Forebare

• forbear: to refrain, restrain oneself

• forebear: ancestor

• forebare: before baring → before the girls exposed themselves to HCE → the two girls are also the ancillae or handmaidens on the coat of arms of Dublin city, who are depicted coyly raising the hems of their skirts, baring their ankles (FW 107.06-07)

• bear four → bear four children (i.e., Shem, Shaun, and Issy's two personalities) → ALP?

• bear arms: FW 005.05 → II.2 corresponds to Vico's Heroic Age, which is characterized by the language of heraldry → HCE is Dublin City, and so is represented by the city's coat of arms

• bear: a totemic animal → cf. other animal allusions in these opening lines (orangutans, chimps)