The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (907 page)

Do so, Messala.

Messala

How died my master, Strato?

How did my master die, Strato?

Strato

I held the sword, and he did run on it.

I held the sword and he ran upon it.

Messala

Octavius, then take him to follow thee,


That did the latest service to my master.

You may have him, Octavius, for his service to my master.

Antony

This was the noblest Roman of them all:


All the conspirators, save only he,


Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;


He only, in a general-honest thought


And common good to all, made one of them.


His life was gentle; and the elements


So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up


And say to all the world, "This was a man!"

This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators did what they did out of envy, except for him. He was the only one who thought his actions were for the common good to his country. He lived a gentle life, so that Nature would say, “That was a man!”

Octavius

According to his virtue let us use him


With all respect and rites of burial.


Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,


Most like a soldier, order'd honorably.--


So, call the field to rest; and let's away,


To part the glories of this happy day.

Let’s honor his life and put his body in my tent. Call the field to rest and let’s go away to celebrate this happy day.

Exit.

THE END

Lear, King of Britain

King of France

Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Cornwall

Duke of Albany

Earl of Kent

Earl of Gloster

Edgar, Son to Gloster

Edmund, Bastard Son to Gloster

Curan, a Courtier

Old Man, Tenant to Gloster

Physician

Fool

Oswald, steward to Goneril

An Officer employed by Edmund

Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia

A Herald

Servants to Cornwall

Goneril, daughter to Lear

Regan, daughter to Lear

Cordelia, daughter to Lear

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND

KENT

I thought the king had more affected the Duke of

Albany than Cornwall.

I thought the King preferred the Duke of

Albany over Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER

It did always seem so to us: but now, in the

division of the kingdom, it appears not which of

the dukes he values most; for equalities are so

weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice

of either's moiety.

I always thought so too; but now, in the way

he's split up the kingdom, one can't see which of

the Dukes he prefers; it is so finely

balanced that neither would be able to say

that he prefers the other's portion.

KENT

Is not this your son, my lord?

Isn't this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER

His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have

so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am

brazed to it.

He was brought up, Sir, at my expense: I have

so often been embarrassed to admit he's mine

that now I'm quite hardened to it.

KENT

I cannot conceive you.

I can't make you out.

GLOUCESTER

Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon

she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son

for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.

Do you smell a fault?

Sir, this young fellow's mother could: and so

her womb swelled and in fact she had a son

in the cradle before she had a husband in her bed.

Do you think that's wrong?

KENT

I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it

being so proper.

I wouldn't wish it any different, given there's

such a good result.

GLOUCESTER

But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year

elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:

though this knave came something saucily into the

world before he was sent for, yet was his mother

fair; there was good sport at his making, and the

whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this

noble gentleman, Edmund?

But I have, sir, a legitimate son, a year

older than this one, whom I don't rate as more important:

although this scoundrel came rather cheekily into

the world before he was wanted, his mother was

beautiful; conceiving him was good fun, and the

bastard must be acknowledged. Do you know this

noble gentleman, Edmund?

EDMUND

No, my lord.

No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my

honourable friend.

The Earl of Kent: from now on always remember that he is

my honored friend.

EDMUND

My services to your lordship.

At your Lordship's service.

KENT

I must love you, and sue to know you better.

We must be friends, and I will try to get to know you better.

EDMUND

Sir, I shall study deserving.

Sir, I shall try to deserve the compliment.

GLOUCESTER

He hath been out nine years, and away he shall

again. The king is coming.

Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants

He's been abroad for nine years, and he'll be

going back. The King is coming.

KING LEAR

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

Go and look after the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER

I shall, my liege.

Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

I shall, my lord.

KING LEAR

Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

Give me the map there. Know that we have divided

In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent

To shake all cares and business from our age;

Conferring them on younger strengths, while we

Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

We have this hour a constant will to publish

Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife

May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,

Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,

And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,--

Since now we will divest us both of rule,

Interest of territory, cares of state,--

Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,

Our eldest-born, speak first.

In the meantime I shall reveal my secret plan.

Give me that map. Be aware that I have divided

my kingdom into three: I am determined

to throw off all work and duty in my old age;

I will hand them over to younger men, while I

crawl towards death unencumbered. Our son Cornwall,

and you, just as loving son Albany,