No Fear Shakespeare: King Lear: Act 3 Scene 4

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Previous page Act 3, Scene 3 Next page Act 3, Scene 5

Test your knowledge

Take the Act 3, scenes 4-5 Quick Quiz

Read the Summary

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes 4-5.

Shakespeare’s Life & Times

Your password reset email should arrive shortly.

Something went wrong

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 4

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Take the Act 3, scenes 4-5 Quick Quiz

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes 4-5.

Dive into our comprehensive guide to ace your Shakespeare assignments

Popular pages: King Lear

Full Play Analysis SUMMARY

Character List CHARACTERS

King Lear CHARACTERS

Themes LITERARY DEVICES

Nihilism QUOTES

Full Play Quiz QUIZZES

Central Idea Essay: What Does Justice Mean in the Play? ESSAYS

Take a Study Break

QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe?

The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature

The 6 Best and Worst TV Show Adaptations of Books

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter LEAR , KENT disguised, and FOOL	Enter LEAR , KENT disguised, and FOOL
KENT Here is the place, my lord. Good my lord, enter. The tyranny of the open night’s too rough For nature to endure.	KENT Here is the place, my lord. Good my lord, enter. The tyranny of the open night’s too rough For nature to endure.
Storm still	Storm still
LEAR Let me alone.	LEAR Let me alone.
KENT Good my lord, enter here.	KENT Good my lord, enter here.
LEAR Wilt break my heart?	LEAR Wilt break my heart?
KENT 5 I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.	KENT I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.
LEAR Thou think’st ’tis much that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin. So ’tis to thee. But where the greater malady is fixed The lesser is scarce felt. Thou’dst shun a bear, 10 But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea Thou’dst meet the bear i' th' mouth. When the mind’s free, The body’s delicate. The tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats there—filial ingratitude. 15 Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to ’t? But I will punish home. No, I will weep no more. In such a night To shut me out! Pour on, I will endure. In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril, 20 Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all— Oh, that way madness lies. Let me shun that. No more of that.	LEAR Thou think’st ’tis much that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin. So ’tis to thee. But where the greater malady is fixed The lesser is scarce felt. Thou’dst shun a bear, But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea Thou’dst meet the bear i' th' mouth. When the mind’s free, The body’s delicate. The tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats there—filial ingratitude. Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to ’t? But I will punish home. No, I will weep no more. In such a night To shut me out! Pour on, I will endure. In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril, Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all— Oh, that way madness lies. Let me shun that. No more of that.
KENT Good my lord, enter here.	KENT Good my lord, enter here.
LEAR Prithee, go in thyself. Seek thine own ease. This tempest will not give me leave to ponder 25 On things would hurt me more. But I’ll go in. (to FOOL) In, boy. Go first. You houseless poverty— Nay, get thee in. I’ll pray, and then I’ll sleep.	LEAR Prithee, go in thyself. Seek thine own ease. This tempest will not give me leave to ponder On things would hurt me more. But I’ll go in. (to FOOL) In, boy. Go first. You houseless poverty— Nay, get thee in. I’ll pray, and then I’ll sleep.
Exit FOOL	Exit FOOL
Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, 30 How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? Oh, I have ta'en Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp. Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, 35 That thou mayst shake the superflux to them And show the heavens more just.	Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? Oh, I have ta'en Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp. Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, That thou mayst shake the superflux to them And show the heavens more just.
EDGAR (within) Fathom and half, fathom and half! Poor Tom!	EDGAR (within) Fathom and half, fathom and half! Poor Tom!
Enter FOOL	Enter FOOL
FOOL Come not in here, nuncle. Here’s a spirit. Help me, help me!	FOOL Come not in here, nuncle. Here’s a spirit. Help me, help me!
KENT Give me thy hand. Who’s there?	KENT Give me thy hand. Who’s there?
FOOL 40 A spirit, a spirit. He says his name’s Poor Tom.	FOOL A spirit, a spirit. He says his name’s Poor Tom.
KENT What art thou that dost grumble there i' th' straw? Come forth.	KENT What art thou that dost grumble there i' th' straw? Come forth.
Enter EDGAR disguised	Enter EDGAR disguised
EDGAR Away! The foul fiend follows me! Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind. Hum! Go to thy cold bed and warm thee.	EDGAR Away! The foul fiend follows me! Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind. Hum! Go to thy cold bed and warm thee.
LEAR Didst thou give all to thy two daughters, and art thou come to this?	LEAR Didst thou give all to thy two daughters, and art thou come to this?
