, and broke them in the sweet face of 80
heaven. One that slept in the contriving of lust and waked to
do it. Wine loved I dearly, dice dearly, and in woman out-
paramoured the Turk. False of heart, light of ear, bloody of
hand; hog in sloth, fox in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in
madness, lion in prey. Let not the creaking of shoes nor the 85

*74 words' justice] Schmidt i8jg; words Iustice F,- words iustly Q; word justly Pope; word's justice Knight 75 sweet
heart] Q; Sweet-heart F *77 servingman,] Q; Seruingman? F 82 I dearly] F; I deeply Q

73 foul fiend Possibly suggested by similar- 77-8 curled my hair Malone (cited by Fur-
sounding 'fool' in the preceding line (NS, citing ness) quotes a long passage from Harsnett, p. 54,
Kokeritz, p. 75, who also notes word-plav in 3H6 in which Master Mainy 'curled his hair' and oth-
5.6.18-20). erwise demonstrated the sin of pride. The passage
73-5 obey . . . array A version of five of the Ten continues, as the present one does, with a cata-
Commandments; specifically, to honour one's par- logue of deadly sins represented by devils in the
ents, not to commit false witness, take the Lord's shape of animals, including the dog and the wolf,
name in vain, commit adultery, or engage in cov- which Shakespeare may have remembered.
etousness. Compare also 1 Tim. 2.9: '. . . that they 78 wore . . . cap i.e. wore the favours of his
aray them selues in comely appareil, with shame- mistress like a courtly lover or gallant.
fastnes and modestie, not with . . . golde, or pearles, 81 slept . . . lust i.e. dreamt of plotting lascivi-
or costly appareil' (Noble, Shaheen). ous deeds.
73-4 keep . . . justice Duthie, p. 150, origi- 82 dearly . . . dearly See collation, F'S repeti-
nally defended the F reading, but in NS favours Q. tion appears intentional and emphatic.
Muir retains F, but makes 'words' singular posses- 82-3 out-paramoured the Turk i.e. had more
sive. The sense seems to be 'keep the integrity of lovers than the Turkish sultan had in his harem.
your utterances', i.e. do not lie or bear false wit- 83 light of ear 'credulous of evil, ready to
ness. The parody of the Commandments strength- receive malicious reports' (Johnson, cited by
ens the F reading. Muir and Shaheen compare the Furness); i.e. a gossip-monger. Kittredgc quotes
Catechism, 'bee true and iust in all my dealing'. from The Scho/e-House of Women: 'So light of eare
75 proud array fancy clothes. they be and sowre, / That of the better they neuer
77-88 A servingman . . . fiend Compare record, / The worse reherce they word by word.'
Donne's Elegy iv (c. 1595) (Davenport, p. 21). 84-5 hog . . . prey Edgar gives an abbrevi-
77 servingman Either (1) servant, or (2) lover; ated list parodying the Seven Deadly Sins, which
possibly both. The description of a dandified ser- were often represented by animals. Compare 77-8
vant as courtier fits Oswald as well. n. above, and Florio, Second Fruités, p. 165: 'lyon
77 proud in heart Shaheen compares Prov. for surquedrv, goate for letcherie, dragon for cru-
16.5: 'All that are proude in heart, are an abom- eltie' (cited by Muir).
ination to the Lord', and 21.4: 'A hautie loke, and 85 prey preying.
a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is 85-6 Let . . . silks The sounds a woman makes
sinne.' 'Proud' could also signify 'lustful' (Booth, as she walks. Creaking shoes were fashionable
p. 164, n. 19). (Kittredgc).
[i8g] TLN 1875-89 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.97

rustling of silks betray thy poor heart to woman. Keep thy foot
out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets, thy pen from lender's
books, and defy the foul fiend. Still through the hawthorn
blows the cold wind, says suum, mun, nonny. Dauphin, my boy,
boy, cessez! let him trot by. 90
Storm still
LEAR Thou wert better in a grave than to answer with thy un-
covered body this extremity of the skies. Is man no more than
this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast
no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! Here's
three on's are sophisticated; thou art the thing itself. Unaccom- 95
modated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal
as thou art. Off, off, you lendings! Come, unbutton here.

86 rustling] v; ruslngs Q 86 woman | F,- women Q 87 brothels] F; brothell Q 87 plackets] F; placket Q 88 books] F,-
booke Q 89 says suum, mun, nonny] F,- hay no on ny Q 89-90 Dauphin, my boy, boy, cessez!] This edn; Dolphin my
boy, my boy, caese Q; Dolphin my Boy, Boy Sesey: v; Dauphin, my boy! Boy, cessez; Oxford 90 SD] F,- not in q 91
Thou] F; Why thou Q 91 a] F; thy Q 92 than] then F; but Q 93 ow'st] F; owest Q 94 Ha!] Ha? F; not in Q 97
lendings! Come, unbutton here.| F; leadings, come on be true. Q uncorr., Q2,- lendings, come on Q core.

87 plackets (1) slits or openings in petticoats, 92-3 Is . . . well Compare Hebrews 2.6: 'What
(2) a euphemism for the female pudendum (Par- is man, that thou shouldest bee mindfull of him?
tridge). or the sonne of man that thou wouldest consider
87-8 pen . . . books A sure way to fall into him?' (Noble, Shaheen). Nearly the same words
trouble was to borrow from moneylenders. appear in Ps. 8.4. G. C. Taylor cites parallels from
89 suum, mun, nonny The first two words Montaigne's Apology for Raymond Sebonde, iii.250,
suggest the sound of the wind (Knight, cited by 268; vi. 189-90 (in Florio's translation, quoted in
Furness). The third word is used often in bal- Muir, NS).
lad refrains. (Steevens apparently invented a ballad 94 cat i.e. the civet cat, from whose glands
about a battle in France in which the French king ingredients for perfume are obtained.
did not want to risk his son the Dauphin: see Fur- 95 sophisticated adulterated, artificially
ness.) Some editions, e.g. NS, conflate emended altered.
Q and F, 'suum, mun, hay nonny nonny', since 95-6 Unaccommodated Unfurnished with
Edgar utters the kind of nonsense that could end in the trappings of civilisation, i.e. unadorned with
a ballad tag. For 'nonny-nonny' NS quotes OED: clothes.
'meaningless refrain, formerly often used to cover 96 forked two-legged. Compare 2H4 3.2.311,
indelicate allusions'. Compare Ham. 4.5.166, Ado where Falstaff describes Justice Shallow as 'a forked
2.3.69. radish'.
89-90 Dauphin . . . by Unexplained. See colla- 97 lendings clothes, i.e. the borrowings men-
tion. Johnson was the first to suggest French cessez tioned in 93-4. Lear begins tearing off his clothes,
for F 'Sesey', but the reference to the Dauphin the 'ironic conclusion' to the divestiture begun in
of France is unclear. Johnson thought it referred 1.1 of everything but the name of king and the
to a servant or attendant, others that it is from a reservation of a hundred knights (Heilman, p. 76).
ballad or song, but evidence is absent. John Crow Now he strips down to 'nothing'.
suggested to Muir that 'Dolphin' (Dauphin) could 97 Come . . . here Perhaps a delirious com-
mean the devil; he quoted a Noah mystery play: 'I mand to a groom, but more likely Lear speaking to
pray to Dolphin, prince of dead, / Scald you all in himself. Compare 5.3.283. Hysterica passio is evi-
his lead.' The identification with the devil derives dently afflicting Lear. As he tears off his clothing,
from English hatred of the French, and Edgar often Kent and the Fool try to restrain him. See collation
refers to devils or fiends who accompany or torment and compare Clayton, pp. 127-8; Stone, pp. 225-6.
him. Furness suggests 'unbutton here' may be a SD.
91 answer respond, encounter.
3.4-98 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1891-1901 [190]

FOOL Prithee, nuncle, be contented; 'tis a naughty night to swim

in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lecher's heart
- a small spark, all the rest on's body cold. Look, here comes a
walking fire.
Enter GLOUCESTER with a torch
EDGAR This is the foul Flibbertigibbet; he begins at curfew and
walks till the first cock. He gives the web and the pin, squints
the eye, and makes the harelip; mildews the white wheat, and
hurts the poor creature of earth.
[Chants] Swithold footed thrice the wold,
He met the nightmare and her ninefold;

98 contented; 'tis] F,- content, this is Q ioo on's] F; in Q 101 SD] F (after gj); Enter Cluster. Q 102 foul] F; foule
fiend Q 102 Flibbertigibbet] F,- Sriberdegibit Q uncorr.;fliberdegibekQ eon:; Sirberdegibil Q2 *i03 till the] Q; at F 103
gives] F, Q con:; gins Q uncorr., Q2 103 web and the pin, squints] F; web, the pin- / queues Q uncorr.; web, & the pin,
squemes Q con:; web, the pinqueuer Q2 104 harelip] Hare-lippe F; harte lip Q uncorr., Q2,- hare lip Q con: 106 SD]
This edn; not in Q, F,- [A'M^fi] / Oxford 106—10 Swithold . . . thee!] Capell's lineation; four lines ending . . . old, I . . .
nine-fold; / . . . -plight, / . . . thee, F,- as prose Q 106 Swithold] F; swithald Q *IO6 wold] Theobald; old Q, F 107
He . . . nightmare] F, Q con:; a nellthu night more Q uncorr.; anellthu night More Q2

98 naughty wicked. Italian Taylor (1609), also cited by Greg.

98 swim Perhaps suggested by Lear's move- 104 white wheat grain almost ripe for harvest-
ments and the wet weather. ing. Compare John 4.35: ioke on the regions: for
99 little fire . . . heart As the Fool sees they are white already vnto haruest' (NS).
Gloucester advancing through the field, the com- 105 creature Collective for 'creatures'.
parison is dramatically apt. Accordingly, some 106 Swithold Most editors see 'Swithold' as
editions, e.g. NS, move the SD for Gloucester's a contraction of 'St Withold', mentioned in The
entrance to 99 after 'swim in'. Troublesome Raigne of Iohn King of England (1591):
99 wild uncultivated, not bearing crops (NS). 'Sweete S. Withold of thy lenitie, defend vs from
101 walking fire i.e. someone carrying a torch. extremitie' (1184). The saint, of whom only this is
Here the Fool begins his lapse into silence. known, was apparently a protector from harms in
Upstaged initially by Edgar as Poor Tom in both general. Oxford emends to 'Swithune', following
Q and F, the Fool later - in Q - tries to regain Tate. Swithune, or Swithun (also spelled Swithin),
his position, but not in F, as the texts diverge sig- was a popular English saint famous for healing and
nificantly (Kerrigan, p. 226; see Textual Analysis, associated with rain {Textual Companion, p. 518,
p. 270 below). arguing for common a/it and //minim misreadings
102 Flibbertigibbet A dancing devil in in Q of 'Swithune' - and presumably e/d misread-
Harsnett. ing as well), Q'S 'swithald' and F'S 'Snnthohf rein-
102 curfew 9 p.m. force each other, however, and the precedent in The
103 first cock midnight. Troublesome Raigne is persuasive, since (as Textual
103 web . . . pin cataract of the eve. Compare Companion recognises) Tate may have been only
OED Web sb 7. simplifying.
103 squints i.e. causes to squint. See collation. Q 106 footed thrice The saint walks over the
corr. 'squemes' may be a miscorrection of Q uncorr. downs three times (a magical number).
'-queues' for 'squenies' or 'squenes' (Duthie, 106 wold upland plain, or downs; Q/F 'old' sug-
p. 193); compare 4.5.132. Greg, Variants, pp. 165— gests the dialectal pronunciation.
7, believes F 'squints' is a sophistication, but other 107 nightmare . . . ninefold The nightmare
evidence suggests authorial revision (Textual Com- was 'a female spirit or monster supposed to beset
panion, p. 536). Muir, who prints 'squinies', cites people and animals by night, settling upon them
Armin's use of 'squiny' as well as 'squened' in when they are asleep and producing a feeling of
his Nest of Ninnies (1608) and 'squeaning' in The suffocation by its weight' {OED Nightmare sb 1).
l'9i] TLN 1902-20 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.126

Bid her alight

And her troth plight,
And aroint thee, witch, aroint thee! no
KENT How fares your grace?
LEAR What's he?
KENT Who's there? What is't you seek?
GLOUCESTER What are you there? Your names?
EDGAR Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the 115
tadpole, the wall-newt, and the water; that in the fury of his
heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cowdung for salads,
swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog, drinks the green mantle
of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to tithing,
and stocked, punished, and imprisoned; who hath had three 120
suits to his back, six shirts to his body,
Horse to ride, and weapon to wear;
But mice and rats and such small deer
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.
Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin; peace, thou fiend! 125
GLOUCESTER What, hath your grace no better company?

108 alight] a-light F; O light Q, Q2 IOO troth plight] Q; troth-plight F n o aroint] F; arint Q (both times) no witch]
F, Q corr.; with Q uncorr., Q2 116 tadpole] tode pold Q uncorr.; tod pole Q corr.; Tod-pole F 116 wall-newt] F, Q corr.;
wall-wort Q uncorr, Q2 120 stocked, punished,] F; stock-punisht Q *i20 had] Q; not in F 122 Horse . . . wear;] F;
part of preceding prose Q 124 Have] F; Hath Q 125 Smulkin] F,- snulbug Q

Note the derivation from Anglo-Saxon 'mare' = 116 water i.e. water-newt.
incubus, which has nothing to do with 'mare' = 1 1 6 - 1 7 m the fury . . . rages i.e. when the mad
she-horse (Kittredge). But Q corr. 'nine fold' (F fit is upon him.
nine-fold) may = 'nine fole' (i.e. 'foal') (Tyrwhitt, 118 ditch-dog dead dogs thrown into ditches
cited by Furness). Excrescent -d is common in (Delius, cited by Furness).
Shakespeare, as in 'vilde' for 'vile' (129). Oxford 1 1 8 - 1 9 green mantle . . . pool scum from a
prints 'foal'. Capell thought the 'nine-fold' referred stagnant pond. Compare MV 1.1.89.
to the attendant train of imps or familiars. Nine, as 119-20 whipped . . . imprisoned Vagabonds
a multiple of three, is another magic number. NS under a statute of 1572 could be punished in these
and others cite a similar charm to cure the night- ways until driven back to wherever they belonged
mare from Scot's Discoverie ofWitchcraft (1584) and or whoever would take them in.
elsewhere. 119 tithing A rural district originally containing
108 Bid her alight i.e. get down off the ten households.
sleeper's chest. 120 stocked i.e. placed in the stocks.
109 troth plight i.e. promise to do no more 120-1 three . . . body Compare 2.2.14 n. on a
harm. servingman's allowance.
n o aroint thee Command to the demon (or 123-4 mice . . . year Compare the popular
witch who invoked her) to be gone, as in Mac. romance, Bevis of Hampton: 'Ratons and myce and
1.3.6. soche smale dere / That was hys mete that seven
1 1 1 - 1 3 How . . . seek? Kent addresses Lear yere' (Capell, cited by Kittredge).
first, then Gloucester. Sisson, p. 237, believes the 123 deer game in general,
first query is properly Gloucester's; but since Lear, 125 Smulkin A minor devil (in mouse's form
now subdued, has just undergone a vigorous strug- in Harsnett, p. 140).
gle, the question by Kent is appropriate. 126 What . . . company This speech and
116 wall-newt wall-lizard. Gloucester's next two are directed to Lear.
34-I27 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1921-39 U92]

EDGAR The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman. Modo he's called,

and Mahu.
GLOUCESTER Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so vile,
That it doth hate what gets it. 130
E D G A R Poor Tom's a-cold.
G L O U C E S T E R G o in with me. M y duty cannot suffer
T'obey in all your daughters' hard commands.
T h o u g h their injunction be to bar m y doors
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you, 135
Yet have I ventured to come seek you out
And bring you where both fire and food is ready.
L E A R First let me talk with this philosopher.
What is the cause of thunder?
K E N T Good m y lord, take his offer; go into th'house. 140
L E A R I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban.
What is your study?
E D G A R How to prevent the fiend, and to kill vermin.
L E A R L e t me ask you one word in private.

128 Mahu.] F,- ma hu - Q 129-30 Our . . . it.] Pope's lineatwn; as prose Q, F 129 blood . . . vile] F; blond is growne
so vild my Lord, Q 132-7 Go . . . ready.] F lineatwn; as prose Q 133 T | F; to Q 137 fire and food] v; food and fire
Q 140 Good . . . house.] Q; two lines divided offer, / Go F 140 Good my| F; MY good Q 140 th'| v; the Q 141-2
I'll . . . study?] F lineation; as prose Q 141 same] F,- most Q

127 Prince . . . gentleman Said apparently in 137 bring . . . ready Gloucester wants to escort
reply to Gloucester's question. Lear to a more suitable place than Edgar's hovel,
127-8 Modo . . . Mahu Modu, another name possibly a servants' chamber in his castle or a sturdy
for the devil in Harsnett, was 'a graund Com- outbuilding on his estate.
maunder, Mustermaister over the Captaines of the 138 philosopher student of natural philosophy,
seaven deadly sinnes', and Maho was 'generall scientist. G. S. Gordon, Shahespearian Comedy,
Dictator of hell' (Harsnett, p. 46; compare ibid., 1944, pp. 126-8, says that formerly kings kept
p. 166). Edmond Blunden, Shakespeare's Signifi- philosophers just as they kept a fool and other court
cances (cited by Muir), says that Modo may have officers (Muir, XS). Lear takes Edgar as a member
reminded Shakespeare of a passage in Horace, Epis- of his court and questions him in the manner of
tles, 2.1.210-13, which describes the tragic poet and medieval instructional procedures (dialogue or cat-
concludes with references to Thebes and Athens echism). The cause of thunder was a typical ques-
(compare 'learned Theban' (141), and 'good Athe- tion. Compare 1.5.15 ff, where the Fool parodies
nian' (164 below)). Harsnett, moreover, quotes and the procedure.
translates from Horace's next epistle on 'Dreames 139 What . . . thunder A stock question,
and Magicall affrights'; both epistles are connected prompted undoubtedly by the storm.
by mention of terror and magic (Muir). The pas- 141 learned Theban Greek scholar. Compare
sage describing the tragic poet is one 'above all oth- 127-8 n.
ers' in Horace that Shakespeare could be expected 142 study (1) field of research, (2) object of main
to have known (NS). attention.
129 flesh and blood i.e. children. Gloucester's 143 prevent (1) anticipate, and thus (2) avoid,
comment may occasion Edgar's cry. escape.
130 gets begets. 143 fiend . . . vermin Compare 57—8 n. above.
132 suffer bear, endure. 144 in private Lear and Edgar here converse
133 in all in every respect. apart.
[I93\ TLN 1940-65 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.4.165

KENT Importune him once more to go, my lord. 145

His wits begin t'unsettle.
GLOUCESTER Canst thou blame him?
Storm still
His daughters seek his death. Ah, that good Kent,
He said it would be thus, poor banished man!
Thou sayst the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I am almost mad myself. I had a son, 150
Now outlawed from my blood; he sought my life
But lately, very late. I loved him, friend;
No father his son dearer. True to tell thee,
T h e grief hath crazed my wits. What a night's this!
I do beseech your grace -
LEAR O, cry you mercy, sir. - 155
Noble philosopher, your company.
E D G A R Tom's a-cold.
G L O U C E S T E R In, fellow, there, in t'hovel; keep thee warm.
L E A R Come, let's in all.
KENT This way, my lord.
LEAR With him;
I will keep still with my philosopher. 160
K E N T Good m y lord, soothe him; let h i m take the fellow.
G L O U C E S T E R Take him you on.
K E N T Sirrah, come on. Go along with us.
L E A R Come, good Athenian.
G L O U C E S T E R No words, no words. Hush. 165

145-6 Importune . . . t'unsettle] F lincalion; as prose Q 145 once more] F; not in Q 146 t'] F; to Q 146 SD] F; nut in
Q 147 Ah,] F,- () Q 149 sayst I savest q, v 151 he] F; a Q 152 friend;] (Friend) F; friend Q 153 True] F, Q,- truth
Q2 154-5 Th1-' • • • grace - ] v lincalion; divided wits, / What Q 155 grace - ] Capell (subst.); Grace. Q; grace. F 155-6
O . . . company] F lincalion; one line Q 155-6 mercy, sir. - / Noble] F; mercie noble Q *is8 in t'] in't Q; into th'
F 159-60 With . . . philosopher.I F lincalion; one line Q 159-60 him; / I will keep still] F; him I wil keep stil, Q 161
Good . . . fellow] As in Q; two lines divided him: / Let F

147 His . . . death Perhaps Gloucester inter- upon Gloucester again tries to separate them by
prets 2.4.205-302 to mean this. At 3.6.45, however, urging Edgar back into his hovel. Lear insists on
after returning from his castle to get help for the keeping with Edgar even as Kent intercedes and
king, he says he has heard of 'a plot of death upon also tries to lead him away. Lear, in fact, never
him'. enters the hovel (Perrett, p. 260), but at the end
151 outlawed . . . blood i.e. disowned and of the scene is led elsewhere, taking Edgar and the
disinherited. others with him (160-4).
152-3 I loved . . . dearer Gloucester's behaviour 155 cry you mercy I beg your pardon.
in 1.2 and 2.1 hardly bears out this statement, but 161 soothe humour; used by Harsnett (p. 185)
his self-delusion is characteristic. in this sense (Aiuir).
155-65 I . . . Hush Gloucester addresses Lear 164 Athenian i.e. philosopher; compare 127-
and tries to lead him away from the Bedlamite. But 8n.
Lear demurs and wishes to stay with Edgar, where-
3.4166 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 1966-86 [i94\

EDGAR Child Roland to the dark tower came.

His word was still 'Fie, fo, and fum;
I smell the blood of a British man.'
Exeunt

3.5 Enter CORNWALL and EDMOND

CORNWALL I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.

EDMOND How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives
way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.
CORNWALL I now perceive it was not altogether your brother's evil
disposition made him seek his death, but a provoking merit set 5
a-work by a reprovable badness in himself.
EDMOND How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be
just! This is the letter which he spoke of, which approves him
an intelligent party to the advantages of France. O heavens, that
this treason were not, or not I the detector! 10
CORNWALL Go with me to the duchess.
EDMOND If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty
business in hand.

166 tower came] F; towne come Q 168 SD] F; not in Q Act 3, Scene 5 3.5] Sccna Quinta. v; not in Q OSDEDMOND]
F,- Bastard. Q 1 his] F; the Q 8 just!] iust? Q, F 8 letter which] F; letter Q 9 heavens,] heauens Q; Heavens! F 10
this] F,- his Q 10 were not,] F,- were Q

166-8 Child . . . m a n 'Tom has the last 168 British Instead of'English', as in the tradi-
word. Silent Fool is usually seen separated inex- tional tag; possibly a concession to legendary his-
orably from his master, following forlornly behind' tory, or to the efforts of James I to unify the realm.
(Rosenberg, p. 228; compare Kerrigan, pp. 226-30).
Edgar combines fragments presumably from two
lost ballads: the first line alludes to the exploits Act 3 , S c e n e 5
of the epic hero, Roland, famous in the twelfth- 2 censured judged.
century Chanson de Roland. The second and third 2-3 nature . . . loyalty Edmond subordinates
lines derive from some version of Jack the Giant the 'natural' loyalty of a child to his father in favour
Killer. 'British Roland is entering the Giant's Cas- of loyalty to the duke (from whom he 'naturally'
tle, where his blood (kinship) is in danger of being expects advancement).
smelt (detected)' (NS). 3 something fears somewhat frightens.
166 Child Title of candidate for knighthood 4-6 I now . . . himself The syntax is unclear,
(Kittredge). but the sense seems to be: I see now that it was
166 dark tower Possibly refers to Gloucester's not only your brother's innate wickedness, but
castle, which is proving quite 'dark'. Gloucester's deserving, which could incite his son's
167 word password. reprehensible wickedness to kill him.
167-8 Fie . . . m a n The Giant's speech is 'given, 5 merit desert (in bad sense) (Schmidt).
by an intentional incongruity, to the heroic Child 7-8 How . . . just The irony here doubles back
Rowland' (Muir); the tower may have suggested the on itself.
story of the beanstalk (Hunter). It is all very omi- 8 approves him proves him to be.
nous, the apparent nonsense notwithstanding; the 9 an intelligent party a spy, giving informa-
foreboding is borne out in 3.7. In dramatic func- tion, intelligence.
tion, Edgar's speech parallels the Fool's prophecy 12 this paper Gloucester's letter (8).
at the end of 3.2.
 TLN
[içs] 1987-2008 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.6.9

CORNWALL True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.

Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our 15
apprehension.
EDMOND [Aside] If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his
suspicion more fully. - I will persever in my course of loyalty,
though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.
CORNWALL I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dearer 20
father in my love.
Exeunt
3.6 Enter KENT [disguised] and GLOUCESTER

GLOUCESTER Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I

will piece out the comfort with what addition I can. I will not be
long from you.
KENT All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience;
the gods reward your kindness! 5
Exit [Gloucester']
Enter LEAR, EDGAR [disguised as a madman], and FOOL

EDGAR Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an angler in the

lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.
FOOL Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman
or a yeoman.
17 SD] Theobald; not in Q, F *20 dearer| Q; deere F 21 SD] F; Exit. Q Act 3, Scene 6 3.6] Scena Sexta. F; not in
Q o SD] F,- Enter Gloster and Lear, Kent, Toole, and Tom. Q 4 to his] F; to Q 5 reward] F; deserue Q 5 SD.I] Capell;
Exit F (after ,;),• not in Q 5 si).2 Enter . . . FOOI.] F; not in Q (/;/// see 0 SD) 6 Frateretto] F; Fretereto Q 7 Pray, innocent,
and] Johnson; pray Innocent, and v; pray innocent Q

16 apprehension arrest. to hell for many crimes against his family and
17 comforting i.e. in legal sense of'supporting, the Empire. Nero's angling, however, comes from
helping' (Aluir). Chaucer's Monk's Tale (F. E. Budd, 'Shakespeare,
18 persever The form used by Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Harsnett', RES 11 (1935), 421-9).
with the aecent on the second syllable (OED). Angling in the 'lake of darkness', moreover, may
19 blood i.e. filial feeling. allude not only to the Stygian lake, which Harsnett
mentions in the same context, but also to the mur-
Act 3 , S c e n e 6 der of Agrippina, whose womb Nero 'slitte, to
2 piece out augment, supplement. biholde / Wher he conceyved was' (Monk's Tale,
4 have 'wits' influences the plural form. 485-6). Compare Hamlet's allusion to this crime.
4 impatience 'lack of self-control; passion' Ham. 3.2.390-6. The vision of hell is continued in
(NS). Lear's speech (13-14), where he imagines tortures
5 gods . . . kindness But what Gloucester for Gonerill and Regan.
gets in 3.7 is cruelly different (Rosenberg, p. 231). 7 Pray . . . fiend Perhaps addressed to the Fool,
Compare 5.3.230. who briefly revives and tries vainly to recapture
6 Frateretto Another of the dancing devils in Lear's attention.
Harsnett (p. 49). 8 m a d m a n A possible pun, 'mad' 'made'
6-7 Nero . . . darkness After introducing (Schmidt, cited by Muir). Kokeritz, pp. 126-7, IO 4>
Frateretto and other 'devils of the round, or notes similar puns elsewhere, e.g. 71V 3.4.52-7 and
Morice', Harsnett associates them with 'the Fldler' TNK 3.5.72-7 (compare Cercignani, pp. 236-7). A
(p. 49), clearly the Emperor Nero, who fiddled 'made man' is one whose success in life is assured
while Rome burned and is imagined condemned (OED Made ppl a 7).
3-6.10 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2 0 0 9 - 2 7 [796]

L E A R A king, a king! 10
F O O L No, h e ' s a yeoman that h a s a gentleman to his son; for he's a
mad yeoman that sees his s o n a gentleman before him.
L E A R T o have a thousand with red b u r n i n g spits
Come hizzing in upon 'em!
E D G A R Bless thy five wits. 15
K E N T O pity! Sir, where is the patience now
T h a t you so oft have boasted to retain?
E D G A R [Aside] M y tears begin to take his part so much
T h e y m a r m y counterfeiting.
L E A R T h e little d o g s a n d all, 20
Tray, B l a n c h , and Sweetheart - see, they bark at me.
E D G A R T o m will throw his head at them. - Avaunt, you curs!
B e thy mouth or black or white,
Tooth that poisons if it bite,
Mastiff, g r e y h o u n d , m o n g r e l g r i m , 25
H o u n d or spaniel, brach or him,
Bobtail tyke or trundle-tail,

11-12 FOOL No . . . him.] F; not in Q 13-14 To . . . 'cm!] F linealion; as prose Q (continuing 10) 18 SD] Rowe; not in
Q, F 19 They] F; Theile Q 22 Tom . . . curs] ^s in Q; divided you / Currcs F 23-8 He . . . wail;) F lineution (except
22-3); three lines ending . . . bite, / . . . him, / . . . waile, Q *25-6 mongrel grim, / Hound) Rowe (subst.); Mongrill,
Grim, / Hound F; mungril, grim-hoùd Q *26 him,] Q,- Hym: v; lym; Haunter (see Commentary) *2-j Bobtail tyke]
Bobtaile tike Q; Or Bobtaile tight F *2-j trundle-tail] Q2; trùdletaile Q,- Troudle taile F

1 1 - 1 2 FOOL . . . before h i m See Textual Anal- tion, 'lym' (= lymmer, a species of blood-
ysis, pp. 283-4 below. Davenport, p. 21, compares hound), generally accepted, is unnecessary. Fur-
Joseph Hall's satire on the doting Lolio, a yeoman, thermore, Blayney's lengthy analysis (in the
in Virgidemtae (1598), Bk iv, sat. ii: 'Old driuel- unpublished second volume of The Texts of
ing Lotto drudges all he can, / To make his eldest 'King Lear'') shows that the philological evi-
sonne a Gentleman . . .' Lolio's son, like Lear's dence brought to bear in support of Han-
two elder daughters, is ungrateful. mer's emendation breaks down. 'Lvam' means
13 a thousand i.e. devils, or demons. Compare ieash'; hence, 'lyam-hound' or 'lime-hound' =
Lear's hundred knights. ieash-hound'. According to Hanmer, iyam' or
14 hizzing F'S spelling seems a deliberate 'lym' also means 'leash-hound', which is about as
attempt at onomatopoeia, i.e. the whizzing sound plausible, Blayney says, as the analogous claim that
of the red-hot weapons (Kittredge). 'fox' means 'fox-hound' or that 'cart' means 'cart-
14 upon 'em On F'S omission of the mock trial horse'. OED errs in citing, out of context, iyam' as
that follows in Q, see Textual Analysis, p. 270 below. meaning any kind of dog; in context, the quotation
15 Bless . . . wits See 3.4.55 n. from i486 may mean something quite different, but
20-1 The little . . . me Lear imagines that even the entry itself may be wrong.
his lapdogs, possibly bitches as their names suggest, 27 Bobtail tyke A small dog with its tail cut
have turned against him. short, or 'bobbed', Q 'tike' is obviously right; F
22 throw his head Unexplained, but the 'tight' makes no sense and may be a misreading
expression (repeated at 29) may mean to shake and miscorrection of'tike' > 'tite' > 'tight' (Duthie,
one's head wildly or to face menacingly. 'Head' p. 179).
could mean hair, or the antlers of a deer (Edgar 27 trundle-tail A dog with a long, curly tail, F'S
mentions his 'horn' (32)). See also 29 n. 'Troudle' is apparently the result of a turned let-
23 or . . . or either . . . or. ter, since 'trondle' is a variant spelling of 'trundle'
26 brach bitch. Compare 1.4.98. (Q2). Compare Duthie, p. 180.
26 h i m i.e. male dog. Hanmer's emenda-
[197] TLN 2028-42 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.6.39

Tom will make him weep a n d wail;

For with throwing thus m y head,
D o g s leap the hatch, a n d all are fled. 30
Do, de, de, de. Cessez! Come, march to wakes a n d fairs a n d
market towns. Poor T o m , thy h o r n is dry.
L E A R T h e n let them anatomise R e g a n ; see what breeds about her
heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these h a r d -
hearts? [To Edgar] You, sir, I entertain for one o f m y hundred, 35
only I do not like the fashion o f your garments. You will s a y
they are Persian; but let them be changed.
K E N T Now, good m y lord, lie here and rest a while.
L E A R Make n o noise, make n o noise. D r a w the curtains: so, so.

28 him] K; them Q 29-30 For . . . fled.] F /mention; as prose Q *2Ç head,] Q; head; F *30 leap] Q; leapt F 31-2 Do
. . . dry] As prose q; two lines divided Fayres / And F 31 Do, de, de, de] F; loudla doodla Q *3i Cessez/] This edn; sese:
F; Sessey / Johnson; not in Q 33-7 Then . . . changed.] F; jive verse lines ending . . . her [turned over] / . . . hardnes,
/ . . . hundred, / . . . say, / . . . chang'd. Q *34 makes] Q; make F 34-5 these hard-hearts] F; this hardnes, Q; these
hard hearts Rowe 35 sn| Capell; not in Q, F 35 entertain] F; entertaine you Q 36 garments. You will] F; garments
youle Q 37 Persian] F; Persian attire Q 38 and rest] F; not in Q 39-40 Make . . . morning.] As prose F; two verse lines
divided so, / Weele Q 39 so, so. | so, so, v; so, so, so, Q

29 throwing . . . head Edgar either throws his thrust his dagger into a cushion the Fool held over
horn ('head'), or, putting the horn on his head, his stomach, mortally wounding him. The action
pretends to attack or scare away the dog (Muir). In thus accounted for the Fool's disappearance from
Edmond Kean's staging and Macready's, he threw the play after 3.6.
a straw head-dress at imaginary dogs (Bratton, 33-4 what . . . heart i.e. what grows around her
p. 229). heart (to harden it).
30 hatch Lower half of a divided door. 34-5 hard-hearts See collation and Textual
31 Do . . . de Compare 3.4.55. Edgar's teeth Companion, p. 536: 'the compound was current as
chatter again. a verb and adjective (OED), and on the analogy of
31 wakes 'local annual festival of an English hard-head(s) could easily have been understood as
parish observed . . . as an occasion for making a substantive'. Hard hearts were well known the-
holiday, entertainment of friends, and often for vil- ological phenomena, caused by a fall from grace
lage sports, dancing, and other amusements' (OED (Hunter); but Lear seeks an anatomical explana-
Wake sb1 4b). Beggars and rogues did well at tion.
such gatherings; compare WT 4.3.102: Autolycus 35 entertain engage.
'haunts wakes, fairs, and bear-baitings'. 35 my hundred i.e. hundred knights.
32 thy horn is dry Formula for begging drink, 37 Persian i.e. gorgeous; but compare 'Theban',
carried in the ox horn beggars wore about their 'Athenian' (3.4.141, 164), and next note. Blunden
necks. Perhaps it also means, as Steevens thought, believed the allusion is to Horace, Odes, 1.38: 'Per-
that Edgar has exhausted his repertoire of Tom sicos odi, puer, apparatus' (T dislike Persian pomp')
o'Bedlam; in fact, this is his last speech in the scene. (NS). A Persian embassy visited England early in
33-4 Then . . . heart An acceptable non James I's reign (Muir).
sequitur, given the context of mad speeches, though 37 changed Compare Dan. 6.8: 'Seale the writ-
Duthie, p. 8, argues that as it continues the mock ing, that it not be changed, according to the lawe of
trial in Q, the words retained in F are rendered the Aledes and Persians, which altereth not' (Sha-
pointless after the trial is cut. heen). The immutability of Medean and Persian
33 anatomise dissect. In the theatre, Lear usu- laws had become proverbial in Shakespeare's day.
ally acts out the dissection, plunging a dagger 39 Draw . . . so, so Lear, exhausted, imagines
into the imaginary body, holding up the heart, he is in a luxurious, canopied bed speaking to his
etc. (Rosenberg, p. 236). In the Royal Shakespeare servant. Perhaps Edgar or Kent and the Fool mime
Company production in 1982, directed by Adrian the action; hence, 'so, so' (Rosenberg, p. 237).
Xoble (who retained the mock trial), Lear here
3.6.40 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2042-56 [i98]

We'll go to supper i'th'morning. [He sleeps]

FOOL And I'll go to bed at noon.
Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER Come hither, friend. Where is the king my master?
KENT Here, sir, but trouble him not; his wits are gone.
GLOUCESTER Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms.
I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him.
There is a litter ready. Lay him in't
And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet
Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master;
If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life
With thine and all that offer to defend him
Stand in assured loss. Take up, take up,
And follow me, that will to some provision
Give thee quick conduct. Come, come away.
Exeunt

40 i'th'morning.] F; it'h morning, so, so, so, Q 40 SD] Oxford; not in Q, F 41 FOOL And . . . noon.] F; not in Q *4i
SD] AS in Capell; after 37 F; after 40 Q 42 Come . . . master?] As in Q; two lines divided Friend: / Where F 46-53
There . . . away.] F lineation; six lines ending . . . frend / . . . master [turned under] / . . . with thine / . . . losse, /
. . . prouision / . . . conduct. Q 46 in't] F, Q; in it Q2 47 toward] F; towards Q 51 Take up, take up,] F,- Take vp to
keepe Q uncorr, Q2; Take vp the King Q eon: 52 me,] F, Q con:; me Q uncorr. 53 conduct. | F omits four lines here 53
come away] F omits thirteen and a half lines here 53 SD] F; Q continues scene

40 We'll . . . morning This 'inversion- p. 71). Other meanings are possible, including the
utterance' (NS) is a characteristic of the Fool (see Fool's intention to abandon his master, since he
41 n.), who has been tutoring Lear to face harsh can no longer help him (Kerrigan, pp. 228-9). I n
realities, not curtain them off. Whatever other sig- any case, the F addition - if it is one and not a Q
nificance they have, the words may refer, literally, oversight - provides the Fool with an appropriate
to the lack of food (which Gloucester was supposed exit line from the play. See Textual Analysis, p. 284
to provide), and imply 'We'll eat later.' below.
41 I'll . . . noon The Fool's last line, not in Q, is 41 SD Enter GI.OLCKSTKR See collation. Most
an 'inversion-statement' (NS, p. xxxii), an appro- editors follow Q and delay Gloucester's entrance.
priate response to Lear's speech. Its underlying It is unlikely that, given his sense of urgency,
significance has been much discussed. It may be Gloucester would stand quietly by for several lines;
proverbial for 'I'll play the fool' (Tilley B197), with moreover, he apparently does not see or hear Lear,
a quibble on 'bed' = grave (the Fool, exhausted after whom he enquires (Taylor, 'Censorship',
fa}' events and feeling himself supplanted by Poor p. 117, n. 48).
Tom, feels his heart breaking). Or Lear's apparent 45 upon against.
withdrawal from the actual world to the world of 46 litter Evidently, a wheeled vehicle pulled by
hallucination, indicated by the preceding line, cul- horses; note 'drive' (47).
minates here in the Fool's acquiescence in defeat, 52-3 provision . . . conduct i.e. Gloucester will
his 'acceptance of unreality - a purposive pretence quickly lead Kent to where he will find supplies and
that things are other than they are' (Hilda Hulme, other necessaries for the trip.
Explorations in Shakespeare's Language, 1962,
I>99] TLN 2058-73 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.7.13

3.7 Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, G O N E R I L L , EDMOND, and Servants

CORNWALL [To Gonerilf] Post speedily to my lord your husband;
show him this letter. The army of France is landed. - Seek out
the traitor Gloucester.
[Exeunt some Servants]
REGAN Hang him instantly.
GONERILL Pluck out his eyes. 5
CORNWALL Leave him to my displeasure. Edmond, keep you our
sister company. The revenges we are bound to take upon your
traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the
duke, where you are going, to a most festinate preparation:
we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift and intel- 10
ligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my lord of
Gloucester.
[Gonerill and Edmond start to leave]
Enter OSWALD

How now, where's the king?

Act 3, Scene 7 3.7 ] Seena Septuna. v; not in Q o SDJ F; Enter Cornwall, and Regan, and Gonorill, and Bastard. Q 1
SD] Furness; not in Q, F 1-3 Post . . . Gloucester.! As prose F; two lines divided letter [turned over] / The Q 3 traitor] F,-
vilaine Q 3 SD Capell (subst.); not in Q, F 6-12 Leave . . . Gloucester.] As prose F; six lines of verse ending . . . company.
[turned under] I'. . . father, /. . . going \titrned under] I'. . . like, /. . . betwixt vs, / . . . Gloster, Q 7-11 revenges] F;
reuenge Q *8 Advise] Q; Advice F 9 festinate] F2; festuant Q, Q2,- festiuate F 10 posts] F; post Q 10 intelligent] F,-
intelligence Q 12 SD.I] This edn; not m Q, F 12 SD.2] F; Enter Steward. Q (after ij)

Act 3 , S c e n e 7 later in 4.2. Blinding as punishment - not for trea-

0 SD Edmond may be dressed in different attire son, but for adultery - is ironically appropriate for
now, grandly, like the earl he intended to be, though Gloucester. Compare the homily 'Agaynst Whore-
he will aim still higher. Gonerill and Regan may dome, and Adultery' in Certain Sermons or Homilies
also have changed dress to appear more queenly, (1547): 'Emong the Locrensians the adulterers had
accentuating at the same time a growing compet- bothe theyr eyes thrust oute' (ed. Ronald B. Bond,
itiveness between them as much for the new earl 1987, p. 183). See also J. L. Halio, 'Gloucester's
as for sole sovereignty in the kingdom (Rosenberg, blinding', 6 ^ 4 3 (1992), 2 2 1 - 3 .
p. 240). 7 sister i.e. sister-in-law; see 2.2.127 n -
1 Post speedily Ride quickly. 7 bound (1) prepared, ready, (2) obliged,
2 this letter i.e. the letter Gloucester mentioned destined (?).
to Edmond, who retrieved it and used it to inform 9 festinate preparation hasty preparation (for
against him: see 3.3.10; 3.5.8. war). See collation. A minim misreading results in
5 Pluck out his eyes Editors generally pass Q 'festuant' (for 'festinant'? See Stone, p. 182, and
over this line in silence, despite the strange punish- compare Duthie, p. 401, and Fextual Companion,
ment Gonerill demands, which Cornwall later exe- p. 519). Either Compositor B similarly misread
cutes. Psychoanalytically oriented critics, however, copy, or more likely F 'festiuate' is the result of
see blinding, particularly the tearing out of eyes, as a turned letter.
a symbol of castration (N. Holland, Psychoanalysis 10 bound to 'on our way to' (Kittredge).
ana1 Shakespeare, 1966, pp. 217-18). In the Middle 10 posts messengers.
Ages blinding as well as castration was a penalty 1 0 - 1 1 intelligent bearing information.
for rape (Bridget Lyons, 'The subplot as simplifi- 12 Gloucester Edmond: compare 3.5.14. But
cation in King Lear\ Some Facets, p. 28). Compare Oswald still refers to Edmond's father by that title
5.3.162-3. That Gonerill is an emasculating female (14 below).
is evident from her treatment of Albany in 1.4 and
3-7-14 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2074-93 [200]

OSWALD M y lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence.

Some five or six and thirty of his knights, 15
Hot questrists after him, met him at gate,
Who, with some other o f the lord's dependants,
Are gone with him toward Dover, where they boast
To have well-armed friends.
C O R N W A L L Get horses for your mistress. 20
[Exit Oswald]
GONERILL Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
C O R N W A L L E d m o n d , farewell.
[Exeunt Gonerill and Edmond]
[To Servants] G o seek the traitor Gloucester.
Pinion him like a thief; bring him before us.
[Exeunt other Servants]
T h o u g h well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice, yet our power 25
Shall do a curtsy to our wrath, which men
M a y blame but not control.
Enter GLOUCESTER and Servants
Who's there - the traitor?
REGAN Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.
CORNWALL B i n d fast his corky arms.
G L O U C E S T E R What means your graces? Good m y friends, con-
sider 30

14 hence.] hence, Q; hence F 15-19 Some . . . friends.] F lineation; as prose Q 16 questrists] K; questrits Q *I7 lord's]
Pope; Lords Q; Lords, F 18 toward] F,- towards Q 20 SD] Staunton; not in Q; I- 22 SD.I] Staunton (subst.); Exit Can.
and Bast. Q (after 21); Exit F (after 21) 22 SD.2 To Servants] Oxford; not in Q, F 23 SD] Capell; not in Q, F 24 well] F;
not in Q 26—7 Shall . . . control.] F lineation; divided blame / But Q 26 curtsy] curt'sie 1-7 curtesie Q *27 control] 07
comptroll F 27 SD] F; Enter Gloster brought in by two or three, Q (after traytor?) 30-1 What . . . friends.] Q lineation;
three lines ending . . . Graces? / . . . Ghests: / . . . Friends. F

15 Some . . . knights Apparently, Lear's retinue scious of the travesty of justice he is about to com-
has not yet entirely dissolved, though the play is mit in the ensuing 'trial'.
generally vague about their number, whereabouts, 24 pass upon i.e. pass judgement upon.
and final disposition. According to Oswald, some 25-6 our power . . . wrath i.e. our authority will
three dozen join with Gloucester's men (17) to bend to our great anger. As his next clause shows,
form a suitable entourage for Lear's trip to Dover, Cornwall is also conscious that his illegal proce-
whence they seem to disappear or merge with the dure will excite disapproval; but, hubristically, he
forces supporting the king. believes he can handle the consequences.
16 questrists Probably a Shakespearean coin- 26 curtsy i.e. 'do a courtesy to, yield', not the
age = 'questers'; but compare Latin equestns modern word meaning a feminine salutation made
= 'equestrian'. Taylor suggests 'questants', as in bv bending the knees and lowering the body.
AWW 2.1.16 ('Addenda' to Division, p. 488), 29 Bind During the next few lines, the servants
though Oxford follows F. tie Gloucester to a chair, with apparent reluctance,
23 thief Robbery was then a more heinous crime since Cornwall repeats the command (32).
and punishment more severe than today. 29 corky 'sapless, dry, and withered' (Muir,
24-5 Though . . . justice Cornwall is fully con- citing Harsnett (p. 23), 'an old corkie woman').
[20l] TLN 2093-2121 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.7.50

You are my guests. Do me no foul play, friends.

