Part IV, The Early Modern Literary Period, also known as the English Renaissance
36
I assume students will use No Fear Shakespeare for help following the Early Modern English. That is fine, but be sure to read the Early Modern English as well.
King Lear
By William Shakespeare
Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
with Michael Poston and Rebecca Niles
Folger Shakespeare Library
http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/?chapter=5&play=Lr
Created on Apr 23, 2016, from FDT version 0.9.2.1.
This work is licensed under
Link to License: Folger Shakespeare Library Terms of Use
Characters in the Play
LEAR, king of Britain
GONERIL, Lear’s eldest daughter
DUKE OF ALBANY, her husband
OSWALD, her steward
REGAN, Lear’s second daughter
DUKE OF CORNWALL, her husband
CORDELIA, Lear’s youngest daughter
KING OF FRANCE, her suitor and then husband
DUKE OF BURGUNDY, her suitor
EARL OF KENT
FOOL
EARL OF GLOUCESTER
EDGAR, his elder son
EDMUND, his younger and illegitimate son
CURAN, gentleman of Gloucester’s household
OLD MAN, a tenant of Gloucester’s
KNIGHT, serving Lear
GENTLEMEN
Three SERVANTS
MESSENGERS
DOCTOR
CAPTAINS
HERALD
Knights in Lear’s train, Servants, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, Gentlemen
ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.
Kent, The Duke of Gloucester, and Gloucester’s illegitimate (bastard) son Edmund enter on stage.
KENT I thought the King had more affected the Duke
of Albany than Cornwall.
KENT I thought the King (King Lear) liked the Duke of Albany better than he liked the Duke of Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER It did always seem so to us, but now in
the division of the kingdom, it appears not which
of the dukes he values most, for equalities are so 5 (line number)
weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice
of either’s moiety.
GLOUCESTER I thought so too, but as King Lear divides his kingdom in order to step down as king, it’s impossible to tell which Duke he likes the best because he’s divided his kingdom so evenly between the two dukes, that even when they are curious to inspect the other one’s portion of the kingdom, it’s impossible to choose between the two portions as they are so equally weighted.
KENT Is not this your son, my lord?
KENT: Isn’t this man (Edmund) standing here your son, Gloucster?
GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my
charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge 10
him that now I am brazed to ’t.
GLOUCESTER I am responsible for having conceived him, and also (as a double meaning/double entendre), I have been paying to raise him from his childhood. I’ve been embarrased to acknowledge he’s my son (because he was born out of wedlock), but now, I’ve acknowledged him so many times, I’m immune to the embarrassment.
KENT I cannot conceive you.
KENT I cannot conceive what you’re talking about. (This is a pun on the word conceive as with a man and woman conceiving a child, but it also means I cannot understand what you’re saying to me).
GLOUCESTER Sir, this young fellow’s mother could,
whereupon she grew round-wombed and had indeed,
sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband 15
for her bed. Do you smell a fault?
GLOUCESTER Sir, Edmund’s mother was able to conceive him, and her womb grew round with him, and before she even had time to have a husband, she already had a son. Do you think she was at fault for having a child out of wedlock? (Again, the pun is on the word conception and how that word implies having sex and conceiving a child).
KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
being so proper.
KENT There is a fault/mistake, but since Edmund is such a proper person, I don’t wish his birth hadn’t happened.
GLOUCESTER But I have a son, sir, by order of law,
some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in 20
my account. Though this knave came something
saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was
his mother fair, there was good sport at his making,
and the whoreson must be acknowledged.—Do you
know this noble gentleman, Edmund? 25
GLOUCESTER I have a legitimate son, a few years older than Edmund, but I do not favor my legitimate son over my illegitimate one. Even though Edmund was born into the world too early before his mother was married, his mother was beautiful (fair), and his mother and I enjoyed the sex we had to conceive him, so even though he’s the son of a whore/disgraced woman, we still need to acknowledge him.
Gloucester then asks Edmund whether he knows Kent.
“Whoreson” is a pejorative term for Edmund, meaning that because he was born out of wedlock, he’s similar to the son of a whore. We would never think this in the twenty-first century, but this play is from early seventeenth century England when having sex for anything other than procreation within marriage was considered immoral. The characters, as Dukes, need legitimate children to inherit their property as well.
EDMUND No, my lord.
EDMUND No, I don’t know him.
GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter
as my honorable friend.
GLOUCESTER This is Lord Kent. Remember from now on that he’s my friend.
EDMUND My services to your Lordship.
EDMUND I am at your service, Lord Kent.
KENT I must love you and sue to know you better. 30
KENT I would like to get to know you better.
EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.
EDMUND I will work on being worth getting to know.
GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he
shall again. (Sennet.) The King is coming.
GLOUCESTER Edmund has been away from the palace for nine years, and he will leave again.
A trumpet sounds.
Gloucester announces the king is coming.
Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan,
Cordelia, and Attendants.
King Lear, the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, with their attendants come on stage.
LEAR
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,
Gloucester. 35
LEAR Gloucester, watch over the Lord of France and the Lord of Burgundy.
GLOUCESTER I shall, my lord. He exits.
GLOUCESTER I will, King Lear.
Gloucester then exits the stage.
LEAR
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.—
Give me the map there. He is handed a map.
Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intent 40
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of
Cornwall
And you, our no less loving son of Albany, 45
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now.
The two great princes, France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love, 50
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my
daughters—
Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state— 55
Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
Our eldest born, speak first.
KING LEAR In the meantime, we (the royal “we”) will discuss the negative reasons we’re gathered here. (Lear is given a map of his kingdom).
I’ve divided up my kingdom into three portions so that I can stop being a king and not have so many burdens as I age and get closer to death. I’m going to turn over all business to younger people.
My dear Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Albany (husbands of Regan and Goneril), I am going to let you know what portion of the land is yours through my daughters to avoid any conflict over it.
And the Prince of France and Prince of Burgundy have been at the palace for a long time because they both want to marry my youngest daughter Cordelia.
Now, tell me my three daughters, which of you loves me the most, since I am going to give away my kingdom to you? Goneril, you are the oldest daughter, so speak first of your love.
GONERIL
Sir, I love you more than word can wield the 60
matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
As much as child e’er loved, or father found; 65
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
GONERIL I love you more than words can say and more than my eyesight, my freedom and space in the world, more than any rich or rare item is valued, and just as much as life itself along with my grace, my health, my beauty, and my honor. I love you as much as a child ever loved a father. My love makes it hard for me to breathe or even speak. Even beyond everything I’ve already said, I love you so much more that all of it.
CORDELIA, aside
What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.
CORDELIA (speaking to herself in what is called an aside in stage plays).
What am I going to say about my love for my father? All I can do is love him and stay silent.
LEAR, pointing to the map
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains riched, 70
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issue
Be this perpetual.—What says our second
daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak. 75
LEAR He points to the map of the kingdom and speaks to Goneril and her husband, the Duke of Albany.
Out of all these boundaries on the map, from this line to this one, here is your portion of the land. It has shadowy forests, and rich open plains of land, with many rivers filled with plenty, and wide meadows. We give all of this to you, Goneril, and your husband Albany, and your children.
Now, Regan, what do you have to say about your love for me?
REGAN
I am made of that self mettle as my sister
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short, that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys 80
Which the most precious square of sense
possesses,
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness’ love.
REGAN I am the same as my sister, and she described my love for you exactly with the exception that her description did not quite say enough to describe my love for you fully. My love is such that I find happiness in nothing else but you and my love for you.
CORDELIA, aside Then poor Cordelia! 85
And yet not so, since I am sure my love’s
More ponderous than my tongue.
CORDELIA speaks an aside to herself.
Poor me! But maybe not! Maybe it’s okay because I’m sure my love is much more significant than my tongue and speech can communicate.
