Page 331 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

256 NOTES 4.7.

Cord, and Lear since' 1.1. That being so, Lear's presence
asleep at the opening wd distract the audience's atten-
tion from the dialogue with Kent and make it absurd
that she should ignore Lear for 20 lines. Still more
absurd is Lear's attempt to kneel (1. 57) 'if he is in bed'.
And as G.-B. notes (p. 182), 'when he conies to himself
it is to find that he is royally attired, and as if seated on his
throne again. It is from this throne that he totters to
kneel at Cord.'s feet.' Al. and Sisson 'discover' Lear
on a bed or couch at 1. 2 5 after 'Louder the music there'
(see 11. 24-5, n.); an unsatisfactory compromise.
3. every measure fail me—because it cannot be
measured.
5. reports sc. about Lear, go with =accord with.
8. Pardon (F) Q ( + Camb.) 'Pardon me'.
9. Tet...intent To be recognized already would
spoil my plan. Cf. 'short' at Cymb. 1. 6. 199.
12. S.D. (Theob. subs.) Q, F om.
16. wind up=put right—put in tune as by tightening
the strings of a musical instrument.
l
17. dild-c/iange'd= "changed by his children". So
care-crazed, crazed by care' (Mai.); cf. 11. 28-9. Not
'changed to a child' (Steev.); Lear was mad, not
childish.
18. King?...long. (Han., subs.) F'King,...long?',
Q 'king,...long.'.
20. arrayed i.e. in his royal robes [G.-B.], see G.
21,23. sp.-hdgs. As in Cap.+Camb. F 'Gent.' at
1. 23;£)'Doct.'atl. 21,'Gent.'at 1. 23. 21. o/(F)
£)(+Camb.)'ofhis\ 24. not (£>) F om.
24-5. Cordelia. Very well. Doctor. Please...there!
From Q; F om. S.D. (J.D.W.) <F 'Enter Lear in a
chaire carried by Seruants'—at 1. 20. But the request
'Be by, good madam', etc. and Cord.'s assent clearly
precede the entry, while 'Please you draw near', etc. as
clearly follows it. Note F omits 1. 25, perh. because the