CORNWALL Bind him, I say.
REGAN Hard, hard! O filthy traitor!
G L O U C E S T E R Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.
CORNWALL To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find -
[Regan plucks Gloucester's beard]
G L O U C E S T E R By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done, 35
To pluck me by the beard.
REGAN So white, and such a traitor?
GLOUCESTER Naughty lady,
These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin
Will quicken and accuse thee. I am your host.
With robbers' hands my hospitable favours 40
You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?
C O R N W A L L Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
R E G A N B e simple-answered, for we know the truth.
C O R N W A L L And what confederacy have you with the traitors
L a t e footed in the kingdom?
REGAN T o whose hands 45
You have sent the lunatic king. Speak.
G L O U C E S T E R I have a letter guessingly set down,
Which came from one that's of a neutral heart,
And not from one opposed.
CORNWALL Cunning.
REGAN And false.
CORNWALL Where hast thou sent the king?
GLOUCESTER To Dover. 50

33 lady] Q; Lady, F 33 I'm none.] F; I am true. Q 34 To . . . find - ] As in Q; two lines divided him, / Villaine, F *34
find - ] Q; finde. F 34 so] Johnson (snbst.); not in Q, F 35-6 By . . . beard.] F lineation; as prose Q 37-8 Naughty . . .
chin] F; one line (turned under) Q 42 Come . . . France?] As in Q; two lines divided Sir. / What F 43 simple-answered]
Ha inner (subst.); simple answerer Q; simple answer'd F 44—5 And . . . kingdom?] Rome's lineation; as prose Q, F 45—6
To . . . Speak.] F lineation; one line Q 46 You have sent] F, Q; haue you sent Q2 46 king. Speak.] F; King speak? Q

32 filthy foul, contemptible. 41 ruffle treat roughly, disorder violently.

36 To . . . beard This was a gesture of extreme 43 simple-answered direct, straightforward in
insult and provocation: compare 75—6 below and reply.
Ham. 2.2.573. 45 Late footed Lately landed.
37 Naughty Wicked. The word conveyed a 45-6 To . . . Speak Q2 inverts 'You have' to
stronger sense of evil in Shakespeare's time. Com- 'haue you', making Regan's speech a separate ques-
pare 2.4.126. tion - a plausible emendation, but not a necessary
39 quicken come alive. one, however consistent with Regan's independent
40 hospitable favours welcoming features, i.e. character (Duthie, p. 402; compare Sisson, p. 237).
those of a host; compare 1H4 3.2.136: 'And stain 47 guessingly set down 'written without cer-
my favours in a bloody mask'. tain knowledge' (Muir).
3-7-5 1 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2122-37 [202]

REGAN Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril -

CORNWALL Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that.
G L O U C E S T E R I am tied to th'stake, and I must stand the course.
R E G A N Wherefore to Dover?
G L O U C E S T E R Because I would not see thy cruel nails 55
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up
And quenched the stellèd fires. 60
Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time,
Thou shouldst have said, 'Good porter, turn the key:
All cruels else subscribe.' But I shall see

51 Wherefore . . . peril - ] As in Q; two lines divided Douer? / Was't F *ji peril - ] Q; perill. F 52 answer] F; first
answere Q 53 I . . . course.] As in Q; two lines divided Stake, / And F 53 to th'] to'th' F; tot'h Q 54 Dover?] F; Douer
sir? Q 57 anointed] F, Q con:: aurynted Q uncorr., Q2 57 stick] F,- rash Q 58 as his hare] F,- of his lou'd Q uncon:, Q2;
on his lowd Q con: 59 hell-black night] Pope; Hell-blacke-night F; hell blacke night Q 59 buoyed] v; layd Q uncorr.,
Q2,' bod Q con: 60—1 And . . . rain.] F lineation; divided heart, / Hee Q 60 stellèd] F, Q con:; steeled Q uncorr., Q2 61
holp] F,- holpt Q 61 rain] F; rage Q 62 howled] F; heard Q 62 stern] F; dearne Q 64 subscribe! F; subscrib'd Q

51 at peril at risk (of death). place in position), or (2) starry (from Latin stel/a =
53 I . . . course Gloucester uses the image of star; compare OED); but either way, shining stars
a bear or bull tied to a post and baited by dogs, a are meant.
common, cruel entertainment, referred to also in 61 holp . . . rain i.e. by his tears.
77V 3.1.118-20, Mac. 5.7.1-2. 61 holp Obsolete form of 'helped'.
53 course attack (one of a succession) by dogs. 62 stern On the preference for Q 'dearne' by
57 anointed At a coronation, the sovereign was many editors, compare Q 'rashe', F 'sticke' (57 above
anointed w ith oil in the manner of biblical kings. and n.). The present instance may be a simpler (or
Compare 1 Sam. 26.9 (Shaheen). more complicated) one, since either Q or F may
57 stick See collation. Although 'rash' (= slash involve only a typographical error. The compart-
violently) is a more vivid and accurate term for ment for the ligature of iong-s' + 't' was very
the action of a boar's tusks (Hunter), the F reading near that for the 'd' in an English type case. Far
is perfectly acceptable, F'S 'sticke' for Q'S 'rash', from substituting one word for another, the com-
like 'sterne' for 'deame' (62 below), is a sophis- positor may just have substituted one piece of type
tication, though not by the F scribe or composi- for another, though we cannot judge whether it
tor (Greg, Editorial Problem, pp. 99-100). Duthie was the Q or the v compositor who was at fault -
agrees: 'sticke' is 'an editorial replacement of a dif- if indeed a typo was actually involved (McLeod,
ficult word by an easier one', but he does not iden- p. 160). Sisson believes that, as with 'stick' for
tify the editor (pp. 17, 194). Muir believes the sub- 'rash', revision occurred in rehearsal or for pur-
stitution might be an actor's, though Shakespeare poses of euphony; in a sense, he says, 'there is
could have made it 'to avoid the thrice repeated nothing to choose' (p. 238; 'dearne' = dire, dread:
"sh" '; he adopts Q anyway. compare Per. 3 Chorus 15).
58-60 The sea . . . fires In such a storm as 63-4 Good . . . subscribe A famous crux,
the bareheaded king endured in total darkness, the partly because of the ambiguity in 'cruels' (= cruel
sea itself would have swelled (in rage), reaching creatures or cruel deeds); Q 'subscrib'd' versus F
and extinguishing the very stars. Compare Temp. 'subscribe'; and the uncertainty about where the
1.2.4-5: 'the sea, mounting to th'welkin's cheek, / direct address ends. But the main sense seems clear.
Dashes the fire out' (NS). Gloucester says that on such a night Regan would
59 buoyed resin (like a buoy on a swell). have pitied wild animals howling outside her gates
60 stellèd (1) fixed (from OED Stell v 2 = to fix, more than she did her father. Assuming F is correct
[20j] TLN 2138-55 The Tragedy of King Lear 3.7.79

T h e winged vengeance overtake such children. 65

CORNWALL See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.
Upon these eyes of thine I'll set m y foot.
G L O U C E S T E R He that will think to live till he be old,
Give me some help! - O cruel! O you gods!
[Cornwall puts out one of Gloucester's eyes]
R E G A N One side will mock another: th'other, too. 70
C O R N W A L L I f you see vengeance -
SERVANT Hold your hand, my lord.
I have served you ever since I was a child,
But better service have I never done you
T h a n now to bid you hold.
REGAN How now, you dog!
SERVANT I f you did wear a beard upon your chin 75
I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
C O R N W A L L M y villain!
S E R V A N T Nay then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
[They draw and fight]
R E G A N [To another Servant] Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up
thus!
Kills him

67 these] F,- those Q 69 you| F; ye Q 69 SD] Rome (suhst.); not in Q, F 70 th'other] F; tother Q *7i vengeance - ]
Q; vengeance. F 72 you] F,- not in Q 73-4 But . . . hold.] F lineation; one line (turned over) Q 75-6 If . . . mean?] F
Imeation; as prose Q 77 villain!] Villaine? F; villaine. Q; villein! Oxford 78 Nay] F; Why Q *78 SD] draw and fight Q
(after jj); not in F 79 SD.I ] Oxford; not in Q, F 79 thus!] thus? F; thus. Q 79 SD.2] F; Shee takes a sword and runs at
him behind. Q

and direct address ends with 'suhscribe', then: ways this action has been staged, see Rosenberg,
'Good porter, turn the key (and open the gates p. 242-3, and Bratton, p. 157.
to the wolves); all cruel creatures but you yield 75-6 I f . . . quarrel Compare 36 and n. above.
(to feelings of sorrow and compassion at a time 76 What do you mean? NS follows Kit-
like this).' For 'cruels' = cruel creatures, compare tredge, who assigns these words to Regan (after
'résolûtes', Ham. 1.1.98; 'vulgars', WT 2.1.94; f° r a conjecture by Craig) - unnecessarily, since her
'subscribe' = yield, submit, compare Tro. 4.5.105 sense of outrage (and Cornwall's) is registered
(Duthie, pp. 152-4, who ends direct address, like strongly enough elsewhere. Some stage business,
Kittredge, Muir, and Bevington, with 'key'; com- unrecorded in Q or F, may prompt the servant's
pare also Furness, Sisson). Stone, p. 197, proposes query to Cornwall. Thus, after 'quarrel' Hunter
the emendation 'ile' (= I'll) for 'else', ending the inserts SD Cornwall draws his sword, but most edi-
direct address with 'key'. He glosses: 'All cruels [= tors follow Q and have both men draw at 78.
cruel people or creatures] I'll (= I am, if necessary, 77 villain (1) serf, (2) evil person.
willing to] subscribe [= countenance], but [sc. come 78 take . . . anger take the risk (of good or bad
what may] I shall see / The winged vengeance success: Schmidt) that anger brings.
overtake such children.' 78 SD They . . . fight During the swordplay, the
65 winged vengeance 'The vengeance of the servant fatally wounds Cornwall before Regan is
gods, sweeping down upon them like a bird of prey' able to kill him (by running him through from
(Kittredge). Compare 2.4.154-5. behind, as Q directs). Compare 94-7.
69 SD Cornwall . . . eyes For the various
3-7-8o The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2156-76 [204]

SERVANT Oh, I am slain. M y lord, you have one eye left 80

T o see some mischief on him. Oh! [He dies]
CORNWALL Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
[He puts out Gloucester's other eye]
Where is thy lustre now?
GLOUCESTER All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Ed-
mond?
Edmond, enkindle all the sparks of nature 85
To quit this horrid act.
REGAN Out, treacherous villain!
Thou calPst on him that hates thee. It was he
That made the overture of thy treasons to us,
Who is too good to pity thee.
GLOUCESTER O, my follies! Then Edgar was abused. 90
K i n d gods, forgive me that, and prosper him.
R E G A N G o thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover.
Exit [a Servant] with Gloucester
How is't, m y lord? How look you?
C O R N W A L L I have received a hurt. Follow me, lady.
[To Servants] T u r n out that eyeless villain. Throw this
slave Q5
U p o n the dunghill. R e g a n , I bleed apace.
Untimely comes this hurt. Give m e your arm.
Exeunt
80-1 Oh . . . Oh!] F lineation; as prose Q 80 you have] F; yet haue you Q *8i SD] Q2; not in Q, F 82 SD] Rome (suhst.);
not in Q, F 84 All . . . Edmond?] .4s in Q; two lines divided comfortlesse? / Where's F *84 comfortless.] comfortles,
Q; comfortlesse? F 85-6 Edmond . . . act.] F lineation; one line Q 85 enkindle] F; vnbridle Q 86-9 Out . . . thee.] F
lineation; as prose Q 86 treacherous] F; not in Q 92—3 Go . . . you?] Cape/l's lineation; three lines ending . . . smell / . . .
Douer. / . . . you? F,- as prose Q 93 SD] Duthie; Exit with Glouster. v; not in Q 95-7 Turn . . . arm.] F lineation; lines
end . . . vpon / . . . vntimely / . . . arme. Q 95 SD] Oxford; not in Q, F 96 dunghill| F,- dungell Q 97 SD] F; Exit. Q;
F omits nine lines here

81 mischief injury, harm. 93 How . . . you Regan's concern for Corn-

82 prevent i.e. I shall prevent. wall varies with interpretation. In some produc-
85 nature i.e. filial loyalty and devotion. tions, intent on Edmond, she ignores Cornwall's
86 quit repay, requite; as in Ham. 5.2.68. request for her arm (97) and walks coolly off. But
88 overture disclosure. The article before the the language here suggests more than a modicum
noun is elided and the second syllable stressed: of compassion for her husband,
'th'ovèrture'. 93 How look you i.e. how are you feeling?
90 abused wronged. 96 dunghill manure pile. The rebellious servant
91 that i.e. his misjudgement and mistreatment receives ignominious treatment, denied the rites of
of Edgar. burial and cast unburied upon offal.
92 smell Emphatic (Kittredge). 97 Untimely i.e. because of the invasion and
93 SD Exit . . . Gloucester Although Cornwall other problems.
repeats Regan's command two lines later, F is prob- 97 SD Exeunt In modern stage productions, the
ably right in placing the SD here; Cornwall's repe- interval usually occurs here. On F'S omission of
tition is for emphasis. nine lines, see p. 271.
[205] TLN 2178—92 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.1.12

4.1 Enter EDGAR [disguised as a madman]

EDGAR Yet better thus, and known to be condemned,
Than still condemned and flattered. To be worst,
The low'st and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in espérance, lives not in fear.
The lamentable change is from the best;
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace:
The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst
Owes nothing to thy blasts.
Enter GLOUCESTER and an OLD MAN

But who comes here?

My father, parti-eyed? World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age.

Act 4, Scene i 4.1] Actus Quartus. Sccna Prima, F; not in Q *2flattered.To be worst,] Pope; flatter'd, to be worst: F;
flattered to be worst, Q 3 low'st] Oxford; lowest Q F 4 espérance] F; experience Q 6-9 Welcome . . . blasts.] F; not
in Q 9 SD] Y; Enter Glost. led by an old man. Q {after age, 12) 9-10 But . . . world!] Pope's lineation; F begins new line
with But and divides led? / World; one line Q 9 But who comes] F; Who's Q *io parti-eyed] Oxford (Davenport conj.);
parti, eyd Q corr.; poorlie, leed Q uncorr.; poorely led? Q2, F

Act 4, S c e n e 1 swept away and therefore can embrace you freely.

0 SD Enter EDGAR Edgar has become detached 10 parti-eyed 'with his eyes "motley" or parti-
from Lear and his entourage, left behind deliber- coloured, i.e. bleeding' (Riverside). A major crux:
ately, perhaps, since he is ignored at the end of 3.6. see collation, Q corr. may reflect copy. Either (1)
In the fictional narrative, it is the next morning the reviser or collator, working from an exemplar
(compare 32 below). of Q with sheet H in the uncorrected state, corrected
1-4 Yet . . . fear Edgar says it is better to know only the spelling he saw there; or (2) Q2, deriving
one's condemnation openly than to suffer it under from Q uncorr., directly influenced F, especially if
the false guise of flattery. When one is at the worst, the playhouse manuscript was illegible (see Greg,
i.e. the very bottom of Fortune's wheel, one lives Variants, p. 169; Textual Analysis, p. 73 above). F
always in hope, not fear (of falling further). See col- makes sufficient, if feeble, sense; but many recent
lation. Pope's punctuation helps clarify the sense editions, e.g. Hunter, Riverside, adopt emended Q
and is not inconsistent with F (compare Sisson, pp. corr., whose comma might have been meant for
238-9). 'To be worst' is most likely in apposition a hyphen, as sometimes happens in texts of foul-
to 'The low'st'. Perrett, however, defends F punc- papers provenance, or a hyphen might have been
tuation (see Muir). misunderstood as a comma by the Q compositor
1 thus i.e. a Bedlam beggar. or corrector (Davenport, p. 21; compare Textual
3 dejected cast down. Companion, pp. 519, 536.) Compare LLL 5.2.766:
4 espérance hope. 'parti-coated presence of loose love'; MV 1.3.88:
6 The worst . . . laughter Compare Dent, 'parti-coloured lambs'. From the description of the
p. 228, T216: 'When things are at the worst they Paphlagonian king and his son in Sidney's Arcadia,
will mend.' Muir conjectures 'poorly 'rayd' but follows F.
6 laughter happiness, good times. 10—12 world . . . age i.e. life would not will-
6-9 Welcome . . . blasts See Textual Analysis, ingly submit to old age (and death) except that the
p. 284 below. world's changes and vicissitudes make us welcome
9 Owes . . . blasts i.e. has nothing left to be release from them.
4-1.12 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2193-2216 [206]

OLD MAN O my good lord,

I have been your tenant and your father's tenant
These fourscore -
GLOUCESTER Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone. 15
Thy comforts can do me no good at all;
Thee they may hurt.
OLD MAN You cannot see your way.
GLOUCESTER I have no way, and therefore want no eyes:
I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen,
Our means secure us, and our mere defects 20
Prove our commodities. Oh, dear son Edgar,
T h e food of thy abused father's wrath:
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'd say I had eyes again.
OLD MAN How now? Who's there?
EDGAR [Aside] O gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'? 25
I am worse than e'er I was.
OLD MAN 'Tis poor mad Tom.
EDGAR [Aside] And worse I may be yet. The worst is not
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'
OLD MAN Fellow, where goest?
GLOUCESTER Is it a beggarman?
OLD MAN Madman and beggar too. 30
G L O U C E S T E R H e has some reason, else he could not beg.
I'th'last night's storm I such a fellow saw,

12-14 O . . . fourscore -] Johnson's lineation; two lines divided Tenant, / And F; as prose Q *i4 These fourscore - ] this
forescore - Q; these fourscore years. F 17 You] F; Alack sir, you Q 21 Oh] F; ah Q 25, 27, 37, 52, 54 SD] Johnson;
not in Q, F 28 So] F; AS Q 30 Madman] F; Mad man Q 31 He] F,- A Q 32 I'th'| F; In the Q

14 fourscore - See collation. Compositor B, assets, or advantages, give us a false sense of secu-
who set these lines in F, appears guilty of sophis- rity (overconfidence), whereas our very lacks, or
tication, completing a sentence meant to be inter- deficiencies, turn out to be advantages. Compare
rupted, as Q indicates. Mac. 3.5.32-3: 'And you all know, security / Is
17 Thee . . . hurt Gloucester is concerned for mortals' chiefest enemy.' Dent, p. 244, compares
the Old Man's safety if he should be found aiding W152: 'He that is secure is not safe', and R2
the proclaimed traitor. Compare 4.4.39-40. 2.1.265-6.
18-19 I have . . . saw 'Gloucester here summa- 22 abused deceived.
rizes his whole career' (Heilman, p. 44). When he 23 to see . . . touch i.e. to recognise by touch-
had eyes, he could not see what he most needed ing you. Compare 4.5.143. Kittredge paraphrases
to see and understand, and thus he erred; blind more freely: 'To hold thee in my embrace'.
and knowing what he knows, his actions are now 25-6 Who is't . . . was Compare 1-9 above.
without purpose. Colie (pp. 131-2) compares Isa. Edgar's shock is an object lesson to him against
59.10, Matt. 13.13, and Job 5.14. false optimism, as his next speech explicitly states.
20-1 Our means . . . commodities i.e. our 31 reason rational capacity, sanity.
[207] TLN 2 2 1 7 - 3 6 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.1.48

Which made me think a man a worm. My son

Came then into my mind, and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard more
since. 35
As flies to wanton boys are we to th'gods;
They kill us for their sport.
EDGAR [Aside] How should this be?
Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,
Ang'ring itself and others. - Bless thee, master.
G L O U C E S T E R Is that the naked fellow?
OLD MAN Ay, my lord. 40
G L O U C E S T E R Get thee away. If for my sake
Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain
I'th'way toward Dover, do it for ancient love,
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Which I'll entreat to lead me. 45
OLD MAN Alack, sir, he is mad.
G L O U C E S T E R 'Tis the time's plague when madmen lead the
blind.
Do as I bid thee; or rather do thy pleasure.

35 Was . . . since.] As in Q; two lines divided him. / I F 36 flies to] F; flies are toth' Q 37 kill] F; bitt Q 37-9 How
. . . master.] F lineation; as prose Q 38 fool] F,- the foole Q 39 others. - Bless] Theobald; others, blesse Q; others. Blesse
F 41 Get thee away] F; Then prethee get thee gon Q 42 hence] F; here Q 43 I'th'] F; Ith' Q 43 toward] F, Q,- to
Q2 45 Which] F; Who Q 47 'Tis . . . blind.] As in Q; two lines divided plague, / When F

33 a man a worm Compare Job 25.6: 'How 38-9 Bad . . . others Considering his father's
much more man, a worme, euen the sonne of man, real misery, Edgar deplores the role he must
which is but a worme?' (cited by Kittredge and resume, one that upsets both himself and others,
others. Shaheen compares Ps. 22.6: 'But I am a NS regards this speech as Shakespeare's apology
worme, & not a man'). to the audience, as well as Edgar's to himself, and
36-7 As flies . . . sport Often mistakenly compares the Fool and Lear,
believed to sum up the basic philosophy or 'mes- 41 Get thee away See collation. Although Q
sage' of the play, these lines represent, rather, offers a metrically regular line, F repeats the earlier
Gloucester's despairing viewpoint at this stage in command (15) and is no more abrupt here than
his development. Edgar will try to bring him out of there or at 49 (but compare Duthie, p. 180, who
it, as he explains later (4.5.33-4). Here, Glouces- adopts Q). Werstine, p. 283, notes Compositor B's
ter, deeply cynical, believes human beings are of no omission of line beginnings elsewhere and thinks
greater significance or importance to the gods than he may have done so here, though conflation pro-
insects are to sportive children, who enjoy killing duces a metrically difficult line. Oxford considers
them for fun. Shakespeare may have recalled Plan- the tetrameter acceptable and follows F (Textual
gus's lament in Sidney's Arcadia, Bk 11, ch. 12, Companion, p. 536).
where human beings are called 'Balles to the star- 47 'Tis . . . blind It is the curse of our time
res, and thralles to Fortunes raigne'. Montaigne when rulers (madmen) lead ignorant (blind) sub-
uses a similar expression: 'The gods perdie doe jects. Gloucester makes a kind of parable out of his
reckon and racket us men as their tennis-balles' situation (Kittredge).
(Florio's translation, cited by Muir). Compare the 48 Do . . . pleasure Gloucester alters his com-
flykilling episode in Tit. 3.2.52 ff. mand, realising it is no longer appropriate for him
37 How . . . be Edgar is astonished by his to order anyone to do anything,
father's physical or mental condition, or both.
4-1.49 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2237-54 [208]

Above the rest, be gone.

O L D M A N I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have, 50
Come on't what will. Exit
GLOUCESTER Sirrah, naked fellow.
EDGAR Poor Tom's a-cold. [Aside] I cannot daub it further.
GLOUCESTER Come hither, fellow.
EDGAR [Aside] And yet I must. - Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
GLOUCESTER Know'st thou the way to Dover? 55
E D G A R Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor Tom hath
been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, goodman's son,
from the foul fiend.
G L O U C E S T E R Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens'
plagues
Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched 60
Makes thee the happier. Heavens deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly.
50 'parel] Rowe; Parrell Q, F 50 have,] Q2; haue Q, F 51 SD] F; not in Q *§2 a-cold] Rome; a cold Q, F 52 daub] F;
dance Q 52 further] F; farther Q 54 And . . . bleed.] Capell's lineation; two lines divided must: / Blesse F 54 And yet
I must.] F; not in Q 54 must. - Bless] Capell (suhst.); must: / Blesse F 56-8 Both . . . fiend.] As prose F; three verse
lines ending . . . footpath, / . . . wits, / . . . fiend, Q *57 scared] scard Q; scarr'd F 57 thee, goodman's son,] thee good
mans sonne, F; the good man Q 58 fiend.] F omits five lines here 58 heavens'] heauens Q; heau'ns F 60-1 Have . . .
still] F lineation; divided thee [turned under] / The Q 63 slaves] F,- stands Q 64 does] F, Q; doth Q2

49 Above the rest Above all. 56 Both . . . footpath 'Each kind of path has
50 'parel apparel. Compare Marlowe, Jew of its appropriate obstacle - the stile for the footpath,
Malta 4.4: 'Here's goodly 'parrell, is here not?' the gate for the horse-way (bridle path)' (Hunter).
(Muir; see Abbott 460, for dropped préfixes 60 humbled . . . strokes i.e. made you suscep-
elsewhere.) tible to every misfortune.
51 Come . . . will i.e. regardless of what hap- 61 Heavens i.e. may the heavens.
pens as a result. 62-6 Let . . . enough Compare 3.4.33-6, where
52 daub it further dissemble any longer. Com- Lear expresses similar sentiments.
pare Old French dauber, Latin dealbare, 'to whiten 62 superfluous i.e. having too much, more
over, whitewash, plaster'; Rj 3.5.29: 'So smooth he than enough (hypallage, or transferred epithet: see
daub'd his vice with show of virtue'; and 2.2.57 Joseph, p. 56).
above. 62 lust-dieted i.e. fed by pleasures.
54 And . . . must See Textual Analysis, pp. 63 slaves your ordinance 'makes your law sub-
284-5 below. servient to his own desires' (Riverside). All men
55 Dover Gloucester is thinking of Dover as a are commanded to help one another; the rich are
suitable place for suicide (68-73), not as the place especially enjoined to help the poor, not to ignore
where he has sent Lear to meet the other 'traitors'. or exploit them. Compare the parable of Dives the
Perhaps Dover was suggested by the interrogation rich man and Lazarus the beggar in Luke 16.19-31
in 3.7: 'in his half-crazed state he has an irra- and the marginal gloss at verse 19 in the Geneva
tional urge to end his life there' (Muir, p. xlix). Bible: 'By this storie is declared what punishment
But not only the exigencies of the plot require the thei shal haue, which hue deliciously & neglect the
meeting of all principal characters at Dover; the poore.' Compare also Mark 10.21.
source in Sidney's Arcadia also included the desire 64 feel, feel (1) sympathise, (2) experience.
of the Paphlagonian king to jump off a high rock 64 quickly A triple pun: (1) very soon, (2) while
(Moberly, cited by Furness; compare Bullough, he is still alive, and (3) sharply, piercingly (NS).
P- 403)-
[20Q] TLN 2255-79 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.2.12

So distribution should undo excess, 65

And each m a n have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
EDGAR Ay, master.
G L O U C E S T E R There is a cliff whose high and bending head
L o o k s fearfully in the confined deep.
B r i n g me but to the very brim of it, 70
And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me. F r o m that place
I shall no leading need.
EDGAR Give me thy a r m .
Poor T o m shall lead thee.
Exeunt

4.2 Enter GONERILL [with] EDMOND, and OSWALD, [severally]

G O N E R I L L Welcome, m y lord. I marvel our mild husband

Not met us on the way. - Now, where's your master?
O S W A L D M a d a m , within; but never m a n so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed;
He smiled at it. I told him you were coming; 5
His answer was, ' T h e worse'. O f Gloucester's treachery,
And of the loyal service of his son
When I informed him, then he called me sot,
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him; 10
What like, offensive.
GONERILL [To Edmond] T h e n shall you g o no further.

65 undo] F; vnder Q 69 fearfully] F; firmely Q 72-3 With . . . need.] F lineation; divided me, / From Q 73-4 Give . . .
thee.] F lineation; one line Q 74 SD] F; not in Q Act 4, Scene 2 4.2] Scena Secunda. F; not in Q 0 SD] This edn; Enter
Gonerill, Bastard, and Steward. V; Enter Gonorill and Bastard Q (which places Steward's entrance after 2) 3-11 Madam . . .
offensive.] F lineation; as prose Q 10 most he should dislike] F,- hee should most desire Q 12 SD] Hanmer; not in Q; F

65 So . . . excess Thus (heaven's intervention to France on the other side of the Channel,
having punished the rich for insensitivity to the
poor), excesses will be eliminated by a redistribu-
tion of wealth. Act 4, Scene 2
65 distribution (1) administration (of justice), 1 Welcome, m y lord Gonerill welcomes
(2) sharing out (NS, citing Cor. 3.3.99). Edmond to her castle, although they arrive
68-9 a cliff . . . deep The cliff itself becomes together,
the image of someone who, bending over its edge 4 the army i.e. the French forces. Compare
and looking down at the straits far below, is stricken 3.7.2.
with fear at the sight. 8 sot fool.
69 in into. 9 turned . . . out A clothing metaphor: Oswald
69 confined deep 'pent in straits' (Capell, cited has inverted the treachery and treason,
by Furness). Dover is the closest point in Britain 11 What like i.e. what he should like.
4.2.13 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2280-94 [210]

It is the cowish terror of his spirit

That dares not undertake. He'll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmond, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear
(If you dare venture in your own behalf)
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
Conceive, and fare thee well.
EDMOND Yours in the ranks of death.
GONERILL My most dear Gloucester.
Exit [Edmond]
13 terror] F; curre Q uncorr., Q2,- terrer Q corn 16 Edmond] F; Edgar Q 18 names] F; armes Q 21 (If. . . behalf)] F;
If. . . behalfe Q 22 command] F, Q cor?:; coward Q uncorr., Q2 22 this; spare] F,- this spare Q uncorr, 0.2; this, spare Q
corn 25 fare thee] F,- far you Q,- farye Q2 26—8 My . . . due] F Hneation; one line Q, which omits, 27 26 dear] F; deere
Q uncorr.; deer Q corn 26 SD] AS in Rome; Exit. F {after death.); not in Q

13 cowish cowardly. ers F defensible: 'Goneril says that she must adopt
14 undertake take responsibility (for some the name of man and her husband the name of
enterprise). woman, and then goes on to refer to an exchange
1 4 - 1 5 He'll . . . answer He will not notice of symbols of husband and wife - she will give
injuries which would require him to respond man- Albany the distaff and (this is implied) take from
fully. him the sword' (p. 181).
1 5 - 1 6 Our . . . effects Our desires as we 18 distaff'cleft stick on which wool or flax was
travelled here together may be fulfilled. Gonerill formerly wound; (used as the type for woman's
hopes that Edmond will supplant Albany as her work) wifely duties' (Onions). Compare Cym.
husband; ever the opportunist, Edmond has appar- S-3-34-
ently encouraged that hope. Neither one knows 20 like likely.
yet of Cornwall's death: see 39 ff. below, especially 22 mistress's command (1) liege's, or (2)
52-5- lover's order, presumably to get rid of Albany.
16 effects realised facts, fulfilments. 22 Wear this Gonerill here gives Edmond a
16 brother brother-in-law. favour to wear, such as a chain or scarf; but she
17 musters levies of troops. may simply refer to a kiss.
17 conduct escort, guide, accompany (compare 23 Decline your head i.e. so that she can put
OED sv v 1); not 'to lead as a commander' the favour around his neck or kiss him.
(Schmidt). 24 Would . . . air This speech and the lines that
18 change exchange. follow contain several sexual innuendos (Heilman,
18 names titles (i.e. wife and husband). Com- p. 318, n. 15; Muir and Hunter agree). For 'stretch'
pare 1H4 3.4.64, Temp. 2.1.150 (Onions). Many and 'spirits' see Rubenstein.
modern editors adopt Q'S 'armes' = weapons, or 25 Conceive Compare 1.1.10-11.
possibly = insignia (Craig, cited by Duthie). F'S 26-9 Yours . . . body See collation. In Q not only
'names' may be a misreading, as Jackson believes is 27 missing, but so is Edmond's exit. GonerilPs
(p. 323). F E. Budd, 'Shakespeare, Chaucer, and entire speech is thus directed in Q to her lover, not
Harsnett', RES (1935), 427, notes a close paral- to herself as in F.
lel from Chaucer's Monk's Tale, where the Host 26 Yours . . . death Muir and others find a
recalls his wife's reproach: 'I wol have thy knyf, / sexual pun on 'death' = orgasm, and compare
And thou shalt have my distaf and go spinne' 4.5.189. In other respects, the speech is prophetic
(B.3096-7). Though he adopts Q, Duthie consid- (Rosenberg, p. 251).
[2i i] TLN 2295-2308 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.2.36

Oh, the difference of man and man.

To thee a woman's services are due;
My fool usurps my body.
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit] 30
Enter ALBANY

GONERILL I have been worth the whistle.

ALBANY O Gonerill,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face.
GONERILL Milk-livered man,
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning 35
Thine honour from thy suffering —
ALBANY See thyself, devil:

28 a] F, Q corr.; not in Q uncorr.. Q2 29 My . . . body.] F; My foote vsurps my body. Q uncorr.; A foole vsurps my bed.
Q corr.; My foote vsurps my head. Q2 *30 SD.I Exil] Exit Stew. Q; not in F 30 SD.2 Enter ALBANY] F; not in Q 31
whistle.] F, Q uncorr.; whistling. Q corr. 31-2 O . . . wind] F lineation; one line (turned under) Q 33 face.] F omits twenty
lines here 34 bear'st] F; bearest Q 35-6 Who . . . suffering - ] F lineation; divided honour, / From Q, which continues
with six lines not in F *35 eye discerning] Rowe; eye-discerning F; eye deseruing Q *3Ô suffering - ] Oxford; suffering,
Q; suffering. F 36-8 See . . . woman.] F lineation; as prose Q

28 a woman's services 'the service that a 32-3 You . . . face Albany compounds Goner-
woman naturally gives to a real man' (Hunter). ill's sarcasm and plays on 'worth the whistle'.
29 My . . . body Though Albany is Goner- For the marked change in his attitude, compare
ill's husband, she thinks him a 'fool' who does not 1.4.266 ff.
deserve possession of her body (which Edmond, 32 rude (1) harsh, rough (Schmidt), (2) uncivil
a real man, does). Thomas Clayton makes a good (compare TGV 5.4.60: 'Ruffian! Let go that rude
case for Q uncorr. 'My foote vsurps my body' as the uncivil touch').
original manuscript reading, miscorrected in Q corr. 33 face For F omissions here, see Textual Anal-
and further in Q2 ('Old light on the text of King ysis, p. 271 below.
Lear\ MP 78 (1981), 347-67). F can be defended, 33 Milk-livered White-livered, i.e. cowardly.
but compare Greg, who concludes that 'My foole Cowardice was believed to be caused by lack of
vsurps my bed' was what the copy for Q actually blood in the liver (Kittredge). Compare 2.2.15.
contained {Variants,, pp. 170 ff.). 34 That . . . blows Compare Matthew 5.39 and
30 SD.I F omits Q'S Exit Stew. The omission Luke 6.29 on turning the other cheek (Shaheen).
is more likely an error by Compositor B, who 35-6 eye . . . suffering i.e. you cannot see
needed to insert Enter Albany at this point and the difference between what can be honourably
may have mistaken the added SD for a substitution borne and what should be resented (Muir). Com-
(NS). Albany's entrance is missing in Q, but Enter pare Hamlet's dilemma, Ham. 3.1.55-9.
the Duke of Albany appears in Q2 after Gonerill's 36 See . . . devil In Q, Gonerill's speech con-
speech (31). See Textual Analysis, p. 82 above. tinues for six more lines and comes to a proper
31 worth the whistle i.e. worth finding, seek- conclusion (see Textual Analysis, p. 271 below).
ing out. See collation. The usual proverbial form In F, Albany abruptly and vehemently breaks into
may have led to miscorrection in Q corr. (Greg, the middle of her speech, holding up to her, per-
Variants, p. 172; Duthie, p. 406; and Muir). Com- haps, the mirror she carries by her side (see 2.2.32
pare Heywood's Proverbs: 'It is a poore dogge that n.). Shakespeare may be alluding to Renaissance
is not woorth the whystlyng' (Steevens, cited by iconography, in which the devil is sometimes por-
Furness), and Tilley W311. In NS, Duthie adopts trayed standing behind the figure of Lady Vanity,
Q corr. and proposes the quibble: (1) entice, allure his face rather than hers reflected in the mirror she
(OED v 7*fig.),(2) wait for (OED v 9). gazes into (Meagher, p. 254).
4.2.37 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2309-30 [212]

Proper deformity shows not in the fiend

So horrid as in woman.
GONERILL O vain fool!
Enter a MESSENGER

MESSENGER O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead,

Slain by his servant going to put out 40
T h e other eye o f Gloucester.
ALBANY Gloucester's eyes?
MESSENGER A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who, thereat enraged,
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead, 45
But not without that harmful stroke which since
Hath plucked him after.
ALBANY This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge. But O, poor Gloucester!
Lost he his other eye?
MESSENGER Both, both, my lord. 50
T h i s letter, m a d a m , craves a speedy answer:
' T i s from your sister.
GONERILL [Aside] One way I like this well;

*37 shows] shewes Q corn; seemes Q uncorr., F 38 fool!] F omits seven lines here 38 SD] F,- Enter a Gentleman Q 39 SH]
F,- Gent. Q (as throughout scene) 39-41 O . . . Gloucester] F tineation; as prose Q *4i eyes?] Q; eyes. F 42 thrilled] F;
thrald Q *44 thereat enraged] Q; threat-enrag'd F 47-50 This . . . eye?] F lineation; three lines ending . . . Iustisers, /
. . . venge. / . . . eye. Q *48 You justicers] Q corr.; your Iustices Q uncorr., 0.2; You Iustices F 50-1 Both . . . answer:]
F lineation; one line (turned over) Q 52 SD] Johnson; not in Q, F

37-8 Proper . . . woman The deformity of dev- from a misreading of, or in, the manuscript' (7>.v-
ils is appropriate to demons and therefore not so tua I Companion, p. 537).
horrid in them as in women (whose faces should 45 felled he felled. Compare Abbott 399 on
reflect more suitable feelings and attitudes). Muir ellipses. The Messenger implies a struggle among
compares King Leir 2582: 'Thou fiend in likenesse several of those present but does not mention
of a humane creature'. Regan's attack.
38 O vain fool Sain' = silly; but the epithet 47 plucked him after i.e. pulled him after his
may reflect back upon Gonerill ironically if she is servant (into death).
a representation of Lady Vanity (see 2.2.32 n., and 48 justicers (divine) judges. See collation, Q
Meagher, pp. 250-3). corr. is 'unquestionably correct' and is supported
42 bred brought up (OED Breed v 10b). by 'justicer' elsewhere in Q (Greg, Variants, p. 175;
42 thrilled pierced, suddenly moved. see Appendix, p. 299 below, xii, 36).
42 remorse compassion, pity. 48 nether earthly.
43 bending directing. 49 venge avenge.
44 To Against. 52 One . . . well In so far as Cornwall's death
44 thereat enraged See collation, Q is prefer- removes an obstacle to GonerilPs taking
able here. As Oxford observes, ' F I could as easily over the whole kingdom, she is pleased at the
result from Compositor B omitting a single type as news.
[213] TLN 2331-52 The Tragedy of King Lear 4 . 3 . 2

But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,

May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way 55
The news is not so tart. — I'll read, and answer. Exit
A L B A N Y Where was his son when they did take his eyes?
M E S S E N G E R Come with my lady hither.
ALBANY He is not here.
M E S S E N G E R No, my good lord; I met him back again.
A L B A N Y Knows he the wickedness? 60
M E S S E N G E R Ay, my good lord; 'twas he informed against him
And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
ALBANY Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed'st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes. - Come hither, friend. 65
Tell me what more thou know'st.
Exeunt

4.3 Enter with drum and colours, CORDELIA, GENTLEMEN, and Soldiers
CORDELIA Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now,
As mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud,

54 in] F; on Q 55-6 Upon . . . answer.] F lineation; divided tooke, / Ile Q *§6 tart. - ] Capell (subst.); tart. F; tooke,
Q *56 SD] Q; not in F 57 Where . . . eyes?] As in Q; two lines divided Sonne, / When F 63-4 Gloucester . . . king,] F
lineation; one line (turned over) Q 64 showed'st] shewedst Q; shew'dst F 65 thine] F; thy Q 65 eyes. - ] Capell; eyes,
Q; eyes. F 66 know'st] v; knowest Q 66 SD] F; Exit. Q; F omits a full scene here. See p. yy above Act 4, Scene 3 4.3]
Siena Tenia, F; not in Q o SD] F; Enter Cordelia, Doctor and others. Q *i why,] why Q, F 2 vexed] F; vent Q

53 my Gloucester GonerilPs possessiveness is she voices the humane concerns the Gentleman
patent. attributes to her in Q'S Scene 3, she is much more
54-5 May . . . life The dream that Gonerill's the active exponent of her father's rights. In Q,
imagination has constructed (of marrying Edmond) 'Monsieur La Far' was named the leader of the
may be demolished (if Regan takes her place); then French army after the King of France suddenly
life (with Albany) will remain hateful to her. had to return home; in F, Cordelia leads the French,
55-6 Another way . . . tart An apparent redun- and there is no mention of either her husband or
dancy, as she reverts to her attitude in 52. his proxy (Goldring, p. 149; compare Urkowitz,
59 back i.e. on his way back. P- 94)-
66 SD Exeunt F omits an entire scene following 0 SD GENTLEMAN See collation and compare
4.2, probably to shorten the play in performance. 4.6.0 SD. Taylor ('War', p. 30) suggests that the
See Doran, p. 70, Duthie, p. 8, and Textual Anal- scene in Q is intimate rather than military, more
ysis, p. 271 below. suitable for a doctor's presence than a military set-
ting, where Shakespeare has surgeons rather than
doctors appear - a nice distinction.
Act 4, Scene 3 1 he i.e. Lear, of whom they have been just
o SD Enter . . . CORDELIA Cordelia's reappear- speaking.
ance in the play in F differs significantly from her 2 vexed turbulent; compare Ham. 4.1.7: 'Mad
reappearance in Q (Warren, 'Diminution', p. 67). as the sea and wind when both contend'.
Here, she is at the head of an army, and although
4-3-3 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2353-67 [2>4]

Crowned with rank fumitor and furrow-weeds,

With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth.
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye.
[Exit an Officer]
What can man's wisdom
In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He that helps him take all my outward worth. 10
GENTLEMAN There is means, madam.
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks. That to provoke in him
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.
CORDELIA All blest secrets, 15
All you unpublished virtues of the earth,
*3 fumitor] Oxford; femiter Q; Fenitar F; fumiterr Theobald; fumitory Htinnier *4 burdocks) Hanmer; hor-docks Q;
Hardokes F, F2,- Hardocks F3-4; bur-docks Capell 6 century send] Centerv send F; centurie is sent g 8 SD] Malone
{following Capell); not in g, F 8 wisdom] F, g; wisedom do g2 9-10 In . . . worth.] Pope's linealion; divided him / Take
g, F 9 sense?] g2,- sence, g; Sense; F 10 helps] F; can helpe g 11 SH] F; Doct. g 15-16 All . . . earth] F Imeation;
one line g

3 fumitor fumitory, a weed (compare Old may faintly suggest the restoration of Lear's train
French fumeterre, medieval Latin fumus terrae, (Perrett, p. 201).
'smoke of the earth', so-called because it springs 7 high-grown field 'It is now, for symbolic pur-
from the earth in great quantity like smoke: see poses, high summer at Dover. The height of Lear's
OED). H$ 5.2.45 similarly lists 'rank femetary' escape into "natural" chaos is supported by a nat-
along with darnel and hemlock, F'S 'Fenitar' may ural riot of vegetation' (Hunter).
derive from a minim misreading; Q 'femiter' may 8 What . . . wisdom i.e. what can human
reflect Shakespeare's spelling (NS). knowledge accomplish.
3 furrow-weeds i.e. weeds growing in ploughed 10 worth wealth.
land. 12 Our . . . nature i.e. what naturally nourishes
4 burdocks 'coarse weedy plant . . . bearing and helps us. Shakespeare opposes a natural rem-
prickly flower-heads called burs, and large leaves edy - repose - to quack cures, such as scourging,
like those of the dock' (OED). See collation, Q'S charms, bleeding, scalp-shaving, etc., used by con-
'hor-docks' is probably the result of misreading temporary physicians (A. E. Kellogg, Shakespeare's
copy, an error compounded in F 'Hardokes' by the Delineation of Insanity, Imbecility, and Suicide, 1866,
collator and/or compositor (see Stone, pp. 56, 101, cited by Furness).
209; Textual Companion, p. 521). 13 provoke induce.
4 cuckoo-flowers Variously identified as ragged 14 simples operative effective medicinal herbs.
robin, ladies' smocks, and bedlam cowslip. Ladies' Compare 'simples' in Rom. 5.1.40.
smocks, or Cardimine pratensis, was used as long 15-16 All blest . . . earth Cordelia invokes
ago as the ancient Greeks and Romans and as the assistance of natural, or white, magic, depen-
recently as the last century for treating mental dis- dent here on herbs and plants for its effectiveness.
eases (Muir). Compare Giambattista della Porta, Maguie natu-
5 Darnel Any troublesome weed (Furness); ralis (Naples, 1589); English trans., London, 1658:
tares. Bk 8, ch. 1, 'Of Medicines which cause sleep',
5 idle i.e. useless. pp. 217-18.
6 sustaining life-supporting, in contrast to 'idle 16 unpublished . . . earth i.e. secret, powerful
weeds'. herbs.
6 century A hundred soldiers. The number
[21s] TLN 2368-88 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.4.5

Spring with my tears; be aidant and remediate

In the good man's distress. - Seek, seek for him,
Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.
Enter MESSENGER

MESSENGER News, madam. 20

The British powers are marching hither ward.
C O R D E L I A 'Tis known before. Our preparation stands
In expectation of them. - O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about:
Therefore great France 25
M y mourning and importuned tears hath pitied.
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right.
Soon may I hear and see him.
Exeunt
4.4 Enter REGAN and OSWALD

REGAN But are my brother's powers set forth?