LEAR
To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity, and pleasure 90
Than that conferred on Goneril.—Now, our joy,
Although our last and least, to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interessed, what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters’? Speak. 95
LEAR Here is your equal portion of the kingdom, Regan, for you and your children. It is the same size, is just as valid, and will bring you the same pleasure as what I gave to Goneril.
Now, I’m ready to hear from my youngest and most favored daughter, Cordelia, to whom the Princes of France and Burgundy wish to be married.
Cordelia, what can you say about your love to get a third part of the kingdom, even more lavish than your sisters. Speak.
CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.
CORDELIA Nothing, my lord
LEAR Nothing?
LEAR Nothing?
CORDELIA Nothing.
CORDELIA Nothing
LEAR
Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.
LEAR You need to speak again, or you will get nothing from saying nothing.
CORDELIA
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave 100
My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.
CORDELIA I’m not happy, and I cannot express my love in words. I love you as much as a daughter should love a father.
LEAR
How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.
LEAR: How is this possible Cordelia? What you’re saying is going to ruin your fortunes.
CORDELIA Good my lord, 105
You have begot me, bred me, loved me.
I return those duties back as are right fit:
Obey you, love you, and most honor you.
Why have my sisters husbands if they say
They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed, 110
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall
carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
Sure I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all. 115
CORDELIA Okay, my lord, my father, you have conceived me, raised me, and loved me, so I am doing my duty as a daughter and obeying you, loving you, and honoring you. If my sisters only love you, why are they married? I plan to give half my love to my husband and half to you. I’m not going to marry a man but continue to love only my father.
LEAR But goes thy heart with this?
LEAR Is this really how you feel within your heart?
CORDELIA Ay, my good lord.
CORDELIA Yes
LEAR So young and so untender?
LEAR Are you so young yet so cruel? (not tender)?
CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.
CORDELIA I am young and true (honest).
LEAR
Let it be so. Thy truth, then, be thy dower, 120
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care, 125
Propinquity, and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous
Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation messes 130
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved
As thou my sometime daughter.
LEAR Okay then, your truth can be your dowry/inheritance for your husbands when you marry. I swear to the gods (pagan gods of the sun and Hecate), and to the universe that brings us life and death, that I give up all my fatherly care of you, closeness, and property that I would owe you as a blood daughter. I disown you, and you will be a stranger to me from now on. Stay away from me. The Scythians, a barbarian group of people, who are considered to be cannibals (likely a stereotype from ancient Greece Oxford University Press Abstract about European Medieval Beliefs about Cannibalism), will be treated better by me, pitied by me, and helped as a neighbor to me, than you who were once my daughter.
KENT Good my liege—
KENT Wait, your highness…
LEAR Peace, Kent. 135
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. To Cordelia. Hence and avoid
my sight!—
So be my grave my peace as here I give 140
Her father’s heart from her.—Call France. Who stirs?
Call Burgundy. An Attendant exits. Cornwall and
Albany,
With my two daughters’ dowers digest the third.
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. 145
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Preeminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights
By you to be sustained, shall our abode 150
Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain
The name and all th’ addition to a king.
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
Belovèd sons, be yours, which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. 155
LEAR Be quiet, Kent. Don’t get between me and my anger as I am like an angry dragon right now. I loved Cordelia the most of all my daughters, and I thought I would be able to have her take care of me like a baby in a nursery during my old age.
Get out of my sight Cordelia!
I’ll be at peace when I’m dead in the grave, since I’m no longer going to be her father.
Servant , Call France and Burgundy into the room.
Dukes of Cornwall and Albany, you will receive Cordelia’s portion of the land.
Cordelia can marry her own pride, which she considers to be plainness and honesty.
I give you both, Cornwall and Albany, my power, my prestige, and all the greatness that goes with being king.
Each month, I’ll stay with one or the other of you, rotating every month, and will bring 100 of my knights with me for you to take care of all of us.
I’ll keep the name of king and the honor of a king, but the decision-making, the money, and taking all the necessary actions, I turn over to you. Here’s my crown; you can divide it between you.
KENT Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honored as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master followed,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers—
KENT King Lear, I have always honored you and loved you as though you were my father, as well as followed you as a master, and thought about you when I prayed because you are my patron…
LEAR
The bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft. 160
LEAR I’ve already spoken about what will happen. If I were holding a bow and arrow, it would be as though I had already drawn the bow, and the arrow was about to launch…
KENT
Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly
When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?
Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’s 165
bound
When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state,
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness. Answer my life my
judgment, 170
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds
Reverb no hollowness.
KENT Let the arrow fall, even if it falls into my heart. Am I rude for speaking when you’re mad? Do you think I won’t follow my duty to speak out when I see a king being manipulated by flattery? I need to be honest and plain to stay honorable, especially because you are making a mistake. Consider everything more carefully, and don’t be so rash. I swear on my life and my best judgment that Cordelia does not love you the least of all your daughters. Because Cordelia will not speak hollow and empty words, that does not mean her heart is empty and hollow.
LEAR Kent, on thy life, no more.
LEAR Kent, if you value your life, you need to be quiet now.
KENT
My life I never held but as a pawn 175
To wage against thine enemies, nor fear to lose
it,
Thy safety being motive.
KENT I have never valued my life all that much. My life has been used to fight against your enemies as though I were a pawn, and I am not afraid to lose my life for you and your safety.
LEAR Out of my sight!
LEAR Get out of my sight Kent!
KENT
See better, Lear, and let me still remain 180
The true blank of thine eye.
KENT You need to see everything more clearly. I’ll remain true to you.
LEAR Now, by Apollo—
LEAR Now, by Apollo (Swearing by the god Apollo; this play uses pagan gods)
KENT Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear’st thy gods in vain.
KENT Lear, you are swearing to the gods in vain.
LEAR O vassal! Miscreant! 185
LEAR Oh you subordinate! Infidel! (Lear is namecalling.)
ALBANY/CORNWALL Dear sir, forbear.
ALBANY/CORNWALL Please Lear, go easier on Kent.
KENT
Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat,
I’ll tell thee thou dost evil. 190
KENT What you’re doing by not listening to me is similar to a patient killing their doctor and then giving their money to the disease they have instead of the doctor! Take back the gift of the land to Goneril and Regan and their husbands, or while I can still speak, I’ll tell you you’re doing something evil.
LEAR
Hear me, recreant; on thine allegiance, hear me!
That thou hast sought to make us break our vows—
Which we durst never yet—and with strained pride
To come betwixt our sentence and our power,
Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, 195
Our potency made good, take thy reward:
Five days we do allot thee for provision
To shield thee from disasters of the world,
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom. If on the tenth day following 200
Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revoked.
LEAR Listen to me Kent, you are not going to win this. You are trying to make me break my vow to disinherit Cordelia, and I have never broken a vow. You are trying to challenge my power and go against what I state, and I cannot put up with this as a king. I’ll give you five days to prepare yourself, and by the sixth day, you need to leave the kingdom. If I find you in my kingdom by the tenth day, you’re dead. Get out of here! I will not change my mind. I swear it by the chief god Jupiter!
KENT
Fare thee well, king. Sith thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. 205
To Cordelia. The gods to their dear shelter take
thee, maid,
That justly think’st and hast most rightly said.
To Goneril and Regan. And your large speeches
may your deeds approve, 210
That good effects may spring from words of love.—
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu.
He’ll shape his old course in a country new.
He exits.
KENT Farewell then, Lear. Since you’re acting like this, being here in the kingdom is more like a banishment anyway, and I’d rather leave so that I can have my freedom.
Cordelia, I hope the gods protect you because you have spoken the truth.
Goneril and Regan, I hope your deeds are like your words so that there will be good consequences from all your love speeches.
I’m leaving to a new country to start over on a new course of life.
Flourish. Enter Gloucester with France, and Burgundy,
and Attendants.
Kent leaves the stage. Gloucester, France, Burgundy, and other people with them enter the stage.
GLOUCESTER
Here’s France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
GLOUCESTER Here are France and Burgundy, my lord.
