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Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
|
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
|
|
GONERIL Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
|
GONERIL Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
|
|
Enter OSWALD
|
Enter OSWALD
|
|
Now, where’s your master?
|
Now, where’s your master?
|
|
OSWALD Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
5 He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
10 What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
|
OSWALD Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
|
|
GONERIL (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
15 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
20 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.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
|
GONERIL (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.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
|
|
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death.
|
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death.
|
|
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
|
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
|
|
Exit EDMUND
|
Exit EDMUND
|
|
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
30 My fool usurps my body.
|
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
My fool usurps my body.
|
|
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
|
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
|
|
Exit OSWALD
|
Exit OSWALD
|
|
Enter ALBANY
|
Enter ALBANY
|
|
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle.
|
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle.
|
|
ALBANY O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
35 Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.
|
ALBANY O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.
|
|
GONERIL No more. The text is foolish.
|
GONERIL No more. The text is foolish.
|
|
ALBANY Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
40 Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
|
ALBANY Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
|
|
45 Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
50 Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
|
Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
|
|
GONERIL 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
55 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,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
60 “Alack, why does he so?”
|
GONERIL 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,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
“Alack, why does he so?”
|
|
ALBANY See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.
|
ALBANY See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.
|
|
GONERIL O vain fool!
|
GONERIL O vain fool!
|
|
ALBANY Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
65 To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.
|
ALBANY Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.
|
|
GONERIL Marry, your manhood, mew!
|
GONERIL Marry, your manhood, mew!
|
|
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
|
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
|
|
ALBANY 70 What news?
|
ALBANY What news?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.
|
FIRST MESSENGER O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.
|
|
ALBANY Gloucester’s eyes?
|
ALBANY Gloucester’s eyes?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
75 Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.
|
FIRST MESSENGER A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.
|
|
ALBANY This shows you are above,
80 You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?
|
ALBANY This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.
|
|
GONERIL 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.
|
GONERIL 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.
|
|
Exit GONERIL
|
Exit GONERIL
|
|
ALBANY 90 Where was his son when they did take his eyes?
|
ALBANY Where was his son when they did take his eyes?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Come with my lady hither.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Come with my lady hither.
|
|
ALBANY He is not here.
|
ALBANY He is not here.
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER No, my good lord. I met him back again.
|
FIRST MESSENGER No, my good lord. I met him back again.
|
|
ALBANY Knows he the wickedness?
|
ALBANY Knows he the wickedness?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
95 And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
|
|
ALBANY Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
|
ALBANY Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
|
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
|
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
|
|
GONERIL Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
|
GONERIL Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
|
|
Enter OSWALD
|
Enter OSWALD
|
|
Now, where’s your master?
|
Now, where’s your master?
|
|
OSWALD Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
5 He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
10 What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
|
OSWALD Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
|
|
GONERIL (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
15 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
20 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.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
|
GONERIL (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.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
|
|
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death.
|
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death.
|
|
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
|
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
|
|
Exit EDMUND
|
Exit EDMUND
|
|
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
30 My fool usurps my body.
|
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
My fool usurps my body.
|
|
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
|
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
|
|
Exit OSWALD
|
Exit OSWALD
|
|
Enter ALBANY
|
Enter ALBANY
|
|
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle.
|
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle.
|
|
ALBANY O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
35 Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.
|
ALBANY O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.
|
|
GONERIL No more. The text is foolish.
|
GONERIL No more. The text is foolish.
|
|
ALBANY Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
40 Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
|
ALBANY Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
|
|
45 Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
50 Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
|
Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
|
|
GONERIL 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
55 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,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
60 “Alack, why does he so?”
|
GONERIL 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,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
“Alack, why does he so?”
|
|
ALBANY See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.
|
ALBANY See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.
|
|
GONERIL O vain fool!
|
GONERIL O vain fool!
|
|
ALBANY Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
65 To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.
|
ALBANY Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.
|
|
GONERIL Marry, your manhood, mew!
|
GONERIL Marry, your manhood, mew!
|
|
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
|
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
|
|
ALBANY 70 What news?
|
ALBANY What news?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.
|
FIRST MESSENGER O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.
|
|
ALBANY Gloucester’s eyes?
|
ALBANY Gloucester’s eyes?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
75 Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.
|
FIRST MESSENGER A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.
|
|
ALBANY This shows you are above,
80 You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?
|
ALBANY This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.
|
|
GONERIL 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.
|
GONERIL 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.
|
|
Exit GONERIL
|
Exit GONERIL
|
|
ALBANY 90 Where was his son when they did take his eyes?
|
ALBANY Where was his son when they did take his eyes?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Come with my lady hither.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Come with my lady hither.
|
|
ALBANY He is not here.
|
ALBANY He is not here.
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER No, my good lord. I met him back again.
|
FIRST MESSENGER No, my good lord. I met him back again.
|
|
ALBANY Knows he the wickedness?
|
ALBANY Knows he the wickedness?
|
|
FIRST MESSENGER Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
95 And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
|
FIRST MESSENGER Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
|
|
ALBANY Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
|
ALBANY Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
|
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
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