ACT 1
Scene 1

...King is coming.
Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

...born, speak first.
Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
As much as child e’er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

...us our duty.
Let your study
Be to content your lord, who hath received you
At Fortune’s alms. You have obedience scanted
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

...my fair Cordelia.
Sister, it is not little I have to say of what
most nearly appertains to us both. I think our
father will hence tonight.

...month with us.
You see how full of changes his age is; the
observation we have made of it hath not been
little. He always loved our sister most, and with
what poor judgment he hath now cast her off
appears too grossly.

...slenderly known himself.
The best and soundest of his time hath been
but rash. Then must we look from his age to
receive not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
that infirm and choleric years bring with
them.

...of Kent’s banishment.
There is further compliment of leave-taking
between France and him. Pray you, let us sit
together. If our father carry authority with such
disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will
but offend us.

...think of it.
We must do something, and i’ th’ heat.
They exit.

Scene 3

...can fashion fit.
Enter Goneril and Oswald, her Steward.
Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding
of his Fool?

... Ay, madam.
By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other
That sets us all at odds. I’ll not endure it.
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
If you come slack of former services,
You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.

...I hear him.
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question.
If he distaste it, let him to my sister,
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idle old man
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again and must be used
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused.
Remember what I have said.

... Well, madam.
And let his knights have colder looks among you.
What grows of it, no matter. Advise your fellows so.
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
That I may speak. I’ll write straight to my sister
To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.
They exit in different directions.

Scene 4

...o’ the parings.
Enter Goneril.

...a shelled peascod.
Not only, sir, this your all-licensed Fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,
I had thought by making this well known unto you
To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not ’scape censure, nor the redresses sleep
Which in the tender of a wholesome weal
Might in their working do you that offense,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.

...you our daughter?
I would you would make use of your good wisdom,
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
These dispositions which of late transport you
From what you rightly are.

...name, fair gentlewoman?
This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savor
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright.
As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
Men so disordered, so debauched and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desired,
By her that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train,
And the remainders that shall still depend
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves and you.

...left a daughter.
You strike my people, and your disordered rabble
Make servants of their betters.

...whereof comes this?
Never afflict yourself to know more of it,
But let his disposition have that scope
As dotage gives it.

...cast off forever.
Do you mark that?

...I bear you—
Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho!—
You, sir, more knave than Fool, after your master.

...Fool follows after.
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 powers
And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!

...fear too far.
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, the Steward.
How now, Oswald?
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

... Ay, madam.
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. No, no, my lord,
This milky gentleness and course of yours,
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more at task for want of wisdom
Than praised for harmful mildness.

...mar what’s well.
Nay, then—

...well, th’ event.
They exit.

ACT 2
Scene 4

...know on ’t.
Enter Goneril.

... beard?
Regan takes Goneril’s hand.

...by the hand?

Why not by th’ hand, sir? How have I offended?

All’s not offense that indiscretion finds

And dotage terms so.

...groom.He indicates Oswald.
At your choice, sir.

...hard, almost impossible.

Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance

From those that she calls servants, or from mine?

...twice her love.
Hear me, my lord.

What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five,

To follow in a house where twice so many

Have a command to tend you?

...be well bestowed.

’Tis his own blame hath put himself from rest,

And must needs taste his folly.

...not one follower.

So am I purposed. Where is my lord of Gloucester?

...He leads himself.
to Gloucester

My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

...o’ th’ storm.
They exit.

ACT 3
Scene 7

...King! Lurk, lurk.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, the Bastard, and Servants.

...him this letter.
He gives her a paper.

...Hang him instantly.
Pluck out his eyes.

...for your mistress.
Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

... Edmund, farewell.
Goneril and Edmund exit.

ACT 4
Scene 2

...shall lead thee.
Enter Goneril and Edmund, the Bastard.
Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.

Enter Oswald, the Steward.
Now, where’s your master?

...What like, offensive.
to Edmund
Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake. He’ll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home and give the distaff
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear—
If you dare venture in your own behalf—
A mistress’s command. Wear this; spare speech. She gives him a favor.
Decline your head. She kisses him.
This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
Conceive, and fare thee well.

...ranks of death.
My most dear Gloucester!
O, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due;
My fool usurps my body.

... Enter Albany.
I have been worth the whistle.

...to deadly use.
No more. The text is foolish.

...of the deep.
Milk-livered man,
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honor from thy suffering; that not know’st
Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where’s thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumèd helm thy state begins to threat,
Whilst thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries
“Alack, why does he so?”

...as in woman.
O vain fool!

...doth shield thee.
Marry, your manhood, mew—

...a speedy answer.
Giving her a paper.

...from your sister.
aside
One way I like this well.
But being widow and my Gloucester with her
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.—I’ll read, and answer.
She exits.

ACT 5
Scene 1

...Duke, her husband.
Enter, with Drum and Colors, Albany, Goneril, Soldiers.
aside
I had rather lose the battle than that sister
Should loosen him and me.

...is this reasoned?
Combine together ’gainst the enemy,
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.

...go with us?
No.

...go with us.
aside
Oho, I know the riddle.—I will go.
They begin to exit.

...I’ll overtake you.—Speak.
Both the armies exit.

Scene 3

...I’ll do ’t.
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, Soldiers and a Captain.

...itself your brother.
Not so hot.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition.

...compeers the best.
That were the most if he should husband you.

...oft prove prophets.
Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so looked but asquint.

...lord and master.
Mean you to enjoy him?

...lady is bespoke.
An interlude!

...Sick, O, sick!
aside
If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.

...him, save him!
This is practice, Gloucester.
By th’ law of war, thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite. Thou art not vanquished,
But cozened and beguiled.

...you know it.
Say if I do; the laws are mine, not thine.
Who can arraign me for ’t?

...thou this paper?
Ask me not what I know.
She exits.

...where’s Cordelia?
Goneril and Regan’s bodies brought out.

...live so long.
They exit with a dead march.