LEAR My lord of Burgundy, 215
We first address toward you, who with this king
Hath rivaled for our daughter. What in the least
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?
LEAR Lord Burgundy, I’m going to ask you first about will you marry Cordelia despite the fact I’ve disinherited her, or will you give up seeking her as a wife?
BURGUNDY Most royal Majesty, 220
I crave no more than hath your Highness offered,
Nor will you tender less.
BURGUNDY: Your royal majesty, I don’t want more than what you’ve offered as dowry, and I know you will not give any more or less than what you’ve offered.
LEAR Right noble Burgundy,
When she was dear to us, we did hold her so,
But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands. 225
If aught within that little seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced
And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
She’s there, and she is yours.
LEAR Correct, Burgundy, I used to hold Cordelia dearly to my heart, but now, her price has gone down. She’s standing right there, and if you see any small bit of worth in her when she has nothing left unless you count my displeasure, she is all yours.
BURGUNDY I know no answer. 230
BURGUNDY I don’t have an answer for you.
LEAR
Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,
Dowered with our curse and strangered with our
oath,
Take her or leave her? 235
LEAR Will you take her or leave her? I’m no longer a friend to her, and I hate her now. Her only dowry is my curse on her and my oath to make her a stranger to me.
BURGUNDY Pardon me, royal sir,
Election makes not up in such conditions.
BURGUNDY I’m sorry, sir. I cannot choose under these conditions.
LEAR
Then leave her, sir, for by the power that made me
I tell you all her wealth.—For you, great king,
I would not from your love make such a stray 240
To match you where I hate. Therefore beseech you
T’ avert your liking a more worthier way
Than on a wretch whom Nature is ashamed
Almost t’ acknowledge hers.
LEAR Then leave her because I’ve informed you she has no wealth. You’re a great king Burgundy, and I don’t recommend you match yourself with someone whom I hate so much. I beg you to love someone more worthy than Cordelia who is nothing more than a wretch. Nature would be ashamed to admit she had created Cordelia.
FRANCE This is most strange, 245
That she whom even but now was your best
object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous to dismantle 250
So many folds of favor. Sure her offense
Must be of such unnatural degree
That monsters it, or your forevouched affection
Fall into taint; which to believe of her
Must be a faith that reason without miracle 255
Should never plant in me.
FRANCE It’s so strange how she was your favorite daughter, and you praised her so much, and thought she was going to help you in your old age, but so quickly, all of this favor fell apart. It must be that she has committed a monstrous offense for your affection to have fallen away from her, or you never really felt the affection you claimed to. I cannot believe she would do anything so monstrous. It’s unreasonable for me to think so.
CORDELIA, to Lear I yet beseech your Majesty—
If for I want that glib and oily art
To speak and purpose not, since what I well
intend 260
I’ll do ’t before I speak—that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action or dishonored step
That hath deprived me of your grace and favor,
But even for want of that for which I am richer: 265
A still-soliciting eye and such a tongue
That I am glad I have not, though not to have it
Hath lost me in your liking.
CORDELIA I beg you, your Majesty, to be clear that I lost your favor not because I murdered anyone or was unchaste or any other dishonor but that I lost your favor because I don’t speak words that I don’t mean, and if I intend anything, I do it before I speak. I am better off not being able to speak glibly.
LEAR Better thou
Hadst not been born than not t’ have pleased me 270
better.
LEAR It would be better if you had not been born instead of not pleasing me.
FRANCE
Is it but this—a tardiness in nature
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do?—My lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love’s not love 275
When it is mingled with regards that stands
Aloof from th’ entire point. Will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.
FRANCE Lord Burgundy, do you plan to marry Cordelia? Your love isn’t true love if it is concerned with irrelevant things such as riches. Cordelia is a dowry herself, or in other words, she is the reward, and you don’t need money along with her.
BURGUNDY, to Lear Royal king,
Give but that portion which yourself proposed, 280
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Duchess of Burgundy.
BURGUNDY
King Lear, I’ll make Cordelia the Duchess of Burgundy if you give the portion of the kingdom you first proposed.
LEAR
Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm.
LEAR No, I’ve already sworn she gets nothing. I am firm about it.
BURGUNDY, to Cordelia
I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father
That you must lose a husband. 285
BURGUNDY
Cordelia, I’m sorry, but you have lost a husband in addition to losing your father.
CORDELIA Peace be with
Burgundy.
Since that respect and fortunes are his love,
I shall not be his wife.
CORDELIA
Peace be with Burgundy, but I don’t want to be his wife anyway when he just loves money and the respect it brings.
FRANCE
Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor; 290
Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised,
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,
Be it lawful I take up what’s cast away.
Gods, gods! ’Tis strange that from their cold’st
neglect 295
My love should kindle to enflamed respect.—
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my
chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.
Not all the dukes of wat’rish Burgundy 300
Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.—
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind.
Thou losest here a better where to find.
FRANCE
Beautiful Cordelia, you are richest when you are poor. I love you most when you are hated, and you are my first choice when you are forsaken. I will take you when you have been cast away. Oh gods! While others neglect Cordelia, my love is growing to respect. King Lear, your daughter is now queen of France and of me, without any dowry. Not even all the Dukes of Burgundy could buy Cordelia from me because she is priceless. Tell them goodbye, Cordelia. You are gaining better than what you’ve lost.
LEAR
Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine, for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see 305
That face of hers again. To Cordelia. Therefore
begone
Without our grace, our love, our benison.—
Come, noble Burgundy.
LEAR You have her now, France. Let her be yours, for she’s not my daughter, and I never want to see that face of hers again.
Cordelia, leave without our love, grace, and blessing.
Come with me, Burgundy.
Flourish. All but France, Cordelia,
Goneril, and Regan exit.
Everyone leaves the stage except for France, Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan.
FRANCE Bid farewell to your sisters. 310
FRANCE Cordelia, say goodbye to your sisters.
CORDELIA
The jewels of our father, with washed eyes
Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are,
And like a sister am most loath to call
Your faults as they are named. Love well our
father. 315
To your professèd bosoms I commit him;
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.
CORDELIA Having cried, I leave you Goneril and Regan, jewels of my father. I know your faults, but as a sister, I will not name them. Love our father. I leave him to you who have professed your love for him, although if I were still in his good graces, I would prefer he had a better place. Farewell to you both.
REGAN
Prescribe not us our duty. 320
REGAN Don’t tell us what our duty is.
GONERIL Let your study
Be to content your lord, who hath received you
At Fortune’s alms. You have obedience scanted
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
GONERIL Pay attention to how you can make your new husband content because he’s married you even when you are a beggar. You have been disobedient and deserve to have no fortune as you have brought it on yourself.
CORDELIA
Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides, 325
Who covers faults at last with shame derides.
Well may you prosper.
CORDELIA
Time will reveal the cunning way you have acted. Eventually, you will be ashamed because of all the faults you’ve hidden from others. Goodbye.
FRANCE Come, my fair Cordelia.
France and Cordelia exit.
FRANCE
Come with me, beautiful Cordelia.
They exit.
GONERIL Sister, it is not little I have to say of what
most nearly appertains to us both. I think our 330
father will hence tonight.
GONERIL Regan, my sister, I have a lot to say about what affects both of us. I think our father is going to leave his palace tonight.
REGAN That’s most certain, and with you; next month
with us.
REGAN Yes, it is certain he will leave with you. Next month, he’ll stay with me.
GONERIL You see how full of changes his age is; the
observation we have made of it hath not been 335
little. He always loved our sister most, and with
what poor judgment he hath now cast her off
appears too grossly.
GONERIL You see how his old age has changed him a lot. I’ve observed it a lot. He always loved Cordelia the most, and look at his poor judgment in casting her away. It looks terrible.
REGAN ’Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever
but slenderly known himself. 340
REGAN Yes, it’s the weakness of his old age. Yet he has also never known himself very well.
GONERIL The best and soundest of his time hath been
but rash. Then must we look from his age to
receive not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
that infirm and choleric years bring with 345
them.
