Page 339 - King Lear: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

264 NOTES 5.3.
'came to be used in imprecatory phrases, as denoting
some undefined malefic power or agency* (O.E.D.).
'What the good year!'='What the devil!' (cf. 'what
the good-year' in Ado, x.^.i;2H.IF, 2.4. 57,173).
Cf. also On. ii. Here in one sense it may signify the years
of 'their evil prosperity' (Muir); in another 'the super-
natural powers of evil', which would protect their evil
servants for a long time, even if 'devouring' them in the
end. flesh and fell see G. Perh. suggests that they are
animals. Cf. Introd. p. xlvii.
25. Ere...weep! 'Asudden flashofthe old passionate
nature'(Bradley, p. 290). starved <F) Q(+Camb.)
(
'starue'.
26. S.D. (Theob., subs.) F 'Exit.'.
28. S.D. (Mai., at end of 1.) Q, F om.
32-3. Are...sword i.e. 'may be merciful in time of
peace, but must be savage in war' (K.). tender-minded
Hyphen Rowe's (ed. 11).
34. bear question admit discussion.
36. happy i.e. fortunate, thou'st (Rowe) F. 'th'hast'
£)(+Camb.) 'thou hast'.
39-40. I cannot...do't <Q) Fom. Cf.Macb.i.J.
(
'
46, I dare do all that may become a man'. The crude
form suggests a crude nature, apt for the deed.
40. S.D. (i) <F'ExitCaptaine.',afterl.38. (ii)(F).
43. Who (F) Q (+Camb.) 'That'.
'
44. / ( F ) Q (+Camb.) We'.
45. merits see G.
46-8. Sir...guard see Note on the Copy, p. 123.
49. /SPfoj? Antecedent'King'. had(F) Q(+Camb.)
'has'.
50. the common bosom=the hearts ofthe common
people. Cf. Cor. 3. 1. 131. on=on to.
51. impressed lances=conscript soldiers. /»=into,
so as to wound.
51-2. our eyes j Which=th& eyes of us who.