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King Lear : Act 4, Scene 3

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           Enter KENT and a GENTLEMAN.

      KENT

gone back returned (to France)

  1   Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back
  2   know you the reason?

      Gentleman

imperfect i.e., incomplete

  3   Something he left imperfect in the state, which since
  4   his coming forth is thought of; which imports to the
  5   kingdom so much fear and danger, that his personal
  6   return was most required and necessary.

      KENT
  7   Who hath he left behind him general?

      Gentleman
  8   The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.

      KENT
  9   Did your letters pierce the queen to any
 10   demonstration of grief?

      Gentleman
 11   Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;
 12   And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
 13   Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen
 14   Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,
 15   Sought to be king o'er her.

      KENT
 15                                               O, then it moved her.

      Gentleman

strove struggled (against one other)
Who should express her goodliest. which (of the two approaches—patience or sorrow) would best express her feelings | like a better way better than that, but similar
smilets ... eyes the smiles of her lips seemed oblivious to the tears in her eyes

 16   Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove
 17   Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
 18   Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears
 19   Were like a better way: those happy smilets,
 20   That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know
 21   What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,
 22   As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,
 23   Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,
 24   If all could so become it.

      KENT
 24                                           Made she no verbal question?

      Gentleman

heaved breathed out with difficulty

 25   'Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'
 26   Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart:
 27   Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters!
 28   Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?
 29   Let pity not be believed!' There she shook
 30   The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
 31   And clamour moisten'd: then away she started
 32   To deal with grief alone.

      KENT

It is the stars i.e., everything that happens is the fault of the stars

 32                                           It is the stars,
 33   The stars above us, govern our conditions;
 34   Else one self mate and mate could not beget
 35   Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?

      Gentleman
 36   No.

      KENT

before the king return'd before the King of France returned to France

 37   Was this before the king return'd?

      Gentleman
 37                                                          No, since.

      KENT

the town Dover, where the French forces have established a foothold
better tune i.e., more composed state of mind

 38   Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;
 39   Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers
 40   What we are come about, and by no means
 41   Will yield to see his daughter.

      Gentleman
 41                                                    Why, good sir?

      KENT

sovereign overruling | elbows him gives him sharp pains
turn'd ... casualties turned her out and left her to take her chances in a foreign land | dear rights rightful inheritance

 42   A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,
 43   That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her
 44   To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
 45   To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting
 46   His mind so venomously, that burning shame
 47   Detains him from Cordelia.

      Gentleman
 47                                           Alack, poor gentleman!

      KENT

powers troops, armies

 48   Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?

      Gentleman

afoot on the march

 49   'Tis so, they are afoot.

      KENT
 50   Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,
 51   And leave you to attend him: some dear cause
 52   Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;
 53   When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
 54   Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
 55   Along with me.

           Exeunt.