GONERIL Many of the best and wisest people at his age have also been rash. Now that he’s so old, we have to expect we’ll experience all of his faults that he’s always had, but in addition, we will have to put up with all of the bad behavior that his sick and angry years of his old age bring with them.
REGAN Such unconstant starts are we like to have
from him as this of Kent’s banishment.
REGAN We are likely to see more of the shocking and inconsistent behavior from him such as the banishment of Kent.
GONERIL There is further compliment of leave-taking
between France and him. Pray you, let us sit 350
together. If our father carry authority with such
disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will
but offend us.
GONERIL France and our father are saying goodbye. Let’s sit here together. Our father’s giving up his power with this kind of rash disposition will be very difficult for us.
REGAN We shall further think of it.
REGAN We will keep thinking about it.
GONERIL We must do something, and i’ th’ heat. 355
They exit.
GONERIL We must quickly do something about it.
Scene 2
Enter Edmund, the Bastard.
EDMUND
Thou, Nature, art my goddess. To thy law
My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines 5
Lag of a brother? why “bastard”? Wherefore “base,”
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous and my shape as true
As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us
With “base,” with “baseness,” “bastardy,” “base,” 10
“base,”
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality
Than doth within a dull, stale, tired bed
Go to th’ creating a whole tribe of fops 15
Got ’tween asleep and wake? Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.
Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund
As to th’ legitimate. Fine word, “legitimate.”
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed 20
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top th’ legitimate. I grow, I prosper.
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!
EDMUND
Nature, you are my goddess. I serve the laws of nature. Why should I have to put up with customs and curious national practices just because I’m a bastard? Why am I considered a bastard? Why am I considered lowly when my mind and body are just as good as the child of a woman who was married? Why does society call us names like bastard and base/lowly when the natural sexual lust that created us is more intense and energetic than what created an entire tribe of fools? Edgar, you are the legitimate son, and I must have your land. My father’s love will be for the bastard instead of the legitimate son. Legitimate! What a word! Well, if my scheme with this letter works well, I will be the winner instead of the legitimate son, Edgar. I’m going to grow and prosper. Gods, stand up for the bastards.
Enter Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
Kent banished thus? And France in choler parted?
And the King gone tonight, prescribed his power, 25
Confined to exhibition? All this done
Upon the gad?—Edmund, how now? What news?
GLOUCESTER
Kent is banished? And France has left in anger? And King Lear is gone from the palace tonight, having given up his real kingly power, so that it is now only for show? All of this was done so fast? Edmund, what’s going on? What news do you have?
EDMUND So please your Lordship, none. He puts a
paper in his pocket.
EDMUND None.
Edmund puts a piece of paper in his pocket.
GLOUCESTER Why so earnestly seek you to put up that
letter? 30
Why did you put away that letter in your pocket?
EDMUND I know no news, my lord.
I don’t have any news, my lord.
GLOUCESTER What paper were you reading?
What paper were you reading?
EDMUND Nothing, my lord.
Nothing my lord.
GLOUCESTER No? What needed then that terrible dispatch
of it into your pocket? The quality of nothing 35
hath not such need to hide itself. Let’s see. Come, if
it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.
If it’s nothing, why did you have to put it into your pocket so quickly then? If it’s nothing, it doesn’t need to be hidden. Let me see it, and if it’s nothing, I won’t need my glasses to look at it.
EDMUND I beseech you, sir, pardon me. It is a letter
from my brother that I have not all o’erread; and
for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for 40
your o’erlooking.
I beg your pardon. It’s a letter from my brother that I have not fully read yet. What I have finished reading so far is not fit for you to look at.
GLOUCESTER Give me the letter, sir.
Give me the letter.
EDMUND I shall offend either to detain or give it. The
contents, as in part I understand them, are to
blame. 45
Whether I give it to you or not, I’ll offend you because the contents of the letter are not good.
GLOUCESTER Let’s see, let’s see.
Edmund gives him the paper.
Let’s see, let’s see.
Edmund gives Gloucester the letter.
EDMUND I hope, for my brother’s justification, he
wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.
In defense of my brother, I hope he wrote this to test my virtue.
GLOUCESTER (reads) This policy and reverence of age
makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keeps 50
our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish
them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the
oppression of aged tyranny, who sways not as it hath
power but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I
may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked 55
him, you should enjoy half his revenue forever and
live the beloved of your brother. Edgar.
Hum? Conspiracy? “Sleep till I wake him, you
should enjoy half his revenue.” My son Edgar! Had
he a hand to write this? A heart and brain to breed it 60
in?—When came you to this? Who brought it?
Gloucester reads the letter, which says:
Having respect for old people stops us from having our father’s fortune sooner. By the time our father dies, we will be too old to enjoy the money we inherit from him. I’m finding that we are oppressed by our old father. Come see me so that we can talk about it some more. If you kill our father, then we can split his money, and I will love you forever.
Gloucester questions what he’s read and says
Did my Edgar write this? How did you end up with it, Edmund?
EDMUND It was not brought me, my lord; there’s the
cunning of it. I found it thrown in at the casement
of my closet.
The letter was not brought to me. I found it in my closet.
GLOUCESTER You know the character to be your 65
brother’s?
Do you know this is your brother’s handwriting?
EDMUND If the matter were good, my lord, I durst
swear it were his; but in respect of that, I would
fain think it were not.
If the letter said something good in it, I would swear it was Edgar’s handwriting , but since the letter’s not good, I gladly would think it’s not his handwriting.
GLOUCESTER It is his. 70
It is his handwriting.
EDMUND It is his hand, my lord, but I hope his heart is
not in the contents.
It is, but I hope the letter does not express what he feels in his heart.
GLOUCESTER Has he never before sounded you in this
business?
Has he ever before talked to you about this business?
EDMUND Never, my lord. But I have heard him oft 75
maintain it to be fit that, sons at perfect age and
fathers declined, the father should be as ward to the
son, and the son manage his revenue.
Never. But I have often heard him discuss how once fathers have grown old and declined, while the son is at a prime age, the father should then be a ward to the son, and the son should manage the father’s money.
GLOUCESTER O villain, villain! His very opinion in the
letter. Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish 80
villain! Worse than brutish!—Go, sirrah, seek
him. I’ll apprehend him.—Abominable villain!—
Where is he?
Oh, villain, villain! Edgar’s opinion is expressed in this letter. He’s a villain. He’s unnatural, and I hate him. He’s a brute, like an animal, and a villain! He’s worse than an animal. Go find him. I’ll test him. Abominable villain! Where is he?
EDMUND I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please
you to suspend your indignation against my brother 85
till you can derive from him better testimony of his
intent, you should run a certain course; where, if
you violently proceed against him, mistaking his
purpose, it would make a great gap in your own
honor and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. 90
I dare pawn down my life for him that he hath
writ this to feel my affection to your Honor, and to
no other pretense of danger.
I don’t know for sure, but maybe hold off on your anger for a bit until you can hear from him about his intent. If you are mistaken about his purpose against you and act in violence toward him, it will dishonor you and make him less obedient. On my life, I believe he’s written this to test my feelings toward you instead of it presenting any danger to you.
GLOUCESTER Think you so?
You think so?
EDMUND If your Honor judge it meet, I will place you 95
where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an
auricular assurance have your satisfaction, and that
without any further delay than this very evening.
If you judge it to be a good idea, I will have you in a hiding place where you can listen in while Edgar and I discuss this, and you will be satisfied by what you hear us discuss. We can do it this evening.
GLOUCESTER He cannot be such a monster.
Edgar can’t be this much of a monster.
EDMUND Nor is not, sure. 100
Surely, not .
GLOUCESTER To his father, that so tenderly and entirely
loves him! Heaven and Earth! Edmund, seek him
out; wind me into him, I pray you. Frame the
business after your own wisdom. I would unstate
myself to be in a due resolution. 105
Especially to his father that loves him entirely and tenderly! Heaven and Earth! Edmund, find him. Do what you think is best. I want a resolution to this.