EDGAR Who gives any thing to Poor Tom, whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and whirlipool, o'er bog and quagmire; that hath laid knives under his pillow and halters in his pew, set ratsbane by his porridge, made him proud of heart to ride on a bay trotting- horse over four-inched bridges to course his own shadow for a traitor? Bless thy five wits. Tom’s a-cold. Oh, do-de, do-de, do-de. Bless thee from whirlwinds, star-blasting, and taking! Do Poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. There could I have him now—and there—and there again—and there.	EDGAR Who gives any thing to Poor Tom, whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and whirlipool, o'er bog and quagmire; that hath laid knives under his pillow and halters in his pew, set ratsbane by his porridge, made him proud of heart to ride on a bay trotting- horse over four-inched bridges to course his own shadow for a traitor? Bless thy five wits. Tom’s a-cold. Oh, do-de, do-de, do-de. Bless thee from whirlwinds, star-blasting, and taking! Do Poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. There could I have him now—and there—and there again—and there.
Storm still	Storm still
LEAR What, has his daughters brought him to this pass?— 60 Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst thou give 'em all?	LEAR What, has his daughters brought him to this pass?— Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst thou give 'em all?
FOOL Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all shamed.	FOOL Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all shamed.
LEAR Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air Hang fated o'er men’s faults light on thy daughters!	LEAR Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air Hang fated o'er men’s faults light on thy daughters!
KENT He hath no daughters, sir.	KENT He hath no daughters, sir.
LEAR 65 Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature To such a lowness but his unkind daughters. Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Judicious punishment! 'Twas this flesh begot 70 Those pelican daughters.	LEAR Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature To such a lowness but his unkind daughters. Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Judicious punishment! 'Twas this flesh begot Those pelican daughters.
EDGAR Pillicock sat on Pillicock hill. Alow, alow, loo, loo!	EDGAR Pillicock sat on Pillicock hill. Alow, alow, loo, loo!
FOOL This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.	FOOL This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.
EDGAR Take heed o' th' foul fiend. Obey thy parents, keep thy word’s justice, swear not, commit not with man’s sworn spouse, set not thy sweet heart on proud array. Tom’s a- cold.	EDGAR Take heed o' th' foul fiend. Obey thy parents, keep thy word’s justice, swear not, commit not with man’s sworn spouse, set not thy sweet heart on proud array. Tom’s a- cold.
LEAR What hast thou been?	LEAR What hast thou been?
EDGAR A servingman, proud in heart and mind, that curled my hair, wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress' heart and did the act of darkness with her, swore as many oaths as I spake words and broke them in the sweet face of heaven—one that slept in the contriving of lust and waked to do it. Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly, and in woman outparamoured the Turk. False of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand—hog in sloth, fox in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of silks betray thy poor heart to woman. Keep thy foot out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets, thy pen from lenders' books, and defy the foul fiend. Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind, says, “Suum, mun, nonny.” Dauphin my boy, my boy, cessez. Let him trot by.	EDGAR A servingman, proud in heart and mind, that curled my hair, wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress' heart and did the act of darkness with her, swore as many oaths as I spake words and broke them in the sweet face of heaven—one that slept in the contriving of lust and waked to do it. Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly, and in woman outparamoured the Turk. False of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand—hog in sloth, fox in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of silks betray thy poor heart to woman. Keep thy foot out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets, thy pen from lenders' books, and defy the foul fiend. Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind, says, “Suum, mun, nonny.” Dauphin my boy, my boy, cessez. Let him trot by.
Storm still	Storm still
LEAR Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.—Is man no more than this? Consider him well.—Thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! Here’s three on ’s are sophisticated. Thou art the thing itself. Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art.— Off, off, you lendings! Come. Unbutton here. (tears at his clothes)	LEAR Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.—Is man no more than this? Consider him well.—Thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! Here’s three on ’s are sophisticated. Thou art the thing itself. Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art.— Off, off, you lendings! Come. Unbutton here. (tears at his clothes)
Enter GLOUCESTER with a torch	Enter GLOUCESTER with a torch
FOOL Prithee, nuncle, be contented. 'Tis a naughty night to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lecher’s heart—a small spark, all the rest on ’s body cold. Look, here comes a walking fire.	FOOL Prithee, nuncle, be contented. 'Tis a naughty night to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lecher’s heart—a small spark, all the rest on ’s body cold. Look, here comes a walking fire.
EDGAR This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet. He begins at curfew and walks till the first cock. He gives the web and the pin, squints the eye and makes the harelip, mildews the white wheat and hurts the poor creature of earth. Swithold footed thrice the 'old. He met the nightmare and her ninefold, Bid her alight, And her troth plight. And aroint thee, witch, aroint thee!	EDGAR This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet. He begins at curfew and walks till the first cock. He gives the web and the pin, squints the eye and makes the harelip, mildews the white wheat and hurts the poor creature of earth. Swithold footed thrice the 'old. He met the nightmare and her ninefold, Bid her alight, And her troth plight. And aroint thee, witch, aroint thee!
