Not Peer Reviewed
- Edition: King Lear
King Lear (Modern, Extended Folio)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
-
- Holinshed on King Lear
-
- The History of King Leir
-
- Albion's England (Selection)
-
- Hardyng's Chronicle (Selection)
-
- Kings of Britain
-
- Chronicles of England
-
- Faerie Queene
-
- The Mirror for Magistrates
-
- The Arcadia
-
- A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures
-
- Aristotle on tragedy
-
- The Book of Job (Selections)
-
- The Monk's Tale (Selections)
-
- The Defense of Poetry
-
- The First Blast of the Trumpet
-
- Basilicon Doron
-
- On Bastards
-
- On Aging
-
- King Lear (Adapted by Nahum Tate)
-
- Facsimiles
10742.2
1076Oswald
Good dawning to thee friend. Art of this house?
1077Kent
Ay.
1078Oswald
Where may we set our horses?
1079Kent
I'th'mire.
1080Oswald
Prithee, if thou lov'st me, tell me.
1081Kent
I love thee not.
1082Oswald
Why then, I care not for thee.
1083Kent
If I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold I would make 1084thee care for me.
1085Oswald
Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.
1086Kent
Fellow, I know thee.
1087Oswald
What dost thou know me for?
1088Kent
A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a 1089base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-1090pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, 1091action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable, 1092finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave. One that 1093wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art 1094nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, 1095pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch--1096one whom I will beat into clamorous whining if thou 1097deny'st the least syllable of thy addition.
1098Oswald
Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus 1099to rail on one that is neither known of thee, nor 1100knows thee?
1101Kent
What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny 1102thou knowest me! Is it two days since I tripped up thy 1103heels and beat thee before the king? [Drawing his sword] Draw, you rogue, 1104for though it be night yet the moon shines. I'll make a 1105sop o'th'moonshine of you, you whoreson cullionly 1106barber-monger. Draw!
1107Oswald
Away, I have nothing to do with thee.
1108Kent
Draw, you rascal. You come with letters 1109against the king, and take Vanity the puppet's part 1110against the royalty of her father. Draw, you rogue, or 1111I'll so carbonado your shanks! Draw, you rascal. Come 1112your ways.
1113Oswald
Help, ho! Murder! Help!
1114Kent
Strike, you slave. Stand, rogue. Stand, you neat 1115slave--strike!
1116Oswald
Help, ho, murder, murder!
1117Enter Bastard, Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, [and] servants.
1118Bastard
How now, what's the matter? [Drawing his sword] Part.
1119Kent
[To the Bastard] With you, goodman boy, if you please. Come, 1120I'll flesh ye. Come on, young master.
[They exchange blows.]
1121Gloucester
Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?
1122Cornwall
[Drawing his sword] Keep peace upon your lives. He dies that strikes 1123again. What is the matter?
1124Regan
The messengers from our sister, and the king.
1125Cornwall
What is your difference? Speak.
1126Oswald
I am scarce in breath, my lord.
1127Kent
No marvel. You have so bestirred your valor, 1128you cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee. A tailor 1129made thee.
1130Cornwall
Thou art a strange fellow. A tailor make a man?
1131Kent
A tailor, sir. A stone-cutter or a painter could 1132not have made him so ill though they had been but two 1133years o'th'trade.
1134Cornwall
Speak yet. How grew your quarrel?
1135Oswald
This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared 1136at suit of his gray beard--
1137Kent
Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!--1138My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this 1139unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a 1140jakes with him. [To Oswald] Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?
1141Cornwall
Peace, sirrah!
1142You beastly knave, know you no reverence?
1143Kent
Yes, sir, but anger hath a privilege.
1144Cornwall
Why art thou angry?
1145Kent
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
1146Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
1147Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain,
1148Which are too intrinse t'unloose; smooth every passion
1149That in the natures of their lords rebel,
1150Being oil to fire, snow to the colder moods,
1151Revenge, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
1152With every gall and vary of their masters,
1153Knowing naught, like dogs, but following.
1154[To Oswald] A plague upon your epileptic visage!