EDMUND I will seek him, sir, presently, convey the
business as I shall find means, and acquaint you
withal.
I look for him right away and communicate the business with him, and let you know the results.
GLOUCESTER These late eclipses in the sun and moon
portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of 110
nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds
itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools,
friendship falls off, brothers divide; in cities, mutinies;
in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and
the bond cracked ’twixt son and father. This villain 115
of mine comes under the prediction: there’s son
against father. The King falls from bias of nature:
there’s father against child. We have seen the best of
our time. Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and
all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our 120
graves.—Find out this villain, Edmund. It shall
lose thee nothing. Do it carefully.—And the noble
and true-hearted Kent banished! His offense, honesty!
’Tis strange. He exits.
The eclipses of the sun and moon lately are bad omens. Love and friendship fall apart. Brothers turn against each other. Cities and countries have rebellions. Palaces have treason. Father and son bonds are shattered. For example, my son, Edgar shows that son and father are in conflict. Likewise, King Lear is in conflict with his child. Conspiracies, machinations, and so on are going to follow us to our graves. Edmund, find the villain Edgar. Be careful doing it. And I can’t believe the true and loyal Kent is banished for being honest. It’s strange.
He leaves the stage.
EDMUND This is the excellent foppery of the world, that 125
when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of
our own behavior) we make guilty of our disasters
the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains
on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves,
thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance; 130
drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced
obedience of planetary influence; and all that we
are evil in, by a divine thrusting on. An admirable
evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish
disposition on the charge of a star! My father 135
compounded with my mother under the Dragon’s
tail, and my nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it
follows I am rough and lecherous. Fut, I should
have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the
firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar— 140
This is the world’s foolishness: when we are responsible for our own bad fortune, we end up blaming the sun, moon, and stars as though they caused our problems and forced us to be villains, or fools, or thieves, liars, adulterers, or other types of criminals. We can evade responsibility by blaming it on the stars. My mother and father conceived me under the star of the Dragon’s tail and the constellation Ursa Major prevailed over my birth, so that means I am rough and lecherous. Nonsense! I would have been what I am no matter if the most chaste and maiden of stars had twinkled when I was born.
Edgar comes in …
Enter Edgar.
and pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old
comedy. My cue is villainous melancholy, with a
sigh like Tom o’ Bedlam.—O, these eclipses do
portend these divisions. Fa, sol, la, mi.
and there Edgar comes in like the character of Catastrophe in an old comedy play. My role in the play is to act like a depressed villain and sigh like the mad character Tom of Bedlam, and say “Oh, these eclipses predict divisions are coming…”
Edmund sings “Fa, sol, la mi…”
EDGAR How now, brother Edmund, what serious contemplation 145
are you in?
What are you thinking about so seriously, Edmund?
EDMUND I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read
this other day, what should follow these eclipses.
I am thinking about a prediction I read about what comes after these eclipses.
EDGAR Do you busy yourself with that?
Is that what you are busy thinking about?
EDMUND I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed 150
unhappily, as of unnaturalness between the
child and the parent, death, dearth, dissolutions of
ancient amities, divisions in state, menaces and
maledictions against king and nobles, needless diffidences,
banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, 155
nuptial breaches, and I know not what.
I promise you, the effects the writer wrote about are all unhappy ones such as unnatural behavior between a child and parent, death, scarcity, long-time friendships dissolving, divisions in the state, bad behavior against the king and nobles, unnecessary silences between people, friends banishing one another, groups falling apart, marriages splitting apart, and I don’t even know what else.
EDGAR How long have you been a sectary
astronomical?
How long have you been an astronomer?
EDMUND Come, come, when saw you my father last?
Come on now, when did you last see my father?
EDGAR The night gone by. 160
EDMUND Spake you with him?
Did you speak with him?
EDGAR Ay, two hours together.
Yes for two hours
EDMUND Parted you in good terms? Found you no
displeasure in him by word nor countenance?
Were you on good terms after you left? Did he say anything to you or look like he was upset with you?
EDGAR None at all. 165
Not at all
EDMUND Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended
him, and at my entreaty forbear his presence
until some little time hath qualified the heat
of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in
him that with the mischief of your person it would 170
scarcely allay.
Think about how you may have offended him, and I’m begging you not to go in his presence until he’s cooled off after a while. He’s so angry right now that he should not see you.
EDGAR Some villain hath done me wrong.
Some bad person did me wrong.
EDMUND That’s my fear. I pray you have a continent
forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower;
and, as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from 175
whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak.
Pray you go. There’s my key. If you do stir abroad,
go armed.
I’m afraid so. I hope you are patient until his anger subsides, and come back with me to my room, and from there, I will bring you to hear our father speak. Here’s my key. If you go out from my room, make sure you’re armed.
EDGAR Armed, brother?
What do you mean, armed?
EDMUND Brother, I advise you to the best. I am no 180
honest man if there be any good meaning toward
you. I have told you what I have seen and heard, but
faintly, nothing like the image and horror of it. Pray
you, away.
I’m giving you my best advice. I would be lying if I said there was any good intent toward you, and I told you what I’ve seen and heard, but if you had been there, it would have been much more horrifying in person. Go now.
EDGAR Shall I hear from you anon? 185
Will I hear from you soon?
EDMUND I do serve you in this business. Edgar exits.
A credulous father and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
My practices ride easy. I see the business. 190
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit.
All with me’s meet that I can fashion fit.
He exits.
Yes, I’m at your service.
Edgar leaves the stage.
A gullible father and a noble brother who naturally would never do harm to anyone, which makes him not suspect anyone of harming him. He’s so honest, it is easy for him to believe my dishonesty. If I can’t have land by birthright, I will have to use my wit to gain land. Everything I can design for myself is appropriate.
Scene 3
Enter Goneril and Oswald, her Steward.
GONERIL Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding
of his Fool?
Did my father hit you Oswald for making fun of his Fool?
OSWALD Ay, madam.
Yes, madam
GONERIL
By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other 5
That sets us all at odds. I’ll not endure it.
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
If you come slack of former services, 10
You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.
He wrongs me daily and nightly. Every hour he is doing something wrong to set us all at odds, and I won’t put up with it. His knights are unruly, and he insults us for every little thing. When he comes back from hunting, I’m not going to talk to him. Tell him I’m sick. It’s fine not to serve him as you used to in the past. I’ll answer to it if he complains.
OSWALD He’s coming, madam. I hear him.
He’s coming, madam. I hear him.
GONERIL
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question.
If he distaste it, let him to my sister, 15
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idle old man
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again and must be used 20
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen
abused.
Remember what I have said.
OSWALD Well, madam.
I will madam.
GONERIL
And let his knights have colder looks among you. 25
What grows of it, no matter. Advise your fellows so.
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
That I may speak. I’ll write straight to my sister
To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.
They exit in different directions.
And don’t be nice to his nice. It doesn’t matter what comes of it. Advise the other servants about this. I’ll write to my sister to do the same thing I’m doing. Get ready for dinner.
Scene 4
Enter Kent in disguise.
KENT
If but as well I other accents borrow
That can my speech diffuse, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issue
For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand 5
condemned,
So may it come thy master, whom thou lov’st,
Shall find thee full of labors.
Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Attendants.
Kent comes in disguise on the stage.
I am going to serve my master, Lear, in disguise to help him because I love him.
LEAR Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready.
An Attendant exits.
How now, what art thou? 10
Servant, go get dinner ready. I don’t want to wait for it.
Attendant/servant leaves
Who are you?
KENT A man, sir.
A man, sir
LEAR What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with
us?
What do you want from me? Who do you claim to be?
KENT I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve
him truly that will put me in trust, to love him that 15
is honest, to converse with him that is wise and says
little, to fear judgment, to fight when I cannot
choose, and to eat no fish.
