The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (915 page)

Weary of all, shall want some.

Pointing to KING LEAR

That's a shealed peascod.

You were a good chap when you had no need

to care about her frowning; now you are nothing:

I have more than you now; I am a fool,

you are nothing.

Yes, all right, I will hold my tongue, that's what

your face his ordering, although you say nothing.

Yum yum, the one who doesn't have crust or crumb,

when he's tired of everything will want some.

This one's an empty shell.

GONERIL

Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,

But other of your insolent retinue

Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth

In rank and not-to-be endured riots. Sir,

I had thought, by making this well known unto you,

To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,

By what yourself too late have spoke and done.

That you protect this course, and put it on

By your allowance; which if you should, the fault

Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,

Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,

Might in their working do you that offence,

Which else were shame, that then necessity

Will call discreet proceeding.

Not only, sir, your too much indulged fool,

but others from your insolent entourage

are always moaning and quarrelling; they break out

in unpleasant and intolerable riots. Sir,

I thought that by informing you about this

it was guaranteed something would be done; but now I wonder

considering what you also have said and done recently.

I hear that you defend this practice, and in fact

encourage it; if this is true this mistake

will not go unpunished or unpaid for;

it might be thought that I would be

remiss in my duties as a daughter if I did this,

if it wasn't for the fact that everybody would recognise

that it had to be done.

Fool

For, you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,

That it's had it head bit off by it young.

So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Because, you know, nuncle,

the hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo for so long,

that its head was bitten off by its young.

So, out went the candle, and we were left in the dark.

KING LEAR

Are you our daughter?

Are you my daughter?

GONERIL

Come, sir,

I would you would make use of that good wisdom,

Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away

These dispositions, that of late transform you

From what you rightly are.

Come now, sir,

I'd like you to use some of that good wisdom

which I know you have plenty of; get rid of

these states of mind, that have recently changed you

from who you really are.

Fool

May not an ass know when the cart

draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

Even a fool can see when things

are out of order. Hey there, jug! I love you.

KING LEAR

Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:

Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?

Either his notion weakens, his discernings

Are lethargied--Ha! waking? 'tis not so.

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Does anyone here know me? This can't be Lear:

does Lear walk like this? Speak like this? Where are his eyes?

Either his mind is weakened or his perception

has darkened–ha! Am I awake? I can't be.

Who can tell me who I am?

Fool

Lear's shadow.

You are Lear's shadow.

KING LEAR

I would learn that; for, by the

marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.

I want to know; because by the signs

of sovereignty, knowledge, and wisdom,

it doesn't look like I have any daughters.

Fool

Which they will make an obedient father.

 And they will make their father obedient.

KING LEAR

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

 What is your name, fair gentlewoman?

GONERIL

This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour

Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you

To understand my purposes aright:

As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.

Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;

Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold,

That this our court, infected with their manners,

Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust

Make it more like a tavern or a brothel

Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak

For instant remedy: be then desired

By her, that else will take the thing she begs,

A little to disquantity your train;

And the remainder, that shall still depend,

To be such men as may besort your age,

And know themselves and you.

This pretence of wonder, sir, is much the same as

your other new jokes. I must ask you

to understand what I mean:

as you are old and distinguished, you should be wise.

You keep a hundred knights and squires here;

they are men who are so disorderly, debauched and arrogant,

that our court, infected by their manners,

looks like a rowdy inn: greed and lust

make it more like a pub or brothel

than a gracious palace. This shame demands

instant repair: so do as I ask,

or otherwise I will do it for you;

cut back on your retinue,

and the ones that you keep on

should be men suited to one of your age,

who have an idea of how to behave.

KING LEAR

Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; call my train together:

Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee.

Yet have I left a daughter.

Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; gather my entourage:

degenerate bastard! I won't bother you.

I still have a daughter left.

GONERIL

You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble

Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY

You hit my people, and your disorderly rabble

treat their betters like servants.

KING LEAR

Woe, that too late repents,--

To ALBANY

O, sir, are you come?

Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.

Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child

Than the sea-monster!

You will be sorry, too late–

Oh, you've come have you sir?

Is this what you want? Speak, sir. Get my horses ready.

Ingratitude, you hardhearted devil,

you are more revolting when you appear in a child

than in a sea monster!

ALBANY

Pray, sir, be patient.

Please be patient, sir.

KING LEAR

[To GONERIL] Detested kite! thou liest.

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,

That all particulars of duty know,

And in the most exact regard support

The worships of their name. O most small fault,

How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!

That, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature

From the fix'd place; drew from heart all love,

And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!

Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,

Striking his head

And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.

You foul kite! You are a liar.

My entourage are the best, most noble men,

who know all there is to know about their duty,

and know exactly how to maintain

their honor. What a little fault it was

that looked so ugly in Cordelia!

It was like a machine that tore out

my heart; it emptied my heart of love,

and poured in bitterness. Oh Lear, Lear, Lear!

Smash on this gate, that let your stupidity in

and let your common sense out! On you go, my people.

ALBANY

My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant

Of what hath moved you.

My lord, I am not guilty as I don't know

what has upset you.

KING LEAR

It may be so, my lord.

Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!

Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend

To make this creature fruitful!

Into her womb convey sterility!

Dry up in her the organs of increase;

And from her derogate body never spring

A babe to honour her! If she must teem,

Create her child of spleen; that it may live,

And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!

Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;

With cadent tears fret

Turn all her mother's pains and benefits

To laughter and contempt; that she may feel

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is

To have a thankless child! Away, away!

Exit

That may be the case, my lord.

Listen, nature, listen! Dear goddess, listen!

If you intended for this creature to bear children,

suspend your plans!

Make her womb sterile!

Dry up her reproductive system;

and never let her degenerate body produce

a baby to honor her! If she must spawn,

let her have a child made only of spleen: so it can live

and be a twisted unloving torture to her!

Let it stamp wrinkles onto her youthful brow;

May storms of tears cut channels in her cheeks,

greet all her motherly efforts and gifts

with contempt and laughter, so she can feel

how much sharper than a snake's tooth it is

to have an ungrateful child! Come on, come on!

ALBANY

Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Now, by all the gods that we adore, what brought this on?

GONERIL

Never afflict yourself to know the cause;

But let his disposition have that scope

That dotage gives it.

Re-enter KING LEAR

Don't bother trying to find out the reason;

just let him carry on

as senile old fools do.

KING LEAR

What, fifty of my followers at a clap!

Within a fortnight!

So, you want me to lose fifty of my followers in one go!