1155Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
1156Goose, if I had you upon Sarum Plain,
1157I'd drive ye cackling home to Camelot.
1158Cornwall
What, art thou mad, old fellow?
1159Gloucester
How fell you out, say that.
1160Kent
No contraries hold more antipathy,
1161Than I and such a knave.
1162Cornwall
Why dost thou call him knave?
1163What is his fault?
1164Kent
His countenance likes me not.
1165Cornwall
No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.
1166Kent
Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.
1167I have seen better faces in my time
1168Than stands on any shoulder that I see
1169Before me at this instant.
This is some fellow,
1179That stretch their duties nicely.
1180Kent
Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,
1181Under th'allowance of your great aspect,
1182Whose influence like the wreath of radiant fire
1183On flickering Phoebus' front--
1184Cornwall
What mean'st by this?
1185Kent
To go out of my dialect, which you 1186discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that 1187beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave, which 1188for my part I will not be, though I should win your 1189displeasure to entreat me to't.
1190Cornwall
[To Oswald] What was th'offence you gave him?
1191Oswald
I never gave him any.
1192It pleased the king his master very late
1193To strike at me, upon his misconstruction,
1194When he, compact and flattering his displeasure,
1195Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,
1196And put upon him such a deal of man
1197That worthied him, got praises of the king
1198For him attempting who was self-subdued;
1199And in the fleshment of this dread exploit
1200Drew on me here again.
1201Kent
None of these rogues and cowards
1202But Ajax is their fool.
1203Cornwall
Fetch forth the stocks.
1204You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,
1205We'll teach you.
Sir, I am too old to learn.
1208On whose employment I was sent to you.
1210Against the grace and person of my master,
1211Stocking his messenger.
Fetch forth the stocks!
Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.
1215Kent
Why, madam, if I were your father's dog
1216You should not use me so.
1217Regan
Sir, being his knave, I will.
Stocks brought out.
1218Cornwall
This is a fellow of the self same color
1219Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.
1220Gloucester
Let me beseech your grace not to do so.
24Are punished with.
1221The King his master needs must take it ill
1222That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,
1223Should have him thus restrained.
1224Cornwall
I'll answer that.
1225Regan
My sister may receive it much more worse
1226To have her gentleman abused, assaulted
26.1[Attendants put Kent in the stocks.]
1227Cornwall
Come my lord, away.
Exeunt [all but Gloucester and Kent].
1228Gloucester
I am sorry for thee, friend. 'Tis the Duke's pleasure,
1229Whose disposition all the world well knows
1230Will not be rubbed nor stopped. I'll entreat for thee.
1231Kent
Pray do not, sir. I have watched and traveled hard.
1232Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.
1233A good man's fortune may grow out at heels.
1234Give you good morrow.
1235Gloucester
The Duke's to blame in this,
1236'Twill be ill taken.
Exit.
1237Kent
Good king, that must approve the common saw,
1238Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st
1239To the warm sun.
1240Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
1241That by thy comfortable beams I may
1242Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles
1243But misery. I know 'tis from Cordelia,
1244Who hath most fortunately been informed
1245Of my obscurèd course, and shall find time
1246From this enormous state, seeking to give
1247Losses their remedies. All weary and o'erwatched,
1248Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
1249This shameful lodging. Fortune, goodnight.
1250Smile once more; turn thy wheel.
[He sleeps.]
1251Enter Edgar.
1252Edgar
I heard myself proclaimed,
1253And by the happy hollow of a tree
1254Escaped the hunt. No port is free, no place
1255That guard and most unusual vigilance
1256Does not attend my taking. Whiles I may scape
1257I will preserve myself, and am bethought
1258To take the basest and most poorest shape
1259That ever penury in contempt of man
1260Brought near to beast. My face I'll grime with filth,
1261Blanket my loins, elf all my hairs in knots,
1262And with presented nakedness outface
1263The winds and persecutions of the sky.
1264The country gives me proof and precedent
1265Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
1266Strike in their numbed and mortified arms
1267Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary,
1268And with this horrible object, from low farms,
1269Poor pelting villages, sheepcotes and mills,
1270Sometimes with lunatic bans, sometimes with prayers,
1271Enforce their charity. "Poor Turlygod, poor Tom."
