King Lear Read online

  307 untented woundings wounds too deep to be probed with a tent (a roll of lint)

  308 fond foolish

  309 Beweep if you weep over

  310 loose (1) let loose (2) lose, as of no avail

  311 temper mix with and soften

  313 comfortable ready to comfort

  316 shape i.e., kingly role

  318-19 I cannot ... you i.e., even though my love inclines me to you, I must protest

  322 Fool (1) the Fool himself (2) the epithet or character of “fool”

  A fox, when one has caught her,

  And such a daughter,

  Should sure to the slaughter,

  If my cap would buy a halter.°

  So the Fool follows after.° Exit.

  Goneril. This man hath had good counsel. A hundred 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,

  He may enguard° his dotage with their pow’rs

  And hold our lives in mercy.° Oswald, I say!

  Albany. Well, you may fear too far.

  Goneril. Safer than trust too far.Let me still take away the harms I fear,

  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.

  How now, Oswald?

  What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

  Oswald. Ay, 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

  As may compact° it more. Get you gone,

  And hasten your return. [Exit Oswald.] No, no,

  my lord,

  This milky gentleness and course° of yours,

  Though I condemn not,° yet under pardon,327-28 halter, after pronounced “hauter,” “auter”

  330 politic good policy

  331 At point armed

  332 buzz rumor

  333 enguard protect

  334 in mercy at his mercy

  337 Not ... taken rather than remain fearful of being overtaken by them

  343 company escort 344 particular own

  346 compact strengthen

  348 milky ... course mild and gentle way (hendi- adys)

  349 condemn not condemn it not

  You are much more attasked° for want of wisdom

  Than praised for harmful mildness.°

  Albany. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell; Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.

  Goneril. Nay then—

  Albany. Well, well, th’ event.° Exeunt.

  Scene 5. [Court before the same.]

  Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.

  Lear. 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.

  Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. Exit.

  Fool. If a man’s brains were in’s heels, were‘t° not in danger of kibes?°

  Lear. Ay, boy.

  Fool. Then I prithee be merry. Thy wit shall not go slipshod.°

  Lear. 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 apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

  350 attasked taken to task, blamed

  351 harmful mildness dangerous indulgence

  355 th’ event i.e., we’ll see what happens

  1.5.3-4 than ... letter than her reading of the letter brings her to ask

  8 were’t i.e., the brains

  9 kibes chilblains

  11-12 Thy ... slipshod your brains shall not go in slippers (because you have no brains to be protected from chilblains)

  14 Shalt thou shalt

  15 kindly (1) affectionately (2) after her kind or nature

  15 crab crab apple

  Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my 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?

  Lear. No.

  Fool. Why, to keep one’s eyes of° either side’s nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

  Lear. I did her wrong.

  Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

  Lear. No.

  Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

  Lear. Why?

  Fool. Why, to put ’s head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns° without a case.

  Lear. I will forget my nature.° So kind a father! Be my horses ready?

  Fool. Thy asses are gone about ‘em. The reason why the seven stars° are no moe° than seven is a pretty° reason.

  Lear. Because they are not eight.

  Fool. Yes indeed. Thou wouldst make a good Fool. Lear. To take’t again perforce!° Monster ingratitude!

  Fool. If thou wert my Fool, Nuncle, I’d have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

  Lear. How’s that?

  Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

  20 on’s of his

  22 of on

  32 horns (1) snail’s horns (2) cuckold’s horns

  33 nature paternal instincts

  36 seven stars the Pleiades

  36 moe more

  36 pretty apt

  40 To ... perforce (1) of Goneril, who has forcibly taken away Lear’s privileges; or (2) of Lear, who meditates a forcible resumption of authority

  Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper;° I would not be mad!

  [Enter Gentleman.]

  How now, are the horses ready?

  Gentleman. Ready, my lord.

  Lear. Come, boy.

  Fool. She that’s a maid now, and laughs at my departure,Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.° Exeunt

  47 in temper sane

  51-52 She ... shorter the maid who laughs, missing the tragic implications of this quarrel, will not have sense enough to preserve her virginity (“things” = penises)

  ACT 2

  Scene 1. [The Earl of Gloucester’s castle.]

