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| Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR | ECDIRAOL tseren ihwt ENTK in segdsiui, het GTNLENEAM , nad eth CRDOTO . |
| CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me. | DLAORECI Oh, Kent, whta dcoul I evre do to ceemob as ogod as ouy are? I otwn ivle ongl noehug, adn lal my fotrefs liwl afil me. |
| KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is oerpaid. 5 All my reports go with the modest truth, Nor more, nor clipped, but so. | KENT tsJu inbeg ndaehtk is mero tnha hgeoun rof me, daamm. I phoe lla ptroser aubto me lysmpi llte het thtur, no omer or elss. |
| CORDELIA Be better suited. These weeds are memories of those worser hours. I prithee, put them off. | CORLIDAE gehanC onti eebttr hseolct. eTehs sgra lwil tsuj idremn us of hseot abd mties nhwe you had to waer a iegsudis. laPees take etmh off. |
| KENT Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. 10 My boon I make it that you know me not Till time and I think meet. | NTKE Im ysorr, daamm, tub I ncta do thta tey. If oepelp ngerezoci me won, I ntow be leba to rryca tuo my lspan. I vahe to aks yuo, as a fvoar, ton to etl on ttah you ozegneicr me niutl het meit is trihg. |
| CORDELIA Then be t so, my good lord. How does the king? | ERDALICO llA tgrhi, my dolr.Hsow eht gnki inogd? |
| DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still. | RDTOCO Hse ltsli eginlpes, amma. |
| CORDELIA O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abusd nature, Th untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up, 15 Of this child-changd father! | RCILOAED dnKi sdog, hlea eth wsodun htta she nlrywgo fuefsedr! teeRosr eht tsiyan of hits efrtah woshe ecrinldh veha vrnedi hmi adm and gnhceda mih ntio a ichld inaga! |
| DOCTOR So please your majesty That we may wake the king? He hath slept long. | TDOCOR Wudol uoy inmd if we wkoe up hte ikng? Hes ptsel a goln mite. |
| CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed I th sway of your own will. Is he arrayed? | REDAOICL Do taevhewr you iknth esbt. Is he in shi aorly matnresg? |
| Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants | nSvsreat rrayc in RLEA slegpien in a ahrci. |
| GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep 20 We put fresh garments on him. | LETNNEGAM seY, amam. We edgahnc ihs lstecho lhiwe he asw asft lseeap. |
| DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him. I doubt not of his temperance. | TDROCO ySat elcos by hnwe we ekaw hmi up, aamm. Im srue he lwil ysat druen nltoocr. |
| CORDELIA Very well. | IRACODEL lAl gihrt. |
| DOCTOR Please you, draw near.Louder the music there! | OCDORT eslaPe meoc oslcre. akeM teh suimc odlreu, esaepl! |
| CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang 25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made! | DEOARICL (skeiss LEAR) Oh, my eard fertha, peseal teg tebrte. yMa my issk elha hte wdusno ftcnliedi on oyu by my etsrsohiws oshudl ahve derepsetc nda hrcdesihe ouy. |
| KENT Kind and dear princess! | ENTK dKni nda aerd sricensp! |
| CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face 30 To be opposed against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick cross lightning? To watchpoor perdu! With this thin helm? Mine enemys meanest dog, 35 Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once 40 Had not concluded all.He wakes. Speak to him. | DAERCLIO If ouy ahtdn eneb hirte htaefr, oury htiwe rhia dwlou veha eiisdpnr in hmet noly msnisocpoa. Is hits a aefc htta slduho eahv reeudnd het zrfenige dsnwi or sithtwdoo eth lardeduf thdeunr or eth rirbetel ilhnnigtg? To asty wkaae lla night ilek a arpmrdangouso ltso sulo!ihtw lnoy ouyr hgnnitin ahir rof a eelhtm? I ewvluod tle enev my esnmey tsnaeits god tysa idsein by the relfcieap on taht gnthi, eenv if he ahd itb me. ndA weer oyu tehn hyapp to dnif etleshr on a edb of yah nloga thiw nesiw dan lhsoseem mubs? Oh, oh! Ist a erdnwo you dtidn olse uryo feli nda uyro ndmi lla at cneo.Hse wkinga up. lkTa to ihm. |
| DOCTOR Madam, do you. Tis fittest. | TRCOOD oYu latk to him, maam. sthTa toms tapieprroap. |
| CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? | AOCDRELI wHo ear yuo, my ayrlo rdol? How is your ysetamj dniog? |
| LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o th grave. Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound 45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. | EALR oYu do me owgnr by anigtk me uot of eth gavre. ouYre a olus in hveena, utb Im eitd to eth yreif elehw of a tetorur ciaehmn in hlel. neEv my arest bnur me eilk moltne edla. |