I claim to be what I seem to be. I will serve he who trusts me and is honest with me. I’ll have a converstaion with someone wise who does not say a lot. I don’t like being judged or to fight when it’s not my choice, or to eat no fish.
LEAR What art thou?
What are you?
KENT A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the 20
King.
A very honest-hearted fellow who is as poor as the king
LEAR If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he’s for a
king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
You are definitely poor enough if you are as poor as the king. What do you want?
KENT Service.
Service (to serve)
LEAR Who wouldst thou serve? 25
Who would you serve?
KENT You.
You
LEAR Dost thou know me, fellow?
Do you know me, fellow?
KENT No, sir, but you have that in your countenance
which I would fain call master.
No, sir, but your face has something in it that makes you look like someone I would gladly call master.
LEAR What’s that? 30
What’s that?
KENT Authority.
Authority
LEAR What services canst do?
What services can you do?
KENT I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a
curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message
bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit for I 35
am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.
I can advise you honestly, ride, run, tell a strange story but mess it up when I tell it, and speak bluntly. I am qualified for anything ordinary men are qualified for, and my best trait is diligence.
LEAR How old art thou?
How old are you?
KENT Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing,
nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years
on my back forty-eight. 40
I’m not so young to love a woman just for singing or so old to dote on her for just anything. I’m 48.
LEAR Follow me. Thou shalt serve me—if I like thee
no worse after dinner. I will not part from thee
yet.—Dinner, ho, dinner!—Where’s my knave, my
Fool? Go you and call my Fool hither.
An Attendant exits.
Follow me. You will servie me if I still like you after dinner. I will not leave you yet. Dinner! Where’s my Fool? Tell my Fool to come here.
Attendant exits.
Enter Oswald, the Steward.
Oswald enters.
You, you, sirrah, where’s my daughter? 45
LEAR You, Oswald, where’s my daugher?
OSWALD So please you— He exits.
If you please
LEAR What says the fellow there? Call the clotpole
back. A Knight exits. Where’s my Fool? Ho! I think
the world’s asleep.
What does that fellow say there? Call the blockhead back.
A knight exits.
Where’s my fool? It seems like everyone’s asleep right now.
Enter Knight again.
How now? Where’s that mongrel? 50
The Knight enters again.
LEAR How now? Where is that dog (in reference to Oswald, Goneril’s servant)?
KNIGHT He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
LEAR Why came not the slave back to me when I
called him?
Why didn’t he come back when I called him?
KNIGHT Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner,
he would not. 55
He answered that he would not.
LEAR He would not?
He wouldn’t?
KNIGHT My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to
my judgment your Highness is not entertained
with that ceremonious affection as you were wont.
There’s a great abatement of kindness appears as 60
well in the general dependents as in the Duke
himself also, and your daughter.
My lord, I don’t know what’s the matter, but from what I can judge, you are not treated with the affection you are used to. Kindness has gone down from all the servants and the Duke of Albany and your daughter.
LEAR Ha? Sayst thou so?
Do you say so?
KNIGHT I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be
mistaken, for my duty cannot be silent when I think 65
your Highness wronged.
Pardon me because I could be wrong, but my duty is to tell you when I think you’ve been wronged.
LEAR Thou but remembrest me of mine own conception.
I have perceived a most faint neglect of late,
which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous
curiosity than as a very pretense and purpose of 70
unkindness. I will look further into ’t. But where’s
my Fool? I have not seen him this two days.
You remind me that I also have noticed I’m being slightly neglected lately, but I blamed my own jealousy instead of the idea that everyone is being purposely unkind to me. I will look into it more. But where is my Fool? I have not seem him for two days.
KNIGHT Since my young lady’s going into France, sir,
the Fool hath much pined away.
Since Cordelia went away to France, the Fool has been pining away.
LEAR No more of that. I have noted it well.—Go you 75
and tell my daughter I would speak with her. An
Attendant exits. Go you call hither my Fool.
Another exits.
Yes, I have noticed that, but let’s not talk more about it. Go to my daugher (Goneril) and say I would speak with her.
An attendant exits.
Call my Fool to come here.
Another attendant exits to do that.
Enter Oswald, the Steward.
O you, sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir?
Oswald, Goneril’s steward comes in.
LEAR Oh you sir, come here. Who am I, sir?
OSWALD My lady’s father.
My lady’s father
LEAR “My lady’s father”? My lord’s knave! You whoreson 80
dog, you slave, you cur!
Did you just say “my lady’s father”? You’re a rogue and a son of a whore, a dog, and a slave.
OSWALD I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your
pardon.
I am not any of those things, my lord, I beg your pardon.
LEAR Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
Lear strikes him.
Are you looking at me, you rascal?
Lear hits Oswald.
OSWALD I’ll not be strucken, my lord. 85
I’ll not be hit, my lord.
KENT, tripping him Nor tripped neither, you base
football player?
Kent trips Oswald
KENT Nor tripped either, you lowly football player?
LEAR I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv’st me, and I’ll
love thee.
I thank you, fellow (to Kent). You serve me, and I’ll love you.
KENT, to Oswald Come, sir, arise. Away. I’ll teach you 90
differences. Away, away. If you will measure your
lubber’s length again, tarry. But away. Go to. Have
you wisdom? So. Oswald exits.
Come sir, stand up, and go away. Stay if you want to feel clumsy again. Are you wise? If so, you’ll leave.
LEAR Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There’s
earnest of thy service. He gives Kent a purse. 95
Enter Fool.
Thank you, my friendly villain. Here’s something for your service.
Lear gives Kent a purse of money.
The Fool comes in.
FOOL Let me hire him too. To Kent. Here’s my
coxcomb. He offers Kent his cap.
I want to hire this man too. He offers Kent his cap.
LEAR How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?
How are you doing?
FOOL, to Kent Sirrah, you were best take my
coxcomb. 100
The Fool says to Kent: You should take my cap (coxcomb).
LEAR Why, my boy?
Why my boy?
FOOL Why? For taking one’s part that’s out of favor.
To Kent. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the
wind sits, thou ’lt catch cold shortly. There, take my
coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two on ’s 105
daughters and did the third a blessing against his
will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my
coxcomb.—How now, nuncle? Would I had two
coxcombs and two daughters.
Why? Because he is standing up for you when you are out of favor with everyone.
The Fool says to Kent: You’ll catch a cold soon from the wind, so take my hat. This man here has banished two of his daughters and gave the third a blessing even though he did not want to. If you follow him, you must wear my coxcomb. Uncle, I wish I had two coxcombs and two daughters.
LEAR Why, my boy? 110
Why, my boy?
FOOL If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs
myself. There’s mine. Beg another of thy
daughters.
If I gave them all my money, I would keep my coxcombs myself. Here is mine. You can go beg your daughters for another one.
LEAR Take heed, sirrah—the whip.
Be careful, Fool, or you will be whipped.
FOOL Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be 115
whipped out, when the Lady Brach may stand by th’
fire and stink.
Truth is like a dog that does not want to leave its kennel. The dog, just like the truth, must be whipped until it comes out, and then the truth, just like the dog, will stand by the fire and stink.
LEAR A pestilent gall to me!
This is annoying to me!
FOOL Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech.
I’ll teach you Sirrah (kind of like Sir, but more informal)
LEAR Do. 120
Do teach me.
FOOL Mark it, nuncle:
Have more than thou showest.
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest, 125
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more 130
Than two tens to a score.
Pay attention, uncle. Have more than you show, speak less than you know, lend less than you ow, learn more than you believe, set less than you throw, leave your drink and your whore, and keep in a door, and you’ll have more than two tens to a score. (A score is 20 or two tens).
KENT This is nothing, Fool.
This means nothing, Fool.
FOOL Then ’tis like the breath of an unfee’d lawyer.
You gave me nothing for ’t.—Can you make no use
of nothing, nuncle? 135
If it means nothing, then it’s like the breath of an unpaid lawyer. You paid me nothing for it. Can’t you make some use of this nothing I gave you, uncle?