OSWALD Ay, madam.
R E G A N Himself in person there?
O S W A L D Madam, with much ado.
Your sister is the better soldier. 5

*i8 good man's distress. - ] Capell (subst.); good mans distresse, Q; Goodmans desires: F 20-1 News . . . hitherward.]
F lineation; one line (turned under) Q 23 them. - ] Capell; them, Q,- them. F 24-5 It . . . France] Johnson's lineation;
one line Q, F 26 importuned] F; important Q 27 incite] F; in sight Q 28 right.] right, Q; Rite: F 29 SD] F; Exit. Q
Act 4, Scene 4 4.4] Scena Quarta. v; not in Q 3 there] F; not in Q 4-5 Madam . . . soldier.] F lineation; one line Q 5
sister is] F, Q; sister's Q2

17 Spring . . . tears Cordelia figuratively and 25 France i.e. the King of France.
literally waters the plants with her tears to encour- 26 importuned importunate, solicitous, Q'S
age growth. 'important' means the same, though it may be
17 aidant and remediate helpful and reme- a misreading of 'importund' (Duthie, p. 410) or
dial. Shakespeare may have coined 'remediate' to 'importune' (also meaning importunate: Muir).
avoid the jingle with 'aidant' that 'remédiant' would 27-8 No . . . right Cordelia here proclaims her
cause (Muir; compare Wright, cited by Furness). reasons for coming to England - not the seizure of
18 good man's distress See collation, F'S error political power for herself, but filial devotion and
cannot derive from Q; Compositor B misread the wish to restore her father's rights.
manuscript copy (see Textual Analysis, p. 74 above, 27 blown puffed up, inflated. Compare 1 Cor.
and compare Stone, pp. 101, 222). 13.4-5: 'Loue suffreth long: it is bountiful . . . it
19-20 Lest . . . it Cordelia is afraid that in his is not puffed vp: / It disdaineth not: it seketh not
madness Lear will kill himself. her owne things . . .' (Muir).
19 rage madness, frenzy.
20 wants the means lacks sanity, reason. Act 4, S c e n e 4
22 preparation forces ready to fight; as in Oth. 4 with much ado It has apparently required
I-3H- considerable effort from Gonerill to get Albany,
23-4 O . . . about Compare Luke 2.49: 'knewe uncertain where his duty lay, to take command of
ye not that I must go about my fathers business?' his army and march on.
44-6 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2389-411 [216]

REGAN Lord Edmond spake not with your lord at home?

OSWALD No, madam.
REGAN What might import my sister's letter to him?
OSWALD I know not, lady.
REGAN Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. 10
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live. Where he arrives he moves
All hearts against us. Edmond, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch
His 'nighted life, moreover to descry 15
The strength o'th'enemy.
OSWALD I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.
REGAN Our troops set forth tomorrow. Stay with us.
The ways are dangerous.
OSWALD I may not, madam.
My lady charged my duty in this business. 20
REGAN Why should she write to Edmond? Might not you
Transport her purposes by word? Belike -
Some things — I know not what. I'll love thee much:
Let me unseal the letter.
OSWALD Madam, I had rather -
R E G A N I know your lady does not love her husband. 25
I am sure of that; and at her late being here

6 lord] F; Lady Q 6 home?] F; home. Q 8 letter] F; letters Q 13 Edmond] F; and now Q 14-16 In . . . enemy.] F
lineatum; two lines divided life, / Moreouer Q 16 o'th'enemy.] F; at'h army. Q; of the Army. Q2 17 madamj F; not in
Q 17 letter] F; letters Q 18 troops set] F,- troope sets Q 19-20 I . . . business.] F lineution; as prose Q 2 1 - 2 Why . . .
Belike - ] As in Q; divided: Edmond? / Might F *22 Belike - ] Oxford; belike Q; Belike, F *23 Some things - ] Something -
Pope; Some things, F; Some thing, Q,- Something Q2 23 much:] Oxford; much, Q; much F 24 I had] F,- I'de Q

6-8 Lord . . . him Regan is curious about the correction was misunderstood and the line
Edmond's sudden departure and the reason Goner- remained unmetrical (Textual Companion, p. 537).
ill so swiftly sent a letter after him. 18-19 Stay . . . dangerous Regan's motive in
6 lord See collation. Copy for Q probably had cajoling Oswald is related to her suspicion con-
'L.', which the compositor mistook for an abbrevi- cerning the relationship between her sister and
ation of'Lady' (Duthie, p. 411; Stone, p. 38). Edmond. Compare 23-4 and n.
8 import signify. 20 charged . . . business i.e. lay particular
10 Faith In faith (a common oath). stress upon me to carry out her orders.
1 1 - 1 2 It . . . live Compare 3.7.4. Regan initially 2 2 - 3 Belike . . . what Regan is momentarily
counselled death, which was practical, but Goner- unsure how to proceed, as her suspicions mount
ill's sadism better suited Cornwall's temperament regarding Gonerill and Edmond,
and then excited Regan (King). 22 Belike Probably.
2
11 ignorance folly. 3~4 I'll • • • letter In the theatre these lines are
15 'nighted benighted; literally, because he is often accompanied by significant gestures, as Regan
blind, but Regan may also contemptuously imply attempts to seduce Oswald, caressing - even kiss-
the figurative sense. ing - him while reaching for the letter he carries
17 after
meant See collation.
to replace 'Madam'
rather than followwas possibly
'him', but on his person (Rosenberg, p. 261).
[217] TLN 2412-32 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.2

She gave strange oeilliads and most speaking looks

To noble E d m o n d . I know you are of her bosom.
OSWALD I, madam?
REGAN I speak in understanding. Y'are, I know't. 30
Therefore I do advise you take this note:
M y lord is dead; E d m o n d and I have talked;
And more convenient is he for my hand
T h a n for your lady's. You may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you give him this; 35
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.
If you d o chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. 40
OSWALD Would I could meet him, madam, I should show
What party I do follow.
REGAN Fare thee well.
Exeunt
4.5 Enter GLOUCESTER and EDGAR [dressed like a peasant]
GLOUCESTER When shall I come to th'top of that same hill?
EDGAR You do climb up it now. Look how we labour.

27 oeilliads] Eliads F; Iliads F2-4; aliads Q,- oeiliads Rowe 29 madam?] F,- Madam. Q 30 Y'are] F; for Q *34 lady's]
Rowe; Ladies Q, F 37-8 I . . . well.] F lineation; one line Q 38 fare you well] F; farewell Q *4i him] Q; not in F 41
should show] should shew F; would shew Q 42 party] F; Lady Q 42 SD] F; Exit. Q Act 4, Scene 5 4.5] Scena
Qtiinta. F; not in Q o SD] Theobald; Enter Gloucester, and Edgar, F; Enter Gloster and Edmund. Q 1 I] F; we Q 2 up it
now.] F; it vpnow, Q; it vp now, Q2 2 labour.] F; labour? Q

27 oeilliads amorous glances {OED, Onions); 35 give h i m this Precisely what Regan gives
compare Wiv. 1.3.61, and Cotgrave: Oeilliade, 'An Oswald for Edmond is not clear. It may be a ring
amorous looke, affectionate winke, wanton aspect, or other token rather than a note, since Edgar
lustfull iert [ = jerk], or passionate cast, of the eye; reads only one letter after rifling Oswald's pock-
a Sheepes eye'. OED and Muir cite Greene, Dispn- ets (4.5.250-8). Compare Furness, Muir, Hunter.
tatton between a He and a She Cony-Catcher (1592); 36 thus much i.e. what I have told you.
'amorous glaunces, smirking oeyliads'. Q'S 'aliad' 37 I pray . . . to her Compare Wiv. 3.3.118. The
involves a/e misreading. image is the summoning of a subordinate. The rep-
27 speaking looks Muir compares the phrase etition of 'her' propels the irony of this line into
in Florio's Montaigne, iii.211. sarcasm, which Regan hardly expects Oswald to
28 of her bosom (1) in her confidence, (2) sex- repeat (King),
ually intimate. Compare 5.1.11 n. and Rj 1.2.13,
Richard III to Lady Anne: 'So I might live one
hour in your sweet bosom' (NS; Partridge, p. 77). Act 4, S c e n e 5
30 understanding knowledge (Schmidt). o SD dressed like a peasant The Old Man in 4.1
31 take this note i.e. note this carefully. has apparently kept his word and given Edgar new
32 talked i.e. come to an understanding apparel. See 4.1.50 and 222 below.
(Kittredge). 1 that same hill Compare 4.1.68-70.
33 convenient suitable, fitting. 2 You . . . labour Edgar's deception throughout
34 You . . . more You may infer more from this scene may seem cruel, his explanation and
what I have said.
4-5-3 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2433-57 [2.8]

GLOUCESTER Methinks the ground is even.

EDGAR Horrible steep.
Hark, do you hear the sea?
GLOUCESTER No, truly.
EDGAR Why, then your other senses grow imperfect 5
By your eyes' anguish.
GLOUCESTER So may it be indeed.
Methinks thy voice is altered, and thou speak'st
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
EDGAR Y'are much deceived. In nothing am I changed
But in my garments.
GLOUCESTER Methinks y'are better spoken. 10
EDGAR Come on, sir, here's the place. Stand still. How fearful
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low.
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles. Half-way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade! 15
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice, and yon tall anchoring barque
Diminished to her cock; her cock, a buoy
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge, 20
That on th'unnumbered idle pebble chafes,
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,

3-4 Horrible . . . sea?] F lineation; one line Q 7 speak'st] F; speakest Q 8 In] F; With Q 11 Come . . . fearful] As in
Q; two lines divided Sir, / Heere's F 14 Show] Shew Q, F *i-] walk] Q; walk'd F *i8 yon] Q; yond F 21 th'] F; the
Q 21 pebble] F; peeble Q 21 chafes] F; chaffes Q 22 so] F; its so Q

defence at 3 3 - 4 notwithstanding. Especially cruel 13 choughs jackdaws, or possibly the Cornish

is the attempt to rob Gloucester of confidence in chough or red-legged crow (Onions, cited by
the senses he still retains. NS; pronounced 'chuffs'). Compare 'russet-pated
6 anguish extreme pain; this may include both choughs', MND 3.2.21.
physical and mental pain. Compare Florio's Mon- 14 gross large.
taigne, iv.70: 'Our senses are not onely altered, but 15 samphire St Peter's herb, or herbe de Saint
many times dulled, by the passions of the mind' Pierre, an aromatic plant growing along sea-cliffs,
(Muir). used in pickling and gathered by men suspended
7-8 Methinks . . . didst Gloucester's obser- by ropes,
vation is accurate. Edgar has dropped mad Tom's 18 yon See collation. Again at 114 and 145, F has
idiom and manner, and his tone of voice is accord- 'yond' for Q'S 'yon', a recurrent Folio mannerism
ingly different. He now speaks in blank verse. that apparently reflects its modernising tendency
1 1 - 2 4 How . . . headlong Muir again com- rather than a concern for accuracy (Hunter),
pares Florio's Montaigne, iv.67-8, on the effect of 19 cock A small ship's-boat, cockboat,
dizzying heights. The details of the description, 21 unnumbered innumerable,
which Addison admired and to which Dr John- 21 idle useless, barren,
son objected, are precisely what make the pas- 21 pebble Collective plural,
sage moving and persuasive, particularly to eyeless
Gloucester. See Furness.
[2ig\ TLN 2458-81 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.41

Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight

Topple down headlong.
GLOUCESTER Set me where you stand.
EDGAR Give me your hand. You are now within a foot 25
Of th'extreme verge. For all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.
GLOUCESTER Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse: in it, a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and gods
Prosper it with thee. Go thou further off. 30
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
E D G A R Now fare ye well, good sir.
GLOUCESTER With all my heart.
EDGAR [Aside] Why I do trifle thus with his despair
Is done to cure it.
GLOUCESTER [Kneels] O you mighty gods!
This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35
Shake patiently my great affliction off.
If I could bear it longer and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff and loathed part of nature should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him. 40
Now, fellow, fare thee well.
EDGAR Gone, sir; farewell.
[Gloucester throws himself forward and falls]

25-7 Give . . . upright.] As in Q; lines end . . . hand: / . . . Verge: / . . . vpright. F 30 further] F,- farther Q 32 ye]
F; you Q 33 SD] Capell; not in Q, F 33-4 Why . . . it.] F lineation; one line (turned over) Q 34 Is] F, Q; tis Q2 *34
SD] He kneeles. Q (after Gods,),- not in F 39 snuff] F; snurff Q 40 him] F; not in Q 41-8 Gone . . . sir?] F lineation; as
prose Q 41 SD] Capell; He fais. Q (after thee well); not in F

23 turn spin, become giddy. but 'patient'. Compare 38 n., and p. 21 above.
23 deficient failing, defective. 38 opposeless Unaware of his futility as well as
24 Topple i.e. topple me. inconsistency, Gloucester opposes ('quarrels with')
27 leap upright Having been pulled along, the gods by attempting suicide while at the same
wearily climbing the 'hill' (1-2), Gloucester is in a time asserting that their wills cannot be resisted
crouching position. Edgar warns that to straighten (opposed).
or jump up suddenly could result in loss of balance 39 snuff candle-end or smouldering wick,
and prove fatal. 39 loathed . . . nature the fag end of life, char-
28 another purse Compare 4.1.59, 72. acterised by senility and therefore disgusting.
29-30 Fairies . . . thee Gloucester alludes to the 40 Burn itself out i.e. end naturally.
superstition that fairies who guard hidden treasure 41 SD Gloucester . . . falls Gloucester doubtless
can make it multiply miraculously in the posses- waits till he hears Edgar say he is gone before he
sion of the discoverer (Kittredge). Compare WT throws himself forward. Q places the SD He fais after
3.3.123. Gloucester's speech, where there is ample space,
36 patiently Gloucester, of course, is anything rather than in the midst of Edgar's speech. Why F
4-542 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2482-501 [220]

[Aside] And yet I know not how conceit may rob

The treasury of life, when life itself
Yields to the theft. Had he been where he thought,
By this had thought been past. - Alive or dead? 45
Ho, you sir, friend! Hear you, sir? Speak!
[Aside] Thus might he pass indeed. Yet he revives. -
What are you, sir?
GLOUCESTER Away, and let me die.
EDGAR Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,
So many fathom down precipitating, 50
Thou'dst shivered like an egg. But thou dost breathe,
Hast heavy substance, bleed'st not, speak'st, art sound.
Ten masts at each make not the altitude
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell.
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55
G L O U C E S T E R But have I falPn or no?
EDGAR From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.
Look up a-height: the shrill-gorged lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard; do but look up.

42 SD] Capell; not in Q, F 42 may] F; my Q 45 had thought] F, Q; thought had Q2 45 past. - ] Theobald; past, Q;
past. F *4Ô Ho . . . Speak!] This etln; Hoa, you Sir: Friend, heare you Sir, speake: v; ho you sir, heare you sir, speak
Q 47 SD] Capell; not in Q, F 49 Hadst . . . air,] As in Q; two lines divided ought / But F 49 gossamer] gosmore Q;
Gozemore F; goss'mer Pope 50 So . . . precipitating,] Q; (So . . . precipitating) F 51 Thou'dst] F,- Thou hadst Q 52
speak'st] F; speakest Q 56 fall'n] falne F; fallen Q 56 no?] F; no 1 Q 57 summit] Somnet F,- sommons Q; summons
Q2 *58 a-height] Warburton; a hight Q; a height F 59 up.] F; vp? Q

lacks the SD is unclear, unless Compositor B simply 50 fathom Plural.

overlooked it. On staging-techniques, see Bratton, 53 at each i.e. end to end, one on top of the
pp. 175-7; Derek Peat, 'King Lear and the tension other. Stone conjectures that 'alenth' ( = 'alength')
of uncertainty', S.Sur. 33 (1980), 46-9; and p. 22 stood in the copy, and Oxford adopts'a-length'. But
above. none of the early quartos and Folios emend, so the
42-4 And y e t . . . theft Edgar takes a calculated expression was probably understood as it stands,
risk: the illusion ('conceit') of a death leap may have 55 Thy . . . miracle The theme of Edgar's min-
the same effect as the reality, especially when death istrations to his father; compare 72-7.
is willed. But see W. Schleiner's discussion of'cure 57 summit F 'Somnet', a variant but erroneous
by imagination' in Melancholy, Genius, and Utopia spelling of'summit' (OED), probably derives from
in the Renaissance, Wiesbaden, 1991, pp. 274-86. Shakespeare's hand: see Duthie, p. 412.
43 treasury treasure; as in 2H6 1.3.131. 57 bourn boundary; i.e. cliff bordering on the
45-6 Alive . . . Speak Edgar changes his tone of sea.
voice to suggest still another character as he moves 58 a-height on high; compare Rj 4.4.86: 'One
into the next phase of ministering to Gloucester, heaued a high, to be hurld downe belowe' (William
who has apparently fainted but may appear to be Shakespeare: The Complete Works (Original-Spelling
dead. Edition), ed. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor,
47 pass die. 1986).
49 gossamer Disyllabic; compare Q, F spellings 58 shrill-gorged shrilly voiced,
in collation.
[221] TLN 2502-25 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.80

GLOUCESTER Alack, I have no eyes. 60

Is wretchedness deprived that benefit
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.
EDGAR Give me your arm.
Up; so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand. 65
G L O U C E S T E R Too well, too well.
EDGAR T h i s is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o'th'cliff what thing was that
Which parted from you?
GLOUCESTER A poor unfortunate beggar.
EDGAR As I stood here below, methought his eyes
Were two full moons. He had a thousand noses, 70
H o r n s whelked and waved like the enraged sea.
It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
G L O U C E S T E R I d o remember now. Henceforth I'll bear 75
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough', and die. That thing you speak of,
I took it for a man. Often 'twould say
'The fiend, the fiend!' H e led me to that place.
E D G A R Bear free and patient thoughts.

*63 tyrant's] tyrants Q; Tyranrs F 65 is't?] F,- not in Q *66 strangeness.] strangenes Q; strangenesse: Q2,- strangenesse,
F *Ô7 o'th'cliff what] of the cliffe what Q; o'th'Cliffe. What F 68 beggar] F; bagger Q 69 methought] F; me thoughts
Q 70 He] F; a Q 71 whelked] Hanmer (subst.); welk't Q; welkt Q2; wealk'd F 71 enraged] F,- enridged Q 73 make
them] F; made their Q 78 'twould] F; would it Q,- would he Q2 79 fiend!] fiend, Q; Fiend, F 80 Bear] F,- Bare Q

63 beguile deceive, cheat. 73 clearest brightest, purest, most glorious

63 tyrant's rage Gloucester alludes to the tradi- (Schmidt; cited by Furness, Muir).
tional defence of suicide among the Romans, par- 73-4 who . . . impossibilities i.e. who acquire
ticularly the Stoics under emperors like Nero or honour and reverence by performing miracles.
Domitian (Hunter). Compare Luke 18.27: 'The things which are vnpos-
69-72 Compare Ham. 1.4.69-78: Horatio warns sible with me[n], are possible with God' (Furness;
Hamlet that a demon might drive him to insanity Shaheen cites Matt. 19.26 as well). Compare also
and to suicide by jumping off a cliff (Kittredge). 'Man's extremity is God's opportunity' (Kittredge;
71 whelked convoluted, twisted. Tilley M471).
71 enraged Although most editors prefer Q'S 75 I . . . now It is not clear what Gloucester
'enridged' and regard F'S 'enraged' as a 'vulgar- refers to - the patience he earlier rejected (35-40),
isation (Hunter; compare Duthie, p. 182), F is or Tom o'Bedlam.
acceptable. Moreover, Shakespeare describes the 75-7 Henceforth . . . die i.e. from now on I
'enraged' sea many times elsewhere and could as shall bear affliction patiently until it wearies itself
easily be responsible for F'S adjective as Q'S {Tex- out and stops.
tual Companion, p. 537). 80 free not guilty or troubled.
72 father i.e. old man.
4-5-8o The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2526-37 [222]

Enter LEAR, [mad]

But who comes here? 80
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
His master thus.
LEAR No, they cannot touch me for crying. I am the king himself.
EDGAR O thou side-piercing sight!
LEAR Nature's above art in that respect. There's your press- 85
money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper. Draw
me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace, this
piece of toasted cheese will do't. There's my gauntlet. I'll prove

*8o SD] Q (subst., following 82); Enter Lear. F 81-2 The . . . thus.] F lineation; one line Q 81 ne'er] F,- neare Q 83
crying] F; coyning Q 85 Nature's] F; Nature is Q 87 piece of] F; not in Q 88 do't] F; do it Q

80 SD Enter LEAR, mad Many editions expand column heading reads 'Christs side perced'.
Q'S SD with a description of Lear fantastically 85 Nature's . . . respect A king is born, not
dressed, crowned with weeds and flowers, etc. For made, and cannot lose his natural rights (Schmidt
various theatrical representations, see Rosenberg, 1879, cited by Furness). But Lear may also allude
pp. 267-8; Bratton, pp. 177-9. A change of gar- to the natural propensity for emotional outlet. The
ments here and in the next scene is appropriate to relation between art and nature was frequently
Lear's changed condition. Obviously, to have the discussed, as in WT 4.4.87-103. The disjointed
Fool accompany him in this state would be both sentences in this speech and elsewhere suggest
superfluous and distracting: another reason to ter- Lear's disordered mental state, although a sub-
minate his role in Act 3. Compare 3.6.41 n. merged thread of sense often connects his utter-
8 1 - 2 The safer . . . thus i.e. no one in his right ance.
mind would be dressed like this. 85-6 press-money Payment for enlistment
81 safer sounder, saner (Onions). Compare MM or impressment into the king's army. Lear dis-
1.1.72; Oth. 4.1.269: 'Are his wits safe? Is he not tributes his coins, real or imagined, to Glouces-
light of brain?' ter and Edgar, or to soldiers he imagines standing
81 accommodate Compare 3.4.95-6, where by.
Lear refers to 'unaccommodated man' in a different 86 That fellow i.e. one of Lear's imaginary
sense. soldiers.
82 His Its. 86 crow-keeper scarecrow, or a farm-boy
83 touch . . . crying See collation. If the read- assigned to keep crows off a field; here, an inept
ing 'crying' is preferred, then 'touch' = (1) lay archer. OED cites Dick of Devon (1626), 2.4: 'Sure
hands on, or (2) rebuke, censure, accuse. M. War- these can be no Crowkeepers nor birdscarers.'
ren sees an allusion to the special sense of laying Compare Rom. 1.4.6.
the hand upon (a diseased person) for the cure of 87 clothier's yard i.e. full length of the arrow
the 'king's evil', or scrofula {OED Touch v 2b) (36 inches).
('King Lear, IV.iv.83: the case for "crying"', SQ 87 mouse Perhaps imagined, through associa-
35 (1984), 320). If the chosen reading is 'coining', tion with 'crow-keeper', though actual fieldmice
this would constrict the meaning of 'touch'. Since were abundant then as now.
'coining' means minting coins (a royal prerogative), 87 Peace, peace Addressed to the soldiers Lear
Lear would then be understood as saying, 'since imagines are startled into action.
I am the king, I cannot be arrested ("touched") 88 do't i.e. catch the mouse.
for forgery'. See Rosenberg, pp. 267-8, who also 88 gauntlet i.e. challenge (literally, a thrown
defends F'S 'crying'. glove).
84 side-piercing i.e. heart-rending (Schmidt), 88-9 I'll . . . giant I'll make good my cause
with a possible allusion to Christ on the cross. against anyone, even a giant (let alone a mouse).
Compare John 19.34; m t n e Geneva Bible the Lear imagines himself as a mighty champion.
[223] TLN 2537-53 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.103

it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O well flowni'th' bird:

clout, i'th'clout! Hewgh! Give the word. 90
EDGAR Sweet marjoram.
LEAR Pass.
GLOUCESTER I know that voice.
LEAR Ha! Gonerill with a white beard? They flattered me like a
dog and told me I had the white hairs in my beard ere the black 95
ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no' to everything that I said
'ay' and 'no' to was no good divinity. When the rain came to
wet me once and the wind to make me chatter, when the
thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found 'em,
there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men o'their words.
They told me I was everything; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.
GLOUCESTER The trick of that voice I do well remember.
Is't not the king?

90 i'th'clout . . . Hewgh!] F; in the ayre, hagh, Q 94 Ha! . . . beard?] F,- Ha Gonorill, ha Regan, Q 95 the white] F;
white Q *96—7 To say . . . was] Oxford; to say I and no, to euery thing I saide, I and no toe, was Q; to say I and no to
all I saide: I and no too was Q2; To say I, and no, to euery thing that I said: I, and no too, was F 99 'em] F; them Q
{both times) 100 o'] F; of Q 101 ague-proof] F; argue-proofe Q 102-5 The . . . cause?] F lineation; as prose Q

89 brown bills Halberds painted brown to pre- (Rosenberg, p. 270), a demon witch, the inversion
vent rust. Having assembled his archers, Lear of child and parent, etc. Also: Gloucester was to
orders up his billmen. Edgar what Gonerill was to Lear, as Edgar says in
89 O . . . bird Falconer's cry of approval Q (see Appendix, p. 300 below, xiv, 9), and both are
when his falcon was successful (Steevens, cited by lechers (King).
Furness); but Lear may refer to the feathered arrow 94-6 They . . . there Another abrupt mental
he imagines shot off. shift, prompted perhaps by recollection of Goner-
90 clout Centre of target or mark, as in LLL ill's flattery in 1.1. The image of the fawning dog
4-II34- is typically Shakespearean (Spurgeon, p. 195). Lear
90 Hewgh Whistling sound to indicate (1) complains of the world's flattery that praises pre-
sound of the arrow through the air, or (2) cry of maturely a king's ripe wisdom. A white beard
astonishment (NS). symbolises the wisdom of age, which 'they' said
90 word password. he had before he was old enough to grow any
91 Sweet marjoram Edgar humours Lear with beard.
this fanciful password, which may allude to the 97 no good divinity bad theology. Several bib-
wildflowers bedecking Lear and/or to 'a blessed lical verses are possible sources or analogues. Com-
remedy for diseases of the brain' (Blunden, cited pare Matt. 5.37: 'But let your communication be,
by xMuir). Yea, yea: Nay, nay. For whatsoeuer is more the[n]
94 Gonerill . . . beard Lear takes Glouces- these, commeth of euil.' Compare also Matt. 5.36:
ter for Gonerill in disguise (Kittredge), or he asks 'Nether shalt thou sweare by thine head, because
how she could be so inhuman to her aged father thou canst not make one heere white or blacke'
(Halliwell, cited by Furness). Either way, Lear is (Hunter), and James 5.12, 2 Cor. 1.18-19.
prompted by the sight of white-bearded Glouces- 97-100 When . . . out Lear recalls the storm.
ter, as F'S alteration of Q indicates (see collation Compare AY LI 2.1.6-12 (NS).
and R. Warren, p. 50). Hunter adds a SD He kneels 101 ague-proof immune to severe chill. J. C.
after 93, so that Gloucester's obsequious or flatter- Maxwell cites Florio's Montaigne, i.42: 'Doth the
ing attitude reminds Lear of Gonerill. But the hag ague . . . spare him [the king] more than us?' (NS).
image is more complex, suggesting transsexuality 102 trick peculiar characteristic.
4-5- 10 3 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2554-66 [224]

LEAR Ay, every inch a king.

When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.
I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause?
Adultery?
Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No,
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly
Does lecher in my sight.
Let copulation thrive: for Gloucester's bastard son
Was kinder to his father than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.
To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.
Behold yon simp'ring dame,
Whose face between her forks presages snow,
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name.
The fitchew nor the soiled horse goes to't
With a more riotous appetite.

103 every] F; euer Q 106-8 Adultery . . .fly]Capell's Hneation; two lines divided for Adultery? / No, F; as prose Q 107
die. Die] dye: dye F; die Q 108 to't] F; toot Q 109—12 Does . . . sheets.] Johnson's Hneation; three lines ending . . .
thriue: / . . . Father, / . . . sheets. F; as prose Q 109 Does] F; doe Q 113 lack] F, Q; want Q2 114-22 Behold . . .
inherit;] Capell's Hneation; as prose Q, F * i i 4 yon] Q; yond F 115 presages] F; presageth Q 116 does] F; do Q 117
To] F; not in Q 118 The] F; to Q 118 to't] F; toot Q

103 Ay . . . king Spoken with various emphasis 109 lecher fornicate.

and intonation, from regal reassertion to dreamy 113 luxury lechery, lust.
recollection of bygone glory (Rosenberg, pp. 2 7 1 - 113 pell-mell i.e. promiscuously, randomly, like
2; Bratton, pp. 178-81). men plunging headlong into battle; hence, the asso-
104-23 When . . . fiend's Prompted by ciation with soldiers (NS).
Gloucester's appearance, Lear begins a disquisi- 113 I lack soldiers Promiscuity will help fill the
tion on adultery that combines sense and nonsense ranks of the king's army (Hunter).
and varies the idiom of the absent Fool. Hunter 1 1 4 - 2 3 Both Q and F print these lines as prose,
notes the progression from 'natural' or illicit sex- but Johnson relined them as verse following the
uality (adultery, copulation) to more violent repre- example of 103-13. (See 104-23 n. above.)
sentations of animal lust (pell-mell luxury, riotous 115 Whose . . . forks Usually taken to refer to
appetite, centaurs). Lear's vision also includes the the pudendum ('forks' = legs; compare 3.4.96).
breakdown of normal safeguards (the king, lawful But H. C. Hart suggests that 'forks' may refer
sheets, gods), culminating in unrestrained animal to instruments for holding up women's hair; com-
behaviour and damnation (124-5). The Hneation pare Stubbes, Anatomy of Abuses, on women's hair
reflects either Shakespeare's unrevised, roughed- 'vnderpropped with forks, wyers, and I can not tel
out version of the speech, or (more probably) irreg- what' (Muir).
ular verse, ending as prose and meant to accord 115 presages snow forecasts chastity, frigidity.
with Lear's state of mind (Duthie, pp. 413-14). 116 minces virtue coyly affects virtue, chastity.
104 the subject Collective, as in MM 3.2.136. 1 1 6 - 1 7 shake . . . name Compare Florio's Mon-
Here = 'my people' (NS). taigne, iv.131: 'Wee haue taught Ladies to blush,
105 cause offence, charge. Compare Oth. 5.2.1 onely by hearing that named, which they nothing
(NS). feare to doe' (Muir).
107 Thou . . . adultery Compare Lev. 20.10 and 118 fitchew (1) polecat, (2) prostitute.
John 8.4-5, where death is the penalty for adultery 118 soiled 'Fed with fresh-cut green fodder'
(Noble, Shaheen). (Onions); hence, friskv.
[225] TLN 2567-81 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.133

Down from the waist they're centaurs, 120

Though women all above.
But to the girdle do the gods inherit;
Beneath is all the fiend's.
There's hell, there's darkness, there is the sulphurous pit,
burning, scalding, stench, consumption. Fie, fie, fie; pah, pah! 125
Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, sweeten my
imagination: there's money for thee.
G L O U C E S T E R O, let me kiss that hand!
LEAR Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.
G L O U C E S T E R O ruined piece of nature! This great world 130
Shall so wear out to naught. Dost thou know me?
LEAR I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me?
No, do thy worst, blind Cupid, I'll not love.
*i20 they're] th'are Q; they are F 123-4 Beneath . . . pit] Globe's lineation; as prose Q, F 124 there is] F; ther's Q 124
sulphurous] F; sulphury Q 125 consumption] F; consumation Q *i26 civet,] Q; Ciuet; F 126 sweeten] F,- to sweeten
Q 129 Let . . . mortality.I As in q; two lines divided first, / It F 129 Let me] F; Here Q 130-1 O . . . me?] Rome's
lineation; lines end . . . world; / . . . naught. / . . . me? F; as prose Q 131 Shall] F,- should q 131 Dost thou] F,- do you
Q 132-4 I . . . it] Muir's lineation; as prose Q, F 132 thine] F; thy q 132 at] F; on Q

120 centaurs Half human, half horse, the cen- nied by grimace, spitting, vomiting' (Rosenberg,
taur was notorious for riot and lechery. In an P- 274)-
infamous battle, mentioned in MND 5.1.44, cen- 126-7 Give . . . thee Lear now addresses
taurs attempted to carry off Hippodamia, bride of Gloucester as an apothecary from whom he buys
Theseus's friend Pirithous (Ovid, Métamorphoses, perfume to 'sweeten' his imagination, which engen-
12.210 ff; summarised in North's Plutarch, The dered his foul vision of hell. Compare Marston,
Life of Theseus). The Fawne (1606), 2.1: 'Sweeten your imaginations,
122-3 But . . . fiend's Much Renaissance with thoughts of - ah why women are the most
thought was preoccupied with humanity's double giddie, uncertaine motions under heaven . . . onely
nature. Compare C. Carlile, A Discourse of Peters meere chancefull appetite swayes them' (Muir).
life (1580): lServerus said that a woman was the 126 ounce (1) one sixteenth of a pound (weight),
worke of the devil, and the upper part of a man (2) lynx (King).
of God, but from the navell downe of sathan: and 126 civet Perfume made from the anal glands of
therefore they that marrie doe fulfill the works of civet cats. The association is suggested by Glouces-
the devill' (Dent, p. 31). Exorcists hunted the devil ter's bandages: civet cats have reddish eyes (King).
through various parts of the woman's body; the NS suspects irony and compares AYLI 3.2.64-8.
girdle of a martyred saint, moreover, was allegedly 130 piece masterpiece (probably, in view of
used 'to confine the chief fiend to the lower part of Lear's former majesty); compare Ant. 5.2.98-9:
the woman's body, her "hell"' (M. C. Bradbrook, 't'imagine / An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst
Shakespeare: The Poet in his World, 1978, p. 196). fancy' (Schmidt 1879, cited by Furness).
Compare Virgil's description of Scylla: a fair virgin 130-1 This . . . naught The universe will, like
to the waist, a sea-monster below (Aeneid, 3.426-8). Lear, disintegrate into ruin.
122 girdle waist. 132 I . . . enough Lear is bitterly tendentious.
122 inherit possess, govern. His 'remembering' focuses on the absent organs
124-5 n e H . . . consumption 'The obvious sex- and forces attention on them.
ual references point to a climax of hysterical disgust 132 squiny squint. Compare 3.4.103 n.
at female sexuality' (Hunter). 133 blind Cupid 'Love is blind' is proverbial
124 hell (1) place of damnation, (2) slang for (Tilley L506; M V 2.6.36-7). But 'blind Cupid' also
female genitals (Riverside). adorned the sign of a brothel, as Benedick indicates
125 consumption destruction. in Ado 1.1.253-4. Gloucester, as Edmond's father,
125 Fie . . . pah 'The monosyllables are, of his eye-sockets bandaged, reminds Lear of brothel
course, not voiced as such: they are inarticulate love. In Sidney's Arcadia, Bk 11, ch. 14, Cupid is
sounds of physical disgust that may be accompa- 'an old false knaue', half man, half beast (Muir).
4-5-134 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2582-603 [226]

Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it.

GLOUCESTER Were all thy letters suns, I could not see. 135
EDGAR [Aside] I would not take this from report; it is,
And my heart breaks at it.
LEAR Read.
GLOUCESTER What - with the case of eyes?
LEAR O ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no 140
money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse
in a light; yet you see how this world goes.
GLOUCESTER I see it feelingly.
LEAR What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no
eyes; look with thine ears. See how yon justice rails upon yon 145
simple thief. Hark in thine ear: change places, and handy-
dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen
a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?
GLOUCESTER Ay, sir.
LEAR And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst 150
behold the great image of authority. A dog's obeyed in office.

134 this] F; that Q 134 but] F; not in Q 134 of it] F; oft Q 135 thy] F; the Q 135 see.] F,-see one. Q 136 SD] Hanmer;
not in Q, F 136-7 I . . . it.] Theobald's lineation; divided report, / It F; as prose Q *I39 What - ] Oxford; What! Q;
What, Q2; What F 144 this] F; the Q 145 thine] F,- thy Q *i45 yon] Q; yond F *i45 yon] Q; yond F *i46 thine]
F,- thy Q 146 change places, and] F; not in Q 147 justice] F; theefe Q 147 thief?] F; lustice, Q *i5o cur? There]
Theobald; Cur: there F; cur, ther: Q 151 dog's obeyed] F,- dogge, so bade Q; dogge, so bad Q2

134 this challenge Compare 88 above. 145-6 See . . . thief An example of looking with
Whether Lear actually holds a piece of paper ears.
(the proclamation for Gloucester's death, 146 simple Either (1) humble, ordinary, or (2)
as Staunton believed), or imagines one, is weak-witted.
uncertain, but irrelevant where unseeing 146-7 handy-dandy A child's guessing game in
Gloucester is concerned. Compare 1.2.27 ff- which an object is concealed in one hand; here =
(Cavell). 'take your choice', the difference between justice
134 penning style (Schmidt). and thief is insignificant or indistinguishable, more
136 take this believe this spectacle. a matter of luck or chance than anything else. Dent,
139 case of eyes eye-sockets. p. 227, quotes Barclay's Mirrour of good Maners
140 are . . . me (1) is that your meaning? (2) (c. 1523), 34 (8-14): 'What difference betwene a
are we both blind, i.e. are we both victims of great thief and a small. . . The small thief is judged,
imperceptiveness? (Rosenberg, p. 275). oft time the great is Judge'; compare MM 2.1.19-
141 heavy case sad predicament; with quibbles 23, 2.2.175-6. Florio's Montaigne, vi.85, has several
on 'heavy' and 'case'. references to guilty judges, including an adulterer
142 see (1) understand, (2) view. passing sentence on another (Muir).
143 feelingly (1) deeply, keenly, (2) with my 151 A . . . office i.e. response to authority is
sense of touch. governed by role or status, not intrinsic worth or
144 What, art mad Taking Gloucester's 'feel- right; 'dog's' is emphatic. Compare Florio's Mon-
ingly' in sense (2), Lear is outraged that he should taigne, iii.210: 'there are Nations, who receive and
complain of blindness, i.e. impaired perception, admit a Dogge to be their King' (Muir).
since all senses are equally valid - and invalid.
[227] TLN 2603-13 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.162

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand.

Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back.
Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind
For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the coz-
ener. 155
Through tattered clothes great vices do appear:
Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pygmy's straw does pierce it.
None does offend, none, I say none. I'll able 'em. 160
Take that of me, m y friend, who have the power
To seal th'accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,
152-5 Thou . . . cozener.] Pope's, lineation; as prose Q, F 153 thy] F; thine Q 154 Thou] F; thy bloud Q 155 cozener]
F; cosioner Q 156-63 Through . . . seem] Rome's lineation; as prose Q, F 156 Through] Q,- Thorough F 156 tattered
clothes] F; tottered raggs, Q 156 great] F; smal Q 157 furred gowns hide] F; furd-gownes hides Q 157-62 Plate . . .
lips.] F; not in Q *i57 Plate sin] Theobald; Place sinnes F

152-5 Thou . . . her Compare John 8.7 157-62 Plate . . . lips See Textual Analysis,
on the woman taken in adultery, and Rom. 2.1 p. 285 below.
on hypocrisy: 'Therefore thou art inexcusable, o 157 Plate sin Cover sin in armour plate. F
ma[n], whosoeuer thou art that iudgest: for in that 'Place' derives from easy t/c misreading; a singu-
thou iudgest another, thou co[n]demnest thy self: lar noun, moreover, is required as the antecedent
for thou that iudgest, doest the same things' (NS, of'it' (159). Copy for F probably read 'sinne' (NS;
p. xxxvi). Duthie, p. 415). The imagery here and in the two
152 beadle A minor parish officer who whipped lines following is from jousting: compare R2 1.3.1
whores and other offenders. ff, especially 26-30, where 'plated in habiliments
154 kind manner. of war' occurs.
155 The usurer . . . cozener Compare 'The 159 pygmy's straw i.e. a weak weapon. In
great thieves hang the little ones' (Tilley T119), the pseudo-Homeric epic The Battle of the Frogs
and 146-7 n. above. 'In this period usurers or and Mice the frogs carried rushes for spears
capitalists were acquiring respectability and were (Hunter).
being appointed to offices such as that of magis- 160 None . . . able 'em Again, Shakespeare
trate, against the protests of preachers and poets' alludes to the woman taken in adultery, John 8.7,
(Hunter). Usury had become legal in 1571. the passage in scripture that also influenced Mon-
155 usurer moneylender. taigne (Muir; compare 152-5 n. above). If everyone
155 cozener cheater. sins, then no one does. As king, Lear can vouch
156 Through F 'thorough' is probably the result for ('able') everyone and exempt them from pun-
of a page-break, which required splitting the word ishment. Lear 'needs to forgive so as to forgive
{Textual Companion, p. 537). himself, too; needs to obviate the compulsion to
156 great See collation. Although Duthie, punish' (Rosenberg, p. 277).
p. 183, prefers Q'S 'smal', Maxwell argues that F 161 Take . . . me Lear offers Gloucester an
restores the Shakespearean phrasing for Q'S cliché; imaginary pardon (Kittredge), information (Muir),
he compares similar Q/F alterations elsewhere, e.g. guarantee of immunity (Harbage, Bevington), or
'houres'/'yeares', 2.2.51 (NS). Compare Furness: imaginary money (NS): the context permits any of
'When looked at through tattered clothes, all vices these interpretations.
are great'; Hunter: 'it is not the smallness of their 161 power i.e. either as king or as briber.
vices that distinguishes the poor, but the exposure 162-4 Get . . . not Lear returns to harping
to which they are subject'. upon blindness and false perception. The 'scurvy
157 Robes . . . all i.e. judges and magistrates politician' ( = vile machiavel or schemer, as in 1H4
get away with crimes which the poor cannot. Robes 1.3.241) pretends to perceptions he does not and
and gowns are used both literally and metaphori- cannot have. Lear's fierce attack sets Gloucester
cally. Compare the furred gowns of usurers, MM weeping.
3.2.7-8, and 155 n. above. 162 glass eyes spectacles (Onions).
4-5-163 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2613-26 [228]

And, like a scurvy politician, seem

T o see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now.
Pull off m y boots. Harder, harder! S o . 165
E D G A R [Aside] O matter a n d impertinency mixed,
Reason in madness.
L E A R I f thou wilt weep m y fortunes, take m y eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester.
T h o u must be patient. We came crying hither. 170
T h o u know'st the first time that we smell the air
We wawl a n d cry. I will preach to thee: mark.
G L O U C E S T E R Alack, alack the day.
L E A R When we are born, we c r y that we are come
T o this great stage o f fools. T h i s ' a good block. 175
It were a delicate stratagem to shoe

164-5 To . . . So.] Capel/'s lineation; as prose Q, F 164 dost] F," doest Q 164 Now . . . now.] F; no now Q 166 SD] Capell;
not in Q, F 166-7 O . . . madness.] F; one line Q 166 impertinent'} mixed,] F; impertinencie mixt Q; impertinency,
mixt Q2 168-72 If . . . mark.] F lineation; as prose Q 168 fortunes.] F; fortune Q 171 know'st] v; knowest Q 172
wawl] F; wayl Q 172 mark] F; mark me Q 174-9 When . . . kill!] F lineation; as prose Q *i7$ This'] Singer; this Q;
This F 176 shoe] shoo F; shoot Q

164 Now . . . now Lear's tone changes as 'We weeping come into the world, and weeping
Gloucester weeps, and he tries to comfort the blind hence we go' (Tilley \v889); compare 5.2.9-11.
old man. See collation. Blayney conjectures that 172 wawl wail.
Q'S 'NO now' marks a lacuna, 'teares' being omit- 175 this . . . fools Shakespeare frequently com-
ted (cited by Textual Companion, p. 522). But the pares the world to a stage, as in AYLI 2.7.136-66.
emendation, however attractive, is unnecessary, as Compare also Tilley, W882, 896.
Q2 punctuation, 'No, now', shows that Q can make 175 This' This is.
sense as well as F. Alternatively, the w may have 175 block The association with 'felt' (177) sug-
been indistinct in Q'S copy, as elsewhere (Duthie, gests a hat. It may be Lear's, which he removes at
P- 399)- 172 to begin his sermon - either the crown of weeds
165 Pull . . . So Lear commands Gloucester to and wildflowers he has made (4.3.3-5), an actual
pull off his boots, a reminiscence perhaps of his hat bedecked with flora, or an imaginary one; or it
return from hunting in 1.4, though he may in fact may be Edgar's or Gloucester's. On the other hand,
be barefoot. 'So' may express (imagined) relief at 'A troop of horse' (177) suggests a mounting-block;
being rid of the uncomfortable gear. in some productions, Lear has mounted a stump
166 matter and impertinency i.e. sense and to begin preaching (Furness); 'stage' (175) =
nonsense. scaffold, or a boulder or tree-stump that Lear mis-
167 Reason in madness Compare Ham. takes and quibbles on (Muir). The associations are
2.2.205-6; 4.5.174, 178. not mutually exclusive, and Lear's mind rapidly
168-75 If • • • fools Lear's tenderness towards shifts from one association to another.
Gloucester reaches its apogee as he recognises his 176-7 a delicate . . . felt Lord Herbert of
old retainer and preaches patience to him, the Cherbury's Life of Henry VIII describes a joust in
virtue he had vainly tried to practise himself during which horses were shod this way to prevent sliding
his initial distress. (Malone, cited by Furness); here the stratagem is
170-2 We . . . cry Compare Wisdom 7.6; also for a sneak attack.
7.3: 'When I was borne, I receyued the common 176 delicate finely skilful, ingenious (Onions).
ayre . . . crying and weeping at the first as all other Compare Oth. 4.1.187: 'So delicate with her
doe' (Noble, Shaheen). Muir cites Plangus's lament needle'.
in Sidney's Arcadia, Bk 11, ch. 12, and Florio's Mon- 176 shoe See collation. Q 'shoot' probably
taigne, i.107: 'So wept we, and so much did it cost derives from tie misreading; Q copy may have had
us to enter into this life.' The thought is proverbial: 'shooe' (Duthie, p. 415).
[22g] TLN 2627-39 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.187

A troop of horse with felt. I'll put't in proof,

And when I have stol'n upon these son-in-laws,
T h e n kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter a GENTLEMAN [with Attendants]
GENTLEMAN O here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir, 180
Your most dear daughter -
L E A R No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
T h e natural fool of fortune. U s e me well.
You shall have ransom. L e t me have surgeons,
I am cut to th'brains.
GENTLEMAN YOU shall have anything. 185
L E A R N o seconds? All myself?
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,

177 felt.] F; fell, Q 177 I'll . . . proof,] F; not in Q 178 stol'n] F; stole Q 178 son-in-laws] Son in Lawes F, Q; sonnes
in law Q2 *i79 SD] Rome; Enter three Gentlemen. q; Enter a Gentleman. F 180-1 O . . . daughter - ] F lineation; one line
Q 180 hand] F; hands Q *i8o him. Sir,] Johnson; him, Sir. F; him sirs, Q; him sirs. Q2 181 Your most dear daughter - ]
F; your most deere Q; not in Q2 182-5 No . . . brains.] F lineation; as prose Q 182 even] F,- eene Q 184 ransom] F, Q;
a ransom Q2 184 surgeons] F; a churgion Q 185 to th'] F; to the Q 186-91 No . . . that?] F; two prose speeches in Q,
which gives second SH before I will die . . . , where Q2 inserts: Gent. Good Sir. {not in Q, F) 187 a man a man] F; a man Q

177 felt Q 'fell' probably derives from l/t mis- 183-4 Use . . . ransom A royal prisoner was
reading (Duthie, p. 415). worth much in ransom and was accordingly well
177 I'll . . . proof I'll put it to the test, try the treated (NS).
experiment. 184 surgeons Trisyllabic. Abbott 479 scans
178 son-in-laws A possible colloquial plural the line: 'You shall have ransom. Let me have
(Doran, p. 97). surgeons.'
179 SD GENTLEMAN with Attendants See col- 185 cut to th'brains Literally and figuratively:
lation. Obviously, more than one person enters Lear imagines a head wound and feels a psychic
since a Gentleman stays behind to talk with Edgar one.
(195 ff). The stage business that follows is compli- 186-91 No . . . that See collation and Textual
cated. Lear has no way of knowing that the Gentle- Analysis, p. 272 below. F omits an inessential half-
man means him no harm. He attempts to escape, line (T and laying Autums dust'), but prints 188—
especially as the Gentleman orders the others to 91 as three lines. Modern editions that conflate
'lay hand upon him' (180). They hold him so gen- Q and F also retain metrical anomalies. By con-
tly that he easily breaks free, or they release their flating Q2 and F, and by various linebreaks, Fur-
hold momentarily to kneel when he says T am a ness, Riverside, and Halio come closer to providing
king' (190). Lear does not hear what the Gentle- regular scansion. Rearranging F, Oxford (followed
man says until 192, and then may not credit him; here) provides nearly regular lineation, except for
hence his flight, forcing pursuit. (1) an apparently excrescent 'What?' (189), found
180 him. Sir See collation. Since it is unlikely in both Q and F, and (2) a half-line (191). Compare
that the Gentleman would address Lear without a Taylor, 'Date and authorship', pp. 363-4; Duthie,
vocative, Johnson's emendation of the punctuation pp. 415-16.)
(anticipated by Rowe) appears correct. 186 seconds supporters. Lear's sense of isola-
183 natural (1) born (as in 3H6 1.1.82), (2) tion is acute.
idiot. 187 a m a n a m a n By adding 'a man', F corrects
183 fool of fortune Compare Rom. 3.1.136: 'O, both sense and metre.
I am fortune's fool!' Note Lear's irony: just a 187 salt i.e. tears. Lear remains preoccupied
moment ago he was leading a charge against the with weeping.
'son-in-laws'; now he is a prisoner (Hunter).
4 - 5 - ! 88 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2 6 4 0 - 5 6 [230]

To use his eyes for garden water-pots.

