Page 282 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

3-4- NOTE S 207

27. pray A prayer of repentance; cf. 3. 2. 72-3,
n. S.D. (<J.) F 'Exit.' at 1. 26.
28-36. Poor naked wretches ttc. See Bradley, p. 287,
on this. We are pointed forward to 11.101 ff. Cf. Glo.'s
words at 4. 1. 63—9. Both, learn the same lesson from
suffering.
31. looped see G. 33. pomp The 'great and
mighty ones of the earth' (K.), including—especially—
himself.
35. shake...them Cf. Harsnett, Declaration, etc.
[see sig. A 3]. 'These lighter superfluities, whom they
disgorge amongst you...in the fashion of great Poten-
tates' [Muir, R.E.S. (1951), p. 16].
37-8. Fathom...Tom/ From F. Q om. S.D.S
(<Theob.) F gives'Enter Edgar and Foole'. Fathom
and half! Cry of a sailor taking soundings (K.). Edg.
pretends to be one of the fresh-water mariners or whip-
jacks who 'run about the country with a counterfeit
licence [from the Admiralty], feigning either shipwreck
or spoiled by pirates' (A Caveat for Common Cursitors,
1567. Judges, Eliz. Under-World, p. 84).
Poor Tom! Cf. 2. 3.14,n., and Awdeley's Fraternity
of Vagabonds (1561): 'An abram man is he that walketh
bare-armed and bare-legged, and feigneth himself mad,
and carryeth a pack of wool or a stick with bacon on it,
or such like toy, and nameth himself Poor Tom' (Judges,
op. cit.-p. 53).
44. S.D. <Theob., 'Enter Edgar disguised as a
madman.'. None in Q. For F see 11. 37-8, n.
45. Jway!—Keep away from me! Cf.l. 140. The...
follows me! Madmen were supposed possessed or
attended by devils.
46. Through,..winds. Asong-snatch. Cf.'The Friar
of Orders Grey' (Percy's Reliqaes, 1.87): 'See, through
the hawthorn blows the cold wind.' sharp Perh. alludes
•to the pins or thorns of his make-up j see 2. 3. 14, n.