Page 223 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

148 NOTES I.I.
her heart in words" but her heart haslove of a better and
weightier metal' (Muir). 'Ponderous'itself suggests the
balance used to distinguish false coins from genuine.
Cf. Gent. 2. 2.16, cited 1. 61, n.
82. our last and least (F)=latest born and least in
precedence. Camb. 'the last, not least' <Q 'the last, not
f
least in our deere loue,' Edd. freq. conflate, reading our
last, not least'; but Q is very corrupt here (see 1949 ed.
pp. 25-30); and the prov. 'last, not least' (see Tilley,
L 82 and Caes. 3.1.190) might easily be substituted for
the true text, least prob. refers also to Cord.'s stature.
84. interessed F 'interest'—a variant sp. See G.
France and Burg, have presumably argued their cases by
referring to the particular riches of their domains—
hence 'vines', 'milk' (Burg, having good pasture land).
draw see G. The gambling metaphor is significant.
89. Nothing...nothing Ex nihilo nib.il fit. Prov.
ultimately derived from Aristotle. Cf. Tilley, N 285.
92. no more-($)~ Q (+Camb.) 'nor more'.
96. as...fit An eSipsis='as they are most fit to be
returned'. Cf. Abbott, §384.
99. Haply F 'Happily' (a variant Eliz. and Jac
form).
103. To...all (Q) Fom.
109. mysteries (F 2) Q 'mistresse*, F 'miseries'.
n o . operation of the or£r=working of the stars
(influencing the lives of mortals).
115. this sc. time. 116. messes see G.
119. liege— (Rowe+Camb.) Q, F 'Liege.*
121. the dragon The traditional crest of ancient
British Icings, but Sh. need not have had this in mind.
Cf. Cor. 4. 7. 23.
his wrath Conceived as an extension of his personality.
Cf. Ham. 3.4.113,' O step between her and her fighting
soul', and below, 1.169 [J.C.M.].
122-3. set...nursery see G.'nursery*. Lear had