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JonDawson English 5 cards

Cards in this deck (5)

1"Although the last, not least"Lear to Cordelia
This, the Quarto reading, is a form of common English phrase, (Last but Not Least) = 'dealt with last but not to be taken as least important because of that'
2"Mend your speech a little, Lest it may mar your fortunes."Lear to Cordelia
"Mend" to improve - Contrasts with "mar" on the following line.
3"If for I want that glib and oily art/ To speak and purpose not."Cordelia to Lear
If it - (i.e. the fact that you no longer love me) is because (If for) I lack (want) the gift of glib and subtle speech to utter insincere promises (since I do what I firmly intend to do and speak afterwards), to let it be known that...
Compared with confidence of King of France's last speech, Cordelia is cautious, hesitant, her sentence is complex because she wants to be understood fully.
4“Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides.”Cordelia to Goneril + Regan
Plighted = folded and hence concealed, dissembling.
5“Yet he hath every but slenderly known himself.”