1272That's something yet. Edgar I nothing am.
Exit.
1273Enter Lear, Fool, and [a] gentleman.
1274Lear
'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
1275And not send back my messengers.
1276Gentleman
As I learned,
1277The night before there was no purpose in them
1278Of this remove.
1279Kent
[From the stocks] Hail to thee, noble master.
1280Lear
Ha? Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?
1281Kent
No, my lord.
Ha, ha! He wears cruel garters. 1093Horses are 1283tied by the heads, dogs and bears 1094by the neck, 1284monkeys by the loins, and men 1095by the legs. When a man's 1285over-lusty at legs, 1096then he wears wooden netherstocks.
[To Kent] What's he 1287that hath so much thy place mistook
1288To set thee here?
It is both he and she, 1290your son and daughter.
1291Lear
No.
1292Kent
Yes.
1293Lear
No I say.
1294Kent
I say yea.
1295Lear
By Jupiter, I swear no.
1296Kent
By Juno, I swear ay.
1297Lear
They durst not do't.
1298They could not, would not do't. 'Tis worse than murder
1299To do upon respect such violent outrage.
1300Resolve me with all modest haste which way
1301Thou might'st deserve, or they impose this usage,
1302Coming from us.
1303Kent
My lord, when at their home
1304I did commend your highness' letters to them,
1305Ere I was risen from the place that showed
1306My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
1307Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
1308From Goneril his mistress, salutations;
1309Delivered letters, spite of intermission,
1310Which presently they read; on those contents
1311They summoned up their meiney, straight took horse,
1312Commanded me to follow and attend
1313The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks,
1314And meeting here the other messenger,
1315Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine,
1316Being the very fellow which of late
1317Displayed so saucily against your highness,
1318Having more man than wit about me, drew.
1319He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
1320Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
1321The shame which here it suffers.
1322Fool
Winter's not gone yet if the wild geese fly that way.
1323Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind,
1324But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
1325Fortune, that arrant whore,
1325.1 Ne'er turns the key to th'poor.
1326But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy 1327daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
1328Lear
Oh, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
1329Hysterica passio, down thou climbing sorrow,
1330Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?
1331Kent
With the earl, sir, here within.
1332Lear
[To the Fool and Gentleman] Follow me not, stay here.
Exit [Lear].
1333Gentleman
Made you no more offence 1334but what you speak of?
1335Kent
None.
1336How chance the king comes with so small a number?
1337Fool
An thou hadst been set i'th'stocks for that 1338question, thou'dst well deserved it.
1339Kent
Why, Fool?
1340Fool
We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach 1341thee there's no laboring i'th'winter. All that follow their 1342noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there's 1343not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's 1344stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a 1345hill, lest it break thy neck with following. But the 1346great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. 1347When a wise man gives thee better counsel give me mine 1348again. I would have none but knaves follow it, since a 1349fool gives it.
[Sings.]
1350That sir which serves and seeks for gain
1351 And follows but for form,
1352Will pack when it begins to rain,
1353 And leave thee in the storm.
1354But I will tarry, the fool will stay,
1355 And let the wise man fly.
1356The knave turns fool that runs away,
1357 The fool no knave perdy.
1358Enter Lear and Gloucester.
1359Kent
Where learned you this, Fool?
1360Fool
Not i'th'stocks, fool.
Deny to speak with me? 1362They are sick, they are weary,
1365Fetch me a better answer.
1366Gloucester
My dear lord,
1367You know the fiery quality of the Duke,
1368How unremoveable and fixed he is
1369In his own course.
1370Lear
Vengeance, plague, death, confusion!
1371Fiery? What quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,
1372I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.
1373Gloucester
Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.
1374Lear
Informed them? Dost thou understand me, man?
1375Gloucester
Ay, my good lord.
1376Lear
The king would speak with Cornwall. 1377The dear father
1378Would with his daughter speak, commands--tends--service.
1379Are they informed of this? My breath and blood--
1380Fiery? The fiery Duke? Tell the hot Duke that--
1381No, but not yet. Maybe he is not well.
