KingLear李爾王英文版

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KingLear

Shakespearehomepage|KingLear|Entireplay

ACTI

SCENEI.KingLear'spalace.

EnterKENT,GLOUCESTER,andEDMUND

KENT

IthoughtthekinghadmoreaffectedtheDukeof

AlbanythanCornwall.

GLOUCESTER

Itdidalwaysseemsotous:butnow,inthe

divisionofthekingdom,itappearsnotwhichof

thedukeshevaluesmost;forequalitiesareso

weighed,thatcuriosityinneithercanmakechoice

ofeither'smoiety.

KENT

Isnotthisyourson,mylord?

GLOUCESTER

Hisbreeding,sir,hathbeenatmycharge:Ihave

sooftenblushedtoacknowledgehim,thatnowIam

brazedtoit.

KENT

Icannotconceiveyou.

GLOUCESTER

Sir,thisyoungfellow'smothercould:whereupon

shegrewround-wombed,andhad,indeed,sir,ason

forhercradleereshehadahusbandforherbed.

Doyousmellafault?

KENT

Icannotwishthefaultundone,theissueofit

beingsoproper.

GLOUCESTER

ButIhave,sir,asonbyorderoflaw,someyear

elderthanthis,whoyetisnodearerinmyaccount:

thoughthisknavecamesomethingsaucilyintothe

worldbeforehewassentfor,yetwashismother

fair;therewasgoodsportathismaking,andthe

whoresonmustbeacknowledged.Doyouknowthis

noblegentleman,Edmund?

EDMUND

No,mylord.

GLOUCESTER

MylordofKent:rememberhimhereafterasmy

honourablefriend.

EDMUND

Myservicestoyourlordship.

KENT

Imustloveyou,andsuetoknowyoubetter.

EDMUND

Sir,Ishallstudydeserving.

GLOUCESTER

Hehathbeenoutnineyears,andawayheshall

again.Thekingiscoming.

Sennet.EnterKINGLEAR,CORNWALL,ALBANY,GONERIL,REGAN,CORDELIA,andAttendants

KINGLEAR

AttendthelordsofFranceandBurgundy,Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER

Ishall,myliege.

ExeuntGLOUCESTERandEDMUND

KINGLEAR

Meantimeweshallexpressourdarkerpurpose.

Givemethemapthere.Knowthatwehavedivided

Inthreeourkingdom:and'tisourfastintent

Toshakeallcaresandbusinessfromourage;

Conferringthemonyoungerstrengths,whilewe

Unburthen'dcrawltowarddeath.OursonofCornwall,

Andyou,ournolesslovingsonofAlbany,

Wehavethishouraconstantwilltopublish

Ourdaughters'severaldowers,thatfuturestrife

Maybepreventednow.Theprinces,FranceandBurgundy,

Greatrivalsinouryoungestdaughter'slove,

Longinourcourthavemadetheiramoroussojourn,

Andherearetobeanswer'd.Tellme,mydaughters,--

Sincenowwewilldivestusbothofrule,

Interestofterritory,caresofstate,--

Whichofyoushallwesaydothloveusmost?

Thatweourlargestbountymayextend

Wherenaturedothwithmeritchallenge.Goneril,

Oureldest-born,speakfirst.

GONERIL

Sir,Iloveyoumorethanwordscanwieldthematter;

Dearerthaneye-sight,space,andliberty;

Beyondwhatcanbevalued,richorrare;

Nolessthanlife,withgrace,health,beauty,honour;

Asmuchaschilde'erloved,orfatherfound;

Alovethatmakesbreathpoor,andspeechunable;

BeyondallmannerofsomuchIloveyou.

CORDELIA

[Aside]WhatshallCordeliado?

Love,andbesilent.

LEAR

Ofallthesebounds,evenfromthislinetothis,

Withshadowyforestsandwithchampainsrich'd,

Withplenteousriversandwide-skirtedmeads,

Wemaketheelady:tothineandAlbany'sissue

Bethisperpetual.Whatsaysourseconddaughter,

OurdearestRegan,wifetoCornwall?Speak.

