Possible Clues:

• Almost losing knight near beginning
• Perhaps noble enough to see 32 across and 4 down for this
• Before dawn, perhaps
• ''The ..... bird catches the worm''
• Loser to Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley
• Nobleman and youth-leader in good time
• Like some birds?
• Primitive energy associated with Lear's uncle
• It's too soon to be so noble, perhaps
• So a peer could possibly appear with time to spare?