I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What?
I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king. 190
M a s t e r s , know you that?
GENTLEMAN You are a royal one, and we obey you.
LEAR Then there's life in't. Come, and you get it, you shall get it by
running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!
Exit [running, Attendants following]
G E N T L E M A N A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, 195
Past speaking of in a king. T h o u hast a daughter
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.
EDGAR Hail, gentle sir.
GENTLEMAN Sir, speed you: what's your will?
EDGAR Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward? 200
GENTLEMAN Most sure and vulgar: everyone hears that,
Which can distinguish sound.
EDGAR But, by your favour,
How near's the other army?

188-91 To . . . that?] Furness's lineation; three lines ending . . . brauely, / . . . Iouiall: / . . . that? F; as prose Q 188
water-pots.J F; waterpots, I and laying Autums dust. Q; water-pottes, I and laying Autumnes dust. Gent. Good Sir.
Q2 189 smug] F; not in Q 191 Masters] F; my maisters Q 191 that?] F; that, Q 193-4 Then . . . running.] As in
Q; two verse lines divided get it, / You F 193 Come,] F; nay Q 193 by] F; with Q 194 Sa . . . sa!] F; not in Q 194
SD] Capell (subst.); Exit King running. Q; Exit. F 195-8 A sight . . . to.] F lineation; as prose Q 196 a daughter] F; one
daughter Q 198 have] F; hath Q 200 sir,] (Sir) F; not in Q 200 toward?] Q2; toward. Q, F 201-2 Most . . . sound.]
As in Q; divided heares / That Q2; vulgar: / Euery F 201 everyone] F, Q; euery ones Q2 201 hears that] F, Q; heares
Q2 202 Which] F,- That Q 202 sound] F; sence Q 202-3 But . . . army?] F lineation; one line Q

189 die (1) end my life, (2) reach sexual climax. situation, not spoken to him.
Compare Ant. 4.14.99-101: 'but I will be / A bride- 196 speaking of Oxford deletes 'of, which it
groom in mv death, and run into't / As to a lover's regards as inessential as well as hypermetrical, an
bed' (NS). ' 'easy compositorial interpolation' (Textual Compan-
189 bravely (1) courageously, (2) handsomely, ion, p. 523). But the Gentleman's speech, prose in
in fine attire (as Lear regards his fantastic garb). Q, is otherwise irregular and requires elisions - e.g.
189 smug neat, trim, spruce. 'pit'ful', 'gen'ral' - to scan.
190 jovial (1) majestic, Jove-like (OED sv adj 1), 197 nature i.e. human nature.
(2) merry, convivial (OED sv adj 6). Compare Mac. 197 general universal; with connotations of
3.2.28. original sin.
193 there's life in't 'The case is not yet des- 198 twain i.e. Gonerill and Regan. Danby,
perate' (Johnson, cited by Furness); i.e. Lear still p. 125, sees an indirect allusion to Adam and
commands some shreds of respect as king. Eve.
193 an if. 198 her i.e. human nature.
193 it i.e. the ransom (NS). 199 speed you (God) prosper you, give you
194 Sa . . . sa An old hunting cry (French ça, success.
ça\) to urge dogs forward in the chase (Kittredge). 200 toward impending.
195-8 A sight . . . to The Gentleman's speech 201 vulgar i.e. a matter of common knowledge
is choric, spoken to the audience rather than to (Kittredge).
anyone on stage; although the second sentence 203 other army i.e. the army of Gonerill and
uses direct address, it is a comment upon Lear's Regan.
[231] TLN 2657-78 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.219

GENTLEMAN Near and on speedy foot: the main descry

Stands on the hourly thought.
EDGAR I thank you, sir. That's all. 205
G E N T L E M A N Though that the queen on special cause is here,
Her army is moved on.
EDGAR I thank you, sir.
Exit [Gentleman]
G L O U C E S T E R You ever gentle gods, take my breath from me.
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please.
EDGAR Well pray you, father. 210
G L O U C E S T E R Now, good sir, what are you?
EDGAR A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows,
Who by the art of known and feeling sorrows
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand;
I'll lead you to some biding.
GLOUCESTER Hearty thanks; 215
The bounty and the benison of heaven
To boot, and boot.
Enter OSWALD
OSWALD A proclaimed prize! most happy!
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou old, unhappy traitor,

204 speedy foot:] F; speed fort Q 204 descry] F; deserves, Q 205 Stands] F; Standst Q 205 thought] F; thoughts
Q *207 so] Johnson; Exit. Q; Exit. F {after moved on.) 212 tame to] F; lame by Q 215-17 Hearty . . . boot.] F lineation;
as prose Q 216 bounty] F, Q corr. ; bornet Q uncorr. 216 the benison] F, Q corr. (the benizon); beniz Q uncorr. 216-17
heaven / To boot, and boot.] F; heauen to saue thee. Q uncorr.; heauen, to boot, to boot. Q corr., Q2 217-21 A proclaimed
. . . thee.] F lineation; as prose Q 217 happy!] happy, Q; happie F; happy: F2-4 218 first] F; not in Q uncorr. 219 old]
F; most Q

204 on speedy foot marching rapidly. 213 known . . . sorrows Either (1) misfor-
204-5 t n e main . . . thought Most editors tunes experienced and sympathised with, or (2)
accept Johnson: 'The main body is expected to sorrows I have known bv feeling them (hendiadys)
be descried every hour.' But Stone, pp. 47, 210, (King).
objects that this paraphrase depends upon unwar- 214 pregnant to 'ready, by intervention of sor-
rantable glosses and says a line or two may be miss- row, to give birth to pity' (King); receptive to
ing between 204 and 205. (Onions). Compare 77V 3.1.88-9: 'My matter hath
205 Stands on Rests on, depends on no voice, lady, except to your own most pregnant
(Kittredge); compare 5.1.58. and vouchsafed ear.'
206 Though that Though. 215 biding abode, dwelling.
208 take . . . me i.e. take my life before I am 216 benison blessing.
tempted to suicide again. 217 To boot, and boot Gloucester plays on
209 worser spirit evil side of my nature; with noun and verb: 'in addition' (OED Boot sbl 1) and
an allusion perhaps to 'evil angel'. '(may it) profit (you)' (OED Boot r 1 3). Oswald
210 father old man; as at 72 above. may interrupt before Gloucester reaches his verb
212 tame yielding, submissive; the image is of (King). Compare NS; Greg, Variants, p. 176;
a whip used for taming animals (King). Textual Companion, p. 537.
213 art instruction, lesson. 217 happy opportune; compare 2.3.2.
4-5-220 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2679-95 [232]

Briefly thyself remember: the sword IS OUt 220

That must destroy thee.
GLOUCESTER Now let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to't.
OSWALD Wherefore, bold peasant,
Dar'st thou support a published traitor? Hence,
Lest that th'infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. 225
EDGAR Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.
OSWALD Let go slave, or thou di'st.
EDGAR Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And
chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould not ha' been
zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th'old man. 230
Keep out, che vor'ye, or I s' try whether your costard or my
ballow be the harder; chill be plain with you.

221-2 Now . . . to't.] F Hneation; one line Q 222-5 Wherefore . . . arm.] F lineation; as prose Q 223 Dar'st] F; durst
Q 224 that th'] F; the Q 226 Chill . . . 'casion.] As in Q; two lines divided Zir, / Without F 226 zir] F; sir Q 226
vurther 'casion] F; cagion Q 227 di'st] F; diest Q 228 and] F; not in Q 229 ha'] K; haue Q (both times) 229 zwaggered]
F; swaggar'd Q 229 'twould] F; it would Q 230 zo] F; SO Q 230 as 'tis] F; not in Q 230 vortnight] F; fortnight Q
uncorr. 230 th'] F; the Q *23i out,] Q uncorr.; out Q corr, F 231 che vor've] v; cheuore ye Q 231 I s'] ice F; ile
Q 231 whether] Q; whither F 231 costard] F; coster Q uncorr.; costerd Q corr. 232 ballow] F; hattero Q uncorr.; bat Q
corr., Q2 232 chill] F; ile Q

220 Briefly thyself remember i.e. quickly This dialect is identical with the Devonshire dialect
confess your sins and pray for forgiveness. Even in The London Prodigal (1605), performed by the
Oswald is loath to kill someone without giving the King's Men (Muir).
victim an opportunity to prepare his soul for death. 226 Chill I will.
Compare analogous situations in Ham. 3.3.73—86; 226 'casion occasion, cause. Oxford adopts Q'S
Oth. 5.2.26-32. 'cagion', suspecting compositorial substitution of
221 friendly i.e. because Gloucester wants to the common for the unusual form (Textual Com-
die. panion, p. 537). But possibly F was altered to make
222-3 Wherefore . . . traitor Johnson and later the speech more comprehensible.
editors insert a SD here, e.g. Edgar interposes, as 228 go your gait get along, go your way.
the dialogue suggests. Oswald's epithet indicates 228 volk See collation. F is probably an uninten-
Edgar's changed habit and perhaps gives him a cue tional normalisation of Q 'voke' ( Textual Compan-
for speaking in dialect. Oswald is more aggres- ion, p. 537), but the pronunciation is not affected
sive here than he was to Kent in 2.2, probably (compare Kokeritz, p. 310).
because he feels superior to a mere peasant with no 228-30 And chud . . . vortnight i.e. if I could
schooling in weaponry, and because he anticipates have been killed by boasting (swaggering), I would
a reward for killing Gloucester (4.4.40) (King). not have lasted a fortnight.
223 published proclaimed. 231 che vor'ye I warrant you (Kokeritz, 'Eliz-
226-34 Chill . . . foins Edgar's dialect is bor- abethan Che vor ye "I warrant vou'", MLN 57
rowed mainly from Somersetshire, but Elizabethan (1942), 9 8 ff).
dramatists were no dialectologists: their purpose 231 costard Slang for 'head' (literally, a large
was simply to write dialect that sounded rustic apple).
enough to be funny or otherwise suit the dra- 231 ballow cudgel (Onions). See collation.
matic occasion. Q2 and F introduce many more Oxford prints 'baton', assuming a misreading in
dialectal spellings than Q, elaborating the indica- F similar to that which led to Q uncorr. 'battero'
tions of dialect typical of Jaggard's printing-house (Textual Companion, p. 538; compare Greg, Vari-
(Textual Companion, p. 537); but from a philologi- ants, pp. 176-7). But Wright, English Dialect Dic-
cal standpoint the passage is merely a patchwork tionary (cited by Muir, Kokeritz) records later use
of current colloquialisms and conventional stage in Nottingham and elsewhere.
dialect (Kokeritz, pp. 37-9; compare Kittredge).
['33] TLN 2696-714 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.5.249

OSWALD Out, dunghill!

[They fight]
EDGAR Chill pick your teeth, zir: come, no matter vor your foins.
OSWALD Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse. 235
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters which thou find'st about me
To Edmond, Earl of Gloucester: seek him out
Upon the English party. O untimely death, death.
[He dies]
EDGAR I know thee well - a serviceable villain, 240
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
GLOUCESTER What, is he dead?
EDGAR Sit you down, father; rest you.
Let's see these pockets. The letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He's dead. I am only sorry 245
He had no other deathsman. Let us see.
Leave, gentle wax; and manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we rip their hearts;
Their papers is more lawful.
Reads the letter

*233 SD] Q,- not in F 234 zir] F; sir Q 234 vor] F; for Q 238-9 out / Upon the] F; out vpon / The Q uncorr. ; out, vpon /
The Q con: 239 English] F; British Q union:; Brittish Q corr. 239 death,] F; death! Q *239 SD] Q; not in F 241-2
As duteous . . desire.) F lineation; one line (turned under) Q 243—7 Sit . . . . not:] F lineation: four verse lines ending . . .
pockets / . . . friends, / . . . deathsmà / . . . not Q 243-4 you. / Let's] F; you lets Q uncorr.; you, lets Q corr. 244 these]
F; his Q 244 The] F; These Q 244-5 °f / May] F,- of may Q uncorr.; of, may Q corr. 245 sorry] F; sorrow Q *247
wax; and manners,] Capell (suhst.); waxe, and manners Q; waxe, and manners: F *247 not:] Pope; not Q, F 248 minds,
we] F; minds wee'd Q uncorr.; minds,wee'd Q corr. 249 SD] F; not in Q uncorr.; A letter. Q corr.

233 Out Out upon you! (Kittredge). revising (Duthie; compare Stone, p. 116, n.7).
234 pick your teeth i.e. with his ballow (231), a 239 death, death Some editors, e.g. Bevington,
'Rabelaisian toothpick7 (King), or possibly during break the line after the first 'death', making the sec-
the fight Edgar manages to get Oswald's dagger, ond a separate line. But this division solves noth-
with which he promises to pick the steward's teeth ing metrically; both lines remain irregular. The odd
(Hunter); a proverbial threat (Tilley T424.1; Dent, exclamation may be an actor's interpolation; if so,
P- 235)- the line should end 'untimely - ' (NS).
234 foins sword-thrusts. Oswald is apparently 240-2 I know . . . desire A further hint that
fencing like a courtier. Compare Mercutio's des- Oswald has been more than a mere steward; com-
cription of Tybalt's fencing, Rom. 2.4.20-6 (NS). pare 2.2.16-19, 34-77~82, and nn.
237 letters letter; as at 244. See 1.5.1 n. 240 serviceable '(obsequiously) diligent in ser-
239 English See collation. Greg, Variants, vice' (NS); Kent calls him a 'superserviceable, fini-
p. 177, and Duthie, pp. 158-9, both believe this cal rogue' (2.2.16).
is the original Shakespearean reading. Greg spec- 245 m y friends i.e may be useful.
ulates that Q 'British' resulted from an actor 246 deathsman executioner.
correcting the anachronism, but this hypothe- 247 Leave . . . not Edgar opens the sealed letter.
sis assumes memorial reconstruction. Compare Compare Tilley B637, 'The breaking open of let-
3.4.168: Shakespeare of course could be inconsis- ters is the basest kind of burglary', and Malvolio's
tent, and the fact that he wrote 'British' there (as an 'By your leave, wax', 77V 2.5.91 (NS).
apparent compliment to James) does not mean he 247 Leave i.e. by your leave, allow me.
could not have written 'English' here, even when 249 Their papers i.e. to rip open their letters.
4-5-250 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2 7 1 5 - 3 3 [234]

'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many 250

opportunities to cut him off. If your will want not, time and
place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he
return the conqueror; then am I the prisoner, and his bed my
gaol, from the loathed warmth whereof, deliver me, and supply
the place for your labour. 255
Your (wife, so I would say)
affectionate servant,
Gonerill.'
O indistinguished space of woman's will,
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life - 260
And the exchange my brother! Here in the sands
Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised duke. For him 'tis well 265
That of thy death and business I can tell.
[Exit, dragging out the body]
G L O U C E S T E R The king is mad. How stiff is my vile sense,

250—7 Let . . . servant,] As in Q; italics in F 250 our] F; your Q *252 done, if] done, If Q; done: If Q2,- done. If
F *253 conqueror; then] Furness; conquerour, then Q; Conqueror, then F,- conqueror. Then Pope 254 gaol] F; iayle
Q corr.; gayle Q uncorr. 255-6 labour. / Your] F,- labour, your Q 256 (wife, so . . . say)] F; wife (so . . . say) your
Q 257 servant,] Seruant. F,- seruant and for you her owne for Venter, Q 259 O] Oh F; Edg. O Q 259 indistinguished]
Indistinguisht Q; indinguish'd F 259 will] F; wit Q 266 thy] F, Q; his Q2 266 SD] Capell (subst.); not in Q, F 267
The . . . sense,] As in Q; two lines divided mad: / How F

250 reciprocal vows Compare 4.2.20-6. Muir, 259 indistinguished indefinable, undiscernible
p. 250, lists 'reciprocal' among the words in Florio's (because vast).
Montaigne not used by Shakespeare before 1603. 262 rake up cover up, bury.
251 him i.e. Albany. 263 mature time when the time is right, at the
251 will (1) intention, purpose, (2) carnal desire, proper occasion. The first syllable of 'mature' is
lust. accented.
251 want lack. 264 ungracious i.e. because evil.
252 fruitfully abundantly. 264 strike blast.
252-3 There . . . conqueror i.e. nothing impor- 265 death-practised i.e. whose death has been
tant will have been accomplished if we win and plotted.
Albany returns (and the sexual activity you and 266 SD Exit . . . body Capell's SD is necessary:
I anticipate is forestalled). See collation: Duthie, unless Edgar drags off the body here, two 'gross
p. 184, comments that F'S full stop after 'done' improbabilities' arise: (1) Edgar drags off the body
may have been influenced by Q'S 'If, the capital as he simultaneously leads his blind father by
an aberration which probably misled the collator. the hand - a 'very clumsy exit, at best'; (2)
255 for your labour (1) as a recompense for Edgar's speech (273-5) uncharacteristically ignores
your work, (2) as a place for your (amorous) activ- Gloucester's lapse into gloominess (Urkowitz,
ity (Hunter). pp. 158-9).
257 servant lover. See collation, and Textual 267 stiff unbending, obstinate.
Analysis, pp. 272-3 below. 267 sense 'mental power, faculty of thinking
259 O . . . will 'O woman's lust, how limitless and feeling' (Schmidt); compare Sonnet 112.8: 'my
is thy range!' (Kittredge). steel'd sense'.
[235] TLN 2734-50 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.6.4

That I stand up and have ingenious feeling

Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract,
So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs, 270
Drum afar off
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
[Enter EDGAR]

EDGAR Give me your hand.

Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.
Exeunt

4.6 Enter CORDELIA, KENT [disguised], and GENTLEMAN

CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.

269 sorrows!] Sorrowes? F; sorowes, Q 270 severed] F; fenced Q 270 SD] F; A drumme a far re off'. Q (after themselues
2/2) 272 SD] Capell (subst.); not in Q, F 272-3 Give . . . drum.] F Uneation; one line (turned under) in Q 274 SD] F,-
Exit. Q Act 4, Scene 6 4.6] Scuena Septima. F (see Commentary); not in Q o SD] F; Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Doctor.
Q 1-3 O . . . me.] Rome's Uneation; two lines divided thy goodnes, [turned over] I My Q; five lines ending . . . Kent, /
. . . worke / . . . goodnesse? / . . . short, / . . . me. F

268 ingenious intelligent, sensitive (Onions); in page on which this scene begins (signature ss), and
antithesis to 'mad'. But the word already had the did not resume composition until the last pages
meaning 'inventive, skilful' and thus 'suggests a of Rom. (which had been interrupted by problems
clever inner destructive force contriving to remind involving Tro.) and all of Tim. were set. Conceiv-
Gloucester of, and intensify, his misery' (Rosen- ably, when he returned to King Lear, Compositor
berg, p. 282). E forgot to continue altering scene numbers which
269 distract mad. Compositor B had begun. Compare Hinman, 11,
270-2 So . . . themselves Thinking it would 281, 293-5; Doran, p. 70; Duthie, p. 418, Tay-
bring him relief, Gloucester longs for madness, a lor, 'Date and authorship', pp. 417-18; Greg, S FF,
world of illusions ('wrong imaginations') divorced p. 388.
from the reality of his sorrows and their causes. o SD Enter . . . GENTLEMAN See collation, and
274 bestow lodge; compare Mac. 3.1.29. Appendix, p. 304 below, xx, o SD n. Rosenberg sug-
274 a friend The mysterious friend never gests, p. 283, that some hint of French costumes or
appears; perhaps Edgar and Gloucester never reach décor in Cordelia's camp prompts Lear's question
him, or are overtaken by events (King). Compare (75)-
5.2.1-2. 2 My . . . short Dramatic irony (King).
3 measure 'that by which extent or quantity is
ascertained' (Schmidt); compare Ant. 1 . 1 . 1 - 2 : 'this
Act 4, S c e n e 6 dotage of our general's / O'erflows the measure'.
4.6 F, which omits a scene after 4.2, incorrectly Every attempt at recompense will fail, Cordelia
numbers this ^Scuena Septima'. Possibly, after the says, because Kent's goodness is immeasurable.
long preceding scene, the collator forgot to alter 4 To . . . o'erpaid Recognition for his loyal ser-
the scene number as he had done for the three vice is all the recompense Kent wishes. But com-
previous scenes. On the other hand, the F com- pare 9 below and n.
positors suspended work on Lear at precisely the
4.6.5 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2751-71 [236]

All my reports go with the modest truth, 5

Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
CORDELIA Be better suited:
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
My boon I make it that you know me not 10
Till time and I think meet.
CORDELIA Then be't so, my good lord. - How does the king?
GENTLEMAN Madam, sleeps still.
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature; 15
Th'untuned and jarring senses O wind up
Of this child-changed father!
GENTLEMAN SO please your majesty,
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed 20
Fth'sway of your own will. I s he arrayed?
Enter LEAR [asleep] in a chair carried by servants

6-8 Be . . . off.] F lineation; two lines divided those / Worser Q 8 Pardon] F,- Pardon me Q 12 Then . . . king?] As in Q;
two lines divided Lord: / How F 13 SH] F; Doit. Q (throughout scene) 14-15 O . . . nature;] F lineation; one line (turned
over)Q 14 gods,] Gods Q; Gods! F 16 Th'] F; The Q 16 jarring] F; hurrying Q 18-19 So . . . long.] F,- divided king, /
He Q 19 That] F, Q; not in Q2 *i9 king?] Hanmer; King, F, Q; King Q2 *i9 long.] Q; long? F 21 SD] F (subst.); not
in Q

5-6 All . . . so Either (1) everything I have misjudge: compare 5.3.183.

said about what has happened is accurate and 15 breach i.e. wound.
unadorned, or (2) may everything said about me 16 Th'untuned . . . senses Shakespeare often
be told simply and accurately. uses the metaphor of discord in music to portray
5 go with accord with. mental disorder, as in Ham. 3.1.157-8. Hendiadys:
6 Nor . . . clipped Neither exaggerated nor 'jarring' because 'untuned' (King).
understated. 16 wind up i.e. tune by tightening the strings.
6 suited dressed. Kent still wears servant's 17 child-changed i.e. changed by his children
clothes. (Malone, cited by Furness); compare 'carecrazed
7 weeds clothes. mother', Rj 3.7.184.
7 memories reminders. 18 majesty Cordelia is Queen of France.
9 Yet . . . intent To be revealed now would be 21 I'th' . . . will As your desire directs you, i.e.
premature and so contrary to my plan. Kent wants as you see fit.
Lear to make the connection with Caius, which 21 arrayed i.e. clothed in his royal robes (NS,
he fails to do (5.3.256-64). Whatever Kent's pur- citing Granville-Barker, p. 298). But often he is
pose in maintaining his disguise, Shakespeare's is dressed 'in a purity of white' (Rosenberg, p. 284).
clear: he does not want 'to spoil Lear's reconcilia- Compare 23 n. below.
tion with Cordelia, by adding to it a recognition of 21 SD chair The chair may suggest or even be
Kent' (Granville-Barker, p. 308). a throne, as in Trevor Nunn's 1968 RSC produc-
9 made formed. tion, which made this entrance parallel Lear's in
10 My boon . . . it The favour I request is. 1.1 (Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 412; com-
11 meet suitable, appropriate. Like Edgar, pare Bratton, p. 189).
Kent respects 'ripeness' (5.2.11), and may also
[237] TLN 2772-90 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.6.39

GENTLEMAN Ay, madam: in the heaviness of sleep

We put fresh garments on him.
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;
I doubt not of his temperance. 25
CORDELIA O my dear father, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made.
KENT Kind and dear princess!
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes 30
Did challenge pity o f them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
M i n e enemy's dog,
T h o u g h he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father, 35
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack,
' T i s wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all. H e wakes. Speak to him.
22 of] F; of his Q 24 Be by, good madam] F; Gent. Good madam be by, Q; Kent. Good Madam be by Q2 *25 not] Q;
not in F 25 temperance] F omits one and a half lines here 26-8 O . . . sisters] F lineation; two lines divided lips, / And
Q 31 Did challenge] F; Had challengd Q 32 opposed] F; exposd Q *32 warring] Q, Oxford; iarring F 32 winds?] F
omits three and a half lines here 33-5 Mine . . . father,] This edn {following Q); lines end . . . bit me. / . . . fire, / . . .
Father) F 33 enemy's] F,- injurious Q

23 fresh garments As elsewhere in Shake- 33 Mine enemy's dog The irregular line
speare, change of clothing signals a change in results from cutting three and a half inessential
character or disposition, especially after significant though eloquent lines.
absence. Compare Cor. 4.4.0 SD; Heilman, p. 82. 36 To hovel. . . forlorn See 3.6.0 SD n. Shaheen
25 not See collation. Rhythm, metre, and sense compares the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke
argue that Q is correct. Compositor E apparently 15, an analogue or source developed by Susan Sny-
omitted 'not' accidentally, as at 1.1.287. Compare der, ''King Lear and the Prodigal Son', SQ 17
Duthie, p. 185; Textual Companion, p. 538. (1966), 361-9 (see above, pp. 11-12).
25 temperance self-control. F omits a line and 36 rogues forlorn outcast vagabonds. This ref-
a half here: see Textual Analysis, pp. 273-4 below erence justified Grigori Kozintsev's setting for 3.6
26 restoration Perhaps personified as a in his film, which shows the room Lear enters
goddess. inhabited by poor, ragged vagrants.
29 reverence condition of being respected or 37 short Because broken up by constant use as
venerated (Onions). bedding (Kittredge). It would give less comfort and
30 flakes thin or delicate hair. Compare Lyly, warmth than long, dry straw.
Midas (1592), 3.2: 'your mustachoes . . . hanging 39 all i.e. all together, entirely.
downe to your mouth like goates flakes' (Kittredge). 39 He wakes These words signal the moment
31 challenge demand. of greatest emotional tension in the play. How will
32 warring See collation. F 'iarring' could be Lear react to Cordelia? All eyes are fixed on him in
Compositor E's misreading of 'warring' combined silent expectation as slowly, very slowly he awak-
with a recollection of 'iarring' (16). Compare ens and gains comprehension. (Compare Rosen-
Sisson, p. 243; Duthie, 185; Textual Companion, berg, pp. 284-6, and E. A. J. Honigmann, Myriad-
P-538. _ Minded Shakespeare, 1989, p. 86, where a parallel
32 winds F omits three and a half lines here: see is drawn with Gloucester's reawakening after his
Textual Analysis, p. 274 below. attempted suicide in 4.5.)
33-5 Mine . . . fire Compare 3.7.62-4.
4.6.40 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2 7 9 1 - 8 1 0 1238]

GENTLEMAN Madam, do you; 'tis fittest. 40

CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
L E A R You do me wrong to take me out o'th'grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me? 45
L E A R You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
C O R D E L I A Still, still far wide.
G E N T L E M A N He's scarce awake. Let him alone a while.
L E A R Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n die with pity 50
T o see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. L e t ' s see:
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
O f my condition.
CORDELIA O look upon me, sir,
41 How . . . majesty?] As in Q; two lines divided Lord? / How F 42 o'th'] F; ath Q *45 scald] Q; scal'd F 45 Sir, do
you know] F; Sir know Q 46 You are] F; Yar Q; Y'are Q2 *46 spirit,] Theobald; spirit Q, F 46 Where] F, Q; when
Q2 48 He's . . . while.] As in Q; two lines divided awake, / Let F 49 Where . . . daylight?] As in Q; two lines divided
bin? / Where F 50 ev'n] F; ene Q 53-4 I . . . condition.] F lineation; one line Q 54-6 O . . . kneel.] F lineation; as
prose Q

42 do . . . grave (1) commit a sacrilege by open- (e.g. Kittredge, Riverside) adopt Q2 'when'. Con-
ing my grave, (2) hurt me by restoring me to life, ceivably, copy for Q had 'when', which was misread
(3) injure me by subjecting me to shame, (4) afflict as 'wher'. But Q/F 'where' makes no less sense, in
me by bringing me out of the grave into conscious- context, than 'when'; hence the reviser or colla-
ness of the afterlife (King). tor could easily have accepted it. Compare Duthie,
44 wheel of fire This image is complex and p. 419, whose argument for Q/F Dover Wilson
syncretic, alluding to pagan, Christian, and other rejects in NS.
symbols not only of torture and suffering, but also 47 wide i.e. of the mark; hence, astray, mis-
of energy (Elton, pp. 236-8). Lear thinks he is taken. Compare Tro. 3.1.88: 'no such matter, you
damned and Cordelia is an angel in heaven: in this are wide'.
context, Ixion's wheel, which was sometimes placed 50 abused Lear could mean that he is (1)
in the heavens (Elton cites Christopher Middle- deluded, deceived, (2) taken advantage of, (3) ill-
ton's Historié of Heaven (1596)), is especially rel- used, wronged, (4) misrepresented - or some com-
evant. There are other references to the sun (e.g. bination of these senses (see OED Abuse v 4b, 2, 5,
1.1.103), and wheel images appear elsewhere (e.g. 3). Lear is in 'a strange mist of uncertainty' (John-
2.2.156, 2.4.65-6, 5.3.164). For further discussion son, cited by Furness). Compare 'abused nature'
of the image's archetypal aspects, especially Jung's (15), where the sense 'mistreated' is uppermost,
studies of the mandala, or magic circle, see James and later (76), where 'wrong' or 'deceive' is meant.
Kirsch, Shakespeare's Royal Self, 1966, pp. 2 8 3 - In 'do not mock me' (56) Lear fears he is being ill-
6. Kirsch says the wheel of fire image could be used or misrepresented (as loving father or king).
understood as Lear's 'horoscope, that is, his funda- 53 pin prick Lear takes a brooch or some other
mental constitution; his Self is set on fire by his ornament from his costume to test himself.
wild affects' (p. 285). 54-6 O look . . . kneel After 'sir' or during the
44 that so that. next line, Cordelia kneels to receive her father's
44-5 mine . . . lead i.e. his tears, provoked by blessing, whereupon Lear rises from his chair and
shame and guilt as well as suffering, are heated by starts to kneel before her. The business is bor-
the fire so that they scald. rowed and modified from King Leir (2298-2304),
46 Where See collation. NS and other editions where the kneeling is excessive and involves other
[239] TLN 2811-35 The Tragedy of King Lear 4.6.75

And hold your hand in benediction o'er me. 55

You must not kneel.
LEAR Pray do not mock me:
I am a very foolish, fond old man,
Fourscore and upward,
Not an hour more nor less; and to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind. 60
Methinks I should know you and know this man;
Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments, nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. D o not laugh at me, 65
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
CORDELIA And so I am: I am.
LEAR Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it. 70
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
C O R D E L I A No cause, no cause.
L E A R Am I in France?
KENT In your own kingdom, sir. 75

55 your hand] F corr.; yours hand F uncorr.; your hands Q 56 You] F,- no sir you Q 56 me] F; not in Q 58 Fourscore
and upward,] F; Q combines in one line with and to deale plainly 59 Not an hour more nor less] F; not in Q 60 in . . .
mind.] F, Q,- perfect in my minde. Q2 65 Do not] F, Q; DO no Q2 68 am: I am.] F; am. Q 69 Be . . . not.] As in Q;
two lines divided wet? / Yes F

characters as well. 'Shakespeare compresses the 58 upward more; compare Wiv. 3.1.56.
moment, as he does the scene, to save sentiment 'Not . . . less' (59) contradicts this (King),
from sentimentality' (Rosenberg, p. 288). 61 this m a n i.e. Kent, as Caius.
56 mock Because of the next lines, the sense 62 mainly entirely (Onions).
'ridicule' is usually understood; but Shakespeare 65 Do . . . m e Lear misinterprets the smiles of
also uses 'mock' in the sense 'defy; set at nought' Cordelia, Kent, and the Gentleman; they are smiles
(OED sv v ic, citing MV2.1.30 and Ant. 3.13.184), of compassion and understanding, not derision,
which the preceding line prompts; hence, the 68 I am: I a m Perhaps the second 'I am' was
meanings combine. inserted to pad out the half-line to join with
57 fond silly (because in his dotage). the preceding half-line (Stone, p. 63). Moreover,
58-9 Fourscore . . . less Lear is still 'far wide', throughout this column of printing in F, Compos-
as he himself recognises (60); therefore, even his itor E seems to be stretching copy. But the inser-
attempt to state his age is confused. He may well tion, for all that, may be authentic and is certainly
be an octogenarian, and is usually so portrayed. expressive, F'S colon indicates a longer pause than
The F addition, 'Not . . . less', renders the lines the comma usually substituted in modern editions;
irregular, but there is no reason to suspect they are therefore, it is retained.
inauthentic. See Textual Analysis, p. 286 below, and 75 France Lear recalls that the King of France
compare the debate in Furness. married Cordelia.
4.6.76 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2836-56 [240]

LEAR Do not abuse me.

GENTLEMAN Be comforted, good madam. The great rage
You see is killed in him. Desire him to go in.
Trouble him no more till further settling.
CORDELIA WilPt please your highness walk? 80
LEAR You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget
And forgive. I am old and foolish.
Exeunt

5.1 Enter with drum and colours, EDMOND, REGAN, Officers and Soldiers
EDMOND [To an Officer] Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course. He's full of alteration
And self-reproving. Bring his constant pleasure.
[Exit Officer]
REGAN Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. 5
EDMOND 'Tis to be doubted, madam.
REGAN Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you.
Tell me but truly, but then speak the truth,

76 me.] F; me? Q 77-9 Be . . . settling.] F lineation; as prose Q 78 killed] F; cured Q 78 him.] F omits one and a
half lines here 80 Will't] Rowe; Wilt Q, F 81-2 You . . . foolish.] Oxford's lineation; three lines ending . . . me: / . . .
forgiue, / . . . foolish. F,- as prose Q 81 Pray you] F; pray Q 82 SD] F ends scene here, omitting a dozen lines found in Q;
Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gent. Q Act 5, Scene 1 5.1] Actus Quintus. Scena Prima. ¥; not in Q O SD] After F; Enter
Edmond, Regan, and their powers. Q o SD Officers] This edn; Gentlemen F 1 SD] This edn (Capell suhst.); not in Q, F; (TO
a Gentleman) Duthie 3 He's] F, Q uncorr.; hee's Q corr; he is Q2 3 alteration] F, Q corn; abdication Q uncorr. 4 SD]
This edn (Capell suhst.); not in Q, F; Exit Gentleman. / Duthie

76 abuse (1) dupe, deceive, (2) mistreat, wrong. 1 his last purpose i.e. most recent intention (to
The past is coming back to him, with pain. fight with us against Cordelia and her army).
77 Be comforted Cordelia is overcome momen- 2 advised by aught persuaded by anything.
tarily with emotion. 3 alteration vacillation. See collation. Not
77 rage madness, frenzy. everyone accepts Greg's judgement (Variants,
78 in him F omits a line and a half here; see p. 177) that F is 'certainly correct'. Stone, p. 291,
Textual Analysis, p. 274 below. and Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 459, prefer
79 further settling i.e. until his wits have set- Q uncorr. 'abdication' as the more pointed read-
tled more. ing, which Oxford prints and which Rosenberg
80 walk withdraw. says 'has more energy, and is curiously prophetic'
82 foolish F omits the dialogue between Kent (p. 292).
and the Gentleman that concludes the scene in Q. 4 constant pleasure i.e. fixed resolution.
See Textual Analysis, p. 274 below. 5 sister's m a n i.e. Oswald.
6 doubted feared.
Act 5, S c e n e 1 7 intend upon i.e. mean to confer upon.
o SD drum and colours This is a standard mili- 8 Tell . . . truth Regan is suspicious that
tary entrance, with flags flying and drum beating. Edmond will equivocate or extenuate his position.
o SD Officers See collation. Officers were called In Q she remains uncertain and unconvinced by
'Gentlemen' in Shakespeare's day, as F designates Edmond's protestations (see below).
them.
[241] TLN 2857-73 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.1.22

Do you not love my sister?

EDMOND In honoured love.
R E G A N But have you never found my brother's way 10
To the forfended place?
EDMOND No, by mine honour, madam.
R E G A N I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
EDMOND Fear me not.
She and the duke her husband -
Enter with drum and colours, ALBANY, GONERILL, Soldiers
ALBANY Our very loving sister, well bemet. 15
Sir, this I heard: the king is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out.
REGAN Why is this reasoned?
G O N E R I L L Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils 20
Are not the question here.
A L B A N Y Let's then determine with th'ancient of war

9 In] F; I, Q; I Q2 * n forfended] Q; fore-fended F n place?] F omits two and half lines here 12-13 I . . . her.] F
lineation; one line (turned over) in Q 13-14 Fear . . . husband - ] Capell's lineation; one line in Q, F *i3 me] Q; not in
F *i4 husband - ] Rowe; husband. Q, F; F omits a line and a half here 14 SD] F; Enter Albany and Gonorill with troupes
Q 16 Sir,] F,- For Q 16 heard] F; heare Q 18 out.] F omits five lines here 20 and particular broils] F; dore particulars
Q; doore particulars Q2 21 the] F,- to Q 2 2 - 3 Let's . . . proceeding.] F lineation; as prose in Q; divided determine /
With Q2 22 Let's] F; Let vs Q 22 th'ancient] F; the auntient Q,- th'ensign Oxford

9 honoured i.e. honourable. F omits two lines here.

10 brother i.e. Albany. 16 the king Albany, alone among those present,
11 forfended place forbidden place, i.e. Goner- still refers to Lear as 'king'.
ill's bed or 'bosom', as Q emphasises. Regan sus- 17 rigour . . . state harshness of our govern-
pects her sister and Edmond of adultery, with rea- ment.
son (compare 4.2.15-29, 4.4.25-8, and nn.). 18 cry out i.e. protest in pain. F omits five lines
11 place F omits three lines here. For this cut here.
and those a few lines later, see Textual Analysis, p. 18 Why . . . reasoned i.e. why are you going
275 below. into all that? In its new context Regan's question
12 I . . . her i.e. I can't stand her. The antago- takes on new meaning. See Textual Analysis, p. 275
nism between Gonerill and Regan, which was care- below.
fully concealed in 1.1 and 2.4, is now broken wide 19-21 Combine . . . here Gonerill efficiently
open by their rivalry for Edmond. and swiftly focuses on the immediate problem and
13 me Apparently accidentally omitted by Com- gets things moving. Compare 4.2.16-17.
positor E. 19 Combine together i.e. unite Albany's army
14 She . . . husband - Many editors take and Regan's.
the line as an announcement or exclamation, but 20 domestic internal.
Rowe and others see the speech dramatically inter- 20 particular broils private quarrels.
rupted by the entrance of the persons discussed. 22 th'ancient of war senior officers.
5.1.23 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2874-94 [242]

On our proceeding.
REGAN Sister, you'll go with us?
GONERILL No.
R E G A N 'Tis most convenient. Pray, go with us. 25
G O N E R I L L [Aside] O ho, I know the riddle. - I will go.

Enter EDGAR [dressed like a peasant]

EDGAR If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.
A L B A N Y [To the others] I'll overtake you.
Exeunt both the armies
Speak.
EDGAR Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound 30
F o r h i m that b r o u g h t it. Wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion that will prove
What is avouched there. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you. 35
A L B A N Y Stay till I have read the letter.
EDGAR I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again. Exit

23 proceeding] F; proceedings Q 25 Pray] F; pray you Q 26 SD.I] Capell; not in Q, F 26 riddle. - ] Capell (subst.);
riddle, Q; Riddle. F 27 man] F, Q; one Q2 28 SD.I] Oxford; not in Q, F 28 SD.2 Exeunt . . . armies] F (after 26); Exeunt.
Q (after word.); Exit. Q2 (after 26); Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar. / Cam. 35 And . . . ceases.] F; not in Q *35 love]
Q; loues F 36-8 I . . . again.] F lineation; as prose Q

23 proceeding i.e. battle plan. Albany appar- peasant, though his speech is correct. He intercepts
ently addresses Edmond, but unlike Q, F does not Albany as he is leaving with the others.
include a response; indeed, Edmond remains silent 29 this letter i.e. the letter Oswald carried
throughout this part of the dialogue. See Textual (4.5.250-8).
Analysis, p. 275 below. 32 champion In chivalry, someone who under-
23 Sister . . . us Regan tries to steer Goner- takes a cause in single combat.
ill away from the others, especially Edmond, with 33 avouched asserted, declared.
whom she does not trust her for a moment. Or 33 miscarry lose the battle and die.
perhaps she does not want Gonerill to participate 35 And . . . ceases See collation. The Q com-
in the council of war, close to Edmond (Muir). positor, who set Albany's response on the same line
23, 25 us The royal plural (compare 5.3.55-7), with 'Fortune loue you', may have dropped a clause
or herself and her troops. to save space.
25 convenient (1) expedient, (2) seemly (NS). 35 machination intrigue. Compare 50-4 below.
26 I . . . riddle i.e. I get your drift, insinuation. 35 love See collation. An easy compositorial
Here, Gonerill may recognise Regan's priority with error: 'The sense shows that Q is right' (Duthie,
Edmond and plan to kill her (Rosenberg, p. 293). p. 186).
26 SD.2 Enter EDGAR Edgar is still dressed as a
[243] TLN 2895-914 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.1.56

ALBANY Why, fare thee well. I will o'erlook thy paper.