REGAN

Sir,Iammade

Oftheself-samemetalthatmysisteris,

Andprizemeatherworth.Inmytrueheart

Ifindshenamesmyverydeedoflove;

Onlyshecomestooshort:thatIprofess

Myselfanenemytoallotherjoys,

Whichthemostprecioussquareofsensepossesses;

AndfindIamalonefelicitate

Inyourdearhighness'love.

CORDELIA

[Aside]ThenpoorCordelia!

Andyetnotso;since,Iamsure,mylove's

Morericherthanmytongue.

KINGLEAR

Totheeandthinehereditaryever

Remainthisamplethirdofourfairkingdom;

Nolessinspace,validity,andpleasure,

Thanthatconferr'donGoneril.Now,ourjoy,

Althoughthelast,notleast;towhoseyounglove

ThevinesofFranceandmilkofBurgundy

Strivetobeinteress'd;whatcanyousaytodraw

Athirdmoreopulentthanyoursisters?Speak.

CORDELIA

Nothing,mylord.

KINGLEAR

Nothing!

CORDELIA

Nothing.

KINGLEAR

Nothingwillcomeofnothing:speakagain.

CORDELIA

UnhappythatIam,Icannotheave

Myheartintomymouth:Iloveyourmajesty

Accordingtomybond;normorenorless.

KINGLEAR

How,how,Cordelia!mendyourspeechalittle,

Lestitmaymaryourfortunes.

CORDELIA

Goodmylord,

Youhavebegotme,bredme,lovedme:I

Returnthosedutiesbackasarerightfit,

Obeyyou,loveyou,andmosthonouryou.

Whyhavemysistershusbands,iftheysay

Theyloveyouall?Haply,whenIshallwed,

Thatlordwhosehandmusttakemyplightshallcarry

Halfmylovewithhim,halfmycareandduty:

Sure,Ishallnevermarrylikemysisters,

Tolovemyfatherall.

KINGLEAR

Butgoesthyheartwiththis?

CORDELIA

Ay,goodmylord.

KINGLEAR

Soyoung,andsountender?

CORDELIA

Soyoung,mylord,andtrue.

KINGLEAR

Letitbeso;thytruth,then,bethydower:

For,bythesacredradianceofthesun,

ThemysteriesofHecate,andthenight;

Byalltheoperationoftheorbs

Fromwhomwedoexist,andceasetobe;

HereIdisclaimallmypaternalcare,

Propinquityandpropertyofblood,

Andasastrangertomyheartandme

Holdthee,fromthis,forever.ThebarbarousScythian,

Orhethatmakeshisgenerationmesses

Togorgehisappetite,shalltomybosom

Beaswellneighbour'd,pitied,andrelieved,

Asthoumysometimedaughter.

KENT

Goodmyliege,--

KINGLEAR

Peace,Kent!

Comenotbetweenthedragonandhiswrath.

Ilovedhermost,andthoughttosetmyrest

Onherkindnursery.Hence,andavoidmysight!

Sobemygravemypeace,ashereIgive

Herfather'sheartfromher!CallFrance;whostirs?

CallBurgundy.CornwallandAlbany,

Withmytwodaughters'dowersdigestthisthird:

Letpride,whichshecallsplainness,marryher.

Idoinvestyoujointlywithmypower,

Pre-eminence,andallthelargeeffects

Thattroopwithmajesty.Ourself,bymonthlycourse,

Withreservationofanhundredknights,

Byyoutobesustain'd,shallourabode

Makewithyoubydueturns.Onlywestillretain

Thename,andalltheadditionstoaking;

Thesway,revenue,executionoftherest,

Belovedsons,beyours:whichtoconfirm,

Thiscoronetpartbetwixtyou.

Givingthecrown

KENT

RoyalLear,

WhomIhaveeverhonour'dasmyking,

Lovedasmyfather,asmymasterfollow'd,

Asmygreatpatronthoughtoninmyprayers,--

KINGLEAR

Thebowisbentanddrawn,makefromtheshaft.

KENT

Letitfallrather,thoughtheforkinvade

Theregionofmyheart:beKentunmannerly,

WhenLearismad.Whatwiltthoudo,oldman?