1385To suffer with the body. I'll forbear,
1388For the sound man.
[Notices Kent.]
1177Death on my state! Wherefore
1390That this remotion of the Duke and her
1392Go tell the Duke and 's wife I'd speak with them
1393Now, presently. Bid them come forth and hear me,
1394Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum
1395Till it cry sleep to death.
1396Gloucester
I would have all well betwixt you.
Exit [Gloucester].
1397Lear
Oh me, my heart, my rising heart! But down.
1398Fool
Cry to it nuncle, as the cockney did to the 1399eels when she put 'em i'th'paste alive. She knapped 'em 1400o'th'coxcombs with a stick and cried "Down, wantons, 1401down!" 'Twas her brother that in pure kindness to his 1402horse buttered his hay.
1403Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, [and] servants.
1404Lear
Good morrow to you both.
1405Cornwall
Hail to your grace.
Kent here set at liberty.
1406Regan
I am glad to see your highness.
1407Lear
Regan, I think you are. I know what reason
1408I have to think so. If thou shouldst not be glad,
1409I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
1410Sepulchring an adultress. [To Kent] Oh, are you free?
1411Some other time for that.--Belovèd Regan,
1412Thy sister's naught. O Regan, she hath tied
1413Sharp-toothed unkindness like a vulture here.
1414I can scarce speak to thee. Thou'lt not believe
1415With how depraved a quality, O Regan--
1416Regan
I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope
1417You less know how to value her desert
1418Than she to scant her duty.
1419Lear
Say? How is that?
1420Regan
I cannot think my sister in the least
1421Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance
1422She have restrained the riots of your followers,
1423'Tis on such ground and to such wholesome end
1424As clears her from all blame.
1425Lear
My curses on her.
1426Regan
O sir, you are old,
1427Nature in you stands on the very verge
1428Of his confine. You should be ruled and led
1429By some discretion that discerns your state
1430Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,
1431That to our sister you do make return.
1432Say you have wronged her.
1433Lear
Ask her forgiveness?
1434Do you but mark how this becomes the house?
1435[Kneeling] "Dear daughter, I confess that I am old.
1436Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg
1437That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food."
1438Regan
Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks.
1439Return you to my sister.
1440Lear
[Rising] Never, Regan.
1441She hath abated me of half my train,
1442Looked black upon me, struck me with her tongue
1443Most serpent-like upon the very heart.
1444All the stored vengeances of heaven fall
1445On her ungrateful top! Strike her young bones,
1446You taking airs, with lameness--
1447Cornwall
Fie sir, fie.
1448Lear
You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames
1449Into her scornful eyes. Infect her beauty,
1450You fen-sucked fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,
1451To fall and blister.
O the blest gods!
No Regan, thou shalt never have my curse.
1455Thy tender-hafted nature shall not give
1456Thee o'er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine
1457Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee
1458To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
1459To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
1460And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
1461Against my coming in. Thou better know'st
1462The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
1463Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude.
1464Thy half o'th'kingdom hast thou not forgot
1465Wherein I thee endowed.
1466Regan
Good sir, to th'purpose.
Tucket within.
1467Lear
Who put my man i'th'stocks?
1468Enter [Oswald, the] steward.
1469Cornwall
What trumpet's that?
1470Regan
I know't my sister's. This approves her letter
1471That she would soon be here. [To Oswald] Is your lady come?
1472Lear
This is a slave, whose easy-borrowed pride
1473Dwells in the sickly grace of her he follows.
1474[Striking him] Out, varlet, from my sight.
1475Cornwall
What means your grace?
1476Enter Goneril.
1477Lear
Who stocked my servant? Regan, I have good hope
1478Thou didst not know on't.
1479[Seeing Goneril.] Who comes here? O heavens!
1482Make it your cause. Send down, and take my part.
1483[To Goneril] Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?--
1484O Regan, will you take her by the hand?
1485Goneril
Why not by th'hand sir? How have I offended?
1486All's not offence that indiscretion finds
1487And dotage terms so.
1488Lear
O sides, you are too tough.
1491Cornwall
I set him there, sir, but his own disorders
1492Deserved much less advancement.
1493Lear
You? Did you?