| CORDELIA Sir, do you know me? | LADRCEIO Sir, do you okwn how I am? |
| LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die? | ERLA euYor a iptisr, I oknw. Weehr idd oyu edi? |
| CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide! | ELIRDAOC (iswhregnip to the DOCTOR) Hse tllsi in uetro scpae. |
| DOCTOR Hes scarce awake. Let him alone awhile. | ODORTC esH ltsli ahlf esepal. Let mih be ofr a bit. |
| LEAR 50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused. I should evn die with pity To see another thus. I know not what to say. I will not swear these are my hands. Lets see. I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured 55 Of my condition. | EARL ehWre heav I neeb? ereWh am I? Is it eidaytm? Iev been citerkd. I lwdou ied of yipt to see osmeeno eles in my nticnoiod. I ndot nkow hwta to asy. I natc vnee be sreu eesth rea my sadnh. Lset ese. I eefl isht npipkicr. I wihs I knwe wath is nhpeaginp. |
| CORDELIA (kneels) O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction oer me. No, sir, you must not kneel. | REODIACL (ilngknee) okLo at me, rsi, nda igev me uory neslsbig. No, sir, odtn lenke. |
| LEAR Pray, do not mock me. I am a very foolish fond old man, 60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less. And to deal plainly I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should know you, and know this man. | ERLA Pleaes ontd eakm fun of me. Im a soolifh, elnies odl mna, githye-ieohnmtgs rayes dlo, ton an hrou eomr or esls. To tup it alynlip, Im dafrai Im otn qtuie esna. I flee I udhlos goinezcre ouy dan ttah amn (he tsnoip to KENT), |
| Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant 65 What place this is, and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me, For as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia. | but Im ton srue. I ontd kwno werhe I am. I dnto bremreme sethe othlesc. I antc rlelca eherw I tspel astl nhitg. Dtno ghaul at me, but I wrase I hitnk hsti yald is my hcdil drloeaCi. |
| CORDELIA And so I am, I am. | IADRLECO ndA I am, I am. |
| LEAR 70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know you do not love me, for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You have some cause; they have not. | RALE erA ruoy srtea ewt? sYe, idedne ethy ear. aPesel tond yrc. If yuo eavh psonoi ofr me, llI rdnik it. I konw yuo dnot vloe me. If I mmeeberr, royu sissetr did me wrnog rfo no nearos. tuB uoy ddint, vene gouhth you adh eyerv saoern. |
| CORDELIA No cause, no cause. | OILAECRD I hda no anorse, no roaens. |
| LEAR 75 Am I in France? | ALRE Am I in anrFec? |
| KENT In your own kingdom, sir. | ENTK euYro in oyur won dikogmn, sri. |
| LEAR Do not abuse me. | AREL nDot viceede me. |
| DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage, You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger 80 To make him even oer the time he has lost. Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more Till further settling. | ODTOCR ouY nca lerax, aamm. His enaisn rioped is veor. utB sit rudesogan to kaem mhi ytr to aemk ssene of eht tmei he lsto. Aks ihm to go in. tDon uletobr mih uterrhf inutl ihs mdni is rome seltdte. |
| CORDELIA Will t please your highness walk? | IEDCLOAR Wdulo yuro gsishnhe ilek to aket a wkal? |
| LEAR You must bear with me. 85 Pray you now, forget and forgive. I am old and foolish. | RLEA olYul vahe to bear thiw me. sPeael irvegfo nda eorftg. Im dol and sioholf. |
| Exeunt | eTyh eixt. |
| Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN | TEKN dan the NLGNAEEMT rieamn. |
| GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain? | EANEGMTLN Is it treu, ris, that teh keuD of alnrlCow saw eklild as tehy yas? |
| KENT Most certain, sir. | KTNE Yes, its uert, sri. |
| GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people? | NELTAGMNE Woh is gaeinld sih mne? |
| KENT As tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester. | NTKE eThy ays tsrecuesloG adstabr nos is. |
| GENTLEMAN | GNLETMNEA I hrae ahtt dagrE, cteosserGlu leiedx sno, is hwit het Erla of Knet in ramyneG. |
| KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace. | TEKN ouY tanc trtsu all eth rromsu. stI time to sseasrse the iatutniso. Teh riiBsht portso era gicnom rean. |
| GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. | MANELTENG It wlil eillky be a loybod fihgt. odoeGby, sri. |
| Exit GENTLEMAN | He sietx. |
| KENT 95 My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well or ill, as this days battles fought. | TEKN My efli nda my anpls yelecmoltp edndpe on woh tsdayo lbeatt desn. |
| Exit | He estxi. |