Think'stthouthatdutyshallhavedreadtospeak,

Whenpowertoflatterybows?Toplainnesshonour'sbound,

Whenmajestystoopstofolly.Reversethydoom;

And,inthybestconsideration,cheque

Thishideousrashness:answermylifemyjudgment,

Thyyoungestdaughterdoesnotlovetheeleast;

Norarethoseempty-heartedwhoselowsound

Reverbsnohollowness.

KINGLEAR

Kent,onthylife,nomore.

KENT

MylifeIneverheldbutasapawn

Towageagainstthyenemies;norfeartoloseit,

Thysafetybeingthemotive.

KINGLEAR

Outofmysight!

KENT

Seebetter,Lear;andletmestillremain

Thetrueblankofthineeye.

KINGLEAR

Now,byApollo,--

KENT

Now,byApollo,king,

Thouswear'stthygodsinvain.

KINGLEAR

O,vassal!miscreant!

Layinghishandonhissword

ALBANYCORNWALL

Dearsir,forbear.

KENT

Do:

Killthyphysician,andthefeebestow

Uponthyfouldisease.Revokethydoom;

Or,whilstIcanventclamourfrommythroat,

I'lltelltheethoudostevil.

KINGLEAR

Hearme,recreant!

Onthineallegiance,hearme!

Sincethouhastsoughttomakeusbreakourvow,

Whichwedurstneveryet,andwithstrain'dpride

Tocomebetweenoursentenceandourpower,

Whichnorournaturenorourplacecanbear,

Ourpotencymadegood,takethyreward.

Fivedayswedoallotthee,forprovision

Toshieldtheefromdiseasesoftheworld;

Andonthesixthtoturnthyhatedback

Uponourkingdom:if,onthetenthdayfollowing,

Thybanish'dtrunkbefoundinourdominions,

Themomentisthydeath.Away!byJupiter,

Thisshallnotberevoked.

KENT

Faretheewell,king:siththusthouwiltappear,

Freedomliveshence,andbanishmentishere.

ToCORDELIA

Thegodstotheirdearsheltertakethee,maid,

Thatjustlythink'st,andhastmostrightlysaid!

ToREGANandGONERIL

Andyourlargespeechesmayyourdeedsapprove,

Thatgoodeffectsmayspringfromwordsoflove.

ThusKent,Oprinces,bidsyoualladieu;

He'llshapehisoldcourseinacountrynew.

Exit

Flourish.Re-enterGLOUCESTER,withKINGOFFRANCE,BURGUNDY,andAttendants

GLOUCESTER

Here'sFranceandBurgundy,mynoblelord.

KINGLEAR

MylordofBurgundy.

Wefirstaddresstowardsyou,whowiththisking

Hathrivall'dforourdaughter:what,intheleast,

Willyourequireinpresentdowerwithher,

Orceaseyourquestoflove?

BURGUNDY

Mostroyalmajesty,

Icravenomorethanwhatyourhighnessoffer'd,

Norwillyoutenderless.

KINGLEAR

RightnobleBurgundy,

Whenshewasdeartous,wedidholdherso;

Butnowherpriceisfall'n.Sir,thereshestands:

Ifaughtwithinthatlittleseemingsubstance,

Orallofit,withourdispleasurepieced,

Andnothingmore,mayfitlylikeyourgrace,

She'sthere,andsheisyours.

BURGUNDY

Iknownoanswer.

KINGLEAR

Willyou,withthoseinfirmitiessheowes,

Unfriended,new-adoptedtoourhate,

Dower'dwithourcurse,andstranger'dwithouroath,

Takeher,orleaveher?

BURGUNDY

Pardonme,royalsir;

Electionmakesnotuponsuchconditions.

KINGLEAR

Thenleaveher,sir;for,bythepowerthatmademe,

Itellyouallherwealth.

ToKINGOFFRANCE

Foryou,greatking,

Iwouldnotfromyourlovemakesuchastray,

TomatchyouwhereIhate;thereforebeseechyou

Toavertyourlikingamoreworthierway

Thanonawretchwhomnatureisashamed

Almosttoacknowledgehers.