  Enter Edmund and Curan, severally.°

  Edmund. Save° thee, Curan.

  Curan. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.

  Edmund. How comes that?

  Curan. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad? I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments.°

  Edmund. Not I. Pray you, what are they?

  Curan. Have you heard of no likely° wars toward,° ‘twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

  Edmund. Not a word.

  Curan. You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir. Exit.

  Edmund. The Duke be here tonight? The better!° best!2.1.1 s.d severally separately (from different entrances on stage)

  1 Save God save

  9 ear-kissing arguments subjects whispered in the ear

  11 likely probable

  11 toward impending

  16 The better so much the better

  This weaves itself perforce° into my business.

  My father hath set guard to take my brother,

  And I have one thing of a queasy question°

  Which I must act. Briefness° and Fortune, work!

  Brother, a word; descend. Brother, I say!

  Enter Edgar.

  My father watches. O sir, fly this place.

  Intelligence° is given where you are hid.

  You have now the good advantage of the night.

  Have you not spoke
n ‘gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

  He’s coming hither, now i’ th’ night, i’ th’ haste,°

  And Regan with him. Have you nothing said

  Upon his party° ’gainst the Duke of Albany?

  Advise yourself.°

  Edgar. I am sure on‘t,° not a word.Edmund. I hear my father coming. Pardon me:

  In cunning° I must draw my sword upon you.

  Draw, seem to defend yourself; now quit you° well.

  Yield! Come before my father! Light ho, here!

  Fly, brother. Torches, torches!—So farewell.

  Exit Edgar.

  Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion°

  [Wounds his arm]

  Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards

  Do more than this in sport. Father, father!

  Stop, stop! No help?

  Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches.

  Gloucester. Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?

  Edmund. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon

  To stand auspicious mistress.

  Gloucester. But where is he?17 perforce necessarily

  19 of a queasy question that requires delicate handling (to be “queasy” is to be on the point of vomiting)

  20 Briefness speed

  23 Intelligence information

  26 i’ th’ haste in great haste

  28 Upon his party censuring his enmity

  29 Advise yourself reflect

  29 on’t of it

  31 In cunning as a pretense

  32 quit you acquit yourself

  35 beget opinion create the impression

  Edmund. Look, sir, I bleed.

  Gloucester. Where is the villain, Edmund?

  Edmund. Fled this way, sir, when by no means he

  could—

  Gloucester. Pursue him, ho! Go after.

  [Exeunt some Servants.]

  By no means what?

  Edmund. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;But that I told him the revenging gods

  ‘Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend;°

  Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond

  The child was bound to th’ father. Sir, in fine,°

  Seeing how loathly opposite° I stood

  To his unnatural purpose, in fell° motion°

  With his prepared sword he charges home

  My unprovided° body, latched° mine arm;

  But when he saw my best alarumed° spirits

  Bold in the quarrel’s right,° roused to th’

  encounter,

  Or whether gasted° by the noise I made,

  Full suddenly he fled.

  Gloucester. Let him fly far.

  Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;And found—dispatch.° The noble Duke my master,

  My worthy arch° and patron, comes tonight.

  By his authority I will proclaim it,

  That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,

  Bringing the murderous coward to the stake.

  He that conceals him, death.°

  Edmund. When I dissuaded him from his intent,And found him pight° to do it, with curst° speech

  I threatened to discover° him. He replied,48 bend aim

  50 In fine finally

  51 loathly opposite bitterly opposed

  52 fell deadly

  52 motion thrust (a term from fencing)

  54 unprovided unprotected

  54 latched wounded (lanced)

  55 best alarumed wholly aroused

  56 Bold ... right confident in the tightness of my cause

  57 gasted struck aghast

  60 dispatch i.e., he will be killed

  61 arch chief

  65 death (the same elliptical form that characterizes “dispatch,” 1.60)

  67 pight determined

  67 curst angry

  68 discover expose

  “Thou unpossessing° bastard, dost thou think,

  If I would stand against thee, would the reposal°

  Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

  Make thy words faithed?° No. What I should

  deny—

  As this I would, ay, though thou didst produce

  My very character°—I’d turn it all

  To thy suggestion,° plot, and damnèd practice.°

  And thou must make a dullard of the world,°

  If they not thought° the profits of my death

  Were very pregnant° and potential spirits°

  To make thee seek it.”

