Page 250 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

2.i. NOTES 175
ing' (= whispering). Cf. H. Fill, 2. I. 145; Ham.
4. 5. 89.
10-11. Have you heard tic. Cf. 3. 3. 8-9.
14. S.D. F 'Exit.', Q om.
15. The better! best! (Pope) i.e. 'so much the
better! In fact, as good as it could be! Q,F 'The better
best,'—a common error.
18. of ...question sc. needing careful handling.
19. Briefness...work!' = May I be lucky enough to
bring it off quickly!
20. Descend! Need not. imply use of an upper-
stage; see Greg, R.E.S. (1940), p. 300. S.D. (Q, F)
Theob. (+most) place iiere^ F at 1. 19,
21. sir Note the deference.
27. Upon = 'm support of. 28. o»'/=of it.
29-30. com ing...cunning (punct. <Camb.) F 'com-
ming, pardon me: | In cunning,'.
30. In cunning i.e. 'to avoid the appearance of
collusion' (Muir). upon—against.
31. quit you well put up a good fight.
33. S.D. (G.I.D.) F 'Exit Edgar.'.
35. S.D. (<Rowe) Q, F om.
35-6. I...sport. 'A wild gallant would sometimes
stab his arm and mix the blood with the wine when he
drank his lady's health' (K.). Cf. Marston, Dutch
Courtesan, iv, i (ed. H. H. Wood, 11, 113).
37. No help? (F) i.e. is no one coming to help me?
Cf. 'No rescue?' 4. 6. 189 [J.C.M.] S.D. (F).
39-40. Mumbling...mistress Edm. appeals to Glo.'s
superstitious nature. Cf. 1. 2. io6ff. Mumbling (F)
Q 'warbling'—a misreading.
40. stand (F) Q (+Camb.) 'stand's', see G.
41. Look...bleed. Distraction to give Edg. time to
escape.
42. this way Points the wrong way. could— (Q+
Camb.) F 'could.'.