Enter EDMOND

EDMOND The enemy's in view; draw up your powers. 40

Here is the guess o f their true strength and forces
B y diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urged on you.
ALBANY We will greet the time. Exit
EDMOND T o both these sisters have I sworn my love,
Each jealous of the other as the stung 45
Are o f the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoyed
If both remain alive. T o take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Gonerill,
And hardly shall I carry out my side, 50
Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use
His countenance for the battle, which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to L e a r and to Cordelia, 55
T h e battle done, and they within our power,

39 o'erlook] ore-looke Q, F; looke ore Q2 39 thy] F,- the Q 41 Here] F; Hard Q 41 guess] F; quesse Q 41 true] F;
great Q 42-3 By . . . you.] F lineation; one line Q 44 sisters] F,- sister Q 45-7 Each . . . enjoyed] F lineation; two lines
divided Adder, / Which [inioy'd turned under] Q 45 stung] F; sting Q 53 who] F; that Q 54 the] F; his Q 55 intends]
F; entends Q; extends Q2

39 o'erlook look over, read. The text does not he shows increasing affinities, Albany understands
indicate whether Albany reads the letter or any 'ripeness',
part of it before Edmond enters. If he does, a 43 greet embrace, welcome,
new tension develops between him and Edmond, 45 jealous suspicious.
motivating his terse response at 43 (Rosenberg, 47-8 Both . . . alive Edmond's hubris does not
p. 293; compare Urkowitz, p. 103, who argues that long permit him to think he can enjoy both sisters;
Edmond should rush in with his letter, or paper, if he is to enjoy either, then one must die.
before Albany has a chance to read the letter Edgar 50 carry . . . side make ray game, achieve my
gives him). goal (i.e. to become king: Edmond's ambitions have
39 SD Enter EDMOND Fully accoutred for bat- grown). But compare 'fulfil my side of the bar-
tie, Edmond enters amidst growing sounds of war. gain with Goneril - satisfy her lust in return for
Presumably, he has met with 'th'ancient of war' advancement' (Muir).
(22) while Albany conversed with Edgar. 52 countenance authority, support.
4 1 - 2 Here . . . discovery Edmond offers Albany 54 taking off murder,
a written estimate of the enemy's army and its 54-5 mercy . . . Cordelia Till now, Albany has
disposition. Again, the text fails to show whether nowhere explicitly mentioned his intention regard-
Albany accepts it or not. ing Lear and Cordelia, let alone revealed it to
42 discovery spying, reconnaissance. Edmond. Shakespeare introduces the information
43 We . . . time Unlike Edmond, who is eager here partly to develop Albany's character, and to
for battle, but like Kent and Edgar, with whom prepare for Edmond's treachery after the battle.
5-1-57 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2915-33 [244]

Shall never see his pardon; for my state

Stands on me to defend, not to debate. Exit

5.2 Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA,
and Soldiers, over the stage, and exeunt
Enter EDGAR [dressed like a peasant] and GLOUCESTER

EDGAR Here, father, take the shadow of this tree

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.
If ever I return to you again
I'll bring you comfort.
GLOUCESTER Grace go with you, sir.
Exit [Edgar]
Alarum and retreat within. Enter EDGAR

EDGAR Away, old man! Give me thy hand; away! 5

King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en.
Give me thy hand. Come on.
GLOUCESTER No further, sir; a man may rot even here.
EDGAR What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure
Act 5, Scene 2 5.2] Scena Secunda. F,- not in Q o SD] F; Alarum. Enter the powers of France ouer the stage, Cordelia with
her father in her hand. / Enter Edgar and Gloster. Q I tree] F; bush Q 3-4 If . . . comfort.] F lineation; one line Q 4
SD.i Exit Edgar] Pope; Exit. Q {after comfort), F 4 SD.2 within] ?; not in Q 4 SD.2 Enter EDGAR] F; not in Q 8 further]
F; farther Q 9 What . . . endure] As in Q; two lines divided againe? / Men F

57 Shall i.e. they shall. tions present the clash of arms on stage or mime
57 state situation, position. the battle balletically (Rosenberg, p. 296; Bratton,
58 Stands on Rests, depends on. p. 197). But a stage empty except for this soli-
tary figure is clearly Shakespeare's intention, i.e.
he preferred to minimise the battle and concen-
Act 5, S c e n e 2 trate on larger issues. Compare Granville-Barker,
0 SD.1-2 Alarum . . . stage Having shown pp. 298-9.
the British side, Shakespeare now has Cordelia's 8 a m a n may rot Gloucester lapses into despair
army march with her father over the stage amidst ('ill thoughts') again.
sounds of battle. This, again, is a standard military 9-11 Men . . . all Compare Ham. 5.2.219-22.
entrance, but significantly altered from Q (see col- Edgar's counsel was proverbial in the Renaissance
lation). Lear's strength and defiance are suggested, and combined both pagan (especially Stoic) and
not his weakness and infirmity; regally attired, he Judaeo-Christian attitudes (compare Eccles. 3.1-8:
may also carry a sword. After the army departs, 'All things haue their time') (Elton, pp. 100-5).
Edgar leads Gloucester on, while the battle occurs Shakespeare uses the concepts of 'endurance' and
off-stage. 'ripeness' here very precisely. In essence, Edgar
1 father Compare 4.5.72 n., 243, 274. Although tells Gloucester (as Hamlet tells Horatio) that Prov-
Edgar has not yet revealed himself to Gloucester, idence or the gods control our lives; hence, we must
he favours this term of address. endure the time of our death even as, perforce, we
2 good host i.e. one who gives shelter. endure the time of our birth. Providence, or the
4 SD.2 Alarum and retreat Trumpet calls. gods, not man, determines when the time is 'ripe',
Gloucester is left alone on stage during the course an idea which has little to do with modern theories
of the battle which, though brief, is long enough of maturation or development. Cordelia is hardly
to let the image of the solitary, blind, tormented 'ripe' for death in any other sense (compare Berlin,
old man, early victim of the struggle, impress p. 91).
itself upon the audience. Some modern produc-
{245] TLN 2934-55 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.15

Their going hence even as their coming hither:

Ripeness is all. Come on.
GLOUCESTER And that's true too.
Exeunt
5.3 Enter in conquest with drum and colours EDMOND; LEAR and
CORDELIA, as prisoners; Soldiers; CAPTAIN

EDMOND Some officers take them away: good guard,

Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.
CORDELIA We are not the first
Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, I am cast down,
Myself could else outfrown false fortune's frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
LEAR No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison.
We two alone will sing like birds i'th'cage.
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news, and we'll talk with them too -
Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out -

11 all.] Johnson; all Q, F n GLOUCESTER And . . . too.] F; not in Q u SD] F; not in Q; Exit. Q2 Act 5, Scene 3
5.3] Scena Tertta. v; not in Q o SD] F; Enter Edmond, with Lear and Cordelia prisoners. Q 2 first] F; best Q 3-5 We . . .
down,] F lineation; two lines divided incurd {turned over] / The worst Q 5 I am] F; am I Q 8 No, no, no, no] F; No, no
Q 9 i'th'] F; it'h Q 12 and sing] F,- not in Q2 *i3 hear poor rogues] Q; heere (poore Rogues) F 15 who's in, who's]
F; whose in, whose Q

11 And . . . too Appearing only in F, these 5 cast down i.e. by Fortune; humbled. The fig-
words (which fill out the pentameter line) have been urative sense, dejected, is improbable at this date
attacked as a vacuous 'stopgap' (Stone, pp. 69-70), (Brockbank, p. 5 n.).
and defended as emblematic of the play's comple- 9 cage (1) birdcage, (2) prison (Muir).
mentarity (Peat, p. 44; compare Urkowitz, p. 44). 1 0 - 1 1 When . . . forgiveness A reminiscence,
perhaps, of the kneeling in King Leir (2298-2304).
Act 5, S c e n e 3 Compare 4.6.54-6 and n.
0 SD Enter. . . CAPTAIN See collation. Unlike Q, 12 old tales folktales; as in AYLI 1.2.120, WT
F builds up the image of victorious Edmond, who 5.2.61.
reaches the summit of his success and, from the 13 gilded butterflies (1) gaily coloured but-
beginning of the scene, commands a much larger terflies, (2) lavishly adorned courtiers. Compare
share of audience attention - until the entrance of Marston, Antonio and Mellida 4.1.49: 'Troopes of
Albany (38) (Taylor, 'War', pp. 32-3). pide butterflies, that flutter still / In greatnesse
1 good guard i.e. let them have careful guard. summer, that confinne a prince' (Craig, cited by
2 their greater pleasures the wishes of those Muir).
of higher rank. 13 poor rogues wretched creatures (Kittredge).
3 censure judge. F punctuation mistakenly assumes that 'Talk' in the
4 best meaning i.e. rescuing Lear and restoring next line is a noun,
him to his throne.
5-3-16 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2956—68 [246]

And take upon 's the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies; and we'll wear out
In a walled prison packs and sects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th'moon.
EDMOND Take them away.
LEAR Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes.
The goodyears shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep. We'll see 'em starved first.
Come.
Ex[eunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded]

21 The . . . thee?] As in Q; two lines divided Incense. / Haue F *24 goodyears] good yeares F: good Q 24 them] F; em
Q 24 flesh] F; fleach Q 25-6 Ere . . . Come.] Pope's lineation; two lines divided weeper / Weele F; one line (come turned
under) Q 25 'em] F3; vm Q; em Q2; e'm F, F2 26 Come.] F, Q; not in Q2 26 SD] Theobald; Exit. F, Q2; not in Q

16 take . . . things assume the responsibility of luck and holds Cordelia ever more tightly. Compare
understanding and explaining the hidden workings the second song from Sidney's Astrophel and Stella
of the world. (1591): 'Have I caught thee, my heavenly jewel?',
17 God's spies Either (1) spies commissioned which Falstaff quotes, Wiv. 3.3.43 (Brockbank,
and enabled by God to pry into even the most pp. 15-16).
deeply hidden secrets (Heath, cited by Furness), 22-3 He . . . foxes i.e. it will take divine assis-
or (2) 'detached observers surveying the deeds of tance to separate us again. Shaheen cites Judges
mankind from an eternal vantage point' (Beving- 15.4-5, but the story of Samson and the foxes is
ton). Though both capitalise, neither F nor Q uses only obliquely relevant here, as it concerns Sam-
an apostrophe in 'Gods'. Perrett, pp. 250-1, argues son's revenge on the Philistines for causing a breach
for the plural possessive in this pagan setting, but between him and his wife. Compare Harsnett,
this is 'surely pedantry' (NS). p. 97: 'to fire him out of his hold, as men smoke
17 wear out outlast, outlive (OED Wear v 9). out a Foxe out of his burrow' (Kittredge).
18 packs and sects cliques and parties (Muir). 24 goodyears malefic powers (OED); specifi-
19 That ebb . . . moon As the changeable moon cally, the plague or pox: see F. Rubenstein, 'They
governs the ever-shifting tides, so power and posi- were not such good years', SQ40 (1989), 70-4. An
tion at court shift, too. In prison, Lear believes, he allusion to Pharaoh's dream (Gen. 41.1-36) seems
and Cordelia will be insulated from such vicissi- remote; compare Taylor, 'Addenda' to Division,
tudes. p. 489, who argues for the singular, which Oxford
20 such sacrifices Either (1) their renunciation adopts.
of the world (Bradley, pp. 289-90), or (2) Cordelia's 24 fell skin; 'flesh and fell' = altogether
sacrifice for Lear (Kittredge). Muir notes the sug- (Onions).
gestion of human sacrifice, which looks forward 25 Ere . . . weep Compare 2.4.268-71.
to the murder of Cordelia, and echoes the Old 26 SD Exeunt Taylor argues ('War', p. 33) that
Testament stories underlying Lear's speech, e.g. only Edmond and the Captain remain; everyone
Jephthah's daughter, who was sacrificed; Samson else goes off with Lear and Cordelia. Moreover,
and the foxes; etc. Brockbank (p. 13) compares Heb. Albany later says (96-8) that Edmond's army has
13.16: 'To do good, & to distribute forget not: for been discharged. But it is not necessary to clear
with suche sacrifices God is pleased', which the the stage entirely for Edmond and the Captain to
Geneva Bible glosses: 'Thanksgiuing & doing good talk apart, and the drummer is needed later for
are our onlie sacrifices which please God.' the concluding dead march. Oxford has the drum-
21 The gods . . . incense Lear imagines gods mer re-enter with Albany, Gonerill, and Regan (38
as priests performing a ritual. SD.2), accompanied by a 'trumpeter', although F
21 Have . . . thee Lear still cannot believe his calls onlv for a Flourish.
[247] TLN 2969-90 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.46

EDMOND Come hither, captain. Hark.

Take thou this note. Go follow them to prison.
One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way 30
To noble fortunes. Know thou this: that men
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded
Does not become a sword. Thy great employment
Will not bear question: either say thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.
CAPTAIN I'll do't, my lord. 35
EDMOND About it, and write 'happy' when th'hast done.
Mark, I say, instantly, and carry it so
As I have set it down.
Exit Captain

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERILL, REGAN, [Officers,] Soldiers

ALBANY Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain,

And fortune led you well. You have the captives 40
Who were the opposites of this day's strife.
I do require them of you, so to use them
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.
EDMOND Sir, I thought it fit
To send the old and miserable king 45
To some retention and appointed guard,

29 One] F, Q corr; And Q uncorr. 34 thou'lt] F; thout Q 36 th'hast] F; thou hast Q 38 down.] F omits two lines here 38
SD.I Exit Captain] F; not in Q 38 SD.2 Flourish . . . Soldiers] F (suhst.); Enter Duke, the two Ladies, and others. Q 38
SD.2 Officers] This edn; not in Q, F 39 showed] shew'd F; shewed Q; shewne Q2 40 well. You] well: you Q2, F; well you
Q uncorr.; well, you Q corr. 41 Who] F; That Q 42 I] F; We Q 42 require them] F,- require then Q *45~6 To . . .
guard,] As in Q2,- one line Q corr. (pointed guard turned under); one line F, Q uncorr. (which omit and appointed guard) 45
send] F; saue Q uncorr.

28 this note Lear and Cordelia's death warrant, cated, i.e. as if Cordelia had slain herself (compare
22
signed by Gonerill and Edmond: compare 226—9. 7~9)-
31 noble fortunes i.e. further advancement to 39 strain Either (1) quality, or (2) lineage (com-
nobility. pare JC 5.1.59).
31-2 men . . . is A counsel of expediency, con- 41 opposites opponents (compare 143 below),
sistent with Edmond's philosophy. 43 merits deserts.
33 a sword i.e. soldiers in wartime. 46 To . . . guard Sec collation, and Textual
34 question discussion. Analysis, p. 73 above, n. 3. This line appears out
35 my lord F omits two lines here: see Textual of sequence and should possibly precede 45. Corn-
Analysis, pp. 275-6 below. pare Halio, p. 164; Taylor, 'Date and authorship',
36 write 'happy' count yourself fortunate. pp. 361-2.
37 Mark Attend. 46 retention detention, imprisonment.
37-8 carry . . . down manage it as I have indi-
5.347 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 2991-3013 \_24$\

Whose age had charms in it, whose title more,

To pluck the common bosom on his side
And turn our impressed lances in our eyes
Which do command them. With him I sent the queen: 50
My reason all the same, and they are ready
Tomorrow, or at further space, t'appear
Where you shall hold your session.
ALBANY Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.
REGAN That's as we list to grace him. 55
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person,
The which immediacy may well stand up
And call itself your brother.
GONERILL Not SO hot. 60
In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition.
REGAN In my rights,
By me invested, he compeers the best.
A L B A N Y That were the most if he should husband you.
R E G A N Jesters do oft prove prophets.

47 had] F,- has Q 47 more,] F, Q corr.; more Q uncorr. 48 common bosom] F, Q corr.; coren bossom Q uncorr.; common
blossomes Q2 48 on] F; of Q 51-2 My . . . t'appear] F lineation; lines end . . . to morrow, / . . . shall hold Q (see 5.3.53
n.) 52 t'J to Q 53 session.] F omits five lines here 54-5 I . . . brother.] F lineation; one line Q 56 might] F; should
Q 59 immediacy] F; imediate Q 60-2 Not . . . addition.] F lineation; as prose Q 62 addition] F; aduancement Q 62-3
In . . . best.] F lineation; one line Q 62 rights] F; right Q 64 su] F; Gon. Q

47 Whose Its antecedent is 'king' (45). my position and represented me personally.

47 title (1) kingship, (2) legal right to possession 59 immediacy direct connection; compare
of the land (Hunter). Ham. 1.2.109.
48 common bosom hearts of the people. 61 grace merit and honour (Kittredge);
48 on onto. compare 55.
49-50 turn . . . them turn our forces against us, 62 your addition i.e. the title or position you
their leaders; literally, turn the weapons of our con- have bestowed,
scripted pikemen into our own eyes (with a remi- 63 compeers equals,
niscence of Gloucester's blinding?). 64 That . . . you i.e. he would be most fully
53 session sitting of a court of justice. F omits invested with your rights (and Albany's equal) if he
four and half lines here: see Textual Analysis, were your husband. See collation: Q gives this line
p. 276 below. to Gonerill, but the compositor very likely erred
53 by your patience i.e. pardon me. in assuming that the Regan/Gonerill alternation
54 subject of i.e. subordinate in. continued (Duthie, pp. 85, 161). Albany interrupts
55 brother equal. again later (76); the interruption here makes good
55 we list I choose, please. Regan uses the royal dramatic sense.
plural; compare 5.1.23-5. 65 Jesters . . . prophets Compare 'There is
58 Bore . . . person Carried the authority of many a true word spoken in jest' (Tilley W772).
[249] TLN 3014-32 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.81

GONERILL Holla, holla! 65

That eye that told you so, looked but asquint.
R E G A N Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
F r o m a full-flowing stomach. [To Edmond] General,
Take thou m y soldiers, prisoners, patrimony.
Dispose o f them, o f me; the walls is thine. 70
Witness the world that I create thee here
M y lord and master.
GONERILL Mean you to enjoy him?
ALBANY The let-alone lies not in your good will.
EDMOND Nor in thine, lord.
ALBANY Half-blooded fellow, yes.
REGAN [To Edmond] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. 75
ALBANY Stay yet, hear reason. Edmond, I arrest thee
On capital treason, and in thy attaint
This gilded serpent. For your claim, fair sister,
I bar it in the interest of my wife.
'Tis she is subcontracted to this lord, 80
And I, her husband, contradict your banns.

65-6 Holla . . . asquint.] F lineation; one line Q 65 Holla, holla!] Theobald; Hola, hola, Q, F *66 asquint] a squint Q, F;
a-squint Rowe 68 full-flowing] Theobald; full flowing Q, F 68 SD] Oxford; not in Q, F; - General, Capell 70 Dispose
. . . thine.] F; not in Q 72 him?] F; him then? Q *73 let-alone] Capell; let alone Q, F 75 SH] F; Bast. Q 75 SD]
Alalone; not in Q, F 75 thine] V; good Q *77 thy attaint] thine attaint Q; thy arrest F *78 sister,] sister Q; Sisters,
F 79 har] Rowe; hare Q, F 80 this] F, Q; her Q2 81 your] F; the Q 81 banns] Banes F, Q; bans Malone

66 That . . . asquint Gonerill alludes to the to trial by combat if necessary. Compare Urkowitz,
proverb, 'Love, being jealous, makes a good eye p. 109; Stone, p. 229.
look asquint' (Tilley L498; Dent, p. 159, cites 76 thee To underscore his contempt, Albany
Florio, Second Fruités, 6.83: 'To much loue makes henceforward uses the second-person familiar pro-
a sound eye oftentimes to see a misse'). noun in addressing Edmond.
68 full-flowing stomach i.e. a full ride of 77 attaint (1) impeachment, (2) dishonour.
anger, resentment. Most modern editors agree that F 'arrest' is a mis-
70 walls i.e. of the heart or person (typically taken repetition from the preceding line and Q is
conceived as a fortress besieged by a lover). On F'S correct here. But compare Furness and Duthie,
additional line, see Textual Analysis, p. 286 below. pp. 186-8.
73 let-alone (1) permission, (2) hindrance 78 gilded serpent i.e. Gonerill, 'gilded' because
(NS). beautifully accoutred (and brilliantly: King).
74 Half-blooded Not only is Edmond a bas- 79 I . . . wife With heavy irony, Albany as
tard, but his parenting was mixed, i.e. only one Gonerill's husband moves to protect his wife's
parent had noble blood. 'interest', or rights.
75 Let . . . thine See collation. F alters not only 80 subcontracted has a subsidiary or secondary
the speech ascription, but the final word in the line. contract (subsidiary, that is, to her marriage con-
Instead of Edmond boldly defying Albany, Regan tract with Albany).
orders the drum to beat, so that the world will 81 contradict your banns i.e. oppose the dec-
witness her action (69-72), and invites Edmond to laration of your intention to marry.
establish his right to her title, putting the matter
5-3-82 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3 0 3 3 - 5 2 [250]

If you will marry, make your love to me,

M y lady is bespoke.
GONERILL An interlude!
A L B A N Y Thou art armed, Gloucester; let the trumpet sound.
If none appear to prove upon thy person 85
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge!
[Throws down a glove]
I'll make it on thy heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaimed thee.
REGAN Sick, O sick!
GONERILL [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine. 90
E D M O N D There's my exchange!
[Throws down a glove]
What in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
Call by the trumpet: he that dares, approach;
On him, on you - who not? - I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.
ALBANY A herald, ho! 95
Enter a HERALD

Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers,

*82 love] Q,- loues F 83 GONERILL An interlude!] F; not in Q 84 Thou . . . sound.] Rome's lineation; two lines divided
Gloster, / Let F; Q combines My . . . bespoke. (8j) with Thou . . . Gloster, / in one line and omits SH and Let . . . sound 84
trumpet] F2; Trmpet F 85 person] F; head Q 87 SD] Malone (subst.); not in Q, F 87 make] F; proue Q 90 SD] Rome;
not in Q, F 90 medicine] F; poyson Q 91 SD] Malone (subst.); not in Q, F *9i he is] Q; hes F 93 the] F; thy Q *93
dares, approach;] Oxford; dares approach; F; dares approach, Q *94 you - who not? - ] Furness; you, who not, Q, F,-
you, (who not?) Theobald 95 ho!] ho. F,- ho. Bast. A Herald ho, a Herald, Q 95 SD] AS in Theobald; after firmely. F;
not in Q

82 I f . . . me Albany sarcastically advises Regan 88 in nothing in no single detail.

to direct her matrimonial intentions to him, as 90 medicine poison. See collation. In F
Edmond has spoken for Gonerill. Gonerill's humour is grimmer.
82 love See collation. Q appears correct. Faulty 91 What . . . is i.e. whoever and of whatsoever
plurals (characteristic of Compositor E) occur else- rank he is (compare Abbott 254).
where in F, e.g. 'Sisters' (78). 95-107 A herald . . . Again See collation. In
83 An interlude What a farce! (Kittredge). Q, Edmond insistently repeats the call for a herald,
Interludes were brief plays usually comic, per- and it is he, not the Herald, who orders the second
formed in the intervals of festivities, they are so and third trumpet calls (106-7). Q n a s a Captain
called in MND 1.2.6, TN 5.1.372. On F'S addition (not in F) order the first trumpet call, F'S alterations
here, see Textual Analysis, p. 287 below. show Albany still very much in charge. (See Tex-
84 let . . . sound See Textual Analysis, p. 287 tual Analysis, pp. 80-1 above, on recasting; Sisson,
below, and compare Taylor, 'War', p. 33. pp. 243-4, w n o supports F; Duthie, pp. 188-9.)
87 pledge gage. 96 virtue strength, valour (compare Latin
87 make it i.e. make it good. virtus).
[25'] TLN 3053-74 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.112

All levied in my name, have in my name

Took their discharge.
REGAN M y sickness grows upon me.
A L B A N Y She is not well. Convey her to my tent.
{Exit Regan, led by an Officer]
Come hither, herald. L e t the trumpet sound, 100
And read out this.
A trumpet sounds
H E R A L D Reads ' I f any man of quality or degree within the lists of
the army will maintain upon E d m o n d , supposed Earl o f
Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the
third sound of the trumpet. H e is bold in his defence.' 105
First trumpet
Again.
Second trumpet
Again.
Third trumpet
Trumpet answers within. Enter EDGAR, armed
ALBANY Ask him his purposes, why he appears
U p o n this call o'th'trumpet.
HERALD What are you?
Your name, your quality, and why you answer no
This present summons?
EDGAR Know, my name is lost,
By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit.

97-8 All . . . discharge.] F lineation; one line (discharge turned under) Q 98 My] F; This Q 99 SD] This edn (after
Theobald); not in Q, F 100 hither] F; hether Q 100 trumpet] Q; Trumper F 101 this.] F; this. Cap. Sound trumpet?
Q 101 SD] F; not in Q 102 SD] F; not in Q 102-5 'If • • • defence.'] As in Q (quotation marks added); in italics F 102
within the lists] F; in the hoast Q 104 he is] F; he's Q 104 by] F; at Q 105 SD] F,- not in Q, which inserts I Bast. Sound?
on new line 106 Again.] Her. Againe. F; Againe? Q 106 SD] F; not in Q 107 Again.] Her. Againe. F; not in Q 107
SD.I] F; not in Q 107 SD.2 Trumpet . . . armed] F; Enter Edgar at the third sound, a trumpet before him. Q 109 o'th']
F; oth' Q 109-11 What . . . summons?] F lineation; two lines divided qualifie? / And Q IIO name, your] F; name and
Q m - 1 4 Know . . . cope.] F lineation; three lines ending . . . tooth. / . . . mou't / . . . cope with all. Q 111 Know,] F;
O know Q i n lost,] lost Q, F; lost; Theobald * i i 2 tooth] Theobald; tooth. Q; tooth: Q2, F

102 degree rank. however - nor most modern editions - provide an

102 lists Either (1) palisades, boundaries (OED entrance for the trumpeter who sounds the calls at
List sb* 10), or (2) rolls, catalogue (OED List sb^; 105-7, a n d who must enter with either Albany (38
compare Ham. 1.2.32). SD) or the Herald (95 SD). Compare 26 SD n. above.
107 SD.2 Enter . . . armed Edgar is in combat Whereas in Q no trumpet answers and Edgar enters
armour, his beaver down barring recognition. In Q, at the third sound, F'S staging seems calculated to
Edgar enters with a trumpet before him, apparently increase suspense (Peat, p. 50).
the trumpet that answered the third call, though it 112 canker-bit i.e. destroyed (literally, eaten by
has no other function except possibly to respond worms; as in Sonnets 70.7, 99.13).
to Edmond's command (140). Neither Q nor F,
5-3-113 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3075-98 [252]

Yet am I noble as the adversary

I come to cope.
ALBANY Which is that adversary?
EDGAR What's he that speaks for Edmond, Earl of Gloucester? 115
EDMOND Himself. What sayst thou to him?
EDGAR Draw thy sword,
That if my speech offend a noble heart
Thy arm may do thee justice. Here is mine.
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honour,
My oath, and my profession. I protest, 120
M a u g r e thy strength, place, youth, and eminence,
Despite thy victor-sword and fire-new fortune,
T h y valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor:
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father,
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince, 125
And from th'extremest upward of thy head
To the descent and dust below thy foot,
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou no,
T h i s sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, 130
T h o u liest.
EDMOND In wisdom I should ask thy name,
But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,

113 Yet am I noble as] F; yet are I mou't / Where is Q; Where is Q2 114 cope] F; cope with all Q 114 Which] F,
Q; What Q2 116 sayst] F,- saiest Q 117-18 That . . . mine.] F lineatwn; divided arme / May Q *U9 Behold . . .
honour,] As in Pope; Behold it is the priuiledge of my tongue, Q; Behold it is my priuiledge, / The priuiledge of mine
Honours, F *i 19 honour] Oxford; Honours F; tongue Q 120 and my] F, Q; and Q2 121 iMaugre] F; Maugure Q 121
place, youth,] F; youth, place Q *i22 Despite] Q; Despise F 122 victor-sword] F,- victor, sword Q 122 fire-new] Rowe;
fire new Q, F 122 fortune] F,- fortun'd Q 124 thy gods] F, Q; the gods Q2 125 Conspirant] F,- Conspicuate Q 126
th'extremest] F; the'xtreamest Q 127 below thy foot] F; beneath thy feet Q 129-31 This . . . liest] F lineation; two lines
divided spirits, / As bent Q 129 are] F; As Q; Is Q2

114 cope cope with, encounter. 120 oath . . . profession i.e. as a knight.
115 What's Who is (Abbott 254; compare H5 121 Maugre In spite of.
4.3.18). 122 fire-new i.e. brand new, freshly minted.
118 Here is mine Edgar draws his sword. 126—7 from . . . foot i.e. from top to toe.
119 Behold . . . honour See collation. Either 127 descent lowest part, i.e. the sole.
the compositor (Duthie, p. 422) or the collator 128 toad-spotted i.e. stained or marked with
(Textual Companion, p. 538) is responsible for infamy as a toad is with (supposedly) venomous
unnecessary duplication in F. spots.
119 it 'i.e. the drawing of a sword against an 131 In wisdom . . . name In chivalry, one
adversary, and the challenge of him to single was not bound to fight a social inferior. Edmond
combat' (NS). rejects prudence ('wisdom'), revealing his 'senti-
119 honour personal integrity. While executing mental side' in accepting the old code of honour
the change from Q 'my tongue', Compositor E (typ- Edgar represents (Heilman, pp. 244-7). Compare
ically)
the pluralised
sense (TextualtheCompanion,
noun, thereby further altering
p. 538). 141-4 and 155-6 n. below.
{253} TLN 3099-112 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.144

And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,

What safe and nicely I might well delay
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn. 135
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head,
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart,
Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,
This sword of mine shall give them instant way
Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak! 140
Alarums. [They] fight. [Edmondfalls]
ALBANY Save him, save him.
GONERILL This is practice, Gloucester;
By th'law of war thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite. Thou art not vanquished,
But cozened and beguiled.
ALBANY Shut your mouth, dame,

133 tongue] F; being Q *i33 some say] Q,- (some say) F 134 What . . . delay] F; not in Q 135 rule] F; right Q 136
Back . . . head] F, Q; not m Q2 136 Back] F; Heere Q 136 these] F; those Q 137 hell-hated lie] F; hell hatedly Q 137
o'erwhelm] ore-whelme F; oreturnd Q *i38 scarcely] Q; scarely F 140 SD] Capell; Alarums. Fights. F {after saue him.);
not m Q 141 SH ALBANY] Q, F; AI.I. Oxford {conj. van Dam, Blayney) 141-4 This . . . beguiled.] F lineation; three
lines ending . . . armes / . . . opposite, / . . . beguild. Q 141 practice] F,- meere practise Q 142 th'] F; the Q 142
war] F; armes Q 142 wast] F; art Q 142 answer] F, Q; offer Q2 144 cozened] F; cousned Q 144-7 Shut . . . it.] F
lineation; as prose Q 144 Shut] F,- Stop Q

133 tongue See collation. Q 'being' is probably Bratton, p. 205).

a misreading of 'tong' (Duthie, p. 423). 141 Save him Albany apparently calls out to
133 say Aphetic form of 'assay' = proof, sam- save Edmond from a coup de grâce, because he
ple (Onions); hence, 'smack', 'air'. The F collator wants Edmond's confession (Johnson). Or he may
or compositor mistook the noun for a verb and, be calling out to soldiers to save Edgar, momentar-
treating the expression as parenthetical, inserted ily in danger, as Gonerill with murder in her eyes
brackets. Compare Duthie, pp. 195-6. accuses him of 'practice'. Blayney, following van
134 What . . . delay See Textual Analysis, Dam (see collation), regards Q/F Alb. as a misread-
p. 287 below, on line missing in Q. ing of All, which could also make sense dramati-
134 safe and nicely legally and punctiliously. cally.
135 rule See collation. Q 'right' may derive from 143 opposite opponent; as at 41 above.
misreading 'rit' for 'rule' in copy (compare Duthie, 144 cozened cheated, duped.
p. 423); or F may have altered Q (as often in 144-51 Shut . . . her See collation. To Duthie,
this passage) to avoid the internal rhyme, 'right' - p. 43, the Q/F variants here were evidence of memo-
'knighthood'. rial reconstruction, but to more recent scholars
137 hell-hated lie lie as hateful as hell. Q 'hell they reveal differences in dramatic intention: e.g.
hatedly' derives from the compositor mistaking 'ly' in Q, Albany acts more straightforwardly through-
( = 'lie') for an adverbial suffix (Duthie, p. 423). out the passage; in F, his actions are more dis-
138 Which i.e. those treasons (136). 'Which' is jointed, hesitant, consistent with his 'pattern of
also the object of the verb in the next line, where delay' later in this scene (Urkowitz, pp. 111-15).
'them' is grammatically redundant (Kittredge). GonerilPs final exit similarly shows 'a very clear
138 for because. differentiation': in Q, she leaves the stage defeated
138 bruise i.e. you. and shamefaced; in F, she is challenged but strong
139 instant way immediate passage. and defiant (McLeod, pp. 187-8). Speech head-
140 Where . . . for ever i.e. in you. ings and address have also aroused comment, as
140 SD A realistic duel must involve a fight, indicated below. On recasting speeches, see Tex-
not just swordplay (Rosenberg, p. 305; compare tual Analysis, pp. 80-1 above.
5-3-145 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3 1 1 3 - 2 6 1*54]

Or with this paper shall I stop it. - Hold, sir. 145

Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil. -
No tearing, lady. I perceive you know it.
GONERILL Say if I do; the laws are mine, not thine.
Who can arraign me for't? Exit
ALBANY Most monstrous! O,
Know'st thou this paper?
EDMOND Ask me not what I know.
ALBANY Go after her, she's desperate, govern her.
[Exit an Officer]
EDMOND What you have charged me with, that have I done,
And more, much more; the time will bring it out.
'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou
That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,
I do forgive thee.

145 stop] F; stople Q 145 - Hold, sir.] hold Sir, F,- not in Q 146 name] F,- thing Q 147 No] F; nay no Q 147 know
it] F; know't Q 148-9 Say . . . for't] F lineation; one line (me for't. turned under) Q 149 can] F; shal Q 149 SD] F; Exit.
Gonorill. Q {after IJO) 149-50 Most . . . paper?] Capell's lineation; one line Q, F 149 O,] F; not in Q 150 SH] F; Gon.
Q (see Commentary) 151 SD] Capell; not in Q, F 152 What . . . done,] As in Q; two lines divided with, / That F 155
thou'rt] F,- thou bee'st Q

145 this paper i.e. the letter Edgar has given antly asserting her superiority over Albany and law
him (5.1.29). (McLeod, p. 187).
145 Hold, sir These words, not in Q, show who 150 Know'st . . . paper In F, Albany's address
is addressed. 'Hold' = take, receive (often with to Edmond is clear, whereas in Q, with Gonerill still
the implication of wait or desist: see Schmidt, and on stage, it is ambiguous and even contradictory:
compare 77V 3.3.38, Mac. 2.1.4). Albany has already indicated that Gonerill recog-
146 Thou . . . evil Albany addresses Edmond, nises the letter (147). Compare Furness.
not Gonerill, since he does not use the familiar 150 SH EDMOND Q assigns this speech to
pronoun for her, as he now consistently does for Gonerill, who then exits vanquished, implying her
Edmond. Only once (4.2.36), after she uses the guilt (McLeod, p. 188). In assigning the line to
familiar pronoun to him, does Albany address her Edmond, F resolves any ambiguity and contradic-
thus (Urkowitz, p. 111). tion (see previous note). Edmond's response is not
146 thine own evil Edmond is thoroughly necessarily defiant, but may be 'a resigned admis-
implicated in GonerilPs letter, which explicitly sion' of guilt, delivered sombrely, i.e. 'You need
mentions their 'reciprocal vows' (4.5.250), although not ask' (Urkowitz, p. 114). Perhaps the Q com-
Gonerill takes the initiative in urging the further positor mistakenly continued the Albany/Gonerill
evil of Albany's murder. alternation; moreover, Gonerill's name after her
147 No tearing Gonerill tries to tear the letter exit in Q would be redundant if the speech were
out of Albany's hands as he gives it to Edmond. hers (Halio, p. 164; compare Duthie, pp. 189-90,
Compare a similar incident in King Leir (2586). and Muir, who follow Q).
148-9 the laws . . . for't Gonerill refers to her 151 Go . . . govern her Somewhat belatedly,
position as queen and to Albany as merely consort. Albany recognises Gonerill's despair and shows
The sovereign had no peer and therefore could not justified concern; this is consistent with his emerg-
be tried: see R2 1.2.37-41, 3.2.54-7. ing pattern of delayed response.
149 SD See collation. Q delays Gonerill's exit 155-6 If. . . thee Edmond implicitly repudiates
until after 'Ask me not what I know' (150), which his stance in 1.2 and reverts to traditional concepts
it assigns to her, not Edmond. In F she exits defi- of nobility and breeding (Hunter).
[3JJ] TLN 3127-45 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.173

EDGAR Let's exchange chanty.

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmond.
If more, the more th'hast wronged me.
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices 160
Make instruments to plague us.
T h e dark and vicious place where thee he got
Cost him his eyes.
EDMOND Th'hast spoken right; 'tis true.
The wheel is come full circle; I am here.
ALBANY Methought thy very gait did prophesy 165
A royal nobleness. I must embrace thee.
Let sorrow split my heart if ever I
Did hate thee or thy father.
E D G A R Worthy prince, I know't.
A L B A N Y Where have you hid yourself? 170
How have you known the miseries of your father?
E D G A R B y nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale,
And when 'tis told, O that my heart would burst!

157 art,] F4; art Q, F 158 th'hast] F; thou hast Q 160 vices] F; vertues Q 161-3 Make . . . eyes.] F lineation; two
lines divided vitious / Place Q 161 plague] F; scourge Q 162 thee he] F, Q; he thee Q2 163-4 Th'hast . . . here.] F
lineation; as prose Q 163 Th'hast] F; Thou hast Q 163 right;'tis true] F; truth Q 164 circle] F; circled Q 167-8 Let
. . . father.] F lineation; one line Q 167-8 ever I / Did] F; I did euer Q 169 know't] F, Q; know it Q2 172-80 By . . .
rings,] F lineation; nine lines ending . . . Lord, / . . . told / . . . proclamation / . . . neere, / . . . death, / . . . once. /
. . . rags / . . . disdain'd / . . . rings, Q

156 Let's exchange charity Edgar's fierceness Fortune's wheel, which has returned Edmond to
apparently abates, although his character 'has too the bottom whence he began. Events have circled
much validity to be merely humble and gentle', back so that he, who was the initiator and bene-
and his speech reflects a 'bitter morality' that offers ficiary of much evil, is now its victim. Compare
Edmond no solace (Rosenberg, p. 307). Bradley, p. 15: 'That men may start a course of
158 If more i.e. since Edmond is 'half-blooded' events but can neither calculate nor control it, is a
(74). tragic fact.'
159 My . . . son Edgar removes his helmet. 165-6 Methought . . . nobleness Albany
160-1 The gods . . . us Compare Wisdom addresses Edgar, whose demeanour and very man-
11.[13]: 'wherewith a man sinneth, by the same also ner of walking, he says, suggest something kingly,
shal he be punished', and Jer. 2.19: 'Thine owne Albany's specific terms,'royal nobleness', are them-
wickednes shal correct thee, and thy turnings backe selves prophetic: compare 293-4 below,
shal reproue thee' (Noble). 166 royal (1) dignified, (2) regal, kingly.
160 pleasant pleasure-giving. 167 sorrow . . . heart Compare Rj 1.3.299.
162-3 The dark . . . eyes Edgar applies his where Queen Margaret uses the same expression.
statement of compensatory justice to the specific 169 Worthy Noble,
instance: the sinful fornication that bred Edmond 172 List Listen to.
led to events culminating in Gloucester's blinding. 173 O that . . . burst Emotionally overtaxed
162 dark (1) dim, unlit, (2) morally benighted. by now, Edgar uncharacteristically, like his father,
162 vicious place Compare 'forfended place' yearns for death. But his work is not yet finished.
(5.1.11) (King). (At 4.1.10-12, he said the opposite; see Rosenberg,
162 got begot. p. 307, on Edgar's inconsistencies.)
164 The w h e e l . . . here More is suggested than
5-3-174 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3146-68 [256]

The bloody proclamation to escape

That followed me so near (O, our lives' sweetness, 175
That we the pain of death would hourly die
Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift
Into a madman's rags, t'assume a semblance
That very dogs disdained; and in this habit
Met I my father with his bleeding rings, 180
Their precious stones new-lost; became his guide,
Led him, begged for him, saved him from despair,
Never - O fault! - revealed myself unto him
Until some half hour past, when I was armed.
Not sure, though hoping of this good success, 185
I asked his blessing, and from first to last
Told him our pilgrimage; but his flawed heart -
Alack, too weak the conflict to support -
'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly.
EDMOND This speech of yours hath moved me, 190
And shall perchance do good. But speak you on,
You look as you had something more to say.
A L B A N Y I f there be more, more woeful, hold it in,
For I am almost ready to dissolve,
Hearing of this. 195

176 we] F; with Q 178 madman's] mad-mans Q, F 178 t'assume] F; To assume Q 181 Their] F,- The Q *i82 despair,]
Q; dispaire. F 183 fault] F; Father Q 187 our] F; my Q 194-5 For . . . this.] F lineatioti; one line Q 195 this.] F omits
eighteen lines here

174 bloody proclamation Compare 2.1.55-7, 187 flawed cracked, i.e. damaged by suffering.
2.3.1-5. 190 Burst smilingly Gloucester's dying smile
175-7 O, o u r • • • once i.e. life is so precious to suggests not only joyful reunion with Edgar, but
us that we prefer to prolong it, suffering agonies gladness that death has come to him at last,
repeatedly, rather than to die quickly and be done. Gloucester's death prepares in some ways for
Compare Cym. 5.1.25-7. Lear's, brought closer in F by substantial cutting
177 shift change. after 195 (Clayton, p. 137; compare 196-201 n.
180 rings i.e. eye-sockets. The next line contin- below),
ues the metaphor. 190-2 This . . . say Edmond 'becomes human-
183 O fault Edgar now realises he was wrong ised' in the course of King Lear, discovering the
to delay reconciliation with his father. 'In effect, limitations and passions that being human involves,
Edgar's way and time of telling killed his father' as this speech and others in the scene reveal
(Rosenberg, p. 308). (Reibetanz, p. 59).
185 success outcome; i.e. victory in the duel. 191 shall . . . good Compare 217-25 below.
187-90 his flawed . . . smilingly In Sidney's 193 hold it in As if taking a cue from Albany,
Arcadia, Bk 11, ch. 10, the blind Paphlagonian king F cuts seventeen lines following this speech: see
dies similarly of a broken heart, 'with many teares Textual Analysis, pp. 276-7 below,
(both of ioy and sorrow)'. 194 dissolve i.e. in tears.
[257] TLN 3169-85 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.205

Enter a GENTLEMAN [with a bloody knife]

GENTLEMAN Help, help, O help!
EDGAR What kind of help?
ALBANY Speak, man.
EDGAR What means this bloody knife?
GENTLEMAN 'Tis hot, it smokes.
It came even from the heart o f - O, she's dead.
ALBANY Who dead? Speak, man.
GENTLEMAN Your lady, sir, your lady; and her sister 200
B y her is poisoned: she confesses it.
E D M O N D I was contracted to them both; all three
Now marry in an instant.
EDGAR Here comes Kent.
Enter KENT [as himself]
ALBANY Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.
GonerilTs and Regan's bodies brought out
T h i s judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble, 205

195 SD] Enter one with a bloudie knife, Q; Enter a Gentleman. F 196 O help!] F; not in Q 196 SH EDGAR] F; .-///;. Q 196
ALBANY Speak, man.I F; not in Q 197 su EDGAR] F; not in Q, which continues speech as part of previous line 197 this]
F; that Q 197-8 'Tis . . . dead.] Steevens's lineation (Capell subst.); one line Q, which omits O she's dead; as prose F 197
'Tis] F; Its Q 199 dead? Speak, man.] F; man, speake? Q 201 confesses] F; hath confest Q; has confest Q2 203 EDGAR
Here comes Kent.] F; after pity 206 Q 203 Kent.] F,- Kent sir. Q 203 SD] Oxford (subst.J; Enter Kent Q, Q2, F (after 20j
Q; after pity 206 Q2) 204 the] F; their Q 204 SD] F; The bodies of Gonorill and Regan are brought in. Q (after 212; see
Commentary) 205 judgement] F; Iustice Q 205 tremble,] Q; tremble. F

196-201 Help . . . it See collation. Revision of 203 EDGAR . . . Kent See collation. In Q,
this sequence in F gives Edgar two speeches. By Edgar's line and Kent's entrance occur in the mid-
sharing the interrogation with Albany, he begins dle of Albany's speech. In F, Kent 'comes slowly
taking over responsibility for events (compare Tex- down the stage while Albany is speaking' (Muir) -
tual Analysis, p. 79 above; Urkowitz, pp. 116-17; a more effective entrance. Moreover, in F'S lineation
and 222-5 below). Doran, pp. 53-4, 72, believed the metre improves.
Shakespeare was responsible for the revision, as for 203 SD Enter KENT Kent now drops his dis-
the deletion of the lines following 195. The episode guise as Caius. He was last seen in 4.6 and may be
was modified by all eighteenth- and nineteenth- imagined as having become separated from Lear
century actor-editors, who often cut it completely and Cordelia during the battle.
(Bratton, p. 209). 204 SD GonerilVs . . . out See collation. Muir
197 smokes steams. 'Fresh blood commonly believes Q is right, allowing time for Albany's order
"smokes" in Sh[akespeare]' (NS). The line is one to be obeyed. But Q'S SD occurs at an awkward
of the most difficult for a modern audience to take moment; in F, only a brief pause is needed, and
seriously, unless very carefully controlled and mod- 'This judgement of the heavens' (205) becomes
ulated (Rosenberg, p. 309). immediately visual. The business is unfortunately
198 It . . . dead The line generates deliberate often cut, destroying the tragic reprise of 1.1 when
tension and suspense. Regan's death is expected, Lear enters (Bratton, p. 209; compare Granville-
but by poison. Gonerill and Cordelia are other pos- Barker, p. 277).
sible victims, but which one, and why? 205-6 This judgement . . . pity i.e. this divine
200 Your lady Edmond's prophecy (4.2.26) is retribution is terrible (in swiftness and finality), but
fulfilled. it does not evoke sorrow or compassion (since the
203 marry unite; with a pun on sex and death victims deserved their fate).
(Rosenberg, p. 309, who compares 4.5.189).
5-3-2o6 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3186-207 [258]

Touches us not with pity. - O, is this he?

