Line 268. positions. Line 269. -govern our conditions ;] i. e. regulate our dis and the same wife. MALONE. -one self mate and mate-] The same husband JOHNSON. Self is used here, as in many other places in these plays, for self same. MALONE. ACT IV. SCENE IV. Line 326. for importunate. important-] In other places of this author, JOHNSON. Line 327. No blown ambition-] No inflated, no swelling pride. Beza on the Spanish Armada: "Quam bene te ambitio mersit vanissima, ventus, ACT IV. SCENE V. JOHNS. Line 362. Let me unseal &c.] I know not well why Shakspeare gives the Steward, who is a mere factor of wickedness, so much fidelity. He now refuses the letter; and afterwards, when he is dying, thinks only how it may be safely delivered. JOHNSON. Line 367. She gave strange ceiliads,] Oeillade, Fr. a cast, or significant glance of the eye. STEEVENS. Line 372. I do advise you, take this note :] Note means in this place not a letter, but a remark. ACT IV. SCENE VI. JOHNSON. This scene, and the stratagem by which Gloster is cured of his desperation, are wholly borrowed from Sidney's Arcadia, Book II. JOHNSON. Line 399.thy voice is alter'd; &c.] Edgar alters his voice in order to pass afterwards for a malignant spirit. JOHNS. Line 406. How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low !] This description has been much admired since the time of Addison, who has remarked, with a poor attempt at pleasantry, that "he who can read it without being giddy, has a very good head, or a very bad one." The description is certainly not mean, but I am far from thinking it wrought to the utmost excellence of poetry. He that looks from a precipice finds himself assailed by one great and dreadful image of irresistible destruction. But this overwhelming idea is dissipated and enfeebled from the instant that the mind can restore itself to the observation of particulars, and diffuse its attention to distinct objects. The enumeration of the choughs and crows, the samphire-man, and the fishers, counteracts the great effect of the prospect, as it peoples the desert of intermediate vacuity, and stops the mind in the rapidity of its de scent through emptiness and horror. -her cock ;] Her cock-boat. -when life itself JOHNSON. JOHNSON. Yields to the theft:] When life is willing to be de JOHNSON. Line 449. Thus might he pass indeed:] Thus might he die in reality. We still use the word passing bell. JOHNSON. Line 452. Had'st thou been aught but gossomer, feathers, air,] Gossomore, the white and cobweb-like exhalations that fly about in hot sunny weather. GREY. Line 482. Horns whelk'd,] i. e. Twisted, convolved. -the clearest gods,] The purest; the most free .484. from evil. JOHNSON. Line 500. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper :] In several counties, to this day, they call a stuffed figure, representing a man, and armed with a bow and arrow, set up to fright the crows from the fruit and corn, a crow-keeper, as well as a THEOBALD. scure-crow. This crow-keeper was so common in the author's time, that it is one of the few peculiarities mentioned by Ortelius, in his account of our island. JOHNSON Line 506. -Give the word.] Lear supposes himself in a garrison, and before he lets Edgar pass, requires the watch-word. JOHNSON. Line 511. They flatter'd me like a dog;] They played the spaniel to me. JOHNSON, Line 538. POPE: The fitchew,] A polecat. -nor the soiled horse,] Soiled horse is a term used for a horse that has been fed with hay and corn in the stable during the winter, and is turned out in the spring to take the first flush of grass, or has it cut and carried in to him. This at once cleanses the animal, and fills him with blood. STEEV. Line 554. Dost thou squiny at me?] To squiny is to look asquint. MALONE. I'll able 'em :] An old phrase signifying to Line 589. qualify, or uphold them. Line 610. It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe WARBURTON. A troop of horse with felt:].i.e. with flocks kneaded JOHNSON. to a mass, a practise I believe sometimes used in former ages, for it is mentioned in Ariosto. Line 622. rate. -a man of salt,] A man of salt is a man of tears. MALONE. 