The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (922 page)

Should he be sitting here? This act makes me think

that the aloofness of the Duke and her

is just a cover. Bring my servant here.

Go until the Duke and his wife that I want to speak to them,

Right now: tell them to come out and listen to me,

or I will play the drums on their bedroom door

until all sleep is impossible.

GLOUCESTER

I would have all well betwixt you.

Exit

 I would like everything to be well between you.

KING LEAR

O me, my heart, my rising heart! but, down!

Oh Lord, my heart, my swelling heart! Calm down!

Fool

Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels

when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em

o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cried 'Down,

wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that, in pure

kindness to his horse, buttered his hay.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants

Shout at it, nuncle, like the Cockney did to the eels

when she put them in the pie still alive; she bashed them

over the head with a stick, shouting “down,

you playful creatures, down!" However it was her brother who,

just to be kind to his horse, put grease on his hay.

KING LEAR

Good morrow to you both.

Good day to you both.

CORNWALL

Hail to your grace!

KENT is set at liberty

Greetings to your Grace!

REGAN

I am glad to see your highness.

I'm glad to see your Highness.

KING LEAR

Regan, I think you are; I know what reason

I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad,

I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,

Sepulchring an adultress.

To KENT

O, are you free?

Some other time for that. Beloved Regan,

Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied

Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here:

Points to his heart

I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe

With how depraved a quality--O Regan!

Regan, I believe you are; I'll tell you why

I think so: if you weren't glad,

I would divorce your dead mother

as it would mean she was an adulteress.

Oh, are you free?

We'll deal with that some other time. Beloved Regan,

your sister is nothing: oh Regan, she has stabbed

me with  her unkindness, like a vulture, here:

I can hardly bring myself to talk about it; you will not believe

how evil she has proved–oh Regan!

REGAN

I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope.

You less know how to value her desert

Than she to scant her duty.

Please sir, be patient: I have hopes.

It's surely more likely that you have misunderstood her

than that she is neglecting her duty.

KING LEAR

Say, how is that?

What are you talking about?

REGAN

I cannot think my sister in the least

Would fail her obligation: if, sir, perchance

She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,

'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,

As clears her from all blame.

I can't imagine that my sister would ever

fail to do her duty: maybe, sir, if

she has stopped your followers' rowdiness

it was for good reasons and for a good end,

which would absolve her of all blame.

KING LEAR

My curses on her!

My curses on her!

REGAN

O, sir, you are old.

Nature in you stands on the very verge

Of her confine: you should be ruled and led

By some discretion, that discerns your state

Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,

That to our sister you do make return;

Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

Oh, sir, you are old.

Life has almost run its course

in you: you should be ruled and guided

by the wisdom of others, who can see your position

more clearly than you. So, I ask you,

to make it up to my sister;

admit that you have wronged her, sir.

KING LEAR

Ask her forgiveness?

Do you but mark how this becomes the house:

'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;

Kneeling

Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg

That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'

 Ask her forgiveness?

Think how this would befit my dignity:

‘Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;

old people are useless: I'm begging you on my knees

to please let me have clothes, food and a bed.’

REGAN

Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:

Return you to my sister.

Stop this, good sir; these are silly tricks:

go back to my sister.

KING LEAR

[Rising] Never, Regan:

She hath abated me of half my train;

Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,

Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:

All the stored vengeances of heaven fall

On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,

You taking airs, with lameness!

Never, Regan:

she took away half my entourage;

she gave me dirty looks, attacked me with her tongue,

like a snake, going for the heart:

may all the vengeance heaven has saved up

fall on her ungrateful head! You infecting winds,

strike her young bones down with lameness!

CORNWALL

Fie, sir, fie!

Come on now sir, come on!

KING LEAR

You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames

Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,

You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,

To fall and blast her pride!

You quick lightning, stab your blinding fire

into her scornful eyes! You mists from the fens,

pulled up by the powerful sun, infect her beauty,

knock her down and ruin her pride!

REGAN

O the blest gods! so will you wish on me,

When the rash mood is on.

Oh by the gods!  This is how you will curse me,

when you get angry.

KING LEAR

No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse:

Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give

Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce; but thine

Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee

To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,

To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,

And in conclusion to oppose the bolt

Against my coming in: thou better know'st

The offices of nature, bond of childhood,

Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;

Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot,

Wherein I thee endow'd.

No, Regan, I will never curse you:

your womanly nature will never

make you so harsh: her eyes are fierce; but yours

comfort rather than burn. You would not

begrudge me my pleasures, reduce my retinue,

speak rudely to me, cut my rations,

and in the end bolt the doors

to my entrance: you are more respectful

of the duties of nature, of a child,

the function of manners, the gratitude that is owed;

you have not forgotten that I

gave you half my kingdom.

REGAN

Good sir, to the purpose.

Good sir, let's get to the point.

KING LEAR

Who put my man i' the stocks?

Tucket within

Who put my man in the stocks?

CORNWALL

What trumpet's that?

What's that trumpet?

REGAN

I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter,

That she would soon be here.

Enter OSWALD

Is your lady come?

I know it, it is my sister's. This confirms her letter,

which said she would soon be here.

Has your lady come?

KING LEAR

This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride

Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.

Out, varlet, from my sight!

This man is scum, who lounges around basking

in the reflected glory of the one he follows.

Get out of my sight, you scoundrel!

CORNWALL

What means your grace?

What does your grace mean?

KING LEAR

Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope

Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens,

Enter GONERIL

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway

Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,

Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!

To GONERIL

Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?

O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

Who put my servant in the stocks?  Regan, I'm assuming

you knew nothing about it. Who's this coming? Good heavens,

If you love old men, if your sweet influence

rewards obedience, if you are old yourself,

then fight this battle; send down your powers for me.

Are you not ashamed to look at my beard?

Oh Regan, you're taking her by the hand?

GONERIL

Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?

All's not offence that indiscretion finds

And dotage terms so.

Why not by the hand, sir? What have I done wrong?

Not everything is an offence just because

rashness and senility say it is.

KING LEAR

O sides, you are too tough;

Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks?

I feel like my heart

is about to burst. Who put my man in the stocks?

CORNWALL

I set him there, sir: but his own disorders

Deserved much less advancement.

I put him there, sir: but his behaviour

deserved much worse.

KING LEAR

You! did you?

You! It was you?

REGAN

I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.

If, till the expiration of your month,

You will return and sojourn with my sister,

Dismissing half your train, come then to me: