King Lear : Act 4, Scene 4
Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, colours: i.e., battle flag.
[Doctor,] and Soldiers.
CORDELIA
1
Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now
1. he was met even now: i.e., he [King Lear] was seen very recently.
2
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;
3
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
3. rank: luxuriant, thick, coarse.
4
With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
5
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
6
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;
3-6. fumiter . . . sustaining corn: i.e., common weeds. >>>
century: battalion [100 men].
century: battalion [100 men].
7
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
8
And bring him to our eye.
Exit an Officer.
What can man's wisdom
9
In the restoring his bereaved sense?
9. What can . . . sense?: What can human knowledge do to restore the good sense he lost?
10
He that helps him take all my outward worth.
10. He . . . worth: He who helps him can take all my material wealth.
Doctor
11
There is means, madam:
12
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
12. Our . . . repose: i.e., That which comforts and nourishes human nature is rest.
13
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
14
Are many simples operative, whose power
13-14. that to provoke . . . operative: to induce rest there are effective medicinal herbs. eye of anguish: wakeful suffering.
15
Will close the eye of anguish.
CORDELIA
All blest secrets,
16
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
18. unpublish'd virtues: obscure healing plants.
17
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate
17. Spring with my tears!: Grow as fast as my tears fall! aidant and remediate: healing and restorative.
18
In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;
19
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
20
That wants the means to lead it.
20. wants: lacks.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
News, madam;
21
The British powers are marching hitherward.
21. powers: armies.
CORDELIA
22
'Tis known before; our preparation stands
22. our preparation: the troops we have ready.
23
In expectation of them. O dear father,
24
It is thy business that I go about;
25
Therefore great France
25. France: i.e., the king of France, Cordelia's husband.
26
My mourning and importun'd tears hath pitied.
26. My . . . tears: my sad and pressing tears.
27
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,
27. blown: inflated. our arms incite: motivate us to take up arms.
28
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:
28. But love, dear love, and our aged father's right: i.e., we are fighting for nothing but love, precious love, and our aged father's rights.
29
Soon may I hear and see him!
Exeunt.