631. Then there's life in it.] The case is not yet despe JOHNSON. Stands on the hourly thought.] The main body is expected to be descry'd every hour. The expression is harsh. Line 680. JOHNSON. -go your gait,] Gang your gait is a common expression in the North. In the last rebellion, when the Scotch soldiers had finished their exercise, instead of our term of dismis STEEVENS. sion, their phrase was, gang your gaits. Line 684. the western dialect. Line 685. 689. che vor'ye,] I warn you. Edgar counterfeits your costard-] Costard, i. e. heud. -my bat-] i. e. a club, or staff. JOHNSON. -no matter vor your foins.] To foin, is to make what is called a feint in fencing. Line 706. To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts; Their papers, is more lawful.] This is darkly expressed: the meaning is, Our enemies are put upon the rack, and torn in pieces to extort confession of their secrets; to tear open their letters is more lawful. WARBURTON. Line 722. Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified &c.] I'll cover thee. In Staffordshire, to rake the fire, is to cover it with fuel for the night. JOHNSON. Line 725. the death-practis'd duke:] The duke of Albany, whose death is machinated by practice or treason. JOHNSON. ACT IV. SCENE VII. Line 740. - every measure fail me. e.] All good which I shall allot thee, or measure out to thee, will be scanty. JOHNS. Line 745. Be better suited ;] i. e. Be better dressed, put on a better suit of clothes. STEEVENS. JOHNSON. Line 749. -my made intent :] An intent made, is an intent formed. So we say in common language, to make a design, and to make a resolution. Line 784. With this thin helm ?] With this thin covering of hair. MALONE. Line 790. Had not concluded all.] It is wonder that thy wits and life had not all ended. JOHNSON. Line 838. To make him even o'er the time he has lost.] i. e. To reconcile it to his apprehension. WARBURTON. ACT V. SCENE I. Line 14. forefended place?] Forefended means prohibited, forbidden. STEEVENS. Line 33. Sir, you speak nobly.] This reply must be understood ironically. MALONE. Line 66. We will greet the time,] We will be ready to meet the occasion. Line 73. JOHNSON. -carry out my side,] Bring my purpose to a suc cessful issue, to completion. JOHNSON. Line 80. for my state Stunds on me &c.] The meaning is, rather-Such is my determination concerning Lear; as for my state it requires now, not deliberation, but defence and support. ACT V. SCENE II. JOHNSON. Line 94. Ripeness is all:] i. e. To be ready, prepared, is all. STEEVENS. ACT V. SCENE III. Line 101. Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst.] i. e. the worst that fortune can inflict. Line 114. And take upon us the mystery of things, MALONE. As if we were God's spies :] As if we were angels commissioned to survey and report the lives of men, and were consequently endowed with the power of prying into the original motives of action and the mysteries of conduct. JOHNSON. Line 123. And fire us hence, like foxes.] I have been informed that it is usual to smoke foxes out of their holes. STEEVENS, Line 124. The goujeers shall devour them,] The goujeres, i. e. Morbus Gallicus. Gouge, Fr. Line 124. 135. flesh and fell,] Flesh and skin. -Thy great employment HANMER. JOHNSON. Will not bear question ;] The important business which is now entrusted to your management does not admit of debate: you must instantly resolve to do it, or not. Question, here, as in many other places, signifies discourse, conversation. MALONE. Line 157. And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes—] i. e. Turn the launcemen which are press'd into our service against us. Line 175. The which immediacy-] Immediacy is supremacy, in opposition to subordination, which has quiddam medium between itself and power. JOHNSON. Line 194. The let-alone lies not in your good will.] Whether he shall not or shall, depends not on your choice. JOHNSON. Line 275. And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding breathes,] 'Say for essay, some show or probability. Line 283. Alb. O save him, save him! POPE. Gon. This is mere practice, Gloster :] Albany desires that Edmund's life might be spared at present, only to obtain his confession, and to convict him openly by his own letter. JOHNSON. Line 304. Let's exchange charity.] Our author, by negligence, gives his Heathens the sentiments and practices of Christianity. JOHNSON. Line 383. Here comes Kent, sir.] The manner in which Edgar |