[To Kent] The time will not allow the compliment
Which very manners urges.
KENT I am come
To bid my king and master aye good night.
Is he not here?
ALBANY Great thing of us forgot! 210
Speak, Edmond; where's the king, and where's Cordelia?
Seest thou this object, Kent?
KENT Alack, why thus?
EDMOND Yet Edmond was beloved.
The one the other poisoned for my sake,
And after slew herself. 215
ALBANY Even so. — Cover their faces.
EDMOND I pant for life. Some good I mean to do,
Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send -
Be brief in it - to th'castle; for my writ
Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia. 220
Nay, send in time.
ALBANY Run, run, O run!
EDGAR To who, my lord? - Who has the office? Send
Thy token of reprieve.

206 us] F, Q; not in Q2 206-8 O . . . urges.] F lineation; two lines divided allow / The and with SH Alb. I before O (see
j.j.203 n.) Q 206 is this] F; tis Q 207 SD] Hanmer; not in Q, F 208 Which] F; that Q 208-9 I • • • night.] F lineation;
one line Q 2 1 0 - 1 2 Great . . . Kent?] F, Q lineation; as prose Q2 210 thing] F, Q; things Q2 2 1 3 - 1 5 Yet . . . herself.] F,
Q lineation; as prose Q2 217-21 I . . . time.] F, Q lineation; as prose Q2 218 mine] F; my Q 219 Be brief in it - to th']
F; Be briefe, int toth' Q,- bee briefe, into the Q2 222-3 To . . . reprieve.] As in Q; divided Office? / Send F, Q2 222
has] F; hath Q

206 O . . . he Albany finally sees Kent. the case, Albany reveals an inability from here on to
207-8 The time . . . urges Events do not per- take effective and timely action, which justifies his
mit the ceremony of greeting which mere courtesy relinquishment of the throne at the end. (Compare
demands. H 4 - 5 1 n. and 151 n. above.)
208-9 I a m • • • night Kent is not interested in 212 this object i.e. the bodies of Gonerill and
ceremony; he is concerned only to see Lear. Regan; 'object' = sight, spectacle.
210 Great . . . forgot Events before and after 2 1 3 - 1 6 Yet Edmond . . . faces Edmond's boast
the battle have distracted Albany from concern for here as at 202-3 deeply wounds Albany, who utters
Lear and Cordelia. Kent's reminder, however, does a terse 'Even so'. Then, before ordering their faces
not lead to immediate action. Albany questions covered, 'Reminded of his great love, great hurt,
Edmond, but then directs Kent's gaze to the bod- he takes one last look' (Rosenberg, p. 310).
ies of Gonerill and Regan which, in Q, are brought 215 after afterwards, later,
out here. In F, something else apparently motivates 219 Be brief i.e. don't waste time.
Albany's interrupted response, 'some sudden erup- 220 on against.
tion of concern within himself (Urkowitz, p. 119), 2 2 1 - 3 R u n • • • reprieve Albany's exhortation
or 'involvement with his own repressed feeling' of to Edgar shows turmoil and confusion; it remains
love for Gonerill (Rosenberg, p. 309). But Shake- for the younger man again to take charge and get
speare may simply have made a characteristic minor from Edmond the important details,
slip, one scarcely noticed in the theatre. Whatever
[259] TLN 3208-18 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.232

EDMOND Well thought on. Take my sword. The captain,

Give it the captain.
EDGAR Haste thee for thy life. 225
[Exit an Officer]
E D M O N D He hath commission from thy wife and me
To hang Cordelia in the prison and
To lay the blame upon her own despair,
That she fordid herself.
A L B A N Y The gods defend her. Bear him hence a while. 230
[Edmond is borne off]

Enter LEAR with CORDELIA in his arms [and the OFFICER following]

LEAR Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones.

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so,

224-5 Well . . . captain.] F, Q lineation; one line Q2 *224 sword. The captain,] Oxford; sword the Captaine Q; sword,
Q2, F 225 SH] F; Duke. Q; Alb. Q2 225 SD] This edn; Exit the Gentleman / Oxford; not in Q, F 226-8 He . . . despair]
As verse F, Q,- as prose Q2 227-8 To . . . despair] F; divided lay / The Q 229 That . . . herself.] F, Q,- not in Q2 230
SD.I Edmond . . . off] Theobald; not in Q, F 230 SD.2 and the OFFICER following] This edn; not in Q, F *23i Howl . . .
howl!] As in Q; F omits one howle *23i you] Q; your F 232 I'd] F; I would Q

224 The captain See collation. Like Q2, F omits leave open the question of Cordelia's physical state,
these words, which Duthie, p. 424, believes the Q although many editors prejudice readers by follow-
compositor erred in setting up too soon and then ing Rowe and inserting dead after CORDELIA. The
repeated in their proper place. More likely, Com- ambiguity of Cordelia's state is crucial, as through-
positor E was influenced by Q2, whose composi- out the scene 'the audience continue to alternate
tor tried to correct the syntax, save space (making between hope and despair' (Peat, pp. 49, 51; com-
224-5 o n e line), and avoid what seemed to him pare E. A. J. Honigmann, Myriad-Minded Shake-
an awkward and unnecessary repetition. Edmond's speare, 1989, pp. 90-2).
gasping repetition, however, is dramatically effec- 230 SD.2 and . . .following After repeated delays
tive and helps make the next line metrically com- in the reprieve, the officer has arrived too late. He
plete, though half an iamb in 224 is sacrificed. re-enters, trailing behind Lear (compare Textual
225 SH EDGAR Q assigns this speech to Albany, Companion, p. 539).
rightly according to Sisson, p. 244, and to Duthie, 231 Howl . . . howl See collation. Compositor
p. 191, who argues (1) that Edmond gives Edgar E may have dropped the fourth 'howP because the
his sword, and (2) that Albany earlier bade him run line was too long for his stick. The fourth 'howl'
to the castle. But F revises or corrects Q, allowing syllabically fills out the metre. In actual stage prac-
Edgar (who sends an officer with Edmond's sword) tice, however, 'howl' is not usually articulated as a
more authority. Compare 221-3 n.; Hunter; and word but rather as 'a voiced pain, often an animal
249 below, where the officer, not Edgar, confirms ululation' (Rosenberg, p. 312; compare Bratton,
Lear's boast. p. 209).
228 To lay . . . despair In the sources, e.g. 231 stones i.e. insensitive as statues. The
Geoffrey of Monmouth, Cordeilla does commit onlookers are all stunned into frozen silence and
suicide years later. See p. 2 above. grief; in fact, the 'howls' are sometimes taken as
229 fordid killed. demands that they cry out (Rosenberg, p. 312).
230 Bear . . . while Edmond no longer matters Hunter believes the overall imagery is of a funerary
(compare 269 below). He is borne off through one chapel or pantheon of statues. (Perhaps Compos-
door as Lear enters through another. itor E created another false plural, but elsewhere
230 SD.2 Enter . . . arms This image, often Shakespeare uses similar plurals, e.g. Rj 3.7.224: 'I
regarded as an inverted or secular pietà, is properly am not made of stones.')
not a 'préfiguration' but 'a representative event of 232 eyes i.e. used for weeping along with
human history' (Brockbank, p. 14). Both Q and F wailing; or perhaps for lightning looks.
5-3-233 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3219-34 [260]

That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever.

I know when one is dead and when one lives.
She's dead as earth.
[He lays her down]
Lend me a looking-glass; 235
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why then she lives.
KENT Is this the promised end?
EDGAR Or image of that horror?
ALBANY Fall and cease.
LEAR This feather stirs, she lives: if it be so,
It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows 240
That ever I have felt.
KENT O my good master!
LEAR Prithee, away.
EDGAR 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.
LEAR A plague upon you murderers, traitors all.
I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever.

235 SD] Oxford; not in Q, F 236-7 If. . . lives] F, Q lineation; one line Q2 237 Why then she] F, Q; she then Q2 239-41
This . . . felt.] F, Q lineation; as prose Q2 239 stirs, she lives:] F; stirs she Hues, Q,- stirs; She lives! Capell 241 O] F; A
Q 243-8 A . . . thee.] F, Q lineation; as prose Q2 243 you murderers] v; your murderous Q; you murdrous Q2

233 heaven's . . . crack Compare 3.2.1-9. (1612), 5.2.38-40: 'Fetch a looking glasse, see
235-7 She's dead . . . lives Lear's oscilla- if his breath will not stain it; or pull out
tion between belief that Cordelia is dead and hope some feathers from my pillow, and lay them to
that she is not has led to controversy concerning his lippes' (Steevens). Webster doubtless recalled
whether he is finally deluded or not. 'The tension Shakespeare's scene and was more explicit about
here, and it is the underlying tension in Lear until the feather.
his death, lies between an absolute knowledge that 237 promised end (1) Judgement Day, the end
Cordelia is dead, and an absolute inability to accept of the world, (2) what Lear promised himself when
it' (Stampfer, p. 2). Compare also 284-5 n - below. he divided his kingdom (Hunter), (3) the outcome
235 Lend me a looking-glass The stage busi- promised by what has occurred (compare p. 12
ness from here through the next fifteen lines is above).
complicated and subject to various interpretation. 238 Or image . . . horror Edgar understands
Someone may actually give Lear a glass (perhaps Kent's question in sense (1); 'image' = likeness,
one that Gonerill wears), or he hallucinates having representation.
one about him. If he has a glass, why does he refer 238 Fall and cease Vocatives: either (1) let
to a feather four lines later, and where does it come judgement come and all things end, or (2) may Lear
from? Again, he may fantasise or pluck a feather fall and cease to be (rather than continue living a
from his garment or a plume from someone's hel- wretched existence) (Steevens).
met, as he earnestly tries to discover or restore 239 This . . . lives Although most early edi-
some sign of life, however faint. Much depends tors adopt F'S punctuation, as here, Capell takes
on how the actor interprets Lear's state of mind the first clause as simply declarative and the sec-
and the fluctuating madness that still afflicts him, ond as a joyous exclamation. Many editions (e.g.
understandably, given the shock of Cordelia's hang- NS) follow. But the line, which parallels 236-7, car-
ing. Compare Meagher, pp. 248-9, 254-7; Rosen- ries an implied 'if at the beginning. Lear's uncer-
berg, p. 314; Stampfer, pp. 2 - 3 . tainty continues in the next lines, as he toils over
236 stone 'mirror of polished stone or crys- Cordelia's bod v.
tal' (Onions). Compare Webster, The White Devil
{26,} TLN 3235-55 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.263

Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha? 245

What is't thou sayst? - Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman. -
I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee.
O F F I C E R 'Tis true, my lords, he did.
LEAR Did I not, fellow?
I have seen the day with my good biting falchion 250
I would have made them skip. I am old now,
And these same crosses spoil me. [To Kent] Who are you?
Mine eyes are not o'th'best, I'll tell you straight.
K E N T If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,
One of them we behold. 255
L E A R This' a dull sight. Are you not Kent?
KENT The same,
Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?
L E A R He's a good fellow, I can tell you that.
He'll strike, and quickly too. He's dead and rotten.
K E N T No, my good lord, I am the very man - 260
L E A R I'll see that straight.
K E N T That from your first of difference and decay
Have followed your sad steps.

246 sayst] F, Q2,- sayest Q 247 woman] F; women Q *249 SH OFFICER] Capell; Gent, F; Cap. Q 249 my lords,] Q;
(my Lords) F 249-53 I^'d • • • straight.] F lineation; as prose Q2 249-51 Did . . . now,] Lines end . . . day, / . . .
would / . . . now, Q 250 have] F, Q; ha Q2 250 with my good] F, Q; that with my Q2 *25i them] Q; him F 252
SD] Oxford; not in Q, F 253 o'th'] F; othe Q 254 brag] F; bragd Q 254 and] F; or Q 256 This' . . . sight] F; not in
Q *256 This'] Schmidt iHjq (conj. S. Walker); This is F 256 you not] F; not you Q 256-7 The . . . Caius?] Capel/'s
lineation; divided; Kent, I Where F; one line Q 258 you] F; not in Q *26o man - ] Pope; man. Q, F 262first]F; life Q

245 Cordelia . . . little The eloquence and son spoke to) "behold" one, and I another' (Capell,
poignancy of this simple utterance are unsurpassed. cited by Furness, NS).
249 SH OFFICER See collation and compare 256 This' This is.
5.1.0 SD and 5.3.225 SD, 230 SD.2. 256 dull sight Either (1) melancholy spectacle
250-1 I have . . . skip Compare Wiv. 2.1.227-9, (referring to Cordelia's body), or (2) poor eyesight
Oth. 5.2.261-4. (Booth, pp. 3 1 - 2 ; compare 253 above).
250 falchion A hooked, or curved, sword. 256 Are . . . Kent Eyesight failing, Lear peers
251 them See collation: Q makes better sense. at Kent and is briefly diverted from Cordelia. Fail-
Lear is speaking of his enemies generally, not ing eyesight was a symptom of approaching death
Cordelia's executioner (Duthie, p. 191). An easy (Bucknill, cited by Hoeniger (p. 96)).
compositorial error. 257 Where . . . Caius Kent earnestly wants
252 crosses vexations, thwartings. Lear to make the connection. Compare 4.6.9 n.
252 spoil me 'i.e. as a swordsman' (Muir). 261 I'll . . . straight I'll attend to that
253 straight straightaway. in a moment's time. Lear is still preoccupied
Wltn
254-5 I f . . . behold Kent and Lear are looking Cordelia. His 'welcome' (263) is similarly
at each other; hence, 'the two objects of fortune's peremptory.
love and her hate are, - himself, and his master 262 your . . . decay the beginning of your
. . .: of these two, says the speaker, you (the per- change and decline (of fortunes).
5.3.263 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3256-76 [262]

LEAR You're welcome hither.

K E N T Nor no man else. All's cheerless, dark, and deadly.
Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves 265
And desperately are dead.
LEAR Ay, so I think.
ALBANY He knows not what he says, and vain is it
That we present us to him.
Enter a MESSENGER

EDGAR Very bootless.

M E S S E N G E R Edmond is dead, my lord.
ALBANY That's but a trifle here.
You lords and noble friends, know our intent. 270
What comfort to this great decay may come
Shall be applied. For us, we will resign
During the life of this old majesty
To him our absolute power; [To Edgar and Kent] you, to
your rights,
With boot, and such addition as your honours 275
Have more than merited. All friends shall taste
The wages of their virtue, and all foes
The cup of their deservings. O see, see!
263 You're] Pope; You'r Q,- Your are F 264 Nor . . . deadly.] As in Q; two lines divided else: / All's F 265 fordone]
fore-done F; foredoome Q; foredoom'd Q2 266 Ay . . . think.] F; So thinke I to. Q 267 says] F; sees Q 267 is it] F; it
is Q 268 SD] F; Enter Captaine. Q (after bootlesse) 269-78 That's . . . see!] F lineation (except 276-7); as prose Q 271
great] F; not in Q 274 SD] Malone; not in Q, F 275 honours] F; honor Q 276—7 Have . . . foes] Pope's lineation; divided
shall / Taste F

263 You're See collation, F'S sophistication has full circle. Compare 1.1.32 ff. (NS).
gone awry; Q'S 'you'r' is metrically superior. Com- 270 our Albany uses the royal plural appropri-
pare Duthie, p. 379, and 231 above. ately throughout this speech.
264 Nor . . . else i.e. no one else deserves your 271 great decay i.e. Lear, whose physical and
welcome if I don't. On double negatives, see Abbott mental decline is increasingly apparent. Compare
406. Some editors followr Rowe and continue from 'noble ruin', i.e. Antony, Ant. 3.10.18 (NS).
Kent's preceding lines: 'I am the very man . . . 275 boot something additional.
and no one else.' Booth believes the reference is 275 addition title; quibbling on 'boot'.
'unfixed and multiple . . . a vague and syntactically 275 honours i.e. honourable deeds, conduct.
unattached comment on the general scene' (p. 32). 276-8 All . . . deservings Albany's peroration
265 fordone killed. Q 'foredoome' may be a mis- appears suitable for the end of a tragedy (compare
reading of 'foredoone' (Duthie, p. 425), or possibly Mac. 5.9.26-41). But Shakespeare has more. Com-
'foredoomd'. pare J. K. Walton, 'Lear's last speech', S.Sur. 13
266 desperately in despair. (i960), 17, and John Shaw, ''King Lear, the final
266 Ay . . . think Although the bodies of Goner- lines', Essays in Criticism, 16 (1966), 262-3.
ill and Regan are on stage (204 SD), Lear, intent on 278 O see, see Some piece of stage business
Cordelia, has paid no attention to them. He may refocuses everyone's attention on Lear. Perhaps,
glance at them here before falling silent, tranced having momentarily fallen into a tranced or tran-
perhaps, certainly bemused (compare 278 n.). quil state (266 n.), he awakens abruptly and, rock-
268 bootless useless. ing Cordelia in his arms, has begun speaking to
270 know our intent Again, the wheel comes her.
[263] TLN 3277-95 The Tragedy of King Lear 5.3.294

LEAR And my poor fool is hanged. No, no, no life?

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, 280
And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
Never, never, never, never, never.
Pray you, undo this button. Thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her! Look, her lips.
Look there, look there. He dies
EDGAR He faints. My lord, my lord! 285
K E N T Break, heart, I prithee break.
EDGAR Look up, my lord.
K E N T Vex not his ghost. O, let him pass. He hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.
EDGAR He is gone indeed.
K E N T The wonder is he hath endured so long. 290
He but usurped his life.
A L B A N Y Bear them from hence. Our present business
Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain
Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.

279-83 And . . . sir.] F lineatwn; as prose Q 279 No, no, no] F; no, no Q 280 have] F,- of Q 281 Thou'lt] F; O thou
wilt Q 282 Never . . . never.] F; neuer, neuer, neuer, Q 283 Pray you] F, Q; pray Q2 283 sir.] F; sir, O, o, o, o. Q; sir,
O, o, o, 0, o. Q2 284-5 Do . . . there.] F; not in Q 284 this? Look] F corn; this, looke F uncorr. *284 her!] her? F 285
SD] F; not in Q 286 SH KENT] F; Lear. Q 287-9 ^ e x • • • longer.] F lineation; lines end . . . passe, / . . . wracke, / . . .
longer. Q 287 hates him] F, Q; hates him much Q2 289 He] F; O he Q 293 Is] F; Is to Q 294 realm] F; kingdome
Q 294 gored] F, Q,- good Q2

279 And . . . hanged Lear appears to be in trying to revive him, until he gives up at 289.
mid sentence. Since 'fool' was a common term 286 SH KENT See collation, and Textual Anal-
of endearment, most commentators believe Lear ysis, p. 81 above. 'What Shakespeare has done in
refers to Cordelia (see Furness). But his term revising is to transfer Lear's ultimate Quarto line
inevitably recalls the Fool, last seen in 3.6, whom he . . . to Kent, thus utterly altering action, char-
also loved. Moreover, the actor who played Cordelia acter, context, and significance' (Clayton, p. 135).
probably doubled as the Fool. (See p. 35 above, and Bradley, p. 309, suggests that Kent refers to his
compare Bradley, p. 314; Rosenberg, p. 318, Booth, own heart.
PP- 32-3)- 287 ghost i.e. departing spirit. Medieval and
283 Pray . . . button Compare 3.4.97 n. Renaissance iconography typically depicts the spirit
Although Lear may ask help to undo Cordelia's of a person departing at the point of death.
button, most commentators believe he is suffering 288 rack A torture machine upon which the vic-
a final attack of the 'mother' and wants the button tim was bound and stretched, forcing his limbs
at his own throat loosened. Kent obliges, (Q follows to become dislocated. Hunter believes 'tough' sug-
with death groans.) gests 'rack' = the body, which encloses the spirit
284-5 Do . . . there In 1.1, Lear, egocen- while a person lives. Lear's corporeal strength was
tric, demanded that everyone's attention be focused great: compare 248-51.
upon himself, as he asked his daughters publicly to 289 longer (1) for a longer time, (2) with his
declare their love. Here, finally, he directs attention body stretched further on the rack (Muir).
not to himself, but to the Other, to Cordelia, now 291 usurped stole (OED Usurp r 3).
more precious to him than his own life. 294 gored bleeding, wounded.
285-6 He . . . lord Edgar rushes to assist Lear,
5-3-295 The Tragedy of King Lear TLN 3296-302 [264]

KENT I have a journey, sir, shortly to go: 295

My master calls me; I must not say no.
EDGAR The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most; we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long. 300
Exeunt with a dead march
296 calls me;] F; cals, and Q 297 SH] F; Duke. Q 299 hath] F," haue Q 300 SD] F; not in Q

297 SH EDGAR See collation. Albany, the sur- 298 we Perhaps the royal plural, as Edgar puts
vivor with highest rank, would ordinarily utter the on the crown (Rosenberg, p. 323). Alternatively,
concluding lines. But Edgar owes him a reply, and the pronoun may include Albany, whose 'design of
the speech otherwise suits the younger man, espe- uncertainty' implies youth.
cially as F alters his role: see Textual Analysis, 300 SD dead march 'A piece of solemn music
p. 81 above. played at a funeral procession, esp. at a military
297 weight heavy burden (sadness was 'heavy'). funeral; a funeral march' (OED Dead adj D.2).
297 obey submit to, comply with.
T E X T U A L A N A L Y S I S , PART 2

Q has approximately 300 lines not in F, and F has about 100 lines not in Q. First, the
longer Q passages omitted from F are here examined in detail (a) to determine what range
of reasons there might have been for cutting them; (b) to trace connections between
passages which might suggest comprehensive revision; and (c) to weigh the advantages
and disadvantages of restoring them to the present modernised, Folio-based text. So
that readers may consult the materials fully, all Q-only passages are presented (in edited
form) in an Appendix, pp. 293-309 below. In the analyses that follow, most passages
are shown in slightly reduced photo-facsimile; but for longer passages, especially those
that do not involve complex bibliographical problems, the reader must refer to the
Appendix. Analyses of F-only passages follow the section of Q-only passages.

Q-only passages
A number of these passages have been discussed in Part 1 of the Textual Analysis
(pp. 65-85 above), but others require analysis, sometimes in conjunction with those
previously considered. The lines in question are enclosed by square brackets in the
facsimile reproductions.

(i) After 1.2.85:

GUfi, Hecannotbefucharaonftcr.
\Bsftt Nor is not dure.
GUfi. To hisftther.thatfo tenderly and intirély loues him,
heauen and earth ïj/EJmmtd fecke him out, windraceinto him, I
prav you frame your bufines after your own wifedomc, I would
vnrtate my fetfe to be in a due refolurion.

The omission from F appears deliberate, not accidental on the part of Compositor B,
who set the passage. Theatrical cuts this early in the text are rare, and the column that B
was setting on signature qq3v shows signs of crowding later on. On the other hand, the
lines are not indispensable; moreover, another cut of several lines (complemented by a
Folio addition, lines 96-100) occurs at 125. In view of these other alterations suggesting
revision, the lines here may have been deleted by a reviser.

(ii) After 1.2.125:

£Jf. Doc youbufic your fclfc about that»

71$. I promife you the effefts he writ oÇfucceed vnhappuV,
(Lofvnnaturalncflcbetweencthe child and the parent, death,
dearth, diflblutions of ancient amities, dinifions inftate,mena-

265
The Tragedy of King Lear [266]

ces and malcdiltionfagainft King and nobles, needles diffiden-

ces,bani{hment cjffrieds.difljpaaon ofCohorcs^nupcîal breach-
cSjând I know not what
Ed*. How long haue you beer* a fcforyAfoonomicall?
B*fr. Cornc,conrc^henfaw you my father lait/
B^g.. Why, the night gon by.

Since these lines essentially repeat Gloucester's speech 96 ff, added in F, they are
unnecessary here. Folio lineation, moreover, suggests that a cut has been made:

Edg, Do you bufie your felfe with that?

B*ft. I prornife you, the effects he writes of,fucccedc
rn happily.
When faw you my Father laft ?
£dg. The night gone by.

(iii) After 1.3.16:

G**. Put on what wearie negligence you pleafe,you and your

fellow feruants, f de haue k come in <juc(tion, if he diflike it,lct
him to our filter, whofc inind and nunc I know in that are one,
jnottobcouerruld; idle old man that ftill would manage thofc
authorities that hce hath giuen away, now by my life old foolcs
are babes sgain, cV muftbc vsd with chcckec as flatteries,when
they are feene abufdjfemember what I tell you.
Çtmt. Very well Madam.
Ç**. And let his Knights haue colder looks ampng you, what
crowes of it no matter, aduife your fellowtsfo,f would breed
from hence occafions.and Khali, that I may fpcakc^lc wrirc
ftraight to myfiflcrtohouldmy vcrycourfc, goc prepare for
dinner. Exit.

Two cuts in this passage are complemented by additions in the following scene. These
alterations and others affect Goneril's character in ways described above (pp. 78-9);
furthermore, local alterations, e.g. F 'Remember what I have said' (17) for Q 'remember
what I tell you' also point to a revising hand.

(iv) After 1.4.119 (see Textual Analysis, Part 1, pp. 84-5 above).
E. K. Chambers (1, 467) suggests that censorship as well as theatrical abridgement
may be responsible for the F omission. The overt satirical reference to monopolies
was dangerous under James I, especially in the bawdy context the Fool describes, and
censorship or the threat of it may have intervened. But after developing the argument
for censorship at length, Taylor ('Censorship', pp. 101-9) concedes that the passage as
abbreviated in F 'makes good dramatic sense' and does not argue for restoration of Q'S
lines, as he does for 'Fut' at 1.2.115 ('Censorship', p. n o ) . If censorship was imposed,
Shakespeare could have recast the passage, but evidently he or his fellows found it was
[267] Textual analysis, part 2

better left out. Compare Kerrigan, pp. 218-19, who notes revisions elsewhere, such as
the reassigned speech headings at 91 and 189, and changes in the Fool's psychology.
For Compositor E's failure to delete the first three lines of the passage, see above,
pp. 84-5.

(v) After 1.4.190 (see Textual Analysis, Part 1, p. 80 above).

As Urkowitz notes ('Editorial tradition', p. 34), Capell was the first to suggest that
Shakespeare was responsible for revising this passage, a position supported by, for
example, Kerrigan, p. 220. He argues that F'S assignment of 190 to the Fool comple-
ments the cut and highlights 'Lear's shadow'. Although Q is good, F is better: 'it opens
a gap between "Lear's shadow" and "Your name . . ." which is both painful and unig-
norable. The poetic space can scarcely be played across. Within it, the Fool's words
resonate.'

(vi) After 2.2.128:

Cjl»(l. Let mebefcech yctir Grace not to do?. Co,

£rhs fault is much, and the good King his imifter
Will check him for'r, your purpo (How correction
Is fuch,as bafeft and temneft wretches forpilfringi
And moftcommon trefpafles are punimt with!}
The King muft take it ill, that hec's fo (lightly valued
In his me(Tenger,mould haue him thus retrained.
Duke.' lie anfwer that.
Rt£. Myfittermay rcce«* it much more worfe,
To haue her Gentlemen abuVd, aflalced
£j«"orfollowing heraffàires,puc in his leggesff
Come my good Lord away i

Duthie, p. 174, believes that the first cut of four and a half lines is deliberate, and
the patch (with appropriate relineation) is expert (compare Stone, p. 235). Revision
appears to be at work here. The lines are not essential to the action, although they
spell out the situation in fuller detail and show Gloucester pleading more earnestly.
F also lacks a line after 133, which Duthie, p. 175, calls a compositor error. Since F
otherwise alters Q, giving the next half-line to Cornwall (instead of continuing it as part
of Regan's speech) and dropping 'good' from the term of address, the changes again
seem to indicate revision.

(vii) After 2.4.17:

Q: Kent. It is boch he and fhee, your fonnc & daugter.

Le*r. No. Kent. Yes.
Leur. No I fay, Kent. I fay yea-
[ Leér. No nojthey would not. Kmt. Yes they hauc. J
Le*r. By letter I fwcarc no.they durftnot do't,
They would not, could not do't,tis worfe then murder,
The Tragedy of King Lear [268]

F: Kt*t. jtiihcthheandflic,
Vour So.i. and Daughter.
LtAT. f^o.
Kent. Yes.
I wr, No I fay.
htnt. I fay yea.
Le*r* By /*/>/*«• I fweare no.
T JCntf. By IK**,I fweare 1*3
i « r . Tbeydurftnotdo't:
They could net, would not do*c : *ût worfètbcntntmher,

F omits two brief speeches and adds one - Kent's oath, introduced to parallel Lear's.
Evidently the cut was made to allow for the addition, although some editors (e.g.
Duthie, Muir) have found the speeches so impressive that they conflate. But, as Michael
Warren says, conflation has no authority - unless, of course, we assume the colla-
tor accidentally skipped Q'S crowded line. But within the puerile, see-saw argument
between Lear and Kent, effective for three interchanges in either Q or F, a fourth
seems tedious and unnecessary. Finally, if F'S additional line was accidentally omitted
by the Q compositor as well, a remarkable coincidence of errors results - possible, but
unlikelv.

(viii) After 3.1.7:

Gent. Contending with the fretful 1 dement,

Bids the wind blow the earth into the fea,
Or (well the curled waters bouc the rruine (haire,
That things might change or ceafe, (teares hw white
Which the impetuous bum with eylesragc
Catch in their fùrie^nd malcçnothing of,
Striues* in his little world oCrnan to o ut feorne,
The too and fro conflicting wind and raine,
This night wherin the cub-drawne Beare would couch*
The Lyon,and the belly pinched Wolfe
Keepc their furrc dry, vnbonncted he runncs,
And bids what will take alLT)

The eight and a half lines missing from F represent theatrical abridgement, reduc-
ing the prominence Q gives the Gentleman. Moreover, the action he describes
occurs in the immediately following scene. Duthie, p. 8, compares it to the cut at
5-3-195-
[26g] Textual analysis, part 2

(ix) After 3 . 1 . 1 3 :

Q: Ktnt, Sir I doe know you,

And dare vpon the warrant ofmy Arte,
Commend a deare thing to you, there is diuifion,.
Although asyetthefâceofitbecouefd,
With muruall cunning, twixt %Albmtj and Ç*t*m«t
But true it is, from Trwtet there comes a power
Into this Scattered kingdome, whoalreadiewifeinour
Haue fecret fêet infomeofour beft Ports, (negligcce,
And are at point to (hew their open banner,
Now to you, ifon my credit you dare build fo rarre,
To make your fpeea to Douer,you (hall find
Some dut will thankeyou, making iuft report
Ofhow vnnaturall and bemadding forrow
The King hath caufe to plaine,
I am a Gentleman of blood and breeding,
Andfromfome knowledge and aflurance,
Offer this office to you.
Gent. I wiU talkc farther with you.
Kent, No doc not,

F: Kent. Sir, 1 do know you,

And dare vpon the warrant of my note
Commend a deerc thtng to you. There is diuifion
(Although 3$ yet the ùcc of it iscouer'd
With mucuali cunning,) 'cwixt Albar.y.and Cornwall :
Who hauc, as who haue not, that their great Starres
Thron'd and let high ; Seruants.who fecme no leife,
Which are to France the Spies and Speculations
Intelligent ofour State. What hath bin feenc,
Either in fnurfes, and packing* of the Dukes,
Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne
Againft the old kinde King ; or fomcthing deeper,
Whereof (perchance) thel'c arc but furniflungs.
Cent. I will uike further with you.
Kent. Nojdonot:

Here is an instance (compare vii above) not of simple abridgement but of substitu-
tion (see p. 80). Both sets of lines are Shakespearean, although the Folio lines are in
a style more typical of Shakespeare's later work. Combining the passages, however,
not only gives Kent an inordinately long speech but, as Urkowitz notes, introduces
difficulties not found in either Q or F. For example, in Q, France does not know of the
king's mistreatment by his daughters and needs to be told, so Kent sends the Gentle-
man to Dover with the news; in F, France already knows, and Kent does not need to
(and therefore does not) send the Gentleman to Dover; in the composite text, France
has the news, and Kent sends the Gentleman to Dover with it anyway. Finally, although
they include mention of French spies, the Folio lines eliminate a reference to French
invasion and thus form part of a pattern of cuts that downplay this aspect of the plot
(see above, p. 83; on fragmented syntax, see Commentary notes to 3.1.14-15 and 20).
The Tragedy of King Lear [2 j j

(x) After 3.6.14 (see Appendix, pp. 297-9 below, xii).

The omission of the 'mock trial' episode in F has aroused considerable controversy.
Some scholars have argued for authorial revision, though the effect or rather the value
of the cut in dramatic terms is debatable. For example, Roger Warren maintains that
the omission of Lear's mad trial of Gonerill and Regan not only tightens the dramatic
structure, but avoids duplication of Lear's mock justice in Act 4. Moreover, cutting the
mad trial in 3.6 hurries the action forward to the 'thing itself, that is, the insane enact-
ment of justice that immediately follows in 3.7, the trial and sentencing of Gloucester.
But these putative gains may not be worth the loss of what, in the theatre, is a most
impressive piece of drama. The parallel with events in 3.7 is sharp: the madness in
3.6 contrasts with the diabolical cruelty in 3.7. Furthermore, the quarto version of 3.6
completes Lear's descent into madness; the king does not appear again until much later
in Act 4. Without appreciably shortening performance time (35 lines), removing the
mock trial foreshortens a process that Lear has been struggling to contain since the
end of Act 1. If Shakespeare was responsible for this cut, he may have had reason, as
Warren argues, for his alterations. But authors - even Shakespeare - are not always
the best judges of their own work, and theatre directors (who are notorious for mak-
ing alterations of their own, regardless of whose play it is) seldom cut the mock trial
in 3.6.

(xi) After 3.6.53 (see Appendix, pp. 299-300 below, xiii-xiv).

Better arguments can be made for cuts at the end of 3.6 - Kent's meditation on the
sleeping king and Edgar's soliloquy - than for the omission of the mock trial. The
argument for swiftly juxtaposing events in 3.6 with those in 3.7 is more pertinent here;
moreover, the sense of urgency in Gloucester's begging the group to flee is enhanced.
The effect of the Fool's last line, 'And I'll go to bed at noon', added in F, is not diluted by
Kent's urging him to help carry Lear off. On the contrary, by ignoring the Fool, Kent
and the others allow him to remain isolated and alone, overwhelmed by everything that
has happened and now utterly spent.
Edgar's sententious closing soliloquy is also, in a more obvious sense, dispensable. As
Granville-Barker says, the lines lower the dramatic tension and thus may adversely affect
the following scene of Gloucester's blinding. The soliloquy is better postponed to the
beginning of Act 4, especially if an act-interval comes at that point. Michael Warren has
shown, moreover, that the omission of these lines paradoxically enhances Edgar's role,
giving his opening soliloquy in 4.1, expanded in F, greater prominence. This prominence
gains further by the deletion of the servants' dialogue at the end of 3.7. Indeed, Warren
shows how other alterations in F affecting Edgar's role significantly change it in ways that
traditionally conflated editions obscure ('Albany and Edgar', pp. 103-4; compare xxiv,
p. 276 below, on the cut at 5.3.195). Furthermore, there appears to be in F a consistent
pattern in reducing the passages of moral commentary found in Q. Altogether, these
alterations suggest revision as well as theatrical abridgement.
12, J] Textual analysis, part 2

(xii) After 3.7.97 (see Appendix, p. 300 below, xv).

F'S omission of the servants' dialogue (nine lines) reduces the number of minor speaking
parts, hurries the action to the next scene, and, like the omission of Edgar's soliloquy in
3.6, eliminates reflective commentary (see Doran, pp. 71, 77; Stone, p. 236). Moreover,
as Urkowitz notes, p. 51, the servant's plan (to get Tom o'Bedlam to help Gloucester)
conflicts with what actually happens in 4.1 : the Old Man enters leading the earl, and
the meeting with Poor Tom is accidental and in many ways ironic. If an interval was
inserted at this point between Acts 3 and 4, the effect achieved in Q of juxtaposing
Edgar's entrance and the compassion of the servants would be nullified, as Williams
says; hence, the loss of their dialogue is of less consequence. But Granville-Barker,
p. 331, regards the piece of dialogue as 'significant' and worth retaining.

(xiii) After 4.1.58:

êâg. Boch Mile and çîte,!ic»fî-\vav, and fbot-pa;h»

Poorc Tom hath becne fcard out of his good wits,
Blcflc the good man from the foulc fiend,
£ Fine fiends haue beenc in poore Tom at once,
Oflufl,as OfodÛMt, Hobk&denu Prince ofdumbnes,
^/4£*offtcaling,c3/«/6 ofmurder, StiUtâtgtbU of
Mobing, & Moving who fince puflfefTcs chambermaids
And waiting women, fo, blefle thecmaiftcx. 3

Edgar's identity as Poor Tom is by now well established and does not require further
ravings of the kind extensively presented in Act 3; or, as Stone says, 'the reviser probably
felt there was more in this speech than was dramatically justified' (p. 236).

(xiv) After 4.2.33 (see Appendix, pp. 301-3 below, xvii-xix).

Theatrical abridgement may have prompted the extensive cuts from Albany's and
Gonerill's quarrel in this scene, but combined with the cuts, additions, and alterations
elsewhere (see above, pp. 77-9), they seriously affect the ethos of these characters and
suggest authorial revision. Several local emendations in the Folio text, especially at the
entrance of Albany, tend to confirm this view.

(xv) After Act 4, Scene 2 (see Appendix, pp. 304-6 below, xx).
Theatrical abridgement again probably occasioned an extensive cut (56 lines) of exposi-
tory but inessential material - an entire scene (see above, p. 82, and compare Doran,
p. 70; Duthie, p. 8). The cut, however, along with other cuts in Acts 4 and 5, reduces
the role of Kent and helps bring Edgar and Cordelia into greater prominence (Warren,
'Diminution', pp. 66-8). It also reduces the amount of moral commentary found in Q.
Removing the scene resolves several dramatic problems, such as questions regarding
Lear's actual whereabouts and his attitude towards Cordelia (Urkowitz, pp. 53-4).
Compare Granville-Barker, p. 332: 'I could better believe that Shakespeare cut [the
scene] than wrote it.'
The Tragedy of King Lear [272]

(xvi) After 4.5.188:

Q: LUT. No féconds, aU my fette, why thb would make a nan

ofCilc to vfc his eyesforgarden wacerpotsjl and laying Aucums
dud
Ltérjf. will die brauely like a bridegroome, what ? I will be
Iouiall* come, come, I am a King my mailers, know you that.
Cm. You are a royall one, and we obey you.
L**rt Then thcres life int,nay anH you get kyoo {hall get k
with running. E#tf Kmg nt*ai*£.

Q2 : Lear. No féconds, all my felfc : why this would make a man

of fait to vfc his eyes for garden water-pottes, land laying Au-
tumnes duft. Qent* Good Sir.
Lear. I will dye brauely like a Bridegroome. What,T will bee
iouiall : Come,come,I am a King my maftcrs.know you that ?
Gent. You are aroyalione,anJ we obey you.
Le*r. Then thcres life int, nay if you get it you fhall get it
with runuing. Exit King runntxg.
F:
Le*r. No Second»? AU my fdfe?
Why, this would make a man, a man ofSale
To vfehu eyes for Garden water-pots.I wil die brauely,
Ltke a fmuggc Bridegroome. What ? I will be Iouiill :
Co'.r.e,cf>me, I an» a King,Matters, know you that ?
Gent You are 1 Roy all one, and we obey you.
Lt*r. Then there's life m*r. Come.andyougetit,
You fhall get it by running : Sa, fa,fa,fa. Exit,

At first, Greg rejected Daniel's conjecture that the anomalous Q2 insertion may derive
from a variant, corrected state of sheet 1 (no longer extant) in the exemplar of Q
that served as copy for Q2 (Variants, pp. 188-90). Later he reluctantly reconsidered
the possibility (Postscript, in ibid., p. 192). Whether or not the Gentleman's speech
originally stood in the copy for Q remains uncertain, since a press-corrector, seeing the
error in two consecutive speeches by Lear, could have added it independently of copy;
or the Q2 compositor could have added it (for the same reason). But either of these
hypotheses seems less likely than that it was in the original manuscript. F was not here
influenced by Q2. Working on an exemplar of Q with uncorrected sheet 1, the F reviser
or collator solved the problem of Lear's consecutive speeches by fusing them, but left
the lines metrically irregular. (See Commentary 4.5.186-91 and compare Taylor, 'Date
and authorship', pp. 363-4, and Duthie, pp. 415-16.) Stone, p. 236, believes the reviser
omitted the line after 188 because he found it obscure.

(xvii) After 4.5.257:

Q : your labour .your wire(fo I would fay)your affectionate feruant

[and for you her owneforVtnter\ GentriB.
EJg. O Indillinguiflit fpace ofwoman* wit,
[2731 Textual analysis, part 2

Q2 : Andftipplj thepl.tceforyotrr Uhonr.

Your wife (fo I would fay) & your aflfe&ionate feruant,
6a»$nB.
Edr. O vndiftingiiillu fpace of wetmni wit,

F; fij tbtflACe ferysMr Lahrtr.

T«wr{H>>feJolwouldfo) aftti*-
*4teSfr*M*t, Goocrill.
Oh indinguifh'd fpace of Wominj will,

Both Q2 and F omit Q'S words 'and for you her owne for Venter\ perhaps because they
were incomprehensible (Stone, pp. 132, 146). Duthie, p. 416, regards Q'S words as an
actor's mangled interpolation; citing 4.2.20, Muir thinks the words may conceal sense;
Halio, p. 162, suspects that a word such as 'life' may have dropped out after 'owne' in
Q. Unlike xvi above, the passage appears on variant sheet K but is found in all extant
copies of Q. The different emendations in Q2 and F suggest that both the Q2 editor or
compositor and the F reviser or collator independently deleted the nonsense line.

(xviii) After 4.6.25:

Gtwi. Good madam be by, when we do awake him

I doubt not of his temperance.
fCwd. Very well. 1
/ <D*Q. Pieafe you draw neere, louder the muficke there, J
Ctr. O my deer father reftoraàô hang thy medicin on my îips,
And let this Ids repaire thofe violent harma that my two filters
Haue in thy rcuerence made.
Ktnt. Kind and dcercPrincefTc,
ftrd. Had you not bene their father thefe white flakes,
Had challengd pitie ofthem.was this a face
The Tragedy of King Lear [274]

To be cxpofd a^ainft the warring winds,

(Toftandagainitthedcepe dread bolted thunder,
In the mod terrible and nimble Choke
Ofquick croffe lightning to watch poore 7* 4B,
Vfim this thin hclm^mine iniurious «fogge,
Though he had bit me, (hould haucftoodthat night
Againft my fire, and waft thou faine poore Cither,

The first cut may have been prompted by changed playhouse conditions (see above,
p. 83). However, music in Shakespeare often accompanies scenes of restored harmony,
as in MND 5.1.395-400,7^^5.1.55 ff, ffT 5.3.98. Perhaps on reflection Shakespeare
now preferred silence at Lear's awakening (Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 413).
The second cut of three and a half inessential though eloquent lines results in an
irregular line caused, as Stone thinks, by a reviser's oversight and the copyist's subse-
quent attempt to avoid an obviously short line (p. 118, n. 10; see the play-text, p. 237
above).

(xix) After 4.6.78:

Dtfl. Be comforted good Madame, the great rage you Gre is

cured in him.Jand yet it 1$ danger to make him euen ore the time
hee has loiÛdcfire him to goe in, trouble him no more till far-
ther fetling.* C***- w 'fc ptafe y°*rr highnes walke ?

Duthie, pp. 419-20, suspects that the F compositor (B) is responsible for dropping
these lines through eye-skip or faulty comprehension (compare Stone, p. 236). But
considerable cutting follows afterwards (see below) and the alteration F 'killed' for Q
'cured' suggests revision, although the verse lines in F (see the play-text, p. 240 above)
remain irregular.

(xx) After 4.6.82 (see Appendix, p. 307 below, xxiv).

