ACT 1
Scene 1
...King is coming.
Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.
...of Cornwall? Speak.
I am made of that self mettle as my sister
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short, that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys
Which the most precious square of sense possesses,
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness’ love.
...to you both.
Prescribe not us our duty.
...will hence tonight.
That’s most certain, and with you; next month
with us.
...appears too grossly.
’Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever
but slenderly known himself.
...bring with them.
Such unconstant starts are we like to have
from him as this of Kent’s banishment.
...but offend us.
We shall further think of it.
...i’ th’ heat.
They exit.
ACT 2
Scene 1
...make thee capable.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.
...strange news.
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can pursue th’ offender. How dost, my lord?
...cracked; it’s cracked.
What, did my father’s godson seek your life?
He whom my father named, your Edgar?
...have it hid!
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tended upon my father?
...of that consort.
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.
...to visit you—
Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
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.
...are right welcome.
Flourish. They exit.
Scene 2
...ho! Murder, murder!
Enter Bastard Edmund, with his rapier drawn, Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, Servants.
...is the matter?
The messengers from our sister and the King.
...sit till noon.
Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night, too.
...use me so.
Sir, being his knave, I will.
...I’ll answer that.
My sister may receive it much more worse
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted
For following her affairs.—Put in his legs.
...good lord, away.
All but Gloucester and Kent exit.
Scene 4
...buttered his hay.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, Servants.
...set at liberty.
I am glad to see your Highness.
...a quality—O Regan!
I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope
You less know how to value her desert
Than she to scant her duty.
...How is that?
I cannot think my sister in the least
Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance
She have restrained the riots of your followers,
’Tis on such ground and to such wholesome end
As clears her from all blame.
...curses on her.
O sir, you are old.
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of his confine. You should be ruled and led
By some discretion that discerns your state
Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you
That to our sister you do make return.
Say you have wronged her.
...bed, and food.”
Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks.
Return you to my sister.
...fall and blister!
O, the blest gods! So will you wish on me
When the rash mood is on.
...I thee endowed.
Good sir, to th’ purpose.
...What trumpet’s that?
I know ’t—my sister’s. This approves her letter,
That she would soon be here.
Enter Oswald, the Steward.
Is your lady come?
... beard?
Regan takes Goneril’s hand.
...You? Did you?
I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
If till the expiration of your month
You will return and sojourn with my sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me.
I am now from home and out of that provision
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
...my hundred knights.
Not altogether so.
I looked not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister,
For those that mingle reason with your passion
Must be content to think you old, and so—
But she knows what she does.
...this well spoken?
I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?
Is it not well? What should you need of more?
Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
Speak ’gainst so great a number? How in one house
Should many people under two commands
Hold amity? ’Tis hard, almost impossible.
...or from mine?
Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you,
We could control them. If you will come to me
(For now I spy a danger), I entreat you
To bring but five-and-twenty. To no more
Will I give place or notice.
...gave you all—
And in good time you gave it.
...said you so?
And speak ’t again, my lord. No more with me.
...to tend you?
What need one?
...be a storm.
This house is little. The old man and ’s people
Cannot be well bestowed.
...taste his folly.
For his particular, I’ll receive him gladly,
But not one follower.
...scarce a bush.
O sir, to willful men
The injuries that they themselves procure
Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors.
He is attended with a desperate train,
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.
...o’ th’ storm.
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 7
...King! Lurk, lurk.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, the Bastard, and Servants.
...the traitor Gloucester.
Hang him instantly.
...The traitor?
Ingrateful fox! ’Tis he.
...him, I say.
Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!
...thou shalt find—
Regan plucks Gloucester’s beard.
...by the beard.
So white, and such a traitor?
...late from France?
Be simple-answered, for we know the truth.
...in the kingdom?
To whose hands
You have sent the lunatic king. Speak.
...one opposed. Cunning.
And false.
...King? To Dover.
Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril—
...stand the course.
Wherefore to Dover?
...O you gods!
One side will mock another. Th’ other too.
...bid you hold.
How now, you dog?
...chance of anger.
to an Attendant
Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus?
She takes a sword and runs at him behind; kills him.
...this horrid act.
Out, treacherous villain!
Thou call’st on him that hates thee. It was he
That made the overture of thy treasons to us,
Who is too good to pity thee.
...and prosper him.
Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover. How is ’t, my lord? How look you?
...me your arm.
Cornwall and Regan exit.
ACT 4
Scene 5
...and see him.
Enter Regan and Oswald, the Steward.
But are my brother’s powers set forth?
... Ay, madam.
Himself in person there?
...the better soldier.
Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?
... No, madam.
What might import my sister’s letter to him?
...know not, lady.
Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.
It was great ignorance, Gloucester’s eyes being out,
To let him live. Where he arrives he moves
All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch
His nighted life; moreover to descry
The strength o’ th’ enemy.
...with my letter.
Our troops set forth tomorrow. Stay with us.
The ways are dangerous.
...in this business.
Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Some things—I know not what. I’ll love thee much—
Let me unseal the letter.
...I had rather—
I know your lady does not love her husband;
I am sure of that; and at her late being here,
She gave strange eliads and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.
... I, madam?
I speak in understanding. Y’ are; I know ’t.
Therefore I do advise you take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talked,
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady’s. You may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this,
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
...I do follow.
Fare thee well.
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
...day’s battle’s fought.
Enter, with Drum and Colors, Edmund, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.
...his constant pleasure.
Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.
...be doubted, madam.
Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you;
Tell me but truly, but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?
...In honored love.
But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forfended place?
...thought abuses you.
I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosomed with her as far as we call hers.
...mine honor, madam.
I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
...you speak nobly.
Why is this reasoned?
...at your tent.
Sister, you’ll go with us?
... No.
’Tis most convenient. Pray, go with us.
...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.
...as a brother.
That’s as we list to grace him.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person,
The which immediacy may well stand up
And call itself your brother.
...in your addition.
In my rights,
By me invested, he compeers the best.
...should husband you.
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
...looked but asquint.
Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
From a full-flowing stomach. To Edmund.
General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony.
Dispose of them, of me; the walls is thine.
Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master.
...Half-blooded fellow, yes.
to Edmund
Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.
...here proclaimed thee.
Sick, O, sick!
...Took their discharge.
My sickness grows upon me.
...to my tent.
Regan is helped to exit.
...where’s Cordelia?
Goneril and Regan’s bodies brought out.
...live so long.
They exit with a dead march.