KENT How fares your grace?	KENT How fares your grace?
LEAR (indicating GLOUCESTER) What’s he?	LEAR (indicating GLOUCESTER) What’s he?
KENT Who’s there? What is ’t you seek?	KENT Who’s there? What is ’t you seek?
GLOUCESTER What are you there? Your names?	GLOUCESTER What are you there? Your names?
EDGAR Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall newt, and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow dung for salads, swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog, drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to tithing and stocked, punished and imprisoned; who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, Horse to ride and weapon to wear. But mice and rats and such small deer Have been Tom’s food for seven long year. Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin. Peace, thou fiend!	EDGAR Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall newt, and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow dung for salads, swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog, drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to tithing and stocked, punished and imprisoned; who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, Horse to ride and weapon to wear. But mice and rats and such small deer Have been Tom’s food for seven long year. Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin. Peace, thou fiend!
GLOUCESTER (to LEAR) What, hath your grace no better company?	GLOUCESTER (to LEAR) What, hath your grace no better company?
EDGAR The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman. Modo he’s called, and Mahu.	EDGAR The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman. Modo he’s called, and Mahu.
GLOUCESTER (to LEAR) Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so vile 135 That it doth hate what gets it.	GLOUCESTER (to LEAR) Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so vile That it doth hate what gets it.
EDGAR Poor Tom’s a-cold.	EDGAR Poor Tom’s a-cold.
GLOUCESTER Go in with me. My duty cannot suffer To obey in all your daughters' hard commands. Though their injunction be to bar my doors 140 And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you, Yet have I ventured to come seek you out And bring you where both fire and food is ready.	GLOUCESTER Go in with me. My duty cannot suffer To obey in all your daughters' hard commands. Though their injunction be to bar my doors And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you, Yet have I ventured to come seek you out And bring you where both fire and food is ready.
LEAR First let me talk with this philosopher.— (to EDGAR) What is the cause of thunder?	LEAR First let me talk with this philosopher.— (to EDGAR) What is the cause of thunder?
KENT (to LEAR) Good my lord, take his offer. Go into the house.	KENT (to LEAR) Good my lord, take his offer. Go into the house.
LEAR I’ll talk a word with this same learnèd Theban.— What is your study?	LEAR I’ll talk a word with this same learnèd Theban.— What is your study?
EDGAR How to prevent the fiend and to kill vermin.	EDGAR How to prevent the fiend and to kill vermin.
LEAR Let me ask you one word in private.	LEAR Let me ask you one word in private.
LEAR and EDGAR talk aside	LEAR and EDGAR talk aside
KENT (aside to GLOUCESTER)Importune him once more to go, my lord. His wits begin t' unsettle.	KENT (aside to GLOUCESTER)Importune him once more to go, my lord. His wits begin t' unsettle.
GLOUCESTER Canst thou blame him?	GLOUCESTER Canst thou blame him?
Storm still	Storm still
His daughters seek his death. Ah, that good Kent— He said it would be thus, poor banished man. Thou say’st the king grows mad. I’ll tell thee, friend, 155 I am almost mad myself. I had a son, Now outlawed from my blood. He sought my life, But lately, very late. I loved him, friend— No father his son dearer. Truth to tell thee, The grief hath crazed my wits.	His daughters seek his death. Ah, that good Kent— He said it would be thus, poor banished man. Thou say’st the king grows mad. I’ll tell thee, friend, I am almost mad myself. I had a son, Now outlawed from my blood. He sought my life, But lately, very late. I loved him, friend— No father his son dearer. Truth to tell thee, The grief hath crazed my wits.
What a night’s this! (to LEAR) I do beseech your grace—	What a night’s this! (to LEAR) I do beseech your grace—
LEAR O, cry your mercy, sir.— (to EDGAR) Noble philosopher, your company.	LEAR O, cry your mercy, sir.— (to EDGAR) Noble philosopher, your company.
EDGAR Tom’s a-cold.	EDGAR Tom’s a-cold.
GLOUCESTER In, fellow. There, into th' hovel. Keep thee warm.	GLOUCESTER In, fellow. There, into th' hovel. Keep thee warm.
LEAR Come let’s in all.	LEAR Come let’s in all.
KENT This way, my lord.	KENT This way, my lord.
LEAR (indicating EDGAR) With him! 165 I will keep still with my philosopher.	LEAR (indicating EDGAR) With him! I will keep still with my philosopher.
KENT (to GLOUCESTER) Good my lord, soothe him. Let him take the fellow.	KENT (to GLOUCESTER) Good my lord, soothe him. Let him take the fellow.
GLOUCESTER Take him you on.	GLOUCESTER Take him you on.
KENT (to EDGAR) Sirrah, come on. Go along with us.	KENT (to EDGAR) Sirrah, come on. Go along with us.
LEAR 170 Come, good Athenian.	LEAR Come, good Athenian.
GLOUCESTER No words, no words. Hush.	GLOUCESTER No words, no words. Hush.
EDGAR Child Roland to the dark tower came, His word was still “Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British man.”	EDGAR Child Roland to the dark tower came, His word was still “Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British man.”
Exeunt	Exeunt