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No Fear Translations

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No Fear Audio

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