No Fear Shakespeare: King Lear: Act 2 Scene 4

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King Lear

William Shakespeare

Act 2 Scene 4

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
KENT in the stocks Enter LEAR , FOOL , and GENTLEMAN	KENT in the stocks Enter LEAR , FOOL , and GENTLEMAN
LEAR 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger.	LEAR 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger.
GENTLEMAN As I learned, The night before there was no purpose in them Of this remove.	GENTLEMAN As I learned, The night before there was no purpose in them Of this remove.
KENT (to LEAR) Hail to thee, noble master!	KENT (to LEAR) Hail to thee, noble master!
LEAR Ha! Makest thou this shame thy pastime?	LEAR Ha! Makest thou this shame thy pastime?
KENT No, my lord.	KENT No, my lord.
FOOL Ha, ha! Look, he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs. When a man’s overlusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks.	FOOL Ha, ha! Look, he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs. When a man’s overlusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks.
LEAR (to KENT) What’s he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here?	LEAR (to KENT) What’s he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here?
KENT It is both he and she: Your son and daughter.	KENT It is both he and she: Your son and daughter.
LEAR No.	LEAR No.
KENT Yes.	KENT Yes.
LEAR No, I say.	LEAR No, I say.
KENT I say “Yea.”	KENT I say “Yea.”
LEAR No, no, they would not.	LEAR No, no, they would not.
KENT Yes, they have.	KENT Yes, they have.
LEAR 15By Jupiter, I swear “No.”	LEAR By Jupiter, I swear “No.”
KENT By Juno, I swear “Ay.”	KENT By Juno, I swear “Ay.”
LEAR They durst not do ’t. They could not, would not do ’t. 'Tis worse than murder To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way 20Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage, Coming from us.	LEAR They durst not do ’t. They could not, would not do ’t. 'Tis worse than murder To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage, Coming from us.
KENT My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness' letters to them. Ere I was risen from the place that showed My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, 25Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth From Goneril his mistress salutations, Delivered letters spite of intermission, Which presently they read, on whose contents They summoned up their meiny, straight took horse, 30Commanded me to follow and attend The leisure of their answer, gave me cold looks. And meeting here the other messenger, Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine— Being the very fellow which of late 35Displayed so saucily against your highness— Having more man than wit about me, drew. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Your son and daughter found this trespass worth The shame which here it suffers.	KENT My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness' letters to them. Ere I was risen from the place that showed My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth From Goneril his mistress salutations, Delivered letters spite of intermission, Which presently they read, on whose contents They summoned up their meiny, straight took horse, Commanded me to follow and attend The leisure of their answer, gave me cold looks. And meeting here the other messenger, Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine— Being the very fellow which of late Displayed so saucily against your highness— Having more man than wit about me, drew. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Your son and daughter found this trespass worth The shame which here it suffers.
FOOL Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to th' poor. But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.	FOOL Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to th' poor. But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
LEAR O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! 50 Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow. Thy element’s below.—Where is this daughter?	LEAR O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow. Thy element’s below.—Where is this daughter?
KENT With the earl, sir, here within.	KENT With the earl, sir, here within.
LEAR Follow me not. Stay here.	LEAR Follow me not. Stay here.
Exit LEAR	Exit LEAR
GENTLEMAN Made you no more offense but what you speak of?	GENTLEMAN Made you no more offense but what you speak of?
KENT 55 None. How chance the king comes with so small a train?	KENT None. How chance the king comes with so small a train?
FOOL An thou hadst been set i' th' stocks for that question, thou’dst well deserved it.	FOOL An thou hadst been set i' th' stocks for that question, thou’dst well deserved it.
KENT Why, Fool?	KENT Why, Fool?
FOOL We’ll set thee to school to an ant to teach thee there’s no laboring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it.	FOOL We’ll set thee to school to an ant to teach thee there’s no laboring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it.
But the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it since a fool gives it. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain And leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry. The fool will stay. And let the wise man fly. The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool, no knave, perdie.	But the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it since a fool gives it. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain And leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry. The fool will stay. And let the wise man fly. The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool, no knave, perdie.
KENT Where learned you this, Fool?	KENT Where learned you this, Fool?
FOOL Not i' th' stocks, fool.	FOOL Not i' th' stocks, fool.
Enter LEAR and GLOUCESTER	Enter LEAR and GLOUCESTER
LEAR Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? 80 They have traveled all the night?—mere fetches, ay! The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer.	LEAR Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? They have traveled all the night?—mere fetches, ay! The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer.
GLOUCESTER My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke, How unremoveable and fixed he is 85 In his own course.	GLOUCESTER My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke, How unremoveable and fixed he is In his own course.
LEAR Vengeance, plague, death, confusion! “Fiery”? What “quality”? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester, I’d speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.	LEAR Vengeance, plague, death, confusion! “Fiery”? What “quality”? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester, I’d speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.
GLOUCESTER Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.	GLOUCESTER Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.
LEAR “Informed them”? Dost thou understand me, man?	LEAR “Informed them”? Dost thou understand me, man?
GLOUCESTER 90 Ay, my good lord.	GLOUCESTER Ay, my good lord.