KINGOFFRANCE

Thisismoststrange,

Thatshe,thatevenbutnowwasyourbestobject,

Theargumentofyourpraise,balmofyourage,

Mostbest,mostdearest,shouldinthistriceoftime

Commitathingsomonstrous,todismantle

Somanyfoldsoffavour.Sure,heroffence

Mustbeofsuchunnaturaldegree,

Thatmonstersit,oryourfore-vouch'daffection

Fall'nintotaint:whichtobelieveofher,

Mustbeafaiththatreasonwithoutmiracle

Couldneverplantinme.

CORDELIA

Iyetbeseechyourmajesty,--

IfforIwantthatglibandoilyart,

Tospeakandpurposenot;sincewhatIwellintend,

I'lldo'tbeforeIspeak,--thatyoumakeknown

Itisnoviciousblot,murder,orfoulness,

Nounchasteaction,ordishonour'dstep,

Thathathdeprivedmeofyourgraceandfavour;

ButevenforwantofthatforwhichIamricher,

Astill-solicitingeye,andsuchatongue

AsIamgladIhavenot,thoughnottohaveit

Hathlostmeinyourliking.

KINGLEAR

Betterthou

Hadstnotbeenbornthannottohavepleasedmebetter.

KINGOFFRANCE

Isitbutthis,--atardinessinnature

Whichoftenleavesthehistoryunspoke

Thatitintendstodo?MylordofBurgundy,

Whatsayyoutothelady?Love'snotlove

Whenitismingledwithregardsthatstand

Alooffromtheentirepoint.Willyouhaveher?

Sheisherselfadowry.

BURGUNDY

RoyalLear,

Givebutthatportionwhichyourselfproposed,

AndhereItakeCordeliabythehand,

DuchessofBurgundy.

KINGLEAR

Nothing:Ihavesworn;Iamfirm.

BURGUNDY

Iamsorry,then,youhavesolostafather

Thatyoumustloseahusband.

CORDELIA

PeacebewithBurgundy!

Sincethatrespectsoffortunearehislove,

Ishallnotbehiswife.

KINGOFFRANCE

FairestCordelia,thatartmostrich,beingpoor;

Mostchoice,forsaken;andmostloved,despised!

TheeandthyvirtueshereIseizeupon:

BeitlawfulItakeupwhat'scastaway.

Gods,gods!'tisstrangethatfromtheircold'stneglect

Myloveshouldkindletoinflamedrespect.

Thydowerlessdaughter,king,throwntomychance,

Isqueenofus,ofours,andourfairFrance:

NotallthedukesofwaterishBurgundy

Canbuythisunprizedpreciousmaidofme.

Bidthemfarewell,Cordelia,thoughunkind:

Thoulosesthere,abetterwheretofind.

KINGLEAR

Thouhasther,France:letherbethine;forwe

Havenosuchdaughter,norshalleversee

Thatfaceofhersagain.Thereforebegone

Withoutourgrace,ourlove,ourbenison.

Come,nobleBurgundy.

Flourish.ExeuntallbutKINGOFFRANCE,GONERIL,REGAN,andCORDELIA

KINGOFFRANCE

Bidfarewelltoyoursisters.

CORDELIA

Thejewelsofourfather,withwash'deyes

Cordelialeavesyou:Iknowyouwhatyouare;

Andlikeasisterammostloathtocall

Yourfaultsastheyarenamed.Usewellourfather:

ToyourprofessedbosomsIcommithim

Butyet,alas,stoodIwithinhisgrace,

Iwouldpreferhimtoabetterplace.

So,farewelltoyouboth.

REGAN

Prescribenotusourduties.

GONERIL

Letyourstudy

Betocontentyourlord,whohathreceivedyou

Atfortune'salms.Youhaveobediencescanted,

Andwellareworththewantthatyouhavewanted.

CORDELIA

Timeshallunfoldwhatplaitedcunninghides:

Whocoverfaults,atlastshamethemderides.

Wellmayyouprosper!

KINGOFFRANCE

Come,myfairCordelia.

