King Lear

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman, and Foole.Enter Lear, Kent, Knight, and the Fool KL I.v.1.1
Lear. LEAR  
(to Kent) KL I.v.1.2
Go you before to Gloster with theseGo you before to Gloucester with thesebefore (adv.)
ahead, in advance
KL I.v.1
Letters; acquaint my Daughter no further with any thingletters. Acquaint my daughter no further with anything KL I.v.2
you know, then comes from her demand out of the Letter,you know than comes from her demand out of the letter.demand (n.)
question, enquiry, request
KL I.v.3
if your Dilligence be not speedy, I shall be there aforeIf your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there aforeafore, 'fore (prep.)
before, ahead of
KL I.v.4
you.you. KL I.v.5
Kent. KENT 
I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered yourI will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your KL I.v.6
Letter. letter. KL I.v.7
Exit.Exit KL I.v.7
Foole. FOOL 
If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not inIf a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in KL I.v.8
danger of kybes?danger of kibes?kibe (n.)

old form: kybes
chilblain, inflamed heel
KL I.v.9
Lear. LEAR 
I Boy.Ay, boy. KL I.v.10
Foole. FOOL 
Then I prythee be merry, thy wit shall not goThen I prithee be merry. Thy wit shall not gowit (n.)
intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability
KL I.v.11
slip-shod.slipshod.slipshod, slip-shod (adj.)
wearing slippers
KL I.v.12
Lear. LEAR 
Ha, ha, ha.Ha, ha, ha! KL I.v.13
Fool. FOOL 
Shalt see thy other Daughter will vse thee kindly,Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly;use (v.)

old form: vse
treat, deal with, manage
KL I.v.14
for though she's as like this, as a Crabbe's like an Apple, yetfor though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yetcrab (n.)

old form: Crabbe
crab-apple, sour apple
KL I.v.15
I can tell what I can tell.I can tell what I can tell. KL I.v.16
Lear. LEAR 
What can'st tell Boy?What canst tell, boy? KL I.v.17
Foole. FOOL 
She will taste as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a Crab:She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. KL I.v.18
thou canst tell why ones nose stands i'th'middle on'sThou canst tell why one's nose stands i'the middle on's KL I.v.19
face?face? KL I.v.20
Lear. LEAR 
No.No. KL I.v.21
Foole. FOOL 
Why to keepe ones eyes of either side's nose, thatWhy, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that KL I.v.22
what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.what a man cannot smell out he may spy into. KL I.v.23
Lear. LEAR 
I did her wrong.I did her wrong. KL I.v.24
Foole. FOOL 
Can'st tell how an Oyster makes his shell?Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? KL I.v.25
Lear. LEAR 
No.No. KL I.v.26
Foole. FOOL 
Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snaile ha's a house.Nor I neither. But I can tell why a snail has a house. KL I.v.27
Lear. LEAR 
Why?Why? KL I.v.28
Foole. FOOL 
Why to put's head in, not to giue it away to hisWhy, to put's head in; not to give it away to his's (det.)
contracted form of ‘his’
KL I.v.29
daughters, and leaue his hornes without a case.daughters, and leave his horns without a case. KL I.v.30
Lear. LEAR 
I will forget my Nature, so kind a Father? Be myI will forget my nature. So kind a father! – Be my KL I.v.31
Horsses ready?horses ready? KL I.v.32
Foole. FOOL 
Thy Asses are gone about 'em; the reason why the Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the KL I.v.33
seuen Starres are no mo then seuen, is a pretty reason.seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason. KL I.v.34
Lear. LEAR 
Because they are not eight.Because they are not eight? KL I.v.35
Foole. FOOL 
Yes indeed, thou would'st make a good Foole.Yes, indeed. Thou wouldst make a good fool. KL I.v.36
Lear. LEAR 
To tak't againe perforce; Monster Ingratitude!To take't again perforce! Monster ingratitude!perforce (adv.)
forcibly, by force, violently
KL I.v.37
Foole.FOOL 
If thou wert my Foole Nunckle, Il'd haue thee beatenIf thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten KL I.v.38
for being old before thy time.for being old before thy time. KL I.v.39
Lear. LEAR 
How's that?How's that? KL I.v.40
Foole. FOOL 
Thou shouldst not haue bin old, till thou hadstThou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst KL I.v.41
bin wise.been wise. KL I.v.42
Lear. LEAR 
O let me not be mad, not mad sweet Heauen:O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! KL I.v.43
keepe me in temper, I would not be mad.Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!temper (n.)
mental balance, stable mind
KL I.v.44
How now are the Horses ready?How now! Are the horses ready? KL I.v.45
Gent. KNIGHT 
Ready my Lord.Ready, my lord. KL I.v.46
Lear. LEAR 
Come Boy.Come, boy. KL I.v.47
Exeunt all except the Fool KL I.v.47
Fool. FOOL 
She that's a Maid now,& laughs at my departure,She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, KL I.v.48
Shall not be a Maid long, vnlesse things be cut shorter.Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. KL I.v.49
Exeunt.Exit KL I.v.49
 Previous Act I, Scene V Next  
x

Jump directly to