Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.Please wait while we process your payment
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
Please wait while we process your payment
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.
Don’t have an account? Subscribe now
Create Your Account
Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial
Already have an account? Log in
Your Email
Choose Your Plan
Individual
Group Discount
Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!
Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?
Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!
Price
$24.99 $18.74 /subscription + tax
Subtotal $37.48 + tax
Save 25% on 2-49 accounts
Save 30% on 50-99 accounts
Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.
Your Plan
Payment Details
Payment Summary
SparkNotes Plus
You'll be billed after your free trial ends.
7-Day Free Trial
Not Applicable
Renews October 1, 2023 September 24, 2023
Discounts (applied to next billing)
DUE NOW
US $0.00
SNPLUSROCKS20 | 20% Discount
This is not a valid promo code.
Discount Code (one code per order)
SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan - Group Discount
Qty: 00
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.
Choose Your Plan
For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!
You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.
Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.
Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.
Please wait while we process your payment
Your PLUS subscription has expired
Please wait while we process your payment
Please wait while we process your payment
Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial
Already have an account? Log in
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter KENT disguised and GENTLEMAN
|
Enter KENT disguised and GENTLEMAN
|
KENT Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?
|
KENT Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?
|
GENTLEMAN Something he left imperfect in the state which, since his coming forth, is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return was most required and necessary.
|
GENTLEMAN Something he left imperfect in the state which, since his coming forth, is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return was most required and necessary.
|
KENT Who hath he left behind him general?
|
KENT Who hath he left behind him general?
|
GENTLEMAN The Marshal of France, Monsieur la Far.
|
GENTLEMAN The Marshal of France, Monsieur la Far.
|
KENT Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
|
KENT Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
15 Sought to be king o'er her.
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
|
KENT O, then it moved her?
|
KENT O, then it moved her?
|
GENTLEMAN Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once—her smiles and tears
Were like a better way. Those happy smilets
20 That played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved
If all could so become it.
|
GENTLEMAN Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once—her smiles and tears
Were like a better way. Those happy smilets
That played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved
If all could so become it.
|
KENT Made she no verbal question?
|
KENT Made she no verbal question?
|
GENTLEMAN 25 Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of “father”
Pantingly forth as if it pressed her heart,
Cried, “Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
Kent, father, sisters! What, i' th' storm, i' th' night?
Let pity not be believed.” There she shook
30 The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamor moistened. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
|
GENTLEMAN Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of “father”
Pantingly forth as if it pressed her heart,
Cried, “Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
Kent, father, sisters! What, i' th' storm, i' th' night?
Let pity not be believed.” There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamor moistened. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
|
KENT It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions.
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
35 Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
|
KENT It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions.
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
|
GENTLEMAN No.
|
GENTLEMAN No.
|
KENT Was this before the king returned?
|
KENT Was this before the king returned?
|
GENTLEMAN No, since.
|
GENTLEMAN No, since.
|
KENT Well, sir, the poor distressèd Lear’s i' th' town,
Who sometime in his better tune remembers
40 What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
|
KENT Well, sir, the poor distressèd Lear’s i' th' town,
Who sometime in his better tune remembers
What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
|
GENTLEMAN Why, good sir?
|
GENTLEMAN Why, good sir?
|
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him. His own unkindness
That stripped her from his benediction turned her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
45 To his dog-hearted daughters. These things sting
His mind so venomously that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.
|
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him. His own unkindness
That stripped her from his benediction turned her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters. These things sting
His mind so venomously that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.
|
GENTLEMAN Alack, poor gentleman!
|
GENTLEMAN Alack, poor gentleman!
|
KENT Of Albany’s and Cornwall’s powers you heard not?
|
KENT Of Albany’s and Cornwall’s powers you heard not?
|
GENTLEMAN 'Tis so. They are afoot.
|
GENTLEMAN 'Tis so. They are afoot.
|
KENT 50 Well, sir, I’ll bring you to our master Lear
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
When I am known aright you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
55 Along with me.
|
KENT Well, sir, I’ll bring you to our master Lear
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
When I am known aright you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter KENT disguised and GENTLEMAN
|
Enter KENT disguised and GENTLEMAN
|
KENT Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?
|
KENT Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?
|
GENTLEMAN Something he left imperfect in the state which, since his coming forth, is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return was most required and necessary.
|
GENTLEMAN Something he left imperfect in the state which, since his coming forth, is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return was most required and necessary.
|
KENT Who hath he left behind him general?
|
KENT Who hath he left behind him general?
|
GENTLEMAN The Marshal of France, Monsieur la Far.
|
GENTLEMAN The Marshal of France, Monsieur la Far.
|
KENT Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
|
KENT Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
15 Sought to be king o'er her.
|
GENTLEMAN Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
|
KENT O, then it moved her?
|
KENT O, then it moved her?
|
GENTLEMAN Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once—her smiles and tears
Were like a better way. Those happy smilets
20 That played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved
If all could so become it.
|
GENTLEMAN Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once—her smiles and tears
Were like a better way. Those happy smilets
That played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved
If all could so become it.
|
KENT Made she no verbal question?
|
KENT Made she no verbal question?
|
GENTLEMAN 25 Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of “father”
Pantingly forth as if it pressed her heart,
Cried, “Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
Kent, father, sisters! What, i' th' storm, i' th' night?
Let pity not be believed.” There she shook
30 The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamor moistened. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
|
GENTLEMAN Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of “father”
Pantingly forth as if it pressed her heart,
Cried, “Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
Kent, father, sisters! What, i' th' storm, i' th' night?
Let pity not be believed.” There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamor moistened. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
|
KENT It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions.
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
35 Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
|
KENT It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions.
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
|
GENTLEMAN No.
|
GENTLEMAN No.
|
KENT Was this before the king returned?
|
KENT Was this before the king returned?
|
GENTLEMAN No, since.
|
GENTLEMAN No, since.
|
KENT Well, sir, the poor distressèd Lear’s i' th' town,
Who sometime in his better tune remembers
40 What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
|
KENT Well, sir, the poor distressèd Lear’s i' th' town,
Who sometime in his better tune remembers
What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
|
GENTLEMAN Why, good sir?
|
GENTLEMAN Why, good sir?
|
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him. His own unkindness
That stripped her from his benediction turned her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
45 To his dog-hearted daughters. These things sting
His mind so venomously that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.
|
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him. His own unkindness
That stripped her from his benediction turned her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters. These things sting
His mind so venomously that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.
|
GENTLEMAN Alack, poor gentleman!
|
GENTLEMAN Alack, poor gentleman!
|
KENT Of Albany’s and Cornwall’s powers you heard not?
|
KENT Of Albany’s and Cornwall’s powers you heard not?
|
GENTLEMAN 'Tis so. They are afoot.
|
GENTLEMAN 'Tis so. They are afoot.
|
KENT 50 Well, sir, I’ll bring you to our master Lear
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
When I am known aright you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
55 Along with me.
|
KENT Well, sir, I’ll bring you to our master Lear
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
When I am known aright you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Please wait while we process your payment