ExeuntKINGOFFRANCEandCORDELIA

GONERIL

Sister,itisnotalittleIhavetosayofwhat

mostnearlyappertainstousboth.Ithinkour

fatherwillhenceto-night.

REGAN

That'smostcertain,andwithyou;nextmonthwithus.

GONERIL

Youseehowfullofchangeshisageis;the

observationwehavemadeofithathnotbeen

little:healwayslovedoursistermost;and

withwhatpoorjudgmenthehathnowcastheroff

appearstoogrossly.

REGAN

'Tistheinfirmityofhisage:yethehathever

butslenderlyknownhimself.

GONERIL

Thebestandsoundestofhistimehathbeenbut

rash;thenmustwelooktoreceivefromhisage,

notalonetheimperfectionsoflong-engraffed

condition,buttherewithaltheunrulywaywardness

thatinfirmandcholericyearsbringwiththem.

REGAN

Suchunconstantstartsareweliketohavefrom

himasthisofKent'sbanishment.

GONERIL

Thereisfurthercomplimentofleavetaking

betweenFranceandhim.Prayyou,let'shit

together:ifourfathercarryauthoritywith

suchdispositionsashebears,thislast

surrenderofhiswillbutoffendus.

REGAN

Weshallfurtherthinkon't.

GONERIL

Wemustdosomething,andi'theheat.

Exeunt

SCENEII.TheEarlofGloucester'scastle.

EnterEDMUND,withaletter

EDMUND

Thou,nature,artmygoddess;tothylaw

Myservicesarebound.WhereforeshouldI

Standintheplagueofcustom,andpermit

Thecuriosityofnationstodepriveme,

ForthatIamsometwelveorfourteenmoon-shines

Lagofabrother?Whybastard?whereforebase?

Whenmydimensionsareaswellcompact,

Mymindasgenerous,andmyshapeastrue,

Ashonestmadam'sissue?Whybrandtheyus

Withbase?withbaseness?bastardy?base,base?

Who,inthelustystealthofnature,take

Morecompositionandfiercequality

Thandoth,withinadull,stale,tiredbed,

Gotothecreatingawholetribeoffops,

Got'tweenasleepandwake?Well,then,

LegitimateEdgar,Imusthaveyourland:

Ourfather'sloveistothebastardEdmund

Astothelegitimate:fineword,--legitimate!

Well,mylegitimate,ifthisletterspeed,

Andmyinventionthrive,Edmundthebase

Shalltopthelegitimate.Igrow;Iprosper:

Now,gods,standupforbastards!

EnterGLOUCESTER

GLOUCESTER

Kentbanish'dthus!andFranceincholerparted!

Andthekinggoneto-night!subscribedhispower!

Confinedtoexhibition!Allthisdone

Uponthegad!Edmund,hownow!whatnews?

EDMUND

Sopleaseyourlordship,none.

Puttinguptheletter

GLOUCESTER

Whysoearnestlyseekyoutoputupthatletter?

EDMUND

Iknownonews,mylord.

GLOUCESTER

Whatpaperwereyoureading?

EDMUND

Nothing,mylord.

GLOUCESTER

No?Whatneeded,then,thatterribledispatchof

itintoyourpocket?thequalityofnothinghath

notsuchneedtohideitself.Let'ssee:come,

ifitbenothing,Ishallnotneedspectacles.

EDMUND

Ibeseechyou,sir,pardonme:itisaletter

frommybrother,thatIhavenotallo'er-read;

andforsomuchasIhaveperused,Ifinditnot

fitforyouro'er-looking.

GLOUCESTER

Givemetheletter,sir.

EDMUND

Ishalloffend,eithertodetainorgiveit.The

contents,asinpartIunderstandthem,aretoblame.

GLOUCESTER

Let'ssee,let'ssee.

EDMUND

Ihope,formybrother'sjustification,hewrote

thisbutasanessayortasteofmyvirtue.