F omits a dozen lines of dialogue here between Kent and the Gentleman, a cut 'pre-
cisely analogous' to those at the end of 3.6 and 3.7 (Stone, p. 237). The dialogue is
about Cornwall's death, Kent's supposed whereabouts (he is still in disguise), and the
impending battle between Cordelia's army and her sisters'. Urkowitz, pp. 54-5, notes
how the elimination of these lines juxtaposes more sharply contrasting stage pictures:
the 'gentle pageant of physical and familial restoration' that ends 4.6 and 'the harsh con-
junction of authority and violence' that begins 5.1. But again, if an interval was inserted
between the acts, this effect would be lost, or at least diminished. The deletion, how-
ever, obviates a potential inconsistency: Cordelia addresses Kent at the beginning of
the scene in the presence of the Gentleman, who in the missing lines apparently does
not know whom he is addressing.
[275] Textual analysis, part 2

(xxi) After 5.1.11:

/?<•£. Bue h.iuc you neuer found my brothers way,

To the forfeiuled place? f J?*,?. That thought abufes you.
AV,(. I .undoubifull thatyouhauc becne coniun&and bo-
fuin'dwith hir.as taras we callhir$rj
Sa/}. No by mine honour Madam. (with her.
Re£. I ncucr ilial l induré hir, dcere my Lord bee net familiar
B*ft. Fcaremcnot, fhec and the Dulcc her husband.
£ni:r tsfibtnjânÀ Çêuortlivitb troupts*
ZÇe*». I had rather loofc the battaile, then that fiftcr fhculd
loolai him and mec~]
Alb. Our very louing fiftcr well bc-met
For this I hca; c rhc King is come to his daughter
Wi th others/A h: me the rigour of our flatc
Fori! to c rie out,|u here I could not bchoncft
I neucr yet was valiant, for this bufincs
Ittouchcs vs,as F^j"»«^nuadcs our land
Not boldsrhe King, with others whomeIfcarc,
Moftiuft and heauy caufesmakeoppofe.
B«(i. SiryoufpeakenoblvQ k*£> Why is this rcafon'd/
Çona. Combine togithcr gainft the enemy,
For chefc domcîl) que dore particulars
Are not rocuicllion here.
<A\b. Let vs (hen determine with rhcauntienrof warreon ocr
proceedings. \^Bxï1. I (hallattend you prefently acyourtenrr]
Ret. Silhryou ! gocwhh vs? (jon. No.
Rf£. Tisiiioft conuciiicnr, pray you goe with vs.
Kj Çon

Stone, p. 237, regards these cuts as 'deliberate pruning', as in 2.2 and 4.2, although
he recognises that the last one may be the result of copyist or compositor error. The
most significant cut is the longest one, where Albany says he will fight because the
French invade, not because he opposes Lear. Without these lines, Albany in F appears
less sure of his stance - a weakening of his character that correlates with cuts earlier in
Act 4 (see above). When Regan interrupts him impatiently, her line means something
different in F from what it means in Q, where she questions why Albany is moralising
over a decision already made; in F, she asks why he is raising a new issue (Urkowitz,
p. 99). The earlier cuts remove some slackness and gratuitous comment from the
dialogue.

(xxii) After 5.3.35:

B*0. About it, and write happy when thou haft don,
Marke I fay inftandy, and cam it fo
Aslhaue'fctitdowne.
Çéf. Q cannot draw a cart, nor eace drid< oats,
If it bee mans workgi le do'c.
The Tragedy of King Lear [276]

The Captain's lines are a distracting and unnecessary bit of grim humour. Compare
Stone, p. 237.

(xxiii) After 5.3.53:

Bsft. Sir I thought k fit,

To fend the old and mrfensble Ring to fornc retention, a n d * -
Whofc age has charmes in it.whofe-tidemorc» (pointed guard,
To pluck the common boffomcof his fide,
And turne our imprcft latraces in our eyes
Which doe commaund them,with him I feat the queen
My rcafon.all the fame and they are rcadieto morrow.
Or at further (pace, to appcare where you fhall hold
Your fcflionfat this time, wee fweat and bleed,
The friend hath loft his friend and the beft quarrtts
In the heat arc curft, by thofe thatfoeletheir iharp nes,
The queftion tfiCeràeU* and bcr father
Requires afitterplaceTJ
Alb. Sir by your patience,
I hold you but a fubie&of tlitswarre,not as a brother.

Edmond's speech in F (properly lined: see the play-text, pp. 247-8 above) is sufficient to
justify his action; in Q, the speech continues beyond the point of impertinence. Albany's
response is appropriate with or without the deleted lines, which are largely reflective
and sententious. Compare Urkowitz, p. 107; Stone, p. 238.

(xxiv) After 5.3.195 (see Appendix, p. 309 below, xxxi).

F'S omission of Edgar's seventeen lines describing his meeting with Kent does more
than reduce the inexplicable delay between Edmond's announced intention to do some
good and the actual attempt to save Lear and Cordelia. It also modifies the role of
Edgar as 'the immature, indulgent man displaying his heroic tale of woe' in the face
of Albany's desire not to hear anything 'more woeful'. Edgar thus emerges as a man
worthier of the responsibility that becomes his at the close, certainly as F fashions it
(Warren, 'Albany and Edgar', p. 104). The omission of these lines, moreover, more
sharply juxtaposes the pathos of Gloucester's death with the deaths of Gonerill and
Regan. Theatrical abridgement may have been a major motive in the cut, but artistic
considerations were clearly involved as well.

F-only passages
F-only passages are essentially of two kinds: (1) passages restored to the text that were
accidentally omitted from Q; (2) passages that could not have been accidentally omitted
from Q and must have been added by a reviser. The first kind would have appeared
in the original prompt-book along with a number of alternative manuscript readings
(Doran, pp. 38-52); the other kind might have appeared there, if revision was early, or
in the second playhouse manuscript (the result of collation with revised Q), if revision
[2/7] Textual analysis, part 2

came later. Accidental omissions in Q usually involve passages of a line or two; more
extensive F-only passages are most likely additions to the original text. In the passages
reproduced below, F-only lines are marked by brackets.

(xxv) After 1.1.36 (see above, pp. 77-9).

(xxvi) After 1.1.59:

Lear .Of til thefe bounds euen from this Line,to this,
With (hadowie Forrefts £nd w iih Champam* rich'd
With plenteous RiuertVmd wide-skirted Meadcs
We wake thec Lady. To thine and A >b**ic; IfTue»
Be this perpetuall. What faye» our (ccond Daughter ?

These words may have stood in the original manuscript but the Q compositor acciden-
tally skipped from 'and' in 59 to 'and' in 60 (Doran, p. 57). Revisions at the beginning
of the play, however, tend to be more frequent and fussy than they are elsewhere, and
this could be a genuine addition (Stone, p. 239).

(xxvii) After 1.1.82:

Q : Then that confirma on Çomrtiitbat now our ioy,

Although the hu%not leap in our dcereloue,
What can you fay to win a third, more opulent
Then your fillers.
CorJ. Nothing my Lord. (agaûw»
Lntr, How, nothine can come of nothing, mcake
Cord. VnhappicthatIam,Icannotheauemyneart into my
fnouthj loue your Maicftie according to my bond,nor more nor
leffe.
Le*r. Goe to.goe to^end your fpeech a little,
Lcaft it may mar your fortunes,
F: Then that confei :'d on Comrill. Now ourIoy,
Although our h& and leaft ; to whofe yong louc^
The Vines ofFr*nce,andMilkc of Burgundies
Striue to He inurcft. What can you fay, to draw
A third, more opiient then your Sifter»? fpeake*
Cor. NothiogojyLord.
Lear, Nothing?
O . Nothing.
L#«r. Nothing will come of nothing.fpeake again?.
Cor. Vnhappic that I am,l cannot hcauc
My heart into ruy mouth;! loue your Maicfiy
According to my bond,no more nor leflc.
Lear. How,how Ccrdt/tatMend your fpeech a little,
Leaft you may marts your Foicunes.
The Tragedy of King Lear [278]

Besides additions, other alterations in F clearly indicate revision here. The additions
not only make Cordelia's response emphatic, they provide the actor playing Lear with
space for further reaction.

(xxviii) i.2.96-100:

Ci*ti. Thefe late Eclipfes in the Sun and Moooe pot-

tend no good to vs -. though the wifedome of Nature can
reaJbn it chus, and thus, vet Naturefind• it felfe feowrgM
by the fequent exTeért. Loue coolci, friend (hip falls off,
Brothers chuide. In Cities, mutinies ; in Countries, dif-
cord ; in Pallaces, Treafon ; and the Bond crack'd/twixt
Sonne and Father .y his vjllaine of mine comes vnder the
prediction; there's Son againft Father,.the King fais from
by as of Nature, there's Father againft Childe. We-haue
leene the heft of our time. Machinations, hollowneiTe,
treatherie, and all ruinous diforders follow vs difquietlv
to our GrauesTjFindout this Villain,Edmond ,\t {hall lofe
thee nothing, do it carefully : and the Noble & true-har-
ted Kent bamfh d ; his orVence.honefty.'Tis ftrangcJE**

An unlikely though not impossible accidental omission from Q (Doran, p. 58), these
lines complement the cut later on at 1.2.125. See above, pp. 265-6; Stone, p. 239; and
Taylor, 'Censorship', pp. 81-8.

(xxix) 1.2.139-44:

Q- £<!/• Some villaine hath done me wrong.

B*H. Thats my fcare brother, I aduife > ou to the beft, goe
arm'd, I am no honed man if there bec any good meaning to.
wards you, I hauc told you wharf hauc feeric & heard, but faint-
ly, nothing like the image and horror ofirt pray you away i
F: Edg. Some. Villaine hatbdonc me wrong.
Edm. That's my fcarc,ftpray yea haue a continent
forbearance till t he ipced or his rage goesflower: and as
I fay,retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will
fitly bring you tohcarcrny Lord ipcake : ptay ye goe,
there's my key : if you doftirrcabroadWoe arm'd.
(£<*£. Arm'd,Brother / J
Edrn^ Brother, 1 aduife you to the be{t,I am no hone ft
man,if ther oe any good meaning coward you; 1 hauc cold
you what I haue fecne,and heard : But faiutiy. Nothing
like the image,and horror of it, pray you away.

Stone, p. 240, and Doran, p. 63, agree that the omission from Q of the bracketed lines
could hardly have been accidental. The different position of 'goe arm'd' in Q and F
indicates a deliberate interpolation of matter not originally in Q.
[279] Textual analysis, part 2

(xxx) i.4.217:

Inter Albany.
Lear. Woe, that too late repenti:
Is it your will, fpetke Sir ? Prepare œy Horfef.
Ingratitude ! thou Marble-heaftedFieod,
More hideous when thou (hcvv'ft thee in a Child,
Then che Sea-monfter.
{Alb% pray Sir be patient.
I^Dctcfted Kite, thou lyeft.
My Traîne are men of choice, and rareft parts,
That all particulars cfdutieknow,
And in the moit exa.fr regard, lupporc
The v.crfhip» of ihcir name. O moft fmall fault,

Besides several local corrections and changing Q'S prose to verse, F interpolates Albany's
speech, which 'punctuates' Lear's tirade (Urkowitz, p. 44) and gives the duke something
to say soon after his entrance (Stone, p. 240). See also p. 79 above.

(xxxi) 1.4.229:
And added tothe gall. O Le*r^ Lexr, Lear \
Bcate at this gate that let thy Folly in,
And thy dcere lodgement out. Go,go,my people.
Alb- My Lord, I am cuiltleflc, at I am ignorant
£f what hath moueJ you^}
Lear. It may befo.my Lord.

Albany's additional half-line completes his meaning and was probably omitted acci-
dentally by the Q compositor, who printed almost the entire scene as prose and omitted
the third ''Lear' in 225 as well.

(xxxii) 1.4.276-87 (see the play-text, p. 139 above).

Duthie, p. 378, believes that Gonerill's speech was cut in Q to shorten the play in
performance and restored in F (compare Stone, pp. 76-80). But others, e.g. McLeod,
find the F-only lines consistent with changes elsewhere in Gonerill's speeches (see above,
p. 266). Other alterations also strongly suggest revision here; for example, Gonerill's
interruption of her husband and her summons to Oswald (281-2) are changed from Q
and result in metrical irregularity (see collation, and Doran, pp. 65-6).

(xxxiii) 2.4.19 (see above, pp. 267-8).

(xxxiv) 2.4.43-51:

You- Sonne and Daughter found this trefpafle worth

Thffnime whichheerc ic fuffers. ( way,
{Foolt. Winters not gon yet,if the wil'dGeefefivthat
Faoiers that weare rag», do make their Children blind,
The Tragedy of King Lear [280]

B,)t Fathers thatbearebags,(hall fee their children k:nd.

Fort jne that arrant whore.nere turn* the key toth' poore.
But for all this thou ifhalt n*ue as many Dolors for thy
Daugh ters,as thou çanft tell in a yeareT]
l4*r> Oh how this Mother fwels vp toward my heart!
Hijl«ricA f*fny<\ov;r\c thou climing forrow,

Stone, p. 241, says the Fool's lines are an obvious theatrical interpolation not in the
style of the reviser and added as an afterthought. He suggests that F'S faulty lineation is
the result of the lines' being written sideways in the margin of the prompt-book, as an
addition of such length would be. Doran, p. 66, and others find the lines consistent with
Shakespeare's style for the Fool; but if the reference to 'wild geese' is an allusion to the
Wildgoose family (see p. 4 above), then the addition was probably early. The Folio lin-
eation, obviously crowded, may result from faulty casting-off of copy for signature r n r ,
set by Compositor E. Taylor, 'Date and authorship', p. 396, and Kerrigan, p. 220, argue
for both authenticity and dramatic aptness; Granville-Barker remarks that the Fool's
song alters the dramatic effect as Lear 'stands speechless, his agony upon him' (p. 329).

(xxxv) After 2.4.90:

Q: why GUfl'r,Çbfîer} id'e fpeake with the Duke of CVr«w*F,and

his wife.
GUfi. I my good Lord.
Lt4r. The Kin» would fpeak withfirmwal,the dtzxc father
Would with his daughter ip cake,commands her feruice,
Fieric Duke, tell the hot Duke that£*irf
No but not yet may be he is not well,
F: Fiery? What quality ? Why Ctofterqicfter,
l'ld fpeake wuhthe Duke of Cornewâll^nà his wife.
f Uo. Weil my good Lord,I hauc inform'd them fo,
ear. Inform d them ? Do'ft thou vndciftand rnc manTJ
Clo. Ï my good Lord.
Lc*r. The King would fpeake with fomwaB,
Thcdeere Father
Would with his Daughter fpcake,commands,tendi,fer-
[Ârcthey inform'd of this? My breach and bloodll (uice,
Fiery? ThefieryDt»ke,tell die hot Duke that- •
No,b'it noi yrc,may be he is not well,

Besides the additional lines, the passage shows other signs of revision. According to
Stone, p. 241, the reviser must have thought Gloucester's behaviour in Q needed verbal
extenuation. The additional lines 91-2 are complemented by the further addition at
96. On the other variants here, sec Commentary.

(xxxvi) 2.4.132-7 (see the play-text, p. 166 above).

Since Regan speaks in convoluted syntax, amplification of her meaning was probably
felt to be necessary for Lear's benefit (and for that of the audience), as Stone suggests,
[28,] Textual analysis, part 2
p. 242, although he does not believe the addition is Shakespeare's. But in discerning
a professional rivalry between the original author and a reviser. Stone may miss the
rhetorical and dramatic point of the passage, which is developed more fully by the
addition.

(xxxvii) 2.4.289-90:

E tfr
2>*^. So am T pusposUwhere i s my Lord ofQUfitrf * <?fr
Rt£. Followed the o\4 man forthjhe is returned.
<?/#. The King is in high rage, & wil Ï know no? whe-
Ke. Ti$ good to giue him way,he leads himfclrc.(ther.
Ç09. My Lord, in treat him by noraeanesto (by.
GU. Alack the night comes on,and the bleak wind*
Luîer Cjlcfier.
Corn, Followed the old man forth,he is rçturn'd*
Ç/9. The Kmg Is in high rage.
£Or». Whether is he going?
Glo. He cals co Horfei)iit will I know not whethef.
C«rn. T:s beft to giuc him way,he leads hirofclfi.
G»n. My Lord.cntreatc him by nomeancs to flay.
Glo. Alackc the night comes on,and the high wifldes

Again, besides the added lines, other signs of revision appear here, such as reassigned
speech headings and local emendations. A reviser may have noticed the hypermetrical
line in Q and made two regular lines using interpolated matter, as Stone thinks, p. 242;
on the other hand, the hypermetrical line could have been the result of an accidental
omission that F either recovers or substitutes for.

(xxxviii) 3.1.14-21 (see p. 269 above).

(xxxix) 3.2.77-93 (see the play-text, pp. 181-2 above).
Like the Fool's additional lines in 2.4 (xxiv above), 'Merlin's Prophecy' is some-
times considered spurious. For long it was regarded as an interpolation by the actor
who played the Fool, a bit of irrelevant nonsense, food for the groundlings, as Cow-
den Clarke suggested (cited by Furness, p. 179). More recently, however, the lines
have been defended as not only Shakespearean, but relevant to both the dramatic
context and the Fool's changed character in F (Kerrigan, pp. 221-6). They parody
some pseudo-Chaucerian verses found in Thynne's edition of Chaucer (1532) cited
The Tragedy of King Lear [282]

by Puttenham, in slightly different form, in The Arte of English Poésie (1589), which
Shakespeare was apparently reading at about the time he wrote The Winter's Tale
(Taylor, 'Date and authorship', pp. 382-6). The addition reflects this later source and,
while not indispensable, adds to the ironic use of prophecy found elsewhere in the
play.

(xl) 34-17-18:

Q: Is it not as this mouth mould teare this hand

For lifting food to*t, but I will punifh fure,
No I will wccpe no more, in fuch a night as this /
O Rfg*», Ç9*anûtyo\it old kind father (lies,
Whofcfrankeheart gaue you all, O that way madnes
Let me fhun that, no more of chat.

F: FS it not a« this mouth (rouMt?arctr»i» hand

For lifting food tco't t But I wil! pimfh home;
No,i will wcepc no rnore;La fuch a n-^htt
TofhjtmeoutPPoureon.IwillcndureQ
hi fuch a night as this ? O Rcgtn <q<mertfly
Yo-ir old kind Father,whole trankc heart eauc ail
O that way madnctfc Jies,lct mc fhon that : '
No more of that.

Probably the lines not found in Q are the result of compositor eye-skip, caused by the
repetition of 'in such a night' and making Q'S lines irregular. Stone, however, suspects
revision, since Lear cannot know at this point that he has, in fact, been 'shut out' of
Gloucester's castle (p. 243), and other indications of revision appear here and elsewhere
in the scene (see xli-xlii below).

(xli) 3 4 2 6 - 7 :

Kent. Good my Lord enter here.

Le*r. Prythee go in thy fclfcjlecke thine owne cafe,
This temped will not g'tue rr.c leaue to ponder
Or» things would hurt me morc,but lie goc in,
finBoy.gofirft. Youhoufclcflepoucrtie, Zxit,
Kay get thee in; lie pray .and then ] le flecpeT)
Poore naked wretcheijWhere fo ere you are
That bide the pelting of this phcilefle (lorme,
How (hall vour Houfc-lcfle hcaàs,and vnfed fides.
[283] Textual analysis, part 2

While the lines not in Q may again be the result of accidental omission, eye-skip is less
likely here. Both Stone, p. 244, and Urkowitz, p. 44, see a reviser's hand at work. The
''Exit' added in F may be the book-keeper's notation.

(xlii) 3.4.37:

Your lop'd.and windov/d raggcdneflc defend you

From feafons foch as thefe ? O 1 hauc tane
Too little care of this : Take ^hylkke, Pompe,
Èxpofe thy fclfe cofeelcwhat wretches feelc,
That thou maift (hake thefapcrfluxto them,
And (hew the Heaucns mere iutt.

j_£<^. Fathoir^andhalfc .Fathom andhalfe;poore7>»>J

Fw/f. Come not in hcere Nuncle^cre'» a fpirit,hclpc
me,helpeme.
Kent. Giue me thy hand,who's there i

Edgar's interpolated scream dramatically motivates the Fool's terrified re-entrance. F

also adds a stage direction, although Edgar's actual emergence follows the Fool's a few
lines later (see Commentary).

(xliii) 3.6.11-12:

Foote. Prythce Nunkle tell me,whethcr a madman b-

a Gendeman^or a Yeoman.
Le*r. A King.a King.
CFoêU. No, he's a Yeoman, th.it ha's a Gentleman to
his Sonne : fox hee s a mad Yeoman that fees r.is Sonne a
Gentleman before him.
JLc*r2 To hauc a thoufand with red burning (pita
Come hizzing in vpem *cra.

Doran, p. 67, supposes that the F-only lines are original and that the Q compositor
had difficulty with the passage and deliberately omitted it. Stone, p. 67, and Kerrigan,
pp. 227-30, consider the passage evidence of revision, Lear's response to the Fool's
question having apparently been regarded as insufficient by the reviser. Kerrigan is sure
the lines are Shakespeare's and allude to the dramatist's father, John, a yeoman, for
whom his son obtained a grant from the College of Arms in 1596. In 1602, however, after
John Shakespeare's death, the grant was challenged by York Herald Ralph Brooke, and
possibly William had to justify his own claim (through his father) to the title 'gentleman'
when he was writing or revising his play. But no evidence has been found to this effect
and, as Kerrigan says, what happened to Brooke's complaint is not known. If the reviser
intended a personal allusion, then (like xxxiv above) the addition - if it was one - was
probably early.
The Tragedy of King Lear [284]

(xliv) 3.6.41:

Q: Ltétr. Make nonoifc^nukxnonoifc.drawthccurtaint/o/o.fo,

Week go to fuopet it'h morning,fo,fo,fo, Emet Çlifter.
CUft. Come hither friend, where is the King my mauler.

F: Enter Glojler.
Kent. Now good my Lordjye heerc,and reft awhile.
Lear. Makenonoife,makenonoife, draw thcCur-
taincs : fo,fo,wee*l goto Supper i'th'niorning.
[fooUr And He go to bed ac nooneH
Clou. Come hither Friend :
Where 11 the Kmg my Mafter?

Taylor speculates that the Fool's last, cryptic line was an early addition, perhaps inserted
in the original prompt-book. By the time rehearsals began, Shakespeare knew that the
Fool's role ended here and may have decided to give him a suitable concluding line ('Date
and authorship', p. 405). Other alterations, further evidence of revision, surround the
line, which is susceptible to several interpretations (see Commentary). Stone, pp. 244-5,
and Kerrigan, pp. 228-9, accept the line as an interpolation, though Stone questions
its authenticity.

(xlv) 4.1.6-9:

Enttr Edgar.
£ig. Yet better thus.and knowne to be contemn'd
Thenftillcontemn'd andflatter'd,to be worft :
The loweft, and mofl deieâed thing of Fortune,
Standiftillin efperance, hues not in feare ;
The lamentable change is from the beft,
The worft retumes to laughter. [Welcome then,
Thou vnfubftantiall ayre that i embrace :
The Wretch that thou had blownc vnio the worft,
Owe» nothing to thy blaftsT]
Enter CloHÏîery**dan Ottmnn.

The lines at first appear more like a deliberate cut in Q than an addition to F (Stone,
p. 245). But they complement the omission of Edgar's lines at the end of 3.7 (see above,
p. 271), improve the metre, and make Edgar more vulnerable to the shock of seeing his
newly blinded father.

(xlvi) 4.1.54:

Clou. Sirrah, naked fellow.

idg. Poore Tom's a cold.. I c.-.n;^ot daub it further.
Clou. Corne hither fellow.
iBdg. Andyctltmift:]
Bleffc thy fwecte eyes, they blecde.
Clom. Know'ft thou the way to Douer ?
[2*5] Textual analysis, part 2

Edgar's half-line completes the sense of 'I cannot daub it further' and regularises the
line metrically. Its omission in Q may be accidental, or its appearance in F may be a
consequence of the correction 'daub' for Q 'dance'. Note also the cut after 58 (see above,
p. 271).

(xlvii) 4.2.27:

Q: Tép. Yours innhe ranks of death. (are dew

G»n. My moft deer Gbflcr^o tljee a woraans fcruices
A foole vfurps my bed#
Stew. Madam ^here comes my Lord. ExuSttw.
Çen. Ihaucbcenc worth the whittling, (rude wind
Alb. O gtnoritjfou arc not worth the duft which the

F: B*ft. Yours in the rankes of deit'n. Exit.

CSK. Uy maft deer: Gloftcr.

[Oh, the difference of man, and man J

To ihec a Wcrnans fcruices arc due,
My Foole vfurpe > my body.
Saw, MaôSm, here come's my Lord.

COM» Ihauc beenc worth the whittle*

M. Oh G*:tril!t
You r.re not worth the duft which the rude winde

Gonerill's added line appears to be part of extensive Folio correction and revision in this
scene (see above, p. 271, and Commentary). In Q, Gonerill's line is unnecessary, since
she apparently addresses Edmond (whose exit is missing); but in F, Edmond leaves, and
Gonerill comments to herself. Compare Stone, p. 245; Taylor, 'Date and authorship',
P- 379-

(xlviii) 4.5.157-62:

rough tatter* d cloathes great Vices do appeare : Robes,

andFurr'd gownes hide all. [Place finnes with Gold, and
the ftrong Lance ef lofticc.nTirtleffe breakes : Arme it in
ragges, a Pigmiesftrawdo'i pierce it. None do's offend,
none, I fay none, lit able 'cm; take that ofme my Friend,
who haue the power to feale th'accufers lip$^ Get thee
glaffe.eyes, and like a fcuruy Politician, fecmc to fee the
things thou doft not. Now, now,now,no w. Pull off my

Stone, pp. 68, 122, and Doran, p. 68, agree that the F-only lines are an interpolation,
since 'Get thee glasse eyes' naturally follows from 'hide all'. Chambers, 1, 467, believes
the lines were cut from Q because of censorship, but censorship would hardly affect
foul papers. Roger Warren, p. 52, cites these lines as complementing the omission
The Tragedy of King Lear [286]

of the mock trial in 3.6. The passage shows other signs of correction and revision
(see collation). Stone, pp. 123-5, s e e s a n allusion in the lines to the Overbury affair
(1613-16), but Taylor rejects the allusion on grounds that the lines are too general and
commonplace; he compares Ham. 3.3.57-60 ('Date and authorship', p. 403).

(xlix) 4.6.59:

Q: Lfar% Pray doc not mockc,

I am a very fbolifh fond old nun,
Fourcfcoic and vpvvard,and to deale plainly
I fcarc I am not in my perfect mind,
Mcc thinks I mould know you,and knowthisman ;

F: Lear. Pray do not mockc mc:

I am a very foolifh fond old man,
Fourcfcoie and tp ward,
[Not an houre more,nor leflc:J
And to dcale pUinely,
I fcarc I am not in my perfefl mind.
Mc thinkcsifhould know you}and know thisma'n,
Lear's nonsense line seems more like an interpolation than an accidental omission from
Q. Compare the later augmentation at 68, Cordelia's 'I am: I am'.

(1) 5-2.II:

Clo. No further Sir,atranmay roteuenhecre.

Edg. What in ill thoughts againe f
Men muft endure
Their going heme,eucn as theit comming hither,
RipenclTc is all come on.
](JU. And that's true too/j Exeunt.

Gloucester's final half-line may have been dropped by the Q compositor, whose page
(K4r) shows signs of crowding; or it may have been added in F by a reviser con-
cerned to fill out the line (Stone, p. 247) and/or intent upon augmenting the play's
'complementarity': see Commentary.

(li) 5-3-70:

Reg*. Lady I am not we!l,eife I mould anfwere

From a fullflowingftomack.Gcnerall,
Take thou my SouIdierSjpnfonen^atrimony,
U>ifpofeofthcm, of me,the walls is chincf]
Witnefle the world,that I create thee hecre
MyLord,andMafter.

'Very possibly an accidental omission from Q' (Stone, p. 246).

[287] Textual analysis, part 2

(Hi) 5.3.83-4:
Q: And I her husband contradict the banes,
Ifyouwillmary, make your loue to mc,
My Lady is befpoke,thou artarmd GUftm,
Ifnone appeare to proue vpon thy head,
Thy hainous,manircftjand many treafons,
There is my pledge, ile proue it on thy heart

F: And 1 her husband contradict your Bine*.

If you wil! marry,make your lours to me,
My LaJy is be'.poke.
£>e*. A n e n t c r l u d c . 3
_ Aib. Thou art armed GU(iert
[Let theTrropet found :"]
If none 3ppearc to proue vpon thy pcrfon,
Thy heynous,rmnifeft, and many Treafons,
There is my pledge : lie ma ke it on thy heart

F'S additions are obviously interpolated. Gonerill's half-line provides 'dramatic punc-
tuation' (compare xxx, p. 279 above, 1.4.217; and Stone, p. 246). The addition to
Albany's speech underscores the duke's eagerness for confrontation with Edmond
(compare Urkowitz, pp. 109-11). The passage contains other indications of revi-
sion (e.g. F 'person'/Q 'head'; F 'make'/Q 'prove'), which appear throughout the
scene.

(liii) 5-3-134:

Q: Bdfl. InwifdonttIfooludaskcthymine,
Butfinccthy outfide look» fo faire and warlike.
And that thy being fome fay ofbreedine breathes,
By right ofknkhthoodj difdaineand fpurnc
HecTc do I tone thofc treafons tp thy head.
With the hell hatedly, orcturnd thy heart,

F: 'Bajf. In wifedome I (hould aske thy name,

But fmce thy out-ftdc looke» fo faire and Warlike,
And that thy tonguc(l"oroc fay) of breeding breathes,
Qvhac fafe,and nicely I might well delay J
ByruleofKmghc-hood,l difdaineandfpurne.-
Backe do 1 cofle thefe Treafon* to thy head,
With the hell-hated Lye,orc-whelmechy heart,

Stone, pp. 68-9, believes F'S additional line and other alterations are the result of
a misprint in Q at the beginning of 135, 'By' for 'My'. Failing to detect the error
(after substituting 'tongue' for 'being' at 133), the reviser recognised that 'disdaine and
spurne' required an object; hence, he added a new line and changed 'right' to 'rule' to
make the phrase more idiomatic. Alterations in other lines also show revision as well as
correction.
The Tragedy of King Lear [288]

(liv) 5-3-256:
Q: Kent. IfFortunebragdoftwofticloued or hated,
One of them we behold. Leer. Are not y ou Kent f
Kent. The fame your feruant Ki*t,where is your fcruant Cdiw,
Lear. Hces a good fellow, I can tell that,
Heetcftrikeand quickly too, hees dead and rotten.

F: Kent. If Fortune brag oftwo,fhcIou'd and hated,

One of them we behold.
£«tr.(jhis is a dull «igh r^rc you not Kent ?
Kent. The fame : your Scruant Kent,
Where is your Seruant Caiuj t
Lesr. He's a good fellow,I C3n tell you that,
Ht*le ftnke and quickly too,he's dead and rctten.

Lear's added half-line helps improve the metre. The Q compositor, nearing the end of
his copy and obviously crowding his text (as the last three pages of Q reveal), may have
omitted the speech deliberately. Compare Stone, p. 247.

(lv) 5.3.284-5 (see above, p. 81).

The additions together with other alterations undoubtedly indicate revision, an attempt
to improve dramatically the play'sfinalmoments (Stone, p. 247). Certainly they change
the ending, as Clayton notes, pp. 129, 133-7.

Conclusions
The weight of the evidence clearly indicates that F represents a revised text of King Lear,
with Q reflecting a version of the original. Only a few, short omissions from Q and F can
be attributed to compositor errors. In revising, very likely more than one motive and
possibly more than one hand were involved over the period of time (seventeen years)
that separates the date of first composition from the date of publication of the Folio
text. Several of the largest omissions from the Q text - those after 3.6.13, 3.7.97,4.6.82,
5.3.195, and a whole scene in Act 4 - may be the result of theatrical shortening, but it is by
no means clear that Shakespeare did not have any responsibility for them. The remaining
cuts often involve other alterations that point to a reviser's hand at work. Similarly,
the F additions are usually, though not always, the result of deliberate interpolation,
not accidental omission from Q. On stylistic grounds, Shakespeare remains the leading
candidate for the authorship of the additions, which often mesh well with other changes
in the Q text. Although Stone has proposed Philip Massinger as the reviser, Foster and
Taylor have argued that he was not (his involvement with the King's Men as a reviser
of old plays notwithstanding) and that Shakespeare was.
The Folio text, then, presents a version of King Lear that was performed in the early
seventeenth century, first at the Globe and at court, and afterwards at the Blackfriars
and probably again at court in revised form (or forms). The instability not only of
Shakespeare's texts, but of any play-text, is notorious. Compare the sample from the
script of Tennessee Williams's The Rose Tattoo used during its original try-out in
[28g] Textual analysis, part 2

Chicago (illustration 16, overleaf) with the same lines in their final, printed form
(illustration 17). Since one aim of this edition (as of the New Cambridge Shakespeare
in general) is to emphasise Shakespeare's plays as plays, that is, scripts for performance,
the choice of F as the copy-text for King Lear is both logical and appropriate. But as no
definitive, 'final' text of the play does or can exist, what Shakespeare wrote in both Q
and F is preserved. Unlike traditionally conflated texts, however, this edition removes
Q-only passages from the text proper and presents them in an Appendix. By consulting
those passages and taking careful note through the collation of the Folio additions and
other alterations, the reader may reconstruct the quarto, whereas the main body of the
text presents an acting version of King Lear that Shakespeare may have seen performed
on one of the stages he was familiar with. The reader should thus not become confused
about a text — Q + F - that is neither Shakespeare's nor the King's Men's, but a construct
of modern conflating editors in the tradition of Alexander Pope and his contemporaries.
The Tragedy of King Lear

2-2-16

Beasie
Com» on, come out) To the depot}
Flora
Juat «ait, I «ante hear this, it's too good to misai '

would fael cheap and degraded and not fit to live with my
daughter or under the roof with the urn of hla bleeaed ashes,
thoae - aahea of a roae * If after that memory, after knowing
that man, I went to some other, eome middle-aged man, not
young, not full of young passion, but getting a pot-belly o n
him and loaing hia hair and smelling of awaat and liquor -
and trying to fool myaelf that that waa love-making! I know
what love-making was. And I'm satiafled Juat to remember.»*
(She la panting aa though the had
run upstairs)
80 on, you do it, you go on the atreeta and let them drop their
•aeka of dirty water on youl « l'a aatiefled to remember the
love of a man that waa mine -
ONLI allSEl Sever touehed by the hand of nobodil HobodT but
feel * Juat met
= (She gaapa and runa out to the poreh.
The aun floods hsr figure* It aeema
to aatoniah her. She finds heraelf
sobbing. Digs in purse, for handker- \
chief)
Flora
(Crossing to open door)
Hover, touched bj, nobody?
Bessie
Let sleeping dogs lie I
Flora
Mover nobody, nobody a& a j ^ bj& £oj».T
Seaale
Hush, now, Floral Ignorance la b l U a l
Flora
I know somebody that could a tale unfoldl And not ao far
from here neither* Sot no further than the Squar
place o n Esplanade 1

page from the original typescript of The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams
[2Ql] Textual analysis, part 2

THE ROSE TATTOO ACT OISE

SERAFINA:
I count up the nights I held him all night in my arms, and
I can tell you how many. Each night for twelve years. Four
thousand—three hundred—and eighty. The number of
nights I held him all night in my arms. Sometimes I didn't
sleep, just held him all night in my arms. And I am satis-
fied with it. I grieve for him. Yes, my pillow at night's
never dry—but I'm satisfied to remember. And I would
feel cheap and degraded and not fit to live with my daugh-
ter or under the roof with the urn of his blessed ashes, those
—ashes of a rose—if after that memory, after knowing that
man, I went to some other, some middle-aged man, not
young, not full of young passion, but getting a pot belly on
him and losing his hair and smelling of sweat and liquor—
and trying to fool myself that that was love-making! I
\now what love-making was. And I'm satisfied just to re-
member . . . [She is panting as though she had run up-
stairs.'] Go on, you do it, you go on the streets and let them
drop their sacks of dirty water on you!—I'm satisfied to
remember the love of a man that was mine—only mine!
Never touched by the hand of nobody! Nobody but me!—
Just me! [She gasps and runs out to the porch. The sun
floods her figure. It seems to astonish her. She finds herself
sobbing. She digs in her purse for her handkerchief.]

FLORA [crossing to the open door] :

Never touched by nobody?

SERAFINA [with fierce pride] :

Never nobody but me!

FLORA:
/ know somebody that could a tale unfold! And not so far
from here neither. Not no further than the Square Roof is,
that place on Esplanade!

312

17 The same passage from The Rose Tattoo as it appears in the printed text
APPENDIX:
PASSAGES UNIQUE TO T H E F I R S T QUARTO

(i) After 1.2.85 ('such a monster') Q reads:

EDMOND Nor is not, sure.
GLOUCESTER To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him. Heaven and earth!

1 EDMOND . . . sure Edmond interrupts

Gloucester in mid sentence with an emphatic dou-
ble negative.

(ii) After 1.2.125-6 ('I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily') Q reads:
as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent, death, dearth, dissolutions
of ancient amities, divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and
nobles, needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial
breaches, and I know not what.
EDGAR How long have you been a sectary astronomical? 5
EDMOND Come, come,

2 amities] Q; armies Q2

3 diffidences distrusts, doubts. 'nuptial breaches' anticipates Gonerill's adultery

3 dissipation of cohorts dispersal of mili- with Edmond.
tary companies. NS suggests desertion and dis- 5 sectary astronomical believer in astrology,
ease, 'a common fate of military bands' at that or student of it; 'sectary' appears in Florio's Mon-
time, but Shakespeare is doubtless anticipating taigne (Muir).
the dissolution of Lear's hundred knights, just as

(iii) After 1.3.16 Q reads (as prose):

Not to be overruled. Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away! Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again, and must be used
With checks as flatteries when they are seen abused.

1-5 Not . . . abused] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q

1 Idle Silly, foolish. as well as soothing words ('flatteries') with foolish

4 Old . . . again Compare Tilley M570: 'Old old men when they are deluded ('abused'; compare
men are twice children.' 4.6.50).
4-5 used . . . abused i.e. we must use rebukes

293
The Tragedy of King Lear [294]

(iv) After 1.3.20 Q reads (as prose):

I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,

That I may speak.

1—2 I . . . speak] Capell's lineation; as prose Q

1 occasions opportunities.

(v) After 1.4.117 Q reads (with first three lines also in F ) :

F O O L Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet
one?
LEAR No, lad; teach me.
FOOL That lord that counselled thee
To give away thy land, 5
Come place him here by me,
Do thou for him stand;
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear,
The one in motley here, 10
The other found out there.
LEAR Dost thou call me fool, boy?
FOOL All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.
KENT This is not altogether fool, my lord.
F O O L NO, faith; lords and great men will not let me. If I had a monopoly out, they 15
would have part on't; and ladies too - they will not let me have all the fool to
myself; they'll be snatching.

*i thou] F; not in Q *2 one] F; fool Q 4-11 That . . . there] Capell's lineation; four lines ending . . . land, / . . . stand,
/ . . . appeare, / . . . there. Q 16 on't; and ladies] Capell (subst.); an't, and Ladies Q con:; an't, and lodes Q uncorr.;
on't, and lodes Q2 16 all the] Q; all Q2

1-3 Dost . . . me These lines appear in F, but tions, e.g. NS, place a dash before 'there' to make
were probably intended to be cut along with the the emphasis clearer. 'In early 1606, it would have
rest of this passage, with which they are clearly been hard not to see the Fool's jibe at Lear as a
connected. See Textual Analysis, pp. 84-5 above. reflection of King James's own royal fool [Archie
I my boy The Fool's term for Lear that Lear Armstrong] commenting on the folly of James him-
has just used for him (1.4.116). self (Taylor, 'Censorship', p. 105).
4 That lord In King Leir, Skalliger advised the 13 that . . . with either (1) you are a born fool,
king, but no one advised Lear, who was apparently or (2) folly is a universal human characteristic, i.e.
his own counsel (the implied point of 7). something you can't give away (compare Hunter).
4 thee Wiles, p. 191, says that the Fool here 14 altogether entirely; but the Fool quibbles on
addresses his bauble, or marotte, and elsewhere uses the sense 'only', i.e. having all there is (Kittredge).
his bauble thus to avoid directly addressing the 15 out officially granted. Like the slur implied
king, as at 1.4.117. at 11, this was also a possible cause for censorship:
6-7 Come . . . stand The Fool is stage- James I was notorious for awarding monopolies to
directing, moving characters around and using ges- court favourites.
tures. He has Lear stand for the counsellor. 16 on't i.e. of it.
10 The one i.e. the sweet fool; the Fool indicates 16-17 ladies . . . snatching The Fool refers
himself. to his bauble, used to suggest a phallus. The inde-
II The other i.e. the bitter fool. cent behaviour of court ladies was another sensitive
11 found out discovered.
11 there The Fool points to Lear. Some edi-
l29S] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

(vi) After 1.4.190 Q reads (continuing 'Lear's shadow' as part of Lear's speech: see above,
P- 75):
LEAR I would learn that, for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I
should be false persuaded I had daughters.
F O O L Which they will make an obedient father.

*i SH] Steevens; not in Q *3 they] Q3; they, Q, Q2

1 that i.e. who I am. since no daughters would behave this way towards
1-2 for . . . daughters i.e. every indication - the me.
outward signs of majesty (e.g. my crown), as well 3 Which Whom. Compare Abbott 265 and 266,
as the information I have and my own reason - and 3.1.16.
tells me that I have daughters. But that cannot be,

(vii) After 2 . 2 . 1 2 8 ('not to do so') Q reads:

His fault is much, and the good king, his master,

Will check him for't. Your purposed low correction
Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches
For pilferings and most common trespasses
Are punished with.

3-4 Is . . . trespasses] Pope's lima lion; divided. . . pilfrings / And Q 3 basest] Q corr. ; belest Q uncorr. *3 contemned'st]
Capell; contaned Q uncorr.; temnest Q corr., Q2

2 check rebuke. Compare (iii) above. Q corr. 'temnest' (Variants, p. 159). While agreeing
3 contemned'st most despised. Stone, p. 201, that this probably happened, Blayney (pp. 247-8)
believes 'conte[m]ned' stood in Q copy. Greg thinks says that the proofreader's intention may not have
the press-corrector crossed out 'taned' in Q uncorr. been correct and proposes (like Stone) the emen-
'contaned' and wrote 'temnest' in the margin, dation 'contemned', which Oxford accepts (in The
meaning the compositor to correct that half of the History of King Lear).
word only. Instead, he altered the entire word to 4 pilferings petty thefts.

(viii) After 2 . 2 . 1 3 3 ('abused, assaulted') Q reads:

For following her affairs. - Put in his legs.

(ix) After 2.4.17 ('I say, yea.') Q reads:

LEAR No, no, they would not.

KENT Yes, they have.

(x) After 3.1.7 ('That things might change or cease;') Q reads:

tears his white hair,

Which the impetuous blasts with eyeless rage

2 eyeless blind, undiscriminating.

The Tragedy of King Lear i2ç6]

Catch in their fury and make nothing of;

Strives in his little world of man to outstorm
The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. 5
This night, wherein the cubdrawn bear would couch,
The lion and the belly-pinched wolf
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

*4 outstorm] out-storm Muir (conj. Steevens); outscorne Q 5 to-and-fro-conflicting] Hyphenated Capell 7 belly-
pinched] Hyphenated Pope 8 fur] furre Q corr.; surre Q union:, Q2

3 make nothing of disperse, make it disappear of the udder-drawn lioness appears also in AY LI
into nothingness. 4.3.114.
4 little world of man i.e. the microcosm. Com- 6 couch lie down (and not be out hunting).
pare Mac. 1.3.140. Compare the animals in Job's storm, Job 37.8: 'the
4 outstorm Steevens first proposed the emen- beasts go into the denne, and remaine in their
dation (an easy t/c misreading) and compared A places' (Colie, p. 130).
Lover's Complaint, 7: 'Storming her world with sor- 8 unbonneted hatless ('a stronger idea then
rows wind and rain' (cited by Furness). than now: totally abandoning self-respect as well
5 to-and-fro-conflicting i.e. wildly buffeting. as self-protection': Hunter). Compare xxii below.
6 cubdrawn sucked dry by cubs, therefore 9 bids . . . all A cry of desperation: let it all go,
ravenous. Kittredge compares Arden of Feversham the whole world (compare 3.2.1-9). 'Take all!' was
2.2.118-20: 'Such mercy as the staruen Lyones, / the gambler's cry when staking everything on a last
When she is dry suckt of her eager young, / Showes throw of the dice; but compare Ant. 4.2.8.
to the prey that next encounters her'. The image

(xi) After 3.1.21 ('but furnishings - ) Q reads:

But true it is, from France there comes a power

Into this scattered kingdom, who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports, and are at point
To show their open banner. Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you making just report

2-6 Into . . . you] Pope's lineal ion; lines end . . . negligèce, [turned under] / . . . Ports, / . . . banner, / . . . farre, Q

The consistent though not perfect elimination in 1 power army.

F of references to France as the invading power has 2 scattered divided, broken up.
led critics, e.g. Greg ('Time, place and politics in 2 who i.e. the French.
King Lear\ MLR, 35 (1940), 431-46) and Doran, 3 Wise in our negligence Informed of our
pp. 73-6, to suspect censorship. Taylor seriously neglect (in making adequate defences).
questions that explanation ('Censorship', pp. 80- 3 have secret feet i.e. have secretly gained
1). If censorship was not an issue, then motivation footholds.
on dramatic and/or thematic grounds must explain 4 at point in (armed) readiness. Compare
F'S alteration here and elsewhere. Shakespeare de- 1.4.278.
emphasises invasion by a foreign power in favour of 6 my credit belief in me.
Lear's rescue by his youngest daughter, Cordelia, 7 To As to.
whom he had rejected and cast out. Love, not pol- 8 making i.e. for making.
itics, thus becomes central. See also Textual Anal- 8 just accurate
ysis, p. 269 above.
[297] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow

The king hath cause to plain. 10
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
And from some knowledge and assurance offer
This office to you.