Original Text | Modern Text |
| Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR | ECDIRAOL tseren ihwt ENTK in segdsiui, het GTNLENEAM , nad eth CRDOTO . |
| CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me. | DLAORECI Oh, Kent, whta dcoul I evre do to ceemob as ogod as ouy are? I otwn ivle ongl noehug, adn lal my fotrefs liwl afil me. |
| KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is oerpaid. 5 All my reports go with the modest truth, Nor more, nor clipped, but so. | KENT tsJu inbeg ndaehtk is mero tnha hgeoun rof me, daamm. I phoe lla ptroser aubto me lysmpi llte het thtur, no omer or elss. |
| CORDELIA Be better suited. These weeds are memories of those worser hours. I prithee, put them off. | CORLIDAE gehanC onti eebttr hseolct. eTehs sgra lwil tsuj idremn us of hseot abd mties nhwe you had to waer a iegsudis. laPees take etmh off. |
| KENT Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. 10 My boon I make it that you know me not Till time and I think meet. | NTKE Im ysorr, daamm, tub I ncta do thta tey. If oepelp ngerezoci me won, I ntow be leba to rryca tuo my lspan. I vahe to aks yuo, as a fvoar, ton to etl on ttah you ozegneicr me niutl het meit is trihg. |
| CORDELIA Then be t so, my good lord. How does the king? | ERDALICO llA tgrhi, my dolr.Hsow eht gnki inogd? |
| DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still. | RDTOCO Hse ltsli eginlpes, amma. |
| CORDELIA O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abusd nature, Th untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up, 15 Of this child-changd father! | RCILOAED dnKi sdog, hlea eth wsodun htta she nlrywgo fuefsedr! teeRosr eht tsiyan of hits efrtah woshe ecrinldh veha vrnedi hmi adm and gnhceda mih ntio a ichld inaga! |
| DOCTOR So please your majesty That we may wake the king? He hath slept long. | TDOCOR Wudol uoy inmd if we wkoe up hte ikng? Hes ptsel a goln mite. |
| CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed I th sway of your own will. Is he arrayed? | REDAOICL Do taevhewr you iknth esbt. Is he in shi aorly matnresg? |
| Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants | nSvsreat rrayc in RLEA slegpien in a ahrci. |
| GENTLEMAN Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep 20 We put fresh garments on him. | LETNNEGAM seY, amam. We edgahnc ihs lstecho lhiwe he asw asft lseeap. |
| DOCTOR Be by, good madam, when we do awake him. I doubt not of his temperance. | TDROCO ySat elcos by hnwe we ekaw hmi up, aamm. Im srue he lwil ysat druen nltoocr. |
| CORDELIA Very well. | IRACODEL lAl gihrt. |
| DOCTOR Please you, draw near.Louder the music there! | OCDORT eslaPe meoc oslcre. akeM teh suimc odlreu, esaepl! |
| CORDELIA (kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang 25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made! | DEOARICL (skeiss LEAR) Oh, my eard fertha, peseal teg tebrte. yMa my issk elha hte wdusno ftcnliedi on oyu by my etsrsohiws oshudl ahve derepsetc nda hrcdesihe ouy. |
| KENT Kind and dear princess! | ENTK dKni nda aerd sricensp! |
| CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face 30 To be opposed against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick cross lightning? To watchpoor perdu! With this thin helm? Mine enemys meanest dog, 35 Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once 40 Had not concluded all.He wakes. Speak to him. | DAERCLIO If ouy ahtdn eneb hirte htaefr, oury htiwe rhia dwlou veha eiisdpnr in hmet noly msnisocpoa. Is hits a aefc htta slduho eahv reeudnd het zrfenige dsnwi or sithtwdoo eth lardeduf thdeunr or eth rirbetel ilhnnigtg? To asty wkaae lla night ilek a arpmrdangouso ltso sulo!ihtw lnoy ouyr hgnnitin ahir rof a eelhtm? I ewvluod tle enev my esnmey tsnaeits god tysa idsein by the relfcieap on taht gnthi, eenv if he ahd itb me. ndA weer oyu tehn hyapp to dnif etleshr on a edb of yah nloga thiw nesiw dan lhsoseem mubs? Oh, oh! Ist a erdnwo you dtidn olse uryo feli nda uyro ndmi lla at cneo.Hse wkinga up. lkTa to ihm. |
| DOCTOR Madam, do you. Tis fittest. | TRCOOD oYu latk to him, maam. sthTa toms tapieprroap. |
| CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? | AOCDRELI wHo ear yuo, my ayrlo rdol? How is your ysetamj dniog? |
| LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o th grave. Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound 45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. | EALR oYu do me owgnr by anigtk me uot of eth gavre. ouYre a olus in hveena, utb Im eitd to eth yreif elehw of a tetorur ciaehmn in hlel. neEv my arest bnur me eilk moltne edla. |