LEAR Why no, boy. Nothing can be made out of
nothing.
No, boy. Nothing can be made out of nothing.
FOOL, to Kent Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his
land comes to. He will not believe a Fool.
Please tell him nothing is how much the rent of his land comes to. He will not believe me, a Fool.
LEAR A bitter Fool! 140
A bitter Fool!
FOOL Dost know the difference, my boy, between a
bitter fool and a sweet one?
Do you know the difference between a bitter fool and a sweet one?
LEAR No, lad, teach me.
No, teach me, boy.
FOOL That lord that counseled thee
To give away thy land, 145
Come place him here by me;
Do thou for him stand.
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear:
The one in motley here, 150
The other found out there.
Whoever advised you to give away your land, have him stand here by me. If you stand here in place of him, the sweet and bitter fool will show up soon. One will be wearing a motley color, and the other will be found out there.
LEAR Dost thou call me “fool,” boy?
Are you calling me a fool, boy?
FOOL All thy other titles thou hast given away. That
thou wast born with.
Yes because you gave away all the other titles you had that you were born with.
KENT This is not altogether fool, my lord. 155
This is not entirely a fool, my lord (addressed to Lear)
FOOL No, faith, lords and great men will not let me. If
I had a monopoly out, they would have part on ’t.
And ladies too, they will not let me have all the fool
to myself; they’ll be snatching.—Nuncle, give me
an egg, and I’ll give thee two crowns. 160
No, great men will not let me be the only fool. If I tried to have a monopoly on being a fool, they would want to have a part of it along with the Ladies too. They don’t let me have all the fool to myself because they snatch some of it. Uncle, give me an egg, and I’ll give you two crowns (coins, but with a pun on the king’s crown).
LEAR What two crowns shall they be?
What two crowns will they be?
FOOL Why, after I have cut the egg i’ th’ middle and eat
up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away
both parts, thou bor’st thine ass on thy back o’er 165
the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown
when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak
like myself in this, let him be whipped that first
finds it so. Sings.
Fools had ne’er less grace in a year, 170
For wise men are grown foppish
And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.
After I cut the egg in the middle and eat the meat portion of it, there will be the two crowns of the egg, which is the eggshell. When you cut your crown in the middle and gave away both parts of it, you carried your own donkey (ass) on your back over the dirt. In other words, instead of riding on the ass’s back, you had the ass ride on your back. When you gave away your gold crown, you had very little sense in your bald head. The first person who believes I am speaking like a fool should be whipped.
The Fool begins to sing:
Fools never had less grace in a year because wise men have grown foolish and do not know how to use their wits. Their manners are poor like an ape’s.
LEAR When were you wont to be so full of songs,
sirrah? 175
When did you start being so full of songs?
FOOL I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy
daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them
the rod and put’st down thine own breeches,
Sings.
Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung, 180
That such a king should play bo-peep
And go the fools among.
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.
Ever since you made your daughters your mother. Because you gave your daughters the rod to whip you and pulled down your own pants.
The Fool sings again:
They wept because of sudden joy, and I sang for sorrow because a king would play bo-peep, also known as peek-a-bo, and stay among the fools. Uncle, please get a schoolmaster to teach me to lie. I would gladly learn to lie.
LEAR An you lie, sirrah, we’ll have you whipped. 185
If you lie, sirrah, I’ll have you whipped.
FOOL I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are.
They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou ’lt
have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am
whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
kind o’ thing than a Fool. And yet I would not be 190
thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o’ both sides
and left nothing i’ th’ middle. Here comes one o’ the
parings.
I marvel at how similar you and your daughters are as kin. They’ll have me whipped for telling the truth, and you’ll have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for saying nothing. I would rather be anything other than a Fool. But I still would not want to be you, uncle. You have cut your brain on both sides and left nothing in the middle. Here comes one of the cuts now.
Goneril comes in.
Enter Goneril.
LEAR
How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on?
Methinks you are too much of late i’ th’ frown. 195
What’s going on daughter? Why does your forehead look the way it does? I think you’re frowning too much lately.
FOOL Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no
need to care for her frowning. Now thou art an O
without a figure. I am better than thou art now. I
am a Fool. Thou art nothing. To Goneril. Yes,
forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids 200
me, though you say nothing.
Mum, mum,
He that keeps nor crust nor crumb,
Weary of all, shall want some.
He points at Lear.
That’s a shelled peascod. 205
You were doing much better when you did not have to worry about Goneril’s frowning. Now you are a zero. I am better than you are. I am a Fool. You are nothing.
The Fool speaks to Goneril:
Yes, I will hold my tongue and not speak because your face is indicating that I should, even though you haven’t said anything. Mum’s the word. A man who keeps neither crust nor crumb will be left wanting.
He points at Lear. There’s a shelled pea pod there.
GONERIL
Not only, sir, this your all-licensed Fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,
I had thought by making this well known unto you 210
To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not ’scape censure, nor the redresses sleep 215
Which in the tender of a wholesome weal
Might in their working do you that offense,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.
Not only this Fool but the rest of your lazy companions argue every hour and break out in riots. I thought you would fix this if I told you about it, but now I suspect, you’re the cause of it.
FOOL For you know, nuncle, 220
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it’s had it head bit off by it young.
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
You know, uncle, the hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long that it had its head bit off by it. Then, everything went dark.
LEAR Are you our daughter?
Are you my daughter?
GONERIL
I would you would make use of your good wisdom, 225
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
These dispositions which of late transport you
From what you rightly are.
I wish you would act wisely as I know you have wisdom, and stop acting differently from how you truly are.
FOOL May not an ass know when the cart draws the
horse? Whoop, Jug, I love thee! 230
Doesn’t an ass even know when the cart is drawing the horse instead of vice versa? I love you!
LEAR
Does any here know me? This is not Lear.
Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his
eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied—Ha! Waking? ’Tis not so. 235
Who is it that can tell me who I am?
Do any of you know me? I am not myself. Do I normally walk or speak this way? Where are my eyes? My judgment is weakened. Am I awake? It can’t be. Who can tell me who I am?
FOOL Lear’s shadow.
The shadow of what you used to be.
LEAR
I would learn that, for, by the marks of
sovereignty,
Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded 240
I had daughters.
I almost could be persauded through knowledge, reason, and authority that I had daughters.
FOOL Which they will make an obedient father.
Who will make their father obey them.
LEAR Your name, fair gentlewoman?
What’s your name, gentlewoman?
GONERIL
This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savor
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you 245
To understand my purposes aright.
As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
Men so disordered, so debauched and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners, 250
Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desired,
By her that else will take the thing she begs, 255
A little to disquantity your train,
And the remainders that shall still depend
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves and you.
This is very typical behavior for you right now. I beg you to understand my purpose. You are old and should be wise. You have 100 knights and squires who are so poorly behaved that this court seems like a disorderly hotel. Lust and eating and drinking too much makes it more like a tavern or a brothel than a palace. It’s shameful and needs to be fixed immediately. You must cut back on your number of knights, and if you don’t I will force you to. The men you keep with you need to be those who are suited for your age and who know themselves and you and thus behave appropriately.
LEAR Darkness and 260
devils!—
Saddle my horses. Call my train together.
Some exit.
Degenerate bastard, I’ll not trouble thee.
Yet have I left a daughter.
Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses up and call my people together. You bastard child, I’ll not trouble you anymore. I have another daughter I can go to.
GONERIL
You strike my people, and your disordered rabble 265
Make servants of their betters.
You have hit my steward Oswald, and your disorderly group of knights are turning those better than they are into servants.
Enter Albany.
LEAR
Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you
come?
Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.
Some exit.
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, 270
More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child
Than the sea monster!
Albany comes in.
LEAR: Is this what you want too Albany?
Lear asks attendants to prepare his horses to leave.
Ingratitude is worse when it comes from a child!
ALBANY Pray, sir, be patient.