Original Text	Modern Text
KENT in the stocks Enter LEAR , FOOL , and GENTLEMAN	KENT in the stocks Enter LEAR , FOOL , and GENTLEMAN
LEAR 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger.	LEAR 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger.
GENTLEMAN As I learned, The night before there was no purpose in them Of this remove.	GENTLEMAN As I learned, The night before there was no purpose in them Of this remove.
KENT (to LEAR) Hail to thee, noble master!	KENT (to LEAR) Hail to thee, noble master!
LEAR Ha! Makest thou this shame thy pastime?	LEAR Ha! Makest thou this shame thy pastime?
KENT No, my lord.	KENT No, my lord.
FOOL Ha, ha! Look, he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs. When a man’s overlusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks.	FOOL Ha, ha! Look, he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs. When a man’s overlusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks.
LEAR (to KENT) What’s he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here?	LEAR (to KENT) What’s he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here?
KENT It is both he and she: Your son and daughter.	KENT It is both he and she: Your son and daughter.
LEAR No.	LEAR No.
KENT Yes.	KENT Yes.
LEAR No, I say.	LEAR No, I say.
KENT I say “Yea.”	KENT I say “Yea.”
LEAR No, no, they would not.	LEAR No, no, they would not.
KENT Yes, they have.	KENT Yes, they have.
LEAR 15By Jupiter, I swear “No.”	LEAR By Jupiter, I swear “No.”
KENT By Juno, I swear “Ay.”	KENT By Juno, I swear “Ay.”
LEAR They durst not do ’t. They could not, would not do ’t. 'Tis worse than murder To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way 20Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage, Coming from us.	LEAR They durst not do ’t. They could not, would not do ’t. 'Tis worse than murder To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage, Coming from us.
KENT My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness' letters to them. Ere I was risen from the place that showed My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, 25Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth From Goneril his mistress salutations, Delivered letters spite of intermission, Which presently they read, on whose contents They summoned up their meiny, straight took horse, 30Commanded me to follow and attend The leisure of their answer, gave me cold looks. And meeting here the other messenger, Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine— Being the very fellow which of late 35Displayed so saucily against your highness— Having more man than wit about me, drew. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Your son and daughter found this trespass worth The shame which here it suffers.	KENT My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness' letters to them. Ere I was risen from the place that showed My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth From Goneril his mistress salutations, Delivered letters spite of intermission, Which presently they read, on whose contents They summoned up their meiny, straight took horse, Commanded me to follow and attend The leisure of their answer, gave me cold looks. And meeting here the other messenger, Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine— Being the very fellow which of late Displayed so saucily against your highness— Having more man than wit about me, drew. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Your son and daughter found this trespass worth The shame which here it suffers.
FOOL Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to th' poor. But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.	FOOL Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to th' poor. But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
LEAR O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! 50 Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow. Thy element’s below.—Where is this daughter?	LEAR O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow. Thy element’s below.—Where is this daughter?
KENT With the earl, sir, here within.	KENT With the earl, sir, here within.
LEAR Follow me not. Stay here.	LEAR Follow me not. Stay here.
Exit LEAR	Exit LEAR
GENTLEMAN Made you no more offense but what you speak of?	GENTLEMAN Made you no more offense but what you speak of?
KENT 55 None. How chance the king comes with so small a train?	KENT None. How chance the king comes with so small a train?
FOOL An thou hadst been set i' th' stocks for that question, thou’dst well deserved it.	FOOL An thou hadst been set i' th' stocks for that question, thou’dst well deserved it.
KENT Why, Fool?	KENT Why, Fool?
FOOL We’ll set thee to school to an ant to teach thee there’s no laboring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it.	FOOL We’ll set thee to school to an ant to teach thee there’s no laboring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it.
But the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it since a fool gives it. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain And leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry. The fool will stay. And let the wise man fly. The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool, no knave, perdie.	But the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it since a fool gives it. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain And leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry. The fool will stay. And let the wise man fly. The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool, no knave, perdie.
KENT Where learned you this, Fool?	KENT Where learned you this, Fool?
FOOL Not i' th' stocks, fool.	FOOL Not i' th' stocks, fool.
Enter LEAR and GLOUCESTER	Enter LEAR and GLOUCESTER
LEAR Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? 80 They have traveled all the night?—mere fetches, ay! The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer.	LEAR Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? They have traveled all the night?—mere fetches, ay! The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer.
GLOUCESTER My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke, How unremoveable and fixed he is 85 In his own course.	GLOUCESTER My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke, How unremoveable and fixed he is In his own course.
LEAR Vengeance, plague, death, confusion! “Fiery”? What “quality”? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester, I’d speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.	LEAR Vengeance, plague, death, confusion! “Fiery”? What “quality”? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester, I’d speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.
GLOUCESTER Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.	GLOUCESTER Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.
LEAR “Informed them”? Dost thou understand me, man?	LEAR “Informed them”? Dost thou understand me, man?
GLOUCESTER 90 Ay, my good lord.	GLOUCESTER Ay, my good lord.