Page 231 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

156 NOTES r.2.
etc. (see 1949 ed. p. 367); Sisson explains it 'shall turn
into' wh. seems far-fetched. Cap. notes 'top' goes
well with I grow', lends aptness to that exclamation,
'
and forms a good contrast with 'base' (=low). It also
supplies the actor 'with the right note of triumph' for
the end of the speech [Muir]. Cf. 5. 3. 206, 'top
extremity'. Sisson writes (1956) that ''to or too as a mis-
reading of top is highly implausible'; Greg {Aspects,
1928, p. 165) that 'if the tail of the p were somehow
obscured, top would naturally be misread as too'. Cf.
G.I.D. 1949 ed. pp. 366-8.
23. choler France had presumably been incensed
during the interview ref. to at 1.1. 299-300. See Greg
in M.L.R. (1940), 444.
24. to-night=la.st night. Prescribed (F) see G. Q
(+Camb.) 'Subscrib'd'—prob. anticipates 3. 7. 64,
also spoken by Glo. (see 1949 ed. p. 130).
25. exhibition see G.
26. Upon the gad see G. 'gad'.
27. S.D. (<Rowe) 'Putting up the letter'.
30. Nothing see Introd. p. xxxix.
41-55. This 'letter' sets before us the main theme of
the whole play.
47. policy and reverence Hendiadys. Customary (or
obligatory) reverence for. But 'policy' also suggests
craft on the part of the aged.
48. to...times i.e. to us in our prime of life.
49. fortunes i.e. inheritances, relish see G.
50. idle and fond useless and stupid.
52. suffered endured.
56. waked (Camb. <Q 'wakt') F'wake'—a poss.
e:d misreading of'wakd'. Glo. is re-reading the letter.
59. came...this (F)=came you by this. £)(+Camb.)
'came this to you'.
68. his. (F+Camb.) Q 'his?'. In 1949 G.I.D.
read Q explaining that Glo. asks again because Edm.