King Lear (Adapted by Nahum Tate) (Modern)

Introduction
2. Textual Introduction
Texts of this edition
1. King Lear (Folio, 1623)
3. Modern
5. Extended modern
7. Old-spelling transcription
8. King Lear (Quarto 1, 1608)
10. Modern
12. Extended modern
14. Old-spelling transcription
15. King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)
17. Old-spelling transcription
Contextual materials
1. Sources for the Lear story
3. Holinshed on King Lear
5. The History of King Leir
7. Albion's England (Selection)
9. Hardyng's Chronicle (Selection)
11. Kings of Britain
13. Chronicles of England
15. Faerie Queene
17. The Mirror for Magistrates
18. Sources for the Gloucester plot
20. The Arcadia
22. A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures
23. Literary, political, and social contexts
25. Aristotle on tragedy
27. The Book of Job (Selections)
29. The Monk's Tale (Selections)
31. The Defense of Poetry
33. The First Blast of the Trumpet
35. Basilicon Doron
37. On Bastards
39. On Aging
40. King Lear's afterlife
42. King Lear (Adapted by Nahum Tate)
Facsimiles
 [5.2]
2.0.12079A valley near the camp.
2.0.22080Enter Edgar and Gloster.
2.12081Edgar
 Here, sir, take you the shadow of this tree
2.22082For your good host. Pray that the right may thrive.
2.32083If ever I return to you again
2.42084I'll bring you comfort.
2.4.12085Exit.
2.52086Gloster
 Thanks, friendly sir.
2.62087The fortune your good cause deserves betide you.
2.6.12088An alarum, after which Gloster speaks.
2.72089The fight grows hot. The whole war's now at work,
2.82090And the gored battle bleeds in every vein,
2.92091Whilst drums and trumpets drown loud slaughter's roar.
2.102092Where's Gloster now that used to head the fray,
2.112093And scour the ranks where deadliest danger lay?
2.122094Here like a shepherd in a lonely shade,
2.132095Idle, unarmed, and listening to the fight.
2.142096Yet the disabled courser, maimed and blind,
2.152097When to his stall he hears the rattling war,
2.162098Foaming with rage tears up the battered ground
2.172099And tugs for liberty.
2.182100No more of shelter, thou blind worm, but forth
2.192101To the open field. The war may come this way
2.202102And crush thee into rest. Here lay thee down
2.212103And tear the earth, that work befits a mole.
2.222104O dark despair! When, Edgar, wilt thou come
2.232105To pardon and dismiss me to the grave!
2.23.12106A retreat sounded.
2.242107Hark! A retreat. The king has lost or won.
2.24.12108Re-enter Edgar, bloody.
2.252109Edgar
 Away, old man, give me your hand, away!
2.262110King Lear has lost, he and his daughter taken,
2.272111And this, ye gods, is all that I can save
2.282112Of this most precious wreck! Give me your hand.
2.292113Gloster
 No farther, sir, a man may rot even here.
2.302114Edgar
 What? In ill thoughts again? Men must endure
2.312115Their going hence even as their coming hither.
2.322116Gloster
 And that's true, too.
2.32.12117Exeunt.
2.32.22118Flourish. Enter in conquest, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Bastard. Lear, Kent, Cordelia prisoners.
2.332119Albany
 It is enough to have conquered, cruelty
2.342120Should never survive the fight. Captain of the guards,
2.352121Treat well your royal prisoners till you have
2.362122Our further orders, as you hold our pleasure.
2.372123Gonerill
 Hark, sir, not as you hold our husband's pleasure
2.37.12124To the Captain aside
2.382125But as you hold your life, dispatch your prisoners.
2.392126Our empire can have no sure settlement
2.402127But in their death; the earth that covers them
2.412128Binds fast our throne. Let me hear they are dead.
2.422129Captain
 I shall obey your orders.
2.432130Bastard
 Sir, I approve it safest to pronounce
2.442131Sentence of death upon this wretched king,
2.452132Whose age has charms in it, his title more,
2.462133To draw the commons once more to his side.
2.472134'Twere best prevent --
2.482135Albany
 Sir, by your favor,
2.492136I hold you but a subject of this war,
2.502137Not as a brother.
2.512138Regan
 That's as we list to grace him.
2.522139Have you forgot that he did lead our powers?
2.532140Bore the commission of our place and person?
2.542141And that authority may well stand up
2.552142And call itself your brother.
2.562143Gonerill
 Not so hot.
2.572144In his own merits he exalts himself
2.582145More than in your addition.
2.58.12146Enter Edgar, disguised.
2.592147Albany
 What art thou?
2.602148Edgar
 Pardon me, sir, that I presume to stop
2.612149A prince and conqueror, yet ere you triumph,
2.622150Give ear to what a stranger can deliver
2.632151Of what concerns you more than triumph can.
2.642152I do impeach your general there of treason,
2.652153Lord Edmund, that usurps the name of Gloster,
2.662154Of foulest practice against your life and honor.
2.672155This charge is true, and wretched though I seem
2.682156I can produce a champion that will prove
2.692157In single combat what I do avouch,
2.702158If Edmund dares but trust his cause and sword.