GLOUCESTER

[Reads]'Thispolicyandreverenceofagemakes

theworldbittertothebestofourtimes;keeps

ourfortunesfromustillouroldnesscannotrelish

them.Ibegintofindanidleandfondbondage

intheoppressionofagedtyranny;whosways,not

asithathpower,butasitissuffered.Cometo

me,thatofthisImayspeakmore.Ifourfather

wouldsleeptillIwakedhim,youshouldhalfhis

revenueforever,andlivethebelovedofyour

brother,EDGAR.'

Hum--conspiracy!--'SleeptillIwakedhim,--you

shouldenjoyhalfhisrevenue,'--MysonEdgar!

Hadheahandtowritethis?aheartandbrain

tobreeditin?--Whencamethistoyou?who

broughtit?

EDMUND

Itwasnotbroughtme,mylord;there'sthe

cunningofit;Ifounditthrowninatthe

casementofmycloset.

GLOUCESTER

Youknowthecharactertobeyourbrother's?

EDMUND

Ifthematterweregood,mylord,Idurstswear

itwerehis;but,inrespectofthat,Iwould

fainthinkitwerenot.

GLOUCESTER

Itishis.

EDMUND

Itishishand,mylord;butIhopehisheartis

notinthecontents.

GLOUCESTER

Hathheneverheretoforesoundedyouinthisbusiness?

EDMUND

Never,mylord:butIhaveheardhimoft

maintainittobefit,that,sonsatperfectage,

andfathersdeclining,thefathershouldbeas

wardtotheson,andthesonmanagehisrevenue.

GLOUCESTER

Ovillain,villain!Hisveryopinioninthe

letter!Abhorredvillain!Unnatural,detested,

brutishvillain!worsethanbrutish!Go,sirrah,

seekhim;I'llapprehendhim:abominablevillain!

Whereishe?

EDMUND

Idonotwellknow,mylord.Ifitshallplease

youtosuspendyourindignationagainstmy

brothertillyoucanderivefromhimbetter

testimonyofhisintent,youshallrunacertain

course;where,ifyouviolentlyproceedagainst

him,mistakinghispurpose,itwouldmakeagreat

gapinyourownhonour,andshakeinpiecesthe

heartofhisobedience.Idarepawndownmylife

forhim,thathehathwrotethistofeelmy

affectiontoyourhonour,andtonofurther

pretenceofdanger.

GLOUCESTER

Thinkyouso?

EDMUND

Ifyourhonourjudgeitmeet,Iwillplaceyou

whereyoushallhearusconferofthis,andbyan

auricularassurancehaveyoursatisfaction;and

thatwithoutanyfurtherdelaythanthisveryevening.

GLOUCESTER

Hecannotbesuchamonster--

EDMUND

Norisnot,sure.

GLOUCESTER

Tohisfather,thatsotenderlyandentirely

loveshim.Heavenandearth!Edmund,seekhim

out:windmeintohim,Iprayyou:framethe

businessafteryourownwisdom.Iwouldunstate

myself,tobeinadueresolution.

EDMUND

Iwillseekhim,sir,presently:conveythe

businessasIshallfindmeansandacquaintyouwithal.

GLOUCESTER

Theselateeclipsesinthesunandmoonportend

nogoodtous:thoughthewisdomofnaturecan

reasonitthusandthus,yetnaturefindsitself

scourgedbythesequenteffects:lovecools,

friendshipfallsoff,brothersdivide:in

cities,mutinies;incountries,discord;in

palaces,treason;andthebondcracked'twixtson

andfather.Thisvillainofminecomesunderthe

prediction;there'ssonagainstfather:theking

fallsfrombiasofnature;there'sfatheragainst

child.Wehaveseenthebestofourtime:

machinations,hollowness,treachery,andall

ruinousdisorders,followusdisquietlytoour

graves.Findoutthisvillain,Edmund;itshall

losetheenothing;doitcarefully.Andthe

nobleandtrue-heartedKentbanished!his

offence,honesty!'Tisstrange.

