William Shakespeare: King Lear

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OSWALD is to take a letter to Regan warning her of what has happened. (We begin to sense thatGoneril despises her kind-hearted husband.)SCENE V. Court before the same.Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool Lear sends the disguised Kent to prepare Regan for his coming(she seems to be living in Gloucester or near Gloucester’s house)FoolShalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like anapple, yet I can tell what I can tell.KING LEARWhy, what canst thou tell, my boy?FoolShe will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middleon's face?KING LEARNo.FoolWhy, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.KING LEARI did her wrong--FoolCanst tell how an oyster makes his shell?KING LEARNo.FoolNor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.KING LEARWhy?FoolWhy, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.KING LEARI will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my horses ready?FoolThy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a prettyreason.KING LEARBecause they are not eight?FoolYes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.KING LEARTo take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude!FoolIf thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.KING LEARHow's that?FoolThou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.KING LEARO, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heavenKeep me in temper: I would not be mad!6
ExeuntACT IISCENE I. GLOUCESTER's castle.Enter EDMUND Learning that the Duke of Cornwall (the effective king of the area) is coming, hemoves to get rid of Edgar, telling him that his life is in danger. Then he cuts his own arm and saysthat Edgar tried to kill him, and wants to kill Gloucester. Gloucester believes his lies.All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;The duke must grant me that: besides, his pictureI will send far and near, that all the kingdomMay have the due note of him; and of my land,Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the meansTo make thee capable.Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants They have already heard about Edgar. Regan twiststhe affair to link it with Lear and his knights, as though her life is in danger from them:REGANWhat, did my father's godson seek your life?He whom my father named? your Edgar?GLOUCESTERO, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!REGANWas he not companion with the riotous knightsThat tend upon my father?GLOUCESTERI know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.EDMUNDYes, madam, he was of that consort.REGANNo marvel, then, though he were ill affected:'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,To have the expense and waste of his revenues.Regan and Cornwall have come to Gloucester’s house to avoid admitting Lear to their own home.SCENE II. Before Gloucester's castle.Enter KENT and OSWALD, separately. Kent recognizes Oswald and attakcs him (symbolic conflictbetween servants from the two sides of the moral equation)Enter EDMUND, with his rapier drawn, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants.After a lengthy exchange, in which Kent is identified as Lear’s servant, Cornwall decides to put himin the stocks, a shaming punishment. Gloucester is unhappy at this but can do nothing. Kent, leftalone, produces a letter he has received from Cordelia.SCENE III. A wood.7
Page 1 and 2: William Shakespeare: King LearACT I
Page 3 and 4: Our father's love is to the bastard
Page 5: And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear
Page 9 and 10: KING LEARDeny to speak with me? The
Page 11 and 12: Ask her forgiveness?Do you but mark
Page 13 and 14: Our youngest born, I could as well
Page 15 and 16: CORNWALLLet us withdraw; 'twill be
Page 17 and 18: Some friendship will it lend you 'g
Page 19 and 20: halters in his pew; set ratsbane by
Page 21 and 22: Hang him instantly.GONERILPluck out
Page 23 and 24: CORNWALLMy villain!They draw and fi
Page 25 and 26: Could my good brother suffer you to
Page 27 and 28: KENTIt is the stars,The stars above
Page 29 and 30: Prosper it with thee! Go thou farth
Page 31 and 32: I see it feelingly.KING LEARWhat, a
Page 33 and 34: For, as I am a man, I think this la
Page 35 and 36: KING LEARUpon such sacrifices, my C
Page 37 and 38: Gentle, and low, an excellent thing
Page 39: Exeunt, with a dead march39

William Shakespeare: King Lear

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