Page 220 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

NOTES 145
Acts and Scenes. Q has no divisions. Those in F have
been generally followed by edd., except that after Scena
Secunda it has no later divisions in Act 2. See head-note
2. 3. Granville-Barker (p. 145) suggests that this play
should be performed with only one definite interval—
at the end of Act 3. To this point the play is carried by
'
one great impetus of inspiration, and there will be great
gain in its acting being as unchecked. If the strain on
actors or audience seems to be too great, I should choose
a breathing space after Act 1, scene ii, for all the Folio's
authority to the contrary. But the strain should not be
excessive upon either audience or actors.'

Lineation. Verse divisions being often absent in Q or
when present incorrect as often as not, the F collator
found a good deal to do in this respect; and on the whole
did the work well. The lineation has however been still
further regularized in the old Cambridge Sh., and we
have here generally followed its example, only recording
the F differences when they raise points of interest.

Stage-directions. So far as is convenient in a modem
ed. for readers, F and Q stage-directions are utilized in
the text, their presence being indicated by inverted
commas. When those of F are not so used they are cited
in the notes; those of Q being cited only when of special
interest*

1. r
S.D. Loc. (after Cap., 'A Stateroom in...'). Entry
(F) K. gives 'Edmund stands back.' Coleridge (1, 56)
says that Glo. speaks in Edmund's presence about his
birth with 'a most degrading and licentious levity*.
Some are doubtful whether the subject wd be thought
too delicate for discussion in Shu's day. But cf. 'blushed
...brazed' Ql. 9-10).