2.712159Bastard
 What will not Edmund dare! My lord, I beg
2.722160The favor that you'd instantly appoint
2.732161The place where I may meet this challenger,
2.742162Whom I will sacrifice to my wronged fame.
2.752163Remember, sir, that injured honor's nice
2.762164And cannot brook delay.
2.772165Albany
 Anon, before our tent, in the army's view,
2.782166There let the herald cry.
2.792167Edgar
 I thank your highness in my champion's name.
2.802168He'll wait your trumpet's call.
2.812169Albany
 Lead.
2.81.12170Exeunt.
2.81.22171Lear, Kent, Cordelia remain, guarded.
2.822172Lear
 Oh, Kent, Cordelia!
2.832173You are the only pair that I ere wronged,
2.842174And the just gods have made you witnesses
2.852175Of my disgrace, the very shame of fortune,
2.862176To see me chained and shackled at these years!
2.872177Yet were you but spectators of my woes,
2.882178Not fellow sufferers, all were well!
2.892179Cordelia
 This language, sir, adds yet to our affliction.
2.902180Lear
 Thou, Kent, didst head the troops that fought my
2.912181battle,
2.922182Exposed thy life and fortunes for a master
2.932183That had (as I remember) banished thee.
2.942184Kent
 Pardon me, sir, that once I broke your orders.
2.952185Banished by you, I kept me here disguised
2.962186To watch your fortunes, and protect your person.
2.972187You know you entertained a rough blunt fellow,
2.982188One Cajus, and you thought he did you service.
2.992189Lear
 My trusty Cajus, I have lost him too!
2.99.12190Weeps.
2.1002191'Twas a rough honesty.
2.1012192Kent
 I was that Cajus,
2.1022193Disguised in that coarse dress to follow you.
2.1032194Lear
 My Cajus too! Wert thou my trusty Cajus?
2.1042195Enough, enough --
2.1052196Cordelia
 Ah me, he faints! His blood forsakes his cheek,
2.1062197Help, Kent --
2.1072198Lear
 No, no, they shall not see us weep.
2.1082199We'll see them rot first. Guards lead away to prison.
2.1092200Come, Kent. Cordelia, come,
2.1102201We two will sit alone, like birds in the cage.
2.1112202When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
2.1122203And ask of thee forgiveness. Thus we'll live,
2.1132204And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
2.1142205At gilded butterflies, hear sycophants
2.1152206Talk of court news, and we'll talk with them too:
2.1162207Who loses, and who wins, who's in, who's out.
2.1172208And take upon us the mystery of things
2.1182209As if we were heaven's spies.
2.1192210Cordelia
 Upon such sacrifices
2.1202211The gods themselves throw incense.
2.1212212Lear
 Have I caught ye?
2.1222213He that parts us must bring a brand from heaven.
2.1232214Together we'll out-toil the spite of hell,
2.1242215And die the wonders of the world. Away.
2.124.12216Exeunt, guarded.
2.124.22217Flourish. Enter before the tents Albany, Gonerill, Regan, guards and attendants. Gonerill speaking apart to the Captain of the Guards entering.
2.1252218Gonerill
 Here's gold for thee. Thou know'st our late command
2.1262219Upon your prisoners' lives; about it straight, and at
2.1272220Our evening banquet let it raise our mirth
2.1282221To hear that they are dead.
2.1292222Captain
 I shall not fail your orders.
2.129.12223Exit.
2.129.22224Albany, Gonerill, Regan take their seats.
2.1302225Albany
 Now, Gloster, trust to thy single virtue, for thy
2.1312226soldiers,
2.1322227All levied in my name, have in my name
2.1332228Took their discharge. Now let our trumpets speak,
2.1342229And herald read out this.
2.134.12230Herald reads.
2.1352231"If any man of quality, within the lists of the army, will
2.1362232maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a
2.1372233manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the
2.1382234trumpet. He is bold in his defense." Again. Again.
2.138.12235Trumpet answers from within.
2.138.22236Enter Edgar, armed.
2.1392237Albany
 Lord Edgar!
2.1402238Bastard
 Ha! My brother!
2.1412239This is the only combatant that I could fear;
2.1422240For in my breast guilt duels on his side.
2.1432241But, conscience, what have I to do with thee?
2.1442242Awe thou thy dull legitimate slaves, but I
2.1452243Was born a libertine, and so I keep me.
2.1462244Edgar
 My noble prince, a word. Ere we engage,
2.1472245Into Your Highness's hands I give this paper.
2.1482246It will the truth of my impeachment prove
2.1492247Whatever be my fortune in the fight.
2.1502248Albany
 We shall peruse it.
2.1512249Edgar
 Now, Edmund, draw thy sword,
2.1522250That if my speech has wronged a noble heart,
2.1532251Thy arm may do thee justice. Here in the presence
2.1542252Of this high prince, these queens, and this crowned list,
2.1552253I brand thee with the spotted name of traitor;
2.1562254False to thy gods, thy father and thy brother;
2.1572255And what is more, thy friend, false to this prince.
