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Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
|
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
|
CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
|
CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
|
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
5 All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
|
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
|
CORDELIA Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.
|
CORDELIA Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.
|
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
10 My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
|
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
|
CORDELIA Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?
|
CORDELIA Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?
|
DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still.
|
DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still.
|
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
15 Of this child-changèd father!
|
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
Of this child-changèd father!
|
DOCTOR So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.
|
DOCTOR So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.
|
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
|
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
|
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
|
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
20 We put fresh garments on him.
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
|
DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
|
DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
|
CORDELIA Very well.
|
CORDELIA Very well.
|
DOCTOR Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!
|
DOCTOR Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!
|
CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
|
CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
|
KENT Kind and dear princess!
|
KENT Kind and dear princess!
|
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
30 To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? To watch—poor perdu!—
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
35 Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
40 Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.
|
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? To watch—poor perdu!—
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.
|
DOCTOR Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.
|
DOCTOR Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.
|
CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
|
CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
|
LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
|
LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
|
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me?
|
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me?
|
LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
|
LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
|
CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!
|
CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!
|
DOCTOR He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.
|
DOCTOR He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.
|
LEAR 50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see.
I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured
55 Of my condition.
|
LEAR Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see.
I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.
|
CORDELIA (kneels)
O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
|
CORDELIA (kneels)
O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
|
LEAR Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
|
LEAR Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
|
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
65 What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
|
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
|
CORDELIA And so I am, I am.
|
CORDELIA And so I am, I am.
|
LEAR 70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
|
LEAR Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
|
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
|
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
|
LEAR 75 Am I in France?
|
LEAR Am I in France?
|
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
|
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
|
LEAR Do not abuse me.
|
LEAR Do not abuse me.
|
DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
80 To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.
|
DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.
|
CORDELIA Will ’t please your highness walk?
|
CORDELIA Will ’t please your highness walk?
|
LEAR You must bear with me.
85 Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
|
LEAR You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
|
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
|
GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
|
GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
|
KENT Most certain, sir.
|
KENT Most certain, sir.
|
GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people?
|
GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people?
|
KENT As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
|
KENT As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
|
GENTLEMAN |
GENTLEMAN |
KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.
|
KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.
|
GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
|
GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
|
Exit GENTLEMAN
|
Exit GENTLEMAN
|
KENT 95 My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
|
KENT My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
|
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
|
CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
|
CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
|
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
5 All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
|
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
|
CORDELIA Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.
|
CORDELIA Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.
|
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
10 My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
|
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
|
CORDELIA Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?
|
CORDELIA Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?
|
DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still.
|
DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still.
|
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
15 Of this child-changèd father!
|
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
Of this child-changèd father!
|
DOCTOR So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.
|
DOCTOR So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.
|
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
|
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
|
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
|
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
20 We put fresh garments on him.
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
|
DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
|
DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
|
CORDELIA Very well.
|
CORDELIA Very well.
|
DOCTOR Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!
|
DOCTOR Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!
|
CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
|
CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
|
KENT Kind and dear princess!
|
KENT Kind and dear princess!
|
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
30 To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? To watch—poor perdu!—
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
35 Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
40 Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.
|
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? To watch—poor perdu!—
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s meanest dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.
|
DOCTOR Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.
|
DOCTOR Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.
|
CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
|
CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
|
LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
|
LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
|
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me?
|
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me?
|
LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
|
LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
|
CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!
|
CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!
|
DOCTOR He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.
|
DOCTOR He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.
|
LEAR 50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see.
I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured
55 Of my condition.
|
LEAR Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see.
I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.
|
CORDELIA (kneels)
O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
|
CORDELIA (kneels)
O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
|
LEAR Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
|
LEAR Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
|
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
65 What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
|
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
|
CORDELIA And so I am, I am.
|
CORDELIA And so I am, I am.
|
LEAR 70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
|
LEAR Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
|
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
|
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
|
LEAR 75 Am I in France?
|
LEAR Am I in France?
|
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
|
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
|
LEAR Do not abuse me.
|
LEAR Do not abuse me.
|
DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
80 To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.
|
DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.
|
CORDELIA Will ’t please your highness walk?
|
CORDELIA Will ’t please your highness walk?
|
LEAR You must bear with me.
85 Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
|
LEAR You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
|
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
|
GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
|
GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
|
KENT Most certain, sir.
|
KENT Most certain, sir.
|
GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people?
|
GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people?
|
KENT As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
|
KENT As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
|
GENTLEMAN |
GENTLEMAN |
KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.
|
KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.
|
GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
|
GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
|
Exit GENTLEMAN
|
Exit GENTLEMAN
|
KENT 95 My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
|
KENT My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
|
Exit
|
Exit
|

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