12-13 *^ntl • • • you] jfennem's lineation; divided . . . assurance, / Offer Q

9 bemadding maddening.
10 plain complain.
13 office duty, commission.

(xii) After 3.6.14 ('Come hizzing in upon 'em') Q reads:

EDGAR The foul fiend bites my back.

F O O L He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love,
or a whore's oath.
L E A R It shall be done; I will arraign them straight.
[To Edgar] Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer. 5
[To the Fool] Thou, sapient sir, sit here. - No, you she-foxes -
EDGAR Look where he stands and glares! Want'st thou eyes at trial, madam?
[Sings] Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me.
FOOL [.Sï«#.s'] Her boat hath a leak
And she must not speak 10
Why she dares not come over to thee.

2 health] Q; heels Singer (ton/. IVarhurton) 5 SD) Cape/I; not in Q 5 justicer] Theobald; Iustice Q 6 SD] Capell; not
in Q 6 No] Q; now Q2 7 Want'st] wantst Q2; wanst Q 7 eyes at trial, madam?] eies at tri- / all madam, Q2,- eyes,
at tral madam Q; eyes at troll-madam? Oxford 8 SD] Hunter (conj. Staunton); not in Q 8 Come . . . me] As verse,
Capell; as prose, continuing from / Q *8 bourn] boorne Capell; broome Q 9 SD] Craig (conj. Cam.); not in Q 9-10
Her . . . speak] Capell's lineation; one line Q

On F'S omission of the 'mock trial', see Textual obvious about it, and many editions, e.g. Hunter,
Analysis, p. 270 above. Oxford, retain Q.
1 foul. . . back Compare 3.4.144. Tom imagines 7 he i.e. more likely an imagined 'fiend' than
a lousy devil. Lear. But compare 15 below.
2 tameness of a wolf D. R. Klinck offers evi- 7 Want'st . . . m a d a m i.e. do you lack
dence that this phrase, like the ones that follow, is spectators at (your) trial, madam? Explaining
proverbial (N&Q, n.s. 24 (1977), 113-14). Oxford's emendation, 'eyes at troll-madam', Taylor
2 horse's health Horses are notoriously given compares WT 4.3.87, 'troll-my-dames', from the
to disease. Warburton's conjectured emendation, French game 'trou-madame' (similar to bagatelle)
'heels' for 'health', is supported by the proverb, played by ladies ('Addenda' to Division, pp. 486-8).
'Trust not a horse's heels nor a dog's tooth' (Tilley 8 Come . . . me Edgar's fragment, which the
H711), and by two citations that include analogues Fool picks up, is from an old song recorded in W.
to 'whore's oath' (Dent, pp. 31, 140). Wager's The Longer Thou Livest, the More Tool Thou
2 boy's love Compare 'Love of lads and fire of Art (c. 1559). Malone (cited by Furness) notes that
chats [= small twigs, kindling] is soon in and soon 'Bessy' and 'poor Tom' may have been vagabond
out' (Tilley L526; Dent, p. 161). companions.
4 straight straightaway. Compare 1.3.21. 8 bourn burn, brook.
5 justicer judge. Theobald's emendation is gen- 9-11 Her . . . thee These are not the words
erally accepted as improving the metre and is sup- of the old song, but the Fool's bawdy improvisa-
ported by 36 below, and by 4.2.48. tion (compare Partridge, pp. 76, 139-40, and Temp.
6 No Duthie accepts Q2 'Now' as 'obviously the 1.1.46-8).
required reading' (p. 399). But there is nothing
The Tragedy of King Lear [298]

E D G A R The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hoppedance
cries in Tom's belly for two white herring. Croak not, black angel! I have no food
for thee.
K E N T How do you, sir? Stand you not so amazed.
Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions?
L E A R I'll see their trial first. - Bring in their evidence.
[To Edgar] Thou robed man of justice, take thy place.
[To the Fool] And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity,
Bench by his side. [To Kent] You are o'th'commission;
Sit you too.
E D G A R Let us deal justly.
Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?
Thy sheep be in the corn;
And for one blast of thy minikin mouth
Thy sheep shall take no harm.
Purr, the cat, is grey.
LEAR Arraign her first; 'tis Gonerill. I here take my oath before this honourable
assembly, she kicked the poor king her father.
FOOL Come hither, mistress. Is your name Gonerill? 30
LEAR She cannot deny it.

15-16 How . . . cushions] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q *i6 cushions] Q2,- cushings Q 17-21 I'll . . . too] Pope's
lineation; as prose Q 18 SD] Capell; not in Q 18 robed] Pope; robbed Q 19 SD] Capell; not in Q 20 SD] Capell;
not in Q 20 o'th'] o'th Q2,- ot'h Q 22-6 Let . . . harm] Theobald's lineation; all as prose Q *27 cat,] This edn; cat
Q *29 she] Q2,- not in Q

12 The foul . . . nightingale This is Tom's Edgar, the Fool, and Kent to sit as a judicial panel,
witty response to the Fool. Rosenberg, p. 233, notes or 'commission' (20), to hear the trial.
the growing rivalry between the Fool and Edgar and 19 yoke-fellow partner; i.e. the Lord Chancel-
suggests a pun, 'foul' - 'fool'; compare 3.4.73 n. lor, who presided over the Courts of Equity (NS).
12 Hoppedance 'Hoberdidance' or 'Haberdid- At exceptional trials, e.g. of Mary Stuart, the Courts
ance' in Harsnett, pp. 49, 140, 180. of Justice and of Equity were combined, as Lear
13 white herring fresh, unsmoked herring imagines them here (Hunter).
(Kittredge). 20 Bench Sit on the bench (compare Abbott
13 Croak not Poor Tom is hungry, and his belly 290).
rumbles. Exorcists 'would make a wonderful mat- 22 Let . . . justly Edgar begins sagaciously but
ter' of such 'croaking' (usually caused by fasting), quickly resumes his mad act.
saying 'it was the deuill . . . that spake with the 23-6 Sleepest. . . harm This pastoral ditty has
voyce of a Toade' (Harsnett, pp. 194-5). not been traced. Its modern analogue is 'Little Boy
13 black angel i.e. the fiend in his belly. Blue' (Hunter). Whether or not Edgar sings it is
15 amazed 'A very strong word, indicating a unclear. Does he compete with the Fool in singing,
state of utter confusion' (Kittredge, who compares too? Oxford and Bevington add SD Sings, following
Ham. 2.2.565-6). Lear is dumb-founded, or per- Capell, but Hunter does not. Compare 8 n.
haps tranced; compare 5.3.278 n. 25 minikin Either (1) dainty, sprightly (OED sv
16 cushions Duthie, p. 80, suspects that Q adj 1 a), or (2) shrill (OED sv adj 2).
'cushings', like Q 'Aurigular' (1.2.82), may reflect 27 Purr An apt name for a familiar in the form
popular pronunciation. of a cat; compare Mac. 1.1.8: 'I come, Graymalkin',
17 their evidence i.e. witnesses to testify and 4.1.1, 'Purre' is the name of a 'fat devil' in
against them. Harsnett, p. 50.
18 robed . . . justice Lear takes Edgar's blanket 29 she Accidentally omitted by Q compositor
for judicial robes, imagining him as the Chief Jus- (Duthie, p. 400).
tice, who presided over the Court of King's Bench 30 Come . . . Gonerill The Fool picks up a
(compare NS). stool and addresses it.
18 take thy place Lear stage-directs, arranging
[2gg] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

FOOL Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.

LEAR And here's another whose warped looks proclaim
What store her heart is made on. - Stop her there!
Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption in the place! 35
False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape?

*32 joint-stool] Pope; ioyne stoole Q; ioynt stoole Q2 *34 on] Capell; an Q

32 I . . . joint-stool A jocose apology for over- 33 here's another Lear points to or grasps
looking someone, as in Lyly's Mother Bombie 4.2.28 another piece of furniture. In the Granada televi-
(compare Tilley M897). 'The Fool takes profes- sion production, Olivier caught a hen, which then
sional delight in this opportunity to give the worn- escaped, giving point to his later outcries (Bratton,
out phrase a point; for, in this case, the stool is there p. 153). But note the pun on 'warped'.
and Goneril is not' (Kittredge). But the Fool's joke 33 warped (1) (of wood) twisted, (2) (of the face)
also underscores the reality of the hallucination for distorted by evil passions (Kittredge).
Lear. As Granville-Barker suggested, the real and 34 store material, stuff.
the imagined must carry equal value, so that what 34 Stop her there Mischievously trying to gain
Lear feels intensely the audience also feels (Rosen- attention, the Fool may snatch the object away
berg, p. 234). from Lear and hide it; or perhaps Lear drops it
32 joint-stool A stool with fitted legs (as against and the Fool takes it away. But the whole episode
a carpenter's rougher work). Duthie, p. 400, says Q may be purely Lear's hallucination, evoking Edgar's
'ioyne' for 'ioynt' may be t/e misreading (compare 'Bless thy five wits' (3.6.15). Compare Rosenberg,
Q2 'ioynt stoole'), but 'ioyne-stool' is an accepted PP- 234-5-
seventeenth-century variant spelling (OED).

(xiii) After 3.6.53 ('Give thee quick conduct') Q reads:

KENT Oppressed nature sleeps.

This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews
Which, if convenience will not allow,
Stand in hard cure. - Come, help to bear thy master;
Thou must not stay behind. 5

3-5 Which . . . behind] Theobald's lirteation; divided . . . cure, / Come Q 4 cure. - ] This edn; SD TO Fool Theobald

2 balmed . . . sinews soothed your shattered foot, / And like a net, all o'er the body spread.'
nerves. For the analogy of nerves to 'sinews', Muir 4 Stand in hard cure i.e. will be difficult to
quotes from 'The Senses' in Sir John Davies's Nosce heal.
Teipsum (1599): 'Lastly, the feeling power which 4-5 Come . . . behind Kent addresses the Fool
is life's root, / Through every living power itself who, exhausted, lags behind and may even be dying,
doth shed / By sinews, which extend from head to as he does not appear again. See 3.6.41 n.

(xiv) After 3.6.53 ('Come, come away ) Q reads:

EDGAR When we our betters see bearing our woes,

We scarcely think our miseries our foes.
Who alone suffers, suffers most i'th'mind,

1-2 When . . . foes] Q2 lineation; as prose Q *3 suffers, suffers most] Theobald; suffers suffers, most Q; suffers, most
02

1 our woes i.e. miseries like ours. 'Fellowship in woe doth woe assuage', and Tilley
3 Who . . . mind i.e. anguish is exacerbated C571 ('It is good to have company in misery').
mentally by isolation. NS compares Lucrèce, 790:
The Tragedy of King Lear [300]

Leaving free things and happy shows behind.

But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip,
When grief hath mates, and bearing, fellowship.
How light and portable my pain seems now,
When that which makes me bend makes the king bow.
He childed as I fathered. Tom, away!
Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray
When false opinion, whose wrong thoughts defile thee,
In thy just reproof repeals and reconciles thee.
What will hap more tonight, safe 'scape the king!
Lurk, lurk!

4 free i.e. free from trouble or suffering; care- 10 bewray reveal.

free. 12 In . . . reproof i.e. when the charges against
4 happy shows joyous sights. you have been justly disproved or refuted; 'reproof
5 sufferance suffering. = disproof, refutation (compare Cor. 2.2.33).
6 bearing suffering, endurance (syllepsis). 12 repeals calls back into favour or honour
7 portable bearable. (Onions).
9 He . . . fathered His experience of children 12 reconciles i.e. to your former standing (with
is the same as mine of my father. your father).
10 high noises rumours or events among the 13 What . . . more Whatever else will happen.
mighty. Compare 'noises' = rumours, Tro. 1.2.12; 13 safe . . . king may the king escape safely.
'high' = mighty, Ant. 1.2.189-90. 14 Lurk Lie hidden and in wait (Schmidt).

(xv) After 3.7.97 Q reads:

SECOND SERVANT I'll never care what wickedness I do,
If this man come to good.
THIRD SERVANT If she live long
And in the end meet the old course of death,
Women will all turn monsters.
SECOND SERVANT Let's follow the old earl and get the Bedlam
To lead him where he would; his roguish madness
Allows itself to anything.
THIRD SERVANT Go thou. I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!
Exeunt
1 SH] Capell; Sentant Q 2, 8 SH] Capell; 2 Ser. Q 2 - 4 If she . . . monsters] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q 5 SH]
Capell; 1 Ser. Q *6 roguish] Q uncorr.; not in Q corr. 8-9 Go . . . him] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q 9 SD Exeunt]
Exit Q,' Exeunt severally / Theobald

i SH SECOND Capell renumbered the servants Perhaps the corrector, intending an alteration,
to account for the one who died. crossed the word out and forgot to insert his emen-
2 this man Cornwall. dation (Greg, Variants, p. 169). Compare Blayney,
2 she Regan. p. 250, who suggests that a deletion symbol, or what
3 meet . . . death i.e. die a natural death. looked like one, somehow got into the Q uncorr.
4 Women . . . monsters i.e. because they will margin, resulting in false correction.
not fear retribution. 7 Allows . . . anything i.e. lets him do anything.
5 the Bedlam Poor Tom. 8 flax . . . eggs Sixteenth- and seventeenth-
6 roguish characteristic of vagrants {OED sv century medical books recommend this treatment
adj 1). Q corr.'s omission is probably an accident. for injured eyes.
[301] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

(xvi) After 4.1.58 Q reads:

Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once: of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence,
prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet, of
mopping and mowing, who since possesses chambermaids and waiting-women.
So, bless thee, master!

1-4 Five . . . master] Pope; as verse, lines ending . . . once, / . . . dumbnes, / . . . Stiberdigebit of / . . . chambermaids
/ . . . maister. Q *2 Flibbertigibbet] Pope; Stiberdigebit Q *3 mopping and mowing] Theobald; Mobing, & Moiling Q

The passage derives directly from Harsnett and hence a good name for a demon that prompts affec-
was cut not only to shorten the play, but to remove tations, such as grimacing and making faces ('mop-
the allusion to chambermaids, since the joke had ping and mowing') (Kittredge). Harsnett, p. 136,
probably been forgotten (Johnson). uses the term 'mop and mow like an ape' in con-
1 Five fiends On multiple possession by dev- text with 'make antike faces, grinne'. The compos-
ils, compare Harsnett, p. 141, where Maynie recalls itor got the spelling of 'Flibbertigibbet' wrong and
the 'Maister-deuils' who were made to depart from has taken mowing (Q iMohing') for another devil.
him, taking the form of the Seven Deadly Sins. Compare NS and Duthie, p. 404, who suspects
1 of lust i.e. prince of lust (syllepsis). All the that Q 'Mobing' may be a misreading for 'moking'
devils named are 'princes', not only Hobbididence. (= mocking), which Oxford adopts. Compare also
1 as namely. Temp. 3.3.82 SD, 4.1.47.
1 Obidicut 'The Prince of hel . . . Hoberdicut' 3 since i.e. since he left me.
(Harsnett, p. 119). 3 possesses chambermaids In Harsnett,
2-3 Flibbertigibbet . . . mowing A 'flibber- Sarah and Friswood Williams and Anne Smith,
tigibbet' is a flirt or frivolous creature (OED sv 1), chambermaids, submitted to exorcism.

(xvn) After 4.2.33 ('Blows in your face ) Q reads:

I fear your disposition:

That nature which condemns its origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap, perforce must wither 5
And come to deadly use.
GONERILL No more, the text is foolish.
A L B A N Y Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile;
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?

*2 its] Q3,- it Q uncorr., Q2,- ith Q con.

1 fear have fears concerning (Muir). image is of a branch broken off from its trunk that
2 its Greg, Variants, pp. 172-3, believes that dries up and is used for firewood. Shaheen com-
Q uncorr. 'it' is right, and Q corr. 'ith' wrong, pares King Leir 1242-6, and especially John 15.6:
but that the corrector's intention is unclear. Stone, 'If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a
p. 213, agrees that Q uncorr. is right and compares branche, and withereth: and men gather them, and
the genetive 'it' at 1.4.176. He does not press the cast them into the fire, and they bur ne.'
comparison; the Fool there, after all, is using baby- 5 material substantial, essential.
talk. Thus it seems best to modernise the genetive. 6 come . . . use Muir, Hunter compare Hebrews
3 Cannot . . . itself Cannot be certain of itself, 6.8; NS suspects a hint of hell-fire.
i.e. know itself and its boundaries (hence, may be 6 text (1) commentary, (2) passage of scripture;
uncontrollable). perhaps Gonerill anachronistically recognises the
4-6 She . . . use That woman who will detach biblical allusion.
herself from the nourishing substance of her life 8 savour relish.
and being must necessarily degenerate and die. The
The Tragedy of King Lear [302]

Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?

A father, and a gracious aged man, 10
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits 15
Send quickly down to tame these vilde offences,
It will come.
Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.

11 even] Q,- not in Q2 14 benefited] Q corn; beneflicted Q uncorr., Q2; benefacted Oxford 16-17 Send . . . come]
Ma/one's lineation; one line (come turned over) Q * I 6 these] jfennens (conj. Heath); the Q uncorr., Q2; this Q corr. 16
vilde] Q2,- vild Q; vile Pope 18-19 Humanity . . . deep] Pope's lineation; one line (the deepe. turned under) Q 18
Humanity] Q corr.; Humanly Q uncorr., Q2

n head-lugged i.e. ill-tempered (because 17 It will come Either 'It' is a pronoun, with
tugged along by the head; compare 1H4 1.2.74). divine retribution as an implied antecedent; or an
12 madded maddened. expletive = it will come to this, that (Gres, Variants,,
13 brother i.e. brother-in-law^ (= Cornwall). p. 173). Although the short, elliptical line induces a
14 benefited Taylor believes Q uncorr. 'beni- pause emphasising Albany's conclusion, the words
flicted' is a mistake for 'benefacted', not the more are in an extremely crowded, turned-over line; the
common and obvious 'benefited', which became the orthography, as well as syntax and metrical irregu-
correction ('Four new readings in King Lear\ N&Q larity, thus suggests possible textual disruption.
29 (1982), 121-2). 18-19 Humanity . . . deep Greg {Variants,
15 visible spirits supernatural beings in visible p. 173) compares Shakespeare's lines in Sir Thomas
form: Albany speaks apocalyptically of 'lightning More 84-7: 'For other ruffians . . . / Would shark
and thunderbolt' (NS). on you, and men like revenous fishes / Would feed
16 these Q corr. 'this' (from 'thes' = these) may on one another.' Compare also Tro. 1.3.121-4: 'And
have been intended as a correction for Q uncorr. appetite, an universal wolf / (So doubly seconded
'the', but as in the false correction 'ith' (2 above) with will and power), / Must make perforce an uni-
something has gone awry. Compare Greg, Variants, versal prey, / And last eat up himself The concept
p. 173; Textual Companion, p. 520. was widespread and can be traced back to Hesiod,
16 vilde The old spelling of'vile', adopted here Works and Days, 1.434-7, and Theodoretus; it
for the sake of the pun on 'wild', playing off'tame' appeared also in Renaissance iconography (Muir).
(Muir).

(xviii) After 4.2.36 ('from thy suffering') Q reads:

that not know'st

Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,

1—4 that . . . land] Theobald's lineation; lines end . . pitty / . . . mischiefe, / . . . land, Q 2 those] Q; these Q2 4
noiseless] Q corr., Q2; noystles Q uncorr.

2 - 3 Fools . . . mischief Compare 1.4.282-4. ently refers to Lear, not Gloucester, since it is of
Gonerill condemns soft-hearted fools who do not her father, who has done no 'mischief yet, that
see the value of preventive punishment. She appar- Albany has been speaking.
[303] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

With plumed helm thy flaxen biggin threats, 5

Whilst thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries
'Alack, why does he so?'

5 thy] Q; his Duthie (conj. Greg) *5 flaxen] Oxford; slayer Q uncorr.; slaier Q2,- state Q corr., Jennens *5 biggin] Oxford
(conj. Stone); begin Q uncorr.; begins Q corr., Q2, Jennens *5 threats] Q uncorr.; thereat Q corr.; threats Q2,- to threat
Jennens 6 Whilst] Q corr.; Whil's Q uncorr., qz; Whiles Oxford

5 flaxen biggin threats An unsolved crux for to Division, p. 488) then proposed 'flaxen' for Q
many years; no plausible alternative was found to uncorr. 'slayer' instead of'slyre' or Q corr.'s 'state'.
Jennens's universally accepted emendation, 'state The emendation, which makes sense and is palaeo-
begins to threat', which cannot be defended on the graphically sound, alters Q uncorr. minimally. The
evidence (Greg, Variants, p. 174). Stone, p. 184, comparison between the King of France with his
however proposed 'slyre' (= fine linen or lawn) and plumed helm and Albany in his nightcap is delib-
'biggin' (= a cap or hood for the head, a nightcap; erately ludicrous. Compare 2H4 4.5.27.
sometimes spelled 'begin'), but was uncomfortable 6 moral i.e. moralising.
with 'slyre', a Scottish word. Taylor ('Addenda'

(xix) After 4.2.38 ('O vain fool!') Q reads:

ALBANY Thou changed and self-covered thing, for shame

Be-monster not thy feature. Were't my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend, 5
A woman's shape doth shield thee.
G O N E R I L L Marry, your manhood! Mew!

Enter a GENTLEMAN

ALBANY What news?

*4 dislocate] Q3; dislecate Q, Q2 *-; manhood! Mew!] NS; manhood - Mew! Cam. (conj. Daniel); manhood mew—Q
corr.; manhood now—Q uncorr.; man-hood now—oj 7 SD] Q (after 8); Messenger F

1 changed transformed, i.e. from woman to the other. 'Albany maddens at the terrible impulses
monster. crowding him' (Rosenberg, p. 255).
1 self-covered hidden from one's true form or 5 Howe'er However much, although.
self, disguised; i.e. the devil in woman's form. Com- 7 Marry . . . Mew Greg does not doubt the cor-
pare 5-6 below. rectness of Q corr.'s 'excellent emendation' (Vari-
2 Be-monster . . . feature i.e. don't make your ants, p. 175); Stone does (p. 213). Both Q uncorr.
appearance hideous (by revealing your true nature). and Q corr. make sense, differing only in the
Gonerill's features, distorted with anger and con- degree of contempt Gonerill expresses. Q corr. is
tempt, make her look diabolical. stronger, consistent with Q'S version of Gonerill;
2 Were't my fitness If it were fitting for me (as moreover, why would the corrector alter Q uncorr.
a man). if 'mew' were not a bona fide correction from
3 blood emotion, passion. copy?
4 apt ready. 7 Marry An oath, literally 'By the Virgin Mary!'
4-5 dislocate . . . bones An example of chi- 7 Mew Imitating mockingly the sound of a cat.
asmus, the rhetorical figure in which the order of Compare 1H4 3.1.127.
words in one of two parallel elements is inverted in
The Tragedy of King Lear [304]

(xx) After 4 . 2 , Q adds a scene:

Enter KENT and a GENTLEMAN

K E N T Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back, know you no reason?
G E N T L E M A N Something he left imperfect in the state which since his coming forth
is thought of, which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that his
personal return was most required and necessary.
K E N T Who hath he left behind him general? 5
G E N T L E M A N The Marshal of France, Monsieur L a Far.
K E N T Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
G E N T L E M A N Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen 10
Over her passion, who most rebel-like
Sought to be king o'er her.
KENT O, then it moved her?
G E N T L E M A N Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears 15
Were like a better way; those happy smilets
That played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved 20
If all could so become it.

1 no] Q; the Q2 *i reason?] Q2; reason, Q *5 him general?] Theobald; him, General, Q; him, Generall? 0.2 *8
Ay, sir] Johnson; I, sir Theobald; I say Q 10-12 Her . . . o'er her] Pope's lineation; lines divided . . . passion, / Who
Q *i3 strove] Pope; streme Q *i5 Sunshine] Sun-shine Q2; Sun shine Q *i-j seemed] Pope; seeme Q *i8 eyes;]
eyes, Q2; eyes Q *i9 dropped.] dropt; Q2; dropt Q

0 SD GENTLEMAN Apparently the same Gen- 13 rage violent outburst of grief (Kittredge).
tleman that Kent spoke to in 3.1. See 3.1.0 SD n. 13 strove See collation: o/e, u/tn misreading.
1 gone back Steevens (cited by Furness) aptly 15 Sunshine . . . tears Proverbial (Tilley Lo,2a).
explains why, in view of his different ending, Shake- Compare R2 3.2.9-10 and Sidney's Arcadia, Bk in,
speare decided to return the king to France rather ch. 5: 'Her tears came dropping down like rain in
than have him present at the battle, as in King sunshine' (Steevens, cited by Furness).
Leir. Eliminating references to his arrival in the first 16 a better way i.e. of expressing conflicting
place obviates the need to send him back later. attitudes. For various interpretations and emenda-
3 imports carries with it, involves as a conse- tions, compare Furness, Duthie, pp. 408-9, Hunter.
quence (Onions). 16 smilets little smiles.
6 The . . . La Far Pope emended Q 'Mar- 18 which i.e. the 'guests' (= tears).
shall' to 'MareschaP, making the word trisyllabic so 19 As . . . dropped Shakespeare often refers to
that the line scanned as blank verse. Steevens, who tears as pearls, as in Lucrèce, 1213 ('And wip'd the
spelled the name 'le Fer', thought Shakespeare had brinish pearl from her bright eyes'; compare ibid.,
an impoverished French nomenclature, because the 1548-53) and 7 ^ ^ 3 . 1 . 2 2 6 ('A sea of melting pearl,
Marshal bears the same name as the common sol- which some call tears'); eyes as 'diamonds' is a rarer
dier, 'M. Fer', who was 'fer'd, ferreted, and ferk'd'' image (compare Wiv. 3.3.55). The elegant simile is
by Pistol in / / j 4.4.26-31. appropriate to a courtier (Kittredge).
7 your letters Compare 3.1.10-20. 20 rarity something excellent, precious; com-
9 trilled trickled. Compare Cotgrave, pare Sonnet 60.11.
''Transcouler, To glide, slide . . . trill, or trickle' 21 If . . . it i.e. if everyone could make it so
(Wright, cited by Furness). attractive.
11 who The pronoun personifies 'passion'.
[305] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

K E N T Made she no verbal question?

G E N T L E M A N Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of father
Pantingly forth, as if it pressed her heart;
Cried 'Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies! Sisters! 25
Kent! Father! Sisters! What, i'th'storm? i'th'night?
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moistened. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
KENT It is the stars, 30
The stars above us, govern our conditions,
Else one self mate and make could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
GENTLEMAN N o .
K E N T Was this before the king returned?
GENTLEMAN No, since. 35
K E N T Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i'th'town,
Who sometime in his better tune remembers
What we are come about and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
GENTLEMAN Why, good sir?
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness 40
That stripped her from his benediction, turned her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters - these things sting

*27 pity . . . believed] pitie . . . beleeft q; pitty . . . beleeu'd Q2; pity ne'er believe it Pope; piety not be believed
Oxford *29 moistened] Capcll; moystened her Q; mastered Oxford (conj. Stone) *30-i It . . . conditions] Theobald's
lineation; one line q *38-<) What . . . daughter] Pope's lineation; one line (daughter turned under) q *43~5 To . . .
Cordelia] Johnson \v lineation; lines divided . . . mind, / So Q

22 Made . . . question Did she not say copy), Q'S 'her' is metrically superfluous, probably
anything? attracted from the line above. (See Duthie, p. 409;
22 question speech. Stone, p. 184; Textual Companion, p. 521.)
23 Faith In faith. 29-30 Then . . . alone Compare Gen. 43.30,
27 Let . . . believed Either (1) let (it for) pity Joseph's dealing with grief alone (Theobald, cited
not be believed (Harbage), or (2) let pity not be by Furness).
believed (to exist) (Steevens, cited by Furness). See 30-1 It is . . . conditions Compare Edmond's
collation. The accidental indentation of the line in Q opposing view (1.2.104-16).
suggests that a letter has dropped out. Blayney con- 31 conditions dispositions, characters. Com-
jectures 'Lest' but recognises that an inkball could pare MV 1.2.129.
not pull out a long s from a long s/t ligature. Oxford 32 Else . . . and make Otherwise one and the
emends 'pity' to 'piety' (Textual Companion, p. 521). same husband and wrife ('make').
Perhaps Q 'not beleeft' contains a contraction (= 37 sometime sometimes.
not believe it) and an excrescent 'be' was added in 37 in . . . tune i.e. when his wits are together;
proof (NS: J. D. Wilson). compare 4.6.16.
29 clamour moistened i.e. moistened her 40 sovereign all-powerful,
outcries with tears ('holy water'), thus silencing 40 elbows him Either (1) jostles, thrusts him
them. Compare 2H4 4.5.138-9: 'my tears, / The back, or (2) stands beside him remindinglv; haunts
moist impediments unto my speech'. Warburton (compare Rj 1.4.145).
(cited by Furness) proposed hyphenating 'clamour- 42 foreign casualties accidents, chances
moistened', putting it in apposition with 'heav- abroad.
enly'. Oxford adopts Stone's conjecture, 'mastered' 43 dog-hearted pitiless; compare TGV2.3.10-
(= overcame; presumably spelled 'maystered' in n.
The Tragedy of King Lear [306]

His mind so venomously that burning shame

Detains him from Cordelia. 45
GENTLEMAN Alack, poor gentleman!
KENT Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?
GENTLEMAN 'Tis so. They are afoot.
KENT Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master, Lear,
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause 50
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.
Exeunt
47 not?] Q2,- not. Q *53~4 Lending . . . me] Jennens's lineation; one line Q *54 SD Exeunt] Pope; Exit Q

47 powers armies. 5 2_ 3 When . .. acquaintance Compare 3.1.23-

48 afoot on the march. 8.
50 dear cause important business (we are never 52 aright rightly, as myself,
told what, but compare 4.6.9-11).

(xxi) After 4.6.25 Q reads:

CORDELIA Very well.
DOCTOR Please you, draw near. - Louder the music there!

(xxii) After 4.6.32 Q reads:

To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? to watch, poor perdu,
With this thin helm?

1 dread-bolted] Hyphenated Theobald *3 lightning?] Theobald; lightning Q,- lightning, Q2 *3 watch,] Warhurton;
watch Q *4 helm?] Q2; helm Q

1 deep Either (1) deeply dreaded, or (2) deep- 3 watch (1) stand guard, (2) go without sleep,
toned, bass. 3 perdu (1) a sentry in an advanced and danger-
1 dread-bolted thunder thunder, armed or ous position, (2) a castaway, lost one.
equipped ('bolted') with dread, i.e. thunderbolts 4 thin helm (1) meagre helmet, (2) scant hair,
conveying dread. (3) bare head; probably (3).
3 cross zigzag.
(xxiii) After 4.6.78 ('You see is killed in him') Q reads:
and yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.

1-2 and . . . lost] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q

2 even o'er balance up, fill up and smooth over;

i.e. it is dangerous to make him account for what
he has gone through.
\307\ Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

(xxiv) After 4.6.82 Q reads:

GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
KENT Most certain, sir.
GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people?
KENT As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
GENTLEMAN They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in 5
Germany.
KENT Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom
approach apace.
GENTLEMAN The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. [Exit]
KENT My point and period will be throughly wrought 10
Or well or ill as this day's battle's fought. Exit

7-8 Report . . . apace] As prose, Theobald; two verse lines divided . . . about, / The Q *9 SD Exit] After Theobald; not
in Q

1 Holds it true Is it confirmed? of my lot in life will be worked out, for good or ill,
7 Report is changeable Hence, the Gentle- according as this battle results in victory or defeat'
man's question earlier, 1. (Kittredge).
7 look about be alert. 10 point object, purpose; compare Mac. 3.1.86.
9 arbitrement decisive action. 10 period full stop, end.
10-11 My point . . . fought 'The completion 10 throughly thoroughly.

(xxv) After 5.1.11 ('To the forfended place') Q reads:

EDMOND That thought abuses you.
REGAN I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosomed with her, as far as we call hers.

2-3 I . . . hers] Q2 lineation; as prose Q

1 abuses dishonours. 3 bosomed (1) close, (2) sexually intimate.

2 doubtful suspicious. 3 as far . . . hers i.e. to the fullest extent, all
2 conjunct (1) united, closely joined, (2) con- the way.
spiring (King).

(xxvi) After 5.1.14 SD Q reads:

GONER ILL [Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister
Should loosen him and me.

1 SD Aside] Theobald; not m Q 1-2 I . . . me] Theobald's lineation; as prose Q; two lines divided . . . battell / Then
Q2 *i lose] Theobald; loose Q, Q2

1-2 lose . . . loosen GonerilPs word-play

heightens the antithesis.
The Tragedy of King Lear [308]

(xxvii) After 5.1.18 ('Forced to cry out') Q reads:

Where I could not be honest,

I never yet was valiant. For this business,
It touches us as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king with others whom I fear
Most just and heavy causes make oppose. 5
EDMOND Sir, you speak nobly.

*4 king] King, Q *4 fear] Duthie; feare, Q; fear. Oxford

1 be honest be honourable, act with good serious reasons motivate them to fight. Oxford
conscience (Kittredge). places a period after 'fear', making this line a sep-
2 For As for. arate sentence and changing the sense to suggest
3 touches concerns, affects. 'just and heavy causes' on both sides. Muir notes
3 France i.e. the King of France. that 'with others whom' occurs also at 5.1.17 and
4 bolds emboldens, encourages (compare the line restates the earlier point; he suspects the
Abbott 290). passage may he corrupt.
4 with along with. 6 nobly Edmond is sarcastic (NS).
5 Most . . . oppose i.e. very justified and

(xxviii) After 5.1.23 ('On our proceeding') Q reads:

EDMOND I shall attend you presently at your tent.

1 I . . . tent Stone, p. 237, suspects the line

was inadvertently dropped from F by a copyist or
compositor.

(xxix) After 5.3.35 ('Or thrive by other means. ) Q reads:

CAPTAIN I cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats;

If it be man's work, I'll do it.

1 I . . . oats i.e. I'm not a horse (or other animal).

(xxx) After 5.3.53 ('hold your session ) Q reads:

At this time
We sweat and bleed. The friend hath lost his friend,
And the best quarrels in the heat are cursed

1-4 At . . . sharpness] Theobald's lineation; three lines ending . . . bleed, / . . . quarrels / . . . sharpnes, Q 2 We] Q
corr., Q2,- mee Q uncorr.

1-6 At . . . place Edmond's hypocrisy is patent: in F, which focus rather on Edmond's authority to
he pretends to safeguard Lear and Cordelia until deal with the prisoners. (Compare Urkowitz, p. 107;
they can get a fair trial, but in reality he is stalling Stone, p. 238.)
to give the Captain time to fulfil his orders. The 3 quarrels causes.
lines motivate Albany's censure of Edmond's pre- 3 in the heat i.e. of passion engendered by
sumptuousness perhaps better than those retained battle.
[309] Appendix: Passages unique to the first quarto

By those that feel their sharpness.

The question of Cordelia and her father
Requires a fitter place. 5

4 sharpness] Q corr., Q2; sharpes Q uncorr.

4 sharpness severity, harshness (Schmidt). See and wrongly altered Q uncorr. 'sharpes' (= sharp
collation. Q corr. may follow copy; but Stone edges, points; OED Sharp sbli).
(p. 213), NS, and Greg {Variants, p. 179) suspect 6 fitter place i.e. not the battlefield,
that the press-corrector thought an n was missing

(xxxi) After 5.3.195 Q reads:

EDGAR This would have seemed a period
To such as love not sorrow; but another
To amplify too much would make much more
And top extremity.
Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man 5
Who, having seen me in my worst estate,
Shunned my abhorred society. But then, finding
Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms
He fastened on my neck and bellowed out
As he'd burst heaven; threw- him on my father; 10
Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him
That ever ear received; which in recounting
His grief grew puissant and the strings of life
Began to crack. Twice then the trumpets sounded,
And there I left him tranced.
ALBANY But who was this? 15
EDGAR Kent, sir, the banished Kent, who in disguise
Followed his enemy king and did him service
Improper for a slave.

1-4 This . . . extremity] Theobald's linealion; three lines ending . . . such / . . . much, / . . . extreamitie Q *io him]
Theobald; me Q n Told the most] Q; And told the Q2 *i4 crack. Twice] Theobald; cracke twice, Q

1 period (1) climax, (2) full stop. 6 estate condition.

2-4 another . . . extremity To describe in 10 As As if.
detail another (tale of sorrow) would add a great 10 him himself,
deal more (to what I have already told) and exceed 13 puissant strong, powerful,
the furthest limit (of what is bearable). Compare 13 strings of life i.e. his heartstrings; compare
Furness and Textual Companion, p. 526. Edgar, nev- Rj 4.4.365.
ertheless, proceeds with Kent's story. 15 tranced in a faint or trance.
5 big i.e. loud. 17 enemy king Compare 1.1.167-73.
5 clamour lamentation; compare xx.29 above. 18 Improper Unfitting.
READING L I S T

This list includes a selection of books and articles referred to in the Introduction or
Commentary along with several additional items that may serve as a guide to those who
wish to undertake further study of the play.

Berlin, Normand. The Secret Cause: A Discussion of Tragedy, 1981

Bevington, David. Shakespeare, 2002
Blayney, Peter W. M. The Texts of'King Lear' and Their Origins, 1982
Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, 1998
Booth, Stephen, King Lear', 'Macbeth', Indefinition, and Tragedy, 1983
Bradley, A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy, 2nd edn, 1905
Brockbank, Philip. 'Upon Such Sacrifices', The British Academy Shakespeare Lecture,
1976
Brown, John Russell. Shakespeare: The Tragedies, 2001
Bruce, Susan. William Shakespeare: King Lear', 1998
Carlisle, Carol Jones. Shakespeare from the Greenroom, 1969
Cavell, Stanley. Must We Mean What We Say?, 1969
Clayton, Thomas. 'Old light on the text of King Lear\ MP 78 (1981), 347-67
Cohen, Derek. Shakespearean Motives, 1988
Colie, Rosalie L. and F. T. Flahiff (eds.). Some Facets of'King Lear': Essays in Prismatic
Criticism, 1974
Colman, E. A. M. The Dramatic Use of Bawdy in Shakespeare, 1974
Cox, Brian. The Lear Diaries, 1992
Danby, John F Shakespeare's Doctrine of Nature, 1948, reprinted 1961
Davies, Oliver Ford. Playing Lear, 2003
Dollimore, Jonathan. Radical Tragedy: Religion, Ideology and Power in the Drama of
Shakespeare and his Contemporaries, 1984; 2nd edn, 1989
Doran, Madeleine. Shakespeare's Dramatic Language, 1976
The Text of King Lear', 1931, reprinted 1967
Elton, William. King Lear' and the Gods, 1966, 2nd edn, 1988
Foakes, R. A. Hamlet versus Lear: Cultural Politics and Shakespeare's Art, 1993
Fortin, René. 'Hermeneutical circularity and Christian interpretations of King Lear\
in Gaining upon Certainty: Selected Criticism, 1995, pp. 125-38
Fraser, Russell A. Shakespeare's Poetics in Relation to King Lear', 1962
Gardner, Helen. King Lear, 1967
Greenblatt, Stephen. 'Shakespeare and the Exorcists', in Shakespearean Negotiations,
1988
Will in the World, 2004

311
The Tragedy of King Lear [312]

Greg, W. W. The Editorial Problem in Shakespeare, 1942

The Shakespeare First Folio: Its Bibliographical and Textual History, 1955
The Variants in the First Quarto of King Lear\ 1940
Halio, Jay L. (éd.). Critical Essays on Shakespeare's 'King Lear', 1996
Hamilton, Donna. 'Some romance sources for King Lear: Robert of Sicily and Robert
the Devil', SP 71 (1966), 345-59
Hawkes, Terence. William Shakespeare: King Lear, 1995
Heilman, Robert. This Great Stage: Image and Structure in King Lear ', 1948, reprinted
1963
Hoeniger, F. D. Medicine and Shakespeare in the English Renaissance, 1992
Holland, Norman N. The Shakespearean Imagination, 1964
Holland, Peter (éd.). 'King Lear' and its Afterlife, S.Sur. 55, 2002
Honigmann, E. A.J. Myriad-Minded Shakespeare, 1989
'Shakespeare's revised plays: King Lear and Othello\ The Library, 6th sen, 4 (1982),
142-73
The Stability of Shakespeare's Text, 1965
Howard-Hill, Trevor. 'The problem of manuscript copy for Folio King Lear\ The
Library, 6th sen, 4 (1982), 1-24
Ioppolo, Grace. Revising Shakespeare, 1991
Ioppolo, Grace (éd.). Shakespeare Performed: Essays in Honor ofR. A. Foakes, 2000
James, D. G. The Dream of Learning: An Essay on 'The Advancement of Learning',
'Hamlet', and 'King Lear', 1951
Jorgensen, Paul A. Lear's Self-Discovery, 1967
Kinney, Arthur F. 'Some Conjectures on the Composition of King Lear\ S.Sur. 33
(1980), 13-25
Knight, G. Wilson. The Wheel of Fire, 4th edn, i960
Knights, L. C. Some Shakespearean Themes, i960
Kozinstev, Grigori. 'King Lear': The Space of Tragedy, trans. Mary Mackintosh,
1977
Leggatt, Alexander. King Lear, Harvester New Critical Introductions, 1988
Shakespeare in Performance: 'King Lear', 1991
'Two Lears: notes for an actor', in Lois Potter and Arthur F Kinney (eds.),
Shakespeare: Text and Theater: Essays in Honor of Jay L. Halio, 1999, pp. 310-19
Levenson, Jill. 'What the silence said: still points in King Lear\ in Clifford Leech and
J. M. R. Margeson (eds.), Shakespeare 1971, 1972, pp. 215-29
Lusardi, James, and June Schlueter. Reading Shakespeare in Performance: 'King Lear',
1991
Mack, Maynard. 'King Lear' in Our Time, 1965
Maguire, Laurie E. and Thomas L. Berger (eds.). Textual Formations and Reformations,
1998
McAlindon, T Shakespeare's Tragic Cosmos, 1991
McElroy, Bernard. Shakespeare's Mature Tragedies, 1973
Meagher, John C. 'Vanity, Lear's feather, and the pathology of editorial annotation', in
Clifford Leech and J. M. R. Margeson (eds.), Shakespeare 1971, 1972, pp. 244-59
\3'3\ Reading list

Muir, Kenneth. 'King Lear': A Critical Study, 1986

Nevo, Ruth. Tragic Form in Shakespeare, 1972
Noble, Richmond. Shakespeare's Biblical Knowledge, 1935
Ogden, James, and Arthur H. Scouten (eds.). 'Lear'from Study to Stage, 1997
Peat, Derek. '"And that's true too": King Lear and the tension of uncertainty', S.Sur.
33 (1980), 43-53
Perrett, Wilfrid. The King Lear Story from Geoffrey of Monmouth to Shakespeare, Berlin,
1904
Reibetanz, John. The Lear World, 1977
Ringler, William A. Jr. 'Shakespeare and his actors: some remarks on King Lear', in
Shakespeare's Art from a Comparative Perspective, ed. Wendell M. Aycock, 1981,
pp. 187-93
Rosenberg, Marvin. The Masks of King Lear, 1972, reprinted, 1992
Rothwell, Kenneth S. A History of Shakespeare on Screen: A Century of Film and
Television, 1999
Ryan, Kiernan (éd.). King Lear. New Casebooks, 1992
'King Lear, a retrospect, 1980-2000', S.Sur. 55 (2002), 1-11
Salingar, Leo. Dramatic Form in Shakespeare and the Jacobeans, 1986
Shaheen, Naseeb. Biblical References in Shakespeare's Tragedies, 1987
Snyder, Susan. The Comic Matrix of Shakespeare's Tragedies, 1979
Shakespeare: A Wayward Journey, 2000
Speaight, Robert. Shakespeare on the Stage: An Illustrated History of Shakespearian
Performance, 1973
Spurgeon, Caroline. Shakespeare's Imagery and What It Tells Us, 1935
Stampfer, Judah. 'The catharsis of King Lear'', S.Sur. 13 (i960), 1-10
Stockholder, Katherine. 'The multiple genres of King Lear: breaking the archetypes',
Bucknell Review 16 (1968), 40-63
Stone, P. W K. The Textual History of King Lear', 1980
Taylor, Gary 'A new source and an old date for King Lear\ RES 132 (1982), 396-413
'Revolutions of perspective: King Lear\ in Moment by Moment by Shakespeare, 1985,
pp. 162-260
'The war in King Lear\ S.Sur. 33 (1980), 27-34
Taylor, Gary, and Michael Warren (eds.). The Division of the Kingdoms: Shakespeare's
Two Versions of King Lear', 1983
Urkowitz, Stephen. Shakespeare's Revision of King Lear', 1980
Warren, Michael. 'Quarto and Folio King Lear and the interpretation of Albany and
Edgar', in David Bevington and Jay L. Halio (eds.), Shakespeare: Pattern of
Excelling Nature, 1978, pp. 95-107
Warren, Michael (éd.). The Complete King Lear', 1608-1623, 1989
Wells, Stanley. Shakespeare: A Life in Drama, 1995
Wells, Stanley, and Gary Taylor, with John Jowett and William Montgomery.
Shakespeare: A Textual Companion, 1987
Welsford, Enid. The Fool: His Social and Literary History, 1935
The Tragedy of King Lear \3!4\

Whitaker, Virgil. The Mirror Up to Nature: The Technique of Shakespeare's Tragedies,

1965
Wiles, David. Shakespeare's Clown, 1987
Wittreich, Joseph. Tmage of that Horror': History, Prophecy, and Apocalypse in King
Lear', 1984
Wood, Michael. In Search of Shakespeare, 2003