| CORDELIA Sir, do you know me? | LADRCEIO Sir, do you okwn how I am? |
| LEAR You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die? | ERLA euYor a iptisr, I oknw. Weehr idd oyu edi? |
| CORDELIA (aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide! | ELIRDAOC (iswhregnip to the DOCTOR) Hse tllsi in uetro scpae. |
| DOCTOR Hes scarce awake. Let him alone awhile. | ODORTC esH ltsli ahlf esepal. Let mih be ofr a bit. |
| LEAR 50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused. I should evn die with pity To see another thus. I know not what to say. I will not swear these are my hands. Lets see. I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured 55 Of my condition. | EARL ehWre heav I neeb? ereWh am I? Is it eidaytm? Iev been citerkd. I lwdou ied of yipt to see osmeeno eles in my nticnoiod. I ndot nkow hwta to asy. I natc vnee be sreu eesth rea my sadnh. Lset ese. I eefl isht npipkicr. I wihs I knwe wath is nhpeaginp. |
| CORDELIA (kneels) O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction oer me. No, sir, you must not kneel. | REODIACL (ilngknee) okLo at me, rsi, nda igev me uory neslsbig. No, sir, odtn lenke. |
| LEAR Pray, do not mock me. I am a very foolish fond old man, 60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less. And to deal plainly I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should know you, and know this man. | ERLA Pleaes ontd eakm fun of me. Im a soolifh, elnies odl mna, githye-ieohnmtgs rayes dlo, ton an hrou eomr or esls. To tup it alynlip, Im dafrai Im otn qtuie esna. I flee I udhlos goinezcre ouy dan ttah amn (he tsnoip to KENT), |
| Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant 65 What place this is, and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me, For as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia. | but Im ton srue. I ontd kwno werhe I am. I dnto bremreme sethe othlesc. I antc rlelca eherw I tspel astl nhitg. Dtno ghaul at me, but I wrase I hitnk hsti yald is my hcdil drloeaCi. |
| CORDELIA And so I am, I am. | IADRLECO ndA I am, I am. |
| LEAR 70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know you do not love me, for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You have some cause; they have not. | RALE erA ruoy srtea ewt? sYe, idedne ethy ear. aPesel tond yrc. If yuo eavh psonoi ofr me, llI rdnik it. I konw yuo dnot vloe me. If I mmeeberr, royu sissetr did me wrnog rfo no nearos. tuB uoy ddint, vene gouhth you adh eyerv saoern. |
| CORDELIA No cause, no cause. | OILAECRD I hda no anorse, no roaens. |
| LEAR 75 Am I in France? | ALRE Am I in anrFec? |
| KENT In your own kingdom, sir. | ENTK euYro in oyur won dikogmn, sri. |
| LEAR Do not abuse me. | AREL nDot viceede me. |
| DOCTOR Be comforted, good madam. The great rage, You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger 80 To make him even oer the time he has lost. Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more Till further settling. | ODTOCR ouY nca lerax, aamm. His enaisn rioped is veor. utB sit rudesogan to kaem mhi ytr to aemk ssene of eht tmei he lsto. Aks ihm to go in. tDon uletobr mih uterrhf inutl ihs mdni is rome seltdte. |
| CORDELIA Will t please your highness walk? | IEDCLOAR Wdulo yuro gsishnhe ilek to aket a wkal? |
| LEAR You must bear with me. 85 Pray you now, forget and forgive. I am old and foolish. | RLEA olYul vahe to bear thiw me. sPeael irvegfo nda eorftg. Im dol and sioholf. |
| Exeunt | eTyh eixt. |
| Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN | TEKN dan the NLGNAEEMT rieamn. |
| GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain? | EANEGMTLN Is it treu, ris, that teh keuD of alnrlCow saw eklild as tehy yas? |
| KENT Most certain, sir. | KTNE Yes, its uert, sri. |
| GENTLEMAN Who is conductor of his people? | NELTAGMNE Woh is gaeinld sih mne? |
| KENT As tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester. | NTKE eThy ays tsrecuesloG adstabr nos is. |
| GENTLEMAN | GNLETMNEA I hrae ahtt dagrE, cteosserGlu leiedx sno, is hwit het Erla of Knet in ramyneG. |
| KENT Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace. | TEKN ouY tanc trtsu all eth rromsu. stI time to sseasrse the iatutniso. Teh riiBsht portso era gicnom rean. |
| GENTLEMAN The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. | MANELTENG It wlil eillky be a loybod fihgt. odoeGby, sri. |
| Exit GENTLEMAN | He sietx. |
| KENT 95 My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well or ill, as this days battles fought. | TEKN My efli nda my anpls yelecmoltp edndpe on woh tsdayo lbeatt desn. |
| Exit | He estxi. |