  Gloucester. O strange and fastened° villain! Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got° him. Tucket° within. Hark, the Duke’s trumpets. I know not why he

  comes.

  All ports° I’ll bar; the villain shall not ‘scape;

  The Duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture I

  will send far and near, that all the kingdom

  May have due note of him; and of my land,

  Loyal and natural° boy, I’ll work the means

  To make thee capable.°

  Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.

  Cornwall. How now, my noble friend! Since I came hither,Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

  Regan. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue th’ offender. How dost, my lord?

  Gloucester. O madam, my old heart is cracked, it’s cracked.

  69 unpossessing beggarly (landless)

  70 reposal placing

  72 faithed believed

  74 character handwriting

  75 suggestion instigation

  75 practice device

  76 make ... world think everyone stupid

  77 not thought did not think

  78 pregnant teeming with incitement

  78 potential spirits powerful evil spirits

  79 fastened hardened

  80 got begot

  80 s.d. Tucket (Cornwall’s special trumpet call)

  82 ports exits, of whatever sort

  86 natural (1) kind (filial) (2) illegitimate

  87 capable able to inherit

  Regan. What, did my father’s godson seek your life? He whom my father named, your Edgar?

  Gloucester. O lady, lady, shame would have it hid.

  Regan. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tended upon my father?

  Gloucester. I know not, madam. ‘Tis too bad, too bad.

  Edmund Yes, madam, he was of that consort.°

  Regan. No marvel then, though he were ill affected.°‘Tis they have put° him on the old man’s death,

  To have th’ expense and waste° of his revenues.

  I have this present evening from my sister

  Been well informed of them, and with such cautions

  That, if they come to sojourn at my house,

  I’ll not be there.

  Cornwall. Nor I, assure thee, Regan.Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father A childlike° office.

  Edmund. It was my duty, sir.

  Gloucester. He did bewray his practice,° and received This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

  Cornwall. Is he pursued?

  Gloucester. Ay, my good lord.

  Cornwall. If he be taken, he shall never moreBe feared of doing° harm. Make your own purpose,

  How in my strength you please.° For you, Edmund,

  Whose virtue and obedience° doth this instant

  So much commend itself, you shall be ours.

  Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;

  You we first seize on.

  Edmund. I shall serve you, sir, Truly, however else.

  Gloucester. For him I thank your Grace.

  99 consort company

  100 ill affected disposed to evil

  101 put set

  102 expense and waste squandering

  108 childlike filial

  110 bewray his practice disclose his plot

  114 of doi
ng because he might do

  114-15 Make ... please use my power freely, in carrying out your plans for his capture

  116 virtue and obedience virtuous obedience

  Cornwall. You know not why we came to visit you? Regan. Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some prize,°

  Wherein we must have use of your advice.

  Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

  Of differences,° which° I best thought it fit

  To answer from° our home. The several

  messengers

  From hence attend dispatch.° Our good old friend,

  Lay comforts to your bosom,° and bestow

  Your needful° counsel to our businesses,

  Which craves the instant use.°

  Gloucester. I serve you, madam.

  Your Graces are right welcome.

  Exeunt. Flourish.

  Scene 2. [Before Gloucester’s castle.]

  Enter Kent and Oswald, severally.

  Oswald. Good dawning° to thee, friend. Art of this house?°

  Kent. Ay.

  Oswald. Where may we set our horses?

  Kent. I’ th’ mire.

  Oswald. Prithee, if thou lov‘st me, tell me.

  Kent. I love thee not.

  122 prize importance

  125 differences quarrels

  125 which (referring not to “differences,” but to the letter Lear has written)

  126 from away from

  127 attend dispatch are waiting to be sent off

  128 Lay ... bosom console yourself (about Edgar’s supposed treason)

  129 needful needed

  131 craves the instant use demands immediate transaction

  2.2.1 dawning (dawn is impending, but not yet arrived)

  1-2 Art of this house i.e., do you live here