2.1582256If then thou shar'st a spark of Gloster's virtue,
2.1592257Acquit thyself, or if thou shar'st his courage,
2.1602258Meet this defiance bravely.
2.1612259Bastard
 And dares Edgar,
2.1622260The beaten, routed Edgar, brave his conqueror?
2.1632261From all thy troops and thee, I forced the field.
2.1642262Thou hast lost the general stake, and art thou now
2.1652263Come with thy petty single stock to play
2.1662264This after-game?
2.1672265Edgar
 Half-blooded man,
2.1682266Thy father's sin first, then his punishment.
2.1692267The dark and vicious place where he begot thee
2.1702268Cost him his eyes. From thy licentious mother
2.1712269Thou draw'st thy villany; but for thy part
2.1722270Of Gloster's blood, I hold thee worth my sword.
2.1732271Bastard
 Thou bear'st thee on thy mother's piety,
2.1742272Which I despise. Thy mother being chaste
2.1752273Thou art assured thou art but Gloster's son.
2.1762274But mine, disdaining constancy, leaves me
2.1772275To hope that I am sprung from nobler blood,
2.1782276And possibly a king might be my sire.
2.1792277But be my birth's uncertain chance as 'twill,
2.1802278Who 'twas that had the hit to father me
2.1812279I know not; 'tis enough that I am I.
2.1822280Of this one thing I'm certain -- that I have
2.1832281A daring soul. And so, have at thy heart.
2.1842282Sound, trumpet.
2.184.12283Fight, Bastard falls.
2.1852284Gonerill and Regan
 Save him, save him.
2.1862285Gonerill
 This was practice, Gloster.
2.1872286Thou won'st the field, and wast not bound to fight
2.1882287A vanquished enemy. Thou art not conquered
2.1892288But cozened and betrayed.
2.1902289Albany
 Shut your mouth, lady,
2.1912290Or with this paper I shall stop it. Hold, sir,
2.1922291Thou worse than any name, read thy own evil.
2.1932292No tearing, lady, I perceive you know it.
2.1942293Gonerill
 Say if I do, who shall arraign me for it?
2.1952294The laws are mine, not thine.
2.1962295Albany
 Most monstrous! Ha, thou know'st it too.
2.1972296Bastard
 Ask me not what I know,
2.1982297I have not breath to answer idle questions.
2.1992298Albany
 I have resolved. Your right, brave sir, has conquered.
2.199.12299To Edgar.
2.2002300Along with me, I must consult your father.
2.200.12301Exeunt Albany and Edgar.
2.2012302Regan
 Help every hand to save a noble life.
2.2022303My half of the kingdom for a man of skill
2.2032304To stop this precious stream.
2.2042305Bastard
 Away, ye emperics,
2.2052306Torment me not with your vain offices.
2.2062307The sword has pierced too far. Legitimacy
2.2072308At last has got it.
2.2082309Regan
 The pride of nature dies.
2.2092310Gonerill
 Away, the minutes are too precious.
2.2102311Disturb us not with thy impertinent sorrow.
2.2112312Regan
 Art thou my rival then professed?
2.2122313Gonerill
 Why, was our love a secret? Could there be
2.2132314Beauty like mine, and gallantry like his
2.2142315And not a mutual love? Just nature then
2.2152316Had erred. Behold that copy of perfection,
2.2162317That youth whose story will have no foul page
2.2172318But where it says he stooped to Regan's arms,
2.2182319Which yet was but compliance, not affection;
2.2192320A charity to begging, ruined beauty!
2.2202321Regan
 Who begged when Gonerill writ that? Expose it
2.220.12322Throws her a letter.
2.2212323And let it be your army's mirth, as 'twas
2.2222324This charming youth's and mine, when in the bower
2.2232325He breathed the warmest ecstasies of love.
2.2242326Then, panting on my breast, cried "Matchless Regan,
2.2252327That Gonerill and thou should ever be kin!"
2.2262328Gonerill
 Die, Circe, for thy charms are at an end.
2.2272329Expire before my face, and let me see
2.2282330How well that boasted beauty will become
2.2292331Congealing blood and death's convulsive pangs.
2.2302332Die and be hushed, for at my tent last night
2.2312333Thou drank'st thy bane amidst thy reveling bowls.
2.2322334Ha! Dost thou smile? Is then thy death thy sport,
2.2332335Or has the trusty potion made thee mad?
2.2342336Regan
 Thou com'st as short of me in thy revenge
2.2352337As in my Gloster's love. My jealousy
2.2362338Inspired me to prevent thy feeble malice
2.2372339And poison thee at thy own banquet.
2.2382340Gonerill
 Ha!
2.2392341Bastard
 No more, my queens, of this untimely strife.
2.2402342You both deserved my love and both possessed it --
2.2412343Come, soldiers, bear me in -- and let
2.2422344Your royal presence grace my last minutes.
2.2432345Now, Edgar, thy proud conquest I forgive.
2.2442346Who would not choose, like me, to yield his breath
2.2452347To have rival queens contend for him in death?
2.245.12348Exeunt.
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King Lear (Adapted by Nahum Tate) (Modern)