Exit

EDMUND

Thisistheexcellentfopperyoftheworld,that,

whenwearesickinfortune,--oftenthesurfeit

ofourownbehavior,--wemakeguiltyofour

disastersthesun,themoon,andthestars:as

ifwewerevillainsbynecessity;foolsby

heavenlycompulsion;knaves,thieves,and

treachers,bysphericalpredominance;drunkards,

liars,andadulterers,byanenforcedobedienceof

planetaryinfluence;andallthatweareevilin,

byadivinethrustingon:anadmirableevasion

ofwhoremasterman,tolayhisgoatish

dispositiontothechargeofastar!My

fathercompoundedwithmymotherunderthe

dragon'stail;andmynativitywasunderUrsa

major;sothatitfollows,Iamroughand

lecherous.Tut,IshouldhavebeenthatIam,

hadthemaidenlieststarinthefirmament

twinkledonmybastardizing.Edgar--

EnterEDGAR

Andpathecomeslikethecatastropheoftheold

comedy:mycueisvillanousmelancholy,witha

sighlikeTomo'Bedlam.O,theseeclipsesdo

portendthesedivisions!fa,sol,la,mi.

EDGAR

Hownow,brotherEdmund!whatserious

contemplationareyouin?

EDMUND

Iamthinking,brother,ofapredictionIread

thisotherday,whatshouldfollowtheseeclipses.

EDGAR

Doyoubusyyourselfaboutthat?

EDMUND

Ipromiseyou,theeffectshewritesofsucceed

unhappily;asofunnaturalnessbetweenthechild

andtheparent;death,dearth,dissolutionsof

ancientamities;divisionsinstate,menacesand

maledictionsagainstkingandnobles;needless

diffidences,banishmentoffriends,dissipation

ofcohorts,nuptialbreaches,andIknownotwhat.

EDGAR

Howlonghaveyoubeenasectaryastronomical?

EDMUND

Come,come;whensawyoumyfatherlast?

EDGAR

Why,thenightgoneby.

EDMUND

Spakeyouwithhim?

EDGAR

Ay,twohourstogether.

EDMUND

Partedyouingoodterms?Foundyouno

displeasureinhimbywordorcountenance?

EDGAR

Noneatall.

EDMUND

Bethinkyourselfwhereinyoumayhaveoffended

him:andatmyentreatyforbearhispresence

tillsomelittletimehathqualifiedtheheatof

hisdispleasure;whichatthisinstantsorageth

inhim,thatwiththemischiefofyourpersonit

wouldscarcelyallay.

EDGAR

Somevillainhathdonemewrong.

EDMUND

That'smyfear.Iprayyou,haveacontinent

forbearancetillthespiedofhisragegoes

slower;and,asIsay,retirewithmetomy

lodging,fromwhenceIwillfitlybringyouto

hearmylordspeak:prayye,go;there'smykey:

ifyoudostirabroad,goarmed.

EDGAR

Armed,brother!

EDMUND

Brother,Iadviseyoutothebest;goarmed:I

amnohonestmaniftherebeanygoodmeaning

towardsyou:IhavetoldyouwhatIhaveseen

andheard;butfaintly,nothingliketheimage

andhorrorofit:prayyou,away.

EDGAR

ShallIhearfromyouanon?

EDMUND

Idoserveyouinthisbusiness.

ExitEDGAR

Acredulousfather!andabrothernoble,

Whosenatureissofarfromdoingharms,

Thathesuspectsnone:onwhosefoolishhonesty

Mypractisesrideeasy!Iseethebusiness.

Letme,ifnotbybirth,havelandsbywit:

Allwithme'smeetthatIcanfashionfit.

Exit

SCENEIII.TheDukeofAlbany'spalace.

EnterGONERIL,andOSWALD,hersteward

GONERIL

Didmyfatherstrikemygentlemanforchidingofhisfool?

OSWALD

Yes,madam.

GONERIL

Bydayandnighthewrongsme;everyhour

Heflashesintoonegrosscrimeorother,

Thatsetsusallatodds:I'llnotendureit:

Hisknightsgrowriotous,andhimselfupbraidsus

Oneverytrifle.Whenhereturnsfromhunting,

Iwillnotspeakwithhim;sayIamsick:

Ifyoucomeslackofformerservices,

Youshalldowell;thefaultofitI'llanswer.

