Page 315 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

240 N O T E S 4.3.
wh. explains the K. of France's sudden return in 'the
clumsiest few lines in the play' (11.1-6), and provides 'a
dramatically feeble excuse for the delay in handing Lear
over to his daughter's care' (11. 37-44), with none at all
'for the devoted Kent letting the distracted old man out
of his sight to roam the fields' (see 1. 5 2, n.). In a word
G.-B. thinks the F cut well advised 'on the principle—
and it is an excellent one in the theatre—of: "Never
explain, never apologize."' Cf. too Greg, M.L.R.
(1940), pp. 444—5. Both think the change in France's
plans (11. 1-6) conceal a change in Sh.'s, which was
prob. due, apart from the desire of avoiding the affront
to patriotism of a Fr. victory over Britain, to a general
reconstruction of the plot. Yet J. F. Danby points out
this scene is necessary for 'a full understanding of
Cordelia' (Sh.'s Doctrine of Nature, p. 229).
S.D. Loc. (Steev.) Entry (Q).
2 no 2
- (0, 1) Q (+Camb.) 'the'.
10. your letters One missive (cf. 1. 5.1). Sh. forgot
that at 3. 1. 35 ff. it was a verbal report Kent asked the
Gent, to give to Cord.
12. Jy, sir; (J.) Theob. I, sir,'. Q I say/.
'
'
15. rebel-like Cf. Caes. 2.1.67 ff. 'the state of man',
etc. (with n.); ibid. 3. 1. 40 'rebel blood'; and Tw.N.
G. 'revolt'.
16. it i.e. the letter. 17. rage see G.; patience
see G.; strove (Pope) Q 'streme'. 18. Who which.
18-25. You have...become it. Muir cites Sidney,
Arcadia 1590 (ed. Feuillerat, p. 376):

her teares came dropping downe like raine in Sunshine, and
she [Philoclea] not taking heede to wipe the teares, they
ranne downe upon her cheekes, and lips, as upon cherries
which the dropping tree bedeweth.

Cf. also Tilley, L 92 a. 'To laugh and cry at once (like
rain in sunshine)'.