1494Regan
I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
1495If, till the expiration of your month
1496You will return and sojourn with my sister,
1497Dismissing half your train, come then to me.
1498I am now from home, and out of that provision
1499Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
1500Lear
Return to her? And fifty men dismissed?
1501No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
1502To wage against the enmity o'th'air,
1503To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
1504Necessity's sharp pinch. Return with her?
1506Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
1508To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
1509Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
[Indicating Oswald]
1510To this detested groom.
1511Goneril
At your choice, sir.
1512Lear
I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad.
1513I will not trouble thee my child. Farewell.
1514We'll no more meet, no more see one another.
1515But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter--
1516Or rather a disease that's in my flesh
1517Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil,
1518A plague sore, or embossèd carbuncle
1519In my corrupted blood--but I'll not chide thee.
1520Let shame come when it will, I do not call it.
1521I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
1522Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove.
1523Mend when thou canst. Be better at thy leisure.
1524I can be patient. I can stay with Regan,
Not altogether so.
1531But she knows what she does.
1532Lear
Is this well spoken?
1533Regan
I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?
1534Is it not well? What should you need of more?
1535Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
1536Speak 'gainst so great a number. How in one house
1537Should many people under two commands
1538Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.
1539Goneril
Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
1540From those that she calls servants; or from mine?
Why not, my lord? 1542If then they chanced to slack ye,
1544For now I spy a danger, I entreat you
1545To bring but five and twenty. To no more
1546Will I give place or notice.
1547Lear
I gave you all.
1548Regan
And in good time you gave it.
1549Lear
Made you my guardians, my depositories,
1550But kept a reservation to be followed
1551With such a number. What, must I come to you
1552With five and twenty? Regan, said you so?
1553Regan
And speak't again, my lord, no more with me.
1554Lear
Those wicked creatures yet do look well favored
1555When others are more wicked. Not being the worst
1556Stands in some rank of praise. [To Goneril] I'll go with thee.
1557Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
1558And thou art twice her love.
1559Goneril
Hear me, my lord.
1560What need you five and twenty? Ten? Or five,
1561To follow in a house where twice so many
1562Have a command to tend you.
1563Regan
What need one?
1564Lear
Oh, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
1565Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
1566Allow not nature more than nature needs,
1567Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady;
1568If only to go warm were gorgeous,
1569Why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wearest,
1570Which scarcely keeps thee warm; but for true need--
1571You heavens, give me that patience; patience I need.
1572You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
1573As full of grief as age, wretched in both.
1574If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts
1575Against their father, fool me not so much
1576To bear it tamely. Touch me with noble anger,
1577And let not women's weapons, water drops,
1578Stain my man's cheeks. No, you unnatural hags,
1579I will have such revenges on you both
1580That all the world shall--I will do such things--
1581What they are yet I know not, but they shall be
1582The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep.
1583No, I'll not weep. I have full cause of weeping,
1584Storm and tempest
1585But this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws
1586Or ere I'll weep. O Fool, I shall go mad.
Exeunt [Lear, Gloucester, Kent and Fool].
1587Cornwall
Let us withdraw. 'Twill be a storm.
1588Regan
This house is little. The old man and 's people
1589Cannot be well bestowed.
1590Goneril
'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
1591And must needs taste his folly.
1592Regan
For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
1593But not one follower.
1594Goneril
So am I purposed.
1595Where is my Lord of Gloucester?
1596Enter Gloucester.
1597Cornwall
Followed the old man forth--he is returned.
1598Gloucester
The king is in high rage.
1599Cornwall
Whither is he going?
1600Gloucester
He calls to horse, but will I know not whither.
1601Cornwall
'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.
1602Goneril
My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
1603Gloucester
Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds
1604Do sorely ruffle. For many miles about
1605There's scarce a bush.
1606Regan
O sir, to willful men
1607The injuries that they themselves procure,
1608Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors.
1609He is attended with a desperate train,
1610And what they may incense him to, being apt
1611To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.
1612Cornwall
Shut up your doors, my lord, 'tis a wild night.
1613My Regan counsels well. Come out o'th'storm.
28Exeunt.