OSWALD

He'scoming,madam;Ihearhim.

Hornswithin

GONERIL

Putonwhatwearynegligenceyouplease,

Youandyourfellows;I'llhaveitcometoquestion:

Ifhedislikeit,lethimtooursister,

Whosemindandmine,Iknow,inthatareone,

Nottobeover-ruled.Idleoldman,

Thatstillwouldmanagethoseauthorities

Thathehathgivenaway!Now,bymylife,

Oldfoolsarebabesagain;andmustbeused

Withchequesasflatteries,--whentheyareseenabused.

RememberwhatItellyou.

OSWALD

Well,madam.

GONERIL

Andlethisknightshavecolderlooksamongyou;

Whatgrowsofit,nomatter;adviseyourfellowsso:

Iwouldbreedfromhenceoccasions,andIshall,

ThatImayspeak:I'llwritestraighttomysister,

Toholdmyverycourse.Preparefordinner.

Exeunt

SCENEIV.Ahallinthesame.

EnterKENT,disguised

KENT

IfbutaswellIotheraccentsborrow,

Thatcanmyspeechdefuse,mygoodintent

Maycarrythroughitselftothatfullissue

ForwhichIrazedmylikeness.Now,banish'dKent,

Ifthoucanstservewherethoudoststandcondemn'd,

Somayitcome,thymaster,whomthoulovest,

Shallfindtheefulloflabours.

Hornswithin.EnterKINGLEAR,Knights,andAttendants

KINGLEAR

Letmenotstayajotfordinner;gogetitready.

ExitanAttendant

Hownow!whatartthou?

KENT

Aman,sir.

KINGLEAR

Whatdostthouprofess?whatwouldstthouwithus?

KENT

IdoprofesstobenolessthanIseem;toserve

himtrulythatwillputmeintrust:tolovehim

thatishonest;toconversewithhimthatiswise,

andsayslittle;tofearjudgment;tofightwhenI

cannotchoose;andtoeatnofish.

KINGLEAR

Whatartthou?

KENT

Averyhonest-heartedfellow,andaspoorastheking.

KINGLEAR

Ifthoubeaspoorforasubjectasheisfora

king,thouartpoorenough.Whatwouldstthou?

KENT

Service.

KINGLEAR

Whowouldstthouserve?

KENT

You.

KINGLEAR

Dostthouknowme,fellow?

KENT

No,sir;butyouhavethatinyourcountenance

whichIwouldfaincallmaster.

KINGLEAR

What'sthat?

KENT

Authority.

KINGLEAR

Whatservicescanstthoudo?

KENT

Icankeephonestcounsel,ride,run,maracurious

taleintellingit,anddeliveraplainmessage

bluntly:thatwhichordinarymenarefitfor,Iam

qualifiedin;andthebestofmeisdiligence.

KINGLEAR

Howoldartthou?

KENT

Notsoyoung,sir,toloveawomanforsinging,nor

sooldtodoteonherforanything:Ihaveyears

onmybackfortyeight.

KINGLEAR

Followme;thoushaltserveme:ifIliketheeno

worseafterdinner,Iwillnotpartfromtheeyet.

Dinner,ho,dinner!Where'smyknave?myfool?

Goyou,andcallmyfoolhither.

ExitanAttendant

EnterOSWALD

You,you,sirrah,where'smydaughter?

OSWALD

Sopleaseyou,--

Exit

KINGLEAR

Whatsaysthefellowthere?Calltheclotpollback.

ExitaKnight

Where'smyfool,ho?Ithinktheworld'sasleep.

Re-enterKnight

Hownow!where'sthatmongrel?

Knight

Hesays,mylord,yourdaughterisnotwell.

KINGLEAR

WhycamenottheslavebacktomewhenIcalledhim.

Knight

Sir,heansweredmeintheroundestmanner,hewould

not.

KINGLEAR

Hewouldnot!

Knight

Mylord,Iknownotwhatthematteris;but,tomy

judgment,yourhighnessisnotentertainedwiththat

ceremoniousaffectionasyouwerewont;there'sa

greatabatementofkindnessappearsaswell