Page 322 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

4.6. NOTES 247
91-2. O...foiDgh! Addressed to- an imaginary
(feathered) arrow; the whistling sound, 'hewgh' (cf.
'whew' 1 H. IV, 2. 2. 40) being either an imitation of
the arrow, or a cry of astonishment at the success of the
shot. See G. 'clout', and cf. 1. 88 'draw...yard'.
hewgh! F 'Hewgh.' Coll. adds S.D.. 'Whistling'.
92. Give the word. Now a sentry, he challenges Edg.
"Whose 'word' (see G.) is 'marjoram'—'in allusion to
Lear's "wild flowers"' (Ver.), and because 'according
l
to Culpeper' (Physical/ Directory, 1657) this was &
blessed remedy for diseases of the brain.' (Blunden ap.
Bradby, p. 333). Cf. Son. 99. 7 'buds of marjoram'.
96. Ha!...beard? (<F) He takes Glo. for Gon.
disguised (K.).
96 ff. They flattered me etc. see Introd. p. liv.
97. flattered— fawned upon.
97—8. told.. .there, i.e.' told him he had the wisdom
of age before he had reached that of youth' (Cap.).
' They'=the world in general. Lear, in retrospect, sees
that his character had been spoilt since childhood—like
that of most princes.
97. the white (F) Q (+Camb.) 'white*.
98. my Emphatic.
e
98-9. To say 'ay' and no* A way of referring to
flattery. Cf. Palsgrave, Acolastus, 1540 (E.E.T.S. ed.),
14, 3-4, 'To flatter hym, and holde him vp with ye and
nay', and Cooper's Thesaurus, 1565, s.v. 'assentor',
'to flatter...to holde vp ones yea and nay' [J.C.M.].
100. no good divinity =not good theology (see Ep. of
James v. 12).
100-3. When the rain...'em out Cf. A.Y.L, 2. r.
6-12.
105. not ague-proof J.C.M. cites Florio, Montaigne,
I, xlii, 'Doth the ague...spare him [the king] more than
us?'.
n
107. S.D. (J.D.W.) Cf. 1. 80, S.D., n.; 1.182, .