Be patient, Lear.
LEAR, to Goneril Detested kite, thou liest.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts, 275
That all particulars of duty know
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,
Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of 280
nature
From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love
And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear!
He strikes his head.
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people. 285
Some exit.
Goneril, you’re a liar. My men are good and know their duty. Oh, how the small fault of Cordelia caused me to become so angry and lose all love for her.
He hits his own head.
I’m going to hit my head because it had such poor judgment. Go, people (to his servants).
ALBANY
My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.
Lear, I haven’t done anything and don’t know what’s upset you.
LEAR It may be so, my lord.—
Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend 290
To make this creature fruitful.
Into her womb convey sterility.
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her. If she must teem, 295
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits 300
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child.—Away, away!
Lear and the rest of his train exit.
Nature, you goddess, make Goneril’s womb sterile so she’ll never have kids and never have a child to honor her. If she must get pregnant, make sure it’s an angry child that will torment her and age her prematurely, putting wrinkles on her face, and her tears from dealing with this child will run down her face and create creases where they fall. Any benefits of being a mother and birth pains should be turned to contempt so that she can feel how it is so terrible to have an ungrateful child.
ALBANY
Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
Now, gods, where is this all coming from?
GONERIL
Never afflict yourself to know more of it, 305
But let his disposition have that scope
As dotage gives it.
Don’t bother to know more about it. Just let his disposition have free range to be how it is because of his old age.
Enter Lear and the Fool.
LEAR
What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
Within a fortnight?
Fifty of my men have been taken, just like that, within two weeks?
ALBANY What’s the matter, sir? 310
What’s the matter, Lear?
LEAR
I’ll tell thee. To Goneril. Life and death! I am
ashamed
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon 315
thee!
Th’ untented woundings of a father’s curse
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck you out
And cast you, with the waters that you loose, 320
To temper clay. Yea, is ’t come to this?
Ha! Let it be so. I have another daughter
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable.
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find 325
That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off forever. He exits.
I’ll tell you.
To Goneril: I am ashamed that you can make me cry like this when I am a man. I curse you. I’ll pluck out my own eyes if I cry about this again. Has it really come to this? I have another daughter though who will be kind and comfort me. When she hears of this, she will tear Goneril’s face off. You’ll see that I will become myself again with her.
Lear exits.
GONERIL Do you mark that?
DId you hear that?
ALBANY
I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
To the great love I bear you— 330
I cannot be so unfair, Goneril, to the great love I feel for you
GONERIL Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho!—
You, sir, more knave than Fool, after your master.
It’s okay. Be content.
What’s going on Oswald?
You, Fool, go follow your master Lear.
FOOL Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear, tarry. Take the Fool
with thee.
A fox, when one has caught her, 335
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter.
So the Fool follows after. He exits.
Wait, Uncle, take the Fool with you. A fox, if caught, and a daughter, would both go to the slaughter, if my cap could buy a halter. The Fool follows after Lear.
Fool exits.
GONERIL
This man hath had good counsel. A hundred 340
knights!
’Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every
dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, 345
He may enguard his dotage with their powers
And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!
Is it really saife and sensible to let Lear keep 100 knights so that every time he doesn’t like something, he can use the knights against us?
Oswald!
ALBANY Well, you may fear too far.
Well, you may be too afraid.
GONERIL Safer than trust too far.
Let me still take away the harms I fear, 350
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
What he hath uttered I have writ my sister.
If she sustain him and his hundred knights
When I have showed th’ unfitness—
Enter Oswald, the Steward.
How now, Oswald? 355
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
It is better to be too afraid that too trusting. I would rather get rid of the harms I fear. I have already written to my sister, so she won’t sustain these knights when I’ve explained how bad it is to do so.
Oswald enters.
Oswald, have you written the letter to my sister?
OSWALD Ay, madam.
Yes, madam.
GONERIL
Take you some company and away to horse.
Inform her full of my particular fear,
And thereto add such reasons of your own 360
As may compact it more. Get you gone,
And hasten your return. Oswald exits. No, no, my
lord,
This milky gentleness and course of yours,
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, 365
You are much more at task for want of wisdom
Than praised for harmful mildness.
Get on your horse and let Regan know what’s going on. Let her know of my fears, and add some more reasons of your own to create more impact. Go and hurry back.
Oswald exits.
Goneril tells Albany: You’re being too gentle and mild right now.
ALBANY
How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell.
Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.
Sometimes when you try to make something better, you mess up things that are already fine.
GONERIL Nay, then—
No..
370
ALBANY Well, well, th’ event.
They exit.
Well, well, the event.
They both exit.
Scene 5
Enter Lear, Kent in disguise, Gentleman, and Fool.
LEAR, to Kent Go you before to Gloucester with these
letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with anything
you know than comes from her demand out of
the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be
there afore you. 5
Kent, Take these letters to Gloucester. Don’t let my daugher know anything more than what’s in the letter. Go quickly so that the letter gets there before I do.
KENT I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered
your letter. He exits.
I will not sleep until I’ve delivered your letter to Regan.
FOOL If a man’s brains were in ’s heels, were ’t not in
danger of kibes?
If a man’s brain were in his heels, wouldn’t he be in danger of chilblains (lumpy swollen patches on the skin)?
LEAR Ay, boy. 10
Yes, boy
FOOL Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall not go
slipshod.
Then, be happy. Your brain will not be in untidy and loose shoes.
LEAR Ha, ha, ha!
ha ha ha!
FOOL Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly,
for, though she’s as like this as a crab’s like an 15
apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
Will you see your other daughter be kind to you, even though she’s as kind as a crab is like an apple. I can tell what I can tell.
LEAR What canst tell, boy?
What can you tell, boy?
FOOL She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.
Thou canst tell why one’s nose stands i’ th’ middle
on ’s face? 20
She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Do you know why a person’s nose is in the middle of his face?
LEAR No.
No
FOOL Why, to keep one’s eyes of either side ’s nose,
that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.
To keep a person’s eyes on either side of the nose so that if a man can’t smell something, he can spy it with his eyes.
LEAR I did her wrong.
I did Cordelia wrong.
FOOL Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? 25
Can you tell how an oyster makes his shell?
LEAR No.
No
FOOL Nor I neither. But I can tell why a snail has a
house.
Me neither. But I can tell why a snail has a house.
LEAR Why?
Why?
FOOL Why, to put ’s head in, not to give it away to his 30
daughters and leave his horns without a case.
To put his head in, not to give it away to his daughers, and leave his horns without a case
LEAR I will forget my nature. So kind a father!—Be
my horses ready? Gentleman exits.
I will forget my nature as a kind father!
Are my horses ready?
Gentleman exits.
FOOL Thy asses are gone about ’em. The reason why
the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty 35
reason.
Your donkeys are gone. The reason why the seven stars are not more than seven is nice.
LEAR Because they are not eight.
Because they are not eight.
FOOL Yes, indeed. Thou wouldst make a good Fool.
Yes, indeed. You would make a good fool.
LEAR To take ’t again perforce! Monster ingratitude!
To take my knights again by force! What monstrous ingratitude!
FOOL If thou wert my Fool, nuncle, I’d have thee 40
beaten for being old before thy time.
If you were my Fool, uncle, I’d have you beaten for being old before your time.
LEAR How’s that?
FOOL Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst
been wise.
You should not have been old until you were wise.
LEAR
O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! 45
Keep me in temper. I would not be mad!
Enter Gentleman.
How now, are the horses ready?
Oh, I hope I’m not mad, not mad and out of my mind! Sweet heaven! Keep me stable. I do not want to be insane (mad).
Gentleman, are the horses ready?
GENTLEMAN Ready, my lord.
Yes, they are.
LEAR Come, boy.
Come boy.
FOOL
She that’s a maid now and laughs at my departure, 50
Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut
shorter.
They exit.
She that’s a maid now and laughs because I’m leaving won’t be a maid long unless things are cut shorter.